Old Girls' Association Newsletter - Autumn 2021

Bolton School OLD GIRLS’ ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER Issue Number 35 Autumn 2021

Shared memories and continued support

Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Autumn 2021

CONTENTS STAY IN TOUCH 2 STAY CONNECTED 2 BOLTON SCHOOL MERCHANDISE 2 WELCOME MESSAGES Lynne Kyle, Head of Girls’ Division 3 Laura Henthorn, Chairman of the 3 Old Girls’ Association FOUNDATION NEWS Farewell to Sue Hincks 4 A New Structure for Bolton School 4 Welcome from the Head of Foundation 5 CONTINUING SUPPORT 6 SCHOOL NEWS Presentation Evening 7 Duke of Edinburgh Achievements 7 Final Day Fancy Dress 7 7 Netball Masterclass with Tracey Neville May Serenade 8 Results Day Celebrations 8 Farewell to Laura Rooney 8 Welcome to Rebecca Brayshaw 8 Welcome to Emma Metcalfe 8 EVENTS 9 OLD GIRLS’ FEATURES Inspiring the Next Generation 11 Old Girls in Art 15 Alumni Authors 16 Old Girls Go Global 17 Staff in the Spotlight: Ms Felton, 18 Mrs Brown and Mrs Shafiq Story of a Gown 20 OLD GIRLS’ NEWS News of Old Girls 21 Mini Reunions 23 Matches and Hatches 24 FROM THE ARCHIVES Ask the Archivist: The Old Girls’ Association 25 Christmas Post 26 The Bolton Alumni Network 26 The Bolton School Wine Collection 26 Looking Back 27 Memories of School: Elizabeth Mahoney and Kathleen Ricketts 28 LIVES REMEMBERED 30 IN MEMORIAM 31

Stay Connected We hope you enjoy being kept up-to-date with what is happening at School and within the Old Girl community as much as we value the opportunity to stay connected with you.

If your contact details have changed, or if you have not yet let us know your communication preferences and wish to continue hearing from School, then please contact the Development Office as soon as possible, or complete the Former Pupil Registration form found in the ‘Former Pupils’ section of the School website, www.boltonschool.org.

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STAY IN TOUCH Connect with Old Boys and Old Girls on the Bolton Alumni Network: www.boltonalumninetwork.com.

‘Like’ our Facebook page for event invitations, School news and memories: search Bolton School – Old Boys and Old Girls (Official) Connect with fellow Old Boys on LinkedIn: connect with Bolton School Alumni and join the Bolton School Group Follow Alumni and School news via Twitter: @BoltonSchool/@BoltonSchAlumni Watch short films posted on the School’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/ boltonschoolmedia Read regular blogs from pupils and staff from across the campus: boltonschool.me/ View photos of Alumni events on Flickr at www.flickr.com/photos/bsalumni/albums Follow boltonschoolalumni to keep up with news, events and memories on Instagram. You can also follow bolton_school_foundation for the latest news and photographs from School and use #BSAlumni to share your own memories and photos.

Visit the ‘Former Pupils’ section of the School website at www.boltonschool.org to see event photos, read Alumni career profiles, find news of Old Boys, view an up-to-date events calendar, update your contact details and more.

CONTACT US Development Office, Bolton School Chorley New Road, Bolton BL1 4PA T: 01204 434718 E: development@boltonschool.org THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM Rebecca Brayshaw – Development Manager Laura Firth – Director of Development and Alumni Relations Hannah Fox – Development Officer Frances Johnson – Development Assistant Emma Metcalfe – Alumni Engagement Officer Kathryn O’Brien – Alumni and Development Assistant

Bolton School Merchandise A variety of merchandise, including badges, photo frames, pens and umbrellas, is available from the store on the School’s website – please visit www.boltonschool.org/schoolservices/bolton-school-merchandise to see the full range and details of how to order.

All profits made from the sale of merchandise go directly to the School’s Bursary Fund which helps to make a Bolton School education open to all academically gifted pupils, irrespective of their families’ financial situations.

WELCOME FROM THE HEADMISTRESS I am pleased to introduce the first edition of the Old Girls’ Newsletter to be published since I took the helm of the Girls’ Division.

The ‘School News’ section gives a clear indication that life here on Chorley New Road is slowly returning to some sort of normality after the major disruptions caused by the pandemic. It was wonderful to see our departing Year 13 girls able to revive the tradition of dressing up on their last day after they had experienced only one ‘proper’ term of Sixth Form life, and it was equally good to be able to welcome them back into School in August to receive their A Level grades in person. It is also heartening to see current pupils participating in conventional extracurricular activities such as netball training and Duke of Edinburgh expeditions.

Leafing through the pages, I am amazed to see how many of you have been happy to share your experience and expertise, not only with pupils across all areas of the Bolton School Foundation via our varied Careers programme, but also with fellow Old Girls and the local community through initiatives such as the online Perspectives events which, thanks to the wonder of Zoom, are able to reach pupils, parents and Alumni.

Thank you to all those Old Girls who have so generously given their time to these activities – your involvement with School is very much appreciated.

The Alumni Authors feature on page 16 showcases not only the talents of Old Girls who have published books in several genres, but also the eloquence and insightfulness of our Sixth Formers, two of whom have reviewed books in this edition. It is great to see pupils contributing to this Newsletter – the Spotlight on Staff feature on page 18 is a further example of their involvement. These are excellent experiences for the girls and introduce them to the concept of keeping in touch with School once they have left.

The amazing array of achievements in the News of Old Girls section is also very impressive. My particular congratulations to all of you who have completed your degrees recently – graduating is always something to celebrate, but perhaps this year even more so, given the restrictions of recent months.

Finally, the reinstatement of in-person Alumni events is a welcome step forward. I was delighted to meet the Classes of 2019 and 2020 at the Recent Leavers’ Reunion and to hear how university/working life is treating you. I also enjoyed the Decade Reunion – thank you to those Old Girls and Old Boys who attended and created such a wonderful atmosphere in School. I look forward to meeting many more of you at the various events planned for the rest of the year – please see the calendar on page 9 and put the dates in your diaries!

Lynne Kyle Head of Girls’ Division

WELCOME FROM THE OLD GIRLS’ ASSOCIATION Covid-19 has disrupted education more than any event since the Second World War. During the last 18 months pupils have had to contend with lockdowns and online lessons, and, when finally allowed back in the classroom, were required to stay in year group bubbles with extra-curricular activities put on hold. It is no surprise, however, that members of the Girls’ Division, far from bemoaning what they have not been able to do, have made the most of the unusual circumstances and remained happy and motivated.

Once again, the spirit and ethos of Bolton School has prevailed!

One positive outcome of the pandemic is that so many Old Girls and Old Boys have embraced the opportunity to provide careers advice via Zoom, so that even though School has been out of bounds for visitors for many months current pupils have continued to benefit from the expertise of Alumni based around the world – thank you to all who have provided inspiration and motivation in this way and whose contributions are recorded from page 11.

Reading the News of Old Girls (page 21) it is clear that the recent restrictions have not got in the way of ambition: in particular, it is good to read that so many of you have graduated despite a topsy-turvy university experience. I am also pleased to see that weddings have resumed (page 24) – congratulations to all of you who have managed to tie the knot after much rescheduling of arrangements!

Finally, I am delighted that in-person Alumni events have recommenced – it was wonderful to be able to welcome the Classes of 1950, 1960, 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000 and 2010 to their Reunion in September and I look forward to meeting many of you at other events in the months to come (please see page 9 for details of how to book).

Laura Henthorn (née Carless, 1970-1977) Chairman – Bolton School Old Girls’ Association

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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Autumn 2021

FOUNDATION NEWS Miss Hincks Held in High Esteem Miss Sue Hincks stepped down from her role as Headmistress in the Summer after guiding the Girls’ Division through a period of unparalleled success.

During her ten years in charge of the Girls’ Division, there was much to celebrate: Bolton School was named the TES’ Independent School of the Year, received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service and achieved the highest possible outcomes during inspections. Sue also served as President of the Girls’ School Association during 2019.

A New Structure for Bolton School The Bolton School Foundation has undergone a structural change. From 1st October Philip Britton, MBE, who successfully led the Boys’ Division since 2008, took up the new position of Head of Foundation, with oversight of all elements of the Foundation, including the newly-created Primary Division.

Following the departure of Sue Hincks at the end of the previous academic year, Lynne Kyle, who has served as Deputy Head in the Girls’ Division since 2008, is currently Acting Headmistress. Nic Ford, who joined the School in 2015 as Deputy Head (Academic) in the Boys’ Division, has been appointed as its Acting Headmaster. During the coming months the Governing Body will conduct a full recruitment process to make permanent appointments to both of these roles.

Sue Faulkner, currently the Head at Beech House, and previously Head of Park Road, has been appointed to the new post of Head of the Primary Division, which comprises the School’s Nursery, Pre-School Class, Infant School, two Junior Schools and wraparound childcare facility, Kidzone.

The day-to-day education for boys and girls across all parts of the Foundation will be unchanged and for them there will be clear leadership across the three Divisions from faces familiar to both pupils and parents.

Commenting on the reconfigured arrangement, Ian Riley, Chairman of Governors, said: “At a time when the Foundation has more pupils than ever, these changes reflect the Governors’ desire to build for the future whilst retaining the strong identities and high academic standards of the individual schools. The Governing Body believes that now, with the School thriving, is the right time to implement change to invest in our future.

The Foundation of Bolton School envisaged by Lord Leverhulme intended much closer co-working between the two Divisions than has often been the case in our first century, whilst maintaining the vibrant identities of both single-sex girls’ and boys’ schools for children

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As she departed, Sue thanked all her colleagues for their support and dedication and said it had been an honour and a privilege to serve the School for the past decade.

She wished the pupils, staff, parents and Governors within the Bolton School Foundation every future success and happiness – on behalf of the Old Girls’ Association we wish Sue all the very best for the future too.

Sue Hincks

aged seven to 18 years. The growth of the younger part of the school, from babies in our Nursery to 11 year olds in Hesketh House and Park Road, could not have been anticipated by our founder. The brand new Primary Division mirrors his vision of the Boys’ and Girls’ Divisions, bringing greater focus to that part of the School and those important early steps in education.

“The School’s founding ethos – that children of the highest potential should be afforded the best possible education, irrespective of their financial circumstances – forms the blueprint for the Governors’ vision for the future of the Foundation. Led by Philip Britton, this new structure will help to keep our fees affordable for parents whilst driving forward the Governors’ agenda of widening access to the School through its bursary scheme, delivering true social mobility in Bolton and beyond. The new structure will allow us to build upon our nationally-renowned reputation for partnership work within the local community, enhancing our reputation as one of the leading institutions in the town.”

Philip Britton commented: “It has been a great pleasure to lead the Boys’ Division for the last 13 years, sharing all that the boys and my colleagues have achieved. The opportunity to be the first Head of Foundation for the School is an enormous privilege. In the last decade, we have become recognised nationally as a leader in education and that focus on the experience of the girls and boys being the best they can be will continue to inspire us. Both Divisions are amongst the largest single-sex schools in the country and have shown the huge benefits to pupils of that approach to education, whilst also working together to provide the ‘best of both worlds’ for pupils with mixed activities where that adds value to the school day. Being able to take an overview of the next steps for the Foundation and to ensure its continued success, alongside the Primary Division and our commercial activities at Patterdale Hall and within School, will help us prosper in the future as we consolidate and develop our reputation as leaders in academic success, character development through activity, e-learning, social mobility and partnership work.”

From the Head of Foundation: A New Chapter for Bolton School For many Old Girls this is a chance for me to introduce myself, although I have met a great number of you at various events during the years. I look forward to meeting many more of you during the year and working with the Old Girls’ Committee.

time that he was committed to a clear identity for the Girls’ Division and the Boys’ Division and equally that he wanted the two schools to work together, taking advantage of their shared site and heritage – to have, as we say now, the best of both worlds. A significant part of my new role as Head of Foundation is to ensure that we have the necessary oversight, collaboration, and vision to identify those opportunities and to make the most of them.

I have spent many years talking about the history of Bolton School, celebrating our anniversaries and events and all that they mean for us. It is a rare moment when we are part of that history ourselves, yet the changes in the Foundation that took place on 1st October 2021, reported on the previous page, are just that. I feel privileged to be part of those next steps and wanted to share them with you.

To do so I will lead the team of the Head of Boys’ Division, Head of Girls’ Division, Clerk and Treasurer and the Head of the new Primary Division. The Primary Division draws together the younger parts of the School (the Nursery, Beech House and the Junior Boys and Junior Girls schools). Each will retain their own identity, but work together with an overview taken by the Head of Primary Division. This is also a new path being made, with the same intent of drawing on the very best from all those settings, making connections, celebrating differences, and shaping the younger part of our School that was so much less significant in 1915.

In 2008 I soon found that being Headmaster of Boys’ Division was, in one sense, straightforward as the path had been well trodden by Poskitt, Baggley, Wright and Brooker before me. Each had brought their own character to essentially the same task of interpreting an enduring ethos of Bolton School in the times in which they found themselves. A Head must always know that, whilst they do add their own character to the role (and there are some big characters in that list) in the end, they are just adding their part to a much longer story of the School. The same is true of Girls’ Division, where the Heads follow a path made by Higginson, Spurr, Panton, Richards and Hincks. One feature of our new structures is that this must remain the case: the Divisions are led by the Heads and it is they who stand in that line of succession leading colleagues and boys and girls alike.

So what will the Head of Foundation do? I cannot follow the example of my predecessor since this is new to us all. Obviously, there is a job description, but we all know that only covers the basics of any role somewhere like Bolton School. The poet Machado wrote “Paths are made by walking, when you look over your shoulder you see a path you’ll never walk again”. If I can’t follow in the footsteps of others, we will, together, make a path.

As we all know, the Bolton School Foundation, which came into formal being on 1st April 1915, was very much the creation of Lord Leverhulme as he brought together the High School for Girls and the Grammar School for Boys. It is quite clear from his writing at that

Over the years Heads have become more and more burdened with administration and compliance. In sharing these duties another aspect of my role will be to allow the Heads of Division to work much more closely with pupils and colleagues, knowing them just that little bit better and perhaps much more like what was possible in previous generations.

Finally, taking the lead that the role of Head of Foundation will be to carry forward the work envisioned

by Lord Leverhulme, I will be very closely involved with our bursary development work. This is about fundraising, but also about seeking and shaping the applicants for those bursaries from all parts of our local community, overseeing their time at School and launching them into the world of HE and work in such a way that they will thrive. This is real social mobility, something that Bolton School has often led the way on and will continue to do so.

These are exciting and enlivening times: a time when we can move on positively from how well the Foundation has coped with the challenges of Covid-19 and make a future for Bolton School we will all, quite rightly, feel proud of and that connects with the past, whilst looking to the future.

Philip Britton, MBE Head of Foundation

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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Autumn 2021

CONTINUING SUPPORT Thanks to the extraordinary kindness of our supporters, the School continues to offer one of the most generous bursary schemes in the country. Currently, one in five pupils in the two Senior Schools receives financial support for their education, with one third of recipients – 6% of the pupil body – receiving fully-funded bursaries.

Two recent bursary recipients, both of whom left the Girls’ Division this summer to take up places to study Dentistry at university, explained the impact their bursary place has had on their ambitions and success: “I will be taking with me to university many wonderful memories as well as the skills which I have gained at Bolton School. My education at Bolton School has allowed me to realise my talents, develop my selfconfidence, and has inspired me to achieve success in my future career. I will never forget my time here and I will always remain grateful to Bolton School for the opportunities it has given me.”

“I am writing to thank you for the bursary I have received for my Sixth Form education at Bolton School.

It has been a dream come true to be able to get an education in such an amazing setting. Your bursary has opened many doors and thanks to you I am one step closer to reaching my goals. I cannot express my gratitude enough for the outstanding educational experience you have enabled me to have at Bolton School.”

The School remains intent upon its long-term ambition to deliver needs-blind access to the transformational education it offers, and is indebted to its donors, who have continued to offer their generous support to the Bursary Fund despite the challenges of the past eighteen months.

Eva, pictured with her son and grandchildren

One such supporter is Old Girl Eva Marshall (née Leach, Class of 1953), a regular donor to the Bursary Fund who has also remembered the School in her will. She wrote to us recently reflecting on the family circumstances, and on her experiences as a pupil and an Old Girl, which have prompted her to support the Bursary Fund so exhaustively:

“My father was offered a funded place at Bolton School aged 11, which his mother would not allow him to take up. He instead attended a state school, as did my mother, whose formal education lasted only until she was 12. At the appropriate age I, too, entered both the State Scholarship Exam, and the Entrance Exam for Bolton School; I passed both and was awarded a place at both the Girls’ Division and the local state school.

My father insisted that I took the place at Bolton School despite it involving some payment of fees: it was quite some time after my father died that I connected his wish for me to go to Bolton School with the opportunity which was denied to him.

“I enjoyed my years at School, and looking back can quite honestly say that at no time did I feel anything other than support and good wishes; whilst there were obviously girls from differing backgrounds in my classes, we were all treated with the same consideration. Many years later, in 2014, I visited the School as part of the 100/500 anniversary celebrations.

During that visit, I was impressed to learn that the School intended the Bursary Fund should enable any girl with the ability to pass the Entrance Exam and a financial need to be able to take up a bursary place.

Afterwards, I thought about how my Father would have benefited from the education he was clearly capable of, and perhaps also reflected a little for myself, that, if wider horizons had been suggested to me at the time I attended School, my ambitions could have been greater. I started making a monthly contribution from that time and also decided to mention School in my will. It is good to think that today’s pupils will have every opportunity to achieve their potential.”

If you remember your time at the School fondly, and would like to ensure future generations of Boltonians receive the same opportunities your education offered to you, then please do consider pledging your support to the Bursary Fund. Whether you choose to make a one-off gift, set up a regular donation or remember the School in your will, your generosity will make a real difference to the School’s ability to offer financial support to future generations of bright, talented young people, who will in their turn go out into their communities and make a difference for good.

To discuss in more detail how you might choose to support the Bursary Fund, please contact Laura Firth, Director of Development and Alumni Relations, by calling 01204 434718 or by emailing development@boltonschool.org.

Corrections Apologies to Jessica Price (2013-2020) who was omitted from the list of 2020 Leavers’ Destinations published join the Spring edition. Jessica is now studying for a BSc in Physiotherapy at the University of Liverpool.

Apologies, too, to Molly Scholefield (2006-2020) whose name was spelt incorrectly in the list of 2020 Leavers’ Destinations published in the Spring edition.

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SCHOOL NEWS Two Presentation Evenings in One This year’s Presentation Evening was a double celebration as GCSE and A Level leavers from 2020 and 2021 received commendations, prizes and awards.

Vice-Chairman of Governors Dr Sheila Fisher (née Platt, 1963-1970) thanked all who had led Bolton School through the pandemic: she praised the teachers and pupils for their commitment and determination to maintaining the quality of education and acknowledged the contribution of the Estates Department, Sergeants, cleaning staff and catering staff in keeping the School safe during the Covid-19 restrictions.

Dr Fisher then welcomed Mrs Kyle to her new role as Headmistress. Mrs Kyle congratulated students on their superb academic results and presented the awards for

Gold and Silver Duke of Edinburgh Achievements

academic achievement and for Duke of Edinburgh endeavours.

Both Dr Fisher and Mrs Kyle paid tribute to Miss Hincks, praising her for having brought transformational change through her vision, energy and inspiration.

L-R: Sheila Fisher, Sarah Walker, Lucy Stiles, Lynne Kyle

Lucy Stiles (Class of 2020), who was Head Girl in 2019-20, addressed the audience before ceremoniously passing on the Head Girl’s gown to last year’s incumbent, Sarah Walker, who took her turn in addressing the gathering and then passed on the gown to this year’s Head Girl, Summer Kay, who offered a Vote of Thanks to all the speakers.

Despite the challenges of the Coronavirus pandemic, a significant number of Girls’ Division pupils have completed their Duke of Edinburgh Awards at Gold and Silver level.

for the volunteering section! Seven of them also managed to complete the four-day Expedition and five-day Residential sections that form part of the Gold Award and will receive the full Gold Award for their efforts.

Those girls who were unfortunately unable to complete their Expedition and Residential sections due to the pandemic will receive the Gold Certificate of Achievement – still an outstanding achievement.

In Year 13, nine girls completed the full requirements of the Volunteering, Physical and Skills sections of the Award.

This was no easy task in the midst of lockdown, especially

Meanwhile, an impressive number of Year 11 girls are on track to receive the full Silver Award or the Silver Certificate.

Final Day Fancy Dress While many of the usual leavers’ celebrations were unable to take place this year due to lockdown restrictions, the Class of 2021 were determined to continue the tradition of fancy dress on their final day in School.

The Year 13 girls competed in an informal rounders match in full costume before sitting down to a celebratory lunch in the Arts Centre and reminiscing

The girls braved all sorts of weathers to complete their expeditions

about the past seven years in the Senior School.

We wish them well as they continue their journeys beyond Bolton School.

Netball Masterclass from Former England Coach It was a PE lesson with a difference as Tracey Neville, former England netball player and Head Coach, dropped in to inspire Bolton School’s Junior Girls. After a series of challenging and fun drills, the girls enjoyed some match action.

Mrs Carol Laverick, Head of Hesketh House, said: “It was a fantastic session and a delight to welcome Tracey to our school.

The girls were very excited and undoubtedly inspired to learn from an England legend.”

The girls were thrilled to get some top tips from Tracey

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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Autumn 2021

May Serenade Streams Music to School Community For the first time, the May Serenade was streamed live from the Girls’ Division Great Hall.

Pupils, staff and their families gathered at home to enjoy this traditional evening of spectacular music-making. Fifteen soloists, three choirs

and one ensemble made the most of the opportunity to perform for an audience.

The concert, which featured an eclectic mix of pieces, is available to watch on the School’s YouTube channel.

The Year 9 Choir and the Chamber Choir impressed the audience watching from home

Return of Results Day Celebrations For Year 13 students departing Bolton School this summer, Results Day saw a return to something approaching ‘normal’ after a unique and very different Sixth Form experience.

The past two years have seen Sixth Formers continue their education through lockdowns, across distance learning, and back in the classroom in year group bubbles. Yet despite these restrictions, the girls worked hard and navigated an uncertain year with typical Bolton School resilience and determination and achieved some fabulous A Level results, with the overwhelming majority achieving their first choice of university course. We wish them all

The girls jump for joy after receiving spectacular grades

good luck whether they are continuing their studies or entering the world of work.

Black History Month Throughout October, both Senior Schools engaged with Black History Month.

As the month unfolded, the School celebrated Black cultures and reflected on important social questions.

Year 13 students in the Girls’ Division spent PSHEE time

considering a speech by BBC presenter Clara Amfo.

During assemblies, younger pupils enjoyed watching a compilation of clips from Horrible Histories, whilst older students watched a film about the life and works of American novelist and playwright James Baldwin.

Farewell to Laura

Welcome to Rebecca

In the Spring the Development Office bid farewell to colleague Laura Rooney as she took her knowledge and expertise to lead the Development Office at Bury Grammar School.

In the Summer Old Girl Rebecca Brayshaw (née Hayton, 1990-1997) was welcomed to the Development Team.

Laura joined Bolton School in 2017 and, amongst many achievements, was instrumental in the introduction of the Bolton Alumni Network and the Drinks in the City events.

She also played a significant role in boosting the number of Old Girls and Old Boys offering careers advice to current pupils.

On leaving School Rebecca gained a degree in Psychology from the University of Manchester. Having managed her own company for a number of years, she brings a wealth of business acumen and events management experience to her role as Development Manager, in which she will work with the rest of the Team to promote the School’s Alumni and community engagement programmes.

Laura was held in high esteem by all those Old Girls and Old Boys who met her and we are sure you will join us in wishing her well in her future endeavours.

Welcome to Emma In November, the Development Office gave a warm welcome to Old Girl Emma Metcalfe (Class of 2014), who joined the team in the newly-created role of Alumni Engagement Officer.

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After leaving the Girls’ Division, Emma studied Marketing at Liverpool John Moores University. In her role in the Development Office, she will work alongside the Careers Departments and other academic staff in both Divisions, to develop the School’s programme of Alumni involvement in pupil careers and enrichment activities.

EVENTS Alumni Ponder Post-Brexit World On Tuesday 8 June 2021, Alumni and other members of the School community enjoyed debating ‘The UK’s Place in a Post-Brexit World’ at a virtual networking event held via Zoom. Old Girl Amanda Brooks, CBE (Class of 1989), Director General, Trade Negotiations at the Department for International Trade, and Old Boy Ravi Bhatiani (Class of 2001) the Executive Director of FETSA, The Federation of European Tank Storage Associations, were keynote speakers at the event, sharing their thoughts on the future of UK trade and international relations on the global stage before leading discussions between fellow guests in breakout rooms.

Amanda joined the Department for International Trade (DIT) in August 2016, where her responsibilities have included bilateral trade relationships, multilateral fora on trade such as the WTO, G7, G20 and Commonwealth, trade remedies and disputes, and export controls. Prior to joining DIT, Amanda spent much of her career in the Department for Business, leading work on innovation, industrial strategy and growth policy. She has also served

Cumbrian Conversation With many of the lockdown restrictions still in place, unfortunately the annual Cumbria lunch was unable to take place again this year. Instead, Old Girls and Old Boys chatted in a virtual ‘happy hour’.

overseas as the Deputy High Commissioner and Director of Trade and Investment in Singapore. Amanda has an MBA from Imperial College, and received a CBE for services to economic growth in 2020.

Prior to the event, Amanda was asked to reflect upon her time in the Girls’ Division and how this has helped her to achieve her ambitions. Although Amanda is the only member of her family to have attended Bolton School, she occasionally finds connections in her working life, which is very gratifying – in particular, she has got to know Gillian Crooks (née Spencer, 19711982) and Sarah Jayne Allen (1992-2006) Among a plethora of fantastic memories of School, trips to Cautley feature highly, as do School productions, such as My Fair Lady and The House of Bernarda Alba, and being in the Venture Scouts. However, playing lacrosse does not feature in Amanda’s list of highlights – she reckons she was terrible at it!

Amanda’s favourite teachers were Mrs Todd, Mrs Georgiou, Mrs Garthwaite and Miss Dickinson – in fact, she wishes the latter could work her magic on her son who is taking Maths A Level and finding it as tough going as Amanda herself did.

Above all, Bolton School gave Amanda confidence – she notes that Miss Boston’s Beech House mantra of “Onwards and Upwards” runs deep in her!

There was plenty to talk about, but all agreed they were looking forward to enjoying some proper Lake District hospitality at the Lindeth Howe Hotel, courtesy of Old Boy Stephen Broughton (Class of 1970), next Spring.

Alumni Events Calendar 2021 Tuesday 14th December Monday 13th December

Girls’ Division Perspectives Lecture: Medicine Girls' Division Ceremony of Carols

Via Zoom, 7pm Great Hall, 7.30pm

Old Girls’ Lunch Cambridge Dinner Girls’ Division Perspectives Lecture London Dinner New York Dinner Patterdale 25+2 Open Day ‘1’ Class Reunion Scottish Dinner Old Girls’ Lunch and AGM Friends of Bolton School Dinner Cumbria Lunch Recent Leavers' Reunion, Class of 2021

Arts Centre, 12 noon Venue TBC, 7pm Via Zoom, 7pm Armourers’ Hall, 7pm Harvard Club NYC Patterdale Hall Bolton School, 11.30am-4.30pm University of Edinburgh, 7pm Arts Centre, 12 noon Arts Centre, TBC Lindeth Howe Hotel, 12 noon Bolton School 3-5pm

2022 Thursday 3rd February Friday 4th February Tuesday 8th February Friday 4th March Wednesday 23rd March Sunday 24th April Saturday 30th April Friday 6th May Thursday 9th June Friday 10th June Friday 24th June Monday 27th June

To reserve your ticket for any of our Alumni events, please call the Development Office on 01204 434718, email development@boltonschool.org or visit the ‘Former Pupils section of the School website (www.boltonschool.org) where you can book online.

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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Autumn 2021

Recent Leavers Relish Reunion After being deprived of their customary opportunity to return to School one year after leaving, members of the Classes of 2019 and 2020 were thrilled to be reunited with their classmates at a special reunion in September.

Our youngest Old Girls and Old Boys took part in a question and answer session in which current Year 13 pupils were able to get the lowdown on university life, the world of work and the pros and cons of taking a gap year.

Afterwards there was a real buzz of excitement as everyone caught up with friends and former teachers.

Maya Drummond (Class of 2018), Lorna Stirzaker (Class of 2020), Isobel Plant (Class of 2020)

Amelia Doherty, Lauren Pursey, Rachelle Sidoli and Sally Cowling (all Class of 2020)

Annabelle Boulos, Cate Lord, Honey Higham, Lucy Nutall (all Class of 2020)

Safiyya Patel, Huma Azim, Hamzah Babaria and Huzaifa Anwar (all Class of 2020)

Ella Smyth, Rachel Crompton, Gabby Appleby, Jaya Guhathakurta (all Class of 2019)

Decade Reunion Delights After having to shelve Alumni events for many months, it was fantastic to welcome leavers from 1960, 1970, 1980, 1990, 2000 and 2010, along with former members of staff back to School at the end of September.

There was a wonderful atmosphere as Old Girls and Old Boys returned to reminisce, to see what has changed since they left – and what hasn’t! – and to enjoy a good old school dinner.

Hannah Smith (2003-2010), Barbara Laycock (née Ingham) Tricia Hall (Girls’ Division and Catherine Bankes (née Staff, 1993-2014), Anna Chadwick (both Class of 1960) McCrory (2003-2010)

Mary Rose Walsh (Girls’ Division Staff, 2005-2019 and Patricia Hall (Girls’ Division Staff, 1993-2014)

Joanne Willan (née Rushton) and Elizabeth Isherwood (née Lewis) (both Class of 1980)

Amanda Lakin (née Kilsby) and Gill Richards (Headmistress, Susan Thomas (née Porter) (both 2005-2011) and Lynne Kyle Class of 1980) (Head of Girls’ Division)

Tina Ninan and Helen Andrews (née Williams) (both Class of 2000)

Elizabeth Hayward (née Rigby), Shirley Sheehy (née Deeks), Cherrill Lee (née Gratrix), Vanessa Barnes (née Pietre), Janet Hutson (née Wright) (all Class of 1970)

Vivien Rink (née Appleyard, Ailsa Hurst, Jennifer White (née Davis), Barbara Laycock (née Ingham) and Catherine Bankes (née Chadwick) (all Class of 1960)

Members of the Class of 1980

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Emilia Davies, Elizabeth Davies (née Morritt), Melanie Fawcett-Brown, Katherine Brooks (née McCreesh) (all Class of 1990, Alice Brooks

OLD GIRLS’ FEATURES Inspiring the Next Generation Old Girls studying and working in a variety of professions continue to offer their assistance to the current generation of Bolton School girls, sharing professional expertise and offering guidance. The Development Office and the Careers Departments have been delighted to work together to welcome these Alumni back to School for the benefit of pupils throughout the Divisions. The full features can be read at the ‘Former Pupils’ section of the School’s website.

Interview Skills Evening The annual Joint Year 12 Interview Skills Evening in June had no choice but to be run virtually – which enabled a fantastic number of Old Girls to hold mock interviews with Sixth Form pupils. Thank you to the following for offering their time and expertise:

Vet Ruth Auchterlounie (née Stott, Class of 1989), civil engineer Amy Williams (née Worsell, 1990-1997), asset manager Hazel Youens (née Wolstenholme, 1991-1998), recruitment manager Emma Pasquill (1999-2008), brand manager Jade Slater (2004-2011), mechanical engineer Radhika Sharma (2004-2015), pharmacist and paralegal Farah Awda (2008-2015) and audit associate Chandrani Gupta (2013-2017).

Aiming High and Staying Positive Judith Grazier (née Ashton, 1972-1979) is Senior Education Associate at The Skills Builder

Partnership. She presented a useful session for Year 10 girls on teamwork, leadership and creativity and problem-solving.

Sharon Advises Aspiring Doctors Sharon Daniel (2007-2020) is currently studying Medicine at Imperial College, London. She kindly took time away from her studies to give a very detailed and extremely informative presentation to budding medics in Year 13 who are sitting the BMAT in November.

It was lovely to welcome Sharon back into School and she did not fail to impress with her excellent guide on to how to prepare for the assessment, with a thorough outline of the areas to be examined and her Top Tips for Success.

World of Work Rajeshree Bhosle (Class of 1998) and Stella Pickford (Class of 1999) joined Year 10 girls on Zoom for the final instalments in this year’s series of World of Work talks.

Rajeshree studied Business and Italian at university before completing her CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) qualification in Commercial Finance. She is the Global Rajeshree gave Chief Financial Officer for The Faction an insider’s Collective, a premium ski brand, but view of the has also worked for some of the world’s fashion industry most successful and recognised brands: Ivy Park, Christian Louboutin, Michael Kors, Selfridges and Jimmy Choo. She gave an overview of how fashion companies work and described how her work involves using financial and accounting data to work out how to grow, be profitable, add value and meet business objectives.

Stella is Director for Northern Europe Warehousing with Procter & Gamble: she is responsible for the multinational company’s warehouses in the UK, Ireland and the Nordic countries as well as distribution from manufacturing sites to warehouses to stores. In addition to this role, she is a mental health first aider, corporate trainer, interviewer and leader of the Diversity and Inclusion Network.

Stella advised the girls not to focus on what their weaknesses are, but on ‘what they can bring to the party’

Stella initially followed her dream of studying veterinary medicine at the University of Bristol, but after personal circumstances led to her leaving that career, she remembered how much she had been inspired by Young Enterprise at School and she applied to study Business Management at Manchester.

Her message to the Year 10 girls was to stretch themselves, but always to try to ‘be at peace with doing your best.’

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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Autumn 2021

Perspectives ‘Perspectives’ is a lecture series hosted by the Girls’ Division, with events scheduled to take place once every halfterm. The lectures are free to attend via Zoom and are open to pupils in Year 10 and above, parents, Alumni, all other members of the School and to the local community.

Old Girls Open Window onto the Fashion Industry The virtual Perspectives lecture in May offered a fascinating insight into the world of fashion. The panel of five Old Girls offered their views on the industry and its future. Rajeshree Bhosle (Class of 1998) is Global CFO for premium ski brand The Faction Collective; Joanna Czutkowna (Class of 2000) runs her own fashion consultancy, focusing on sustainable product development; Sarah Ann Murray (Class of 2001) is a menswear stylist based in Portugal; Flo Hughes (Class of 2009) is a designer at Asos; Imogen West (Class of 2019) is studying for a BA (Hons) degree in Fashion Design at the University of Leeds.

At the lecture, the panellists described their routes through Higher Education into the fashion industry and their resulting career paths. Their combined experiences have seen them working with some of the world’s most successful brands and industry leaders and styling A-List

Interviewing the Engineers The June Perspectives lecture brought together three Old Girls to speak about their varied experiences in the field of Engineering: Khadijah Ismail (Class of 2017), a fourth-year aerospace engineering degree apprentice currently working at BAE Systems, Radhika Sharma (Class of 2015), a Mechanical Engineer with the British Antarctic Survey, and Amy Williams (née Worsell, Class of 1997), a Chartered Civil Engineer and senior manager at Highways England.

The trio described their routes into engineering, their workplace experiences and projects they had enjoyed working on. All three spoke about their experiences as women in a traditionally male-dominated field, although all agreed that they have not felt that being a woman is a problem.

Khadijah’s fondest memories of Bolton School include the Prefects’ panto, Duke of Edinburgh award and enjoying free periods in the Riley Centre. Subjectwise she was particularly inspired by Mr Speakman, the Physics technician, who encouraged her to pursue electronics and was always willing to provide help and support, and Miss Langley, who helped her to apply for the Arkwright scholarship which has played a part in getting Khadijah to where she is today. She adds that personally Bolton School has given her the confidence to dream big – to dream seriously big!

When Radhika looks back on her time at School, she remembers in particular her A Level classes in Product Design. The group of only five girls was very tight-knit,

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celebrities. All the panelists stressed the importance of work experience and internships. They also discussed the many different positions that are available in the sector – noting that there are increasingly more women in top roles – and of the ever-changing nature of the business – Imogen advised the audience to ‘be aware of current trends, but don’t be constrained by them’. And all agreed that the drive towards sustainability will bring many changes in the years ahead.

Prior to the lecture, the panellists were asked to reflect on their time in the Girls’ Division and how Bolton School had prepared them for their current roles. Despite their varied memories and experiences, all agreed that they had benefited from a well-rounded education, gained confidence and made lifelong friends.

Rajeshree noted that the varied curriculum at School meant that although she was not the most traditionally academic of students, she was nevertheless able to find subjects which she enjoyed and excelled at, and enjoyed their lessons not only as learning experiences, but also as social occasions. Radhika has always loved working with her hands and designing new things, so those lessons set a good foundation for her career. She is particularly grateful to Mrs Drinkwater, whose advice has since served her well in job interviews and salary negotiations, and to Miss Langley and Mr Linfitt, her teachers for Product Design, whom she credits with her desire to go into engineering. Miss Langley was also a great role model as a woman in engineering and technology – although Radhika didn't realise it at the time, she was the first woman she had seen in that kind of work, and it clearly made an impression. Radhika reflects that her time at Bolton School stripped her of any ideas of what was ‘for girls’ – doubts about herself as a woman in engineering never occurred to her until others thought to ask her about it.

Amy is the first and only member of her family to attend Bolton School.

She looks back particularly fondly on Ceremony of Carols, which always made Christmas feel that little bit more festive.

Amy was a rare being during her time at the School as she attended lessons in the Boys’ Division. She did A Level Technology with Mr Whitmarsh and he always encouraged her in her choice of career. She reflects that this was good preparation for entering in to a male-dominated sector. She notes that nowadays things are more equal, although being a leader in a male environment is not something that she has ever been concerned about.

which in turn gave her confidence and led to a career that she loves. She has fond memories of playing netball – and believes that the cold, wet Saturday mornings at the Pavilion and early morning coach trips to away matches have contributed to the resilience required in her line of work.

Joanna counts herself very lucky to have been taught Textiles by the ‘fabulous’ Mrs Tankard – they say a teacher can change a life and Mrs Tankard definitely influenced Joanna’s.

A new Textiles classroom was built during Joanna’s time at School and she recalls that this was a space in which she wanted to spend time – many of her fondest memories are of doing coursework in there.

Like Rajeshree, she believes her experience at Bolton School gave her confidence, a strong sense of self and belief in what she could achieve.

Flo studied A Levels in English Literature, Art and Textiles. Her fondest memory of Bolton School is of painting in the Art rooms – she recalls spending a lot of her time there in the Sixth Form; it is where she started working on her first ever portfolio. Teachers Miss Fazackerley, Mrs Fisher and

An Architectural Angle Alumni architects Emma Roden (née Platt, Class of 1990), a Director of Kimble Roden Architects Ltd, Chloe Granger (Class of 1998), a Director of Crosby Granger Architects Ltd and also a Technical Advisor for the SPAB (Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings), and Fiona Hazlitt (Class of 2017), a fifth year student currently completing a Masters degree in Architecture at the University of Nottingham, shared their experiences of this varied and rewarding career in the October Perspectives lecture.

Emma described architecture as ‘the perfect blend of creativity and problemsolving’ and said that this career ‘combines arts and sciences in a way no other profession does’. She spoke about the pros and cons of setting up her own practice and the challenges of organising a project and coordinating contractors.

Chloe has worked on churches, castles, ruins, estates, barn conversions and new-builds using traditional materials. She explained that ‘conservation and sustainable architecture is the way forward’ and that with climate change being such a key issue, it is important to have healthy and efficient buildings, borne from the use of appropriate materials.

Fiona described the experience of studying architecture at university and advised aspiring architects on what to consider when applying, elaborating on the design portfolio that is required as part of the application.

Miss Stafford had a huge impact on Flo, giving great advice and encouraging her to take the path she has.

The overwhelming sentiment which Sarah took with her from Bolton School was a respectful marriage between working hard and freedom. In other words, the girls were encouraged to do whatever they wanted – to pursue dreams, to express themselves, to think outside the box – but the message was nevertheless one of hard work and dedication. Sarah remembers fondly her English teachers, Mrs Hadjigeorgiou and Mrs Lowe, who were knowledgeable and inspiring and encouraged Sarah and her classmates to think for themselves. And coming to Bolton School much later than many of the other pupils she was touched by the kindness shown to the ‘new’ girl.

Imogen’s Fashion and Textiles teachers, Miss Stafford and Mrs Entwistle, inspired her to work hard and to produce her best work for her university application. She has great memories of her Gold Duke of Edinburgh expedition, sailing in Scotland on Tenacity, a boat built by the School – as well as being great fun, the discipline and resilience she gained from the experience have stood her in good stead during her university studies.

Recalling their time at Bolton School, all three speakers referred to teachers who had inspired and encouraged them.

Emma retains a sense of pride about her School days, and is thankful for the lasting friendships she made during her time at Bolton School. She was particularly inspired by her Art teacher, Mrs Cole, who was always very encouraging, and by her Physics teacher, Mrs Hall – despite her rather dour outlook!

Chloe was fascinated by Bolton School’s corridors and passageways, secret stairs and ‘out of bounds’ places which contributed to her love of old buildings and her passion for conserving them.

She is particularly appreciative of Miss Langley in Design Technology, not only for showing that girls could follow other paths through academia, but that they could make and design things – essentially showing that a woman could do a job that previously men had dominated.

A work experience placement during the Sixth Form convinced Fiona that architecture was the career she wanted to follow. She is indebted to Mrs Winder, who was both her Geography teacher and Head of Sixth Form, and who spent a lot of her free time talking through Geography questions with Fiona and marking extra exam-style questions she did – Fiona credits the help she received from Mrs Winder with gaining her university place.

All of the Perspectives lectures held thus far can be watched in full on the School’s You Tube channel. Details of future lectures will be published on the School website, and on the Alumni social media channels, as they are confirmed.

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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Autumn 2021

Developing Skills for Future Success Year 12 students in the Girls’ Division spent a morning developing a wide range of skills for the workplace.

Hannah Sutcliffe (Class of 2011), cofounder of virtual reality training company Moonhub, ran one of the sessions in which she challenged the girls to imagine themselves as marketing agencies and asked them to come up with a pitch to help her company go global.

Afterwards she delivered a keynote speech to all the girls taking part.

Hannah’s fondest memories of her time at Bolton School are of making friends there: she has kept in touch with

Christine Promotes Personal Safety Personal Safety specialist Christine Morrison (née Eccles, Class of 1977) delivered an informative presentation to Year 12 girls’ about personal safety and stalking.

Despite the serious subject matter, Christine’s talk was very engaging: she explained what stalking behaviour is and the impact it can have on victims, including depression, anxiety and PTSD. She has a practical policing and crime prevention background and she shared some of the more serious and tragic stalking cases in which she had been involved.

them and the close bond between them endures – they are now enjoying attending each other’s weddings! She also loved the French exchange in Year 9 – this was her first real insight into French culture, and inspired her to study French at A Level, then languages at University.

Among Hannah’s teachers Mrs Hayes stands out. Hannah took Maths at AS Level and found it a very tricky subject, but Mrs Hayes would stay behind for an extra few minutes during her break to help her to understand anything she had struggled with during the lesson.

Hannah believes her experience at Bolton School gave her the confidence to know that hard work really pays off: if you set your mind to do something, you can achieve it.

The success of Moonhub has certainly demonstrated this belief, as Hannah has been listed as an Influential Woman in Business, an Influential Woman in Tech, and a Leader in Sales and Training.

Christine encouraged her audience not to ignore any ‘unwanted conduct’, whether physical, online – or both, and urged the girls to speak to someone before a situation becomes extreme. She warned them to be careful of what they put on social media and to be aware of the terms and conditions of platforms like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and Instagram.

Finally, she recommended three documentary films available on Netflix related to her talk: The Social Dilemma, The Great Hack and a documentary about Canadian murderer Luka Magnotta.

Careers Carousel Continues Thanks to Zoom, Year 6 pupils at Park Road and in Hesketh House were able to be inspired by representatives from a variety of occupations.

Old Girls Natalie Rout (1993-2007), a London-based GP, and Hannah Earp (2000-2010), a marine biologist, joined Old Boy Rob De Maine (1995-2002), a qualified helicopter instructor with the Royal Navy, and a team from UK Fast, a Manchester-based cloud-hosting company, to enthuse the boys and girls and to answer their probing and thoughtprovoking questions.

What is Civil Engineering?

Rachael Moulton (Class of 2010) joined Year 10 girls on Zoom as part of a series of Women of Work talks to explain what Civil Engineering is.

After leaving Bolton School, Rachael went to the University of Bath to study Civil and Architectural Engineering, but soon switched to just Civil Engineering, as this focused on the subjects she enjoyed. In November 2020, she achieved Chartered Engineer status with the Institution

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Natalie spoke about her role as a doctor

There were lots of questions for marine biologist Hannah

of Civil Engineers and after a number of years working as a Highways Design Engineer, she is now a member of the Operational Safety team at Atkins, a design, engineering and project management consultancy.

Rachael noted that Civil Engineering needs more women and described the various routes into the field and the different jobs available. She assured those girls considering this career path that there are so many options available that they will find something that interests them – her own job enables her to work with interesting people in a growing market, with opportunities for travel both in the UK and abroad.

Old Girls in Art The Girls’ Division has seen some very creative pupils pass through its Art, Design and Textiles Departments.

Here we meet three of them who have made careers out of their artistic talents.

Hannah Morgan (née Leedham, Class of 1999) Hannah is an illustrator. After having her children she started running her own company, ‘Hanxmade’, from her home in Nantwich, Cheshire, designing greetings cards, prints and private commissions as well as illustrations for websites. Her work can be seen at www.hannah-morgan.com.

“I think going to Bolton School Girls’ Division influenced my career choice in many ways. I’ve always loved creating and that was hugely encouraged and supported by my design teacher at the time, Mrs Langley-West. I also remember Mrs Head (History) commenting in my, heavily decorated, homework that “You should be an illustrator”. Funny that she didn’t suggest for me to become a historian, but it’s entirely possible that the illustrations were an attempt to distract her from the text!

“What you don’t realise in GCSE Design when you’re grappling with a hacksaw is that the people you’re sharing the bench with will also be a huge help and influence in your

Courteney Kiely (Class of 2014) Courteney had intended to gain several more years’ experience at the established firm where she started her career a few years earlier. However, earlier this year, at the age of 25, she started her own commercial interior design practice, Scene Interiors (www.sceneinteriors.com).

“I had learned a lot, having worked on some of the North West’s most prestigious residential and office developments, ultimately becoming lead interior designer. But I could see things were changing. Our clients – mostly major property developers – were looking for bigger and bolder ideas for their interiors in order to attract buyers and tenants in an increasingly competitive market. And yet most firms were providing the same tired ideas – following trends rather than starting them.

“So I set up Scene Interiors with a singular vision: to create boundary-shifting interior spaces that would redefine the role of design and set our clients apart. I was conscious that, with the UK in the middle of a pandemic and the economy uncertain, my timing may not have been great. But the urge Katy O’Neil (1979-1992) Katy loved Art lessons at Bolton School – the art room was her sanctuary. She counts herself lucky to have had Mrs Fisher as her Art teacher throughout and as her Form Teacher in the Sixth Form: Mrs Fisher instilled a deep love of art, clay and ceramics in Katy, going above and beyond to encourage her.

“After leaving the Sixth Form, I went on to study glass and ceramics at degree level followed by a Masters in Ceramics at UWIC. I fell in to Further Education teaching, initially Adult Learners and subsequently 16-19 year olds. I hope I inspired in them a love for art, and opened their eyes to the many and varied career possibilities available.

“In 2012 I was the Art and Design Curriculum Leader at Bolton College, enjoying the teaching, but less so all the other aspects of education and management. It became

future career. These are the people that are giving you free marketing advice at their kitchen table 25 years later, they’re buying your artwork when you’re starting out or commissioning illustrations from you for their website.

“You don’t realise then the wealth of knowledge that surrounds you and will support your future self, or the cheerleaders that will back you long after you’ve abandoned the School netball court.

“Bolton School helped me forge a dogged determination and a desire to succeed, an almost compulsive love of writing lists and a hunger to continue to learn more.

“What it doesn’t teach you is how to fail, which is something you should experience a few times in life and business. You do have setbacks when you run your own business and sometimes these are the most valuable lessons you can learn.

Fortunately, when you have these setbacks, the girl you met on the School bus 30 years ago is still happy to put the world to rights when this happens too.” to break-out and seize the opportunity was too strong.

“Although only six months in, we have already launched our website, kicked-off our social media marketing and started building relationships with suppliers and partners, most recently at the Maison&Objet international trade show in Paris. We have also secured our first project for a new luxury residential and commercial developer which has a number of exciting new schemes in the pipeline. There’s a long road ahead, and I’m under no illusion that building a business from scratch will be easy. It will take a lot of focus and a little bit of luck.

“Over the past year, I have often reflected on what has given me the confidence to set out on my own now, rather than follow a more conventional career path. My time at Bolton School taught me a lot, but two things in particular stand out: “Firstly, the importance of self-belief when pursuing your ambitions. As pupils, we were always encouraged to find our own unique strengths and to have faith in our own abilities.

“And secondly, the importance of self-discipline if you’re going to succeed. Achieving your goals requires relentless focus, which itself requires constant discipline.” apparent to me that I needed to return to making my own art. I quit teaching and never looked back.

“I am now a full-time professional ceramic artist, creating in my home studio. I create ceramic vases, wall plaques and bowls, as well as an extensive range of ceramic jewellery.

My work is stocked throughout the UK in over 30 galleries and on my own online store (www.katyoneil.com) and I exhibit regularly at selected shows up and down the country.

Each day brings new challenges, experiences and different ways to express myself through my art.

“To this day I have the friendship and support of many Old Girls and Old Boys with whom I shared my time with at School; I cherish these connections. In many ways I owe a huge debt to Mrs Fisher and Bolton School Art Department for guiding me through to the career path that I find so fulfilling.”

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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Autumn 2021

Alumni Authors

Space: 10 Things You Should Know

By Becky Smethurst (1998-2008) Published by Seven Dials; ISBN-13: 978-1841883823 Dr Becky Smethurst is widely known for her YouTube channel: with nearly 300,000 subscribers, she offers friendly yet effortless explanations for the latest news in astronomy.

In Space: 10 Things You Should Know, her debut piece of popular science writing, Dr Smethurst writes ten bite-sized essays on some of the most pertinent questions in Astrophysics today. The short essays range from the importance of Gravity to whether aliens may exist, and ensure that there is something for everyone. Dr Smethurst writes most passionately in the essay about her own research on Supermassive Black Holes. With a contagious excitement, she uses the analogy of whether the chicken or the egg came first to relate whether our Galaxy formed because of the Supermassive Black Hole at the centre of it, or whether the Supermassive Black Hole formed because of the Galaxy. In another essay Smethurst becomes much more philosophical, she talks about how little we actually know. Using examples from the Aurora Borealis to Galaxies, Smethurst shows us that sometimes there are unknowns staring right at us, and that we just need to be brave enough to

Harry Heart

By Hannah Berry (1988-2002) Published by Austin Macauley Fun comes in the form of this educational book whose star is a heart named Harry. This is the first in a series of books called Organised written by Old Girl, Hannah Berry. Harry Heart is a cool, lively member of a team of essential organs, who work hard day and night to ensure that the human body can function effectively, and thereby, aid happy and healthy living. Harry’s daily routine leaves him with little time to rest, but whether he’s pumping blood around the body or sending messages to his team-mates, be sure that he’ll be carrying out his duties in an amusing and

One Month of You

By Suzanne Ewart (née Hart, 1994-2001) Published by Trapeze; ISBN-13:978-1409194378 Set within the familiarity of Manchester, this love story simultaneously manages to juggle being painfully relatable, whilst staying so unique. When Alec, the charming new bartender, asks Jess out, she knows it won’t work. Jess keeps a set of strict rules to live her life by. And the first? Don’t fall in love.

Jess has inherited Huntington’s disease from the mother that she cares for. This novel details the heartbreaking reality of the impact that neurodegenerative diseases have, and the devastating weight that they carry over so many families.

Witnessing the pain that Jess experiences as a result of her mother’s mental deterioration throughout the novel allows the reader a brief glimpse into the reality of so many.

For Jess, she realises that falling in love would mean condemning someone else to the heartbreak that she feels every day. Jess has learnt to keep everyone and everything at arm’s length, but Alec is determined to break down her barriers. Nevertheless, Jess is determined too. She is terrified of subjecting someone to the same loss that she experiences everyday. When Alec continues on his quest to woo her, Jess knows she has to reveal why this can’t go any further; however, she does not anticipate how difficult that conversation may be. In Jess’s own words: “Telling Alec about Mum isn’t nearly as hard as telling him about me.

Once I do that, I’ll become a sick girl, and he’ll start to pity me. I

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ask questions about them to find the answers.

Dr Smethurst also recalls how she was told that when she wrote she had a conversational tone, and that for writing English essays this would not be appropriate. However, it is Smethurst’s humour and friendly explanations that set this book apart. In one essay, Smethurst references Mean Girls, and in another she talks about her love for the Spice Girls. In contrast, there are quotes from the likes of William Blake and Edgar Allan Poe that Dr Smethurst uses to illustrate her points. This versatility makes her debut book feel so accessible to all who read it; whether they are young or old, whether they are completely new to Astrophysics or are well-versed on the ins-and-outs of Black Holes. Dr Smethurst explains tough concepts with an ease, and uses memorable analogies such as glowing thumbnails, which adds excitement for those who may usually be reluctant to pick up a book about Astrophysics.

Dr Becky Smethurst truly demonstrates her aptitude for making Astrophysics appealing to all: the ten essays she writes are concise yet brimming with information. Each essay is stand-alone, and so the book lends itself to being read in short intervals, which allow the reader to understand truly what is mentioned in each of the essays; and is extremely convenient for those who may be busy, and can only find small chunks of time to devote to reading. Space: 10 Things You Should Know is a must-read for anyone who wants an introduction to Astrophysics. Dr Smethurst says that she feels a child-like curiosity when she looks up at the Universe – this book inspires that same feeling of inquisition and leaves the reader wanting to know more.

Sophie Hann (2014-2021) exciting way!

The characterisation of Harry Heart, depicted through bold, colourful, cartoon drawings and engaging rhymes reflects Hannah Berry’s inventiveness. This story, which explains the challenging concept of the inner functions of the heart, through detailed illustrations and gentle poetry, should stimulate young readers. It will gently nudge them to absorb material presented in a variety of inspirational ways and I have no doubt it will encourage repeated reads. All will surely love this picture book.

A qualified primary school teacher, Hannah Berry understands what makes young readers tick. She has cleverly produced a series of books with a distinct flavour, Organ-ised, which support children’s learning of the ten main organs.

Jacqueline Drinkwater (Girls’ Division Staff, 2001-2020) can’t let him see me that way.”

When Jess reveals part of the reason that she cannot be with Alec (she has to focus on caring for her mother), rather than backing off, Alec has a proposition to allow Jess the opportunity to live in the moment and forget about the future for a short while. He asks her to date him … for just one month. But as Jess begins to fall for Alec, she knows that she must end it. In her mind, it is better he is hurt now, rather than heartbroken later.

Ewart’s storytelling is some of the rawest writing I have had the pleasure of reading. I adored how she managed to intertwine such familiar and beautiful descriptions with the heartbreaking ordeal of watching a loved one wither away. I find that this is one of those rare occasions where I truly feel that an author’s descriptions embody an experience. Several times throughout this novel I found myself cheering a little silent “Yes!” in my head when I related to one of Ewart’s remarkable descriptions.

One of my favourites was very early on in the novel when Jess is watching on as her sick mother sleeps: “I lean against the doorframe, watching her. She always looks stronger when she sleeps; the chorea makes her blurry when she’s awake, whereas sleep solidifies her, brings her back together.”

This book started as a result of a Write Your Own Love Story competition created by eharmony and Trapeze in 2018 and in my opinion truly embodies the best elements of a successful romance. I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a cosy love story and I look forward to seeing any future projects from Suzanne Ewart.

Manahil Masood (Year 13)

Old Girls Go Global The Old Girls’ Association has over 4,500 members living and working not just in the UK, but across the globe. Here we catch up with four Old Girls who have relocated overseas, find out what motivated them to move abroad, what they enjoy about their lives there … and what they still miss about the UK!

Dawn Wiles (née Glasgow, 1969-1979) Thirty years ago I took the massive step of emigrating to Australia with my husband and four-month-old son. We settled in Cooma, NSW – a small rural town of 6,000, an hour from the snow, surf and city (Canberra). My husband and I are both GPs. We have had three more children who have all left home now.

The climate in Cooma is very different from rainy England! Cooma is in rain-shadow from the Snowy Mountains so the countryside is browner and gum trees define the landscape.

One of the hazards of driving home at night is hitting a kangaroo or wombat. There are many colourful birds and sometimes we see echidnas in our garden.

I love the lifestyle of our rural community; however, the sheer distances in Australia surprised me initially. Being the only family walking on a beautiful beach or appreciating stunning mountain scenery still astonishes me!

I miss my family in the UK the most. My brother and his family still live there, but we have been using Zoom to catch up frequently. I also miss the history and the range of dialects across the country in England.

Ruth Hepner (née Freilich, 1947-1950) after Ruth Hepner I was born in Hartlepool and removed to Bolton where my Father, Minister of the small Jewish community, sadly died; my brave Mother decided we should join my oldest sister who was teaching in London. There I attended a co-educational school and a year's secretarial course – all very different from Bolton School. I served as Headmaster's Secretary to two Headmasters for some thirty years during which time I married and had three children.

When our children were in primary school, I very much wanted them to learn to read music and to play an instrument; the chosen teacher was a brilliant windinstrumentalist who had attended the Boys’ Division of Bolton School (though we didn’t know him then); his name was John Denham, who had become a teacher at the school in London where I worked. He taught our children to play recorder and so enthused our youngest child that the two maintained a lasting friendship.

My husband, Arie, and I were persuaded in 2020 by our daughter and son-in-law - themselves about to emigrate - that we should move to sheltered accommodation here in Jerusalem; they live nearby and are enormously supportive: we could not have undertaken this move without their constant help.

Of course, Jerusalem has great religious significance - and so much to love and by which to be amazed: whereelse can one see olive trees growing on the pavement in a main thoroughfare? Our apartment is part of a community of fewer than 100 residents – men and women of worldwide nationalities - most of whom speak English, though we are not unfamiliar with Ivrit, as Modern Hebrew is called. The residents and social workers are all friendly and helpful and there are many optional activities suiting every taste. We naturally miss our dear friends in UK, but today’s technology minimises the separation. Climate is hot – airconditioning helps! – diet not too different and is, of course, strictly Kosher.

In my time at Bolton School Miss Varley was Headmistress; I fondly remember Mrs Tate who taught French and Miss Dawson (History) - she was not impressed with my version of the Bayeux Tapestry!….).

Valerie Storey (née Lee, 1964-1971) In 2002, after 25 years as a teacher and school leader in the UK, I crossed the Atlantic to complete a PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee. After completing my doctorate, I chose to stay in the USA and eventually became a tenured faculty member and professor emerita at the University of Central Florida, one of the largest universities in America with almost 72,000 students and an operating budget of $1.9 billion.

Moving from the north of England to Nashville was indeed a culture shock. Upon moving into our new house, amazing, cooked food began appearing on our doorstep. Initially suspicious of this hospitality, I soon began to appreciate the kindness of my Tennessean neighbors who quickly demonstrated the benefits of disposable plates, cups, etc rather than English china. I also learned to love country music and the Tennessean Titans – although the rules of American football remain a mystery to me!

Danielle Cook (née Skelly, Class of 2005) One of the things that I loved about Bolton School was getting to play lacrosse. Little did I know that the sport that I learnt to play there would lead me to spend the rest of my life on the other side of the world.

When I moved to a different Sixth Form, I wanted to continue playing the sport that I had grown to love and so I joined Timperley Lacrosse Club. It was here I made lots of American friends over the years who came to the UK to coach us, and it was one in particular through whom I met my wife, Jenn.

I moved to the US in 2018 to get married and I now live just outside of Princeton in New Jersey. It’s a perfect location, one hour south of New York and one hour north of Philadelphia, with mountains and the beach also both within a two-hour drive.

Living on the intracoastal in Florida and close to the ocean, life revolves around the outdoors and specifically water sports. Three hundred and twenty days of sunshine brings with it many benefits, but this is counterbalanced by hurricane season.

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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Autumn 2021

Staff in the Spotlight At the end of the Summer term the Girls’ Division bade a fond farewell to three long-serving members of the teaching staff: Mrs Brown (Information Systems Manager), Ms Felton (Art) and Mrs Shafiq (Modern Languages).

Year 13 students Olivia Stubbs and Roxanne Asumu caught up with Mrs Brown, Serena Arya and Emilie Fielding chatted with Ms Felton and Lizzy Lees and Sara Salim quizzed Mrs Shafiq about their time at Bolton School and their plans for the future.

Ms Felton

How many years have you worked at Bolton School?

Thirty-eight! I never thought I’d be here this long!

Was it your first teaching post?

No, I had a temporary post for one year teaching in a comprehensive in Wolverhampton before moving here to a permanent job in 1983.

Have you always taught girls?

No – in Wolverhampton I taught boys and girls.

Fifteen or so years ago we taught one boy in the Girls’ Division because his A Levels wouldn’t fit in the Boys’ Division. He now runs his own design company in Manchester and he wrote to me to thank me for encouraging him to do what he does.

Did you always want to be a teacher?

No! Never! Guess what I wanted to be?”

Serena and Emilie guessed an artist or a fashion designer – both wrong answers. Finally they guessed ‘a singer?’

Yes! A singer! I won lots of talent competitions as a teenager and that’s what I wanted to do.

So why did you want to be a teacher?

I didn’t! When I said I wanted to be a singer I was encouraged to have something to 'fall back on!' That was how I ended up in art college. But I didn’t want to be a teacher – I was going to do a fellowship at a Victorian tile factory in Shropshire after I graduated, but I didn’t get the post. I thought maybe I could teach children with special needs; I went for teacher training and was trained as an art teacher and art therapist.

But I couldn’t get a job at any special schools at that time as Margaret Thatcher started closing them down. So I ended up in Wolverhampton and then finally Bolton!

However, I carried on my singing I was in a band which brought out two records during my first few years teaching at Bolton School. I would be out till three o’clock in the morning singing in Manchester, Hebden Bridge, all over the North West. And then I’d come in and teach the next day!

I want to get back in a band when I retire. I go out and I see a lot of live bands in Manchester. I’m really interested in all the new music that’s around.

What would you have done if you had not become a teacher?

I’d like to think I could have become an internationally famous singer, either on my own or in a band. There’s still time! I auditioned for Britain’s Got Talent and The Voice – maybe I should have another go!

What is the best part of teaching at Bolton School?

The girls – they’re wonderful. And, obviously, art: feeling I’ve had a hand in teaching the girls to develop their talent and their confidence. And the music! I can’t believe there is a school anywhere that does music and productions as well as Bolton School does, and. I have been very privileged to have been part of the musical life here. Over the years I’ve sung in

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the parents’ choirs and the staff choirs. I was in a staff-only production of Twelfth Night – I think there has only ever been one staff production like that, and that was very special.

Do you have any stand-out memories from your time here?

So many! A funny one was being chased by a bull in a field with Mrs Shafiq (when she was still Miss Kelly) when we were at Cautley. We had to run for our lives while the girls watched us from over the wall! Another standout is the music: singing, attending amazing concerts, performing at Bridgewater Hall – and seeing my son, who attended the Boys’ Division, playing his violin on stage there as part of the orchestra.

I met Princess Diana when she came to School to open the Arts Centre. We put on an art exhibition, and the girls met her, and she was absolutely delightful.

In one of the Year 10 Christmas Posts I was Cleopatra: I was wheeled down the Hall on a science trolley and onto the platform to do a rap.

I had my hair shaved off for charity. I was up on the platform and Mrs McCann sprayed my hair green and started cutting it off with garden shears, then my hairdresser ran up the hall with his box of tricks and came to sort things out. Girls had paid about 50p to come and watch it, but I only raised around £50, which is not as much as I had hoped to raise for losing all of my hair!

How has School life changed over the years?

Some things seem to be perennial, but other things have changed. The original dining room was very different. We used to eat at great big wooden tables and a member of staff had to dish up the food.

The uniform has undergone many changes. The girls used to have ‘outdoor’ and ‘indoor’ shoes – the latter were those horrible Clarks sandals that children wear, they were very unpopular! Ties changed enormously from really small knots to loose floppy undone ones and eventually they were replaced with blouses.

It used to be freezing cold – there were no carpets, the cloisters were open. I also remember the wooden chairs in the Hall; there was a big ‘hoohah’ when they were replaced.

What is your favourite Bolton School tradition?

The Ceremony of Carols – it’s magical. I will be there this Christmas to hear it. Also the shows and productions – I got involved with many of them.

What are your plans for your retirement?

I would really like to join a band again; I would like to do some more recording. I will decorate my big old tatty house. I am going to travel a lot and visit new places and places I love, especially art galleries.

I am going to miss the place. I live round the corner and can hear the boys playing sports on the field. It will be emotional to leave after so long – but, having said that, I’m not going to miss the reports and the admin!

Mrs Brown

How long have you worked at Bolton School?

Thirty years! I didn’t think it would be so long, it just worked out that way!

Was it your first teaching post?

Yes, this is my first official teaching post. I did teacher training at two other schools, so this is my third school. I previously worked in industry, with two years at Rowntree Mackintosh and five years with Cheshire County Council.

Have you always taught girls?

I have always taught girls, apart from during my training.

Did you always want to be a teacher?

Yes, I always wanted to be a teacher, but wanted to do some work in industry so that I could bring that into my teaching.

Why did you want to be a teacher?

I like passing on my enthusiasm for subjects.

Where did you train to be a teacher?

I trained at Crewe and Alsager College.

What would you have done if you had not become a teacher?

I was a computer programmer and then a computer analyst before I came into teaching, so I would have pursued that field.

What do you enjoy most about working at Bolton School?

Teaching the pupils – in general, they are fantastic!

Mrs Shafiq

How many years have you worked at Bolton School?

I joined the school in 1981 fresh from my PGCE course at Manchester University, so that makes 40 years in the same job! I had previously studied French and Spanish at Leeds University, spending time near Lyon in France and in Granada in Spain. If you need an incentive to continue your languages then the year abroad would be it. A steep learning curve both linguistically, socially and practically, but probably the best time of your life.

Do you have any stand-out memories from your time here?

When I first started we used to do teacher/staff reviews in front of the pupils. One year Miss Dickinson and I choreographed a dance to perform to the School, which the girls found very amusing!

How has School life changed over the years?

During the first years, there were very few changes. Since Covid-19 struck, the goal posts in and out of the classroom have constantly been changing. If you strip off the technology, we fundamentally still teach the same content in the computer science department. However, there are now many more computers on a network! We no longer have the BBC and Apple Macintosh computers we had at the start, and logging on at the start of a lesson is much more straightforward. I first started teaching computing at Bolton School, then moved to IT, and now I’m back to computing.

What is your favourite Bolton School tradition?

Assemblies and the Ceremony of Carols are my favourite traditions; although they have changed over the years, they have changed the least.

What are your plans for your retirement?

The environment! Promoting ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ and planting some more trees.

What does School mean to you?

Bolton School is completely different to my own education experience. I was apprehensive at first, but seeing how you can grow and develop in this environment is lovely – witnessing students growing in confidence rather than hiding under a bushel!

staff there. We also organised the activities and Miss Felton shares the tale of walking through a field only to be met by a dangerous-looking bull … not sure how we missed that one off the risk assessment, but we lived to tell the tale!

My first School trip abroad was to Paris where the accommodation turned out to be in the red light district and I shared a room with a view of the sky with Mrs Garthwaite. I also went on the very first French exchange to Moulins. Mrs Hutchings, the then Head of Languages, and I stayed in a chateau and I accessed my bedroom through a room full of spiders, cobwebs and men in suits of armour – the stuff of nightmares!

Did you always want to be a teacher?

I had always wanted to be a teacher, but then I had the idea that I would like to join the diplomatic service. Unfortunately, I was not able to get over the Maths hurdle (never my strongest subject), so that meant back to Plan A.

In School, Spanish went from strength to strength and we had exchanges to Barcelona, Málaga, Granada and Madrid. They were the best of times and it was so rewarding when girls realised that somebody actually spoke the language they had been trying to master and that with even a few words you can make yourself understood.

Was it your first teaching post?

I applied for the job here, as the Head of Languages at the time, Miss Morley, wanted to appoint a French teacher who could also introduce a new language. I was interviewed by Mrs Spurr, the Headmistress, and I was lucky enough to be given the job.

In School, we put on plays, had MFL drama evenings and even turned the Great Hall into ‘Micro-ville’, a version of France, Germany and Spain where we had stalls and cafés and girls went shopping, used currency, ate typical food and wrote a postcard home. Sounds like madness, but it was great fun.

What is the best part about teaching at Bolton school?

When I arrived, I was in awe of the amazing staff, such a talented set of individuals. That is still the case today – although I think we are a lot less scary! In the staffroom everybody had their own chair where some left their knitting, and woe betide you if you turned up not wearing tights or wearing trousers. A very different world.

Do you have any stand out memories from your time here?

In my first year, I went to Cautley three times. In those days staff leading the trip had to do the shopping and cook all of the meals, as well as clean the house at the end of the stay. I think that is why I really appreciate Patterdale and the

What is your favourite Bolton School tradition?

The tradition I value most is being in the Hall on those memorable occasions when you get the sense of what a great community we are, everybody feeling positive and realising just how lucky we are to be there.

What are your plans for retirement?

I have not yet made any plans for my retirement – I am waiting for enough headspace to start thinking about it. School is part of my DNA and I am going to miss the girls, the staff and the excitement of every day being different. Most people cannot understand how somebody can be in the same school for 40 years – I would say that it has been a privilege and I have enjoyed every moment (well almost!).

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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Autumn 2021

Story of a Gown The Prefects’ gowns are one of the enduring symbols of the Girls’ Division, and the Gowning of the Prefects, held in the Great Hall each May, has become one of its most special traditions. Here Fiona Day (née Macnab, 1986-1993) and Natasha Street (2003-2010) describe wearing their gowns with pride.

What was your favourite moment whilst wearing your gown?

What one piece of advice would you give to this year’s Year 13 pupils?

Fiona: Work out what you are truly good at and what you enjoy – academics will provide a great platform, but your personal skills and motivation will distinguish you in the longer term.

Fiona: Swishing down the aisle in assemblies.

Natasha: My favourite moment and one I remember really clearly is walking down the centre aisle with the organ playing at the start of each assembly. As a younger L-R: Helen Scott, Kate Fawell-Comley, pupil I always looked up to the Natasha Street, Daisy Hill Prefects and aspired to be in (all Class of 2010) assembly wearing a Prefect gown one day. It felt equally as special every time, and I feel so nostalgic thinking of that now.

What were your hopes/plans for the future, as you passed on your gown?

Fiona: I wanted to travel as much as possible. I’d also recently been to Paris with Alex Ellis on work experience organised by School and really wanted to live there.

Natasha: I wondered sometimes when I was at School about all the Old Girls’ names in the gown and what they were up to years later, and wondered if future Prefects would ever have similar thoughts about me! I left School excited to go to university and looking forward to living abroad which I was able to do a few years later.

What did you do after leaving School?

Fiona: I took a gap year which was not very common in those days. My university place fell through at the last minute as it was a new course which was postponed for a year.

Instead, I went to work as an au pair in Paris which was a fantastic experience. I then Natasha with went on to Newcastle University and studied Sara Ward (Class of 2010) Law with French, spending another year in Paris.

Natasha: I studied German, Spanish and Economics at Newcastle University with a year abroad split between Frankfurt and Murcia, before joining Nestlé on the Graduate Scheme.

What are you doing now?

Fiona: I live in London and am a busy mum to Isla, Tom and Phoebe. I qualified as a lawyer and am Head of Legal for commercial lending at Lloyd’s Banking Group.

Natasha: After seven years with Nestlé Purina Petcare, I am just starting a new role as Head of Sales for Terrafertil, a Nestlé subsidiary in the healthy snacking/plant based area. After relocating south for seven years, my partner and I recently moved back to the North West and it’s brilliant being back here.

Natasha with Kate FawellComley (Class of 2010)

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Natasha was thrilled to find ‘her’ gown at the Grand Reunion in 2015!

Natasha: I would say the world really is your oyster and you can do anything, if you set your mind to it.

Are you still in touch with friends from School?

Enjoying cocktails at the Grand Reunion in 2015 L-R: Kate FawellComley, Sara Ward and Natasha

Fiona: Yes, I am still in regular contact with Heather Jordan (née Barlow), Jen Johnston (née Ramsdale), Alex Moon (née Ellis), Rachel Hartley (née Lewis) and Vics Sykes (née Edwards).

Mrs Hayes (Maths), We see each other a lot and still Natasha and Sara go on holiday together. We’ve Ward in 2010 helped each other through all sorts – definitely friends for life.

Natasha: Yes! I spent last weekend celebrating my birthday with Sara Ward and Kate Fawell-Comley (both also Class of 2010), and loved the Grand Reunion in 2015.

Fiona in the Upper Sixth, 1993 L-R: Alex Moon (née Ellis) Vicki Sykes (née Edwards), Dawn Holmes (néw Bennett), Jill Satchwell (née Hargreaves), Alison Webber, Heather Jordan (née Barlow), Katie Partington, Fiona Day (née MacNab)

Fiona and friends in the Sixth Form Common Room L-R: Alex Moon, Jill Satchwell, Heather Jordan (front), Fiona and Vicky Sykes

L-R: Vicky Sykes, Fiona, Alex Moon, Jen Johnston (née Ramsdale) and Heather Jordan on a ‘Bolton girls’ trip to New York

NEWS OF OLD GIRLS If you would like to get in touch with any of the Old Girls featured – or any other Alumni – please contact the Development Office.

Class of 1970-1979

Dr Susan Booth (née Simm, 1969-1976) Susan studied medicine at Manchester medical school and qualified in 1981. She and her husband relocated to Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada in 2009.

Susan currently works in Addiction medicine and on Friday nights goes out with the local outreach team to take food, water and clothing to between 50 and 100 homeless people living in the Comox valley. Susan gives medical advice when required.

This is a relatively wealthy area of Vancouver Island, but nevertheless there are over 100 people who are homeless. The vast majority of them are suffering with addiction issues, but not all – indeed, many people are one pay cheque away from living in their car or on the street. The work is very rewarding and the majority of people that the outreach team helps are very friendly and grateful for the support.

She may be a long way from Bolton School Girls’ Division, but the values instilled there are still with Susan today!

Class of 1980-1989

Debbi Morgan-Jones (1983-1988) Congratulations to Debs who is thrilled to have been honoured

by FosterTalk for her outstanding contribution to social work during lockdown. Debs is a senior supervising social worker with FCA Fostering and was nominated by the carers who foster the looked-after children for her professional, caring and empathetic attitude. FosterTalk is recognised as the ‘go to’ organisation for fostering advice, guidance, training and support. Debs loves her work and having her dedication and commitment acknowledged in this way makes it all the more rewarding.

Class of 1990-1999

Julia Miskelly (née Gorski, 1985-1995) Julia is the Manager of the Faculty of Medicine Health and Life Sciences (FMHLS) Genomics Core Technology Unit (GCTU) at Queens University Belfast.

She leads a team of highly skilled

technicians providing consultation on the newest technologies and best approaches for researchers and their collaborators on experiment design.

Julia graduated with a First Class degree in Biochemistry from the University of Dundee where she developed an interest in gene transcription which led to Doctoral work in transcription and gene regulation. She subsequently moved to Queens University Belfast, where she studied the transcriptional regulation of the breast cancer susceptibility gene BRCA1. She then focused her studies around Next Generation Sequencing technologies (NGS) and application. Since 2010 she has been developing NGS processes in Belfast, and in 2014 was seconded to pharmaceuticals company Almac Diagnostics as Team Leader for NGS development in Internal Products.

Julia returned to QUB in 2017 to manage the GCTU. Her team at Queens has been heavily involved in supporting Covid testing and is currently part of the COG-UK initiative sequencing all the Covid-19 variants in Northern Ireland.

Julia has recently been highlighted in 101 jobs that change the world – UKRI a UKRI (UK Research and Innovation) wide campaign aiming to recognise the diversity of roles which make major contributions to the wider research and innovation ecosystem (ie not just researchers and innovators).

Annie Percik (1990-1996) Following the success of her debut fantasy novel, The Defiant Spark (reviewed in the Spring 2021 edition of this Newsletter), Annie’s second book, A Spectrum of Heroes, was published in September.

Biochemist Anushka Mahto is accidentally contaminated by a mysterious substance, while attempting to dispose of it. On the run from the lab where she used to work, Anushka must learn to control her multiple new powers while being hunted by lab security chief and former lover, Charlotte. When alien Ergo comes onto the scene, Anushka suddenly finds the fate of humanity resting in her hands. Can she navigate her personal relationships and also prevent an interstellar war?

A Spectrum of Heroes will be reviewed in the Spring 2022 Newsletter.

Class of 2000-2009

Naomi Birchall (2007-2009) Naomi is a Technical Digital and Innovation Consultant at North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

She has a passion for property development and the evolution of smart cities and has recently graduated from the University of Manchester with a Masters in Real Estate – congratulations!

Naomi is now focusing on how she can bring together her new real estate skills and knowledge with technical and digital experience.

Cherie Cunningham (1998-2005) Congratulations to Cherie who has been appointed as the new Channel Director for UKTV’s award-winning comedy entertainment channel Dave. She will be responsible for the commissioning of all of the channel’s new programming and marketing, including shows such as Meet the Richardsons, Big Zuu’s Big Eats and Hypothetical.

Antonia Heap (2002-2009) Antonia recently enjoyed taking part in the Ironman 70.3 triathlon in her hometown of Bolton.

The event involved a 1.2 mile open water swim in Pennington Flash followed by Antonia a 55 mile bike ride celebrates with through the rolling her partner and northern hills of fellow Ironman Bolton and the Mark Morgan famous Sheephouse Lane, before finishing with a 13.1 mile run through Bolton town centre and along Chorley New Road, passing Bolton School several times along the way. The local support throughout the day was brilliant as always and whilst completing the 70.3 was a challenge in itself, it has paved the way for the challenge of full Ironman distance which Antonia plans to complete in July 2022 – again in Bolton and which will be twice the distance of the 70.3.

Class of 2010-2019

Thorrun Govind (Class of 2010) Congratulations to community pharmacist Thorrun who has been elected as Chair of the English Board of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.

The society is the professional body for pharmacy and pharmacists.

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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Autumn 2021 Thorrun, who regularly promotes the pharmacy profession in the national press, TV and on radio, is the youngest official to hold this position in the history of the organisation.

Eleanor Senior (1998-2012) Congratulations to Eleanor who has graduated from the University of Liverpool with a PhD in Infection and Global Health, specialising in Veterinary Parasitology.

Chloe Wynne (2007-2013) Just before the pandemic, in February 2020, Chloe had a career move from PR to working on the frontline of sexual violence support services in London, risk assessing and triaging survivors. In August this year she moved into another role within the same sector working as an Independent Sexual Violence Advocate with a charity called SurvivorsUK which works specifically with male and non-binary survivors of sexual violence. Her new role involves challenging police decisions, attending court, and being a point of contact for survivors going through the criminal justice process.

Alliya Ghanchi (2008-2015) Congratulations to Alliya on the attainment of her Medicine degree from the University of Leicester. Alliya also achieved an intercalated MSc in medical research with Distinction in January of this year.

Kendal Watkinson (2005-2015) Congratulations to Kendal who has officially been called to the Bar of England and Wales. Kendal has also commenced pupillage at Hogarth Chambers, an Intellectual Property set.

Charlotte Fielding (Class of 2016) Congratulations to Charlotte who has completed her PGCE in Secondary Modern Languages (German Charlotte and Spanish). It was doing not a normal training teacher year by any means, training what with the pandemic during the causing schools to pandemic close, and some of her first experiences of teaching being online, then in person with masks on!

Nevertheless, she was recommended for QTS and took up a position as a Spanish Teacher in Manchester in September. Charlotte is pleased to be back in the North West after five years of living in Newcastle – after leaving Bolton School she studied Modern Languages, Translation and Interpretation at Newcastle University, from where she graduated last year.

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Emma Hailwood (2009-2016) After completing a Master's course at UCL in Drug Design and doing research within the Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, Emma is now a Research Assistant at the Department of Surgery and Cancer at Imperial College London, focusing on methods of biomarker detection to catch the early signs of cancer.

Riya Kalhan (2009-2016) The debut single Look My Way has been entirely written, produced and independently released

by RIYA on all streaming platforms, amassing close to half a million views within the first month of release. It’s won the top 9% ISM song writing spot from over 30,000 applications attracting the attention of national TV and radio stations.

After completing her diploma at the age of 17, Riya taught herself how to produce and write music, drawing upon her Bollywood influences both in her music and image as an artist. She utilises rhythmic tabla percussion and sampled synth sitar drones as part of her production, particularly in her follow up singles Reality and Give Into You, creating a truly unique sound. She has since been scouted to perform live for the infamous Sofar Sounds, with her rendition of Sam Smith’s Promises featuring a tabla twist, uploaded to their global platform. Having previously performed at prestigious venues with huge capacities such as The Macron Stadium, XOYO London, Troxy London and the Tate Modern Museum, RIYA is delighted to have been chosen as BBC’s introducing Artist of the Week. She has been invited for numerous live BBC interviews and is excited to release her upcoming song Escape in November 2021.

Abi Sikorski (Class of 2016) Abi left the Girls’ Division during Year 12 after the sudden death of her father. She gained a diploma in Hair and Make-Up, worked in a salon and taught her skills to others. However, she was keen to use her commercial brain and become involved in her Dad’s business, the Lavender Hotel Group.

With insufficient UCAS points, Abi enlisted the help of Head of Sixth Form Mrs Winder and in view of her circumstances and excellent CV was offered a place at the University of Salford. Alongside her studies she worked for the family business, progressing to General Manager during the second and third years

of her degree. This Summer she graduated with a First Class degree in Business and Management.

Abi is indebted to Bolton School, especially Mrs Winder and former Headmistress Mrs Richards, for instilling in her the belief that no Bolton School girl would be ever be average and that with hope, determination and confidence anything is possible. She says: “‘I realise that when life deals you a bad hand it’s what you do next that counts, and I can now take great satisfaction from knowing that the tough decision to leave Bolton School at the end of Year 12 has eventually paid off.”

Sannah Ali (Class of 2017) Congratulations to Sannah who has graduated from the University of Central Lancashire with a First Class Law LLB (Hons) degree. Due to her academic achievements, Sannah also became a Dean’s List honouree.

After graduating, Sannah has taken the next step in pursuing her legal career and is now studying the LPC LLM at the University of Law in Manchester.

Once Sannah has qualified as a Solicitor, she wishes to work within the fields of corporate and commercial law and once this has been achieved, she would then like to change course and become a practising Barrister.

Louisa Brophy (2003-2017) This Summer Louisa graduated from Newcastle University with a 2:1 in International Business Management with French (BSc). During her time at university she continued playing lacrosse, representing the first team in the Premier A division of BUCS, where she also took on a number of roles within the Committee, including Vice Captain, Treasurer and President.

During the Summer of 2019, Louisa represented Ireland in the U19 women’s lacrosse World Championships in Canada.

Louisa has recently started a graduate scheme with Babcock International in the Aviation sector, with her first of four six-month placements working as a bid coordinator in Paris.

Grace Ball (2010-2017) At the University of York Grace studied Chemistry (MChem), with a year abroad in Grenoble, France. Her masters research year was carried out at the Université Grenoble Alpes, where the research consisted of creating small drug compounds to produce anti-inflammatory properties, fuelling her interest in

academic research. All the drug compounds Grace made during her fourth year have been patented and published, highlighting their success.

After graduating, Grace will now be studying for a PhD in Chemistry at the University of Birmingham, with a scholarship from the School of Chemistry, funded by the EPSRC. The PhD will be in the area of Nanoparticles and Bioinorganic Chemistry for the selective release of antibiotics within the Pikramenou group.

Isobel Birtwhistle (2010-2017) Congratulations to Isobel who has graduated from Durham University with a First Class degree in Modern Languages and Cultures.

Bethany O’Donnell (2009-2016) Congratulations to Beth who has achieved a First Class Masters degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Liverpool. In 2016, Beth left Bolton School Sixth Form with grades B,D,E in Product Design, Maths and Physics.

As disheartened as she was, she didn’t let those results define her and has proven that with the correct mindset anything is possible. She went to Carmel Sixth Form College to do an Engineering Foundation Year, and then progressed onto the Mechanical Engineering Degree course at the University of Liverpool.

Five years later, she has achieved her degree and, furthermore, she has been accepted onto the BAE Systems Graduate programme as a Maritime Systems Mechanical Engineer.

Hester Grange (2011-2018) Congratulations to Hester who has graduated from Newcastle University with a 2:1 in Philosophy.

She has now set up her own business as a nail technician which she thoroughly enjoys and she is looking forward to expanding this enterprise.

Abbie Gregson (2009-2017) Abbie has reached another milestone in her progress towards becoming a commercial pilot! She has achieved her MEIR(A) Rating (Multi Engine Instrument Rating) in Belgium, which gives her the privileges to fly in any weather,

from clear skies to the most adverse conditions. This was, without a doubt, the most challenging phase of her training – she was required to fly a multi engine aircraft, the PA34-220T Seneca V, as a single pilot.

Abbie notes that pilots’ salaries are often questioned, especially when they achieve captaincy with the airlines. She argues that they are not paid this amount for every sector to go smoothly; rather, they are paid for when things go wrong, and are trusted to make smart decisions to save the hundreds of lives that they are carrying on board. During this part of her training, she has realised just how important it is to know every detail about the aircraft she is flying, and to be fully prepared for every threat that she may face on a particular sector.

Covid-19 has impacted Abbie’s training throughout the past year.

When she began in February 2019 she planned to be a fully qualified ATPL-licensed Pilot within 18 months.

However, her training will only be fully completed at the end of this year, marking just under three years with CAE Aviation Academy.

The aviation market has been unequivocally impacted by the coronavirus restrictions, but Abbie hopes that within the next two or three years she will achieve her dream of working for one of the major European airlines.

Lucy Harper (2005-2017) Congratulations to Lucy who has graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a 3.6 GPA (2:1 UK equivalent) as a double major in History and Communications. Lucy will now be continuing her education at the University of Charleston, where she will be working towards a Masters of Science in Strategic Leadership (MSSL). Alongside this, she will be taking on the role of graduate assistant for the women’s tennis team.

Imogen Joyce (Class of 2017) Congratulations to Imogen who graduated with BA Honours (First Class) in Politics and International Relations from Queen Mary University of London in July. Imogen is continuing her studies at Queen Mary’s with an MSc in Public Policy from Autumn 2021.

Molly McLaughlin (2010-2017) Molly is absolutely thrilled to have received a First Class Honours degree in Law from the University of Glasgow! It’s safe to say that this degree has presented its challenges in more ways than one, but she has been extremely lucky to have had the support of her family and friends to help her along the way. For her third year Molly studied at the University of Oslo on an Erasmus exchange and would highly recommend this to anyone considering it. She is now studying for her diploma at the University of Glasgow before taking a break and doing some travelling.

Hannah Shaw (2010-2017) Congratulations to Hannah who has graduated from Durham University with a 2:1 in Modern Languages and Cultures.

Hannah Saad (2004-2018) Well done to Hannah who has graduated with a First Class LLB Bachelor of Law degree from Durham University. Hannah is looking forward to continuing her studies in Law, Medicine and Healthcare as she embarks on an LLM Masters at the University of Liverpool.

Class of 2020

Atiyah Suleman (2016-2018) Congratulations to Atiyah who has gained a first-class degree in Economics from the University of Manchester. In recognition of her results, she was awarded the Dean’s Award for Achievement which is given to students who are in the top 0.5% of the undergraduate graduating year.

Ruqayyah Naeem (2013-2020) Ruqayyah is studying Medicine and has recently set up a small business aimed at aiding prospective medical students with their university applications. Advice on personal statements and tutoring for interviews is offered, with the aim of making this affordable for everyone, regardless of their background. Each individual team member has had an extensive amount of personal statement and interview training to ensure the best guidance is delivered. For further details please see Ruqayyah’s Instagram page, @medschoolmentor_ or email medschoolmentor_@outlook.com.

Mini Reunions - Rivington Ramble A group of 1977 Leavers enjoyed the late Summer sunshine with a ramble around Rivington followed by lunch at Spring Cottage.

They are planning further walks in the local area and slightly further afield depending

on who is available to join them – anyone from the Class of 1977 is welcome to come along for an informal, leisurely stroll with plenty of chatting and a bite to eat. Please contact Laura Henthorn (née Carless, 1970-1977) or Janice Pillar (née Drake, 1970-1977) via the Development Office if you would like to join in.

L-R: Diana German (née Taylor), Janice Pillar (née Drake), Christine Morrison (née Eccles), Laura Henthorn (née Carless), Jackie Sloane-Bateson (née Sloane) and Susan Harding

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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Autumn 2021

MATCHES AND HATCHES Claire Feiler (née Nolan, Class of 1976) After four false starts – not due to cold feet, but to Covid-19 – Claire finally married Rudi on 5th December 2020, slotted in between lockdown 2 and tier 4.

Claire and Rudi Sadly the wedding could not take place on the beach in Mauritius, as originally planned, but in Claire’s local tiny village church, with just the 15 guests allowed. Of those 15, the service was conducted by Claire’s brother, Marcus Nolan (Class of 1974), and Claire was walked down the aisle by Andrew Dootson (Class of 1976), whom she first met in Beech House, taking the place of her father, Bernard Nolan, former Clark and Treasurer at Bolton School, who sadly died a few months earlier. Another guest was Claire’s bridge partner, Ian Riley (Class of 1981, and Chairman of Governors). Sadly none of the groom’s family were able to attend from Germany. The happy couple, who live in the peaceful Chilterns, were very lucky to be able to go on honeymoon to the Maldives.

Charlotte Scott (2003-2013) Congratulations to Charlotte, who, after having her wedding rescheduled several times due to lockdown, finally married her fiancé Christopher Wiseman on 11th June at the Belsfield Hotel in Windermere.

Charlotte with her bridesmaids Stephanie (left) and Lucy

Charlotte’s sister, Lucy (2003-2011) and best friend Stephanie Lems (2006-2013) were her bridesmaids.

Danielle Cook (née Skelly, Class of 2005) Congratulations to Danielle and Jenn who welcomed their little girl, Cameron Riley Cook, on 7th April.

Danielle, Jenn and baby Cameron Suzanne Lewis (1998-2005) Congratulations to Suzanne and her husband, Rich, who welcomed their baby boy during the first 2020 lockdown. After a tricky start, Robin Thomas Lewis is thriving and turned one on 17th June.

Suzanne and Robin

Suzanne has also begun a new job at the British Red Cross, taking a secondment from her role as Head of Volunteer Operations to become the Culture Development Lead, developing and embedding a new values and behaviours framework for the organisation. She is enjoying both the challenges of her new role at work and the adventures of being mum to a one-year-old!

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Sarah Coleman (née Jones, 2002-2009) On 10th July 2021 Beth, Chris and Sarah married her baby Raina best friend, Will Coleman, at Bashall Barn, Clitheroe.

L-R: Tim and Kathryn Taylor, Sarah and Will Coleman, Abi Taylor and her fiancé Andrew Lamb

Despite the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions being delayed, the ceremony was able to take place outside with no masks and was followed by a small afternoon tea with 38 family members and close friends. It was an amazing day!

Sarah’s Maid of Honour was Abi Taylor (Class of 2009).

Also in attendance were Abi’s parents Tim (1964-1979) and Kathryn (née Nuttall, 1973-1980).

Rachel Bellaby (née Egan, 2002-2009) Proud parents Rachel and Chris were thrilled to welcome Leo William Bellaby on 31st March.

Rachel and Leo

Chris and Charlotte finally tied the knot

The couple met when Charlotte was in Year 13 at Bolton School and Chris was in the Army – while she was doing her A Levels, he was in Afghanistan.

Beth Nightingale (1994-2008) Double congratulations to Beth who married Chris Edkins at Thornton Manor, the old home of Lord Leverhulme, on 21st September 2019, where they were

joined by 30 Old Girls and Old Boys, and on the arrival of Raina Alice Edkins on 1st October 2020.

A host of Old Boys and Old Girls helped Beth and Chris celebrate their marriage

Harriet Henthorn (Class of 2010) Congratulations to Hattie and Alex Symes (Class of 2008) on the arrival of their first child, Annabelle Rose Henthorn-Symes, on 27th May, weighing 9lbs.

Jessica Lea (née Turner, Class of 2011) Jessica married James in James in August 2019 at Merrydale Manor, Knutsford, Cheshire. 13 months later the happy couple welcomed their first baby, Marla Grace, into the world on 24th September 2020 – her due date!

Emily Varley (2003-2012)

Alex, Hattie and baby Annabelle

Jessica, James and Marla Grace

Congratulations to Emily who married Adrian Matthew on 21st August (delayed from last year) at Shuttleworth House in Bedfordshire.

Among the guests were a number of Bolton Emily and Adrian with Emily’s family School Alumni, including Emily’s sister, Daisy (Class of 2014), and brother, Rupert (Class of 2019), her cousins, the Cowlings – Tom (Class of 2011), Toby (Class of 2013), Hal (Class of 2017) and Sally (Class of 2020) – who contributed to the music on the day and class mate and fellow Cambridge student Connor Rogers (2005-2012). After a wonderful wedding day the couple enjoyed a fantastic honeymoon in the Lake District, recreating adventures from Patterdale – kayaking, gorge walking, canyoning and cycling all featured!

FROM THE ARCHIVES Ask the Archivist The Old Girls’ Association: from its Formation until the Second World War When the Old Girls’ Association (OGA) was formed in 1926 there were 350 members. Today membership exceeds 5,000, with Old Girls living in every corner of the world.

The current Association replaced the Past and Present Club, which had been inaugurated in March 1889 at the instigation of Miss Fanny Johnson, then the Headmistress of the Bolton High School for Girls. Within Signatures of attendees at the two years, these original Old inaugural meeting of the OGA Girls were working at different philanthropic institutions in the town, including the Blind School and the Girls’ Recreation Club. They also provided musical entertainment and recitations for the Chadwick Orphanage on Bromwich Street and the Blair Hospital, a health facility at Bromley Cross. Social events were organised at School, the proceeds of which were given to various charities in the town. In short, the Old Girls were already exhibiting the same depth of community involvement that has remained synonymous with our Old Girls until the present day.

The new Association was inaugurated on 26th March 1926 with Miss Meade (Headmistress, 1919-1938) becoming President. The membership was divided into six groups, each comprising girls who had left the School during a certain period, and each of which had its own Secretary and Treasurer. All these officers sat on the Committee which also included three Vice Presidents, representatives of the staff and of various sub-societies – the result was a hefty committee with no fewer than 24 members. Subscriptions were set at 12s 6d (12½p) and Life Subscriptions were £2.

Some meetings of the Association were more significant than others. The Summer 1929 meeting was the first to be held in the new School after it had been officially opened on 25th September 1928 by Viscountess Leverhulme and provided the first opportunity for many of the 150 Old Girls who attended to walk around the new buildings. The Summer 1933 meeting took the form of an organ recital by Mr WT Lancaster on the new organ which had been played for the first time at an assembly only nine days previously. The Summer 1934 meeting (held in October!) was held only a few weeks after the new West Wing had been officially opened

by Dr Winifred Cullis, Professor of Physiology at London University. G Jones and P Haslam wrote: “We were all greatly interested in the very up-to date science lecture room, the biology greenhouse and the large new dining hall – a very different place from the dining room in the old School. The greatest enthusiasm, however, seemed to be stressed by the latest innovation, the laundry and the very modern cookery kitchen”.

The winter meetings were generally dinners, although there

The OGA Summer Meeting 1927

was a Christmas Party instead in 1931. Entertainment was provided variously by Company of Players, the Sixth Form Jazz Band or the Old Girls leading community singing. The 1936 meeting was significant as this was when the decision was taken to raise funds for an Old Girls’ Award which would be given annually to help a girl leaving School to further her career. A whist drive was arranged for the winter meeting of 1937, but during the course of the evening the news came through that King Edward VIII was about to broadcast to the nation from Windsor Castle. All those present moved to the Science lecture room to listen to the Abdication speech.

Dorothy Rosbottom wrote: “After this the meeting ended, no one feeling in the lesser inclined for whist”.

Aside from the twice-yearly Association meetings, Old Girls also met up to play tennis on the School courts at Albert Road, to take part in the gymnastics class led by Miss Bishop or to play lacrosse. Another popular venture was the Company of The Girls' Division West Players which regularly provided Wing, c 1934 donations for charitable causes in the town. The Old Girls also continued to provide help in the community, a typical example being the provision of helpers at the Girls’ Recreation Club, leading ballroom dancing classes and running a service on Sunday evenings followed by entertainment.

A Reunion and Garden Party for Old Girls was arranged for 4th May 1938 to mark the retirement of Miss Meade. The sun shone as 250 sat down to a tea provided by the Governors.

This was followed by a display of Eurhythmics after which Old Girls Viscountess Leverhulme were free to wander round the opening the new School School to see photographs and on 25th September 1928 displays before Miss Meade was presented with a suitcase, a cheque and a book containing a list of subscribers. She replied that the case would always be “packed with memories of the Old Girls”.

This was the end of an era. The new Headmistress, Miss Varley (1938-1954), was elected as the new President of the Old Girls’ Association in October 1938, but the outbreak of war curtailed the Association’s activities and prevented the 1939 Annual General Meeting taking place. Little would happen over the war years but the Old Girls’ Association would return stronger than ever.

Meet the Archivist Eric Fairweather If you have a question about the School’s history or would like to donate to the Archive any photographs or artefacts from your time at School, Eric would love to hear from you. E: development@boltonschool.org.

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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Autumn 2021

Christmas Post It’s the Autumn term and pupils in the Girls’ Division will soon be starting to plan and perform their Christmas Post Assembly – a great tradition which the whole Senior School looks forward to every year, and which many Old Girls remember fondly if their comments on a recent Facebook post are anything to go by!

Always run by the Lower Fifth girls (now known as Year 10) – I can remember our form room being the Art room on the corner of School, and it became a major sorting depot for a week or so in December. We then distributed the cards around school at the end of term.

Kath Robinson (née Partington, Class of 1987)

The Christmas Post was one of my all-time favourite things about being at Bolton School.

Ellen Clayton (née Coop, Class of 1994)

I remember our Blues Brothers routine!

Stephanie Hill (née Wignall, Class of 1997) Lower 5A in 1970: our Form Mistress was Pam Adams and our theme (unsurprisingly) was the Addams Family.

Such a lot of fun!

Helen Farrar (née Dyson, Class of 1974)

Brilliant! We were Partington’s Pantomime, running down the corridors looking like a drag queen with a sackful of cards. Probably the only time that I didn’t get a telling off for the hem line on my skirt!

Ruth Whitehead (Class of 1994)

Do you remember Mallet’s Mallet? I have visions of us just whacking people’s heads with a blow-up mallet as they walked past on B Corridor and then doing singagrams!

Rebecca Brayshaw (née Hayton, Class of 1997)

Fisher’s Pharaohs, Lower 5F – we adopted the corner of the B corridor with the Tutankhamun portrait!

Victoria Moss (Class of 1997)

Miss Purnell’s Punky Pensioners – it was all about the alliterations. So random. Oh, I loved Christmas Post though!

Hoai-Huong Scannell (née Duong, Class of 1997)

Oh my goodness, that brings back such good memories! Loved it!

Caroline McCormack (née Fawkes, Class of 1994)

Such good times! I remember we did a beauty salon and also did singagrams.

Sam Lafferty (née Kelly, Class of 1996)

The Bolton Alumni Network The Bolton Alumni Network has continued to grow throughout the last year and with the addition of the free Business Directory, which offers self-employed Alumni the opportunity to promote their businesses and services, we are able to present a networking community that spans the globe. With 2,700 registered users in the UK, Australia, Europe, the USA, Canada, the Far East and beyond, the Bolton School Alumni network offers a diverse spectrum of support for Old Girls, Old Boys and Former Staff in a variety of sectors.

In the last six months, 73% of users have indicated they are willing to help those within the Bolton Alumni Network community, and offering advice, mentoring, recruitment and sharing of connections are the most common forms of interaction amongst network users.

• • • • •

1,700+ users are willing to answer industry-specific questions 1,400+ are willing to introduce other Alumni to their connections 1,500+ are happy to offer advice 1,200+ have offered to review CVs 250+ currently offer work experience or internships

The use of the Bolton Alumni Business Directory as a free tool to showcase services to an active network has proved very popular, as has using the platform to offer benefits directly to members. The network of registered users can also be used as a free recruitment tool and we actively welcome any members of the Alumni community who work within, or are responsible for, recruitment to make use of the varied and engaged pool of potential candidates.

For advice on how to advertise a vacancy or search for a mentor within the network please see the informative ‘How to’ videos in the Resources tab. We also welcome any Old Girls and Old Boys who are keen to post a careers skills video specific to their industry to contact the Development Office.

If you are not yet a member of the Bolton Alumni Network, you can join today by signing up at www.boltonalumninetwork.com with your LinkedIn, Facebook or Google Account or with an email address.

The Bolton School Wine Collection The Friends of Bolton School are pleased to present the Bolton School Wine Collection, an exclusive range of wines carefully selected in partnership with T Wright Wine of Horwich. There are six wines in the collection, each priced at £9.95 per bottle: a Pinot Grigio, a Sauvignon Blanc, a Chardonnay, a Shiraz, a Merlot and a White Zinfandel. Delivery is free in the Bolton area (minimum six bottles) and all profits are donated to the Bolton School Bursary Fund.

To order, please visit www.twrightwine.co.uk/13030. For more information please email bsfwines2015@gmail.com.

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Looking Back A nostalgic trip down Chorley New Road – photographs from across the decades

to was kindly Prefects 1947 – this pho Joyce Wallwork of ily fam the donated by ) 947 (née Finnigan, 1940-1 gor, Gre Mc n Jea : L-R Standing, nigan, Fin ce Joy Beth Warburton, n Healey Joa s, ole Sch en hle Kat wman, Seated, L-R: Cynthia Bo ice Hainey, Eileen Farnworth, Eun tle Vera Hughes, Pat Entwis Jean Boardman Front: Helen Walmsley,

Many thanks to Eva Marshall (née Leach, 1949-1953) for sending in this photo of Upper V with Miss Faulkner in 1953

Denise Robinson (née Mills, Class of 1954) sent in this pictur e of Form III(i) carol singing in 1946

The family of Valerie Armstrong (née Smith, 1949-1954) kindly donated these pictures of a Eurhythmics Display, a Swimming Display and Form IIIA Sports Day, all from 1949

The Textiles Room, 199

9-2000

, 1991

The Art Room

A Science lesson, 198

6

Don’t forget to take a look at the ‘Scenes from the Past’ page on the School website, which we update regularly with new archive photos: www.boltonschool.org. You can also share your own archive photos on the Bolton Alumni Network: www.boltonalumninetwork.com.

27

Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Autumn 2021

Memories of School School During the War Elizabeth Mary Mahoney (née Young, 1936-1945) shares her memories of attending Bolton School in the mid-1930s and 1940s. She writes that she is grateful for the education she received – and, aged 93, she still likes to pick wildflowers!

“When I was a child, my family lived in a house on the northern edge of Bolton. My friends and I would walk up the road a short distance to play on an outcrop of the moors.

We picked sprigs of heather and the occasional blueberry – which we called whinberries – although we never found very many.

In the spring of 1936, when I was nine years old, the small private school I had been going to closed its doors. So my parents enrolled me in Bolton School; it was much bigger, and much further from home. To get there I had to take a bus downtown, and then a tram to the School; a trip of about 40 minutes.

Attendance at Bolton School meant that my mother had to make sure I was dressed in the required uniform: navy gymslips and cream blouses in Back, L-R: Sybil Fletcher, Mary Young, winter, pink and ?, ?, Pat Topping Front, L-R: Glynis Johns, Jean Pring, white checked Margaret Walsh (Head Girl), cotton dresses Joan Whittle (Mary’s cousin), ? in summer. And Greenwood, Marjorie May long stockings, black or beige, which had to be held up by garters or suspender belts and were not all that comfortable.

I think we were all happy when the School decreed we could wear ankle socks instead. Hairstyles were regulated too; long hair had to be braided or tied up in some way. And of course, we all had a school tie.

The teachers were excellent. They were mostly single women – the only man, Mr Harris, was the science teacher. They spoke with ‘educated’ accents, while we, of course, spoke with Lancashire accents. Later I wondered if some of these women were single because they had lost sweethearts during the 1914-18 war.

One afternoon a week was devoted to a sport. We played netball and lacrosse in the winter; we played tennis or went cross-country running in the summer.

The boys’ school, which was right next to the girls’ school, had its own indoor swimming pool. In the summer we were allowed to swim there instead of gym class. That was always a pleasure.

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Bolton School had a big library with a good selection of books. I volunteered to work in the library, which meant checking out books and putting them away when they were returned. Later in life, I completed a Master’s degree in Library Science, and worked for many years as a research librarian.

Once a month there was a Junior School meeting, so that we children could practise how to hold one. If it was your form’s turn to do the meeting, you had to choose a chair and a secretary. Minutes of the previous meeting were read and their acceptance voted on.

Then there were speeches, which had all been carefully prepared. One subject that came up fairly often was ‘My Summer Holiday’.

We were encouraged to learn about wild flowers. In Junior School, we were each given a little notebook in which to record every new flower we found. We were told to pick only one of each, to write its name and where we had found it in the notebook, and to bring both the flower and our notebook to school the next morning. Each entry was checked by the form teacher, and when we had recorded a certain number, we could take the notebook to the office of the Headmistress and join the line of girls waiting to go in to sign the Excellent Book. If your name was in this book four times, the Headmistress would include your name in the list she read out when we were all assembled in the Great Hall for Prayers first thing on Monday mornings.

For my birthday, I had been given a book called Flower Fairies. Each page had a perfect image of a particular flower; on the facing page, was a little verse.

When I walked with my mother to visit her sister, we went down a lane, and across a field and a wood. I found many flowers on these walks; bluebells in spring, dandelions in summer, buttercups, daisies, heather and cowslips.

There was sadness as well. When I first arrived at Bolton School, I had been delighted to find that another member of my family was already there.

Marcia was the daughter of my grandfather’s second wife. I loved playing with her whenever I got the chance. When she was 13, a doctor removed her tonsils; she did not survive. Even today when I see a game of hopscotch scrawled in chalk on a sidewalk, I remember Marcia.

In September of 1939, Britain declared war on Germany. The quadrangle in front of the School was dug up, and underground air raid shelters were put in.

We had to practise going into them occasionally. It was cold down there, which was why we had to carry our coats as well as gas masks everywhere we went in the School. It was upsetting at first, but in the end we took it for granted.

As it turned out, German bombers did not bother with Bolton. They concentrated on London and Coventry and other bigger cities. Glasgow, with its ship-

building and docks on the Clyde, was badly bombed.

Manchester, only ten miles away from us, was bombed, although not heavily. One evening, my father took me outside to see the red lights in the sky from burning buildings to the south of us.

Only a few pupils lived close enough to the School to be able to go home for the mid-day meal. Most of us lined up to go into the dining room, where we sat ten girls at a table, with a teacher at the head of each table. It was war-time, remember, and food was rationed. Dinner was usually some kind of meat stew, with a lot of fat on the meat. It wasn’t all that good, although I think the cooks did try their best with the rations that they had available.

When I was in the Fifth Form, a walking tour in the Lake District was organised to take place during the Easter holidays. Two of our teachers planned it and came along to supervise. We enjoyed walking over the mountains, staying in youth hostels along the way.

It was something I had never done before, and I still remember getting to the rounded top of Helvellyn, the third highest peak in England, and looking down at the countryside stretching out below us, where there were little farms, hills, valleys and lakes.

Lacrosse in London The photo of a Chemistry lesson in 1957 on the back cover of the Spring edition prompted Kathleen Ricketts (née Waddicar, 1951-1958) to get in touch. Kathleen writes: “When I opened the recent Old Girls’ Association Newsletter and looked at the back page, I was immediately transported back to working in the lab in 1957 because I instantly recognised Margaret Yates and Lorna Gerrard working at the second bench. They were in fact the year above me, but I knew them well because we had all played together in the School netball and lacrosse teams. The highlight of the year for us was the trip to London to take part in the All England Schools Lacrosse Tournament.

“At that time, a trip to London was an adventure that most girls from the north of England had not experienced: I certainly hadn't. I remember well the excitement of the 40-minute underground train journey from Russell Square to Colliers Wood (near the end of the Northern Line) where the tournament took place. It seemed like the end of the earth! We were all rather nervous, but managed to win two of our three matches; not enough to qualify for the finals, but nevertheless a lot of fun.

“The lasting memory, however, has to be the Saturday evening out and about in Leicester Square. The lights; the bright red London buses; the taxi cabs; the theatres; the people – all buzzing!

“Lyons Corner House (superb eateries as they were then) beckoned everyone by the sound of their

In the Sixth Form, we were told we would not be attending School for the last two weeks of that term.

Instead, we were to help farmers who were growing market gardens out in the country, to harvest their crops of green peas. Their usual pickers were in the forces. Some of our teachers had experienced Girl Guide camps, so we were well organised. We had to take sleeping bags with us, and we camped out in bell tents in the farmers’ fields. We had campfire sing-songs in the evenings. It was fun and we earned money too.

Bolton School was a very good school. It was wellorganised with highly qualified teachers. In the Sixth Form, we prepared for whatever further education we expected to undertake. In my case, it was to study for a science degree at the University of St Andrews.

Note: Elizabeth completed a degree in chemistry at the University of St Andrews. She moved to Canada with her husband in 1953, raised four children, and then completed a Master’s degree in Library Science at McGill University in Montreal. She worked as a research librarian until she retired.

lovely orchestral music which floated out onto the streets. Talented musicians indeed; trios or maybe quartets playing the most magical relaxing music to entertain the diners. The Commissionaire, in full This photograph was taken on uniform (including the the field after the tournament in London in 1957. Lorna is hat), paraded outside, welcomed us at the door on the right kneeling down; Margaret and Kathleen are and led us to our table. immediately behind her in the I haven't any idea of middle row. If any other Old the menu offered, but it Girls recognise themselves, was a magical evening please get in touch with the with an unforgettable Development Office. atmosphere. After the meal, theatre land was our next treat and, in particular, the Vaudeville theatre where the well-known musical The Boyfriend was being performed. I don't remember the stars, but I do remember the music which has stood the test of time and I still play it occasionally on the piano.

“Of course, on returning to Russell Square we were far too excited just to settle down and go to sleep!

At those times we called it ‘the midnight feast’, which found us altogether in one bedroom: not much of a feast, really; probably a biscuit or two and orange juice and certainly no alcohol! Just lots of fun, chat and laughter. How innocent we were!

“Looking back, I feel privileged to have had the opportunity of visiting London in the fifties when it was a very different place.”

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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Autumn 2021

LIVES REMEMBERED Imogen Sarah Welch (1972-1978) Imogen was born in Chichester in February 1961, but the next year was moved to Bolton when her father joined the staff of the Boys’ Division.

She started at Bolton School in 1972, but her studies were not smooth and not helped by her dyslexia – not universally recognised as a precise condition at the time. She left the Sixth Form in the first year and worked for the DHSS in Salford.

She took up A Level studies again at evening classes and achieved good enough results to persuade Manchester University to offer her a place to read for a general degree in Geography and Geology in 1980, and allowed her to move to a place on the Honours Geology course after the first year. She graduated in 1983 with a 2:1.

Finding work for a woman geologist at this time was difficult and Imogen took a Civil Service computer aptitude test, in which she performed well, and was offered a post with the MoD: ironic, considering her strong anti-establishment views.

She subsequently worked for BT and IBM, initially in programming, but later in promoting the services of the companies. She became active in union work and went on demonstrations to GCHQ. The demanding nature of her IBM work began to affect Imogen and she experienced a depression serious enough to stop work and receive professional help. She slowly recovered, decided to change direction and joined a Fine Art degree course at Buckingham Chiltern University College in 2000, specialising in conceptual art. She managed to cope with the written work to the extent that she was awarded a First and subsequently an MA at Southend. During her art career, she had several exhibitions and her work can be viewed at Imogen Welch artist.

Sadly, in 2017 Imogen was diagnosed with cancer in an advanced state and underwent repeated surgery

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and chemotherapy. She decided in 2021 to forego a planned course of treatment to concentrate on work for a project in Southend in June for which she had gained Arts Council funding, but her cancer was proliferating and she was referred for palliative care to the hospice she had chosen. She died in the early hours of 2nd August.

girls in that year who were awarded State Scholarships. She loved English literature and history and always remained grateful to the teachers who recognised and encouraged her potential in those fields. Margaret also learned to play the piano at school; an accomplishment to which she pleasurably returned, when living in Devon, in her retirement years.

Imogen had planned several aspects of her funeral and it took place on 7th September followed by burial in a woodland site at Jordans near Beaconsfield in Buckinghamshire.

The ceremony included tributes from artist friends and the family and it was consoling that so many expressed their appreciation of her kindness and interest in their work and lives.

She leaves Ken, her husband of 26 years; parents, Leonie and Michael (Boys’ Division Staff, 1962-1981); an older sister, Virginia Skoyles (née Welch, 1970-1977); two brothers, Jonathan (1975-1980) and Timothy (1976-1980); five nephews, a niece, many friends to remember her fondly and a large body of artwork.

In the long term, however, the most valuable and influential part of Bolton School for Margaret proved to be the Archaeological Society, which was joint with the Boys’ Division and organised with flair and enthusiasm

by Colin Harding, a Classics master in the Boys’ Division. Margaret was immensely grateful to Colin for nurturing her interest in archaeology, which remained with her and gave her great pleasure throughout her life. In a different era, in her ideal world, on leaving school she would have gone on to build her career in the archaeological sphere. As it was, she was strongly advised to abandon any such aspiration on the ground that women were unlikely ever to break into that male preserve, and she was directed instead towards the study of law.

The Welch Family Margaret Jean Wilby (née Walker, 1954-1961) Joining the senior school in 1954, Margaret found herself amongst a very talented cohort of girls and initially felt somewhat overshadowed by especially gifted pupils already identified as destined to achieve great things. In the field of sports, she had no particular aptitude nor liking for team games but she was a strong swimmer and a competent tennis player. In later years, a daily swim became a constant and unmissable part of her routine and she continued to play club level tennis until the introduction of the Covid-19 restrictions proscribed these activities. In the academic areas of the school’s curriculum, her innate abilities became increasingly clear from O Level onwards and she went on to achieve outstandingly good A and S Level results, on the basis of which she became one of the eleven

After leaving school, she obtained an LLB degree from Exeter University and enjoyed an interesting and varied career in the law. In 1965, after being called to the Bar at the Inner Temple and completing the then innovatory postgraduate criminology course at Girton College, Cambridge University, she lectured on criminal law, in the Law Faculty at Manchester University. Completion of the Manchester University postgraduate Social Administration Diploma was a preliminary to her appointment as a Manchester Probation Officer based in Gorton. Suitably toughened up by her experience working in the Moss Side area of the city, she secured a pupillage at the Bar and tenancy in Manchester chambers.

At the time, this change of career direction elicited a rebuke from one of her former teachers expressing disappointment that she was moving from ‘one of the most selfless and worthwhile professions’ to join the ‘the most selfish’. In practice, however, Margaret did not find this

to be the case and always viewed her legal career as a public spirited role.

Some fifty or so years later, with an almost equal representation of men and women in the legal profession, it is difficult to imagine the hostility which female advocates could face from some judges, alongside their exclusion from most Circuit social events. Nonetheless, Margaret built up a successful practice in crime and family work and following the birth of her two daughters, dual qualified and practised as a solicitor.

In 1985, after sitting as a Deputy, Margaret was appointed as the first fulltime female Registrar on the Northern Circuit and one of the first nationally. Bolton was her principal court and for the last decade or so of her judicial career, she sat exclusively at Bolton Combined Court. She remained the only fulltime lady Registrar/ District Judge on the Circuit for the next six years. The appointment of a woman was not welcomed by some of Margaret’s new colleagues but eventually the initial resistance was replaced by a warm regard for her undoubted talents as a very able, compassionate and fair judge.

Equally, she was prepared to be bold, when she considered that slavishly following precedent was

no longer appropriate. She valued her years serving on the County Court Rules Committee and her lucid explanations of the rationale behind various rules changes are still appreciatively remembered. She was also appointed as a Recorder and particularly welcomed the opportunity to deal with the longer and weightier civil trials in addition to crime. Amongst the many tributes paid to Margaret have been a large number from female advocates who having attended her evening social gatherings were encouraged to apply and became District Judges. She was truly a pioneer for women and it is understood that she was the first Old Girl to receive a full-time judicial appointment.

After taking early retirement in 2006, Margaret achieved her long-held ambition to study to a high level the subject in which she had always been passionately interested. As a very mature student, she was awarded a first class degree in archaeology from Exeter University followed by the postgraduate MPhil degree.

Thereafter, she was, to her great satisfaction, actively involved in practical and academic archaeology.

Margaret sadly died on 11th January 2021 after suffering a brain

haemorrhage following a fall. Her death has been mourned by many of her school contemporaries, her fellow Exeter students and her professional colleagues whose friendships were always valued and maintained. She is survived by her husband Philip Wilby (Boys’ Division, 1955-1962), also a retired District Judge, her daughters Elizabeth Wade (née Wilby, 19811995) an architect in Edinburgh and Helen Wilby (Girls’ Division 1984-1996), a partner in a family law practice in London, together with four grandchildren.

Philip Wilby Tribute to Jennifer Alice Clack (née Agnew, 1959-1966) An obituary for Jenny was featured in the Autumn 2020 edition of this Newsletter.

The Royal Society publishes Biographical Memoirs of deceased Fellows, and two colleagues/friends of Jenny’s have written one for her, which the Royal Society has published and which can be read at royalsocietypublishing.org/ doi/10.1098/rsbm.2021.0008.

IN MEMORIAM Marjorie Cartledge (née Laslett, 1932-1940) – Died May 2021 (Alison) Mona Clarke (née Lord, 1940-1947) – Died October 2020 Joy Rosemary Crosling (1946-1960) – Died 7th December 2020 Josephine Venise Curry (née Hewitt, Class of 1955) – Died 14th May 2021 Sheila Margaret Eastman (née Kilshaw, 1940-1946) – Died 19th September 2021 Stella Patricia Good (née Parker, 1947-1953) – Died 18th June 2021 Penelope Mary Hilton (née Kay, 1938-1947) – Died 1st August 2021 Hilda Margaret Williams (née Brown, 1932-1938) – Died October 2020

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A picture from the Bolton School archives: the Charity Food Collection, 1973

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