Friends of BRGS Edition 35

Bacup & Rawtenstall

Issue 35

Grammar School

Winter 2016/7

Friends of BRGS A newsletter produced by BRGS for former students, parents & the community

Pathway to being a Professional Musician BRGS student Carl Ashworth has been awarded a place in the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain 2017.

This is widely seen as the world's greatest orchestra of teenagers and Carl will be joining 163 other brilliant performers, aged 13 to 19 from across the UK to take part in this exciting orchestra which will provide an excellent opportunity for Carl to play at a high level at a number of different venues.

During the year NYO Musicians participate in three residencies with inspirational music directors, give eight major concerts, play live on BBC Radio 3, appear on Classic FM, and celebrate the release of a new recording of The Planets by the orchestra. NYO Musicians are all playing their instruments at the very highest level, at Grade VIII equivalent and above, and gaining a place is a huge achievement. This year 764 musicians applied from across the width and breadth of the UK. Elodie Chousmer-Howells, now in her third year as an NYO violinist, will lead the orchestra. The seventeen-year-old from Chelmsford credits Classic FM for introducing her to popular orchestral repertoire and, in her year as leader, hopes to encourage the orchestra to think about how orchestral music connects to the modern world. Elodie says: „NYO is an orchestra of teenagers that wants to connect, through classical music, to other teenagers.

I can‟t imagine a greater privilege or better use of such an amazing pool of talent.‟ Music is in Carl's family as his younger brother Ian (Year 7) was awarded a place in December in the Under 13s Orchestra of the National Children's Orchestra of Great Britain. Well done to Ian too!

Young Musicians’ Competition 2016 Judged by former student and talented musician Chalcedony Williams alongside Miss Fathipour, BRGS musicians competed in the hotly contested Young Musicians' Competition 2016. After successfully auditioning to participate in the competition, students gave some magnificent performances with strong technical ability and clear musicality.

The winners on the evening were as follows: Lower School Winner Hollie Lancaster; Middle School Winner Georgia Featherstone; Upper School Winner Sam Porteous and Audience Vote Winner Callum Lawrence.

To hear some of the performances then do go to the news section of our website or click here.

www.brgs.org.uk

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Welcome!

Friends of BRGS online

In this edition we reflect on a whole host of individual and team achievements across the spectrum from music to maths and athletics to art.

We look at the educational landscape at the present time with regards to finance as well as sharing with you a snapshot of one of the school‟s teaching and learning priorities with a focus on effective feedback.

Do keep sending in all your news, photos and ideas for features. We try to include as many of your contributions as possible.

With best wishes, Emma Emma Gauntlett Development Director ecg@brgs.org.uk Tel: 01706 234500/01706 234502 (direct) www.brgs.org.uk

After consulting with former students and readers of the magazine, we have made the decision going forward that Friends of BRGS newsletters will be published via email and on our website.

For those of you who have requested hard copies of the magazine then these are available at £10 per annum (to cover in-house printing and postage costs) with cheques made payable to BRGS and sent to school for my attention. These will be arriving with you shortly. Please note that copies will not be printed on gloss paper or bound as they have been previously.

Please check with former students as to whether they have received this e-copy and, if not, please encourage them to register their email contact details on the Future First website so that we are able to maintain contact. Thank you.

Focus on Finance The proposed National Funding Formula which overhauls how school spending is allocated and is designed to support deprived areas by reallocating existing funding will impact particularly on Grammar Schools. The Grammar School Heads’ Association has said that whilst 60 grammar schools will gain, 103 are set to lose money.

BRGS Headteacher Alan Porteous said: “School funding has been under pressure for some time, and increasing costs have already had a significant impact on the ability of headteachers to balance their budget. Reductions in curriculum offer and enrichment provision have already been implemented in many schools, and the proposed funding model will only increase that pressure. We have been planning for potential further cuts for the past three years and will continue to do so to minimise impact.”

The National Funding Formula is still at consultation stage and BRGS, along with many other schools in Lancashire, will be ensuring that it contributes to the consultation.

Against this backdrop, we are grateful for the financial support which we have received from former students, parents, charitable trusts and friends of the school over a number of years. Through your generosity we were able to build a new Sports Hall at a cost of over £1.3 million and we have benefited subsequently through your support of our Annual Fund. With shrinking budgets and our determination to provide children with a quality education, we will continue to rely on your support. If you would like to support us at this time then please do get in touch at ecg@brgs.org.uk. Further details regarding how you might be able to help will follow later in the year.

Ethics and Etherington

Skyping Support

Stuart Etherington published a significant and important review of the ethics and regulation of charity fundraising practice in 2015. This review will shape and inform the practices of many charities, including the BRGS Fundraising Trust, in the coming years.

Former students based anywhere from Bermuda to Geneva are kindly helping to shape our „Lunch and Learnâ€&#x; Skype Sessions designed to help current students put forward questions and quiz professionals in a range of career fields.

At BRGS, we aim to implement best practices in our fundraising activities and follow current guidance from the Institute of Fundraising. We are in dialogue with the new Fundraising Regulator to ensure that we are aware of guidance on the storage of data and consent.

Whether new or experienced in your sector, if you are able to share 30 minutes of your time to help to inform and guide some of our Year 10-13 students as they weigh up their career options then please get in touch with Emma Gauntlett at ecg@brgs.org.uk. Equally, if you would like to get involved by offering work experience to a student, please do contact us.

Youth Member of Parliament Year 10 student Ismaeel Hasnain was selected as a candidate for the Rochdale Member of UK Youth Parliament. His campaign focused on preventing hate crime, transport (particularly looking at travel costs for young people on public transport) and votes at 16. The election result was announced on the 15th February with 11,000 young people voting and the new Rochdale Member of Youth Parliament announced as Sarah Mahmood, aged 15 from Hollingworth Academy. We wish her every success and also congratulate Ismaeel on his commitment to a hard fought campaign. Ismaeel will continue to be a member of the Rochdale Youth Cabinet with his voice representing other young people at a regional and national level.

BRGS wins Cardiac Smart Award BRGS has won a prestigious North West Ambulance Service Cardiac Smart Award. Pictured are just some of the members of staff who recently undertook a Basic Life Support and Automated External Defibrillation Course accredited by the North West Ambulance Service.

www.brgs.org.uk

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Academic Excellence BRGS was ranked =77th in The Sunday Times Parent Power League Table of the top 250 state secondary schools for 2016.

In 2015 BRGS was 155th so the result in 2016 marks a fantastic rise in the league table. From all the state secondary schools in the north-west, BRGS is ranked a superb 8th.

The calculations used by The Sunday Times used 2016 examination results with A*-B grades at A level double weighted.

It is also official that we have the best Sixth Form in Rossendale, Burnley, Bury, Blackburn, Rochdale and Clitheroe as we come top for more key measures than any other Sixth Form or College. For the details, do see the data on our website http://www.brgs.org.uk/sixth-form In addition, BRGS is:  

5th in Lancashire for points score per A level and Progress (Value Added) In the top 8% nationally for Progress (Value Added – 369th out of 4380)

For any GCSE students who are still considering their next stage in their education, it is not too late to apply for September 2017. Application forms are available on our website.

Oxbridge Bound A record number of ten students received Oxbridge offers this academic year. Congratulations to the following students: Tom Chesworth to read Music at Queens‟ College, Cambridge, Jacob Fielder to study Engineering at Jesus College, Oxford, Aimie Foster to study Physics at Mansfield College, Oxford, Olivia Healey to read Natural Sciences at Corpus Christi, Cambridge, Olivia James to read Medicine at Exeter College, Oxford, Bethanne Jones to read Law at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, Will Moppett to read Law at St Edmund Hall, Oxford, Dan O‟Sullivan to study Economics at Hertford College, Oxford, Sam Porteous to study Geography at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge and Amy Wilkinson to study History and German at Magdalen College, Oxford. Good luck to all in your exams!

Art Exhibition

Landscaping the Slope

Sixth form art was showcased in our new canopy area which formed the perfect backdrop for some fantastically creative work. Click here to see more.

The top of what was known to scores of former pupils as the girls‟ slope leading to Waterfoot Primary School now has a Multi-Use Games Area which is being fully used and appreciated by all.

Parking has also been improved with the slope widened into the banking with plenty of shrub planting which, when mature, will look particularly attractive.

Outside of the Clark and Copley building, the waste land has now been landscaped with six well-established trees planted and we are awaiting the arrival of benches and tables to provide students with a relaxed, open outdoor space, something which has been at a real premium at BRGS.

Hand warmers for the elderly A small group of Year 11 students have helped Food Technology and Textiles Teacher Rebecca Gore to make hand warmers for elderly people with dementia. The hand warmers are designed to keep patients’ hands warm whilst having lots of 'bits and bobs' to play with to keep their mind active.

The hand warmers were taken to the Ulster Hospital in Belfast as this was where Rebecca’s Granny was looked after in her last few months.

Ward 21 in The Care of the Elderly Unit has passed on thanks to the students and said that the hand warmers will bring pleasure to a number of their patients.

Rebecca would also like to thank fellow teachers Annette Marti and Sara Bowdler for knitting the hand warmers.

A big thank you to the students involved: Ariij Asif, Georgia Babaoglu, Georgia Oultram, Linnea McDonough and Cara King.

Holocaust Memorial Day As part of our commemoration of Holocaust Memorial Day, history teacher Margaret Stanley and two sixth form students Amy Wilkinson and Emilia Green, visited Auschwitz and have arranged a food collection for the Barnabus Charity based in Mancheter which supports homeless people. Read more here:http://bit.ly/2mwJ4UP

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Kids’ Lit Quiz It was our first time participating in the Kids' Lit Quiz at the end of November.

The Kids' Lit Quiz is an annual literature competition for children aged 10 to 13. Since it began in 1991 the quiz has spread across the world, with national competitions being held in New Zealand, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Canada, USA, Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong. The winning team from each heat competes in a National Final with winners going on to the World Final.

In the heats, teams of students are asked to answer 100 questions on children's literature divided into ten categories which vary each year with categories including poetry, authors, titles, settings, characters and nursery rhymes. Between each round, whilst the marking takes place, the Quizmaster asks questions of the spectators which gives them a chance to win books.

The North-West heat was held at Pendle Vale and in spite of a valiant effort, BRGS were pipped to the post on this occasion with the top three being: Cockermouth School (1st), Keswick School (2nd) and Clitheroe Royal Grammar School (3rd).

Congratulations to these schools as they progress to the next stage of the competition. BRGS will be back again next year!

Speech Nights On the penultimate day of the long autumn term, former students flocked back to BRGS to be presented with their A Level certificates at Senior Speech Night by guest speaker Kayleigh Mills.

Kayleigh left BRGS Sixth Form in 2004 before moving to Ecuador to volunteer with underprivileged children and then returned to the UK to study Spanish at the University of St. Andrews, where she received a firstclass Masters degree with Honours.

Since graduating, Kayleigh moved to Spain where she taught English as a foreign language and ran her own successful Language Academy. Kayleigh has since returned to live in the UK, where she transitioned into a career in television production and has worked on various programmes, both in the UK and in locations around the world, including The Island with Bear Grylls, Hunted, Dragons' Den, Mastermind and Old School with the Hairy Bikers.

One of Kayleigh's key messages was to reassure ex-students that it is absolutely fine to not know what you want to do with your life. She said: "I think it is one of the biggest myths that you are supposed to know what you want to do with the rest of your life at 18. I mean, if you are one of the lucky few to have had a passion since day dot and know with absolute certainty that that is your calling in life, then that is great.

However, you shouldn‟t feel worried or anxious if you don‟t know yet." She also said that taking the trickier and less straight-forward route is sometimes the best way saying: "taking the long and winding road has served me much more than everything falling neatly into place would have."

Overall, she left the audience with the message that "the key is determination and not giving up...the things you look back on in 12 years' time will be the things that didn't come easily to you, the things you had to graft for, and they will be what define you as a person and what you will become the proudest of."

For Junior Speech Night we were privileged to welcome back Emily Lester who left BRGS in 2008 progressing on to study Aerospace and Aerothermal Engineering at Murray Edwards College, University of Cambridge. She joined the Cambridge University Air Squadron, where, in between lectures, netball and rowing, she completed basic RAF flying training.

Emily graduated in 2012 with a Master of Engineering degree with Merit, and was selected for the British Airways Future Pilot Programme. As part of the Programme, Emily spent eight months in New Zealand, where she completed her commercial flying training. Emily now works as a First Officer for British Airways, flying the Airbus A320 series aircraft on routes around the UK, Europe and the Middle East from London Heathrow. In addition, she has continued her military involvement and is currently serving as an Intelligence Officer with the RAF Reserves.

The theme of Emily's speech was not to limit yourselves and to set the bar high: not to conform to a specific mould but to follow a path that inspires you, embracing opportunities and challenges. Emily spoke of the strong sense of identity that BRGS and living in Rossendale gave her urging students to be proud of their time at BRGS, never forgetting their teenage years here.

Alan Porteous, Headteacher said that he wanted students to be outstanding: "in the sense of standing out from the crowd, being an exception to the norm - and that could be through your academic achievement; but just as importantly, it could be your creativity and imagination; your tolerance of people who are different to you; your character and attitude to other people; your compassion for and care for other people, particularly those less fortunate than you; your communications skills, confidence and ability to speak coherently; your resilience and adaptability; your honest and integrity or your commitment and work ethic. All of these things are sorely needed in the world!"

He finished his speech with a quote from Albert Einstein: "Strive to make a difference - strive for significance. Become a man of value."

Charities’ Committee In September students were nominated and interviewed for a place on a whole school Charitiesâ€&#x; Committee. The Committee then invited pitches from students and staff as to which charities the school should support during the course of the academic year.

Under the Chairmanship of Natalie Tullock (Year 13), the Committee made the difficult decision to select the following three: Multiple Sclerosis Society, The World Wildlife Fund and Rossendale Hospice.

www.brgs.org.uk

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Cambridge Schools’ Debating Competition Regional Heat Sixth form students Joshua Smith and Joseph Eaton formed the BRGS team in the Regional Round of the Cambridge Schools Debating Competition. Both debated articulately and convincingly on a range of topics. With only 15 minutes preparation for each topic and the use of the internet to research or plan banned, Joshua and Joseph showed excellent general knowledge and came second in their final debate.

Motions were far from easy and were as follows: This House would abolish all labour laws in developing countries.

This House regrets the rise of social media as the primary source of news distribution.

This House supports Israel's policy of intentional ambiguity.

Maths Challenge 2016 Year 12 & 13 pupils at Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School achieved 8 Golds, 15 Silvers and 9 Bronzes in this year‟s UKMT Senior Maths Challenge. Approximately 100,000 students from across the UK sat the Challenge, with roughly the top 10% receiving a Gold certificate, the next 20% Silver and the next 30% Bronze. The percentages for BRGS were 25% Gold, 47% Silver and 28% Bronze.

Around 1000 top scorers in the Senior Challenge are invited to take part in the British Mathematical Olympiad Round 1 and around 2000 are invited to take part in the Senior Kangaroo.

We are delighted that Ryan Simonds, Harvey Musgrave, James Heaton, Matthew Tyman, Jacob Fielder and Shahidur Rahman (all Year 13), and Louis Jefcoate and Jake Crabtree (both Year 12) will take the Senior Kangaroo. Particular congratulations go to Shahidur, who has made the biggest improvement compared to the results from 12 months ago.

Maths teacher Mr Wilbraham, who organises the Challenge, said: “The students have achieved some fantastic results this year, with everyone who participated receiving a certificate.

“The Challenge tests mathematical thinking and application, rather than recalling methods and processes, so the questions can be more abstract and difficult than those on A Level examinations.

“The level of thinking required is also suitable for many degree subjects and the students should include their success on this Challenge when they are applying for Higher Education.

“The students are required to think about their answers rather than just guess and our results show how mathematically able BRGS students are, as 100% received a certificate compared to 60% nationally.”

Two sample questions from this year‟s Senior Maths Challenge are: On a Monday, all prices in Isla‟s shop are 10% more than normal. On Friday, all prices in Isla‟s shop are 10% less than normal. James bought a book on Monday for £5.50. What would be the price of another copy of this book on Friday?

A: £5.50 B: £5.00 C: £4.95 D: £4.50 E: £4.40 Aaron has to choose a three-digit code for his bike lock. The digits can be chosen from 1-9. To help him remember them, Aaron chooses three different digits in increasing order, for example 278. How many such codes can be chosen?

A: 779 B: 504 C: 168 D: 84 E: 9

Teaching Today Teaching and learning strategies move apace and here at BRGS we adapt and adopt what is best for students in our context. Over the past couple of years we have had a particular focus on providing effective feedback to students.

Research from the Education Endowment Foundation supports our focus indicating that when done well, it can have a high impact for very low cost. For example, improving the quality of feedback provided to pupils has an average impact of eight months. According to the Education Endowment Foundation “this means that pupils in a class where high quality feedback is provided can be expected to make, on average, eight months more progress over the course of a year compared to another class of pupils who are performing at the same level at the start of the year.”

So, how do we provide useful feedback? Teachers are not expected to provide copious written feedback but instead, students and teachers engage more in a dialogue about their work through use of „purple pens‟, „yellow boxes‟ and similar strategies.

Although probably sounding alien to those of you outside of education, the „purple pen of progress‟ has been used in a number of schools across the country. Put simply, students have a pen with purple ink which they are expected to use to reflect on and improve their work in response to teacher feedback. For example, students might be asked to use a purple pen to self or peer assess using the WWW (what went well) and EBI (even better if) framework after a piece of work has been completed. Students may also be asked to improve an aspect of their work using their purple pen which can evidence immediate progress.

As for „yellow boxes‟ these are highlighted empty boxes left as „gifts‟ to students when a teacher has marked a task which the teacher expects the student to fill with additional information to extend and challenge their thinking beyond their original answer. Again, this encourages an active conversation between student and teacher.

The focus for the Teaching Today article for our next issue will be oracy skills…

Obituaries We were saddened to learn of the following since publication of our last newsletter: Dorothy Broadhurst née Mann died peacefully at Eventide Home in Southport on the 10th July, 2016 aged 93. Dorothy attended BRGS in the 1930s proceeding to do her teacher training at Warton and then returning to Rossendale to pursue her teaching career. Her final post was as Headteacher at Northern County Primary School in Weir from 1965 until her retirement in 1977.

www.brgs.org.uk

Former Domestic Science teacher at BRGS Connie Dracup has died aged 88 years old. Connie Dracup arrived at BRGS in 1955 becoming Head of Domestic Science in 1958 and staying at BRGS until her retirement in 1986. Miss Dracup studied at Burnley Girls‟ High School before progressing to Teacher Training College at Edge Hill. Initially her subject specialism which she taught was geography but she then trained at Radbrook Hall Shrewsbury before pursuing a Domestic Science route.

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Alex Duffus died on 9th October, 2015 aged 87 years. He was always proud that he attended Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School. He studied civil engineering at Manchester University graduating in 1949 and obtaining a post as a graduate assistant engineer with Salop County Council. At the same time, he met Sybil who was to become his wife.

Alex was commissioned in the Corps of Royal Engineers in September 1951 rising to the rank of Major and commanding a squadron in the Army Engineer Regiment, at the end of which time he was awarded the emergency reserve decoration.

started her great love of hockey. Her other passion for maths was fired by Big D (Miss Dorothy Moore) who showed her that Geometry theorems made sense and did not need to be learnt verbatim.

Highlights of her time at school as a pupil including raspberry picking After full-time service, his career focused on in Scotland with Miss Hammer and Miss Newall and Surveying and he designed and built his own Youth Hostelling in Germany with the Humpstons. bungalow where he lived with Sybil for over 50 years. In 1960 he took the post of Divisional Hazel was reluctant to leave BRGS as a pupil and in Surveyor at Oswestry and in 1966 he was appointed fact, the Friday before she started college, the Assistant County Surveyor for Shropshire. After Headteacher Mr Bill Copley invited her to apply for a retiring he became Chairman of the Action role as a maths teacher at BRGS. There was no Committee to prevent the closure of Oswestry and interview and it led to nearly 40 years of maths District Hospital and was Chairman of Governors at teaching. a number of schools: Oswestry Boys‟ High School, Fitzalan School and Marches School: a contribution Hazel will be remembered with great affection by to education in the town of some 25 years. legions of former pupils and former members of staff.

A raconteur par excellence, he had a good memory a quick wit and a vast repertoire of jokes, funny Hundreds of students posted their memories about stories and rhymes. He was a Chairman for many Hazel onto Trevor Elkington‟s Facebook page. years of Oswestry Cricket Club. He was a loyal and devoted husband for 64 years a brilliant father and Some of these included: grandfather who delighted in everyone‟s  Elinor Pegg née Haines: “I hope it helps her achievements and in time spent with his family. He family to know she was an appreciated and is survived by his wife a son and daughter and 4 fondly remembered maths, form and hockey grandchildren. teacher – a pillar of my school years.”  Stephen Oldfield: “A legendary teacher Helen Manning née Hamer died on the 4th July without a doubt.”

2016 aged 83. She was a former student at BRGS  James Beetham: “Never met anyone so from 1943-1950 and held a number of positions of passionate about maths and it was responsibility as House Captain, Games Captain infectious.” and Head Girl. Helen continued her love of sport  Erica Blunstone: “Miss Pretty for me after leaving school, playing hockey at Bury Sports epitomised BRGS – she was a teacher who Club where she met her husband, Ken. She trained commanded respect and truly earned it.” at St. Mary‟s Hospital to become a physiotherapist –  Sean Anthony Kelly: “Demon with a hockey a job she loved. She leaves her husband and three stick in her hands – mixed hockey was a children, Susan, Ross and Richard. rough game when she played!”

Hazel Pretty sadly died in August 2016. She first began her long association with BRGS when she came into 2D as a first year pupil in September 1949. Hazel said at the time that she found the place very daunting especially as her sister Joyce was in the U6 but left for university after only a few weeks. She recounted that it was not until the following year “when I met up with Elizabeth Pickup, who was repeating the year because of illness that I began to feel I belonged.” Hazel fondly remembered Miss Reece, the PE teacher who

BRGS former student Muriel Thomas née Beecroft died on the 3rd January 2017, aged 92. Whilst at BRGS she was a keen sportswoman, being vicecaptain of the school hockey team. After school, she went on to Birmingham University where she studied History and was then a teacher form many years in Bromley and then in Bristol where she died.

Fred Tomlinson, singer and composer, was born on the 18th December 1927 and died after a long illness on 17th July 2016, aged 88. Fred was the youngest of four children, born into a musical family with his parents founding the Rossendale Male Voice Choir. Fred followed his elder brothers Jim and Ernest to Manchester Cathedral Choir School but after the cathedral was bombed during the way he spent a year as a chorister at King‟s College, Cambridge, before continuing his education at BRGS.

Michael Palin said: “Fred Tomlinson and his singers were an indispensible part of the Python TV shows.

They had just the right attitude for Python – a willingness to do, wear and sing anything so long as it was different and outrageous.”

Post-BRGS, he went on to read maths and statistics, followed by Italian and music at Leeds University. After National Service with the RAF in Singapore he headed to London where he was soon assisting David Croft on Dad’s Army and helping with the music for Are You Being Served? He set up the Fred Tomlinson Singers, an all-male a cappella group and came to the attention of Michael Palin who was starting a show which was then named The Circus. Monty Python’s Flying Circus was full of Fred‟s music including the Fred Tomlinson Singers dressed as Canadian Mounties in the famous “I‟m a lumberjack” ditty.

We were sorry to learn that Barbara Torevell née Hartley died on the 21st August, 2016 aged 79.

Barbara was a retired PE teacher who taught in Rossendale but also in Leeds. Her passion for all sport led to her and her husband Alan (Chairman of the BRGS Appeal Committee at the time), championing the successful BRGS Sports Hall Appeal which so many former students, parents and friends of the school supported.

Fred married Pamela Mellor, an accomplished singer. They had two daughters: Bridget who died in a car accident in her thirties; and Deborah who died in 2011 after suffering from the neurological disorder Rett syndrome.

Barbara also enjoyed music which led her to supporting many functions at Chetham‟s School of Music. She was highly involved in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, receiving a Diamond Award.

Barbara leaves husband Alan, son Martyn, daughter-in-law Valerie, grandchildren William, Jasmine and Esme and her two sisters Susan and Wendy.

Who? What? Where? When?

Janice Lee née Airey spotted Roy Butterworth as the PE teacher with the gym team in the photo from the previous edition – see next page for a reminder. She believes that The Men‟s Staff Room photo includes Mr Thomson (seated, holding a cup and nicknamed Spotter) who taught Physics and Milton Ormerod standing behind him. The gentleman wearing glasses and holding a book may have been Mr Tripp who was Head of English when the photo was taken in the late 1950s. The younger looking teacher on the extreme left may have been Neville Crane who was a former pupil who returned to teach Biology.

Elizabeth Barclay née Lloyd Holt agrees with Janice‟s suggestions and also proposes that the gentleman on the left in profile may be Eric Ward (geography) and the gentleman at the front right could possibly be Mr Phillips. Stuart Holt and Barbara Fox both added to those identified by suggesting Mr Law (English) may have been holding a tea cup at the back and that Mr Humphreys may have been in the shot too. www.brgs.org.uk

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Who? What? Where? When? continued…

Others who generously got in touch to contribute to the large response included Derrick Riley (who threw maths teacher Mr Wilson and physic teacher Mr Thompson‟s names into the mix), Michael Brearley, Barry Kiehn, classmates from UVa in 1962 (Rodney Sellers, Ken Bradley, Colin Warburton and Michael Colbert) and Derek Copley. (Derek also spotted himself 2nd row down and 3rd from the right in the gym team photo with others identified on the photo as Stuart Pickup, possibly Warren Lenney, Fred Keeble and Jeremy Shuttleworth.)

We are grateful for the responses we are still receiving on the netball photo with Julie Wood identifying Elaine Keymer at Goalkeeper, Alison Tattersall as Wing Attack, Centre as Tracy McClennan and Goal Defence as Katherine Lancaster. The other two players may have been Gill Almond and Lorraine Stevens? Beryl Tattersall wrote with a correction and to kindly let us know that the Goal Attack was actually Alison Benson née Tattersall who is her daughter and Julie Fenton née Horrocks thought that the Goal Shooter may have been Lorraine Hamnett but was not 100% certain.

Please do get in touch at ecg@brgs.org.uk if you spot anyone you recognise in this edition‟s photo which is a poor quality photo from 1958 (bottom right).

Sports Reports For all the latest BRGS Sports News then do follow BRGS PE Department on Twitter @BRGS_PE

Gymnastics Sports Leadership Year 8 student Millie Outram supported local primary school children in their Gymnastics Competition providing the young gymnasts with positive feedback on their performances and judging their efforts. The children also enjoyed watching Millie and Neve (a fellow judge from Alder Grange High School) perform. Millieâ€&#x;s support of the competition was part of her Sports Leadership commitment.

Bronze Young Ambassador Sports Conference BRGS Gold Sports Ambassadors delivered a training session at the Bronze Young Ambassador Conference.

Rossendale Athletics Champions 2016 Congratulations to our athletes who were overall winners in the Rossendale Athletics Championships in September 2016. A a fantastic achievement and well deserved!

The postponed Rossendale Schools' Athletics Championships took place at the prestigious City of Manchester Athletics Stadium in Manchester at the end of September. The event provided the opportunity for our talented young athletes to showcase their talent, competing in a professional arena.

Winning the overall title was the Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School Team taking the title from 2015 winners Alder Grange who finished second with Haslingden High third. BRGS year 7, 8 and 9 girls and the year 7 and 8 boys won their competitions. Alder Grange won the year 9 boys. A number of Rossendale records were broken (see below). All athletes from across Rossendale had raised the bar since the previous year with Brendan Baird, Head of PE at BRGS commenting: "We are very proud of our athletesâ€&#x; commitment and performances. It was a wonderful event and we must thank Mrs Wilson and staff from Haslingden HS for organising the event."

Records broken by BRGS students in 2016: Y7 Girls 300 metres Ema Lodererova in 47.32 seconds, Y9 Girls 300 metres Orla Holt in 46.63 seconds, Y8 Boys 800 metres Max Cunningham in 2 minutes 22 seconds, Y7 Girls Javelin Phoebe Johnstone with 22.75 metres, Y7 4 x 100 metres relay in 57.60 seconds, Y8 Girls 4 x 100 metres relay in 57.44 seconds, Y8 Boys 4 x 100 metres relay in 53.44 seconds and Y9 Girls 4 x 100 metres relay in 57.15 seconds.

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Snowdonia Marathon Not only did BRGS PSHE and Sociology teacher Joanne Nelson come first in the women’s race in the Snowdonia Marathon, she also beat the course record in a time of 03:03:53!

Year 13 celebrated the end of their A levels in style with their Prom.

We hope the class of 2016 are enjoying life post-BRGS. Do keep in touch!

Photos were kindly taken by former Deputy Headteacher Trevor Elkington.

Year 7 horror-themed disco

Message Board 

In the last edition former student Marion Beck née Teal reflected on Freda Ebden introducing versespeaking as part of the annual school concert. Ian Phillips also remembers verse-speaking from his time at BRGS and reading Psalm 95, Longfellow‟s Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast and David Everett‟s poem: “You‟d scarce expect one of my age To speak in public on a stage; And if I chance to fall below Demosthenes or Cicero, Don‟t view me with a critic‟s eye But pass my imperfections by.

Large streams from little fountains flow, Tall oaks from little acorns grow.”

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Former student Andrew Horsfall has been installed as a Residentiary Canon and Hospital Chaplain at Blackburn Cathedral.

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Joe Wallwork (left BRGS in 2012) has been offered a place at the Mathematics of Planet Earth Centre for Doctoral Training, shared by Imperial College London and the University of Reading. He will undergo a one year Masters

by Research degree followed by a three year PhD programme. The central aim of the programme is to apply mathematical knowledge to the enormous problem posed by climate change. We wish him well.

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We welcome back Suzanne Taggart née Hargreaves to BRGS as School Business Manager. Suzanne was a former student at BRGS from 1983 -1988 and after BRGS she went on to work for Natwest Bank. Suzanne brings a wealth of experience to the role as School Business Manager at Clitheroe Royal Grammar School and most recently at Shuttleworth College.

www.brgs.org.uk

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Message Board 

Former student Mollie Campbell from the class of 2011 is now playing in the GB Senior Basketball Team and has recently returned from the GB November training camp, focusing on the Commonwealth Games next year. Mollie started her basketball career here at BRGS and is definitely one to watch over the next few years.

Mollie first played with the basketball team the Manchester Mystics before moving to the States to continue her studies at the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff whilst competing in the 2013/14 season. She then returned to studying at Loughborough University and joined the Leicester Riders.

Mollie has also played at an international level, helping the England U16s gain a silver medal in 2011/12 season which resulted in promotion to Division A. She has also competed for the GB U20s in the Division B European Championships in Montenegro. Most recently, in February she played her first game for the GB Senior Basketball Team winning against Albania.

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Please support BRGS‟ PTA: in late November nearly £300 was raised through a PTA Quiz and there is a PTA Comedy Night scheduled for Friday 24th March. Tickets are £15 each for a stand-up comedy fun-raiser by Funtime Comedy Club at Rossendale Sports Club, Marl Pits. Tickets available online at http://www.wegottickets.com/events/389956 or by emailing brgspta@brgs.co.uk.

The show is suitable for over 16s only.

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BRGS PTA also encourages you to buy through easyfundraising.org.uk. This doesn‟t cost you a penny extra but if you buy through one of their 3,095 shops and sites then a commission is generated which is turned into a donation. If you are thinking of booking your family holiday then BRGS could benefit with a £40 donation on the average family holiday package or £30 when you sort out your car insurance and much more. Simply register on the easyfundraising.org.uk website.

Follow us: Do follow us on twitter @BRGS_1701 and on our Facebook site which is BRGS (Official Facebook).

Glen Road, Waterfoot, Rossendale, Lancashire BB4 7BJ

T: 01706 234500 E: enquiries@brgs.org.uk W: www.brgs.org.uk

Sixth Form: T: 01706 233400 E: sixthform@brgs.org.uk