TOM Edition 58

The Old Mancunian

Autumn 2021 EDITION 58

Keeping Old Boys throughout the world in touch with MGS

• Tribute to Maurice Watkins CBE • Aumni Award Nominations now open • Where are they now? Nigel Reynolds (74-02) • Memorial Tree Planting Ceremony

IT IS ONCE AGAIN TIME TO RECOGNISE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF OMS IN OUR ANNUAL ALUMNI AWARDS AND WE MARK THE PASSING OF MAURICE WATKINS CBE, WHO WILL BE GREATLY MISSED ...

From the Director of Development We welcome the Class of 2021 to the Old Mancunian community in this edition of TOM. I take my hat off to a group of young men who have had their 6th form education severely disrupted, but who have quite simply got on with it.

I’m sure that all OMs will make themselves available to offer support to our graduating Owls. The MGS Global Connect network has grown throughout the pandemic and expanded to include our current 6th formers as they too begin their search for work experience, mentorship and advice about university courses. Please consider how you can support the next generation of Old Mancunians.

Right: (from top) Bruno Quinney, outgoing School Captain; Danny Woods memorial cricket match; online OM Chess Match

Earlier this year The Manchester Luncheon Club were able to catch up with the outgoing School Captain, Bruno Quinney, via Zoom, there was an online Chess Match and Old Hall Lane hosted the Danny Woods memorial cricket match in June.

Playing for the ‘Tiger Trophy’, the School narrowly beat the OMs in a T20 match. Danny Woods (99-06), who sadly passed away after his battle with cancer last year, is still the School’s leading wicket taker. It is hoped that a match between the School and the Old Mancs will become an annual event.

We are now looking forward to the return of The Gatley and The Old Boys’ Dinner.

Simon Jones (88-95) Director of Development 0161 224 7201 ext 240 or s.jones@mgs.org

Danny Woods (99-06) Alumni Award Winner 2020

Alumni Awards Danny Woods (99-06), along with Paul Rose (59-67), were last year’s recipients of the 2020 Old Mancunian Alumni Awards, both celebrated posthumously.

We very much hope to recognise the achievements of Old Mancunians at the Old Boys’ Dinner, which will be held in the Memorial Hall on Saturday 20 November.

Information about how to nominate OMs for the 2021 Alumni Award has been included with this edition of TOM. Please take the time to nominate an OM who deserves such an accolade.

Paul Rose (59-67) Alumni Award Winner 2020

Right (from top): Old Boys’ Dinner; Graduation; MGS Cricket; Chairman of British Swimming

From the High Master The summer was a very sad time for all of those at MGS because of the devastating news that Maurice Watkins, our Chair of Governors and Director of the MGS Appeal, passed away.

I could not have asked for more in a Chair of Governors; Maurice was so experienced and cared passionately about MGS but, above all of this, he was a good friend and I will miss him dearly.

I was honoured to be asked to write and deliver his Eulogy and I thought that it would be fitting to share a little of what I said in this edition of TOM ...

Before the Eulogy, Maurice’s son James read the poem ‘The Dash’ by Linda Ellis; the first two verses read as follows: I read of a man who stood to speak At the funeral of a friend He referred to the dates on the tombstone From the beginning ... to the end.

He noted that first came the date of birth And spoke the following date with tears But he said what mattered most of all Was the dash between those years.

What Maurice achieved in the dash between those years was truly quite astonishing.

He was probably best known for being one of the most respected sports lawyers in Europe, all of which started with his association with Manchester United. Maurice first represented the club in 1976 and was invited to join the board in 1984. He always claimed that he really learnt everything he needed to know about football, not at the club, but from playing for the MGS Old Boys in the Lancashire Amateur League.

At United he was a key player in the period when the club went from being one of the leading English clubs to being arguably the most successful club in the world (as a City fan that was not an easy sentence for me to say in public).

When Maurice left United in 2012, it wasn’t long before a number of calls came in hoping to persuade him to offer his vast expertise

to a range of other sports.

He joined the board at Lancashire Cricket Club.

Cricket was a sport Maurice deeply loved and he had played for the 1st XV at school. In that same year, he joined the board of the European Rugby League and, as its chairman, saw the federation grow from 23 to 42 members.

It was also that same year that he was appointed as the chair of British Swimming.

Maurice and I often talked about his role there and I think that anyone involved in sport governance would be rewarded by looking at how Maurice went about things.

Maurice always used to say that the most important part of governance is getting the right people in place.

In 2013, Chris Spice and Bill Furniss were appointed and two years later the sport had its best e ver showing at a World Championships. The success built and built and the Rio Games were a huge success for both Olympic and Paralympic swimmers.

This has, without doubt, continued through to Tokyo which followed another of Maurice’s key appointments, that of Jack Buckner as CEO who, with reference

Maurice felt very strongly that his success came about because of his access to good education ...

to the success at the Tokyo Olympics, stated that ‘a piece of all our medals belong to him.’

Maurice didn’t relinquish his involvement in football after leaving United, however and in 2013, Maurice was invited to become chairman of the other ‘Reds’ – Barnsley Football Club.

Maurice felt very strongly that his success came about because of his access to good education.

The sacrifices made by his parents to give him that first start, and then the free place at MGS where he was a Foundation Scholar, set him up for life. In 1997, when the Direct Grant and the Assisted Places scheme ended, the door for boys like Maurice to enter such schools seemed to be closing. The then High Master, Martin Stephen, came up with the idea to try to raise money from Old Boys to ensure that this would not be the end of free education at the School, and he asked Maurice to lead the fundraising campaign. Initially the target stood at £10 million: the fund now stands at £30 million and nearly the same amount has been spent in the intervening years and has ensured that more than 700 pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds have been able to attend the School. The School was founded in 1515 by a lad

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from Ancoats who became an advisor to Henry VII, with intention of educating the poor boys of Manchester in ‘godliness and good learning’. Maurice, a lad from Levenshulme, ensured that this mission was not lost some 500 years later.

When Maurice agreed to take on the Chair of British Greyhound racing, he invested in a dog which he named Bursary Boy – although the dog seemed more interested in jumping the barrier and chasing other dogs than the rabbit.

Maurice’s other great philanthropic work led to the founding of the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital. Maurice’s first son Christopher died at the age of ten from cystic fibrosis, and this certainly played an important part in him accepting the invitation to lead the fundraising for what would turn out to be one of the most ambitious health sector projects in the country. It also meant that when Maurice talked with parents at the most difficult time of their lives, he understood exactly what they were going through.

Something in the order of £70 million has been raised during Maurice’s time with the Trust.

Linda Ellis’s poem finishes with the following four lines: So when your eulogy is being read With your life’s actions to rehash …

Would you be proud of the things they say About how you spent your dash?

The contributions that Maurice made to health, to education and to sport would individually have been enough to fill a lifetime. The impact he made in each of these areas has enriched the lives of so many others.

This city has lost one of its great sons, but the impact of his contribution will live on. I hope that his example will be an inspiration to us all and that we will all try to spend a bit more of our dash as he has done.

Dr Martin Boulton (84-86) High Master

I could not have asked for more in a Chair of Governors; Maurice was so experienced and cared passionately about MGS but, above all of this, he was a good friend and I will miss him dearly.

Dr Martin Boulton High Master

E D WA R D M A U R I C E WA T K I N S , C B E 30 November 1941 – 16 August 2021

Wednesday, 1st September 2021 11.00 am, Manchester Cathedral Conducted by The Very Rev’d Rogers Govender, Dean of Manchester

Where are they now?

Nigel Reynolds (Staff 74-02) On the day after Mrs Thatcher was elected in 1979, I was on the walls of York, with 2E and Rod Martin. Well before mobile phones, he bought an evening paper at every street corner to get the late election results. I well remember saying to him that one day I would love to retire to York.

It took me forty years, but it was worth the wait!

I had decided I would like three things; to be less than an hour from the coast, have a fine Cathedral and a Concert Hall. The last I did not achieve but with a daughter in Didsbury, the Bridgewater Hall more than suffices. In normal times, I travel by train weekly for lunch with Jeremy Ward in Didsbury (we were both appointed on VE Day 1974), collect one granddaughter from MHSG and the other from Beaver Road, where I often pass boys wearing the nostalgic blazers bearing the Owl. Will, my son who left MGS in 1999, is now an NHS manager in London.

After retiring, I took various Art History courses, visited every major opera house in Germany, advised at the CAB, and spent twelve years on the

Bench in Leeds. Two OMs pleaded before me. One did not recognise me at first, the other asked the Bench to retire after the case so he could have a quick chat before his London train. A new precedent was established! I also heard the first case, brought as a test, of a driver being prosecuted for hogging the middle lane of the M62. I am not sure much has changed!

But Guiding in the Minster is my current delight. Entering the Nave and looking down over the Crossing to the East Window remains a jaw dropping moment. Groups can vary from fifty to two, come from all over the world, of all religions and none, with groups mixed in terms of nationality, age, and knowledge. It is very different from the classroom: unlike a History lesson in Room 1, visitors can leave a tour at any time! It is also a joy to meet

people from all over the world to explain the marvels of the masons and glaziers.

Another benefit is that it rather puts me in my place!

When I applied to become a guide, I thought I knew quite a lot about Mediaeval Architecture, much of it taught to me by my old MGS Classics colleague, friend and polymath, Martin Griffin, who died in 1979. But every guide will tell you that they never take a tour without learning something new.

Although the knees are not quite what they were, I walk up to the Grasmere Barn once a year both to remember such happy times there, and Ian Bailey, a man whose love for MGS knew no equal.

Left (from top): Nigel Reynolds (Staff 74-02) now Guiding at York Minster; and in 2002

From the Archive A dramatic history ...

Drama has a long history at MGS. In fact the first record of a drama production dates to 1759 when Addison’s ‘Cato’ was performed.

It proved controversial, leading one of the School’s governors to criticise plays as the work of the devil and fundamentally at odds with Hugh Oldham’s vision of promoting ‘godliness and good learning’.

High Master William Purnell defended the production: ‘I think the stage may be made use of for good ends and purposes and to promote virtue and religion as much as the pulpit.’

Despite this support, ‘Cato’ appears to have been a one-off, although theatrically minded boys may have enjoyed reciting poems at Speech Day. Regular productions seem to have begun in 1884. The School’s ‘Conversazione’ – part open day, part production, part exhibition – was instituted by High Master Samuel Dill. This event was always held near Christmas at the end of the Michaelmas term and a play always featured, alongside art exhibitions and gymnastic displays. When the Conversazione was abandoned in 1919, the tradition of an end of term production continued.

MGS’s initial contribution to the world of dramatic arts was through the playwrights of the ‘Manchester School’ – Harold Brighouse (1893-99) and Stanley Houghton (1896-97), respective authors of ‘Hobson’s Choice’ and ‘Hindle Wakes’.

Robert Bolt (1938-41) would follow in their footsteps, best known for ‘A Man for All Seasons’. James Carreras (1923-35) took a different path, working as a producer and founding the iconic ‘Hammer’ film company alongside William Hinds.

Drama over time became more integrated into the academic life of the School. This too, proved initially controversial. In 1914 a memorial fund had been set up in memory of Stanley Houghton by the Old Mancunian Association. The fund would be used to award a scholarship for the study of Drama. No less than George Bernard Shaw wrote to the OMA that ‘I shall certainly not support the monstrous proposal to make the drama a school subject and thereby propagate an incurable loathing of it among the future citizens of Manchester.’

Despite Shaw’s misgivings, the theatre and the study of Drama have thrived at MGS. This was certainly in part due to a number of charismatic teachers, starting with Bert Parnaby (Staff 1949-65) and Brian Phythian (Staff 1959-70). The 1950s-70s are often viewed as a golden age of Drama at the School, possibly due to the household names who started their careers on the MGS stage such as Ben Kingsley (1955-61), Robert Powell (1955-63) Paul Seed (1959-66), and Nicholas Hytner (1967-74). But Drama has gone from strength to strength since that period and has asserted itself as an integral part of School life.

The soon to be named Cryne Theatre opened in 2010, banishing the hard wooden benches so memorable to Old Mancunians. OMs continue to make a name for themselves. Recent successes include Chris Addison (1983-1990) and Rory Mullarkey (1998-2005).

Above (from top): ‘Twelfth Night’ 1907; ‘Bugsy Malone’ 2014

Interested in exploring more?

Scan the QR code below to view the Drama category on our new digital archive, MGS Life, organised in chronological order starting with most recent content first.

Alternatively, visit the website via this link ... mgs-life.co.uk/category/ co-curricular/drama

Rachel Kneale School Archivist, ext 361, archives@mgs.org

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Recollections ...

Right: Jeremy Ward (Staff 74-97) signing copes of his book ‘On a Wing and a Prayer: MGS and the RAF’

John Jordan (50-56), inspired after reading ‘On a Wing and a Prayer; MGS and the RAF’, recalled a link at school to the RAF. In the Woodworking Workshop there were some aircraft propellers mounted on the wall; examples of what MGS had made at the School in the war for the RAF. John wondered if they were still there.

They are not. If anyone can help with the known whereabouts of them please let Julie Wright know – j.wright@mgs.org ‘On a Wing and a Prayer: MGS and the RAF’ by Jeremy Ward (Staff 74-97)

Memorial Tree Planting Ceremony

Please contact Julie Wright in the Development Office to obtain your copy – j.wright@mgs.org

A Royal Oak tree has been planted in the grounds of The Manchester Grammar School to commemorate the life and legacy of The Duke of Edinburgh, HRH Prince Philip.

Right: Matthew Bolton (02-09) receiving his DofE Gold Award in 2009 and at the tree planting ceremony earlier this year

The day after what would have been HRH Prince Philip’s 100th birthday, and to mark the occasion, 11 trees were planted simultaneously at Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Award centres across the 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester.

MGS was honoured to be chosen as one of those sites, as a flagship DofE centre since 2005.

Matthew Bolton (02-09), the School’s first-ever DofE Gold Award recipient and now a Religion and Philosophy teacher at MGS, was invited to the tree-planting ceremony. Matthew said: ‘Outdoor activities form many of the highlights of my time as an MGS student. I jumped at the chance to do the Gold DofE Award.

After getting involved with the Norway (2006), Lakeland (2007) and Scottish (2007) Treks, Grasmere and Borrowdale camps, MAC walks and Owls’ Nest visits. I volunteered with a local Scout Troop for my Service, trained with the MGS Harriers for the Physical, and enjoyed Practice and Assessed Expeditions in the Howgills and Cairngorms respectively.

It was a privilege to receive my Gold Award from Prince Philip at Holyrood House.’

As always, we would be delighted to hear from any Old Mancunians who want to share their memories or experiences of the DofE programme, treks and camps over the years.

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V i s i t u s and

u to come We invite yo school via the in us ok visit Office. We lo Development seeing you soon. forward to touch Please get inat via old boys org oldboys@mgs.

amazon.co.uk 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 per cent 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.

Obituaries We would welcome offers to supply brief obituaries or memories for ‘Ulula’. 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 oldboys@mgs.org

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.

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Previous Alumni Award Winners 1. Adam Chekroud (03-10) 2. Sam Rose (85-92) 3. Canon David Wyatt (47-54) 4. Danny Woods (99-06) 5. Paul Rose (59-67)

Alumni Award Nominations Now Open Honourees should represent a variety of fields and lifetime accomplishments; these awards should demonstrate that alumni in a wide variety of backgrounds, all with roots at MGS, excel in their chosen fields.

Junior Alumni Award This award recognises outstanding achievements of alumni under the age of 35. With a broad scope, the award celebrates what younger alumni have achieved in their shorter career span.

Senior Alumni Award This award recognises outstanding achievements of alumni in industry, professional and research sectors, education, sport, the arts and creative sectors, and significant contributions to humanity through activities such as volunteering, philanthropy and service to the community, the School, or to the public at large.

Nominations are accepted online via mgs.org by email at developmentoffice@mgs.org or in writing to Julie Wright in the Development Office.

Closing date for nominations is Friday 15 October.

In memoriam

Since the last issue of TOM we have been advised of the recent deaths of the following OMs. Peter Aaronson .............................................1967-74 Reginald Barnes .......................................... 1946-51 Robert E F Beattie .......................................1943-45 Donald H Bennett ...................................... 1942-47 Derek P Blain ................................................ 1943-47 Peter C Booth ................................................1972-79 Oliver Bredski................................................. 2011-18 John Brownhill ............................................1943-48 Donald Caiger ...............................................1947-53 Richard Clark ................................................1958-65 Christopher J Cooper .............................. 1952-59 Nigel Copeland ...........................................1945-50 John B Dodsworth ................................... 1946-54 Samuel M Donohoe .................................. 1984-91 Ian Dugdale ...................................................1945-52 Peter A Ellwood ........................................... 1965-72 Brian R Evans................................................ 1940-49 Geoffrey K Findlay ...................................... 1934-41 Jonathan H Fryer ....................................... 1960-69 Robin M Griffin......................1953-60, 1970-97 TS Geoffrey S Hardern ....................................1942-49 John F Hayes ................................................ 1947-54 Robert A Hempstock ................................ 1954-61 John C Heys ................................................ 1944-46 John V Hindley ............................................. 1951-57 Maurice Hollows ..........................................1951-58 Raymond O Jones .....................................1956-63 Thomas L Kenyon ......................................1936-43 Barry B P Kinsman ......................................1944-52 Bryan E Lockyear .........................................1937-39 Denys S Lomax .............................................1937-43 Liam J P McDaid ......................................... 1984-91 Graham C Milligan ......................................1972-79 Robert N Montgomery ............................ 1941-50 Derek Parker ................................................ 1940-46 Gordon E Percival....................................... 1947-50 J Bernard Pickerill ........................................1941-47 M Nick Poole .............................. 1955-63, 72-87 TS Kevin D Pridgeon ........................................ 1981-88 Matthew Reynish ....................................... 1975-82 Graham Sharples ....................................... 1944-48 Robert M Slater ............................................ 1944-51 Anthony M Small.........................................1949-55 Ivor J Smith....................................................1942-50 Michael J Taylor ..........................................1949-55 David J Taylor ...............................................1939-46 Gwilyn L Thomas ........................................1939-44 E Maurice Watkins ......................................1952-60 David J Williams ..........................................1946-52 Martin Woollacott ......................................1950-57 Dennis Woolley ........................................... 1952-59 William D Worthington ............................ 1942-47 TS

Teaching Staff

Forthcoming Events 2021/22

Get in touch ...

Dates and times of events are subject to change. All listed events will be kept updated at mgs.org

Music events

Drama events

Carol Service Thursday 9 December at Holy Trinity Platt Church

Old Boys’ Dinner Saturday 20 November at MGS, 6:30 pm

Christmas Concert Monday 13 December at MGS

Junior School Production ‘Wind in the Willows’, 7 & 8 December in the MGS Theatre

Senior Steward: Martin Frost CBE (74-81) Founder and former CEO of CMR Robotics The Gatley Run Saturday 20 November at MGS, 2:00 pm Scout Troop One Reunion Saturday 20 November at MGS, 12:30 pm Founders’ Day Service Friday 4 March at Manchester Cathedral

‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ 7, 8, 9 & 10 February in the MGS Theatre

Online Shop 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.

Left to right: Aria Johnston, ext 571 a.johnston@mgs.org

Please contact Julie Wright in the Development Office to arrange overseas purchases.

Simon Jones, ext 240 s.jones@mgs.org

Ulula 2015

History book Souvenir Edition Ulula 2020

OMA Supper with the High Master Monday 14 March at MGS OM Sports Afternoon – Football, Rugby, Hockey Friday 1 April at MGS, 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm Pre 1960s Reunion Dinner & Year Groups 1980, 81 & 82 1990, 91 & 92 2000, 01 & 02 Saturday 7 May at MGS, tours and cricket from 2:00 pm; Dinner from 6:30 pm

Correspondence to Julie Wright at MGS, Old Hall Lane, Manchester, M13 0XT or 0161 224 7201.

Glimpses of Notes

Lauren Tidey, ext 570 l.tidey@mgs.org Julie Wright, ext 241, j.wright@mgs.org

Cufflinks

OM Ties

Umbrellas

NEW! A5 ruled notebook

Socks

Reversible scarf

Left to right: Otto Smart, Archives Assistant and Rachel Kneale, School Archivist, ext 361 archives@mgs.org