September 2015 EDITION 46
• The High Master
• The School Today
• Forthcoming Events
The Old Mancunian Keeping old boys in touch with MGS throughout the world
• The Quincentenary year so far ...
WE arE alrEaDy TWO-THIrDS OF THE Way THrOugH THE ScHOOl’S 500TH yEar. a SpEcIal EDITION OF ulula WIll DETaIl THE Full QuINcENTENary yEar, avaIlablE JaNuary 2016.
From the Director of Development MGS Election Hustings As part of the School’s mock election campaign, a ‘Question Time’ debate was held in the School Theatre on Thursday 16 April. The debate featured a panel comprising three of the ten OMs standing as parliamentary candidates in the concurrent general election – the OMs concerned being Nick bent (lab, Warrington S), John leech (lib Dem, Withington) and Suhail rahuja (con, Hornsey-Wood green). The panel was completed by Walter Houston OM (green candidate in the cheshire East council elections) and Waleed ghani OM (who re-founded the Whig party). chaired by the School’s Head of politics, rick Kelly, the meeting attracted almost 200 pupils, ex-pupils and parents, who contributed a range of robust questions.
MGS – Hallé Quincentenary Concert The Bridgewater Hall was the venue for the premiere of Tariq O’Regan’s MGS 2015 commissioned piece ‘Celestial Map of the Sky’. The 15 minute piece was performed by the Hallé Orchestra, the Hallé & MgS choirs, and conducted by Sir Mark Elder. an extract from the piece will be made available for download at mgsglobal.org
Quincentenary Lecture Series
Professor A C Grayling spoke about the importance of studying the Liberal Arts The Biennial London concert and imagined the world without any of these; and Professor Dame Nancy Pupil George Strivens was judged to be the Rothwell, President and Vice Chancellor winner of the composition competition sponsored by the London Section of the OMA. of Manchester University, delivered a lecture ‘Why Universities are Important’. His winning piece, ‘Five Miniatures for brass Sextet’, had its premiere at the royal Overseas league in March to a packed audience of OMs.
Simon Jones 88-95 Director of Development 0161 224 7201 ext 240 or s.jones@mgs.org
professor Mona Siddiqui was interviewed by pupils, ali Tahir and ali abod, in a question and answer style conversation. The boys did not pull any punches and the questions addressed the most controversial of subjects, such as the relationship between religion and politics, radicalisation and the role of women in Islam. professor alister Mcgrath explained the impact and importance of the decision to found MgS for the ‘advancement of learning and godliness’. later in the year we welcome Mary curnock cook, the cEO of ucaS, and professor Martin goodman, professor of Jewish Studies at Oxford university to deliver key lectures.
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Fly the Flag OMs have been flying the 2015 flag around the world. Official gatherings have taken place in Australia, New Zealand, Israel and the US. See the photographs overleaf.
MGS Business Class Audiences were inspired during the summer term. Coutts CEO Michael Morley was interviewed by the High Master about his career in banking. Michael spoke clearly about the bonus culture, the financial crises in Switzerland and Iceland, as well as pay day lenders. Tom Bloxham, CEO of Urban Splash was interviewed by David Walton (67-74) and Scott Fletcher, Chairman and Founder of the ANS Group was interviewed by Nigel Collier (83-90). David Gill, former CEO of Manchester United, kicked off the new season earlier this month.
MCC Cricket The majority of the MCC team were Old Boys of the School, including former Lancashire and England batsman, John Crawley, and his brother Mark. MCC, as is the tradition, batted first and scored 201-3 with John Crawley 60* when the declaration came. Earlier Scott Richardson (89-96), who played for Leicestershire and Yorkshire, and Cheshire’s Charlie Reid (02-09), had entertained a large crowd of ex-MGS cricketers who had come to support the occasion. The declaration proved generous and the school knocked off the runs losing only four wickets with time to spare thanks to an excellent 62* by U15 Lancashire star Rehan Udwadia who was awarded the ‘Spirit of Cricket’ Man of the Match award.
Old Boys rugby and football Deep Heat and bandages were the order of the day for the annual OM rugby and football tournaments.
Congratulations to OM David Williams (46-52) who raised the flag in Mongolia!
Camp Open Days
OMs and their families gathered in the Ben Shemen forest outside Tel Aviv to celebrate 2015 and raise a glass to Hugh Oldham. The event, organised by Leonard Gossel (74-81) and Richard Clayton (90-97), welcomed the High Master who spoke on behalf of the School. In 2007 the pupils and parents at MGS sponsored an Israeli ambulance. The ambulance, which is still in active service, was present with a team of local paramedics.
OMs made the pilgrimage to the Lake District in June to visit Grasmere, Borrowdale and Bassenthwaite.
There is still time to fly the flag – anyone in Timbuktu?
Hugh Oldham Commemoration Service
Bassenthwaite Martin Leonard (staff 62-70) visited Bassenthwaite with his wife. After a traditional camp supper (Mexican Night) Dr Hunter introduced Martin as a ‘living legend’ without whom Bass Camp would never have existed. Martin spoke to enthralled boys for 15 minutes about how he set up Bass Camp in 1966 and then how it moved to the present site in 1970. Martin then answered questions for a further 10 minutes and was given a standing ovation by 130 boys and 20 staff.
Grasmere
The annual commemoration service at Exeter Cathedral, in pious memory of the School’s founder Bishop Hugh Oldham, took place on Sunday 12 July.
Douglas Robinson (43-49) was one of a group of OMs returning to camp via a most hair-raising landrover drive up the track from the village.
Almost 100 Old Mancunians and friends of the School attended the 49th commemoration service at the Oldham Chantry. Canon Ian Morter took the service, and the High Master and School Captain, David Swarbrick, laid a wreath at Hugh Oldham’s tomb on behalf of the OMA.
Borrowdale OMs visited the new Borrowdale campsite to see how things had changed since the days at Stonethwaite underneath Eagle Crag.
1. Borrowdale Camp original site; 2. Borrowdale Camp new site; 3. Borrowdale Camp: L to R: John Geary (63-70); Myk Saas (63-71); Colin Prestwich (78-85); 4. Bassenthwaite Camp: Martin Leonard (62-70); 5. Grasmere Camp: L to R: Ian Verber (62-68); Derek Thomson (NMS 36-40) (40-43), Tony Bethell (50-57); Tony Revington (52-58); Doug Robinson (43-49); Mike Meredith (59-65) ...
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... 6. Hugh Oldham Commemoration service; 7. David Swarbrick, School Captain; 8. Prof Dame Nancy Rothwell; 9. MGS Election Candidates with the High Master and Rick Kelly; 10. Prof A C Grayling; 11. Prof Alister McGrath; 12. Prof Mona Siddiqui; 13. Biennial London Concert; 14. MGS Business Class – Scott Fletcher; 15. MGS Business Class – Michael Morley; 16. L to R; John Crawley (82-89); Mark Crawley (79-86); 17. Old Boys Rugby; 18. Old Boys Football; 19. Hallé Quincentenary Concert...
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21. Sydney; ... Fly the Flag: 20. Per th; id Williams (46 -52), Dav OM 22. New York; 23. class of 2013, the Mongolia, 24. OMs from ast Asia ... th-E Sou k, Pea t hes 3rd Hig
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18 26 ilies, ... 25. OMs and their fam side Ben Shemen forest out ter Tel Aviv; 26. The High Mas the with es Jon on and Sim red Israeli Ambulance sponso by MGS pupils in 2007
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Upcoming events Troop One Reunion Lunch – Saturday 23 April 2016. Following a most successful reunion in 2011, Alan Jones (Taf) suggests that it is time to meet again. Please save the date and spread the word. Invitations will be sent to all OMs on our list of Troop One members in the new year.
1970s Reunion – Saturday 7 May 2016.
Email addresses
The Reunion Dinner for OMs who joined the school in the 1970s takes place in May next year.
We recently wrote to OMs for whom we had no email address in order to collect new data.
There are nearly 100 of you signed up for the Old Boys’ Dinner in November which will be a good opportunity for you to remember OMs who you would like to renew contact with and invite them along to your very own 2015 follow-up.
Many thanks to all those who responded. The winners of the prize draw were Simon Hamilton (93-00) and Peter Vaughan (52-59).
If you are interested in getting involved with the organising or to come along please contact Jane Graham.
Thank you for help with careers
Anniversary Celebrations Right: George Helliwell (26-32)
John Shoa mgs.org wrd j.h.shoard @ catalogue ants to sporting aoMs and their chievement s. If you kno w has gained of anyone who honours fo international sport, do r their in touch. get
We have been enjoying the various events arranged to celebrate the School’s 500th Anniversary and are looking forward to a large gathering at the Old Boys Dinner in November. I know that people have found particularly fascinating the MGS in 50 Objects series. Happily these will be included in the next Ulula together with a summary of the year’s activity. So please make sure you sign up to receive the 2015 Ulula. I am sure you will want to join me in sending birthday wishes to George Helliwell on achieving his centenary. He is an OM who lives in New South Wales who celebrated his 100th Birthday in June. David Walton (67-74) and Chairman of the OMA
We are enormously grateful to those of you who provided work placements to MGS boys during the summer holidays. A particular note of thanks goes to Mohsan Ahmad (92-99) who enabled several boys to gain an insight into dentistry and hand surgeon Kunal Hinduja (85-92), as well as new offers of support from barrister Steven Gray (88-95) and Vice-President of marketing agency VCCP, Julian Douglas (87-94).
From the archive A Brief History of Prizes at MGS The school has awarded prizes in recognition of boys’ academic achievements for at least 200 years. Evidence of a celebratory speech day associated with the school can be traced back further still; the archive holds a book of verses recited on a speech day dating from 1640. Nevertheless, the first example we have of a specific prize is the lawson medal that was instituted in 1807, on the High Master’s death. a group of Old Mancunians gave money to create the marble memorial to lawson that still stands in Manchester cathedral. The surplus was used to create a gold prize medal which was awarded for the top mark in classics examinations. The medal is no longer awarded, but the year 12 prize for latin still bears lawson’s name. lawson’s medal remained the only prize awarded in honour of a named person until the 1860s. prizes were funded internally by the school and simply named for a subject. until this point, benefactors seem to have focused their generosity on endowing scholarships at Oxbridge for Old boys, rather than prizes for pupils still at school. The Thompson History prize was founded in this decade in honour of richard Thompson, a much-loved Second Master. like the lawson medal, this prize was founded in honour of an individual, rather than bequeathed by them. This began to change in the 1870s when a number of new prizes were set up through individual endowments or a bequest stated in a will. Examples include the bishop lee prize Fund, established in 1874 for greek Testament and the perkesian prize of 1879 which was endowed by the will of the rev r J perkes. The latter is still awarded for performance in latin in year 13, although the original value of £4 has risen with inflation. another prize still in existence is the caine prize for greek , which was founded by the will of rev. William caine in 1889. Similarly the procter prize, founded in 1890 for german and French composition by Daniel procter is still awarded. Of a similar vintage, the pritchard prize for art was founded in memory of the Head of the art School in 1886 and continues in 2015.
Above: The ceremony to award such prizes has also changed over MgS prize giving, the years. as stated earlier, speech day seems to have roots in Free Trade Hall the very early history of the school. It fell in and out of favour, Manchester – 1934 with a hiatus in the mid-19th century, and a subsequent revival. High Master Mason abandoned Speech Day in favour of a prize giving held in school in the 1960s. Despite a brief revival of ‘E vidence Speech Day under High Master ray in 2011 celebrator of a – 2013, this is now the school’s preferred day assoc y speech the schoo iated with method for conferring honours on pupils. l
traced ba can be c
years; th k m any The most notable difference between e h olds a bo archive then and now, however, is the absence verses re ok of of subject specific scholarships awarded on a spee cited to pupils still in school. There were dating fr ch day om 1640.’ a proliferation of such scholarships during the mid to late nineteenth century onwards, appearing when fees were first introduced. perhaps it was felt that the scholarships offered to boys, which gave fee remission, were not sufficient to fully support able boys to continue at the school. Expenses incurred by pupils studying arts subjects such as books would not have been subsidised by the school, and the pressure to leave school early to start work would have been fierce for able boys from poorer backgrounds. The pressure to start work early is thankfully an uncommon one for modern boys, and such scholarships have faded from view. Nevertheless, pupils from the nineteenth century would recognise some of our modern day prizes.
Rachel Kneale and Mary Ann Davison School archivists 0161 224 7201 ext 321, archives@mgs.org
SpOrT FOrMS SO MaNy OF Our MEMOrIES OF ScHOOl. I aM SurE THaT Our bOyS FONDly rEMEMbEr gaMES THEy HavE bEEN INvOlvED IN. I aM lucKy TO bE ablE TO SHarE IN THESE MOMENTS.
Making special memories When my inbox is groaning and I have had enough of tedious meetings, I am lucky enough to be able to escape my office and watch sport, a perk very few professions can offer. This year has seen some wonderful games across the whole range of sports now offered at MGS, but two games will last in my memory for a long time. The first was a cup semi-final away against Eton, between two sides that could not have been more evenly matched. This resulted in a fantastic, but for the spectators a nail-biting, game of football. at half-time there was no score, although there had been stunning chances from both teams. Within five minutes of play starting up again both sides had hit the bar, the only difference being a follow up for MgS which sent us one up. The lead was not to last though, and a magnificent free kick by Eton’s key striker levelled the scores; the whistle for full time blew soon afterwards. Extra time showed no let up in the tension with both sides narrowly missing out on several occasions. It seemed that penalties beckoned, which would not have been a fitting end to such a match, but a late corner by MgS ended matters with a victory. The nerve-racked MgS parents could at last relax.
Dr Martin Boulton 84-86 High Master
The second game, against Sherborne, was the final of the Ecb/ESca u15 cup, a national competition, with over 1400 schools, run over two years. MgS won that toss, went in to bat and got off to a very poor start, losing three wickets with few runs on the board. Fortunately a recovery followed to ease the nerves, with partnerships of 35 and 68; the innings ended on 162 from the forty overs played. We got off to a good start after lunch, with three wickets down for 16 runs and the MgS spectators started to relax a little. Sherborne, however, were a classy side and their batsmen soon found their form and a 98 partnership followed. The match became more and more tense as it neared its end. With one over to go Sherborne needed eight runs to win and most of the staff and parents watching the game were, by this stage, pacing up and down the boundary to steady their nerves. by the final ball, they were one run behind with nine wickets down. I suspect that just to increase the tension MgS set a rather naive field, not realising that the draw would work in their favour because they had lost fewer wickets. The final ball was bowled…the stumps went flying – cue the celebrations. Sport forms so many of our memories of school, and this group of boys will, I am sure, remember these games for years to come; and as I return to my over-flowing mailbox I reflect on how lucky I am to be able to share in these moments.
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The School Today For more stories like these visit mgs.org
Jack rises to the challenge Royal Approval Jack Bridgford has outperformed other talented pupils throughout the UK by winning the Forward Arts Foundation’s Young Responses challenge with a painting in response to Niall Campbell’s poem, ‘The Letter Always arrives at its Destination’. The judges in the competition praised Jack for his entry by commenting that: ‘This vibrant and detailed visual representation of the poem was beautifully composed: it responded to the poem in an intriguing way.’ The judges especially admired the way in which the letters seem to have escaped the – seemingly fractured – bottles and become weeds on the seabed themselves.
Twelve year old Bill Donnelly is celebrating literary success, having won the prestigious Duchess of Marlborough Heritage Award after submitting a project based upon the fascinating history of Blenheim Palace. bill chose to write a story about different time periods by creating a character who could teleport across time. During his research he was intrigued to find out about how the evacuees in the Second World War had played cricket in the palace’s library and had smashed a window. bill, along with his family, attended a ceremony at blenheim palace to collect his prize from the Duchess of Marlborough. He said: ‘It was amazing to have a personal tour of blenheim with my family and to meet the Duchess. I particularly enjoyed the actual award ceremony which took place in the Orangery.’
Sights set on Westminster Sixth Formers Harrison Engler and Jake Kennedy were victorious in the Constitution Preamble competition, organised by the House of Commons Political and Constitutional Reform Select Committee, whilst Alan Petri has won the prestigious History of Parliament competition.
alan’s essay ‘To what extent can Margaret Thatcher be seen as the architect of Scottish and Welsh devolution?’ secured victory. The competition invites ‘a’ level students to write an essay on a subject of the candidate’s own choice related to the parliamentary or political history of britain and Ireland.
500 Miles for the Bursary Fund To mark the 500th anniversary year, the Junior School staff and boys decided to walk a collective 500 miles to raise money for the Bursary Fund. The challenge took place on the Fallowfield playing fields after a period of dry weather! £3422 was raised through sponsorship.
Left: Jack bridgford Below – top to bottom: Junior School staff and boys; bill Donnelly; Jake Kennedy; Harrison Engler
Right: part of the audience for the 20/30 club presupper jazz
OM Sections London & South East london events have taken a sporting theme in recent weeks. Over 60 OMs renewed table tennis rivalries from the Owl’s Nest at the summer pub evening at bounce in Holborn. Jem atherton maintained his grip on the Owl Trophy at the annual golf day held at Woking golf club. brian Taylor outscored Jem in the stableford competition but was demoted from first place due to his local knowledge of the course! The annual supper at the cheshire cheese has been suspended for 2015 as many OMs have chosen to attend the lincoln’s Inn or Old boys’ Dinner in this special year. a date for a future pub evening in central london will be announced in the autumn. contact Jimmy campbell jimmycambo@me.com
Midlands Many Midlands-based Old Mancunians are attending The Old boys’ Dinner in November. Therefore, rather than arranging the annual Midlands lunch, an informal gathering of OMs and their partners will take place at our old stamping ground, the splendidly evocative Old Joint Stock pub in Temple row in the centre of birmingham. We will be gathering there at 12:30 pm on Wednesday
7 October for a few drinks and a pub lunch. The contact group for Old Mancunians in the Midlands is John Wilson 0121 475 3700, Michael Kennedy 0121 451 1978 and chris Diggines 01527 458730.
South & West The 49th annual commemoration Service in pious memory of Hugh Oldham took place in Exeter cathedral on Sunday 12 July. Over 80 OMs and guests attended the luncheon and enjoyed speeches from the High Master and School captain. The Section’s agM, held after the lunch, elected Officers for 2015/16, the year in which proposals to simplify the Section’s organisation and removal of subscription take effect. We thanked richard Hall for his long service to the Section as our treasurer. OMs are always very welcome to join us at our events, together with family and friends. contact paul gelling 01291 626951 or p.gelling@ btinternet.com
OM 20/30 Club Our monthly lunches at the Freemasons Hall, bridge Street continue, usually on the 3rd Friday of the month. Our annual supper event at MgS in april brought OMs and partners together for an entertaining jazz set followed by supper.
Friday 16 October: Founders’ Day services at Manchester cathedral at 11:00 am and 3:00 pm will be in place of the October 20/30 lunch. bookings should be made via MgS before by Friday 2 October. Friday 20 November: agM Friday 11 December: School captain and vice-captain Friday 15 January: Speaker to be confirmed. Friday 19 February: bob Hill ‘Fibonacci numbers, the golden ratio and Nature’. Friday 18 March: Speaker to be confirmed. Members and friends receive news of the next meeting by mail or email. The number of guests is growing. please contact alex Wells on 01298 812886 or alex_wells@tiscali. co.uk if you can come to a meeting. We would like to meet you!
Manchester Lodge Old Mancunians with Mount Sinai The amalgamation of the Old Mancunians lodge with Mount Sinai has continued to be a great success and the combined lodge has enjoyed another busy year, having initiated four new members and celebrated the 50 years in Freemasonry of the father
of the lodge, louis rapaport (1946). We have four candidates waiting to join. We will then again have a multi-national first team consisting of members from pakistan, romania and Newcastle! For further information please contact paul rose paulrose6395@ gmail.com
Chess The 2015 Old Mancunians chess Event takes place on Saturday 21 November. The intention is to hold an all-play-all tournament at the School in which individual and team titles will be contested. There will be two sessions of play, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, and from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm, with a break for lunch in between. We can accommodate up to 18 players in the tournament if it is to be an all-play-all event with each player having 10 minutes on the clock for each game. The School’s 500th anniversary dinner will then start at 6:00 pm at lancs ccc. please contact peter Webster if you would like to be involved and have not already signed up! peter@thea.ltd.uk
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Owl drop ins We could say that we could count the number of guests we have received in the past few months on the fingers of both hands but that would only cover the party of Maths VI iib & iiib Old Mancunians of 1963 to 1965.
‘even mor e staff and a m azing th an in t boys Derek Tea he 40’s.’ and alan re (38-45) (40-47). Brown
‘From old hall lane to achra fieh… not a voyage I would wish on everyone, but memorable from start to present.’ David Marks (57-65).
To others quick with numbers it is fifty years since John Barrow, Roy Seden, Geoff Brogan, Roger Slater, Graham Dawber, Steve Kaiser, Don Shore and Brian Coppins left MGS. All were very appreciative of the hospitality they received, the tour of the school and the memories that it evoked.
Top: Brian Taylor (45-50) tours Maths VI; front row L to R: Bill Morley-Scott (64-65), Steve Kaiser (59-65), Graham Dawber (59-65), Roger Slater (58-65), John Barrow (59-65); back row L to R: Brian Coppins (59-66), Roy Seden (59-65), Brian Taylor, Don Shore (58-65), Geoff Brogan (58-65)
Going back even further, Frederic Barash and Michael Taylor who left the school in 1955 referred to ‘a wonderfully nostalgic visit’ and that school was ‘better than ever’. We have also had Old Mancunians from far and wide visit us. Derek Teare (38-45) and Alan Brown (40-47) visiting from the USA with their wives in May, ‘…even more amazing staff and boys than in the 40’s’.
Middle– L to R: J Derek Teare (38-45), Alan Brown (40-47)
Also from across the Atlantic, Leonard Brown (52-58) and his wife enjoyed a ‘…wonderful visit, superb hosts.’ They also made reference to ‘…pity the “forge” is gone’.
Bottom– L to R: Neville Lister (56-63), Ian Ritchie (56-63), David Hartley (55-63)
David Marks (57-65), living in Lebanon, commented in April ‘From Old Hall Lane to Achrafieh… not a voyage I would wish on everyone, but memorable from start to present’. Neville Lister, David Hartley and Ian Ritchie (all 56-63) joined us in June and ‘all thought that the school has changed for the better and they would be happy to come back!’, referring particularly to the level of pastoral care, staff to student ratios and the range of resources. Edward Astle (65-72) gave a talk to the sixth form on careers, something we are always willing to encourage, and an opportunity he thoroughly enjoyed and was pleased ‘to see how the school is thriving’. In all it has been a very busy period as we work our way through the 500th anniversary year celebrations and we look forward to meeting more Old Mancunians through what remains of the year.
Visit Us Though not essential, advanced notice of visits would be appreciated so we have the kettle boiling and help you make the most of your visit. Please contact Jane Graham on 0161 224 7201 ext 243 or j.graham@mgs.org
OM Letters Glimpses of Notes – a new MGS publication We are always delighted to receive OMs’ memories of their time at school, and we add their reminiscences to the Archive. We were especially pleased to hear from Ian Davidson (42-51), who has donated a beautifully written memoir of 80,000 words about his time at school which we are intending to publish next year. Ian’s recall of his life at MGS and in the city is exceptional, and his book provides a captivating read. We hope to be able to publish it in both traditional and e-book formats, including some contemporary photographs. We hope that you enjoy the following extracts. We would be happy to receive, without obligation, expressions of interest (please specify book or e-book) to i.thorpe@mgs.org Profits will go to the Bursary Fund.
station, through the canyons of Corporation Street to the rubble strewn wastes that stretched from the cathedral to Cross Street.
From page 43 – A first former in assembly It was about this time that the school was favoured with a visit from Field Marshal Montgomery. As one of the first formers seated on the first row of the steps I had a close view of the slight figure of the great man as he followed the Chief – as we had come to call the new High Master – onto the platform. I thought such an august figure ought to have been a much bigger man. I can’t remember much of what he said but I did hear him say that it was his right as a visitor to ask for the school to be given a half holiday to commemorate his visit.
From page 103 – Academic achievement From page 2 – The prelude I remember my days at MGS with great affection. That’s not to say that every day was sunny, for there were black periods and unhappy times, but all in all I was glad to be there. I was barely nine years old when I began, a bewildered, bookish boy with a country upbringing. When I finished I was less bewildered, but also cocksure, strongly aware of my own individuality and not inclined to heed authority. I began in Prep 1 in September 1942, and left in June 1951 from History Sixth. Few pupils, I guess, can have spent so long under the wings of Hugh Oldham and his Owl. It was only when I was taken to buy my school uniform that I realised the full significance of what was happening, for in those war-time days buying clothes was a serious matter. It was a hot summer day and we walked from the
Ian Thorpe Development Adviser & Current Editor of the OM Letters page, ext 570 i.thorpe@mgs.org
We were expected to do well, get high marks, be interested and perceptive. This was the ethos of the school and we accepted it. There was no force, or sense of compulsion, nobody nagged or hectored and the worst reproach I had was Artie Moore’s sad rebuke, ‘You have let yourself down.’ It stung more than a lashing with scorpions’ tails.
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Wh at’s new ? Have you m gslife.orvisited g
Camping Memories contrasting recollections were provided in letters from Derek blain (43-47), writing about camping during WW2 and Matthew bramley (78-84) who attended borrowdale between 1979 and 1983.
The way we were! brian Williams (48-50) sent us a photograph shown below which he found among family papers of a holiday party at port St Mary in the Isle of Man in the early 1950s and writes: It is of interest for the holiday attire, mainly of the men and boys. Who these days would wear jackets, ties and even a school cap on holiday? I have no idea who the boy in the cap is. I have no idea who the boy is. I guess that he would be born about 1940. Below: can anyone help with the identity of the boy highlighted in the photograph below?
Derek remembers a Forest camp in Satterthwaite in 1947 where pupils weeded between trees in a nursery and hillside plantation and cleared a coppice with saws and axes. cuthbert Seton looked on, drinking water (?) from a large jug. Matthew recalls the challenges of the hill-climbing and of being on fag, washing dixies in the beck with cold water and grit. He became an avid Wainwright and Munro bagger in consequence.
OM publications David adams, (54-61), Well versed described as a powerful guide to business success and published by panoma press.
visit www.unbound.co.uk/books/ alangarner to read about a unique publication to celebrate OM alan garner’s 80th birthday.
Geoff Colton (42-49) writes: ‘MgS at 500’ tells (p38) how boys at long Millgate would extend their lunch hour to hang over a railway bridge to see the steam train coming from liverpool on the new liverpool– Manchester railway. a very similar train spotting occasion occurred when I was at the school. at the very end of the lunch hour, an express used to cross the railway bridge over Old Hall lane. It became the custom for train spotters to watch for the train at the school gate, and for one of their number to cycle to the bridge to see the train at close quarters. He could then cycle back in time for the bell and report details of the locomotive. This of course led to intense philosophical argument as to whether one could claim to have ‘seen’ a locomotive if one had not been near enough to identify it.
In memoriam Since the last TOM we have been advised of the recent deaths of the following OMs: John P Appleby 43-49 H Michael Bell 38-43 Michael J Butterworth 93-00 William B Butterworth 41-47 Roderick D Cannon 49-56 Sydney Clayton 50-58 John M Collier 51-55 Antony D Cotton 43-50 Gordon J Crook 44-51 Bernard R Dawson 36-41 Kenneth A Featherstone 43-49 John A Fixsen 48-51 John B Gluckman 53-61 Aaron I Goodman 29-35 J Keith Griffiths 41-47 Thomas E Hepple 41-48
Christopher H Ireland 43-49 Nicholas M Lamb 70-77 Hugh G McCulloch 40-43 Harold A Meek 33-41 George B Milner 34-37 Juma L Ngqobongwana 95-02 Bernard A Noden 32-35 John F Rigby 43-50 Henry Shaw 35-38 Peter P Starling 42-46 Donald C Venvell 43-47 Frank Waywell 30-35 John B Wilkinson 43-48 Geoffrey S Williams 49-54 Staff Stephen L Nicholson 92-94 Name Correction from Edition 45 Staff Arnold Ashbrook 39-44; 51-65
Forthcoming events 2015/16 Midlands Lunch. Wednesday 7 October at the Joint Stock pub, Temple row, birmingham, 12:30 pm. Founders’ Day Service. Friday 16 October at Manchester cathedral, 11:00 am and 3:00 pm. Cultural Event: Our Jewish Links. Monday 2 November from 5:30 pm. 20/30 Club Lunches. Friday 20 November, 11 December. 15 January, 19 February & 18 March. please see page 8. OM ‘Teach at MGS’ day. Friday 20 November. OM Open Days at the School. Friday 20 November and Saturday 21 November. Old Boys’ Dinner. Saturday 21 November at ‘The point’, lancashire county cricket ground, 6:00 pm. Manchester Pub Evening. Friday 5 February, venue tbc from 6:00 pm. Ian Leverton Lecture. Friday 26 February at school. Philip Wade Rugby Match and Rugby Club Dinner. Thursday 24 March at MgS. For details contact s.swindells@mgs.org Stuart Dale Football Matches. Friday 22 april at MgS. For details contact m.strother@mgs.org Troop One Reunion Lunch. Saturday 23 april. please see page 4.
Music events Wednesday 9 December Junior School christmas concert. Memorial Hall, 6:00 pm. Thursday 10 December School carol Service. Holy Trinity, platt church, platt lane, Manchester, M14 5NF, 6:00 pm. Monday 14 December carols in the city in aid of The royal Manchester children’s Hospital at Manchester cathedral, time tbc. Tuesday 15 December christmas concert. Memorial Hall, 6:30 pm.
16, 17, 18 & 19 March avenue Q by robert lopez, 7:00 pm. Dates and times of events are subject to change. For confirmation and ticket reservations please see mgs.org
Old Mancunian Ties Old Mancunian silk ties are available at the cost of £20 in the uK or £22 overseas including p&p.
Tuesday 15 March Junior School Spring concert. Memorial Hall, 6:00 pm.
Please contact Julie Wright.
Monday 21 March Easter concert. royal Northern college of Music, time tbc.
Gift Aid
Wednesday 27 April Summer concert. Memorial Hall, time tbc.
Drama events 6, 7 & 9 October Our country’s good by Timberlake Wertenbaker, 7:00 pm. 2 & 3 December Junior School christmas Show, 6:00 pm. 11, 12 & 13 January Joseph K. by Tom basden, Drama Studio, 6:00 pm.
1970s Reunion Dinner. Saturday 7 May. please see page 4.
2 & 3 February Junior School production, 6:00 pm.
Details of all the OM events can be found at mgsglobal.org
18 & 19 February The 39 Steps by patrick barlow, Drama Studio, 7:00 pm.
Correspondence to Julie Wright at MGS, Old Hall Lane, Manchester, M13 0XT or 0161 224 7201.
Noteworthy
Sunday 31 January britten’s War requiem in aid of clIc Sargent. Memorial Hall, 7:30 pm.
Tuesday 19 April guitar and harp concert, The Theatre, 6:30 pm.
Get in touch ...
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.
Amazon.co.uk Many of us are shoppers on the internet, and by using the Amazon.co.uk website through the icon link on the School’s own website (mgs.org ) up to 10% of the value of any purchase made is automatically given for the direct benefit of the bursary Fund.
L to R: Simon Jones, ext 240 or s.jones@mgs.org Julie Wright, ext 241, j.wright@mgs.org Jane graham, ext 243, j.graham@mgs.org Ian Thorpe, ext 570, i.thorpe@mgs.org laura rooney, ext 571, l.l.rooney@mgs.org
History book pre-ordered copies of the MgS: a History at 500 are now available for collection from the Development Office at the School. If you would still like to order a copy (priced £30 excluding p&p), please contact Julie Wright in the Development Office.