LIVES REMEMBERED

Dr Margaret A Spurr, OBE DL (Headmistress, 1979-1994) Margaret was born in Sheffield on 7th October 1933 to parents William and Annie, the third of four children. She was brought up over the family business, a chip shop – a far cry from becoming the Headmistress of a prestigious girls’ school, a Governor of the BBC and Deputy Lieutenant of Staffordshire. Margaret showed an early interest in literature; aged three, she would go to the local primary school and swing on the gate so as to listen in on story time. She passed the 11 Plus and attended Abbeydale Grammar School for Girls, where she was very sporty, swimming, diving and playing hockey at County level. Having been talent-spotted whilst playing hockey, Margaret became a games mistress at Rampton Secure Hospital, a daunting prospect for a hardened professional, let alone someone who was arriving straight from school. Yet she flourished in that environment. John, her husband to be, joined her at Rampton as a nurse. Margaret and John had known one another all their lives, but their relationship began to grow when they went together to a Sheffield Wednesday match in 1947; she was 14 and he exactly a year older. They were married in October 1953, aged just 20 and 21. After Rampton Margaret taught at Stafford College of Education, taking A Level English at the same time as her students. She later graduated from Keele University with a degree in English Literature and American Studies. The family – children David and Jane had since come along – spent a few years in Scotland, after John secured a post at the University of Stirling. John had been surprised to be invited for interview – it transpired that Margaret had applied on his behalf! Meanwhile, Margaret worked at the University of Glasgow. On the family’s return to Staffordshire, Margaret’s teaching career really took off. She taught English in Stoke and then was appointed Deputy Head of Fair Oak School before being appointed Headmistress of Bolton School in 1979. One of Margaret’s many gifts was the ability to talk with anyone - from the newest cleaner to the Archbishop of Canterbury - and to treat them all with the same courtesy and interest. Indeed, she made time to get to know not only every member of the teaching staff, but also the cleaners, the catering staff, the maintenance men and the Sergeants. Her 15 years at Bolton School saw many changes: information technology arrived, photocopiers came in, A Levels changed, O Levels became GCSEs, not to mention the National Curriculum and the start of league tables. Assisted Places were introduced to assist families who could not pay the full fees. And there was an almost continual building programme: the science laboratories were completely upgraded, Beech House and the Junior School were given greatly improved facilities, Art and Textiles, and Food Technology, moved into impressive premises on the ground floor. There was the new sports hall and swimming pool and the refurbishment of the Arts Centre. Margaret always had great care, concern and compassion for her staff and girls. When the way forward was not clear, her mantra was to decide “what was best for the girls”. She knew how to handle parents, staff and governors, how to deal with the press, how to keep a sense of proportion – “Always take things lightly” was one of her phrases. Her standards of professionalism and leadership inspired all, as evidenced by the many tributes the family received after her death. Margaret was very active on the national stage. She was on many committees of the Girls’ School Association, and was its President in 1985-86. National recognition led to an invitation from Prime Minister John Major in 1993 to be a Governor of the BBC. Margaret retired in 1994, the year she was awarded the OBE. Sadly, she and John did not have long years of retirement together; he died in 2003, aged only 71, shortly after their Golden wedding. Then her son, David, died of Motor Neurone Disease. That was especially hard. For a short while Margaret enjoyed a close friendship with Professor Peter Young. They had a few happy months together, visiting people and places, until he fell gravely ill. After he died Margaret moved to Mottingham near Lewisham in London to be with Jane and her family. But gradually Alzheimer’s took hold. At the beginning of November Margaret was admitted to hospital and three weeks later, on 24th November 2021, she slipped from this life to the next. Daughter Jane, son-in-law Philip and grandchildren Hannah and Robert miss her greatly, but are comforted by their own memories of this very special lady and by the many tributes to her which recall her gifted leadership, her persistent advocacy of pupils’ interests, her love of poetry, her immaculate dress sense, her sense of humour, her vision and energy, generosity and compassion – many of these can be read in the Former Pupils section of the School’s website, and below. Jane (née Spurr) and Philip Ware When Mrs Spurr’s death was announced there was an outpouring of sympathy from Old Girls, many of whom shared their memories of this ‘incredible’ and ‘inspirational’ Headmistress. “Remember, even when you are not here, you are ambassadors. Remember too the THREE Ds Garls: Deportment, Decorum and Dignity, and no, we would not be seen eating in public whilst wearing school

Margaret’s likeness is captured perfectly by her grandson, Robert With Diana, Princess of Wales October 1993

uniform, would we?” A marvellous woman who was both terrifying and inspirational. I was in awe and curtsied to her after my interview as she seemed so regal. She conspiratorially shared, “I think you can go and buy your cardigan now.” Such a lovely way of saying well done to a nervous 11-year-old. RIP Mrs Spurr; I left Bolton School Girls’ Division believing girls could be anything they set their minds to. Thank you for championing women and leading with strength. Jane Broadis (née Pickup, Class of 1998) She was a tour de force. Fond memories of queuing up, slightly awestruck, to meet her after signing the excellence book. “Be courteous and kind”, she always said. We shall. Rest in peace. Jo Scott (née Buffey, Class of 1996) Two memories of her particularly stand out:

I remember knocking on the door to her panelled office and sitting opposite her across that huge desk, telling her the news of my severely changed family circumstances that would require me to leave the School. She received it quietly and sensitively, thanked me for coming to tell her, then handled the situation directly, decisively and without fuss, allowing me to stay on in the Girls’ Division.

The second was her very direct and honest answering of our quite probing questions regarding how donated money was spent. She gave us (three Sixth Form girls in her car on the way to a presentation) a window into the challenges of running a private school that we hadn't understood before. Mrs Spurr was a caring, insightful, student-centred educator, combined with an astute and pragmatic businesswoman – an inspiring combination to lead the School in quite difficult times. I am personally grateful to her for the continuity and security I was able to feel at School as my family life disintegrated. Under her leadership, School was a calm, ordered, safe refuge for me. Helen Shilladay (née Buck, Class of 1987) What an impact Mrs Spurr made on the world and what an impression on Dawn Marie Gratton (Class of 1989) I was interviewed for a job and the interviewer, a misogynist who had met Mrs Spurr, said “She is an awful woman”. I replied “If you mean ‘aweful’ as in ‘inspiring awe’, then I agree.” He laughed. I got the job. Mrs Spurr was a truly inspirational lady, and I feel fortunate to have known her.

Clare Douglas (née Gorner, Class of 1989) She commanded respect, but I always liked her. She did seem to know us, and a little bit about our families. There were very few women like her in and around Bolton at the time.

Clare Fordham (née Westhead, Class of 1993) She was an absolute legend and created a generation of empowered and feisty young ladies. Real girl power. And not a detention in sight. One of my lasting memories (apart from her striding down the middle of the corridor and in to Great Hall in full gown) was when she used to boom into the microphone at the end of assembly “Will those girls who were at the party in … on Saturday night remain seated in the hall …” Lindsay Cressey (née Sandiford, Class of 1997) A wonderful, inspirational lady who had never-ending faith in ‘her girls’. I feel so fortunate to have had her as my headmistress for the entire ten years I was in the Girls’ Division. Gillian Rimmer (née Barker, Class of 1991) A formidable but fair headmistress and extremely inspirational. Jo Bishop (née Carr, Class of 1995) Mrs Spurr was a fabulous role model and embodied the Girls’ Division. I’m proud to have called her my Headmistress. She interviewed me for a place in what is now Year 7 and offered me a place there and then. Made me cry tears of happiness. Alexandra Monro (née Mack, Class of 1995) Dorothy Lees-Blakey (née Lees, 1942-1950) Finally now reunited with the love of her life, Dorothy passed away peacefully surrounded by family at her son’s home in Edmonton. Predeceased by her beloved husband Brian, she is survived by her son Mark (Radeana), daughter Sarah (John), grandchildren Micki, Khale, Sherylyn, Danielle and Debbie, greatgrandchildren Austin, Evelyn, CJ, Aria and Rhys, as well as many friends and extended family members throughout Canada and the United Kingdom. Born and raised in Bolton, England, Dorothy was a graduate of the University of Manchester where she met Brian, a fellow student in the French department. Brian’s career as a university lecturer took the couple to several locations throughout England and Scotland, before bringing them to Canada in 1969, when he took a position at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. Following Brian’s death in 1979, she headed west and spent a few years in Victoria, BC, before ultimately returning to Ontario. A French teacher by profession, Dorothy also had a lifelong love of the fine arts. She was an accomplished piano player, composer, actress and writer, on both an amateur and professional level. Our family would like to extend a heart-felt thank you to Dr Ernest Hajcsar at EH2 Medical Associates in Burlington, Ontario, and to Dr Amber Peters at the Grey Nuns Hospital in Edmonton, Alberta, for their exceptional guidance and care during these past few months. There was no service by request. In lieu of flowers, donations were invited to the Dorothy Lees-Blakey memorial award at Bolton School via development@boltonschool.org. Mark Blakey Sheila Bruckshaw (1932-1942) Sheila was born in Bolton on 20th August 1924 to Frank Earnest Bruckshaw and Eleanor Elevia Bruckshaw (née Quayle). Frank was

With Miss Panton and Mrs Richards at the Staff Tea Party, July 2006

a yarn salesman at Coral Spinning Company, Bolton and latterly an accountant at the Haslam factory. Sheila had one older brother Morton and together they lived at 151 Tudor Avenue.

Sheila attended Bolton School from 1935 to 1942 where she excelled at sports; she captained the cricket team as well as being in the first teams for Netball, Lacrosse, Hockey and Tennis. A photo of Sheila as part of the Shield winning Junior Netball team of 1938 is enclosed with Sheila sitting cross-legged at the front holding the ball. After finishing school, Sheila attended the Liverpool Physical Training College from 1942-45 and trained to become a PE teacher. Her whole working life was spent at Chorley Grammar School where she taught PE until she retired in 1974. She taught at Chorley with Tom Cleary, who was the Maths teacher and Deputy Head, and after her mother passed away, Sheila and Tom moved to Horwich, where they lived happily until Tom passed away in 1999.

In retirement, Sheila retained her love of sports and followed all the big sporting events throughout the year. She was still playing competitive croquet well into her 90s as part of Bury Croquet Club. Sheila was an amazing cook and very adventurous with her menus - whenever you visited, she would always have a delicious three-course lunch or dinner prepared. She liked to do all her own shopping and even at 95 would drive every week to Bolton to get her weekly groceries. Sheila was an accomplished completer of cryptic crosswords, which she did every day. Her mind was always incredibly sharp and her ability to recall and share so much of the family history as well as memories of pre-war Bolton was always fascinating. Sheila’s closest relatives were her late cousins’ children and she took a great deal of interest in the lives of all her extended family. An afternoon spent with Sheila was always filled with excellent conversation – full of fascinating stories of the past, her expansive knowledge and interest in current affairs and her generous and genuine interest in our lives too. She passed away suddenly in February 2021, having lived a long, healthy, and active life. She remained living independently, in her own home, and fully able to care for herself right up until the end which is exactly how she would have liked it. She is, and will continue to be, very much loved and very much missed by all her extended family. As well as photographs of Sheila’s time at Bolton School, her personal items also contained a postcard of the School, a handwritten reference from Dorothy Varley on Bolton School headed notepaper from 1948 and Sheila’s Grammar exercise book.

Jo Spiller Alison Mary Clemence (née Mitchell, 1956-1969) Mary was born in Bolton, the fifth child of six born to Ken and Joan Mitchell. Their home was a stable, loving, Christian home, centred on the life of St Peter’s church in Halliwell Mary was educated at Bolton School, as were all her brothers and sisters, and then went to Nottingham University where she studied Geography, before going on to Manchester University to complete a diploma in Town and Country Planning. For many years she worked in local authorities and then as a Planning Inspector in England and Ireland and latterly, having completed a diploma in building conservation, she specialised in built heritage. Her personal and professional passion was to restore and find new uses for old buildings and to contribute to making places beautiful and functional. She met her husband Paul at 21 whilst at Manchester University and they married in 1983. Their son, James, was born in 1987 when Paul was sounding out a vocation to the Anglican ministry. They moved to Oxford during Paul’s training. In 1990 they settled for four years in Lancaster, where Jenny was born. Mary was a natural and gifted mother. In all the changes in our lives she adapted with her quiet grace, enhancing family life with her joyful, smiling, loving, no nonsense way while also working part time and coping with the new demands of parish life at St John’s Church in Little Thornton. She had a particular gift with young people and over the years she devoted much energy and time to ministry for children and youth in all the churches she settled in.

Mary was never one to court the limelight; she retained her unwillingness to stand out, but her humility and love of people made her very approachable – as did her smile and beautiful laugh! Her willingness to give practical help at the drop of a hat and never to grumble or complain was the golden thread that shone through her life. She may have been reserved, but this did not stop her speaking up when needed. If she thought something was wrong, she would tell you. No account of Mary would be complete without remembering the loving bond with her younger sister Sue, her love of hill walking and of gardening. She also had an eye for colour and enjoyed decorating. In DIY, woe betide if you were satisfied with anything that was not 100% level or vertical. Lining paper had to be so perfectly lined up that the whole wall looked like single sheet. Mary was a keen observer of everyday life and for years she scribbled down in notebooks little cameos of things that caught her eye. These writings turn up all over her note books, short pithy, beautifully written moments of pain, or amusement, or simple delight in everyday life. She had the hope that one day she would write a novel. There is no novel, but we do have an archive of scribbles to discover and enjoy. She will be sorely missed by her family near and far and a large host of friends. Her joy is now to be with the Lord who has directed and shaped her life to the glory of His eternal gift of life. Paul Clemence

Form 4a, 1938 (Sheila is second from left on the middle row)

Mary with her daughter, Jenny, in 2014

M Susan Garnett (née Parry, 1952-1958)

Susan and I were friends for over 70 years. We were in the same form at School the whole time, we did the same O Levels, and chose Art, English and Geography as our A Level subjects. We shared a love of music and drama, and we both took part in the 1958 school play, The Importance of being Earnest. It was her idea, when we were still only 16 or 17, to take a group of Lower Fourth girls on a week-long walking and Youth Hostelling holiday in the Lakes, and she organised the whole thing, with me as a feeble support. Both of us studied Geography at University, in totally different parts of the country, but Susan, with her flair for organisation and public speaking, became Lady President of her Students’ Union. And she was good at sport – quite unlike me! She had played lacrosse in the School team, and continued to be involved in sport at University.

On her own, and with two very young children, she moved back to Bolton, becoming a teacher at our old School for a while. Then she found her real métier, becoming head of Elleray School in Windermere. Following that she moved to take up the post of Head of Geography at the prestigious Sedbergh School, which she reveled in, often amused when visiting parents supposed she was a secretary, since all the rest of the staff were male. Always ready for an adventure, she would enthusiastically join male colleagues on a day out to climb Helvellyn or some other Lake District Peak. She was fully involved in the extra-curricular activities of the school, like the choir, and also with the vibrant community of Sedbergh town, directing Gilbert and Sullivan shows and helping to organise their music festivals. After her son and daughter were launched on their own careers, she spent a sabbatical year in Australia, teaching and conducting field studies.

In retirement she was even more involved with the life of the town, especially the Town Twinning programme with Slovenia, leading groups to Zrece every other year. She also led the Sedbergh branch of the Cumbria Wildlife Trust and became one of the Trustees of the CWT. Nothing daunted or dismayed her: she was able to cope with everything, including several house moves within Sedbergh, and seemed to have endless energy. Even when cancer struck, she was keen to take part in clinical trials of new drugs. Her courage, on her own, when things went wrong and emergency help had to be summoned, was formidable. Later she would laugh it off, and most of the time she could count on help from the many devoted friends she had in Sedbergh. Her humour, her forthright manner, her kindness and thoughtfulness will be sadly missed.

She leaves a son and daughter and five young grandchildren whom she adored.

Val Stevens (née Deans, 1951-1958) Stella Good (née Parker, 1946-1953) Stella joined Bolton School in 1946. Having successfully negotiated her School Certificate, she joined the Sixth Form. For reasons lost in the mists of time, it was suggested she take the Civil Service exam, in which she finished seventh nationally. She was then offered the chance to join the service but on an ‘any department, anywhere’ basis. So, as a 16 year old, she joined Customs & Excise, based in Blackpool. Her original posting saw her working on sugar rationing, which included having to fly regularly to the Isle of Man on a DC-3 (Dakota) which still had the RAF roundels visible. Missing family and friends, she moved back to Bolton and joined the Education department, and from that point she moved around various council departments. In 1959 she married Antony (Tony) Good (Class of 1946), an Old Boy whom she knew from Heaton Village Tennis Club. After the birth of their children and taking time out to be a full-time mum, she re-joined the Civil Service as a tax officer. Anyone who visited Enquiries at Lever Chambers or Churchgate probably met her – indeed many ‘customers’ refused to speak to anyone else! Stella had many interests, often connected with local amateur operatic and dramatic societies. From make-up, prompting, props, she could even work a follow spot if pushed and the urgent phone call from someone requiring help was a feature of her retirement. She lived in Heaton all her life and maintained her relationship with the School in later years through the Old Girls’ events which she loved attending. Her funeral was held at Christ Church, where she had been Christened 84 years earlier. A relaxation in the Covid-19 regulations meant that a reasonable number of people could attend, but there was no wake. She would have noted the irony as she always loved a good ‘after show’ party. Graham Good and Wendy Hulton (née Good) Elizabeth Plant (Class of 1966; Girls’ Division Staff, 1979-1990) Elizabeth Plant, who died suddenly at Christmas, had longstanding links with Bolton School, first as a pupil and A Level Classics student, and later as a member of staff of the Girls’ Division, serving as Head of Classics and as Deputy Head before her eventual appointment as Head of Parsons Mead School, Ashtead. She is remembered as a supportive Head of Department and a mainstay of Senior Management, fondly remembered by the family of former Head Mrs Margaret Spurr, whose funeral service she led just a few weeks before her own death.

Elizabeth was born on the Isle of Man, shortly after her parents moved to Douglas for her father’s work. Her mother had been born in Brazil and foreign travel was to be one of Elizabeth’s lifelong interests. In 1952 the family moved to Bolton and in 1968 settled in Deane where they became members of St Mary’s Church, Deane. The church became a focus of Elizabeth’s life and she served in a variety of ways, especially as a Pathfinder leader, attending camps with the young people despite hating camping herself. Elizabeth completed her education by gaining an Honours degree in Classics at London University and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education