The Old
WACONIAN 48
Edition
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From CHS to the NHS with Love
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Auf Wiedersehen Herr Winter
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Our Global Contribution 2020
Thank you key workers
A fond farewell after 27 years
How Are Old Waconians Meeting Global Challenges? Exploring sustainability, digital technology, social inclusion, health, and the economy
Our Global Contribution | Edition 48
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From CHS to the NHS With Love This issue of The Old Waconian is dedicated to everyone in the CHS community who worked on the front line during the coronavirus crisis.
Altruistic pupils, staff, and parents at CHS showed resilience, compassion and contribution by providing PPE to healthcare workers – and raising more than £3,000 - to help the NHS in their battle against Covid-19. Responding to the need for more personal protective equipment, the Science department provided trays of goggles, aprons and gloves, and the Design and Technology Department produced more than 2,000 face shields by using 3D printers with personal “CHS to NHS with love” messages.
Tim Merchant
Class of 2006, Stockport Viaduct Care:
“Thank you @CheadleHulmeSch these are really well made and will help to protect the team and our patients! Really love the inscription. A reminder each time we put them on that we’ve got everyone behind us.”
Sarah Hayley
Colette Norbury
Head of Art’s wife, and her team at NHS Stockport, Kingsgate House
Aaron Hewitt,
Class of 2012, Manchester Royal Infirmary
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Alongside their remote learning, the School’s pupils used skills from their weekly cocurricular sewing class ‘Stitch Social’ to make laundry bags for medical staff to use in washing their scrubs. Meanwhile, staff sewed scrubs and provided on-site care for pupils of key workers from CHS and neighbouring Greenbank School.
CHS parent, Hawthorn Medical Practice
Sushma Sekhar,
Former parent, Stockbridge Village Health Centre
Alexander Chadwick, Class of 2011, Warrington Hospital
Contents 2 / From CHS to the NHS With Love 4 / Welcome 5/S chool News 8 / 148 Years of Outstanding Service 9 / Auf Wiedersehen Herr Winter 10 / Old Waconian News 11 / Old Waconian Awards 12 / Old Waconian Events 13 / Dates for the Diary 14 / O ld Waconians Take Career Support Virtual
5 / School News
9 / Auf Wiedersehen Herr Winter
15 / How Are Old Waconians Meeting Global Challenges?
- Environmental Sustainability
- The Future of Digital
- Social Inclusion
- World Health
- Building a Better Economy
12 / Old Waconian Events
15 / How Are Old Waconians Meeting Global Challenges?
Illustrations: Ella Bucknall, Class of 2012
26 / Focus On: Creative Old Wacs 27 / Keeping You Connected 28 / C ommunity Support and Fundraising 30 / Then & Now: The Crucible 30 / Then & Now: The Crucible
31 / Fondly Remembered
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Frances Kennedy
Charlotte Aspin
Jennifer Miller
Director of Development and External Relations
Alumni Relations Manager
Development Manager
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0161 488 3330 ext. 3264
franceskennedy@chschool.co.uk
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jennifermiller@chschool.co.uk
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Welcome.
From the Head... Welcome to the 2020 edition of The Old Waconian. I hope you, your families and friends are healthy and have managed to come through the trauma of the Covid-19 pandemic in a positive condition. When I wrote to you during the early period of site closure, few of us had any real idea how the pandemic would impact on CHS. Although staff and pupils have experienced significant difficulties in their own lives, their response to the new ways of working was nothing short of remarkable. From the outset of remote learning, lessons were delivered via Google Classroom and Meet, and we all became familiar with delivering assemblies to a computer screen, hoping that there was at least one person tuning in. More recently, each of the year groups in the Junior School, and every pupil in years 10 and 12, have been able to have some time back on site. It was with some relief that we found out shortly before the end of term that all year groups will return to School full-time in September, albeit with significant amendments to our normal ways of working. One of the more pleasant aspects of the situation was hearing from so many of you, who either got in touch to wish the School well, to share your own experiences of life during lockdown or to provide highly-appreciated contributions
From the Editor... 4
The Old WACONIAN | Edition 48
to our hardship and bursary funds. These will make a significant difference to families who are struggling to support their children through their time at CHS, particularly following the impact of lockdown on parental incomes. I heard from many of you who had been at CHS during the 1940s, or had relatives who had been, in relation to a research project I instigated into the impact of WW2 on the School. One of my favourite artefacts to receive was a scrapbook from the period 1939-41 which included details of the sports fixtures pupils played at that time as well as other aspects of daily life which continued in the early years of the war. The project has
achieved its initial objective, to identify the final resting place of OWs killed during the conflict, and will move to the next phase, to investigate the School’s experience of the war, next term. As we look ahead to the end of 2020, and the uncertainty which the next year will likely bring, I would like to express my sincere appreciation for your continuing contact with and support for Cheadle Hulme School and wish you the very best of health and fortune in the coming months. Neil Smith Head
It has been a difficult and uncertain year for everyone. The coronavirus pandemic has had an unprecedented impact on our daily lives and, like every other organisation, CHS has had to adapt and respond in ways that were previously unimaginable. From moving teaching online, watching the Class of 2020 graduate virtually and witnessing the Design Tech team jump into action and produce over 2000 face visors, your School has pulled together in so many ways and demonstrated its true values like never before.
Waconians are contributing to solving some of the biggest challenges in the UK and overseas, we say goodbye to the legendary Mr Winter and celebrate the recipients of this year’s Old Waconian awards plus much more.
During this time we have been even more passionate about keeping you connected to your old School and I hope this magazine makes you feel proud of being a member of this special community as well as bringing back happy memories of your time at CHS. Within this issue, we showcase how Old
I hope you enjoy the magazine and however you have been affected by Covid-19, our thoughts are with you.
Please keep in touch. I encourage you to join our new and improved online network, CHS Community, which you can read more about on page 27. And I look forward to being able to welcome you back to School as soon as it is safe to do so.
Fran Kennedy Director of Development and External Relations
School News
During a time of physical separation, our School community stayed connected through our OneCHS initiative. Parents, students, staff and Old Wacs shared their lockdown news, took part in OneCHS challenges and demonstrated altruism in their local communities.
kept fit with Joe Wicks, twin brothers, and dog Raz.
appeared in Jess Gillam’s virtual scratch orchestra, performing Where Are We Now by David Bowie.
built a replica of The Sri Lankan Civil War in Lego for an Art photo shoot.
joined a local community sewing initiative to sew wash bags for NHS staff.
celebrated turning 5.
ran 5k for NHS Charities Together.
As we move into a different period postlockdown, we are looking forward to showing how we will continue to be OneCHS. During lockdown our students…
took part in ‘Project HOPE’ by Senem Peace Photography. Dancers were photographed in lockdown as a sign of hope, raising money and awareness for the Mental Health Foundation.
made biscuits and a ‘Get well soon’ box for a grandparent who suffered a fall. The treats were left at the end of the drive and were very well received!
enjoyed the extra opportunities provided by home schooling including learning about 2 point perspective from architect Dad.
helped to leaflet drop in their local area and reach out to their most vulnerable and elderly neighbours.
spent two days making visors which were sent to Macclesfield Hospital, The Christie Hospital and a local care home.
video called a friend to design 100th birthday cards for Captain Tom Moore.
took part in a penalty shoot out challenge at the same time as teammates, raising £1,455 for the NHS.
drew a pencil sketch to show the CHS value of endeavour.
kept family morale high by organising a ‘night out’ at the Cleary Cinema!
sent continued support and happy vibes to everyone!
recreated a trip to Spain by making albondigas, tortilla, paella and churros!
practised photography skills and entered a weekly competition.
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School News
How Did CHS Cope During the Covid-19 Lockdown? Like all schools across the country, CHS moved to a period of remote learning from 23rd March and our staff worked harder than ever to provide the highest quality educational experience for our pupils. Our remote learning platforms were already used in School and our pupils and staff were well equipped to tackle the challenge. The School also remained open for children of key workers. Here are just a few examples of the innovative ways our community rose to the lockdown challenge.
Planning for self-isolation At the beginning of lockdown, our Year 11 students were challenged to write a ‘how to’ guide on surviving self-isolation for teens. NHS COVID Director of Behaviour Change asked for a copy of the best pieces for his team’s research and said “The ideas from them will even feed into discussions with the Cabinet Office and No. 10.” Elora included the following suggestions in her guide: stay positive; don’t stop talking to people; take up a new activity; learn a musical instrument; go outside; learn a new language; buy food and other essentials for your grandparents, write them a heartfelt note, buy them some flowers and leave it all on their doorstep. Her takeaway message: keep remembering that everything that you are being advised to do is for the benefit of yourself, and others.
Hearing From CHS Families Through The Ed. Podcast Keeping you up to date with everything happening across the School, the Ed. podcast is the voice of the CHS community. Episode 8 brought CHS even closer to home. Listen now to hear how the School tackled a period of remote learning through the eyes of CHS’s families, students and staff as they share their own Covid-19 lockdown stories, and how, even when we were apart under difficult circumstances, CHS was all in this together. Available on Apple, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Soundcloud, Anchor.fm and more.
Reset and Rebalance Following on from the national Mental Health Week theme of kindness, CHS dedicated the May half term break to re-setting and rebalancing; being kind to the self, as well as others, by switching off devices and engaging in more family time, hobbies and activities with a feel-good factor.
Taking on a Challenge Throughout lockdown, our staff set challenges for the CHS community to take part in: learning to juggle; joining a virtual choir; donating to a local food bank; creating a stop motion animation; finding real world patterns; completing a random act of kindness.
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Remote Learning As remote learning became the new norm, everyone had to adapt to a different way of school life. We asked different members of the CHS community about their experiences:
“This is teaching like we’ve never attempted it before. We are educators, facilitators and that hasn’t stopped; we’ve just have had to adapt and find new ways to do it.” - Teacher “I’ve enjoyed remote learning; I thought I was going to miss feeling part of CHS and socialising, not just with my friends but also with the teachers, but I’m going to take away some great memories of lockdown.” - Student “As a family it’s been a time to adapt, learn and plan. The children’s online schooling has expected them to self-manage their time and be organised; it seems to have gone well thanks to the fantastic resources CHS has put together to keep them busy.” - Parent “I really commend the staff; many of us have had to upskill considerably and have really risen to the challenge. I’ve also been impressed with the students who have been so patient with their teachers - we’re all getting used to this new way of working.” - Teacher
School News
Our Newest Old Waconians Welcome to the Class of 2020 Can you remember your last day at CHS? Did you dress up as a cartoon character or play a few harmless pranks? An unexpected and unusual end to their time at CHS may have left the Class of 2020 feeling a little downhearted but, lucky for them, this is just the start of their Old Waconian journey. At a time when a physical Graduation ceremony wasn’t possible, we invited our newest OWs to talk about their memories via video calls. We also set up a virtual Graduation page for them to receive farewell messages from key CHS staff and their official welcome from the OWA’s President, Katie Derham. Take a look at https://sites.google.com/chschool.co.uk/classof2020
Call to Connect Campaign: A Listening Ear for Older Old Waconians We know lockdown has been a challenging time for many people, particularly for those aged over 70 where restrictions have left some feeling lonely or isolated. We brought together two generations of Old Waconians via our Call to Connect campaign. We asked younger Old Waconians to call our older alumni and have a really good chat with them – to find out about their time at CHS and to share experiences. Two of our callers shared their reasons for getting involved.
“I had just finished University so had plenty of time to chat. I knew I would enjoy this opportunity, whilst also acknowledging how important it is to stay connected in such a strange time!” Beth McDermott, Class of 2017
“I volunteer with a charity in York, calling the elderly in the community to check in on them and have catch-ups about how they are, so truly know how valuable this communication is. I am also the third generation of my family to attend CHS; my Dad, uncles and Grandma attended the School so wanted to contact other Old Wacs and discuss our experiences.” Molly Gunson, Class of 2018
Words of Wisdom for the Class of 2020 Julie Abbott, Class of 1976, shares the following advice with our newest Old Waconians.
“First of all congratulations and good luck in your new lives outside school. It can be a very daunting time. Remember that it is YOUR life and although you should listen to those around you who care for you and want to help, only you can live your life. Go to a university YOU want to; get on the course YOU want to (you will get better grades for a start if you enjoy it) and finally; get the career YOU want to. Be happy. Chase happiness and the money will follow (if you want it to), chase money and you could end up rich and miserable (or even poor and miserable). GOOD LUCK. HAVE FUN. LIVE LIFE TO THE FULL.” Do you have any words of wisdom for the Class of 2020? Email them to er@chschool.co.uk or share them on your Instagram post/story, tagging in @oldwaconians.
Molly tells us more about some of her calls: “Joan Webb (née Taylor-Hibbert), Class of 1938, had many fond memories of School: a Christmas party where the boys asked the girls to go with them; watching a commercial film about the School at the REX cinema; and her German classes with only one other student and her favourite teacher, Peter Hoy. We spoke about her life in Germany working with the Ministry of Intelligence, and life during lockdown.
John Beswick, Class of 1960, recollected an incident where all the board rubbers went missing and all the boys had to stand in pentagon yard until somebody confessed, though nobody ever did much to the dismay of the teachers! And along with fond memories of eating Manchester Tart and prunes and custard for School dinners, Penny Thompson (née White), Class of 1958, remembered how, as she attended CHS after the war, many students no longer had fathers, but she truly appreciated the diversity of backgrounds of students and the equality at the School.”
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148 Years of Outstanding Service At the end of the academic year, eight of our dedicated staff left timetables behind to begin their well deserved retirements.
Barbara Bottoms
“I joined CHS when the Infant department first opened. I was working in the reception class, with the youngest children the School had ever welcomed through its doors to date. I can see the children now, clinging tightly to their mummy’s hands, not quite sure what to expect. A new adventure about to begin......
Head of CHS Junior School
Mrs Lynn Jackson
For some, that ‘adventure’ carried on through the entire School, but it seems they never forgot us.
Teaching Assistant, CHS Junior School
Joined CHS in
2009
“The years I have spent at CHS Junior School have been the golden years of my long career as a teacher and Headteacher. I take away with me memories that will stay with me forever. I am immensely proud of all we have achieved together as a team of pupils, staff and parents. It has been an honour to lead the School and I wish all Waconians health and happiness for the future.”
Joined CHS in
Ms Rani Chakrabarti
Junior School Teacher
Joined CHS in
Dr Jacky McDouall Teacher of Chemistry & Exams Officer
Joined CHS in
2008
“Like most Chemists, we love doing experiments. Some of the most memorable lessons were those that went ‘slightly wrong’, usually involving flames! One year with Upper Sixth, the apparatus rather spectacularly caught fire, only seconds after a prospective Year 7 family on tour had been in the room. As an Exams Officer, I have learnt to deal with the unexpected during exams, from tree felling noise through an exam to smoking lights, and from frogs in the gym to coronavirus.”
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1998
1987
“Rani is a hugely talented and inspirational teacher and the lives of the children and staff have been made richer for seeing and learning from her on a daily basis. Her talents are numerous and influence immeasurable. Whether it’s drawing out great performances for Junior School plays, stretching the minds of talented mathematicians or creating coding experts, Rani can do it all.” Mr Offord, CHS Junior School Deputy Head
Ms Michele Pakay
Teacher of English
Joined CHS in
2003
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On their last day before heading off into the ‘adult world’, they came back to where it all began! As I stood and listened to them share their memories of happy times in the classroom, I smiled to myself, this is why I chose the job I do.”
Ms Kris Gilbertson
Head of Psychology & Initial Teacher Training Coordinator
Joined CHS in
2004
“What a strange end to my teaching career, retiring in the midst of a pandemic! I certainly won’t forget the final few months of my 28 years in the classroom. It has been a privilege and a pleasure to teach at CHS since 2004 and I have loved helping students to achieve their potential and find their best selves. I leave with fond memories of both students and my colleagues for making CHS the special place it is.”
Mrs Amanda Wood HR Manager
Joined CHS in
2010
“It’s been such a privilege to work within the HR Department at CHS over the last ten years, and without a doubt, it’s the people who work at the School who make it so special. Throughout my career, I have never worked with such a hard working and committed staff community and I will miss my friends and colleagues enormously.”
“I am feeling mixed emotions as I prepare to leave CHS: I will miss the camaraderie and generous support of colleagues, and the fun of teaching great students over the years, who really did teach me more than I ever taught them, but I admit I will feel relief at leaving behind remote teaching! Amazing though it is, I miss the human interaction of the classroom including, the embracing of (all of my) human flaws: the humour, sense of fun, even the scattiness and my (deliberate, obviously) mistakes are ultimately what create the unique human bonds of teaching which now make it so hard to say goodbye.”
Auf Wiedersehen te r
During 27 years of service, Mr John Winter made a lasting impact on his many students and colleagues. He started at CHS as Head of German in 1993, going on to develop his pastoral role as Head of Sixth Form four years later. He became Second Master in 2012, helping to lead the School both strategically and with great empathy. Alongside his academic role, many will know him for his enthusiastic support of the School’s cricketing teams, and of Manchester United... His positive influence and infectious good humour are highlighted in a few messages below. For the full collection please visit https://sites. google.com/chschool.co.uk/jcw
in W r r e H Raff McMahon, Class of 2019
“Mr Winter has never been a run-of-the-mill teacher, and nor has he ever wanted run-of-the-mill students. For Mr Winter, passing German, or even excelling academically at it, is, at best, secondary. His main aim is for you to love German as much as he does. In the classroom he set an impeccable example to his students - he was incessantly cheery, intensely interested in the ideas of his students and meticulous in his attention to detail. As a student of his, there was nothing I wanted more than to emulate these qualities. A smile rarely left his face, irrespective of the intensity of his workload, meaning that a smile rarely left his students’ faces. Mr Winter may have made us work hard, but he always worked harder. His warmth, humour, eloquence and his fascination with basically everything around him made me a better student and person.” Akshat Agarwal, Class of 2011
Illustration: Ella Bucknall, Class of 2012
“My most fond memories of School are playing cricket with you as coach! Being brought into the 1st XI as a green 15-year-old, it was your and Mr Burnage’s mentorship that was instrumental in helping me improve as a cricketer. I still remember when you brought me to your office after I decided not to play county cricket. I now realise that I had stopped enjoying cricket. I wanted to play for fun and playing with you at CHS was all I needed. I want to thank you for helping me fall in love with and excel at the game.” Ben Seale, Class of 2007
Joined CHS in
1993
To ease into retirement, John will remain with the School on a part-time, nonteaching basis as he leads the newlycreated School Centred Initial Teacher Training Programme which launches in September. This will involve us working in partnership with local state schools to deliver our own teacher training courses in Mathematics, with Modern Languages being added to the course in September 2021. It is an extremely exciting development and we’re delighted that John has agreed to get this off the ground.
“I didn’t take to the German language like a duck to water and was constantly falling behind. Mr. Winter was understanding and supportive in a way that any of Mr Winters’ students will understand. Even as Head of Sixth Form, Mr. Winter always found the time to explain things again and gave me a real sense of value and self-worth. He also suggested that I should take the class photos for our yearbook, knowing I had a camera and an interest in photography. Since leaving CHS, I have served as an officer in the Swiss Air Force, leading SwissGerman recruits through military training, and now work as an assistant producer at the BBC, still using that camera fairly regularly and even doing the odd bit of German translation!” Nadia Mook (née Al-chalabi), Class of 1997
“Mr Winter, thank you very much for your dedication, giving up your break times to help me, instilling a love of languages and, moreover, for not giving up on me. I am currently learning to speak Portuguese and would have not done so if it was not for your fantastic teaching and giving me a grounding base in the French language, which I still understand today.” Cathy Taylor (née Booth), Class of 1999
“You were a fab teacher. My two biggest memories of you both revolve around German or Germany. I remember you describing the deliciousness that is ‘spaghettieis’ and you carrying a blood-covered Chris Mettam in your arms after he ran through a French window on our Rhine Valley trip.”
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Old Waconian News An Update on Your Alumni Board The Alumni Board aims to represent all of our Old Waconians both by agerange and with respect to our alumni’s diverse interests and expertise. Since its formation in 2017, the Board has been chaired by Emma Hardy, Class of 1986. This year, Emma will step down from this position and we want to express our sincere thanks for her time, ideas and commitment to the Old Waconian programme. The Alumni Board’s new Chair will be ratified at the Old Waconians’ Association AGM in November. We are also pleased to announce that Katie Derham, Class of 1988, has agreed to stay on for one more year as President of the OWA.
Forget Stockport’s Spiderman: Here Comes Cameron Cameron Johnson, Class of 2017, used his daily exercise allowance during lockdown to raise £700 for NHS Charities Together. He completed five 10km runs in a variety of fancy dress outfits including a full business suit, onesie and wetsuit.
News Year Honours for Gordon Schofield Gordon Schofield, Class of 1946, was awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) in the New Year Honours List for services to charity. After spending three years in the RAF medical branch, he joined the Red Cross in Altrincham and became a blood donor for 30 years; altruistic behaviour that was greatly encouraged by CHS’s Headmaster, Lockhart. Working with his church, Gordon was involved in various committees within the Guides and worked with disabled people through the Scouts. However Gordon’s main charitable commitments were working with the RNLI and Saint Ann’s Hospice. Gordon fondly recalls family holidays in Padstow where he got to know Gordon Elliot, the RNLI coxswain, whilst he was maintaining the boat in the estuary. This sparked Gordon’s involvement in the RNLI, joining the Cheadle and Gatley branch and then becoming chairman. In 1996, a new Stockport branch started which Gordon chaired until retiring in 2017 at 90 years old. Gordon’s involvement with Saint Ann’s Hospice, 1980-2013, began after his mother and mother-in-law were looked after by them. Gordon was astounded when he found out that he had been awarded a BEM but following his lifetime of altruism and compassion, it was extremely well deserved.
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Lockdown Unlocked the Poet in Fred Cornes, Class of 1957 “This is a poem I wrote which expressed my feelings when being told that my wife and I were to stay indoors because of the coronavirus. It is also a thank you to our wonderful volunteers for the way that they have looked after all of us in our lovely village of Stokeinteignhead during this difficult time.”
STOKE FOLK
I’m locked in by Corona’s Key Life seems so hard but then I see We have our Shop and voluntee rs Without them, all could end in tears Our Pub is lightening all our days By opening up for “Take Awa ys” So when all around is closing down In City and in local Town Our Village life is still a joy Corona Virus can’t destroy And as we step beyond our doo rs If we stop awhile and pause To look outside, take in the view I know I’m lucky, don’t you too? Fields and hedges all around The birds are singing, joyous sound All are doing their very best To find a mate and build a nest Horses and Riders trotting by Buzzards wheeling in the sky Their mewing call is striking fear In all small mammals hiding near Tractors working on the land Farmers planting crops they ’ve planned Cattle now outside at last Since the winter storms hav e passed But when I was told to stay indo ors And Corona Virus was the caus e My first reaction was of rage To be locked in because of age But on reflection that’s now cha nged No longer do I feel deranged Corona’s helped me really see The beauty that’s surrounding me And volunteers you’ve done a lot To help me enjoy this lovely spot I’m thankful for each selfless deed That brings to me the things I need To live here in my chosen plac e It’s put a smile back on my face Oh what a joy to live in Stoke Surrounded by such lovely folk So many thanks to Shop and Pub Plus Ed and Graham’s Deane Rd Hub But the Shop has topped my personal polls For sending me some toilet rolls .
Old Waconian Awards 2020 Every year, we recognise two Old Waconians who have made outstanding contributions in their chosen field. Distinguished Old Waconian Award
plays a big role in helping create a Politics department full of engaged, passionate and excited students.
Steve Redhead Class of 1975
Since 2006, Steve has been instrumental in making the CHS Politics trip to Washington, DC one of the highlights of the Sixth Form calendar. Many students identify it as their best CHS memory and those in 2012, who watched open mouthed as President Obama wandered past them in the White House, will certainly never forget it! The trip’s itinerary remains a closely guarded secret - lots of schools head out to Washington, DC and get the standard tours, but very few have been in the White House, met staffers in the Committee Rooms of Congress, or spent time in the Maryland state house in Annapolis. Seeing Steve engage with the students as he finds out about their
Steve recalls how it all began, “Out of the blue I received a phone call in the fall of 2006 from Steve Pagan at Cheadle Hulme School. He told me he was bringing a group of Sixth Formers to Washington DC – where I have lived and worked since the 1980s – and was hoping we could meet up. I had no idea at the time that this would be the beginning of a new relationship with CHS.
lives and plans, it is clear that the values he developed in the 1970s are the same as those being developed by our Sixth Form students today. His contribution
Every two years since then, Nick Axon and I have teamed up to plan the Washington DC trip, always looking to add exciting new items to the itinerary. It’s been tremendous fun and a lovely way to give back to the School that defined my childhood and helped launch me into the world.”
Young Alumni Award
Aimee Wood Class of 2012
Aimee is an actress working between the UK and the US who has already achieved great success on stage and screen. Despite her busy schedule, she has taken time out to return to CHS to speak to current drama students about her experiences and to offer them advice. Outside of her work on screen, she is also publicly addressing issues in her interviews that are relevant to young people, including body dysmorphia, eating disorders, bullying and sexual harassment, showing real compassion for those who are affected by the storylines she acts in.
Changes to Our Awards From 2021 From 2021, our award portfolio will expand to include three Old Waconian awards. Through this change, we can recognise both the accomplishments of our alumni and the contribution that Old Waconians make to our CHS community. Nominations will be open from January 2021 for the following awards. To read the full criteria for each award or to find out more visit www.cheadlehulmeschool.co.uk/OWawards or contact Charlotte Aspin. Distinguished Old Waconian Award
Old Waconian Early Career Award
Old Waconian Contribution Award
Recognises an Old Waconian’s sustained achievement over a long career. Nominees will have a lifetime of outstanding contributions and achievement in one or more fields of endeavour and will be recognised within their community as a strong leader in their field.
Recognises exceptional accomplishment early in the nominees’ post-School career. Nominees will have demonstrated early career or community service achievements or displayed innovative practices in their field and be inspiring role models for students and fellow early-career OWs.
Recognises an individual’s service and contribution to CHS. Nominees must have demonstrated exceptional commitment and success in raising the profile of CHS and/or improving the experience of those within the CHS community.
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Old Waconian Events Class of 1999 Reunion October 2019
We were delighted to welcome OWs from the Class of 1999 back to CHS to celebrate their 20th anniversary. Along with their families, they enjoyed an afternoon of catching up and reminiscing about School life during the time of the Big Breakfast, Spice Girls and, of course, curtains.
Class of 2009 Reunion November 2019
A small group from the Class of 2009 came back to the School to celebrate their 10th anniversary. Drinks in the library were followed by a tour through their old classroom haunts, and envious visits to newer parts of the School including the Pavilion and the Sixth Form Centre.
Old Waconians’ Annual Dinner
November 2019
On Saturday 16th November, 130 OWs returned to the School for the Old Waconians’ 126th Annual Dinner. The evening was compèred by Rod Goddard, Class of 1974, and as well as hearing from OWA President, Katie Derham, and the Head, Neil Smith, we were able to celebrate the birthday of Andy Wright (Class of 1969). Before the dinner, OWs from three year groups, the Classes of 1964, 1969, and 1994, enjoyed reunion drinks together.
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Celebration of Life – Mike Thomson MBE November 2019
Following the sad news of Mike Thomson’s passing, many of his former colleagues and students gathered together in the CHS Sixth Form Centre to celebrate his life.
Class of 2019 First Reunion December 2019
We welcomed the Class of 2019 back to the School for their first reunion since leaving CHS. Over 90 OWs joined together with staff to catch up in the new Sixth Form Centre.
Class of 1973 Virtual Quiz June 2020
As face-to-face events haven’t been possible over the last few months, the Class of 1973 went online to put their quizzing skills to the test. A brilliant round provided by Nicki Little (née Lees) got everyone reminiscing about CHS nicknames and the very tall groundsman’s car!
An evening with Nick Robinson and Katie Derham
Dates for the diary
March 2020
More than 100 OWs battled the rain to meet at the Havas office in central London to enjoy an evening with two Old Wacs - our President Katie Derham, Class of 1988, and political journalist Nick Robinson, Class of 1982. Nick spoke about his career highlights, the reality of meeting key political figures, his battle with cancer and the subsequent damage to his vocal cords, and his memories of life at CHS. After the interview, Old Wacs caught up over drinks, to a backdrop of the London skyline.
Due to the ongoing situation with Covid-19 we have had to review our planned events, meaning the next OWs’ Dinner will be in November 2021. Year groups who had hoped to have an anniversary reunion this November are invited back to School in March 2021. Please keep an eye on our Events web page for updates. We will monitor Government guidelines closely and if we need to postpone or cancel an event we will contact anyone registered directly.
Old Waconians’ Association AGM 21st November 2020, online Plus virtual drinks after the AGM
Class of 2020 Reunion December 2020, CHS, exact date TBC
Former Staff Afternoon Tea & Anniversary Year Group Reunions March 2021, CHS, exact date TBC Reunions for the Classes of 1960, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1990 and 1995. To register interest in any of the above events please email er@chschool.co.uk or call 0161 488 3341. If you are interested in holding an event (virtual or otherwise) please get in touch. We’d love to hear from you.
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Old Waconians Take Career Support Virtual The end of this academic year was unsettling for many of our students without the opportunity for physical work experience or talks from experts in School. Old Waconians have helped to support our students virtually during this time. We hope that this can continue, allowing even more OWs to engage with our careers programme regardless of location. Virtual Careers Advice Students had the opportunity to connect with OWs working in careers that they were interested in, asking careerspecific questions via email. Our experts came from a wide range of careers including: acting, architecture, dentistry, finance, genetics, law, law enforcement, marine biology, marketing, medicine, music production, physiotherapy, psychiatry, sport psychology, TV presenting, and veterinary medicine. One question Shani (Year 12) asked architect Sarah Backen (née Bowen), Class of 1998, was what advice she wished she’d been given at her age. “Things change, particularly in our industry, and being adaptable, open minded and willing to learn something new will stand you in the best position possible. Be open to all opportunities and don't see anything as a barrier.” We asked Shani how the advice has helped with her future plans. “It’s got to that time in Year 12 when I have to start thinking about universities and courses and I’ve found it quite difficult to only get an understanding of an architect’s life from the internet. Sarah has really helped with the gaps in my knowledge and made me acknowledge that it’s the right career path for me.”
Solicitor Tom Hughes, Class of 2005, offered advice to Hayden (Year 10) who is interested in commercial law. His stand out piece of advice: “Be interesting! With thousands of applicants for just a few places, the main challenge is getting the recruiters to notice/remember you. A friend of mine at CHS wrote in his university application, “in my spare time I build trebuchets in my garden”. I have never forgotten that and I suspect that the university admissions tutors who read his application haven’t either!”
Amy (Year 12) is keen to become a sport psychologist so was delighted when she heard that Tom Wenham, Class of 1990, works at a university that she is looking to apply to. “The advice I got from the tailored careers support has been extremely insightful and has helped clarify my thinking to get me into the best position for my future.” As Head Coach of the GB Lacrosse team, Tom has invited Amy to watch the team train at CHS when this is able to start again. Thank you to all Old Waconians who continue to support our students with their career aspirations.
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Q&A Video Calls After answering a Year 12 student’s questions by email, veterinary surgeon Jo Sutton, Class of 2009, offered to share her experiences further via a Google Meet call. With aspiring vets, she discussed work experience, life as a vet, personal statements, how to write a competitive application, interview questions and ethical issues she faces in her role. Inspired by Jo’s call, more virtual Q&As took place with engineer Rick Totten, Class of 2009, and doctor Laura McArthur, Class of 2007. Rick shared why he wanted to get involved: “I think it’s important that students get an insight into the individual paths that Old Waconians have taken since leaving CHS in order to demystify the university/early career transitions. For me, the message was that there is no pressure to have a perfectly formed view of their career path whilst still at school and that it is better to spend their time focussing on near term goals. I wanted to get this across by describing how I had moved through quite a lot of different roles since I left CHS, none of which were necessarily expected until the opportunity presented itself. I think the recent culture shift, placing a stronger emphasis on community, made me think that I should look to invest in the communities I am involved with and this seemed like a good opportunity to do that.”
BeyondCHS Career and Interest Films To supplement the more interactive support we are also thankful to Old Waconians, and parents who contributed short films to our BeyondCHS collection. From general interest talks about domestic abuse and the law, to insights into life as a patent attorney, these talks have enabled students to find out more about life outside of School.
How Are Old Waconians Meeting Global Challenges? Whether it’s protecting the world in which we live, working towards a fairer economy or helping to build a more inclusive and healthy society, Old Waconians are involved in tackling some of the biggest challenges facing our world today. Let’s hear from some of them...
Illustration: Ella Bucknall, Class of 2012
Environmental Sustainability Environmental change is one of the biggest threats to our planet. Global warming, biodiversity loss, pollution, land use changes, energy generation and the demands of a growing human population are creating real challenges for biodiversity and for human wellbeing and quality of life. Here, three of our former students explain how they are doing their bit to save the planet – in very different ways.
Engineering a Sustainable Future
Ellie Russell
Class of 2013, Cambridge “Everything we use in our day-to-day lives has had input from an engineer: the energy used to heat homes, the design of transport systems, the dyes in clothes, the manufacture of medicines, even the ripples on a chocolate bar. They all require energy and resources to manufacture, and generate waste, so can have a detrimental effect on our environment. It is the responsibility of engineers to make these processes more efficient; to use less energy and resources, generate less waste and facilitate a circular economy. Sustainability cannot be an optional extra like it has been in the past. It needs to be an intrinsic part of design from the outset. Engineers must understand what sustainability means to their industries in order to make it an affordable and attractive way of working if we are to meet global climate change targets.” Ellie has a Masters in Chemical Engineering with Sustainable Engineering, as well as experience working at Axion Polymers, a Circular Economy Consultancy, and Unilever, at the largest deodorant factory in Europe (in Leeds!) She is now a Graduate Process Engineer for Mott MacDonald in the Treatment Group of their Water Consultancy Division.
“I design processes to help prevent the pollution of water systems while ensuring a sustainable water supply,” says Ellie. “Although I’m mainly
office based, my projects can be anywhere in the world. One day I’m working with UK water companies to identify bottlenecks at their clean water treatment works, the next I’m designing a more reliable and sustainable 24-hour drinking water supply to three million people in Bangladesh’s capital city, Dhaka.” Increasing population densities, greater demand for water, increased levels of pesticides and more sporadic weather patterns, are making Ellie’s work more challenging. And with the water sector being the fourth most energy intensive industry in the UK, tackling climate change is also high on her list of priorities.
“I enjoy the challenge of designing processes that are more sustainable,” she says. “The UK water sector has committed to be net zero carbon by 2030. I am involved in a project with water companies to create a route map to achieve this goal and have been invited to present our work at the 2020 Women in Water Conference. It hasn’t happened yet but I am very excited about it!” Since completing this interview Ellie has joined Mott MacDonald’s climate change team as the Junior Net Zero Carbon lead; helping governments, industries and businesses to become carbon neutral.
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Mike’s research focuses on ecological restoration, a process of repairing and ‘future-proofing’ ecosystems that have been damaged, degraded or destroyed over time by increasing human activity.
“By re-establishing or reintroducing flora and fauna to damaged areas,” says Mike, “we can make them more sustainable and resilient to future environmental changes, while also helping people who work on the land to keep their livelihoods and rise to the challenges of the coming decades.”
Dedication to Restoration Dr Mike Perring Class of 1998, Ghent, Belgium
A childhood spent gardening with his Gran in Poynton, exploring cliffs and rock pools in Wales and going on activity camps with Columbus Fellowship, gave Mike Perring a love of the outdoors and a healthy curiosity about how the world works. Now working at Ghent University in Belgium, Mike is using his lifelong passion for ecology to help tackle some of the planet’s biggest environmental challenges.
After leaving CHS, Mike studied Geography at Oxford University. This was followed by an Ecology Masters at Aberdeen University – where he could often be found halfway up a freezing Scottish hillside researching the effects of deer on Caledonian pine forests – and ultimately, to a PhD at Imperial College London. During his career as a scientist and researcher, Mike has worked across the world in places that, as well as being biodiversity hotspots, are also full of threatened ecosystems. At the University of Western Australia, Mike undertook a restoration project in the region’s wheat and sheep belt, which aimed to increase sustainable farming in Western Australia.
“We planted 12,000 trees and shrubs, as part of the Future Farm project, to see how different combinations could help store carbon in vegetation and soils, while also providing other valuable ‘ecosystem services’, such as habitats for species that could help farmers with pest control,” says Mike. “The results of the Future Farm project as a whole will help farmers sustain their businesses in the future without harming the Earth.” Mike has recently turned his attention back to his student passion – forests. But while many researchers are interested in what happens high up in the canopy, Mike has his sights set much lower.
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“The understorey – the rich flora that make up the forest floor – is often overlooked but it can play a major role in helping us understand how environmental change affects ecosystems,” he says. As a result of this work, Mike has recently discovered that the way in which forest understoreys across Europe respond to recent environmental change depends on forestry practices in the 19th century. “Findings like this can provide evidence for better ways of managing forests, now and in the future, to make sure biodiversity is maintained,” he adds. Mike has travelled a long way since his Geography lessons with Mr Ray at Cheadle Hulme School, where he was first inspired to think about why the landscape looks the way it does.
“I’ve focused my research on ecological restoration because of the benefits it can bring to both people and nature,” he says. “The ultimate goal is to create a sustainable Earth – I hope I can play a small part in that.” Memory of CHS “So many memories… time with friends in the Sixth Form common room; adventures on badminton matches away; field trips to Hadrian’s Wall, Cirencester and Malham; MUN trips; trying to sing in the staffstudent choir. And I did enjoy the chicken and leek pie for school dinners too. Most of all though, I always appreciated the CHS atmosphere, fostered by too many teaching and support staff to mention, but hopefully they know who they are!”
Living Lightly on the Land Pam Golden (née Colbran) Class of 1974, Todmorden
Teacher, author, traveller and self confessed “old hippy”, Pam Golden has been practising sustainable living for longer than there’s been a name for it. From the moment she decided to go and live on a kibbutz rather than get the teaching job she’d trained for back in 1978, Pam has travelled the globe on what she describes as a “spiritual and ecological journey”. In 1988, she sold her house in London and moved to live with people from the Hopi and Navajo Nation in America.
“I’ve always thought I’m not quite the same as everyone else,” says Pam, who now lives with her Native American husband, Peter, in a cottage on a Yorkshire hillside. “I’ve always been interested in self-development, healing and nature, so the Hopi’s respect for the Earth and how we are connected to the environment really resonated with me. That trip cemented my belief in trying to live as sustainably as possible.”
hawthorn, eucalyptus and elderberries. It even featured in a Radio 4 documentary about the rise of permaculture. According to Pam, the coronavirus pandemic has been the pause the world has needed to think about the way we’ve been living and how we might want to live in the future. She says: “I think this is a real wake up call. It’s like the Earth has said ‘enough is enough’. I feel like I’ve been banging my head against a brick wall for years about how we’re harming the planet; now, at last, people seem to be getting it and I don’t think society will want to go back to exactly how it was before. Hopefully, something good will come of this horrible situation and we will learn to live with the Earth, not just on it.”
Memory of CHS “CHS gave me a unique approach to life; from Mr Kelk’s inspirational English lessons, creating a love of intellectual discussion and how to think for ourselves, to Miss Munro’s gaze of terror in Holden Hall assemblies (and everything else between), I grew to challenge, question and explore the world around me.”
For more information on sustainable living, indigenous wisdom and to see her books, visit Pam’s website at gentlepresspublishing.co.uk
Thirty years ago, Pam and Peter became advocates of permaculture – a way of designing sustainable human habitats that work in harmony with nature. “People often think that sustainable living is growing your own veg, like in The Good Life,” says Pam, “but that’s only one part; it’s also about living lightly on the land which includes how you build your house, how you operate financially, how you interact in society.” Pam’s sloping hillside gardens are an example of permaculture in action. Every plant, shrub and tree has been carefully selected and planted for a reason, whether that’s bamboo to stop soil erosion on the hillside, hazel for coppicing, weaving and charcoal, or medicinal plants like
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was acquired by Sage Group plc in 2017 for over £100m,” says Adam. “It was the highlight of my career as it brought together all of my previous knowledge and experience. We also built a team of fantastic people, ten of whom are now working with different companies I’m involved with.” Since the end of 2017, Adam has been “plural” with part-time roles including Chair of the ScaleUp Institute, board member of software businesses Unit4 and e-days, and guest speaker at Oxford Business School, where he is also Associate at the Creative Destruction Lab. The latest addition to his roster is Chairman of the Manchester/London based software company Arctic Shores.
The Future of Digital As the Digital Revolution continues, there are challenges in ensuring that we are able to live in a trustworthy, inclusive and sustainable digital world. Three Old Wacs share their experiences of keeping us connected.
Putting the People into Digital Adam Hale
Class of 1983, Reading The grounds, the buildings and the plane were enough to make 11-year-old Adam fall in love with CHS. “I can picture being back at CHS instantly; the worn stone steps in Holden Hall, snowball fights in winter and running around the Boarding house trying not to get caught.” Since then, Adam has progressed to helping people and technology work in harmony. “I love the combination of what they can accomplish together. In my lifetime, technology has gone from working with punched cards on my first job in 1983 to everyone having a supercomputer in their pocket – and I’m not even that old. I enjoy the pace, the ambition and the ability to change the world. A little bit, anyway.” After graduating with a degree in Computer Science, Adam worked as a management consultant for ten years. The next 16 years saw him headhunting for a New York firm, working with 200 software companies worldwide. In 2013, he became CEO of a cloud software business, Fairsail.“The business was based in Reading and scaled up from 13 people to 200 across the world; it
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Adam identifies a change in mindset as being just as important as technological change when it comes to overcoming challenges facing our digital future. “Digital technology by itself doesn’t change anything, change requires a combination of people, process and technology changing together,” he says. “Everyone now says ‘google it’; that requires everyone to think that way and make it the default way to know something as well as the Google digital solution itself. What is remarkable is how much of business is NOT yet digitised. One of my companies is talking to a 20,000 person organisation where people still need to write out a form to take a holiday. A form, in 2020!” Some final words of advice from Adam for those looking to break into the field: “Do it. You will guarantee yourself a good job for life. The Digital Revolution has only just started, there are so many aspects of life and business it hasn’t touched yet. And learn to code, it will be useful whatever you do.”
And for those feeling a little bit left behind by it all, Adam adds: “There are lots of online courses/videos available now. My Dad is pretty good on a PC, iPad and smartphone and he’s 80. My 87-year-old mother-in-law couldn’t live without FaceTime, especially in lockdown. Get involved, it’s never too late.”
Digital Protection Martin Tyley
Class of 1992, Stockport
From chocolate manufacturers to football clubs, Martin Tyley works with a broad spectrum of organisations to identify where their cyber security is weak and how to improve it. Martin left CHS in 1992 to complete a History degree, but the rest, as you might expect, is not history. Following a stint as an English teacher and programmer, he moved into the growing area of cyber security and is now a Cyber Security Partner at KPMG, where he has worked for 20 years. Martin is passionate about keeping children safe online
and, alongside his main role, launched KPMG’s involvement in Cyber Champions, an initiative which promotes digital literacy and e-safety by working directly with school children. In 2018, this saw the KPMG team educate more than 3,000 school children in the UK. As well as strategically supporting CHS through his work as a Governor, Martin shared his knowledge with our students earlier this year as part of the Upper Sixth Academic Lecture Series. He opened their eyes to what it is like to work in the area of cyber security, possible careers in the industry, and how to be more secure online. During the talk, students were challenged to test how secure
their own online passwords were using the site www. howsecureismypassword. net. Everyone was surprised to learn that a long, yet memorable, password was much more secure than one with 8 characters, a capital letter and a number!
“Online is the real-world now,” says Martin. “It’s how we live our lives and that isn’t going to change, so protecting ourselves online is just as vital as understanding how to take a bus or train or staying safe in public. The good news is that there is a tonne of guidance out there and you don’t need to be technical to understand it or to have the right conversations with children. The NSPCC and the BBC are both great
places to start having that conversation. For those who are a bit more techy, or for avid gamers, take a look at what Twitch’s Safety Advisory Council is doing to help keep its members safe – building security and online safety from within communities that children trust is vital to getting the message across.” For more info visit: https://www.nspcc.org. uk/keeping-childrensafe/online-safety/ https://www.bbc.co.uk/ newsround/51203484 https://blog.twitch. tv/en/2020/05/14/ introducing-the-twitchsafety-advisory-council
Keeping It App’ning Hannah Parvaz Class of 2011, London
“In the West, 60-70% of time spent online is on mobile. In the fastest growing economies around the world, this is closer to 90%. Our future is going to be more app-heavy than ever – everything is getting more connected and expectations of quality are ever higher.” Whilst at CHS, Hannah Parvaz got involved in the Manchester music scene, running club nights and managing gigs. After leaving, her goal to study Law with German morphed into a desire to work in the music industry, so she found herself in London. She first cut her teeth in marketing at a live music recording company, then spent a couple of years working in labels, artist management, and tours, before joining a music app. That’s when her appetite shifted away from music and towards tech, specifically app growth.
“I focus on early-to-mid stage startups, getting them from launch to millions of downloads,” says Hannah.
“Currently, I’m working with a spoken-word audio app called Curio, which works with publishers to narrate the best journalism. Every day is different, but I can often be found talking to our users to understand how they experience the product, running ads online, working out the features we should be building next for the app, and experimenting everywhere I can.” A love of learning, fostered at CHS, has stayed with Hannah. She says: “I constantly feel challenged, which means I’m always learning. Mostly, raising awareness of a new concept is hard, as the products I’ve worked on have been new technologies in spaces which haven’t been explored before.”
Her hard work has paid off and Hannah was awarded App Marketer of the Year 2019 at a ceremony in Berlin. “It was very exciting, more than anything. In a world of imposter syndrome, it makes me feel like I’ve actually accomplished something.” We asked Hannah where she sees the world of apps going next. “I expect to see digital products focusing on interconnectivity with hardware devices,” she says. “For example if you’re driving home listening to something on CarPlay, when you get out and put in headphones it should pick up from where you left off. Then, when you get inside, have your speakers continue the experience automagically.”
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Social Inclusion At Cheadle Hulme School, we have a strong commitment to inclusivity through our educational environment, co-curricular activities and outreach work. Our Old Wac community is no different, with many of you striving to improve the ability, opportunity and dignity of groups that are disadvantaged on the basis of their identity.
Filmmakers or Decision-makers? Dr Marc McKiernan
Class of 1970, Haltwhistle
“We make films and animations. They’re not on the telly. You won’t usually see them at the cinema, unless it’s for a client’s own premiere. So who watches them? How are they made? Our company strapline is, “Inspiring People and Communities Through Film.” We’ve been around for over 20 years. The advent of digital filmmaking, particularly post-production, has enabled more people to be directly involved in filmmaking. We work with a diverse range of people: national charities; museums; learning disability companies; schools; campaign groups; the NHS; theatre companies; artists; environmental and heritage organisations, and more. We run a mobile cinema. The common element to all of our work is, particularly with vulnerable groups, to put their ideas front and foremost.
We often work with groups who go to endless sessions to talk about needs and issues, but there are routinely no real consequences to those conversations. If you make a film, though, it’s there on the screen, being watched by Board members, CEOs, members of the public and other workers in the organisation. Crucially, when organisations see us allowing, encouraging and insisting that participants make key decisions and learn key skills which others will rely on, it is apparent that this is a new experience for them. We try to avoid issue-based films, and let people tell stories. “What? You’re going to let him hold that (three thousand quid) camera?” Often, we leave groups in which the people with learning disabilities are more capable filmmakers than their support workers. Film and animation, and the flexibility and power of digital tools, allow people who don’t have a true voice to make a noise of their own. You can’t make a film or animation without having to process and understand the ideas you are promoting first. The conversations and drawings, which the production of a script necessitates, are about far more than just the film that is being produced. When you watch your own film, you’re part of the audience, you’re watching your own decisions.”
The most enjoyable strand of our work is with people with learning disabilities and autism. There is a great deal of noise made about this group ‘being given a voice’ and ‘making their own choices’. It is our direct, and long-standing, experience that a lot of this is hot air. By using film to give people with learning disabilities a way to express their views, we ensure that they make key decisions from script to screen, and they have to live with the consequences.
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Advocating for Drug Policy Reform Dr Judith Yates
Class of 1967, Birmingham “Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the UN from 1997 to 2006, said: “I believe that drugs have destroyed many lives, but wrong government policies have destroyed even more.” I now believe that what we have been doing in the name of drug control over the last 50 years has not been working, and indeed has been making the world a more dangerous place, and I hope we can do better in the future.” After 30 years as a GP in inner-city Birmingham, working with people who use alcohol and other drugs, Dr Judith Yates now works for drug policy reform, both nationally and internationally.
“In my role as a GP, I watched young people overcome whatever barriers initially stood in their way, to become people who now live rewarding lives in the community,” says Judith. “Biological, psychological and social factors, often all three, can affect a person’s ability to engage with society and fulfil the potential they had at birth. All of these need to be addressed to help people find their place.” Since retiring from clinical practice, Judith has become a board member of International Doctors for Healthier Drug Policies (IDHDP). “In that role I attend, as part of Civil Society, the United Nations Committee on Narcotic Drugs (CND) which meets in Vienna each year to consider international policy in this area.” She also shares her experiences at conferences and meetings in the UK and abroad, trying to work towards drug policies which reduce harm and prevent deaths.
“I am still involved with the coroner’s office in Birmingham,” she adds, “and I keep the local record of the number of people who die because of drug overdose, to try and find ways to prevent future deaths.” Although Judith finds that the pace of change can often be frustratingly slow, there is one highlight in her work that she is particularly proud of: “Contributing to the national effort to provide naloxone (an antidote to heroin overdose) and overdose training to everybody who uses drugs in the UK and their family, friends and support workers.” Reflecting on her time at School and her route into medicine, Judith recalls: “I loved science from my first lesson at CHS, when I was amazed to find that after we heated metal balls, they would no longer fit through metal hoops. I always hoped to be a doctor. I was a bit worried when my Latin teacher told me I was likely to fail my Latin O Level (which was compulsory for Medicine at that time). Luckily, I scraped through.
“CHS gave me a safe place to start, but I did struggle with life initially after I left. I went too young to medical school, in 1967, when I was only 17 years old. I suffered a period of depression and indecision and “dropped out” of education for three years from 1970, but luckily became older and wiser and was able to return to complete my course with a wider life experience, finally qualifying as a doctor in 1975.” Her advice for those considering a career in medicine: “Go for it. It isn’t an easy option but there are roles to suit everyone within the medical field.”
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World Health The World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified 13 urgent health challenges for the next decade. We asked three Old Waconians about how they are working to meet some of these.
Bringing Hope to Women and Children Dr Ruth Hope
Class of 1971, Florida, US Director of the Center for Reproductive Health, HIV/AIDS and Gender Equality One of the WHO challenges that Ruth feels is very close to her work is, ‘Keeping adolescents safe’. She says: “I take a “life cycle” approach that looks at meeting the needs of women, through pregnancy, delivery and their infants’ first five years. That sets the foundation for the next generation of mothers – helping them delay their first pregnancy until they are at least 19, live healthy lives and space pregnancies so that they remain healthy, not depleted in nutrition and energy by having too many children too close together.” From a self-confessed “naughty” start at School, Dr Ruth Hope soon learned to “work hard and play hard” – an approach that she has continued to follow throughout her career. After completing medical training in Nottingham, Ruth’s career took her to Jamaica, Zimbabwe, Nepal, back to the UK and finally to the United States. Her clinical specialisms (obstetrics, neonatal medicine, paediatrics and general practice), and additional qualifications in mother and child health and education, set her on the path to her current role. “I work mainly in Africa and South Asia on programmes funded by the US Agency for International Development, with occasional forays into Eastern Europe, Central Asia and SE Asia,” she explains. “I facilitate the design and evaluation of programmes addressing the health of women and children, and those at risk, or suffering from, tuberculosis and HIV infection.”
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One of the greatest challenges in her work is the lack of long-term donor commitment and changing donor priorities. “Donors’ programmes are 3-5 years. Some are extended, but they are not part of a longterm, systemic approach to improving health in resource-poor countries.” Along with the difficult times though, Ruth has had many highlights. “I spent six years in Nepal in the 1980s working on improving water supplies and sanitation at household level, at a time when it was said that it wasn’t possible to do anything about hygiene and sanitation in South Asia,” she says. “My work proved that rural and semi-rural communities could understand germ theory and apply it to their homes and families. That work was the foundation for the “total sanitation approach” now widely used throughout Asia.
“My most fortuitous situation was being in the right place at the right time with the
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right qualifications and experience when President Bush announced his President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). PEPFAR isn’t perfect but it got antiretrovirals and other treatment to millions of people in Africa who would have died. It gave hope to communities and nations that were hit hard by the HIV pandemic. I am sad that the current US Administration isn’t seeing the process of containing and eliminating HIV through. Yet I am satisfied to have been part of it from the beginning.” Ruth’s advice for those looking to pursue a career in health and development? “You need knowledge and skills that are in short supply overseas. After completing professional training (nursing, radiography, nutrition etc.), look to undertake a position in a resource-poor country. Study for a Masters in a specialist subject appropriate to where you want to work. Competition is great, but with dedication and humility, one can get there!” Memory of CHS “I loved my time at CHS. I was excited by the teaching and possibilities. I was an enthusiastic Ranger with “Aunty Kite”, a great influence on my life. I particularly liked music and performing in concerts, sports and swimming. My least favourite memory was the smelly changing rooms for the swimming pool!”
Everyone Is Equal in the ED Dr Philip Brooks
Class of 1996, Perth, Australia Emergency Department Consultant, State Major Trauma Centre, Royal Perth Hospital team are all amazing and I couldn’t begin to do my job without them. We are like a family – especially when we work though holiday periods such as Christmas.”
“As an emergency medicine specialist, I am often reminded that we are the light in the house of medicine that is always left on. We are here for anyone, anytime and for anything.” Dr Philip Brooks qualified as a doctor in Leicester and moved to London to begin his career in emergency medicine, returning to Manchester as an A&E registrar a few years later. After sailing the high seas for four years as a cruise ship’s doctor, he took the advice of a fellow Old Wac and applied for a job in Australia. He gained his fellowship of the Australasian College of Emergency Medicine and started in his current role as a consultant in emergency medicine.
“The WHO challenges that resonate with me the most are those that strive to remove inequality in health. We should deliver care without judgement, with compassion and empathy, and with the consideration that we would want if the roles were reversed. A large part of my role is patient safety and the ED (Emergency Department) is often seen as the final safety net – we catch the vulnerable, the abused, the marginalised and the frightened and we don’t let them drop. This ethos is pivotal to the practice of good emergency medicine and must never be forgotten.”
As in the UK, there are pressures around bed availability, an aging population and a shortage of mental health services. Additionally, the indigenous population is particularly vulnerable and there is a serious inequality in healthcare in the Aboriginal Australian population. However, there are positives to Philip’s work. “I always say that emergency medicine is the most interesting 15 minutes of every other medical speciality,” he laughs. “It is this genuine variety that keeps me on my toes and ensures I am never bored at work. The ED team is more than just the doctors – the nurses, the allied health staff, the clerical
Philip is keen to encourage everyone to look at how they could help tackle the WHO challenges. He says: “You don’t need to be a doctor. You could work in a field affiliated to medicine or outside of healthcare completely. We have a responsibility as a society to fight for equality, to protect our young people, to do the right thing during times of international crisis – anyone can do these things and make more of a difference in the world than they might realise.” Memory of CHS “I was in the school production every year. The talents of teachers like Paul Allen, Nigel Westbrook, Mark Oliver and Sally Petrie as school theatre directors, cemented my love for theatre and the performing arts from a very young age. I loved the transformation of Holden Hall into a living, working theatre and the productions still fuel wonderful memories for me.”
Widening Access in Mental Health training mental health workers to work with children and young people,” she says. “I spend most of my day planning, teaching and marking. I also see a small number of young people to do therapeutic sessions. Training up new workers will make mental health services much more accessible and, subsequently, fairer.”
Dr Kat Hindley (née Perkins)
Class of 1992, Beaconsfield Clinical Psychologist, University of Reading In an area of healthcare that has been underfunded and under resourced for years, Dr Kat Hindley is making a difference to the mental health of young people. “I work at the University of Reading as a Senior Clinical Tutor,
Kat was a shy and quiet student at CHS and, although she worked hard, her dyslexia meant her efforts weren’t always recognised. There was one teacher at CHS who saw Kat’s potential. “My economics teacher, Mrs Thomas, was the one who told me she thought I would be a good psychologist. I hadn’t even heard of it at that point and I dismissed it at the time, but she was right!” After leaving CHS, Kat studied Philosophy and Psychology at Sheffield University and then worked as an Assistant Psychologist before getting onto the Clinical Psychology Doctoral degree at Exeter University. She followed this up with a Masters in Family Therapy. Her first few jobs in Child and Adolescent Mental Health
Services were in the South West, but she moved to the South East ten years ago. Kat is passionate about her work and is proud of everything she has achieved in her career. “I love working with young people as they are always brilliant, fun and interesting to work with and I love to see young people regain their health and enjoy their lives,” she says. “There may be easier paths to get into the kind of job I do! Be prepared for a long hard slog but it’s worth it in the end.” Memory of CHS “Eating chocolate on Fridays in the field that I’d bought in the old barn. Having big water fights in the boarding house. Wet days so we could do Pirates in the gym and free swim!”
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How Are Old Waconians Meeting Global Challenges?
Building a Better Economy The world of business and finance is often given a bad rep but there are people in the CHS community who are trying to make a difference.
Elizabeth Haigh
Class of 1981, Bristol Investment Director and co-founder of Rathbone Greenbank Investments, the specialist ethical investment division of Rathbones “The biggest challenge facing investment in my opinion is how to successfully integrate environmental, social and governance issues into investment decision-making.”
Changing the Status Quo in Investment: Using Finance for Good
After leaving CHS in 1981, Elizabeth graduated from the University of Bristol with a joint honours BA French and Latin. Although not particularly interested in Business at School, she wanted a challenging career and so joined the financial sector at a time when it was growing fast. “In my day ,French and Maths were set together so I scraped into the top Maths set and the great teaching by Mr Parry at O Level gave me all the Maths I needed.” She worked at CL Laing and Cruickshank as a trainee stockbroker, joined Albert E Sharp in 1990, and Rathbones in 1997. In the early 1990s she identified a need for an ethical investment service for individual ethical investors and set one up in 1992. Since then, she and her colleagues have built up
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a specialist team managing over £1.5bn of assets in ethically screened portfolios. “My career highlight has been creating Rathbone Greenbank Investments in 2004 and employing a new generation of talented and committed investment professionals.” At Rathbone Greenbank they invest in companies that are trying to address challenges presented by issues like climate change and human rights, allowing investments to match client’s personal values and beliefs. Elizabeth has found that the biggest challenge working in this area is trying to change the status quo, but the opportunity to do just that is what she loves the most. “I would advise all CHS pupils to be open to opportunities and have the confidence to grasp them!” Memory of CHS “My favourite times at School were spent tearing around the school playing ‘hare and hounds.’”
Teacher Feature: Mr Crook Before training, as a teacher Mr Crook spent over seven years as an Economics and Policy Analyst at the Treasury. Younger Old Wacs may remember him teaching History at CHS between 2009 and 2014. In September 2019, he returned as our Head of Business and Economics. Here he shares his thoughts on some of the challenges facing the economy and how CHS is preparing economists of the future:
“I’ve always thought that economics prepares you for anything: banking, accountancy, government work or teaching, for example. I never thought, though, that it would prepare me to comment on events we haven’t seen for over a century maybe since 1665! However, I have spent a busy term - often remotely - applying the tools of economic analysis to an entirely new set of problems with my students and in my broader public commentary. The biggest challenge is going to be whether the economy can bounce back in a V-shape and I hope CHS students are better prepared than most to have a go at analysing that, including in a new economics competition I’ve launched for the North West called ‘Economic Horizon’.” Separate from his teaching, Mr Crook shares topical and quirky economics on Instagram (@economics_treasury) and via his website http://economicstreasury.org.uk.
A Green Focus for Young Enterprise Team CHS’s Young Enterprise team, Hydrosport, means business after picking up first prize in the area final of the national Young Enterprise competition. Led by Sixth Form student and Managing Director Rami, the team has been trading since October and has made nearly £2,000 in profit. He said: “Hydrosport has had a really good journey so far. We’ve made over 200 sales and because we are a growing business and there’s a lot of potential for the future, many members of the team are planning to carry on after the competition has ended.” Their product is a hydroflask that comes with an integrated thermometer, designed to help their target customers achieve fitness and health goals quicker by enabling them to drink water at the optimal temperature. Alongside being proud of their success, Team Hydrosport has been guided by its strong ethics and values, wanting to reduce plastic pollution by eliminating the need for people to buy single-use bottles. They are also striving to become a carbon neutral business by planting a tree for every bottle sold, to help offset any pollution caused by the shipping of their product.
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Focus On
Creative Old Wacs
Credit: Sophie Davidson
Notoriously tricky to get into, and encompassing everything from the performing arts to computer game design to journalism, it takes a certain type of person to make it in the Creative Industries. Ella Bucknall, Class of 2012, and Anya Gomulski, Class of 2010, might be successful in different spheres, but they share a creative spirit that was nurtured at CHS.
Life Drawing Ella Bucknall Class of 2012 Illustrator Ella Bucknall always knew she wanted a career in the creative arts, but found it hard to choose between her love of literature and her talent for art. Now, as a successful illustrator and cartoonist, Ella has found a way of combining those passions, creating visual stories that expose and challenge political and cultural stereotypes. After joining CHS in the Sixth Form, Ella took Art at AS Level and was inspired by the School’s experimental approach to the subject.
“We were always encouraged to try out new ideas and work with different media,” she said. “I remember being initially quite nervous to stray from my comfort zone, but for my final piece I ended up going down an anthropomorphic route – I sewed fabric portraits of human faces morphing into birds. It was quite weird, but nothing shocked Mr Yearsley. There were also life drawing classes after school where we got to draw nude models which really helped us to advance our skill and develop our practice.” At Oxford University, where she studied English Literature, Ella continued to draw in her spare time, designing the odd event poster in return for tickets and perfecting her life drawing with classes at the Ruskin School of Art. When the time came to graduate, Ella realised she wanted to develop her artistic skills and
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went on to do a Masters in Illustration at Camberwell College of Arts in London. It was there that Ella developed an interest in political cartoons – a subject that has helped her make a mark on the illustration world.
“When I started drawing political cartoons, I bought a book called Britain’s Best Political Cartoons 2016,” she said. “Out of nearly 180 cartoons, not one was by a female cartoonist. I had no idea that there was such a gender discrepancy in political cartooning. It’s not that women are any less talented, funny or clever, it’s just that women are marginalised from the political sphere.” Her disappointment soon turned into anger, and this led Ella to start WHIP, a zine that gives female cartoonists a platform to showcase their work to help redress the balance. Now on its third edition, WHIP has been featured in Vogue, iNews and on the BBC, as the role of women in visual storytelling, from graphic novels to political cartoons, continues to gather the mainstream attention it deserves.
“The idea for WHIP began in 2017, the year of Trump, Theresa May and Brexit, so it was pretty fertile ground,” explained Ella. “It caused a bit of a stir in the media and I was invited to take part in a panel discussion at the Tate about satire and offence with Martin Rowson, a Guardian cartoonist. I’m really pleased it helped open up the discussion about diversity within the industry.” Ella is currently working on a graphic biography of author Virginia Woolf, a “labour of love” that has its origins in her days at Cheadle Hulme School.
“As well as Mr Yearsley, my English teachers had a big influence on me. Mr Westbrook’s tutoring was invaluable, Mrs Petrie always encouraged my creativity, and – even though she wasn’t my teacher – Mrs Norton first suggested I read ‘A Room of One’s Own’. I have such fond memories of CHS, and it’s a pleasure to be asked to draw a portrait of Mr Winter for his retirement (see page 9) and be in The Old Waconian.”
Anya Gomulski Class of 2010
Homeware Textiles Designer After leaving CHS, Anya studied Textiles and now works as a Homeware Textiles Designer. Her designs have sold across the world for companies like Ikea, John Lewis, and Next, and have been featured in magazines including Vogue, Livingetc and World of Interiors. Last year, she set up Brixton Life Drawing as a side venture and it proved to be very popular. “We were selling our classes every week in London - and then the pandemic hit. We took our classes online and soon had 500 people joining in weekly. The classes were “pay what you can” with 50% of all profits going to charities like Beauty Banks, Solace Women’s Aid, Compliments of the House, Brixton Soup Kitchen, South London Cares, Mosaic Clubhouse, For The Love Of Scrubs, and many others!” Find out more by messaging Anya on Instagram @BrixtonLifeDrawing or email brixtonlifedrawing@gmail.com.
“I’m especially grateful to my old art teachers, Mr Yearsley and Miss Craig, who led me into this field by being so supportive and inspiring.”
Keeping You Connected: CHS Community Since launching our first online networking platform in 2017, we’ve been looking at ways to make our offering more user friendly and useful.
This summer, we launched CHS Community; your one stop shop for staying in touch with CHS, other Old Waconians, and the wider School community. At a time when connecting online has become an essential part of life, CHS Community can help you reach out to friends or potential mentors who live not only all over the UK but around the world.
How can it help me socially?
Reconnect with OWs from your leaving year
Find out about upcoming events and set up your own
Read the latest news and submit your own news stories
Join a club with those who have similar interests
How can it help me professionally?
Promote your business on our dedicated Business Directory Browse job vacancies or upload an opportunity
Reminisce by looking through our photos and share your own
Network with others working in your field through our Industry Networks
Find a mentor or ask for career advice
How do I get started? Visit www.chscommunity.co.uk and take a look around. You will be able to access some of the platform without registering but will need to create a profile to get the most out of the site. If you are currently signed up to CHS Network you still need to register with CHS Community and should have received a message with instructions about how to do this. Need a hand? Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Charlotte if you have any more questions or are struggling to register (charlotteaspin@chschool.co.uk). We look forward to welcoming you to our online CHS Community very soon.
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Community Support and Fundraising We have been humbled by the support that our OWs and the wider CHS community has shown to projects in our local community and grateful for your quick response and commitment to helping those in need or less fortunate than ourselves.
CHS
NHS
Following the initial response by the DT department to create PPE for the NHS and frontline workers, we saw a sudden increase in demand and requests came in thick and fast. To ensure we could purchase enough materials to fulfil these requests and help as many people as possible, the Fundraising team launched an appeal to continue the production. This was very well-received and we reached our £1,000 target in less than 24 hours and raised over £3,000 in total. We are so grateful to everyone who donated. In addition, two charities have been set up by individuals close to the CHS community to support the NHS; Eat Well MCR and Feed NHS. We are helping to raise awareness of these two worthy causes and you can have a look online at the great work they are doing to help NHS workers.
The Wellspring Foodbanks have been hit hard in the past few months, and The Wellspring, one of our previous House charities, was one of them. So we got in touch with The Wellspring CEO, Jonathan Billings, to see how we could help. The Wellspring is making up food parcels for the vulnerable as well as continuing to provide hot meals to homeless and disadvantaged people. The School’s External Relations team organised collections from doorsteps around Manchester and the CHS community stepped up to the challenge. Jonathan Billings of The Wellspring said: “I want to thank everyone from Cheadle Hulme School for the support, it really means a lot to us. We were getting to the point that we had to start decreasing the amount of food in each parcel because supplies were beginning to run low, so this collection has helped enormously. Thank you.”
In one month, the Eat Well MCR crowdfunder had raised enough to fund 8,000 nutritional meals. They are now on target to raise the same again for another month of meals. Feed NHS raised £1 million in ten days and now the coalition is providing 40,000 meals a day to 88 hospitals nationwide. https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/eat-well-mcr https://www.feednhs.com/
State School Support Thanks to funding from the Oglesby Trust, we are able to partner with local primary schools, Cheadle Heath, Cale Green, Lumhead and Adswood Primary. The partnership includes delivery of Art workshops, tutoring, and lessons provided by CHS staff members or students including Classics, Modern Languages, Music and STEM. As well as being of great benefit to the students in these primary schools, our own Sixth Form students have learnt a lot from teaching. Most importantly, they’ve enjoyed the responsibility of teaching younger students, sharing their passion and expertise for their languages with their pupils, and working with younger people at a different school in their local community. Our own Medical Manager, Debbie Woodcock, has been helping vulnerable children at risk of permanent exclusion in these schools, with the help of therapy dog, Pep. One child, who struggles with literacy and is not confident enough to read aloud to a teacher, will cuddle up to the dog and read out loud to him. Pep has been of great benefit to many vulnerable children. We are looking forward to continuing our work with these schools and others next year and are currently working on how to deliver the programme remotely if needed.
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StateTalking
Hardship Fund
Over the last 12 months, we have partnered with local state schools to support them by sharing best practice, and providing speakers and co-curricular opportunities for their pupils. As this is such a challenging time for many state schools, we have been extending our support by sharing expertise from within our School community wherever we can.
Many of our families have been affected financially by the pandemic and we worked hard to find a way to support them. This resulted in the creation of a Hardship Fund which is now available to those families.
We’ve connected with a newly formed initiative, StateTalking, which aims to link state schools across Manchester with careers speakers. Visit their website statetalking.org to view some of their recent speakers and a series of careers videos that they have put together.
Fellow parents and Old Waconians helped us to support those whose financial positions had been upturned to ensure their children will continue their studies at CHS. Thank you to everyone who has helped us to grow this Fund which has raised over £13,000.
We are grateful to the Old Wacs who have already been in touch to help with this initiative, and we welcome anyone to get in touch if you are able to answer questions or give a virtual talk about your career. Contact franceskennedy@chschool.co.uk. We very much look forward to working with StateTalking in the future.
The Bursary Fund
Over
2£5 Regular Donors
280 Donors
Average bursary is
£9,400
OVER
85
people have confirmed their intention to leave a legacy
100 pupils have been supported by the Bursary Fund this year
and the average household income of our bursary families is £30,000
As well as building the Fund, we are also focusing on providing Transformational Bursaries. We currently have three students attending CHS on a transformational bursary. These students have come from challenging backgrounds or live in areas where life chances are limited. This type of bursary gives students additional support on top of fees, for uniform, trips, an iPad and travel. Students are provided with dedicated pastoral support to ensure they settle into life at CHS.
‘‘I am most proud of being at an amazing School.” - Year 7 bursary student “I cannot believe the opportunities available at CHS and am hugely grateful for the academic education and incredible pastoral care which the school provides.” - Grandmother of bursary student The Bursary Fund remains our fundraising priority and we hope to be able to hold our postponed Giving Day in the next academic year. If you would like any further information, or would like to make a donation, please get in touch with Jennifer Miller on jennifermiller@chschool.co.uk.
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Then & Now:
The Crucible ‘The Crucible’ is a 1953 play by American playwright Arthur Miller. Set in Salem, Massachusetts, in the year 1962, it follows the story of the Salem witch trials. We take a look at when CHS students have taken to the boards to bring the play to life.
1994 Former Head of English, Nigel Westbrook, recalls directing the 1994 production:
“Despite it then being over 40 years old it remains a tremendously powerful drama with a warning about the dangers of oppressive social and religious control, sadly still just as relevant today as ever. It offers meaty, challenging roles to actors of both sexes and a large cast of smaller roles. The dramatic action became very intense in final rehearsals, especially when the girls playing Abigail Williams and her entourage had to seem gripped with hysterical screaming; Caroline Dunn (then Blakey), was only in Year 11 but more than held her own with her more mature fellow-actors. I recall the commanding tones of Matthew Kay as Judge Danforth cutting through the hubbub and the sensitive pleading of Emma Hyman as Elizabeth Proctor in her husband’s prison cell. Without microphones it was a real test of the performers to project strongly across Holden Hall’s notoriously resonant acoustic, but I think the enthusiastic acclaim the show won was testimony to their success.”
2000
This was the first play that Ms Harms directed as Head of Drama in 2000. We asked her why she chose this piece and how it felt to direct it again 20 years later.
“The Crucible is my FAVOURITE play! It was the first school production that I was in and I have loved it ever since. It really challenges the acting skills of students. When I was interviewed for my job at CHS I was asked what play I would most like to direct: “The Crucible!” When I started in September, I immediately put out the audition notices. It was exciting to direct a play (I’d only done musicals at my previous school) and I had an absolutely fantastic cast. They were incredibly talented and up for the challenge of the play; though I did have to strong arm a couple of boys to persuade them to audition! Starting my 20th year at CHS last September felt like a really good time to revisit the play. Once again I was blessed with a hugely talented cast and, despite a few rants about the need to learn lines, it was a joy to work on. I am immensely proud of both productions but I hope that if anyone is old enough to have seen both, they would see that I have improved as a theatre director over the intervening 20 years?”
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The 1855 Society CHS was founded on philanthropic principles in 1855 and it is, therefore, fitting that those who choose to leave a legacy become members of our 1855 society. We are most grateful for the legacies we have received this year: Stephen Cretney, Class of 1954
Lionel Moore, Friend
Barbara Haydon, Class of 1951
Mike Thomson, Former Staff
Geoffery Lea, Class of 1943 If you would like to find out more about leaving a legacy or let us know of your intention to leave a gift in your will please contact Jennifer Miller (jennifermiller@chschool.co.uk).
2019
Oscar Cooper, Class of 2020, played the part of Reverend Hale in the 2019 performance. “He arrives in Salem as a self-professed expert on all things witchcraft but soon realises that his fervour is what drives the community into hysteria.”
Like many OWs, Oscar spent a lot of his spare time taking part in School productions, we asked him why? “Whether it is something serious or light hearted, the process of rehearsing right through until performance is brilliant, especially when you can see how far you’ve come. The opportunity to play a wide variety of characters lets you experience things from a different point of view and you choose what you want the audience to see of you. Particularly with this play, the period setting meant that we had to hark back to the past in our portrayals of characters, leading to melodramatic personas who we found captivating to play. Possibly, too melodramatic at times - James, who played John Proctor, fainted in rehearsals the day before in an overly exerted performance of the manic act three!”
Teacher and Father: Tony Rees “Our father was popular at CHS, both amongst pupils and fellow staff (with many of whom he remained firm friends). During the 1970’s and 80’s he was a part of the, selfproclaimed, History department ‘Dream team!’ along with Michael Scaife, Gwynedd Saunders and Beryl Freer. He also coached hockey, umpired cricket teams and arranged many history trips. Dad retired in 1988 and moved to Suffolk in 1991, where he enjoyed golf, painting, and discovering local history. A few years ago he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and he sadly passed away in January. He is greatly missed by us all.” Matthew, Nick, and Tom Rees (Classes of 1982, 1983 and 1986)
Fondly Remembered CHS is sad to report the deaths of the following Old Waconians: Derrick Beswick, Class of 1939 Dorren Bithell (née Westbrook), Class of 1960 Millie (Mildred) Blower (née Kirby), Class of 1938 David Wroe Brookes, Class of 1952 Graham Butterworth, Class of 1955 Dr Ann Chandley, Class of 1954 Bridget Cohen, Former Staff, Served 1983 - 1996 Stephen Cretney, Class of 1954
Do you have memories or photos of you treading the boards in Holden Hall that you’d like to share with other Old Wacs? Send them to us at er@chschool.co.uk or share directly with our Old Waconian instagram account (@oldwaconians).
John (Phillip) Critchley, Class of 1951 Kay Fountain, Former Staff, Served from the mid 1980s-1993 Helen Hall (née James), Class of 1948
Jo Hancock, Former Staff, Served 1975 - 2000 Alan Hawkins, Class of 1960 Jane (Hilarye) Heginbotham (née Waters), Class of 1959 Joy James (née Foster), Class of 1947 Anne Jubb, Former Staff Freda Kilburn (née Johnstone), Class of 1950 Geoffery Lea, Class of 1943 Jonathon Lee, Class of 1974 Paul Lyons, Class of 1947 Bill Miller, Class of 1966 Roger Neave, Class of 1957
Olga Odabashian, Class of 1936 David Percival, Class of 1958 Tony (Robert Anthony) Rees, Former Staff, Served 1962 - 1988 Hazel Smith, Class of 1960 Doreen Spedding (née Goodyear), Class of 1956 Bernard Taylor, Class of 1959 Janet Thomas (née Pearson), Class of 1958 Gwyneth ThomasSjeverac (née Thomas), Class of 1955 Mike Thomson MBE, Former Staff Dr Stuart Warren, Class of 1957
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This edition is dedicated to all of the key workers from our CHS Community. Thank you.
OLD WACONIAN noun (ould wa-kau-ni-an) The term ‘Old Waconian’ stems from the original name given to the School in 1855:
THE WAREHOUSEMEN AND CLERKS’ ORPHAN SCHOOLS Every former student and member of staff becomes an Old Waconian when they leave Cheadle Hulme School.
Head - Neil Smith Claremont Road · Cheadle Hulme · Cheadle · Cheshire · SK8 6EF Tel 0161 488 3330 · Email head@chschool.co.uk cheadlehulmeschool.co.uk Registered Company Number 3823129 Registered Charity Number 1077017 32
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