Outdoor Adventures

Charlie Boscoe (Class of 2002)

Charlie is a freelance broadcaster and writer. He has written for numerous publications, including National Geographic, Adidas and Red Bull, and presented hundreds of live broadcasts.

“I was a pretty unremarkable pupil in my first few years at Bolton School, with average grades, zero interest in sporting matters and no passions or hobbies which made me stand out. Being one of the smallest pupils in the year and having a mop of (now sadly departed!) blonde hair were about the only characteristics which separated me from my peers. It therefore came as a bit of surprise to everyone when – at age 14 – I decided to sign up for a canoeing trip in Scotland which was being organised by school. The trip was tough for someone as inexperienced and physically weak as me, yet a few days in I realised that I was not only coping with the challenges thrown my way, but thriving on them. Overcoming the hardships which come with moving through a wild place opened my eyes to my own potential, and I felt that a whole world was opening up before me.

“Thanks to the good fortune of being at a school with such focus on outdoor sports I was able to build skills and experience gradually, and this, combined with discovering rock

Mathew Wilkinson (Class of 2007)

Mathew is Marketing Manager at Pyranha Mouldings Ltd, market leading designers and manufacturers of canoes and kayaks under the P&H Sea Kayaks, Venture Canoes & Kayaks, and Pyranha Whitewater Kayaks brands.

“I left Bolton School with fond memories and strong academic foundations supported by too many wonderful teachers to name in this short article. I do have to say a special thank you to Messrs Walker and Taylor, though, who both played a significant role in setting my direction in life after School by creating environments in which I could throw myself wholeheartedly in to Technology and Kayaking respectively.

“I went on to study Civil Engineering at the University of Manchester, where I also continued my passion for kayaking as a member of the Manchester University Canoe Club committee, picking up various paddlesports qualifications and some marketing chops along the way.

“After leaving university, I worked in marketing at a couple of paddlesports shops, before being headhunted for the Marketing Manager position at Pyranha Mouldings Ltd.

climbing towards the end of my time at university, cemented my belief that I’d spend my life working in the outdoors. I initially pursued mountain guiding as a career and got to see some of the most beautiful and brutal places on Earth in process, but increasing problems with my hips and back convinced me to reserve my time in the mountains for me rather than clients, and focus on other areas of work. Since then I’ve been an outdoor writer and broadcaster, and I’ve been lucky enough to work in over 20 countries so far. It’s been something of a nomadic and bohemian existence, with each job somehow leading to the next one. Someone once told me that if you add value to whatever you’re involved in, you’ll never be short of work. The ride isn’t always easy – a career in the outdoors is essentially a commitment to an unmapped future – but my passion for exploration and a reverence for natural places are constants. I’ve lost friends in the mountains and had some tough times up there myself, but the experiences they provide are still more powerful than virtually anything in the valleys.

“As the great Austrian mountaineer Heinrich Harrer put it: ‘True confidence is the greatest gift anyone can have, but it’s not a gift that’s freely granted – the blindly arrogant possess it least of all. In order to know this true confidence, it is necessary to have first known oneself at the very edge of things, times when one might even glimpse over the other side’.

“Life is short. Go for it.”

“You might be wondering how I ended up in marketing after studying civil engineering; early on in my studies, a lecturer quoted a statistic indicating that 50% of the class would never work in civils, instead going on to managerial positions or other industries, and I can attest to the accuracy of that statement. I undertook several Summer placements with a civil engineering consultancy, and while I enjoyed and gained from those experiences, I couldn’t see myself working in the industry longterm, and found much greater enjoyment combining my career with my hobby of kayaking.

“My role at Pyranha is extremely varied, which keeps me both entertained and challenged, with responsibilities including the planning and creation of marketing content and strategies, managing ambassadors and influencers, coordination of our brand presences at events, shows, and exhibitions, operating as the company’s systems and IT lead, and assisting in product development from time to time. The opportunities I’ve enjoyed as part of this career are extensive, from paddling with some of the world’s best, to travelling across Europe and North America.

“Handling a workload as diverse as the above regularly calls upon the depth and breadth of education and experiences which were afforded to me as a pupil at Bolton School, and I’m eternally grateful for the privilege.

“See you on the water!”

Whether at Cautley, Robin Cottage or Patterdale Hall, Old Boys across the decades have enjoyed the opportunities provided by Bolton School to engage in Outdoor Pursuits. Here we meet four for whom a passion for the outdoors has inspired and shaped their careers.

Matt Haydock (Class of 2006)

Matt is a Paddlesports Instructor at Glenmore Lodge, a world-renowned institution for outdoor pursuits, run by the Scottish Government’s agency for sport.

“I’m writing from Aviemore in the Scottish Highlands, where I work as a Senior Instructor at Scotland’s National Outdoor Training Centre, Glenmore Lodge. My role primarily involves utilising my 16 years of experience in the industry to train and assess leaders, coaches and guides in a range of National Governing Body awards, which I hugely enjoy.

“Ever since leaving School, the outdoors has been the mainstay of my personal life and professional career, and the quality of life it brings. I enjoyed three fantastic years at the University of Leeds reading Sport and Exercise Science, which gave an academic grounding in biomechanics and psychology to the instruction I provide today. After graduation, I then worked at a variety of independent schools, including Yarm School and Gordonstoun, overseeing their outdoor learning departments; then running my own coaching and guiding business for eight years, before taking up my current role.

“There is no doubt that my time at Bolton School, and the outdoor pursuits opportunities on offer, shaped my life completely. I remember immersing myself in all possible opportunities: 19th Bolton (Bolton School) Scout Troop and the

Will Sheaff (Class of 2004)

Will is an outdoor instructor and the founder and owner of Wilderness Development, an outdoor adventure company offering fun adventure sessions and skill-building courses.

“Since university, I have split my time between working as a freelance instructor and running an adventure activity business in the Peak District. The best part of running an outdoor adventure business is the variety and flexibility. The activities themselves are inherently exciting, so even planning them is a joy. Each day truly could hold anything, from walking up a mountain to recce a route for a new event, to choosing a new website plugin, to writing a press release, or mediating a discussion between staff. This style of work suits me: having the choice to plan my own workload, to split tasks as required, to delegate where I can or internalise where I want, is one of the best bits of being my own boss. Some tasks have to be done, but arranging chores at your own pace, and rewarding yourself with an interesting new challenge for completing them works for me. Self-employment is a fundamentally insecure way of life, but if you enjoy the numerous annual ‘Long Camps’ in the Summer, kayaking in the pool and training on the School climbing wall at lunchtimes and after school, second and third year camps to Saundersfoot and Instow respectively, as well a number of BSOP Expeditions –rock climbing in Joshua Tree and canoeing the Scottish Great Glen.

“Needless to say, the amazing facility of Patterdale Hall was almost a second home. Heading up to do kitchen shifts so I could shadow activity sessions in the Sixth Form was a time I remember fondly, before doing a pre-university gap year on the trainee instructor scheme. This is a place which will always be close to my heart, and it is fantastic Bolton School still has it as a jewel in the crown.

“It was the inspirational staff at Bolton School which have shaped my life in the outdoors, and I will always be thankful to them: Trevor Pledger, who placed high value in BSOP, along with John Greenhalgh and Chris Ferrier who gave up their time to run a fantastic School Scout Troop. Dave Watkinson, Colin Wright, Rick Chant and Sean Duffy from Patterdale Hall were instrumental in my training. They were all a huge inspiration, and made me believe that I could have the life I have now. Finally, John Taylor was without doubt a teacher who was a big part of my time at School, hugely supportive of my aspirations, and his instruction on the white water rapids of the River Irwell was where it all started for me.

“The opportunities I got at Bolton School, without doubt, have shaped my happy and successful life and career in the outdoors.” challenge, are sensible and pragmatic, it is a brilliant way to live. The self-reliance, belief in yourself and rewards it provides are second only to scaling a new rock face; the mental skills are not that dissimilar.

“If there are students interested in working in adventure education, there has never been a better time. The outdoor industry, since 2020, has been desperately short of reliable, fun, qualified instructors. Within a few years a good freelancer will earn comparably to a teacher. The Mountain Leader award, a first aid course, and a canoeing or kayaking qualification will be enough for you to get your foot in the door in the industry. Working hard, being flexible and seeking out the niches you enjoy will lead on to management, or overseas work, or first ascents, or fame, as you choose. The opportunities provided by Bolton School’s Outdoor Pursuits department, and the skills provided by the Language departments have set me up for a really varied and exciting career. The Electronics and Physics education got me in to (two!) universities, and could have led on to a career there, if I’d have wanted; I’m really grateful for all of them.” Will has written at length about his passion for adventure sports and his journey from his first trip to Patterdale as a Park Road pupil to owning his own adventure activity business, wilderness-development.com – read more, including his tips for students considering a career in the outdoors, in the Old Boltonians’ section of the School website.