Lives Remembered

Derek was born in 1929 and brought up in the Daubhill area of Bolton, where his parents had a Temperance Bar, selling drinks such as Sarsaparilla, Vimto and Horlicks. After attending Sunning Hill School, he won a scholarship to Bolton School. This was for him in many ways a life-changing event. He enjoyed his time at School and was a member of the Scout Group. He made life-long friendships whilst at Bolton School, including with Ray Heslop and George Buckley. After School, Derek went to Bristol University to study French and German, funded under a scheme for prospective teachers. His degree included a spell at the Sorbonne, staying with a family in a well-to-do part of Paris. In exchange their son came in the holidays to Daubhill, which must have been a culture shock. His degree fixed his future career. Luckily teaching suited him, firstly at Wigan Grammar School (where he was a Scout leader) and then at Smithills School where he became Head of the Modern Languages Department and stayed until retirement. In 1955 Derek married Stella (née Wolstencroft, 1943-1948) and together they had three children who also attended Bolton School: Jonathan (1965-1976), Nicholas (1969-1979) and Caroline (1975-1982). Both before and after retirement, Derek had a wide range of interests, including history, cinema, theatre and language. He often took on volunteer and committee roles that contributed to the community in Bolton, for example with Bolton Newstalk, Smithills Hall and Bolton Choral Union. He was a committed member of the Old Boltonians, being a regular attendee at events and a supporter of the School. In recent years his health, in particular his memory, declined, but his sense of humour and good nature was with him to the end. Caroline Eccles (1975-1982)

Rodger was born in Crumpsall, Manchester, and went to Crumpsall Lane Primary School (the primary school where he met Vivien to whom he was married for over 50 years) and then to North Manchester Grammar. After school he gained a place at Oxford to read Engineering Science after which he embarked on a short career in engineering before joining Bolton School in 1976. As well as teaching Physics he undertook many and varied roles in the School; latterly he was Careers Master, but he was also involved in badminton, running the School teams for many years, and hockey. He, together with Vivien and his children, Daniel and Emily, were involved for several years in the Saundersfoot Camp. As well as singing in the School choir, Rodger also performed the role of a policeman in the School production of Pirates of Penzance – he was the only member of the police force with a real moustache! My wife and I have many happy memories from our times together, particularly of his tales of incidents that had happened to him and Vivien – for example, when their caravan set on fire one holiday in France. They were always amusing and often lengthy … “to cut a long story short” did not apply to Rodger. He was a real raconteur – truly an asset to any gathering. I remember sitting next to him in the Physics staff room for many years at Bolton School and of him being so supportive and helpful when I joined the School, finding it reassuring that he had come from a similar work background to me. I truly valued our friendship and really missed him when he retired the year before I did. Don Thompson (1957-1965; Boys’ Division Staff, 1983-2006)

Roger attended Bolton School from September 1944 until July 1951. He represented his house at football, cricket, swimming, physical training, athletics and cross country. He was Captain of the 3rd XI cricket team and also Captain of the School Swimming Team, awarded School Swimming Colours and Royal Life Saving Society awards. He was School Captain in 1951. He was an active supporter of school societies and acted in school plays, as well as in productions of the Miniature Theatre. In 1947 he was awarded a prize to boys who stood out because of their loyalty, trustworthiness and manners and who were likely to distinguish themselves in fields where personal qualities are of great significance. After gaining a degree in Natural Philosophy at the University of St Andrews, he completed national service as an Instructor Lieutenant in the Royal Navy at HMS Collingwood. His career was devoted to education and to leading and inspiring others. From Wellington College, where he taught physics, he went to the newly formed Atlantic College in South Wales; here he was active in theatre production - with his biggest claim to fame being an endorsement of one of his productions by Eric Porter who was starring in The Forsyte Saga, and in instructing and taking part in surf life-saving and beach rescue, where he once escorted Prince Phillip around the facilities of the college. David Peters (Class of 1969)

He was most proud of introducing the International Baccalaureate into the college; possibly the first use of this educational programme and diploma in the country. He then moved to Middlesbrough where he became Deputy Head of Middlesbrough High School and then on to Northampton as Headteacher, where he set up a new comprehensive Lings School, from scratch, and subsequently to Settle High School. He served as Convenor of the North Yorkshire Secondary Heads, Chairman of Yorkshire Secondary Heads and a member of the National Council and Executive of the SHA. Living in Ingleton, Roger was able to indulge his passions of fell walking in the Lakes – he completed the three Peaks walk in 1977 raising money for a school bus - and boating, spending many happy days floating around Ullswater on his motor cruiser, Moley. Roger was a lifelong support for Bolton Wanderers, despite their ongoing travails and kept in touch with many Bolton School colleagues, especially his great friend John Kohorn who sadly died last year. Roger was supported throughout his career by his Bolton-born wife Brenda (née Holden). They had three children, Sue, Ian and Ann who gave him nine grandchildren and recently his first great grandchild. He was very proud of them all, instilling the values he held most dearly of duty, equality, fairness, inclusivity and education in each of them. He loved telling anecdotes, especially after a rum – which he was eventually persuaded to write down; two were about Bolton School, one entitled ‘Batsmen’ and one intriguingly called ‘Miss Parker’! He will be remembered by his colleagues and students for the great strides he made in education, on a personal level with individuals and on a school level with the places he worked in and on a national level with his SHA work and in forming the General Teachers Council.

Born in Deane in 1927, Alan played football alongside Nat Lofthouse on the cinder playing fields of Brandwood Street School. He went on a scholarship to Bolton School, but left at 16, to earn his keep at the Bolton Evening News as a junior reporter. His memories of School, nearly all in wartime, are recorded on the School’s website, where he also recalled the trials of wearing school uniform on his walk home through the back streets. His favourite teacher was Mrs Emma Saxelby, the renowned French teacher, who gave him the nickname Monty, which stuck. Alan spent nearly three years in the army, serving in Berlin in 1946 and 1947, where he used his school German to guard prisoners of war, before returning to what was then known as ‘Tillotsons’ Newspapers’. In 1957 Alan won an English-Speaking Union scholarship for three months to the United States, where he interviewed the actor James Cagney and presidential hopeful Hubert Humphrey. He worked as a journalist at the BBC from the early days of television news in 1959 at Alexandra Palace in London, and then in the Manchester newsroom, until retirement in 1987. He was a leading figure in the trade union movement, taking local, regional and national roles with the NUJ, where he was made Member of Honour. In retirement he enjoyed WEA lecturing in history and attended Old Boys’ dinners and literary societies associated with School. Alan married Mary Ashworth (Girls’ Division, 1939-1946) in 1953 and they had two children, Jean and Peter, who both attended School. They celebrated their Diamond Wedding in 2013. Alan and Mary left Bolton and moved to Islay in the southern Hebrides in 2009, to live close to their daughter, Jean. His life story featured under ‘Other Lives’ in The Guardian. Alan died on 29th July 2022 at the age of 94. He is survived by his wife, two of his four siblings, son and daughter and two grandsons. Peter Knowles (Class of 1979)

Whilst Brian and I arrived at Bolton School in 1958 it wasn’t until around 1973-74 that we met up again and then became longterm friends. Brian was born and grew up in Greenmount, near Radcliffe. He was a very keen Bury supporter and somewhat traumatised at their demise; he was not to know of their recent emergence. At School he started in ShellA2 in the demountables in the playground, then moved on to 3A3 and upwards. As he left School, Brian joined Williams Deacon’s Bank and worked in Manchester’s Water Street branch before moving on to Grimsby. By 1972 he was in at the start of Access Credit Cards in Southend with Williams & Glyn’s, as the bank was known, managing the Authorisation Unit situated in Brentwood. It was at the Access Department that he worked alongside my wife, Enid. His next move was to open the Staff Branch in the new London Head Office at the Angel Islington before taking over the branch at Ilford from where he took retirement. Whilst in London he was a busy committee member of the London Banks Football League. In retirement, and now living in Brentwood, he took many holidays a year, cruising and travelling throughout America. He also sponsored and supported Bury, became a season ticket holder at Essex CCC and had some connection with Lancashire CCC. When at home he developed a keen interest in books and had a huge collection at the time of his death – it was difficult not to believe that you were in Foyles, such was the size of his collection! Brian never married and after heart surgery he did not enjoy the best of health; he passed away being cared for in a local care home, frequently visited by his Northern relatives. Peter Chandler (Class of 1965)

Martyn’s story is a remarkable one: he left the UK for Peru in 1961 and I caught up with him in April 2021 – yes, 60 years later – when Geoff Ogden (1950-1960) obtained his email address. Martyn’s sister, Lois, has kindly filled in the 60 years for me which I have included. Both Martyn and I started in the Shells (A2 and A1 respectively) and over the years became part of a group of friends, many of whom have maintained contact

over the last 60 (!) years. Martyn was a formidable sprinter who came first in the 100 and 220 yard Sports Day events from 1954 to 1960, with similar success in 440 yards, plus 120 yards hurdles in later years. The Boltonian report on the 19th May 1959 athletics match versus St Bede’s College and Manchester University Second Team notes that he ‘unofficially broke existing School records for 100 and 200 yards in 10.6 and 24.0 secs respectively’. The photograph of Martyn shows him winning the 220 House Athletics race in his usual style – with MJ ‘Mike’ McNeil (Class of 1961) (second) on the left and Peter Jarvis (Class of 1960) (third) on the right. He was Victor Ludorum for two successive years. In 1957 Martyn joined the School rugby squad – unsurprisingly, on the wing – and scored his first try versus Preston Grammar School. The July 1960 Boltonian stated ‘he has an excellent swerve and side-step’. In July 1960

he was awarded First Team Colours and the Boltonian Rugby ‘First Team Characters’ reported ‘ME Roper, Left Centre … his running and swerving have been brilliant’. In his final year (Biology VI), he was a Deputy Monitor, Blackburn House Captain and Athletics Captain. The black and white photo taken in the School ‘canteen’ (in the recently constructed wing) includes Martyn second left (next to Geoff Ogden, nearest) plus Fred Benson (standing) and Peter Jarvis to the right. He was a real character with a mischievous streak and in 1960 was part of a group of five friends: me, MH ‘Spesh’ Fielding (Class of 1959), M ‘Meech’ Green (Class of 1959) and Ray Entwistle, who did not attend Bolton School. We travelled and pitched our tent in France and North East Spain to the south of Barcelona for around three weeks in an open-top Austin Gypsy (similar to a Land Rover) before seat belts were introduced! The adventures were varied and sometimes dangerous but always fun. The photograph above shows Martyn (on the right) and me (middle) puzzling over the tent in Ray’s garden prior to leaving on our adventure.

Martyn’s father was an engineer and the family lived in Brazil from 1956 to 1958 whilst Martyn stayed with his aunt so he could continue at School; the family returned to Bolton in 1958 before departing for Peru in 1961. Initially they lived in Lima prior to moving to La Oroya, a mining town at 12,000 feet in the Andes, where Martyn lived and worked in HR for a mining company; he met his future wife, Carmen, at an event in the jungle and they eventually married in 1967. In 1970 they moved to Bolton and he worked in HR for Littlewoods Stores, studying Business Administration in his spare time and gaining an MA. In 1974 the family moved to Bahrain where Martyn was head of HR for Gulf Air. Martyn and Carmen had two daughters: Adriana, born in Peru in 1969, and Katrina, born in the UK in 1971. In 1981 the decision was made to return to Peru both to complete the schooling for Adriana and to start Martyn’s own business in forestry; concurrently he also did translation work for pharmaceutical companies. It was so rewarding to make contact last year when we exchanged long emails and had several happy telephone chats. (Thomas) ‘Bill’ Dick (1952-1960)

Ian died suddenly and unexpectedly on 6th April 2022, aged 69. Ian was born in Burnley where his lifelong passion for sport began. He attended Turf Moor with his father, taking a box to stand on in order to see Burnley Football Club play. Despite being a season ticket holder at both Nottingham Forest and West Bromwich Albion, Burnley was always his first love. In summer he both played and watched cricket and paid his first visit to Old Trafford to see Lancashire County Cricket Club when he was four. In 1967, the family moved to Bolton and Ian gained a place in Bolton School. He loved his time at there and went with the School on several trips abroad, camping all over Europe and even into Russia, and that inspired his lifelong love of travel. He attended Sheffield University, to study history, where he met his future wife, Vivienne, whom he married in 1976 and they had 49 happy years together. Ian applied for a trainee accountant’s post in Chichester with West Sussex County Council, and in 1973 he moved down to Sussex, where he became a qualified CIPFA accountant. During this period, the couple indulged their love of travel, visiting California, Florida, The Cayman Islands, Kenya and Hong Kong. In 1984, their daughter, Rose, arrived, and shortly after Ian obtained a post as Finance Director with Staffordshire Polytechnic. The family moved to Weston, Staffordshire, in 1985, and in 1988 his second daughter, Holly, was born. Ian’s career grew with him, as he became involved in applying for and gaining university status for the Polytechnic and was appointed the Finance Director for the new Staffordshire University. He stayed in this job until 2005 when he left to start a consultancy business. However, he hated working from home, so took up a post as Finance Director with Rodbaston College. Even after he retired from this job, he joined a Quango connected to Staffs University: Foundation Degree Forward. He finally retired from all paid employment but began a new chapter