The Bugle - Spring 2025

Bolton School Merchandise

A range of three Bolton School branded umbrellas is now available from the School’s online merchandise store. The clear golf (£25 plus P&P) is perfect for the side-lines, the black auto golf (£20 plus P&P) offers great coverage for two and the black folding (auto open and close) (£18 plus P&P) is a great size for all. Each umbrella has the Bolton School crest, so makes the perfect gift for students, parents, Alumni or Friends.

Please visit www.boltonschool.org/ our-community/commercial-services to see the full range of Bolton School merchandise and details of how to order. Please use the QR code below to see the full range of Bolton School merchandise to order.

Rebecca Brayshaw

Head

Lorraine

Development

Laura

Director

Frances

Rebecca Kendrick Development Assistant

Emma Metcalfe

Development Manager

Mia Wild Development Officer

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 or by scanning the QR code below.

www.boltonalumninetwork.com

WELCOME FROM THE PRESIDENT

As I enter the second half of my presidency, I am finding this journey incredibly rewarding. It is inspiring to witness my call for commitment being embraced by so many, reflected in the increased attendance at the December Old Boltonians’ Association Dinner as well as the Cambridge and London Dinners.

Commitment is a value we all learned at this wonderful institution, and I firmly believe it is the foundation of success. Seeing Old Boys and Girls actively demonstrating this commitment reassures me that we are building a strong foundation for growth in the years to come.

At the recent Dinners, I invited those present to encourage others to attend Alumni events and to reconnect with School. A significant gap in contact information for Alumni from the 1980s and 1990s has been identified, and unfortunately GDPR regulations make it difficult for the Development Office to reconnect Old Boys and Girls with the School. However, I love a challenge, so I have taken on the task of expanding the database for my own leaving year, 1986. I hope future Presidents will continue this important work.

Beyond this commitment to growth, I have identified two other key areas that require focused attention:

• Commitment to the School’s legacy, by supporting education through bursary funding and to the Old Boltonians’ legacy by strengthening Alumni connections through sports such as football, golf, rugby and cricket – several of which now have an annual event at School.

• Commitment to guidance – I am delighted to note that more Old Boys than ever are now involved the School’s careers programme and in the Association’s Find Your Path mentoring scheme.

If all Old Boltonians embrace these three key areas –growth, legacy, and guidance – I am certain it will spark a collective sense of optimism and progress, ensuring the continued growth of the Old Boltonians’ Association and of the Alumni family, as well as strong attendance at future events. I sincerely hope you will continue to support me in this mission for the remainder of my presidency and beyond.

Thank you to the Development Office and to each and every one of you who have supported me with your attendance and messages throughout the year. Our collective efforts are making a significant impact on the future of Bolton School.

Finally, to answer the many who have asked: yes, I will be taking on another running challenge this year! Under my alter ego Avocado Ricardo, I will be running 1,200 km with the aim of raising £15,000 for Maggie’s at The Christie in Manchester, a beautiful and calming refuge for those affected by cancer. You can find more details here: https://bit.ly/BBP_Maggies

Richard Morris (Class of 1986) Old Boltonians’ Association President, 2024-2025

A MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF BOYS’ DIVISION

At the start of the academic year I took my family to watch Bolton Wanderers play Huddersfield in what can only be described as a misery for the home team, as they sunk to a 4-0 defeat and a third home game without even scoring a goal. I was therefore delighted to hear that Old Boy Julian Darby (Class of 1986) was chosen to help lead the team following the departure of Ian Evatt, although that scoreline was thrust into view when I realised his first home game was once again against Huddersfield.

But there was to be no repeat of that scoreline, and the tactics were spot on, presumably learnt from his teachers on the levels 40 years ago. I know a great many of you will enjoy the feature on Julian’s exploits as caretaker manager of our town’s club, as well as Martin Wadsworth’s reflections on the Old Bolts’ Football Club’s season. Hopefully, many of you will be inspired to be in contact to join in with the Stevenson trophy on 26th April.

This edition of The Bugle also contains many interesting updates on various Old Boys, and I am sure we have all enjoyed learning more about black pudding from our President who has now featured on prime-time TV. I particularly enjoyed reading about the research of Meric Srokosz (Class of 1972), whose research into algae blooms brought back happy memories of my own undergraduate days (a story for another time perhaps!). I was also pleased to read updates from Charles Jones and Jonathan Ratcliffe who were both in my first Geography class when I joined the School back in 2015 – seeing them embedded into their careers has certainly succeeded in making me feel much older!

Finally, the feature on the air raid shelters from our Archivist is a fascinating piece on the history of the School. I walk past the sign for Shelter 3 every day and I am always amazed by how few boys even notice it is there. The level of engineering required to build the shelters and the effort of a teacher to build 500 seats for them is a fascinating part of the School’s history and this article is definitely worth a read.

The Bugle always shines a light on the various successes and careers of our Old Boys and staff, and it is always great to meet with Alumni to hear about their days in School and their journeys afterwards. I look forward to meeting many more of you, whether that is at a dinner, a careers event or a visit to School: you are always welcome back.

Nic Ford Head of Boys’ Division

CONTINUING SUPPORT

During the 2023-24 academic year, the School community gave donations totalling £2.87 million to support the School and its pupils.

Within that astonishing total, an outstanding £2.54 million was given to support the continued growth of the bursary scheme, including £48,000 donated by 188 families of the Class of 2023, who gifted their child’s deposit back to School in order that subsequent generations of pupils might follow in their child’s footsteps; and a transformational £1.03 million which was bequeathed to the School by four Alumni and Friends who chose to remember the bursary scheme in their wills, and whose legacies collectively provided in-year funding for 100 bursary recipients.

The impact of the School community’s generosity was substantial. During the 2023-24 academic year, the School was able to spend £3.59 million on means-tested bursary funding, supporting 374 children – one in five members of the two Senior Schools – to enjoy a Bolton School education which would otherwise have been out of their reach.

In addition to this significant sum, a further £140,000 was gifted to the School to provide hardship funding for fee-paying families experiencing financial difficulties, with a further £186,000 donated to support a host of other projects and activities benefiting the School and its Alumni. These included the continued operation of the Boys’ Division’s Community Cricket Hub, which provides training facilities and coaching for female cricketers from across the borough; the development of the School’s sports and performance facilities; access to adventure opportunities for pupils in the Boys’ and Girls’ Divisions through the Clifford Ingham Fund; the development of the Leverhulme Woodlands at the outer edges of the Levels; the purchase of a RIB boat at Patterdale Hall; the funding of the Girls’ Division’s annual Platt Fisher Lecture; sponsorship of branded kits and playing tours for many of the School’s senior sports teams; and funded travel, uniform and ancillary costs for a number of bursary recipients.

Thanks to that generosity:

• 91 grants were awarded to bursary recipients, from the funds established specifically by donors, in order that every child might take part in the extracurricular trips and activities which make a Bolton School education so special;

• 25 fee-paying pupils received hardship funding, to alleviate the financial burdens upon their families during challenging times;

• 11 recent leavers received Leverhulme Centenary Scholarships, to fund their university careers; and

• 121 Boys’ and Girls’ Division pupils received 148 separate prizes recognising their academic achievements and commitment to the life of the School.

A Bolton School education can be transformational –a bursary-funded place, even more so.

In August 2024, 50 members of the Class of 2024 completed their time at the School, having received a bursary funded thanks to your generosity. They left having learnt – in their own words – the value of ‘resilience’, ‘teamwork’ and ‘giving back’ to help others, and embark upon their adult lives with ‘confidence’ and ‘determination’.

In the A Level results published that Summer, 54% of those bursary recipients achieved grades A*-B. 39 of them left to take up places at university – including 25 who secured places at the prestigious Russell Group universities – studying subjects as diverse as Philosophy, Politics and Economics, Aerospace Engineering and Medicine. Others were awarded a Degree Apprenticeship or entered employment.

All of their futures are bright, thanks to your support.

“As a result of the support I’ve received through this bursary, I’ve gained more abilities and am more determined than ever to make an impact. I am immensely grateful to be a recipient of this bursary and all the opportunities it has opened for me, and I am committed to making the most of every opportunity that comes my way.”

Class of 2024 Bursary Recipient

The Open Futures Campaign for Bursaries

Whatever your political perspective, it is inarguable that Bolton School is a force for good in Bolton and beyond. The School is rooted in the community, acts as a lynchpin of Bolton’s civic society and contributes significantly to the local (and regional) economy. Our bursary scheme is nationally renowned for both its scale and delivery. We are proud of the difference the School and its pupils continue to make, and know that Old Girls and Old Boys share our belief that this fundamental part of the School’s ethos must not be eroded, despite the legislative choices of the current Government.

The essential and unavoidable choices that the Governors have made to manage VAT will significantly delay our ambition to grow the bursary scheme to reach one in three young people by 2030. Prior to this change in policy, the School was entirely on track to achieve this target; instead, now 100 local children will miss out on

a place at the School which they would otherwise have taken as a direct result of these changes.

We know that many Alumni share our drive to ensure this delay must be mitigated as much as possible. In May, the School will launch the Open Futures Campaign for Bursaries, as it endeavours to meet this challenge.

It is the support of Old Girls and Old Boys during the past three decades that has enabled the School’s bursary scheme to grow so significantly. Your collective generosity has changed the lives of thousands of children during that time, and we are determined that that growth must continue.

If you believe, as we do, in the transformative power of a Bolton School education and in the social mobility our bursary scheme enables, then we would be entirely grateful if you would endorse the Open Futures Campaign however you can.

If you would like to learn more about supporting the Open Futures Campaign for Bursaries, simply scan the QR code on the right. Whether you are considering making a one-off donation, establishing a regular gift or remembering the School in your will, your support could make a real difference to the achievement of our ambition to further expand our bursary scheme.

If you would like to discuss your intentions in more detail, please contact Laura Firth, Director of Development, Alumni Relations and Marketing, by calling 01204 434718 or by emailing development@boltonschool.org.

SCHOOL NEWS

Burns Night Hits the Right Note

The Burns Night Dinner and Ceilidh organised by the Friends of Bolton School (FoBS) was a huge success.

Thank you to the main event sponsor, Destinology, to Cowgills, Scan Computers and Signature Aesthetics for their generous raffle prizes and to everyone else who kindly donated. Over £2,800 was raised, all of which will go towards upgrading pianos across Bolton School.

New School Dinners on the Menu

Bolton School has embarked on an exciting new partnership with Thomas Franks Ltd, to revitalise catering across the Foundation.

The School’s in-house catering team remains and will play a pivotal role in the provision of a dining experience of the highest quality for pupils, staff and visitors.

School Stories Awards

A Magical Winter Spectacle: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

The Joint Production of CS Lewis’ beloved children’s classic brought joy and inspiration to the festive season, transporting audiences into magical realms while reminding them of the power of imagination, resilience and moral courage.

The production showcased the extraordinary talent of pupils from Years 8 to 13 – while a special guest appearance by Dr Holland as the voice of CS Lewis and a wartime radio announcer added an extra layer of delight to the production!

Bolton School is thrilled to have been awarded Best Charity/Outreach Story by Interactive Schools, a digital agency specialising in working with the world’s leading independent schools, for its fundraising efforts to support and uplift street children in Malawi.

After completing a whole-School charity walk at the end of the Summer term last year, the School donated £60,000 to Great Minds Bright Futures, a charity which aims to give Malawian children a better future by providing education opportunities, creating safe spaces for vulnerable children to grow, and supporting them as young adults into work.

The School was also Highly Commended for Best Sports/ Athletics Story after hosting the launch of the Chicago Bears Greater Manchester Girls’ Flag Football League.

Padel Collaboration

Tenacity of Bolton Sails On

Tenacity of Bolton, the ketch built over a nine-year period by the pupils and staff at Bolton School, was gifted to the Tall Ships Youth Trust (TSYT) in 2014.

Now, after completing 127 voyages and supporting more than 770 young people, the boat is to be retired from the TSYT’s fleet as she no longer meets the needs of the organisation. It is hoped that Tenacity will continue voyaging with young people around the UK with another group.

Bolton School is partnering with Soul Padel to transform disused shale tennis courts at Leverhulme Pavilion into a state-of-the-art padel facility.

The planned facility will be accessible to both Bolton School students and the wider community, representing a significant investment in local sports and recreational amenities.

Padel, a rapidly-growing racquet sport, is known for its accessibility and social nature. Mark Hewlett, CEO of Soul Padel, a leader in expanding padel across the UK, emphasises the facility’s potential to promote active lifestyles and community engagement. If approved, the centre will offer opportunities for fitness, social interaction and increased participation in the sport.

Reading for Pleasure Thrives at Bolton School

Boys Continue LongStanding Traditions at Gymnastics Finals

The annual Gymnastics Finals saw Boys’ Division pupils continuing a tradition stretching back over the past century.

Year 7 boys performed a series of floor movements and balances, while Year 8 boys competed in the vault. The five best gymnasts across each year group competed in two thrilling and closely-matched finals, performing in front of their peers.

All finalists were commended by the judges, PE staff Mr Johnson and Mr Foy, after completing their performances, and prizes were awarded by Head of Boys’ Division Mr Nic Ford.

Counter to the recent National Literacy Trust report, which shows that the number of children who read for pleasure continues to decline, pupils at Bolton School are keen readers. Reading is encouraged through a wide variety of initiatives. The Sparx reader app helps track student engagement, with top readers earning rewards and 98% completion rates. Weekly reading sessions, book clubs, and Library lessons promote regular reading habits. Year 7 pupils receive Summer reading books, and peer recommendations are encouraged through displays, newsletters, and classroom activities. Author talks, scavenger hunts and clubs like DnD engage students further. The Bolton Children’s Fiction Award allows young readers to vote for their favourite books, while themed Library displays and non-fiction magazines cater to diverse interests, making reading central to School life.

A CGI impression of the proposed facility

The Year 7 winners celebrate with Mr Ford

The Year 8 vaulters put in some incredible performances

Author talks help pupils engage more deeply with reading and books

Mr Ford was pleased to welcome

Inspiring the Next Generation

Tillotson Lecture

Surgeon, reality TV star and Old Boy Mobeen Qureshi (Class of 2009) returned to Bolton School to deliver the 52nd Tillotson Lecture.

In his address, Mobeen reflected on his journey since leaving the Boys’ Division. He described how the determination and resilience he was taught at School, particularly through sport and extracurricular activities, have enabled him to overcome setbacks and excel in both his medical career and his personal life, including his participation in the BBC’s Race Across the World series.

Prior to the lecture Year 13 student James Parfrey caught up with Mobeen to quiz him about the changes he has seen at School, his career and his recent TV appearance and writes:

“In November, we were delighted to welcome Old Boy Dr Mobeen Qureshi back to School, to be speaker at the annual Tillotson Lecture. I had the pleasure of interviewing Mobeen beforehand, to discover more about his life at School and in the workplace as well as, more recently, his experience on BBC’s Race Across the World in 2023.

“It was fascinating to ask Mobeen about his time at School and the changes the campus has experienced since he left in 2009. While many of the classrooms and corridors remain the same, the biggest change in this time has arguably been the creation of the Riley Centre for Sixth Form students, to enable greater collaboration and socialisation opportunities between students from both Divisions. Despite some of these changes, it was clear that Bolton School provided an excellent foundation for Mobeen to begin higher education and enter the wider world.

“In the 15 years since he left School, Mobeen graduated from the University of Glasgow, after changing from a dentistry to a medicine course, as the latter provided more options for later in life. After graduating in 2015, Dr Qureshi undertook roles in a variety of branches of medicine, before deciding to become a surgeon. His latest role as a trauma and orthopaedic surgeon involves diagnosing and treating conditions of the musculoskeletal system, for example bones, tendons and ligaments. It was particularly interesting to hear Mobeen’s experiences during the

Careers Carousel

Boys’ Division pupils in Year 8 were given an insight into the world of work through a series of short presentations and activities. The carousel involved six speakers who each led a fun-based activity relating to their field of expertise, so there was plenty of food for thought!

Guest speakers sharing their career journeys were: Rob De Maine (Class of 2002), a Royal Navy helicopter pilot; performer, actress and singer Jessica Ryan (Class of 2014); Waqqas Patel (Class of 2014) a Surgical Trainee; Detective Constable Morgan Skeels-Caldwell (Class of 2018) of Greater Manchester Police; Peter Johnson (Class of 2019), a presenter at 96.5 Bolton FM and Faye Clarkson (Class of 2023), a Solicitor Apprentice with Weightmans LLP.

coronavirus pandemic. While many of us were forced to attend work and school from home, as a key worker Mobeen experienced little change in relation to this aspect. However, the number of patients in a range of serious conditions increased considerably in the pandemic.

“Last year, Mobeen and his wife took time away from work to compete in the BBC’s Race Across the World, where they had to cross the majority of Canada with little money and no mobile phones. With the vast size of Canada, the culture of giving lifts to strangers is generally more accepted than in Britain. The concept of not repaying a favour, but instead passing it on to someone else, is something that is highly commendable and that we should strive to do in our lives.

“On a broader scale, Mobeen gave the whole School some valuable advice, from accepting when plans change and having to work with them, to more satirical lessons, such as always checking one’s junk emails to ensure one doesn’t miss an important message from Mr Ford! Nevertheless, it was fantastic to interview and hear from Mobeen at the Tillotson Lecture. I would like to thank Mobeen for taking time to come in to School and share his experiences with us.”

Jonathan Shares his Secrets of London

The highlight of World Book Day for Junior boys and girls was a visit from author Jonathan Livingstone (Class of 1975)

Jonathan spoke to Park Road and Hesketh House pupils about his book, The Secrets of London. Written when his own children were primary school age, the story focuses on Louise and Michael, siblings who find themselves exploring London with a group of friendly talking animals, including a lion, a polar bear and an eagle. He also shared some of the books that inspired his magical world, from Michael Bond’s Paddington series to a children’s version of Don Quixote, and many more. Afterwards, Year 3 pupils at both schools enjoyed hearing Jonathan read a chapter from The Secrets of London

Mobeen back to School

L-R: Peter, Morgan, Faye, Jessica, Waqqas and Rob

World of Work

The World of Work talks aim to encourage current pupils to broaden their horizons via a series of Zoom sessions by a range of inspiring Old Boys.

Jay Harland (Class of 2018)

Jay holds a BSc in Economics from Loughborough University and an MSc in Environmental and Natural Resource Economics from Durham University. He works as a Data Analyst in the Fertilizers team at Argus Media, a leading independent provider of market intelligence for the global energy and commodity market, where his role involves analysing complex data to provide insights to help clients make informed decisions, manage risks and facilitate trading in the energy and commodity sectors.

Adrian Zahir (Class of 2020)

After leaving School Adrian undertook a degree apprenticeship in Computer Science at the University of Leeds in partnership with PwC. As part of this he undertook placements in consulting, working on multimillion pound transformation projects in the Insurance and Asset Wealth Management sector. Since then he has graduated from the University of Leeds with a First Class degree in Computer Science and has joined Lloyds Banking Group as a graduate software engineer.

Find Your Path

The Old Boltonians’ Find Your Path mentoring scheme, well into its eighth year, has seen almost 100 young Old Boys seek advice from mentors as they move into the world of work.

Mentees have sought the support of Alumni from a range of sectors who have walked the same path and are able to offer impartial guidance on transitioning from education to employment or advice on climbing the career ladder. Each mentee has received tailored assistance, with the mentors drawing on their own network of professional contacts to provide value-added insights.

The Find Your Path scheme welcomes applications from young Old Boys considering their next steps, who will benefit from the breadth of experience the mentors have to offer. Please email development@boltonschool.org to find out more.

Luke Cavanaugh (Class of 2018) benefited from the advice of a mentor –he says:

“I first enrolled in the Find Your Path mentorship scheme back in my first year of university. On leaving School I had a vague sense of what I wanted to do (join the Civil Service, work in an international organisation), but little sense of how to go about this.

“Connecting with Graham, working through some career mapping exercises with him and getting tips on networking and reaching out to people to find out about their careers has been invaluable. Now, five years on, Graham and I are still in touch and call a few times a year – not only have I made a mentor, but a great friend.”

Anthony Inspires English Students

Media and arts producer Anthony Lilley OBE (Class of 1988) visited School ahead of his Prizegiving address in June. He spoke with English students from Year 13 and Year 10, as well as with students who are involved with the Creatives Now project, about his career journey in the creative industries.

Ed Enthuses Elite Athletes

Ed Scott (Class of 2006) returned to School to meet with Junior Boys’ Elite Athletes and Water Polo Club pupils. Ed started playing water polo at Bolton School, going on to compete in the 2012 Olympics in London. He is now an anaesthetist doctor, working in surgery. He continues to play waterpolo socially and coaches young adults in the sport.

Inspiring the Next Generation

Working with Animals: Careers Fuelled by Passion

For those who love animals, turning that passion into a career can be a dream come true. From those studying to achieve their ambitions to those with established careers, here we meet seven Old Boys who describe the rewards, challenges and unique experiences that come with their roles.

Cameron Matthews (Class of 2021)

Cameron is currently studying Veterinary Medicine at the University of Glasgow.

“Many people say that Veterinary Medicine is a vocation. Everyone you meet, whether at vet school or in practice, has a genuine passion for at least one aspect of the field. Because of the dedication required, many aspiring vets have dreamt of this career since childhood. For me, once I realised around the age of eight that I wasn’t going to be a professional football or rugby player, I set my sights on becoming a vet. I already loved animals: it made sense.

Jon Hall (Class of 1998)

Jon is a specialist in small animal surgery, working parttime at a veterinary practice and lecturing at the University of Nottingham and further afield.

“Academically, my time at Bolton School was mixed. By the end of Year 8 my grades were not those of a prospective vet student, and I struggled to meet the high standards expected. However, Mr Benbow worked wonders both for my GCSE Biology – and for my confidence as a rugby player.

“Biology and Chemistry A Levels are essential for Veterinary Medicine. I chose German as my third subject, encouraged by Mr Catterall, Mr Hiepko and Mr Brace in their own unique ways. Managing A Levels with a vet application was tough, but my Form Tutor and Biology teacher, Dr Morgan, provided invaluable help. We didn’t always see eye to eye, but without him I wouldn’t be where I am today.

“Despite my enthusiasm, reading relevant scientific papers and articles on current affairs within the profession, I was still very naïve, and performed appallingly in my first mock interview. However, with Dr Holland’s help with my application, and Dr Proctor and Dr Tranter running the Medicine in the Media society, I improved significantly, and was offered places at three of the four vet schools to which I applied. I chose Glasgow for many reasons. With my mother being from Glasgow, the city already felt like a second home; however, the most exciting factor had to be going to the same vet school as James Herriot (Alf Wight)!

“Since starting vet school, I’ve learnt the most important attribute in this profession is resilience. Things go wrong, both professionally and personally, but these will pass with time. What keeps me going is knowing that eight-year-old me would be proud that I am following my dream. It’s also important to have a good support network. Veterinary medicine isn’t just about cuddling puppies; you will see things you wish you hadn’t, and it can get you down. Having people who will listen makes all the difference.

“For those considering the veterinary profession, my advice would be that experience is key; work at kennels, catteries, farms or equestrian yards, spending time with animals in their natural environment and with animals outside your comfort zone is invaluable. This job isn’t for the weak-hearted, so hands-on experience is the best way to find out if it’s for you. If it is, follow your dream and commit. It isn’t an easy road, but if you are passionate about animal welfare and medicine, it will be worth it.”

“I left Bolton School for the University of Cambridge in 1998, somewhere I probably would not have considered applying to if it hadn’t been for the kind insistence of Mr Shaw. I decided not to study Biology at A Level, preferring Dr Thatcher’s Physics class and Dr Watson’s always massively entertaining Chemistry lessons. There’s no doubt that Mr Walker’s enthusiasm in teaching Physics and Electronics also meant that I gravitated to these subjects. Fortunately, and helpfully, a couple of the veterinary courses do not require Biology A Level and six years later (with a degree in Veterinary Medicine and Zoology) I entered the workplace. I was immensely lucky to receive a Popplewell Scholarship which helped immeasurably with funding my way through such a long course and I was also grateful to continue my relationship with the School and benefit from a Scott Bolton Trust grant to study gibbons in Borneo.

“After five years in practice, I trained further at the Royal Veterinary College and back at Cambridge to become a European Specialist in Small Animal Surgery. I now live in Scotland, am a Professor of small animal surgery at the University of Nottingham and Head of soft tissue surgery at Wear Referrals, a specialist hospital in County Durham. I speak regularly at international conferences and frequently publish scientific studies;

I have no doubt that the skills I learned from the fantastic teachers and through the extracurricular opportunities at Bolton School helped my ability and confidence in speaking, hopefully with humour and ease, at these major events about scientific work.

“The sheer variety of my daily work and the multiple roles in which I am able to engage mean that each day is different, fascinating and often remarkable. If you don’t want to sit down, you have an interest in manual dexterity with physical tasks and you have a keen aptitude for science, then veterinary medicine has a wide range of opportunities that can mean being embedded in local communities, be at the forefront of scientific developments and even be involved in government, education or public health. If you are interested, start by talking with a vet who can become a mentor and work hard in the core sciences first to get the grades to successfully enrol on the course, but more importantly prepare you for a wildly varied and enjoyable career.”

Richard Smith (Class of 1992)

Richard is part of a dedicated team of veterinary surgeons at a practice based in South Wales.

“Having spent my formative years growing up around animals on a small holding in Adlington, I declared an intention to be a vet to headmaster Alan Wright at my entry interview for Bolton School. An inevitable focus on the sciences followed, with guidance and motivation from – amongst others – Dr Chambers (Chemistry) and Mr Thompson (Physics) helping me achieve the minimum requirement of three grade As at A Level. These grades, coupled with interview practice from local vet and Old Boltonian Guy Clare (Class of 1987), were still insufficient to propel me to university due to some less impressive GCSE grades in languages.

Tom Rigby (Class of 1972)

Tom runs his family’s farm near Warrington.

“I was born and raised on a small traditional mixed farm in Lowton near Warrington. On the sideboard were my father’s cups for ploughing and my grandfather’s medals and awards for excellence in farming. Neither had much time for schooling and thought all I needed to know could be learnt on the farm.

“My mother had different ideas: she thought farms like ours might have had their day – the one where she was born had been requisitioned as an army base during the war and was now the HQ of UK Atomic Energy Authority with all the surrounding land developed – and she thought it important that I got good qualifications for a life outside farming.

“Despite this setback, I remained committed and embarked on a hastily-organised gap year, working in a pet shop and a factory before a fantastic volunteering trip, part-funded by the Scott Bolton Trust, to Thailand. With some new-found life experiences under my belt I reapplied successfully the following year and began my studies at the University of Bristol Vet School in 2001. After the first three years in the city centre, getting the full student experience, I moved to the clinical vet school in Langford just south of the city from where I graduated in 2006 with a degree in Veterinary Science.

“Along the way I met my Welsh wife-to-be and fellow vet, settling in her homeland in Neath, South Wales where we now live with our three daughters. I’ve worked at the same practice since graduation: a 16-vet farm and small animal practice of which I am now part-owner and director. I completed an advanced certificate in small animal surgery three years ago and now spend the majority of my time with a scalpel or drill in hand. Whilst I’ve chosen to specialise in orthopaedic surgery in recent years, I still consider myself to be an all-rounder and in springtime you’re just as likely to find me lambing a sheep as dealing with a Labrador that’s torn its cruciate ligament.

“Being a vet can be both hugely gratifying and challenging: one minute you’re delivering puppies, the next you’re a shoulder to cry on as a family say goodbye to their beloved pet. What it guarantees you is tough decisions, late nights and anxiety, but coupled with a job that is beautifully varied and often rewarding.

“My two younger daughters feel determined to follow their parents’ career choice, but when I asked my eldest daughter if she wants to be a vet, she replied: ‘No chance! I’d much rather have a normal job.’ It’s certainly not for everyone!”

“Fortunately, our local church organist and long-time family friend Clifford Ingham (BD Staff, 1942-1970) persuaded them all that Bolton School would be the right place for me and I am very glad he did.

My inspiration and love of Physics came from ‘DES’ Shaw (Boys’ Division Staff, 1964-2002) and John (‘Isaac’) Newton (Boys’ Division Staff, 1966-1970), with a limited amount of Chemistry from Peter Wilde (Boys’ Division Staff, 1968-1973). After a degree in Physics at the University of York I came back to the farm; my sister had just completed her degree in Agriculture, but life took her in a different direction and I have been here ever since.

“Many have told me they consider it a waste of a good education, but Clifford never did; for all his many achievements I think he would have been as happy just being a farmer – I still remember the pride on his face when showing me how well his potatoes had grown one year.

“I have never won prizes for my farming (now mostly dairy) other than a commendation for green energy: we have solar thermal, solar PV and wind turbine with battery storage. Farming itself is basically about capturing sunlight and turning it into something useful – we are organic and minimise fossil fuels as it is using ancient sunlight so not sustainable.

“Clifford never taught me himself (other than RE lessons which consisted just of him reading Quo Vadis aloud – he could never remember where he was up to and one week we conned him into reading the same chapter twice). He occasionally offered me a lift home along with dustbins full of school meal leftovers for his pigs.

“After Clifford died his grandson worked here for a while and I got to ask him how many of the legends told about Clifford were true. It seems all of them were: his car did once fail its MOT for being so smelly no mechanic would go near it, and he really did castrate pigs with his teeth, dental enamel being kinder to young piglets than using metal.

“I can’t offer career advice, but if anyone wants to know why I believe the world will always need farmers, please do get in touch (tom.rigby2@btopenworld.com).”

Andy Paton (Class of 1987)

Andy runs his family’s farm on the outskirts of Bolton.

“I have had over 50 years of experience of working on the family farm, as a child helping my parents with various tasks, herding cattle and sheep, moving onto driving tractors from an early age to now running the family dairy farm. I was always destined to come back home.

“At School I always enjoyed the science subjects, in particular Chemistry, Physics and Maths, as well as Metalwork with the late Jack Stables. My two favourite A Levels were Chemistry with a baby-faced Doc Rogers and Economics with Martin Wadsworth.

“After leaving School in 1987 I went to the University of Nottingham, graduating with a BSc (Hons) degree and coming back home to the family farm with not only knowledge and experience but a now wife of 30-plus years. We have two children, Kaitlyn and Sam, both of whom have now left Bolton School and are at university studying STEM subjects.

“I think only once you leave School do you really appreciate the depth of knowledge and teaching that you get; you begin to realise that you are taught not just to pass exams but the wider subjects and processes. I was involved with computers before there was even a club per se at school, coding on the old BBC Micros and being amazed that you could get graphics to appear on screen. This developed further at university into database coding, the logic and problem solving being of particular appeal. The rise of the personal computer and Windows was astonishing, ruining my little sideline of setting out theses for people at university, as nobody could handle the coding involved.

“This brings me onto modern farming and the increasing role of technology in it: we recently installed robotic milking machines and the data available has helped increase productivity and production. The wealth of information and how to interpret it is useful for early disease detection and prevention not only to the farmer but to vets as well. Embracing technology is a must for anyone involved in modern-day agriculture. With a drive to sustainability and general ecological focus, increasing output for the least input helps to reduce emissions.

“Whilst the rewards from farming are best not measured on the scale of renumeration package, with prices off farm remaining largely static for the last 20 years, the joy of aiding a calf into the world on a cold winter’s night and seeing it go on to give birth itself and produce 10,000 litres of milk in a lactation is something you can’t really measure.

“It’s not a career for everyone, undoubtedly hard work and often feeling underappreciated, but it’s different every day and presents challenges and opportunities that are totally unique.”

Thank You!

We are very grateful to all Old Boys who have given their time to support current pupils through a variety of careers and enrichment events and opportunities.

Andy Walton (Class of 1987) delivered a road safety session to Year 12 pupils in Boys’ Division and Girls’ Division as part of the SCOPE programme.

Julian Butterworth (Class of 1990) delivered a drug and alcohol awareness session to Year 12 boys as part of the SCOPE programme.

Andy Goddard (Class of 1994) staged a mock interview ahead of a university interview.

Ashish Chaudhry (Class of 1999) and Zuhair Patel (Class of 2015) conducted mock interviews with Girls’ Division pupils applying to Medical and Dental Schools.

Thomas Relph (Class of 2005) gave a talk on Urban Planning as part of the A to Z of Careers series.

Alex Shaw (Class of 2006) gave a presentation to MedSoc.

Toryn Dalton (Class of 2010) spoke to students about his university experience and career to date.

Jayden Patel (Class of 2015) gave a talk about life as a tech entrepreneur as part of the A to Z of Careers series.

Ryan Thakrar (Class of 2018), a commercial finance analyst with Exertis, one of the UK’s largest and fastestgrowing tech distribution companies, took part in the Careers Carousel for Year 8 pupils in the Girls’ Division.

Grandmaster’s Masterclass

Budding chess players from across the Foundation were thrilled to meet Chess Grandmaster Nigel Short (Class of 1983) when he visited School in November.

Nigel, who earned the title of Grandmaster at the age of 19, recalled representing Bolton School in its national winning chess team. He attributes his success to many of the skills he learned at School; in particular, he enjoyed English lessons and the ability to think clearly and express himself effectively have certainly aided him in his career as a columnist, writing articles for a number of publications, including The Sunday Times and The Daily Telegraph

Nigel gave some insights into what it takes to become an elite chess player: he highlighted the importance of perseverance, of embracing challenges and of learning from mistakes.

Alumni of the Year

The finalists of the 2024 Alumni of the Year Awards were invited back to Bolton School for a celebratory lunch where they were presented with their awards and certificates.

Overall winners Frank Yates (Class of 1952), who was named Old Boy of the Year in recognition of his career as a doctor, and Habibunnisha Patel (Class of 1997), who was named Old Girl of the Year in acknowledgement of her many years as a lawyer in the not-for-profit sector, were joined by runners-up Tom (Class of 2001), Matthew (Class of 2003) and Harry (Class of 2006) Pickup and Karen Greenhalgh (Class of 2000)

Darby’s Double

January was a month of upheaval at Bolton Wanderers as long-term manager Ian Evatt parted ways with the club after a series of disappointing results.

The club turned to Under-18s boss Julian Darby (Class of 1986), alongside coaches Andy Taylor and Andrew Tutte, to guide the team before a successor to Evatt was announced.

Julian made over 250 appearances for Bolton between 1986 and 1993, a period which included a goal at Wembley in Wanderers’ 1989 Associate Members’ Cup Final victory over Torquay United. Playing spells at Coventry, West Brom, Preston, Rotherham and Carlisle followed, before Julian turned his hand to coaching.

He returned to Bolton in 2016, first as manager of the Under-16s before taking charge of the Under-18s in 2022.

On 22nd January this year, Julian was named as joint caretaker manager of the Wanderers’ first team, leading the club to two victories in two games during his spell in charge.

The first was a trip to in-form Huddersfield, who were on a run of 16 unbeaten games in League One. Wanderers put on a spirited defensive performance, deviating from their conventional possession-based style. They were also ruthlessly effective going forward, with Aaron Collins putting Bolton ahead on 55 minutes. Despite Bolton having less possession and fewer attempts on goal, a 1-0 scoreline arguably flattered Huddersfield, such was the quality of Wanderers’ chances. The slender lead proved to be enough for Julian’s side to bring three points back down the M62 and the caretaker boss celebrated on the pitch at full-time with his grandson, Bobby, to rapturous applause and chanting from the travelling supporters.

Following the presentations, the achievements of all the finalists were commended at a special assembly during which Habi and Frank’s daughter each gave passionate, heartfelt speeches about the impact Bolton School has had on their lives, from the lifelong friends they made whilst at school to the wealth of opportunities given to them during their studies which then helped support their chosen careers.

These Awards seek to recognise Alumni who have made an outstanding contribution to society through their voluntary service, academic achievements or professional success, or whose behaviour and values inspire others. Those nominated are Alumni who embody the School’s ethos of producing people who go out into the world and make a difference for good.

The School is sad to note that Frank has since passed away and sends its condolences to his family. Please see In Memoriam on page 37.

Please use the QR code to nominate a deserving candidate for this year’s awards.

Just three days later, Bolton welcomed Northampton Town at a vibrant Toughsheet Community Stadium. Just a week prior, the home support had seen their side slip to a gut-wrenching 2-1 defeat against Charlton in Ian Evatt’s final game, with many fans taking their leave several minutes short of the final whistle. The atmosphere against Northampton could not have been more different from the sour mood against Charlton, as fans packed Middlebrook to get behind the interim manager.

Julian’s side raced into the lead through captain George Thomason, before Northampton levelled through Liam Shaw. Shaw then found his own net on the stroke of half-time, before a late Aaron Collins goal put the game to bed at 3-1.

Following the appointment of Steven Schumacher as head coach later that week, Julian and his fellow interim coaches returned to their usual roles, but not before replacing the sombre atmosphere around the club with one of huge optimism, while maintaining a 100% winning record.

Peter Johnson (Class of 2019)

Julian and some of the players after the game against Northampton Town

Tom, Matthew and Harry Pickup show off their certificates with Mr Ford

Six Half-Marathons for Dad

After losing his father to cancer

Thomas Relph (Class of 2005) set about running six half-marathons to raise money and to pay tribute to his rugby-loving dad.

“In July 2023 I lost my dad, Mark Relph, to cancer. He was first diagnosed with colorectal cancer in January 2021 and underwent a number of surgeries, combined with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In October 2021 he underwent major surgery to remove the cancer and was given the all-clear towards the end of 2022. Unfortunately, the cancer returned at the start of 2023. Further chemotherapy followed in July 2023 until he had a stroke and cardiac arrests; he died aged 66.

“Ever since Dad was diagnosed with cancer, I wanted to do something to raise some money for The Christie Charity, but Covid-19 and a new-born son meant time soon got away from me. After Dad died, I really felt I needed to do something for The Christie as they had cared for him so much through Covid and beyond. I felt I owed them, as they had made it possible for Dad to meet his grandson and to spend some quality time with him.

“I played rugby at Bolton School from 11 years old and continued to play at university and then for Bolton Rugby Club until 30. At the time rugby wasn’t the popular option, and there were limited opportunities outside School to play at such a young age. If the School had not offered the opportunity to play rugby, my and my Dad’s love of rugby may never have materialised and the fond memories would never have been created.

“My Dad was always there to support me and my brother, Oliver (Class of 2008), as we were growing up and attended every rugby match Oli and I ever played in without fail, even the trips across the Mersey or in some cases to Blackpool and Preston. This continued as we got older: there was a time when my brother and I both played for Bolton Rugby Club senior men’s teams at the same time and Dad would always come along on a Saturday to watch us and we’d all enjoy a beer or two afterwards.

“Therefore, in tribute to Dad and to his love for rugby, and to our shared enjoyment of the Six Nations, last year I decided to undertake the challenge of running six half-marathons in the Rugby Six Nations to raise funds for The Christie Charity.

“The challenge took me to Paris, Florence, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Belfast and Manchester. Whilst I played rugby up until my early thirties, long-distance running was very much something I neglected, so the challenge of completing six half-marathons in a year, with a knee taking the brunt of 25 years of rugby, was very hard, especially with the final three runs being in the same month. The half-marathons themselves were much harder than anticipated and I required constant physio on my knee to ensure I completed all of them, especially in the final month.

“Thanks to the support of friends, colleagues and Old Boys and Girls I was able to raise £11,532 for the Christie.”

“The bonds and friendships made through School were something my Dad and Mum (former Head Girl Louise Relph, née Collins, Class of 1976) always said were invaluable – and they were correct. The help and support from friends made at School was outstanding – I didn’t even need to ask before they said they would join me in support. So throughout last year I was supported by long-term School friends Jane Booth, Ben Jackson, Daniel Caulfield, Kay Donegan, Serena Othick (née Salim), David Burrows (all Class of 2005), Oliver Relph, Camille Caulfield (née Stephenson, Class of 2007), Marcus Halstead (Class of 2008) and Matthew McLellan-Grant (Class of 2016) –even Ben’s son, Gabriel, a current pupil at Beech House, came along to watch the Belfast Half-Marathon.

Manchester: Thomas (left) with his brother, Oli, and mum, Louise

Thomas, Jane Booth and Ben Jackson all celebrate after the Manchester half-marathon

Running the Edinburgh half-marathon

Edinburgh: Thomas (right) with Daniel Caulfield

Thomas has raised over £11k for the Christie

Aaron Winstanley

(Class of 2015; Boys’ Division Staff, 2018-2024)

Having finished School as a Sixth Form pupil in 2015, I returned to Bolton School just three years later as the Design and Technology Teacher for the Boys’ Junior School.

In between I studied Design and Technology Secondary Education at Edge Hill University whilst continuing to play water polo, a sport I began playing when I started Bolton School as a Year 7 pupil in 2008.

I worked at Bolton School for six years, both as the Design and Technology teacher in Park Road and, more recently, as Co-ordinator of the Foundation’s Apple Distinguished Schools (ADS) Status, which has recently been renewed. This renewal saw the first cycle of involvement for the Girls’ Division, which was not previously included in our ADS status. During my time working at Park Road, I took on many extra roles and responsibilities, took part in many exciting projects and, most importantly, was lucky enough to get to know so many extraordinary children.

Top of the list memorable experiences has to be the 2023 Ski Trip to Zell am See, where three colleagues and I took a group of 30 Year 5 and Year 6 pupils for a week’s skiing in the Austrian Alps. The trip was memorable for many reasons, but ultimately it was a chance for the students to learn so much more than just how to ski: it provided a wealth of life lessons that will hopefully be with them for many years to come, alongside many happy memories.

A completely different side of my role, but one that was every bit as rewarding, was running weekly Design and Technology lessons for students from the Thomasson Memorial School for deaf and hearing-impaired children. I supported students with a varied range of barriers to learn new skills and to push the boundaries of what they thought they were capable of.

Throughout my many years at School, both as a pupil and as a member of staff, I was fortunate to be able to play water polo for school and club, at national level and internationally. I am extremely grateful for the support and guidance given to me by members of staff and colleagues that allowed me to grow in a sport that gave me many unforgettable experiences and enabled me to travel the world. Having recently stopped playing, it is a great feeling to be able to look back on memories at both ends of the scale with equal joy, pride and a real sense of accomplishment – whether that be winning the English Schools competitions as a student, coaching pupils in Park Road as they embarked on a journey that I hoped would surpass my own, or representing England and Great Britain on the European and world stage. It is hard not to mention colleagues such as Mike Yates, David Teasdale, Andy McGinty and Trevor Pledger, to name a few, who have played such a huge part in these successes both as inspirations to myself, as coaches and now, in more recent months and years, as friends.

School has certainly changed over the years and, as I walked around Boys’ Division before leaving for Norway, I felt that it was a very different place to when I wandered the corridors as a Year 7 pupil.

Since joining as a member of staff, I saw a majorly reformed outdoor education programme, a development I only wish Steve Bradley had been able to implement many years earlier so that I could have experienced it as a pupil myself. The programme has seen a move from one-off, truly exceptional Patterdale Hall visits, to regular in-house and campus-based outdoor education sessions which are a really strong point of school life in 2025. I am glad that I am now living in a country where these types of experiences have become my nightly activities and weekend trips.

In August of 2024, I embarked on the role of Design and Technology and Technology Integration Teacher at the International School of Stavanger. Here, I am teaching Middle School Design and Technology whilst also working with teachers from Kindergarten to Grade 12 to ensure that they can make the most of their 1:1 iPad/MacBook programme.

So far, living in Norway has been an incredible experience.

Firstly, the work life balance here is extraordinary which, coupled with the local mountainous areas and fjords, has meant evening Nordic ski trips with colleagues, Wednesday night yacht racing and weekend trips from one cabin to another are always possible. Norwegian schools also offer a ‘Leirskole’, which is one week of outdoor education per year, just like Patterdale is at Bolton. I have been lucky enough to join Grades 7, 9 and 10 on these. One of these trips was an introduction to the Norwegian cabin system, one was a week’s ski trip, both downhill skiing and Nordic backcountry skiing, and one was a combination of water activities, hiking, archery, survival skills etc – very similar to the usual Patterdale experience, minus Sean’s amazing cooking!

School fixtures work slightly differently here: we run sports teams in three seasons of 10 to 12 weeks. Each season normally finishes with a tournament or competition with other international schools. Due to the cost of travel to Norway and Stavanger, it is unusual for us to host, but we do often travel to the other CESSA or NECIS schools. We recently took the swimming team to Budapest for a swim meet, which was a fantastic opportunity for them.

ISS is a smaller school than Bolton, with only 500 pupils. This smaller setting has allowed me to get to know a large number of teaching staff, supporting them with their technology integration, to ensure each child gets the best from their lessons. I and the high school DT teacher are currently in the process of moving into a new extension to the school where we are taking the DT provision from one room to four rooms so we will have a clean room, big machine room, robotics suite and the main workshop: an exciting project that will make a huge difference to the provision and experiences we can offer pupils here.

Driving Ukraine

Earlier this year Kristian Smith (Class of 2014) was part of a convoy travelling to Lviv, Ukraine, to deliver vehicles to be used by essential teams on the frontline, including ambulance crews, first responders and bomb disposal teams.

“I always remember fondly the many assemblies led by my Head of Sixth Form, Mr Joseph: in one of those assemblies he told me and my peers to get passionate about causes and get stuck in to help make the world a better place.

I took his message to heart, and so last year I signed up to volunteer with Driving Ukraine, an organisation which sources and delivers vital vehicles that help with evacuation, medical transport, and aid distribution in Ukraine.

“The organisation focuses predominantly on delivering vehicles to medics working on the frontlines in Ukraine where vehicles such as 4x4s are used to evacuate wounded soldiers so that they can be moved to stablisation points or an evac rendezvous. Driving Ukraine and volunteers such as me raise funds to purchase these vehicles, and then they are driven by volunteers from Oxfordshire to Lviv in Ukraine. Other vehicles sourced and donated include ambulances, vans and other specialised vehicles which are required by the end users carrying out their life-saving work, which include foreign volunteer medics and paramedics working on Ukraine’s frontline, Ukrainian volunteer medics and paramedics, humanitarian bomb disposal teams, combat medics and many more. So far Driving Ukraine has helped deliver over 170 vehicles and raised over £1.2 million since 2022. Driving Ukraine also help to transport humanitarian aid such as medical supplies, and I am glad to report that we were able to help transport and successfully deliver such aid on our mission.

“When we arrived in Lviv, we met some of the end users of our vehicles, medics who would use the vehicles to save life and limb on the frontlines in Ukraine, and we had the chance to talk to them and learn about the work they do. The night we arrived to hand the vehicles over, they took them to go straight back to the frontlines that same night. Many of us have seen the dedication, the bravery, the self-sacrifice and the will to endure from the Ukrainian people exemplified in so many ways over the past three years through various media, but to see it with your own eyes is something else entirely.

“On 27th February this year, I joined the 38th convoy – our group comprised 13 volunteers from all walks of life in six vehicles, namely four pickup trucks, a van and a Land Rover Snatch. We drove from Oxford to Dover and then on to Calais via the ferry, and through Belgium (and the infamous Antwerpen ring road with its congestion!) to Essen in Germany. The following day we left Essen early in the morning and arrived in Katowice in Poland late in the evening, and on the morning of the 29th we drove from Katowice and finally arrived in Lviv. We had numerous challenges on the road, from bad weather, bad traffic and even worse drivers to contend with, but we delivered all six vehicles safely and intact to the Driving Ukraine’s workshop in Lviv where vehicles destined for the frontlines are repaired, if needed, and camouflaged.

“The following day we visited The Field of Mars in Lviv, the military cemetery for soldiers who have died in this war since 2022, a sad and profound reminder of the lives lost in this devastating war and a testament to the sacrifices made by the fallen who have been laid to rest there. One of the hardest things to come to terms with was knowing that there was empty space for yet more graves. Those among us who had been before on previous convoys had noted that there were yet more laid to rest since their previous visit, and walking amongst those graves we saw some had died not two weeks since we arrived. It was also an important reminder as to the importance of lifesaving equipment and aid such as evacuation vehicles, as aid saves lives.

“We were asked to bring these stories back with us and share them to raise awareness around the importance of supporting Ukraine with humanitarian aid and lifesaving equipment, and so I would encourage you all to look into the work that Driving Ukraine does and to kindly consider donating to the organisation to help them carry on doing the incredible work they do. Furthermore, I would highly recommend getting involved yourself if you can! My experience with Driving Ukraine was the greatest adventure of my life so far and an incredibly rewarding experience, my only regret being that I didn’t get involved sooner.

“I would like to extend my gratitude to the Old Boltonians’ Association for giving me the opportunity to share my experience here to help spread awareness of the incredible work that Driving Ukraine does.”

THE MAIL BAG

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

Star Letter

Motorbike Madness

The Star Letter in the previous edition of The Bugle relating to the 1954 athletics team featuring Chris Goudge brought back a couple of memories for David Gregory (Class of 1963):

“Firstly, the exciting couple of years’ athletics finals which pitched JP Boulter against FJ Benson in the 800m and 1500m. Or was it the 880 and the mile in those days?

“The other is of several lifts I had from Chris Goudge back into the town centre after Saturday rugby, to catch my bus back to Leigh. This was half a dozen, or more, years after Chris had left School, but he trained on the School fields, setting up his own hurdles. He had a motorbike, and the TT-like manner he took the bend at the bottom of Park Road, with me as pillion, was a little hair raising!”

Kitting Out Success

The Boys’ Division would like to extend a huge thank you to Regency Estates for its sponsorship of the football teams’ kits over the past three years.

Hand Grenade Tales

Ivan Leigh’s (Class of 1962) recollections in the Autumn edition of The Bugle of an unexploded hand grenade being found in the grub tent during a Scout camp in Luxembourg prompted further tales of such discoveries.

Neil Marsden (Class of 1961) writes: “I, too, was at the Long Camp in Wiltz and have a recollection of a hand grenade being discovered in what had been the main path through the camp, on the last day as we were packing up. I recall it being covered with a cardboard box and we were told to walk carefully round it! I have no idea what happened to it thereafter.”

Lionel Price (Class of 1964) adds: “I was only at Park Road at the time, though I’m pretty sure my brother was on that Long Camp. What I can add is that there was an (apparently safe) hand grenade in the Scout HQ at Woodlands a few years later and none of us knew why. Possibly it’s still at the new HQ, but probably not. Nowadays, sadly, I don’t think they’d have dared bring it home, nor left it around for young Scouts to play with.”

Meanwhile Don Cole (Class of 1947) entered Bolton School at the outbreak of the Second World War: “My father was responsible for designing the air raid shelters beneath the first level of the School grounds. We practised using them on several occasions.”

The School is enormously grateful to the Horwich-based estates agency for its support and in particular to its Director, Nick Holt (Class of 2009), for his involvement both with the School’s teams and with the ongoing ‘regeneration’ of sport for Old Boys. Nick says of the partnership: “As a former pupil who has played for Old Bolts for over a decade it was wonderful to be able to give back to the School while at the same time showcasing my business through School sport.”

In recognition of his support, Nick has been presented with a framed Regency shirt and will be thanked at the end of season awards ceremony.

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 Email: DPoppitt@aol.com Tel: 07785 728700

Alumni

Oxford Dinner

St Peter’s College, Friday 8th November 2024

The intimate setting of St Peter’s College provided a friendly and relaxed atmosphere for Old Boys and Old Girls to catch up and reminisce.

1. Vinu Umapathy (2022), Ananya Ajit (2023), Akshay Pal (2018), Rohit Bagewadi (2017), Giri Nandakumar (2016) 2. Akshay Pal (2018), Krishnan Ajit (2020), Yusuf Adia (2020), Giri Nandakumar (2016) 3. Rishi Narla, Hannah McKee, Laurence Britton, Tom Boardman (all 2023) 4. Khadijah Ali (2019), Millie Wood (2019), Hamzah Mahmood, Jan Huebel 5. Sam Warburton (2018), James Whalley (2017), Tom Paterson (2018), Tom Underwood (2017), Rohit Bagewadi (2017), Giri Nandakumar, Philip Britton, Krishnan Ajit (2020), Akshay Pal, Ananya Ajit (2023), Amerleen Hundle (2022) 6. Sam Warburton (2018), Tom Paterson (2018), Aaliyah Ascroft 7. Thomas Britton (2021), Tom Paterson (2018), Akshay Pal (2018), Sam Warburton (2018) 8. Rohit Bagewadi (2017), James Hopkinson (2022), Tom Underwood (2017), Charlotte Rumney

Old Boys’ Association Dinner

Old Boys from across the generations enjoyed the Association’s annual dinner held in the School’s Arts Centre.

1. Alastair (2022) and Robert (2020) Harris with their grandfather, Peter Watson (1966) 2. Liam Watkinson (2009; BD Staff), Jordan Harrison Twist (2010; BD Staff) 3. Liam Watkinson, Tom Liversedge (2005), Martin Wadsworth (BD Staff, 19742006), Chris Brownlow (2016) 4. Nic Ford, Amrit Mishra (School Captain), Adam Faulkner (Vice Captain), William Martin (Vice Captain) 5. Ian Price, Stephen Croston (both 1995) 6. Peter Leather (1980), OBA President Richard Morris (1986), Tim Taylor (1979) 7. Philip Britton, Richard Morris 8. Robert Harris, Alastair Harris, Charlie Jones (2020), Oliver Shaw (2020) 9. Stephen Parry (1974), Ian Thomasson (1973), Roger Milne (1976), Phil Riding (1978) 10. David Jenner (1960), David Brookes (1961) 11. Hemal Raja (1995), Rob Lees (1996; BD Staff, 2010-2018), Huw Dixon (1994) 12. Dave Hughes, Gary Fitzpatrick (1989)

Alumni Cambridge Dinner

Trinity Hall, Friday 7th February 2025

Trinity Hall, the fifth oldest College in the University of Cambridge, was the venue for this year’s annual Alumni Dinner.

1. Alex McKie (2024), Andy Clelland (2015), Ben Rimmer (2024), William Miles (2022)

2. Martin Thompson (1973), Simon Dixon (1978)

3. Richard Morris (1986), Harry Sawyer, Sheila Sawyer (née Pollock, 1981)

Joint Old Girls’ and Old Boys’ Lunch

Bolton School, Monday 24th February 2025

The recent Joint Lunch saw the presentation of the inaugural awards for Distinguished Service to each of our Alumni Associations.

Head of Foundation, Philip Britton, has instigated these accolades to celebrate individuals who have made an outstanding commitment to their respective Associations over the years. The recipient of the first award for distinguished service to the Old Boltonians’ Association is Charles Winder (Boys’ Division Staff, 1964-1999). Charles taught English and Drama, also General Studies, Games and RE. He became Senior English Master in 1967 and, later in his career, Director of Studies (Arts). After retiring from teaching, he became the Old Boltonians’ Liaison Officer, providing a link between School and the Association, and served as President of the Association for 2009-10.

1. Charles Winder with his well-deserved trophy 2. Jill Mills (née Dawson, 1966), Ann Rothwell (née Bradshaw, 1972), Philip Rothwell (1971) 3. Chris (1965) and David (1960) Jenner 4. Roy Baxendale (1964), Frank Millhouse (1961), David Jenner, Hilary De Maine (former BD and GD Staff) 5. Rod Lonsdale (1961), Doug Slack (1959) 6. Stephen Parry (1974), Charles Winder, Tony Latchford (former Foundation Services Staff) 7. Allan Eaton (1974), Carolyn Radcliff (née Garrett, 1975) 8. Chris Pendlebury (1972), Rosemary Swerdlow (née Pendlebury, 1976) 9. Margaret Johnson (née Lever, 1982), Andy Latham (1983) 10. Mary Thurston (née Winder, 1984), Mary Winder (GD Staff, 1976-1986), John Winder (1985), Charles Winder (BD Staff, 1964-1999)

Alumni London Dinner

BMA House, Friday 7th March 2025

There was a fantastic turnout at this year’s London Dinner with Old Boys and Old Girls representing many decades of Bolton School.

1. Neil Featherstone (1993), Matthew Entwistle (1993), Mike Yates (1993), Andy Goddard (1994) 2. Paul Greenhalgh (2015), Waqqas Patel (2014), Fraser Mullins (BD Staff), Cos Savva 3. Zac Donohue (2021), Henry Speakman (2021), Archie Seddon (2021), Harry Diggle (2021), Max Hartle (2017) 4. Dominic Hardy, Shivam Patel, Jack Diggle (all 2019) 5. Jack, Karen (1976) and Harry Diggle 6. Robin Ali (1984), Smita Bora (1988) 7. Simon Swann (1989), Jayne Nicholl (née Hadnett, 1989), Sarah Thompson (née Burn, 1989), Mike Shaw (1988), Stephen Lintott (1989) 8. Richard Washington (1993), Richard Morris (1986; OBA President), Melanie Morris, Stephen Parry (1974)

School Hosts Networking Breakfast with Handelsbanken

Bolton School, Tuesday 19th November 2024

Local business members, Alumni and parents braved an overnight snowfall to attend an economic seminar and networking breakfast with Handelsbanken Bolton in the School’s Arts Centre.

L-R: Rebecca Brayshaw (née Hayton, 1997; Head of Development), Mark Hutchinson, Sarah Rigby, James Sproule, Dan Sikorski (2014), Executive Assistant at Handelsbanken plc

Mark Hutchinson, Branch Manager for Handelsbanken Bolton, introduced Handelsbanken’s services. Guests then listened to Sarah Rigby, of Handelsbanken Capital Markets, who discussed interest and exchange rates, and to Chief Economist James Sproule, who analysed global economic trends. James later engaged Sixth Form students with a talk on the ‘the intellectual revolution’.

In addition to co-hosting this networking event, Handelsbanken recently sponsored the kit for the Bolton School Girls’ Division Football Teams, allowing the girls to play in kit specifically designed for the Girls’ Division for the very first time.

Bill Stevenson Memorial Football Match

Alumni and Friends of Bolton School are invited to come along to spectate at the OBAFC reunion football match being held on Saturday 26th April 2025. This is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy a special match and renew acquaintances with Old Bolts.

Kevan Taylor says: “Bill Stevenson served Old Boltonians’ AFC for decades in many roles from player to President. His humility, friendship and wholehearted support for the club and its players were only exceeded by the sharpness of his wit. He will already be remembered by all who had the pleasure of meeting him – Bill put a smile on the face of everyone he chatted to.”

Kick-off: 11am

Venue: Old Boltonians’ AFC Ground, Tower Street, Chapeltown BL7 OEW

Parking: Available at the ground and the nearby Chetham Arms

Admission: Free

To confirm your attendance as a spectator, to play in the match or to order post-match food and drink please contact kevan12taylor@gmail.com

If you would like to maintain contact with other Old Boys through the various Alumni sporting associations, please contact development@boltonschool.org to find out more.

Mervyn Brooker Memorial Match

The Mervyn Brooker Memorial Cricket Match will take place at School on Friday 20th June. For spectator enquiries please contact development@boltonschool.org. Foundation

Annual MCC Match

The First XI cricketers need your support – come and cheer them on as they take on the MCC Club side on Thursday 26th June. Coffee will be served from 10.00am, with the match commencing at 11.00am. A buffet lunch will be served at 1.30pm. Bring a chair and soak up the atmosphere! Please contact the Development Office to book your place by Friday 20th June.

Bolton School Foundation Summer Festival

Friends of Bolton School are once again hosting a foundation-wide Summer Festival: this year’s event will take place on Sunday 15th June.

Alumni Ambassadors

Are you an Old Boy with a passion for staying connected to School and engaging with others?

Our Alumni Ambassador role is perfect for those who want to volunteer to make a difference without a regular time commitment. From time to time you will be required to make contact with your classmates and peers and to encourage them to attend our wide range of engagement activities thus ensuring that our vibrant Alumni community remains strong and connected. If you would like to get involved, please contact the Development Office!

‘5’ Class Reunion

Calling all Old Boys who left in 1955, 1965, 1975, 1985, 1995, 2005 and 2015!

All Alumni and their families are welcome to attend. Any Old Boys wishing to get involved, either with the planning or by making a donation, are invited to contact bdfriends@boltonschool.org.uk

Zoom in for a Chat!

Old Boys and Old Girls based in the Middle East, Northern Africa and Southern Asia are invited to join an informal catch-up via Zoom!

If you would like to chat with fellow Alumni and hear from Philip Britton, Head of Foundation, about life at Bolton School over the last year, please connect with us on Tuesday 10th June (3.00-4.00pm GMT, 7-8pm GST, 8.30-9.30pm IST, 8-9pm PKT). Contact the Development Office for details.

We will be holding a Reunion at Bolton School on Saturday 20th September 2025 for these year groups – Former Staff are also very welcome to attend, as are Alumni from other years.

Alumni Events Calendar

New Alumni Event!

Next year will see the introduction of an Alumni Northern Dinner! The inaugural event, which will be open to all Old Boys and Old Girls, will take place at a venue in central Manchester in May 2026. Please keep your eyes open for further details which will follow in due course!

If you have not received an invitation, but would like to attend, please visit the ‘Alumni and Giving Back’ section of the School website (www.boltonschool.org) to book online or contact the Development Office to pay over the phone.

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!

To reserve your place for any of our Alumni events, please call the Development Office on 01204 434718, email development@boltonschool.org or visit the follow the QR code to book online.

2025

Monday 28th April

Division Hulton Lecture

Division Great Hall, 5.00pm

Friday 9th May Old Boys’ and Old Girls’ Scottish Dinner St Leonard’s Hall, University of Edinburgh, 7.00pm

Monday 19th May Old Boys’ Lunch and AGM

Friday 6th June Alumni Cumbria Lunch

Tuesday 10th June

School, 12 noon

Howe Hotel, 12 noon

East, Northern Africa and Southern Asia, Zoom 3.00pm-4.00pm GMT (6.00pm-7.00pm local time)

Monday 23rd June Recent Leavers’ Reunion: ‘Class of 2024’

Thursday 26th June MCC Match

School, 2.30pm-5.00pm

School, 11.00am onwards

Thursday 26th June Boys’ Division Prizegiving Boys’ Division Great Hall, 7.00pm

Friday 27th June Foundation Former Staff Lunch Bolton School, 12 noon

Saturday 20th September ‘5’ Class Reunion Bolton School, 11.00am-4.30pm

Alumni Authors

Staging the Word, the Life and Death of a Theatre Company

by Andrew Hilton (Class of 1967)

Andrew’s book, Shakespeare on the Factory Floor, was reviewed in the Autumn 2022 edition of The Bugle. He has now followed that up with Staging the Word, the Life and Death of a Theatre Company, about his experiences as Founder and Artistic Director of ‘Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory’ in Bristol. The book is available from Amazon for £29.99 – however, Bolton School Alumni may purchase it for £21 plus P&P.

Naomi Lord (Girls’ Division Class of 1998; Foundation Director of Creative Learning) has kindly read and reviewed Staging the Word, the Life and Death of a Theatre Company:

Andrew Hilton, a distinguished theatre director and alumnus of Bolton School, provides an insightful and deeply personal chronicle of his tenure as the artistic director of Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory (STF) in his book, Staging the Word. The book not only serves as a retrospective on Hilton’s two-decade leadership at STF but also stands as a testament to the Tobacco Factory’s remarkable invention and reinvention, the revival of North Street (BS3), and charts the birth of the idea of STF through to international acclaim.

At its core, Staging the Word is a layered exploration of change, both in the Shakespearean productions helmed by Hilton and in the transformation of the Tobacco Factory from a commercial enterprise into a charitable institution. Hilton captures how STF’s innovative

Plausibility and the Solution to the Behrens-Fisher Problem

by Brian Darbyshire (Class of 1965)

Plausibility and the Solution to the Behrens-Fisher Problem reveals the solution to a mathematical conundrum that has kept statisticians perplexed for over a century. The book argues that plausibility, not probability, is key. Challenging traditional methods, it reveals why past attempts failed and presents the only correct solution.

Brian Darbyshire’s book is a must-read for mathematicians and anyone interested in statistical inference and data assessment. It is available from Amazon in hardcover and paperback forms, and also as a downloadable eBook.

A group of Year 12 Further Maths students in the Girls’ Division kindly read and reviewed Plausibility and the Solution to the BehrensFisher Problem:

Through this book, Darbyshire aimed to analyse the faults of other statisticians’ solutions of the Behrens-Fisher problem and slowly reveals to us the accurate solution. Darbyshire begins by defining the problem: how to find the difference between the true mean values of two probability distributions with different variances given only a few sample values. He then goes on to outline Behrens’ and Fishers’ theories and provides substantial evidence contradicting their solutions. Darbyshire then provides an in-depth explanation of his own solution, expertly integrating mathematical

‘factory solution’ allowed Shakespeare’s language to breathe in a space-within-a-space, offering audiences an up-close, intimate, and stripped-back experience of the Bard’s work. The company’s lateral pay structure fostered a collaborative environment where up to 600 theatre makers thrived over the years.

The book traces the company’s trajectory from its early years as a commercial venture (1999–2004), during which productions such as King Lear (2002) and Othello (2004) gained notable critical success, to its shift to a charitable company (2004–2022). This later period saw ambitious projects like The Winter’s Tale (2013) and Hamlet (2018), which reinforced STF’s reputation for bold, actor-focused Shakespeare. Reviews at the time praised the raw intensity of King Lear, with The Guardian noting its “astonishing emotional weight”, while The Independent hailed Hamlet for its “incisive and commanding central performance”. Hilton’s reflections on these productions and the challenges of sustaining the business, including financial struggles, crises, and the shifting landscape of theatre economics, provide an invaluable perspective on the precarious state of UK theatre today.

Beyond the business of theatre, Staging the Word explores the craft of Shakespearean performance, examining the critical context of productions, artistic realisations, and the significance of guest contributions across two decades. As Hilton revisits his body of work, he acknowledges two plays that ‘got away’: Timon of Athens and Chekhov’s The Seagull. His detailed contemplation of how these productions might have been staged and cast reads as a fascinating exercise in proto-production, perhaps a fitting final creative act.

The ‘final curtain’ for STF was Much Ado About Nothing, but Hilton’s retrospective is anything but elegiac. Instead, Staging the Word pulses with a zest for Shakespeare, an appreciation for theatre’s ability to illuminate the human spirit, and a sober reckoning with economic realities. Hilton’s legacy, embedded in the imagination of audiences and the resilience of a theatre model that defied expectation, stands as a testament to both artistic integrity and practical ingenuity. In this, the book is more than just a retrospective; it is an ode to the enduring power of Shakespeare and the theatre itself.

evidence alongside a rational explanation. He concludes by providing a summary of his findings and ideas about plausibility and the solution to the Behrens-Fisher problem.

Darbyshire explores the difference between plausibility and probability and outlines the significance of these concepts in relation to his ideas. In the context of this specific problem, he shows how probability, the likelihood of an event occurring defined by a numerical value, is meaningless, explaining how the concept of probability is where other statisticians who had previously tackled this problem were mistaken. Instead, Darbyshire uses the approach of plausibility, a measure of how likely or reasonable it is for an event to occur, taking into account the significance of the prior causes of the event or in this case the significance of the parameters controlling the distribution, using this understanding to prove the validity of his solution.

From our personal standpoint, we would definitely recommend this book to experienced mathematicians and statisticians who are fascinated by complex problems which at first seem perplexing, but, after systematic and logical reasoning, the solution appears intuitive. Despite the complicated nature of the problem, the cohesive linking between chapters creates an academic style leading to a methodical progression building towards the solution. He uses diagrams and grids to explain key concepts and contribute to the readers’ understanding of the solution then proceeding to use these to dismantle the theories of other statisticians. As claimed in the title, Darbyshire successfully presented his resolution of the Behrens-Fisher problem and convinced the readers of its authenticity.

To conclude, Plausibility and Solution to the Behrens-Fisher Problem is an intellectual, thought-provoking publication which provides an insight into the true complexity of a single mathematical problem shown by the author’s extensive knowledge and ability to combine equations to draw a viable conclusion.

Hannah Chipasula, Prisha Patel, Lucy Pickett

Join the Bolton School Alumni Network

Explore

DID YOU KNOW

The FREE Business Directory offers self-employed Alumni the opportunity to promote their business and services and presents a networking community which spans the globe.

3,110

Registered users, spanning the UK, the USA, Australia, Canada, Asia and Europe –offering a truly global community of Old Boys and Old Girls across a wide variety of sectors

1,648

Are willing to offer advice

1,271

Have offered to help review CVs

Alumni Business Directory

As part of the Bolton Alumni Network, the free online Business Directory offers self-employed Alumni the opportunity to promote their businesses and services to a community that spans the globe.

68%

Are willing to help

1,806

Are willing to answer industry specific questions

1,512

Are willing to introduce other Alumni to their connections

Bolton Alumni Business Directory – over the previous six months 35% of those who have visited the Business Directory page have gone on to click on the offer page, while 19% of those have gone on to interact with the offer.

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.

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

The use of the Bolton Alumni Business Directory as a free tool to showcase services to an active network has proved very

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

If you are not yet a member of the Bolton Alumni Network, you can join today and create a profile - follow the QR code above to sign up at www.boltonalumninetwork.com with your LinkedIn, Facebook or Google Account or with an email address.

Travel Counsellor Dan Hyams (Class of 2011), a specialist in luxury tailor-made travel, has taken the opportunity to feature his business on the Bolton Alumni Network (BAN).

He says: “I opted to use the Bolton Alumni Network (BAN) to showcase my business and network with fellow Old Boltonians. As a tailor-made travel specialist who creates lots of special occasion travels, building strong, personal relationships is essential for my business to succeed. Therefore having the initial familiarity of our school days is fantastic and makes for a great foundation which wouldn’t have been possible outside the BAN.”

To feature your business here please contact the Development Office.

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.

Recovery practice) as a partner, heading up the restructuring advisory offering in the North West. He provides restructuring advice and formal insolvency services to companies in stressed and distressed situations, which involves working with secured lenders, directors and other key stakeholders. Prior to that David spent 21 years in the restructuring team at BDO LLP.

Martyn Graham Barnes (Class of 1999)

Martyn gained a Master of Engineering degree at Imperial College London and works at Sellafield in nuclear waste removal. In November 2023 he became a Professor at Leeds University.

Class of 2000-2009

Max Hopkinson

(Class

of 2002) and David Mannheim

(Class of

2005)

Congratulations Max, who runs Bind, a multi-award-winning marketing agency, and to David, the founder of customer segmentation platform Made With Intent, both of whom were featured in Insider magazine’s ‘42 Under 42’ profile. The ‘42 Under 42’ looks ahead and predicts who will be the leading business figures in ten years’ time, and Max and David were both listed in 2024 as entrepreneurs to look out for.

Class of 2010-2019

Christian Sharrock (Class of 2015)

Since completing his Master’s in Biology at the University of York, Christian has now graduated from the University of Bristol with a PhD, a proud day for the whole of his family. Living in Sussex with his wife, Becca, Christian has decided to leave the white coat and labs behind, and is now training for a career as a Patent Attorney with the London office of D Young and Co.

Daniel Brookwell (Class of 2016)

Daniel recently started a new job at Tesla working in their Energy team to expand the network of fast EV chargers in the UK. He is looking forward to contributing to the amazing work the team has done developing the Supercharger network.

Matthew Haddon (Class of 2016)

Over the February half-term a group of 80 boys took part in the Year 9 and 10 Ski trip to Sestriere,

Italy. On their outbound Jet2 flight to Turin from Manchester the boys, accompanied by staff including Mr Chilton (Boys’ Division’s Director of Sport), were greeted by Matt, who was First Officer on the flight. Matt had seen the group on the passenger list the night before and so was expecting them. He chatted with the pupils and gave a couple of Bolton School shoutouts over the tannoy!

Rehan Ashraf (Class of 2019)

Congratulations to Rehan who has been instrumental in driving a pivotal partnership between ACE Money Transfer and Mastercard. Drawing on skills developed at Bolton School, he led the negotiations that have enabled ACE to expand its global remittance services.

This collaboration allows ACE’s customers across the UK, Europe, Australia and Canada to send money seamlessly via Mastercard’s network. The partnership facilitates faster, more secure cross-border payments, showcasing Rehan’s ability to navigate complex financial landscapes with industry giants. Read more at: yhoo.it/4bwfipB

Rehan attributes his journey to leading impactful international partnerships to the education and encouragement he received at Bolton School.

Class of 2020 onwards

Charles Henry Jones (Class of 2020)

Charlie applied to join the Royal Navy as an Officer aged 15, going through rigorous rounds of application, and won a coveted place at Welbeck Defence Military College in Loughborough to complete his Science and Maths-based A Levels. He then studied Maths and Engineering at University with a bursary

from the Royal Navy. However, deciding that Engineering was not for him, he changed course within the Navy to become a Warfare Officer – in January 2024 he started his training at Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth and ‘passed out’ as a Royal Navy Warfare Officer last August.

Charlie then continued his Phase 2 training with stints on board two Royal Navy ships, both frigates, one in Gibraltar and one based out of Portsmouth. He has recently been promoted to a Sub-Lieutenant and is back in Dartmouth at BRNC to continue his Warfare training until May 2025 and is expected to join a new ship over the Summer.

Daniel Williamson (Class of 2022)

In October 2025, Daniel will be running the Budapest Marathon to raise funds for Teenage Cancer Trust. Throughout the year leading up to the race, he will take on various challenges to support the charity.

You only get one chance at being young, and those crucial years shape the person you become—your relationships, career, confidence, wellbeing, and ability to pursue your dreams. Cancer can derail all of that. Teenage Cancer Trust is dedicated to supporting young people facing this challenge.

With a background in distance running and fundraising, Daniel saw this as an opportunity to support a great cause while exploring a new part of the world through his passion for running.

Any donations are greatly appreciated by Daniel and Teenage Cancer Trust.

https://www.justgiving.com/page/ daniel-williamson-1730726930088

Luca Kelly (Class of 2023)

Luca has recently relocated to Paris as part of a student exchange programme with King’s College London. He is continuing his studies of Politics at Sciences Po, a world-renowned institution in this field, before returning to London to complete his third year. This has afforded him the opportunity to build on language skills which became the focus of his time in the Sixth Form at Bolton School, having received the Emma Saxelby and Maynard Andrews Prizes in 2023. Luca is very much looking forward to sharing more of this news with his former language tutors.

Mr Chilton and the boys were thrilled to meet up with pilot Matt!

Mini Reunions

Pub Crawl Down Memory Lane

Edward Siddall, James O’Reilly, Michael Handforth and Jolyon Latimer (all Class of 1996) met on a cold and wet November Saturday to pub crawl from Horwich to Chorley via Adlington – a trip down memory lane and Mike Handforth’s old school bus route home.

Old Boys’ Chance Encounter

It is amazing where Old Boy connections are made – whilst travelling in New Zealand earlier this year Jonathan Ratcliffe (Class of 2020) bumped into brothers Alex (2009) and Oliver (2010) Quayle whilst penguin watching in Timaru!

Finally Reunited: The Class of ‘71

To celebrate the end of A Levels, Nick Collins, John Hardwick, Bob Higson, Jim Blacklidge, Keith Nuttall and Peter Walker embarked on a split-location camping holiday to Abersoch and Stratford-upon-Avon. Nick and Bob in Keith’s Morris Minor 1000, Jim and John in Peter’s NSU. Inter-car competitions involved beach cricket by day and darts at the Whitehouse in the evening.

At Stratford they attended RSC matinées and evening performances – The Duchess of Malfi being the highlight. The Black Bull became the venue for the fiercely contested darts.

John, Keith and Nick returned to Upper Sixth. Nick and Keith went up to Cambridge followed by careers in Japan and the Middle East. John and Bob pursued legal careers, Jim returned to his farm after university and Peter lived the peripatetic life in retail management.

Fifty years on, five of the group reunited at Shaw Hill Golf Club, Chorley. Keith was finally coaxed north for the full team to reassemble at the Last Drop, Bromley Cross in October 2024.

Christmas Catch-Up

Old Boys in Oslo

Kieron Hunter (Class of 1993; Boys’ Division Staff 2006-2009) had a wonderful surprise when a group of School friends arrived to celebrate his 50th birthday!

Tim Lightfoot, Jamie Roberts, Craig Robinson (all Class of 1993) along with Caspar Joseph (Boys’ Division Staff, 1986-2022) travelled to Oslo where Kieron is based for a weekend of merry-making. There was good chat about Cautley, Under-12 football prowess, rugby, swimming, geography field trips and a medieval fayre – all in all, a splendid occasion!

A large contingent of Old Boys from the Class of 2020, some of whom have known each other since their time at Bolton School Nursery, met up in December for a Christmas meal at Piccolino Caffé Grande, Manchester.

The boys took advantage of the Development Team’s offer to contribute to University Drinks –see opposite for details.

L-R: Oliver, Jonathan and Alex

Back: Jamie Roberts, Caspar Joseph, Craig Robinson Front: Tim Lightfoot, Kieron Hunter

Back, L-R: Nick Collins, Keith Nuttall, John Hardwick, Peter Walker Front, L-R: Bob Higson, Jim Blacklidge

L-R: Edward Clarke, Callum Kilgour, Charlie Mitchell, Shaun Hughes-Grundy, Gareth Edwards-Williams, Christopher Rhodes, Guy Storey, Joe Hogan, Mark Simons, Nikhil Maini, Henry Doyle, Joe Dick, Cian Gallagher, Marc Crompton

L-R: Eddy, James, Michael, Jolyon

Destinations of Leavers 2024

Harry Adams University of Leeds

Biochemistry

Kiran Adiyodi Gap Year

Ali Adnan University of Central Lancashire

Subhaan Akbar Liverpool John Moores University

Business and Management

Accounting and Finance

Ahmed Akram Gap Year

Omar Al-Falahi University of Manchester

Mahmoud Alzubaidi University of Huddersfield

Medicine

Science

Abdhullah Anas Gap Year

Frederick Audley University of Warwick

Discrete Mathematics

Jacob Audley Employment

Zayan Azad University of Manchester

Medicine

Fezaan Aziz Gap Year

Ahmet Balanyan Gap Year

James Bland Durham University

Natural Sciences

James Bowie Gap Year

Jonathon Brennan University of Liverpool

William Burrows University of Manchester

Business Management

English Literature

Joseph Carolan Gap Year

Matthew Chae University of Chester Zoology

David Chow Gobelins, l'Ecole de l'Image, Paris

Harry Connor Northumbria University

Matthew Cooney

Peter Craig University of Liverpool

Evan Dare Northumbria University

Ewan Davies University of Warwick

Elliot Davies University of Leeds

Character Animation and Animated Filmmaking

Geography and Environmental Sciences

Degree Apprenticeship

Aerospace Engineering with Pilot Studies

Sport Management

Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE)

History

Tamas Debreczeni Nottingham Trent University Law

Ketan Dhokia University of Leeds

Harvey Dhokia University of Salford

Joshua Dickens Leeds Beckett University (2025)

Jake Dickinson Northumbria University

Dental Surgery/Oral Science

Law

Architecture

Business and Management

Nathan Elcock Gap Year

Daniel Elding-Parry University of Nottingham

Joseph Emery University of Exeter (2025)

Saul Farrell Newcastle University

Priyesh Fernando University of Southampton

Neo Fitzgerald

James Fitzsimmons Manchester Metropolitan University

Samuel Fitzsimons University of Nottingham

Finn Flanagan Northumbria University

Keshana Fonseka Loughborough University (2025)

Marcus Fung University of Liverpool

Chemical Engineering

History and Modern Languages

Economics and Finance

Music

Degree Apprenticeship

Product Design Engineering

Health Sciences

Product Design

Human Biology

Philosophy

Cameron Geskell Employment

Georgios Gkikas University of Nicosia, Cyprus

Maximilian Goodwin Loughborough University (2025)

Tom Griffiths University of Leeds

Liv Hextall Futureworks

Daniel Heywood University of Warwick

Finn Hogan University of Manchester

George Houghton University of Birmingham

Medicine

Commercial Management and Quantity Surveying

Philosophy, Psychology and Scientific Thought

Independent Filmmaking

Discrete Mathematics

Management (Marketing)

Modern Languages and English Literature

Thomas Hunt Apprenticeship

Harvey Husbands

Employment

Jamaal Hussain Employment

Haashir Imran Gap Year

Lucas Ingham Lancaster University

Mohammed F Jiva University of Hertfordshire

Mohamed S Jiva University of Central Lancashire

Akshat Kamath King's College London, University of London

Accounting and Finance

Optometry

Ophthalmic Dispensing

Dentistry

Fenn Kay Staffordshire University

Daud Khan University of Manchester

Harry Laithwaite Newcastle University

Art and Design

Computer Science

Civil and Structural Engineering

Khalid Lakhi Gap Year

Jamie Latchford Gap Year

Thomas Leach

Newcastle University

Dylan Lincoln University of Manchester

William Littlefair University of Reading

Darragh Livesey Nottingham Trent University

Accounting and Finance

Law

Biomedical Engineering

Accounting and Finance

Kevin Longthorne University of Wolverhampton Podiatry

Jayden Luhar Degree Apprenticeship

Kian McDonald

Newcastle University

Alexander McKie University of Cambridge

Mechanical Engineering

Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic

Luis McPherson Lancaster University Geography

Billy Maher Employment

Panashe Mambo Employment

Ollie McCann Employment

Zain Mehraj Aston University, Birmingham Medicine

Fletcher Mellor-Brook University of Manchester

Modern Languages and Business and Management

Uwais Mitha Gap Year

Wesley Mok

Durham University

Accounting

Oliver Morrow Employment

Mohammed H Natha Gap Year

Noah Nethercott Newcastle University

Yash Panasa University of Liverpool

Nabil Pariejwala University of Huddersfield

Biomedical Sciences

Accounting and Finance

Science

Jake Partington Lancaster University Law

Aamir Patel Gap Year

Ismaaéel Patel Degree Apprenticeship

Muhammad-Mustafa Patel University of Liverpool

Veer Patel Imperial College London

Raees Patel University of Liverpool

Samuel Paton Lancaster University

William Pearce University of Leeds

Lewis Pierson University of Birmingham (2025)

Aditya Ranganath University of Leeds

Computer Science with Software Development

Medicine

Computer Science

Mechanical Engineering

Accounting and Finance

Chemistry

Chemical Engineering

Hamza Razzaq Gap Year

Ben Rimmer University of Cambridge

Modern and Medieval Languages

Harry Roebuck Gap Year

Patrice Rostami Gap Year

Bilal Sardar Aston University

Kiran Sastry University of Birmingham

Raoul Saxena University of Leicester

Biomedical Science

Economics

Marketing

Mohammed Shaikh Gap Year

Yixuan Shen University of Manchester

Materials Science and Engineering

Charlie Silvester Aberystwyth University Filmmaking

Jacob Simmonite University of York

Jack Stevens Newcastle University

Mathematics

Economics and Finance

Archie Stocks Gap Year

Harry Summers Gap Year

Davyd Sywanyk Gap Year

Harry Taylor University of Huddersfield

Benjamin Turner University of York

Cameron Weatherley University of Leeds

Evan Weston University of York

Kofi Wilkinson Leeds Beckett University

Toby Yates University of York

Mechanical Engineering

Mathematics

Classical Civilisation

Computer Science

Human Geography and Planning

Physical Geography and Environment

ARCHIVES

School Air Raid Shelters during the Second World War

Don Cole (Class of 1947) entered Bolton School at the outbreak of the Second World War. His father was responsible for designing the air raid shelters beneath the First Level, and Don recalls practising using them on several occasions. Here we learn how the shelters came about.

The only evidence remaining of the Second World War air raid shelters is the sign for Shelter 3 at the head of the stairs in Boys’ Division, leading down from A Corridor to the IT Department and the Levels. It is, however, so inconspicuous that many will quite probably have no idea that it even exists.

Air raid shelters had become a topic for discussion by the Governors as early as February 1938 and there were regular meetings with the Local Education Committee which was responsible for their provision. Such, however, was the lack clarity as regards the Authority’s precise requirements or the funding mechanism, little had been done by the outbreak of the Second World War on 1st September 1939. The result was that School was unable to reconvene when term was due to begin ten days later and work at home schemes were introduced in both Divisions, albeit the Boys’ Sixth Form were taught in the homes of the Headmaster, Mr FR Poskitt, and teacher Mrs Emma Saxelby.

An experimental trench was constructed in the grounds of the Girls’ Division in the Autumn of 1938 and the W E Brown History of Bolton School records that another such trench was planned for the bank of the top Level until it was pointed out that this was the course for electric cables and water pipes.

Search the Archives!

Many of the School’s archive materials, including full School photographs from both Divisions, historic issues of The Boltonian and past editions of The Bugle, have been fully digitised and can be accessed via the Alumni page of the School website – or scan here.

The construction of the air raid shelters became the absolute priority and, according to W E Brown, four shelters were built for Boys’ Division, one under the quadrangle, one under the top Level, one under the Dobson Road play area (the Shelter 3 referred to above) and one, used by the Sixth Form boys, in the central heating duct under the front wing of the School. Old Boy Don Cole has written about how his father, a Civil Engineer, designed the large shelter under the top Level, and we know that the boys, under the guidance of Mr Richard Crispin (Boys’ Division Head of Handicraft, 1925-1961) made more than 500 seats to furnish the shelters. Whether these seats were shared with Girls’ Division shelters is not clear.

In Girls’ Division Pat Bellis (née Topping, Class of 1945; Girls’ Division Staff, 1964-1984) wrote that there were three shelters: one in the quadrangle, one alongside the gym and one behind the lower cloister, in the playground behind School, sometimes used for netball. Governors’ minutes suggest that the cellar beneath Beech House was also used as a shelter, after it had been lime washed in late 1939.

Both Divisions finally returned in full session in early November and regular air raid practices were introduced. Lessons would be stopped and everybody would troop into the respective shelters. The boys in particular seemed to welcome the novelty of shelter practice and The Hon Michael Lever, QC (Class of 1946; Governor 1972-2003) remembered how some boys hoped the siren would sound during Latin, whereas his preference was to miss Algebra! Harold Rothera (Class of 1947) remembered how inconvenient it was to be compelled to carry a neat cardboard box around School containing a gas mask; Elizabeth Mary Mahoney (née Young, Class of 1945) remembered not only the gas masks, but also the need to carry a coat at all times because the shelters were so cold.

As the Winter advanced in 1939 the lack of heating and ventilation became an increasing problem, but was not until the Winter of 1940 that the Borough Engineer arranged for stoves to be fixed in all the shelters which finally seems to have rectified the problem, together with some actions to improve ventilation. Crowding remained a problem and there were discussions about possibly making more use of the School cellars which were well lit and heated and could be used if they could be strutted by using timber from the soon to be demolished Broomfield. It was also suggested that Park Road might use the central cellars in Elizabethan Terrace. There is no evidence in the archives to suggest that these proposals ever made any progress, but if any Alumni know anything to the contrary it would be very helpful to hear from them.

The best news is that the real threat of air raids never materialised so far as Bolton School was concerned.

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

Air raid shelter sign – still in situe on Boys’ Division ‘A’ corridor

Bolton School Memorabilia!

Recent donations to the School archive, including a rugby ball from the 1960s and a Boys’ Division Choir LP from 1984, prompted a Facebook request asking whether anyone else still has treasured items from their time at School.

Graeme Lindsay-Foot (Class of 1986) has a School clock – he notes: “Anybody of a certain vintage from the Boys’ Division (I can’t speak for the Girls’ Division, far too dangerous to venture THAT side of the Quad) may recognise this – probably one from top corridor. It was saved from an ignominious fate decades ago, but sadly not before losing its glass. I’ll restore it properly one day.”

Carl Howard (Class of 1990) says: “I still have my Park Road cap from the early 1980s, complete with name badge taped in. I also have a copy of Norman Harper’s record, inherited from my mum.”

Bye Bye Barry!

After more than two decades of helping our pupils and parents cross Park Road safely, Barry Massey retired at the end of the Spring term. Many Old Boys will have had their day bookended by a chat with Barry and will join the School in wishing him well as he hangs up his lollipop!

Meanwhile, Roger Billingham (Class of 1960), who has lived in Brisbane, Australia since 1993, recently discovered a very familiar old text book:

“One of the enjoyable things to come from Covid has been the spread of street libraries throughout Australia. My partner, Sandra, and I have become avid library attendees and have taken delight in exchanging new and old books and coming across other special ones. Our local street library is made like an old telephone box and we check the contents every time we pass by.

“Recently Sandra found a French language primer and thought it would help me with my studies! I was quite excited when I noticed that it was Mon Livre by Emma Saxelby (Boys’ Division Staff, 19171946). Quite a coincidence as my brother, David Billingham (Class of 1956), and I had been talking last year about the Saxelby memorial gate at School and how it had been moved since we often used to cycle through it to get to the bike racks in the lower cloister.

Cheerio Karen!

Congratulations to Karen Riley, who celebrated her retirement at the end of March.

“I have been unable to discover who put the book in the library, but I am grateful to them as I can now continue to improve my schoolboy French!

“I hope Mon Livre brings happy memories to some older Old Boys!”

Karen served Bolton School for almost 16 years in her role as Catering Manager, playing a key role across the Foundation. She received a heartfelt send-off on her final day, marking the beginning of the next chapter in her life.

Roger outside a street library in Brisbane

The Saxelby Gate in its original location on Dobson Road

The Saxelby Gate in its current location in the Headmaster’s garden

Physics teacher in the Girls’ Division. Tony led the School estates at an enormously important time: one of new building from Beech House, Hesketh House to the Riley Centre, but also one where the Governing Body had to address many decades of underinvestment in the upkeep of the buildings and estate. He was tenacious in this respect: stone work and roofing is never a glamorous discussion topic, but it is central to good governance, and many years after his retirement we still ask ‘what would Tony say?’ when adjusting the estate spend. Our current planned preventative maintenance approach is his, but his legacy is without question the 20year restoration project, aimed at bringing the whole estate up to a state where it can be maintained annually. Phase One, on the Boys’ Division East Wing, took place a few years ago. Phase Two, on the south face, as well as phase one of the boiler replacements, begin this Summer, starting a cycle of stonework and boiler replacement that will last until the middle of the next decade.

Tony was expert, diligent, insistent and tenacious and he has, without question, a visible and lasting impact on the school he enjoyed so much, not least revelling in attendance at the musical events he loved so much.

Philip Britton, MBE Michael Roberts (Class of 1972)

Having been a regular attendee on CHI tours, from which he developed a love of travel that lasted his life, Mike left School having been in the Science Sixth Form to take an Estate Management degree at Reading. He then joined the Valuation Office of the Inland Revenue where he qualified as a Chartered Surveyor. Soon after qualification he joined the firm Gerald Eve in their Liverpool Office where he became a Partner in the firm and eventually the Head of their Leeds office.

After retirement, he continued travelling, some of which was in connection with lecturing and giving presentations on his philatelic hobby. At the time of his death, he was President of the Royal Philatelic Society. Mike died on Boxing Day 2024, leaving behind his wife of 42 years, Alison, a son, Peter, and a daughter, Jenny. Paul Greenwood (Class of 1972)

Christopher

Topp (Class of 1967)

Chris, my husband and business partner, died last October, aged 75.

Chris had a passion for industrial archaeology which led him to become a leading blacksmith and, ultimately, a pioneer of ironwork conservation. His work can be seen today in many key national buildings, from Buckingham Palace, the Palaces of Westminster, the Natural History Museum and Chatsworth to cathedrals such as York Minster and St Paul’s.

Chris was born in Bolton, to Harold and Evelyn Topp (née Gillybrand), and was the third of three brothers.

He first became interested in wrought iron by watching it being made and rolled during his lunch breaks at Atlas Forge; now closed, it was the last ever forge to manufacture Puddled Wrought Iron. Having sparked an interest in industrial heritage, together with three schoolfriends he made many trips to see mill and colliery engines. After studying Civil Engineering with Mining at Newcastle University, he took his first job working for British Waterways, living on a retired barge named Frugality However, he found the job tedious and boring.

Reuniting with his friends and setting up Dorothea Restorations, they lived an itinerant lifestyle, visiting closing historic industrial sites, collecting equipment including steam engines and winding winches, refurbishing them for newlyformed museums such as Beamish.

In Memoriam

After arriving in the Peak District, they took over the lease of a forge, learning blacksmithing skills from the retiring owners. Chris proved to be a natural, so he decided to stay and focus on working with iron. Later relocating to North Yorkshire, Chris first became noticed by those in the restoration world when he made new gates for Middlethorpe Hall. Working from sheds in his garden, his company (Topp & Co) grew, often taking on several of the journeymen who travelled from across the world to elevate their skills by working and living with him. He also became the only producer of re-rolled wrought iron to sell to other blacksmiths for heritage work. He and I met over our shared love of artistic ironwork, both new and historic, in 2007, but his continual complaining over the lack of conservation standards and unsympathetic repairs drove me to suggest he do something about it. So together we gathered a group of experts from related fields to set about defining standards for the conservation work of iron, through the National Heritage Ironwork Group (www.nhig.org)

Chris’ legacy will live on, hopefully for hundreds of years, through the preservation work he carried out, and the continued work of the NHIG.

Chris is survived by his wife, two ex-wives, five children and two grandchildren. Bethan Griffiths

David Aubrey (Class of 1959) - Died 27th July 2024

Peter Boulter (Class of 1966) - Died 15th April 2024

Joseph Derek Eden (Class of 1952) - Died 6th March 2025

JMA ‘Michael’ Farmer (Class of 1955) - Died 3rd October 2024

(Robert) Neil Gregson (Class of 1969) - Died 8th December 2024

Peter Noel Grimshaw (Class of 1955) - Died 27th November 2024

Christopher Hamilton (Class of 1962) - Died 29th January 2024

Brian Heap (Class of 1946) - Died 14th February 2024

Raymond Hilton (Class 0f 1951) - Died 16th February 2025

Nicholas Lewis (Class of 1967) - Died 2nd November 2024

John Liptrot (Class of 1969) - Died March 2024

Patrick McCarthy (1949-1955) - Died 6th November 2024

Roy H Needham (Class of 1950) - Died 14th February 2025

William (Bill) Ernest Nuttall (Class of 1943) - Died 17th March 2025

John Ramsdale (Boys’ Division Staff, 1989-2000) - Died 31st January 2025

Peter Renshaw (Class of 1964) - Died 11th August 2024

Frank Yates (Class of 1952) - Died 9th March 2025

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2025

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the Old Boltonians’ Association will take place on Monday 19th May at 12 noon in the Arts Centre, Bolton School.

AGM Agenda

• Apologies

• Minutes of Annual General Meeting 2024

• 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 19th May 2025 or at any adjournment of that meeting.

MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE OLD BOLTONIANS’ ASSOCIATION HELD ON MONDAY 20TH MAY 2024

The Minutes of the AGM 2023 were accepted as a true record of that meeting.

Secretary’s Report

• 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 and Vice President, nominations close at the meeting)

• Head of Boys’ Division Report and/or Head of Foundation Report

Details of those members of the General Committee who are due to retire by rotation will be given at the meeting. Barry Nightingale (1979) is the Presidential nominee and David Williams (1999) is the Vice Presidential nominee, and both are proposed for election for a period of one year.

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

(1) To elect Barry Nightingale as President of the Association for 2025/26

*FOR *AGAINST *Please delete whichever is not required

(1) To elect David Williams as Vice President of the Association for 2025/26

*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.

Signed ............................................................................................... Date ..........................

Please return this form to arrive no later than 11.30am on 19th May 2025 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”.

for his year in office as President, which was carried out with tremendous enthusiasm and had resulted in much engagement with the OBA from his peers.

Treasurer’s Report

The finances were as printed in The Bugle. The Treasurer, Phil Riding, reported on these.

Sectional Reports

The report began with sincere thanks on behalf of the OBA to Laura, Rebecca and their team in the Development Office for their sterling work in both engagement and organisation of the many events. We are in touch with 11,437 Alumni. Careers and enrichment support and mentoring was strong. Recent gatherings had been well supported, including the London Dinner which had sold out resulting in a second event being arranged. Nominations for the Alumni of the Year Awards were sought. Fundraising for the bursary scheme was in focus after the anticipated imposition of VAT on the sector; a large-scale fundraising campaign would be launched in the coming year. Richard Washington was thanked

OLD BOLTONIANS’ ASSOCIATION

As reported in The Bugle. Additional mention was made of the upcoming events, including the MCC cricket match in June and the relaunch of the Golf Society’s Taylor Trophy.

Election of Officers and General Committee

Jon Twist (Secretary) and Harry Lane were re-elected onto the Committee for three years.

Ross Taylor stepped down from the Committee.

Election of President for 2024/25

Richard Morris was elected as President until May 2025.

OLD BOLTONIANS’ ASSOCIATION INCOME