Stopfordian 2010â2011 - Stockport Grammar School

Stopfordian 

The 

2010–2011

The Stopfordian 2010–2011 

CONTENTS 

The Year’s News ................................................4 

Activities and Awards........................................22 

Trips..................................................................45 

Music, Drama and Art ......................................62 

Sport ................................................................73 

Junior School ..................................................101 

People ............................................................116 

Old Stopfordians’ Association ........................122 

Highlights 

Duke of Edinburgh 

20th Anniversary at 

SGS 

p32-33 

Climbing 

p39-40 

Expedition to 

Namibia 

p54-57 

Music Tour 

to Austria 

p66-67 

Infant News 

p102-105 

Front Page Image: Geographers reach Gigujokull outlet glacier in Iceland


EDITORIAL 

Multi-tasking appears to be an increasing necessity in modern 

life. There is a lot written about it. Many argue that too much 

multi-tasking results in too little attention being given to any 

task being done simultaneously, frequently citing the example 

of today’s youth who so often hold unfocused conversations 

while simultaneously texting on their mobile phone. Many 

argue that men are less adept at multi-tasking than women. 

Multi-tasking can also be considered as being involved in 

many different activities, which is what life at Stockport 

Grammar School is all about. 

Our pupils have become adept at multi-tasking, balancing 

their demanding academic studies with a whole host of extracurricular 

pursuits from athletics to debating, travel to violin 

playing. This term I have been covering for an absent 

colleague writing references for students applying to university 

and I am so often impressed by the wide variety of pursuits that 

so many of our Upper Sixth have undertaken during their time 

at SGS. Many of their successes are celebrated in this volume; 

the list of distinctions and achievements and representative 

honours seems to get longer every year and participation in cocurricular 

activities continues to grow. This year we celebrated 

20 years of the school’s participation in the Duke of Edinburgh 

Award scheme, and you can see some snap shots of the 

activities and award recipients this year on page 32. 

We are also very fortunate at this school to have a collection 

of dedicated and talented teaching and support staff who are 

also such willing multi-taskers. In addition to their planning, 

teaching, assessing and reporting responsibilities, pupils 

appreciate the time and expertise that so many staff bring to 

these extra-curricular pursuits. It is hard work, but ultimately 

very rewarding to see pupils enjoy and achieve in these 

activities, whether it be the awe inspired when taking pupils 

onto a glacier in Iceland, watching pupils debate topical issues 

confidently at Model United Nations conferences or 

remembering their lines in the Christmas Nativity production. 

Some of the best, and sometimes forgotten, multi-taskers, 

however, are the parents of our pupils. Many balance busy 

working lives with raising their children; all make sacrifices, 

whether financial, emotional or in terms of time, in order to 

support their offspring. It is common to see parents waiting in 

the car park for one, two or more children to finish a sports 

practice, music rehearsal or meeting, or collecting children at 

all hours when they return from theatre trips, History tours or 

Duke of Edinburgh expeditions. I am sure many of the Junior 

School parents, often with younger siblings around their 

ankles, spend evenings testing one child on their spellings 

while washing and ironing another child’s nativity costume and 

baking cakes for the Christmas fair: multi-tasking at its best! 

Two of my own children are now Junior School pupils and at 

aged seven and five they have already enjoyed trips out of 

school and lunchtime and after school clubs that range from 

Recorders to Gardening, Science to Dance. While I 

sometimes struggle to encourage recorder practice, I 

appreciate the patience and time that their teachers offer to 

nurture new interests and develop their talents; I hope that I 

can support my children in whatever extra-curricular activities 

and trips they choose to do in the future. I trust that seeing 

the enjoyment and achievements documented in these pages, 

parents, pupils and staff feel that their multi-tasking has been 

worthwhile and appreciated. 

My thanks, as always go to the Fine Print team, especially 

David Ayre, for their hard work and creativity in putting the 

magazine together. I would also like to thank Laughtons for 

the sports team pictures, Dr Krywonos for his photo 

contributions and my willing team of proof-readers; Vicky 

Barrett, the External Relations team and Debbie Flint really 

helped as my deadlines loomed. Thank you also to all the 

pupils, staff and parents who make these activities happen, 

support these events and submit photos and articles about 

them; I hope that you enjoy reading about them. 

Karen Palfreyman 

Editor

STOCKPORT GRAMMAR SCHOOL 

Patron 

THE PRIME WARDEN OF THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF GOLDSMITHS 

Governors 

Chairman: Mr R.L.E. RIMMINGTON, B.A. (Econ), F.C.A. 

Vice-Chairmen: Mr P. A. CUDDY, B.A & Mr R.H. ASTLES 


LADY BEATSON, MA 

Mr A. BLOXHAM, BSc 

Mr F.A. BOOTH, FCA 

Miss S.E. CARROLL, BA 

Prof J. DAINTON, MA, D.Phil 

Mr P.H. DAVIES, LLB 

Mr P.L. GIBLIN, MA, MEd 

Mr K. LANSDALE, MRICS 

Mr P.H. LOCKE, BVSc, MRCVS 

Dr E.M. MORRIS, MB, ChB, DCh 

Mr J. MOTT 

Mr P. MILNER, BA 

Dr S. NUTTALL, BSc, PhD, FRSA 

Dr R. SHAH, MBE, DL, BSc, PhD, JP 

Mr D. WITHINGTON 

Mr R.P. YATES, FIMI 

Bursar and Clerk to the Governors 

Mr C. J. WATSON, M.A. 

Deputy Head (Proctor) 

J.P. ASHCROFT, B.Sc., M.A., Dip.Ed.Man. 

Headmaster 

Mr A.H. CHICKEN, B.A., M.Ed, F.R.S.A. 

Assistant Bursar 

Mrs B.H. KERSHAW 

Deputy Head (Director of Studies) 

Miss V.L. BARRETT, M.A. 

Senior Tutor 

Mr D.W. HOWSON, M.A. 

Assistant Masters and Mistresses 

Mr D.S. MARTIN, MA, FRGS 

Mr J.R. METIVIER, BSc, PhD 

Dr W. KRYWONOS, BSc, MSc, PhD 

Mrs H.K. BRIDGES, BSc 

Mrs C.S. MUSCUTT, BA 

Mr J.P. BIRD, BA 

Mr A.B. CHESLETT, BSc, MSc 

Mrs G.M. LOCKWOOD, MA 

Mrs R.G. JOHNSON, MA 

Mrs L. LAMMAS, BA 

Mr C.J. WRIGHT, BA 

Mrs C.A. BECKETT, DipAD 

Mrs R.E. GROVES, BA 

Mr R.W. WALLINGTON, BSc 

Mr P.J. GRANT, BSc, DipEd 

Mr P.A. URWIN, BA 

Mrs A.C. HICKS, BA, FRGS 

Mrs D.L. HARRIS, BSc 

Mrs S.L. BELSHAW, BA 

Mr A.S. HANSON, BEd 

Mrs H.J. JONES, BA 

Mr R. HOWARTH, BA 

Dr S.J.D. SMITH, BA, PhD 

Mrs S.J. BRAUDE, BA, MEd 

Mrs K.A. PALFREYMAN, MA 

Ms H.R. LAWSON, MA 

Mrs H.M. FENTON, BSc 

Miss M.E. HIGGINS, BSc 

Mrs C.L. MARSHALL, BSc, MSc 

Mr A.C. THORLEY, BA 

Miss S. WITHINGTON, BEd 

Revd L.E.J. LEAVER, MA, BTh 

Mrs G.A. COPE, BA 

Mrs K. WILKINSON, BA 

Mr R. YOUNG, BEd, MEd, MILT 

Mme B. GARNIER, BSc, MSc 

Mr N. YOUNG, MA 

Mrs A. LARKIN, BSc 

Mrs Z.A. VERNON, BEd 

Mrs L. WITHERS, BA 

Mrs H.R. ASHTON, BA 

Dr T. KAMPELMANN, MA, PhD 

Mr E.H. CORBETT, BA 

Mr N.I. BROWNE, BSc 

Mr S.A. MOORE, BA 

Mrs T.H. SAMWAYS, BSc 

Mr J.D. WILSON, BA 

Miss L.J. SERVICE, BSc 

Mrs P.W. HODKINSON, BSc 

Mr G.M. WHITBY, BSc 

Miss R.J. UPTON, BA 

Dr J. GILBERT, BA, PhD 

Mrs H. TADMAN, BEng 

Mrs K.J. CHESTERTON, BA, MA 

Mrs M. WHITTON, BSc 

Mr J.P. RUSSELL, BA, MA 

Mr M.G. DOW, BA, MA 

Mr D. LORENTZ, M.Phil 

Mr B.J. MASTERS, BA 

Mr A.G. EHEGARTNER, BA 

Mrs S.L. MOORE, BA 

Mrs E.M. SHORT, MA 

Mr R.A. DAVIES, BA, MA 

Mrs Z. DAWSON, MSci 

Mr P.P. ELLIOTT, BA 

Mr R. PARKER, BA, MA 

Miss S.M. GIBSON, BA 

Dr L.A. PITTS, BSc, PhD 

Mr R.D. HEYES, BSc 

Mrs J. WHITE, BA 

Mrs K.E. FARRINGTON, BA 

Mrs J.D. MASKERY, BEd 

Mrs E. FAIRCLOUGH, BEd 

Mr M.J. FLAHERTY, BSc 

Dr E. ZANDA BURNS, BA, PhD 

Mrs K. CHRISTMANN, MA Diploma 

Mrs C. BARTLETT, CEd, DipEd, MBA 

Dr M. ELLIS, BSc, D.Phil 

Mr I.H. KILLEY, B.Eng, BSc 

Mrs M.H. EVANS, BA 

Miss R.C. DARCH, BSc 

Mrs E. TAYLOR, B.Mus 

Mr R.J. BOWDEN, BA 

Mrs J.M. FARMER, BSc 

Mrs A.M. WILSON, MA 

Mr N.S.J. CLARKE, BA 

Miss E.E. SPENCE, BA 

Mrs A.K. MOFFATT, BA 

Miss K.A.M. PSAILA, BA 

Mrs D.H. MEERS, BA, MEd 

Dr A.L. ABBOTT, M.Chem, Ph.D 

Dr K. AIREY, BSc, PhD 

Miss S. BANNING, BA 

Mrs L.M. MORGAN, BA 

Dr M. HAMILTON, MSc, PhD 

Miss N.J. MERRIMAN, BA 

Mrs C.M. HIRD, BSc 

Miss A.V. GARDENER, BA 

Director of External Relations 

Mrs R.M. HORSFORD, MA, MSc, MCIM 

Librarian 

Ms J. PAZOS, BA 

Headmaster’s Secretary 

Mrs J.E. BAKER 

Network Manager 

Mr S. BRANDT, B.Eng 

Head Boy Deputies Head Girl Deputies 

JACK MACLAREN ANGUS HOTCHKIES LAURA POTTER SARA BAKER 

JAMES MILLS 

LAUREN FOWLER 

RONIL RAWAL 

KATIE McCAY 

HARVEY TAYLOR 

AMELIA REED 

JAMIE WEBB 

ROBBYN TYRRELL 

Prefects 

LARA ACOTT 

WILLIAM ALDRIDGE 

EDWARD ARDEN 

AMANDA BENNISON 

PHOEBE BROOME 

ELLIE BROSTER 

RICHARD BROWN 

JAMES CHECKLEY 

JACK COOKE 

MICHAEL DAGGETT 

REBECCA DELAHUNTY 

PHILIP ELLIS 

EDWARD FINCH 

COLIN GREAVES 

ALASTAIR GRIFFIN 

REBECCA HALEY 

SOLOMAN HAMER 

JUWHAN HAN 

JORDI HERRAIZ 

SAM HEWITT 

ALEXANDRA HICKS 

SAMUEL HOLMES 

SARAH JEEVES 

RISHAL JENA 

ROBERT JOHNSON 

JAMES KNOTT 

BEJAL LAD 

CATRIONA LAMMAS 

VERITY LUKES-MOONEY 

ANIRUDH MANDAGERE 

NICOLE MELLOR 

LUCY MERCER 

OLIVER MILLS 

NIKESH MISTRY 

AMY NAPPER 

KAYSAN NIKKHAH 

THOMAS OZEL 

DANIEL PARSONS 

IMOGEN PAUL 

MATTHEW PILLING 

ALEXANDRA REYNOLDS 

HANNAH RICHMOND 

ARIYAN SADEGHZADEH-ARAGHI 

ROBERT SAMARJI 

WILLIAM SHEARD 

LAURA SIMPSON 

NICOLA SMITH 

MEGAN SMITHSON 

ROBERT SUMNER 

GEORGE TOOLE 

ALICIA WARNER 

ANDREW WARWICK 

ROBIN WILSON


STOCKPORT GRAMMAR SCHOOL 

ASSOCIATED STAFF 

Bursary Administration External Relations 

Mrs E. ALIMUNDO Mrs S. GAFFNEY Mrs V. ARROWSMITH 

Mrs S. ELLWOOD Mrs C. HELME Mrs H. ATENYAM 

Mrs K. SEWELL Mrs J. HOLLEWORTH Mrs T. SHNECK 

Mrs J. MOSS 

Mrs S. PHELAN 

IT Dept Caretaking Dept. Maintenance Dept. 

Mr T. FERN Mr P. CROFT Mr L. JONES 

Mr M. PRESTON Mr A. FIRTH Mr S.J. MARKHAM 

Mr D. COULL Mr S. LONGSON Mr D. MATTHEWS 

Mr P. SLINGSBY 

Mr C. NOCK 

Mr F. SPENCER 

Library Assistants D o E Co-ordinator Grounds Dept. 

Mrs J. HOLT Mr S. POWNALL Mr P. CHATWOOD 

Mrs B. ILLINGWORTH 

Mr J. O’REILLY 

Mr B. TASKER 

Mr L. WHITWORTH 

Exams Officer 

Mrs S.E. ROBINSON 

School Nurse Biology Lab Technicians Chemistry Lab Technicians 

Mrs P. WARD Mrs C. CROSSMAN Mrs S. BATEY 

Mrs C. GOLTEN 

Mrs K. HUDSON 

Mrs A. NORMANSELL 

Mrs M. LOWE 

Mrs J. MATTHEWS 

Music Administrator Food Technology Technician Physics Lab Technicians 

Mrs S. JOHNSON Mrs C. GLEDHILL Mr Y. LI 

Mrs H. PARSONS 

Mr C.D. WRIGHT 

Art Technician 

Mrs J. PERKINS 

D & T Technician 

Mr P. CLARKE 

Careers Co-ordinator 

Mrs L. SMITH 

CATERING DEPT 

Catering Manager 

Mrs S. BROOKES 

Miss K. BAMFORTH Mrs N. DUFF Ms S. RICHARDS 

Miss F. BEIRNE Mrs N. FERGUSON Mr P. RIDGWAY 

Mrs V. BONES Mrs J. GIBSON Mrs L. SMITH 

Mrs C. BRADDOCK Mrs K. GOSLING Mrs D. SZAKAL 

Miss E. BRAKEWELL Mr P. GRANZOTTO Mrs C. TAYLOR 

Mrs C. BROADBENT Miss A. HIGGINS Miss T. TAYLOR 

Mrs A. CLARKE Mrs P. MITCHELL Miss J. THOMPSON 

Mrs S. CLARK Mrs D. NELSON Mrs H. TILLEY 

Mrs G. COWELL Mrs A. MCCORMICK Mrs L. WRIGHT 

Mrs C. DREHER 

Mrs P. NICHOLLS 

French Lang. Assistant German Lang. Assistant Spanish Lang. Assistant 

Mr C. LEJEUNE Mr A. SELLAS Mr A. ROMERO 

Junoir School After Care 

Manager 

Mrs C. JONES 

Miss N. DUNKERLEY 

Mrs B. LANGAN 

Junoir School Mid Day Assistants 

Supervisor 

Mrs C. TONGE 

Miss L. ACOTT Mrs A. LOMAS Mrs M. NORMAN 

Miss J. PAWSEY Mrs R. LUDLOW Mrs C. STEELE


CHAIRMAN’S REPORT 

It has been another excellent year for School. The A level 

results in the 2011 public examinations were outstanding, 

with a 100% pass rate at A2 level and 86% of entries 

obtaining A*, A and B grades, including 21% at the relatively 

new A* grade. It was gratifying to note that School was in the 

Top 100 of the comprehensive Financial Times league table. 

A large majority of pupils achieved their chosen university 

places. The Advanced Level Performance Systems (ALPS) 

report on value-added performance between GCSEs and A 

levels was again very encouraging and the quality of teaching 

and learning was again judged as “outstanding”. AS and 

GCSE results were also highly respectable, with 89% of pupils 

obtaining A*, A and B grades. As I am delighted to write 

once again, all the pupils concerned, the Headmaster and all 

the teaching staff can all be immensely proud of these 

splendid results. 

In these difficult economic times I am pleased to report that 

pupil numbers in the whole School held up well during 

2010/11. In September 2010, 146 pupils joined the First Year 

and the Headmaster and Governors are very pleased that we 

have been able to recruit a full six-form entry of 154 pupils for 

September 2011. Congratulations are once again due to the 

Headmaster, Mr Wallington, other members of the teaching 

staff and Mrs Rachel Horsford for achieving the targeted 

entry numbers. 

This year has been marked with three external reviews of the 

School: the Independent Schools Inspectorate Inspection 

Reports, a Parental Survey and the Headmaster’s Appraisal. 

Details of the first two reports are shown on the School’s 

excellent website. 

The ISI visits took place at very short notice (but were not 

unexpected!) and many Governors were present at the 

concluding meetings and were delighted with the results of 

the inspections of both the Senior and Junior Schools. 

The opening paragraph of the Senior School Report reads: 

“The overall achievements of the pupils are excellent. The 

pupils are well educated and the school meets its aim to 

enable boys and girls from a wide range of backgrounds to 

realise their potential.” Throughout the report, the words 

“Outstanding” and “Excellent” feature strongly. There were 

two recommendations to make the following improvements: 

Provide more opportunities for pupils to use their own 

initiative in learning through greater use of independent and 

collaborative work in the classroom. 

Make more imaginative use of ICT in the classroom to benefit 

pupils’ learning. 

These recommendations have already been addressed by the 

Senior Management Team and endorsed by the Board. 

The Junior School Report opens: “The quality of the pupils’ 

achievements and of their learning, attitudes and skills is 

excellent. Pupils at Stockport Grammar Junior School, 

including those in the EYFS, make excellent progress in their 

learning because of a wide-ranging and vibrant curriculum 

and programme of activities, both inside and outside the 

school.” Some relatively minor recommendations were made 

Mr Rimmington meets Prince Edward at St James’ Palace 

for improvement, which have already been addressed by the 

Junior School SMT. 

The Parental Survey carried out by RSAcademics, four years 

after their previous report, provided extremely positive 

feedback from parents. 98% of respondents rated the Senior 

School’s academic results in the top two categories of “very 

good” and “good” and 90% rated the provision of clubs and 

extra-curricular activities similarly. The one major criticism of 

the School concerned the car park facilities at the start and 

end of the school day. When we bought the Davenport 

Cinema 15 years ago we spent about £3/4 million on traffic 

flow arrangements and car parking. Nevertheless, time has 

moved on, traffic has increased and the Governors are 

determined to deal with this problem. The Bursar 

commissioned a report from a firm of traffic consultants, who 

made a number of recommendations, both short-term and 

long-term. During the 2011 summer holidays, changes 

were made which appear to have improved the traffic flow 

at the front of the School. If there are still major problems, 

we will have to consider further changes, subject to 

financial constraints. 

The Headmaster’s Appraisal, carried out by an experienced 

former headmaster, John Kelsall, states “Andrew Chicken is an 

excellent Headmaster. He is totally committed to providing 

the best possible education for the youngsters of SGS........He 

cares deeply about his pupils individually and collectively 

....The significant progress made by SGS is down to the Head 

and the team he leads so successfully...” I was particularly 

pleased on behalf of the Governors that Mr Kelsall stated: 

“The Governors and Headmaster have established over the 

years a warm and productive relationship, one of the strongest 

I have seen in my appraisal work”. Mr Kelsall’s comments 

about Mr Chicken were well deserved and we are indeed 

lucky to have an outstanding Headmaster of our School. 

In all three reports favourable comments were made about 

extra-curricular activities – the Governors and Headmaster 

place great importance on these activities, as we need to 

differentiate ourselves from other independent schools and 

give pupils and parents added value for the fees they are 

paying. The Governors have approved the Headmaster’s 

The Year’s News 5


appointment of Mrs Muscutt as the co-curricular co-ordinator 

from September, which I am certain will ensure that every 

child has the opportunity for such activity. The sport, music 

and drama are of the highest standard and as always I enjoyed 

the Carol Service, Junior School presentations and Music 

Festival amongst others and I know that my colleagues on the 

Board enjoyed the concert at the Royal Northern College of 

Music. Sporting results have been outstanding and some 

terrific school trips have taken place, including a successful 

cricket tour Down Under. I should like to congratulate all the 

pupils on their achievements and to thank the teaching and 

associate staff for devoting their skill and time to these 

important activities. 

I mentioned last year that the 1000 th pupil had achieved the 

Duke of Edinburgh award and the follow-up to that was a visit 

by Prince Edward to School in November 2010, when I am 

sure he was impressed by all the achievements of all the D of 

E pupils. A month later my wife and I were honoured to 

attend the Gold Awards ceremony at St James’s Palace, where 

I was lucky enough to be introduced again to the Prince and 

where I met the four Stopfordians proudly receiving their 

Gold Awards. 

The Governors have, as usual, been busy on many school 

matters during the year. I should particularly like to thank 

Governors Roger Yates and Keith Lansdale, who together with 

Bursar Chris Watson and our architects Taylor Young, have 

devoted much skill, patience and time in designing and 

planning the new Woodsmoor teaching facilities; as soon as 

planning permission was eventually received, the contract was 

finalised with Globe, who built the Library/Physics Building six 

years ago, and construction started in the early summer. At 

the time of writing in the autumn, progress on the 

construction is proceeding to plan and we expect that the 

building will be brought into use in September 2012. 

Although we have built up significant funds to finance the 

building, we have agreed loans of £1.9 million from National 

Westminster Bank to provide additional finance and I am 

grateful to Governor Andrew Booth for his skilful negotiations 

with the bank. 

Turning to other members of the Governing body, I should like 

to thank all my fellow governors for their dedicated and 

voluntary service to the school. Peter Giblin took over from 

Carol Condliffe last October as the staff nominee governor as 

well as continuing to carry out timetabling duties; Peter has a 

deep knowledge of the school which is proving very useful to 

the Board. In April John Mott’s term of office as the Old 

Stopfordians’ nominee governor came to an end and I thank 

John for his contribution to the Board. David Withington, 

who has taken over as the OS nominee governor, has been a 

valuable member of the OS Association for many years, 

having been a stalwart of the lacrosse club as a player, referee 

and match secretary; he is also currently Treasurer of the OSA. 

Tony Bloxham resigned in December as a result of other 

commitments and I should like to thank him for his 

contribution to the Board, particularly in the field of Human 

Relations. In June the Board appointed Paul Milner, recently 

retired HR Director of PZ Cussons, as a Governor. Harvey 

Locke has just completed a successful year as the President of 

the British Veterinary Association. To all the other governors I 

also give my thanks, in particular the two Vice Chairmen, Ron 

Astles and Philip Cuddy, for their staunch support to me. 

One sad piece of news this year was the death on 12 th June 

of Alan Kershaw, Chairman of Governors for 19 years to 1996 

and altogether a Governor for 24 years. WAK, as he was 

affectionately known, oversaw the transition of School to 

independent status after the abolition of direct grant status by 

the Government and in 1980 instigated the move to coeducation 

and the doubling of pupil numbers in the School 

over the next few years. He also started the Stopfordian Trust 

in 1976, the main objective of which is the application of 

funds to ensure that pupils are not forced to abandon or 

curtail their educational programme through the unexpected 

death, illness or financial misfortune of their parents or 

guardians; Alan remained a trustee until his death. He asked 

me to become a trustee of the Trust in 1987 and then asked 

me to join the governing body in 1992. He was an 

inspirational leader of both the Board and the Trust and 

always had the wellbeing of School in his heart. 

As I state in my report every year, it is essential that we 

continue to improve academic and pastoral provision and that 

all our staff continue to develop their skills. Teachers are the 

most important asset we have; without their enthusiasm and 

high standards of teaching, the outstanding academic results 

would not be achieved and the variety of extra-curricular 

activities would not be enjoyed. The support staff, excellently 

led by our very able and committed Bursar, also play a vitally 

important role in running and developing School. I 

congratulate the whole of the staff on their contribution to 

School life. I should like to pay tribute again to the 

Headmaster for his outstanding leadership. 

Next year sees the 525 th anniversary of the foundation of 

School and on a personal basis the 50 th anniversary of my 

leaving school and becoming an Old Stop, my 20 th year as a 

Governor and 10 th and final year as Chairman. I am 

delighted to note that the Governors have agreed to appoint 

Vice Chairman Ron Astles to take over as Chairman at the end 

of the 2012 summer term. 

R. L. E. Rimmington 

(Chairman of Governors) 

6 The Year’s News


HEADMASTER’S REPORT 

The days when Speech Day could be conducted within the 

quadrangle and when the entire school could attend an 

assembly in the Hallam Hall are long past. Since the advent 

of co-education, thirty years ago, Stockport Grammar School 

has grown considerably with the result that there is now no 

venue capable of accommodating the event on our site. 

This summer we elected to hold the occasion in the centre of 

Stockport, enabling us to involve the whole school community 

in celebrating the successes of the last twelve months. The 

purpose of Speech Day and of ‘The Stopfordian’ is not simply 

to recognise academic achievement, important although that 

is, but to reflect on the wider significance of all areas of our 

work – inside and outside the classroom – and how these 

serve to fulfil the wider aims of our School. 

This year the Governors completed the important task of 

reviewing how those aims are expressed. You may not, as yet, 

have found time to study them on the website, so I thought that 

I would draw your attention to a number of them in this article. 

Quite rightly, the aims place a strong emphasis on academic 

pursuits, seeking to provide an excellent and challenging 

academic education in a caring and supportive atmosphere. 

The most immediate measure of success in this area is, of 

course, in the field of examination results. Last year’s A Level 

examination results were the best in the school’s history. We 

were particularly pleased with the 100% pass rate, with almost 

two thirds receiving A* or A grades and nearly nine out of ten 

being awarded A*, A or B. This level of success ensured that, 

almost without exception, our leavers were able to proceed to 

the university courses of their choice. The GCSE results were 

exceptional. Nearly three quarters of entries were graded at 

A* or A, with almost one third of the year group achieving a 

clean sweep of A and A*s. Such results augur very well for the 

future prospects of our boys and girls and are a just reward for 

the hard work of pupils and staff, as well as a tribute to the 

efforts and patience of supportive parents during the ever 

lengthening examination season. 

These days, of course, schools are accountable in many more 

areas than the narrowly academic. Earlier this year we were 

delighted by the findings of a report by the Independent 

Schools’ Inspectorate, the body approved by the Government 

for the purpose of inspecting independent schools, which is 

generally recognised as being even more rigorous in its 

standards than Ofsted, as it sets as its benchmark standards of 

achievement which might be attained by the most highly 

selective schools in the maintained and independent sectors. 

The inspectors concluded that in the Senior School “The 

pupils’ overall achievement and their learning, attitudes and 

skills are outstanding.” There was also high praise for the 

personal development of pupils and the provision for 

extracurricular involvement, both of which were found to be 

“outstanding”. Pupils in the Senior School were described as 

“exceptionally well educated”. 

Such a judgement reflects the success of our aim to give 

opportunities for each pupil to develop not only intellectually 

but also creatively, spiritually and morally; to create conditions 

in which initiative and independent thought and inquiry are 

welcomed and a lifelong enjoyment of learning is cultivated. 

If schools are to ensure that pupils are equipped to face the 

challenges and demands of life beyond school, as active and 

responsible citizens, they must encourage all pupils to 

participate in a wide range of extra-curricular activities to 

encourage personal and physical development and inculcate 

a sense of self belief and esteem. The word ‘curriculum’ 

derives from the classical term for a narrow racetrack and 

these days it is all too easy for education to be seen simply in 

terms of an endurance test over a succession of examination 

hurdles. There is far more to life at Stockport Grammar 

School than examinations. 

Albert Einstein described education as “what is left when you 

have forgotten everything you learned in school.” Much of 

that education comes from experience and from participation 

in a rich variety of extra-curricular activities, better, I think, 

described as ‘co-curricular’ because they should be seen as 

The Year’s News 7


operating in tandem with academic pursuits as key to the 

successful development of each pupil rather than having a 

semi-detached status and tangential significance. 

Developing as a person means working in competition, both 

inside and outside the classroom. Whilst success is important, 

there is much to be gained from participation. This year our 

boys and girls have enjoyed success in a wide range of 

international, national and regional competitions extending 

from animation, debating and the Model United Nations, 

Mock Trials, the UK Maths Challenge, the Mathematical and 

Physics Olympiads to the North West Young Enterprise 

Awards. Creativity is cultivated through participation in 

regional art exhibitions and our own annual exhibition which 

attracts an enthusiastic audience, through astronomy, 

journalism, chemistry research projects with the University of 

Leeds, technical modelling, chess and tactical games as well as 

in the competition for the title of the School’s Masterchef. 

Meanwhile, our work experience programme allows pupils to 

learn from and contribute to a wide range of commercial and 

industrial firms across Greater Manchester and beyond. 

Realising your potential involves collaborating with others. 

On the sports fields, our teams continue to enjoy much 

success. Our netball and hockey teams have an enviable 

record in fixtures and tournaments, with the Greater 

Manchester and North of England squads being dominated by 

players from Stockport Grammar School. Football goes from 

strength to strength at all levels, whilst our rugby teams are 

amongst the most powerful in the region, with boys from all 

years securing representative honours and our junior sides 

dominating the Cheshire Cup competitions, as they do in 

cricket, where our senior teams have triumphed in overseas 

tours to Australia and Malta this year. Our athletes dominate 

the local schools’ leagues whilst levels of enthusiasm amongst 

pupils and staff remain very high in sports as diverse as 

swimming, fencing and climbing, in House Competitions and 

on Sports Day. 

For many pupils, the most memorable moments come from 

combining their talents in a common enterprise. Our 

reputation for outstanding music of all types, from choral to 

jazz, continues to expand, encompassing this year 

appearances at the Lake District Festivals, on the BBC, a 

magical Carol Service in St. George’s Church, a spectacular 

concert at the Royal Northern College of Music and a 

memorable tour to Salzburg. This year’s productions of 

“Blood Wedding”, “Trojan Women” and “Homeless” were 

testimony to the power of drama to move and inspire through 

challenging our emotions and preconceptions. 

The experience of personal challenge may be fulfilled in our 

Duke of Edinburgh Award Programme, which continues to 

expand and enjoys a national reputation for excellence, 

recognized by a Royal Visit from His Royal Highness The Earl 

of Wessex in November. It may be tasted in the peaks of the 

Alps and Snowdonia, in the battlefields of France, in the buzz 

of Manhattan or in the heat of Namibia. It may be sensed in 

the classical remains of Pompeii or the natural majesty of the 

Grand Canyon. It may be developed through field study on 

the Welsh shore, work experience in a local hospital, running 

a stall at the Parents’ Association Summer Fête or through 

supporting younger pupils in service as a mentor, as a House 

Captain, on the School Council, or as a School Prefect. 

The central purpose of schools is to equip boys and girls with 

a sense of purpose and the drive and capacity to make the 

most of their talents in life beyond school. There is no magic 

formula for inculcating independence in learners – as much as 

reading inspection reports would have you believe otherwise. 

Nor is it dependent on the power or potential of new 

technology. The human mind and emotions do not change 

from generation to generation. The same questions 

challenged Peter Abelard in his medieval monastery, Einstein 

in his laboratory and Steve Jobs in his corporate H.Q. in 

Silicon Valley. All of us stand on the shoulders of previous 

generations and benefit from their discoveries but we are 

responsible for creating our own futures. And we make 

progress through engagement and participation rather than 

passivity; through getting involved. 

As boys and girls proceed through the years, perspectives 

change through their involvement in the life of the School. 

There are as many routes through Stockport Grammar School 

as there are individual pupils. 

There is today a bias toward the immediate, forcing us into a 

permanent “now”, weakening our sensitivity to the past and 

even to the future. If John F. Kennedy encouraged us to have 

two separate in-trays on our desks – one marked “urgent” and 

the other “important” – the internet is blurring the distinction. 

For reasons not yet fully understood, technology seems to 

have robbed many people of embarrassment over their 

ignorance. They are pressurised to have few ambitions 

beyond existence as a pleasure seeking vegetable in front of a 

screen or wandering aimlessly through a shopping mall, 

twittering inconsequentially. It is too easy, as one 

commentator put it, to “think less and google more,” to 

“outsource the mind” through a limited diet of “Pot Noodle 

knowledge”, instant and thin. Modern technology offers new 

options for reading, writing and communicating, but it 

remains the quality of what you read, write and speak that 

determines your future prospects. The key skills for 

employability are not technical. They are communication, 

integrity, commitment and teamwork. These build the 

capacity for independent thinking, for yourself and of others. 

Thinking is meant to be difficult. If you can do it, then you will 

pass exams and have an education which provides you with 

skills that are transferable, rigorous and of lasting benefit. 

Arthur Scargill, the trade union leader, memorably said “My 

father reads the dictionary every day; he says the quality of 

your life depends on your power to master words.” It still does 

and probably always will. 

The most important lessons we learn together, through 

challenging ourselves in competing, through taking the 

initiative and discovering our own creativity. It is important 

that as a school we have the best facilities for learning and we 

are looking forward to the completion of the new Woodsmoor 

building that will provide outstanding classroom 

accommodation, but inspiration comes from people. 

It comes from the staff of the school, teaching and nonteaching. 

It is their commitment to giving generously of their 

8 The Year’s News


expertise and talents in all areas of school life that is central to 

the success of our school. 

Inspiration comes from fellow pupils, of all ages and of all 

backgrounds, and from active engagement in the wider 

community of Stockport. 

It comes from parents, Governors and Old Stopfordians and 

from the faith they place in the school and the support they 

give to activities on a day-to-day basis. 

And it comes from a common heritage shaped by Edmond 

Shaa’s progress from the Stockport to the City of London. His 

ambition and aspiration were not restricted by an examination 

system, nor were they dependent on the technology of the 

15 th Century, rather they were mirrored in the opportunity he 

created for future generations in his home town of Stockport. 

We will commemorate that vision next year; 2012 is the 525 th 

anniversary of the foundation of Stockport Grammar School in 

1487, but we are also responsible for reinventing it for the 

Stopfordians of the future. 

One day several years ago, I was talking to a small child who 

was explaining how he had come to fall out of his bed during 

a Junior School trip to France. His reasoning was elementary 

but revealing: “I fell out,” he said, “because I stayed too close 

to the edge, where I came in.” 

Whatever age we are and wherever we work, there is the 

danger of the pressures of the routine crowding out the scope 

for our personal development – inhibiting us from moving 

away from the edge into a full engagement, a deeper 

appreciation, understanding and realisation of the promise 

that each of us has inside – for the benefit not only of 

ourselves and each other, but of the wider society beyond the 

boundary of the A6. And that, when every piece of 

educational jargon or political initiative has passed its sell-by 

date, is ultimately what school is for. 

A. H. Chicken 

HELLOS AND GOODBYES 

We welcomed several new staff this year. Dr Ken Airey joined 

the Chemistry department after a previous career in 

petrochemicals. Dr Martin Hamilton was on placement at 

Stockport Grammar as part of his Post Graduate Certificate in 

Education during the previous year and became a permanent 

member of the Mathematics department. Mrs Claire Hird 

joined the Physics department from Turton High School and 

Mrs Linda Morgan moved to the Languages department from 

Longdendale College. 

Many colleagues moved to new schools and adventures 

during the year and, with some, it was a case of “hello and 

goodbye” as their stay with us was brief. Miss Amy Gardener 

worked in the History department during Mrs Chesterton’s 

maternity leave, and Miss Sara Banning was a part-time 

member of the Geography department for the year. Both 

were fully involved in a range of trips during their year with us. 

Miss Nia Merriman brought great ambition to the role of Head 

of Girls’ Games and moves to Saudi Arabia. We thank all 

these staff for their contributions during their short time at 

Stockport Grammar. 

We bade farewell to other staff: Mme Benedicte Garnier 

joined the French department in November 2000, organising 

a host of visits and using her skills as a Chemistry graduate at 

times. She moves with her family to Oxford and we wish 

them well in their new location. Mr Paul Elliott helped to 

develop a thriving Philosophy group from his arrival in 2006 

and he helped pupils and staff improve their fitness with 

demanding circuit training sessions. Mrs Jo Farmer was 

appointed as Numeracy Support teacher in both Junior and 

Senior schools in January 2009 and encouraged many pupils 

to grow more confident in their mathematical abilities. We 

wish her every success in her new role as Deputy Head at 

Loreto Preparatory School. Miss Sarah Griffiths joined the 

Music department on a part-time basis in September 2009 

and she continues to develop her career at Pownall Hall 

School. Mrs Debbie Flint had worked as support worker for 

Richard Howarth (OS) in school for many years, and covered 

Mrs Cope’s maternity leave in the English department with 

characteristic energy and commitment. Mrs Cathy Mills 

arrived at the school in 2009 and takes up a new post in the 

Chemistry department at Manchester High School for Girls. 

Mrs Jan Turner rejoined us briefly in the German department, 

and we wish her every happiness in the future. Ms Anna 

Parker had worked in the External Relations department since 

its restructuring in 2008 and decided not to return after the 

birth of her daughter. Mrs Elizabeth Fairclough has worked 

with the English department on a part-time basis since 2008 

and we wish her a happy and enriching retirement. 

We offer congratulations to colleagues who were married 

during the year: Mr Stuart Moore and Miss Siobhan Ginty, Dr 

Annie Abbott, Mr Richard Heyes. 

We greet the happy and safe arrival of babies to staff: Mrs 

Cope, Mrs Chesterton, Mr Lorentz, Ms Parker and Mrs 

Atenyam – the future members of the new intake for 2021, 

perhaps? 

V. L. Barrett 

The Year’s News 9


DISTINCTIONS AND ACHIEVEMENTS 

DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S AWARD 

The Gold Award has been gained by: William Aldridge, 

William Archer, Amy Butterworth, Benjamin Dawson, 

Rebecca Haley, Benjamin Kadler, James Kendall, Martin Kent, 

Daniel Livingstone, James Lord, James Mills, Imogen Paul, 

Laura Potter, Amelia Reed, Megan Smithson and Harvey 

Taylor. 

The Silver Award has been gained by: Zizi Abraheem, 

Joanna Boon, Rosie Broadbent, Lauren Burt, Emily Carlsson, 

Alice Carr, David Cartwright, Laura Chitty, Natalie Clarke, 

Alexander Collingwood, Edward Cook, Kate Dabrowski, 

Robert Deans, Rachel Egan, Andrew Garton, Eleanor Harper, 

Walid Hassoon, Christopher Helme, Philip Holcroft, Thomas 

Hosfield, Ben Jones, Abigail Jones, Toby Jones, Thomas Keyes, 

Edward McDermott, Mohammad Mirza, Alexander Pollard, 

Elliot Priest, Matthew Robinson, Javier Sanchez-Capuchino, 

Edward Vann, Robert Waterhouse, Rowland Williams. 

The Bronze Award has been gained by: Matthew Allison, 

Dominic Barton, Michael Bates, Anastasia Beretsos, Cathal 

Berragan, David Berry, Bradley Blackburn, Mac Bonar, Nicola 

Bowler, Joseph Brook, Victoria Cartwright, Joshua Chapman, 

Robert Clarke, Thomas Colbert, Amelia Cooper, Amelia 

Cropper, Alexander Curran, Nick Dove, Carla Edwards, 

Thomas Egan, Meredith Ellis, Rebecca Fernandes, Lisa Font, 

Hannah Gardiner, Madelaine Garton, Hannah Gregory, Lydia 

Griffiths, Iona Griliopoulos, Max Hadfield, Sophie Hall, Sarah 

Hammond, Simon Hardy, Marcus Hodson, Jed Holloway, 

Portia Hunt, Grace Jennings, Ciaran Johnson, Jenny Johnson, 

Nathan Jones, Ryan Jude, Emily Klomp, Jeremy Li, Rachel 

Lord, Vinay Mandagere, Richard Mayhew, Raymond 

McCulloch, Alex McKeown, Amy Morgan, Josephine Napper, 

Shola Odusanya, Benjamin Oldfield, Tasmin Ray, Edward 

Reynolds, Ben Richmond, James Ring, Lucy Rowe, Eleanor 

Sacco, Charlie Saunders, Daniel Smith, Thomas Sullivan, 

Hannah Taylor, Daniel Thorburn, John-Paul Tyrrell, Jennifer 

Warwick, Martha Watson, Victoria Webster, Emily Weeks, 

Catherine Whatley, Emily Whytock, Lauren Winder, David 

Withers, Laura Wynne, Charlotte Yandell and Hannah Young. 

THE BRITISH MATHEMATICAL OLYMPIAD 

This has been an excellent year for competitive Mathematics. 

At Senior level there were six Gold Awards with Suzanna 

Eames qualifying for the Olympiad. This follows her 

outstanding performance at Intermediate level which led to 

Suzanna joining a second UK training camp early last 

September. At Intermediate level there were nineteen Gold 

Awards and eight pupils qualified for further rounds, they are: 

Jessica Black, Alexa Holland and Ana Krywonos in Third Year 

and Samuel Allport, Samuel Arrowsmith, Zoe Harris, Leo 

Hotchkies and Milan Lakhani in Fifth Form. Merits were 

achieved by Alexa Holland, Zoe Harris, Leo Hotchkies and 

Milan Lakhani. At Junior level there were eight Gold Awards 

with Amy Bradley qualifying for the next round. We await her 

results with anticipation. Our teams won the regional finals at 

both levels of entry and competed in the National finals in 

London. The Junior team was Amy Bradley, Nathanael 

Clayden, Jessica Black and Alexa Holland. The members of 

the Senior team were Suzanna Eames, Tristan Kemp, Kaysan 

Nikkhah and George Toole. 

PHYSICS 

In the A2 Physics Olympiad John Goulbourne achieved a 

Silver Medal. In the AS Challenge, also run by the Olympiad 

committee, Gold Medals were achieved by Kristian Lee and 

Alastair Watts, Silver Medal by Tristan Kemp and Bronze 

Medals by Miranda Cupit, Eddie Greaves and Harry Allport. 

ENGINEERING EDUCATION SCHEME 

In the Engineering Education Scheme, Joseph Briggs, 

Hameem Chowdhury, Elizabeth Healey and Sarah Hindle all 

gained a Gold BA Crest award for their work with Senior 

Aerospace on a real-life aeronautical engineering project. The 

BA Crest Gold Award is a well known and nationally 

recognised award, which allows the students to explore their 

own ideas and technology and required an input of 100 hours 

of project work. 

BIOLOGY 

The British Biology Olympiad (BBO) is an annual competition 

for post-16 students. Silver was achieved by Charlie Lewis. 

Bronze by Lauren Fowler, Angus Hotchkies, James Mills, Laura 

Simpson and Harris Trainer. Ben Dawson, Imogen Paul and 

Amelia Reed were Highly Commended. Michael Daggett was 

Commended. In The British Biology Challenge, a junior 

version of the Olympiad, many pupils were successful. 

Robert Clarke, Meredith Ellis, Hannah Gardiner, Kim St. Clair, 

Jennifer Warwick and David Withers achieved Gold. Portia 

Hunt, Tommy Morton, Daniel Smith and Laura Wynne 

achieved Silver. Reece Armstrong, David Berry, Lydia 

Griffiths, Max Hadfield, Matthew Hughes, Jenny Johnson, 

Jane Leggat, Vinay Mandagere, Raymond McCulloch, Tasmin 

Ray, Ben Richmond, Isaac Round and Oliver Woodside 

achieved Bronze. The following were Highly Commended: 

Mirza Ahmed, Mac Bonar, Joshua Chapman, Nicola Ellwood, 

Helen Merrick and Lucy Rowe. Zachary Brooks, Amelia 

Cropper, Madelaine Garton, Jessica Pailin, Ali Rizvi and 

Hannah Taylor were all Commended. 

ATHLETICS 

Our First to Fourth Year boys have retained the King’s Relay 

Trophy once again making it three wins over four years. In the 

Stockport Schools’ Championships, our Second and Third 

Year Girls’ squads were placed first and our Fourth Year squad 

were placed second. The boys’ Second and Fourth Year Teams 

were overall winners, with the Third Year team placed third. 

The following were selected to represent Stockport Schools in 

the Greater Manchester Championships: Carla Edwards, 

Maya Gordon, Leina Warburton, Ellen McPherson Anna 

Krywonos, Laura Meikle, Harry Mellor, William Jones, Sanjeet 

Dangol, Marcus Hodson, Simon Fullerton, Mike Schofield, 

Mike Solomon, Brady O’Farrell, Adam North and Ben 

Gardiner. William Jones has also been selected to throw the 

javelin for Greater Manchester in the Nationals at Gateshead 

in July. We have entered English Schools’ Athletics for the first 

time this year. We excelled in both Track and Field and won 

the first round of the competition in Wigan. We went through 

to the Regional ‘A’ Final at Stanley Park, Blackpool where the 

girls finished fifth and the boys fourth out of 11 schools 

competing. 

10 The Year’s News


CRICKET 

Chloe Withers has gained representative honours for Cheshire 

U17 Ladies, Francis Yates has gained representative honours 

for Cheshire U12, Oliver Hall has gained representative 

honours for Cheshire U17. Matthew Hughes has gained 

representative honours for Derbyshire U15. 

HOCKEY 

A number of players have gained representative honours for 

Greater Manchester Schools. U18: Lara Acott, Charlotte 

Bailey (North Training), Amanda Bennison (North Training), 

Phoebe Broome (North Training), Lily Harrison (North 

Training), Verity Lukes-Mooney (North Training), Angharad 

Smith (North Training) and Emma Woodhead (North Training). 

U16: Sophie Hall (North Training), Lara Knowles (Captain) 

(North Training) has also gained representative honours for 

Cheshire Schools U16 and attended an England Under 16 

trial, Martha Watson (North Training). U14: Maya Gordon 

(North Training), Holly Hunt (North Training), Ellen 

McPherson (North Training), Meghan Myers (North Training), 

Megan Smith and Emily Spencer (North Training), U13: 

Francesca Bailey, Evie Barlow, Jessica Carroll, Sophie 

Cunningham, Georgina Dare, Rachel Fitzsimmons, Lauren 

Hunt, Lily Wolstenholme and Sarah Stretton. Martha Watson 

and Lily Harrison played in the Hi-Pac Territorial Tournament 

from which the England U17 squad is selected. Amanda 

Bennison will attend Indiana University (USA) on a Hockey 

scholarship. 

NETBALL 

Emily Cheyne has gained representative honours for U16 

Greater Manchester. Holly Allcock U19, Amy Napper U19, 

Josie Napper U16 and Olivia Ronnie U14 have gained 

representative honours for Cheshire. 

FOOTBALL 

Alfie Earith has gained representative honours for the North 

West Independent Schools U13 team. 

RUGBY 

James Flynn gained representative honours for Cheshire U18 

and Sale Sharks Academy EPDG. Andrew Ward gained 

representative honours for North U16 and Cheshire School of 

Rugby U16. James Webster gained representative honours for 

North U16. Ben Hayes for Sale Sharks Academy EPDG. Sam 

Haley gained representative honours for Cheshire School of 

Rugby U14, East Cheshire U14 and Sale Sharks Academy 

EPDG. Tom Morton gained representative honours for 

Cheshire U15, Cheshire School of Rugby U15, East Cheshire 

U15 and Sale Sharks Academy EPDG. Tom O’Mahony for 

Cheshire School of Rugby U14, East Cheshire U14 and Sale 

Sharks Academy EPDG. Tom Power for Lancashire School of 

Rugby U13 and Sale Sharks Academy EPDG. Harry Cowell 

for East Cheshire U14, Cheshire School of Rugby U14 and 

Sale Sharks Academy EPDG. James Gilboy for Cheshire 

School of Rugby U14 and Sale Sharks Academy EPDG. Louis 

Jones gained representative honours for Lancashire School of 

Rugby U13 and Sale Sharks Academy EPDG. Oliver 

Woodside U15 Cheshire School of Rugby and Michael 

Solomou U14 Cheshire School of Rugby and East Cheshire. 

Simon Hardy U15, Adam Cawthorn U14, Ben Stollery U14, 

Adam North U14 and Mark Ray U14 gained representative 

honours for East Cheshire. Jaime Sanchez-Capuchino and 

Max Lederwerg for East Cheshire U13. Will Hanson gained 

representative honours for Lancashire U14. Emily Houghton 

gained representative honours for North of England U18. 

MUSIC 

Samuel Holmes has won a Choral Scholarship offer to 

Robinson College, Cambridge. 

MODEL UNITED NATIONS 

We have attended two conferences hosted by Cheadle Hulme 

and Withington Girls School and a three day residential 

conference in Bath. Our pupils have won prizes in every 

conference and were particularly well rewarded in Bath 

where there were over 600 other debaters. 

YOUNG ENTERPRISE 

Our Young Enterprise company, Simple Pleasures, with their 

product range of candles, scents, chocolate recipes and 

kitchen accessories, performed extremely well, winning the 

Stockport Area final and progressing to the Greater 

Manchester Strategic Area final. Here, they enjoyed further 

success, winning the area award for Best Company Report. 

The whole team deserve credit for a superb effort throughout 

the year. Chris Robinson, our Managing Director, deserves 

special mention for his leadership and management. 

MASTER CHEF 

The annual Master Chef competition was sponsored this year 

by Grill on the Edge Restaurant in Alderley Edge. The 

competition is open to all pupils from First to Fourth Year. The 

overall winner was Luke Berry. Harry Hunt was named Lower 

School winner. 

The Year’s News 11


UNIVERSITY DESTINATIONS 2011 

Name University Course 

Lara Acott Re-applying 

William Aldridge Re-applying 

Edward Ardern Kent Sport Science 

Sara Baker Nottingham University History & Politics 

James Bambridge Durham Engineering 

Richard Bass Salford Construction Project Management 

Amanda Bennison American University 

Helena Bisby Leeds Music, Multimedia and Electronics 

Frederica Bond Bath Architecture 

James Booth Loughborough Materials Engineering with Design 

Phoebe Broome Birmingham City University Midwifery 

Eleanor Broster Durham Primary Education 

Richard Brown Warwick English Literature 

Amy Butterworth Nottingham Finance, Accounting and Management 

James Checkley Leicester Zoology 

Nasrin Choudhury Cardiff Optometry 

Benjamin Clarke Salford Business and Management Studies 

Jack Cooke Australian University 

Michael Daggett Birmingham Medical Science 

Benjamin Dawson Re-applying 

Rebecca Delahunty Leeds Law 

Shwan Dizayee Aston Chemical Engineering 

Joe Ellis Plymouth Marine Biology 

Philip Ellis Manchester Metropolitan Art Foundation 

University 

Ed Finch Re-applying 

Emma Fisher Newcastle Marketing and Management 

Lauren Fowler Cambridge Medicine 

Affan Ghafoor Charles University Prague Medicine 

John Goulbourne Sheffield Mathematics 

Colin Greaves Liverpool History 

Alastair Griffin Nottingham Trent History 

Oliver Groarke Leeds Management with Transport Studies 

Rebecca Haley Sheffield Hallam Psychology 

Solomon Hamer Manchester Linguistics with Russian 

Juwhan Han Sheffield University Architecture 

Olivia Harrison London College of Fashion Fashion Buying & Merchandising 

Jordi Herraiz Newcastle Classical Civilisation 

Sam Hewitt Durham General Engineering 

Alexandra Hicks Nottingham Pharmacy 

Samuel Higginbotham Employment 

Nadia Higham Liverpool Psychology 

Samuel Holmes Robinson College, Music 

Cambridge (2012) 

Jenna Horton Manchester Chemical Engineering 

Angus Hotchkies Birmingham Chemistry 

Amy Howse Buckingham Business Economics 

Harriet Hughes Nottingham Management Studies 

Haroon Javed Re-applying 

Sarah Jeeves Aberystwyth Spanish with French 

Rishal Jena Birmingham Economics 

Robert Johnson BPP University College of Law 

Professsional Studies Ltd 

Charles Kendall Sheffield University Business Management 

Jordan Kernahan Newcastle Mechanical and Law Carbon 

Transport Engineering 



James Knott Exeter University Human Biosciences 

Bejal Lad Keele Pharmacy 

Catriona Lammas Edinburgh Classical Studies 

Michael Logue Manchester Metropolitan University Sports Business Management 

Jack Maclaren Nottingham Politics 

Anirudh Mandagere St Catherine's College Oxford History 

Dean Manning Re-applying 

Katie McCay St Andrews Chemistry with external placement 

Samuel McGibbon Employment 

Charlie Mellor Royal Veterinary College Veterinary Medicine 

Nicole Mellor Warwick Classical Civilisation 

Lucy Mercer St John's York History & American Studies 

James Mills Birmingham Medicine 

Nik Mistry UCL Economics 

Victoria Moyle Leeds Medical Sciences 

Adam Mustafa UCL Urban Planning, Design and Management 

Amie Napper Birmingham International Business 

Matthew Nicholls Goldsmiths English with American Literature 

Kaysan Nikkhah LSE Maths and Economics 

Thomas Ozel Lancaster Physical Geography 

Emily Parkinson Macclesfield College 

Daniel Parsons Liverpool Chemistry 

Imogen Paul Newcastle Medicine 

Aron Peak Nottingham Trent Real Estate Management 

Matthew Pilling Re-applying 

Laura Potter Leeds History 

Ronil Rawal Liverpool Psychology 

Amelia Reed Manchester Pharmacy Mpharm 

Alexandra Reynolds Newcastle Zoology 

Hannah Richmond Bath Architecture 

Ariyan Sadeghzadeh-Araghi Re-applying 

Robert Samarji King's College, London Philosophy 

William Sheard Warwick Philosophy 

Laura Simpson University of Birmingham Medicine 

Nicola Smith Leeds Medical Sciences 

Megan Smithson Leeds French and History of Art 

Olivia Spencer Liverpool University History & Politics 

Robert Sumner Re-applying 

Elliot Tahmasebi UCL Chemistry 

Harvey Taylor Re-applying 

George Toole Durham Mathematics 

Harris Trainer St Andrews Medicine 

Lydia Turner Birmingham French 

Robbyn Tyrrell Manchester Philosophy 

Alicia Warner Lancaster Business Management with Year in Industry 

Andrew Warwick Re-applying 

Elise Watson Mancehster Metropolitan English/Creative Writing 

Jamie Webb Cambridge (Pembroke) Philosophy 

Daniel Williams University of East Anglia English & American Literature with year abroad 

Robin Wilson Birmingham Physics and Astrophysics 

Sam Wride Aberystwyth Environmental Earth Science 



ROYAL VISIT 

Pupils and staff were honoured to receive a visit from HRH 

Prince Edward, The Earl of Wessex on Thursday 18th 

November. Prince Edward wanted to meet children taking 

part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award as SGS celebrated its 

20th anniversary of its involvement in the Scheme, and the 

achievement of its 1000th Award. 

He was greeted by excited Junior School children waving flags 

as he arrived at the school, before meeting with pupils in the 

Hallam Hall. He talked to children as they showed him 

different aspects of Junior School life from sport, to music, 

science, handicrafts and story time. 

Prince Edward then met with Senior School pupils in the Sports 

Hall. Children at different stages of the Duke of Edinburgh 

Award demonstrated their work in the various sections of the 

scheme. His Royal Highness took time to talk in detail to the 

children as they showed him activities that included route 

planning, volunteering, music, photography, sport, animation, 

tactical games, fencing, dancing and climbing. The Prince was 

delighted to be presented with a copy of A Walkers’ Guide to 

the Lake District - a book of walks compiled by pupils for their 

Gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards. Everyone who met Prince 

Edward was overwhelmed by his kindness and his interest in 

their activities. 

SCHOOL INSPECTION 

During the Spring Term, staff and parents were delighted by 

the findings of a report by the Independent Schools’ 

Inspectorate. The ISI visited the school as part of its regular 

programme of inspections. 

The ISI concluded that in the Senior School, “The pupils’ 

overall achievement and their learning, attitudes and skills are 

outstanding.” 

There was also high praise for the personal development of 

pupils and the provision for extracurricular involvement, both 

of which were found to be “outstanding.” Pupils in the Senior 

School were described as “exceptionally well-educated”. 

The ISI found that in the Junior School, the Early Years 

Foundation Stage (Nursery and Reception classes) was 

“outstanding” for overall effectiveness, quality of provision 

and outcomes for children. 

The ISI recognised the continuation of high standards 

throughout the Junior School, describing “the quality of the 

pupils’ achievements and of their learning, attitudes and 

skills” as excellent. They gave the same high rating to 

curricular and extracurricular experiences and to the 

development of the pupils’ personal qualities. 

The ISI is the body approved by the government for the 

purpose of inspecting schools belonging to the Independent 

Schools Council. It is generally recognised as being even more 

rigorous in its standards than Ofsted, as it sets as its 

benchmark standards of achievement which might be 

attained by the most highly selective schools in the 

maintained and independent sectors. The full Inspection 

Reports are available online at www.stockportgrammar.co.uk. 

PARENT SURVEY 

RSAcademics carried out a survey of parents’ views during the 

Autumn Term. An impressive 98% of respondents rated the 

Senior School’s academic results in the top two categories of 

very good and good, with 90% also rating the provision of 

clubs and extracurricular activities at this level. The most 

popular words chosen to describe the Senior School were 

“academic”, “welcoming”, “rounded” and “dedicated”. 

RSAcademics commented that “Parents clearly appreciate 

how well the school is able to deliver a truly rounded 

education, combining excellent academic standards with the 

many opportunities to take part in sport, music, performing 

arts and a wide range of clubs and activities.” 



The survey results for the Junior School were also outstanding, 

with 98% rating the approachability of staff in the top two 

categories of very good and good, and 90% also rating the 

teaching of literacy and numeracy skills at this level. 

The Governors are grateful to all the parents who contributed 

to the survey. The responses will help the school to identify 

and focus on priorities for the future. More details are 

available online at www.stockportgrammar.co.uk 

The survey was administered and analysed independently by 

RSAcademics to ensure that all responses remained 

confidential and anonymous. 

SPEECH DAY 

Senior School Speech Day saw pupils, parents, governors and 

staff celebrating the achievements of the past school year in 

the new venue of The Plaza, Stockport. An opening address 

by Mr Richard Rimmington, Chairman of the Governing Body, 

was followed by a stirring rendition of “My Good Lord’s Done 

Been Here” by the 2011 Music Tour Choir, just hours before 

they departed for Salzburg. Speeches by the Headmaster, the 

Head Boy, Head Girl and First Year pupils reiterated all that is 

positive about Stockport Grammar School before Mr Hector 

Miller, the Prime Warden of the Goldsmiths’ Company, 

awarded prizes to pupils who have excelled in their subjects 

or made outstanding contributions to school life. 

The saxophone ensemble’s “When The Saints Go Marching 

In” then preceded a vote of thanks before the audience stood 

for the National Anthem. After the ceremony, prize winners 

and Upper Sixth leavers returned to the school for a reception 

in the sunshine to round off a hugely successful occasion. 

SCHOOL COUNCIL 

The School Council at Stockport Grammar School continues to 

develop and progress. Half-termly meetings have been held in 

the Hallam Hall with the Year Representatives, Liaison Officers, 

the Headmaster, Bursar, Mr Ehegartner and myself discussing 

issues brought forward from the Form Representatives. The 

Council has driven a number of ideas and School Policies 

forward; this year “The Whole School Anti-Bullying Policy” was 

reviewed and re-written with input from the Council. 

At the request of the School Council the information screens 

have been installed at strategically located points around the 

school site with hopefully more being installed in the future. 

They are updated almost hourly to communicate sport results 

and forthcoming events but are also a vital tool for 

communicating urgent messages to pupils. A number of 

additional water fountains have been put in place and a new 

drinks machine placed in the Swimming Pool entrance. 



Perhaps the largest project this year was the introduction of 

the “Breakfast Club” enabling pupils to purchase food before 

school in the Dining Room on their arrival. The initial menu 

was revised and expanded at the request of the school body 

with Form Representatives bringing their ideas to meetings. 

Bacon baps, cereals, toast, fruit and drinks are now available 

for purchase every day. 

Locker provision is the current major project and the School 

Council hopes that the new building will include a bank of 

additional lockers close to the building for pupils to use. The 

Council agreed that the current lockers available in School 

require refurbishment and in some places complete 

replacement with larger and more secure ones. Additionally 

areas where re-decoration may be appropriate were listed 

and, as a result, a full and extensive refurbishment of the toilets 

in Convent House took place during the summer of 2011. 

The School Council will, in the future, become a more pupildriven 

group and Senior Prefects will take a more active role 

in the way that it functions. Every child in the school now has 

the opportunity to have their voice heard and ideas voiced via 

their Form Representatives and Year Representatives. The 

support of the Head, Governors and the Bursar enable the 

School Council to move from strength to strength and I look 

forward to being a part of it growing and flourishing further. 

S. Withington 

CAREERS CONVENTION 



In September 2010, Stockport Grammar School hosted a 

Careers Convention for Fourth to Upper Sixth students. The 

evening consisted of a range of stalls from a vast array of 

universities, professions and industries from all over the 

country, offering advice and information to pupils. Students 

were given the chance to talk to professionals and get an 

insight into possible careers that they may wish to develop in 

the future. There were representatives from all different 

aspects of work, ranging from accounting courses, working 

within the army, advertising and events management. The 

Convention also offered the opportunity for students to seek 

advice from universities regarding admissions and ask 

questions surrounding specific courses, in particular the most 

competitive courses that are becoming increasingly difficult to 

get into. The evening was a great success for all that attended 

and proved invaluable in aiding the difficult decisions students 

soon have to face. 

Leighanna O’Farrell (L6) 

HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY 

On the 27 th January 1945 the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz 

was liberated by the Russians. From this day on, successive 

generations have tried and failed to find an explanation for 

the Nazi Holocaust. The Memorial day was very much 

guided by the concluding paragraph of Laurence Rees’ 

book “Auschwitz”: 

Holocaust and he felt that it was important that the whole 

year group, whether or not they were historians, should 

attend. In dealing with the plight of individuals, Mr Russell 

enabled us to contextualise the motivations of the protagonists 

and empathise with victims of the atrocities. 

“We must judge behaviour from the context of the times. 

And judged by the context of mid-twentieth-century, 

sophisticated European culture, Auschwitz and the Nazis’ 

“Final Solution” represent the lowest act in all of human 

history. By their crime the Nazis brought into the world an 

awareness of what educated, technologically advanced 

human beings can do, as long as they possess a cold heart. 

Once allowed into the world, knowledge of what they did 

must not be unlearnt. It lies there – ugly, inert, waiting to be 

rediscovered by each new generation. A warning for us, and 

for those who will come after.” 

The day began with the Lower Sixth attending a lecture by Mr 

Russell. Mr Russell was involved with the planning and 

organisation of the day from its first inception. His speech 

gave both a historical and a personal perspective to the 



Year 5 pupils came across from the Junior School, both to see 

their work displayed alongside the work of many Senior 

School pupils and also to attend a presentation given by 

Mr Ehegartner. Mr Ehegartner concentrated more on the 

intolerance and pessimism which contributed to the 

Holocaust and, without dwelling on either, he encouraged us 

to appreciate what we have and recognise that others are 

not similarly fortunate. The response of one pupil is 

included here. 

On Thursday 27 th January the Year Fives visited the Holocaust 

Memorial Day display in the Senior School. When we arrived 

Mr Ehegartner was playing some music called “Where is the 

love?” by the Black Eyed Peas. 

First we were given a piece of paper with the picture of a glass 

of water on it. We had to choose if our glass was half full or 

half empty to see if we were optimistic or pessimistic. We 

listened and watched the music again to see what the song was 

about. It was about the world with no love and asking where 

is it? 

Then we were asked to write on pieces of paper how different 

people could make the world more peaceful and a better 

place. We had to fill a big jar with our ideas and see if we 

could fill it up to the top, which we did! Next, we looked at 

the displays and art work that we and the seniors had done. 

We were told that the Jews had believed things that weren’t 

true and that Anne Frank, who was a Jew, had to go into hiding 

to protect herself from the Germans. We learnt a lot from our 

visit and found it very interesting. 

Charlotte Jones (5RT) 

A large number of pupils then attended a speech given by Mrs 

Ruth Lachs, a survivor from the period. We heard about the 

various fates of members of her family and then about the 

incredible personal courage of those who saved Mrs Lachs 

over many years spent in hiding. Her own response to the 

sufferings through which she lived seemed to be “I coped, 

because I had to cope.” This was inspiring to all lucky enough 

to hear her speak. There follows a response from one of the 

pupils in the audience. 

As she started to tell us about her early childhood life, before 

the Nazis and Hitler came to power, and started exterminating 

Jews, I was very proud to be sitting in the audience and found 

it quite terrible how her life, with so many friends and a good, 

caring family, could change so quickly in the space of a day. 

She took a very sensitive approach to her story of her surviving, 

not pointing fingers at anyone, which I thought was very good, 

as it made it sound like we were travelling with her, on her 

unbelievably horrible journey, something a child of very young 

age should not have to take part in, and not feel all those 

emotions that constantly circled around her. 

I was very sad when she told us that she got separated from her 

parents and went to live with another family with her brother 

as it must have been really upsetting and I can’t imagine that 

ever happening to me. I would be absolutely distraught, as 

your parents are the people that lead your way in life and are 

the people that comfort you when things are bad, but she 

didn’t have that during her journey; she didn’t know if she’d 

ever see them again and she had to cope all by herself. I 

cannot even imagine trying to change my identity like she had 

to do and remember that I had a new name and a new religion. 

I was very shocked after she told us that her younger brother, 

about four, had been killed in an extermination camp, amongst 

the massive numbers of children also killed in the various 

camps. Her brother never got to see his parents or his beloved 

sister again. They never got to see him grow up. I could never 

imagine my sister being killed, in the ruthless hands of others. 

But I guess, life is full of tragic surprises, like she said, and that 

we should keep peace in the world. 

However, I was so uplifted by the fact that a number of 

students, risking their lives for children they didn’t even know, 

When Mrs. Lachs first started to introduce herself, I was 

spellbound that she had taken the time and effort to come 

to Stockport Grammar to tell her sad but wonderfully 

uplifting story. 



saved her life and one particular brave boy got her transported 

to a different family, and gave her luxury food (like eggs), whilst 

she was in hospital suffering from Poliomyelitis. Unfortunately, 

he got caught and was shot. But what a brave young man 

he was; I really admire him for his courageous personality 

and thoughtfulness. 

When she finished her tragic but somehow magical speech she 

answered some of our questions to which we were keen to 

know the answers. I really enjoyed listening to her and it was 

a privilege to be able to do that. 

I realised that we take so many things for granted and that we 

should strive and help others that aren’t as lucky as us. 

Dorothea Christmann (2U) 

The Exhibition, staged in the Hallam Hall displayed work 

produced in a variety of departments. Alongside written work 

produced in German, English and Classics lessons there was a 

wealth of material produced by Third Year Art students as well 

as their sketchbooks charting their personal engagement with 

the event. Miss Upton explains the project here. 

The starting point for the Art project began in September with 

a trip to the Holocaust exhibition at the Imperial War Museum 

in London. This trip provided the core research and collection 

for each pupil and the experience proved invaluable in 

providing personal responses to the broad range of stimulus. It 

set the scene of this quite challenging and shocking topic 

appropriately and also enabled the pupils to see artist work 

linked to and influenced by war. Pupils also visited Leake Street 

to experience a more contemporary approach looking at street 

art which they could relate to more readily. Some used this as 

a clear influence in their own ideas and development. 

The project development had some prescriptive elements but 

was largely open-ended in terms of an end product. Pupils 

were offered a range of possible outcomes and techniques they 

could consider and investigate, including painting, lino print 

and mixed media, possibly incorporating relief elements. This 

open-ended approach offering choice was intended to 

encourage and embrace a more creative response. 

Each pupil travelled along their own creative journey. Some 

chose to work in pairs to complete the final outcome and 

others worked individually. 

Students produced a varied and interesting range of work 

which is testament not only to their maturity and inspiration, 

but also to the enthusiastic way in which Miss Upton 

embraced the creative potential of the project. 

Visitors passed through a re-creation of a fence section from 

Auschwitz imaginatively built by Mr Dave Matthews in the 

Maintenance Department. Over the duration of the 

exhibition, this gateway became covered in luggage tags on 

which messages of hope, condemnation and regret were 

written. There were so many ideas on show; pupils had 

considered the truth of “Never Again” – supposedly the lesson 

learned from the Holocaust. There were also sections on 

individuals who had inspired the pupils due to their personal 

fortitude in adversity. 

I was moved by the response both to the day and the 

exhibition. To see such maturity, sensitivity and creativity from 

our pupils when faced with issues which all of us struggle to 

explain and express, was an inspiration. The knowledge itself 

is, to go back to Laurence Rees’ words, “ugly” and “inert”, but 

our response need not be either. 

A. C. Thorley 

LIBRARY NEWS 

Throughout the course of the year the Hallam Library 

welcomed a series of visitors to encourage reading and 

creativity, explore issues, stimulate debate, stretch minds and 

widen horizons. The Café Sci initiative was re-established and 

pupils and staff ventured into the world of stem-cell research 

with Dr Karen Cosgrove from the University of Manchester; 

engineer Joshua Lavender invited pupils to consider aspects of 

safety in the oil industry, and Dr Nicola Lowe from the 

University of Central Lancashire presented nutrition research 

in the North West of Pakistan, highlighting at the same time 

the interrelated social and political challenges specific to that 

geographic region. Poet Mike Garry and writers Curtis 

Jobling, Dave Smith, Will Hill and Caroline Lawrence shared 

wisdoms of their craft and fuelled enthusiasm for reading, 

creative writing, poetry, illustration and animation. Pupil 

impressions of two of these visits illustrate the inspiration 

generated by such events. 

J. Pazos 

CAROLINE LAWRENCE 

On Thursday 10 th March Caroline Lawrence visited Stockport 

Grammar school to give a presentation to all First Year pupils 

about her writing techniques, books and the characters in her 

novels. Some members of the First Year performed a short extract 

from one of her books that they had rehearsed in Classics Club. 

The Roman Mysteries novels combine Caroline’s love of art, 

history, ancient languages and travel. She has written over 

fifteen books and has had many of them adapted into a TV 

series on the BBC. 



The First Years were very impressed with her presentation and 

she provided us with unique writing tips about creating an 

effective piece of imaginative writing. 

As a result of her visit several pupils in 1R e-mailed Caroline 

to comment on her visit and to thank her for her time. To our 

delight she responded to each pupil individually. 

Sarah Stretton (1R) 

A MANCUNIAN PREACHING ON HOME TURF 

Mike Garry, a well known Northern poet came to school to 

talk to pupils about his work and personal inspiration. The 

pupils engaged in relaxed and enjoyable interaction with the 

poet, whose intrinsic personality captivated students. 

Mike Garry is a famous Mancunian who has been recognised 

for his distinctive style internationally, receiving awards in the 

States as well as his own city. During his talk he touched on 

his past and his religious upbringing, referring to his strict Irish 

mother who first forced him into the world of poetry. 

Nowadays, it is hard to distance oneself from the commonly 

circulated idea that poetry is old and uninteresting; however 

Mike Garry’s enthralling visit certainly kindled a poetic spark 

within the pupils. He involved pupils with a hands-on 

approach, rather than a very formal atmosphere, and 

appealed to them through his subtle (and yet not patronising) 

wit and humour. 

He expressed his message (that poetry is not a chore, and 

should be embraced in a conventional manner) clearly in 

varying tones, so as to add to the mood of his poetry, and tried 

to make the whole aspect relate to our lives in a positive way. 

However, the main objective of his poetry was fully achieved: 

to show poetry in a new contemporary light and to prove that 

students of any poetic ability can write poetry if they enjoy it 

and that any person can freely express themselves in their 

own personal style through verse. 

Bethany Sanders (3W) 

Jake Sanders (3W) 



SCHOOL CHARITIES 

A total amount of £7,823.38 was raised. A variety of charities 

were supported this year. 

A number of pupils performed in a talent show to raise money 

for The DEC Pakistan Flood Appeal. This raised £382.44. 

Other charities were supported through the Houses. A 

number of fundraising events helped pupils to raise over 

£3,000 for EducAid Sierra Leone. Other regular charity 

events such as the annual Vernon Show, non-uniform day, and 

money donated at the music concerts throughout the year 

helped to raise money which was then distributed to the 

following charities: 

The Christopher Clarke Cancer Foundation £1,370 

Diabetes UK £460 

The Genesis Appeal £495 

Comic Relief £214 

Wellspring £850 

Beechwood Cancer Care, The Rainbow Trust and The 

Manchester Children’s Hospital also received donations from 

money raised. 

A. Hicks 

GRAMMARRAIL 

In anticipation that we might be enjoying more comfortable 

accommodation in the not-too-distant future without fear of 

inundation from above as has been the case this year, the 

railway group is in good heart. Activities have become more 

diverse with two Fourth Year pupils working on a railway 

modelling project for their Duke of Edinburgh Award. This 

will generate another OO scale layout of an end-to-end 

nature which will involve plenty of interesting operation. We 

are hoping that the layout will be ready for possible inclusion 

in the next exhibition in May, but much will depend on the 

space available to be able to put it together without the 

constant need to dismantle it at the end of each work session. 

A group of Second Year pupils are modifying one of the N- 

Gauge layouts while some Third Year pupils are developing 

the other N-Gauge layout. A pleasing number of enthusiastic 

First Year pupils have joined the society and are working with 

older pupils on the N-Gauge layouts in particular. Lower 

School members have also produced a pleasing array of kitbuilt 

structures, ranging from a factory complex to a brewery, 

the quality of work being well beyond their tender years. 

The trackwork for ‘Morfa Mawddach’ has now been built and, 

when time and space permit, the track will be pinned to the 

baseboards, wired and ballasted. The use of SMP track 

combined with copper-clad paxolin, soldered pointwork 

should make the finished product a cut above the average 

from the point of view of appearance and quality of running. 

We just need Bachmann to bring out their long-promised 

model of the ‘Dukedogs’ to complete the authenticity of this 

important ex-Cambrian Railway junction. We could build a 

couple from metal kits but acquiring everything for the two 

end products would cost almost £500. Several people have 

taken photographs of the scenery on both sides of the 

Mawddach estuary outside Barmouth and these will be 

brought together to help produce something of a diorama 

back-scene for the layout. 

This year we were again invited to join forces with the 

Stockport and District Railway Modellers for their annual 

exhibition in May. The dining room certainly offers a superb 

venue for the weekend’s function and I am pleased to report 

that attendance numbers were again higher than the previous 

year’s. I must also record our thanks for and appreciation of 

their willingness to help and advise with all aspects of our 

modelling activities through the year. Their expertise has 

helped everyone in their efforts to become better modellers. 

I also wish to thank the school for providing us with 

accommodation, the caretakers for tolerating our presence at 

strange hours and Mr Clarke in DT for his unstinting and 

cheerful technical support. 

J. P. Ashcroft 



ARDEN 

House Captains 

Lauren Fowler 

Katie McKay 

Amy Butterworth 

Edward Ardern 

2010-2011 was a hugely successful year for Arden House. 

Throughout the year there were many hard fought 

competitions, with all four Houses showing how much the 

Fallows’ Shield means to them. Dr Krywonos and I are 

extremely proud of all those who represented Arden and feel 

that the double victory of Brown Cup and Fallows’ Shield was 

well deserved. 

us to be in a strong position for the Fallows’ Shield 

competition very early on. Joint first in Senior Rugby and a 

close second in Senior Hockey are both deserving of 

mention. The House Captains’ leadership in the Senior 

Christmas pantomime of “Cinderella” will be remembered for 

a long time as one of the most entertaining and well-directed 

in memory. 

The year began with renewed vigour as the recently 

appointed House Captains assumed their positions and led 

the senior events of the winter term with gusto. In numerous 

events Arden teams were victorious or second placed allowing 

We showed particular strength at Intermediate and Junior 

level. First to Fourth Year basketball teams saw Arden gain a 

clean sweep of victories and Inter Netball added to this with a 

fast paced, hard fought win. Perhaps we have even turned a 

corner with the ‘dreaded’ Swimming Gala? Arden teams swam 

very well and many individuals performed superbly to gain an 

overall victory by three points, putting us well on the way to 

22 Activities and Awards


overall victory in the Spring Term. Boys from First Year through 

to Fifth Year played very well in the football competition to gain 

a deserved second place and to keep the momentum going. 

In House Tennis, both girls and boys brought valuable first and 

second place points as Sports Day approached. Pupils showed 

their athletics fitness by winning the most points in the 

Standards competition and then the Juniors and Inters backed 

up the Seniors’ second place with a fine victory across the age 

groups on Sports Day itself. 

Competition in the Lower School and Senior quizzes was as 

intense as ever, with the Arden representatives doing their 

House proud as usual. Second in the overall chess 

competition added to the notion that Arden is gaining strength 

in all events and not merely those related to sports. 

I would like to thank all the staff who regularly support House 

assemblies and help with teams, but very special thanks goes 

to Mrs Lockwood who ran the girls’ team on the morning of 

Sports Day this year in my absence. 

Our congratulations go out to everybody who has given their 

time, sweat and tears for the good of the House this year and 

we look forward to renewed success next time around. 

H. R. Ashton 

NICHOLSON House Captains: Lara Acott 

William Aldridge 

Sara Baker 

James Mills 

At the start of the year Nicholson welcomed two new 

members to the House with great enthusiasm and excitement. 

Mr Ehegartner was warmly welcomed, and joined me as the 

new Head of Nicholson House. His high spirits and 

motivational talks have been crucial in house matches and his 

flare to entertain in House assemblies has been second to 

none. The spirit in Nicholson is very much alive and kicking 

with members showing commitment in all House events 

throughout the year. 

Our second new member, making a star performance in the 

first half term, came in the form of our new mascot Jack 

(Nicholson) the Bear. He, too, was very much alive and 

kicking and excited to meet everybody in the house. Nic the 

bear has now gone into retirement but does make an 

appearance every so often when his arthritis is not bothering 

him too much. 

Activities and Awards 23


A roller coaster year began in September with some great 

results from the Seniors. It was great to see more spectators 

than previous years coming to support the houses and enjoy 

cheering the teams, alongside the new mascot, Jack, who 

comes to life for every event to help motivate and cheer the 

mighty Nicholson on. 

Both Senior Netball and basketball teams won their events 

with style and panache. Basketball matches from First Years 

through to Fourth Years were close and Nicholson managed to 

come a strong second in the competition as did the Seniors in 

their annual quiz. 

Mr Cheslett and Dr Hamilton very kindly co-ordinated the 

House Chess this year. Nicholson played well, with a very 

competitive field in the Inters and both Juniors and Seniors 

playing determined and at times lengthy matches. 

Senior Rugby was played towards the end of the Autumn 

Term when the weather had turned particularly cold. As ever, 

there was a great competitive atmosphere and we came joint 

second with Arden following some very tight matches. At this 

stage, Nicholson had secured a comfortable lead in the 

Fallows’ Shield. 

The Autumn Term events were rounded off with the First Year 

House Party which was co-ordinated this year by Nicholson. 

Mr Ehegartner and I really appreciate the sterling job that the 

House Captains did of organising games and music. The 

logistics of pizza distribution were overcome and the new First 

Year form quiz was a welcome and successful addition. 

and Junior teams were resilient and a credit to the House. 

First Year Rugby was well attended and the boys played well, 

coming joint first with Warren and the First Year Swimming 

Standards secured some valuable points. Intermediate 

Hockey was particularly memorable with a very tense penalty 

shoot-out. Nicholson reigned supreme and won the 

competition much to the delight of the supporting spectators. 

Cross country took place later in the Spring Term with some 

exciting new talent coming through. Alex Hurley was a medal 

winner in the First Year category and Nicholson came a 

comfortable second overall in the Second Year. Intermediate 

girls also did extremely well attaining second place and 6 

points in the House Netball. 

The Swimming Gala, a highlight on the House events 

calendar, saw Nicholson on great form. A full team attended 

and braved the water with determination and conviction. 

House Captains alongside Year Reps helped to coordinate the 

teams which is no mean feat. Some terrific individual efforts 

and the strong Nicholson presence made for a memorable 

evening. The First Year squad deserve a special mention with 

Hannah Jones smashing the butterfly record by 3 seconds, 

Alex Jones obliterating the First Year freestyle by 6 seconds and 

two further records being broken by the First Year girls’ 

medley and freestyle relay squads. 

The Junior Hockey squad played to a high level and Miss 

Withington was impressed with their passing and control of the 

ball. Nicholson were just pipped at the post for first place but 

still gained 6 valuable points. First and Second Year Netball 

teams managed worthy third and second positions. 

Charities and fundraising have become more prominent this 

year within the House system. Nicholson chose two charities 

to support, EducAid and Diabetes UK. Representatives from 

both charities kindly came into school and introduced their 

charity’s work, giving greater impetus to pupils to get 

fundraising and take part. The Christmas charity stalls were 

successful alongside individual efforts to raise further funds. 

Jeremy Li successfully completed a sponsored silence that 

both pupils and teachers were willing to support! The total by 

the end of the year was a very impressive £919.31 which will 

be split equally between Nicholson’s two chosen charities. 

The Spring Term started with snowfall welcomed by the pupils 

but not by the grounds men. Despite the cold temperatures 

and resultant rescheduling of matches, both the Intermediate 



The Fallows’ Shield competition had become very tense by 

the Summer Term. Valuable points were earned in the Tennis, 

Rounders and Cricket. The sun shone on the Senior Sports 

afternoon which was well attended, with exciting finishes in 

many of the track races and close contests in the field events. 

The weather held out and the sun appeared intermittently for 

the Junior and Intermediate Sports Day in June. Thanks to the 

super efficient PE Department, the events ran like clockwork 

and pupils enjoyed both participating and spectating. 

Michael Solomou had a stand out performance in discus and 

broke yet another record. Mr Ehegartner and I would like to 

thank everybody who took part and gave their all. Many 

Nicholsonians competed in the maximum number of events 

which epitomises the dedicated team spirit instilled 

throughout the year. 

Tennis was another well-attended event at every level. 

Juniors, Inters and Seniors had to rotate the teams between 

matches as we had such a big team out. This year more and 

more pupils are getting involved in the House system to help 

enhance their school life and experiences, which is a great 

ethos to push forward in future years. 

Mr Ehegartner and I wish our fabulous House Captains every 

success for the future and thank them wholeheartedly for all 

the work they have done this year for Nicholson House. They 

have organised and supported teams at events and performed 

assemblies which are always entertaining and on occasion, 

thought provoking! They have been a great asset to the 

mighty Nicholson and flown the red flag with pride. The 

successful applicants for House Captains for the next 

academic year are Holly Allcock, Sophie Skelton, Millie 

Ralston and Chris Spencer. Congratulations are deserved in a 

tough field within a keen and dedicated year group. 

It is at this stage I would like to thank all the House staff from 

Nicholson for attending and helping out at assemblies and 

supporting the House throughout the year. Mrs Hicks has 

been a rock in arranging charity related events and for this we 

are very grateful. Mr Ehegartner also has had a storming first 

year as Head of House, with a very loud and motivating 

presence alongside his imaginative ideas and genuine 

enthusiasm. It has been a pleasure. I hope next year we can 

have even greater successes in House events and push 

forward the fundraising to new heights! 

R. J. Upton 

VERNON 

House Captains: 

Phoebe Broome 

Alicia Warner 

Alistair Griffin 

Ronil Rawal 

It has been an exciting year for Vernon and something of a 

roller coaster ride for myself, beginning in September 2010 as 

new House Mistress. Having defected from Nicholson and 

been accused of ‘treachery’ by some members of that – now 

rival – House, I was a little apprehensive. As I took to the 

stage to deliver my first House Assembly, I truly felt the same 

sort of nervous energy that the new House Captains must feel, 

as they stand with the brief of delivering an entertaining 

assembly to a quarter of the school! I need not have worried; 

the pupils of Vernon welcomed me openly. Over the first 

term, with the help of the veteran, Mr Corbett and support 

from my excellent predecessor, Mrs Fenton and the other 

House staff, we soon all settled into our new roles. 

October started off with enormous success as House Captains, 

Alicia Warner and Phoebe Broome led the Senior Hockey 

players to a confident victory. Superb teamwork and far more 

pupils than we needed meant lots of energetic players and 

supporters, all demonstrating the Vernon Spirit for which the 

House is so reputed. That same spirit buoyed up the House 

when the Senior Boys came fourth in the basketball and what 

an entertaining series of games! What the lads lacked in skill, 

they more than made up for in mutual support and some very 

amusing team photos. 

By the end of term, Senior Netball and Inter Hockey events 

were done and dusted and House Captains were dusting 

down their party outfits to hit the social event of the term, the 

First Year House Party. Nicholson did a great job of organising 

and the evening was a roaring success. Both Father Christmas 

and the Nicholson bear attended and both danced with 

exceptional skill and finesse. The Christmas Quiz was an 

exciting and tense affair with Arden pipping us at the post, 

before the pizzas were scoffed and the real dancing began. 

The party mood led to the Nicholson bear receiving some 

amorous attention, but I believe he is still single! 

Vernon did not do so well at the end of term Senior quiz, 

though not through lack of effort, and this low point was 

swiftly forgotten by an action-packed Chess tournament 

in January. This particular competition was new to me and I 

was astounded by how exciting it was. With cheering 



supporters, the clatter of fists hitting chess clocks and 

mathematical brains foreseeing potential future moves, it was 

impossible not to get caught up in all the excitement. Ismaeel 

Ramzan brought about some unbelievable check mates and 

his brother Yusuf also played confidently. Joel Howarth was a 

calm and steady player, focused on his game, despite the 

distracting shouts of Vernon support surrounding him. As 

always, there was no shortage of players or reserves and 

Vernon came out of the chess tournament victorious. 

February brought more outdoor activity in the form of Inter 

netball and rugby and before we knew it, the swimming gala 

was on. Nobody will ever forget Ronil Rawal strutting his stuff 

by the pool in head-to-toe lycra and we had a real show of 

team spirit from the First Year girls who got involved, with 

Joanna Brown, Juliet Downs and Arisha-Jane Marsh all, quite 

literally, throwing themselves in at the deep end. So many 

people took part it is impossible to name them all, suffice to 

say that there were a raft of ducks to hand out at assembly and 

all were well deserved – it was absolutely quacking! Rowland 

Williams was the clear winner of the Vernon Duck, after years 

of super swimming on behalf of the House. 

The annual Vernon Show took place shortly after the Easter 

break and there was such a vast array of talent to choose from, 

that it became necessary to have two different set lists in order 

to showcase it all. Natalie Clarke and Leina Warburton joined 

forces to sing a beautiful duet; Ismaeel Ramzan, Kim St.Clair 

and Tasmin Ray gave a hilarious and memorable performance, 

warning of the cruelty of vegetarianism, to mention just some 

of the talent. Mr Thorley and Mr Ehegartner delighted the 

crowd with a specially prepared number and the show raised 

£307 for House charities. 

Second Year cross country and senior athletics were big point 

scorers for Vernon and at this point in the year, it was very 

much still all to play for, with the Fallows’ Shield running totals 

all being very close. Both Senior girls and boys showed 

themselves to have great style and skill on the tennis courts 

and the rounders tournaments looked like great fun was had 

by all. 

Sports’ Day was looming and everyone wanted to get 

involved. The track and field events took place over the 

course of the morning and the weather held, which was a 

relief to everyone. Tao Warburton spent the morning 

throwing a variety of items and threw a pleasing 7.37m in shot 

putt and Nino Orton-Clarke broke the long jump record, 

clearing 5 metres 32 cm. Megan Smith and Alexa Holland 

both placed in the javelin and Emily Dow achieved second 

place in the long jump, whilst Michael Schofield came first in 

the long jump for the Fourth Year boys. 

It was an exciting afternoon on the track and special mentions 

ought to go to Ellen Downs and Hannah Clayton for all their 

middle distance running and to Luke Berry for all the events 

he raced in. The Fourth Year girls pulled out all the stops in 

the relay, which was an exciting race with some stylish handovers 

and Sophie Hall ran remarkably well on behalf of 

Vernon, in a variety of races. 

Alas, the Fallows’ Shield was not retained, but Mr Corbett and 

I had a real job trying to decide who should receive House 

Colours at the end of the year. So many people, only a 

fraction of whom have been mentioned here, participated in 

and supported so many events. Arisha-Jane Marsh was 

awarded Woman of the Year, having participated in every 

event and nearly every assembly. Luke Berry received Man of 

the Year; always involved and always grinning. The House 

Captains were shining examples of taking part, having a go 

and smiling through both successes and failures. 

Overall, the feeling of camaraderie was prevalent throughout 

the year and Vernon members were always willing to sign up 



and try their hand at all sorts of competitions, no matter what 

their ability. Certainly, what I have taken away from my first 

year on the Vernon team is just that – we really are a team. It 

truly is all about the taking part. I have enjoyed my first year 

in Vernon and look forward to being a part of the new team 

next year, with new First Years and new House Captains. Who 

knows, maybe we will even reclaim that Fallows’ Shield! 

S. L. Moore 

WARREN 

House Captains: 

Rebecca Haley 

Olivia Spencer 

Angus Hotchkies 

Harvey Taylor 

mention going to Bella Kasler, Emma Lingard and Amanda 

Bennison who played in both events and congratulations must 

go to Amanda at this point who proved to us she was well 

worth the hockey scholarship she received from American 

University of Indiana. However, the usual clashes with Art 

Trips, Field Trips and the occasional Open Day or University 

visits meant that our usual triumphant start to the year was not 

to be. 

In the boys’ events, we were placed third in the basketball and 

our only excuse was that we were relying on very limited 

numbers. This is not how Warren wanted to see the year 

through. Remember, we are Winners after all! (Oh… and the 

taking part counts too!) We managed to retain a second place 

position in the Fallows’ Shield until half term and we were able 

to field a full squad at all times, even if it meant resorting to 

bribery and persuasion tactics: Rebecca was always good at 

that! In basketball, Harvey, Angus, Connor Johnson, Mark 

Cox, Ben Heyes and Philip Hanson held things together and 

made every effort to keep Warren alight. 

After waving “Goodbye” to our Head of House, Mrs 

Chesterton, in July and rejoicing in the birth of her daughter 

Grace a few weeks later, (Huge Congratulations, Mrs C), Mr 

Hanson stepped in to look after us once more at Camp 

Warren. Hallam Hall was our venue each Wednesday; we felt 

comfortable and content with a cosy setting, comfy seating 

and a well-equipped room. House Captain, Angus, 

impressed and entertained us on arrival at each assembly with 

a piano recital of contemporary and classical melodies. 

Harvey and Angus were never afraid to model the outlandish 

outfits found in the Green Room in the name of a “House 

Assembly” whilst Becks and Olivia looked on in a state of 

bewilderment. Always the sensible of the foursome! 

The senior events monopolised the first term, with Hockey, 

Netball and Basketball being played in just over one week. 

The Warren girls got us off to a great start with a second 

placed finish in both the netball and hockey, with special 

In the second half term, it was our chance to shine and we 

were able to show off our brain power, thinking skills and 

tactical thinking as we took on our opposition in the quizzes, 

chess championships and Sixth Form challenges. Despite the 

brains and the brawn of Warren House, our scores in the 

Fallows’ Shield started to slip and at Christmas time, we were 

struggling in terms of our overall position. It was a good job 



that we had Christmas parties and concerts and carols to keep 

us happy over the festive period. 

The New Year brought a change in fortune as our exceptional 

house swimmers brought home a solid 24 points in the House 

Swimming Gala, which really represents the team spirit within 

Warren as we were able to pick ourselves up after a sluggish 

start. In the gala we had notable performances from Luke 

Cox, Georgia Burns, Katie Clarke, Ciaran Johnson and Mona 

Amet, as well as the usual outstanding performance from 

Nicola Reeves. It was fabulous to see so many Warrenites 

making the effort for our house. We followed up our success 

in the gala with a solid set of results in the annual House 

Swimming Standards which firmly put us back in the race for 

the Fallows’ Shield. 

The rugby events in the junior sections of Warren house 

produced some solid results but in the senior event we were 

hit with the same problem of numbers of available 

participants due to various commitments and so we struggled. 

The other Houses were being hit with the same clashes 

though – so we can’t complain too much. Special mention 

goes to Brady O’Farrell and Tom O’Mahoney who showed 

great prowess on the field and have given us lots to look 

forward to. 

In the girls’ netball, the results were also mixed but the effort 

and commitment of the players could not be faulted. Special 

mention goes to Katie Clarke, Lily Wolstenholme , Ellen 

Mobley, Sarah Doran, Olivia Gorrie and Vicky Cartwright - our 

rising stars! 

Slowly but surely we started to creep back into contention and 

thanks to the efforts of the Sixth Form boys in their football 

event we managed to poke our noses in front for the first time. 

The Sixth Form boys epitomised everything good about 

Warren house on that day. Our seeming Achilles heel of a 

lack of numbers had struck once more and so we went into 

the tournament with only seven players available. Special 

mention at this point has to go to James Collins, who was 

plucked from the common room at the last minute to do a 

stint “in net” and his effort cannot be faulted. After losing the 

first game, the grit and determination that we demonstrated in 

coming back to win our last two games, was outstanding. The 

jubilant scenes at the end of the tournament reflected our 

remarkable victory. The First to Fifth Year footballers were also 

in action and demonstrated our school’s prowess in this area 

over recent years. Although the standard of competition was 

high, Warren held on tight to the shield and remained in first 

place. Special mention must go to Harry Allport, David 

Wright, Ross Holloway and Angus Hotchkies for their 

performance. 

The Summer Term was then upon us and it was here that 

Warren really came into their own. We had some exceptional 

performances in the Senior Tennis with Amanda Bennison 

once more dominating play. Lucy Pilling and Zoe Chu also 

performed as an awesome pair. In the Boys’ Tennis, Jack 

Ronnie made his presence known and Charles Longson, Tom 

O’Mahoney and Brady O’Farrell demonstrated their talent 

once more. More poignantly, Warren’s performance at 

Sports Day made us very proud, with Ellen McPherson and 

Charles Longson making every effort to bring home lots of 

points for Warren. 

Unfortunately, we narrowly lost out on the day and this 

proved fatal in our bid to win the Fallows’ Shield as we were 

pipped to the post by Arden, but enormous credit must go to 

everyone in Warren who competed throughout the year. 

Away from the Fallows’ Shield, Warren managed to raise £842 

for charity which was a fantastic achievement. This money 

was raised through a number of different avenues, from Mr 

Hanson’s triathlon bet to James Tilley, Richard Horrocks, Phil 

Hanson and Ed McDermott and their basketball “Shoot-athon” 

and Sponsored Climb. Our thanks go to Kelsey Nolan 

and Grace Jennings in producing and selling candy sticks. Our 

success in raising so much money last year has spurred us on 

to raise even more in coming years. To help us achieve this 

In March, Warren excelled once more in the House Cross 

Country with some outstanding individual performances, with 

Patrick Magner and Joshua Forlan first and second respectively 

for the First Year boys, 

Lily Wolstenholme second for the girls, Michael Sidebottom 

and Aaron Fairfax second and third respectively for the 

Second Year boys and Ellen McPherson third for the girls. 


we have introduced Charity Representatives who will be 

working tirelessly to make sure that Warren continue their 

good work of helping worthy causes, locally, nationally and 

internationally. 

As the year drew to an end it was a chance to reflect and pass 

on our thanks to all involved. We were placed second in the 

Fallows’ Shield and had celebrated another fabulous year. As 

Mrs Chesterton returned to work in the Summer Term she 

decided (not without careful thought and much angst on her 

part – still very loyal to Warren) to relinquish her role as Head 

of Warren. We will miss her greatly but wish her well and 

know that she will always be part of our House. After a very 

productive year in office, Mr Hanson offered to take over the 

mantle permanently and was appointed as our new Head of 

House. We warmly welcome Mr Hanson and thank him for 

all that he has done for Warren so far. 

There is some debate as to how to define the ethos of the 

Stockport Grammar House System. Whether it is to be a 

winner or whether it is the taking part that counts is constantly 

an issue. House Staff and Captains alike, struggle with which 

cap to wear at times. In Warren we have found a good 

healthy balance between mass participation whilst 

maintaining our competitive edge which is why we have been 

happy and successful in recent years. 

Thank you Warren for all that we do, all that we are and all 

that we strive to be. It is great to be part of Warren. 

The House Captains 2011/2012 

HOUSE COLOURS 2010/11 

ARDEN 

Senior 

Pauline Barker 

Jennifer Meikle 

Olivia Simpson 

Angharad Smith 

Helen Topham 

Joseph Ellis 

Sam Hewitt 

William Sheard 

Elliot Tahmasebi 

George Toole 

Intermediate 

Carla Edwards 

Rebecca Fernandes 

Emily Klomp 

Laura Meikle 

Emily Weeks 

Cathal Berragan 

Joseph Brook 

Ashley Davies 

Marcus Hodson 

Raymond McCulloch 

Shola Odusanya 

Charles Smith 

Oliver Woodside 

Junior 

Jenny Carlsson 

Dorothea Christmann 

Rebecca Hosfield 

Abigail Hunter 

Amy Suddards 

Katie Suttle 

James Barker 

Alfie Earith 

Kieran Fletcher 

Simon Fraser 

Scott Helsby 

Louis Jones 

Thomas Power 

NICHOLSON 

Senior 

Harriet Craven 

Jaz Warren 

Bikash Deb 

Lara Acott 

Sara Baker 

William Aldridge 

Jamie Mills 

Amie Napper 

Laura Potter 

Intermediate 

Rachel Lord 

Jenny Warwick 

Flossie Eastwood 

Lydia Griffiths 

Portia Hunt 

Jenny Johnson 

Alex Cosgriff 

Ben Haigh 

Simon Hardy 

Matty Hughes 

Harry Nicholson 

Dan Thorburn 

Junior 

Molly Ashby 

Sally Best 

Millie Barnes 

Georgie Blears 

Cariad Napper 

Kim Spence 

Mark Orpen 

Jack Carter 

Tom Collins 

George Francis 



VERNON 

Senior 

Charlotte Bailey 

Sophie Feather 

Hannah Frais 

Sarah Hindle 

Catriona Leggat 

David Cartwright 

Rowland Williams 

William Chance 

Daniel Fazelynia 

Jake Lee 

Khalid Tayan 

Alex Wetters 

Intermediate 

Kim St Clair 

Charlotte Yandell 

Anna Logue 

Fergus Williams 

Rory Donnelly 

Harry Griffin 

Faisal Tayan 

Xavier Warburton 

Junior 

Rebecca Chapman 

Ellie Davidson 

Ella Davis 

Tao Warburton 

Leina Warburton 

Sam Harvey 

Zeerak Kiani 

Harry Mellor 

Jaime Sanchez-Capuchino 

David Ward 

WARREN 

Senior 

Rachel Egan 

Yasmeen Elturkie 

Caitlin Gorman 

Emma Lingard 

Emily Parker 

Emma Woodhead 

Harry Allport 

Ross Holloway 

Connor Johnson 

Al Ramsay 

David Wright 

Saam Zonoozi 

Intermediate 

Amy Beech 

Zoe Chu 

Lucy Pilling 

Hannah Taylor 

Ellie Tittle 

Nick Dove 

Ciaran Johnson 

Aaron McRoberts 

Tom Morton 

JP Tyrell 

Junior 

Amy Bracegirdle 

Amy Bradley 

Sophie Cunningham 

Stephanie Hughes 

Ellen McPherson 

Tommy Taylor 

Billy Stirling 

Mike Sidebottom 

Charles Longson 

Aaron Fairfax 

DUKE OF EDINBURGH AWARD 

THE ROYAL VISIT 

His Royal Highness Prince Edward The Earl of Wessex visited 

the school on 18th November 2010 in order to celebrate the 

20 th anniversary of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award at our 

school and the achievement of its 1000th Award. 

Upon hearing the Prince would be visiting, the entire school 

was filled with excitement and preparations for his arrival 

immediately took place. We gathered together photographs 

from our expeditions whilst others prepared dance routines 

and various presentations. 

The Prince was first greeted by Junior School children who 

waved flags excitedly as he entered the school. His Royal 

Highness then arrived at the Sports Hall to meet with the 

students taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme. 

The doors were opened and the Prince entered the room. 

Everyone waited expectantly for their chance to meet the 

Prince and to demonstrate their activity. 

On arriving at our section, the Prince shook hands with us and 

took the time to enquire about our Gold Qualifying 

Expedition which took place in the Lake District in July. We 

presented him with a copy of “A Walker’s Guide to the Lake 

District” - a book of walks around Buttermere and Crummock 

Water which we compiled as the aim for our expedition. He 

then went on to ask us about our progress with the Award and 

congratulated us on our achievements so far. We were 

completely overwhelmed by the Prince’s enthusiasm and the 

interest he took in not only our past expeditions but also our 

activities. 

Prince Edward was also welcomed by pupils at all levels of the 

Duke of Edinburgh Award who showed him activities 

including route planning, volunteering, music, animation, 

fencing, climbing and dancing. Everyone enjoyed watching 

the performances and looked on in fascination as the Prince 

made his way around the room. 



A few weeks after His Royal Highness’ visit, me and the other 

members of my team received a personal letter of thanks from 

the Prince for the walking guide we gave him. We were all 

very excited to receive the letters and they will always be kept 

as a souvenir of a very memorable day. 

Megan Smithson (U6) 

MY BRONZE DUKE OF EDINBURGH AWARD EXPERIENCE 

After an inspiring speech by Mrs Groves and Steve Pownall, 

approximately 80 Fourth Year pupils signed up to start the 

Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award. We were all very 

enthusiastic but not quite sure what to expect. The Bronze 

Award consists of three sections which need to be undertaken 

for between three and six months, as well as the expedition. 

For the Physical Activity I decided to continue with my tennis 

lessons at the local tennis club. The two other sections are 

Skills and Volunteering. As I already play netball for Stockport 

Netball Club I spoke to them about learning to be an umpire. 

Not only has this been great fun but a challenge and has given 

me a greater insight into understanding the game. 

It really is up to you what you decide to do and to organise 

yourself. I contacted the local Oxfam charity shop and now 

work there on a Saturday afternoon. At first I found this nerve 

wracking; it is rather like starting work having to meet lots of 

new people and learn different skills, but it has been 

thoroughly enjoyable and I have made lots of new friends 

from this. 

The expedition is the final section of the Award. We all 

received First Aid training and had to learn navigational skills. 

For your Bronze it consists of a two day hike and camping 

overnight. We undertook a practice expedition in the Peak 

District. My team were all very enthusiastic at first, until we had 

to put our bags on our backs, as all tents, camping equipment 

etc. has to be carried. We had a great first day but woke in the 

morning to find one of our team mates had gone home: she 

had been ill in the night. I think being team number 13 was not 

the best omen! We all gathered ourselves together and had a 

great second day’s hike. All of us just needed a hot bath, a big 

meal and lots of blister plasters at the end! 

We are about to undertake our final expedition next 

weekend. I have found it great fun, have learnt new skills, 

made new friends and it has been a great experience. 

Lauren Winder (4H) 

GOLD TRAINING – YORKSHIRE DALES 

This was our final training before our Practice Expedition. 

After an uneventful minibus ride and the standard bustle for 

rooms, we went through a rota of three ‘workshops’. A third 

of us watched a presentation on food and equipment, before 

heading to the attic of the bunkhouse for the refresher in CPR. 

None of us could keep a straight face when encouraged to 

talk to the plastic mannequin or when Alastair, the 

‘unresponsive victim’, erupted into coughing fits. We then 

were directed in to the barn’s game room which, against all 

that should be, was colder inside than out. Here we were 

given a run through of equipment. 

Each team had to allot two members for the assortment of 

chores whilst staying at the bunkhouse: making breakfasts, 

packed lunches, etc... 

That evening saw 12 people trying to cook in a four-person 

(industrial) kitchen, working against each other to produce a 

buffet-type meal of possible DofE foods. It could be 

described as claustrophobic, each pair claiming their pans, 

their part of the oven, their sink, their bowls, all to produce a 

variety of starchy foods to increase our camping palate. 

Apparently, the chaos contrasted drastically with the 

organisation of the cleaning team. 

The next morning we were given a box containing the 

ingredients for the breakfasts and lunches for the two teams. 

After the customary claiming and protection of desired food, 

one pair set about boiling water for ‘Oats so Simple’ while 

another sorted lunch. After handing out the porridge of a 

suspicious consistency and adding plenty of sugar, the OsS 

was discovered to be surprisingly tasty and filling. 



This year Stockport Grammar School celebrated 20 years of 

involvement in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme. These pages 

illustrate some of the range of activities and expeditions in which our 

pupils have taken part this year, and some of them receiving their 

Gold Awards at St James’ Palace. As part of the 20th Anniversary 

celebration, and in recognition of the school’s success in the scheme, 

we were honoured and delighted to receive a visit from HRH Prince 

Edward, The Earl of Wessex in November. 

Tom Barker strums his guitar 

as part of his Silver Skill 

Ciaran Johnson volunteers in 

a local charity shop (Bronze) 

David Cartwright found a novel skill for 

his Silver Award – Radio Broadcasting 

Vinayak Mandagere chooses the 

library as his Bronze volunteering 

location 

Silver Expedition on Kinder 

Jeremy, Vinayak, David, Max, Will and Nick form a human pyramid 

during a Bronze team building exercise in Lyme Park 

Bronze participants practise their 

Expedition skills in the White Peak 

Silver Expedition in the Peak District 

Megan Jones checks the route 

Gold Expedition members experience 

stunning views of Buttermere from 

Haystacks 



Steve and Paul relax at Watendlath during the Gold Expedition 

Carla Edwards (3844) runs cross-country 

for her Bronze Physical section 

Bikash Deb sprints 

to complete his Gold 

Physical Recreation 

Old Stopfordians and current pupils, Emily Dove, Kaia Scurr, 

Suki-Jo Whitehousereceive their Gold Awards at St James’ Palace 

Silver Expedition in the Peak District 

Sophie Millington (OS 2010) 

receiving her Gold Award 

at St James’ Palace 

Gold Qualifying expedition to Snowdonia 

with volunteer leader, Norman Rice 

Louis Staples coaches rugby for his Gold Volunteering section 

Gold Qualifying expedition 

to Snowdonia 

John Paul Tyrell learns Emergency First Aid for his Bronze skill 

Charlie Smith hones his photography skills for his Bronze Skill section 



Then it was time to sort out maps and do any last minute 

rucksack packing. We were taken by mini-bus to different 

places and set off in different directions. Steve was our group 

coordinator and instructed us each in turn to lead a leg of the 

walk. In the first few legs, I learned that: 

• Limestone piles look like walls from a distance (Not 

helpful when your point of reference is a wall) 

• How you’re supposed to take compass bearings 

• What cairns are and the fact that there are way more in 

real life than there are on a map 

• Limestone pavements are awesome until you nearly turn 

an ankle 

• Sheep/rams do try to herd people/walkers when said 

walkers take a break in their fields, (before long, we were 

surrounded by some multicoloured sheep) 

We stopped for lunch by Gaping Gill with some Yorkshire 

students who were also on an expedition, all of us watching a 

brave/stupid dog play ‘Dare I, Don’t I’ with the river flowing 

into the huge hole in the ground. 

After a small stint following a path when we should have been 

crossing a marsh, we backtracked and found our way to a 

stream hidden amongst the moss of the marsh. We then began 

the walk back, whiling away the quiet with talking and word 

games. After a break during which we envisioned climbing the 

overbearing walls of the canyon through which we were 

traipsing, we came to a proper stop, with benches, by the 

Ingleborough cave. 

After a much more gentle walk, we returned to the mini-bus 

ahead of schedule, waiting for the other team while Steve 

tried and originally failed to unlock the van. Twenty minutes 

later, we were back at the bunkhouse, queuing for showers, 

or just sleeping, or trying to design cool team names. 

We had take away that evening, from the ‘chippy’ which 

turned out to be bribery for the hours we were expected to 

spend route planning. Three hours of gruelling map reading 

later, during which contour lines began to dance across the 

page, Team 1 finished and were given the option to chill the 

next morning while other teams finished off. 

The next morning, after the last of the planning and the last of 

the packing, we gathered at the picnic benches outside the 

bunkhouse to be briefed on the orienteering we were to be 

doing that day. We were given a list of six figure grid references, 

with different scores to be gained for each point and a map. 

We were left to plot the points and figure out the route we were 

to take to reach as many points possible and reach our final 

destination car park before a certain time. The winning team 

with the most points scored would win a prize. We could also 

gain points if we found features for every letter of the alphabet. 

After leaving the bunkhouse for the final time, with heavier 

bags than the day previously as this time we had to carry 

everything we had previously left behind, we set off along the 

track. We toyed with the idea of taking a picture of a field of 

sheep and then, when reaching the car park, point at each 

one and claim, “That one’s Alfie, that’s Bella, Catrina...” and 

so on, to gain the 26 points for the alphabet features. 

Our team had decided to go for the higher 5-pointers up in 

the hills after having collected the more minor one-pointers in 

the surrounding areas. After some confusion as to 

which bridge was being referred to in the first point’s 

question, (To prove we’d been to the points, we had to 

answer a question, such as, ‘What was written on this sign?’, 

or, ‘In what year was this opened?’, and so on) we sped along. 

It wasn’t long before we were atop the hill, eating lunch at a 

set of crossroads. 

We then proceeded to walk along the hill that spanned the 

distance between our starting point and the final car. As the 

hill began to decline, we were walking along a road along 

which the SGS van came along, offering us sweeties! As we 

reached the base of the hill, we spotted the adults of our party 

sitting back and relaxing in their vehicles in the car park we 

were aiming for. Still half an hour to the deadline, we walked 

past them, through the small town and through a size-0 filter (a 

walk through stile) to a bridge, (1 point for the number of steps 

on the south side) and to a factory. Once reaching this factory 

we doubled back and reached the car park in good time. 

The next ten minutes were spent milling around while scores 

were taken in, counted and some disqualified. The prizes, it 

turned out, were more than handshakes, taking the form of 

Flake Easter Eggs, presented to my Team, Team 1. We all 

vowed that we would take the eggs with us on the DofE 

practice expedition, which not-so-conveniently fell over 

Easter. When it came to it, only Suzy brought her eggs, much 

to the humour of the rest of us who pointed out that bringing 

a chocolate egg with you in the baking sun we were walking 

in was not the best idea. Suzy did however valiantly 

persevere with her twisted, deformed egg, swearing 

vehemently that being half melted did not change the taste, 

that she had chocolate and that we didn’t. Ha. 

The weekend finished on that high note, leaving us with the 

two hour mini-bus journey back to school. I found this 

weekend enjoyable, informative and a good warm up in 

preparation for the four day walk that awaited us in the form 

of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Practice Expedition. 

Arran Mackay (L4) 

GOLD DUKE OF EDINBURGH: RESIDENTIAL SECTION 

For the Residential sector of the Award, I spent five days at 

Bendrigg Trust in October. Bendrigg, located in the Lake 

District, is a residential activity centre specifically designed for 

disabled and disadvantaged young people. 

During my stay I had numerous roles and staff ensured that I 

was constantly kept busy and fully immersed in the 

programme. Initially, I was assigned to a group for the week to 

support them, their carers and the staff to make their stay at 



Bendrigg run as smoothly and be as enjoyable as possible. Gill 

was the member of staff who I worked with over the course of 

the week and the individuals we were supporting were 

Jemma, aged 18, and Lewis, aged 14. Jemma, who was 

wheel-chair bound, had cerebral palsy and needed 24 hour 

care whereas Lewis was autistic. As Jemma’s disability 

required constant care and attention, especially in the new 

and unfamiliar environment at Bendrigg, I often helped Lewis 

whilst the carers saw to Jemma’s needs to ensure that she was 

able to participate in all we had planned in the way of 

activities. For example, during the indoor caving session, 

Jemma had to be hoisted out of her wheelchair and placed 

onto a mat in order for her to explore the tunnels. Whilst Gill 

and the carers looked after Jemma, I made sure that Lewis did 

not get bored waiting around and so we went to explore the 

tunnels together. Bendrigg create tailor-made courses that are 

appropriate to individual needs within the group and it was 

part of my responsibility to make sure that the group achieved 

what they wanted to achieve whilst staying there. Activities 

included canoeing, caving, archery, abseiling, low ropes 

course, zip wire and plenty more. 

In terms of what I got out of the visit, I believe my eyes were 

opened up to how lucky I am to be able bodied and how we 

should embrace and make the most out of what we have. For 

me, my time spent at Bendrigg revolved around making a 

difference and I was so happy that both Jemma and Lewis 

were able to participate in all activities despite their 

disabilities. Bendrigg proved to me that as long as you put 

your mind to something anything is achievable and we should 

not make preconceptions just because we feel that someone 

is not capable: the opportunity to do something should be 

available to everyone. During my stay, I learnt a great deal 

about myself and others. Acting as a constant support for 

Jemma and Lewis boosted my confidence regarding working 

with disabled people considerably and broadened my 

horizons in relation to being able to communicate with 

people with particular disabilities. 

To volunteer at Bendrigg was free of charge with food and 

accommodation included. My only expense was the price of 

the train tickets from Manchester to Oxenholme which came 

to £25 return. 

The placement co-ordinator at Bendrigg is Lynne Irish/ Sue 

Murphy and they can be contacted via email 

sue@bendrigg.org.uk or by telephone 01539723766. 

Alternatively the website can be accessed via 

www.bendrigg.org.uk. 

L. Potter (U2) 

GOOD FOOD SHOW 

On Wednesday 24th November, at an unknown early hour in 

the morning, the Lower Sixth Home Economists, wrapped up 

in duvets, left for the Good Food Show Winter 2010. Upon 

arrival at the Birmingham NEC the first thing that hit us was 

the overwhelming smell of free food. The samples were one 

of the highlights of the day, ranging from new flavours of Carte 

D’Or ice cream, to meat roasts, to whole stalls dedicated to 

apples. However the stalls did not only offer food; 

demonstrations of new equipment surrounded the hall. The 

Vita-mix specifically caught our eye; a new blender that could 

do twelve things in the one machine, including functions from 

making frozen ice cream in seconds to producing hot soup. 

Throughout the day shows were held around the hall; we 

were lucky enough to catch Paul Rankin v Jason Atherton at 

the Saturday Kitchen omelette challenge, Brian Turner making 

best of British dishes, and a couple of students even managed 

to get a picture with Gary Rhodes after watching him prepare 

some Christmas delights. The climax of these demonstrations 

was seeing Gary Rhodes in the Supertheatre; he showed us 

how to prepare pork belly and a risotto rice pudding. The day 

finished late but we are all eagerly awaiting our return visit 

next year. 

Alice Baillie (L9) and Catriona Leggat (L7) 



CREATIVE CUISINE 

I really enjoyed this club because every time I left I had learned 

something new. My favourite recipe was Nacho Dip, as I loved 

the fact you could vary the ingredients to make it the way you 

wanted. I like chillies and therefore I put a lot in! I now make 

this a lot at home for things like my Doritos and as a side dish 

for other food, like Jerk Chicken, for which I developed a taste 

after trying it on holiday in St Lucia last summer. 

Some of the other things we made included: 

Chicken nuggets, which were amazing. I did not know you 

could make these using fresh breadcrumbs without the nasty 

preservatives and they tasted so good. 

Even before I joined the Senior School I loved baking and 

when I discovered that there was a Cooking Club I became so 

excited and could not wait to go to it. 

The first time I went I was really nervous in case I had 

forgotten some of the ingredients or was not sure of what to 

do, but Mrs Samways was really kind and approachable. She 

helped us if we needed it. I learned so many things, for 

example the names of lots of different kitchen equipment, 

which I had never used before, such as a garlic crusher. 

Chocolate crunch cake was gorgeous. Especially as I have a 

sweet tooth, I often make this at home for my family. 

Pancakes for Shrove Tuesday. I usually hate pancakes but 

loved these! We topped them with maple syrup and 

raspberries. My Dad suggested we placed a dollop of double 

cream on too but I persuaded him not to! 

I hope it is on for Second Years too. 

Natasha Hurst (1R) 

CUPCAKE DEMONSTRATION 

In February Mrs Carol Marshall kindly came in to one of our 

GCSE Home Economics lessons and shared her skills and 

passion for making cupcakes with our students. They then 

decorated a selection of cakes to show what they had learnt. 

She has her own website and has made many cakes for 

fundraising events. 

R. E. Groves 



DEBATING 

Debating continues to be an integral part of SGS Sixth Form 

culture and while it receives its life-blood from a committed 

group of cerebrally inclined Sixth Formers, it does on occasion 

attract the more frivolous members of the Sixth Form, luring 

them away from the attractions of the Sixth Form Common 

Room at lunchtime on Fridays and even engaging them in 

some heated debating on occasions. 

The motions for debates are usually inspired by events in the 

news and it was the Pope’s visit to the UK in September 2010 

which provided the impetus for the first debate of the year, 

“This House believes that the Pope is out of touch with 

modern society,” with debaters Jamie Webb and Jack 

Maclaren supporting the motion and Colin Greaves and Hina 

Ali opposing it. While Colin and Hina provided convincing 

arguments to bolster the Pope’s standing, these were 

demolished resoundingly by a powerful proposition team and 

the motion was carried. 

For our next debate of the year, some Sixth Formers decided 

to re-visit a somewhat thread-bare but populist issue, namely, 

“A woman’s place is in the home.” Amy Wood and Shelby 

Whyatt, as the opposition, rebutted the slightly lacklustre 

arguments of Colin Greaves and Chris Helme vigorously and 

passionately, and the motion was lost. Following on from this 

debate came another one that is often re-visited, namely, 

“This House believes that cannabis should be legalised,” with 

Arnie Mandagere and Jack Maclaren proposing the motion 

and Will Sheard and Robert Samarji in the opposition team. 

This debate attracted a number of Sixth Formers who do not 

normally grace us with their presence at debates and after a 

considerable hurly burly of debating between the speakers 

and members of the House, the motion was carried. 

Two motions, passionately debated, that capitalised on events 

or issues that arose from current affairs were, firstly, ‘This 

House believes that prisoners should have the right to vote,’ 

and, secondly, “Sky TV’s sacking of Andy Gray is an overreaction” 

– in both debates the motions were passed. 

In preparation for the National Manchester Schools’ Debating 

Competition we ran several debates according to British 

Parliamentary style with two proposition teams and two 

opposition teams. Inspiration for one of these debates came 

from the so-called Arab Spring, namely, “This House believes 

that President Mubarak should stand down now.” (Actually, 

he obliged without a murmur shortly after the debate! – 

hence the proposition teams consisting of Shelby Whyatt, 

Amy Wood, Jack Maclaren and Jamie Webb had reason to 

feel complacent.) 

On Saturday 5 th February, a group of SGS pupils including 

Sam Allport, Tom Fawcett, Harry Allport, Shelby Whyatt, Amy 

Wood, Jamie Webb, Will Sheard, Arnie Mandagere, Jack 

Maclaren and Rob Samarji, took on the formidable challenge 

of the National Manchester Schools’ Debating Competition. 

From 9.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m., they participated in four rounds 

of debating, British Parliamentary style. The competition is 

particularly gruelling, as they have no idea of the motions until 

fifteen minutes before they are due to debate and they have 

to speak for five minutes in randomly selected opposition or 

proposition speaker positions. 

The role of each speaker is very precisely defined, therefore 

the mental gymnastics involved in such debating cannot be 

overestimated. Furthermore, the competition organisers 

make sure that the competitors are wrenched even further out 

of their comfort zones by providing motions which are 

arguably quite abstruse, one example of which was, “This 

House would ban all research into artificial intelligence for 

armed military drones in Afghanistan.” While SGS did not get 

into the finals, all five teams produced some excellent 

debating and all the teams were awarded a first or second 

place in one or more of the four rounds. The debaters agreed 

that this was a very worthwhile event although a couple of the 

teams felt that the adjudicators had not sufficiently recognised 

the merits of their speeches. 

The last three debates of the year were all informed by events 

highlighted in the media. These included “This House 

believes that Julian Assange should stand trial,” “This House 

would support Cameron’s military intervention in Libya,” and 

finally, “This House would make men and women pay the 

same car insurance premiums.” 

S. J. Braude 

MATHEMATICS COMPETITIONS 

The UK Mathematics Trust runs Junior and Senior team 

challenges and individual challenges at Junior, Intermediate 

and Senior levels. Our pupils have once again demonstrated 

their intuitive flair, determination, resilience and talent by 

achieving highly in all of these demanding competitions. 

These competitions test mathematical ability beyond the 

conception of examination syllabuses and we are proud of our 

pupils’ accomplishments 

In the Senior Maths Challenge there were six gold awards with 

Suzanna Eames in Lower Sixth achieving ‘Best in School’ and 

qualifying for the Olympiad. This follows her outstanding 

performance at Intermediate level which led to Suzanna 

joining a second UK training camp early last September. 

Suzanna has registered her interest in the brand new Girls’ 

Olympiad, the EGMO and we look forward to seeing how 

that competition progresses. The other gold award winners 

were John Goulbourne, Katie McCay and George Toole in the 

Upper Sixth and Tristan Kemp and Sam Eghtesad in the Lower 

Sixth. John and George will take up university places to read 

Mathematics in the autumn. 

At Intermediate level there were nineteen gold awards. 

Samuel Arrowsmith achieved ‘Best in school’ and eight pupils 



qualified for further rounds. These are Jessica Black, Alexa 

Holland and Ana Krywonos in the Third Year and Samuel 

Allport, Samuel Arrowsmith, Zoe Harris, Leo Hotchkies and 

Milan Lakhani in the Fifth Year. Merits are very tough to 

achieve but were awarded to Alexa Holland, Zoe Harris, Leo 

Hotchkies and Milan Lakhani. 

At Junior level there were eight gold awards. Amy Bradley 

achieved ‘Best in School’ and qualified for the next round. 

The team challenges are great fun and involve relay 

competitions and collaborative working both in pairs and as 

teams of four. Mr Cheslett prepares teams thoroughly for 

these competitions, evidently to very good effect as our teams 

won the regional finals at both levels of entry and competed 

in the National finals in London. 

The Junior team was Amy Bradley, Nathanael Clayden, Jessica 

Black and Alexa Holland. The Senior team was Suzanna 

Eames, Tristan Kemp, Kaysan Nikkhah and George Toole. 

Congratulations not only to the pupils listed above, but to all 

our pupils who participated in any of the challenges or the 

team selection processes: you have very bright futures ahead 

of you. 

D. Harris 

ENGINEERING EDUCATION SCHEME 

This year’s Lower Sixth team was Joseph Briggs, Hameem 

Choudhury, Elizabeth Healey and Sarah Hindle. We were 

again paired with Senior Aerospace BWT of Adlington, 

Cheshire to work on improving the method of inspection for 

the quality control of flexible ducting. 

The flexible ducting used for air conditioning in aeroplanes 

has to undergo rigorous tests to be passed as suitable for 

use. This includes inspecting the number of turns per inch 

(TPI) of wire around the tube, the condition of the materials 

and air leakage. 

As part of the project, the team created a comb-like 

instrument to help aid the measurement of TPI that is now 

being used in the factory as an improvement for their current 

inspection method. 

On the assessment day in April at Liverpool University, the 

team received praise from the board of Senior Engineers who 

assessed the quality of the project through their final report, 

presentation and open questioning. 

All members of the team were also awarded the BA CREST 

Gold Award for their hard work over the course of the year. 

Overall, another successful year! 

R. Heyes 

“I found my participation in the EES to be of great value. It 

really gave me an insight into what a career in the Engineering 

field involves and has helped me to decide on my choice of 

study at University. Furthermore, my involvement in the EES 

has also given me experience of working in a team and writing 

reports, both skills that will be very useful in the future. 

I really enjoyed my time participating in the EES. Personal 

highlights for me were the times spent creating our model and 

also the completion of the report, 

because although at times it was it was 

difficult and time consuming, to see the 

report completed brought a huge sense 

of achievement and pride. 

Finally, I would like to thank Dr Carter 

and Mr Heyes for allowing me to participate in the EES and for 

all their support and hard work throughout the entirety of the 

scheme.” 

Elizabeth Healey (L5) 



MFL DEBATING COMPETITION 

language that goes beyond the A level specification. 

Nevertheless, Ariyan Araghi and I accepted an invitation to 

participate in the third MFL Debating Competition at Cheadle 

Hulme School as the French Team for Stockport Grammar 

School. 

In both debates we were able to show our linguistic skills 

against other schools and to explore contemporary issues. 

Motions such as “The ends justify the means” are difficult 

questions to debate in English, let alone French! Yet our hard 

work and continuous coaching by Mr. Wilson and Stockport 

Grammar French assistant Cyril Lejeune paid off when we 

triumphed against Arnold and Manchester Grammar School. 

Debating in a foreign language is a tough activity. It not only 

requires clear depth of research and skills of logical argument 

and charisma, but a deep understanding of the chosen 

We would like to thank Mr. Wilson and Cyril for helping 

Ariyan and me achieve impressive results at the MFL Debating 

Competition. 

Anirudh Mandagere (U5) 

LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE 

A small group of our Upper Sixth form were present for the 

live broadcast on Radio 5 from the Labour Party Conference. 

Held at the Friends’ Meeting House in central Manchester, 

the two hour broadcast followed a pattern similar to that of 

the BBC’s Question Time programme with an invited 

audience able to pose questions to a variety of senior Labour 

MPs and union officials including Hilary Benn, Tessa Jowell, 

Caroline Flint, David Lammy and Derek Simpson. 

Coming the day after the announcement of the new Labour 

leader, much of the debate focussed on Labour’s future and 

the, often heated, discussion saw both panel members and 

audience in confrontational mood that made for an 

interesting morning. 

R. Davies 

CLIMBING 

The climbing wall this year has been as popular as ever with 

about 26 members from an even bigger pool attending every 

Friday night. There is a healthy mix of ages, gender, new and 

old members. The large numbers are a reflection of the 

accessibility of having our own very challenging wall. 

Now in its third year, the Peter Boardman Wall continues to 

be a big draw, with many members enjoying the challenge it 

presents and the social occasion too. 

Over fifty First Years experienced a two week taster session 

and then had the choice of joining the club permanently after 

Christmas. The large numbers wanting to use the wall does 

present a logistical problem, but with a rolling programme 



and a lunch time session to ease the pressure, it is just about 

manageable. 

Mr Whitby has been a welcome addition to the climbing 

instructor team, which includes Mr. Killey, Mrs. Lockwood, Mr 

Young, Miss Upton and at times, Miss Alimundo. Mike Pinder 

of the B.M.C. Mountain Leader Training Board provided site 

specific training for Senior and Junior School staff in June. 

Mr Killey is a great asset, providing exciting challenges to 

members, such as competitions, rope access and route setting 

training. He set up a superb challenge early in the year, which 

involved climbing across the sports hall beams using two belay 

ropes. If the climber fell off the beam the result was dramatic, 

but totally safe, with a gentle lowering off; however, some 

members took advantage of the situation and practised their 

acrobatic moves. Visually it was worthy of the Cirque du 

Soleil. 

The teachers who help to run the climbing club are a great 

team, staying late on a Friday evening coaching members, 

while ensuring that safety is always paramount. 

Members develop their skills either at their own pace or more 

competitively. Our super girls’ team of Niyati Takiar, Megan 

Smith, Ellen Downs, Rachel Orr, Jessie McNeill, Jenny Kent, 

and Jaina Mistry show tenacity in their third year of attending 

almost every Friday night, sometimes going on to climb at the 

Stockport wall afterwards. They are joined now by Alex 

Pickstock, Anand Thalevera and Jenny Muellenbach and are 

always full of enthusiasm. 

Richard Owen, Philip Hanson, Sam Allport and Emily 

Carlsson, some of our older members, continued to 

challenge each other to greater feats, while helping to coach 

younger pupils. Richard did his work experience at Rockover, 

the new bouldering wall in Salford and was greatly impressed 

with their facilities. 

Lower School pupils are delighted with the wall and have 

great fun climbing blindfold, speed climbing, racing each 

other and, of course, climbing and traversing normally. 

Trips outside over the summer included several to Castlenaze, 

near Chapel-en-le-Frith and Windgather, near Whaley Bridge. 

There were some glorious sunsets, but also some chilly, damp, 

wind blown and midge infested evenings; but that’s proper 

climbing! 

C. A. Beckett 



WORK EXPERIENCE 

128 pupils in the Fifth Year took part in Work Experience in 

31 different careers. There was an unusually large number 

wanting to go into dentistry this year and more than ever 

wanting other types of health care. We have the usual array 

of future barristers and solicitors with accountancy and 

marketing also being popular. 

G. M. Lockwood 

MANDARIN 

This year saw the launch of Mandarin at SGS. 

The pupils, all from Third Year, completed a 12 week course 

with Jing Jing Dong, the Mandarin tutor from Stockport 

Ethnic Diversity Service. 

As well as introducing the pupils to the language, the course 

gave insight into Chinese culture with calligraphy and the tea 

ceremony. 

C. S. Muscutt 

ANIMATION CLUB 

Animation club’s Luke 

O’Donoghue, Robert Clarke 

and Christian Anderson 

have all been highly 

commended in this year’s UK 

Schools Computer Animation 

Competition, hosted by the 

University of Manchester. 

The competition received 

over 1,200 entries from 

across the UK and so our 

pupils can be very proud to 

win 2 of just 45 prizes on offer. The animations Biology In The 

Body (According To Dan) and FaceJournal can be viewed on 

the winners movie gallery on the University’s Animation 11 

web site. 

At the ceremony, Luke, Robert and Christian were each 

awarded £40 in Amazon gift vouchers and were invited to a 

VIP lunch at Manchester Museum, before an afternoon of 

activities including an inspirational talk on innovative game 

design and animation. 

P. W. Hodkinson 



ALBERT JOHNSTON AWARD 

When we organised our trip to Greece for the Albert Johnston 

Award last year, we would never have guessed that Greece 

would be in the state of political unrest it is in today. The riots 

in the centre of Athens were at their peak on the day we 

planned to leave and, because of the 48 hour general strike, 

we had to leave two days later. It was an ominous start, but 

gave us an amazing opportunity; we had to chance to study 

the state of political unrest. 

alphabet, as names allowed us to work out which symbols 

corresponded to letters in our alphabet. We also saw the 

Tower of the Winds, a tower made to measure the wind and 

use sundials and water clocks to work out the time. This was 

an example of how advanced mathematics and engineering 

was in Greece, and how it was applied. From here, we 

wandered around Athens, exploring the city. 

When we arrived at Athens, graffiti plastered the walls and 

garbage covered the streets. The most common piece of 

graffiti was the anarchy sign for A, which showed the Greeks’ 

hatred of their government. Anarchy is normally linked with 

extreme radicals, but this is not the case, as we have learnt 

both in Philosophy and from staying in Athens. The people 

are angry at their government for the loss in wages (which 

could be up to 60%) just so they could be bailed out by the 

EU. The anarchy signs reinforced this view, showing that the 

Greeks think their state is illegitimate and does not have the 

right to affect its citizens in this way; they would much rather 

have no government at all. 

We took a bus from the airport to Syntagma Square, the 

centre of Athens. Immediately we found the Tomb of the 

Unknown Soldier, where we witnessed the changing of the 

guard. However, even here was affected by the riots; one of 

the huts which the guards stood by had been burnt down. 

From here we carried on to our hostel, where we deposited 

our bags before continuing to the Ancient Agora. Here, we 

saw a number of statues and temples before going to the 

Museum of the Ancient Agora in the Stoa of Attalos. There 

were various exhibits explaining about ancient Greek 

democracy and the successes of Peisistratus. While studying 

statues and plaques we started to translate the Greek 

We spent the next day at the Acropolis, the most famous site 

in Athens. Here we saw the Erechtheum, the Parthenon, the 

Theatre of Dionysus and the Propylaea. All of these ruins 

were incredibly impressive, showing how ancient Greek 

culture grew and developed. There is a lot of history on the 

top of the Acropolis, from the Persian attack in 480 BC to the 

1687 siege by Venetians. At the very top is a flag which 

signifies a myth that explains the name of the city; Athene and 



Poseidon both 

wanted to be Patron 

of the city, but the 

citizens preferred 

Athene’s olive tree 

to Poseidon‘s spring: 

hence the name Athens. After this we went to the museum 

where we learnt not only about many of the artefacts found 

around Athens, but about Greek mythology and its focus in 

Athens. We joined a guided tour of the museum which told 

us more about the era and sculptors than we could have learnt 

simply by reading the plaques. We learnt more about 

Peisistratus, the successful tyrant who helped Greece flourish; 

a rare example of a dictator being more popular than a 

democracy for the general masses. 

Greek alphabet came in handy, as in smaller towns not 

everything was written in both English and Greek and 

knowing what different symbols translated as meant that we 

could easily find our way around. Once we had decoded the 

alphabet, we managed to decipher simple words, as many 

English words are derived from Greek words. An example of 

this would be Έξοδος; the Greek letters translate to exodus. 

This means a departure, so Έξοδος means “exit.” 

Argos was our next stop; a town full of archaeological ruins 

and artefacts. Here, we saw a museum full of ancient pottery 

from the Geometric period, a time when art and Maths 

coincided. All of the patterns were ordered yet simple, 

On the third day we left Athens to travel to Nafplio; a small 

town three hours away from Athens. Our first stop was our 

hotel, to drop off our bags. It was now that working out the 

instead of pictures of the Gods which are found on later 

designs. At the museum, there were a number of mosaics 

depicting the seasons and months of the year, along with a 

newly found mosaic which had not yet been studied. We also 

saw the ruins of a theatre which had been specially designed 

so that the crowd were muted while the speaker’s voice was 

magnified to the back of the theatre; we even got to try the 

theatre out! Finally, we saw the sanctuary of Aphrodite, and 

we were surprised to find that, while she is known as the 



goddess of love, she was also known as a war goddess and the 

bringer of victory for Argos. After this we headed back to 

Nafplio where we went to the Nafplion Museum, and saw the 

history of the small town. We decided to climb up to the 

Venetian fortress of Palamidi, and at night we could see the 

fortified islet, Bourtzi, floating in the middle of the bay. 

The next day, we took a bus to the ruins of Mycenae. This 

centre of ancient Greek civilisation used to be a military 

stronghold so powerful a period of history is named after it, 

but now the city has been reduced to rubble. As we entered 

the city, we saw the majestic Lion Gate, the earliest 

monument found in Europe. After this, we visited a number 

of large tombs in Mycenae which were incredibly well 

preserved. The underground cistern was open to the public, 

and we were able to go down and see how they collected 

water from a spring outside of the city; unfortunately Suzy 

went a bit too far and accidentally jumped in the mud at the 

bottom! The city was surrounded by Cyclopian walls; named 

after the legendary Cyclops which apparently constructed the 

walls protecting the city. We came back to Napflio for the 

night, and in our spare time at night we climbed to an old 

clock tower to find a geocache. 

We travelled back to Athens but when we arrived we realised 

there was once again a transport strike. The Metro and the 

buses were out of service, so we had to walk through Athens 

instead of taking public transport. When we finally reached 

the 3D Hellenic Museum, it was closing early because of the 

strike. However, we still managed to see the exhibit on the 

history of Greek Mathematics, where we saw a number of 

proofs for assumptions we take for granted. There were also 

examples of how the Greeks applied Mathematics to music 

and engineering, showing how that even without the same 

mathematical theories we have, the Greeks were still able to 

build structures we hold in such high regard today. 

We have both learnt a lot from this trip to Greece. Not only 

have we gained invaluable practical knowledge of what is 

needed when travelling abroad, but our knowledge about the 

history of Mathematics and philosophy has been greatly 

widened. The Albert Johnston Award is so valuable because 

it gives people a chance to experience sights and countries 

that would be otherwise unreachable at our age, and we are 

incredibly grateful that Stockport Grammar gave us such an 

amazing opportunity. 

Suzanna Eames and Tristan Kemp 



BATTLEFIELDS TOUR 

The site of the infamous Battle 

of the Somme of 1916 was our 

destination on the first day. We 

were guided around the trench 

system at Newfoundland 

Memorial Park and visited 

Lochnagar Crater, created as 

the battle began at 07.30 on 

1 st July 1916. The most 

moving moment of the trip 

came at this point as we laid a 

wreath of remembrance to 

three of our old boys lost on 

the Somme between 1916 and 1917 and remembered at the 

Thiepval Memorial. Herbert Ormesher left Stockport 

Grammar in 1915. He joined the Lancashire Fusiliers and was 

killed on the first day of the battle, 1 st July 1916 – 58,000 

British soldiers were lost or wounded on that day alone. 

During October half-term the History Department’s annual 

‘Battlefields Tour’ took place to northern France and Belgium. 

67 pupils and 6 staff set off on the 15 th October to visit the 

sites of World War One commemorating over 90 years since 

the start of the ‘Great War’ in 1914. 

We visited Ypres, a small Belgian town known to the British 

Tommy as ‘Wipers’, fiercely guarded by the British during the 

war. We were guided throughout the Ypres salient to sites 

such as Essex Farm, where John McCrae wrote the poem ‘In 

Flanders Fields’, Hell Fire Corner, Hill 60, created by mine 

explosions during the battles of Ypres between 1914 and 

Trips 45


1917, and Tyne Cott, the largest British military cemetery in 

the world. We also witnessed the poignant Last Post played 

every day of the year by the Firemen of Ypres at the Menin 

Gate in memory of 55,000 British and Commonwealth 

soldiers who fought to save the town and have no known 

grave. Faye Holleworth and Sam Haley laid a wreath on 

behalf of SGS during the ceremony. 

This was a truly significant experience for all pupils involved, 

who finally realised that people, not much older than 

themselves, gave up everything to fight for their country. 

Those who took part experienced the reality and significance 

of World War One and will remember much more than the 

pages of a history textbook. 

H. R. Ashton 

FIRST YEAR TRIP TO FRANCE 

The First Year trip this year was to Rue in Picardy, which is in 

northern France. The trip started early, at 6.30am, to be 

precise! As soon as this was announced in assembly one 

morning, everyone let out a tremendous groan, but the show 

must go on… 

With everyone else tucked up in bed, only the brave and the 

fearless showed up to bid us goodbye and with a dark grey sky 

overhead everyone boarded the coaches. Starting off with a 

safety video, we set off on our French adventure. 

On the road, there was always a chorus of excited chatter, 

singing and the parents’ old favourite, “Are we there yet?”. 

Luckily we were not completely left to our own devices; there 

was a TV screen, on which we watched some ‘interesting’ 

movies. As soon as we saw the white cliffs of Dover, everyone 

brought out their phones or cameras to prove they had 

actually seen the cliffs. 

Once in France, after a little more driving, spotting the wind 

turbines, we were in the wonderful village of Rue and what 

would become our home for the trip, the Château De Broutel. 

With crunchy gravel to drag our many bags through, we set off 

with the Château’s staff to dump our stuff in our new rooms 

and get to know our surroundings. 

Teatime – and with a chocolate tart for dessert, it was hard to 

resist. Evening activities involved team building games, a 

scavenger hunt and building things, and then we were sent to 

our rooms to enjoy chatter and laughter before finally falling 

asleep. The morning was bright, early and hot as we set off 

for a History lesson about the Château and Rue. After the 

history had soaked in, much like the sun, it was time to buy 

and bargain for nic-nacs and in Rue’s pretty market. 

The afternoon began with a trip to Amiens to see the beautiful 

cathedral and for more shopping along the way. The cathedral 

was absolutely breathtaking, with huge walls and beautiful 

stone carvings. After more fun evening activities, we went to 

bed with our minds full of the things we had seen that day. 

The morning was once again hot and gorgeous, as we headed 

to the sea-life centre. There was plenty to see - penguins, 

dolphins, multi-coloured fish, alligators, sharks and my all time 

favourite, sea lions. The sea lions were visible beneath the 

water, with a glass corridor to walk through; the sea lions 

seemed to be teasing us from all sides and underneath our 

feet! There were plenty of opportunities to take videos and 

pictures, plus with the bonus view from the top, they were the 

stars! 

The afternoon involved a trip into caves where a whole village 

of people had lived in secret, hiding from the Nazis during the 

Second World War. With traps and even a miniature church, 

we all thought that they were awesome. We went back to the 

Château for the last time and were treated with frogs’ legs and 

snails, a true French way of saying goodbye. After that it was 

party time, with a disco! There was laughing, singing and 

dancing to music like YMCA and We Will Rock You! 

The morning was once again beautiful, with not a cloud in the 

sky. We set off on the long trek home, stopping off at a bakery 

en route. At the bakery we learned the ingredients to make 

bread and croissants (in French) and also how to roll a 

croissant. With yummy things to buy before we left, it was a 

fantastic experience. 

We had one more stop, at the shopping centre. With more 

things to buy, most of us had nothing left to spend. Once on 

British shores, it was a six hour drive until home. 

All in all it was an amazing experience and I would not have 

missed it for the world. I was just relieved not to have any 

more early mornings for a while! 

Freya Ferguson (1S) 

46 Trips


GERMAN EXCHANGE 

time to enjoy Hamburg’s shops, whilst still being immersed in 

Germany’s language and culture, with seeing a ‘Rathaus’ 

being a recurring theme throughout the trip. 

On the 17 th February 2011, a group of 23 pupils, 

accompanied by Frau Christmann and Mrs Morgan, set off 

bright and early from Manchester Airport to go to Bad 

Segeberg. After much excited chatter throughout the various 

means of transport, we eventually arrived, were warmly 

welcomed by our exchange partners and were immediately 

immersed in the German language. The remainder of that 

day, and the whole of the next, was spent in a German School, 

the Städtisches Gymnasium Bad Segeberg, which was 

noticeably different to ours. Not only were the lessons much 

more relaxed, but they could wear their own clothes, text 

freely and even eat! 

The weekend was spent doing various activities, depending 

on which family you were staying with. Going to the Baltic 

Sea and seeing icicles as long as your arm was a possibility, 

whilst others went to outdoor swimming pools in sub-zero 

temperatures, or sampling the German nightlife - what an 

experience! 

After a fun-packed weekend, making ample use of our 

German knowledge, Monday saw us going to Hamburg. 

Embarking on a boat trip around one of Germany’s largest 

ports, the cold we felt seemed irrelevant as we were shown 

Germany’s immense and powerful U-Boats. We then had 

On the next day, we were up bright and early, refreshed after 

a good night’s sleep, to go to Schloss Schwerin. After four 

trains, three transfers, two cups of coffee and one hilariously 

embarrassing German phrasebook, with surprising help from 

one of the teachers from Städtisches Gymnasium, we 

eventually arrived at Schwerin’s magnificent castle, where we 

experienced a guided tour through a mere fraction of the 169 

rooms, where the Duke of Schwerin had previously resided. 

One of the most interesting facts of the day was that most of 

the intricate furnishings and even the castle itself were made 

of paper-mâché rather than what appeared to be artfully 

crafted wood. We ended the day with a beautiful view of a 

frozen lake and stream where even the undulations had 

frozen into magnificent forms; Frau Christmann happily stood 

on the frozen stream to show us how thick the ice was! 

While on the exchange, we 

also visited Lübeck for its 

famous marzipan, most of 

which we brought home with 

us! It was a quaint town full of 

confectionaries that tantalised 

the taste buds and caressed the 

nose, with one of us falling 

victim to a rather sticky and 

staining toffee apple. 

On Thursday, in Schleswig, we 

visited the Haithabu Museum, 

after a seemingly never ending walk into the middle of 

nowhere, near the Baltic Coast. It was a Museum which told 

the story of the first Viking invaders to the North of Germany, 

and the museum tour was led by a very enthusiastic 

Trips 47


gentleman who quite happily pointed out the holes in our 

Nordic knowledge. The tour was actually quite interesting, 

and ended on the funny note of watching some video 

adaptations of Viking life, with the boys bursting into fits of 

laughter as the girls squealed at the sight of a live fish being 

gutted. 

The trip was a fantastic experience where we met new friends 

and lived bountiful experiences. The German Exchange is a 

fantastic chance to enhance your German skills and live in a 

completely different culture and the trip provides a welldeserved 

break after the February mock exam period. We all 

came home with lifelong friends and brilliant stories to tell. 

The best part of trip for some, however, was being able to 

come home and say newly learned phrases like Halt die 

Klappe without your parents having the slightest clue of what 

you just said to them! 

On Friday we had the privilege to be addressed by the Mayor 

of Bad Segeberg (the town where we were staying), who 

supplied us with many interesting facts about the town, in 

German of course. We learned about the small mountain and 

the native bats in the town and were even presented with an 

adorable cuddly bat toy to commemorate our experience. 

As the adapted saying goes, “When in Germany, do as the 

Germans do.” and that we certainly did! Bread. That is all 

there is to say. There was more bread to try than your 

grandparents have had hot dinners. Coated bread, dense 

bread and rye bread, even “throw-it-at-someone-and-youwould-kill-them” 

bread! And most of us could not help but 

succumb to light, delicate and flavoursome German cakes. 

But under no circumstances could you come back from 

Germany without tasting Bratwurst and Schnitzel. 

Thank you to Frau Christmann and Mrs Morgan for 

accompanying us, and, for us at least, this was a trip we will 

never forget. 

Jamie Rahman (5Z), Zoe Harris (5Z), Charlotte Biondi 

(5M) and Lauren Burt (5M) 

SPANISH TRIP ANDALUSIA 

48 Trips


During the first week of the October half-term, 14 Fifth Year 

and Lower Sixth Form pupils enjoyed a busy, fun-packed six 

day tour of Andalusia, Spain. 

On the tour, the pupils took in the sights of Granada’s famous 

Alhambra Palace, visited the historic town of Ronda and its 

bull ring, entered the caves of Nerja, and explored Picasso’s 

birth town of Málaga. There was also time for a spot of 

sunbathing and coffee drinking in the more coastal towns of 

Puerto Banus and Marbella. 

Despite being one of Spain’s most touristic regions, the pupils 

showed great enthusiasm in trying to communicate in 

Spanish, and avoided taking the easy way out and speaking in 

English. I was incredibly proud of the pupils and was 

impressed with their willingness to speak Spanish. Their 

confidence in speaking grew as the week went on and they all 

made great progress. I was really pleased to see them using 

the language for themselves. Some of the pupils enjoyed it so 

much that they have signed up for next year’s trip. It is set to 

be as busy and fun-packed as this trip was but this time we 

will be exploring Spain’s capital, Madrid. 

K. Psaila 

Trips 49


FRENCH TUITION TRIP TO PARIS 

On Sunday 10 th April, as we arrived to meet our French 

families, we all began to feel quite nervous. We were 

reassured straight away when we were first greeted by our 

families, as they seemed very kind and hospitable. The car 

journey to our home for the next five days was interesting as 

we began to communicate using the French we had learnt 

over the past few years. 

Our family had two boys aged 11 and 13 and a young girl, 

aged 6. They were all very welcoming and even attempted to 

speak some English when we struggled. By the end of the first 

night we already felt settled and were happy in our French 

home. We sat down with our family for a meal where we 

were introduced to some French cuisine. 

Later on in the night, we were able to sit down with just the 

children. They showed us their English work books from 

school, so we were able to see what they were learning. It 

was very interesting to see how others learn our language as 

we learn theirs. 

The next day we were taken to the school by a host family 

who lived nearby. Once we arrived in the school, we were 

split into classes and sent to the classrooms, where we would 

be for the next few mornings. We then learnt things such as 

famous French landmarks, and how to discuss what we had 

been doing and what we were going to do, along with a lot of 

vocabulary and verbs. Even the first lesson began to improve 

our listening and speaking skills, as our teacher mainly spoke 

to us in French. 

After spending a few hours working, we left by coach to visit 

the Sacre Coeur. It was absolutely beautiful and the weather 

added to the already lovely afternoon. We were able to 

spend a few hours of free time looking around the Sacre 

Coeur and the shops surrounding it. Again, we were able to 

practise our language skills and it was rewarding to see how 

well we could communicate with the French people. We had 

a fantastic day in the hot weather and we were then taken 

back to the meeting place where we were awaited by our 

French families. In the evening we once again sat down with 

the family and had fun trying to work out a few words that we 

50 Trips


were unable to understand. We had a lot of fun playing board 

games with the children and they taught us some new words 

to do with the game. Then it was our turn to help them, as 

they practised how to pronounce several English words. 

On the second day in Paris, we spent the morning in our 

classrooms. In the classroom we were helped by our teacher 

on how to pronounce and say where we had been the day 

before. The classes were quite small and we were given quite 

a lot of individual help. Everyone was extremely excited to 

visit one of the most famous landmarks in France...the Eiffel 

Tower. As we went up on the lift, a few of us became very 

nervous but the view from the top was incredible. We were 

able to see right across Paris and it was stunning. Later on in 

the day we went on the Bateau Mouche where we were able 

to see the landmarks from along the river. We saw Notre- 

Dame and like so many of the landmarks in Paris, it was 

beautiful. It was a great way to collectively see Paris, and a 

very relaxing experience. 

The next day, we visited the much anticipated Disneyland for 

the day. It was nice to see everyone so happy and we were 

able to spend a full day in the park. Some of us even found 

some lost children, whom we were able to return back to their 

parents. The best ride of the day was definitely Space 

Mountain which, when we all met at the coach, many people 

discussed how they had ridden it numerous times! Many 

souvenirs were bought, including some hilarious hats and 

pictures from the rides. The parade at the end of the day was 

fun. To see all the characters sing and dance made us all feel 

like we were five again and the characters that we had 

idolised when we were younger were there in front of us. We 

all loved it! 

On the last day of the trip we once again had our lessons, 

where we wrote postcards and sang some French songs. We 

visited the Arc de Triomphe and were able to go to the top, 

once again gaining a great view of the whole of Paris. This 

time it was not like the Eiffel Tower where we could take a lift, 

we had to climb 284 steps to the top. From the view we were 

able to see Le Louvre which we would be visiting later on and 

also the surrounding area. The coach then took us to Place de 

la Concorde and we took our time walking up to the gallery 

through the beautiful Jardins des Tuilleries. It was well worth 

the wait when we arrived at the beautiful building. We saw 

some of the famous paintings, such as the Mona Lisa. 

The Paris trip was definitely the best trip we have been on so 

far. It was a great experience to have, to live with a French 

family and we both feel that we have really improved our 

French communication skills. Many memories will be kept 

from this trip as everyone had a brilliant time. 

Anna Logue (4S) and Laura Meikle (4S) 

This summer a group of 10 AS French students set off to Nantes 

in South Brittany to take part in five days of work experience. 

This trip is somewhat different to other school trips in that we 

did not all stay in the same hotel and do the same thing. We 

were sent off in pairs to live with families and all work in 

different places. This was a school trip like no other... 

NANTES WORK EXPERIENCE TRIP 

As the days to departure grew closer and closer, I can speak 

for all of us in saying that the anxiety became gradually more 

overwhelming. We all had burning questions, “what’s my 

family going to be like?”, “what will I have to do at work?” and 

a personal favourite of mine courtesy of Melissa Bradley “Can 

someone teach me to speak French?” The plane that took us 

from Manchester to Nantes brought us closer to our fate and, 

as we touched down on French soil, the feeling that filled 

every one of us can be described as nothing short of dread. 

We were greeted at the airport in Nantes by numerous 

families who would be housing and feeding us over the next 

five days. We introduced ourselves to our host families, and 

Trips 51


bid our friends farewell and “bonne chance”, for before we 

knew it we had all set off with our new families, all in different 

directions, to our new homes. 

As one could well imagine, speaking French to native French 

speakers who cannot speak a word of English is a rather 

daunting experience. Our hearts were in our mouths; 

consequently we thought it best to say as little as possible on 

day one. I do not know about the rest of the group but Oliver 

Tozer and I were getting pretty good at saying “oui” and “non”. 

Each day of work that passed brought our confidence in 

speaking the language gradually higher and by the end of it all 

we were speaking with much better fluency. We had all 

learned a reasonable amount of new vocabulary and most of 

all changed our outlook on the importance of oral 

communication. The trip seemed to end before it even 

started and we were all a little bit upset to leave. Our French 

speaking skills had rocketed on this trip and we are all very 

privileged to have been given the opportunity to take part in 

such an amazing experience. 

The second day brought us all into the labour force. We all 

had different places of work, ranging from restaurants to 

leisure centres and from clothes shops to nurseries. We were 

however all mutually terrified. The hardest part, in my 

opinion, is getting over the barrier of speaking with 

confidence, but once we had all overcome this obstacle we 

were speaking French relatively well. 

Our thanks go out to Martine Poher, the organiser of 

our incredible work placements, and Mr. Lorentz, for 

persevering with all of us and making sure we have the best 

work experience possible, and for giving us all the opportunity 

of a lifetime. 

Jack Heaton (U9) 

SKI TRIP 2011: MADONNA DI CAMPIGLIO 

Standing at the top of a mountain, a mass of freshly laid 

snow below us, adrenaline pumping through our veins… This 

is not a clip from Ski Sunday but a memory of the 

Stockport Grammar School Ski Trip 2011 to Italy’s Madonna 

di Campiglio. 

From the moment we dragged our parents out of their beds to 

take us to school early one Saturday morning in the freezing 

February half term, we each knew that this ski trip would be 

the best yet. After a long and exciting journey up to the 

beautiful scenery of the Italian Alps, we arrived at Hotel 

Almazzago, our home for the week. As we settled into a good 

night’s rest, we were filled with excitement about the coming 

days ahead of us. 

By day, we explored the vast, mountainous landscape; 

covering many kilometres each day. The advanced group, 

lead by Christiano, our expert ski instructor, spent the week 

off-piste, swooping through trees and executing elaborate 

technical feats as we launched ourselves off larger and larger 

jumps as the week progressed. Each morning we woke up, 

eager to throw on our skis and head out to the slopes. Every 

day was filled with laughter as we watched our fellow skiers 

fall and disappear into clouds of frosted snow only to reappear 

as a newly made snowman. Most memorably, Mark Cox was 

named Friend of the Tree by Christiano, after numerous 

collisions with oncoming trees and Luke Cawthorn provided 

entertainment for the entire week with his expert falls. Harriet 

Craven kept us all in check with her flawless skiing technique 

and Ben Hayes, Lara Knowles, Pippa Simons and I, all 

discovered our competitive side after racing fiercely down 

steep, formidable slopes. We constantly handed Christiano 

52 Trips


our complete trust as he led us relentlessly past “Danger” 

warning signs and into the dark depths of the trees, only to be 

welcomed with breath-taking, unexplored, alpine scenery. It 

was these slopes that really allowed us to appreciate the 

extraordinary beauty of the Alps. Our skis cut easily into the 

deep, crisp snow; the gentle sound of skis sliding over soft 

snow and the calls of occasional alpine creatures, were the 

only noises to be heard on the face of the tranquil mountains. 

This composure was often disturbed by a tremendous bail by 

one of the team members, resulting in a huge pile up of skiers, 

which was always followed by the roaring laughter of the 

fellow pupils who had been lucky enough to dodge the chaos. 

Once those who had not fallen had finished shrieking their 

amusements at the victims, a huge effort was always made to 

pick them back up again. The teamwork shown was 

exemplary. Fortunately, the hilarity of these falls were 

regularly caught on camera by Charlie Smith using his hightech 

head camera. 

Despite the chaos we often created, Christiano was 

determined to keep us challenged throughout the week. This 

included teaching us to do front flips in our skis. After 

watching him do this himself, we each attempted to mirror his 

actions which left us all with freezing faces covered in snow. 

After laughing at us all, Christiano repeated the flip in an 

extreme attempt to show off, only to result in breaking the 

binding off his own skis, which then flew dramatically into a 

large heap of snow. After what seemed like hours of finding 

his binding and then fixing his skis, we were able to set off 

once again on our journey. This journey was short lived as 

Charlie Smith had one last attempt at a forward flip, failing 

miserably and resulting in his ski being buried deep into the 

snow; Charlie and I were left to dig furiously like a pair of dogs 

in the thick snow. Our heavy ski boots sank deep into the 

mounds of powder and we were forced to wade waist deep 

through the snow. 

By night, we thoroughly bonded as students from SGS. Age, 

year and form did not matter; throughout the week we made 

new friends through activities such as ice skating and bowling. 

Fifth Year pupils had the privilege of exploring the town later 

at night, something that we all thoroughly enjoyed and I am 

sure will remember for years to come. 

Overall the trip was fantastic; we each achieved things we 

never thought possible - from managing to lose a member of 

our group who was wearing a bright orange suit, to flying high 

into the air off extreme jumps. 

We cannot give enough thanks to all the staff involved in the 

organisation and participation of this year’s ski trip. Without 

them, it would not have been the trip it was. On behalf of 

everyone on the SGS Ski Trip 2011, I would like to thank Mrs 

Muscutt, Mr Bayley, Mr Ehegartner, Mrs Lockwood and Mr 

Corbett for making it the best school trip to date. 

Martha Watson (5E) 

Trips 53


SKI TRIP 2011 

This year I was lucky enough to go on the ski trip. Our trip 

started with a short coach journey to East Midlands airport, 

then a flight to Venice followed by a very sleepy connection 

to the Almazzago (our hotel). On our arrival we were greeted 

by our trip Manager, Darrel, and were given some much 

needed bread rolls, chorizo and cheese. 

The skiing started on Sunday morning. I was feeling quite 

nervous, due to the fact it was my first time on skis and I am 

what you could possibly call a bit ‘accident-prone’. Luckily, 

the ski instructors were used to novices and managed to get 

me going down a nursery slope on the first day. 

Each day was action-packed. We would wake up at 7 - 7.30. 

We would then go down for a buffet breakfast and get dressed 

for the day of skiing ahead. We collected our ski boots, skis 

and poles and then had a two minute drive from the resort to 

the slopes. 

The slopes and views were spectacular from the top; it was 

like a typical postcard picture with vast stretches of mountains, 

their peaks buried in the soft snow. We would ski until 

midday and then meet at the canteen for some well deserved 

pasta or pizza and a hot chocolate. We would then go back 

to the slopes and ski until around four o’clock. 

On the coach back to the Almazzago, gossip from the day was 

being passed up and down the coach. Once back, we could 

have showers and sleeps, or relax in the games room with a 

game of ping-pong, snooker or table tennis or walk to the 

local shop down the road. Every evening we enjoyed a 

different activity: bowling, ice skating, a visit to the local ice 

cream parlour, quiz nights and a disco on the last night. 

I progressed well over the week and Mr Ehegartner managed 

to get me down to middle station on the last day! All the 

beginners improved tremendously; some even managed to 

move up to the advanced group by mid-week. 

Best Moment: When I managed to get down to middle station. 

Funniest Moment: When Ailsa fell down the slope and took 

Mr. E with her! 

Worst Moment: When I flew off the ski lift when I tried to get 

off it and knocked down the whole fence- it didn’t hurt luckily, 

but it was very embarrassing. 

I would recommend this trip to everyone who wants an action 

packed, fun-filled holiday, with no parents allowed! 

Leina Warburton (2U) 

EXPEDITION TO NAMIBIA 

dead trees in the salt pans and we got the best photos here. 

We carried on to the coast and spent a little time in the 

Germanic tourist town Swakopmund. Both teams met here 

and spent some time catching up. 

I took a group of 22 pupils, four staff and two Outlook 

Expedition Leaders on a Trip to Namibia on 1 st July. We flew 

out to Windhoek Airport and then split into two teams. One 

team travelled down to Fish River Canyon. This is the largest 

canyon in Africa and only second in the world to the Grand 

Canyon. It is an incredibly impressive sight; over 100 miles 

long and nearly 55 metres deep in places. The sandstone 

strata have been eroded over millions of years to make a 

canyon that is beautiful in the clear Namibian sunlight. The 

trek through the canyon is a challenge and involved us 

carrying all of our food and resources for five days. We saw 

wild horses, baboons and a number of scorpions during the 

trek and saw the tracks for a wild cat on the third day. This 

team then travelled back north towards Sossusvlei. This is a 

dry desert pan surrounded by some of the largest sand dunes 

in the world. The red sand is an amazing backdrop for the 

54 Trips


The first team then travelled on to the 

project phase. We spent a week in a 

Pre-primary School in Dordabis. We 

were involved in playing with the 5-6 

year old children. They came from the 

township to the school and were 

delightfully affectionate and keen for attention. We also 

constructed a lintel around the base of the school fence to 

stop animals from getting into the playground and we painted 

cartoon characters on the outside of the buildings for the 

children to enjoy. This was the best part 

of the trip for me and I loved spending 

time with the children. 

Finally we visited Etosha National park. 

This is famous for the variety of wildlife 

and the waterholes that you can observe at night. We saw lions, 

dik dik, giraffe, zebra, elephant, rhino,many birds and gazelles. 

L. J. Service 

TEAM ONE 

We set off in matching fluorescent yellow t shirts on what 

would become the adventure of a lifetime. After more hours 

travelling than it is possible to count, we arrived in the capital 

of Windhoek and had a lovely first few days exploring the city 

(despite discovering that it is impossible to cook oven chips 

without an oven). Next, we were off on our community 

project and had a thoroughly enjoyable time painting a preschool 

and teaching some English at a pre-school in Dordabis. 

Getting to know the wonderful children was a highlight of the 

trip for many. After reluctantly saying goodbye to the 

children, and the owners of the wonderful farm on which we 

were staying, it was time to go to Swakopmund. Everyone 

jumped at the chance to spend a couple of days relaxing at 

the beach, before a third day trying our hands at 

sandboarding. Some were more successful than others. 

to the final stage, the trek, with a mixture of fear and 

excitement. We were to spend four days in the Naukluft 

mountains, alone in the National Park. On the second day we 

were met both by a highly poisonous snake and a set of chains 

we had to abseil down. It is questionable which scared 

people more. However the sense of achievement when we 

reached the bottom was great, as was the sense of 

achievement when we finally finished. Unfortunately this was 

slightly marred by having to walk several kilometres after 

finishing to reach our broken down bus. But of course we 

made it in the end and were soon at Agama camp to spend a 

day doing nothing but sitting by the (bone-chillingly cold) 

swimming pool. The next day was 

spent at Sossusvlei 

trekking up some 

We then moved on to Etosha National Park and saw an 

amazing range of animals, the highlights being a 

stand-off between an elephant and a rhino at 

the watering hole and a pride of lions 

standing metres away from our 

coach. After restocking back in 

Windhoek, we moved on 

Trips 55


of the largest sand dunes in the world and exploring the 

surrealistic Deadvlei salt pan, which was a great final 

experience. Finally we travelled back to Windhoek to fill our 

suitcases with all the useless souvenirs we could afford. After 

a lovely final night with a meal out together as a team, it was 

time to head back to the airport and begin the journey back 

to not-so-sunny England. I think I can speak for everyone 

when I say the trip was an incredible experience I that will 

never forget. 

Kate Mitchell (L3) 

TEAM TWO 

We met at the airport, backpacks bursting, eager to set off for 

the long journey ahead of us. The long flights did not drag our 

spirits down, due to the excitement that rippled through the 

group. The true excitement came when we looked out in to 

the sky from our aeroplane and saw the beautiful, blazing 

African sunrise. From that moment the realisation hit that we 

were about to experience the opportunity of a lifetime. 

celebrated in high spirits, with marshmallows in the evening 

around the fire. After one night of camping, the trek began 

and we started on the descent in to the Fish River Canyon. 

Temperatures were freezing cold in the early morning, yet it 

did not take long for the scorching sun to appear from around 

the rocks and we were soon struggling in the sweltering heat. 

The task was more difficult than we had imagined due to the 

river running through the canyon blocking the footpaths, 

We finally arrived in Namibia and reached our first 

destination, Windhoek. We spent our first night with some 

locals who sang and played the guitar for us and later, we 

enjoyed a sing along around the campfire. After Windhoek, 

it was time for our team (Team Ream Raj) to set off for the 

trek. The long coach trip provided us with beautiful African 

scenery and it was Jen Logue’s birthday on this day, so we 

56 Trips


therefore the trek was very much a scramble which we 

conquered with the help of Chris Spencer who carried most 

of the bags at the difficult points. Each night we pitched tents, 

cooked on trangias on the smoothest rocks we could find, and 

some nights we slept under the beautiful stars which were 

scattered across the sky. We were glad the trek was such a 

challenge, as it made the end all the more rewarding. We 

could not have been more thrilled to see other human beings 

walking across the beach as we realised we had entered the 

beautiful Ai Ais camp. We trudged in to the camp looking 

dishevelled as the guests staying there cheered for us. We 

scoffed our favourite chocolates and ice creams and rested 

our legs, then spent the evening basking in the heated 

swimming pool. 

The next night we enjoyed a celebratory group meal at the 

camp and then headed to Agama Camp, which was beautiful. 

We were most amazed at the bathrooms that had no roofs so 

that the amazing Namibian sky could be enjoyed at all times. 

We visited the Namib Desert, one of the largest in the world 

and climbed some of the biggest sand dunes. The views from 

the top were breathtaking and we rewarded ourselves after 

the long walk up by running, at full speed, down the sides of 

the sand dunes in order to reach the bottom. From here we 

visited Swakopmund, where we went sand boarding which 

was thoroughly exhilarating (aside from finding sand in every 

orifice when we returned to our hotel!) We took the night 

train to Windhoek where we played games in the middle of a 

car park early in the morning, and some locals got involved. 

When we arrived in Dordabis we met the owner of the farm 

we would be staying at, who took us on a drive through their 

game reserve and we were thrilled to spot zebras, jackals and 

giraffes. We stayed in a lovely campsite before we then 

headed to the farm where we would spend the week. It was 

beautiful, with vast amounts of land and many different 

animals such as dogs, peacocks, karakals and cheetahs. We 

were even able to stroke the cheetahs, which was brilliant. 

The real moment we had all been waiting for was the visit to 

the school. Nerves were charging through the minibus on the 

way as we wondered how the children would react when we 

arrived. Yet as soon as we pulled up our nerves disappeared 

as every child possible charged on to our minibus and clung 

on to us as if we were long-lost friends. We all fell in love with 

them the moment we saw them. They then performed songs 

and dances for us and we introduced ourselves to them. We 

spent the week covered from head to toe in little children, 

vying for our attention. We also taught the children various 

words in English, such as colours and numbers, yet most of the 

week was spent playing and showing our affection towards 

them, which was something they did not experience a lot. 

We also painted the walls of the school in order to brighten up 

the playground and cementing was a task that was also 

completed. We were able to visit the township, which was a 

shocking but worthy experience and we all left feeling 

extremely appreciative of the luxuries we have. The day we 

left the school was an extremely emotional and upsetting one. 

However, the owner of the farm had cooked us a lovely meal 

which definitely helped and we then left for the safari. 

Although illness was rippling through the group within the last 

week of the trip it was still brilliant and we all took care of 

each other as we battled the sickness bug that seemed to have 

spread. We saw lions, elephants, zebras, giraffes, springboks 

and more on the safari and then later saw rhinos at the 

watering hole at the campsite. This was the last event of the 

trip, then it was back to Windhoek to spend our last couple of 

days getting organised for the journey home. 

Overall, I could not have asked for a more amazing, exciting, 

eventful trip and a more fantastic group of people to spend it 

with. I wish I could go back there now and do it all over 

again, without changing a thing. I would like to thank Jen 

Logue, Sarah Hindle, Angharad Smith, Celia Hall, Emma 

Woodhead, Sophie Feather, Julia Sutherland, Kristen Holland, 

Chris Spencer, Ross Holloway, Mark Goodstadt and James 

Collins for being such brilliant company on the trip, and of 

course Trev, Sue and Miss Service for making it happen and 

being so lovely throughout. 

Jenni Meikle (L6) 

Trips 57


GEOGRAPHY TOUR TO ICELAND 

On 4 th July a group of 34 students and accompanying staff 

landed at Keflavik airport, descending from the cloudy skies 

above Iceland. First stop was the Blue Lagoon, an extremely 

warm, silica rich, blue lake located in a solidified lava field and 

this proved an excellent introduction to this unique land. 

Students and staff bathed in the waters heated by geothermal 

energy from 2,000 metres below the surface and experienced 

its invigorating properties. So effective were these that 

members of staff were frequently asked for proof of age during 

their stay. 

The next day an early start was required as the group set off 

to visit Heimaey, one of the Westman Islands just off the coast 

of Iceland. A short ferry journey over calm waters and 

Heimaey was approached on a warm and sunny day. The 

group enjoyed a walking tour of the island which was hit by a 

major volcanic eruption in 1973 destroying half of the town. 

Partially buried buildings were visited as well as Eldfell, a new 

mountain produced by the eruption and here pupils could 

touch the still warm rocks just below the surface. 

The group also visited Thorsmork, an area of dramatic scenery 

close to the infamous Eyjafjallajokull, the volcano which 

grounded commercial jets a year earlier. This was reached by 

crossing a glacial outwash plain and a number of meltwater 

streams in specially designed transport. Here an outlet glacier 

at Gigujokull was reached and pupils experienced at first hand 

the snout of the melting ice mass and the deposited debris. 

An evening visit to sunbathed Reykjavik, the world’s most 

northerly capital city was a fitting conclusion to an incredibly 

packed and varied time in the land of fire and snow. 

R. Howarth 

Another busy day followed with the group enjoying a tour of 

the Icelandic Golden Circle. This involved a visit to a number 

of the most significant geological features in the south of 

Iceland. Thundering waterfalls were seen at Gulfoss and 

erupting geysers were witnessed at Geysir with Stokkur, 

spouting up to 20 metres at regular intervals. The party also 

visited Thingvellir where the Mid Atlantic Ridge clearly 

marked the meeting of the North American and Eurasian 

plates. The glorious weather, a feature of our visit, facilitated 

superb views across this meeting zone of the plates with the 

rising mountains reflected in the still waters of Lake Thingvellir 

– a rare sight indeed. The radio news that Iceland’s most 

active volcano Hekla (which erupts approximately every 10 

years – last eruption 2001!), was showing signs of activity was 

relayed to the group by our Icelandic guide. This was treated 

philosophically. 

58 Trips


HISTORY TRIP TO PRAGUE AND BERLIN 

The trip to Prague and Berlin was exciting and educational. 

Visiting the monuments we studied in History was a 

worthwhile experience because we were able to put the facts 

into a real life context. 

Visiting the transportation camp, Theresienstadt, was probably 

the most emotional part of the trip, as we were given a tour of 

the camp and the stories were vivid. The cramped living 

areas, the underground tunnels and the firing blocks were 

certainly something that stuck in our minds. Lidice was 

another of the visits that made you think about how hard life 

was under Hitler’s rule, even outside of Germany. 

The Wannsee Conference Centre was another iconic place to 

visit that was interesting and taught us more about the 

incredibly important, but highly secretive, conference that 

affected many things through the course of history. 

The house of Otto Weidt introduced us to a different side of 

the Nazi regime. It was fascinating to see how Weidt 

protected the minorities of blind, deaf and Jewish people by 

saying that he needed them to work for him. It was his way 

of fighting back; it showed how easily the Nazi officers could 

be swayed in the people’s favour if they were willing to bribe 

them and could come up with an excuse that was supposedly 

in favour of the Nazis and their troops. 

The DDR museum was completely different from the 

Deutscher Dom; it was not a museum based on the Nazi 

regime but instead a museum based upon communist 

Germany, particularly East Berlin. It showed us the contrast of 

the way of living between East and West. We were shocked by 

the simple values that the people of Berlin lived by. Citizens 

lived in basic flats, followed a traditional life style and were cut 

off entirely from the West by the Berlin wall. The boat trip we 

took around the city of Berlin and gave us a chance to relax 

and see the beautiful sights of the European capital. 

The Brandenburg Gate was another amazing sight, followed 

by some reflection time at the Holocaust Memorial which 

exposed us once again to the scale of the tragedy of the 

Holocaust. Seeing the Reichstag was also a great experience. 

We had a tour of the centre of Prague and saw the beautiful 

buildings and bridge which were lovely to see. 

Overall, the trip was very memorable and worthwhile. As well 

as the serious moments, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves in 

the free time we had as there was a lot to do and see in both 

of the cities. The trip opened our eyes to new cultures and 

experiences as well as making us aware of the horrors that 

took place only sixty years ago. 

Emma Trimingham (L7) 

GRASMERE 

Another very successful Grasmere trip for 70 Second Year 

pupils. 

Lots of sun, fun, water, hiking, climbing, kayaking and 

scrambling. 

Mr Corbett organised the evening activities – rounders for 70! 

– in his usual inimitable way. 

Staff: Mrs Muscutt, Mr Cheslett, Mr Corbett, Mrs Beckett, 

Mrs Lockwood, Mrs Morgan, Mr Killey, Mrs Bridges, Mr 

Grant, Ms Pazos , Francesca Alimundo 

Trips 59


Kayaking on 

Derwentwater 

Derwentwater 

Cooling down 

after kayaking 

Below: Ghyll scrambling in Stickle Ghyll with Climb 365 instructors 

At Stickle Tarn with 

Pavey Ark in the background 

60 Trips


SNOWDONIA 

In the evenings we had talks from Jim Langley from the 

Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Team. He also helped us to 

tackle the Tryfan scramble. Paul Bayley from Cheshire Air 

Support Unit talked to us about helicopter rescue in the 

mountain environment. 

The pupils were excellent young mountaineers 

enthusiastic and almost too fit at times! 

– always 

Staff; Mrs Muscutt, Mr Cheslett, Mr N Young, Mr Killey, Mrs 

Lammas, Mr Morgan, Mr Bayley 

This year we had exceptionally good weather for the Third 

Year Snowdonia trip – 4 days of sunshine and great walking, 

scrambling and climbing. 

Moel Siabod, Tryfan, Snowdon – our usual favourites. 

This year we moved from the Ogwen to Llanberis Youth 

Hostel and for the first time the staff did not have to walk, 

climb and then chop, peel, prep and cook for the group. 

Climbing 

En route to Moel Siabod 

Trips 61


MUSIC 

This has been another busy and very rewarding year in the 

Music department. Around 300 pupils have taken part in the 

choirs, bands and orchestras and continued to give 

performances of which the school can be extremely proud. At 

least one rehearsal takes place every day either during 

lunchtime, after school or both and sometimes as many as 

three rehearsals are taking place at the same time. Many 

pupils take part in more than one ensemble and some seem 

to live almost permanently in the Music department, such is 

their level of dedication, commitment and expertise. I would 

like to congratulate all the pupils involved in Music at SGS. It 

is immensely satisfying to see so many pupils not simply taking 

part but also committed to producing concerts of the highest 

possible standard. 

Choral music continues to excel at SGS. Over 120 pupils 

have sung in Chorus this year giving terrific performances of 

works ranging from Chilcott’s A Little Jazz Mass complete with 

jazz band accompaniment in the Royal Northern College of 

Music, to a medley from The Lion King at the Christmas 

Concert. Chamber Choir too delighted the audience at the 

RNCM with madrigals, spirituals and Mr Griffith’s exquisite 

arrangement of Our Love is Here to Stay, and held their nerve 

once again to perform live on the BBC Radio 4 Daily Service 

programme in November. The future looks equally bright 

given the highly accomplished performances of the Junior 

Singers at Founder’s Day, the Carol Service and Winter 

Concert under the direction of Miss Griffiths. 

First Orchestra gave an outstanding performance of Bruch’s 

Violin Concerto at the RNCM with Sam Holmes (U6) as a 

highly distinguished soloist. Sam is also to be congratulated on 

gaining a Choral Scholarship to Robinson College, Cambridge. 

The String Orchestra has also continued to thrive under the 

direction of Mr Griffith, combining classic repertoire such as 

Sibelius’ Andante Festivo with the jazz influences of Longfield’s 

Rondo in Blue. Members of the Second Orchestra, conducted 

by Mrs Short, have demonstrated their versatility too in equally 

accomplished performances ranging from arrangements of 

works by Schubert, Rossini and Rimsky-Korsakov to Miller’s 

Jazzy Little Brown Jug in the Leavers’ concert. 

The tradition of wind playing at Stockport Grammar has been 

extremely strong for many years and all three wind bands 

continue from strength to strength in the hands of Mrs Taylor. 

Wind Orchestra members got the RNCM concert in April off to 

a magnificent start with their performance of Sibelius’ Finlandia, 

while on the lighter side, they have tackled medleys from 

Sweeney Todd and Grease as well as the obligatory Sleigh Ride 

in the Christmas Concert. Concert Band, likewise, mastered 

arrangements from works such as Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an 

Exhibition and Bizet’s Carmen as well as themes from James 

Bond and Mission Impossible. Equally encouraging, especially 

in terms of the future of wind playing at SGS, have been the 

enthusiastic performances of the Junior Band in arrangements 

of Superman, Wallace & Gromit and Chicago. Mrs Johnson has 

worked hard over the last two or three years to develop a brass 

ensemble. Under her direction they entertained the audiences 

at the Winter Concert and Leavers’ Concert with traditional 

marches such as Sousa’s Liberty Bell as well as Walters’ slapstick 

medley that is Instant Concert. 

Both Big Bands remain extremely strong under the tutelage of 

Mr White, giving excellent performances at the Christmas and 

Leavers’ Concerts. These included Careless Whisper and 

Stormy Weather (soloist Natalie Clarke) from the Junior Big 

Band, the latter of which we really should have saved for the 

thunderstorm that washed out half of the concert in the 

Mirabelle gardens during the Salzburg tour! Big Band 

highlights, equally impressive, have included Fowl Play and 

Swing Machine. 

Approximately 70 pupils have also performed as soloists during 

the series of lunchtime and after-school recitals organised and 

co-ordinated by Mrs Johnson. Outstanding solo and ensemble 

performances were once again evident in the summer Music 

Festival, the winners of which are noted below. 

As should be evident from the above there is rarely a dull 

moment in the Music Department. I would like to thank all 

the Music staff for their hard work throughout the year. In 

particular my thanks go to Mrs Taylor for her meticulous 

organisation of a truly memorable tour to Salzburg in July. 

This was a triumph in every respect with an outstanding range 

and quality of music-making in prestigious venues such as 

Salzburg Cathedral. I also thank all the other academic and 

support staff across the school that contribute to the extracurricular 

ensembles and/or help with the running of school 

concerts. 

M. Dow 

62 Music, Drama and Art


MUSIC FESTIVAL WINNERS 2011 

First Year Instrumental Solo Second Year Instrumental Solo Third Year Instrumental Solo 

Alex Jones (double bass) Marcus Page (violin) Henry Brearley (piano) 

Fourth and Fifth Year Instrumental Solo 

Ben Oldfield (cello) 

Sixth Form Instrumental Solo 

Sam Holmes (violin) 

Junior Vocal Solo Fourth and Fifth Year Vocal Solo Sixth Form Vocal Solo 

Chloe Rutter Sam Arrowsmith Naomi Clarke 

Junior Ensemble 

Amber Reece-Greenhalgh (saxophone) 

& Alexandra Smith (saxophone) 

Senior Ensemble 

Edward Greaves (voice) 

Colin Greaves (voice) 

Sam Holmes (voice) 

Jack Cooke (voice) 

Oliver Mills (voice) 

Sam Wride (voice) 

Matt Nicholls (voice) 

Wind and Brass Cup String Cup Pianoforte Cup 

Edward Greaves (euphonium) Sam Holmes (violin) Henry Brearley 

Flute Cup 

Elizabeth Healey 

Most Promising Lower School Musician 

Georgia Curwen (cello, saxophone and voice) 

Adjudicator’s Cup 

Sam Holmes (violin and voice) 

Music, Drama and Art 63


AUTUMN AND WINTER CONCERTS 

The Music Department had a very busy Autumn term, 

preparing for the two concerts at the end of the term. First 

there was the Autumn Concert, where a number of Sixth 

Formers performed in preparation for their A level recitals. 

There was a range of solos, but the highlight of the evening for 

me was the vocal trio sung by Maddie Hardy, Naomi Clarke 

and Amy Wood, with their rendition of a song from Shrek the 

Musical. Up and coming talent in the school was also 

showcased when Junior Band opened the evening and the 

high quality of String Orchestra and First Orchestra remained 

apparent to all. 

In the Christmas Concert, we saw many of the school’s larger 

bands perform. With a variety of music from The James Bond 

Theme to Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, all of the 

bands were exceptional. In the final performance of the 

evening, it was a tribute to the music department to see just 

how many people were in Chorus, as over a hundred students 

performed music from The Lion King. Both of these concerts 

were a delight, not just to listen to, but to participate in, and I 

am sure that all forthcoming concerts will be of the same high 

standard. 

Suzanna Eames (L5) 

CONCERT AT THE RNCM 

The Music Department’s annual Spring 

Concert saw a change of venue this year 

as over 150 of the school’s musicians 

headed to the main auditorium of the 

Royal Northern College of Music. 

The proceedings began with a powerful 

rendition of Sibelius’ Finlandia, performed 

by Wind Orchestra, an ensemble 

consisting of the highest level Woodwind, Brass and 

Percussion players in the school and directed by Mrs Taylor. 

Applause filled the packed venue, emphasising the strength 

and quality with which the concert had begun. 

The concert continued with a Jazz influence as A Brighter 

Shade of Orange, a quintet made up of guitar, piano, bass, 

drums and saxophone, took to the stage to perform Kenny 

Dorham’s classic, Blue Bossa, and Duke 

Ellington’s Caravan. During these two 

numbers, Third Year saxophonist Alex 

Smith wowed the audience with her 

impressive improvisation skills. The 

department’s senior jazz band, The Swing 

Things, consisting mainly of Sixth Form 

instrumentalists, appeared later in the 

programme. They performed two pieces, 

the second of which was an original composition by the 

leader of both jazz bands, Mr Geth Griffiths, the school’s 

peripatetic double-bass tutor. Entitled Greavous Brotherly 

Harm, it quickly became a favourite amongst the band 

due to its heavy funk style and large improvisation sections. 

The piece also acted as the swan-song for guitarist Matt 

Nicholls and trumpeter Colin Greaves as they leave for 

university in September. 



A big feature of the concert was First Orchestra’s performance 

of Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto in G Minor, conducted by Mr 

Dow. The audience was blown away by the highly virtuosic 

playing of violin soloist Samuel Holmes, whose part 

comprised of continuous cadenzas and fast scalic flourishes, 

all of which was blissfully complemented by the beautiful 

themes, powerfully conveyed by the rest of the orchestra. 

Also directed by Mr Dow was Chamber Choir, the 

department’s smaller vocal ensemble. They began by 

performing All Creatures Now, one of John Bennet’s famous 

madrigals. Two pieces followed, each taken from John 

Rutter’s collection, Feel the Spirit. Lower Sixth Altos Naomi 

Clarke and Amy Wood both sang solo beautifully on Steal 

Away and Deep River respectively, as Mrs Taylor accompanied 

on the piano. Their fourth piece was an ‘a capella’ madrigal, 

Hark all ye lovely saints by Thomas Weelkes. The Chamber 

Choir set was brought to an end by a performance of Our Love 

is Here to Stay, which was arranged by Mr Griffiths. For this 

piece, the choir was joined by the String Orchestra, along with 

a professional guest drummer, to provide a fitting 

accompaniment for the Gershwin classic. 

As the choir left the stage, String Orchestra remained to play 

a few pieces on their own, beginning with another work by 

Sibelius, Andante Festivo, followed by the first two movements 

of Walton’s Henry V Suite. 

The grand finale of the evening came from our larger choir, 

Chorus, with a performance of Bob Chilcott’s, A Little Jazz 

Mass. The 15-minute long work is a setting of the Latin mass 

text in five movements: Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, Benedictus and 

Agnus Dei, all written in a Jazz style. The choir had an 

accompaniment of a Jazz Trio (piano, double bass and drums) 

to ensure the music was performed as truly intended by the 

composer. As the performance came to an end the audience 

was silent as they absorbed the powerful harmony of the final 

bars. Finally, applause filled the building as many spectators 

were on their feet to show well-deserved appreciation. 

The experience of performing in the Royal Northern College 

was enjoyed by all involved and taught us many things about 

showmanship, performance and professionalism. It is 

certainly something we hope to do again in the future. 

Oliver Mills (L7) 

LEAVERS’ CONCERT 

For me, the Leavers’ Concert marked the end of an era of 

music at Stockport Grammar School and of course the 

beginning of the next! 

Most of the larger instrumental groups performed during the 

evening but the highlights of the concert for me were the Brass 

Ensemble, Concert Band and the Leavers’ Ensemble. The 

thirteen of us who made up the Leavers’ Ensemble played a 

conglomeration of music all re-mastered for the correct 

instruments by Ollie Mills. These ‘snippets’ were all taken 

from music that we had either performed at the school or 

music that meant something to us, for instance some music 

from Wicked, a clip from Mozart’s Requiem, Michael Jackson’s 

Man in the Mirror. For me this final concert showed just how 

strong the music department of the school is and was a credit 

to all the hard work put in by the music staff. 

Sam Holmes (U5) 



MUSIC TOUR TO AUSTRIA 

On Friday 1 st July, 57 pupils and 6 members of staff set off on 

what would be the best music tour yet. The journey, being 

27 hours long was tiring and we were slightly delayed, 

but the excitement of all the pupils and staff made it 

enjoyable nevertheless. 

We arrived at 6pm the following day, welcomed with a hot 

delicious meal. The Hotel Hutter, where we were staying, 

was charming and typically Austrian, situated in a stunning 

valley. After our long journey, the remainder of the evening 

was spent relaxing, playing basket ball, football, rounders and 

table tennis, which showed the teachers in a whole new 

competitive light. 

In the afternoon we travelled to the Spa town of Bad Ischl, 

where we were honoured to participate in an Austrian mass 

service, by performing some of our repertoire. Afterwards we 

performed in a small concert in the same church for 

those who wanted to stay and listen. The church was 

stunning and the acoustics were spectacular. We had a truly 

magical experience. 

On Monday 4 th July, we travelled to the very well known 

Salzburg, where we met up with Andreas, our German 

assistant for 2010/2011, who lived in the area and performed 

with us. On the suggestion of Mr Flaherty, we decided to 

spontaneously sing our two spiritual choral pieces in 

Salzburg’s main square, which was a fantastic experience, as 

a large, enthusiastic crowd was drawn. This was also a great 

warm up for our next performance in Salzburg Cathedral. 

That performance was certainly humbling and the cathedral 

was exquisite. We felt privileged to have the opportunity to 

perform there. 

For those who wanted to, we could visit 

Mozart’s birth house, which was a key piece of 

musical history, fascinating to those who went. We 

even got to see Mozart’s own clavichord. 

Sunday saw us performing our first concert, which was in a 

bandstand, in the picturesque town of St Gilgen. There was a 

slight drizzle but with our advertisers diligently handing out 

fliers, we managed to draw a large crowd. 

Ice caves were on the cards for 

Tuesday, which involved lots of 

strenuous hiking up to a cable car, which 

we took even higher up the mountain. 

Some stayed at the alpine restaurant, while 



the more adventurous of the group braved the steep climb up 

to and around the ice caves. 70 minutes and 700 steps later 

we reached the maximum height of 1775m and had taken 

part in perhaps the most spectacular part of the tour: singing 

amongst abstract ice sculptures of elephants and polar bears 

in freezing conditions, with the only light coming from hand 

held oil lamps and magnesium strips. 

A delicious meal at the alpine restaurant followed before we 

moved on to our next venue, the Mirabell gardens. We were 

met by beautiful weather at the gardens and the concert was 

going fabulously with an enthusiastic crowd and with some of 

our best performances yet, until a light drizzle appeared. In 

true musicians style, the show must go on; however, soon the 

heavens opened and it rained so hard that we were drenched 

in seconds. There was a rush to cover all electronics with 

waterproofs and umbrellas, to prevent thousands of pounds 

worth of damage. Despite downpours, we still sang spirituals 

in true, cheery Stockport Grammar School music tour style! 

Back at the hotel, after warm food and hot showers all 

around, the Cabaret started, providing all sorts of 

entertainment and a range of emotions from the sadness of 

the leaders to the tears of laughter at certain acts. The 

traditional teachers act did not fail to impress and the hosts 

Ollie Mills and Colin Greaves did not lose their comedy 

magic. The sense of community really shined through with 

the whole tour getting up and singing together. The teachers 

had prepared a special award for every person and this 

rounded off the night well. 

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the hotel pool was 

unfortunately closed; however on Wednesday, a trip was 

organised to a nearby artificial lake. The freezing lake and the 

scorching sun provided the perfect combination for bouncing 

on the giant floating trampoline and beach volleyball, with 

everyone having loads of fun. 

Finally, after lunch, the sunburnt but happy pupils, embarked 

on the long trek home. Throughout the whole trip our lively 

music spirit never failed and everyone had the best of times. 

Thanks you so much to Mr Dow, Mrs Short, Mrs Johnson, Mr 

Flaherty and Mr White for making the trip possible but most 

of all to Mrs Taylor, for organising the trip; it was certainly an 

unforgettable experience. 

Zoe Harris (5Z) and Rosie Broadbent (5T) 



BLOOD WEDDING 

2010 saw the production of an Upper School play, this time a 

chilling story from the Spanish writer, Franco Garcia Lorca. 

Set in rural Spain, the plot provided some traditional aspects 

and also some unexpected twists. While the wedding 

between the two main characters is set to provide long-lasting 

happiness for them, things do not go as planned when the 

bride runs off with a previous lover. This triangle was very 

believable with Jamie Webb playing the stoically bemused 

bridegroom and Rob Samarji causing tension as he enticed 

Hannah Goldsby to abandon her wedding day and flee the 

celebrations. This chaotic situation in itself caused a lot of 

hilarity within rehearsals, but even more was created when 

the glittery, white face make-up of Harry Griffin was revealed, 

playing an extremely dramatic moon. Adding into the mix 

prophesising woodcutters, village girls, a gossipy maid, the 

parents of the presumably happy couple and the character of 

Death all made for a very unusual outcome. 

blood and lots of backcombing to try to create the most 

terrifying character possible to rise out of the smoke in rags. 

Rachel Bates’ convincing portrayal of a woman turned mad 

with grief was extremely successful and was mirrored by the 

character of a mother becoming suspicious of her unfaithful 

husband, played by Tasmin Ray, who had in fact eloped with 

the bride. 

The play was a great success; congratulations should be 

given to the entire cast and a big thank you to Mrs Moffatt 

for directing. 

Amy Wood (L2) 

Despite tensions running high in the lead-up to the 

performances, it was agreed by all that they were certainly 

memorable, including an extremely horrific scream, copious 

amounts of fake blood and the (stage) deaths of two of the 

main characters. With the addition of extra scenes on the day 

of the performance, real leaves and a smoke machine to 

contend with, the whole cast really pulled together and the 

performances went well. The outfits also provided some fun, 

with Death wearing over 15 layers and Rob managing to use 

many of his own clothes as his costume. As well as the Moon’s 

extremely heavy make-up, the woodcutters were also 

subjected to being coated in green and brown paint. The role 

of Death involved many layers of black poster paint, fake 



TROJAN WOMEN TITLE 

Sympathy for the Devil, later to be joined by a pleasingly 

cynical Poseidon (Jake Lee), it was clear that this play would 

be an intense and emotional experience for the audience. 

As the women of Troy entered the stage, Mrs Lawson’s 

Hecuba was the image of a broken woman, who brilliantly 

portrayed the pain of a mother knowingly having to separate 

from her children. Hecuba remained almost an ever-present 

maternal figure throughout the play whose appeals to the 

Greek herald and to the gods were wrenchingly heart-felt and 

left the audience deeply affected. It must have been a nervewracking 

experience to step out onto the stage with and in 

front of your pupils! 

In the Spring Term Mr Thorley continued his run of directing 

Classical tragedies and put on his sixth play. This annual 

production has become one of the most anticipated events of 

the school year’s calendar and is eagerly awaited not only by 

pupils, but parents and staff also. Testament to this is the fact 

that despite enlisting the help of a very willing assistant (!) to 

create several hundred tickets by hand, nearly all had sold out 

before the play had even opened. And those who came to 

see the play were certainly not disappointed. 

Mr Thorley has proven in past productions that he has a 

distinctly innovative and original approach when it comes to 

recreating the ancient tragedies so that they are as accessible 

and evocative today as they would have been in Fifth Century 

BC Athens. This year’s production of ‘Trojan Women’ by 

Euripides was certainly no different. 

The play follows the fates of the women of Troy after their city 

has been sacked by the Greek armies, their husbands have 

been killed, and their remaining families are about to be taken 

away as slaves. The dethroned queen of Troy, Hecuba (Mrs 

Lawson) is informed by the Greek herald Talthybius (Alastair 

Watts) of the fates which will befall her and the remaining 

daughters of Troy. The tale is harrowing and centres around 

the destructive and emotional after-effects of war, focusing on 

the women who are left widowed and powerless. One can 

see how Mr Thorley drew a connection between the fates of 

these women and those of occupied Europe in the Second 

World War, and this was incorporated to powerful effect to 

his production. 

The link was undeniable as before the play had even begun 

the audience was immediately sobered by the incredible set, 

constructed by Dave Matthews. This fantastic recreation of a 

1940’s cattle-truck dominated the stage and formed the 

bridge between the ancient and modern context. Combined 

with Caitlin Gorman’s ominous and atmospheric first 

appearance from the audience as the goddess Athene singing 

Elspeth Wallace gave one of the most memorable 

performances of the night as Cassandra, the prophetess 

daughter of Hecuba who had been chosen to return to 

Greece with Agamemnon as his concubine. Her portrayal of 

Cassandra captivated the audience, firstly with just the right 

amount of madness, as she floated from one side of the stage 

to the other singing a disjointed and poignant version of 

Madonna’s Get into the Groove. Secondly, the frantic terror 

she showed as she learned of her fate and was taken away 

from her mother and her home again reminded the audience 

of the connection with the women of the Holocaust. 

Other impressive performances came from Alastair Watts as 

the herald Talthybius, who gave the impression of a resolute 

and firm Greek acting upon higher orders as he informed the 

women of their various fates. When he brought news of 

Andromache and the deceased Hector’s baby boy he 

showed real emotion and displayed a moving acting ability as 

he ordered that the baby be thrown from the city’s walls 

and killed. 

Maddie Hardy as Andromache, the widowed wife of the great 

Trojan hero Hector, gave another remarkable performance. 

She gave a stirring rendition of Randy Van Warmer’s Just 

When I Needed You Most which brought to life for the 

audience the pain which these women and of course those of 

Nazi Europe must have felt as their loved ones were taken 

away from them. 

The entrance of Helen (Jenni Meikle) and Menelaus (Sam 

Fraser), whose separation began the war, indicated that the 

drama was approaching its climax. Helen’s self-possession 

Music, The Drama Year’s and News Art 69


contrasted well with the barely-contained fury of her exhusband 

and new mother-in-law. Helen is one of the most 

enigmatic figures from Greek mythology – enchanting and 

bewitching for good and for bad. Jenni captured the 

seductive force of Helen extremely well, visibly creating a 

reaction in both the other cast members and the audience. 

The Chorus were one of the most powerful and evocative 

elements of the production, played by Sarah Hindle (who sang 

the haunting melody Dance With my Father beautifully), Arran 

Mackay, Lorna Nicholson and Angharad Smith. It was through 

them that the theme of Nazi Europe was truly equated with the 

play, as their odes served as soliloquies. In Euripides’ play they 

represent the women of Troy and express the emotion and pain 

at the injustices which the women of the play are suffering. In 

this production their choral appeals were imaginatively 

interpreted by Mr Thorley and each of them narrated a different 

account from real victims of the Holocaust. As they spoke, 

various images of the camps and people of Nazi Europe were 

projected behind them and their final exodus resonated with a 

fantastic rendition of Afterglow by Genesis. The effect was 

haunting and was clearly relevant to the audience in terms of 

what the Trojan women were experiencing. 

This play deserves great 

acclaim not only for the 

challenging and 

innovative direction 

conjured by Mr Thorley, 

but also for the amazing 

cast and the fantastic 

exhibition which 

accompanied the 

production. Every year 

the Lower Sixth proves to 

be full of talented pupils, 

and this year the team 

worked so hard to 

present this challenging 

and emotional play in a 

sensitive 

and 

unforgettable way. This 

was achieved to such an extent that many tissues had been 

shared and tears shed by the final dramatic moment of 

Hecuba’s death. 

Lauren McAllister (OS 2006) 

HOMELESS 

On a cold, windy, May 

weekend, many eager 

Lower School pupils were 

ready to get creative. We 

were about to take on 

a drama challenge – to 

create a play from scratch 

in just one weekend! 

Our aim was to raise 

money and awareness 

for the homeless charity 

The Wellspring based 

just down the road 

in Stockport. 

With the help of Ziona Smith, a brilliant professional actor and 

director and Mrs Moffatt, our outstanding teacher, we created 

a fantastic play which really looked into the lives of homeless 

people. It showed why these people are in need, how they 

survived and how homeless charities can help them. 

All together an amazing £600 was raised from the two 

performances which took place under the main entrance 

archway to the school. It was a unique space to put on a play 

but with both the actors and audience having to brave the 

elements, it allowed us to really empathise with how it must 

really be to be homeless. 

Overall, the production was a huge success; thank you to all 

the teachers, helpers and pupils. Our homeless project, on 

and off stage, was a truly inspirational experience. 

Faye Holleworth (3S) 



NOTES FROM LEONARDO 

“Art is much less important than life, but what a poor life 

without it.” Robert Motherwell. 

In the opening paragraph of last year’s “Notes.......” I 

mentioned that I was writing while on the department’s 

residential trip to Rhoscolyn in Anglesey. The purpose for 

Of course, while the exhibition marks the end of the year, 

the department is engaged in plenty of activity throughout 

each term. Back in September, the Lower Sixth kick-started 

their AS coursework with two sessions working outdoors, in 

Wythenshawe Gardens and then Castlefield. Both venues 

provide excellent 

scope for detailed 

drawings and 

present their own 

The Lower Sixth 

drawing in Castelfield 

Basin, Manchester. 

A level pupils in Moelfre, Anglesey. 

undertaking such visits is to gather source material in the form 

of sketches, photographs and so forth, that are then 

developed into more resolved work when back working in the 

studio. I am pleased to say that the trip was enjoyed by all 

and the fruits of what had begun there were displayed at the 

Annual GCSE and A level exhibition held in May where it was 

very well received. 

The exhibition is the showcase event in the Art department’s 

calendar and is always well attended by not only the pupils 

and their parents, but by school governors, staff and friends. 

Once again, the range of work provided evidence of both the 

talent and hard work our young artists commit to the subject 

and the staging of the exhibition is a just reward for them. On 

a personal level I find it encouraging to hear such favourable 

comments from our visitors and to see the maturity and strong 

personal response our pupils achieve in their work which 

helps motivate and encourage our younger pupils. 

specific challenges. This is 

followed by a day spent 

with the Upper Sixth 

visiting some of the main 

London galleries. This 

year the party spent time 

at Tates Modern and Britain and also enjoyed the boat trip 

along the Thames that links the two. There was also enough 

time to take in the National Gallery before the journey back 

to Euston and the train ride home. It is not only the Sixth 

Form who enjoy gallery visits however, and in March the Fifth 

Year artists spent a day at The Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool 

in preparation for their externally assessed pieces. 

The Sixth Form outside Tate 

Britain, London (above), and 

the Fifth Year on the steps of 

The Walker Gallery, 

Liverpool (left). 



Back in school, the competition to design the cover for the 

School Carol Service at St George’s Church was won by Lucy 

Pilling (below) of 5A with a design that combined the Mother 

and Child with the star of David. It was chosen from a strong 

selection of entrants from the Lower School. 

In March, a further three 

of our pupils had their 

work selected for The 

Living Edge Annual 

Schools’ Art Competition 

held in The Hexagon 

Gallery in The Lowry 

in Salford. Gabriella 

Watkins, Amie Meadows 

and Ellie Broster can all 

take great pleasure in 

having been chosen 

to have their work 

displayed alongside their 

counterparts from other 

leading schools from the 

area. The standard of 

work was very high and 

so we were delighted when Ellie’s painting was awarded the 

second prize in the senior category. Ellie seemed quite 

stunned to have been so highly commended by the judges; 

she needn’t have been as her painting was excellent. 

The department remains keen to establish links to Art 

practitioners and to try and broaden the experience for our 

pupils. Mrs Beckett’s trip to Ghislaine Howard’s studio near 

Glossop has become an annual event in the A level course 

while the Lower School pupils benefited from a tremendous 

workshop given by the illustrator and animator Curtis Jobling 

who visited the school in the Summer Term. 

Ellie Broster of the Upper Sixth. 

It is this variety of experience, along with the opportunity to 

do life drawing sessions and the like, that makes the 

department so vibrant and thanks are due to my colleagues 

Mrs Beckett, Miss Upton, Dr Kampelmann and Mrs Perkins for 

making sure things run so smoothly. We will take a breath 

before returning with renewed vigour and the desire to build 

on what has been achieved this year. 

R.A. Davies 

Head of Art 


Clockwise from top left: Portrait (textiles) Simon Fraser; 

Futurist Batsman (pencil) Sam Clark; Portrait (ink) Ana 

Krywonos; Portrait (textiles) Mark Orpey. 

The Stopfordian 2010–2011


Clockwise from top left: Still life (Acrylic) Liza Vul; Still life 

(pencil) Emily Howling; Textiles composite Penny Bowring, 

Adam Bennett, Katie Clarke and Evie Barlow; Still life 

(pencil) Annie Rowe; Futurist gearing (collage) Eilidh Pollard.


Clockwise from top left: Untitled (acrylic) Alistair Patterson; 

Untitled (mixed media) William Robinson; Still life with 

Guitar (acrylic) Harriet Craven; Untitled (acrylic) Bethany 

McLoughlin.


Clockwise from top left: Futurist figure (acrylic) Rosie Broadbent; Butterfly (mixed media) Rowland Williams; Untitled after Dali (acrylic) Jamie Rahman; Self Portrait (mixed media) Ayoni Medagoda

Clockwise from top 

left: Trumpet 

(collage) Alex 

Longson; Still life 

(acrylic) Harriet 

Craven; Butterfly 

wing (acrylic) 

Karolina Amstutz; 

Untitled (silk) Jessica 

Cowell. 



Clockwise from top left: Untitled (acrylic) Emma Lennon; Climber (acrylic) Rowland Williams; Untitled (acrylic) Katherine 

Weeks; Untitled (mixed media) Amie Meadows.

Clockwise from 

top left: 

Lion (acrylic), 

Sofia Jassim; 

Untitled (acrylic) 

Jessica 

Hadfield; Dress 

Helen Topham; 

Pepper (mixed 

media) Holly 

Allcock. 



Clockwise form top: 

Untitled (acrylic), Verity Lukes-Mooney; Untitled (mixed media) Tanya Birkett; 

Untitled (colograph) Arran McKay; Untitled (mixed media) Lorna Nicholson.

Clockwise from top left: Paris Bookshop (acrylic) Hannah Richmond; Torso (acrylic) Philip Ellis; Freddie and 

Hannah (acrylic) Ellie Broster. 



Clockwise from above: Lily (batik) Nadia Higham; Chicken 

(acrylic) Philip Ellis; Eagle (plaster) Rebecca Delahunty.


Clockwise from top: The City, London (acrylic) Frederica 

Bond; Untitled (detail) (acrylic) Juwhan Han; Untitled after 

Kiefer (acrylic, bitumen and straw) Megan Smithson.


Clockwise from left: 

Untitled (acrylic) Ellie 

Broster; Pomegranite 

(mixed media) Nadia 

Higham; Untitled 

(acrylic) Amie Napper.


GAMES 

As I write this introduction, we have just reached the end of a 

hectic year of sport. We were challenged at the end of the 

Autumn Term and beginning of the Spring Term by adverse 

weather conditions and, despite the promising start, the 

Summer Term was to prove equally frustrating. Despite these 

problems, our pupils continued to be totally committed to 

their sport and you will read of the successes achieved in the 

next few pages. As always, my sincere thanks to all those 

academic staff who have made time in their busy schedule to 

assist with sport at the School. Thanks also to the Grounds 

Staff who undoubtedly produce the very best playing surfaces 

in the North West and to the catering and caretaking 

departments who support us so well throughout the year. 

Finally, thanks are due to my colleagues in the PE Department 

– there cannot be a more committed group of professionals! 

After a short stay of one year, Miss Merriman left the PE 

Department in July to join her fiancée in Qatar. She has given 

a great deal to the School and I wish her every future success. 

C. J. Wright 

HOCKEY 

Another successful season closes and it is time to reflect on a 

year where more girls than ever have been selected to play on 

the Greater Manchester sides and from there the North of 

England teams. There have been an unprecedented number 

of representative honours this year which come as a result of 

the hard work and dedication that these individuals have 

shown in practices and matches. Martha Watson played for 

Bowden Hockey club in the National indoor Under 18s finals. 

Amanda Bennison, Charlotte Bailey and Sophie Hall were a 

vital part of the Alderley Edge Under 18 side who won the 

National Clubs competition for that age group. Amanda jets 

off to the United States of America to begin a Hockey 

scholarship at Indiana University and we look forward to 

regular updates of how she is getting on “State side”. 

The Under 12s were undefeated and scored outstanding wins 

against tough opposition: Arnold were taken apart, Altrincham 

humbled, and they dominated the Stockport Schools’ 

Tournament sweeping aside all who challenged them. They 

have a very bright future ahead of them and I look forward to 

watching them continue to flourish and develop. 

Mrs Jones worked with the Under 13s and guided them to 

several notable victories. They terrorised many defences and 

scored some goals which almost broke the back-boards. 

Enthusiastic and energetic in all that they do, they are driven 

in midfield, calm and collected at the back. They still have 

much to learn but have a great potential. 

Mrs Lockwood has enjoyed coaching the Under 14s this year 

after a couple of difficult seasons. A talented squad, they have 

a magnificent record this season and scored victories against 

teams a year older than themselves. Their personal highlight 

will be the final of the Stockport Schools’ Tournament where 

they tore Cheadle Hulme apart, recording an 8-1 victory in a 

game which was only 20 minutes each way. I look forward to 

taking them forward as a squad next season and would not be 

at all surprised if some of them forced their way into the 1 st XI. 

Victory and win are not words the Under 15s were familiar 

with until this season, having struggled to secure victories in 

the past. One of my hardest jobs this season was to re-build 

their confidence in their own ability and I think this has been 

successfully achieved. They have battled hard on the pitch 

and with a more dedicated approach have the potential to 

achieve great things. Sophie Hall and Jennifer Warwick made 

the big step up to the 1st XI and performed well; Sophie 

scored several goals on her début in the Greater Manchester 

Schools’ tournament, including one from a very acute angle. 

I encourage them all to keep working hard. 

Laura Potter led the 2 nd XI to one of their most successful 

seasons. The team have a special bond both on and off the 

pitch; they have won several games and been robbed in 

several others! This year sees on out-flux of a number of key 

players who I hope will continue to play in the future. I thank 

Laura for all of her hard work, but also Olivia “I’ve got an 

Open Day” Spencer, Katie “I used to be a goal-keeper but I 

play at the back now” McCay and Alicia “we should beat 

them shouldn’t we Withy?” Warner who have served the 2 nd 

XI well. 

The 1 st XI were strong, committed and determined to do well 

this season and have knitted together perhaps even better 

than I could have hoped. The winning of the Greater 

Manchester Under 18 Tournament at the end of the season 

perhaps despatched their long lingering anguish of their defeat 

in the North round of the National Schools’ where we were 

cruelly beaten after dominating the game in the play-off final. 

Highlights include Olivia Simpson scoring the goal which beat 

Cheadle Hulme on her 16 th birthday and celebrating in a way 

that would have befit a World Cup final, Lara Acott smashing 

goals in left right and centre during her one and only injury 

free season, ably served by Phoebe Broome flashing down the 

wing and crossing the ball and Amanda Bennison bouncing off 

dreadful tackle after dreadful tackle in midfield as the 

opposition struggled to cope with her weaving runs. Phoebe 

has been an outstanding captain and I thank her for all of her 

hard work. The departure of the Three Musketeers, Phoebe 

“Feeble” Broome, Lara “Apricot” Acott and Amanda “Benny” 

Bennison will leave a big hole in terms of both skill and 

personality. Special thanks at this point should be given to 

“The Family Broome” who have watched almost every single 

match in which Phoebe has played during her 7 years at SGS; 

they have umpired for me, provided the “118 118” outfits for 

the last match of the season and become a real part of the 

Saturday morning set up, they too will be greatly missed. 

The season was punctuated by the weather which ravaged the 

fixture list between November and January forcing the 

Sport 73


cancellation of a number of fixtures and making the season 

seem a very short one. We will never be able to control the 

weather and although our hard working Grounds’ Staff 

ensures that the surfaces are in immaculate playing 

condition even they can do nothing to prevent the frost or the 

snow which were symptomatic of the weather this year. On 

behalf of the girls and myself may I thank them for their 

continued hard work and dedication. I also thank Nigel 

Stanhope for his continued support in coaching at SGS, Mrs 

Lockwood and Mrs Jones for their hard work with the Junior 

sides and look forward to an equally enjoyable and successful 

season next year. 

S. Withington 

Hockey Representative Honours 2010-2011 

Martha Watson and Lily Harrison played in the Hi-Pac 

Territorial Tournament from which the England Under 17 

squad is selected. 

Lara Knowles attended an England Under 16 trial and has 

been selected to represent Cheshire. 

Girls selected for North Training: 

Under 21 

Amanda Bennison 

Phoebe Broome 

Verity Lukes Mooney 

Emma Woodhead 

Under 18 


Lily Harrison 


Under 16 

Martha Watson 

Sophie Hall 

Lara Knowles 

Under 14 

Maya Gordon 

Holly Hunt 


Meghan Myers 

Emily Spencer 

Girls selected to represent Greater Manchester: 

Under 18 

Lara Acott 



Phoebe Broome 

Lily Harrison 

Verity Lukes Mooney 


Emma Woodhead 

Under 16 

Sophie Hall 

Martha Watson 

Under 14 

Holly Hunt 


Emily Spencer 

Meghan Myers 

Maya Gordon 

Megan Smith 

Under 13 

Francesca Bailey 

Evie Barlow 

Jessica Carroll 


Georgina Dare 

Rachel Fitzsimmons 

Lauren Hunt 

Lily Wolstenholme 

Sarah Stretton 

1ST XI HOCKEY 

After seven years of playing school hockey this season has 

without doubt been the best. We lost the first game but, after 

finding our feet, we went from strength to strength, winning 

matches consecutively. With strength in the midfield from Lily 

Harrison and a strong defence in Emma Woodhead, Angharad 

Smith and Charlotte Bailey we were set for the first round of 

the National Tournament. We excelled ourselves throughout 

the tournament and got through to the next round as winners. 

The second round proved to be more taxing as we lost to 

Arnold but beat Sedbergh therefore putting us up against 

King’s Chester to whom we unfortunately lost. 

We did not let the disappointment get us down and we 

continued to dominate in our local Saturday fixtures, with 

winning performances from Verity Lukes-Mooney and 

Amanda Bennison linking the defence to the attack and 

therefore creating opportunities for numerous goals. 

74 Sport


Cheadle yet again, but lost out again to King’s Chester so we 

left runners up. 

We ended the season on a high beating Altrincham in our final 

game; however on that morning we could have been 

mistaken for curly haired marathon running men. 

For the four of us leaving, a Saturday morning lie in will 

replace school hockey. Hockey has given us so many laughs 

and so many memories and it is definitely something that will 

be sorely missed. 

A visit from an Argentinian touring side allowed us to show 

our hospitality skills, as well as our prowess on the pitch. The 

season then quickly drew to a close after yet another spell of 

bad weather but with two tournaments left we took the 

opportunities to show we were national tournament worthy! 

The Greater Manchester tournament was a special 

opportunity to showcase our team’s talent. With fantastic 

goals from Lara Acott, Lara Knowles and Emma Lingard 

(finally!!) we stormed through and claimed the shield. Our 

second tournament was the Cheadle Sevens; we beat 

As captain this year it has been an honour to lead such a 

wonderful group of talented players who always give 100% on 

the pitch and who have bonded so well off the pitch. It has 

also been a privilege to be coached by Miss Withington over 

the last seven years; her giddiness after too much red cabbage 

at lunch will be missed. 

I wish the team every success in the future and want to thank 

each and every player for their contribution to making this 

year fantastic. 

Phoebe Broome (U4) 

2ND XI HOCKEY 

The great thing about playing for the Senior 2nd XI is that no 

week is ever the same. Continuity this year was perhaps not 

our greatest strength but the losses we suffered made us 

appreciate the victories that little bit more – even if they were 

few and far between! It would be more fitting to describe the 

success of the Second Team as the fun that we have had as a 

team. Saturday mornings have been something to look 

forward to and despite the fact that the number of goals 

narrowly qualifies for double digits, the team have remained 

passionate and optimistic until the very end of the season. As 

a team we have faced the worst of the weather, combatted 

those all too frequent Saturday morning headaches, collected 

a fair amount of bumps and bruises and, most importantly, we 

have had so many laughs along the way. 

Representing Stockport Grammar for seven years on the 

hockey pitch has been a pleasure and I would like to thank 

the whole team for their efforts. We have not only become a 

team of hockey players but over the duration of the season, 

with the help of the many socials on a Saturday night, we have 

become a group of friends. I know it is going to be difficult 

to replace Olivia Spencer, Alicia Warner, Katie McCay and me 

as we head off to university this year (hopefully), but I 

encourage those that remain to stay strong and I wish the new 

Second XI the best of luck for the forthcoming season – just 

remember…‘Mark-up girls and keep those sticks on the floor!’ 

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Nige and 

Withy for their patience, hard work and dedication over the 

years. I have had a great time and will be taking many fond 

memories with me. 

‘Winning is only half of it. Having fun winning is the other 

half.’ 

Laura Potter (U2) 

Sport 75


UNDER 15 HOCKEY 

Following two unsettled and unsuccessful seasons the U15 

squad were determined the only way was up for 2010/11! 

That ‘Dunkirk spirit’ resulted in an excellent opening game 

which we won without conceding a single goal. Our second 

match, a joint effort with the U16s, was another easy victory; 

the opposition’s defences were obliterated as we rampaged to 

an 8-0 win! Despite our best efforts against many tough 

teams, and playing in some difficult weather conditions in the 

games that followed, our winning streak faded – but not our 

resolve! Our hunger did not falter and we continued to play 

to the best of our ability. 

Being part of the U15 team remains something to be proud 

of; week after week we never gave up and only ever came out 

fighting. I think our sense of purpose is not only testament to 

us as players but also to our coach Miss ‘Withy’ Withington. 

Throughout the season she has encouraged us to develop 

team skills and individual strengths. Thanks to her mentoring 

and support we have experienced and enjoyed a tough, yet 

memorable season that we shall never forget. 

Elly Cramer (4K) 


our first game against our long time rivals Arnold. We were 

defeated in this game, but this made us even more determined 

to come back fighting and the next time we played them we 

managed to hold them to a very well earned draw. 

We worked hard alongside our coach, Mrs Lockwood, to 

improve our skills and tactics in the game. We bonded as a 

team and started to bring in some good wins. We conceded 

few goals throughout the season and nothing could stop us 

from continuously improving, with a few of our scores into 

double figures. 

After a successful season as U13s, the U14 team came back 

after a relaxing summer raring to go. We worked hard to 

regain the fitness lost over the long holiday and prepared for 

We have all appreciated the incredible progress that we have 

made this season both individually and as a team and are eager 

to take on the challenges that next season presents to us. 

Alexa Holland (3U) 


This was a great year of hockey, as we won or drew the 

majority of our games, despite not having our full team out 

for all the games (as the Second Year is the final year where 

pupils can play both hockey and netball for the school). We 

did have a few cancelled games over the season due the 

snowy weather. 

We competed in a tournament at Altrincham Girls’ Grammar 

School; we played three games in the first round and thrashed 

each team except Cheadle Hulme, whom we drew with. We 

scored a great goal in the last five minutes of the game, but 

then they scored a goal in the last 30 seconds! We got 

through to the semi-finals, but sadly lost out to Altrincham 

Girls’, losing 4-1. 

76 Sport


We then competed in the Stockport Schools’ tournament, in 

which we had been runners up to Cheadle Hulme the 

previous season. The tournament was held at Preistnall 

School and the pitches were half the size of our half sized 

pitches! We got through to the semis, but sadly did not play 

to our ability and lost out to Wilmslow. 

The team would like to say a massive thank-you to Mrs Jones 

and Miss Withington for organising games, practices and such 

a good year of hockey! 

Ellen McPherson (2Q) 


The U12 hockey team have had a fantastic season. We 

have fielded very strong teams for all our matches, resulting 

in us conceding very few goals and winning all our 

matches comfortably. 

We took part in a tournament at Cheadle Hulme School 

during the season. We scored many goals in each game 

thanks to our attackers and mid-fields and remarkably did not 

concede a single goal due to the skills of our amazing goalie 

and defenders. 

As well as the matches, training sessions have taken place at 

lunchtime and after school. The squad has improved a great 

deal this year and so hopefully we will be able to continue our 

run of being undefeated next year. 

Francesca Bailey, Evie Barlow, Jessica Carroll, Georgina Dare, 

Lauren Hunt, Sarah Stretton and Lily Wolstenholme have also 

been selected to represent the Greater Manchester JAC U12 

and U13 hockey teams. 

Overall it was an extremely successful hockey season for our 

U12 team. Thank you to Miss Withington and Mrs Jones for 

taking us to matches and holding practices. Also thank you 

Nigel Stanhope and Amanda for coaching us at Wednesday 

night training. 

We look forward to playing 11 a side matches next season and 

getting back to training again! 

Francesca Bailey (1Q) 

1ST XV RUGBY 

The first match of the year was against the Old Stopfordians 

XV. This highly anticipated match saw us put in a good 

performance showing glimpses of talent but we couldn’t hold 

off a passionate and aggressive Old Boys’ team. With this 

defeat behind us we focused on our first competitive game 

against Cheadle Hulme. A lazy performance resulted in a 20- 

17 loss against our closest rivals. A very disappointing result 

needed a good response. Two high scoring wins against 

Newcastle 30-7 and Fallibroome 55-5 were exactly what we 

needed with Eddie Ardern showing how effective he is in the 

broken up play. Next up was MGS and our inconsistency 

returned which resulted in a disappointing result. Again this 

put us under pressure to come up with a response when we 

faced Wirral away which could have potentially been a very 

tough fixture but a good performance saw us win 30-5. 

Beating Sandbach, the Daily Mail Vase winners, in our next 

match capped off another good performance. However 

losing our vice-captain to a long term leg injury was a big blow 

to the team. We ended the half term with a trip to St Ambrose 

and a quality first half display saw us take a good lead into half 

time, but defensive errors saw the lead slip away from us and 

we lost the game 23-32. 

Sport 77


Coming back after the half term break, the team looked 

refreshed and it showed in arguably the performance of the 

season against Audenshaw away when winning 32-0. Our 

young back line began to click with Sam Fraser destroying his 

opposite man and others around him! It also helped that by 

this time Jamie Mills was on about 10 tries! We replicated our 

good form in the next match against our toughest opponents 

Q.E.G.S. Wakefield away. Leading for 50mins was a good 

achievement but again some errors lost us a closely contested 

match 8-17, but it was performance to be proud of! After this, 

the freezing weather brought an icy halt to our progress. 

Three potential wins against Rishworth, Bolton and Crossely 

Heath were all cancelled which was disappointing as we 

could not take our good form further. 

After two months without rugby we were bound to be a bit rusty. 

This showed in the defeat against Caldy. Beating Fallibroome in 

the Cheshire cup quarter final 28-15 set up an exciting semi-final 

against our huge local rivals Wilmslow. A strong team 

performance saw us come very close to beating one of the best 

team in the country this year and again was another 

performance of which to be proud. The cold weather came 

back again to deny us the opportunity to play out the remaining 

fixtures. However, we ended the season on win against, St 

Luke’s College, the touring Argentinian side. With many players 

billeting the Argentinians it gave us the chance to show them our 

favourite Indian restaurant: a night to remember! 

With the 15-a-side season over, 7’s became the new focus. 

The shortened version of the game provided players with an 

opportunity to show off their speed and agility. This was 

evident from people such as Chris Spencer, Eddie Ardern and 

James Flynn. The hard work on the training ground and some 

new dynamic training drills from the coaching staff all helped 

and resulted in us reaching the Cheshire 7’s final only to be 

beaten by a very strong Lymm team. Rosslyn Park was a great 

way to end the season with good performance on the pitch as 

well as high levels of banter off the pitch. 

A number of players have stood out this year. Firstly, our try 

scoring sensation Jamie Mills finished the year with 25 tries to 

his name, pretty good for a second row! His partner in crime 

Angus Hotchkies also deserves to be mentioned for his effort 

and willingness for the team. Other players such as Will 

“Waldo” Aldridge, Harvey Taylor and many others should be 

thanked for everything they have done for school rugby in 

their 7 years. Adding to this the younger players in the team 

they should be very proud of their contribution throughout 

this season. 1 st XV rugby can be very difficult for Fifth Years 

but people such as Mark Cox and Ben Hayes coped very well. 

It has been a very tough season this year with some results not 

going our way, but the way the team responded to the many 

challenges and pressure has been brilliant. This is down to the 

solid team spirit and also patient and helpful coaching. Many 

thanks go to Mr Corbett, Mr Hanson and Mr Urwin for all they 

have done for rugby this year, from, “Who needs Mourhino?” 

to Mr Corbett’s killer sevens. Finally I would like to wish next 

year’s 1 st XV good luck throughout and I am sure I will see 

you all in your first match!! 

Ronil Rawal (U7) 

2ND XV RUGBY 

very satisfying. Two outstanding tries by Peake sealing the 

win. St Ambrose again proved a stumbling block as we 

struggled to come to terms with the pace at which they 

produced ball from the ruck, often arriving only to see the ball 

being moved swiftly and skilfully away from the contact area. 

After half term St Bede’s and Audenshaw were despatched 

before the annual contest against QEGS Wakefield. In a tight 

game we emerged deserved winners when Ferguson broke 

Yorkshire hearts with a superb try in the final minutes, despite 

a suspiciously generous amount of extra time. They don’t like 

losing in Yorkshire! 

By the consistently impressive standards set by the 2 nd XV 

over the years this was an outstanding year. To lose only two 

games with a fixture list as strong as ours is testament to the 

skill, attitude and character of the squad. No small mention 

must be made of the contribution of Mr Corbett, whose 

innovative approach to training kept the boys interested and 

also on their toes. 

We began with wins against CHS, Wirral GS and MGS – the 

latter being particularly satisfying as the score was close at half 

time. To see us up the ante and run out winners by 31 -3 was 

The run up to Christmas was blighted by inclement weather 

which continued to frustrate us in the New Year. We did 

record an emphatic win against Calday Grange HS 74 -4 but 

went down to a strong Wilmslow XV through tactical naivety; 

failing to exploit a strong wind advantage in the first half we 

actually went into the second half losing. Against the 

elements we could not break out of our own half and had to 

accept defeat 27-5. The eagerly awaited match against rivals 

King’s Macclesfield was cancelled, again due to the weather. 

Despite this, it was an immensely pleasurable season and I 

would like to thank the squad for their loyalty and 

commitment and Jack Maclaren for captaining the side. 

78 Sport


Certain individuals are worth mentioning for their consistently 

good performances. Jones was indefatigable, while Wetters, 

Ward and Webster formed a formidable front row that 

dominated every opposition front row. Gaskin and Cawthorn 

made real nuisances of themselves in the loose, while in the 

backs Fraser was outstanding at centre. 

As always the new season provides new challenges, emerging 

players, and optimism. Long may it continue. 

P. A. Urwin 

SGS BOYS PLAY REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL 

Having regularly won Cheshire ‘County’ U15 and U16 

honours, both James Webster (5Z) and Andrew Ward (5Y) 

(loose and tight-head props respectively) went on to trial for 

North of England U16 ‘Divisional’ honours, with Andrew 

further trialing for England U16s. Both boys were also later 

selected to represent the North of England at the Wellington 

College International Rugby Festival 2011, last April. 

Pictured Andrew Ward (Red Shirt No3) and James Webster 

(unsighted), settling down to scrummage for the North of 

England against England U16s in a gripping encounter with 

England, finally running out 27 v 5 victors. 

Both boys now regularly play 1st XV rugby for SGS and are 

looking to progress to later stages of U18 Daily Mail Vase, 

having reached the seventh round (Northern Regional Final) at 

SGS U15s. 

UNDER 15 RUGBY 

The season proper always starts with games against our local 

rivals Cheadle Hulme. This year group had never beaten 

Cheadle in three years of trying and it was difficult, after our 

preparation, in seeing them reversing the form. On the 

positive side all 20 players were fit and well and they had 

trained hard in the week leading up to the match. The 

Stockport forwards were aggressive in the early engages and 

this produced some good quality ball for captain Tom Morton 

to apply territorial pressure. A very impressive team 

performance saw SGS run out convincing 37-14 winners. This 

gave the team a well needed confidence boost and they 

followed up the win against Cheadle with 2 other wins against 

West Hill 37-10 and Newcastle-U-Lyme 45-19. 

PLAYED 15 WON 9 DRAWN 0 LOST 6 

My coaching philosophy over the last ten year of running 

U15s squads is that you need three things to be successful; a 

group ethic to work hard in training, a competitive edge and 

a will to win. I was therefore apprehensive that this season 

would yield the 50% strike rate we set as our benchmark. 

Limited numbers attended pre-season training at the end of 

August and then over half the squad were involved in a Duke 

of Edinburgh expedition the following week, meaning our 

warm–up game against Sandbach had to be cancelled. 

Hardly the best way to prepare for our first game. 

A bad cut for Jed Holloway, an arm injury for J.P. Tyrrell and a 

leg injury for Courtney Howell in the first ten minutes against 

Manchester left the pack very light and eventually M.G.S. won 

20-10. Four days later on a very wet and windy day Stockport 

put in a determined performance to beat Bramhall H.S. 15-0 

to go through to round 3 of the Daily Mail Cup. 

Numbers at training again began to drop off and 2 really poor 

performances followed. They lost 29-7 to Wirral and were 

completely outclassed by a very strong St. Ambrose side, who 

would go on to the quarter finals of the Daily Mail Cup. 

The October half-term was a welcome break and enabled the 

players to rest whilst also getting some players back from 

Sport 79


injuries. They returned fresh and fit and performed strongly 

to beat St. Bede’s College 48-0, before meeting King’s 

Macclesfield in the next round of the cup. It was a great 

advert for schoolboy rugby with two very evenly matched 

teams working very hard for the win. Unfortunately King’s 

scored in the last 10 minutes and converted to win 21-19. I 

have no problem with losing as long as we have played well 

and we had certainly done that! 

From my perspective the performance of the season came 

against Audenshaw in mid November. The year before 

Audenshaw had comfortably beaten Stockport 35-0, but it 

was very different this year. Again a determined team effort 

was the key with Sangeet Dangol carrying the ball superbly 

and again Tom Morton directing play with increasing maturity. 

Stockport reversed last years’ defeat with a 39-15 win. A 

week later another good contest saw the team narrowly 

defeated by a well organised Wakefield outfit. The cold snap 

then hit and two games against Bolton and Crossley Heath 

were cancelled due to the snow. Christmas was now upon us. 

This squad seem to play at their best after a long rest and the 

Christmas break certainly gave them that. They returned with 

three very good back to back wins against Calday 15-12, 

Wilmslow H.S. 29-7 and finally against Birkenhead 50-7. 

I thoroughly enjoyed coaching this small squad of talented 

individuals and I am sure a number of them will go on to 

bigger and better things, but some of them need a special 

mention. The pack of forwards although workmanlike always 

competed with huge commitment, and on their day they 

were a match for any side. Sanjeet Dangol, Zac Brooks, 

Courtney Howell, Ben Hague, Nick Dove, Alex Curran, Qez 

Hussain, Jed Holloway, J.P.Tyrrell, Marcus Hodson, Connal 

Gorman and Alex McKeown always gave their all. 

The backs although thin on the ground are full of quality. 

Simon Hardy and Tom Morton make a great half-back pairing. 

The centre partnership of Oliver Woodside and Michael 

Schofield complemented each other perfectly and a pacey 

wing and full back combination of Ciaran Johnson, Simon 

Fullerton, Cathal Berragan, Ryan Jude and Shola Odusayna 

were always more than capable of scoring tries. 

Thank you for proving to me there are other ways of coaching 

rugby sides and best of luck to you all in the years to come 

and please keep on playing rugby in the future at whatever 

level you can. 

A. S. Hanson 


PLAYED WON DRAWN LOST FOR AGAINST 

17 16 1 0 723 77 

The Under 14 Rugby team at Stockport Grammar School has 

once again remained undefeated. This team has grown in 

confidence and skill over the course of the season. I am 

pleased to report that this team has taken full advantage of the 

program and has worked with dedication and commitment 

for the duration of the season. These boys have been an 

absolute pleasure to work with for the past two seasons and 

they have made my role very enjoyable, educational and 

rewarding. It is not the victories that impress me the most, it 

is their enthusiasm, enjoyment for the game and support for 

one another, on and off the pitch that is most commendable. 

These boys define teamwork and have become role models 

for the younger members in the rugby programme at 

Stockport Grammar School. 

This team has had 35 consecutive wins over the past two 

seasons. The last time they lost, it was to Lymm High School 

in September 2009. They lost 21-19 in the closing minute of 

the game. This sour taste has stayed in their mouths for two 

consecutive seasons and they have made a statement in 

schoolboy rugby ever since. There are not many teams in 

Cheshire who do not know who these boys are. We out 

played our opponents in terms of possession, defence and 

points in nearly every single game. Our final game of the 

season in the Cheshire Cup Final competition at Wilmslow 

Rugby Club proved to be different. For the past two seasons, 

we have met Lymm High School in the final and we were the 

titleholders. On this day, we faced a different Lymm team, a 

team who gave us a challenge, a team who wanted to win and 

hand us our first defeat and show that they should be 

crowned Cheshire champions. Our boys faced this challenge 

and had to come back from being down on two separate 

occasions. It was a battle of the forwards and the backs were 

making some impressive hits and contributions. It was also 

the first time we were put under real pressure and had to 

show what we were really made of. The game ended 14-14 

and we had to share the title with Lymm. This game and 

result was a true testament to the game of rugby. This was also 

a good opportunity to reflect upon our past and start to focus 

on next season. For the first time we realised that next season 

was going to be different. 

I would like to take this opportunity to wish the team every 

success. I look forward to this team doing well in the Daily 

Mail National Competition and having continued success for 

80 Sport


years to come. I would also like to thank Mr Corbett for his 

hard work and dedication in ensuring that these boys get the 

opportunity to play every Saturday. Other people I would like 

to thank are Mr Wright for his assistance during Games lessons 

and training sessions, Mr Morton for his help with the B team 

and refereeing the A Team fixtures on a regular basis. Without 

these individuals, these boys would not have the opportunity 

to play on a weekly basis. Last, I would like to thank the 

parents for their continued support and dedication to the 

School and the program. It has been an enjoyable run; this 

team is one that will never be forgotten. 

A. G. Ehegartner 


sound beating of Fallibroome got our Cheshire Cup campaign 

up and running. 

The half backs, Louis Jones and Max Lederweg were 

marshalling the team nicely whilst the forward pack 

dominated many sides with excellent ball carrying from the 

likes of Tom Power, Ned Barlow and Mark Orpen. Wins over 

Wilmslow and Caldy Grange brought the 15’s Saturday season 

to a close. 

The side really pushed on this season with just two defeats, an 

appearance in the Cheshire Cup final and a couple of trophies 

to boot. 

The season opened up with a 12-12 draw with neighbours, 

Cheadle Hulme, before some midweek wins over Bramhall 

and Marple helped us to build some momentum. 

Heavyweight opponents, MGS and Wirral, were then 

defeated as the team began to play with width which led to 

Lewis Braddock scoring a hatful of tries from his new full 

back position. 

Our undefeated run stretched to ten matches before we were 

brought back down to earth with a bump when well beaten 

by a large and physical QEGS Wakefield side. A weatherenforced 

break meant we were inactive for a month before a 

The team were invited to a 15’s tournament at King’s 

Macclesfield and in a terrific series of performances managed 

to win the trophy. King’s were defeated in the semi final 

before Wilmslow were beaten in the final; a marvellous 

competition to win against strong opposition. The hard work 

of Max O’Brien, Billy Stirling and Jaime Sanchez-Cappuccino 

up front laid the foundation for strike runners in the backs like 

Tom Collins and Harry Mellor. 

Back in the cup we squeaked into the final with a 14-14 draw 

at Lymm - going through as the away side - before a late, late 

try in the final denied us a glorious finish to the season going 

down 5-0 to King’s. Thankfully, there was time for more pot 

hunting with a 7’s victory at the prestigious Terra Nova Sevens. 

Big thanks to all the lads for the tremendous effort they put in 

and for being a great group to work with. Thanks also to our 

loyal band of supporting parents. 

R. J. Bowden 


It was with the usual enthusiasm that the First Year boys 

assembled at the first training session. Many appeared 

experienced players, whilst for others, it was obviously their 

first experience of the oval ball game! Over 45 boys were 

regulars at training and Mr Russell, Mr Bell and myself did our 

best to keep everyone active, although the succession of 

winter cancellations made our inclusive selection policy very 

difficult. 

U12 WASPS 

The season began with a strong performance against 

Newcastle-under-Lyme. The victory 27-17 included three 

tries from Tom Travis who was to be one of our consistent 

strike weapons. Our first away trip was a visit to MGS. Always 

a challenging trip, the 21-10 win was a tremendous result and 

it was a performance to which the word ’potential’ seemed 

appropriate – this group of players could be ‘quite’ good! 

Our morning was made complete when we watched Jaimal 

Sport 81


(55-0). The following weekend we played Wilmslow H.S. 

who had a number of quality players known to our squad. 

Friendships put on one side for 50 minutes, we played well for 

approximately 47 minutes! At this stage in the game we led 

15-5, but capitulated to concede two converted tries in the 

last three minutes – it was a tough game to lose and lessons 

were certainly learnt! 

The two remaining fixtures (against Birkenhead and King’s 

Macclesfield) were further victims of the weather – a 

disappointing end to the season. 

Brown score his second try for the Bees as they won 15-10 – 

it was one of those ‘Special’ Saturday mornings! Onward to 

Wirral G.S., always a tough challenge. It was a great advert for 

U12 rugby with both sides keeping the ball in hand. A final 

score of 7-7 was very fair and the unbeaten run continued. 

Playing away matches can sometimes offer extra challenges 

and we were to face these against St Ambrose College. 

Playing on Ashton-on-Mersey’s 1st XV pitch, a playing area far 

too big for U12s, we dominated the match without 

dominating the scoreboard. With 5 minutes of ‘injury’ time 

played we led 12-10, the referee’s ‘last play’ call seemingly 

having come and gone. Suddenly, a penalty was awarded to 

St Ambrose under our posts. Their kicker gratefully accepted 

the gift and we lost 13-12 – the coach (CJW) and supporting 

parents were lost for words! I always feel that you learn more 

from defeat than from victory and this certainly seemed the 

case for the Wasps who subsequently enjoyed a four match 

winning run scoring 154 points and conceding 0! Victories 

were recorded against Bramhall H.S. (22-0), touring side 

Portsmouth G.S. (62-0), St Bede’s College (36-0) and 

Audenshaw (34-0). Some fantastic rugby was played and the 

squad of players certainly showed significant development. 

Probably the biggest challenge of any U12 season is the fixture 

against Q.E.G.S. Wakefield. A real ‘rugby’ school, Q.E.G.S. 

benefit from adopting teams from their Junior section and are 

thus well ahead in terms of organisation. We came second, 

losing 10-0, but it was probably the best performance of the 

season with our aggressive defending coming to the fore. This 

was to be the last game of the term as the weather took a turn 

for the worse. Saturday fixtures against Bolton, Rishworth and 

Crossley Heath were all cancelled and the momentum that we 

had built up was frustratingly lost. 

The post-Christmas period was equally frustrating. The term 

began well with a tremendous performance against Calday 

The 15-a-side season ended with the overall playing 

summary: 

Played Won Drawn Lost Points For Points Against 

11 7 1 3 291 81 

After the 15-a-side fixtures ended, we were invited to 

compete in two 7s competitions and the King’s Macclesfield 

15-a-side Festival. The highlight was our winning of the Plate 

competition in the Festival where we played some excellent 

rugby. 

Whilst it is always difficult to single-out individuals in a team 

sport, a number of players are worthy of special mention. Will 

and Tom Travis (even their mum cannot always tell them 

apart) were the main try scorers; ‘Little’ Alex Jones has all the 

attributes of a quality scrum-half; Marcus Metcalfe is certainly 

a forward of huge potential; George Chatterton captained the 

side with great maturity from fly-half; ‘Big’ Alex Jones is 

dynamite on his day; Luke Cox was the ‘worker’ who never 

disappointed and with focus and discipline, Will Ogden could 

be outstanding. 

The following also played regularly and with great 

commitment for the Wasps: Adam Bennett, Freddie Clarke, 

Henry North, Francis Yates, Sam Carr, Olly Finch, Charles 

Beischer, Myles Cartwright, Jaimal Brown and Jake Young. 

Expectation is certainly high for the future and, with 

continued effort and growing maturity, this group of players 

have the ability to achieve a great deal on the rugby field. 

Finally, my thanks to Mr James Russell who has run the U12 

squad with me for the last six years. He has decided to seek 

out new challenges and his enthusiasm and commitment will 

be sorely missed! 

C.J. Wright 

U12 BEES 

It is very unlikely that when Shakespeare wrote the immortal 

sonnet line “too short a season,” he was referring to the U12B 

team. However, that is the only way I can view the 2010/2011 

season. It was a season tinged with drama, dizzying highs and 

the odd low and cut short by a bleak winter. 

The season got off to a great start against MGS with a historic 

away victory against the tough team. With experienced hands 

combining with young gentlemen who had never before 

played in a Rugby match, the boys showed themselves to be 

of stern stuff. The forwards blocked and the backs used width 

and space to run through a tough defensive line. Tobias 

Provan showed himself to be “one to watch” as he punched 

his way through the Manchester forwards, teaming up with 

82 Sport


Will Edwards to great effect. A great win, 15-10, enjoyed by 

all; walking off the pitch it became clear that this was a team 

that would show nothing but dedication and commitment. 

However, that dedication and commitment unfortunately did 

not translate to points in the next few matches. The “Bees” 

forwards were out-gunned by the more experienced players 

of St Ambrose and Wirral G.S. The defeats weighed heavily 

on the boys, yet they refused to be down and continued to 

train hard and give their all. 

All this would change however, with the recruitment of a 

tenacious new scrum half, Matthew Brown. Matthew was the 

ultimate mauler, refusing to let the opposition even see the 

ball and with a deadly accurate pass, the backs were freed up 

to use space and their pace. With Jaimal Brown, Adam 

Bennett and Paul Wong developing their skills, the forwards 

were increasingly working as a unit; nowhere was this seen 

more clearly than when the Bees went rampant and defeated 

a shell-shocked Audenshaw 76 – 22. An after school victory 

against Bramhall High in early October 32 -5, saw the team 

consolidate their prowess. 

As always the team knew they would be tested by Q.E.G.S. 

Wakefield. It would be no exaggeration to say that this match 

was the finest I had seen in my time in charge of the U12Bs . 

After some amazing linking play, Paul Wong broke through the 

Q.E.G.S. line to charge down several forwards and score a 

confident try during the first half. As always the weather was 

bleak and as the rain came down, the boys held well into the 

early second half. However, Q.E.G.S. are always resilient and 

after waves of scrums a try was conceded. With 10 minutes 

left other teams would have let themselves be intimidated, but 

not this team, they rose to the challenge. Will Edwards 

linking up with Patrick “the feet” Magners to challenge and 

threaten the opposition. Alas it was not to be and after a 

second half which was fought end to end the game ended in 

a draw 5-5. Both teams knew that this had been a match to 

savour, and the numerous home and away supporters roundly 

applauded both teams off the pitch. 

After such a turnaround, “what was the rest of the season 

like?” I hear you ask. Unfortunately that was our last game, 

the thick snow descended and other teams could not match 

us for numbers so the fixtures fell away. It was a heartbreaking 

affair having to disappoint such a tenacious bunch, but to their 

absolute credit they continued to train with gusto and 

professionalism. They will be a formidable team next year. 

The U12 Bees ended with the overall playing summary: 

Played Won Drawn Lost Points For Points Against 

6 3 1 2 138 110 

J. P. Russell 

UNDER 15 NETBALL 

This year the U15s have been successful. We have won most 

games and every girl has enjoyed the netball season very 

much. The first game of the season was against Bradford 

Grammar and we got off to a good start by winning 12-9. A 

few games later we had a great win against MHSG which we 

won 31-10. During the season we only drew two games, one 

against Newcastle under Lyme which ended 38-38 and the 

other against Bradford Grammar B which ended 4-4. Every 

girl in the team has been committed and everyone has made 

a good contribution to each game. We have all improved a 

lot this year and would like to thank our coach Mrs Maskery. 

Anna Logue (4S) 

UNDER 13 NETBALL 

This season has been a rollercoaster of high and low points but 

whatever the score, we always won in spirit! 

This year the squad voted Molly Ashby as Captain and 

Georgie Blears and Pippa Walker as Vice Captains. Not all of 

Sport 83


the results were in our favour but all games were well played 

by the whole team. 

In the end of season tournament we played the best we ever 

had but unfortunately didn’t place in the top three. However, 

we have all had a great time playing netball this year and 

would like to give a special thanks to Mrs Maskery who stuck 

with us through rain and shine (mostly rain though!). 

Molly Ashby (2U) 

1ST XI FOOTBALL 

seasons. A side as good as this year’s team should have given 

any school a decent game and it showed how we struggled to 

cope when resources became depleted. 

As so often happens though, one tends to learn more from 

defeat than victory, and it was heartening to defeat Hulme GS 

in the next game 2-0; Ed Appleby doing a tremendous job as 

an auxiliary right back. The midfield combination of Tom 

Coombes and Rishal Jena were back in tandem and the team 

took on a more solid look again. Jena finished the season with 

a series of mature performances, where he began to match his 

undoubted industry with some improved decision-making. 

Played 15 Won 9 Drew 0 Lost 6 

The season opened with an easy 6 - 1 win over North 

Cestrian. James Knott led the way with a brace of goals and 

Ross Holloway marked his entrance to 1 st XI football with a 

goal from his first touch. We then travelled to Bury Grammar 

and in a fantastic match we ended up 3-1 winners against a 

side that played in the ISFA semi final later in the season. The 

match was evenly poised at 1-1 when ‘keeper, Yahya El- 

Asmaar, pulled off a penalty save and we broke quickly up 

field for skipper, Ali Griffin, to put us ahead with a classic 

counter-attacking goal. Another impressive win at The 

Grange 4-0 ended the first half term. The match was notable 

for a George Toole goal. In a system that does not much allow 

full backs to advance, Toole had an uncanny knack of 

occasionally popping up at the right place at the right time in 

the opposing penalty area. I am still not sure if this was luck 

or judgement! 

We lost a tight contest at Q.E.G.S. Blackburn 3-2 where we 

paid the price for a lacklustre first-half performance before a 

terrific display at Wilmslow saw us come from behind to win 

2-1 thanks to two James Knott penalties. The defence was 

superbly marshalled by centre backs, Michael Logue and Nik 

Mistry, who both had outstanding seasons. We thrashed the 

ISA North under 16’s 6 – 0, before returning to earth with a 

bump when getting soundly beaten by MGS. The 5-0 defeat 

was a crushing disappointment as we failed to do ourselves 

justice on the day and it is our biggest defeat in my three 

We then entered the spring half term where we play twice a 

week and enjoy some home matches. Sandbach were beaten 

3-2 in a really exciting match before a poor match at 

Altrincham ended in a 2-1 defeat. The quality of football was 

not helped by a minefield of a pitch. 

We then hosted King’s Chester and simply blew them away. 

After dominating for half an hour we somehow contrived to 

go behind but such was the level of performance we were 

never going to lose. Rob Johnson, who enjoyed a season of 

consistent excellence, lashed a shot into the top corner before 

a brilliant run down the wing by Harry Allport, (what was he 

doing up there?!) saw a deep cross to the far post headed in 

by Angus Hotchkies. A wonderful goal to cap a brilliant team 

display in a 4-1 win. 

Next up we completed the double over Wilmslow when Ali 

Griffin scored a hat trick in topsy-turvy game. It was very 

satisfying to outplay Wilmslow for large periods of the match 

and our football seemed to have developed nicely over the 

year. At this stage our record was again one of only three 

defeats but our last three games all ended in reverses as we 

lost to strong Leeds, Cheadle Hulme and Bury sides. The 

season ended in a 1-0 defeat at home to Bury where a series 

of five corners by Rob Johnson in injury time failed to be 

converted and summed up our rather limp end to the season. 

Although the team’s overall record is a little disappointing, the 

level of football we played this year, and the quality of 

opposition, continues to rise. We never solved the 

84 Sport


goalkeeping conundrum with four different keepers donning 

the gloves over the season. As many as eight Upper Sixth 

formers were completing a second season as first choice 1 st XI 

players and I thank them all for their efforts. The team (and 

squad) always trained and played with an intensity that has 

proved key to any success. 

Finally, recognition goes to 1 st XI Player of the Year, James 

Knott; Footballer of the Year, Rob Johnson and the skipper Ali 

Griffin who completed a third season as a 1 st XI player. 

R. J. Bowden 

Thanks to our loyal supporters – Mr and Mrs Johnson and Mrs 

Griffin. 

Without attempting to sound too clichéd, this season has had 

both its highs and lows. The Stockport Grammar 1 st XI played 

fifteen matches, winning nine and losing six. Brilliant victories 

against teams such as King’s Chester and Bury Grammar, not 

mentioning the double over Wilmslow High, were without 

doubt the highs. However, a heavy defeat to Leeds Grammar 

and a lazy performance against Altrincham provided the lows. 

What needs to be mentioned, however, is the standard of 

football the First XI played against on a weekly basis. Being 

only three years old, football is still a very young sport at 

Stockport Grammar. The fixture list however is full of matches 

against schools where football has been firmly established for 

decades. Playing and beating schools such as Bury and King’s 

Chester is a brilliant achievement for a school that only four 

years ago had only one fixture and no coach. 

The season properly kicked off with a wet and windy clash 

with Bury Grammar School. Going into the game as huge 

underdogs only seemed to spur the team on as an excellent 

performance saw Stockport run out 3-1 winners with 

goalkeeper Yahya El Asmar saving a second half penalty. Two 

very well-taken penalties from top goal scorer James Knott 

helped Stockport rally back from 1-0 down to beat local rivals 

Wilmslow High 2-1, showing great determination and team 

unity in a game where we were again underdogs. 

The team however suffered a harsh reality-check in the form 

of two bitter defeats to Q.E.G.S. Blackburn and local rivals 

Manchester Grammar, before the team rallied together with 

wins against Sandbach, Wimslow High and a superb team 

performance against King’s Chester with Stockport running 

out 4-1 victors. The Wilmslow victory was also the fifth win 

in six matches between the two schools at senior level, clearly 

demonstrating the bright future for football at Stockport 

Grammar School. 

Personal mention must go to all the players leaving who have 

been strongly involved and been strongly dedicated to senior 

football at Stockport Grammar for a number of years. George 

Toole, Nikesh Mistry, Michael Logue, Rishal Jena, Angus 

Hotchkies and Rob Johnson have been great servants for 

Stockport Grammar School for three years. Coach’s player of 

the year James Knott ended as top goal scorer and was 

brilliant all season. Player of the season Robert Johnson at 

times carried the team and will be sorely missed in years to 

come. A further mention must go to clubman of the year 

Danny Fazelynia because of his ‘never-say-die’ attitude, whilst 

most improved player Sam Johnson will be a pivotal player 

next season because of his great ability on the ball. 

Finally, I must mention our extremely popular coach, Mr. 

Bowden. His hard work and more importantly perseverance 

and tolerance was key to the large success the first team 

enjoyed this season. Every Monday evening he led training 

sessions by himself, despite having over forty plus footballers. 

His dedication and drive for winning has been a true source 

of inspiration both this and in previous seasons and a huge 

thanks must go to him both personally and on behalf of the 

team. I wish the best of luck in the future for football at 

Stockport Grammar School. 

Alastair Griffin (U6) 

2ND XI FOOTBALL 

Played 14 Won 5 Draw 1 Lost 8 For 31 Against 41 

Matches won away 3 Matches won at home 2 

Lost to Bury 9-0 

Lost St Bedes 4-1 

Lost to QEGS Blackburn 4-1 

Beat Grange 9-2 Hollaway 3 Spencer 2 Mc Laren 2 Johnson, Ellis 

Beat Wilmslow 5-3 Appleby, S Johnson 2 Hollaway, Spencer 

Lost MGS 4-1 David Wright 

Beat Sandbach 3-1 Chris Robinson Dave Bennett Paddy Lavin 

Drew v Altrincham 1-1 Charles Kendall 

Lost King’s Chester 2-1 Robinson 

Lost to Wilmslow 4-1 Kothari 

Lost v Leeds Grammar 2-1 Chris Robinson 

Lost v Cheadle Hulme 2-0 

Beat Bury 3-1 Robinson, McLaren, Bennett 

Beat North Cestrian 4-2 Allport, Appleby 2, S Johnson 

Leading scorers Robinson 4 Appleby 3 Bennett 2 

Johnson 4 Mc Laren 3 Hollaway 4 Spencer 3 

This was a season where the boys progressed successfully both 

as players and as team. The spirit and attitude was first class 

and Charles Kendall and Jack Maclaren were superb in their 

final year of football. The season also witnessed the emerging 

talents of Ross Hollaway, Sam Johnson, Chris Robinson and 

Sport 85


David Bennett. David Wright, Paddy Lavin and Khalid Tayan 

were excellent in midfield and Chris Spencer and Ed Appleby 

offered goal threats up front. The wins versus Bury and 

Wilmslow were particularly satisfying. Well done! 

R. Young 

3rd XI 

Lost to King’s Chester 4-2 Rowson, Lightfoot 

Lost to Bury 6-1 Lightfoot 

UNDER 15 FOOTBALL 

helped see them off. Our defence was also looking solid; 

Ryan Jude, Shola Odusanya, Ciaran Johnson and Jed 

Holloway all played their parts against the Altrincham attack. 

An undeserved defeat to Wilmslow at home followed, but this 

did not stop us from dissecting Sandbach the following week. 

We led 6-0 with 10 minutes remaining, but careless 

complacency led us to concede three late goals. Aaron 

McRoberts and Michael Schofield proved crucial, organising 

the midfield with telepathic-like communication. 

The first game of the season provided us with perhaps the 

toughest challenge of the season; we came up against a 

strong, consistent Manchester Grammar side, who had played 

considerably more matches at this point. After an exciting, 

close encounter, Stockport fell victim to constantly chasing the 

game and, despite a late rush, could not overturn a 3-4 loss. 

The score line however flattered MGS, as we looked 

encouragingly sharp for a first game. 

We took our encouraging start to Altrincham, brushing aside a 

hard working opposition with a 3-1 win. A solid performance 

by Kim Kothari in the net kept us in the game; goals from 

forward Marcus Hodson and a brace from Rory Donnelly 

The penultimate game of the season took us to Cheadle 

Hulme, a much anticipated fixture. We were now playing in 

our prime and led 2-0 comfortably at the break. Cheadle 

pressed on, but we were resilient and proved the superior side 

By the final game of the season the team had picked up 

momentum and showed no mercy towards a makeshift North 

Cestrian team, netting 11 goals in an emphatically one-sided 

affair. It was a blinding performance in which top scorer of 

the season, Faisal Tayan, bagged four goals with fantastic 

movement, strength and finishing. Frustration got the better 

of North Cestrian, who were shown two red cards. 

Overall a fantastic season! 

Cathal Berragan (4D) 


The U14 football team had a great season losing only one game. 

The squad was virtually the same as last year with a few new 

players coming in to add depth and competition with the 

most notable being a new keeper (Sam Haley). We all hoped 

to build on our success of last year and were enthusiastic to 

beat the teams that managed to win against us last season. 

The season started well with a home game against Sandbach, 

a game which we won 2-1. It was a hard-fought victory but 

well deserved. Having lost to Sandbach in the First Year, we 

drew with them in the Second Year and this win showed the 

teams progress. 

The team came into the second game with good spirits and 

were confident of winning the match but unfortunately we 

deservedly lost, with our worst performance of the season. 

Our hopes took a step back, particularly as we were to face 

one of the best schools in England at our age group in the 

next game. 

86 Sport


frustration out on the opposition, scoring three goals, which 

meant the result ended 5-2 to us. 

The penultimate game of the season was against one of our 

closest rivals, Cheadle Hulme and we were really hoping to 

better last year’s result, but unfortunately we only managed to 

equal it as the match ended in a 1-1 draw. 

The third game of the season was against Wilmslow against 

whom we had previously drawn; we were hoping for the 

same result as last year as they are one of the best teams we 

play. We went 1-0 up via a goal from Ben Gardiner and 

defended superbly throughout the second half, with the 

defence playing well throughout the game. Our hard work 

was to be undone right at the death as they were to pinch a 

last minute goal and force a draw. 

The next game was against Rishworth who we previously beat 

4-0. We got off to a brilliant start with two goals in five 

minutes; unfortunately we were complacent and conceded 

two sloppy goals, with the score 2-2 at half time. The whole 

squad were disappointed and in the second half we took our 

Our final game of the season was against North Cestrian who 

were the best team we were going to play all season – they 

had not lost a game – we all knew they were going to be tough 

opposition. With some members of the squad missing on a 

rugby tour and others away we had to bring in three new 

players, one of them being a new keeper, Joe Blashill. Despite 

this it was to be the performance of the season, with every 

single member of the squad playing to the best of their ability. 

It was 0-0 at half time and we were determined to win this 

game. We went 1-0 nil up thanks to Ben Gardiner’s goal and 

scored another goal through Felix Hulse which, to our 

disappointment, was disallowed. Thankfully we held on to 

the victory, which was well deserved. 

We would like to thank Mr Lorentz and Dr Airey (who 

stepped in when Mr Lorentz was away) and I would like to 

thank all the squad for a brilliant season. 

Thomas Stead (3U) 


Traditionally, the season begins with a trouncing at the hands 

of MGS. I fancied our chances this year, but it is not easy 

playing your first game against a side that have gelled after 

ten-or-so competitive fixtures. Last year, they beat us 4-1; this 

year, we lost 3-2 and we were not far from equalising on two 

occasions before the final whistle. Nino Orton-Clarke scored 

from the tightest of angles, having artfully taken the ball past 

the keeper. At times, his pace is terrifying. Lewis Braddock 

was our other scorer on the day. 

A week later, a failure to deal with Sandbach’s high balls 

through the centre of the park meant we were 5-0 down at 

half-time. The second half was more satisfying, with James 

Travis and Lewis Braddock both scoring. There were 

intermittent bursts of total football. Rather tentative with our 

shooting, we failed to capitalise and lost 7-2. 

The next game we then drew 1-1 at Altrincham Grammar; a 

late missed penalty could have given us our first victory. We 

were clearly on the up. 

Our first win came at home against Wilmslow, who proved 

sturdy opposition. It was 0-0 for much of the game. Nino 

Orton-Clarke scored first and then Alfie Earith sealed the win 

after some excellent link-up play with Max Lederwerg. 

It is always nice to win our derby match against Cheadle 

Hulme. Playing the hosts, we started the second half with a 

2-0 lead, but relentless pressure down the right hand side 

brought Cheadle two goals. Nino, patient as ever with his 

runs, scored a deserved winner. 

The final game of the season was a six-goal thriller away 

against North Cestrian. It went right to the wire with Nino 

scoring the equaliser in the fifth minute of extra time, his 

second goal of the game. James Travis was the other goal 

scorer in what was his best game of the season. I would like 

to thank Callum Anderson for going in goal after a late call-up. 

The season ended with the football tournament in 

Shrewsbury. A big thank you must go to Mr Wright and Mr 

Takiar, who took the squad when I was unable to. The 

Sport 87


highlight was winning the 5-a-side tournament. Mr Wright had 

sportingly fielded three even teams whilst other schools picked 

their best five players to play together. The stars were Joe 

Donnarumma, the Players’ Player of the Tournament, and Tom 

Pearce, the squad’s most improved player over the three days. 

As ever, selecting a 14-man squad from over thirty regulars 

was a painful process. I would like to thank the following 

stalwarts, who all deservedly received colours: Michael 

Sidebottom, Alfie Earith, Arjun Takiar, Max O’Brien, George 

Francis, Joseph Donnarumma, Scott Helsby, Lewis Braddock, 

Nino Orton-Clarke, James Travis, Jonty Coombes, Max 

Lederwerg, Jordon Kong, Callum Anderson and Sam Harvey. 

I must commend the unflagging enthusiasm of Michael 

Sidebottom, who, as captain, led by example. Nino Orton- 

Clarke and Lewis Braddock were also excellent performers. In 

many ways, Joe Donnarumma was the find of the season; 

although happiest on the left wing, he was imperious at centre 

of defence with the indomitable Scott Helsby. 

Alfie Earith deserves a special mention for his success in the 

Independent Schools trials. After three sets of trials, Alfie went 

on to represent the North West against Liverpool Boys and 

then later in a tournament at Repton School – ‘the best week 

of my life,’ Alfie said. The three-day competition began well 

with three victories on Day One. Although Alfie did not make 

the final national side, he was among the final pool of forty 

players – impressive indeed. Fatigue as much as anything else 

must have counted against him. At the high point of the 

season, he must have been playing or practising five times a 

week. 

Thanks again to Mr Bowden for his technical expertise. 

Thanks also to the dads, especially Mr Donnarumma diligently 

running the line. The team is really well supported and this 

makes a very real difference. I will miss this set of lads and 

dads enormously. 

B. J. Masters 

SECOND YEAR SHREWSBURY SCHOOL FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT 

At the end of the Spring term, Mr Wright and Mr Morton took 

17 players from the Second Year football team to a four-day 

tournament at Shrewsbury School. All 17 players, Mr Wright 

and Mr Morton were looking forward to this tournament, 

believing we could do well. This was despite the absence of a 

number of key squad players. We were also missing Mr Masters 

(our Coach) and we would like to thank him and Mr Bowden 

for their brilliant coaching and efforts with us this season. 

We did not begin the tournament particularly well on 

Monday, losing 2-0 to Madeley Academy, Max O’Brien came 

the closest to scoring, putting it wide from close range. On 

Tuesday, Arjun’s dad (Mr Takiar) arrived to bolster the 

coaching staff, but we still suffered defeats, losing to Ivybridge 

College (the eventual winners) and Meole Brace School (the 

local favourites). 

At last a victory - we beat Bishop Veseys 3-0, Alfie Earith, 

Lewis Braddock and George Francis, our keeper, all on target. 

George smacked it on the volley inside his own box and into 

the net, nice one George! We continued well on Wednesday, 

thrashing St Paul’s 5-0 with Lewis Braddock scoring a hat trick. 

Alfie Earith and Jonty Coombes also scored. Sam Harvey did 

well in an unfamiliar position at left back and Tom Pearse 

earned a well-deserved Man of the Match award. The next 

game was against St Peter’s Collegiate (our residential 

partners). The game finished 1-1, Alfie Earith converting Joe 

Donnarumma’s through ball. The result was decided with an 

impromptu penalty shoot out that we won 3-2. George made 

two brilliant penalty saves and was the hero of the hour. 

Then, after the Coaches Match in which Mr Takiar set up Mr 

Morton to score a belter, we drew our final match 0-0 with 

Wilmslow leaving us fourth overall in the tournament 

standings. Trophies and medals were presented by Joe Hart 

(the Manchester City and England keeper). 

On Thursday we had the five-a-side tournament; we split the 

squad into three teams. 12 teams were in the tournament, so 

we felt we had a good chance. All three teams made the 

semi-finals before the team of Joe, Lewis, Tom Sixsmith, 

Charlie Kirker, Callum Anderson and Arjun Takiar claimed the 

silverware. It was a great end to an exciting four days. 

Thanks to Mr Wright, Mr Morton and Mr Takiar for all their 

hard work and congratulations to Joe Donnarumma who was 

voted SGS Player of the Tournament. 

Sam Harvey (2S) 

UNDER 12 SEASON REPORT 

I was impressed to see so many lads try out for the football 

teams this year. It made for a hard choice of squad. 

The season did not start well; a 0-5 defeat to a well-drilled 

MGS side, but this was soon forgotten with a victory over 

88 Sport


Defeats to Altrincham and Wilmslow followed, but the team 

managed an outstanding performance against Rishworth, with 

a 10-1 thrashing. The Rishworth match was the day before an 

8-a-side tournament in which the team were competing, so 

confidence was high. 

In the group stages of the tournament, the lads managed to 

win three games, against Audenshaw, MGS and CHS and just 

one loss, to Our Lady’s Grammar. There were some hardfought 

performances and the results against MGS and CHS 

were particularly impressive. The team finished second in 

their group, but could not progress past Westhill School in the 

quarter final. 

Sandbach. We had taken a 2-0 lead at half time, Sandbach 

brought it back to 2-2, before we scored three more to make 

the final score line 5-2. 

The final two fixtures were against CHS (a 0-7 loss) and North 

Cestrian (a 6-2 victory). The boys should be proud of their 

teamwork, attitude and progression through the season. 

R. D. Heyes 

THE 2011 DOMESTIC SEASON 

1ST XI CRICKET 

The heroics of the Australia 2011 tour in February have been 

well documented. It represented a pinnacle of what 1st XI 

schoolboy cricket achievement is all about and it will never be 

forgotten for those who trained and participated. 

Unfortunately, it did not provide the springboard to bigger and 

better things. In the Summer Term, Matthew Hughes, Max 

Murphy and Alex Jones performances were excellent and 

young Matthew Schofield proved a real talent. A big thank 

you to Captain, Chris Marshall who led the side so well and 

there remains undoubted promise in the squad for the future. 

A final thank you goes to all the grounds staff, caretakers and 

kitchen staff and the evergreen Mr Makinson for all their work 

in supporting 1st XI cricket in the school, both this season and 

down the years. 

R. Young 

MALTA CRCIKET TOUR 2011 

The tour, now in its eleventh year, provided once again a key 

mixture of competitive cricket and off-field fun. This 

particular trip gleaned no wins in four games. With Malta 

having just returned from the European Championships in 

Belgium, and Leyland, the Northern League Champions, as 

the other opposition, it was always going to be a tough ask for 

SGS with only three Senior 1st XI players in the tour party. 

However, as those readers of the sgscrickettours blog and the 

national Malta newspapers will have noted, the games against 

the Maltese were excellent, close encounters. The first game 

was a 20/20, where David Wright was outstanding with his 55 

not out. We were probably 20 runs short of ideal, as Marsa 

scraped home, with two balls to spare. 

On the Sunday, again our batting, failed to fire, but a superb 

fighting effort by SGS, typified by the superb Man of the Tour, 

skipper Chris Marshall (7 overs 3 for 20), meant we lost 

narrowly by 1 wicket in a thriller. 

The first game of the Leyland series witnessed a stand of 61 

between David Wright 41 and Oliver Hall 42, which 

represented the classiest batting of the whole summer. The 

quality of their displays against outstanding opposition will be 

long remembered. Our total of 157 for 4, chasing 213, was a 

worthy effort and showed once again the high commitment 

by the lads. The final game saw Chris Marshall at it again, with 

57 not out. The games were played in tremendous spirit with 

some great banter. 

Sport 89


Banana boating, poolside volleyball and cultural evenings 

were all important features of our tour once again. Immense 

thanks go to Mr Makinson for setting up the arrangements and 

offering his sage cricketing advice. Malta remains a special 

place in the heart of all SGS cricketers who make the annual 

pilgrimage. 

R. Young 

UNDER 15 CRICKET 

The moment that we won the Cheshire Cup seems a good 

place to start. Tom O’Mahoney, promoted from the year 

below, thumped one through the leg-side for four, punched 

gloves with captain Mike Schofield who had once again held 

the innings together and the celebrations began. I’d been 

looking forward to this for the last four years, since we knew 

we had a particularly talented first year: but the way the cup 

was won was even more special. Without their star batsman, 

Matty Hughes, either deservedly promoted to the First XI or 

on representative duty, the others had their chance to shine: 

they succeeded when the pressure was on; unsung heroes 

stepped up with match winning performances. 

We played an exciting brand of cricket, with the bat leading 

the way. Tom Morton was a feisty opener, Simon Hardy a 

finisher in the Eoin Morgan mode, Aaron McRoberts a stylish 

number three, Oli Woodside made some vital contributions 

and even Ben Haigh, Mr Test Match, spanked Arnold around 

the park for 85*. Special mention has to go to Mike Schofield. 

The facts speak for themselves: over 500 runs, five 50s, a top 

score of 98, ruthless with bad bowling, respectful of the good, 

always looking to put the pressure on the opposition. He was 

outstanding. All this meant that we usually had enough runs 

to play with. 

In the second part of the season, the bowlers came to the fore. 

With no out and out strike bowler, team effort was required, 

and the super-competitive Oli Woodside, alongside Aaron 

McRoberts, Tom Morton and Mike Schofield usually kept 

things tight. But they were well supported: Tom Egan, Josh 

Chapman, Ben Richmond, who had the best analysis of the 

season in the cup semi, Tom Colbert, whose cup final wickets 

saw him top the averages, and James Samarji, (again 

promoted to debut in the County Cup final) all chipped in 

with match-winning performances. 

Every year cricket becomes more of a struggle, as trips, exams 

and the fast pace of the twenty-first century take their toll. 

Only once this season were we able to put out a full strength 

side. That this side were always able to put out a competitive 

eleven and even managed to win the County Cup despite 

missing key players, is testament to their talent, commitment 

and the loyal support of their parents. Many thanks to them, 

I hope they enjoyed this season as much as I did and are as 

proud of their sons as I am. The future of SGS cricket is in 

their hands, and I for one am happy that this is so. 

The squad: Matty Hughes, Mike Schofield, Tom Morton, 

Aaron McRoberts, Simon Hardy, Oliver Woodside, Ben 

Haigh, Tom Egan, Ben Richmond, Tom Colbert, Josh 

Chapman, Ali Rizvi, Ed O’Connor, Rory Donnelly, David 

Withers, Connal Gorman, Nathan Jones, Ray McCullough, 

James Samarji and Tom O’Mahoney. 

S. Moore 


The U14 team was always to find this season somewhat of a 

transition. They had previously experienced much success, 

but now had to come to terms with the loss of one of their 

leading lights. It was clearly an opportunity for others to pick 

up the baton and excel. 

The season began with a trip to Bolton and in difficult 

conditions the side both bowled and fielded well restricting 

the home side to a total of 110. At this point steady drizzle 

became heavy rain and the game was abandoned. This is the 

4 th consecutive visit to Bolton that has ended in this manner, 

it really is becoming Groundhog Day. Still with hymn books 

in hand the team travelled back to Stockport in good, if not 

tuneful, spirits. 

A local derby against Cheadle Hulme followed and, after a 

poor batting performance, victory was snatched from the jaws 

of defeat by an excellent performance with the ball. Captain 

James Samarji led the way with a 6 wicket haul which was 

gleefully celebrated by all. This game really encapsulated the 

season overall. Always enthusiastic, the performance in the 

field was generally strong. The team had numerous bowling 

options ranging from the height and bounce of Elliot and 

Stollery, the raw pace of Cawthorn and Will Jones, the nagging 

accuracy of Vohra and Williams, to the flighty spin of Adit 

Kulkarni and Samarji. Options were never short in this area. 

Behind the stumps Jones, Hanson and eventually O’Mahoney, 

all kept tidily. The batting was a different matter and no one 

could really be relied upon to score consistently. Ganley– 

Yates, O’Mahoney, Marcus Jones all produced innings of 

quality, but not frequently enough and too often wickets were 

given way with rash shots. Duffy and Animit Kulkarni similarly 

looked impressive, but succumbed to shots they would not 

have played with hindsight. 

90 Sport


Victory against Bramhall raised hopes of a third consecutive 

cup success, but an uncharacteristically weak bowling display 

ended such aspirations when confronting King’s Macclesfield. 

Fixtures against Arnold and Sandbach were won and lost 

respectively and the trend of excellence in the field and 

fragility at the crease continued. The challenge is clearly there 

next season and individuals have to rise to it. Entertaining 

cameos with bat will not suffice and it requires batsmen to bat 

right through and graft in order for the team to progress. 

Attendance at net sessions was extremely high with over 40 

pupils taking part on a regular basis. This bodes well for future 

development. 

R. Howarth 


It was clear at the outset that the U13s were a talented team 

and the enthusiasm of the squad made selection a pleasant 

headache for the coaches. 

The season opened with a narrow defeat in a tough fixture 

against King’s Macclesfield. Barlow, opening the innings, 

made an impressive 64 and was to continue his form with ball 

and bat throughout the season. A straightforward victory 

against Macclesfield High School saw us safely through the 

first round of the Cheshire Cup. This was followed by an 

emphatic win against CHS as belligerent hitting from captain 

Orpen ensured we reached our target of 71 in just eight overs. 

Orpen’s fine form continued with a wonderful century at the 

seaside where Arnold were the victims of yet more powerful 

stroke play; the opener eventually retiring on 101. Arnold 

were routed by 117 runs with Braddock bagging 4-2. 

If Orpen was making the headlines, his opening partner Earith 

was batting with great consistency and proving the perfect foil 

at the other end. With a fast scoring batting line up and a 

useful all round bowling attack complemented by athleticism 

in the field, we proved formidable opponents to all comers. 

Victories were recorded against Sanbach, Wade Deacon HS 

and Poynton HS before King’s Chester ended the winning 

streak. An adjustment to the batting order to give those 

batting lower down a chance did not really work and this, 

together with some spectacular fielding by our opponents, 

contributed to our demise. We had comfortably despatched 

inferior teams but lost to the better ones and this was a 

concern, especially when drawing King’s Macclesfield in the 

semi final of the Cheshire Cup. However, a vital 20 from 

Travis and a three wicket haul from Jones snatched victory 

from defeat and the game ended with our opponents 

scratching their heads in disbelief at having let slip a golden 

opportunity. 

In the final we again avenged an earlier defeat by King’s 

Chester and brought home the Cheshire Cup to cap an 

excellent and enjoyable season. 

We would like to thank all the players who netted with such 

enthusiasm and played with such skill and determination. It 

has again been a pleasure to coach the U13s. 

P. A. Urwin 

E. H. Corbett 


The season started away at King’s Macclesfield the day after 

the Royal Wedding. Batting first, we managed to scrape 

together a less than impressive 96 runs from our 25 overs, the 

main contributors being Alex Jones (21) and Tom Travis (19). 

The lesson that catches win matches was never more apt than 

when their only serious batsman was dropped in the second 

over and went on to score a match winning 61. A 

disappointing start. 

Amid downpours of the first magnitude, we somehow 

managed to complete our next fixture at home to Bolton 

School. The visitors batted first and scored 84 for 9 from 25 

overs, the main bowling success being Tom Travis with 3 for 6. 

We managed to knock them off inside 16 overs, with Jones 

again notching 20 supported by a quick-fire 20 from Ollie 

Towle. 

The next match was the first round of the Cheshire Cup 

against St Ambrose who made 101 for 8 batting first, the pick 

of the bowlers being Jake Young with 3 for 22. Will Ogden 

scored 28 and Towle 34 as we looked to be coasting to victory. 

We needed only 1 run to win from the last over but the St 

Ambrose opening bowler came back to bowl a magnificent 

over taking 3 wickets and conceding no runs. After much 

confusion amongst the players, fortunately the Chairman of 

Cheshire Schools Cricket was on hand to adjudicate and we 

were declared victors because we had lost 1 fewer wickets. A 

close shave! 

Unfortunately there were too many Manchester City 

supporters in the team and the next match against Cheadle 

Hulme fell on Cup Final day resulting in a very much 

weakened team. However, we batted well if a little slowly at 

times, with Francis Yates making an impressive 56 not out. 

Our total of 93 for 1 wicket however was never going to be 

enough and the opposition cruised to a 7 wicket victory in 13 

overs. 

Sport 91


Against Arnold School we batted first and amassed a huge 

total of 174 thanks largely to Yates whose score of 75 was one 

of the best innings I have ever seen at U12 level. With some 

good accurate bowling all round Arnold never looked like 

getting close and a victory by 78 runs was well deserved. 

As always seems to be the case we met King’s Macclesfield in 

the next round of the Cup and the team were itching to make 

amends for their early season defeat. We managed a 

creditable 112 from our 20 overs with Towle making a 

typically rambunctious 50. Our hopes that lessons had been 

learnt from our previous outing were quickly dashed as their 

star player was dropped off the third ball of the innings, and 

with it went our hope of victory as King’s won by 6 wickets. 

On a gloriously sunny day at Sandbach we needed 115 for 

victory batting second. This was managed with ease mainly 

due to another impressive innings of 64 not out from the 

captain Francis Yates. 

Against the usually strong King’s Chester we bowled poorly 

allowing them to score a huge total of 178 from 25 overs with 

their diminutive no. 3 bat scoring a classy 86 not out. Most 

supporters thought it too much of a tall order to better their 

score but enter Ollie Towle….. with one of the best 

exhibitions of savage hitting I have seen by a 12 year old he 

scored 114 in no time at all. He was ably supported by the 

other Ollie (Finch, that is) who hit the winning runs and 

finished on 32 not out. Exit a shell-shocked King’s. 

This was our final game before the season ended with the 

King’s Macc Sixes. This proved to be a very enjoyable and 

successful day where we won all but one of our matches 

losing only to the aforementioned Sandbach. A suitably 

successful end to a great season enjoyed by a team with much 

promise. 

R. W. Wallington 

C. J. Wright 

GIRLS’ FOOTBALL 

The girls take a break from training 

Spot the ball 

Georgia and Rachel practise their 

goal celebrations 

Girls’ football resumed in September, with an enthusiastic 

group of young players eager to learn more about the game 

and improve their skills. Our coach, Lewis Grimshaw from 

Manchester City, provided the technical know-how and put 

the girls though their paces. A typical session involved skillsbased 

training, shooting practice and then a match. Anyone 

passing the hockey pitches on a Monday evening could not 

have failed to notice the level of skill on display and the 

enjoyment had by all; there was often a great deal of laughter 

and high spirits. Although some players came and went 

during the season, a nucleus of energetic girls attended week 

in, week out, rain or shine. These regulars really improved in 

the course of the year and they should be proud of their 

achievements. Special mention must go to Georgia Burns, 

Ellie Rogerson, Freya Ferguson, Eleanor Crawford, Alice 

Coombes, Natalie Clarke, Zoe Harris, Jessie Brook, Olivia 

Hurst, Megan Jones and Rachel Fitzsimmons for making this a 

memorable first season in charge for me. I hope to see them 

all back next year and would encourage all girls of any age or 

ability who are interested in playing the beautiful game to 

join us. 

S. M. Gibson 

ATHLETICS 

This has been anther great year for Athletics at Stockport 

Grammar and one which has seen us develop from a big fish 

in a small pond into a major player at regional level. We 

realised two years ago that SGS pupils needed a new 

challenge away from the Stockport Schools’ competition but 

little did we think that in our first year involved in the English 

Schools’ Cup we would make such an impact. 

The season as always started very well. In some beautiful 

weather in late April, the traditional First and Second Year 

92 Sport


round and if successful move forward into regional and 

ultimately National Finals. As it was our first year of entry we 

were placed in the North Manchester and South Lancashire 

section being held at Robin Park in Wigan. 

The format is complicated and getting the right balance within 

each squad was very time consuming. Each athlete has to 

compete in two disciplines and points are awarded for their 

performance, similar to the decathlon. The boys have a squad 

of 14 and the girls a squad of 12 and all points are totalised 

for a final overall score. So, on Wednesday the 18th May off 

to Wigan we went, excited, but with a few butterflies in the 

stomach. We knew our Second Year squads were strong but 

they performed superbly on this much bigger stage. Notable 

performances came from Tommy Taylor and Nino Orton- 

Clarke for the boys and Ellen McPherson and Sally Best for the 

girls, but it is a team event and every point counts. As all the 

results are computerised final scores came through as we were 

leaving the stadium and what an introduction to the English 

Schools’ Cup. The Girls scored an amazing 301 points and 

were overall winners with Loreto and Altrincham Grammar 

nearly 50 points behind. The Boys were joint winners with St. 

Matthew’s High School scoring 343 points. Both teams had 

qualified for the North-West Final in Blackpool. 

4 Stockport Pupils meet Jessica Ennis 

Ellen McPherson, Katie Suttle, Jenny Carlsson and Michael Sidebottom 

Inter Form Competition enabled us to cast our eye over the 

new First Year crop, whilst also giving the Second Year pupils 

an early season test. 1R were convincing winners of the First 

Year competition and 2U just pipped 2T to take home the 

Second Year title. It was obvious that the older pupils had 

retained all their fitness over the winter months and that we 

had some exciting new talent to work with for the season. 

The first major test is the King’s Relay event and this normally 

sets the benchmark for the Season. Two victories in the last 

three years meant we were favourites win again. Solid 

performances from the Third and Fourth Year pupils and some 

super running from our Junior runners meant the trophy was 

retained. Whilst the boys were performing at Prior Park in 

Macclesfield, the girls were being equally successful at home 

in a female version of the same event. Both teams were off to 

a winning start. 

League athletics then takes over and on Wednesday 11th May 

Stockport hosted the first round of the Stockport Schools’ 

Athletics. Over 300 local athletes from seven different schools 

competed in what was a very competitive event. Stockport 

Grammar continued their fine early season form and won all 

8 categories. So after two events both the Boys and the Girls 

squads were unbeaten. 

We have thought long and hard over the last few years of how 

to develop the Athletics at Stockport Grammar. We are 

obviously very successful within the Stockport Borough and 

against other local independent schools, but the time was 

right to get out of the comfort zone and challenge on a 

regional level. The English Schools’ Cup is the Champions 

League of Athletics. Each school first competes in a local 

A week later was the Stockport Championship at Woodbank 

Park and confidence was obviously high. Again all pupils 

performed with huge effort which resulted in four 

Championship wins, a second and a third place. The Second 

Year Girls and Boys continued their success and were 

crowned Stockport Champions, as were the Third Year Girls 

and Fourth Year Boys. We have, over recent years, 

monopolised this event and this year was no different. 

Unfortunately a week later the First Year Championships had 

to be cancelled due to bad weather and was never rescheduled; 

better luck next year. All eight teams won the 

respective league fixture on 22nd June which put them into 

the final in early July. 

Thursday 16th June took us to Blackpool for the North West 

Regional Final. The squads had trained well over the last few 

weeks and although we knew we would face much stiffer 

competition expectation was high. On a lovely afternoon the 

Stockport pupils performed brilliantly and the Boys team 

finished 4th (384 pts) and the Girls finished 5th (307 pts) 

behind some big named schools like Kirkham Grammar, RGS 

Lancaster and Cannon Slade. To finish in the top 5 in the 

North-West in our first year was a fantastic feat. Well done to 

all involved. 

Sixteen pupils were selected to represent Stockport in the 

Greater Manchester Championships. They were Carla 

Edwards (1500m), Maya Gordon (High Jump), Leah 

Warburton (High Jump), Ellen McPherson (Long Jump), Anna 

Krywonos (Long Jump), Laura Meikle (Triple Jump), Harry 

Mellor (Javelin), Will Jones (Javelin), Sanjeet Dangol (Shot 

Putt), Marcus Hodson (Triple Jump), Simon Fullerton (100m), 

Matthew Schoffield (Javelin), Michael Solomou (Discus), 

Brady O’Farrell (Long Jump), Adam North (800m) and Ben 

Gardiner (200m). Ellen McPherson and Will Jones were 

selected to represent Greater Manchester in the National 

Finals at Gateshead. 

Sport 93


Wednesday 6th July saw First to Third Year teams compete in 

the league finals; all were very successful. The First and 

Second Year Boys were both winners, as were the Second Year 

Girls. The First and Third Year Girls and Third Year Boys 

finished second out of the six competing schools. 

A huge thank you must go to all the staff that have helped out 

over the season with fixtures and training. Mr Corbett, Miss 

Withington, Mr Wright and Mr Morton have all given up their 

precious time to make this a very successful season. 

Finally we always like to finish with some Old Stopfordian 

news. Last year we profiled Jess Coulson coming back into 

school to help coach our athletes. This year praise must go to 

a contemporary of Jess’. Ross Millington, who is now based in 

America, has made great strides in the last twelve months. He 

won a silver medal in the European U23s 5000m and has 

recently broken the Stockport Harriers all time record for the 

mile, in a time of 3m 59.86s. In the last couple of days he 

won the Mountain West Cross Country Title at Colorado 

State University. 

Well done to all athletes on a fantastic summer. 

A. S. Hanson and K. Wilkinson 

FENCING 

It has been another 

eventful year for fencing 

at Stockport Grammar, 

with members of the 

club performing well 

domestically and on 

the world stage. Arran 

Mackay finished a 

superb 25th in 

the Newcastle Cadet 

International in 

November, which has 

placed her in the top 40 

of the Cadet (U17) 

women’s épée rankings 

in the UK. This 

achievement is even 

more spectacular given that Arran had only recently switched 

to épée from sabre. First Year Lara O’Donoghue, who only 

started fencing this year, fenced well at the North West Leon 

Paul Junior Series, her first competition, where she came 

second and recently gained a Bronze medal in the Lancashire 

Schools’ U14 competition. I expect Lara to continue to 

improve on these results and I anticipate that she will go on to 

exceptional national and hopefully international success. 

Jamie Simpson (L7) has yet again had a fantastic year, being 

selected for Ireland at Cadet, Junior (U20) and Senior level. 

His international season kicked off with a bang, when he 

finished 19th in the European Cadet Circuit Event in Ankara, 

Turkey and it continued in this fashion throughout the year, as 

he remained in the top 100 of the World Cadet rankings. In 

February, while Jamie was in Gothenburg, Sweden, at the 

European Cadet Circuit and Junior World Cup events, the Irish 

Fencing Federation announced that he had been selected for 

the European Cadet Championships in Klagenfurt-am- 

Wörthersee in Austria. In addition, Jamie also made the top 

70 of the UK adult men’s épée rankings and the top 10 of the 

Irish men’s épée rankings. Recently he became the youngest 

ever Irish All-Weapon Champion and in April he received his 

first Senior call up from Ireland, for the Quad match in 

Inverclyde, Scotland. 

Jamie Simpson, Arran Mackay and Kim St Clair were 

delighted to find out that they had been selected for the Cadet 

Winton, an inter-regional team event, held just before 

Christmas in Somerset. 

In March the school team took part in Public School Fencing 

Championships, held at Crystal Palace, London - the most 

important event in the school’s fencing calendar. The team 

comprised of Ali Drabu, Kim St.Clair, Arran Mackay, Kristian 

Lee, Luke Dobson and captain Jamie Simpson; former captain 

Karol Jaworski also attended as the school’s referee. Everyone 

competed to the best of their ability, but special mention 

should go to Ali Drabu, who in his first competition made the 

third round in the Mount-Haes (Second and Third Year) foil 

event, which had a tough field. He has since joined 

Manchester Fencing Club and will hopefully become a 

mainstay of the school team. Kim St.Clair and Arran Mackay 

must both be commended in reaching the third round of the 

Junior (Fourth and Fifth Year) and Senior (Sixth Form) sabre 

events respectively, both narrowly losing their direct 

94 Sport


entrants) and also a last 32 in the sabre in a similar sized field, 

meaning he finished sixth overall in his age group. 

The fencing club continues to be successful because it has 

many highly enthusiastic and committed pupils. Special 

mention must go to Elias Boland, Tobias Provan and Jake 

Lockett for their commitment to fencing this year. Lara 

O’Donoghue and George Smith showed exceptional 

dedication to the sport. 

elimination bouts. Jamie Simpson led from the front in his 

fifth year at the competition, making a last 16 finish in the foil 

and épée events (both of which had a field of over 100 

Many older pupils have been fencing for years and their 

ongoing commitment and success this year has led them to 

achieve half colours. Congratulations to Ali Drabu, Kim St 

Clair, Arran Mackay, Kristian Lee and Luke Dobson. Jamie has 

earned Senior full colours and won this year’s Fencing Cup. 

Jamie Simpson (L7) and H. M. Fenton 

PUBLIC SCHOOLS FENCING CHAMPIONSHIP 

On the 21 st March, I and five other fencers set off to go and 

fence in the annual Public Schools Fencing Championship. 

The event took place over three days and this was the first time 

I had ever been to this event and I was not sure to expect. 

On the first day we travelled down to London by train from 

Stockport and stayed in a Travelodge in Battersea. I knew I 

had to prepare for the next day, because it was going to be a 

tough competition. The next day we set off early in the 

morning to go to the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre. 

This was where the event was going to take place. I found out 

that I would be fencing Epée on my first day (one of the three 

weapons). I am not the best Epeeist as I find the weapon a lot 

heavier and harder to use than the others. Unfortunately I 

had a very bad start being knocked out in the first round and 

ended up finishing 79 th out of 81! I was rather disappointed 

but now that I had got a taste of what this competition was like 

I hoped I could do better the next day. This may have been 

my first Public Schools competition but I wanted to do a lot 

better than second to last! 

The next day I was fencing Foil. For me this was the easiest to 

use as it is the lightest of all three weapons. Unbelievably I 

managed to get through to the direct eliminations round and 

finished 68 th out of 115. I was delighted with this result. The 

others were astonished but happy for me, as I had jumped all 

the way from second last to 68 th. 

The final day, was Sabre. We were told that there were going 

to be fewer competitors due to the fact that many of the 

fencers in the competition did not fence Sabre. I had always 

considered myself to be a Sabreur but the previous day had 

left me feeling that I was a Foilist! Unfortunately I was again 

knocked out in the first round but due to the fact that my 

indicator (points that I won and lost) was better than my Epée 

performance I was placed 39 th out of 46. 

Overall, I was satisfied with my performance, despite the fact 

I did not do well in Epée. Thank you very much to Dave and 

Lee, for providing me with equipment, and to the other 

fencers for their support and thank you to Mrs Fenton and Mrs 

Simpson for organising the trip. 

Ali Drabu (2W) 

DANCE 

It is an exciting time to be involved with dance at school. 

Now in its third year, the subject is developing rapidly with 

many pupils keen to be involved at all levels and to take their 

skills further. In addition to timetabled classes ‘Dance’ is also 

proving a popular choice as an extra curricular activity with all 

year groups. Although the emphasis is on enjoyment, a lot of 

the pupils have achieved high standards and some go on to 

train further outside school. 

This year we have offered the following: 

Tuesday and Wednesday Lunch Clubs 

These sessions are aimed at Lower School pupils and we have 

trained in street dance and musical theatre. Anyone can join 

the group and no previous dance experience is necessary. All 

members are encouraged to take part in performances 

wherever possible. Pupils also have the opportunity to enter 

performance exams. 

In November nine girls from this group performed two 

routines at Wilmslow Leisure Centre as part of a one night 

Sport 95


dance showcase/spectacular for a paying audience. On the 

night, their nerves held and they gave a great performance. I 

would like to record my thanks to the girls for all their hard 

work leading up to the event and a particular thank you to 

their parents for their constant support. 

Wednesday Sixth Form games session 

Dance is an option on the games timetable. Sixth Formers can 

opt to take dance for the whole year enabling them to 

experience a whole range of dance styles or can opt for a 

single half term course covering one type of dance. Often 

there is a mix of competent dancers alongside beginners who 

have an interest in the performing arts. This year we have 

danced street jazz, cuban style salsa, excerpts from Chicago, 

and put together our own version of Michael Jackson’s 

‘Thriller’. 

U.K.A. Performance Exams 

Pupils who take the dance option in the Fourth and Fifth Year 

are also able to enter dance exams with the U.K.A. This is a 

nationally recognised qualification and an external examiner 

from the association comes to do the assessments. Technique 

and posture, presentation and performance, are some of the 

areas examined and each pupil has to perform two routines. 

The excellent results are listed below: 

Bronze Award Level 1 – Street Dance 

Megan Casey, Amelia Cropper, Meredith Ellis, Lisa Font, 

Hannah Gregory, Ashley Hazelhurst, Francesca Henderson- 

Cox, Lydia O’Donoghue, Jessica Lee, Tasmin Ray, Lucy Rowe, 

Madeline Smith, Kim St. Clair, Laura Wynne,. 

Gold Award Level 3 – Street Dance 

Rhian Armstrong, Kia Bracegirdle, Jess McNeill, Jaina Mistry, 

Jenny Muellenbach, Lucy Rothwell, Gabriella Watkins. 

Gold Award Level 3 – Musical Theatre 

Kia Bracegirdle, Maisie Eastwick, Jess McNeill, Jaina Mistry, 

Gabriella Watkins, 

Bronze Medal – Freestyle/Musical Theatre 

Distinction: Charlotte Helme, Rebecca Helme, Jessica Paul 

Honours: Gina Belk, Annabel Gowrie, Ayoni Upeksha 

Medagoda, Charlotte Rowe, 

Highly Commended: Olivia Briggs, Laura Chitty, Anisha 

Harris, Rachel Hopwood, Jessica La Rendu, Bethany 

McLoughlin, Shannon Mitchell 

Finally, I would like to say how impressed I have been with the 

progress pupils have made in dance this year, and what a 

pleasure it has been to work with such enthusiastic and able 

dancers. Well done to all and keep it up. 

M. O’Brien 

SPORTS COLOURS 2010-11 

Sports Colours are awarded to those individuals who have made an exceptional contribution to their respective sport. A 

pupil’s reliability, organisation, willingness, commitment, integrity, enthusiasm, performance, team work and ability are 

all taken into account when staff select Colours winners. 

Football 

Junior (Half) 

Callum Anderson 

Sam Harvey 

Jordon Kong 

Max Lederwerg 

Junior (Full) 

Lewis Braddock 

Jonty Coombes 

Joseph Donnarumma 

Alfie Earith 


Scott Helsby 

Max O’Brien 

Nino Orton-Clarke 

Michael Sidebottom 

Arjun Takiar 

James Travis 

Intermediate (Half) 

Ashley Davies 

Marcus Hodson 


Nathan Jones 


Intermediate (Full) 

Cathal Berragan 

Rory Donnelly 

Ben Haigh 

Jed Holloway 

Ryan Jude 

Kim Kothari 


Shola Odusanya 

Michael Schofield 

Faisal Tayan 

Senior (Half) 

Joseph Ellis 

Sam Hewitt 

Charles Kendall 

Jack Maclaren 

Jamie Webb 

Senior (Full) 

Alastair Griffin 


Rishal Jena 

Robert Johnson 

James Knott 

Michael Logue 

Nikesh Mistry 

George Toole 

The winner of the Footballer of the Year Trophy was Robert Johnson. 

96 Sport


Hockey 

Junior (Half) 

Emilia Biondi 

Ella Burton 


Cassie Hotchkies 


Olivia Marsden 

Junior (Full) 

Camilla Barnes 


Alice Coombes 


Florence Harrison 


Tao Warburton 


Amy Beech 

Elly Cramer 

Katrina Kyrtsoudis 

Emily Miller 

Eleanor Sacco 

Catherine Whatley 

Hannah Young 


Zoe Chu 

Carla Edwards 

Nicola Ellwood 

Rebecca Fernandez 

Sophie Hall 

Hannah Taylor 

Jennifer Warwick 

Victoria Webster 

Senior (Half) 

Lauren Fowler 

Rebecca Haley 

Bejal Lad 

Olivia Spencer 

Lydia Turner 

Senior (Full) 

Lara Acott 


Phoebe Broome 

Katie McCay 

Laura Potter 

Alicia Warner 

The CLARE CUP, awarded to the player who has contributed most to hockey in the school, was won by Phoebe Broome. 

Netball 

Junior (Half) 


Ella Davis 

Tasia Goodwin 


Cassie Hotchkies 

Ella Ioannides 

Junior (Full) 

Molly Ashby 

Georgie Blears 

Amy Bradley 

Sophie Cookson 

Rebecca Hendry 

Amy Suddards 

Pippa Walker 


Vicky Cartwright 

Iona Griliopoulos 

Anna Logue 

Laura Meikle 

Ellie Tittle 



Jenny Johnson 

Josie Napper 

Emily Weeks 

Lauren Winder 

Senior (Half) 

Amy Butterworth 

Senior (Full) 

Sara Baker 

Alex Hicks 

Amie Napper 

Robbyn Tyrrell 

THE NETBALL CUP, awarded to the player who has contributed most to netball in the school, was won by Catriona Leggat. 

Sport 97


Rugby 

Junior (Half) 

Luke Bills 


Jack Carter 

Kyle Clapperton 

Seb Croft 

Matthew Dennison 

Simon Fraser 

Bryn Rogers 

Matthew Taylor 

Junior (Full) 

Ned Barlow 

Tom Collins 


Scott Helsby 

Louis Jones 

Max Lederwerg 

Charles Longson 

Harry Mellor 

Max O’Brien 

Mark Orpen 

Tom Power 



Billy Stirling 

James Travis 

THE BLOOD CUP, awarded to the player who is judged 

the most promising player in the School, was won by Tom Morton. 


Alex Curran 

Simon Fullerton 

Ben Haigh 


Nick Dove 

Simon Hardy 

Marcus Hodson 

Jed Holloway 

Tom Morton 


John-Paul Tyrrell 


Senior (Half) 

Jordan Kernahan 

Robert Sumner 

Senior (Full) 

Will Aldridge 

Eddie Ardern 

James Bambridge 

James Booth 

Joseph Ellis 

Edward Finch 

Alastair Griffin 

Jordi Herraiz 


Michael Logue 

Jack Maclaren 

James Mills 

Ronil Rawal 

Harvey Taylor 

Swimming 

Junior (Half) 


Pippa Walker 

Junior (Full) 

Richard Almond 

Amy Bradley 

Aaron Fairfax 

Kieran Fletcher 

Scott Helsby 

Abigail Hunter 

Oliver Nolan 


David Ward 


Ray McCulloch 

David Withers 

Athletics 

Junior (Half) 

Aaron Fairfax 

Faris Iqbal 

Louis Jones 

Max O’Brien 



David Ward 

Junior (Full) 

Molly Ashby 

Sally Best 

Georgina Blears 


Jenny Carlsson 

Rebecca Chapman 




Stephanie Hughes 


Harry Mellor 

Chloe Morgan 


Katherine Suttle 

Thomas Taylor 

Leina Warburton 

Tao Warburton 


Amy Beech 

Anastasia Beretsos 

Mac Bonar 

Joseph Brook 

Ashley Davies 

Simon Fullerton 

Sophie Hall 

Marcus Hodson 


Ryan Jude 

Emily Klomp 

Katrina Kyrtsoudis 

Rachel Lord 

Emily Miller 

Tom Morton 


John-Paul Tyrrell 


Carla Edwards 

Laura Meikle 

Jessica Pailin 

The winner of THE WALTON ATHLETICS CUP, awarded to the most promising athlete in the school, was Carla Edwards 

98 Sport


Cricket 

Junior (Half) 

Callum Anderson 

Jack Carter 

Aaron Fairfax 

Simon Fraser 

Ryan Jassim 

Zeerak Kiani 

Hashim Maan 



Junior (Full) 

Edward Barlow 


Sebastian Croft 

Alfie Earith 


Louis Jones 

Harry Mellor 

Max O’Brien 

Mark Orpen 

Marcus Page 

Arjun Takiar 

James Travis 


Tom Colbert 

Tom Egan 

Ben Richmond 

Senior (Full) 

Ben Haigh 

Simon Hardy 

Matthew Hughes 


Tom Morton 



THE CRICKETERS’ CUP, awarded to the most promising cricketer in the school, was awarded this year to Michael Schofield. 

Tennis 

Junior (Half) 



Sophie Cookson 


Cassandra Hotchkies 

Ellen Hughes 

Chloe Morgan 

Amy Suddards 

Tao Warburton 

Junior (Full) 


Rebecca Hendry 

Philippa Walker 


Zoe Chu 


Jennifer Johnson 

Amber Maguire 

Josephine Napper 

Jennifer Warwick 

Lauren Winder 

Charlotte Yandell 


Portia Hunt 

Lucy Pilling 

THE TENNIS TROPHY, awarded to the most promising player, was won by Niyati Takiar. 

Climbing 

Junior (Half) 

Richard Almond 

Matthew Ardern 

Rohan Bassi 

Matthew Denison 

Charlie Kirker 

Junior (Full) 

Alex Hine 

Johnny Owen 


Meredith Ellis 

Tasmin Ray 

Fencing 

Junior (Half) 

Ali Drabu 


Kim St Clair 

Senior (Half) 

Luke Dobson 

Kristian Lee 

Arran Mackay 

Senior (Full) 

Jamie Simpson 

As a mark of his commitment to the sport, Jamie Simpson of the Fifth Form was awarded the FENCING CUP. 

Sport 99


SPORTS DAY 

The 2011 winners of the T.J.C. Anderson Trophy (awarded to 

the House who score highest in the Athletics Standards) is 

ARDEN. 

The Athletics Challenge Bowl for the winning house on 

Sports Day is won by WARREN 

Overall Sports Day Results 

1st WARREN (1217) 

2nd VERNON (1211.5) 

3rd ARDEN (1190.5) 

4th NICHOLSON (1173.5) 

1st Year Victrix Ludorum 

1st Year Victor Ludorum 

2nd Year Victrix Ludorum 

2nd Year Victor Ludorum 

3rd Year Victrix Ludorum 

3rd Year Victor Ludorum 

4th Year Victrix Ludorum 

4th Year Victor Ludorum 

Lauren Hunt (A) 

Tom Travis (W) 

Ellen McPherson (W) 

Nino Orton-Clarke (V) 

Maya Gordon (W) 

Brady O’Farrell (W) 

Sophie Hall (V) 

Michael Schofield (V) 

100 Sport


STOCKPORT GRAMMAR JUNIOR SCHOOL 

Mr L. Fairclough, B.A. Headmaster 

Mr S. Milnes, B.A. Deputy Head 

Mrs K. Horrocks, B.A., M.A. Director of Studies 

Mrs C.A. Hampson, B.A. Foundation Stage Co-ordinator 

Miss C.E. Peake, B.T.E.C., HND Ed. Nursery Manager 

Mrs B. Cheyne 

Headmaster’s Secretary 

Mrs A. Worne 

School Secretary 

Miss C. Jones 

After School Care 

Miss J. Atkinson 

Mrs N. Boothroyd N.N.E.B. 

Mrs H. C Carroll B.Ed. 

Mrs C. Chadwick B.T.E.C. 

Mrs R. Cole, B.A. 

Mrs S. Coombes B.Sc. 

Miss N. Day B.Sc. 

Miss N. Dunkerley 

Mrs J. Farmer B.Sc. 

Mrs C. Flaherty NVQ Level 3 

Miss M. Gay N.N.E.B. 

Mrs L. Gilmour N.N.E.B. 

Mrs L. Hardy B.Ed. 

Mrs N. Hurst B.Ed. 

Mrs A. Hutchinson N.N.E.B 

Mrs V. Hutchinson B.A. 

Mrs A. Johnson N.N.E.B. 

Mr M. Johnson B.A. 

Mrs A. Johnston B.A. 

Mr J. Jones, B.Ed. 

Miss D. Koziel 

Mrs C. Kynaston 

Mrs B. Langan 

Miss D. Leonard N.N.E.B. 

Mrs H. Lightfoot N.N.E.B. 

Mrs J. McRoberts 

Mr D. J. Makinson 

Mrs P. L. Martin B.Ed. 

Mrs N. Massey N.N.E.B. 

Mrs J. Mercer B.A. 

Mrs J. Newhouse N.N.E.B. 

Mrs C. Nichols, B.Ed. 

Mrs K. Roberts BEd. M.A. 

Mrs R. Scott, B.A. 

Mrs H. Shanks Cert. Ed. 

Mrs L. Shepherd B.T.N.N.N. 

Mrs C. Smith B.Ed. 

Mrs A. Sullivan B.Ed. 

Mrs J. M. Swales B.A. A.L.C.M. 

Mr A. Taylor B.Sc. 

Mrs R. Torz B.Ed. 

Mrs H. Tunney B.Ed. 

Mrs L. J. Turner B.Ed. 

Head Boy: Ben Hicks 

Head Girl: Georgina Dare 

Junior School Mid Day Assistants 

Mrs S. Burrows 

Mrs E. McCracken 

Mrs A. Hall 

Mrs C. Steele 

Mrs A. Lomas 

Mrs C. Tonge 

Mrs R. Ludlow 

HEADMASTER’S REPORT 

As teachers, we can never underestimate the huge 

responsibility we have for our children. The importance of a 

good education is recognised by everyone, not least by 

parents who often make significant sacrifices to send their 

sons and daughters to an independent school, such as ours. 

Aristotle, a towering figure in Greek philosophy, wrote: 

All who have meditated on the art of governing have been 

convinced that the fate of empires depends on the education 

of youth. 

The children we are teaching are growing up in a world that 

is changing at a rapid pace. The development of technology 

enables almost instant communication across the globe. 

Whilst progress in so many aspects of our lives has improved 

living conditions for many, it has also created problems and 

challenges as natural resources come under ever-increasing 

demand to sustain a burgeoning population. We are charged, 

therefore, to ensure that what we are teaching our pupils is 

relevant and the education we are providing will equip them 

with the knowledge, values and skills that they will need. 

As a staff, teachers and support staff, we are constantly 

examining the way we teach and looking at how our children 

learn best. Our duty is to inspire, challenge and instil a love of 

learning. Whilst recognising success and achievement has a 

value, our children, from the youngest to the oldest, need to 

learn that making an effort and persevering, especially when 

something is difficult, are what really counts. The children 

should not be fearful of making mistakes, getting things 

wrong. If they are getting everything they are doing right all 

the time, they are not being sufficiently challenged. They 

should be expected to do their best and not be satisfied with 

anything less. And when they have worked hard we can say 

well done. 

The year has passed quickly, as it always does. It has been a 

pleasure and a privilege to share in the children’s hard work, 

their enthusiasm and excitement. There have been many 

highlights, some of which follow this report. The Year 6 

production of Trolls, with a number of talented individual 

performances, was thoroughly enjoyed by appreciative 

audiences. The Nursery and Reception Nativity and the 

Infants Christmas play were also memorable. Even at such 

young ages you can spot the individuals who are going to have 

no trouble making their voices heard in later life, as well as the 

ones who will never feel quite comfortable being in the 

limelight. Our school teams enjoyed matches and fixtures 

against other schools, including hockey and football tours. 

There were notable achievements by individuals and teams in 

Junior School 101


cross country, football and athletics and successes for hockey, 

rugby, swimming, cricket and rounders teams. 

Early in the year the school was inspected by the Independent 

Schools Inspectorate, which reminds me of the story of a 

headmaster being shown around a village church by the 

verger. Near the end of the tour they came to a large grave 

and there on the headstone was an inscription ‘An inspector 

and an honourable gentleman.’ The verger, seeing a look of 

bewilderment on his visitor’s face asked if anything was 

wrong. ‘It just seems odd,’ said the head, ‘that two men of 

such different qualities should be buried in the same grave.’ 

Fortunately, our experience was extremely positive and we 

were delighted with the inspectors’ overall findings. The Early 

Years Foundation Stage, comprising Nursery and Reception, 

was judged outstanding, as were the pupils’ achievements, 

their learning, attitudes and skills in the rest of the school. 

Another area judged as excellent was the links between 

parents and school. This did not come as a surprise. We 

receive invaluable support from our parents. Accompanying 

trips, attendance at school events, help with making costumes 

for plays and involvement in many of the school’s activities are 

just a few ways parents involve themselves in the life of the 

school. Then there is the excellent work carried out by the 

SPA. This year, for the first time, a Summer Fair was held on 

the school field. A hugely successful and enjoyable day, made 

possible by the hard work of SPA committee members and 

other parents and staff. 

At the end of the year Mrs Hardy took early retirement. As 

well as teaching one of the Year 6 classes for many years, Mrs 

Hardy has helped to run swimming; teaching and organising 

our teams. Louise also organised the Year 6 camping trips to 

Wasdale, in the Lake District, and if that was not enough she 

has been in charge of lighting at the Year 6 productions and 

given up many Sundays to lead parties of children and 

parents on walks in the Peak District. 

We also said goodbye to Mrs Johnston, who taught a Year 1 

class and to Mrs Graham who joined us when Mrs Martin 

retired. I record my thanks to all of them. 

The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The 

superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires. 

So wrote W. A. Ward. If inspiring our children is one of our 

aims, we need to have inspirational teachers. Fortunately, we 

do and I am grateful to my colleagues for their hard work and 

expertise in providing high quality teaching, something that 

was also recognised by the inspectors. 

On a warm day towards the end of the Summer Term I was 

sitting next to a little boy in one of the infant classes, as he 

practised forming his letters. The effort he was having to make 

was clearly visible in his contorted face. When he finished I 

asked him if he thought he had done well. ‘I am shattered,’ he 

said ‘but it is my best writing ever.’ That is all we can ever ask. 

L. Fairclough 

NURSERY VISITS 

Boys and girls in the Nursery welcomed several visitors in the 

Spring Term as part of their project about ‘People Who Help 

Us’. Fire Fighters from Offerton Fire Station visited to show 

the children around their fire engine and talk about the types 

of emergencies they are called out to. We all had great fun 

squirting water from the hose, all the way across the Junior 

School field! We also enjoyed a visit from the Greater 

Manchester Police, headed by PCSO Jonathan Ackerely, and 

his team, who talked to the children about keeping people 

safe, stranger danger and other important everyday roles the 

police play in the community. The children even sat in the 

back of the van just like the prisoners do when they are being 

transported to the station. We also found a visit from the Road 

Safety Officer Trevor Rogers very useful. Fun was had by all, 

including the staff, who were asked to join in with the role 

play! The children listened really well to his stories and songs. 

C. Peake 

INFANT NEWS 

A year in the life of an infant child 

passes by all too quickly and is 

generally packed full of excitement 

and adventure. This past year has 

been no exception. There were many 

highlights, including our Nativity plays, 

Activity Week and Sports Day. 

Thank you to all the children, parents 

and grandparents who have made this 

year so enjoyable. 

102 Junior School


WRIGGLY NATIVITY 

Wriggle, wriggle went the pupils of the Foundation 

Stage. Yes, it was the beginning of our Nativity play. 

Angels wriggled, animals wriggled and even the 

shepherds wriggled. The children sang and danced 

with enthusiasm. 

“I liked being a king.” Elliot Mills (RT) 

CHILDREN OF THE WORLD 

The Year 1 and 2 Christmas production, Children of the World, 

although not a traditional Nativity play, still centred around 

the birth of Jesus. 

The familiar Nativity characters set the scene and watched 

over the celebrations held by countries from all corners of the 

globe. Through songs and dances the children recounted 

different ways Christmas is celebrated, but the true meaning 

of Christmas was echoed by the voices of the children from 

Malawi who had only their voices to give to the newborn 

King. 

R. Scott 



LEGOLAND 

Discovery is the word which best describes the Infant trip to 

Legoland Discovery Centre at the Trafford Centre which took 

place at the start of Activity Week. Each class enjoyed a lesson 

with the Master Builder when they had the opportunity to 

build towers and even a monkey from Lego! The children 

made lots of models and cars, watched Bob the Builder in 4D 

and even experienced a scary ride! 

“We watched the film and I liked it when we got wet.” 

Thomas Cresswell (RT) 

“The trip was amazing!” Harry and Tom Flaherty (RH) 

GRANDPARENTS’ DAY 

Grandparents from all over the country enjoyed their cruise 

aboard the HMS SGS for Grandparents’ Day. The ‘cruise’ 

included entertainment on board, a cream tea and the 

opportunity to visit the children’s classrooms. 

The entertainment was enjoyed by all, with Year 2 performing 

a ‘bouncy’ Charleston dance, Year 1 singing “Beside the 

Seaside” with musical accompaniment, Reception singing 

“Who built the Ark” and the Nursery children singing their 

own version of “Bob the Builder.” The grand finale required 

some audience participation with the singing of “We’re Riding 

Along on the Crest of a Wave” 

“I liked my grandparents coming. It was fun. The best bit was 

singing the seaside song.” Maddie Corcoran (1J) 

“It was nice because my French grandparents came and my 

English grandparents came.” Claudia Fell (RT) 

C. Hampson 



ACTIVITY WEEK 

Our theme this year was building blocks. The week was as 

busy as ever. Our corridor display involved the building of a 

ship and all the children contributed. Classes were involved 

in different activities during the week, including building 

models, making cakes, collage work and construction. We are 

grateful to the parents who spent time with us throughout the 

week and whose help was invaluable. 

The week was also a good opportunity to build links with the 

Senior School as we welcomed Mrs Hicks, Mrs Wilkinson and 

Mr Davies. The children learned about famous buildings 

around the world from Mrs Hicks. They were given an early 

morning wake up from Mrs Wilkinson in her Wake Up, Shake 

Up aerobic sessions and Mr Davies enjoyed drawing with 

Reception. 

H. Shanks 

INFANT SPORTS DAY 

Was it going to rain? That was the one question on everyone’s 

lips before the Infant Sports Day. Luckily, a fine day dawned 

and the excitement built as time got nearer to the start. 

Changed and raring to go, we launched ourselves into our 

tasks. Running, hurdling, throwing and jumping skills were 

tested to the limit in a round robin series of events. The 

Nursery children enjoyed their own sporting activities too. It 

was great to see so many parents and grandparents, who 

cheered us all on to help make a memorable afternoon. 

J. Swales 



AUTHOR VISIT: JACKIE MORRIS 

The author and illustrator Jackie Morris visited the school on 

Tuesday 5th October to talk to the Juniors and Infants about 

her work. 

BIOGRAPHY 

Jackie was born in Birmingham and from the age of six she 

knew she wanted to be an artist. She watched her father 

drawing a picture of a bird and thought it was magical to see 

the image appear. 

She spent three years at Bath Academy of Art and then set off 

for London to work as an illustrator. She has won numerous 

awards and her work has been exhibited widely in galleries 

throughout the UK and as far afield as Australia. She has work 

in the public collection at the National Library of Wales. 

Jackie lives in Pembrokeshire, Wales, has two children, three 

dogs and more cats than she can count. 

THE PRESENTATIONS 

Jackie spoke to the Infants about her book, ‘Tell me a Dragon’. 

Whilst she read the text the children were enthralled with 

images from the pages of the book that were displayed on the 

screen. The timetable for the rest of the day was suspended 

as the children were desperate to write about their own 

dragons and had vivid ideas as to their names, appearance 

and characteristics. 

A similar scenario unfolded in the afternoon when the Juniors 

were held spell bound by her book ‘The Ice Bear’. The story 

was poignant and the illustrations were breathtaking. The 

children had a magical day – just what education should be all 

about. 

J. Mercer 

YEAR 6 ART DAY 

At the beginning of the workshop we looked at some ways 

animals have been painted in various cultures from Jeff’s 

collection of art postcards. These ranged from the Lineas de 

Nasca Uca in Peru (the desert line-drawings), wooden fire 

sculptures by Phil Bews (The Phoenix), and drawings by Picasso. 

Juxtaposed to a realistic painting of a lion by Sir Edwin 

Landseer (1849) was a painting by Australian artist Djambu 

Barra Barra of a kangaroo (1999). The pupils also looked at 

cave paintings of animals, a wire ‘flock of sheep’by Sophie 

Ryder, a fibre glass maquette for King Kong by Nick Monro, 

paintings and drawings by the Tinga Tinga tribe in Africa, 

particularly by artist Jaribuni of a leopard, next to an 8 th 

Century drawing of a lion from the Book of Durrow (Trinity 

College Dublin), an equestrian statue in Madrid, and finally a 

series of modern Aboriginal paintings of animals. 

The pupils then worked from a variety of pictures of animals, 

birds, insects and reptiles (one for each group), drawing first 

very large in pencil to fill an A3 sheet. These were then 

worked over in ball point pen to increase the power and 

visibility of the drawing, which were then stained with 

coloured inks – generally dark blue or green for the 

background, and yellow/red for the animal. This ‘undercoat’ 

was then worked into with the dot technique of the Aborigine 

artists, using cotton buds dipped into acrylic paints. It was 

important that the dots were placed close together so that the 

runs of dots created lines and patterns dictated by the outline 

of the shape of the chosen animal and the patterns seen 

within them. 

The pupils worked hard during the day but every child left the 

workshop feeling proud of their achievements and looking 

forward to continuing the process in the weeks ahead. 

J. Mercer 

YEAR 5 ART DAY 

The aim of this workshop was to encourage observational 

drawing, enlarging the image, layering of materials, and an 

introduction of the batik process. 

Each group was given a collection of different leaves – laurel, 

holly and Oregon grape – and they began the session by looking 

at the work of Georgia O’Keeffe through a book and collection 

of postcards. On A3 paper, the small leaf had to be enlarged to 

fill the paper, in itself quite a difficult task for the pupils. They 

used pencil first, and overlaid the ‘correct’ lines with ball point 

pen, then erasing any errors. 

Then came the wax layering, starting always with the lightest 

colour, yellow, and overlaying this with subsequent colours, i.e. 

green or orange to obtain a richer ‘green ’or ‘orange’ than could 

be obtained by the simple use of the colour itself. Because wax 

is a transparent medium, the pen drawing was still visible. After 

this layer, other layers, such as reds and blues were carefully 

applied to darken or enrich the colours and, in this case, leaving 

the veins of the leaves yellow. 

Next was the process to ‘distress’ the paper by crumpling it up 

and then carefully flattening it out again, taking care not to tear 

the creased paper. The creases fractured the paper surface and 

also the layers of wax. They then stained their work with inks – 



blue, yellow, or red, covering all the paper and covering all the 

white surface and wax. The ink settled into the ‘valleys’, ran off 

the wax and seeped into all the cracks to give a very rich visual 

texture and dense colour. 

By the end of the day the art room was filled with the pupils’ 

work full of glorious colour, pattern and designs. Jeff left us with 

an array of ideas to continue the work, as well as an abundance 

of enthusiasm and energy to carry them out. 

J. Mercer 

RENE MAGRITTE – YEAR 4 ART DAY WITH JEFF TEASDALE 

The purpose of this workshop was to introduce pupils to a 

number of concepts: to look at the work of Surrealist painter 

Rene Magritte and his juxtaposition of images, to consider 

elements of scale, to be introduced to a simple form of onepoint 

perspective, and to work with a variety of transparent 

and textural media. 

Pupils were shown examples of work by Magritte, starting with 

a large framed print of an apple in a room which contained a 

human figure much smaller in size than the apple. We 

discussed ‘scale’ and given that we can all judge the average 

size of a human being, this then made the print into a 

representation of a really huge room, and an even bigger 

apple in proportion. 

They then looked at other works by Magritte and the point was 

made that Magritte made ‘ordinary’ objects become ‘extraordinary’ 

by placing them in different and unexpected contexts. 

The classes then worked on their own pieces, each using fruit 

– apples, oranges and bananas. A framework was drawn of a 

room and into this an enlarged piece of fruit was added. 

Layers of colour were applied using wax, inks, acrylic paint 

and pencil crayons. 

The project took a number of weeks to complete but, when all 

the ‘painting’ was finished the pupils were able to go back to 

the ideas of the Surrealists and introduce their own foundphotos 

to their paintings to further enhance the anomalies of 

scale. As a postscript to this work the children were introduced 

to the work of Patrick Caulfield who combined ‘cartoon 

interiors’ with realist views seen through the’ windows’. 

The work was challenging but the sense of pride and 

achievement were certainly worth the effort. 

J. Mercer 

JUNIOR FOOTBALL 

Team Played Won Drawn Lost Goals for Goals Agst 

U11A 29 23 2 4 83 29 

U11B 13 6 2 5 35 27 

U11C/D 9 2 1 6 15 34 

U10A 11 2 3 6 15 22 

U10B 6 2 0 4 8 1 

U11A - Played 29 Won 23 Drew 2 Lost 4 

For the team to finish the season with just the one trophy was 

a little unjust. They played excellent football throughout, 

dominating many games. A quick look at their record shows 

how consistently well they played, with only four losses from 

twenty nine games played. 

The Holgate Shield was awarded for the winning of the 

Stockport North Area Primary Sports Association League title. 

Out of the eight games played, seven were won, with the 

eighth and last game being drawn. Many of these games were 

closely fought, with the teams separated by the odd goal. To 

win such a high percentage of these close encounters shows 

that the team had great character. 

The early season sevens competition at King’s Macclesfield saw 

us compete well in all our games, but ultimately fail to reach 

the final stages and thus surrender one of the trophies won last 

year. With the cancellation of the IAPS tournament, we missed 

the opportunity to retain a second trophy. 

Another good run in the AJIS Cup saw us meet our old friend 

Mr. Vernon in the semi-final. His Newcastle-under-Lyme team 

had surprised everyone by working their way through to that 

stage. Even though the trip to Newcastle was a long one, we 

were confident of victory. However a lacklustre performance 

saw us lose the game to a hard working, well organised team, 

much to the pleasure of Mr. Vernon! Taking all things into 

account, this was probably our most disappointing 

performance of the season. 

The Stockport Metro Cup final was played well into the 

summer term and once again hosted by St. Joseph’s Primary 

School, Reddish. A strong Norbury Hall P.S. defeated us 1-0 in 

a very competitive final in front of a large crowd. It was not the 

ideal way for most of the boys to end their Junior School 

football careers. 

I very rarely mention individuals in my report, but after 

representing the Under 11s for the last three years, I feel it is 

important that I acknowledge the performances and general 

contribution of Edward Francis. Despite his commitment to 

Manchester City, he rarely missed a game and was great 



example for his team mates. Hopefully he will continue to 

perform well and impress the hierarchy at Manchester City. 

The Under 11s were also represented at B, C and D team 

levels. Although they had mixed results, they worked hard and 

deserve congratulating for their commitment. The Under 11 

teams were rewarded with a short tour to St. Annes in the 

Spring Term. The trip started with matches v King’s 

Macclesfield followed by the coach journey to our 

accommodation. A stroll on the beach and a meal in a fish and 

chip restaurant occupied us on the Friday night. Saturday 

morning saw the House Football competition at Stanley Park, 

Blackpool, before moving onto the Wigan Athletic v 

Birmingham Premier League match. As it turned out, Wigan’s 

victory helped not only to save them, but also to relegate 

Birmingham. 

Despite looking quite strong, the U10As had a disappointing 

season. I’m sure that they are capable of producing much 

better performances than the ones we witnessed. With hard 

work, I am confident that they will turn not only their 

performances, but also results, around. 

We also fielded other teams at U10, U9 and U8, who played 

a total of twenty-two extra games. They had mixed results, but 

I am sure with more games, they will improve their team play 

as well as their skills. 

Stockport Grammar staged the AJIS Under 10s Festival for the 

third time. Many favourable comments were received about 

the relaxed atmosphere surrounding a morning’s football 

without the ultimate goal of winning a trophy. 

The Under 9s took part in a similar festival, this time held at 

Cheadle Hulme School. They played very well and had some 

good results. 

Once again it has been a pleasure to be involved with the 

football teams. The enthusiasm the boys show is infectious, 

and to see them improve on a weekly basis is very rewarding. 

I would like to thank all the parents for their support and help 

with travel (especially Mr. Francis). Thanks also to the Grounds 

staff for once again producing marvellous pitches to play 

football on and of course to Mr. Johnson, Mr. Taylor and Mr. 

Fairclough, who have helped throughout the season. 

D.J. Makinson 

U11 squad 

Edward Francis (capt.), Hugo Taylor, Rouban Birch, Alex Chu, James 

Fleming, Ben Jones, Theo Whitley, Nathan Kingsley, Joseph Owen, 

Taylor Entwistle and Shaun Zinga-Jones 


The Under 11 football team has enjoyed a fantastic season 

winning the Stockport League without losing a game and 

narrowly losing the Stockport Metro Cup 1-0 in the Final. The 

most disappointing result of the season was a 2-0 defeat in the 

semi final of the AJIS Cup. This was a competition that we 

were desperate to win and thought that we had a really good 

chance once we had reached the semi-final, beating stronger 

teams on the way. Unfortunately we saved our worst 

performance of the season against Newcastle under Lyme for 

this match! 

I think our best game was beating Lady Barn 3-1 in the semi 

final of the Stockport Metro Cup. We had to play on a small 

pitch away from home and controlled the game really well. 

All of the players put in a huge amount of effort to achieve this 

fantastic record, we conceded very few goals thanks to excellent 

defending and some brilliant saves from Year 5 goalkeeper Joe 

Owen, and scored lots of goals along the way, perhaps just 

missing a cutting edge in our most important games. 

We had a fantastic weekend in Blackpool on the annual tour 

and went to watch a great Premier League game at Wigan 

who scored a really late winner. 

I have played for Mr Makinson and the School for three years 

now and was really proud to be made Captain for my last year 

in the Junior School. On behalf of all the team I would like to 

thank Mr. Makinson for all of the hard work, encouragement, 

support and effort that he puts in to make sure that we can 

play and enjoy so much football. 

Ed Francis 

JUNIOR HOCKEY 

The season started with an invitation festival to give the U11 

squad a chance to refine their game without the pressure of 

tournament play. All teams had three matches with everyone 

enjoying the early run out in the September sunshine. 

Once again the Junior House competition took place in early 

September. With a good turn-out of supporters the respective 

house teams enjoyed an active Saturday morning of hockey. 

Overall winners were Nicholson. 

At the U11 AJIS Hockey Tournament the Year 6 Hockey squad 

started with a good win against Alderley Edge and continued 

their winning streak in the first group stage, giving them hope 

to go through as winners of the group. After 1 – 0 victories 

over Birkenhead Prep and King Edward/Queen Mary the 

Stockport girls met the commanding midfield of the 

Westholme team. After a tight and competitive match, 

Westholme scored and the match ended 0 – 1. We went 

through to the plate competition as second place team in our 



group. In the final stages the squads were all evenly matched 

and on each occasion only one goal separated winners and 

losers. Stockport Grammar lost to Cheadle Hulme, Withington 

and Arnold. 

The Yazoo Mini Hockey competition, Greater Manchester 

Schools’ round took place on 12th February. The Stockport 

Grammar U11 Hockey squad played in the first round of the 

Mini Hockey tournament. Cheadle Hulme went through the 

competition as winners after beating us 3-2 in a close game 

with clear attacking opportunities on both sides. As runners - 

up of the round, the squad qualified for the North West round 

where they played Kirkham, King’s Chester and Queen’s 

Chester. Unfortunately we were beaten by a close margin in 

each game which halted our progress in this competition. 

The Year 6 girls travelled to the Lake District for their end of 

season Hockey tour on Friday 4th March. The first game was 

against Westholme. It was expected to be a tough encounter 

as the Stockport girls had already been beaten by their 

opponents on the previous day. Unfortunately for the A team 

a 5 - 1 loss was suffered. The B team had a slow start and 

were 1 - 0 down at half time. Through some excellent 

attacking work and good goalkeeping the match was turned 

around to end in a win. 

Having climbed the summit to reach Windermere Prep 

school’s astroturf which is overlooking the lake, the teams 

played with focus and energy. We completely overpowered 

Windermere, played some fantastic linking play between 

midfield and attack and finished the tour with a 3 - 0 win for 

the A team and a 2 - 0 win for the B team. 

C. Nichols 

TSB SCHOOLS CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE – WOODBANK PARK 

CROSS COUNTRY 

Pupils from Years 3 to 6 have competed throughout the winter 

in a series of six races organised by Stockport Harriers. It has 

been a success for both individuals and groups and pleasing to 

see so many children from Stockport Grammar Juniors giving 

up their Saturday mornings to participate. 

The Years 5 and 6 girls won their event for the second year 

running and placed Morgan Hanson and Christine Bradley in 

the top 10 in their age group. The Years 3 and 4 boys came 

second in their event with Joe Davidson taking first place in 

the individual standings. 

Other performances of 

note came from Alex 

Curwen and Oscar Clarke - 

Williams. In the Years 3 

and 4 Girls’ races Daisy 

Hanson was placed second 

overall and the team came 

in as third place finishers. 

STOCKPORT SCHOOLS’ CROSS COUNTRY 

Rouban Birch, Nathan Kingsley, Morgan Hanson, Joe 

Davidson and Daisy Hanson were selected to run for the 

Stockport Schools’ team in March. 

AJIS CROSS COUNTRY 

Well done to all of the children who ran at the AJIS 

championships. It was a lovely afternoon and everyone tried 

their hardest. 

IAPS CROSS COUNTRY 

The teams walked the course and realised the challenge of the 

hilly ground across this golf course venue. The races were 

hard fought and both boys’ and girls’ teams battled against 

tough opposition. Both boys’ and girls’ teams ran to the best 

of their ability but were unable to beat the strength of the 

home team, St Mary’s Hall. 

C. Nichols 



JUNIOR SWIMMING 

In 2011 SGJS swam very well despite only winning two 

matches and losing four. There were some close matches, the 

closest of all had only six points in it; SGS: 173, Escourt: 179. 

We also did very well in some big competitions, including the 

AJIS competition where we came first in the Boys’ U10 25m 

Breaststroke, 100m Individual Medley and second in the 25m 

Butterfly. We also came first in the Boys U11 100m Individual 

Medley and second in the 50m Freestyle. The Girls came 

third in the U10 25m Freestyle. 

Unfortunately, due to illness of two swimmers on the Boys’ 

team, they could not make it to the ESSA Swimming 

Competition this year. However, the Girls did very well 

getting to the final of the Medley Relay and the final of the 

Freestyle Relay. Despite not making the national finals 

everyone who swam should be very proud of themselves. 

Well done to everybody who swam this year and thank you to 

Mrs Kynaston, Mrs Hardy and Miss Atkinson for teaching us, 

organising the matches, and supporting us. 

Flora Williams and Max Wood 

Swimming Captains 

JUNIOR CRICKET 

What a season! Words that pupils and parents exclaimed 

when they saw the busy fixture list and also the words spoken 

when the whirlwind which was the 2011 Stockport Grammar 

Junior School Cricket season was over. 

Win, winning, winner, winners. Those are words we like to 

hear; everyone wants to be a winner. When I played 

alongside Mrs Tunney against Mr Milnes and Mrs Wilkinson in 

the House tennis competition (thank you for a great event Mrs 

Smith, please arrange better weather for next year!) it took me 

weeks to get over the disappointment of losing, particularly 

after we had won the first three games! 

However, once I had recovered, I realised just how much fun 

it was to be out in the rain on the astro alongside many other 

pupils enjoying the feeling of teamwork, timing, and terrible 

serving! Winning is, as I say, the goal, but there are many 

other aspects to be enjoyed and many lessons we learn as we 

try to win at sport. 

Pupils always ask me at the start of the season, “How do you 

think we’ll do this year Mr Johnson?” My answer is normally 

something along the lines of “It’s a funny game cricket, so you 

never know. You have to play as a team and never, ever give up 

and you give yourself the best chance of success.” I also hope 

that the team learns many of those important lessons on the way. 

We do like to win and it was a disappointment to be beaten by 

Mr Vernon’s school, Newcastle under Lyme, in our first match. 

The team was not our full strength one as the date was a football 

as well as cricket fixture and our strongest team was not used. 

Learning from defeat was high on the agenda for our team. 

But learn they did as Bolton were our next opponents and they 

were well beaten. Edward Francis showed he had a range of 

quality shots in his armoury and his 71 was backed up by Ben 

Jones and Hugo Taylor. Bolton never got close to our score of 

154. The boys were equally pleased with the snacks that our 

parents provided for both teams after the match! Next was 

another quality opposition beginning with a B, Bury. New rules 

stated that batsmen should retire at 25 and this gave more of 

our players a chance once Edward had reached his quarter 

century. Ben Jones and Elliott Galloway both scored well and 

our score of 106 looked pretty decent. A brilliant display of 

athletic, alert and authoritative wicket keeping by keeper Ben 

Jones never let Bury get ahead of our score and they were 

duly dispatched on a windy pitch. The B team, with a heady 

mixture of U11 and U10 players didn’t take long to follow suit 

and we returned to School a happy squad of cricketers! 

Our first AJIS Cup match was away at Q.E.G.S. Blackburn on an 

unfamiliar grass wicket. Many of our boys were disappointed at 

our low score of 68. But Mr Makinson’s inspiring speech a the 

end of our innings reminded the team that the pitch offered 

many opportunities to take a wicket and not many chances for 

building a big score so the team resolved themselves to keep 

the bowling tight and close down every ball to keep runs to a 

minimum. This tactic worked and with excellent bowling from 

our very own Tremmlett-like man mountain James Schofield 

and wizard with the spin David Paterson Q.E.G.S. never got out 

of first gear. Job done, bring on the next round… 

Next was another away sortie to Birkenhead. Ben Jones and 

James Fleming batted well but our score of 75 looked beatable. 

The team were learning quickly that no matter what the score 

a never-say-die attitude and a positive team ethic can take you 

a long way. This proved the case and everyone in the team 

contributed with dynamic fielding and consistent bowling 

(keep it down that “corridor of uncertainty, lads” was the 

motto!) and another win from a close game was in the bag. 



In a very short term, a blink of an eye, we faced Birkdale. They 

were also dispatched and sent back to Sheffield with a lesson 

on team work dished out by our 11 boys. 

Merely a couple of days later King’s Macclesfield were our next 

port of call (another away fixture!). It is always a close run 

thing against our local rivals but our team were by now a welloiled 

team of talented individuals who know the importance of 

learning from mistakes and all chipping in together. The now 

brilliant opening pair of Jones and Francis were once again on 

form and soon notched up the 25 each required before they 

had to retire. Hugo Taylor, James Fleming and David Paterson 

also played their part and the match looked finely poised at the 

break with our score standing at 95. As Wellington said after 

the Battle of Trafalgar “It was a close run thing” and so it was. 

Eddie Parry and Richard Seed made important contributions 

with accurate bowling. In the end the match was a rare tie 

with Macclesfield also scoring 95! 

Another away match, this time at Merchant Taylors’, stood out 

for one big reason and one big score, Edward Francis and 94! 

This imperious display made sure of the result but we must 

not forget the improved batting from Hugo Taylor, demon 

bowling from Eddie Parry and Taylor Entwhistle (still only a 

Year 5, watch that name!) and another great team effort with 

the fielding. No ball was ever given up on no matter how far 

away or how fast it was travelling. 

Brimming with confidence, the boys once again faced Bolton 

in the AJIS Cup quarter final. However, Bolton had 

strengthened their team with some younger players (a warning 

for next year!) and their accurate bowling made it hard work 

for our batsmen. However, the boys never gave up and the 

rear guard of Theo Whitley, Eddie Parry, David Paterson et al 

saw us on the way to a respectable score of 85. Despite some 

excellent bowling from David Paterson, James Fleming and 

Edward Francis as well as super-tight wicket keeping from Ben 

“safe hands” Jones, Bolton overtook our score with two overs to 

go. A huge disappointment for a team that had got into the 

good habit of winning. However, the boys soon picked 

themselves up and were looking to how they could learn from 

the experience and become better players. Perhaps the 6-aside 

tournaments would present that opportunity… 

One positive feature of the 6-a-side tournaments was that 

both would be at home as they are fixtures we host every year. 

The IAPS tournament took place first and had a smaller 

number of teams than usual but still proved to be an exciting 

and close event. Our boys played magnificently against a very 

strong Altrincham team and came out on top by one run. It 

was Altrincham we faced in the final too, but this time the 

result went the other way. Altrincham needed two off the last 

ball and their batsman (familiar with one or two of our players 

as he plays for Cheshire) played a superb last shot for four 

runs. To lose in such a way was a disappointment but the 

team were proud of the way they played individually as well 

as a team and they were the first to congratulate the successful 

Altrincham boys. Sporting behaviour was again a feature of 

this year’s team. 

The last tournament was our last chance to win some 

silverware. I did not need to remind the boys that in my five 

years at Stockport Grammar I had never won the trophy! The 

sun shone down on the Senior School pitches (the grass pitch 

looked better than the one at Old Trafford!) and all 12 teams 

turned up looking forward to an exciting and close 

tournament. We fielded A and B teams, both of which had a 

chance to progress in the tournament if they played their best 

cricket. Altrincham were once again playing and our boys 

were hoping for a chance to over turn their previous close 

defeat. Sure enough that chance would come… All the usual 

suspects were there in fact. Bolton looked strong, fresh from 

their AJIS Cup semi final win. Merchant Taylors’ looked very 

good as they edged our B team in a closely fought match. 

The B team played some exciting cricket but did not make the 

semi finals; the A team found themselves playing their semi 

against Altrincham! This time there was no doubt over the 

result, with a superb team effort mirroring the England’s team 

performances against India in the tests this summer. 

Paterson’s accurate wizardry with the ball, Fleming’s steely 

nerve bowling out the last over, Whitley’s dynamic fielding, 

Galloway and Taylor’s accurate bowling and of course, the 

demon pair of batsmen who rarely let anyone else have a 

chance to bat; Jones and Francis. 

Merchant Taylors’ had looked extremely strong and 

overpowered Bolton in their semi final. So all that stood 

between our boys and that shield and medals were 10 overs 

of “blink and you’ll miss it swashbuckling Cricket”. But, once 

the match began, there was only thoughts of the next ball. 

Edward and Ben played some magnificent shots and worked 

together as if they were twins! They left Merchant Taylors’ 

with too much to do. Accurate bowling and sensible fielding 

placements (another area of Edward’s captaincy he had 

developed) meant Merchants never got near and our boys 

came home with a gold medal and I can say at last that one 

of my teams has won the Reeman’s Shield! At last! 

And with that the whirlwind was over. Looking back over a 

summer of sports: the end of the football season, great golf 

(The masters) inspiring Tour de France, fantastic cricket (tests 

against India, the highlight for me and many others was the 

moment the Indian Cricket captain MS Dhoni decided to 

reinstate Ian Bell after he’d been run out in a bizarre incident 

just before tea in a test at Trent Bridge. Although Bell was in 

the wrong (he thought the match had finished for tea!) and 

definitely out, Dhoni decided that it was not in the spirit of the 

game for his dismissal to go ahead. For once the spirit of the 

game was more important than the immediate result. This is 

a strong value encouraged in the boys and girls of SGJS Cricket 

teams. This season has been a fantastic success because the 

A team won an important trophy. However, what made me 

most proud of the cricketers this year has been their sporting 

ethos, never say die attitude and encouragement and 

inclusion of others. Well done! 

M. Johnson 



SPORTS DAY 2011 

INFANT SPORTS DAY 

A huge well done to all of the Infant and Nursery children who 

took part in sports day on Friday 24 th June. We were 

exceptionally lucky to get the only dry afternoon of the week 

and the children made the most of the opportunity to run, 

jump and throw, showing off their skills to proud families. 

The children seemed to have an exciting time and happily 

paraded their winning stickers and described their successes. 

Thanks to staff, Year 6 children and SPA who made the event 

run so smoothly. 

Final results: 

Overall Sports Day Results 

1st ARDEN 429 points 

2nd WARREN 358 points 

3rd NICHOLSON 331 points 

4th VERNON 329 points 

C. Nichols 

JUNIOR SPORTS DAY 

As the sun cream was applied by the Years 5 and 6 pupils and 

water bottles collected, the rain clouds gathered overhead. A 

downpour followed which delayed the start but the hardy staff 

and pupils carried on with the event putting as much effort 

and enthusiasm into the activities as always. 

Many close finishes were observed in the track races and a 

number of excellent performances were enjoyed in the long 

jump and ball throw. We did manage to finish the morning 

with exciting relay races, Nicholson enjoying victory in both 

the boys’ and girls’ races. 

The afternoon had a more promising start with only light 

clouds and the temptations of the SPA cake stall threatening 

the children’s performances. 

The Year 3 children seemed to thoroughly enjoy the new 

experience of Junior Sports Day and some surprise results 

were seen on the track. For the first time the Years 3 and 4 

children finished their event with a shuttle relay which 

brought the afternoon to an exciting climax. Vernon were 

victorious in the girls’ relay and Arden in the boys’. Well done 

to the Junior children for their effort and determination in 

both sessions to make such a successful Sports Day. 

C. Nichols 

GRASMERE 

On Monday 13 and Tuesday 14 June, the Year 3 children 

embarked on a residential trip to Grasmere in the Lake District. 

The children were very excited and also slightly apprehensive as 

some of them had never been apart from their parents before. 

The first stop was Brockholes, the children enjoyed spending 

time in the adventure playground before boarding the coach 

again for our next stop. 

We sailed across Lake Windermere wrapped up against the 

biting wind and arrived at the Aquarium. The children were 



thrilled to see sharks, eels, otters and mini monkeys amongst 

many other exciting creatures. Other visitors complimented 

us on the good behaviour of the children. 

When we finally arrived at the Youth Hostel the children were 

faced with the challenge of making up their own beds! An 

hour later we had success, and dinner was served. Finally the 

children enjoyed playing in the garden before retiring to bed. 

The next day we awoke to glorious sunshine and set off for a 

short walk around Grasmere and the lake. We visited the 

gingerbread shop, found Wordsworth’s grave and spent the 

last of our money in the gift shops. As it was both Billy and 

Thomas’s birthdays we ate cake sat on the village green. 

It was a huge success and the children were disappointed 

when it was time to depart for home. 

A. Sullivan 



WASDALE 2011 

Having enjoyed lots of sunshine on the previous two years at 

Wasdale it seemed too much to hope that we would be lucky 

again. However, apart from one very heavy shower whilst 

walking and some low cloud on the campsite one morning, 

the weather was kind to the two groups of Y6 pupils and 6 

staff who accompanied them. It may have been wet 

underfoot but waterproofs were mostly superfluous. 

We enjoyed our usual walk from Boot, up and over past Eel 

Tarn to the Woolpack Inn and returning along the river from 

Doctor Bridge in the late afternoon. The following day 

entailed a ride on the Ravenglass and Eskdale railway from 

Irton Road to Dalegarth station, where we enjoyed delicious 

Lakeland ice cream, and then the gradual climb along the 

Coffin Route past Burnmoor Tarn and down to Wasdale Head 

where we admired the glaciated scenery. A brief visit to St 

Olaf’s Church followed to help us appreciate the attraction of 

this part of the Lake District to the climbing fraternity. 

Walking is only a part of this school trip, the children spend 

time challenging themselves on the campsite playground and 

making good use of the football/cricket pitch. They are also 

responsible for pitching their own tents, designing their own 

sandwiches, helping with kitchen duties and carrying all their 

own kit for a day in the hills whilst trying to maintain tight 

bootlaces so that boots are not lost in the boggy sections of 

footpath. 

We are sad to hear that Alan and Ruth Knight are retiring from 

Church Stile Farm and campsite and moving near to their 

son’s farm in Egremont, however they are hopeful that a local 

family will buy the farm and campsite as a going concern. 

David Killick, who takes our booking for the Old School – 

where we cook and eat- is concerned about the future of the 

village hall and would love to have more groups using this 

excellent little base. 

The combination of well-run campsite and indoor facility for 

meals and meetings ,as well as its remote location, make this 

an ideal spot to take Y6 children. And it is a bonus when the 

weather is set fair! 

L. Hardy 

TROLLS 

Romance, arguments, heroism, ineffectual pouting, confusion 

and perseverance – all was to be found in Year 6 last year. 

More to the point, in the story of the Year 6 musical ‘Trolls’. 

The original musical by Peter Skellern, was skilfully added to 

with extra dialogue by Alison Sullivan and two extra songs 

composed especially by Oliver Mills, sixth form student. 

King Smee (James Schofield) is about to celebrate his 

forthcoming marriage to an unwilling Bleeta (India Menaged) 

with the food that is his ‘raison d’etre! 

The ineffectual army and equally ineffectual local wizard 

(Bethany Carter) can do nothing to stop Snick the goblin in his 

tracks. So it is left to the hero Droople (Rouban Birch) with 

help from Nuffin Elf (Beth Garnett) to save the day. Snick is 

quickly confronted and dealt with, leaving Droople free to 

marry Bleeta, with bumbling, tongue tied Bishop Snod (James 

Fleming) performing the service. 

Unfortunately his greed leads to the unleashing of an evil 

goblin (Joseph Gaughan) who kidnaps the unlucky Bleeta. 

This leads to much bickering and arguing, notably on the part 

of Lady Drong (Amy Earith) and Lady Screed (Kate Who, 

together with their husbands (Alex Grant and Finley Nolan) 

performed a very successful and complex song which thrilled 

the audiences. 

The cast of approximately seventy Year 6 children performed 

brilliantly, with particularly outstanding contributions from 

Amy Earith and Alex Grant. 

R.J. Cole 



PIPER MARTIN 

I have asked so many people how long Piper had worked at 

Stockport Grammar. Responses have varied, but I never got 

to a figure as we were always distracted with anecdotes and 

tales of Piper’s antics. What is certain is that Piper had been 

teaching here on and off, since she was a mere slip of a girl, 

teaching Religious Studies in the Senior School. She met 

David there, whom she married, and then taught in the Junior 

School. Her own growing family took her away for a while, 

but she returned to the Infant Department where many Year 

One children passed through her caring hands. Piper was an 

extremely dedicated teacher and she nurtured five-year-olds 

to be able to cope with their 3 Rs. As our colleague, Piper was 

often found blushing at many a joke but she was as supportive 

to us as to the children under her wing. She was passionate 

about high standards of achievement both in her classroom 

and generally around the school. Piper may have retired from 

Stockport Grammar life now but stories will live on. As for 

how many years, as Piper never gave away her age, we are still 

no clearer to her years of service! 

We do know that Piper was an outstanding teacher, colleague 

and friend. We, and the children, will miss her contribution 

to our day and she takes with her our heartfelt best wishes. 

J. Swales 

LOUISE HARDY 

Louise first arrived at Stockport Grammar Junior School in the 

April of 1979 when it was still an all boys’ school and Richard 

Reeman was Head. Eighteen months later, I joined her in Year 

4 (or J2G as it was known then) to begin a partnership that was 

to last nearly twenty years. 

Louise was always the explorer and traveller. When she first 

joined the school she had just returned from four months of 

trekking across Europe and North Africa. She took part in 

expeditions organised by Stuart Helm to the Dolomites in 

1982 and 1983 and took an annual pilgrimage to Wasdale 

which became her second home. 

We both left the Junior School in 1983; I left to have my 

daughter Olivia and Louise joined her husband in Edinburgh 

at Merchiston Castle School. This was a perfect appointment 

for them both and it was here that their two daughters were 

born. Reluctantly they left Scotland to return to Stockport 

after nine years as John (her husband) was to join William 

Hulme School as Head of Geography. 

Louise came back to SGS initially as a swimming teacher but 

eventually, when the school had completed its expansion, was 

appointed as a Year 6 Form Teacher. Louise continued to 

bring the full force of her commitment and enthusiasm to the 

Junior School. Each year she organised a series of Year 6 walks 

which took place on Sundays in the Autumn Term; she ran 

taster canoe/sailing sessions at Debdale for the Year 5 pupils, 

again in her own time at weekends. She accompanied many 

residential trips, especially to Robinwood and Wasdale and 

took over the running of the latter in the last few years. She 

braved and scaled the heights to operate the lights during the 

yearly Year 6 Production, even though she said that this was 

her excuse to get out of ‘shushing’ duty in the wings. All these 

responsibilities ran alongside her role as a Year 6 Form Teacher 

as well as her commitment to Junior School swimming. 

It was clear from my first meeting with her in 1980 that her 

qualities would make her an ideal colleague: totally fair, hard 

working, straightforward, supportive and honest. We made 

an unlikely partnership; superficially we had nothing in 

common and we certainly did not share interests or hobbies. 

However, we did share the same values and I can honestly say 

that we never had a cross word. Our strengths supported 

each other’s weaknesses and there was never a hint of 

competition in our working life. In truth, I could not have had 

a better colleague. In all my years at the school I have never 

heard her utter a bad word about anyone nor heard anyone 

criticise Louise. She always saw the good in people (even me) 

and shied away from criticism and negativity. 

I miss her company, her sound advice and sense of justice as 

well as the constant sarcastic banter that existed between us. 

However, knowing her, she will seize every opportunity to 

enjoy the freedom that retirement brings and I wish her well. 

J. Mercer 



GERMAN ASSISTANT 

“Aarrright?”, “May I have a ticket to Stockport please?”, “One 

pound ninety … Ta, luv.” 

(“Wie bitte?!”) 

My first inter-cultural experience in the North West - I had 

definitely arrived. However, aside from the initial challenges 

of figuring out a completely different compendium of modes 

of travel, certain linguistic peculiarities were refreshingly new 

and added a lot of humour to a language I thought I knew 

quite well until now... 

I was having some doubts about whether I would get used to 

this change in culture, climate and linguistic surrounding, but 

then I arrived inside the gates of the school; I was soon led to 

the Languages department and to a warm welcome by the 

staff members and I soon felt like I was part of the team. It 

has been extraordinary to see how everyone interacted with 

each other, dealing with challenges in and around lessons, 

school trips and especially during exam time. One 

memorable experience was the German Speaking 

Competition where many young pupils participated, 

displaying their talent and enthusiasm – I can only encourage 

you to keep it up! 

I thoroughly enjoyed teaching all my classes, and particularly 

the Lower Sixth who put up with my strange Austrian dialect 

and didactic ways. You were patient, ambitious and creative 

and some of you absorbed new information like a sponge. 

There was such a healthy inquisitive nature in students. This 

was both challenging and encouraging for me and finding new 

ways of conveying something was one of my favourite parts of 

the lesson. It was rewarding to see pupils’ progress in 

challenging aspects of the German language. I encountered 

new ways of teaching, both inside and outside the classroom 

and I was also very fortunate to have briefly been a part of the 

school choir and their Salzburg music tour and the rockclimbing 

club – I will never forget how amazing that was. 

A special mention goes to my fellow assistants as well as the 

close-knit Languages department. My year in Stockport just 

would not have been the same without you! 

Andreas Sellas 

FRENCH ASSISTANT 

All the positive impressions I had before arriving at Stockport 

Grammar School in October 2011 were confirmed over the 

eight months I have spent here. There is no doubt that every 

student and every member of the staff should be proud to 

attend or work in such place, for they all contribute to its 

quality. As for me, I am grateful to have had the opportunity 

to work in this school. 

Settling in was never a difficult task and that was mainly 

thanks to the staff of the Language Department. There I met 

hard-working and passionate teachers who are close to their 

students and care about their success. I really enjoyed the 

working environment at SGS. I was helped and guided but 

given enough freedom at the same time and I felt that my 

work was valued. What is more, the good atmosphere in the 

staffroom added to the quality of my time in the school. I was 

given a first taste of what might become my future job and I 

acquired a very valuable experience. 

Unfortunately, or fortunately some would say, I acquired no 

experience in dealing with troublesome students. It was a 

delight to work with the pupils at SGS and I only wish I had 

seen some of them more often. I am glad that they all 

progressed significantly in French and some of them are now 

on the way to fluency. I met not only clever and polite students 

but also likeable young men and women with whom I shared 

interesting conversations and countless times of laughter. 

I would have liked to tell them more about France but I 

suppose the best way to really discover a foreign country is to 

spend some time there. That is why, regardless of whether 

they study French at university, I recommend them to spend a 

year in France, or any other foreign country; it is an 

experience that will shape their life. In the end they may even 

get used to its different way of life and appreciate its culture 

as I did with England, where I must say I had a very good time, 

despite my early doubts. 

I would like to mention my appreciation for fellow assistants 

Andreas and Alberto who have become my friends over the 

116 People


course of the year and with whom I had a lot of good times in 

and out of school. 

Lastly, to all the students and members of the staff of Stockport 

Grammar School I wish the very best. 

Merci, et au revoir. 

Cyrille Lejeune 

SPANISH ASSISTANT 

Once I came into the school, I was introduced to the 

department’s teachers, who were really pleasant and gave me 

plenty of information. After being introduced to everyone, I 

was shown around the school. At first, I really could not 

believe what I was seeing; I was astonished at its sheer size 

and amazed at the number of fantastic facilities that the 

school offered. 

Writing about my year at SGS, I cannot forget to mention the 

Spanish students. I have had the pleasure of enjoying really 

funny and interesting classes with them. All of them have been 

friendly and hard-working students and have all improved and 

gained a lot of self-confidence in speaking Spanish. I have also 

learnt a lot thanks to them – even another language! 

Before I flew to Manchester, the Head of Spanish, Miss Psaila, 

got in touch with me and explained everything that I needed 

to know before arriving here. At first, I really was quite afraid 

of the prospect of coming to Stockport because I knew 

nothing about the city and I was arriving on my own. 

When I arrived at Manchester Airport, Miss Psaila was waiting 

there for me to pick me up and take me to my 

accommodation. She offered me all the help that she could 

and that I needed. After I settled into my new house, I 

attended a really useful meeting with the Stockport Foreign 

Language Assistants’ co-ordinator, Sue Shore. It was then that 

I met the rest of the Foreign Languages Assistants and realised 

that I was not alone. She was really nice and helped to 

explain all the forms that we had to fill in. 

I would like to thank everyone at SGS who made my time so 

enjoyable. A special mention must go to Mrs Moss, for her 

friendliness in the Arts’ Office, and to the staff in the dining hall 

for making so many delicious dishes. I also have to mention the 

other languages assistants with whom I had a lot of fun both in 

and outside of school. It was really nice to meet everyone. 

Finally, I would like to say that this year at SGS has been great 

and I am really grateful for the opportunity that the school 

gave me and all of the things that I learnt here. I have realised 

that this school gives the pupils so many opportunities and 

now know why they want to study here. I will take many 

anecdotes and fond memories with me. 

¡Muchas gracias por todo y hasta pronto! 

Alberto Romero 

BENEDICTE GARNIER 

Madame Garnier 

joined SGS in 

September 2000. 

Following a very 

successful period as 

a trainee teacher, 

she was appointed 

to a full time 

teaching post in the 

French Department. 

During her time 

here, she was an 

enthusiastic and inspiring teacher who developed excellent 

relationships with her pupils; she always got the best from 

even the most reluctant learner. A first rate teacher, Madame 

Garnier always sought to find new ways to explain points to 

her pupils and engage them in lessons. 

Benedicte contributed much to the work of the department, 

producing many excellent resources worthy of publication. In 

the early part of her career, she organised and accompanied 

the school’s French exchange programme, enabling many 

pupils to experience French language and culture at first hand. 

Although she went part-time following the birth of her 

People 117


children, she was always fully committed to her pupils at SGS. 

In her final year in the school, she ran our most successful 

French trip to date, taking forty pupils to Paris for a week. She 

will be remembered by her pupils as an outstanding teacher 

and by colleagues as a committed professional whose good 

humour, cheerfulness and lively manner will be greatly 

missed. 

S. M. Gibson 

ELIZABETH FAIRCLOUGH 

The English Department have enjoyed working with the 

irreplaceable Elizabeth Fairclough for many years. She has 

always rigorously promoted high standards in the classroom, 

ensuring that each pupil is attentive both to accuracy and the 

need to challenge themselves by employing a mature and 

sophisticated vocabulary. Her love of twentieth century 

drama and poetry has led many pupils to discover the 

pleasures of Ayckbourn, Fanthorpe and Sherriff and she has 

accompanied many groups to the theatre. Her strong sense of 

irony was often present. She had the staff in stitches when 

impishly describing the stuck curtain during a tense 

performance of ‘Journey’s End’ one autumn evening, whilst 

fifty bemused GCSE pupils waited in vain for the play’s end! 

Obviously, Elizabeth’s outstanding teaching of the second half 

of the play meant that no pupil was disadvantaged by this 

technical failure. 

Elizabeth’s keen interest in current affairs enlivened a 

multitude of IGCSE coursework folders as she always insisted 

that pupils look beyond their immediate concerns to see the 

national and global contexts. She knew her pupils very well 

and was determined that they would each become confident 

and thus reach their potential. This was evidenced several 

times in the examination board’s commendation of their 

varied and creative oral presentations. We are sure that she 

will find the time to keep us updated when she has discovered 

still more of the modern classics and literary gems that are 

quickly becoming the new canon. 

G. A. Cope 

PAUL ELLIOTT 

armed only with a pen and whiteboard. Paul Elliott is one 

such teacher. 

Mr Elliott joined Stockport Grammar School in September 

2006, having moved back to the north of England after a 

period teaching at Churcher’s College in Hampshire. He 

immediately made a strong impression on both pupils and 

staff alike and his enthusiasm for Philosophy was evident from 

the start. He would often describe himself as an ‘Ideas Person’ 

and he displayed mental agility and knowledge of his subjects 

which at once impressed and sometimes scared his pupils! 

His attention to detail and vast subject knowledge encouraged 

his pupils to push for higher levels of understanding that went 

well beyond the confines of the syllabus. And, although they 

often complained about his insistence that they learn the 

dates of as many philosophers as possible, they enjoyed the 

challenge which his rigour demanded. As a talented 

raconteur and wit, his pupils enjoyed the discursive nature of 

his lessons and the subjects that they covered were often 

discussed outside of lessons. Pupils enjoyed their experiences 

in his classroom and they also gained a first rate education in 

Religious Studies and Philosophy - the results obtained by his 

classes were often exceptional. 

Philosophy teachers are likes hens’ teeth. You have to look 

very hard to find them. Even rarer, however, are teachers of 

any discipline who have an exceptional command of their 

subject and who can inspire and enthuse children whilst 

Mr Elliott’s commitment to his pupils also extended well 

beyond the classroom. During his time at SGS, he significantly 

improved the Fitness Room, acquiring new equipment 

(courtesy of the OSA), encouraging increasing numbers of 

pupils to attend. Many of these pupils benefited from his 

118 People


expertise and experience and both he and they greatly 

enjoyed the experience of training and achieving goals that 

they had set together. Mr Elliott also ran the Religion and 

Philosophy Department’s Oxbridge programme extending the 

learning of his pupils and imbuing them with a love of the 

subject which will last them a lifetime. He had great success 

in helping his pupils attain Oxbridge places, as well as helping 

pupils who were applying for courses in other subject areas. 

Many of those who he taught have continued their study of 

Philosophy at university, clearly demonstrating the love of the 

subject which he helped to instil in them. 

When asked, his pupils have described Mr Elliott as ‘one of a 

kind’, ‘an inspirational teacher’ and someone who has truly 

influenced their lives. He is a true educationalist and his goal 

to inspire and educate the whole child was certainly met 

whilst at SGS. He is an exceptional professional, a superb 

teacher and a wonderful friend and his contribution to school 

life will not be forgotten. 

K. E. Flaherty 

SARAH GRIFFITHS 

Sarah Griffiths joined Stockport Grammar in September 2009 

as a graduate from Birmingham University. During her two 

years at SGS she became a much valued member of staff both 

within the Music department and across the school through 

her role as an Assistant Form Tutor. Always friendly, kind and 

generous by nature, Sarah quickly developed a good 

relationship with other colleagues and with the classes that 

she taught. Sarah always showed an enthusiastic and 

innovative approach to the delivery of lessons, reflecting a 

keen wider interest in educational and pedagogical theory. 

The latter was particularly evident in the seminar on Kagan 

teaching methods and co-operative learning that she led for 

colleagues during a staff INSET day. In her extra-curricular 

work Sarah directed the Junior Orchestra and Junior Singers as 

well as taking lunchtime 

theory classes and 

accompanying pupils for 

music exams. On behalf 

of all the Music staff, and I 

am sure many of the 

pupils, I would like to 

thank her for all her hard 

work here at SGS and 

wish her every success 

and happiness in her new 

teaching role at Pownall 

Hall school. 

M. Dow 

NIA MERRIMAN 

Miss Merriman joined SGS in September 2010 from William 

Hulme G.S. Her main responsibility at the School was to take 

on the role of Head of Girls’ P.E. and to run netball. 

There are numerous other areas within the P.E. Department to 

which Nia contributed: she was an excellent teacher of core 

P.E. and Games, a successful and innovative deliverer of 

both GCSE and AS PE and also a great supporter of tennis in 

the summer. 

Miss Merriman did not simply confine her time at SGS to the 

P.E. Department. She supported the pastoral system as a Third 

Year Form Tutor and was an active member of Arden House. 

Nia left us to take on the 

role of Director of Sport at 

the Compass International 

School in Doha (Qatar) 

joining her fiancée Terry 

who works in the area. 

We thank Nia for all her 

hard work at the School 

and wish her every future 

success. 

C. J. Wright 

People 119


JO FARMER 

Mrs Farmer is a mathemagician: she is someone who helps 

individuals to kindle a spark of interest and confidence in their 

mathematical abilities. She joined Stockport Grammar in 

January 2009 from Pownall Hall in a new role as Learning 

Support Teacher for Numeracy across both Junior and Senior 

schools, working with small groups, teaching individuals and 

offering classroom support. 

Many children find Maths challenging, but Jo’s patient 

approach with pupils enabled them to tackle specific aspects 

of the subject so that they could keep pace with their peers 

and feel ready for success at GCSE. Colleagues within the 

Senior School Mathematics department were able to refer 

pupils and see progress in end of topic tests. This has built a 

foundation for ongoing support and a range of resources. 

As a part-time teacher, Jo was able to enjoy spending time in 

the outdoors on her new hobby, horse riding. The life of the 

country byway was a great balance to the demands of assisting 

in the two sections of SGS; however the siren call of a full-time 

post as Deputy Head at Loreto Prep School in Altrincham has 

taken her back to full-time teaching and a Senior 

Management position. 

We are very grateful for her care, hard work and the legacy of 

greater confidence in Mathematics which she has quietly 

given to pupils over her three years at SGS. We wish her every 

happiness and success in her new post, and hope that she will 

still find time to ride into the sunset after a busy week from 

time to time. 

V. L. Barrett 

CATHY MILLS 

Cathy Mills joined the Chemistry Department in 2009 as an 

NQT taking up her first teaching post. From the outset it was 

clear that Cathy was a determined teacher, with the success of 

her pupils top of her priorities. The care with which she 

prepared her lessons and undertook the marking of 

homework and coursework was second to none and Cathy 

always had time to give pupils extra support at lunchtimes and 

after school. Many of her pupils have said how they miss her 

summary sheets! 

Cathy was also full of enthusiasm; the First Year Chemistry 

club was a roaring success and she pushed the pupils to attend 

extension activities such 

as the Salters Chemistry 

camps. 

Cathy Mills was a valued 

colleague and we wish her 

every success at her new 

post at Manchester High 

School for Girls. 

A. Glarvey 

SARA BANNING 

Sara joined the Geography Department in September 2010 

after completing her PGCE at Exeter University. She was, 

however, no stranger to the area after studying for her degree 

in Environmental Science at Manchester University. She 

quickly made her mark at Stockport where her pleasant 

nature and strong interpersonal skills were quickly and warmly 

appreciated by pupils. Her lessons were well planned and 

conducted in an atmosphere of cooperation and endeavour. 

She also played an effective role as a member of the 

departmental team where her lively intellect and strong work 

ethic were clearly evident. 

In her short time at the school she made a significant 

commitment to the extra-curricular programme, particularly 

in relation to Duke of Edinburgh in terms of planning, training 

and expeditions. She assisted on the French trip to Paris and 

the Geography Tour to 

Iceland. During the latter, 

her role as official 

photographer has 

produced some excellent 

images that brighten the 

corridor in Geography. 

Unfortunately her time 

with us was all too brief, 

but she leaves with our 

best wishes for the future 

and our sincere thanks. 

R. Howarth 

120 People


ANNA PARKER 

Anna joined SGS as PR and Communications Officer in 

September 2008. Her Marketing Agency experience was to 

serve her well as she got to grips with the requirements of the 

newly formed External Relations team. She quickly 

established good relationships with the local media and 

produced publication after publication showcasing the very 

best of Stockport Grammar, including the 2008-2009 edition 

of The Stopfordian. 

Anna’s calm and supportive approach was valued by us all, as 

she pitched in to help with events and many other projects. 

During her time at SGS, she and her fiancé Adam moved to 

Poynton and embarked on a radical project of extending and 

refurbishing a dilapidated property whilst still living in it. At 

times it seemed more like camping and we were impressed by 

her resilience and ability to keep calm and carry on. 

Anna took maternity leave in the summer of 2010 for the birth 

of her first child and a year at home with Isabel convinced her 

that she wanted to be a full time mum. We wish her, Adam 

and Isabel all the very best and hope that she will stay in 

touch. 

R. Horsford 

People 121


A WORD FROM THE OSA PRESIDENT 

Once I got over the shock of being invited to be President of 

the OSA, I realised that I had to arrange to be given a guided 

tour of the ‘new’ school, as it was obvious that much had 

changed during the 22 years that I had been living and 

working in Kenya. I was very impressed by the creation of the 

new areas developed within the school and how well the new 

had been blended in with the old. 

My year in office has been a great experience, and a real eyeopener 

with respect to school activities. I attended Speech 

Day and the two wonderful Carol Services. Armistice Day 

was a very moving occasion and extremely well attended, 

with over 100 Old Stopfordians present. The Junior School 

Sports Day was a superb display of unbridled enthusiasm and 

budding talent. 

The school music concerts were absolutely superb, and 

impressed me so much that I shall enjoy attending as many as 

possible after my year of office ends. 

The World Lacrosse Championships were held in Manchester 

during July 2010 and it was good to see so many Old Stops 

being selected for the various categories of English Lions 

(defined as players of a more senior age) and who played 

so well. 

Finally, I would like to thank the OSA committee members for 

their unstinting support and guidance during the year. 

Tony Fort 

OSA President 2010/11 

FROM THE HELM 

Best wishes to all Old Stopfordians out there. The External 

Relations Department has continued to place a great deal of 

attention on communication during the year. Not least was 

the publication in the early summer of the first edition of ‘Old 

Stops ’Review’, to be published annually. The office received 

many supportive emails regarding the content and the layout 

and it is hoped that this issue will be the first of many. The 

review aims to feature articles and events that are primarily 

about Old Stopfordians but also to present a snapshot of the 

current life of the school. If the publication is to thrive 

however, it needs the support of all you out there. We are 

happy to continue to receive notices of marriage and births 

and, sadly, deaths but what is really needed are stories of 

adventure, successful schemes, enterprises and interests, off 

the wall career paths and travel to far flung places etc. We 

know that these happen and we think your fellow Old Stops 

would like to hear about them. So stop being so modest and 

let us know what floats your boat. 

Tom Fern has completely rebuilt the school website and it is 

now even easier to access a whole raft of information. A 

Facebook site has been opened which at the moment is being 

used to circulate people with information about events. We 

hope that it will soon be extended for wider coverage. 

The Remembrance Service was again extremely well attended 

and 108 Old Stopfordians returned to join Governors, staff 

and pupils. After the service they were entertained by 

the school string quartet and accounts from pupils who 

had visited the French and Belgian battlefields before 

enjoying lunch. 

A major event this last year was of course the marking of thirty 

years of co-education and the arrival of girls. This was 

followed up by a 1980’s reunion in September in the form of 

an informal lunch which was very well attended by former 

pupils and their families and former members of staff. 

In early September I was fortunate enough to re-visit the 

Dolomites in Northern Italy courtesy of my son Nick. We both 

had a most enjoyable time firstly on the Marmolada Glacier, 

now reduced almost entirely at the end of the season to blue 

ice, then an airy Via Ferrata and finally a straightforward route 

to the summit of Piz Boe in the massive Sella Group. The 

memories of those early Moutaineering Club trips from 1979 

up to1990 came flooding back – too many to even 

contemplate mentioning here. We did, however, establish the 

location of the International Bar in Canezei, a watering hole 

that I first encountered in 1962 with John Stanley as a wide 

eyed sixteen year-old. I have to say that it had not changed 

one bit and although Canezei has become a popular ski resort, 

it was still recognisably the same charming alpine refuge that 

many of us remember. I never like to make things too easy for 

you and at this point I will put a question. Which group of 

boys in 1979 or 1981, in the middle of a prolonged downpour, 

pitched their Vango tent under the awning of a German 

family’s large frame tent and then used their second-hand 

washing up water after the family had finished with it? That, 

Old Stopfordians, is what an education at Stockport Grammar 

School enables you to achieve. 

Regards to you all. 

Stuart Helm 

122 Old Stopfordians’ Association


STOPFORDIANS’ LACROSSE CLUB 

The 2010/2011 season heralded a new league structure, 

following debate that had gone on for several years. First 

teams were grouped together across three divisions, Premier 

1, 2 and 3, and remaining teams played in a separate 

grouping. This system meant that Stops scraped narrowly into 

Premier Division Two, having spent the previous season in the 

old Third Division. Opponents would now include teams 

from the former Second Division as well as teams just 

relegated from the previous top division. The task looked 

ominous, but in fact the team performed well enough to hold 

its own near the middle of the division and comfortably 

secured its place in Premier Two for the following season. 

Captain Andrew Withington and Vice-Captain Peter 

Woodhead continued to lead a team that relied on a number 

of long-serving players, but also included welcome 

appearances from newer members such as Phil Hall. Colin 

Hibbert had been one of the longest-serving members and 

remained a valuable player on the field, as well as a key 

administrator and organiser of the team. Sadly, Colin passed 

away suddenly three games into the new 2011/2012 season. 

Richard Griffiths 

OS 1969 

MR W A KERSHAW 

A memorial service for Alan Kershaw was held at Woodford 

Parish Church on Friday 15 th July. A very distinguished Old 

Stopfordian and former Chairman of Governors, Alan sadly 

passed away in the Isle of Man on the 12 th June 2011. 

Alan retired from the Board of Governors of Stockport 

Grammar School in 1996 after serving for 24 years, 19 of 

which were in the capacity of Chairman. He was a pupil at 

the school from 1936 to 1942, and followed his studies at SGS 

with an open scholarship to University College, Southampton. 

After qualifying in Spherical Maths, Navigation, Celestial and 

Terrestrial Navigation, Alan quickly saw service at sea, firstly 

on North Atlantic convoy duty and later, in the Far East. 

Following a period on the east coast of Italy, he was present at 

the Japanese surrender of Hong Kong in August 1945 and 

with the Australian Special Services in Hiroshima shortly after 

the atomic bomb was dropped. 1946-1947 saw Alan on 

active service in Palestine. 

The Navy behind him, he dedicated his working life to 42 

years in the textile and garment manufacturing business, 

setting up his own company in 1967 and retiring as Chairman 

in 1991. A keen sportsman, Alan played both club and 

representative rugby football in Lancashire and Bristol. 

During his time on the Board of Governors, he saw SGS move 

to Independent status following the 1974 Government 

announcement of the phasing out of the Direct Grant system. 

In 1980, as Chairman, he oversaw the change to co-education 

and the doubling in size of the school over the following ten 

years. When he retired from the Board in 1996 he 

commented: “My gratitude encompasses everyone, 

particularly the ever-devoted staff, thanking parents and most 

importantly the pupils who have made my journey so 

worthwhile. I would do it all again!” 

Alan was a member of the OSA, served for a period of seven 

years as Secretary and was President in 1972/73. He was 

elected as a Distinguished Life Member in 1994. 

Alan and his wife Hilary had two children, Christopher and 

Christine, and in recent years the family tradition continued 

with many of his grandchildren attending SGS. Following his 

retirement, he and Hilary moved to live in the Isle of Man. 

R. Horsford (with ref from C. Henstock) 

ALAN BAXENDALE 

It was with great sadness that we heard of the death of Alan 

Baxendale on 3 October 2010 in hospital, following a fall at 

his home. Alan was well known in the Old Stopfordians’ 

Association, as a stalwart supporter and past Secretary and 

Chairman of the London Branch. 

Alan was at Stockport Grammar School from 1934 to 1942. 

He received his Bachelor of Arts from University College 

London in 1949, and qualified as a teacher at the London 

Institute of Education in 1950. He received his Masters in 

History from the University of London in 1954. He became 

the first professional educator to serve as Chief Education 

Officer to the Secretary of State at the Home Office. Prior to 

his retirement he was awarded an honorary M.A. by the Open 

University for his role in broadening prison education 

programmes through the medium of OU techniques. On his 

retirement in 1985 he was awarded an OBE for educational 

services. He received his M.Phil. from Queen Mary University 

of London in 2004. 

Alan was very interested in the role of education in penal 

reform, and this was the thesis he wrote to obtain his M.Phil. 

He converted this thesis into his book which was published 

earlier this year about Winston Churchill’s approach to the 

role of education in penal reform. Alan researched the 

material from original and little-known sources of how 

Churchill, when Home Secretary in 1910/11, sought to solve 

prison treatment and sentencing problems not unlike those 

Old Stopfordians’ Association 123


with which our country has to deal in the present day. This 

book has a forward by Sir Martin Gilbert, who is Churchill’s 

official biographer. This interest continued up to the end of 

his life, and his generosity was recently extended when he 

undertook to fund a bursary which would support a student 

undertaking post-graduate research into post-war education 

provision within the UK prison system. 

Alan was a supporter of many charities, and an active 

supporter of our Old Stopfordians’ Association. As well as 

holding the diverse offices of auditor, Secretary and Chairman 

of the London Branch over the years, he was also a regular 

attendee of events in Stockport, particularly the 

Remembrance Day and Founder’s Day services. As an 

acknowledgement of his service to the Association, Alan was 

awarded the honour of being appointed as a Distinguished 

Life Member of the Association two years ago. 

Alan suffered a major illness a few years ago, but pulled 

through with his strong and courageous attitude, showing the 

qualities he possessed throughout his life. 

Paul Carr, our Secretary, recalls Alan’s generosity in helping 

people to progress their careers, and makes an interesting 

comment that Alan was one of those people whom David 

Cameron would welcome as the very embodiment of the “Big 

Society”, but to Alan this would not just be a politician’s 

phrase but an intensely practical approach to making the 

world just that little bit better, simply because it was the right 

thing to do. 

From a personal view I will miss Alan greatly and his continual 

enthusiasm for ideas of how to promote both the London 

Branch and the School. We have all been very grateful for his 

help and advice over the many years of his involvement with 

the Association, and I know I echo the sentiments of many 

members, both past and present. 

David Pugh 

Chairman, London Branch 

DEATHS 

David P Adams (OS 1948) 

died October 2010 

Alan S Baxendale (OS 1942) 

died 3rd October 2010 

Alex H Bullen (OS 1945) 

died 15th April 2011 

Roy W Henley (OS 1948) 

died January 2011 

Arnold Howarth (OS 1945) 

died 1st January 2011 

Robert H Hulme (OS 1936) 

died 10th December 2010 

Alan R Jolly (OS 1938) 

died 1st April 2011 

William A Kershaw (OS 1946) 

died 13th June 2011 

Alan Marshall (OS 1938) 

died 9th October 2010 

Alan R Murphy (OS 1968) 

died 2011 

Nicholas P Vites (OS 1972) 

died December 2010 

James F Walton (OS 1947) 

died August 2011 

124 Old Stopfordians’ Association

Designed and printed by Fine Print (Stockport) Ltd 

Stockport Grammar School 

Buxton Road Stockport SK2 7AF 

Telephone 0161 456 9000 

www.stockportgrammar.co.uk

Stopfordian 2010â2011 - Stockport Grammar School

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?

Stopfordian 2010â2011 - Stockport Grammar School