Old Blues Annual Magazine 2016

OLD BLUES Inside

The annual review for Old Blues of The Blue Coat School 2016 • CATCH UP WITH THE CLASS OF 2015 • CLASS NOTES • THE FAMOUS FIVE

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STRAIGHT FROM THE ARCHIVE FROM BUTTONS TO HOLLYWOOD HOBBIT WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Issue 2

A MESSAGE FROM The Headteacher

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SPORTS REPORT Blue Coat sporting success at local, regional and national competitions.

It is my pleasure to write this welcome message at the end of my first year as Headteacher of The Blue Coat School. I was delighted to re-join the school in September 2015 and have really enjoyed a very busy school year.

Looking after a school is not easy in the current educational and economic climates, but I can unreservedly say that it is made much easier by the support that exists in our Blue Coat Community. From staff to parents, governors to foundation trustees and of course our growing network of Old Blues we can be sure this great school benefits from the attention of so many talented supporters. As our database of Old Blues has grown this year, we have introduced even more opportunities for you to give back to the school long after you have left. Our students and staff are extremely grateful for the time some of you have been able to give to careers talks, guest speaking and our library appeal.

I am not an Old Blue myself, but when I left the school as Deputy Headteacher in 2013, I could not have imagined just how much I wanted to return to support, protect and develop the future of this great school. While I know just how strongly this is felt among Old Blues of all generations, I also know we are extremely fortunate to have access to your generous, varied and skilful contributions.

To all of our supporters this year, and to the many who will make future contributions by encouraging friends to get in touch, volunteering your time or supporting our fundraising activities, thank you very much for the care you continue to show to The Blue Coat School.

14 THE 2016 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS: SIMON HART, CLASS OF 1991

26 INTRODUCING OUR OLDEST KNOWN OLD BLUE, KENDRICK RANNARD

Mr Mike Pennington Headteacher, The Blue Coat School

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CONTENTS

12 STEPPING INTO THE TWENTY FIRST CENTURY: MATT WADDELOW, CLASS OF 2007

31 LAUNCHING THE 1708 SOCIETY

04 08 10 13 15 15 16 18 20 22 27 28 29 30

SCHOOL NEWS CATCH UP WITH THE CLASS OF 2015 CLASS NOTES LAUNCHING OUR LIBRARY APPEAL INTRODUCING THE CLASS OF 2016 FROM MIAMI TO NEW YORK: SAM BATTERTON, CLASS OF 2011 THE FAMOUS FIVE FROM BUTTONS TO A HOLLYWOOD HOBBIT: CHRIS WINCHESTER, CLASS OF 1990 STRAIGHT FROM THE ARCHIVE WHERE ARE THEY NOW? SHAUN RIGBY, CLASS OF 2011 GOING GLOBAL: FRANCESCA BIRD, CLASS OF 2012 WHERE ARE THEY NOW? CALLUM SPIERS, CLASS OF 2011 INSPIRING FUTURES LIVERPOOL BLUE COAT OLD BLUES ASSOCIATION

www.bluecoatschoolliverpool.org.uk | 3

SCHOOL NEWS

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State Secondary School of the Year

“I am absolutely delighted that the significant efforts of our staff to help all of our students achieve the very best that they can has been recognised in the recent Department for Education performance tables.”

Mr Mike Pennington, Headteacher

A bright future as plans for 2017 redevelopment receive a boost From January 1st 2017 The Blue Coat School will take responsibility for the Foundation Buildings, an area which is currently under the stewardship of the Foundation Trustees. With this change the School will have full responsibility for all parts of the School estate. The acquisition of this additional space, which is currently administered by The Liverpool Blue Coat School Foundation, marks an important and exciting first step in our accommodation strategy which includes ambitious plans to redevelop and remodel this section of the School in addition to other areas currently in need of redevelopment.

Increasing the amount of space we have available is key to ensuring we provide our growing number of students with the very best accommodation and resources. The Blue Coat School Foundation, our longstanding and extremely supportive charitable arm of the School, have affirmed their support for the programme by additionally donating a significant sum of money to the School to undertake the necessary remedial, redevelopment and refurbishment work to key parts of the School including the Shirley Hall.

The School community values the foresight, generosity and care demonstrated by our Trustees’ recent decisions.

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It is a great achievement that The Blue Coat School’s 2015 GCSE results earned the School a coveted top five place in the Department for Education’s performance tables. Ranked fourth nationally by the Government, the School was also recognised in a number of national newspapers. The Telegraph listed The Blue Coat School top in its league table of the ‘Top One Hundred Schools in England’, with The Sunday Times awarding the School its prestigious ‘Top State Secondary School of the Year 2015’.

Shirley Hall will be refurbished during 2017

Lower School Music Concert Our youngest musicians delighted family and friends with their fantastic array of musical talent during our first Lower School music concert in June 2016.

Confident and lively performances from our string, flute, brass and percussion ensembles were interspersed with excellent solo performances, with no hints of any nerves creeping in. Year 8 student Hannah Chiu amazed the audience with her beautiful performance of Rameau’s L’Egyptienne, a Grade 8 piece which she recently performed at the regional final of the European Piano Teacher’s Association regional final. Packed full of new musical talent the Blue Coat School music department has a very promising and exciting future.

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Maths Fun Roadshow For the last few years the Maths Department has offered Maths Fun Roadshows to local primary schools with great success.

This year there were nine Roadshows involving students from six local primary schools including Dovedale and Northway. It is a very successful and popular event that students and staff thoroughly enjoy getting involved with. Each Maths Fun Roadshow is a 90 minute event for up to 30 Year 4 students and is led by five Year 10 Blue Coat students, studying for their Maths Leaders Award.

Science teachers Mrs Clare MacKenzie, Ms Michelle Maskell and Mrs Julie Beggs deliver an outstanding performance as The Chemical Sisters

At the heart of the event is a carousel of fifteen interactive maths puzzles that students complete in pairs. Year 7 students are stationed at each puzzle to explain to the students what they need to do.

Feedback following the event has been extremely positive and the programme has undoubtedly achieved its aim of making maths fun and approachable.

Louis Walsh aka Mr Keith Caulkin greets his fans

Xmas Factor

Maths Fun Roadshow

The 2015 Xmas Factor saw Blue Coat staff take to the Shirley Hall stage once again as they embraced their inner disco diva, much to the delight of their adoring fans in the audience.

Stand out performances included The Chemical Sisters, whose rendition of Little Mix’s Black Magic involved several chemical experiments conducted during the performance, taking multitasking to a whole new level.

Lower School Music Concert

Old Blue and History teacher Mike Pearson’s group The Testostertones took the audience back to the 1990s (a time when a significant proportion of the audience hadn’t even been born) with Take That’s hit Never Forget. Casting his best Simon Cowell eye over each act, Mr Simon Shipgood, who with help from Mr Keith Caulkin (Louis Walsh) and Mrs Elaine Wilkinson (Sharon Osbourne), presided over a very successful event.

www.bluecoatschoolliverpool.org.uk | 5

SCHOOL NEWS

Work Bard, Play Bard To mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, students from eight Merseyside Schools were chosen to take part in ‘Work Bard, Play Bard’, a collaborative project designed by the Liverpool Everyman Theatre and Globe Theatre.

Several talented Blue Coat actors were selected to take part in this unique project which saw them take to the Everyman stage twice to perform their own twenty minute sketch, based on Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice in front of a live audience in July 2016.

Working alongside the Everyman’s Education Manager Alan Williams over the course of several months, our students worked hard to master the art of script writing and remembering those all-important lines.

Open Evening Over the course of one evening in July 2016 1,800 visitors sampled Blue Coat School life. Throughout the evening potential students were invited to take part in a number of interactive activities including dissecting sheep hearts and extracting DNA from kiwi fruits. It should come as no surprise that the Chemistry department proved to be one of the most popular attractions with fire, dry ice, and regular explosions reverberating around the corridors.

From September 2017 the School will admit an additional thirty students, taking our Year 7 population up to 180. In keeping with the values of the School we are proud that this will give more students from across the city a chance to thrive. The only question to answer is who will the new house be named after?

Development Fund supporters make a real difference Thanks to the generosity of parents, Old Blues and friends of the School we have been able to fund almost £30,000 of projects that we would not have been able to deliver without our supporters’ donations to the School’s Development Fund.

Projects that we have been able to fund include: •

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New kitchen and dining equipment which has resulted in an improved break and lunchtime experience, improved menus with a focus on nutrition, and a more efficient service for our students A partnership with the Everyman Theatre on the ‘Work Bard, Play Bard’ project. Year 12 students took part in workshops and performed an original script based on the Merchant of Venice at the Everyman Theatre Transportation costs of the Duke of Edinburgh expeditions. Through taking part in Duke of Edinburgh students gain experience in team work, increase their health and well-being through physical activity and also become community volunteers New football goal posts for our 9-a-side teams which will also be used by PE students throughout the School.

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“I try to eat as healthily as possible so I’m really happy about all the new healthy options at break and lunchtime” Ambrose, Year 7

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Open Evening

Sports Report 2015/16 has proved to be yet another successful year for our PE Department, with plenty of Blue Coat sporting talent on display at local, regional and national competitions. Highlights from the year include: • • • • • • • • • • •

Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 cricket teams made it through to the final of the Liverpool County Cricket Cup Year 9 cricket team progressed through to the Lancashire Cricket Plate final Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 netball teams crowned overall Liverpool League winners Year 7 girls netball team crowned winners at the PGL netball tour and Year 8 came in third against Year 9 teams Years 8 and 9 girls netball teams win prestigious City Champions netball title Years 7 and 10 basketball teams crowned Liverpool basketball champions Year 11 basketball team through to the last 8 in the English Schools National Basketball finals Year 10 basketball team ranked fourth in the English Schools National Basketball finals Years 7 and 8 represented the School for the first time in full contact rugby union Year 11 student Georgia Stevens was selected to play for the England under 16 national team in an international tournament in Italy Olympic boxers Sam Maxwell and Natasha Jones met with students to highlight the benefits of getting involved with sport.

Sports Day

Year 7 Cricket Team

Under 15 Basketball Team

PGL Netball Tour

Year 10 Cricket Team

The rain clouds stayed away for Sports Day 2016 as hundreds of students from Years 7 to 10 proudly sported their House colours as they competed in a number of track and field events. From the hotly contested javelin competition to the nail biting relay, the afternoon was a runway success with students rewarded for their efforts with much sought after House points.

www.bluecoatschoolliverpool.org.uk | 7

CATCH UP WITH THE CLASS OF 2015

Last May we bid the Class of 2015 a fond farewell as they prepared to embark on the next exciting phases of their lives away from The Blue Coat School.

We’ve checked in with four members of the Class of 2015 for a brief insight into their first year at some of the country’s top institutions.

Class of 2015: • 180 students • Popular destinations: London, Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool • Popular courses: Medicine, Economics, Aero Nautical Engineering

Tomas Bath - Liverpool University: Law “The year has flown by since leaving Blue Coat in May 2015. I decided that staying in Liverpool was the best idea for me and have since completed the first year of my Law degree at the University of Liverpool. Despite my enjoyment of the course and the challenge of meeting new people from different places across the UK and the wider world, in my opinion one cannot help but notice the gaping hole that leaving Blue Coat creates. On many occasions during my time at the school, particularly towards the end of my seven years there, people referred to the school community as a ‘bubble’ and I believe you can only truly appreciate this once you leave.

Tomas, pictured with Liverpool FC and England footballer Adam Lallana when he visited the School in 2015

The Blue Coat experience is like no other and one that provides the greatest foundation for progressing to higher education or whatever it is that follows.

During my first year at University, both in terms of subject matter and socially, I have been able to draw upon experiences I had in my time at Blue Coat, meaning that the learning effect the school generates demonstrably goes well beyond your physical time there. For this reason, I am delighted to be regarded as an ‘Old Blue’ and look forward to maintaining contact with the Blue Coat community in the forthcoming years.”

Drew S. Hawley - Higgins - Leeds University: Chinese “Leeds has proved to be an exceptional town to study languages, with a student base of characters from all over the world, working alongside so many outlooks has been truly enriching.

When beginning classes, what first interested me was the type of person who chooses to study Chinese. From observation of a class of sixty it seemed indefinable, with students from all walks of life and countries: from the worldly ‘language collectors’ to the spontaneity student, pursuing a whim of adventure.

What’s clear is that the majority did not arrive previously enamoured with the country’s history, an interest so difficult to cultivate naturally with China’s removed view from the occidental eye.

Through the modules however, many found passion for the rich modern history and it has been a wonderful to experience a fantastical introduction to a larger canvas of historical importance.

The highlight of my stay at Leeds would have to have been around Christmas time- the campus glowed in the thick snow and Leeds’s German Christmas market brought everyone to town for Snow Halation. The town hall hosted Beijing’s award winning performing troupe for a theatrical evening of Kung Fu and dance in a celebration of China’s rich cultural heritage. With prime seats courtesy of our course’s ties to the Chinese community, it was a heartening display of Chinese beauty.”

Drew, pictured in the front row, second from right, with members of the Beijing martial arts group

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Sam Elcock - Leeds University: Medicine “It’s scary to think that a whole year has passed since I was sat in the school chapel for our leavers’ service. I’ve now completed (and more importantly passed!) my first year of medical school at the University of Leeds, and looking back it’s been a whirlwind twelve months.

I went off to study medicine not really knowing what to expect, but I was excited to leave home and be able to live independently, standing on my own two feet for the first time.

The course itself has been amazing. A perfect balance between learning clinical biochemistry, and then being able to put that into use on placements in both primary and secondary care. Some of my friends at other medical schools have been stuck in lectures all day every day, but Leeds is great at how it splits up the teaching.

Living away is also a great experience – I’ve learnt how to hoover and clean the hob!

Outside of University, I like to think I’ve thrown myself into the deep end. I’ve become the Unit Manager of the University’s St John Ambulance unit, as well as joined the University Officers’ Training Corps as part of my application to join the Army as a doctor.

Overall, I’ve had a thoroughly enjoyable first year at university, meeting some amazing people and learning the odd thing about medicine along the way.

Sam Elcock

1 year down, 4 to go…”

Kelsey Walsh - London: Royal Central School of Speech and Drama “When I began applying for UCAS I initially planned on studying Architecture, but on October 5th 2015 I started my training at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London. Nothing could have prepared me for the challenges ahead of me on a course that is strictly vocational. A general day at central begins with a voice warm up at 8am and then varying different acting and musical theatre classes throughout the day until 6pm; in total we have roughly 50 contact hours a week plus weekend rehearsals for upcoming projects. In Central I am challenged both physically and mentally in ways that I could have never imagined which further encourages me to go beyond my comfort zone to do things I thought I could never achieve.

One highlight of being in Central so far has been creating a production of the Shakespeare Comedy ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ in which I played Helena.

It was the first occasion as a class to use the skills we have learnt over the past three terms and to be in a rehearsal room with a Director from the Royal Shakespeare Company. I was also given the opportunity to perform at the opening of the new Tate Modern as part of a choir containing 500 people with music composed by the artist Peter Liversidge.

I am very fortunate to be training in such a prestigious institution, which is thanks to my participation in the school shows over my seven years at Blue Coat!”

Kelsey, performing in the Blue Coat School 2015 production of The Wedding Singer

www.bluecoatschoolliverpool.org.uk | 9

CLASS NOTES

Mike

el

Carm

Mat Slo

Stuart Pennington

ane

Class Notes Class of 1974

Class of 1991

Old Blue Michael Carmel (formerly Cathcart) would like to hear from his fellow 1974 classmates. Michael attended the School initially from 1967 to 1968 and returned to the Blue Coat as a boarder in 1972 to complete his A Levels. A former student of Liverpool and Brunel Universities, Michael moved to Israel in 1981 and has lived there ever since.

In 2010 restaurant owner and wine writer Mathew Sloane swapped the lead grey skies of the UK for the white sandy beaches of the Cayman Islands. Working alongside a fellow Liverpudlian (isn’t it a small world?), Mathew presents a radio breakfast show on the island’s popular Boom FM and co-presents the television show Let’s Talk Sports.

If you would like to get in touch with Michael please get in touch with the Development Office at development-team@bluecoatschool.org.uk

In 2017 Caymanians will be flocking to the polls to cast their vote in the country’s general election. In the run up to the election Mathew will be working with the country’s main opposition party as their media representative. Law and order and immigration look set to be the hot button issues of the forthcoming election.

Class of 1993 Congratulations to Stuart Pennington (no relation to the current Head) on his recent promotion. Stuart, an English Language teacher at the Escolapios School in central Granada Spain, recently returned to the School to meet with members of the Modern Foreign Languages department to discuss possible School exchange links in the future. We wish Stuart all the best as he prepares to embark on his new role in September.

Class of 1991 Calling all Everton fans! Simon Hart has published his first book Here We Go: Everton in the 1980s: The Players’ Stories. In the book Simon interviews some of the club’s top players from the era. Simon’s book is now available to purchase on the high street or online.

Since moving to Spain Stuart has joined a band, State Line Road.

To take a look at their work head to their YouTube channel State Line Road HQ.

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Class of 2007

Class of 2009

On Sunday 29th May 2016 former Head Girl Claire Thomas married Blue Coat’s former Head of Politics Mr Nick Croxton. The pair were married surrounded by friends and family at Crewe Hall in Cheshire.

Congratulations go to Old Blue Dr Laura Potts BVSc MRCVS from the Class of 2009. Laura graduated from the University of Liverpool this summer, having completed her five year Veterinary Science degree programme, a programme which she recently described as “long and hard but totally worth it!”

Studies complete, Laura is now looking forward to spending time with friends and family before she sets off for the Southern Indian state of Kerala for a well earned break.

Class of 2008 In July 2016 London based organist Nick Miller soaked up the cultural sights and sounds of Norway, as he performed in the grand surroundings of the Arctic Cathedral in Tromso. Nick’s current role as ‘musician in residence’ at the prestigious Eltham College in London involves Nick working closely with the College’s numerous choirs and musical ensembles. Outside of the classroom Nick is never far from a church organ and can be found accompanying many a professional church choir across London and up and down the country.

Class of 2009 This year Old Blue Jennifer Long from the Class of 2009 joined the staff team at the School. Jennifer, who has pursued a career in finance, has settled in well to her new role as part of The Blue Coat School’s finance team.

If you have any news you would like to share with our worldwide community of Old Blues please get in touch with the Development Office at development-team@bluecoatschool.org.uk

Dr

Nick Mil

CVS

c MR

S ts BV a Pot r u a L

Claire Thomas & Nick Croxton

ler

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OLD BLUES: MATT WADDELOW

Stepping into the twenty-first century

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“It was a great privilege to be asked back to the Blue Coat and to assist in developing a new vision for the School’s library. Prior to my leaving the school, nearly a decade ago, I often felt then that the library had the potential to work a lot harder for its students.

As such, the new design aims to respect its Grade II* surroundings whilst also modernising the facilities and redefining the library not only as a place for learning but as the social heart of the school.

A new central staircase acts as the focal point and axis of the room off which different functions are clearly defined across the library whilst simultaneously placing the librarian at the centre of the room and improving access to the adjoining ICT labs. Students are also provided with raised study areas, making use of the nearly double height windows to the adjacent courtyard, providing extra computer spaces and providing a connection with the outside. An expanded mezzanine fulfils the need for extra breakout and study space whilst quiet study areas are provided behind a new glazed wall at the mezzanine’s outer edge. Flexible book stacks allow the library to respond to the changing demands of the school meaning that it can easily transition from library, to classroom, to film screening area.

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I wish the school all the best in pursuing the project and I hope that they are able to deliver a library that they and the students deserve.”

Since leaving the School Matthew studied Architecture at the University of Liverpool graduating from his Masters degree in 2014.

Matthew has gained a range of industry experience having worked for B.A.S Kopperschmidt + Moczala, Germany and Broadway Malyan, Liverpool before moving to shedkm architects in London. He has worked on a range of projects from high end residential to master-planning and a variety of international competition work. Matthew is also one of the founding members of MARGIN, an architectural collective and winners of the RIBA’s ‘Constructing Communities’ open call competition 2016.

We would like to thank Matthew for taking time out of his busy schedule to help us lay the foundations for our new School library. We are delighted with the fantastic images Matthew has created and we look forward to turning our vision into a reality.

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LIBRARY APPEAL

Launching our new Library Appeal

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The library as it currently stands is not used to its full potential, with areas of poorly utilised space and outdated facilities and resources. Over the past few months we have worked with our staff and students to find out what they would ideally want from the School library. We worked with a number of departments and societies to explore concepts such as, ‘reading for pleasure and its role in learning’ and ‘what is the role of a modern library?’. Additionally a small group of students and staff visited a number of local school libraries to see first-hand how modern library facilities are being delivered across Liverpool.

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We believe that our world class students deserve a world class library facility offering twenty-first century technology and design ideas that will help inspire future generations of Blue Coat doctors, engineers, lawyers and even politicians.

“The library looks like one building but really it’s thousands of magical places.”

Thea, Year 7

Based on the findings of our consultation architect Matthew Waddelow, Old Blue from the Class of 2007, created some initial CGI images to help us visualise what the new space could look like.

We are solely reliant on voluntary donations to fund this refurbishment so we have launched an ambitious £1 million fundraising campaign to make our vision a reality.

Our new library will include: • A full refurbishment including improved lighting and access • Increased capacity for students • Brand new quiet study pods • Brand new group work areas • Flexible book cases • Investment in books, periodicals, journals and online resources • A new IT zone and additional facilities • Specially designed zonal areas for reading, collaborating and extra-curricular activities.

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If you would like to help us by supporting our appeal please contact the Development Office on 0151 733 1407 ext. 207 or via email at development-team@bluecoatschool.org.uk

“We want our library to be somewhere where we are inspired to do more and learn more.”

Bobby, Year 13

www.bluecoatschoolliverpool.org.uk | 13

THE 2016 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

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“There is something about England’s footballers and the sticky heat of some foreign setting that seems to guarantee an unhappy ending.

From Shizuoka in 2002 to Lisbon in 2004 to Gelsenkirchen in 2006, I’ve been there before when England have exited major tournaments and a common memory of each occasion was the energy-sapping humidity. Nice on the night of 28th June 2016 had a similar feel, yet this time England did not lose to Brazil or Portugal. They froze against Iceland. Roy Hodgson was out of a job and I was heading home too.

Prior to EURO 2016, I’d worked at four European Championships and four World Cups – for the first time, though, in France I was there as England team reporter for the UEFA website. My brief was to follow Hodgson’s team around – from being on the tarmac when they landed at Le Bourget airport (moments after Roland Garros champion Novak Djoković’s private jet had taken off) to attending every press conference and open training session at their base in Chantilly, to covering the matches.

It was quite unlike my role at the 2014 World Cup, for instance, where working for the Independent and Independent on Sunday newspapers, I was based in Salvador, writing features on different aspects of the tournament – including a trip to Germany’s training base, built in a mangrove forest by a Munich-based developer, where even the McCafé girls in the press centre had been f lown over from Berlin.

Instead as an England reporter (with limited player access), the priority was to provide short, snappy updates for the website’s daily blogs. Hence a search for opinion, insight and colour: vox pops with ex-England players and journalists (filmed on my iPhone with newly acquired selfie stick); a chat with the England fans’ band on the popularity of the “Don’t Take Me Home” chant; a talk with David Moyes on tactical trends at the tournament. Even a coffee with the Iceland coach’s wife.

Simon Hart Freelance football journalist and Old Blue Simon Hart from the Class of 1991 has travelled around the world to report on football tournaments, a role which to countless football fanatics unleashes the green eyed monster from within. From the European Under-21 Championship to the World Cup, Simon has analysed and dissected countless games on the pages of British newspapers.

This summer, armed with a newly acquired selfie stick, Simon criss-crossed France to deliver daily updates for UEFA’s website to report on England’s progress in the Euro Championship, a championship many fans may wish to forget.

What will stay in the mind are the incidentals rather than the football itself: the magnificent Stade Vélodrome where England played Russia, the atmosphere created by English and Welsh fans at the British derby in Lens … and, dare I say it, the sight of England players laid f lat out on the pitch in Nice as Icelanders raced away to join their fans in one big, celebratory “HUH!”.

All this took place, incidentally, a quarter-century since I chose Pete Davies’s ‘All Played Out’ as my 1991 Modern Languages prize at the Blue Coat. A brilliant account of the 1990 World Cup in Italy, it is the book which led me down the path into freelance football journalism with the mixed bag of opportunities it brings – such as being asked to act as UEFA’s stadium announcer (in Spanish and Italian) at the European Under-21 Championship final in Jerusalem a few years ago. Another of those sticky summer nights when an Englishman ends up rather red-faced…”

Simon, pictured on the far left of the bottom row, with his teammates from the Y7 football team in 1985

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CLASS OF 2016

Thursday 19th May 2016 marked Year 13’s final day at The Blue Coat School. As is custom at the School, students attended a special service in the Chapel which centred on the theme of friendship. During the service Headteacher Mr Mike Pennington and Assistant Headteacher Ms Lynette Holland celebrated the achievements of the year group and predicted many more successes for members of the 188 strong cohort, as they embark on the next phase of their education.

Rounding off the celebrations in the grand surroundings of the Boardroom students, both ‘true coats’ and ‘new coats’, reflected on their time at the School through photographs, videos and speeches highlighting memorable school trips and traditional Blue Coat House rivalry. Messages of thanks were also directed to teaching and support staff for their huge academic and personal support over the past seven years.

We would like to wish the Class of 2016 the very best of luck in all their future endeavours.

Class of 2016

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Going Global: From Miami to New York

“Nearly five years ago, I made an unlikely choice regarding my future. I decided to apply to Colleges in the United States alongside my UCAS University applications in the UK. It became immediately clear that nobody from The Blue Coat School had ever done this, and therefore the process was alien and difficult for me with no expert to turn to for advice. Nevertheless, overcoming that challenge may be the most worthwhile thing I have done in my life.

I obtained an academic scholarship to the University of Miami, Florida, and moved to the US shortly after finishing school.

Opting to study at the University of Miami has presented Old Blue Sam Batterton from the Class of 2011 with a variety of new opportunities both inside and outside of the classroom.

Now, as Sam prepares to embark on his final year, he is already looking to life after university.

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Sam, pictured with some of his friends at the University of Miami

This current summer falls between my third and fourth year of college, and is a crucial time with graduation less than a year away. Therefore I have been incredibly fortunate to work as a Summer Intern for FTSE Russell’s Product Management team in New York City. Working for such a dynamic industry leader has given me a valuable insight into the world of global business, and will undoubtedly improve my credentials when entering the job market. Perhaps more importantly, living and working in NYC has been an irreplaceable experience that has given my life more purpose and direction than ever. New York is a global centre in every aspect, bursting with more culture and opportunity than anyone could hope to capture in a single summer.

Since leaving for the US, I have had the pleasure of helping friends and fellow Blue Coat students to achieve their goal of attending American universities. My hope is that the talented and ambitious pupils of the Blue Coat will continue to take advantage of the enormous opportunities that exist around the world.”

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THE FAMOUS FIVE

The end of the 2015/16 academic year marked the end of a Blue Coat era as we said goodbye to five long serving members of teaching staff. With 144 years of teaching experience between them, their contribution to School life is immense and they will be greatly missed by staff and students alike.

After devoting a significant proportion of their working lives to teaching and inspiring countless numbers of students from across Liverpool, Mrs Julie Beggs, Mr Rod McGreevy, Mr Graham Hicks and Mr Phil Keating are preparing for the next phase of their lives outside of the classroom.

Last but not least, Mr Keith Caulkin will be retiring from teaching to take up a new part-time role in the Development Office. The Development Office will be tapping into Mr Caulkin’s wealth of Blue Coat knowledge and personal connections, stretching back to his time as a student at the School as part of the Class of 1965.

Mrs Julie Beggs Chemistry Start date: 1st September 1985 How would you sum up your time at Blue Coat in three words?

Quality, Challenge, Fun

What are your most memorable Blue Coat moments?

Probably extra-curricular stuff like hockey trips – the boys St. Albans tour in 1987, Amsterdam tours, cricket and hockey tours to Barbados. The father of one current team player actually came on the 1987 tour as a player himself!

Whenever I bump into a past pupil in Liverpool (which happens with increasing regularity as their numbers swell!) the first topic of conversation will be ski trips.

There will be 2,500 Old Blues somewhere in the world who will have been skiing with us!

What will you miss about Blue Coat?

I will miss the students. They are creative, energetic, polite and caring. Of course, I will miss my colleagues and friends but I hope not to be a stranger to the School.

What plans do you have for the future?

Mr Graham Hicks Design Technology Start date: 1st September 1986 How would you sum up your time at Blue Coat in three words?

An unforgettable journey.

What are your most memorable Blue Coat moments?

Although I am retiring I am not stopping work entirely and I am going to do some work for School Improvements Liverpool, but more often than not I am hoping to be found on the golf course when it’s sunny or doing a bit of painting when it’s raining. I will probably produce more paintings than holes in one!

This year we also said goodbye to:

First day induction into the Boarding House as a young, inexperienced Boarding Master.

Accompanying a 6th form trip to St Petersburg and Moscow. Winning Merseyside Year 8 football cup as manager in 1996.

What will you miss about Blue Coat?

The interaction with students, both past and present, which has left me with many special memories. Leaving behind many close friends and colleagues after 30 years service.

What plans do you have for your retirement?

Many people have said that I retired years ago!!!

Put my feet up for a few months, do some travelling then consider getting a part-time job ‘mixing paint’ in B&Q.

Mr Mark Sands, Mr Nick ICT and Croxton, Computing History and Politics

Ms Lynsey Warner, Psychology

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Mrs Christine Usher, Food Technology

Mr Phil Keating Information Technology and Computing Start date: 1st September 1989 How would you sum up your time at Blue Coat in three words?

Difficult to sum up my time in three words, so I don’t think I’ll try. There have been a number of distinct phases during my time. So perhaps with this in mind I’ll go for “Beginning, Middle and End”!

What are your most memorable Blue Coat moments?

Most memorable moments, again difficult to say, I have so many memories. With regard to staff, early in my career I attempted to organise a staff football team. On our first game against Cardinal Heenan at half-time the Headteacher Mr Speller was eagerly awaiting to come on as a substitute. I asked for volunteers to come off and make way for Mr Speller, unfortunately as none were forthcoming I reluctantly put myself forward. Mr Speller duly took up his position as centre forward with his two young sons Tom and James watching dad from the side-lines. Soon a long ball was played forward and Mr Speller advanced with surprising speed for a big man toward the opposition goal. Cardinal Heenan had a sixth former in goal who also advanced to meet the ball, the two met and the sixth former did come off slightly worse, although he did recover to stay in goal for the rest of the game.

Mr Rod McGreevy Geography Start date: 1st September 2001 How would you sum up your time at Blue Coat in three words?

Mr Keith Caulkin Physics Start date: 1st September 1975 How would you sum up your time at Blue Coat in three words?

Gratifying, edifying and inspiring.

What are your most memorable Blue Coat moments?

Many incidences of the answer to the next question! But also the many European cycle tours, hikes to the Lake District, badminton coaching and of course the Oxford Dinner.

Lots of work!

What are your most memorable Blue Coat moments?

Meeting Miss Swift in the Design & Technology Department. I struck gold.

What will you miss about Blue Coat?

“Banter” with the students.

What plans do you have for your retirement?

A road trip around Australia with Mr Wellings.

Your most exotic Geography trip destination?

You can’t beat an overseas trip.....Hilbre Island.

How have you managed to retain your Australian twang whilst surrounded by so many Scousers?

Have I? Not according to my Australian friends I haven’t.

What will you miss about teaching?

The interaction with our students and staff room humour!

Have any physics experiments ever gone radically wrong?

Yes, as some did not work!

We wish each and every one of them all the very best and we hope to see them again in the not too distant future.

www.bluecoatschoolliverpool.org.uk | 17

INTERVIEW: CHRIS WINCHESTER

Interview

Chris Winchester talks ‘The Hobbit’ From Buttons in the 1989 Blue Coat production of Cinderella (above right) to a Hollywood hobbit in Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit trilogy.

When Old Blue Chris Winchester from the Class of 1990 relocated to New Zealand he probably didn’t imagine that he would be f leeing the wrath of a fire breathing dragon, but that is exactly the scenario he was faced with when he stepped on to the set of The Hobbit. We dropped in with Chris to find out more about his close encounter with J R Tolkien’s Middle Earth.

How did you end up being cast as an extra in the film?

The production team had been overwhelmed when thousands of people turned up for an open casting event in Wellington. Due to the crowds they had to close the doors for safety reasons. So no one missed out, the casting team invited people to send in photos.

My hair was very long at the time and I’d just decided to get it all chopped off when my wife saw the casting ad. They were specifically looking for “large hairy men” and “women with character faces”, so we thought what the heck. A couple of days after we had sent in our photographs we received an email from the casting team inviting us in for a costume fitting.

So what happened next?

Just going in to the wardrobe department was amazing. They had hundreds of different pieces of clothing and footwear, all custom made. Every background character was individually put together with a unique look.

How were you transformed into a hobbit?

As the shoot went on, our costumes would be progressively “broken down”. The scenes we did were shot in the correct sequence, so our characters were gradually getting filthier as we survived the dragon attack and fled towards the ruined town of Dale and the Lonely Mountain. To get us properly messed up we’d periodically have to take turns twirling round while members of the art department threw fake mud at us.

How many extras were involved in the production?

I think we had at least two hundred extras there sometimes: it was a strange mix of elves and orcs, all eating lunch in full costume. All the elves had to wear hair nets whenever they were off set, which diluted the mystique a bit! It was a bit weird standing in the coffee queue with Martin Freeman, or watching Orlando Bloom hunting for baked beans. The first time I saw Ian McKellen in full costume as Gandalf though, that was really special. He was just there.

Gandalf. In the tent. Like... Gandalf!

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How long were you in makeup for?

On the big shoot days when there were hundreds of us to process, it could take two or three hours to get everyone through costume and makeup. We’d be shuttled to costume, sign in, get changed, and sit in the queue for an available makeup artist - a bit like being in a doctor’s waiting room at a fancy dress party.

They’d dirty up my hair, face and hands, and then dirty them up a bit more. Initially we were just rather grubby looking, but once we got to the dragon scenes they started to add extra soot and the odd bloody nose.

How long did filming take altogether?

A standard shoot day is twelve hours from when you arrive to when you sign out. The longest day I did was seventeen hours, which was the day we sank the boats trying to escape from the dragon. Most days, most of your time as an extra isn’t actually spent on set at all. The main part of the job is being paid to wait on standby until you might be needed for a scene. One of the Second Assistant Directors would look after us and make sure we had plenty of tea, coffee, water and snacks. Some people would read books, play cards, or chess, or guitars. Or just chat, or sleep!

Although we spent some days working for Peter Jackson, a lot of the time the scenes we shot were with the Second Unit, directed by Andy Serkis who plays

Gollum. Andy’s a very physical director and would get very excited in the action scenes, screaming “DRAGON!” every time we had to dive out of the way.

He made it very easy to get scared. It felt like pandemonium on set sometimes, but it was all very carefully coordinated by the assistant directors, which helped as we had to the same action sequences over and over and over again. Exhausting at times, but great fun.

Different extras were used on different days so that there was a good mix of faces in the crowd. Some weeks I’d be working three or four days; other weeks maybe just one day or not at all. In total I think I did around thirty days on set. Most of that was during the principal photography period, but we came back a year later to do some additional shooting and complete the Lake-Town army scenes for the final film.

The main shoot took 266 days.

It was great that I got to share some of it with my wife Nikky - there’s even a couple of shots where you can just about see us together in the film, if you freeze-frame and squint.

We made many great new friendships in Middle Earth.

Lake-Town became a real community, and we still get together for an annual barbecue and occasional parties.

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STRAIGHT FROM THE ARCHIVE We continue to uncover some fantastic items in our archive, from our first ever Blue Coat magazine published in 1949 to the dietary timetable of 1912, materials which add to the breadth and depth of the School’s rich and diverse history. Here are some of the items we have recently come across.

If you have any items you would like to share with us, from School reports (if you dare) to photographs or magazines, please contact the Development Office on 0151 733 1407 ext. 207 or at development-team@bluecoatschool.org.uk

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Want to find out more about the School’s history? Items dating back to the School’s founding in 1708 are held at Liverpool Central Library. Items such as Bryan Blundell’s accounts, minutes of meetings, and much, much more are available to the public.

To make an appointment please contact Liverpool Record Office on 0151 233 3069.

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WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

As I was approaching the end of my degree I had to start thinking about what I would do after music college. I had said throughout my time at college that I wanted to be a professional performer, but this is very difficult. I had also said that I didn’t want to go into teaching music.

I had applied to study a Masters of Music at RWCMD when I was sent a job advert highlighting the position of a Graduate Music Assistant at Wells Cathedral School, one of five specialist music schools in the UK. This job interested me as it was a way of continuing my training. I applied and was offered a contract.

Shaun, pictured in Year 7 in 2004 dressed in the School’s traditional uniform as part of Founders Day celebrations

Where are they now?

Shaun Rigby, Class of 2011

Since leaving The Blue Coat School in 2011 Old Blue Shaun Rigby has followed his passion for music, a passion which has taken him to the doors of some of the country’s most prestigious music institutions, including the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and Wells Cathedral School.

“I left the School in 2011 with a very comfortable set of GCSE’s and A Levels. However, I decided not to pursue an academic degree, opting instead for a more practical qualification by studying for a Bachelor of Music degree specialising in Percussion, Timpani and Drum Kit at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

I had the most amazing time at RWCMD. I had the privilege of studying under some fantastic tutors including Chris Stock (Principal Percussion, BBC National Orchestra of Wales) and Owen Gunnell (BBC Symphony Orchestra). My timetable didn’t consist of the traditional lectures and seminars, but instead focussed upon instrumental lessons, ensemble rehearsals and public performances.

I was lucky enough to perform in the flagship ensembles of the college including the Symphony Orchestra and Percussion Ensemble. I was also selected to play snare drum for the Symphony Orchestra’s performance of Ravel’s Bolero; words can’t explain how nervous I was before that gig!

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I have been working at Wells Cathedral School since September 2015. It can get quite full on sometimes but overall I am thoroughly enjoying my job. My main duties include supervising the students while they are practicing, offering them ‘mini lessons’ and helping them with difficult passages of music. I am also heavily involved with the percussion department, which is the largest of its kind in the country.

I began looking for further employment at the start of 2016 as a performer and I had auditions for Giffords Circus as a touring musician but was unsuccessful.

I was still performing with various local amateur orchestra’s and brass bands, but not enough that could warrant a freelance performance career.

So, I decided on a whim to go for a percussion teaching job at Clayesmore Prep School in Dorset.

Clayesmore School is set amongst a beautiful Victorian estate that used to be owned by James Ismay, director of The White Star Line and owner of the Titanic (the manor house at the centre was also used to the film the chandelier scene from Only Fools and Horses).

The two previous percussion teachers at the school were also Scousers; Brian Heeley and the late Jan Faulkner, and I was delighted to be offered a job.

The reason I wanted to share this story is because a lot of the news we hear about the arts and music is to do with their being a lack of interest so funding is cut, making it more difficult for those who do enjoy music to take part. My path has taken a slightly different route to what I had planned at school, but my passion for music and my dream to one day perform at the Royal Albert Hall with the Berlin Philharmonic at the Proms is still there. The Blue Coat School allowed me to dream that big and for that I sincerely thank Mr Martin Cook, Mr Simon Emery, Miss Christine Horton and my percussion teachers Tessa Tayler and Joseph Livingstone.

So if there was a message to pass onto the current Blue Coat School students it would be to dream big and to take every opportunity that comes your way; you never know where you might end up.

I am now working at both schools; as a part-time Graduate Music Assistant and Visiting Music Specialist at Wells Cathedral School and as a percussion teacher at Clayesmore School. Not bad really for a boy that Mr Tittershill used to call ‘Drummer Boy’.

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OLD BLUES NEWS

An invitation from the Bluecoat Arts Centre Our friends at the Bluecoat Arts Centre will be celebrating their 300th anniversary in 2017 and preparations are underway to celebrate this momentous occasion.

Thanks to funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Liverpool city centre’s oldest building will be brought to life through My Bluecoat, a fantastic project which will collect archival material about the building’s transition from The Blue Coat School Hospital to the UK’s first arts centre. This material will be available to the public through exhibitions, projects and a specially designed website, enabling visitors to discover more about Bluecoat’s history and its connection with Liverpool. The centre would like to extend a special invitation to our Old Blues community to take part in the project’s planning phase and to hear your thoughts and ideas on various aspects of the project, particularly the website.

If you would like to find out more please visit www.thebluecoat.org.uk/content/heritage or if you would like to get involved please contact the centre directly by emailing Samantha Wilson, their Engagement Coordinator at samantha.w.@thebluecoat.org.uk or on 0151 702 7768 ext. 199.

Royal Society’s Summer Show We were delighted to discover that three Old Blues were involved in this year’s prestigious Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition, described by organisers as “a free festival of visionary science and technology”. The exhibition, opened by Professor Brian Cox, saw twenty-two exhibitors present their cutting edge research and discoveries on a wide variety of topics from the future of weather-forecasting to cleaning up space junk.

Helen Johnson from the Class of 2008

Visitors seeking to learn about the formation and evolution of galaxies could take a fascinating virtual reality tour of the cosmos or build their own Galaxy with help from Old Blue from the Class of 2008 and PhD student Helen Johnson and her colleagues from the Durham Institute for Computational Cosmology.

PhD student Mark Johnson from the Class of 2011 introduced visitors to the complex world of antimatter and provided a great insight into a number of experiments that are being conducted at CERN. Science Ceilidh’s Lewis Hou from the Class of 2008 was also in action demonstrating the band’s unique and extremely creative talent of teaching science through music.

Mark Johnson from the Class of 2011

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Lee Tsang’s Sinfonia UK Collective orchestra head north

The Blue Coat School takes centre stage

Last summer you may remember we caught up with Newcastle University Music Lecturer Dr Lee Tsang from the Class of 1992 as he prepared to take his thirteen piece orchestra Sinfonia UK Collective on a UK and Canadian tour. As a marker of the tour’s success the Orchestra were recorded by multi-Grammy Award winner Dixon van Winkle, considered by many as the world’s most sought after recording engineer, who has worked with the likes of Paul McCartney and Frank Sinatra. Building on last summer’s success, Sinfonia UK Collective will make its Edinburgh Festival debut this year, introducing audiences to their “genre-busting approach” that connects ancient, folk and classical music. Plans are already in the pipeline for Lee’s orchestra to tour the Canadian subarctic and Arctic Circle in 2017, thanks to a collaboration with David Braid, the composer behind the new film ‘ Born to be Blue’.

Fans of the award winning BBC show Peaky Blinders may have recognised a number of Liverpool locations during the course of season three.

Liverpool audiences will next get a chance to hear the orchestra’s latest exciting work during a free special daytime workshop and free evening performance at the Open Eye Gallery, Mann Island on 19 May 2017, as part of the Liverpool Light Festival.

Peaky Blinders

For one week in November The Blue Coat School Boardroom and Chapel were magically transformed back in time to the 1920s, for the arrival of the show’s notorious gangsters, the Shelby family. In the days leading up to filming elaborate and painstaking work was undertaken to erase all the tell-tale traces of the twenty first century from the Grade II* listed building.

Staff and students were delighted to catch a glimpse of the show’s stars including Hollywood actor Cillian Murphy and Helen McCrory.

Lavish period detail also extended outside the Clock Tower entrance with a final scene depicting the departure of the Shelby family in a number of pristine 1920s vintage cars. The decision by the BBC to use the Blue Coat for the location shots of its prestigious drama series is a fitting tribute our School’s iconic buildings.

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OLD BLUES

Introducing our oldest known Old Blue Kendrick Rannard At the start of the spring term the Development Office and members of the Liverpool Blue Coat Old Blues Association, had the privilege of meeting our oldest known Old Blue, Kendrick Rannard.

Kendrick, who celebrated his 100th birthday in December 2015, attended the School as a boarder from 1924 to 1931 along with his brother Ronald, and sisters Mona and Dorothy.

Old Blue Kendrick Rannard from the Class of 1931 visits the School

Returning to the School with his two daughters and granddaughter, Kendrick shared many fond memories as he retraced his steps around the School. On seeing the Chapel’s organ Kendrick was reminded of the many hours he enjoyed listening to staff and students demonstrate their musical talents. Sadly for the school boy, the length of Kendrick’s legs prevented him from taking up the instrument as he was unable to successfully reach the instrument’s many pedals!

Not to be put off by his short comings, as a member of The Blue Coat School band, Kendrick and his fellow bandmates would regularly entertain passengers on the Welsh coast cruise liners. Money raised from the concerts would then be put aside by the School’s music teacher, with band members receiving their share once they had completed their Blue Coat education.

The School Admissions Book from 1924 showing Kendrick starting at the School

Back to the present and after a thoroughly good catch-up over a hearty lunch Kendrick was presented with an array of Blue Coat memorabilia. When asked what the secret to a long life is, Kendrick instinctively remarked “red wine”.

The School would certainly like to raise a glass in toast to a charming Old Blue.

Kendrick was an enthusiastic member of The Blue Coat School band

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Going Global: Francesca Bird, Class of 2012 shares the highs and lows of her nursing placement in Uganda

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WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

“Every day thousands of people die unnecessarily from preventable diseases, diseases that in the UK we know how to cure or even prevent. In Uganda 1 woman for every 100 will die during child birth yet there are less than 3 doctors per 100,000 people on average.

This is why I chose to go to Uganda as part of my nursing degree. It opened my eyes to so much more than I could have ever imagined. I have experienced things I would never have experienced here and seen and been involved in some heart breaking challenges as well as some amazing ones.

I went out with a goal to try to help as many people as possible and make a difference to the local peoples’ lives however I think they made as much, if not more, of an impact on mine.

I learnt so much not only to help me with my nursing career, but also about different cultures, and developed my communication skills and my ability to cope under stressful and difficult situations.

We are so lucky with the NHS in the UK and take for granted the amount of resources, treatments and expertise that are so easily at our disposal. Being at a hospital in Uganda where they didn’t even have dressings for women after c sections was tough. So many people suffer for things that simply wouldn’t be an issue if they were in the UK. Not being able to do everything for patients out there simply because they didn’t have it or they ran out of the medications essential for survival was one of the toughest things. I went in to nursing as a career to help people yet I felt helpless in Uganda. However, patients were so grateful for even the smallest gestures to provide comfort in their pain.”

“

Living and working abroad provides a wide variety of new and exciting opportunities as well as a fresh insight into a country and its culture you could never gain as a tourist. For second year Liverpool John Moores University nursing student Francesca Bird from the Class of 2012, a four week placement located six hours from the busy streets of the Ugandan capital Kampala, proved to be an extremely eye opening yet rewarding experience, which involved delivering four babies and providing healthcare to some of the country’s most remote communities.

As well as working in a hospital setting I also worked with a community outreach programme on a weekly basis. We took a bus which had been converted to some of the most remote areas in the mountains where access to healthcare was almost none existent. There we provided HIV testing and counselling, cancer screenings, offered contraception and family planning advice and conducted general health checks such as blood sugar testing and blood pressures. If any tests were positive a plan was put in place to ensure the patient could access to the correct treatment and help.

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WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

When Callum Speirs is not tutoring primary school pupils in Warrington he can be found on the sports fields of Lancaster University as an “Ultimate” coach – one of the latest and most popular sporting activities to have emerged in recent years.

“ Where are they now?

Callum Speirs, Class of 2011

Callum pictured with his Great Britain Under 23 Mixed Team teammates, pictured on the far left of the bottom row

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This year I was on the live streaming film crew for the World Ultimate Championships 2016 in London and next year I am aiming to get onto the Great Britain Beach Ultimate team.

Away from Ultimate I teach as a peripatetic Gospel Choir tutor in primary schools in Warrington, working for the Accent Music Hub and I run two adult community choirs. I also run Ultimate clubs in three primary schools and I am employed to coach Ultimate at the University of Central Lancashire.”

“

Callum, pictured on the right, playing Ultimate

“I left the Blue Coat School in 2011 and went to the University of York to study Music. At University, I started playing Ultimate, a seven a side team sport played with a f lying disc.

I competed for York University at British Universities and Colleges Sport regionals and nationals, and then after graduating was selected for the Great Britain under 23 mixed team. We competed at the 2015 World under 23 Ultimate Championships and finished 5th, defeating some of the larger teams, such as Australia and Japan.

Ultimate is a non-contact, self-refereed team sport played with a f lying disc.

Two teams of seven players compete on a playing field about the same length as a football field, but narrower. At each end of the playing field there is an end zone.

Each team defends one endzone.

A number of Old Blues returned to the School in 2015/16 to help inspire our current students with regard to future career paths and we are grateful to everyone who took the time to come in and speak to our students.

As of September 2016 Ms Lynette Holland’s role as Assistant Headteacher will be to spearhead Personal Development and Information, Advice and Guidance. Ms Holland is keen to build on our careers offering to date, particularly by expanding our careers activities to target all Key Stages, so that our younger students have as much access to careers advice as our older students.

Here are ways in which you can help: Delivering a careers talk as part of our 2016/17 Inspiring Futures Careers Talks.

Areas we would particularly appreciate support in are: • Art • Dentistry • Engineering • Financial management • Journalism • Languages • Law • Medicine • Music • Politics and history • PR/ advertising/ marketing • Psychology • Teaching • Theatre production • Veterinary science Volunteering to help give our students University practice interviews. Areas that would be particularly helpful are: • Dentistry • Humanities • Medicine • Oxbridge • Veterinary Science

“ “We are incredibly grateful to our Old Blues who are willing to share their time and expertise by inspiring our current students on potential career paths. Whether you are at University, are starting out in your career, have worked towards a senior position or perhaps own your own business, your advice and guidance is invaluable. We hope many of you will get involved in 2016/17 by taking part in our Inspiring Futures careers talks, helping with university practice interviews or volunteering at our annual Careers Fair.”

Ms Lynette Holland, Assistant Headteacher, Personal Development and Information, Advice and Guidance

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Inspiring Futures 2016/17 – can you help inspire our students?

Old Blue Helen Brown from the Class of 1999, pictured with Mr Keith Caulkin after speaking to students about a career in journalism

Our annual Careers Fair will be taking place on Thursday 2nd March 2017. As part of this evening we hold mini careers talks as well as having a market place which gives students the opportunity to speak to a number of Universities as well as local and national companies.

If you are interested in getting involved please get in touch with the Development Office on 0151 733 1407 ext 207 or at development-team@bluecoatschool.org.uk

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LIVERPOOL BLUE COAT OLD BLUES ASSOCIATION

The Liverpool Blue Coat Old Blues Association (formerly The Brotherly Society) was founded in 1838 with the principle objective of assisting, advising and promoting the wellbeing of the boys who attended the Liverpool Blue Coat School. Throughout its history the Association has supported the School and its current and former students, and this support continues today.

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Members of the Association at a quarterly meeting

“It is pleasing that our new gender-neutral name, the Liverpool Blue Coat Old Blues’ Association (LBCOBA), is now being used and we are sponsoring for another year Jennifer Graham, an Old Blue, in the school’s Development Office.

Many Old Blues have returned to school throughout the previous year to give careers talks. It has been a pleasure for me to introduce these past students as I had taught many of them. The talks have been informative, most interesting and they have inspired many of our students to cement their hopes in a particular profession.

On a personal note, I will be retiring from teaching Physics at the Blue Coat School in July 2016, after 41 years of being a member of staff, having enjoyed every year and seen many changes whilst ‘being in harness’! However I will not be leaving the Blue Coat, but will be working part-time in the forthcoming academic year in the Development Office, writing UCAS references, preparing Year 11 and sixth form physics students for the national Physics Olympiad competitions and filling in for any absences of teachers of physics! Quite a varied and f lexible commitment which should prove interesting and stimulating. I value the support of a strong LBCOBA committee, which provides thorough secretarial assistance, meticulous financial accounting and a willing help in all aspects of the Association.”

Mr Keith Caulkin, President

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At the Annual General Meeting on 10th March 2016, the following officials were elected to the Association: President: Keith Caulkin Vice-President: Keith Ashley Treasurer: Stan Livingston Secretary: Tony Salmon Trustees: Keith Ashley, Keith Caulkin, Steve Elliott, Charles Hodgson, Stan Livingston, Richard Morris, Les Page, Ron Richardson & Frank Towler.

Advisory Committee Members: John Barker, Colin Hanson, Frank Irwin, Steve Jamieson, Ray Livingston, Mike Pennington, Tony Salmon, Debbie Silcock, & Sandy Tittershill.

Upcoming Meetings • Quarterly members’ meeting: Thursday 8th September 2016 at 7.30pm in the Blundell Suite at the School (enter via clock tower entrance). Tea, coffee & biscuits will be available from 7pm.

• Quarterly members’ meeting: Date to be confirmed in December 2016 at 8pm in the school dining hall (enter via staff car park). Christmas dinner will be served at 7pm.

• Annual General Meeting: Thursday 9th March 2017 at 7.30pm in the School (room to be confirmed). Hot pot supper will be available from 6.45pm.

The Blue Coat School is very grateful to the Liverpool Blue Coat Old Blues’ Association for their continued support by continuing to contribute financially to our Development Office as well as their £3,000 contribution to our new Library Appeal.

1708 SOCIETY

The 1708 Society: remembering our past, supporting our future

A gift in your Will can achieve great things at the School. All bequests, of whatever size, will benefit the School and our current and future students.

The 1708 Society has been named after the year the School was founded thanks to the philanthropy of our Founders Bryan Blundell and Reverend Robert Styth.

We are grateful to this day for our founders’ inspiring vision and we think it fitting that we remember them through this society, which will enable us to thank those who support the School today.

We understand that many prefer making a Will to remain a private matter. Of course, we respect this and can guarantee your anonymity. On the other hand, the receipt of a legacy gift is always tinged with sadness but slightly less so if we have had a chance to say thank you during your lifetime. We therefore encourage anyone who intends to leave a gift to the School in their Will to please let us know of your intentions.

If you tell us that you plan to make a bequest to the School you will automatically become a member of the Society and will be invited every other year with your spouse or partner for a special lunch in the company of

the Headteacher and other key representatives from the School community. This will be an opportunity for us to thank you for your support and to keep you updated with our current plans. Members may also be listed in our annual Giving Report and will also have their names added to a special 1708 Society register which will be displayed in the School.

If you have already included The Blue Coat School in your Will we would be pleased to recognise your support by making you a Founding Member of the Society. To tell us your intentions, or to find out more about leaving a gift in your Will, please contact Cat Gransden, our Director of Development at c.gransden@bluecoatschool.org.uk or on 0151 733 1407 ext 207

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“

This year we will be launching the 1708 Society – our way to recognise and thank during their lifetime those who have made a legacy in their Will in favour of The Blue Coat School.

“I was admitted to the School as a boarder in the 1970s. The School provided me with the environment to develop and fulfil my potential and I would like my experience to be enjoyed by future students.”

Old Blue & Legacy Pledger

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THE BLUE COAT SCHOOL Development Office, The Blue Coat School, Church Road, Wavertree, Liverpool, L15 9EE Tel: 0151 733 1407 ext 207 Email: development-team@bluecoatschool.org.uk www.bluecoatschoolliverpool.org.uk ‘non sibi sed omnibus’ ‘not for oneself but for all’

/bluecoatschoololdblues @LiverpoolBCS