19 December 2014

The evening of Friday 12 December saw a large gathering of Old Boltonians witness the inauguration of Sir Philip Craven as President of the Old Boltonians’Association. During his acceptance speech, he spoke of his fond memories of attending the School from 1961 to 1969. He also briefly talked about his career, which has taken him all over the world both as a Paralympian and in his current role as President of the International Paralympic Committee.

Saturday evening was the final night of Rats’ Tales, the School’s first ever Lower and Middle School Joint Production, which ran over three nights and showed that the School’s younger pupils can give the senior students a run for their money when it comes to putting on a show. 

Another Old Boy, Professor Malcolm Stevens returned to the School to offer his wisdom and recollections to Year 9 boys ahead of them making their GCSE choices.

The final week of term was one for much joyous carolling with the Junior Boys’ Choir singing on the cobbles of Coronation Street as they entertained those on Christmas tours of the studios, Senior Girls holding a traditional Ceremony of Carols and Senior Boys celebrating the festive season with their uplifting Christmas Festival.  Beech House Infants were also busy and you can read about the Year 2 celebrations here, as well as a special guest to the Infant School and the help that children gave to CBeebies in recording their Bauble Bop links.

Senior School pupils remembered those less fortunate themselves contributing an outstanding 1,000 packets of after-dinner mints and crackers.

Away from Christmas, there were several other news stories over the course of the week.  Year 10 and 11 boys marked the centenary year of the First World War by performing an extract from R C Sheriff’s Journey’s End and a student-devised piece on the theme of conflict.  After a term of rehearsal, they put on the performances in front of an audience of parents and friends.

Senior Girls enjoyed victories in their “friendly” indoor netball and lacrosse games against returning Old Girls and former school team players.

Amir Khan, fresh from retaining his WBC boxing title in Las Vegas at the weekend, returned to Bolton and paid a visit to Park Road where the Junior Boys were advised to work hard and chase their dreams.

The School was also delighted to announce the launch of a number of new academic Scholarships for girls and boys entering Year 7 of Bolton School in September 2015.