Dave Bish: 36 Years Behind the Scenes at Bancroft’s

Published by Bancroft's School on Friday 16th of May 2025

It’s nearly time to set Dave Bish free. After 36 years of keeping the wheels turning at Bancroft’s, we’re not sure how we’ll manage without him, but we do know he’s more than earned a long and happy retirement with his wife, Pat.

Before he heads off, we sat down for one last chat. We wanted to know: what’s kept him here since 1989? What moments stand out? And what makes Bancroft’s the kind of place you never really want to leave?

Dave has worn many hats over the decades. As the school grew and changed, so did his role, evolving into Maintenance Manager in the late ’90s, and eventually into Facilities Manager in 2005, overseeing everything from maintenance to porterage.

Dave, where to begin! Where did it all start for you at Bancroft’s?

I started out as a residential caretaker, living on site, doing carpentry, and even drove the school coach. We had our own 53-seater, and every afternoon I’d be off driving pupils to and from West Grove.

How would you describe your typical day now?

No two days are ever the same. I used to wake up in the middle of the night thinking of everything I needed to get done. But the reality is, you walk in the next day and your plans can go straight out the window. Something always pops up. From setting up chairs to urgent repairs, every day brings something new.

Can you tell us a bit about your career before Bancroft’s?

I actually trained as a car mechanic. Then I moved into exhibition carpentry, building massive displays for big shows. One of our biggest clients was Walt Disney. We’d build huge stands for places like the Cannes Film Festival. We would make the stands here, ship them out, and then fly over to assemble them. But with a young family, that kind of unpredictable lifestyle was tough, so I started looking for something more stable… and here I am.

Wow! And how did you find your way into the education sector?

Total chance. Back in 1988, my wife and I were looking for a retail business, but it fell through. While we were renting nearby, I happened to spot a job ad for a residential caretaker at Bancroft’s School. It was only meant to be a short-term thing. Now, 36 years later, here I am.

You must have seen the school change a lot in that time.

Oh, absolutely. When I joined, there wasn’t even a Prep School. I saw it being built from the ground up and it opened in September 1990.

The facilities have grown massively, and so has the scale of what we manage.

And you must have plenty of standout memories over the years?

Plenty! The old leavers’ pranks were something else. Once, they bricked up the archway under the cloisters overnight, they’d been secretly stockpiling bricks for weeks. And another time, we came in to find a dozen beds set up on the Quad and the leavers had slept there all night.

How about staff members? There must be some funny moments that you won’t forget.

Oh gosh… one that stands out is from the early days, during the Prep School construction. The builders’ containers were being broken into, so the Head at the time asked a few sixth formers to stay overnight as unofficial security. This is definitely not something we’d allow now. But one of them managed to start up a dumper truck, drove it across the field, but then couldn’t stop it. They had to jump off… luckily, only minor damage was done.

Who do you work closely with now?

I work with a lot of people. Richard Channer and I have worked together for years. His kids have been through Bancroft’s too, and I’ve seen other staff members’ children here. It’s been great watching their journeys, and many others, from Prep all the way through to leavers.

What do you think makes the Bancroft’s community so special?

It really draws you in. As I said, I was meant to stay 18 months… and here we are. It’s not just a job. It’s a community, like an extended family. I’ve seen pupils return as teachers, and now their kids are here too. That kind of connection is rare and very special.

Any retirement plans?

We bought a place near Chelmsford a couple of years ago, getting ready for that next chapter. No fixed plans just yet, just going to take it as it comes. Hopefully, I’ll keep in touch with old colleagues and teachers I’ve known over the years.

Thank you Dave. Your hard work and dedication behind the scenes haven’t gone unnoticed. We wish you and Pat a very happy retirement.

We will miss you so much!