Stopfordian 2010–2011 - Stockport Grammar School

The Stopfordian 2010–2011
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
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