tom, edition 41
DESCRIPTION
March 2013TRANSCRIPT
The Old M
ancunianM
AR
CH
20
13 E
DIT
ION
41
Keeping old boys in touch with MGS throughout the world
• Old Boys Dinner Speeches
• Old Mancunian News & Letters
• A Remarkable Discovery
• Forthcoming Events
Planning for
MGS is looking forward to celebrating its quincentenary in 2015, when we anticipate a full calendar of events for the whole School community, Old Boys and other friends of the
School.
Director of Development,
Simon Jones, and
Vivienne Horsfield, Events
Coordinator will be
planning the MGS 500th
anniversary celebrations
in 2015. If anyone has
any ideas for 2015,
please contact Simon
and Vivienne by email at
[email protected] as soon
as possible. Key dates for
School and Old Mancunian
events in 2015 will be
published later this year.
The 2015 Old Boys’
Dinner will be held on
Saturday 21 November
2015 at Lancashire County
Cricket Club and it is
hoped that it will be the
largest gathering of OMs
during the quincentenary
year. Tickets will go on
sale in 2014.
Please note: The 1970s
Reunion Dinner due to
take place in 2015 will take
place in 2016.
Right: From L to R: The
Recorder; Paul Rose,
The Senior Steward;
Merton Sandler,
The Junior Steward;
Jonathan Goldstone,
The High Master; Dr
Christopher Ray
SATURDAY 24 NOVEMBER 2012.
Old Boys’ 208th Dinner
Senior Steward: Merton Sandler
Junior Steward: Jonathan Goldstone
Recorder: Paul Rose
Jonathan Goldstone 88-95
(extract)
I had to ask myself whether the members of
the selection committee, Mr Recorder, had
done their homework properly. Had they
done so, they would have discovered that I
was not made a prefect, (laughter) at a time
when pretty much everyone was; (laughter)
that I was not allowed on the golf and tennis
trip to the South of France in my lower sixth
year, despite being the captain of the golf
team at the time;(laughter) and that, for a
time in my third and fourth years, I held the
unofficial role of forger of parents’ signatures
on detention slips. (laughter) However, I
have since come to understand that MGS
taught me a style of self-confidence to which
only my life experience since has added
even a dash of humility. So, to the selection
committee – and, on further reflection, I
decided it was not for me to question the
wisdom of such wise old owls. Indeed, when
I asked the Recorder for his advice on my
speech, he looked me in the eye and proudly
told me – Jonny; the key to your speech is to
ensure you make the most of this wonderful
and unique opportunity to settle old scores –
with teachers and classmates alike.
Merton Sandler 37-44
(extract)
Well I was going to say a word about the
High Master and there he is. (pointing)
(laughter) Since he became Chairman of
the Headmasters (and their mistresses)
Conference (laughter) he has really
metamorphosed into quite a firebrand. His
inflammatory speeches have been reported
in all of the upmarket newspapers and
reading between the lines we know what he
is really saying. He’s saying ‘To the barricades,
aux armes citoyens, formez vos bataillons’.
Where you lead High Master we will follow.
Fellow Old Boys as I see it the auguries are
propitious; the School is in a good and safe
pair of hands, for the time being anyway.
(laughter) I ask you to be upstanding and I
give you the toast ‘Prosperity to the School’.
The full version of
the speeches can be
read at www.mgs.org
– MGS Glocal. If you
would like a printed
copy please contact
Julie Wright in the
Development Office.
1950s Reunion Dinner Saturday 18 May 2013
The last 1950s Reunion was held in school in 2007. If you think Reunions are not for you consider the following from guests last time:
The Committee is formed, the format of the event is agreed
and the invitation should have arrived by now. If you haven’t
received your invitation please contact Jane Graham at
school as soon as possible. Places are limited and we expect
a huge response.
Official Opening of the Ian Bailey Archive Room
5 November 2012 saw the official opening of the Ian Bailey Archive Room , previously the Alan Garner Junior Library, and prior to that the “cages”, which now holds the MGS archive collection and library along with an area for pupils, staff, researchers and other visitors to study, plus space for displays.
The room was
officially opened
by the school
Bursar, Gillian
Batchelor, after a
drinks reception.
An exhibition of
“treasures” from the
school archive was staged. Items on display included an early
admissions register, a school report from 1906, handwritten
school speeches from 1640, antiquarian books from the 15th
century and numerous photographs of school life from the
19th and 20th centuries. Old Mancunians are always welcome
to come and see the archive for themselves. Please contact
Rachel Kneale for further information.
Above: John Bever,
Volunteer Archivist and
Staff 90-00 browses
the exhibition
Left: Gillian Batchelor,
Bursar at the official
opening
Left: The Quad and
Refectory
“The most enjoyable and friendly reunion I have attended”
“I hope that I am around for the next one”
“Other schools have them and I have heard them described as mixed blessings. Not ours!”
“My friends
and I revelled
in the green
tiles and
cracked floors
within the
corridors, so
redolent of
our youth”
2 3
The MGS Global Careers Scheme has already provided an enormous pool of resources, skills and expertise to the boys at the School. If you would like to get involved either as a speaker, mentor, or provider of a work experience placement then please contact the Development Office or log on to mgsglobal.org and visit the ‘career’ tab.
MERJE is a niche recruitment business operating within the
areas of Finance, Customer Contact, Compliance, AML,
Risk and Audit. With offices in Manchester and London the
company has three Directors who are Old Mancunians,
Jonathan Abelson 84-91, Richard Abelson 88-95 and
Edward Manson 93-00. MERJE provide a work experience
placement each year to a Middle School pupil.
Anthony Preston 66-73 gave an inspirational talk on
entrepreneurship to boys at the School in January. Anthony
left MGS to study
modern languages
at Wadham
College, Oxford
and became the
founder of Pets at
Home.
Philip Edge 94-01 is now Director at Edge Worldwide
Logistics. Philip explained to the boys at the School why
he left the world of corporate finance to set up his own
logistics firm.
James Hurrell 97-04 studied geography at Mansfield College,
Oxford. He now works for ISIS Equity Partners an independent
private equity house. James gave the boys at School an
overview of the career options available in finance.
PasTest specialise in providing
high quality revision resources for
medical students and medical
professionals - supporting
doctors throughout their career.
Gareth Lally 91-98 is a key
member of the Development
Team at PasTest and has set
up a work experience link with
the School.
James Mason 93-00 is
looking to expand the
London based educational
charity, Action Tutoring, to
Manchester. Action Tutoring
is a social enterprise that provides free tuition to pupils
from disadvantaged backgrounds. They send volunteers
into schools and focus on GCSE Mathematics and English.
Growing from a pilot program in March 2011, the project has
been a success in London - during the academic year 2011/12,
300 GCSE pupils in
15 schools across London have benefited from tuition.
They are now looking to expand the charity into Manchester,
having received the support of Paul Ormerod 61-68 who has
helped secure £10,000 of funding. In partnership
with schools in the Burnage area from March 2013, the
project will aim to make a huge impact on the prospects of
young students in the environs of MGS. If you would like to
volunteer or support Action Tutoring please email james@
actiontutoring.org.uk or visit www.actiontutoring.org.uk
“The boys really appreciate the time and advice freely given by Old Mancunians. Mr Preston’s talk was inspirational.” Akeel Malik – Year 13
From the Director of Development
Simon Jones 88-95
Teacher of Geography
from 2004, Director
of Development from
2010. 0161 224 7201
ext 240 or
Bottom left:
Anthony Preston 66-73
Bottom right:
James Mason 93-00
SOME NEWS AND VIEWS FROM THE MANCHESTER GRAMMAR SCHOOL TODAY
Top: Adam Nadeem
(Year 7)
Middle: Matthew Haji-
Michael (Year 11)
Bottom: Ben Brownson
(Upper Sixth)
Sailing star makes Team GBR
Matthew Haji-Michael (Year 11) has qualified for the Topper National Racing Squad for 2012/ 13 after another successful year of competitive sailing.
He is now part of Team GBR which provides
him with top level coaching aimed at
delivering the next generation of GBR’s
gold medal winning sailors at Olympic and
International level.
Ben appointed Team Manager for GB GolfBen Brownson (Upper Sixth) has been appointed as the youngest team manager at the Maccabiah Games 2013, which will take place in Israel in July. He will also be Assistant Manager of the GB junior team.
Ben will be part of a 500-strong delegation,
the UK’s largest ever representation at the
games which were established as the Jewish
Olympics in 1932. It is now the third largest
sporting event in the world.
Adam’s Quest for Gold
Adam Nadeem (Year 7) has earned a Green Blue Peter badge, awarded for creative interpretations of the environment, conservation or nature.
This is his fourth Blue
Peter badge, which
he won for making a
model of Big Ben from
recycled materials; he
is now working towards
achieving a coveted
Gold badge.
The School TodayFor more stories like these visit mgs.org
Bringing Back a SmileMGS Dental Society founder, Abdullah Ashraf (Upper Sixth) was invited to speak at a National Dental Conference on ‘The Future of UK Dentistry’ held in London.
Abdullah was able to provide his personal perspective and hopes that the exposure at such a national event will serve to further promote MGS in the eyes of the professional elite.
Oxford Essay Prize
Hugh Williamson (Upper Sixth) has been awarded Oxford University’s prestigious GA Wainwright Schools Essay Prize, which aims to encourage the study of non-classical archaeology of countries in the Middle East.
Hugh is an avid fan of history and archaeology and very much hopes to study Egyptology at Oxford next year.
4 5
Each year, when speaking to would-be MGS boys and their parents, I mention the magic of MGS: the special ingredients which make us great and not simply just another very good school. But there are also magical times, those champagne moments to be treasured. And, as I write my final article for TOM, nine of these very special moments from the last nine years come to mind.
• My first Remembrance Assembly in the Memorial
Hall, where I learnt just how well MGS boys conduct
themselves on important occasions which really matter
to them.
• The rebirth of the MGS Speech Day in 2011, the first for
forty years, when all those attending were astonished by
the immense success of the boys across many domains –
academic, creative, active and sporting.
• The opening of the new Junior School, signalling a
renewed commitment to junior education again after
a lapse of some sixty years.
• The sight of hundreds of our boys playing on the fields
at lunchtime on the first warm day of the summer term.
• The MGS Close Harmony Group singing at the HMC
Annual Conference in Belfast Music is Truth’s Smile,
specially written for them by composer Toby Young.
• The first boy (of many, many more boys to come) to
win a Duke of
Edinburgh Gold
Award, after the
introduction of
the scheme
to MGS.
• The use of our
iconic drive for a
collective ‘hundred-mile-dash’, as every boy in the School
ran, walked, shuffled or danced a hundred yards in relays,
each playing his small part in this larger marathon, raising
funds for medical relief in a disaster zone.
• Michael Wood becoming the first Old Mancunian to
deliver, with a characteristic MGS mixture of passion and
scholarship, the annual Hugh Oldham Lecture.
• The victory over Eton in the Independent Schools FA
Cup, with our supporters loudly chanting ‘we only cost
nine grand’!
Yet these moments jostle for my attention with memories
of those occasions upon which I have been astounded by
the audacity of MGS boys: from the demand by members
of the newly created School Council as they flexed their
democratic muscles for the introduction of Economics
– the first major addition to our curriculum for over two
decades – to the request to allow designer stubble (I was
never sure whether or not this was meant to be compulsory
in the Sixth Form); from the request to launch a joint
fund-raising initiative for charities in Israel and in Pakistan –
which turned out to be hugely successful in every way – to
the performance of the History Boys without, as we (and
Alan Bennett on a visit to the School) discovered later, the
necessary permissions; from the plea for clemency (in the
matter of a three-match suspension) from the boy sent off
for the umpteenth time (with the patently absurd assurance
that he would henceforth be a reformed character) to
the request from one boy – visiting my study to receive
‘congratulations’ for good work – not just for one Mars Bar,
but two (because he was especially hungry).
The life of a High Master is never dull.
But what I shall remember most of all is the exodus – at
the end of the last day of the school year – of the herd
of wildebeest making their way excitedly up the drive on
their way home, carrying with them the hopes of another
generation of MGS boys.
From the High Master
Dr. Christopher Ray
High Master
A Remarkable Rediscovery
A core collection of about 250 rare antiquarian books have been stored in recent years outside the main Paton and Garner Libraries in a basement room of the School. This is the remnant of a school library that was first recorded in statutes appended to the Foundation Deed of 1624. In the Autumn of 2010, Rachel and I rediscovered these remarkable books, realising at once their significance to the history of MGS and its archive.
The earliest hand-printed book in the
collection is a Missal dated 1494, containing
plainsong of the medieval high mass. But
perhaps the most important book to the
history of MGS, is the third edition of Erasmus’
New Testament of 1522, one of the most
influential books of the high Renaissance.
It was owned, as his signature testifies, by
John Fox, Archdeacon of
Winchester and nephew
of Richard Fox, Bishop of
Winchester, Founder of
Corpus Christi College, Oxford.
It also bears the signature of
Hugh Beswyck, nephew of
Hugh Oldham, benefactor and
Chantry Priest in the Collegiate
Church, now the present
Manchester Cathedral. Hugh
Beswyck doesn’t appear to have
owned the book, but it
doesn’t seem too fanciful to
think he might have borrowed
it from John Fox. They were
nephews of two great and influential
bishops of the early 16th century who
were close friends and collaborators in
advancing the humanist educational
spirit of the age: Hugh Oldham in
founding MGS and Richard Fox in
founding CCC with Hugh Oldham
as benefactor.
The New Testament has passed
through many hands since the
founding days of MGS. In 1717 it is
found in the catalogue of the library
of the Rev. John Cock, vicar of St
Oswald’s in Durham. After this date,
the trail of the provenance of the
New Testament goes cold until it
is found in the personal library of
Percy Stafford Allen,
Erasmus scholar and President of
CCC (1924-33). It came to MGS,
probably in the mid 1930s, as
a posthumous gift of P.S. Allen,
in honour of the opening of the
School’s new buildings in 1931
which Allen attended.
From the Archive
Top: Erasmus New
Testament, 1522
with Hugh Beswyck’s
signature
Bottom: A page from
1494 Missal
Carol Ray
Carol has curated the MGS antiquarian
books since January 2011. She is a
graduate of UCL in English and was
tutor in Contemporary Fiction and
Creative Writing at Madingley Hall,
Cambridge University until 2009.
6 7
OM Sections London & South East The London and South
East Section meet for
regular pub evenings at Ye
Olde Cheshire Cheese on
Fleet Street. Dates will be
published at mgsglobal.org
and advertised by email. The
2013 Annual London Dinner
will take place on Thursday
25 April at the Oxford &
Cambridge Club, contact
Jane Graham at j.graham@
mgs.org for more details.
This year’s Annual Golf Day
will take place at Woking on
Tuesday 25 June. Contact
Michael Richardson at
for more details.
MidlandsAfter a memorable summer
lunch at King Edward’s
School in Edgbaston - hosted
by Chief Master and MGS
Governor John Claughton,
the annual lunch and AGM
in November was made
memorable in a positive
way by the attendance of
Deputy High Master, Stuart
Leeming, kindly filling in for
Dr Ray. He gave a fascinating
and motivational talk about
the free school in Ancoats
that MGS is a key partner in
developing, and which is
set to open in September
this year. He patiently
explained the philosophy
that has underpinned MGS’s
involvement, and covered
with some humour the
joys and tribulations of the
evolving partnerships.
Arrangements for our main
events in 2013 are yet to be
confirmed.
A few of us still meet at the
Old Joint Stock, Temple
Row, Birmingham on the
first Tuesday of the month.
Any OM is welcome, but it
is suggested that a call to
our Chairman John Wilson
on 0121 4753700 would
be advisable to ensure that
others will be present.
South WestOur Autumn Event on Sunday 13 October was to Cothay Manor, an old moated property not far from Taunton, reached along narrow lanes between sodden Somerset fields. Inside, however, the house, dating back to 1485, turned out to be an interesting labyrinth of rooms full of all sorts of items collected by one of the current owners who took us round. Lunch at The Merry Harriers pub nearby was excellent and very convivial and 22 guests including Old Mancunians and their partners enjoyed the outing thoroughly.
The other annual event which we organise is the Commemoration Service and lunch in Exeter which will be on Sunday 23 June. If you are an Old Mancunian living in the South West or indeed anywhere in the UK, you are very welcome to join us on these occasions.Please contact John Smith, the SW Section Secretary, for more details.Tel: 01275 843349 or email: [email protected].
Football SectionThe Old Mancunians Football
Section has been going
strong for over 100 years.
We currently have 4 teams
playing on Saturdays in the
Lancashire Amateur League,
from the Premier Division to
Division 6, with many of our
opponents being other Old
Boys sides around Greater
Manchester. Home games
are played on Manchester
University pitches at the
Armitage Centre and in
Wythenshawe with after
match drinks in Fallowfield.
We also hold regular
social events throughout
the season. We train in
the school sports hall on
Tuesday nights at 6:30pm
and outside at Manchester
Academy on Wednesdays at
7:30pm. We welcome new
players, particularly those
with any connection to the
School. You can find more
information on our website
www.pitchero.com/clubs/oldmancuniansafc
or contact [email protected]. Chess SectionThe Old Mancunians 2013 encounter with the School took place in the Archive Room on Thursday 21 March. The result, accompanied by a full report, games and photographs, can be seen at www.mgsglobal.org.
In 2014 the section intends to organise the 2nd “MGS Chess Championship of the Generations” – a tournament
last seen in 2006.
This event is likely to take
place on, or soon after the
30th anniversary of the
section’s first match on 3
April 1984 – perhaps on
Saturday 5 April 2014.
In 2015, we are looking at
the possibility of a series of
evenings in London possibly
at the Oxford & Cambridge
Club at which chess players
still at school or university
can meet Old Mancunians
at different stages of their
careers in or around the city.
The Development Office is
creating a database of Chess
Section members and their
email addresses with 2015
in mind. If you would like
to be kept in touch about
plans for the above events
please email your details to
or contact Peter Webster at
OM 20/30 ClubWe continue with our Friday
Lunches in 2013, usually
the 3rd Friday of the month
at The Freemasons Hall,
Bridge Street, Manchester. All
meetings are at 12:30 for 1:00
pm, there will be no lunch
meeting in April.
Dates for your diary are:
Wednesday 24 April: MGS
Musical Supper Evening with
Guests, at 6:30 pm – further
details from Jane Graham at
school. Friday 7 June: Lunch
at MGS with the High Master
and Staff. For further details
of any of our lunches please
contact Alex Wells on [email protected] or call
him on 01298 812 886.
Top: The Old
Mancunian Football
Section
We do prefer some notice of proposed
visits so we can arrange formal school
tours but also welcome OMs who
arrive impromptu. Please contact Jane
Graham on 0161 224 7201 Ext 243 or
Far left: Mark Gartside
88-95
Owl Drop-Ins
Since our last TOM issue the Development Office has been so awash with visitors that the McVities Biscuit factory in Levenshulme is struggling to keep up with demand.
Some Old Mancunians just drop in to breathe the nostalgia
and relive fond and not so fond memories of MGS. As Dan
Rosenberg 00-07 put it, “So great to be back. I’d do it all again
even the P.S.’s”. Others come to provide the current crop of
boys with their pearls of wisdom, experience & experiences.
Dr Joseph Garner
85-92, a true
poacher turned
game keeper as a
former owl and now
an expert in the well-
being of laboratory
mice, talked to boys
about his work at
Stanford School of
Medicine. Echoed by
many others who have
given up time to give
lunch time careers talks to pupils, Joseph commented on
the altruistic reward of his time well spent, “Thank you for the
chance to come & give a little bit back”.
Jeremy Gilmour 03-09, also US based, gave an insight into
academic life in American Universities, drawing on his personal
experiences as an Economics Student at Harvard.
Mark Gartside 88-95 held a creative writing workshop with
A level boys and commented “Fabulous memories of a
fabulous school. Wonderful to see MGS getting better &
better”. Mark published his debut book - What Will Survive –
early in 2012.
The Development Office welcomes
your visits. All Old Mancunians do
express their pleasure upon returning
and they often reflect on how the
school has maintained and improved
its standards since their time at MGS.
As succinctly summed up by Simon
Tepper 64-71, “A wonderful re-visiting
of a place which gave me much... and
it’s obvious how good a job it’s still doing”.
A Manchester Toast to George Myers
I believe that those of us at MGS in the late 70s, especially those of us in 4 Alpha who had him as our Form Master, really did see the best of George Myers. Georgie, as he was affectionately known cut a svelte and dashing figure in those days, a half amused pucker playing across his lips. So it was with sadness we learnt of his passing.
To celebrate him in the best way we knew how we returned
to the environment we had befriended him in again in recent
years, a Manchester pub. A dozen or so Old Mancunians
passed through the interesting Port Street Beer
House one Friday evening and it seemed to pass
through me a few times too.
Whether by divine providence or the hand of
Aus, they served an overly strong beer named
Gorgeous George, we drank of it, recounted
tales and toasted Georgie more than once. I
think he would have quite enjoyed it himself.
John Whitfield 76-83
8 9
“Dr Garner gave a real insight into his research at Stanford. The Q & A could have lasted for hours!”
Ameen Chekroud – Year 13
OM Letters
David Charles 42-50:
I thoroughly enjoy reading The Old Mancunian; it does
awaken some memories! I wonder if anyone else remembers
an incident which occurred when I was in 1d, under ‘Spud’
Murphy. My memories of him were of an excellent teacher,
even though he did put rather an emphasis on Trades Unions!
However, it would be 1942 or 43. The class were returning
to our usual classroom after a PE lesson. As I was walking in
through the door, a boy (I don’t remember who) pointed out
to me another boy who was bending over by the lockers at
the side of the room. I took the hint, grabbed one of my gym-
shoes, strode over and gave the backside presented a
goodish whack!
Imagine my surprise when
the ‘boy’ stood up and
turned out to be:- Mr
Murphy! From the look
of surprise-cum-horror
on my face he obviously
realised I hadn’t known
it was him!! Fortunately
(for me) he laughed
and made some remark
(which I do not recall)
and the whole episode
was forgotten and never
referred to again. Does
anyone from 1d recall
this; it must have been
witnessed by almost the
whole class!
Neville Ford 46-52:
Mr Cockshut’s comments about Eric James in the September
2011 edition of the The Old Mancunian were very interesting.
My view of him, as a schoolboy of eleven entering MGS in
1946, was obviously different. Dr James, as I knew him then,
definitely had a first class mind but in my judgement he also
had first class ideas. He was very supportive of me, as a boy
from the inner city slums. He seemed less concerned about
providing me with a philosophy of life, than helping me get
a State Scholarship in the subject of my choice, Chemistry.
When I left MGS to go to University, Dr James personally
told me that he would assist me with the transition. I didn’t
realise that I would need it. When I completed the Ministry
of Education form, I had put down that I would be in a hall
of residence. Alas, I was not accepted, as I had no sporting
record. Playing chess on the MGS first team didn’t qualify. The
scholarship payments were based on my being in a hall of
residence.
I didn’t appreciate that until at the end of my first year, when
the Ministry of Education requested that I return the over
payment. One letter to Dr James solved the problem. He
understood that where I came from there was no other source
of income. I was given a Seaton and Westmacott scholarship
to cover the overpayment and he made sure that it would not
be offset by an M of E deduction.
Michael Holland
51-58:
I was saddened
to read in the
September 2012
edition of the death
of W G Hamflett,
who taught me
mathematics for
at least two of my
years in school.
He possessed the
neatest chalkboard handwriting of any person I have known,
while the meticulous way in which he set out his lessons on it
was an object lesson in structured thinking and presentation.
Living in Sale Moor, he and I would frequently travel to Old Hall
Lane on the same bus. One morning, I found myself standing
next to a rather attractive girl from Fallowfield C of E Girls
School who treated me to a quite becoming smile. Regretfully,
aware that WGH was in extremely close proximity, I failed to
respond, fearful that my mathematical ability (lack of) would be
compared with my ability (likewise) to converse with a young
lady when I next encountered him in a maths class.
In hindsight, my fears were probably without foundation,
as Hamflett was far too gentlemanly to embarrass a boy in
such manner. I found that his teaching methods and patient,
painstaking approach suited my temperament and each year,
when maths classes were allocated, hoped that I would have
him for that year again.
Above left: Back row,
second left ‘Spud‘
Murphy 34-40 and
Master 43-51
Above right: Far left,
William G Hamflett,
Master 48-61
Robert Slater 44-51:
In edition 40 of the Old Mancunian, your correspondent Geoffrey Stone mentions a German assistant teacher named Schnoeckelborg. In fact, Dr.Schnoeck (as he was known) went on to teach English at the Fichteschule in Krefeld, and established a pupil exchange system in conjunction with Mr. Wilson (who taught German at MGS) such that MGS boys spent school holidays with boys in Krefeld and vice versa. My exchange stay (firstly, I think, in 1948) was with Walter Ullrich with whom I became good friends and with whom I am still in touch - we still pay each other visits from time to time, and we have shared many episodes in each other’s lives. I have in my possession a photograph taken in Dr.Schnoeck’s garden of Mrs.S, their young son and daughter, myself and Geoffrey Morris (who was a class-mate of mine). We had been invited to tea, and it is interesting to see how formally Geoff and I were attired, in suits and ties- I’m sure it wouldn’t be like that today! On a visit to Krefeld last year, I was introduced to Dr. Schnoek’s son, whom I had not met since he was a child, and who is now himself retired after a successful career as export manager for a local company. In my view, the exchange system which Schnoek and Wilson instituted was extremely valuable. I do not know whether the link between the schools still exists, but it is a shame if it doesn’t. By the way, Schnoeckelborg sounds just as daft a
name to Germans as it does to us!
In memoriamSince the last TOM we have been advised of the recent deaths of the following OMs: We would welcome offers to supply brief obituaries or memories for Ulula.
Frank Alcock 36-43John H Bentley 47-51David M Binnie 42-49David Blain 33-39Peter L A Blunt 40-48J A Dennis Bradbury 41-44John P Brown 37-43Robert C Brunt 48-55Donald H Cartledge 34-40Paul R Connolly 49-56Michael S P Eastham 49-56Frederick Entwistle 24-26Allan R Finniecome 37-43Lionel A Fripp 42-47William S Glover 38-40Edward H Gorton 36-42W T Tim Hall 41-46Bernard Hamburger 40-47Anthony G Harrison 49-56Anthony J Hartley 50-56James M Howell 45-52Ralph Howles 26-33Alan W Johnston 38-45Brian J Kennedy 47-52John P B Kenyon 39-46Brian H Kirsop 38-45John Maiden 37-41Duncan J Marshall 64-71Keith J Morgan 42-48Derek Ollerenshaw 56-62Oliver Page 56-64Leslie R Peace 49-56Hubert B Royle 37-43David H Schulman 41-46Alan G Shimmin 38-43Roger Tattersall 51-57David C Taylor 44-51John G Teal 41-48Frank Thomasson 35-39Roy M Thomson 37-43John M Waterhouse 43-48Geoffrey Wheat 54-61
We have also heard of the deaths of the following staff:
J W Dominic Hibberd 65-70Stephen Lushington 71-72George Myers 73-06
Thank you!
It’s hardly surprising
that, once again, our
mailbag and Inbox have
been dominated by
memories of Members
of Staff.
These are always welcome –
those of more recent teachers
must not be too embarrassing!
Ian Thorpe 62-69
Development Adviser &
current Editor of the
OM Letters page
10 11
EventsStuart Dale Memorial Old Mancunian Football Match. Friday 19 April. If you are interested in playing or supporting please contact Simon Jones at [email protected].
MGS Open Evening for further details please see www.mgs.org.
1950s Reunion Dinner. Saturday 18 May for further details contact Jane Graham at [email protected].
OM Golf Day at Woking Golf Club, Surrey. Tuesday 25 June at 1:00 pm. Mike Richardson 46-54 is the organiser and can be contacted at [email protected].
Speech Day at The Bridgewater Hall. Wednesday 3 July at 6:00 pm. OMs are welcome to attend but as seating is limited please contact [email protected].
Annual Old Boys’ Dinner to be held at school on Saturday 23 November. Further details will be available nearer the timefrom Paul Rose at [email protected].
Details of all the OM events can be found by visiting www.mgsglobal.org.
Music events
24 April Guitar Concert. The Theatre, 6:30 pm.
27 April Jazz Dinner Dance. Memorial Hall, 7:00 pm.
2 May Summer Concert, Memorial Hall, 6:30 pm.
Drama events
12 April Man of Destiny by George Bernard Shaw. An OM Production. 7:00 pm.
1, 3 & 4 May Death on the Dial. The world premiere of a new play written by old boy Dan Dockery. 7:00 pm.
17 May Cristobal and Rosita by the twentieth-century Spanish playwright, Lorca. A Junior School production.Drama Studio. 6:00 pm.
10, 11, 12, 13 & 17, 20 June Year 8 Shakespeare Festival, Drama Studio , 6:00 pm.
Dates and times of events are subject to change. For confirmation and ticket reservations please see mgs.org
Noteworthy Old Mancunian Ties
Old Mancunian silk ties are available at the cost of £20 in the UK or £22 overseas including p&p.
Please contact Julie Wright.
Amazon.co.uk
Many of us are regular shoppers on the internet, and by accessing the Amazon.co.uk website through the icon link on the School’s own website (mgs.org ) up to 10% of the value of any purchase made is automatically given for the direct benefit of the Bursary Fund.
Man of Destiny – OM ProductionLuke Gilfedder and Angus Macalister 04-11 are returning to MGS for a special one-off theatre production. Their own Theatre company, Finn Productions ran their debut season at Pownall Hall in Wilmslow. They have written, directed and produced their own show ‘That’s Jam’ at the Manchester Royal Exchange studio, and have had a script of Luke’s named ‘Trash’ performed in London’s Covent Garden.
Sir Nicholas Hytner OM, Director of the National Theatre, met Luke and invited him to London. He praised the group’s swift rise as unique and gave him further tips on how to extend into London solely as a writer, whilst continuing to run Finn Youth in Manchester.
Luke, Angus and the group will be hitting the MGS stage on Friday 12 April with a production specially selected for MGS,George Bernard Shaw’s ‘Man of Destiny’.
Gift AidWe are grateful to the significant number of Old Boys who donate regularly to the Bursary Fund. We are obliged to remind you that Gift Aid regulations require you to let us know if you no longer pay sufficient tax on income and/or capital gains. Please notify any changes to the Development Office.
Get in touch ...
Correspondence to Julie
Wright at MGS, Old Hall
Lane, Manchester, M13
0XT or 0161 224 7201.
Above left: Julie Wright,
Tel Ext 241
Above centre: Danielle
Shepherd, d.shepherd@
mgs.org Tel Ext 571
Above right: Jane Graham,
Tel Ext 243
A full list of contact
details for the OMA and
Sections can be found at
mgsglobal.org
The Archivist
Rachel Kneale The School
Archivist 0161 224 7201 ext
361 or [email protected]