A busy day of visitors

Last Friday was one of those particularly exciting MGS days, when the range of visitors talking to different groups of boys adds that something extra to what would normally be going on in the classrooms.

First arrival was Andrew Bingham, Conservative MP for the High Peak, who came to visit MGS for the first time and met some of his young constituents and, pursuing his interest in SMEs, two Lower Sixth Young Enterprise businesses, one of which has already managed to place its giftware and wrapping paper in Rymans.  A lively speaker, he didn't want to condemn Stephen Hester's RBS bonus but did want to promote the Glossop by-pass.

Not content with a visit from a member of the lower house, we then welcomed Lord Lamont, who spoke to Sixth Form Politics and Economics students about his life in politics.  As Chancellor in the Major government, he had insights to offer about the current difficulties in the EU and Eurozone. As he did in government, Lord Lamont produced a calm, even bland performance and came closest to passion in repeating his plea that members of his audience should consider politics as a worthy calling and at the very least engage with the democratic process throughout their lives.

At lunchtime Marc Shirman, at MGS in the 1990s, came in to talk to older pupils interested in careers in finance.  Marc, well remembered as a school water-polo player, studied Finance and Accounting at Leeds Met, and is now Head of Structured Finance for RBS's North of England Commercial Banking operation based in Manchester.

Scarcely was Marc out of the theatre (now a great venue for presentations to audiences of up to 200) than Martin Sixsmith arrived to give the inaugural Ian Leverton lecture.  Ian was an inspirational teacher (and later Head of Department) of German and Russian from the mid-60s until his untimely retirement on ill-health grounds and early death in 2009.  Martin was one of a clutch of Old Mancs who shared Ian's love of languages, journalism and Liverpool Football Club and has based his professional life, particularly his time with the BBC, around modern foreign languages and the investigation of other cultures.  His lecture explored themes of language and culture with particular reference to Russia and the former Soviet Union.  With a light touch he displayed his enthusiasm and scholarship, and provided his audience with an inspiring experience.

While sixth formers were listening to Martin, Lower School boys were meeting author, animator and illustrator Curtis Jobling, designer of the BAFTA-winning series Bob the Builder.

Just another MGS day, then - and doubtless the odd Maths and French lesson was taught as well.

London - the good and the bad

To London with Simon Jones this week to meet up with some influential Old Mancs to discuss events and fundraising in the build-up to our big 500th birthday celebration for the school in 2015.

As someone who loves to walk the streets of London by day and night, I am ridiculously lucky with the weather on my visits.  I can't remember the last time I needed an umbrella.  Cool December days produce a great light in the capital, as seen here from the terrace of Somerset House:

A few brave tourists were enjoying a winter visit but they were outnumbered, I think, by Home Counties shoppers getting ahead with their Christmas present lists (note to self!)

London always seems to provide the unexpected - as a motorcyclist I was much taken with this TV-broadcasting-enabled Honda Pan European parked up outside the Royal Courts of Justice, complete with transmission aerial:

Of course, there are downsides to London, whether you visit or work there.  For me, and doubtless many others, it's the press of bodies and, even more, vehicles on the streets.  We had a sharp experience of this when rushing back by taxi to Euston to catch the last off-peak service out of town.  Our taxi got blocked in, we bailed out in Bloomsbury and only just caught the train after a frantic, undignified scramble to the station.

But memories are predominantly good ones.  And if you do have to work in London, how about having the office view of one of the old boys we visited, looking past HMS Belfast to Tower Bridge:

Old Boys' Dinner 2011

On Saturday to school, not for P.S. but to attend a most enjoyable Old Boys' Dinner with a hundred or so Old Mancs, the High Master, the Recorder (Paul Rose), and the evening's Junior Steward (Nick Gartside) and Senior Steward (Steve Corbett).

A sideline on the evening: I was privileged to wear a new design of OM bowtie (one of only two prototypes in existence at present) - an offshoot of the latest silk tie design for the association.

We are fortunate to have catering staff at school who can produce not only wholesome daily meals but rise to the challenge of cooking for special events.  So the food and wine were good, the company enjoyable, and the speeches from HM and the Stewards entertaining and thought-provoking.  Nick is in investment banking and told us that the rigours of Borrowdale Camp had been good preparation for many aspects of City life.  Steve is a consultant orthopaedic surgeon specialising in elbow and shoulder procedures.  He reminisced about a special 4 alpha he belonged to (memorable to their staff as well as to members of the form) and emphasised the importance to him and many like him of the success of the Bursary Appeal and the continuing efforts to ensure access to MGS regardless of family means.

An evening to remember, which continued for some of the younger attendees as they hit the bright lights of the city centre - 4 alpha would have been proud of them.

Chopin in Manchester

On Friday last to Deansgate, Manchester, to represent MGS at the opening/installation of the Chopin Memorial Monument.  Two hundred years after the composer's birth, Manchester now boasts a statue of Frederic Chopin, who played in the city in 1848.  The links between Manchester (and the broader region of north-west England) and the Polish people are very strong, and the ceremony on Friday was attended by the Polish Ambassador in the UK, the leader of Manchester City Council, and the sculptor, Robert Sobocinski.  Of course, a number of MGS staff and pupils have Polish roots.

Under the drape, Chopin plays one of the earliest models of piano, whilst gazing across the keyboard at an unidentified muse.  The muse reclines on an eagle's wing, with the other wing forming the opened piano lid, incorporating a battle scene representing the Polish fight for freedom.

On Friday a selection of Chopin's music was played wonderfully in a Town Hall recital by Andrew Wilde.

Start of year

Welcome to the start of another school year.  It's hard to say which is the more nervous group: the new pupils in their shiny uniforms, or the band of new staff - teachers, administrators, language assistants, etc - who join MGS this September.  Best wishes to you all.  It will doubtless all soon seem familiar.

There have been big physical changes over the summer, with a new access point to the grounds from Old Hall Lane to facilitate bus loading and unloading, a new computer infrastructure throughout the buildings, and the completion of the new accommodation for the youngest new MGS pupils for over 60 years, the 7 and 8 year-olds joining the Junior School.  This is the new view looking west towards the Rectory (the boundary with Birchfields Park is to the right):

Facilities in the new building are bang up-to-date, and the youngsters even have a dedicated playground outside, MGS oddly having been designed without such a facility when the school moved to Fallowfield in 1931.

The olden days are much in our minds as we approach our 500th birthday in 2015, and our archivist, aided by staff in the Art department, has prepared a wonderful mounted exhibition of photographs of times past which is hanging in the Display Area near the Memorial Hall.  Do pop in and see it if you can.  Call into the Development Office on the same corridor while you're visiting - we'll be delighted to see you.  Here's a taster - milk, anyone?

Return of Speech Day

So, the end of another academic year and, this time, a blast from the past.  Those who, like me, remember the formal speech days of the 50s and 60s at the Free Trade Hall (all governors' wives and hats, it seemed) or the even earlier ones at the Palace Theatre, will be interested to know that an MGS Speech Day in a major city-centre venue is back.

Now in the Bridgewater Hall, and more a Prizegiving than a Speech Day, accommodating exactly half the pupils of the school and their families.  So, in alternate years, boys will attend and, if they have achieved distinction in academic or other fields, will take the stage in groups for the audience's applause - nice touch, this, so that the audience doesn't feel obliged to provide almost continuous applause for a crocodile of boys crossing the stage.

There was no distinguished visitor to present prizes and distribute wisdom - just an in-house set of short presentations given by the High Master and senior staff, interspersed by wonderful music from different ensembles and soloists.  A most enjoyable early evening outing - with a 6 o'clock start we were all free to hit the town at half past seven.

Mark Chilton Day

We have a great experience in prospect today, with a Mark Chilton Day at school as part of Mark's Lancashire CCC Benefit Year (http://markchiltonbenefityear2011.co.uk/).

With some of his team-mates, Mark will be conducting a coaching session for pupils this afternoon, before hosting a Dinner at school this evening.

The proceeds of the day will benefit a sports travel fund which makes means-tested grants to MGS pupils.