The Old Mancunian
Autumn 2022 EDITION 60
Keeping Old Boys throughout the world in touch with MGS
• 1965 The Queen’s Visit and The Mason Building • Where are they now? Alan Pickwick (Staff 75-13) • The High Master
WE ARE APPROACHING A DECADE SINCE OUR INCREDIBLE QUINCENTENARY DINNER AT LANCASHIRE CRICKET CLUB. MARK 2025 IN YOUR DIARY – THE YEAR OF OUR NEXT MEGA REUNION.
From the Director of Development
Left: Old Boys’ Dinner 2021
Put Saturday 22 November 2025 in your diary! This will be 10 years on from the incredible evening at Lancashire Cricket Club, when we celebrated the School’s 500th anniversary, and an appropriate time for our next mega reunion. Please do contact me if you have ideas about potential Senior and Junior Stewards for the evening. The 2022 Reunion Dinner returned to the School in May after a three year hiatus. The Memorial Hall was full of OMs from every decade as we looked to accommodate all who had missed their specific reunion in recent years. Bob Fort (64-72), Adrian Bull MBE (73-80), and Paul Sutton (85-92), represented their respective MGS eras with excellent after dinner speeches. The 217th Old Boys’ Dinner and Alumni Awards will be held in the Memorial Hall on the evening of 19 November 2022. The Gatley Run will take place on the same day at 2pm – time to start your training ...
Simon Jones (88-95) Director of Development 0161 224 7201 ext 240 or s.jones@mgs.org
Faisal Islam (87-94) was our Junior Steward in 2015. Who would you like to be Junior Steward in 2025?
Upcoming . events ..
g l upcomin l a f o t s A li d n be foun a c s t n e v e ck cover on the ba ion dit of this e of TOM.
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A snapshot of the wide variety of OM events that take place throughout the year ...
Alumni Award Nominations 2022 We will recognise the achievements of Old Mancunians from the past 12 months at our annual Alumni Awards as part of the Old Boys’ Dinner in November.
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Information about how to nominate OMs for the 2022 awards can be found on our website mgs.org/alumniawards Please take the time to nominate an OM who deserves such an accolade.
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If you have any queries about the awards please email oldboys@mgs.org Professor Alan Garner (46-53) was awarded an Old Mancunian lifetime achievement award last year. Please nominate who you would like to see win an Alumni Award.
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Closing date for nominations is Friday 30 September.
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Above: Professor Alan Garner (46-53)
Left: 1-4 OM Reunion, May 2022 5 Founders Day 2022 6 JSOC Lunch, March 2022 7 Stuart Dale match, April 2022 8 ISOC Dinner, March 2022 9 OM Sports & Chess, April 2022 10 New York Pub Evening, March 2022
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Work Experience One of the many areas of school affected by the Covid-19 pandemic has been the postponement of in-person work experience, an activity crucial in aiding students with their university applications, CVs and future careers. Since June, over 30 Year 12 students have undertaken work experience within real working environments thanks to the support and connections of Old Mancunians. We’ve organised student placements in some of the region’s hospitals, tech and finance companies, law firms and recruitment agencies as well as two placements down in Cambridge which have left lasting impacts on our students. Feedback from our students ..
‘There’s no better way to gain an insight into the medical profession, other than spending a week in a hospital and shadowing different doctors, if you are lucky enough and get the opportunity, make the most of it, it’s an amazing experience.’ ‘It gave me a really good idea about what a job in cyber security would entail, the type of work they do, the type of qualifications and skills I would need and an understanding of the office environment.’ ‘This work experience exceeded my expectations, it has allowed me to make connections in an industry which would have been impossible for me to build alone and has developed my understanding of how companies are run, from small start-ups to larger businesses.’
Since the last edition of TOM we have been able to plan our programme of careers events for the 2022-23 academic year, including careers evenings with industry professionals, mock medical interviews and a careers fair on Thursday 9th February. We are also seeking OMs to come and deliver bespoke careers talks throughout the year to educate our students on various career paths. Please contact Lauren Tidey l.tidey@mgs.org if you are able to help with any of our career initiatives. You can also support students directly through the mentoring scheme on MGS Global Connect mgsglobal connect.org
Feedback from employers ...
‘It was a privilege to supervise the boys during their week of work experience. Their enthusiasm, interest and application was a credit to the school and to themselves.’ Stuart Wilson (74-81), Wythenshawe Hospital
‘Having keen, intelligent students visit us was rewarding and a chance to show off what we do.’ Neil Taylor (69-76), Entrust, Cambridge
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all those OMs who have supported the careers programme and continue to do so.
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From our donors ...
Bursary Telethon 2022 We are delighted to report that The School’s fourth Bursary Telethon raised over £350,000 in July as a team of young OMs once again promoted the School’s regular giving programme. We are grateful that Paul Ormerod (61-68) covered the costs associated with the telethon, to ensure that any new donations benefit bursary recipients directly. Significant thanks must also go to Richard Donner (72-79) who incentivised new donors with an element of matched giving. The cumulative financial support from regular gifts is vital, for it provides the Trustees and Governors with the confidence to maintain our current number of bursaries each year whilst we build up our funds for the future. We are obliged to remind all our donors that Gift Aid regulations require you to let us know if you no longer pay sufficient tax on income and/or capital gains. Please notify any changes to the Development Office.
‘Access to an MGS education should not be limited by whether parents can afford to send their son to the school. I felt it was important to give something back to the school that provided me with the skill set and network that I have benefited from (and continue to benefit from), so that other boys from similar socioeconomic backgrounds as myself are given the same opportunities.’ Tom Grant (04-11)
‘MGS is a wonderful school where I had an incredible seven years. I would like to contribute so as many kids as possible can have the opportunity I was lucky enough to have.’ Alex Lee (04-11)
Our fourth Bursary Telethon raised over
£350,000
‘I never knew who was on a bursary at MGS – I was just glad that I went to a school which was open to boys from all backgrounds. I am delighted to include the Bursary Fund among my chosen charities.’ Oliver Salt (04-11)
‘I have recently started making a regular donation to the MGS Bursary Fund. Each generation has benefited from the generosity of those who have gone before them – and I feel it is now my turn.’ Jimmy Campbell (04-11)
A team of young OMs once again promoted the School’s regular giving programme.
Left: Young OMS promoted the School’s regular giving programme.
From the High Master Right: Photograph credit John Bitton (60-67)
‘I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service’ ... It was with great sadness that we heard the news of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and it subtly changed the way we all saw the start of this school year. In assemblies we were able to reflect on the contributions she had made to our nation throughout her life, and hopefully instil in pupils something of her dedication to the service of others. What was said to boys revolved around the famous speech she gave on her 21st birthday, in which she said ‘I declare before you all that my whole life whether it be long or short shall be devoted to your service’. In our aims we say we want our pupils to develop a a true sense of service to their communities, I can think of no better role model for them than Queen Elizabeth II.
drawn up by Mr Stone —my notes covered about twenty-six sides. Together with the Vice-Captains, I went over every possible relevant detail (several times) until we knew just where everyone was supposed to be throughout the whole day. We finally emerged ashen and exhausted.’
In reception we put together a small exhibition of items from the Queen’s visit to MGS in 1965. This was just one of more than 21,000 engagements she carried out over the course of her reign. This occasion was to mark our 450th anniversary and the focus of the visit was the laying of a foundation stone for the Sixth Form block (now known as the Mason building). We are fortunate to have a very detailed record of the visit, some of which is presented in an article prepared for this edition of TOM. One of my favourite archival items from the visit is a serious of behind the scenes photographs taken by boys. One in particular stands out, a boy is holding a sign offering for sale one of the cars used by the Royal Party.
The day after the Queen died, it was great to hear Old Mancunian Professor Schaefer (58-65) featuring in an interview on BBC Radio Manchester, in which he spoke in great detail about his memories of the Royal Visit and the impact it had upon him and his fellow classmates on that particular day, and in the years after.
The School Captain, Stephen Schaefer, recounted the huge amount of work that was required to plan the visit: ‘With a week to go final decisions had only just been made. I spent two complete days planning the movements of the prefects to fit in with the very impressive scheme
Dr Martin Boulton (84-86) High Master
Just across from the exhibit in reception is the board detailing the very first appeal after the MGS Trust was set up. There is a picture of the then Prince Charles who became and remains the Patron of the Trust. His assistance in setting up the trust and his continuing support over the course of the last two decades is something that was are immensely grateful for and does, I think, indicate that a dedication to service is something that will feature very prominently in his reign. Vivat rex.
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From the Archive Left: Her Majesty laying the foundation stone of the Mason Building during her visit to MGS in 1965
The Queen’s Visit and The Mason Building, 1965 As 2022 saw the celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, we decided to look back to a significant year in MGS history. The Queen’s visit in March 1965 was part of the School’s 450th anniversary celebrations. As would be expected, every aspect of the day had to be planned with minute attention to detail, from catering, invitations and seating, to plans for wet weather and press coverage. There were a number of rehearsals, with different elements of the day practised ahead of time. The day itself presented a busy programme for the Queen, with a celebratory masque, unveiling of the coat of arms in the memorial hall, visits to the art hall, gym, swimming pool and workshops and laying of the foundation stone in the sixth form block. However, 1965 was not only memorable for the sight of Her Majesty walking down the main drive. The year also saw the construction of a significant extension, now known as the Mason Building. It originally housed the Sixth Form centre, and was part of Peter Mason’s vision to distinguish the Sixth Form from the rest of the School and prepare boys for University. Initially paid for with £30,000 Foundation capital and a £90,000 bank loan, the Governors launched a major appeal to pay back these monies. The appeal was successful, and funded repayment of the debt with contributions from Governors, staff, parents, boys and gifts from commerce and industry. The directors of Marks and Spencer gave £50,000 towards the building costs.
the MGS archive these images of the extension on the day of the royal visit.
On the day the Queen visited, the building was still under construction and she laid the foundation stone. However, the official photographs carefully avoid including the half-finished building and the crane looming behind it, but pupils took more candid shots. John Bitton (60-67) sent
The building switched from a Sixth Form block to housing the Politics and Modern Languages departments in 1995. The ground floor contained a dedicated language laboratory. The building was re-named the ‘Mason Building’ at this point, in honour of Peter Mason, and the Sixth Form moved to the Pavilion. Then in 2006, the Junior Library moved to the ground floor of the building to sit alongside the Paton Library, and was re-named the Garner Library in honour of Alan Garner (46-53).
Below left: The Mason Building during construction
Rachel Kneale School Archivist, ext 361, archives@mgs.org
Right: (from left) Maths Challenge 2022 entrants; William Z, Highly Commended in the MEM Challenge
The School today ISFA U13 Cup Final 2022 Manchester Grammar School and Dulwich College went head to head in the ISFA U13 Cup final at Burton Albion FC, in March 2022. This was only the second occasion in our history that the U13s have made it through to the final of this prestigious competition. This match saw a very strong Dulwich College team eventually win 3-0, despite the tireless effort of the MGS U13s to hold the opposition back, and some very strong defence! Captain Freddie M commented: ‘We have great team spirit, and we never gave up’.
England Rugby Above: (from top) ISFA U13 Cup Final; U18s England Rugby player Ben Motamed Below: (from left) Music Maestro Mason W, NYMT performers (L-R) Oliver L, Joe B-S, Toby J, Jake B-S
Congratulations to recent leaver Ben Motamed who has been selected to play for U18s England Rugby! Ben has also been awarded a Senior Academy University Contract, which will allow him to play for Sale Sharks alongside his university studies. Ben commented on his passion for the sport, saying: ‘I enjoy the team environment and the reward of seeing my improvements year upon year after lots of hard work, whether that be in the gym, when doing analysis or out on the training pitch’. Best of luck Ben for all your upcoming training and your future career in Rugby!
Maths Challenges 2022 Congratulations to all our pupils who competed in Maths competitions. Year 13 pupils entered the Liverpool Maths Open Challenge with some fantastic results – Michael Zhou was awarded Second prize, Zak Scorah received Third prize and Mikael Bashir and Raem H achieved Highly Commended. A special mention to William Z who was in Year 6, at the time of writing, and received Highly Commended in the MEM Challenge, which is usually aimed for pupils in Years 7 and 8 in Senior School. Congratulations to everyone for their hard work and determination which led them to achieve some very impressive results!
Music Maestro Congratulations to year 9 pupil Mason W who was awarded high Distinction marks for both Grade 8 Violin and Piano, demonstrating his commitment to music alongside his academic study at MGS! Mason commented: ‘I started experiencing music when I was 4 and I started learning the piano. After a year of piano lessons, music became a hobby and I decided to learn another instrument. Over the years, me and my family have moved through different countries and experienced music in different places and my passion for music grew’.
National Youth Music Theatre programme Congratulations to four of our pupils who were accepted onto the National Youth Music Theatre Summer programme – Toby J, Oliver L, Joe B-S from Year 13 and Jake B-S from Year 11. Jake commented: ‘For me, there is no better feeling than standing on stage under the glare of the lights, the whole auditorium listening, with some of your best friends, and performing a song, dance, or scene’. Well done to all our talented performers!
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Where are they now?
Alan Pickwick (Staff 75-13) Boredom in Retirement – You Must Be Joking! I retired at age 65 on the last day of August 2013. The first day of September did seem a little unreal – the end of 42 years of teaching Physics, the last 38 at MGS. I set the alarm for 9 o’clock and Radio 4. No more wheels rolling at 7:25. The first few days of September were spent catching up with home jobs – then what to do? Half a life-time ago in January 1961, my father passed away. Later that year a family friend and local electrician asked me to help rig the stage for Urmston Amateur Operatic Society’s production of South Pacific. I went backstage and I was hooked! Not on the acting but on the tech. My father had been an engineer, so it was just a natural thing to do and later a natural path into physics. In retirement I have just expanded my work with the society. Each year we produce a main musical and a pantomime in our 300-seat venue and a junior
musical in our 150-seat venue. And I have been a member since the 70s and Honorary Treasurer since 1973 – there is always plenty to plan for. A work colleague of my father’s introduced me to astronomy and I have continued this life-long interest. Working in outreach in my retirement I have been to Armenia, Indonesia, Portugal, Romania and Thailand, teaching teachers about astronomy. For meetings of the International Astronomical Union I have visited Hawaii, Warsaw and Vienna. I was going to go to South Korea this year but the Covid restrictions were too problematic, so instead I went to the Edinburgh Festival for nine days! I met two OMs who were performing one-man shows – Prof Tom Solomon’s ‘Covid for Kids’ and Chris Turner’s ‘Rap God’. And I had afternoon tea with Cleodie McKinnon, widow of Alexander who was our Head of Chemistry and Celia Bass, widow of Bryan who was our Head of English, both in the 1970s and early 80s. Cleodie also taught English and worked in the bookshop. I attend the majority of OM events in Manchester – lunches and dinners – I wish more of you would! And I watch the internet for MGS artefacts. The most poignant find has been a Late Pass for a pupil from Eccles in the 1930s. His timeline ends over Germany in 1944. I was very involved with computing at MGS and have continued my interest by serving as Secretary of the Computer Conservation Group in the North West. My predecessors build the replica of the Baby Computer that can be seen working in the Manchester Museum of Science and Industry. The original was built in the University in 1948 and was the beginning of the line that leads to all modern computers. Yet another Manchester first! In the next few months I will be developing plans for Urmston Little Theatre, to be built on Urmston Musical Theatre’s rehearsal site in Penny Bridge Lane. Never a dull moment!
Above: Alan (far right) Below: Alan now
alan_c_ pickwick@ btinternet.com
OM Communications
Right: The title of a legal mortgage document refering to the School as ‘the Free School of Manchester’, 1771
What’s in a name? The Curious History of the School Name Although the precise name of their school is perhaps something which most pupils of MGS (as it is now most commonly called) would lose little sleep over, it is actually a subject with important historical ramifications and a fascinating – if somewhat elusive and confusing – chronology. Pictured above right, for example, is the title of a legal mortgage document dating from 1771, addressed to the school Trustees from the High Master at the time, Charles Lawson, which clearly refers to the school as ‘the Free School of Manchester’, with no mention of the crucial word ‘Grammar’, (if the use of abbreviations were as popular in the mid-18th century as they are in the early 21st, the school would perhaps have been informally known as FSM, or perhaps MFS!). To read the rest of the article, please scan the QR code.
A reminder about ‘MGS Life’, our new digital archive website ... ... which has been launched to share documents, photographs and other material from the School Archive digitally. Current news stories about MGS pupils feature alongside research, digitised images/plans and documents, and there are various categories to facilitate easy browsing. ‘It is quite fascinating to read some of the early material, and I look forward to spending many happy hours remembering half-forgotten events and people.’ D. Michael Smith (47-55) Please scan the QR code to browse the website.
Cambridge Greek Play 2022 After revisiting past glories at the Greek Play in 2019, Gordon Davies (83-90) is planning to attend the 2022 Cambridge Greek Play, a double bill of ‘The Persians’ and ‘Cyclops’. Tickets are now available to book online. Gordon Davies (83-90) and Nick Munday (79-09TS) are attending, if you wish to join them for refreshments afterwards please see the details below. • Saturday 22 October 2022, 2:30pm matinee performance of ‘The Persians’ and ‘Cyclops’ at the Cambridge Arts Theatre • Post-performance drinks and food in The Eagle pub Contact Gordon Davies on 0796 7978854 or email gordon_n_davies@yahoo.com
Staff Appreciations We would like to take the time to say farewell to our long-standing members of staff who have left MGS at the end of the 2021-22 academic year. Rachel Williams, Andy Hunter and Rick Kelly have contributed a combined total of over 80 years of teaching at MGS, a remarkable achievement, and we wish them the very best in their futures beyond the school. Below is the full list of recent leaving members of staff: Eleonora Ciufini Languages Andy Hunter Mathematics Rick Kelly Politics Jess Lloyd PA to HM Charlotte Mazin Languages Tracy Neild Junior School Martin Smedley Biology Alice Thornton Economics Rachel Williams Classics
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Back ‘Em or Sack ‘Em In the wake of the recent confidence vote at Westminster, Rick Kelly reflects on the other Tory leadership challenges he has witnessed while at MGS. ‘She’s gone!’, bellowed the great Rod Martin, as he barged into my Politics class on that cold November morning in 1990. At which point, Rod blew his nose, turned round, and headed off down the stairs, much to the bewilderment of everyone in the room.
In memoriam
Since the last issue we have been advised of the recent deaths of the following OMs. We would welcome offers to supply brief obituaries or memories for ‘Ulula’.
Obituaries Obituaries are posted on the In Memoriam page of the School website and on MGS Global Connect. If you would like to advise us of a death, please email Lauren Tidey at oldboys@mgs.org
To read the full article, please scan the QR code to find the document attached in a folder on MGS Global Connect.
amazon.co.uk
Gift Aid We are grateful to the significant number of Old Boys who donate regularly to the Bursary Fund. We are obliged to remind you that Gift Aid regulations require you to let us know if you no longer pay sufficient tax on income and/or capital gains. Please notify any changes to the Development Office.
Many of us shop online, and by using the amazon. co.uk website through the icon link on the School’s own website (mgs.org ) 0.5 percent of the net purchase price of eligible purchases will be automatically given for the direct benefit of the Bursary Fund at no extra cost to you. You can also link to us through the Amazon app ... - Download the Amazon app - Select the ‘Main Menu’ ( ), scroll to select ‘Settings’ - Scroll to select ‘AmazonSmile’ - Search for ‘The Manchester Grammar School Foundation’ and select this as your chosen charity
Anthony J Binns............................. 1974-81 Philip C Boothman......................... 1964-71 Jonathan P Bradburn..................... 1982-89 Philip M Brazier.............................. 1970-77 Robert A Brierley........................... 1944-49 Kenneth Chapman........................ 1956-62 Neville Critchley............ 1941-47 & 1958-65TS Stanley Goodall.. ........................... 1953-59 Brian N Green............................... 1945-52 Ian Hunsley.................................. 1956-63 Vivian Y Labaton. . .......................... 1944-46 Alan S Lee.................................... 1958-65 John S Middleton.......................... 1940-45 Donald E Montague. . ..................... 1946-53 Dylan M Morris Roberts.................. 2001-08 John P Mumford........................... 1944-51 John Owen.................................. 1955-62 Nicholas Rawson.. .......................... 1976-77 Anthony Redford. . ......................... 1948-54 Neil B Saville................................. 1950-57 Donald A Seanor........................... 1945-54 George M Smith............................ 1958-64 Frank (Joe) Watson. ..................... 1955-65TS Mark Whittaker.. ............................. 1971-78 Donald Wild................................. 1949-54 Dean G Wilde............................... 1941-46 Roger F Woodcock ....................... 1942-47 David J Yarwood........................... 1944-48 Robert N Ziff................................. 1963-70 TS
Teaching Staff
… V i s i t u s and
u to come We invite yo school via the visit us in Office. We look Development seeing you soon. forward to touch Please get inat ys bo via old org oldboys@mgs.
Far left: Rick Kelly with a member of his first ever form, Matthew Walton (79-86) who studied A Level Politics before continuing his study of Politics at Brunel and other US universities. Matt’s sons, Isaac and Eli, are currently MGS pupils. Left: It was great to receive this image from the aforementioned Matthew Walton (79-86). Matthew was in Rick Kelly’s form 1984-86 and, after scoring A in Politics, went on to study Politics and History at Brunel. As part of that degree, he had an internship in DC which led to this photo.
Forthcoming Events 2022/23 Dates and times of events are subject to change. Full details and updates about OM events can be found at mgs.org Some events are still in the planning phase. Please save the following dates ... OM Luncheon Club at MGS Thursday 29 September 12:30pm-3:00pm London Pub Night Thursday 3 November The Cheshire Cheese Pub from 6:00pm Business Class Wednesday 9 November MGS Memorial Hall 6:30pm Old Boys’ Dinner Saturday 19 November at MGS from 6:00pm The Gatley Run Saturday 19 November at MGS 2:00pm Class of 2022 A-Level Certificates & Drinks Thursday 5 January at MGS 4:00pm-6:00pm
Get in touch ... OM Sports Day Friday 31 March at MGS 1:00pm-5:00pm
Music & Drama events
OM Chess Match Friday 31 March at MGS 2:00pm-5:00pm
Please visit the MGS website mgs.org to view upcoming events. All OMs are always very welcome and tickets are free of charge.
Reunion Dinner Saturday 6 May at MGS 12:00pm-10:00pm
Christmas Concert Monday 12 December at MGS 6:30pm
MCC Cricket Friday 19 May at MGS
‘Pink Mist ‘ Monday 10 October 4pm and Wednesday 12 October at MGS 7:00pm
OM Luncheon Club Friday 19 May at MGS 12:30pm-3:00pm
Correspondence to Julie Wright at MGS, Old Hall Lane, Manchester, M13 0XT or 0161 224 7201.
Left to right: Aria Johnston, ext 571 a.johnston@mgs.org
Work Experience with OMs (Activities Week) Monday 26 – Friday 30 June
Simon Jones, ext 240 s.jones@mgs.org
Online Shop
Lauren Tidey, ext 570 l.tidey@mgs.org
All of these items are available to purchase online or by contacting Julie Wright in the Development Office. mgs.org search for Publications and Souvenirs in the Old Mancunians’ section.
Julie Wright, ext 241 j.wright@mgs.org
Please contact Julie Wright in the Development Office to arrange overseas purchases. Ulula 2015 History book Souvenir Edition Ulula 2021
Glimpses of Notes
OM Luncheon Club Friday 3 February at MGS 12:30pm-3:00pm Founders’ Day Service Friday 3 March Manchester Cathedral from 10:45am
Sitara Bartle, ext 255 s.bartle@mgs.org Cufflinks
OM Ties
Umbrellas
NEW! A5 ruled notebook
Socks
Reversible scarf
Benefactors’ Lunch Friday 3 March at MGS 12:00pm-3:00pm OM Advisory Committee Supper with the High Master Tuesday 7 March from 6:00pm ISOC Dinner Saturday 11 March at MGS 6:00pm-9:00pm JSOC Lunch Sunday 19 March at MGS 11:30am-2:00pm
Left to right: Otto Smart, Archives Assistant and Rachel Kneale, School Archivist, ext 361 archives@mgs.org