In Memoriam

Old Trafford. The following year they went one better when they not only retained the Lancashire Amateur Cup, beating East Chorlton 2-0 at Old Trafford in the Final, but also won the Lancashire Amateur League Central Section Championship. Jeff was again a member of this record-breaking team. After School Jeff completed a Diploma in Applied Chemistry at Salford Royal College of Advanced Technology and was awarded a Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Award to carry out research for the degree of DPhil at University College, Oxford. Whilst there he was awarded his Association Football Blue and played for Oxford in the Varsity match at Wembley Stadium – his team was coached by none other than Bobby Robson and the goalkeeper in the opposing Cambridge team was Old Boy Rodney Ward (1952-1962). After leaving Oxford in 1966 Jeff and his wife, Irene, whom he married in 1965, moved to Cheshire where he worked in research and development for Silentnight. Their son, Garic, was born in 1969, followed by Glenn in 1973. In 1972 Jeff started up his own business manufacturing polythene bags. He continued to play for the Old Boltonians. When the business closed in December 1998, Jeff found himself with time on his hands. He had been helping with the youth team at Burnley AFC for several years on a voluntary basis and in June 1999 was offered a full-time post scouting and helping at the Centre of Excellence. He stayed there until June 2013. In October the same year he took up a similar role at Blackburn Rovers AFC where he remained until he died. Jeff often spoke of his days playing for the Old Boltonians, the friends he had made and lots of treasured memories. He was a true gentleman, always willing to help and encourage, and did his best to make sure everyone enjoyed life with a smile. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. Irene Taylor

Leonard Vickers, a leading figure in New York marketing circles for three decades, died of cancer on 29th June at his home in Stamford, Connecticut. He was born on 29th January 1942 in Bolton. His father, Harry, was a self-employed roof slater, and his mother, Phoebe, a housewife. He had two older sisters, Audrey and Dorothy. After primary school, Len was granted a scholarship to the esteemed Bolton School, which he attended for eight years and finished as School Captain. Len was then awarded a scholarship to Downing College, Cambridge, where he studied Modern Languages (French and German), and played a great deal of soccer. He felt his time at Bolton School had been very formative, and had brought out his innate strengths. Education remained important to him and he would point out that education’s Latin root is ‘educare’ – which means to ‘bring out’, not to ‘put in’. He was always interested in leadership and what it could accomplish, and was inspired by Winston Churchill throughout his life. Upon graduation he was offered a position in the relatively new field of marketing by Unilever, which he managed to defer for two years. During this time he worked as a tour guide in Europe, and travelled around the US, including working in the Civil Rights movement on voter registration in the South. He returned to England to work as a product manager for Birds Eye Foods before moving to New York in 1968 to work in marketing, joining SSC&B, and BBDO advertising agencies. In 1978 he was brought on by Jack Welch to join his client, GE, to help reposition the company, and was responsible for the ‘We Bring Good Things to Life’ campaign. Later, Len was hired by Xerox as the SVP of Marketing, and was responsible for the ‘Xerox – The Document Company’ campaign. Subsequently he formed his own consulting company, Len Vickers Associates, operating in the US and Europe. While Len took his work seriously, he never took himself seriously, and he had a true interest and respect for all people with whom he came into contact. Len was a genuinely funny and clever man and would delight those he knew, and even those he didn’t, with his stories, of which he had many. One of his favorites was how he penned a pre-fight poem for Mohammed Ali towards his opponent, Joe Bugner, which Ali recited on The Johnny Carson Show. An avid recreational runner, Len was especially proud of the fact that he ran in, and completed, the 1979 New York City Marathon. Len is survived by his wife of 39 years, Gunilla, and their daughter, Phoebe. He is also survived by his three children from his first marriage to Betsy Vickers – Tess (Doug), Susan and Ned, and five grandchildren: Emma, Ben, Aidan, Cece and Jasper. Len will also be missed by three nieces and a nephew: Nina, Thea, Adele and Austin. In retirement Len and Gunilla lived mainly in Connecticut, but also travelled to homes in Sweden and Kenya. On the subject of life, when asked ”What’s it all about?“ Len would often repeat the words of Noel Coward: “Jolly good company … filthy stories and all that … but most of all, love.” Gunilla Vickers and family

Tom Benson (Class of 2003) – Died 6th November 2021 David Cole (1971-1978) – Died 17th August 2021 David Haslam (Class of 1980) – Died 23rd August 2021 Melvyn Hilton (1949-1955) – Died 1st August 2021 Peter Parkinson (1952-1960) – Died 19th July 2021 Alan Sutton (1947-1953) – Died 5th August 2021

Old Boltonians’ Association Autumn Newsletter 2021

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