Old Girls' Newsletter - Spring 2022

Bolton School OLD GIRLS’ ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER Issue Number 36 Spring 2022

Shared memories and continued support

Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Spring 2022

CONTENTS STAY IN TOUCH STAY CONNECTED BOLTON SCHOOL MERCHANDISE WELCOME MESSAGES Lynne Kyle, Head of Girls’ Division Laura Henthorn, Chairman – Bolton School Old Girls’ Association FOUNDATION NEWS A Message from the Head of Foundation Welcome to New Governors Miss Hincks Held in High Esteem Farewell to Sheila Fisher, Governor CONTINUING SUPPORT SCHOOL NEWS Carols Come Inside Again Joint Production: Clockwork Happy Birthday Hesketh House!

Commendation for Mrs Hanrahan Christmas Post Supports Period Poverty Appeal for the Girls’ Division Organ New School Podcasts Descendants Documentary BOLTONIAN LADIES’ FC EVENTS OLD GIRLS’ FEATURES Alumni Mentor Young Entrepreneurs ‘Perspectives’ Lecture: Healthcare Champions ‘Perspectives’ Lecture: Creative Careers Luci’s Love of Acting Staff in the Spotlight: Mrs Knowles Bon Appétit! Old Girls in the Food and Drink Industry International Women’s Day Interview Inspiration Alumni Authors Amanda the Artist Old Girls Go Global Story of a Gown OLD GIRLS’ NEWS News of Old Girls and Former Staff Matches and Hatches Mini Reunions The Bolton Alumni Network Destinations of Leavers – 2021 FROM THE ARCHIVES Ask the Archivist: What is the Statuette in the Headmistress’ Study?

Memories of School: Janice Wilkinson Search the Online Archive Novel Research – Can You Help?

Looking Back LIVES REMEMBERED IN MEMORIAM

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

‘Like’ our Facebook page for event invitations, School news and memories: search Bolton School – Old Girls and Old Boys (Official) Connect with fellow Old Girls on LinkedIn: connect with Bolton School Alumni and join the Bolton School Group Follow Alumni and School news via Twitter: @BoltonSchAlumni/@BoltonSchool 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.

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Watch short films posted on the School’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/ boltonschoolmedia

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View photos of Alumni events on Flickr at www.flickr.com/photos/bsalumni/albums

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Bolton School Merchandise A variety of merchandise, including our new style hoodies, priced at £25 each and available in burgundy or black, is available from the store on the School’s website – please visit www.boltonschool. org/school-services/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.

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STAY IN TOUCH

Read regular blogs from pupils and staff from across the campus: boltonschool.me/

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 Girls, 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

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.

WELCOME FROM THE HEAD OF GIRLS’ DIVISION Earlier this term, I was delighted to be appointed as the permanent Head of Girls’ Division and would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who sent their best wishes. The response from the alumni network was overwhelming; receiving messages from pupils who were here in the mid-1990s reminded me what a long and happy career I have already enjoyed at the School!

There has been a mixture of events happening in person and on Zoom again this year. It was wonderful to see a return to the Great Hall for the Ceremony of Carols, which you can read about on page seven, after last year’s drive-in version. I enjoyed attending my first Alumni Dinner in Oxford, too, whilst the Cambridge and London drinks events this term took place over Zoom.

It was lovely to see so many Old Girls and Old Boys at the decade reunion for the '0' leavers and I am very much looking forward to the ‘1’ Leavers’ event on 30th April. I also particularly enjoyed the ten-year anniversary celebration at Hesketh House in November, also on page seven, which was attended by a variety of former staff and governors. Perhaps worth a special mention from amongst our former staff is Val Hanrahan, who was commended in the Bolton News' Lifetime Achievement Awards just before Christmas, also on page seven.

We have been focusing on several possible career areas this year in events which included our first virtual

Alumni networking breakfast, hosted by experts from the property sector. The Perspectives Lectures (page 11 onwards) this year have so far covered architecture, healthcare, the creative arts and sport, and we are always especially grateful to those Old Girls who give up their time for events such as these; our students, together those from other schools, appreciate it and derive much benefit from them. This year also saw the inaugural Sixth Form Entrepreneurship Scheme, through which several of our students developed and tested out their ideas under the expert guidance of their mentors.

On the subject of entrepreneurs, Old Girl Charlotte Morley deserves a special mention as being the first ever person on Dragons’ Den to be offered double their investment request! See News of Old Girls.

Please do continue to let us know of any news you may have; it is always lovely to hear what our former pupils are up to and I particularly enjoyed the ‘Old Girls go Global’ feature on page 20, with reports of some of those Alumni who have ventured far and wide!

I hope you enjoy the Newsletter and I look forward to seeing or hearing from you in the near future. Do follow me on Twitter, @LynneDKyle, to see more of what is going on in School.

Lynne Kyle Head of Girls’ Division

WELCOME FROM THE OLD GIRLS’ ASSOCIATION On behalf of the Old Girls’ Association I would like to congratulate Lynne on her appointment as Head of Girls’ Division. Having joined Bolton School in 1993 and worked in a variety of leadership roles, it is fair to say she knows the Girls’ Division inside out; her understanding of and dedication to the School will set us in good stead for the future.

Thank you to the impressive number of Old Girls who shared their expertise on International Women’s Day. Not only did current pupils benefit enormously from hearing their success stories, but the Old Girls themselves clearly relished the opportunity to return to School! Thanks also to those Old Girls who have provided inspiration and food for thought via the Perspectives Lectures and who have acted as mentors in the new Sixth Form Entrepreneurship Scheme.

I am delighted that the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions has meant that in-person events have now resumed; while we are all indebted to Zoom for enabling us to keep in touch over the past couple of years, online catch-ups are no substitute for face-to-face gatherings.

I have enjoyed many School and Alumni events over the years, but being able to attend the recent Armistice Assembly, Ceremony of Carols and Oxford Dinner has made me appreciate them even more. I am really looking forward to the reunions, lunches and dinners in the Summer Term.

Congratulations to all those girls who received impressive A Level grades despite their Sixth Form experience being so massively interrupted – the smiling faces on pages 26 and 27 show that their hard work and resilience paid off. I hope you are all enjoying the next stages of your education, especially as the majority of you had to choose your universities without having been able to visit them – you will all have plenty to chat about at the Class of 2021 Reunion in June!

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

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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Spring 2022

FOUNDATION NEWS A Message from the Head of Foundation I write this introduction shortly after the deadline for acceptances to join the School in September 2022. Many Old Girls will remember when they opened their offer envelope and the journey that began for them at Bolton School. I am delighted to tell you that the School will be full again next year, supported by the continued increase in our bursary funds and our approach to keeping fees predictable and as affordable as possible for fee payers. Certainly, the reputation of the School remains high, and it is a pleasure to lead such an innovative, caring and consistent Foundation. We have recently been reviewing our website and as part of that we have been focused on explaining what the School is about – not by wordy promises, but by simply showing people what we do. I hope that this Newsletter does exactly that for you.

The new Foundation Structure has settled well and we have nearly finished making appointments to the leadership teams in both Divisions. We are also beginning to see the benefits of a new way of working: identifying the necessary differences between the Girls’ Division and the Boys’ Division and celebrating and supporting them, whilst removing unnecessary differences and genuinely pursuing the best of both worlds. Our new Primary Division is beginning to bring advantages through connecting together the younger pupils in School, so there is a proper focus on their success.

You will see from the Head’s introduction that School life is returning to a more normal pattern and we hope that will

Alumni Augment the Governing Body Last term, the Bolton School Foundation recruited four experts in their fields to fulfil roles on the School’s Governing Body, all of whom – James Chadwick, Katie Clinton, John Craven and Stewart McGuffie – are Alumni.

James Chadwick (Class of 1998) is currently a Finance Director with Adlington Retirement Living and also a current parent.

Katie Clinton (Class of 1997) is a Partner at KPMG and leads the UK firm’s Governance, Risk and Compliance Services practice whilst representing the UK on the Global firm’s leadership team for the same.

John Craven (Class of 1982) is a Managing Partner of Smith Square Partners, an independent corporate finance advisory firm he co-founded in 2010. He is also a Business Mentor for the Prince’s Trust. In addition to John being married to an Old Girl, his family has a long association with Bolton School: his father and brother were also pupils and his great-grandfather’s building company was involved in the construction of the main school buildings in the 1920s.

Stewart McGuffie (Class of 1986) is Group Chief Executive of Allied Textiles Ltd, a post he has held for nearly 14 years.

He has almost 30 years of experience as a senior general manager and director in a range of produce and geographic markets.

On welcoming the new Governors to their posts, Philip Britton, the Head of Foundation, thanked them for their support and said: “Those of us who work at the School are

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also be true of Alumni events, looking ahead to Edinburgh and Cumbria and the School-based reunion this year, as well as arranging a full programme for the next academic year. I look forward to renewing some acquaintances face to face which have been kept alive on Zoom and to meeting new faces as well, not least since the programme for 2022-23 will include our much-postponed New York Alumni event.

Thank you all for your engagement with School life, in whatever form that takes and my very best wishes, Philip Britton, MBE Head of Foundation

always so grateful that members of the Governing Body volunteer so much of their time to play this important part in School life.

Governors guide the long-term strategy of the School, act as charity trustees and are members of a company board. They make themselves aware of School life at first hand, Clockwise from top left: John Craven, visiting and James Chadwick, Stewart McGuffie, talking to staff Katie Clinton and pupils. All of this takes time. That many Governors have an understanding of the School from their own School days, and sometimes as parents, is also immensely valuable in judging how we maintain an enduring ethos and shape that for our modern world. Alumni generously give back to the School not only as Governors, but in in all sorts of ways: as guest speakers for careers events and at special occasions, by offering pupils their valuable advice and guidance, through donations to the Bursary Fund, in their support of musical and dramatic performances, and much more. They form a crucial part of the ongoing success of the School.”

Miss Hincks Held in High Esteem Following the announcement in the previous edition of Miss Hincks’ departure from Bolton School, a number of colleagues and pupils acknowledged their appreciation of the role she played in shaping the Girls’ Division during her time as Headmistress.

Sue Hincks

"From the very start of Sue Hincks’ headship of the Girls’ Division in September 2011, her energy, commitment and dedication impressed the girls, staff and Alumni alike. Within a very demanding schedule, Sue made time to know the issues affecting the progress and wellbeing of the girls and got to know them as individuals. As a good conversationalist, she was engaging and supportive and her superb speaking skills allowed her to be an excellent ambassador for the School on all academic and social occasions, demonstrating erudition, wit and a pleasing sense of humour. The Girls’ Division thrived under Sue’s leadership, with competition for places intense.

"Sue was also very aware of the role Bolton School has played in the wider community. The volunteer programme she introduced for the older girls is reflected in the wide range of charity work and community service done by all girls throughout the School. Extension lectures, delivered by high profile speakers, were opened to the public, allowing the School to take a central role in local cultural provision. Sue was very aware of the loyalty of the Old Girls’ Association and supported their engagement in the School community by her active contribution to meetings, lunches, reunions and, in a much-appreciated initiative, by inviting their participation in the Girls’ Division’s Armistice services. Although a driver of progress and change, Sue was sensitive to the traditions of the School. Members of the Old Girls’ Association recognise the huge contribution she has made. Her active presence will be greatly missed."

Julia Head (née Holt, Class of 1971; Girls’ Division Staff 1988-2015) "Sue was very supportive of the Old Girls’ Association, which she viewed as an integral part of the School. She spoke openly and most enthusiastically to the Association, keeping us informed of happenings in the Girls’ Division as well as sharing future plans. She made a point of attending all of our events and showed great and genuine pleasure in doing so.

"Sue introduced some innovative ideas: it was she who invited Old Girls to events such as the Armistice Service in School – a move which was very welcome, judging by the number of Old Girls who attended. It was also Sue’s initiative

Farewell to Sheila Dr Sheila Fisher (née Platt, 1963-1970) has retired from the Governing Body after 37½ years’ service.

In recognition of her commitment as a Governor and her dedication to and support of the Foundation, a lecture series, to be known as ‘The Platt Fisher Lecture’, is to be established in the Girls’ Division. Sheila herself will give the inaugural lecture, which will take place on Monday 25th April.

In recent years Sheila has performed the invaluable role of being the ‘institutional memory’ of the Governing Body, having been present when most things had been debated the last time something cropped up! Combining this with a flexibility and focus on the future not the past, her time commitment and energy in Governance was remarkable. It is worthy of note that Sheila was, even by our standards today, a young Governor when she joined the board in 1984. Among many other roles she was Vice-Chair for Girls’ Division, Chair of Health and Safety (where she was able to put some of her professional awareness

to allocate a couple of Prefects to help in the Development Office and at Alumni events, and these Alumnae Prefects helped to strengthen the link between the School and its Old Girls.

"Sue was always approachable, friendly and welcoming of Old Girls and they, in turn, held her in very high esteem.

"On behalf of the Association, I wish her well in her new ventures."

Laura Henthorn (née Carless, 1970-1977; Chair of Old Girls’ Association) "Like all former Head Girls, I have many fond memories of working with Miss Hincks. Our Head Girl team really enjoyed our weekly meetings, where we discussed everything from adapting to life in the Riley Centre to our career plans.

Something that really sticks out is buying Miss Hincks a tank with five tropical fish in, with one named after each of us.

Sadly, the fish didn’t make it through the Easter holidays, much to the amusement of all involved!

"I’d like to wish Miss Hincks the best in her next steps, and thank her again for her service to the School."

Annabel Ault (Class of 2014, Head Girl 2013-14) "My final year at Bolton School and my time as Head Girl coincided with the 100/500 celebrations which meant Miss Hincks and I spent a lot of time together and were often performing a double act at many of the dedicated events.

We were by no means Ant and Dec, but I will forever be grateful for everything she taught me about public speaking, networking and how to conduct myself around a diverse range of people.

"Eight years have passed since I frequented Thursday morning meetings with Miss Hincks and the rest of my Head Girl team, sipping tea in her office and musing over the successes, trials and tribulations of our year group and the wider School. I actually hated tea, and also found out I was incapable of pouring it when I once took the liberty of pouring Miss Hincks's, filling the cup only half full, to which she retorted, “Do you think I have a weak bladder?!” I was always grateful for her sense of humour and quick wit. Whilst she never taught me in the traditional sense, she was one of my biggest teachers that year and a continuous tower of strength during a very busy period. Like many others, I was inspired by her unrelenting passion for and dedication to School, both of which were incredibly infectious. Miss Hincks will resonate in and beyond Bolton School through all of the people she encouraged for a long time."

Jess Melling (Class of 2015, Head Girl 2014-15) to good use), on the Popplewell and Warburton scholarship selection panels (where her intellect and love of lifelong learning were deployed) and chaired the Scott Trust Committee (where her own sense of adventure that led her to walk the Great Wall of China was useful). It is wonderful when a Governor lives the values of the school they govern in this way, and another instinct doubtless fostered by the School was volunteering: Sheila has recently devoted countless hours as a medic volunteer for the Covid vaccination programme.

Sheila was one of the 100 Inspiring Minds for the Centenary celebrations in 2015. In that interview she said School had given her “the ability to believe in myself and to have confidence in what I can do, linked to a will to do something positive, for others as well as myself. Also the love of learning, throughout life”.

Thank you from all at Bolton School for your service.

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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Spring 2022

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CONTINUING The Power of a Bursary PlaceSUPPORT In 2022, the School celebrates 25th anniversary of its bursary A the Bolton School education scheme, launched in response to the can have a lifelong impact Government’s withdrawal of Assisted onPlaces a child’s opportunities in 1997. and ambitions.

Since then – thanks to the generosity of our supporters – just over 2,000 young people have been awarded a Class of 2021 left the School having bursary place to study here on Chorley received bursarial support for their New Road, making the most of every education: opportunity that the School has to offer before heading out into the world to • 83% of those bursary recipients make a difference for good.

This summer, 49 members of the

received grades marked A*-B in

During the 2020-21 academic year, the School received gifts totalling £873,000 summer, with 53% of those for the Bursary Fund and a pupils further awarded grades A*-A; £143,000 for hardship funding. As a result of this exceptional generosity, • 37 of those bursary pupils left last year the School spent £3.06m on to take up a place at university, means-tested bursary assistance and including pupils now studying hardship 25 grants, supporting 346 – one in of five – of pupils across the two at one the prestigious Russell Senior Schools.

20% of those bursary Group universities. recipients received full-fee remission, a total equating to 4% of all Senior Schools pupils. the A Level results published this

Popular University Destinations of Bursary Recipients, 2021

“My education at Bolton School has allowed me to realise my talents, develop my self-confidence, and inspired me to

Last summer, 49 members of the Class of 2021 left

unflinching generosity enables us to ensure that the ladder of social mobility remains in good repair for the next education, 37 of whom left to take up a place at university. generation Boltonians, expanding their ambitions “My time at Bolton School has been incredible: I feel extremely privileged to of have been given the opportunity to studyin 83% of those bursary recipients received A*-B grades in the same way that a Direct Grant or Assisted Place did for here and couldn’t be more grateful to all the donors who made this possible.” their A Level results, with 53% of those pupils awarded those who went before them. grades A*-A. Class of 2021 recipients We are incredibly grateful to leavers each ofand our bursary supporters, “Being in a thriving environment, surrounded by whose steadfast generosity throughout the past two friendly and supportive staff and peers, where I have years has meant that our bursary scheme could continue made life-lasting connections and been challenged uninterrupted, despite the challenges of the pandemic. In intellectually, has been one of the greatest rewards September 2021, 48 Year 7 pupils and 12 Year 12 pupils of my bursary place. My time at Bolton School has were able to join the Foundation after taking up a bursary been incredible: I feel extremely privileged to have place which would not have existed without the support of been given the opportunity to study here and couldn’t our donors. be more grateful to all the donors who made this If you would like to offer that same opportunity to the possible.”

Boltonians of the future, we would welcome your support.

Girls’ Division Class of 2021 leaver and bursary recipient Whether you choose to make a one-off gift, set up a regular donation or remember the School in your will, you The Governors remain committed to ensuring that any will help us to transform the lives of young people living child with talent and ability should be able to achieve their locally. full potential here, through the support of our bursary scheme. Our long-standing ambition is that, by 2030, To find out more Support the about how to the Bursary Fund will be in a position to provide financial support the Bursary Fund, simply scan New Road, Bolton, BL1 4PA Bolton School support for one in three pupils in the Boys’ and Girls’ the QR code (left). Should you wish to stered Charity No:replicating 1110703 Divisions, the provision enjoyed at the peak of discuss yourFund intentions in more detail, Bursary the Direct Grant scheme.

Laura Firth, Director of Development 8 e. development@boltonschool.org and Alumni Relations, can be We know that, for many donors, their support for the contacted 01204 434718, or at Registered Charity Number:on 1110703 www.boltonschool.org Bursary Fund is a recognition of the foundation the development@boltonschool.org.

School provided for their own success in later life. Their achieve success in myreceived future career.” the School having bursarial support for their

Bolton School

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SCHOOL NEWS Carols Come Inside Again

Clockwork

After last year’s ‘drivein’ event (dictated by Covid-19 restrictions) the paper angels hanging in the Girls’ Division Great Hall once again watched over the Ceremony of Carols.

All the traditional elements of this muchloved occasion were there, from the Chamber Choir entering in darkness while singing Hodie, to stunning performances from the School’s many choirs. In between there were readings and prayers focused on the joy and hope of Christmastime. And, of course, no Ceremony of Carols would be complete without a rendition of Three Kings from Persian Lands Afar!

The Ceremony of Carols 2021 is available to watch again on Bolton School TV.

Happy Birthday Hesketh House!

In November, the Girls’ Junior School, Hesketh House, celebrated its ten-year anniversary, albeit belatedly due to Covid-19!

Mrs Brierley addresses the audience

Governors, Mrs Laverick, architects and Mrs Faulkner and former teaching Head of Foundation staff joined Philip Britton current teachers and pupils for a special assembly.

Ruth Brierley, who was Head of the Junior School during its move from the ‘Pink Palace’ to the new state-of-the-art building in 2010, recalled the exciting

The recent Senior Schools’ joint production of Clockwork was a bold, provocative and thoughtprovoking piece of theatre.

The writing and production team combined ideas and themes from a wide range of sources, including A Clockwork Orange and 1984, to create a powerful drama which endeavoured to answer big questions about the society in which we live, and a standout cast gave an exceptional performance.

development of Hesketh House.

Current Head Carol Laverick reflected on the strengths of the School before unveiling of a mechanical, personalised weather clock – a delightful present from the Parents’ Association.

School Ambassador Deeya Pitalia gave her perspective on what a wonderful time the girls have in Hesketh House before Head of the new Primary Division, Mrs Faulkner, brought the assembly to an end. After a rousing rendition of the song One More Step each girl received a silver key ring to commemorate the event.

Commendation for Mrs Hanrahan At the annual Bolton News Education Awards held just before Christmas former Girls’ Division teacher Val Hanrahan was Commended in the Lifetime Achievement Award category for her extraordinary career as a Mathematics educator.

Her teaching career at Bolton School spanned 48 years, from 1968 to her retirement in 2016 at the age of 73. Outside School, Mrs Hanrahan played a key role in the Liverpool Mathematics Society. She has written or co-written many school and college mathematics textbooks for courses up to and including A Level which have been invaluable to the education of hundreds, if not thousands, of students.

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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Spring 2022

Christmas Post Supports Period Poverty The annual Year 10 Christmas Post sweet sales raised over £1,800 for Period Poverty, a UK charity working to ensure all women have access to sanitary protection during their period which aim to eliminate period poverty in Britain’s most deprived communities by 2025.

The Missing Stop Appeal for the Girls’ Division Organ The organ in the Girls’ Division was installed 50 years ago this year, when the previous instrument had, as Governing Body minutes from the time note, ‘moved beyond repairable condition’.

There has only been routine maintenance since then and now work needs to be done in cleaning and replacing worn parts.

The School has committed the necessary funding for the essential repairs. However, the Music Department also has a wish list of the ‘nice, but not necessary’ for the organ and has launched the ‘missing stop’ appeal to celebrate the Golden Anniversary and to coincide with the essential works.

New School Podcasts

Old Girls who have a better knowledge of the organ as opposed to viewing its colourful presence from afar in assembly will know that the organ has a missing stop, where clearly further pipes were prepared for, but never fitted. It is our ambition now to install the missing stop.

This would be most likely a pedal reed stop and could easily embrace the new technologies deployed in some cathedrals of blending a ‘digital’ stop with the rest of the organ. A pedal reed would also serve as a trumpet stop on the Great and add both bass and vigour to some pieces.

Do watch out for some Music Department fundraising and, if you have a fondness for the organ from your School days and would wish to make a donation to the ‘Missing Stop’ appeal, then please contact the Development Office at development@boltonschool. org or on 01204 434718.

We are delighted to announce the launch of our very own podcast, Bolton School Extra.

Foundation as he talks about its structure, history, facilities and focus on inclusivity as well as its aims for the future. Over the coming months, the series will talk to members of staff, pupils and parents from across the campus.

The first in the series is delivered by Head of Foundation, Philip Britton, and considers what is special about the

Episode 1 can be listened to on Spotify spoti.fi/369qBqp and on Apple apple.co/3Iok5cl.

Descendants Two Bolton School Alumni joined Head of Foundation Philip Britton on BBC Radio 4’s documentary series Descendants which looks at how our lives and our pasts are connected to slavery.

The episode considered Lord Leverhulme’s links with the Congo and asked whether a fuller picture of this central figure in the School’s history should be presented, in order to provide a greater understanding and to ensure that the story told about his legacy is truthful and balanced.

This Episode (6 of 7) is still available to be listened to on BBC Sounds.

Boltonian Ladies’ FC The Covid-19 situation over the last two years has not been kind to Boltonian Ladies!

After a spectacular 2019-20, when the team won all its games, the season ended prematurely with the first lockdown. Although the league standings were officially cancelled, the Ladies were allocated to the Premier Division of the Greater Manchester Women’s League for 2020-21. When play resumed the team carried on its winning ways, but very soon the pandemic brought that to an end. Based in, and having players from, Lancashire, travel restrictions meant that they could not play Greater Manchester sides and the season went on hold until the following March. The league was eventually once again declared void.

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Unfortunately, players had been lost to clubs which had been able to continue playing and, as a result, competing in the Premier Division has proved to be difficult. The side is rebuilding with some new young players and, although wins have been hard to find, they have rarely been badly beaten and they continue to gain from the experience.

The season has a long way to go yet and there is hope that the team will retain their place in the top division.

The Club is looking forward to greater involvement with the School as girls’ football develops and new players wanting to grow into open age football are always welcome. Contact Stacey Saunders at staceybluemoon@hotmail.com.

EVENTS Oxford Dinner St Anne’s College provided a superb venue for this year’s Oxford Dinner on Friday 12th November 2021 – after an enforced absence last year, Old Girls and Old Boys relished the opportunity to meet up again in the city of dreaming spires.

Meriel Lewis (Class of 1980), Sian Kilner (Class of 1977), Mark Buckley

Akshay Pal and Katerina Gramm (both Class of 2018)

Lynne Kyle and Kirsty Fielding (Class of 2017)

Cambridge Happy Hour As the omicron variant reared its head early in the Spring it was agreed that it would be wise not to hold this year’s Alumni Cambridge Dinner. A catch up via Zoom wasn’t quite the same as sitting down to eat together, but the chatting and reminiscing about Bolton School was as lively as ever!

Alumni of the Year Awards In 2022, Bolton School will celebrate the myriad contributions of its Old Girls and Old Boys to society, and inspire the next generation of girls and boys currently studying at the School, by launching its inaugural Alumni of the Year Awards.

The Awards will recognise Alumni who have delivered upon the famous exhortation of the Girls’ Division prayer, that “much will be expected of those to whom much is given”. The Awards seek to recognise Alumni who have made an outstanding contribution to society through their voluntary service, academic achievements or professional success, or whose behaviour and values inspire others – in short, Alumni who embody the School’s ethos of producing people who go out into the world and make

Commemorating a Generation of Girls’ Division Leadership During the past two years, the Girls’ Division has lost three of its former leaders: former Headmistress Dr Margaret Spurr OBE DL, and former Deputy Headmistresses Miss Margaret Dickinson and Reverend Elizabeth Plant.

a difference for good.

Members of the School community are invited to nominate Alumni whom they feel are deserving of the 2022 Old Girl of the Year and Old Boy of the Year Awards by 12pm on Friday 27th May. After that deadline, a shortlist of candidates for the two awards will be decided by a group comprising the Girls’ Division Head Girl and Boys’ Division Captain, and the Heads of Foundation, Girls’ Division, Boys’ Division and Primary Division, before pupils from across the Foundation are invited to vote for their favoured candidate at the end of the Summer Term.

The winners of the two awards will be announced publicly in September 2022, at the start of the new academic year.

For further details, including the Awards’ rules, and to make your nomination, please visit the ‘Former Pupils’ section of the School website.

On Thursday 7th July 2022, the Girls’ Division will pay tribute to this generation of Girls’ Division leadership who, both collectively and individually, inspired Old Girls and fellow colleagues alike with their intellect, compassion and drive.

Old Girls and former Girls’ Division staff are warmly invited to join us at this commemoration event, which will commence at 9am with an extended assembly in the Great Hall, followed by morning coffee until 11.30am in the School’s Arts Centre. To register to attend this event, please contact the Development Office.

Alumni Events Calendar 2022

Saturday 30th April Thursday 5th May Friday 6th May Thursday 9th June Friday 10th June Friday 24th June Monday 27th June Thursday 22nd September

‘1’ Class Reunion May Serenade Scottish Dinner Old Girls’ Lunch and AGM Friends of Bolton School Dinner Cumbria Lunch Recent Leavers’ (Class of 2021) Reunion Alumni New York Dinner

Bolton School, 11.30am-4.30pm Girls’ Division Great Hall, 7.30pm University of Edinburgh, 7pm Bolton School, 12 noon Arts Centre, 7pm Lindeth Howe Hotel, 12 noon Bolton School, 3pm-5pm The Harvard Club, 6pm

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 Spring 2022

OLD GIRLS’ FEATURES Inspiring the Next Generation Alumni Mentor Young Entrepreneurs In January 2021 Year 12 students from both Divisions joined the pilot cohort for the School’s Sixth Form Entrepreneurship Scheme, a concept devised by Old Boy Rob Dobson (Class of 1982) who is a mentor of the scheme, along with Old Girls and Old Boys Juhi Gore (Class of 1993), Elizabeth Newton (née Whyatt, Class of 1979), John Craven (Class of 1982) and Tony Wadsworth, CBE (Class of 1974).

The scheme aims to develop business and entrepreneurial skills through one-to-one mentoring sessions, which run alongside group activity and enrichment sessions delivered by the Alumni mentors.

L-R: John Craven, Fabeha Shafaat, Aimen Iqbal, Lynne Kyle, Summer Kay, Sofia Carrera-Knowles, Nic Ford, Umar Awais, Matthew Syers and Rob Dobson

The scheme’s pilot drew to a conclusion in January 2022 with a Dragon’s Den style pitching event in the Arts Centre with Rob and John attending in person, whilst Elizabeth, Tony and Juhi attended virtually.

From the Girls’ Division Fabeha Shafaat pitched a free education tool, Sofia Carrera-Knowles demonstrated an aid product for the blind or visually impaired, Aimen Iqbal talked about her ambition to launch her own law firm and Summer Kay explained her loneliness-fighting project, whilst Boys’ Division students Umar Awais and Matthew Syers partnered on a fruit-flavoured chocolate.

“Loneliness is a problem for individuals that can lead to mental and physical health issues, and has become increasingly prevalent over the course of the pandemic.

My idea involved connecting under 18s with adults experiencing feelings of loneliness.

“I conducted market research with some of School’s Alumni, aged 75 and over, who have experienced or can relate to the feeling of loneliness, and discovered that these people can feel most isolated and alone during winter, periods of bad weather, seasonal events like Christmas or at times of bereavement. I arranged three ‘trial’ Zoom calls, connecting a team of Bolton School girls in Years 11-13 (aged 15-18) with Alumni volunteers.

Feedback from these trials helped me overcome operational difficulties and determine whether the idea could actually help to tackle loneliness.

“I joined the Entrepreneurship Scheme with the aim of creating a product or service intended to help the visually impaired community – a cause with which my family works closely, housing and training guide dogs. I researched ideas with my mentor, Rob, who has extensive experience as an electronic engineer. Together we agreed that my practical skillset would successfully lend itself to the creation of a physical product: an inhaler which indicates when the container is running out of doses through an audio or vibration alert. Rob helped me with connecting to and researching my target market, improving my skills in communicating professionally with others.

“Over 70% of the calls were completely successful. As each trial progressed, I made changes and adapted the environment for the remaining 30% in order to improve the service and to develop my idea further. The majority of challenges were due to the technology involved: some Alumni had difficulties and I, myself, faced some tricky logistics, managing multiple simultaneous calls within a short timeframe.

“I would like to thank all parties involved for their time and effort in helping me to achieve the progress made from the trial, particularly those Alumni who faced issues, but continued to persevere for my benefit. The feedback I have received has been so lovely to hear and made the scheme even more worthwhile.”

Summer Kay

“I continued to develop my product whilst keeping my mentor updated, as he guided me through the process and answered any questions I had. I am now at the point of gathering feedback on my designs from my target market and considering costings and licensing before moving onto manufacturing. The programme has introduced me to the world of business and the steps needed to build my own product, and has encouraged me to continue this project into the future.”

Sofia Carrera-Knowles

Our thanks go to the five Alumni mentors involved with the Entrepreneurship Scheme, for dedicating their time and expertise to guide and support the students’ ideas and personal growth during the past year, and the Old Girls and Old Boys who assisted Summer in completing her market research during the Autumn Term. The next cohort of Year 12 pupils will join the Entrepreneurship Scheme in September, at the start of the new academic year.

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Perspectives ‘Perspectives’ is a lecture series hosted by the Girls’ Division, held once every half-term. 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.

Healthcare Champions The December 2021 Perspectives lecture focused on careers in Healthcare. Chartered Physiotherapist Julie Littlehales (née Barwise, Class of 1990), Chief Pharmacist Helena Bird (née Read, Class of 1995), Consultant Anaesthetist Dr Catherine Collinson (Class of 1999), Clinical Commissioner Dr Helen Wall (Class of 2001), and Student Midwife Eleanor Gibbons (Class of 2019) reflected upon the opportunities and challenges of a career in this field and discussed the diverse range of career choices within the sector and the skills requires to succeed.

Julie’s family has strong connections with Bolton School. Her brothers Anthony Barwise (Class of 1984) and Andrew Barwise (Class of 1988) attended the Boys Division, her aunt, Mrs Dorothy Barwise, was a language teacher and Head of Beech House, and two of her cousins also attended the School.

Julie has fond memories of being a Prefect, the Ceremony of Carols and playing lacrosse at county level. She firmly believes that Bolton School gave her the inspiration and the confidence and ability to pursue the career of her choice.

Julie worked in the NHS before a stint as a physiotherapist in Australia and New Zealand. She now works at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust and is currently studying for a Masters in Musculoskeletal Trauma Management.

After leaving School, Catherine studied Medicine at the University of Edinburgh.

She decided to pursue a career in anaesthesia, so, after completing Foundation Programme Training, she secured a specialty training programme place at the South East Scotland School of Anaesthesia. She was awarded a Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training in October 2016, and was appointed as a Consultant Anaesthetist at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. Her day-to-day practice includes obstetric anaesthesia, acute pain management and anaesthetising patients undergoing major gynaecological cancer surgery.

Eleanor is studying Midwifery at the University of Salford. Healthcare runs in the family – her brother, Ben (Class of 2015) is a doctor and is currently working as an F1 at Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust.

Miss Stafford and Mrs Entwistle sparked Eleanor’s love for sewing and fashion and have inspired her to continue designing and creating items since leaving School. She also has fond memories of being part of the Lacrosse team (even though they didn’t win much!) and has also continued her love of the sport, currently playing for Stockport Ladies Lacrosse team. One of her proudest achievements was winning the Victrix Ludorum for commitment to sport in Years 11 and 13.

And Eleanor is very grateful to Bolton School for

instilling in her a very driven work ethic which has helped her through university and during my hospital placements.

Helena loved her time at Bolton School – she enjoyed the Sixth Form and Physics with Mrs Hall, and loved Art lessons with Miss Fisher, spending hours creating cubism pieces, acrylics and clay structures. Other teachers who created a big impression were Mrs Partington (French), Mrs Foster (RE), Mrs Hanrahan and Mrs Robinson (Maths) and the wonderful and hugely inspiring Mrs Spurr.

She also has great memories of whole-School assemblies and the orchestra, particularly performances, and School trips, notably the ski trip to Serre Chevalier and the French exchange.

Above all, Helena is proud to have attended Bolton School and attributes the confidence to be her own person and to build her own career to her time there – the Girls’ Division motto, ‘Mutare Vel Timere Sperno', and the words to the School song are values she still endeavours to uphold today.

Helena is Chief Pharmacist and Controlled Drugs Accountable Officer at Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

Helen was the first in her family to attend Bolton School and her son is now at Park Road. Memories of her time at School are too many to mention, although the Christmas Post and the Ceremony of Carols with the angels in the Great Hall stand out.

Unusually for a student dedicated to studying medicine, Helen did Geography A Level which she thoroughly enjoyed thanks to the enthusiasm of Mrs Keenan, Miss Wells and Mrs McLellan. Studying inequalities in towns and habitats on human geography sparked her passion for managing health inequalities in her current roles.

Helen firmly believes that Bolton School gave her the confidence to believe that the ability to achieve lies within each of us – and, of course, the importance of working hard and playing hard!

Helen is a Clinical Commissioner GP at Bolton CCG and has overseen the Covid-19 vaccination programme in the town.

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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Spring 2022

Creative Careers The February Perspectives lecture focused on careers in creative arts. Contemporary still-life and botanical painter Nicola Currie (née Darley, Class of 1974), Head of Development at Synchronicity Films Deanne Cunningham (Class of 2001), freelance actor and voiceover artist Luci Fish (Class of 2010), Eilidh Gibson (Class of 2016), Resident Assistant Director at Theatre by the Lake, Keswick, and student at the Royal Academy of Music Caroline Blair (Class of 2018) reflected upon the diverse range of career choices within the sector and the skills requires to succeed. As well as nurturing their talents, all are in agreement that Bolton School gave them confidence, not to mention lifelong friends!

Nicola studied Fine Art at Worcester University. Her oil paintings are inspired by the beauty of the natural world. She has exhibited widely in the UK and is currently Artist in Residence at Spetchley Park Gardens near Worcester. Her younger sister, Jane Darley (Class of 1981), also attended Bolton School. Nicola recalls a School concert where a group of girls, including Judith Hilton (Class of 1974), composed and played Das Sink-Unbunger Symphony with a small orchestra of kitchen sink unblockers and other domestic equipment in response to Malcolm Arnold’s Grand Overture which featured vacuum cleaners and floor polishers. However, unlike Arnold’s masterpiece, Nicola and Judith’s never received the acclaim they felt it deserved at the time!

Nicola was particularly inspired by RE teacher Miss Chignell, who encouraged her to study Theology at Durham University.

TV, film and theatre fanatic Deanne studied law at university and qualified as a corporate solicitor before realising her heart lay somewhere more creative. She moved into television via the BBC’s graduate Trainee Production scheme, and has worked across a variety of film and television productions. Both of Deanne’s younger sisters, Cherie (Class of 2005) and Philippa (Class of 2009) attended Bolton School, as well as their cousin, Jennifer Hildrup (Class of 2013).

Memories of School are largely theatre related, in particular acting in a production of Our Day Out in Lower Fifth, and Mrs Hadjigeorgiou’s passion for literature and theatre was inspirational.

Luci trained at the prestigious Drama Centre London and has worked in film, television, radio and on stage. Her work as a voiceover artist is very varied, from commercials to video games,

narrating audiobooks to e-learning courses, and from animation to telephone systems. Luci is the first member of her family to attend Bolton School and her standout memories are of starring in drama productions, from being cast as Cinderella in Reception to portraying Éponine in Les Misérables in the Sixth Form – a theme was developing! She was particularly inspired by her piano teacher, Mrs Dewhurst, who taught her the meaning of hard work and dedication, qualities which have kept her going in a career which requires a lot of resilience. She is also grateful to Mrs Hadjigeorgiou, who not only made English Literature fun and exciting, but championed the girls individually in life as well.

Eilidh studied Drama at Loughborough University and is currently on the world-renowned Theatre Directing MFA at Birkbeck, University of London. She has also worked in regional producing house theatres across the UK. As her family was originally from Scotland, Eilidh was the first person in her family to go to Bolton School. Having attended from the age of four through to 18, she made many friends with whom she is still in contact today. She recalls her A Level English teacher, Mrs Lowe, being particularly helpful with university applications – she also encouraged Eilidh to pursue her creativity when completing coursework by supporting her in writing excerpts of plays. Bolton School offered a great network of brilliant women and Eilidh is convinced that without the help of those people she would not have been able to go on to achieve her professional goals.

Soprano Caroline is an Academy Bach soloist. She has performed in the operas The Cunning little Vixen and Albert Herring with Royal Academy Opera, and has been involved with Tête-à-Tête opera festival, Vache Baroque Festival and Uppermill music festival. Caroline is an advocate for Oratorio and Choral music. The first of her family to attend Bolton School, Caroline has many happy memories of her time there, but looks back particularly fondly on her final Ceremony of Carols: it was great fun, but also quite emotional, as she and her friends knew it was their last one together. Aside from that, walking out to organ music from assembly with her friends in their Prefect gowns really sticks out in her memory. Caroline would like to thank Mrs Partington for coping with her terrible Latin and truly being a wonderful person to look up to – she can still remember passages from The Aeneid! She also recalls Mrs Wade and Mrs Price being unbelievably patient and motivating. Having now left School now, she fully appreciates the opportunities it presented. The sheer amount of support and guidance she received gave her the confidence – in a subtle way – to try to achieve everything she wants to be.

All of the Perspectives lectures held thus far can be watched in full on the School’s YouTube 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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Luci’s Love of Acting Lands her Voiceover Career The Women of Work series of virtual morning careers talks for Year 10 continued with a Zoom visit from Luci Fish (Class of 2010). Now an actor and awardwinning voiceover artist, Luci has worked for clients such as Pokémon, Sainsbury’s, Spotify, NSPCC, H&M and Coca-Cola.

As a Bolton School pupil Luci was always more interested in school plays and extra-curricular drama, but never thought it was possible to pursue a career in that direction – she didn’t know anyone whose full-time job was in entertainment or performance. However, while on an internship with a lawyer, she was advised to study something she would enjoy and then do a law conversion course. This ultimately led to her gaining a degree in Theatre and Performance from the University of Leeds.

Still assuming she would go into law, she auditioned for drama school ‘on a bit of a whim’. However, she was lucky, and her first-class degree won her a scholarship to the Drama Centre at the University of the Arts London. The two years of training were ‘the best time, the most creative time’ and, despite the long days, were very fulfilling.

After graduation, finding work was difficult, with constant auditions and lots of rejection. Luci began to question how she could use her skills to earn good

money and have a bit more stability. This led her into the world of voice acting: she had done some while at Drama Centre London and been a natural, but never considered it as a job. After plenty of research, and finding out how to set up a recording studio at home, she became a freelance voiceover artist. Commercials are Luci’s ‘bread and butter’, but she particularly enjoys working on video games and loves the fact that, unlike on stage and screen, looks don’t necessarily dictate who can play what character, and she can be anything!

She says: “Even if I never get cast in a big blockbuster film or go on stage at the National, at this point I’m now acting every day, in a way I’ve designed myself and that I enjoy, and run a successful business on my own terms. I’m not waiting now.” She credits Bolton School with instilling in her the independence, commitment and accountability needed to put in the hard work to get the job done.

In the question and answer session that followed, Luci talked about working on an international campaign with Coca-Cola, her experience recording one of two voices in a game called The Magnificent Trufflepigs alongside Arthur Darvill, how she deals with learning and performing accents, and spoke about agents.

Her advice to the girls listening was to trust their own instincts: “There will be lots of voices telling you to do things, but if you know, deep down, that something’s right for you, then that is the right thing.”

Staff in the Spotlight At the end of the Summer term the Girls’ Division said farewell to Karen Knowles as she left after 21 years’ loyal service at Bolton School. We caught up with Karen to see if how she is enjoying her well-earned retirement.

Mrs Knowles

How many years did you work at Bolton School?

I joined Bolton School in June 2000, so just over 21 years.

Had you worked in other schools prior to working at Bolton School? If so, were you always involved in careers?

I haven’t always been involved in Careers. After completing A Levels I joined the Civil Service, working in Legal Aid for a number of years. After having my children I started working at a local secondary school before joining Bolton School. Back in the day, childcare wasn’t so readily available and school hours and holidays suited family life.

What was the best part of working at Bolton School?

The best part of working at Bolton School was without doubt the people, both staff and students. I worked with some lovely people across the campus and made some lifelong friends. I also had the privilege of meeting some incredibly interesting and talented people at our Careers

events. It was especially rewarding to see Old Girls and Old Boys coming back into School to speak about their careers and sharing their experiences with current students.

How has School life changed over the years?

Technology has changed significantly. When I joined the School the Careers Room had shelves stacked with university prospectuses, and applications to university were paper applications. Now, of course, all these things are online.

What is your favourite Bolton School tradition?

I don’t think School traditions have changed very much.

I particularly enjoyed the Prefects’ Panto and the School productions. There were some very talented performers!

What are your interests outside School?

Since retiring in the Summer I have joined a French class to brush up on my very rusty A Level French and I am hoping to do lots of travelling both in the UK and abroad. The best part about being retired, I have found, is having more time to spend with friends and family. However, I am going to miss the Bolton School community.

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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Spring 2022

Bon Appétit!

Domestic Science, Home Economics, Food Technology … whatever name Old Girls know this subject by, it has inspired and encouraged many to follow their passions and forge careers in the food and drink industry.

Alice Williamson (2005-2012), Category Manager at Freixenet Copestick I loved my time at Bolton School and it has hugely shaped where I am today.

My favourite subjects were Spanish and then Economics at A Level. I absolutely loved Miss Irvine’s Spanish lessons; I still sometimes use the chants to remember the past tense!

I was never really sure what I wanted to go on to do and Mrs Shafiq gave me a great piece of advice that stuck with me: if you keep choosing subjects that you enjoy then you will end up doing something that you enjoy, and I can safely say that that has worked for me!

I went on to combine my two favourite subjects at degree level, studying International Management and Spanish at the University of Bath. This allowed me the opportunity to live in Chile for a year, where I worked as an intern in Export sales for the second largest wine company in Chile – VSPT. This stepped up my level of Spanish a huge amount and gave me my first proper look into business and the world of wine.

Anjali Pathak (Class of 1999), Chef and Food Writer I will always have a special place in my heart for my hometown of Bolton and the place I made my childhood memories – Bolton School. Like most children, I loved some subjects more than others, and even though I did not choose to take it for GCSE, I loved Home Economics and have fond memories of Mrs Haslam and Mrs Smalley.

After leaving School I did a combined degree in Business, Mathematics and Computer Science and not long after graduating I joined New Product Development at my family business, Patak’s. The invaluable experience I gained working across different business functions gave me solid foundations for everything that was due to unfold. After learning the secrets to building a successful global food business, I decided to improve my chef skills and I moved to London to train in traditional French cuisine at Leiths School of Food and Wine. I loved it!

Soon after, equipped with my newly-acquired professional chef qualification, I decided to start my own food consultancy in London curating dining experiences and teaching cookery masterclasses across venues in the capital and eventually foodie cities around the world. I worked with some of the biggest

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I ended up loving the industry so much that I have stuck with it ever since, joining the marketing team of a wine company after graduating, working closely on the wine brand ‘I Heart Wines’. I found the increased responsibility and range of tasks you can get working for a smaller company hugely rewarding and working with suppliers internationally means that I do still get to practise my Spanish.

After two years in marketing, I moved over to the category team as Category Manager. This involves identifying key trends in the wine/alcohol industries and advising on new product launches, as well as advising the key grocery retailers in the UK on how to improve their wine ranges and what are the up and coming trends (Crémant!). I have recently completed my WSET (Wine and Spirit Education Trust) Level 3 exam with a distinction and hope to undertake my diploma next (I have always quite enjoyed exams, but an exam where you get to taste wine is definitely a bonus!).

To anyone interested in a career in wine I would say to go for it! It is a hugely exciting and fast-paced industry in the UK which opens doors internationally too, and what better career than to be surrounded by delicious wine! Whether it is something you are interested in or not, remember to keep choosing the things you enjoy, and it will guide you to something you love. names in the industry and wrote an award-winning cookbook sharing recipes close to my heart: Secrets from my Indian Family Kitchen. It wasn’t long before I started to develop a start-up idea and I was ready to take on my next challenge.

I packed my bags, my knives and my dreams and moved to Mumbai in India to build the country’s first-ofits-kind dining concept. My start-up – ‘Flavour Diaries’ – was a luxury space for private dining experiences and immersive cookery masterclasses in International food. We were the only luxury food exploration space when I launched my concept in 2015. There are now venues popping up all over cities in India. I feel incredibly proud to have started a lifestyle revolution; an excitement around food and global flavours that has now crossed borders and has become my biggest achievement.

I couldn’t have done any of it without the unconditional love and support from my parents. They continue to be my source of advice and inspiration. I feel blessed to have started my life journey at Bolton School, to meet the wonderful people I have the honour of calling my friends today, and to lean on the teachings that have shaped my career.

The food and beverage industry is fiercely competitive and not for the faint-hearted. It takes hard work, commitment and sacrifice. Keep an inquisitive mind and never stop asking questions as there is always more to learn.

Hannah Barlow (née Mathew, 1992-2002), Managing Director at Dunsters Farm My favourite subjects at School were History, English Literature and Design Technology, although I think my favourite teacher was Miss Dickinson – a miracleworker who, with her quiet and kind manner, made Maths make sense to me!

I enjoyed playing netball, lacrosse and tennis and, despite initially being pretty terrified of Mrs McCulloch, I remember her lessons fondly, and she instilled in me a passion for sports and the importance of true teamwork.

After School I completed a BSc in Management at UMIST and later gained a Professional PR Diploma with the Chartered Institute Public Relations. Thanks to a thirst for learning instilled in me by Bolton School, I continue to this day to enjoy every opportunity to learn new skills.

My current role is as Managing Director of our third-generation family foodservice, Dunsters Farm.

Despite growing up with the family business, neither my brother, Tom Mathew (1994-2005) nor I were ever encouraged to join it; instead we both pursued independent careers. I worked for a social care organisation, heading up the PR and Comms team, which was a rewarding and fascinating role. However, in 2014 I decided to join the family business alongside Tom, initially in an operational role before moving to my current role in 2021.

My first ever boss was extremely influential in my decision to take the risk and move into the family business. He not only offered me the opportunity to see how a good business should operate, but also gave me the confidence to make decisions and not be afraid to admit when you may have got something wrong.

Jenny Hardwick (1994-2007), Regulatory and Nutrition Manager at Britvic plc I love to look back on the truly amazing time I had at Bolton School. Without a doubt, my favourite subject was Food Technology. As soon as I could get into the kitchens, I did! I used to pay my £1 contribution for the Wednesday cookery club when I was in Juniors to tide me over until I could take the subject in Senior School. Mrs Smalley and Mrs Haslam were my teachers and they most certainly contributed to my love for the subject. They taught with such passion and their depth of knowledge in the subject was totally inspiring. I loved to learn about the chemical composition of foods and ingredients (which was saying something, as I wasn’t so good at Science!) and then applying it practically by making all kinds of tasty recipes which I used to devour on the School bus home.

When I left School I knew that I was destined to work in food, so I took a BSc degree in Food and Nutrition at Sheffield Hallam University and from there specialised in the ever-popular subject of Nutrition by taking an MSc in Nutrition at King’s College London.

Since graduating I have worked at some of the world’s

My grandparents are probably my biggest inspiration.

They started our family business nearly 60 years ago as a milk round and built it up before my parents took it on. My grandad was passionate about helping others and making the business successful to benefit his local area and provide good employment. If he was still alive, he’d probably have a lot to say about some of my decisions, but I also hope he’d be proud. We recently picked up an award for Flexible Work at the Greater Manchester Good Employment Awards and my grandma was one of the first people I told. She doesn’t say much, but I’d like to think she, too, is proud of what Tom and I are trying to achieve.

Communication, communication, communication is essential for my job – my background in PR and Marketing gave me a great insight into the importance of communication in business, yet I’m always fascinated at how easy it is to ‘think’ you have communicated something, when in fact, you have not done so effectively at all!

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Bolton School – not only did I gain a well-rounded education which has provided me with many opportunities, but I also made great friends who, like me, enjoyed throwing themselves into every activity on offer. The principles instilled in me – of hard work, commitment and having the confidence to speak up and challenge where necessary – have supported me throughout my career.

To those considering joining a family business, my advice would be to gain experience within other businesses first – the lessons you learn will support you and help bring another dimension to your family business. For those considering a career in a predominantly male-dominated industry such as foodservice, I’d tell them not to be deterred: there are some great opportunities out there!

largest food manufacturers, including Nestlé and Unilever, taking on roles centred around improving the nutritional profile of world-leading brands by reducing sugars and calories whilst maintaining taste. Childhood obesity is one of the biggest public health crises faced today; there is huge pressure on the food industry to act responsibly with marketing and launching products which are of nutritional value, including the addition of protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals.

My current role at Britvic Soft Drinks as Nutrition and Regulatory Manager supports the launch of innovative, healthy drinks into the market. The Regulatory aspect is essentially Food Law Labelling which is where we ensure that all mandatory information required on the label is present and that any claims we make in relation to the product aren’t misleading.

Hard work comes with great perks. Last year I was lucky enough to be invited to attend Wimbledon to watch Roger Federer play on Centre Court, thanks to our brand ‘Robinsons’ being a major sponsor of the tournament!

I still count myself extremely fortunate that I found a career in food and drink and I owe that to the support from my parents and from the teachers at Bolton School who helped spark the passion I have for food.

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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Spring 2022

Jo Bishop (née Carr, 1988-1995), Innovation Marketing Manager at Warburtons I have been with Warburtons for just over 19 years and done a variety of roles in that time, starting as an Assistant Brand Manager, Brand Manager and then moving on to Senior Brand Manager before going on maternity leave. On my return, I came back as a Digital Marketing Manager which was a newly-created role at the time and just as social media was really starting to unfold.

I then moved into a Shopper Marketing Manager role which gave me a great experience working with the retailers and understanding their needs before moving into the role I am currently in just over seven years ago.

My role now involves coming up with ideas for new product launches and then working with other functions within Warburtons to understand whether they are feasible – the main consideration being that there is a consumer need for them, but also a benefit for Warburtons and for the retailers.

Katherine Swift (née Conlon, 1983-1990), Founder and CEO of OMG Matcha Tea I have so many wonderful memories from my time at Bolton School. My favourite subjects were French, Geography and Art and since leaving school I obtained a Joint Honours in Modern Languages (French and Spanish), influenced not only by my courses, but also the opportunities I had to do exchanges during my time there. My favourite teachers, if I must choose, were Mrs Fisher (Art) and Mrs Keenan (Geography). My stand-out memories are mostly from School trips to Cautley, Scarborough, Vichy on French exchange and, best of all, a Geography field trip to Berlin in the Sixth Form – we were there literally two days before the Berlin Wall came down in 1989.

My experience at Bolton School provided me with a strong foundation to adapt to a variety of different roles and industries throughout my career, and most importantly, the confidence to believe in myself and take risks.

I had a successful career in media and fundraising when a significant life event had such a profound impact on me that I completely changed the course of my career in a way that I never would have expected.

In January 2010, my mum was diagnosed with stage

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My interest in the food industry began during my time at Bolton School as I studied Home Economics, as it was back then, and went on to do Food Studies A Level. I always loved my Home Economics lessons with Mrs Haslam and Mrs Smalley and looked forward to them every week. We had such fun and learnt so many new skills. Home Ec really gave you the confidence to try new things and just ‘have a go’ in a safe environment. We used to have to have the oldfashioned Home Ec ‘baskets’ and hated having to carry them on the bus whenever we had a lesson!

A group of us also got involved in a competition called ‘Young Consumer of the Year’ through Home Ec which meant that we spent a lot of time with Mrs Haslam and all formed a really close bond and I think my involvement in this competition is where my interest in the FMCG industry started. I loved being part of a team and working together with my friends which is key for the role I am in now as it requires a lot of collaboration with various stakeholders across the business.

I look back fondly on my time at Bolton School as it gave me the best start in life – it gave me confidence to have an opinion, speak up for what I believe is right whilst also giving me lifelong friendships.

3 breast cancer. I vowed to do everything I could do to help her and started working with a breast cancer charity that funds world-class research. I spent a lot of time in the research unit and was fascinated to see what was being discovered. The Research Director had an interest in antioxidants, and I found out about the potential green tea had to fight disease. If my mum was going to drink any green tea, it had to be the best, and it was then that I discovered matcha. We both started drinking matcha green tea and felt great, my mum was taking back some control that her illness robbed from her and I was doing something positive to help. I felt so passionate about matcha that, five years after my mum’s diagnosis, I launched OMGTea, a specialist matcha green tea company. A year after starting OMGTea, I also founded The Healthy Life Foundation, a charity that funds research into age related diseases, including cancer.

Starting my own business and The Healthy Life Foundation are my greatest career achievements by far, but I have found entrepreneurship tough at times, particularly at the beginning. Self-belief, strong communication skills, focus and determination are just a few qualities required to be a successful entrepreneur. I was fortunate to have developed these skills during my time at Bolton School And lastly, I can guarantee you that without the skills I developed at Bolton School, such as thinking on my feet and public speaking, I never would have had the courage to go on Dragons’ Den in 2019 and live to tell the tale! But that’s a story for another time …

International Women’s Day On 7th March, 18 speakers delivered a thoughtprovoking and inspirational International Women’s Day event across the Girls’ Division.

The day was led by a whole School assembly, with an introduction to International Women’s Day by Head of Girls’ Division, Lynne Kyle, before this year’s keynote speaker, Melanie Doherty (Class of 1989), spoke honestly and openly to the girls about her experience as a woman in the Royal Army and Royal Navy.

The group, comprising Alumnae and parents, met with girls in Years 9, 10 and 12 during various events across the day, before four speakers delivered specialised activity sessions with the remaining year groups during their PSHE lesson, later that day.

Mrs Kyle commented, “We run this event to encourage pupils to seek and create a more gender-balanced world in celebration of International Women’s Day.”

An impressive number of Old Girls returned to School to inspire current pupils

Cherie Cunningham (Class of 2005), Channel Director (Dave), UK TV Karen Diggle (Class of 1976), Managing Director of Chamberlain Doors

To echo the sentiment raised in the Girls’ Division, the Boys’ Division held its first whole-School assembly of the year – and the first ever to celebrate International Women’s Day, promoting the theme of “all men can” to the boys.

Melanie Doherty (née Jones, Class of 1989), Chief of Staff to Surgeon General, Defence Medical Services

Head of Boys’ Division, Nic Ford, and Modern Foreign Languages teacher, Katharine Roddy, delivered a stimulating assembly to highlight the challenges faced by women across the world: where their achievements are not given the same priority of men in the same industries; and how the boys can be an ally to women and strive for gender equality.

Victoria Guest (née Robinson, Class of 1999), Headteacher at Lostock Primary School

As a continuum of the assembly, boys heard from Old Girl, Hannah Sutcliffe (Class of 2011) about her experience as a woman in the tech industry and a young, female business founder.

Amanda Nuttall (née Pinkerton, Class of 1991), Partner and Business Unit Director at Keoghs

Thank you to all involved in enabling the day’s celebrations, for donating their time to deliver a truly rousing event for students across the School:

Chloe Granger (née Maher, Class of 1998), Director of Crosby Granger Architects

Victoria Hodgkins (née Heaton, Class of 2000), Team Manager, Local Authority Child Protection Charlotte Holden (Class of 2014), Statistician for the Department for Education

Stella Pickford (née Selva, Class of 1999), Director of UK Business Planning for Procter and Gamble Yusra Razzaq (Class of 2005), Dentist

Rachael Acton (née Ainscough, Class of 2011), Chief Executive, Ainscough Group

Rebecca Richards (Class of 2013), Senior Policy Advisor, UK Research and Innovation

Alexandra Aspinall (Class of 2012), Global Social Media Manager at Belmond

Radhika Sharma (Class of 2015), Mechanical Engineer with the British Antarctic Survey

Charlotte Benjamin (née Whalley, Class of 1993), Director of Legal and Governance Services at Middlesbrough Council

Hannah Sutcliffe (Class of 2011), Co-Founder and COO of Moonhub

Rebecca Brayshaw (née Hayton, Class of 1997), Entrepreneur and Development Manager at Bolton School

Interview Inspiration School is very grateful to all those Old Girls and Old Boys who kindly volunteered their time to give mock interviews to Year 13 pupils in both Divisions in support of their university applications.

And parents Natalie Armer, Senior Lecturer at the University of Manchester, and Amanda Grundy (née Killelea), Feature Writer at the Daily Mirror.

Thank you to: Helena Moore (née Carley, Class of 2003), Nikita Padmakumar (Class of 2015), Scarlett Tankard (Class of 2014) and Zara Walsh (Class of 2019) who interviewed aspiring medics; to dentist Alison Qualtrough (Class of 1976); to architects Chloe Granger (née Maher, Class of 1998) and David Rossington (Class of 2009) ; to Fashion Design student Imogen West (Class of 2019) and to Pharmacist Sophie Hayton (Class of 2017).

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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Spring 2022

Alumni Authors

A Spectrum of Heroes Written by Annie Percik (1990-1996) Published by Markosia.com How can a novel focusing on a female superhero present two paradigms of life?

Visionary Old Girl Annie Percik leads the way with her timely second fantasy novel, Spectrum of Heroes.

The alchemy focuses on biochemist Anushka Mahto who is accidentally contaminated by a mysterious substance while disposing of it. On the run from the laboratory where she used to work, Anushka must learn to control her multiple new powers while being hunted by the laboratory’s Security Chief (and her former lover), Charlotte. When alien life Ergo comes onto the scene, Anushka suddenly finds the fate of humanity resting in her hands. Can she navigate her personal relationships and prevent an interstellar war?

This latticework, courageously imagined by Percik, interlaces the opposing existence of energy-based life forces which exist through the consensus of collective thought, vying with an autonomous corporeal life-form.

The philosophical Ergons have the “great intellectual challenge, trying to convert purely theoretical science into practical applications in ways they are able to engage with” as opposed to a race of people which “embodies

Such A Nice Girl Written by Christine Cottam (1960-1968) A young woman’s life is turned upside down in this poignant tale about university life. No stranger to challenging circumstances, Doctor Christine Cottam’s debut novel, Such A Nice Girl, cleverly traverses the chasm between anticipation and reality.

Surely a nice girl is safe at university, isn’t she? She can trust the people there, can’t she?

In the late 1960s to the early 1970s the wicked failure of an assortment of people to provide a haven for university students lies at the heart of Such A Nice Girl. These were the days when colleges at university were single-sex and, like the BBC, new entrants were assigned a ‘college mother’ who was meant to guide them. The author, Doctor Cottam, exposes a world where the value of academic success is prized more highly than compassion.

Katy, the reader discovers, finds life at her new university is not really made for people like her, she’s not super rich. Alone and isolated, she places trust in the only like-minded girl at her college. This mistake sets in train a search for friendship that ends in tragedy. Everyone she should be able to depend upon has played a part in driving Katy into a corner, where even her life is at risk.

The novel is a complex thriller. It offers a stimulating interrogation of a world based on differing realities where people from a range of backgrounds compete to belong. “In the 1960s, because of re-emergent Irish Troubles, Celtic names were disfavoured, a problem being their pronunciation. At the Principal’s Freshers’ Party,

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a physical existence”. The narrative questions whether two such divergent powers can combine successfully to defeat a common enemy. The Ergons are keen to link with humans: “where we can design and theorise, they can build and implement. All of us are eager to find out how this new people will respond.” The tale zeros in on how people from a “blue and green planet” would react to communication from a different race when they ask for assistance.

With free will in question, Percik’s superhero, Anushka, must traverse a new world which makes little, or no sense to her. The story flings us humorously into the thoughts of Ergons as they acquire bodily form: “The human who is there to receive us gives no indication of discomfort or surprise, instead rising to greet us calmly. We wish we could be as calm. Instead, we focus on remaining upright and moving our long limbs in the appropriate fashion for walking. It would not form a good first impression, or prove intimidating at all, were we to fall down at this human’s feet.” The delicate and wry exploration of the many configurations that strength and love can take to overcome zealots, knit together this narrative.

A Spectrum of Heroes shines a light on our innermost curiosities about life beyond Earth and the extent of human resolve. It may be an indictment of a world which dreads and chokes, rather than embraces the unknown.

A second, must read novel by Annie Percik, which would make a fantastic film.

Jacki Waters (Director, Red Literary Agency and Former Girls’ Division Staff)

an exasperated Catriona kept reiterating ‘It’s Cut-TREEerr-NA with the emphasis on TREE: like Loch Katrine, in Scotland; not Cattery-owner’. Naturally, someone dubbed her Kitty; another Kit Kat. The soubriquet K-K-K-Katy stuck.”

“Being shrewd, she grasped at once what was going on and christened it ‘The Name Game’ articulating that it was a form of Class Warfare. ‘It’s ideological subordination; arrogating your right even to know your own name; just power-plus-prejudice,’ she declared. Letting tormenters know she knew the name of the game was a way she had of defending herself against snobbery.”

Katy’s college mother, the reader learns, is undependable Meg, who was born in the Far East and talks about shipping her Rolls Royce from India to exhibit at Blenheim Palace Vintage Car Show. Meg’s earliest memories were of soft, warm air and the waving fronds of palm trees glimpsed through latticed windows called jalli. She was unsure where, as names of towns and countries changed along with the boundaries during de-colonialisation and the seemingly never-ending wars accompanying it.

Katy cannot trust Meg because the girls’ lives are poles apart.

This chilling novel shines a light on both class and gender assumptions. The issues some women faced in the 1960s are trials which some women still encounter.

If you are interested in publishing Dr Cottam’s debut novel, or adapting it for a film or TV series, please contact redalloverjdw@gmail.com.

Jacki Waters (Director, Red Literary Agency and Former Girls’ Division Staff)

Britannia Street

Against this backdrop of unhappy circumstances at home, Beth’s teenage years become increasingly difficult.

by Beth Cox The author is Old Girl Sue Kaberry (née Cox, Class of 1964).

She uses the pen name Beth Cox for this book, but also writes historical novels as Susan E Kaberry.

Publisher: Cinnamon Press ISBN: 9781788649339

The author, in searching for answers to events in her life, turns to the past – to her ancestors – and discovers some surprising facts about her namesake. Moving from the late 1950s and 1960s to events in the previous century, the story of a Lancashire family, their lives and their secrets throughout generations are gradually revealed.

When I received this book to review, I initially thought that it was a novel, but it is actually described as a fictionalised biography, focusing on events in the author’s early years. There are difficult themes contained within it: illegitimacy and teenage pregnancy, mental illness, bereavement and heart-breaking accounts of brutal and harsh treatment – perhaps in context at the time, but with the more understanding circumstances we live in now, are shocking to the reader.

After a happy childhood, Beth’s family moved from Bolton to Holcombe Brook. It was not a happy move for the family as things start to go wrong. Her parents’ business hits bad times, their health degenerates, which places a burden on 14 year old Beth, and the home in which they have moved to becomes a curse rather than the fresh start which they had hoped for.

Amanda the Artist Inspired by her Art teachers at School, Amanda Haran (1983-1990) has made a career out of her passion.

As a very shy and confidence-lacking full scholarship girl I would not have predicted a career in the therapeutic arts let alone working in 2021’s Turner Prize. Luckily, I had the great fortune of meeting Mrs Tankard and Mrs Fisher, and finding a type of creative sanctuary in the art and textile rooms.

Amanda in the Cooking Sections installation in the Turner Prize 2021

Like most girls I found mastering the sewing machine extremely difficult and poor Mrs Tankard spent whole lessons bobbing from one pupil to another untangling the bird’s nest that they had (with great effort and purpose) created in the spool case. Thank goodness for gentle, unceasing encouragement.

During my GCSE mock exams my family lost everything due to bankruptcy and received emergency rehousing from Bolton Council. Two of the greatest kindnesses of my life occurred then, with Mrs Tankard lending me a sewing machine that I duly wrestled home on the number nine bus; and Mrs Fisher never batting an eyelid as I was allowed to make six-foot African canvases with lashings of paint, charcoal and ink – life-size Giacometti-inspired pieces – and then throw plaster and clay at trees in the School grounds to obtain a certain texture, these materials and equipment my family could ill afford. These teachers were helping to save my sanity. As I write this, the lump in my throat grows ever larger. They even initiated my first ever commission of sorts by asking me to design and create a batik as a gift to Lord Leverhulme. I still see this as my first ‘formal’ art industry piece.

After studying Textile Design and Design Management at the now no longer UMIST, I went to work in Manchester’s mental health support sector, adding Creative Therapy and Psychotherapist to my list of qualifications.

Using her skills as a researcher and a psychotherapist, Beth gives a fascinating account of how to research family history, the sources used and how it enables the researcher to piece together both an understanding of their ancestors and an understanding of self.

I also enjoyed the descriptions of places with which I am familiar – Barrow Bridge, Holcombe Hill, the Lancaster area and even Bolton School (although Beth Cox’s memories of School are not all happy ones).

Beth makes mention of the path her life has taken following on from the main events in the book. I hope that, without spoiling the ending, I can say that the author seems to have found a resolution and been able to put the ghosts of her past aside.

Maria Howarth, School Librarian

This year found me being awarded Arts Council funding for a worldwide suffrage-inspired mental health project. Working as part of many groups in Coventry City of Culture, I designed and made collectively banners for the opening ceremony; commemorated through an installation International Refugee Day; wove with the communities of The coat of Coventry a moon for the opening kindness made of the legacy Daimler Arts Centre;

by Amanda for and was one of the selected artists the Arts Council for Coventry’s response to COP26. for International However, none of these experiences Women’s Day 2021 matched working for The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum as their Community Engagement Officer for The Turner Prize. I was given carte blanche to seek out those in Coventry who seldom engaged with the arts on behalf of The Tate and Turner Prize nominees.

Walking Forest, a Coventry City of Culture initiative for the 2021 climate change conference in Glasgow

as I am now offering the ‘unceasing encouragement’ that Mrs Fisher and Mrs Tankard gave to me, to others who are often marginalised. Thank you, Mrs T and Mrs F, I will be forever grateful.

Array, who won The Turner Prize, have asked for a Coventry banner to be created in their style to capture the often unheard voices of the city as part of their legacy, and that is what I head in to the new year looking to do for them.

My life has come full circle

Amanda with Project Artworks’ cat (Turner Prize nominees) as part of her engagement work for the Turner Prize 2021 at the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, Coventry

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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Spring 2022

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 five 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!

Sarah Tarnopolsky (née Hancock, Class of 1999) I live in Victoria, on Vancouver Island in British Columbia (BC), Canada. I moved here in 2008 on a one-year travel abroad visa, but have since become a citizen.

I met my now-husband (who is Canadian) when teaching abroad in Japan after university. When we finally decided to live in the same city, Victoria was where we landed, and we haven’t left!

Sarah, Ronan and Greg enjoying the great outdoors

Even though Victoria is probably one of Canada’s most British cities, I find the politics and mindset quite different from the UK. There’s a large focus on things like sustainable transportation, protecting natural spaces, reconciliation with Indigenous peoples. There’s a lot less traffic here too!

I work at a university so that’s exciting and energising. I soon found out why BC is often rated one of the most livable and beautiful places in the world. In particular, I enjoy having great access to nature – from oceans to ancient rainforests to impressive mountains. My favourite sports when I was at Bolton School were tennis, netball and swimming, but now my free time is spent outdoors as much as possible, mountain biking, trail running, camping and lake or ocean swimming and paddle boarding. My son, Ronan, is very fortunate he gets to grow up here.

Before moving here I lived in London for a few years and at first I missed the variety, culture and amazing restaurants. I also miss the British sense of humour, and often yearn for a pint in a traditional pub after a long hike. Mostly, I miss my family and friends. I still call Bolton home, I just have two homes!

Eleanor McGivern (2008-2015) I have been living in Munich, Germany for almost five months. I relocated as I was offered a job at Amazon as a Campaign and Creative Manager. As I studied German at A Level and at university, this was a great opportunity to utilise my language skills!

I find Munich far more traditional than the UK, with everything being closed on a Sunday and Lederhosen being a normal outfit for many! The approach to Covid-19 is also much stricter over here; we still have to wear masks everywhere and also have to take a test in addition when going to the gym or cinema for example.

I love living in Munich, as there is so much to do in the city-centre and there is a very big expat community. I also love that you can jump on the train for an hour and be in the mountains – there are so many beautiful places to explore around the city, and it's not far to travel to Switzerland or Austria.

I miss my family the most, and also good-tasting food! I also definitely miss the British sense of humour!

Aysha Harwood (2002-2011) In September 2021 I moved to Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, to take up a three-year overseas posting with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). My role focuses on providing essential services to poor and marginalised people across Ethiopia, namely basic health care, education – including for girls – and access to clean water and sanitation facilities.

Life in Addis is very different to the UK, not least because of the sunny weather and some of the privileges we enjoy as diplomats, like having gardeners, drivers and housekeepers – all very alien to me on arrival! It is difficult to get some things here, like cheese, western toiletries and recognisable brands, and not everyone speaks English, but with a bit of creativity you can live comfortably in Addis and the Ethiopian culture and languages are very special. The conflict in the North seems remote most of the time but can sometimes make work difficult and affect morale.

I am slowly learning Amharic, the official language, and hope to get to working proficiency before the end of my post. The best thing about living here is being able to work closely with my talented Ethiopian colleagues on important issues, and being able to see regions outside of the capital for both work and in my spare time. Since cross country in School I have been a keen runner, and Ethiopia has produced some of the fastest long-distance runners – weekends running in the Entoto hills are quite something! There are also ample hiking opportunities and historic sites that I look forward to exploring. My time in Ethiopia is just beginning, so it’s not yet time to ask ‘where next?’ – but with a career in the FCDO the possibilities are vast.

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Cherrill Lee (née Gratrix, Class of 1970) We moved to Angoisse, in the north east corner of the Dordogne, in October 2020, next door to our elder daughter and family. We had had our holiday home since 2013, but a combination of Brexit and deciding to remain ‘stranded’ in this rural retreat at the start of Covid-19 for five months formed our decision to make it permanent. We moved here from near Poole, Dorset where our younger daughter still lives, so we miss the sea, sand and coastal scenery, but not the holiday crowds.

It is a pleasure to drive on the largely traffic-free roads and shop without cash out queues. Parking is usually free or low cost. Crime involves farming equipment. We are making the most of our recently-acquired campervan and electric bicycles to explore the many diverse regions of France safely. I am grateful to Miss Groser for fostering my interest in wild flowers and birds when I was in ‘Remove’.

After working as a British pharmacist, it is interesting, in retirement, to benefit from the French health care system, which I cannot fault. We pay a monthly sum in insurance for a particular level of cover, irrespective of any predisposing conditions. Access to your doctor and other medical services is swift and thorough –I am to undergo a hip replacement operation within five months of diagnosis. (Skiing might have been a contributory factor, but I have no regrets.)

Minimising social contact has meant improving my fluency via weekly tutorial sessions via Zooms and joining a book club in French. Progress is slow, but there is a great sense of achievement when I get it right!

I am eternally grateful to Miss Johnson who accompanied us to Oberau in Austria by train on three different occasions (the last two joint ventures with the Boys’ Division). At that time, the skis and boots were still quite antiquated; nevertheless, building on that initial instruction on the mountain at Niederau allowed me to ski down many a challenging run, my favourite being the Mer de Glace at Chamonix on my fortieth birthday.

Having been triple-vaccinated and issued with our ‘pass sanitaire’, we can engage with the French way of life: long lunches, people watching at pavement cafés and visiting art and cultural venues.

Relaxing and rewarding is how I would describe our life in France.

Catherine Goodwin (1981-1983) I have been living in Cape Town since my husband and I, along with our two boys, moved here in 2014. However, in 2003 my parents emigrated from Edgworth to Johannesburg initially, and then settled in the fair Cape where I finished school and university. So, it was more of a return – my home away from home!

After university I travelled and worked in Europe. I fell into the travel industry and had the good fortune to be offered the opportunity to transfer to Johannesburg to head up Contiki Holidays for 18-35s and revamp the African inbound programmes.

However, the arrival of my boys gave the impetus to move to a place where outdoor living is prized: Cape Town.

Johannesburg is a busy African city which hubs flights all over the continent. Cape Town, on the other hand, is a village by comparison.

The Mother City, as it is fondly known, has always been a cultural melting pot that attracts a lot of visitors to its shores. It has a rich and interesting history and a vibrant music and art scene. It is naturally breath-taking and the climate is Mediterranean.

We live near the Tokai Plantation in the Constantia Valley which is a forested area criss-crossed with green belts featuring tracks for walkers, runners, and riders – on bikes or horses. The boys also take part in surf lifesaving and their Scout packs have them hiking and camping all over the peninsula.

I miss not having a working post office – I developed a love for the ink pen and handwriting during my time at Bolton School, but there isn’t the same romance attached to sending letters which might not get there!

And public transport is complicated; many overseas visitors have braved the roads, but probably felt they should have earned a medal for doing so – social distancing was practised on the roads long before Covid-19!

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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Spring 2022

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 Naomi McLoughlin (2000-2010) and Lauren Ashworth (1994-2001) describe wearing their gowns with pride.

What was your favourite moment whilst wearing your gown?

Naomi: It was both receiving my gown and passing it on. I was lucky enough to be given a gown from the outgoing prefect who I was very good friends with, and then pass on my gown to someone who I was very good friends with.

Naomi and her partner, Another stand out moment Alex has to be running down the corridors, singing the Batman theme tune before waiting to walk into assembly.

Laurie: My favourite moment was probably wearing my gown for the very last time at my final assembly in the Upper Sixth. I swore I wouldn’t cry – and then blubbed my way into the Great Hall for the last time to sing the School Song!

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

Naomi: I was looking forward to going to university and also having the opportunity to travel.

Laurie in her Prefect’s gown

Laurie: My main hope was that my sister would get my gown three years down the line, and that happened!

What did you do after leaving School?

Naomi: I went to Durham University to read Law. I then worked in a local Solicitors firm for a couple of years before undertaking the BPTC in Manchester and then securing pupillage in Leeds where I have worked ever since.

Laurie: I took a gap year and then went to Vocal Studies at the Royal Northern College of Music, followed by a Masters in Vocal Performance at the Royal College of Music.

What are you doing now?

Naomi: I am currently practising as a Barrister in Leeds at Park Square Barristers.

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Laurie: I had an active career in opera, oratorio, recording and on cruise ships, but have since taken some time out to have a baby.

I still do plenty of oratorio work and hope to go back to cruising when Hannah (my daughter) has started school. I miss getting paid to drink cocktails in Bora Bora!

In the meantime, lots of singing teaching is keeping me busy. I currently teach at Withington Girls’ School.

Lauren and partner Ben at their daughter Hannah’s christening

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

Naomi: Stay yes to everything as you never know where it will take you. Also don’t be afraid to change your mind and say something isn’t for you, chances are it will lead to something better.

Laurie: I wish I’d not worried so much about what others thought when I was younger. I wish I’d been less sensitive.

I’d tell my younger self to be true to myself and have confidence that if I worked hard and did my best, nothing else really mattered. I went into a profession where a thick skin is vital, but it took me a while to grow it!

Are you still in touch with friends from School?

Naomi: Yes, I am still very close to a number of people with whom I was good friends at School. We have stayed in touch since leaving School, throughout university and see each other very regularly.

I am looking forward Naomi is still in touch with many friends she made at School to celebrating the weddings of two close friends from School two this year and going on a number of holidays! I have no doubt we will all be friends for life.

Laurie: Yes, I’m still in touch with lots of School friends through social media and we’re all looking forward to our 20-year reunion this year!

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 1960-1969

Jennifer Gorski (née Smith, Class of 1968) On 29th December 2021 Jenny and her husband, Steve (Class of 1969), invited family and friends to celebrate their Golden Wedding.

Jenny donned Steve and Jenny met her old School at Bolton School uniform in 1967. Steve was rugby captain and Jenny a keen netball and lacrosse player. They gelled immediately and, although they spent the next years apart at different Universities (Dundee and London), they got engaged in 1969. In 1971 Jenny moved to Dundee to join Steve and to study for a Doctorate in Physics. They were married in December that year.

Fifty years later, Patterdale Hall, the School’s outdoor pursuits centre, seemed an ideal place to celebrate as several of their guests, spanning Three generations three generations, of the Gorski family have connections with Bolton School: they included Steve’s brother Chris Gorski (Class of 1964), daughters Julia Miskelly (née Gorski, Class of 1995) and Erin Chuter (née Gorski, Class of 1996), Richard Waterfield (Class of 1975), Cathy Malley (née Bullough, Class of 1993) and current pupils Katy and William Malley.

After a hike to Aira Force and back in damp and windy conditions, the celebrations began with a splendid meal and some emotional speeches, followed by a good old Polish toast with genuine Polish vodka. The party continued with family games and karaoke and Jenny couldn’t resist surprising Steve by donning her old School uniform, complete with his old ‘grey book’ (1968-69) in her blazer pocket, and then placing her father’s wedding ring on his finger.

Steve and Jenny thank Bolton School for bringing them together and for being part of their lives again as they celebrated 50 years. They are

indebted to the staff at Patterdale Hall for their hospitality, warmth and welcome. There were some tearful goodbyes at the end of the festivities and all are looking forward to their next excuse to visit Patterdale!

Class of 1970-1979

Sheila Fisher (née Platt, 1963-1970) In appreciation of her work as a returner doctor and supervising clinician at the Covid-19 vaccination site and community service in Wigan, Sheila was nominated in the ‘Returning Champion’ category in the Greater Manchester Health and Care Champion Awards 2021.

Although she did not win the award, she was thrilled to make the short list out of 500 nominations and was very pleased that the vaccination service and all of those who work in it, both as professionals and as volunteers, gained some well-deserved recognition.

Class of 1980-1989

Elaine Greenhalgh (née Lee, 1967-1981) and Anne Ibberson (née Lee, 1967-1981) Elaine and Anne visited Park Road for the Elaine (right) and Anne on the unveiling memorial bench of a memorial bench in honour of their father, Old Boy Kenneth Lee (19351940). Ken served in the Second World War and in 2020 he shared his wartime experience with pupils at the Boys’ Junior School, following which a group of boys produced an e-book, Holding the Line, to mark 75 years since VE Day. Ken died in January 2021 at the age of 96 and the bench has been established for the boys to sit on while they watching football – as Ken always loved to watch sport – and to chat with their friends. It bears a quotation from Ken: “You eat. You sleep. You fight. You share a slit trench. Oh yes.

They are your best of friends. The camaraderie is absolutely unique.

There’s nothing like it.”

Kim Carmyllie (1978-85) Kim has recently been appointed as District Commissioner for Bolton Moorland Scouts, a wide and varied

role involving the support of leaders of 16 Scout groups and five Explorer Scout Units in the area, including those at school. Collectively they provide Scouting to approximately 600 young people aged 4 to 18. A former Venture Scout at School, her first official duty was to present a long service award to the Paradox Explorers leader Ann Chambers.

Ann was an art teacher in the Girls’ Division (1978-1983), and joined the Venture Scout Unit as a leader on the persuasion of several girls, who needed a female leader in order to enable them to join Ventures. She has since led many through their various Scout and DofE awards and on regular international camps.

As well as her volunteering, Kim is Practice Manager for a law firm in Cheshire.

Rachel McHattie (née Robinson, 1984-1989) In December 2021 Rachel joined the staff of St Albans High School for Girls as Director of Finance, having worked in school finance for ten years and prior to that served as a school governor. Rachel really enjoys working in schools as it is so varied – don’t believe anyone who says accountancy is a boring career!

Outside school Rachel and her husband are approaching their silver wedding anniversary and have three sons. She is still in touch with a number of people from the Class of 1989 and looks forward to the next reunion.

Class of 1990-1999

Susannah Penney (1983-1993) Susi is a consultant head, neck and thyroid surgeon based at Manchester Royal Infirmary (MRI) and is also the Associate Medical Susi Penney Director at the (photo courtesy Greater Manchester of Greater Cancer Alliance, with Mancunians) close links to The Christie NHS Foundation Trust.

Susi studied medicine at the University of Manchester, qualifying in 1999.

With a love of taking things apart, seeing how they work and putting them back together again, she always knew she wanted to be a surgeon and after passing her exams with the Royal

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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Spring 2022 College of Surgeons she underwent Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) training at Hope Hospital and MRI, then head and neck cancer training at The Christie.

The pandemic has had a significant impact on her work in cancer care, but with her characteristic determination and compassion she has endeavoured to keep cancer patients safe across the whole of Greater Manchester.

Away from work, Susi enjoys include badminton, cooking and racing fast cars: a proper ‘boy racer’, she recalls her days as a Registrar driving around Manchester on call in a bright blue Subaru Impreza with a big wing on the back!

Susi was recently featured in ‘Greater Mancunians’, a photography project featuring people from Greater Manchester who have in some way shaped the city and its surrounding boroughs for the greater good – you can see the project here: www.greatermancunians.blog.

Saima Hanif (1990-1998) Congratulations to Saima, who has been included in The Lawyer’s ‘Hot 100’ list for 2022. The list features those lawyers who are instructed on major cases and recognises stand-out excellence in the legal profession. Saima took silk in 2021. She is based in London and specialises in banking and financial services.

Charlotte Morley (née Maddrell, 1985-1999) Charlotte recently appeared on the BBC’s Dragons’ Den, seeking investment in her company, The Little Loop, which rents out stylish childrenswear to parents to save them having to purchase new clothes as their children grow. Charlotte, a University of Cambridge graduate and former teacher, became the first contestant to talk the dragons into giving her double her initial investment request – she received £70,000 from Deborah Meaden and another £70,000 from Steven Bartlett, both of whom took a 12.5% stake in her business.

Class of 2000-2009

Lisa Jacobs (née Griffiths, 1996-2003) Congratulations to Lisa who was pronounced Fintech Woman of The Year at the 2021 AltFi Awards. The awards recognise achievements in the rapidlygrowing alternative finance and

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fintech community and Lisa’s honour acknowledged her work for Funding Circle UK, where she was recently promoted to Chief Executive Officer.

Natalie Lewis (née Caldwell, 1997-2007) Congratulations to Natalie who has been made a Partner in the law firm Travers Smith LLP. Rebecca Smethurst (1998-2008) Becky is thrilled to have received the 2022 Winton Award for Astronomy. This accolade, by the Royal Astronomical Society, recognises research by a postdoctoral fellow in astronomy whose career has shown the most promising development and was awarded to Becky after she made major advances in the field of galaxy formation and evolution.

Class of 2010-2019

Alex Holden (2009-2011) Congratulations to Alex who has received her Doctorate in Biochemistry from Royal Holloway, University of London. Alex is now working as an Associate Consultant at Cambridge Healthcare Research.

Eleanor Mott (2010-2012) Congratulations to Eleanor who has been included in this year’s Drapers 30 Under 30, an annual initiative celebrating the rising stars of fashion retail.

Elle studied Fashion and Textile Retailing at the University of Manchester and joined Continental Textiles as an assistant buyer in 2017, being promoted to junior buyer in 2019. She now manages a team of five. She was nominated for the award by the Directors of Continental Textiles in recognition of her involvement in establishing new brand VAI21 and managing its launch on Asos. She has represented Continental Textiles Ltd globally in China, India, Europe and the USA and works on all brands and product areas in the business, VAI21 being the latest project.

Charlotte Holden (2012-2014) Congratulations to Charlotte who successfully defended her doctoral thesis and has achieved her PhD in Sleep Science at Nottingham Trent University.

Riya Kalhan (2009-2016) Riya’s latest single, Escape, has been entirely written, produced and independently released

by Riya on all streaming platforms. Escape has already received notable airplay, garnering attention from BBC Introducing London, BBC Manchester and BBC Lancashire. The ballad features lush harmonies, melodic strings and a rich brass section.

Riya was the first guest in two years to be invited into the BBC headquarters in Media City UK (Manchester) to an in-person live interview on air for the release of Escape. She was invited back to do an in-person interview for BBC Radio Lancashire in February.

Riya has also been selected as one of 12 participants across Europe for the Music Cities Network LEC project, shortlisted into the EuroSonic 2022 Festival line-up. She is excited to release her debut EP in the coming months. With an exciting future ahead, Riya is one to watch!

Caitlin McGuffie (Class of 2016) Caitlin is in her fourth year at the University of Liverpool studying for an integrated Masters Degree in Aerospace Engineering. She is heavily involved with numerous aspects of university life acting as a course representative, university ambassador and peer mentor as well as being voted Vice President of the University's Engineering Society.

Last year she completed a 12-week internship with BAE Systems over the summer, working in their UK Sport Partnership team. Having interned with the company during the Summer of 2019, she was grateful to be invited to return. The experience with the company during both placements was invaluable and following a successful performance review in September she was thrilled to receive an offer to join BAE Systems Air as an Airframe Engineer after she graduates this Summer.

Caroline Blair (2011-2018) Congratulations to Caroline who has won the prestigious Joan Chissell Schumann Caroline (second Lieder Prize right) celebrates her at the Royal award Academy of Music.

MATCHES AND HATCHES Abigail Green (née Collins, 1988-1995; Girls’ Division Staff) Congratulations to Abbey who married Russell Green at Samlesbury Hall on 21st December 2021.

Maid of Honour was Rebecca Richardson (Class of 1996) and Abbey’s daughter, Year 11 Girls’ Division pupil Felicity Field, was a bridesmaid, while Maud Martin of Bolton School Nursery was a flower girl.

A huge contingent of Girls’ Division staff joined Abbey on her big day: Carolyn Bielby, Helen Brandon, Helen Bradford Keegan, Hannah Caulfield, Alison Elkin, Natalie James (née Whittle, Class of 1999), Angela Martin, Susi Noot, Kate Power, Hilary Reade, Janet Sells, Marcia Teichman and Catherine Winder.

Abbey and Russell’s winter wedding

Louise Yates (née Dixon, 2003-2010) Louise and her husband, Elliot (2003-2010) welcomed their son, George, in June 2021 – a new and much-loved brother for Teddy.

Happy family: Elliot and Louise with George and Teddy

MINI REUNIONS A group of recent leavers took the Development Office up on its offer to contribute to University Drinks. The girls, who are all studying at the University of Manchester, enjoyed a get-together at the Fig and Olive restaurant in Bolton where they reminisced about their seven years together at Bolton School!

L-R: Aaliyah Bax, Faatima Adam, Sanaa Hafeji, Isha Iftikhar and Sana Dalal (all Class of 2021)

The Bolton Alumni Network The Bolton Alumni Network has continued to grow throughout the last year, and the addition of the free Business Directory, which offers self-employed Alumni the opportunity to promote their businesses and services, enables us to present a networking community that spans the globe. With 2,700 registered users in the UK, Australia, the USA, Canada, the Far East, Europe 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, 72% 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.

• • • • •

1700+ users are willing to answer industry specific questions 1400+ are willing to introduce other alumni to their connections 1500+ are happy to offer advice 1200+ 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 Alumni 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.

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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Spring 2022

DESTINATIONS OF LEAVERS 2021

Faatima Adam

University of Manchester

Madeehah Ahmed

Gap Year

Serena Arya

University of Edinburgh

English Literature and Spanish Architecture

Madeline Ashton

University of York

Business Management

Roxanne Asumu

Charles University, Prague

Medicine

Katherine Baker

University of Oxford

Classics

Aaliyah Bax

University of Manchester

Medicine

Eve Birtwhistle

Gap Year

Madeleine Bodger

University of Liverpool

Psychology

Jessica Buckthorpe

University of Manchester

Law with Politics

Joyce Chan

University of Manchester

Medical Physiology

India Corlett-Moore

University of York

Law

Katherine Couriel

University of York

Law

Sana Dalal

University of Manchester

Pharmacology and Physiology

Abigail Duckworth

Oxford Brookes University

Real Estate

Kate Dziobon

Gap Year

Maisy Ferguson

Edge Hill University

Business and Management

Emilie Fielding

Manchester Metropolitan University

Foundation Diploma in Art and Design

Ellie Fisher

Hull York Medical School

Medicine

Isabella Forshaw

Northumbria University

Real Estate

Rachel Funk

Gap Year

Maimoona Ghanchi

University of Liverpool

Medicine

Annabelle Gibbs

Coventry University

Accounting and Finance

Liberty Giggs

Nottingham Trent University

Fashion, Communication and Promotion

Madeline Godwin

University of Birmingham

Dentistry

Alexandra Greenwood

University of Glasgow

Veterinary Medicine

Sanaa Hafeji

University of Manchester

Dentistry

Sophie Hann

Imperial College London

Physics

Grace Hansford

University of Leeds

Politics

Ella Harkness

University of Nottingham

Politics and International Relations

Elspeth Harper

University of Leeds

Product Design

Rosalyn Harper

University of Edinburgh

History

Saachi Hemmady

University of Nottingham

Geography

Zakia Herez

University of Salford

Biomedical Science

Stephanie Holland

University of Nottingham (Classics)

Jasmine Howarth

King's College London

Sport and Exercise Medical Science

Abigail Hughes

University of Edinburgh

Psychology

Charlotte Hughes

Degree Apprenticeship, PwC

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Saira Hussain

Cardiff University

Isha Iftikhar

Gap Year

Sana Isa

University of Manchester

Dentistry Optometry

Jade Jolley

University of Surrey

Veterinary Medicine and Science

Shreya Kamath

Imperial College London

Electronic and Information Engineering

Victoria Kettle

Northumbria University

Marketing

Phoenix Khan

University of Leeds

History and Sociology

Amber Kirkham

Newcastle University

Business Management

Zara Leach

University of Edinburgh

Spanish

Elizabeth Lees

University of Leicester

Medicine

Laura Marsden

Newcastle University

Marketing and Management

Haleemah Mohammed

University of Liverpool

Modern Languages

Eleanor Murray

University of Sheffield

Law with Spanish Law

Fatimah Naeem

Lancaster University

Medicine and Surgery

Maya Parmar

Gap Year

Aaliyah Patel

Newcastle University

Dentistry

Maryam Patel

Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh

Speech and Language Therapy

Muminah Patel

University of Manchester

Dentistry

Sanaa Patel

University of Manchester

Healthcare Science (Audiology)

Anna Phillips

University of Oregon, USA

Harriet Preston

The University of Law

Nikhita Puveenthirarajan

Gap Year

Zara Rattoo

University of Manchester

Mahnoor Raza

Gap Year

Sana Riaz

Durham University

Law Optometry English Literature

Lily Rimmer

University College London

Politics and International Relations

Sara Salim

University of Plymouth

Medicine

Ashley Sprott

University of Liverpool

Psychology

Olivia Stubbs

Durham University

Natural Sciences

Jennifer Taberner

Northumbria University

Criminology and Forensic Science

Ella Thompson

University of St Andrews

French and Spanish

Sara Uddin

Gap Year

Aishah Umar

University of Manchester

Sanjana Vijaya Kumar

Gap Year

Sarah Walker

University of Oxford

Ellie Wallis

Gap Year

Elizabeth Warburton

University of Leeds

Business Management

Niamh Woodward

Liverpool Hope University

Psychology

Dentistry Law with French Law

27

Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Spring 2022

FROM THE ARCHIVES Ask the Archivist What is the Statuette in the Headmistress’ Study?

Visitors to the Headmistress’ study may well have noticed the small bronze statuette of a young girl, but few will probably have given it a second thought.

Why is it there, who was the sculptor, how was it paid for?

It was, in fact, commissioned to commemorate the contribution made to the School by Miss Miss Meade, 1937 Meade (Headmistress, 1919-1938) at the instigation of Miss Higginson (Headmistress, 1954-1979).

Born in Killarney, Maria Hamilton Meade was a graduate of Newnham College, Cambridge, having previously been educated in Dublin and at Cheltenham Ladies’ College.

She thus became the third Headmistress of Bolton School to have been a graduate of Newnham College, following in the steps of Miss Vokins (Headmistress, 1882-1887) and Miss Dymond (Headmistress, 1893-1919). Miss Meade started as Headmistress on her birthday in 1919 when the Girls’ Division was still based at Park Road although, because of space restraints, classes also took place in various of the houses fronting Chorley New Road which had come into the ownership of the School due to the benevolence of Lord Leverhulme. The plans for the new School had been prepared by the Manchester architect CT Adshead, but they remained just plans. Whilst the new School buildings were sorely needed, the financial situation in the aftermath of the First World War meant that the development had to be delayed.

By the time she retired in 1938 Miss Meade had left her mark in diverse ways. During her term of office she had, inter alia, introduced lacrosse, established a School Council, encouraged music and art to flourish, begun an oratory competition to encourage the girls to practise the art of public speaking and introduced a wide variety of new societies, including Classical, Musical, Historical, Arts, Debating, Dramatic and Natural History societies.

However, the most significant event during her time at the helm was arguably when the Girls’ Division finally moved into its splendid new premises in September 1928. She had been immersed in the planning for the new School, which was formally opened by Viscountess Leverhulme, the wife of the 2nd Viscount.

She retained a close interest in the School in her retirement and, to mark the School’s 80th birthday in 1957, endowed the Meade Prize for Reading Aloud. Ten years later she sent a congratulatory telegram for the School’s 90th birthday with the words ‘Pride in the Past: Confidence in the Future’ – the words that were used as the title for the chronological history of the School.

Miss Meade died on 14th February 1969 at the age

28

of 92. How, then, to commemorate a Headmistress who had made such a massive contribution to the School?

Various suggestions were proffered, but Miss Higginson then remembered having received a congratulatory letter in 1967 from an artist by the name of Delmar Banner, following the School’s successful first venture into television in a programme for Sixth ‘Fanny Johnson in old age’ by Formers called Sixth Sense.

Delmar Banner In this letter Banner had mentioned that he was the artist who had painted the portrait of Miss Fanny Johnson (Headmistress, 1888-1893) which hung for many years in the Girls’ Library and later on one of the corridors.

Miss Higginson knew that Delmar Banner was married to the renowned sculptress Josefina de Vasconcellos and was also familiar with some of her work, including the sculpture of the Holy Family at Liverpool Cathedral. She therefore decided to write to Josefina to ask whether she might consider creating a sculpture in Miss Meade’s memory. Josefina replied that ‘Refugee finding a skylark’s she would be glad to create a nest’ piece for the School, provided it was felt that her work ‘would fit into the atmosphere of our living and working’. Moreover, she wrote that she had actually known Miss Meade in the days when she (Miss Meade) had taken girls up to Little Langdale in Cumbria where Josefina and her husband had their home.

The suggestion of a statuette sculpture was readily accepted and Old Girls were invited to contribute towards an appeal to fund the work. As ever, they were generous with their support and thus it was that the ‘Refugee finding a skylark’s nest’ sculpture was presented to the School. A fitting permanent tribute from a great sculptor to a great Headmistress.

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.

Memories of School An Injection of 1973 Shot through my Letterbox The photograph on the back cover of the Autumn 2021 edition of the Newsletter brought back vivid memories of Bolton School for Janice Wilkinson (1967-1974).

L-R: Lindsay Brown, Miranda Williams, Sally Haslam and Jane Balshaw

A startlingly clear photograph showed my old friendship group making their presence felt on the back cover of the Old Girls’ Newsletter.

In 1967, Lindsay, Sally, Jane, myself and 28 other girls started our Senior School days in 3H, under the watchful eye L-R: Lindsay Brown, Miranda Williams, of the lovely Mrs Sally Haslam and Jane Balshaw Hesketh. Miranda was less fortunate. I think she was in 3T, but she never allowed this artificial barrier to stand in her way, and hung around with her more recalcitrant sisters quite a lot so it was no surprise to see her in the line-up.

The years 1967 to 1974 were a period of immense change. Looking back, I can see how fortunate the School was to have Margaret Higginson at the helm. The way she steered that ship through those stormy waters must hold a lot of lessons for all leaders. I didn’t have much contact with Miss H. My roller-skating, disco-dancing preferences didn’t cut much ice in the Higher Echelons. Miss Mott’s valiant attempts to instil an appreciation of classical music into my Bowie-addicted body had very little impact, and, other than being able to accurately translate the words Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, I took very little from her work.

Never one of the School’s most distinguished pupils, I scraped good enough grades to take me where I

wanted to go next, but what I took with me when I did so was worth more than gold: self-confidence. Funded by the state, I spent seven years in an environment which nurtured strength in women, encouraged girls to speak out, taught them how to do so to good effect and listened when they did.

It was a shock to leave and discover that this little oasis of womanpower was not replicated elsewhere, but the confidence in my own intellectual capacity which Bolton School gave me runs deeper than the degree and PGCE which followed.

To an outspoken child from a working-class background Bolton School represented safety. It supported the high expectations I had of myself and nurtured my natural ability to think outside the confines of societal convention without going too far.

Hiring a train to take the whole School on a day trip to London to visit the Tutankhamun exhibition? That’s the kind of chutzpah Margaret Higginson had. What a feat of organisation that must have been! Not that she would have done any of it herself of course ... I can only imagine the mutterings and chunterings that went on in the staff room when she announced her decision. But we went.

And more importantly, we came back.

I’m grateful for my time at the School, and remember it with more affection and appreciation than I can express.

I even remember some of the things I was supposed to be learning. I can only suppose I absorbed them osmotically as I gazed longingly in the direction of the Boys’ Division.

However, a few weeks ago, out of nowhere I astonished my son and his partner by informing them that the Tuileries in Paris were so named because tiles (‘des tuiles’) were once manufactured on that site. In the face of their scepticism I checked this out, and, yes indeed, this small stored snippet from Miss Winfield’s wonderful History lessons proved to be correct.

Next thing I knew, an even bigger injection of 1973 came winging my way. What next, I wonder?

Search the Archive online!

Alumni are reminded that they are able to access a vast amount of archival material online, including every edition of The Boltonian and the Girls’ Magazine since they were first produced in 1899 and 1893 respectively. Other publications available include, inter alia, the Bugle, the Old Girls’ Association Newsletter, the newsletters of both Park Road and Hesketh House, Speech Day and Prize Distribution programmes and a large number of full School photographs dating back to 1920.

The domain name is www.boltonschoolarchives.cook.websds.net. To visit the site, just click the Digital Magazine Archive icon at the foot of the School’s website, which will lead to the front page of the Digital Archive. A click on ‘Browse’ will then open a page detailing the full range of categories available. A further click will reveal all the publications within each category.

Click on this icon at the foot of the School’s website Those who would prefer a more detailed explanation should read the aide memoire that is available on the School’s website at www.boltonschool.org/former-pupils/archives-and-memories/ which also explains how more specific searches may be made by name, by date, by magazine etc.

Novel Research – Can You Help?

Louise Carlyle is a Creative Writing PhD candidate from Lancaster University. She is researching and writing a novel that moves backwards and forwards between two narratives: one set in the early 1960s and the other in the Second World War. The 60s narrative centres on a small Jewish community in Bolton (Louise’s hometown), and the War narrative centres on first Paris, and then the maternity ward at the Ravensbrück

concentration camp. Both narratives require enormous reading around and research. Bolton School for Girls features prominently within the novel, and she would be interested in speaking to Old Girls who were at the School during that time.

If you would like to share your memories of Bolton School with Louise she may be reached by email at l.ashton3@lancaster.ac.uk or via Twitter @LouiseACarlyle.

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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Spring 2022

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

ldwell), Natalie Lewis (née Ca Davies r nife Jen t, Natalie Rou Class and Rose Robson (all ults of 2007) on A Level res day, 2008

Mrs Vause (left) and Mis s Higginson (right) at Centenary Celebrations , 1977

Norway c.19 60 Judith Simm : Jacquelyn Tonge, s and Patric ia Lane

overseas Mrs Chappell the 1940s

g class in

a dressmakin

Geography Field Trip, Scarborough,

Sheila Monks teaching Maths in

1990

The new Com

the 1970s

puter Room

, 1991

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.

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LIVES REMEMBERED Dr Margaret A Spurr, OBE DL (Headmistress, 1979-1994) Margaret was born in Sheffield on 7th October 1933 to parents William and Annie, the third of four children.

She was brought up over the family business, a chip shop – a far cry from becoming the Headmistress of a prestigious girls’ school, a Governor of the BBC and Deputy Lieutenant of Staffordshire.

Margaret showed an early interest in literature; aged three, she would go to the local primary school and swing on the gate so as to listen in on story time. She passed the 11 Plus and attended Abbeydale Grammar School for Girls, where she was very sporty, swimming, diving and playing hockey at County level.

Having been talent-spotted whilst playing hockey, Margaret became a games mistress at Rampton Secure Hospital, a daunting prospect for a hardened professional, let alone someone who was arriving straight from school. Yet she flourished in that environment. John, her husband to be, joined her at Rampton as a nurse.

Margaret and John had known one another all their lives, but their relationship began to grow when they went together to a Sheffield Wednesday match in 1947; she was 14 and he exactly a year older. They were married in October 1953, aged just 20 and 21.

After Rampton Margaret taught at Stafford College of Education, taking A Level English at the same time as her students. She later graduated from Keele University with a degree in English Literature and American Studies.

The family – children David and Jane had since come along – spent a few years in Scotland, after John secured a post at the University of Stirling. John had been surprised to be invited for interview – it transpired that Margaret had applied on his behalf! Meanwhile, Margaret worked at the University of Glasgow.

On the family’s return to Staffordshire, Margaret’s teaching

career really took off. She taught English in Stoke and then was appointed Deputy Head of Fair Oak School before being appointed Headmistress of Bolton School in 1979.

One of Margaret’s many gifts was the ability to talk with anyone - from the newest cleaner to the Archbishop of Canterbury - and to treat them all with the same courtesy and interest.

Indeed, she made time to get to know not only every member of the teaching staff, but also the cleaners, the catering staff, the maintenance men and the Sergeants. Her 15 years at Bolton School saw many changes: information technology arrived, photocopiers came in, A Levels changed, O Levels became GCSEs, not to mention the National Curriculum and the start of league tables. Assisted Places were introduced to assist families who could not pay the full fees. And there was an almost continual building programme: the science laboratories were completely upgraded, Beech House and the Junior School were given greatly improved facilities, Art and Textiles, and Food Technology, moved into impressive premises on the ground floor. There was the new sports hall and swimming pool and the refurbishment of the Arts Centre.

Margaret always had great care, concern and compassion for her staff and girls. When the way forward was not clear, her mantra was to decide “what was best for the girls”. She knew how to handle parents, staff and governors, how to deal with the press, how to keep a sense of proportion – “Always take things lightly” was one of her phrases. Her standards of professionalism and leadership inspired all, as evidenced by the many tributes the family received after her death.

Margaret was very active on the national stage. She was on many committees of the Girls’ School Association, and was its President in 1985-86. National recognition led to an invitation from Prime Minister John Major in 1993 to be a Governor of the BBC. Margaret retired in 1994, the year she was awarded the OBE. Sadly, she and John did not have long years

of retirement together; he died in 2003, aged only 71, shortly after their Golden wedding. Then her son, David, died of Motor Neurone Disease. That was especially hard.

For a short while Margaret enjoyed a close friendship with Professor Peter Young. They had a few happy months together, visiting people and places, until he fell gravely ill. After he died Margaret moved to Mottingham near Lewisham in London to be with Jane and her family. But gradually Alzheimer’s took hold. At the beginning of November Margaret was admitted to hospital and three weeks later, on 24th November 2021, she slipped from this life to the next.

Daughter Jane, son-in-law Philip and grandchildren Hannah and Robert miss her greatly, but are comforted by their own memories of this very special lady Margaret’s likeness is and by the many captured tributes to her perfectly by her which recall her grandson, Robert gifted leadership, her persistent advocacy of pupils’ interests, her love of poetry, her immaculate dress sense, her sense of humour, her vision and energy, generosity and compassion – many of these can be read in the Former Pupils section of the School’s website, and below.

Jane (née Spurr) and Philip Ware When Mrs Spurr’s death was announced there was an outpouring of sympathy from Old Girls, many of whom shared their memories of this ‘incredible’ and ‘inspirational’ Headmistress.

“Remember, even when you are not here, you are ambassadors.

Remember too the THREE Ds Garls: Deportment, With Diana, Princess of Decorum and Wales October 1993 Dignity, and no, we would not be seen eating in public whilst wearing school

31

Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Spring 2022 uniform, would we?” A marvellous woman who was both terrifying and inspirational. I was in awe and curtsied to her after my interview as she seemed so regal. She conspiratorially shared, “I think you can go and buy your cardigan now.”

Such a lovely way of saying well done to a nervous 11-year-old.

RIP Mrs Spurr; I left Bolton School Girls’ Division believing girls could be anything they set their minds to.

Thank you for championing women and leading with strength.

Jane Broadis (née Pickup, Class of 1998) She was a tour de force. Fond memories of queuing up, slightly awestruck, to meet her after signing the excellence book. “Be courteous and kind”, she always said. We shall.

Rest in peace.

Jo Scott (née Buffey, Class of 1996) Two memories of her particularly stand out: I remember knocking on the door to her panelled office and sitting opposite her across that huge desk, telling her the news of my severely changed family circumstances that would require me to leave the School. She received it quietly and sensitively, thanked me for coming to tell her, then handled the situation directly, decisively and without fuss, allowing me to stay on in the Girls’ Division.

The second was her very direct and honest answering of our quite probing questions regarding how donated money was spent. She gave us (three Sixth Form girls in her car on the way to a presentation) a window into the challenges of running a private school that we hadn't understood before.

Mrs Spurr was a caring, insightful, student-centred educator, combined with an astute and pragmatic businesswoman – an inspiring combination to lead the School in quite difficult times.

I am personally grateful to her for the continuity and security I was able to feel at School as my family life disintegrated. Under her leadership, School was a calm, ordered, safe refuge for me.

Helen Shilladay (née Buck, Class of 1987) What an impact Mrs Spurr made on the world and what an impression on

32

those who knew her. A life lived.

Dawn Marie Gratton (Class of 1989) I was interviewed for a job and the interviewer, a misogynist who had With Miss Panton and met Mrs Mrs Richards at the Staff Spurr, said Tea Party, July 2006 “She is an awful woman”. I replied “If you mean ‘aweful’ as in ‘inspiring awe’, then I agree.” He laughed. I got the job.

Mrs Spurr was a truly inspirational lady, and I feel fortunate to have known her.

Clare Douglas (née Gorner, Class of 1989) She commanded respect, but I always liked her. She did seem to know us, and a little bit about our families. There were very few women like her in and around Bolton at the time.

Clare Fordham (née Westhead, Class of 1993) She was an absolute legend and created a generation of empowered and feisty young ladies. Real girl power. And not a detention in sight.

One of my lasting memories (apart from her striding down the middle of the corridor and in to Great Hall in full gown) was when she used to boom into the microphone at the end of assembly “Will those girls who were at the party in … on Saturday night remain seated in the hall …”

Lindsay Cressey (née Sandiford, Class of 1997) A wonderful, inspirational lady who had never-ending faith in ‘her girls’. I feel so fortunate to have had her as my headmistress for the entire ten years I was in the Girls’ Division.

Dorothy Lees-Blakey (née Lees, 1942-1950) Finally now reunited with the love of her life, Dorothy passed away peacefully surrounded by family at her son’s home in Edmonton.

Predeceased by her beloved husband Brian, she is survived by her son Mark (Radeana), daughter Sarah (John), grandchildren Micki, Khale, Sherylyn, Danielle and Debbie, greatgrandchildren Austin, Evelyn, CJ, Aria and Rhys, as well as many friends and extended family members throughout Canada and the United Kingdom.

Born and raised in Bolton, England, Dorothy was a graduate of the University of Manchester where she met Brian, a fellow student in the French department. Brian’s career as a university lecturer took the couple to several locations throughout England and Scotland, before bringing them to Canada in 1969, when he took a position at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.

Following Brian’s death in 1979, she headed west and spent a few years in Victoria, BC, before ultimately returning to Ontario.

A French teacher by profession, Dorothy also had a lifelong love of the fine arts. She was an accomplished piano player, composer, actress and writer, on both an amateur and professional level.

Our family would like to extend a heart-felt thank you to Dr Ernest Hajcsar at EH2 Medical Associates in Burlington, Ontario, and to Dr Amber Peters at the Grey Nuns Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta, for their exceptional guidance and care during these past few months.

A formidable but fair headmistress and extremely inspirational.

There was no service by request.

In lieu of flowers, donations were invited to the Dorothy Lees-Blakey memorial award at Bolton School via development@boltonschool.org.

Jo Bishop (née Carr, Class of 1995)

Mark Blakey

Mrs Spurr was a fabulous role model and embodied the Girls’ Division.

I’m proud to have called her my Headmistress. She interviewed me for a place in what is now Year 7 and offered me a place there and then.

Made me cry tears of happiness.

Sheila Bruckshaw (1932-1942) Sheila was born in Bolton on 20th August 1924 to Frank Earnest Bruckshaw and Eleanor Elevia Bruckshaw (née Quayle). Frank was

Gillian Rimmer (née Barker, Class of 1991)

Alexandra Monro (née Mack, Class of 1995)

a yarn salesman at Coral Spinning Company, Bolton and latterly an accountant at the Haslam factory.

Sheila had one older brother Morton and together they lived at 151 Tudor Avenue.

Sheila attended Bolton School from 1935 to 1942 where she excelled at sports; she captained the cricket team as well as being in the first teams for Netball, Lacrosse, Hockey and Tennis. A photo of Sheila as part of the Shield winning Junior Netball team of 1938 is enclosed with Sheila sitting cross-legged at the front holding the ball.

After finishing school, Sheila attended the Liverpool Physical Form 4a, 1938 (Sheila is Training second from left on the College middle row) from 1942-45 and trained to become a PE teacher. Her whole working life was spent at Chorley Grammar School where she taught PE until she retired in 1974. She taught at Chorley with Tom Cleary, who was the Maths teacher and Deputy Head, and after her mother passed away, Sheila and Tom moved to Horwich, where they lived happily until Tom passed away in 1999.

In retirement, Sheila retained her love of sports and followed all the big sporting events throughout the year.

She was still playing competitive croquet well into her 90s as part of Bury Croquet Club.

Sheila was an amazing cook and very adventurous with her menus - whenever you visited, she would always have a delicious three-course lunch or dinner prepared. She liked to do all her own shopping and even at 95 would drive every week to Bolton to get her weekly groceries.

Sheila was an accomplished completer of cryptic crosswords, which she did every day. Her mind was always incredibly sharp and her ability to recall and share so much of the family history as well as memories of pre-war Bolton was always

fascinating.

Sheila’s closest relatives were her late cousins’ children and she took a great deal of interest in the lives of all her extended family. An afternoon spent with Sheila was always filled with excellent conversation – full of fascinating stories of the past, her expansive knowledge and interest in current affairs and her generous and genuine interest in our lives too.

She passed away suddenly in February 2021, having lived a long, healthy, and active life. She remained living independently, in her own home, and fully able to care for herself right up until the end which is exactly how she would have liked it.

She is, and will continue to be, very much loved and very much missed by all her extended family.

As well as photographs of Sheila’s time at Bolton School, her personal items also contained a postcard of the School, a handwritten reference from Dorothy Varley on Bolton School headed notepaper from 1948 and Sheila’s Grammar exercise book.

Jo Spiller Alison Mary Clemence (née Mitchell, 1956-1969) Mary was born in Bolton, the fifth child of six born to Ken and Joan Mitchell. Their home was a stable, loving, Christian home, centred on Mary with her the life of St Peter’s daughter, Jenny, church in Halliwell in 2014 Mary was educated at Bolton School, as were all her brothers and sisters, and then went to Nottingham University where she studied Geography, before going on to Manchester University to complete a diploma in Town and Country Planning. For many years she worked in local authorities and then as a Planning Inspector in England and Ireland and latterly, having completed a diploma in building conservation, she specialised in built heritage. Her personal and professional passion was to restore and find new uses for old buildings and to contribute to making places beautiful and functional.

She met her husband Paul at 21 whilst at Manchester University and they married in 1983. Their son, James, was born in 1987 when Paul was sounding out a vocation to the

Anglican ministry. They moved to Oxford during Paul’s training.

In 1990 they settled for four years in Lancaster, where Jenny was born. Mary was a natural and gifted mother. In all the changes in our lives she adapted with her quiet grace, enhancing family life with her joyful, smiling, loving, no nonsense way while also working part time and coping with the new demands of parish life at St John’s Church in Little Thornton. She had a particular gift with young people and over the years she devoted much energy and time to ministry for children and youth in all the churches she settled in.

Mary was never one to court the limelight; she retained her unwillingness to stand out, but her humility and love of people made her very approachable – as did her smile and beautiful laugh! Her willingness to give practical help at the drop of a hat and never to grumble or complain was the golden thread that shone through her life. She may have been reserved, but this did not stop her speaking up when needed. If she thought something was wrong, she would tell you.

No account of Mary would be complete without remembering the loving bond with her younger sister Sue, her love of hill walking and of gardening. She also had an eye for colour and enjoyed decorating. In DIY, woe betide if you were satisfied with anything that was not 100% level or vertical. Lining paper had to be so perfectly lined up that the whole wall looked like single sheet.

Mary was a keen observer of everyday life and for years she scribbled down in notebooks little cameos of things that caught her eye. These writings turn up all over her note books, short pithy, beautifully written moments of pain, or amusement, or simple delight in everyday life. She had the hope that one day she would write a novel.

There is no novel, but we do have an archive of scribbles to discover and enjoy.

She will be sorely missed by her family near and far and a large host of friends. Her joy is now to be with the Lord who has directed and shaped her life to the glory of His eternal gift of life.

Paul Clemence

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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Spring 2022 M Susan Garnett (née Parry, 1952-1958) Susan and I were friends for over 70 years. We were in the same form at School the whole time, we did the same O Levels, and chose Art, English and Geography as our A Level subjects. We shared a love of music and drama, and we both took part in the 1958 school play, The Importance of being Earnest. It was her idea, when we were still only 16 or 17, to take a group of Lower Fourth girls on a week-long walking and Youth Hostelling holiday in the Lakes, and she organised the whole thing, with me as a feeble support.

Both of us studied Geography at University, in totally different parts of the country, but Susan, with her flair for organisation and public speaking, became Lady President of her Students’ Union. And she was good at sport – quite unlike me! She had played lacrosse in the School team, and continued to be involved in sport at University.

On her own, and with two very young children, she moved back to Bolton, becoming a teacher at our old School for a while.

Then she found her real métier, becoming head of Elleray School in Windermere. Following that she moved to take up the post of Head of Geography at the prestigious Sedbergh School, which she reveled in, often amused when visiting parents supposed she was a secretary, since all the rest of the staff were male. Always ready for an adventure, she would enthusiastically join male colleagues on a day out to climb Helvellyn or some other Lake District Peak. She was fully involved in the extra-curricular activities of the school, like the choir, and also with the vibrant community of Sedbergh town, directing Gilbert and Sullivan shows and helping to organise their music festivals. After her son and daughter were launched on their own careers, she spent a sabbatical year in Australia, teaching and conducting field studies.

In retirement she was even more involved with the life of the town, especially the Town Twinning programme with Slovenia, leading

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groups to Zrece every other year.

She also led the Sedbergh branch of the Cumbria Wildlife Trust and became one of the Trustees of the CWT. Nothing daunted or dismayed her: she was able to cope with everything, including several house moves within Sedbergh, and seemed to have endless energy. Even when cancer struck, she was keen to take part in clinical trials of new drugs. Her courage, on her own, when things went wrong and emergency help had to be summoned, was formidable.

Later she would laugh it off, and most of the time she could count on help from the many devoted friends she had in Sedbergh. Her humour, her forthright manner, her kindness and thoughtfulness will be sadly missed.

She leaves a son and daughter and five young grandchildren whom she adored.

Val Stevens (née Deans, 1951-1958) Stella Good (née Parker, 1946-1953) Stella joined Bolton School in 1946.

Having successfully negotiated her School Certificate, she joined the Sixth Form. For reasons lost in the mists of time, it was suggested she take the Civil Service exam, in which she finished seventh nationally.

She was then offered the chance to join the service but on an ‘any department, anywhere’ basis. So, as a 16 year old, she joined Customs & Excise, based in Blackpool. Her original posting saw her working on sugar rationing, which included having to fly regularly to the Isle of Man on a DC-3 (Dakota) which still had the RAF roundels visible.

she could even work a follow spot if pushed and the urgent phone call from someone requiring help was a feature of her retirement.

She lived in Heaton all her life and maintained her relationship with the School in later years through the Old Girls’ events which she loved attending.

Her funeral was held at Christ Church, where she had been Christened 84 years earlier. A relaxation in the Covid-19 regulations meant that a reasonable number of people could attend, but there was no wake. She would have noted the irony as she always loved a good ‘after show’ party.

Graham Good and Wendy Hulton (née Good) Elizabeth Plant (Class of 1966; Girls’ Division Staff, 1979-1990) Elizabeth Plant, who died suddenly at Christmas, had longstanding links with Bolton School, first as a pupil and A Level Classics student, and later as a member of staff of the Girls’ Division, serving as Head of Classics and as Deputy Head before her eventual appointment as Head of Parsons Mead School, Ashtead. She is remembered as a supportive Head of Department and a mainstay of Senior Management, fondly remembered by the family of former Head Mrs Margaret Spurr, whose funeral service she led just a few weeks before her own death.

In 1959 she married Antony (Tony) Good (Class of 1946), an Old Boy whom she knew from Heaton Village Tennis Club. After the birth of their children and taking time out to be a full-time mum, she re-joined the Civil Service as a tax officer. Anyone who visited Enquiries at Lever Chambers or Churchgate probably met her – indeed many ‘customers’ refused to speak to anyone else!

Elizabeth was born on the Isle of Man, shortly after her parents moved to Douglas for her father’s work. Her mother had been born in Brazil and foreign travel was to be one of Elizabeth’s lifelong interests.

In 1952 the family moved to Bolton and in 1968 settled in Deane where they became members of St Mary’s Church, Deane. The church became a focus of Elizabeth’s life and she served in a variety of ways, especially as a Pathfinder leader, attending camps with the young people despite hating camping herself.

Stella had many interests, often connected with local amateur operatic and dramatic societies.

From make-up, prompting, props,

Elizabeth completed her education by gaining an Honours degree in Classics at London University and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education

Missing family and friends, she moved back to Bolton and joined the Education department, and from that point she moved around various council departments.

at Manchester University. She was appointed as teacher of Classics at Manchester High School, and in 1979 became Head of Classics at Bolton School Girls Division. She was a loyal member of the Manchester Classical Association and she and her mother were regular participants in the annual Association outings to Roman archaeological sites organised by the late Anthony Whitehead.

Despite her distinguished career in education, Elizabeth felt that her vocation lay in parish ministry and even as a child appears to have been aware of a calling to ordination. Her sisters remember how she challenged the church curate with the question "Why can't women become vicars?"

“Well maybe someday they will”, he replied. In due course the ordination of women became a reality and Elizabeth was accepted for ordination in 2005, strongly supported by her church congregation and clergy. She thus fulfilled her lifelong ambition and devoted the rest of her life to ministry in her parish and community.

As Assistant Minister at Deane Church Elizabeth watched over the older ladies of the congregation, most of whom lived alone. Before the pandemic she took Holy Communion to the local care homes on a regular basis and helped to lead the Ladies’ Guild. Her preaching was biblical, and well researched. Her hospitality was unbounded. Parish ministry meetings were often held in her house and at Christmas they enjoyed seeing the lovely nativity sets which she had collected on her travels.

Elizabeth will be sadly missed by her two sisters, Lynda and Catherine, and their families to whom she was devoted. She was a caring and much-loved friend to all who knew her and who will have memories of her good company, her sense of humour and her infectious laugh. The School community, parish and town have lost a loyal servant. She will be greatly missed and remembered with affection, gratitude and great admiration.

For many years Muriel enjoyed a friendship with Margo Lumb who lived nearby. They holidayed together, enjoying bird watching and visiting National Trust properties amongst other things. I always assumed that they had become friends in the early fifties at Bolton when Margo, as Miss Weaving, taught PE. We were all very upset when she suffered a serious climbing accident during our first year and was away from School for some time.

Kathleen Zimak (née Smith, Class of 1961; Girls’ Division Staff, 1969-1979)

After retiring Muriel bought a holiday home in Scotland. It was a lovely apartment in a small, Adam-designed castle just East of Perth. Her sitting room had a marvellous view down the Tay Valley, ideal for bird watching.

Given my by then Scottish location she visited us and we reciprocated.

I still have some magenta-coloured primula plants which are sub-divisions of a gift from Muriel. We had many stimulating discussions over lunch or afternoon tea. Eventually, she decided to sell the flat and ceased her long drives up and down the M6, M74 and M9, so she no longer dropped in for a meal en route.

Muriel Shaw (Girls’ Division Staff, 1949-1961) At the start of the Autumn Term 1952, we headed to a cloister formroom for Lower IV A to discover that our form-teacher was Miss Shaw, and that she would also be teaching us Geography. I remained one of her students, loving Geography, until the Upper VI when she left the seven-strong A Level class bereft when she went to do an advanced course. Nevertheless, three of that group read Geography at university: Valerie Stevens (née Deans, 19511958), Susan Garnett (née Parry, class of 1958) and myself. She did return to School for some time before pursuing a career in teacher education, and later in educational administration in her home county of Cheshire. I don’t now remember how I stayed in touch with her at that time, but I did, and we remained correspondents for years, meeting occasionally, as at the School’s 100th Birthday celebrations in 1977. I once visited her home on the Wirral which was relatively close to where we were staying.

In recent years our contact has been by post and latterly somewhat one way as she suffered from macular degeneration which meant that someone else had to read her letters to her and write her Christmas cards. I tried to select postcards to send with bold colours and striking landforms which hopefully she could still discern. My husband and I will miss her.

Eileen Turner (née Milner, 1951-1958)

IN MEMORIAM Audrey Binks (née Schofield, 1946-1954) - Died 27th February 2022 Olwyn Chappell (née Baggs, Girls’ Division Staff, 1949-1950) - Died 28th September 2021 Edith Clayton (1929-1935) - Died 30th December 2020 Kathleen ‘Kate’ Cowpe (née Riding, 1956-1963) - Died 1st September 2019 Josephine Venise Curry (née Hewitt, Class of 1955) - Died 14th May 2021 Penelope Mary Hilton (née Kay, 1938-1947) - Died 1st August 2021 Mrs Doreen Alice Lilley (née Roscow) - Died 17th September 2021 Patricia Peet (née Taylor, 1958-1965) - Died January 2021 Eileen Pepper (née Greenwood, 1940-1947) - Died 28th February 2022

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1970 Leavers enjoy lunch at the ‘0’ Class Reunion, September 2021 Back, L-R: Shirley Sheehy (née Deeks), Janet Hutson (née Wright), Sheila Fisher (née Platt) Front, L-R: Elizabeth Hayward (née Rigby), Cherrill Lee (née Gratrix), Aileen Valentine (née Warren), Vanessa Barnes (née Pietre)

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