The Bugle - Autumn 2020 by Bolton School Development Office

THE

Old Boltoniansâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Association 1895 - 2020

BUGLE

Autumn 2020

Old Boltonians’ Association 1895 - 2020

CONTENTS Stay in Touch

Stay Connected

Bolton School Merchandise

Welcome Messages Roy Battersby, President of the Old Boltonians’ Association 3

STAY IN TOUCH

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

‘Like’ our Facebook page for event invitations, School news and memories: search Bolton School - Old Boys and Old Girls (Official)

Philip Britton, Headmaster 3 The Mail Bag

OBA Ambassadors

The Bolton Alumni Network

Continuing Support

School News School Contributes to Fight Against Covid-19 8

Connect with fellow Alumni on LinkedIn: connect with Bolton School Alumni and join the Bolton School Group

Follow Alumni and School news via Twitter: @BoltonSchool/ @BoltonSchAlumni

Watch short films posted on the School’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/ b oltonschoolmedia

E-Book Captures WW2 Experiences 8 Rebates Re-Gifted 8 Phileas Fogg Fun Run 9 Virtual Prizegiving 9

Read regular blogs from pupils and staff from across the campus: boltonschool.me/

Black Lives Matter 10

Follow bolton_school_foundation and use #BSAlumni to share your memories and photos on Instagram

Find Your Path – Old Boltonians’ Mentoring Scheme 11

Socially Distant Celebration of A Levels 9

Alumni Authors 11 Old Boy Features Inspiring the Next Generation 12 Lockdown Letters 14 Five O’Clock Tea 15 Old Boys Join the Fight Against Covid-19 16 Events 18 Sports OBAFC Report 19 Old Boltonians’ Golf Society Report 19 Barry Burns Remembered 19 Old Boys’ News News of Old Boys 20

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.

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 Laura Rooney Development Manager

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 Update form found in the ‘Former Pupils’ section of the School website, www.boltonschool.org.

Mini Reunions 25 The Boltonian 25 Old Boys on Film

Freemasonry 25 Archives Ask the Archivist: Old Boy Philanthropy 26 Looking Back 27 All Stars Sports Teams 28 The War in the East 30 Squadron Leader Laurence Stark 31 Mr Wadsworth’s HoDs Quiz 31 Lives Remembered

In Memoriam

Bolton School Merchandise School has an online merchandise store, selling a variety of items, from Old Boy cufflinks and ties to Bolton School pens, iPad cases and photo frames. All profits made from the sale of merchandise go directly to the School Bursary Fund, which helps make a Bolton School education open to all academically gifted pupils, irrespective of their families’ financial situation. Orders are usually delivered within five working days, and overseas delivery is available. To order your items, please visit www.boltonschoolmerchandise.org or call 08450 504015.

Cover illustration by local artist Kenneth Bromley

Newsletter Autumn 2020

WELCOME FROM THE PRESIDENT At the start of 2020 I had in prospect a busy but very interesting year; a prospect which quickly disintegrated for the reasons we all know. The opportunity to meet, reminisce and indulge ourselves in nostalgia was denied from late March onwards. But to bemoan the lack of Old Boltonian activity would be futile. Indeed, I am reminded of the line of a prayer often used in School assemblies in my time of the need to have ‘the serenity to accept the things which I cannot change’. We were able, however, to hold two dinners: at Downing College, Cambridge, and in the Long Room in the Pavilion at Lord’s Cricket Ground. Both were most enjoyable and those attending owe a great debt of gratitude to the staff of the Development Office who organised these events with their customary efficiency and meticulous attention to detail.

A MESSAGE FROM THE HEADMASTER Last time I wrote for The Bugle the spring lockdown had just begun. Since then, as you will see in this edition, I have been very proud of how the boys and colleagues made such a success of remote teaching and how, with a little creativity, so many school events still took place by adapting to what is possible. That we have collectively focused on making everything possible that can possibly be done, rather than worry about all the things that cannot happen, has been a very tangible example of the Bolton School ethos. I have also been proud to hear of so many Old Boys who have been playing their part in the national emergency – whether that has been medical students graduating early to be in hospitals or people working quietly for the good of all in their communities. I should thank especially all those Old Boys who took the time to reply to the letters from pupils we sent in the summer. The boys were delighted to find they had written to ‘real people’ and hearing your news really bridged the gap between generations. We are doing all we can at School within our own community to ensure that we are a positive part of ensuring society does not become fragmented, whether that is because of isolation, or starkly different experiences and views on Covid-19, or the economic consequences of the lockdown. It is my strong belief that the bursary funds

The Lords’ dinner deserves special mention not only because of the large attendance of over 160. It was marvellous to dine in the Long Room, to spend the evening in such a splendid setting and to meet up again with numerous old friends. It provided me with the opportunity to reminisce with Ian Riley, an old friend from cricketing days, and to be able to wish him well in his new role as Chairman of the Governing Body. Sadly that dinner brought an end to the Association’s social activity for this year. We have been denied the Scottish, Cumbrian and New York dinners, the MCC cricket match, the Football Club Dinner and the May OBA Lunch and AGM. In such a strange year it was encouraging to be reminded in August of the continued excellence of the School when the A Level and GCSE grades were announced. The ability to adapt and adjust with resilience and determination to new methods in such difficult times could hardly be demonstrated better. Congratulations to both staff and students for those achievements. Let us hope for a resumption of our activities in 2021. Roy Battersby (1953-1961) Old Boltonians’ Association President, 2020 we have and which are generously supported by Old Boys are going to be invaluable in ensuring the School is a widely representative community and so can be part of what holds society together, rather than drives it apart. Another example of promoting that cohesiveness was the wise and measured engagement of Old Boys in the Black Lives Matter campaign this summer. The views and advice of Old Boys, their experiences of both School life and life beyond School and their willingness to engage has helped us move forward very positively in this regard, acknowledging the past to help shape our present and future. We are now at half term, still in bubbles and zones that sharply reduce transmission in School, but with a steady 1 in 20 boys away self-isolating (so far that has peaked at 1 in 10) with cases brought into School, often asymptomatically. We have plans for football and concert band after half term; the water polo players are back in the water; Duke of Edinburgh Gold and Silver hikes are all taking place and Year 7 have visited Patterdale, albeit for day trips. I am delighted that Roy Battersby, the 2020 President of the Old Boltonians’ Association, has accepted the Association’s invitation to extend his term of office for a further year, and look forward to being able to meet with him and other Old Boys once again in person at the Alumni events we hope might be possible at some point next year. Our tenacity and collective sense of purpose will allow us to tackle the challenges to come. My best wishes to you all in your own circumstances. And who knows – perhaps in the spring edition we will be waking to the world as we knew it once! Philip Britton, MBE

Old Boltonians’ Association 1895 - 2020

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

STAR LETTER Woodwork Wonder of that Peter Nuttall (1958-1964) is pro demic aca ut abo all not is Bolton School : ents lishm accomp ing my time at ‘I shamefully underachieved dur stream, closely Bolton School. I followed the A3 nce 6C3. At Scie into g avoiding Transitus by goin a letter to n give was I m For d the end of the Thir ning this letter, take home. I made a point of ope d news. The letter as they often did not bring goo wished me to they asked my parents whether option of the or man Ger el go on to do O Lev ork. alw met or woodwork ed: if my dad saw ‘This looked like bad news inde me to a further it, he would undoubtedly consign ying French. enjo language and I was already not form in the ed sign and So I ticked woodwork of years ple cou ful bliss a and … my dad’s name ble woodwork followed of trooping off to dou down to double ds while my friends got their hea German. and we relocated ‘Sadly, my dad changed his job my secondary hed finis I . to the Midlands in 1964 sequently sub I ool. sch ther ano education at in engineering gained a degree and doctorate stry, followed indu lear and had a career in the nuc in the ctor dire ve cuti -exe by six years as a non health service. be in the Bolton ‘Some years ago I happened to in to School. I area for work and decided to pop woodwork. ht asked to see Mr Sefton, who taug room staff the into t It was break and we wen I was him told I tea. of cup a and chatted over d fitte had I that and er own se hou married, a the for eful grat wardrobes, made things and was in und kgro bac the practical skills I gained and technical drawing. jumped onto a ‘To my astonishment, Mr Sefton ce. silen for d table and calle School has “A distinguished Old Boy of this rk and gaining dwo woo ng taki that just told me t decisions and practical skills was one of his bes So there!” . him to has been of great benefit ing staff room ‘A partially gowned, teacup hold staff room was the to was stunned. My first visit d!’ gine ima I very different than

Cricket at Lilleshall The Mailbag item on Lilleshall in the Spring 2020 edition brought back happy memories for Peter Chandler (19581965) who recalls: ‘I went there in the early Sixties and remember Ronnie Booth, Jack Ikin, Kevin Topping, Howard Longworth and John Hyde. Jack Ikin and Ronnie Booth took me to one side in the nets and pleaded with me not to be coached for batting – I apparently had a good eye and hit the ball hard and this natural flair would have been spoiled if I had been coached. On more than one evening there I had to knock on the door of the Staff Room and apologise for breaking another bat in practice – the staff laughed, they expected it and I never got into trouble for it. ‘I went on to play cricket in Essex, not too far away from Peter Boardman at Westcliff, broke at least one bat per season and very often chuckled about Jack and Ronnie’s thoughts – I did hit the ball hard, but not very often, being the best (worst) No 11 in the country – I could make Devon Malcolm look good! However, I did have two memorable occasions: firstly when I hit 52 in consecutive balls, and secondly when I scored 76 not out in 15 minutes when asked to go in and bat out time to tea – the captain never forgave me for that. So good times all round – thanks for the memory Lilleshall!’ Marvellous Memories David Grime (1943-1948) was delighted to recognise some familiar names in the Spring 2020 edition: ‘I always enjoy reading The Bugle, but with the passing of time there are fewer familiar names. However, this time there were mentions of two boys who I was close to: Raymond Doldon and Eric Forsyth. My 1943 Grey Book shows that we all turn 88 this year. We entered Shell A1 in 1943 and because our names are close together in the alphabet we sat close to each other. My 1948 Grey Book shows that we were still together and that is when we parted company from Science 6B. We were together in the Scout troop and after the Saturday night Scout meeting we walked home together.’ Carry On Regardless! Reading the Bolton Alumni Network newsletter of 26th March, which explained that due to lockdown pupils in both Divisions were following their timetables from home in ‘virtual classrooms’, reminded Ray Doldon (1943-1951) of a previous crisis involving school closures many years ago when he was at junior school: ‘Shortly before I came to Bolton School, probably aged eight in 1940, the government closed schools because of a fear that Hitler would perhaps drop bombs (accidentally or otherwise) onto large gatherings of children. Nevertheless, the education process continued. Each class was divided into small groups of six or eight students who then met in each other’s houses. There being no communication

Newsletter Autumn 2020

technology in those days, the teacher moved from class to class during each period, teaching and correcting students’ work as he or she moved around from house to house. It was very pleasant, and a perfect example of an effective response to a possible dreadful circumstance!’ Beech House Reminiscences Paul Greenhalgh (2001-2015) spotted this photograph taken on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the Girls’ Division in 2002. Paul and one of his best friends to this day, Cameron Lee, are on the second row of Beech

OBA Ambassadors The Old Boys’ Association (OBA) Committee has been harnessing the enthusiasm and contacts of some of the younger Alumni for the Association’s 125th Anniversary this year by creating roles for a number of ‘Ambassadors’. Their remit is to raise the profile of the OBA within their peer group, and to play an integral role in shaping the OBA as a vibrant business networking community.

The Bolton Alumni Network The Bolton Alumni Network, the online platform exclusively for Old Girls, Old Boys and Former Staff of Bolton School, continues to grow with almost 2,500 people now signed up and using the platform in many different ways. We are grateful to the 75% of members who have offered to support their fellow Old Girls and Old Boys with careers assistance, including: • 1,600+ willing to answer industry-specific questions • 1,300+ willing to introduce others to their connections • 1,100+ offering to review CVs • 200+ offering work experience or internships Join today to take advantage of this wealth of experience and goodwill, or to give back by offering your help to younger Alumni just starting out in their careers. You can now watch several instructional videos to help you get the most out of your network, including how to search for a mentor or post a job, in the new

Paul’s memory serves him correctly!

House pupils, and Paul reckons he could have a good go at identifying most people in that row! He also has a vague recollection of a giant 125th birthday cake for this occasion! The photo brought back memories of traipsing across from Beech House for lunch in the Girls’ Division dining room each day.

The current team of OBA Ambassadors comprises Chris Eatough (Class of 1993), Paul Greenhalgh (2001-2015), Stefan Horsman (1988-1995), Stephen Lintott (1982-1989), Ralph Murphy (1992-2005), Irfan Ravat (1992-1999), Mike Shaw (1981-1988), Adam Syddall (1984-1998), Ross Taylor (1991-2004), Richard Washington (1986-1993) and Paul Wheatcroft (1988-1995). The OBA Committee would be delighted to hear from any other Old Boys who would be interested in learning more about this role. Please contact the OBA Secretary, Jon Twist, via the Development Office, for more details.

Resources area. There you will also find career skills videos filmed by fellow Alumni. If you would like to film a skills video or a short video about your industry, please contact the Development Office. To download the BAN App: iOS: Search for ‘Graduway Community’ in the App Store and download the app. Once installed, type ‘Bolton School’ as the name of your institution and select when it populates. Android: Go to Play Store and search for ‘Bolton Alumni Network’ to download the app. Please note users of the previous version will need to delete the old app before downloading this version. If you are not yet a member of the Bolton Alumni Network, you can join by signing up at www.boltonalumninetwork.com with your LinkedIn, Facebook or Google account, or with an email address.

Old Boltonians’ Association 1895 - 2020

Continuing Support Thanks to the extraordinary support of our donors, Bolton School offers one of the most generous bursary schemes in the country.

have realised that in seven years’ time he’d look back so fondly at the experiences, memories and friendships he’d made.

One recent beneficiary of the bursary scheme, who left the Sixth Form this summer to take up a place at Cambridge to study Medicine, reflected on the impact of his time in the Boys’ Division thus:

It seems inevitable that demand for bursarial support will increase in the coming years, as the effects of the global economic challenges created by the pandemic are felt, particularly by young people from low-income families, and we are determined that the talents and abilities of these children should not be squandered. The School’s ethos – of offering bright children an exceptional education, regardless of their background – has, therefore, never been more crucial.

“I joined the School in Year 7 from The Ferns Primary Academy in Farnworth on a bursary place. Throughout my time at the School, I have represented the School in the Rugby First XV, taken part in drama productions, led the Medical Society and co-chaired the Charities’ Committee. Bolton School provided me with a friendly, supportive environment which gave me the confidence and the skills necessary to strive for success both within and beyond the classroom and encouraged me to help others through community action and volunteering. The small, nervous boy that I was then – so unsure of what to expect – would never

A Lasting Legacy During the past academic year, over £190,000 was donated to the Bursary Fund by Old Boys and Old Girls who had left a legacy to the School in their will. We are hugely grateful to all those who have chosen to make such a personal gift to the School, and delighted to be able to thank them in their lifetimes for the support. Here, Former Boys’ Division Staff Member Martin Wadsworth explains why he has chosen to remember the School in his will. ‘When I came to consider my will, I realised I’d like still to be connected to School in some way or other after I’d gone. Brother and family would of course feature in bequests and, as a regular monthly donor to several charities – including, after an unexpectedly passionate presentation from one of my quieter Sixth Formers at a form meeting, Amnesty International – so would they, but I realised that the institution that had been central to over two thirds of my life must be included on the list, too. ‘The memories that reflected what had pervaded all my working life persuaded me that buildings such as the Arts Centre (evolving, of course, from the old Swimming Pool), the Green Pavilion or Patterdale Hall (preceded by Cautley and Robin Cottage) and activities, both academic and outside the classroom, on sports fields or in foreign climes, were tremendous; however, it was the people that really, really mattered.

We are indebted to all of those donors who have continued to support the Bursary Fund despite the events of the past several months. With the loyal and generous support of our Old Boys and Old Girls, we will continue to do all we can to ensure our Bursary Fund enables bright pupils, such as the leaver above, to achieve their full potential and go on to make a difference for good in the world”.

‘The pupils were the jewels in the crown. Not just magnificent Economists – Jonathan Bergwerk (19691976) and Mark Addis (Class of 1987) spring to mind; not just superb sportsmen – John Ratledge (1985-1992), Chris Eatough (Class of 1993) and the Parkinson twins (Class of 2015) just some amongst many – but all the boys who became men in the true spirit of Bolton School. Bright, friendly, understanding, sparky, polite, clever – the list of their many virtues is long and, whilst there are few of the 4,000 or so Old Boys whose School careers coincided with mine who have all of these qualities, there are very, very few with none. ‘They came from any background and increasingly far and wide places – MY Bolton School offers a superb education for those who can benefit from it, rather than only those whose family could afford it. As many know, I am an Old Mancunian – one who was able to attend MGS in the Sixties via a council grant. MGS was a Direct Grant school when I was there, as was Bolton for just the first few years of my tenure: I gained immeasurably from that predecessor of bursaries, and many whom I have helped to educate have gained from financial help, too. I swiftly realised that I was firmly of the view that I would like to remember the Bursary Fund in my will and help as many of those pupils as possible after my time, as part of whatever my legacy might be.’ If you intend to remember Bolton School in your will, we would love to be able to thank you in your lifetime for your generosity. To find out more about leaving a legacy to the School, or to discuss, in confidence, your intentions in more detail, please contact Laura Firth in the Development Office.

Newsletter Autumn 2020

The George Lancashire Fund and the Bursary Foundation Earlier this year, Bolton School began working in partnership with The Bursary Foundation, a charity which works to connect deserving young people in deprived communities in Greater Manchester with the best educational opportunities at independent and grammar schools across the region. The Bursary Foundation was founded by Jenny Hopkinson, a former primary school teacher and wife of Old Boy Max Hopkinson (Class of 2002) who, whilst teaching in inner-city Manchester, mentored a bright, hardworking Year 3 pupil called Sally, who subsequently secured a fully-funded place at an independent girls’ school, where she is now thriving. That experience inspired Jenny to found The Bursary Foundation, which partners with primary schools in deprived communities to identify gifted and talented pupils who have the potential to thrive at an academically selective school and matches them with qualified teachers who ensure they are prepared both academically and emotionally for the Year 6 entrance examination. The Foundation works closely with the children’s families to help them to navigate the complex admissions process, and then continues to offer them mentoring support throughout their secondary careers. The Foundation specifically targets primary schools where the percentage of disadvantaged pupils is higher than average, and where the quality of secondary educational provision in the vicinity is poor. An example is a partner school in Little Hulton, where 64% of pupils receive Free School Meals and, of the eight closest secondary schools, five are rated as inadequate or require improvement. The Foundation’s pilot project was launched in 2018, with 50% of that first intake of pupils securing places (fully-funded, at those which are independent) at schools including the Manchester Grammar School, Manchester High

School for Girls, Oldham Hulme and Sale Grammar School. To date, the charity has worked with a further 43 families, with whom they have continued Bursary Foundation pupils (pre-Covid-19) to work online working hard in a group tutoring session throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. The George Lancashire Fund was established in November 2012 to fund bursaries for children living in Eccles to study at Bolton School. Following the School’s partnership with The Bursary Foundation, from September 2020 this allocations criteria will be widened to include children living in all areas of the Metropolitan Borough of Salford. Furthermore, any child from Salford who is awarded a 100% bursary from the George Lancashire Fund after engagement with the Bursary Foundation will also qualify to receive an annual ‘Extras’ allowance for the duration of their 100% bursary, providing funding for uniform, travel costs, equipment and other associated costs, in order that they can take full advantage of all the opportunities a Bolton School education offers. Jenny Hopkinson, founder of the Bursary Foundation, writes: ‘There is a frightening inequality of opportunity in our country. Put simply, we are wasting talent, and helping disadvantaged pupils to access the best opportunities in education is the right thing to do. We are thrilled to partner with Bolton School to identify children with huge potential in some of the poorest parts of Salford and help them prepare for entrance exams. An upfront commitment to support families with the additional costs of an education at Bolton School goes hand in hand with our ethos of holistic family support. Together, we can ensure that pupils enjoy everything on offer at this fantastic school.’

If you would like to pledge your support to the Bursary Fund, either by making a regular or one-off gift or by remembering the School in your will, please contact Laura Firth, Head of Development, by calling 01204 434718 or by emailing development@boltonschool.org.

Old Boltonians’ Association 1895 - 2020

SCHOOL NEWS School Contributes to Fight Against Covid-19 Bolton School’s tradition of charitable giving and community service was not thwarted by the Covid-19 crisis – despite the many restrictions in place, impressive contributions were made during the summer to the local community and the NHS.

Mr Butchart transports 25,000 bees from School to his back garden!

As recorded on page 17 the Boys’ Junior School produced much needed PPE equipment, manufacturing 150 visors and over 250 visor headbands, which were then distributed to Intensive Care Units across

E-Book Captures WW2 Experiences Back in September 2019, three Park Road boys embarked upon a project to produce a film to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the end of the Second World War. Year 6 pupils Dhilan Jacobs, Henry Hughes and Rith Narla began the project by interviewing veteran and Old Boy Kenneth Lee (1935-1940). They hoped to gain an insight into what life was like for a soldier fighting in the front line during World War Two. As well as answering all of their questions, Ken shared his own personal experiences of being in the army, which inspired the boys to write a short

Greater Manchester. Beech House children sent beautiful postcards to local residents in order to cheer them up while the staff at the Infant School danced in the video for Peter Kay’s version of Amarillo as part of the BBC’s Big Night In event which raised funds for the NHS. The Senior Boys’ Beekeeping Club donated jars of honey to Urban Outreach, who, with the support of Bolton Council, prepared food packages for those families most in need during the pandemic. In addition, ‘Butchart’s Bradshaw Bees’, set up by Boys’ Division DTE teacher Graham Butchart, donated several more jars to the cause. Across the Schools, there were many acts of individual kindness as girls and boys produced lots of thank you messages for the NHS and made sure elderly neighbours had the supplies they needed. Many pupils took part in the ‘Run for Heroes Challenge’, each raising £5 for the NHS as they ran 5km, and as term ended the School’s Charity Committee donated funds to a number of local charities.

film script. Seven months on, the project had progressed and adapted to the limitations of lockdown. The film script became a story and an amateur illustrator, Ellis Shuma, volunteered to create Ken shares his wartime some pictures to accompany experiences the text. A number of boys, including Advaith Govindu, Dhilan Jacobs, Aashan Subhani, Xavier Jones and Zain Burrill, worked extremely hard to narrate the story and created a fantastic e-book. Their combined efforts can be viewed via bit.ly/32B4GUI.

Rebates Re-Gifted The School’s approach throughout the Covid-19 pandemic has been that it is right and proper that the financial burden it has created should be shared by all within the School community. In May the Chairman of Governors wrote to parents to announce a fee rebate on Summer Term fees whilst the School was operating virtually.

The School was delighted that many parents chose to regift this rebate back to the School’s Hardship Fund, raising £24,000 in support of pupils whose parents are experiencing severe financial distress as a result of the pandemic, in order that those children will be able to continue their Bolton School education.

Newsletter Autumn 2020

Phileas Fogg Fun Run Lockdown meant that the Park Road boys were unable to complete their annual charity fun run on the Levels – so instead they participated in a virtual ‘Around the World in 8 Days’ run. Each day, for just over a week, the boys and their families clocked up miles by running, walking or cycling, following in the footsteps of Phileas Fogg and aiming to collect enough kilometres to circumnavigate the world in eight school days! Daily posts on Twitter kept everyone up-to-date on how far they had collectively ‘travelled’ and on the day of the Fun Run itself everyone dressed up to represent a country and completed their exercise in costume, with photos shared on social media. Laps around the garden, sessions on the exercise bike, some long family workouts and contributions of kilometres from staff across the Bolton School Foundation further boosted the total distance travelled. Throughout the challenge donations poured in via JustGiving and, although not quite enough distance was covered to travel right round the world, an impressive £2,500 was nevertheless raised for Bolton Hospice.

‘Virtual’ Prizegiving As the country was in lockdown and neither the guest speaker nor boys were able to attend Prizegiving in person, Headmaster Philip Britton led an online celebration. He gave a brief overview of the year, noting how the hockey team had enjoyed the new all-weather pitch at Leverhulme Pavilion, praising success in water polo and swimming competitions and congratulating the School’s Concert Band on winning a Platinum Award, before reading out the list of prizewinners. He also made specific mention of a bronze medal in the first Cambridge

Socially Distant Celebration of A Levels The usual celebrations of A Level achievements could not of course take place this Summer due to Covid-19 safety restrictions. Nonetheless, the boys were encouraged to make the most of their moment, no matter the strange global circumstances surrounding it.

The Junior boys dressed up for their virtual fun run

Chemistry Race and of the awarding of Gold, Silver and Bronze medals and national selection for one boy in the Science Olympiads. Focusing on clubs and societies, he praised the success in local quizzing and Model United Nations competitions. Monitors Jude Ashcroft, Thomas Higham and Hamzah Chariwala reflected on their lockdown experiences and Ben Chowdhury (Class of 2020) and William Miles (Year 12) offered musical accompaniment on the piano. The virtual assembly ended with the audience encouraged to join in the singing of Jerusalem and by a Vote of Thanks from the new School Captain, Charlie Griffiths.

in line with our expectations. The vast majority of the grades we submitted to the board have not been altered. If it was a normal year we would be celebrating a strong set of results.’ The Class of 2020 received their results by email and portal, rather than in person, and were wished a fond farewell from their tutors over the phone throughout the morning. The afternoon was given over to safe and socially distant celebrations outdoors for those who wished to meet friends at School one last time as pupils.

Headmaster Philip Britton said: ‘We are lucky at Bolton School to have a large number of pupils and very stable results year on year, so that the process used to calculate the grades this year has produced outcomes very much

Old Boltonians’ Association 1895 - 2020

Black Lives Matter The global discussions sparked by the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement in June 2020 brought issues of systemic racism and unconscious bias to the forefront of our collective consciousness. The Bolton School Foundation acknowledges its role in fighting ignorance and inequality. The School was impressed by the number of current pupils, members of staff and Alumni who were vocal in condemning racism in all its forms in the wake of these discussions, most notably through the open letter sent by a group of Alumni and other members of the School community to the Headmaster and Headmistress, which urged the School to make a sustained commitment to anti-racism. The values of diversity and inclusion are integral to the aims of the Bolton School Foundation and we are wholeheartedly committed to reviewing and improving our practices and to contributing to the critical work which will need to take place nationally in this regard. We believe we are in a strong position to do so: thanks in large part to the funding provided by the Bursary Fund, the make-up of the student body across both Divisions in terms of ethnic breakdown is an accurate reflection of that of the local community, and the School endeavours to encourage well-qualified BAME students to join the teaching profession through the Initial Teaching Training schemes which it hosts. During the 2020-21 academic year, with the oversight of an external organisation experienced in such matters the Headmaster and Headmistress will lead a consultation with current students and parents, to which members of the Alumni body will be invited to contribute, in order to evaluate where changes are necessary and to provide a clear framework and timescale for how such changes should be implemented. In advance of this consultation, a number of further positive actions have already been instigated since June. These include: • The sourcing of a potential lead advisor for the consultation and for staff training in related matters;

• A review of the PSHE curriculum in both Divisions, in order to ensure that they meet fully the Independent Schools’ Inspectorate’s regulations on matters of diversity and inclusion; • A full curriculum review in the Boys’ Division, intended for completion by the end of the Autumn Term; • Continued endeavours to ensure that topics of racism, representation and inclusion remain at the forefront of the Boys’ Division’s pastoral agenda. The School is determined that its response to the issues raised by the BLM movement should be meaningful and have a long-term impact on the culture of the School. Whilst much positive change has already taken place, there clearly remains further work to be done, not least the completion of the School’s consultation, the commencement of which has, regrettably, been unavoidably delayed by the significant resource and planning which has been required to ensure the School was able to reopen to pupils in a Covid-secure manner in time for the start of the new academic year. Despite this delay, the Foundation’s commitment to improving its approach to diversity and inclusivity remains absolute. We continue to welcome the contribution of Alumni, pupils, parents and all other members of the School community in this work and would encourage anyone who wishes to engage with this process to share their experiences, in confidence, by emailing BLMConsultation@boltonschool.org.

Newsletter Autumn 2020

Find Your Path Graduates and school leavers will face unprecedented challenges in the job market in coming years as a result of the implications of the Covid-19 pandemic for the UK economy. More than ever, individual students will need to stand out and differentiate themselves if they are to make a successful entrance into the ‘world of work’. The Old Boltonians’ Find Your Path mentoring scheme recognises the unique role Old Boys can play in supporting recent leavers with this task. It has already supported over 50 young Old Bolts by connecting them with one of a number of experienced ‘employer’ mentors, matched to their specific needs. This assistance has included: • Personal introductions to experts able to provide insights into numerous professions; • Bespoke support with interview technique and preparation to help make a strong first impression; • Tailored guidance with CV development. The mentors involved have been chosen personally, and have a wealth of experience which they are willing to offer to their fellow Old Boltonians for free. These mentors

ALUMNI AUTHORS Wings over Iraq by Eric Forsyth (Class of 1950) Published by Yacht Fiona Books, www.yachtfiona.com ISBN 978-0-578-65299-3 This arresting first novel is set in Iraq during the period between the two World Wars. Britain was determined to maintain influence and access to oil fields, whilst German intelligence had a presence particularly through participants in an important archaeological dig. Iraq is unstable and rebellious and into this restless world a young Air Force officer is introduced. Pilot Officer Chadwick has a unifying role and through him the reader sees much of the action. Like the author he is an engineer and mathematician, interested in the performance of the planes he flies, able to suggest improvements to the accuracy of bombers and able to develop the use of instruments for night flying.

regularly draw upon their own network of professional contacts to introduce their mentees to individuals who can give them the added insight they need into specific sectors and or businesses, enabling them to understand fully the opportunities available to them. Moving smoothly from academia into the world of work is a perennial challenge which has been exacerbated further by the Covid-19 crisis. In these testing times, engaging with a group of mentors with a lifetime of experience across a wide range of industries and professional sectors, supported by a growing group of career specific specialists, could make a real difference to an Old Boy’s progress. The ‘Find Your Path’ scheme is open to all young Old Boltonians, both undergraduates looking to commence their careers and young professionals considering their next steps on their chosen career path. If you think you would benefit from some free, independent advice, or if you would like to join the programme as a mentor, then the ‘Find Your Path’ scheme is for you. Please contact the Development Office to find out how you might become involved.

At one point his plane is shot down, a bullet penetrating the fuel tank; at another fuel is contaminated by a German agent, but detected before take-off. There are casualties whose injuries are described graphically but not in excessive detail. In such circumstances strong bonds are formed between men and it is intriguing to learn that the brotherhood of pilots transcends political and national boundaries. Chadwick’s interests take him beyond conflict. The ancient world has a living presence for him, he is enthralled by discoveries on the archaeological site and in off-duty travels museums are always important. His visit to Berlin is risky, leading to capture, interrogation and fortunate release through a chance acquaintance. Within a few months he has grown to a new maturity through service, conflict and through his relations with men and women. Eric Forsyth was himself a fighter pilot with the RAF during the 1950s and aspects of Chadwick’s experience reflect his own. A well-informed imagination enables him to recreate conditions of service in Iraq during the 1920s. Despite its wealth in content Wings over Iraq is clear and precise in organisation. It is a novel I recommend. Charles Winder (Boys’ Division Staff, 1964-1999) If flying is one of your interests, you may also enjoy reading Old Boy Paul Hodgson’s (1955-1962) book, Britain’s Glorious Aircraft Industry, which has recently been published. More details can be found on page 21.

Old Boltonians’ Association 1895 - 2020

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.

Media Masterclass

Boys’ Division pupils interested in careers in the media gained some useful tips from award-winning freelance documentary director Jonny Ashton (1998-2005), advertising copywriter Luke Crompton (2008-2015) and sports and entertainment journalist Jamal Niaz (2009-2015). Jonny described his job as being all about ‘telling stories’ and how this is different from producing news items or being a journalist; he stressed how it is important to get to the heart of characters and stories and to ensure the audience is emotionally involved. After completing a Psychology degree he started on the bottom rung of TV production and he explained how he worked his way up to making documentaries for many channels, including the BAFTAnominated The Mighty Redcar, Celebrity Hunted, 24 Hours in Police Custody, Ambulance, The Paras: Men of War, Surgeons: At the Edge of Life and 999: On the Frontline.

Chemistry Professor’s Masterclass Michael Waring (1986-1993), a Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at Newcastle University, returned to School to deliver a masterclass to Sixth Form boys and a lunchtime seminar to pupils of both Divisions interested in Medical Sciences. Mike recalled how his teachers at Bolton School had inspired him to study for a degree in Chemistry, before speaking about his career and work at the Newcastle University Centre for

Helicopter Crew Drops in to School Lieutenant Commander (Royal Navy) Rob gives the lowdown Robert De Maine (1995-2002) quite on flying helicopters literally dropped in to School when he and colleague Flight Lieutenant (Army Air Corps) Sam Dempsey landed their EC135 Juno helicopter on the Top Level. Rob and Sam are both qualified helicopter instructors who help train other pilots and they spent the day talking to pupils who learned the ins and outs of being a helicopter pilot. Rob explained the range of careers available in the armed forces and through flying, although he warned of the intensive training required – he was awarded his pilot wings and joined the front line almost five years after joining the Royal Navy and he added that he is still learning and being assessed continuously. It is all worth it, though – the best part of his job is being in the air!

Luke initially dreamed of becoming a film-maker and so he completed a degree in Film and TV Production at Northumbria University. His initial work involved making short films for Instagram and Twitter Jamal (second left), Luke (fourth left) and Jonny (sixth left) gave some for a wide range of companies. He now works sound advice to current pupils as a copywriter where he sees more opportunities for career progression. Jamal explained how he had always wanted to be a sports journalist and studied Broadcast Journalism at the University of Salford in MediaCity. Having worked freelance since his student days, he shared some of his work covering boxing and football. Cancer. In a fascinating presentation, he told how evolution requires mutation, which therefore makes it impossible to prevent cancer completely, and explained that there will therefore never be just one ‘cure for cancer’ that will work on all types of the disease. However, he noted that the last five years have seen new approaches to things that previously seemed impossible. In a useful question and answer session Professor Waring explained that Medicinal Chemistry is concerned with the interface between Chemistry and Biology and he talked about the increasing opportunities to become proficient in both subjects through undergraduate and postgraduate training.

Year 12 SKILT – Skills Training Day

At the start of July, three Old Boys supported the Boys’ Division Year 12 Skills Training John Harvey Elliot Day, offering their advice for successful graduate job applications and interview preparations via pre-recorded videos. John Craven (Class of 1982), Partner at Smith Square Partners, gave an opening address focusing on practical tips for successful interview preparations, followed by films by Harvey Haworth (Class of 2018) and Elliot Henderson (Class of 2014), describing the recruitment processes they underwent during their successful applications to PwC and Smurfit Kappa respectively.

Newsletter Autumn 2020

Alumni Zoom Talks for Sixth Formers In April, 36 young Old Boys answered our call to support virtual pre-university courses for Boys’ Division Year 13 pupils, leading to a series of Zoom lectures and advice sessions throughout the Summer Term. These included: • Alastair Ahamed (Class of 2016), Suve Banerjee (Class of 1999), David Mohyuddin, QC (Class of 1994) and Sam Warburton (Class of 2018), who presented a series of lectures for Year 13 pupils planning to study Law at university from this autumn; • Rohit Bagewadi (Class of 2017), who spoke to Year 13 pupils about his experiences studying Economics and Management at the University of Oxford; • Luke James (Class of 2019), who joined Year 12 A Level Art lessons on a regular basis throughout the Summer Term to share his experiences studying Illustration at university; • Edward Joyce (Class of 2017), who spoke to Sixth Form Economics students about his degree in the subject at Durham; • Stewart Knights (Class of 2018), who filmed a video reflecting on his experience of going to university for Year 13 pupils; • Andy Lee (Class of 2017), who spoke to Sixth Form Classicists about his degree studies at the University of Oxford; • Tom Mair (Class of 2018), who answered Year 13 students’ questions on studying

Rob

Giles

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Alex Matthews (Class of 2019), who supported the pre-HE course for Year 13 pupils with a session talking about his experiences studying German and Economics at the University of Warwick;

• George Morgan (Class of 2018), who spoke to Sixth Formers about his experiences studying Materials Science and Engineering at University College, London; • Shivam Patel (Class of 2019), who discussed with pupils his experiences studying Mathematics at Imperial College, London; • Matthew Schaffel (Class of 2019), who answered Year 13 Classicists’ questions about studying the subject at the University of Oxford; • Henry Webb (Class of 2018), who spoke to Year 13 pupils about his experiences studying Aeronautical Engineering at Imperial College, London; • Jos Winstanley (Class of 2019), who filmed a video advising Year 13 pupils on his top tips for making the most of university life; and

Stewart

Boys’ Division SPACE Programme

Jonny

Geography at university and the transition from A Level live via Zoom;

Robin

On 8 June, seven Old Boys – Jonny Ashton (1998-2005), TV Producer and Director; Rob De Mark Dave Tony Maine (1995-2002), Senior Royal Navy Helicopter Pilot; Giles Lever (1979-1986), Deputy Ambassador to Kabul; Robin Partington (19641978), Architect; Mark Radcliffe (1966-1976), Broadcaster, Writer and Musician; Tony Wadsworth CBE (1967-1974), Music Industry Executive and David Woods (1978-1985), BBC Sport’s Rugby League Correspondent – supported the Year 12 ‘Uncovering Careers’ SPACE session, making short films reflecting on their careers and the skills and character virtues that have helped them to succeed. On 5 July, David Woods helped at a second SPACE session, drawing upon his experience in Sports Broadcasting to offer advice to Year 9 pupils tasked with writing their own sports commentaries.

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Niall Woodward (Class of 2016), who spoke to Sixth Formers about his degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering with Management Jos at Imperial College, London.

Perspectives on University

Over the summer, a number of Old Boys filmed videos to support Year 12 pupils deciding upon their UCAS choices who were unable to visit the universities they were considering due to Covid-19. These included films from: • Sam Hall (Class of 2017), who is reading History and International Politics at Aberystwyth University; • Peter Johnson (Class of 2019), who is studying German and Politics at the University of Sam Peter E dinburgh; • Ollie King (Class of 2017), who is studying Russian and Spanish at the University of Nottingham; • Stewart Knights (Class of 2018), a student of Business Management at Lancaster Ollie Shivam University; • Andrew Lee (Class of 2017), who is reading Classics at the University of Oxford; • Shivam Patel (Class of 2019), who is reading Mathematics Matthew Henry at Imperial College, London; • Matthew Schaffel (Class of 2019), who is reading Classics at the University of Oxford; • Matt Taylor (Class of 2017), who graduated with a 2:1 in English from the University of Birmingham earlier this summer; and Matt • Henry Webb (Class of 2018), who is studying Aeronautical Engineering at Imperial College, London.

Girls’ Division Year 10 Careers Day

On 3 July 2020, Old Boy Suve Banerjee (Class of 1999) gave a session at the Girls’ Division’s Year 10 Virtual Careers Day, offering his advice on building a career as a lawyer.

Old Boltonians’ Association 1895 - 2020

Lockdown Letters As part of the Boys’ Division’s remote schooling programme, an ‘Offline Day’ was held, with one of the activities inviting pupils in all year groups to write a letter to an Old Boy detailing their experience of ‘School’ during lockdown. These letters were then sent out to a selection of Old Boys to give them a flavour of the activities the boys enjoyed and the challenges they faced during this most unprecedented period of their education. These extracts from the boys’ letters give an insight of how they found the experience of remote schooling – by and large the lessons were excellent, but the camaraderie of actually being in School was greatly missed. ‘Before we went into lockdown, every teacher had their own unique instructions for lessons and most said that they wouldn’t dream of teaching us over Zoom. After the first weeks of virtual teaching, even the most Luddite teacher gave in and started Zooming us.’ Year 12

‘Some [things] I am rather happy with, like being in the comfort of my own home. Others I am not too thrilled about, such as not being able to see my friends and participate in sports lessons and other activities.’ Year 7 ‘Sports lessons have also taken a change in shape. Now during sport we are set challenges by Mr Chilton. These can range from toilet roll keepy-ups to juggling.’ Year 9

‘I had always hoped for longer holidays, but I have missed the friendships I am used to. I miss the usual hustle and bustle of pupils moving between lessons.’ Year 10

‘Our structured day keeps us motivated and the engagement in the online lessons is just the same as it would be if we were in School. Lockdown has been a real challenge for some schools, but Bolton School is not letting anything get in its way!’ Year 7 ‘Lockdown has definitely shown us all what School really means to us.’ Year 9

‘For the first time in the School’s history the Summer Prizegiving Ceremony was held in the form of an assembly on YouTube. Mr Britton awarded the prizes and we had the opportunity to sing. I sent the link to my Nan and my Mum and Dad so that they could watch [me being] awarded the Frank Brown prize.’ Year 7

The letters were very well received by the Old Boys, many of whom replied with letters of their own. Here are some excerpts from their responses. ‘The Zoom lessons and general virtual communication will have prepared you for the years ahead when I think this will become a usual activity in the world of work.’ ‘It is good to hear your observations, particularly about your relationships with your teachers and your fellow students – at least some good has come out of this dreadful pandemic. It is good to hear that 60 years since I left Bolton School the dedication of the staff of the School still prevails.’ ‘Hopefully there will be some advantages, lessons and experiences to be gained from this trauma which will help to offset the undoubted overall sad disruption to life as we have known it.’ ‘It is good to hear that the School is making the best of this very difficult situation, just as it did during my time there during the war. ‘It is a pleasure to see how you and the School are responding so positively to the current difficult situation in which we all find ourselves. Typical, may I say, of the ethos of the School in my day and obviously still so apparent, that difficulties are simply there to be overcome.’

‘It’s great that you have been able to carry on your lessons during Covid-19. It’s a real testament to the commitment of the School leadership, your teachers and all you boys. However, it is what I would have expected from Bolton School – don’t make a fuss, get on with it and do your best. I learnt those sorts of attitudes and self-reliance when I was there between 1958 and 1964 and they have stood me in good stead throughout my life.’ ‘I feel for all the boys, this remote learning at home via a video link cannot be easy and requires a considerable amount of self-discipline. I wouldn’t fancy it, but it seems to be the way of the world nowadays. It is remarkable how tech savvy even the younger boys are, they leave me way behind. However, they must be missing the physical contacts with all their contemporaries so let’s hope some sort of normality can be achieved soon. Some of the subjects still need some practical ‘hands-on’ work to get the best results.’ ‘Many thanks for your letter. It has helped to relieve the stultifying boredom of lockdown.’

Newsletter Autumn 2020

Five O’Clock Tea Visitors to Vladivostok are surprised to discover a classic English tearoom in the centre of the city – the Five O’Clock café is run by Barry Adamson (Class of 1983), who explains how he ended up serving tea in far eastern Russia. ‘I have lived in Vladivostok, a port city in the Russian far east on the sea of Japan, since 1997. As the home of the Russian Pacific naval fleet it was a closed city during Soviet times. ‘Through the mid-1980s I had been working in the casino industry in the UK until I received an intriguing phone call in late 1991 from an exBarry outside his English colleague who was working tea room in a casino in Moscow. This company was looking to recruit new staff. Though the political situation in Russia at this time was quite tense I could not pass up this opportunity. In December I flew out to Moscow intending to stay for six months. ‘I stayed in Moscow, managing the casino there for a little over four years until the company asked me to transfer to their Kiev casino; again it seemed like an opportunity to live and work in another country. After 18 months in Kiev, I was again asked to transfer back to Russia to a casino in Vladivostok – arriving A cuppa is welcome in here in October 1997, little did I chilly Vladivostok know that this decision was about to change my life quite dramatically. ‘At this time Vladivostok was not a very pleasant place to live and work; it had a reputation as the ‘wild east’ – and it was not long before I realised that this reputation was fully deserved. I had intended to leave as soon as possible and would have done if I had not met a young lady who was working as a translator at the casino. Her name was Anna, and she later became my wife. ‘Russia is obviously very different from England, the

country is enormous and cities far apart – Vladivostok is an eight-hour flight from Moscow which makes travelling home quite an ordeal, though I do make it every year. In 2007 new legislation was introduced outlawing casinos in the country and we were left with a dilemma, as I would have no income and a wife and young son to support. Anna came up with the idea of opening an English-style tearoom here in the city; we really had nothing to lose and now thanks to her hard work the Five O’Clock tea room is one of the most popular cafés in town. Barry and his team offer a warm welcome and delicious food

‘The city is now a completely different place to when I first arrived, mainly due to colossal investment as the city was chosen to host the APEC summit in 2012. Billions were spent on infrastructure, new airport, bridges and, most importantly, a new university which now attracts students from all over the world. ‘The biggest drawback is that it is so far away from home: it’s a full day of travelling, three flights to Manchester. As the years go by I find it a little more difficult to summon the energy to get home. The things I miss most are family and friends, but also some simple things that most take for granted: an English language morning newspaper, real fish and chips, the pub atmosphere. Undoubtedly the biggest problem I have had out here has been the language – somewhat ironic, since as a 12-year old I spurned the option of Russian in favour of Latin! ‘Over the years there has been a lot of interest in the café and the story of why an Englishman came here and stayed. I have done many interviews with local newspapers and magazines, but the real buzz comes when international press want to speak to me. I’ve been interviewed by Korean and Japanese journalists, Talk Radio in the UK, and a handful of times by the BBC. The highlight came last year when I was asked to show Tony Robinson around the city – apparently one of his producers had heard me speaking to BBC radio and I was lucky enough to be invited to feature in an episode of his travel series, Around the World by Train with Tony Robinson.’ Catch the episode featuring Barry’s tea room on www.my5.tv.)

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 assortment, 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

Old Boltonians’ Association 1895 - 2020

Old Boys Join the Fight Against Covid-19 We are incredibly proud of all of the Old Boys who have worked on the frontline during the pandemic. Here, we hear from three such Old Bolts, all of whom have contributed to the NHS’ fight against Covid-19. Waqqas Patel (Class of 2014) – Foundation Year 1 Doctor My final year of medical school was amended significantly so that my cohort could assist amidst the crisis, and it was a privilege to help out through an assistantship in General Surgery at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham. The pressures Covid-19 exerted on health, the economy and the national infrastructure are well established. To focus on the positives, during my Assistantship and now as an

FY1 in Trauma and Orthopaedics at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, there has been an exceedingly positive sense of camaraderie and solidarity amongst the staff, helped by fantastic support from the public – clapping or no clapping.

Ashish Chaudhry (Class of 1999) – GP I work as a GP Partner in a training practice in Salford. PreCovid-19, a typical day would have been filled with face-toface clinics in the morning and afternoon, with time over lunch to complete admin and coordinate care for my patients, review laboratory results, undertake home visits or meetings, and provide educational support for junior doctors. However, the pandemic mandated a reorganisation of our service to reduce footfall and potential spread of the virus within the surgery, as well as a need to meet the surge in demand from our patients for medical advice.

to examine. GPs often use their knowledge of an individual patient, as well as probability of illness, to help guide their clinical decision-making. Covid-19 posed an unknown challenge as there was little evidence about how this new disease would behave. We had also lost the ability to pick up visual cues from our patients, and this presented a risk of missing illness. We could always default to face-toface reviews if needed, but this required a cordoned and sanitised hot-zone area in the building, as well as wearing uncomfortable and intimidating personal protective equipment which was not ideal.

We adopted a total triage system, which meant every consultation was conducted over the telephone first. Surprisingly, we realised many problems could be addressed without physically needing to see patients. We could take histories, organise tests and prescribe remotely by sending prescriptions straight to local pharmacies. This was a game changer as it reduced risk of exposure to people coming into the building. However, we identified limitations regarding the safety of relying solely on telephone assessments and lack of ability

Covid-19 has affected my close family, those of friends and many others, and there have been a lot of difficult conversations in the past six months. Despite the challenges Covid-19 has presented, my approach to work remains the same: work hard and try to provide the best possible care you can. With a lot of establishments shut during the pandemic, I’ve started reading more, teaching medicine, and working on research. I think the pandemic has certainly highlighted the camaraderie within the NHS, but also areas of introspection that are necessary to ensure excellent healthcare for the future.

We improvised with a hybrid model, through technology that was readily available to us and to patients, and asked them to email photographs or use video consultations as a preference. Unfortunately, in late March I was exposed to Covid-19, but through the enforced digital transformation, I was able to embrace home working and consult patients remotely as well as support colleagues through virtual coffee breaks and debriefs. As the pandemic leaves a legacy of effects on both health and economy, supporting patients who have had stressful personal or professional Covid-19 journeys has been never more important. As a GP, I miss the opportunities to build lifelong therapeutic relationships with people, which have been digitally diluted. But whatever the medium, we must continue to practise with humility and strive to make a difference in these uncertain times.

Newsletter Autumn 2020

Mark Hills (Class of 1996) – Pharmacist I have been a community pharmacist for 20 years and am currently working for Bolton-based firm Cohen’s Chemists in Royal Wootton Bassett. This has been a strange time at the coalface of community pharmacy. Patients initially tried to be prepared for the unknown, and the quantity of prescriptions doubled overnight. We started to limit the number of people in the shop at one time, introduced social distancing, installed a Perspex screen and started to wear protective equipment. All of these things make communication very difficult and the opposite of how pharmacy should be. Following the introduction of shielding for the most vulnerable, we had to work out how to supply those patients with medication. Fortunately, up and down the country, community spirit triumphed and people volunteered to deliver medicines to the housebound. In Royal Wootton Bassett, we were lucky to have a band of volunteers who stepped up and made sure this need was met, the mainstay of which was my fellow Old Boltonian, Adrian German (Class of 1975).

It has been incredibly fulfilling to be involved in the response to Covid-19; in a job that gives me enormous satisfaction on a daily basis, the buzz of problem-solving during this unusual time has only added to this. We must not forget, however, how many people have lost their lives to this awful virus. Fellow Old Boltonians Mark (left) and Adrian We are now ensure much-needed medication is delivered moving into the influenza vaccination time of the year, which I will be helping to deliver. This, coupled with the usual winter pressures on the NHS, means it will be a critical time. I urge as many people as possible to get the flu jab this year, as this will help to mitigate these pressures as much as possible.

Park Road Rallies to Help during Pandemic In addition to Old Boys playing their part in the fight against Covid-19, current pupils and staff have also contributed to the cause. The Boys’ Junior School produced much needed PPE equipment, producing 150 visors and at least 250 visor headbands. Park Road Design and Technology Co-ordinator Aaron Winstanley (2008-2015) explained: ‘For a time, we had two 3D Printers working 24/7 to produce as many visor headbands as possible as part of a national effort and in conjunction with the National 3D Printing Society. Alongside this project, pupils saw their class teacher using 3D printing technologies to print headbands and face visors for the NHS as well as using TinkerCAD and the very same features they have been learning about in their own lessons to adapt the Italian ‘Charlotte Valve’ to produce a valve that better fits British medical equipment. The finished products were then distributed to Intensive Care Units across Greater Manchester. Pupils seeing similar work to theirs having such a large impact across the country has certainly added to their enthusiasm towards 3D Printing.’

Eager Year 6 pupil Zain Khan showed real initiative and creative skills of his own by developing some well-designed, cleanable and adjustable ear relievers which were gratefully received by staff in the stroke unit of the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust.

Zain’s ear relievers have made a real difference

Old Boltonians’ Association 1895 - 2020

EVENTS With restrictions on social gatherings continuing to change and evolve so rapidly, no in-person Alumni events are currently planned for the Autumn Term and in the early months of 2021. We remain optimistic that we will be able to resume our usual calendar of events next year, and hope that from the Spring onwards the Alumni Dinners, the Class Reunion and the Old Boys’ Lunches will take place. We will of course ensure that further updates and invitations are sent out as soon as we are able to confirm that each event is able to go ahead. If you have not previously received an

invitation to any of the aforementioned gatherings, but would like to do so, please contact the Development Office. We look forward to seeing Old Boys and Old Girls in person as soon as it is safe (and legal) for us to do so. In the meantime, we plan to hold a number of virtual events for Alumni in the coming months, details of which will be shared by email and through our various social media channels. Please see page 2 for details of how to stay in touch with the Development Office in this way.

Tillotson Lecture This year’s Tillotson Lecture will, for the first time ever, be staged virtually, on Monday 23rd November 2020, when Old Boys Prateek Buch (Class of 1999), Ashish Chaudhry (Class of 1999), Hetain Patel (Class of 1999) and Nick Johnson (Class of 1984) will offer insights from the Public Policy, Medical, Arts and Hospitality sectors as they debate the question ‘How will Covid-19 change our society?’ in a panel discussion chaired by the Headmaster. The lecture will be staged by Zoom and will start at 7pm. To register to receive the Zoom link, please contact the Boys’ Division office at BDInfo@boltonschool.org.

New York Dinner – Save the Date! The Alumni New York Dinner, originally scheduled for earlier this year, will now take place on Wednesday 22nd September 2021. All US-based Old Boys and Old Girls (partners and spouses are also welcome) are invited to meet over drinks and dinner at the Harvard club of New York City. If you would like to receive further details about this event, please contact the Development Office.

Answers to Quiz on page 31 1 Chambers Dictionary 2 Yates’s Wine Lodge 3 Doctor Watson 4 All are a Thatcher 5 Morgan 6 Sir David Frost 7 Robson Green 8 Burgess 9 Walkers 10 Charlie and Buddy Rich 11 Kettle 12 Edge 13 Sefton 14 Cotton 15 Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 16 Lord’s Cricket Ground to House of Lords 17 Keith Waterhouse 18 Shaw 19 Martin 20 Fox

Answers to the HoDs Quiz

1 Colin Chambers, Chemistry 2 Michael Yates, Chemistry 3 David Watson, Computing and IT 4 Janet Thatcher, Physics 5 Nick Morgan, Biology 6 David Frost, Mathematics 7 Carl Robson, French/Modern Languages 8 Susannah Burgess, History 9 Chris Walker, Technology 10 James Rich, History 11 David Kettle, Economics 12 Christine Edge, Business Studies 13 Mike Sefton, Handicraft 14 Jenni Cotton, Spanish/Modern Languages 15 Martin Wadsworth, Economics and Business Studies/Games 16 Naomi Lord, Drama 17 Roy Waterhouse, Russian 18 Derrick Shaw, Geography 19 Steve Martin, Music 20 Cath Fox, Religious Studies

And here are the Heads of Department behind the answers

Newsletter Autumn 2020

SPORTS

The Times they are A-Changin’

The Covid-19-wrecked times in which the Old Bolts now operate are, indeed, totally changed; what should have been a time of celebration has become the devil of a time. The football club reached its 100th birthday in unique circumstances. We should be reporting on the first phase of a year of centenary celebrations. These are, of course, on hold and remain so – the club intends to celebrate its 100 years … and its 101st one year on in Summer 2021. A commemorative publication is still planned; contributions from near and far – Bolton, London and the USA – are already received, but more memories and memorabilia would be welcome. All three leagues in which the club has teams aborted their seasons when the time to complete them ran out. Thus the season will not make the record books or see any awards; however at closure, the Ladies still had their 100% record in league and cup intact; a dozen games, a ton of goals – not official, but this will last long in our memory. The veterans had a less than straightforward season with huge numbers of players being needed to fulfil fixtures. In the lower reaches, the A team never overcame the difficulties such as promotion and the churn of players up to the higher level. The reserves

may look on the year doubly unfulfilled – having played more than most, uncluttered consolidation in the top third, if not better, was thwarted. The firsts were perhaps the most frustrated. They topped the premier division at shutdown. Their form was strong and the other two clubs with a significant chance of the title had many more games to play – as we have found in the past, points on the board are often the key to success. So, unrecorded, but two virtual champions is a not unreasonable claim! Judicious use of grants available from government and the FA mean the pitches and pavilion are in well-nigh perfect condition as the teams’ seasons all begin. The Saturday teams, well manned and fit aiming for success and consolidation; the Veterans rejuvenated by the break; the Ladies, promoted, planning to continue their magnificent brand of football; the Youth team, long promised already impressing in pre-season – all part of the club that feels strong as it enters its second century. It has stood the test of time so far … quite what the 2020-21 season will bring, only time will tell. Martin Wadsworth (Boys’ Division Staff, 1974-2006)

OLD BOLTONIANS’ GOLF SOCIETY REPORT: Autumn 2020 I think you will all agree this has been an extremely strange year, and one that we all hope will never be repeated. It was somewhat inevitable that organising any events for the Society would prove difficult. Whilst there have been certain relaxations to the rules, the constant changes around post-golf gathering and dining have meant that it was thought best not to organise any events for 2020. That said, I do hope everyone has managed to play some golf this summer and those that have played competitively have enjoyed success. Given that we have missed a year I am proposing to play the Gwynne Jones Goblets in early April 2020 when everyone will be raring to go for the new season. We will continue to play The Taylor Trophy in mid-June and the Rosebowl knockout competition will run through the season. I will advise dates for the Gwynne Jones and Taylor Trophy early next year.

As far as The Grafton Morrish Trophy is concerned, we will not be attending the finals in Hunstanton in October as there was no qualifying held this year and those schools that qualified last year were invited back. This was somewhat annoying as we only missed out by one point in 2019. Since then, however, we have had contact from a couple of Old Boys off very low handicaps which is very welcome news and, with a full squad, I would expect us not only to qualify next year, but also to perform well in the finals. All that remains for me to say is, enjoy the rest of the golf season, let’s hope the weather (and Her Majesty’s Government) permits golf through the winter and I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at the Society events next year. Mark Millhouse (1989-1994) Golf Secretary

Barry Burns Old Bolts who played in the Liverpool Ramblers Easter Festival or friendlies against LRAFC, once played on mid-season Saturdays, will be saddened to hear that the legendary Barry Burns passed away in the summer. An infectiously enthusiastic player in all Ramblers teams, an esoteric manager of Burns’ Bashers and an objective

and perceptive administrator and decision-maker for club and ISFA, he merits the epithet “legend”. The Club sent its condolences at the loss of a true gentleman and colossus of both Northern amateur and Independent Schools football.

Old Boltonians’ Association 1895 - 2020

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 1950-1959

Norman Longworth (1947-53) Norman is still living in retirement in the South of France and continues to enjoy writing poetry which he puts to music. He has recently collated the hundreds of hours of Lifelong Learning and Learning City materials he has written over the past 20 years and created a website, www.longlearn. info, which he hopes will be of interest to students, teachers, lecturers, civil servants, administrators, elected representatives – in fact anyone with an interest in the municipal and regional future of towns and cities. David Lowe (1944-1954) Congratulations to David and his wife Yvonne (née Conroy, 1947-1955) who celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary on 3rd September, having been married in Bolton Parish Church in 1960. Eric Springate (1948-1954) Having been very pleased to receive a handwritten letter from a current Bolton School pupil about lockdown (see also page 14), Eric notes that south west France has been experiencing similar problems to the UK. However, even under le confinement as a ‘shielded’ geriatric, the impact has been negligible – that is in terms of leaving neither the house nor garden. He has still been able to take the dog for a 3-4km walk without seeing a single person. Socialising has of course been entirely different, all taking place outside the house and under social distancing rules. But even Covid-19 cannot stop the French from their habit of ‘multiple kissing’ of everyone! Eric acknowledges that the English can be a little conservative, but as a Lancashire lad as well, social greeting has had to be either bumping elbows or bums – neither of which is either appreciated or understood by the majority of his French friends! Keith Wall (1948-1955) Keith is now living in Lytham St Annes and would be pleased to hear from any Old Boy living in that area who may

remember him. He may be contacted via the Development Office. Norman Lewis ‘Eddie’ Bailey (1950-1957) After picking up a degree at Leeds University, Norman emigrated to Australia in 1963. He worked as a jackaroo on farms in New South Wales for six months then joined IBM in Sydney, later moving to Melbourne. He had his own consulting business for 13 years before becoming a senior lecturer in Information Systems at Swinburne University until his retirement in 2006. Norman’s main interest outside information technology has been theatre. He acted and directed in dozens of amateur productions, served 20 years on the state drama committee for amateur theatre, and did some radio crit work. In 1980 he founded a not-for-profit children’s theatre group which he directed and ran for 40 years, running workshops, and putting on major musical productions at a theatre. In recognition of his contribution to amateur theatre, and children’s theatre in particular, he was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 2019. Unfortunately he has now lost his sight, so is unable to direct the children, but retains his connection by playing the keyboard in the orchestra for their productions. After the joy of singing in the Bolton School choir, Norman retained his interest and has sung with several choirs over his lifetime. He only stopped when the other base singers started nudging him in the ribs as he guessed at notes in the music that he couldn’t read! Norman’s wife, Maureen, died in 2013 after 44 years of happy marriage during which she helped with the choreography, costumes and makeup for the children’s theatre. In 2016 Norman moved to an apartment in an elderly citizens’ retirement complex where he lives independently, but supported by his son, Merrin, and daughter, Susie. He remembers his days at Bolton School with nostalgia and affection. Despite being in the science stream, he is grateful to the teaching staff at that time for inspiring a lasting interest in literature, poetry and music (courtesy of Masters Green, Tomlinson and Stevens). Since leaving the

School 60 years ago, every day he still performs the exercises done on Open Day on the top Level! Which is probably why, despite being in Shakespeare’s last age of Man (sans eyes, sans ears, sans money, etc) he is still fit and limber at 81! Malcolm Stevens (1945-1957) Old Boltonians, never ones to shirk a challenge, will have embarked on a range of demanding projects to occupy the lockdown weeks. As the son of the former Director of Music at the School (PAS Stevens, Boys’ Division Staff 1944-1969), Malcolm has been honing his piano-playing skills and, in celebration of Beethoven’s 250th anniversary, has set himself the task of fumbling through all of his sublime 32 piano sonatas. He has inherited a rare German publication, edited by Franz Liszt no less, from his father which, intriguingly, has an address of one John Edge of Derby Terrace, Markland Hill, Heaton, and is dated Christmas 1914. Derby Terrace on Markland Hill still exists, but who John Edge was and how Malcolm’s father came by this precious copy remains a mystery. Most helpfully, the venerable volume indexes the sonatas both in their order of difficulty and in the order in which they were composed. Capable pianists who can play the slow movements of the Pathétique and Moonlight sonatas might be interested to know they are 12th and 22nd in order of difficulty, respectively. As of mid-July Malcolm had conquered the first nine sonatas, noting that they become more fraught by the page, and is anticipating the grave ordeal of the dreaded Hammerklavier, which is number 32 in order of difficulty with fiendish sections in six sharps and five flats. However, he is determined to struggle on with his musical journey and complete the set as his personal lockdown odyssey.

Class of 1960-1969

A Richard Horrocks (1951-1961) Lockdown has enabled Richard to finish and self-publish his industrial biography James Kay of Turton Tower, as well as to write and have published two research papers based on recent research at the

Newsletter Autumn 2020

University of Bolton. Richard began his research in the area of textile flammability back in 1979 when the University was still the Institute of Technology. Since that time it has grown in stature and is now the Fire Research Materials Group within the School of Engineering, with one full-time and two part-time (including Richard) professors and a team of eight researchers funded by various means. Richard retains his specialist interest in fire and heat resistant fibres and textiles, although he is still involved across the whole materials spectrum of polymers and composites. The group is unique within the UK, its most recent work involving carbon fibre developments as well as its main themes of novel fire-retardant systems and mechanisms. J Paul Hodgson (1955-1962) On leaving School Paul attended the University of London, in parallel soon becoming an undergraduate apprentice with AV Roe and Company (Avro Vulcan bomber designer-builders). After further postgraduate studies, his first job proper was as a control systems design engineer. He remained with the company for a total of 37 years, retiring as an aircraft Chief Designer in 2000 to become a part-time lecturer in aircraft design at the University of Manchester until 2008. Paul has now written a book, Britain’s Glorious Aircraft Industry – 100 years of Success, Setback and Change, published by Pen & Sword. Great Britain’s aircraft industry started in 1908, with the first formally registered organisation in the world to offer to design and build an aeroplane ‘for commercial gain’. This was when the Short brothers, Oswald, Eustace and Horace, decided that aeroplanes would overtake balloons as a business opportunity in the aeronautical world and formed the partnership ‘Short Brothers’. Thereafter the UK aircraft industry expanded and grew rapidly, going on throughout the rest of the twentieth century to achieve many ‘firsts’ in the aeronautical world, with some remarkable technical successes and gaining a reputation to match. There were also setbacks along the way. Paul’s book tells the complete story of the 112 years since the start, highlighting the advances in aeronautical ambition

and technology. It is the story of the creation, survival and decline of all 129 of the aircraft design-and-construction companies formed between 1908 and 2020. The exhilaration of success and the magic of aviation technology are vividly illustrated by the technical and political birth stories of iconic projects such as the Cirrus/Gypsy Moths, the Tiger Moth, the flying boats of Imperial Airways, Spitfire, Lancaster, Viscount, Vulcan, Harrier, Buccaneer and many more. The birth of the jet turbine engine and the quest for supersonic speed are also included, as are stories of the disappointments of failure and disaster, such as the Brabazon, Comet, Princess, Rotodyne and TSR-2, and the growth of international collaboration in Concorde, Tornado, Airbus, Eurofighter Typhoon in the context of the international scene and domestic politics. The conclusion highlights the prominent reminiscences and speculates on the future of the aircraft industry in Britain. Peter Marsh (1957-1964) Peter spent the latter years of his career building up consumer data companies and, following a couple of bouts of cancer, got interested in datadriven approaches to health research. During Covid-19 he was a member of the Ethics Advisory Board for the contact tracing app making sure that, when it can be made to work satisfactorily, it will also be acceptable to the public and widely taken up. He is also a member of the Covid-19 Dashboard Stakeholder Group which provides advice on the daily dashboard published by the DHSC. His ambition in data-driven health research is to build on the major progress that has been made in bringing together patient data to fight the pandemic in order to drive forward future research in wider healthcare. David Aspinall (1962-1967) David, an extreme archaeologist, has played a key role in a new archaeological find in southwest Northumberland, namely a Roman marching camp detected by a system which works on the principle of radar, but uses light from a laser. The recently discovered camp has neither been surveyed nor dug, but has been temporarily named Moscium. David speculates that perhaps the Roman dominance over the Carlisle tribes – the

Carvetii – was achieved by a northbound pincer movement, with forces travelling through the Cumbrian lowlands and a smaller group moving through the hills, to converge whereabouts Brampton is now. This would be around 71 CE, with Cerialis as Governor, under Vespasian, and the area of Moscium will suggest the number of troops staying there. Leats to carry and remove water are still discernible, from the air, and suggest that the outpost was used for more than a night or two. Apparently there is a natural amphitheatre nearby. The site is easily accessed by a footpath, is on the roadside and wide open for exploration. Chris Topp (Class of 1967) Congratulations to Chris who has been awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Heritage Ironwork Group for his contribution to heritage ironwork preservation. Chris founded Chris Topp & Co in 1982, quickly establishing the company as one of the most respected workshops in the country for creating and restoring fine architectural metalwork for some of the most architecturally sensitive sites in the world. NHIG was formed in 2009 by a group of experienced professionals, including Chris, to raise awareness of the importance of the different forms of heritage ironwork and to ensure that the skills of the Heritage Ironworker and Blacksmith are preserved. Michael Hancock (1963-1968) Most men approaching their 70th birthday would be contemplating nothing more strenuous than a bit of gardening, or perhaps a leisurely game of bowls, but fitness fanatic Mike, an avid player and supporter of football since playing for the Old Bolts, laced up his boots to play a full 90 minutes of football at Turton in a match which took place on the 25th anniversary of the team’s championship year in Division 3B of the Lancashire Amateur League. Since he stopped playing regularly, Mike has been a keen supporter down at Turton, especially when his son Sam (1987-1997) was keeping up the long family tradition by playing. A keen Bolton Wanderers fan, he likes to keep up his

Old Boltonians’ Association 1895 - 2020

fitness levels and stay as healthy as possible, regularly attending the gym and still playing tennis.

Class of 1970-1979

Thomas Leeming (1962-1970) Back in January keen quizzer Thomas appeared on Channel 4’s Countdown, winning a couple of times before succumbing on the third day. It was not his first appearance on the show – he made a single appearance Thomas with the in the summer of Countdown regulars 2005 during what plus guest Dan Walker turned out to be Richard Whiteley’s final series. Thomas has clocked up a number of other TV appearances over the years: once unsuccessfully on Mastermind, once on Channel 5’s Brainteaser, where he won £750, and several appearances on the William G Stewart-fronted version of Fifteen to One. After a couple of unsuccessful appearances, he made it through to the Grand Final of each of the final three series (one of only two people to achieve that), finishing third overall in the first of those finals. On radio he has had three unsuccessful attempts at Brain of Britain and has had two goes at its Radio 4 companion music quiz Counterpoint, reaching the semifinals once. Peter Acton (1964-1971) Congratulations to Peter who is to be inducted into the Motor Transport Hall of Fame in November. With an MSc in Traffic Engineering and Transport Planning Peter became part of the team designing the M25 London Ring Road in North and West London. He then embarked on a PhD in Marketing Innovative Transport Solutions with Dunlop Ltd. His passion and enthusiasm for championing transport and logistics causes saw him edit a number of transport publications. In 1988, he launched Distribution Business, the first magazine dedicated to the emerging contract logistics sector in the UK. At the same time he developed a very successful logistics and transport PR and marketing business. Peter has held a number of senior positions within the transport industry, including Secretary of the Transport

Association and Trustee of Transaid, the Transport Industry International Development Charity. He was elected to the Court of the Worshipful Company of Carmen, the City of London Livery Company for the transport industry, in 2015, having been a Liveryman and Freeman of the City of London for 25 years. He has also been a member of the Council of the CIT and was on the marketing committee of CILTUK as well as being a judge in its transport journalist of the year competition. Recently, he has been elected to the Board of the Humanitarian Logistics Association. In 2010 Peter launched the Logistics Leaders Network to provide a platform for emerging logistics leaders to share best practice, meet like-minded professionals and be exposed to the latest innovations. The CILTUK recognised Peter’s contribution to transport and logistics presenting him with his 40-year Fellow certificate and badge in May 2020. Philip Rothwell (1964-1971) Philip ended his employment as Planning Director at Peel Land & Property in March after 31 years’ service with the company. He is now focussing on providing Philip is enjoying his town planning retirement and development consultancy services from his offices in Bolton. He is also intending to play more golf and hopes to improve his game which has been neglected in recent years. Nigel Slater (1964-1972) Nigel’s career may be drawing to a close, but it is not quite over yet. After retiring from the University of Cambridge (where he was Professor of Chemical Engineering) in September, he is now Emeritus and a Life Fellow at Fitzwilliam College. In theory this gives him licence to meddle in college affairs, but he will firmly resist the temptation, as his younger colleagues deserve space to pursue their own vision of the future. However, it is too early to give up research, given his publication output rate is higher than it has ever been, retiring gracefully does not appeal and life on the golf course no longer holds much attraction as his swing has deteriorated irretrievably. Nigel will continue with his Chair in Chemical Engineering at the University of Zhejiang in China, where he has a very enjoyable involvement in several biotechnology research projects, and he and his wife will spend time at ZJU in spring and autumn

when Hangzhou is very beautiful. Ian Wallwork (1965-1972) Since graduating Ian has worked in the family opticians business in Swinton. He is married to Old Girl Val (née Bradburn, 1964-1971) whom he met post degrees at the Lancastrian Squash Club in Leigh. Aside from work and family, most of Ian’s spare minutes have been spent in a variety of sports, although swimming has remained the main competitive field, the highlight being European Masters Champion for 50 metres L-R: Emma Tonge, Ian butterfly in 2005. and Matt Sports injuries put paid to swimming for a while, but introduced Ian to the concept of an annual sports-based ‘challenge’, including Lands End to John O’Groats, an indoor rowing marathon, cycling to Kosice, Slovakia, and, when back swimming, outdoor races abroad, often with another Old Boy, Matt Harrop (1970-1980). 2019 saw a different challenge: having retired, Ian had the time to become a kidney donor and donated a kidney to a lady in London. After a couple of weeks of soreness he gradually moved around more and after three months was back to some training. He had planned his next challenge to be a very taxing swim, one year on from surgery, but Covid-19 put paid to that. However, on 18th July he did a 10K swim in Salford Quays with support from Matt and fellow swimmer Emma Tonge. The intention was to raise awareness of kidney donation and to show that after a relatively short period you can be just as fit and strong as before, you are sharing your health and wellbeing with someone and not giving away something that limits you in the future. The swim was also to raise funds for Kidneys for Life and the link justgiving.com/fundraising/ million-challenge tells the fuller story as well as providing an opportunity to support this worthwhile cause. Ian and Matt hope to swim BestFest in Majorca again in May 2021 – highly recommended to anyone who enjoys a bit of competition and swimming in beautiful blue seas. Chris Carley (1963-1973) Having retired from his successful structural engineering business, Chris applied to be a magistrate. Following a lengthy process, including two searching interviews, he was appointed in October 2019. He then undertook some intensive

Newsletter Autumn 2020

training in January this year and was sworn in in Manchester on 11th February. He is based mainly in Bolton and Manchester, but may also sit in the three other Greater Manchester courts which are Tameside, Wigan and Stockport. Although there has been much disruption due to Covid-19, the courts have not closed, and Chris has had a number of sittings. The Greater Manchester Bench is desperately short of magistrates, particularly younger people (currently only 5% are aged under 40) and Chris would encourage anyone interested to apply. Away from the courts, Chris was delighted to welcome his second grandchild – to the delight of his daughter, Elizabeth Novak (née Carley, 1994-2001), and her husband, baby Jack arrived on 2nd January. Adrian German (1968-1975) Adrian has been privileged to be part of a team of helpers who served the town of Royal Wootton Bassett in Wiltshire. Realising, at the start of lockdown, how fortunate he was being able to drive around the empty streets, he volunteered to deliver prescriptions from one of the Cohens chemists in the town to people who were isolating. One day he was wearing his Bolton Wanderers training top and the pharmacist spotted it. He turned out to be another Old Boy, Mark Hills (1989-1996), and although he was at School 21 years after Adrian, both knew several of the same masters. Although the team ceased its assistance at the end of June, Adrian continues to volunteer and deliver for Mark as there are still Mark and Adrian many people take the necessary isolating, and has precautions now delivered hundreds of prescriptions for Cohens – incidentally, a Bolton firm based near the University of Bolton stadium. Philip Taylor (1966-1976), BDS MGDS MSc MRD FDS FHEA FFDTEd Congratulations to Philip who has become the Dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery at The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. He is Professor Emeritus in Prosthodontics at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) and until recently was a Restorative Consultant at Barts Health NHS Trust, where he was the Clinical Director for Dentistry, OMFS and Ophthalmology.

Professor Taylor’s career spans almost 40 years, graduating from Newcastle University in 1981 and working in general dental practice for 12 years. Professor Taylor has been Director of the postgraduate course in Prosthodontics at QMUL for 20 years and an elected member of RCSEd’s Faculty of Dental Surgery council since 2017. He has recently retired from clinical practice to concentrate on his new role as Dean, saying: ‘Becoming Dean of the Faculty of Dental Surgery is the pinnacle of my career and is one of the greatest honours that anyone can have in dentistry.’ The Dental Council also has another Bolton School Alumna, Professor Alison Qualtrough who left School in the same year as Philip. She is the Professor of Endodontology at Manchester Dental School.

Class of 1980-1989

implementation of the first Home Health Care Company in India. He is also the Vice Chairman of Dr Mehta’s Hospitals (India’s oldest home health care), the co-founder of Health Sensei (a leading predictive health company) and the Atlas Family Office (a global investment vehicle for new and emerging deep technology). India Home Health Care (IHHC) is among the leading companies in Healthcare in India, and a creator of a new industry since the pioneering launch in 2010. The company has been ground-breaking in creating clinical jobs and professional training for young women who would otherwise have entered early marriage straight from school or a maid service within the major cities of India. The home health sector currently employs over 600,000 staff members across India, with over 85% being young women in their first employment from rural villages.

Jonathan ‘Joe’ Halstead (1973-1986) After 30 years of dedicated service Joe retired from West Midlands Police in 2015 and is thoroughly enjoying his retirement. He has been happily married to his wife of 33 years, Debra (neé Wild, 1976-1983), the pair having met on the 536 bus to School in 1979! They have two sons and became grandparents to Penelope Rose in 2019.

Sam has also been awarded Global Healthcare Innovator of the Year.

Joe and Debra still have many old School friends from both Divisions on Facebook and enjoy hearing their news and sharing stories from their School days.

Monik Vasant (1991-1998)

Iain Rawlinson (1973-1986) After 18 months in Saudi Arabia, of which the last six months were spent in lockdown in the UAE, Iain has come to the end of a 26-year stint in the Middle East, having been based in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman and the United Arab Emirates. During that time, he has worked in the transportation and logistics industry; now he is moving as Chief Commercial Officer of APM Terminals, Poti. Poti is the principal port city of Georgia, and serves not only Georgia itself, but also Azerbaijan and Armenia, and is a gateway to much of the former Soviet Union. As a result, Iain is looking forward to exploring a whole new part of the world over the next few years.

Class of 1990-1999

Sameer Mehta (Class of 1992) Sameer was awarded the United Nations and Lions Community Leader Award for Services to the Healthcare Industry. Sam is widely recognised as the Godfather of the Home Health Industry in India, having personally led the creation and

Adam Syddall (1984-1998) Congratulations to Adam and Ruth (née Morley, 1993-2003) on the arrival of George Jude Syddall, born on 8th July 2020 – a Adam, Ruth, little brother for Arthur. George and Arthur

Monik discusses dental care with Philip Schofield and Holly Willoughby

Monik is a dentist with a special interest in minimally invasive aesthetic and advanced restorative dentistry. He qualified at the University of Leeds in 2003 and subsequently completed a postgraduate Master of Science degree in Aesthetic and Restorative Dentistry from the University of Manchester. He carries out his work from his Central London clinic and postgraduate training institute, Freshdental Clinic and Institute. Monik was invited by the producers of This Morning to talk on the show about the situation regarding dentistry during lockdown. He was subsequently invited back several times to give advice to patients on what to do if they had dental issues and also to update the public on when routine dentistry would resume and how it would look.

Old Boltonians’ Association 1895 - 2020

Class of 2000-2009

Jonny Ashton (1998-2005) Documentary maker Jonny has been busy – he directed BBC2’s Murder 24/7 and BBC1’s Life and Birth which both aired in the spring. During lockdown, he made a series of films about Covid-19 for Channel 4 – How to Self-Isolate, When Will Lockdown End? and How to Avoid a Second Wave. At the end of last year Jonny’s series The Mighty Redcar won the Royal Television Society award for ‘Photography in a Documentary/ Factual and Non Drama’.

Class of 2010-2019

Hadley Stewart (2007-2014) Congratulations to Hadley who has been made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts after being nominated by an existing Fellow in light of his impressive career as a journalist, illustrating important themes such as LGBT+ topics and health, and his remarkable reports on the plight of the LGBT+ community in Egypt, the impact of Venezuela’s economic crisis on LGBT+ people, and human rights activism in the Middle East. Hadley hopes to use this opportunity to continue working on journalism projects that focus on minority groups, in order to amplify the voices of those without one, and to create positive change in our society. Lewis Daly (2008-2015) Well done to Lewis, who, back in July, completed a 24-hour charity row, raising over £4,000 for a cause close to his heart. The water polo international took up rowing last year and rented a rowing machine during lockdown. He set himself the challenge of rowing nonstop around the clock in his garage to raise funds for Bolton Hospice, having been inspired by the care and support the hospice recently gave to a close family member. Paul Greenhalgh (2001-2015) Paul graduated from Jesus College, Cambridge, in 2018 with a geography degree. He has spent the past two years as a church apprentice in southwest London, being trained to faithfully teach the Bible through the Cornhill

Training Course. In September, he returned to Cambridge, this time to Homerton College, to begin studying for his secondary school geography PGCE. Zakary Harrison-Twist (Class of 2015) Congratulations to Zak, who has graduated from the University of Leeds with a First Class degree in Chinese and Russian. He is now studying for an MA in Chinese Translation and Interpreting at the University of Manchester this year, following which he hopes to complete a PGCE in Chinese and Spanish at University College London. Christian Sharrock (2008-2015) Congratulations to Christian who gained a first in his Masters in Biology at the University of York and is now studying towards a PhD at the University of Bristol. Oliver Leaver (Class of 2015) Congratulations to Oliver on achieving his MSc in Applied Clinical Psychology at the University of Central Lancashire. Daniel Anderson (2009-2016) Daniel was delighted to be awarded a First Class MA (Hons) in Architecture from the University of Edinburgh, in addition to receiving two academic awards. His dissertation has also been nominated for the RIBA President’s Medals, a national series of awards for architectural students. Daniel hopes to remain in Edinburgh and find work as an architectural assistant for the next year (though this may prove challenging in the current economic climate!) and intends to return to university for his MArch postgraduate qualifications in September 2021. Christopher Battarbee (2009-2016) Congratulations to Chris, who has gained a First Class degree in Computing from Imperial College London. He also received a departmental award for excellence which is awarded to students for an

outstanding overall performance throughout their degree. Chris is now working as a Forward Deployed Software Engineer at Palantir Technologies. John Clark (2009-2016) John has completed his postgraduate diploma in Public Health at Queen’s University Belfast and is now working at Randox, a company based in Antrim in Northern Ireland which deals with around a quarter of the UK’s Covid-19 testing. His main role is to extract viral genetic material from people’s tests and then prepare that genetic material for further testing. Patrick Tyrer (2009-2016) Congratulations to Paddy, who has graduated from the University of Leeds with a 2:1 in International Relations and Russian. Niall Woodward (2009-2016) Congratulations to Niall, who has graduated from Imperial College London with a Masters of Electrical and Electronic Engineering with Management. After submitting several job applications, Niall has secured a position as Data Engineer at Tails.com. Abrar Azad (2015-2017) Congratulations to Abrar who has graduated from the University of Warwick with a 2:1 in Accounting and Finance. Abrar joins Deutsche Bank as an Analyst in October: he will be based in Canary Wharf and would love to get in touch with fellow Old Boys working at Deutsche Bank or elsewhere in the City. Sam Hall (2012-2017) Sam is currently studying History and International Politics at Aberystwyth University. During lockdown, he has been published in a number of online blogs, including www.orthodoxconservatives.uk, thebackbencher.co.uk and gwydir.blog. Besides writing, he has also taken some tentative steps towards learning Welsh. Ben Milnes (2010-2017) Congratulations to Ben who has graduated from the University of York with a degree in Law. He is now studying

Newsletter Autumn 2020

the LPC (Legal Practice Course) at the University of Law in Manchester. Alex O’Loughlin (2003-2017) Congratulations to Alex, who has graduated from the University of Exeter with a First Class Honours degree in Drama. Matthew Taylor (2010-2017) Congratulations to Matt who has graduated from the University of Birmingham with a 2:1 in English. Matt is now studying for an MA course in Magazine Journalism at the University

of Cardiff. Stewart Knights (2011-2018) Along with a friend from Zimbabwe, Stewart recently ran five virtual entrepreneurship and public speaking sessions with entrepreneurs from 11 countries – South Africa, Zimbabwe, The Congo, Senegal, the US, the UK, Germany, Kenya, Angola, Canada and Australia – focusing on the

Mini Reunions

Summer Student Get-Together

L-R: Arjun Agarwal, Jack Wilson, Christopher Smith, Rupert Varley, Joe Abram

Joe Abram, Arjun Agarwal, Jude BrennanCalland, Christopher Smith, Rupert Varley and Jack Wilson (all Class of 2019) met for drinks at Albert’s Standish in July to catch up before returning to university in the autumn.

Freemasonry 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. Whilst membership of the Lodge has been opened up to

importance of understanding failure as part of one’s journey. The pair then went on to develop an entrepreneurial ecosystem designed to provide a quality foundation for enterprise in Zimbabwe, with the intention of expanding across Africa. Stewart is the co-founder in this (nonprofit) venture which is set to involve an interaction with a group of farmers from Botswana. Stewart is also releasing an application to the App Store focused on intercultural communication – read more about this at www.contextculture.uk.

The Boltonian 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.

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

Old Boys on Film 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 ‘Old Boltonians’ 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.

Old Boltonians’ Association 1895 - 2020

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Old Boy Philanthropy

This year’s Spring edition of The Bugle focused on the early years of the Old Boltonians’ Association (OBA) and its various sporting and social activities. Here we focus more on some of the many times when the Old Boys have been more than generous in their support of their old School. The OBA Committee began discussing the erection of an appropriate war memorial in 1921. The initial proposal was for a stone memorial in the School grounds, but eventually the splendid stained glass War Memorial Window, The War Memorial situated on the staircase leading Window, better known as to the Great Hall and incorporating the Memorial Staircase the crests of all the regiments with which the fallen had been associated, was commissioned, along with the oak tablets bearing the names of the Old Boys and staff who had died, carved in bas-relief. The plans were delayed by the building of the new School and, when the Committee finally launched the appeal to Old Boys in early 1929, it was probably the first time that the Old Boys’ financial support had been sought. The War Memorial Window was unveiled by Mr Lipscomb on 26th May 1930. In 1951 more oak tablets were added to include the names of all those Old Boys and staff who lost their lives in the Second World War and these were unveiled by the President of the OBA, Mr JM Howarth, at a Service of Memorial and Commemoration held in the Great Hall on 18th November 1951. In 1961 the Headmaster made the provision of new changing rooms a priority and the Old Boys made a successful appeal to raise the £16,000 required to complete the project. The new changing rooms were officially opened The names of the Old on 14th September 1963 by Boys and Staff who Mr Philip Leigh-Bramwell lost their lives in the two World Wars are (1920-1926), followed by football remembered and hockey matches between the School and the Old Boltonians, all of which were won by the School. When Mr Poskitt died in 1983 the Old Boys launched a Memorial Fund in his memory, raising £90,000. These proceeds were used to help fund various School projects, in particular the planned sports hall which the Governors had agreed would be dedicated to his memory. Work started in May 1985 and in July 1985 the foundation stone was laid by Sir Robert Haslam, President of the OBA. The sports hall was completed in the Summer of 1986 and the Association

organised a Grand Reunion in September, attended by over 1,000 Old Boys and their families, and culminating with the Third Viscount Leverhulme unveiling a plaque dedicated to the memory of Mr Poskitt in the new sports hall.

The Sports Hall has been a great addition to the School

The Old Boys have supported the School in many other ways over the years, most notably when the School decided to become independent in 1976 following the Government’s decision to withdraw support for Direct Grant schools. The Governors were determined to preserve the tradition of Bolton School, whereby any boy or girl, whatever their parents’ means, should have the opportunity of a Bolton School education. A number of bursaries were provided from Pupils in both Divisions have benefited from the Sports Foundation income, but this Hall was not sufficient to meet the demand, and the Open Door appeal was launched to build a substantial bursary fund. The response from all sections of the School community, including the Old Boys, was truly magnificent – by Summer 1977 the £500,000 target had already been exceeded, with the total raised rising to almost £700,000 by June 1979. The need for bursaries increased immensely after abolition of the Assisted Places Scheme in 1997 and a further bursary appeal was launched. Since then, thanks to the fantastic and unstinting support of the School’s Alumni, the Bolton School bursary fund has grown to such a level that it is now one of the most extensive in the country. The Governing Body’s long-term goal is to build the bursary fund still further to enable one in three pupils to receive some level of financial support, with the eventual ambition of securing fully needsblind access at the School. The Old Boys have an outstanding record of service to their School and their actions admirably reflect the philanthropic values of the first Lord Leverhulme. The School is indebted to them.

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

Newsletter Autumn 2020

Looking Back Thank you to Nick Buxton (Class of 1978) for these photos of Sc6B1 with Form Master Dr Chambers Back, L-R: Dr Colin Chambers, Rob Stones, Johnny Leigh, Rick Hunt, Jon Swan, Nick Buxton, Steve Maxwell Front, L-R: Paul Makinson, John Ion, Pete Burns, Pete Davis, Stu Thompson, John Moores

) found this photo David Holt (1943-1949 of Form 5A2 in 1947

This photo was taken during the Bolton Scho ol choir tour in France at Easte r 1984: Michael Tatman (Boy’s Division Staff, 1958-1991 ), Charles Walker (Boys’ Division Staff, 1978-1994 ), Norman Harper (Boys’ Division Staff, 1974-1984 ), John the coach-driver, an d Bert Scott, a friend who was the contact with Versailles Cathed ral, one of the concert venues

Peter Smith (1956-1964) sent in these pictures of the 1962 production of Romeo and Juliet Peter is third from right on the second row and fourth from right in the fight scene

Thank you to Andrew Bird (1982-1989) for this ph oto of U6S3 in 1988-89

Peter also sent in this photo of the School tiddlywinks team in 1963 after their stunning victory over Manchester Grammar – Peter is in the centre holding the trophy

Long Camp 1977, held at Ayton, near Eyemouth in Berwickshire – stirr ing the pan is Andy Roscoe (1973-1980), the two behind the fire are David Harp er and Roger Harrop (both Class of 1982) and Jonathan Sharrock is on the right of the group of five standing

many This weather will be familiar to photo boys who visited Cautley – this is from the 1980s

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.

Old Boltonians’ Association 1895 - 2020

All Stars Sports Teams During lockdown past and present sports coaches of the Boys’ Division were asked to compile their ‘all star’ teams featuring boys who had stood out in their particular disciplines while at School. These generated great interest on social media and prompted a number of Old Boys to share photographs of their schoolday sporting triumphs. Here are a selection of the ‘all star’ teams – the full range can be seen in the Memories section of the Former Pupils part of the website.

Mr Jones’ All Star Footgball Team, 1981-1993

Mr Taylor’s All Star Football Team, 1972-1983

1988-89 First XI Football sent in by Andrew Bird (1982-1989)

Mr Pledger’s All Star Water Polo Team Richard Lowe sent in this photo of the 1959-60 Football First XI: ris, Back, L-R: Tommy Ford, Tom Mor John Stone, Richard Lowe, Wilson Clark, Bob Green Front, L-R: Clive Walmsley, Tony Goldstone, Dave Seddon, Keith Washington, Brian Rigby

Mr Joseph’s All Star Rugby XV, 1986-2002

Mr Joseph’s All Star Rugby XV, 2001-present

The 1989 First XV Rugby team

Simon Baker (1987-199 3) sent in this picture of when he, Dominic Speakma n (1987-1994) and Chris Graham (1987-1994) were selected for the Junior England Team in 199 2

Newsletter Autumn 2020

Mr Compton’s All Star Cricket Team, 2002-present

Mr Jones’ All Star Cricket Team, 1979-1986

Richard Lowe also sen t in this picture of the 1960 U15 Cricke t XI: Back, L-R: Clive Walms ley, Norman Robinson, Da vid Scrivens, John Stone, Les Booth , Richard Lowe, ? Derbyshire Front, L-R: Eddie Kay, Henry Couchman, Bob Gre en, Dave Seddon, Wilson Clark

Mr Prince’s All Star Tennis Team, 1966-2002 Thank you to David Jen ner (1953-1960) for this photograph of the 195 6 Under 14 Cricket tea m

Mr Joseph’s All Star Basketball Team

sketball Team The 2014 Ba

1961) Roy Battersby (1953the sent in this photo of m Tea nis Ten 1 196 Back: A Shepherd, S Wood, M Wood, ? Front: N Brown, rd R Battersby, D Gerra

Mr Robson’s All Star Hockey Team

Mr Shaw’s All Star Badminton Doubles Teams, 1964-2002

63-1964: Badminton 19 yers, M C R: LBack, indle, Br F AJ Sadler, nner; Je C , ur bo ar RH ark, Cl M D R: Front, LDW , iss gk od H F Scrivens

Badminton 1990-1991: Back, L-R: RT Gerber, JJ Baxendale; Front, L-R: DW Collier, PA Bailey, JRE Arkwright, JG Addis

Old Boltonians’ Association 1895 - 2020

The War in the East Many Old Boltonians were captured following the fall of Singapore. For The Boltonian they were never soldiers in a forgotten army. Others fought in the Far East until Japan’s surrender. AR Cottrell (1930-1938) was commissioned in the Indian Army and, as a lieutenant in the Gurkha Rifles, fought in Burma. In his letter to the School from Assam he commented on the limited publicity this area of conflict attracted: ‘I wonder how many people realise that the Indo-Burma front is as long as Germany’s eastern front; and that the stores brought to India by sea have to be moved along 1,500 miles of railway and up to 300 miles by lorry, jeep and mules to reach the troops in action. Most of the country in which the fighting takes place was regarded as literally impenetrable jungle until the [Japanese] proved this belief to be false. The jungle has to be seen to be believed. Its strangeness and lack of visibility make it probably the most nerve-racking type of country in which to fight. Rivers and jungle-clad mountains run across our line of advance. In the monsoon, the rivers such as the Chindwin are far swifter and wider than the Thames. The mountains are steep-sided and rise from 1,000 to over 6,000 feet. Sometimes, when the ground is wet, even mules cannot scale the worst parts. The monsoon rains bring a high humidity combined with a temperature of around 90°F, with only a slight diurnal fluctuation. Sweat trickling over the skin, because the air is too moist to dry it up, produces a very irritating pink rash known as ‘prickly heat’. An ounce of salt per day must be consumed to stave off heat exhaustion, because so much is lost through the skin. Mosquitos spread malaria and iridescent greenish ‘blue bottles’ leave dysentery germs on our food. In some places leeches abound in the vegetation and attach themselves to the unwary brushing past. They suck away quite painlessly and salt or a lighted cigarette is necessary to make them drop off. Blood will not clot in the puncture for some time after the leech has been removed. These are the conditions to which British troops in the SEAC return again and again during their four years’ tour of duty overseas.’ DR Mullineux (1914-1921), a major in the Loyals, was captured and for two years worked on the construction of the Bangkok-Rangoon railway, often on forced marches of up to 200 miles into the jungle. Carefully concealed wireless sets enabled captives to receive world news. When the railway was completed they returned to their previous conditions of imprisonment and they renewed earlier initiatives developed to combat demoralisation and depression – games, gardening for fruit and vegetables, entertainment and their own university. They devised a jungle theatre with props, costumes, scenery and lighting developed from unpromising materials. In a camp of several thousand people there was an immense variety of talent and experience which led to astonishingly successful entertainment. Major Mullineux tells us that their practical skills had further application: ‘Not only was ingenuity shown in this respect, but also in more useful directions. An industry was started for the repair and manufacture of clothing and footwear. Clothing in the form of shorts, for this was the only covering really necessary in the Tropics, was again made from sacking and old canvas and a good line in footwear was easily made from the

hides of bullocks and water buffalo which had been killed for eating, the leather first having been prepared by salt, lime and sunshine. Tobacco was cured and cigarettes were made in a factory employing as many as 50 people in one camp alone. Chemists, too, had an opportunity of probably doing more than anyone else to assist, for with their aid we were able to produce, among other necessities, alcohol, chloroform, distilled water and extract of malt, all of which were used in the camp hospitals. The raw product for the distillation of alcohol was usually waste produce from the cook-houses, such as vegetable peelings, pumpkins, tropical fruits and sugar. These were boiled and later distilled, first to take off the methyl alcohol, which is poisonous, and a final distillation to bring the product to as much as 98 per cent alcohol. Extract of malt was produced from rice, after the grain had been allowed to germinate. This malt, although having been manufactured under the most primitive conditions, was very similar in taste to that which can be bought here. The industry also provided for the manufacture of pipes (the mouthpieces of which were made from buffalo horn), metal playing cards, ‘glass’ eyes, artificial limbs, allwood clocks, hemp ropes, watch repairs, paper (from rice straw) and almost anything else required in a community such as ours; for nothing could be obtained from [our captors]. Necessity is the mother of invention, and this was amply proved.’ JR Heath (1938-1944), a Writer (secretary) in the Royal Navy, wrote from Nagasaki shortly after its destruction. ‘If you can imagine an area from Trinity Street, along Bradshawgate, towards the Rialto and then over the High Level, down Crook Street to Trinity Street, then double that area would represent just utter destruction. It is really blitzed. It is flat, dead flat. Just as if someone had been along and spread bricks and concrete. The area where there are half walls etc here and there (and I mean here and there) is about eight times the area I have mentioned. Honestly, you cannot imagine what a mess this is; once a town, now just rubble and scorched woodwork. I do hope that somehow this bomb is kept in hand. If a bomb bursting several thousand feet up can do this, what will it do when it hits the ground? The place is full of surly youths who eye one, and respectful middle-aged people, shy women, dazed youngsters and old people. Nagasaki – a starved, desolate, nightmarish town, and yet it is surrounded by beautiful, terraced and thicklywooded hills. I felt sick in the town, what with dust, flies and the stench of dead and decaying bodies. Holes which looked like air-raid shelters are filled with decaying bodies, skulls, bones, clothes. What a shambles!! The [Americans] are trying to organise things, some trains are running and some buses. The [Japanese] are coming back in carts etc, living in lean-to shanties and sitting on wreckage eating food. I thought Plymouth and Yokohama were blitzed, but this place is erased.’ The paragraphs above are all from longer letters and there are many more vivid records of the war years in The Boltonian. Whilst recording events of international significance, they express the relationship between the School, led by FR Poskitt, and its former pupils, a relationship which has continued through the life of the Association. Charles Winder (Boys’ Division Staff, 1964-1999)

Newsletter Autumn 2020

Old Boy Flying Ace While researching WWII heroes hailing from Bolton, Stuart Whittle (1958-1965), Chair of Horwich Heritage, was surprised and delighted to come across some information about Old Boy and fighter ace Squadron Leader Laurence ‘Pinkie’ Stark DFC (1932-1938) and suggested that in the year celebrating 80 years since the Battle of Britain and 75 years since the end of WWII it would be fitting to remember his incredible exploits. Lawrence William Fraser Stark died on 1st August 2004 at the age of 83 and his obituary in the Old Boltonians’ Association Autumn Newsletter of that year (which can be found at bit.ly/3o6r8h0) details his exceptional career as a pilot. He received a number of honours and awards in recognition of his work and bravery. On being awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in March 1944, the London Gazette reported that ‘This officer is a cool and resourceful fighter who has invariably displayed great keenness and determination. He has shot down six enemy aircraft in combat, whilst in attacks on enemy targets on the ground he has destroyed an aircraft and a locomotive; he has also attacked a number of small vessels, such as tugs and barges with damaging effect.’ Later that year he was awarded a Bar to his Distinguished Flying Cross, and was again praised in the London Gazette: ‘Flight Lieutenant Stark has completed a large number of sorties. He has led his flight against many difficult and dangerous targets and despite heavy enemy opposition he has always pressed home his attacks to a successful conclusion. His excellent leadership, courage and fine fighting spirit have set a splendid example to all.’ In 1950 his heroic deeds in combat were acknowledged with the Belgian Croix de Guerre.

Mr Wadsworth’s HoDs Quiz Thank you to Martin Wadsworth (Boys’ Division Staff, 1974-2006) for devising this quiz – every answer is directly connected to a Bolton School Boys’ Division Head of Department from over the last 50 years – give yourself 20 points for the correct answers and 20 more for the Heads of Department involved! 1 What is the name of dictionary that is recognised as the number one choice for crossword setters and solvers?

11 Which word means to control by surrounding and prevent from moving, usually by the police?

2 Which company was founded in Oldham in 1884; it lays claim to being the country’s oldest pub chain, though its name suggests one particular tipple?

12 What is the name of a Microsoft web browser?

3 Who is Sherlock Holmes’ sidekick? 4 Is it a roofer? Is it a brewery? Is it a politician? 5 What is the name of the iconic British car marque famed for its vehicles being assembled by hand and featuring wood? 6 This knighted TV personality, writer, host, satirist died in 2013. 7 This actor and singer starred in Wire in the Blood and topped the charts in a duo with a former Jimmy Young and Righteous Brothers song. 8 What is a citizen freeman of an English borough? 9 Gary’s crisps? 10 Name these two iconic American musicians who share a surname, one a country music singer, the other a drumming jazz band leader.

13 This Merseyside borough including Southport. 14 If a silver wedding anniversary is 25th, and a golden is 50th; what is a second anniversary? 15 Which American 19th century poet wrote the song of Hiawatha? 16 If you went from St John’s Wood to Westminster, which two homonymous venues would you be visiting? 17 Who was the comedy writer who wrote Billy Liar and wrote many TV programmes with Willis Hall? 18 What connects an area of Oldham and one of Ireland’s greatest playwrights? 19 This small elegant aerial insect catcher can be house or sand. 20 Which animal is vulpine? Answers can be found on page 18

Old Boltonians’ Association 1895 - 2020

LIVES REMEMBERED Geoffrey Aspinall (1943-1947) Geoffrey was born in Bolton in 1931. In 1943, he passed the entrance exam for Bolton School. He loved it there and met his lifelong friends Fred Wadsworth, Brian Caldwell and Geoffrey Bristow. He enjoyed French, football and camping in the Lake District – where he was on VJ Day. He was also a member of the ‘Pig Club’, at which students kept pigs during the war and fed them scraps from school lunches (a good excuse for a sneaky cigarette!). During the war he remembered watching the German planes bombing Manchester, the sky glowing red with fire. In 1945, at the end of the war, the School organised a trip to Paris, but Geoffrey was disappointed when it was cancelled at the last minute due to a smallpox epidemic there. At School he became a passionate supporter of Bolton Wanderers, and was at the Stoke game in 1947 when 33 people were tragically killed after locked out fans scaled the perimeter. After leaving School, he played football for the Old Boltonians’ AFC and enjoyed the annual training weekend in Pilling, when members of Bolton Wanderers came to coach. Despite the Headmaster’s protestations, Geoffrey had to leave School in 1947, as his father did not want him to continue with his education and go to university. He started work as a pupil Gas Engineer aged 16 and then worked on major energy projects for WC Holmes. He became a Director of Utleys, designing machinery to modernise the textile industry. In 1967, he joined PA Consulting as a Management Consultant, working at their London Head Office at 1 Knightsbridge. He enjoyed a very successful career with them and became well known for finding practical solutions to complex problems. He travelled the world with PA and enjoyed his role enormously.

In his spare time, Geoffrey was an accomplished film maker. In 1962, he won the prestigious London Amateur Film Festival with An Ancient Craft, a documentary featuring an old Yorkshire wheelwright whose accent was so broad the judges initially thought he was speaking Swedish! It was shown to over 1,000 people at the Royal Commonwealth Institute and, as it was an 8mm film, the projector had to be balanced on the balcony to make the image big enough to fill the screen! Geoffrey was passionate about cars, a love which started with his first car – a three-wheel Morgan. In 1962 he experimented with rally driving and won the White Horse Rally, although his navigator swore he would never get in a car with Geoffrey again! In 1951 Geoffrey met Eve and they were married in 1955. They enjoyed a long and happy marriage of almost 65 years and were very proud to receive a congratulatory card from The Queen on their 60th wedding anniversary. Geoffrey passed away on 6th May 2020, peacefully at home, surrounded by his family. He will be sorely missed by his wife, son and daughter and their partners, his five grandchildren, his great grandson and his many friends. Tim Aspinall Frank Bennett (1949-1956, Boys’ Division Staff 1963-1966) Born in Salford, on 26th February 1938, Frank was first educated at All Saints’ Church of England School, Swinton, before joining Bolton School, at the age of 11. From an early age, Frank had great intellect and quickly became a budding mathematician and chemist. Aside from academia, however, he was fortunate to have many other talents. He had a wonderful bass voice and became a member of the Choral Society, and in sport he became a keen rugby player, captaining his House team and being Vice Captain (and Secretary) for the

First XV in his final year at School. In the same year, he had a trial for the Lancashire Schoolboys team and outside School he played football for Chorley Road Methodists, in the Eccles and District League. After leaving Bolton School in July 1956, Frank accepted a place at Manchester University, where he proudly achieved a First Class Honours degree in Chemistry. Despite his early ambition to become an industrial chemist, Frank had a calling to teach and, after completing an MEd in 1963, he returned to Bolton School – the school he loved so much – as a Chemistry teacher. During this time, he was President of the Junior Scientific Society, President of the Angling Society and a keen supporter of the Junior Literary and Debating Society. In 1964, no doubt rekindling old memories, he assisted with the Shell Form Camp at Llanbedrog, North Wales. He also helped lead several hiking trips in the Lake District, including the Five Alpha half-term trip and the Junior Fell Walking trip to Ambleside. He continued to be a keen singer and performed several solos in School choral performances. Frank always spoke fondly of his time at Bolton School and he recounted numerous stories over the years, including the time he shattered one of the windows in the science lab with a rather explosive experiment and, as a boy, being thrown out of the Girls’ Division Sixth Form Common Room! They were strictly separate in those days! In 1966, Frank made the difficult decision to leave Bolton School to take up an appointment teaching Chemistry and Maths at Manchester Grammar School. Thereafter, he became Head of Chemistry at Farnworth Grammar School and then Deputy Headteacher at The Derby School in Bury. In 1978, Frank was appointed as the first headteacher of a new comprehensive, Woodhey High School in Ramsbottom. A talented teacher, he was passionate

Newsletter Autumn 2020

about education and created a school rated as outstanding academically, in sport and in music. He retired in 1999 and continued to enjoy many hobbies; music and singing, trains, cars, fishing, reading, TV and films, gardening and sport. He also proudly served as a JP for Salford for 25 years and played a key role in the Salford Magistrates’ Schools Project. His love of trains spanned a lifetime and he created a wonderful model railway and collection of engines. He loved nothing more than a day trip with his railway mates, whilst putting the world to rights! Despite all these accolades, above all Frank was a truly devoted family man and a real ‘people person’, with a larger than life character and a wonderful sense of humour. In his career, he was able to support and encourage so many pupils and colleagues and we, his family, have been overwhelmed by the many kind messages and tributes from those whose lives he touched for the better. In February this year, Frank tragically contracted sepsis and, after a longfought battle, he sadly passed away peacefully in hospital, surrounded by his family, at the end of May. Despite the lockdown, we were able to have a beautiful intimate family service at Overdale Crematorium and the funeral cortège also stopped outside the Boys’ Division, where many friends and former colleagues gathered to pay their respects. The School also kindly lowered the flag to half-mast, which he would have been so touched by Frank leaves his wonderful wife Kay, three daughters and four grandchildren. He is so dearly missed, but we are so proud of all that he achieved during his life and we have so many wonderful memories to cherish. RIP Frank! To us you were one in a million! Dawn Holmes (née Bennett, Girls’ Division 1986-1993) Eric Bentley (1928-1935) Eric Russell Bentley was born in Bolton on 14th September 1916, to Fred and Laura Bentley. His father was a respected local businessman. His mother had wanted Eric to become a Baptist missionary.

He won a scholarship to attend Bolton School, then went on to Oxford on a history Eric in 1960 scholarship; CS Lewis was one of his teachers there. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in 1938 he emigrated to the United States and was naturalized in 1948. He received a doctorate in comparative literature from Yale in 1941. Eric was a scholar, author and playwright, but it was as a critic that he made his first and most enduring impression. His book Bernard Shaw, written in 1947, prompted Shaw himself to say that he considered it the best book written about him. Eric also wrote his own plays and had some success as a director. He adapted work by many of the European playwrights he admired, especially Bertolt Brecht. Eric was drama critic for The New Republic. He also wrote for The Nation, Theatre Arts, The Times Literary Supplement in London and The New York Times. He taught and directed at the University of California in Los Angeles, at Black Mountain College in North Carolina and at the University of Minnesota. Between 1948 and 1951 he travelled around Europe on a Guggenheim fellowship, directing plays. In 1950 he helped Brecht with his production of Mother Courage and Her Children in Munich. In 1952 he returned to the United States and taught modern drama at Columbia. The following year he was appointed Professor of Dramatic Literature at Columbia, where he stayed until 1969. In between he was the Charles Eliot Norton Professor of Poetry at Harvard in 1960-61 and a Ford Foundation artist in residence in Berlin in 1964-65. While at Columbia he produced The Classic Theatre and From the Modern Repertoire, both of which became standard reading in drama curriculums. He was later the Cornell Professor of Theater at the State University of New York, Buffalo, and a Professor of Comparative Literature at the University of Maryland.

Eric was School Captain in 1934-35

Eric died on 5th August 2020 at his home in Manhattan aged 103. Based on an obituary which appeared in The New York Times

William (Bill) Chappell (Class of 1949) Bill died peacefully in his sleep at home, aged 84, on 24th December 2019. A former Captain of Bury Sports Rugby Club, Bill served for 12 years as the Lancashire Representative on the Rugby Football Union Council. In 2001-02, he was President of the Lancashire Rugby Football Union, and also served as Chairman of the same. He is survived by his wife, Margaret, and his three children, all of whom followed him to Bolton School. Andrew Cheetham (1962-1970) On 25th September 2019 at 8.45pm on his way home from the Marriott Hotel leisure centre, Andy was struck by a car. Due to the severity of his injuries he was placed into an induced coma. He never regained consciousness and died on Saturday 28th September. Aged four, Warren Faulkner, Stephen Johnson, Nick Harrop, John Liptrot, Alaisdhair MacPhie, Andy Cheetham and I all began our education at St Mark’s, Worsley, and subsequently Bolton School, via Park Road. John, Alaisdhair, Andy and I all chose to play rugby and were teammates from the Colts XV to the First XV. As Andy’s success on the rugby pitch grew, so did his self-confidence. He found his voice and led the post-match singing as ‘choir master’. Our perfect weekend as Colts was to watch Salford Rugby League on a Friday night, on to the Cross Keys folk night in Eccles and walk home to Worsley along the canal. After rugby on Saturday mornings we went to the game at Old Trafford and ended the day at ‘Fanny’s’ (the Victoria Inn) with our rugby teammates. As a lifelong Manchester United season ticket holder, Andy shared many trips to Wembley with his close friends. While Andy assessed his career options,

Old Boltonians’ Association 1895 - 2020

he became the most wanted man in the country. As Chalky White (the Daily Mirror Man of Mystery) he was pursued around British Seaside resorts by the four million Mirror Readers keen to claim their £50 prize. Chartered Accountancy was Andy’s chosen profession. He duly qualified and with his unwavering commitment and attention to detail was an ideal employee. His career included spells at Ashworth Moseley, Deloitte’s (including a secondment to Zambia), Stockport Business Enterprise, the Y Hotel and for Terry Cramant at Astley Park Estate where he was working at the time of his death. He had a strong sense of community. For eight years he was Conservative Councillor for Ellenbrook and Boothstown, forging his reputation as a dedicated representative for his constituents. He was admired across parties – the Ceremonial Mayor of Salford described him as ‘one of the good ones’. Andy would have been amused to know that the City of Salford’s Town Hall flag was lowered to half-mast in acknowledgement of his passing. He was treasurer of Worsley Conservative Association, Treasurer of RAID (Residents Against Inappropriate Development), Honorary Treasurer of Trearddur Bay Sailing Club for many years, as well as Trustee and Administrator of the Ghosh Trust awarding educational grants for Salford students studying English, Music or Performing Arts. Andy cared for his mother with love and dedication as she became more frail. Following her death, as his cousin Sheila lives in Surrey, he supported Sheila’s mother with gardening, shopping, DIY and taxiing. Best Man to John Marginson and John Nutter, Andy was Godfather to seven of his family’s and friends’ children for whom he was an important presence and role model. Andy touched very many lives over the years as demonstrated by the huge attendance at his funeral. A loyal and trusted friend, always on hand in a crisis, it was a privilege to have grown up with and known Andy my entire life. He is deeply missed by his family, friends and colleagues. Peter Walker (1963-1971)

With contributions from John Marginson (1964-1971) and John Nutter (1966-1974) This obituary should have been published in the Spring 2020 edition of The Bugle, and we sincerely apologise for any distress caused as a result of its omission. Charles Philip Clegg (1959-1967) After acquiring a good set of qualifications from Bolton School, Philip further developed his mathematical skills at Jesus College, Oxford. During the period 1973-1979 he held Actuarial Trainee and Actuarial Assistant posts with top financial services companies in London. Later he held a number of posts as a Pension Scheme Actuary still in the City of London. In 1995, thanks to his ability to speak Russian, he spent a year in Russia as Team Leader of a project to deliver the first occupational pension scheme for employees of the privatised LADA car factory. Philip was well travelled, including touring the USA by Greyhound bus. Sadly, after a short illness Philip passed away in hospital on 13th April 2020. He was Covid-19 Negative. His funeral was held in the Bolton area on 7th May 2020. John D Clegg (brother) John Edgell Hacking (1944-1949) John was born at home on Darwen Road, Bromley Cross, in April 1933. He attended Eagley School and Sunday school and then Bolton School. Like his parents, John and Doris, he was a committed churchgoer and a choir member at Christ Church, Walmsley. After finishing School John headed off to do his National Service in the RAF and whilst there he played trombone in the jazz band. Soon after that he began a career as a salesman for Cadbury’s, starting out in their headquarters in Bourneville. He married Christine (née Bellis, Girls’ Division 1949-1956) in 1962. They started married life at Elm

Grove Cottage in Caton by the Crook of Lune. They had two daughters, Jane, born in 1964, and Gillian in 1968. In 1973 the family moved to the village of Hurworth, near Darlington in County Durham. John had a strong faith and his enjoyment of church life and choral singing carried on at All Saints, Hurworth, where he was Choirmaster for a number of years. He also loved musical theatre and was the leading man in numerous shows – roles included The Red Shadow in The Desert Song, Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls, Curly in Oklahoma! and Frank Butler playing opposite Christine as Annie Oakley in Annie Get your Gun. John loved to sunbathe and relished his holidays, especially to the Greek Islands, as well as wonderful special trips to the States and the Seychelles. He loved the Lake District: he had all of Wainwright’s books, could name all the mountains by sight and celebrated his 80th birthday at the Low Wood Hotel near Ambleside. John had lots of interests and loved New Orleans jazz, cricket, photography, gardening, alpine flowers, red wine, astronomy, nature, birdwatching and walking. He loved maps, was an excellent navigator and enjoyed driving. He was a really generous man, supporting numerous charities from the Red Cross to the RSPB. John adored his grandchildren, Charlotte and James, taking many precious photos of them as babies and toddlers as they were growing up. He loved Charlotte’s singing and it brought a tear to everyone’s eyes when they sang Some Enchanted Evening together at a recent concert. John was loved and respected by all of his extended family and had lots of great friends from Bolton, Lancaster and Darlington, many made through connections in operatic societies and the church. He also had strong friendships through the Cadbury’s family. In January 2019 John and Christine moved to Sunrise of Mobberley, a care home in Cheshire, where John died unexpectedly on 20th April 2020. He was a lovely gentleman, a gentle giant, a kind and loving husband, dad, grandpa, uncle, brother-in-law and Godfather to so many Godchildren. Christine adored John and will miss him being at her side. However the family takes comfort from knowing that he had a long and fulfilling

Newsletter Autumn 2020

life and died contented and peacefully in his sleep. Jane Kennedy (née Hacking) Peter John Harrison (1944-1955 and Boys’ Division Staff, 1964-1995) Peter Harrison was a gentleman; a man who valued honesty, integrity, duty and hard work. He was also a scholar, a teacher, a soldier, a cricketer and, above all, a loving family man. Peter was born in Bolton in 1936. He attended Bolton School and spent his free time cycling around the streets of Smithills and exploring Rivington Gardens with his friend Gerald who later became his best man and Godfather to his children. He was a lifelong supporter of Bolton Wanderers and remembered standing on the Railway Terrace at Burnden Park watching his hero Nat Lofthouse. He continued as a season ticket holder and returning to the Wanderers with his daughter Ruth and his brother David was one of his ambitions after his stroke. He succeeded in this and was able to enjoy watching games until the suspension of the league earlier this year. Whilst in the Sixth Form, Peter developed a strong Christian faith and he attended St Augustine’s Church in Tonge Moor, where he often met with friends to explore theological and philosophical questions. He loved to debate and discuss and he was always keen to learn from others, showing an interest in a wide variety of topics and asking intelligent and perceptive questions. Some of the happiest days of Peter’s life were spent in Cambridge where he attended university. It was here that he developed a love of languages which led to his future career as a teacher and to his service as a Captain in the Intelligence Corps of the Territorial Army. He continued to study new languages throughout his life and was eventually able to speak eight in addition to English. Whilst at Cambridge, he formed friendships which endured for over 60 years. Cambridge was also where he met

Joan, his wife of 58 years. Despite a first date during which she fell in the Cam whilst punting and broke her thumb, she agreed to be his partner at the May Balls in 1959 and 1960. Having mastered the skill of cycling side by side whilst holding hands, they realised that they were an excellent partnership and married in 1961. They had two children, Ruth (Girls’ Division, 1974-1981) and David (Boys’ Division, Class of 1982). After a brief spell working in London, Peter returned to Bolton where he began his long career at Bolton School. He taught languages, ran the lower block and took part in many exchange visits to France. He opened the batting and kept wicket for the staff cricket team, once scoring 50 including hitting a six onto the pavilion roof. Peter remembered the bowler, himself a fine sportsman, looking at him with aggrieved astonishment. Boys do not always expect their teachers to have that kind of capacity, whilst respecting their presence in the classroom. They certainly respected Peter’s skill as a linguist, his clarity in explanation and the width of learning and experience, evident in his teaching and in the many addresses he gave in Assembly. He spoke memorably to the Debating Society about Brideshead Revisited and religious conversion when that novel became a television serial. Skill in communication was accompanied by a ready responsiveness to the views of other people. Peter formed lifelong friendships and, after his stroke, he took great comfort and strength from the visits of Charles Winder (Boys’ Division Staff, 19641999) and David Shaw (Boys’ Division Staff, 1964-2002). He was delighted to resume his meetings with them and with Ken Stockton (School Transport Manager, 1994-2004) and Martin Wadsworth (Boys’ Division Staff, 19742006) at Rivington Charles Winder and Peter Bowls Club; and to be able to attend a dinner for retired Bolton School staff. Above all, Peter was a family man;

a loyal and devoted husband and a wonderful father. He and Joan created a safe and loving family home for Ruth and David. Amongst the many happy times, the annual family holidays to North Wales stand out: picnics and French cricket on the beach, swimming in the sea and walks in the countryside. The family life which Peter and Joan fostered was truly a blessing and the happy memories created sustained us through the losses of David and of Joan. They continue to be a comfort. Many people will miss Peter as a friend, a brother, a cousin and a father, but having shown huge courage and gained the admiration of all who knew him in his fight back after his stroke, it is time for Peter to be at peace, reunited with Joan and David and free of the struggles and pain of the last year. We love you and hold you in our hearts. Rest in peace. Ruth Sutton (née Harrison, 1974-1981) Robert David Higham (1948-1954) On leaving School Bob spent a year at Walker & Martin Ltd, Rose Hill Tannery, Bolton, before army service in the Royal Military Police helping to maintain order among soldiers of the 17th Gurkha Division in Malaysia. He returned to the leather industry and married Diana Cochrane in Galashiels. In due course they were blessed with Ruth, Vivienne and Shirley and grandchildren Aidan, Jessica (Jess), Emily (Millie) and Rosalie (Rosie). With the full support of Diana, Bob changed course, trained and was ordained as a minister in the Church of Scotland. Bob enriched the lives of everyone who knew or met him. One felt better for spending time in his company. Between 1957 and 1960, Bob studied at the National Leathersellers College in London, gaining his Technical Certificate from the City & Guilds in Leather Manufacture. He applied his skills to practical aspects of the industry, working as a production and technical manager at tanneries in Bolton, Edenbridge and at a fellmongers in Galashiels. After nine years in management, Bob moved to journalism and was appointed editor of Leather International. For 11 years, his knowledge and tactful firmness

Old Boltonians’ Association 1895 - 2020

invigorated the title, increasing its worldwide reputation. Years later in 2009 the University of Northampton, a leader in leather research and education, recognised his contribution to journalism with the award of its silver medal during centenary celebrations of the industry. Bob’s decision to seek ordination was the consequence of a deepening evangelical Christian faith which grew as he supported many aspects of church life in Crowborough. In 1980, aged 42, he matriculated at the University of Aberdeen to study divinity at Christ’s College. The college was founded by the Free Church of Scotland after the Disruption of 1843 and then, following the reunion in 1929, became a Church of Scotland establishment for training ministerial candidates. The college had been incorporated into the University of Aberdeen, where Bob graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Divinity in 1984. He had a spell assisting in various parishes before taking on his own charge. He left parish work for five years (1990 to 1995) to lecture in Biblical Studies and Homilectics at Northumbria Bible College, Berwick-upon-Tweed. The Victorian building was set near mediaeval remains which may have strengthened his long-held fascination with archaeology, later to blossom on the Isle of Tiree. Modern parishes benefit if their priests and ministers have worked in the secular world amongst diverse people; Bob took this understanding of people and their lives everywhere he went, never more so than on Tiree. Tiree, the most westerly island of the Inner Hebrides, had a flock of some 650 souls when Bob as the newly appointed minister arrived at the manse in Scarinish in 1995. Bob and Diana loved island life and soon became the friends of crofters and fishermen. The characters and antics in Compton Mackenzie’s Highland Trilogy seem implausible but the narrative captures the pace and intricacies of the Hebridean life to which Bob quickly adjusted and was quickly accepted. In addition to offering the services expected of a minister, he succeeded in stimulating islanders to value the

island’s history. He established the Tiree Heritage Society for preserving the island’s old buildings, including pre-reformation chapels. He recruited parishioners to investigate prehistoric activities, the coming of Christianity from Ireland, and the occult rituals that had been part of Tiree’s past. His scholarly book, Religion in a Hebridean Island, is now published. Although Bob died before he could hold a copy, he completed the proof reading. Ministers in the Church of Scotland must retire on reaching 65, so Bob and Diana returned to Berwick where he accepted locum duty for 17 years, sometimes on Tiree and often at churches in Berwick and the Borders. He initiated broadcasts on religious affairs through the Borders radio station and ‘Thought for the Week’ in the local newspaper. Bob had a devotion to singing and a commitment to scouting that never waned. His rich bass strengthened various male-voice choirs in Scotland and on tour abroad. He excelled in appropriate roles in Gilbert and Sullivan operas. He went through the scouting ranks from tenderfoot to Assistant District Commissioner in Selkirkshire. Scouting for him began when he joined the 19th Bolton troop at School and scouting triggered his life-long passion for walking. His big walks were farthest North to furthest South, and farthest West to furthest East, tramping over hundreds of miles in all weathers across the length and breadth of the country. He arranged to cover his chosen route in fortnightly spells staying overnight with friends. He regularly enjoyed the hospitality of a manse which he repaid with a sermon. These pilgrimages gave him the opportunity to raise funds for two charities particularly close to his heart. Beneficiaries were the Nepal Leprosy Trust in the Gurkhas’ homeland, and the India Ministries Fellowship. He had been a trustee of both. Bob was an invalid for the last year of his life having suffered a severe stroke. After months in hospital he came home to Berwick to be with Diana. He was thrilled to sing again at home with members of the local choir. One of the care team who helped support him encapsulated Bob’s life most succinctly when he said, ‘Bob was God’s righthand man’. David WT Crompton (1945-1956)

John King (Class of 1960) Born in Lancashire in 1943, John attended Bolton School where he developed a passion for music. While reading Law at Oxford, he was regularly involved in music, playing the trumpet with the Oxford University Orchestra, and the Oxford Orchestral Society under Sydney Watson. In 1965, he co-founded with the distinguished baroque trumpeter, Don Smithers, the Oxford Pro Musica, an Oxford-based professional orchestra later renamed the City of Oxford Orchestra. His collaboration with the Greek conductor, Yannis Daras, a life-long friend with whom he shared an encyclopaedic knowledge of music, ushered in a revolutionary era in the musical life of Oxford. In its heyday, the orchestra gave some 70 performances a year and attracted world-class soloists such as Nigel Kennedy, Cristina Ortiz, Howard Shelley, Myung-Wha Chung, Julian Lloyd Webber and Marios Papadopoulos who maintains a musical presence in Oxford today with the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra. John also introduced an annual summer season of baroque concerts in Merton College Chapel. Pianist and conductor Marios Papadopoulos has written about his long association with John: ‘John invited me to give a piano recital in the Holywell Music Room as part of the Oxford Pro Musica’s Summer Series in 1975 and subsequently engaged me to perform with the orchestra the following season and on numerous occasions thereafter. ‘John was a man of great vision and humility. I spent many hours in his company and admired his deep knowledge of music and repertoire. His programming was ingenious, matching works together to form a cohesive musical narrative. He was quick-witted and his command of the English language was supreme. I’d often study his writings and read his programme notes in order to learn. ‘John introduced me to Oxford and provided me with a platform on which to share my music-making with a discerning audience. I shall forever be

Newsletter Autumn 2020

Education Office.

grateful. When I founded the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra in 1998 (the Oxford Philomusica as it was known then), he stood by me and gave me invaluable advice: he considered the Oxford Phil as the continuation of his efforts. He leaves a significant and enduring musical legacy.’ John also collaborated with Gordon McDougall, artistic director of the Oxford Playhouse, to form Oxford Music Theatre, which company was one of the first outside New York and London to tour a production of Tom Stoppard’s Every Good Boy Deserves Favour. Another highly successful collaboration was with the Heather Professor of Music, Denis Arnold, who used the City of Oxford Orchestra as a conduit for his own research into 18th century Italian music. In the late 1990s John and the trumpeter Roger Payne formed ‘La Réjouissance’, a trumpet and organ ensemble which performed many concerts in Oxford and produced a CD of the same name. More recently John contributed to feasibility studies for the creation of the Jacqueline du Pré building at St Hilda’s and the adaptation of St John the Evangelist (SJE) into a new 500-seat concert venue for Oxford. Michèle Smith, Director of SJE Arts, writes: ‘… without John we might never have started to use it [the church] as a concert venue …’. John was a dedicated and inspirational teacher and the brass coach for the Thames Vale Youth Orchestra for over 40 years. He also was the UK associate for the music agency Latitude 45, based in Montréal. John was a socialist and a Europhile, a Northerner with a dry but always compassionate sense of humour. John died on 22nd June 2020 after a long illness. He is survived by his wife, Thérèse, two stepsons, Nick and Luke, and six step-grandchildren, Ellie, Oskar, Konrad, Lucy, Milton and Alfie. Thérèse Maitland Bernard Nolan (Central Services Staff, 1965-1981) Bernard Nolan was born 250 yards from Bolton School, attending Devonshire Road County Primary School and the County Grammar School before beginning his career in the Bolton

During the early stages of the Second World War, after his day job, he was often found fire-watching on the roof of the offices at night. Following Army service in Algiers, Caserta and Venice, he returned to the Education Office resuming his administrative work. Promotion was not forthcoming locally, so, with his young wife Doreen, he went to the north-east to develop his career.

Bernard embraced an ‘open door policy’

Three colleges and a school later, it was Bernard’s delight to move back to Bolton to become Clerk and Treasurer to Bolton School where his two children were now able to attend. Driving forward innovations such as a new heating system alongside other cost-saving measures (he pointedly demonstrated the art of turning lights off in front of the cleaning staff), he eliminated the School debt. He was involved in raising substantial funds for the Assisted Places bursary scheme after the Direct Grant was abolished. At ease with people of all backgrounds, he enjoyed his working relationships and was often seen Bernard was thrilled to wandering celebrate his 90th birthday around the at the 2014 Class Reunion kitchens at School talking to staff, as well as supervising work around the School estate – and, literally, in the air. Bernard was unafraid of heights and could be spotted with surveyors and workmen on the rooftops four storeys up, discussing building projects, pointing at tiles and checking on quality. His working style embraced an ‘open door policy’ which enabled a friendly discourse about financial matters amongst staff and department heads. Some of the female members of staff called him ‘Uncle Bernard’ because of his avuncular manner and his willingness to offer financial advice to colleagues. They felt they could go and talk to him easily and that he was approachable and sympathetic. He was always a welcome visitor to both common rooms.

His social and leisure activities were extensive. He was a keen follower of Bolton Wanderers and also played cricket for the staff school team. Usually, on a Friday evening, after an extra stint in his office, he would end the evening playing snooker or bridge at Smithills Conservative Club. In addition to these pursuits, he undertook the demanding and important role of volunteer telephone counsellor with Bolton Samaritans, the first man to clock up 30 years’ service. In his early retirement, taken because of acute glaucoma, he enjoyed gardening, was a governor of two schools, became the keeper of the bowling green at Heaton Village Bowls Club and attended St Margaret’s Church. He helped on the Fair Trade stall at St Margaret’s Church where friends there say he was ‘much respected and a lovely man’. With Doreen, he also enjoyed plenty of Mediterranean sunshine holidays. In the second phase of his retirement, after his beloved Doreen died, he moved to the Merseyside coast and, at 78, became an active member of the Southport retirement scene, taking up horse riding, bereavement visiting, archery, and later staffing ‘Sightline’, a medical advice helpline. Bernard was glad to attend the 2014 class reunion festivities at Bolton School together with Marcus and Claire. In the course of this visit, to his great delight, the entire dining room sang Happy 90th Birthday to him. He did not forget his early education and on that same day he spoke about his wartime experiences to a history research class at Devonshire Road School and presented them with a series of mathematical games he developed – examples of how easily he connected with people of all ages. Bernard was a man of unfailing kindness and had charm reserved for everyone. This, together with a relentless attention to detail, is how many will remember him. Marcus Nolan (1966-1974) and Claire Feiler (née Nolan, 1966-1976) Geoffrey Houghton Picken (1938-1946) Geoffrey was born in Bolton on 7th March 1928 and was educated at Bolton School and the University of Manchester. A Chartered Engineer, Geoffrey worked for the Malayan Electricity Board from 1954 to 1964, and subsequently worked

Old Boltonians’ Association 1895 - 2020

for Preece, Candow and Ryder (now Mott MacDonald) in Birmingham, London and Brighton. In 1982, he spent two years in Pakistan working on a hydroelectric scheme at Kalabagh, on the River Indus. Geoffrey married his wife, Jean, who survives him, on 1st February 1964 in Singapore. His hobbies included building model steam engines, and he was a member of the Worthing Model Engine Club and a volunteer in the workshop at the Bluebell Railway in Sheffield Park, Sussex. He also volunteered for the local branch of REMAP, a charity which makes custombuilt equipment to help disabled people live more independent lives. Geoffrey developed Parkinson’s Disease twelve years ago. He died on 13th March 2020. Thomas PC Whitehead (1983-1997) ‘Hawks’, Tom said, a semi-obscure picture starring Timothy Dalton when I asked him what his favourite film was back in 1991. It wasn’t, of course (he favoured the more conventional Ferris Bueller’s Day Off), but it was symptomatic of his razor sharp wit, his genuinely towering intellect and his love of obscurity and randomness. Tom followed his father, JF ‘Frank’ Whitehead (1952-1959) to Bolton School. He and I first met whilst playing football on the Turton FC pitch when we were about five and he was my semipermanent coach and car buddy all the way through School. Though we didn’t share every interest (I never really got his love for the PC game Railway Tycoon and couldn’t at the time see his passion for TR7s!), his company was never dull and he was relentlessly positive about everything. Every conversation was whimsical and insightful, and even in adversity he would somehow find an optimistic perspective with that unique, infectious smile. On one occasion I was getting some verbal abuse from older pupils

and Tom could see I was upset. He leaned across, smiled and quietly said: ‘F**k em’ – my distress immediately dissolved! In School, amongst some very clever people, he found a way of differentiating himself even further. The inimitable Caspar Joseph once described one of Tom’s A Level history essays as ‘absolutely fantastic’ before giving him the highest mark I’d ever seen. He did then caveat it with: ‘The bits I could read were fantastic anyway’, such was the illegibility of the Whitehead scrawl (his brother Tim’s handwriting isn’t great either!). Tom would know all the answers in class, but was too modest to bother answering them, instead whispering them to me. ‘No one likes a show-off,’ he’d say. When I’d ask him how he’d know answers to some of the more abstruse questions he’d respond with something like: ‘I read his biography over the summer’. Fair enough, but perhaps slightly prodigious and precocious for a 14 year old! After Bolton School, Tom went on to Worcester College, Oxford, to read Law, a profession he was completely built for, and there he excelled. After completing a Masters he went on to become a highly successful barrister, where he could use all his acumen, his wisdom, his piercing and articulate use of language and the deep and often esoteric angle of the law in which he specialised in order to shine uniquely in his own unmistakeable personal and professional style. Tom met his lovely wife, Miranda, with whom he had two daughters, Florence and Cordelia, and despite his considerable professional success, nothing was more important to him than his family. Despite a general aversion to social media, Tom kept in touch with several people from Bolton School, notably his best friend Geoff Wood, with whom he grew up through Park Road. Tom loved to reminisce, and he particularly enjoyed the stories of projectile vomiting of Guinness and scampi fries after one of our drinking sessions, and me ‘Dettoling’ my Sony Ericsson T10 after dropping it in a soiled toilet and wondering why the microphone wouldn’t work. Tom faced his illness in the same way he faced life: with an unrelenting optimism. It is testament to his character that during the last time I saw him he

proved to be as upbeat as always, and my last texts to him were about the general crappiness of BDO darts and the ridiculousness yet comedic value of the retired Colin Monk. His humour was sharp until the end, and he found it in the darkest of places. He was even joking with the oncologist whilst re-watching Hawks in hospital (it’s a film in a bleakly ironic way about terminally ill patients escaping for one last adventure). Ferris Bueller ends with the famous line: ‘Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.’ Tom’s life was taken tragically and unfairly short, but he always looked around, he never missed out and he made everyone around him look, feel and act better. As a contribution to humanity, that takes some beating. Alexander J Banks (1990-1997) James Wood (1942-1950) James (Jim/Jimmy) Wood passed away peacefully in April 2020. Sadly, the pandemic curtailed a celebratory send-off for a life well-lived and wellloved, but, as Jim said on one of our recent trans-Atlantic calls, ‘I have been blessed with a wonderful and rich life. Every day has been a joyous celebration as I serve the Lord’. He knew his innings was drawing to a close and his faith supported him for when the ‘clear call’ came to cross the bar and ‘meet his Pilot face to face’. Jim first encountered my sister, Ailsa (née Howarth, Class of 1951), when their respective mothers wheeled them in prams James and Ailsa around Chorley New Road, before they both progressed to Beech House where, I am told, he instigated his long-term pursuit of Ailsa by declaring, in his four-year-old infinite wisdom, that he planned to marry her one day, and promptly sealed the deal with an infantly kiss. Jim continued through Bolton School and over the years formed very close life-long friendships with Robert (Bob) Maxwell and Nigel Atherton. He loved the theatre and took part in several School plays, including The Devil’s Disciple. From School he served time in

Newsletter Autumn 2020

the army and was posted to post-war Germany where he relished rumbling around the country ‘on manoeuvres’ in Centurion tanks and wreaking a certain degree of uncharitable havoc on the countryside and roads. As a later addition to the Howarth family-tree, I was first aware of Jim when I was very young, by which time most of Bolton School was monitoring his pursuit of Ailsa. By ‘coincidence’ he often dropped by our house, the legendary ‘Number 80’ (Chorley New Road), at evening meal-times to progress his courtship where there was the bonus of a place at the overflowing family dining-table to enjoy our mother’s culinary delights. Romance flourishes on a fortified stomach. After Jim and Ailsa left Bolton School their lives, but not their hearts, parted. Jim had received a calling to serve the Lord and headed south to London Bible College where he soon adopted City dress-code of tailored suit, rolled umbrella and ubiquitous bowler hat, a matter which received ribald laughter (not the least of which was from me) on his return trips back t’North. While Jim was preparing to nourish the soul, four hundred miles away in Edinburgh, Ailsa was preparing to feed the body at domestic science college. Two years on, with heart full of love, and tank full of petrol, Jim (minus bowler-hat) headed his Triumph Speed-Twin motorbike into the darkness for the non-motorway

marathon trip to Edinburgh. Arriving at dawn, he followed up on his Beech House promise, hauled Ailsa up to the top of Arthur’s Seat, and proposed marriage to her. It was a further indication of his devotion to my sister that he was willing, and adequately fortified, to enter into the battleground of the Howarth/Watkiss family, presided over by the resident intimidator, JM Howarth (1911-16), who had a penchant, deliberately or otherwise (mostly deliberately), to confuse which boyfriend was partnered with which of four daughters, and who might be proposing for whose hand in consent (hopefully) for marriage. Having clarified the matter, in due course, the writ of consent was finally passed down from his Mightiness and Jim and Ailsa were married in Bolton in 1956. Jim started his life’s mission at a Baptist Church in Crewe before continuing his calling in Woodford Green with further missionary work at Scott Theological College, Nairobi. He concluded his calling at Central Mission Church, Walthamstow. Jim approached his pastoral duties with a dedicated and holistic perspective, caring for both the spiritual and the temporal needs of his parishioners, fortified by his strong belief in his calling, a good sense of humour and loving support for nearly 60 years by Ailsa.

Jim and Ailsa had three sons, two of whom continue Jim’s calling as ministers in the Baptist Church. I shall miss him as he has been a presence in my life ever since I was inflicted upon the family many years ago. I know I gave him grief and a surfeit of ‘lip’ when I was a snotty young belligerent. He responded accordingly by picking me up outside Park Road School, placing me on the pillion seat of his Triumph and proceeded to hurl around the tight corners of Bolton streets, knees scraping cobbles, shouting ‘lean with the bike’, not an easy process when bowels are in the process of vacating. Respect was duly paid from then on and I vowed never to mount two wheels again. For me, he was much more than a family addition randomly allocated via marital law. He was a true brother and life-long friend. Jim was an ardent supporter of the Bolton School Old Boys’ Association, serving as Chaplain and later as President in 2001-02. He and Ailsa were regular attendees of the Northern Dinners. They retired to Essex near the coast where they could enjoy time with their growing family of eight grandchildren and one great grandchild. Ailsa passed away in 2014. Jim is survived by his younger brother, Peter, and his three sons. God speed Jim! Robin Howarth (1951-1962)

IN MEMORIAM

Nigel Atherton (1942-1949) - Died 16th July 2020 J Roger Bell (1941-1949) - Died 24th July 2020 Robert Blackburn (1948-1958) - Died 24th September 2020 Daniel Buxton (Class of 1982) - Died October 2020 George Clapperton (1956-1968) - Died 2020 Dennis Frank Crompton (Boys’ Division Staff 1991-1993) - Died 16th October 2020 Ian Cuthbert (Class of 1977) - Died October 2020 Alan Eden (Class of 1956) - Died 5th February 2020 Mike Glover (Boys’ Division Staff, 1992-1999) - Died 15th April 2020 John Entwistle Greenhalgh (1940-1947) - Died 1st September 2020 Donald Hardman (1944-1951) – Died 28th October 2020 Roger Mangnall (1938-1946) - Died 15th February 2020 Freddie Mitchell (Class of 1946) - Died 11th July 2020 Michael David Powell (Class of 1969) - Died 6th May 2020 Stephen Ramsden (1956-1963) - Died October 2020 Michael B Smith (1943-1951) - Died April 2020 James Tobin (Class of 1968) - Died 18th August 2020 Alan Tootill (1941-1945) - Died 29th February 2020 David Wootton (1935-1940) - Died August 2020 George Brian Wright (1941-1949) - Died 24th February 2020

George Brian Wright

THE

BUGLE Old Boltoniansâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Association Autumn Newsletter 2020

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