The
ISSUE 3 - Summer 2018
Birkonian newsletter
In this issue:
Upcoming events
Alan Rouse Blue Plaque
Graham Richards Honours
Careers Conferences
Staff retiring
Welcome!
In our last digital newsletter for this School year, I would like to thank you all for your encouraging comments and feedback for this new initiative which is proving popular and of interest. The School magazine, InFocus, containing the OBS Bulletin is due to be published in September. There have been a good number of additions this year, with the introduction of the Alumni Officer position in School, the new events calendar which hopes to encourage more diversity in its attendees, and also the increased careers provision which has been successful not least because of the support from Old Birkonians, for which we are extremely grateful. Please keep us informed of any contact changes so that we can keep in touch, and feel free to pass this on to those who may not be receiving our communications.
Carol Keegan Alumni Officer, Birkenhead School carol.keegan@birkenheadschool.co.uk @OldBirkonianSociety
www.obs.org.uk
@OldBirkonianSoc
Old Birkonians
Headmaster’s Drinks - Tap and Still Many thanks to all who turned out for the Headmaster’s Summer Drinks, which took place at the H1780 Tap and Still in Liverpool on Monday 2nd July. The fantastic weather and the central location ensured a good turn out, not least the enticement of a pint of Higsons or a sample of the brewery’s own Ginsmith gin and tonic. Young and not-so-young OBs, along with former and current staff members caught up with the latest news, and we were particularly encouraged by the offers of support for the upcoming engineering and technology conference to be held at School in January. Thanks also to OBs Stephen Crawley and Paul Briscoe from the Tap and Still for ensuring that we were all so well looked after. Future events are currently being planned, if anyone has any suggestions as to venue or area locations we would be interested to hear them!
The
Birkonian newsletter
ISSUE 3 - Summer 2018
Alan Rouse Blue Plaque Renowned mountaineer Alan Rouse (‘63-’70) who sadly died in 1986 during a perilous journey to climb the second highest peak in the world, the K2 in Asia, has had a memorial Blue Plaque installed in his honour.
were also present for the unveiling in June. The School is planning to create a feature display by the climbing wall in the sports hall to commemorate the life and significant impact Alan had on the climbing community during his life.
The plaque has been placed at The Breck in Wallasey where Alan is said to have first begun to learn to climb and where this love for the activity was fostered. Members of the Friends of The Breck have spent much time clearing and cleaning up the area, with ‘Granny’s Rock’ now in fantastic condition for future generations to enjoy. The Blue Plaque was funded by Conservation Areas Wirral, who worked with Wirral Council to arrange its production. Representatives from Alan’s climbing club, Gwydyr Mountain Club, as well as Old Birkonian Society and Birkenhead School members
Representatives from the Gwydyr Mountain Club and Wirral Council at the Blue Plaque unveiling
Graham Richards Honors Graham Richards (‘51-’58) has this year been elected to a Fellowship of The Royal Society and has received the 2018 Richard J. Bolte Sr. Award for Supporting Industries Following Birkenhead School, Graham read Chemistry at Brasenose College, Oxford, and subsequently spent his career at Oxford where he was Head of the Chemistry Department. He was also involved in the creation of spin-out companies, including being founder and chair of Oxford Drug Design. Graham was a pioneer in the field of computer-aided molecular design for industrial applications, particularly in pharmaceuticals. Graham helped found Oxford University Innovation, the university’s technology transfer company, and cofounded its first spin-off, the successful Oxford Molecular, which provided software to researchers. He also helped develop the company IP Group, where he was for a time chair and is now a venture partner.
In 2004 the American Chemical Society gave him its Award for Computers in Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research. In 2010 he was appointed as one of two vice presidents of the Royal Society of Chemistry and in 2011 elected as a fellow of the Learned Society of Wales. Graham is the author of 350 scientific articles and 20 books, and holds a DPhil from the University of Oxford. He was also OBS President in 2007 and 2008, Graham said, “I have much to thank the School for.”
Graham Richards
The
Birkonian newsletter
ISSUE 3 - Summer 2018
Heswall Golf Fantastic weather contributed to a hugely enjoyable round of golf being played at the Heswall Golf Club in June. The joint winners with 33 points were Jon Morgan and James Smethurst who were presented prizes at the end of the day. The great course and time for refreshments allowed for a pleasurable social occasion for golfers of all abilities.
The next golf event will be the Hoblyn Golf Trophy and Annual Dinner, held at the Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake on Friday 28th September. The golf will take place from 12pm to 2pm, with the dinner at 7pm. The cost is ÂŁ110, please contact Jim McGrath on golf@obs.co.uk for more information. Jim McGrath teeing off at Heswall
Charity Marathon Run As part of this year’s Old Birkonian Society Weekend in September, Sunday 9th will see members from the whole School community take part in the Wirral Half Marathon, starting from 9.30am in New Brighton. The School lost a very special young boy in September 2017 and many have chosen to run on behalf of the Krishan Patel Memorial Fund which will raise money towards a memorial and developing the play facilities at Little School, an area which Krishan loved. It is also hoped to make a donation to the Make a Wish Foundation. You can sign up to run at http://www.btrliverpool.com/ wirral-enter and let us know if you would
like to run Birkenhead!
with
Team
There is the option of running a 10k or the full half marathon. There is also a chance for the s er i ous ly de di ca t ed runner to take part in the Whistle Stop Tour of Wirral which comprises of 3 runs over 3 days. The Friday evening run from 7pm takes place at Arrowe Park for a 5 mile run, the S a t u r da y morning from 10am is at Thurstaston Country Park for 8 miles, and then the half marathon is joined on the Sunday. Good luck to all taking part!
You can also donate here: https : // mydo nate . bt.c o m/ fundraisers/paulvicars1
The
Birkonian newsletter
ISSUE 3 - Summer 2018
London Dinner - Thank You For the past 13 years we have been indebted to Andy Jones and Jon Bradshaw for organising our annual London Dinners for the Old Birkonian Society. Andy and Jon are now moving on from this role and we sincerely thank them for their time and commitment over the years. Some of the most notable evenings have been:
The Houses of Parliament with OB Karl McCartney MP as host (100+ attendees) The East India Club (with Frank Field MP as guest speaker) Many evenings at the Army & Navy, including the OB event with the first female attendees The Athenaeum, current Headmaster Paul Vicars’ first Dinner
Andy said, “It has been enormous fun and an honour to be able to keep such a tradition going. Jon and I have thoroughly enjoyed organising the London Dinner over the years, we have met some amazingly interesting people and over that time the feedback from the attendees has been very generous.”
This year’s London Dinner will take place on Friday 23rd November 2018 at The Swan restaurant, which is part of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre on the South Bank. The cost is £75 to include: a main course and dessert followed by cheese & biscuits, coffee or tea [the seasonal menu will be advised nearer the time], half a bottle of wine per person, and an optional guided tour of the Shakespeare Theatre beforehand. Partners are also welcome to attend.
The tour will take place from 6pm, with dinner at 7pm for 7.30pm. For more information visit: www.swanlondon.co.uk Numbers are limited and the majority of tickets have already been sold so please book your place as soon as possible to avoid disappointment by emailing carol.keegan@birkenheadschool.co.uk to receive payment information.
Old Birkonian Society Weekend Friday 7th September
6pm: Chapel Service, Chapel 6.30pm: Leaver's Presentation Evening, Bushell Hall
Saturday 8th September
10am: Netball, School Courts 10am: Hockey, MAC Field 10.30am to 12.15pm: Archives Open plus tours of the School, 44 Bidston Road 12.30pm: AGM, Meeting Room above Library 1.15pm: Lunch, Sixth Form Centre
(please confirm attendance for catering requirements to carol.keegan@birkenheadschool.co.uk by 25th August 2018, lunch is complimentary)
2.30pm: Lacrosse, Noctorum Field 2.30pm: Rugby, Noctorum Field 7pm: Annual OBS Dinner, Bushell Hall
(please book for the dinner via https://bookwhen.com/birkenheadschool by 25th August 2018. Tickets cost £35 for adults and £20 for students)
Sunday 9th September 9.30am: Wirral Half Marathon, New Brighton For more information visit www.birkenheadschool.co.uk/obs-weekend
The
Birkonian newsletter
ISSUE 3 - Summer 2018
Careers Conferences at Birkenhead School Birkenhead School’s first Healthcare Conference was held at the end of April, implemented to expand provision of careers advice concentrating on individual professional sectors. Students from Year 9 and above, along with alumni, were invited to attend the evening to gain insight from a wide range of representatives from the healthcare sector. A huge amount of voluntary support was made from the School community. The event was headed up by special guest, eminent physician and former Birkenhead School parent, Sir Ian Gilmore, who provided an inspiring keynote speech to start the proceedings. Presentations were then given from individuals who focussed on their roles and what their jobs entail. This was followed by an interactive debate on the future of the NHS. The lively debate progressed to the informal segment of the evening where students and their families were given the opportunity to ask advice from the array of professionals who had given their time to come and speak to them. Earlier in the day, younger members of Birkenhead School had also been given the chance to learn more about healthcare professions when they were visited by Tom from the Medical Mavericks. In his ‘Human Guinea Pig’ show
Tom brought along with him a variety of interactive tests and experiments used in the medical world and showed the different professionals who might use them, with the help of video footage. Year’s 5 to 8 were able to see a heartbeat monitor in use, take a photograph of the inside of their eye using an iPhone, and see the veins under their skin with an infra-red scanner. School will be holding an Engineering and Technology Conference on Monday 28th January 2019 and a Media and Arts Conference on Monday 29th April 2019, from 5.30pm to 8pm in Bushell Hall. Our aims for the conferences are to inspire our students and young alumni, and to potentially be able to offer them work experience, and university or apprenticeship application and interview guidance. We also hope to provide a networking opportunity for our community to come together and share ideas, as well as to encourage new business and professional contacts.
If you would like to attend or can offer your time to share advice and knowledge, please contact Carol Keegan via carol.keegan@birkenheadschool.co.uk or on 0151 651 3098.
Retiring staff
Dates for the Diary
With over 165 years of loyal Birkenhead School service, we are sad to say goodbye to a number of staff who will be retiring at the end of this term.
OBS Weekend 7th to 9th September
Many of you may recall long serving member of the Senior Leadership Team and Maths teacher, Dave Edmunds; Head of Geography, Steve Gill; History Teacher and Battlefields Trips aficionado, Martin Roden; Network Manager, IT and Music Teacher and director of Concert Band and Big Band, Alan Davies; Catering Manager Keith Watson; and Science Technician Ken Jones. Our grateful thanks for all they have done for so many generations of Birkonians and our very best wishes in a well-deserved retirement.
(see inside for further information)
Hoblyn Golf Trophy and Annual Dinner Friday 28th September, 12pm to 2pm, dinner at 7pm, RLGC, £110 London Dinner Friday 23rd November The Swan at The Globe Theatre 7pm (or 6pm if you would like a tour of the theatre) £75, places are limited, please email carol.keegan@birkenheadschool.co.uk Liverpool Festive Lunch Friday 21st December, 12.30pm, The Athenaeum For more information email carol.keegan@birkenheadschool.co.uk