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.

London Dinner with Martin Sixsmith

A trip to London last week for the London and South East Old Mancs' Dinner.  Apart from the remarkably good meal served at the O & C Club, the evening was distinguished by an address by the multi-talented Martin Sixsmith.  A former pupil and great friend of the late Ian Leverton, Martin was one of a group of able Russianists who dipped their toes into journalism with The Mancunian newspaper while still at school.  For many years the BBC's man in Moscow, he is now presenting a 50-part history of Russia each afternoon on Radio 4, and the sizeable book of the series will be published later this month.  Good for Radio 4 for not dumbing down in this area.

You may remember that Martin had an interesting spell as Stephen Byers' Director of Communications at the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions. He left with a generous severance settlement after Byers misled Parliament with a statement which ultimately ended his political career.

For lovers of satire, and political satire in particular, it was great to hear how Martin's experiences with the new Labour government were transformed into The Thick of It and In The Loop by his collaboration with Armando Ianucci.  Oddly enough, there was another MGS link - the character of Ollie was played by OM Chris Addison.

Music, scouts and drama

The last few weeks have been pretty hectic with school and Old Mancunian events.  First, our return to St John's, Smith Square, Westminster for another showcase concert given by our musicians.  This modern tradition of a biennial concert was started with the support of the Old Mancunians London and SE Section, which offers a generous biennial composition prize serving as the pinnacle of all composition work at school.  The winner pockets £500 and has the privilege of this piece receiving its world premiere at Smith Square.  This year, well done Patrick Heaton.  And well done all the performers and the staff involved - the audience enjoyed a fantastic musical occasion.

As I wasn't in charge of the arrangements this year, I indulged myself by turning the trip to London into an adventure and rode my motorbike the 220 miles from home in N Wales to Westminster - avoiding congestion charge and parking problems.  I must admit that I was more than a bit chilly by the time I got home at half past two of a beautiful moonlit night.

Last weekend saw a large-scale reunion of former Troop 1 Scouts at school, with an enjoyable lunch and the presentation to school of the marvellous archive built up over the years by Simmie and Alan Jones.  Fascinating to see the many generations of former scouts, and speculate about how their teenage scouting experiences shaped their adult lives.

Then on Friday I caught up for lunch with Old Mancunian Robert Powell, starring in Jeffrey Bernard is Unwell, on tour at Theatr Clwyd, Mold.  Hugely enjoyed the evening performance - fantastic comic timing from RP and a memorable play by Keith Waterhouse, one of Bernard's brothers-in-arms as a journalist and drinker.

Do see this play if you have the chance as it tours the country.

Cambridge

Great to return to Cambridge last Saturday for dinner at Emmanuel with Simon Jones and a dozen Old Manc students.  Quite nostalgic, really - parked next to the pool by Parker's Piece and walked past the Parkside flat where I lived in my 4th year - the one when I was supposed to be learning how to teach.  Most of my memories of that year are of playing college football, though I did very much enjoy a term's teaching at the Friends' School in Saffron Walden.

Fascinating to see how wonderfully far beyond school this group of students is, whether a couple of years into a first degree or starting post-grad studies.

Thanks to Emma for the food and wine, and to Mark for the organisation.

A fantastic day

What a great day we had when Sir Nicholas Hytner came back to school to open the new drama centre which, as Chairman of our campaign fund, he had done so much to make possible.  Check photos of the day here ('Nick Hytner Day').

Fresh from the tour opening of his Hamlet, starring Rory Kinnear, at the Lowry, he gave an audience of sixth formers from MGS and neighbouring schools a detailed account of how such a production comes together.  You can see a video of his talk here.

In the afternoon he answered with great patience seemingly endless questions from members of a Junior School Assembly audience, before working sympathetically through a series of Shakespeare scenes with our Year 11 GCSE Drama set.

All in all, a wonderful day.

Sir Nicholas returns

We are looking forward to a visit next week by Sir Nicholas Hytner, who somehow found the time and enthusiasm amid his responsibilities as Director of the National Theatre to act as Chairman of our Drama Centre Fund from 2006 to 2010. The Fund made possible the creation of our Drama Centre, opened 2 months ago.  This will be his first chance to see the project since building work started.  His last visit, with Alan Bennett and many of the cast of The History Boys, was late in 2006, and set us up for a successful campaign which has all but covered the £1.8 million cost of the rebuilding works.

Here in the Development Office we are in touch with thousands of our ex-pupils, and by no means all of them achieve particular distinction or fame.  However, many do, and it's humbling to feel that what happened to them during their time at MGS made some contribution to this.  For a neat summary of NH's achievements in the last few years, and his plans to take the National Theatre forward, click here and here.