The Old
WACONIAN 44
Keeping you connected
Edition
12 16
Old Waconian Events
18
Remembering Holden Hall
St. Peter’s Square
OW
OW
OW
Strengthening our connections
Where’s the Old Wac? Our continuing search for missing Old Waconians
CHEADLE HULME
St. Peters Square
Let’s take a trip down memory lane...
3100 Metrolink
Letters to the Editor OW Magazine
House of Lords Alumni Reception
“After I received my latest copy of The Old Waconian magazine, I felt compelled to write in to tell you my thoughts! From the cover design and illustration, to the choice of paper stock, the design theme, the layout and detail of every page is outstanding and a joy to look at.” Vanessa Christian, Class of 1986
“It was a sheer delight to see and hear so many Old Waconians enjoying animated conversation. What a lovely, sociable school!” Tom Weardon, Class of 1948
“I thoroughly enjoy reading the magazine, as it reminds me of the great time I had at CHS. The amount of effort given to keeping in touch with Old Waconians gives me huge pride in the school.” John O’Brien, Class of 2003
Old Waconian Weekend
“Great evening - thank you CHS for the opportunity to reconnect with old friends.” Jane Cryer, Class of 1986
“It was great catching up, and a useful reminder of how privileged I was to grow up a part of such a wonderful community. Without doubt, my time at CHS shaped who I am today: the bad aspects of my character are entirely my own work.” Steven Lever, Class of 1986 (travelled from Greece)
Tours of the School “Many thanks for making my School visit so smooth and enjoyable. I thoroughly enjoyed being back and although many changes have taken place, it’s still Chints!” Audrey Ball (née Gorton), Class of 1961 (travelled from Australia)
Contents 4 / Welcome 5 / School News 8 / 160 Years of Outstanding Service 9/O ld Waconian News and Awards 12 / O ld Waconian Events 16 / Where’s the Old Wac? 18 / R emembering Holden Hall
5 / School News
12 / Old Waconian Events
20 / I n the ‘Thick of It’ 21 / C alifornication and the Future of Transportation 22 / F amily Ties: The Taylor Family 24 / Delve into the Archives: A History of Lacrosse
20 / In the ‘Thick of It’
24 / Delve into the Archives
25 / I nside Look… 26 / F undraising at CHS 28 / T he Old Waconians’ Association 31 / Focus on... Bronte Law, Class of 2013
25 / Inside Look...
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Old Waconians ‘Cheadle Hulme School’ @CheadleHulmeSch CheadleHulmeSchool
0161 488 3341 Frances Kennedy
Katie Lees
Petra van den Houten
Director of Development and External Relations
Alumni Relations and Events Manager
Donor Relations and Database Manager
0161 488 3338
0161 488 3341
0161 488 3330 ext. 3264
franceskennedy@chschool.co.uk
katielees@chschool.co.uk
petravandenhouten@chschool.co.uk
er@chschool.co.uk
Welcome.
From the Head... Welcome to the 2016 edition of The Old Waconian. The past year has been full of exciting Old Waconian events in Cheadle Hulme, Manchester, London and overseas in New York and Washington D.C. The Reception at the House of Lords and the hugely popular OW Weekend were real highlights for me as I am sure they were for everyone who joined us. In the summer we said farewell to a number of long-serving teachers, Keith Yearsley, Steve Burnage, Kurt Foster, Sue Matthews, Sue Sharples and Jane Williams who together served a total of 160 years. These six individuals helped shape the CHS experience for so many of you and the messages we received on announcing their retirement were testament to that. They now join the growing community of Old Waconians which this year reached
13,203 and will continue to grow. If you have time, do watch their film (tinyurl.com/CHSRetiredStaff). I’d like to thank Paul Atherley, Class of 1974 for his energy and commitment to the School in his role as President of the Old Waconians’ Association. Karim Khalil QC, Class of 1980 will be taking up this mantle in January and will be hosting our next London event in April 2017. You can read about Karim and his fascinating career on page 28. As ever, this magazine is packed full of School news, interviews with inspirational Old Waconians and a dash of nostalgia. I hope you enjoy it! Lucy Pearson Head
From the Editor... photos of one of our best-loved old buildings, Holden Hall. Thanks to all of you who have sent them to us. When you get a moment, do take a look on our website and step back in time to your days as a CHS student. The renovation of this building will begin next year so do keep an eye on our Facebook page and our website for regular updates over the coming months.
In this issue we are continuing our theme of ‘connectivity’ and looking at how we can all connect with the School’s past, present and future. As you all know, we’ve been collecting your memories and
The Old WACONIAN 04 / Welcome
Speaking of much loved buildings, our new Pavilion has finally been completed. We were thrilled to welcome Team GB Hockey player and Olympic Gold Medallist, Susannah Townsend to officially open this fantastic new facility. A huge thank you to those Old Waconians who supported the Pavilion appeal – it is already having a huge impact on our sporting community. The support
of so many of you through gifts of money, time and expertise, makes CHS an inspiring community. When our current students are asked to send us their memories of CHS, they will have you to thank for so many of them. Over the coming pages you can read about some extraordinary Old Waconians, from top international golfer Bronte Law, to US based engineer Philippe Kirschen and many more. I Iook forward to meeting even more of you over the coming year. Fran Kennedy Director of Development and External Relations
Meet your Alumni Relations Manager It’s my job to keep you connected with everything CHS; over the last four years it has been a privilege to meet so many of you and hear your stories which make up the School’s incredible history. If you would like some help reconnecting with your CHS days, tracking down old friends or would like to arrange a tour of the School or a reunion, please do get in touch. You can reach me on 0161 488 3341 or email katielees@chschool.co.uk. You can also connect via Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn. Katie Lees Alumni Relations and Events Manager
School News
PS. Don’t forget to tweet us your photos and show us where you read your OW Magazine.
#HowDoYou ReadYours
Liberty and Liberties At The Head’s Lecture In November we welcomed Shadow Attorney General, Baroness Shami Chakrabarti CBE to give the 2016 Head’s Lecture.
More Academic Success For CHS Last year was another strong year for academic results at the School. GCSE students achieved nearly 70% A* and A grades and 90% of candidates gained at least a B grade. Among this impressive set of results were 21 individuals who gained at least nine A* grades.
Shami spoke to a packed audience about her journey from Director of Liberty into politics and answered questions from the floor about being brave, equality for women and life post Brexit and Trump. Before the lecture she spent an hour with 14 Sixth Form students. They discussed a range of topics from social media and privacy to the current refugee crisis.
At A Level, our newest Old Waconians, the Class of 2016, performed equally well, with 78% of results gaining A*-B. Seventeen students gained at least two A* grades, while five students - Owen Ballantine, Jack Boyd, Hal Dewhurst, James Hartley and Rebecca Prince - were awarded 3 A* grades. Graduates from the Class of 2016 are now off to a host of exciting destinations including the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, London School of Economics and New York University. The Old WACONIAN 05 / School News
School News The Arts Participation in the Arts has always been an important part of School life. Like many Old Waconians before them, today’s CHS students continue to enjoy a rich array of artistic activities from music, dance and theatre to painting, craft, photography and much more.
CHS Big Band Reaches New Heights This year, CHS’s Big Band musicians took to a Manchester rooftop for their loftiest performance yet, playing at the top of Bruntwood’s Blackfriars House, close to Manchester’s Deansgate. You can watch this spectacular display from our musicians here: tinyurl.com/CHSBigBand
From Hollywood To Holden Hall This year Holden Hall was host to two spectacular nights of movie magic when the Senior School performed film favourites Cabaret and Beauty and the Beast. In May, 60 enthusiastic cast members from CHS’s Musical Theatre company brought Disney’s 1991 animated classic Beauty and the Beast to the stage. Holden Hall was also transformed into its own KitKat Klub as students from the Senior School performed Cabaret to a live musical score courtesy of CHS musicians.
CHS Staff Competed In The Hallé Corporate Choir Competition CHS And Buy Art Fair CHS is proud to be the only school to partner with the most prestigious and leading art fair in the North, Buy Art Fair, two years in a row. The School showcased student and Old Waconian artwork throughout the busy weekend at Old Granada Studios. Three students from the Sixth Form also embraced the opportunity to take part in Live Painting sessions alongside Head of Art, Mr Adam Hayley.
The Old WACONIAN 06 / School News
CHS teachers and staff put their vocal chords to the test by competing in this year’s Hallé Corporate Choir competition. The 20-strong choir pitted their choral talents against 8 other businesses in the region, including Bruntwood, PwC and Siemens Plc. The School’s choir included chemistry teacher Dr Jacky McDouall and Head of Modern
Languages, Mr John Wilson and was led by Musical Director of Hallam Choral Society and Preston Orpheus Choir, Ellie Slorach. Inspired by Christmas family favourite, Home Alone, the CHS songsters performed ‘O Holy Night’ and ‘Carol of the Bells’ from the film’s soundtrack whilst sporting colourful Christmas jumpers.
School News Sport As well as fantastic performances by the School’s sports teams, we have enjoyed visits from outstanding athletes who have inspired students to achieve in all aspects of life. We also celebrated the continued success of our sporting Old Waconians, including Premier League and U21 England footballer Duncan Watmore, Class of 2012, and international golfer Bronte Law, Class of 2013 (see page 31).
Michael Vaughan Visits CHS CHS cricketers had a chance to better their batting skills when they were visited by former England Cricket Captain, Michael Vaughan. Michael demonstrated the skills that helped him rank as one of the best batsmen in the world following the 2002/03 Ashes.
Olympic Cyclist Keeps Juniors On Track Junior School pupils embraced the Olympic spirit as they celebrated the Road to Rio 2016 with a visit from Olympic Gold medal-winning Team GB cyclist Craig Mclean prior to their own Olympic sports day.
Champions Of The Netball Courts
U14 Hockey Girls Make History CHS’s U14s Girls Hockey team became the School’s most successful hockey team in history after taking fourth place at the National Schools Championships in March this year. Travelling to the national finals of the tournament at Lee Valley Hockey Centre, the team faced tough opposition in their group from Wellington, Sevenoaks and Canford.
2016 has been an outstanding year for CHS’s netballers. The U19 team won the National Independent Schools’ Netball Cup Plate competition while the U15 Netball team were crowned National Champions after winning at the School Sports Magazine U15s Netball final. After years of Hockey dominating the headlines, we’re sure many netball playing OWs will be pleased to see their progress!
Charity The Charity Hike Is 50 Years Old! You may remember our very first Charity Hike, organised by former member of staff Ian Ray, in 1966 which raised £600 for the children from Henshaw’s School for the Blind. In September, 50 years on from the inaugural Hike, students, staff and Old Waconians laced up their walking boots to raise even more money in this annual coming together of the CHS community. Over the last half century, the Charity Hike has raised an incredible £250,000. There was always a party atmosphere at the end with Miss Kight preparing sausages and beans at the finish. The amounts raised soon rose to £2,000 a year; probably about 10 times that in today’s money. - Ian Ray
Team Coach, Mr Jamie Henderson said: “Finishing 4th is the best result for Cheadle Hulme School in a National Hockey Competition to date and the girls played some fantastic hockey; this team is one to watch for the future.” The Old WACONIAN 07 / School News
160 Years of Outstanding Service Steve Burnage,
Kurt Foster,
joined CHS in 1993
joined CHS in 1987
Sue Matthews, joined CHS in 1997
Sue Sharples, joined CHS in 1995
Jane Williams, joined CHS in 1983
Keith Yearsley,
joined CHS in 1982
“May their shadows never grow any less” - Rubayatt of Omar Khayyam Educating, supporting and inspiring. If you ask any Old Waconian who they remember for embodying all of those things, among many members of staff at CHS, the names Steve Burnage, Kurt Foster, Sue Matthews, Sue Sharples, Jane Williams and Keith Yearsley, will come up time and again.
Everyone at CHS wishes these very special teachers a happy and long retirement. They have given such a lot to staff, students and parents alike, and we look forward to seeing them at many Old Waconian events in the future. Lucy Pearson, Head
The Old WACONIAN 08 / 160 Years of Outstanding Service
From the moment they announced their retirements in July, you could hear the sound of Old Waconians collectively inhale as messages and memories flooded in to the School of how valued, important and life-changing each one remains to this day. Whether your passion lay in sports, art, maths or literature, it would seem the sound of their encouraging words cheering you on from the side-lines are still ringing in many ears. At CHS’s Annual Celebration at the Bridgewater Hall in September, after clocking up a collective service of more than 160 years, they were welcomed into our Old Waconian community and starred in a short film which you can watch here: tinyurl.com/CHSRetiredStaff
“It was such a special moment to see our teachers up on stage while the whole auditorium stood up to applaud and show their appreciation and gratitude for their service to the School.” Head Boy & Head Girl “I was a horrific sportsperson at School. I dreaded PE and cross country in particular. Nearly 15 years later when I’m on the treadmill and about to quit I can hear Mr Burnage in my head shouting: “Patel, keep moving”. It still does the job. Enjoy the retirement!” Dhruv Patel, Class of 2001 “Wishing you all the very best in your retirement and thank you for everything you taught me” Penny Silver (née Marshall), Class of 1994
Old Waconian News It’s been a busy year for Old Waconians, with many of you receiving accolades, reaching new heights in your careers or achieving personal milestones.
James (Jim) Gardner Class of 1938
Lord Alf Dubs
Jim has been awarded The Legion of Honour for his participation in World War II. This is the highest order in France for excellent civil or military conduct, and makes Jim a Chevalier (Knight) of the Légion d’honneur.
Distinguished Old Waconian Award 2012 recipient, Lord Dubs has been recognised for his efforts to secure asylum for modern child refugees.
Class of 1951
He was awarded ‘Peer of the Year’ at the Spectator’s Parliamentarian of the Year Awards in November for his successful amendment to the Immigration Act, which allowed unaccompanied children to gain refuge in the UK. Moved by his own experiences on the kindertransport during World War II, Lord Dubs’s intervention has been widely praised by the public and politicians alike.
Terry Robson Class of 1960
Congratulations to Terry who, this year, accomplished the personal milestone of completing a million metres of swimming – a challenge he was given by the Coach of the Masters Swimming Club in Adelaide.
Alex Blakey Class of 2009
Glass artist Alex was selected to exhibit in ‘Art in the Garden’ at the RHS Flower Show. Her work, Into the Woods, is a collection of vertical glass panels depicting a journey through the woods. Each handcarved panel depicts a natural form, representing the beauty of the English countryside.
Terry’s previous sporting achievements include cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats and running 100 separate marathons. We’re looking forward to seeing what Terry has planned next!
The Old WACONIAN 09 / Old Waconian News
James Huscroft
Lizzie Garside
James recently graduated from the University of Nottingham with a 2:1 in Food Science. He has successfully progressed to a PhD in Food Sciences combined with Chemical Engineering, having secured industry funding from Campden BRI. This is part of the research programme within the EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Food, partnering with the University of Birmingham and Loughborough University. He is also enjoying his role as Chair of the Institute of Food Science and Technology Student Group.
After leaving CHS, Lizzie undertook a Year in Industry with ECH Engineering Ltd, a company that designs and builds innovative refrigeration systems. In September, Lizzie impressed the Engineering Development Trust (EDT) and was awarded the environmental prize at the Future Industry Leaders Awards in London.
Class of 2012
Class of 2015
Image courtesy of Campden BRI
Nicky Constant Class of 1986
Nicky is a Consultant Designer for Walt Disney Imagineering. This year he published his impressive collection of illustrations from 1984 - 2014 which he dedicated to his art teacher whilst at the School, Mr Keith Yearsley.
GOLD For Class of 2016 This summer, the Class of 2016 became our newest members of the Old Waconian community. Students and their families heard an inspiring talk from keynote speaker Professor Danielle George MBE at their stunning Graduation Ceremony at the Hilton Hotel, Deansgate.
Old Wacs Help Raise Over £20,000 For Teenage Cancer Trust Two Old Waconians took to the Comedy Store stage for ‘CHS Comedy Class’ in memory of Old Waconian Callum Ballantine, Class of 2014, raising over £20,000 for Teenage Cancer Trust. Comic novices Zach Sadri, Class of 2014 and Jonny Michael, Class of 1980, were joined by CHS Head, Lucy Pearson, BBC North West Tonight presenter Roger Johnson and CHS parent Simon Gleave, each delivering a 10-minute routine to a 300-strong audience. The evening was hosted by TV funny man, John Thomson, plus Phoenix Nights star Ted Robbins.
The Old WACONIAN 10 / Old Waconian News
In their final 50 Days the year group came together to raise an impressive £1,952.07 for the Leavers’ Bursary. As GOLD (Graduates of the Last Decade) Waconians, the Class of 2016 can look forward to keeping in touch with each other as well as making those vital connections with other OWs early in their careers through a number of GOLD networking opportunities.
Old Waconian Awards 2016 The School recognises extraordinary alumni who have gone beyond the call of duty, progressed and excelled in their field or made an outstanding contribution in their chosen career. This year we celebrate the achievements of not just two, but nine former CHS students who have truly inspired the School community - an individual whose 40-year career in public health has had a huge impact on the lives of women across the world, and a group who found strength after the death of their friend by continuing his incredible fundraising legacy. Distinguished Old Waconian Award
women and young girls in Africa. In 1997, she published her landmark book, The Circumcision of Women. This was the first clear and undiluted exposition on the subject. It set out a programme of action to eliminate the practice over a 20-year period.
Dr Olayinka Koso-Thomas, Class of 1954
Dr Koso-Thomas has spent more than 40 years working in the fields of family planning, general medical practice, birth control and public health. She was recently awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the National Autonomous University of Mexico and the King of Spain presented her with the ‘Prince of Asturias Award’ for pioneering work on the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Olayinka studied Medicine at the University of Leeds and gained a
Masters in Public Health (specialising in Maternal and Child Health) at Berkeley University in California. In 1966, she relocated to Sierra Leone where she has spent her professional life dealing with the health consequences of FGM on
Her contribution to the changes in attitude to FGM has been immense; a number of countries in Africa have now instituted laws banning the practice, and the dissemination of information about FGM in Europe and the rest of the world has galvanised support for its eradication worldwide. Laws also now exist in some European countries banning the practice.
Young Alumni Award
Made From Manchester: Callum Ballantine, Jamie Gray, Jonny Green, Luke Grimshaw, Matthew Heath, Samir Kamani, Alice Needham and Zach Sadri, Class of 2014
This year’s Young Alumni Award goes to eight outstanding individuals from the Class of 2014 who have shown what amazing things can be achieved by working together. Made From Manchester began life as a range of t-shirts created by former student Callum Ballantine out of love for his hometown. The t-shirts were sold with all proceeds going to Teenage Cancer Trust. With a head for business, Callum set himself a target of raising £100,000 for Teenage Cancer Trust. His fundraising would be an achievement to be celebrated by itself, but to have
done all this while undergoing chemotherapy on the Young Oncology Unit at Manchester’s Christie Hospital, is exceptional. Callum sadly lost his battle against cancer in December, but his ambition and philanthropic determination lives on through friends Jamie, Jonny, Luke, Samir, Zach, Matthew and Alice, who have continued to show commitment and dedication to fundraising for the cause. Through a number of initiatives including successfully climbing
Mount Kilimanjaro, the team have all gone the extra mile to help their friend to smash his goal. The Made From Manchester initiative has now raised over £250,000 for Teenage Cancer Trust. You can support the initiative and get your own Made From Manchester t-shirt online: www.madefrommanchester.com
The Old WACONIAN 11 / Old Waconian Awards
Old Waconian Events House Of Lords
March 2016 Lord Dubs hosts another sparkling drinks reception overlooking the River Thames More than 180 Old Waconians from around the world gathered for our second exclusive Old Waconian event at the House of Lords. OWs from the Class of 1938 to the Class of 2015 enjoyed private tours of Westminster, followed by drinks and canapés overlooking the River Thames, before hearing from the Head, Lucy Pearson, Lord Alf Dubs, Class of 1951 and President of the Old Waconians’ Association, Paul Atherley, Class of 1974.
The Old WACONIAN 12 / Old Waconian Events
Old Waconian Weekend
June 2016 3 days, 15 events, 450 Old Waconians A record number of Old Waconians returned to School in June to enjoy a packed weekend of activities, reunions and nostalgia. As well as student–led tours of the School, there were special anniversary reunions for the Classes of 1956, 1971 and 1986, numerous sporting events and the annual OWA dinner. Here’s a snapshot of some of the events that took place. Boarders’ Reunion There were many tales of mischief, mayhem and hunger as a group of former Boarders and much loved former staff came together for the first ever Boarders’ Reunion. We heard the story telling went on well into the early hours! Steve Burnage and Kurt Foster’s Retirement Drinks The drinks reception was the perfect, if not slightly emotional end to the Old Wac weekend as current and former staff, parents and a crowd of Old Waconians gathered to wish these long-serving members of PE staff well on their retirement.
Lacrosse Reunion The Lacrosse Reunion brought the most popular sport in CHS’s history back for one afternoon only. The match was a sight to behold and, on the whole, probably much more enjoyable for those spectating than those playing…! See more on the history of lacrosse at CHS on page 24.
Anniversary Reunions 1 Year: Class of 2015 The Class of 2015 came together for their first year group reunion since leaving CHS with a fantastic turnout of more than 80 former students. 10 Year: Class of 2006 Mrs Petrie and Mr Burnage were among the familiar staff faces joining the Class of 2006 for their tenyear reunion.
30 Year: Class of 1986 Organised by Emma Hardy and Georgie Johnson (née Thomas), the Class of 1986 turned out in full force for their 30-year reunion. More than 45 OWs travelled from as far as Greece, Singapore and Switzerland to catch up with old friends.
45 Year: Class of 1971 Phil Johnson brought together more than 30 OWs from the Class of 1971 to rekindle old friendships and enjoy tours of the School.
60 Year : Class of 1956 The Class of 1956 reunited to celebrate 60 years since leaving the School. Thank you to Vera Moore (née Sullivan) for getting so many of the year group together and hosting a special anniversary lunch.
The Old WACONIAN 13 / Old Waconian Events
New York And Washington D.C. Reunions October 2016 Old Wacs Stateside
In October, the Head travelled to New York and Washington for two Old Waconian events. Our thanks go to Helen Lynch (née Bagshaw), Class of 1977 for hosting the wonderful New York reception. Over in Washington D.C., a group of 10 Old Waconians gathered for their first ever reunion. A special presentation was made to Steve Redhead, Class of 1975 for his 10-year involvement in the student Politics trip to the city which coincided with the event. The Head presented Steve with a gift from the School and thanked him for his on-going commitment to CHS.
Calling Anniversary Year Groups Is 2017 an anniversary for your year group? Old Wacs from the Classes of 1957, 1967, 1977, 1987, 1997 and 2007 are especially warmly invited to join us at Reunions in 2017 to celebrate your anniversaries. Please get in touch and we can plan according to what your year group would prefer: 0161 488 3341 / er@chschool.co.uk.
Are you currently living or working abroad and think there would be an appetite for an OW Reunion where you are? If so, please get in touch: er@chschool.co.uk.
Dates for your Diary… Old Waconians at Lincoln’s Inn, hosted by Karim Khalil QC, Class of 1980 Thursday 27 April 2017
We are delighted to offer Old Waconians this exclusive opportunity to enjoy drinks and canapés in the Old Hall and Crypt at The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn. Tickets for this exclusive event will be available in the New Year so watch your inbox!
The Old WACONIAN 14 / Old Waconian Events
Old Waconians’ Association AGM and Annual Dinner Saturday 10 June 2017
Join us at the School for the Annual General Meeting followed by a three course meal in the Dining Hall. Newly elected President of the OWA, Karim Khalil QC, Class of 1980 will address all guests with the ‘Toast to the School’. Tickets are available now. Please phone 0161 488 3341 or email er@chschool.co.uk for more details.
Old Waconian Industry Networking Events Old Waconians work in a wide range of industries and professions across the world and are a source of advice, knowledge and inspiration for young alumni and current students. Our alumni networking events harness this wealth of expertise, bringing people together to share their experiences and offer practical career support and advice.
Careers in the Finance Industry February 2016
Upper Sixth Economics students and young OWs were given an insight into financial careers during a visit to the City of London. Tom Appleton, Class of 1994, Paul Ogden, Class of 1983, Gerald Classey, Class of 1971, and Paul Atherley, Class of 1974, gave expert advice and their top tips of the trade to help the current and former students on their paths to financial business success.
Careers in the Creative Industries May 2016
“Do everything and get stuck in.” - Miranda Sawyer, Class of 1985 That was the message given to current students and young OWs from journalist, broadcaster and OW, Miranda Sawyer, Class of 1985. As keynote speaker, Miranda discussed her career and experiences, explaining how determination and resilience helped her on the road to success.
An expert panel of parents and OWs shed light on the multiple and varied options available to people interested in a career in the media and creative industries. Georgina Bowman, Class of 1990, Toby Jones, Class of 2008 and Emma Hardy, Class of 1986, shared their experiences before taking questions from the audience.
Old Waconian Connections Matter - Can You Help? Alumni networks open doors. If you are just starting out in your career, connecting with OWs working in your field can really help. If you are established in your career, your expertise and contacts could give a younger OW a valuable foot in the door.
We are always looking for experienced OWs to speak at our networking events or act as career mentors – if you can help, please contact Katie Lees, Alumni Relations and Events Manager (katielees@chschool.co.uk / 0161 488 3341).
The Old WACONIAN 15 / Old Waconian Events
Loved and Lost:
Continuing our search for missing Old Wacs Forget ‘Where’s Wally?’ Over the last four years, finding and connecting with former students has been a priority for the School. To date, our lost alumni project has added details for 6,521 ‘missing’ Old Waconians to our alumni database using old records from the School archive. However, there are still thousands of Old Waconians that we need to trace. Our aim is to try to get back in contact with as many of them as possible so that we can keep them informed about news from the School, send them our magazine and invite them to reunions and events.
Can you help?
Lost… and found!
There are still many OWs out there that we’d love to reconnect with but we don’t have any up to date details for them.
Here are a couple of people we’ve found through the Lost OW project. They have since attended alumni events, where they’ve been reunited with old friends, and receive regular news and information about CHS, keeping them connected to the School and each other.
If you received a hardcopy of The Old Waconian , and it hasn’t already made its way to the recycling bin, please have a look through the insert – it contains a list of names of people we are not currently in touch with from your decade. If you recognise any names on the list, and have any contact details for them, please get in touch. We realise that some of these Lost OWs may have sadly passed away so we would be grateful if you would let us know this information too so that we can update our records. All of our Lost OWs are listed on the CHS website, split into year groups, so please do take a look: development.cheadlehulmeschool. co.uk/lostows
The Old WACONIAN 16 / Where’s the Old Wac?
Debbie Matlow, Class of 1986: It’s been great to reconnect with CHS and fellow Old Wacs. The best thing about attending my 30 year school reunion recently was seeing the faces of those I grew up with most of whom I haven’t seen since I left school! It was amazing to catch up on people’s lives, to reconnect and stay in touch.” Julia Jackson (née Sullivan), Class of 1977: I am so pleased to be back in touch - although I missed saying hello to Mr Bullock at the House of Lords… I would have never got the grades to do medicine if it were not for Mr Bullock’s patience and my life would have been very different!”
Online Archives The School archives play a vital role in Alumni Relations. They contain an extensive collection of photos and documents, and offer a wealth of history on the School, its students and staff. Thanks to a very generous donation from Robert Nield, Class of 1970 we have been digitising our archives and have made available the CHS Archive Catalogue online. If you find something in the catalogue you think will be of interest, please contact Katie Lees (0161 488 3341) and we can arrange a visit or for a copy to be made and sent to you, if appropriate.
Everyone loves a little ‘Where’s Wally?’ fun… now you can play ‘Where’s the Old Waconian?’
OW
See if you can spot the three OWs hidden in the graphic (clue: they’re wearing OW jumpers!)
OW
St. Peter's Square
CHEADLE HULME
St. Peters Square
OW 3100 Metrolink
YOUR HOLDEN HALL MEMORIES Holden Hall c.1916
We’ve been collecting memories and photos of Holden Hall from over the decades, many of which were sent in by you. It’s been both fascinating and fun to read the stories from the 1940s to the present day – thank you to all of you who sent them in. We’ve included some of our favourites below but you can read many more on our website: development.cheadlehulmeschool.co.uk/OWHoldenHall
40s
50s
60s
70s
“I REMEMBER THE OLD MAN T.T.R. ON THE STAGE AT ASSEMBLY DURING THE WAR TO ANNOUNCE YET ANOTHER LOSS OF AN OLD BOY. SOME OF THE LADS WE REMEMBERED AS SENIOR BOYS NOT ALL THAT LONG AGO.”
“I WAS A FOUNDATIONER AND CHRISTMAS WAS ALWAYS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR. THERE WERE WONDERFUL PRE-WAR DECORATIONS AND WE ALL LOOKED FORWARD TO THE STAFF PANTOMIME WHICH TOOK PLACE IN THE HOLDEN HALL… TO SEE THE STAFF DRESSED UP AND FOOLING AROUND WAS JUST MARVELLOUS.”
“AS BOARDERS IN THE 1960S WE HAD AN ILLICIT KEY TO GET IN AND USE WHAT WAS THEN THE SUB-PREFECTS STUDY. OUR PRIMARY PURSUIT WAS SMOKING BUT THE ROOM ALSO HAD AN OLD TELEVISION. IN NOVEMBER 1963 WE WERE THERE SMOKING AND WATCHING TV WHEN THE NEWS CAME ON THAT PRESIDENT KENNEDY HAD BEEN ASSASSINATED. THEY SAY THAT PEOPLE ALIVE IN 1963 ALWAYS REMEMBER WHERE THEY WERE WHEN THEY HEARD THE NEWS. THAT IS CERTAINLY TRUE IN MY CASE - IT WAS HOLDEN HALL!”
“THE HOLDEN HALL WAS IN MANY WAYS THE HUB OF THE SCHOOL. I REMEMBER VISITING MR KELK AND MR WILCOX IN THEIR OFFICES FOR EXTRA WORK. MISS MUNRO HAD AN OFFICE THERE TOO WHICH WAS MUCH FEARED IF YOU WERE SUMMONED TO IT!”
- Muriel (Judy) Stewart (née Baker) MBE, Class of 1944
- Sheila Lewer (née Hoyle), Class of 1957
- Bill Miller, Class of 1966
The Old WACONIAN 18 / Holden Hall
- Anne Cowan (née Dickinson), Class of 1973 West Side Story, 1975
80s
90s
2000s
“THE FIRST SENIOR CAROL SERVICE I ATTENDED WHEN THE CONDUCTOR, MICHAEL FLETCHER, FELL OFF THE STAGE, BROKE HIS ARM (OR WAS IT LEG?) AND GOT STRAIGHT BACK UP AND CONTINUED CONDUCTING THROUGH TO THE END OF THE EVENING, AT WHICH POINT I ASSUMER HE WAS RUSHED TO HOSPITAL! AS A RESULT OF ALL THE AMAZING MUSICAL EXPERIENCES AND EXCELLENT TEACHING I HAD AT CHS (THANKS TO JOHN BRABIN, ROSEMARY BROADBENT, JOHN LEGROVE AND MICHAEL FLETCHER), I HAVE GONE ON TO PURSUE MY LOVE OF MUSIC IN MANY WAYS. THANK YOU CHS.”
“BELIEVE IT OR NOT, ON ONE OCCASION, I LOOKED UP DURING A LESSON AND, THROUGH THE GLASS PART OF THE PARTITION AND THE OPEN HALL DOOR, OBSERVED MR SCAIFE (OF ALL PEOPLE!) SLIDING SIDE-SADDLE DOWN THE BANNISTERS OF THE SOUTH STAIRCASE!”
“I REMEMBER TRAUMA AS APPENDICITIS STRUCK LEAD ACTOR, ADAM BURNEY ON THE OPENING NIGHT OF THE FIRST CHS PERFORMANCE I DIRECTED – THE CRUCIBLE IN 2000. THANK GOODNESS FOR SEB LANG WHO STOOD IN AND DID A FANTASTIC JOB.”
– Richard Standing, Class of 1995
– Ms Clare Harms, current Director of Drama
- Tonya Chirgwin (née Malloy), Class of 1985
SHARE YOUR MEMORIES Be part of our collective history and share your memories of Holden Hall. Email: er@chschool.co.uk Phone: 0161 488 3341
WELCOME TO THE FUTURE OF HOLDEN HALL After over 135 years Holden Hall must be redeveloped to create a dynamic, flexible teaching and performance space whilst retaining the original features of Holden Hall.
THANK YOU TO THOSE OLD WACONIANS WHO HAVE ALREADY SUPPORTED THIS PROJECT We are seeking support for this project from all members of the CHS community including OWs, parents, past parents and friends of the School. You can help current and future students enjoy the next chapter in the history of Holden Hall. If you would like to support this project, please visit: development.cheadlehulmeschool. co.uk/OWHoldenHall There are a number of donor recognition opportunities available. For more information, please contact Fran Kennedy: franceskennedy@chschool.co.uk 0161 488 3338
The Old WACONIAN 19 / Holden Hall
In The ‘Thick Of It’
Sarah Phillips Class of 2008
From the classrooms of CHS to the corridors of power, Sarah Phillips has taken a passion for politics that started at School and turned it into a highly successful career in Whitehall. A former aide to Theresa May, Sarah has worked for the Policing Minister on the criminal justice portfolio and advised on security and defence policy in the Foreign Office. She now works as Private Secretary to the current Home Secretary, Amber Rudd. How did your political career start? After CHS, I studied Politics at Durham University. I knew by the second year that I was never going to be a ‘corporate’ person – I’m too outspoken! I applied for an internship with the Foreign Office and I was one of only 20 selected. I’d developed an interest in Middle Eastern politics at university and I was learning Arabic so I was given a job on the Libya Desk, which turned into a completely bizarre experience as the Arab Spring was well underway while I was there. I found myself fielding calls from the USA asking if we knew where Gaddafi was, and was fortunate enough to be in post when all that unfolded. It was very exciting to witness history in the making while working on human rights in Libya. After graduating, you were accepted onto the prestigious Civil Service Fast Stream programme. What was that like? The selection process is pretty tough. Only 20% of applicants are invited to an assessment day, which is like a baptism of fire with timed mock meetings and briefings. I was posted to the Ministry of Justice and started working on a huge probation restructuring project, the biggest reform for the department in the last 100 years. I spent a lot of time in prisons talking to offenders, The Old WACONIAN 20 / In The ‘Thick Of It’ - Sarah Phillips
which was intimidating at first – like something out of Porridge – but also fascinating. Working with such vulnerable people, both offenders and victims, was hard but I like to think we made a difference to people’s lives. What’s the best job you’ve had at Westminster? Last year, I was fortunate enough to go back to my dream department, the Foreign Office, to work on the Strategic Defence and Security Review. Being at the heart of our security and defence policy was, at times, daunting, especially working hand in glove with the military, but having to quickly become an expert in matters of weaponry and warfare was an excellent learning curve. How did you end up being Private Secretary to Theresa May? In April this year, I applied for promotion out of the Fast Stream and took on the role of Private Secretary for immigration and border security to the Home Secretary who, at that time, was Theresa May. I was terrified at the thought of being interviewed by her, but she was so approachable. It was only three months before she became Prime Minister, but I still work with her as an advisor. I’m lucky to be at No.10 quite a bit – it never ceases to be an impressive place to work. What’s been your most memorable experience so far? Being right in the thick of –and somehow surviving – the Brexit referendum and observing from the front row the political
pandemonium that ensued afterwards. (Keep an eye out for my memoirs in 20 years time!) How did your experience at School help you in your career? CHS gave me so many opportunities to try different things and find out what interested me. I was involved with Model United Nations (MUN), Think Tank (a political discussion club) and Amnesty International. Through the School I was able to do an internship with Lord Dubs, who I still meet up with on a regular basis. I had never even been to London before but suddenly, there I was in the House of Lords, going to meetings, talking to lobby groups and bumping into Jack Straw and Ian Duncan Smith in the corridor! I owe Lord Dubs a lot as that experience made me realise I wanted a career in politics, and gave me the confidence to pursue it. I wouldn’t have had that opportunity without CHS and those staff members that supported me throughout (you know who you are!). What does your connection to CHS mean to you today? It means a lot because the School gave me so much. I’ve been back as the guest speaker at the MUNCH conference which, given that not long ago I was sitting in the hall as a delegate, was an honour. I also mentor two current CHS students, giving them advice on studying Politics at university and how to get into the Civil Service. I feel I should give something back because CHS made me the confident, resilient person I am today.
Californication and The Future Of Transportation Philippe Kirschen, Class of 2010
West coast USA may be known for its relaxed lifestyle, but after an Aeronautics Masters from Massachusetts’ Institute of Technology (MIT) led him to Los Angeles, Philippe Kirschen is going places… fast. As Optimization Engineer for Hyperloop One – a futuristic concept in high-speed travel – his work adds a whole new twist on the average school commute! We caught up with him to find out more… Congratulations on your MIT team’s win to build and test a pod for the Hyperloop – can you tell us more about this? After Elon Musk first proposed the Hyperloop concept for high-speed transportation, (consisting of pods travelling through low pressure tubes), his company, SpaceX, announced a competition to get students involved in the project. A friend and I brought together a 30-strong team at MIT in the summer of 2015 and, after five months, we presented our pod concept at the Design Weekend in Texas. We were thrilled and completely surprised to win first place. Since then, we’ve been building and testing the pod we designed. It has been a lot of work, but an incredible learning experience. You’ve now been employed to work on the real Hyperloop in LA full time – what is a typical day like for you? As Optimization Engineer I get to apply the research I did in graduate school about aircraft design optimisation to the design of a Hyperloop system. I spend my days writing code and talking to people about how best to model the physics and economics of the Hyperloop. Hyperloop One is a special place to
work; I get to contribute to cutting edge technology and my colleagues are smart and kind. Our founders fully embrace start-up culture: we have a casual dress code, a dogfriendly office, free snacks and catered lunches every day, an onsite Barista and a personal trainer who runs daily workouts to keep us all fit. It isn’t all fun and games, though. The world is watching and there is a lot of pressure to deliver a product in the face of some serious challenges. How do you think CHS helped prepare you for the work you do now? CHS instilled a strong work ethic in me and gave me many opportunities beyond the classroom. It prepared us well for university applications and, in my case, to US universities. Most importantly, the School helped emphasise the importance of effective communication. You can be the best engineer in the world but useless if you can’t write or express yourself clearly. I definitely had a stronger foundation in writing and presentation than my peers, so I’m particularly grateful in that respect.
What does being an Old Waconian mean to you? I rarely go a day without remembering something from my CHS days, even if it’s just for a second. CHS has the academic rigor and wealth of extracurricular activities to rival the best schools in the country, but without having an elitist or pretentious culture. I’m proud to be associated with such a unique place. What do you miss most about the UK? Besides my friends, I miss the BBC, Worcestershire Sauce crisps, the word crisps, the word whilst, the word maths, proper fish and chips, having a semi-functional train system, playing hockey, classic British understatement, British supermarkets, anglicised Indian food, and not having the word anglicise auto-correct to anglicize. Now I live in Southern California, I’m actually starting to miss rain as well… err… maybe…
The Old WACONIAN 21 / Californication and The Future Of Transportation
Family Ties
The Taylor Family The Taylor family’s links to Cheadle Hulme School go back more than 100 years, producing four generations of proud Old Waconians - and with Taylor children still coming to the School today, the family tradition looks set to continue for years to come. The connection began in the early 1900s when Fred Taylor, a wholesale egg merchant, and his wife Violet moved into Fernside, a house in the grounds of the School. They struck up a close friendship with Thomas Lockhart, the long-serving Head Teacher, and Fred and Violet’s children, Arthur, Frank, Jack and Barbara, grew up among the hustle and bustle of School life. Fred’s sons went on to become the first Taylors to study at CHS and, later, in the 1940s, five of their children, plus two of Barbara’s, also went to the School. Another generation of Taylors followed in the 1970s and the connection continues today with Alex and Archie keeping the connection alive in Years 8 and 10. Fernside may be long gone but, for the Taylors, CHS will always feel like home.
Mike Taylor Class of 1957
After leaving CHS, Mike went to UMIST to study Mechanical Engineering. He became a Chartered Engineer and worked for British Aerospace from 1961 until his retirement in 1995. He is now a naturalist and author of several publications on the flora and fauna of Greece, where he spends eight months of the year, and has a longstanding research partnership with World Museum Liverpool. “I was at school at the same time as my brother and three of my cousins so there was a bit of a family atmosphere. One of my most vivid memories is of being the Ink Monitor and having to go down into the cellar under the swimming pool to refill the jug with ink. I enjoyed Music lessons, but mainly because you had a good view of the railway line from the window. I was delighted when my grandson Alex got a place at CHS and I take a real interest in what he does. It’s nice that he’s carrying on the family tradition and has all the opportunities that the School can offer. My year group still meets up every year and I have made regular contributions to the Bursary Fund. My experience at School was so overwhelmingly positive, I want to help other children to have the same opportunities that I had.”
The Old WACONIAN 22 / Family Ties - The Taylor Family
Sarah “Lou” Pannell (née Taylor) Class of 1985
Mike’s niece Lou worked as a speech and language therapist in Leicester and London after leaving university. Lou and her husband, Ian, a BBC journalist, have lived in the US, Cairo and New Delhi and are currently based in Washington D.C. The couple have three sons. “I knew that several members of my family had attended CHS before me and I think that was a big part in the decision for me to go there. I remember school as a happy time. There always seemed to be an opportunity to find your own passions and there were always plenty of others who shared them. There were so many opportunities offered to you at CHS, it was more than just getting academic qualifications. I’m really pleased the family’s connection with the School keeps going. I was delighted to hear that my cousins were sending their children to CHS. Hearing how they have thrived at CHS has definitely made me feel more nostalgic and connected. I would love to attend a reunion some day!”
Alex Taylor Year 8
“I didn’t actually know a lot about my family history at the School so I was pretty surprised when my grandad showed me the family tree. I think a few teachers recognise my surname as having quite a big family connection to the School, which is really nice. It almost feels like I’m carrying on a legacy by coming here after so many others in my family.”
The Taylors
TAYLOR FAMILY TREE
Those who attended CHS
FRED TAYLOR & VIOLET OGDEN FRED AND VIOLET TAYLOR WERE CLOSE NEIGHBOURS, AND FRIENDS OF, T.T.R LOCKHART. EARLY SCHOOLING OF THEIR SONS ARTHUR, FRANK AND JACK WAS AT CHS. ARTHUR TAYLOR Class of 1922
PETER TAYLOR Class of 1950
VALERIE TAYLOR Class of 1952
VIOLET TAYLOR
HILARY TAYLOR
STELLA TAYLOR
JOHN TAYLOR Class of 1957
HEATHER BROADBENT (née Taylor), Class of 1986
FRANK TAYLOR Class of 1926
RICHARD TAYLOR
MICHAEL TAYLOR Class of 1957
JOYCE TAYLOR
EMMA TAYLOR
JACK TAYLOR Class of 1927
DAVID TAYLOR Class of 1958
ROBERT TAYLOR
SIMON TAYLOR
MARY TITTLE (née Taylor) Mary married OW Bryan Tittle, Class of 1956
VERYAN CONN (née Baker) Class of 1969
LOU PANNELL (née Taylor) Class of 1985
PHILLIPA MERRIMAN (née Taylor),
DAVID MERRIMAN
ALEX BROADBENT Class of 2011
MEGAN BROADBENT Class of 2012
ALEX TAYLOR Current Student
JACK TAYLOR
CHARLIE TAYLOR
BARBARA BAKER (née Taylor)
ALFIE TAYLOR
RICHARD BAKER
NICHOLAS BAKER Class of 1977
IAIN TITTLE
MICHAEL MERRIMAN
ELLIE TITTLE
MAX TITTLE Class of 2016
ARCHIE TITTLE Current Student
Prepared by Mike Taylor, Class of 1957
The Old WACONIAN 23 / Family Ties - The Taylor Family
Delve Into The Archive...
A History Of Lacrosse At CHS 1880s Lacrosse was introduced as a sport at CHS in the early 1880s. 1911 The Manchester Wacoboys Lacrosse Club was
formed. In 1927 the Club changed its name to Manchester Waconians. The club still plays regularly – their Secretary is Alan Boyle, Class of 1969.
1938
1938 The all-conquering 1937–38 School Lacrosse Team won the Senior Flags, Referee Trophy, Iroquois Cup and the Stockport Cup all in one season!
1948 Seven Old Waconians played in the 1948 London
Olympics. Playing in a demonstration match, the AllEngland Team was captioned by OW Jack Whitehead.
1948
70s & 80s Lacrosse hit its peak at CHS in the 70s and 80s with
numerous successful teams coached by Vaughan Wilcock.
Many CHS boys played for Cheshire at this time. Pictured is the Cheshire U18 Team in 1982 which featured 4 CHS students; William Redhead, Matthew Savage, Paul Ogden and Howard Inchbold-Stevens.
Cheshir
e U18s
A select few were even selected to play for England when they left the School including Michael Murphy and the Savage brothers, Matthew and Simon.
1996 Lacrosse ceased to be played as a School sport –
a combination of a shortage of coaching staff and other local school teams made it difficult to continue the sport. 1980s
2016 Lacrosse returned to CHS at the recent Old Wac Weekend!
Vaughan Wilcock was an inspiration to many Lacrosse players throughout his time at the School. We are sad to report that Vaughan passed away in February 2016 at a great loss to the Cheadle Hulme School community. He joined the School in 1975 as a Maths teacher and took an active role in the life of the School, becoming known not only for his Lacrosse coaching but also his dedication to the Columbus Fellowship, Cheadle Hulme Challenge and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Schemes. A stalwart of the CHS community - he will be dearly missed.
The Old WACONIAN 24 / Delve Into The Archive... A History of Lacrosse at CHS
Vaughan W
ilcock.
FROM THIS...
Inside Look CHS can look forward to an exciting season of sport now that the final bricks have been laid for the School’s brand new Pavilion. Over the spring, work began on replacing the 1950s-built Pavilion, which had been outgrown by the School’s 21st century teams and young athletes. We were thrilled to welcome Team GB’s Hockey Olympic Gold Medallist Susannah Townsend to officially open the new building in early December.
TO THIS!
The flagship building for sport at CHS, the Pavilion is part of a wider £3.4 million capital development programme across the whole School site, which also includes a new coach dropoff facility, 3G pitch and a small extension to the Junior School. Providing improved changing facilities for all teams, a larger multi-sports area and gym, a dedicated space for Junior School sports and a viewing gallery for spectators, the new amenities are set to make a significant impact on the CHS experience. The fundraising appeal for the new Pavilion was supported by members of the whole School community. We would like to take this opportunity to specifically thank all those Old Waconians who supported the project. We received 227 gifts from the alumni community along with many tales of times in the old Pavilion!
The Old WACONIAN 25 / Inside Look
Fundraising At CHS Thank You! The generosity, experience and expertise of so many Old Waconians are among the greatest assets of CHS. Whether you gave financially or volunteered your time we are always grateful for your support. In 2015-16, 189 Old Waconians and friends from 19 countries donated to CHS. Over £430,000 was raised to help fund life-changing Bursaries, student prizes and awards and to help preserve and develop our wonderful site. Every donation, whatever its size, makes a vital contribution. Thank you for your support and commitment to CHS.
Fundraising: The Numbers
Your Support for Bursaries
56
Total raised (cash & pledges)
£1,219,279.83
International Supporters
18
between 2012 - 2016
95
Age of youngest donor
Age of oldest donor
110
85
Regular donors currently donate to the Bursary Fund
Support for the Bursary Fund 2015 - 2016 11%
Members of the
143
Students supported through the Bursary Fund in academic year 2015-16
15% 74%
1855 Legacy Society Trusts/Staff/ Friends
Parents
OWs
CHS 100 Circle This year saw the introduction of a new Giving Club for Bursaries. The CHS 100 Circle was inspired by Roderick Goddard, Class of 1974 who attended CHS under the Foundation Scheme and only recently connected with CHS after 40 years. He wanted a way of supporting the Bursary Fund but also encouraging others to join him. “I didn’t go back to School for over 40 years but recently reached a stage in life where I wanted to reconnect. I was surprised to discover that the School still has a charitable base and that the Bursary Fund pays the fees of promising young people who otherwise could not afford to go to CHS. I have committed £10 a
The Old WACONIAN 26 / Fundraising at CHS
month for 5 years and have set out to find 99 other Old Waconians to do the same. This would raise enough funds to support one young person on a Bursary through the Senior School.” - Roderick Goddard. The 100 Circle is a manageable way for Old Waconians to show their support for the Bursary Fund and provide a life-changing opportunity for a young person. “I was in care since I was 8 years old. My CHS Bursary opened up a world of opportunities for me. Contributing to the Bursary Fund is an investment that can change a person’s life.” – Josh Higgins, Class of 2015
Leadership Giving Circles: Recognising our loyal and committed donors Our Leadership Giving Circles were introduced last year as a way of recognising our most loyal and committed donors who are helping to drive philanthropic giving at CHS. The Head’s Circle acknowledges individuals or organisations that make an annual gift of between £1,000 and £9,999. Members will be invited to an annual event hosted by Lucy Pearson. The Chair’s Circle recognises individuals or organisations that make an annual gift of £10,000 or more. Members will receive regular personal updates on the impact of their support to CHS and will be invited to an exclusive Chair’s Circle dinner.
The Etherington Review In 2015 Sir Stuart Etherington produced a significant and important review of the ethics and regulation of fundraising practice. There is no doubt that this review will have a positive impact on the fundraising practices at CHS and other UK charities over the coming years. We, at CHS, have a commitment to implement the best fundraising practices and follow the current guidance provided by the Institute of Fundraising. Further information about this can be found on the ‘Our Promise to Donors’ page on the School website.
Old Waconian funds STEM Bursaries for Budding Female Scientists and Engineers Thanks to a generous donation from Paul Atherley, Class of 1974 we have established two new Sixth Form STEM bursaries. Reacting to the nationwide call for more girls entering STEM careers, the aim of the Bursaries is to inspire female Scientists and Engineers, wishing to study Maths and Science in our Sixth Form from September 2017. The bursary will fund the entirety of their studies together with a work experience opportunity in a STEM industry. Paul has very personal motives for funding the Bursaries: “My mother wanted to be a doctor but wasn’t permitted to study science subjects at the all-girls school she went to. She had to fight to gain a place at an all-boys school, was the only girl at the school, and subsequently graduated from the University of Manchester as a doctor, together with my father.
“Female engineers, scientists and researchers are one of our biggest untapped resources. The UK is way behind other countries is utilising this opportunity. I want to do all I can to raise the aspirations of young females and give them access to the outstanding education which Cheadle Hulme School provides.”
For more information about funding subject specific bursaries, the CHS 100 Circle or the Bursary Fund please contact Fran Kennedy (franceskennedy@chschool.co.uk / 0161 488 3338).
In Memory of Irene Lawton, Class of 1934 In October a sundial in memory of Irene Lawton was donated to the Infant & Junior School School garden. Irene was a Boarder at CHS from 1927 and 1934. She regularly attended events at School and spoke very fondly of her time at CHS. A huge thank you to her daughters, Janet and Margaret for arranging the gift.
The Old WACONIAN 27 / Fundraising at CHS
Introducing The New President Karim Khalil QC Class of 1980
I am thrilled to have been elected as President of the Old Waconians’ Association, to help develop further our alumni network. I hope to bring more Old Wacs together and to increase our involvement with CHS and the current students the Old Wacs of tomorrow! I would like to meet as many of you as possible over the coming months, so do get in touch and help me to find any ‘lost’ OWs. Karim left Cheadle Hulme School in 1980 and graduated from the University of Cambridge in Law. He was called to the Bar in 1984, became one of the youngest Assistant Recorders/Recorders, and took Silk in 2003. He sits as a part-time Judge at the Old Bailey and is a Bencher of Lincoln’s Inn. He is a qualified Mediator and specialist Mediation Advocate. Karim practices mainly in London, the South East and Midlands where he has defended or prosecuted many high profile cases, including prosecuting the Soham murderers (Ian Huntley & Maxine Carr).
Karim is pictured in his CHS Lacrosse kit in the 1980s
The Old WACONIAN 28 / The Old Waconians’ Association
His advice and advocacy is sought across the criminal spectrum: including murder, serious fraud, health & safety, drug trafficking and sexual offences. He has a particular interest in medico-legal, sciencebased, baby-shaking cases and cold-case reviews. He also advises and represents parties in cases concerning foreign jurisdiction/ cross-border issues: this has included opposing inter-governmental requests for the extradition of alleged ‘gang murderers’ convicted abroad in their absence.
His close association with the academics in the University of Cambridge has helped to make him a leading Silk in the cross examination of scientific experts in many fields, including pathology, neuropathology, genetics, palynology (plant based analysis) and mineralogy. Karim was the keynote speaker at the inaugural conference for Senior Investigating Officers on the electronic presentation of evidence in court. He is a member of the British Academy of Forensic Sciences to whom he presented the keynote speech on “The Science of the Soham Murders”. Karim was awarded Financial Regulation Lawyer of the year in 2015, by Corporate Livewire Magazine. Karim is married with two adult children. He regularly attends the theatre, opera and ballet and is now a keen cyclist and golfer, having hung up his lacrosse boots due to injury.
Thank you for attending
The Old Waconians’ Association 123rd Annual Dinner Saturday 18th June 2016
114
Attendees
Class of
1938 - 1992
1971
largest year group Class of 1971 (20 attendees)
13
The full unapproved minutes, together with the accounts, the 2015 Memorandum of Agreement, the amended Constitution and Educational Fund reports can be found on the School website: cheadlehulmeschool.co.uk/your-chs/old-waconians You can also request a hard copy from Katie Lees, Alumni Relations and Events Manager & Secretary to the OWA Committee: 0161 488 3341 / katielees@chschool.co.uk. • I t was agreed that the term of office of the President would run from January to January in future, which would make the transition and overlap between presidents easier. • Current President, Paul Atherley confirmed he was happy to stay on as President for a further 6 months to the end of December 2016. • K arim Khalil, Class of 1980 was elected as President to serve from January 2017 to January 2018.
were Boarders
were Foundationers
2
2
Former Staff & Old Wacs
Highlights From The Old Waconians’ Association AGM
Former Staff
112,500 Forget Me Not seeds packaged up for favours
• T he Chair, Cathy Beavis thanked School Librarian and Archivist Kay Moore for putting together a fantastic archive display for the Old Waconian Weekend. • T otal income into the OWA bank account during January 2016 was £3,542.60 made up of 504 donations. As agreed in the 2010 Memorandum of Agreement, these monies have now been paid out to the School Bursary Fund and the OW Educational Fund. Those OWs who re-directed their subscriptions as directed in communication from Past President, Sheila Kenyon in 2015, gave total donations of £2,175.00 to the School Bursary Fund and £1,335.00 to the OW Educational Fund. This comes to a grand total of £7,052.60 (plus Gift Aid where applicable). Please note, the 2017 AGM will take place at the School on Saturday 10 June, along with the Annual OWA Dinner.
The Old Waconians’ Association Award This new award was established in 2015, initially recognising one Lower School student for their contribution to life at CHS by demonstrating the core values and strengths of a Waconian: endeavour, resilience, compassion, integrity and contribution. The Award was so well received that the School approached the Association to ask whether they would be happy to extend the award to the Junior School, the Upper School and the Sixth Form. This was agreed and an honours board will be a permanent record of the recipients of the awards.
The Old WACONIAN 29 / The Old Waconians’ Association
The Old Waconians’ Association Committee President: Paul Atherley, Class of 1974 (to December 2016) Karim Khalil QC, Class of 1980 (from January 2017) Chair: Cathy Beavis (née Simpson), Class of 1972 & member of staff 1978- 1987 Vice-Chair: Paula Rayson, Class of 1992 Head: Lucy Pearson
Director of Development and External Relations: Fran Kennedy Educational Fund Representative: Carol Leather (née Scott), Class of 1964 School Librarian and Archivist: Kay Moore Alumni Relations and Events Manager & Secretary of the Committee: Katie Lees KatieLees@chschool.co.uk 0161 488 3341
Fondly Remembered CHS is sad to report the deaths of the following Old Waconians: Eric Ahlquist Class of 1931
Alan Cash Class of 1932
Reverend John Goodwin Class of 1939
Peter Andrews Class of 1931
Russell Cialis Class of 1957 and Former Staff, served 1997 - 2001
Jack Grimshaw Class of 1932
Brian Anscombe Class of 1931 Roy Arnold Class of 1928
Leonard Clarkson Class of 1933
Dorothy Ashton Class of 1939
Patricia Conroy Former Staff served 2008 - 2011
Frederick (Philip) Ball Former Staff served 1946 - 1950
Albert Courtman Class of 1931
William Ball Class of 1931 Callum Ballantine Class of 2014 Brenda Beales Class of 1944 Geoffrey Bolshaw Class of 1933 Graham Brett Class of 1953 Eric Brook Class of 1950 Sidney Brown Class of 1933 Peter Burrow Class of 1934
Dorothy Cullen Class of 1993 Dorothy Fletcher Class of 1933 Eileen Flockton Class of 1933 Harold (Douglas) Forton Class of 1949
John Hardisty Class of 1933 Peter Harper Former Staff served 1959 - 1965 Hedley Harrison Class of 1932 Elizabeth (Mary) Harry (nèe Garside) Class of 1957 Alfred Haworth Class of 1933 Lena Hay Class of 1932 John (Brian) Hunt Class of 1944
Harry (Graham) Forton Class of 1948
Alan Jones Former Staff served 1971 - 1974
Gillian Garside Class of 1956
Brian Jones Class of 1952
Robert Gething Class of 1945
Carole Jones Class of 1980
Margaret Glover Class of 1933
Bryan Lowe Class of 1944
The Old WACONIAN 30 / The Old Waconians’ Association
Lynne MacFarlane Former Staff served 1992 - 2011 Maurice Mason Class of 1953 Jane McAuley (nèe Walters) Class of 1972 Christopher Neilson Class of 1972 Peter Pye Class of 1950 Joan Schofield Class of 1937 Susan Town (nèe Davenport) Class of 1964 Stephen Upton Class of 1964 Sheila Wentworth Class of 1945 Vi Wheeler Former Staff served 1970 - 1989 Vaughan Wilcock Former Staff served 1975 - 2013 (see page 24) Derek Yates Class of 1947
Focus On
Bronte Law Class of 2013
At 18, Bronte Law left her family and friends to move more than 5,000 miles away, to Los Angeles, to pursue her dream of becoming a professional golfer. When did you first start playing golf? My dad was a member of a golf club and I first went along with him at about five years old. I’ve always been very sporty generally – I played football, tennis and hockey for CHS as well as playing golf outside of School – but by the time I was eight I realised I couldn’t do everything and I had to make a choice. I chose golf – mainly because there’s actually money in it! What made you choose UCLA?
With a prestigious golf scholarship from UCLA, Bronte is now studying for a Sociology degree while moving up the ranks of amateur women’s golf and working towards gaining her professional ‘tour card’. A former member of Bramhall Golf Club, Bronte won the 2016 European Ladies’ Amateur Championship, and is ranked the World No.2 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings. She ended the season top of the Golfweek/Sagarin Women’s Amateur rankings and recently won the ANNIKA Award presented by 3M, which is given annually to the most outstanding female collegiate golfer. The Old Waconian caught up with Bronte during a rare visit home.
I originally wanted to go to Stamford, because that’s where Tiger Woods went and the coach there had been watching me since I was about 12. Unfortunately, she left and I didn’t want to go to Stamford without her. I contacted all the other universities with golf scholarships and said I was open to offers! UCLA really impressed me as it’s the number one college in the USA for golf, their programme is excellent and they have the most players progressing to the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) tour. Were you scared about moving to LA on your own? It was daunting but everybody was very welcoming so the transition wasn’t too bad. I do miss everyone but, fortunately, it’s easy to stay in contact these days. My sister was ten when I left, she’s 13 now and changed so much. It’s quite hard to be so far away and see her growing up without me but we Skype all the time and speak on social media. My whole family is very supportive of me. What is life like as a golf scholar? I get to play golf every day which is great, especially as my local club in LA also has Andy Roddick and Liam Neeson as members! If I’m not on the golf course, I’m studying so there isn’t much downtime.
I’m hoping to go professional next year so I’m currently taking part in a Qualifying School, which is a series of qualifying tournaments for leading golf tours like the LPGA tour. If you’re successful you get a ‘tour card’ that allows you to compete in the tour. There are three stages to get through and it’s extremely competitive. Only the top 20 players receive a tour card. What’s been your biggest achievement to date? Winning the European Championship this year was a massive achievement because there hasn’t been an English winner for 16 years. I was also really proud to be part of the winning Curtis Cup team when GB/Ireland defeated the USA. What kind of a student were you at CHS? I tried hard and did my best. I’m quite a driven person so I knew I had to take it seriously to get the qualifications I needed for a golf scholarship. I owe a lot to the teachers, especially Miss Sharples; she transformed me as a pupil. She really pushed me to achieve – the best teacher ever! How do you feel about your connection to the School today? I’m linked to people all over the world thanks to being at CHS. I still feel part of the School community but also something bigger. I feel like I could talk to other Old Wacs anywhere in the world, which is great because you never know who you might need one day. What’s next for you? I graduate next December and, if I get my tour card, I plan to move to LA permanently and be full time on tour. It’s been my dream since I was eight – and I’m so close, it’s really exciting! The Old WACONIAN 31 / Focus On - Bronte Law
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.
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