OLD BOYS’
BOXING DAY FIXTURE
OLD ARNOLDIANS Vs OLD LIDUNIANS 26th DECEMBER 2022 KO: 3.00pm
FYLDE RFC, WOODLANDS MEMORIAL GROUND BLACKPOOL ROAD, LYTHAM ST ANNES FY8 4EL
SPORT
QUARTER FINALISTS
GB ARCHER
Lancashire Hockey Academy players
NATIONAL, EUROPEAN & WORLDWIDE SPORTS TOURS
CHAMPION ON THE SALE SHARKS DEVELOPING PLAYER PATHWAY SALE SHARKS ACADEMY PLAYER
ISFA U13 FOOTBALL North West squad member
U13 GIRLS REGIONAL CHAMPIONS & NATIONAL FINALISTS
U12/U13 & U14 (JOINT) WYRE & FYLDE GIRLS ATHLETIC
CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS
PROFESSIONAL CONTRACT WITH SALE SHARKS
Specialist coaching & speakers: Hockey Goalkeepers’ Academy Managing Your Mindset Strength and conditioning specialists
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ENGLAND INTERNATIONALS
WYRE & FYLDE
ISFA U16 FOOTBALL National squad member
U15 BOYS & U15 GIRLS
WITH
6 CAPS
INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS BARBARIANS
British Open Taekwondo Championship
2022 CRICKET CHAMPIONS
U12/U13/U14/U15
164 4 1
LANCASHIRE CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS 3 GOLD/4 SILVER/2 BRONZE REGIONAL FINALISTS
ENGLAND U18 RUGBY PLAYER
LANCASHIRE COUNTY RUGBY PLAYERS
SILVER MEDALLIST
AUSTRALIA, SOUTH AFRICA, WALES, REPTON
BLACKPOOL FC Academy players
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U15 NETBALL Lancashire County squad member
and National
Performance Centre 12 Regional Hockey players U16 RUNNERS-UP NORTH OF NORTH OF ENGLAND 2HOCKEY ENGLAND INDOOR 9 CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYERS ENGLAND 1 1HOCKEY U16 PLAYER 7 U12A U12B CHAMPIONS 2 U13A JEAN TORRANCE TOURNAMENT
1 1 2 ATHLETICS
RUNNERS-UP
SPORTS CLUBS
CHAMPIONS U11 RUNNERS-UP
U13/U15/U16
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U12/U13A/U13B U14/U15 LANCASHIRE HOCKEY
NATIONAL SCHOOLS
U13A/U13B/U15 Wyre & Fylde Netball Tournament
TEAMS
REPRESENTING LANCASHIRE In Cross Country
U13 GIRLS LANCASHIRE CUP COUNTY CHAMPIONS U13 GIRLS NORTH OF ENGLAND FINALISTS U15 GIRLS NORTH OF LANCASHIRE CHAMPIONS
NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE REPRESENTATIVES
Cricket partnerships: Lancashire Cricket Foundation St Anne's CC, Lytham CC & Lukeys Sports
4 OAKSConnect.com new website launch
6 OAKS interview with Graeme Mc
8 OAKS interview with Mr Jones
9 A brief word from Alan Holmes
13 OAKS interview with Mr Rudd
“With our annual sporting crescendo now comfortably into its third decade, we are poised once again to celebrate a sporting rivalry to match Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier, Nadal vs Federer, and Kasparov vs Karpov. No mere Lancashire winter’s day can stand in the way of this amazing fixture!” David Harrow, Headmaster
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STAY CONNECTED WITH YOUR OAKS ALUMNI Our new alumni engagement website, oaksconnect.com, is launching on Boxing Day! OAKS is the AKS alumni for our legacy schools Arnold, Kind Edward VII, Queen Mary, KEQMS and graduates from AKS today, plus past and present teachers as we move into the future as a combined alumni encapsulating each school under the OAKS association.
This website will serve as great networking platform that will enable users to: • connect – Find and reminisce with fellow former students, see what they have been up to and stay in touch. • support AKS students today with careers education and mentoring. Regardless of age, city or occupation, all will be invited to introduce, mentor, employ or offer work experience to AKS students to provide them with real world insight for life after school and higher education. • expand their professional network to get introduced to people they should know through the AKS OAKS trusted platform. • keep updated with alumni news and events. • keep updated with what is going on at AKS Lytham today. • support the AKS Lytham Foundation.
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As more people join, this website will become a valuable networking platform and it’s free to use! Please scan the QR code to visit oaksconnect.com and join the OAKS Alumni Community!
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INTERVIEW with
Graeme McIntyre
When did you start at Arnold school?
What are your favourite school memories?
I started in 2001 after spending 4 years in the North East at a tough comprehensive school - it was a case of returning home to the area where I grew up. I had an interview and on that day I met Charlie Woodruff, the first member of staff to talk to me and had lunch with Jackie Nicholls and Rod Bedford. I was then was called back to teach a few lessons, Bill Gillen the Headmaster at the time left my lesson after 5 minutes, I think the snoring was disturbing him. Anyway, I went back to Durham and Bill phoned me the next day at 6:30 in the morning to offer me a dream of a teachers job.
When I was a KGS student, playing against King Teds or Arnold were always great occasions especially the away matches. Both first team pitches were flat, dry and in beautiful condition unlike the bog at KGS with its 30 degree slope. My first memories of joining Arnold were how clever the staff were, I watched in amazement as Mr Smyth completed the times crossword as fast as he could write. So it wasn’t long before we got him on our quiz team. He still uses words I don’t understand. Also when I joined there were a dozen or so young teachers who took rugby and cricket teams and the socials invariably consisted of the Burlington, then Crazy Scots then KFC. Glamorous nights. Then a bus journey to Stonyhurst on a winding road with a low sun staring straight into your eyes.
What inspired you to become a teacher? I went to Kirkham Grammar School and loved sixth form life so much I thought this is what it must be like teaching! I loved studying for A levels and played a lot of rugby and cricket – so a special mention must go to the inspirational BG and Tim Miller my History teacher who sadly is no longer with us.
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The rugby matches as Spartan coach invariably gave me happy memories. A mix of future stars destined for first XV and Lancashire honours and Fylde, good lads who just liked playing rugby, lads who never got much of a game lower down the school as they were too small at the time. And finally the lads who had to play as it was the only way to get an invite to the hockey girls birthday parties. We liked to throw the ball around and enjoy our rugby. Comedy moves in the lineout were invented on a fortnightly basis. One match
against Kings Macclesfield Alistair Tittley won every single lineout, ably lifted by big Stu. Big Stu Craig, a Spartan Hall of Famer, was one of the true legends, entertaining crowds at Madrid airport with his diablo before being seconded as a giant prop to the U16 squad in Argentina. I’ve never seen Joe Blanthorn, the rest of the pack and the entire backline look happier. This was 17 years ago now and it seems just like yesterday. I went on tour to Canada, Argentina and Chile and just recently to South Africa with AKS. All 3 were unique yet different playing experiences for the boys. What didn’t change over the 20 years I’ve been doing tours and trips abroad was the camaraderie and bonding of the squad. Every squad had one or two fringe players who you might wonder if they might cope with the next level of playing. Of course they all did and most did or will become accomplished first XV players. I also saw the best fines system and courts held by tour captain Toby Merrick in South Africa – very fair and very humorous. Dan Slawson a gifted player and most able current captain has built team spirit and togetherness.
Can you share with us any funny or embarrassing moments? I could discuss the 5 Canadian $ tip in Toronto. The Pizza shop choir in Halifax, Nova Scotia resulting in the request for breakfast at 2pm. The moving stage in Buenos Aires. The welcome we got walking in to a bar in Conception, Chile’s very own Slaughtered Lamb pub. The accused in Toby Merrick’s tour court. The curry nights with dress codes and a trophy with hand engraved brass plaques. Mr Rudd and his appearances at the curry nights. But the mantra remains ‘what goes on tour stays on tour’
him, about to join in the celebratory pile on. Video evidence also suggests I pulled my hamstring and had to give the pile-on a body swerve. I deny everything.
What would our alumni be surprised to find out about you? I have a remarkable record of meeting famous people who have since been jailed or found guilty of serious misdemeanours.
What is the best part of the Old Boys’ Rugby, and do you have any standout memories? It’s always seeing the ex-Spartans and first XV squad players. The chat never changes but many of them do change. Most, if not all, have gone out into the big wide world and have achieved amazing things. Some have grown a foot taller, a foot wider or have given up sport and consequently wintered well. Some have wintered well and lost their hair – so I feel at home stood next to them. I’ve never quite understood the Arnold peaky blinders dress code – but then again nothing beats a dressingup-box day out with your mates. The quality of play is surprisingly good but some of the pack are only good for a 10 minute blast before having a spell on the bench. And, after a series of good dustings and easy wins, I congratulate Arnold for gifting King Teds the win last year to keep the Lytham boys interest going.
Watch Graeme’s Celebratory fall here:
This is the only printable one. On the last rugby tour in an amazing match with a ‘lively bank holiday crowd’ my son scored the winning try in injury time. Video evidence shows me running alongside him, some say outpacing
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INTERVIEW with
Mr Jones
When did you start at Arnold School? I started as Director of PE at Arnold on 1st January 1998. Moving ‘up North’ was a big step for me and my family, but one I’m glad we made.
What inspired you to become a teacher? I had a very positive experience of PE and sport at school, with some excellent teachers who had a big impact on me. I wanted to recreate these opportunities for others. I went to Borough Road College, West London Institute where I studied a BEd in Physical Education.
What are your favourite school memories? I remember Arnold’s friendly atmosphere when I first attended my interview. I was fortunate to help with the design of the Procter Sports Hall and Centenary Complex before I started at Arnold, although it meant no indoor facility for 12 months as the building work took place. Being part of the sporting development of so many young people will always be a fond memory. Whilst my background was predominantly rugby, I encouraged students to find the activity that best
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suited them and that they enjoyed so they would continue to be involved after leaving school. That said, it was always essential to have staff willing to take and assist with the wide range of activities we offered, and I was very grateful to them. The Sports Days at Stanley Park were great House events, with the staff relays demonstrating the willingness of colleagues to be involved. The school trips and sports tours were always something I really enjoyed. The experiences and memories for all those that travelled will last a lifetime. Spending time away from family was not always easy when on school trips, so travelling to Australia on the 2005 hockey tour as a family was a great experience for us all. I always accompanied my Year 7 form to Glenridding, which I loved. The sevens season in March was always hectic but enjoyable. As a party leader/tour manager I always planned to go off the beaten track away from the usual tourist destinations. Consequently, I was fortunate to visit some wonderful places and countries with fantastic staff, which was always the key. If the staff had a good time, it generally meant that the students were toeing the line … although not on all occasions! Many of my best memories, therefore, are from distant places. Some of the highlights include Rorke’s Drift in South Africa and the hospitality
at Linpark Sports Club; the cricketers singing the National Anthem before they played Union Island in the Caribbean; playing cricket (and umpiring!) at the international stadiums in Trinidad, Grenada and Sri Lanka; the fabulous steaks (and occasional red wine!) in Argentina and Chile; visiting the Iguazu Falls in Argentina, and playing under the floodlights in the foothills of the Andes in Santiago, simply breathtaking; the safaris in South Africa and supporting the great work of SKRUM in Swaziland (now Eswatini), as the boys coached rugby to children whose lives have been blighted by HIV. One memory closer to home was when a former colleague returned to Arnold with Tauranga Boys College. In welcoming the tourists to Blackpool they performed and explained the origins of the Haka in a special assembly. The Memorial Hall was still shaking as were many that witnessed an incredibly powerful and energetic performance. As the 1st XV prepared to face the Haka out on the pitch, seeing the younger year groups running to the far-field to witness this again was fantastic. Staying with New Zealand, it was also great to travel to Twickenham with the 1st XV to watch two of their teammates play for England U19s v New Zealand.
Can you share with us any funny or embarrassing moments?
Leading the last Arnold ski trip to Alpe D’Huez with a young staff team, having taught two of them! At Glenridding, thinking that the ‘LM burgers’ were Linda McCartney burgers, only to find out they were lamb and mint. I’m pleased to say there were no complaints!
What would our alumni be surprised to find out about you? I am sadly no longer teaching due to ill health, but fortunately still able to contribute to schools’ rugby in Lancashire and with England Schools. I also support medical practitioners with research and am a patient advocate for Cardiomyopathy UK.
What is the best part of the Old Boys’ Rugby, and do you have any standout memories? Undoubtedly the camaraderie amongst the lads playing and the support from the ‘Green and White Army’. It’s great catching up with former staff and students to find out where their paths are now taking them, and sometimes to hear what they really got up to on tour or at La Reserve! It is even more pleasing to hear that they are still exercising and playing sport.
Whilst I wholeheartedly endorse “what goes on tour, stays on tour”, the following occasions can be shared: Four staff having to share a room with all the team kit and equipment for 4 nights on tour in Canada. Worst of all there were only two beds! We also convinced the locals we were part of a choir on our world tour! Loading the boys’ cricket bags onboard a boat whilst island hopping in the Caribbean, only to discover that several of the bags contained slabs of beer!
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JANUARY 2023 7.30PM
SATURDAY MATINEE 2.30pm AT
THE LOWTHER PAVILION TICKETS ON SALE NOW! Book by FRED EBB and BOB FOSSE
Music by JOHN KANDER
Based on the play by MAURINE DALLAS WATKINS
Lyrics by FRED EBB
Script adaption by DAVID THOMPSON
This amateur production of CHICAGO: TEEN EDITION is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals Ltd. www.concordtheatricals.co.uk
TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM THE BOX OFFICE:
@aksdrama / @akslythammusic www.akslytham.com
www.lowtherpavilion.co.uk boxoffice@lowtherpavilion.co.uk 01253 794221
It is a great honour to have been asked to write a piece for the prestigious Old Boys’ Boxing Day Fixture, but then I soon came to the realisation that I was no longer considered of playing age and was now firmly on route to becoming an Allicado (or old fart if you are from the Will Carling era). This prestigious match marks a long tradition of rivalry between two fantastic schools, along with respect, friendship and community. Like the tradition of Arnold, King Edward VII and Queen Mary School, many of the legacies now continue through AKS Lytham, with sporting excellence and international caps not only in rugby but across many disciplines. There continues to be a healthy flow of young talent flowing in to Fylde RFC across the senior teams and it is this community that the Club has been built on and gained its successes from over the years. It is terrific to see both legacy schools so well represented, and as last year’s cohort join the squads for the largest game of the year at Fylde RFC, there merges a new player who is neither an Old Lidunian nor an Old Arnoldian, but they are in-fact an OAK alumni. Just like those before them, they are just as keen to be involved in such a tremendous occasion and become part of its history. It is important that this tradition continues for the generations of OAKS to follow, as we take great joy in catching up with old friends and recounting the memories of yesteryear, battles, bumps and bruises, the tackles and tries, the losses and victories that mould the men and women stood around you today. Cheers and Merry Christmas. Alan Holmes Head of Rugby at AKS
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DIARY DATES FOR SEPTEMBER 2023 ENTRY Year 7 Entry Assessment 21st January 2023
Reception Taster Afternoon 25th January 2023
Sixth Form Taster Day
30th January 2023
Discover more: www.akslytham.com 01253 784104
INTERVIEW with
Mr Rudd Quotes Ruddy lives by:
“Enjoy yourself, it’s later than you think”. “Specials AKA” and “Sublimis Ab Unda” (Risen from the Waves) KES Motto
When did you start working at KES?
What are your favourite school memories?
I started work at KES in 1986. I started as a PE teacher for 2/3 of the timetable and Mathematics 1/3 and as I got older and infirm this gradually became more and more Maths until eventually it was all Maths. I do have a Joint Honours Degree in Maths and PE and so am qualified to do both I hasten to add.
My favourite memories of KES and KEQMS were every victory over Arnold at 1st XV level, every victory over Kirkham in the Fylde 7s even when their teams were full of county and international players. My Under 15 run in the Daily Mail all the way to the final at Twickenham, every round was close and started with yet another victory over Arnold at Arnold. An unbeaten season with the U12s in 1988, an amazing 2nd X1 season beating Kings Macc, Manchester GS and drawing with Sedbergh and starting games with 8 or 9 at times I wonder why? (certain individuals would be able to expand why?). Every trip away with the lads on rugby, cricket tours and Outdoor Ed all over Britain and further afield. In particular trips with Andy Weston when all we did was laugh and enjoy the company of the students. “What goes on tour stays on tour” was possible as there were no mobile so any misdemeanors were dealt with on tour and so never mentioned on our return. The lads knew that this was the rule and as a result they were given freedom and trust that would never be possible now due to health and
What inspired you to become a teacher? My PE teachers Bob Dudley Jones and Steve Williams who played rugby for Cardiff and Neath respectively inspired me to become a teacher. I would have run through a brick wall for them both. They turned a troubled soul into someone who actually did well in school in the end. Steve Williams still works at my old school and I keep in touch with him. Also my Year 10 and 11 set 2 Maths teacher Mrs Burgess who picked me up from my disappointment at not being good enough for set 1 and got me an A at O level (there was no A* then).
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safety. I cast my mind back to Jonesy’s camp site in France, the Gaol in Canada and the BBQ at the beach, Mines in Wales, Tossio at the Eiger Bike Challenge, gorge walking in the Dales, final night in Auckland and Christchurch (Johnny you’ve rung the wrong room), the boat trip in Malta swimming to the Island, the Coast to Coasts, Wet and Wild Newcastle, fireworks in Scotland and the McDonalds Girlfriend, the poor hamster in Cardiff, Frank and his mash potato, every Rosslyn Park National 7s trip, the cricket festivals in London and the sing song in Italy. I need not expand any more. The long haul tours to Canada in 1989, New Zealand in 1999, 2005 and 2008, Sri Lanka in 2001 and 2015, were experiences that I will treasure particularly coming back unbeaten in 2008. Although each will have their own fantastic memories, particularly the times away from the sports field, with the humour and the company of such wonderful young men and also women when we merged and did joint tours. I loved every minute of their company and really missed them when they were hosted. I took my wife on two of the tours once in 1999 and then in 2001 and she had a ball as well. She actually got quite depressed on our return as she missed the lads so much. The lads looked after her especially when she was unwell in Sri Lanka and she did the same when they were all sun burnt after too much time by the pool in Galle. I have wonderful memories of visits to hospitals in New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Malta, Italy, Ireland, North Wales, Newcastle, and the Lakes, NOT! Academically I took pride in all of the passes at GCSE that my sets got both at PE and Maths and also the same at A level, starting with Sport Studies and moving eventually to Maths.
Can you share with us any funny or embarrassing moments? One of the first embarrassing moments was in my first year when marking the Year 9 Maths exam. I managed to mark one question with the answers that were wrong, right, and those that were
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correct marked wrong. As it was Year 9 they were then setted using the scores. The staff then went through the papers and found my error and as a result I was moved sets both up and down. Not one of my best times I hasten to add. Needless to say I always got someone more senior to check my solutions from then on. I had to beg officials not to eject me out of a waterpark in Canada in 1989 after some of the 1st XV persuaded me to join their snake down the slide (I didn’t know that they had been warned only to go down on their own previously). As we crashed down at the bottom they held me under the water so that they could get away without being caught. I don’t know if this is embarrassing or something I should be proud of but in my last season at Fylde I got picked in the 1st XV in a team where I had recently coached over half of the players. During the game (that we won) I eventually got replaced near the end by Matthew Wilkinson who had been my 1st XV scrum half just the season before. This had also happened earlier in my career at Fylde. I was dropped for the old Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay who I had coached at Year 9, Year 10 and 2nd XV level at school. Another one that springs to mind was when driving the school minibus with a trailer for the first time I was escorted by the police from the motorway into the services and asked to sit in the police car. The students all thought that this was hilarious, and I didn’t know what was going on. Once in the car I recognised the other policemen as a parent who was killing himself laughing. He then proceeded to video me before sending me on my way. Another was driving the school minibus out of Kings Macclesfield and relying on the students to guide me only to get too close to the wall and rip the bumper off the bus. Again, the students thought that this was hilarious. Mr Liggett did not!
What would our alumni be surprised to find out about you? Seeing that I have been here 34 years it might surprise you that my plan was to only stay for a year. I had an interview in Wales at the end of my first year but when I compared it to KES there was only one winner. The rest as they say is history. They might be surprised that I struggled at Primary school and was a little bit of a naughty boy and it was sport and the staff at my high school who pointed me in the right direction. I have seen both the Nolans and Bucks Fizz in concert and also only read books set in the UK and with a happy ending (usually love stories), I cry like a baby at sad films and this has got worse over the
years. I now even cry at adverts! I am frightened to death of flying although those who experienced the two aborted landings in Wellington probably already know this. I also can’t cope with sitting in a car being driven fast and won’t go on any rides at fun fares. After all of my mishaps in the minibus this might not be surprising, but I couldn’t drive when I started at KES and only learnt two years later. My first experience of driving alone was the day after my test when I had to drive the minibus to Stanley Park. The athletics team of Eric Fry, John Kay, Anthony Thorn, Marcus Foster and the rest had their lives in my hands!
SPECIAL THANKS TO MR RUDD FOR TAKING US DOWN MEMORY LANE
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FOUNDATION
Launching in 2023
our vision will be to create a legacy enabling young people to change their world through AKS Lytham.
On 5th May 2023, the launch will take place at AKS Lytham where we will be focusing on our first ever Bursary Appeal. At the launch event, we will also recognise the generous financial contribution made by the Lytham Schools Foundation, the Old
To book your place at this historic event, please scan this QR code
Arnoldians (Arnold School) and the Old Lidunians (King Edward VII School) that enabled the refurbishment of the AKS Senior School Hall in 2021. To help enable future generations who attend AKS Lytham to recognise their OAKS alumni, we will also be unveiling the new name for the AKS Lytham Senior School Hall, which will be the OAKS Hall. The launch event will also be an opportunity to hear from our new Foundation Patrons.
or contact Sarah Walton, Director of Development 07512 302332 sarah.walton@akslytham.com
We are grateful to the Old Boys Associations who are donating the money raised from today’s hospitality to the AKS Lytham Foundation as a very first donation to the AKS Lytham Foundation Bursary Fund!