The Old Waconian | Edition 52 | Beyond the Green Door | 2024

18 Doctor Without Borders

Meet Benjamin Black, Class of 2000.

The Old Wac making Manchester greener. 20 26

Bring on The Bus Pass

OWs over 65 share their life updates.

Sowing The City

Welcome. Meet the Head...

Welcome to the 2024 edition of The Old Waconian.

As I look ahead to the start of a new academic year as the Head of Cheadle Hulme School, it is a great honour to address our Old Waconian community who are a part of the history, and future, of this inspiring School.

Many of you will know that I took on the role of Acting Head from January-May while Neil Smith was unwell. Following Neil’s decision to take early retirement, the Governors invited me to take on the role permanently, working alongside a reshaped leadership team. Together we bring a wealth of experience to the task.

In March, we underwent a very successful inspection in which our co-curricular programme was acknowledged as a significant strength, not only for the breadth of opportunities offered, but for the way it prepares pupils for their future lives beyond school. Pupil recruitment is secure, with very healthy numbers of pupils for our new Year 7 cohort, an expanded Year 5 entry, and excellent recruitment into the Sixth Form.

So, I’m pleased to report that the School is in a strong and stable position. We have a solid foundation of pupil numbers, financial sustainability, and a very strong reputation.

There are clearly some upcoming headwinds that are likely to have a significant impact on the independent sector, but we are confident that we are in a strong position to cope with them. We understand that affordability continues to be a challenge to many of our parents and we will continue to do everything we can to limit fee rises in order to keep the School as accessible as possible. I know that many of you will have benefited from, or actively supported, our Bursary programme over the years and I want to reassure you that it remains a core part of the DNA of the School and will continue to be so for the foreseeable future.

I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible over the coming year (I’ve already had the privilege of speaking to some of you virtually during the latest Old Waconians’ Association AGM). I encourage you to get in touch, get involved, and help us add value to our Waconians’ already excellent CHS education.

Lee Richardson Head

Message From the Editor...

As ever it has been a busy year at CHS and the team and I have loved hearing from so many of you within the Old Waconian community. From milestone reunion celebrations, Old Waconian visits back to school after several decades, invaluable career talks for our current students, remembering some wonderful Old Wacs who have sadly passed away and hearing your feedback on our alumni programme. Thank you for your stories, memories, good humour and all your support.

I look forward to seeing you at our future events.We’ve got a packed programme in store for you!

Fran Kennedy Director of Development and External Relations

My Background

I have been at CHS since 2000 when I started as a teacher of Economics, before progressing to Head of Department, then to roles on the Senior Leadership team, most recently being Senior Deputy. Both my daughters have had the privilege and pleasure of attending CHS, and are proud to be Old Waconians.

A

note from your Alumni and Donor Relations

Manager

It was a pleasure to create and curate this year’s Old Waconian magazine, celebrating your achievements, contributions and our collective CHS journey. Your support and dedication continue to inspire and drive our School forward.

Thank you for being an integral part of our CHS community and please keep sending in your updates. We love to hear from you!

Charlotte Aspin Alumni and Donor Relations Manager

School News

CHS Celebrates Inspection Success

We are proud to announce a positive inspection report from the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), following a three-day visit in March. The report commends the School for its inclusive, values-driven ethos and the diverse and enriching educational experiences it offers to all pupils. Inspectors also praised the broad curriculum, offering breadth and flexibility, and effective teaching that enables pupils to enjoy consistently high grades at GCSE and A level.

In line with ISI’s new framework, the report does not provide an overall grade but instead offers a detailed overview of the School’s performance. However inspectors identified the School’s co-curricular programme as a significant strength, a recognition awarded to only a select number of schools.

Checkmate! CHS wins Cheshire Inaugural Mini Chess League

The league, co-founded by CHS, Tytherington High, King’s Macclesfield and Wilmslow High School, was set up to create some competition out of the friendly games run throughout the year. With an unbeaten streak, CHS hosted the final against King’s Macc and were crowned champions! 19 Waconians represented CHS with the team led by Class of 2024’s Ed, who has recently been awarded the FIDE title of Candidate Master by the International Chess Federation. Once earned, the title is held for life.

CHS Awarded Carnegie Mental Health Award

In line with CHS’s ongoing commitment to mental health awareness, the School is delighted to have achieved the Carnegie School Mental Health Award – Silver Status.

Established in 2017 by the Carnegie Centre of Excellence for Mental Health in Schools, in collaboration with social enterprise Minds Ahead, the Award sets a standard for excellence in supporting mental well-being within educational settings. Dean of Leeds Beckett’s Carnegie School of Education, Ms Rachel Boyle said: “The achievement of the Mental Health Award is a demonstration of the school’s significantcommitmenttoimprovingchildren andstaff’smentalhealthandwellbeing.”

Junior Waconians are Buzzing with Excitement

Year 6 pupils have embarked on their newest eco project…building a beehive to house bees! Not only does the project allow Waconians to care for bees and see their incredible work up close, but the initiative also fits into CHS’s long term commitment to sustainability and environmental education. It looks like CHS will gain quite a few new Waconians as the Junior School will start with one hive and 20,000 bees. The queen bee can lay 1000-1500 eggs a day, so the School’s long term plan is to grow the number of bee hives and to harvest and ultimately sell its very own locally produced honey!

School News

Double Triumph for CHS Netballers

For the second consecutive year, CHS Netballers are North West champions, and have gone on to compete in the National Schools Netball Finals at Oundle in March. Both the U14s and U19s teams put their all into every match, and CHS finished an impressive 3rd place in both leagues.

Welcome to the Class of 2024

The sun shone as we said farewell to the Class of 2024 at their Graduation ceremony in June. Head pupils Maya, Jonathan and Naisha spoke fondly to their classmates about their time at CHS, expressing thanks to the entire community for all of the support they’ve received over their time as Waconians.

“The people that we have had the privilege of knowing, have unknowingly prepared us for everything to come… as the saying goes, ‘It’s not what you do, it’s who you’re doing it with.’”

“As we take these next steps, whether university, apprenticeships or our talents elsewhere, we become Old Waconians. The CHS journey has ended tonight, our horizons have just widened. As we spread across the globe, I just hope that you all take a little bit of the life of this school with you.”

CHS Make Football History as First Co-Ed Day School to Reach Prestigious Cup Final

In February, CHS’s U18s First football team, joined by 300 enthusiastic students, embarked on an exciting journey to Milton Keynes for the final of the Boodles ISFA Cup. Despite CHS’s relentless efforts, Bradfield College managed to secure a narrow victory, edging ahead with a final score of 3-2. Although the result may not have been in their favour, the resilience and sportsmanship displayed by CHS’s players throughout the match were commendable.

ChEd Talks Welcomes Caitlin Moran

Bestselling author, journalist and broadcaster Caitlin Moran became the latest person to feature in a ChEd Talks event at CHS in the Autumn Term. The prominent feminist and Sunday Times columnist offered lots of fascinating areas of discussion and debate about raising teenagers and parenting - as well as plenty of laughs along the way.

Image credit: Mark Tattersall Photography

Photo credit: Jason Lock

Image

credit: Adam Scott

2024

127 Years of Outstanding Service

This year we said farewell to five long-serving members of staff who are saying goodbye to the classrooms of CHS after a total of 127 years of service.

Mrs

Janice Banks

Junior School Teaching Assistant

Started at CHS in 1998

“My 26 years at CHS has been wonderful and the highlight has to be the 24 visits to Tattenhall for the Year 2 Residential, staying overnight with other colleagues and all of the children was fun!

I am looking forward to not waking up to an alarm at 6am and taking my lovely cockapoo on long walks.”

Mrs

Rachel Dalton-Woods

Teacher of Food Preparation and Nutrition / Assistant Head (Professional Development)

Started at CHS in 2005

“My CHS highlight has been working with such an amazing group of staff and helping them to develop professionally through CPD, the RQT programme and Middle Leaders courses. I am so thrilled to have led a number of new entrants into the teaching profession through the NMAP and NML SCITTs. Recruiting new teachers has never been so important and I am proud to have helped achieve this.

I’m looking forward to not having a bell or a timetable telling me where and when to be somewhere! I am excited about travelling the world. We will visit the Dominican, the Cotswolds, Kent and Budapest before LA for 9 weeks at the end of September. I am also thrilled about my new role at MUST and what the new era under Sir Jim brings.”

Mrs

Nicole Meredith

Teacher

of German

Started at CHS in 2002

“My CHS highlights include German trips, especially with John Winter, and MFL Debating Competitions where you see the students in action and see how much they have grown in confidence.

Next year I’m planning to travel more, play sport, walk, and have time to do things as you please.”

Ms Clare Harms Teacher of Drama

Started at CHS in 2000

“There really are too many highlights to mention but I think I would have to settle on

Mrs Judi Shand

Teacher of French / MUN Coordinator

Started at CHS in 1988

“My CHS highlights are French trips to Brittany and MUN conferences.

I’m looking forward to having some free time (but also excited for next year which will be full of MUN!)”

Although Mrs Shand is officially retiring from her teaching position we are thrilled to have her stay on as MUN coordinator, continuing to work alongside the brilliant Maggie Evans.

EVERY single production I’ve directed. However despairing I have been during the process, I have always been immensely proud of the quality and scope of the final performance, and of the amazing commitment of the students who have performed in them.

Next for me is a bit of relaxation initially, but I am becoming a driving instructor so feel free to hit me up if you (or someone you know) would like driving lessons in the local area”

Old Waconian News

King’s Birthday Honours for Old Waconian

Gladiators is Back with an Old Wac Bang

Emily Steel, Class of 2021, was the youngest Gladiator to join the line-up for the much-loved TV series as it made its return to our screens. While at CHS Emily competed at a national level in swimming. She is now a full-time CrossFit athlete, when she’s not competing as ‘Dynamite’ on the endurance sports game show. She has recently completed a degree in Sport and Exercise Science at Loughborough University, and is an under 23’s weightlifting British record holder.

Sally MacDonald, Director of the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester, has been awarded an OBE for services to the arts and heritage in the 2024 King’s Birthday Honours list.

Sally, Class of 1977, has led the museum for the last ten years, securing over £40 million to date to spearhead the repair and regeneration of its globally significant site for everyone who lives in and visits the city.

Initially a volunteer, then a curator at Manchester Art Gallery, Sally was promoted to Deputy Director of the Geffrye Museum in London, before establishing a new multi-award-winning museum and heritage service in Croydon. She went on to work at UCL, leading their museums and theatre and establishing the university’s Public Engagement team.

Whilst at UCL, Sally co-founded Cultural Heritage without Borders, an independent non-governmental organisation dedicated to rescuing and preserving cultural heritage affected by conflict, neglect, or human and natural disaster, and has worked internationally with UNESCO and the British Council. She has been a board member of several cultural sector organisations.

Scottish Meet-up For Old Wacs

On a recent holiday to Scotland, Gareth and Liz Jones (née Plucker) met up with fellow Old Waconians Les and Marion Watt (née Shawcross). Both couples met at CHS, and have been happily married for 55 years and 53 years respectively!

Willock’s West End Debut

This June, Holly Willock, Class of 2016, made her West End Debut in Mean Girls at The Savoy Theatre. Holly, who is in the Ensemble and is also cover for the roles of Regina and Karen, is thrilled to be part of the show, “It still doesn’t really feel real… I couldn’t be happier or more excited. I love my job and I am very very excited to be taking this step in my career.” If you’re heading to London, why not grab a ticket and show her your support? But if you go on a Wednesday, don’t forget to wear pink!

OW, Named Youngest Partner at JMW, Joins Board of Trustees for St Ann’s Hospice

Russ Kaminski, Class of 2010, was appointed Partner at JMW Solicitors at the age of 31 - the youngest in the firm’s history. He has since won and been nominated for a number of awards and is ranked in the Legal 500 and Chambers High Net Worth.

After leaving CHS Russ secured a first class law degree and received a distinction on the Legal Practice Course. He was offered a training contract at leading Manchester law firm Brabners LLP, completing training in different areas of law, including Private Client, Commercial Real Estate and Commercial Litigation. A couple of years post qualification he moved to JMW Solicitors - the largest, full service law firm in the North West. After just 6 months he was promoted to associate, and 18 months later, was further promoted to Partner.

Russ has now been appointed to the Board of Trustees for St Ann’s Hospice. “It is a huge honour and privilege. During my time at CHS, I was made aware of the amazing work of St Ann’s Hospice by getting involved with fundraising for the hospice alongside Mrs Giles. St Ann’s have gone from strength to strength and have just started the build of a world leading new building on a site next to the existing hospice, which will transform the way care is provided.” Hear Russ’s Top Tips for Will Writing on Page 35.

Image: Sally MacDonald© Greater Mancunians

Old Waconian Events

Throughout the year it is a privilege to catch up with our Old Waconian community, many of whom travel from far and wide for our events programme. In the past year, we were thrilled to host a couple of Australian meetups, and this coming year we’re planning on heading stateside. Keep your eyes peeled for updates!

Let’s CHat: Careers in Healthcare

In September, Six OWs joined our Let’s Chat: Careers in Healthcare panel at The Christie to share top tips for getting into a career in healthcare, in both clinical and non-clinical roles. From physiotherapist to mental health worker, the speakers emphasised the key skills needed to work in a healthcare setting. These included resilience, empathy, assertiveness, compassion, and curiosity. One pupil said that their biggest takeaway from the evening was, “that if applying to medicine doesn’t work that there are so many other healthcare professions other than ‘doctor’ that are as important and meaningful and engaging”.

Boarders’ Reunion

In November, we welcomed back Old Waconians and staff to commemorate 30 years since the Boarding House closed its doors. Following drinks in the library everyone explored their old haunts as they walked through familiar corridors, and the different spaces where dormitories and playrooms used to be. Ahead of the event we collected your memories, stories and photos recollecting your time living at CHS. View these on our dedicated website by scanning the QR code below and hear Mr Bullock reciting his poetic tribute to the Boarding House.

credit: Andy Wright, Class of

Old Waconians’ Association AGM & Dinner

Following the Boarders’ Reunion, we welcomed back Old Waconians for the 70th OWA AGM and the 129th Old Waconians’ Annual Dinner. Joining us to celebrate their special anniversary reunions were the Classes of 1963, 1973, 1983, 1993 and 2003. A toast was raised to three Old Waconians who had sadly passed away and specific requests had been made to mention them at the Dinner: Dan Darlington, Class of 2007, Anthony Bianco, Class of 1958, and Phil Keenan, Class of 1990.

Carol Leather (Scott), Class of 1964, also made a short presentation to Vera Moore (Sullivan), Class of 1956, and Sheila Kenyon (Binns), Class of 1950, to thank them for their service to the OWA.

Class of 2022 and Class of 2023 Reunion

We had two year groups join together to enjoy their first reunion as Old Waconians back at CHS. They came back to the Sixth Form Centre for some drinks and a catch up during the Christmas break.

Old Waconian Drinks in Perth and Melbourne

In December and January, Former OWA President, Paul Atherley, Class of 1974, had the pleasure of hosting drinks for two groups of alumni who now reside on the other side of the world. Our OWs in Australia had a fantastic time catching up together.

Old Waconian London Drinks Feat. Jonathan Guthrie In Conversation with Lucy Ward

In March, overlooking the ever-changing canalside of King’s Cross, OWs joined together to hear two alumni engaging in a conversation about their careers as writers. Coinciding with World Book Day, Lucy Ward, Class of 1987, shared the inspiration behind her book - The Empress and the English Doctor: How Catherine the Great defied a deadly virus, citing former CHS History teacher Mrs Freer as the person who introduced her to Catherine the Great. Jonathan Guthrie, Class of 1982 and former Head of Lex at the FT, shared how his early writing experience, producing CHS’s alternative magazine - The Draconian - under the supervision of Mr Westbrook, was a spark for a career in journalism.

Both alumni shared their experiences of working in local and national media outlets, and discussed future books that are in the pipeline for each of them. Following Q&A with the audience about how the world of media is evolving Lucy and Jonathan joined OWs for drinks, including groups from their respective leaving classes.

Let’s CHat: Arts Careers

In May, 4 Old Waconians joined our panel of experts to share their experiences and advice about getting into, and succeeding, in a career in the arts. Film production, music composition, interior design and brand management were opened up as possible avenues for our current pupils thanks to the contribution of our alumni.

Old Waconian Oxbridge MeetUp Feat. Prof Andrew Klevan

In January, OW graduates of Oxford and Cambridge joined us at the Close-Up Film Centre in Shoreditch, London. Kicking off the evening in the Screening Room, Old Waconian Prof. Andrew Klevan, Class of 1988, delivered an engaging talk about studying film at the University of Oxford, and helped unravel the mystery of film aesthetics. OWs then took the chance to catch up in the adjoining café & bar, surrounded by the Centre’s film and book library.

Old Waconians’ Open House and Class of 2004 Reunion

In June our Open House welcomed OWs back to CHS for a tour of the site and a chance to walk down memory lane. The Class of 2004 returned to celebrate their 20th anniversary since graduating. While a group from the Class of 1973 took the chance to recreate a photo with a car which was bought back in their School days. A special thank you to Former Staff Mr Winter and Mrs Evans for volunteering their time to coordinate the tours and catch up with everyone.

CHS Community Summer Social

In July, for our CHS Community Summer Social, TikTok and Instagram sensation, Elburritomonster, aka Oli Paterson from the Class of 2015, came back to CHS to perform a live cooking demo, and to record an episode of The Ed. Podcast. Although the sun didn’t play ball, everyone managed to try some of his Lamb Birria Pizzarito and you can catch up with the podcast on the School’s YouTube channel.

2024-25

EVENTS UPCOMING

28 September 2024

CHS Open Morning: Become an Admissions Ambassador

There is no one better to share their stories and experiences with a prospective pupil than someone who has walked in their shoes or a family who has chosen CHS for their child. Join our team of Old Waconian and Family Ambassadors for our next Open Morning.

12 October 2024

Everton Memorial Old Waconians’ Football Match, CHS

Join us back at School for The Old Waconians’ Memorial Football Match in memory of Charlie and Nick Everton.

30 October 2024

Let’s CHat: International Careers Stateside and OW Reunion 12-2pm, New York

Do you live/work in New York, or the surrounding area? Join us, along with a group of current pupils who are visiting during the half term break, to share your insights during a lunchtime networking event.

11 November 2024

Service of Remembrance, CHS

Join us for our annual whole school service and refreshments.

15-17 November 2024

White Circle Manchester Art Fair, Manchester Central

We’re back again exhibiting work by CHS artists at the Manchester Art Fair

16 November 2024

Anniversary Year Group Tours, 2-3.30pm, CHS

We would like to extend a special invite to our anniversary year groups, the Classes of 1964, 1974, 1984 and 1994 to go on a tour of the School ahead of joining us for dinner in the evening.

130th Old Waconians’ Dinner, 6pm, CHS

Join us back at School to celebrate the 130th Old Waconians’ Annual Dinner. Welcome drinks will be available from 6pm. We will be seated at 7pm.

18 December 2024

Class of 2024 First Reunion, CHS

It’s time for your first reunion as Old Waconians. Head back to the Philip Johnson Building (Sixth Form Centre), meet up with old friends and teachers, and enjoy some festive drinks and nibbles.

22 March 2025

Former Staff Afternoon Tea, CHS

We warmly invite Former Staff members to return to Cheadle Hulme School, and catch up with old friends and colleagues. The afternoon tea will be served from 2-4pm. Partners are also welcome to join.

PLUS join us for our “Let’s CHat: Careers” events. Find out more on page 37.

Would you like to join us?

Find out more event details, and register online, via CHS Community (https://www.chscommunity.co.uk/ events). Alternatively, contact us by email er@chschool.co.uk or call 0161 448 3341. You are also welcome to join our CHS Music and Drama events listed below. Further details and tickets will be available online closer to the event dates.

• 21-22 November 2024: Sixth Form Production, CHS

• 9 December 2024: CHS Christmas Concert, RNCM

• 11-13 February 2025: Annual Musical Production, CHS

• 24 March 2025: CHS Spring Concert, RNCM

• 24-26 June 2025: Green Blazer Production, CHS

Old Waconian Awards 2024

The Old Waconian Awards recognise the accomplishments of our former pupils and the contributions they make to our CHS community. Each year they present an opportunity for the School to acknowledge alumni who are embodying our Waconian values in their careers, charity work and collaborations.

Distinguished Old Waconian Award

Recognises an Old Waconian’s sustained achievement over a long career.

Prof Tom Bourne, Class of 1978

Prof Tom Bourne is Chair in Gynaecology at Imperial College, Hon Consultant Gynaecologist at Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital London, and visiting Professor at KU Leuven in Belgium. This award recognises Tom’s outstanding work as an international authority on the management of early pregnancy problems, as well as his ongoing demonstration of the School’s Waconian values, particularly compassion and contribution, in his research into the impact of miscarriage.

Old Waconian Contribution Award

Recognises an individual’s service and contribution to CHS.

Kate Vokes (Oglesby), Class of 1987, and Archie Vokes, Class of 2020

The Old Waconian Contribution Award is awarded in honour of Kate and Archie Vokes who tragically died during their family ski holiday over Christmas. The Vokes and Oglesby family have had a connection with CHS for over 40 years and the news affected our whole community deeply.

Old Waconian Early Career Award

Recognises exceptional accomplishment early in the nominees’ post school career.

Sarah Jackson, Class of 2016

Sarah is a dedicated British windsurfer, earning accolades such as the esteemed title of IFCA Vice World Champion and securing her inaugural race victory on the PWA World Tour. She has leveraged her passion for windsurfing to contribute meaningfully to the community as an ocean ambassador for the Marine Conservation Society, advocating tirelessly for oceanic sustainability. This award recognises Sarah’s sporting endeavours and environmental advocacy. Sarah has demonstrated the Waconian values of integrity, compassion and contribution and is an inspiration to the next generation of athletes, instilling a sense of purpose and responsibility in young minds.

Kate left CHS in 1987 and her connection to our School endured long after her graduation, as she remained actively involved as an Old Waconian and later as a parent when Archie joined CHS. She was immensely generous with her time and support through her family’s charitable foundation which supported the School’s bursary programme and our outreach programmes. She was also a good friend and mentor to some of our staff.

Archie graduated from CHS in 2020 and is fondly remembered by all his peers and teachers. His passion for sports, particularly rugby, set him apart as a dedicated and inspiring athlete. We enjoyed watching his career develop as a personal trainer in recent years and hearing of his travels with some fellow Old Waconians. Without doubt Archie exemplified the spirit of CHS and he had a positive impact on everyone he came into contact with.

The family held a celebration of life event for Kate and Archie in June, which many members of our community attended and the family has been in touch to say how happy they are that CHS is honouring Kate and Archie through this award.

Nominations for the Old Waconian Awards open in January so if you know of a former pupil or member of staff that should be recognised for their efforts, empathy and endeavour, please put their name forward. The Alumni Board discusses each nomination ahead of making their final decision.

You can read more about the Old Waconian Awards on the website https://www.cheadlehulmeschool.co.uk/ old-waconian-awards/

ONES TO WATCH

Evangeline Ionnaides, Class of 2014

Co-Founder, Feast & Flow

You left CHS in 2012. Where has life taken you since? I left CHS to pursue my passion for performing. I trained at one of London’s top dance schools, which opened doors for me to perform with a contemporary dance company. I then went on to work with The Disney Company, first in Paris and later in Hong Kong, giving me the skills and creativity to later bring into my own business.

Alongside performing, I trained to become a Barre and Yoga instructor, aspirations that were first established on the athletics tracks at CHS. I’ve always had a deep desire to teach and share my knowledge with others, helping people to enhance their physical health and well-being. This passion led me to meet my business partner, who shares my vision.

Together, we founded Feast & Flow. We now host well-being events across the country, primarily focusing on transforming well-being within the workplaces. Our mission is to make well-being easy and accessible for everyone, helping individuals lead healthier and happier lives.

Workplace well-being is your business. How did you come about co-founding Feast & Flow? Well-being has always been a passion of mine, driven by my desire to help others grow and thrive. When I met my business partner Jake, we discovered a shared vision that started our journey.

Initially, we set out to host retreats, but we soon received a request to replicate one of our events within a workplace.

From fast cars to fine dining, the careers that our Old Waconians carve out are always inspiring. Join us as we keep an eye on what’s next for these four…

Our eyes were then opened to how many companies were lacking in the wellbeing department and not offering their employees the support they needed. Since then, we have proudly supported hundreds of companies in enhancing their well-being strategies and we are committed to maintaining this momentum to positively impact their overall performance and employee satisfaction.

You create and curate experiences. What have been your favourite moments so far? Nothing beats the energy in the room when one of our sessions ends, be it Yoga, Mindfulness, Sound Meditation, or Breathwork. The deep sense of relief and lightness that washes over everyone in the room is one of my personal favourite feelings. The immediate feedback and the exchange of emotions and energies that follow are incomparable, there’s an unspoken connection that leaves a lasting impact that nothing else can match.

Creating experiences is at the heart of what we do and some of my favourite moments are when I witness not just my own vision but the collective vision of my

team come to life. One standout memory was collaborating with a company that I personally love and was on the top of my goals, on an event that required a quick turnaround—in just a week. During this time, I happened to be in Hong Kong, entrusting others to handle tasks I typically lead. Delegating responsibilities, especially when I’m known for being hands-on, has always been a challenge for me. However, their execution was exceptional! It’s moments like these where I know our guests leave feeling calm, weightless and inspired to take charge of their well-being.

Some of our Old Waconians run companies. How can they support their employees’ wellbeing? Of course…. to book in Feast & Flow events! But on a more serious note, my best advice is to actively listen to what your employees need. Each individual has unique requirements and those needs can evolve over time. It’s essential to provide support in a variety of ways to address different aspects of well-being.

Well-being isn’t limited to just fitness or mental health support, it encompasses a broad spectrum of factors, including financial assistance, childcare support, stress management initiatives and opportunities for team bonding. By taking a comprehensive approach and being responsive to your employees’ diverse needs, you create an environment where everyone feels valued, supported and empowered to thrive.

Follow @feastflow on Instagram

Follow Feast and Flow Ltd on Facebook

Follow Feast & Flow on LinkedIn

Freddie Sheen, Class of 2013 Chef, Rogues, London

From Cheadle Hulme to Hackney. Tell us about your career path. From the age of 15, I worked part-time and during school holidays in restaurants and pubs locally and in Norfolk, where my grandparents lived. After finishing my last A-Level exam, I moved to work in a restaurant in Cambridge before landing a scholarship with the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts on their Specialised Chef program. The program included three 12-month placements in top establishments around the UK. I was placed at Cliveden House, working under Michelin-star chef André Garrett in his flagship restaurant. After this tenure, I worked abroad for a number of years in top restaurants in Norway and South Africa, as well as working on super yachts in the Mediterranean and chalets in the Alps. I then returned to London, landing a Senior Sous Chef role at Galvin La Chapelle, a one Michelinstar restaurant in Spitalfields Market.

You’re co-owner of the London-based restaurant Rogues. What’s the backstory of how Rogues came about? While working at Galvin La Chapelle, I met my business partner Zac Whittle, who was the executive chef at the time. We started doing pop-ups on our days off and this transitioned into us leaving our roles and starting our own company in 2019. We squeezed in three months of pop-ups before the first lockdown. We fell through the cracks for any furlough, grants, or government support, so we pivoted to an online grocery store. We used our wholesale restaurant supply chain to bridge the gap when supermarkets were

failing to meet demands in London. This allowed us to pay rent during lockdown periods, alongside doing some events when possible.

We then ran a very successful sixmonth residency at The Hackney, a Bethnal Green events venue in Spring 2021. We found our permanent site in January 2022 and using a bounce-back loan and all the profits made from the residency, we opened Rogues that March. We expanded the restaurant into the neighbouring unit a year later, and six months after that, we opened Rogue Sarnies, our wood-fired sandwich shop. We’re now in the process of developing a point-of-sale and online ordering system with a partnering tech company.

The hospitality industry can be hard. What drives you? Initially, it was the love of the craft and the buzz of a professional kitchen. I’ve always loved making things and using my hands; the process of creating something from nothing, whatever the medium. Food allowed me to do that in a very stimulating, highpressure, high-intensity environment. This combination had me hooked from day one.

More recently, I’m spending more time behind my laptop than the stove. This has its perks and drawbacks but has been necessary to push the business in the right direction and ultimately ensure staff wages are paid and the lights stay on. I still enjoy the process of creation and development; now it’s more business-related than food. That being said, my dream retirement would be a

smallholding/B&B where I could get back behind the stove for a few days a week. A pipe dream at the moment for sure, but a man can dream.

For the aspiring chefs out there, what are your top tips for breaking into the industry? Especially in the early days, it’s all about work ethic. Be the first one in and the last one out of the kitchen. Always try to work smarter, faster, and harder than anyone else, and you will eventually find that you are running rings around everyone. Be humble, be nice, don’t burn bridges, and never stop learning. Always ask questions and understand what it is you are doing or trying to achieve.

Hospitality is one of the most amazing industries as it gives anyone a fair shake of the stick. Nowadays, it doesn’t matter your background, sexual orientation, or gender—everyone gets a fair chance. So in terms of getting your break, it’s pretty straightforward. If you turn up at your favourite restaurant with a knife roll, an apron, and a good attitude, asking to work, you’d be surprised at what doors open for you.

You left CHS in 2013. Was there a particular teacher who inspired you? It was my grandparents who inspired me to pursue my career as they were very successful within the industry in my early years. Cheadle didn’t offer cooking past GCSE and so it wasn’t geared up to helping pupils pursue a career down that avenue. In my opinion, for a lot of schools hospitality can often be considered as a part time gig to tie you over while at university or between jobs.

However, I did have some fantastic teachers along the way. My form tutor in Sixth Form, Mr. Foster, was always incredibly encouraging with my slightly alternative career choices. My GCSE English teacher, Mr. Parkin got me to start enjoying literature properly and to actually look forward to an English class, which was a serious feat. The skills and confidence attending a school like Cheadle gave me have been pivotal to my development from a chef to a business owner. I was at Cheadle from 4 to 18 and enjoyed my time there greatly.

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ONES TO WATCH

Chris Ingram, Class of 2012 European Rally Driver

From Manchester to Monte Carlo. How did you get started in the world of motorsport? When I was 8 years old, my father took me to watch a rally race in the forests of Yorkshire. You could hear the cars roaring in the distance before they came into view, like beasts. They would appear sideways, flying by and spraying the fans with gravel and mud. As they disappeared, the sights and sounds of the engines echoing through the forests, along with the smell of fuel and brakes, left an indelible imprint on me. I was captivated by the sport.

Several years later, I started driving old cars in fields and discovered I had a natural talent. With the help of my father and some family friends, I began competing in the UK Junior Rally Championship at age 15 and won. By age 19, I had secured my first professional contract. I love the sport and got into a lot of trouble missing Fridays to go to rallies back in my CHS days!

2019 saw you become the first British Rally Driver in 52 years to become FIA European Rally Champion. Can you share the key to your success?

I worked my way up the ranks step by step, championship by championship. It was a challenging road, with funding being my greatest obstacle rather than Europe’s best drivers and most difficult and dangerous roads. Despite many hurdles, giving up was never an option; I always had a deep belief that I could win. Self-belief, hard work, and resilience were the keys to winning the European title.

In 2023, you raced against 9X FIA World Rally Champion Sebastian Loeb. What was it like to meet one of your heroes? Anyone with an interest in Motorsport knows Loeb is arguably the best driver in history, including Formula 1 drivers. So to compete against him and challenge him closely for victory was a surreal experience. Beating him on a stage and standing alongside him on the podium was a moment of affirmation which meant more than any championship title or result. He was also a top bloke and down to earth!

You are always looking ahead to the next goal. What’s on the horizon for you? This year I aim to win the British title, and be the first rally driver in history to win both the British and European titles. I hope this will propel me to the WRC World Rally Championship for the 2025 season. The British Championship is fiercely competitive this year with many professional drivers and teams, and is covered by ITV. My ultimate ambition is to have the opportunity to fight for the World title in the coming years. I know I have the speed, ability, and mindset, I just need to earn the opportunity with one of the WRC manufacturer teams.

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Evie Waxman, Class of 2012 Founder, D*MN GOOD

From School to Snacks. What has been your journey since leaving CHS? When I left Cheadle my year out became a whacking three years. I travelled through Australia, Indonesia and Europe but spent the majority of my time in Perth, Australia. It was a fantastic experience - the university of life I like to call it. I developed life skills and became in tune with what I was really passionate about - clean food and mental health (empowering people to feel good). Australia is where I leaned into raw cooking and plant-based food.

Moving back to the UK I helped kick off SUCCO juice bar in Manchester where I produced raw and plant-based products such as your classic energy balls. As a hobby, alongside writing for a magazine about health and fitness (another passion of mine), I set up Raw Bake Station. We were predominantly selling at the market stalls and gaining customer insights.

I decided to go full-time with Raw Bake Station and secured a unit space in Altrincham. We worked hard on growing our name around the Manchester area and selling into coffee shops and juice bars. It was from there, the brand grew. We got into chains like Planet Organic, Whole Foods, and As Nature Intended, but scaling up from there proved to be more difficult than I realised. To move away from a lifestyle business and into a scalable business we needed to pivot and change up what we were producing. Instead of chilled products with a short shelf life, we created the cookie range - an ambient product with a much longer shelf life and easier to produce in greater volumes. We outgrew our unit space and had to outsource production, finding a factory down south to work with. At that point we got into stores like the Coop and WHSmith travel stores. I

went on Dragon’s Den (probably a bit prematurely) and then got accepted onto 2 accelerators. I moved to London and through the accelerators I excelled as an individual, as an entrepreneur, and the business turned a real corner. It’s been a real journey of organic growth.

You’re Founder and Director of D*MN GOOD, formerly Raw Bake Station Ltd. What was your inspiration for setting it up? I suffered from severe disordered eating when I was younger so I wanted to create products that I enjoyed eating but wouldn’t feel guilty about. Initially I was making goods for myself, then friends and family, then the juice bar, and it spiralled from there. Now we are a brand that’s pushing on mental sustainability - empowering people to feel d*mn good in their own skin. I always struggled around food, body image, diet and self, so I’m passionate about building healthy relationships with food. I want to help people on their journey by providing snacks that are better for you but with a really strong message around mental health.

D*MN GOOD - the re-brand - why, how and what are you most proud of? The rebrand has been so successful for us. Since launching in October 2023 we’ve quadrupled our monthly sales - but what I’m most proud of is our messaging. We worked with a creative agency to focus on our WHY and to put a real purpose at the core of the brand. We now hold events - run clubs, walk clubs, yoga clubs - bringing the brand message to life. It starts with human connection, it involves movement and it ends in d*mn good energy. The branding is super striking and colourful, and with the backstory it all comes together. With Raw Bake Station everything that we started with was done internally. Now we have a strong solid brand that a lot of people can relate to.

This year, your manufacturer went into administration. How did you overcome this challenge? In February, we were given 2 days’ notice by our factory of their closure and understandably, we were in panic city. I wasn’t prepared to give up and spoke to about 50 different manufacturers across the UK. Things will always go

wrong and you have to move quickly and adapt. We put all our other projects to one side and focused on this problem. It was mentally challenging but our new factory is an entirely wheat, gluten and dairy free site, which is a much better fit for us, and even better - they have a much larger capacity. We now have several back-up factories so we won’t bump into the same problem in the future. It all worked out well in the end, and what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger!

Tell us about the organisation ‘SEED’ that you support. They’re an eating disorders charity based up north that we came across when we rebranded. Personally, I had struggled with disordered eating so wanted to choose a charity that was close to my heart. They offer support for individuals that are in the midst of an eating disorder but also after. The work they do is incredible and I’m an ambassador for them as well.

The SEED charity are currently looking for donations to continue their work, I’d be very grateful if you would lean in and support this wonderful cause: https://www.givengain.com/project/ gemma-raising-funds-for-seed-eatingdisorders-support-services-77825

You left CHS in 2012. What did you learn at school that still influences you today? I absolutely loved my time at Cheadle. Along with travelling it made me the person I am. I met some incredible people there and it was generally a positive experience. I learnt kindness, inclusivity, to go after your dreams, to be bold, and to be yourself.

What’s your takeaway message for budding entrepreneurs? You have got to be genuinely passionate about what it is you are wanting to do. It’s the passion that will get you through the difficult days. Get involved with a lot of accelerators, they help you build as an entrepreneur. Never be scared to ask for help and advice from others who have been there and done it. A lot of people are willing to support you and I’d be very happy for anyone to reach out to me for a chat too! Be brave, be bold and confident. Never forget you are D*MN GOOD!

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DOCTOR WITHOUT BORDERS. MY LIFE AS AN AID WORKER.

Benjamin Black, Class of 2000

is an obstetrician & gynaecologist. He is a specialist advisor to international aid organisations and works around the world to improve maternal, sexual and reproductive healthcare in the most challenging of environments. His book, Belly Woman, won the 2023 Moore Prize.

I always wanted to be a humanitarian aid worker. When I was at CHS the plan was to pursue development studies or anthropology, but in Sixth Form I decided to go down the medical route. I didn’t do the correct A levels so after I left CHS I took a year out to add on the A levels I was missing to apply for medicine.

My family background inspired my career. Most of my family came to the UK under circumstances of fleeing conflict or persecution. I was born in the UK, but I grew up very aware of what it was to be a refugee or asylum seeker and to depend on others for safety, so that led me down the route of wanting to work in humanitarian response.

Obs and gynae were not my first choice. When I started medicine I had a clear plan to work in humanitarian aid. I enjoyed OBGYN but I enjoyed emergency medicine and anaesthesia too. In my last year of medical school I took an elective, working in refugee camps on the border between Thailand and Myanmar. It was there that I saw the huge need within Women’s Health and pregnancy care. As a specialism it also covered everything that I was interested in: public health, surgery, needing good medical knowledge, and working with the most vulnerable aspects of the population.

I felt ignorant most of the time. When I did my first few stints working in low income countries or humanitarian settings I quickly realised that being a doctor didn’t mean I knew anything at all about the context in which I was working. At the core, humanitarian response and development work is political and economic. I’d be in conversations and I was completely out of my depth. So I came back thinking, I really need to broaden my understanding.

Miss Bartholomew directed me towards SOAS. Back when I was at CHS I was having conversations with the careers counsellor and we were looking at development studies and anthropology. She directed me towards the School of Oriental and African Studies, planting the seed, as that’s where I went back to do my Master’s.

Humanitarian emergencies can feel like auctions. In my work I usually go in a reproductive health role. But there are lots of competing interests with everyone trying to get their bid in for help with trauma, paediatrics, malnutrition, infectious diseases. I try to make sure that reproductive health care gets prioritised and is really seen. Sometimes it can feel like hitting my head against a brick wall, having the same conversation

“whatever the disaster, whatever the emergency, from day one, there’s going to be pregnant women that we need to be thinking about”.

MSF (Médecins Sans Frontières) has limited funds, resources and staff. The other big challenge is that there’s there’s a lot of emergencies around the world at the moment - how thin can you spread yourself and how do you decide where, and in which ways, to respond?

My work is hard and emotionally taxing. In the Ebola epidemic, a lot of people died, including young people. That comes home with you and it stays with you. You’re often in situations where you need to make a decision, but in the end, there’s no good decision. Although the logical part of my brain knows there was never a good decision in the circumstances, you still take responsibility for it and its outcome.

The story for Belly Woman was already written. In many ways, writing was easy because it was bursting to come out. I’d come out of two years of working in West Africa through the epidemic. I knew I was one of the only international aid workers who had been there for the whole episode, especially in maternity care, and I felt a responsibility to document it. It was a cathartic process. It was my way of dealing with all that happened over that time period. So, it wasn’t like writing a novel where I needed to sit down and think about the storyline. It was just about putting the words together in a way that I thought would be accessible to my readership.

Winning The Moore Prize for Human Rights Writing was amazing. I would love to think that everybody’s going to read my book but I’m a realist and know that’s not true. I was long listed alongside Nobel Peace Prize winners, big names and books with big publishers. I thought, “I’m the small fish, but that’s quite nice”. So to win it was a huge shock, but also really validating. It was amazing to take that back to my colleagues in Sierra Leone because the staff names in the book are real and they helped me fact check as I was writing. They wanted this to be documented and I was in the best position to do that. To show them it won this award was really special.

Don’t have rose-tinted glasses of what it means to be an aid worker. If you want to work in humanitarian work, try and get as broad a knowledge and experience as you can of international affairs. Watch the news, read around what’s happening, read books about previous humanitarian responses that have gone wrong. If you can come in with a healthy level of scepticism, and

understand the balance of trying to work in these very complex settings, then you’ll have a better idea of whether it’s for you and get more out of your career. For me, the medical work is interesting but the bit that’s really fascinating is trying to understand how we fit into this complicated geopolitical mess. There are so many pieces in the puzzle, and we’re just one of them. I recommend reading Belly Woman, as I’ve covered a lot of these issues alongside my own journey in the book.

For me, the medical work is interesting but the bit that’s really fascinating is trying to understand how we fit into this complicated geopolitical mess. There are so many pieces in the puzzle, and we’re just one of them.

BRING THE BUS PASS

ON

Nearly 20% of the Old Waconians that we’re in touch with are over 65. Although they may be eligible for a bus pass, we know that 66 is the new 21, so we asked this cohort how they spend their time…

JANE CLARK (MAHER)

| FORMER STAFF 1993-2005

“Still not ready for retirement!! Now in my 44th year of teaching, I am Head of History at Kent College Dubai. A leap of faith brought me here from Withington Girls’ School (where I was teaching after CHS) six years ago. Absolutely loving the challenge and the change. Also got into triathlons here and hope to represent the UAE at the World Championships later in the year. I am full of gratitude to all the schools I have taught in for giving me such a wonderful career.”

LYNN FOTHERINGHAM

| CLASS OF 1973

“I spent most of my life designing wallpapers and furnishing textiles. I’m now doing what I really wanted to do when I was eighteen, which is creating abstract paintings. I exhibit and sell my work throughout the UK.”

JOHN SIMPSON

| CLASS OF 1965

“Now happily retired and living in York. CHS gave me so much, as well as a specialism. I’ve spent my career working mainly in R&D, in a variety of major scientific businesses before setting up my own consultancy. It has become apparent to me in later life that even if you consider yourself an ‘artist’, ‘creative’ or ‘scientist’ you still need to keep a broad mindset. I’ve found my schoolboy languages have been invaluable. I love history, art and music even though I am not a practitioner of these subjects, but CHS gave me a grounding in these. You can always follow your interests in your spare time, so don’t get fixated on one subject!! Use your bus pass to get to the art gallery or theatre when the time comes.”

You can always follow your interests in your spare time, so don’t get fixated on one subject!! Use your bus pass to get to the art gallery or theatre when the time comes.

MARGARET WILSON (MACKAY) | CLASS OF 1972

“I’m now 71, married and happily retired in idyllic rural North Yorkshire. I have a beautiful, much admired garden so I spend much time growing veg and flowers. I am reasonably IT literate and have set up and designed a number of websites for the community and friends, now managing the village website and mailchimp communication service. My working life has encompassed management in the NHS, and supported learning education.

I have 2 sons, both married, one an architect in Manchester, one a research engineer for heavy engines in Darlington and have 2 grandsons for whom I do grandmother duties. I also enjoy weekly pilates and exercise classes. We have travelled to many places over the years, so now I’m content to be more specific in destinations. I have an elder sister, Alison, who also went to CHS, in the time of Leslie Johnston, Mr Wilcox and Miss Munroe. My favourite teachers were Mr Ellis and Miss Kight. We were there from Junior School to Sixth Form.”

ROBIN JOHNSON

| CLASS OF 1970

“Got lucky and retired at 52. Still a motorbike fanatic. 2 kids and 3 grandkids. Keep my local going single handed. Loved my time at chints.”

GILLIAN WOODHEAD

| CLASS OF 1968

“I retired from teaching in 2009. I now spend my time swimming, travelling with my husband, watching Manchester United, volunteering at our local hospice shop, helping with our 4 grandchildren and meeting up with friends.”

DAVID HOULT

| FORMER STAFF 1971-1979

“I left CHS 45 years ago, in 1979. I have great memories of my time there, teaching some talented pupils, and I’m still in touch with a few of them. Since I left I’ve remained happily married to Mary. We had three children and we now have three grandchildren. I’ve done all sorts of things in the intervening years, in music, education and broadcasting. My last proper job was as Principal of Leeds College of Music (now Leeds Conservatoire) from which I retired in 2008. Since then I’ve carried on singing, examining, adjudicating at music festivals and competitions, working for Arts Council England, and being a school governor near where we live in Mellor. My most recent singing engagement was in a film called ‘The Choral’. It has a script by Alan Bennett and the director was Sir Nicholas Hytner. It’s about a performance in 1916 of Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius, and I looked like this…”

DOUGLAS MCGEORGE

| CLASS OF 1975

“I continue to work as a consultant plastic surgeon in the private sector. In addition I visit, consult and operate in Barbados every 2 months. Aside from the day job, I am shareholder and director of Oddfellows Hotels and Science of Skin - a company providing solutions for scarring.

I am a supporter and fundraiser for the Princes Trust, the Centre for Social Justice and the Scar Free Foundation.

On days off, I enjoy the company of my wife, my three children and their partners, and three delightful granddaughters. “

HILARY ASHMAN (MORGAN)

| CLASS OF 1959

“Still alive, but not kicking very well! Enjoying life in lovely Lincolnshire where I have been since 1988 and where all 3 of my children have returned to after uni.”

MARY GREGORY (BILSBOROUGH)

| CLASS OF 1952

“I retired from the Hampshire Library Service in 1996 after 22 years. Having a son and a daughter who both had degrees I decided to try and catch up! I enrolled at Southampton University and graduated with a BSc in psychology/sociology(joint) in 2000. Since then I have been remarkably lucky to have survived two different cancers (bowel and breast).

I volunteered in several capacities; Steward at the local Museum and Art Gallery, Driver for the Care Group, and also in the office matching clients with drivers. I also was a member of several committees; Local Lib Dems. and the St. Barbe Museum and a local Community Group for Youth services. I am delighted that CHS hold me in mind, sending me regular updates and an annual greeting on my birthday! Now 90, I live alone but surrounded by loving friends and neighbours, God bless them all!!”

NICHOLAS HALES

| CLASS OF 1973

“At 69 there are still things I feel one can do to change things for the better. Exercising compassion is the first, so I do six half-day shifts at Save the Children, Children’s Hospice South West and Mind. Improving the safety of potentially dangerous situations and systems is the second, so I continue to write on safety issues published in engineering magazines. My career was

At 69 there are still things I feel one can do to change things for the better.

oriented toward safety engineering within the MOD. Lastly, compassionate and honest politics is a pathway to changing the world for the better so I continue to write to newspapers and recently stood for parliament as an Independent candidate in North East Somerset and Hanham constituency. The picture is of me at the election results looking somewhat aghast at what he is saying as Jacob Rees-Mogg puts on a brave face having lost.”

SHEILA BOWMAN (LORIMER) | CLASS

OF 1956

“IliveinMerriott,Somerset.At86yearsIleadanactive life,stillenjoyinglotsofBridge,paintingwithalocalgroup, and singing - mainly chorally. I continued acting with local Drama groups until Covid stopped such activity.

My husband John and I have three daughters andfourgrandchildrenwhomweseeasoftenas possible and in whose progress we rejoice. I keep an interest in CHS via the Waconian, still enormously gratefulformyyears1946-1957there.“

Bring on the bus pass ////////////////////

KIRSTY DENSMORE (CHRISTINE GOLDMAN)

| CLASS OF 1972

“Recently retired at age 69, I am happily married for the second time to husband Martin. Several years ago we moved into an independent living Lifestyle Villagewhich is more like a resort really. We are in Mandurah, south of Perth in Western Australia. Village life keeps us very busy. I am president of the social club, as well as choir mistress. Martin is about to become chief fire warden. Our previous lives qualify us well for these roles (well maybe not the choir...).

GAIL ROBINSON (SIMPSON)

| CLASS OF 1972

“I really enjoyed my years at Cheadle Hulme School (or Warehousemans as it was then known!) particularly being a member of the Hiking Club run by Mr Ray when we would take students hiking with us from Henshaws School for the Blind or the Royal Manchester School for the Deaf (as it was then). I used to swim for the house team, I was in Broome, and play on the school swimming and hockey teams. My father, sister, aunt and cousin Rosemary all attended the school. I used to enjoy meeting up with Rosemary in the Girls Playroom where we ate our packed lunches.

I had a successful event management business for 10 years, where I ran a food festival specialising in tropical fruits. We were living near Cairns at the time.

We have been avid rock and roll dancers for 25 years and plan to teach in our village soon - then we can run dances without having to drive to other venues. We have a great community hall with a large dance floor. I’m doing arty stuff that I always wanted to do - photography, jewellery making and paint pouring on canvas, tiles and recycled glass. We walk a lot with our two dogs and as I write this we are having a few days off in Margaret River - one of the best wine regions in the country.

It’s true what “they” say - retirement is busy - how did I ever fit in work!!!

PETER BROWN

| CLASS OF 1969

“I was a boarder at ‘Chints’ from 1965 to 1969, studied Geography/Geology as a degree and enjoyed the life but not academia. After 33 years with the logistics group Wincanton plc., culminating at main board level, I retired to live in Thailand. I became bored with retirement very quickly after an active career so I purchased a hotel resort in Chiang Mai Thailand. 10 years ago, dissatisfied with how care facilities look after the elderly, I opened an elderly care facility in Chiang Mai. The facility is well known for its focus upon freedom of choice and respect for dignity as well as its care for dementia sufferers. The leading source of guests is the UK. We are proud of our record-breaking, winner of Global Awards as ‘The Most Outstanding Care Resort in the World’ for 4 separate years. The facility has been covered in the Daily Mail (a 2-page spread), The Daily Telegraph, BBC Radio 4, The Discovery Channel, Al Jazeera TV, Singapore TV, Korean TV and Canadian TV.

Aged 73, I still own and manage the facility!”

I learned to finger spell from my Brownie Diary when I was seven and enjoyed, amongst other employments, spending eighteen years as the Lay Chaplain for Deaf & Disabled People for the Diocese of Chester. I am now retired but have been in Guiding all my life and am the Adviser for Diversity & Inclusion for the Cheshire Border County in Girlguiding. I also volunteer for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, at the East Cheshire Hospice, the Children’s Society and am a School Governor at our church school where I am also one of the Churchwardens and my husband and I enjoy time with our family.”

////////////////////

JOSEPH EDWARDS

| CLASS OF 1962

“I have just turned Eighty and am enjoying a pleasant retirement in sunny Reading where we have lived for 45 years. My wife and I see a lot of our young grand-children and I am heavily involved in our local cycle campaign for better cycle facilities, less traffic and cleaner air. We enjoy concert going - both smaller scale chamber music and the local amateur orchestras that play in the area. Good food and wine are high on my list of priorities and we share the kitchen most nights to prepare our evening meal. We still enjoy walking holidays with Holiday Fellowship although my recent knee replacement has constrained what I can do. Our garden takes up quite some time and often more skill and effort than I can find. Looking after a 125 year old house is a constant source of challenges as well.”

CLLR KATE SMITH (CATHARINE SMART)

| CLASS OF 1974

Bring on the bus pass ////////////////////

LESLEY HEINZMAN (SHORT)

| CLASS OF 1964

“After retiring from teaching in 2008, I spent most of my time helping to look after our three granddaughters and enjoying holidays in Europe and the UK. (My husband, Colin and I moved to Australia with our jobs in 1972).

However, I have just started a new career in the media and it’s so enjoyable! I volunteer at Vision Australia Radio and after weeks of training, I now present two 60 minute programs, The National News Hour, which broadcasts to Perth, Melbourne, Adelaide and Darwin, and the other, The Digest which is recorded and later edited in the ABC studios. There are many opportunities to work with and learn from other people and the social aspect of the job is one of its great attractions.”

JOHN BESWICK |

CLASS OF 1960

“I’ve been a Parish Councillor for over 20 years, but I’m now two Parish Councillors plus a member of the local principal authority, Amber Valley Borough Council, since May 2023. Being the only Lib Dem is very lonely, but some colleagues are pleasant to work with.

I’ve just stood for Amber Valley constituency in the July 2024 general election - for the sixth time, probably my last. I’m proud of the shift in Parliament this time from 11 to 72 Liberal Democrats - unfortunately none of them in the East Midlands.

Our two sons are doing well. Will (b 1990) will soon be a dad for the second time, and has just got an Assistant Professorship at Warwick Uni, starting next year. Ollie (b 1993) is working in financial journalism in London, and also helping to train cadets with a regiment based in Malvern.”

SYLVIA WILLIAMS (INCE)

| CLASS OF 1957

“I keep myself busy with gardening, swimming and bridge with a wide circle of good friends. We do more chatting than playing bridge! I was sadly widowed last year after 62 happy years of marriage. I met my husband at Reading University and we had three children together. I also have five grandchildren and four great grandchildren whom I am lucky to see regularly as they all live nearby.

The older of my two daughters has Down’s Syndrome and lives in supported living in Bury St Edmunds, which is about 10 miles away from where I live. I see her very frequently and she spends every weekend with me at my home in Woolpit. She keeps me extremely busy and is very untidy. Her bedtime is any time after 2am! We have recently enjoyed a holiday in Cornwall together. I am fortunate to enjoy good health and keep very active. It is nice to have this means of keeping in touch with the year group.”

“Itis61years since I started work in London and16years since I ‘retired’. After a varied and successful career in civil engineering, earthsciences, geothermal research and later managingan internationaldeep drillingcompany, asIapproachedretirementIwascontactedbytheownerof asmallwaterwelldrillingcompanyinDerbyshire.Heasked metohelpdevelopthebusinessandIamstillworkingforhim parttimetoday.Inthelast16yearswehavedevelopedthis75 yearoldfamilycompanyandhaveworkedinplacesincluding Belize,Bolivia,TanzaniaandKuwaitonprojectssuchasoil andgas,geothermal,heliumexploration,geoscienceresearch, radioactivewasterepositoryinvestigations,waterresources andmining.Thecompanywashonouredwithoneofthelast Queen’sAwardsforEnterprise:InternationalTradein2022.

Ihavealsocontinuedmyinterestinthedevelopment ofthedeepboreholeconceptforhigh-levelradioactive wasteandspentfuelfromnuclearpowerplants.Istarted workonthisconceptinthelate1980sfortheSwedish radioactivewasteagency,SKB,andlaterfortheUK Agency,NDA,andtheUSDepartmentofEnergy.Iam currentlyworkinginaninternationalconsortiumforthe NorwegianAgency,NND,todeveloptheconceptfortheir high-levelradioactivewaste.Thisworkhasresultedin twoawardsfromtheInstitutionofCivilEngineers.The GeorgeStephensonMedalandtheJamesWattMedal.

Myleisureactivitieshaveincludedridinghorses.Ihad threecompetitionhorsesandcompetedineventsinthe EastMidlandsforover30years,butnowunfortunately retired.NowIjusthavetwodogsthatkeepmefairlyfitwith twowalksadayinthelovelycountrysidewhereIlivein Leicestershire.Soafter64yearssinceIleftCHS,ithasbeenan incredibleride(excusethepun)andIhaveworked,orvisited forwork,57countries.ThankstoCHSformystartinlife.”

STUART RENN | CLASS OF 1963

“Now 80 and looking after my wife. Life is otherwise gardening & jazz.”

HEATHER

DANIEL | CLASS OF 1967

“Worked in Kent as a teacher for two years . Moved to Malmö in Sweden in 1973. Have lived in a few different parts of Sweden and worked as a teacher, for children and adults, till 2016.

I have 3 adult children and 5 grandchildren, all living fairly close-by. As a pensioner now, I spend time with family and friends, walk (in the unspoilt countryside), swim, read and volunteer for the Red Cross. I am interested in environmental issues and I have a bus card.”

ROGER TIPPETT

| CLASS OF 1956

“After teaching for 30-odd years in the Zoology Department at Glasgow University, and being in charge of their Field Station on Loch Lomond, I retired in 1997. In 2003, my wife and I moved to live in France. My wife died in 2016, and ever since I have continued to lead a life as active as possible for a 87 year old whose health is basically good, but ‘crumbling a bit round them edges’ (somewhat deaf, new hip etc.). I have taken French nationality after Brexit and am happy and contented with a good circle of friends.”

JANE COUTIE

| CLASS OF 1975

“I live in a small town in SW France. I spend a lot of my time making music - I play the piano and accompany the town choir and various instrumental ensembles as well as soloists. I never thought I would be so much in demand at nearly 67! It has been a great way to integrate, to socialise and to keep the brain working.”

ANTHONY ROBERTS

| CLASS OF 1972

“Finally retired 18 months ago after just over 44 years in the NHS. 40 years were as a GP mostly in Bootle which is one of the most deprived areas of Merseyside so it could be a challenging workload. My wife and I have 6 children and now 9 grandchildren of various ages. The youngest is only 6 months old. When not on grandparent duties I have taken up fruit and vegetable gardening. We have an orchard with apples, pears and plums and I have built up multiple raised beds for serious edible crop growing. We have done some travelling as well. I am still in touch with the family I lived with in Massachusetts during my year at Lincoln Sudbury so have been back to Boston to visit.”

TONY HORAN

| CLASS OF 1964

“Enjoying retirement and with loads of time published two books, Rebirth and Elysium.”

JANE HOLDEN (BUSHELL)

| CLASS OF 1970

“I completed Couch to 5k in May/June and raised £700 for Race for Life at the end of the month. I’m now enjoying parkrun on a Saturday. I was probably the most ‘unsporty’ girl in my year, proves you’re never too old to rise to a challenge.”

I was probably the most ‘unsporty’ girl in my year, proves you’re never too old to rise to a challenge

SOWING THE CITY

Meet Jon Ross, Class of 1997, the Old Waconian who’s helping make Manchester greener.

I studied AI before anyone thought it was worthwhile. I left CHS in 1997 and went to Exeter University to study cognitive science. It was basically psychology and computer science, and one of the main things that I studied was AI. At the time, nobody really thought much of it but I left with a degree pretty much in AI.

The diversity of the rainforest inspired me. I went travelling for a bit in Asia and I think that’s probably where I first really picked up this keen desire to do something environmental. I’d never really left Europe before and then went to places like the rainforest in Sumatra. It was amazing to go somewhere that was so diverse.

After some more travelling I decided to do a Master’s in environmental management at Manchester University.

I dealt with barking dogs and noisy students. Initially I did noise nuisance work for the Council. It’s classed as a type of environmental pollution and I sent about 200 letters and dealt with around 200 noise nuisance cases. Environmental health has got a lot of powers, and can even break down doors to confiscate DJ equipment if necessary!

I’ve worked for a wallpaper factory. I did some work in the private sector. I worked in consultancy and was even the environmental manager for a wallpaper factory in Lancashire. I then moved back into the public sector working for Transport for Greater Manchester. Change can be quite slow-moving in this sector but I worked on some amazing projects involving hydroelectric power, wind turbines, solar and also did a lot of work on biodiversity around the Metrolink system.

I founded Sow the City with a few packets of veg seed and some compost. I was working part time for the local authority and applied for a grant of £2000 from an organisation called UnLtd. This supplied the seeds and compost needed to start growing food in my local area of Manchester. We simply helped people grow things in their own back gardens. We create new green spaces all over Manchester. Now, we particularly work in the most disadvantaged parts of the city, where there’s a lot less access to green space. We work with the NHS doing gardening on prescription type activities, mainly for mental health. We work with over 1000 people a year, and volunteers get involved as well. It’s brilliant for their well-being and also means we have a much bigger impact on the city.

Our Green Health Walk project was 1 of only 5 national case studies that went to COP26. It’s a marked walking route for patients, staff and visitors to follow and enjoy the nature around Prestwich Hospital. Initially we did an ecological survey about the existing state of the area’s ecology, then we developed the idea to create the walk. Now, it’s a bit like going to a wildlife reserve where you can get a map and visit different stations as you walk around. There’s a food growing garden, a little woodland area, an orchard and even an area where they have bats on site. We’re huge fans of the benefits of being outside and in nature. Staying in your bed doesn’t help you get better, and sometimes after difficult conversations you need to get some air, so this project brings the work we do to the people that need it most.

than we were. We’re increasingly involved in policy making in Greater Manchester and also nationally as well because we’re quite a unique organisation. We already have a big network of different groups that we work with, probably over 100 different projects every year. We’re planning on spending more time on building more of a network with those projects and improving the resilience of the whole sector.

My top tips for living sustainably? First off, I’m not perfect, but we’re human beings on the Earth and we’ve all got an impact. 1. Think about what you eat. Try to avoid eating a lot of red meat, or meat in general, and try to eat seasonally. About 1/3 of our carbon footprint is our food - deforestation, fertilisers, transport - it’s pretty much the most polluting industry in the world. 2. Fly less. Aeroplanes are almost as efficient as cars in terms of the amount of carbon dioxide per mile, it’s just they go so incredibly fast and so far. 3. Improve the insulation on your home. A bit boring, but it’s a goal!

We want to create a movement of people that care about nature in cities.

Get in touch and volunteer with us!

If you live locally you can volunteer as an individual or with your company via our corporate volunteering opportunities. Email me at Jon@sowthecity.org.

The Boiler House is our centre for making and mending. Started back in 2019, it’s where we’re based and where we run a lot of environmental projects from. Everything is under the same umbrella, based on the idea of a circular economy. It’s in Moss Side in Manchester so a lot of the work we do is tackling the cost of living crisis. We run a repair cafe once a month and volunteers fix electrical items, furniture, clothing etc. for free. We do upcycling projects using different waste streams like timber. We have a mini plastic recycling plant - Precious Plastic - where we grind and melt down plastic and make things out of it. We have an e-bike courier service that runs from here, and bike repair workshops. We want to create a movement of people that care about nature in cities. We’ve grown into a much bigger organisation

Throughout the year we are contacted by many people who have ties with CHS and are looking to share their family story, or visit the place that they have a connection with. Let’s take a look at three of this year’s…

FAMILY TIES

My Great Great Grandfather: CHS’s Chairman and Champion

In April, Charles Waddington contacted us in an effort to help his mother who was researching their family history. They had discovered that one of their relatives was associated with Cheadle Hulme School in the early days - Mr Joseph Broome.

Mr Broome was present at the very first meeting, in 1854, at which it was decided to found the Manchester Warehousemen and Clerks’ Orphan Schools, and was subsequently Chairman of the School’s Executive Committee for 35 years (1865 -1900).

As quoted in an article from Manchester: Faces and Places, which Charles shared with us, “The remarkable progress of the Manchester Warehousemen and Clerks’ Orphan Schools - is largely due to Mr. Broome, who from the first has been an ardent friend and generous supporter of the institution.”

Along with his mother, Jane, and father, John, Charles visited CHS in May - a place that his great great grandfather had supported for so many years. They had the opportunity to view minutes from Executive Committee meetings, which were handwritten and signed by Joseph, as well as having their photo taken outside the John Rylands wing of the Main Building which Joseph and his wife officially opened in 1899.

My Grandfather: The War Hero

In December, we were honoured to unveil a plaque commemorating the Victoria Cross which was won by Jock Christie during World War One. After the war, Jock moved to this region and decided to send one of his sons, Kenneth, to CHS.

The VC Trust commemorates the achievements of VC winners by installing plaques at places of interest related to the individual concerned. The unveiling ceremony included pupils reading out their research on Jock and a very special visitor: Jock’s granddaughter, Belinda, who had travelled especially from Brisbane, Australia, for the occasion.

The plaque can be found outside the History and Politics departments, but if you are no longer local to the Cheadle area you may be more likely to spot a similar commemoration on one of the pillars at Euston station, where Jock worked before the war.

Image credit: Manchester Faces and Places

Tom had an exceptional life. His scholarship to Cheadle Hulme School enabled him to academically flourish, leading to a successful teaching career making a positive difference in many lives and training a new generation of teachers.

My Grandpa: CHS’s First Scholarship Boy

Rosie Slosek contacted us to share the story of her Grandpa on the 100th Anniversary of his starting school.

“Thomas Mottram was Cheadle Hulme School’s first scholarship boy. Known as Tom, he was born in 1914, on the Alderley estate of Baron Stanley. He was a real country boy and played in the caves at Alderley Edge, later made famous by Alan Garner.

His father was the electrician at ‘the big house’ and with 4 older sisters and a younger brother, Tom wasn’t expected to be able to do anything other than work on the land or follow in his father’s footsteps despite his obvious intelligence. Tom reached the educational leaving standard 7 years early and after 3 years repeating the same work, it was decided to award him the first ever scholarship to Cheadle Hulme School.

Tom was a day boy, living in the family home on the Alderley estate. His daily solo journey to school from age 10-18 was a 3 mile walk from his home to the railway station, a train journey, then a mile to school, and back each day.

He flourished academically, despite the long travelling times making friendships difficult. Tom stayed at Cheadle Hulme school for 8 years, graduating at 18 in 1932.

With his good education, Tom gained a place at Crewe Teacher Training College and his first job at age 20 was as a history teacher in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. There he married his wife Flora in 1944 and had 2 daughters, Rosemary in 1945 and Hazel in 1947.

Tom studied long distance for his B. Ed at University of London, while also teaching full time and with a young family. His hard work and grounding at Cheadle Hulme paid off and in 1950 the family moved to Little Bytham in Lincolnshire, where Tom took up a Headmaster position, in a big career leap from youngest teacher to head teacher.

In 1957, the family moved again to Long Eaton, Derbyshire where Tom took up the Head Mastership of Parkland Boys School and again in 1963, to north Nottinghamshire, where Tom spent the remainder of his life.

Tom spent 6 years at Worksop Central School as Head and established a work experience outreach programme during his time there, helping many children reach their academic potential. In 1969 he moved to Eaton Hall College of Education as Senior Lecturer to train a new generation of teachers. He achieved his M. Ed from the University of Nottingham and retired at 65.

Tom had an exceptional life. His scholarship to Cheadle Hulme School enabled him to academically flourish, leading to a successful teaching career making a positive difference in many lives and training a new generation of teachers.

73 years later, Tom returned to the school in 2005 for the 150th Anniversary. He was invited to make an address at the gathering, and really enjoyed sitting in on lessons and having lunch with pupils. He donated to the school’s bursary fund so other children like himself could receive the benefit of education at Cheadle Hulme.

Tom had grandchildren Rosemary and Tom, and three great grandchildren. Tom died in 2008 at the age of 93 and talked about his school days at Cheadle Hulme to the end of his life.”

Do you have family ties to CHS? We’d love to hear them. Share them via email er@chschool.co.uk or write to us at the School address.

YOUR ALUMNI

The Alumni Board aims to advance, support and promote the School’s alumni relations programme. The Board provides operational advice and guidance related to key areas within the alumni relations programme and represents the School’s alumni community both by age-range and with respect to diverse interests and expertise.

Who’s who?

Chair of the Alumni Board/1990s representative: Amanda Newman (Wardle), Class of 1993

Mrs Ellison, my maths teacher always believed in me which resulted in me going on to do a degree in maths and computing. This set me up for my career in tech.

My first post-graduate role was at IBM, followed by 21 years at Shell, then Microsoft, and on to my current role at Accenture.

I set up The Career Mum, a global community of over 6,000 members to support and empower women, and am also keen to attract more women into tech roles.

My CHS was a home away from home. I was a Boarder and us kids looked after and supported each other.

Even though I wasn’t an A* student, I left as a wellrounded individual armed with social skills and a strong network.

Having thoroughly enjoyed studying Economics at CHS, I chose to pursue the subject at the University of Birmingham. This piqued my interest in the allocation of resources and the role of taxation. Consequently, I began my career as a tax advisor at PwC, undertaking my Chartered Accountancy qualification alongside my work. After nine years at PwC, I moved to a smaller firm called ADE Tax.

What I love about CHS is the lasting friendships I made. My group of friends from school remains incredibly tight-knit, and they were most of the groomsmen at my wedding!

1980srepresentativeand CurrentTeachingStaff:

After leaving CHS I studied French and Latin at Oxford University before converting to law. After qualifying as a solicitor, I specialised as an Intellectual Property litigator before joining CHS as a Classics teacher in 2003. The word I would use to sum up CHS is opportunity. I attended CHS under the direct grant scheme and loved the opportunities it provided, particularly for studying the classical world. As a teacher, I have been able to learn (and now teach) Classical Greek as well as maintaining my interest in Law through providing support for law applicants and running mock trial events.

1960s representative: Hervey Wilcox, Class of 1967

After a long career in hospital medicine I’m now working part-time as a psychotherapist, which I really enjoy. I have many happy memories of CHS. It became a second home when my mother died when I was in Junior Two. My father, David Wilcox, became senior master and worked at school into the evenings. The CHS Scout Group was a great community and Mr (Fred) Finch a charismatic leader. Another role model was Barry Preston, our English teacher, who took a group of us skiing in 1966. I made many friends at CHS who I still see today.

After CHS I studied at the University of Cambridge gaining Diploma Distinction, worked in Hong Kong for YRM and then joined Eric Parry Architects where I was director from 1991-97. In 1998, I founded Philip Meadowcroft Architects. I have specific experience and expertise in education, urban regeneration, community and residential projects, working within historic buildings and settings and leading large multidisciplinary design teams.

Lisa Barfoot (Derbyshire), Class of 1988

1970s representative: Phil Meadowcroft, Class of 1979

2010s representative: Matt Marfani, Class of 2010

BOARD

International representative: Michael Heaven, Class of 2009

My life since CHS has been a journey of discovery to broaden my horizons. From dropping out of university to pursue opportunities in an emerging industry, to living in 4 countries, and 3 US states in the last 7 years, my goal is to say “yes” to the experiences that make life more vibrant. Now, my focus is on being a father, and building my advertising business.

Former Staff representative: John Winter

Since university, I’ve spent 12+ years leading Public Policy efforts for the world’s largest social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram. I’m currently Regional Product Policy Lead for TikTok, looking at what content is allowed on the platform. In 2023, I relocated my family to Hale from London. My husband, our two free spirited boys, and our crazy dog have embraced this new chapter.

My CHS wasn’t always smooth sailing! I was far from the perfect student but things changed in Sixth Form. My form tutor and Politics teacher, Mr Pagan, taught me the importance of selfdetermination and ambition and I transformed from a student with a haphazard approach to education into a Form Captain and Politics Prize recipient. As a small gesture of appreciation I gave his students a tour of Facebook’s Dublin offices a few years ago.

My life since CHS has been different to most of my peers. After completing work experience with Atkins, I applied for a degree apprenticeship with them. I am now on a Civil Engineering program while completing my degree with the University of Warwick. I live near the university so I can experience the lifestyle, but with a salary, working towards a professional qualification and gaining on the job experience.

My time at CHS was busy as I got involved with sports teams, F1 in schools, school council and even some drama. I enjoyed most subjects, taking a broad range at GCSE, but loved science and maths the most, leading me to consider engineering.

My CHS was the seed for my curiosity. From life-changing travel opportunities, to the range of extracurricular activities I participated in. My Politics and Economics teachers Mr Axon, and Mr Richardson fueled my curiosity and inspired me to investigate the wider world.

After university, I served in the Army for 20 years including time in most of the places you can imagine the infantry operating between 1997 and 2017. In 2017 I joined a US bank and became a twin dad, both were significant changes! Great friends, a lot of sport, Columbus Fellowship, memorable teachers, comedy school trips to Greece and Germany, and formative opportunities for learning and taking responsibility are my main CHS memories. Mrs Freer was particularly influential, her vibrant teaching leading me to study history as an undergraduate. I am proud to represent those who were OWA members in 2010 and look forward to helping the school continue to be a fantastic community for children to learn and develop.

Occasionally in life you strike gold. I did just that when Donald Wilkinson appointed me as Head of German in 1993. For 27 years, I loved teaching German and French, in a brilliant department with trips and exchanges that enriched our lives. It was also a privilege to coach the senior 1st XI football and cricket teams. My children gained enormously from attending CHS while I was Head of Sixth Form (I worked in a brilliant team with Kate Turner, Neil Smith and Mark Hackney), and my last eight years as a Senior Deputywith Lucy Pearson and Neil as Headteachers - was the icing on the cake. What’s not to love about learning every day at such a beautifully located and wonderfully equipped centre of excellence!

Also on the Board: The Head, The Director of Development and External Relations, and The Alumni and Donor Relations Manager (secretary to the Board).

2000s representative: Caroline (Caz) MillinBrawn, Class of 2006

2020s representative: Grace Woosey, Class of 2022

2010 members representative: Richard Coates, MBE, Class of 1993

In her words

IMOGEN’S STORY

Imogen first visited Cheadle Hulme School as part of our science outreach programme for partner primary schools. One of her teachers identified the potential that she had to flourish at a school like CHS and spoke to the Head of Admissions about applying for bursarial support.

This year, Imogen took part in CHS’s Student TedX competition and spoke about her school experience so far:

“Finding out I had been accepted into CHS on full financial support was such a big game changer for me and my whole family. It meant that so many more opportunities were on the table. For my parents it meant they could confidently see a clear path to success, with a CHS education acting as a secure stepping stone towards all the great things every parent wants their children to go on to achieve. I remember when my parents told me I was going to start at CHS the following September I started crying immediately because - even at eleven - I was beginning to understand what this could mean for me and the rest of my life.

I didn’t notice much difference in my start to CHS to everyone else’s and I just blended into the sea of green blazers, but I think I was quite naive to exactly what being on a bursary meant. None of your teachers are told that you receive financial support and I think that is easily one of the best things about the whole scheme: it was up to me to disclose that information if and when I felt comfortable.

As I got older, I began to notice slight differences between me and my friends in terms of how we perceived money and what was ‘expensive’. I always reminded myself that I was very lucky to have what I did have.

I think the first thing that really got to me was when my friends outside of CHS started telling me I sounded ‘posh’, which just means I was using less slang than them. I became very self-conscious about the way I spoke around them. They couldn’t believe any version of CHS that wasn’t heavily stereotyped and geared towards people being ‘snobs’ which I found to be completely untrue as I found CHS to be a place I was supported by my friends and I can’t say I ever thought anyone was a ‘snob’. I eventually realised that spending my time with people like that wasn’t good for me.

I began to talk more about it in school and be more open about it with my friends and people I trusted. I didn’t want anyone else on financial support to feel alone and I wanted to begin to break down some of the stigma that it was something to be ashamed of.

Sometimes I found it really hard to not hold myself to ridiculously high standards as it felt like I had been given this golden opportunity that I could never ‘pay back’ and to not do the absolute best I could with it would be to waste it. It’s important to remember that the bursary is given based on potential and how you interview, it is not solely for academic ability so it’s important to remember why you’re there in the first place and to not put too much pressure on yourself. It’s about finding the right balance between school and your own personal life to ensure that you don’t completely burn yourself out.

The turning point for me was talking to some of my teachers. They were all really understanding and offered me support on how to deal with comparing myself to others and making sure I looked after my own mental health. It made my life at CHS more straightforward and took enough of the pressure off that it became so much easier to enjoy my experience.

The Financial Assistance at CHS is such an amazing scheme that helps to support so many different people to afford them with some irreplaceable opportunities and I think it really is an invaluable part of CHS as a whole. However, it is the support given to students by staff that really ensures it is a scheme supporting students both financially and pastorally as they continue their CHS journey with any of the challenges that may come with it. Without the support of staff, I really don’t think I would value my opportunity as highly as I do now and will continue to do so.”

Fundraising news

Senior School Library renamed “The Zochonis Trust Library”

In June, CHS hosted a special naming ceremony to celebrate the renaming of the Senior School library in honour of the generous support from The Zochonis Charitable Trust.

Hosted by our Chair of Governors, Mr Chris Roberts, alongside our new Head Pupils Charlie, Sol, and Kate, the event reiterated the long-standing connection between The Zochonis Charitable Trust and CHS and the shared vision to widen opportunities for young people in the North West. To date, the Trust has donated almost £1 million to CHS, supporting a range of projects and committing annually to the Bursary Fund.

Class of 2024 Leavers’ Gift

In March, over 140 parents, pupils and staff came together for the Upper Sixth’s Curry & Quiz Leavers Fundraiser. Since 2012, there’s been a tradition that the Upper Sixth contributes a leavers gift to the CHS Bursary Fund. This year, the Head Pupils organised the event which featured delicious food donated by Old Waconian President, Nik Basran, from The Authentic Food Co. and a pub-style quiz, complete with a raffle. In total, the event raised more than £2300 for the CHS Bursary Fund.

“We are delighted to have been able to raise so much money for the bursary fund – the perfect way to give back to the school community as our time here draws to a close.” – Head Pupils

Saying Thank You at Our Supporters Lunch

Throughout the year, CHS is fortunate to be supported by volunteers and donors who dedicate their time, effort and resources to enhance the opportunities available to both current and Old Waconians. To express our gratitude, we hosted a special supporters lunch in June as part of #VolunteersWeek to give them a well-deserved moment of recognition and appreciation.

Guests spoke with the F1 in Schools National Finalists team and admired the amazing artwork from our GCSE and A-Level artists showcased around the room. During the meal, our talented pupils Daniel, Anabelle, Ava, and Peggy performed, showcasing their incredible music talents. After lunch, a tour of CHS provided attendees with an opportunity to reminisce about their own school days, observe the changes that have taken place over the years, and appreciate what has stayed the same.

Thank you once again to our incredible supporters. We couldn’t continue our journey without you.

Partnering for Change

CHS and Stockport County: A partnership for community and education

CHS is proud of its ongoing partnership with Stockport County which sees their Academy teams utilise our school pitches for their home fixtures during the football season and the introduction of new football camps on site during school holidays.

The collaboration supports our Bursary Fund and aligns with our mission to provide access to a CHS education and opens up the school and opportunities for young people from all backgrounds.

The free holiday camps are attended by children from local state schools, particularly CHS’s partner state schools and gives them an opportunity to enjoy and participate in football, helping to nurture young local talent and promote a love of sports.

We are proud of this partnership and are looking forward to making even more of an impact on our local community. We also wish Stockport County the best of luck in the upcoming season following their well-deserved promotion!

To discuss any ideas for company partnerships please contact Fran Kennedy franceskennedy@chschool.co.uk or call 0161 488 3338. Partnerships can benefit and enhance businesses and also help ensure young people and the wider community can access CHS and a broad range of opportunities.

Legacy Giving

YOUR WILL, YOUR WAY

Did you know that legacies made up almost 25% of donations to our Bursary Fund over the last 10 years? Donations which support pupils to race model F1 cars faster, score more goals, perform on stage, and literally conquer mountains!

Why Leave a Legacy?

Vera Moore née Sullivan Class of 1956 | CHS Staff 1960-1996

Where did your story with CHS begin?I joined CHS aged 11 when I was offered a place under the Government’s Assisted Places Scheme in 1949. This was, in a way, a forerunner of the bursary scheme, supporting a few pupils each year.

It was overwhelming at first as I came from a small primary school in Stockport. Looking back I realise how lucky we girls were - we were treated in exactly the same way as the boys. We could choose sciences and the boys could choose cookery. At

University I found that many who came from girls’ schools had a very limited choice of subjects.

You’ve been connected with the School for many years. What are your CHS highlights?

Throughout my long links with CHS I gained so much from the friends I made. The School was welcoming and friendly and the quality of the staff was memorable. The Head Mr. Lockhart may have been small in stature but he was regarded with great respect and a little fear. Of all members of staff I remember Mr. Karl Offner. A past Headmaster in Berlin he fled Nazi Germany, was interned on the Isle of Man then came to teach Maths. In addition to Maths we learnt so much about architecture, philosophy, and he taught some German Literature at Advanced level too. He was a brilliant but feared teacher.

Silence preceded him whenever he walked down a corridor.

It was a surprise to me when I was appointed as Latin teacher - it was the only subject I failed at O level but I achieved a good degree in the end. I taught classical background to the first form and it still amazes me when I meet past pupils how well some remember that. It is especially rewarding to hear about their lives and how well they have done. Some are very successful in careers, some have built lives abroad, some have brought up amazing families - so many have achieved happy lives of different sorts - but I think their time at CHS helped.

I supported the Old Scholars’ Association, spearheaded by Sheila Kenyon, and organised the first reunion of 1956 leavers.

You have chosen to leave a legacy to the Bursary Fund. Why have you decided to give back in this way?

The School has always had a tradition of receiving support. From the Foundation Scheme, to Government Assisted Places, and now donations to the Bursary Fund. This meant that CHS was never just a rich man’s school but a school for the community. It opened up doors to me into a whole new life. I was from a home where we had no phone and no car. CHS gave me, and other bright pupils, access to talented teachers, a breadth of subjects that weren’t available in other schools, and friendships that last to this day and span different countries.

My three children were all educated at CHS. Now approaching retirement age they all have happy memories of their time at School. I think they all learnt what I learnt at CHS, how to work hard, do their best and also enjoy life. What better aims for a school to produce. That led me and their late father to make a contribution.

What’s the Impact?

Dr Ann Chandley

Class of 1954

Ann Chandley sadly passed away in 2020 but her time at CHS stayed with her throughout her life. ‘When I look back on school days, I can think that it was our Zoology master, Arthur Ellis, who really inspired me to go into a scientific career. He was a wonderful teacher.’

Ann moved to Edinburgh in 1969 to work on chromosome analysis of selected groups within the population. She retired in 1996, and the work she and her team completed left a lasting legacy. A test which they devised is now widely applied in infertility clinics around the world as a diagnostic tool.

We are very grateful to Ann for leaving a very generous amount in her will to support Cheadle Hulme School’s future generation of scientists.

Where Do I Start?

Russ Kaminski

Class of 2010

In your work you advise clients on estates and will-planning. Why should Old Waconians make a will?

It is essential that everyone has a will. If anyone dies intestate (without a will) then their estate would be distributed in accordance with the intestacy rules (rules set out in legislation). These rules very rarely reflect people’s actual wishes and so by having a will, you can ensure that your estate passes to the people you want it to on the terms you specify. A correctly structured will can also help mitigate Inheritance Tax (IHT).

What are the benefits of including a charity, like the Bursary Trust, in your will?

By leaving a legacy to a registered charity in your will, not only will the value of that legacy be exempt from IHT, if your estate is subject to IHT and you leave (in simplified terms) 10% or more of your estate to a registered charity then your estate may benefit from the lower rate of IHT (36% rather than 40%). This can result in a large gift being left but with it costing the estate relatively little (due to the IHT saving).

How can OWs write a will or update existing ones?

OWs should always consult a qualified solicitor when it comes to writing a will. Many people will opt for will writers who are not always legally qualified. Solicitors are regulated by the SRA and are likely to

be more able to advise on wider legal and tax implications of your will.

You should also consider instructing solicitors who are “STEP qualified” (such as myself). This is an additional professional qualification and seen as the “gold standard” when it comes to private client law. I would be delighted to offer any OW’s an initial free consultation to discuss their requirements (russell. kaminski@jmw.co.uk).

If you would like to find out more about leaving a legacy or let us know of your intention to leave a gift in your will please contact

Charlotte Aspin (charlotteaspin@ chschool.co.uk).

LET’S CHAT: CAREERS

In today’s rapidly evolving professional landscape, the value of a robust network cannot be taken for granted. For students, developing connections during their school years lays a critical foundation for future success, opening doors to opportunities and mentorship. We are proud to help Waconians to cultivate and expand their professional network even after graduation, making them more adaptable to an everchanging job market. By engaging with current pupils and recent leavers, OWs can play a pivotal role in guiding new professionals as they navigate their career journeys, creating a legacy of mutual support and success.

This academic year we’ll be continuing our series of Let’s CHat: Careers industry networking events. For our more experienced Old Waconians these are a brilliant opportunity to share insights with current pupils and parents, and for young professionals it’s the perfect chance to increase your network and add some speaking experience to your CV. Each event consists of a Q&A panel and then a marketplace networking activity to allow one to one discussions.

Pupils are interested in hearing from OWs who are at each stage of their career, from university, through to leading their own team or company. And if public speaking isn’t for you then you’re welcome to just network too.

Waconian Work Experience

Each year pupils at CHS are tasked with exploring the world of work through work shadowing and work experience placements. We are always on the lookout for companies that would be willing to host our brilliant students, especially those who have a more limited personal network. Chris Murthi, Class of 2009, was one of our brilliant hosts this year.

“As a previous student at CHS, it was a pleasure to host current student River for some work experience providing an insight into the world of corporate finance at The Camlee Group. He assisted with a real client looking to sell their business and took to it brilliantly! Best of luck to River and all CHS students as they enter the next stage of their careers.” The Camlee Group is based in Cheadle Hulme and provides advice to people looking to sell their businesses. For more information feel free to reach out to Old Waconian, and Associate Director, Chris Murthi - chris.murthi@camleegroup.com.

Future Self Breakfasts

Future Self Breakfasts are a series of career talks for pupils from the Senior School and Sixth Form starting at 8am, complete with hot drinks and pastries! A wide range of speakers, from a variety of professional backgrounds share their career journeys, provide valuable insight and advice about what it’s like to work in different sectors and give Waconians the opportunity to broaden their understanding of the world of work.

Patrick Davenport-Jenkins, Class of 2013, shared his journey from Real Estate to Finance, “I really enjoyed giving a Future Self breakfast talk and it was a privilege to be able to come back to the school. One of the pupils reached out to me for some advice afterwards and said they were inspired by the talk and so I’m pleased it was able to have an impact on them.”

Let’s CHat: City Careers - 25 September 2024

Let’s CHat: Careers in Sport - 26 November 2024

Let’s CHat: International Careers - 15 January 2025

Let’s CHat: Careers in STEM and Healthcare - 11 March 2025

Let’s CHat: Creative Careers - 7 May 2025

If you are interested in being involved in a Let’s CHat event, delivering a Future Self Breakfast talk, or offering a work experience placement, please get in touch by emailing er@chschool.co.uk or calling 0161 488 3341.

Fondly Remembered

CHS is sad to report the deaths of the following Old Waconians:

Judy Alloway née Morris, Class of 1963

Diana Beech née Binns, Class of 1956

Gordon Beswick, Class of 1948

Peter Brunt, Class of 1954

Susan Bell née Crowther Class of 1961

Dan Darlington, Class of 2007

Felicity Eaton née

Margaret Borrowdale Class of 1971

(Geoffrey) Ian Foster, Class of 1942

Roger Gaubert, Class of 1964

Phil Gibbins, Class of 1960

Barbara Goodison, Class of 1947

Pamela GreeningLewis née Brown, Former Staff 1963-1973

Paddy Harrison née Flinn, Class of 1960

June Horne née Vickers, Class of 1962

Rosemary Hughes née Thompson, Class of 1950

Philip Keenan, Class of 1990

Sheila MacFadyen, Former Staff 1960-1990

Stan Marsden, Class of 1944

Elizabeth Maw née Down, Class of 1960

Cliff Parry, Former Staff 1968-1979

Dennis Pointer, Class of 1952

Stanley Marsden Class of 1944

Ian Ray, Former Staff 1964-2002

Michael Scaife, Former Staff 1966-1995

Judy Stansby née Page, Class of 1953

Muriel “Judy”

Stewart née Baker, Class of 1944

Carole Taylor née Huddart, Class of 1957

David Vessey, Class of 1958

Archie Vokes, Class of 2020

Kate Vokes née Oglesby, Class of 1987

Jean Whiteley née Winder, Class of 1958

Thelma Wightman, Former Staff 1959-1963

Stanley married fellow Old Waconian Mary Marsden in 1954. They were four school years apart and had not known each other until they ended up selling tickets at the same table during the Old Scholars fete day in 1952. They had a long and happy marriage with two daughters and many grandchildren. Mary died in 2021. They both loved CHS, Stanley became President of the Old Scholars Association and they kept their connection with the school throughout their lives.

Michael Scaife, Former Staff, 1966-1995

Michael Scaife, a well-loved former member of CHS staff, passed away on Saturday 30th March. Michael joined CHS in 1966, becoming Head of History eight years later. He also became Deputy Head of the School, a position he held until he retired in 1995. Since retirement he was instrumental in keeping Old Waconians in touch with the School and will be sorely missed by all who knew him. In messages from colleagues and former pupils the words most often used to describe him were “a true gentleman”, “scholarly”, “empathetic”, “compassionate”, “wise”, “kind” and “supportive”.

If you would like to notify us of a death please get in touch. Phone: 0161 488 3341 Email: er@chschool.co.uk

Ian Ray Former Staff, 1964-2002

Ian joined CHS in 1964 and soon established himself as a passionate geographer. He also raised the status of geology as an examination subject and became Head of the subject. Ian was part of the fabric of the School, serving on the staff until 2002. He left many legacies in his time, including beginning the School’s link with The Gambia and starting the CHS Charity Hike in 1966. Both of these are still going strong today. On retiring, he maintained strong links with the School and former colleagues, and he will be greatly missed at School and Old Waconian events.

Sheila MacFadyen Former Staff, 1960-1990

Former CHS Teacher of Maths, Miss Sheila MacFadyen, sadly passed away on 10 June 2024 after a short illness, aged 93. Sheila taught Maths at Cheadle Hulme School from 1960-1990 and always spoke very fondly of her time here. The photo featured was captured by one of her former pupils, Michael Hilton, Class of 1973.

Please note the following corrections to the Fondly Remembered section of the 2023 Old Waconian Magazine

Surname correction: Henry Hochland, Class of 1973

Dates correction: Brenda Wetton: 16 Jan 1932 - 26 Jan 2023

Christopher Priest, Class of 1961

CHS Shop

Head to https://www.chscommunity.co.uk/shop to purchase your official CHS merchandise. All proceeds go directly to the CHS Bursary Fund.

Organic Cotton

‘CHS’ spell-out T-shirts with Yellow Lettering

Try our Brand New ColourwayRainbow Lettering!

Cheadle Hulme School: A History

This beautifully illustrated book brings the history of the School to life. Suitable for children aged 11 upwards. Why not share your school’s story with a family member today?

Designer Silk Ties

A luxury silk tie designed by Founder and Creative Director of Lord Willy’s (New York), Alex Wilcox, Class of 1982.

Each tie is delivered in a branded CHS gift box.

Heads and Tales: The 150 Year Story of Cheadle Hulme School

The story of Cheadle Hulme School, retold by Melanie Richardson, Class of 1980, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the School’s foundation.

100% Silk Scarves

This beautiful 100% silk scarf in black and cream shows off the iconic CHS crest and keys motif.

Pre-loved Uniform

Did you know that at CHS we have a pre-loved uniform shop? Not only does the shop support sustainability by encouraging families to reuse and recycle, but all profits from the shop are donated to the School’s Bursary Fund. In the last year alone, sales contributed £3,849.45!

Do you still have some CHS uniform taking up space?

Donations to the pre-loved shop are much appreciated. We accept good quality, washed items of CHS uniform (those with a crest only and adhering to the current uniform guidelines). Donated items can be left at Main Reception in a bag clearly labelled as ‘Uniform for pre-loved shop’.

OLD WACONIAN

The term ‘Old Waconian’ stems from the original name given to the School in 1855: THE WAREHOUSEMEN AND CLERKS’ ORPHAN SCHOOLS

Every former pupil and member of staff becomes an Old Waconian when they leave Cheadle Hulme School.