News of Old Boys and Former Staff

If you would like to get in touch with any of the Old Boys featured – or any other Old Boltonian – please contact the Development Office.

Norman joined Melvyn Bragg for In Our Time to discuss the PolishLithuanian Commonwealth which flourished for 400 years until the middle of the eighteenth century. There is a brief review of Norman’s recent book on George II on page 14.

Roger and his wife have moved to a new abode in Keyworth, Nottingham, where their daughter and her family live. However, they have also bought an apartment in Saddleworth, the area where they have lived for the past 47 years, so that they can keep in regular contact with friends there and other family members and friends in the North West, including those in Bolton. They are looking forward to freedom from some of the local commitments they have had for many years and to the opportunity to visit people in other parts of the country that they haven’t seen for some time. They enjoyed a large gathering of family and friends in August, when their son, Richard, got married in London, with their three granddaughters as bridesmaids.

Norman is well into retirement now after stopping work at the age of 83 with a visit to Taiwan where he keynoted a conference on learning cities. He passes the time by writing poetry and music – and avoiding Covid! He has updated his book, The Boy from the Back Streets of Bolton, especially the chapter on Bolton School – a review of the book is on page 15

For 18 years Andrew ran a Shakespeare company at the Tobacco Factory Theatre in Bristol. The company played 12week seasons there, toured around the UK, and appeared at international festivals in Eire, Germany and Romania. All that has been paused by the pandemic (and Andrew has retired from the company), but they are seeking smaller projects to maintain sanity and, if possible, some income. Andrew recently directed a reading of King Lear which was live-streamed in July and is now available on YouTube. The distinguished cast, which includes David Horovitch, Rory Kinnear, Nicholas le Prevost, Richard O’Callaghan and Dorothea Myer-Bennett, is raising funds for Acting for Others charities which provide help for those in the industry in the severest need. Find it here:

In the late Autumn Andrew will continue his ‘Interpreting Shakespeare’ classes at the University of Bristol with an in-depth look at Twelfth Night. This is part of the University’s lifelong learning programme, is open to any Shakespeare enthusiast, and will this year be conducted via Zoom. For details, keep an eye on: www.andrewhilton.online. Meanwhile Andrew awaits the publication, by Nick Hern Books, of his book about Shakespeare production, Shakespeare on the Factory Floor, long delayed by the pandemic. Andrew is in regular touch with three old classmates: Duncan Nightingale, Michael Richardson and Ian Walkden, and is keen to catch up with Susan Packer (Class of 1967).

Congratulations to Mark on the publication of his first novel: In Soviet Times People Knew Where To Cross The Road. Mark has published several academic books in the field of social work, but this is his first work of fiction. A review of his novel is on page 14. Copies of Marks book are available from Aspect Press: allan@aspect-design.net for £8.95 + pp.

Artie has been a Trustee of the Sir John Sedley Educational Foundation (sirjohnsedley.org.uk) for 40 years and Chair for around 15 years. Trustees include Lady Jennifer Gretton (retired Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire), Sir Richard Tollemache and Malise Graham (former Chair of Melton Borough Council). The Foundation has recently completed the sale of over 40 acres of its farmland at Melton Mowbray (land purchased by Lady Elizabeth Sedley in 1641 after the death of Sir John in 1637). This has been a protracted (but interesting) process lasting over ten years since the announcement of the Melton Sustainable Urban Expansion. The current stage involves Artie and Sir Richard investigating and mapping out the investment policy of the Trust going forward with its new found wealth (£5.2 million). This for a charity previously with an income in five figures (just), which grants funds to local young people in Wymondham (Melton Mowbray) and the surrounding Parishes.

Every child begins life with a book of blank pages. The content, often beyond their control, is initiated and influenced by others, especially parents and educators. The significance and importance of these experiences are never fully appreciated until the past becomes an integral part of the present and the future.

Andrew’s background in television broadcasting, predominantly engineering, was inspired whilst a pupil at Melville College, Edinburgh. A holiday project to design and build a crystal radio set led him to Modern Radio, Bolton.

Mr Burrows realized his enthusiasm and drew a simple diagram and sent him home with all the relevant parts. Success breeds success, leaving him with the desire and thirst to learn more.

His love of maths was recognized by Mrs Wolfenden at Bolton School and she encouraged him to read mathematical puzzle books by Martin Gardner.

In 1980 whilst working on the Black Isle, Inverness, for the IBA, Andrew was invited to use his programming skills to design Channel 4 studios. The launch in 1982 saw the first totally automated playout centre in the world. Andrew has also had the privilege of sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm with others; training unskilled young people and watching their careers flourish in the broadcasting industry; including his daughter, Rachel. Redundancy gave him the opportunity to utilize all his software development skills and launch his own company SoftSpot Software, in 2004, selling word games throughout Canada and Europe. Age does not inhibit his quest and zest for life. He and his wife Jane went to live in a small fishing village in Cantabria, Spain over 12 years ago and integrated fully into a non-English speaking society. Covid-19 has separated them from family for too long and they are about to begin a new chapter in Scotland. Andrew’s circumstances have changed many times over the years and he sometimes feels like Forrest Gump sitting at the bus stop looking back in wonder at all the people who have touched his life along the way, and arriving in places that had not been planned. “I seldom end up where I wanted to go, but almost always end up where I need to be.” Douglas Adams (1952-2001)

Ivor had his first football article published in the April edition of Late Tackle magazine. The article, called Talking a Good Game: the Strange Language of Football, brings together his interests in sport and in language, both of which were nurtured at School.

On leaving Bolton School in 1978 Arpan went to St Thomas’ Hospital medical school, London, graduating in Medicine in 1983. After junior medical jobs at St Thomas Hospital, Leicester teaching hospitals, the Royal Free and The Royal Marsden HospitaIs, he specialised in radiology at the old Westminster Hospital and back at St Thomas and Guy’s hospitals. He was appointed a consultant radiologist at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital in 1995 where he worked until his retirement in 2019. He was a postgraduate tutor in radiology, taught medical students, and managed to pursue his research interests, publishing several papers and books, including a bestselling textbook, Radiology Made Easy. Arpan served as President of the Radiology section of the Royal Society of Medicine, London, from 2005 to 2007, as well on the Royal College of Radiology Scientific Committee, and organised and lectured at numerous national and international scientific meetings. The latest of Arpan’s seven published books is the co-written The History of Radiology, published by OUP in 2013. He was a radiology history adviser to Downton Abbey. Arpan is married to Tina, a GP, and they have two daughters: the elder is studying economics at Oxford University and the younger plans to study natural sciences at Cambridge from October.

In his retirement Arpan continues to write and study medical and radiology history and has recently helped to translate a new biography of Röntgen from German to English. He is currently Chairman of the International Society for the History of Radiology (ISHRAD) which provides a platform for him to pursue his interests in this field and still travel and lecture a bit. Earlier this year he was a guest speaker on the BBC World Service radio programme The Forum, titled ‘X-Rays – A New Way of Seeing’, which covered the early development of radiology. Arpan attributes his interest in matters historical to the brilliant history teaching at Bolton School by Mr Northam (Boys’ Division Staff, 1963-1996) and the late Mr Eames (Boys’ Division Staff, 1966-1997). He also remains eternally grateful to Mr Winder (Boys’ Division Staff, 1964-1999) for his encouragement with debating which honed his public speaking skills, and remembers the superb Chemistry department – it was a privilege to be taught by Dr Watson (Boys’ Division Staff, 1973-2008). Arpan would love to hear from old classmates and can be contacted via the Development Office.

In September Bolton hosted its first Half Iron Man event and World Championship qualifier. 1.2 miles murky swim, 56 miles hilly cycling and 13.1 miles undulating running. Ian Hamer and Tim Taylor, both 1979 leavers, took up the challenge and embraced the opportunity to race in front of a home crowd. The event started at Pennington Flash with a perfect water temperature of 17 degrees. 20 miles in to the bike phase the real climbing started and local knowledge was used to the full to make progress through the field. As the run stage started the sun came out to add to the challenge. Two laps through town, along Chorley New Road and past School took its toll on the competition as the ‘79 leavers got stronger. The pair were delighted to achieve podium finishes in the V60 category, Hamer in second (just missing World Championship qualification) in 6 hours 17 minutes and Taylor third in 6 hours 21 minutes.

Ian and Tim with their well-deserved medals

Nigel was interviewed for the September edition of The Cricketer. He described his late growth of interest in the game and noted that he attended the same school as Haseeb Hameed and Callum and Matthew Parkinson (all Class of 2015). Living in Greece, he has enjoyed informal games as player and spectator and in his travels as Vice President of the International Chess

Federation he has introduced a number of leading chess players to cricket.

Nigel and his new toy!

Nigel has opened a Great Manchester office surveyors in Stockport for his firm of chartered surveyors to complement the existing Leeds one. The firm’s workload is growing in the North West for private clients, charities and housing associations. He is especially busy with a wide variety of Expert Witness valuation cases referred from solicitors.

Working with a local church he has developed a ‘reach out’ work in Marple, taking a food bank out into needy areas. Nigel has also treated himself to an antique toy!

Neil is enjoying la belle vie in the Haute-Vienne. In spite of retirement plans, he is still grinding the wheel of software engineering. Covid-19 has mostly passed him by on the grounds that in département 87 people are outnumbered ten to one by cattle. Life consists of potager, pool, poker and pétanque and some other stuff which doesn’t begin with the letter p. Neil is now acting as translator for the local Auberge owner – the late Mr Tatman would be astonished! He is still attempting to educate the French in the concept of the pie, although expectations on that front are low.

Sameer was awarded the prestigious Outstanding Achievement Award for Healthcare Excellence for his efforts in combating Covid-19 in India. He is the Vice Chairman of Dr Mehta’s Hospitals, which has recently been recognised as the leading institution in Clinical Outcomes having successfully treated over 3,000 in-patients. The institution has won multiple international awards in Academic Teaching, Clinical Excellence and Customer Care.

The Summer saw double celebrations for Mike. Not only did he add a BEng in Civil Engineering (First Class Honours) to his MA in Russian, but he and his wife, Leila, celebrated the arrival of their fourth child, Reuben Wilfrid Evans, on Friday 9th July! Mike is currently working as Off-Track Asset Engineer for the North West for Network Rail and so is relying a little more on his civil engineering than his Russian at the moment.

Congratulations to OBA Golf Society Secretary Mark who reached the Final Qualifying for the Open Championship at St Anne’s Old Links Golf Club in June. On the Saturday, he recorded a one under par to claim one of the spots in the Finals. With only three spots available in the Open itself, it was always going to be a challenge for any club amateur to progress, but nevertheless he played exceptionally well.

The day started with a photo next to the famous Claret Jug. He was quickly two under and was in fourth place on the early Leader Board through 12 holes. A couple of dropped shots saw him back on level par for the morning round, so no damage done. The afternoon started well, again going two under through eight and a couple more chances to go four under slipped by as the ball lipped out on the fast greens. Maybe the heat and tiredness took over as Mark approached the final three holes, still two under, but dropped shots saw him finish one over on the day and level for the tournament. As his caddie, Mike Lay, former Lancashire President, remarked, “Technically, you were the lowest ranked player in the field, with Walker Cup, Ryder Cup and European Tour Winners making up the field, so it was a great performance.”

Mike graduated from the University of Bolton Mike and new arrival Reuben

Mark with the famous Claret Jug

Sean will be retiring from professional football after a career that began in 2006. He is currently playing Sean celebrates after with Newtown in scoring for Sheffield the Welsh Premier Wednesday against League and starts Crystal Palace the new season in the Europa Conference League which, having considered everything, will be his last as a player. Fortunately Sean’s association with the sport is not ending as he will join the first team staff at Newtown as a coach whilst also working towards the UEFA A Licence.

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

Alex, Hattie and baby Annabelle

After gaining a First Class degree in Mathematics with Russian, with a Distinction in Spoken Russian, from the University of Manchester in 2019, Andrew spent two years at Novosibirsk State University in Russia, where he achieved a Distinction in his Oil and Gas Management Master’s degree. From October 2021 he will be undertaking a PhD at the British Antarctic Survey in Cambridge to research links between climate change and forest fires in Siberia.

Hal studied Physics with German at the University of Nottingham, which ran modules in conversational German, alongside core physics, to prepare him for a year in Munich studying at Ludwig-MaximilianUniversität. It was during this year abroad, at a wet Parkrun in late September, that Hal met some Patent Attorneys from Manchester on a business trip. He soon found a shared interest for their work: a career which makes use of both communication and scientific skills, and rewards them with a unique exposure to the latest ideas and innovations in a variety of fields and locations — facilitating a continued application of the German language. Two years on, after a successful job application to Kilburn & Strode, Hal is set on joining the world of intellectual property law, and equipped to give the same advice that he once received to any gregarious science undergraduate out on a morning run.

Congratulations to Arron who has become the British National Open Men’s Water Skiing Champion following a competition in Oxford in September. His performance put him in the top 13 in the world and was within five buoys of a world record! As a result, he qualified for the Open World Championships, held in Orlando, in October. Arron’s passion for water skiing led to international success even during his time as a pupil: he had a spot on the British junior water skiing team and earned multiple medals at European competitions, as well as a silver at the Junior World Championships in Year 13. After leaving School Aaron went on to study industrial engineering at the University of Louisiana in Lafayette. He is now a member of the illustrious ULL water ski team.

Alex studied Drama at the prestigious University of Exeter. After graduating in the midst of the pandemic, he went on to work in the digital publishing space starting at Pink News. He is now working at globally renowned newspaper The Financial Times, where he works across FT Live events, conferences and summits. At the FT, he is based in the historic Bracken House, just a stone’s throw away from London’s St Paul’s Cathedral. He notably worked on a crisis summit event for the Afghanistan conflict where the company saw a record number of viewers.

Congratulations to Muhiyud-Dean who has gained a First Class MMath degree from the University of Warwick and who has also secured a job with Kubrick, a consultancy firm specialising in data, which he commenced in October.

Well done to Andy who has received a Congratulatory First in Classics from Oxford. Andy is now studying for an MPhil in Classics at Cambridge, where he is fortunate to have gained a Studentship from the Faculty to help fund his studies.

Congratulations to Luke who has graduated from the University of Cambridge with First Class honours in English. Luke is now in China, studying for a Masters in Global Affairs on the Schwarzman Scholars Programme in Beijing. Set up by American philanthropist Steve Schwarzman as the ‘Rhodes Scholarship for Asia’, the Schwarzman Scholars programme is a one-year, fully-funded master’s programme based out of Tsinghua University, designed to build a global community of future leaders who will deepen understanding between China and the rest of the world.

Congratulations to Adam who has graduated from Newcastle University with a First Class degree in English Literature and Philosophy. Despite being unable Adam is now studying for a Masters in to attend an in-person Philosophy at Durham University. graduation Hal enjoyed celebrating his first- Adam Hall (2016-2018) class degree Congratulations to Adam who has been elected to a scholarship of Jesus College, Cambridge and was also awarded the Sir Leslie Martin Prize for his results in the Architecture tripos.

Congratulations to George who has graduated from Keele University with a 2:1 in BSc Hons Neuroscience. He has also secured a job straight out of university and is now working with PepsiCo.

Congratulations to Stewart who has graduated from Lancaster University with First Class Honours in BSc Business Management. Stewart is now looking forward to continuing working with his two organisations, Millxnnials Public Speaking Consultants and Context Culture.

Congratulations to Sam who has gained First Class Honours in Jurisprudence from Somerville College, Oxford. Sam remains in Oxford where he is now studying for the Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL). Arron at the 2015 European U17 Water Skiing Championships.

Congratulations to Aden on his engagement to Grace! The pair met at Warwick University Happy couple and plan to marry Aden and Grace very soon.

Mike is very proud that his daughter, Annie Percik (Girls’ Division 1990-1996), recently had her debut novel published, a fantasy entitled The Defiant Spark. The book was reviewed in the Spring edition of the Old Girls’ Newsletter and the review can be read at boltonschool. org/former-pupils/newsletters.