Newsletter Autumn 2022
OLD BOYS’ NEWS
If you would like to get in touch with any of the Old Boys featured – or any other Old Boltonian – please contact the Development Office.
Class of 1940-1949
David Hart (Class of 1949) David has been a fan of Bolton Wanderers all his life – and is one of the survivors of the Burnden Park disaster in 1946 – and so it was only fitting that he celebrated his 90th birthday with a trip to the University of Bolton Stadium to watch his team play. His family booked a hospitality box in the West Stand for the occasion and they all enjoyed seeing the mighty Wanderers beat Lincoln City. David also got a mention in the match programme – a fantastic souvenir of a wonderful day!
Class of 1950-1959
Norman Longworth (Class of 1953) Norman has just published two new poetry books, one in English, Poems in a Crazy World, and the other in French Apprendre ou Mourir. Both are available on Amazon. He and his wife are also supporting a local Ukrainian family. During the Summer they met up with Peter Greenhalgh (19541963) in St Cyprien where Peter has a second home. Peter had read Norman’s autobiography, The Boy from the Back Streets of Bolton (which was reviewed in the Autumn 2021 edition of The Bugle), and got in touch. Poskitt, Booth, Ingham, Howard and others were among the items for discussion, not to mention comparing their respective journeyings around the world.
Class of 1960-1969
Malcolm Walker (Class of 1961) In 1960/61 Malcolm was a student in the Biology Sixth Form and most of his fellow students were very keen on cutting up dead rats and not too keen on the wonders of botany. This led to him being assigned the task of helping to maintain the plants in the School greenhouse on the roof of the recently opened School wing. This wonderful building effectively became his private study. He brought a few cuttings from his home garden to propagate and one such plant – if he remembers correctly – was Lophophora Williamsii, a cactus.
The original was probably bought from Bolton market or from a fellow collector in the Bolton Cactus Society. However, although perfectly legal, Malcolm believes, at the time, it is now listed as a dangerous drug owing to the plant producing mescaline, a powerful hallucinogen. Malcolm now lives in New Zealand so hopefully well away from any prosecution for supplying dangerous drugs 60 years ago. He has often wondered if the plant has survived.
Class of 1970-1979
Simon Relph (Class of 1974) Simon has been living in Majorca for a number of years. He has had a distinguished sailing career: he was the GP14 World Champion from 1985 to 1991, and Scorpion European Champion in 1986, as well as having won the GP14 Irish Championships a record seven times in 1982, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1990 and 1992 – a record which still stands today. Simon is currently the owner, editor and publisher of The Islander magazine, a monthly professional yachting publication which provides news and information for the global yachting industry. Simon remembers his School years fondly, especially trips abroad with Clifford Ingham, camps at Instow and Saundersfoot and football on the Levels. He remains in close contact with fellow Old Boy Chris Taylor (Class of 1973) and maintains his home connections by following the fortunes of Bolton Wanderers. Nicholas Ogden (Class of 1977) Hearty congratulations are due to Dr Nicholas Ogden on his election on 1st September as a Fellow in the Canadian
Academy of Health Sciences. After training as a vet at the University of Liverpool, Nick completed a doctorate in Zoology at the University of Oxford. He trained in disease modelling at the Université de Montréal before joining the Public Health Agency of Canada, where among other things, he led the Covid-19 modelling teams in response to the pandemic.
Class of 1980-1989
Peter Leather (Class of 1980) Peter retired in April 2022, shortly before his 60th birthday in May – just enough time to train furiously for the ultimate test of his resilience: participation in a 7-day Ultra Cycling Challenge with Team Tactic-UK, an Amateur Racing Team. The Epic Challenge started on 30th July from Zurich Airport, riding over the Swiss Alps, Italian Alps, and Italian Dolomites to Belluno, Italy. Every day involved riding several colossal mountain passes in 35°C heat – village water fountains were an absolute life saver. It was the equivalent of riding the toughest UK Cycling Sportive – The Fred Whitton – not once, but repeatedly over consecutive days. The team rode 600 miles, involving an epic 69,000 feet of climbing. The scenery was spectacular from start to finish, but the absolute pinnacle was the Sella Ronda route in the Italian Dolomites. If you have one ride left in life, then it has to be the Sella Ronda: a stupendous lap over four colossal passes surrounded by a cathedral massif of jagged limestone. Peter’s daily routes were recorded on Strava with his usual Old Bolts reference. He was fortunate to be supported and inspired by a group of very talented and determined riders with an astonishing age range from 22 years to 69 years old.
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