Bolton School OLD GIRLS’ ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER Issue Number 32 Spring 2020
Shared memories and continued support
Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Spring 2020
CONTENTS STAY IN TOUCH 2 BOLTON SCHOOL MERCHANDISE 2 STAY CONNECTED 2 WELCOME MESSAGES Sue Hincks, Headmistress 3 Laura Henthorn, President of the Old Girls’ Association 3 CONTINUING SUPPORT 4 SCHOOL NEWS Chairman of Governors Retires 5 Welcome to Hannah! 5 The Taming of Three Species 5 Charity Trek 6 Choir Performs for Conference 6 Anna Represents England 6 Platinum Award for Concert Band 6 Reflecting on Remembrance 7 TV Girls 7 Poet Laureate Recital 7 Boltonians Ladies FC 7 EVENTS Photo Wall 8 Medical Sciences Dinner 10 Outdoor Activities Offer for Old Girls 10 CORRECTIONS 10 OLD GIRLS’ FEATURES Story of a Gown 11 Bolton School: Making a Difference 12 Ian Riley: New Chairman of the Governing Body 13 Old Girls Make Terrific Teachers 14 Bolton School Teachers Flourish 16 Inspiring the Next Generation 18 The Bolton Alumni Network 19 Alumni Authors 19 The Boxing Diaries 20 Staff in the Spotlight 21 Old Girls Go Global 22 OLD GIRLS’ NEWS News of Old Girls 24 Matches and Hatches 25 Mini Reunions 26 LOOKING BACK 27 DESTINATION OF LEAVERS – 2019 28 LIVES REMEMBERED 30 IN MEMORIAM 31
STAY IN TOUCH Connect with Old Girls and Old Boys on the Bolton Alumni Network: www.boltonalumninetwork.com.
‘Like’ our Facebook page for event invitations, School news and memories: search Bolton School – Old Boys and Old Girls (Official) Connect with fellow Alumni on LinkedIn: connect with Bolton School Alumni and join the Bolton School Group Follow School and Alumni news via Twitter: @BoltonSchool / @BoltonSchAlumni Watch short films posted on the School’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/ boltonschoolmedia Read regular blogs from pupils and staff from across the campus: boltonschool.me/ Follow bolton_school_foundation and use #BSAlumni to share your memories and photos on Instagram View photos of Alumni events on Flickr at www.flickr.com/photos/bsalumni/albums Visit the ‘Former Pupils’ section of the School website at www.boltonschool.org to see event photos, read Alumni career profiles, find news of Old Girls, view an up-to-date events calendar, update your contact details and more. CONTACT US Development Office, Bolton School Chorley New Road, Bolton BL1 4PA T: 01204 434718 E: development@boltonschool.org THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM Laura Firth Head of Development Hannah Fox Development Assistant Frances Johnson Development Assistant Kathryn O’Brien Alumni and Development Assistant Laura Rooney Development Manager
Bolton School Merchandise
Stay Connected
School has an online merchandise store, selling a variety of items from Old Girl pin badges to Bolton School pens, iPad cases and photo frames.
We hope you enjoy being kept up-todate with what is happening at School and within the Old Girl community as much as we value the opportunity to stay connected to you. If your contact details have changed, or if you have not yet let us know your communication preferences and wish to continue hearing from School, then please contact the Development Office as soon as possible, or complete the Former Pupil Registration form found in the ‘Former Pupils’ section of the School website, www.boltonschool.org.
All profits made from the sale of merchandise go directly to the School Bursary Fund, which helps make a Bolton School education open to all academically gifted pupils, irrespective of their families' financial situations. Orders are usually delivered within five working days, and overseas delivery is available. To order your items, please visit www.boltonschoolmerchandise.org or call 08450 504015.
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WELCOME FROM THE HEADMISTRESS We have dedicated much of this issue to the subject of teachers. A School is not about buildings, however imposing they are; it is about people. It is the teachers and pupils who are the heart and soul of the place. We never forget a great teacher - it is no surprise to me that one of the security questions on many websites asks you to name your favourite teacher. The feature article ‘Old Girls Make Terrific Teachers’ reminds us of this truth, as Alumnae talk about the inspirations behind their career choice. The final paragraph is written by Beth who is currently training with us as part of our SCITT (School Centred Initial Teacher Training). The staff in the Modern Foreign Languages Department feel as if they are passing the baton on as they see her emerge as an inspirational teacher of the future. When I became Headmistress in 2011, I had the same sense that the baton was being passed to me. I was surrounded by some very influential local Headteachers who had worked at Bolton School at some point in their past. They shared with me their fond memories of life at Bolton School and never let me forget that I was now the custodian of a very important legacy. You can read about their memories in ‘Bolton School Teachers Flourish’ and I am very grateful to them for their contribution.
The Bolton School mafia was a Girls’ Schools Association institution and in 2019 I served as GSA President, following in the footsteps of Margaret Spurr. It was a period when the independent sector was under more intense scrutiny than ever before in my teaching career. One of my most challenging experiences was speaking in defence of all that we do against members of the group ‘Labour Against Private Schools’. I was grateful that Philip Britton, Headmaster of the Boys’ Division also took up the cudgels alongside me, and you can read the summary of our defence in our article on social mobility - Bolton School: Making a Difference - on page 12. There are many inequalities in society and education but we believe that schools like Bolton are part of the solution, not the root of the problem. Finally, in the last issue we paid tribute to outgoing Chairman of Governors, Michael Griffiths, whose commitment to bursaries has placed us among the most forward thinking of all the independent schools. He now hands the baton to Ian Riley, to whom we all wish the very best of luck.
Sue Hincks Headmistress
WELCOME FROM THE OLD GIRLS’ ASSOCIATION I sincerely hope that this edition of the Newsletter brings with it some Spring cheer after the misery of Storms Dennis, Ciara and Jorge! The past few months have been busy and the regional dinners have been most enjoyable, offering me the opportunity to meet up with both contemporaries and younger Alumnae. It’s always interesting to hear news – no matter what the School decade, there’s always someone doing something exciting. In the Autumn I had the privilege of listening to the Girls’ Division Middle School Choir singing at the Evensong Service and Dinner at the Girls’ Schools Association’s annual Conference. The girls performed well and were a credit to all – and were delightful company, too! Another Autumn highlight was the dinner to mark the retirement of the Chairman of Governors, Michael Griffiths, whose many and varied contributions to School were celebrated in great style. As usual, many Old Girls joined us for the Armistice Service and the Ceremony of Carols; it is lovely that these traditional events remain in the hearts of so many
of you even after you have left School. That the Girls’ Division is a special place is evident in the support offered to current pupils by our Alumnae – the careers advice, work experience and networking opportunities so generously given are greatly appreciated. For those of you thinking about paying a visit to Chorley New Road, please consider joining me at the next Old Girls’ Lunch and AGM, rescheduled from June to Wednesday 11th November. For those of you who left in a year ending in ‘0’, the ‘10’ Class Reunion, rescheduled from April to Saturday 3rd October 2020, will be a great opportunity to catch up with friends and long-lost class mates. Some of you will already be planning to come with friends, but if you are still unsure I urge you not to hesitate and to come along – we would love to welcome you back to School and there will certainly be some familiar faces! I look forward to seeing you soon.
Laura Henthorn (née Carless, 1970-1977) Chairman – Bolton School Old Girls’ Association
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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Spring 2020
CONTINUING SUPPORT
For more than a century, Bolton School has been an engine of social mobility for successive generations of Boltonians, who have been inspired to realise their talents and use their success to benefit the communities in which they live. Lord Leverhulme’s founding principle for Bolton School – that it should offer bright and talented children an exceptional education, regardless of their background – remains at the heart of our ethos today. Until 1997, funding from the Direct Grant and Assisted Places schemes enabled us to ensure the School was accessible to pupils from all backgrounds. When this state funding ceased, we sourced income privately to build up a capital Bursary Fund which during the past 23 years has flourished, thanks to the generosity of our supporters who believe, as we do, in ensuring equality of opportunity for every child who would thrive here. The School remains exceptionally fortunate in the support of its benefactors and, during the 2018-19 academic year, £650,000 was raised for the Bursary Fund, just over £248,000 of which was donated by Old Girls and Old Boys. Last year, the School spent £2.75 million on bursarial provision, supporting 357 pupils - one in every five of the children in the two Senior Schools - including 42 Year 13 pupils who left the School last summer having completed their A Level examinations. Last autumn, 38 of those young people took up places at university, including 10 who went on to study subjects in the medical sciences and 23 who secured places at Russell Group universities. Of their time at School, one such pupil wrote: “The School gives all students the ability not just to thrive academically, but also to contribute to society. My greatest debt to the School isn’t my academic results, but rather the rounded person I have become through opportunities outside the classroom.”
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Our bursary recipients take full advantage of every opportunity that a Bolton School education presents. In 2018-19, grants totalling almost £6,000 were awarded from the School’s four extra-curricular funds, set up specifically by donors to enable bursary recipients to make the most of their time at School. These grants enabled 34 bursary pupils to take part in 42 different trips and activities, ranging from the Girls’ Division’s Creative Writing Retreat to the Boys’ Division’s trip to Russia. Yet despite the incredible success of our bursary scheme, for every bursary place awarded, one other child, who has proven their potential in the entrance assessments and would flourish at our award-winning School, has to be turned away. We are determined that a Bolton School education should be available to every deserving child with ability and potential, whatever their family’s financial circumstances. Our goal is to grow our Bursary Fund still further, in order to re-establish the open access of the Direct Grant era – where one in three children received a funded place - in order that no child is denied the opportunity to realise their potential because of a lack of financial support. If you share this ambitious vision for our future, and would like to pledge your support to the Bolton School Bursary Fund, either by making a regular gift or by remembering the School in your will, then please contact Laura Firth, Head of Development, by emailing development@boltonschool.org or calling 01204 434718.
SCHOOL NEWS Chairman of Governors Retires The School paid tribute to Michael Griffiths (1958-1965) at a black-tie dinner as he retired as Chairman of the Governing Body at Bolton School at the end of November.
Michael (centre), with incoming Chairman Ian Riley (fifth from right) and current members of the Governing Body
Over 130 guests gathered, including members of the Griffiths family, Governors, Former Governors, supporters of the School’s Bursary Fund, representatives of the Old Boltonians’ and Old Girls’ Associations and
representatives from both the academic and support staff, to honour Michael’s service to the School. Speeches from Headmistress Sue Hincks, Headmaster of the Boys’ Division Philip Britton, the incoming Chairman of the Governing Body Ian Riley (1974-1981), Lisa Jacobs (née Griffiths, 1996-2003) and former Governor Ross Warburton (1969-1974) all praised Michael’s dedication to the School. During his time as Chairman, he oversaw the building of Hesketh House, the new Beech House and the extension to the Boys’ Junior School (Park Road), as well as the construction of the Riley Sixth Form Centre, the purchase of the outdoor learning centre Patterdale Hall in the Lake District and the installation of a new all-weather sports surface. However, it was noted that arguably his greatest contribution to the School was his foresight and tenacity in developing the School’s Bursary Fund – due to Michael’s passion for growing this fund, the School now operates one of the largest bursary schemes in the country, enabling one in five pupils to receive financial support for their education.
Welcome to Hannah! The Development Team is pleased to welcome its newest recruit, Hannah Fox, who has joined as Development Assistant. Hannah has previously worked in the IT, Reprographics and Estates Departments here at School, but has now made her permanent home in the Development Office where her knowledge and expertise will help to ensure that Old Girls and Old Boys are kept abreast of all that is happening in the world of Bolton School Alumni.
The Taming of Three Species A 400-strong public audience, including pupils from five local schools, attended a presentation by television presenter and anthropologist Professor Alice Roberts. The talk was part of a series of Arts and Sciences Enrichment Evenings hosted throughout the year by the Girls’ Division. Professor Roberts’ thoughtful and engaging talk, entitled Tamed: Three Species That Tamed our World, delved into the fields of archaeology, science, history and genetics as she revealed the stories of three species that became our allies; dogs, horses and cattle, referring to her book, Tamed, in which she uncovers the deep history of ten familiar species with incredible wild pasts. She explained how European grey wolves mutated into dogs as they became more and more involved with humans, described how the domestication of cattle from early oxen began and told how the taming of horses had such an impact as it enabled people to
Pupils of all ages were inspired by Professor Roberts’ talk
travel further distances. Professor Roberts then fielded an eclectic range of questions from the audience before observing how current agricultural practices are one of the biggest contributors to global warming and concluding that in order to save the planet we need to work out how to thrive with nature!
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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Spring 2020
Charity Trek Patterdale Hall Manager Tim Taylor and Residential Manager Sean Duffy endured bleak and blustery conditions to raise money for St Gemma’s Hospice, a charity based in Sean (left) and Tim were undeterred by the bad Leeds providing specialist weather care for those with lifethreatening and life-limiting illnesses. They were inspired to complete the challenging trek from Patterdale to Leeds by their ‘good mate and fellow adventurer’ Dave, who in recent years was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and was being looked after by the Hospice. Dave visited Patterdale Hall for many years, bringing BTEC course
students from Bude Haven School for expeditions. Undaunted by the conditions, Tim and Sean set out on Saturday 1st February, covering between 22 and 30 miles each day and taking ‘the long way round’ to avoid the tops and stay safe in gale force wind and driving rain. The trek took them through parts of the Lake District National Park, Howgill Hills and the Yorkshire Dales National Park. They carried all that they needed and along the way found accommodation for free. This ranged from the kindness of strangers to Old Boltonian Rick Chant in his Bistro in Grassington. Despite blisters and sore legs, freezing cold and soaking rain, the pair reached the end of their journey on Tuesday 4th February, having walked 104 miles in just four days – and having raised more than £4,500 for St Gemma’s. Very sadly, Dave passed away on 7th March, having shown amazing strength and courage right to the end.
Choir Performs For Conference In November the Girls’ Division Middle School Choir travelled to Bristol to sing at the Girls’ School Association (GSA) Conference 2019. The conference was led by Headmistress Sue Hincks, GSA President for 2019. The choir performed Panis Angelicus in the beautiful acoustics of St Mary Redcliffe Church, accompanied on the organ by Year 11 pupil Marie Poon, before moving on to entertain the delegates at the conference’s gala dinner in the evening.
Girls’ Division music teacher Mrs Wade said: ‘It was a wonderful experience for all the The Choir’s performance was widely praised girls and staff involved to sing in such a beautiful acoustic setting and it was very exciting to entertain all those head teachers. The girls were an absolute credit to the School!’
Anna Represents England Y12 student Anna Phillips was part of the England Women’s U17 Squad at the UEFA Phase 1 Euro Qualifiers held in Bosnia last October half-term.
Anna continues to enjoy her football journey
The squad won all three games, beating Croatia 2-0, Bosnia and Herzegovina 4-0 and Belgium 4-1. Anna played in the first two games and, according to the FA Education Coordinator, ‘…should be proud of the contribution she made to the overall squad success during this campaign’. The team now looks to progress to the next round and the finals later this year. Meanwhile, Anna continues to play her club football with the U18 Manchester City Ladies’ Team.
Platinum Award for Concert Band
Platinum Award – the highest possible accolade – which comes with an automatic invitation to perform at the National Festival, which will be held at the Royal Northern College of Music later in the year.
The Joint Concert Band was invited to perform at the National Concert Band Festival (NCBF) heats held at Newman RC College in Oldham on 17th November. The young musicians and their conductor, Boys’ Division music teacher Miss Sherry, took this wonderful opportunity to play in front of experienced adjudicators and receive valuable feedback. The group played three pieces, impressing the judging panel with all, and afterwards was presented with a
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The Music staff in both Divisions are delighted with the Joint Concert Band’s achievement
Reflecting on Remembrance Pupils and staff came together with Old Girls on 11th November to commemorate those who lost their lives in the First World War and every conflict since. The Service of Remembrance featured poetry readings and time for reflection during prayers, music and moments of silence. Pupils read the works of four poets
during the service, with Headmistress Sue Hincks making poignant comments about each poet’s life and the impact that war had upon them. Year 10 pupil Georgia McGinty read All the Hills and Vales Along by Charles Hamilton Sorley
TV Girls
The Girls’ Division Alice entertained at the Old service of Girls’ lunch Remembrance was followed by an Old Girls’ Lunch in the Arts Centre, with entertainment provided by the Girls’ Division Senior Flute Quartet and Year 9 violinist Alice Edwards.
Andy Serkis and Stephen Graham. She has also performed at Her Majesty's Theatre in the West End. Bolton School pupils are a talented bunch – two keen actresses in the Girls’ Division have recently appeared on national television.
Mia Slater in Year 9 has been studying acting, singing and dancing at her local Pauline Quirke Academy for Mia combines her Performing Arts for over seven years passion for acting and landed the role of a mill girl in with studying BBC One’s dark remake of Charles hard at School Dickens’ timeless classic A Christmas Carol alongside big names such as Guy Pearce,
Poet Laureate Recital The Girls’ Division was honoured to welcome Poet Laureate Simon Armitage who was the special guest at a Poetry Festival which formed part of this year’s series of Arts and Sciences Enrichment Lectures. During the first half of the evening a number of Girls’ Division pupils recited their own compositions, demonstrating both excellence and variety in the genre. Poems included the winning entries from the Environmental Poetry Competition and work from the
Boltonians Ladies FC Boltonians Ladies was founded in 2018 and is the first ladies’ team to be associated with the Old Boltonians AFC.
Charleigh achieved a fabulous set of GCSE results
Sixth Former Charleigh Adams played Jessica Bedford, one of Amy Barlow’s friends, in Coronation Street and has appeared in Peter Kay’s Car Share series, where she played the niece of Sian Gibson’s character. She was also Emily, one of the main characters in CBBC’s Class Dismissed, which won the Children’s BAFTA for Comedy in 2017. Charleigh hopes to make acting her career, but in the meantime is aiming to study languages at university.
Creative Writing Retreat. The audience was then treated to a captivating selection of poetry readings from Simon himself, interspersed with fascinating anecdotes about how he came to write each piece. Simon Armitage The Poet Laureate also answered a diverse range of questions before signing books for the poetry enthusiasts who attended.
Any Old Girls interested in playing football are welcome to join – please visit boltoniansladiesfc.wixsite.com/bolts or email staceybluemoon@hotmail.com for further details.
The Ladies play in the Greater Manchester County Women's League, with games kicking off at 2pm on Sundays. The squad is currently enjoying a successful season in Division 2 and hoping for promotion. Training is currently at Ladybridge FC on Tuesday evenings, 7-8pm.
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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Spring 2020
‘Another brill iant evening.’ Lucy Nolan (C lass of 2010)
EVENTS PHOTO WALL Oxford Dinner
Saïd Business School – Friday 15th November 2019 David Griffiths (Class of 2009 ), Robert Pear (Class of 2011 ce, Shannon ), Erik Johnst Miller one and Amy Robinson
Fiona Clough (Class of 1978), Tim Taylor (Class of 1979) and Catherine Winder (Girls’ Division Staff)
Jeremy Newton, Ursula Newton (Class of 1983), Alex Hopkinson (Class of 2016), Lucy Nolan (Class of 2010) and Duncan Lear y
London Dinner
ranguiz Mokri (Class of 2017), Cerys Baines (Class of 2017), Meh ) and Katerina Gramm Staff Catherine Winder (Girls’ Division ) (Class of 2018
Cerys Baines (Clas s of 2017) and Andrew Lee (Clas s of 2017)
Amanda Valentine (Class of 1983), Alex Hopkinson (Class of 2016) and Chris Hopkinson
Lord’s Cricket Ground – Friday 6th March 2020
Entwistle y and Sophie Rachel Langle f) af ivision St (both Girls’ D
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Sue Hincks and Elizabeth Newton (née Whyatt, Class of 1979)
s!’ old memorie d n a s d n ie ‘New fr ) lass of 1980 (C is w e L l e ri Me
Susan Haslam (née Kenyon, Class of 1980 Katy Hibbert ), (Class of 1980 ) and Judith H (Class of 1979 ibbert )
Cambridge Dinner Downing College – Friday 7th February 2020
hing up with ‘A lovely evening catc rson old friends.’ Sarah Ibbe
Stella Ald erton an d Sheila (both Cla Monks ss of 195 7)
Shyam Dhokia (Class of 2015), Than Dar (Class of 2015), Madison Brownley (Class of 2015 ), Luke Cavanaugh (Class of 2018), Sohail Daniel (Clas s of 2015), Sarah Ibberson (Class of 2016) and Tom Paterson (Class of 2018)
2015) and nley (Class of Madison Brow ) 16 20 of (Class Sarah Ibberson
‘Great to reviv e memories o f Bolton Schoo l – a very enjo y able evening.’ Ste lla Alderton
Giri Nandakumar (Class of 2016) and Than Dar (Class of 2015)
nd great food a r fo u o y k n ‘Tha nley adison Brow M ’ y. n a p m o c
d zabeth Moore an dia Barabash, Eli Lydia Riding, Na ) (all Class of 2014 Alex Greenhalgh
Annette Elmes (C lass of 2019) and Shivani Manohara n (Class of 2017 )
‘Great food a nd nostalgic speeches.’ An nette Elmes
Sangeeta Ahuja (Class of 1985), Aanya Pitalia (Clas and Alexander Fe s of 2012) rguson
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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Spring 2020
Medical Sciences Dinner The inaugural Medical Sciences Dinner in September, attended by current and former pupils, proved a hugely popular evening. Sue Hincks, Jill Clayton-Smith and Philip Britton
There was much social interaction over drinks before dinner as aspiring Medics quizzed Alumni on their chosen professions. Safiyya Patel (Year 13), After dinner, guest speaker Isabelle Pearce (Class of Professor Jill Clayton-Smith 2016) and Head Girl (1970-1977), Professor of Lucy Stiles Medical Genetics at the Manchester Centre for Genomic Medicine, gave an inspirational speech about her time at Bolton School and her career to date. Jill studied Medicine at Manchester
Medical School, then trained in both adult and paediatric medicine, before embarking on a career in medical genetics in 1987, and took up a Fiza Ahmed (Year 13) and Amara Consultant Clinic Vijayadurai (Year 13) Genetics post at St Mary’s Hospital in Manchester in 1994. Professor ClaytonSmith, who has written over 250 peer reviewed publications, spoke of her love of research in the field of rare diseases, her active role in both undergraduate and postgraduate education and how she has recently taken up the role of Marcia Teichman (Girls’ Division Staff), Rare Disease Lead Asena Akdeniz (Class of 2018), for the North West Jennie Maher (Class of 2018) and Genomics Laboratory. Lisa Jones (Girls’ Division Staff)
Outdoor Activities Offer for Old Girls Old Girls and Old Boys and their families wishing to spend a few days in the glorious Lake District may be interested in the Patterdale Alumni Week, 3rd-7th August, at Patterdale Hall, the School’s outdoor pursuits centre near Penrith. The cost is £250 per person (10% discount for a group of four), including four nights full board accommodation (en-suite family dormitory or twin) and three full days of walks and activities, such as gorge walking, canoeing and climbing, all fuelled by some hearty food. For further details please contact the Hall at enquiries@patterdalehall.org.uk or by calling 017684 82233.
Corrections In the article on how lacrosse flourished at Bolton School featured on pages 33-34 of the Autumn 2019 edition we omitted to name AIison Taylor (1966-1973) in the list of pupils and Old Girls chosen to play for their country. Alison represented the England team in 1980-81 and captained the England B team in other seasons. She has also held an International Umpire accreditation and not only umpired the World Cup Final in 1993, but also ran the first Women’s European Championship in Germany. She was elected to be the Chair of the AEWLA Rules and Umpiring Committee, following in the footsteps of Pam Johnson, and held that role for three years. We apologise to Alison for this omission.
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The feature on ‘Inspiring Educators’ on page 27 of the same edition included a photograph of the Girls’ Girls’ Division Staff, 1950s Division staff from circa 1957. Anne Wiseman (née Williams, 19491957) has kindly confirmed that this picture can be dated no later than the Summer term of 1952, since she recognises Miss Stellfox – a well-loved Classics Mistress who left at the end of that year.
OLD GIRLS’ FEATURES Story of a Gown The Prefects’ gowns are one of the enduring symbols of the Girls’ Division, and the Gowning of the Prefects, held in the Great Hall each May, has become one of its most special traditions. Here Julie Littlehales (née Barwise, Class of 1990) and Holly Dempsey (née Barnett, 1999-2006) describe wearing their gowns with pride.
Julie in her Prefect’s gown
What was your favourite moment whilst wearing your gown? Julie: I remember wearing my gown with pride when walking down the aisle of the Great Hall in front of the whole School and sitting at the front for every assembly. Holly: I remember my first assembly wearing my gown, but my best memory of it was actually before I even wore it: the day the gowns were handed down from the girls in the year above,
Prefects 2005-06 – Holly is third left on the bottom row
mine was given to me by Rachael Roberts which I remember being really pleased about. A couple of years later my sister Sophie Barnett Sophie Barnett and (2001-2008) also became a Prefect big sister Holly and sought out my gown, sewing her name directly below mine. What were your hopes and plans for the future as you passed your gown on? Julie: My plan was to attend Manchester University to become a Physiotherapist and to continue to play lacrosse! Holly: I think my plans for the future were pretty generic: get good grades, go to a good university, get a good job. I was very much inside the box. However, I do Julie now remember wanting my life to revolve around works as a physiotherapist helping and supporting people. What did you do after leaving School? Julie: I achieved both of my aims: I gained a BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy MCSP and played lacrosse for the County and North England Squads! Holly: I deferred my university place at King’s College London and instead spent a wonderful season being a ski bum in Morzine. I then completed my four-year BSc in Nutrition and Dietetics, followed by an MSc at UEA. What are you doing now? Julie: I am currently living in Shrewsbury with my husband and two boys, aged 13 and 11. My role as an Advanced Practice Physiotherapist is exciting work within Accident and Emergency, the Fracture Clinic and privately at the Shrewsbury Nuffield. Holly: I am married to a pilot in the RAF. A lot of ‘military wives’ struggle to continue working due to the frequent
moves and months alone, but I decided early on that I would see each move as an opportunity to mould my life and career into something I am happy with, and technology these days means that you can work from anywhere! I am a specialist Dietitian working both in the NHS and at the Centre for Health and Human Performance (CHHP) on Harley Street. My specialities include cancer rehabilitation, incurable disease and palliative care. In March this year I was part of a team which launched a Women’s Health clinic at CHHP – the lack of information and specialists who are accessible to women became very apparent to me in cancer rehabilitation where women who had gone through early menopause secondary to their treatment could not access the help they needed. What one piece of advice would you give to this year’s Year 13 pupils? Julie: My advice would be to work hard and play hard! You can achieve your goals with a little determination and still have fun! Holly: Find something you are passionate about. School life can Holly and Rachael be such a blur of learning, exams Roberts and university applications that you can sometimes forget to step back and consider what you really enjoy and how you can build this in to your life plans. It might actually take you decades and a number of ‘failed’ jobs to find your passions, but when you do find them be brave, pursue them wholeheartedly, and shape your life around them. I have had the honour of spending hours talking to people who are approaching the end of their lives and it is the things that they haven’t been able to do or dreams they have been too scared to chase that they regret. Are you still in touch with friends from School? Julie: I am still in contact with life-long friends. Alison Best (née Kay, Class of 1990) was my Chief Bridesmaid and I her Matron of Honour. We regularly have family get-togethers. There are several more who receive an annual Christmas card with an enclosed note. I am looking forward, of course, to the 30-year reunion in October and seeing many more Old Girls! Holly: Yes! A crowd of us met up this Summer at Emily Deer’s wedding and we are also in touch with Helen Fox who lives in Sydney. L-R: Sarah Ward (née Shacklady), Hannah Betton (née Mitchell), Sophia Shaw, Emily Queguineur (née Deer), Charlotte Curtis, Holly, Natalie Butler, Frankie Dyer (née Nadjuch), Hollie Harthern West (all Class of 2006)
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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Spring 2020
Bolton School: Making a Difference When Lord Leverhulme re-founded Bolton School on the current site, we can only marvel at his vision and the faith he must have had As part of its partnership work, Bolton in the future. School hosts the annual Bolton Children's In an industrial Fiction Award mill town, he built a School for people with high aspirations; for children who would be inspired by the towering Great Halls, the magnificent oak doors and the cloistered quads (even if these would not be completed at the School’s inception); for girls who wanted the same opportunities as boys.
independent schools ‘to take meaningful and concrete steps to support education in their local, national and international communities.’ Both of us fully agree with the Commission’s conclusions and we know that many parents and Alumni feel the same way. We would welcome a (literal) revolution in thinking, such as the return to Assisted Places or of a Direct Grant system which gave access to so many in the local community to what Bolton School had to offer. Given that such a move by government is unlikely, we act according to three key principles. The first is that independent day schools must be real and relevant to their local context. Therefore, we must be affordable: our fees must be tightly controlled. At Bolton School, the Governors have ensured that fee increases have been no more than 2% for the last four years. Over time this makes the choice of a fee-paying place more accessible to more people, and makes Bolton School more a part of the society in which we operate.
Social mobility may not have been a term he would have used, but it represents a concept he would have understood. Without social mobility, talents remain undeveloped and prosperity suffers; individuals’ life satisfaction is diminished; social cohesion and democratic participation are reduced. Some 100 years later, it is widely recognised that education is a key driver of social mobility. However, the national picture seems bleak, both in terms of intergenerational mobility and mobility throughout the course of an individual’s life (intra-generational mobility). The elevator is described as ‘stuck’. In particular, there are ‘sticky ceilings’ and ‘sticky floors’; in other words, the privileged and the poor remain where they are, both in terms of money and education. Indeed, the tendency of wealth to remain in certain hands and to evade others’ has increased in most OECD countries since the late 1990s. At the same time, the relationship between wealth and educational attainment has intensified. A low degree of social mobility combined with income inequality is a potentially toxic mix. It is scarcely surprising, then, that all political parties have emphasised the importance of nurseries, schools and universities in giving life chances to those from the least economically privileged backgrounds and the most deprived areas. In April 2019 in the UK, the Social Mobility Commission published its sixth State of the Nation report, describing social Pupils from local primary schools mobility as having take part in the annual football remained stagnant since festival at Bolton School 2014. Disadvantaged children start school years behind their peers in terms of attainment; there is a 14% point gap at 11 and this rises to a 22.5% point gap at 19. The Commission devoted much time and space to the role of independent schools in entrenching privilege. It described a ‘stark divide between many schools within the independent sector and those in the state sector’. The exclusivity of many independent schools was seen as presenting a number of risks to society in general. For example, the Commission cited the risk that ‘future leaders will be detached from the broader lived experience of the people their decisions may impact.’ It concluded that there is a ‘moral imperative’ for
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Bolton School participates in the national SHINE programme which aims to raise the educational aspirations of young children from local primary schools
The second principle is the importance of increased access and the availability of bursaries. It is a fundamental imperative that there is access to Bolton School for those families who will never be able to afford our fees, yet whose children would thrive here. One in five pupils receives financial support at Bolton School and 12% of pupils are on free places. The Governors’ aim is that one in three pupils will receive a Bursary by the end of the decade. This is a key factor in Bolton School being an engine of social mobility today, as it was in the past with Direct Grant pupils. We are strong believers in the multiplier effect. If we educate one boy or girl this will have a huge impact for good on his or her family, community and locality. Finally, there is partnership. Not everyone will afford a full fee place or be awarded a bursary, but a strong and thriving independent school can still have a significant impact on the educational journeys of young people in nearby schools. At Bolton School, our partnerships with other educational providers are purposeful, sustainable and focused on making us an important cog in the machinery of the local educational landscape for all. In the words of the Girls’ Division prayer, ‘much is expected of those to whom much is given’. We are inheritors of a wonderful legacy at Bolton School and it is vital that we share our inheritance as widely as possible for the good of the whole community. Alumni gifts, whether in time or money, play a vital role in opening up the School to as many children as possible, regardless of social background. Financial donations allow us to extend our Bursary scheme; those who give back by sharing their time and expertise allow us to extend our partnerships. We are hugely grateful to all those who contribute to the diverse and vibrant communities which we see in both Divisions. Together, we share Lord Leverhulme’s vision and faith in the future, believing that these buildings and the people in them can continue to inspire young people for generations to come. Sue Hincks, Headmistress and Philip Britton, Headmaster
Ian Riley: New Chairman of the Governing Body In December 2019, Old Boy Ian Riley (Class of 1981) succeeded Michael Griffiths as Chairman of the Bolton School Governing Body, having served as a Governor since 2014. Here, we share his memories of his time in the Boys’ Division, and hear of his hopes and ambitions for the School. Ian and his older brother (Keith, 1971-1979) were the first generation of their family to attend Bolton School (both getting free places via the Direct Grant) and were keen participants in both the academic and sporting life of the School, notably playing together in both the Rugby First XV and Badminton First VI. The camaraderie of team sports provide the majority of Ian’s enduring memories of School – opening the batting with Keith in the House Cricket Final and putting on a century stand to emerge victorious, captaining the School cricket team to victory over the MCC for the first time in many years and captaining the School team to victory in the Greater Manchester Schools Badminton tournament, amongst others. Ian represented the County in both sports and in younger years played football, chess and swam in the School teams; he expresses his gratitude to all the staff members - David Shaw and Martin Wadsworth to name just two - who gave up their time and energies to support the multitude of extra-curricular and sporting activities that he enjoyed as a pupil. In the Sixth Form, Ian was elected as both a Monitor and Captain of Chorley House and completed an additional A Level in Further Mathematics (with the generous help of Terry Cairns) as well as studying all three sciences. After leaving School, he worked for a year in industry as part of what used to be known as a “thick sandwich” student apprenticeship, the main benefit of which was that he was paid a salary whilst at university – somewhat different from the situation most university students find themselves in nowadays! He then studied engineering at Clare College, Cambridge, in his final two years doing a MEng in Manufacturing. As with many UK engineers at the time, Ian went straight from Cambridge into the City, working in what is now known as Investment Banking. After five years, he realised that he wanted to have a more industrial bias and so took a year off to complete an MBA at Insead. Whilst there, he decided that the most interesting and rewarding use of both his industrial and financial experience would be to try and get into the relatively new field of Private Equity, in which he has remained for over 25 years. The final part of this journey was being part of the founding team of a new firm, Vitruvian Partners, in 2006. Ian and his wife Ginni celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary in 2018 and have two children: Emma, 26, who recently qualified as an ACA and has just started a career in investment management after studying Computer Sciences / Land Economy at Newnham College, Cambridge; and Tim, 23, who completed an
MEng at Somerville College, Oxford last summer and is now studying a one-year MSc at London Business School in Data Analytics & Management. His brother Keith married Janet (née Holden, 1974-1981), and their three children all attended the School. Of his decision to join the Governing Body, Ian writes: “I had reached the point in my life where I felt that I would like to give something back to the institutions which had had a major impact on my life – Bolton School and Clare College. This began with financial support (as well as the Riley Centre here at School, there is now the Riley Auditorium at Clare), but when I could see that I would soon be stopping working full-time, I wanted to extend this to becoming more actively involved. At Clare, this is by sitting on their Investment Committee (which proves useful as a point of reference for the School’s Investment Committee); at School, I was delighted to be appointed to the Governing Body in 2014 and to subsequently accept the invitation of the Governing Body to serve as its next Chairman, following Michael Griffiths’ retirement from that role at the end of last year.“ In addition to his responsibilities as Chairman of the School’s Governing Body, Ian is also involved with the Bolton Lads and Girls’ Club (BLGC) and serves as a Board Member at the Sutton Trust. He writes: “I am a strong advocate of education as a key driver of social mobility. For some children, family and / or personal circumstances mean that they never even reach the ‘starting line’, with the group which has by far the worst educational outcomes being Looked-After Children (LACs). I am currently sponsoring a mentoring programme at BLGC which is designed to see if a stable, supportive extrafamily relationship can improve the educational outcomes of LACs. My hope is that the trial will support this and that it can then be rolled out in other similar settings. As well as being a Board Member, I am also providing funding to the Sutton Trust to promote apprenticeships, particularly at degree level, as I believe that many students would be better served by obtaining a degree-level qualification combined with work experience, no student loans and a guaranteed job rather than taking some of the less employment-relevant courses at lower-ranking universities.” Ian concludes: “To me, Bolton School was and remains an environment in which children are not limited by the opportunities available, but instead are able to pursue whatever their avenues of interest and thus develop in a more holistic way. Having grown up in the age of Grammar Schools and the Direct Grant, I believe that the exceptional opportunities available at Bolton School should be offered on the basis of potential ability. My ultimate goal is to emulate those US universities who offer completely needs-blind access and thus allow for the use of contextual admissions (rather than being based solely on performance in the entrance examination, as is currently the case). This goal may be some years away but I believe that it is worthwhile and, because of the strong financial foundations established by my predecessor, achievable.”
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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Spring 2020
Old Girls Make Terrific Teachers Having benefited from being educated by some charismatic and inspirational teachers during their time at Bolton School, it is little wonder that many of our Old Girls find themselves pursuing careers in education. Here we meet three of them as they explain what motivated them to join the teaching profession and how their experiences as pupils helped them to success at the front of the classroom.
Janet Marland (1970-1980) I genuinely can’t remember a time when I didn’t want to be a teacher. As a Sixth Former at Bolton School I used to pop down to Beech House in my free periods to help out in the classes there, something that I found to be enjoyable and rewarding. Some of my teachers in the Girls’ Division were great role models in the way that they showed genuine care for pupils and taught with real passion – they showed me what kind of a teacher I could become. I left the Girls’ Division in 1980 and went to Chester College to study for a BEd Hons, graduating from the University of Liverpool in 1984. I taught initially for two years in St Helens and then had six fabulous years teaching in an army school in Germany, where I got my first Deputy Headship. I got my first Headship in 2000 at Haslam Park Primary School in Bolton. Since 2007 I have been the Headteacher at Cavendish Primary School in West Didsbury, a wonderfully vibrant and richly diverse school community with 700 pupils aged 3 to 11 years. My job makes me feel very privileged because I have the opportunity to put my beliefs about broad and balanced education into practice for hundreds of
Janine Routledge (née Eastham, 1995-2005) After leaving Bolton School, I completed a BA in French and Classical Civilisation at Nottingham University, followed by a PGCE in Modern Foreign Languages at Edge Hill University. Teaching runs in the family with my grandad (Maths) and my mum, (RS), however it has always held an interest for me since my days at Bolton School. My favourite subjects were always French, Latin and Classics and there are few professions where I would be able to merge my love of all three! Although qualifying as an MFL teacher, my first teaching job was to teach Latin and Classics at Loreto Grammar School in Altrincham. After a year, I also started teaching some French and eventually my timetable became my dream job of teaching all three and I stayed at Loreto for four years. When my husband, Matt, also a Classics teacher, was appointed as Head of Classics at Royal Hospital
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children, not just a class of 30, and I am very proud of what my team at Cavendish has achieved. Every child deserves a great start so that they can live fulfilled and purposeful lives – it shouldn’t be dependent on perceived academic ability or parental income. Of course, there are many challenges in my job. Trying to make ends meet when budgets don’t expand to meet basic output; knowing that there is so much more we could do to support children with SEND if we had the resources; constant changes in DfE policies and Ofsted frameworks; and the growth of mental health issues amongst children and their families are but a few. Working on child protection cases can also be difficult and distressing, but it is an essential aspect of my work. To anyone thinking about teaching as a career I would give the following advice: you really have to want to do it. Teaching is not something to do because you can’t think of a better option – our children need passionate and committed teachers who will push them to be the best they can be. After 35 years in education, I can assure would-be teachers that there can be few more rewarding careers for those who are prepared to work hard, go the extra mile, and give of their best to pupils.
School, a boarding school in Ipswich, it seemed serendipitous that they were also advertising for a Head of French. I had never really considered Head of Department before, as my preference had been towards the pastoral side of teaching. However, we are now in our sixth year at RHS and in that time I have developed myself professionally and personally in some amazing ways. I have set up an Exchange programme with a Franco-German school in Freiburg, a penpal scheme with a school in Brittany and I work with a fantastic team of people who have an immense passion for the languages they teach. One of my favourite parts of my job is running the school’s Model United Nations – I am constantly blown away by how well some of the pupils can articulate their ideas about global issues. I was quite nervous about working in a boarding setting, but it is great as it allows you to see another side of the pupils which helps you to understand them more and to support them better. Similarly, they see a different side of you and it can help build positive relationships where there are potential barriers (eg they really don’t like your subject!).
Speaking as an MFL teacher, the biggest challenge at the moment is the view of the usefulness of languages in the face of Brexit. As a teacher in general, the biggest challenge is the use of tech and social media by pupils which is increasing cases of cyber-bullying and affecting young people’s mental health.
warmth are what I aspire to bring to my classroom every day, as well as my own personality of course! I often find myself referring to my old GCSE exercise books for inspiration and even show them to my current pupils so that they can see that, at their age, I was making the same mistakes as them.
My greatest career achievements have been seeing the achievements of my pupils, not just the ones who have gained their well-deserved A* grades, but also those who achieved Cs/4s where they had struggled and worked really hard just to get a pass.
What I do try to instil in my own pupils now are the same messages that were instilled in me at Bolton; it is fine to make mistakes as long as you learn from them and try not to make the same ones again!
My experience at Bolton School has definitely influenced my teaching style and I think there are probably some things that I say and do that emulate elements of teachers that had a huge impact on me; Mme Hutchings, Mme Garthwaite, Mme Sheaff, Mme Lowe for French and Mrs Partington and Mrs Wainwright for Latin and Classics. Though all individual in their teaching styles, all of these teachers inspired in me a love for language and ancient civilisations. Like them, passion, enthusiasm, fun, empathy, understanding and
Bethany Keegan (1999-2011) Ever since my first French lesson in Beech House, I realised that I loved languages. Even at such a young age, learning that objects could have different names was astounding to me. Throughout my years at Bolton School, my love of learning languages developed further. In Year 7 we all had to take French, and then in Year 8 we had the option of learning either Spanish or German. I really wanted to learn Spanish, and I had such a wonderful teacher in Mrs Patterson who gave us all Spanish names. At the time, it felt strange to be called something different in lessons, but now I realise it made those lessons that bit more authentic as we could identify as Spanish girls with Spanish names – it made us feel closer to the Spanish culture. For both GCSE and A Level I took French and Spanish, and when it came to applying for university, there was nothing else I wanted to study other than languages. I found that the University of Liverpool was one of very few universities at the time which offered a course where I could study three languages in equal proportion, and so I decided to add in ab initio Italian alongside French and Spanish. When family members and friends found out I was going to study three languages, they thought I was making the wrong decision. However, my teachers at Bolton School had instilled in me the belief that I could achieve anything I put my mind to and I proved everyone wrong as I graduated in 2017 with a First Class degree in French, Spanish and Italian.
For anyone thinking of a career in education, I would recommend getting some experience in schools. The country is facing a huge shortage of teachers at the moment, particularly MFL and STEM subjects, which is a shame as it really a fantastic profession. Knowing that you have made a difference to a child’s life is an amazing feeling. It can be tough; teachers don’t just teach their subject, they listen, support, coach, advise, guide and are constantly developing themselves too. It’s tiring yet fulfilling in equal measures, but for those who are inspired, it is the best job in the world!
the world, working for a company called Education First, which ran summer schools in the South of England. I loved teaching in Italy, where I was based in a school in Modena (they make Ferrari cars and balsamic vinegar there, and it was home to Pavarotti!). After a year, however, I realised I missed my family and my life back in the UK, and so I applied for an MA in Translation and Interpreting, an area of study that I had touched upon during my undergraduate degree. Although the MA taught me a lot, I realised that I missed teaching and sharing my passion for languages – so when I received an email from the Bolton School Development Office, informing me that the School was a hub for the National Modern Languages SCITT (School-Centred Initial Teacher Training) course in collaboration with Sheffield Hallam University, I decided this was a sign and I applied. I have now been studying for my PGCE in MFL since September, with Bolton School as my main placement school. It has been strange to be back, learning from the teachers who taught me, such as Mrs Shafiq and Mrs Morrison, but I have loved every minute. It is without doubt that it is thanks to the teachers I had whilst I was at School that I have become the linguist that I am today, and that I realised what a rewarding (albeit challenging) career teaching is. The NML SCITT is such a brilliant course and everyone has been so supportive and encouraging. I have secured a job for September and I’m so thankful that I’ve found the career path that I want to follow. I hope to be as inspiring as the teachers who taught me to love languages here at Bolton School.
Upon graduating, I decided I wanted to move to Italy to teach English. I had spent my summers teaching English as a foreign language to students from all over
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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Spring 2020
Bolton School Teachers Flourish Bolton School Girls’ Division has a reputation nationally for producing teachers who go on to become successful Heads. We spoke with five former Girls’ Division teachers, all of whom have gone on to lead other independent schools in the North West and beyond.
Lillian Croston I was educated at Accrington High School for Girls and from there went on to Durham University, and then to Cambridge. I taught Geography and General Studies in the Girls’ Division from 1970 to 1974 – my first ever job. Miss Higginson – so full of Lillian Croston upon her ideas, humour and creativity, with appointment the highest standards in all things – as Head of appointed me, and has always been Westholme School my inspiration. I consider myself very fortunate to have had such a brilliant start to my career. During my time in the Girls’ Division, I took many field trips both at home and abroad, the most adventurous of which being trips to East Africa (1972) and to India and Nepal (1974). Whilst there, we visited the crowded Red Fort in Delhi – a large red sandstone building. As I jokingly said to one of our students, Barbara Hulse (née Wolstenholme, 1964-1971), ‘Well, this has got nothing on Bolton School, has it?’ a passer-by from the throng tapped me on the shoulder and asked, ‘Was that Bolton School you were mentioning?’ It turned out to be Miss Higginson’s cousin!
Bobby Georghiou I was educated at Caistor Grammar School, in Lincolnshire, before reading English Language and Literature followed by a PGCE at the University of Manchester. My first school was Rivington and Blackrod High School in Horwich where I greatly admired my Head of Department, Les Price, a former teacher in the Bolton School Boys’ Division. I joined the Girls’ Division in 1981, teaching English Literature and English Language, and Drama – I remember vividly the first time I drove under the arch, marvelling at the sheer magnificence around me. Margaret Spurr was a huge inspiration and set the course of my future career: she was a great campaigner for girls’ education, which I admired, as we were not then yet always as equal as we should be. The talent of the pupils and of colleagues who choreographed, set to music, made props and costumes for the many productions we staged will always stay
Julien Harvatt After A Level examinations at Sheffield High School, GPDST, I attended Westfield College, University of London. Having been advised that I could not fulfil my ambition, as a woman, to pursue a career in law, my ambition was to teach. I taught German at Bolton School from September 1970 to December 1977, during which time I ran the German Society and co-ran
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Charity events were also high on the agenda, with one form holding a mini sports competition for staff and pupils in the old gym, including a staff egg and spoon race in which Miss Higginson was entered. I was told by a senior member of staff before it started that Miss Higginson had to win; being in danger of winning myself, I ‘accidently’ dropped my egg just before the finishing line, to allow Miss Higginson to storm through. She loved the fact that a 54-year-old lady had beaten all us young things! Another stand-out memory was writing reports by candlelight in the staff workroom during the time of the miners’ strikes. The School was often in winter darkness at the end of the day, but we were not allowed to take reports home. Writing by candle light was the only answer – whilst a pain, it was quite atmospheric! I left the Girls’ Division to become Head of Geography at Stretford Grammar School. After a career break following the birth of my son, Oliver, I became a Chief A Level Examiner in Geography before returning to Stretford, subsequently spending five years as Deputy Head at Sale Grammar School. I was appointed Head at Westholme aged 39, where I spent 25 happy years trying very hard to ensure that it embraced Bolton School’s standards! with me; notably, Doctor Faustus, The Happy Prince (written for the GCSE drama group), A Christmas Carol (a collaboration with Helen Butchart from the Boys’ Division, with Ralf Little as Tiny Tim), The Snow Queen and Twelfth Night in Twelve Minutes (written for my Upper Fifth English group and performed at one of many Drama Festivals). Another stand-out memory was the visit of Diana, Princess of Wales, for whom we performed a drama and dance. I was told I had six minutes and it must include the history of the School and pupils from both Divisions; the result was Bubbles, about the Leverhulme soap dynasty. I left the Girls’ Division in 1996 to take up a Deputy Headship at Westholme School in Blackburn where Lillian Croston was Principal. In January 2003, I was appointed Headmistress of Bury Girls’ Grammar School, where I remained until my retirement in August 2015.
a hockey club (challenging in a lacrosse school!) in the famous Friday Period 8 ‘slot’. I also organised a number of exchange visits to Germany, took numerous groups to meetings of Manchester’s Goethe Society and, with Sixth Formers, attended plays and study days put on by theatres and the Universities of Manchester and Liverpool and ran an annual German weekend for Sixth Form Germanists.
Year in, year out the Bolton pupils I taught were wonderful: enthusiastic, hardworking, inquisitive, challenging, delightful – teaching was a sheer joy. There are many standout memories from my time at Bolton, but being Second Mistress was certainly one, as my time in office coincided with the Girls’ Division’s Centenary where I worked closely with Miss Higginson and Miss Stocks. Being a Lower Sixth form teacher was challenging – not merely ensuring the girls ‘planted their bulbs early’, but organising the annual fête and the annual Christmas post (I still have a delightful poster featuring Harvatt’s Hounds). Without doubt Miss Higginson was my mentor and inspiration; she gave me various wonderful opportunities and taught me indirectly many valuable lessons on headship. Miss Higginson was very generous in ensuring her staff went for promotion, and my own progression to headship was swift. I was summoned to Miss Higginson’s study, the red light went on and I was encouraged to
Louise Robinson I went to a comprehensive in Rochdale and then went on to the University of York to study Maths and Computer Science, before completing my PGCE in Liverpool. I was appointed to set up the Girls’ Division’s brand new computing department in 1983, teaching some Mathematics classes to fill up my timetable. Working under two remarkable heads – Margaret Spurr and Jane Panton – I learnt my ‘trade’: how to be a leader, how to manage people and how to make their lives easier through excellent planning and paperwork. I still have some very good friends from my time in GD, as well as many lovely memories! I loved the smell, sounds
Gillian Wallwork I was educated at Dame Allan’s Girls’ School in Newcastle Upon Tyne until the Spring term of my LVIth when my parents relocated to Manchester. There I took A Levels at South Trafford College, Timperley, and went on to read English Language and Literature at Manchester University. Bobby Georgiou and Christine Todd, with whom I would later work at Bolton School Girls’ Division, were in my year. Indeed, I followed in Bobby’s footsteps to Rivington and Blackrod High School and then it was she, when Head of English at Bolton, who suggested I apply for a position there. Doing a PGCE at Didsbury, and entering the teaching profession, offered me the opportunity to work with the subject I adored and young people I might have the privilege to inspire. I taught English and Drama at Bolton School from 1991 to 2001, latterly becoming Head of Department, and as with all my other wonderful, funny and gifted colleagues therein, I was lucky enough to take many theatre trips and be involved in Drama Festivals and Productions. I was incredibly fortunate to teach lovely, clever, multitalented students in a building graced with a Hall straight out of Oxbridge, its own Theatre and grounds forming an oasis on Chorley New Road. The magic of
apply for the Headship of Loughborough High School. I was duly appointed to the Headship in Loughborough and thus joined the ‘Bolton Mafia’! I was Head at Loughborough from January 1978 until December 2001. During that time, without doubt the biggest challenge I faced was steering the School from a former Direct Grant grammar school through the Assisted Places scheme era to full independence, ensuring the future of the School (the oldest day girls’ grammar school in the country). I owe so much to my experiences at Bolton School: seeing a well-oiled machine working towards excellence; seeing a happy staff devoting itself very loyally to the School and its community and seeing ideas become reality.
and feel of the School – the organ, the productions and concerts (all that moving of chairs in and out of the hall), the girls, and the wonderful assemblies from the fantastic staff, who inspired me to be a positive female role model (Margaret Dickinson, Pat Fairweather, Rita Garthwaite and Mary Hughes, to name just a few). I left the Girls’ Division in 1995 to become Deputy Head at Manchester High School for Girls. After five years there, I was appointed as Head of Howell’s School in North Wales; I held that post for a further five and a half years before moving to Merchant Taylors’ Girls’ School, where I remained Head for 12 years. I am now an educational consultant. Carol Services, plays and Speech Days remains with me still. Staff INSET in the Girls’ Division was exceptional and I was fortunate to Gill’s leaving ‘do’ as she left be encouraged to assist the Girl’s Division English Department in 2001 in its delivery, and to look beyond the classroom to the realm of Senior Leadership. Inspired by the brilliant Margaret Dickinson, I was fortunate to be appointed as Academic Deputy Head at Cheadle Hulme School, where I remained (and where my sons were educated) until appointed Headmistress of Wakefield Girls’ High School (2009-2015) thus completing my love affair with, and commitment to, girls’ education. Whilst there, I discovered that one of my predecessors as Headmistress, Margaret Knott, had also been a Head of Department, and more, at Bolton School in the 1940s, and I was privileged to speak about her at the memorial service we held in her honour. Now retired, I indulge my passion for reading and theatre without interruption … unless, of course, it is to see ex-Bolton School colleagues who have remained friends and inspirations.
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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Spring 2020
INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION Old Girls give Government Insight In October 2019, Year 12 pupils from both Divisions travelled down to Westminster for the annual Politics trip and were lucky to meet with Heather Harrison (Class of 2013) and Maddie King (Class of 2014). Heather spoke to pupils about her work in audit and, in particular, how she Meeting Heather (left) is kept busy helping to and Maddie in a Select maintain a sprawling (and Committee room in crumbling!) parliamentary Portcullis House estate. Maddie spoke about her job as a caseworker for Matthew Offord, the Conservative MP for Hendon. Meeting former pupils who work in Westminster was a fantastic addition to an excellent trip.
An Education in Antibiotics As part of World Antibiotics Awareness Week back in November, which aimed to raise awareness of antibiotic resistance, Old Girl Thorrun Govind (Class of 2010) gave an instructive and engaging assembly to over 200 pupils in the Boys’ Junior School. She began by getting the boys to sing Happy Birthday to 11 year-old Deeyan – twice! She explained that this is how long it should take you to wash your hands properly. Thorrun, who completed her degree in Pharmacy at King’s College, London, reminded her audience to use tissues when sneezing, to consider going to a pharmacist instead
Oxbridge Advice Eighty ambitious Year 12 students from Bolton School, Bolton Sixth Form College, UTC, Turton School, Rivington and Blackrod High School, Canon Slade and Thornleigh Salesian College attended this year’s Oxbridge Conference in the Arts Centre. The audience was given a step-by-step guide to applying to Oxford or Cambridge, including preparing for aptitude tests, writing personal statements, completing online supplementary questionnaires and, of course, preparing for interview. Old Girl Natasha Hall (2008-2015) studied Classics at Downing College, Cambridge, graduating in 2018.
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Lessons on Modern Slavery Susan Banister (1982-1989) presented an informative and thought-provoking session on modern slavery to students in both Divisions. Susan is a modern slavery consultant with Hope for Justice, an organisation which exists in multiple locations across four continents and works to end modern slavery Susan gave an important lesson on by preventing modern slavery exploitation, rescuing victims, restoring lives and reforming society. The students learned about the Modern Slavery Act 2016, and about child slavery and human trafficking, including the difference between trafficking and smuggling, as well as signs and indicators of modern slavery. Susan described the key drivers of human trafficking and the barriers which prevent victims from disclosing their situation. She also related a number of real-world cases, and talked about Hope for Justice’s involvement in the largest antitrafficking case in Europe. of a doctor about minor illnesses and to return any unused medicines. She described the great work that antibiotics can do, but noted that they are not always needed, and steered the boys towards www.antibioticguardian.com to learn more about the importance of not over-using these important medicines. Thorrun, who is a qualified Pharmacist, is also a trainee lawyer, specialising in healthcare law. Thorrun with some of the Park Road pupils
She joined the panel of speakers to give her ‘top tips’ for applying to Oxbridge, before leading a group in an interactive session on preparing for aptitude tests and interviews. The students found the conference both enjoyable and useful and left ready to make an informed choice about applying to Oxford or Cambridge.
Natasha shared her experiences of applying to Cambridge
Dealing with Disputes Solicitor Hannah Bradley (1999-2006) returned to School to deliver another great session on dealing with difficult situations and resolving disputes.
Hannah urged the Sixth Formers to think creatively about solutions and compromises
Hannah studied at the University of Leeds and at the University of Law and now specialises in commercial dispute resolution. The Year 13 girls enjoyed her interactive session and learned some effective negotiating strategies.
Grace Champions Spanish University This year’s Careers Fair was bigger than ever, with over 1,000 GCSE and A Level students from across the region seeking information and advice from a wide range of businesses and higher education institutions. Grace Brookes (Class of 2014) represented IE University in Madrid – having gained a degree in Business Administration and Management there herself, she was well-placed to speak about studying abroad, and in particular in the stunning Spanish capital.
The Bolton Alumni Network The Bolton Alumni Network, the online platform exclusively for Old Girls, Old Boys and Former Staff of Bolton School, continues to grow with over 2,400 people now signed up and using the platform in many different ways. We are grateful to the 67% of members who have offered to support their fellow Old Girls and Old Boys with careers assistance, including: • Over 1,500 willing to answer industry-specific questions • Over 1,300 willing to introduce others to their connections • Over 1,100 offering to review CVs • Over 200 offering work experience or internships Join today to take advantage of this wealth of experience and goodwill, or to give back by offering your help to younger Alumni just starting out in their careers.
Alumni Authors Relative Error Sandra Newman (née Meadows, 1975-1982) Sandra’s previous novels, the Persford Series of medical thrillers and A Form of Justice, were featured in previous editions of the Newsletter. She has now produced her latest book, Relative Error, again published under her penname Dawn Marsanne. Over several generations and from humble beginnings, the
Download the BAN App: iOS: Search for ‘Graduway Community’ in the App Store and download the app. Once installed, type ‘Bolton School’ as the name of your institution and select when it populates. Android: Go to Play Store and search for ‘Bolton Alumni Network’ to download the app. Please note users of the previous version will need to delete the old app before downloading this version. If you are not yet a member of the Bolton Alumni Network, you can sign up at www.boltonalumninetwork.com with your LinkedIn, Facebook or Google account, or with an email address. Ellard family built up an impressive group of businesses, becoming highly respected in the area. Keith Ellard is largely responsible for their management and begins to find this role increasingly demanding. As his father’s health deteriorates, further responsibility falls upon him, and he struggles to cope. Under pressure, he makes an error of judgment, which causes his world to unravel. Keith battles to restore his equilibrium, but has to cope with another chance event which begins to uncover a family secret, causing further turmoil in a family where grievances still exist due to decades-old family disputes. As the wider family grapples with these issues, will division or reconciliation result? All of Sandra’s books are available through links on her website dawnmarsanne.wixsite.com/mysite and are also available on Apple iBooks, Kobo, Barnes and Noble and OverDrive Library – and all are free to download.
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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Spring 2020
The Boxing Diaries When Marion Dunn (1974-1981) took up boxing with the aim of improving her fitness, she did not expect to become obsessed with the sport – nor to publish a book on her new-found passion. Here, she describes how both of these came about. They say that school days are the happiest of your life. It is easy to see the past through rose-coloured spectacles, but from my perspective as a 56-year old woman, fond memories of Bolton School genuinely remain. I was originally from the small town of Culcheth, near Warrington, with rather straight-laced, conventional parents, who at times were at odds with my quirky teenage behaviour. The ethos at Bolton School allowed – and indeed encouraged – me to be an individual, but also instilled a sense of resolve and social responsibility that my parents somehow couldn’t. The teachers were disciplined and imaginative and individuals, one-offs who broke the mould. Margaret Higginson (aka ‘Hig’) was at the helm as Headmistress and has since passed into legend owing to her good sense, practicality and commitment to feminism. She was also an advocate of ‘proper’ puddings, stout boots and mashed potato, and was allegedly responsible for a ginger pudding recipe, which I remember well. This was served in the Bolton School dining rooms, accompanied by a rather strange, blue-coloured, lemon-flavoured sauce. Together they were known as ‘Tarmac and Fairy Liquid’. I loved the natural world, and as a teenager I would escape from suburbia up to the Yorkshire Dales – where I now live – or to Derbyshire to go potholing or rock-climbing, and to pursue my beloved hobby which was geology. I met others who were likeminded, forging friendships that have lasted a lifetime. ‘Hig’, too, loved the Dales, which made her instantly acceptable from my pained teenage perspective. In those days, school trips were exciting, untrammelled by modern health and safety concerns. One trip, right down to the coal face at Bickershaw Colliery, stands out in the memory as we had the opportunity to ride on the coal crusher belts. I went to Oxford University to read geology in the 1980s, but pined for the hills of northern England, and never really fitted in with the culture of entitlement that was prevalent in Oxford at that time. On the day I left Oxford I wept not with sorrow, but with joy at the thought of returning north. After a career as an environmental engineer, I moved to the Yorkshire Dales, something my parents had told me I would never do. I took various local jobs, mainly working in
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laboratories, but also managed to fit in some Geology. This culminated in a part-time research degree at Sheffield University, looking at climate change and how this was manifest in ancient limestones in the Yorkshire Dales. After a long period of combined study and work, followed by a stressful period dealing with family illness and then bereavement, I noticed in my late forties that I had lost all my former fitness. At fifty, I knew it was make or break time fitness-wise. I was working as a school laboratory technician in North Lancashire, and not earning much, so I searched on the internet for cheap gyms in my area. There was a gym advertised as part of a youth club, where gym sessions were run both for young people and for adults. I turned up expecting a fancy weights room, with posh coffee and deep carpets. Instead I found a traditional old-school boxing gym, where I was made to feel very welcome. I joined the adult sessions and gave boxing a go. I was prepared to work hard in the gym and found unexpectedly that I loved boxing. I never looked back. Such was my enthusiasm that I began to write a boxing training diary, which somehow morphed into a book, describing the triumphs and despairs of trying to learn boxing as a middle-aged woman, and all the microdramas that are the norm in any northern English boxing gym. The roots of my rather singular obsessive interests are also explored in my book by an anecdotal trawl through recent family history. I am very grateful that my book, The Boxing Diaries, was picked up by my publisher, Sara Hunt of Saraband, based at Media City in Manchester, and was published in January this year. I think it is fair to say my book generated some interest. Consequently, I appeared on BBC Breakfast TV and also on BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour, being interviewed about my book. It would be fantastic to hear from any Old Girls who remember me. After all, Bolton School made me grow old disgracefully, and for that I am truly, truly grateful. The Boxing Diaries by Marion Dunn is published by Saraband, price £9.99 paperback.
Staff in the Spotlight At the end of the Autumn term the Girls’ Division bade a fond farewell to Mrs Haslam who taught Food Technology for many years before also taking up the role of Old Girls’ Liaison Officer. Alumni Prefects Cate Lord and Lauren Whitaker caught up with her to find out about her time at Bolton School and her plans for the future.
Mrs Haslam
How many years have you worked at Bolton School? I have actually been here rather a long time! I first came to the Girls’ Division as a pupil in 1959 – little Carol Haslam with Lauren and did I think that I would Cate return as a member of the teaching staff in 1988 and that I would still be working for the School in 2019! Was it your first teaching post? No, after I left Newcastle University my first job was teaching at Manchester High School for Girls. In 1977 I moved south with my husband, David, and my son, John, and taught in comprehensive schools there, before returning to Bolton. Why did you want to be a teacher? My father was a headmaster of a primary school in Bolton, so I knew a lot about teaching and I just always felt it was something I wanted to do. My twin brother is a teacher, too, so we kept it in the family! I never regretted the decision at all. What’s the best part of the job? I had a love of the subject I taught, and, I know it is a cliché, but I did feel I was able to make a difference to people’s lives. Bolton School gave me the opportunity to do a variety of different things, from Carol with former Girls’ Division being a Form Tutor to colleague Julia Head being involved in Careers – the latter involved entering girls in business competitions and I was lucky enough to accompany a winning team to New York. Alongside my teaching I became the Alumni link with the Old Girls in 2000, a role which I enjoyed so much that I carried on when I retired from teaching in 2010! Do you have any stand out memories from your time here? So many! Essentially these feature staff with whom I’ve taught and girls who come back and retain their connection with School. I also have fond recollections of many events in School – too many to mention!
I think we are unique as a school, as we have such a strong Alumni network, people want to remain in touch with School. What are your plans after leaving? I am still on the Old Girls’ With classmate Jill Mills (née Association Committee, Dawson, 1953-1966) at the so I am going to be Memorial Service for Miss maintaining my links with Higginson, 2009 School. But it’s good to have extra time to do things I’ve always wanted to do, to meet up with friends, becoming a lady who lunches now and again! And I am really enjoying being able to see more of my sons (both Old Boys) and their families. What is your favourite Bolton School tradition? The traditions are what makes Bolton School particularly special and distinctive, and many go back to when I was a pupil here, such as the gowning of the Prefects, the sewing in of name tapes in the gowns linking family Gill Richards (former members, the Christmas Headmistress) and Carol at the angels in the Hall, the Year Alumni London Dinner in 2011 10 Christmas Post, the Prefects’ panto, Jerusalem, the School prayer, the School song … I can’t pick a favourite! What are your feelings as you leave Bolton School? After being here for so many years, the time was right to move on … but I am doing so with some great memories and having made some lovely friends. I have a lot to thank School for!
Carol with Pamela Taylor (former Girls’ Division Staff and former Director of Fundraising), 2003
Carol’s former pupils are always pleased to see her!
What would you say you will miss the most? The people I have worked with – the camaraderie in the staff room was always good. Fortunately, I am still in touch with many of them and we continue to meet up regularly.
Prefects 1965-66: Carol is on the front row, fourth from the right
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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Spring 2020
Old Girls Go Global The Old Girls’ Association has over 4,500 members living and working not just in the UK, but across the globe. Here we catch up with five Old Girls who have relocated overseas, find out what motivated them to move abroad, what they enjoy about their lives there … and what they still miss about the UK!
Margaret Reckitt (née Haslam, 1973-1981) Since 2012 my husband Jack and I have lived and worked in South West France, about an hour north of Toulouse. We came to France to grow grapes and make wine and have spent eight very happy and interesting years developing and running our winery, Clos Rocailleux. Some of our best UK customers have been my friends from Bolton School! We sold the winery recently and are now starting on a new adventure running a beautiful property for holidays and retreats www.manoirmouret.com in the same village. We lived in central London for 25 years before moving to France and we've come to appreciate that the difference is more between life in a big city vs a rural community rather than France vs the UK. In early May you can put your jeans away and your shorts on until October! The pace of life here is much slower. At noon our village church bell rings to let us know it is time to come in from the vines for our lunch until 2pm. No more rushed sandwiches at the desk! Perhaps not surprisingly friends and family visit us a lot, which is great. I loved the buzz of London, but if I ever need a weekend of cocktails and fish and chips, it’s an easy journey from Toulouse.
Susan Hutchings (née Jones, 1960-1967) Miss Bowman drilled a passable French accent into me with the help of her mirror (‘Tu, not tout!’), and with it came a love of France. After O Levels, French became not a school subject, but a life goal. Fortunately, my husband and daughter also grew to love the country and we bought a holiday home in a corner of an ancient house in Périgord. We took early retirement and we sold up in Hebden Bridge as life in a warmer climate beckoned. The transition was easy; we knew lots of people in our village, and we were recruited into village activities. Then 12 years ago I became a local councillor – a source of much interest and not a little frustration – and started a language school of volunteer teachers. The aim was to get Brits and other non-French to integrate in their new country, and we now have around 60 people, half French, half others, who go to classes and activities such as picnics, visits, quizzes, grape-picking and cooking. Living here has been an enriching experience – but Brexit has been and remains a challenge, and we have felt rather abandoned as UK people in the EU-27 countries. Our lives will be changed: I can no longer be a councillor, I have no vote for the first time in my adult life. French friends neighbours have been amazingly supportive, offering to adopt us, marry us, lobby the authorities, and are relentless in encouraging us to apply for French nationality – our next adventure!
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Caroline Hick (née Bell, 1977-1987) I moved to Melbourne in 2006, with my husband Alastair and two boys who were then five and three years old. We had been living in Cambridge, but all our family was either up North or over in the South West, so we didn’t see much of them. When my husband was offered a job in Wales, we decided maybe we would prefer somewhere a bit sunnier! Alastair’s brother already lived in Australia, so that made getting a visa easier. We sold up, packed our bags and shipping container and arrived in Melbourne with no house and no jobs. We have loved every minute, since we can walk to the beach, drive a couple of hours and be in total wilderness in the mountains, go into the city and eat at amazing restaurants and watch great sporting events. We come back to the UK every couple of years, I miss my family and you could tell the kids craved an extended family when they were young. I find myself missing odd things – not so much missing, but forgetting how beautiful things in the UK are: a Cotswold village, a flowering hedgerow, a bluetit. Melbourne is a fantastic place to live, the lifestyle is very relaxed, laid back and outdoorsy. But it has been heartbreaking to see the devastating fires this year, places we have visited on holiday destroyed, such huge areas of forest burnt to nothing. It is so sad, but a perfect reminder that we need to take more care of this planet.
Hilary Jacobs (née Earnshaw, 1968-1976) When I left Bolton School at the age of 16 I thought it was the end of the world. I had so been looking forward to finally reaching the Sixth Form. My parents informed me at the last moment that we were moving down south. I was furious they hadn’t involved me in the decision and I begged them to let me stay, but there was no way to change their minds. Of all the moves I have since done, I still remember this one as being the hardest, even though it was the smallest in terms of distance. My husband’s job has taken us to Brussels, several different places in Italy and France, Hanoi, Bangkok, Suva (Fiji) and we are now in Dili, Timor Leste. The life of a ‘trailing spouse’ isn’t always easy, but as a teacher it has been easy for me to find employment along the way. We have been living in Dili for six months now. I am volunteering at the local hospital. It’s challenging, especially in a completely new language. Timor Leste is by far the poorest country we have lived in, but also one of the most fascinating. As a 16 year old Boltonian I never imagined that my future lay in such faraway places. It’s been wonderful, and I wouldn’t change a thing … except, perhaps, the part where I missed out on being in the Sixth Form. That still rankles! Hannah Lea (1971-1978) Many people who choose Munich as their home originally come for a short stay – and then stay put. I’m no exception. I planned to spend just three months here, after my degree in German in the UK. That was back in 1982! During that initial three-month stint, I was offered a job teaching English at Munich University. One thing led to another, and I now work as a marketing copywriter in corporate communications, with a good mix of clients to keep me busy. I’m totally settled here, with Hannah (second right) at her German citizenship as well as British, and I’m also active in LGBTI civil rights. After all the wedding to Sabina (second time and energy spent campaigning over the years, it was wonderful that my partner Sabina left) in 2018, with their two and I were finally able to marry. witnesses, including School friend Sue Bunting (right, 1971-1978)
Because I’ve been here nearly all my adult life, it’s difficult to draw a proper comparison between life in Germany and the UK. Munich’s a beautiful city, as is the surrounding region with its mountains and lakes, and living here is still a dream come true. What do I miss about the UK? If anything, it’s food. Fish and chips. Full English breakfast. And because I’m mad about sailing, I’d love to be closer to the sea. That’s much easier in the UK. Still, the distances between Germany and the UK aren’t exactly vast, and both of us have always visited regularly. Sabina speaks English with a decidedly Northern accent – I can’t think where she gets that from!
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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Spring 2020
NEWS OF OLD GIRLS If you would like to get in touch with any of the Old Girls featured – or any other Alumni – please contact the Development Office.
Class of 1930-1939
Edith Clayton 1929-1935 Congratulations to Edith who celebrated her 100th birthday on 11th November 2019!
Class of 1950-1959
Hazel Short (née Hulme, 1949-1956) Hazel and her husband, Michael (Boys’ Division, Class of 1953), moved to Bolton-le-Sands soon after they got married in 1964 to take up teaching positions in Lancaster, and for 56 years have worshipped at Holy Trinity Church in the village. Some years later, classmate Brenda Wood (née Walker, 1949-1956) and her husband Tony (Boys’ Division, Class of 1954) also came to live there.
Brenda, Jill and Hazel
Hazel and Brenda met up with the Rt Revd Dr Jill Duff (née Worsley, 1980-1990) when Bishop Jill led a confirmation service at Holy Trinity, Bolton-le-Sands, in January.
Kathleen Ricketts (née Waddicar, 1951-1958) For the past ten years, Kath and her friend and choral society colleague, Diane Lowrey, have been collecting sheet music from the 1800s to the 1950s. Struck by the realisation that some of these forgotten compositions may get lost, they set Kath (left) and Diana about preserving a selection of their favourites, hiring a professional sound are preserving the heritage of songs engineer to record an album from from the past Kath’s front room. The result is a CD, Diana and Kath: Words and Music from Yesteryear, which the duo hope gives a flavour of music in the Edwardian era and beyond. Copies of the CD are available from Kath (kathricketts6@gmail.com) at £10 each, including postage and packing, and proceeds will go to charity.
Class of 1970-1979
Alison Taylor (1966-1973) Alison was a key member of the School lacrosse team which won all the regional and national competitions in 1973 and remained very much involved in the sport after leaving School. She went on to teach PE and her lacrosse team at Queen Margaret's School in York was very successful, with some of her pupils going on to represent their countries at Junior and U21 level. Since retiring, Alison has taken up photography, specialising in seascapes and landscapes. She was awarded an LRPS last year and is now working towards the Associate Distinction of the Royal Photographic Society. She is on the Yorkshire lecture circuit and has exhibited her work across the UK as well as having it published in numerous magazines. You can see her work at: www.alisontaylorphotography.org.
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Alison also plays classical guitar regularly in an U3A ensemble and remains a keen supporter of Bolton Wanderers.
Class of 1980-1989
Amanda Kendall (née Brooks, 1980-1989) Congratulations to Amanda who was awarded a CBE in the New Year’s Honours list for services to economic growth. Amanda is currently Director of Controls, Remedies, EU Exit and the WTO, at the Department of International Trade (DIT). She has been in DIT since 2016, and led the creation of the Trade Remedies Authority to protect British businesses from unfair trade after exit from the EU, and most recently, preparations for the UK to take its independent seat at the World Trade Organisation. Prior to joining DIT, she spent most of her career in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills where her last role was Director of Innovation. She also worked on industrial strategy and growth policy and was posted to Singapore for four years as Deputy High Commissioner and Director of Trade and Investment.
Class of 1990-1999
Sally-Anne Huang (née Blakemore, 1982-1990) Congratulations to Sally-Anne who was voted as one of London’s most influential people in the education sector in 2019. Sally-Anne is currently Headmistress of James Allen’s Girls’ School, but is set to become the first female head of St Paul’s School since it was founded more than 500 years ago; she will take up her position as the historic school’s 35th High Master in September. Rashmi Chattopadhyay (1984-1999) After completing her dentistry degree at Leeds University, Rashmi started her career in a Yorkshire town and quickly fell in love, got married and relocated back to the right side of the Pennines! When interviewing for a new position in a Chorley practice with Mr Andrew Brierley, she noticed a Bolton School photograph on the mantlepiece. To her surprise she discovered that he was the father of Amy Yates (née Brierley, 1985-2000) and Laura Cole (née Brierley, 1984-1998)! The two chatted about their connections to Bolton School and immediately hit it off. Later, Rashmi and her husband, David, ended up buying the practice and have been working there happily since 2010. Their special interest is treating nervous patients, which is especially rewarding and has led them to create a guide to overcoming dental fear. Rashmi has recently begun a new venture, into the world of clinical aesthetic medicine, despite never imagining she would take this route into facial aesthetics as she was unsure of the ethical side of the industry – at present it is almost entirely unregulated and is focused
on selling unauthentic treatments to younger, and perhaps vulnerable, patients. This prompted her to try to change the law by campaigning for the introduction of stricter laws prohibiting those under 21 from receiving treatments. Rashmi’s new business, ‘hello me’ is all about gentle facial rejuvenation for the 30+ age group who would like a little ‘face magic’! This approach is entirely new, and to help people understand this new route to ethical, natural-looking facial aesthetics, she has written a book to be published this year called PS I Love Me. Anyone interested in this new kind of facial rejuvenation or who would like a free e-copy of Rashmi’s e-book can get in touch at rashmi@ hellomefacialaesthetics.co.uk.
Class of 2010-2019
Bethany Keegan (Class of 2013) After graduating from the University of Liverpool with a First Class (Hons) in Modern European in 2017, Bethany moved to Italy where she worked as an English Language Teacher for a year in Modena, just outside Bologna.
In December 2019 she graduated from the University of Manchester with an MA (merit) in Translation and Interpreting Studies and is now studying for her PGCE as part of the National Modern Languages SCITT programme with Bolton School Girls’ Division as her main placement school and Westhoughton High School as her second placement. She is thoroughly enjoying teaching and all of the challenges it brings and is looking forward to qualifying later this year. Jessica Melling (2008-2015) Congratulations to Jess who last Summer graduated from University College, Durham, with a 2:1 in Spanish and History (Joint Honours). She is now in London, working as an Investment Banker at Citi. Amie Murray (2004-2018) Amie spent the first term of her second year studying medicine at Newcastle University’s International Branch in Johor, Malaysia – a fantastic opportunity for her to immerse herself in a new culture and to experience the disparities in healthcare between the two countries.
MATCHES AND HATCHES Ruth Whitehead (née Tonge, 1987-1994) Viva Las Vegas! On 12th September 2019 Ruth married Paul Whitehead at the Special Memory Chapel in Ruth and Paul, centre, with guests including Las Vegas, Joanna White (far left), Dara Newberry (far right) Nevada. and Ruth’s brother, Jim Tonge (Boys’ Division, They were Class of 1998) standing behind Ruth joined in the USA by guests including Old Girls Joanna Dootson (née White) and Dara Newberry (both Class of 1994). Mr and Mrs Whitehead celebrated in Bolton on their return with a delicious Las Vegas-themed cake made by Lindsy Slamon (née O’Reilly, Class of 1994) and the very talented Victoria Bond (née Hawkins, Class of 1994) performed their first dance song. Weddings are a ‘Bolton School family’ affair after all!
Julia Knight-Simpson (1985-1998)
The new Mr and Mrs Knight-Simpson
Congratulations to Julia who married Philip Simpson at Guildford Registry Office on 12th October 2019. The happy couple had a 1950s-themed wedding, complete with a vintage museum Morris Minor Million. Hanna Kinsella (née Miraftab, 1996-2006) Hanna married Martin Kinsella on 14th September 2019 in a traditional Christian service at the Anglican Cathedral in Liverpool, followed by a Persian ceremony at the Palm house in Sefton Park. Old Girls Hannah Bradley, Natalie Butler, Helen Hartley and Rebecca Maudsley joined the happy Hanna and Martin on their wedding couple on their big day. day
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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Spring 2020 Sarah Brown (née West, 1997-2007) Sarah and her partner, Paul, invited friends and family to a joint party on 2nd November 2019 to celebrate their 30th and 40th birthdays respectively. Once all the guests had assembled at Albert’s in Worsley they were in for a big surprise: the event turned into Sarah and Paul’s wedding! Sarah asked her bridesmaids to be bridesmaids on the night, including her old School friend Zoe Roberts – luckily they said yes! Sarah and Paul had much to celebrate! Lynne Kenning (née Sellers), Zoe Roberts, the new Mrs Brown and Charlotte Watkinson (all Class of 2007)
Nicola Spiers (née Wilcock, 2000-2007) Congratulations to Nicola who married Stuart Spiers on 27th April 2019 at Loweswater Church in the Lake District. A number of Old Girls were in attendance: Nikki with Stuart and her bridesmaids Nicola’s sister Jennifer Wilcock (Class of 2009) and a huge contingent from the Class of 2007, namely Emily Berry (née Cook), Vicki Cliff (née Howarth) and her husband Brad Cliff (Boys’ Division), Amy Douglas (née Herbert), Sarah Garnett, Sophie Hammond-Pigott (née Hammond), Danielle Hawarden, Faye Hughes, Aimee Parkinson, Sophia Saunders, Rebecca Sherwin (née Lewis) and Natalie Smith. Gillian Wallwork, Nicola’s second cousin and formerly Head of English at Bolton School, was also among the guests.
Rachel and Christopher tie the knot
Rachel Bellaby (née Egan, 2002-2009) Congratulations to Rachel who married Christopher Bellaby on 19th October 2019 in Nottingham, where the couple
MINI REUNIONS Oxford Gathering
L-R: Katerina Gramm (Class of 2018), Kirsty Fielding (Class of 2017), Andy Lee (Class of 2017), Rohit Bagewadi (Class of 2017), Matthew Schaffel (Class of 2019) and Akshay Pal (Class of 2018)
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A group of Old Girls and Old Boys who are currently studying at Oxford took advantage of the Development Office’s offer to contribute to University Drinks and arranged a gettogether in November.
now live. Fellow Old Girl Sarah Sherwood (née Hayward, Class of 2009) was among the guests. Sarah Sherwood (née Hayward, Class of 2009) A few weeks after attending the wedding of School friend Rachel Bellaby (née Egan, 2002-2009) (see above), Sarah married Robert Sherwood in Keswick in November 2019. Although the couple live and work in Monmouthshire, they decided to head home to the north for their wedding celebrations and tied the knot in the tiny St Begas Church on Bassenthwaite Lake, followed by a reception and ceilidh in the Lingholm Estate, Portinscale Congratulations to Sarah – with Rachel in attendance, of and Robert! course. Sarah Worswick (née Corrigan, Class of 2011) Congratulations to Sarah who married Thomas Worswick on 5th September 2019. Sarah and Thomas were joined by close family for their wedding in Manchester. Kate Hughes (née Allan, Class of 2003) Congratulations to Kate and her husband Steve on the arrival of their daughter, Cecilia Ray Hughes, on 6th January 2020.
Proud parents Kate and Steve with baby Cece
Jessica Pizzey (neé Hurley, 2003-2010) Congratulations to Jess and her husband Philip who welcomed their son, Logan Pizzey, on 23rd July 2019, weighing 5lb 4oz.
Jess, Philip and baby Logan
Best Friends Four best friends since ‘day one’ at Bolton School over 40 years ago continue to meet regularly and recently got together at the Coniston Cold Hotel, near Skipton, for lunch and a lakeside walk.
L-R: Jules Natlacen (née Simm), Steph Watkin (née Tighe), Fiona Cosgrove (née Smith) and Hermione Berry (all Class of 1985)
Jules runs the award-winning café/shop/deli The Churchmouse at Barbon, and the other three have been known to help out there from time to time! www.facebook.com/churchmousebarbon, www.churchmoussecheeses.com
Looking Back A nostalgic trip down Chorley New Road – photographs from across the decades
Parry, 1952-1958) Thank you to Susan Garnett (née Lacrosse Team 1956 the of o phot this in ing for send Rawlinson, aret Marg , ison Harr Back, L-R: Rosamund Marjorie Bowie, pe, Coo stine Chri , Sims orie Marj Pauline Ingleby , Christine Walker, Front, L-R: Freda Taylor, Susan Parry and Marl Pam r, dica Wad Kathleen
-1971) Margaret Jones (née Whittle, 1964 Junior sent in this photograph of the 1st name Tennis Team 1968. Margaret can three of the team: herself (top left), k row Gillian James (née Entwistle) (bac t row (fron on Burt stine centre) and Chri other centre) – if anyone can name the h! touc in get se plea red, girls featu
Diana Platford (née Howitt, Class of 1960) got in touch to say that she is on the back row of the photo of the 1957 Rounders Team featured in the Autumn 2019 edition – apologie s to Diana for not identifying her previously! Back, L-R: Diana Howitt, Susan Parry , Tessa Price, Jennifer England, Elizabeth Rogers Front, L-R: Jennifer Platt, Christine Hill, Margaret Latham, Rosamund Harrison
The 1990-91 Junior Sw imming team reached the finals of the National Schools' Relay Champio nships Back row: Hilary Layer, Victoria Thomson-Skipw ort. Front row: Catherine Jon es, Nicole Thornley, Vaness a Holt
this photo Meriel Lewis (1977-1980) sent in el Meri p. Grou ics Phys -80 of the 1979 some (middle row, far right) has identified row, dle (mid Platt ela Ang – girls the of (front second right), Masumi Battacharya third row, far left), Jane May (front row, left), from left), Christine (back row, far erine Gail (back row, second left) and Cath gnises reco ne anyo if – left) far row, dle (mid ! any of the others, please let us know
Sixth Formers in the Co mmon Room, 1990-91
Relaxing at Sports Day, 2000
Don’t forget to take a look at the ‘Scenes from the Past’ page on the School website, which we update regularly with new archive photos: www.boltonschool.org. You can also share your own archive photos on the Bolton Alumni Network: www.boltonalumninetwork.com.
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DESTINATIONS OF LEAVERS 2019 ZAHRA AL-FALOUJI KHADIJAH ALI GABRIELLA APPLEBY AALIYAH ASCROFT KATE ASTBURY KATHRYN AUSTIN VANESSA AZAVEDO ELLEN BATE FAZILA BHUTA (2018) ZINNEERAH BAX JOSEPHINE BLACKBURN AMELIA BOLTON ESME BRADBURY SOPHIE BROWN MELISSA CARTWRIGHT ELIZABETH COOPER MOLLY COOPER RACHAEL CROMPTON ABIGAIL CROSSLEY GEORGINA CROWTHER ROSEMARY DANDY SÊREN DAVIES PAIGE DOBSON ANNETTE ELMES ELEANOR GIBBONS ALEXANDRA GRAHAM ALISA GRUNDY JAYA GUHATHAKURTA DEEYA HALAI ISABEL HARPER ELEANOR HAUGHTON CHLOE HENDRY VIOLA HILTON JESSICA HINDLEY HANNAH HOLT YUEHAN HUANG FIZA HUSSAIN AIMAN IBRAHIM SANA IJAZ ANTONIA JAMESON SHIVALI KAURA KIERSTEN KEOGH
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University of Liverpool University College London Heriot-Watt University University of Glasgow University of Edinburgh University of Salford Newcastle University University of Birmingham University of Manchester Gap Year Northumbria University University of Liverpool Bath Spa University Newcastle University University of York Manchester Metropolitan University University of Edinburgh Newcastle University University of Nottingham Durham University Apprenticeship University of Liverpool University of York University of Cambridge University of Salford University of Reading Leeds Beckett University Liverpool John Moores University University of Liverpool Newcastle University University of Lincoln University of Edinburgh University of Manchester Lancaster University Laine Theatre Arts University College London University of Birmingham King’s College London University of Manchester Manchester Metropolitan University Gap Year Aston University
Law with International Politics and Policy Medicine Psychology Mechanical Engineering Philosophy Journalism: Broadcast Urban Planning Ancient History Optometry Psychology Ancient History Psychology Modern Languages and Business Studies Theatre Writing Directing and Performance Art Foundation History Psychology Psychology (2020) Liberal Arts Astra Zeneca Law with International Politics and Policy History Modern and Medieval Languages Midwifery Geography (Physical) Psychology Animal Behaviour with Foundation Year Architecture Music Psychology Philosophy and English Literature Architecture (2020) Politics Musical Theatre and Dance Mathematics Environmental Science Medicine Biosciences with a Foundation Year Art Foundation Economics and Management
ANA KETTLE NICOLA LI HAVANA LLOYD SUBHI LOGANATHAN BISMA MAHMOOD EMILY MANOCK RABIA MASOOD SAMEERA MOHAMMED SOPHIE MOLLOY-LANG JESSICA MULLINS FATIMA NAEEM CHARLOTTE NUTTALL SARAH OGDEN GRACE PALMER AALIYA PATEL ALIYAH PATEL FATIMA PATEL SARA PATEL EMILY PIKE ISABEL PILLAR ZAYNA QUERESHI SIMRAN RAYAREL KATE RIGBY LUCY ROWLANDS SIÂN ROWLANDS FATIMA SALEEM ALICE SANDFORD AASIYAH SHAIKH REBECCA SHAM (2018) ABIGAIL SHARPLES ABIGAIL SHAW NINA SIMON THEA SIMPSON ELLA SMYTH LAUREN STANDEN KATIE TAN ISABELLA TANKARD GRACE THOMPSON JEMIMA THOMPSON INIKA VARDHAN ANVI VARSANI TARA WALLIS ZARA WALSH IMOGEN WEST TENG TENG WONG AMELIA WOOD SAMANTHA WOODS
Northumbria University Gap Year University of Liverpool Newcastle University Hull York Medical School University of Oxford University of Manchester King’s College London University of Liverpool University of Leeds Lancaster University University of Southampton Teeside University Sheffield Hallam University Gap Year University of Sheffield University of Liverpool University of Leeds Keele University University of York Gap Year Lancaster University University of Edinburgh University of Sheffield Guildhall School of Acting University of Sheffield University of Edinburgh Newcastle University Royal Holloway University of London De Montfort University Apprenticeship University of Nottingham St Francis College, Brooklyn, USA University of Chester University of Chester University of Bristol University of Leeds Lancaster University University of Dundee University of Manchester Loughborough University Royal Holloway University of London University of Bristol University of Leeds University of Warwick University of Oxford Apprenticeship
International Business Management with Spanish Geography Medicine and Surgery Medicine French Optometry English Communication and Media with Spanish Psychology Medicine and Surgery Psychology Early Childhood Studies Product Design Dental Surgery Biological and Medical Sciences Medicine History Biochemistry International Management History Materials Science and Engineering Foundation in Musical Theatre Bioengineering with a Year in Industry Environmental Geoscience Oral and Dental Health Sciences Criminology and Sociology Art Foundation McLaren Automotive Medicine Business Musical Theatre Performance Acting Medicine History and Sociology English Language Geography Medicine Mathematics with Economics Law Medicine Fashion Design Chemistry Philosophy Politics and Economics EON
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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Spring 2020
LIVES REMEMBERED Wendy Cruise (née Delamore, 1969-1976) Wendy Delamore was born into a Methodist family on 3rd September 1958 in Edinburgh. When her father, a doctor, obtained a senior appointment, first in Blackburn and later in Manchester, the family moved to Rivington in Lancashire. Like her mother, Rosemary Delamore (née Thomas, 1944-1949), and sister, Catherine, Wendy attended Bolton School, where her talent for languages and music was cultivated; she played the piano and flute and sang in the choir. She went on to study modern languages at Westfield College, London, spending a year out in France and Germany, where she became proficient in the languages and made lifelong friends. On graduating, she obtained a post with Bernard Quaritch Ltd, the renowned London dealers in rare books and manuscripts. The firm sponsored her to study Spanish, Italian and Russian, to add to the French and German that she already spoke. In the early 1990s people began bringing Russian books into the shop, and Wendy was thrilled to have the opportunity to sell Russian material. She also began dealing in music, another of her great passions. That love of music was also expressed in her membership of and devotion to the Barts Choir, and her lovely singing voice could be heard in church, too, both in the congregation and in the choir. Wendy’s application and talent for languages took her to the pinnacle of the bookselling world, dealing with many important works and selling countless books to institutional libraries all over the world, including the libraries of Princeton, Harvard and Yale. Her expertise, professionalism and passion for her work were admired and appreciated by colleagues and clients alike. She left Quaritch in 2012 to become self-employed in her chosen profession, working from home in Marylebone until the day before she died. Wendy’s quiet and gracious personality was much loved at Hinde Street Methodist Church, in London’s West End, where she was a member for some 40 years. She became secretary of the Church Council, and also organised a Theatre Group at the church. She was a class leader, showing great concern for the wellbeing of all her class members and enlivening meetings with her flashes of incisive humour even while she was very ill. With her German expertise, Wendy played an invaluable role in Hinde Street’s twinning arrangement with the Methodist Kreuzkirche in Leipzig, initiated in 1983 when Leipzig was behind the Iron Curtain. Thanks to her organisational skills, visits to Leipzig were begun, and exchange visits in the other direction commenced after German reunification, and still continue. In 1991 David Cruise came to Hinde Street and the West
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London Mission as minister and superintendent. His wife, Susan, passed away 1994 and in 1996 David and Wendy married. Theirs was a close and happy marriage and their family circle included David’s children, Andrew and Megan, and, in due course, Andrew’s wife, Tania, and their children, Reuben and Scarlett. Wendy’s final years were shadowed, but not dimmed, by cancer. She died on 16th December 2019. Hinde Street was packed for her memorial service. She is much missed. Cate Statham (née Delamore, 1968-1975) Margaret Fairhurst (née Ratcliffe, 1952-1958) Born in 1941 in Sutton in Surrey, Margaret remembered being held in her mother’s arms, taken to the shelter at the bottom of the garden and noticed the sky aglow. She recalls being told it was London burning – a vivid early memory of the Blitz. Being born at this time shaped my mother’s attitude to consumption and materialism – make do and mend, reuse, recycle and the careful use of resources. She underlined to me the importance of not over laundering clothes and not over using chemicals. She quizzed grocers about the provenance of their fruit and vegetables and explained to me about the health benefits of eating fruit and vegetables in season. The key was no waste and the careful use of supplies. In my opinion she was a trail blazer in sustainability. In the 1950s the Ratcliffe family moved from Sutton to Bolton and Margaret and her younger sister, Mary (Rickard née Ratcliffe, 1952-1966) joined Bolton School Girls’ Division. Not many people can say that they went to the same school as their mother – and their aunt – but I was lucky enough to do just that. We enjoyed many a trip to Cumbria for the Alumni Dinner, treating it as a motherdaughter mini break. On the science corridor I could glimpse Mum in a School photograph taken in 1958; this was just before she headed off to College in Leicester to study Domestic Science, where she trained to become a teacher. Studying Domestic Science, later known as Home Economics, further shaped her attitude to the economical use of resources and led to the development of her amazing culinary skills. She taught Home Economics at senior school level for many years in the Borough of Wigan. From her early fifties she took voluntary, early retirement, even though later she did return part-time to Westholme School in Blackburn. It is a great solace that she had time for fun and leisure in her retirement. During that time she met Keith Taylor, also a retired teacher, and they had great fun, intellectual debate and travelled the world – by boat and train, of course. In the early noughties Margaret moved down from the North West to the Midlands and settled in Bottesford to be nearer family. She became an active member of St Mary’s Church at Bottesford, helping with the preschool group, the ‘Little Angels’, and was a frequent
reader in church. She really enjoyed village life and was, right up until a month before she died, a member of the village support group who drove the elderly to medical appointments. After a very short illness, sadly she died of cancer aged 78 years on 4th December 2019. She had clarity, humour and a sharp intellect right up until the day before she died. In the words of Sheila Tonge (née Baird, 1956-1963), ‘Margaret was a force for good, a survivor, an optimist, a loving mother and a hard worker’. I am forever grateful to her for her unwavering support and encouragement – it was truly an honour to have her as a mother. Elizabeth Watson (née Fairhurst, 1977-1985) Veronica Millington (Girls’ Division Staff, 1988-2006) When Veronica (aka Milly or Mrs Mill to her beloved Sixth Formers) joined the Girls’ Division, the English Department gained not only a talented teacher with a degree from Manchester and a PGCE from London University, but also a series of vibrant, challenging course books, written during a career break to bring up her sons, Paul and Simon. These became a mainstay of the department’s teaching at Key Stage 3. This skill set, as it would now be called, was quickly recognized, and Veronica added to her roles of teacher and form tutor, that of editor of the School magazine and a PR position as liaison and press officer. As teacher and form tutor, her gentle, good-humoured approach to all she did made her universally loved. The word facilitator is much over-used, but Veronica could have coined it. Her teaching was always focused on the girls’ needs, appreciating their individuality, helping them to overcome difficulties and enabling them to succeed. Always supportive, but with a sharp wit, she was formidably knowledgeable, especially on her favourite topics – among them, Seamus Heaney, Old English and Norse mythology, Gothic literature and etymology. Anyone who knew Veronica will have noted her modesty and reluctance to take centre stage, but, like many self-effacing people, she harboured an inner actor. Passionately fond of the theatre (our Stratford trips were a highlight of the year), she took part in two School reviews and, on National Book Day, in her own words remembers ‘the fun of walking the corridors dressed as a Hobbit – complete with a “Tina Turner” wig, furry Hobbit feet and, of course, a very long sword’.
After retiring, Veronica continued to edit the magazine. At the end of the year, lessons over and spirits running high, frazzled form tutors were guaranteed half an hour’s peace as girls dived into the ‘mag’ to read a wide range of creative writing and Sixth Form features on celebrity and demon teachers in literature. The millennium celebration book So Goodly a Heritage (co-written with Margaret Dickinson) and biographies of two former Girls’ Division Headmistresses, Fanny Eliza Johnson and Jane Vokins, were also Veronica’s work. A love of research led her in retirement to investigate her own family history to uncover previously unheard stories, gaps in the narrative and to revel in the quirks of individual personalities. She travelled widely with her husband and family, including a crossing to New York on the QE2 and loved spending time with her two small granddaughters. Among all her achievements, if one can be singled out, it is her impact on Sixth Form students. To share an A Level group with Veronica was a joy. She had a gift for engaging a class with her distinctive blend of learning and humour. Since her death, former students have been in touch so it seems appropriate to give them the last word: ‘The fantastic group dynamic we enjoyed at A Level was attributable to her calm and supportive approach. Friendships forged in those days are still going strong.’ Following her early death from oesophageal cancer, Veronica’s husband, Robert Millington, has opened a Just Giving appeal in aid of Heartburn Cancer UK, which promotes research and earlier diagnosis for this virulent form of the disease. Theresa Sowerby (Girls’ Division Staff, 1988-2013) Reading all that Theresa has written, brings Veronica back to me as a vivid presence in the Girls’ Division staff room. She was always fun, but also kind, as she engaged her sense of humour in the friendly rivalry that existed between the English and Maths departments. Of course, I remember with pleasure working with her on the millennium book. There was such a lot of material, but she made light of the challenge as her needle-sharp brain could make the right selection, and her pen would find a way to bring it to life. Later, visiting me here, she would walk in with a smile on her face, with ideas to entertain me and make me laugh. She always left me feeling cared for and happy. That was her gift and I will miss her enormously. J Margaret Dickinson (Girls’ Division Staff, 1972-2006)
IN MEMORIAM
Joan Blenkinship (née Entwistle, Class of 1956) - Died September 2019 Anne Clarke (née Holker, Class of 1969) - Died on 11th September 2019 Rita Cunliffe (née Halliday, Class of 1948) - Died 2nd November 2019 Beverley Evans (née Sykes, 1964-1978) - Died 6th November 2019 Dorothy Griffiths (née Heywood, 1945-1950) - Died 9th July 2019 Jacqueline Halliwell (née Hill, 1954-1961) - Died 4th October 2018 Kathleen Mary Johnston (née Marsden, 1927-1942; Girls’ Division Staff, 1963-1984) - Died 10th March 2020 Gwyneth Mortimer (née Evans, 1976-1983) - Died 13th August 2019 Barbara Murison, (née Cresswell,1952-59) - Died December 2019 Gladys Mary ‘Molly’ Sargent (née Openshaw, 1942-1948) - Died 17th January 2020 Elizabeth Tatman MBE (Girls’ Division Staff, 1960-1968) - Died 30th August 2019
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Caroline Brenninkmeyer (née Baker), Dawn Gratton and Hester Baynes (née Chadwick) (all Class of 1989) at the ‘9’ Reunion in April 2019
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