Old Girls' Association Newsletter - Autumn 2024

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We hope you enjoy being kept up-todate with what is happening at School and within the Old Girl community as much as we value the opportunity to stay connected with you. If your contact details have changed, or if you have not yet let us know your communication preferences and wish to continue hearing from School, then please contact the Development Office as soon as possible, or complete the Alumni Communications Update form found in the ‘Alumni and Giving Back’ section of the School website, www.boltonschool.org

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WELCOME

From the Old Girls’ Association

Though I now live in London, I am from a Bolton School family. My father, from a poor background in Westhoughton, joined the School in 1939 on a scholarship and in 1941 went to Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth on a newly created scholarship. Thus Bolton School dragged the Hibberts into the officer class. My mother, also from Westhoughton, joined the School a few years later on a scholarship and was the first in the family to go to university, winning a County Scholarship to Manchester University. My parents understood the opportunities afforded by the education they received at Bolton School and the importance of an academic education for girls. I went to the Junior School and then to the Senior School on a full-fee academic scholarship. My sister joined, also on a scholarship, the following year, whilst my brother went to Beech House and Park Road.

On leaving School I read Classics at Oxford and then – it was the 1980s – went into the City, where I spent 18 unspectacular years in banking. There followed a period of motherhood and good works, including becoming a Trustee of the development trust at my old College and chair of its Alumni Society. I am also Secretary of the Horatian Society, a membership organisation which celebrates the life and works of the Roman poet Horace.

In addition to my time as a pupil, I have experience of the independent schools’ sector as a parent. We put our two boys through London day schools, so I am very aware of the sacrifices many parents make to send their children to schools like this and of the need for bursary funding to help those who will benefit from the education and opportunities such a school offers but for whom the fees are unaffordable. I have been a long-term donor to the Bolton School bursary scheme.

I have also experienced the other side of the counter, as I spent my last five working years in the bursar’s office of a girls’ prep school

From the Head of Girls’ Division

The various threads of the Alumni network and the community they create are vital to School life and these are celebrated in the following pages in style.

Our celebrations of the 135th anniversary of the Old Girls’ Association (OGA) in April were a fitting tribute to the great work of the Association (see page 4). At the Association’s AGM in June, I was delighted when, following her retirement as its Chairman, Laura Henthorn accepted the invitation I extended as President of the OGA to become the Association’s Chairman Emerita. This title recognises Laura’s many decades of service to both the Girls’ Division and to the Old Girls’ Association: as an OGA Committee member, as a member of the Parents’ Association and as a Parent Governor.

In these pages you will also see examples of how members of the thriving network of Bolton School Alumni share their knowledge, experience and contacts with current pupils. Forging a career after leaving school or university has never been more challenging and the network is instrumental in offering support to recent leavers. The opportunities they offer to students include careers talks, mentoring and sometimes just those ad hoc but vital bits of advice. I am extremely grateful to all those that offer their time.

The School’s tradition of fundraising is as strong as ever: in the Summer Girls’ Division pupils embraced the challenge of the walk to Rivington Pike, with all Foundation Senior School pupils walking there and back in a day, led by Laura Henthorn and me. Fun was had by (almost!) all, with walks across the whole Foundation raising £26,000 sponsorship towards a grand total of £60,000 for the Malawi Schools Project (see page 10).

updating and reorganising their policies documentation ahead of an ISI inspection, then maintaining the policies and creating new ones as required.

I have attended all the joint London Dinners since their inception in 2002 and a number of the Oxford and Cambridge Dinners. I am looking forward to the Edinburgh Dinner next year as my younger son is a student there.

At the Association’s AGM in June I was honoured to accept the nomination to serve a one-year term as its next Chairman, succeeding Laura Henthorn who has loyally served in this role for the last decade and a half. My aims for the year include encouraging as many of my cohort as possible to attend events. I believe the change to an annual term of office for the Chairman will create opportunities to widen participation amongst Old Girls in the Association’s governance, by both age and geographical location. The various Alumni dinners will provide an opportunity to communicate the new structure of the Association and to encourage Old Girls to think of leading it as something they can see themselves doing. It will be something of a transitional period and succession planning will be important to the new structure’s success and I will work closely with the Development Office on that.

Bolton School transformed my family’s fortunes – both my grandmothers went into the mill after elementary school – and that is one of the reasons I am so pleased to have this opportunity to give something back.

Judith Hibbert (Class

of 1979)

Chairman

of the Old Girls’ Association

Many of you reading this will remember Mrs Heatherington with fondness – she retired after being at the School for 29 years, and what better way to celebrate her career than with a game of netball?

Old Girls, staff and pupils turned out to play to mark the occasion (see page 11).

Finally, at a time when independent schools are about to be impacted by the Government’s introduction of VAT on school fees, it has been possible – as a result of the Governing Body’s careful, strategic financial planning and budgeting – to decide that we will not raise School fees in January, and that the fee rise in 2025-26 onwards will be capped at 5%. We are proud of this and know that it will enable us to remain strong and confident about our continuing pledge to be both affordable and worth affording. The expanding numbers in Hesketh House and the strong turnout at our recent Open Morning and Open Evening reflect our confidence in this regard.

Do come along to some of the School events if you are able to, it is always good to see former pupils. Whether it be at one of the regional dinners, Old Girls’ lunches, or one of our concerts or lectures, you are always very welcome.

Lynne Kyle Head of Girls’

Division

Longstanding Old Girls’ Chairman Passes the Baton

This Summer, Laura Henthorn (née Carless, Class of 1977) stepped down after 14 years as Chairman of the Old Girls’ Association (OGA).

Laura officially passed the baton to her successor at the OGA’s Annual General Meeting and Lunch on 13th June 2024, where she expressed to the gathering her gratitude at all the opportunities this voluntary role had afforded her. She mentioned many enjoyable years supporting and meeting many Old Girls across the country, and her pride in having done so.

Mr Philip Britton, the School’s Head of Foundation, Mrs Lynne Kyle, Head of Girls’ Division and President of the OGA, and Mrs Laura Firth, Director of Development and Alumni Relations, offered Laura their personal thanks for her time as Chairman. They also reflected on happy memories from her time in the post, from companionship at Alumni Dinners and Lunches to enjoying numerous and varied School activities together. Mrs Kyle noted that Laura has been a wonderful ambassador for the School over the years as an Old Girl, a parent, a committee member, a parent Governor, on the Parents’ Association and as Chairman: an astonishing 120 years in total!

In recognition of her years of service, and of the significant contribution she has made to the OGA and the School, Laura was given the title of Chairman Emerita. Although she has stepped down from her role as Chairman, she intends to remain a part of the OGA Committee and to continue supporting the OGA and the School in years to come.

Happy Anniversary OGA!

A special assembly in April celebrated the 135th anniversary of the Old Girls’ Association. Old Girls and their guests, along with former members of staff, joined pupils as they learnt about the history of the Association, how it began and how it has evolved over the years, and about its values and volunteering work.

During a celebratory lunch, a new board displaying the names of all those who have chaired the Association since its inception was unveiled.

Laura Henthorn (Chairman 2010-2024; now Chairman Emerita), Jean Howarth (Chairman 2005-2010) and Lynne Kyle unveil the board

Correction

Laura was thrilled that her three daughters, themselves also Old Girls, and granddaughter were able to join her at the AGM and lunch to celebrate and acknowledge the time she has devoted to Bolton School over the years.

Laura’s name can be seen on the new oak boards which display the names of all Old Girls’ Association Past Chairmen, unveiled in April this year as part of the OGA’s 135th anniversary (see below). There will soon be more names to add, as, following a vote, the OGA constitution has been changed and the Chairman’s service will be a one-year term going forward. This will allow for a roving ambassador to share the goals and ambitions of the OGA and to be involved in School life, reflect the diverse culture, ages and stages of life of the OGA, and to allow many more Old Girls to take on this significant voluntary role.

Laura nominated Judith Hibbert (Class of 1979) to be her immediate successor and, following a vote, she was elected as OGA Chairman for 2024-25. She is looking forward to following in Laura’s footsteps and, as well as giving a brief history of her family’s connections with Bolton School, she said:

“Although not a natural fundraiser, I will gladly draw on my and my family’s experience to emphasise the life-changing benefits of the bursary scheme and will encourage Old Girls to support the other endeavours, such as the mentoring programme, that fall under the aegis of the Old Girls’ Association.”

Bolton School is very grateful to all the Old Girls who support the School, to the committee who continue to give their time and guidance, and to Judith and to Laura for their time and efforts as Chairmen.

We are very sorry to have omitted Amaani Adam and Safia Adia (both Class of 2023) from the Destinations of Leavers feature in the Spring edition. Amaani is currently studying Dentistry at the University of Manchester. Safia is also studying Dentistry; she is at Newcastle University. We apologise to both Old Girls for this error and wish them both well in their studies.

FOUNDATION NEWS

A Message from the Head of Foundation

As I write, the Primary Division, our newest, has just had its third birthday. The Girls’ Division is 147 years old (put 2027 in your diary for some 150th celebrations) and the Boys’ Division moves into its 508th year.

At School we remember our history formally twice a year: in September, to mark the birth of William Lever, and at our Founders’ Day in May, which is around the anniversary of his death. Next year there will be some special events to celebrate his life a hundred years on.

In September I relay various aspects of Lever’s life, choosing a different theme every year, from his time as a politician, his impact on the profession of advertising, art collecting and obviously business. Founders’ Day has a wider scope and focuses beyond Lever to the early founders of the schools that became Boys’ and Girls’ Divisions. This year at the Girls’ Prize Giving we remembered our links with the Bank Street Unitarian Chapel, inaugurating a new prize and bursary supported by their generous gift. It was amongst that congregation that the roots of Girls’ Division were first imagined. We remember our history because it informs the present and shapes the future, showing us how an enduring sense of purpose shapes itself to the demands of the age.

Two examples of this come to mind. One is how the Governing Body has approached the proposed impact of the addition of VAT to school fees. They began by thinking what the School was all about and resolved that they should be prioritising inclusivity in whatever financial path they took. That we start such discussions in this way is a tremendously healthy sign for our Foundation.

The second is to reflect on the changing approaches and investment in pastoral care. Our ethos has always been about developing young people, but our response in modern times leads us to a much more resourced and proactive approach. The Boys’ Division inspection report noted how the many activities and outdoor learning promoted mental wellbeing. We now have two handfuls of non-teaching pastoral support workers across the Foundation, including a counsellor. The ‘Hive’ in Girls’ Division provides a space where girls can find a way through whatever is challenging them. I have no doubt that previous generations would find this rather new in School: some may wish such an approach was more overt in their time at School, others will wonder what the purpose is. To those who do wonder I would argue strongly there is nothing new in what we are doing: we have always looked after people and thought of people first. In our modern age that needs a different shape and style. An enduring ethos, shaped to the challenges of the age.

Philip Britton, MBE Head of Foundation

Head of Foundation Receives Honorary Doctorate

Philip Britton MBE, Head of Foundation at Bolton School, has been made an Honorary Doctor in Education by the University of Bolton for his outstanding contribution to education.

A delighted Mr Britton, who attended the student graduation ceremony at Bolton’s Albert Halls, said: “A proper, well-founded education can create social mobility, can create choices in life and can create opportunity and that is what we come to celebrate today.”

Mr Britton has recently been announced as the 2025-26 Chair of HMC (The Heads’ Conference), a professional association of heads of the world’s leading independent schools.

Colleagues from across the Foundation wished John Newbould well as he retired from his position of Head of Marketing after 18 years.

Philip Britton thanked John for promoting Bolton School, acknowledging his tenacity and adaptability in responding to a diverse array of requests to report on and photograph events both on and off site.

John and his wife, Kay, are planning to spend as much of their new-found time as possible in Spain.

Following John’s retirement, Laura Firth will now direct the School’s marketing and communications activities, in addition to her existing role as Director of Development and Alumni Relations.

In September the Development Office welcomed a new team member, Mia Wild, following her appointment as Development Officer.

Mia has previously worked as a Primary School Teacher and will be responsible for the department’s day-to-day gift processing and donor stewardship procedures.

Mia joins the team from a Bolton School background – her Mum, Dad, Aunties and Grandpa are all Alumni, and her younger brothers are pupils in Year 8 and the Nursery.

Join the Bolton School Alumni Network

Explore ways to connect Develop relationships Offer your time and experience

DID YOU KNOW

The FREE Business Directory offers the self-employed Alumni the opportunity to promote their business and services and presents a networking community which spans the globe.

Keep up to date with events Share your contact details

3,079

Registered users, spanning the UK, the USA, Australia, Canada, the Asia and Europe –offering a truly global community of Old Boys and Old Girls across a wide variety of sectors

1,637

Are willing to offer advice

1,262

Have offered to help review CVs

Alumni Business Directory

60%

Are open to offering internships or work experience to Alumni

1,795

Are willing to answer industry specific questions

1,499

Are willing to introduce other Alumni to their connections

Bolton Alumni Business Directory – over the previous six months 35% of those who have visited the Business Directory page, have gone on to click on the offer page, while 19% of those have gone on to interact with the offer.

As part of the Bolton Alumni Network, the free online Business Directory offers self-employed Alumni the opportunity to promote their businesses and services to a community that spans the globe.

With over 3,000 registered users in the UK, Europe, Australia, the USA, Canada, the Far East and beyond, the Bolton School Alumni Network offers a diverse spectrum of support for Old Girls, Old Boys and Former Staff in a variety of sectors.

The use of the Bolton Alumni Business Directory as a free tool to showcase services to an active network has proved very popular, as has using the platform to offer benefits directly to members. The network of registered users can also be used as a free recruitment

tool and we actively welcome any members of the Alumni community who work within, or are responsible for, recruitment to make use of the varied and engaged pool of potential candidates.

For advice on how to advertise a vacancy or search for a mentor within the network please see the informative ‘How to’ videos in the Resources tab. We also welcome any Alumni who are keen to post a careers skills video specific to their industry to contact the Development Office.

If you are not yet a member of the Bolton Alumni Network, you can join today and create a profile by signing up at www.boltonalumninetwork.com with your LinkedIn, Facebook or Google Account or with an email address.

Financial Adviser Jaiminee Patel (Class of 2011) has taken the opportunity to feature her business, Twelve Wealth Management, on the Bolton Alumni Network. She says: “I chose to share my financial advisory services with fellow Alumni because building and fostering lasting relationships is at the core of what I do as a financial planner. I’ve been able to meet fellow Alumni and grow my business, grounded in shared experiences from Bolton School which is always a pleasure.”

To feature your business here please contact the Development Office.

Boltonians Ladies Football

The Boltonians Ladies finished in a commendable fourth place last season on their return to the Greater Manchester Women’s League Premier Division. However, this year will prove to be an even greater challenge as the increased interest in women’s football has attracted involvement from more professional and semi-professional clubs such as Oldham Athletic, Rochdale and FC United of Manchester. Competing as a purely amateur club makes it difficult to match these teams’ resources, but the Ladies are expected to play attractive, competitive football, driven by passion.

This season, they have entered league cups, the Lancashire Challenge Trophy, and the prestigious Adobe Women’s FA Cup— their first national cup since the men’s participation in the old FA Amateur Cup. In their first-round match against a higher-level Morecambe FC, they dominated but lost 1-0 in the 87th minute. Despite the loss, the team made the Club proud.

There has been a management change, with Tony Berry departing and David Fallows stepping in, while Michelle Ryan manages the team despite undergoing breast cancer treatment. A charity game raised £2,500 for cancer causes, while Chairman Richard Morris raised £10,000 for the Maggies Centre at Christies through a series of ultra-marathons. Credit to all involved: in the end, much though we love football, some things are much more important. Training continues on Tuesday evenings at Ladybridge FC, with home games on Sunday afternoons in Turton. New players and helpers are welcome – contact David Lee at davidjlee@live.co.uk or visit www.oldbolts.co.uk

CONTINUING SUPPORT

Bolton School is a national leader in bursary provision and fundraising. We are hugely grateful to all of the Alumni and Former Staff who have supported our bursary scheme over almost three decades, and whose generous philanthropy has enabled that to be the case.

During the 2023-24 academic year, the School spent £3.59m on bursary grant awards, supporting one in five pupils to attend the Senior School on a funded place. Of these, 25% were full fee bursaries and 57% were significant bursaries of 80% or more.

The Impact of VAT on Bolton School’s Bursary Scheme

In its first King’s Speech in July 2024, the new Labour Government set out its intentions to add VAT to independent school fees from January 2025, a change which will have significant implications for Bolton School in the coming years.

We know that Alumni, Former Staff and other members of the School community share the School’s view that it must remain inclusive – as has been the case throughout the past century – with a pupil community which includes those who can comfortably afford VAT on fees, those who require bursaries and, crucially, those in the middle ground.

In order to ensure that can be the case, the School must continue to be very careful with its annual fee rises. To that end, the Governors have made a public commitment that the School will share the burden of VAT with its parents, mirroring its approach during the Covid pandemic. This will be achieved by ensuring that fees will not rise by more than 5% per year inclusive of VAT, for as many years as the adjustment to VAT requires it, with no in-year fee rises at any point.

By taking this approach, the School hopes it will allow current and prospective parents to plan ahead with reassurance that the School will remain affordable for their families throughout their child’s time at the School.

To afford this approach, the Governors have chosen to redirect part of the surplus from fee income that they would usually reinvest in bursaries, in order to reduce the level of the School’s overall

annual fee. Regrettably, this means that, whilst the School will not move backwards from the current level of bursary support it is able to offer – which currently stands at one in five of all Senior School pupils – sadly, it will not advance towards its long-stated ambition of increasing the level of support to reach one in three pupils, as quickly as we would wish.

We will of course wish to mitigate this delay as far as is possible, and in the new year intend to launch a significant philanthropic giving campaign in support of our bursary scheme as we continue to work towards that goal.

Alumni and Former Staff will be reassured to know that, given our bursary funds are held separately to the School, by the Bolton School Bursary Foundation, the annual grant which funds our bursary awards will not be subject to VAT, and that therefore, no donations the School has received to date, or will receive in the future, will be used to fund the payment of VAT to HMRC by the School.

We hope it is a point of pride to the School community that our approach has been so carefully considered, in order that the School’s ethos, of which we are all so rightly proud, might endure.

This is a challenge, but the School has worked through many such moments during its long history. With the continued support of our community, and guided by our strong collective sense of purpose, we are certain that the School will continue to thrive throughout this next century, and beyond.

If you would like to learn more about supporting the School’s bursary scheme, simply scan the QR code on the right. Whether you are considering making a one-off donation, establishing a regular gift or remembering the School in your will, your support could make a real difference to the achievement of our ambition to further expand our bursary scheme.

If you would like to discuss your intentions in more detail, please contact Laura Firth, Director of Development, Alumni Relations and Marketing, by calling 01204 434718 or by emailing development@boltonschool.org

Historic Chapel makes significant donation to the Girls’ Division

In the Summer Term, the Girls’ Division was honoured to receive a significant donation from the historic Bank Street Unitarian Chapel, which sadly closed its doors in May 2022 after more than 300 years of fellowship in Bolton.

The Girls’ Division has enjoyed numerous links with the Chapel throughout the past 150 years. Members of the Chapel’s congregation inspired the creation of the original Bolton High School for Girls in 1877, which became the Girls’ Division as we know it today, and those links have continued throughout the past century as Alumni and Former Staff across the generations have worshipped as members of the Chapel’s congregation. Following the Chapel’s closure, its Dissolution Committee made a series of generous donations to institutions within the town. Bolton School was honoured to receive a donation of £100,000 from the

Chapel as part of this philanthropy, in order that the links between the School and the Chapel might endure in perpetuity.

The Chapel’s donation will fund three two-year Sixth Form bursary places in the Girls’ Division, including funding for travel and uniform costs for the recipients; as well as establishing in perpetuity The Bank Street Unitarian Chapel Prize for Religious Studies, which will be awarded annually to a Sixth Form student in the Girls’ Division, in recognition of outstanding effort and progress in the Religious Studies A Level course.

Philip Britton, MBE, the School’s Head of Foundation, accepting the donation from Alec Bowman and Janet Poole on behalf of the Chapel’s Dissolution Committee.

SCHOOL NEWS

Students Look Ahead to Bright Futures

Grey skies could not dampen spirits at Bolton School on A Level Results Day! There were celebrations in both Divisions as Year 13 returned to collect their grades. As well as super results (one quarter came away with all A* or A grades), students take away much more than that from their time at Bolton School and it is this that makes the real difference as they leave ready to make a difference to the world.

Little Shop of Horrors

Over three nights in March, a cast of Senior School pupils from both Divisions delivered a stunning performance of Alan Menken and Howard Ashman’s Little Shop of Horrors

The show tells the story of ambitious florist, Seymour, who unwittingly buys a bloodthirsty plant which grants his life’s wishes only when it is fed.

Under the direction of Miss Sarah Talbot, Director of Theatre Studies in the Girls’ Division, and Mr Peter Lovatt, Foundation Director of Music, the cast perfected their interpretation of this innovative take on the Faust legend, accompanied by a live band.

Scan here to read a review of the performance

Annual Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Report

Bolton School has released its latest Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Report, which covers the 2023-24 academic year. It is the final report in a series of five which the School committed to compiling after the death of George Floyd and the testimonies published by Everyone’s Invited, events that prompted many schools and institutions to re-examine their approaches to inclusion and diversity. As a result of its focus during that period, Bolton School has better integrated DEI into learning across the campus and, where appropriate, partnered with external agencies, working constructively with its former pupils in ensuring that its actions have been proactive, sustained and meaningful. The Girls’ Division, Boys’ Division and Junior Schools have all been commended on their inclusivity and approach to DEI in recent inspection reports.

As it focuses on the next five years, the School – through a DEI Committee –will continue to monitor diversity, equity and inclusion across all its settings, ensuring the changes it has made remain embedded in the School’s culture and practices.

Click here to read the full report.

Artsmark Award for Girls’ Division

The Junior and Senior Girls’ Schools at Bolton School have received the Platinum Artsmark Award from Arts Council England, reflecting their commitment to arts and cultural education.

Lynne Kyle, Head of the Girls’ Division, noted the diverse range of activities available to students, including public concerts and theatre productions. Helen Holt, Head of the Junior Girls’ School, highlighted the School’s engagement in creative thinking projects and pupil-led initiatives.

Bolton School’s Director of Creative Learning, Naomi Lord (Class of 1998), plays a pivotal role in promoting cultural education partnerships and initiatives both locally and nationally, enhancing the School’s educational impact.

Summer Festival Success

The inaugural Bolton School Summer Festival took place on Sunday 23 June and was a resounding success!

Over a thousand guests, pupils, staff, alumni, friends and members of the local community and nearby schools spent a day in the sunshine – there were bands playing, bubbles, cake and competitions, a huge inflatable park, activity stalls and a visit from Spiderman and Cinderella too!

Thank you to the Parents’ Associations and the Friends of Bolton School for organising this event, the profits of which have been split between supporting Bolton School Bursaries and the Malawi school charity Great Minds Bright Futures.

Launch of Bolton Butch

Bolton Butch, a brand-new rescue powerboat which will support Patterdale Hall’s activities in the Lake District, has been purchased following a fundraising campaign.

The rigid inflatable boat (RIB), named ‘Butch’ in honour of the late former Boys’ Division teacher Clifford Ingham, was officially launched in June by Barbara Laycock (née Ingham, Class of 1960), the daughter of Clifford; Barbara has since sadly passed away: please see In Memoriam, page 39. Attending the ceremony were individual donors to the appeal, and representatives from the Clifford Ingham Fund, the Friends of Bolton School and the Scott Trust.

Junior Girls’ School Set to Grow

As a result of increased demand, an extra class is being added to Year 6 of Bolton School Junior Girls’ School.

Hesketh House followed the Junior Boys’ School in moving to three classes in Year 6 from September. An additional staff member, more activities and support for pupils and smaller class sizes will ensure that the girls are well prepared for Senior School life.

Handelsbanken Sponsors Girls’ Football Kits

The Girls’ Division Football Teams are delighted that they can now wear their own kit!

Football has flourished in the Girls’ Division since its introduction in 2021 and the success of the Lionesses has increased its popularity further – yet until now the teams have been playing in borrowed Boys’ Division kit. However, thanks to Handelsbanken’s sponsorship, they now have their own, specifically designed Girls’ Division football shirts to wear for the 2024-25 season and beyond.

Tim Taylor, Manager of Patterdale Hall, Peter Laycock (1958; BD Staff, 1961-1965) Barbara Laycock, Philip Britton

Celebrations for GCSE Students

There were smiles all round as Year 11 gathered to collect their GCSE Results. This year group has shown tremendous resilience and determination, having gone into Lockdown in March of Year 7, spent Year 8 in bubbles and began Year 9 in masks, yet have put the Covid years behind them to achieve a superb set of GCSEs.

School’s £60,000 for Malawi Street Children

Bolton School has raised £60,000 over several years to support street children in Malawi, inspired by Hesketh House teacher Mrs Julia Marsden’s 2017 trip. The funds will benefit Great Minds Bright Futures, a charity founded by parent Dave Armstrong, providing education and safe spaces for vulnerable children.

All Divisions of Bolton School participated in a charity walk, with 1,200 Senior pupils hiking to Rivington Pike, while the Junior and infant pupils and Nursery children walked around the School campus. Mr Armstrong expressed gratitude for the contributions, emphasising the impact of education in combating poverty. Mrs Marsden thanked the community for their extraordinary generosity in shaping futures.

Lynne Kyle and Laura Henthorn reach the Pike

Flag Football Launches at Bolton School

Over one hundred Year 9 and Year 10 girls from eight local secondary schools visited Bolton School for the launch of Chicago Bears’ Greater Manchester Girls’ Flag Football League, which began in April.

The girls were introduced to the sport by GB, Salford Scorpions and Manchester Titans coaches. Through a presentation and eight skills sessions, the girls learnt the basics of flag football – a noncontact version of American football and a new Olympic sport for 2028 – and were inspired to get involved with the sport and to join a team.

Mr Armstrong (centre) receives a cheque for £60,000 from representatives from across the Bolton School Foundation

Hurrah for Mrs Heatherington!

Balliol College, Friday 17th November 2023

There was a superb turnout of Old Girls at the celebration to mark Mrs Heatherington’s retirement after 29 years in the PE Department. Despite the chilly May weather, players of all ages congregated on the netball courts to display their sporting skills in a series of matches against current staff and pupils. Some fiercely-fought – yet good-humoured and enjoyable – competitions were followed by a special lunch in the Arts Centre to honour Mrs Heatherington’s contribution to Girls’ Division sport.

1. Julia Marsden (HH staff), Jayne Hollyoak (Former GD Staff), Kath, Rachael Walker (2001), Ellen Warburton, Sonya Parmar, Lisa Jones, Laura Farrimond-Goff (GD Staff) 2. Alisha Maini (2017), Georgia White (2016), Ruby Hurt (current pupil), Kath, Sallie Kendall, Charlotte Duffy, Erin Turner, Olivia Melling (current pupils) 3. Tessa Pendlebury (2013), Gabby Appleby (2019), Amelia Cowin, Anna Brennand, Nicola Shaw (current pupils), Kath, Imogen Masheter, Ella Brophy, Gabriella Giambattista-Hunt (current pupils), Sophie Crompton 4. Tricia Keenan (former GD Staff) and Beth Keegan (2013) 5. Carla Law (2020), Amelia Doherty, Kath, Ingrid Lam, Shivani Chohan

‘4’ Class

Reunion

Bolton School, Saturday 20th April 2024

Record numbers of Old Girls and Old Boys attended their year group reunion, enjoying emotional catchups and seeing what has – and more importantly, what has not – changed since their schooldays.

Click here to see more photos of the Reunion and of other Alumni events.

1. Laura Chuck (née Speak, 1984), Phoebe Chuck (2024) 2. Anita Hughes (née Percival), Elizabeth Mullenger, Heather Vintner (née Armstrong) (all 1964) 3. Beth Horry, Elisha Bell, Jenny Heyes, Peaches Stanforth, Francesca Fernside, Emily Bodger (all 2014) 4 Justine Latham (née Shih), Kiran Mogradia, Gillian Rimmer (née Barker), Rachel Parsons (née Fielding) (all 1991) 5. Isabelle Currie, Jenny Heyes, Maddie King (2014) 6. Sally Houghton (née Stone), Janice Dunckley (née McNaughton) (1974) 7. Helen Rayner (née Freem), Louise Gebhard (née Ramsden), Kate Hughes (née Allen), Emily Tatlock (née Leadbeater) Nicola Kumar, Kirstin Black (2004) 8. Arianna Tye (née Barnes), Grace Brookes, Lucy Harvey (all 2014) 9. Kathryn Hull (née Hardy), Hilary Benyon, Mary Thurston (née Winder) (1984) 10. Matthew Mitchell, Isabelle Currie, Georgina Nicol (2014) 11. Emily Harper, Lucy Croston, Isobel Cotogni, Ellena Owen, Millie Camm, Nadia Barabash, Jenny Heyes (2014) 12. Janet Ward (née Mitchell 1964), Muriel Moores (née Shorrock, 1946), Julia Burrows 13. Sally Houghton (née Stone), Sue Brooks (née Earnshaw), Liz Beamish (née Livesey) (1974) 14. Ursula Oxburgh (née Brown) and Frank Yates (both 1952)– the oldest Old Girl and Old Boy at the Reunion! 15. Sue Kelcey (née Howarth), Val Marshall (née Oddie) (1974) 16. Winni Lam (2004), Val Hanrahan (GD Staff, 1978-2014)

Old Girls’ and Old Boys’ Scottish Dinner

University of Edinburgh, Friday 3rd May 2024

Once again, the University of Edinburgh provided a stunning venue for Old Girls and Old Boys to reunite in the beautiful Scottish capital.

1. Rebecca Whyte (2004), Laura Henthorn (née Carless, 1977; OGA Chairman Emerita), John Markland (1966), Carol Haslam (née Bonser, 1966; GD Staff, 1987-2009) 2. Summer Kay (2022), Manahil Masood (2022), Olivia Sample (2022), Jack Trainer 3. Lynne Kyle, Valerie Stevens (née Deans, 1958), Malcolm Stevens

4. Ruth Glover (1979), Rob Blagg (1961), Ruth Owen (1981)

Foundation Former Staff Lunch

Bolton School, Wednesday 5th June 2024

There was a fantastic turnout at the annual lunch for former staff. Colleagues who have worked across the Foundation welcomed the opportunity to return to School to catch up with each other and with current staff members.

(1957)

1. Barbara Tatlock (GD Staff, 1998-2017), Anne Bradbury (GD Staff, 1999-2008), Julie Groves (FS Staff, 1995-2019 2. Carol Haslam (née Bonser, 1966; GD Staff, 1987-2009), Ilona Smalley (GD Staff, 1984-2018) 3. Kate McLellan (GD Staff), Tricia Keenan (GD Staff, 1983-2014) 4. David Dunn (1979; BD Staff, 1983-1992), Alison Hind (GD Staff, 1981-1993) 5. Rosemary Artley (GD Staff), Alan Prince (BD Staff, 1966-2002

Alumni Cumbria Lunch

Lindeth Howe Country House Hotel, Windermere, Friday 21st June 2024

There was an excellent turnout for this year’s Cumbrian gathering, hosted, as has become tradition, by Old Boy Stephen Broughton (Class of 1970) at his delightful hotel in Bowness-on-Windermere.

Recent Leavers’ Reunion

Bolton School, Monday 24th June 2024

The Class of 2023 returned to School to offer advice on university life and the world of work to current Year 12 students before catching up with each other and with their former teachers.

1. Alicia Quinton-Taylor, Mrs Brace, Sophie Patel

2. Georgia McGinty, Amaani Adam, Olivia Maguire

3. Ananya Ajit, Anika Maini

4. Henna Sarwar, Katy Malley

5. Mrs Winder, Francesca Williams-Denton, Ms Farrimond-Goff, Mrs Walters, Martha Halford

1. Catherine Brennand (née Barker), Michelle Slater (née Toudic) (both 1971) 2. Emma Warburton (GD Staff, 2009-2016), Stephen and Helen Critchlow 3. Laura Henthorn (née Carless, 1977), Julie Falsner (née Dobson, 1975), Rachel Hartley (née Lewis, 1993) 4. Valerie Fisher (née Broughton, 1967), Stephen Broughton (1970) 5. Rachel Crompton (née Allen, 1983, Margaret Allen (née Brookes, 1957) 6. Yvonne (née Conroy, 1955) and David Lowe (1954) 7. Elaine (née Lee, 1981; former BD Staff) and John Greenhalgh (1971; former Staff)

Farewell to Year 13 Students and Parents

Bolton School, Wednesday 26th June 2024

Year 13 students from both Divisions, along with their emotional parents, said ‘Au revoir’ – but not ‘Goodbye’ – to Bolton School as they left to take the next step on their life journeys.

Alumni London Dinner

House of Lords, Friday 28th June 2024

Following the sell-out success of the March London Dinner, a second event was organised and was enjoyed just as much as the first one!

1. Ella Brophy, Natasha Williams, Harriet Dickens, Ruby Hassall, Jade Sprott, Ruby Schofield 2. Billy Burrows, Krupa Patel, Elliott Rigby, Fletcher Mellor-Brook, Maryam Ali, Eve Blackmore, Charlotte Preston, Felicity Field, Ruby Smith, Liv Hextall

3. Jemima Stubbs, Nicola Shaw, Nithu Loganathan, Shaili Khimani, Angelie Chitre 4. Charlotte Hothersall, Elise Hardwick

5. Ruby Schofield, Imogen Masheter, Ruby Hassall

1. Kate Astbury, Georgie Crowther (both 2019) 2. Phoebe Claxton, Rosemary Claxton (née Lunn, 1979), Heather Henry (née Fisher, 1979), Anne Galloway (1979) 3. Gilly Taylor, Julie Whishaw (née Parker), Sarah Thompson (née Burn), Jayne Nicholl (née Hadnett), Kathy Knight (all 1989) 4. Melanie Jenkins, Paul Vaughan, Lindsay Glover (née Carpenter), Kiran Mangrolia, Gary Bent, Sarah Scales (née Boardman), Rhona Hurcombe, Rachel Par-sons, Kathy Whitaker (née Taylor) (all 1991) 5. Laura McGuinness (2003), Lynne Kyle, Caroline Cheng (née Ratcliffe, 2003) 6. Alexander Grant, Faye Clarkson (2023), Grace Lyon (2023) 7. Chandrani Gupta, Tom Walshe, Kirsty Fielding, Zahan Bharucha, Anna Row-lands (all 2017) 8. Naadiya (2019) and Raihaanah (2014) Rhind-Mohammed

Alumni Events Calendar

To reserve your place for any of our Alumni events, please call the Development Office on 01204 434718, email development@boltonschool.org or visit the ‘Alumni and Giving Back’ section of the School website (www.boltonschool.org) where you can book online.

2024

Sunday 3rd November PA Fireworks Bolton School, 4pm-7pm

Friday 8th November Alumni Oxford Dinner St Peter’s College, 7pm

Monday 11th November Old Girls’ Lunch and Armistice Memorial Bolton School: Assembly 10.30am, Lunch 12 noon

Thursday 12th December Ceremony of Carols Girls’ Division Great Hall, 7pm

2025

Friday 7th February Alumni Cambridge Dinner Trinity Hall, 7pm

Monday 24th February Joint Old Girls’ and Old Boys’ Lunch Bolton School, 12 noon

Friday 7th March Alumni London Dinner BMA House, 7pm

Thursday 3rd April Girls’ Division Platt Fisher Lecture Girls’ Division Great Hall, 7pm

Monday 28th April Primary Division Hulton Lecture Girls’ Division Great Hall, 5pm

Friday 9th May Old Girls’ and Old Boys’ Scottish Dinner St Leonards Hall, University of Edinburgh, 7pm

Saturday 17th May Patterdale 30-Year Anniversary Open Day All day

Friday 6th June Foundation Former Staff Lunch Bolton School, 12 noon

Thursday 12th June Old Girls’ Lunch and AGM Bolton School, 12 noon

Friday 20th June Alumni Cumbria Lunch Lindeth Howe Hotel, 12 noon

Monday 23rd June Recent Leavers’ Reunion: ‘Class of 2024’ Bolton School, 2.30pm-5pm

Alumni Ambassadors

Are you a proud Old Girl with a passion for staying connected to School and engaging with others?

Our Alumni Ambassador role is perfect for those who want to volunteer to make a difference without a regular time commitment. You will be called upon from time to time to make contact with your classmates and peers and to encourage them to attend our wide range of events and activities, thus ensuring that our vibrant Alumni community remains strong and connected.

‘5’ Class Reunion –Save the Date!

Calling all Old Girls who left in 1955, 1965, 1975, 1985, 1995, 2005 and 2015!

Your involvement will have a significant impact: join us in fostering a stronger, more connected global Bolton School Alumni network!

We look forward to hearing from you!

Please scan the QR code to learn more and to register.

We will be holding a Reunion at Bolton School on Saturday 20th September 2025 for all year groups – Former Staff are also very welcome to attend, as are Alumni from other years.

We hope to see as many of you as possible, so please get in touch with your classmates and make sure you all have this date in your diaries!

Inspiring the Next Generation

Théa’s Passion for People and Positivity

Théa Gibson (née Georgiades, (Class of 1998), a Director at Deloitte, delivered the third Platt Fisher Lecture titled A Passion for People and Positivity

A University of Leeds graduate in Modern Foreign Languages and a Chartered Accountant, Théa focused on the importance of building strong social ties, which she believes are crucial for happiness and longevity. She acknowledged the advantages and pressures of her education at Bolton School, urging students to focus on self-care, gratitude and living in the present.

Reflecting on her childhood, she shared struggles with shyness and language barriers (as Greek is her first language), and expressed gratitude to her primary school teacher, Mrs Johnson, who helped her gain confidence. She encouraged others to appreciate those who have positively impacted their lives.

In the world of work Théa advised finding a ‘sweet spot’ where strengths, passions, and workplace needs align. She highlighted how relationships are key to a successful career, drawing from her experience, which began at age 16 at JJB Sports and continued with 19 years at Deloitte.

She reassured students about exploring different paths, emphasised the value of health and continuous self-improvement, and encouraged sharing positivity. Her parting advice was to embrace kindness, stay genuine, and aim to ‘thrive rather than just survive’.

Prior to giving her fascinating speech on her Deloitte career and interest in connections and relationships, Théa met with Sixth Form student Freya Brogan to discuss how she stays positive in her everyday life.

Théa began her Bolton School journey in Year 7, fondly remembering teachers such as Mrs Shafiq and Mrs McLellan. She described her A Levels (Geography, French, and Spanish) as her favourite subjects and went on to study Modern Foreign Languages at the University of Leeds, inspired by a passion for languages instilled in her at Bolton School. While she did not initially envisage a future career as a director at Deloitte, she explained that her path into chartered accountancy came about through ‘being open to every opportunity’ and consistently building strong working relationships. Her experiences at School helped her to recognise what an incredible privilege she had been given there, and she made it her mission to be open to any possibility in life.

As well as discussing the opportunities given to her at School, Théa also emphasised the importance of taking one’s time in making decisions.

‘She noted that Bolton School gives its students time to decide what their future will hold, and that they should make the most of this time. She also advised that the decisions made in terms of university and career will never be final: there is always time to change.

Although she had been offered a place at Oxford, Théa’s decided to go to Leeds as her father was ill and she wanted to be closer to home. Her degree furthered her love of languages and her time at university highlighted to her the importance of connections and relationships.

When she joined Deloitte, Théa was conscious that she conformed to the social hierarchy of the workplace, although in hindsight she should perhaps have been more confident and assertive at that point in her career. As a director, Théa now consistently looks to younger employees with fresh perspectives to provide different outlooks, and that is why she believes having confidence is so important in the workplace. Once again she noted the importance of building relationships, acknowledging that she would not be in her position without connecting with other members of Deloitte.

“Life is never a closed book. ”

Théa cited her position as director as her biggest career achievement, but also highlighted the importance of achievements in daily life, such as the birth of her three children. She spoke of herself as more than her job at Deloitte – she is also a sister, a parent and a daughter, as well as many other things. Her biggest inspirations are her parents, and she is very appreciative of their encouragement of her and her goals. She spoke about their hard work and the opportunities they gave her in life, believing that her positive mindset and ambition are from them.

“

Happiness

isn’t a journey, it is a destination. ”

The accounting sphere is often seen as a very male-dominated environment, and Théa emphasised the importance of being confident and expressing your opinions as a woman in the workplace – she believes it is impossible to have your voice heard without this confidence. She expressed admiration for one of her bosses, describing his focus on equality and the importance of a female voice in a stereotypically masculine sphere.

Théa’s positivity and passion for others is extremely inspiring. Her life and career emphasise the need to be open to opportunity, and her positive mindset acts as an example for the rest of us to follow.

Phoebe Chuck (Head Girl, 2023-24), Philip Britton, Sheila Fisher (née Platt, 1970),

Théa Gibson, Lynne Kyle, Ilham Nagi (Deputy Head Girl, 2023-24)

Lancashire Lass Lucy

The annual Presentation Evening celebrated this Summer’s GCSE and A Level achievements as well as those of some ‘mid-stream’ prize-winners. Guest speaker Lucy Parkinson-Baxter (Class of 2017), a Broadcast Journalist for BBC Breakfast and BBC News at One, shared her experiences of the world of higher education and work since leaving Bolton School, and gave our departing students some excellent advice as they leave School for the wider world.

Sixth Form student Rabia Ahmed chatted with Lucy to find out more about her career and how Bolton School had prepared her for the world of work:

Lucy joined Bolton School in the Sixth Form and studied Psychology, English Language, Politics, and Spanish. Diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at two years old, Lucy faced additional challenges but was brought up to be treated like everyone else. She participated in extracurricular activities such as swimming and dance, and when she joined Bolton School, it was made clear that she would not be treated differently. Being late or absent, except for illness, was not acceptable.

At the start of her A Levels, Lucy was unsure about her university path, so she and her parents visited various open days across the UK. She liked the University of Liverpool’s campus and happened upon a Communication and Media lecturer whose passion for the subject convinced Lucy it was the right fit for her. Motivated, she worked hard to secure the necessary A Level results.

The Communication and Media course turned out to be more challenging than she expected, involving analytics, theories of communication, and media analysis, which she found fascinating. During her studies in 2018, Lucy was hospitalised due to a chest infection. Although she recovered, she never regained her previous health and had to adapt to a ‘new normal’, struggling with simple tasks like walking uphill to class. Her final year in 2020 was even more difficult as the course, including her dissertation, shifted online due to the pandemic.

In 2020 Lucy’s life changed when a new drug called Kafftrio, designed to treat Cystic Fibrosis, became available. This treatment significantly increased her lung capacity and extended her life expectancy, which had once been only around 30-40 years.

After completing her degree, Lucy pursued a Master’s in journalism while starting her own podcast, From a Lancashire Lass, in December 2020.

“ Inspired by her love for storytelling and her Lancashire roots, she created the podcast to highlight local people and businesses. ”

Notable guests have included Tim Farron, the former Lib Dem leader, and Bolton School Old Boy Bill Moores (Class of 2017) who runs Halbro Sportswear.

The transition from university to the workforce was challenging for Lucy. She began freelancing at BBC Radio Manchester, North West Tonight, and BBC Radio Four’s Farming Today to gain experience. Her podcast also helped her build connections with BBC journalists, eventually leading her to work at Media City in Salford. In January 2023, Lucy started working at BBC Breakfast, and by June, she was also working with BBC News at One

Lucy became an ambassador for the BBC’s centenary celebrations, visiting schools in Blackpool, Wigan, and Bolton to share her journey and encourage students from diverse backgrounds to pursue careers at the BBC. She also hosts a podcast for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, interviewing researchers, doctors, and patients. Since people with Cystic Fibrosis cannot meet in person due to the risk of crossinfection, the podcast offers a way for them to connect.

Lucy finds inspiration in several figures, including journalist Stacey Dooley for her documentary work and Tim Farron for standing up for

his beliefs. She also deeply admires her parents for their support in helping her succeed at Bolton School.

“For Lucy, essential skills for a journalism career include being a good communicator, a concise writer and having a passion for storytelling. ”

Integrity, creativity, and hard work are equally important. What she enjoys most about her job is the variety, working with different people, and how every shift brings something new.

Among her biggest career achievements is writing a brief for the former Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, ensuring presenters were wellprepared for an election-day interview. Another proud moment was helping increase the number of stem cell donors after a segment on the Anthony Nolan charity on BBC Breakfast.

Lucy is grateful for her time at Bolton School, crediting it for building her confidence and professionalism. She recalls how, although the School’s Sixth Form dress code change from jeans to smart trousers seemed trivial at the time, it prepared her for her professional wardrobe. Lucy believes Bolton School nurtured a strong work ethic and provided incredible opportunities which set her apart in the working world.

For those interested in a journalism career, Lucy advises building a portfolio, gaining relevant qualifications, like the NCTJ (National Council for the Training of Journalists), and networking. She emphasises the importance of kindness and maintaining contacts, as journalism is a collaborative field. Attributes like curiosity, enthusiasm, and hard work will serve aspiring journalists well.

Reflecting on her journey with Cystic Fibrosis, Lucy remembers how uncertain her future once seemed. With the development of Kafftrio, she now lives a life that is less affected by her condition. Many people with Cystic Fibrosis have not prioritised education because they did not expect to live long enough to work, but Lucy is glad she focused on her studies. Her journey has made her resilient, which has helped her in both school and her career.

Lucy didn’t have a clear career path when she was younger, so she encourages others to seize opportunities and appreciate the start in life they’ve been given, especially at Bolton School.

Lucy (centre) with L-R: Amanda Valentine (1983; Vice Chair, Girls’ Division), Lynne Kyle, Philip Britton, Nyah Pomian (Head Girl, 2024-25)

Alumni of the Year Awards

The Alumni of the Year Awards, introduced in 2022, recognise Old Girls and Old Boys who have made an outstanding contribution to society through their voluntary service, academic achievements or professional success, or whose behaviour and values inspire others – in short, those who have delivered upon the famous exhortation of the Girls’ Division prayer that “much will be expected of those to whom much is given”.

Junior boys and girls joined pupils from both Senior Schools to vote for one Old Girl and one Old Boy who they deemed to be worthy winners of the two Awards: we are pleased to announce that this year’s Old Girl of the Year is Habibunnisha Patel (Class of 1997).

After a successful career as a corporate lawyer, working in the UK, Asia, Africa and the Middle East, Habibunnisha took some time to reflect on her career and consider where her work could take her to fulfil her lifelong motivation of working towards achieving greater equity and justice.

Spending some time volunteering for Islamic Relief Worldwide was the springboard to her move into the not-for-profit sector. She went on to spend a decade in non-governmental international aid and development organisations that serve to protect fundamental human rights and freedoms. During that time, Habi she across organisations focusing on international aid, girls’ education and promoting and protecting children’s rights, including Islamic Relief Worldwide, Plan International and Save the Children UK. She also served as a Board Trustee of Muslim Aid, an international NGO, and is an alumni of the Senior Faith in Leadership Programme that aims to facilitate meaningful encounters between individuals serving faith communities.

Habi is now General Counsel and Company Secretary of Cancer Research UK. She is also a Board Trustee for the World Humanitarian Action Forum, has been named in this year’s The Lawyer’s ‘Hot 100 Lawyers’ and she is a regular contributor to Radio 2’s ‘Pause for Thought’ segment.

She said: “It means a huge amount being nominated for this award by the School, a place I will always think fondly of, that played a significant role during a formative part of my life, where I made lifelong dear friends and had a rich education with the full support of my family.”

“The nomination is a humbling reminder of the value enshrined in the School prayer to give to others what we can as generously as we can.”

The other shortlisted candidates were Ann Bailey (née Fisher, Class of 1981) and Karen Greenhalgh (Class of 2000)

Charity and Community are two keywords Ann learned at Bolton School where she was involved with raising funds for her chosen charities. She has continued with this as part of her professional career: her passion for equality and inclusion in business led to her founding Women4Technology, a UK-wide network for female entrepreneurs, investors and leaders. Ann has recently been appointed a member of the Campaign Board of Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital, part of Addenbrookes Hospital.

Karen is dedicated to improving the lives of those around her. Driven by her Christian faith, she works with various charities which help people to recognise their own worth and potential without feeling held back by their background. She serves as a Trustee of the Hidden Treasure Trust which ensures that all families are able to access the facilities, groups, support and services available in the local community regardless of income, and is particularly involved in developing support for young people who are struggling to access school.

Frank Yates (Class of 1952) was voted Old Boy of the Year.

Qualifying as a Doctor in 1957, Frank worked for several years in basic and challenging conditions in some of the most remote parts of Nigeria.

He was amongst the first to treat Trachoma, saving the sight of hundreds of locals. He performed complex surgery on many of his patients who had life-threatening diseases because they were in advanced stages from being untreated.

On his return to the UK Frank joined a small GP practice in Adlington which he developed and modernised, and he designed a new health centre. His dedication and his support of the families in his care through their life events earned him great respect as a family doctor.

Bon Voyage!

There is a huge variety of careers available in the travel and hospitality industry – here are three Old Girls who relish their work in ensuring that tourists and travellers have the best experience possible.

Megan Bowden (Class of 2011)

“As a Second Officer working for TUI Airways, my job involves acting as second in command on Boeing 737s, taking nearly 200 passengers to and from their holidays. I work with the Captain, alternating each leg between being “Pilot Flying” and “Pilot Monitoring”. We operate to airports all over Europe and North Africa, and sometimes get the chance to nightstop down route!

“Pilot training is a challenging and usually expensive process, involving intense theoretical study, followed by learning how to fly small, single- and multi-engine aeroplanes, and then finally getting experience in large jets, in a multi-crew environment. Bolton School provided me with the study skills, determination and attitude required for such rigorous training. Of particular importance is attitude, as flying necessitates constant learning and development, and the Bolton School motto of “striving for excellence, not perfection”, has helped me to have a very healthy approach to my own development. Setbacks are inevitable, both throughout life and when you’re at the controls of an aircraft, but the right mindset can help you to see these not as failures, but as opportunities for growth.

“Flying also teaches you to see and navigate the world in different ways, something which formed part of my favourite subjects at school: Philosophy and Ethics, and Physics. Incredible such as Dr Brown and Mrs Greenhalgh taught us to see things from different points of view, and to envisage the world from perspectives varying from our own. Physics, while being very useful when studying Principles of Flight, also teaches you to picture the world at smaller and larger scales, and to imagine that which is outside our normal perceptual abilities.

“When considering this career, it’s important to be aware of the challenges of working long or unsociable hours, changing your sleep schedule regularly and sitting on your bum for hours at a time! However, if you’ve got the bug for flying, the positives of the job far outweigh the negatives. To see if you love it too, I recommend talking to those in the industry, taking a taster lesson, and then considering applying for one of many scholarships available. Happy flying!”

Bethany Hughes (Class of 2011)

“My favourite subjects at Bolton School were languages. I did French and Spanish for GCSE and continued them to A Level. I also chose Mandarin for one of my Curriculum Enrichment Programmes during the Sixth Form and did a taster lesson in Russian with one of the teachers in the Boys’ Division. My favourite teacher was definitely Mrs Shafiq; she was so patient, kind and always had time to answer questions and better my learning.

“I graduated in 2015 from Nottingham Trent University with a degree in Modern Languages – Spanish and Mandarin. During my three years in Nottingham and year abroad in Beijing and Murcia, I studied Japanese and self-taught Finnish. Now I work for Emirates Airline as a Senior Customer Service and Sales Agent. initially I took calls in both English and Spanish, speaking to passengers from all around the world. Whilst in the Girls’ Division, we were primarily exposed to Spanish from Spain, so, at work, speaking Spanish to Argentinians, Mexicans, Colombians, Chileans and Peruvians has really helped me develop my listening and comprehension skills. Now, I adapt the Spanish I speak to the nationality of the person – School really gave me a fantastic foundation on which to build.

“Now I am part of the web chat team. I handle the same queries only through a live-chat on the website, writing only in English. I’m fortunate to work with native Spanish-speakers of different nationalities so I’m never short of someone to speak to and practise with. I love being presented with a problem that seems impossible to solve and finding a resolution for the passenger. Unexpected events like a global pandemic, ever-changing political situations and sudden disruptions are the most challenging part of my job. When situations are developing quickly and policies are being updated, it can be difficult to keep on top of it, but it’s important to adapt and react.

“My advice to those interested in the travel industry, is to apply for work experience and see what excites and interests you. There are so many areas, such as airlines, travel agencies and cruise companies, and once you have experience, you can really explore the industry further.”

Sadie Scorah (Class of 2009)

“I did A Levels in French, Spanish and Geography. I have always loved languages, but my favourite class was definitely Geography and my favourite teachers Mrs McLellan and Mrs Keenan whose enthusiasm was so infectious! I went on to study French and Russian at the University of Leeds – I spent a year in Moscow and a term in Dijon, both of which were amazing experiences.

“I have always been fascinated by hotels and from a young age wanted to work in one. I started working for Hilton in 2014 after gaining a place on their graduate scheme, Elevator, which consists of two nine-month placements working in every department. My first placement was at the Hilton in Bucharest, Romania where I learned from the ground up – from cleaning rooms and making beds to checking in guests. I then moved to Hilton Warsaw City in Poland where I learned about all the commercial aspects of a hotel – Conference and Events, Sales and Reservations – and became Assistant Head Housekeeper before moving to Antwerp, Belgium to be Assistant Front Office Manager. I moved to London in 2018 and have worked in three hotels – as Reservations Manager, Food and Beverage Manager and now as Director of Operations.

“At Bolton School we were encouraged to try a variety of things – I remember lunchtimes with Athletics Club and joining both Senior and Intermediate Concert Bands. Such opportunities have shaped my career as I have been able to work in lots of different departments, and in my current role at Hilton London Paddington I oversee the Front Desk, Housekeeping, Restaurant, two Bars and Security – no two days are the same! My role is to ensure that everything is running smoothly and to provide the best experience for both team members and our guests.

“I love meeting guests and creating the best stay for them – people come to celebrate special occasions and it’s lovely to be able to go the extra mile! If you are a people-oriented person I would highly recommend working in hotels. Work experience or a part-time job can give you an insight into the industry. It requires a lot of thinking on your feet and often unsociable hours, but it is such a fun and rewarding career!”

Politics and Civil Service Careers Under the Spotlight

The February Perspectives Lecture focused on the diverse range of opportunities in politics and the civil service and the skills required to succeed.

Nina Menezes

(Class of 2002)

Nena studied Mathematics at the University of Edinburgh, followed by a Masters in Mathematics at the University of Manchester and then a PhD in Pure Mathematics at St Andrews, before joining the Civil Service via their fast stream as an operational research analyst.

She explained that civil servants are non-political, but help governments implement and administer their programmes and

Beth Warke

(Class

of 2014)

Beth graduated from the University of Liverpool with a BA in Politics. She moved to London and worked in Westminster as a Parliamentary Assistant to an MP for three and a half years, working closely with all party parliamentary groups (APPGs) during that time. Her varied role included writing and submitting on parliamentary questions, policy briefings on topical issues and constituent casework related to policy, not to mention dealing with a lot of political chaos brought about by a general election and the withdrawal agreement from the EU.

Beth left Westminster after the 2019 election and, keen to utilise her experience of working in Parliament and her knowledge of parliamentary processes, she moved into a public affairs role in the charity sector. She currently works in the Policy Engagement Unit at the University of Manchester, connecting academic research at the university with policymakers. Her work is exciting, dynamic and unpredictable, and she has been lucky to work on a wide range of projects, including pensions, space, nuclear and AI.

Beth’s networking and sociability skills, her adaptability and her ability to be able to work at pace with good written communication

Perspectives on Careers in Law

policies. She herself has worked in a variety of departments and roles, including data science and software engineering projects, and is currently a software developer in the Incubator for AI in the Cabinet Office, working on Prime Ministerial priority projects helping the Civil Service to become more efficient.

The Civil Service offers job stability as well as flexibility, opportunities to learn and to progress, and a good work-life balance. Nina’s job allows her to solve puzzles all day, something which she enjoys, and many of her projects make a difference on issues which affect people’s lives. She believes key qualities include having logic and problem-solving skills, an ability to keep learning, persistence, good communication skills, the ability to work with others and to be adaptable.

skills, along with her knowledge of British political institutions, learnt at School and university, have been essential in shaping her career.

Nina and Beth were joined by Richard Walker (Class of 1985) and Alex Waudby (Class of 2012). Richard developed his interest in politics while reading Geography at St Catherine’s College, Oxford. After completing an MSc in Urban Planning at Oxford Brookes University he joined a town and transport planning consultancy, working for local government and also spending time in China on the Shanghai transport plan. He currently works for the Department for Transport, helping to deliver the National Bus Strategy for England.

Alex studied French and German at the University of Bristol. After working in Hong Kong and Brussels he joined the Civil Service via its Direct Appointment Scheme and is now a Senior Nuclear Policy Advisor in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

The May Perspectives webinar invited Old Girls and Old Boys to speak about various career opportunities in law.

Christie O’Connell

(Class of 2016)

Christie took a gap year before studying Theology at King’s College London, where she decided to pursue a legal career after shadowing an alumnus. She completed a Graduate Diploma in Law and trained as a barrister, focusing on advocacy and crossexamination.

Currently specialising in matrimonial finance at 1 Hare Court in London, Christie enjoys her work and also advises high net worth divorce cases at Mishcon de Reya and Katz Partners. Additionally, she serves on committees for the Inner Temple Junior Barristers Association and FreeBar, an LGBTQIA+ group.

Christie explained that being a barrister suits those who enjoy talking, debating and being on their feet in court. She highlighted the independence of the role, as most barristers are self-employed, and emphasised quick thinking, public speaking and a love for drama as key skills for success.

The Perspectives Lecture series invites a panel of Old Girls and Old Boys to speak to an audience of pupils, staff and parents of both Bolton School and other local schools, Alumni and members of the local community.

Careers Utilising Computer Science and Coding

The last Perspectives Lecture of the academic year focused on careers in the field of computer science and coding.

Emma Arandjelovic (Class of 1999)

Emma is a Senior Software Engineer for consultancy firm Observatory Sciences. Her role involves providing consultancy services to clients and she is currently involved in the software development effort for the world’s largest radio telescope, SKAO.

Emma studied A Levels in Maths, Computing and English Language, and went on to graduate with a First Class degree in Computer Science from the University of Warwick. Her first position was as a software engineer at IBM. She then joined a team tasked with building the UK’s national synchrotron, Diamond Light Source, where she enjoyed being part of a multi-disciplinary team.

Rosie Dandy

(Class

of 2019)

Rosie is a Business Analyst at AstraZeneca, having completed a four-year IT Degree Apprenticeship with the company and graduating with First Class Honours in Digital and Technology Solutions from Manchester Metropolitan University. Despite no IT background, Rosie won Best Overall Mark, Best Performing Student and Outstanding Project awards.

Rosie pursued IT after School, excited by its potential. At AstraZeneca, she has changed roles frequently, gaining experience as a Project Support Officer, app developer, and Digital Transformation Project Manager. She contributed to logistics apps, Covid vaccine distribution and drug production in multiple countries. Now a UX Researcher, she enjoys patient interaction and connecting people.

Angeli Kapadia

(née Vadera, Class of 2007)

Angeli shared her journey to becoming a solicitor, driven by her love for current affairs and problemsolving subjects like Maths, Chemistry, and History.

After attending multiple university open days, she chose to study Law at the University of Manchester, later completing her LPC at BPP Law School in 2016. Specializing in construction and insurance disputes, she noted the challenge of securing a pupillage or training contract but gained valuable experience as a paralegal at Keoghs in Bolton. Now based in New York, Angeli works as a Construction Claims Specialist at AXA Insurance. One of her most fulfilling roles was in the Ethnic Minorities Lawyers Division, helping others develop skills and organising events. She also contributed to the Hindu Lawyers

This job pivoted her towards control systems engineering, and she went on to spend four years working in a similar role in Melbourne at the Australian Synchrotron. Emma has also completed a music degree with the Open College of the Arts and works part-time as a composer.

Emma believes students should choose Computer Science because it impacts all fields and offers diverse opportunities. Success requires adaptability, teamwork, problem-solving skills, analytical thinking and creativity.

Rosie advocates for Women in STEM and encourages challenging tech stereotypes. For those considering Computer Science, she highlighted its vast opportunities across industries and constant evolution. Success requires connectivity, creativity, and the courage to challenge norms, while being open, honest, and willing to learn ensures support and growth in the field.

Emma and Rosie were joined by Niall Woodward (Class of 2016) and Freddie Higham (Class of 2022)

Niall is the Co-Founder and CTO of SELECT, a business-to-business software product, which helps customers optimise and monitor their Snowflake cloud data warehouse. Niall recommends a career in the field for its problem-solving opportunities, high pay, flexible benefits, and diverse roles. He emphasises business awareness and skills over a university degree.

Freddie, who is studying Computer Science at the University of York, shared his positive experience balancing practical and theoretical work.

Association, offering legal support to religious institutions. Angeli emphasised that legal skills are transferable across careers and personal interests, advising others to keep an open mind, explore options, and pursue what they enjoy.

Christie and Angeli were joined by Matt Ashforth (Class of 2003) and Andrew Lee (Class of 2017)

Matt started his career in private practice in Manchester, later moving to Eversheds Sutherland and moving to Dubai with them to help set up a new construction team. He later transitioned into sports law, becoming Head of Legal Services at Everton FC and now working as Senior In-House Counsel for Aston Villa.

Andrew’s journey into law was sparked by an interest in mock trials at School. Initially choosing to study Classics at Oxford, he later explored law through mini-pupillages and vacation schemes. He secured a training contract with Eversheds Sutherland, delaying it to complete an MPhil at Cambridge. Classics, he noted, enhanced his problem-solving skills.

Women of Work

The Women of Work talks aim to introduce pupils to the variety of career opportunities available to them, and to a range of inspiring Old Girls. These short Zoom sessions take place during Form time and incorporate a brief presentation followed by a Q&A session.

Lydia Riding

(Class of 2014)

Lydia studied History, Spanish and Chemistry at A Level and went on to study History at the University of Warwick.

She joined the Civil Service via the ‘Fast Stream’ graduate programme, completing postings in a variety of government departments, specialising in project delivery. Lydia then moved into a permanent role in the Cabinet Office where she supported the planning and delivery of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in 2022 –a ‘surreal experience’ which is indicative of the range of roles and opportunities offered by the Civil Service.

Habibunnisha Patel (Class of 1997)

Habibunnisha is General Counsel – the most senior lawyer – and Company Secretary of Cancer Research UK.

Lydia now leads the South Asia policy team within the Ministry Defence. She explained that there is a huge variety of roles within the Civil Service, such as economists, social researchers, comms specialists and data analysts, with the flexibility of changing subject areas and departments. She credits Bolton School with giving her a great grounding, since there is a lot of overlap between the School’s values and those of the Civil Service.

Vicki Robinson

(Class of 2001)

Vicki is a Nuclear Chemist at BAE Systems in Barrow-in-Furness.

She studied for a Master’s degree in Chemistry, served in the Army Reserves as a Combat Medic and became a Chemist supporting the submarine build programme, where she has since specialised in Radiochemistry.

Vicki explained that to be a scientist you need critical thinking skills with an analytical mind. Organisation skills, adaptability and an aptitude for problem-solving are also useful as things can change quickly and quick decisions often need to be made. Communication skills are also important, especially for communicating scientific ideas and principles across departments.

She is also on the board of World Humanitarian Action Forum. After studying Law at Cambridge she worked as a corporate lawyer with a leading global law firm in the City before being motivated to move to the not-for-profit sector by a wish to try to make the world a fairer and more equitable place for everyone. She spent some time volunteering for Islamic Relief Worldwide and one of its founders asked her whether she wanted to be ‘a branch or the roots of a tree’ – his advice was to set down strong roots if you want to make an impact in the world.

Habi explained that when she was at School she was always motivated by equity and justice and the belief in the importance of education being available to girls as well as boys and that this is what has driven her career.

Charlotte

Unwin (Class of 2013)

Charlotte is a Speech and Language Therapist currently living and working in The Gold Coast, Australia.

After studying Russian and Italian at the University of Sheffield she undertook a Masterss in International Tourism and Hospitality Management at Manchester Metropolitan University. And secured a job as a travel agent. Working from home for when Covid hit gave Charlotte time to reflect on what she wanted to do with her life and she realised that she wanted to help people. She gained an MSc in Speech and Language Therapy at UCLan and worked both in private practice and in the NHS in the UK. Fed up with the English weather, she took the decision to emigrate to Australia, where she now works in a community role for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Charlotte advised her young audience not to be afraid to make mistakes and to find something that they enjoy doing.

Alisha Inspires at Hulton Lecture

Alisha Whitehead (née Patel, Class of 2011) was the guest speaker at the second annual Hulton Lecture, held in the Girls’ Division Great Hall.

Since leaving Shool Alisha has completed a BSc in Psychology at Sheffield Hallam University and an MSc in Clinical Neurology at the University of Sheffield. Her career has centred on neurological research and has ranged from delivering clinical trials and managing large grant-funded trials to setting up and managing the Geoffrey Jefferson Brain Research Centre in Manchester, which aims to improve the lives of patients living with neurological conditions, including brain tumours, strokes and Parkinson’s disease through research.

Alisha shared her fascinating career in a way that was really accessible to the young audience of Primary Division pupils and visiting primary school pupils, and even included a simulated ‘double blind clinical trial’ to show everyone how these work in the real world.

The Hulton Lecture, held annually at the beginning of May, is the Primary Division’s counterpart to the Boys’ Division Tillotson Lecture and the Girls’ Division Platt Fisher Lecture.

Careers Inspiration for Juniors

Year 6 pupils enjoyed an afternoon with former pupils and friends of the School, learning about a range of careers.

Veterinary surgeon Sophia Saunders (Class of 2007) described how a typical day in her life might involve routine visits, conducting emergency visits and operations and being on call, reflecting that the best bit of her job is being with the animals.

Dr Richa Sharma works at a dental practice in Chorley. She got the boys and girls to work in pairs to restore a cavity in a tooth using white tack to represent filling material and was very impressed to see so many well-carved fillings!

Paul Johnson (Class of 1985), a partner at Manchester law firm Ward Hadaway, gave an interactive presentation in which he asked the pupils about their understanding of the law and how it effects our lives.

Egyptologist’s Advice

Dr Joyce Tyldesley (Class of 1978) gave a talk to Girls’ Division pupils about her career in Egyptology.

She had plenty of good advice: Make the most of your time at School, study subjects you enjoy, don’t fear failure, try to enjoy a balanced life – and never stop learning!

Jaiminee Joins Duke of Edinburgh Winners

Jaiminee Patel (Class of 2011) was the guest speaker at the Duke of Edinburgh Awards Celebration held at School in April.

Having herself completed a trek to Everest Base Camp in 2022 (see the Spring 2023 edition of this Newsletter), Jaiminee understood the organisation and determination required to achieve the Silver and Gold awards which were presented to successful students that evening.

L-R: Richa Sharma, Philip Britton, Paul Johnson, Krish Patel, Sophia Saunders

Krish Patel (Class of 2010) talked about his StoryOak and Tales to Inspire creations. Real-life stories from all around the world which help inspire individuals and communities can be found on his website and YouTube and in his podcasts.

Joyce had plenty of wise words for the girls

Alisha with Primary Division pupils who thoroughly enjoyed her lecture

Girls Inspired on International Women’s Day

Serial entrepreneur Caroline Plumb OBE (Class of 1996) was the keynote speaker at this year’s International Women’s Day event. Caroline has created and sold a number of successful companies, has a regular column in The Times covering small businesses and entrepreneurship and was previously one of Prime Minister David Cameron’s business ambassadors.

At School Caroline developed an interest in Technology, Maths, Engineering and Physics. She went on to achieve a First-Class degree in Engineering, Economics and Management from the University of Oxford. On graduating in 2000, she and a friend scraped together £250 each to start their own company, Freshminds, a consulting and recruiting firm which connected smart young people with businesses. After selling half of the business, she went on to start a software company, Fluidly, which built accounting software for accounting firms and banks. She went on to sell that business, too – this time to OakNorth Bank in 2021 – and today she is Group CEO of Gravita, a techenabled accountancy firm.

Caroline’s main message was that good leadership today is not about demonstrations of power, but about being a strong communicator, painting a picture of the future with empathy, creativity and passion – characteristics that women have in spades. Quoting Gloria from the film Barbie, she said: “You have to be a boss but you can’t be mean. You have to lead but

Sixth Form Entrepreneurship Scheme

During the last academic year Year 12 pupils from both Divisions were invited to take part in the Sixth Form Entrepreneurship Scheme established by Old Boy Rob Dobson (Class of 1982) The scheme looks to develop the business and entrepreneurial skills of students through mentorship from Alumni, with skillsbased and founder experience presentations to shape the trajectory of the pupils’ research, culminating in a Dragon’s Denstyle pitching event.

Throughout the Autumn Term pupils were invited to hear from Rob, Juhi Gore (Class of 1993) and Rik Thwaites (Class of 1977) about their founder and business experience to gain a foundational understanding of entrepreneurship.

After these sessions, the pupils who wished to progress to 1-2-1 mentoring submitted their applications, before being matched with mentors Rob, Juhi, Rik, Ingrid Murray (Class of 1984),

Thank you!

We are very grateful to all Old Girls who have given their time to support current pupils through a variety of careers and enrichment events and opportunities!

Isabelle Currie (Class of 2014) supported an A Level student with their EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) into mental health disorders.

Senior Recruitment Consultant Victoria Jolley (Class of 2017) took part in our A-Z of Careers, giving an insight into the world of Recruitment.

Hannah Earp (Class of 2010), Aaliyah Bax (Class of 2021), Lillian Featham (Class of 2022) and Hannah McKee (Class of 2023) and all had 1-2-1 conversations with students about their university experience to date and/or careers.

you can’t squash other people’s ideas.” Offering advice to her young audience of Girls’ Division pupils, she said that whilst we are after all creatures of habit, too much blind adherence to the rules can be dangerous. Although good often looks like being modest, quiet and obedient, these are traits that do not always pay off in the long-run: sometimes, it is good to be spiky. It is good to advocate for yourself and show off your strengths. To support her point, she quoted George Bernard Shaw, who said: “The reasonable man adapts himself to the world. The unreasonable man persists in trying to adapt the world to himself, therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.” Although “He clearly meant woman,” said Caroline, the words emphasise that change relies upon doing things differently – rules can be a barrier to innovation and creative thinking.

Caroline concluded by telling the girls not to think that there is only one way to succeed and not to search for perfection. If the game doesn’t suit you, she said, rewrite the playbook. Whilst it can be great being an all-rounder, you don’t have to stand out at everything, sometimes you need to figure out what success looks like for you – being different is being memorable. Caroline left the audience with a quote from Hermione Granger who said: “It’s sort of exciting isn’t it, breaking the rules?”

Charlotte Morley (née Maddrell, Class of 1999), Shweta Sharma (Class of 2001) and Simon West (Class of 1996). Once matched, the students worked with their mentor to develop their business plan: building a model and exploring ideas that had been discussed at the group sessions to bring improvement or opportunities to their passions.

We are immensely grateful for the time that the seven mentors have given to the scheme and students this year.

Amerleen Hundle (Class of 2022) and Ananya Ajit (Class of 2023) recently came in to speak about applying to Oxford and Cambridge.

Hannah McKee (Class of 2023), who is studying Chemistry at Trinity College, met up with a group of current Year 12 pupils attending The University of Oxford open day, showing them around, answering their questions and giving a real insight into life as an Oxford student.

Sophie Patel (Class of 2023), who is currently undertaking a Digital and Technology Solutions Degree Apprenticeship at IBM with Manchester Metropolitan University, spoke to pupils who are considering applying for a degree apprenticeship or a career in computing or technology.

If you would like to volunteer your time to help, please contact development@ boltonschool.org or scan the QR code.

Students with L-R Rob, Rik, Ingrid, Shweta and Juhi at the pitching event

Iron Emily

Emily Varley (Class of 2012) featured in the Spring 2023 edition, winning the Sprint Distance Duathlon Championships. Since then she has moved into longer distances, with her most recent race being the Full Distance/Iron Distance triathlon in St Neots which involved a three-mile swim, a 112 mile bike and a 26-mile run. Emily describes this race as ‘the best and worst race I’ve ever done’ – and here she explains why.

“There was more than one point in the race where I thought ‘I simply cannot do this’, but through sheer stubbornness, pep talks from my Dad and the marshals, and a copious amount of Red Bull, I managed to scrape through.

“The swim started well: it was actually lovely! The water wasn’t cold, it wasn’t a chaotic start, I felt in control.

“Onto the bike and the worst weather conditions I’ve ever cycled in. Pretty sure I got wetter on the bike than I did on the swim ... I should have kept my wetsuit on! Chucking with rain, strong winds, flooded course and a tree on the course meant the puncture was almost inevitable.

“By the time I’d hobbled ten miles to the nearest checkpoint in nothing but my skin suit I was absolutely frozen solid. The marshals had to bundle me up in coats and pop me in a warm ambulance because I was shaking so much. The Raynaud’s in my hands were so bad I couldn’t even hold the Mars Bar I was given, let alone open it. While two marshals valiantly tried to fix my bike, an emergency call to Dad was made to bring a replacement one.

“Getting outside assistance in this way means I was effectively disqualified and wouldn’t get an official finish time. Sitting in the ambulance, rain pouring down the windscreen and knowing that even if I carried on I wouldn’t get a time made it very difficult to know what to do. Carry on suffering in the worst conditions possible? Or give up and be disappointed?

“I decided to try to carry on; off I went into the storm and I repeated the mantra ‘It’s just rain, you will not die’ over and over until the 112 miles were completed. The Bolton weather had trained me well for this sort of perseverance!

“I won’t sugar coat it because it was awful (and the sugar would have dissolved), but getting back on the bike was one of the grimmest things I’ve ever done. The ride passed in a blur of rain and discomfort and fear. It was also incredibly lonely; I barely saw any other riders and

spent most of the time trying desperately to keep aero into the wind and stay warm. My hands were still so cold I’d resorted to putting the entire gel packets in my mouth and trying to chew my way through the packet to keep some sort of energy in my system. I had precut the packets, but even with that I was incapable of opening them!

“I returned to transition absolutely spent. Luckily my sister, Daisy (Class of 2014), and my brother, Rupert (Class of 2019) were waiting for me and offered cheers of support. I had a little sit down and stretch and gathered myself before embarking on the marathon. I tried and failed to change my socks, so had nice marshy feet for the run. In my delirium I also forgot my visor and my sunglasses, meaning that I would have nothing covering my pain face (surely the main reason people wear these items?).

“All I had to do now was finish. I could walk, I could crawl, I could cry ... but I would not stop.

Incredibly, the sun also came out at this point, but it wasn’t too hot. A blessing, even if it would have been nicer if it had happened five hours earlier ...

“An entourage of fantastic supporters had come out for the marathon and every time I ran past them their cheering gave me life. Lots of the marshals at the check points were playing music which energised me, and some of them also had cute dogs (when you’re that deep in the pain cave you’re really clutching at any sort of distractions). Counting the seven laps of the run, and trying to say thank you and well done to other people, was the only mental processing I was capable of. Just one foot in front of the other, over and over ...

“The pace was good and comfortable, until about mile 20 when my body just completely fell apart. I was crumbling, but I knew I could keep going and that I’d passed the women who’d overtaken me during my bike hiatus so I was back in gold.

“As the finish line came into sight I started tearing up: I’d done it. The hardest thing I’ve ever done. I collapsed across the line holding the winner’s ribbon. The finish area had all my friends and family, and importantly sausage rolls ... not that I could do anything except collapse into their open arms and into the extremely comfortable grass that was beckoning my name.

“Thank you so much to all the people who made the race possible and helped me when I hit rock bottom. Huge thanks and love to everyone who helped in the run up, sent messages of support, and who came to cheer on the day. Also thank you to everyone who has messaged since – if I haven’t replied it’s because I’ve basically been asleep since. If you would like to support me in my next race, I would really appreciate support through my Just Giving Page – next up, I have the British Championships, and the World Championships! https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/emily-varley-triathlon.

Story of a Gown

The Prefects’ gowns are one of the enduring symbols of the Girls’ Division, and the Gowning of the Prefects, held in the Great Hall each May, has become one of its most special traditions. Here Rachael Roberts (Class of 2005), Stephanie Gabbatt (Class of 2013) and Saira Hussain (Class of 2021) describe wearing their gowns with pride.

What was your favourite moment whilst wearing your gown?

Rachael: The first Assembly walking to our seats. It was a proud moment and I felt so privileged. I also enjoyed visiting the School as an Old Girl and wearing my gown ten years after I left!

Stephanie: My favourite moment would have to be the start of every Assembly when we would gather outside the Hall in formation before walking down in as everyone stood up – it made me feel very special! And special occasions when we would get a flower to pin to our gown too.

Saira: I would say it was the first time I walked into Assembly wearing my gown, as I couldn’t believe it was finally my turn to take part in this School tradition after having watched it for many years. Another one of my favourite moments wearing my gown was acting in the Prefects’ Panto – this was always my favourite Bolton School tradition, so to be able to take part in it was so much fun.

What were your hopes/plans for the future as you passed on your gown?

Rachael: I always wanted to help people. I’d started charity work in Year 10 so I wanted to continue with that.

Stephanie: My hope was to go into the world and achieve my goals, making the most of every opportunity I was given. I am now working my dream job in the place I always wanted to live – and I still have my best friends from Bolton beside me.

Saira: When I passed on my gown, I had been offered a place to study Dentistry at Cardiff University. I was very excited about this and was of course nervous for my A Levels, but I planned on trying my hardest to get the best grades I could to secure my place.

What did you do after leaving School?

Rachael: I went to work at a local charity then went onto do my degree at aged 23 (BSc Social Work and Applied Social Studies). Going later had its advantages. I have now worked in child protection social work for ten years. In between working and studying, I’ve travelled the world and worked a season in Tignes, the ski resort.

What are you doing now?

Rachael: I am a social work consultant for Manchester Children’s Services. I’m currently on maternity leave after having a baby boy. I am also studying a diploma in Nutritional Therapy and Naturopathy. I have always been passionate about health and fitness, so now I want to help people in a different way.

Stephanie: I am a Senior Journalist for the BBC World Service, working in global TV news in London – and living with my oldest friend whom I met in Year 7 at Bolton School!

Saira: I have completed my third year at Cardiff and I have two years remaining. I am enjoying being a committee member in the Cardiff Dental Student Society as the editor of the dental school’s newsletter, The Disclosing Tablet. As I get further into dental school, I am developing a deeper interest into Oral Surgery, and hope to specialise in this after graduating.

What one piece of advice would you give to this year’s Year 13 pupils?

Rachael: Plan a future that allows you to pass down the privilege you’ve had to your children, but don’t rush into it – have lots of fun, travel and live life as the person you would be proud of! Keep close to your good friends and mentors – they are so important through life’s highs and lows.

Stephanie: I would tell them to say ‘Yes’ as much as possible. It is much more comfortable to follow in the footsteps of your family or friends, or to stick rigidly to a plan, intent on reaching a fixed goal – but life happens when you don’t expect it and some of the best things I’ve done have been because I said ‘Yes’ to opportunities.

Saira: With all the stress surrounding university applications and A Levels, don’t forget to enjoy your final year at Bolton School! And don’t burn yourself out: it’s not the end of the world if something doesn’t happen for you on your first try.

Are you still in touch with friends from School?

Rachael: Yes! They’re best friends, although we’re scattered out across the world!

Stephanie: After leaving School I went to the University of York and then did a Master’s degree at the University of Central Lancashire. I began working as a journalist and then moved to Guernsey and now I am in London.

Saira: I went to Cardiff to start studying Dentistry. It took a while for me to adjust to Cardiff (especially to the Welsh language!) and to being so far from home, but eventually I got used to it and was able to make new friendships. I also kept up my love of learning French with the university’s ‘Languages for All’ programme which allows you to take free weekly language courses alongside your degree.

Stephanie: Yes, I am – we all live close to each other in London now so we see each other regularly! And my School friendship group has had our first two weddings this Summer! It’s been really moving watching them enter the next stage of their lives, and reuniting with more School friends at the celebrations!

Saira: I am still in touch with a lot of Old Girls from the Class of 2021. I like to keep up with everyone on social media and it’s nice to see where everyone has ended up. I FaceTime my close friends often and I still meet up with my close friend group that I had during my time at Bolton School. This August we took a trip to North Wales together which was super fun!

Old Girls Go Global

The Old Girls’ Association has 5,400 members living and working not just in the UK, but across the globe. Here we catch up with three Old Girls who have relocated overseas, find out what motivated them to move abroad, what they enjoy about their lives there … and what they still miss about the UK!

Sophie Bolton (Class of 2013)

Sophie and fiancé Matt

“I’ve been living in Christchurch, New Zealand, for about two years. My journey here started in 2022 during a solo attempt of the Appalachian Trail, a 2,000mile trek across the eastern US. On day three, I met my fiancé, and we spent the next four months hiking 22 miles a day and sharing a tent. We decided to settle in a neutral country, and New Zealand seemed perfect: beautiful, outdoorfriendly, English-speaking for my career, and easy visa laws.

“The biggest cultural difference I’ve noticed is how much Kiwis prioritise relationships, influenced by Maori culture. Brits can seem direct and workfocused in comparison and it has taken time to adapt to the friendly chitchat here.

“Christchurch offers so much— ski fields, national parks, surf beaches, and over 80 km of trails. Despite being far from everything, the people, the nature and the pies make it worthwhile. I miss friends and family most, as ‘popping home’ isn’t easy.

“We’ve loved our time in New Zealand, but with our wedding next year, we’ve decided to cycle back home. It’ll be a wild adventure, but we’re excited, knowing each mile brings us closer to home.”

Anna Kerr (Class of 2006)

“I had the immense pleasure of attending Bolton School while my family was living abroad from America. I am from the state of Georgia originally, but now call Houston, Texas home. I have lived in Houston for 13 years, but recently took some time off teaching high school to travel. I visited England again. I spent time in Scotland, Switzerland, France, Portugal, Ghana and Guatemala. My time at Bolton School really encouraged my desire to travel and I believe taught me many of the skills necessary to be a confident international student and traveller. On my travels I visited London again and stayed with a friend there who is a fellow Alumnus. Distance and time have not separated me from my Bolton family.

“Houston is a booming metropolis, so different from the UK, and I miss the slower pace of life I had walking Chorley New Road home each day. However, I teach both American and World History and love being able to weave in what I learned in my GCSE History class. Houston is a global city where my experience learning abroad positively shapes my daily work. I am grateful for Bolton School!”

Rachael Willis (née Bickerstaffe, Class of 2005)

Alexandra Henderson (Class of 2002)

“I moved to Dubai in 2019 with my husband and our then oneyear-old daughter. We had always considered working abroad, and when my employer offered an opportunity, it was too good to refuse.

“We arrived in what we thought was the Summer heat in July, but soon learned that, despite 40-degree temperatures, the dry heat is more bearable than the humid months of August and September. Five years on, the Summer months do remain a struggle, so our annual UK trip in July/August is a welcome escape to the cooler weather in the north of England.

“Bringing up our two children in Dubai, we benefit from its rich, diverse cultures. It is wonderful to see them exposed to different perspectives and backgrounds. Plus, weekends at the beach are a bonus!

“However, we do miss home— not just the rain (our kids have seen rain and puddles only a handful of times), but especially our family. We rely on Zoom to stay connected, and when family visits, we cherish every moment together.”

“For the past nine years, I have been living and working in Valdres, Norway. After completing my PhD in Himalayan Geology, I worked in various countries, including Australia and Japan, but my love for mountains and nature drew me to Norway. My first job here was in the Arctic as a Geologist and GIS specialist. Modern Languages at School were never my strength, so learning the Norwegian language took a bit of time, but I finally got there.

“In 2015, seeking a change from the dark Arctic winters, I moved south with my partner to Valdres and took a break from geology. I now work as a Land Surveyor. We live just ten minutes from a ski resort, so we ski every weekend in winter. I also train my avalanche rescue dog, which is hard work but something I am passionate about.

“I often think back to school trips to Patterdale Hall, where my love for mountains and the outdoors first began. Winters here can get as cold as -20°C, and although I never thought I’d say it, I sometimes miss the ‘mild’ English weather!”

Alex and Ted, her avalanche rescue dog

Anna on her travels in Antigua, Guatemala

Dubai offers Rachael and her family a super lifestyle

Staff in the Spotlight

This time the spotlight shines on Mrs Laverick, who is now enjoying her well-earned retirement, and on Miss Putt and Miss Toland who have ventured to pastures new.

Carol Laverick

(Girls’ Division Staff, 2016-2024)

My connection to Bolton School runs deep, as both my parents attended, with my father also captaining the Old Boltonians’ football team.

I was thrilled to join the School as a teacher in 1992, starting as an unqualified but enthusiastic Junior School teacher. While working, I gained my PGCE through the Open University, mentored by Helen Holt, then Deputy Head, forging a lifelong friendship and professional relationship.

When I began, I taught Form II, and the Junior classrooms were mixed with Senior School classes. Later, the Juniors moved to the corridor along the Girls’ Division Quad, which was initially open to the elements before being glazed and later reclaimed by the Senior School.

I left Bolton School for my first headship at Westholme School in

Frances Putt

(Girls’ Division Staff, 2021-2024)

Although I have only been at Bolton School for three years, I have many fond memories that will last a lifetime.

The School is such a welcoming community that I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here. I have been fortunate to work as a member of two tremendous departments: English and Drama. It has been a pleasure to work with such supportive colleagues. The School has also provided me with the opportunity to develop further as a teacher by enabling me to participate in CPD, such as a creative thinking research project, and to take on the role of Acting Head of

Becky Toland

(Girls’ Division Staff, 2012-2024)

It has been a pleasure to work at Bolton School for the past 12 years within a highly successful English teaching team. I have loved my time here and have so many wonderful memories that I will cherish forever.

I came to the School in 2012, having taught in a variety of schools beforehand. I became Second in the English and Drama department in 2013. In this role I co-ordinated KS3 and KS4 English, as well as KS3 Drama and A Level Theatre Studies. In addition, I supported the previous Head of Department, Miss Sutcliffe, in the implementation of the Accelerated Reader programme and in the School becoming an English Speaking Board centre. I also directed and produced some memorable whole-School productions, which standout as particular highlights of my experiences here.

On a personal note, while working at Bolton School I have got married and had two children. I made the decision to go part-time in 2019, so that I could spend more time at home with my two little girls. Over the years, I have been fortunate to teach the subjects

Blackburn, where I spent 16 years. In January 2016, the pull of Bolton brought me back as Head of Hesketh House, where I have enjoyed over eight wonderful years before retiring in Summer this year. The School’s strong sense of loyalty was evident when I returned to find familiar staff and the sense of community, with many Old Girls and staff whose children also attend the School, fostering a passionate, dedicated environment.

The challenges of the Covid pandemic were immense, especially with online learning. Staff and students showed incredible resilience, adapting creatively to isolated bubbles, producing an online Christmas concert and an outdoor Summer concert, all with a positive attitude and impressive results.

Reflecting on my time at Bolton School, my fondest memories are of the staff and pupils. From ski trips to swimming lessons, life at Hesketh House has always been busy, challenging, and exciting, with people making the experiences unforgettable. I am incredibly proud of what I have been a part of.

In retirement, I look forward to maintaining my ties with the School, attending events and concerts, and watching ‘my’ pupils thrive.

English last academic year, whilst Mrs Martin was on maternity leave. I will certainly miss working with our incredible students in all aspects of School life. My classes and also my form, 8D, have shown me such kindness and their enthusiasm has been infectious. It has been a pleasure to take part in the many trips available at Bolton; the French trip to Normandy being a particular highlight. One of the activities I have found most memorable has been coaching students for the English Speaking Union Churchill Public Speaking competition. It has been a delight to watch students flourish in oracy, gaining confidence along the way. This year, we had a team reach the regional finals, amidst strong opposition.

I am leaving Bolton School to take on the role of Head of English at the New English School in Kuwait and I am excited for the new challenge ahead. However, I will never forget my time at this wonderful school and the people who make it so special.

I love to the full age range. I have also enjoyed leading many theatre trips and enrichment activities, including Mindfulness and the Grade 8 ESB qualification for Year 12 students. Furthermore, I have loved being a form tutor to a range of year groups, most recently in the Sixth Form with the wonderful 13E.

I will miss lots of things about the School, from the palpable excitement that accompanies annual traditions such as the Easter Extravaganza, Year 10 Post and Prefects’ Panto, to the fabulous trips to Patterdale and places further afield (including a trip to the United Arab Emirates as part of the Connecting Classrooms project). But what I will miss most about Bolton School are all my lovely, incredibly hard-working colleagues, as well as all the fabulous, enthusiastic, and talented students.

Therefore, it is with mixed emotions that I am leaving Bolton School to return to teach at the school I attended as a pupil and to lead Literacy there. I am excited for the future and the next chapter of my career, but I know I am leaving a truly exceptional place. It has been a privilege and pleasure to work at such an outstanding school.

OLD GIRLS’ NEWS

Class of 1950-1959

Janet Vear

(née Watkiss, Class of 1952)

Janet was thrilled to receive a card from Bolton School wishing her all the best for her 90th birthday in April. She celebrated this milestone with friends.

Class of 1980-1989

Monica Ali, CBE (Class of 1986)

Congratulations to Monica who received a CBE for services to literature in the King’s Birthday Honours List.

Class of 1990-1999

Caroline

Plumb, OBE (Class of 1996)

Congratulations to Caroline who has been elected an Honorary Fellow of St John’s College, Oxford.

Caroline notes that after joining the college as a somewhat apprehensive 18 year-old, St John’s has always felt like home – full of happy memories and great friends. She is therefore honoured to be able to continue the close association, and hopes to help and support the aims and ambitions of the College and its students going forward.

Caroline attended a delightful welcome dinner where she celebrated her new fellowship with guests including her former tutors and her brother. She looks forward to returning to Oxford more regularly to be part of the College community.

Helen

Ogbourn (née Hayes)

Nisha Patel (née Roye) (both Class of 1997)

Helen and Nisha have been friends for over 34 years.

After being bridesmaids for each other, life

happened, and those days of being together all day at School, followed by hours on the phone racking up our parents’ telephone bills, became loved memories. Meeting again after 15 years was crazy, but felt so normal – that’s what makes a true friendship. Never far from each other’s thoughts, it felt so good to have those few hours together.

Class of 2000-2009

Joanna Czutkowna

(Class of 2000)

Congratulations to Joanna on winning the Influential Business Woman of the Year Award at the Bolton Business Awards. Joanna is CEO of 5Thread, a consultancy company specialising in sports, apparel and education founded on five key principles of circularity, inclusivity, partnerships, transformation and leadership.

With over 20 years of international experience, Joanna has managed global sourcing strategy and innovation departments for some of the world’s largest apparel brands. Working across every part of the product development and production process she has extensive hands-on industry insight into systems change which she uses to support organisations’ transition towards more circular business models.

Joanna works with clients including global brands, sports governing bodies, independent education providers and innovation and research-led brands to support them in implementing sustainable practices through education, collaboration and innovative proof of concepts.

She is also a doctoral researcher on circular economy at Loughborough University.

Cherie Hall (née Cunningham, Class of 2005)

Cherie is the Channel Director for the TV channel Dave, and has recently ordered a new TV series featuring Old Boy Ralf Little (Class of 1998) and fellow actor Will Mellor. Will and Ralf Should Know Better will follow the two friends as they journey around the UK getting to grips with the modern world.

Each episode will see the pair embark on encounters and challenges that will test their attitudes on everything from facing their fear of aging, to discovering

the perils of living off-grid with no toilet paper. Viewers will be privy to all the action alongside the fly-on-the-wall intimate conversations that only two best mates could have.

Cherie says: “Will Mellor and Ralf Little are two hugely beloved stars whose friendship and warmth is incredibly genuine. I’m excited to bring these two Northerners to the Dave audience later this year!” The series will air in the Autumn.

Class of 2010-2019

Christie O’Connell

(Class of 2016)

Christie invited Old Boy Hadley Stewart (Class of 2014) to The Inner Temple and LGBTQ+ Society Dinner in June. As features editor at Vada Magazine, an LGBTQ+ digital publication, Hadley interviewed Christie earlier this year about her career as a family law barrister in London and LGBTQ+ visibility at the Bar. In addition to her work as a barrister, Christie is also a committee member of FreeBar, a network aiming to foster inclusion and support for LGBTQ+ people working as and with barristers.

Class of 2020 onwards

Millie Hurt

(Class of 2020)

Congratulations to Millie who has won Female Scholar Athlete of the Year at Florida Institute of Technology. This award recognises the university’s top female studentathlete for their combined performances in the athletic realm and academically.

Caroline and her brother

Hadley and Christie attended the The Inner Temple and LGBTQ+ Society Dinner

Friends for 30 Years!

A group of school friends from the Class of 2001 recently got together to celebrate having known each other for three decades – they met when they started Bolton School and are delighted that they are still connected!

Mini Reunions

Together after 62 Years!

Students’ Holiday Toast

A group of Old Girls and Old Boys from the Class of 2022, plus partners, met up in Manchester during their university holidays. The group enjoyed dinner and drinks, taking advantage of the Development Team’s generous ‘University Drinks’ offer – see page 31 for details.

The friends bid bon voyage to Summer as she prepared to travel to America for her year abroad.

Despite vowing to stay in touch when they left School in 1962, keeping those vows wasn’t as easy as it has been for the generations growing up with mobile phones and access to a variety of social media options. However, by dint of ‘snail mail’, eventually email, and latterly such things as WhatsApp messages, Liz Carr (née Sawtell), Nancy Federlein (née Smith) and Carol Taylor have stayed in continual contact for over six decades.

The three have all visited each other separately on both sides of the Pond on a number of occasions (Nancy lives in New York and Carol in Boston) and have shared career updates and family news throughout the years. However, realising they were all approaching their milestone 80th birthdays this year, special efforts were made to reunite, and Liz travelled to New York to stay with Nancy and her husband Jerry for a week, with a get-together with Carol in Mystic, Connecticut – for the first time in 62 years they were actually all together in the same place!

L-R: Carol, Nancy and Liz relished their get-together

Catch-up Cocktails

Summer Kay, Glory Steer and Victoria Cook (all Class of 2022) caught up over cocktails at the Blues Kitchen in Manchester.

Victoria is in her second year studying Medicine at UEA, Glory is studying Accounting and Finance at Worcester and has now embarked on a placement year and Summer is studying Economics and Management at St Andrews and is now enjoying a year of study abroad at the University of Virginia. It was their first get-together in a year, so there were lots of life updates to discuss!

Summer, Glory and Victoria took advantage of the Development Team’s offer to contribute to University Drinks – see page 31 for details

Class of 1992 Reunion

After months of planning by key members of the Class of 1992, the much-anticipated reunion of that year group took place in May.

Over 70 Old Girls and Old Boys gathered in Manchester under the pretext of celebrating their 50th birthdays, but the focus was definitely on reuniting with classmates and reminiscing about their days at Bolton School. Despite 32 years passing since their School days, everyone had a great time sharing old memories and rekindling old friendships – so much so that they have committed to arranging future get-togethers every four to five years.

If you are Class of 1992 and would like to be included in future reunions, please contact the Development Office to be connected to the organisers.

Before the big night, a group of 1992ers kicked off the trip down Memory Lane with a visit to School.

L-R: Glory, Victoria and Summer had plenty to chat about!

L-R: Pippa Newton, Lauren Alergant, Victoria Duffy (née Kelly) Victoria Robinson, Jenny Simpson (née Salerno), Urna Chatterjee (née Guha)

L-R: Joanna Binns (née Chant), Miles Lord, David Bridgford, Adam Crook, Louise Whittock (née Whitelaw), Julie Scott (née Heaton), Andrew McKenzie, Abha Larsen (née Mangrolia)

Graduations Galore

Congratulations to all Old Girls who have graduated this Summer! Good luck and best wishes to you all as you take the next steps in your careers.

Halima Warraich

(Class of 2018)

Halima graduated from the University of Leeds where she studied Medicine and Surgery MBChB. In August she began her job as a Foundation Year 1 doctor in the North West.

Aaliyah Ascroft

(Class of 2019)

Aaliyah has graduated from the University of Glasgow with a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) degree in Mechanical Engineering. This accomplishment marks the culmination of five years of hard work, including a year’s placement at Williams Racing.

Aaliyah is thrilled to be returning to Williams Racing as a Mechanical Design Engineer; she is excited to embrace this new challenge and see where the next few years take her.

Kathryn Austin

(Class of 2019)

Kathryn graduated with a Master’s degree in Publishing from Manchester Metropolitan University and is very proud to have been awarded a Distinction.

She is currently enjoying her first role as the editor and designer of a new children’s book series, and is excited for what the future holds!

Subhiksha Loganathan

(Class of 2019)

Subhi has graduated with an MBBS degree from Newcastle University. In August she returned to the North West to work as a Foundation Doctor.

Abigail Shaw

(Class of 2019)

Abby has graduated from Newcastle University with a 2:1 in BSc (Hons) Economics and Business Management with Placement. She played for with the Newcastle University Women’s Rugby Union and Business School Netball teams.

After finishing her studies, Abby was fortunate to travel independently to Indonesia and Sri Lanka. She is now settling in to her role as Operations Analyst at BNY.

Isabel

Pillar (Class of 2019)

Isabel studied an integrated Master’s degree in Biochemistry (MBiochem) at the University of York and graduated in July with a 2:1. She has thoroughly enjoyed university and is grateful for the lessons she has learned, great friends she has met and memories she has made during her time at York. While she is still exploring her career options, she is looking forward to seeing what the future will hold!

Antigone Blackwell

(Class of 2020)

Antigone has graduated from The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama (RWCMD) jazz course with a First Class Honours degree. She also received the inaugural jazz prize. In fact, she was the only undergraduate jazz trombonist they had had in 14 years! Antigone is now working full-time as the Students’ Union President at RWCMD, as well as continuing with her music career, gigging around the UK with various bands.

Nichayolanda Hughes (Class of 2020)

Yolanda has graduated from the University of Liverpool with a First Class Honours degree in Law with a Year Abroad (LLB) – she spent her year abroad in The Netherlands.

Post-graduation, Yolanda intends to sit her SQE exams this upcoming academic year in Manchester with a view to securing a training contract at a corporate/commercial law firm.

Santina Hundle (Class of

2020)

Santina has graduated from the University of Liverpool with a Masters of Earth Science (MESci) in Geology and Physical Geography. Her degree included a semester exchange studying at Curtin University in Perth, Australia. She is now employed as an Offshore Geotechnical Engineer at Gardline in Norfolk, working on energy projects such as the development of offshore wind farms in the North Sea.

Zakia Herez (Class of 2021)

Zakia has graduated from the University of Salford with First Class Honours in Biomedical Science.

Matches and Hatches

Imogen Johnson-Ormston

(née Ormston, Class of 2015)

On 12th August 2023 Imogen married Alex Johnson (Class of 2015) at Astley Bank, Darwen. A number of Old Girls and Boys were amongst the guests celebrating with them on their special day. Florence Wu (Class of 2015) was one of the Bridesmaids. Imogen and Alex met at Bolton School in 2012. They now live together in Hertfordshire where Alex is an engineering project manager and Imogen is a principal statistician in the civil service.

Natasha Martindale (née Lomas, Class of 2014)

Congratulations to Natasha who married Old Boy David Martindale (Class of 2014) on 20th July. The couple met at School in the Senior Concert Band in 2008 and have been together since December 2010, so it meant a lot to them to spend their special day in the place they met ten years after they had left! Old Girls and Old Boys in attendance were: Olivia Edwards and Claire Ross (bridesmaids), Alex Lowe, Jonny Alexander and Lewis Linaker (all Class of 2014), and Matthew Wharmby (Class of 2009) who now teaches at the same school as Dave.

Eleanor Woolhouse

(née Winters, Class of 2014)

Congratulations to Eleanor who married George Woolhouse in Charlwood, Surrey on 5th August 2023. The couple, who met at university in Durham, celebrated with many Bolton School friends: Adam Greenhalgh, Ellie Pickard, Emma Spenceley, Ian Winstanley, Georgie Nicol, Jennifer Pearson, Jess Ryan and Millie Camm (all Class of 2014).

Rachel Baldwin

(née Metcalfe, Class of 2017)

Congratulations to Rachel who, after meeting at University, married Adam Baldwin at Colshaw Hall, Cheshire.

Amongst the many guests enjoying crazy golf on the day were Old Girls Emma Metcalfe (2014), Megan Booth (2015), Fiona Hazlitt (2017) and Zoe Stirzaker (2017) and Old Boys Sam Booth (2009) and Dylan Feingold (2018).

Eleanor Senior-Wignall

(née Senior, Class of 2012)

Congratulations to Eleanor who married Hugh at Ellesmere College in Shropshire on 30th March. Fellow Old Girl Ruby Bai (also Class of 2012) was one of the Bridesmaids.

Jennifer

Saunders (née Pearson, Class of 2014)

Jennifer married Matthew Saunders on 10th May 2024 at Kin House in Wiltshire. The couple met whilst both studying Medicine at Cardiff University. Jennifer’s bridesmaids were her sister Helena Bertuello (née Pearson, Class of 2011) and Bolton School friends Georgina Nicol, Ellie Pickard, Jessica Ryan, Emma Spenceley and Eleanor Woolhouse (née Winters) (all Class of 2014). They had a wonderful day and Jennifer is very grateful for the friendships she made at Bolton School.

Claudia Turner (Class of 2015)

Congratulations to Claudia and her partner, Tom Wright (Class of 2016), who welcomed Zachary Joseph Wright into the world on 13th December 2023.

Sarah Hunt

(née Richards, Class of 2015)

Sarah married Francis on 8th June 2024 at Gosfield Hall, with her family from Ireland and his family from Singapore. It truly was the happiest day of their lives! They then spent three weeks in Costa Rica for their honeymoon, doing a lot of adventure sports: zip lining, quad biking, surfing, snorkelling, white water rafting etc!

The couple got married ten years after meeting at Durham Ancient Greek Summer School in 2014. Sarah went on the summer school during her Year 12 Summer and it was all thanks to Mr Challinor and Mrs Partington instilling a love of the classical world in her which made her want to explore Ancient Greek with a view to doing it at university. They then both went on to complete degrees in Classics and Francis is now a Classics teacher at Manchester Grammar School – so their school beginnings are still very much with them!

FROM THE ARCHIVES

How has Netball Developed at Bolton School?

It is not clear when Netball was first played at Bolton School, but the first reports were in the 1912-13 School Magazine. Miss Spafford had been appointed Games Mistress in the Summer of 1910 and it may well be that she was the catalyst for introducing Netball to the curriculum. Educated at Manchester High School and Bedford Physical Training College, Miss Spafford was a keen suffragette, but Miss Dymond (Headmistress, 1893-1919) did not approve of militant suffragettes and Miss Spafford had to sign an agreement that she would do nothing militant at Bolton before her appointment could be confirmed. She left in 1915, but remained in contact with School and came to the Centenary celebrations in 1977.

The first recorded game was a 1514 victory by the senior team away to Manchester High School in October 1912 and the first match against the Old Girls took place two months later, with School winning 19-1. In the same season they also beat Altrincham by no less than 41-0. Both Senior and Junior teams wore dark red belts with a black stripe down the centre and black buckles, the gift of Miss Dymond.

Whether coached by Miss Spafford, Miss Waddington, who arrived in 1915, or Miss Bishop, who arrived to teach Physical Education in 1920, the girls were invariably enthusiastic, but, despite their best efforts, the School did not win the Manchester and District Netball Rally until 1938, when the Junior VII shared the Shield after drawing 9-all with Blackburn High in the Final. The Senior VII then came to the fore in the years following the War when they won the Manchester Rally in each of 1948, 1949 and 1950.

The School continued to perform well locally and regionally, but an appearance at the National Finals continued to elude them until 1974-75 when the Senior VII, captained by Mary Shaw, qualified to represent the North West in the Finals at Nottingham. They won seven out of eight matches, losing only to Croydon, the eventual winners. Having waited so long to reach the Finals they repeated the feat in 1975-76, captained by Judith Deledicq (née Waddington, Class of 1976), only to lose by the narrow margin of one goal to Billinge Comprehensive.

In 2004, 100 years after the first recorded Netball match in the School Magazine, Bolton School finally became National Champions for the first time when the U14 team were victorious at the Manchester Velodrome. The team went onto to reach the National finals again in Bournemouth in 2006 as U16s. They narrowly missed out on a third National final appearance as U18s in 2008, losing by the narrow margin of one goal at the reginal finals in Cumbria. The team comprised Sophie Hubbard (née Barnett), Charlotte Brabbin, Harriet Lewis (née Bradley), Olivia Edmondson, Zoe Lomax, April Pilling, Katherine Pilling and Emily Sinclair (all Class of 2008).

The Netball team first ventured abroad during half-term in October 1997 when they made a highly successful trip to Malta. Meanwhile they have been far more adventurous. Four years later, in 2001 16 girls and three members of staff, all wearing red t-shirts and blue tracksuit bottoms, set off from Manchester Airport on a joint Netball/Lacrosse tour for a somewhat more distant destination: Australia! Matches were played in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. Having got the taste for long-haul tours, the Netball team, accompanied by Mrs Kathryn Heatherington and Mrs Margaret McCulloch, then embarked first upon a tour to Barbados in 2003 and then a joint Netball and Lacrosse Tour to Canada in 2011. The Canadian party comprised 18 girls, plus Mrs Heatherington and Miss Andrea Donaghy, and Netball matches were played against teams from Vancouver, Vancouver Island and Seattle.

For very many years the School has not only dominated Bolton netball, but also been a significant power in the broader region. It is not surprising therefore that this success has resulted in numerous girls being selected to represent regional teams. Bolton girls now regularly appear not only for Greater Manchester, but also for Lancashire and Cheshire and, in more recent years, Manchester Thunder. Mrs Heatherington notes that Greater Manchester County is renowned for being the strongest county nationally, so even our more successful teams have found it difficult to progress past the preliminary round of the national schools’ competition, where the standard is fiercely competitive. Netball is certainly thriving at Bolton School and we look forward to the day when the Senior VII emulate the 2004 success of the U14 VII and become National Champions!

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.

Barbados Team, 2004

Netball team, 1947/48

Senior Lacrosse and Netball Teams before tour to Canada, 2011

U15/U16 Squad, Malta, 1997

Winners of National Netball Finals. 2004

Thank you to June Mellor (née Allen, Class of 1954) for this photo of the 1952-53 Tennis Team. Back, L-R: June Allen, XXXX, Kathleen Trustram (née Johnson). Front, L-R: XXXX, Yvonne Lowe (née Conroy), Audrey Hollingsworth (née Ashworth). The unnamed girls were in the year below – if you can identify them, we’d love to hear from you!

Junior Girls’ Science Club, 2004

A Level results day, 2006

Hogwarts-themed last day, 2013

Alumni Dinner, March 2006

6 In the previous edition we invited readers to name the Old Girls in this photo from c. 1952 – thank you to Kathleen Trustram (née Johnson, Class of 1955) for identifying Sheila and Shelagh! L-R: Sheila Whitelegg, XXXX, XXXX, Mary Monks, Christine Williamson, XXXX, June Mellor, Shelagh Hough, Pauline Hark, Sylvia Thornton – can you fill in the remaining gaps?

Miss Drury with Beech House pupils in 1947. Identified so far are (alphabetically): Tessa Bannister, Anne Blower, Roger Falmer, Steven Jary, James Kearsley, Pat Leather, Janet Monks, Katherine Mottershead, Malcolm Stevens, William Stevenson, Carl Walker, Carol Watkiss, Derek Wild, Jim Wolfenden. If anyone can name any of the others, please get in touch!

Top Teachers

On World Teacher Day 2024 we asked: “Which teacher do you still talk about and credit to helping shape your life in some way?” – and our social media channels were buzzing with names! Here is a selection of your appreciative comments:

“Mrs Hughes teaching us about climate change, recycling and sustainability well ahead of her time.”

“Madame Hutchings made me stay for extra French lessons at lunch which clearly worked as I got an A*!”

“My all-time favourite teacher was the inspirational Mrs Head who I was lucky enough to have teach me for seven years and who I still bump into on occasion!”

“Mrs Greenhalgh for RE and Philosophy: she was the first person to challenge my religious beliefs and, although I didn’t appreciate it at the time, that caused me to examine and evaluate what I truly believe in, allowing me to be confident in those beliefs today.”

“Tricia Keenan helped grow my understanding of the wider world; Margaret Long and Paul Blissett fed my love of music.”

“Pat Fairweather and Sheila Monks taught me about the importance of self-belief.”

“Marion Corkill’s and Miss Walker’s quiet gentleness helped me understand the importance of kindness.”

“I would love Bobby Georghiou to know that I am now a Head of English – and that my love of learning from inspiring women led me into a long and rewarding career in education.”

“Mrs Garthwaite’s A Level French classes – the debates we had on some really obscure topics which beggar belief really!”

“Mrs Tankard hands down shaped me into the person I am today.”

“My love for all things Roman started from Mrs Partington and then Dr Pratt (RIP) took it to another level.”

“Miss Rich was one of my favourite teachers – she believed in me, and in my ability, as well as hosting interesting discussions about books, and she also had a lovely sense of humour. Mrs Todd was also a fabulous English teacher – she was critical in a way which drove me to improve on my comprehension skills. Mrs Carr was wonderful - quiet and modest in her demeanour, but brought history to life in a sharp and contemporary way.”

“Mrs Parker, who inspired me to love cooking and baking.”

“Mrs Bell who captured me from the first opening evening with the subject of Psychology ... something that I’ve succeeded well in as a profession.”

“Mr Eccles – the reason I became an English teacher.”

“Elsie Addison/Peel has been a lifelong friend. I became a languages teacher due to her influence. Ann Conway inspired me in lacrosse. Weren’t we so blessed to belong to an inspirational school?”

“Mrs Heap has stayed with me and her lesson on women voting. I have never missed an opportunity to vote and my daughters have had the same message.”

“Miss Winfield whose reenactment of the Armada with pencil cases still lives with me.”

“Miss Falla used to scare life out of me, but maths was my strongest subject and a work life in finance followed.”

“Mrs Hall (dared to wear trousers in the Girls’ Division), Miss Dickinson (had us doing Wake and Shake before maths lessons years before it was a ‘thing’), Mrs Long (bringing about the ‘whoosh’ of rush bottom chairs with a single gesture), Mrs Spurr (keep your dignity, deadlines and decorum) – so many more amazing teachers without whom we would not have the love of learning we have now.”

“Mrs Thompson who lit my interest in history; Mrs Sylvester, who fostered my love of cookery and baking.”

“Miss Higginson was amazing. The original women’s libber! She believed all her girls were equal to men and if any old girl graduated in a male-dominated subject we all gave a rousing cheer in assembly!”

“Having struggled with Maths in my first year (1953), Marjorie Jackson arrived as a newly qualified teacher. She just ‘clicked’ with me and I’ve retained my love of maths (especially algebra) ever since.”

“So ahead of her time with her marvellous teaching of French, Miss Bowman unwittingly inspired my life where France and the beautiful French language became the other half of me and my family and friends.”

Miss Windle who never taught me, but still made an impression.”

There were also shout-outs to: Mrs Amara-Korba, Mrs Baldwin, Dr Brown, Miss Bruce, Mrs Case, Miss Chignell, Miss Donaghy, Mrs Fell, Mrs Fisher, Mrs Foster, Miss Harvatt, Mrs Haslam, Mrs Hayes, Mrs Heatherington, Miss Johnson, Miss Littlefair/Mrs Ward, Mrs McCann, Mrs Millington, Miss Morley, Mrs (Madame) Patterson, Miss Plant, Mr Rigby, Mrs Smalley, Miss Smith, Mrs Sutcliffe and Mrs Wallwork –thank you to all of our inspirational teachers, past and present!

Memories

Early Influences

Hazel Faulkner (Class of 1965) has been an environmental researcher for over 50 years. She is now a Professor in Flood Risk Science and Management at Middlesex University.

At Bolton School, a primary influence was the bouncy new Geography teacher, Pamela Adams – a great model for all in the 1964/65 year group. Hazel notes that: “An incident occurred recently that made me realise how profoundly influenced I have been all my life by the progressive grounding I was able to benefit from at Bolton School. From the teaching and ethos of the School, I was made aware that I had my own future in my hands, and that the skills to make this happen would be

Happy Memories!

coming from the grounding that the school gave me. This was helped by the fact that a strong, rather feminist aunt of mine – Margaret Faulkner – taught Domestic Science in the Girls’ Division. In the late 1950s and early 60s it was quite unusual for women to see themselves this way, and to be honest my parents were not really ready for me to be so opinionated! But it was, nevertheless, a useful and important early feminist grounding. Thank you!”

Betty Alden (née Coward, Class of 1958) recognised a number of her contemporaries in the Looking Back feature in the Spring edition.

the

of

on

Second row up: far left is Susan Williams (who later became Head Girl), next is Valerie Hill, then Lorna Gerrard and Margaret Holmes (married name Likierman). Sixth from left on that row is Suzanne Crawford.

Third row up: second left is (Betty thinks) Alison Lomax, next to her is Margaret Russell (who is married to Philip Ashworth (Boys’ Division, Class of 1956 and School Captain).

Third row from top: far left is Kathleen Johnson and far right is, Betty thinks, Jean Howarth.

If any readers can identify other Old Girls in the photograph, please get in touch with the Development Office.

In

photo

Mendip House, Betty identifies the staff

the front row as (on the left) Miss Walsh (Geography), (in the centre) Miss Faulkner (Domestic Science), Miss Mott and Miss Woodhead (Scripture).

LIVES REMEMBERED

Joyce Carswell (née Band, Class of 1957)

My sister, Joyce, was born in Towneley on 30th April 1939 and grew up in Smithills.

Luxuries were in short supply, obviously, in World War Two, but when our uncle was married, Joyce (aged two) was a bridesmaid and went round to all the guests saying, “I washed my hands with

Air raids were frequent and Joyce remembered seeing Manchester on fire from her bedroom window.

Joyce went to Church Road Primary School. She was a bright child, and aged 11 she won a scholarship to Bolton School. At 18 she decided to apply to Battersby Training College for Domestic Science. She accepted a place and moved to London. She enjoyed the buzz of living there, and joined the Goldsmiths’ Choral Union as she had a lovely contralto voice. She taught at Kidbrook Comprehensive School.

And so, to 1992: John had just got a First Class Honours Degree in Business Studies at Edinburgh University with a job lined up at Peat Marwick & Mitchell. He decided to take a gap year in Nepal, involving taking people on treks and white water rafting in the Himalayas.

Tragically he never arrived. His PIA Airbus crashed into the side of a mountain on the approach to Katmandu. There were no survivors. Joyce was a mentally strong person, stoic and pragmatic, but her fortitude could not prevent John’s death reverberating for the rest of her life. In Ann’s view it contributed to her breast cancer in the years immediately following and to her more recent dementia.

On a happier note, Ann met Gus at Aberdeen University and they married in 2007. They have two children, Alasdair and Louise, who were devoted to their Granny.

In Ann’s words: “Dementia took the woman Joyce was ahead of time, but she remained a true treasure as a person. As the illness took hold and she couldn’t communicate verbally, she continued to charm all around her. This is the person we’ll continue to cherish and remember. She was a wonderful, loving, caring, considerate and amazing Mum, Granny, friend and neighbour.”

We will miss her.

Susan Seely (née Band, Class of 1964)

However, a wider world beckoned and upon finding that her skills were in demand in Canada, she promptly got herself a job teaching Home Economics in Montreal. She sailed from Liverpool in 1964. Her future husband, Scott, stepped aboard in Greenock!

In 1965 Joyce and her friend, Brenda, drove 3,000 miles across North America and back. Their VW Beatle just made it!

In 1967 I visited Joyce, and we went to Expo 67, Niagara and Prince Edward Island, the inspiration for Anne of Green Gables, Joyce’s favourite book. Joyce married in 1968 at Smithills Hall Chapel which she and I attended, finally settling in Edinburgh.

John was born in 1970 and Ann in 1973. Joyce taught Home Economics and then went into Language Support at Balwearie High School, Fife. Her colleague and friend, Peter, spoke of her “wisdom, patience and gentle good humour”, along with her excellent rapport with the pupils.

Kathleen Dick

(nee Whalley, Class of 1951)

Kathleen was born in March 1933 and after primary school at a local school in Horwich, she joined Bolton School.

Her two sisters also came to the School: Jean Whalley (Class of 1952) and Heather Whalley (Class of 1953). Kathleen loved School – she was very academic and also played lacrosse.

Kathleen was very proud to have been at Bolton School. She spoke of it often, saying what a wonderful place it was to develop as an individual. She was very proud to have been Head Girl.

At the age of 17 Kathleen wanted the morning off to take her driving test. She had to go directly to the Headmistress to ask permission as it wasn’t normal for women or girls to drive. The Headmistress’ response was: “Why on earth would you want to be able to drive? However, I suppose I will allow you to on this occasion.” Presumably during the following two years she had similar requests from her two sisters who would also be taking their driving tests! They were daughters of a very forward-thinking mother, who herself had been a very successful, independent career women before marriage.

As Kathleen was Head Girl, it apparently should have followed that she took up a place at one of the Oxbridge Colleges that was reserved for the Head Girl at Bolton School. However, as she had not studied Latin during her early years at School she was not able to take up the place as, in those days, knowledge of Latin was a precursor. Instead, she went on to read Geography at St Mary’s College at Durham University and had a fabulous time there.

After university, she worked for Thomas Hedley Pharmaceuticals (subsequently bought out by Procter & Gamble) in their Market Research Department. It was early days of this type of work and she travelled independently in her company car across the whole of the UK. She had many funny stories of the reactions in hotels as to why a single woman was travelling alone and staying in hotels.

Kathleen left formal work when she got married. She met George Dick in Newcastle upon Tyne where she worked – he was working there for the Foreign Office building infrastructure and roads across the virgin bush – and she followed him to Nigeria. It was a very unique way to start married life: a tent in the bush, a day’s drive from the nearest town.

Kathleen was a very keen and accomplished seamstress, tailor and knitter. She made many wedding dresses and suits for all sorts. She also knitted fantastic knitwear which was sold in high-end boutiques across Leicestershire. On her death, a number of her items were taken by the Leicestershire Museums Fashion Department to add to the permanent collection.

The house and garden were her domain, but she ventured into other areas of paid

LIVES REMEMBERED

and volunteer work, including teaching Geography and TEFL, helping with women’s domestic abuse organisations and Riding for the Disabled, and childminding. She lived a very full life and was very interested in many things. She died peacefully in October 2023 after a short illness. She had two sons and a daughter, four grandsons and three granddaughters. Mum left a quite incredible legacy.

Peta Houlden (daughter)

Margaret Isobel Lindsay (née Walton, Class of 1953)

Margaret Isobel Lindsay was born on 1st December 1934 in Beverley, Yorkshire, to Ivy and Fred Walton. Mum worked as a midwife, while Dad was manager of a leather warehouse.

Four years later, along came a sister, Katherine. The family moved to Affetside, where Dad became a market gardener, growing all his own produce. A man of many talents, he created a tennis court for the two girls, as he was an accomplished player himself.

Their next move was to Rose Cottage in Riding Gate, Harwood, where they remained for some years. Margaret joined Bolton School in 1946, having earned a scholarship, one of the first girls do so. It was there she developed her love of music, singing, viola and needlework.

After leaving School, Margaret went on to college and later took up a position at Derby Street School in Bolton, teaching singing, piano and needlework. At this time, she also took up private singing lessons with Margaret Collier and performed many concerts and recitals all over the North West. She met her husbandto-be at Scottish dancing classes and on 27th February 1960 at Christ Church, Harwood, she married Harold Lindsay who worked as an architect with Bradshaw, Gass & Hope and who later became a partner with the firm.

After a time, Margaret decided to leave her teaching post at Derby Street to teach singing privately at The Bungalow on Tottington Road, Harwood, where she spent most of her life, and where many had the privilege of being taught by her (sitting on the huge orange sofa, with Harold

bringing in the tea and biscuits!). Margaret endeavoured to cure her pupils of all their bad habits – and if they had not practised enough, she would know! She was a great believer in pushing her pupils forward to gain confidence in singing with choirs and societies and, in particular, performing solo work.

Margaret made a huge contribution to local music. She participated in many concerts at Tottington Road Methodist Church, where she also led the church choir and played the organ, and was the founder of the highlyregarded performing arts group, Opera 74. She worked tirelessly for her animal charities and loved Bolton Wanderers. She also loved her garden, spending many happy hours there. Margaret had many rescue dogs throughout her life and latterly became the proud owner of a Labrador named Sandy (she didn’t care much for small dogs!).

Sadly, Harold passed away in 2014 and Margaret felt she needed to downsize. She moved just down the hill to Parkdene Close where she remained until moving to spend her final days at Strathmore Nursing Home, passing away peacefully on 4th February this year aged 89.

Margaret is remembered as an inspiration, a mentor and a wonderfully kind and caring person, but most of all as a dear friend who will never be forgotten.

Jane Evans (lifelong friend)

Margaret was a very well-known and well-loved local professional singer (mezzo-soprano) who was very popular on the regional music scene, entertaining at concerts, midday regional and choral societies.

She was my singing teacher for many years, encouraging me to study for Associated Board of Music exams, entering me in music festivals, putting me in the chorus of Opera 74 and then casting me in principal roles.

In 1974, with fellow musician and pianist Michael Greenhalgh, she had established a chamber opera group, starting with Orfeo and The Coronation of Poppea at Bolton Little Theatre, before moving to the Albert Halls with The Tales of Hoffmann.

She performed many of the principal roles, notably ‘Carmen’ and ‘Countess’ (Marriage of Figaro). Several Old Girls were involved in Opera 74 – me, Carolyn Sutcliffe (Class of 1976) and Marjorie Sims (Class of 1960).

Margaret loved many home activities, especially gardening and cooking. Her suppers for her ‘Pupils’ Parties’ were legendary for the number of dishes and cakes made!

As she requested no funeral, her many pupils and friends met for an informal memorial gathering on 8th May 2024 to celebrate her wonderful, inspirational life.

Jennifer Lee (neé Rogers, Class of 1967)

Dr Eric Pratt (Girls’ Division Staff, 1992-1997)

Eric joined Bolton School from Westminster School, London, where he was Head of Classics and, in his second year at Bolton, he was appointed Head of Department, a role he fulfilled with characteristic dedication and commitment.

As a Sixth Form Tutor and Year Tutor, Eric assisted and guided students and carried considerable administrative responsibilities. He taught Latin and Greek throughout the School and A Level Classical Civilisation to students from both Divisions. He commanded the respect and affection of both his colleagues and students. His pupils appreciated and responded to his scholarly approach, knowledge and deep love of his subject – as well as his wonderful sense of humour. They also enjoyed extending their studies through organised visits to places such as Bath and Hadrian’s Wall and through the opportunity to see performances of Greek plays.

Helen Mary Shipperbottom (née Walmsley, Class of 1947)

Helen attended Bolton School from Beech House through to the Sixth Form.

She always spoke fondly of School and had many strong friendships from those happy times. A keen sportswoman, she played in the lacrosse team and later represented her college, she also achieved first couple for tennis in her last year at School. She was proud and delighted to be a School Prefect.

Helen partnered Kathleen Bowman in the senior tennis team

Following School Helen attended the Gloucester College of Domestic Science and gained her teaching qualifications. She then taught in both Bury and Bolton.

Helen married Old Boy Roy Shipperbottom (Class of 1945) in 1953 and they had a long and happy marriage – they were able to celebrate 70 years together last year.

A passionate golfer, Helen was known to many in Bolton and Lancashire golf circles. She was also an active member of Ladies Circle and Tangent. Holidays were often taken in Austria and Switzerland to follow the passion for walking which Helen and Roy shared; they continued to walk regularly in the Lake District until her last few years.

During the 1970s and 1980s Helen was Secretary of the Old Girls’ Association, attending functions and encouraging leavers to stay in touch with School and each other via the Association. She was proud to have a daughter and granddaughter who followed in her footsteps through Bolton School. She continued to keep strong ties with School and school friends, still attending Old Girls’ lunches up until last year at the age of 93.

Helen died peacefully aged 94. She was much loved and leaves a large family of four generations.

Jill Boot (née Shipperbottom, Class of 1978)

(Judith) Claire Winnick

(née Warburton, Class of 1962)

Claire, daughter of Florence and George Warburton, was born in Farnworth in 1943.

She gained a scholarship to Bolton School in 1955 and embarked on a life that was always involved with education.

She enjoyed School, played violin in the orchestra and sang with the various choirs. After A Levels she followed in her mother’s footsteps to Homerton College, Cambridge and then taught in Duxford and Leeds, but in 1972 took time out from teaching to do a degree in Geography at Durham University.

It was here that she met her future husband, Chris Winnick. They both pursued careers in teaching until the birth of their two daughters, Rachel and Helen, and were then based for many happy years on the borders of Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire. It was only in 2010 that they retired and returned north to Claire’s ‘spiritual home’. She had always loved the outdoor life, had become a Queen’s Guide whilst still at School and had spent many holidays youth hostelling and fell walking in the Lakes with family and friends. In retirement her parents had also moved to the Winster valley, so it was to these roots that she and Chris returned. They settled in Kendal, closer to her brother, John, and sister, Margaret, and surrounded by the things she loved, the countryside and the mountains. Here she had time to renew her love of art and literature and to support Chris in organising numerous and various natural history field trips, including courses for Butterfly Conservation at Higham Hall. This was how I came to know and admire Claire, through a common interest in the natural world: bluebells at Barkbooth, birdsong in the Duddon Valley, school, teaching, Wordsworth, Bolton, wildflowers, coffee, cake and so much more.

Claire was a Quaker, a supporter of ‘churches together’ and a life-long pacifist. She was very committed to family life and to her four young grandchildren, but she always had time for those of us lucky enough to become her friends. She is much missed.

Chris Winnick and Lynn Seddon (née Tate, Class of 1969)

Claire was a faithful, loyal mother, grandmother, student, teacher and friend. Her much-loved siblings, the late John, and Margaret (Briggs, Class of 1963), were also former pupils of Bolton School.

In Memoriam

Their late parents had a second home in Crosthwaite, near Kendal, in what was then the county of Westmorland.

Claire’s love of the outdoor life was engendered in that kind of environment, Claire’s increasing knowledge of the natural being cultivated partly through her love of the Lake District – shared, of course, with her dear husband, Chris. Their joint fund of information and enthusiasm has been passed on to so many people.

In addition, Claire used – in very modest ways – her considerable artistic talent to significant effect. She worked in a variety of media, producing impressive results. Her use of watercolour has been especially sensitive. Ever ready to attend exhibitions, galleries, places of artistic interest, Claire would invariably cast a discerning and appreciative eye over art on display.

Latterly, when in any physical difficulty, Claire never complained. She always put others before herself and so often demonstrated a wry sense of humour in situations that could cause most people to react very differently.

It has been a privilege to have spent time with Claire and with Chris, to have shared outdoor holidays, to have witnessed the depth of her artistic achievements and, importantly, to have experienced at first hand her unique gentle, kind, patient approach to life.

Janet Hathaway (Class of 1966)

Jean Aldred (Girls’ Division Staff, 1977-1992) - Died 17th April 2024

Pauline Coulthwaite (née Hark, Class of 1954) - Died 12th June 2024

Susan Critchley (née Howard, Class of 1963) - Died 14th September 2024

Christine Cunningham (Girls’ Division Staff, 1988-2001) - Died 15th June 2024

Marjorie Olive Horrell, (née Jackson, Class of 1953) - Died 24th April 2024

Elaine Lashford (née Parker, Class of 1962) - Died 31st March 2024

(Dorothy) Barbara Laycock (née Ingham, Class of 1960) - Died October 2024

Susan Stanley (née Chapman, Class of 1974) - Died 22nd October 2024

Old Girls Association Spring Newsletter 2024

Members of the Class of 1994 at the ‘4’ Reunion in April this year:

Back, L-R: Catherine Rees (née Salmon), Sarah Finnigan (née Healey), Ann Marie Stamm (née Hutton), Elaine Barriball (née Roberts), Keely Guite,(née Rushmore), Alicia Coad (née Brogden), Tara Barley (née Mani), Rachel Gravell (née Fairhurst). Front, L-R: Antonia Klein (née Rumbelow), Marie Connor (née Seddon), Becca Hawkes (née Duerden), Amy Ward (née Wadsworth)