Bolton School OLD GIRLS’ ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER Issue Number 28 Spring 2018
Shared memories and continued support
Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Spring 2018
CONTENTS STAY IN TOUCH 2 WELCOME FROM THE HEADMISTRESS 3 WELCOME FROM THE OLD GIRLS’ASSOCIATION 3 CONTINUING SUPPORT 4 THE BOLTON ALUMNI NETWORK 4 STAY CONNECTED 5 ALUMNI EVENTS CALENDAR 5 SCHOOL NEWS Ingrid Murray is Guest Speaker at Presentation Evening 6 School wins TES Award 6 Book illustrates History of the Girls’ Division 6 Ceremony of Carols 7 Whole-School Photographs 7 Girls’ Division in North West Top Ten 7 Pupils SHINE again at Bolton School 8 Bolton School Art Exhibition 8 Tea at the Riley 8 New Initiatives aim to boost Teacher Recruitment 8 School receives Heraldry Award 9 Tomasz Schafernaker gives Lecture on Weather 9 Service of Remembrance recalls Passchendaele 9 EVENTS Alumni Regional Events 10 Forthcoming Events 11 OLD GIRLS’ FEATURES Old Girls Go Global 12 Story of a Gown 13 The Role of the High Sheriff 14 Alumni Authors 15 Inspiring the Next Generation 17 Staff in the Spotlight 18 NEWS OF OLD GIRLS Old Girls’ News 19 Matches and Hatches 20 Mini Reunions 21 Destinations of 2017 Leavers 22 FROM THE ARCHIVES Ask the Archivist Official Opening of the Girls’ Division 24 Looking Back 25 LIVES REMEMBERED 26 IN MEMORIAM 27
STAY IN TOUCH Connect with Old Girls and Old Boys on the Bolton Alumni Network: www.boltonalumninetwork.com. Download the app at the Apple and Google Play stores.
‘Like’ our Facebook page for event invites, School news and memories: search Bolton School – Old Boys and Old Girls (Official) Connect with fellow Old Girls on LinkedIn: connect with Bolton School Alumni and join the Bolton School Group Follow School and Alumni news via Twitter: @BoltonSchool / @BoltonSchAlumni Watch short films posted on our YouTube site: www.youtube.com/user/boltonschoolmedia Read regular blogs from pupils and staff from across the campus: boltonschool.me/ Follow bolton_school_foundation and use #BSAlumni to share your memories and photos View photos of Alumni events at www.flickr.com/photos/bsalumni/albums Visit the Former Pupils section of the School website at www.boltonschool.org for event photos, Alumni career profiles, news of Old Girls, an up-to-date events calendar, to update your contact details and more. CONTACT US Development Office, Bolton School Chorley New Road, Bolton BL1 4PA T: 01204 434718 E: development@boltonschool.org THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM Laura Firth Head of Development Carol Haslam Old Girls’ Liaison Officer Frances Johnson Development Assistant Kathryn O’Brien Alumni and Development Assistant Laura Rooney Development Manager Jenny Salerno Development Officer
Bolton School Merchandise
Bolton School photo frame
School has an Online Merchandise Store, selling all of the items previously sold through the Development Office, and many more. A variety of items are available for purchase, from Old Girl pin badges to Bolton School pens, iPad cases and photo frames.
Bolton School bag Bolton School Snugg iPad case
All profits made from the sale of merchandise go directly to the School Bursary Fund, which helps make a Bolton School education open to all academically gifted pupils, irrespective of their family’s financial situation.
Bolton School pens
Orders are usually delivered within five working days, and overseas delivery is available. To order your items, please visit www.boltonschoolmerchandise.org or call 08450 504015
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WELCOME FROM THE HEADMISTRESS I hope that this year’s Newsletter gives you an inkling of the busy, stimulating and productive environment which the girls of today are enjoying. It is always delightful to see Old Girls at our events, whether that be the Ceremony of Carols (page seven), Tea at the Riley (page eight) or one of our evening Enrichment Lectures (page nine). If you are nearby, please drop in! Lady Joy Smith did just that during her time in office as High Sheriff of Greater Manchester and the girls in the Senior School and Hesketh House were intrigued by her stories and her costume – you can read about them on pages 14 and 15. I am so grateful to Eric Fairweather, the School’s Archivist, for researching the dignitaries who were present at our first Presentation Evening in 1928. Later this year, we shall be commemorating the ninetieth anniversary of the ‘new’ building. As part of our birthday celebrations, I would like to help chart the changes which women have experienced in the last 40 years. You may remember that in 1977 the Old Girls’ Association contributed to a book called From Learning to Living, in which Old Girls wrote about the changes in women’s life
experienced by leavers between 1935 and 1975. It would be great if we could update the content of the book with your reflections on your lives today. After Easter, we shall be launching a 2018 survey of Old Girls’ lives. I do hope that we have your contact details so that we can invite you to take part – please do ‘stay connected’, as it says on page five, so that we can get in touch and find out what you think about life in the 21st century. Finally, I never fail to be touched by ‘Lives Remembered’. Above all, I always realise how much Old Girls achieve in their life times and, in particular, how their lives have such a beneficial impact on so many others. In this edition of the Newsletter, all the Old Girls honoured were teachers and so able to share their learning and ethos with countless others. If you are thinking that teaching may be an option for you, do read the passage on page eight about how Bolton School is training future teachers via our SCITTs. I can assure you that it is a wonderful career, the legacy of which will endure forever.
Sue Hincks Headmistress
WELCOME FROM THE OLD GIRLS’ ASSOCIATION I hope that despite the recent unpredictable weather, this finds you well and anticipating some spring-time sunshine! We’ve been busy over the past few months. The regional dinners have been successful – I have been delighted to meet up with some of my own contemporaries and many younger Old Girls who are always a pleasure to chat with, telling us of their various activities. We have an eclectic mix of career choices amongst us; conversation is neither short nor dull! The Autumn term saw members of the Old Girls’ Association attending the Girls’ Armistice Service. We then enjoyed our Old Girls’ Lunch after which we were uplifted by wonderful singing by Middle School pupils, followed by an excellent rendition of the School Song. The Ceremony of Carols was well attended by many Old Girls and, as is now our tradition, we then enjoyed seasonal fare whilst chatting and reminiscing. As Association Chairman, it was a pleasure to have the opportunity to represent School at the Heraldry Society’s Annual Lunch at the RAF Club, Mayfair, where
School was honoured to receive a Corporate Award. You can read more about this on page nine. Our Alumnae are generous with their time, experience and expertise: visiting School, providing careers advice and work experience and providing networking opportunities. The Bolton Alumni Network has been instrumental in facilitating such support – if you haven’t already signed up, please see page four to find details of how to do so. Our next OGA lunch will also be the Association’s AGM: please join us on Wednesday 6th June at 12 noon in the Arts Centre. April brings the ‘8’ Class Reunion, details of which are on page 11. Many of you will already have arranged to come along with your own friendship groups, if you haven’t quite decided, a warm welcome awaits you – see you there!
Laura Henthorn (née Carless, 1970-1977) Chairman – Bolton School Old Girls’ Association
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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Spring 2018
CONTINUING SUPPORT When Lord Leverhulme re-endowed the Bolton School Foundation at the beginning of the last century, his avowed aim was “to make it possible, for every child of ability, no matter what their social or financial background, to come to the School.” We still believe this to be as fundamentally important today as when it was first advocated over 100 years ago. For its first 89 years, the Foundation received direct financial support from the government. The abolition of the Assisted Places scheme in 1997 presented the School with a formidable challenge: managing the loss of up to 25 per cent of its students, whose very presence ensured the diversity of the pupil body. Our immediate response was to launch a Bursary Appeal, in order to preserve the open access enjoyed by previous generations of Bolton School pupils. The Appeal galvanised the School’s Alumni and friends and has continued to do so ever since. Its success over the last 20 years is a testament to the faith, determination and endeavour of the wider Bolton School community in its belief that the uniqueness of the Bolton School education is worth fighting for. Since 1997, we have spent over £27 million on bursary funding, enabling over 1,800 children to attend the School who would otherwise have been denied the opportunity to do so. In 2016-17 we raised £1 million for the School’s Bursary Fund, and are now very close to providing financial support to one in four pupils at the School, replicating
the access levels enjoyed in 1997, during the last days of the Assisted Places scheme. Thank You, sincerely, to all those donors who have supported the Bursary Fund this year, and in the past: your support has been, quite simply, transformational. What we have achieved over the last 20 years is quite remarkable, but what we plan to achieve in the next 20 years is even more so. The School’s sights are now clearly focused on its long-term goal of providing the same level of support that existed in the days of the Direct Grant. With the continued support of our Old Girls and Old Boys, we know that this ambitious target will, one day, become a reality. Together, we look forward to the day when we can truly say that Lord Leverhulme’s aim for the School, of equal opportunity for every child with potential, has been achieved. If you would like to pledge your support to the Bursary Fund, either by making a regular gift, or by remembering the School in your will, then please contact Laura Firth, Head of Development, by emailing development@boltonschool.org or by calling 01204 434718.
The Bolton Alumni Network With over 1,700 members, the Bolton Alumni Network has become a thriving ‘one-stop-shop’ for Old Girls and Old Boys of all ages and former members of staff. You can use the network to: Reconnect Find old School friends by filtering the directory of Alumni based on year groups and reminisce, share memories and photographs and keep up-to-date with news and events.
Advance Ask for careers advice, find a job or request work experience with Alumni working in top companies. Filter the directory based on industry or location to find a personal mentor.
Expand Grow your professional network, find opportunities and develop partnerships with fellow Alumni. It is free to advertise positions at your company on our jobs board.
Give Back Introduce, employ and offer to act as a mentor to young Alumni just starting out in their careers. All Old Girls and Old Boys come with an in-built Chorley New Road reference!
We have been delighted with the overwhelmingly positive response to the Bolton Alumni Network so far and we would love to hear how you have been using the platform. Please get in touch if you have found a job, work experience, a new employee or an old friend or if you have successfully collaborated with another Old Girl or Old Boy on a business venture or organised a mini-reunion using the platform. If you are not yet a member of the Bolton Alumni Network, you can join by signing up at www.boltonalumninetwork.com with your LinkedIn or Facebook profile, or with an email address.
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Stay Connected In May 2018, the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will come into effect, changing significantly the way in which we and other organisations can stay in touch with you. In preparation for this change, we need to be clear what relationship you would like to have with School: if we do not have your consent to contact you, then we may be unable to stay in touch. Since October 2017, we have been contacting Old Girls and Old Boys by email and by post, to confirm their preferred methods of communication for remaining connected to School. Over half of our contactable Alumni have already responded to this call to action. We hope you enjoy being kept up-to-date with what is happening at School and within the Old Girl community as much as we value the opportunity to stay connected to you. If you have not yet given your consent for us to contact you, and wish to continue hearing from School, then please contact the Development Office immediately.
Alumni Events Calendar 2018 Saturday 21st April
‘8’ Class Reunion
Bolton School, 11.30am-4.30pm
Thursday 3rd May
May Serenade
Girls’ Division Great Hall, 7pm
Friday 4th May
Scottish Dinner
University of Edinburgh, 7pm
Wednesday 6th June
Old Girls’ Lunch and AGM
Bolton School, Arts Centre, 12 noon
Monday 11th June
Alumni Networking Event
Manchester Art Gallery, 6.30pm
Saturday 16th June
Joint Bursary Ball
AJ Bell Stadium, 6.45pm
Thursday 21st and Friday 22nd June
Lower School Play
Bolton School
Monday 25th June
Recent Leavers’ Event
Bolton School, 3pm-5pm
Friday 29th June
Cumbria Dinner
Lindeth Howe Hotel, 7pm
Monday 9th July
Year 7/8 Celebration Evening
Girls’ Division Great Hall, 7pm
To reserve your ticket for any of our Alumni events, please call the Development Office on 01204 434718, email development@boltonschool.org or visit the ‘Former Pupils’ section of the School website (www.boltonschool.org), where you can book online. If you wish to attend the May Serenade, the Lower School Play or the Year 7/8 Celebration Evening, please contact the Girls’ Division directly on 01204 840201.
The Bolton School Wine Collection The Girls’ Division Parents’ Association are pleased to present for sale the exclusive Bolton School Wine Collection, carefully selected in partnership with T Wright Wine of Horwich. There are six wines in the collection, all priced at £9.95 per bottle: a Pinot Grigio, a Sauvignon Blanc, a Chardonnay, a Shiraz, a Merlot and a White Zinfandel. Wines are available by the case (six bottles) at a discounted price of £56.75 in any bottle combination you would like. Delivery is free (minimum order one case) throughout the Bolton area, and all profits will be donated to the 100 Campaign for Bursaries. For more information please e-mail bsfwines2015@gmail.com or, to place your order, please visit www.twrightwine.co.uk/13030.
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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Spring 2018
SCHOOL NEWS Ingrid inspires at Presentation Evening Guest speaker at this year’s Presentation Evening was Ingrid Murray (1977-1984), an Old Girl who has built a stellar career as an entrepreneur and consultant. Highlights include the creation of Britain’s first price comparison website, building a data-focused management consultancy, and advising media, government, retailers and insurers how to navigate digital disruption.
Ingrid (fourth from right) gave an inspiring talk
Ingrid’s address paid tribute to the life-long friends she made while at Bolton School. She asked the girls to hug the girls sitting on either side of them, to remind them that, wherever they find themselves in the future, all are members of the Bolton School girls’ community.
She also offered four tips to the girls, particularly the departing Year 13s: to stand on their own two feet, to work for a cause, to embrace the opportunities afforded by the digital age, including the ability to work at any time to suit their needs and lifestyle, and to ‘be adaptable’ and ‘ride the waves of change’, saying that the next 30 years will see just as many changes as the last 30.
School celebrates Sporting Success Bolton School has won the ‘Whole School Community Initiative of the Year’ accolade at this year’s prestigious TES Independent School Awards. The School helped to form the Bolton Sports Alliance in 2015, teaming up with key partners to ensure that local primary schools would continue to be able to take part in sporting opportunities despite local council cutbacks. As well as providing the facilities and expertise to meet the PE and sporting needs of local schools, Bolton School hosts an annual football festival,
enjoyed by more than 10,000 7-11-year-olds, and its pupils help to run an annual sports festival, as well as town cross-country and swimming championships. Headmistress Sue Hincks and Headmaster Philip Britton were delighted to be presented with the award at a glittering ceremony hosted by Gyles Brandreth at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London.
Book illustrates History of the Girls’ Division A new book by Bolton School Archivist and Governor Eric Fairweather offers a full chronological history of the Girls’ Division. Pride in the Past; Confidence in the Future was produced at the request of the Headmistress, Sue Hincks, to mark the centenary of the Girls’ Division at Chorley New Road in 2015, and records the history of the School from its formation as Bolton Day School for Girls in 1877. Split into thirteen chapters, each one detailing a different Headmistress’ time at the School, and opening with a chapter on the state of girls’ education in the mid-19th century, the 164-page book and its illustrations offer a fascinating glimpse into the Girls’ Division’s past. The book costs £15.00 is available to purchase via the School’s online merchandise shop (see page two for details).
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Christmas Reflections at Ceremony of Carols
Andrea Price, Girls’ Division Director of Music, conducts the carol singing
The Ceremony of Carols began in darkness with the Chamber Choir processing into the Great Hall to the ethereal notes of Hodie. The Hall filled with light as the audience – which included a remarkable number of Old Girls – joined the choir to sing Once in Royal David’s City and the evening continued in traditional form, with lessons and carols which spoke of the true meaning of Christmas. A family flavour was added to proceedings, with several pairs of sisters and a mother and daughter offering readings to reflect the wider family of the School community.
The School’s choirs were in fine voice throughout the evening, offering a selection of traditional and contemporary festive performances, including, of course, Three Kings from Persian Lands Afar. A delightful new addition was the setting of the Girls’ Division School Prayer to music, sung exquisitely by a group of Sixth Form pupils.
Sêren Davies (Year 12) sings the School prayer
The Chamber Choir ended the service as it had begun, processing out in darkness to Hodie, and afterwards the String Quartet provided accompaniment as everyone enjoyed mince pies, Christmas cake and drinks. Videos from the Ceremony of Carols can be viewed on Bolton School TV and a selection of songs (audio only) can be listened to via the School’s Soundcloud.
Whole-School Photographs The sun shone as the entire Girls’ Division assembled for the whole-School photograph. This snapshot of School life is taken every three years – it is a huge undertaking, but the resulting pictures are fascinating to look at. In fact, Old Girls may be interested to know that a number of past whole-School photos have recently been scanned to the digital archive (which may be accessed by scrolling down to the bottom of the home page of the School’s website and clicking on the digital archive magazine icon in the bottom right hand corner) – why don’t you take a look and see if you can find your old School picture? Marshalling everyone into their places is a mammoth task!
Girls’ Division in North West Top Ten The Girls’ Division has been listed among the Top Ten independent schools in the North West of England.
Smiling Faces on A Level Results Day
Parent Power, the Sunday Times Schools Guide 2018, ranked the Girls’ Division as ninth in the North West. However, the School is the best independent school in the north Manchester and Lancashire region and the only independent school from this area to appear in the Top Ten. Headmistress Sue Hincks said, ‘We are always delighted when Bolton School is recognised in league tables, reflecting our examination success. However, Bolton School is far more than achievement in examinations: in particular we value extra-curricular and volunteering activities as being key to developing our pupils into well-rounded young adults who understand the need to give back to their community.’
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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Spring 2018
Pupils SHINE again at Bolton School Over 40 Year 5 children from local primary schools graduated from this year’s SHINE: Serious Fun on Girls’ Division Teacher Saturdays programme. Run Ilona Smalley helps out by teachers and students at Bolton School, SHINE is part of a national scheme which aims to raise the educational aspirations of young children whilst allowing them to build teamwork skills, make new friends and have fun.
The Chairman of Governors and The Mayor and Mayoress of Bolton attended the dinner
The sessions, which are free for participating children, run over the course of eleven Saturdays and include a mix of traditional subjects in
Bolton School Art Exhibition The School’s inaugural Open Art Exhibition will take place in the Arts Centre in November. This is not a competition – rather a showcase of talent to
Science, the Arts, Humanities and Languages and also a range of activities and lessons that they Sarah Gunshon (fourth from right) with are less likely Sixth Form mentors and Boys’ Division to be familiar co-organiser Katie Wrathmell with including outdoor pursuits, food technology and new languages such as Russian, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Latin and Greek. The programme ended with a celebratory graduation dinner held at Bolton School for children, parents and teachers. Girls’ Division teacher and co-organiser of SHINE Sarah Gunshon said: ‘It is really rewarding to see the children develop in confidence and to learn so many new skills.’
demonstrate the breadth of creativity within the School community – and entry is open to the whole of the Bolton School Foundation, including parents, staff, pupils and Alumni. Old Girls wishing to show off their artistic talents can find further details and download an entry form at bit.ly/BSOpenArt.
Tea at the Riley Each month, Bolton School’s Sixth Form girls host an inter-generational tea party for elderly people in the local area. This hugely popular event, known as Tea at the Riley, has grown since its inception in October 2014. Old Girls and Old Boys are warmly invited to join the girls for afternoon tea at the next events on Wednesday 25th April and Wednesday 24th May – please telephone Bolton School Reception on 01204 840201 for more details or to book your place.
New Initiatives aim to boost Teacher Recruitment Bolton School is proud and delighted to be taking part in a new Department for Education drive to recruit more trainee teachers in shortage subject areas. The SCITT (School-centred Initial Teacher Training) initiative is the result of pioneering partnerships between the state and private sectors: the Modern Foreign Languages SCITT is led by Silverdale School in Sheffield, while the National Maths and Physics SCITT is led by Wycombe High School in High Wycombe. Both SCITTs will operate additional regional hubs led by Bolton School and Dulwich College, and Headington School will partner with Wycombe High School to lead Physics training.
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Headmistress and linguist Sue Hincks commented: “Schools across England need more Modern Languages teachers and we are delighted to help out in this respect by becoming a centre for teacher training. We look forward to welcoming and working with aspiring teachers in our Senior School in the coming months, where I know they will benefit from being under the guidance of our highly accomplished language teachers.” Any Old Girls interested in training to teach the above subjects may find further information regarding the MFL SCITT at www.nationalmodern languages.com and details of the Maths and Physics SCITT at www.nmapscitt.org.uk.
School receives Corporate Heraldry Award Following an application prepared and submitted by Old Boy Malcolm Howe (1948-1956), Bolton School has been awarded the Heraldry Society’s Corporate Heraldry Award. The submission detailed the many and varied ways in which the School has used its armorial bearings to proclaim its identity. Laura Henthorn (née Carless, 1970-1977), who is Chairman of the Old Girls’ Association, and Old Boy Lionel Price (1954-1964), President of the Old Boltonians’ Association, travelled with Laura Firth, Head of Development at the School, to the Society’s Annual Anniversary Lunch held at The Royal Air Force Club in London. Laura and Lionel received the beautiful hand-painted certificate on behalf of the School from Thomas Woodcock CVO DL FSA, the Garter Principal King of Arms – all are pictured in the photo. The School is hugely grateful to the Society for the award and to Malcolm Howe for the time and energy he spent preparing the detailed submission which resulted in this outstanding achievement.
Tomasz talks about the Weather The Girls’ Division was thrilled to welcome BBC weather presenter and meteorologist Tomasz Schafernaker as part of a series of Arts and Sciences Evening Enrichment Lectures.
Tomasz explains the difference between meteorology and weather forecasting
Tomasz described how a film about a cyclone in Australia sparked his interest in meteorology when he was a child and how his determination to study this subject led to him presenting the weather live on regional television at the age of just twenty-one! He explained some of the science behind weather forecasting – and shared some of the secrets of the TV studio with a fascinated audience. A lively question-and-answer session concluded his inspiring talk. Details of further lectures in the series (which are free and open to the public) can be found on the School’s website and on the Bolton Alumni Network.
Service of Remembrance recalls Passchendaele Girls’ Division pupils and staff were joined by Old Girls who returned to School for a special Service of Remembrance which marked the 100th anniversary of the end of the Third Battle of Ypres, known more commonly as Passchendaele. Headmistress Sue Hincks commemorated the soldiers who fought and died during one of the most brutal episodes of the First World War, which saw a third of a million Allied troops killed. The Great Hall fell silent for two minutes of reflection and remembrance at 11 o’clock, then prayers commemorated not only those who died in the two World Wars, but all those affected by or killed in conflict.
The Accidentals gave a touching performance of Abide With Me
Finally, Sameera Mohammed reminded everyone why the poppy is used as a symbol of remembrance with a reading of In Flanders Fields by John McRae. The assembly ended with the singing of Jerusalem, after which the Old Girls and Prefects processed out to Elgar’s Nimrod.
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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Spring 2018
EVENTS ALUMNI REGIONAL EVENTS Bristol Dinner The Grand Hotel – Friday 29th September 2017
Katie Lloyd (Class of 2012) and Sue Hincks
‘Always interesting to hear about Old Boltonians’ lives.’ Christine Lewis (née Lumb, 1946-1949)
‘First dinner and lovely to make contact with Old Boltonians after 40 years!’ Gill Bridge
Laura Henthorn (née Carless, 1970-1977), Carl Bridge, Gill Bridge (née Deller, Class of 1977), John Sharples (Class of 1974)
Yvonne Lowe (née Conroy, 1947-1955) and Kay Simpson (née Raspin, 1951-1961)
‘Thank you for a wonderful evening … Please pass on my thanks to everyone who helped organise a perfect dinner.’ Meriel Lewis
Oxford Dinner
St Anne’s College, University of Oxford – Friday 24th November 2017
Alex Hopkinson (2002-2016), Lucy Nolan Meriel Lewis (1977-1980), Mark Buckley Sue Hincks, Kirsty Fielding (2010-2017) (1996-2010), Duncan Leary, Shannon and Roger Smith (1972-1979) and Cerys Baines (2010-2017) Miller (1997-2011), Erik Johnston, David Griffiths (2001-2009) and ‘My first Oxford Dinner … I have had a Thomas Harrison (2006-2008) wonderful evening reconnecting with friends
I’ve not seen for many years.’ Shannon Miller
Cambridge Dinner
‘A great chance to catch up with everyone from School.’ Francesca Adams
Gonville and Caius College, University of Cambridge – Friday 2nd February 2018
James Wallace, Judith Hibbert (1969-1979) and Sue Hincks
Keira Lucas, Fiona Hazlitt and Francesca Adams (all Class of 2017)
‘Another great Alumni dinner … looking forward to next year!’ Than Dar (2008-2015)
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Francesca Adams (Class of 2017), Eleanor Harding (Class of 2015), Sarah Brace (Girls’ Division Staff), Keira Lucas (Class of 2017) and Fiona Hazlitt (Class of 2017)
Carol Haslam (née Bonser, 1959-1966 and Old Girls’ Liaison Officer), Jenny Clack (née Agnew, 1959-1966) and Robert Clack
‘An excellent evening – so glad I was able to come and catch up with everyone!’ Sarah Brace
London Dinner
‘Our favourite School-related ann
ual event.’ Aysha Harwood
The Royal Society – Friday 2nd March 2018
Kate Fawell-Comley (Class of 2010), Akanksha Malhotra (Class of 2010) Julia Head (née Holt, Class of 1971 and Former Girls’ Division Staff), Aysha Harwood (Class of 2011) and Michelle Hind (Class of 2011)
Danielle Fearnley (Class of 2002 ) and Julia Head
evening.’ ‘Thank you for a lovely 77) Alison Rigby (1970-19
FORTHCOMING EVENTS Recent Leavers’ Reunion Members of the Class of 2017 are invited to return to School on Monday 25th June, 3pm5pm, for a drinks reception in the Riley Centre. Please come along to join your former classmates and teachers – and to share your experiences of your first year at university with our current Year 12 students.
Dates for your Diary Old Girls are welcome at the Girls’ Division’s traditional May Serenade which will take place on Thursday 3rd May in the Great Hall. The next Old Girls’ Lunch, which will be preceded by the Association’s AGM, will take place on Wednesday 6th June at 12 noon in the Arts Centre. Our next Scottish Dinner will be held at the University of Edinburgh on Friday 4th May and this year’s Cumbria Dinner will be held at the Lindeth Howe Hotel on Friday 29th June. Old Girls are also welcome at the Bolton School Ball, organised by the Joint Parents’ Associations, which will be held at the AJ Bell Stadium on Saturday 16th June 2018. Tickets for this glittering event cost £75 per person or £700 for a table of ten – for further details and to purchase tickets please email BoltonSchoolBall@gmail.com. Do come and join us!
Valerie Stevens (née Deans, Class of 1958), Laura Henthorn (née Carless, Class of 1977 and Chairman of the Old Girls’ Association)
‘What a lovely evening, catching up with these delightful girls (sorry, young ladi es!).’ Julia Head
‘8’ Class Reunion Calling all 1948, 1958, 1968, 1978, 1988, 1998 and 2008 leavers! We look forward to welcoming these year groups and former staff back to School for a Reunion on Saturday 21st April, 11.30am4.30pm. Don’t miss this opportunity to catch up with old friends, enjoy a traditional school dinner and take a tour round School to see what has changed since you were a pupil here – and what hasn’t! Tickets cost £17 for adults and £5 for children under 12 and will include welcome and farewell drinks, lunch in the Boys’ Dining Hall and a memento of the day. Please spread the word and persuade your classmates to come along to what promises to be a very enjoyable trip down memory lane!
University Drinks If you’re an ‘Old’ Girl currently studying at university, and would like to arrange a reunion for fellow Alumni studying near you, then the Development Office wants to hear from you! We will sponsor any Alumni-initiated reunion at £10 per head, providing you send us a photograph afterwards. If that sounds like fun, and you would like to arrange something near you during the next academic year, then please get in touch.
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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Spring 2018
OLD GIRLS’ FEATURES Old Girls Go Global The Old Girls’ Association has over 4,500 members living and working not just in the UK, but across the globe. Here we catch up with four of them who have relocated overseas to find out what motivated them to move abroad, what they enjoy about their lives there … and what they still miss about the UK! Margaret Drury (née Jackson, 1957-1962) In August 1970, my husband and I with our two very small children set out from England to a new adventure in Australia, sailing on the very old ship the Castel Felice (actually on its final voyage before being decommissioned). We arrived on a very wet Monday evening in Melbourne after six weeks of occasionally extremely rough seas and were transported to a migrant hostel in the western suburbs. Then, jobs were plentiful and Michael, my husband, started working the next week. He had previously lived in Melbourne as a teenager, the family returned to Manchester but it was always his ambition to return and, to quote, ‘give it a go’. Now we are retired and live in a beachside suburb 42 kilometres from the city, at the gateway to the beautiful Mornington Peninsula, with wide roads, open spaces and the beach a short car ride away. The hardest part of moving across the world is of course missing friends and family, but I am fortunate to have kept in touch with friends from both primary school and Bolton School: it is a privilege to still be in contact after over fifty years, but Australia has been kind to us and our now extended family.
Sarah Chapman (née Tattersall, 1982-1989) My husband Steven and I moved to Australia when I was a young whippersnapper at 38, after we threw caution to the wind and attended an Australian Jobs Expo in Leeds. We were offered roles within Woolworths Head Office in Sydney (a major supermarket chain). It was an unexpected and daunting turn of events, but we felt that if we didn’t try something new at that stage, then we never would. At worst, we could always go back home to the UK. We have now been in Sydney for nine years, and I was lucky enough to have my little girl, Evie, here five years ago. We all have dual citizenship, and so are free to live in either the UK or Australia, but at this point we are extremely happy living in Manly in Sydney, where we lead a very active outdoor lifestyle, albeit with an extreme amount of sunscreen. Having holidayed in Bolton for the last two Christmases, I can safely say that running outdoors varies greatly between the two countries. I have only recently regained the use of my fingers and toes! Whilst we all miss our families and friends terribly, we also appreciate the lifestyle and opportunities that Sydney affords us. Indeed, Evie started school in February, and can you believe that her games lessons include surfing and beach volleyball! As I drove past Bolton School recently, I recalled many great memories there and some wonderful friends who I have managed to reconnect with through the Old Girls’ Network. I often catch sight of the School as I watch UK TV series such as Last Tango in Halifax, and am so proud that I am a small part of its history.
Rachel Earnshaw (Class of 1975) Ever since my time at School in the early 1970s, my dream had been to grow my own fruit and vegetables and live more sustainably. In my youth, I had romantically envisaged becoming a crofter in the Hebrides, but unfortunately I got stuck in London for three decades! When I hit 50 and decided the time had come to do something about realising my dream, somewhere with a warmer climate seemed a more realistic option! So my husband and I sold up in the UK and bought a house with an acre of land in the Marais Poitevin area of western France, about 30 miles inland from La Rochelle. We moved here permanently in 2012. We have found the local community extremely friendly and welcoming. Besides gardening, I am very busy with chairing a local organic food cooperative, teaching English, taking part in musical activities and becoming increasingly active in defending the environment. Our village has quite an alternative vibe, and for the past three summers, I have been part of a group running an outdoor community bar, aimed at promoting social cohesion and providing a venue for live music and other cultural events every weekend. I do a lot of the catering, and have even managed to get the locals to appreciate my (vegan) cooking! (Though I fear that the odd saucisson still tends to creep on to the menu whenever I’m not there!) Moving to France was one of the best decisions I ever made, and I can’t say I miss England at all (I miss family and friends, but it is very easy to pop over and visit). Naturally I am a bit uneasy about the possible impact of Brexit, but my view is that I’ll just have to manage around any problems which arise, and I’m confident I’ll find a way!
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Gila Atwood (née Hilary Crippin, Class of 1979) I currently live in Talpiot Mizrah, a south east neighbourhood of Jerusalem about equidistant from the city centre and Bethlehem. We’ve been living here for just over three years, but in Jerusalem since 1984 and in Israel since 1982. After finishing my degree, Zoology, at UC Cardiff, I came to Israel to convert to Judaism. I had researched the religion for about a year prior to that and was deeply moved by the story of Jewish destiny and the way of life. So much more I could write here! Evidently I have been here ever since, met my husband in 1985 and raised my children here. Differences – so many! The climate, of course. Hot in summer, though in Jerusalem, around 700 metres elevation, few days in summer exceed 35°C, winter few days are below 5°C, and NO rain between May and September. I am fascinated by all living things; I enjoy photographing the plant life, birds, insects and keep a blog on my observations. Most people here live in apartment buildings, often over twenty families to a building which can be trying at times! I love our place though, we have a nice-sized back yard, suitable for our two dogs to run free. Israel has an excellent national health service and I’ve always been content with the care I’ve received though I hate hospitals, simply because of noise and too many people too close … that’s just me. Public transport is also wonderful: great network, light rail, electronic cards etc, though personally I like to walk as much as possible to keep in shape! What do I miss? British food and country pubs. The English countryside. Tiled fireplaces. Strangely, the church architecture – I always enjoyed beautiful buildings.
Story of a Gown The Prefects’ Gowns are one of the enduring symbols of the Girls’ Division, whilst the Gowning of the Prefects, held in the Great Hall each May, is one of its most special traditions. Here, two Old Girls describe wearing their Prefects’ Gown with pride.
Helen Parkinson (1987-1994)
Helen and fellow Prefects
What was your favourite moment whilst wearing your gown? I imagine it was the first time I put it on. Some of my close friends in that year who are amazing, talented individuals didn’t get the same opportunity, so I felt fortunate to be in that position. Having taken a look at some old photographs for this piece, I am also grateful for the amount of early-mid nineties fashion wearing the gown seems to have prevented from being preserved on film. What were your hopes/plans for the future, as you passed on your gown? They were relatively short-term. They focused on getting through my exams, getting into university and passing my driving test. I would have been looking forward to finishing the two jobs I had throughout Sixth Form and going inter railing with Kate McGeown. What did you do after leaving School? I got a place at Cambridge and read Law at Downing College, subsequently did a Masters degree (more Law) at University College London, then took the Legal Practice Course at the Oxford Institute of Legal Practice. I trained and worked as a solicitor at a US law firm’s London and New York offices then moved to another US firm’s London office. It didn’t leave much time for other things although I did manage to stay in touch with some of the girls from School (see below) and living in a city means so much is on your doorstep anyway. What are you doing now? Planning a big trip, far away. What one piece of advice would you give to this year’s Year 13 pupils? I am sure they don’t need advice from an Old Girl who had to check which year is ‘Year 13’, but there is a lot of advice I would like to give my 17/18 year old self in ‘Upper Sixth’. In terms of academics/career, as far as is possible, I would say try to focus on what you enjoy rather than what you think you should do. Talk to as many people as you can who are in areas where the things you are interested in may translate. There is so much going on at this time (both in and out of School) that it is easy to lose sight of the fact that ultimately you are only going to do well and/or be happy if you are doing what you were interested in to start with. Are you still in touch with friends from School? Rachel Fairhurst (now Gravell) and Philippa Davies have both inspired me with their impressive levels of training over the past few years, with Philippa recently putting hers
into good practice by consuming a huge breakfast and then watching me while I did a half marathon in Bristol where she lives. Spending four weeks on trains together in 1994 (see above) has not seemed to damage my friendship with Kate McGeown (now Horne) who I am seeing in a couple of weeks, although she has spent much of the last 20 years in different countries to me. A few of us went away for the weekend recently: Alison Taylor, Sherida Brindle, Alex Simmonds (now Long), Abbie Jones (now East), Caroline Fawkes (now McCormack) with Matthew Holdcroft and Mick Holland from the Boys’ Division – at least three feet apart from us, of course – and various partners and offspring. There are lots of Old Girls on Facebook – I haven’t looked at it for a while but those that do keep me up-to-date. I had such a good time catching up at the reunion in 2014 – where I was also reunited with my gown!
Kate Foster (2002-2011)
Kate proudly wearing her Prefects’ gown
What was your favourite moment whilst wearing your gown? My favourite moment would have to be the Ceremony of Carols, with the Christmas angels filling the Great Hall and the organ playing as we walked down the aisle.
What were your hopes/plans for the future, as you passed on your gown? As I passed on my gown I had all my fingers crossed I would get the A Level results I needed to get my place in University to study medicine. My main concern was losing contact with the amazing friends I had made at Bolton School! What did you do after leaving School? From leaving School I headed straight for the Angel of the North to study Medicine at Newcastle University. Five years flew by and I graduated successfully and started work as a Foundation Doctor in the North East. What are you doing now? I am currently in my second year as Foundation Doctor in Newcastle and thoroughly enjoying the ups and downs the NHS has to offer in the current challenging times. As the final months of my Foundation Programme approach I’m preparing for my speciality training in the future. What one piece of advice would you give to this year’s Year 13 pupils? Enjoy your last year at School, work hard, play hard, follow your dreams – but remember, once a Bolton School Girl, always a Bolton School Girl! Are you still in touch with friends from School? Absolutely! Of course we don’t see each other as much as we used to, all spread throughout the UK, but we regularly arrange weekends away and evenings out for a good girlie catch-up! Don’t ever Kate has realised forget to keep in touch with your School her ambitions to friends, they’ll be some of the best friends become a doctor you will have for life.
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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Spring 2018
The Role of the High Sheriff Joy (née Booth, 1953-1961), The Lady Smith of Leigh DL, was honoured to fulfill the role of High Sheriff of Greater Manchester – here she describes the history and duties of this ancient and esteemed office. A dressmaker’s mannequin stands in the dining room, wearing a long-line, eighteenthcentury style silk velvet Lady Smith with Hesketh House girls jacket in admiring the High Sheriff’s sword of office midnight blue, with cut steel buttons on front and cuff, and a creamy English lace jabot around her neck. Her broad hat, its ostrich feathers drooping, is on the milliner’s ‘head’ beside her. The skirt is on a hanger, and the buckled shoes in a box at her ‘feet’. Occasionally I speak to her. ‘Good morning, High Sheriff. …!’ Yes, you’re right. She really must go, and she will. She will be on display at the Town Hall in Wigan, my adopted Borough, together with sword, accessories, and documents. I was invited to accept nomination for High Sheriff of Greater Manchester in 2013, and installed three and a half years later; in the history of the oldest continual secular dignity in the country, a very short time ago. I was honoured, and pleased to discover that I had some illustrious predecessors close to home, in Bolton. In March 1917, Sir William Hesketh Lever, of Rivington, Bolton, industrialist, was named High Sheriff of Lancashire. In the July he was elevated to the peerage as first Baron Leverhulme, so his tenure of the shrievalty became a footnote. When George V pricked the lites (‘lee-tays’ = ‘list’) naming Sir William, he was perpetuating a role that has its origins with the Saxons. The Shire Reeve (‘scire refa’) represented the sovereign as bailiff and keeper of the King’s Peace, overseeing estate management, collecting taxes, raising the militia, and administering justice. This role had fallen naturally upon members of the land-owning classes, and, until the nineteenth century, remained exclusively theirs. Growing in powers since 1116, Sheriffs advised on Magna Carta in 1215, 27 out of 63 clauses defining their role, and establishing their authority. Eventually, in 1908, the role of Lord-Lieutenant superseded that of High Sheriff, whose functions were subdivided between the lieutenancy, the independent judiciary, the forces of law and order, and the exchequer. Their tenure was reduced to 12 months. The diminution of powers and term of office were initially intended to control the Sheriffs, but, ultimately,
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recognised the great expense to which they would be put in carrying out their duties. By the 1900s the role was largely ceremonial, although High Sheriffs were still required to attend executions, and ride out ahead of the militia should civil order need to be restored. The power of invoking ‘Posse Comitatus’, ie the Power of the County, still exists, as does the right to announce the results of parliamentary elections, and the requirement to proclaim the death of the sovereign. Concerns about the nature of the first two were used to question the suitability of appointing ladies, although the possibility had been mooted in Gloucestershire in 1922. The future Viscount Leverhulme was one of half a dozen Bolton industrialists who became High Sheriff of Lancashire; the new ‘cottonocracy’ and other industrial magnates occupying the social positions once held by the old families; the mayoralty of Bolton often being an early step on the public office ladder. Part of the sovereign’s personal estates since Edward III, The Duchy of Lancaster gives the sovereign the style ‘Duke of Lancaster’, and, as such, he or she appoints the High Sheriffs of Lancashire, and, since 1974, of Merseyside and Greater Manchester. Since Tudor times, 15 Lancashire, and four Greater Manchester High Sheriffs have originated from, or resided in, ‘modern’ Bolton. Until 1974, none of the Lancashire incumbents were female. The Mancunian mathematician and politician, Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw (1978) became first in the Duchy. Since reorganisation, Lancashire has boasted eight women High Sheriffs, Merseyside nine, and Greater Manchester will have 11 from April this year, bringing the proportion of women to just under a third. Of the latter, at least three have connections with Bolton School: Edith Conn OBE JP DL (High Sheriff 2008-2009; Vice Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester 2014-2017); the industrialist, Arts, and charity campaigner Susan K Hodgkiss DL, who was installed in 2003, and later honoured with a CBE, and me. My Shrieval Year began in March 2016 with a phone call from the Clerk to the Duchy, “I have just arrived from the Palace. Her Majesty has been pleased ...’, and ended with the signing of the writ handing over to my successor, Kui Man Gerry Yeung OBE DL, in April 2017. The year had the glitter of occasions, from the Savoy Chapel Carol Service in London (part of the Duchy Estate) and Royal visits (I was tempted to have a tee-shirt printed ‘Harry Admired My Gloves’), to the Buckingham Palace Garden Party – where we bumped into our neighbours. There were glimpses into the work of the Armed Services; cadets, serving personnel, and veterans,
which included a tour of HMS Duncan, the last Type 45 Daring–class air-defence destroyer built for the Royal Navy, docked in Liverpool. There was the honour of sitting with the compassionate Manchester Recorder, and observing Crown Court trials (a somewhat depressing novelty, not being a JP); the pleasure of entertaining High Court judges; getting an insight into their roles, and witnessing fascinating debate at a time when the Appeal Bench had been abusively criticised in the national press. I spent a day with Greater Manchester Police, finishing with a dash to an incident in the interceptor car with ‘blues and twos’, which, though just a passenger, felt like sitting in the command seat of a ‘starship’; and valuable time with the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, meeting cadets and new recruits, conferring about diversity and visiting the new, internationally acclaimed, training facilities. On the anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, the commemorations were many, varied, moving and informative; especially as, like so many, our family had lost young men in the conflict. Today, High Sheriffs also support volunteers. The importance of charities and religious groups cannot be over-emphasised. Numerous amazing people set up and maintain organisations where there is little or no public provision for people in need. Most work with little publicity. It is a proviso of the role to bring recognition, and to try to foster links and networks. I recall, decades ago, sitting on a rush-bottomed chair
Alumni Authors Heartsong: My Life in Lyric and Verse by Dorothy Lees-Blakey (1942-1950) (printed by CreateSpace – www.dorothylees-blakey.org) Heartsong is an autobiography in prose, poetry and song lyrics in which Dorothy Lees-Blakey traces her varied and colourful life from her home town of Bolton via Bolton School and Manchester University to Canada, specifically Ontario, where she moved with her husband and two young children in 1969. In Canada her life blossomed as she rekindled her love of music, drama and writing. However, the one event which haunts the memoir and much of the writing is the tragic early death of her husband. Brian Blakey, Professor of Romance Languages at McMaster University, Hamilton, died aged 47 of lung cancer. From here Lees-Blakey has to adapt to the loss, bring up her children and balance grief with the need to keep going. It is apparent that she does so admirably, expressing grief through poems, many of which are about the Christmas season when the festivities often heighten the contrasting awareness of loss. She also involves herself in numerous creative activities, writing musicals and acting both as an amateur and professionally.
in the Great Hall at Speech Day, when the guest was the third Viscount Leverhulme, grandson of the Founder, and Lord-Lieutenant of Cheshire. He talked about ‘service’, though I was more thrilled to see a living link with the School’s history.
The Archaeological Society – Joy is seventh from the left at the back, CLM (‘Clem’) Harding is holding the map with George Smith. Also featured are David Quysner, Lynne Birtwhistle, Lesley Higson and Dairne Edge.
The High Sheriff’s charge is to serve the Sovereign, and the County, to the best of his/her efforts and abilities; to uphold the dignity of the Crown, and that of the role. This may seem to be hopelessly outmoded, but I would argue that it is not. When we are struggling to clarify what is meant by ‘British Values’ without descending into offensive chauvinism, it is worth reflecting on the benefits of maintaining our traditions, whilst fitting them for the future. We have a constitutional monarchy, subject to the rule of law, and which is prepared to evolve; an independent judiciary, and a range of organisations, official and voluntary, there to serve and protect others. The Shrievalty is a proud element of that, and it has been a privilege to be a part. The first section of Heartsong covers Lees-Blakey’s upbringing as an only child and features not only some of her six- and ten-year-old ventures into verse, but two touching poems on what might be termed the shadow side of not having siblings, the loneliness and, for a thoughtful child, a tendency to become an observer, as expressed in the final lines of In Hiding: “I watched and waited, waiting to be found.” One poem, Smoke, vividly recalls the Bolton in which she grew up and stands in sharp contrast to her writing about Ontario, in particular a few short pen portraits of the local fauna which have the air of song lyrics written to delight a child. The owl warns “If you’re a vole/better not leave your hole” and The Snake is evoked in sibilance and a litany of verbs “silently sliding, squirming gliding” which replicate our sense of it. Lyrics for two musicals, Heidi, and the ambitious Pride and Prejudice, are touching and witty, ranging from the catchy showstopper by Sebastian, I’m a Man of Many Talents, to Grandfather’s touching lullaby in Heidi and Mary Bennet’s reflections on love in which Cupid is rhymed with deluded, concluded and excluded. Not one for Valentine’s Day. Heartsong charts a rich life lived to the full despite a devastating loss. Theresa Sowerby (Girls’ Division Staff, 1988-2013)
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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Spring 2018
Flora of Laphroaig
given their most common English names as well as their scientific names.
Painted and described by Mary Knowles (née Ashworth, 1939-1946)
Aged 89, this is Mary Knowles’s first published book. Mary writes: “I was born in Bolton, Lancashire, in 1928, an only child who suffered polio and had very little schooling until the age of 8. Much of my time was spent in the company of my maternal grandfather, a retired wheelwright whose knowledge of wild plants was the start of a career and a lifelong interest”.
Flora of Laphroaig is the product of a lifelong passion for botany and a delight and skill in watercolour painting. A unique pocket book, each flower painting is illustrated with a handwritten account of the plant. Mary Knowles spent months searching the land overlooking the hamlet of Laphroaig, on the Island of Islay (a place made famous the world over by its distillery) to identify all the flowering plants and ferns on ‘the hump’. This rocky hillock, on the southern coast of the Hebridean island, combines bogland, heathland and grassland in just a few windswept acres.
She went on to study Botany, Zoology and Chemistry at the University of Manchester. In 2009, after a career in teaching, Mary moved with husband Alan from Lancashire to Laphroaig on the Island of Islay, where she has been able to renew her interest in natural history and painting. The watercolours in this book were created as a Silver Wedding present for her son and daughter-in-law.
The artist and botanist identified more than a hundred plants, and painted and described them all. The flowers are
Flora of Laphroaig costs £7.50 and is available from shops on Islay and direct from peterwknowles@gmail.com.
Sunflowers and Silver Birch
Phoebe was a Lancashire poet and writer of some renown. She was a friend of Margaret Higginson and gave poetry classes to Sixth Form students at Bolton School during the 1970s. Sunflowers and Silver Birch paints a vivid picture of her life in which her creative work is interwoven with her personal experiences. Among her many literary pursuits, she worked as Women’s Page Editor for the Bolton Evening News during the 1940s, wrote scripts for BBC radio and gave courses at local colleges. In 1990 she was awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the University of Central Lancashire. Phoebe died in 2005 and left an incredible legacy, having published 16 books of poetry and four books of prose.
by Phoebe Hesketh, edited by Catherine Mary Robinson (née Hesketh, 1958-1961). Publisher: United Writers Publications Ltd, ISBN: 9781852001841 Following a career as a dietitian which saw her set up a Dietetic Programme at the Regional Hospital, County Limerick, Catherine moved to the USA. She worked for many years as a Registered Dietitian in hospitals, clinics and community health centres. Catherine is now retired and lives with her husband in Toulouse, France. She has recently compiled and edited the memoir of her mother, Phoebe Hesketh.
Woman on the Edge by Val Stevens (née Deans, 1951-1958) writing as Olivia Richards. Publisher: Olivia Books – to order a copy please contact oliviabooks@phonecoop.coop Bea Manning is wife, mother, daughter, friend, ecological activist and producer of the local amateur operatic society’s production of La Bohème. Practical, moderate and caring, she has subordinated her own desires for a career to support her husband Alistair’s high-powered academic research into cancer medication and to raising her two children, thoughtful, conventional James and wayward Helena, who has left for Australia. Woman on the Edge opens at the start of the new millennium with the news that Alistair Manning has been awarded an OBE. Bea represents many women of her generation and Olivia Richards, in the first half of the novel, draws a sympathetic portrait of this morally conscientious, socially involved individual balancing a range of demands on her time, while catering for the needs of her unconsciously selfish husband. There are convincing cameo portraits of friends and family, notably Morag, Alistair’s feisty Scottish mother. Bea, however, lives on the Edge, both literally and metaphorically; in her Derbyshire village at Edgeton Fold;
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Catherine brings to life a portrait of a bygone era in her mother’s memoir – so named for the recurring roles that nature (sunflowers) and death (birchwood coffin) played in Phoebe’s life. on the edge of so many other lives, touching them without putting herself centre-stage. Then, as the novel gathers pace, she is pushed emotionally close to the edge when her elderly mother declines quickly after a fall and three further family emergencies come close to pushing her beyond the power to cope. The escalation of tension is managed well as Helena goes missing in Africa, there is an explosion at an American conference in which Alistair is speaking and her son’s marriage looks in danger of falling apart. This is in some ways an epiphany for Bea, causing her to re-evaluate her own life and commitments. After flying to Washington to be with Alistair, she has a minor breakdown in her dingy hotel room until the situation is relieved by Alistair’s colleague, George, and his lively, sympathetic wife, Maisie, one of a number of strong, independent women to feature in the novel. Without giving too much away, I can reveal that the ending is largely positive in the sense that there is growth in many of the characters. Bea’s passionate devotion to ecological causes is, perhaps, a little over-emphasised in places but it is a crucial element of her character. The novel depicts clearly scenarios that will resonate with many women of Bea’s generation and explores the subtle dynamics of family relationships with realistic humour and, at times, exasperation. Theresa Sowerby (Girls’ Division Staff, 1988-2013)
INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION Drugs Education from returning Pharmacists Pharmacists Thorrun Govind (Class of 2010) and Old Boy Alex Quayle (Class of 2009) delivered a hard-hitting lecture on drugs to the Year 12 boys. Alex is a practice-based Medicines Optimisation Pharmacist at NHS Manchester CCG and Thorrun is a Community Pharmacist for Sykes Chemist Ltd in Bolton. Thorrun is also resident Pharmacist on BBC Radio Lancashire, where each month she has a one-hour programme which allows her to inform the public better of a pharmacist’s skills and to discuss patients’ minor ailments.
Eco-friendly Business Ideas impress Judges The judging panel for this year’s Business Challenge comprised Michael Griffiths (1958-1965 and Chairman of Governors), Helen Critchlow (Parent Governor) and Karen Diggle (Class of 1976 and Governor). The three brought their extensive entrepreneurial experience to the final of the competition which saw groups of Year 12 students present their ideas in a Dragon’s Den style pitching battle. The victorious Team Caterplastic with Team Caterplastic emerged as the overall winner – the judges were impressed Michael Griffiths, Helen Critchlow by their idea to use wax worms to recycle plastic from households in an (left) and Karen Diggle (right) environmentally friendly way.
Oxbridge Interviews Heidi Winser (née Abbott, 1981-1991) and Stephen Lintott (1982-1989) were among a number of volunteers who helped to coach the School’s latest aspiring Oxbridge students ahead of their admission
World of Work A number of Old Girls and Old Boys returned to School to provide inspiration to Year 12 pupils in the Boys’ Division during a ‘World of Work’ morning. Winni Lam (Class of 2004) talked about her career in software engineering, which has seen her work for two companies and also set up two new businesses: the first was established in collaboration with others and was eventually bought after growing to around 200 employees, while her second solo venture is with her software company, Pan Out. Sue Lewis (Class of 2005), who is Head of Volunteer Operations UK for the British Red Cross, discussed building a career in the voluntary sector. A Charities Prefect at School, Sue graduated in law from the University of Sheffield. She worked for a number of regional charities in the North West before joining her current organisation. Tia Louden (Class of 2011) charted her journey ‘from BA to working in Tech’: she read Politics and
interviews. Heidi, who herself studied Geography at St Catherine’s College, Oxford, said: ‘It was great to re-connect with my favourite subject at School (many years on) and meet a current pupil who was passionate about studying it.’ International Relations at university, then completed a Masters in International Human Resource Management at the Henley Business School. She is now a contractor with Microsoft, working as a Co-ordinator and Communications Manager, with a goal of becoming an engineer. Nicola Wilcock (Class of 2007) talked about her career in sales and marketing, which has led her to become the UK and Ireland Sales Manager at Whittard of Chelsea. After gaining a degree in Theology from the University of Durham, Nicola joined the Graduate Scheme at Explore Learning, where she discovered that she had a passion for sales. She then secured a place on Unilever Future Leader’s Programme where she managed a number of household brands. After a stint with a luxury Belgian chocolate company she joined Whittards. Old Boy Stephen Lintott (1982-1989) of BLM Law talked via Skype about working as a lawyer and Old Boy Nat Roohan (Class of 2017), a Trainee Apprentice with JP Morgan in London, gave a valuable insight into the benefits of taking up an apprenticeship after leaving School.
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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Spring 2018
Staff in the Spotlight Our latest staff members to come under the spotlight are Ms Noot, Head of Geography, and Miss Tomlinson, Teacher of French and Spanish. Alumni Prefects Tilly Rodriguez and Millie Liptrot caught up with them to ask about their teaching careers and their time at Bolton School
Ms Noot
as focusing on geography. Therefore I decided to become a teacher. What would you be doing if you weren’t a teacher? If I wasn’t a teacher, I think I would be a midwife. After having my own children, I realise how amazing their job is – they are angels! I think community midwifery would be the most interesting. What is your favourite memory of Bolton School? My favourite memory has to be the performance the staff put on when Mrs Richards was leaving. It was so funny and showed the high staff morale. I also have very fond memories of taking the girls to India to support the SKCV charity. The trips were enriching and so rewarding.
Ms Noot and Millie
Did you always want to be a teacher? No! When I was younger I dreamed of being a doctor as my aunt was the first female gynaecologist in the UK. Throughout my late teens I wanted to be a journalist, but after completing my geography degree I knew I wanted to work with children as well
Miss Tomlinson
What is your favourite year to teach? For me, Key Stage 3 (Years 7 to 9) are the most enjoyable years to teach. I don’t feel as constrained by the syllabus and can teach the girls what I find genuinely interesting. They are always so inquisitive and the questions they ask determine the lessons. The volcano cakes they make in Year 9 are also a huge bonus!
What is your dream job? My dream job would be writing the soundtrack to films. I love the music in romance films: being a romance composer would be amazing. My favourite musical is American Beauty. Another dream job would be an editor of a fashion magazine, or a yoga teacher in Bali. What is your favourite tradition at Bolton School? With the pupils, my favourite tradition is definitely the Prefects’ pantomime. I only made it into the pantomime after being at Bolton School for four years. However, with the staff my favourite tradition is Elf Week, where everyone does Secret Santa. I am Chief Elf as I came up with the idea of Elf Week.
Miss Tomlinson with Tilly (left) and Millie
Did you always know you wanted to be a teacher? I think deep down I did know I always wanted to be a teacher, as I loved the idea of teaching languages. However, before I was a teacher, I was a central court officer, an estate agent and a car sales person.
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What is your favourite year to teach? My favourite year is Year 7, simply because they’re so enthusiastic and put so much effort into their work. They are always fun to teach. Do you have a favourite memory at Bolton School? My favourite memory is definitely the joint Geography and Spanish trip to Cuba in the Easter holidays in 2016. The trip was amazing as we got to see so much of the island, even some flamingoes!
NEWS OF OLD GIRLS If you would like to get in touch with any of the Old Girls featured – or any other Alumni – please contact the Development Office. Class of 1930-1939
Annie Hall (1930-1937) Congratulations to Annie who celebrated her 100th birthday on 5th September 2017! Annie celebrated with three other Old Boltonians: her daughter Jane Reed (née Hall, 1961-1971), her son John (1957-1968) and Andy Mitchell (1962-1967). Class of 1960-1969 Jill Mills (née Dawson, 1953-1966) Lepidopterist Jill is celebrating the discovery that a rare butterfly has bred in Scotland for the first time in more than a century. She and friend and fellow volunteer for wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation, Ken Haydock, came across a handful of White-Letter Hairstreak eggs in East Scotland. The two amateur naturalists from Horwich, Bolton, spotted the butterfly on some elm trees by the River Tweed at Lennel, Berwickshire — the first sighting in Scotland since 1884. Class of 1980-1989 Maxine Robbins (née Raffle, 1974-1985) Maxine is a physiotherapist by day, but is an Athletics coach (primarily pole vault) in her free time and Maxine (centre) completes the has recently completed Women into High Performance the Women into High programme Performance programme run by UK Coaching. She is part of the National Coach Development Programme and has coached one of her students up to international level – fingers crossed for both Maxine and her protégée as they aim to get a qualifying mark for selection for the European U18 Championships in Hungary this Summer. Class of 2010 onwards Anna McCrory (2003-2010) Well done to Anna who was in the Hammer and Tongue National Poetry Slam final at the Royal Albert Hall. She qualified last year by winning the Hammer and Tongue Cambridge regional final. Stacey Rees (2004-2011) Congratulations to Stacey who has graduated from The University of Manchester with a First Class Honours Degree in Midwifery. Stacey is now a qualified midwife based at St Mary’s Hospital in Manchester. Claire Manley (2003-2012) Claire has graduated with a BDS (British Dental Society) Degree with distinction from Barts and The London School of Medicine at Queen Mary University, London, where she was awarded the 2017 Pitt Ford Prize for the ‘most outstanding final year undergraduate in the field of entodontology’. She has now returned North and works as a dentist in central Manchester.
Jasmine Greenhalgh (Class of 2013) Jasmine has completed her Masters in Chemistry at the University of Leeds, achieving First Class Honours – congratulations! Bethany Keegan (Class of 2013) Congratulations to Bethany who has graduated from the University of Liverpool with First Class Honours in Modern Languages (French, Spanish and Italian). Bethany (left) with fellow Old Girl Emily Shaw (Class of 2103) who graduated in Hispanic Studies and Italian Arianna Barnes (2012-2014) Arianna has graduated from Durham University with a 2:1 degree in Law – well done! She is now at the BPP Law School in Manchester studying for the BPTC and seeking pupillage. Ellen Faulkner (2007-2014) Well done to Ellen who has graduated from the University of Nottingham with a First Class Degree in Architecture. Ellen is now completing a placement job as a Part 1 Architectural Assistant. Charlotte Holden (2012-2014) Congratulations to Charlotte, who has graduated from the University of Hull with a First Class Honours Degree in Psychology. She also won the annual Psychology Examiners’ Special Prize for Outstanding Examination and Coursework Performance. Charlotte is now studying for a PhD in the Psychology of Sleep at Nottingham Trent University. Claire Ross (Class of 2014) Claire has graduated with an Upper 2nd Class BSc degree in Pharmacology from the University of Manchester – congratulations! Claire is now studying for an MRes in Tissue Engineering for Regenerative Medicine (also at the University of Manchester) which involves a six-month research project attempting to see whether regeneration of the heart in mice is possible through gene therapy after heart attack induced cardiac tissue death. In September 2018 she will be commencing a PhD at the University of Dundee in which she will complete a threeyear project investigating chronic hypoglycaemia and cardiac dysfunction. Rhiannon Fox-Rothwell (2005-2015) Rhiannon is currently a third year student at St Andrews University and last September she captained the rugby team during the varsity match against Edinburgh University at Murrayfield.
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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Spring 2018
Matches and Hatches Abigail Vincent (née Deer, 2000-2007) Abigail married Old Boy Sam Vincent (1999-2006) on 23rd September in Arona, Tenerife. The wedding was attended by a huge contingent of Old Girls and Old Boys: John Nutter (Class of 1974), Natalie Chatburn (née Cox, Class of 2004), Jonathan Berry, Jonathan Bradbury, Simon Burns, Emily Deer, Jamie Harrison, Harry Hibbert, Guy Hughes, Chris Nutter (all Class of 2006), Sarah Bentham, Daniel Cox, Grace Gordon, Meg Hughes (née Longworth), Benjamin Lenders, Richard Miller, Nick Oliver, Holly Underwood, Imogene Windsor (all Class of 2007), Edward Deer, Nick Aiyegbusi (both Class of 2011) and David Deer (Class of 2015) The happy couple held a further celebration at Bolton School’s Arts Centre in October. Sam and Abigail married in Tenerife
Katie Williams (née Shorrock, Class of 2007) Katie tied the knot with husband Mitch in Australia, where she now lives, in March 2017. Family and friends gathered to celebrate their wedding on 27th December at Stanley House near Clitheroe and a number of Old Girls (Class of 2007) were among the guests. Back: Aimee Parkinson, Victoria Howarth, Faye Hughes, Katie, Sophia Saunders, Rebecca Lewis, Sophie HammondPiggott, Dani Hawarden. Front: Emily Berry (née Cook), Nicola Wilcock, Natalie Smith
Alyssa Evans (née Kay, 2001-2008) Alyssa was joined by a number of Old Girls as she celebrated her marriage to Ben on 2nd June 2017 at the Maynard Hotel in Grindleford, Derbyshire. L-R: Zoe Lomax, Alex Berry, Georgina Carter, Jenika Patel, Alyssa, Jennifer Jackson, Nicola Wilding (née Lewis), Olivia Edmondson, Lucy Ritchie (née MacDonald) and Harriet Bradley (all Class of 2008)
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Emily Lucas (née Harper, Class of 2009) Emily married Old Boy Peter Lucas (also Class of 2009) at the Oak Tree of Peover on 29th July 2017 – the pair met at School, but only got together during their last year at university. They were joined by a number of Old Boys and Old Girls on their special day.
Jen Anderson, Rachel Derbyshire, Abbie Dixon, Chris Fairweather, Daniel Duper (all Class of 2009), Alex Saunders (Class of 2010), Nick Harper (Class of 2012), David and Richard Harper (both Class of 1982), Jonathan Harper (Class of 1987), Richard Monks (Class of 1974), Mary Harper (née Monks, Class of 1954), Ian Fleming (Class of 1974) and Deborah Lucas (née Fleming, Class of 1976)
Jennifer Alwill (Class of 1999) Congratulations to Jen and Paul who welcomed Sebastian Albert Stamford Carroll on 13th September 2017, weighing 8lbs 9oz. The happy couple are now looking forward to getting married in the Great Hall in August.
Paul, Jen and baby Sebastian
Lauren Fray (née Parker, 1999-2006) Congratulations to Lauren and husband Matt (Boys’ Division, 1993-2006) on the arrival of their baby boy, Max Duncan Fray, on 8th February 2018. An Old Girl, an Old Boy and their new baby: Lauren, Matt and Max
Lucy Bossom (née Fletcher, 2000-2007) Lucy and husband David are thrilled to announce the arrival of Felicity Grace Bossom on 6th October 2017. Baby Felicity with proud parents Lucy and David
Elizabeth Smalley (1993-2007) Elizabeth and Richard are delighted to announce the arrival of Gala Ilona Smalley Stone, born on 10th January 2018 at St Thomas’ Hospital London.
MINI REUNIONS 1964 Leavers meet in Manchester
to join us, then please contact Moira Greenhalgh either by email at moira@m-greenhalgh.co.uk or by telephone on 01524 761269.
Our now annual pre-Christmas Manchester lunch was held on Thursday 16th November 2017 at Croma, just off Albert Square, with coffee beforehand for early arrivals. Very sadly our email contact list has been reduced by one, with the sudden passing of Pat McMullen (née Lane). We send our condolences to her family and friends.
L-R: Pauline Rose, Janet Ward (née Mitchell), Frances Blundell (née Astle), Margaret Buckley (née Satterthwaite), Anita Hughes (née Percival), Moira Greenhalgh (née Stevens), Marj Robinson (née West) and Susan Seely (née Band)
If you left School in 1964, after the Lower Sixth in 1963, or after O Levels in 1962, and would like
1959 Leavers’ Bolton Lunch A good time was had by all at our annual lunch which was held in November at Fanny’s on Markland Hill. The London lunch is to be arranged. The next ‘Bolton’ lunch, planned for November this year, will probably be held in Manchester, to make it easier for those travelling from outside Bolton. L-R: Fiona Stevens, Patricia Philip (née Vause), Deanna Greenhalgh (née Ainscough), Bridget Williams (née Roe), Susan Briggs (née Bellis), Eileen Nelson (née Adshead), Gladys Sidebottom (née Ormesher), Pauline Ogden (née Jackson) and Margaret Simpson (née Rawlinson)
Unofficial Roses still Blooming
two) from friends, we all made it. Perhaps our hair is more salt than pepper now, but we still had great pleasure swapping memories of being Margaret Higginson’s first Sixth Form at Bolton School.
We owe our second unofficial reunion of the leavers of 1957 to Elsie Peel (née Addison). She realised, as do we all, that five years is too long a gap between these happy events when one is getting as long in the tooth as we are. So we all agreed to foregather at Mytton Fold Hotel, Langho, on Saturday 26th August 2017, for a reminiscence lunch. Miraculously, everyone except Vivien Zundl (née Crowe) and Valerie Walmsley (née Fletcher) was available. What could be better? Well, for starters, the rail service. None of us had noticed that it was August Bank Holiday, which the railways celebrate by cancelling most of the trains. This affected only Ruth Foxman (née Senior), coming from Hampstead, and myself, taking in a funeral in Wakefield the day before. But with Elsie’s kind hospitality, and, in my case, calling in a favour (or
Standing L-R: Hazel Weatherill, Elsie Peel, Elaine Lever (née Kelsey), Pat Land (née Hazlitt), Jean Hemingway (née Haslam). Seated L-R: Anne Wiseman (née Williams), Ruth Foxman (née Senior), Margaret Hill (née Gregory)
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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Spring 2018
DESTINATIONS OF LEAVERS – 2017 PUPIL NAME
UNIVERSITY
COURSE
FRANCESCA ADAMS
University of Cambridge
Natural Sciences
MILLIE ADAMSON
University of Manchester
Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology
UMME AKBERALI
University of Liverpool
Medicine
NAWAL AKHTAR
Manchester Metropolitan University
Psychology
ZAYNAB AL-FALOUJI
Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Romania
Medicine
HANNAH AL-SAIDI
Leeds Beckett University
Sports Events Management
ANJALI ANICATT
University of Oxford
History
JANE ASTBURY
University of Nottingham
Geography
MARIAM ATCHA
University of Manchester
Optometry
ANITA AZAVEDO
University of Glasgow
Anatomy
NATASHA BAGNALL
Durham University
English Literature
CERYS BAINES
University of Oxford
History and Politics
GRACE BALL
University of York
Chemistry
ANUSHKA BASU
Keele University
Psychology
LUCY BAXTER
University of Liverpool
Communication and Media
LUCY BEARD
University of Salford
Nursing
ISOBEL BIRTWHISTLE
Durham University
Modern Languages and Cultures
PENNY BOOTH
Falmouth University
Animation and Visual Effects
ELEANOR BRACEGIRDLE
University of York
Computer Science
DARCEY BRADBURN
Bangor University
Psychology
LOUISA BROPHY
Newcastle University
Mathematics with Finance
REBECCA CALDERBANK
University of Birmingham
Medicine
KIERA CAMPBELL
Liverpool John Moores University
Media, Culture and Communication
SAAMIN CHEEMA (2016)
University College London
Biochemistry
PRIYA CHEVLI
Liverpool Hope University
Computer Science
AISHWARYA CHOHAN
Liverpool John Moores University
Psychology
FRANCESCA CHUCK
University of Leeds
Law
SREYA COOMER
Imperial College London
Medicine
CORRIS CRAGGS
Durham University
Psychology
VICTORIA CRAMER
University of Exeter
History and Modern Languages
MORGAN CRAWSHAW
University of Central Lancashire
Law
SONALI DANIEL
Gap Year
ALEENA DHOKIA
University of Leeds
Management and Spanish
MOLLY DICK
University of Edinburgh
Philosophy and Theology
REBECCA DIXON
University of Liverpool
Medicine
CAITLIN DUCKETT
University of Liverpool
Psychology
EMMA DUPER
London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London
History
ALEX DUXBURY
University of Nottingham
Engineering and Physical Sciences
CAROLINE FAIRCLOUGH
University of York
French and Linguistics
AMBER FARRINGTON
University of Liverpool
Geography Science
KIRSTY FIELDING
University of Oxford
Chemistry
OLIVIA GOULD
Newcastle University
Politics and History
JESSICA GREGORI
University of Liverpool
Psychology
ABBIE GREGSON
Gap Year
CTC Aviation Pilot Training (2018)
CHANDRANI GUPTA
University of Warwick
Economics
EMMA HAILWOOD (2016)
Keele University
Chemistry
MILLIE HAMMOND
University of York
Business and Management
LUCY HARPER
University of Winsconsin, Milwaukee
History and Political Science
SOPHIE HAYTON
University of Manchester
Pharmacy
FIONA HAZLITT
University of Nottingham
Architecture
STEPHANIE HIGGINS (2016)
University of Glasgow
Spanish
BETH HOLBROOK
Newcastle University
Marketing and Management
BETH HODKINSON
Bangor University
Accounting and Finance
JULIETTE HOWARTH
University of Sheffield
Genetics
FAYE HUGHES
University of Liverpool
Psychology
LAUREN HURST
Lancaster University
English Literature with Creative Writing
AYAT HUSSEIN
University of Manchester
Optometry
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SOPHIE INKSTER
University of Bath
Spanish and Politics
KHADIJAH ISMAIL
Apprenticeship
BAE Systems
HANNA JIVA
Gap Year
CHARLOTTE JOHNSON
University of Chester
Dance
VICTORIA JOLLEY
University of Nottingham
Geography
IMOGEN JOYCE
Coventry University
International Relations
RIYA KALHAN (2016)
King’s College London
Economics
MARIA KETTLE
University of Sheffield
Biochemistry
AALIYAH KHAN
Lancaster University
Medicine and Surgery
KIERA LUCAS
Anglia Ruskin University
Optometry
LIBBY LUPTON
University of Liverpool
Law and Criminology
ALISHA MAINI
University of Leeds
Medicine
HAZRA MAJEED
University of Manchester
Accounting and Finance
LUCY MANLEY
University College London
English
SHIVANI MANOHARAN
University of Cambridge
Medicine
VASUDHA MARTHI
University of Warwick
Economics
LUCY McCONVEY
Sheffield Hallam University
Nutrition, Diet and Lifestyles
CAITLIN McGUFFIE
University of Liverpool
Engineering Foundation
MOLLY McLAUGHLIN
University of Glasgow
Law
ASHLEIGH MEECH
University of Exeter
Modern Languages
JOHANNA MERCER
University of Reading
Psychology
FIFI MERCER
University of East Anglia
History
LOIS MOK
Bangor University
Law with Business Studies
MEHRANGUIZ MOKRI
Gap Year
CHARLOTTE MORLEY (2016)
University of Leeds
Neuroscience
AMELIA MYATT
University of Nottingham
Classics
MARIAM NAWAZ
University of Manchester
Psychology
AAMINAH OUGRADAR
University of Manchester
Optometry
GEORGINA OWEN
University of Bristol
Mathematics
PATEL AAISHA
Gap Year
ASHNA PATEL
University of Edinburgh
Law and Politics
KHADEEJAH PATEL
University of Central Lancashire
Pharmacy
ELENA PAYNE
University of York
Environment, Economics and Ecology
OLIVIA PORTER
University of Greenwich
International Business with Language
MEGAN PREEDY
University of Central Lancashire
Economics
LOTTIE PROCTOR
Gap Year
KATRINA READER
Manchester Metropolitan University
Human Resource Management
ALICE ROBINSON
University of Bristol
Medicine
MILLIE RODEN
Aston University
International Business and German
MELISSA ROSE (2016)
Royal Agricultural University
Applied Equine Science and Business
ANNA ROWLANDS
University of Nottingham
Chemistry
SAMRA SADDIQUE
University of Leeds
Interdisciplinary Science Foundation
ELZA SAEED
Gap Year
SOPHIA SECRETARY (2016)
University of Manchester
Neuroscience
MARIYAH SEEDAT (2016)
University of Manchester
Healthcare Science (Audiology)
LETITIA SERMIN-REED
Newcastle University
Psychology
AMBER SHAIKH
Gap Year
RUCHIKA SHARMA
Birkbeck, University of London
German
HANNAH SHAW
Durham University
Modern Languages and Cultures
JESSIE SOU
University of Strathclyde
Mathematics
EVE STEPHENSON
University of Warwick
English and Theatre Studies
ZOE STIRZAKER
University of Nottingham
English and History
OLIVIA SYKES
Lancaster University
Geography
LILY TANKARD
Gap Year
ELLA TOBIN
Bangor University
Philosophy and Religion
GABY TOMLINSON
University of Sheffield
European and International Law
HOLLY WILCOCK
Northumbria University
Foundation Year in Business
CHARLOTTE WINROW
University of Liverpool
Bioveterinary Science
ELEANOR WINTER
Gap Year
CHARLOTTE WOOLLEY
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
Stage Management
EVANGELINE WRIGHT
University of York
Computer Science
ALISHA-FAYE YEARSLEY
Liverpool John Moores University
Business with Finance
23
Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Spring 2018
FROM THE ARCHIVES Ask the Archivist Who attended the official opening of the new Girls’ Division? Each year on Presentation Evening our guests are asked to sign an attendance book, a custom that dates back to 1928, when the official opening of the new Girls’ Division building took place. At the recent Presentation Evening, when Ingrid Murray was the Guest Speaker, Headmistress Sue Hincks was looking at the signatories at the 1928 event and suggested that it would be interesting to reflect back on some of the personalities involved.
architectural competition so that the plans for the new buildings would be prepared and ready for implementation as soon as the War ended. Each wing had to be able to accommodate 500 pupils and there had to be a central chapel incorporated in the designs. Charles Adshead won the competition, although building did not begin until 1924. In the event the central chapel was not built and the land earmarked for it is now the site of the Riley Centre. Thomas Barlow (later Sir Thomas Barlow) was the brother of JR Barlow who was Chairman of the Governors from 1896 to 1920. JR Barlow died in 1924 and, after his death, his sister Annie Barlow (who was for many years a Governor in the Girls’ Division) presented the Boys’ Division with an organ that had been built for him. This was in 1929 and eight years later, in 1937, Sir Thomas Barlow funded the reconstruction of the organ in memory of his brother. Mary Holdsworth was one of the original seven cooptative Governors when the new Foundation came into existence on 1st April 1915. The other six were Sir William Lever (later Lord Leverhulme), JR Barlow, Franklin Thomasson, Fred Tillotson, Miss Alice Barlow and Mrs Mary Haslam
Viscountess Leverhulme opening the new School
The first two signatures are those of Viscountess Leverhulme and her husband, the 2nd Viscount. At the time of Lord Leverhulme’s death in 1925, the construction of the new buildings had already begun and the initial phase comprised the central archway, the Great Halls and Libraries of each Division, plus the classrooms that are now the South Wing. The First World War had delayed construction work and by the time of Lord Leverhulme’s death building costs had increased from the £135-150k, anticipated in 1917, to £180k. To ensure his father’s vision could move forward, the 2nd Viscount Leverhulme contributed £50,000 from his own resources. This was a most generous gesture, albeit one that is not perhaps widely known. Viscountess Leverhulme officially opened the new Girls’ Division on 25th September 1928 and the Girls were thus the first to move into the new School, as the Boys did not take possession of their new Great Hall and Library until 1929. It was not until January 1932 that the Boys’ Division South Wing was opened. Half way down the page may be seen the signature of Charles Adshead, the architect for the new School buildings. In 1917 Lord Leverhulme instigated an
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The last signature is that of Olivia Dymond who was Headmistress from 1893 to 1919, the longestserving Headmistress in the School’s history. She worked incessantly, and it is said she did not even have a secretary until 1911. She attended to every detail and kept a scrapbook in which she pasted every receipt or Miss Dymond postcard received from War Charities throughout the First World War. She introduced School uniform and compulsory games and was the first (but not the last!) Headmistress to issue a circular ‘on the importance of the children’s clothes being clearly marked’. When the King proclaimed a week’s holiday in honour of the Coronation in 1911, such was her devotion to duty that she said ‘the girls taking the Higher Certificate cannot possibly spare the time from their study’ and gave up her own holiday to stay with them. Hopefully they were grateful!
Meet the Archivist Eric Fairweather If you have a question about the School’s history or would like to donate to the Archive any photographs or artefacts from your time at School, Eric would love to hear from you. E: development@boltonschool.org.
Looking Back A nostalgic trip down Chorley New Road – photographs from across the decades Girls celebrate the opening of the yin pla g fields, 1922
Skiing in Aus
tria, 1968
Art Lesson, 1957
Beech House celebrating the Queen’s Silver Jubilee, 1977
t Champions, 1980
The Lacrosse Team are North Wes
Gymnastic Team, 1932
/33
Snowdon House, 1947
ng Squad, 1996/97
Junior School Swimmi
Don’t forget to take a look at our ‘Scenes from the Past’ webpage on the School website, which we regularly update with new Archive photos: www.boltonschool.org. You can also share your own archive photos on the Bolton Alumni Network: www.boltonalumninetwork.com.
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Old Girls’ Association Newsletter Spring 2018
LIVES REMEMBERED Catherine Mary Bowater (née Howard, 1946-1958) Died 9th September 2017
Philharmonic choir and regularly visited the National and Globe Theatres in London.
Catherine was born in March 1935, the eldest of four children. She attended Marsh Lane Primary School before joining Bolton School in 1946, followed later by her sisters, Helen and Susan.
Catherine loved her family and led a happy and fulfilled life, achieving many of her ambitions until her final two-year battle with cancer, which she fought bravely and cheerfully, sadly dying on the day of her eldest grandson’s wedding.
As a girl Catherine watched Bolton Wanderers and went to watch Lancashire playing cricket at Old Trafford with her grandfather (she always watched out for their results!). She was also a member of the bell-ringing team at St John’s Church, Farnworth.
Susan Critchley (sister, née Howard, 1956-1963)
She loved her time at School, was a member of Snowdon House and became a Prefect. She achieved good results and went to Nottingham University in 1953. She was the first woman at Nottingham to graduate in Zoology with a First Class Honours degree. She embarked on a Doctorate at Birmingham University under Sir Solly Zuckerman, where they were experimenting in the growing of skin. However, she was unhappy there and returned to Nottingham to work for Boots Pharmaceuticals. Catherine married Frank in 1958 and they moved back to the family home whilst Frank did two years of National Service. This was when Catherine began her teaching career at Worsley Wardley Secondary School. When their children, Alison and Stephen, were young they moved first to Middlesex and then to Buckinghamshire. Catherine went back into part-time teaching at Holmewood School and at Upton Grammar School, Slough. In 1971 she became Assistant Teacher in the Biology Department at Slough Grammar School for Boys, later becoming Head of Department. She remained there until her retirement in 1996. She was always very lively and organised school trips: skiing trips; a trip to Russia when it was still a communist state; to China and annual Biology Field Trips for Sixth Formers to Dale Fort in Pembrokeshire (Frank usually driving the mini bus!). Following her retirement, Catherine studied for an Archaeology degree at Oxford University and went on digs at Roman sites. She had a desire, and took the opportunity, to travel to just about every part of the globe in an effort to see the natural and archaeological wonders of the world before they were destroyed by the ravages of time and human progress – in some cases, going to see them twice to be sure they were still there! (Leopards in Namibia, lemurs in Madagascar, penguins in Antarctica, brown bears in Alaska, polar bears in Canada, to the Galapagos Islands, up the Amazon and birdwatching in Jordan to name but a few.) Catherine was a lifelong learner and explorer. Academic success at School and University was very important to her. She enjoyed sharing her knowledge with others which led to her successful career as a teacher and later as a governor at Beaconsfield High School. She also loved gardening, knitted very complex garments for her seven grandchildren, sang in the Slough
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Jean Dakeyne (née Grierson, 1943-1949) Died 3rd June 2017 After leaving Bolton School Jean went to Manchester University and graduated with a BSc in Mathematics and Physics. Obtaining her Post Graduation Certificate in Education, her first teaching post was at Bury Convent Grammar School. In December 1955 she married Old Boy Donald Dakeyne (1942-1947) and they had one daughter and two sons. She devoted the next few years to raising the family and on Sundays fulfilling her duties as organist at Ullswater Street Methodist Church. Once the children reached school age, Jean resumed her teaching career first at Chorley Grammar School and finally at Smithills Moor Grammar School. She became involved with the NSPCC serving on the Bolton Committee and with the local Smithills Branch. On moving to Silverdale, she continued this commitment establishing a flourishing and active branch. Jean also became a member of the Lancaster and North Lancashire Executive. Jean’s main pleasures included rambling and travelling. She and Donald embarked on a project to walk the England and Wales coastline. Unfortunately, they did not quite complete the task, Lincolnshire, the Gower and the south-east coastline proving beyond their reach. For the past two years Jean had suffered vascular dementia and increasing lack of mobility. She and Donald moved to Rhos-on-Sea to be close to family. She died on 3rd June 2017 in Glan Clwyd Hospital having only survived for four weeks after the move to North Wales. Donald Dakeyne (Boys’ Division, 1942-1947) Barbara Isherwood (1941-1950) Died 23rd January 2017 Barbara, known to many as Bish, started at Bolton School as an eager ten year old in 1941. As well as flourishing academically, Barbara developed a love of sport and music which lasted a lifetime. At Bolton School, she played tennis and lacrosse; she continued at university, playing for both London and Cambridge Universities. She started her teaching career at Roedean, in the Maths Department, and whilst there had the honour of being selected to represent Great Britain at lacrosse as part of a touring team playing the USA. Whilst on tour she was offered a job at Milton Academy, a top private school just outside Boston, Massachusetts, where she furthered her career to the post of Deputy Head by the time she retired. Barbara made many friends through her sport and career, and remained in contact with them throughout her life.
Barbara loved playing the piano, and progressed to the organ. During her retirement in Maine, USA, she became part of the church community, playing the organ and enjoying other music. She also travelled widely, read profusely and spent time enjoying drawing. Despite living in the USA for over 50 years, Barbara regularly returned home to see family and friends. She returned to England permanently in 2015, sadly with dementia. Upon her return, she was able to see her best friend from School, Audrey, and spent the last 18 months of her life in Bath to be near her younger sister, Jean, and her nieces. Barbara passed away in January of this year – she is missed by her family and friends, who remember a vibrant and determined lady, who always held a strong attachment to Bolton and her School days. Jean Underwood (née Isherwood, 1954-1961) Anthea Lorraine Marsden (née Crowther, former Girls’ Division Staff) Died 7th December 2017 Anthea was born in Bradford on 4th December 1943. She went to Bolling Girls’ Grammar School where she was Head Girl in the Sixth Form. After taking her A Levels, she went to Birmingham University, where she obtained a BA 2:1 degree in Classics. She continued at Birmingham, aiming at a PhD, but did not complete her objective and decided to take up teaching. Her first post was a temporary appointment in 1968 for one term only, standing in for a member of the Classics Department at Bradford Grammar School for Boys. It was a daunting first position for a 24-year old woman – very few women had ever taught there, but she took it on, not wanting to let down her teacher at Bolling who had recommended her for the post. Her first permanent post was at a comprehensive school in Swindon, but she found that the pupils were not very interested in Latin and soon moved on to Wyggeston Girls’ Grammar School in Leicester where she was much happier. Her next move was to Bolton School Girls’ Division and it was in Bolton where she entered the property market, putting down a deposit on a bungalow. It was during her time at Bolton School that she married Roger Marsden.
However, Roger’s daily commute to work in Leeds proved to be too difficult and although Anthea had been very happy at Bolton, she obtained a post at Bradford Girls’ Grammar School which made things easier. At BGGS she progressed to Head of Classics, then Head of the Sixth Form College, which she helped to set up, and finally Deputy Headmistress. Unfortunately, she developed breast cancer, resulting in an operation and chemotheraphy in 1994. She returned to work, but suffered from depression and was offered early retirement on health grounds which she reluctantly accepted. Her successful teaching career came to an end in her early fifties. Anthea made many life-long friendships at the schools where she taught. From Bolton, Lesley Summerhays and Marion Corkill in particular were always in touch with her. Anthea’s early retirement, although not sought, proved to have a silver lining. In combination with Roger’s retirement in 1994, it afforded the opportunity for them both to spend much more time at the house they had bought in Saint-Lanne, Hautes-Pyrénées, France, in 1992. For almost 20 years they spent most of Spring and Summer in SaintLanne, only interrupted by the recurrence of breast cancer in 1999. They both loved their time there, inviting family and friends to visit. Unfortunately, the onset of Anthea’s illness prevented visits to Saint-Lanne in the last two years. Anthea’s husband died on 1st August last year and the sad loss of Roger almost certainly affected her ability to cope with the hydrocephalus which claimed her life. Anthea died peacefully in a nursing home in Skipton. She and Roger had no children. Neil G Crowther (brother) Hazel Pidcock (née Robinson, 1951-1953) Died 28th May 2012 Hazel passed away in the Emergency Department of our local Hospital in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. We are proud and thankful that, during her lifetime, she was able to touch so many people in a positive way, both as a friend, through her varied volunteer work, and, while teaching in the immigrant ESL program. We are grateful for the medical staff who enabled us to enjoy many happy and productive years following the initial diagnosis and treatment of cancer in March 2000. We will forever be guided by Hazel’s optimistic approach to life. Husband John, sons Andrew and Iain and the Family.
IN MEMORIAM Stella Daker (Former Girls’ Division Staff) Died 13th November 2017 Helen Elizabeth Harrop (née Holt, 1942-1949) Died 20th January 2018 Jean Kearney (née Hodson, Class of 1956) Died 19th October 2016 Kathleen Lockwood (née Marshall, 1945-1953) Died 12th November 2017 Pat McMullen (née Lane, 1957-1964) Died 16th January 2018 Alison Haydock-Miller (1985-1992) Died 26th September 2017 Jean Pemberton (née Cadman, Class of 1949) Died 10th December 2016 Judith Mary Phillipson (née Driver, Class of 1961) Died 20th April 2017 Margaret Christine Potter (née Bellis, 1946-1954) Died 6th September 2017 Susan Waite (née Holland, 1961-1974) Died 1st February 2018 Dorothy Margaret Wood (née Heyes, Class of 1959) Died 30th December 2016
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Katharine Horner (née Hall), Aileen Almond, Gillian Johnston (née Canning) and Juliet Lawson (née Lowe) (all Class of 1987) at the ‘7’ Class Reunion in May 2017 Designed and printed by BHW Print Group, Farsley Park, Wingates Industrial Estate, Westhoughton BL5 3XH T. 01942 850050 E. sales@bhwprintgroup.com