MGS music on the BBC

Just a quick note to advise you that the latest programme in BBC Radio 3's Discovering Music series, which was recorded in MGS's Memorial Hall on March 17 last term, will be broadcast this Sunday at 5pm. It will, of course, also be on the BBC iplayer. The theme is Schumann’s Song Cycle, Dichterliebe.

For further details, please follow this link to the Discovering Music website:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00skbfb

Upper Sixth leavers; yet another reunion

Mixed feelings this week as the Upper Sixth 'left' school - except for their forthcoming exams, that is. Apart from exam days, the next time we will see them will be A level results day in August - and then they will really be Old Mancunians. I must admit to having a particular soft spot for the bursary holders, many of whom I first met with their parents before they were admitted to MGS. It's great to know that their time here has given them every opportunity to be pacesetters in their generation. Here is the Upper Sixth gathered in front of the pavilion, nominally in uniform:

And here they are in their leavers hoodies, resplendent with nicknames for the class of 2010:

On Saturday the northern section of the Oriel Society hired school facilities to hold a lunch, attended by thirty-odd former students of Oriel College, Oxford (including one Old Mancunian and at least one parent of an Old Mancunian). Like MGS, the college is seeking financial support from its members for bursary and building projects. Once again our catering department came up trumps:

Busy reunions and the latest leavers

Last weekend provided the wonderful day of reunions which Julie and Jane, with others, had worked so hard to facilitate. On a bright, clear day which lacked only warm sunshine, 60 former members of MGS Scout Troop 2 lunched in the Paton Library (named after the High Master credited with starting the great MGS tradition of outdoor activities), surrounded by the albums and other memorabilia of their past camps. We no longer have scout troops in the school, but the spirit of adventure lives on in the camps, treks and Duke of Edinburgh activities which keep boys and staff busy most weekends and holidays.


Scarcely was lunch over when further guests started to arrive for afternoon tours prior to the evening reunion dinner organised for Old Mancunians who joined the school prior to 1951. Travelling from as far away as New Zealand and California, more than 200 nostalgia-fuelled OMs toured the school's modern buildings, watched the 1st XI record a resounding cricket victory and enjoyed fine wines and delicious food before being entertained by Stewart Platt's memories, the High Master's remarks and music (including old school songs) from the Close Harmony Group. It became in the end quite a late night for most of us.

We have been delighted by the number of appreciative comments about the reunions reaching the Development Office this week.

So much, for now, for the past. For a couple of days this week the office has resembled a high-class market stall, as the hoodies for the leavers of 2010 have arrived and been sorted for distribution next Wednesday, the Upper Sixth's last day in school prior to exams. This modern leavers' tradition involves a nickname on each student's hoody, with the 2010 spelled out in the names of the whole year-group. A great memento to take on to university and beyond. I wonder whether any of these will re-emerge in years to come as their aged owners make their way back to Fallowfield in their turn for their Reunions?

Philanthropy, visitors and reunions

Can you get richer by giving your wealth away? This was the question put by Andrew Neil to an international panel of speakers in front of a large audience at KPMG's Salisbury Square, London offices on Wednesday. I was there as a guest of Carole Stone to learn more about the psychology of benefactors. And the answer to the question? Well, if you are an individual and you define 'wealth' as 'wellbeing', the answer is 'yes', and if you are a company and you want to be successful, it's no longer optional to support good causes: only those that do, succeed.

An Old Mancunian who heads the international IT corporation Thoughtworks, Roy Singham, visited school today and spoke to our sixth form economics students about his business vision and personal philosophy. Only able to attend MGS for one year in the 60s because of his family's international moves, Roy remembers Ian Bailey as one of his influential teachers. Roy was accompanied by Dan Moore, a fellow OM and one of Thoughtworks' UK programmers. I was impressed by the engagement of Roy's audience, most of whom had been up for most of the night watching the election results come through. Ah, si vieillesse pouvait!

Tomorrow is a big reunions day at school. At lunchtime, former members of Scout Troop 2 and Venturers will meet in the Paton Library. In the afternoon and evening, more than 200 OMs who started their MGS careers before 1951 will assemble to watch the cricket, tour the school and enjoy a fine dinner. This is part of a cycle of 5-yearly gatherings which are greatly enjoyed. Let's hope the Manchester weather is kind to us.