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OLD BOYS’ NEWS

If you would like to get in touch with any of the Old Boys featured – or any other Old Boltonian – please contact the Development Office.

Class of 1950-1959

Eric Forsyth (Class of 1950)

Eric’s new book, Wings over Germany, will be published in April. It is the third novel in a series following the fictional career of RAF pilot Allan Chadwick. His adventures immediately before WWII were chronicled in Wings over the Channel, which was favourably reviewed in the last edition of The Bugle. Now Allan commands a Spitfire squadron in the Battle of Britain, gets shot down over France and evades capture to become the first RAF pilot to down a V-1.

Norman Longworth (Class of 1953)

Norman is still here 20 years after a heart transplant, although not as sprightly as he was 70 years ago when treading the cloisters of the School and playing cricket on the field. However, he is still youthful in mind and writing poetry, prose and music which few want to hear or read, largely because he is a lousy marketer. He still lives in the foothills of the Pyrenees and continues to enjoy reading the School magazines, marvelling at the variety of activities now available. Norman would be glad to hear from any of his contemporaries – he can be contacted via the Development Office.

Malcolm Howe (Class of 1956)

In March 2023, Malcolm generously donated to the School a set of silver hall-marked cutlery (pictured), including a pair of bone marrow spoons, engraved with the crest of Sir Ashton Lever (1729-88), a Trustee of the Bolton Grammar School for Boys who served as the High Sheriff of Lancashire in 1771. This added to the School’s collection of Sir Ashton’s silver cutlery, established by Malcolm in March 2006 through his presentation of six teaspoons each to both the Boys’ and Girls’ Divisions.

John Ratcliffe (Class of 1956)

John will shortly be retiring from the Governing Board of St Mary’s Church of England Primary School, Hawkshaw, after 48 years’ service. The school, a village school founded 1870, has doubled in size over this time to about 110 pupils. At its last inspection it was graded ‘outstanding’. The school organised a celebratory service in St Mary’s church on 31st March. The former Manchester Diocesan Director of Education, Canon Maurice Smith, and a former Director of Education in Bury, Mr Harold Williams, were among the guests.

Class of 1960-1969

Richard Horrocks (Class of 1961)

Richard has recently published a book entitled The Lost Mills of Turton and Edgworth, 1774-2000. He notes that when he was at School, the cotton industry was well into its final stages of decline and, as a boy growing up in Turton, he witnessed the decline and closure of some of the mills there. In fact, some of his contemporaries from the village went to work at the remaining mills right until the 1990s. For 200 years these mills shaped the two villages and today almost all signs of their presence have gone. Having spent over 50 years serving the textile and synthetic fibre industries, most of it at the University of Bolton, both in teaching and research, Richard has witnessed the changes from ‘cotton to carbon fibres’ at first hand and a core of these technical textile industries remains active in the local area to this day.

His book is an attempt to record their history so that future generations will understand their contribution to the economic development of the region, as well as their moulding of local society and local geography in many cases. No doubt some (very) Old Boys will remember the mills of Bolton and some even those in Turton and Edgworth.

Michael Haworth (Class of 1962)

Michael has been Chairman of Bolton Newstalk for several years, having taken over the role from Michael Tatman (Boys’ Division Staff, 1958-1991).

Bolton Newstalk is a voluntary organisation which provides a regular talking newspaper for the visually impaired and disabled, by means of a podcast. In 2022, it was awarded the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service at a presentation ceremony at Gorton Monastery in Manchester.

Michael and his team are seeking additional volunteers to work with them as programme producers/ readers and technicians; please contact the Development Office if you are interested in becoming involved!

Alan Pearce (Class of 1963)

Alan recently published his autobiography, How I dropped in on Vladimir Putin. He doesn’t know how many other Old Bolts have actually met and interviewed Vladimir Putin, but suspects that it is fewer than ‘several’. This incident, and many other stories about Alan’s time as a Royal Navy officer and Russian interpreter, is available from Amazon.

Peter Greenhalgh (Class of 1964)

In September

Peter and his wife, Christine, celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary at their daughter’s apartment in Brussels. They continue their peripatetic existence, moving for several months at a time between Oxford, the family in Edinburgh, and St Cyprien, Pyrenees Orientale, southern France, where they recently met up with near neighbour Norman Longworth (Class of 1953).

Since his ‘retirement’ 16 years ago Peter has been working for a trade association IFEAT (The International Federation of Essential Oils and Aroma Trades) which represents companies supplying flavour and fragrance (F&F) ingredients. He also organises annual study tours for members to countries producing various F&F ingredients and produces a book after each one. In the last four months he has organised tours to South Africa and southern Spain, each with over 30 participants from over 20 countries. Despite feeling increasingly ‘chronologically challenged’ Peter gains so much satisfaction and enjoyment from the educational experience that the tours bring to such diverse and fascinating groups of people from a wide range of disciplines and age groups that he is hoping to continue until the Grim Reaper calls!

Peter enjoys fortnightly pandemicinduced Zoom calls with former classmates Phil Goldstone and Duncan Rodgers (both Class of 1964). He is also in very regular contact with his two brothers, Michael (Class of 1959) and David (Class of 1967).

J David Fisher (1956-1965)

For the past nine years David has been part of a group working to ensure that the derelict Grade II* Brighton Hippodrome is restored as a theatre. That spark of passion for theatre and theatres ignited in the Sixth Form has been fanned into a flickering life. The building remains number one on the Theatres Trust’s list of Theatres at Risk. David and his colleagues have worked hard to gain the support of the city council, but an imminent and crucial planning application by the fourth owners in those nine years may seal its fate and probably not for the best.

David is the current Chair of the Regency Society of Brighton and Hove, trying to revive it after several years of decline, not least as a result of the pandemic. The first lecture of the ‘inperson’ season in the magnificence of the Music Room at the Royal Pavilion was a sell-out and the near-capacity events since then in the regular venue show that people want to get out and be sociable once more. David is keen to achieve as many of the lengthy list of projects for his threeyear term as possible. Any Old Boys in the area would be welcome to visit (see regencysociety.org). The Society is seeking new trustees, so there are opportunities to become even more involved.

David recently had an unexpected phone call from Pete Spencer (Class of 1965). The pair have kept in touch by sporadic emails and Christmas cards, but had not met or spoken for over 40 years. David notes that it was good to be in-person again, especially at such an advanced age.

David is also slowly developing his local history website, brightonhistory.org.uk, and wonders if there is anything comparable about Bolton—please get in touch if you know of anything!

Mark Doel (1962-1969)

Mark was Visiting Professor at Universidad de Los Lagos in Osorno, Chile for four weeks in Autumn 2022. Professor Doel was working with Chilean social work academics on a joint website to tell the story of social work through objects and narratives. There are two sister websites, one in the English language (socialworkin40objects.com) and one in Spanish (40objetos.ulagos.cl/). More than 200 objects and their stories have been ‘gifted’ to the two websites. Mark has also just published a fully revised second edition of his book, Social Work: The Basics, (Routledge). Class of

1970-1979

Andrew Beckingham (Class of 1970)

Andy retired from salaried Public Health work as a Consultant in 2022 following three major surgeries and a brush with the Grim Reaper, but has continued to do pro bono work. That includes being Editor of Global Health Newsletter (which is free and can be easily found and subscribed to online); Andy and five colleagues recently published an article in the academic journal Frontiers in Public Health, describing the implementation of India’s first Professional Midwifery education programme in sufficient detail for other countries to establish it too. (They designed and piloted midwifery in India in 2011 and it has since transformed labour and childbirth for more than 16,000 women, in contrast to the highly industrialised system that has been the norm in recent decades.) Andy was one of four Public Health professionals who in late 2022 brought together the UK’s Faculty of Public Health with the International Academy of Public Health, which represents 22 countries in the Middle East and North Africa region. This was done to improve training and professional standards across the specialty. Andy was also recently the national project lead for the programme to ensure all doctors recruited from overseas to the NHS get sound induction into how to work in what is Europe’s most complex organisation. Never previously having won even a full bingo card, Andy was surprised to be awarded the Faculty President’s Medal for Outstanding Service to Public Health in 2021 and even more surprised to get the Medal for Service during the pandemic, in 2022. He is currently huddling over a woodstove in rural France and feeding the bluetits and nuthatches in his garden.

David

Bratt (Class of 1971)

Congratulations to David who was awarded a BEM (British Empire Medal) in the Platinum Jubilee Honours List for services to the community of Great Brickhill in Buckinghamshire. David has devoted his retirement to improving amenities in his village. As well as his involvement with the Parish Council, the Tennis Club and Parish Hall Committee, he has led numerous fundraising projects, including lighting and renovating the tennis courts and extending and refurbishing the village hall. In 2019 he led a project to create a forest school for the Little Ashes Pre-School. Having been on the brink of closure, Little Ashes now has an inspiring learning environment and the number of children attending has risen from just 9 to over 40.

David’s latest project was a Platinum Jubilee Celebration, attended by nearly 1,500 guests and featuring the erection of a commemorative clock on the village hall overlooking the cricket pitch.

Described as ‘a true inspiration, serving his community selflessly and with a farreaching impact on that community’, David was presented his medal by Countess Howe, Lord-Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire, in November. He will be attending a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May.

Philip Rothwell (Class of 1971)

Philip has been invited to be President of Bolton Old Links Golf Club for 2023/24, taking up office on 29th March. He has been a member of the club for 57 years, joining as a junior in 1966 as a 13-year-old when in Form 3A1 at School. He is very much looking forward to his year in office which he expects to be extremely busy, particularly as Bolton Old Links will be hosting the Lancashire Amateur Championship in June.

Ivor

Timmis (Class of 1977)

Now retired, Ivor has found a role with Northern Premier League side, Guiseley: he is part of the media team and generally carries out the postmatch interviews or works on the radio commentary team. At the age of 63, he has finally achieved his ambition to be a sports journalist!

Class of 1980-1989

Charles Cowling (Class of 1981)

Congratulations to Charles who recently became Presidentelect of the International Actuarial Association

(he becomes President on 1st January 2024) – the global professional body for actuaries. He is pictured with the current President, Micheline Dionne (Canada, centre) and Past President, Roseanne Harris (South Africa, left).

Mark Northover (1977-1984)

Mark has retired from the Royal Air Force after a 38-year career during which he progressed from the rank of Pilot Officer to Air Commodore, serving at various UK locations, in Germany and Saudi Arabia. He is now looking forward to pursuing other interests, including reducing his golf handicap and learning piano, both of which are providing considerable challenge.

Andrew Openshaw (Class of 1987)

Andrew has recently moved from Frinton in Essex to Haddenham in Buckinghamshire, having taken up a new position as Company Secretary and Regional Minister for the Central Baptist Association (CBA). The CBA is one of the regions of the Baptist Union of Great Britain meaning that, along with three colleagues, Andrew is responsible for serving and supporting the ministers and members of all 150 Baptist Churches across Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Northamptonshire.

Class of 1990-1999

Carl Howard (Class of 1990)

Carl now lives in Harrogate with his wife, Julie, children Alfie and Charlotte and working cocker Max. His sister Suzanne (Class of 1992) lives in Over Hulton.

Carl became CEO of the Andrews Property Group in 2022, the only business of its type owned by a charity. The business provides residential property services through offices across Bath, Bristol, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and London and the South East.

Outside work Carl and his family enjoy walking in the Yorkshire Dales and travelling in the UK and further afield. Last year they met up with Ben Mobley (Class of 1990) at his home in Cyprus.

Class of 2000-2009

Ahmed Bhaiyat (Class of 2009)

Ahmed recently returned to Bolton to start a new job at Royal Bolton Hospital as a Specialty Doctor in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. His aim is to become a Consultant Oral Surgeon.

Mobeen Qureshi (Class of 2009)

Mobeen and his wife will be competing in Season 3 of the BBC’s Race Across the World

The programme is now available to watch on BBC and iPlayer.

Class of 2010-2019

Krishnan Patel (Class of 2010)

Krish was so inspired by his grandparents’ story that it motivated him and his fellow Old

Boy Tom Daly (Class of 2017) to launch StoryOak, a video biography service. In 2019, Krish’s grandfather passed away and he nearly lost the chance to learn about his life in more depth. After months of reminiscing with his grandmother, Krish and Tom decided to interview her, creating a Netflixstyle video which brought to life the grandparents’ unique love story once again.

Tom’s exceptional videography skills coupled with Krish’s passion for storytelling bring to life near-forgotten memories and help their clients leave a lasting legacy for their loved ones. The pair comment, “We understand just how important treasured family memories are and we’re on a mission to make sure that no story goes untold.” For more information about StoryOak or to enquire about sharing your story visit www.storyoak.co.uk

Ryan Stevenson (Class of 2014)

Congratulations to Ryan who has married Amelia (née Howe, Class of 2016). The pair met while still at School and tied the knot on 15th October last year in Glenridding, next door to Patterdale Hall. A number of Old Boys and Old Girls were in attendance: Peter Russell (2014), Adam Cauchi (2014), Rory Milne (2014), Ellis Bunney (2016), Charles Howe (2018), Isabella Howe (2020), Holly Stevenson

Oliver Leaver (Class of 2015)

Congratulations to Oliver who has taken up the role of Assistant Psychologist for Cygnet Health Care at an inpatient rehabilitation setting in Salford. Oliver gained an MSc in Applied Clinical Psychology from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN).

Zachary Malpass (Class of 2017)

After graduating from the University of Dundee with a First Class Bachelors degree in International Business and an award for Outstanding Economic Achievement Zachary moved to the University of Edinburgh and studied for a Master’s degree in International Business and Emerging Markets. This gave him the opportunity to work with real companies from around the globe and use his knowledge in the real world. He graduated with Merit and achieved a First on his dissertation about ‘The Effect of Internationalisation on the Innovation of South American Technology Firms’, all whilst working full-time in a local bar. Zachary is now seeking graduate opportunities in Edinburgh, specialising in data analysis and consultancy to continue in the fields that he has studied.

Shivam Patel (Class of 2019)

Congratulations to Shivam who graduated with a BSc in Mathematics, Optimisation and Statistics from Imperial College London last Summer. He now works as Software Developer at Tenancy360.

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