The Bugle - Spring 2021 by Bolton School Development Office

THE

Old Boltonians’ Association 1895 - 2021

BUGLE

Spring 2021

Old Boltonians’ Association 1895 - 2021

CONTENTS Stay in Touch

Stay Connected

Bolton School Merchandise

Welcome Messages Roy Battersby, President of the Old Boltonians’ Association

Philip Britton, Headmaster

The Mail Bag

Continuing Support

Find Your Path – Old Boltonians’ Mentoring Scheme

The Bolton Alumni Network

School News Back to School!

Ian Forgrieve Appointed to National Children’s Orchestra

School’s Unsung Heroes

Poetry Competition

Remembrance Assembly

International Learning Award

Review of It’s a Wonderful Life

Christmas Cards

Christmas Festival

CreativesNow Magazine

Old Boy Features Inspiring the Next Generation

Alumni Authors

Old Boys on Film

Freemasonry

Covid Champions

European Lawyers in Lesvos

Rob Haworth’s Rich Retirement

The Boltonian

Staff in the Spotlight

Tillotson Lecture

Events

Sports OBAFC Report

Review of British Football’s Greatest Grounds

Old Boltonians’ Golf Society Report

STAY IN TOUCH Connect with Old Boys and Old Girls on the Bolton Alumni Network: www.boltonalumninetwork.com

Development Office Bolton School ‘Like’ our Facebook page for event invitations, Chorley New Road School news and memories: search Bolton Bolton School – Old Boys and Old Girls (Official) BL1 4PA

Connect with fellow Old Boys on LinkedIn: connect with Bolton School Alumni and join the Bolton School Group Follow Alumni and School news via Twitter: @BoltonSchool/@BoltonSchAlumni

New! Follow our brand-new Alumni Instagram account boltonschoolalumni to keep up with news, events and memories on Instagram. You can also follow bolton_ school_foundation for the latest news and photographs from School and use #BSAlumni to share your own memories and photos. Watch short films posted on the School’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/ boltonschoolmedia

T: 01204 434718 E: development@boltonschool.org

THE TEAM Laura Firth Head of Development Hannah Fox Development Assistant Frances Johnson Development Assistant Caspar Joseph Old Boys’ Liaison Officer Kathryn O’Brien Development Assistant

Read regular blogs from pupils and staff from Laura Rooney across the campus: boltonschool.me/ Development Manager 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 Boys, view an up-to-date events calendar, update your contact details and more.

Stay Connected We hope you enjoy being kept up-to-date with what is happening at School and within the Old Boy 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.

Old Boys’ News News of Old Boys and Former Staff

Destinations of Leavers – 2020

Archives Ask the Archivist: Chorley New Road

King Lear

Looking Back

Lives Remembered

In Memoriam

Old Boltonians’ Association Papers Notice of the 2021 AGM

Proxy Voting Form

Minutes of the 2019 AGM

Accounts for Year Ended 31st December 2020

Bolton School Merchandise A variety of merchandise, including badges, photo frames, pens and umbrellas, is available from the store on the School’s website – please visit www.boltonschool.org/school-services/boltonschool-merchandise to see the full range and details of how to order. All profits made from the sale of merchandise go directly to the School’s Bursary Fund which helps to make a Bolton School education open to all academically gifted pupils, irrespective of their families’ financial situations.

Newsletter Spring 2021

WELCOME FROM THE PRESIDENT When in December 2019 I was honoured to be installed as your President, I had no thought at all about the disruption to our lives which was about to engulf us. In so far as Old Boltonian life is concerned, the scourge led to an almost total inability to celebrate our 125th anniversary and to the obliteration of our annual cycle of events. Amongst those events another casualty was the celebration of Old Boltonian AFC’s centenary. However, I have it on authority that it is planned to hold that celebration in July 2022 and I am sure it will be anticipated with great enthusiasm. It seems to me that the manner in which School has continued to function despite the considerable restrictions is something from which we can all take inspiration. Remote teaching is obviously not ideal, but the successful results have shown that a way through can be, and indeed has been, found.

A MESSAGE FROM THE HEADMASTER As I sit in the sun-drenched Study (yes, even in Bolton) listening to the sound of boys playing cricket on the Levels, with the recollection of a victory for the Second XI over Manchester Grammar School still fresh in my mind from yesterday afternoon, it is certainly possible to be hopeful about the direction School life is taking. The Year 8 boys will head to Patterdale over the next few weeks to have a watersports day on the lake; we are planning for the Saundersfoot camp to return this summer; and the cricket season has begun to make it exactly a school year since the football and rugby seasons were suddenly truncated in Spring 2020. The Levels look magnificent and the Boys’ Division magnolia tree has blossomed ahead of that of the Girls’ Division in the Riley Quad. What more could I ask for I have been very pleased with the pragmatic and purposeful approach of the boys to the cancellation of summer external exams. We planned two assessment weeks, one in March and one in May, to give them a real sense of agency in determining the grade they are

It is also my understanding that School has seen significant growth in the Bursary Fund. It is on record that the Fund had grown to the point where it offers one in five pupils in the Senior Schools financial support for their education. The Governors remain committed to growing the Fund to support one in three students which was the ratio when School was a Direct Grant grammar school. We should always remember that it was a benefactor’s philosophy that the School should take on the responsibility of providing education to all social groups and particularly those from homes of limited resources. The Direct Grant system was essentially instrumental in the realisation of that ambition. Now it seems the Bursary Fund is the only way to achieve that aim and I very much hope it will continue to have your support. I remain hopeful that by the time of publication of the Autumn Bugle I shall be able to report the resumption of our various activities and meeting up again with many Alumni. Roy Battersby (1953-1961) Old Boltonians’ Association President, 2020

awarded. Rather than worry about what might happen this has given them a strong focus for action and to realise that, largely, they have the ability to determine their own future rather than leave it to fate. Our work here producing good young men, with a strong sense of purpose and decent values, has never been more important with the current news cycle around male attitudes. I am delighted with the success of the virtual Alumni gatherings to coincide with when we would have had events, albeit that they cannot be the same as meeting one another properly, and I am pleased that it has been decided that Roy Battersby will be continuing as President for 2022 so that he can enjoy a proper Presidential year. Thank you for the considerable correspondence we have received from those of you who received Christmas cards from current boys. They have been pleased to read your recollections and reflections, and it has certainly connected them, both geographically and across the generations during lockdown. As we set our sights towards the next year we have plans to ensure that across music, drama, the creative arts and sport we emerge from the Covid years even better than before them, since these enriching parts of School life underpin all of the intellectual and academic endeavour in the School. I look forward to reporting on all of that when I write again in the Autumn, as well as when I meet a number of you in our events programme once more. Philip Britton, MBE

Old Boltonians’ Association 1895 - 2021

THE MAIL BAG A selection of emails and letters received since the last edition of The Bugle was published.

STAR LETTER The Bolton School Ethos

Ray Doldon (19431951) was pleased to read David Grime’s recollection in the Autumn 2020 edition of walking to and from School with Eric Forsyth and Ray himself. The swimming team, c. 1947 Ray shares those Mr to – Ray is standing next memories with Blakey, the Maths Master, his in David and Eric, and team who ran the also recalls other spare time affectionately – he and dly vivi ool aspects of Sch happy School describes movingly how his own th of his dea the days were overshadowed by in 1944, losis ercu tub from , elder brother, Leonard the School at and how as the cortège passed Cemetery, all the 11.00 am on the way to Heaton School lined the the of 500 boys and the Masters in sorrow and s cap r thei off pavement and took pier note he hap a On ue. eag coll lost respect for a se in the Hou rn remembers representing Blackbu the ning win and 4, swimming sports, in June 194 lt, resu a As s. dive ect perf diving event with two which , team ool Sch the of ber mem he became a ‘belonging’ to massively increased his sense of the School. s are of his days Some of Ray’s happiest memorie Troop and ut Sco ool with the 19th Bolton Sch p opened up cam to s nitie ortu how the many opp cribes his great a whole new world. He also des (1943-1951) g friendship with Stuart Cummin rs. yea which has endured for 70 formative years at In summary, Ray describes his atic incidents dram of ture Bolton School as a mix says: ‘My He s. nce erie exp ul derf and many won e s hav stayed with memories of those happy time y friends whom man me for 70-80 years. I made long period. I this r afte n I can recall clearly, eve schooldays, my out ugh thro y luck was extremely I count but nt, professional career, and retireme e com wel e mad g my greatest fortune as bein t. men iron env ool Sch on and at home, in the Bolt ool Sch on Bolt that by tly I benefited grea experience.’ full at: Ray’s memories can be read in -pupils/archivesmer /for l.org hoo nsc olto www.b ool/ -sch s-of and-memories/memorie

Peter Harrison Ian Hassall (1971-1978) was saddened to read in the Autumn edition of the passing of Peter Harrison, but read the tribute from Peter’s daughter with a smile on his face as he recalled the positive impact ‘PJ’ had had on his School life: ‘I vividly remember my first ever French lesson where ‘PJ’ didn’t speak a word of English and started by walking around the classroom holding a pen up high which he was describing in French to the bemusement of most of the room. Somehow, I progressed to study A Level French and benefited again from PJ’s patience and perseverance in our seminars. He spoke with such clarity and was always friendly, caring and supportive. I remember him very fondly. ‘However, it did take me a while to get over one of his football refereeing decisions which robbed me of a stunning headed goal from a corner whilst playing on the top Level for the U13s. I had craftily lost my marker and timed my run to perfection to meet the incoming corner perfectly ... top corner. I peeled away to acknowledge the ‘cheering crowd’ only to see PJ pointing to indicate he saw an infringement in my pursuit of glory. Never ... I was gutted ... and I’m still not sure I’ve really forgiven him! ‘PJ was a charming and inspirational man and somehow he guided me against all the odds eventually to gain an A Level in French.’ Cricket 1953 Mike ‘LM’ Berry (Class of 1956) sent in this photo of the 1953 Cricket First XI, which he hopes will bring back some happy warrior memories to the team members. It was Mike’s first year on the XI and he notes that he benefited greatly from the mentoring of team captain Frank Rushton (1945-1953), a fine cricketer.

Back (L-R): Jonathan Bergwerk (Class of 1977), Kim Harris (1970-1978) and Alan Mackenzie (Class of 1976) Front: John Hutchinson (Class of 1976), John Swain (Captain) and Allan Beardsworth (Class of 1980)

Back (L-R): D Stanley, P Bailey, W Kirkham, E Davis, J Unsworth, LM Berry Front: AJ Hardy, JN Coope, FR Rushton, R Lomax, RF Seddon

Chess Champions John Swain (1966-1976) sent in this photograph which appeared on the front page of The Bolton Evening News on 19th July 1976 – it features the team which won The Sunday Times’ National Schools Chess Championship. John notes that the first two Bolton School teams which became Champions were in 1968 and 1973, the 1968 team being the strongest of the three, spearheaded by England internationals Peter Markland (1959-1969) and Martyn

Newsletter Spring 2021

Corden (Class of 1968). Peter Markland became an International Correspondence Chess Grandmaster in 1984. Nigel Short joined Bolton School in 1976 and became the youngest Grandmaster in the world in 1984 and challenged for the World Championship in 1993. After this photo was shared on social media, Allan Beardsworth (1973-1980) got in touch to say: ‘I was the baby of the team, 14 at the time, the others being Sixth Formers. The post brought back lots of memories, including those of the other team members, and of Mr Freem, the teacher who tirelessly supported School chess. I hope we thanked him enough. Mr Freem took the team out for dinner at Smithills Old Hall, I think the first time I ever ate out; eating out was far less common in the 1970s (but more common than it is in the pandemic period of our lives!). ‘My wife and family know that I have a terrible memory; or rather a very patchy one. I can’t remember useful things, or things I should recall, but I can remember the final position on the board of Kim Harris’s final game, playing Black; a game he won in style, having played the Von Hennig-Schara gambit. I can almost remember the final moves of the way Kim won that game. Chess is indeed my passion. ‘Whilst Nigel of course became a professional chess player and reached the heights, I more or less stopped playing chess after Cambridge, career and family taking Nigel and Allan hold, until when the family were at the Chess older, I reconnected with the game; Olympiad in 2006 and in 2004 and 2006 I was the non-playing captain of the England men’s team, of which Nigel was of course a team member. Happy days.’ Bilateral Memories Michael Hancock’s (1963-1968) update in the Autumn edition of The Bugle prompted Rick Clegg (Class of 1968) to consider: ‘How many special School memories do we share with just one other person?’ Rick himself has such a memory: ‘Mick and I were both in Manchester House. We played together in the 1968 House Soccer final against Ainsworth. I was clumsy, but quick, and played wide right; Mick played inside. My marker was Andy Hesketh, the School First XI skipper. To my amazement, I somehow took the ball past him, centred, and Mick banged it into the net for the winner. At the ‘50 years On’ reunion nearly two years ago, Mick reminded me of this occasion. I suspect nobody else remembers it, but we do. It will forever be a highlight for us both. ‘I am sure we all have our own special bilateral memories of School days. Without that reunion, Mick and I would not have been able share our fun. On the same day, Andy Kershaw (1961-1968) recalled breaking my toe in a French lesson (don’t ask!) – another precious bilateral memory! Keep the reunions going, they give us a reason to smile!’

Top Tennis Team Peter Hassall (Class of 1975) and his younger brother, Ian (Class of 1978), were honoured to be named in Alan Prince’s top six tennis players to have represented School (Autumn 2020 edition of The Bugle). Peter says: ‘Most of my School tennis was not with Ian, but either against (fierce practice) or paired with the redoubtable Martin Robinson (Class of 1973), and Alan will remember that the School had great success in the early 1970s reaching national finals at Queen’s Club and Wimbledon, culminating (for me) in myself and Martin being selected for the national schools team to play against the All England Club on the hallowed Wimbledon grass – daunting, to say the least, when you have been brought up on the School’s slow shale courts previously situated on Second Avenue! ‘How sad it is that those courts have long since been swallowed up by a housing estate. I couldn’t help but notice on a recent visit to Bolton that what were always known as the Girls’ Division courts, on Chorley New Road, have been taken over by Bolton Hockey Club. Those courts similarly held fond memories for me and, I’m sure, for many others, including Alan, as the venue for the excellent Bolton Charity Tournament. Great days. ‘I would, however, like to take this opportunity to say thank you to Alan, not only for picking me in his top six, but also for his dedication to the various tennis teams over the years. I am sure that many, many players would join me in saying that it was very much appreciated – as was the involvement of Bill Harrison, unfortunately no longer with us.’ Looking Back Clive Hunter (1955-1963) spotted himself in the photos sent in by Peter Smith (1956-1964) which were featured in the Autumn 2020 edition. In the 1962 production of Romeo and Juliet Clive played the part of Paris – he is on the extreme left of the back row of the photo of the cast and in the other is the one lying on the floor having been ‘slain’ by Romeo. Clive also features in the picture of the victorious tiddlywinks team – his only claim to fame in his entire School career! He recalls that the Headmaster, the illustrious Richard Poskitt, was so proud of ‘getting one over’ Manchester Grammar that he announced it at morning assembly!

Clive is on the far left of the middle row

Clive would love to hear from anyone in the team – he can be contacted via the Development Office.

Old Boltonians’ Association 1895 - 2021

Continuing Support During the 2019-20 academic year, the School community made pledges and gifts totaling £672,000 to the Bolton School Bursary Fund. As a result of this outstanding generosity, during that same period the School was able to spend £2.89 million on means-tested bursary assistance, supporting 350 – one in every five – pupils across the two Senior Schools, with 32% of bursary recipients – 6% of the whole pupil body – receiving a fully-funded bursary. It is our firm conviction that a Bolton School education is a key driver of social mobility, which has enabled successive generations of Boltonians to leverage the opportunities their time at the School presents to the benefit of their local communities. A Bolton School bursary can be truly life-changing for a child and their family, as this Boys’ Division parent attests:

A Lasting Legacy We are honoured to receive legacy gifts from Alumni and Former Staff, and value the opportunity to be able to thank those who intend to do so for their generosity.

“Receiving the bursary offer letter back in 2018 was one of the best days of my life and has, undoubtedly, changed the course of my son’s. I realise the enormity of the amount that has been invested in him, for which I am truly thankful, and hope that, one day, he fulfils his potential and is able to contribute back to the Bursary Fund to give other boys that same opportunity.” It remains our long-term goal to return the School to the situation during the Direct Grant era (when a third of pupils received a funded place), with the eventual ambition of achieving fully needs-blind open-access to the School. We are indebted to all those donors who have offered the School their unwavering support during the past tumultuous year, and feel certain that, with the continued generosity of the School community, we will, one day, achieve our goal.

for eight years as the Conservative Councillor for Ellenbrook and Boothstown, during which time he forged a reputation as a dedicated representative of his constituents. He was admired across parties – the Ceremonial Mayor of Salford described him as ‘one of the good ones’ – and the City of Salford’s Town Hall flag was lowered to half-mast in acknowledgement of his passing.

By leaving a bequest to the Bursary Fund, you can continue to support the School’s ambition of offering true equal access beyond your lifetime. One such donor was the late Andrew ‘Andy’ Cheetham, who attended the Boys’ Division between 1962 and 1970 and who died in September 2019. Andy joined the School at Park Road in Prep III, before moving into the Senior School in the A1 stream, culminating in Maths VI. Introduced to rugby, it quickly became his passion and a sport at which he excelled. Progressing from the Colts XV to the First XV, Andy forged lifelong friendships with teammates. As his success on the rugby pitch grew, so did his selfconfidence. Andy’s fondest memories of School were forged through this passion for rugby, and there is no doubt that the camaraderie and team support he experienced at School had a strong influence on him as an adult. Andy stayed in touch with School friends who lived locally throughout his life, and was a regular attendee at the Old Boltonians’ Annual Dinner, and at class and rugby reunions. Andy had a very strong sense of community, serving

With fellow Old Boys – Dublin, 1985 Back, L-R: AJ Booth (Class of 1974), JF Hardwick (Class of 1972) JD Nutter (aka Stanley, Class of 1974) Front, L-R: JE Marginson (aka Eddie or Edwin, Class of 1971) AG Cheetham (Class of 1970) PG Walker (Class of 1971) DJ Walker (Class of 1973)

Although he didn’t himself benefit from a Direct Grant place, Andy recognised the value and importance of the scheme, and the opportunities it provided for bright, talented children from a variety of backgrounds. His bequest to the Bursary Fund was made with the sincere desire that others should benefit from a Bolton School education, as he himself had done.

After you have taken care of those who are dearest to you, leaving a bequest to the School, whether large or small, will allow future generations of bright, talented children the opportunity of a Bolton School education. To find out more about leaving a legacy to School, or to discuss, in confidence, your intentions in more detail, please contact Laura Firth in the Development Office.

Newsletter Spring 2021

Find Your Path The Old Boltonians’ Association’s ‘Find Your Path’ scheme has now been supporting young Old Boys with careers advice tailored to meet their individual needs for four years. During that time, over 50 young Old Bolts have been mentored by their fellow Old Boys as they enter the job market post-graduation and take their first steps up the career ladder, 50% of whom are still enjoying an active mentoring relationship. All of the mentors involved have been personally chosen for their wealth of professional experience and extensive network of contacts, allowing them to offer their mentees free bespoke guidance and specialist insights into specific sectors and businesses which can set them apart from the competition. The number of mentoring relationships which have continued throughout the past four years is testament to the strength of the advice offered through the scheme. As well as offering advice on how to stand out in applications and interviews, mentors are able to guide mentees on how to build a profile in an organisation, pitch ideas to their seniors and plot their career progression.

Thomas Chia (Class of 2015) with his mentor, David Seddon

One recent leaver whose mentoring relationship continues to bear fruit is Thomas Chia (Class of 2015). Thomas joined the Find Your Path scheme having already secured a position as a Graduate Accountant in audit at Deloitte post-university. Approaching the conclusion of his accountancy exams, Thomas was

considering various career alternatives and his mentor, David Seddon (Class of 1971), was able to offer him tailored advice, experience-based answers and access to his personal network of contacts, offering Thomas a better understanding of the process of moving jobs and a greater insight into future potential roles. Since then, David has continued to offer Thomas invaluable support as he builds his career at Deloitte. At the end of 2020, David supported Thomas in his preparations for a pitch to Partners to secure funding to develop the machine learning and AI tools he had built to aid the firm in better understanding its audit clients, assisting Thomas to ensure his presentation made a strong impact on his audience. As a result, Thomas was named as Deloitte’s UK Machine Learning and AI lead, and was granted funding to develop firm-leading software that outperforms anything being used elsewhere in the global firm. Following this success, David will continue to support Thomas as he works to maintain the momentum from his newly-won profile within Deloitte. In these uncertain times, where the graduate employment market is the most competitive it has ever been, bespoke advice from an experienced mentor can provide the margin of difference required to succeed. Whether you’re considering the career path you wish to pursue postgraduation, or are looking to move up the ladder in your first role, working with a Find Your Path mentor could be of real benefit to your prospects of success. If you feel the Find Your Path mentoring scheme could make a difference to your career progression, or would be interested in supporting fellow Old Boltonians as a mentor, please contact the Development Office.

Alumni Business Directory During this time of uncertainty, we would like to support our self-employed Alumni by helping them to promote their businesses and services to other Old Boys, Old Girls and Former Staff of Bolton School. To this end, we recently launched our online Alumni Business Directory on the Bolton Alumni Network, giving Alumni exclusive space without our engaged network to showcase their business or services, completely free of charge. The Alumni Business Directory allows members to: • Post their business using an easy, prompted form • Offer special benefits to other platform members if they choose to • Search by free text, category, or location, for other businesses and services that they may be able to support Several Alumni have already taken advantage of this new initiative and we invite you, too, to take this opportunity to promote yourself and your business and, in turn, to support other members of our network. The Bolton Alumni Network is our online platform for Alumni and Former Staff of the School, with almost 2,600 members. Join today at www.boltonalumninetwork.com.

Old Boltonians’ Association 1895 - 2021

SCHOOL NEWS Back to School!

classrooms, ensuring that Bolton School remains a safe environment.

Monday 8th March saw the return to School of all pupils after several weeks of remote learning during lockdown.

Lateral flow tests were made available to all staff and Senior School boys and girls, with the vast majority taking

It was fantastic to see the boys enjoying the company of one another, as well as seeing their teachers, to hear chat along the corridors The lateral flow test centre in the and to feel the buzz of Sports Hall School life beginning to return to normal. Staff and pupils alike followed all the protocols that they remembered well from December and also adhered to the new guidance to wear masks in

Ian Appointed to National Children’s Orchestra Mr Ian Forgrieve, Head of Instrumental Studies in the Boys’ Division, has been appointed to the Music Advisory Group of the National Children’s Orchestras of Great Britain (NCOGB). He will advise NCOGB’s management about repertoire choices and other activities. At School, Ian manages a team of visiting specialist instrumental and vocal teachers. He directs the Samba Band, Drum Corps, Tuned Percussion Ensemble and Steel Pans

School’s Unsung Heroes During these difficult times much praise has, quite rightly, been afforded to key workers across the NHS, the teaching profession, retail and public transport, but one group has largely been forgotten: support staff in schools.

Park Road is kept spotless

Although schools were essentially closed during lockdown, 200 support and teaching staff were on site at Bolton School every day to enable the children

Poetry Competition

Christian’s poem impressed the judges

On National Poetry Day in October of last year, poet Andrew McMillan, in conjunction with Bolton School Boys’ Division, launched a poetry competition for children aged 5-18 years across the Bolton borough. The Secondary School Challenge was to write a poem from an unusual point of

Extra hand-washing and dining facilities have been installed to help keep the virus at bay

the opportunity to be tested. Sincere thanks go to all those members of staff who organised and ensured the smooth running of the testing procedures. Group, and performs with these for School productions and concerts. Prior to working at Bolton School, Ian played professionally with many of the UK’s finest orchestras, including the BBC Philharmonic, Hallé, Manchester Concert Orchestra, London Philharmonic, London Sinfonietta, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Scottish Chamber Orchestra, performing in prestigious venues throughout the UK, Europe and the USA, broadcasting on television and radio, and playing on many commercially available CDs. of key workers to attend. Ian Clarke, Head of Estates, is in charge of cleaners, catering staff, maintenance operatives, caretakers, grounds staff and security staff and ensured that sufficient numbers were on duty to keep the School operating – and in a Covid-secure environment. Thanks to the support of the Governors and the senior leadership team Ian’s staff have stepped up to the plate and met every demand with smiles on their faces. He is proud of his team and of the effort which has gone into ensuring the premises are as clean and safe as they can be, both during lockdown and when all staff and pupils can attend. view. Christian Stapleton, a Year 12 Boys’ Division pupil, was selected as the overall winner. McMillan, a senior lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University, praised his poem, Trench of Youth, describing it as ‘a poem that takes a unique, original form’. Christian reflected, ‘I really enjoyed inventing and playing with the structure of my poem … it’s a huge privilege to be published and to have an audience!’ The winning poets have been invited to tour the new Manchester Poetry Library later this year and their work has been published in a Re-visioning Poetry anthology.

Newsletter Spring 2021

We All Stand Together at Remembrance Assembly Boys watched from classrooms, some watched from home, and Old Boys tuned in from around the world as the Boys’ Division’s Remembrance Day Assembly, led by Dr Holland in the Great Hall, went virtual. Dr Holland reflected that although not everyone could be in the Great Hall for the occasion, the whole community did very much stand together in these difficult times. His address commemorated all those who laid down their lives for this country, not just in the First and Second World Wars, but also in a wide range of other conflicts

Award for International Learning Bolton School Boys’ Division has received the British Council International School Award at Foundation level, celebrating the inclusion of an international ethos, both within the curriculum and in school culture, and a commitment to international awareness and understanding. Mr Carl Robson, Head of Modern Foreign Languages (MFL), said: “We have a long and proud tradition in MFL, offering French, German, Russian, Spanish and Mandarin,

Sixth Formers attend The Wilberforce Society Conference Luke Cavanaugh (2004-2018) was one of the directors of this year’s Annual Conference for The Wilberforce Society, the UK’s oldest student-run think tank, based at the University of Cambridge. Sixth Formers Zayd Ascroft and Thomas Britton attended the online event. The theme was ‘Politics Reshaped: Navigating the Age of

It’s a Wonderful Life

around the world, and the lives of three former pupils who died in the Second World War were particularly remembered: Private Frank Mather, who died aged 20 on 17th June 1940, Second Radio Officer Leonard Robert Armstrong who died Dr Holland, Zayd, Charlie and Nathan pay their respects on 25th August 1940 aged 22 and Thomas Leslie Hope, killed on 11th November 1940 aged 23. In their honour, and in the honour of all members of the School community who lost their lives, Captain Charlie Griffiths and Monitors Zayd Ascroft and Nathan Burudi laid wreaths at the School memorial.

with many trips abroad. Over the years we have achieved national recognition in numerous MFL competitions, and many of our students go on to study languages at university. “There has never been a more important time to promote the joys and benefits of learning living languages post-Brexit and we are delighted that the British Council recognises our support of language teaching in the UK.” Populism’ and included three wide-ranging panel discussions on Populist Rhetoric, the Global Climate Emergency and Politics Gone Virtual. A diverse range of high-profile and qualified speakers provided thought-provoking insights on each topic, prompting stimulating debate and a lively Q&A session. Having been involved in Model United Nations, Senior Lit and Deb, The HistOracle and School elections, Thomas and Zayd found the conference an entertaining and informative introduction to politics. After graduating in English from Cambridge, Luke will be heading to China next year as a Schwarzman Scholar to complete a Masters in Global Affairs.

Staff and pupils had to be even more creative than usual for the annual festive drama production. Employing the services of Sitcom Soldiers, a video company founded by Old Boys Ben Clarence (Finley Littlefair) Thornley and Chris Jones (both persuades George Class of 2001), they produced (Charlie Griffiths) that his life is worth living an adaptation of Frank Capra’s classic Christmas film It’s a Wonderful Life. The cast auditioned online, rehearsed via Zoom for months and in-person (in bubbles) for just a few days, and then rose to the challenge of socially-distanced theatre as the Great Hall became a film set.

Bailey contemplating suicide as he finds himself in serious financial trouble. Standout performances came from Jude Ashcroft (Year 13) and Finley Littlefair (Year 12), The Great Hall was transformed into who played villainous a film set businessman Mr Potter and guardian angel Clarence Odbody respectively. Strong supporting performances came from Emilie Fielding (Year 13), playing George’s wife Mary, Anthony Johnson (Year 13), playing George’s warm but bumbling Uncle Billy, Rosalyn Harper (Year 13), playing Violet Bick and Matthew Settle (Year 12), playing George’s successful brother Harry. A couple of the cast had to isolate at home during the filming days, but through the wonder of technology were still able to feature in the film as celestial voices.

The iconic tale was performed superbly. Charlie Griffiths (Year 13) perfectly captured the role of George

Despite the immense challenges posed by the pandemic, the production was a technical triumph. It is available to watch on Bolton School TV.

The hardhearted Potter (Jude Ashcroft) in his office

Old Boltonians’ Association 1895 - 2021

Christmas Cards With only a handful of the usual regular Alumni events able to take place last year, the School decided to maintain contact with Old Boys and Old Girls by sending Christmas cards containing handwritten greetings from current pupils. These were very well received, as many of you acknowledged.

Christmas card designed by Elliot Foster, 7e

Greetings from New Zealand! The ‘Season’s Greetings’ card which I received was a very pleasant surprise. What a great gesture that I was to be a recipient of the card and for the School and pupils to keep in touch. Malcolm Ratcliffe (Class of 1957)

One of the annoyances of Covid-19 in Australia has been international postage delays, with your card belatedly delivered to me in Brisbane this morning (11th January). It bears the monicker of ‘Charlie’ of 7G. I just wanted to thank the School, and Charlie, for the seasonal greetings; much appreciated. If it’s practical, could you

Christmas Festival Live and Virtual There was no lessening of festive cheer and warmth as the Boys’ Division’s Christmas Festival went virtual. Headmaster Philip Britton anchored Miss Sherry conducts a sociallythe event live from distanced Concert Band a socially distanced Great Hall and the evening comprised the customary mix of carols, readings, prayers and reflections, some of which were pre-recorded.

CreativesNow The Boys’ Division’s student publication, CreativesNow, recently invited alumni and external creative professionals to contribute to the magazine, resulting in a number of distinguished Old Boys and arts and culture industry experts being interviewed by current pupils and a range of recent leavers. Harry Ward (Class of 2011), Charlie Derrar (Class of 2012), Hadley Stewart (Class of 2014) Thom Noneley (Class of

pass on a g’day from me to the young man. Roland Turner (1963-1970) Thank you so much for the Christmas card, another very thoughtful idea from our wonderful School. Make the most of your time at School, and enjoy your time there to the full. Christmas card I can assure you from my own illustrated by experience that a past Bolton Shaurya Shaktawat, 7b School attendance will ‘open doors’ for you for the rest of your life. My two brothers and my two uncles also attended Bolton School and it is my firm belief that they, too, all experienced their own career success due to that. The boys write Christmas Peter Berry greetings to Old Boys (Class of 1972)

Choirs sang in appropriate year group bubbles, the Senior Concert Band played a couple of festive foottapping numbers and The Chamber Choir sings in two the spiritual singing of bubbles the Joint Chamber Choir contributed an ethereal air to the proceedings. Prayers and readings, carefully selected as ever by Mrs Fox, Head of Religious Studies, were confidently delivered by boys from all year groups. Special guest for the evening was Reverend Dave Brae, the Associate Minister at St Peter’s, Halliwell, and Young Adults Pioneer in Bolton town centre. The ceremony ended, as is traditional, with an uplifting singing of O Come, All Ye Faithful! which undoubtedly had Zoom viewers at home delightedly lending their voices! 2016), Luke Cavanaugh, Sammy Gatenby-Brown, Adam Hall, James Stevens and Sam Warburton (all Class of 2018), have all contributed enthusiastically. David Teasdale (Class of 2007 and Boys’ Division Staff) also supplied an article. Recent interviewees include award-winning poet Andrew McMillan, Stephen Welsh, a freelance curator, and internationally renowned artist Ibrahim Muhama. The boys have also interviewed Anthony Lilley (1981-1988) and Robin Partington (1964-1978) for the magazine, and to further their project work for the RSA Design Awards (see page 12). Any Old Boys wishing to get involved should contact the Development Office.

Newsletter Spring 2021

OLD BOYS’ FEATURES INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION Old Boys studying and working in a variety of professions continue to offer their assistance to the current generation of Bolton School boys, sharing professional expertise and offering guidance. The Development Office and the Careers Departments have been delighted to work together to welcome these Alumni back to School for the benefit of pupils throughout the Divisions. The full features can be read at the ‘Former Pupils’ section of the School’s website.

Alumni Mentor Young Entrepreneurs The new Entrepreneurship Scheme provides Year 12 students with the opportunity to develop their business ideas and gain a grounding in the skills and knowledge they need to succeed.

Rob, John and Tony are encouraging entrepreneurship

Five successful Old Boys and Old Girls will help select a group of nine keen Sixth Formers from

across the Divisions to develop their entrepreneurial flair. Tony Wadsworth, CBE (Class of 1974), Elizabeth Newton (née Whyatt, Class of 1979), John Craven (Class of 1982), Rob Dobson (Class of 1982) and Juhi Gore (Class of 1993) will hold virtual group sessions with all of the students and have also been paired up with individuals to provide oneto-one mentoring. At the end of the scheme, the students will pitch their ideas for investment from the mentors, with seed funding available to every student whose business plan merits it. Rob Dobson, who is leading the Entrepreneurship Scheme, said: ‘There is nothing better than giving young people the opportunity to aim for a brighter horizon. Bolton School is leading the way with this programme, and the first group of students really impressed the mentors with their passion and ambition.’

Vocational Videos In ‘normal’ times Old Girls and Old Boys enjoy delivering the Year 9 Careers Speed Mentoring event in the Great Hall. But with visits to School on hold at present, the boys in Year 9 were introduced to a variety of professions by Alumni who had kindly produced some short films about preparing for the world of work. Stefan Kukula (Class of 1983), a Materials Engineer, Barrister Saima Hanif (Girls’ Division, Class of 1998), Jamie Laundon (Class of 1998), a Broadcast Engineer at the BBC, Compliance Lawyer Suve Banerjee (Class of 1999), Adam Razak (Class of 2002), a Neurosurgical Registrar at Salford Royal Hospital, Software Engineer Chris Newton (Class of 2009), Tom Reynolds (Class of 2010), who works in the restructuring department at Lazard, and Civil Engineer Ian Saunders (Class of 2011) videoed themselves speaking about their careers and offering advice on how to access their particular professions. In follow-up sessions the boys also watched videos by Dr Sam Doyle (Class of 2010) who spoke about his career as an anaesthetist and the decisions he made whilst at School and afterwards which led him there, and Dr Raja Mukherjee (Class of 1991) who described his career as a consultant psychiatrist and his work in the area of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Chris and Suve supplemented their videos with subsequent Zoom sessions. Chris spoke enthusiastically about an intensive ‘coding bootcamp’ he had attended as he urged boys interested in careers in software engineering to learn new coding languages. Suve described his work as an anti-corruption and ethics lawyer, helping to protect the software company for which he works from risks and allegations of misconduct, before speaking more generally about many aspects of working in the law and the skills required to be a good lawyer.

Tom Reynolds

Saima Hanif

Chris Newton

Stefan Kukula

Adam Razak

Suve Banerjee

Ian Saunders

Sam Doyle

Raja Mukherjee

Jamie Laundon

Old Boltonians’ Association 1895 - 2021

Ali Advises Aspiring Engineers Ali Kapasi (Class of 2009) studied Mechanical Engineering at Imperial College London, followed by five years in the oil and gas industry and one as a liability engineer in the chemical industry before moving to his current role as a safety engineer at Babcock.

David Zooms in with Advice David Ridyard (1970-1977), founder of and advisor at ACTeQ LLC, a stateof-the-art 3D seismic survey design software and consulting company, gave a ‘virtual’ careers talk to Year 12 boys and girls. David is based in California, but thanks to the nation’s new favourite video-conferencing app, was able to ‘Zoom’ in to offer advice based on his extensive, 40-year career in the oil and gas industry.

David advised the aspiring engineers in the audience to develop their soft skills as well as their academic talent and practical abilities, especially if they wish to move into managerial or entrepreneurial roles. He spoke about the pros and cons of working for large and small companies and how networking should not be undervalued. He finished by saying that although oil and gas still offer great career opportunities, with plenty of travel and professional challenge, resources are declining and he suggested renewables and technology may be more attractive growth areas. Nevertheless, his advice on learning industry basics and improving one’s non-technical skills apply to any engineering career.

RSA Pupil Design Awards

Simon’s Life Advice

Anthony and Robin encouraged pupils’ creativity

Architect Robin Partington (1964-1978) and creative industry guru Anthony Lilley (1981-1988) offered virtual support to a group of Year 12 Boys’ Division pupils undertaking the RSA’s Pupil Design Award, a national design competition for young people where participants are encouraged to use their creativity and imagination to tackle real challenges facing people and the planet. Robin and Anthony both hosted Zoom sessions with groups of boys working on the ‘Lessons from Nature’ and ‘Switched On’ briefs. Pupils enjoyed the opportunity to investigate ideas with the Old Boys and to apply creative and critical thought to live projects. Pupils, staff and Alumni have also written on these same RSA Design Award themes for the latest edition of the Boys’ Division’s CreativesNow magazine (see page 10), the next edition of which will focus on character.

Speaking to Year 9 pupils via Zoom, Ali advised those interested in engineering to develop their coding and programming skills and encouraged them to develop a future-proofed skillset. He elaborated on chartership and how it is achieved, apprenticeship routes into engineering and potential earnings for engineers. He gave the boys a great insight into the many jobs available under the umbrella of engineering.

Simon Turner (1987-1994) studied Law at Magdalen College, Oxford, and completed pupillage at Lamb Chambers before taking a position at a firm of solicitors in London. After The boys watch Simon’s talk on their iPads several years working in finance and corporate restructuring he is now Managing Director of the Camellia Foundation. Simon spoke to students in Years 10 to 13 about decision-making, giving six pieces of advice which he tied back to anecdotes from his own career and life. These included making decisions consciously and courageously, being Simon talks via Zoom determined, having broad horizons and being trustworthy and compassionate.

Newsletter Spring 2021

SPACE Sessions Carry On The Boys’ Division’s SPACE programme, which gives pupils throughout the School the opportunity to take part in extra-curricular sessions in matters Social, Spiritual, Physical, Personal, Practical, Active, Aesthetic, Community, Cultural, Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, is continuing despite the disruption and restrictions caused by the pandemic and a number of Old Boys have kindly given their time to speak on a variety of topical and thought-provoking issues. As part of a carousel of activities aiming to prepare Sixth Formers for ‘Life Beyond Bolton School’, Pete Aunins (1989-1996) and Sam Richards (Class of 2015) showed them how to build their digital profile in a positive way. Pete is a co-founder and Director at Crucible Recruitment in Sheffield, an agency specialising in recruitment for the video games industry. Sam gained a degree in Psychology from the University of Nottingham and now works as a personal trainer and life coach. Julian Butterworth (1981-1990), a Public Information Officer for Manchester Intergroup for Alcoholics Anonymous, shared his personal experiences when he spoke to Year 13 students about the dangers of alcohol and addiction. Nat Roohan (2010-2017) is currently undertaking a degree apprenticeship with JP Morgan in London. In a pre-recorded video he discussed doing a degree apprenticeship as an alternative to going to university. Prateek Buch (Class of 1999) and Krishan Patel (Class of 2010) spoke about making a difference. Prateek is Head

Graham Gives the Low-Down on a Career in Sales Graham Bramwell (Class of 2006) talked via Zoom to Year 9 boys about his role as Venue Sales Manager at Arsenal Football Club. Graham studied Marketing at Aston University and worked in recruitment before landing the job at Arsenal, where he has been for the past eight years. He manages a team of five who are responsible for selling out the venue. He talked about the satisfaction of seeing a sale go through and revealed some of the perks that come with working for a football club. He gave hints and tips, offering great advice to those who might go into sales in the future.

of Data Acquisition at 10 Downing Street, having previously spent 11 years developing gene and stem cell therapy for blindness at UCL. He noted that many people make a difference just by doing their job well, but added that “Bolton School really equips you to be a changemaker if you choose to – you can make a really big difference.” Krish is the founder of www.talestoinspire.com, a platform which encourages people never to give up, and the author of the Tales to Inspire book (see page 14). He spoke about overcoming racism to realise his dream of becoming a professional footballer before going on a journey of self-discovery which has led to him making a difference both locally, helping homeless people in Manchester, and further afield, helping to build a schoolhouse in Uganda.

Julian warned of the dangers of alcohol

Pete explained how social media helps recruitment

Nat gave the lowdown on degree apprenticeships

Sam’s online presence is crucial to growing his business

Prateek is an advocate for political change

Krish told the boys there is no hurdle they cannot overcome

Chemical Engineering Class Professor Nigel Slater (1964-1972) spoke to pupils from across the Divisions about studying Chemical Engineering at university. He explained how the subject can be used, along with some more technical discussions about uses in industry in Professor Slater Pharmaceuticals and in combating gave advice via climate change. He advised the boys Zoom and girls to keep an open mind, to be open to new opportunities and to try new things, saying “If you understand the scientific method, you can switch disciplines easily”.

The boys asked Graham a host of questions about his role and about football in general. He highlighted how Bolton School taught him that hard work pays off, and how the work ethic instilled in him at a young age has been a great advantage in his career.

Old Boltonians’ Association 1895 - 2021

ALUMNI AUTHORS The Discourse of Desperation by Ivor Timmis (1970-1977) Routledge. ISBN 978.0-367-00026.4 (hardback) 978-0-429-444292-0 (e-book) If you imagine yourself two hundred years ago desperate to feed and clothe your family or as a prisoner arguing against a punishment, you will appreciate the substance of Ivor Timmis’ new book. He describes the history of welfare and the application of the Poor Law in brief but fascinating detail, is ‘appalled by some of the harsh and condescending attitudes of the elite at this time’ and is sympathetic to some of ‘the wretched predicaments’ of those whose requests for help he examines as the writers strive for a means of effective presentation. Sunday Schools and Charity Schools with emphasis on reading and writing encouraged literacy and Ivor quotes with approval a rebellion in Bolton against the withdrawal of writing from the Sunday School curriculum. Many had the wish to learn and

Tales to Inspire Collected by Krishnan Patel (Class of 2010) Published by hello@talestoinspire.com ISBN 978-1-5272-7274-3 Tales to Inspire is the work of a movement which publishes and has its own podcast. The idea came to Krishnan in conversation with a homeless person. At the time he was seeking new direction for his life after supporting causes and projects in the USA, Uganda and the UK. He believes in the power of stories and his own shares its pattern with the others he has collected in this book. They begin with disillusionment and personal tragedy followed in different ways by new achievement and optimism tempered by experience. The range is amazing: a refugee from the Congo was homeless for

benefited from news-sheets, dialect literature, pamphlets, the Bible and the popular masterpiece, The Pilgrim’s Progress. By 1800 there were bookshops and printing presses in every major town. There was informal local help for petitioners and for the more advanced there were manuals like The Universal Letter Writer. From such sources a writer could derive ‘formulaic sequences’ which enhanced the authenticity of the petition: ‘I remain, Sir, your humble petitioner John Hall’, ‘It is with regret that I have to trouble you’. The letters do not always sustain the initial polite tone: ‘Sir, I thought You a Son of a ***** Dam Blood if I do not kill you as you go to Your Castle’. The intrusion of the vernacular no doubt reflects speech patterns of the time. There is evidence to support this in Mayhew’s London Labour and the London Poor (1851), illustrated by recorded conversations rather than letters. The Discourse of Desperation is the outcome of sustained analysis and comprehensive research into large collections of surviving letters. Classification, reference and comment are necessarily technical, but Ivor Timmis is always lucid, enabling the reader almost to hear suffering and turbulent voices from the past. His book is certainly accessible to the general reader and, I imagine, of great interest to the specialist. Charles Winder (Boys’ Division Staff, 1964-1999) six of his first fifteen years in England. Granted asylum at last he is grateful to charities which helped him; a mother who lost her child to leukaemia has founded her own charity to help afflicted children realise their dreams; another mother whose son died in the arena bombing speaks to groups about tolerance and forgiveness whilst campaigning for security in public venues; a person addicted to drink and drugs almost accidentally becomes a runner and covers prodigious distances often in extreme conditions to raise money for just causes; a girl disillusioned by the world of finance achieves similar ambitions and now inspires young women to follow her; a professional cricketer overcomes a drinking habit; injured former soldiers find their way through trauma to the civilian world. These stories, like all the others in the collection, are vividly written from personal experience. The reader can begin to know what he or she sees only from the outside. Charles Winder (Boys’ Division Staff, 1964-1999)

Freemasonry

Old Boys on Film

The Old Boltonians’ Masonic Lodge, No 5814, meets regularly in the Senior Library at School throughout the year. In line with the charitable intentions of the society, each year the Lodge provides support to both Divisions of Bolton School, in the form of pupil bursaries and scholarships.

A number of nostalgic DVDs of old School camps, trek camps and George Higginson’s History of the School, plus some showing footage of Bolton School ski trips, are available to purchase. The full list of titles can be viewed in the ‘Former Pupils’ section of the School’s website. Each DVD costs £5.00, plus £1.50 postage and packaging, and may be ordered via the Development Office.

Whilst membership of the Lodge has been opened up to other Freemasons, the majority of its members are Old Boltonians, providing a unique way of keeping in touch with fellow Old Boys. Members range in age from their 20s to their 80s, providing friendship to fellow Masons of all generations. If you would like to hear more, please contact: David Poppitt – The Lodge Secretary E-mail: DPoppitt@aol.com Tel: 07785 728700

Newsletter Spring 2021

Covid Champions Many of our Old Boys are supporting the fight against Covid-19. Some of them are working on the frontline during the pandemic, while others are playing key roles elsewhere. Here we hear how two of them are helping to save lives and to keep spirits up. Scott Hamer (Class of 1991): What a difference a year makes! “As I entered my 30th year in The Metropolitan Police, ending off a career as Personal Protection Officer to HRH The Prince of Wales, I found myself in the unique position of having 119 days leave to take before I retire in January 2022.

an induction course.

Scott in his role as Personal Protection Officer to HRH The Prince of Wales

“This time last year ‘donning my greens’ meant a completely different thing – such as helping HRH with a bit of hedging! Never in a million years did I think, just 12 months later, I’d be donning a different set of ‘greens’ to drive an emergency ambulance for the East of England Ambulance Service. “Having been forced to use the outstanding days by my bosses, and with little work in the protection world, I wondered what I could do to fill my time and do something useful during the pandemic. “I haven’t applied for a job in over 30 years, but I thought I had a pretty impressive CV! I applied for a few driving jobs, such as delivering prescriptions and groceries, but didn’t hear a thing back from all but one. Argos sent me a very nice rejection email but, after ‘reviewing my application’, stated it wouldn’t be taken any further. I was grateful for a response at least. “Then a friend told me the ambulance service required drivers with ‘blue light’ experience so I applied. Within days I was on John Robinson (1969-1979): Avenue Covid Volunteer scheme “It was obvious in early March 2020 that a national emergency was about to unfold. Covid-19 was going to be a real threat to our country. I had recently retired from the Army Reserves after 16 years service and felt frustrated that I would not be able to help out, certainly not in uniform.

“I started work in January on a full-time roster working two days, two nights and four days off. Having worked closely with the ambulance service and medical profession over the years, I have always held the men and women in high esteem – even more so now. Each and every one of them has been directly or indirectly affected by Covid-19. This has been a very difficult year for all of them at the very edge of the frontline. “As my three months with the service comes to an end I have witnessed newborn babies draw their first breaths and I’ve seen the elderly, and not so elderly, take their last. I’ve worked with some wonderful paramedics and emergency technicians, met some very interesting patients and there’s also been a fair few laughs along the way too. Never will I forget the call to assist a daughter to pick up her elderly mother who had fallen onto the floor. On arrival, I assumed mother had managed to get herself to her feet having opened the door. Mea culpa; that was the 83-year old daughter! Mother was a month shy of 105. We spent nearly two hours with these formidable women who had us in stitches as they recounted the stories of their working lives around the rich and famous as we checked mum over. Mother said I could stop by anytime for a cup of tea. I think she took a shine to me ... “It has been an absolute privilege to work alongside our NHS staff for the last three months. We owe them all a great debt of gratitude. I’ve enjoyed the work so much I’m seriously considering it as a second career when I retire from the Police at the end of this year.” are vulnerable and might want help during the pandemic. “We were careful to take on safeguarding issues, but equally we did not want this to stop the scheme being set up. My wife and I are foster carers and in addition Sarita leads on safeguarding protocols for a national organisation.

John and Sarita’s volunteer scheme has made a real difference

“I thought about what could be done locally in the neighbourhood in Hull where I live with my family. After discussing this with my wife, Sarita, and a friend, we decided to set up what became the ‘Avenue Covid Volunteers’. We wanted to find to people who might need help or who could offer help themselves. “6,000 leaflets were quickly printed and deliverers were found by an appeal using social media. We also shifted large numbers ourselves! I think it was important we used an oldfashioned method like leaflets through letterboxes – there are still lots of people who don’t use the internet, many of whom

“The result was over 300 people coming forward to offer help in different ways. Since March 2020 there have been hundreds of jobs done for people, ranging from delivering shopping to picking up prescriptions. In fact, Hull City Council have made use of our volunteers to help the work they have been doing. At the end of 2020 our database of volunteers was used to ask for help with the local vaccination programme. “One spin-off of the volunteer scheme has been a thriving neighbourhood Facebook group with nearly 2,000 members. New friendships have been made and many vulnerable people helped. “I also firmly believe that in preparing for future national emergencies, local volunteering need to be factored in. When the risk has subsided from Covid-19, let’s not forget lessons learnt.”

Old Boltonians’ Association 1895 - 2021

European Lawyers in Lesvos After leaving School, Philip Worthington (1989-2003) studied History at the University of York and then Cambridge. Soon after, he qualified as a lawyer, working in a law firm in London from 2010 to 2016. In January 2016, he travelled to the Greek island of Lesvos, where he initially worked with refugees as a volunteer, and later founded the charity ‘European Lawyers in Lesvos’ (ELIL). The organisation’s work is based on belief in the overriding critical importance of upholding the rule of law and defending human rights by providing meaningful access to free, independent legal assistance. Since 2016, ELIL has helped over 11,000 refugees on the Greek islands. In March 2016, the EU-Turkey deal created a legal crisis which, over the past five years, has stranded tens of thousands of people on the Greek Aegean islands whilst their claims for asylum are processed. They live in chronically overcrowded refugee camps in terrible conditions and have limited access to basic services. In the last two years alone, almost 100,000 people, the vast majority of whom fled Syria, Afghanistan or Iraq, arrived in Greece after making the dangerous sea crossing in search of safety. When refugees arrive on one of the Greek islands, they apply for asylum. The right to asylum is enshrined in international, EU and domestic law and the asylum process – which determines whether a refugee will be allowed to The ELIL Team in stay in Greece or be deported – is a Moria Camp, Lesvos legal one. However, there is no stateprovided legal aid available to people before their decisive asylum interview, meaning that most attend without having spoken to a lawyer. The only way someone can receive legal assistance is through one of the very few NGOs on the islands. The need is great – on Lesvos, there are only around 25 lawyers to assist over 10,000 people and on Samos, there is approximately one lawyer for every 1,000 refugees. The already dire situation has deteriorated over the past months. Covid-19 outbreaks have restricted access to vital services and the fire that destroyed Moria camp (and ELIL’s offices) on Lesvos in September has resulted in the relocation of almost 10,000 refugees to a temporary new camp on the island. The establishment of ELIL was motivated by two key beliefs. First, that access to legal support is a fundamental right. Secondly, that the situation in Greece is not just a Greek issue, but a European one. ELIL was set up in order to enable European asylum lawyers to volunteer on the Greek islands and, working with ELIL’s Greek lawyers, provide legal assistance to refugees. Its creation represents the first time that lawyers from across Europe volunteer in another European member state in response to a humanitarian situation. ELIL’s main activity is the provision of one-on-one legal consultations to prepare refugees for their asylum interview, offering legal information, practical supports and tailored advice at this crucial stage of the process. It also assists with family reunification applications and support unaccompanied children, particularly those incorrectly registered as adults.

The organisation has helped over 650 unaccompanied children since 2016, but the need remains great – last year, there were almost 1,100 unaccompanied children in Moria alone. Conditions in Moria Camp are grim

Along with in-person assistance, in recent months ELIL’s volunteer lawyers from across Europe have also begun to provide consultations remotely from home due to Covid-19, ensuring that they are able to support as many people as possible despite lockdown restrictions and challenges to legal access. As Managing Director, Philip’s role is to manage the organisation as a whole, which involves organising teams in Lesvos and Samos, overseeing the day to day work and coordinating with partners in Greece and across Europe. It also includes determining strategy and areas for advocacy/ awareness-raising (over the last year the focus has been on pressing European governments to relocate unaccompanied children from the camps) and representing ELIL at events and meetings. Philip’s motivation for establishing ELIL was to use his skills, knowledge and experience to help people. He says: “The 14 years I spent at Bolton School were integral in this regard, as the concepts of fairness, equality and, therefore, justice are central to ELIL lawyers offer the School’s ethos. Every day we much-needed advice were encouraged to think about others and the world outside the four walls of the classroom. In particular, I was lucky to have some inspiring teachers, especially at A Level when I studied History, Geography and English Literature. The discussions in these lessons, often outside the strict academic confines of the curriculum, were vital in broadening my horizons and encouraging me to think critically and to challenge assumptions. “Working subsequently as a lawyer, I knew that access to legal assistance can be decisive to the outcome of a case. Nowhere is that more profoundly apparent than in the asylum process, where the support of a lawyer Philip (third from right) can make the difference and his team between someone being granted protection or being deported to face the threat of persecution, war or even death. Our work demonstrates how important access to legal assistance can be for refugees. Of those we have assisted, 74.5% have been granted asylum (compared to an average of 46.5% in Greece). We have also helped over 1,500 people, including almost 900 children, be reunited with family members elsewhere in Europe. In 2020, ELIL was honoured to be awarded five human rights prizes, including the Rule of Law Award from the International Association of Lawyers (UIA) and LexisNexis.” The past year has brought many challenges that have eroded access to legal support, which has been exacerbated by the implementation of an increasingly strict asylum framework in Greece. In this context, protecting human rights, upholding the rule of law and guaranteeing meaningful access to legal assistance is more important than ever. For further information and to support ELIL, please visit www.europeanlawyersinlesvos.eu.

Newsletter Spring 2021

Rob’s Rich Retirement Rob Haworth (1963-1970) found his wellearned retirement lacking in direction. Determined to put the time on his hands to good use, he sought practical ways to use his teaching experience to help others and is now a mentor to two very grateful young men. “31st August 2014 was my last day in full-time employment: 17 years as a teacher and 23 years as a teacher/headmaster. I know I became a teacher on graduating because of my extremely positive school experience. I had been lucky to attend Bolton School under the old Direct Grant scheme and there I had been served brilliantly by a whole host of dedicated staff, too many to mention. “Four weeks of retirement and I was bored and desperate and I realised my plans – short, medium and long term – were largely hypothetical. It dawned on me that I had retired out of a career that had served me magnificently into precisely nothing. And so, perhaps in desperation, I applied for work as a mentor with several charities … to no avail. I applied to two local authorities for positions as a senior school governor and heard nothing encouraging from either. And then, as 2015 dawned, I became a primary school governor in our village and, not long after, I was appointed chair of governors at a primary school in the centre of Hull; I remain a governor at both. “In the Spring of 2015 I was contacted by the Hull charity, ‘Refresh’, which works with people aged 12-18, managing issues around drug and alcohol abuse. Almost a year after applying, following training, I became a mentor, involving one-to-one support for a maximum of one year. Given the difficult issues, a satisfactory outcome can prove elusive. I have a patchy record; I have had some success with two mentees, a total failure with one and with another I had to request to be relieved of duties after 15 frustrating months. “By accident Refresh’s offices are in the same building as the ‘Leaving Care’ team, which looks after young people approaching independence, including refugees. My own ‘boss’, a full-time employee of Refresh, was asked if he knew anyone who could help a Sudanese refugee with his English on a voluntary basis. Qualified EFL teachers usually require payment, but no funding was available. This young man was attending college, but clearly struggling. I agreed to help and began regular lessons.

“Mohammed arrived in Hull six years ago on the back of a lorry from the Calais jungle. He landed there from Western Darfur via Tripoli, Bastia, Rome and Paris. He had fled home with his mother and younger brothers following the assassination of his father and oldest brother by rebel forces. A perilous journey took them to Tripoli and he was separated from his family by virtue of his age. He crossed the Mediterranean on a glorified lilo and was picked up by the Red Cross mid-passage; they saved his life. Mohammed never attended school and his education was limited to the Quran and what he needed to know to become a good Muslim. Teaching English to a 19-year old young man, whose first language is Masalit, who could read and write basic Arabic and who didn’t know he had two bones in his lower leg and why days were shorter in the winter in England was a challenge. His mother and younger brothers now live in a Red Cross refugee camp in Chad and any surplus money he has he sends to her. He leads a very frugal and pious life, is a young man of high moral principle and relishes hard work, currently as an apprentice carer in a day care home. “Two years ago Mohammed asked me if I would help his friend, who attended the same Hull mosque, with his English; I agreed. Bashir is from Khartoum, also a refugee, and arrived in Hull via a similar route. Bash remains very cagey about his past, but is in touch with his mother and siblings in Khartoum. He speaks, reads and writes Arabic fluently and successfully attended school, passing GCSE equivalent qualifications in several subjects including English. My support of Bash is not only linguistic, but has meant familiarising myself with further education opportunities in the area. Needless to say, they don’t really cater for students with English as a second language wishing to pursue an education in English in England. “I continue to support both Mohammed and Bashir as a mentor and my involvement with them has been of immense value to me, not only learning about Muslims rather than just Islam, but also appreciating their values and ethos. They have come from an unstable and dangerous homeland, are without rancour and are grateful for anything they are given. Most revealing is their generosity of energy, time and spirit; I have given of my time and knowledge, they have given of their hearts. They cannot return to Sudan safely. “I am told I must learn to say no. However, if I have learned anything it is that there is life after retirement and that the opportunities to give of one’s experience as a schoolteacher are legion. ‘It is better to give than to receive’ (Acts 20:35). I have been given a hugely rewarding present and future.”

The School Magazine The Boltonian remains the premium magazine for the Boys’ Division. As an Old Boy it is possible to become a subscriber to The Boltonian and have a copy mailed directly to you each year. The magazine costs £15 per annum for UK subscribers and £20 per annum for non-UK subscribers. All prices include postage and packaging. Single editions (including some earlier editions – subject to availability) are also available. Any profits made from the sale of the magazine will go towards the running of the Old Boltonians’ Association. For details of how to subscribe, please contact the Development Office.

Old Boltonians’ Association 1895 - 2021

Staff in the Spotlight

Many Old Boys will remember Mr Hiepko and Mr Joseph – four of this year’s Monitors caught up (via Zoom, of course!) with these long-standing members of the Boys’ Division staff to find out just what it is about Bolton School which has kept them here for so long. Year 13 pupils Aibin Baby and Jack Danson interviewed Mr Hiepko, Assistant Head and Teacher of German. How many years have you worked at Bolton School? This summer, it will have been 32 years. Was it your first teaching post? Yes, it was. Prior to that I was a German Assistant in three state schools. Have you always taught boys? The majority of my career has been at Bolton School, where it’s been boys only, but all three of the state schools where I was a German Assistant were mixed. Did you always want to be a teacher? I did, actually. From a young age, that was what I wanted to do and I never properly considered anything else. There’s some tradition in the family because my Grandad was a teacher. At the age of ten I decided that I was going to live in the UK because I was so fascinated by my new subject, English – my first English teacher must have really ensured that I learnt to love the language and the country. What would you have done if you had not become a teacher? To be honest, I don’t know! Had things been different, I might have quite liked to have taught at a university – I’m certainly not the type of person for a permanent office job. Where did you train to be a teacher? The teacher training place was affiliated to what is now Manchester Metropolitan University. For my second placement they said they were sending me to a school which needed someone whose German was good, because it had pupils whose German was good – that school was Bolton School, which is where I did most of my training. Do you have any other stand-out memories from your time here? Obviously a lot of things have happened over 30 years, but one of the most memorable was the visit by Princess Diana when she came to open the Arts Centre. The building of the Riley Centre was also a phenomenal thing – I remember when it was first opened thinking, ‘This is really nice, this is going to make a difference,’ which I think it has.

What is your favourite Bolton School tradition? I’m not sure whether it’s a tradition, but the Rheinland trip. It’s one of the oldest trips at School. It’s taken place since 1985 and I’ve been on it every year since 1992 – this year is the only year since then that it hasn’t happened and I’ve missed it. It’s something I really enjoy; I love all the places we visit, and it’s clearly something that Old Boys have fond memories of too, because we’re usually visited on the trip by an Old Boy whom I taught in Year 13 – he lives in Germany and has a translating business there. As you mentioned, you’ve been here for 30 years. How would you say School life has changed over those years? A lot of things have stayed the same. The atmosphere hasn’t changed. But Bolton School has always embraced change and been forward looking. In some ways we’ve been in the vanguard of new developments. Throughout those 30 years, the computers and digital technology have become more and more important. When I arrived here, I did everything on a typewriter, from the early 90s we started having computers, and then the internet came and then the iPads. Where would we be now without iPads, in lockdown in particular? That’s one of the ways in which Bolton School has not only gone with the times, but been ahead of its time. Any other anecdotes or stories? In the 1990s there was a pupil-produced School magazine. And in one edition there was a crossword which had pictures of famous people and you had to write the surname of the teacher who was a lookalike of that person. Now obviously it would be wrong of me to reveal who other current staff members were likened to, but I was Gerry Adams … Sixth Formers Dan Bentham and Piers SkeelsCaldwell interviewed Mr Joseph, Teacher of History, Director of Partnerships and Rugby Coach How many years have you worked at Bolton School? 34 years – I started in September 1986. Was it your first teaching post? No – I taught in Scotland for a while before I came to Bolton School. Have you always taught boys? Yes, I have. Did you always want to be a teacher? No, when I was younger I wanted to be a wine expert at a Michelin starred restaurant, amongst other aspirations. However, my father was a university professor and my grandfather was a teacher so it was in my family. I have no regrets about becoming a teacher, though.

What would you say is the best part about teaching at Bolton School and what would you say is the best part about working there? I can honestly say that through the entire time I have been teaching at Bolton School I’ve loved it. That’s because I’ve always found the pupils agreeable and mostly willing to work hard and there have always been plenty of people interested in German and Germany. Throughout my career the colleagues I’ve worked with have always been nice people and I’ve always got on with them. Personally, I’ve played so many different roles – it’s offered a huge amount of variety beyond just teaching. I have never been told that I have to teach in a certain way – I have always been given the freedom to develop things in the direction I wish to go.

What is the best part of being a teacher at Bolton School? I love the environment, the lads, the biscuits, the holidays, the colleagues, the cultures and traditions … it’s difficult to pick just one thing that is the best.

One of the things I’ve liked most at Bolton School is giving assemblies. Not every assembly I’ve given has been a success, but some I really enjoyed doing – and am still doing now. I’ve done them so many times I can do them without notes, which is a much better way of presenting. There’s been the odd occasion when I’ve given a full assembly and afterwards a boy I’ve never seen before has stopped me in the corridor and said ‘Sir, I enjoyed your assembly’ – now that is something that I really like!

What is your favourite Bolton school tradition? Pre-season rugby training and the Christmas festival. I used to love the Monitors’ Christmas panto, although that doesn’t happen anymore. The drama productions and the A Level art shows are great as well. I also enjoy the Year 7 trip to Brougham Castle.

Do you have any stand out memories from your time here? It was fantastic to be the Head of Sixth Form when the Riley Centre opened. I also loved the rugby tour to South Africa in 2008, along with the Russian trip which I got the chance to go on a few years ago. How has School life changed over the years? It’s a kinder place than it used to be. There is a lot more technology used now, such as the iPads, which is very good. And the introduction of Patterdale was fantastic.

Do you have any other comments about Bolton School? I’m really proud of the School for its open door policy which enables all children to get a good education, regardless of their background.

Newsletter Spring 2021

Tillotson Lecture Goes Virtual to Look to the Future For the first time in its long history, the annual Tillotson Lecture went virtual to allow a panel of Old Boys to discuss the potential lasting impacts of Covid-19 on our society despite the restrictions of The Headmaster chaired the virtual discussion lockdown. With the wider Boys’ Division community unable to gather in the Great Hall, over 200 pupils and their families instead congregated on Zoom to hear the thoughts and insights of four diverse Alumni. Hetain Patel (Class of 1999), a London-based visual artist and performance maker, focused his reflections around arts and culture. He noted that during lockdown many of us have turned to Netflix – yet he pointed out that this sector, often thought of as very liberal, is built upon the same structures and foundations of patriarchy and supremacy that make it unfair to many and privilege a few. He highlighted the rise of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, which he said has made it easier to have necessary conversations and for marginalised voices to be listened to, not just in terms of race but also gender, sexuality, disability and so on. He said, ‘Artwork is political. Culture has great influence. My hope is that the arts will make for a fairer, more just and more equitable arts world, but more importantly and beyond that, it will push towards a fairer, more just and more equitable world full stop.’ Architect Nick Johnson (Class of 1984) is trying to effect transformation and profound change in local communities by curating people and what they do. He noted how the cataclysmic change brought about by the 2008 financial crisis presented an opportunity to redefine capitalism. However, with hindsight that idea was naïve because very little changed: people wanted to return to the comfort zone of what they had always done before. He warned that the chances of doing things differently post-Covid-19 are remote, as people will want to revert back to how things were once again. However, he still champions the possibility of redefining our relationships around regions, regional identity, trade, travel, and enjoying more of what is on our doorstep rather than pursuing a global economy.

Dr Ashish Chaudhry (Class of 1999) is a GP who, during the pandemic, has implemented innovative ways of working to meet the demands of health care delivery to his patients. He himself had caught the virus, which developed into Long Covid and he noted that although he is almost recovered physically, the trauma of the experience lingers on. He said: “Although Covid-19 entered our psyche as a medical illness, this is not about health any more. The virus has mutated and evolved, not in a genetic sense, into a social disease. It has re-engineered how we think, feel and behave in our environments.” He talked about how this illness has forced humanity to confront its vulnerabilities and said that, while a vaccine is pivotal, alone it will not be enough to get our lives back on track. He also spoke about how Covid-19 has attacked the weakest links in our society and magnified the suffering of those already vulnerable, and raised concerns of a mental health crisis on the horizon. However, he was also able to discuss ways to rehabilitate through ‘courage, compassion and connection’ and by reconnecting with other people to regain meaning in our lives. Prateek Buch (Class of 1999), Head of Data Acquisition at 10 Downing Street, picked up on the theme of privilege that had run through his fellow Old Boys’ comments, calling it a ‘double-edged concept’ which brings with it a moral and ethical obligation to use that privilege to innovate. The unequal impact of Covid-19, along the lines of geography, socio-economic status and ethnicity, has emphasised privileges and ‘revealed in stark and uncomfortable terms the need to understand the people we serve’. However, the challenges of the pandemic have already affected policy and initiatives to promote diversity, inclusivity and accessibility within the civil service have been accelerated. Prateek agreed with Nick that the challenge is in not pressing the reset button, but instead capturing what has been learned, embedding that as the new modus operandi and taking the opportunity to create profound change. The Headmaster thanked all four speakers for their reflections. A question and answer session followed during which the panelists discussed what society is and the juxtaposition and interplay between local and global society, the importance of seeing global issues as our problems, and the way the pandemic has turned our lens closer to home by necessity. They also talked about whether improvements in technology promote connection or distance between people, with all four Old Boys agreeing that there is still a need to have the realness and authenticity of in-person experiences, and the need for quality communication both online and offline. The evening was brought to a close by Vice-Captain Thomas Britton who thanked the panelists for their insightful comments, which showed a fascinating diversity of thinking with common themes throughout.

Old Boltonians’ Association 1895 - 2021

EVENTS Alumni Events

In the meantime, a number of Zoom ‘Happy Hour’ events are planned as follows:

With the Prime Minister’s announcement on 22nd February of his ‘roadmap to recovery’, the Development Team has begun to make plans to resume its usual programme of Alumni events.

• Wednesday 5th May – Scotland Zoom, 6-7pm • Wednesday 9th June – Cumbria Zoom, 6-7pm • Wednesday 7th July – US Zoom, 5-6pm BST

However, with a full return to ‘normal’ life not due until the Summer, no in-person events are planned until Monday 28th June, when it is hoped that the Recent Leavers’ Reunion (for the Classes of 2019 and 2020) may be able to go ahead. In addition, the MCC Match is scheduled to take place on Thursday 1st July.

Details of how to join these virtual events will be circulated in due course. It is anticipated that full gatherings of Old Boys and Old Girls will recommence in the next academic year. Reunions for class year groups ending in 00 and 01 will be rearranged as soon as possible and invitations will be sent out once plans are in place.

We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible as soon as it is safe to do so!

Happy Hours A ‘virtual’ Happy Hour was not quite the same as sitting down to dinner in the city of Oxford Happy Hour dreaming spires, but Oxford University Alumni nevertheless enjoyed catching up with each other and with the Headmaster and the Headmistress to chat about Bolton School and, of course, the pandemic – and to look forward to meeting up properly in Oxford once these ‘unprecedented times’ are over.

Cambridge Happy Hour

and members of the Development team for an enjoyable catchup. Despite the marvellous technology which enabled them to meet up from the comfort of their London Happy Hour own homes, all are looking forward to sitting down to dinner together in one of the university’s beautiful colleges once the lockdown restrictions are lifted. Finally, in March, Alumni who studied at or are based in London also joined each other and Bolton School staff via Zoom for an entertaining hour of chatting and reminiscing in anticipation of a proper reunion in the capital next year.

Cambridge Alumni also joined the Headmaster, Headmistress

Patterdale Hall Anniversary (25+2) Open Day The 25+2 year anniversary of Bolton School having a residential base at Patterdale Hall will be celebrated with an Open Day on Sunday 24th April next year. Further details will follow in due course. In the meantime, the team at Patterdale Hall is looking forward to welcoming back students from Bolton School and beyond from 17th May, in line with the government roadmap out of lockdown.

Newsletter Spring 2021

SPORTS Nil Nil

“Quite what the 2020-21 season will bring, only time will tell” – little did one expect that this concluding thought from the Autumn Bugle would be answered so negatively. By the turn of the year, all our football was suspended. Attempting to run six teams playing in four different leagues on the two excellent grass surfaces at Turton, plus at least three hired artificial home pitches across Bolton and beyond, had been frustratingly fiddly from the off and increasingly infuriating and irritating, be it for team managers, grounds manager, club secretary, players or spectators. For example, the ground is in Blackburn, but most players live and opponents operate in Greater Manchester – so were we a Lancashire or Greater Manchester club? Tiers were tryingly tiring!

British Football’s Greatest Grounds What strange footballing years 2020 and 2021 are turning out to be. For many aficionados, live football, be it playing or spectating, has withered on the vine. Armchair dwellers have had well over a dozen leagues or cups to ‘enjoy’ televisually. No wonder the arrival of a new football book made for a most welcome change from the strange bedfellows of longing and satiation. British Football’s Greatest Grounds; One Hundred Must-See Football Venues is a magnificent celebration of the game from an unusual angle, exactly as suggested by the title. Readers of The Bugle will be delighted that Old Bolts can blow their version of that instrument because Turton is one of the hundred! Author Mike Bayly had a lightbulb moment over a decade ago to create a list of grounds ‘to see before you die’. A public vote after appearances on such as TalkSport, the BBC and the FA website elicited over 16,000 responses, from which Bayly chose the 100 from the top 300 votes; the project stumbled and stuttered, but a beautifully researched, written and photographed tome appeared in 2020. Club stalwarts recall a few years ago a visit on a match day – this slipped their memory until the book’s appearance late last

Enough to report that some teams started their seasons, some played friendlies, some hardly kicked a ball, but now, as we approach Easter, all football is due to restart! Two teams are in leagues intending to complete, even if it means playing in June. Four teams begin again with mini-leagues with finals to follow. We can hope these plans succeed – we have again cancelled the Annual Dinner and reworking of the delayed Centenary celebrations is not part of current vocabulary. The pitches and finances are looking really good; the players’ fitness less so! The club’s 100th and 101st years were challenging, but it progresses ever stronger into its second century! Martin Wadsworth (Boys’ Division Staff, 1974-2006)

year, rightly to impressive reviews. There, at number 86, the ground is featured, one of over a dozen Lancastrian venues from Manchester United’s Old Trafford to Chorley’s Victory Park. Martyn Roscoe’s fine photos accompany the prose highlighting the ground’s history. Initially a home to Turton FC, its probable use dates back to the 1830s; continuous usage is certain since 1873, hence our claim to be one of the oldest football pitches still in current and continuous use, though two other entries make similar arguably stronger claims; it was acquired by Old Boltonians in 1952. Of particular note is the section that comments on the skill, effort and diligence of groundsman Dave Lee: “Now the surfaces are expertly maintained and compare favourably with those far higher up the football ladder.” Meteorologically tongue in cheek, “an occasional moorland breeze carries the soothing peels from St Anne’s Church”. Following the least busy year in those 15 decades, the pitches are in pristine condition, having endured the perennial snows, frosts and sun, though, as ever, that delicate breeze was usually more an indelicate gale! This is a delight of a book for any football fan, especially those of the hundred clubs; well worth a read or as a fine present for birthdays, Christmas or, hopefully, Return-To-Normal- Football Day 2021! Richard Morris suggests our inclusion is “quite an accolade – maybe somewhat unexpected, but one that won’t go away!” As our club’s second century starts, we can now remember the history of the ground with that accolade as a backdrop to keeping the Old Bolts AFC flag flying. Martin Wadsworth (Boys’ Division Staff, 1974-2006)

OLD BOLTONIANS’ GOLF SOCIETY REPORT: Spring 2021 I write this almost 12 months to the day that we were plunged into the first lockdown, and during that time golf certainly has been far from normal, with spells with only two balls permitted and removal of flagsticks prohibited. I still can’t get used to that! Some good news is that The Grafton Morrish Tournament is planned to take place as normal, with the qualifying being held at Fixby Hall on 9th May and the finals on 1st October in Hunstanton.

With golf starting up again on 29th March it is anticipated we will be able to run all three of our competitions this year. I will be sending out details for the Rosebowl Match play event, the Taylor Trophy and the Gwynne Jones Goblets in due course. Any Old Boy wishing to get involved with the society may contact me on 07711 594030 or mark_millhouse@yahoo.com. Mark Millhouse (1989-1994) Golf Secretary

Old Boltonians’ Association 1895 - 2021

OLD BOYS’ NEWS

If you would like to get in touch with any of the Old Boys featured – or any other Old Boltonian – please contact the Development Office.

Class of 1940-1949

Brian Heap (1940-1947) What has Lockdown done for Brian? It has finally resulted in him selling his car and ending his driving career, much to the relief of his daughter since Brian is now 91 and partially disabled – she is now his chauffeuse! Consequently the burghers of Broadway must now risk being mown down on the pavement in the High Street by way of Brian’s mobility scooter! Usefully, it has also given him plenty of time to complete the 52nd annual edition of his book, HEAP 2022, for university applicants.

Class of 1950-1959

Oliver Dearden (1942-1951) Congratulations to Oliver, who was awarded an OBE for Services to the Cultural Heritage of the Aircraft Industry in the 2021 New Year’s Honours List, marking his long involvement with and contribution to the industry. Oliver recalls starting at Bolton School in 1942 in Lower Shell A. There were just 16 in the class, including Roger Kirk (Class of 1949), with Mrs Saxelby as Form Mistress, and located in the small room next to the main library overlooking Chorley New Road. The following year as Lower III they grew to 24, and were located in the North Porch next to the Main Arch. After two years in the New Hut as Lower IV and then Upper IV they eventually arrived on the main corridor as Upper V. Oliver reports that apart from one failure in History the whole class passed School Certificate with high grades. His final year was spent in the Tower Room as a member of Science VIA. Oliver’s father died during his last year and he recalls that the School was very supportive at the time and during his course at Nottingham University from where he graduated in Civil Engineering. After three years with the Bristol Aeroplane Company, where he met his wife, Mary, he spent the major part of his career on the design and construction of highways, including the first stretch of the M1 in 1959, and retired as Assistant Director of Highways and Engineering,

Avon County Council, in 1995. Oliver and Mary joined the Bristol Aero Collection, founded in 1992, a registered charity promoting the creation of a museum to record the history of the Aviation Industry in Bristol which continues today with Airbus and RollsRoyce. Over a period of 20 years it built up a large collection of the history and products of the various companies and with the last Concorde which retired to Filton in 2003 formed the basis of a £19m museum, Aerospace Bristol, which opened to the public in 2017. Oliver became a Trustee in 1995, serving as Chairman for four years, and retired from the Board in 2016. Norman Longworth (1947-1953) During the lockdown Norman has spent his time usefully in writing an autobiography. It is called The Boy from the Back Streets of Bolton and has a whole chapter describing how Bolton School shaped a working class lad’s life and inspired a future that has seen him work in more than 40 countries, manage European and global projects, profess and write books, both academic and humorous, including poetry on environmentalism, education (lifelong learning, learning cities), Lancashire monologues and even a book of poetry in French. All the books are available from Amazon, though Norman notes that the academic books are a silly price nowadays – however, these and their translations into Spanish, Chinese, Italian and other languages influenced many governments to encourage their cities to create ‘learning cities’ that would improve education throughout the world. Norman’s autobiography will interest many Old Boltonians and a copy has been lodged in the School library. Norman Davies (1948-1957; Girls’ Division Staff, 1963) Norman has been keeping very busy during lockdown. He recently completed a small volume on George II (whom he prefers to call George II Augustus) for Penguin Books’ Monarchs series, and is completing a History of Galicia.

Norman recently bumped into his old friend, Christopher Lane (1947L-R: Tony Galloway, 1958). Roger Mason, Ian Bonser, Both were Norman Davies shocked to lose their close friend and colleague, Robert Blackburn (1948-1958), last year; Norman shall forever remember Robert playing Chopin on the grand piano in the Great Hall at lunchtime to a crowd of admirers. Norman also talks regularly to his classmate Ian Bonser (1947-1957), who sent in this photograph from 1959 of four Old Boltonians atop Mount Olympus in Greece. In 2019, Norman published his autobiography, which contains a long section on Bolton School, including portraits of both FRP and Margaret Higginson. He also pays tribute to Bolton’s fine tradition of modern language teaching as inspired by Emma Saxelby, as a result of which the book was written/dictated in Polish. When Norman taught in the Girls’ Division in 1963, he had just visited Poland (by accident) which fired a lifetime’s interest and last year he launched an online project on ‘Poland Past and Present’ (see www.polish-studies.org), which aims to promote the much neglected subject of teaching and learning about Poland and its region. He believes that the only time he encountered Poland at School was when reading the essay by JM Thompson on ‘The Partitions of Poland’; it is possible that the essay was recommended by Jim Slipper (Boys’ Division Staff, 1949-1955), who spent a whole year in the ‘Modern Transitus’ class perched on the hot radiator with his feet up overlooking Chorley New Road and ploughing through his notes on Early Modern Europe – a great introduction!

Class of 1960-1969

Clive Hunter (1955-1963) Clive ended his career in Hong Kong

Newsletter Spring 2021

almost 20 years ago. He was there to experience the handover of the colony to China in 1997. Needless to say, he has witnessed the increasing influence that China has been exerting over Hong Kong (on which he could expand at length), but here he focuses briefly on the management of the Covid-19 virus by the two countries. When it became apparent that it was out of control in the UK, Clive was able to seek ‘safe haven’ with friends in Hong Kong, where the measures put in place have kept it under control, albeit with the odd spike here and there. Masks were mandatory everywhere from Day 1, restaurants – when open – limited numbers at a table. It is currently two, but they must close at 6pm. Cinemas, gyms, golf courses and other recreational facilities are closed, but, interestingly enough, social distancing is not enforced. Track and trace is strictly enforced and entry to any venue will only be allowed with a temperature check. The Hong Kong Chinese are very health aware, disciplined and familyoriented and therefore almost without exception follow the rules. Unfortunately for the UK there are those that run contrary to this and Clive’s view is that this has had a major influence on the severity of the problem. Comparing statistics (in January), Clive notes that the UK, with a population of approximately 70m, has 3.6m cases, 97,000 deaths and 30,000 cases per day, while Hong Kong, with a population of 7m, has 10,000 cases, 169 deaths and 70 cases per day. He notes that these are Hong Kong reported numbers, not from Mainland China, and in a city which is one of the most densely populated in the world – people would soon know if these were not accurate. Clive does need to return to the UK, but for obvious reasons will remain in Hong Kong until it is safe to do so. At the moment it is a risk he dare not take.

Class of 1970-1979

Dave Hodson (1964-1970) Dave migrated to Australia in 1981. He has been married for 41 years and has three children and four grandchildren. In March 2020 he retired from being a quantity surveyor specialising

in developing software for Project Cost Control (including Wembley Stadium). As his job involved travel over many parts of the world, the timing of his retirement was perfect! Since retirement Dave has become a disc jockey on radio station KCR FM, prsenting a show noon2pm UK Winter time on Fridays, playing 70s-90s rock and pop music. He has a number of UK listeners, including Old Boltonians, not least being Gary Sykes (1963-1970), David Seddon (1960-1971) and Phil Rothwell (1964-1971), who are all contributors to The Bugle. To listen via live stream go to www.kcr-fm.org.au – if you make contact with Dave on dave.hodson21@gmail.com whilst listening, he will give you a mention and/ or dedication! Dave would also love to hear from anyone anytime on the same email address.

Class of 1980-1989

Tim Overton (Class of 1980) Tim reports that life as a consultant obstetrician in a large teaching hospital has certainly been interesting over the last year. In some ways, maternity services have been less affected than others because their work has continued unabated – pregnancy planning just did not take into account a worldwide pandemic! Having to work in full PPE is challenging and unpleasant; it is amazing how much more difficult communication is when one is unable to see ones patient’s facial expression and she cannot see yours. However, Tim feels very lucky to be able to go to work with the sense of normality that that brings in these very uncertain times. Mark Power (1973-1980)

Freelance photographer Mark performed his first photography webinar Mark’s first webinar was a great success! just before Christmas – to an international audience of aspiring pro photographers from the Caribbean and Canada. The session, entitled ‘An Evening with Mark Power’, started with a talk on the differences between being a keen amateur and making the move to earning your living with a camera, as Mark does.

This was followed by a show-andtell session featuring some of Mark’s own photographs that were taken in particularly challenging lighting conditions. Mark, Bolton School’s preferred photographer, is used to making presentations to camera clubs and photographic societies across the north of England, but this was the first online talk that he had given. The pandemic has affected every part of life, and photography particularly badly, so webinars are becoming the norm. Mark was nervous about the technology holding up, but there were no problems on the night and he enjoyed the informal talks revolving around his photos, explaining the difficulties involved in getting the shot and what he did and why. Converting his office to a temporary film studio was key to the success of the evening – with lighting, a remote-controlled stills camera and a remote-controlled laptop used as a prompter, as well as the tablet through which the webinar was conducted, it started to look like the Starship Enterprise! The evening itself felt like a chat in the pub and at the end Mark really felt as though he had got to know some of the delegates. Thanks to today’s technology, some of those friendships have since continued on social media. Ray Owen (1975-1982)

After studying Psychology (on the basis of some excellent Ray in 1983 (left) … and in Careers 2020 advice in 4B!), Ray trained to be a Clinical Psychologist and specialised in psychological support in physical health settings (especially cancer and end-oflife care). For the last few years he has been a Consultant Clinical Psychologist in Herefordshire. He has seen lots of changes during the pandemic, including providing psychological support for ITU staff, and lots of getting used to PPE that isn’t normal dress for a Clinical Psychologist. Although he is coming to the end of his time with the NHS, he notes an odd symmetry to his very first ‘gap year’ job (before gap years had been invented) at the small surgical unit that used to be down the road from

Old Boltonians’ Association 1895 - 2021

Bolton School near Woodlands. Stefan Kukula (1976-1983) Stefan is still Chief Executive of the Engineering Equipment and Materials Users Association (EEMUA), an international industry body for operators of industrial assets. Members include electricity generators, medical gas manufacturers, and other critical industries, so lockdown was spent talking to the regulators about how to ensure sites remained safe when conventional methods of inspecting hazardous equipment could not be followed. The risks from Covid-19 must not increase the risk of industrial tragedies. In 2020 he was admitted to the Worshipful Company of Engineers, and received the Freedom of the City of London – both over Zoom. He is still rowing, when restrictions allow; using the rowing machine is not the same, even if done in front of a television showing a ‘view from a rowing boat’. Stefan attended the London Dinner at Lords in March last year – his last faceto-face social occasion of 2020. Andrew Berry (1977-1984) Andrew has just started a new job as Supply Chain Director at Northwood Hygiene in Telford after 11 years in Electronics, including a spell in California. He would love to hear from anyone from the Class of 1984 via the Development Office. Ian Wright (1983-1987) In August 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, Ian and Wendy Wright moved to Kenya where Ian took up the position of Headmaster at St Andrew’s Preparatory School, Turi. St Andrew’s Preparatory School in Their two grown up children Turi, Kenya remained in Europe; Emily in Bordeaux and William attending Nottingham University. Ian had previously been Head of Pocklington Prep, Yorkshire, which he had successfully reopened following UK government guidelines. Ian now faced a new challenge – Kenyan schools were still closed as the

pandemic developed across Africa. His pupils were all learning online in Kenya and many other African countries; he gradually met his staff as many live on the school’s 450 acre site. Following Kenyan government guidelines the school reopened in January with pupils arriving from across Africa; one convoy escorted out of Uganda under military escort. At the same time as leading this international Christian boarding Ian and Wendy school, Ian and Wendy are enjoying exploring this beautiful country; it’s so different from the UK, for example spending New Year in the Maasai Mara! Being physically separated from family is a new experience, yet modern social media allows the family to keep in touch.

Class of 1990-1999

Sameer Mehta (Class of 1992) Sam has been recognised as a Fellow of The Institute of Chemical Engineering (IChemE) for his contributions within Industry. He is a Board Member and Investment Director of Proklean Technologies, an Innovative Company in Industrial Probiotics and Bio-Surfactants which was recently commended for the BioChemical Engineering Award by the IChemE at the 2020 IChemE Global Awards. Robert O’Kane (1984-1994) Congratulations to Commander Rob O’Kane who has returned to Royal Navy Air Station Culdrose to take command of the Merlin Mk2 helicopter force. Rob joined the Navy in 1998 and trained as an antisubmarine warfare observer at Culdrose. He later became an instructor and has served on frontline squadrons, including 771 search and rescue squadron, as well as periods in Bahrain, Britannia Royal Naval College and naval HQ in Portsmouth. Of his new appointment, Rob says: ‘I am honoured to take command of the Merlin helicopter force that continues to serve at the forefront of operations across the globe. We are all well aware

of how 2020 has proven to be a particularly challenging year and that has tested the force here at RNAS Culdrose. However, every member of the team, be they military or civilian, has delivered and it is a hugely impressive achievement. 2021 will be equally as busy, with the Merlin aircraft playing their part in delivering a successful carrier strike group deployment alongside our routine operations in defence of the UK.’ Stefan Horsman (1988-1995) Congratulations to Stefan who has been appointed Headmaster at Albyn School in Aberdeen from April 2021. After almost nine years as Deputy Head at Robert Gordon’s College, Stefan is looking forward to moving to his fifth HMC school, and RGC’s main competitor in the city!

Class of 2000-2009

(John) Richard Cooke (1999-2006) Congratulations to Richard and Jo (née Adamson, 1992-2006) who welcomed their son Henry in October. He arrived five weeks earlier than expected, but after Henry with proud a nine-day stay parents Jo and in hospital all are Richard happy and well and enjoying being home – despite the Covid-19 restrictions! Matt Fray (1993-2006) Congratulations to Matt and Lauren (née Parker, 1999-2006) who welcomed Harry Alexander Fray on 23rd October 2020. Max loves being a big brother and can’t wait to teach Harry how to play football and cricket! Steven Thompson (1991-1998) Congratulations to Steve who has been appointed Regional Editor for Newsquest Lancashire/Greater Manchester, which includes the School’s local newspaper, The Bolton News. He is also responsible for The Lancashire

Newsletter Spring 2021

Telegraph, The Bury Times, The Oldham Times and Messenger titles. Steve’s passion for journalism stretches back into his School days: he has great memories of working on The New School Express, the Boys’ Division newspaper, with Mr Joseph in the Sixth Form. Although he was always more of a science student (his father, Don Thompson, taught Physics in the Boys’ Division, 1983-2006), he recalls having some great English teachers in Mr Cropper, Mr Winder and Mr Shewan. He also has good memories of languages lessons, learning from teachers such as Mr Edmondson, Mr Jackson and the late Mr Harrison. Steve started work at The Bolton News in 2008, became the newspaper’s politics correspondent in 2010 and was later appointed news editor. After a stint at Media City in Salford, working on Radio 5 Live and BBC Breakfast television, he edited The Lancashire Telegraph. In his new role he hopes to support local businesses and champion the brilliant people of Bolton.

Yusuf Patel (2008-2015) Congratulations to Yusuf who has graduated from Imperial College London with First Class Honours in MEng Aeronautical Engineering with a Year in Industry. Although Yusuf’s long-term goal is to return to Formula One as an aerodynamicist (as in his year in industry), he has been awarded a prestigious Departmental Fellowship to pursue a fully-funded PhD (with the Department of Aeronautics at Imperial College) – his field of research will be ‘Machine-Learning Assisted Fluid Modelling for Optimal Aerodynamic Design’.

member of the Friends of Vindolanda. He has several long-term contacts from his BSAS (Bolton School Archaeological Society) days: Catherine Bankes (née Chadwick, Class of 1960), George Smith (Class of 1964), who worked for the Gwynedd Archaeology Unit and English Heritage, Rodney Pearson (1953-1960), who lectured in history at the University of Derby, Ernie Marsh (Class of 1962) and his sister June (Class of 1961), and Priscilla Truss (née Grasby, Class of 1965). As a reward for long service and good conduct, Bolton Archaeology and Egyptology Society elevated Colin to the position of Vice-President last year, and presented him with a gilt-edged trowel and ceremonial plaque! David Shaw (Boys’ Division Staff, 1964-2002)

Sam Hall (2012-2017) Sam has recently been selected to stand for the upcoming local elections for Salford City Council for the Conservatives. Although the odds are against him, he is nonetheless glad to offer a credible candidacy to the people of Salford in this time of turbulence and strife.

Class of 2010-2019

Sam Hardy (Class of 2010) Congratulations to Sam and his wife, Sarah, of the arrival of their first child, James Gerald William Hardy on 18th November 2020. Hadley Stewart (2007-2014) Hadley has written a chapter for the book, Big Gay Adventures in Education: Supporting LGBT+ Visibility and Inclusion in Schools, which was published by Routledge in December 2020. The book is a collection of true stories from LGBT+ teachers and students about their experiences in schools, and is edited by Daniel Tomlinson-Gray. Farhan Chhabu (2008-2015) Farhan has spent the five years since

leaving School studying and later working in London. At the beginning of this year he moved over to Dubai and has decided to settle there for the foreseeable future – we wish him well in his new adventure!

Sam is looking forward to graduating from Aberystwyth University (virtually or otherwise!) at the end of this academic year. News of Former Staff Colin Harding (Boys’ Division Staff, 1957-1964) At the ripe old age of 94 Colin is still keeping up his interest in Roman archaeology, paying an annual visit to Hadrian’s Wall as a

A view of Saundersfoot, as painted by David

David took up painting after his wife died six years ago, joining a class to add variety to his spare time. It has been a great help during the potential loneliness of lockdown to produce a number of paintings, including this beautiful one of Saundersfoot which is based on a photograph he took there five years ago. As well as being a great picture, it will no doubt stir memories in many Old Boys who enjoyed the Summer camps there!

THE BOLTON SCHOOL WINE COLLECTION The Bolton School Wine Collection, launched by The Girls’ Division Parents’ Association to mark the 100/500 anniversaries, is an exclusive wine collection carefully selected in partnership with T Wright Wine of Horwich. There are six wines in the collection, all priced at £9.95 per bottle: a Pinot Grigio, a Sauvignon Blanc, a Chardonnay, a Shiraz, a Merlot and a White Zinfandel. Wines are available by the case (six bottles) at a discounted price of £56.75 in any bottle combination you would like. Delivery is free (minimum order one case) throughout the Bolton area, and all profits will be donated to the Bursary Fund. For more information please e-mail bsfwines2015@gmail.com or to place your order, please visit www.twrightwine.co.uk/13030.

Destinations of Leavers – 2020 Yusuf Adia

University of Cambridge

Medicine

Michael Ahamed

University of Liverpool

Medicine

Abdullah Ahmed

Newcastle University

Medicine and Surgery

Adnaan Ahmed

Newcastle University

Accounting and Finance

Krishnan Ajit

University of Cambridge

Medicine

Meer Al-Talabani

University of Birmingham

Medicine

Mohammed Ali

University of Huddersfield

Pharmacology

Daniyal Ashraf

University of Cambridge

Medicine

Hamzah Babaria

University of Liverpool

Industrial Design

Luke Bagnall

Durham University

General Engineering

Oliver Bargh

Gap Year

Lancaster University

Geography

George Baxendale

Swansea University

Computer Science

Richard Birtwhistle

Newcastle University

Geography and Planning

George Brennan

Swansea University

Geography and Geo-Informatics

Matthew Cavaliere

UCL (University College London)

Economics

Joseph Child

University of Nottingham

Classics and English

Benjamin Chowdhury

Keele University

Psychology

Edward Clarke

Newcastle University

Economics

Charles Cook

Newcastle University

Business Management

Owen Critchlow

University of Leeds

Product Design

Marcus Crompton

University of Nottingham

Classical Civilisation

Marc Crompton

Northumbria University, Newcastle Business and Management

George Croston

Keele University

Psychology

Joseph De Blainsin

Durham University

Geography

Oliver De Blainsin

Durham University

Geography

Christian Dean

Newcastle University

Environmental Science

Joe Dick

Newcastle University

Geography

Nathan Donaldson

University of Leeds

Mechatronics and Robotics

Henry Doyle

Newcastle University

Geography

Gareth Edwards-Williams

Employment – Army

Luc Eppie

Newcastle University

Biomedical Sciences

Rory Fielding

University of Leeds

Economics and History

Benjamin Fletcher

University of Edinburgh

French and Russian Studies

Cian Gallagher

Lancaster University

Politics, International Relations and Management

Junyu Gao

University of Cambridge

Engineering

James Gregson

University of Warwick

Engineering

Alfred Grundy

Durham University

Mathematics

Jack Hainey

Durham University

Law

William Hardy

University of Leeds

Fine Art

Robert Harris

Sam Barrett (Class of 2019)

Gap Year

Camran Harwood

University of Warwick

Cyber Security

Zubair Hassan

Keele University

Accounting and Finance

Nathan Hayes

University of Warwick

Computer Science

Max Hodson

Lancaster University

Business Management

Shaun Hughes-Grundy

Liverpool John Moores University

Accounting and Finance

Charles Hunt

Liverpool John Moores University

Business Management

Andrew Hurt

University of Leeds

Economics

Mohammad Hussain

Manchester Metropolitan University Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Abdur Raafay Iqbal

Newcastle University

Medicine and Surgery

Akira Jepson

Gap Year

Jake Johnson

Northumbria University, Newcastle Business and Management

Joyal Joshy

Imperial College London

Medicine

Yash Kalhan

Newcastle University

Computer Science - 2021

Aashir Khan

University of Manchester

Aerospace Engineering

Callum Kilgour

Newcastle University

Geography

Matthew Kyle

University of Hull

British Politics and Legislative Studies

Joseph Leary

Liverpool John Moores University

Quantity Surveying – 2021

James Leese-Weller

University of St Andrews

Biochemistry (MBiochem) – 2021

Min Wu Luca Liu

Lancaster University

Economics

Joe Maher

University of Warwick

Economics

Nikhil Maini

University of Liverpool

Geography

Jei Makino

University of Birmingham

Physics

Ruairi McCabe

University of Manchester

Materials Science and Engineering

Charles Mitchell

Newcastle University

History

William Morris

Loughborough University

Accounting and Financial Management

Matthew Nally

University of Liverpool

Law

Saurav Nandalan

UCL (University College London)

Economics

Ivan Ndahiro

University of York

Computer Science

Robert Nelson

University of Glasgow

Classics/Russian

Charlie Obank

University of Sunderland

Biomedical Science

Mohammed Faruk Patel

Lancaster University

Law

Tobias Richard Ramwell

University of Southampton

Oceanography

Siddharth Ranganath

University of Birmingham

Medicine

Jonathan Ratcliffe

Employment

Christopher Rhodes

Liverpool John Moores University

Business with Finance

Cameron Rose

University of Liverpool

Mechatronics and Robotic Systems

Hassan Sapra

University of Liverpool

Medicine – 2021

Oliver Shaw

University of Birmingham

History

Matvey Shchetinin

University of Birmingham

Computer Science

Jonathan Shine

Imperial College London

Medicine

Mark Simons

Nottingham Trent University

Business Management and Economics

Edward Slorick

University of Birmingham

Physics

Lewis Spencer-Ogg

University of Oxford

History

Oliver Splaine

Employment

Aden Stephenson

University of Warwick

Classical Civilisation

Guy Storey

Sheffield Hallam University

Criminology

James Syers

University of Salford

Business and Financial Management

Ben Turner

University of Birmingham

Engineering

Adam Vahed

Newcastle University

Medicine and Surgery

Lewis Warburton

University of Nottingham

History

Thomas Whitehead

Aston University, Birmingham

Chemical Engineering

Adam Whitmore

Durham University

Modern Languages and Cultures

Henry Yearsley

University of St Andrews

Medicine

Marcus Yu

University of Southampton

Aeronautics and Astronautics/Spacecraft Engineering

Adrian Zahir

University of Leeds

Computer Science (Digital & Technology Solutions)

Mohammed Zaman Ul-Haque Durham University

General Engineering

Old Boltonians’ Association 1895 - 2021

ARCHIVES

Which properties occupied the Chorley New Road site before the new School was built? Gilnow Road. Westbourne proved to be the first of many property purchases as William Lever progressively assembled the site. The west end of Westbourne had to be demolished to Beech House, 2001 make way for the construction of the Boys’ Great Hall which opened in 1928 but the remainder of the building, which was on what is now the Boys’ Quad, remained the home of the Boys’ Division until it, in turn, was demolished to make way for the Boys’ South Wing in January 1932.

Maps showing Chorley New Road, 1891

At the turn of the 20th Century there were many fine houses on Chorley New Road. They had been built to provide exclusive housing for successful businessmen who had achieved their wealth during a period when Bolton was a thriving manufacturing town. It was an attractive area, not only because of its being relatively near to the town centre, with good road and rail connections, but also because of its westerly situation. This meant that the prevailing south westerly winds carried the smoke from the mill and factory chimneys away from the area. In 1898 the Governors of the old Grammar School were seeking to buy Westbourne as their new home and William Lever (later Lord Leverhulme), who had just been co-opted as a Governor, Bolton School, c 1929 contributed generously towards the cost of buying the house and the nine acres of land behind it that stretched down to what is now

By 1902 William Lever had also purchased Hopefield, Heath Bank and Broomfield. Hopefield was on the site of the new Beech House School. It had been built in the early 1890s for William Cannon, Mayor of Bolton, 1871-1873, and he had rented it out to the former High School for Girls from 1894 until it moved to Park Road in 1898. William Lever let Hopefield to the Headmaster, Mr Lipscomb, and it remained the Headmaster’s home until he agreed to move to Tudor House in 1920, when the Girls’ Division needed Hopefield as additional teaching capacity. In later years the upper floor would house the Boys’ Middle School Library and a flat for a resident Sergeant. The downstairs became the home of the Hopefield Miniature Theatre.

Westbourne, 1922

Broomfield was then next door to Hopefield as Dobson Road had not yet been constructed. Named after Sir Benjamin Alfred Dobson, Mayor of Bolton, 18941898, Dobson Road was built in the early 1900s.

Broomfield was built around the same time as Hopefield and was the home of Robert Lord, a cotton spinner. It occupied the site of the Boys’ Division Dining Room and was subject to various leases until the Girls’ kindergarten moved there in 1915. In 1928 the kindergarten moved to Beech House and Broomfield then became the home of the Boys’ Junior School until they moved into Park Road in 1938. Next to Broomfield was Heath Bank, which comprised

Newsletter Spring 2021

two large double-fronted semi-detached houses. One was occupied for many years by John Bradshaw, a cotton spinner, the other by George Woodhouse, the architect of Bolton Town Hall, until he died in 1893. When the property became free of lease in 1902 it was let first to Mr Bruce, a master, and then to Mr JE Jones who was Second Master, having previously been Headmaster of Bolton High School for Boys before it amalgamated with Bolton Grammar School in 1897. In 1916, due to the increasing numbers in the School, it began to be used to provide extra rooms for the teaching of science and the provision of a laboratory. The first house on the other side of what is now the main School entrance drive, was a property known as The Grove. Built in the 1850s for Richard Stockdale, a linen draper, The Grove was bought by the New Lever Trustees in 1914, at the same time as they also bought Belair, Tudor House and Beech House. When the west end of Westbourne was demolished to make way for the Boys’ Great Hall, some classes were moved to The Grove. In 1928, when the remainder of Westbourne was demolished, The Grove was used for Boys’ school dinners and accommodation for mistresses. There is little reference to Belair, other than that it did become the home of Miss Meade, Headmistress, in 1920. Many years later it became the Scout Headquarters after Gilnow Lodge burnt down. The last house before Tudor Avenue was Tudor House. Built in the 1840s it was the home of George Knowles, whose family were influential in the development of the cotton industry in Bolton. After he died in 1880, his widow stayed there until her death 20 years later. It was used as a home for the Headmaster from 1920 and, like the other properties between the Central Arch and Tudor Avenue, was not demolished until the construction of the north wing in the 1960s.

King Lear Keith Nuttall (1963-1972) studied History at Cambridge University followed by a career in the Shipping and Ports industry, much of it based in the Middle East Gulf after an initial posting in Japan. As so often happens he met another Old Boltonian in the Gulf, Iain Rawlinson (19731986), and they became friends and colleagues.

The Earl of Kent with the Duke of Cornwall (Oliver Penrice) and Oswald (John Holden, Class of 1973)

Now retired near Cambridge, Keith completed a PhD in 2020 on the subject of Shipping and the Development of Dubai. In 2019 Keith met Sir Ian McKellen in Cambridge during one of Ian’s one man shows. They were able to discuss drama at Bolton School and Keith has reflected since on his own theatrical experience of King Lear in the superb production of 1972. Directed by Allan Sharples (Staff

Apart from the houses that fronted Chorley New Road, there were two properties some way back from the main road, known as Beech House and Gilnow Lodge. Beech House was built in 1869 for Ralph Haslam, the brother of William Haslam, later a distinguished Governor of the School, as was his wife Mary. It was for many years the home of the Boys’ Junior School, prior to the move to Broomfield in 1928, and then became the home for the Girls’ kindergarten Gilnow Lodge, situated behind Westbourne, was not purchased until 1938. It was owned by John Makant, a member of the family that owned the Gilnow Bleachworks, and he refused to sell when William Lever was assembling the site. The access to Gilnow Lodge was from Chorley New Road between Westbourne and The Grove and it was because this right of way had to be preserved that a central archway became an integral part of the plans for the new school. Gilnow Lodge was used as the Scout headquarters until it was destroyed by fire in 1946. If any Old Boys who read this article are descendants of the various families mentioned in this article, we would be delighted to hear from them and to learn of the nature of their connection. It is difficult to believe that there are no connections within our extensive Alumni family.

Meet the Archivist Eric Fairweather If you have a question about the School’s history or would like to donate to the Archive any photographs or artefacts from your time at School, Eric would love to hear from you. E: development@boltonschool.org

1965-74 and Old Boltonian) this was an early joint production in the Girls’ Division Theatre. It captured vividly the rage, despair, cruelty, heroism and

Kent in the stocks consoled by the Earl of Gloucester (Philip Potter, Class of 1972)

Kent with Cordelia (played on separate nights by Ann Pugsley, Class of 1972, and Angela Watt, Class of 1973)

sadness of the play. Keith played the loyal, intelligent and robust Earl of Kent. We are delighted that he was able to send us some photographs.

Old Boltonians’ Association 1895 - 2021

Looking Back ht home the Town Bolton School broug ld) Cup in 2006 – Fie and Athletics (Track mas (2001-2008) rist thank you to Jonny Ch oto. for sending in this ph ood, Dave Jones, Back, L-R: Glenn Holmw s legg, Jonny Christma Liam Horne, Michael C lph,  Re Oli , son dg Ho dy  Front, L-R: An i ate, Anindyo Goswam Michael Kenny, Will B (all Class of 2008) s lmwood and Christma Kenny, Goswami, Ho – day t tha ord rec 00m broke the School 4x1 , nds today! In addition a record which still sta le Trip the n wo gg Cle Kenny won the 100m, Javelin, Horne won the Jump, Bate won the n the high jump. wo Discus and Relph

David Jenner (1953-196 0) sent in this super action shot of an U14 House match between Chorl ey (white) and Blackburn (black and white): Back left: Eddie Hasla m; far right: Charles Harrison; go alkeeper: Martin Ward; defende r: Steve Ashcroft; attacker: Dave Jenner

Thank you to Tim Taylor (1964-1979 ) for this photo of his grandfather, Ho race Wilfred Taylor (c entre), captaining the 1913-14 team – Ho race’s brother Be n (Tim’s great uncle ) is to his left

Roger also se nt in this photo of the legendar y Clifford Ingh am

Paul Shaw (1959-1964) sent in these photos of The Invictors R’n’B group in which he played along with fellow pupils Eric Lever, Jim Lowe and Stuart Whittle – the group was commercially very successful from 1963 to 1965 and performed all over the North West on the ‘club’ scene at that time, also playing at a couple of dances in the Great Hall

waii 2005 Water Polo Trip to Ha

Thank you to Sim on Baker (1987-19 93) for sending in th is photo of the 1991 Water Polo Team

Roger Dobson (1957-1966) sent in this photo of FR Poskitt in his study with Roger (School Captain) and Ian Collins (Vice-Captain), 1966

Muhammad Dawud, the parent of a prospective pupil, sent in this photo of his father, Old Boy (Edward) Brian Kipling (19431948) who went on to serve for 27 years in the Royal Navy

Don’t forget to take a look at the ‘Scenes from the Past’ page of the School website, which we regularly update with new Archive photos: www.boltonschool.org. You can also share your own archive photos on the Bolton Alumni Network: www.boltonalumninetwork.com.

Newsletter Spring 2021

LIVES REMEMBERED Geoffrey James Bain (Class of 1948) Geoff, as he was known by all who knew him, was the only son of James and Mabel Bain (née Pride). He also had two sisters: one who died as a child and Brenda who attended Bolton School Girls’ Division. Their father worked on the railway rolling stock and their mother taught piano. Both James and Mabel were talented musicians and Geoff acquired this skill, playing both piano and cello. Although having suffered ill health as a child and being educated at home by his mother until he was eight, Geoff succeeded in winning a scholarship to Bolton School Boys’ Division. Both Geoff and his sister excelled at languages, with Geoff reading French and German at Bristol University. As part of his course he studied at The Sorbonne and spent time living and working in Paris. He formed a lifelong connection with the family with which he resided there. Once qualified as a teacher he obtained a post at Brockenhurst Grammar School where he was to spend his entire professional life. When the school became a college of Higher Education Geoff ran part of the establishment whilst it was transferring to another site and subsequently became a Senior Tutor, being responsible for admissions, pastoral care and university applications. He ran youth clubs, played in the staff orchestra, and arranged countless educational cruises and trips to Paris. Needless to say, these involved many interesting and amusing stories! Not long after arriving at Brockenhurst in 1956 Geoff met Valerie, the Headmaster’s secretary, and within three months they were married! Their marriage lasted 64 years and saw the birth of Rebecca in 1961 and Philip in 1964, with four grandchildren following in later years, resulting in many happy family holidays. During their retirement Geoff and Valerie spent considerable time visiting Rebecca when she lived in other parts of the UK and Philip who lived and continues to do so in Jersey. They also enjoyed many cruises, being keen travellers. Geoff was an intellectual man with an extensive knowledge of

many subjects which never ceased to amaze his family. He also remained a lifelong supporter of Bolton Wanderers, throughout good times and bad! Philip is also a football fan and in 2019 he, one of his daughters and her boyfriend and Geoff managed to combine attending a Premier League match with a visit to Bolton School. All who met Geoff spoke of his enthusiasm for life and his willingness to help others. He celebrated his 90th birthday in Jersey surrounded by his family and the many friends he had made in Jersey over the years. Geoff was lucky to have had a long and fulfilled retirement, spending significant time with his family. Although he suffered some health problems, as is inevitable with age, he kept truly young in mind, body and spirit until only the last few weeks of his life. He will leave a large void in family life and will be greatly missed. Rebecca Callow (née Bain) Dr Robert Blackburn (1948-1958) Robert Edward Blackburn, who has died aged 80, came from Chorley (as did many Bolton School boys and girls) where his father was Borough Librarian, and his mother a wellknown local Infants’ Headmistress. Robert recalled Richard Poskitt, Headmaster from 1933 to 1966, with admiration, and as a great humanitarian. He also had good memories of Frank Green (1900-1963, English), Ken Haigh (1922-1964, French) and Ronald Booth (1917-1977, English). David Curnow (1926-2004) was the master whose charisma and approach to literature had the greatest influence on his generation. Robert became well known at the School as a classical pianist, playing every year on Speech Days and later in School concerts. In the Sixth Form he ran the Poetry Society and the Philharmonic Society, and was a keen member of the Literary and Debating Society. He attended Stratford Camp from 1955 to 1958, regarding it as one of the School’s most inspired outdoor educational ideas, instilling in him a lifelong love of live theatre. Robert went up to Queen’s College, Oxford, in 1958 on a Modern History Open Scholarship. After Oxford, he took a

Bachelor of Music degree at Manchester University, which was where he met his first wife, Barbara. His first post in 1964 was on the Music Staff at Repton School in south Derbyshire, and in 1968 he and Barbara moved to Durham, where he became Senior Lecturer in Music at the College of St Hild and St Bede. They lived in the village of Witton Gilbert outside the City of Durham, and had two daughters, Melissa and Donna. While in Durham, Robert completed a PhD in early 20th Century German and Austrian opera. In 1980-81 in a sabbatical year, he took a Master’s degree, again at Manchester University, in Comparative Literature Studies – a year he always said was perhaps his most enjoyable purely academic experience. Robert taught part-time for the Open University from 1970 to 1980 in the North East, and again in the Bristol region between 1986 and 1991. Happily, in the spring of 1981, he was appointed Head of Department in Music at Bath College of Higher Education, which later became Bath Spa University. Robert became Assistant Dean (Research) of the new Faculty of Arts and Music from 1984, and retired in 2003. He was a passionate and knowledgeable teacher, particularly around 18th, 19th and 20th century music history and interrelated arts and literature. A generation of Bath music students knew him affectionately as ‘Dr Bob’. Robert’s first marriage came to an amicable end, and in 2003 he met Isabel Love and they married the following year, just after his retirement. Retirement did not slow Robert down; he became a voluntary Convenor for Literature and Humanities at the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution in 2008 and between 2010 and 2019 he organised five symposia on the historical arts. Robert and Isabel travelled widely, and on moving to Chippenham in 2008 became deeply involved in the Chippenham Civic Society and the Wiltshire Victoria County History Trust. They became grandparents to Cassian in 2007, Cora in 2010 and Jonah in 2011 and the children were delighted to have not two, but three grannies as they grew up. Robert was incredibly lucky to have the loving support of Isabel through his final years and last illness – theirs was a deep and lasting love. He was an incredibly knowledgeable, thoughtful and

Old Boltonians’ Association 1895 - 2021

kind man all his life, and his devotion to music, literature and the arts has been passed down the generations through his students and children. Melissa Blackburn Being four years younger than RB I never knew him personally at School. However, from my entry at 11 I found myself profoundly, if childishly, impressed by the academic of distinction of those at or towards the top of the School. In a piece that I wrote for the School’s quincentary volume I recalled “Speech Day, when to the accompaniment of the applause of almost a thousand, certain unusually gifted individuals ... would receive multiple prizes for achievement, heralding in some cases – as it turned out – future distinction in academic life: their names are in my memory, almost like a brief litany, and I can still l see some of them in my mind’s eye making their way back and forth ...” RB was one of these individuals; and, being a bookish boy from a bookless background, I also noted that his father was Chorley’s Librarian. I still have the Speech Day brochure from 1958 in which RB’s name and his Award are listed. Some sixty years later I received an email from RB, who had read the piece referred to, requesting memories of David Curnow; in it he adumbrated his career and certain of his interests, and invited me to Chippenham whenever I might be able to visit. A desultory but warm correspondence ensued, until in 2018, I visited him and Isabel twice, and thus met the man whom I had, oddly, never forgotten since boyhood. I found him to be quietly captivating; diffident and undemonstrative yet magnetic; courteous, gentle and empathetic; yet acutely perceptive, with a formidable intellect and what seems to me an almost preternatural power of memory and recall: his vast memoir, of which I have had only a glimpse, is testimony to this last. On whatever subject he spoke, his quiet words were lucid, informative and somehow conveyed an enthusiasm which remained, as it were, balanced by a unobtrusive delicacy: he could be, I am certain, a charismatic and inspiring teacher. When he stood in his library speaking on his poetry choices, he held his hands clasped before him in a position remarkably reminiscent of that of in images of the Curé d’Ars. He also played certain pieces for me on the piano, all of which are now

imprinted on my memory and will always be associated with him: and, at my request, two pieces (a late Brahms and a Rachmaninov, the scores for which were of course on his shelf), fulfilling for me, in so doing, a wishful dream of decades. He had informed me, at our first meeting, of his illness – and, although RB did not share my faith, he expressed gratitude for my priestly prayers on his behalf. Our second and final meeting was bittersweet, and inevitably valedictory; but prayers were answered in the manner and circumstances of his passing: the blessing of the classic ‘good death’. Meeting RB again was a bright, brief, but unforgettable gift in the autumn of my own life, for which I am grateful. A Douglas Brear (1954-1962) Alan Victor Cooper (1952-1960) I first met Alan in 1954 – we were together in 3 Alpha and remained friends till his sad demise in January 2021. Alan was active in School: he was secretary of the Junior Literary and Debating Society and captained the School chess team. Afterwards he became a keen squash and tennis player. Later he married June and they happily settled down to a pleasant life near Henley-on-Thames surrounded by June’s beautiful garden flowers and trees. After School he graduated successfully in chemistry from the University of St Andrews and, typically, before joining ICI as a patents officer – a profession to which he dedicated his career – trained as a teacher to make sure he would always be in work! This was Alan to a T. When retirement came, rather than donning slippers, he continued at ICI, joined a local trademark office and did a four-year Diploma in Counselling! But hard as he worked Alan was above all a kindly and hospitable man. That was probably best illustrated by his brother-in-law, Clive, who came to live near them. Out of the blue Clive turned to me, as Alan left us, and asked ‘Have you ever met a better man? Have you?’ This was a surprise from someone I only occasionally met – but reflected by everyone who knew Alan. My own children all loved Alan’s wry and gentle humour and often recounted to me the story of being taken by Uncle Alan to see Arsenal play Manchester United. They hadn’t bought tickets and the ground

was full. Instead of traipsing back home Alan took them immediately on a long journey on the Underground to Crystal Palace where they arrived in time to watch the second half of Palace versus Grimsby Town – a visit the two young lads thought was a treat, especially as the ground let them in for free! Alan also kept in touch with his Schoolmates. In 1957 the 5 Alpha class agreed we should meet again, and we did. We met sporadically at first, but over the last nearly 20 years some 19 of 5 Alpha have met annually for a few days together. From Sweden, Scotland, France, Canada, Australia and the USA colleagues returned and they and their wives have become genuine friends. Alan and June were a valued part of the group from the start. Whether at chateaux or in open boats, at sumptuous hotels or tobacco barn picnics, on long walks or festive evenings, Alan was always ready to participate in his quiet smiling way. When we lose someone close we are diminished. I, like his friends and family, remember Alan for his generosity and his friendship. May he rest in peace. MP Sylvester (1953-1961) Dennis Crompton (Boys’ Division Staff, 1991-1993) When we needed some temporary experienced help in the English Department, Dennis Crompton was the obvious person to contact and we were very glad when he agreed to join us. A former pupil of Rivington and Blackrod Grammar School, Dennis read English at Pembroke College, Cambridge, following National Service, and began his teaching career at Bolton County Grammar School followed by appointment as Head of English at Farnworth Grammar School and later Little Lever High School. He was active amongst English teachers locally and a prominent member of the Bolton Little Theatre, where he continued to develop skills in acting and direction. Widely read, he combined scholarship with humour and sympathetic understanding, contributing from his wide experience to the conversations of the English Department and the achievements of his classes at all levels. Dennis came to us a second time and directed The Merchant of Venice, one of the School’s finest Shakespeare productions, illuminating the setting, the humour, the relationships and the tensions which the cast memorably presented. The issues in the play absorbed him and he was always ready to discuss these and other moral questions. He accompanied a number of our theatre trips and it was

Newsletter Spring 2021

always fascinating to hear his comments on presentation and details of direction. In retirement he continued his study of Modern Greek, acquiring more than conversational competence, and established a reputation as a writer of dramatic monologues for historical characters. These were carefully researched, skilfully arranged and presented at various venues, initially at Astley Hall, by a friend, a professional actor. They were the work of a serious and engaging spirit, a spirit fostered and experienced through membership of the Unitarian Church in which his wife, Judith, had an international role. To Judith and his family we offer our sympathy on the loss of a lifelong partner and a loving father. Charles Winder (Boys’ Division Staff, 19641999) Mike Glover (Boys’ Division Staff, 1992-1997) Before coaching at School Mike was Deputy Head at Plant Hill School and led them to both ASA and ESSA titles at U16, but his masterminding of Bolton School’s first U18 title was a proud moment for him as he announced ‘We are now the best School Team’. Mike truly was the ‘guiding light’ that took Bolton School Water Polo to National and International recognition. He may have retired but he remained an ever present and all coaches and players waited for the summons – “a quiet word”. ASA President in Athens Olympic Year, Mike’s connections allowed staff, pupils and parents to participate in Olympics, European and Commonwealth Games. (his President’s Blazer hangs in the Dining Hall) Mike passionately believed in friendship through sport hence the large part played by touring teams home and abroad. I first met Mike Glover after being ‘asked’ by Trevor Pledger at thirteen years old to try out for the water polo team after seemingly demonstrating, during a regular swimming lesson, ‘strong legs’ although at the time I wasn’t sure exactly what I was letting myself in for. Mike had been brought in by Trevor Pledger earlier that year, in what must now surely be considered the most shrewd appointment ever connected with Bolton School Water Polo, as his arrival signalled the start of local and national success on a level that had not been previously experienced and has since been maintained by following coaches for over thirty years.

My recollection of meeting Mike for the first time (as a thirteen year old) is that it was a daunting experience due to his stature and this was not immediately dispelled by his tendency to use the ‘icy stare look’ through his glasses which was aimed to leave you in no doubt as to when perhaps you hadn’t met his expectations! It soon became apparent however that although Mike was a hard taskmaster, and demanded the best out of his players, he was also quick to praise with his dry sense of humor and reward success when it was earned. He was always there for players to approach and talk to and was fiercely loyal to his players , defending them against any perceived injustice by referees and selectors for representative teams, turning that by now famous icy glare upon them ! It is now over thirty years since I first met Mike and until the time of his passing, it was not unusual to see him on the poolside at tournaments and junior training , even when his health was sadly deteriorating which goes to show his love for the sport and his interest in seeing people ( not players) achieve the best and highest standards possible. Mike was the Great Britain team coach for a period, Northern Counties president, member of the Great Britain Water Polo committee and was instrumental in establishing a national league team in Manchester (which has since gone from strength to strength) showing that his Midas touch within water polo was not purely confined to the success at the school Mike will be sorely missed by all those that knew him. RIP. Simon Baker (Class of 1993) Reflecting now, our school water polo journey with Mike was about more than simply the challenge of the sport, it was a true lesson in life. Everyone who had the good fortune of being coached and mentored by him will agree that they took more from the time spent with him than just a deeper appreciation and enjoyment of the sport. The little things probably stick in the memory more than the trophies and medals accumulated over the years: • the smell of a vat of black coffee wafting from poolside through the changing room before every training session; •

the offer of assistance to alleviate calf cramps mid swim set, often all that was required to motivate us back on our way;

•

words of encouragement were never far away, individual performances often likened to a ‘geriatric jellyfish’ or the ‘chocolate fireguard’;

• an unparalleled passion, enthusiasm and commitment for the sport that he shared with every one of us. His legacy stretches beyond the achievements hanging on the corridor outside the school pool. In addition to coaching, he was just as energetic when acting as an ambassador for sport nationally and internationally, bringing opportunities to define Manchester as the UK focal point for water polo in process. The success of the City of Manchester Water Polo Club is entirely of his making and many current and former pupils, from both sides of the centre quad, have continued to enjoy the sport at a national and international level through this pathway. There is no doubt that this link will continue for years to come. Michael Duddle (Class of 2000) Mike’s wife, Julie, in partnership with City of Manchester Water Polo Club, has set up The Mike Glover Fund in his memory. Mike was passionate about water polo and about young people having the opportunity to get to the highest level in the sport, regardless of their financial situation. Unfortunately, as water polo is a minority sport, players (or players’ parents) are expected to contribute financially to compete at regional, national, and international, level. Similarly the cost of coaching courses can be prohibitive as there is not the scope for employment as there is in swimming, teaching and coaching, but without new coaches the sport cannot continue to progress. Mike was a coach for over 40 years and got as much pleasure from coaching a group of young people new to the sport as he did from coaching the Great Britain Junior and Senior Men’s teams – probably more so, in fact. If anyone would like to contribute to The Mike Glover Fund, please contact the Development Office. John Entwistle Greenhalgh (1940-1947) Born 30th April 1929, John was the son of John Greenhalgh, who was a cinema manager and director. The family home was at 148 Church Road, Bolton, and prior to entering Bolton School, John was educated at Church Road Council School. His father signed an agreement that John would stay at School until the end of the school year in which he attained the age of 16 years, ‘unless his removal is approved by the

Old Boltonians’ Association 1895 - 2021

Governors on the ground so departure from this district, transfer to another school or other sufficient reason, in the event of his withdrawal before the above period expires, unless exempted as before mentioned, I undertake to pay the Governors the equivalent of a year’s fees, viz. £24 0s 0d’. However, he received a Bolton Education Committee scholarship and so was exempt from paying fees for the duration of his School life. John was very active in the life of the School, being particularly prominent in games. In his first sports day, in Summer 1941, he won the 220 yards race for his year group in 32 seconds. Cricket and football, were, however, his favourite sports – he represented Blackburn House in each and is remembered as an excellent footballer and cricketer by his contemporary and team-mate Jim Speak (1941-1948). He was awarded his Junior Cricket Colours in 1943 and went on to become a member of the School Cricket First XI between 1944 and 1947. He was awarded First Team Colours in Cricket in 1945. He was the Junior Football Captain in 1942 and progressed through to the Second XI in 1943 before becoming a member of the First XI in 1945, remaining a member of that team until he left School. Sport remained his abiding passion and he continued to play cricket for Heaton, Egerton and Edgworth clubs in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. In his School Certificate in 1945 John obtained A (Very Good) Standard in English Literature, History and Geography, and Credits in three subjects, including French. In his Higher School Certificate he reached Good Standard in History and Geography. Outside the classroom he supported the International Study Group, the Geographical Society and the Swing Music Group. After School John went to Manchester University (where he played for the First XI) and obtained a degree in Commerce. He later spent a year on the staff of the Bolton Standard newspaper, before moving to Burroughs Adding Machine Limited in 1954. In the 1960s he turned to teaching, becoming a director of the Examination Board based in Eccles, and retiring in 1990. John married Joan (née Smith) in 1953. Theirs was a long and happy marriage, with two children and seven grandchildren. Joan passed away on 9th February 2020. John died on 1st September 2020. He is survived by his children, Kay and Paul, and seven grandsons. Kay lives in Israel and is multi-lingual and has four sons, Jack, Daniel, John and Samuel, all of whom are very competent sportsmen,

with swimming being one particular area of accomplishment. Paul is a Chartered Surveyor, living in Bolton. He has three sons, Samuel, Josef and Jacob, again, all of whom are very good at sport, with football and golf being their areas of success. Colin Fletcher (1945-1953) Peter Gordon Ion (1973-1980) Peter died unexpectedly at his home in the Yukon in August after a morning walk in the forest with his partner Mie. Peter first moved to his future adopted homeland Canada in the 1980s to study geography at Edmonton University and developed a keen interest in ice hockey, photography and the great outdoors, taking every opportunity to camp out in the Rockies and dodge Grizzlies in the Yukon. His infamous MSc dissertation required a summer-long forensic study of the influence of the insectivorous nose-bot on the migratory habits of the caribou, a heady sequel to his BSc thesis on the glacial valleys of the Lake District, always one of his favourite parts of the world. He possessed a deep, engrained environmental and social conscience, which saw him volunteer his services for humanitarian food missions to Bosnia in the early 1990s. He also had a keen wit and, in addition to instilling in me a rote knowledge of Monty Python sketches over many summer holidays, developed pitchperfect impressions of several teachers, notably Derrick Shaw, Harry Jackson and Alan Prince. He also opened my eyes to the world of cinema via Robin Mathieson’s Film Society, which introduced me to Mel Brooks (the High Anxiety and Young Frankenstein screenings still stick in my memory), early Steven Spielberg (Duel) and, truth be known, the occasional eyeopening X-rated offering. After departing Bolton, he spent three years at Birmingham University and, on later returning from Edmonton, embarked on an MBA at Nottingham to broaden his business skills, which led to technical and sales roles with the Campbell Scientific instrumentation company. The pull of Canada could not be ignored, however, and he finally emigrated in the mid-90s. He ultimately developed a successful and diverse career in environmental journalism, worked with the Canadian census office, crewed the filming of the Yukon Vet TV series and authored a mystery novel (as yet unpublished). After

15 years’ living in Vancouver, he moved to the Yukon town of Whitehorse with Mie in search of the quiet life, although this was soon followed by a move from ‘bustling’ mid-town to the even more peaceful, bear-infested outskirts. Peter craved the simple pleasures and was happiest out camping/walking with Mie and his dog Sola, photographing the magnificent landscape and knocking up his trademark ‘huevos rancheros’ breakfast. Peter’s sudden passing was a deep loss to parents Gordon and Muriel and brothers John (1971-1978) and Andy, all now resident in Perth, Australia. His last visit in 2016 coincided with our parents’ 60th wedding anniversary, although the bulk of the trip was (not unexpectedly) spent in a campervan exploring the frontiers of the West Australian outback! Andy Ion (1978-1985) Kenneth Lee (1935-1940) After attending Church Road School, Ken followed in the footsteps of his older brother, Alan, to join Bolton School in 1935. He excelled at maths and enjoyed football and cricket, playing both sports for his house team. He always looked back on his time at School with fond memories. Ken left School aged 16 to start accountancy training as an articled clerk with local firm, Horrocks and Hanscomb. His career plans were interrupted by his call up to the army in March 1943. He trained as a gunner, wireless operator and driver, sailing to Naples in January 1944 in the first direct convoy from the UK to mainland Europe. Ken joined the 44th Reconnaissance Regiment, part of the 56th British Infantry Division, seeing action at Monte Casino and fierce fighting along the Gothic line at Gemmano ridge and the River Senio in North-eastern Italy, to finish the war at Venice. He spent two years peacekeeping in Palestine and North Africa before returning to Bolton in Spring 1947 to complete his training and qualify as a chartered accountant. He met Dorothy (née Balshaw, Girls’ Division 1941-1946) in 1948 and they married in 1953. They went on to have three children – Jane, and twins Anne and Elaine, who all attended Bolton School. Ken’s first job was as company accountant and secretary for Markland Scowcroft. He left in 1975 to start up and successfully manage two specialist engineering companies, Lancashire Tube Stockholders

Newsletter Spring 2021

and Pipe and Tube Supplies, remaining as managing director until his retirement. Ken enjoyed playing golf at Turton Golf Club and Bolton Golf Club, captaining at Turton in 1976. He was a founding member of Horwich Probus Club and was involved with the Old Boys’ Association as well as at Christ Church in Heaton. In later years he enjoyed attending Old Boys’ lunches and taking ‘Tea at the Riley’, where he and his friends were served tea by Bolton School students, including his grandchildren and their peers. Always very fit, he loved travel and the outdoors, especially walking in the Lake District and Scotland. Well into his 70s, he inspired everyone with his adventurous spirit, traversing the Cullin Ridge on Skye and sledging down Great Gable in the winter! His love of the outdoors was shared by all his family who regularly joined in on his adventures. Ken was a true gentleman; unassuming, fiercely loyal, compassionate and incredibly generous and supportive to family, friends, and local charities. His good humour, sharp wit, and quiet, gentle faith sustained him until his death, peacefully at home in January. He credited his Bolton School education with providing skills and developing attributes to give him the best start in life. He was immensely proud to witness his three grandchildren, Paul, Sarah, and Rachel, also attend Bolton School as he himself did all those years ago. It was very special to him to be the first of three generations to enjoy and benefit from such an education. He was dearly loved and will be sincerely missed. Elaine Greenhalgh (née Lee, 1974-1981) Stephen Ramsden (1956-1963)

L-R: Steve, Alan Hurst, John Shuttleworth and Glenn Sutton 1956-1963 at their last (pre-Covid-19) get-together last February

Steve entered Shell A2 in September 1956. Throughout his seven years at School, he was a keen student, footballer and cricketer; he was also an accomplished, lunchtime ‘tiddlywinker’ (simple pleasures in those days!). Perhaps foremost among his pleasures and memories, however, was his participation in many of the Trek

Camps and New Year Hikes organised, and led, by our indomitable Classics Master, CH Ingham.

passing after a period of ill health represents a massive loss to those who did get to know him well.

After completing his final term in History VI A, Steve left School in 1963, having been awarded an Exhibition to read History at Selwyn College, Cambridge. Throughout his time there, he was a regular player for the College cricket team.

Peter Labbett (1962-1968)

After leaving Cambridge, Steve pursued a career in town planning, working for Bedfordshire, Lancashire and Greater Manchester County Councils. Thereafter, he spent several years on a number of consultancy projects. He never lost his lifelong love of cricket and, after returning to Bolton, played, for many years, for Bradshaw Cricket Club and for ‘Outcasts’, a team originally established among his Greater Manchester colleagues. In later years, Steve was very much a stalwart of the Bolton Quiz League and was, indeed, a winner of its ‘Mastermind’ competition. Steve died – peacefully, but sadly after a spell of declining health – on 12th October 2020. Amongst the mourners at his funeral were John Shuttleworth, David Woods and Glenn Sutton (all 1956-1963) and Alan Hurst (1955-1963) – firm friends of Steve for more than 60 years, who will miss him greatly. Glenn Sutton (1956-1963) Although I did not know Steve from shared time at School, I got to know him well in later life from a shared love of sport, in particular cricket. We were both involved in social teams always keen to exploit the friendships and camaraderie afforded by sport. Steve was a very proud Old Boltonian who was always an absolute credit to his upbringing in that environment in terms of his generosity, kindness, and willingness to go the extra mile for others. Our regular summer engagements brought about through cricket were always experiences to enjoy and to re-engage in valued friendships. In 2016 our respective teams were allowed the privilege to play matches on the First XI pitch at School, and that opportunity gave Steve immense pleasure and pride as it was an ambition not fulfilled during his time at School. Our fixture also afforded us the opportunity to raise a small donation for the School Bursary Fund which was another source of pride for Steve. In life, Steve was a very private man, outside of his sporting activities, but within his world of sport he was immensely liked and respected. His

Keith Scholes (1954-1961) Keith was born in 1942 in Bolton. The eldest son of Fred and Mary, he was big brother to Kevan, Heather and Janet. Keith went to Bolton School in 1954 where he was successful in most subjects, but was guided along a scienceled path in order to study for medicine. Keith was a bookworm and not an outdoor type like Kevan and Heather – so much so that, approaching university application, his form master said his CV looked weak and he needed to take up some hobbies or sports. So he started fishing (although apparently only in places without fish), then ballroom dancing and eventually hockey – which turned out to be a success. Memorably, he auditioned for the Bolton School play, securing the much coveted role of spear carrier to Ian McKellen’s Henry V – with a photo to prove it. In 1961 he entered Sheffield University Medical School where he made longlasting friendships. After graduating he completed his house jobs, one of them in dermatology which remained an abiding interest throughout his life. Keith and I met at a Student Union dance in 1965. I have happy memories of concerts we attended at the City Hall in Sheffield where the Hallé orchestra regularly visited with their conductor John Barbirolli. Most memorable was hearing Jacqueline Du Pré playing Elgar’s Cello Concerto. We married in 1967 and in 1968 moved to Swindon where Keith began general practice at the Milton Road Health Centre with Reggie Raynes, Brian Pearce and Harry Barnard. A while later Dave Wooller, who along with Keith, John Harris and Dick Couch was one of ‘the Sheffield group of four’, joined the practice, and when it moved to Carfax Street and became the Whalebridge Practice, Alison Macintyre also joined followed by others. Early in 1969, on impulse during his dinner hour, Keith looked in an estate agents window and saw two houses we might visit with a view to buying. The second one Keith thought sounded ‘a bit run down’ and ‘a bit far from Swindon’ in a place called Hannington, but we went to see it anyway and that was that. We’ve lived in Rose Cottage, Hannington, ever since, except for the last year when Keith’s illness required him to have more care. I’m

Old Boltonians’ Association 1895 - 2021

sure he still lives on in his beloved garden. Our daughters, Lara and Hannah, were brought up in Rose Cottage until they flew the nest: Lara to Scotland with Alasdair and Hannah to Spain with Carlos. Keith took great delight in them and our lovely grandchildren – Ella, Rebecca, and Angus; Robin, Samuel and Renee, and he looked forward so much to their visits to Rose Cottage as well as our journeys by plane and car to stay with them.

referred to himself as ‘a pillock of society’.

Around the age of 35 Keith applied for and took up the post of Hospital Practitioner in the dermatology department of Princess Margaret Hospital, working alongside Ken Crow, Julia Ellis and later Lindsay Whitham from all of whom he learnt a tremendous amount. Rashes, boils and blisters were Keith’s delight! He was always learning and also loved to share his knowledge through teaching. He was involved in many skin forums as well as hosting lunch time sessions for Swindon GPs.

During these last seven years we both were greatly helped by family, friends and carers so that Keith could live as full a life as possible. Latterly he needed much more specialised attention sympathetic to his needs. He was surrounded by kindness, affection, and tender care from the staff at Wemyss Lodge Nursing Home and at the end of life I was able to be with him much of the time.

He retired from general practice when he was 60, continuing with part-time dermatology sessions until he was 67. During his career he enjoyed good relationships with his colleagues, many of whom became friends, as well as having an abiding interest in his patients and their families. By nature gregarious with a great sense of humour, he readily made friends. During his part-time retirement he pursued his hobbies of golf, reading and crosswords, and listening to music. All types of music appealed to Keith, but his particular passion was opera. His garden was his joy and he could be found poring through huge gardening catalogues and encyclopaedias. His birthday and Christmas gifts were inevitably enormous books on gardening, opera or classical music. He was a good cook and we very much enjoyed entertaining friends together. He liked travelling, particularly in Europe, and the walking holidays we shared with friends. No-one could fail to be impressed by his command of menu-speak in a range of European languages! Following a term as a parish councillor he was adopted onto the Freke Norton Trust in Hannington village, helping to administer and allocate financial support for local projects, particularly supporting young people, a role that spanned 33 years. His interest in gardening led to him being instrumental in resurrecting the Village Produce Show and latterly being part of the Gardens Open Scheme. Such was his community involvement that Keith

Sadly his retirement years were cut short by the onset of Alzheimer’s disease diagnosed before his 70th birthday. However, although severely challenged by this major set-back in his life, he still had activities which he enjoyed – particularly walking with the Forget Me Not group and Singing for the Brain where he managed to discover a powerful baritone voice – not heard by us before!

Ruth Scholes Dr Roy Stark (1934-1941) Roy thoroughly enjoyed his time at Bolton School, and often spoke of it with great fondness, especially enjoying all the sporting activities on offer. He left in September 1941 to start his studies at Manchester Medical School, but quickly joined the University Air Squadron, and was automatically transferred into the RAF the following year. He was keen to follow in the footsteps of his older brother Lawrence, affectionately known as ‘Pinkie’, who had a distinguished war record as a pilot (609 Squadron). Roy continued his pilot training in South Africa, Egypt and India before serving in Burma in 615 Squadron, where he flew Spitfires. In 1947 he returned to his medical studies, going to the University of St Andrews, where he was also able to partake in his love of golf. His first medical appointment was at York County Hospital, where he met his future wife, Joan, a nurse, and they went on to have two children, Jane and Stuart. In 1956 he rejoined the RAF, and specialised in orthopaedics. His overseas tours included time in Aden in 1967, where he gained experience in dealing with numerous trauma patients during the conflict. He left the Air Force in 1969, returning to York, where he worked as an orthopaedic surgeon, and a part-time local GP. Roy was a kind, gentle and humorous man, much loved by his family, friends and patients. Jane Wilson (née Stark)

Gerard AM Stevens (1944-1955) Gerard Stevens was born on 25th March 1936 at an historic time in the international and domestic affairs of the country. Stanley Baldwin was Prime Minister, the Rhineland had just been reoccupied by German troops and Edward VIII abdicated later that year. One of my earliest memories was of us walking the mile to our village school in Wadhurst, Sussex, during WW2 with our gas masks packed in cardboard boxes and suspended from our necks with string. Vapour trails of warplanes, mainly ‘ours’, criss-crossed the skies above us and at night the throbbing of Merlin engines of bombers heading south lulled us to sleep. Together, in June 1944, we watched the first few doodlebugs chuntering overhead towards London. One expired in our village to much local excitement. We practised scrambling into the Morrison shelter in the school hall that, supposedly, would protect us from a direct hit. I am not sure whether it was the frequent V1s or the garrulous GIs encamped in all the local copses that drove us up North to sooty Bolton in Lancashire, but from late 1944 onwards we became northerners not southerners – and loyal supporters of BWFC. Gerard was the eldest son of Percy Stevens who was Director of Music at Bolton School from 1944 to 1967. Our father, known to many Old Boys as PASS, did his sons no favours by continuing the custom of giving males of the Stevens tribe three initials; at least this gave his sons some distinctiveness in their school careers. Thus Gerard was GAMS, I was MFGS and younger brother Howard (HNES); our sisters Fiona (FMS) and Moira (MCS), who attended the Girls’ Division, were fortunate to be identified by only two initials. School priorities of the boys of the Stevens ‘dynasty’ at Bolton School were driven by three imperatives: sports, music (of course), with scholarly effort a poor third. Gerard devoted himself to the lonely activity of splashing up and down the old swimming pool and held several of the School records at free-style and backstroke. His chosen musical instrument was the oboe. It is a feature of that treacherous pipe that any amount of eyebulging blowing down the reed at the top end is not necessarily rewarded by sweet sounds coming out the nether end. Other members of the Stevens family wind band – Malcolm (clarinet), Howard (French horn), Fiona (flute) and Moira (trumpet) – produced more ear-friendly dulcet tones. Gerard’s solos at School concerts often had fellow players on the edge of their

Newsletter Spring 2021

seats. From his mid-school years Gerard began to diverge socially Gerard at Sports Day, c 1955, with Mr HV ‘Bill’ Brooks in the from his foreground and Mr Poskitt in brothers the background and keep himself rather privately to himself, although he did keep in touch with our parents and sisters. Not for him were adventures in the cubs and scouts. In the academic sphere Gerard did achieve great scholarly distinction by holding the School all-comers record for the number of attempts – six, or was it seven? – to try to conquer O Level Latin which, in those days, was a requirement for entry into Oxbridge! He outsmarted the academics at Manchester University by taking many years to graduate in engineering and acquire a teaching qualification, so enabling him to continue to enter national swimming championships as a student. He seemed to be spending more time swimming competitively than at home in Bolton, or studying in Manchester. As kids we did all adore our camping holidays in the incessant rain at Trearddur Bay, Angelsey, where Porth-y-Garon (Rocky Bay to us all) became ‘ours’ over long school holidays. Sometimes we camped with Bill Brooks’s family. We all loved the sound of rain on the tent roof, the smells of the musty canvas and primus stove cooking mushrooms garnered from the fields and the reading by Ena, our mother, from The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame when we were tucked into our sleeping bags. We fished together from the rocks and occasionally caught something small and inedible, but most of the time Gerard paddled his own self-built canoe around the inlets of the Bay. Thereafter Gerard disappeared off my radar for some decades and I have no idea of the trajectory of his career teaching mechanical engineering at Plymouth Polytechnic. He married his wife, Pauline, in 1967. His two daughters, Fiona and Jane, both attended Christ’s Hospital School in West Sussex and had high-flying careers in aeronautical (helicopter) engineering and international law, respectively. We did occasionally meet up on family camping holidays, in the rain usually, in Pembrokeshire, but Gerard was never happier than visiting far-flung parts of the country in his touring caravan with his faithful Airedale dog. Then, surprisingly, in recent years he returned to the family fold and regularly phoned up to enquire of my health. Was the replacement

knee successful? Is the new hip working well? When are you going to have a hair transplant? He was equally concerned about the well-being of our siblings, but always bent our ears about some recent invention he had made which, rather inconveniently, didn’t obey the laws of physics. (An aside: I blame my present bionic state on taking innumerable goal kicks of heavy leather balls on the boggy playing fields of Bolton School. Can I sue? I should have stuck to swimming, like Gerard.) Sadly, my last encounter with Gerard was the long ’phone conversation we exchanged only six weeks before his death in December 2020, when he was, supposedly, in the throes of dementia. He was able to recall, vividly, our walks to school in war-time Wadhurst; the overflying doodlebugs; camping in the rain at Trearddur Bay; his canoe and catching shrimps, wrasse and pollack; and uneven performances of the Bolton School Symphony Orchestra under the baton of our father, Percy. Like most Old Boys of his generation he never forgot the dangerous lessons from Mr Crispin, the playfully eccentric woodwork teacher at School. But of yesterday he could remember nothing. Malcolm, Fiona, Howard and Moira remember him with great fondness. Malcolm FG Stevens (1944-1957) J Barry Taylor (1941-1947) It is with a heavy heart that I pick up my pen to record the death of my great friend J Barry Taylor (JB, as we knew him) on 20th November 2020 As a fresh faced 14-year-old I had the temerity to approach a more senior boy, DC Rigby (Class of 1952), on the Headmaster’s corridor, about Bradshaw Cricket Club, as I had moved into the area and knew Rigby played there. He arranged for me to go with him and thereafter all three of us were lifelong friends. As the youngest member in his team, Barry encouraged me and kept an eye out and I admired the Corinthian spirit in which as Captain he played the game. It was no surprise therefore that I later learned he was an Old Boy of Bolton School. Barry came to School after the beginning of the war, and life seemed to go on as normal, including sporting activities, much to his delight. He was raised in the Tonge Moor district, went to Castle Hill Primary School where one of his contemporaries was a certain Nat Lofthouse. No wonder Barry idolised the great man and became a lifelong Wanderers fan.

After leaving School he entered Local Government, working in the Borough Treasurers Department where he met his future wife Dorothy. He completed National Service in the RAF where he played with or against one FS Truman, who according to Barry, was “t’greatest fast bowler ever to draw breath”. After returning to civilian life Barry joined his father as an insurance agent/‘Club Man’, providing basic HP facilities for householders. Bank accounts were not readily available to ordinary folk in those days, so this would have been a vital component in the post-war economy. Outside work his life focused on the cricket club where he was a player, committee member, President and life member. He was also a Vice President of the Bolton Cricket League. After six years as Secretary of the Club I passed the baton to Barry, knowing the administration was in good hands. He had been secretary of the trade association, the Rose and Chrysanthemum Society, and his admin capabilities manifested themselves with his eldest son, Ray, completing at least 30 years as the Bolton Cricket League Secretary. Barry was an avid Wanderers season ticket holder and was at all home matches with DC Rigby and RJ Heslop (1941-1948). They would go to away matches, with Heslop insisting on a better route, only to go to somewhere such as Preston or Blackpool via Clitheroe. Heslop’s navigating skills were a source of amusement, especially as he had a Geography degree from Oxford! Barry was keen on local history and completed a very interesting history of the cricket club in its centenary year of 1984, with copies available in the local libraries. He was a keen gardener and could often be seen in his extensive garden at the rear of the house, overlooking Bradshaw Brook and the cricket field. He was a convivial host and enjoyed the company of friends and family on the many occasions we dined out together. He was proud of his two sons, Ray and Neil (who sadly pre-deceased him), both Old Boys, and each of their two daughters who have grown into the fine young ladies they are today. His great-grandson, Teddy, was born last June. To all of them, and to Barry’s wife, Dorothy, we extend our heartfelt sympathy and, as for me, I know I have lost a very dear friend of over 60 years, a genuine Old Boy of our School and a true Boltonian to the last. Frank Millhouse (1955-1961 and President of the Old Boys’ Association 2005-06)

Old Boltonians’ Association 1895 - 2021

Brian Molyneux Wild (1942-1949) ‘The boy from Little Hulton did good’ with the help of Bolton School. After gaining his place at the School in 1942, Brian studied hard and enjoyed every aspect of School life apart from Rugby! Far too rough for this ‘gentle man’. Manchester University welcomed him in 1948 where he achieved a BSc in Electrical Engineering and a career with the National Grid followed. A long and healthy life, devoted husband to Margery, dedicated father and grandpa. He will be so sadly missed by us all. Sara Wild Stanley Worthington (Girls’ Division Staff, 1987, and Boys’ Division Staff, 1988) We were fortunate to have the services of Stanley Worthington during a period of staff leave of absence thirty years ago. Widely experienced, he had recently retired from Deane Grammar School, where the English Department had flourished under his leadership. Stanley was well known amongst local teachers, active in the English Association and able quickly to form good relations with colleagues at Bolton School. His teaching was thorough, his manner was both firm and friendly and when he left us it was

clear that classes had benefited greatly from his presence. When the Girls’ Division had a similar temporary post we suggested that they approach Stanley. Fortunately he agreed to join them. Again he developed good relationships with staff and pupils and he is remembered with admiration. Stanley’s varied experience included responsibility for continuing education at Bolton Wanderers FC, where he was a devoted supporter over decades, his concern for young players taking him beyond the field of play. His own family was his chief concern and his surviving son, Paul, an Old Boltonian (1970-1977), has our sympathy on the loss of an energetic, resourceful and loving father. Charles Winder (Boys’ Division Staff, 1964-1999) Gordon Wylie (Former Boys’ Division Staff) Gordon Wylie was known to staff, instructors and pupils alike simply as ‘Gordy’. Gordy was very much part of the development of Outdoor Pursuits

at Bolton School from the early days at the YHA centre at Llangollen through to the establishment of the outdoor centre at Patterdale Hall. Starting as a freelance instructor employed by the YHA, he went on to become an established member of the School’s freelance team. He was the senior instructor for the never-to-beforgotten Kinmel Hall trip that saw the whole of Year 7 on a week-long residential stay for a combined outdoor pursuits, geography and biology field trip. A talented instructor, with a sharp wit and a love of practical jokes – both as perpetrator and recipient – a generation of Old Boys will owe their love of the outdoors in some memorable way to Gordy’s influence and will still be able to respond when greeted with ‘Do you like sponge?’ by answering ‘No, I’m not allowed anything sharp’! Gordy passed away on 4th December 2020. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him. Trevor Pledger (Boys’ Division Staff, 1986-2017)

IN MEMORIAM Peter Bate (1946-1957) - Died October 2020 Keith Bateson (1948-1958) - Died 16th November 2020 H Roderick Brindle (1951-1962) - Died February 2021 Jack Brownlow (1943-1951) - Died 24th October 2020 Daniel Buxton (Class of 1982) - Died October 2020 Michael William Cooper (1941-1953) - Died 2nd February 2021 Ian Cuthbert (1967-1977) - Died October 2020 Alistair Dunn (1939-1942) - Died October 2020 Mervyn Denis Gale (1973-1980) - Died February 2021 Frank Green (Class of 1946) - Died 10th October 2020 E John Hollinghurst (1944-1950) - Died 30th November 2020 Dr Roderic Howarth (1937-1947) - Died December 2020 John Kohorn (1942-1951) - Died 14th January 2021 Michael EB Lawlor (1945-1950) - Died 15th January 2021 G Keith Lucas (1944-1953) - Died 25th September 2020 Jim Sargent (Class of 1986) - Died 4th March 2021 Andrew Sumner (Boys’ Division Staff, 1963-1969) - Died 12th November 2020 Roger Thistlethwaite (Class of 1957) - Died 16th October 2020 Clive Walker (1965-1973) - Died March 2021

Newsletter Spring 2021

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2021 Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the Old Boltonians’ Association will take place on Monday 13th September 2021 at 12 noon in the Arts Centre, Bolton School. AGM agenda • Apologies • Minutes of Annual General Meeting 2019 • Secretary’s Report

MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE OLD BOLTONIANS’ ASSOCIATION HELD ON 29th APRIL 2019 Minutes 2019 The Minutes of the AGM 2018 were accepted as a true record of that meeting. Secretary’s Report The Secretary thanked Lionel Price for his year as our President, and wished current President Tim Taylor well for the remainder of his year in office. Roger Dobson was thanked for almost 40 years’ service since Richard Poskitt co-opted him on to the Committee.

OLD BOLTONIANS’ ASSOCIATION ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2020 BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31st DECEMBER 2020 2020 2019 £ £ £ £ Assets Freehold land at cost 6,844 6,844 Golf trophies at cost 26 26 Bank accounts 20,036 9,565 Investments at market value 17,162 17,589 Sundry debtors 2,644 1,971 Loan to Football Section 11,000 11,500 57,712 47,495 Liabilities Sundry creditors 4,617 5,292 53,095 42,203 Represented by: General Fund Balance brought forward 42,203 40,153 Surplus for the Year 10,892 2,050 53,095 42,203 Prepared by: PA Riding, Hon Treasurer

• Treasurer’s Report and Accounts • Sectional Reports (these will be taken as the reports printed in this edition of The Bugle) • Election of Officers and General Committee (save for the office of President, nominations close at the meeting) • Headmaster’s Report for the CHI Fund • Any other business Details of those members of the General Committee who are due to retire by rotation will be given at the meeting.

Treasurer’s Report The meeting received the Treasurer’s report and accepted the accounts as independently reviewed by Adam Syddall. Sectional Reports These were taken as the reports printed in the Spring Bugle. Election of Officers and General Committee Roger Dobson, Norman Fletcher, Roger Milne and David Teasdale did not wish to stand for re-election. Michael Griffiths was re-elected for a period of three years. Ross Taylor and Mark Millhouse were elected to the Committee for a period of three years. Judge Roy Battersby was elected as President for 2020.

OLD BOLTONIANS’ ASSOCIATION INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st DECEMBER 2020 2020 2019 £ £ Income Subscriptions and donations 7,765 8,023 Legacy 10,000 Investment income 479 526 Increase/(Decrease) in market value of investment (427) 1,311 Expenditure Boltonian magazine 4,617 5,292 Insurance 1,862 1,750 Golf section - 200 Dinner subsidies - 120 Sundries 446 448 6,925 7,810 Surplus of expenditure over income 10,892 2,050

Subject to independent review by: AJ Syddall, Hon Independent Examiner

THE

BUGLE Old Boltonians’ Association Spring Newsletter 2021

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