Friends of BRGS Edition 36

Bacup & Rawtenstall

Issue 36

Grammar School

Summer 2017

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

Riccardo: The Voice!

BRGS students and staff were glued to the screen for the debut episode of The Voice Kids on ITV to support BRGS pupil Riccardo Atherton. We had to wait on tenterhooks throughout the programme until he made his appearance to wow the judges in the final audition of the night.

Riccardo performed his take on Jennifer Hudson‟s version of Leonard Cohen‟s Hallelujah and the audience were blown away by his moving rendition. Riccardo won the judges over, with not just one of the star coaches turning around, but a clean sweep of all three.

Will.i.am, Pixie Lott and McFly‟s Danny Jones said his performance gave them goosebumps with Will.i.am telling Riccardo “you sound spectacular”. Ringing praise also from Pixie Lott who exclaimed: “Your voice sounds insane.”

Riccardo‟s decision-making skills were then in the spotlight as he had to quickly decide which judge he wanted to coach him. Tactfully saying that they were all amazing, he then made his ultimate choice of Pixie due to their shared admiration of Mariah Carey. Pixie stated: “I think we have the same influences, so we can do the right songs. I would absolutely love to work with you.” Another connection was that Pixie shares her real name, Victoria, with Riccardo‟s Italian grandmother, Vittorina. She proclaimed that it was “fate” and “meant to be”.

On the show, Riccardo said: “I want to make my grandma proud and my parents and everyone who‟s come to watch – and I hope I do them proud.”

Riccardo progressed through the semi-finals with a stunning rendition of Somewhere Over the Rainbow, having seen off the challenge of more than 16,000 youngsters.

Photo: ITV

Although he did not take the title, he can be rightly proud of his achievements after his compelling performance of Beauty and the Beast in the live final.

Riccardo said: “I want to focus more on my musicianship now – I want to learn how to play the guitar and improve my piano skills.”

Alan Porteous, Headmaster echoed the sentiments of all at BRGS in our delight at Riccardo‟s achievement, commenting: “I am sure that this success will open up lots of opportunities for him, and we look forward to seeing how he progresses over the coming years.”

www.brgs.org.uk

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Welcome!

Helping the Homeless

Reflecting back on another busy year for all at BRGS, this edition provides a snapshot of the students‟ successes and contributions to the wider community.

Sixth form students Amy Wilkinson and Emilia Green participated in the Lessons from Auschwitz programme organised by the Holocaust Educational Trust, encouraging participants to reach out to all members of society.

Do keep sending in all your news and ideas for articles and keep track of BRGS developments through our Twitter and Facebook accounts.

This inspired them to arrange a whole school food collection for the Barnabus Charity in Manchester which helps homeless people.

All that remains for now is to wish you all an enjoyable summer.

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

Educational Change For those of you who remember seeing the change from O levels to GCSEs and, more recently, the introduction of A* grades, it is all change again for the assessment frameworks used in public exams.

2016-2017 has seen the introduction of a new grading system at GCSE in Maths and English, with grades 9-1 replacing the previous grading system from A*-G. This is combined with increasing challenge in the format and content of the exams. There is a larger number of grades at the top end, with the six grades 94 replacing the four grades A*-C. The new grade 4 is roughly equivalent to the old grade C (now to be called a “standard pass”) with the new grade 5 being considered a “good pass”. The current top two grades, A and A*, will be replaced by three top grades, 9, 8 and 7, so achieving a grade 7 will be roughly equivalent to an old grade A. It will be much harder to achieve the new grade 9 compared with the old A*, so significantly fewer students will be awarded the top grade. All other GCSE subjects will still be graded A*-G until next year when the new system is extended to all subjects.

There has been a significant change at A Level during 2016-2017 too, with about half of our subjects now being assessed on a purely linear model. This means that all of the assessment comes at the end of the two year course, without any contribution from AS results at the end of Year 12, and again with increased challenge in the exams.

All of these changes bring increased unpredictability to results, particularly for summer 2017 with limited clarity about how exactly the exams will be assessed.

Due to the uncertainty about grade boundaries and standards, Alan Porteous, Headteacher stated: “I have encouraged the staff this year to focus particularly on simply helping our students to continually improve their performance in order that they will achieve as highly as possible within the new system. Well done to our Year 11 and 13 students, who have responded well to the increased demands of the new assessment system – we look forward to seeing the fruits of all their hard work in August.”

Rochdale Connections Trust wins Year 9 Charity Pitch Year 9 students researched and presented pitches on various local charities with the aim to earn £1500 for their chosen charity. It was a close final for the selected charities with students representing Rochdale Connections Trust (RCT) which "gives everyone a chance to change" claiming the £1500 pot of money. In a tight second place was the charity SuperJosh which was awarded £500.

Students Isabelle Brittain, Eloise Friend, Madison Beaumont and Lucy Turner constituted the team representing RCT. All four of the students are from Rochdale and wanted to support RCT because of its Focus on Finance community-based work to empower young people and adults living across the borough who have suffered a hard time andNational been challenged throughout lives.how Theschool Charity helps all ages overcome barrierstoand get The proposed Funding Formula whichtheir overhauls spending is allocated and is designed their lives on track by providing private mentoring packageson ofGrammar intervention and The Grammar support deprived areas by reallocating existing fundingand willbespoke impact particularly Schools. support.

Maddy Beaumont commented that RCT "aims to rehabilitate both victims and perpetrators of School Heads’ Association has said that whilst 60 grammar schools will gain, 103 are set to lose money. abuse, in the hope of stopping abuse in the local community" with Lucy Turner listing some of the social issues in the local Alan community from poverty andpressure discrimination.

BRGS Headteacher Porteousranging said: “School fundingto hasgrooming been under for some time, and increasing costs have already had a significant impact on the ability of headteachers to balance their budget. Reductions in The students referred to a letter from a beneficiary of RCT whose daughter was raped at the age of 14. curriculum offer and enrichment provision have already been implemented in many schools, and the proposed She said: "It took one phone call and a kind heart to make things just that little better on this long painful funding model will only increase that pressure. We have been planning for potential further cuts for the past three journey. Without this lifeline we would still be trying to access support for our daughter, the support which years and will continue to do so toinminimise will make a world of difference how sheimpact.” deals with this traumatic event over the course of her life."

The National FormulaKia is still at consultation and BRGS, alongJackson with many other schools Lancashire, Students ErinFunding Hargreaves, Hacking, Claudia stage Delafield, Elizabeth and Ethan Mewinwere the will beawarded ensuring second that it contributes to the consultation. team place, supporting the charity SuperJosh (formerly The Joshua Wilson Brain Tumour Charity) which was set up in 2013 by Joshua Wilson and his mum, Dawn. Joshua had lived with a brain Against this backdrop, we are grateful for the financial support which we have received from former students, tumour since the age of three and he was only given six weeks to live. He was in a coma for three months parents, charitable trusts and friends of the school over a number of years. Through the generosity of people like and left physically disabled, leading to ten years of intense surgery and chemotherapy with Josh requiring you we were able to build a new Sports Hall at a cost of over £1.3 million and we have benefited subsequently specialist equipment and house adaptations. Sadly, Josh died in November 2014 after developing scoliosis through your support of our Annual Fund.failure With but shrinking budgets and our determinedness to provide children with and other complications such as lung the charity continues. a quality education, we will continue to rely on your support and with your Student Elizabeth said that SuperJosh deserved funding because "they have provided inspiring and Friends of BRGS online invaluable support for families in our local community and helped people at a time in their lives where they were terrified, vulnerable and devastated by the potential loss of their loved one." Erin commented on an After consulting with former students and readers of the magazine, we have made the decision going forward that entertainment package the charity donated to the Royal Oldham Hospital containing "video game consoles, Friends of BRGS newsletters will be published via email and on our website. For those of you who have requested DVDs, books and arts and crafts materials to help support and de-stress young patients who may have to hard copies of long the magazine then these are available at £10 per annum (to cover in-house printing and postage spend a very time in the ward." costs) with cheques made payable to BRGS and sent to school for my attention. 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 (sign up via email not LinkedIn or Facebook) so that we are able to maintain contact. Thank you.

Ethics and Etherington www.brgs.org.uk

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It is a tale…

Brilliant Biologists

In March, the Manchester Actors Company came into school and performed an exciting adaptation of Shakespeare‟s Macbeth.

BRGS students have excelled this year in the Biology competitions run by the Royal Society of Biology.

The compelling performance was watched by Year 11 students, providing a condensed working guide to the text and vividly bringing the plot to life alongside the characters and key themes.

Students then had the opportunity to ask the actors questions about their view of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth‟s tyrannical reign; the company were very impressed by the challenging, high quality questions that our students posed. The performance was a really useful and enjoyable way for students to revise for their English Literature GCSE.

In the spring term twelve Year 13 students took part in the British Biology Olympiad – a national competition that challenges and stimulates students with an interest in Biology to expand and extend their talents. Nine of our students had their success recognised and were awarded medals. Two students were awarded bronze medals (Charlotte and Bethanne), six were awarded silver medals (Lucy, Sophie, Olivia, Joseph, Rhema, and Sam) and Angelica was awarded the top gold award.

Arkwright Scholars Congratulations to Eleanor, Carl and Mark in Year 11 who have all succeeded in the Arkwright Engineering Scholarship's selection process.

Nearly 50 students from Y9 and Y10 entered the Biology Challenge in March. Like the Biology Olympiad, this tests not only the students‟ knowledge of curricular Biology but also their general biological knowledge gained by reading books and magazines, watching natural history programmes and taking notice of the news media for items of biological interest. Ten students were awarded bronze medals, nine silver medals and four the top gold award.

Alex, Joe and Luke were our Year 10 winners of the gold award in this year‟s Biology Challenge.

This is a national engineering scholarship awarded to approximately 450 of the highest attaining Year 11 applicants from schools across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Carl and Eleanor are now both outright Arkwright Scholars and Mark is an Arkwright Associate, awaiting news of final selection from a sponsor.

Anyone interested in finding more about how they might sponsor Arkwright students please contact Emma Gauntlett at ecg@brgs.org.uk.

Lucy won a gold award whilst still in Year 9!

Chemistry Challenges Salters’ Festival of Chemistry We set off for Manchester University to take part in the Salters‟ Festival of Chemistry. At the University, we first had an introduction from a science professor and then we went to do the first challenge called the Salters‟ Challenge. It was based on chromatography; we had to separate inks into their component colours and we also had to test many white powders with distilled water, acids and much more. It was so much fun!

The second challenge, entitled „Rainbows‟ involved fire and liquids. We first had to get four different dyed solutions to float on top of each other in a test tube making a rainbow (they all had different densities). Finally, we conducted flame tests with the solutions by putting splints into them and holding them over a Bunsen burner and noting what colour they burned. During this challenge, a man came round the desks with a bottle of liquid mercury. It was really heavy compared to how much was in it.

After all of these challenges, there was a science „magic‟ show where another professor came to do a lot of mind blowing experiments like freezing a balloon with liquid nitrogen and making a huge rocket fly in the air. After the science magic show, the winners were announced. Unfortunately, we didn‟t come in the top three, but we still really enjoyed the day! Nathan & Cameron, Year 7

Chemquiz At Manchester University we watched several experiments (where many things blew up!) and then answered some challenging questions about them as part of Chemquiz 2017. Afterwards we went to the labs where we tested a variety of substances to discover what they were. We all had to work well in a team to complete it in time. Finally it was the Quiz: the most fun part of the day where our general knowledge was tested in Chemistryrelated crosswords and puzzles. Overall we had an enjoyable and educational day and, and although we didn‟t win, we got a free pen and mug! Everyone is a winner! Ella, Year 10

University of Cambridge Chemistry Challenge Sixteen BRGS A level chemistry students entered this demanding competition along with students from over 500 other schools. The challenge is 90 minutes long and involves students answering questions which are beyond the scope of A Level. Eleven of our students performed at a significantly high level and were awarded certificates. Congratulations go to Holly, Sam, Adam, Vehie and Alice on achieving a copper award. Nationally, less than 15% of students reached „silver‟ standard, so Lewis, Olivia, Amnah, Amy and Bethany are justifiably pleased with their silver award. Our star chemist this year was Jack who received the gold award.

Holocaust Survivor Steven Frank visits BRGS Holocaust survivor Steven Frank visited to speak about his experiences in a visit organised by the Holocaust Educational Trust. Year 9 students have been learning about traditional Jewish customs and foods and presented Steven with a gift of local Lancashire delicacies.

Students had also collected funds to buy a rose tree both in honour of Steven's visit and also to commemorate victims of the Manchester bombing. The students hope that it will serve to remind us of the importance of communities working together. Steven helped us to plant the rose in our peace garden. www.brgs.org.uk

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Moments from Ypres Whilst on the annual Year 9 trip to Ypres: 

Year 9 student Aran Francis found his great, great, great uncle's name engraved on the Thiepval Memorial to the missing of the Somme Private Percy Tideswell.



Paul Jackson played The Last Post on trombone as students lay a wreath for Private Percy Horsfield of the Manchester regiment, at Tyne Cot memorial, Ypres. Percy Horsfield of Booth was a former student whose name is read every year at BRGS's Remembrance Service.



Students found the inscription for former BRGS student Private Ronald Andrew, Cheshire regiment, on the Menin Gate and lay a wreath as part of the daily Last Post ceremony, Ypres.



Lucy Scully who was one of our winning students in the Poetry By Heart competition movingly recited „The Dead Kings‟ poem penned by Francis Ledwidge next to his grave: he died on the first day of the battle of Passchendaele.

Poetry By Heart is an inspiring competition for students in Years 10 to 13 to learn and to recite poems by heart.

The first stage of the competition at a local level is the challenge to students to memorise and recite two poems - one published before 1914 and one after 1914 - with the remit to bring the poems alive to the audience.

Learning Resource Centre Manager Maria King organised the competition and was joined on the judging panel

by Gemma Greenhalgh (Deputy Head), Martin Neve (Head of Drama) and Emma Gauntlett (Development Director). Judges awarded points according to a four categories: voice, understanding, performance and accuracy. After some difficult decision-making, the two students who were chosen to represent BRGS were Caitlin Bains and Lucy Scully. Caitlin recited 'Envy' by Adelaide Anne Procter and 'On Seeing a Poet of the First World War at Abbeville' by Charles Causley whereas Lucy recited 'The Ballad of Reading Gaol' by Oscar Wilde and 'The Dead Kings' by Francis Ledwidge. Congratulations to all involved.

Special Supporter of the ‘Saving Kinabatangan’ Appeal BRGS student George Earnshaw raised an amazing £700 to support the World Land Trust 's (WLT) Saving Kinabatangan appeal. George was inspired by wildlife television presenter and Patron of the WLT Steve Backshall.

To encourage George in his fundraising efforts, Steve posted a video on Facebook especially for George stating "We are absolutely blown away. To raise that much money is just amazing. If I'd had your motivation at your age, goodness knows where I'd be right now." Steve's wife Olympian Helen Glover also sent a message two days before they started their fundraising kayak race (125 miles from Devizes to Westminster) saying: "You've done such an amazing job, and when we start, you're going to be on our minds because every time we've seen that you've raised a bit more money it's kept our spirits high." George carried out fundraising at school with a 'Name the Orang-utan' competition and for Easter he decided to ask his family for donations instead of Easter Eggs.

Donations for the Saving Kinabatangan appeal which, thanks to the effort of George and many others, totalled over £300,000, smashing the £100,000 target!

BRGS’s Soul

EuroDisney & The Eiffel Tower for Y7

Musicians from Lancashire Youth Jazz Orchestra and from BRGS Jazz and Soul Bands treated the audience to a fantastic concert culminating in a joint performance of The Peter Gunn Theme.

Fond Farewells This summer has seen the following colleagues move on to promoted positions and new roles taking the best wishes of all at BRGS with them: Rebecca Palmer (Geography) is leaving after three years in order to take up the role of Head of Geography at St. Wilfrid‟s Church of England Academy in Blackburn.

Her promotion is richly deserved as she has made an enormous contribution to BRGS. She is a passionate geographer who uses her incredible organisational skills, creativity and deep subject knowledge to deliver challenging and innovative lessons. Along with making a massive contribution to the work of the Teaching and Learning Group at BRGS, Rebecca has organised the annual enrichment week and run trips to Sorrento, Iceland, Barcelona as well as two ski trips!

Laura Ingham (English) has taught at all key stages at BRGS and has had joint responsibility for co-ordinating Key Stage 4. She has always planned and delivered lessons with students‟ learning at the heart of everything and her genuine care for those she teaches is evident. A popular and good-humoured member of staff with a flair for fashion in her vintage outfits, she is the English Department‟s bibliophile and is a reliable source of information for anyone‟s literary questions. Laura moves on to become the Assistant Head of English at Rivington and Blackrod School in Bolton.

Rebecca Gore (Food Technology) joined BRGS in September 2014 as an NQT. She has fully immersed herself into BRGS life: training dancers for the school production of The Crucible, taking students to Auschwitz, Paris and Honduras as well as organising staff social activities! Whilst in the classroom, Rebecca has achieved excellent results and has also undertaken voluntary work at Tor View Special School. At the time of writing, she is currently leading a two week conservation trip to Indonesia with 15 BRGS pupils and then she will take up a new post at Balshaw‟s Church of England High School in Leyland.

www.brgs.org.uk

Lynnette Cassidy (Deputy Head) joined BRGS in September 2014. In her three years with us, she has made a significant contribution to the strategic leadership of the school including improvements to our school development planning and self-evaluation, making improvements to our careers provision, and leading the implementation of our new assessment system at Key Stage 3. She is taking up a new post as Headteacher of Crossley Heath School in Halifax.

Gemma Greenhalgh (Deputy Head) also joined BRGS as Deputy Head in September 2014. Over the last three years, she has also made a significant contribution to the strategic leadership of the school, leading the development of teaching and learning across the school, including the implementation of a new appraisal system for the teaching staff, introducing changes to our approaches to feedback and marking and helping to lead the implementation of our new focus on Growth Mindset across the school. She has been appointed as Head of School at Millthorpe School in York.

Jenny Lyons (Music) joined BRGS at woodwind teacher in 2012 and has been involved in both teaching individuals and our Woodwind Ensembles. We are sure her students will miss her easy-going nature and good sense of humour. We wish her every success in her new role at Stockport Grammar School where she has taken a position leading their ensembles.

Tracey Masterson (Catering) has been at BRGS for just short of ten years. She has been a valuable and flexible member of our team who we will miss very much. She is leaving to take full time care of her new foster child, an enjoyable and rewarding challenge.

We wish all colleagues leaving us every happiness and success in their new ventures.

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Maths Challenge Team Regional Finals BRGS came close to once again qualifying for the National Final of the UKMT Team Challenge competition. Four pupils from Years 8 and 9 took part in a Regional Final at Bradford Grammar School finishing fourth out of 30 schools. Jason Diamantis and Joseph Nogbou (Year 8) and Ben Fishwick and Zahra Shah (Year 9) were the pupils in this year‟s team.

Intermediate Maths Competition Year 10 pupils achieved 8 Golds, 13 Silvers and 21 Bronzes in this year‟s UKMT Intermediate Maths Challenge.

Over 200,000 pupils from across the UK sat the Challenge, with roughly the top 7% receiving a Gold certificate, 13% Silver and 20% Bronze. The percentages for BRGS were 16% Gold, 25% Silver and 41% Bronze

The top scorer, Matt, with a magnificent 112 marks out of 130, was invited to sit a follow-on round called the Hamilton, involving writing fuller solutions to six problems instead of a multiple-choice test. Matt is the first BRGS pupil to qualify for this paper. Matt‟s paper was particularly challenging and he received a Merit certificate. In addition, four other pupils - Sean, Tom, Angus and Bryonney, qualified for the Pink Kangaroo round, which is a multiple-choice Europe-wide challenge.

Maths teacher Mark Wilbraham said: “We are particularly pleased for Matt, who is the first pupil at BRGS to qualify for the Hamilton paper. Our results show how mathematically able BRGS Year 10 pupils are, as 82% received a certificate compared to 40% nationally.”

Maths Distinction for Joseph Five Year 8 pupils at Bacup & Rawtenstall Grammar School recently proved themselves to be among the best young mathematicians in the United Kingdom.

Joseph Nogbou and Luca Curry were invited to sit the Junior Mathematical Olympiad paper as a result of their excellent performance in the individual challenge in April, when they scored the highest marks of all the BRGS competitors. Joseph then achieved one of the top fifty scores in the country on the Olympiad paper, which meant he was awarded a Distinction certificate, a silver medal and a prize. Luca, meanwhile, achieved a Merit certificate and when you consider this paper was taken by around 1,200 pupils nationally, both boys really are in an exclusive group.

Four other pupils, Jason Diamantis, Jasmine McLaughlin, Ryan Midgley and Haaris Waheed qualified to sit the Junior Kangaroo paper: a multiple-choice paper sat by those pupils who just missed out on qualifying for the Olympiad. Joseph is pictured with his medal and book prize, along with Challenge organiser Mark Wilbraham and Headteacher, Alan Porteous.

Designing an App Year 10 students were challenged to design an app for stationery company Ryman as part of the national Enterprise Challenge. After a day of creative thinking and business planning, six teams were selected to present to a panel of judges.

The winning team of Christian, Erin, Zaina, Josh and Sam named their app: Ryvise - the revision app that makes you wise! Ryvise has multiple USPs allowing users to tailor personalised revision timetables; it provides calming music to reduce anxiety; it allows you to make virtual and physical flashcards with a printing feature; it allows users to test their knowledge in quizzes against others at a local or international level and importantly, it locks the user out of social media while revising!

Teaching Today Building on from last edition when we reflected on effective feedback, the focus in this edition is on oracy skills.

Since September 2016 all students at BRGS have been engaged in a weekly programme of twenty minute Oracy Sessions in Form Time. The purpose of these sessions has been to further develop student confidence in communicating their views, particularly focusing on students who are sometimes reluctant to speak in class. Starting with paired work and gradually building to larger group work with mini-debates on topics in the news or matters that affect youngsters today, the sessions have helped to raise the importance of contributing verbally. Furthermore, sessions have focused on preparing students for interview scenarios when their opinions may be challenged or where they will be expected to articulate their answers clearly.

Alongside the focus in the Oracy Sessions, students have also had the opportunity to develop their skills through extra-curricular activities ranging from a newly-formed Key Stage 3 Debate Club to Poetry by Heart competitions. Teachers have also been ensuring that oracy skills have been strengthened in the classroom and this will continue to be a focus during 2017-2018.

Challenging Views on Debating Robert, Orla, Ismaeel and Hasnat (Year 10) competed in the Annual Burnley College Schools‟ Debating Competition. They argued strongly in their first two debates on:  Premiership footballers deserve all the rewards they get.  Autonomous vehicles will make driving safer.

Having topped the overall leader board they went into the semi-finals with high hopes, except they were arguing that 'voting should be made compulsory in the UK' – a topic that they would have preferred to argue against. Although they did fantastically with clear persuasive points, they sadly missed out on reaching the final by just one mark!

www.brgs.org.uk

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Happy memories: Year 11 Leavers’ Day & Prom!

Prom photos were kindly taken by former Deputy Headteacher Trevor Elkington.

Good luck class of 2017!

Year 13 Prom Pics!

Year 13 Leavers’ Day

www.brgs.org.uk

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

Kickboxing National Champion BRGS student Mia Woodward had a successful day at the kickboxing national championships where she was crowned a double National Champion. Mia has been training for nearly four years at Alf's Black Belt Academy and in this time she has achieved 10 World Titles, 4 European Titles and 7 National titles. This equates to a medal haul of 62 golds, 7 silver and 4 bronze. Mia will be representing England at the World Championships in Orlando, Florida, later in the year. Good luck Mia!

U19 Football County Champions BRGS came through as winners of the Under 19s Lancashire County Cup after an enthralling final against Clitheroe Royal Grammar School at A.F.C Darwen.

The game began with a tense first half, with few chances from either side. Notably, a shot just over the bar from Zack Hargreaves and Clitheroe brought out a fine save from Harvey Musgrave to leave the score 0-0 at half time.

After the break, BRGS started the more lively team with chances falling to Adil Hussain and Bailey Hunter. Finally, the deadlock was broken on 60 minutes, after a BRGS shot struck the arm of a Clitheroe player and a penalty was awarded. Dom Boardman added to his four goals of the campaign by calmly dispatching the penalty to the goalkeeperâ€&#x;s right.

BRGS were quickly further ahead after a superb run from Bailey Hunter, taking on three players, before firing the ball into the top right corner to make is 2-0.

Further chances fell to BRGS, however they could not add to their tally. Clitheroe managed to pin BRGS back after a defensive mix-up led to the ball being scrambled past Harvey Musgrave, which led to a tense finale with chances falling to both sides. However BRGS nerves were soon settled after a poor clearance from the Clitheroe goalkeeper allowed Amrit Chahal to slot home from a tight angle to restore the two goal cushion. Clitheroe managed a consolation goal from a set play in the dying seconds, however BRGS ran out eventual winners 3-2, allowing Dom Boardman to lift the trophy for first time since 2008.

Backstroke Success Congratulations to Gabriel Taylor-Rimmer who competed in the NW Regional Swimming Gala and came away with three medals: one bronze and two silver in backstroke. This was at the very top of his expectations and we are all proud of his achievement. Fantastic news and very well done!

Daisy Dances on Ice! On the 15th July, Daisy Oldfield danced to success achieving tenth place at the British Solo Ice Dance Championships. To be tenth in the country for her age and category is an incredible achievement and is testament to the many hours of training she puts in and her dedication to ice skating. As well as developing her solo career, Daisy will also be looking to find an ice dance partner to skate in Couples Ice Dancing too.

Sports Day Sports Day 2017 was timed well this year, avoiding both a mini-heatwave and the rain. Lots of individual success stories and winners of the staff threelegged race were yet again, Mr and Mrs Porteous!

Cycling Champion Maisy Vasic is going from strength to strength in the youth cycling races, recently competing in four town centre races: Ilkley, Otley, Skipton and Colne.

Year 9 Maisy came third in the U16 race at Ilkley, only beaten by two Year 11 girls. Conditions were extremely wet in Otley with Maisy third at the final corner but then hitting a rough bit of road and losing control over her back wheel. She lost her leading position but still came an excellent ninth out of 15 riders. Skipton was the next race with Maisy finishing third after a tough race. She enjoyed her moment on the podium, celebrating the result of all her training.

Rising Tennis Star

Ema Lodererova recently participated in the Nike Junior International

Edinburgh Tennis Tour. She reached the top 16 in the girls' U14 singles and reached the quarter finals of the doubles, competing against young players from across Europe.

This summer Ema also played for a spot at the National Finals of the HSBC Road to Wimbledon (14 & under) Challenge at the All England Club. Ema lost her match to Millie Skelton 6-4 6-2 and has identified that she wants to work on making less unforced errors as well as focus on her backhand.

Most recently, on Tuesday 18th July, Ema competed in the Huddersfield Grade 3 U14 Girls in which she came runner-up!

Good luck in your next competition Ema!

www.brgs.org.uk

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Obituaries

He leaves his wife, June, and his three children, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

We were saddened to learn of the following since publication of our last newsletter:

Muriel Holden née Wells (attended BRGS 1939 – 1942) died peacefully at home on 3rd August 2016 aged 88.

William Kenneth Bennett born on the 9th August 1927 was a pupil of BRGS during the war. At school he discovered a talent for running. He won many medals and broke several school records; indeed, he still held one record when his son, Nick, attended BRGS in the late 1960s. William played football in the first XI, though he always said his main contribution was being able to get to the ball before anyone else.

On leaving school in 1945 he was conscripted into the RAF. He spent much of his working life at JE Ingham & Sons, Waterfoot, becoming a subpostmaster in Swinton when that firm failed in 1981. He and his wife Barbara (née Bennington and also a BRGS alumna), retired to Rawtenstall in 1990. In retirement he served a number of years as the Hon. Membership Secretary of the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway.

He died peacefully in his sleep on 15th May 2017.

Beverly Childs née Medlock died at home with her family on the 5th March after a brave struggle with Motor Neurone Disease. Beverly leaves her husband Chris, children Nicholas and Rachael, four grandchildren, brother Roger, sister Margaret and nephews and nieces.

Donald Hartley died peacefully in his sleep on Saturday 18th March aged 85. Don was the son of John Hartley and his wife, Edith (née Fowle) who were both cotton workers. Don was only eight when his father died. Reflecting back on his time at BRGS, he described himself as a “very naughty boy” who was skilful at sports with a great passion for history but uninterested in studying.

After A levels he became a trainee accountant while running two youth groups. Don then gained employment as a sports and activities organiser with the YMCA in Worcester. Social work became his main focus, taking a certificate in social studies at Birmingham University (1959-1961) and gaining a degree in sociology from the LSE. He then encouraged others to study as a full-time lecturer in sociology, specialising in criminology, at Nottingham Trent University and gained a doctorate in 1985.

Don developed a deep interest in learning. He gained an arts degree in the 1970s through the OU and achieved a first class history degree at the age of eighty.

Although she left Rossendale in 1962, she never lost her attachment to the valley, keeping in close contact with old school friends. She took great pleasure in meeting up with them at the re-unions she attended.

She had a love of poetry inspired by her English teacher and for many years wrote the article 'Think on These Things' for the Rossendale Free Press.

She was an accomplished pianist and took pleasure in her music.

On leaving BRGS she worked for her uncle in his Pharmacy and later for her brother in his, both being old boys of BRGS. She leaves Eric, her husband of 69 years, 3 children, 2 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

Genevieve Jefferson née Smith born on the 5th July 1926 died at home on the 16th April 2017 aged 90 years. She will be sadly missed by all of her family. Her daughter, Susan, commented that she talked about BRGS with great fondness and had even kept her school badge over the years.

Edna May Trickett formerly of Edgeside Lane, Waterfoot, died on Tuesday 21st February at the age of 103. Edna was a retired primary school teacher and had taught for over 40 years before retiring as Deputy Head of Waterfoot Primary School.

Edna was a member of The Rossendale Peace Group and CND as well as being a founder member of the local branch of Save the Children, remaining on the committee until her death. Actively involved in voluntary work, Edna also enjoyed reading, walking, travelling, holidays, trips to London and flower arranging particularly for Bethel Baptist Church. It was through the church that pianist Edna met her husband and fellow music lover, Jack, who she married in 1939. Before its closure, Edna was a Sunday School teacher at the Church where she became a Deacon and started a Guides group, becoming Divisional Commissioner of the Girl Guides.

Wife of the late Jack, Edna leaves daughter Elisabeth, grandson Christopher and his wife Sayaka, granddaughter Rebecca and husband Anthony, great-grandchildren Thomas, Jack, Sophie and Matthew.

Who? What? Where? When?

Mel Brewerton nĂŠe Haigh wrote with suggestions regarding those featured in the netball photo: Wing Attack Tracy Hargreaves, Centre Vanessa Crisp, Wing Defence Alison Doyle and Goal Defence Julie Knightingale.

Ian Greaves got in touch regarding the photo of students with Miss Baxter to identify on the back row: Melvyn Douglas, John Heys, Gordon Harrison, Ian Sampson, Jeffrey Barker and Brian Dawson. On the front row: Geoffrey Mawdsley, Roger Nichols, Ian Greaves, Tom Bond, Keith Hindle and Winston Becket. Anyone who would like to get in touch with Ian from the class of 1953 please get in touch with Emma Gauntlett at ecg@brgs.org.uk as he is happy for his email details to be passed on.

For this edition, any suggestions regarding the names of those featured in a photo provided by Stuart Pickup of a Biology Trip to Port Erin on the Isle of Man?

Please do get in touch at ecg@brgs.org.uk if you spot anyone you recognise.

www.brgs.org.uk

15

Message Board    

Congratulations to Roisin Rimmer who has passed all her medical school exams and has graduated from Glasgow University with a MBChB degree.

Well done to Callan Lofthouse who has graduated with a 2:1 in Marine Biology from Swansea University. Callan managed to balance his studies with being Captain of the Canoe Polo Team.

Former student Jess Leyden is progressing in her rowing career winning gold medal at the U23 world rowing championships in the double sculls last year. At the opening Word Cup of the 2017 season, she won bronze in a women‟s quad crew. One to watch in Tokyo 2020!

Do get in touch with BRGS with any news regarding university graduations or career news.

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

Sports Day 2017

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