The Old
WACONIAN 47
Edition
CHS: past and present 2019
Celebrating
CHS oneFifty Main Building illustration by Urban Colours
Celebrating 150 Years at Cheadle Hulme | Edition 47
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Welcome to this very special issue of The Old Waconian.
WELCOME
2019 is an important year for CHS. It marks 150 years of the School’s iconic Main Building; the moment when The Warehousemen and Clerks’ Orphan Schools relocated from Ardwick, Manchester to Cheadle Hulme. To mark the occasion, this special edition of The Old Waconian celebrates 150 reasons to be proud of being an Old Waconian with updates from the school today, Old Waconian news, plus snippets of the School’s special history. We’ve once again seen increased numbers of Old Waconians helping the next generation by giving talks, mentoring, providing work placements and supporting our pupils through the Bursary Fund. A huge thank you to everyone who has supported CHS over the last year. I hope you enjoy this edition of The Old Waconian and hope to see you at an event in the near future. Fran Kennedy, Director of Development and External Relations
As Chair of the Alumni Board, I’m delighted to welcome you to this edition of The Old Waconian.
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Photography by Jason Lock, Mark Tattersall and CHS
When marking any anniversary, it’s important to reflect on what has gone before, as well as what’s happening now. Making time for a trip down memory lane can teach us many things and CHS wouldn’t be where it is without its history. As many Old Waconians, especially those who were boarders, will attest the School and particularly the Main Building, has played a valuable part in their lives and helped so many on the path to fulfilling their lifelong ambitions. Not only as an Old Waconian, but also as a parent to a current student at the school, I know that this legacy lives on and there is so much to be proud of within this special community. This edition celebrates just that, a long history of a very special CHS community. We hear how philanthropy, volunteering and reaching out – continuous themes throughout our history – are still just as important today. We share your favourite memories from your School days and hear from some of our newest Old Waconians. As you read our compilation of 150 memories, familiar faces, school updates and more, I hope you too feel proud to be an Old Waconian. Emma Hardy, Alumni Board Chair
Contact us
Cheadle Hulme School, Claremont Road, Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire, SK8 6EF e: er@chschool.co.uk t: 0161 488 3341
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148. In April 2019, Brandon Few, Class of 2014, undertook the huge challenge of running the Paris Marathon before embarking on a cycle ride back to London, raising £2,744.31 for Alzheimer’s Society and Dementia UK. Brandon completed the Paris Marathon in 4 hours 30 minutes!
147. Old Wac and Alumni Board member, Rod
Goddard, Class of 1974, embarked on another impressive challenge – walking ‘The Way’, a 500-mile walk on the Camino de Santiago in Northern Spain. Following life-saving surgery, Rod decided to complete the walk in aid of one of our School’s nominated charities, The British Heart Foundation, while clocking up over one million steps! Fellow Old Wacs from the Class of 1974, Bernie Wilcox and Paul Atherley, also joined Rod in support for parts of the walk.
“Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time! Having said that, it got me fit, I lost a stone and a half despite spending lots of time in Rioja and it raised a few thousand pounds for a worthy cause. A life affirming event. Thank you all those who contributed.” Rod Goddard
Brandon and team mate Lucas at the start of the three-day cycle back to London
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Altruism has always been a key pillar of CHS life, from the School’s foundation by a group of philanthropic Manchester businessmen, and it remains a core value at the School today. Our Old Waconian community is no different and we’ve seen some incredible feats this year, all with philanthropy at their heart.
146. On 1st September,
Heather Broadbent, Class of 1986, set out on a 40,000-mile adventure in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. Heather has completed You can follow her story at months of rigorous training www.dreamitnowdoit.com. to take part in this amateur Good luck Heather! race, normally only for the seasoned pro. As well as the challenges of sailing a 70-foot ocean racing yacht, Heather will be spending 11 months in the same confined space with 20 complete strangers! If this wasn’t challenging enough, she has also set herself the task of raising £40,000 for East Cheshire Hospice at Home – that’s £1 for every mile sailed.
“The Clipper Race is for amateurs and I’m a sailing novice. I’ve been into boats all my life but nothing like this! I’ve loved every minute out on the water since I started my formal training, and there’s a huge amount to learn.”
ONEFIFTY MINUTES OF SERVICE
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Heather Broadbent (née Taylor)
Students at the school were encouraged to show their altruistic side to celebrate 150 years of the main building by giving 150 minutes of service. Over 115 days of volunteering were achieved through the initiative.
145. Three Year 7 students, Azeem Haque, Hassan Mohammed and Ethan Adey, enjoyed litter picking in a local park. “We wanted to do it because it helped the community and we would only otherwise be sitting playing on the PlayStation. It was a lot of fun! We had a competition to see who could pick up the most litter. It has definitely made us want to do more service. It feels good helping other people.” Azeem Haque
144. Thomas Day, 14, supported Stockportbased homelessness charity, The Wellspring, by volunteering at their foodbank. Celebrating 150 Years at Cheadle Hulme | Edition 47
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There is some amazing talent within our Old Waconian community, and here are just three bands to listen out for.
143. Talk Show is the hot tip of industry insiders right now. Fronted by Old Wac Harrison Swann,
Class of 2013, on vocals/guitar, this new band describe themselves as having a mixture of styles falling “between 80s new wave/goth and 70s post-punk”. It’s shaping up to be an exciting future for the band – their first single was released via Yala! Records, set up by Maccabees star Felix White, to support upcoming bands.
W H Lung
Image: Rosie Butcher
142. Surrounded in intrigue, W H Lung have seen huge success with their debut album Incidental Music, despite maintaining a deliberate degree of anonymity. Clouded in mystery and with very little press around the band, the synth pop group are mainly studio based, with rare but hotly anticipated live shows. The name of the band is said to be borrowed from a Manchester supermarket and, though the identity of the members isn’t widely known, the trio are Old Wacs from the Class of 2010 and the Class of 2011. Keep the secret!
141. We’re delighted to be welcoming back Old Wac John Pickering, Class of 1972, with his band The RetroBeats to this year’s Old Wacs’ Dinner in November. John shared his memories of CHS and his passion for music with us: “Much of our life in the Boarding House was very strictly regimented and subject to rules and routines. It was also coordinated by bells from the first ‘Strike’ at 7:00am sharp through to the ‘Tea Bell’ at 5:00pm after of course a first warning Bell at 4:40pm otherwise known as the ‘Twenty Bell’. “Whilst ‘Doing Time’ at ‘Chints’ as ‘Boy 71’ many varied experiences were enjoyed as were many friendships formed. Those bonds are still strongly evident to this day as can be demonstrated by the Annual Old Waconians’ Dinner when strong friendships can be re-visited. Those experiences were shared by us all. “One enduring memory of my time at ‘Chints’ was the lovely Music of the 60s. It could be heard everywhere drifting out from the studies of the older girls and boys. I remember having a burning wish to learn to play guitar from an early age. That journey has continued to this day.
OLD WACONIANS MAKING MUSIC 4
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“A year or so after starting work I played in my first band and I also became very interested in multi-track recording. I have my own recording studio at home. My current band ‘The RetroBeats’ was started 27 years ago. It is a four piece band of standard line up. I play lead guitar and sing lead and harmony vocals. Our music specialism is from the 60s and 70s era. We were asked to play at the Old Waconians’ Dinner in autumn 2018. That rather daunting task was a great honour for me. As always, it was wonderful to meet up with so many old friends from those very special school days at ‘Chints’. “We have been asked back to play at this year’s ‘Old Wacs’ Dinner’ in November and it will be our pleasure! I again look forward to meeting up with many old friends from ‘Chints’.”
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THE FINAL NOTE GOODBYE TO MR DEWHURST Our long-standing Director of Music, Philip Dewhurst, retired this Summer after 22 years of bringing the joy of music to CHS students. However, he won’t be enjoying a life of relaxation just yet, as he’ll be heading up the School’s music outreach programme to give local primary school children the opportunity to enjoy a musical education, too. We asked Philip what he has enjoyed most about his long career at CHS.
“The thing I’m most proud of is the number of opportunities we’ve provided to students to engage with music in all its forms. The aim of the Music department has always been to foster a lifelong passion for music in every student, including those who don’t take music lessons or study Music at GCSE or A Level. The subject is very inclusive; it gives non-musicians the chance to enjoy practical music making as well as encouraging excellence in our most talented musicians.
learning and were among the first schools to have our own recording studio, opened by Tony Wilson.
“We now have more than 20 co-curricular groups, from string quartets to rock bands, and put on major concerts at the Royal Northern College of Music, as well as staging large-scale musicals on campus every year.
“I will miss the staff and students and the everyday camaraderie of School life but I’m looking forward to working on the outreach programme. Many primary schools don’t have specialist music teachers, so the children’s opportunities to enjoy making music are limited.
“I love the way music education is continually evolving at CHS. We were a pioneering department in terms of using technology to teach music; we were the first department to use computers as an integral part of
“I’m very proud of the part I’ve played in making music central to the life of the School, and I’m grateful for everything CHS has done for me, and my children (who studied here), over the last 22 years.”
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Delve Into The Archives 136
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As a school with so much history, there’s a lot to discover in our onsite archive. Here’s just a selection of items we house.
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Old Wac News
CHEADLE HULME, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2019
368 Letters
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35 Trophies
of those letters are from Arthur Ellis to Mr Lockhart, sent during his time serving in WWII
IN LOCO PARENTIS
ALTRUISTIC • ACTIVE • ACADEMIC
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Albums of press cuttings
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Years’ worth of Waconian Magazines
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Fete programmes
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maps and floor plans
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2 Lacrosse sticks
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OLD WACONIANS GIVING BACK
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LOOKING THROUGH THE LIBRARY
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129. This autumn, a brand new e-book about the history of CHS will be launched. Many thanks to Carol Leather (née Scott), Class of 1964, Cathy Beavis (née Simpson), Class of 1972, Melanie Richardson (née Jones), Class of 1980, and Martine Webster for their support with this project.
128. Over the years, many of our Old Waconians
have been busy writing, both fiction and non-fiction, and we’re collating our very own collection of works from the novels of Elizabeth Garner, Class of 1994, to Healthcare Heroes; The Passion Project, by David Hunt, Class of 1998, and the Havas Lynx team. If you’ve written a book, we’d love to hear about it!
We’ve been proud to welcome back a number of Old Waconians to CHS over the last year to support our current students. Here are just a few of the many inspiring activities undertaken by our alumni volunteers.
127. Julie Abbott, Class of 1979
123. Andrew Klevan, Class of 1988
Julie gave students a crash course in marketing and project management.
Andrew taught our students how to analyse and interpret films.
126. Devjoy Dev, Class of 2013
122. Simon Forrest, Class of 1992
Devjoy spoke to students following our STEM and Medical Sciences pathways.
Simon spoke to Lower Sixth Business students about careers in finance. Simon told the students the lessons he has learnt from his career and how he overcame obstacles.
125. Belinda Walmsley (née Martin), Class of 1994 Belinda spoke to Business & Enterprise students about the world of marketing.
124. Jo Sutton, Class of 2009 Triathlete Jo shared her top tips about triathlons with Sports Science students.
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121. Adam Kamani, Class of 2007 Adam gave advice to young entrepreneurs. The founder of PrettyLittleThing, and Kamani Property Group CEO, gave his top tips for succeeding in business.
120. Matt Winter, Class of 2012 Matt spoke to students about Brexit from the point of view of the Civil Service, and how they are involved in research and preparations.
119. Peter Bullock, Former Staff, 1970-2013 Peter returned once again for the annual Peter Bullock awards. The award for IGCSE students was established, with thanks to Old Waconians, to commemorate Peter’s outstanding contribution to CHS as a physics teacher for 43 years. This year’s winners were Raees Gul (GCSE), who presented on The Physics of Flight, and Ben Chalk (Sixth Form) who considered Why the sun shouldn’t shine.
118. Sam Armfield, Class of 2014 Sam shared his experiences of volunteering for refugee charity, Lighthouse Relief. After volunteering in Greece as part of his Human Geography degree, Sam decided to return to Lesvos, supporting the arrival of refugees crossing the sea from Turkey. Having witnessed how the residents, who had little themselves, opened up their homes, businesses and hearts to help the refugees who had nothing at all, Sam saw how simple kindness can mean so much to someone in need. The School council were so inspired by Sam’s talk, they organised a winter clothes collection, receiving 230kg of donations which were sent to refugee families in Lesvos.
117. Susan Bullock, Class of 1977 Susan returned to the School to be interviewed by students from Year 7 through to Sixth Form. The soprano was faced with questions covering a whole range of topics including singing techniques, favourite directors, how to look after your voice, pre-performance rituals or superstitions, and the practicalities of singing in costumes, before performing a number of pieces for the students.
115. Annabelle Hartley (née Flinn), Class of 1993 Annabelle, the North West’s Deputy Head of Crown Court Prosecutions, returned to CHS to give a masterclass to our Upper Sixth about the Criminal Justice System, the Crown Prosecution Service and how to sentence Burglar Brian!
116. David Hunt, Class of 1998 Year 10 pupils collaborated with David Hunt, CEO of Havas Lynx, and Matt Eagles, Co-Founder of Parkylife, who has lived with Parkinson’s for 43 years. Pupils worked in teams to develop ideas to improve the lives of people living with Parkinson’s.
114. Emma Hardy, Class of 1986 Emma Hardy, Alumni Board Chair and Channel 4’s Head of OnScreen Talent, interviewed TV star and friend Dermot O’Leary in a special session for Sixth Form students hoping to break into the world of media. His advice was to make the most of every opportunity, and told students not to underestimate the importance of work experience.
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113 - 102 SCHOOL NEWS
Our Class of 2019 achieved some outstanding results in their A-Levels, as did our Year 11 students receiving their GCSE results.
113. 79% of our Class of 2019 achieved grades A*- B at A-Level!
112. Year 11 students once again achieved a 100% pass rate at GCSE, and more than 63% of grades achieved at CHS were 9-7, with 9 being the highest grade. 111. Five GCSE students were rewarded for their hard work with an impressive eight grade 9s or higher, with two students receiving all grade 9s! 110. Among many highlights, Jason Brown, Lily
Danson, Raphael McMahon and Adam Wolowczyk all achieved 3A*s or higher in their A-levels and will be studying at the University of Cambridge.
Outgoing Head Boy and Head Girl, Raphael and Lily
109. Head, Neil Smith, offered pupils a unique opportunity to redesign the Head’s Study this year. Budding designers submitted mood boards which were judged by Mr Smith, alongside Head of Art and Design, Mr Hayley, influential Interior Designer Ben Kelly, and the mastermind of Altrincham Market, Nick Johnson. Winners Eden and Will (Years 7 and 8) will now work together to design the finished product. “I really like art and design. I find creating stories really fun and this is how I saw this project.” Eden, Year 7
108. As we go to print, we are making the final preparations for our brand new Sixth Form Centre. A landmark £1.2 million project sees the centre opening at the start of this academic year. The launch will mark the first time in the School’s history that Sixth Formers have enjoyed their own dedicated building. With works commencing in January 2019, the eight-month scheme involved a complete transformation of the current Staff House. The ground floor will now consist of two main spaces: a café with covered outdoor seating and a sizeable common room. Upstairs there will be a large independent learning area, two separate spaces for small group working, a silent study room and a meeting room. Upper and Lower Sixth will share the building’s various spaces, encouraging mixing across the two year groups and helping to create a strong sense of cohesion.
“Sixth Form at CHS is all about preparing our students for university and the world of work. Our new building will provide them with the space they need to develop their independent working skills, as well as facilitating collaborative and project work. We believe our new dedicated Sixth Form Centre will significantly add to the School’s 16-18 experience, which is of course one of the most formative times in a young person’s life.” Mr Nick Axon, Head of Sixth Form
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107. CHS netballers won three National Championships within four weeks and finished the academic year with an International title! Our U12 team defeated Redmaid High School to become SnS National Champions this spring, while our U13 team took two national titles, beating Berkhamsted School in the SnS tournament and Stockport Grammar School in the ISNC final. The U13 team also won the World School’s Netball Cup after playing JESS Dubai in the final.
106. November’s Senior School production was the epic Les Misérables – the world’s longest running musical and a hugely ambitious project. The students worked hard on their singing in order to perform the world-renowned music. The Lower School production followed in January with Seussical the Musical Jr – a show of explosive colour and fantastical fun based on the works of Dr Seuss. After 16 weeks of rehearsals, the students delighted the audience with some of Dr Seuss’ best-loved characters in a story of friendship, loyalty and community.
“Les Misérables was an excellent production: strong, confident performances from a relatively young cast. Congratulations to all involved!” Paul Allen, Former Staff 1969-2004
105. The Head’s Study provided the backdrop to ITV thriller series Bancroft! With the series filmed in and around
Manchester, we were delighted to be used as one of the shooting locations. In the series which is due to be aired in autumn, the Head’s Study will be featured as a Head’s Study (though some redecoration was undertaken by the film crew)!
104. The music department has been expanding the musical opportunities offered at CHS with the introduction of G!G. March saw the first student-run live music event with a host of drummers, guitarists, keyboard players and singers taking to the stage. Not only did the students create their own sets including some original songs, but the technical crew and promotional team was also made up of students.
“We hope to encourage a gigging community where students can use the practice rooms at break and lunch times to really hone their skills, take time to understand what their instruments can do and create some amazing music in the process.” Mr Hugh Lawrence, CHS Visiting Music Teacher and G!G Co-ordinator
102. As well as celebrating 150 years in Cheadle Hulme,
we marked another milestone this year with the Infant School’s 21st Birthday. Infants and Juniors, along with their parents, joined in for cakes and games, while also supporting the Play and Learn fund, which raises money for educational experiences.
103. Over the summer, we were thrilled to be official partners of the BlueDot Festival at Jodrell Bank. Alongside an impressive line-up of music, including Hot Chip and New Order, CHS excited families with drop-in science activities at our very own festival STEM School.
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101. Former Young Alumni Award Winner Bronte Law, Class of 2013, won her first title on the LPGA Tour in May at the Pure Silk Championship in Virginia, with a two-shot victory.
100. Screenwriter Sammy Sultan, Class of 2007, has
been selected as a BAFTA LA Newcomer, a new talent initiative, recognising and supporting rising stars who have recently moved to Los Angeles to further their development and career. Sammy spent six years at CHS before his family relocated in 2002. His career in the entertainment industry began in 2014, hosting Black Cab Box Chat for Boxnation TV, filming interviews with some of Britain’s highest profile boxers, while touring around the capital in the back of a black cab. Following his taste of the entertainment world, Sammy accepted a place at the University of Southern California to study screenwriting in 2016. He currently has two feature films in development with producers, Felix’s Bar Mitzvah and Raymond’s Room.
OLD WACONIAN UPDATE
99. This September, we welcomed back
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a former staff member to the school, Peter Naylor. In his time away from CHS, Peter has combined his love for cooking and experience as a chemistry teacher to create TheFoodLab, offering unique cooking lessons in Manchester. Peter’s classes focus on understanding the processes involved in cooking and the science behind great food.
“I held a long standing desire to do something in life around food and, after my 50th year had been and gone, decided I’d better get on with it! As a teacher, I often talked about lifelong learning to my students, and encouraged them to always try new things. I’ve been practising what I preach, and it is great fun.”
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98. Tommy Hodson, Class of 1958, returned to CHS this
summer for the MCC vs Cheadle Hulme School fixture. After playing his final season with MCC, Tommy was recognised by former staff member Steve Burnage for his long standing commitment to the fixture. While here, Tommy shared some memories of his school days.
“I started a week late at CHS, in September 1951. The master strode in, complete with gown, and we all stood, “Good morning boys and girls,” he said, “sit down!” “Hodson,” he said, I stood up, “Why are you a week late starting?” “Please Sir, I’ve been on holiday with my Mam and Dad,” I replied (pure Coronation Street). Everyone laughed! School blazers made by Henry Barrie in Manchester were bottle green with an embroidered badge. Mine was lime green from Hazel Grove Co-Op with a stick on badge. I felt selfconscious and said, “Mam, I must call you Mum”, when I got home. “My first report showed I was 22 out of a class of 35. I was terrible at Maths and got 20% in GCE in May. I retook it in November and got 30% so my father paid for 12 private lessons and, in May, I got 60% (the pass was 45%). I realised I was a genius but learning just took me three times as long as most. “I got a job in an Insurance Company and got a degree at 21. I became the youngest Insurance Inspector in Manchester. At 30, I set up my own business, which I sold after 40 years. To ‘In Loco Parentis’ add ‘Nil Desperandum!’”
97. Jes Wilkins, Class of 1989, is one of the most experienced executive producers in factual television. After joining Firecracker as Head of Programmes in 2008, he became Chief Creative Officer in 2015. True to their name, Firecracker make TV programmes that go off with a loud bang! He has overseen the development and production of some of the highest rated and most talked about shows of the last decade including the record breaking, multi award winning, Big Fat Gypsy Weddings. Other notable successes have included series like The Class Next Door and Dr Christian Will See You Now and single documentaries like Susan Boyle: Unlikely Superstar, and Jamie: Drag Queen At Sixteen – the BBC3 film which inspired the hit West End musical Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. Jes shared his experiences with Old Wacs at this year’s Let’s CHat: Media event.
ANNUAL SCHOOL CELEBRATION
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Thank you to everyone who sent in photos for this year’s CHS Annual Celebration Event at the Bridgewater Hall. Our musicians will be treating current pupils, staff and parents to music through the decades, against a backdrop of your images to showcase our rich history. The final montages will be shared on our Old Waconian Facebook page soon, so keep your eyes out for that.
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As we welcome the Class of 2019 to the Old Waconian community, we caught up with five leavers from the Class of 2018 to find out what they have been up to since graduating.
95. Ed Doyle, Class of 2018
OUR YOUNG OLD WACONIANS
“After leaving CHS, I joined the ad agency McCann Manchester as an Apprentice in Digital Marketing. I will be learning from experienced professionals across all areas of the agency over the next 16 months and plan to pursue a career in Marketing.”
94. Ella Dawson, Class of 2018 “Since leaving CHS I have started my course at Manchester School of Art. Studying here has really expanded my knowledge of various forms of Art and how to explore them, as well as helping me gain skills, which I will carry forward into industry work. I look forward to seeing where it takes me next year.” Dressed for Success – Tom takes part in his work’s Christmas jumper competition.
93. Jess Appleby, Class of 2018 “Working as a carer has been fascinating, hearing some amazing stories and improving my bedside manner at the same time. It’s also given me the opportunity to learn about, and be part of, care in the community. I’ve also spent 3 months travelling in Africa, and climbing Kilimanjaro!”
Jess overlooking the Serengeti
92. Tom Poyner, Class of 2018 “I have been interning at Holman Group Ltd, a dynamic brand design and consultancy agency in the food and beverage, sports and leisure industry. My work includes research tasks, supporting the studio in briefing and copywriting, as well as co-ordinating clients and creatives. It’s been a real eye-opener, and I am really grateful for the opportunity.”
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91. Mansi Dhokia, Class of 2018 “Since graduating from CHS, I’ve started studying Classics at UCL which, so far, has been really good. I really enjoy my subject and exploring new areas of Classics in detail, and I’ve been having a great time.”
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KEEPING IN TOUCH 90. The CHS Network is an online networking
platform designed to bring the CHS community closer together. It enables Old Waconians, parents, and staff to support the School’s students with careers advice and guidance, as well as providing a social and peer-to-peer professional network for all its members. Join over 1,250 members online by visiting www.chsnetwork.co.uk today. Before heading to LSE to study International Relations, Chris Squire, Class of 2018, travelled to Israel and, using the CHS Network, made a very useful Old Waconian contact.
“Jonathan left CHS in 1990 but more recently gained a PhD in International Relations at LSE. We met for a coffee and he told me about his job working in foreign policy in Israel. As well as giving me some great advice, he has offered to keep in touch while I’m studying for my degree.” Chris Squire, Class of 2018
89. Our @OldWaconians
Facebook page is followed by more than 2,000 of you. Keep up to date with our latest news and events, see what other Old Wacs are up to in our new blog, A day in the life of… and enjoy our #TBT pics - this image of the swimming pool proved very popular!
88. Old Wacs can now join us on our new
@OldWaconian Instagram account too – the perfect way to keep in touch with what’s going on. You can also follow the school at @cheadlehulmeschool.
87. Want to hear more about day-to-day life at the School? Join our 5,200 followers over on Twitter @CheadleHulmeSch to see the huge breadth of activities going on each day.
86. Sadly, we don’t have as many up to date
contact details for our leavers from the 1990s as we’d like, and we want to reconnect with as many Old Wacs as possible. We need your help to reconnect, particularly with those 1990s leavers. If you think you know someone we are not yet in touch with, please ask them to complete our Keeping in Touch form at www. cheadlehulmeschool.co.uk/your-chs/keep-touch.
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Marcus Sparrow,
Long Serving Staff Member Geography teacher Marcus Sparrow has been explaining the wonders of the oxbow lake and the dangers of climate change to CHS students for nearly 35 years. As one of our longest serving members of staff, he has seen students, teachers and fashions come and go as the School has evolved. We asked Mr Sparrow how CHS has changed since he joined in 1985 and what has kept him at the School for such a long time. What’s been the biggest change at CHS over the years? When I first started, CHS was still a boarding school. There was a real sense of community because, for the boarders, CHS was their home. The day pupils would come to see their friends in the evenings so it was always busy. I remember the day pupils would try and break the record for the longest time they could stay in the boarding house undetected! I think the boarders played a strong role in the life of the School, so the closure of the boarding house, I think, had a big impact on CHS.
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How has teaching changed? The growth of technology has been the most significant change. When I started in 1985, a blackboard and a piece of chalk were pretty much my only teaching aids. There were only a couple of computers in school and they weren’t really used for teaching. Now, the students work on iPads and mobile phones, it’s much more interactive and engaging for them. We also have things like Kahoot! which is an online learning platform that you can use to create quizzes and games to reinforce what you’re teaching. That allows you to find out if students understand concepts or are struggling and give immediate help or feedback.
CHS GIFT SHOP
Has teaching Geography changed much? The buzzword in Geography today is ‘sustainability’ and there is more focus on the environment but, to be honest, we’ve been teaching students about climate change, plastics in the ocean, deforestation, etc., for years. The strength of the department has always been the wide variety of topics we cover. That and our field trips – all students seem to remember them very fondly. What has kept you at CHS for 35 years? When asked why he had spent his entire career at the BBC, legendary DJ John Peel claimed it was a combination of tremendous loyalty and a lack of ambition – I think it’s the same for me! I love the buildings and the grounds, the staff are friendly and very knowledgeable and the students are great. I also met my wife here, and my son has been a pupil, so my connections to the School run very deep.
Have you got your CHS memorabilia yet? Don’t miss out on these great items from our gift shop – money raised in sales will go back into the Bursary Fund. Find the gift shop at www.chsgiftshop.bigcartel.com
84. Get your hands on the Old Waconian Tie, designed by Alex Wilcox, Class of 1982, owner of luxury tailoring brand Lord Willy’s. 83. With one design of our limited edition prints now sold out, don’t miss out on our two other contemporary designs, courtesy of Jamie B Edwards, who works under the Urban Colours brand.
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Technology has definitely made teaching more effective; if you want to use an image of a landform or location to illustrate a point, you can just google it and show it to students in seconds. But, to me, it’s both a blessing and a curse. Technology puts great demands on teachers to make lessons ever more interesting and entertaining, and that can be a challenge.
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82. Our beautiful silk scarves in black and cream show off the iconic CHS crest and keys motif. 82.
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Each year the School recognises extraordinary alumni who have been nominated by peers for outstanding contributions and achievements in their fields, and who embody the values of an Old Waconian as an excellent role model for current students. We are thrilled to announce this year’s recipients.
81. Distinguished Old Waconian Award Cathy Beavis (née Simpson), Class of 1972, Former Staff 1978-1987 Cathy has enjoyed a successful career in education, acting as a Housemother and Housemistress and a teacher in both the Junior and Senior schools at CHS in her early career. She was tasked with setting up a Year 3 class in the 1980s when the Governors made the decision to admit 7 year olds to CHS. She then moved on from CHS to become a Junior School Head and then joined The King’s School when they began accepting girls. She also set up an Infant Department at the school, before becoming Head of a state Primary School. Since moving on from CHS, Cathy has never lost ties with the school and she has given 24 years’ committed service to the OWA Committee, serving as Secretary, Vice Chairman and Chairman during this time, before sitting on the Alumni Board. She
retired from the Board in 2018. In addition to this, Cathy has held many voluntary roles over the years. She has been a magistrate for 30 years, a member of the Greater Manchester Advisory Committee on Justices of the Peace, Vice Chair of the Independent Monitoring Board at HMP Manchester, and a trustee of several charities. Cathy also has a keen interest in Myanmar, which has led her to train teachers and fundraise in order to build schools in areas of the country that have none. Still well connected to the School, Cathy delivered a talk to the Upper Sixth about her work in Myanmar with Hope 4 the World.
OLD WACONIAN AWARDS
persistence under environmental change’. Rachel’s passion is marine biology, specifically coral reefs and their conservation, and she has worked as a reef ecology lecturer with ‘Operation Wallacea’ in Utila, Honduras. Rachel also completed her Master’s thesis in the Cayman Islands, conducting surveys to address invasive lionfish density and abundance in relation to management efforts. Rachel then presented this research at the European Coral Reef Symposium in 2017. Rachel is also passionate about outreach and inspiring others. She works with a number of schools talking to students interested in conservation-based careers. She also has her own website aimed at anyone and everyone with an interest in marine conservation, and blogs for a Conservation Careers website. Rachel is passionate about ‘Open Access’ and believes that scientific research and articles should be accessible to all. She hopes to publish her PhD work in Open Access journals, so that her research contributes not only to academic knowledge and understanding, but also to the knowledge and understanding of the general public.
80. Young Alumni Award Rachel Gunn, Class of 2013 Since leaving CHS, Rachel completed a BSc in Zoology at the University of Nottingham, followed by an MSc in Marine Biology at Bangor University. She is currently completing a PhD at Lancaster University, working under the project title, ‘Impact of coral reef fish personalities on species
Currently, Rachel is in the middle of PhD research in Indonesia, working with ‘Operation Wallacea’. As well as conducting her own work, she is also a dissertation field supervisor for students completing research for both undergraduate and masters’ dissertation projects in everything from fish behaviour to coral reef diversity!
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Described as “the most exciting new voice in mathematics in the UK today”, former CHS student Kit Yates is on a mission to bring maths to the masses. In his new book, The Maths of Life and Death, Kit explores the importance of maths to our everyday lives, from working out the shortest queue in a shop to preventing the spread of deadly diseases. We spoke to the maths marvel about his love of numbers and how his time at School prepared him for a career as a mathematical biologist.
What do you remember most about CHS? I always remember being pretty busy at School. I enjoyed playing rugby on Saturday mornings and the expeditions we went on with the Duke of Edinburgh Award. The Columbus Fellowship camps that were run in association with the School were also massively important for my development as a person. As soon as one finished I’d be looking forward to the next one.
a motif in the branches of a tree, or in the multi-fold symmetry of a snowflake, then you are seeing maths. When you tap your foot in time to a piece of music, or when your voice reverberates as you sing in the shower, you are hearing maths. If you bend a shot into the back of the net or catch a cricket ball on its parabolic trajectory, you are doing maths. Part of the job I undertake in my book is to highlight the places where people are using maths, intuitively, perhaps without even realising it.
How did your experience at CHS help you in later life?
Can you give us some of the more unusual uses of maths?
The education I received at CHS, particularly in maths, meant that I managed to get a place at a good university to read maths, without which I couldn’t have gone on to become a mathematical biologist. The teachers at CHS also went way beyond the call of duty, putting in time out of hours to help me prepare for entrance interviews. I really appreciated that.
In the book, I explore the true stories of life-changing events in which the application (or misapplication) of mathematics has played a critical role: patients crippled by faulty genes and entrepreneurs bankrupt by faulty algorithms; innocent victims of miscarriages of justice and the unwitting victims of software glitches. I show that mathematics has something profound or significant to say on a wide range of subjects.
Aside from maths, CHS also gave me a broader well-rounded education. Although I thought I was done with the subject when I went to University, it turns out that the English I learned at School has become increasingly important to me, both in the context of academic writing, but even more tangibly, when writing my book. What makes you so passionate about maths? I genuinely believe that maths is for everyone. If you’ve ever been made to feel that you can’t understand maths, I say this: you are experiencing it all the time, perhaps without even knowing it. Mathematics, at its most fundamental, is pattern. If you spot
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I also try to arm the reader with simple mathematical rules and tools which can help them in their everyday life: from getting the best seat on the train, to keeping your head when on the receiving end of an unexpected test result from the doctor. I also provide a nice rule of thumb called ‘the 37% rule’ which uses the maths of optimisation to help you join the shortest queue in the supermarket.
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SPOTLIGHT ON...
Kit Yates, Class of 2003
Who is your book for? Would people who don’t think they’re good at maths enjoy it? It’s important to say upfront that The Maths of Life and Death is not a maths book. Nor is it a book for mathematicians. There isn’t a single equation in it. The point of the book is not to bring back memories of the school mathematics lessons you might have given up years ago. Quite the opposite, in fact. If you’ve ever been made to feel that you aren’t good at maths, consider this book an emancipation.
Finally, what does being an Old Waconian mean to you? I remember the first assembly we had in Year 7, we were taught some Latin. I was highly sceptical, but the phrase we were taught has stuck with me: Carpe Diem – seize the day. For me this is what CHS is all about. It’s about working hard and playing hard, about taking things seriously, but not too seriously, about putting effort into something but not to the exclusion of everything else. I think that’s what being an alumnus of CHS means to me.
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ONEFIFTY STORIES To celebrate 150 years of the iconic main building, we are compiling 150 faces of CHS – students, staff and Old Wacs – who embody the values of CHS. Do you recognise any of these Old Waconians?
OUR GLOBAL COMMUNITY We are so lucky to have a global network of 13,000 Old Waconians.
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Visit www.onefiftystories.com to see the list and read their stories.
Did you know... 47
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There are Old Waconians living across states in the USA
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CHS Network users are willing to help another Old Waconian
Old Waconians are living overseas in 55 Countries!
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Old Waconians attended an event in the 2018-19 School Year
44. Thanks to Peter Wild, Class of 1961, for sharing this story. Thirty years later... “Marathon organisers are briefing the media in a San Francisco conference room. Across from me, celebrity runners, including British Olympic Marathoner Priscilla Welch and, to her left, her coach and husband. I couldn’t help remarking on the nose on this guy, which had a prize-fighter’s profile, missing a section of bone in the middle, very distinctive. Thirty years earlier, a classmate at CHS had been on the wrong end of a lacrosse stick and broken his nose in a way that gave him that same profile … this was David Welch. We’d been somewhat friendly, but David had left School after 5th form and we didn’t stay in touch. David Welch … Priscilla Welch … DUH! Amazing moment – I’m in San Francisco on the far edge of the continent, 5,000 miles away from where I’d last seen ‘Spog’ Welch on the CHS campus.
“I introduced myself and, sure enough, it WAS David. He’d joined the Army, met Priscilla during a tour in Norway, and become her trainer and, eventually, husband. Priscilla had quit smoking to become an elite marathoner in mid-life, now sponsored by Nike. We did the fast forward catch-up, then David, the coach, offered this nugget for the first-time marathoner: “Run the last ten miles first.” I did just that. “We met a few months later at the New York Marathon, exchanged email addresses and talked about visiting their home in Boulder, CO. I never made it, and I recently googled David to learn that he died in 2006 (when will I learn that these connections are too important to treat casually?) I would still like to find Priscilla and take the time to reminisce about my old classmate and her life partner, and coach, Dave – still ‘Spog’ to me.” Peter ‘Scraggy’ Wild
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43 - 37 THANKING OUR OLD WACONIAN SUPPORTERS
Thanks to the generosity of Old Waconians, talented individuals who would not otherwise have the financial means to attend Cheadle Hulme School, are able to benefit from the wonderful opportunities available at CHS.
43. The Bursary Fund now stands at an incredible £4 million, but we have exciting ambitions to increase the Fund to give even more students the opportunity to attend CHS, and retain the social diversity this provides to our current pupils. 42. Unlike previous bursary campaigns, The Amazing Campaign will focus on the most vulnerable young people in our local area. Some of these will come from deprived or challenging backgrounds, others from failing schools or may live in areas of Greater Manchester where life chances are limited. These new transformational bursaries will give three new pupils each year the chance to attend CHS and benefit from the opportunities that a CHS education provides. Current student Maisha told us what it means to her to be supported by a Transformational Bursary. “I found it quite difficult at first, people were like me academically, but our lifestyles were quite different. But now my friends know all about me and I know all about them. The School also gives a lot of pastoral care and it’s really nice to be in an atmosphere where it’s really welcoming no matter where you’re from or who you are.” Maisha, Lower Sixth
41. Eleven-year-old Liam has been given the chance to join CHS in Year 7 on a sports scholarship. Liam is a keen and promising cricket player and, thanks to the generosity of an Old Waconian cricket-lover, he now has the chance to develop and hone his skills at CHS. He will be entering into CHS’ High Performance Sports Programme, enabling him to achieve his best both on and off the cricket field. Liam is incredibly excited to start his CHS journey, having been given this once in a lifetime opportunity, as you can see from part of the recent letter he sent to the donor. “I have been training at the School with Mr Clinton, and have also been shown around, and I have never seen a school like it. I am really excited and looking forward to attending in September after seeing not just the cricket facilities, but also the music rooms as I like playing both the electric and acoustic guitar.” Liam, Year 7
We are very grateful for the support our Old Waconians give to help children like Liam become Waconians, and you can see just how much it means to them and the life changing impact that you can make.
40. This year, our Upper Sixth year group came together to raise money for the Bursary Fund as the final legacy from their year to the School. They raised over £1,500 thanks to Krispy Kreme donut sales and an eventful Upper Sixth Variety Show! Outgoing Head Boy, Raff, told us why the Leaver’s Gift is so important and how he will continue to support CHS in the future. “I donated to the Class of 2019 Leavers’ Gift because I wanted to both do my part to ensure that somebody else can enjoy the same breadth of opportunities that I have enjoyed at CHS over the last seven years, and help continue the altruistic tradition of the School.” Raphael McMahon, Class of 2019
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39. Legacy gifts have a real impact on the fundraising income that we receive each year. Over the last seven years we have seen income from legacies of over £500,000 from 20 Old Waconians. These gifts enable CHS to transform young people’s lives by paying for student fees, enhancing the educational offering or developing the CHS campus with top facilities. As well as this, it leaves a lasting impact on CHS and is a pertinent way to remember your former School.
We are very grateful to the 92 Old Wacs who have confirmed their legacy intention to date and we hope many more will continue to join the 1855 legacy society into the future.
“This is a way of showing my gratitude that best suits my circumstances and will, ultimately, offer the greatest benefit to the School. It gives me much pleasure to know that I shall be supporting my alma mater, although I am in no hurry to conclude the process.” John Edmondson, Class of 1965 and 1855 legacy society member
38. Paul Sinclair, Class of 1963, has very generously funded four bursaries for Sixth Form students. These bursaries will be awarded to pupils with a keen interest in pursuing a career in engineering, but can’t afford to attend CHS without this support. We are very much looking forward to meeting the recipients and watching their CHS journey.
37. Thanks to a generous donation
from a North West art lover, we can now offer a new Sixth Form Art Bursary for a talented artist who has attended a local state school to join CHS. The Art Bursary covers all fees for one student as well as a contribution towards transport costs, the cost of uniform and participation in an overseas Art Trip, plus a focused pastoral support system to help the student fully participate in Sixth Form life.
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OUR 2019 TELEPHONE CAMPAIGN As part of our fundraising efforts this year we launched our first telephone campaign for 5 years. We welcomed young Old Waconians back to CHS to help us raise vital funds for our campaigns, as well as to enjoy the opportunity to share memories with fellow Old Waconians and give back to CHS.
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CONVERSATIONS & STORIES
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SHARED WITH OLD WACONIANS
33 YOUNG OLD WACONIAN CALLERS
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RAISED & PLEDGED THROUGH THE CAMPAIGN
NEW REGULAR DONORS GIVING THROUGH THE CAMPAIGN
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We’ve got plenty of events coming up over the next few months and there is something for everyone. We hope to see you at an event soon! If you have any ideas for events, or would like to plan a reunion, don’t hesitate to get in touch, we’d love to hear your thoughts.
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DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
For further details and how to book, as well as other future events, please visit www.cheadlehulmeschool.co.uk/chs-life/events. We will be in touch soon with details of our 2020 events.
32. Manchester Art Fair, 11th - 13th October, Manchester Central Artwork from pupils at Cheadle Hulme School will be on display at the popular Manchester Art Fair this October. Old Wacs are eligible for free tickets to the Fair’s VIP preview night on Friday 11th October. If you would like to attend, contact er@chschool.co.uk to claim your tickets.
28. Old Wacs’ Dinner,
16th November, Cheadle Hulme School We can’t wait to welcome you back to the dining hall for dinner in November. It’s a great opportunity to get together with friends, and visit the School. Tickets are priced at £30.
31. Class of ‘99 Reunion, 26th October, Cheadle Hulme School 30. Remembrance Service, 11th November, Cheadle Hulme School 29. Reunion Drinks – Classes of ‘64, ‘69 and ‘94, 16th November, Cheadle Hulme School
In the Class of 1964, 1969 or 1994? Join your classmates for private reunion drinks ahead of the Old Wacs’ dinner.
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If your year group is celebrating an anniversary, we’d love to host drinks for you too, please get in touch.
27. Class of 2019 Reunion,
17th December, Cheadle Hulme School
26. The Gender Agenda In April, we were treated to The Gender Agenda, a panel event led by the Student Equality Society. Old Wacs Kate Vokes, Class of 1987, and Jade English, Class of 2010, joined our panel of professionals and were quizzed on topics such as managing a work-life balance and the nuances of networking.
25. An Evening With Katie Derham And Susan Bullock CBE
2019 EVENTS ROUND UP
Looking out over the Thames at the Deck at the National Theatre, we enjoyed an evening with two Old Wacs – our President, Katie Derham, Class of 1988, and renowned soprano Susan Bullock CBE, Class of 1977. As Katie interviewed Susan, we heard about her career achievements, as well as some of the on stage faux pas! Susan also performed a number of songs.
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24. Let’s CHat: Media In the impressive offices of Havas UK, we heard from an even more impressive line-up of media industry experts. Old Wacs Chair, Emma Hardy, Class of 1986, and President, Katie Derham, Class of 1988, talked about their career experiences and gave their industry top tips, alongside other Old Wac panellists, Michael Heaven, Class of 2009, Akshay Shah, Class of 2012, Jes Wilkins, Class of 1989, and Mark Whelan, Class of 1985.
23 - 21 BEGINNINGS IN CHEADLE HULME
As we take a trip down memory lane, we look at the beginning of School life in Cheadle Hulme.
23. The Executive Committee of the Manchester
Warehousemen and Clerk’s Orphan Schools were determined to own their own school and, in 1864, a public dinner was held to raise funds for a new building, which would move the School from its original home in Ardwick. Between the 120 guests who attended, over £4,000 was raised to kick-start the project, which we would come to love as the Main Building today. The children, too, raised funds for the new School and, as more money poured in, possible sites in Heaton Chapel and Wilmslow were considered for the School, before five acres of land were purchased in 1865 at £300 per acre – a much smaller site than the School today.
21. Edward Hartley Turner was one of the
first pupils to arrive at Cheadle Hulme, starting in October of 1869. He was awarded the John Rylands Prize, as detailed in this certificate from the Manchester Warehousemen and Clerks’ Orphan Schools.
In August 1867, Lord Granville laid the foundation stone at the site and the building was completed two years later. On 7th August 1869, the building was declared open, with a ceremony attended by the Earl and Countess of Ellesmere and the School’s President, Sir James Watt.
22. Fifty pupils moved to Cheadle Hulme when the School was opened and, in 15 years, the number of pupils had grown to 246. With the growing numbers, additional space was needed. By 1881 a gym, swimming pool, infirmary, two additional dormitories, a washhouse and Holden Hall had been added to the School. Today, we have 1,457 pupils at Cheadle Hulme School aged 3-18.
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YOUR OneFifty Memories
Thank you to all those who sent in your OneFifty memories of CHS, we hope you enjoy reading this selection of your favourite School times!
20. M artin Tyley, Class of 1992
19. Kate Smith, (Catharine née Smart), Class of 1974
“Staying late and watching Jason Moon, Paul Barnes and Barnaby Thompson (Class of 1992) doing amazing tricks on skateboards in the room closest to the Junior School. Watching Jeremy Bates lose to Guy Forget in a Wimbledon quarter final in around 1988 in the borders common-room over lunchtime – none of us were allowed in there. Writing all of our names on a pillar in the Sixth Form common room on our last day of School, thinking they would last forever – and returning the next year for the summer fair and seeing they’d all been painted over.”
“My memories are many, but here’s one from about 1971, when I was in the Juniors and David Goodison was the Head as well as teaching Science. I remember him describing an experiment in Chemistry and contrasting a principle with a practicality. He said, “But in actual practice”, and I couldn’t work out what he meant because it was the real thing and not just ‘a practice’! Happy days. Not surprising, that being so hung up on words, I went on to study languages and teach English to lots of nationalities.” Tony Foulkes
18. Tony Foulkes, Class of 1965 “I joined CHS as a boarder in 1955 aged eight. Being academically challenged, the next ten years were spent in the Junior School B Group, the B Stream in Years 2 to 5, with a short spell in 5R. However, I flourished late and left on time with three A Level passes. I had been a House Captain, a School Prefect and captained the School lacrosse and swimming teams. I was commissioned in 1966 and enjoyed a successful career in the RAF before embarking on a second career in the Civil Service. Now retired, we live comfortably in Yorkshire with a plot of land, two dogs and two horses. The foundations for this sense of wellbeing were clearly laid at CHS. They shaped my character and created in me the team spirit ethos that was essential in all that I subsequently did. I am hugely grateful for my time at CHS as it showed that academic brilliance alone is not a prerequisite to a successful life. Could any other school have produced the same result with my initial set of skills? I doubt it!”
17. John Britcliffe, Class of 1955
16. R obin Johnson, Class of 1970
“Apart from academic achievements, the School is where I learned good table manners. In the refectory, my mentor sat opposite me and, if I talked with my mouth full or drank while eating, I would receive a kick under the table!
“Using my master keys to open teachers’ desks to retrieve confiscated items, i.e. catapult and sweets; going on expeditions in the foundations of Holden Hall through a hatch in cellar; climbing on the rafters above the 2/3/4 year dorm through the hatch in the washrooms; buying candles and using the old redundant 3rd year study as a secret hideout.”
“I was an active scout and enjoyed the camps we went on.
John Britcliffe, 1954
“On Sundays, we attended the local parish church and, in the evening, had evensong in the refectory, where somebody from the Junior School did the first reading followed by someone from the Senior School doing the second reading. Being born and bred in Accrington, East Lancs, I had a fairly strong Lancashire accent and, at the end of my reading, the Headmaster, TTR Lockhart, a Scotsman with a very strong and pronounced Scottish accent, in front of the full boarding house, announced that he was sending me off for elocution lessons – very embarrassing for a boy of eight. “I enjoyed nine very happy years at Cheadle Hulme School and was very sad to leave in 1954.”
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15. Larry Bauder, Class of 1973
14. Ann Chandley, Class of 1954
“When the rugby teams were stretched (I think due to illness), I was recruited to fill out the second team one Saturday. I was coached on how to handle the second row of the scrum and the line out (I was the target for the toss as the tallest on the team). The rest of the rule details got a little lost. A very good and high kick was made to the opposing end of the field to get us out of trouble and I carefully waited until the ball passed me overhead (so as to not be off-side). I then proceeded to the landing zone and, as I tackled the fellow who caught it, the whistle blew. Teammates apologised to the bewildered opposition (“he’s a Yank”). Other teammates reminded me of the rule to wait till the kicker got first chance at the receiver and then complimented me on my tackle... pity it didn’t help!
“One of the best memories I have of Cheadle Hulme School was being taught by Arthur Ellis. He was a brilliant teacher and the main reason I went on to take a general Science degree at Manchester University was because I so enjoyed his Zoology lessons in the Sixth Form. He was absolutely inspirational. Another was my opportunity to help and guide the very first black African pupil when she arrived in the Sixth Form to do her A Levels. Her name was Olayinka Jackson, known to everyone as ‘Yinks’. She came from Lagos, Nigeria and boarded at the School, becoming a very popular member of the boarding house. At weekends, my parents would often invite her to our house in Gatley for Sunday lunch, and my father became especially fond of her with her great sense of humour and infectious laugh. In return, she called him ‘Lord’ Chandley, to respect the high esteem in which she held him. Yinks went on to do Medicine at Leeds University before returning to West Africa to practise. To this day, we remain close friends, although our opportunities to meet are now very limited. We keep in touch on our iPads!”
“In the School drama, I played a western spy pretending to think I was Sir Isaac Newton to get into an insane asylum. I’d never smoked or drank and had to light up a cigarette and take a slug of whisky in character. The ‘whisky’ was super saturated sugar water that made me gasp appropriately and a ‘friend’ managed to surprise me the second night with an exploding cigarette. The reviewer in the local paper said I had a “convincing American accent.”
13. A drian Wills, Class of 1976 “After leaving, I kept in touch with Russell Good and Chris Jones, both day School pupils, and in August 1977, the three of us completed the Pennine Way, 270 miles of hard slog following the Wainwright Guide Book and receiving our complimentary pint at the Border Hotel in Kirk Yetholm. I don’t think they do this now?
Adrian, Russell and Chris completing the Pennine Way
“Sadly, we all drifted apart but, a few years ago, I made contact with Russell Good. He and I have since kept in touch via email and exchanges of Christmas cards. I penned Russell last Christmas suggesting that we should look to meet as we are not getting any younger! We both agreed this was a splendid idea and not before time. He and I, and our wives, are meeting in Shropshire, it should be quite emotional after 42 years!”
12. Liz Jones (née Plucker), Class of 1964
Liz and Gareth Jones
“My father died when I was only 11 years old and the foundation scheme enabled my brother and I to go to ‘Chints’. I remember only too well having no uniform for several weeks, as it was to be provided but arrived late. Very embarrassing!
“CHS became the best place for me to be at this sad time as many of the lovely friends I made had experienced the same or similar tragedies. “The School introduced me to tennis and swimming – both of which I still do at age 73 and thoroughly enjoy at least three times a week! I also became a teacher after my experience looking after the junior dorm and being a Housemother! “I met my husband at School and, last month, we celebrated 50 years of happy marriage with two children and five grandchildren. I gained a wonderful French pen friend at the School and the friendship has continued so well that he and his wife drove over to celebrate our golden wedding! “Many happy memories - thank you ‘Chints!’”
Ann with Olayinka and Arthur Ellis, taken in 1994
11. R ichard Whincup, Class of 1969 “Playing a lacrosse or cricket match on a Saturday afternoon, with the delightful boarder girls (you know who you are!) serving us tea and sandwiches afterwards.”
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10. S tuart Robson, Class of 1958
Stuart Robson at the School in 2018, admiring a press cutting of him from 1958.
08. K atherine Fricker (née Young), Class of 1969 “I was very fortunate to have been a pupil at Cheadle Hulme School from 1958-1969. The School was mixed, stimulating and fun! I benefited from some excellent teaching, especially from Michael Scaife for History. This confirmed my love of the subject and shaped my future career. When we were in the Sixth Form, the Headmaster, Leslie Johnston, drove us into Manchester to the theatre in his vintage Rolls Royce and the Senior Choir sang at Manchester Cathedral. This was exciting and a great honour for the School. I made some very good friends at CHS and these friendships have lasted a lifetime.”
“It is said that time at school is the happiest time of life, and in my case, that is probably true. The memory of outstanding teachers is still impressed on me, including Arthur Ellis, Brian Gaskell, Miss MacKay, and David Jones, just to name some. My time seemed to be consumed by involvement in what is now termed extra-curricular activities, particularly sport, including rugby, lacrosse and cricket. Indeed, I was the first XI cricket captain for two seasons, 1957 and 1958 which was then unusual. The Headmaster, Douglas Whiting, appointed me Head Boy in 1957/8, an experience that I treasure to this day. It was these experiences which got me involved in the British Schools Exploration Society’s Expedition to Labrador in 1959, before going up to Kings College, Durham University. I am forever grateful to CHS for the doors that it opened for me.”
09. Tony Stansby, Class of 1953 “For the Residents’ Christmas Party in 1952, the six resident boy prefects (Keith Armstrong, Geoff Hope, Gareth Hughes, myself and two others) rewrote the whole of Shakespeare’s Macbeth in rhyming verse – an all-consuming team effort that spanned several weeks. We performed it in costume in the Boys’ Playroom before the entire incredulous resident community to (I would like to think) thunderous applause. For years afterwards, large portions of the script were seared on my memory!”
07. G illian Lee (née Woodhead), Class of 1968
Katherine Fricker (front left)
06. A dam Hale, Class of 1983 “Spending many breaks, lunchtimes and free periods in 1981-83 in the recently opened Sixth Form common room, playing table football and bar billiards. We worked out that turning the entire table football table right over and back up again gave a free game, saving 10p. It was big and heavy. The staff room was nearby and, once, the Headmaster strode past while the table was literally on its back. We thought we had got away with it, however, the next day each leg was securely screwed to the wooden floor. Fortunately, one player manufactured a ‘swicking stick’ in the metalwork lab which when inserted and rotated by 90 degrees, achieved the same purpose. Practice time was well spent. I went on to become Table Football champion at Uni. My CHS education wasn’t entirely wasted either.”
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“In the 1960s, I remember lining up every day in the Girls’ Playroom before we all walked up the stairs to the dining hall for lunch. Miss Munro was always standing outside the dining hall, casting an eye over everyone’s uniform. At lunch, we had servers who brought round the trays of food to each table. If there was someone you fancied, you asked a server to take any leftover portions to them - the boys and girls were on different sides of the dining hall! When you got to be in the Sixth Form, you sat at the High Table, occasionally with the Head, Mr Johnston, or Deputies, Miss Munro or Mr Wilcox. That was quite scary the first time you did it!”
05. Joan Owen (née Burton), Class of 1956 “CHS is always with me, in thought, word and deed. My ten year upbringing in the Boarding House from age 7-17 (19471956) have stood me in good stead throughout my life, and I look on my schooldays with warmth and affection. ’IN LOCO PARENTIS’, it certainly was for me. “Christmas parties sitting on top of lockers to watch all the party dresses pass through, and enjoy ‘Boggy’ Marsh in Staff Panto after. “Mrs Ofner supervised the traybakes in the kitchen, I remember the savoury cheese with poached egg dropped in – does anyone know that recipe? Also big, square sponge puddings cut into portions, very filling!”
04. M artin Hollins, Class of 1962 “I have treasured memories of my A Level Chemistry class. I had a good relationship with the teacher and most of the students. We were allowed to do a project on the first synthetic dyestuffs – Perkin’s Purple, if I recall. This was after School and normal rules were relaxed. I don’t now remember the chemistry we discovered, but I can still picture those multi-coloured lab coats that we all wore for our demonstration!
Martin Hollins (2nd Left) with the Class of 1962 at the Old Wacs’ Dinner
“One of our fellow students was rather a pain, always messing about, not following instructions. This led to a most dramatic incident. We were doing an experiment that involved boiling alcohol, and were told quite clearly not to expose the alcohol directly to the flame. This student ignored that advice and burning alcohol covered the front of his lab coat. Our teacher extinguished this by a flying rugby tackle, to all our satisfaction!”
03. David Wooldridge, Class of 1948 “So many happy memories from my time at CHS (Easter 1939 to July 1948). Firm but supportive leadership from Headmaster Lockhart and Senior Master Stafford Foster; deep lifelong friendships with many fellow students, especially Peter and Pat (Robinson) Spiller; hot and cold days in portable classrooms; committed teachers Miss Waite, Miss Anderson, Mr Baker, Mr Ellis; home and away rugby and lacrosse (Mr Ellis). And it was wartime; and still School productions of Twelfth Night and The Immortal Lady.”
The Immortal Lady production, 1947
02. Michael Sholl, Class of 1954 “My four+ years at ‘Shints’ were very happy. I lived very near the School, so the bell was a calling to leave home. Many memories of teachers: Kang, who said I needed a ‘putting back saw’ when I cut off too much wood; Miss Stirk, who said to stop watching the trains; and the Head, Mr Lockhart, who said, “away home, boy, and get your School cap”. Sport featured highly during my time – swimming (great pool, which I helped clean with the boarders, an excuse to have a swim in the evening), lacrosse, rugby and athletics. I did benefit by getting some O Levels, which qualified me to enter on ONC/HNC course later in life. Also, the rush for those 1/3 pints of milk at morning break. Those school dinners, I loved them. Many good times.”
Michael Sholl (2nd row, 2nd from left)
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FONDLY REMEMBERED CHS is sad to report the deaths of the following Old Waconians: Charles Anderson Class of 1954
Philip Carr Class of 1956
David Higginbottom Class of 1955
Edward (Ted) Armstrong Class of 1943
Peter Chapman Former Staff 1965-95
David (Dai) Jones Former Staff 1972-95
Geoff Arney Class of 1961
David Corbett Class of 1960
Ivor Jones Class of 1954
Michael Ashton Class of 1962
Jane Couzens (née Bailey) Class of 1975
Judith Lamond (née Howarth) Class of 1955
Katherine Davies Class of 1971
Jean Lidgett (née Ashworth) Class of 1951
Dorothy Denton (née Taylor) Class of 1942
David Poizer Class of 1954
Eleanor Fryer (née Clarke) Class of 1967
Edith (Mollie) Povey (née Cooper) Class of 1932
Gillian Flynn (née Stansby) Class of 1956
Felicity Pownall Class of 1954
Jim Gardner Class of 1938
Kate Quinton Class of 1991
Dorothy (Peggie) Hannay (née Seddon) Class of 1944
Jean Rosenfeld Class of 1955
Michael Atkinson Class of 1971 Chris Barnard Class of 1955 Christine Battrum (née Laurence) Class of 1977 Dr Dave Bedworth Class of 1949 John Booth Class of 1947 Joan Brabin Former Staff 1968-89 Matthew Caine Class of 2000
Barbara Haydon Class of 1951
Elizabeth Ruckwood (née Mills) Class of 1943
Barbara Sleath (née Swinn) Class of 1943 Shirley Stanley (née Wright) Class of 1949 David Stewart Class of 1960 Peter Walker Former Staff 1989-1998 Marjorie Warren Class of 1951 Thomas Wearden Class of 1948 Shirley Wigfield (née Boon) Class of 1953 Helen Williamson (née Smith) Class of 1943 Bill Woodward Class of 1942 Andrew Worsley Class of 1982
Jim and Millie at School
OBITUARY – JAMES GARDNER DFC By Millie Blower (née Kirby), Class of 1938 After the death of his father, Jimmy became a boarder at School at the age of eight. He was very well respected and a keen sportsman, playing on all the various teams. He left School in 1938 to join Marine Insurance, but the war commenced, and he enlisted in the RAF. Jimmy was seconded to Bomber Command where, after training, he became a Flight Pilot. He was awarded the DFC and the Légion d’Honneur de France. Jimmy and I met up again at School and, as we had both lost our partners, we renewed our old School friendship. Sadly, Jimmy developed dementia. He was 97 years old and died in a care home on 6th December 2018. RIP dear Jimmy. Millie Blower (née Kirby).
Jim was awarded the Distinguished Old Waconian Award in 2014.
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The Old WACONIAN | Edition 47
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A MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD
On the anniversary of our iconic Main Building’s opening, it’s been a real pleasure to read through the stories, achievements and memories that make up this special OneFifty edition of The Old Waconian. I hope, when you read them, that you feel as proud to be part of the Old Waconian community as I am to be Head. I feel immensely proud and humbled to lead a school with such a strong sense of community and ambition to excel, and take great pleasure in knowing that this sense of community continues beyond the school site. Over the last 150 years, as pupils leave our wonderful Main Building for the final time, they take the legacy of CHS with them, wherever in the world they end up, and always feel part of our School. One of my favourite days in the School calendar is the Annual Celebration at the Bridgewater Hall. Thank you to those of you who shared photos to accompany the musical performances that will be performed at the event by our current pupils. This is a fantastic way of keeping the history of Cheadle Hulme School alive. This event is a highlight for students, staff and parents alike.
It has been great to meet so many Old Wacs over the last year, both at the Old Waconians’ Dinner, and at the very special evening with Katie Derham and Susan Bullock. Hearing your stories from your time at Cheadle Hulme School is always wonderful, and I’ve especially enjoyed reading your OneFifty memories. It is inspiring to hear about the many directions life has taken you in. Once again, thank you to those of you that returned to School over the last year to pass on your wisdom and expertise in fields as diverse as fashion, marketing and finance. For our pupils, it is truly inspiring to hear from those that walked through the same corridors here at Cheadle Hulme School. I hope to meet many more of you as we commence this new academic year. Throughout CHS’s history, it has developed a reputation as a forward-thinking and dynamic school, and I am hugely excited to lead the School on the next stage of its journey. Here’s to the next 150 years. Neil Smith, Head
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OLD WACONIAN noun (ould wa-kau-ni-an) The term ‘Old Waconian’ stems from the original name given to the School in 1855:
THE WAREHOUSEMEN AND CLERKS’ ORPHAN SCHOOLS Every former student and member of staff becomes an Old Waconian when they leave Cheadle Hulme School.
Head - Neil Smith Claremont Road · Cheadle Hulme · Cheadle · Cheshire · SK8 6EF Tel 0161 488 3330 · Email head@chschool.co.uk cheadlehulmeschool.co.uk Registered Company Number 3823129 Registered Charity Number 1077017 28
The Old WACONIAN | Edition 47