Alumni of the Year Awards

On 2nd October, Rob ran the London Marathon for the life-saving blood cancer charity Anthony Nolan. He became involved with Anthony Nolan when he signed up to the register one lunchtime at School. As often happens with these things, he forgot all about it until six months later when he got a phone call suggesting he was a match for a patient with blood cancer.

Fast forward a year and Rob had donated 4.72 million stem cells over two occasions and donated further white blood cells to the same poorly patient, all during Covid-19. Throughout the process he was very well supported by everybody at Anthony Nolan. In addition, his train and hotel costs were reimbursed, leading him to wonder whether it would be possible to try to make his donation as cost neutral as possible. At the time of writing, Rob has raised over £2,500 for Anthony Nolan and completed his first marathon in a time of 3:28:25. Although he was shattered, it was an amazing experience – the crowds were so loud and the atmosphere was brilliant. If anyone reading is interested in signing up to the Anthony Nolan stem cell register or has any questions, Rob can be contacted via the Development Office. Readers wishing to support his marathon efforts can do so here: justgiving.com/fundraising/ robertharris19.

After learning that fellow Old Boy (and current staff member) Liam Watkinson (Class of 2009) had signed up for Ironman 2022, Jordon toyed with the idea of entering himself. On discovering that another former Boltonian from their year, Antonia Heap (Class of 2009), was also taking part, he eventually succumbed to peer pressure and registered. Eight months of training and 13.52 hours of pain and suffering later, Jordon crossed the finish line. He recalls that it was an incredible day, with amazing support, including many Bolton School alumni and staff, and made all the more sweeter knowing that Liam and Antonia had completed the race too.

Congratulations to Jensen and Daniel who returned to School to receive their water polo commemorative caps, having represented the School for the seven years they were in the Senior School. Daniel also represented GB Juniors earlier this year. The pair were presented with their awards by Colin Walsh, President of the English Schools Swimming Association.

Liam and Jordon Jensen (left) and Daniel receive their awards from ESSA President Colin Walsh

The 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 – in short, those Alumni who embody the School’s ethos of producing people who go out into the world and make a difference for good. In May, members of the School community were asked to nominate Alumni whom they felt were deserving of the awards for Old Boy and Old Girl of the Year. Four Alumni were subsequently shortlisted for the Old Boy of the Year award: Sir Philip Craven MBE (Class of 1968), Max Griffiths and Sam Yates (both Class of 2001), Richard Morris (Class of 1986) and Philip Worthington (Class of 2003). Pupils from across the Junior and Senior Schools in both Divisions were invited to choose the nominee they felt was the most deserving winner of each of the two Awards in a vote conducted at the end of the Summer Term. The close nature of this pupil vote, combined with the strength of Alumni support for the nominees and their achievements, led the School to present two further awards, for Outstanding Achievement, in addition to the two Alumni of the Year Awards. Sir Philip Craven was chosen as the inaugural recipient of the Old Boy of the Year Award, in recognition of his outstanding sporting achievements and his lifelong dedication to the development of Paralympic sports. Max Griffiths and Sam Yates (both Class of 2001) were the joint winners of the Old Boys’ Outstanding Achievement Award, in recognition of the impact of LivLife, the charity they founded 16 years ago to enrich the lives of economically disadvantaged people in North Tanzania.

Sir Philip, Max and Sam will be presented with their Awards at a special assembly for pupils from both Divisions to be held in the Spring Term. They will be joined at that assembly by Dr Sheila Fisher (née Platt, Class of 1970) – winner of the Old Girl of the Year Award 2022, and by Rebecca Turner (née Maudsley, Class of 2006) – winner of the Old Girls’ Outstanding Achievement Award 2022.

We offer all four recipients our heartfelt congratulations on their well-deserved awards.

Nominations for the 2023 Alumni of the Year Awards will open in Spring 2023.

Old Boy of the Year, Sir Philip Craven

Max and Sam, winners of the Old Boys’ Outstanding Achievement Award