Tributes flow from rugby greats for former coach, Brisbane Boys’ College leader David Bell

The grieving family of a Brisbane Boys’ College leader has been flooded with hundreds of tributes from former students and friends, including Wallabies, All Blacks and Reds greats.

Hundreds of former students, colleagues and friends of Brisbane Boys’ College Head of Middle School David “Belly’’ Bell have contacted his grieving family to pay tribute to a “giant of a man’’ in the classroom and on the rugby field.

Best mate and long-time fellow coach and educator at ACGS, Ian Jones, said a measure of the huge number of lives his friend had touched came the day after, when he received over 300 calls and texts in one day, including one from a former All Blacks player, after news broke that Mr Bell had passed away suddenly on Friday (May 5).

And an Instagram post by one of David’s daughters, Charlie, was viewed more than 13,000 times.

Devastated Old Boys at the top Toowong college held Mr Bell in such high esteem they were already talking about making him an honorary Old Boy and asking the school if it would name a building in his honour.

Mr Jones said his friend, an imposing figure who stood at 6ft 5in (195cm), had been one of the most influential figures in the lives of countless boys.

David Bell has been remembered as a pivotal figure in the lives of countless boys.

An avid reader with an extraordinary memory which made him almost unbeatable at trivia events, Jones said one of his lasting memories would be his mate Belly walking around the Ipswich Grammar School boarders’ dormitory at night, pen in hand, editing a boy’s assignment..

“He gave a huge amount to others. When he was studying at the University of Queensland, he was also a part-time boarding master and tutored the boys, as well as being in the Army Reserve,’’ Mr Jones said.

“I understand he might have been one of the youngest sergeants in the Reserves.’’

Mr Bell’s sister Catherine said her older brother was shaped by the distinguished military career of their late father, Lt Col David Scott Bell.

As an Army officer he was frequently transferred and at one point served as a military attache in Washington DC.

“Military life taught him to be very disciplined, growing up Dad would conduct ‘inspections’ like they do in Army barracks, he taught us how to make our beds so they would pass ‘army regulations’ — when you take off your shoes, you shine them, when you take off your school uniform you iron them and hang them up,’’ Associate Professor Bell said.

“Moving around so often with Army postings also meant we all learned quickly how to sum up a new environment, and quickly adapt and make new friends.

As a result, David has good mates from every phase of his life that he would endeavour to keep in touch with.”

David Bell played in the BGS 2nd XV rugby team.

David was born while his father served at Holsworthy barracks, west of Sydney, and after living in Washington the family briefly returned to Brisbane before a transfer to Canberra and then Oakey army base.

At that time David attended Rangeville State School in Toowoomba before he was sent to Brisbane Grammar School as a boarder aged 12, a “massive rite of passage’’.

Although a boarder only for a year — Lt Col Bell was transferred to Enoggera barracks and David became a BGS day boy — the experience gave him an invaluable insight into boarding life which served him well as a boarding master at IGS, BGS and Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie).

Lt Col Bell finally retired from the Army after deciding another overseas posting would be too disruptive in their high school years and the family settled in Brisbane, with David studying a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Queensland.

Although he never saw active service, he demonstrated his commitment to the Army Reserve for many years.

David took great pride in wearing his father’s medals on Anzac Day and attending the Dawn Service after he passed away.

Mr Jones said the pair first met at IGS in 1994 before they taught and coached rugby together at Churchie.

“We hit it off straight away. I was assistant boarding master at the time and he had just come back from England,’’ he said.

Over a period of more than a decade they coached GPS, where they formed a bond coaching the students in rugby.

Although his friend played in the BGS 2nd XV and was sometimes a reserve in the 1st XV, he said his real strength was coaching and he used his formidable communication skills to motivate and bring out the best in boys.

“He could write an amazing speech in 15 minutes and then just stop the place when he delivered it,’’ Mr Jones said.

“He used those speeches to inspire the boys on the field. There would always be some kind of message, every boy in the changing room would be mesmerised by every word.’’

(L to R) Charlie Bell, Molly Bell, David Bell and Rosie Bell.

Catherine said her brother was immensely proud of his daughters.

The youngest, Rosie, is still at school, an all-rounder with her Father’s excellent work ethic, while Molly inherited his love of reading and is studying Advanced Humanities majoring in English literature at the University of Queensland.

She said David, whose strength was in the Humanities, not the Sciences, was hugely chuffed when Molly’s project was selected to be presented to NASA scientists while still at high school.

His eldest daughter Charlie, also very tall at 196cm, is a professional netballer playing for the Sunshine Coast Lightning.

She is following in David’s footsteps, with her netball coaching, and studying a Bachelor of Primary Education because she wants to become a teacher like her Dad.

David’s sudden death sent shockwaves through the tight-knit BBC community where he had been a distinguished Head of Middle School for more than five years.

Mr Bell was well known for his dedicated service to the boys in his care and was a regular fixture at a multitude of extra curricular activities including chess, debating, pipe band, rugby, rowing, robotics and basketball, to name a few.

His weekly newsletters were a dinner table highlight for discussion across the BBC network of families, while his pastoral support of boys on a day to day level was outstanding. To serve others was his life’s mission.

Fellow BBC English teacher, Emily Maegaard, delivered a heartfelt speech to the first Middle School assembly following his death in which she paid tribute to her colleague.

“Boys, I am very aware and humbled by the immense honour that I have in standing here before you today to reflect upon the life of man who can only be described as larger than life,’’ she told the assembly.

“Mr Bell used this very spot every Thursday to celebrate the successes of each and every one of you.

David delivering a speech at BBC on Anzac Day 2023.

“Speaking from the heart, he used this small square of the stage to impart wise words of wisdom, to share with you amazing and inspiring stories and to deliver powerful messages and lessons designed to inspire you to reach your full potential in all areas and to become good people and grow into gentlemen of honour.

“It is my sincere wish that by reflecting on this kind, gentle and charismatic man that I can impart to you a lesson in knowing the difference between being a great man and being a good man.”

“Mr Bell was the essence, the soul, the embodiment of a truly good man.

He did not hold himself above others. He was available.”

“BBC has lost an incredible icon, a legend, a colossus, whose quiet strength, wisdom, and humility were a constant beacon.’’

David Scott Bell (24/9/67–5/5/23) is survived by his mother, sister Catherine, brother Robert, children Charlie, Molly and Rosie, partner Shona and former partner Karina.

A service for David will take place 2pm, Tuesday May 16, at College Hall, Brisbane Boys’ College.

The service will also be live streamed as a large crowd of mourners is expected.

VIEW THE LIVESTREAM HERE