BGSOB Newsletter March 2010 including details of Old Boys\' Dinner in Bury on May 7th featuring important guest speaker, Monsieur John Kendall

1. NEWSLETTER - MARCH 2010
Junior Common Room, Bury Grammar School, Bridge Road, Tenderden Street, Bury, BL9 0HN
Bury Grammar School Old Boys’ Association
Accompanying this newsletter is the invitation to the Paul Kenyon (1984) of Panorama fame, has had a
Annual Founders’ Day Dinner, which will be held book published by Random House. It is called “I am
this year on Friday 7th May at School. Please return Justice. A journey out of Africa”. Google Paul Kenyon
your completed application for more information about
f o r m , t o g e t h e r w i t h Guest Speaker this year is JOHN KENDALL. him.
appropriate payment, to Educated at the “real” BGS (Burnley GS!) and
Ray Swinnerton, as soon as Oxford University, John joined the teaching staff Clifford Billings (1940)
possible. in 1975. An eminent linguist, John was head of attended his first ever
French from 1998 until his retirement in 2008. Founders’ Day Dinner in
Edward Lord will again be 2009 and, I understand,
ar ranging the London During his career, he was in the Choral Society enjoyed it very much.
Dinner. Please contact him for many years, Head of Lower School and also
on 07974 431484 or took around 40 school trips overseas. (John) Keith Burgoigne
at ce.lord@virgin.net John has been a regular attendee at the Dinner ( 1 9 4 6 ) e n j o y e d a n
for specific details of over the years, and is well-known to many Old emotional return to Bury
the venue and cost. Boys - I’m sure he will receive a wholehearted for Founders’ Day and the
Invites will be sent to Dinner last year, meeting
welcome this year. Bienvenue!
the usual attendees as several friends for the first
previously. The 2009 dinner time since leaving school.
at the Reform Club was attended by about 35 Old
Boys, with David Armsbey representing the School. Graham Ackroyd won the Young Scientist award
from the Static Electricity working party of
OLD BOYS’ NEWS the European Federation of Chemical Engineers.
Philip Smith (1958 onwards at BGS) sends greetings Prestigious though this undoubtedly is, Graham was
from his retirement in Austria - 59 years in Bury was most pleased about still qualifying as “young”
enough!! somewhere!
Barry Williams (1968) is living in Winchester, though It was nice to bump into my old 5th form master, Dr
attended the funeral last year of Roger Hamer. He Philip Gooderson at the 2009 Dinner - he genuinely
sends best wishes to anyone who might remember enjoyed the occasion and hopes to accept future
him. invites!
Steve Bulcock (1967) settled in Cumberland after MEMOIRS
Durham University. He promises to stay in touch! Gerald A Lewis (1940) wrote a letter recounting
fond memories of his time at BGS, in response to
Roger Orr (1970-77) has been living in Madrid since having read RANDLE CUTTS’ MEMOIRS last
1992, where he currently works as an English year. An engineer, Gerald worked at Jos.
Teacher. His school is interested in Spanish Exchange Winterburn & FM Aspin in Bury before taking up
partners if anyone is interested. He’s building a a position as a draughtsman in Spalding, Lincs,
house in the mountains of the Cuenca province, where he still resides.
though stops work at 6pm on a Saturday to check
Prompted also by Randle Cutts’ memoirs,
the Shakers result! Roger would welcome BGS
Terence Aiscow, now of California, was also at
visitors and I will gladly provide contact details to school in the 1940’s and wrote with his
anyone who wants them. reminiscences of that time.
President: Norman Fleming
Chairman: Melvyn Ince
Treasurer: Howard Marsh

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where he died in October 2008, a day after his 89th
Col. D Walton CBE (1930-9) was awarded a birthday.
Certificate of Merit at the 2008 Royal Artillery
Assembly, for services to the Royal Artillery & its I am grateful to Gerald A Lewis (Kay, 1940) for
associated charities. information on the previous 2 Old Boys - he also
advised of the passing of John de Courcy Ireland
Ted Roberts (1937-44) sent greetings last May, (ex teacher), whom he remembered well and whose
unable to attend the Annual Dinner as he was Obituary featured in the Daily Telegraph.
singing Brahm’s German Requiem in Peterborough
Cathedral, as part of the Stamford Choral Society. Mike A Stott (Derby House) the playwright from
Rochdale, passed away in September 09, aged 65. He
Steven Hughes is working in Japan for Morgan was a prolific writer, penning many plays & radio
Stanley as an equity sales trader. He has been in scripts for the BBC during an illustrious career. His
Tokyo for around 16 years now and over twenty Obituary was reported in the Guardian.
years in Japan in total, having graduated from the
School of Oriental and African Studies, London Popular old Boy William Roger Crompton (1935-42)
University, with a BA in Japanese Language and an passed away, aged 84.
MA in Japanese Area Studies back in the early '90s.
He was interested to hear that there are other BGS Ian Armistead - aged 69 - ex football captain, right
alumni in Tokyo and would be keen to connect - back, remembered by many.
Perhaps we could start a Tokyo chapter?
John Schofield passed away, aged 79. A keen
REUNIONS: cricketer, he captained Radcliffe for a number of
Class of 1980 (Steve Crompton, Tony Spencer etc) years, including the famous spell in Radcliffe’s history
clock up 30 years in the “post-BGS World” this year when Sir Gary Sobers, the West Indies captain and
and would love to see compatriates old & new at the one of the greatest cricketers ever, played for the
Dinner. club from 1958 to 1962. John served with the
Grenadier Guards during his national service and, in
And I would be delighted to re-connect with more of 1952, he was selected as a pallbearer to carry King
my old classmates (leavers of 1985), as we celebrate George VI’s coffin at Windsor Castle. According to
25 years in the big wide world this year. Our very friends, he subsequently attended a number of Royal
own Mark Joynson is proposing the Vote of Thanks
garden parties at Buckingham Palace and was
to the School.
remembered fondly by the Queen and the Queen
Mother.
FINANCIAL Geoffrey Moorehouse (1950), author, died in
We can proudly report that the Old Boys are November 09 aged 78. In his Obituary in the Times,
now helping to support a boy through his sixth he was described as “a remarkable writer of
form studies at BGS by means of a part-bursary. paradoxically profound gifts”.
Aside from membership subscriptions, the Gary Holt, died 09/12/09 - he was admitted to
Association aims to make a small profit at the hospital just 3 weeks before he died with no obvious
Founders’ Day Dinner to provide funds for the symptoms, but was diagnosed with an aggressive
general benefit of members and the School tumour on the kidney.
Kenneth L Hall’s death was kindly notified to us by
Deaths – It is with great sadness that we have learned Bill Holland (1956), as follows:
of the death of the following OB’s… Kenneth (Ken) L Hall died last night (Feb 2010). He
graduated with Tony Booth, John Crux, Gordon Fowler
Dr Keith Robinson (Howlett, leaver c. 1940) - a and I in that vintage year of 1956. I don't think he was
former GP then Industrial medicine Practitioner, he an OB Association member but would be known to
died in March 2009 at his home near Chester. those on the 1st Eleven Soccer team and the CCF during
the appropriate years, since he was enthusiastically
George Bernard Hill (Howlett, 1936) - former Chief active in both.
Education Officer for Burnley, then Customs & Excise
Officer in Chelmsford Essex. He retired to Cardiff, Bill (Holland) sends greetings and intends to attend
the Founders’ Day Dinner.
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Secretary: bgsoba@me.com

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The swimming pool is available for
Paul Gregory, a popular member of the OB’s OB’s every Wednesday evening
football section, who started the season in the 3rd XI, between 7 and 9pm. Please contact
tragically died in December aged 37. Over 60 Old Rob Yates for info (0161 764 7626).
Boys attended his funeral and the Football Club’s
80th Anniversary night was dedicated to Paul’s Old Boys Bridge Club: The new 2009/10 season
memory. (Sept-May) is now in full swing
and members are
Stanley Porter’s very recent President of the Old Boys’ Association, enjoying once
death (aged 90) was reported Norman Fleming, is standing down at the again the club's
to us by his daughter - “My 2010 AGM having taken over the reigns unique and
father was nearly 90, and had from Geoff Bennett at the 2003 AGM. We c o n g e n i a l
lived a happy and successful thank him for his contribution to the atmosphere
life, remaining independent ongoing strength of the Association. The club, which
and intellectually alert until accommodates all standards
very near the end” of players, has been running
for over 20 years and is now seeking to enlarge its
membership. It is an opportunity for anyone who
SPORTS & SOCIAL CLUBS enjoys a game of Bridge to come along and join us
on the first Wednesday of every month (during term
Football: time). You do not have to be a good player as the
www.clubwebsite.co.uk/burygrammaroldboysafc/ atmosphere is far removed from being ‘cut-throat'.
Old Boys interested in playing are invited to contact Starting at 7:30pm, there are 4 half-hour sessions
Andy Jackson for training details with a break for coffee and biscuits in the middle.
(ajackson@olsj.blackburn.sch.uk), especially school- Entry fee £2.00. The venue is in the Junior Common
leavers and Old Boys returning to the area after Room (JCR), which is situated behind the swimming
University. Follow the fixtures, results and tables at baths in The Boys School.
www.lancsam.fsnet.co.uk - also regular match
reports appear in the Bury Times. If you would like further details please phone
Stephen or Phyllis Bleakley on 01706 644032.
As we enter the final stages of the 2009/10 season,
the 1st XI is 6th in the Premiership with the best goal
difference in the league (+19). Being only 4 points Hockey Club (Sameer Sheikh, Junior School) P16,
behind the leaders with 2 games in hand, the title is W13, D3, L0, F77, A9 Pts 42. With the
still up for grabs. The 2nd XI has battled well in second-place team still having one
Division 2, currently 3rd from bottom. The 3rd XI has outstanding game BGSOB has won the
had a tough season and is staring at relegation from league either by eight or five points.
Division 5, although a recent run of good form could
save them. The 4th XI is the strongest team in the Highlights of the season include the
league, currently bottom of division 7, with a -25 following results:
goal difference.
13-0 vs Bowdon
After considerable hard work by the Chairman, Dave 11-0 vs Morecambe
Entwistle, the football section has seen the 8-1 vs Bowdon
percentage of genuine Old Boys increase 7-1 vs Formby
dramatically, strengthening the section both on and 6-1 vs Bolton
off the field. The Football Club is keen to forge links
with School-leavers and to present a competitive Being the only team in the North West League to
opportunity for old boys to continue to enjoy concede less than 10 goals this season, the hockey
football after school. section has gained a second successive promotion,
to Division 8 North. New members are welcome.
The Club celebrated it’s 80th Anniversary with a
Dinner at the Red Hall in February. The OB’s return to The Table-Tennis section fields 2 teams in the Bury
defend the Liverpool Ramblers title over Easter Table Tennis League (www.burytabletennis.org.uk/) -
Both teams enjoyed good seasons, finishing mid-
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Secretary: bgsoba@me.com

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table in their respective leagues (A-team David Crouch (Head of Junior School) and David
Division 4, B team Division 5) and enjoying Armsbey were made magistrates in June 2009.
good cup runs. The A team duly reached the
league cup final but unfortunately the B team Jordan McBriar & Joshua Mason have been
could not make it a 'double', being knocked out in selected for the Independent Schools Football
the semi-final. Match reports appear in the Bury Association U18 & U16 tour squads respectively.
Times from time to time and can be found on the They will play in Krakow, Poland, over Easter.
league web-site. New members are invited to turn
up on match nights – Contact: Andy Evans A joint schools production of “OLIVER” was staged
recently, which played to very good audiences for 4
The Old Clavians Golfing Society has a packed nights. The production was a credit to all involved.
calendar for 2010, starting with the Challenge
Trophy. Contact: Melvyn Ince – 0161
482 4016 - Life membership is only
£40.00. Malcolm Skinner was Club
ALUMNI DEPARTMENT
Captain for 2009 and John Wild is
Captain for 2010. A trip is planned to
www.bgsalumni.com
Hawkestone Park in September - places Although closely linked, the BGS Old Boys
still available. Association and the Alumni Database are separate
entities – all old boys are automatically classed as
Results 2009: 26 players played the Invitation Day alumni, though only recent leavers will have their
at Chorley, where John Dyson & Tony Barker took data automatically recorded.
the honours in glorious conditions.. The Challenge
Trophy was won by Melvyn Ince at Bury GC, with To join the BGS Old Boys’ Association, you need to
Dave Freeman runner-up. make a separate application and pay a £25 lifetime
membership fee (for which you receive this
Winner of the Captains Prize at Harwood GC was newsletter and may use club facilities). School-
John Wild. The Silver Swan Trophy (Vs BGS Old leavers can enjoy free membership of the Old
Girls) was taken by the Old Girls at Rossendale. The Boys’ Club for the period of their further education
Old Clavians again retained the trophy in the annual – contact the secretary for details.
match against the School, where the school was
commended in it’s conduct by the Chairman. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THE DEVELOPMENT
OFFICE FOR THEIR CONTINUED
ASSISTANCE IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF
SCHOOL NEWS THE OLD BOYS MEMBERSHIP RECORDS
www.bgsboys.co.uk
Members are invited to join the BGSOBA
Facebook Group where we hope to encourage
The last of “my era” of teachers are now retiring, and I communication, debate & information.
wish them well for a long and happy retirement:
Just log-in to Facebook and search for BURY
GRAMMAR SCHOOL OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION
David Wilson - after 38 years at BGS, David retires at
the end of the Summer term, along with his
colleague David Armsbey, who has clocked up 40
years. Their dedication to the school over many years
has been remarkable and BGS is a much better place
for their contribution.
Tim Burns is also retiring as head of art after a 25
year career.
Many thanks for reading, please let me
May they all enjoy healthy & happy retirements (and know your news:
join us at the Old Boys’ Dinner!) Martin Entwistle
bgsoba@me.com
Mr Devin Cassidy has been appointed as Deputy 8 Greenmount Drive, Bury, BL8 4HA
Head, to replace David Armsbey. 01204 882502
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Secretary: bgsoba@me.com