boyzone - Bradford Grammar School

oldbradfordian
THE NEWS MAGAZINE OF
THE BRADFORD GRAMMAR
SCHOOL OLD BRADFORDIANS’
ASSOCIATION
SUMMER 2011
WHERE ARE THEY
NOW?
REUNIONS ON PAGE 12
ANNIVERSARY YEARS
BOYZONE
THE BOYS’ VIEW ON
GIRLS AT BGS
MORE ON PAGE 11
OLYMPIC OLD
BRADFORDIANS
BROWNLEES, MOORHOUSE
& MOSEY ON PAGE 24
2
OLDBRADFORDIAN WELCOME
message
SUMMER 2011
from the
president
Thanks are due to the many who have sent in contributions, last year’s editor Rachel Bentley, whose excellent
magazine prompted so many of this year’s contributions, and to Charity Orviss who has edited this edition so ably
and who has run the OBA office so efficiently over the past year. Charity will be missed and we wish her well in her
new career. Thanks are also due to David Moore who has written the obituary section.
Having enjoyed a full year in office as OBA Secretary I will soon be
handing over the reins to a new Secretary, as in September I leave
BGS to do a PGCE in Primary Education at Bradford College.
We are grateful to former member of staff Dr Brian Parker who has agreed to take over as editor next year.
I have thoroughly enjoyed working for the OBA and have
been made to feel very welcome in my role. Thank you to the
committee who have been particularly supportive of me during
what has been a very challenging yet rewarding year. Setting
up the new OBA website and online facility has been a labour
of love; however, it is good to see that many of you are now
registered as users of our online facility and regularly visit the
website for news and information.
Please keep sending in your contributions, memories and interesting personal information for next
year’s publication.
Read on and enjoy!
Gordon Green 1953-61
President OBA
from the
past president
The 2010 –2011 year was remarkable for its normality. The organisation ran on
effortlessly and there were memorable events culminating in an excellent Annual Dinner.
This was all due to the efficiency of Charity at the helm in the office and a strong and
small (but perfectly formed) committee that dovetailed its activities with great results.
Gordon Green has demonstrated enthusiasm for the tasks ahead and has
brought his strong organising gifts to the fore. My heartfelt thanks are extended
to them all and also for the support they have given to me in a year that was
beset by many new challenges for me on a personal level.
My association with the committee has been a long one and I have enjoyed
trying to support the School enormously and pledge to continue to offer support
in the future. It has been a privilege to work alongside Stephen Davidson and
I pay tribute to his enormous efforts at networking amongst Old Bradfordians,
parents and the wider community to keep Bradford Grammar School at the top
of the educational tree and still driving forward with vigour and optimism for the
future. I wish him well for the future and thank both Carol and himself for their
loyal and committed support to our organisation and its functions.
I have heard the School described as Bradford’s ‘Jewel in the Crown’ on many
occasions and still feel strongly that it can only maintain this position through the
support and help of the Alumni.
The Governors have also shown great support and commitment
to our organisation and in supporting our events and we
thank them for this.
I wish Lynne Morrison every success in her role as
Chairman and congratulate her on making the excellent
appointment of Kevin Riley as our next Headmaster.
My final thought is to encourage all former pupils to
maintain links with the School and other Old Bradfordians
to help enrich their lives, and more importantly to enrich the
lives of our pupils.
Hoc Age
Gavin Craig 1954-63, Past President OBA
WELCOME OLDBRADFORDIAN
notes from the
editor & OBA
secretary
Welcome to the 2011 Old Bradfordian magazine. Shortage of space dictates that this message be brief – and in
any event what follows says it all.
message
SUMMER 2011
dates
for your diary
It has been wonderful to experience the deep affection that
so many of you have for your School. The committee give
so generously of their time, organising reunions
and events, and their efforts are always
rewarded by the huge support that
these events receive.
You are privileged to belong to a
community where you are all so
valued and I hope that you will
continue to make the most of every
opportunity to revisit your School and
meet up with friends old and new.
Wednesday 10 August 2011
OBA London Club Cricket Middlesex v Yorkshire at Lords
Thank you for making my time in the
role such a pleasure.
Wishing you all continued
health and happiness,
Saturday 3 September 2011
OBA Rugby and Netball v School
Saturday 17 September 2011
Old Bradfordians’ Open Day
An opportunity to say goodbye to Stephen
Davidson
Friday 25 November 2011
OBA London Club Annual Ladies’ Night
Dinner
Saturday 10 December 2011
RPA / OBA Christmas Party
Saturday 14 January 2012
Annual Dinner & AGM
Saturday 21 April 2012
1940’s Reunion Lunch
Saturday 21 April 2012
OBA Swimming & Water Polo
When I reflect on my fifteen years as Head of this wonderful school, many
of my most enduring memories will be the numerous friends and events
centred on the Old Bradfordians. The affection in which so many of you
hold the school and the support you give to values which it holds dear to its
heart is very special; it is also pivotal to the long term success of BGS in an
environment which financially and politically is challenging to say the least!
Carol and I will both miss the warmth of welcome we always receive at
OBA reunions, large or small, near or far, formal or informal. The Friday
evening we shared with a small group of you in San Francisco, the
annual North American get together in Toronto, the elegance of
the Carlton Club and the increasing number of you who take
the opportunity to visit the school and witness at first hand the
BGS of the early 21st Century all exemplify the strength of the
relationship between the school and its alumni.
As I said in my closing remarks at the Annual Dinner ‘the
school can only be optimistic about its future if it enjoys the
support of its past.’
In closing may I thank the successive Presidents of the
OBA for their unstinting support and pay tribute to Janet
Finney, Nicky Midgley and Charity Orviss for all they have
done in being your point of contact here in Frizinghall; the
part they have all played in making your association so
vibrant, friendly and efficient has not gone unnoticed.
Hoc Age as they say around here!
Stephen Davidson - Headmaster
apologies
OLD BRADFORDIAN 2010
Charity Orviss
OBA Secretary
14-16 October 2011
North American Reunion
Dallas, Texas
Saturday 29 October 2011
Oxford & Cambridge Reunion
St Hilda’s College, Oxford
headmaster’s
comment
We sincerely apologise to the family of the late Arthur Winston Barker for
associating his photograph with the obituary for John Barker on page 13
and to the family of Mike Gillgrass for misspelling his surname.
Apologies also to John Thwaite for crediting the article about the North
America Reunion in Whistler to Dave Huggins when it was written by
John Thwaite.
CONTACT US
Secretary
Charity Orviss
AddressBradford Grammar School, Keighley Road,
Bradford BD9 4JP
Phone
01274 553712
Emailcharity@bradfordgrammar.com
Webwww.bgsoba.com
thank you
CONTRIBUTORS
A huge thank you to all those who have written articles and
contributed news or photographs to this issue of the Old
Bradfordian. As always the compilation of this publication is
a team effort; without the generous assistance of many Old
Bradfordians we would not be able to put together such a great
magazine. Please continue to send your news and views to
Charity Orviss, OBA Secretary, at charity@bradfordgrammar.com
or by mail to the OBA office at Bradford Grammar School.
old bradfordians’
open day
SATURDAY 17 SEPTEMBER 2011
On Saturday 17 September all Old Bradfordians are invited to BGS
for a very special event. The Old Bradfordians’ Open Day is a
reunion that has been arranged to mark the significant contribution
that Stephen Davidson has made to the School and the Old
Bradfordians’ Association during his time in office. The reunion
will give all Old Bradfordians the opportunity to visit school and say
goodbye to Stephen before his retirement at the end of the year.
We hope that many of you will want to attend especially those
of you who were at school during Stephen’s headmastership.
The reunion will commence with drinks at noon followed by a
buffet lunch and an opportunity to tour the school or watch one
of the various sporting fixtures which will be taking place during
the course of the afternoon. Tickets cost £15 per head and can
be purchased from the OBA office at BGS. A booking form is
included with this magazine. We look forward to seeing you there.
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4
OLDBRADFORDIAN NEWS
SUMMER 2011
charity fundraisers
RICHARD POOT (1994-03) AND TOM
RAYNOR (1994-2003)
On 17 April OBs Richard and Tom took
part in a sponsored triathlon at Sandylands
Leisure Centre, Skipton, to raise funds for
St Gemma’s Hospice. Richard had never
done a triathlon before but tackled it with
true Hoc Age spirit. Richard’s time was
1hr 43mins and Tom completed the event
in 1hr 33mins.
BEN SUTTON (2003-10)
Ben, who is studying French and Hispanic
Studies at Nottingham, is planning a trip to
Machu Picchu in September to raise funds
for The Meningitis Trust. Ben has paid for the
travel costs out of his savings and he aims
to raise £2,750 for the charity. To support
Ben or for more information email him on
bensutton_158@hotmail.co.uk
charity climbers
TOM PEEL (1997-07) AND JAMES DAVIES (2001-08)
Tom, who is at Hull University, and James, who is studying at the University of York,
will join a team climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in September to raise funds for Childreach
International. The team have opted to take the toughest route which will involve six days
of walking uphill to reach the summit. When the team have descended the mountain they
will visit the projects that their fundraising will support. They will meet the children and
staff and spend time teaching English workshops. They will also plant trees as part of
Childreach International’s carbon offsetting scheme.
The group will raise a minimum of £22,000, which goes a long way towards the cost of
running the projects which have increased the percentage of students attending school
and have provided all students at school with a meal. Tom says that what touched him
was the comment of a 5 year old child who said, ‘Before I used to only have one meal a
day, and now I can have two.’
To support Tom go to: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ThomasPeel and to support
James go to www.virginmoneygiving.com/jamesdavies2
charity rowers
RICHARD POOT (1994-2003), TOM RAYNOR (1994-2003),
TOM RHODES (1997-2004), AND MATT RICHARDS (1999-2002)
On 5 June Richard, Tom, Tom and Matt participated in the Windermere Row. The
row, which starts in Ambleside, is something that they do every year with the aim
of beating their previous year’s time, having fun and raising money for a great
cause. To support Richard and the others please go to http://www.justgiving.com/
pootystriathlon
At BGS Richard was an active member of the Boat Club, and represented the
School at many regattas, championships and races. Richard has been involved in
several other charity events. In 2003 he did a ‘3 in 3 Challenge’ which consisted of
an equivalent channel swim (in the BGS pool), a Three Peaks walk and the Boston
Rowing Marathon. Richard has done the Adidas half marathon twice and the
London marathon, but never a triathlon!
Richard left BGS in 2003 and, helped by BGS, went to a school in Australia where
he coached rowing for a year and enjoyed the Australian culture. On Richard’s
return to the UK he took a fourth A level in Biology at Bradford College which helped
him secure a place on a degree course at the University of East London, studying
Physiotherapy. Having achieved a 2:1 and being sick of living in the city, Richard
returned to Yorkshire, where he worked in Sheffield for a year before moving back
to Bradford. Richard now works for
Airedale PCT as a musculoskeletal
physiotherapist. He doesn’t row
any more but enjoys weightlifting at
a local gym and doing crazy events
for charity.
Tom Raynor is a dentist, Tom
Rhodes is a Fire Officer and Matt
Richards is a web designer/music
producer. The four friends have
stayed in touch since leaving School
and have regular curry evenings and
poker nights!
stephen
davidson
STEPHEN DAVIDSON
BURSARY FUND
Stephen Davidson is retiring in
December 2011 after fifteen successful
years as Headmaster of Bradford
Grammar School. During that time, the
School has flourished – becoming fully
co-educational, enjoying exceptional
results in public examinations, and
developing the highest-quality learning
and sporting facilities that are the envy
of the independent school sector. It is a
tribute to his good stewardship that all of
this has been achieved with the School
remaining debt free.
SUMMER 2011
NEWS OLDBRADFORDIAN
new headmaster
KEVIN RILEY
Kevin Riley will take over as Headmaster of BGS on 1 January 2012. Mr Riley, who is currently Head of Harrow
International School in Bangkok, has had a distinguished academic career, having previously been Head at both
Bristol Cathedral School and The John Lyon School. He has taught at Wolverhampton Grammar School and
began his teaching career at Pocklington School. An English graduate, he studied at the Universities of
Aberystwyth, Birmingham, Bristol and Warwick. Mr Riley brings a wealth of experience to the position,
including serving as a governor of a number of schools during his career. An active member of the HMC,
he has also been involved in charity work, notably as Chairman and founder of the Bujagali Trust which
supports education in Uganda. Mr Riley is married to Elspeth and has three sons. To read more about
Kevin Riley go to the news page of the OBA website www.bgsoba.com
Under Stephen’s leadership, the School
has gone from strength to strength.
Probably closest to his heart, however, is
the pride he feels in the School’s meanstested Bursary Fund which enables
around 120 boys and girls to benefit
each year from studying at Bradford
Grammar School. The scheme provides
financial assistance to girls and boys
who pass the entrance examination but
whose parents require some assistance
in respect of the fees.
Stephen is passionate about the Fund
and the opportunities it provides for
families who might not otherwise be able
to afford to send their children to the
School as well as the social diversity that
it brings to the School community.
Stephen wants to mark his retirement by
creating an additional Bursary that will
help other young boys and girls benefit
from coming to this remarkable school.
For information on how to make a
donation please email Marie Sugden,
Marketing & Development Manager,
at marie@bradfordgrammar.com
stephen davidson learning link and
alan jerome building
£4.5 MILLION DEVELOPMENT PROJECT COMPLETED
The construction of the new science building, named the Alan
Jerome Building in honour of Old Bradfordian and Governor
Alan Jerome (1943-53), was completed ready for the start of
the Autumn Term 2010. The completion of the refurbishment
of the Kenneth Robinson Building followed soon after and the
Stephen Davidson Learning Link was opened in January 2011.
The construction of the Learning Link was generously funded
by Old Bradfordian Roger Evans (1953-63). The official opening
ceremony took place on 6 April 2011 when Alan and Roger were
joined by family, friends and members of the BGS community to
celebrate the significant difference that this development project
has made to BGS.
After he had unveiled the plaque in the Learning Link, Roger
said that it was Stephen Davidson’s passion and vision for
Bradford Grammar School that he had invested in twelve years
ago when he donated the funds for the Sixth Form Centre and
as a Venture Capitalist it had proved to be his most rewarding
investment. He said that he felt privileged to be in a position
to be able to do the same again with the Learning Link and
requested that it be named after Stephen.
Alan Jerome spoke after unveiling his plaque and said that it
felt like a dream to see his name on the building. He said that
he felt proud and honoured to have had his length of service
to the School acknowledged in this way, particularly as he had
enjoyed every minute of it.
The School was honoured to entertain HRH the Duke of Kent
on 12 May 2011 who toured the new facilities and unveiled a
plaque commemorating his visit.
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6
OLDBRADFORDIAN PERSONALIA
william
fenton
(1967-76)
William, who has lived in Brussels for
the past 20 years, is enjoying a career in
marketing and sponsorship. As Director
of Sponsorship Consulting William’s clients
include the Dubai International Film Festival
and the FIFA World Cup. His expertise
and experience in this area have led him
to become involved in writing, lecturing
and speaking at conferences. William
has recently published a book called The
Sponsorship Handbook. William says
that it was at BGS that he developed his
taste for sports when, in his words, being
useless at rugby led him to develop what
has become a lifelong interest in rowing.
William has very fond memories of School
and would love to hear from others. He
sends his best wishes to all in the BGS
community.
sir ken
morrison
(1943-52)
In November 2010 Sir Ken Morrison
received the district of Bradford’s highest
honour when he was made a Freeman of
the City of Bradford. After the ceremony
at Bradford City Hall, Sir Ken paid tribute
to the hundreds of Bradford citizens who
were his colleagues and supported him in
the early days in the local market right up
until the time he retired as the head of a
national company with 130,000 employees.
Councillor Ian Greenwood praised Sir Ken
for his plain speaking, value for money and
forthright approach to life; something he
said that all Bradfordians value.
adam
beaini
(1994-2004)
Adam was recently featured in the
BBC 3 series Junior Doctors: Your
Life in Their Hands. Adam aged 24,
is described as a born ‘charmer’.
He has a strong family background
in medicine; his mum was a doctor,
his dad is a psychiatrist and his big
brother is a practising GP. Adam
aspires to work in emergency
medicine. The hospital drama
documentary, which was filmed at
Newcastle’s General Hospital and
Royal Victoria Hospital, featured Adam
during his foundation year one.
SUMMER 2011
alice horsey imogen
cummings
(2005-07)
Alice, who was supported at BGS by the
London OBA, completed her studies at The
Guildhall School of Music and Drama in July
2010 where she graduated with a First in
Stage Management and Technical Theatre.
She won the Technical Theatre Gold Medal
and her name is on the ‘Gold Medal’ board
in the college foyer. Alice also won the
Chairman’s Prize for the Student with the
Highest Professional Standards, as voted
by the staff.
From college Alice went to work as Assistant
Stage Manager with Scottish Ballet.
david milner
(1954-61)
In May David was elected a Fellow of the Royal
Society of London.
lieutenant
colonel d l
kassapian
(1978-85)
Lieutenant Colonel DL Kassapian of the Royal
Marines is to be promoted to Colonel and Chief
of Staff to Commander to UK Amphibious
Forces with effect from July 2011.
colin straw
(1968-78)
Colin now lives in Christchurch, Dorset. Since
leaving BGS in 1978 Colin has been employed
by Lloyds TSB. He has covered many roles
at the bank including branch manager. He
worked in the Leeds/Bradford area for five
years but for the last 28 years he has worked
in Hampshire & Dorset.
lucy
qureshi
(1993-95)
Lucy, who has been following the
accelerated programme in medicine and
surgery at St Bartholomew’s Hospital and
the London School of Medicine, has passed
her finals with merit. Lucy came top in the
clinical exams and was awarded one of the
highest marks for the written paper. Lucy
has secured a job at the hospital in Harlow
which starts in August. Before then she will
be doing some shadowing there. Lucy was
a beneficiary of the Drummond Studentship,
which she said enabled her to buy books
and equipment, as well as attend courses.
(2003-07)
Imogen, who was supported by the North
American OBA during her time at BGS,
is working in IT Security with Centrica but
still pursues her real aim in life; to be a
professional singer. She has been having
singing lessons with one of the Lay Clerks at
St George’s Chapel, Windsor, and is on the
deputies list at a couple of London churches
where they employ a professional choir. She
has sung on numerous occasions with Royal
Holloway and was asked to go with them on
their American tour in April 2011 and their trip
to Beijing in May 2011.
peter gibbs
(1945-53)
Peter, who was a member of the BGS Chess
Club during his time at School, and who won the
British Boys’ Championship in 1953, has recently
been awarded the title of English National Chess
Master by the English Chess Federation, for his
results in the 1950s and 1960s. Peter says, ‘It
has been a long time coming!’
chris
kelk
(1954-62)
Chris, a professional actor for 36 years,
with a PhD in Classics, recently appeared
in a production of Duet for One at the
Taragon Theatre, Toronto, with the STAGE
Toronto Theatre Company. Chris received
excellent reviews for his portrayal of
German psychiatrist Dr Feldmann.
This year Chris has published his verse
translation of Juvenal’s Satires. Chris has
dedicated his book, The Satires of Juvenal,
to Mr Raymond Shaw-Smith who taught
classics at BGS until 1989 and who writes:
‘Chris has produced a most handsome book,
beautifully bound and presented. On each
page is the text of Juvenal and opposite
Chris’s rollicking translation, full of humour
and catching the sharp comments of Juvenal
on his contemporary scene. There are also
explanatory notes to help the reader who
missed life in the 2nd century AD. Juvenal is
surprisingly modern though, with comments
on immigration, capitalism (though he doesn’t
call it that), sexual behaviour, unseemly quest
for honour, treatment of servants and slaves
... He has always been popular but these
are days which he would recognise as similar
to his own. If you know some Latin you will
enjoy it all the more. If you don’t this is a good
introduction to one of its greatest authors.’
The book has been published by Edwin
Mellen Press.
SUMMER 2011
alderman
david
wootton
(1960-69)
David Wootton is to be the Lord Mayor of
the City of London for 2011 and 2012 during
what will be the 350th anniversary year of
BGS receiving its charter. David has invited
the School to take part in the prestigious Lord
Mayor’s Parade in November 2011. David was
the guest speaker at the OBA Annual Dinner
and AGM on 15 January 2011.
richard
crabtree
(1963-71)
After leaving BGS, Richard went on to read
Geography at St John’s College, Cambridge.
After university he moved to Aberdeen where
he did research into Icelandic Glaciers.
Richard joined the British Antarctic Survey
in 1975 and spent ten years with the survey
during which time he enjoyed three field
seasons in the Antarctic, mostly involving
airborne radar profiling of the ice sheet.
Richard joined The Perse School, Cambridge,
as Head of Geography in 1985. He was
appointed as Director of Studies in 1995 and
Admissions Tutor in 2003. Richard went parttime in 2006 and when he is not teaching he
runs two companies specialising in travel to
Iceland and East Africa. Richard is a Fellow
of the Royal Geographical Society and was
awarded The Polar Medal for research in the
Antarctic in 1986. Richard was welcomed
back to BGS in February 2011 when he
returned for the first time since leaving in 1971.
revd. canon
stephen
cope
(1968-78)
After leaving BGS in 1978 as a scholar to St
John’s, Oxford, Stephen obtained an MA in
Mediaeval and Modern Languages, and a
DipTh in Theology. He trained for ordination at
Chichester Theological College and is currently
Chair of the Churches Rural Group and is on
the Executive of the Churches’ European Rural
Network, as well as being Secretary of the
Rural Theology Association. Stephen’s ‘day
job’ is Rector of Withernsea with Owthorne and
Easington with Skeffling, Rural Dean of South
Holderness and the Bishop of Hull’s Advisor on
Rural Affairs. He is trying to write a thesis on
experiments in rural ministry, but work keeps
getting in the way...
PERSONALIA OLDBRADFORDIAN
from pupil to teacher
ANDY HARGREAVES (1993-98)
Andy, who left BGS in 1998, has recently taken up the post of Biology teacher at BGS. Here
Andy shares his thoughts about being behind the teacher’s desk.
‘I entered the Third Form at BGS in 1993. After leaving in 1998 and studying Environmental
Biology at the University of Liverpool, I completed a PGCE and in 2003 began teaching Science
in secondary schools.
Throughout my University and early teaching career I kept in contact with BGS. With great interest
and some envy, I saw the new facilities being provided – the refurbishment of the dining room and
swimming pool and the construction of the Sixth Form Centre being particular highlights.
Whilst I had been back to the School a number of times since leaving, returning for interview
was a totally different experience; I felt I had a lot to live up to applying for a post at such a
prestigious school and being an OB made this even more daunting. I expected a thorough
grilling and the panel did not disappoint!
Being on the other side of the teacher’s desk is a great experience although it was quite
strange at first, as was going into the Common Room for the first time! Since September
time has passed very quickly but as the saying goes, time flies when you are having fun! I
am finding teaching at BGS both reassuringly familiar and refreshingly different from my
previous teaching experience – teaching engaged pupils who have access to outstanding
facilities makes the job so much more rewarding. Of course working in a school of this
standard brings new challenges and I am enjoying rising to those and having the opportunity
to pass on my knowledge and passion for Biology.
Whenever I have returned to BGS I have always had a sense of returning home, so I’m glad the
School hasn’t changed too much since I was last here full-time. That said the refurbishment
of the KRB and construction of the Alan Jerome Building make science lessons at BGS much
more accessible and enjoyable. Having my own lab as a permanent teaching base makes
planning and resourcing of lessons more effective and having access to state-of-the-art facilities
and fantastic technical support allows the teaching staff to concentrate on
lesson delivery.
The high quality teaching I experienced at BGS was my primary motivation
for deciding to follow a career in teaching. My time as a pupil equipped
me with more than just the subject knowledge I needed to succeed
at university and beyond. BGS moulded my approach to the
challenges of life and instilled in me a desire to achieve and to
pass on these skills and ethos to others. There are things I could
have done better at in School (like homework for Mrs Dunn!),
but overall my experiences here equipped me well for the road
ahead and I am fortunate to have the opportunity to make a
difference to boys and girls at a modern and thriving BGS.
To other Old Bradfordians reading this magazine, both recent
and less recent, I say come and have a look around your old
School; it is a surprising place in the best possible way. The values
of the School are all as strong and evident as ever they were and
at the same time your School has definitely moved forwards with
some of the most inspiring and exciting developments you are likely
to see in any school.’
duncan
preston
(1956-62)
Duncan, a renowned actor of stage and screen,
returned to Bradford in February 2011 to play the role
of Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird at Bradford’s
Alhambra Theatre. On 29 February a group of BGS
GCSE students, who were studying the play as part
of their English syllabus, went to see the production.
The next day Duncan visited school where he met
with the students and talked to them about the play
and his interpretation of the role of Atticus Finch.
Duncan said that the school had changed a great
deal since his time at BGS and he urged pupils to
take advantage of the wide range of opportunities
available to them.
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8
OLDBRADFORDIAN PERSONALIA
SUMMER 2011
harry rée
international
consultant
BGS MASTER FROM SEPTEMBER 1946 TO SPRING 1951
Harry Rée was a charismatic French teacher who, although not
at BGS for many years, made a huge impression on the pupils
he taught. Harry went on to become Headmaster of Watford
Grammar School where Mr Jonathan Daube met him. Jonathan
spent just two years teaching there but says that to this day Harry
remains the greatest influence on his professional life. Jonathan
who now lives and works in the USA is writing a book about Harry
who he last saw when Harry visited Connecticut in 1988. Harry
died on 17 May 1991 aged 76.
ANTONIO WEISS (1996-2005)
Antonio Weiss is a British-Mexican consultant and historian. He
has worked across the UK public sector, as well as on industrial
policy in the Far East.
Antonio writes:
‘The graduating cohort of 2005 was unique in many ways. Not
only were we one of the smallest years (losing many members
following a rather unforgettable history trip some years earlier), we
were also the last to escape the painful pecuniary of top-up fees.
For me, it had been a close decision whether to read English
Literature or History at University – in both subjects wonderful
teachers at BGS helped the subjects come alive. In the case
of the latter I owe much to Jonathan Devlin’s excellent and
memorable lessons. In the end, I followed in my brother’s
footsteps (who graduated from BGS in 2000), gaining a First in
History from Cambridge.
As is the case with so many graduates pre-recession, I fell
into management consultancy,
assuming it was a job which would
keep open more career options
than it closes. Working at one of
the UK’s top public sector firms,
I spent several years advising
clients in central government and
the NHS. Whilst it is customary
that after a few years consultants
pursue an MBA or work in industry
for a while, I still felt there was
unfinished business with history.
As a result, over the last nine
months I’ve been consulting parttime whilst completing a Master’s
in History at Cambridge where
I’m researching the history of
management consultancy and the
UK state. I find it astonishing how
little practising consultants – or in
fact most people working in any industry – know about the origins
of their profession and even its relatively recent developments. I
am a firm believer that to truly understand the industry you work in
you need to know where it came from. Over the past few months
I’ve also completed my first book – Business Solutions: Essential
Problem-Solving Tools and Techniques, which is a guide to
problem solving in business, and is published by Financial Times
Prentice Hall and will be in bookstores by September this year.
In between consulting and history I also have written for a number
of publications, including the Guardian, on a range of subjects, as
well as being a governor of one of the largest community colleges
in London. I hope to write a history of management consultancy
next, whilst combining some more journalism and history with my
consulting work.
I think the greatest lesson I ever learnt from BGS was from my
time debating (for which I owe Phil Shepherd a great debt). I
didn’t always enjoy it, but I gained from it the insight that everyone
has a right to be heard. As long as you can coherently frame your
thoughts and arguments then you can make a real contribution
to wider issues and discussions. To know that you have a
contribution to make, and to have the confidence that you should
try and make yourself heard can be strangely – if somewhat
naively – liberating. Whether anyone agrees with you though is, of
course, a different matter. You can follow my latest developments
on www.antonioweiss.com’
SUMMER 2011
life since bgs
JOHN HOLLINGWORTH (1991-99)
Actor and former Head Prefect John Hollingworth returned to BGS
in March for the first time since leaving in 1999. John, who was the
beneficiary of a Drummond Studentship, was back in Yorkshire having
been cast in Rattigan’s The Deep Blue Sea at the West Yorkshire
Playhouse. He came into School to work with L6 and U6 Theatre
Studies students and share his experience with them.
John writes:
‘After completing my A-Levels in 1999 I went straight to London
to train with the National Youth Theatre for three weeks. The
experience changed my life. I’d first heard of the NYT from Liz
Chan, a new girl in Lower Sixth who’d defected from Woodhouse
Grove. She was two weeks late for the start of term and arrived
with tousled hair and exotic tales of her recent time at the
Edinburgh Festival with the Youth Theatre. I applied to join the
company and was summoned to the West Yorkshire Playhouse
to audition. I spent weeks aping Ken Branagh’s Hamlet in
preparation, and picked an aggressive modern piece in which I
remember alternating between playing a skinhead and his bull
mastiff to contrast with my classical piece. On the day the director
looked uninterested as another breathless teen shamelessly
plagiarised Branagh and barked like a dog. Still, he let me in.
After completing the course, in which I vividly remember playing
both half a tree and later half of a swing door cut from it, I went
to India to teach English in a Buddhist monastery and returned
with a terrible haircut and lots of beads. Clearly I was ready for
university. I went to Trinity College, Dublin, to read English and
Philosophy. It was a golden age: the faculty were mostly tenured
and free to enjoy teaching rather than producing papers to
maintain their academic standing. Most tutorials moved to the pub
and continued there. In the summers I’d return to London if I could
get a part in an NYT show. The company were then in residence
at the Lyric, Hammersmith. The shows were directed, designed,
costumed, lit and stage managed by professionals but crewed and
played by unpaid company members. It was a fantastic learning
experience and we were professionally reviewed. I remember a
Times reviewer speculating that my microphone for a show was
faulty: in fact I just couldn’t project my voice. I went into the
theatre early the next day and spent an hour on stage adjusting.
They were tough lessons to learn, but invaluable ones.
After fleeing from the Philosophy department when I learnt that Logic
involved maths, I graduated from Trinity with a first in English in 2004
and tearfully left the Youth Theatre as I was no longer a student. I
applied to drama school and was fortunate to get into RADA, where
I spent three years learning what it really means to act. I left in 2008
and have been lucky to work fairly constantly since. My first job,
appropriately enough, was a small part in Wuthering Heights for
ITV. On my return to BGS I was delighted to find the School in such
rude health, with much-improved facilities and some really promising
young actors.’
MEMORIES AND ANECDOTES OLDBRADFORDIAN
1962
FORM 4C
Peter Caulkett sent in a photograph of form 4C from 1962. This
photograph was also taken as part of the tercentenary celebrations
of 1962. Peter has attempted to identify those appearing in the
photograph but was unsure about a number of names so once again
any comments or corrections to the OBA office please.
Jonathan was put in touch with Old
Bradfordian Roger Bland (1942-49)
who in turn contacted Charity Orviss
in the OBA office who invited all Old
Bradfordians who might have known
Harry to share their memories. The
response was amazing and the
memories, which have been collated by
Roger, are both vivid and fascinating.
Roger writes:
‘It has been a joy to recognise names I
knew and to recognise scenes and situations from 60 years ago.
It has been wonderful to have had so many contributions from
boys I knew not so well, or even at all. Harry has been universally
applauded as an inspirational teacher in these memoirs and the
fact that no-one knew who else was writing, let alone what the
content would be, has lent a convincing degree of authenticity to
the stories. In addition to what has been universally appreciated
there are also many recollections of Harry’s practical concern to
be of assistance in an uncommon variety of personal situations
which testify to a devotion of care beyond the technicalities of the
classroom. And in the telling of these stories an unmistakable
flavour of life at BGS emerges – even a photograph of the Regent
Cinema opposite the Manor Row building and another of Harry’s
rather flamboyant initials on a school report!
To illustrate any further would be to spoil a good read and the set
of memories. Ten colourful pages containing the memories of
some 22 Old Bradfordians can be found on the OBA website at
www.bgsoba.com/memorylane. Click on the link in the Harry Rée
article. Alternatively contact Charity Orviss at BGS for a copy of
the document.
Back row, left to right: J Cockshott (1957-68), C Stohlner (1960-68), J Downes
(1960-67), P Denbigh (1959-67), BW Pennington (1960-67), P Wallbank (196068), GS Botterill (1960-67), J Gledhill (1958-67).
Middle row, left to right: JRS Smith (1958-67), P Caulkett 1960-67), T Mayers
(1960-67), S Throup (1960-67), D Wilson (1960-68), K Robinson (1960-66), R
Clavering (1958-68), S Mason (1962-67), P Whitehead (1960-66), A Armitage
(1957-67), NC Hanson (1957-66).
Front row, left to right: CJ Lawson (1960-68), CD Walker (1960-66), PF Hullah
(1957-67), JG Butterfield (1960-68), Mr REF Green, C Faulkner (1960-67), J
Longbottom (1960-67), P Binns (1960-67), CS Roche (1959-67).
FORM 4B
The Class of ’62 article on page 20 of the Summer 2010 edition of
the Old Bradfordian elicited a huge response. The general consensus
seems to be that the photograph was in fact of form 3B not 4F and
that the OBs appearing in it were:
To have a splash of history recorded in this way seems very
appropriate and it does occur to me that there may well be other
facets of School life which would respond well to similar treatment.
The juxtaposition of ‘live’ impressions culled from diverse
backgrounds and written in different styles may not score highly as
a piece of literature but it invites the reader to immerse himself in
vivid and accurate pictures of bygone days which we shared.
So, thank you to Charity, for all her co-operation and
encouragement in this project, and a public thank you to all the
contributors.’
Back row, left to right: Asquith JZK (1959-68), Ackroyd PST (1959-68), Hustwick
CW (1958-68), O’Keefe JH (1959-68), Dalton JAG (1959-68), Dobson MP (196068), Craven CA (1960-68), Reynolds R (1960-68), Petty RA (1958-69).
RP Bland (1942-49)
Middle row, left to right: Simms JM (1958-67), Haigh T (1960-68), Wood RG
(1958-68), Terry DJ (1959-64), Mallinson EJH (1958-68), Bartle PG (1960-68),
Milner M (1960-68), Hainsworth KW (1958-69), Levin N (1957-68).
film society 1958
Front row, left to right: Whitehead RP (1958-68), Simpson CR (1960-68), Smith
TCD (1958-68), Schapira DV (1958-68), Mr P Gilyard (form master), McDonald R
(1959-68), Holden SC (1958-65), Shelley DJ (1960-65), Spencer PG (1958-68).
ALL IN A DAY
During the Summer term of 1958 the BGS Film Society made a short film about a schoolboy’s day called All In A Day. The School did not have a
camera at that time so the pupils hired one and Roger Laycock (1952-59) was the cameraman. Roger recalls that Norman Eaglestone, the then gym
master, made a cameo appearance as himself.
Unlike the more ambitious productions which followed the film did not trouble the editors of the local newspapers - a PR failure perhaps - but was well
received, at least by those boys caught by the camera that turned out to see themselves when the film was screened.
Roger says that he is not aware of any earlier BGS Film Society productions but..................who knows?
9
10
OLDBRADFORDIAN MEMORIES AND ANECDOTES
SUMMER 2011
bgs venture scouts scouts’ honour
SCOUTS REVISIT THE DALES WAY
In 1969 nine BGS Venture Scouts and three BGS masters became
the pioneers to walk the newly re-opened Dales Way footpath. The
adventure was initiated by a letter from BGS to Colin Speakman asking
for a project for the Venture Scouts to get involved in and what a
project it was! Mike Crafer and Steve Kerry worked with the famous
Colin Speakman who did so much to re-open the long distance
footpath and who wrote the original Dales Way guide. In April 1969 the
BGS team, seen at Ilkley Station, set out on the 73 mile long journey to
Bowness. Two of the team dropped out at Sedbergh but the remaining
nine Scouts and three BGS masters became the first
people to officially complete this now famous
footpath.
FOLLOW UP FROM THE ARTICLE IN THE OLD
BRADFORDIAN 2010
Following the Scouts’ Honour article in the Summer 2010 edition of
the Old Bradfordian we have received some feedback.
Jim Chapman (1954-65) has identified the two scouts that were
unnamed on the back of the July 1964 photograph accompanying
the article. On the back row the unidentified scout is Michael Simms
(1958-69) and on the front row the gap is filled by Robin Fozard
(1961-69). Robin and Jim are still friends now and see each other on
the golf course most weeks.
John Dennis Armstrong (1939-47) from Stockport was in 19th
Bradford West Scout Troop (2nd BGS Troop) from 1940-1946 and
remembers another ‘ceremony’ which took place when the keys
of the Thornville loft, the Den, were handed over from the outgoing
patrol to the incoming patrol. This ceremony arose because one
evening the scout who was supposed to bring the keys to open up
forgot them! Everyone was kept waiting and so the introduction of
the ‘key ceremony’ ensured that that would never happen again!
Dennis recalls:
‘All Patrol Leaders and upward had ‘woodcraft’ names. W E
Clarkson’s name was Black Lynx, mine was Redwing. Other
names were Grey Squirrel, Grey Beaver, Red Fox, Little Beaver
and White Owl. The names conveyed authority, an office. We
were addressed using these names during scout meetings. I was
no longer Dennis Armstrong but Redwing, with responsibilities
within the troop; it made you mindful.
Scout meetings were held on Thursdays and Saturdays. On
Saturdays we had ‘Tea-time’ which consisted of sandwiches
brought from home shared out amongst the troop members.
That way, we partook of others’ food, conveying the giving and
receiving in life.
Back Row from L to R: John Foster
(1962-69), Stephen Kerry (1960-69), Peter
Kewley (master), Malcolm Greenwood (master), Richard
Ogden (1964-71), Mike Simms (1958-69), Tim Wonter-Smith (195869) and Jim Jones (master). Front row from L to R: Peter Graham
(1962-70), Tim Priestley (1960-70), Michael Crafer (1959-69) and Robin
Fozard (1961-69).
To read Steve Kerry’s day to day log of the journey as reported in the
Telegraph & Argus on Saturday 19 April 1969 go to www.bgsoba.com/
memorylane and click on the link in the BGS Venture Scouts article.
This year, to mark the 40th anniversary of the publication of the first
edition of the Dales Way, a 10th edition was published. A launch event
took place in Ilkley in March attended by Colin Speakman and members
of the Dales Way Association who took part in the first official Dales
Way walk in 1969. Among the group were Old Bradfordians Steve
Kerry, Mike Crafer, John Foster and former master Peter Kewley. The
group met in Ilkley and walked the first 2 ½ miles to Addingham before
reconvening in Ilkley for a brief presentation. Walking even this short
distance brought back many memories for the BGS gang and the 42
years that had passed since they had last trodden those paths together
soon slipped away.
For some of them
if was the first time
that they had got
together since 1969
but they quickly
caught up and were
soon exchanging
news and stories
and making plans to
get together in the
future.
L to R: John Foster, Michael Crafer,
Stephen Kerry & Peter Kewley
There were three tables: high table for Black Lynx and the patrol
leaders, a second table for the next senior scouts and the third
table for the junior scouts. I sat at the high table, under Black
Lynx’s gimlet gaze, for two years. Black Lynx led the conversation
and we were all expected to participate. I came to see that the
discussions that followed were his seminar on Life; in particular,
‘intelligence does not equate with common sense’! A first in
Classics did not mean that a person necessarily had a modicum
of common sense, honesty, judgment or wisdom; a farmer in the
Dales could have more of these virtues, without knowing a word
of Greek! As we all hoped for firsts in something, these tea-time
discussions punctured pride.’
Philip Selby (1946-55) was surprised to see C F Oates referred
to as Titus; he had always known him as Bumff (as recorded on the
reverse of the July 1964 photo). It has been suggested that ‘Titus’
was a name used by the masters rather than the pupils and that this
nickname came from the unusually named historical figure Titus Oates.
Godfrey Hope (1954-60) recently sent a photograph of 2 Troop
to Tony Milnes (1953-61) which showed the Patrol Leaders wearing
kilts. Neither Godfrey nor Tony could remember why kilts were
being worn. If anyone can shed any light on this mystery please
email charity@bradfordgrammar.com
geography lines
ROBERT PEEL (1961-68)
I have a memory from my first year at School. We took geography in
Room 13 (the Behrens Room) immediately under the Delius Music
Room. The master was Mr Townsend and if you forgot to take your
atlas you had to write out 100 times, the possession of cartographical
impedimenta is essential for geographical investigation.
SUMMER 2011
MEMORIES AND ANECDOTES OLDBRADFORDIAN
boyzone
SIMON MILLER (1976-86)
Simon Miller is a graduate of The Queen’s College,
Oxford, where he read Law and is the Head of
UK Litigation at the global law firm Squire Sanders
Hammonds. Simon and his wife Joanne have
two boys at Clock House – Henry in Year 4 and
Nicholas in Year 2.
Simon was in the Lower Sixth Form in 1984 when
the first group of girls joined BGS. In response to
the article Girls Allowed in the Summer 2010 edition
of the Old Bradfordian Simon writes:
‘It really is shocking to think that it is 25 years since
the ‘girls’ arrived at BGS.
I first met one of the girls, Charlotte Slater, when
I turned up at her dad’s house (ie Bernie Slater)
over Easter 1984 for a session on De Bello Gallico
IV and the Iliad. Half way through the afternoon
Charlotte came in with the tea. She explained that
she was coming to the School in September and
was thoroughly charming. I was, of course, utterly
terrified of her. This would, I’m quite sure, have
been the standard involuntary response from a
BGS lifer like me at the time. Ironic that Charlotte
writes in the last edition of the Old Bradfordian that
she and the teachers were all terrified on their first
day. There was evidently a lot of it around but,
to be fair, the arrival of the girls did represent a
movement in the tectonic plates of the School. It
was a decisive and very significant moment in the
School’s history.
Looking back on the arrival of the girls, I’m struck
by their bravery. There was really no sense in
which the ‘Boys’ School’ that was Bradford Boys’
Grammar School was co-educational at all at
this time. In 1984 it was firmly a boys’ school
with a handful of girls at it. It must have taken
quite a lot of guts for the six or seven girls who
arrived in September 1984 to move from their
existing schools into the swirling cauldron of male
adolescence which was the Lower Sixth at BGS. A
point which was completely lost on us at the time.
It is actually quite difficult to find words to describe
how the School was then because if you do, the
words and descriptions which emerge feel strange
and out of kilter with modern society, almost as
though we were living and being educated in a
different epoch completely, or perhaps towards
the end of an era. In any event, if I consider how it
would have felt for me and a few of my friends to
have moved from the ‘Boys’ School’ to the ‘Girls’
School’, it’s enough to bring me out in cold sweats.
In the last edition of the Old Bradfordian, the 1984
girls were described as the ‘pioneers’ for the female
advance through the School which strikes me as
an entirely fair description. The girls that arrived
in 1984 paved the way for a full co-educational
revolution at the School. It is quite impossible now
for me to try to contemplate how the School would
have been had this not occurred.
I was talking to one of my close friends (also an Old
Bradfordian) recently about his decision to send
his daughter to Clock House. He explained to me
that it wasn’t so much about the academics, it was
more that the School had made him ‘what he was’
and he felt that exposure to this was something
which he had to make available to her. This made
me think about exactly how the School made us
what we are. Partly, I think it was the teaching and
the strong focus on results, but more than that it
was the values of the School, its teachers and the
extraordinary lengths to which the teachers went
to offer the children a huge range of enriching
extracurricular activities which built their confidence,
shaped their judgment and so often fed back into
their academic performance.
In my case the School left me with a deep
internalised conviction, that whatever ‘it’ was or
is, ‘it’ could be done, no matter how improbable
it might seem. When I ask myself where this
extraordinarily powerful conviction comes from
(someone I once knew described this as ‘le feu
sacre’) – it is from an amalgamation of contributions
to my academic and non-academic education
made by a number of BGS teachers ranging from
the incomparable Roddy Thompson (who can you
count on, Sir?), to Eric Barnes and Tony Reeves
(who never actually even taught me). This is what
my friend was talking about and I suspect that
whilst many things have changed at the School,
the width, depth and breadth of the opportunities
extended to its pupils remain as wide, deep and
broad as they always were.’
girls
girls
girls!
GAVIN PUTZ
(1977-86)
Gavin lives in Malaga and has the following
recollections of the events of 1984:
“I was in the Lower Sixth when the first
raft of girls was admitted to BGS. My
recollection is that it caused a huge ripple
of interest as most novelties do. Some
male pupils were keener than others to
make the girls’ acquaintance as was to be
expected, but being fairly unfamiliar with
the opposite sex (and having no sisters)
I don´t remember having a great deal of
contact with them personally. Indeed
my most abiding memory from that time
was that the changing room opposite the
Kenneth Robinson Building with the deep
bath we liked to use after cross country
on Wednesday afternoons was turned
over to the girls and declared out of
bounds to boys forever!”
three masters’
daughters
ROB FISHER (1979-86)
Rob writes,
‘I was in the Lower Sixth in 1984 and vividly
remember the introduction of women into
the School. My overriding memories are the
excitement amongst the boys, the immediate
improvement in manners and the sudden
interest in fashion. I also remember the
shameless showing off in a vain attempt to
impress. I think particularly long-suffering girls
were the three masters’ daughters; I would
love to know what became of them.
haec egimus… all this we did
BY DAVID MOORE (1952-62)
At long last, after four years in the writing, I have
finished my history of BGS, 1949-63. Little did I
realize when I started my work in January 2008
that it would take so long. Those who have
undertaken such tasks might well be whispering
I told you so! It is, in many places, a chronicle,
because wherever I can, I let others tell their
versions of events or activities: with oral history,
you have to be careful, because sometimes the
memory fades! However, I should like to thank
all those OBs and former Masters who have
helped with the task, in providing a treasure trove
of rich memories, and to apologise, in advance,
to those whom I have pestered mercilessly
for further information. My thanks also go to
Stephen Davidson and the Governing Body for
their support of my enterprise.
The book covers the end of the Graham era,
the Newell years and the year of ‘Willy Ed’s’
interregnum. It was a stable period, when the
direct grant era was flourishing and the School
had links with two local authorities – Bradford
and the West Riding, both of which supplied a
stream of exceedingly able scholars. The School
underwent an inspection in 1952, which gave
a perceptive, if sometimes limited, view of its
progress as a highly academic school – at a time
when, in the absence of modern league tables,
Oxbridge award rankings set the gold standard. I
have tried to remind OBs of many Masters of the
era, to make fair judgments on the Headmasters
and to recall the key activities of the time – some
of which, like Drebley Camp and the Scouts –
have now disappeared. There are also chapters
about Governors, the OBA and the non-teaching
staff – whom I have called The Unsung Heroes.
It has been a pleasure to research and write the
kind of book which, in truth, is never finished. No
sooner is it written than some former pupil pops
up with more important information. A number of
contemporaries have helped me and my former
teacher and mentor, Raymond Shaw-Smith, has
given me both constant encouragement and
acute observations on the manuscript. It will
appear in the Autumn, be available through the
OBA office, and all proceeds will go to the Titus
Oates Bursary Fund.
I hope OBs will enjoy it and support it.
David Moore
11
12
OLDBRADFORDIAN REUNIONS & DINNERS
SUMMER 2011
SUMMER 2011
REUNIONS & DINNERS OLDBRADFORDIAN
oxford & cambridge reunion
SATURDAY 13 NOVEMBER 2010
london club
PRESIDENT’S REPORT 2010
The Club enjoyed another good year in 2010, with steady
attendances at our Tuesday dinners at the Devereux and a very
successful Ladies’ Night Dinner at the Carlton Club, during
which informative and entertaining speeches were given by the
Headmaster, Stephen Davidson, and by our Guest Speaker and Old
Bradfordian, James Williams. We were also delighted to welcome
Stephen and Carol’s son Jamie and hope that, in due course, should
he ever emigrate to London, he will join our merry band of exiles,
which grew during the year with the addition of new members
John Shaw (1935-45), Peter Widd (1955-63), Giles Dobson (198898), Charlotte Newton (1998-2000) and John Kennedy (1938-46).
Other activities included the now traditional informal get-together
at the end of July and an outing to Lords to watch Yorkshire beat
Middlesex by 8 wickets in the Clydesdale Bank 40 competition. Old
Bradfordian Ajmal Shazad (1996-2002), having been awarded his
County Cap in April, played a key part in restricting Middlesex, then
for Yorkshire Jacques Rudolph scored 86 not out and Andrew Gale
39 in a partnership of 101 for the first wicket. Following the exciting
one day match at the Oval in 2009, an annual visit to a Yorkshire
game is set to become a regular feature in our calendar. The next
date is 10 August 2011, Middlesex v Yorkshire at Lords. If you
want to join us, contact myself (mick_stringer@hotmail.com), David
Greaves (greavesdj@hotmail.com) or Geoffrey Lister (glister@onetel.
com). A reminder, too, that the 2011 Ladies’ Night Dinner will be
at the Carlton Club on the 25 November. Again, contact myself or
Geoffrey if you wish to attend.
Rhys are making good progress towards their GCSEs, but even
more gratifying to learn that all three are developing into fine, wellrounded young men. Additionally, a contribution of £100 was made
to the new Titus Oates Memorial Fund. After last year’s ‘bumper
crop’ of applicants for post-graduate funding, the Drummond
Committee decided to make only one award this year – again to
Rebecca Crabtree, who is excelling at her architectural studies. It
was encouraging to hear that a previous Sixth Form scholar, Alice
Horsey, and recipients of Drummond awards Chris Bentley, Lila
Palmer, Ashley Wright and Sophie Wellings are all making good
progress in their chosen careers.
The Club’s finances saw a further welcome recovery, yielding a
robust income stream that enabled us to maintain the subsidy for
our social activities, to continue our support of our Sixth Form
scholar, Ben Law, and to make a £2,000 contribution to the Robert
Miura Bursary Fund, which is currently assisting two boys, Adam
Atkinson and Rhys Dandy. It was good to see that Ben is already
receiving offers of places from top universities and that Adam and
The London Club are inviting Old Bradfordians to apply for the Drummond
Studentship 2011. The Studentship assists former pupils of BGS to continue
any postgraduate studies in the furtherance of their careers that will do honour
to the School and to themselves. Applicants should email chad.woodward@
bis.gsi.gov.uk or write to the President, Mick Stringer at 36 Sherbourne Drive,
Maidenhead, SL6 3EP. The closing date for applications is 31 July.
The annual Old Bradfordians’ Association
Oxford and Cambridge dinner took
place on Saturday 13 November 2010 at
Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge.
Attendance was considerably higher than
in previous years, with 48 guests
assembling from 7pm in the Senior
Combination Room for pre-dinner
drinks. It was pleasing to see
among the guests many recent
School leavers together with OBs
who had come over from Oxford
for the evening.
After dinner, our host Professor David
Riches (1950-61), Director of Studies in
Medicine at Caius, spoke about the College
and his own career; he was followed by
the OBA President-elect, Gordon Green,
standing in for the President, Dr Gavin
Craig, who was unfortunately unable to
be present. The Headmaster then spoke
about the continuing progress of the new
developments at the School.
After the speeches, many of the assembled
company repaired to the College bar.
Particular thanks go to Professor Riches
for his role in organising the event at the
College during term time and securing an
excellent menu, wines and venue which
were greatly appreciated by all who
attended.
The 2011 reunion will be held
at St Hilda’s College, Oxford on
Saturday 29 October and we
very much welcome all OBs who
have a connection with Oxford or
Cambridge on that occasion.
In conclusion, I would like to thank all the members of the
Committee and the Trustees of the Drummond Fund for their
support and hard work during the year. Particular thanks are due to
David Park, whose efforts in maintaining the membership database
are little short of Herculean, to Geoffrey Lister, who had to overcome
broken bones and a torn retina to keep our administrative and
secretarial arrangements on track, and to my predecessor, Chris
Parkin, for his three diligent and productive years as President.
Finally, a special thank you to all our members, regular, irregular and
thoroughly eccentric, because without your goodwill and support the
Club would not exist at all.
Dominic Crossley (1987-96)
Hoc Age – or, as they say in these less classical times, ‘Keep it up!’
Mick Stringer (1955-61) President
1970s reunion
1940s reunion
SATURDAY 9TH OCTOBER 2010
SATURDAY 21 MAY 2011
Twenty-three OBs and their guests attended the 1970s Reunion which
was held at BGS on 9 October 2010. Every year from the decade was
represented with the earliest entry to the School being 1960 and the
latest year of departure 1984.
I am pleased to be able to write that on Saturday 21 May we had
another great turnout to this popular event in the OBA calendar. This
year saw 63 people attending the 1940s Reunion Lunch.
Our usual April slot had been usurped
by the Royal wedding and the shameful
exploits of those in power according us
an extra Public Holiday; May it therefore
had to be for the 1940s gathering.
The event started with lunchtime drinks in the Pavilion. The OBs and
their guests were welcomed by the Headmaster, Stephen Davidson,
and his wife before the entire company sat down to lunch. No time was
lost in swapping memories and stories, and the conversation flowed as
freely as the wine. The scheduled 1st XV rugby match against Leeds
Grammar School had had to be cancelled because of Yorkshire County
commitments but prefects conducted tours of the School after lunch.
Other than the new buildings which have appeared since the 1970s, the
most popular parts of the tour were to those areas of the School where
access had been denied as pupils. The Masters’ Common Room figured
highly in the talk over afternoon tea in the D H Room as did those parts of
the School that had disappeared and those that hadn’t changed at all.
All of the OBs said what an enjoyable occasion it had been and for some
of them it was their first return to the School since leaving as a pupil.
Ken Wootton (1964-71)
The school was set up for exams so the
drinks reception was held on the Sixth
Form Centre balcony. The balcony is large but as with all good house
parties (where people tend to congregate in the kitchen - irrespective of
how much space elsewhere is available!) most people congregated at
the entrance. Some great conversation ensued and it took some time to
get people into the dining room where a great lunch was served.
Organising this event, the menu was in my hands and I chose a spicy
parsnip soup to start followed by an excellent buffet and a fine lunch
was rounded off by a good apple crumble with lashings of custard. I did
notice things got a little quieter when the crumble was served!
Our speaker was Stan Hall (MBE) (1937-43) who gave us all a great
flavour of what it was like to attend BGS during the war years; it was
very entertaining indeed; many thanks to Stan for this.
Finally I would like to thank Charity Orviss for organising the logistics of
the event, dispatching invitations etc, top job Charity! Of course thanks
must be also accorded to Geoff, Debbie, Ruth and the whole catering
team who did us proud on the day.
As always it was a pleasure for me to see so many people at this event
and I look forward to a great turnout in 2012. Next year’s event will be
on Saturday 21 April 2012 at midday.
James Williams (1980-1990)
13
14
OLDBRADFORDIAN REUNIONS & DINNERS
SUMMER 2011
SUMMER 2011
REUNIONS & DINNERS OLDBRADFORDIAN
north american reunion
TORONTO 15 TO 17 OCTOBER 2010
It hardly seems necessary to report on
this year’s North American Reunion,
as everything went like clockwork in
accordance with the itinerary. However,
for the benefit of non-North American
members, some of whom may wish to join
us in the future, I would like to cover the
event with a short report and thank all those
who participated.
Early on the Friday evening we were
treated to pre-dinner refreshments at the
Epic Bar in the Royal York Hotel courtesy
of the School, and I would like to thank
those responsible for this generous
gesture. Dinner was served in a small
dining area with a capacity of 14 people,
which happened to be the exact number
of members present at the time. It also
happened to be the exact place where
members enjoyed their first meal together
in September 2002 at the first ever OBA
reunion in North America.
annual dinner & agm
SATURDAY 15 JANUARY 2011
Around 210 Old Bradfordians and their
guests gathered at BGS for the Annual
Dinner and Annual General Meeting of the
Old Bradfordians’ Association. It is believed
that this was a record turnout for the event!
Members and their guests began to arrive
from 6pm and availed themselves of the
traditional well-stocked bar in the Price
Hall. The OBA was delighted to welcome as
guests of honour Alderman David Wootton
(1960-69), a Sheriff and future Lord Mayor
of the City of London, Lord St Oswald,
Deputy Lieutenant for West Yorkshire, the
Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Peter
Hill, and other civic dignitaries, who were
entertained in the Douglas Hamilton Room.
At around 7pm the Master of Ceremonies,
Nick Green (1988-95), son of the incoming
OBA President Gordon Green, announced
the commencement of dinner.
During the meal the outgoing President, Dr
Gavin Craig, took wine with various groups
of diners and it was gratifying to see that
every headmastership from Dr Edwards
onwards continues to be represented at the
annual dinner.
After dinner came the Loyal Toast, followed
by the National Anthem, the presentation
of the Bacchus Cup and the brief affair of
the AGM itself. The Insignia of the Office
of OBA President were then transferred to
the incoming President who was toasted by
the outgoing President. In his response the
incoming President, Gordon Green, thanked
Gavin for his contribution to the Association
and, in proposing a toast to the School, paid
tribute to the work of Stephen Davidson
during his tenure of office.
The Headmaster spoke in response and
invited all to view the newly-opened and
cathedral-like Learning Link which connects
the Clarkson Building, the refurbished
Kenneth Robinson Building and the Alan
Jerome Building with the main School
building. The Headmaster’s speech was
particularly significant as it will be the last he
makes at an Annual Dinner as Headmaster.
Stephen Davidson leaves the School to take
up his new appointment as High Sheriff
of West Yorkshire at the end of 2011; the
OBA wishes him every success in this role
and thanks him for all he has done for the
Association and the School during his 15
years as Headmaster.
Ken Wootton (1964-71) then introduced his
namesake (but not relation), guest speaker
Alderman David Wootton, who gave a
fascinating insight into his present and future
roles in the City of London and revealed
that he had invited the School to provide
a ‘float’ in the annual Lord Mayor’s Parade
later this year. The new President thanked
all members and guests for their attendance
and the evening closed with the traditional
singing of Auld Lang Syne.
Thanks go to James Williams (1980-90),
accompanied as before by his glamorous
assistant, for hosting a very successful game
of stand-up bingo and for co-ordinating the
organisation of the event, Nick Green for
compering the evening, Anna Brown and
her quartet and John Hammond (1942-51)
for the musical accompaniment, Anita Craig
for the table decorations, Geoff Turner for
the ever-popular bar, and County Caterers
for providing an excellent spread once
again. Special thanks also go to the Tennis
Squad who provided invaluable assistance
throughout the evening.
Dominic Crossley (1987-96)
On the Saturday morning, 18 of us huddled
together in the Headmaster’s hotel suite for
the customary update on life at BGS. As
always, we were given seemingly unending
accounts of excellence and success in
a wide variety of pursuits both academic
and otherwise. It is quite incredible to look
at the progress being made with building
what must be some of the most impressive
facilities enjoyed by any school in the
country and, thanks largely to the support of
Old Bradfordians, no debt has been incurred
in financing these improvements.
In the afternoon, a party of us went to see
The Lightbox which is the new permanent
home of the Toronto International Film
Festival. This facility occupies the first
five floors of a large new condominium
development, and has escalators as well
as elevators serving restaurants, bars
and studios where some of our members
participated in a short demonstration of
sound effects. There is no charge to tour
The Lightbox, and it is envisaged that
organized tours will be made available in the
near future.
Following this, we walked to and along
the waterfront in excellent fall weather,
looking at the various sights and activities,
with Toronto Island as the backdrop. Our
walk ended back at the Royal York for
a pre-dinner cocktail hour hosted by the
Davidsons.
Dinner was at the Elephant and Castle
where our socializing continued over the
meal for several hours, and with a gesture
of celebration for Stephen’s birthday in the
form of a sumptuous dessert provided by
the restaurant.
Sunday morning (sadly our last day), ten of
us took the ferry to Toronto Island where
we had an excellent brunch at the Rectory
Café, followed by a short walk, again in
superb fall weather, before returning to the
mainland to say our goodbyes.
I would like to thank Renee Cousins who
was able to get preferential rates for all who
stayed at the Fairmont, and her husband,
Brian, for making himself available to drive
people to and from the airport.
We had a very good attendance for the
weekend, and were pleased to welcome
newcomers Martin White, Len Audaer and
Len’s fiancée, Rachel. Other attendees
were Phil and Jackie Brown, Dave and
Eleanor Huggins, Brian and Renee Cousins,
John and Helen Thwaite, Stephen, Carol
and Jamie Davidson, Chris Kelk, David and
Ceri Harris, John and Helen Scott and Miles
and Caroline Atkinson.
Regrets from Peter and Janet Jackson,
Harry and Fay Pullan, Patrick Craig and
Russell Taylor.
John Thwaite (1951-57)
recent
leavers’
reunion
TUESDAY 5 APRIL 2011
On the last Tuesday of the Spring Term the
BGS Pavilion was filled with Old Bradfordians
from the last five years. It is now a tradition
that the recent leavers are invited back to BGS
at the end of the Spring term for an informal
buffet lunch. For many it was the first time
that they had seen the Learning Link and for
one or two it was the first time that they had
been in the Pavilion. A short welcome by the
Headmaster was followed by lunch and lots
of chat as former pupils caught up on each
others’ news and stories.
north
american
spring reunion
28 & 29 MAY 2011
I am pleased to report that we had another
enjoyable Spring Reunion. The change of Saturday
venue from the now closed Queens Arms and
Maharani restaurant to Scruffy Murphy’s Irish Pub
had little effect on the proceedings, despite the
large number of people who turned out to watch
the Ultimate Fighting Championship being aired
on a restricted TV sports channel at the pub. We
had twelve attendees on the Saturday including
my daughter and my nine month old grandson.
We were also pleased to have Martin White join us
from Ann Arbor, Michigan. With regular attenders
David and Ceri Harris from London, Ontario, and
Peter Jackson from St. John, New Brunswick, we
had almost as many out of towners as locals here
for the weekend.
On the Sunday, we had our usual brunch at
the Muddy Duck restaurant with eight of us in
attendance.
Those present on either or both days included
Miles and Caroline Atkinson, David and Ceri
Harris, Brian and Renee Cousins, Peter
Jackson, Martin White, John Scott, Harry
Pullan and John and Helen Thwaite, daughter
Alex and grandson Xander.
This year’s North American reunion will be
hosted by Phil and Jackie Brown in Dallas,
Texas from 14 to 16 October. As this will
be Stephen Davidson’s last North American
Reunion before he retires we would like to see
as many Old Bradfordians there as possible.
John Thwaite (1951-57)
15
16
OLDBRADFORDIAN OBITUARIES
SUMMER 2011
jim normington
Jim Normington (1941-49) an accomplished documentary
film-maker, died of cancer on 6 June, 2010, aged 79. Jim
always spoke of his old school with affection, remembering
in particular the legendary English Master Stanley Glassey,
and the linguist Frank Witham, who inspired his life-long
interest in bird-watching. Jim studied photography at
the Regent Street Polytechnic, afterwards training with
Technicolor and World Wide Pictures; his subsequent
career as a documentary film maker involved world-wide
travel. As a freelance cameraman, he filmed cinema
travelogues and many award-winning documentaries
for church organisations. For some time he managed
the Film Department of John Laing, the Construction
Company, while in recent years he worked as a Director/
Scriptwriter. An accredited Stills Photographer, he took
many photographs for his local park in Beckenham, the sale of which as greetings cards provided it with extra revenue. His love of his
native county remained – appropriately his ashes have been scattered in Yorkshire. He leaves a widow, Karla, and three children.
David Hill (1950-59) died on 27 September, 2010, aged 68. David was well-known in OBA circles,
serving on the Entertainments Committee for a number of years and regularly attending Annual
Dinners. He was a Director of FW Bishop & Son Ltd, Wholesale Distributors of confectionery,
tobacco and soft drinks, where he worked alongside Richard Bishop, a contemporary at BGS,
for 45 years. David was born in Missouri, arriving as a youngster in the UK during the Second
World War; at BGS he was a keen member of the CCF, reaching the rank of Quartermaster
Sergeant. In the early 1960s he was leader of St Barnabas’ Youth Fellowship, one of Bradford’s
most successful Youth Clubs. A keen snooker player and, more recently, a Rotarian, David was a
popular figure and will be sorely missed. He leaves a widow, Stephanie, a son and a daughter.
j w firth
J W Firth (1940-48) died in Manchester on 20
February, 2011, aged 81. After BGS, he read
Classics at Pembroke College, Oxford, and was
a teacher of Classics.
noel
tillotson
rt rev alan smithson
Rt Rev Alan Smithson (1948-56), a forthright, distinguished and much-loved churchman, died on 17 June, 2010, aged 73 after some months of failing health. After
BGS and two years’ national service as a Medical Orderly in the RAF, Alan went to The Queen’s College, Oxford, where he read Greats. He then went to Queen’s
College, Birmingham for his theological training. Alan’s life then blossomed with a series of appointments: Curate at Christ Church, Skipton, Curate at the University
Church, Oxford, Chaplain at The Queen’s College, Oxford, from 1969 to 1972, Chaplain at Reading University from 1972 to 1977 and Vicar of Bracknell from 1977
to 1983. He became Team Rector from 1983 to1984, then Canon Residentiary of Carlisle Cathedral and Director of Diocesan Training from 1985 to 1990. He
was appointed Suffragan Bishop of Jarrow in 1990 where he remained until his retirement in 2001. Retirement did not mean the end of his ministry as Alan gave
his services in Creetown and Musselburgh where he went to live to enjoy much free time water colour painting. His active working life was largely dedicated to
encouraging and challenging young people. Alan is survived by his wife Jean, four children and two grandchildren.
derek b
david pennington
fieldhouse
Derek B Fieldhouse (1935-44) a resident
of Cumbria, who attended the 1940s
reunions, has died aged 83.
David Pennington, a BGS teacher of PE and
Games (with some English and Geography) from
1961 to 1991, died on 22 May, 2010. After
training at Carnegie College, he taught in the
Senior School until 1978, during which time his
record of success with U13 XV and the 1st XI
was remarkable – he was a fine coach, with a
natural aptitude for passing on his knowledge
of both games. David was a fine all-rounder
himself who played fly half for Keighley RUFC
and represented Keighley in the Bradford Cricket
League. He once told his colleague, Donald
Haigh, that his proudest moment had been to
open the batting, as a 16 year old, for Keighley
with Eddy Paynter, the former Lancashire and
England cricketer. After 1978, he transferred
to the Junior School at Clock House, where it
was soon apparent that he was ideally suited
to teaching younger pupils and he continued
to achieve great success with the junior teams.
David was wholehearted and committed in
everything he undertook – many senior pupils,
who were not given to exercise will remember
the skilful rigour David brought to his job.
keith bolgar peter bolton
john l riley
John Riley (1938-48) died on 1 March,
2011, aged 80. He studied medicine
at Edinburgh University and, after
National Service in Singapore with the
Royal Army Medical Corps, he worked
as a GP in Rawdon from 1957 until his
retirement in 1990. A keen scout, he
had fond memories of the legendary W
E Clarkson’s 2nd Scout Troop.
Keith Bolgar (1942-50) a former veterinary
surgeon in Settle, died on 30 April, 2010.
His wife of 52 years, Olwyn, believes he was
the first veterinary student that Bradford
Grammar produced, much to the disapproval
of the then Headmaster, R B Graham, a
classicist. A scholar, he switched from
Arts to Science subjects in the Sixth Form,
taking Maths, Physics and Chemistry for the
Higher School Certificate. He passed ‘A’
level Biology during National Service in order
to gain acceptance at Liverpool Veterinary
School. Keith, therefore, had a rounded
education, which enabled him to bridge the
divide in the two cultures. Keith was active
in his local community life; his lovely sense of
humour endeared him to many former friends
who attended the 1940s’ reunions.
OBITUARIES OLDBRADFORDIAN
david hill
We offer our sincere condolences to the families and friends of the
following Old Bradfordians who have died within the last twelve months.
­
SUMMER 2011
Peter Bolton (1954-62) died of cancer on
21 May, 2010, aged 65. Born in Shipley,
after attending BGS, Peter graduated from
Manchester University with a BSc in Civil
Engineering. He joined Alfred McAlpine & Son
in 1967 as an engineer, and was transferred
to Johannesburg, South Africa, in 1969:
during his 13 years there, he worked on key
projects in varied locations. From 1982 he
worked for McAlpine’s American operations,
later running a Sand and Gravel Company in
Montgomery, AL. When McAlpines bought
Blythe Construction in 1990, Peter was
transferred to Charlotte, where he became
the Safety Director. Peter leaves a wife Joan,
three children and seven grandchildren. His
recreations were golf, reading and travel.
Noel Tillotson (1939-47), a resident of
Weeton, died on 4 February, 2011, aged
81. Noel was particularly known for his
swimming, having represented Yorkshire and
England. He is survived by his wife, Ruth.
robert r
foulds
Robert Foulds (1934-42), a resident of Ripon,
died on 20 June, 2010. He had attended
School with his brothers, David and Peter, who
are also deceased.
peter e
simonard
Peter E Simonard (1939-49) a resident of Ilkley,
died on 19 December, 2010, aged 78. He
leaves a widow, Mrs D C Simonard.
michael
snow
Michael Snow (1942-50) a resident of Carnforth,
died on 4 August, 2010, aged 76.
j derek
wills
J Derek Willis (1942-47) died in August, 2010,
aged 79. Derek, a life-long member of the
OBA and staunch Bradfordian, was a retired
executive with Sports Tesco, PLC.
oliver lee
jim jones
Oliver Lee (1993-2000) died on 24 April,
2011, aged 29. Oliver studied modern
languages at Nottingham University,
subsequently training as a civil aviation pilot,
with experience on Spanish Airlines and
Manx2 before more recently joining Jet2 and
undergoing further training to fly 737s. He
died in tragic circumstances, and we send our
deepest sympathy to his family.
Jim Jones died on 17 October, 2010 – he had been suffering from prostate cancer. Jim was a
popular Physics teacher at BGS in the mid sixties, leaving for a one year spell at Grange School,
and then returning from 1968 to 1972. His close colleague, Ian Stoney, writes:
‘After BGS, he had a varied career, initially as Head of the Science Department at Huddersfield
New College, then as a Headmaster in Dewsbury, and from 1989 for the University of Cambridge
International Examinations Syndicate, in 2004 taking responsibility for the Botswana GCSE, being
based in Gaberone. At BGS, he proved an inspirational teacher, especially with less able pupils,
and successfully introduced ‘A’ Level Engineering Science; he also coached U12 XV rugby and
was in the team of Dales Way pioneers with Peter Kewley and Malcolm Greenwood.’
thornton
haley
Thornton Haley (1943-50) died in October,
2010, aged 77. He entered the Junior School
in form 1A, when it was based at St Peter’s. A
resident of Oakenshaw, he attended the 1940s
reunions, which he greatly enjoyed. He is
survived by his wife, Margaret.
lt col allan
middleship
(‘bill’) cooper
Lt Col Allan Middleship (‘Bill’) Cooper, who was
a pupil at BGS in the late 1920s, died at the
age of 97 on 6 May 2010. He had led a very
active life and was living on his own without
any help until a few months before he died. He
attended Sandhurst after BGS and his interests
were travel and literature.
j v nettleton
J V Nettleton (1943-50) died on 18 May, 2010,
aged 77, in Knutsford, Cheshire.
james
hamilton
berry
James Hamilton Berry (1937-40) died on 18 May 2011 aged 88. Jim as he was known
enjoyed a classical education at BGS which it is said stuck with him all his life. After BGS
Jim followed in his father’s footsteps and went to work at Barclays Bank in Bradford. As
soon as he was old enough he joined the RAF where he completed his training and went
on to join 100 Squadron who had the motto ‘Don’t stir up the Hornet’s Nest’. There he
flew a complete tour of operations for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
in 1944. Jim met his wife Margaret in the RAF where she worked in Flying Control. In
1946 Jim left the RAF and returned to Barclays Bank where he remained for the rest of his
working life. He retired in 1982 and was able to enjoy his many interests which included
golf, travel, opera, cars, wine-making and gardening. Jim is survived by his wife Margaret,
their sons Stephen and Michael, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. At his
funeral the Hawk jet fighters of 100 Squadron, Royal Air Force, led by Squadron Leader
Alan Dolding, carried out a tribute flypast.
17
18
OLDBRADFORDIAN OBITUARIES
roy stroud
Roy Stroud (1929-33) JP, OBE, a prominent
businessman of the Jewish community, died in
April, 2011, aged 90. He was also educated
at Mill Hill School and L’Institut Britannique,
Paris. He had distinguished war service
in the Royal Artillery; he survived the North
African campaign despite severe injuries and
was promoted Major. After demobilization in
1945, he attended Bradford Technical College
as a part-time student to obtain a diploma
in textiles. He was to succeed his father as
Chairman of the family business: the company
was to win the Queen’s Award for Export. He
was energetic in the life of the community – a
JP, Chairman of Bradford Wool and Textile
Confederation, Director of the National
Provincial Bank, Freemason, Rotarian and
Life President of Bradford Synagogues. He is
survived by his sons and 13 grandchildren, his
wife having predeceased him.
frank wade
Frank Wade, a BGS Master from 1985 to 1995,
died on 4 April, 2011. Dave Fishwick, Head of
Maths at BGS, writes as follows:
‘When Frank joined the Maths department in
1985, as a former head of department and chief
examiner for the JMB, he brought with him a
wealth of experience. His quiet, authoritative
and well-informed teaching style earned the
respect of colleagues and pupils alike. Frank’s
meticulous attention to detail was highlighted by
the worked solutions that he had produced to
every relevant Maths exam in the previous twenty
years or so. Frank was a keen cricketer and
bridge player: he was a permanent fixture at the
Common Room bridge table at lunchtimes. He
retired at the age of 64 in 1991. A kind, gentle
man and ‘one of the old school’ of teachers,
Frank will be sorely missed by his friends.’
SUMMER 2011
Arthur Bentley (1944-50) died on 2 September,
2010 – a retired accountant, as Hon Auditor
he gave assistance to the OBA Treasurer, Paul
Smith. His son John writes:
‘My father Arthur Bentley was a pupil at the
school in the 1940s and attended many OBA
functions, where he was pleased to see his
former contemporaries. He was very proud
of being a pupil at the School – especially for
his rugby skills – and went on to referee for
Yorkshire.’
phillip l
keith
hargreaves storr
tony stokes
Tony Stokes (1969-77) a successful and energetic businessman, died suddenly on 7 April, 2011,
after a heart attack, aged 52. He studied Management Science at Bradford University, and later
gained a Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing from the Institute of Marketing. Thereafter, he
spent the whole of his career with the Minnesota Mining and Marketing Company (3M); his early
career was spent in the UK, Asia and Europe. More recently, he was 3M’s Managing Director
in Russia before returning in 2008 to 3M’s HQ in St Paul, Minnesota, as Vice President and
General Manager of the Automative Division. A sports lover, Tony made frequent trips to follow
the fortunes of England’s cricket team. His loving wife, Mary, survives him.
percy louis carroll
Percy Louis Carroll (1928-33) FRICS, a wellknown expert on Town and Country Planning
and regular contributor to the Yorkshire Post,
died in April, 2011, aged 94. An able pupil, he
was offered a County continuation scholarship
to enable him to enter the Sixth Form when his
father died, but instead left school at the age
of 15 to take up the offer of articles with a firm
of Auctioneers and Valuers. He passed his
exams with distinction, being placed second
in the whole country when he achieved his
professional qualification. He saw war service
with the Royal Tank Corps. When in 1947 the
Town and Country Planning Act became law,
his expert knowledge of its contents made him
a speaker much in demand by professional
bodies. In 1950 he joined Waterhouse and
Nephews as a partner, and when the firm
merged with Eddison’s in 1967, retired soon
afterwards at the age of 53. Two years later
he returned to join the Property and Estates
Division of the Department of the Environment,
where he remained until retirement age. He
was much in demand as an after-dinner
speaker, while his favourite recreation was
bird-watching. He was a well-organised man,
meticulously recording clippings of his articles.
Louis Carroll was unmarried.
OBITUARIES OLDBRADFORDIAN
professor geoffrey bownas brian wood
arthur
bentley
Keith Hargreaves (1946-53) studied Classics and
was a Scholar of Oriel College, Oxford. After
leaving Oxford, he went to Manchester University
to take a Dip.Ed; he became a classics master
at Colchester Royal Grammar and then Head of
Department. Later he became Deputy Head and
for a year Acting Head. Keith died suddenly on
31 July, 2010. He had fond memories of Drebley
camp and enjoyed involvement in the East Riding
Farming Scheme.
SUMMER 2011
Phillip Storr (1943-50), is survived by his
brother Chris Storr (1949-59), who writes
as follows:
‘Philip died in Hamilton, Bermuda, on 4
August, 2010, at the age of 76. He was
the eldest of three brothers who attended
BGS over a 20 year period from 1943, but
was predeceased by his youngest brother
Richard, a fighter pilot in the RAF, who
was killed in a flying accident in 1971 aged
25. A restless and solitary individual, he
nevertheless achieved great distinction in
his chosen profession of the law.
Leaving school at 16, he was articled to
Harry Wall, one of the founding partners
of Turner and Wall, the Keighley solicitors.
After qualifying, and national service as an
officer in the Royal Navy, where he saw
action off Cyprus, he went into private
practice in Dewsbury. Success in criminal
law led him into local authority work, with
Dewsbury Borough, Bradford City and
Essex County Councils. He then decided
to return to the private sector, becoming a
partner successively in two of Chelmsford’s
leading firms. Whilst in Chelmsford – never
having been to university – he began parttime study for a law degree at the City of
London Polytechnic. Having graduated, he
resigned his partnership in order to read for
the Bar, becoming a member of the Inner
Temple. On being called, he was quickly
appointed deputy head of his Chambers
and a Recorder on the Eastern Circuit.
Thwarted by the English legal establishment
in his desire to take silk, he decided to
look elsewhere for advancement, and
soon secured appointment as Chief Crown
Counsel to the Government of Bermuda.
After several years in this post, he became
a puisne judge of the Bermudan Supreme
Court, where he served well beyond the
normal age of retirement until a few weeks
before he died.
A keen sportsman, with particular interests
in Formula 1, and golf, he was perhaps
happiest in Bermuda, where he could
indulge his passion for the latter to the full.
He was devoted to his four children and
nine grand children.’
Professor Geoffrey Bownas (1933-42) CBE, a linguistic polymath, who devoted a lifetime to
scholarship and the furtherance of Anglo-Japanese relations, died on 17 February, 2011,
aged 88. A classicist, he won a Hastings scholarship to The Queen’s College, Oxford,
achieving a first in both Classical Moderations and Greats; his academic studies, however,
had been interrupted by the war, during the course of which he was ‘volunteered’ to study
Japanese, spending part of the war at Bletchley Park, cracking the Japanese codes. He
later achieved a first in Chinese and spent a lengthy period of study in China. His major
achievements, however, were to establish Japanese departments at both Oxford and
Sheffield – the latter was to become a key centre used by the Foreign Office. Many of
his students went on to have distinguished careers in
business and diplomacy. A regular broadcaster, he was
also an interpreter at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 1964
and was at Expo 70 in Kyoto. A devoted choral singer
and a keen follower of cricket (having once pulled a pint
for Fred Trueman), he is survived by his wife, Wiesia
Janina, and two daughters from a previous marriage.
james
douglas
kenningham
James Douglas Kenningham (1938-47) died on
8 June, 2010. He leaves behind a widow.
philip
duxbury
Philip Duxbury (1941-44) a successful
businessman, died in early 2011, aged 82.
At the age of 16, he joined Magnet Joinery, a
family business, which manufactured window
frames. During the 1950s he managed the
Magnet factory in Birmingham for 10 years,
returning to Yorkshire with his family, when a
new factory was to be built in Keighley and
when Magnet Joinery merged with Southern
Evans, eventually to become Magnet and
Southerns PLC. During his 30 years in
the organisation, he served on the board,
eventually becoming its managing director
(the company entered the FTSE 100 in 1984).
Philip also became a director of the Bradford
and Bingley Building Society, becoming its
chairman in 1988. Local councillor, founder
and board member of the Yorkshire Clinic, he
also took a close interest in the Congregational
Church of East Morton. He is survived
by his wife Katherine, three sons and six
grandchildren.
Brian Wood (1945-1951) a keen supporter
of OBA Dinners, died on Saturday 13
November, 2010, at the age of 77. Brian,
a resident of Bradford, had been a wool
merchant by profession. He was a
member of Heaton Tennis and Squash
Club, where he played tennis, and was also
a keen supporter of Bradford Salem Rugby
Club. He will be sadly missed. He leaves
a widow, Christine.
peter birkett
Peter Birkett (1925-35) died on 19 May, 2010,
aged 92. He was a contemporary of Denis
Healey. His son John (1950-61) says:
‘His love was rugby and sport and he suitably
inspired my brother Richard and me, both keen
rugby players, to the extent of cleaning our
rugby boots each week so we could glide over
the mud! He was proud of his old school and
always took a keen interest in its affairs while
we were pupils and subsequently.’
john k
group
cheverton
captain
geoffrey
womersley
Michael Sharpe, Deputy Head, writes as
follows:
Group Captain Geoffrey Womersley, a highly
decorated wartime bomber pilot, died on 28
October, 2010; he was awarded two DSOs
and a DFC and was described as one of the
most fearless pilots of Bomber Command’s
Pathfinder Force during the Second World
War. Born in Bingley, the son of a mill
owner who wanted him to enter the family
business, instead he opted to join the RAF,
training as a pilot at the RAF’s flying school
in Egypt. He reached the rank of Group
Captain, flew countless missions, some of
which called for incredible daring and skill;
he was later given responsibility for Bomber
training. After leaving the RAF in November
1945, he became a distinguished civilian
pilot with BOAC, eventually retiring in 1968
as a senior Boeing 707 captain. A scratch
golfer in his youth, he continued playing until
he was 91, when injury forced him to retire.
He was predeceased by his wife, Dorothy –
their marriage had spanned 63 years.
‘John joined BGS in January 1984, having
studied Zoology at Oxford University and
undertaken research for his DPhil. John
used Room 23 (now an Art room) throughout
his time here, which housed Monty, his pet
python. He was the instigator of 6th Form
residential fieldwork in Biology and ran
the Biological Society; John also was the
leader of the Christian Fellowship, initiating
and co-ordinating the Health Education
programme. John moved to Oakham School
in 1989 to be Head of Biology, where he had a
successful career for over 21 years. He died in
early October, having suffered a severe stroke.’
kevin
holling
Kevin Holling, a former keen member of the
Boat Club Parents’ Association, has died. He
was closely involved, along with his wife Pat,
with the Boat Club in the 1980s and was a key
figure in the building of the landing stage, after
the completion of the new Boat House.
richard jowett
Richard Jowett, a Maths teacher at BGS from 1983 to 1991, died in Truro in July 2010, aged
60. Richard, a graduate of Salford University with a First in Mathematics and Physics, had
taught in Bury and at Oulder Hill Community School, Rochdale. Richard loved the academic
challenge of BGS in comparison with his previous schools. He and his wife Anne both took
up posts at Marlborough College in 1991, where they remained until 2004. Sadly, ill health
prevented his enjoyment of retirement to the full. He is remembered with great affection as a
gifted and charismatic teacher and a very good form master.
19
20
OLDBRADFORDIAN SPORT
SUMMER 2011
james
midgley
middlesex v
yorkshire
(2002-10)
LORDS, 10 AUGUST 2011
BGS 1st X1 Captain
from 2009 to 2010,
James Midgley,
will keep wicket for
Baildon Cricket Club
1st X1 for their 2011
season. James is
currently in his first
year at Manchester
University studying
Social & Economic
Science with Politics.
Members of the London Club welcome
you to join them at their now annual
outing to watch Yorkshire play cricket
at Lords. Last year Old Bradfordians
enjoyed watching Yorkshire beat
Middlesex by 8 wickets and this year
the Middlesex v Yorkshire Clydesdale
Bank 40 competition has again been
chosen. The match is on 10 August
and anyone wishing to attend should
email Mick Stringer, President of the
London Club, on
mick_stringer@hotmail.com
SUMMER 2011
SPORT OLDBRADFORDIAN
cricket
in the
1920s
OUR ARCHIVE
BGS is fortunate to have
in its archives a 1st XI
cricket blazer and cap from
1925. The blazer belonged
to Frank Lee Robinson
and was donated to BGS
by Mrs Beryl Wilson. The
blazer and cap are being
modelled by George
O’Hara, this year’s 1st XI
captain.
OBA XI v BGS 1st XI
2 JULY 2010
The annual fixture between the School and the Old Bradfordians was played on a lovely sunny July afternoon. The School won the toss and chose
to bat, to the dismay of the OBs, who seemed to consider such behaviour as unsportsmanlike. Nonetheless their bowlers, led by Sam Lawrence
and James Druce, were soon making inroads into the School’s upper order. Yorkshire Under 14 batsman Navjyot Devesher showed real maturity
in holding the innings together with a composed 57 and with support from James Wadkin raised the School’s total to 167.
The School’s hopes were raised with the early dismissal of the OB captain, Danny Groom (1987-94), but Khawer Ayub (2002-09) showed his class
with an elegant 56 and, despite the regular fall of wickets at the other end, the depth of batting in the OB team saw them home with three wickets
and three overs to spare. The Jack Ashley Trophy for Man of the Match was deservedly awarded to Khawer for his match-winning innings.
OLD BRADFORDIANS’ TEAM:
Danny Groom (captain) (1987-94), Jonty Poward (2006-08), Khawer Ayub (2002-09), Joe Lawrence (1998-08), Josh Dangerfield (1996-06), Varun
Devesher (1998-09), Umair Khan (1999-09), Richard Harland (1991-2001), James Druce (1994-2001), Sam Lawrence (1996-2006), James Thornton
(1998-2009) and Manager and 12th Man Matthew Anderson (1984-95).
OB TEAM BEAT BGS BY 3 WICKETS
BGS 167
Devesher 54, Wadkin 29, Asif 21;
S Lawrence 2-10, J Druce 2-33
OB
168-7
K Ayub 56, J Poward 28;
Wadkin 2-28, Rashid 2-29, Asif 2-31
rugby
OBA V BGS, 4 SEPTEMBER 2010
A sunny September afternoon saw the BGS 1st XV rugby team do battle
against the OB XV. The OB team, captained by Harry John Rowan
(1999-2010), won convincingly, beating the BGS 1st XV 26 to 12. The
OB try scorers were Will Lund (2001-2010), Oli Shaw (1999-2010), Danny
Crowther (1999-2010) and Nadir Zairi (1999-2010). Two of the tries were
converted by Oli Shaw. The match was very competitive and was played
in excellent spirit owing not least to the fact that most of the players had
recently returned from the rugby tour to South Africa. BGS Director of
Rugby Charlie Linfield said that there was a lot of talent on display and
that an unusually fit OB team had the added advantage of being bigger
and stronger in the forwards. When BGS got the ball they looked sharp
but the shortened game suited the OB team who proved to be just too
strong up front.
From top left: James Thornton (1998-2009), James Cunnington (20022010), Will Vickers (2003-2010), Harry John Rowan (c) (1999-2010),
Nadir Zairi (1999-2010), Will Lund (2001-2010), Harry Garforth (20032008) and Stephen Sides (2005-2010).
From bottom left: Danny Crowther (1999-2010), Amesh Ahir (20032010), Jacob Stewart (2003-2010), Jamie Tones (2003-2010), Oli Shaw
(1999-2010), Joe Layton (2003-2010) and Nathan Danby (2002-2010).
netball
OBA V BGS
It was lovely to see the OB girls back in School and on the netball courts. The OB team, captained by Natasha Brayshaw (2003-2010) and Lucy
Melville (2003-2010), put up a good fight against the School 1st VII captained by Caroline Sharpe and Abi Secker. It was a closely contested match
until the last quarter when the BGS team pulled away. The match was played in excellent spirit and was very well supported. The final score was 31
to 22 to BGS and Alix Dunlop-Jones (2008-2010) was awarded girl of the match for the OB team.
Team: (in no particular order) Alix Dunlop-Jones (2008-10), Lucy Melville (2003-10), Sarah Whitehead (2005-10), Rebecca Hamill (2003-10), Natasha
Brayshaw (2003-10), Catrin Morgan (2003-10), Aiysha Puri (2000-10), Sarah Towne (2003-10) and Roisin Dennis (2004-10).
21
22
OLDBRADFORDIAN SPORT
SUMMER 2011
SUMMER 2011
SPORT OLDBRADFORDIAN
oba v bgs golf
WEDNESDAY 5 MAY 2011, SHIPLEY GOLF CLUB
This is always a most enjoyable fixture. The School team, captained by Charles Oxley, were
trying to overturn last year’s defeat. They still had a number of young players in the team, which
bodes well for the future.
All the matches were tightly contested with the Old Bradfordians managing to repeat their 2010
win by the same margin of 3 matches to 1.
Once again my thanks go to Grainne Heywood for selecting the School team and staying for the
meal after the golf.
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
swimming & water polo
OLD BRADFORDIANS
SCHOOL
Jimmy Greaves (1957-66)
David Ramsbottom (1968-77)
Won
5 & 4
Matthew Skelton
David Heslop
Michael Scarbrough (1957-63)
Graham Scarbrough (1954-63)
Won
1 up
Will Johnston
Jack Hoban
Roy Aspinall (Captain) (1956-65)
Phil Coote (1955-62)
Lost
2 & 1
Jamie Moss
Rowan Wright
Andrew Seal (1966-76)
Andrew Hoffbrand (1966-74)
Won
3 & 2
Anisah Rasul
Charles Oxley (Captain)
Overall Result 3 -1
Preceding the main event there was a
children’s race which was fiercely contested
by the nine children who raced. There
then followed the OBA v School swimming
match; the OBA swimmers, although very
enthusiastic, were decisively out swum by a
very strong School team. However losing so
many races did not dampen the spirits of the
OBs who tried by fair means or foul to gain an
advantage.
The water polo match was ‘men against boys’
because of the OBs’ greater experience and
strength. However the OBs were impressed
by the quality of the School team and
congratulated them on offering them some
good competition.
On behalf of the OBs, Stephen Moorhouse
(1974-84) thanked the School and asked
OBs to remember the contribution that Jack
Sanderson had made to the
advancement of swimming as a
school sport.
As well as seeing so many OBs in the water it
was great to see the gallery full of supporters
who had come to cheer on the OB team. A
fabulous afternoon in the pool was rounded off
by tea in the Sixth Form Centre.
The date for next year’s event has been
provisionally set for Sat 21 April 2012 so put
it in your diary now! OBs and their families,
are strongly encouraged to get involved in this
fantastic event, whether it’s to join in the family
swim or compete in the races. it really is good
fun for everyone.
football
OBA V BGS STAFF, 28 APRIL 2011
On a pleasant Thursday afternoon early in the Summer Term, a squad of OBs
convened on the all weather pitch at BGS for a rematch of an event last held over
a decade earlier. No one can be definite about what the score was when the two
sides last met, but nevertheless, for the OBs, the opportunity to go into combat
once again against the likes of Messrs Smith (AG and NR), Simpson, McCartney,
and Wilde was keenly anticipated.
The match started out as a tense and evenly contested affair, but following a mix
up at the heart of the staff back line, the old boys relaxed, and a gulf in class soon
emerged. The measured passing, pace, and close control of the Ropka brothers meant that the OBs were quick to respond whenever the staff
managed to sneak one in against the run of play, and the winning margin of three goals could easily have been greater. Post match rehydration
took place at the ‘Mucky Duck’, where there was time to both reminisce about the boys’ younger years, and get up to speed with what has
happened since.
No plans have been made for any further Staff v OB fixtures, though any expressions of interest will be warmly received by the OBA office.
OBs in attendance were Matt Clayton-Stead (1990-99), Peter Parker (1990-99), Mark Ropka (1993-99), Martin Ropka (1994-2002), Russell Hartman
(1991-99), Mark Overend (1991-99), Owen Tomkins (1994-2000) and James Swallow (1989-99).
baccus
cup
competition
From left to right: Jamie Moss, Phil Coote,
Roy Aspinall (Captain) and Rowan Wright
21 JULY 2010, SHIPLEY GOLF CLUB
The entry for this year’s competition was the best for a number of years and it was good to see a
number of new faces alongside many of the regulars. There were twenty-two Old Bradfordians
competing for the Bacchus Cup and six guests.
A heavy shower part way through the evening
did not dampen the spirits and with no wind
and receptive greens scoring was of a good
standard.
The winner of the Bacchus Cup, with
a total of 40 points, was Graham
Scarbrough (1954-63). Four players
scored 38 points but after a countback
over the front nine holes, last year’s
winner James Barker (1966-76) came
second. Third place went to John
Jagger (1945-55) and fourth place to Brett
Bannister (1983-92). The guest prize was
won by Paul Anderson with a score of 35
points.
30 SEPT 2010, HUNSTANTON
The 2010 finals of the Grafton Morrish
Tournament were held at Hunstanton and
Brancaster on 30 September and 1 & 2
October (Ryder Cup weekend). The Old
Bradfordians’ team chose Hunstanton, it
being a more prestigious event!
The team was hard hit again by work
commitments, partly because some of our
golfers were involved in various capacities with
the Ryder Cup. A real shame as this year we
had a team capable of progressing through
the early rounds. As it happened we had
to rely upon the ever reliable ‘subs’, Michael
Fieldhouse (1952-60), Michael Stewart (197887), Andrew Hoffbrand (1966-74) and myself,
together with Paul Rawcliffe (1979-87), to
field any sort of a team. A thousand thanks
to these guys who really did put themselves
out and although they thoroughly enjoyed the
event, we appreciate their support!
New caps Edward Oddy (1996-2004) and
Robert Charnock (1976-82) saw for the first
time what an event it is. The Grafton Morrish
Honours Board occupies pride of place in the
Hunstanton Club House. The fact that some
teams bring as many as 30 supporters really
goes to show how highly this tournament is
regarded in the public schools arena. BGS
needs to be there and competing!
OBA V BGS, 2 APRIL 2011
As is traditional the OBA Swimming and Water
Polo event got off to a gentle start with a
family swim. It was lovely to see so many Old
Bradfordians and their offspring having fun
before the serious stuff started. The event,
which took place on the Saturday before
Mothers’ Day, is a really lovely day in the Old
Bradfordian calendar and the inclusion of the
family swim before the competition starts really
adds to the enjoyment. It was particularly nice
to welcome three generations of Bentleys.
grafton
morrish golf
Having practised hard on the Thursday,
BGS were drawn against Tonbridge in
Round 1. With a far superior group of
handicaps they managed to squeeze us
out but not without a fight. Wounded,
but after a good afternoon socialising with
other schools watching the Ryder Cup, we
felt a little better watching the downpour
outside. An excellent evening was spent
at The Lifeboat with Tonbridge and others.
On Saturday we progressed to the Solihull
Salver round the beautiful links course of
Royal West Norfolk. Again we were lucky
with the weather and the company, and
had a very challenging competitive round.
I am pleased to report that on 15 May 2011
our scratch team of Jeremy Ridyard (1978-85),
Paul Rawcliffe, Edward Oddy, Richard Oddy
(1992-2001), Alex Modgill (1987-97) and Kevin
Pickersgill (1969-75) qualified for this year’s
Grafton Morrish finals at Hunstanton in third
place; it was a great effort in very testing windy
conditions. Well done to all!
Andrew Seal (1966-1976), Captain
The golf was followed by an excellent
dinner in the clubhouse.
Anyone wishing to play in 2011 should
contact Roy Aspinall on 01226 725409
or email royasp260747@aol.com.
Roy Aspinall (1956-65)
Team photo, left to right
Michael Stewart (1953-60), Robert
Charnock (1976-82), Paul Rawcliffe (197987), Michael Fieldhouse (1952-60), Edward
Oddy (1996-2004), Andrew Seal (1966-76)
23
OLDBRADFORDIAN SPORT - LONDON 2012
olympic
ambassador
ADRIAN MOORHOUSE (1972-82)
Adrian, who won a swimming gold medal in the 1988
Seoul Olympics, has been chosen by the British Olympic
Association to be a Team GB 2012 Ambassador. The
Ambassadors will be an integral part of Team GB leading up
to and during the London 2012 Olympics.
SUMMER 2011
triathlon
brothers
ALISTAIR BROWNLEE (1998-2006)
JONATHAN BROWNLEE (1998-2008)
cultural
olympiad
DAVID HOCKNEY (1948-52)
David Hockney will join a line-up of other distinguished artists to be featured in the 2012 Cultural
Olympiad which is being staged to mark the 2012 Olympic Games. The twelve week arts event
runs from Midsummer’s Day in June of the Olympic year to the last day of the Paralympics in
September 2012. More than 1,000 events will take place around the country as part of the
Cultural Olympiad including dance, theatre and film. A major exhibition of David Hockney’s work
will be on display at the Royal Academy of Arts during the Olympiad.
The painting shown was created by David Hockney especially for the
announcement on his iPad.
olympic preparations
ROGER MOSEY (1966-76), BBC DIRECTOR, LONDON 2012
Roger Mosey is the BBC Director for London 2012. He has previously worked as Editor of
BBC Radio 4’s Today programme and Controller of BBC Radio 5 Live.
Roger writes:
‘Leading the BBC’s coverage of the Olympic Games was probably not the job most people
would have imagined for me when I was at Bradford Grammar School. I wasn’t a fan of the
way BGS then did sport, and my interests were all outside - at Valley Parade, Odsal and
Headingley. But a broadcasting career that began in news led me further into sport, and it
feels logical from where I’ve worked so far that the Olympics are next on the agenda.
I say ‘Olympics’ but my team is actually looking at 2012 as a whole. So that includes not
just the 17 days of sport but the Torch relay, the Cultural Olympiad, the Paralympics – and
a Diamond Jubilee, marking the first time we’ve celebrated a monarch reigning for 60 years
since Queen Victoria in 1897. The Royal Wedding in April this year was quite an occasion,
but next year we’ll have considerably more days where we’re seeking to bring the nation
together to enjoy a spectacle.
The story will start properly when it’s One Year To Go to the Olympic opening ceremony on
27 July, and we’re already deep into the planning for a central London event and a special
broadcast from a venue. Then there’ll be the New Year’s Eve celebrations that ring in 2012 –
and we start a sporting, cultural and national journey which will be unique in our history.
Around three-quarters of the UK population watched the Beijing Games, so we expect
that figure to be even higher in London. But even if you’re not excited by 26 world
championships in our capital, the aim is to provide something for everyone next year. We
enjoy coming together as a nation, and the BBC has the simple aim of being the place in
2012 where we can make that happen.’
2010 was a fantastic year for both
Brownlee brothers: Alistair was crowned
2010 European Triathlon Champion and
Jonathan U23 World Champion 2010 and
Elite Sprint World Champion 2010.
Both brothers are currently in training for
the 2012 London Olympics. In March
Jonathan emailed the following message
from his training in Australia:
‘The road to 2012 has started already. I
am currently in Australia preparing for
the first World Series race in Sydney. I
can qualify for the Olympics this summer
through a top 3 finish in the World Series
races in London and Beijing. Only three
Brits will qualify for the Olympics and we
have one of the strongest teams in the
world. My winter training went really well
and I will do my best to qualify. At the
moment all I want to do is qualify for 2012
and worry about the rest later.
BGS played a crucial role in my life.
It was at BGS that I started running
seriously. I competed for the cross
country running team for many winters
under the guidance of Tony Kingham.
The freedom that the School gave me
was really important. We were allowed
to leave the School grounds at lunchtime
to train. This taught me to enjoy sport. I
loved exploring new areas. Competing
as a team in cross country increased
my enjoyment in sport further. I also
competed in swimming, water polo,
cricket, rugby and football at School. I
loved every minute of it.
School taught me the importance of hard
work. I had to balance my school work
and training from a very young age. This
is a crucial skill
I met many great friends at School. Most
of my closest friends now are my friends
from School. I still keep in contact with
them and we meet up when they return
home from uni.’
We wish them every success for 2011
and their qualifying events!
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