The Bugle - Spring 2023

THE BUGLE

Old Boltonians’ Association 1895 - 2023

CONTENTS

STAY IN TOUCH

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

‘Like’ our Facebook page for event invitations, School news and memories: search Bolton School – Old Boys and Old Girls (Official)

Connect with fellow Old Boys on LinkedIn: connect with Bolton School Alumni and join the Bolton School Group

Follow School and Alumni news via Twitter: @BoltonSchool/@BoltonSchAlumni 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.

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

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

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

CONTACT US

Development Office

Bolton School

Chorley New Road Bolton

BL1 4PA

T: 01204 434718

E: development@boltonschool.org

THE TEAM

Rebecca Brayshaw Development Manager

Laura Firth

Director of Development and Alumni Relations

Frances Johnson Development Officer

Rebecca Kendrick

Development Assistant

Elizabeth Lupton Development Assistant

Emma Metcalfe

Alumni Engagement Officer

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

Stay Connected

We hope you enjoy being kept up-to-date with what is happening at School and within the Old Boy community as much as we value the opportunity to stay connected to 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 Alumni Communications Update form found in the 'Alumni and Giving Back' section of the School website, www.boltonschool.org

Bolton School Merchandise

A variety of merchandise, including our new style hoodies, priced at £25 each and available in black or burgundy, is available from the store on the School’s website – please visit www.boltonschool.org/ourcommunity/commercial-services to see the full range and details of how to order.

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

WELCOME FROM THE PRESIDENT

Bolton School has always held a special place in my heart. My mother attended in the 1930s, my brother and I in the 1950s, and my two daughters in the 1980s. As a result, I had no hesitation in accepting the offer of the Presidency in 2019. It is some time since I was honoured to be appointed President of the Old Boltonians’ Association, and I now find that my term of office will end shortly, having been prolonged by the invasive pandemic which has had such an influence over our lives in the last few years. I shall be passing the chain of office to my successor at the Annual General Meeting in May this year.

My time in office has constituted quite a journey, and its length totally unexpected. Despite the disruption to the familiar rhythms of our annual cycle of events, it remains the case that there is great energy in the Association. Gatherings at regional dinners have resumed and remain popular in Cambridge, Edinburgh, London and Oxford, and our lunch in Cumbria. In particular, we had a memorable dinner in the Long Room at Lord's Cricket Ground, and, an

equally memorable event at the Armourers' Hall in London. In addition, we still hold our termly Old Boys’ lunches at School. Alumni play a large part in providing support and advice to students, and an Alumni of the Year has been inaugurated. Members still give generously to the Bursary Fund.

I will vacate my position taking with me very fond memories of time spent with members of the OBA. My personal thanks are due to the officers and committee members. I owe a great debt of gratitude to the teaching and administrative staff at School, and especially to the many members of the Association who have given me and Old Boltonian activities their constant help and support.

Roy Battersby (Class of 1961) Old Boltonians’ Association President, 2019-2023

A MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF BOYS’ DIVISION

As we near the end of the Spring Term, we reach the transition point from our Winter sports to our Summer programme. The cricketers have already been busy in the nets getting ready for the season ahead, hopeful for some silverware having narrowly missed out last Summer. For much of this academic year I have had the pleasure of following the U12 football squad, watching them develop as a team over the season, and I write this having just watched them secure a place in the Town Cup semi-final. Similarly, the U13 rugby squad have also enjoyed a great season, losing only once and securing the Rugby 7s Trophy, whilst the U15s won in their Bowl competition, too. I know that for many of you, school sport holds many memories, and the feature on ISFA football on page 20 will therefore be of great interest to you.

Looking back to the Autumn Term, I was pleased to host my first Tillotson Lecture having been representing the School at a conference in Sweden the previous year. Professor Robin Ali returned to deliver an outstanding lecture, the 50th in the series, on the ‘Biotechnology revolution and the future of healthcare’. It was especially fitting to welcome Professor Ali back for the 50th edition as he was Captain of School in Marcus Tillotson’s final year as Chairman of Boys’ Division.

At the end of the Autumn Term, we said farewell to Cath Fox, who has taught Religious Studies in the division since 1994, leading the subject as Head of Department since 1999. Her long service is recognised in this edition of The Bugle, and I know many of you will have very fond memories of being taught by her.

The inaugural Alumni of the Year Awards have also taken place this term, recognising the talents and hard work of Old Boys and Old Girls. The winners enjoyed a day in School, addressing and inspiring the current generation of boys and this is an enduring feature of our School; the Old Boys inspiring the next generation by sharing their stories and helping with advice on a wide variety of careers. I know you will enjoy reading these features and will hopefully be inspired yourselves to continue to help our community thrive.

Nic Ford Head of Boys’ Division

FOUNDATION NEWS A Message from the Head of Foundation

Without doubt it remains one of the great joys of my role to meet so many Old Boys and Old Girls at events, to enjoy your tales of School life and to recognise in your own appreciation of your School days what we must be very sure we continue to do for those currently at School: the key features seem to me to be intellectual ambition (with a helping hand for those who find some things more challenging); the chance to find your passion and interest in life, whether sport, drama, music or at one of the many other activities; a sense of being part of something bigger than yourself and a desire to help others.

The idea of helping others is shown by how many of you assist with our careers programme and on the mentoring schemes for Old Boys and, from this year, for Old Girls. I was delighted that the Find Your Path mentoring scheme devised by the Old Boltonians’ Association was shortlisted for a business mentoring award earlier this year. This helping hand, giving advice we either were given or wished we had been given, is a wonderful example of how being part of the wider community of the School can still create a sense of

The Bolton Alumni Network

The Bolton Alumni Network continues to grow and 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 nearly 3,000 registered users in the UK, Australia, the USA, Canada, the Far East, Europe and beyond, the Bolton Alumni Network offers a diverse spectrum of support for Old Boys, Old Girls and Former Staff in a variety of sectors.

In the last six months, 69% of users have indicated they are willing to help those within the Bolton Alumni Network community, whilst we have seen a steady rise in the number of users seeking help via the network. The most commonly sought advice is around work experience and reviewing CVs and users are most likely to offer advice around mentoring and recruitment.

• 1,762 users are willing to answer industry-specific questions

belonging. The reinvigorated Friends of Bolton School will aim to find a place for all who wish to be associated with the School, whether former or current parents or Alumni, to maintain those important connections.

Our sense of togetherness across the Foundation at School has been in evidence in three notable School events recently. The Bridgewater Hall concert was an excellent example where pupils from the very youngest to the outstanding Year 13 musicians all played their part on the stage. The Primary Division choir, for many, stole the show. Our collective fundraising efforts across all parts of the School for Malawi, jointly supporting an initiative begun at Hesketh House, is another. A final example is the joint audience from Boys’ Division, Girls’ Division and Primary Division who attended the Alumni of the Year Awards. My theme that morning was that we should try to find reasons to say ‘Yes’ rather than ‘No’ to opportunities that come along. If you are an avid reader of the alumni magazines, but have yet to attend an event, then might I encourage you to think about saying ‘Yes’ – even if at first you know no one, it will soon be very clear there is a shared heritage. I look forward to seeing even more of you and hearing even more of those tales of School life.

Philip Britton, MBE Head of Foundation

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. Over the last six months, 20% of users who have visited the main directory page have gone on to interact with the offer from the relevant business. 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.

• 1,474 are willing to introduce other alumni to their connections

• 1,603 are happy to offer advice

• 1,236 have offered to review CVs

• 298 currently offer work experience or internships

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.

CONTINUING SUPPORT

£1.71 million was given in support of the Bolton School Bursary Fund, including £51,000 donated by 201 families of the departing Class of 2022 who gifted their child’s deposit to the School, and £778,000 bequeathed to the Bursary Fund by three Alumni who had remembered the School in their will - enough to provide for two bursary places at the School in perpetuity. In addition to the gifts received to support the bursary scheme, £140,000 was donated by a charitable trust to provide hardship funding for pupils whose families were facing financial challenge, enabling 15 pupils to continue their studies at the School. A further £111,000 was donated to support the provision of extra-curricular, uniform and ancillary costs for bursary recipients, for academic prizes in the two Divisions, to provide university scholarships for recent leavers, and for the redevelopment of the School’s facilities, including a £50,000 gift donated to fund the refurbishment of the facilities at the Leverhulme Pavilion and a bequest by an Old Boy to support the enhancement of football facilities in the Boys’ Division.

As a result of this generosity, last year the School was able to spend £3.1m on means-tested bursary assistance supporting 329 – one in five – pupils across the two Senior Schools, including 50 bright, talented members of the Class of 2022 who left the School last summer. In the A Level results published last August, 68% of those bursary recipients achieved grades A*-B, with 36% of those pupils securing grades A*-A. 37 members of last year’s bursary cohort left the School to study at university, with 24 pupils taking up a place at one of the prestigious Russell Group universities, including Oxbridge.

“The School gives all students the ability not just to thrive academically, but also to contribute to society. My greatest debt to the School isn’t my academic results, but rather the rounded person I have become through opportunities outside of the classroom.”

Boys’ Division Bursary Recipient, Class of 2019

“Coming from one of the worst schools in one of the worst areas of Bolton, and from a lower income family where no one had completed college or sixth form before, I cannot put into words the joy I felt on being accepted into such a prestigious school. Without the bursary, none of this would be possible. I cannot thank the School, and the donors that make this possible, enough for their continued support.”

Boys’ Division Bursary Recipient, Class of 2022

We hope that Old Boys would agree that the portrayal of independent schools which now prevails in much of the press – as bastions of privilege serving only a small segment of society – is unrecognisable as a description of Bolton School. Through our substantial bursary scheme and extensive partnership and outreach work, the School serves its local community wholeheartedly and has a pupil body which is economically and socially diverse. This work is fundamental to the national renown in which the Foundation is held, ensuring that it continues to be seen as a force for positive change in Bolton and beyond.

Prior to 1997, most recently, during the past half-century, with the Assisted Places and Direct Grant schemes, and before then through philanthropic support from individuals, a mixed model of funding existed which drew the different types of schools within the educational landscape closer together for the good of all. The Governers' ambitions for the growth of the bursary scheme to support one in three pupils by the end of this decade will ensure that the School will continue with this mixed model, enriching the School community and the wider society that it serves, whilst offering bright young people from every background the opportunity to transform the trajectory of their lives forever.

The support the School enjoys reveals the depth of its supporters’ confidence in the work of the Bolton School Foundation and their understanding of the transformational impact this will have on the young people who benefit from it. Thank you, sincerely, to everyone who supported the School during the past academic year - your generosity is greatly appreciated by the Governors, Staff and Pupils of the School.

If you are considering supporting the School, and would like to find out more about how to do so, simply scan the QR code on the right. If you would like to discuss your intentions in more detail, including learning more about how to make a bequest to the School, Laura Firth, Director of Development and Alumni Relations, can be contacted on 01204 434718 or at development@boltonschool.org

During the 2021-22 academic year, the School community made pledges and gifts in support of the School and its pupils totalling £1.96 million.

A New Charity for Bolton School’s Bursary Funds

2022 marked the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Bolton School Foundation's bursary scheme. In that quarter of a century, the School’s bursary scheme has enabled over 2,000 young people to receive a first-class education here that they would otherwise have been unable to access, before going out into the world to make a difference for good.

School's supporters to the Bursary Fund are ring-fenced for that purpose in the decades to come. The primary charitable purpose of BSBF is to provide bursary funding to the School, and its charitable objectives, in line with the School’s ethos outlined by Lord Leverhulme, are ‘the advancement of education for the public benefit of those who need financial assistance in particular but not exclusively by the provision to Bolton School of bursary support for the benefit of pupils who would be unable to continue in education at the School or who would be unable to commence education at the School despite being accepted, without financial assistance.’

Bolton School now offers bursary support to one in every five of its Senior School pupils, many of whom attend with a fully-funded place, meaning the School has one of the most generous bursary schemes in the UK. The growth of the School's bursary scheme to its current level has only been made possible through the generosity of the School community, particularly its Alumni, and a number of local and national philanthropists and charitable trusts.

In the past ten years, the School's benefactors – many of whom themselves benefited from a funded place here - have generously donated almost £11m to the School in support of the continued expansion of its bursary scheme. Each of those supporters shares the School's ambition to level-up the educational opportunities available to disadvantaged children in Bolton and the local area, so that every young person living locally can reach their true potential, regardless of their family's circumstances.

It is the Governors' objective that, by 2030, one in three pupils at the School should receive bursary funding for their education. If that ambition is to be achieved, then the future growth of the bursary funds available to support pupils at the School must be maximised. In pursuit of that goal, and marking the next exciting phase of the School's fundraising endeavours, in 2022 Bolton School's Governing Body established a new Charitable Incorporated Organisation – The Bolton School Bursary Foundation (BSBF) – which will raise, hold and grant the School’s bursary funds in the future.

By establishing BSBF, the Governing Body seeks to ensure that the funds already given so generously by the

Reflecting on the new charity, Ian Riley, Chair of Bolton School’s Governing Body, said: “During the past two decades, the School’s Bursary Fund has benefited hugely from the generosity of Alumni who wish to ensure that the ladder of social mobility remains in good repair for the next generation of pupils at the School. In establishing BSBF, the Governing Body is seeking to provide our donors with assurance that their gifts will only be used for their intended purpose – namely, the provision of bursary places at Bolton School.”

BSBF will be Chaired by Old Boy John Craven (Class of 1982), who also serves on the School’s Governing Body. He is joined by five other trustees – Suve Banerjee, Andrew Palmer and Ian Riley (all current Governors of the School), and Michael Griffiths (Former Chairman of the Bolton School Governing Body) and Nigel Wightman (former member of Bolton School’s Investment Committee).

THE MAIL BAG

A selection of emails and letters received since the last edition of The Bugle was published.

STAR LETTER

40 Years On?

Michael Cannon (Class of 1955) and his wife recently visited the Duke of York’s Theatre in London to view a performance of the pantomime, Mother Goose. Starring in the title role was Sir Ian McKellen, who was three years behind Michael at School.

“The moment I saw [Ian] on stage I had a vision of the Great Hall where I had watched him perform in the School play on several occasions, the last one being in 1955. I also had a vivid image of the Hall on Speech Day, with my fellow pupils and me belting out, with gusto, the words of the song Forty Years On. The words of the song have remained in my head not only for 40 years, but for more than 70 years, and I am still counting! As I sat in the Duke of York’s Theatre I quietly hummed the song’s tune and recalled the words from the first verse:

‘Then, it may be, there will often come o’er you, Glimpses of notes like the catch of a songVisions of boyhood shall float them before you, Echoes of dreamland shall bear them along.’

“How relevant to me these words are today and they returned to me as I watched Sir Ian strutting his stuff on stage. His performance was a joy to behold and I marvelled at his brilliance and his energy. Furthermore, during the weekend when we saw him in action, he was on stage for both a matinée and an evening performance on two consecutive days! So ‘70 Years On’ rather than ‘40 Years On’ most certainly applies to Sir Ian as it definitely does to me. I am sure that he must have sung the words of the song while he was a pupil at Bolton School, but does he remember the following text from the fourth verse?

‘Forty years on, growing older and older, Shorter in wind, as in memory long, Feeble of foot, and rheumatic of shoulder, What will it help you that once you were strong?’

“If he ever read the script I can’t imagine that he could ever forget those lines – but in Sir Ian’s case they are seemingly there to be scorned.”

Dr Michael Cannon (1946-1955)

Correction

In the Autumn edition we published a photo taken at the ‘2’ Reunion in October last year. The caption incorrectly identified one of those featured as Carron Paige (née Bland); it was in fact, Jane Wilkinson (née Rothwell). We offer our sincere apologies to both Carron and Jane.

Lifesaving Champions

Clive Nightingale (Class of 1983) spotted in the Autumn 2022 edition the photograph of the School swimming pool taken in 1974 and has identified the Old Boys kneeling on the poolside. They are Chris Lossin (Class of 1977) and Dave Cole (Class of 1978) who had won the National Schools lifesaving championships in Coventry. Standing behind them is Clive’s sister, Alison Nightingale (Class of 1978), and Pauline Baldwin (Class of 1979). Clive recalls that a few years later he entered the same competition with Michael Moore (Class of 1982) and they came third!

The First Viscount Leverhulme

The account of the generosity of the Second Viscount Leverhulme in the Autumn edition prompted Malcolm Howe (Class of 1956) to recall a cherished family memory of the Second Viscount’s father, who was accustomed during his visits to Bolton to address young folk at Blackburn Road Congregational Church.

“Constructed in red sandstone, like Bolton School, it was so richly rebuilt at the expense of himself and his brother in memory of their father, a dedicated Congregationalist, that it was known as Bolton’s Cathedral of Nonconformity My mother, Dora, recollected that he recounted this amusing anecdote during his last visit just before died; so she would have been 16 at that time.

“The First Viscount Leverhulme said he had just returned from London where a taxi driver recognised him and, when proffered a tip, retorted ‘But that is only half what your son gives me, My Lord.’ His Lordship’s response was ‘It is all right for him because he has a very rich father!’ It took a Lancastrian to get the better of a Cockney.”

Mike Worsley, Jonathan Battersby, Nigel Mayers, Jane Wilkinson (née Rothwell), Marcus Smith, David Sharples (all Class of 1982)

James Lever (1809–1897), the father of Lord Leverhulme

SCHOOL NEWS

Stunning Bridgewater Hall Sell-Out

house enjoyed a variety of performances from the Primary Division to the Sixth Form, from organists to ensembles, from choirs to concert bands.

Putting the pandemic and lockdowns firmly behind it, Bolton School returned to the Bridgewater Hall for the first time since 2019 to present a joyous Gala Concert.

In a musical – and logistical! – extravaganza, 600 musicians took to the stage to showcase talents from across the Foundation. The pupils relished the opportunity to perform at such a prestigious venue, and a packed

School has a New Website

We are thrilled to present the new Bolton School website to all of our Alumni community and hope that you enjoy browsing through the site. Sections that may be of particular interest to Old Boys include the Alumni Events, Volunteering Your Time, Supporting School and the Contact Development pages. There is also a link to the Old Boltonians’ Association page which is full of useful information.

As always, we love to hear from Alumni and value being able to stay in touch with Old Boys and Girls as well as Former Staff. If you would like to update your details with

School Comes Together for Malawi Orphans

A chance encounter between Mrs Julia Marsden, a teacher at Bolton School’s Junior Girls’ School, and a parent, Mr David Armstrong, led to pupils from across the Foundation collecting stationery and toiletries to fill bags for over one hundred orphans from Malawi. The School also donated Primary Division uniforms and cuddly toys.

The bags duly filled, each class wrote a short letter to ‘their’ orphan to wish them all the best at their new school and in life and stapled it to the bag with the child’s name on it.

Many Old Boys will have fond memories of previous concerts at the Bridgewater Hall and will endorse Mr Britton’s closing comments in which he praised the School’s incredible Music Department and all those who helped behind the scenes to put on such an outstanding show.

You can watch the concert here: bit.ly/40LAJwb

us please do so by clicking on ‘Update Your Details’ in the Alumni and Giving Back section.

We hope you enjoy the new website and seeing how full and vibrant School life is. There is a welcome from the Head of Foundation, Philip Britton, and pages for each area of the Foundation as well as updates about Bolton School life, the extended School community and news stories from across the campus, which really capture the essence of what an education at Bolton School has to offer.

Mr Armstrong, who flew out to a cyclonehit Malawi to deliver the goods, said: ‘I am so grateful to Bolton School. The children will be so excited to receive these uniforms and bags and for their new school to open!’

Mrs Marsden’s own fundraising campaign has raised over £10,000 towards its target of £40,000.

AO Sponsors School Sports Kits

AO, the Bolton-based electricals retailer founded and led by Old Boy John Roberts (Class of 1992), are the new sponsors of the Boys’ Division’s all-age Rugby and Cricket team kits, as well as the Girls’ Division Netball team kits.

Reflecting on the sponsorship agreement, John Roberts said: “I firmly believe that talent amongst young people is

The Great Gatsby

In 2022 it was 100 years since F Scott Fitzgerald’s character Jay Gatsby threw his lavish parties – and this year’s Senior Joint Production paid tribute to the infamous tale.

The novel was adapted for the stage by Foundation Director of Creative Learning, Miss Naomi Lord (Class of 1998), and the talented cast presented the joy and the freedoms of the 1920s alongside the unsettling prescience of Fitzgerald’s tale of boom before bust – the Wall Street Crash arrived in 1929 and the 1930s rapidly descended into World War II.

The show was delivered in cabaret-style in an immersive Jazz Age environment, opening in Europe and hopping across to the USA with audiences dressed to impress in 1920s attire. The action was accompanied by live music from the Gatsby Band, led by Head of Boys’ Division Music, Miss Hannah Sherry, who also arranged the music.

evenly distributed but opportunities are not, which is why we support a wide range of youth sports teams, including our kit sponsorship for the rugby, netball and cricket teams at Bolton School. As sponsors of Sale Sharks, Manchester Thunder Netball and Lancashire County Cricket Club’s youth and medical teams, we can help to create lots of opportunities for young people interested in these sports.”

Park Road Welcomes the World of Warhammer

Pupils in the Junior Boys’ School are learning from the best in their new Warhammer Club!

Warhammer is the most popular miniature wargame in the world and involves two players battling it out in a game of strategy and tactics. Year 6 teacher

Mr Mike Porter recently competed around the world in the Warhammer International Tournament Circuit, making it to the finals in Las Vegas at the end of January where he finished the season in third place overall in the World Rankings.

After many of his pupils were inspired to take up the game following Mr Porter’s success, he decided to set up the Warhammer Club, where the boys will learn how to build and paint models and understand how to play the game itself.

Mr Porter commented: “At its heart, the hobby is a wonderfully creative experience which encourages social skills, logical thinking and mathematical processes which I hope to pass on to as many boys as possible!”

Year 12 pupils Billy Burrows and Jayden Luhar as Ernest Hemingway and F Scott Fitzgerald respectively

Alex McKie (Year 12) and Billy Burrows as Tom Buchanan and Nick Caraway

Tom Griffiths (Year 12) as Michalis

George Houghton (Year 12) as Owl Eyes

Coronation Lamps

In honour of the coronation of King Charles III on Saturday 6th May the front cover of this Newsletter features one of the School’s coronation lamps.

In early 1953 the Governors discussed how they might commemorate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in the School. Since all children in the Borough were to be given souvenirs it was agreed that something of a permanent nature should be given to each Division. After reference to the Headmaster and the Headmistress it was decided that the Governors’ gift to the School should be electric lanterns at the entrance to the Quadrangle.

In recent years the lamps were relocated: anyone wishing to take a closer look at them will find them under the Main Arch to the Riley Quad.

Foundation comes together for Christmas Hamper Campaign

Children and parents from across the Bolton School Foundation, from Nursery to Sixth Form, stepped up once again this Christmas to smash their target of collecting 2,500 selection boxes for Urban Outreach’s 'Christmas Dinner on Jesus' campaign.

This is the tenth year that Bolton School has taken part in the charity event, which involves the School collecting one or more items for hampers that are delivered to those families and individuals in most need in the town. This year, Urban Outreach were delivering chicken, vegetarian and halal hampers as well as individual collections. The target for the School was to procure 2,500 selection boxes, with over 2,800 boxes eventually collected by the eight schools within the Foundation.

Forty Sixth Form students made up six teams who encouraged pupils around the campus in the campaign and helped with the counting and collecting of items. Students also undertook several fundraising events – a bake sale and a raffle at the community ‘Tea at the Riley’ event – with the monies collected used to buy more boxes.

The Development Team Welcomes Liz

In January, the Development Office welcomed a new team member, Elizabeth Lupton, following her appointment as the department’s Alumni and Development Assistant. Liz previously worked in HR for Bury Council and British Gas. She will be responsible for the bookings and preparations for many of the Alumni events and will be the friendly first port of call for Old Boys and Girls who contact the Development Office to reconnect with School.

A Royal Visit

There was great excitement throughout the town when King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort, visited Bolton in January. The visit came 150 years after the King's great-greatgrandfather, the future King Edward VII, officially opened Bolton Town Hall in 1873. Representatives from Bolton School were among the thousands who filled Victoria Square to welcome the Royal couple.

OLD BOYS’ FEATURES

Inspiring the Next Generation

Olympian Ed Launches Elite Athlete Programme

Water polo playing Olympian and Commonwealth Gold medal winner Dr Ed Scott (Class of 2006) helped to launch Bolton School’s Elite Athlete Programme.

as he was chosen for the England men’s seniors, ahead of the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Australia where the team just missed out on a bronze medal.

After completing a Biomedical degree at the University of Leeds he took a year out to play water polo for Barcelona where he became one of the best goalkeepers in the Spanish league. After the 2012 Olympics and a second year in Barcelona, he returned to Leeds to complete his studies. He is now a doctor and anaesthetist; he emphasised how important it is for athletes to have a Plan B and to think about their next chapter.

Addressing an audience of elite athletes from the across the Foundation, Ed recapped his journey to the very top in water polo. He explained how, with the help of Dr Yates, Mr Jones and Mr Pledger, he found his sporting passion at School.

He recalled winning his first of three different age group national tournaments with the School’s U14 team and then, shortly afterwards, picking up his first England cap. He recounted how, in Year 12, the ‘stars seemed to align’

Ed advised the current crop of athletes to take up every opportunity to find out what they are good at; he himself had tried a number of activities at School, including football, archery and rock-climbing at School, with varying degrees of success until he found the niche position of goalkeeper in a niche sport, water polo! He also stressed the importance of good time management and prioritisation skills, noting that, at one point, he was juggling playing for five or six teams and keeping up with his studies! He did miss out on some social experiences–he was often in the pool at 6am – but in retrospect this was more than worth it as sport helped to shape who he is: an Olympian who has travelled the world.

Former CEO of Sport England and the LTA Returns

Former CEO of Sport England and the Lawn Tennis Association, Roger Draper (Class of 1988) returned to Bolton School earlier this year to speak to Boys’ Division’s A Level PE and Business Studies students and the Middle School Badminton Club.

Whilst joining in with the badminton session, Roger took a moment to reflect on his visit: “It’s actually been quite emotional. It has been 36 years since I was last here [… but] I have a lot of happy memories from that time – of playing football in the Cloisters and the Quad, the tuck shop and the Undercroft.”

After leaving Bolton School, Roger studied PE, Sports Science and Recreation Management at Loughborough University and was their first ever student to graduate with international honours in two sports: rugby league and tennis. Roger’s career has been involved in the global business of sport, seeing him become one of the youngest

CEOs in the UK business world when he took over as Chief Executive of the English Sports Council (Sport England) in 2002 aged 32. He now works as a Global Business Adviser for Boston Consulting Group, advising governments around the world on transformational change.

Roger will be the Boys’ Division’s Prizegiving speaker in the Summer of 2023.

Alumni Advise on Apprenticeships

February’s ‘Perspectives’ lecture focused on apprenticeships, with three Alumni speaking about their experiences, both as apprentices and as employers. The panel discussed the opportunities and challenges of apprenticeships, drawing upon their varied experiences, and the skills required to succeed.

On leaving School Lee Richardson (Class of 2000) read Chemistry and Management at Nottingham University with the dream of becoming a fighter pilot. However, his eyes had other ideas and were deemed not suitable for fast jets. Lee joined Lancashire Constabulary as a Constable in 2007. Following a number of uniform roles, he joined the Criminal Investigation Department, working on serious and complex crimes, often involving the most vulnerable members of society. Following a series of promotions he is now a Detective Inspector, heading the Force’s investigative training department and new recruit training, during an unprecedented uplift in police numbers.

Beyond the excellent teaching, Lee credits Bolton School with instilling in him standards and values that remain to him to this day. He is very self-motivated, but nevertheless learned a lot from Mr McNeil and enjoyed having Dr Mullins as his Form teacher during the Sixth Form. He has great memories of the trips to Patterdale Hall, and also made lifelong friends.

Patrick Hesson (Class of 2014) started his career with a legal services apprenticeship at a national law firm, helping insurer clients defend against fraudulent claims, alongside studying for a CILEX qualification at Manchester

Jobs for Geographers

October’s ‘Perspectives’ lecture saw four Alumni considering why students might consider careers associated with a Geography degree, the challenges they might face and what the future holds for the sector.

Paul Greenhalgh (Class of 2015) is now in his second year as a Geography Teacher at Berkhamsted School, having studied Geography at Cambridge. Answering the question of why pupils might find a Geography-related career fulfilling, he offered an ‘A, B, C, D’ answer: ‘A’, he said, was for the awe and wonder of the subject; ‘B’ represented working towards a better, informed world; ‘C’ was for how the subject is critically relevant, and ‘D’ was for ‘door opening’ as he pointed towards the many roles students from his course had gone on to, including in Urban Planning, HR, GIS, Counter Terrorism, the Civil Service, in Parliament as Assistants to MPs, in teaching, sustainable fashion, property and real estate and in a charity helping Afghan refugees. Paul acknowledged that it is impossible to predict the future, reminding the audience that twothirds of secondary pupils will work in jobs that do not yet exist, but he believes that Geography will certainly give you skills for the future – in areas such as critical thinking, evaluation, oral and written communication, GIS, IT, analysis, data collection and presentation. He concluded

Metropolitan University. In a career change, Patrick then undertook a Cyber Security degree apprenticeship at an international bank. In addition to learning agile business processes in a software engineering role, Patrick attended university one day a week helping him secure a First Class Honours degree. He is now a Cyber Crime Investigator with Greater Manchester Police where he investigates cyber-specific crime and supports other units within the organisation.

Patrick’s experience at Bolton School has instilled in him multiple skills which he uses day-to-day, for example being able to adapt in difficult situations and to overcome tough challenges in a pressured environment.

His fondest memory of his time at School is playing rugby – to this day he talks about the tours organised by Mr Joseph! Academically, he was greatly inspired by Mr Lees; he was an excellent teacher (of Spanish) and someone for whom Patrick has the upmost respect.

Lee and Patrick were joined by Old Girl Emily Rajbhandari (Class of 2020), a part-qualified Audit Senior at EY. Emily began her career as a business apprentice, having applied to audit at EY, one of the ‘Big 4’ international accountancy firms, in the winter of Year 13.

by saying that Geography is shaking off some of its negative connotations and is now a serious facilitating subject for university entry.

Tom Mair (Class of 2018) is a Graduate Water Consultant with a large American multinational infrastructure firm. His work focuses on making sure that new developments are not in danger of being flooded or of causing flooding. Considering the question of why study Geography at university, Tom believes it holds appeal because it is a very diverse subject, with both human and physical elements. It is an applied science which deals with real world issues, and there is often the possibility of tailoring your degree to your interests as you go along. In Tom’s experience analytical abilities and communication skills are necessary in order to succeed in the field.

A useful question and answer session considered how students might secure work experience, how closely planners work with local agencies to mitigate flood risk, whether there is enough money in flood management, what A Level subjects complement Geography and top tips for applying to university.

Paul and Tom were joined by Old Girls Rachel Crompton (née Allen, Class of 1983), a Flood Risk Manager for a Lead Local Flood Authority, and Jennifer Joule (Class of 2010), a Senior Planning Officer at Teignmouth District Council.

The Magic of Maths

The March ‘Perspectives’ lecture invited three Old Boys to speak about their diverse careers using Mathematics and Statistics. They recounted their respective experiences, discussed the range of career choices within the industry and noted the character traits and skills required to succeed.

Shouma Khan (Class of 1991) is the Chief Financial Officer for Nexus Studios, a highly regarded animation studio based in both London and Los Angeles. Shouma studied Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Bristol and he has gone on to have a career working in accounting and finance roles across FMCG and media companies. Prior to joining Nexus, Shouma worked for EY, Mars Confectionery, Disney, CNN and a retro-gaming start-up. In his presentation, Shouma described how his strengths lay within statistics which helped shape the path of his career, and how his strong understanding of data benefited him when entering the world of business.

Tom Cowling (Class of 2011) left Bolton School with A Levels in Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Economics and Physics and went on to study Economics at Durham University. After graduating, he applied for a range of roles from asset management through to accountancy; in his presentation he assured the audience that they should not worry about having a clear career path defined at an

early age. After some consideration, Tom started his career as an actuarial analyst at Grant Thornton in London before joining Markel International, a London market insurer, to complete his actuarial exams. His current role focuses on setting reserves for insurance products, covering a wide range of risks from racehorses to accidents on oil rigs – “using maths to predict the future”. Tom’s family is well acquainted with Bolton School, with his siblings Toby (2013), Hal (2017) and Sally (2020); father Charles (1981); and cousins Emily (2011), Daisy (2014) and Rupert (2019) studying here.

Shivam Patel (Class of 2019) studied Mathematics, Optimisation and Statistics at Imperial College London after enjoying Mathematics, Further Mathematics and Physics A levels in the Boys’ Division. He started his career as a data analyst, but moved to work for a start-up as a software developer. Shivam highlighted that the skills he developed whilst studying for a mathematics degree can be applied to many careers, echoing the sentiment raised by Shouma. In his spare time, Shivam volunteers for the National Hindu Students’ Forum (UK). Both Shivam’s mother, Neelam (1989) and brother Hiren (2015) studied at Bolton School and his sister, Krupa, is currently studying in the Sixth Form. Shivam says his experience at Bolton School has given him so much more than an education, “a holistic experience with sports, music and so many other opportunities outside the normal curriculum. The soft skills I gained have helped me so much at university and my career”.

‘Perspectives’ is a series of free, public lectures hosted by Bolton School on Zoom. They are free to attend and open to pupils in Year 10 and above, parents, Alumni, and all other members of the School and local community. If you would like to volunteer your time to support with the careers and enrichment initiative, please contact the Development Office.

All of the ‘Perspectives’ lectures are available to watch on the School’s YouTube channel.

A to Z of Careers

This newly-established series of monthly talks aims to provide pupils across the Divisions with an extensive insight into a range of sectors thanks to inspiring talks from Old Boys and Old Girls.

To date, Year Groups 10 to 13 have learned about careers in the Army, Business, the Civil Service, Dentistry and Engineering. Thank you to Lewis Kemp (Class of 2009),

MedSoc

With increasing numbers of Bolton School pupils considering a career in the medical sciences, MedSoc is a thriving extracurricular club.

CEO of company Lightbulb Media, Rebecca Whyte (Class of 2004) who works for the Elections Team in the Scottish Government, NHS Dentist Zuhair Patel (Class of 2015) and Michael Wallwork (Class of 1989), President of Renold plc, who have given inspiring presentations about their respective industries and hosted Q&A sessions.

Over the coming months careers representing the remainder of the alphabet will be featured, helping current pupils to make informed choices about their futures.

Aspiring doctors have recently heard from GP Ashish Chaudhry (Class of 1999), medical student Jake Rajbhandari (Class of 2017), Andrew Bird (Class of 1989), who works for pharmaceutical company Acino in the UAE and Tim Overton (Class of 1980), a consultant in obstetrics and fetal medicine.

Tillotson Lecture Focuses on Biotechnology Revolution

Professor Ali gave the audience an overview of biotechnology from 1970 from the first isolation of restriction enzymes in bacteria, to his latest projects at King’s where his team is working on developing a range of gene and stem cell therapies. Dr Ali then went on to field a range of questions, such as: To what extent can you rely on the use of potentially pathogenic viruses in possible lifechanging treatments? And: Is there a correlation between retinal detachment and ethnicity or genetics? Asked what advice he would give to the students in the audience, he advised them to follow their passions and interests, to see things through, to have patience and perseverance and to work only on things that are really worth working on.

Earlier in the day, Professor Ali visited Biology and Design Tech classes in the Boys’ Division and enjoyed a tour of the campus.

Dating back to 1971, the Bolton School Boys’ Division Tillotson Lecture was inaugurated and supported by the late Marcus Tillotson (Class of 1949), part of The Bolton News empire. Old Boy Professor Robin Ali (Class of 1984), Professor of Human Molecular Genetics at King’s College London, returned to School to deliver the 50th lecture in the series. Professor Ali said it was a pleasure and an honour to be invited back to Bolton School. He spoke of his fond memories of his time at School and was delighted to see that it is “still a great educational environment”. He said, rather modestly, that in 2003, when he became the youngest professor (of Molecular Genetics) at UCL, it was a rapidly moving field and it was more down to being in the right place at the right time than his own brilliance. He also told how, two years ago, he moved across to King’s College London to head up a centre for advanced therapies. Whilst the centre has many academic teams, he said his main focus is, and has been for 30 years or so, on advanced gene cell therapies for the treatment of eye diseases, particularly inherited retinal disorders.

The lecture can be seen in full at: bit.ly/3JRQZVK.

Monitors Thomas Ghee and John Jeffrey (JJ) Campbell took time out of their busy A Level schedule to interview Professor Ali about his time at Bolton School and his subsequent career.

Robin’s favourite subjects at School were History and Biology; during his A Level career he strongly valued the importance of History and the arts alongside his traditional science base. His personal interest for History is something that has continued into his adult life, reading regularly on topics from Medieval and Roman History. He cites Old Boy Professor Norman Davies (Class of 1957) as one of his favourite historians, informing his interest for European and Polish History. He recalls Biology lessons with Mr Slater and Dr Ward, noting that Biology field trips were one of his favourite aspects of his academic career. He also remembers Chemistry teacher Dr Watson giving entertaining lectures on life information such as how to buy a good secondhand car or viewing the world through the eyes of a cynic. After leaving Bolton School, Robin attended University College London, initially to undertake a degree in Microbiology, citing a contemporary interest in Virology as his decision in doing so. However, he quickly realised that there were parts of the course that he did not enjoy, and thus changed courses to specialise in Genetics, going on to earn a BSc in the subject. Following this, Robin returned to University College London to undertake a PhD to cement his study and qualification.

Alongside acting on the Board of Advisors for several major pharmaceutical companies, Robin’s recent ventures have been working for companies attracting investment from major firms such as Johnson & Johnson, acting as the Chief Scientific Officer. Having left this role a few years ago, he is now involved in founding a new company to continue his aim to maintain scientific innovation –something which he considers a key aspect of his career. On a day-to-day basis, Robin’s working schedule is dominated by organisation and strategy meetings, primarily in relation to his role as a Head of Department

at King’s College London. However, he does also note the importance of spending time talking to his researchers regarding scientific investigation and development to go over results and data. One aspect that is no longer part of his career is carrying out experiments himself, although much of his time is devoted to assessing and evaluating experimental results and writing up the papers. Robin laments moving away from the lab and bench, one of the most cherished aspects of his earlier career, fondly remembering the excitement of seeing the results of his own experiments first-hand.

Robin regards becoming a pioneer in gene therapy and being part of a technological revolution in that field as his greatest achievement during his career. The journey of his study, developing an active treatment for humans in gene therapy, is something to which he feels privileged to have experienced. In order to do his job, Robin credits his skill in being an effective manager and communicator, whether it be with his own team, stakeholders or various authorities. In leadership, he values direction and autonomy over micro-managing, and setting clear objectives with freedom to achieve them.

The broad general education Robin inherited from Bolton School has facilitated his interest across different subject areas, which he considers the greatest benefit from his School education. Given what he has learnt from his time at Bolton School, a key quality he looks for in upcoming scientists is the ability to write and communicate clearly and effectively, even more so than the ability to undertake experiments. He also stresses the importance of creativity, and the ability to execute affordable ideas in a pragmatic fashion. When asked for his advice for pupils interested in pursuing a similar career, Robin reinforces the importance of reading, studying and following one’s passions. His own experiences of leaving School and entering the professional world have led him to believe that by following a genuine set of interests, a successful academic career will naturally fall into place.

Nic Ford, Head of Boys’ Division, welcomes Robin Ali back to School

Find Your Path

The Find Your Path mentoring scheme was established six years ago by a group of Old Boltonians keen to pass on their experience to recent leavers, enabling them to leverage the knowledge and contacts of the Old Boy network to their professional advantage.

More than ever, young Alumni will need to stand out and differentiate themselves if they are to succeed in the world of work. The Find Your Path scheme pairs young Old Bolts with a fellow Old Boy mentor, who can offer a wealth of experience, contacts and advice across a variety of sectors and specialisms, including personal introductions to experts able to provide insights into numerous professions; bespoke support with interview technique and preparation to help make a strong first impression; and tailored guidance with CV development.

So far, the scheme has helped over 70 young Old Boys, including Luke James (Class of 2019), who studied Illustration at the Cambridge School of Art, graduating with a First Class Honours degree. Of his mentoring experience, Luke writes:

Thank You David and Peter

In December 2022, Old Boys Peter Acton and David Seddon (both Class of 1971) stepped down as Managing Mentors for the Old Boltonians’ Association’s Find Your Path mentoring scheme, which they had co-founded almost six years previously.

Peter and David established the Find Your Path scheme in 2017, to give back to the School and its pupils, after both received state support to attend the Boys’ Division in the 1960s through the Direct Grant system. Founded upon David and Peter’s shared belief in the vital role that mentoring can play a part in helping young people to successfully join the world of work, Find Your Path has been supporting young Old Boltonians with careers advice tailored to meet their individual needs ever since. During that time, over 70 young Old Boltonians have been mentored by their fellow Old Boys through the scheme as they enter the job market post-graduation or after leaving School.

"I was made aware of the Find Your Path scheme whilst at School and it came again to mind as I was approaching the end of my three-year degree. I was considering a broad range of career paths and felt the scheme could really help me assess myself and guide me as I took those next steps.

“Through the scheme, I was connected with my mentor, Michael Yates (Class of 2019, pictured left), who helped me massively. After looking over my portfolio of work and my CV, Mike gave me advice on how to tailor my applications to show the best of my abilities, and helped me to prepare for interviews to make sure I came across as a confident young graduate.

“The mentorship scheme is a brilliant resource I felt very fortunate to be able to access. It really made a difference, taking me from feeling lost and slightly overwhelmed before finishing university, to understanding the best way to present myself to employers and thus giving myself the best chance of gaining employment, which I achieved swiftly after joining the scheme. I have now started my professional career in a sector of the industry that is very close to my heart, assisting in the design and production process of sportswear for professional teams across various sports for the sports brand O'Neills."

If you are interested in joining the Find Your Path scheme, either as a mentor or as a young Old Boy seeking support with their next steps, please email development@boltonschool.org

Reflecting on David and Peter’s commitment to the scheme, Nic Ford, Head of Boys’ Division, writes: “Whilst their ambitions and outcomes have each been very different, all of the mentees who have been part of the scheme during David and Peter’s tenure as its leaders have benefited hugely from the care and detailed attention they have put into it. The Find Your Path scheme is of particular benefit to our former bursary pupils, so many of whom do not have professional connections of any sense within their own family and personal networks, and we are particularly indebted to David and Peter for the support they have provided to these lads. Their significant efforts have placed the School, we believe, at the forefront of this type of activity within the independent schools’ sector, and we are grateful to the significant time and effort they have dedicated to Find Your Path to ensure that is the case."

Following David and Peter’s ‘retirement’, management of the Find Your Path scheme has now been handed to Old Boys Stephen Lintott (Class of 1989), Stephen Parry (Class of 1975) and Tim Taylor (Class of 1979), who look forward to building upon the success it has enjoyed to date.

In recognition of David and Peter’s leadership of the Find Your Path scheme, earlier in the Spring Term they were jointly shortlisted in Mentor category in the BusinessDesk. com’s Northern Leadership Awards.

Peter (left) and David, pioneers of the Find Your Path scheme

Alumni of the Year Awards

Alumni of the Year Awards 2022

Last May, members of the School community were asked to nominate Alumni whom they felt were deserving of the awards for Old Boy and Old Girl of the Year.

Pupils from across the Junior and Senior Schools in both Divisions were then invited to choose from a shortlist the nominee they felt was the most deserving winner of each of the two Awards in a vote conducted at the end of the Summer Term.

Sir Philip Craven, MBE (Class of 1968) was chosen as the inaugural recipient of the Old Boy of the Year Award, in recognition of his outstanding sporting achievements and his lifelong dedication to the development of Paralympic sports.

Dr Sheila Fisher (née Platt, Class of 1970) was chosen as the inaugural recipient of the Old Girl of the Year Award, in recognition of her distinguished career as the UK's first female maxillofacial surgeon and her voluntary service within her local community.

The close nature of this pupil vote, combined with the strength of Alumni support for the nominees and their

achievements, led the School to present two further awards, for Outstanding Achievement, in addition to the two Alumni of the Year Awards. Max Griffiths and Sam Yates (both Class of 2001) were the joint winners of the Old Boys’ Outstanding Achievement Award, in recognition of the impact of LivLife, the charity they founded 16 years ago to enrich the lives of economically disadvantaged people in North Tanzania. Rebecca Turner (née Maudsley, Class of 2006) was the recipient of the Old Girls’ Outstanding Achievement Award, in recognition of her extensive fundraising in aid of the Blue Skies Hospital Fund, undertaken in memory of her younger brother, Tom, who passed away in May 2020 following a short but brave battle with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia.

Sir Philip, Sheila and Rebecca were presented with their Awards at a special assembly for pupils from both Divisions, while Max and Sam addressed the assembly via a pre-recorded message in which they explained how their experiences at Bolton School had inspired a passion for the world which in turn motivated them to set up LivLife. They thanked the School for the opportunities it had given them and for its support of a variety of fundraising activities over the years.

Who Will You Nominate This Year?

The myriad contributions made to society by Bolton School’s Old Boys and Old Girls are a source of continued pride and inspiration to the current generation of girls and boys currently studying here on Chorley New Road.

In celebration of these many and varied achievements, the School's Alumni of the Year Awards, seek to recognise Alumni who embody the School’s ethos of producing people who go out into the world and make a difference for good, and have thus delivered upon the famous exhortation of the Girls’ Division prayer, that “much will be expected of those to whom much is given”.

Nominations for this year’s Awards are now open, and members of the School community are invited to nominate Alumni whom they feel are deserving of the 2023 Old Boy of the Year and Old Girl of the Year Awards by 12pm

on Friday 26th May. After that deadline, a shortlist of candidates for the two awards will be decided by the Heads of Foundation, Girls’ Division, Boys’ Division and Primary Division, before pupils from across the Junior and Senior Schools 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 2023, at the start of the new academic year.

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

The 2022 winners, Sheila Fisher, Sir Philip Craven and Rebecca Turner (front) with Head of Girls’ Division Lynne Kyle, Head of Boys’ Division Nic Ford, Head of Foundation Philip Britton and Head of Primary Division Sue Faulkner

Sam (left) and Max sent a heartfelt message

Old Boy of the Year: Sir Philip Craven

During a rare joint assembly of boys and girls from across the Divisions, all the winners took to the stage to inspire the next generation of Bolton School pupils. Sir Philip Craven gave a humorous yet motivating overview of his life and career, recalling how sport became his salvation after an accident left him wheelchair-bound and how he had used the challenges which faced him to develop a positive and determined outlook. After the assembly he spent time with pupils who were keen to listen to his words of wisdom and to ask some probing questions. Deputy Head Girl Ella Worsley interviewed Sir Philip to find out how his resilience has led to a long and fulfilling career.

Nic Ford, Head of Boys’ Division, was delighted to present Sir Philip with his award

Sir Philip studied at Bolton School before moving on to the University of Manchester, completing his BA in Geography in 1972. During his time there, he found a passion and talent for wheelchair basketball, having lost the use of his legs in a rock-climbing accident in 1966. Sir Philip recalls how he would attend practice sessions with the standing team to observe as he would have “broken their ankles” as a participant.

Sir Philip practised for at least three hours every single day, eventually joining a club team which played against others in the locality. Laughing, he explained that their first two matches were lost in fantastic style with final scores of 63-4 and 102-7; however, in both matches he scored at least two of their minimal baskets! Many of his teammates were ex-servicemen well beyond his years and he credits their influence with making him a better player – Sir Philip admits he underestimated them initially due to their age, though soon realised this is no real inhibitor. Whilst his academic studies may have suffered slightly as a result of this commitment, it worked out in Sir Philip’s favour as the team went to play in France where they became champions, accelerating his sporting career. Perhaps more importantly, France is where he met his wife Jocelyne, who has supported him fervently throughout his varied and decorated career.

One of Sir Philip’s greatest achievements has been ensuring that the 2016 Rio Paralympic games went ahead. As the President of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) at the time, Sir Philip received notice just six weeks before the games were due to begin that there was no funding remaining as it had all been funnelled into the Olympics. This, alongside a report on Russian state sponsored doping, led Sir Philip to take action to ensure not only that the Paralympics went ahead, but that they did so in a safe and fair manner. His wife added that many international teams were already flying into Rio and the IPC wanted to do their best not to disappoint them. After personally visiting the Brazilian Senior Minister and the Mayor of Rio, funding and support for the games was secured. They went ahead and were a magnificent success, with Sir Philip citing this

success as both his greatest achievement and his greatest challenge. He feels that the event made many visitors realise that the Paralympics were a serious and entertaining event, not to be ridiculed. The momentary threat to the games also united the IPC, as Sir Philip endeavoured to draw up a new constitution and a new board which consisted only of elected members with a common goal. Outside the world of sport, Sir Philip works as one of the nine directors of the Toyota world board. In this role he acts as an independent director, and he quotes the job as a fantastic example of how ‘a team starts with two’. When he started at the company, a retired senior executive was appointed to help him in his first period at the company. The two worked extremely well together to extinguish a bullying environment which had arisen in a subsidiary company. Sir Philip is a resilient and determined man, and so persevered for over two years to ensure that the perpetrator was reprimanded appropriately. He once again laughed as his wife nodded, “I always seem to find these difficult cases but I won’t let them go; I’m a bit like a Jack Russell!”.

Sir Philip believes the key to achieving great things is taking opportunities as they are presented to you. He does not believe he will ever retire, because as long as interesting situations present themselves, he will immerse himself in them. In 2019, he accepted a role on the board of the International Tennis Integrity Agency which he thoroughly enjoys despite little experience in tennis. He believes that the CEO of the company sought him for the role due to his reputation with regard to morals and his ability to adapt to new environments with new people. He advised that, clichéd as it sounds, life’s greatest advice is to keep going. If you have a passion, work hard at it and make yourself known as a competent individual. Sir Philip does not miss competing in the sporting world as he has found so much satisfaction in alternative avenues.

Of how Bolton School set him up for success, Sir Philip believes that the freedom to express his opinion and develop the confidence to ‘stick to his guns’ has been key in his life and career development. He admits he had an easy start to life, regardless of his injury, which gave him the time and space to find areas which needed work and endeavour to improve them. To this day, Sir Philip cannot see an injustice or error without making changes to remedy it.

Outdoor Adventures

Charlie Boscoe (Class of 2002)

Charlie is a freelance broadcaster and writer. He has written for numerous publications, including National Geographic, Adidas and Red Bull, and presented hundreds of live broadcasts.

“I was a pretty unremarkable pupil in my first few years at Bolton School, with average grades, zero interest in sporting matters and no passions or hobbies which made me stand out. Being one of the smallest pupils in the year and having a mop of (now sadly departed!) blonde hair were about the only characteristics which separated me from my peers. It therefore came as a bit of surprise to everyone when – at age 14 – I decided to sign up for a canoeing trip in Scotland which was being organised by school. The trip was tough for someone as inexperienced and physically weak as me, yet a few days in I realised that I was not only coping with the challenges thrown my way, but thriving on them. Overcoming the hardships which come with moving through a wild place opened my eyes to my own potential, and I felt that a whole world was opening up before me.

“Thanks to the good fortune of being at a school with such focus on outdoor sports I was able to build skills and experience gradually, and this, combined with discovering rock

Mathew Wilkinson (Class of 2007)

Mathew is Marketing Manager at Pyranha Mouldings Ltd, market leading designers and manufacturers of canoes and kayaks under the P&H Sea Kayaks, Venture Canoes & Kayaks, and Pyranha Whitewater Kayaks brands.

“I left Bolton School with fond memories and strong academic foundations supported by too many wonderful teachers to name in this short article. I do have to say a special thank you to Messrs Walker and Taylor, though, who both played a significant role in setting my direction in life after School by creating environments in which I could throw myself wholeheartedly in to Technology and Kayaking respectively.

“I went on to study Civil Engineering at the University of Manchester, where I also continued my passion for kayaking as a member of the Manchester University Canoe Club committee, picking up various paddlesports qualifications and some marketing chops along the way.

“After leaving university, I worked in marketing at a couple of paddlesports shops, before being headhunted for the Marketing Manager position at Pyranha Mouldings Ltd.

climbing towards the end of my time at university, cemented my belief that I’d spend my life working in the outdoors. I initially pursued mountain guiding as a career and got to see some of the most beautiful and brutal places on Earth in process, but increasing problems with my hips and back convinced me to reserve my time in the mountains for me rather than clients, and focus on other areas of work. Since then I’ve been an outdoor writer and broadcaster, and I’ve been lucky enough to work in over 20 countries so far. It’s been something of a nomadic and bohemian existence, with each job somehow leading to the next one. Someone once told me that if you add value to whatever you’re involved in, you’ll never be short of work. The ride isn’t always easy – a career in the outdoors is essentially a commitment to an unmapped future – but my passion for exploration and a reverence for natural places are constants. I’ve lost friends in the mountains and had some tough times up there myself, but the experiences they provide are still more powerful than virtually anything in the valleys.

“As the great Austrian mountaineer Heinrich Harrer put it: ‘True confidence is the greatest gift anyone can have, but it’s not a gift that’s freely granted – the blindly arrogant possess it least of all. In order to know this true confidence, it is necessary to have first known oneself at the very edge of things, times when one might even glimpse over the other side’.

“Life is short. Go for it.”

“You might be wondering how I ended up in marketing after studying civil engineering; early on in my studies, a lecturer quoted a statistic indicating that 50% of the class would never work in civils, instead going on to managerial positions or other industries, and I can attest to the accuracy of that statement. I undertook several Summer placements with a civil engineering consultancy, and while I enjoyed and gained from those experiences, I couldn’t see myself working in the industry longterm, and found much greater enjoyment combining my career with my hobby of kayaking.

“My role at Pyranha is extremely varied, which keeps me both entertained and challenged, with responsibilities including the planning and creation of marketing content and strategies, managing ambassadors and influencers, coordination of our brand presences at events, shows, and exhibitions, operating as the company’s systems and IT lead, and assisting in product development from time to time. The opportunities I’ve enjoyed as part of this career are extensive, from paddling with some of the world’s best, to travelling across Europe and North America.

“Handling a workload as diverse as the above regularly calls upon the depth and breadth of education and experiences which were afforded to me as a pupil at Bolton School, and I’m eternally grateful for the privilege.

“See you on the water!”

Whether at Cautley, Robin Cottage or Patterdale Hall, Old Boys across the decades have enjoyed the opportunities provided by Bolton School to engage in Outdoor Pursuits. Here we meet four for whom a passion for the outdoors has inspired and shaped their careers.

Matt Haydock (Class of 2006)

Matt is a Paddlesports Instructor at Glenmore Lodge, a world-renowned institution for outdoor pursuits, run by the Scottish Government’s agency for sport.

“I’m writing from Aviemore in the Scottish Highlands, where I work as a Senior Instructor at Scotland’s National Outdoor Training Centre, Glenmore Lodge. My role primarily involves utilising my 16 years of experience in the industry to train and assess leaders, coaches and guides in a range of National Governing Body awards, which I hugely enjoy.

“Ever since leaving School, the outdoors has been the mainstay of my personal life and professional career, and the quality of life it brings. I enjoyed three fantastic years at the University of Leeds reading Sport and Exercise Science, which gave an academic grounding in biomechanics and psychology to the instruction I provide today. After graduation, I then worked at a variety of independent schools, including Yarm School and Gordonstoun, overseeing their outdoor learning departments; then running my own coaching and guiding business for eight years, before taking up my current role.

“There is no doubt that my time at Bolton School, and the outdoor pursuits opportunities on offer, shaped my life completely. I remember immersing myself in all possible opportunities: 19th Bolton (Bolton School) Scout Troop and the

Will Sheaff (Class of 2004)

Will is an outdoor instructor and the founder and owner of Wilderness Development, an outdoor adventure company offering fun adventure sessions and skill-building courses.

“Since university, I have split my time between working as a freelance instructor and running an adventure activity business in the Peak District. The best part of running an outdoor adventure business is the variety and flexibility. The activities themselves are inherently exciting, so even planning them is a joy. Each day truly could hold anything, from walking up a mountain to recce a route for a new event, to choosing a new website plugin, to writing a press release, or mediating a discussion between staff. This style of work suits me: having the choice to plan my own workload, to split tasks as required, to delegate where I can or internalise where I want, is one of the best bits of being my own boss. Some tasks have to be done, but arranging chores at your own pace, and rewarding yourself with an interesting new challenge for completing them works for me. Self-employment is a fundamentally insecure way of life, but if you enjoy the

numerous annual ‘Long Camps’ in the Summer, kayaking in the pool and training on the School climbing wall at lunchtimes and after school, second and third year camps to Saundersfoot and Instow respectively, as well a number of BSOP Expeditions –rock climbing in Joshua Tree and canoeing the Scottish Great Glen.

“Needless to say, the amazing facility of Patterdale Hall was almost a second home. Heading up to do kitchen shifts so I could shadow activity sessions in the Sixth Form was a time I remember fondly, before doing a pre-university gap year on the trainee instructor scheme. This is a place which will always be close to my heart, and it is fantastic Bolton School still has it as a jewel in the crown.

“It was the inspirational staff at Bolton School which have shaped my life in the outdoors, and I will always be thankful to them: Trevor Pledger, who placed high value in BSOP, along with John Greenhalgh and Chris Ferrier who gave up their time to run a fantastic School Scout Troop. Dave Watkinson, Colin Wright, Rick Chant and Sean Duffy from Patterdale Hall were instrumental in my training. They were all a huge inspiration, and made me believe that I could have the life I have now. Finally, John Taylor was without doubt a teacher who was a big part of my time at School, hugely supportive of my aspirations, and his instruction on the white water rapids of the River Irwell was where it all started for me.

“The opportunities I got at Bolton School, without doubt, have shaped my happy and successful life and career in the outdoors.”

challenge, are sensible and pragmatic, it is a brilliant way to live. The self-reliance, belief in yourself and rewards it provides are second only to scaling a new rock face; the mental skills are not that dissimilar.

“If there are students interested in working in adventure education, there has never been a better time. The outdoor industry, since 2020, has been desperately short of reliable, fun, qualified instructors. Within a few years a good freelancer will earn comparably to a teacher. The Mountain Leader award, a first aid course, and a canoeing or kayaking qualification will be enough for you to get your foot in the door in the industry. Working hard, being flexible and seeking out the niches you enjoy will lead on to management, or overseas work, or first ascents, or fame, as you choose. The opportunities provided by Bolton School’s Outdoor Pursuits department, and the skills provided by the Language departments have set me up for a really varied and exciting career. The Electronics and Physics education got me in to (two!) universities, and could have led on to a career there, if I’d have wanted; I’m really grateful for all of them.” Will has written at length about his passion for adventure sports and his journey from his first trip to Patterdale as a Park Road pupil to owning his own adventure activity business, wilderness-development.com – read more, including his tips for students considering a career in the outdoors, in the Old Boltonians’ section of the School website.

Bookends, or Ten Years in the Making

"1st September 2023 marks 30 years since I took charge of my first 1st XI fixture; 25th March 2023 marked 20 years since the 1st XI won the Boodle & Dunthorne ISFA Cup. These two events provided ‘bookends’ to my ten-year, 360-plus game tenure as Master-in-Charge of Football.” Chris Rigby (Boys Division Staff, 1991-2003) is delighted to share his recollections of the latter of these events.

During the 2002-2003 season the 1st XI squad carried the Bolton flag from gun-to-tape. The season started with ISFA Sixes success at Forest School and an unbeaten season* culminated on 25th March 2003 in ISFA Cup Final victory against Bradfield at Northampton. Whilst my recollections are many I will restrict my comments on this successful season to three areas: the ISFA Cup run; the final itself and some comments on the boys.

The run to the final involved five matches, four of them requiring long journeys and all significant in their own way. A 14-2 away win against an admittedly weak Dover College, depleted further by expulsions, set a competition record. A 5-1 win at home over King's, Chester was rewarded with a visit to Repton, the second in three weeks, where the earlier 4-1 victory was repeated.

gentlemen”, before sharing my observation with our boys – I like to think that it steeled them further as they readied for battle.

Perhaps surprisingly my recollections of the final itself are relatively few. As the season had progressed I had fielded many comments such as “It’s Bolton’s cup to lose” and “This time, Riggers, surely?” I regarded the first of these comments as a compliment to the boys from those who had seen the side in action; the second was reference to my two earlier attempts to steer the 1st XI to victory in the final. The lessons I learnt from those earlier finals plus my lifetime in football had taught me that nothing is guaranteed. My colleagues on the day Kevin Knibbs, Mike Duxbury (Boys’ Division Staff) and Chris Wainman (Boys’ Division Staff, 2002-2003), were invaluable in managing expectations and ‘cautious optimism’ became our watchwords. Having scored 136 goals in 31 appearances beforehand, the narrow 1-0 score line reflected the strength of the Bradfield opposition and Chas Parry’s (Class of 2004) 31st goal of the season was the headline. A personal favourite memory, however, was having Neil Price (Class of 2003) in the side. Neil’s elder brothers, Ian (Class of 1995) and Andrew (Class of 1997), both featured throughout the decade I was in charge, Ian playing in that opening 1993 season and Andrew captaining in the 1997 Final at Craven Cottage.

The victorious squad!

Back, L-R: Neil Price, Adam Marshall, Matthew Pimblett, Geoff Earle, Paul Rainford, Daniel Jones, Sam Pepper, James Kinsler, John Abbott

Front, L-R: John Burrows, Jonathan Finlay, Paul Holowaty, Nick Pantelides, David Roberts, Chas Parry, Sean McAllister

As if Repton (twice) wasn’t a tough enough test, the quarterfinal took the side to the home of the defending cup holders, Brentwood, in Essex. I know that my colleague and good friend Kevin Knibbs (Boys’ Division Staff, 1993-2007) will say that this was the toughest test and the side came away with a 3-1 victory. The semifinal took the side to Charterhouse where the route to the final was completed in style with a 5-0 victory. Memories of these matches are many and strong, and whilst any victory at Repton was memorable, let alone two in three weeks, I share one perhaps less-known memory. As I was delivering the Bolton team sheet to the Brentwood dressing room ahead of the quarter-final I saw the actual trophy in the middle of their changing room! Silently I thought “Have a good last look at it,

This side was captained by Nick Pantelides (Class of 2003) and had the ideal balance between Upper and Lower Sixth boys, complemented by just two outstanding Fifth Formers, Paul Rainford (Class of 2005) and soon-to-turn-professional Sean McAllister (Class of 2005). The side had the shortest of twinspearheads in Chas Parry and David Roberts (Class of 2003), with Parry’s mercurial talent perfectly supported by Roberts’ relentless and combative harassing of opposition defenders which belied a deft touch and footballing brain. Another feature was the side’s appetite for practice. The coaching phrase ‘tiki-taka’ was yet to become fashionable; however, this side’s ability to string endless passes together and reduce sides to demoralisation was born of this thirst for practice. Thirdly, as was often the case at Bolton, several of the side had bided their time since leaving the Under 15s in the 2nd XI and 3rd XI whilst growing in stature and emerging ready for the 1st XI stage. My proudest

Bolton team for ISFA Cup Final 2003

ISFA Cup Final Programme 2003

memory, however, is that the side always went about their business in a very modest, albeit ruthless, fashion and my greatest personal satisfaction comes from the string of cards and letters sent by opposition coaches and observers, all commenting on the skills of the side which were only outshone by their conduct on and off the field. Gary Blunt, the Dover College Master captured it: “…although the (First Round) game was a one-sided affair, it was a pleasure to host such a super set of lads.” Finally, during the decade I had the privilege to be Master-in-Charge, in excess of 200 boys represented the 1st XI. Every single player selected during that period represented the School with pride and can rightfully claim a contribution to the success of that 2002-03 side. Each one of that 200-plus group benefited from the wisdom and support of the Boys’ Division staff,

particularly those coaching them in younger age group sides, and also those coaching them in the other sports they played. I was fortunate to have this foundation to build upon and want to take this opportunity to thank my teaching colleagues for their support. I wish to pay particular thanks to my predecessor John Taylor (‘JLT’) (Boys’ Division Staff, 1971-2011) for recommending me and to Headmaster Alan Wright (1983-2000) for appointing me and supporting me throughout.

*The claim of ‘an unbeaten season’ may raise eyebrows among some Alumni and be contested, particularly those who featured in a memorable match on The Levels shortly after the final (29th March 2003). Without prolonging this piece however, all I will say is that on that particularly day, both sides were winners!

Staff in the Spotlight

At the end of the Autumn term the Boys’ Division bade a fond farewell to Mrs Cath Fox after nearly three decades of teaching Religious Studies. As she embarked on her well-earned retirement, she described the highlights of her time at Bolton School.

How long have you worked at Bolton School?

I taught for just over 28 years, although I was only parttime for many of them.

Had you worked in other schools prior to working at Bolton School?

Yes, I was originally primary trained (although my degree was in Theology and Religious Studies). I taught in Garstang, Padiham and Hapton.

What was the best part of working at Bolton School?

It would have to be the staff and the boys. I have appreciated the support of very gifted colleagues throughout my time at Bolton School and have made many good friends. I hope to keep up with some in the future. The vast majority of the pupils have been hardworking, well-behaved, polite and shown an interest in their work; it has been a pleasure to teach them. For most of my time at Bolton School I have been the only RS teacher, which has meant that I’ve taught every boy in Years 7-9, but only for one lesson a week. It has made learning names and completing reports and grade checks on time a daunting task. However, I have enjoyed getting to know my GCSE sets much better and have been impressed with many perceptive comments and lively discussions.

Do you have any standout memories from your time here?

My favourite annual event is the Christmas Festival, for which I have had the privilege of organising the non-music side for 19 years. The musicians and singers are incredibly talented and well-rehearsed by the Music Department. I

have always felt that Christmas ‘starts here’, with beautiful music, words and a wonderful atmosphere of joyful celebration and reflection in Great Hall.

How has School life changed over the years?

The most significant change as a classroom teacher has been the technology. When I first arrived, I was impressed by the printers, as I had previously only used Banda machines! However, the use of iPads since then has transformed the way we teach. One example would be that the wealth of resources available online means that relevant articles can be downloaded to supplement textbooks. In my early days in primary schools, I recall herding children into the hall for their one television programme a week – and you missed it if you weren’t all there on time! Whereas now it is so easy to show a couple of short clips per lesson on the large-screen Apple TV in the classroom. It is a huge advantage in RS to be able to see religious practices or hear members of different faiths speaking personally.

What is your favourite Bolton School tradition?

Not really a tradition, but I love the beautiful buildings. I often walked through Great Hall en route back to A25 – just because I could. It always reminded me of what a privileged place it was to work.

What are your plans for the future?

I’m volunteering with Urban Outreach Bolton and doing more at my church, including pastoral visiting. I also plan to do lots of entertaining, cooking and sewing. In addition, Tony and I have signed up to the 1,000-mile challenge and are walking every day.

Everest Encounter

Steve Harrison (Class of 1976) left School to pursue a career in veterinary medicine. A keen hiker, he set himself a number of challenges to complete on his retirement and last November saw him trekking to Everest Base Camp.

“I remember fondly many members of staff – some great teachers and some wonderful characters: Colin Chambers, Jim Slater, Eric Dawber, John ‘JCB’ Blakey, David ‘DES’ (as opposed to DMS) Shaw, PJ Harrison, Bill ‘Pop’ Harrison and Clifford ‘Butch’ Ingham immediately spring to mind.

“I graduated from Edinburgh University in 1981 and worked in the surgery department there for a year as House Surgeon followed by six years in Small Animal practices. In 1988 I set up my own practice with my wife where we worked until our retirement in 2014. I have two grown-up children: one with a First Class Honours in Physics, now working in the financial sector, and the other a doctor working in emergency medicine in Australia and due to achieve Consultant status later this year.

“Since retiring I have been able to rekindle my passion for climbing mountains. When I look back it all probably started at School. I climbed my first mountain (The Calf) around 1973 with the School's Fell Walking society, then run by Terry Butterworth, aided and abetted by his brother. My abiding memory of the trip was a huge reel-to-reel tape player that blasted out ELP all weekend – wonderful memories! In November 2021 I completed the 214 Wainwrights in the Lake District, last year I did the Dales 30 (tops in the Cumbrian and Yorkshire Dales above 2000ft) and so far have 28 Munros under my belt. But my proudest achievement came last November when I trekked to Everest Base Camp.

“I remember reading High Adventure by Edmund Hillary while I was still at primary school, his account of the first ascent of Everest, and I have had a fascination with Everest and Nepal ever since. I was never going to be able to climb it, but I've had the ambition to go to Nepal and see it. So I booked a trek with KE Adventure in Keswick to go in November 2020 – but, of course, Covid put paid to that. I rebooked and set off last November – and what a trip it was!

“The journey starts with the hair-raising flight from Kathmandu to the Tenzing-Hillary Airport at Lukla (2846m). Regarded as the most dangerous airport in the world, the runway is only 527m long and is perched on the side of a mountain. What then follows is a nine-day trek to Base Camp through some of the most stunning scenery you could imagine, and I will never forget the moment when I suddenly

saw the snow-capped peaks of Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam set against a cloudless deep blue sky.

“The main issue is the altitude and every care is taken to minimise the risk of getting altitude sickness. This means restricting the daily ascent to fewer than 500 metres wherever possible, but where this does happen the following day is an ‘acclimatisation day’ where you walk higher in the day and then come back down to sleep at the previous night's stop. Thankfully I was spared all of the symptoms of mountain sickness, but the other seven members of the group succumbed to something: extreme lethargy, nausea, coughing, poor appetite, inability to sleep or nose bleeds. The walking was pretty tough. The distances and altitude gains were akin to what you might do in the Lake District, but the altitude made it very hard work. Even walking on the flat caused you to breathe heavily.

“The accommodation was very basic and became more so the higher we got. We stayed in lodges which typically have a heated communal eating area and unheated bedrooms with just two mattresses. The toilets (or holes in the ground in most places!) are also unheated and there is no running hot water. There are showers in the lower lodges, but none higher – you just have a bowl of hot water, for which you get charged! For me, being permanently cold (apart from when you're walking) became as much of a challenge as the altitude.

“The highlight of the trip for me was climbing Kala Patthar, the day before reaching Base Camp. At 5,550m, it is the highest point of the trip (Base Camp is 5,364m) and the view of Everest is truly astonishing. We reached Base Camp the following morning and getting there very early meant that we were the only group there (there are no climbers at that time of the year). It is a pretty desolate place, marked only by a large rock with ‘Everest Base Camp’ painted on it. Perhaps the place itself is a bit of an anticlimax, but it marked the culmination of a fantastic climb. I think we were all elated and relieved in equal measure.

“We then had a three-day walk back to Lukla. At one point I looked back and saw Everest for the last time –rather sad and with a tear in my eye, but immensely proud that I had finally achieved my ambition. All in all, it was a fantastic trip – tough, but incredibly satisfying, and the Nepalese are a lovely people. The trip is within the capability of any active hill walker, so if you're contemplating it, do it. You won't be disappointed.”

Above the Khumbu Valley between Dingboche and Dughla

Ama Dablam

Everest from Kala Patthar

Snow blowing off Everest summit with Lhotse to the right

Made it!

Lostock Rocks!

The grand Black Cat Airlift gig was billed as ‘a chaotic coalescence of two 1970s Bolton Bands which achieved absolutely nothing’. This sentiment was not reflected by the pent-up demand for tickets for the reunion concert at Lostock Tennis Club, which sold in numbers that would have crashed the Ticketmaster website. The band had this covered and outsmarted Viagogo by making the tickets available cash-only from Booths Music Store, satisfyingly just like buying tickets in the olden days. Desire to relive that heady night half a century ago meant a second date was squeezed into the band’s busy schedule.

Black Cat Airlift was hastily put together, comprising members of Berlin Airlift and Black Cat Bone to re-enact the legendary Airlift debut at the same venue 50 years ago. On that occasion the band was introduced with the words: “Good evening Lostock Tennis Club – are you ready to rock? – Berlin Chairlift.” That slip of the tongue might have been appropriate in 2022 given the audience’s average age, but wasn’t repeated. Rick Pilkington on guitar took time out from Blackheart Orchestra whose most recent album (Hotel Utopia) was riding high in the charts. Tony Wadsworth, lead vocals, strapped on his guitar and played some rock and roll. Andy Wright was bought a bass as he had not played for decades, but looked the part with his flowing locks, while Radcliffe battered his way around the drum kit and acted as MC, commenting later: “We made surprisingly few mistakes which – after two rehearsals – was little short of miraculous.”

The pavilion at Lostock Tennis Club has been described (by Mark Radcliffe himself in one of his books) as a shed on stilts. After the success of a certain gig in 1972 it is now a bigger shed on stilts. Given the magnitude of the event, security was surprisingly casual and the audience were greeted by Mark lounging around in the entrance sporting his Hawkwind t-shirt, sharing banter with the punters.

The bar was doing brisk trade and the excitement was building as showtime approached. Mark humorously drew us in with photographs from the era featuring band members, flares and haircuts and talked us through cine footage of the Moss Bank Free Festival which included live action from the band in their first flush of youth. Sadly, several of the participants are no longer with us and they were remembered. The audience absorbed the nostalgia as our MC set the scene.

The crowd was ready, the band were ready, nervous tension and expectation filled the air; fortunately the audience did not stamp their feet to urge the band on stage quicker as neither the floor nor the ageing limbs would have taken it. Rick Pilkington recalled: “I was more terrified walking onto that stage than at The Albert Hall or the Palladium. It felt like we were holding everyone’s memories in our guitar strings and drumsticks. But when we hit the first A-chord of Alright Now suddenly the whole room was 16 again.” The time portal opened, the intervening years disappeared and the crowd went wild! Kossoff and Fraser would have been proud of the delicate guitar/bass interplay during the opening number.

The audience were treated to anthems by the Stones, T Rex, Dylan, Bowie, The Who and Bad Company among others, while a Humble Pie track provided interest for obscurists. The highlight of the night was Steppenwolf’s classic Born to be Wild, everyone bellowing in unison at the right moments. As the last chords of the encores faded the crowd roared for more (well, clapped enthusiastically - it was getting quite late).

Drummer Mark Radcliffe said after the gig: “We were all blown away by how much those early gigs by both Airlift and Black Cat Bone meant to so many people who turned out.”

Tony Wadsworth reflected: “Fifty years seemed to have flashed by in the blink of an eye as we caught up with so many old school mates with whom we shared those incredibly formative few years. Music can do that to you! We had a blast.”

Unlike the original gig, the band did not jump into Mum’s Vauxhall Chevette, but hung around at the bar catching up with old friends. Maybe fortunately, this time around free halves of Watney’s dark mild were not available!

The evening was summed up wonderfully by Andy Wright who said: “The whole experience was far better than I hoped and had any reason to expect. It just was an unforgettable time. Like Rick, I was very nervous, not having played in a band for over 40 years, but in the end it just felt right. From a personal perspective I hope we can do it all again, hopefully those that were there will make enough noise to persuade the guys to give it a go again, but if it doesn’t happen it will definitely go down as one of my best memories.”

So come on audience, make enough noise so it can happen again. Thanks lads – it was a terrific night and a great opportunity to meet people not seen for far too long. Achieved absolutely nothing … I don’t think so!

Tim Taylor (Class of 1979)

The band line-up: Tony, Andy, Mark and Rick

Black Cat Airlift, Lostock Tennis Club, November 2022

L-R: Tony Wadsworth, Rik Thwaites, Dave Richardson

School Stuns as Wedding Venue

Namir Al-Shatri (Class of 2008) and his bride, Karishma, had no hesitation in choosing his old school for their wedding. Having seen the Great Hall ‘dressed’ for such occasions, its beauty, history and grandiosity totally won them over. Namir could easily imagine exchanging vows there and knew his parents would really enjoy it as the School means a lot to them, too.

During the run-up to the wedding, the BSSL Events Team handled everything very professionally and efficiently and catered to the couple’s unique needs and requests, going out of

their way to make it a memorable day for the bride and groom and their guests. On the day, everything that had been discussed and agreed on went according to plan, providing an enjoyable experience for all.

Namir’s two brothers, Sami (Class of 2013) and Laith (Year 9), were in attendance and the guests who had not seen the venue before were most impressed with the School. Namir and Karishma

cherished the day greatly: it was short and intimate, but extremely sweet, just as they wanted, and they look back on it with immense fondness.

Professional basketball player

Patrick Whelan (Class of 2014) knew that he and his fiancée Lindsey wanted to get married during his off-season, but were struggling to find a venue. He recalled that Bolton School hosted weddings and on enquiring found that the only date available was 16th July 2022, a year to the day of their engagement – it was meant to be!

Lindsey had only seen pictures online, but when she saw the beautiful grounds and the Arts Centre dressed for a wedding she knew immediately they should get married there. There is a bench dedicated to Patrick’s late older brother, Daniel Whelan (Class of 2008), located on the top field; it felt right to choose Bolton School for their big day.

The planning process was trouble-free, thanks to the Events Team. They were extremely flexible – as Lindsey is from the States many of the meetings were virtual –and they went the extra mile to ensure that the couple were able to enjoy their special day in its entirety; everything ran smoothly, from the ceremony to the wedding breakfast and reception. The Whelan Family were very grateful to the Events Team for taking the floral arrangements from the main table and putting them around Daniel’s bench.

Patrick and Lindsey may be biased, but they had the best wedding ever!

The iconic turrets and Grade II listed sandstone buildings provide a stunning backdrop so it’s easy to see why weddings are amongst some of the most popular events held here. The Arts Centre and both Great Halls are licenced for Civil Ceremonies and we can cater for wedding receptions for up to 150 guests in the main hall. We have a full-time specialist events team and pride ourselves on our flexibility to tailor the day to suits the couples’ needs. Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life and we want every detail to be perfect for you. It is sometimes assumed that only former pupils may have their wedding here but that is not so; our services are available to everyone. All profits generated from weddings and events are gifted to the School to support the bursary schene. For more information scan the QR code to view our website or email enquiries@boltonschoolevents.com

Namir and Karishma exchanged their vows in the Great Hall

The Memorial Staircase provided a stunning backdrop for the happy couple

Namir and Karishma and their guests enjoyed a fabulous day!

The Great Hall looked stunning as Lindsey and Patrick tied the knot

The sun shone for the newlyweds

Lindsey and Patrick take a moment to remember Daniel

Alumni Authors

Apprendre ou Mourir

by Norman Longworth (Class of 1953)

Apprendre ou Mourir (Learn or Die) is a thought-provoking and powerful collection of poems that delve into themes of learning, growth, and self-discovery. Norman Longworth’s unique voice and use of language are excellent, and whether it be an ode to the beautiful towns and villages of France or a rich account of a historical event, the poems are interwoven with a rich tapestry of vivid imagery and raw emotion.

Each piece is a meditation on the human condition, the beauty of nature, and the challenges we face as we strive to understand ourselves and the world around us. It goes without saying that the poems in this book are both personal and universal, being evident reflections of both the author’s

A Teenager’s War

by Don Cole (1939-1947)

Produced by Abbey Printers

1274 620238

Whilst we may have heard recordings of Neville Chamberlain’s words to the nation, few will have seen a barrage balloon rising above Bolton, experienced a blackout, retreated to improvised shelters and lived on rations. The author had family in Liverpool “and stayed sometimes with his grandparents, sleepless because of anti-aircraft

The Secrets of Regent’s Park

by Jonathan Livingstone (Class of 1975)

When Louise Watt asks her grandpa “When you were young, did you have any secrets from your parents?” he replies, “None that I can remember. Not big ones, anyway”. In this short story Louise and her brother, Michael, embark on a year-long series of adventures in the company of talking animals –unbeknown to their parents!

Starting in Regent’s Zoo the children meet and, discovering that the animals can talk with them, develop a friendship with Snowy the Polar Bear, Richard Penguin,

own formative experience and of ever-changing modern society, and they will resonate with readers of all ages and backgrounds. Whether exploring the power of love or the complexities of identity, the author's words are both insightful and moving.

Whilst Norman Longworth might not be the next Chekhov or Baudelaire, it is clear that his selection of poems in Apprendre ou Mourir is a labour of love. His impressive command of the French language allows for the unpretentious rendition of thought and feeling; something I’ve felt very lacking within the works of many writers, past and present, and hence was glad to see in this collection. Much appreciated were the context notes sprinkled throughout the pages, providing good background and basis for interesting research after reading.

Overall, Apprendre ou Mourir is a must-read for anyone who appreciates honest, yet great poetry, and is seeking to expand their horizons and deepen their understanding of the human experience.

Barnaby Keogh, Year 13

guns, searchlights and bombs”. He remembers the “haggard faces” of seamen who had survived an Atlantic Crossing in convoy. Don’s own service on farms near Wigan, Kirkham and Stratford-upon-Avon, loading sheaves of corn, picking peas and potatoes, offered brief weeks of a life, which though hard was safe and healthy, particularly because of the food that was served in great quantities. As a scout he remembers further work, in Whitewell and Wales, shared with members of the troop, travelling often by bicycle. These experiences echo The Boltonian of those years. For Don it was the beginning of a full, rich life evident in the many other short booklets he has written about the area of Yorkshire in which he now lives. The text is accompanied by photographs which vividly recall events and the spirit of the time.

Charles Winder (Boys’ Division Staff, 1964-1999)

Swoop Eagle and many other characters as they enjoy the experience of growing up, acquiring useful life lessons and advice along the way.

The story takes place over eight chapters, covering surprise birthdays, trips to the seaside, camping, swimming and the sights of London. Familiar tourist destinations and events in the capital are visited, including the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, The Royal Courts of Justice and the Lord Mayor’s Show.

Each of the chapters covers a different story and could be read by or to young children – enjoyable and reassuring bed-time reading. An intriguing family secret revealed in the final chapter suggests there could be more stories to be told by future generations of the Watt family about their animal friends.

Stephen Parry (Class of 1975)

Alumni Oxford Dinner

St Hilda’s College, Friday 18th November 2022

The Oxford Dinner saw its biggest attendance ever as Old Boys and Old Girls were eager to meet up after an enforced absence.

Alumni Cambridge Dinner

Sidney Sussex College, Friday 3rd February 2023

Old Boys and Old Girls had been looking forward to meeting up at Sidney Sussex College since the pandemic and the evening did not disappoint!

Ian Galloway (1969), Phil Westhead (1973), Brian Darbyshire (1965)

Antonia Jameson (2019), Arsh Patankar (2022), Amerleen Hundle (2022), Sam Gunatilleke

Tom Paterson (2018), Matthew Schaffel (2019)

Lily Muller, Thomas Harrison (2008), David Griffiths (2009), Erik Johnson

Charlotte Jones, Alastair Ahamed (2016), Sam Warburton (2018), Alex Hopkinson (2016)

Thomas Britton, Thomas Higham (both 2021)

Peter (1971) and Lesley Acton, Laura Henthorn (née Carless, 1977)

Philip Britton, William Miles (2022)

Susan Reed (née Berry, 1996), David Reed, Lesley Thompson, Vanessa and Mark Bannister (1974)

Stephen Parry (1975), Luke Cavanaugh (2018)

William Miles (2022), Krishnan Ajit (2020), Alex Gao (2020), Daniyal Ashraf (2020), Yusuf Adia (2020), Stuart Brooks (1966), Martin Thompson (1973)

Old Boys’ Association Dinner

Bolton School, Friday 2nd December 2022

This much-anticipated annual event was, as always, very well attended and got everyone in the mood for the festive season!

Old Boys’ and Old Girls’ Joint Lunch

Bolton School, Friday 10th February 2023

The first ever joint lunch for Old Boys and Old Girls was a resounding success, with guests having no problem overcoming the ‘great divide’ of their School days!

Martin Wadsworth (Boys’ Division Staff, 1974-2006)

David Fielding (1963), Keith Washington (1963), Rod Lonsdale (1961)

Chris Brownlow (2016), Guy Haynes (1995), Liam Watkinson (2009 and Boys’ Division Staff)

Stephen Lintott, Ian Bragg (both 1989)

Hilary De Maine (Former Boys’ Division Staff), Robert De Maine (2002)

Philip Britton, David Williams (Class of 1999), Peter Syddall (1966), Adam Syddall (1998)

Roy Battersby (1961), Nic Ford, Max Carter (Vice Captain)

William Young, Marc Dickinson (both 1993)

Steve Wood (1960), Roland Wild (1961), Keith Washington (1963), Bob Higson (1970)

Peter Watson (1966), Colin Rayner, David Sharples, John Pendlebury, Gary Sykes, Harry Moore (all 1970)

Margaret Allen (née Brookes, Class of 1957), Roy Battersby (Class of 1961 and President of the Old Boltonians’ Association), Laura Henthorn (née Carless, Class of 1977 and Chairman of the Old Girls’ Association)

Michael Griffiths (Class of 1965), Harry Lane (1964), Sue McNeill (née Kershaw, 1963), Allan Eaton (1974, Carolyn Radcliff (née Garrett, 1975), Sheila Tonge (née Baird, 1963)

Mr Britton addresses the inaugural Joint Lunch

Harry Lane (1964), Steve Wood (1960), Roland Wild (1961), Frank Millhouse (1961) and Peter Nightingale (1961)

Gordon Seymour (1966), Steven Capstick (1976), Charles Winder (Former Boys’ Division Staff, 1964-1999)

Alumni London Dinner

The Armourers’ Hall, Friday 3rd March 2023

The Armourers’ Hall provided a spectacular backdrop for Old Boys and Old Girls from across the generations to chat and share stories about their time at School.

Michael Shaw (1988), Nick Thompson (2016)

Stephen Lewis (1960), Roy Battersby (1961)

Craig McCoy, Peter Knowles, Judith Hibbert, Elizabeth Newton (née Whyatt) (all 1979)

John Craven (1982), Adam Hall (2018), Nancy Craven (née Gaskell, 1983)

Stephen Parry (1975), Gary Sykes (1970), Guy Crossley (1970), Joan Crossley

Shivam Patel (2019), Finley Littlefair (2022), Amelia Wood (2019)

David Price (2017), Leo Curtin (2005)

Harry Moore (1971), Philip Britton, Neil Sarkar (1993)

Henry Jones (1971) and Peter Jolley (2006)

Roy Battersby, Peter Acton (1971), Lesley Acton, Laura Henthorn (née Carless, 1977; Chair, Old Girls’ Association), Peter Hayes (1965)

Neil Handley (1991), Peter Knowles (1979), Andrew Roscoe (1980), Liz Roscoe

Isabela Gjoka, Caleb Hall-Paterson (2017), David Price

Jon Marsden, Timothy Lightfoot (both 1993)

Christopher Lewis (1986), Stephen Lewis (1960)

‘3’ Class Reunion

Calling all Old Boys who left in 1953, 1963, 1973, 1983, 1993, 2003 and 2013!

We will be holding a Reunion at Bolton School on Saturday 30th September 2023 for these year groups – Former Staff are also very welcome to attend, as are Alumni from other years. (Please note that this date supersedes that previously advertised of Saturday 22nd April.)

Details of how to book may be found at www.trybooking.co.uk/CHUS. We hope to see as many of you as possible, so please get in touch with your classmates and make sure you all have this date in your diaries!

Calling the Class of 1992!

Do you remember the days of passing notes in class and staying up late talking on the phone? Trips to Cautley, Geography field trips, lots of rain, ski trips, French exchanges, day trips to London, Edinburgh and York, running around the park in the rain avoiding the piles of leaves, the teacher who inspired you, the smell of freshly cut grass on the Levels, school dinners, Central Park, Ritzy, 'Avinit, using real coins and using phones with wires?

It’s been 30 years since you left School, but these are memories shared. As you are all contemplating turning the big FIVE O you now have the opportunity to celebrate this milestone with a blast from the past!

Six of your school mates are arranging a reunion night to take place on Saturday 18th May 2024. This will

ALUMNI EVENTS CALENDAR

2023

Wednesday 3rd May

not be a Schoolorganised event, more a revamp of the Sixth Form school parties that were held at Central Park and Ritzy’s (with a little more sophistication and better drink choices!). These venues are long gone, but the organisers promise to find a great place in Manchester to bring everyone together. It will be a fun night of reliving old memories and creating new ones.

As plans are firmed up you can register your interest on the following site: www.avinitagain.com. There is also a Facebook site you can request to join too: ‘Avinit again! 2024. If you have any problems registering, please email: avinitagain2024@gmail.com.

The Hulton Lecture Girls’ Division Great Hall and via live stream, 5.00pm (Annual Primary Division Lecture)

Wednesday 10th May Founders’ Day Assembly Via live stream, 8.55am

Monday 15th May Old Boys’ Lunch and AGM Bolton School, 12 noon

Wednesday 7th June Former Staff Lunch Bolton School, 12 noon (Boys’ Division, Girls’ Division and Primary Division)

Friday 16th June Alumni Cumbria Lunch Lindeth Howe Hotel, Windermere, 12 noon

Tuesday 27th June Recent Leavers’ (Class of 2022) Reunion Bolton School, 2.30pm-5.00pm

Saturday 30th September ‘3’ Class Reunion Bolton School, 11.30am-4.30pm

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 Alumni and Giving Back section of the School website (www.boltonschool.org) where you can book online.

Showing Our Age

The football club started the season basking in the glow of July’s excellent centennial celebration at School. Sadly, the glow dimmed as, at the three-quarter stage as I write, all four men’s teams are finding wins elusive and all could face relegation battles.

Finding the right blend of age, with concomitant experience, and youth, with its pace and drive, has proved hard to achieve for the Saturday teams. Indeed, the struggle to find eleven capable and fit players has not always been easy, especially for the A team. The First Eleven, often including at least half who qualify as veterans, saw a little cup success, but are now concentrating on Premier Division survival. The Reserves sit just below halfway in their division, but teams below have games in hand. Goal scoring is often seen as instinctive – this knack has been but rarely evident – perversely when goals have come, they have flooded in at both ends. The A team, inexplicably in a division of first and second teams, despite their previous season, languish again teetering above the drop. Our esteemed treasurer was persuaded to dust off his manager’s mantle after a troubled first two months threatened collapse of the team. His first tranche of matches saw 28 goals against and one for (and that an own goal), but March started with a seven-goal win –survival is still possible.

The Veterans are strong only in that cliched sense of holding up their whole division. Innumerable players have been called on, but to little avail in a winning sense. As has wistfully been opined – if all the first eleven vets played on Sunday not Saturday, what heights might be scaled!

The Ladies are shining in the relative gloom. They found the sort of form any team hopes for and are six matches

undefeated as I write. They sit second in their division and have again reached their divisional Cup Final.

The ‘estate’ is still the envy of so many – the Lee Pavilion is now ten years old, but is a fine facility and, as a defiant show of commitment to further improvement, the pitches are now cared for with a new tractor with Summer plans in place to reseed and redrain, finances permitting.

On a further brighter note, the year’s celebrations will conclude in part up at Tower Street – start at School, end at Turton seems symbolically appropriate with an Over55s match on 13th May; it is intended to follow this with the end of season celebratory presentation evening. One year on from the Festival of Football, and one decade on from ‘Turton to Burton’, current plans are to stage a mighty sponsored 24 Hours of Football on 8th July – five-a-side on the mammoth scale in which anyone with links to the club past, present and future can participate, raising money for both the club and charities of our choice. Details of this finale will appear on the club website and social media (www.oldbolts.co.uk, @oldboltsafc)

Into its second century, the club is still alive, unlike many, but undoubtedly requires an injection of new blood. As suggested, the need for more players, preferably under 30, is pressing, and the manager cadre and volunteer enablers, embodied on the committee, would also ideally be refreshed – so the plea, as the club passes its 103rd birthday, is for Old Bolts out there who fancy good old eleven-a-side from playing, administrating or just spectating points of view to join us and keep this marvellous institution going!

Martin Wadsworth (Boys’ Division Staff, 1974-2006)

OLD BOLTONIANS’ GOLF SOCIETY REPORT: Spring 2023

There seem to be a few signs of Spring on the way, although the temperature still is not overly conducive to wanting to get out on the golf course. That said, The Masters marks the start of the season for many, despite courses in the UK being far from the rich green colour of Augusta.

The Winter months mean there is little to report on the Golf Society other than to inform Old Boltonians that we will be running the Taylor Trophy in October and I will be writing to members of the Society in due course with details of the day. We will also be running the annual Rosebowl Knockout throughout the Summer and the draw will take place shortly.

The obligation is one game per month so I would urge all members to enter to give the competition the prestige it once had.

We will, of course, be entering a team in the annual Grafton Morrish Schools Competition and I look forward to reporting on our success of qualification in the next edition of The Bugle

Any Old Boy wishing to become involved in the Society may contact me on 07711 594030 or via the Development Office.

Mark Millhouse (Class of 1994) Golf Secretary

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 1950-1959

Eric Forsyth (Class of 1950)

Eric’s new book, Wings over Germany, will be published in April. It is the third novel in a series following the fictional career of RAF pilot Allan Chadwick. His adventures immediately before WWII were chronicled in Wings over the Channel, which was favourably reviewed in the last edition of The Bugle. Now Allan commands a Spitfire squadron in the Battle of Britain, gets shot down over France and evades capture to become the first RAF pilot to down a V-1.

Norman Longworth (Class of 1953)

Norman is still here 20 years after a heart transplant, although not as sprightly as he was 70 years ago when treading the cloisters of the School and playing cricket on the field. However, he is still youthful in mind and writing poetry, prose and music which few want to hear or read, largely because he is a lousy marketer. He still lives in the foothills of the Pyrenees and continues to enjoy reading the School magazines, marvelling at the variety of activities now available. Norman would be glad to hear from any of his contemporaries – he can be contacted via the Development Office.

Malcolm Howe (Class of 1956)

In March 2023, Malcolm generously donated to the School a set of silver hall-marked cutlery (pictured), including a pair of bone marrow spoons, engraved with the crest of Sir Ashton Lever (1729-88), a Trustee of the Bolton Grammar School for Boys who served as the High Sheriff of Lancashire in 1771. This added to the School’s collection of Sir Ashton’s silver cutlery, established by Malcolm in March 2006 through his presentation of six teaspoons each to both the Boys’ and Girls’ Divisions.

John Ratcliffe (Class of 1956)

John will shortly be retiring from the Governing Board of St Mary’s Church of England Primary School, Hawkshaw, after 48 years’ service. The school, a village school founded 1870, has doubled in size over this time to about 110 pupils. At its last inspection it

was graded ‘outstanding’. The school organised a celebratory service in St Mary’s church on 31st March. The former Manchester Diocesan Director of Education, Canon Maurice Smith, and a former Director of Education in Bury, Mr Harold Williams, were among the guests.

Class of 1960-1969

Richard Horrocks (Class of 1961)

Richard has recently published a book entitled The Lost Mills of Turton and Edgworth, 1774-2000. He notes that when he was at School, the cotton industry was well into its final stages of decline and, as a boy growing up in Turton, he witnessed the decline and closure of some of the mills there. In fact, some of his contemporaries from the village went to work at the remaining mills right until the 1990s. For 200 years these mills shaped the two villages and today almost all signs of their presence have gone. Having spent over 50 years serving the textile and synthetic fibre industries, most of it at the University of Bolton, both in teaching and research, Richard has witnessed the changes from ‘cotton to carbon fibres’ at first hand and a core of these technical textile industries remains active in the local area to this day.

His book is an attempt to record their history so that future generations will understand their contribution to the economic development of the region, as well as their moulding of local society and local geography in many cases. No doubt some (very) Old Boys will remember the mills of Bolton and some even those in Turton and Edgworth.

Michael Haworth (Class of 1962)

Michael has been Chairman of Bolton Newstalk for several years, having taken over the role from Michael Tatman (Boys’ Division Staff, 1958-1991).

Bolton Newstalk is a voluntary organisation which

provides a regular talking newspaper for the visually impaired and disabled, by means of a podcast. In 2022, it was awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service at a presentation ceremony at Gorton Monastery in Manchester.

Michael and his team are seeking additional volunteers to work with them as programme producers/ readers and technicians; please contact the Development Office if you are interested in becoming involved!

Alan Pearce (Class of 1963)

Alan recently published his autobiography, How I dropped in on Vladimir Putin. He doesn’t know how many other Old Bolts have actually met and interviewed Vladimir Putin, but suspects that it is fewer than ‘several’. This incident, and many other stories about Alan’s time as a Royal Navy officer and Russian interpreter, is available from Amazon.

Peter Greenhalgh (Class of 1964)

In September

Peter and his wife, Christine, celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary at their daughter’s apartment in Brussels. They continue their peripatetic existence, moving for several months at a time between Oxford, the family in Edinburgh, and St Cyprien, Pyrenees Orientale, southern France, where they recently met up with near neighbour Norman Longworth (Class of 1953).

Since his ‘retirement’ 16 years ago Peter has been working for a trade association IFEAT (The International Federation of Essential Oils and Aroma Trades) which represents companies supplying flavour and fragrance (F&F) ingredients. He also organises annual study tours for members to countries producing various F&F ingredients and produces a book after each one. In the last four months he has organised tours to South Africa and southern Spain, each with over 30 participants

Michael receiving the QAVS award on behalf of Bolton Newstalk

Christine and Peter

from over 20 countries. Despite feeling increasingly ‘chronologically challenged’ Peter gains so much satisfaction and enjoyment from the educational experience that the tours bring to such diverse and fascinating groups of people from a wide range of disciplines and age groups that he is hoping to continue until the Grim Reaper calls!

Peter enjoys fortnightly pandemicinduced Zoom calls with former classmates Phil Goldstone and Duncan Rodgers (both Class of 1964). He is also in very regular contact with his two brothers, Michael (Class of 1959) and David (Class of 1967).

J David Fisher (1956-1965)

For the past nine years David has been part of a group working to ensure that the derelict Grade II* Brighton Hippodrome is restored as a theatre. That spark of passion for theatre and theatres ignited in the Sixth Form has been fanned into a flickering life. The building remains number one on the Theatres Trust’s list of Theatres at Risk. David and his colleagues have worked hard to gain the support of the city council, but an imminent and crucial planning application by the fourth owners in those nine years may seal its fate and probably not for the best.

David is the current Chair of the Regency Society of Brighton and Hove, trying to revive it after several years of decline, not least as a result of the pandemic. The first lecture of the ‘inperson’ season in the magnificence of the Music Room at the Royal Pavilion was a sell-out and the near-capacity events since then in the regular venue show that people want to get out and be sociable once more. David is keen to achieve as many of the lengthy list of projects for his threeyear term as possible. Any Old Boys in the area would be welcome to visit (see regencysociety.org). The Society is seeking new trustees, so there are opportunities to become even more involved.

David recently had an unexpected phone call from Pete Spencer (Class of 1965). The pair have kept in touch by sporadic emails and Christmas cards, but had not met or spoken for over 40 years. David notes that it was good to be in-person again, especially at such an advanced age.

David is also slowly developing his local history website, brightonhistory.org.uk, and wonders if there is anything comparable about Bolton—please get in touch if you know of anything!

Mark Doel (1962-1969)

Mark was Visiting Professor at Universidad de Los Lagos in Osorno, Chile for four weeks in Autumn 2022. Professor Doel was working with Chilean social work academics on a joint website to tell the story of social work through objects and narratives. There are two sister websites, one in the English language (socialworkin40objects.com) and one in Spanish (40objetos.ulagos.cl/). More than 200 objects and their stories have been ‘gifted’ to the two websites. Mark has also just published a fully revised second edition of his book, Social Work: The Basics, (Routledge). Class of

1970-1979

Andrew Beckingham (Class of 1970)

Andy retired from salaried Public Health work as a Consultant in 2022 following three major surgeries and a brush with the Grim Reaper, but has continued to do pro bono work. That includes being Editor of Global Health Newsletter (which is free and can be easily found and subscribed to online); Andy and five colleagues recently published an article in the academic journal Frontiers in Public Health, describing the implementation of India’s first Professional Midwifery education programme in sufficient detail for other countries to establish it too. (They designed and piloted midwifery in India in 2011 and it has since transformed labour and childbirth for more than 16,000 women, in contrast to the highly industrialised system that has been the norm in recent decades.) Andy was one of four Public Health professionals who in late 2022 brought together the UK’s Faculty of Public Health with the International Academy of Public Health, which represents 22 countries in the Middle East and North Africa region. This was done to improve training and professional standards across the specialty. Andy was also recently the national project lead for the programme to ensure all doctors recruited from overseas to the NHS get sound induction into how to work in what is Europe’s most complex organisation. Never previously having won even a full bingo card, Andy was surprised to be awarded the Faculty President’s Medal for Outstanding Service to Public Health in 2021 and even more surprised to get the Medal for Service during the pandemic, in 2022. He is currently huddling over a

woodstove in rural France and feeding the bluetits and nuthatches in his garden.

David

Bratt (Class of 1971)

Congratulations to David who was awarded a BEM (British Empire Medal) in the Platinum Jubilee Honours List for services to the community of Great Brickhill in Buckinghamshire. David has devoted his retirement to improving amenities in his village. As well as his involvement with the Parish Council, the Tennis Club and Parish Hall Committee, he has led numerous fundraising projects, including lighting and renovating the tennis courts and extending and refurbishing the village hall. In 2019 he led a project to create a forest school for the Little Ashes Pre-School. Having been on the brink of closure, Little Ashes now has an inspiring learning environment and the number of children attending has risen from just 9 to over 40.

David’s latest project was a Platinum Jubilee Celebration, attended by nearly 1,500 guests and featuring the erection of a commemorative clock on the village hall overlooking the cricket pitch.

Described as ‘a true inspiration, serving his community selflessly and with a farreaching impact on that community’, David was presented his medal by Countess Howe, Lord-Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire, in November. He will be attending a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May.

Philip Rothwell (Class of 1971)

Philip has been invited to be President of Bolton Old Links Golf Club for 2023/24, taking up office on 29th March. He has been a member of the club for 57 years, joining as a junior in 1966 as a 13-year-old when in Form 3A1 at School. He is very much looking forward to his year in office which he expects to be extremely busy, particularly as Bolton Old Links will be hosting the Lancashire Amateur Championship in June.

Ivor

Timmis (Class of 1977)

Now retired, Ivor has found a role with Northern Premier League side, Guiseley: he is part of the media team and generally carries out the postmatch interviews or works on the radio commentary team. At the age of 63, he has finally achieved his ambition to be a sports journalist!

David with his wife, Vivienne, and the Lord-Lieutenant

Class of 1980-1989

Charles Cowling (Class of 1981)

Congratulations to Charles who recently became Presidentelect of the International Actuarial Association

(he becomes President on 1st January 2024) – the global professional body for actuaries. He is pictured with the current President, Micheline Dionne (Canada, centre) and Past President, Roseanne Harris (South Africa, left).

Mark Northover (1977-1984)

Mark has retired from the Royal Air Force after a 38-year career during which he progressed from the rank of Pilot Officer to Air Commodore, serving at various UK locations, in Germany and Saudi Arabia. He is now looking forward to pursuing other interests, including reducing his golf handicap and learning piano, both of which are providing considerable challenge.

Andrew Openshaw (Class of 1987)

Andrew has recently moved from Frinton in Essex to Haddenham in Buckinghamshire, having taken up a new position as Company Secretary and Regional Minister for the Central Baptist Association (CBA). The CBA is one of the regions of the Baptist Union of Great Britain meaning that, along with three colleagues, Andrew is responsible for serving and supporting the ministers and members of all 150 Baptist Churches across Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Northamptonshire.

Class of 1990-1999

Carl Howard (Class of 1990)

Carl now lives in Harrogate with his wife, Julie, children Alfie and Charlotte and working cocker Max. His sister Suzanne (Class of 1992) lives in Over Hulton.

Carl became CEO of the Andrews Property Group in 2022, the only business of its type owned by a charity. The business provides residential property services through offices across Bath, Bristol, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and London and the South East.

Outside work Carl and his family enjoy walking in the Yorkshire Dales and travelling in the UK and further afield. Last year they met up with Ben Mobley (Class of 1990) at his home in Cyprus.

Class of 2000-2009

Ahmed Bhaiyat (Class of 2009)

Ahmed recently returned to Bolton to start a new job at Royal Bolton Hospital as a Specialty Doctor in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. His aim is to become a Consultant Oral Surgeon.

Mobeen Qureshi (Class of 2009)

Mobeen and his wife will be competing in Season 3 of the BBC’s Race Across the World

The programme is now available to watch on BBC and iPlayer.

Class of 2010-2019

Krishnan Patel (Class of 2010)

Krish was so inspired by his grandparents’ story that it motivated him and his fellow Old

Boy Tom Daly (Class of 2017) to launch StoryOak, a video biography service. In 2019, Krish’s grandfather passed away and he nearly lost the chance to learn about his life in more depth. After months of reminiscing with his grandmother, Krish and Tom decided to interview her, creating a Netflixstyle video which brought to life the grandparents’ unique love story once again.

Tom’s exceptional videography skills coupled with Krish’s passion for storytelling bring to life near-forgotten memories and help their clients leave a lasting legacy for their loved ones. The pair comment, “We understand just how important treasured family memories are and we’re on a mission to make sure that no story goes untold.” For more information about StoryOak or to enquire about sharing your story visit www.storyoak.co.uk

Ryan Stevenson (Class of 2014)

Congratulations to Ryan who has married Amelia (née Howe, Class of 2016). The pair met while still at School and tied the knot on 15th October last year in Glenridding, next door to Patterdale Hall. A number of Old Boys and Old Girls were in attendance: Peter Russell (2014), Adam Cauchi (2014), Rory Milne (2014), Ellis Bunney (2016), Charles Howe (2018), Isabella Howe (2020), Holly Stevenson

Oliver Leaver (Class of 2015)

Congratulations to Oliver who has taken up the role of Assistant Psychologist for Cygnet Health Care at an inpatient rehabilitation setting in Salford. Oliver gained an MSc in Applied Clinical Psychology from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN).

Zachary Malpass (Class of 2017)

After graduating from the University of Dundee with a First Class Bachelors degree in International Business and an award for Outstanding Economic Achievement Zachary moved to the University of Edinburgh and studied for a Master’s degree in International Business and Emerging Markets. This gave him the opportunity to work with real companies from around the globe and use his knowledge in the real world. He graduated with Merit and achieved a First on his dissertation about ‘The Effect of Internationalisation on the Innovation of South American Technology Firms’, all whilst working full-time in a local bar. Zachary is now seeking graduate opportunities in Edinburgh, specialising in data analysis and consultancy to continue in the fields that he has studied.

Shivam Patel (Class of 2019)

Congratulations to Shivam who graduated with a BSc in Mathematics, Optimisation and Statistics from Imperial College London last Summer. He now works as Software Developer at Tenancy360.

(2022), Molly Heron (2016), Claudia Turner (2015) and Lizzy Glover (2020).

Destinations of Leavers – 2022

Hamza Adam Lancaster University

Economics and Finance

Ali Ahmad Gap Year

Ali Ahmed

Lancaster University

Medicine and Surgery

Hamaad Ahmed Gap Year

Karthik Ajith

University of Glasgow

Aeronautical Engineering

Mohammad Ibraheem Ali Gap Year

Ibrahim Ali

Daamin Aslam

University of Nottingham

University of Liverpool

Classics

Business Economics

Umar Awais Gap Year

Yahya Bandukwala

Usayd Bariwala

Thomas Barrett

Harry Bentham

University of Sunderland

Lancaster University

Newcastle University

USA – California – Irvine

Pharmacy

Architecture

Geography

Qais Bhuta Gap Year

James Blenkinship Manchester Metropolitan University

Accounting and Finance

Charlie Bohanna Gap Year

Scott Bowden Cumbria University

Nicholas Brooks

University of Liverpool

Ben Bruton St George’s, University of London

Morgan Camm

University of Nottingham

Degree Apprenticeship with Turner & Townsend

Law

Biomedical Science – 2023

Veterinary Medicine – 2023

Hamaad Choudry Gap Year

Benjamin Clarkson University Academy 92

Max Crompton

MetFilm School

Mohammed Dalal Lancaster University

Aamir Dalal

Vijay Pranav Duddu

Harper Adams University

University of Birmingham

Sports Development

Practical Filmmaking

Economics

Agricultural Engineering

Medicine

Jacob Farnworth Gap Year

Ahmad Shahmir Fawad

Alexander Fitzpatrick

Dominic Flood

Harry Forshaw

Theo Forshaw

Thomas Fox

Nat Gatenby

Manchester Metropolitan University

Newcastle University

Employment

Employment

Newcastle University

Cardiff University

Dimitris Giannakopoulos University of Salford

Gap Year

Sport and Exercise Science

Modern Languages and Business Studies

Employment

Employment

English Literature

Philosophy

Civil Engineering

Rafael Goloba Gap Year

Harvey Goodwin Gap Year

Ali Hanif Gap Year

Alastair Harris

Frederic Higham

Ben Holden

James Hopkinson

Barnaby Horridge

Thomas Hothersall

Daniel Houghton

Jack Huang

Benjamin Hunt

Omer Ibrahim

Haris Imran

Shahzaib Imran

Andrew Jacob

Zen Jepson

York St John University

University of York

University of Salford

University of Oxford

Lancaster University

University of Hull

University of Brighton

University of Liverpool

Durham University

University of Manchester

Manchester Metropolitan University

Hull York Medical School

University of Bristol

Newcastle University

Oliver Kendall Loughborough University

Owais Khalid

Law – 2023

Computer Science

Podiatry

Materials Science

Politics and International Relations

American Studies

Product Design

Mechanical Engineering

Engineering (Aeronautical)

Architecture

Accounting and Finance

Medicine

Aerospace Engineering

Economics and Finance

Commercial Management and Quantity Surveying

Gap Year

Ibrahim Khan Gap Year

Benjamin Kyle

Harvey Leigh

Finley Littlefair

University of Hull

UCL (University College London)

Matthew Mair Lancaster University

Joel Male Nottingham Trent University

Thomas Martin Durham University

Moinuddin Master University of Manchester

Harry McDermott Leeds Beckett University

William Miles

University of Cambridge

Henry Miller-Stenton Leeds Beckett University

Anuj Mishra

University of Oxford

Kian Mistry Liverpool John Moores University

Accounting and Financial Management

Employment

Comparative Literature

Geography

Property Development and Planning

Geography

Mathematics and Physics

Geography

Natural Sciences

Sport and Exercise Science

English Language and Literature

Real Estate

Umar Mohammad Gap Year

Shady Morgan Gap Year

Daniel Morris

University of Reading

Adam Mullins University of Liverpool

Affan Nabeel

Lancaster University

Accounting and Finance

Politics

Medicine and Surgery

Abu-Bakr Naeem Gap Year

Dawood Nalla Lancaster University

Tom Nally Northumbria University, Newcastle

Alexander Nielsen University of Birmingham

Mani Parsai King’s College London, University of London

Arsh Patankar

University of Oxford

Amin Patel Employment

Rikin Patel University of Bath

Aadil Patel London School of Economics

Computer Science

Law

Russian Studies and International

Relations – 2023

Classical Studies

Medicine

Employment

Economics

Economic History and Geography and Political Science

Amaan Patel University of the Arts London

Jack Phillips Cardiff Metropolitan University

Benjamin Price University of Nottingham

Rishen Raja

University of Reading

Max Rimmer University of Exeter

James Roberts University of St Andrews

Sam Schofield University of Salford

Matthew Settle

Lancaster University

Max Sibson-Finch Heriot-Watt University

Jacob Sidoli

Isaac Simmonite

University of Edinburgh

University of Cambridge

Christian Stapleton University of York

Jacob Stevenson

Jack Swires

UCFB

Fashion Jewellery

Architecture

Mechanical Engineering

Philosophy

Classics

Neuroscience

Accounting and Finance

History and International Relations

Economics

Philosophy and English Literature

Mathematics

English

Football Business and Marketing

Imperial College London Physics

Matthew Syers Edge Hill University

Finlay Taylor-Watson

Max Turner

Alexander Utley

Sami Waheed

University of Salford

University of Reading

University of Bristol

De Montfort University

Amay Wahie EUC Cyprus

Dominic Walley

University of Lincoln

Samuel Whitaker Loughborough University

Benjamin Whittle

Daniel Williamson

Callum Wong

Muneeb Yousaf

Kamran Hyder Zaidi

University of Warwick

Newcastle University

University of Warwick

St George’s, University of London

Liverpool John Moores University

Law with Politics

Quantity Surveying

Real Estate

Chemical Physics

Aeronautical Engineering

Dentistry

Geography

Economics

Physics with Astrophysics

Accounting and Finance

Economics

Medicine

Accounting and Finance

Mini Reunions

Freshers have a Fine Time in York

Students from the Class of 2022 got together in York to visit the Christmas markets.

Morgan, Jack and Tom also watched the University of York’s Freshers’ play, Agatha Christie’s And Then There were None, in which Christian was starring as Sir Lawrence Wargrave, the murderer. Old Girl Lillian Featham (Class of 2022), who studies at the University of Leeds, also joined the get-together.

The group took up the Development Team’s generous offer to contribute £10 per head to groups of Old Boys and Old Girls organising reunions at university. If you are a current undergraduate and would like to arrange a mini-reunion to take advantage of this offer we would love to hear from you – the only stipulation is that you send in a photo for publication in The Bugle!

London Lunch

Four chaps from the Class of 1970 recently got together in London for a lunchtime of wine, food, wine, memories and wine.

The School Magazine

The Boltonian remains the premium magazine for the Boys’ Division. As an Old Boy it is possible to become a subscriber to The Boltonian and have a copy mailed directly to you each year.

The magazine costs £15 per annum for UK subscribers and £20 per annum for non-UK subscribers. All prices include postage and packaging. Single editions (including some earlier editions – subject to availability) are also available. Any profits made from the sale of the magazine will go towards the running of the Old Boltonians’ Association. For details of how to subscribe, please contact the Development Office.

Freemasonry

The Old Boltonians’ Masonic Lodge, No 5814, meets regularly in the Senior Library at School throughout the year. In line with the charitable intentions of the society, each year the Lodge provides support to both Divisions of Bolton School, in the form of pupil bursaries and scholarships.

Whilst membership of the Lodge has been opened up to other Freemasons, the majority of its members are Old Boltonians, providing a unique way of keeping in touch with fellow Old Boys. Members range in age from their 20s to their 80s, providing friendship to fellow Masons of all generations.

If you would like to hear more, please contact: David Poppitt – The Lodge Secretary E-mail: DPoppitt@aol.com or Tel: 07785 728700

L-R: Morgan Camm (gap year), Jack Swires (Imperial College London), Christian Stapleton (University of York) and Tom Yates (gap year).

L-R: Harry Moore, Guy Crossley, Gary Sykes and Bob Higson

Who was Clifford Hardiker Ingham? ARCHIVES

Clifford Hardiker Ingham MA, affectionately knower as ‘Butch’, was born on 17th June 1905, the son of an engine driver, which no doubt kindled his deep and lifelong interest in railways. He attended Manchester Grammar School, before studying Classics and Ancient History at the University of Manchester. He graduated in 1929 and returned to do his Master’s Degree in Classics in 1934/35. He also studied for Part 1 of the Classical Tripos at Cambridge in 1939/40.

Before he came to Bolton, Clifford taught at no fewer than seven schools, including a spell at Bradford Grammar School, where one of his Sixth Form pupils was one CDA Baggley. He was appointed to the Classics Department at Bolton School in September 1942 and from the outset he embroiled himself in School activities. He was a regular supporter of the Geographical Society, the International Study Group and the Poetry Society. In May 1944 he formed and became President of the Railway Society, a position he held into his retirement. At other times he was active with the Junior Literary and Debating Society, the Philosophical Society and the Student Christian Movement and produced plays in the Hopefield Theatre, not to mention becoming President of the Nautical Society in 1959.

He also arranged for cross country to become an organised sport for senior boys. He donated a cup for cross country running; this trophy, now known as the Ingham Cup for Outdoor Pursuits, has been competed for by the Houses to the present day. He encouraged the playing of rugby and coached and refereed games for many years. He also found time to be an outstanding, inspirational teacher!

Significant as these diverse contributions to School life were, however, they are not why he is generally remembered. His legendary status among senior Old Boys is attributable to the hikes and trips he led and the famous trek camps in particular. Between 1942 and 1982, invariably accompanied by his wife, Muriel, he took boys on over 100 such expeditions. During the war years and immediately afterwards his trips were confined to the UK, with Scotland being a regular destination, but, following his first foreign trip to Brittany in 1948, the European treks became established. From the early 1950s a group would set off each year for destinations including Spain, Portugal, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Austria, Russia, Scandinavia and Lapland. Given his classical scholarship, he was drawn to the classical sites of Greece, Italy and Turkey and so many trek camps were based in these countries.

Many Old Boys reading this article will have their own particular stories to tell about Clifford and Trek Camps, but

the following extract from a tribute in the 1982 Boltonian will no doubt evoke a number of memories:

“He was a man of infinite resource — who else could commandeer a tram in Helsinki, force open a bank in Budapest during a national holiday or halt a crowded international express in a remote Hungarian village to pick up his party in a reserved carriage? Who, but CHI, could bamboozle Turkish customs officials into granting exit visas for unfranked passports without a word of Turkish, or coerce Austrian railway police in Salzburg without a word of German, or so convince a Spanish Mother Superior that he was leading a party of devout Bolton schoolboys on a tour of European shrines that all camped for the night within the lush convent grounds, attended by the nuns who served bread, honey and milk to the hungry ‘faithful’?"

Foreign travel is now accepted as the norm, but when Clifford Ingham started his trips, the country was still living through the austerity of the post-war years and few boys had ever been abroad. The quality of amenities on the trips was often very basic indeed, but this did not seem to cause any concern to the boys who relished the sense of real adventure. These were character-building experiences which developed the boys’ self-confidence, broadened perspectives and established lifelong friendships.

Clifford retired in July 1970, but was immediately reappointed on a part-time basis and continued to lead trips until his ‘final retirement’ was announced in 1982.

After he died in 1986 a group of Old Boys, led by Roger Dobson (Class of 1966), launched an appeal to raise funds in his memory so that future boys might be able to share the same experiences of the great outdoors. The outcome was the Clifford H Ingham Bursary Fund, which sponsors all manner of expeditions and treks, with support extended to include the Girls’ Division. Awards continue to be made from the Clifford Ingham Fund, although the responsibility for making those awards now rests with the Scott Bolton Trust, of which Governor Tim Taylor (Class of 1979) is Chairman of the Management Committee.

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

Clifford H Ingham, 1975

Butch was very well read

Queen’s Jubilee Trek, Tangier, 1977

Memories of School

Memories of 1953: Springtime

The forthcoming coronation of King Charles III has prompted Malcolm FG Stevens (1944-1957) to recall the previous coronation back in 1953, along with other notable events of that year.

“Seventy years ago my Biology teachers at School were teaching about the wonders of Darwinian evolution and the smooth and wrinkled peas of Gregor Mendel. All that changed on 25th April when Watson and Crick published their two-page article in the journal Nature which started with the immortal words: “We wish to suggest a structure for the salt of deoxyribose nucleic acid (DNA)”. Since then the science of genetics has dominated biology and the lives of all Boltonians.

“Tragically, on 2nd May the Cup Final marked the defeat of the gutsy Trotters in what became known as “The Stanley Matthews Final”. The Bolton goalkeeper Stan Hanson could not really be blamed for more than three of the four goals conceded. Unlike today’s goalkeepers, who wear gauntlets which cling like Velco to a greasy

ball, the hapless Stan was probably wearing gloves of the woollen variety, purchased from Marks & Spencer.

“A month later, on 2nd June, it was my fifteenth birthday and the School declared a special holiday to mark the event. Actually, that historic day marked the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, and my parents had purchased their first television set (Ferranti) which was a handsome piece of furniture with opening doors. All the neighbours came round to watch the fuzzy grey images on the 12-inch screen. In those days it was necessary to switch the set on a full half-hour before viewing to warm up the valves. To celebrate the event the Summer Concert featured a rendition of Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance No 1. The School symphony orchestra, conducted by my father (PAS Stevens), coped with the rousing Land of Hope and Glory, but the twiddly bits before and after were scored with far too many notes and the overall performance would have had poor Elgar turning in his grave.”

19th Bolton (Bolton School) Scout Group

David Grime (1943-1948) recalls a memorable Scout camp which inspired in him a love of hill walking.

“My first long camp was in August 1945 at Stonethwaite, Borrowdale. We travelled by train to Penrith and by single track line to Penrith. It was a hot sunny day, so some of us decided to sit in a first-class compartment with the window open. At a small halt a porter put his head through the window and we thought we were in trouble. All that the porter said was that Japan had surrendered and the war was over! On the Sunday morning we all went to the village church, about a hundred of us; they had probably never had such a large congregation before.

“To celebrate the end of the war it was decided by Pip Porter that we would have a bonfire on the nearest mountain and as the youngest Scout I was given a bucket of water to carry up the mountain to have a brew of cocoa. During the course of the singsong, a Rover Scout crept away, and Pip told us a story about John Peel who had hunted on these fells with his pack of hounds. And we were told that if we were all very quiet we would hear him. At this point the Rover set off a very loud firework that scared us to death!

New Digital Archive

“During the camp, Pip took us for a walk up Langstrath to High White Stones and on to Sprinkling Tarn over Stake Pass, Langdale Pikes, Bowfell, the Old Man of Coniston and Wetherlam and back to camp – about 22 miles – and the older Scouts complained that Pip must be getting old because we did not do proper walks any more. At the start of the day it was decided by Peewit Patrol that it would simplify matters if we only carried one rucksack containing our sandwiches and other items and that we would take it in turns to carry it. It was my turn as we climbed the first mountain.

“On the last day of the camp, there was a storm which destroyed half of our tents. I started the night in a two-man tent and when that collapsed we moved into an eight-man tent which already had 14 boys in it. The District Commissioner for Bolton was camping with us in his small tent and when he got up he asked “What storm?” – he had slept through it all and was not aware of it!

“If nothing else, it gave me a lifelong love of hill walking, although, at 90, the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

The new, searchable digital archive for Bolton School is now available for Alumni to explore. The archives hold a wealth of material including editions of the School magazine and newsletters dating back to the 1890s. We hope you enjoy this new feature which can be found at www.boltonschool.org/about-us/digital-archive

Looking Back

Keith Johnson (Class of 1968) sent in this photo of a School trip to Portsmouth in 1965 – Keith (pictured second left, back row) and his classmates, including Philip Brammer, Stephen Gorski, Joe Howard, Ken Rigg and Dave Robinson, spent a week learning to sail dinghies on training ship Foudroyant (formerly HMS Trincomalee) accompanied by masters Mr De Maine and Mr Tydeman

Alan Pearce (Class of 1963) sent in this photograph of the 1963 Hockey 1st XI. Alan (centre, top row) can identify Morecroft, Seddon, Cubbin, Aldred, Entwistle and Middleton – and apologises to those whose names he is unable to recall! Please get in touch if you recognise any of the other team members.

Many thanks to Frank Millhouse (Class of 1961) for this photo of the 1956 U14 cricket team Back, L-R: Murdon, Jones, Beesley, Clarke, Nuttall, Leaver, Millhouse, Clements-Scorer, Rushton

Front: Ryder, Walker, Stokes, Kennedy, Hargreaves

Frank also sent in this photo of Cricket at Lilleshall, Easter 1956 – he is second from right on the second row, next to Whisky Walker. Also featured are Masters John Hyde, Peter Atkinson, Ron Booth, Jack Ikin (Coach, England and Lancashire) and Alan Mitchell.

Thank you to Andrew Doxsey (Class of 1973) for this photo of the joint production of The Admirable Crichton back in 1972/73. Andrew is on the left wearing the chef’s clothing, while the lead is Andrew Peter Nuttall (Class of 1973).

Thank you to Roger Butler (Class of 1976) who sent in this photo of the Scout Camp at Newton Stewart in July 1971.

Thank you to Bill Dick (Class of 1960) for this photo of the Lower Third, 1953-54 –although taken 70 years ago, Dick (on the middle row to the left of Mr Mills) can name most of the class and wonders if those featured can do so too!

If you have any photos of your time at School which you would like to share, please email them to development@boltonschool.org

This photo, taken at the Saundersfoot camp in 1964, shows Russell Fairless (left) and Mark Doel (both Class of 1969) on the beach – thank you to Mark for sending it in!

LIVES REMEMBERED

Dr Derek Lever (1955-1962)

Derek Lever was a much-awaited second son born to James and May Lever of Sutcliffe Street, Bolton, in May 1944. Derek’s primary education was at Wolfenden School, Bolton, and then St Paul’s Junior School, Astley Bridge. He had a happy childhood with his mother who worked in a cotton factory, his father who was a plumber and his brother, Allan. The proximity to the local factories and mills provided Derek and his friends with cinder yards and factory walls for their football and cricket pitches.

In 1955 Derek passed a full Bolton Borough scholarship to Bolton School and his world began to expand. He entered School on 13th September 1955 and became a member of Blackburn House. Derek found many aspects of such a different life hard, but he soon became recognised as an excellent sportsperson. In football he captained both the School U14 and U15 teams and in his final year played for the School 2nd X1. In cricket he attended the 1958 and 1959 Lilleshall Cricket Coaching courses and later played in the 1st X1 in both 1961 and 1962. Less enviably, or deliberately, he held an unofficial record for most broken School windows during playground batting practices.

Following his elder brother’s footsteps into the teaching profession, Derek left Bolton School in 1962 to begin a threeyear teacher training course at Didsbury Training College, Manchester. He began his teaching career in Rugeley, Staffordshire. He continued to study throughout his working life and attained his first degree at Wolverhampton University and his Masters and PhD at Loughborough.

He worked as a Headteacher, a Chief Education Officer, a Registered Ofsted Inspector and a School Improvement Partner. He co-authored an education

book, A Quick Guide to Behaviour Management

Derek gave generously of his time to voluntary work. He trained as a Police Custody visitor and supported the establishment and running of the local Walking Cricket team and Walking Football team. He was a fly fisherman and continued an active sporting life until his death. He played football and cricket with the same commitment as ever. Derek was guided by his inherent decency, a loving upbringing and his belief in the Bolton School motto, ‘Mutare Vel Timere Sperno’. His sense of justice, equality and personal commitment was his creed.

Derek and I have travelled the world, visiting sporting events and mountains and taking part in education projects in developing countries. Derek’s love of mountaineering began with a copy of Nanga Parbat by Karl M Herrligkoffer, given to him as a Bolton School form prize for Latin in 1957. Together we travelled the Himalayan range by plane in 2012 and Derek was in great demand on the plane to share his mountain knowledge.

Derek died suddenly on 19th November 2022 and leaves Margaret, his wife; a son; two stepsons and five grandchildren. We are heartbroken.

Margaret Lever

Richard Lloyd Miller (2000–2007)

Richard spent his early childhood in Broxburn, West Lothian, moving, aged 11, to Manchester with his Mum to start a new life with me and my own family. I was immediately struck by his strongminded, independent outlook, and his fierce loyalty to his Mum. He also had to take on board three new sisters, Jess, Emily and Lydia – a big challenge for a hitherto only child, but one he rose to admirably, becoming a true big brother to them. In due course two younger brothers, Edward and Henry, completed

the picture.

At Bolton School Rick was a very good sportsman, excelling at rugby, his short stature being no barrier to his ferocious and fearless attitude to the game, and becoming an accomplished water polo player, leaving home at 6am to get to the early morning training sessions. He was also a talented musician: a brilliant guitarist and a skilled saxophonist. Mr Martin and Mr Bleasdale had rarely, if ever, had a student who could play the bagpipes and it was a massive thrill for us to watch him on the pipes at School concerts.

After studying Law at Leeds Metropolitan University Rick had a successful career in property sales before moving into recruitment, spending a year in Hong Kong. Returning to the UK, he decided to move into the political arena, a longheld love and interest, and secured a position on the staff of Edward Timpson, MP.

Rick’s father became very poorly in 2022, and Rick spent several months back in Broxburn looking after him until his death in July that year. Richard’s sudden and untimely death less than six months afterwards was a tragic loss to all our family. We were heartened and proud to see a huge turnout for Rick’s funeral and it was very fitting that the wake was held in the Arts Centre at Bolton School.

While Rick took his role as big brother seriously, offering Edward and Henry help and advice as they navigated their way through School and on to university, they reciprocated by being the little brothers Rick needed to bounce off. His clever jokes, witty comments and fantastic take-offs of teachers the three of them knew from School were worth the resulting jawache and rib pain from laughing so much.

During his time at School Rick forged a great personal friendship with Dr Holland, with whom he kept in regular correspondence. Dr Holland sent a wonderful letter to the family, culminating in this tribute: ‘One of the

best of the thoroughly good young men, whom this School has had the pleasure to see taking their place in the world – Richard was a priceless part of Bolton School, and all to whom he belonged’.

You never know when it will be the last time you see someone, or the last memory you will make. The most important thing we have learned from Rick is how valuable it is to spend time with the people you love most. We will be forever grateful for the privilege of having Rick as part of our family.

Martin Stenton, Edward Miller-Stenton (Class of 2021) and Henry Miller-Stenton (Class of 2022)

If I had to describe Rick to a stranger, I would start with compassionate, thoughtful, generous, supportive, reliable, honest, genuine, charismatic, charming, witty, intelligent, creative, open-minded, empathetic and understanding. I could go on; fitting adjectives are too numerous to include here.

Rick was a natural storyteller and entertainer who was at his absolute best in a big crowd. His passing has left a huge hole in my life, and the lives of countless other people who loved and cared for him.

Guy Hughes (Class of 2006)

Miller, or The Milldog, was a dear friend of mine for over 15 years. I remember my first encounter with him vividly: on my first day in Bolton School, having recently joined from Bridgewater School, I walked into the Sixth Form common room to hear the howls of a group of boys laughing at the jokes and antics of one boy; it was Rick. He was wearing diamanté earrings, which would become his trademark during his Sixth Form years, and his tie was shorter than I’d ever seen a tie worn before, something that would get him into trouble with the teachers from time to time. I joined in the laughter and the rest, as they say, was history.

Rick was charismatic. Incredibly witty and naturally clever (even though academia – he would openly admit himself – was not his passion), he possessed a natural talent for comedic timing, which was infectious and resulted in him being popular with all

year groups and with (the majority of) our teachers.

He was unique, someone I’m honoured to have known at all, someone I count myself lucky, to have called a best friend. He will never be forgotten, having made an impact on so many peoples’ lives.

Rest in peace, Miller. We’ll always have the memories you gave us.

Danny Cox (Class of 2007)

Due to space constraints the above are abridged versions of the tributes we received – the full versions can be read on the School website.

Clifford Pooley (1939-1946)

Clifford's life began 95 years ago in Bolton, a town that he identified with throughout his long and varied life. He had an older sister, Barbara, who moved to Canada. He also had a younger sister, Pat, to whom he remained close.

Cliff used to play cricket with his sisters when they were children. However, his sporting interests diversified once he attended Bolton School and discovered that he was a natural runner. He became House Captain, House Captain for Physical Training and House Cross Country Captain. He must have enjoyed School life because he was a member of several societies and clubs. He never lost contact with Bolton School, and made a contribution to it every month. This is an extract from his School record: 'At the School Sports Day in 1946, his last at School, he again excelled. He won the mile in 4 minutes and 51 seconds, won the half mile in 2 minutes and 10.4 seconds and won the 120 yards hurdles in 18.7 seconds. He was named Victor Ludorum.'

In November 1946 he found a temporary job as a Post Office sorter where he awaited his call-up papers for National Service. Because he had learned to speak German at School, he used to say that he had 'got off lightly' by being given a job in 1947 with the Education Corps teaching German to the British Army of the Rhine. He spent a lot of his time organising and training with the Army athletics team. He even trained with Olympic runners. His life in the army gave him the opportunity to see much of northern Europe in the aftermath of

World War Two, visiting towns and cities in France, Germany, Belgium and Holland. The fact that he could continue to run competitively seems to have made National Service an enjoyable and meaningful time for him.

Demobbed and back in England, he was later to meet his future wife Patricia. They shared a passion for classical music and used to frequent the Hallé Orchestra concerts in Manchester together. It is fitting that their son, Tim, now plays lead viola for that orchestra.

Settling in Poynton they had a son, Simon, in 1955, a daughter, Sally, in 1957, and another son, Tim, in 1960. They all soon found themselves learning musical instruments and Pat and Cliff sang in the St George's choir in Poynton, Pat as an alto and Cliff a tenor.

Cliff's other great passion at that time was the Poynton Show. He was at different times Treasurer and President on the Show Committee. His family hardly saw him in August as the preparations for the Show gathered momentum. He took his civic duties seriously, but the Show also gave him a lot of friends, all of whom he seems to have outlived, althought there are still many in Poynton who remember him fondly.

In the 1960s and 1970s the Pooley family made their first trips abroad together. They explored Italy and France, but their trip to Athens coincided with the military coup there, when Greek students were rebelling and soldiers and tanks were on the streets and the air smelled of tear gas.

Cliff later became a grandad to Fiona, Richard, Oliver, Elliot and Imogen. To Fiona and Richard, especially, he became a really important figure in their lives as they grew up. Their mother, Sally, had a full-time job whilst they were at school, so they spent a lot of time with their nana and grandad. Cliff's generosity and devotion were important in those formative years. Later he became a devoted great-grandfather, too.

When the family watched comedy on TV Cliff's laugh was always the loudest, most wholehearted and infectious. He

loved to laugh and it did not take much to make him do so. He had a great sense of humour and the more absurd a thing was the more he laughed. He lived alone after his wife had suffered for some time from dementia and after he had selflessly devoted himself to caring for her by himself. Only when he had given so much of himself to her that his own health had badly deteriorated did he submit to the need for her care being passed to a care home.

His independent spirit gave him the strength to continue life alone at home for some years. Indeed, a paramedic who called on him when his personal alarm went off whilst he was gardening (yes, he was still gardening in his nineties) told his son that he had come to no harm and was presently running up the stairs.

At about this time he expressed his pride to have become known as ‘the apple man’ because he gave away the fruit from his apple trees. People used to greet him when he sat on a bench for a breather on the way to the shops.

Cliff was not on Facebook. He never had a computer. He would have been astounded to find that he was trending on a Poynton page. This was one of many comments he attracted: ‘I remember Cliff from the Poynton Show committee; he was a lovely gentleman. Sending condolences to his family. RIP Cliff’.

IN MEMORIAM

By the time he lived in The Lodge Care Home in Chapel-en-le Frith staff soon got used to the idea that if they did not arrest his progress as soon as he got to his feet, then they would never catch him as he headed for the exit. So, he was still running to the last!

Right until the end he and his personal carer, Amos, used to laugh together. So he never lost his sense of humour either.

Simon Pooley

Donald Ritson (1946-1951)

Don was awarded a scholarship to Bolton School and on leaving joined the Bolton Town Planning Department. Shortly after his arrival, he recalled being summoned to the boss’s office. With some trepidation, he stood in front of the great man, who said “I hear you went to Bolton School. Is it any good?” Don managed to stammer that it was a very good school, to which his boss said “I’m thinking of sending my son there.” His boss’s name was McKellen. After six years of arduous study at night school, he qualified as an architect and town planner, and his career took him and his young family to Runcorn, Edinburgh and even the Mexican/USA border, finally ending up in Milton Keynes in the early seventies. There he played a leading role in the development of Milton Keynes as it grew from a series of small towns and villages to the impressive city it is today. During his time at the Milton Keynes Development Corporation he carried

(Arthur) Graham Dickinson (1951-1957) – Died 22nd January 2023

Paul Duckworth (1967-1978) – Died August 2022

Fred Gee (1945-1954) – Died 22nd January 2023

out many important roles but he always claimed that the most important was being in charge of the Department of Silly Ideas. In the mid-eighties, he moved with his wife, Linda, and two small children to the Sultanate of Oman where he worked for nine years for the rather grandly-named ‘Supreme Committee for Town Planning’. Whilst at School, he was an enthusiastic Patrol Leader in the Scout Group.

Michael Priestley (1944-1953) remembers a scout trip to Santander across the Bay of Biscay in a small, wooden ex-Navy patrol boat. On the return voyage, he and Don were selected to navigate the boat at night on their own across the busy Western Approaches. This was a great thrill for two 16-year-olds in those days with not a risk assessment in sight.

For the last nine years of his life Don suffered from multiple myeloma, but remained resolutely cheerful and never lost his dry sense of humour in spite of almost constant medical care and procedures. After one particularly painful bone marrow biopsy, he was asked by a friend how it had gone: “I wouldn’t call it habit-forming,” he replied. He was very active in all types of social activity in the hamlet of Passenham where he lived and still enjoyed the occasional pub lunch with a small local group of Old Boltonians of a similar vintage who call themselves the Rusty Old Bolts.

David Lowe (1944-1954)

Brian Gerrard (Boys’ Division Staff, 1986-2005) – Died 3rd February 2023

Ian Walter ‘Walt’ Gibson (1959-1966) – Died 5th February 2023

Heliene ‘Lena’ Godding (Boys’ Division Staff, 1974-2009) – Died 21st January 2023

Christopher Stanley Hargraves (1947-1958) – Died 18th January 2023

Michael McCarthy (1949-1956) – Died 7th June 2021

Geoffrey Stuart Monk (1943-1948) – Died 13th January 2023

A Howard Northam (Boys’ Division Staff, 1963-1996) – Died 9th March 2023

Peter Nuttall (1959-1964) – Died 6th July 2022

Martin Orrell (1944-1953) – Died 1st January 2023

(James) Brian Parker (1945-1950) – Died 3rd November 2022

Mark Schofield (Class of 1990) – Died 9th March 2020

J Irving Wardle (1940-1947) – Died 23rd February 2023

Malcolm Worrall (1941-1947) – Died 12th January 2023

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2023

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the Old Boltonians’ Association will take place on Monday 15th May 2023 at 12 noon in the Leverhulme Suite, Bolton School.

AGM agenda

• Apologies

• Minutes of Annual General Meeting 2022

• Secretary’s Report

• Treasurer’s Report and Accounts

OLD BOLTONIANS' ASSOCIATION Proxy Voting Form

I [insert name].......................................................................................................... of [address]...............................................................................................................

a member of the Association appoint [insert name].......................................................................................... of [address]...............................................................................................................

or failing him the President of the Association (or in his absence the chairman of the meeting) to be my proxy to vote on my behalf at the Annual General Meeting of the Association to be held on Monday 15th May 2023 or at any adjournment of that meeting

I desire my proxy to vote on the resolutions to be submitted as follows:

MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE OLD BOLTONIANS’ ASSOCIATION HELD ON MONDAY 16TH MAY 2022

The Minutes of the AGM 2021 were accepted as a true record of that meeting.

Secretary’s Report

Jon thanked Laura Firth and the Development Office team for their continued sterling work in the creation and management of a vibrant online and in-person calendar for our members. He remarked on the growing success of the Find Your Path mentoring scheme. A trial of a Joint Lunch in 2023 was announced.

• Sectional Reports (these will be taken as the reports printed in this edition of The Bugle)

• Election of Officers and General Committee (save for the office of President, nominations close at the meeting)

• Head of Boys’ Division’s Report

• Any other business

Details of those members of the General Committee who are due to retire by rotation will be given at the meeting. Richard Washington (Class of 1993) is the Presidential nominee and is proposed for election for a period of one year.

Annual General Meeting

(1) To elect Richard Washington as President of the Association for 2023/24

*FOR *AGAINST *Please delete whichever is not required

In the absence of instructions my proxy may vote or abstain from voting as he thinks fit on any matter which may properly come before the meeting

Date

Signed ........................................................................................................................

Please return this form to arrive no later than 11.30am on 15th May 2023 to The Secretary, Old Boltonians' Association c/o Development Office, Bolton School, Chorley New Road, Bolton BL1 4PA with the envelope clearly marked “OBA AGM”

Treasurer’s Report

The Treasurer, Phil Riding, reported that the OBA finances were in good health.

Sectional Reports

The football club was to hold a Festival of Football in July 2023 at School.

Election of Officers and General Committee

Judge Roy Battersby was re-elected as President until May 2023 and that the period of office for future Presidents would run from the AGM in future years. Peter Leather and David Shaw were thanked for their years on the General Committee as they stepped down. Mark Millhouse, Michael Griffiths and Ross Taylor were re-elected, and Martin Wadsworth and Richard Morris were elected to the General Committee.