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THE MAGAZINE OF BOOTHAM SCHOOL AND
THE BOOTHAM OLD SCHOLARS’ ASSOCIATION
MAGAZINE 2024
www.boothamschool.com
Registered Charity: 513645
Headmaster
Head, Bootham Junior School
President of Bootham Old Scholars’ Association
Deneal Smith
Helen Todd
Sarah True
Volume 43 / Issue 6 / December 2024
THE MAGAZINE OF BOOTHAM SCHOOL AND
THE BOOTHAM OLD SCHOLARS’ ASSOCIATION
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04 – 27
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28 – 33
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34 - 43
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44 - 47
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48 - 65
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The Headmaster
Bootham Features
– A Year at Bootham
– Interview with Andy Bell
– The History of Bootham
– Openshaw Travel Bursary: Bella Sharp
– Dear Diary... a year at Bootham Junior School
– John Gray
– Lis Hooley
– Beyond the Illusion of Separation:
Ambrose Gruenfeld and Richard Shiels
Student Work
– Southall Award
– DT Work
– New Work
Leavers 2024
– Photograph
– Head Reeves Speech 2024
– College Leavers’ Results
– Leavers’ destinations
– Staff Leavers
School Record
– New staff and students
– Sport
Old Scholars
– Across the months
– BOSA: The way forward
– John Hastie and Rodney Wills
– Old Scholars remembered
– Deaths since 2023
– Reunions
Let Your Life Speak
School Reunions 2025
02
The Headmaster
03
Deneal Smith
HEADMASTER
Welcome to the 2024 edition of Bootham magazine.
The past year has flown by and brought great successes
to a number of our students individually and to our
community as a whole. We were delighted to be named
Independent School of the Year for Environmental
Achievement
, following a year in which the Social Action
team led a number of initiatives - on fast fashion, recycling
and climate justice among others. Quakers and Quaker
schools are sometimes reticent in proclaiming these
achievements, but I see no conflict in us being ‘patterns
and examples’ to others, as George Fox would have it.
Before I started at Bootham I was determined to preserve
that essential ethos which makes it such a special
community in which to study, to teach and to be a part
of more widely. But some change is healthy, and we have
identified a number of areas to develop what we are able
to offer. The analogy should be one of taking a classic car
and tuning up the engine to make the motor run faster
and more efficiently.
Boarding was at the heart of the school from the
beginning, and our boarding community continues
to thrive. A new team of tutors and resident graduates
began in September 2024 with a mandate to give even
greater support to our students – both academically in
the evenings, and through a series of more adventurous
overnight trips over the weekends – the first of which
was to Edinburgh in October. The team’s longstanding
reputation for outstanding pastoral care is fully deserved
and with much justification we can claim to provide a first-
class boarding experience.
The academic programme this year has been enhanced
by the
‘Let Your Life Speak’
course for Lower Seniors. As
they embark upon their GCSEs, the course provides a
stimulus for students to consider how the decisions they
make around further study and careers will positively
impact their own lives and those of the people around
them. Speakers from the business, healthcare and charity
sectors offer insight into their worlds – often through a lens
of Quaker initiatives. We have heard speakers from Oxfam,
The Retreat and Quaker Faith in Action as well as learning
about the Quaker Business Method, and its success in
developing disproportionate numbers of successful
companies. With month-long taster courses in economics,
politics and psychology, students then have opportunities
to do research in a related area, after some training in the
skills they need to deploy.
Volunteering now sits within the College curriculum, with
every student having a dedicated afternoon each week to
devote to a placement. Another example of the win-win
approach we are seeking, it gives our students a nudge
to move out of the Bootham comfort zone into the real
world of work, while helping the local community. Year-
long placements allow more meaningful relationships to
be developed than a traditional week of work experience.
They are also shown to be of benefit to the volunteer’s
own wellbeing and we know there is never a shortage of
projects that we can support.
The academic life of the school continues to be bolstered
by a thriving programme of co-curricular activities, about
which you can read in these pages. This year we launch our
programme of Jeremy Heywood lectures, remembering
one of our most significant Old Scholars who rose to
become Head of the Civil Service, serving two Chancellors
and four Prime Ministers. The lectures embrace the
overall themes of ‘Intellectual Rigour’ and ‘Public Service,’
which Jeremy exemplified. These lectures are open to all
members of our community and an invitation is extended
to all readers of our magazine.
We have an exciting year ahead. This introduction – and
this magazine – can only give the briefest insight into
life at our busy, flourishing school. There are regular
opportunities for Old Scholars and families of current and
former students to return to Bootham. We hope to see you
very soon.
03
Sporting life…
Our Sports Department continues to take a view of sports
education that contrasts favourably with the mainstream.
Exercise is seen as something that can nurture both mind and
body, and while competitive success is always welcome, the
emphasis remains on participation.
We are excited to have hired a Head of Cricket and now have
other dedicated Heads of Sports in order to further promote
health and wellbeing at school, and look forward to bringing
news of our future successes.
Going places…
There can be no doubt that education happens both inside
and outside classrooms, and Bootham students have enjoyed
another year of foreign travel opportunities. Particular
highlights for international travel over the last year included
a drama trip to New York, a netball trip to Barbados, Modern
Language trips to France and Spain as well a fabulous journey
to Malta for a diving trip!
Our Sports department was delighted to be able to take a
large group of girls on an adventure of a lifetime to Barbados
for a week-long netball camp.
In early July Rob Gardiner took twenty students to Malta to
learn to dive. The group had already successfully completed
their online learning modules and were keen to get in the
water, so after a seven-hour journey, they were taken straight
to the dive centre to be briefed and issued their equipment.
The following days in Malta were to be intense; up before the
Sun, and completing dives at wonderful locations around
the archipelago. In the evenings, small groups of students
were able to walk the short distance to the town centre and
sample a little of the local culture. One breakaway group of
history buffs made it to the historic centre of Valletta, and
can now regale peers with poor evasion skills with fascinating
accounts of sixteenth century Malta.
The Modern Language department has been providing our
students with its customary range of cultural experiences.
Upper Schoolroom and College Spanish classes enjoyed
a salsa and samba lesson at the school. College Spanish
linguists also took part in the Thursday recital room
programme, covering a wide range of topics linked to
Hispanic countries, including economics, politics, law and
music delivered in effortless Spanish.
04
The chance to get out and about, and to learn about
the urban and natural world is always on the agenda for
the Geography department, and this year has been no
different.
As part of their “Changing Places” case study, College
One geographers carried out an urban drift though
The Groves area of York. The students were studying
the variety of housing types and collecting data to
help them answer the question of ‘Is The Groves a
great place to live?’ or ‘What is the ‘lived experience’ for
residents of The Groves?’ The same group then set out
for Stratford, East London, to collect experiences that
provided a contrasting case study with the Groves in
York.
In February, Coll 1 geographers spent three days away
on a field course in the Lake District. Despite the
terrible weather, the students gained a huge number
of skills and knowledge to help them undertake their
coursework.
In April our Lower Seniors visited the FSC Centre at
Blencathra near Keswick for their river investigation.
They investigated the impact of tourism in the glaciated
landscape of Easedale near Grasmere for their GCSE
Geography fieldwork.
Kenya exchange visit
With the aid of a grant from the Sir James Reckitt
Charity we were able to fund the visit of five students
from Quaker schools in rural Kenya, and two
accompanying adults this April. The team did not
know each other previously, as they come from widely
separated schools and catching their flight to the UK
was the first time they had ever been as far as Nairobi.
During their stay in York, the students boarded in
Fox and Rowntree houses and mixed time in lessons
with trips to London, 1652 country, Edinburgh and the
Yorkshire coast.
They also attended Sunday meetings at Friargate
and New Earswick. Before returning home one of the
students used a morning meeting to give a fascinating
presentation on his home country, and daily life in his
boarding school.
As we step boldly into our third century as a school,
we celebrate our students’ achievements over the past
year. It is a good chance to appreciate how Bootham
life provides the tools for a happy and fulfilling life in a
rapidly changing world, and for us gauge how busy our
community can be.
A YEAR AT
Barbados Netball Trip
05
Bootham Features – A year at Bootham 2024
Drama
The Drama department focuses on providing all students,
not just those studying drama, with theatre trips throughout
the year. These broaden cultural horizons and give our
students extra reserves of cultural capital. The highlight
of the year was the department’s trip to New York. Our
students took in many of the well-known experiences of
the Big Apple including the Statue of Liberty Ferry and
Ellis Island Immigration Museum, the New York Yankee
Stadium, Central Park and The Edge Sky Deck, and of course
Broadway!
Theatre highlights included taking a large group to see
“Everybody’s Talking About Jamie” at Leeds Grand during
Anti-Bullying Week. An appropriate production on an
important week. Lower and middle schoolroom enjoyed
a more light-hearted trip to see “Shrek” at the York Opera
House. A group of Bootham students taking part in the
school production went to see “Oliver” to get some additional
inspiration. They must have picked up some tips, as the
school production of “Oliver” was very well received by all
who saw it.
News from the departments…
English
During Book Week the department had a visit from writer
Anne Fine who talked about the writing process and how
she finds her ideas. We also had a fun day of fancy dress,
entered into with great enthusiasm by both students and
staff, and there were some wonderfully creative costumes.
Middle Schoolroom took a trip to Leeds to watch Macbeth.
Upper Schoolroom enjoyed a ghost walk around York as part
of their gothic unit. They also enjoyed working with visiting
poet Sharena Lee Satti as part of our National Poetry day
celebrations. Together, they explored the theme of Refuge,
culminating in a whole school poem which is now displayed
in the main school corridor.
Science Department
In November 2023 we took thirty A Level Physics students to
a series of lectures in Manchester called “Physics In Action”.
They enjoyed learning about a range of subjects from
engaging speakers. Topics included Quantum Computing
and “baking in space”; a look at how materials science can
link spacecraft technology and meringues!
In June we took a team of Middle Schoolroom students
to a Physics competition called the “Physics Olympics”.
The competition includes mathematical challenges and
practical ones such as boat racing. This is regularly held at
St Peter’s school. Our students did a fantastic job and came
2nd overall out of a very large field of local schools.
In June the Biology department took a large group
of College 1 students to Filey and Bridlington for a
two day fieldwork trip. Day one was spent looking at
the biodiversity on the rocky shore at Filey Brigg, and
completing some small group projects, whilst the second
day was spent looking at succession on the small sand
dune system at Bridlington South Bay. The group spent
the night at Cober Hill, a Quaker hotel on the outskirts of
Scarborough, where they worked late in to the night to
complete their individual write-ups.
In January, the College 2 Chemists enjoyed a day trip
to the undergraduate teaching labs at York University
Chemistry Department. This was a fantastic introduction to
practical work at university, and a great chance to reinforce
key practical skills. Students spent the day synthesising,
purifying and analysing an organic compound.
Maths
The maths department had a fun day out with the lower
schoolroom doing a maths trail around York.
College 1 mathematicians visited Manchester for “Maths in
Action”. The event allows A-level students to deepen their
understanding of mathematical concepts. In addition to
interactive sessions, they had an exam masterclass session
full of strategies and tips for their A-Level studies.
History
The History Department has been delighted to welcome
Joseph Butler and Claire Hollis as new members of staff.
Alongside the annual visit to the National Holocaust Centre
for Upper Schoolroom, they’ve continued to enjoy hosting
a programme of Historical Association lectures, including
retired consultant surgeon Michael Crumplin, Hon.
Curator of the Royal College of Surgeons and a specialist in
Napoleonic and General Surgical History speaking about
surgical advances in World War One, and Dr Nicholas
Morton, author of “Mongol Storm”, instructing College
students on how to survive a Mongol invasion.
Malta diving group
Coll 1 Geographers Groves Field Trip Drama Department New York Trip
Kenya Exchange Visit
MFL Spanish Language Class
06
Astronomy
In addition to offering an Astronomy GCSE with Steve
Everest, Mike Shaw has spent many hours ensuring that
our unique Observatory is accessible to our students and
other young people in the community. Numerous schools
and local youth groups have been to visit and have had the
pleasure of viewing not only Saturn, but also the cloud belts
of Jupiter, the Andromeda galaxy and repeat flybys of the
International Space Station! Mike was interviewed on BBC
radio York about the ISS and has also been out and about
giving outreach lectures at schools throughout the UK. We
are so pleased to be able to share this Bootham treasure
with the wider community.
Giving Day 2024
We held our annual Giving Day in March, launching a
social medial campaign to promote some of the projects
that need additional funding around the senior and
junior school. With the help of our ambassadors and the
generosity of our community, we raised over £36,000. We
would like to thank the entire community for its wonderful
generosity, and we hope we will be able to repeat this
success in 2025.
Parents
Our family days on Saturdays continue to provide a
wonderful opportunity for bringing the whole community
together. The regular gathering of parents, students and
teachers and the opportunity to chat and eat a meal
together, is truly one of the things that makes Bootham a
very special school.
This year we have continued to run ‘Reflect 30’, providing
an opportunity for parents to take some time in Quaker
silent worship in the School Hall. This is followed by an
engaging lecture programme, with talks covering a range
of topics from Adolescent Mental Health, to Quaker
Business Methods, politics and environment. After the
lecture parents are welcome to join us in the dining hall for
lunch. There is also an active and well attended parents
Running Club and Book Club. The support, friendship and
community created by these activities all contribute to
making Bootham wonderful.
The School is our Home
Our Boarding Houses and students are at the heart of all we
do, and our large team of boarding staff do all they can to
ensure our boarders receive all the pastoral and academic
support that they need to thrive. As well as resident staff,
the team comprises resident graduates and house tutors.
We have been carrying out extensive redecorating works
in Rowntree boarding house this year, creating homely,
communal spaces for our boarders to both relax and study.
The exciting activity programme this year has included a
murder mystery tour, pottery painting, a trip to Yorkshire
Sculpture Park, bowling and a weekend away in Edinburgh.
Social Action
Living our Quaker Values through social action is a part
of the school ethos. The range of activities that our
students have been involved in is very broad, and has
allowed a lot of participation. In the run up to Christmas
we created a beautiful Christmas tree that was displayed
in York Minster. Every single decoration was made from
repurposed old rubbish, and it looked magnificent. The
Junior Common room also had a Christmas tree that was
decorated with hand crafted decorations. The tree has
been planted outside for the year and will come back in for
next Christmas, promoting sustainability and recycling. At
the same time, we collected 470kg of food for York Food
Bank through individual donations to form “shopping lists”.
Donations like this really help people who are struggling,
and we look forward to doing our bit again this year.
Students Ruby Salter and Zahra Sharif ran an excellent
“Celebrate the Cycle” event to celebrate women’s voices
and raising awareness of global period poverty.
In mid-November 2023 the whole of Upper Schoolroom
took part in a simulation of the COP28 climate change
negotiations which were held for real in Dubai.
Representing 10 countries with a range of agendas; from
rich developed nations who have caused the problems,
to poorer nations who have yet to develop but who will
be amongst the first to feel the worst impacts of climate
change.
Our work in environmental action was recognised in
November 2024 when we were awarded the Independent
School of the Year Award for Environmental Achievement.
York Neighbours
Once again, we had the pleasure of hosting our York
Neighbours along with residents from Wandesford House
for a festive Christmas afternoon tea at the Senior School.
Hosted by our college students, our guests chatted away
together in candlelight, and were entertained with musical
offerings from the school choir and soloists. A fine time
was had by all, and this opening of the school to the local
community is now a firm fixture in our calendar.
World Book Day
Astronomy
Social Action
Bootham Features – A year at Bootham 2024
Volunteer Fair
We hosted our second Volunteer Fair in November. In
attendance were over 20 charities from all over York
representing conservation, health care, performing arts and
many more. The event was very enthusiastically supported
by over two hundred Bootham students, and we were also
pleased to welcome students from across the city.
We are all one great body…
In this section, we celebrate team and individual
achievements and, in keeping with the school motto invite
you to take pride in what the school does in all its diverse
parts.
Cross-country running
Angus Macmillan (BOS) has been selected to run for GB and
Northern Ireland in this Winter’s European cross-country
championships. Good luck to Angus from his old school.
Lamda Drama exams
Last November nineteen students took twenty one
exams, resulting in twenty one distinctions. Studied under
Simon Benson’s tutelage, these exams covered a range
of qualifications; acting, public speaking, performing
Shakespeare and speaking verse and prose.
Dramatist recognised
In May 2024, Ruby Salter (Coll 2) has been admitted to the
National Youth Theatre, a charity that was founded as the
world’s first youth theatre.
Music outreach
In December 2023, our head of music Richard Allain was
recognised by the music department of Oxford University
Press. His work featured in the recently published volume
“Carols for Choirs 6”. Richard set the 16th century text “Sweet
was the Song” to music for his carol “Lute book lullaby”.
07
Sam Brophy –received national recognition after reaching
the finals of the BBC young chorister of the year in late
2023. His vocals have now been used for the opening
scenes of “The Shepherd” starring John Travolta and Ben
Radcliffe. Sam performed ”In the Bleak midwinter”.
In November 2023 our senior choir went to York Minster
to sing evensong, led by Richard Allain. This was
extremely well-received by a full congregation.
In December 2023 Guylaine Eckersley (BOS) was
interviewed by Jessica Gillam on “This Classical Life”
on BBC Radio 3. Guylaine is a multi-award-winning
bassoonist who studied at the Royal Academy of Music
after leaving Bootham.
Science successes
Charlie Thornton (BOS leaver 23) was awarded a top
academic prize for Chemistry; the “Salter’s Advanced
Chemistry Prize” in honour of being the highest
performing student in the country for Chemistry A level.
Charlie is now studying physical natural sciences at
Selwyn College Cambridge.
Psychology expertise
Huge congratulations to Bootham School’s Head of
Psychology, Harriet Ennis, who has been chosen to
represent the UK (excluding Scotland) on the Board
of the European Federation of Psychology Teaching
Associations. Harriet joins fellow educators representing
17 countries.
Debating
In late 2023, five Lower senior students formed our first
ever team for the “Mace” public speaking competition
run by the English Speaking Union. Our team spoke in
favour of the motion; “This house believes that court cases
should be televised”.
Boarders Karting
Boarders & Social Action
Scarborough beach clean
Boarders Pizza and
Turkish Celebration
Volunteer Fair June Sports Day
Linguist’s London trip
Harriet Ennis
GCSE Results Day
ell us about your career to date
at Bootham
I joined Bootham back in 2002 and was appointed by
the then Headmaster, Ian Small. I had studied at Exeter
University and came to Bootham after teaching PE at
a school in Manchester for three years. The two schools
were very different, but both offered plenty of challenge
for a teacher interested in sports.
When I first came to Bootham, I also taught English
alongside PE, and was given accommodation in school.
The room everyone knows now as the Recital Room
used to be subdivided to form a staff flat and I lived
there for the first three years. In those days, quite a few
staff lived in school, even if they didn’t actually work in
boarding.
I was Head of Seniors for ten years and Head of Boys
PE before becoming Director of Sport just before the
pandemic, when even PE teaching had to go on-line.
We tried to keep everyone moving with weekly on-line
challenges. I like the way that Bootham kept things
going during the lockdowns – a lot of schools didn’t do
that.
How would you describe an average week
in the Sports Department?
There are no average weeks; just busy weeks, and really
busy weeks! I work with some great individuals and
there are no days that don’t involve laughter and some
fun.
What’s your vision for sport at Bootham?
I want our students to have positive experiences
in sport throughout their time at Bootham and to
enjoy exercise. I want as many students as possible
included in sport; there really is a sport or exercise for
everyone! I want Bootham students to try and achieve
their potential in whatever sport they would like to
try. I believe boys and girls should be given the same
opportunities. I want students to feel as though they
can leave school with the confidence to participate
in physical activities due to the good foundations we
teach and the encouragement they have at Bootham.
Winning is nice, but participating is what really matters
to me.
What do you think about Bootham’s
Quaker values?
Our values are what make us unique and a special
place to study and work. I go to a lot of schools,
both independent and state, and I’ve never found
somewhere else I’d prefer to teach (or have my children
go to school there) rather than Bootham. For our
students, it might be hard to see that if they have
been with us a long time, but visiting sports staff see it
straight away.
Quakerism can be challenging sometimes, especially
when everyone wants to ‘speak truth to power’ and have
their say, but I think it is important that everyone feels
included. I believe our Quaker values are vital to our
continued success and how the place feels, so it’s ok to feel
challenged sometimes.
One thing I try to tell students is that I expect them to
make mistakes and wrong decisions sometimes in sport
and in life, but our values help us progress even when set-
backs happen. Nobody will be right all the time and it’s
important to remember there are usually alternative views
and ways of approaching problems. The Quaker phrase
‘Think it possible that you may be mistaken’ (Quaker Faith
and Practice 13.10) is really meaningful for me.
What do you enjoy most about working at
Bootham?
I really enjoy teaching and coaching students and
watching students grow (literally and metaphorically)
throughout their time at Bootham. I love being a tutor
and seeing the group of students every day (and providing
them with the same jokes every day). I enjoy working
alongside my friends, seeing my own children at school
and being part of the Bootham community.
Andy Bell
Interview with
T
08
Bootham Features – An interview with Andy Bell
09
Did you always intend to teach?
No! I knew I wanted to be in and around sport when
I was a teenager and the options for employment in
the sports sector were not as wide ranging as they
are today. I did A Level PE and then PE, English and
Educational Studies as a degree at Exeter. I would
have loved to have played basketball professionally
but I wasn’t quite good enough, or tall enough. These
days, coaching others to succeed at basketball gives
me lots of job satisfaction; maybe more than if I had
gone into the game professionally.
I’m so pleased I went for the teaching option as I’ve
loved every minute of it so far.
What are your interests outside of
school?
I like all the middle-aged things, like walking our dog
Nell, cycling, swimming, watching as much sport and
sports documentaries as I can and paddle boarding.
I have a new A Level skill acquisition experiment
which surprises everyone as it’s based around darts! I
have played for two months now at home to see how
good I can get with 20 minutes of practice a day.
I have also supported Manchester City for 40 years.
Yes, I am from Manchester, but I am not a glory
supporter, but I’m delighted that these are the glory
days! I also regularly go and watch my cousin who is
still playing for Brentford in the Premier League.
Who inspires you and why?
I have real admiration for Dame Sarah Storey who
is a British cyclist and swimmer, a multiple gold
medallist in the Paralympic Games, and six times
British (able-bodied) national track champion (2 ×
Pursuit, 1 × Points, 3 × Team Pursuit).
Her total of 30 Paralympic medals, including 19 gold
medals, makes her the most successful (by gold
medals) and most decorated (by total medals) British
Paralympian of all time as well as one of the most
decorated Paralympic athletes of all time.
For several years at her peak, Storey’s progress was
such that she was competitive at able-bodied elite
level on the track, and for a period was in the Great
Britain Olympic squad programme for team pursuit.
She won a number of UCI Track Cycling World Cup
gold medals in team pursuit in that period, and
narrowly missed the (able-bodied) women’s hour
world record by less than 600 metres, taking the
national record.
She’s an amazing sportsperson, but really inspires me
the most now is that she’s still competing at the age
of 46 and bringing up a young family.
What advice would you give to the
England football team manager?
You will never make the right decisions (according to
80% of the population) so just don’t worry about it
too much. Try to get your team to play entertaining
football, turn off social media and stick to whatever
principles you have for the short time you will have
the job. It won’t last for very long, but it’s an amazing
job, and don’t forget to enjoy the privilege! In that
sense, maybe it’s a bit like teaching!
10
1823 The school
opened in Lawrence
Street, York. A project
started by William
Tuke and completed by
his grandson, Samuel,
the school was run by
William Simpson.
William Tuke came from
a prominent York Quaker
family. He inherited a
family wholesale tea
business in 1746. He was an active member of the Society of
Friends in London and York and helped to found:
The Retreat
Ackworth School
Bootham School
Trinity Lane Quaker Girls School (which closed in 1812)
He campaigned against the slave trade and supported William
Wiberforce in the 1806 parliamentary election and opposed the
East India Company for its inhumanity in other countries.
John Bright was one of the first students at the new school. This
was the last school he attended and he later wrote:
‘During the two years I spent at York I learned more than in any
other two years in my school life.’
The Gaols Act was passed. This act stated that prisons should
be made secure, gaolers should be paid, female prisoners
should be kept separately from male prisoners, doctors and
chaplains should visit prisons and attempts should be made to
reform prisoners.
The idea of prison reform was promoted by Quakers, Elizabeth
Fry and her brother Joseph John Gurney. Fry was particularly
appalled by the conditions in the women’s section of Newgate
Prison.
The Act was introduced and supported by Robert Peel
.
1829 The school was renamed ‘York
Quarterly Meeting Boys’ School’ (informally
known as ‘The York School’) under the care
of Yorkshire Quarterly Meeting. John Ford
was appointed as Head.
John Ford helped shape the school we
still know. He promoted tolerance and an
open education system.
John Ford also had a particular interest
in ‘new’ ideas and promoted the study of
science and mathematics in the school.
Many of the school’s notable Old Scholars have gone on to pursue
careers based on these subjects.
The ’Rocket’ won the Rainhill Trials, held in October 1829 to
show that improved locomotives would be more efficient
than stationary steam engines. This trial was to find the best
motive power for the newly completed Liverpool to Manchester
Railway.
The first public railway to use steam locomotives had been
the Stockton and Darlington Railway in 1825. The managing
committee of this railway included Quakers Thomas
Richardson, Edward Pease and Joseph Pease. George Stephen
advised Edward Pease to use steam locomotives on the line.
George and Robert Stephenson together with Edward Pease
and Thomas Richardson set up Robert Stephenson and
Company in 1823, and it was this company that designed and
built the Locomotion and Rocket.
1834 Bootham Natural History Society was founded in
1834 and is believed to be the first such school society in England.
Ford had developed a love of nature whilst working in Rochester.
His arrival in York almost coincided with the first meeting of
the Yorkshire Philosophical Society.
The work of the society, of which
Ford became a member, helped to
give him a wide interpretation of
Natural History, and meteorology and
astronomy were soon included.
Slavery was abolished in most of
the British Empire by the Slavery
Abolition Act 1833. The Anti-Slavery Society had been founded
in 1823 in London and included Quakers Joseph Sturge, Mary
Lloyd, Jane Wigham, Elizabeth Pease and Anne Knight. Foxwell
Buxton was an Anglican but attended Quaker Meetings with
his friends from the Gurney family.
Anne Knight published the first leaflet that advocated votes for
women in 1847.
1846 The School moved to
Bootham. An Appeal raised
£2,750 to help buy the first
building. The decision to
move the School was taken
because of a disturbing record
of ill-health and a growing
awareness of the unhealthy
character of the School’s
surroundings. The local Foss Islands were excellent for skating but
at most times a health hazard.
The Corn Laws were repealed in 1846. The Corn Laws were
tariffs and other trade restriction on imported food and corn
enforced in the UK between 1815 and 1846. The Anti-Corn
Law League was founded by Richard Cobden and John Bright
(one of the first Bootham students) in 1838 with the aim to
abolish the unpopular Corn Laws, which protected landowners’
interests. The League was a middle-class nationwide
organisation that held many well-attended rallies. Cobden was
the chief strategist and John Bright was its great orator.
1853 In September 1852, at the School Committee
‘John Ford
reports that a telescope of four
and a quarter inch object glass
is now making for the School by
Thos. Cooke of York, the cost to be
£120. Subscriptions to the extent
of sixty pounds have been offered
in addition to the hundred pounds
given by Samuel Gurney.’
Later that month the Committee
agreed to erect a building for the
telescope at the south east end of
the school garden, at an estimated cost of one hundred pounds.
Plans for this observatory were drawn up by old scholar Isaac
Fletcher, colliery proprietor and Fellow of the Royal Astronomical
Society.
The telescope was installed April 1853 along with a transit
instrument and clock.
In rebuilding the School in 1901, the original observatory was
knocked down and a new one incorporated into the new science
block. The instruments were moved from the old to the new
observatory. As in the earlier observatory the transit room roof has
a slit opening above and shutters on the north and south facing
walls.
The Halifax Permanent Benefit Building Society was formed
out of the Loyal Georgian Society, a friendly society which did
some lending.
Samuel Tuke and Joseph Rowntree set up the Friends
Provident Institution, a friending society for member of the
Religious Society of Friends in 1832. This company became
a mutual life assurance company in 1854 and policies and
membership of the Friends Provident Institution were only
available to Quakers until 1915.
The history of BOOTHAM
Bootham Features – History of Bootham
11
1865 Purchase of
two acres of land to
widen the field. John
Ford had visited Rugby
School in 1862 and
decided to introduce
a form of football
with rules drawn
up compromising
between Rugby and
Soccer. The Bootham
football was played with a ‘globular’ ball and wasn’t popular with
boys when first launched. Cricket was taken seriously, and teams
were successful.
Elizabeth Garrett Anderson obtained a licence from the Society
of Apothecaries to practise medicine. She was the first woman
qualified in Britain to do so openly but was still unable to take
up a medical post in any hospital. She opened her own practice
in late 1865.
President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in April 1865.
1873 A number of keen Old Boys formed an Old Boys’
Association (the O.Y.S.A) and established a leaving scholarship,
still known as the Commemoration Scholarship. The Jubilee
Subscription raised money for a number of enhancements to
the school site, including a
gymnasium, new laboratory,
workshop, Natural History
Society Room, a Fives court
and renovation of the cricket
field.
The first female students
were admitted to study for
degrees at the University of
Oxford.
Pierre Ceresole was born. Ceresole was the Swiss founder of
the International Voluntary Service. He suffered repeatedly as a
conscientious objector and joined Friends in 1936.
1889 The first time the
name ‘Bootham School’
was used as a header to the
annual list of student names.
The Committee’s annual
reports to Quarterly Meeting
were headed ‘York Quarterly
Meeting Boys’ School’ up
until 1914.
The Prevention of Cruelty to, and Protection of, Children Act
1889, commonly known as the Children’s Charter, was the first
Act of Parliament for the prevention of cruelty to children. It
enabled the state to intervene, for the first time, in relations
between parents and children. Police could arrest anyone
found ill-treating a child and enter a home if a child was
thought to be in danger. The act included guidelines on the
employment of children and outlawed begging.
Quakers believe ‘there is that of God in everyone,’ and seek
to ‘meet’ this in all people and see all humans as equal and
deserving of equal treatment and respect. John Ford resolved
to run a school without corporal punishment and devised an
alternative punishment system which included ‘columns’ and
‘interviews’ when columns were deemed insufficient. The
writing of columns of common spellings continued until 2017
when the name ‘columns’ was retained but the writing penalty
was no longer applied
.
1891 The
School was
opened to a few
non-Friends for
the first time
and women
Friends joined
the Committee of
Management.
In 1891, Herbert Jones, a Quaker who had travelled extensively
in Russia and knew the country well, returned to London
bringing news of widespread famine in Russia. Lack of rainfall
had resulted in a near-total failure of the wheat harvest in 18
provinces and some 35 million people were affected.
On 30th November 1891, delegates Edmund Wright Brooks and
Frances William Fox left for Russia to assess how help could
best be given. Quaker ‘interference’ was not welcomed by the
authorities, but they were given assistance by a cousin of the
author Leo Tolstoy, who was himself heavily involved in the
famine relief efforts
.
1899 Fire broke out in the early
hours of 12 May 1899 and most of
the Schoolroom block at the back
of the school was burned out. No
one was injured and boarding
accommodation was undamaged.
John Firth Fryer resigned and
handed the Headship to Arthur
Rowntree. Fundraising was led by
the Old Scholars and they quickly
raised ca £20,000 which allowed
the rebuilding of the School to
start 1900-01.
Seebohm Rowntree undertook
his First York Study. He carried
out a comprehensive survey
into the living conditions of
the poor in York during which
investigators visited every working-class household. This
amounted to the detailed study of 11,560 families or 46,754
individuals. The results of this study were published in 1901 in
his book ‘Poverty, A Study of Town Life’.
He surveyed rich families in York and drew a poverty line in
terms of a minimum weekly sum of money required to secure
the ‘necessaries’ of a healthy life”. The money needed for this
subsistence level of existence covered fuel and light, rent, food,
clothing, household and personal items, adjusted according
to family size. He determined this level using social scientific
methods which hadn’t been applied to the study of poverty
before. For example, he consulted leading nutritionists of the
period to discover the minimum calorific intake and nutritional
balance necessary before people got ill or lost weight.
He then surveyed the prices of food in York to find the cheapest
prices in the area for purchasing the food required by this
minimum diet and used this information to set his poverty
line.According to this measure, 27.84% of the total population
of York lived below the poverty line. This result corresponded
with that from Charles Booth’s study of poverty in London
and so challenged the view, commonly held at the time, that
abject poverty was a problem particular to London and was not
widespread in the rest of Britain.
1902 The
new school
buildings
were officially
opened in
January 1902.
A former Head,
Fielden Thorp,
unlocked
the new
entrance and
John Bright’s
daughter,
Helen Bright
Clark, opened
the Library named after her father. Nearly seven hundred guests
attended the event and the Old Scholars’ contribution was
recognised in the wall plaque with an ancient Greek inscription
translated as ‘Love Builds’. The Old Scholars continued to give
to the school and as a result the original ‘Lodge’ building was
acquired in 1905, the Cricket Pavilion built in 1906, and the
Swimming Pool opened in 1914.
12
The Discovery Expedition (Scott, Shackleton and Wilson)
reached the furthest southern point to date.
In November 1909 R.F. Scott, came to speak with Bootham boys
in what is now the JB Library about his upcoming expedition to
the South Pole - a bid to be the first humans ever to go there. In
March 1912, he and four others had hauled their way all the way
to the pole, only to find that they had been narrowly beaten by
R. Amundsen of Norway.
Eleven miles short of the supply depot that would have saved
them, the last three members of the five-man team got stuck
in a multi-day blizzard, and died one by one in their tent.
The tent was neatly set out, and all their scientific notes and
collected specimens (of rocks) were ready for whoever found
them.
Bootham contributed a Manchurian pony to the expedition
called Bootham Galloper by the boys. He was one of the best of
the ponies used by the expedition.
The Bootham Antarctic pony was given the nickname
“snatcher” by Scott’s team, and was a favourite of PO Evans.
1914-19 As soon as war broke out a request was received
for the use of the School as a hospital. Wards and an Operating
Theatre were created but never used. After six weeks they were
dismantled and the School opened a little late in the autumn
term. The normal pattern of School life was disrupted. Boys
were sent out during the summer term to help local farmers and
potatoes were planted across the bottom of the School playing
field. Time was also allocated for first-aid classes and ambulance
drill.
The Old Scholars took different
views of the Peace Testimony. Not
all Old Scholars were Quaker but
even when they were, the responses
differed. At the end of the war, it was
recorded that 15 Old Scholars ‘served
in prison’, 41 with the ‘War Victims
Relief’ Committee, 130 with Friends’
Ambulance Unit and 289 in the Army
and Navy. The memorial in the Library
records the names of fifty-six who
lost their lives (regardless of how they
‘served’).
The Old Scholars donated money in
memory of those who died during the
war. This gift was used to buy land at
Clifton for additional playing fields.
The Unit was founded as The First Anglo-Belgian Ambulance
Unit at the start of World War in 1914 and later renamed the
Friends’ Ambulance Unit. Members were trained at Jordans, in
Buckinghamshire, a centre for Quakerism. Altogether it sent
over a thousand men to France, Belgium and Italy, where they
worked on ambulance convoys and ambulance trains with the
French and British armies. The FAU came under the jurisdiction
of the British Red Cross Society. It was dissolved in 1919.
Bootham Old Scholars took a lead in the new FAU. Philip Noel
Baker (see below) and Corder Catchpool were two of the first
members to travel abroad with the unit.
Corder Catchpool served with the FAU between 1914 and 1916
and was awarded the Mons Star. However, when conscription
was introduced in 1916, he felt he could no longer serve in
support of military action.
He joined the absolutist conscientious objectors in refusing to
serve in any capacity that would aid the way. He resigned from
the FAU and was imprisoned. He told the court martial which
sentenced him ‘I heard a call above the roar of the guns.’
After his release from prison in 1919, he became involved in
relief and reparations in Germany, working with the Friends
War Victims Relief Committee in Berlin
.
1927 Donald Gray became Head in 1927 following the
retirement of Arthur Rowntree. The years of Donald Gray’s
Headship saw a period of consolidation and an expansion in
leisure pursuits and he particularly encouraged music and
drama. Music flourished as a curriculum subject, the orchestra
was enlarged
and standards
raised. Dramatic
productions
became more
sophisticated
and full-length
rehearsed plays
were performed
in the spring
term in the
place of informal
‘charades’. Donald Gray performed in Gilbert and Sullivan operas,
including Trial by Jury, The Pirates of Penzance and HMS Pinafore.
The League of Nations Slavery Commission signed a treaty to
abolish all types of slavery.
The League of Nations was the first worldwide
intergovernmental organisation whose principal mission was
to maintain world peace. It was founded in January 1920 by the
Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War.
Old Scholar, Philip Noel Baker, was closely involved in the
formation of the League of Nations, serving as assistant to Sir
Eric Drummond, the league’s first secretary-general.
Philip Noel Baker organised and led the FAU attached to
the fighting front in France (1914–1915), and was then, as a
conscientious objector from 1916, adjutant
of the First British Ambulance Unit for
Italy, in association with the British Red
Cross (1915–1918), for which he received
military medals from the UK, France and
Italy.
In time, Philip Noel Baker was also an
Olympic runner, MP, Cabinet Minister,
Chairman of the Labour Party, involved in
setting up the United Nations and a campaigner for multilateral
nuclear disarmament (for which he received the Nobel Peace
Prize in 1959).
He was made a life peer in 1977.
1939-45 The war was expected to start with heavy attacks
from the air and York as an important railway centre was
considered a likely target. Ampleforth College had offered in
the event of war to accommodate Bootham in its Junior House,
and the School decided at the outbreak that this offer should
be accepted. The School invited hospital authorities to use the
buildings and this time they were used for patients who did not
require surgical treatment.
The accommodation at Ampleforth was uncomfortably crowded
but the friendship of the College community was greatly
appreciated.
The School returned to York at the end of July 1940 when the
hospital indicated it didn’t need the extra facilities. School life
returned almost to normal.
During the night of 29
April 1942, a bomb was
dropped on the edge
of the school campus.
The Lodge building
was destroyed and
had to be demolished.
Fortunately, the
summer term hadn’t
started and no one was
injured.
Donald Gray died
from pneumonia in
August 1943. He had
been an energetic and
enthusiastic leader
in the evacuation
to Ampleforth and
concerned for others’
safety, careless of his
own. The loyalty and
Bootham Features – History of Bootham
13
affection he inspired were shown in the depth and sincerity of the
tributes paid by the School community.
In 1938, Quakers reacted to the events of Kristallnacht by
sending a six-person mission to ascertain the facts. They had
been invited to do this by local Jews and they reported their
findings to British Jews and the British Government. Based
on their report a delegation of British Jews met with Neville
Chamberlain to ask him to lower the barriers to immigration,
so children could be admitted, but he refused. Six days later
a joint Jewish/Quaker delegation met the Home Secretary, Sir
Samuel Hoare, who belonged to a Quaker family. The Quakers
included Philip Noel Baker. That evening there was a debate in
the House of Commons at which Hoare announced that 10,000
children were to be admitted under a special scheme. This
announcement was welcomed by a Labour spokesperson who
happened to be Philip Noel Baker. The evacuation of these
children became known as the ‘Kindertransport’.
The first train left on 1st December. The trains continued to
come until war broke out in September 1939 and brought
nearly 10,000 children to safety. Quakers were probably
responsible for bringing about 2,000 of these out.
1966 The John Bright Library had been used as both library
and Assembly Hall since 1902. For a School of 80 or 90 this was a
possible arrangement, but as numbers increased it became too
uncomfortable. Only with difficulty could 240 students be seated
by removing tables and bookshelves. The platform was also small
and limited dramatic productions.
Trevor Dannatt was appointed as architect for the new Hall. He
felt that no attempt should be made to blend the new building
with the old; it should be free standing and architecturally
distinctive and he produced a design which made provision for
different uses – daily Assembly, Meeting for Worship, film shows
and dramatic and operatic performances. The design provoked
much comment. The building was opened by Old Scholar, Sir
Joseph Hutchinson FRS, in 1966. Immediate approval was given
by the Royal Institute of British Architects, who named the Hall
the best building in Yorkshire during the past two years.
Trevor Dannatt died in February 2021. The Guardian obituary
noted ‘He was most proud of a hall added at Bootham school,
York, combining the functions of a lively school theatre with that
of a Quaker meeting room.’ He had also designed the Royal
Festival Hall and Blackheath Quaker Meeting House.
Almost before the Hall was completed work began on converting
the JB into a lovely library. Gallery and platform were removed,
well designed tables and additional shelving added, and the
room became a space for quiet study and reading.
Oxfam’s response to floods in Bihar, India is supported by
£50,000 generated by a growing number of sponsored walks.
Youth Groups were also playing a big part in Oxfam’s activities.
Old Scholar, Chris Barber, was Chairman of Oxfam from 1983
to 1989. As a Quaker, he was opposed to war and chose to join
the FAU before he was called up during the Second World War.
He faced a Conscientious Objector Tribunal, refusing to seek
favourable treatment by declaring himself a Quaker. He was,
however, permitted to join the FAU, with whom he worked until
1947. His service included a period of war relief work in China.
He joined the Board of Trustees of Oxfam in 1980. In 1983, he
became its Chair, in which role, he served until 1989. Oxfam
grew dramatically and in his role as chairman, Chris was
keen to ensure that the extra donations were used well, not
just to tackle famine but to ensure sustainable development
thereafter.
1982 The first girl joined the School in September 1982.
The arrival of girls was seen as part of the general aim to make
Bootham into a genuinely Day-and-Boarding school. It was noted
at the time that girls coming to Bootham would tend to be ‘non-
Friends’ and that these girls would be in a unique situation in York
because no other independent school offered the prospect of
co-education throughout the age range 11-18.
The numbers of girls in the School quickly increased and the girls’
boarding house was opened in 1991.
The first United States cruise missiles arrive at RAF Greenham
Common amid protests from peace campaigners at the
Greenham Common Women’s Peace Camp.
During the Cold War (1947-90) between the US and Russia,
and their allies, Friends sent delegations to Moscow, China
and Warsaw to convey goodwill and discuss ways of achieving
peace and understanding. The ‘good offices’ of Friends were
able to keep open channels to diplomats from the People’s
Republic of China, who until 1971 had no seat at the UN.
In the 1970s it was estimated that 10% of the diplomatic
community had met each other under Quaker-sponsored
auspices. Such meetings can increase mutual understanding,
and make it easier to find ways forward in formal negotiations.
Underlying all is the Quaker stance of ‘balanced partiality’.
Participants know their hosts will not take sides but will seek to
help everyone equally.
1997 The
School acquired
Ebor Preparatory
School at Clifton
in May 1997. Ebor
students were
described a ‘lively,
thoughtful and
imaginative boys
and girls’. We
opened our new
Junior School
building in
Rawcliffe in 2002
and the name was officially changed to Bootham Junior School
in 2006.
The governing Conservative Party led by John Major was
defeated in a landslide by the Labour Party led by Tony Blair.
It wasn’t until 1997, 79 years after women had first been able
to stand for Parliament, that there was a major increase in the
number of women elected. The change in 1997 was partly
as a result of the Labour landslide and the use of all-women
shortlists for selecting Labour candidates. 120 women MPs
were elected in 1997, 18.2% of all MPs. 101 were Labour MPs, 12
Conservative and 3 Liberal Democrat.
14
2014 The new Arts Centre was opened in March 2014, when
Tony de Nunzio spoke movingly about his son Ed, to whose
memory the art school is dedicated. The new building was
described as ‘a building whose very fabric pays homage to
the relationship between student and teacher. Teaching and
learning, for all the theories, is a matter of human relations;
teaching is a way of life, of parenting. It’s about nurturing and
cherishing real people in all their richness and delight, rather than
grading performance.
Bootham’s aim is to encourage in our students creativity and
imagination to see a better world; our work from day to day is
to model such a world.’
Russia annexed Crimea. A referendum was allowed, but
without independent monitors, and 95% of the ballot papers
backed joining Russia. Crimea’s annexation had long lasting
and serious consequences which re-escalated in 2022 when
Russia invaded Ukraine.
Our community response to the crisis in Ukraine in 2022
included holding two peace vigils on Bootham on consecutive
days and organising a collection of donations to be transported
to refugees in countries neighbouring the conflict. The
organisation of the collection and distribution to a local
collection point was led by a team of College students with
support from staff and the wider community.
2020 During the pandemic, the School followed Government
guidelines and transferred to on-line learning for most students.
The School closed early for the Easter holiday on 20th March 2020
and in-person teaching didn’t resume until the beginning of the
Autumn Term. During the first period of lockdown we honed
our on-line learning skills and found new ways of teaching and
communicating. The boarding houses were closed and students
joined on-line lessons from around the globe. The Junior School
remained open for children of key workers.
The second period of lockdown ran from the beginning of the
Spring Term 2021 to 8 March 2021 and we reverted to on-line
learning. The School remained open to the children of key
workers and boarders during second lockdown.
The Global Pandemic was declared by the World Health
Organisation on 11 March 2020. By March 2022, over 450 million
people worldwide have been infected and COVID-19 has
caused over 6 million deaths.
Vaccines were developed and deployed at unprecedented
speeds. However, vaccine distribution has been focused on
the wealthiest countries and more needs to be done to address
worldwide inequality in distribution.
2023 The school bicentenary was celebrated with:
• Quaker Education Conference with over 120 students from
around the world and a follow up at an external political
conference in York
• Bicentenary Reunion and dinner
• Bicentenary Leavers’ Ball
• Bicentenary celebration day for students
It was the warmest year in the 174-year observational record.
The global mean near-surface temperature in 2023 was 1.45
+/- 0.12 *C above the pre-industrial 1850-1900 average.
In 2024, Bootham won an Independent Schools Award, in
the Environmental Achievement category. As a Quaker
School, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do and
this nomination is a testament to the hard work of students
and staff.
Bootham Features – History of Bootham
Openshaw
Travel Bursary: Bella Sharp
Bootham Features – Openshaw Travel Bursary: Bella Sharp
15
Central America. Thousands of miles from home, teeming
with wildlife from cheeky monkeys to enormous iguanas
and sleepy sloths, sweeping beaches, dramatic volcanoes
and immense cloud forests and thick jungles. I knew I had
to go and see this place for myself and thus started my
preparations for travelling to Costa Rica in my gap year! I
finished my journey with Bootham school in the summer
of 2023, bittersweetly waving goodbye to that chapter
of my life and all the incredible experiences it came with
but waving hello to this new exciting adventure I would
be embarking on. I heard about Raleigh International
through another Bootham Old Scholar who did it a few
years prior and they told me how incredible it was. I knew i
wanted to travel but also positively contribute to wherever
I was travelling and Raleigh International was the perfect
way for me to do it. I signed up, was accepted and started
packing ready to jet off on February 12th! Firstly, I would
like to thank Bootham School for, through the Openshaw
Travel Bursary, aiding this incredible journey I went on, I’ve
not only seen an incredible country and experienced living
in another fascinating culture, I’ve been able to give back
and help indigenous communities to keep their history
and culture alive, while also developing and growing
myself as a person.
I arrived at base camp, where training took place and
where we stayed in between projects, in early February.
We took part in a multitude of training activities including
a practice walk for the upcoming trek, an afternoon of
using tools such as saws and hammers and also seminars
on respecting other cultures and their differing social
norms for when we were staying with an indigenous
community and building a classroom for the school there.
After a few days of training we got separated into groups,
our phones given in to staff and then early the next day
got into buses and made the long day of travelling to our
first destination. My first stage was community; it took a
two hour bus ride and a four and a half hour off roading
trip by two locals who came in four by fours and strapped
our rucksacks to the top of the cars and off we went. I
looked to my left at one point, of the bumpiest journey of
my life, and the views took my breath away. We were on a
mountain gazing down on the jungles and winding river
below us, also at this moment i realised how small the
road we were racing along was and we all held our breath.
We eventually arrived at the community where we would
be staying for the next three weeks, we had to walk for the
last five hundred or so metres; it couldn’t be accessed by
car because there was a very long and shaky bridge over an
enormous raging river. Finally a school came into view and
we arrived at Tolok Kitcha. We put our bags down outside
and headed into the only classroom and were welcomed
by the headmaster Raynor. He introduced himself and
told us how he welcomed us on behalf of himself and the
community we would soon meet and showed us where
we would be staying, two small huts which are usually for
teachers who can’t commute everyday, and the school
site. As we were unpacking our things we saw little heads
poking round the door, the children too curious to wait
until later to meet us which warmed my heart. Children
are the same no matter where you are in the world! We
met the building team who would be helping us build a
second classroom. The main builder was called Rafa. He
was delightful and his nickname from the community was
iron man because he was so strong he could’ve been made
of iron, he definitely lived up to this nickname!
By this point it was late and we were exhausted and so
decided on a cooking rota and team one set to cooking.
We had to make all of our food from scratch in the
kitchen at the school for the three weeks that we were
there. While we were there, we cooked and ate local
Costa Rican dishes, which included Gallo Pinto which
was made up of seasoned rice with bell peppers and
white onion and of course black beans, fried plantains
and scrambled eggs and a lemon tomato salad. For
the next three weeks we would be immersed in an
indigenous community called the Caveca community,
the locals all spoke cavecan, an indigenous language,
and some spoke Spanish. The village would teach us
cavecan and we would teach them English and do
specific English lessons for the children alongside the
building and decorating of the classroom. The local
cavecan people taught us about their heritage and
culture, including showing and then getting us to make
traditional bullets for a spit gun they would use for
hunting, and a traditional grinding stone and boulder
they used for grinding coffee, corn and cacao. An older
woman from the community told me that this stone
had been used for hundreds of years! Towards the end
of our stay we decided to organise a day of fun for the
children and the adults of the village, we organised a
football match, a game of penalties, and a game where
the children had the opportunity to drench us in water
if they remembered some of the English we had taught
them, the latter of course was a major hit as the children
thought it was hilarious!
This community centred around Tolok Kitcha School
will always have a special place in my heart – they
welcomed us so openly into their lives and community
as the school is the main social ground for not only the
children but the entirety of the village. They had rarely
seen or been exposed to other Costa Ricans let alone
people from halfway round the world and although we
dressed and looked differently, they always wanted to
look after us and share their piece of the world and how
they lived in it with us. The friendships I made within the
community in three weeks are irreplaceable and I hope
I made a fraction of the positive impact they had on me,
on them.
Sadly, it was time
to leave the Tolok
Kitcha community,
with heavy hearts
we made the six
hour journey home
and arrived back at
base camp ready to
meet our new groups
for the next stage,
which for me was
the trek! Trek is an
opportunity to see
more of Costa Rica
and really immerse yourself in the incredible landscapes
it has to offer and push yourself outside of your comfort
zone. Three weeks of walking every day carrying a 20kg
rucksack, with not a lot of showers but a lot of laughs!
Including, being chased by cows because a calf wanted
to walk with us, doing a river crossing and trying not
to get swept away and sleeping in the most bizarre
but wonderful places like an adventure park! Trek was
definitely a challenge, waking up at 3 am every day and
walking for seven hours is not easy but also incredibly
rewarding, not to mention seeing the most amazing
natural spectacles I’ve ever seen such as the sunrise
every single day and walking through cloud forests,
mountain paths, valley paths, beaches, rainforests,
jungles and even dry planes of red soil which felt like
Mars. Trek taught me a lot about myself; I love porridge
even after having it every single day for three weeks, I
am stronger than I thought and can carry a rucksack day
in, day out, I love my skincare routine so much but it is
incredible what a bar of soap can do, face wash, laundry
wash and even perfume! But, trek also taught me that
anyone can do it if they break it down, whether that be
days or hours or even minutes. I firmly believe that with
some kind people who can make you laugh and support
you, a little bit of ABBA blasting through a speaker now
and then, anyone can do trek. However, I will say that
there was a feeling of relief when I arrived at the final
destination which was also followed by the statement
of “thank god we are getting the bus back”. Little did I
know, I would be doing an even more challenging walk
with my mum through Switzerland just a few months
later!
16
My final phrase was the environmental phase where we
went to three different areas of Costa Rica, a traditional
coastal town, a national park and an indigenous
women-led ethical chocolate farm. The first week we
spent in Loroco, an ethical chocolate farm family run by
women from the BriBri indigenous community. On the
first day the women showed us how traditional roofs
were made out of bamboo sticks, twine or vine and
dried palm leaves. We made these roof pieces and then
attached them together to make a shelter which we
then slept under for the remainder of the week. It was
an incredible experience sleeping outside immersed in
nature. The women taught us how they run their farm,
and how they make chocolate, from when to pick the
cocoa fruit to how they package the chocolate - it’s the
best chocolate you will ever eat. On the final night, the
family very kindly offered to make us a traditional meal,
we all sat around a long table and ate and laughed like
a big family. The
next morning, we
waved goodbye
and then made
the long journey
to Parismina, a
very traditional
village on the
Caribbean side
of Costa Rica,
where we would
be building a
turtle nursery,
going on night
patrols for turtles
laying eggs and
learning about
how to keep
turtles thriving
and stop the risk
of extinction.
We were there for a week and took part in many night
patrols to ward off poachers, dogs and any other risks
to the mother turtle and her eggs. One night saw a
leatherback turtle laying her eggs and going back to the
sea, her shell measured a huge 180cm! We visited a local
farm and animal sanctuary where the farmer showed us
how he farms ecologically and how he helps the animals
that live on the farm e.g the howler monkeys and sloths.
The lady we were staying with also gave us a cooking
class on how to make empanadas, which were so tasty.
A week flew by and we had to say goodbye to Parismina
and hello to the national park of Cahuita! During our
stay in the national park we worked alongside the park
rangers - learned about their life and how they look
after the park and also had the incredible opportunity
of living in the centre of the national park practically
sharing a bed with all and every creature it had to offer.
This week also flew by as we helped out the rangers
wherever we could and followed the many trails and
paths the national park had to offer when we weren’t
working. I had many encounters with wildlife during this
week such as monkeys stealing my food right out of my
hand, lizards in my sleeping bag when I woke up and
dodging hundreds of hermit crabs when doing beach
clean ups along the beach. Nevertheless, I loved every
second of it.
Then one day, I woke up and it was time to say goodbye
to Raleigh and start my independent travelling around
Costa Rica with friends I had made along the way. I
am eternally grateful for my experience with Raleigh;
I learned so much, saw an incredible country and
gave back to some of its people while doing so. Not
to mention friends I have made for life who also took
part in Raleigh International. I want to thank Bootham
School and the Openshaw Travel Bursary again, for
contributing to my gap year and all the incredible things
that I did. I hope this inspires some more people to take
an adventure with purpose no matter how big or small
or what age you are.
1517
Bootham Features – Openshaw Travel Bursary: Bella Sharp
September
Everyone was excited to get back to school, to see old
friends and welcome our new friends to school.
October
The Year 6 children were all extremely adventurous
during their residential trip to Buttermere, taking part in
Ghyll scrambling and climbing, night walks and a trip to
Whinlatter to round it all off. They are an amazing group of
children who represented the school beautifully.
This National Poetry Day all of the children enjoyed
reading , writing, and performing inspiring poems. Year 5
delighted some of the younger children by sharing their
own poems about their homes. It has been great to hear
children reciting verses and laughing out loud at the
wonder a poem brings.
All the children from year 3 to 6 have represented
Bootham in fine fashion at sporting fixtures this month
with football against Queen Ethelburga’s and netball and
football against Ackworth. Lots of cheering and support
made the events really fun and memorable.
Bootham Junior Swim Squad has been training hard and
the team has been going from strength to strength. 16
year 5 and 6’s took part in a gala at The Grammar School
at Leeds, and it was a brilliant match. Bootham enjoyed a
comfortable win.
November
Instrumentalist Concert
There were amazing performances from all talents and
instruments. From cellos to flutes and even cornets,
everyone was very brave to perform, and this would have
been some people’s first concerts.
Some thanks to the teachers who stayed in school to
watch. Another thank you to Tom for getting all the tea
and coffee for the spectators. And a final thank you to Mr
Mackenzie for setting everything up and organising all the
performances, and making room for watching children
play their pieces to him and also tuning string instruments.
We hope that everybody had a great time performing and
thank you to everyone who played in the concert and an
extra big thank you to the parents and guardians who gave
up their time to watch their children play.
Written by Ethan and Marlow
The children had a brilliant day at the Stone Age Workshop
learning about the Stone Age with John and Tom from
Historical Interceptions.
Year 5 GOAL (Game of Actual Life) workshop sessions
started in November, and will continue throughout the
year. The children became 22 year olds and explored all
the decisions which you need to make at this age: savings,
renting, voting etc. The children were engaged the whole
time and learnt a lot!
Congratulations to Tom and the team for their 5 star Food
Hygiene rating.
The Year 1’s had a very exciting day visiting the senior
school. They spent time in the Observatory learning about
space, and saw some cool experiments in the Chemistry
lab. They especially loved the elephants toothpaste!
Dear diary... a year at Bootham
Junior School
September 2023 to June 2024
18
Bootham Features – War & Peace – Memories of Bootham 1940–43
In Biology they examined skulls and funny seed pod
shaped like a bum and had a quick trip to the Head’s
Office to say hello to Deneal.
Our Year 1 also went on their residential visit to the
York YHA. They explored York and had a pizza making
experience. Lots of fun was had by all!
The Reception class sleepover in the school hall was a
great success. The children made lovely indoor camping
lights before bed which they put outside their tents when
it was time to go to sleep.
We were delighted to hold a Parent Maths Workshop
looking at the way Maths is taught in Bootham and the
best methods to support children at home.
Year 2 enjoyed a wonderful Christmassy visit to Lotherton
Hall and Year 5 had a great day out at Brimham rocks.
Year 5 and 6 have been busy with the science lessons.
Year 6 were investigating what effect exercise had on
their pulse rate. The most challenging part of this was
finding their pulses! Year 5 were botanists for the morning.
They investigated the feature of flowering and non-
flowering plants and then dissected a flower, using close
observation to identify all the features.
December
At the start of the month our Nursery children visited the
Northwood Fairy trail and searched high and low for fairy
houses, knocking on the doors of ones they found before
leaving gifts of pine cones, twigs and leaves outside.
The Christmas Fair was as wonderful as ever, with jungle
jars aplenty and lots of very excited children. This year’s
spectacular Christmas cake really was amazing. Every time
you looked inside you found something new! Well done to
Tom, Angie and the team for always creating such a festive
treat for us to enjoy.
The Theatre trip to Jack and the Beanstalk was much
enjoyed by those who attended.
Stephen Sayers, one of our former Governors, has for
many years read poems and short stories to the children
of Bootham Junior School to celebrate Christmas. Years
3-6 enjoyed listening to Stephen talk and hearing extracts
from his new book, A Friend’s Word, which explains what
it means to be Quaker.
January
January was a very sporty month showcasing a variety of
sporting talent, including the girls winning two football
matches and the swim squad attending the HMC
Championship. Overall the boys squad combined to finish
5th out of 15 schools. Our girls squad combined to finish
2nd out of 17 schools. A brilliant achievement. Well done
team!
The Year 5 residential to Derwent Hill was fabulous. There
were lots of fantastic activities including climbing and
orienteering, night walks, canoeing, gorge walking, high
ropes and mining, and even though it was a bit on the wet
side at times it was lots of fun.
February
On 21st February the Young Voices Club travelled to
Sheffield Arena to take part in the Young Voices Choir and
the children were amazing! Their singing and dancing,
along with over 5000 other children, was spectacular.
Thank you to Mr Mackenzie for organizing everything.
Year 5 had fun learning some Mayan Maths. Alma, a parent
at Bootham, kindly cam in to teach the children and share
her expertise. The children enjoyed the hands-on lesson
and learning the value of snail shell!
Bootham Features – Dear Diary... A Year at Bootham Junior School
19
Miss Brunyee attended the final of the YorkMix Test The
Teacher competition at YorkMix radio and won! As winner
Miss Brunyee won a pool party for the children and a
trophy for the school. Well done Miss Brunyee!
Our nursery school children had a wonderful dress up day
when they came to school dressed up as their favourite
characters, and their families came along to enjoy hot
cross buns.
Year 6 have been exploring Space and have heard from
Mike Shaw all about “How Big Is Space?” and had a lesson
with the Head, Deneal Smith, finding out what Black
Holes are, how they are formed, and what would happen
if you fell into one! Astronomy is a popular option at senior
school and this could just be the start of their Astronomy
journey.
March
There was so much going on in March! Year 6 enjoyed a
Drama Workshop, Year 4 had a fun day out at the York
Railway museum, Year 1 took a day out in Skipton and
Reception visited a local farm to see the animals! Year 3
designed and made 2 fabulous Egyptian shadufs. Shadufs
were used in Ancient Egypt to transfer water from the
Nile to the fields in order to irrigate the crops and Year
3 completed pedestrian training. They are all now very
confident with the Green Cross Code and they have
shown that they are able to cross the nearby roads safely.
During the Year 4 residential to Osmotherly the children
had a lovely first day at the seaside examining lots of
curious creatures in the rock-pools before venturing
out for a night walk in the evening and some teddy
introductions before bed. The following day they visited
a very windy Wainstones. The children had a ball and
nobody was blown away! The next day they took part in
some very soggy worming. There were a lot of very muddy
children, and smiles all round! Thank you to the children
for making it such a great week.
Science Week – Year 5’s were busy observing the effects of
irreversible changes. They combined acids and an alkali
and tried to inflate a balloon with the resulting gases. Lots
of careful observation and quick thinking were involved.
In Year 6 the children were being marine engineers and
exploring how surface area affects the rate an object sinks
in water. They then used this knowledge to create tinfoil
boats to transport marble passengers. It was great to see
their thought processes but the classroom, and a few
jumpers, were decidedly wet after the session.
Our Spring themed bake sale raised £337.31, for UNICEF so
a big thank you to all.
Waste Week focused on battery recycling, and the Eco
Stewards have put a battery recycling box in school
that can accept all batteries. Great job by the Year 6 Eco
Stewards, Elishah, Anecie and Alex! Well done for making
a difference.
April
Evie Wilkinson, Year 5, and Jacob Butterfield, teacher Year
6 both qualified to represent Team GB’s Biathle team at
the European Championships in Madeira, Portugal in July.
We can’t wait to hear how they do at the competition.
The Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust mobile classroom came
to school and taught Year 3 all about the journey of a river
from source to sea. They also studied some fresh water
invertebrates from a local river.
May
Year 3 had a wonderful residential at Helmsley Youth
Hostel. They explored the local area including the River
Seven and enjoyed an exciting trip on the steam train to
Goathland. Dalby Forest was the final destination along
a visit to the beautiful Mallyan Spout. Everyone was quite
tired but very happy by the time they got home.
20
21
A strong team of 9 swimmers travelled to GSAL for the
Yorkshire division qualifiers of the annual English Schools
national championships. The teams swam fantastically
well and managed to finish 1st and 2nd in both the
medley and freestyle relay in the medium schools
category. After the relays they swam in some individual
races and each swimmer achieved a personal best in their
individual races, which was great to see.
We had our annual York Neighbours meet up at the Junior
School. York Neighbours is a charity that supports people
over the age of 65 living within the city of York, reducing
isolation and enabling independence. The afternoon
was spent drinking tea and eating scones, catching up,
followed by our students performing.
Year 1 loved their workshop with Yorkshire Glass Fusion.
Sarah demonstrated how plan different designs for a glass
suncatcher before they created their final designs.
Nursery returned to Northwood Fairy Trail to find a
dragon’s nest, singing mermaids, fairy houses high and
low and beautiful bluebells along the way.
Two Bootham cricket teams visited the lovely Terrington
Hall school for some friendly cricket matches. Our mixed
team won by an impressive 68 runs. Both teams were
praised by spectators and teachers for having a wonderful
attitude and playing in such a sporting manner.
June
We had lots of fantastic end of year days out with all our
children. Year 6 had a fun filled day at Dalby Forest GoApe!
Year 3-6 enjoyed a countryside day and learnt how to skim
stones, Year 1 had a fun day exploring rock-pools at the
seaside and the Reception children had an excellent day
at Bolton Abbey.
July
Sports day provided us with a wonderful opportunity to
gather for a huge picnic with the friends and family of our
students, as well as some high energy sporting challenges
and even higher octane cheering from the side-lines.
Special thanks to the wonderful catering team for making
the most delicious cakes for us to enjoy. It was a really fun
day and an excellent way to wrap up the school year.
Bootham Features – Dear Diary... A Year at Bootham Junior School
22
Those who left school in 1946 were subject to two
years’ National Service and John enlisted in the
Friends’ Ambulance Unit, then engaged in post-war
reconstruction in Europe. Following the education of
many orphans he agreed to serve an extra year to help
set up the FAU’s International Service. The group became
a lifelong family, holding a reunion in York in 1996, and
John became a member of the FAU Council. After an
MA in Natural Science from Clare College, Cambridge, a
teaching qualification from Bristol University, and some
years’ teaching at Dauntsey’s School and Manchester
Grammar School, he joined the Education Department at
Keele University and helped develop the Nuffield ‘A’ level
Biology course, with books for both pupils and teachers.
An examiner for the JMB, John also spent two summers
helping to train teachers in Kenya and Uganda. He had
married Janet (Jan) Mary Wilson in 1954 and she was to be
a tower of strength throughout their married life.
John became Headmaster of Bootham in January 1972.
With twenty one assistant masters he was responsible
for about 240 boys, almost all boarders, a quarter more
than when he had left 26 years earlier. The senior master,
Clifford Smith, had taught him as a pupil, and was a
great support. There were no women on the teaching
staff when he arrived, and he appointed two for that
September.
The 1970s were a challenging time for independent
school heads in Britain. Teenagers were gaining power
and winning more freedoms and Lindsay Anderson’s
surreal depiction of revolution in a public school, If… (1968)
was voted one of the best films of the century; parents
were questioning the concept of boarding, and the
Labour government was considering abolishing private
schools. There was rampant inflation and Bootham’s
fees almost quadrupled between 1970 and 1980. Some
Quakers were beginning to ask if they should own any
schools, and York Council planned a road across the
cricket field. Bootham faced a battle for survival. John
Gray could be enigmatic at times, yet his vision and
resolution in the face of adversity transformed the school.
Discipline John produced a set of school rules “such as
had never existed before” as the editorial in Bootham
Magazine reported in astonishment in May 1973. Before
John’s arrival the appointment of Reeves, who helped run
the school out of lesson time, had proved contentious. In
the Autumn of 1974 John made Reeves of all of College
II unless they opted out, and gradually lightened their
responsibilities.
Games in the Timetable Every afternoon had been given
over to team games after lunch, with afternoon lessons
not starting till 4pm. In 1974 John brought Games into the
timetable, with afternoon lessons starting at 1:30pm.
Cafeteria, Houses and Pastoral Care In 1975 John
introduced cafeteria service in the dining room so that
a larger number of pupils could be catered for, but the
mixing of ages at eight house tables, rotating each week
to talk with the house staff and reeves, was a loss. Pupils
and staff naturally preferred to sit with their peers, and
for some years the decline of ‘vertical integration’, in
which people knew those above and below them, with
implications for membership of clubs, was lamented.
In the Autumn of 1980 Colin Raper introduced a new
House System of four houses to stimulate competition in
games. The chairs in the assembly hall were rearranged,
from all facing the stage to facing each other in four sides
of a square. Pastoral care based on the old, vertically
integrated, houses had become weaker. John had a new
pastoral care system in mind, based on that of Junior
House which had been created in 1976 as a haven for the
first two years. With its own pastoral staff it contained
the first boys’ common room, with easy chairs and a
television.
Common Rooms and Teaching Rooms For many years
pupils had owned their form-rooms, keeping their
possessions under their desk lids, and spending time
there outside lessons. Teachers without special facilities
elsewhere came to them. The tuck-box room in the
John Henderson Gray
1928-2024
Former Headmaster John Gray died on 14 February 2024. Resolute in carrying out
radical reforms, he transformed Bootham from a small boys’ boarding school into a co-
educational day and boarding school, and the present school owes him a great debt.
Born 13 September 1928, John was the eldest of three children (all boys) born to
Donald Gray, Bootham’s Headmaster from 1927 to 1943. His father oversaw the School’s
evacuation to Ampleforth for the first year of WW2, and that year John and his brothers
lived with their mother and her family at Brandsby while their father often slept in his
study at Ampleforth. John joined Bootham as a pupil in 1940 when the School returned
to York. One holiday John was woken in his bed at the front of 49 (then the Head’s
house) when it was covered in glass from a bomb which fell on the corner of Marygate.
Other bombs that night in 1942 killed over 94 people in York and demolished the Lodge
at the end of Portland Street. Worn out by his efforts to maintain the School in wartime,
his father died in post in 1943. As a pupil John played football and hockey, was Junior
and Senior swimming champions, and helped run the Natural History Society.
23
Bootham Features – John Henderson Gray
basement was simply a storage space for boxes, without
chairs, tables or games. John planned to give every year a
common room and, as form-rooms were freed to become
purely teaching rooms, every subject its own area. By
Autumn 1973 Penn House had been repurposed, kitchen
facilities were added to the tuck box room, and Lower
and Upper Senior given common room space. In 1979
he was pleased to report that every subject had a book
and equipment store, visual aids, carpets, new tables and
chairs; and each year-group below College had its own
common rooms with lockers, table tennis, television and
kitchen. College received its common rooms in 1981.
Leisure Hour and Resident Graduates Bootham had
long been distinguished by its extracurricular activities,
mostly pupil-led and often scientific under the aegis
of the Natural History Society (which John had served
as Chairman and Secretary while a pupil) . John now
felt that some pupils were not using their leisure time
productively, and from 1974 he introduced an ‘alternative
prep’ – an extra hour of schoolwork under supervision in
a classroom in addition to the ordinary ‘prep’ – for those
boys who did not spend an hour that night in a club or
society. Gradually these hobbies became staff-supervised
activities, and from 1982 John appointed Resident
Graduates to help with leisure hours, weekend activities
and boarding duties.
General Refurbishment John oversaw comprehensive
material refurbishment. In the classrooms the ancient oak
desks with carved lids were replaced by smooth Formica
topped tables, and in the bedrooms the cast-iron bed
frames and sagging horse-hair mattresses were replaced
with divans with Dunlopillo mattesses. Upper Senior’s
Room A became his study with an office for his secretary.
New buildings included the Science Block (1975) and the
Squash Courts with adjacent all-weather courts (1984).
Co-Education, Day-Girls, and Day-Boys John had
sought a merger with The Mount School from his
appointment. The Committee which managed both
schools was proceeding with the necessary feasibility
studies, and John was very disappointed when it was not
to be. Co-education remained an aim for him, and his wife
Jan helped organise weekly General Studies classes at
Clifford Street or the College II of both schools. A similar
programme – Specials - was started for the College I of
both schools. It remained financially imperative to recruit
more pupils; as he removed those aspects of catering,
games, timetable, form-rooms, etc., which constricted
numbers, he recruited more boarders but knew he would
have to look elsewhere too. A new category of day boarder
was advertised from 1972 for sons of staff or local Quakers,
a restriction soon relaxed, and by 1977 dayboarders made
up nearly 10% of the school. Day-boarders were expected
to remain in school till their age group went to bed,
and were welcome at weekends. Crisis was evident in
September 1981 when only a dozen boys, almost all day
boarders, entered Lower Schoolroom. In early 1982 the
Committee agreed to John’s request to take day pupils,
including non-Quaker day-girls. It was argued that local
day-girls were not likely to want to board at The Mount,
and The Mount generously accepted this. Thus from
1983 day-girls were admitted, and thrived, with Val Allen
managing their induction and Sally Crook entering a year
early. Day-boys were admitted at the same time, and
gradually John’s anxiety over numbers declined. By the
time he retired the school was more secure and larger
than ever, with 315 pupils (120 boy-boarders, 107 day-boys
and 88 daygirls).
John was most impressive in private conversations and
conducting interviews. A thorough Quaker, he invited
opinions and sought consensus where possible and staff
meetings were genuine discussions. Yet his often gentle
demeanour belied an iron will, and the tolerance he
displayed when targetted in the annual Reeves Shows
was a measure of remarkable inner strength. He always
sought to see the best in people. He expected everyone to
respect each others’ individuality as he did and, as James
Brereton wrote when John retired, by ‘gently steering a
course of benign tolerance he loosened the grip of peer
pressure on the child.’ He was totally involved in the life of
the school: he taught Upper Schoolroom, and took boys
board-sailing, walking and rock-climbing at weekends. He
committed himself fully, even to the extent of breaking his
ankle in a Nixes-Reeves football match. As the last Quaker
Headmaster of Bootham he had worked assiduously and
quietly to modernise and strengthen the School for its
pupils.
In his last year his health required that he took some
sabbatical leave. Happily a heart by-pass operation
proved rejuvenating, and he was able to enjoy many years
of productive retirement, though suffering a grievous
blow when his beloved wife Jan died in 2013. Serving
on Quaker committees, keeping bees and walking, he
lived quietly latterly in Ilminster in Somerset. He greatly
enjoyed a major and happy reunion with his teaching staff
at Bootham in 2018 and is survived by his three children
Adrian, Patrick and Bridget.
David Robinson
24
I joined Lower Schoolroom II in September 1991 and was lucky
enough to have Miss Hooley at the helm as Form Tutor. She was
warm and welcoming, and was a perfect match for a group of
slightly nervous and excited 11 year olds, starting a new chapter
at their secondary school. I very quickly realised that Miss Hooley
was simply fantastic and so was delighted when I found out she
would also be teaching me Maths and P.E.
I hadn’t really done very much formal sport before joining
Bootham other than swimming lessons and cricket in the
garden with my brother but I absolutely loved Games. Learning
hockey, netball, athletics, tennis, doing cross-country round the
Ings….I was very happy. As I was reasonable at sport, throughout
my seven years at Bootham I played in the teams and at one
point it felt like we had a match every night and on Saturday. I
was in heaven yet it only struck me on leaving, how much time
Miss Hooley put in to her job with all these fixtures across the
year groups as well as teaching throughout the week. She was
totally dedicated and committed to the school and to the pupils
and she is at the root of my love of sport. It has been a consistent
theme throughout my life and it has taught me so much. We
always went in to win a match and be competitive but she also
taught us how to lose gracefully and to enjoy the game whatever
the outcome.
I should also mention Mrs Daniels who was also brilliant. The two
of them usually came as a pair and their friendship and excellent
working relationship was clearly evident.
I will also always remember Miss Hooley’s ridiculously large
bunch of keys. Were there really that many locks? You could
hear her jingle-jangling around school a good hour before you
could see her. And it wouldn’t be fair to omit the shell suits. Miss
Hooley had a fine wardrobe of shell suits that was uniform for
PE teachers in the early 90s, but that she wore with style and
panache.
On a serious note, since leaving Bootham I have been honoured
to call Miss Hooley a friend. She came to my wedding and I have
looked forward to seeing her at Old Scholars’ netball and at
the reunions in summer. When I now bring my two daughters
in to school she is so welcoming and kind and shows the same
warmth she showed to my peers and me over 30 years ago. Miss
Hooley was a fabulous teacher - committed, dedicated, kind,
caring and knowledgeable, and I wish her all the very best in her
well-deserved retirement.
Catherine Wragg
Lis was a great supporter of the annual school cabaret. From
Abba to synchronised swimming she managed to cajole staff
into participating in many cabarets over the years. She often
initiated an idea for a staff act and then organised practices with
staff right up to the wire. The synchronised swimming event
started with an improvised green curtain acting as the water
across the stage. Behind this watery stretch of material, staff
performed synchronised ( in reality- sometimes unsynchronized)
moves complete with quick changes of direction. Another was
an act where members of staff impersonated other members
of staff by dressing in the way they dressed. This resulted in a
hilarious act with staff wearing masks of their counterparts for eg
Emma Glover dressed as Ian Small and vice versa and Lis as Colin
Raper.
Lis was a great supporter of many charity events over the years
including a skip- a - thon, a whole school walk and a 24 hour
swim where staff, students, old scholars and parents took part to
raise money for Sports Relief. One particular hilarious memory
of another charity event was her pairing up with her colleague
Joan Daniels in a fashion show to raise money for the building of
the Sports Hall. it was not exactly a serious event with one size
fits all outfits. One parent after the event said to Lis that they
thought she had missed her vocation - not her modelling skills
but comedy value. Lis could be very funny at times!
Lis was not a strong swimmer but every time she had to renew
her lifesaving qualification she joked that the fastest she been
down the pool was when she was being towed as a body for a
renewal of the bronze medallion. At the end of teaching a life
saving block to the girls, she decided with Joan Daniels that she
would fall into the pool unbeknown to them and see how the
students would put their learning into practice. Unfortunately
there was too much laughter from the students that Lis had to
more or less rescue herself!
Lis Hooley
Bootham Features – Lis Hooley
25
As Head of Year, Lis took the care of her students very seriously
and was creative in the way she managed to administer
sanctions in a student friendly way. She believed in treating
students as individuals and trying to make a difference to them.
An example was of one student who would go into a meltdown
if served. To ensure the student was served columns but
maintained their well being, the workbook was left on a table in
a classroom by the student who then vacated the room. Lis then
wrote in the columns and later on the book was collected by the
student thus maintaining the position that in theory the student
was served but not in practice!
Lis has always been a popular member of staff and this was often
evidenced at old scholars events. Due to her extraordinary long
service at Bootham she has seen many students come and go
and at these events she is always surrounded by old scholars
who remembered her fondly especially from her PE days. Lis was
a great believer in sport for all and was inclusive in her approach
to teaching girls PE. She joined the staff in 1987 and was the first
full time female member of staff to be appointed. Those were
the days when there were very few girls and in one particular
Lower Schoolroom group, there were only 7 girls- enough for a
netball team! Rather than see this as a limitation she saw it as an
opportunity for all the team to improve and they did!
Sarah Allen
Lis joined the Bootham staffroom in September 1987, in a cohort
of five newcomers. Fresh from university, a talented sports
practitioner and keen on dance. The school was then somewhat
smaller than it is today, and both girls and day students were
fewer in number. It is not exaggerating to say that Lis was one of
the influencers that brought us to the student gender balance
we enjoy today, but more on this later.
Lis joined “junior house”, a boarding house for lower and middle
schoolroom boys in what we now call “Rowntree”. She took on
the role of deputy housemaster under the tutelage of Peter
and Pam Warn, and lived in a small apartment in the heart of
the building, throwing herself completely into the routine of
looking after a house full of lively pupils. The role was to say the
least, demanding, but Lis thrived on it and quickly became an
established member of the boarding family.
Her teaching took her mostly to the PE department, working
with Colin Raper, Robert Graham (also a newbie) and Joan
Daniels, among others. She also took up a teaching role in the
maths department. In a school with a shortage of girls at the
time, it was never easy to bring together sufficient players for
team fixtures, and one of Lis’s many quiet accomplishments
at that time was the way in which she managed to encourage
so many of our girls to take part. Her approach was extremely
inclusive; it is a given in sports teaching that ten percent of
your pupils will already love sport, and another ten percent will
be a very “hard sell”. In between are the eighty percent that
need encouragement and mentoring. Lis was able to use her
considerable motivational skills to get these pupils, and many
of the less-sporty ten percent to give their backing to girls’ sport
at Bootham. Bootham is now a school that can offer girls a very
strong sporting experience, and this has its foundations with Lis.
Joan Daniels, Lis’ friend and colleague in these years recalls that
their office was a place of laughter and happiness, a boon never
to be taken for granted in the workplace.
Lis also had a role in boys’ sport, memorably taking middle
schoolroom for dance when the pitches were too wet for
football. With their office window open, Lis and Joan were both
amazed and delighted to overhear the boys talking as they left
the building. “It wasn’t nearly as bad as I expected” and “pretty
good actually”. Praise indeed from that type of audience…
In the wider community, Lis played a very full role. For many
years she was a stalwart of the Bewerly Park outdoor Ed week;
a tough week away with upper schoolroom that mixed long
hours with demanding physical activity on mountains, rivers and
rock-faces. This was an experience that made a huge difference
to many pupils, and you could always see how much they had
grown in confidence when they returned to school. Other venues
were used over the years, and Lis was always willing to give her
time, wherever the event took place. She also supported Barry
Smith, then Head of Biology, in the annual “Natural History Field
Trip.” This week-long endurance test saw roughly fifty Bootham
students camping in varied coastal locations just after the end of
the summer term. Outdoor ed, wild-life studies and sight-seeing
mingled to give young people a full holiday experience with
their peer group. The group of staff that went with them was
fairly fixed from year to year, and took bad weather, draughty
tents and camp cookery in their stride. Lis was always there, and
often organised impromptu sports events in the long summer
evenings.
The Bootham cabaret was another of Lis’s repeat performances,
and among other sketches, she performed in an Abba tribute
act, demonstrated synchronised swimming on stage with
some colleagues and played in many of the “staff acts” that we
somehow found time for. She was always a good sport at these
events, and never afraid to make a fun of herself in the name
of celebration and community. Her crowning glory might have
been a fashion show run in the Meeting Hall to raise money for
the building of the new sports block. The clothes being modelled
were of their time, and it would have been difficult to look good
in them, as they mostly “fit where they touched”. Lis brought
her dancing expertise to the fore and walked the catwalk with
confidence and poise. One of the parents at the event was so
impressed with Lis’ performance that he asked her if she had
done modelling professionally before joining the school. I hope
his donation matched his good opinion.
Mike Shaw
Observing the natural world reveals a hidden tapestry of
interconnectedness often overlooked. While we might
categorise the world into neat labels and descriptions,
this can give the false impression that things are
separate. For example, when we label a tree, a bird, or
a river as distinct entities, it’s easy to think of them as
independent and isolated. But they’re actually part of
a much larger web of relationships. The tree provides
shelter and food for the bird, while the bird helps spread
the tree’s seeds, allowing it to grow in new areas. The
river nourishes the tree’s roots, and in turn, the tree
stabilises the riverbank, preventing erosion. These
interactions reveal a world where elements are deeply
intertwined, each relying on one another to maintain
balance and health in their shared environment.
Let’s explore the elements:
earth, fire, water, air,
and space. The sun,
embodying fire, evaporates
water, forming clouds
that eventually release
nourishing rain. This rain
nourishes the earth, allowing
trees and plants to grow. The
trees draw nutrients from
the soil and release oxygen
into the air, creating the
atmosphere that sustains
life. Even space, often
overlooked, plays a vital role
by providing the emptiness that allows air to circulate
and light to reach us. Each element harmonises with
the others, maintaining a delicate balance that is the
essence of life on Earth. Nothing truly exists in isolation;
everything is in a constant state of interaction, shaping
and being shaped by its surroundings.
We may call soil dirt and view it as an inconvenience
when it stains our freshly washed shirt. To perceive soil
as merely dirt is a limited view as there’s so much more
happening beneath the surface. Taking a closer look
at soil, its relationship with that majestic oak tree, and
our connection to the tree that offers us cool shade on
a hot summer’s day reveals a world teeming with life
and interactions beneath and above the surface. In this
intricate relationship of roots, microbes, and elements,
we see the profound interconnectedness of life.
Beneath the surface of the
soil lies the rhizosphere, a
vital area around plant roots
teeming with life and activity.
This special layer is where
roots and tiny organisms,
bacteria and fungi meet to
form mutually beneficial
interactions. Think of it as a
bustling underground city
where roots and microbes
exchange nutrients and
information, all facilitated by
the elements like water, heat,
and oxygen. In return, the
microbes enhance the plant’s ability to absorb nutrients,
like nitrogen, which is vital for growth but hard for plants
to obtain on their own. These microbes can also help
plants by signalling about dangers such as pests, much
like neighbours watching out for each other.
This connection doesn’t stop underground. As you sit
beneath the oak, you breathe out carbon dioxide, which
the tree absorbs. The tree releases oxygen, which fills
your lungs and keeps you alive. It’s a gentle exchange, a
reminder that you and the tree are part of a shared cycle.
The next time you see soil, remember it’s not just dirt; it’s
a living world that nurtures
plants and trees, giving us
the beauty and comfort of
nature. Every part of this
world, no matter how small,
plays a role in the grand
web of life we’re all a part
of. If you look you can see
everything is connected.
Seeing the interplay among
life forms enables us to
find ways to support the
complex relationships
between plants, roots,
microbes, water, heat,
and oxygen through
sustainable practices, such as how we grow crops, fruit
and vegetables. The quality of soil not only enhances
the health of crops, but it also enriches their nutritional
content.
Insight into Seeing Our Place
in Nature’s Delicate Balance
by Ambrose Gruenfeld
Art work by Richard Shiels
Beyond the Illusion
of Separation
26
Beyond the Illusion of Separation
Insight into Seeing Our Place in Nature’s Delicate Balance
by
Ambrose Gruenfeld
Observing the natural world reveals a hidden tapestry of interconnectedness often
overlooked. While we might categorise the world into neat labels and descriptions, this can
give the false impression that things are separate. For example, when we label a tree, a bird,
or a river as distinct entities, it’s easy to think of them as independent and isolated. But
they’re actually part of a much larger web of
relationships. The tree provides shelter and food for the
bird, while the bird helps spread the tree’s seeds,
allowing it to grow in new areas. The river nourishes
the tree’s roots, and in turn, the tree stabilises the
riverbank, preventing erosion. These interactions reveal
a world where elements are deeply intertwined, each
relying on one another to maintain balance and health
in their shared environment.
Let’s explore the elements: earth, fire, water, air, and
space. The sun, embodying fire, evaporates water,
forming clouds that eventually release nourishing rain.
This rain nourishes the earth, allowing trees and plants
to grow. The trees draw nutrients from the soil and
release oxygen into the air, creating the atmosphere that
sustains life. Even space, often overlooked, plays a vital
role by providing the emptiness that allows air to
circulate and light to reach us. Each element harmonises
with the others, maintaining a delicate balance that is
the essence of life on Earth. Nothing truly exists in
isolation; everything is in a constant state of interaction, shaping and being shaped by its
surroundings.
We may call soil dirt and view it as an inconvenience when it stains our freshly washed
shirt. To perceive soil as merely dirt is a limited view as there’s so much more happening
beneath the surface. Taking a closer look at soil, its
relationship with that majestic oak tree, and our
connection to the tree that offers us cool shade on a hot
summer’s day reveals a world teeming with life and
interactions beneath and above the surface. In this
intricate relationship of roots, microbes, and elements,
we see the profound interconnectedness of life.
Beneath the surface of the soil lies the rhizosphere, a
vital area around plant roots teeming with life and
activity. This special layer is where roots and tiny
organisms, bacteria and fungi meet to form mutually
beneficial interactions. Think of it as a bustling
underground city where roots and microbes exchange
nutrients and information, all facilitated by the
elements like water, heat, and oxygen.
In return, the microbes enhance the plant's ability to
absorb nutrients, like nitrogen, which is vital for
growth but hard for plants to obtain on their own.
These microbes can also help plants by signalling about
dangers such as pests, much like neighbours watching out for each other.
1
Observing the natural world reveals a hidden tapestry of interconnectedness often
overlooked. While we might categorise the world into neat labels and descriptions, this can
give the false impression that things are separate. For example, when we label a tree, a bird,
or a river as distinct entities, it’s easy to think of them as independent and isolated. But
they’re actually part of a much larger web of
relationships. The tree provides shelter and food for the
bird, while the bird helps spread the tree’s seeds,
allowing it to grow in new areas. The river nourishes
the tree’s roots, and in turn, the tree stabilises the
riverbank, preventing erosion. These interactions reveal
a world where elements are deeply intertwined, each
relying on one another to maintain balance and health
in their shared environment.
Let’s explore the elements: earth, fire, water, air, and
space. The sun, embodying fire, evaporates water,
forming clouds that eventually release nourishing rain.
This rain nourishes the earth, allowing trees and plants
to grow. The trees draw nutrients from the soil and
release oxygen into the air, creating the atmosphere that
sustains life. Even space, often overlooked, plays a vital
role by providing the emptiness that allows air to
circulate and light to reach us. Each element harmonises
with the others, maintaining a delicate balance that is
the essence of life on Earth. Nothing truly exists in
isolation; everything is in a constant state of interaction, shaping and being shaped by its
surroundings.
We may call soil dirt and view it as an inconvenience when it stains our freshly washed
shirt. To perceive soil as merely dirt is a limited view as there’s so much more happening
beneath the surface. Taking a closer look at soil, its
relationship with that majestic oak tree, and our
connection to the tree that offers us cool shade on a hot
summer’s day reveals a world teeming with life and
interactions beneath and above the surface. In this
intricate relationship of roots, microbes, and elements,
we see the profound interconnectedness of life.
Beneath the surface of the soil lies the rhizosphere, a
vital area around plant roots teeming with life and
activity. This special layer is where roots and tiny
organisms, bacteria and fungi meet to form mutually
beneficial interactions. Think of it as a bustling
underground city where roots and microbes exchange
nutrients and information, all facilitated by the
elements like water, heat, and oxygen.
In return, the microbes enhance the plant's ability to
absorb nutrients, like nitrogen, which is vital for
growth but hard for plants to obtain on their own.
These microbes can also help plants by signalling about
dangers such as pests, much like neighbours watching out for each other.
1
This connection doesn’t stop underground. As you sit beneath the oak, you breathe out
carbon dioxide, which the tree absorbs. The tree releases oxygen, which fills your lungs and
keeps you alive. It’s a gentle exchange, a reminder that
you and the tree are part of a shared cycle. The next time
you see soil, remember it’s not just dirt; it’s a living world
that nurtures plants and trees, giving us the beauty and
comfort of nature. Every part of this world, no matter how
small, plays a role in the grand web of life we’re all a part
of. If you look you can see everything is connected.
Seeing the interplay among life forms enables us to find
ways to support the complex relationships between
plants, roots, microbes, water, heat, and oxygen through
sustainable practices, such as how we grow crops, fruit
and vegetables. The quality of soil not only enhances the
health of crops, but it also enriches their nutritional
content.
Just like the natural world, our bodies are composed of
earth, water, air, and energy. The carbon in our cells, the
water in our blood, the air in our lungs, mirror the fundamental elements around us. What
we consume the food grown in the soil, nourished by rain, and energised by sunlight
becomes a part of our very being, illustrating how closely intertwined we are with the
natural world.
Albert Einstein once said, "Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything
better."
Humans are part of this web of life. Yet, as we’ve become more technologically advanced,
we have lost our connection to nature, the very world we’re an integral part of. We often
speak of “nature” as something separate from us, something “out there,” disconnected from
human life. But the world is not
separate.
Take pollution, for instance, whether
it’s in the air we breathe or the water
we drink. The pollution we create
doesn’t just stay “out there.” It
inevitably finds its way back to us in
the water we drink, the food we eat,
and the air we breathe, contributing
to diseases and illnesses. We’re deeply
connected to the environment, and
our well-being is directly linked to its
health. Just as the oak tree, soil, and
microbes work together to support
life, we too must take care of our
natural surroundings if we want to stay healthy and thrive.
In nature, nothing is wasted. Everything is recycled, reused, and given new purpose. Even
things you might not expect, like rocks, play a vital role in supporting life. Over time, rocks
break down into particles that become part of the soil, creating the foundation for forests
and crops. What seems lifeless and unchanging is actually part of a slow, continuous
process that sustains life.
2
Beyond the Illusion
of Separation
Just like the natural
world, our bodies
are composed of
earth, water, air,
and energy. The
carbon in our cells,
the water in our
blood, the air in
our lungs, mirror
the fundamental
elements around
us. What we consume the food grown in the soil,
nourished by rain, and energised by sunlight becomes
a part of our very being, illustrating how closely
intertwined we are with the natural world.
Albert Einstein once said, “Look deep into nature, and
then you will understand everything better.”
Humans are part of this web of life. Yet, as we’ve become
more technologically advanced, we have lost our
connection to nature, the very world we’re an integral
part of. We often speak of “nature” as something separate
from us, something “out there,” disconnected from
human life. But the world is not separate
Take pollution, for instance, whether it’s in the air we
breathe or the water we drink. The pollution we create
doesn’t just stay “out there.” It inevitably finds its way
back to us in the water we drink, the food we eat, and
the air we breathe, contributing to diseases and illnesses.
We’re deeply connected to the environment, and our
well-being is directly linked to its health. Just as the oak
tree, soil, and microbes work together to support life,
we too must take care of our natural surroundings if we
want to stay healthy and thrive.
In nature, nothing is wasted. Everything is recycled,
reused, and given new purpose. Even things you might
not expect, like rocks, play a vital role in supporting life.
Over time, rocks break down into particles that become
part of the soil, creating the foundation for forests and
crops. What seems lifeless and unchanging is actually
part of a slow, continuous process that sustains life.
A big part of the challenges
humans face today; lies in
not fully understanding or
appreciating the beautifully
interwoven nature of life.
When we don’t see how
everything is connected,
we tend to act in ways
that disrupt the natural
balance. This disconnection
leads us to create systems
that produce enormous
amounts of waste—waste
that doesn’t fit back into
nature’s recycling loop.
Unlike natural materials that break down and return to
the earth, much of the waste we produce like plastics
lingers in the environment, polluting ecosystems. This
waste harms wildlife, disrupts ecosystems, and inevitably
finds its way back to us. By reconnecting with nature’s
example, where nothing is wasted, we can start to design
systems that reuse and regenerate resources, creating a
future where our actions benefit both the environment
and ourselves. Some of the greatest challenges we face
today require a fundamental rethinking of how we
operate, especially within our business and economic
spheres. Consider large companies like Amazon, Apple,
and Tesco, whose success hinges on producing and
selling as much as possible from the gadgets we use
to the cars that transport us, and the items that fill
our homes. However, this mass production generates
substantial pollution. Additionally, many of these
products rely on natural resources that are finite, much
like a packet of M&Ms shared in class they won’t last
forever.
Moreover, many of the
items we produce like
plastic packaging become
waste the moment they’ve
served their purpose. Tiny
plastic particles are now
found everywhere in the
oceans, soil, and even in
our bodies. Finding new
ways to create products
that are not harmful
to the environment is
crucial for the health
of the planet and our
species. Once again, we
see that business is deeply
intertwined with nature and directly impacts our natural
surroundings. We’ve grown up in a world that’s already
quite disconnected from the environment. From an
early age, we’re conditioned to adapt to systems that
prioritise consumption (using things and throwing
them away) unaware of the impact it has on our natural
surroundings. Human waste often gets buried in deep
landfills, where it can create toxic sludge. Just because
we don’t see the problem doesn’t mean it’s not there
and ignoring it doesn’t make it go away.
From birth, we’re surrounded by distractions: marvellous
toys, computers, and brightly coloured sweets in the
supermarket that capture our attention. It’s no fault of
our own that we don’t see some of the harmful impacts
associated with them. Reconnecting with our natural
environment is perhaps the first step if we truly want to
change. By spending time outside, observing nature, and
paying attention to what’s happening around us, we can
learn a lot. By questioning the systems we’ve inherited
and understanding the issues at their core, we can find
solutions that work in harmony with nature rather than
against it. It’s also crucial to acknowledge that not all
human advances come at a cost to nature. Technological
progress, like breakthroughs in medicine, has brought
enormous benefits. The challenge lies in finding ways
to integrate innovation with respect for nature’s cycles,
ensuring that our advancements work in harmony with
the environment rather than against it.
When we shift our perspective from separation to
interconnectedness, we realise that problems like
pollution, waste, and resource depletion are not isolated
issues, but rather symptoms of a system out of balance.
Addressing these challenges requires innovative
thinking that understands life as a unified whole, rather
than something divided into disconnected parts. By
reimagining our place within this intricate web of life,
we can make choices
that harmonise with
the Earth’s natural
rhythms, cultivating
a future where both
humanity and the
environment flourish
because, after all, we
are inseparable from
the world we live in.
Bootham Features – Beyond the Illusion of Separation by Ambrose Gruenfeld and Richard Shiels
27
This connection doesn’t stop underground. As you sit beneath the oak, you breathe out
carbon dioxide, which the tree absorbs. The tree releases oxygen, which fills your lungs and
keeps you alive. It’s a gentle exchange, a reminder that
you and the tree are part of a shared cycle. The next time
you see soil, remember it’s not just dirt; it’s a living world
that nurtures plants and trees, giving us the beauty and
comfort of nature. Every part of this world, no matter how
small, plays a role in the grand web of life we’re all a part
of. If you look you can see everything is connected.
Seeing the interplay among life forms enables us to find
ways to support the complex relationships between
plants, roots, microbes, water, heat, and oxygen through
sustainable practices, such as how we grow crops, fruit
and vegetables. The quality of soil not only enhances the
health of crops, but it also enriches their nutritional
content.
Just like the natural world, our bodies are composed of
earth, water, air, and energy. The carbon in our cells, the
water in our blood, the air in our lungs, mirror the fundamental elements around us. What
we consume the food grown in the soil, nourished by rain, and energised by sunlight
becomes a part of our very being, illustrating how closely intertwined we are with the
natural world.
Albert Einstein once said, "Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything
better."
Humans are part of this web of life. Yet, as we’ve become more technologically advanced,
we have lost our connection to nature, the very world we’re an integral part of. We often
speak of “nature” as something separate from us, something “out there,” disconnected from
human life. But the world is not
separate.
Take pollution, for instance, whether
it’s in the air we breathe or the water
we drink. The pollution we create
doesn’t just stay “out there.” It
inevitably finds its way back to us in
the water we drink, the food we eat,
and the air we breathe, contributing
to diseases and illnesses. We’re deeply
connected to the environment, and
our well-being is directly linked to its
health. Just as the oak tree, soil, and
microbes work together to support
life, we too must take care of our
natural surroundings if we want to stay healthy and thrive.
In nature, nothing is wasted. Everything is recycled, reused, and given new purpose. Even
things you might not expect, like rocks, play a vital role in supporting life. Over time, rocks
break down into particles that become part of the soil, creating the foundation for forests
and crops. What seems lifeless and unchanging is actually part of a slow, continuous
process that sustains life.
2
A big part of the challenges humans face today; lies in not fully understanding or
appreciating the beautifully interwoven nature of life. When we don’t see how everything is
connected, we tend to act in ways that disrupt the natural balance. This disconnection leads
us to create systems that produce enormous amounts of waste—waste that doesn’t fit back
into nature’s recycling loop.
Unlike natural materials that break down and
return to the earth, much of the waste we
produce like plastics lingers in the
environment, polluting ecosystems. This
waste harms wildlife, disrupts ecosystems,
and inevitably finds its way back to us. By
reconnecting with nature’s example, where
nothing is wasted, we can start to design
systems that reuse and regenerate resources,
creating a future where our actions benefit
both the environment and ourselves.
Some of the greatest challenges we face today
require a fundamental rethinking of how we
operate, especially within our business and
economic spheres. Consider large companies
like Amazon, Apple, and Tesco, whose
success hinges on producing and selling as
much as possible from the gadgets we use to
the cars that transport us, and the items that
fill our homes. However, this mass
production generates substantial pollution.
Additionally, many of these products rely on
natural resources that are finite, much like a packet of M&Ms shared in class they won't last
forever.
Moreover, many of the items we produce like plastic packaging become waste the moment
they’ve served their purpose. Tiny plastic
particles are now found everywhere in the oceans,
soil, and even in our bodies. Finding new ways to
create products that are not harmful to the
environment is crucial for the health of the planet
and our species. Once again, we see that business
is deeply intertwined with nature and directly
impacts our natural surroundings.
We’ve grown up in a world that’s already quite
disconnected from the environment. From an
early age, we’re conditioned to adapt to systems
that prioritise consumption (using things and
throwing them away) unaware of the impact it
has on our natural surroundings. Human waste
often gets buried in deep landfills, where it can
create toxic sludge. Just because we don’t see the
problem doesn’t mean it’s not there and ignoring
it doesn’t make it go away.
3
A big part of the challenges humans face today; lies in not fully understanding or
appreciating the beautifully interwoven nature of life. When we don’t see how everything is
connected, we tend to act in ways that disrupt the natural balance. This disconnection leads
us to create systems that produce enormous amounts of waste—waste that doesn’t fit back
into nature’s recycling loop.
Unlike natural materials that break down and
return to the earth, much of the waste we
produce like plastics lingers in the
environment, polluting ecosystems. This
waste harms wildlife, disrupts ecosystems,
and inevitably finds its way back to us. By
reconnecting with nature’s example, where
nothing is wasted, we can start to design
systems that reuse and regenerate resources,
creating a future where our actions benefit
both the environment and ourselves.
Some of the greatest challenges we face today
require a fundamental rethinking of how we
operate, especially within our business and
economic spheres. Consider large companies
like Amazon, Apple, and Tesco, whose
success hinges on producing and selling as
much as possible from the gadgets we use to
the cars that transport us, and the items that
fill our homes. However, this mass
production generates substantial pollution.
Additionally, many of these products rely on
natural resources that are finite, much like a packet of M&Ms shared in class they won't last
forever.
Moreover, many of the items we produce like plastic packaging become waste the moment
they’ve served their purpose. Tiny plastic
particles are now found everywhere in the oceans,
soil, and even in our bodies. Finding new ways to
create products that are not harmful to the
environment is crucial for the health of the planet
and our species. Once again, we see that business
is deeply intertwined with nature and directly
impacts our natural surroundings.
We’ve grown up in a world that’s already quite
disconnected from the environment. From an
early age, we’re conditioned to adapt to systems
that prioritise consumption (using things and
throwing them away) unaware of the impact it
has on our natural surroundings. Human waste
often gets buried in deep landfills, where it can
create toxic sludge. Just because we don’t see the
problem doesn’t mean it’s not there and ignoring
it doesn’t make it go away.
3
From birth, we’re surrounded by distractions: marvellous toys, computers, and brightly
coloured sweets in the supermarket that capture our attention. It’s no fault of our own that
we don’t see some of the harmful impacts associated with them. Reconnecting with our
natural environment is perhaps the first step if we truly want to change. By spending time
outside, observing nature, and paying attention to what’s happening around us, we can
learn a lot. By questioning the systems we’ve inherited and understanding the issues at
their core, we can find solutions that work in harmony with nature rather than against it.
It’s also crucial to acknowledge that not all human advances come at a cost to nature.
Technological progress, like breakthroughs in medicine, has brought enormous benefits.
The challenge lies in finding ways to integrate innovation with respect for nature’s cycles,
ensuring that our advancements work in harmony with the environment rather than against
it.
When we shift our perspective from separation to interconnectedness, we realise that
problems like pollution, waste, and resource depletion are not isolated issues, but rather
symptoms of a system out of balance. Addressing these challenges requires innovative
thinking that understands life as a unified whole, rather than something divided into
disconnected parts. By reimagining our place within this intricate web of life, we can make
choices that harmonise with the Earth’s natural rhythms, cultivating a future where both
humanity and the environment flourish because, after all, we are inseparable from the world
we live in.
4
Southall Archaeology Award
Travel Scholarship 2024
Exploring the historical cultural significance of ancient
drama within amphitheatres and its educational
imperative and affect.
Ruby Salter and Abigail Marsh
Introduction
Ancient Greek Theatre united warring factions, took on major life
themes and challenged current ethical and debated topics. The origins
of theatre were founded to celebrate community and to educate the
public. Ancient theatre was a huge aid to politics and education in
Greece enabling many citizens in their voting decisions. Democracy was
nurtured in amphitheatres and the people of ancient Athens had a huge
respect and understanding of the impact theatre has on the mind and
soul. This cultural knowledge remains to this day in Greek communities.
Our focus is to investigate how this impacts the theatre performed in
these open space settings. We want to understand how the geographical
location was used for impact and how this would have an affect on the
audience and more widely society. We are interested in how this legacy
is embraced by contemporary theatre companies.
Initial research
After already making contact with professionals and having zoom
meetings we felt well equipped to answer this question thoroughly. We
made contact with Sarah O’brien, the head of drama at York St John
University and as part of our research interviewed her on the teachings
of drama - the impact theatre has on people and how the landscape and
environment influences this. This helped us to plan the areas we hoped
to visit and the main aims we wanted our trip to focus on.
Acropolis Archeological museum
The first thing in the morning we visited the acropolis museum.
Originally founded in 1874, the museum hosts many Greek and Roman
finds,such as many sculptures from the Parthenon. We visited to see
the collections of art,masks,theatre artefacts and the library that holds
a vast array of ancient scriptures. This was incredibly valuable for us to
study the huge impact that theatre had on the ancient greeks. The main
reason for our visit was to see a plaque that depicts 6 theatrical masks.
While there we found out that these masks most likely belonged to
the chorus members who would act as young women during a drama
performance. The angle they were placed in the theatre indicated that it
hung high enough for spectators to see, leading to the conclusion that
the plaque belonged to the theatre of Dionysus on the stage.
Mount Lycabettus
We then climbed Mount Lycabettus, the highest point in central Athens,
rising 277 meters above the city. From this height, we could take in
a sweeping view of Athens, observing how the archaeological sites—
particularly the amphitheaters—are nestled within the landscape.
The climb helped us visualize the connectivity between these cultural
landmarks, which weren’t just places of entertainment but of ritual,
civic pride, and artistic expression. In ancient times, the theatres were
communal spaces where people gathered to experience the power
of storytelling, to explore myth and history, and to debate moral and
political questions. Seeing this arrangement from above was like
stepping back in time, allowing us to appreciate the relationship
between theatre, archaeology, and the broader landscape of ancient
Greek culture.
28
The Theatre of Dionysus
After that, we took a trip to the site of the Acropolis to
visit the Theatre of Dionysus. Built on the southern slope
of the Acropolis hill, this ancient marvel is considered the
birthplace of drama, Greek plays, and, indeed, of theatre
itself. Originally constructed in the 6th century BCE, the
Theatre of Dionysus began as a simple gathering space
to honor Dionysus, the god of wine, fertility, and revelry,
whose festivals inspired the birth of Greek tragedy and
comedy. Over time, it was expanded and transformed
into a stone amphitheater capable of seating over 17,000
people, and it became the main venue for dramatic
festivals like the Dionysia. Here, the works of great
playwrights like Euripides, Aristophanes, and Sophocles
were performed, bringing life to stories of gods, heroes,
and human folly. Visiting this sacred site felt surreal, a
powerful reminder of the origins of theatre itself—a place
where audiences once gathered to experience the very
first plays, bearing witness to the origins of a tradition that
has resonated through centuries.
Odeon of Herodes Atticus
The Odeon of Herodes Atticus is an impressive theatre we
had the pleasure of seeing in action when we watched
the opera Tosca. The sheer size of the building and the
number of people that it was able to hold even nowadays
was incredible to see and the visuals and acoustics were
truly remarkable. Even from sitting higher up in the
theatre we still had a clear vision of the performers and
could hear them, every breath, every sigh, perfectly well,
which was astounding. It is intriguing to think about
what it would have been like to listen to the music that
was performed there in the ancient times. Although we
weren’t far away from the noise of the city, it was like the
world went quiet and you could only hear the performers’
voices singing and speaking to you. The genius of Herodes
Atticus and the builders of the time has had an impact on
theatres today. It was wonderful to see the performance
and a privilege to have been able to see live theatre
performed in the theatre itself and be able to experience
what it may have been like in its prime.
Delphi
On our visit to Delphi we
were given the opportunity
to walk through the
archeological site and
see the theatre as well
as the museum. The
ruins themselves were in
incredible conditions, you
were able to see carvings
past visitors from thousands of years ago would have
been inscribed into the walls of buildings, prayers and
lists to remind us of the lives of people long forgotten. As
well as the ruins being in good condition, so were many
of the statues and old pieces of pottery that were found
underground away from the air and harsh weather that
would have caused many of the beautiful pieces of history
to have been eroded away. While exploring the site we
were able to look at the theatre itself which was truly
beautiful. The view over the now ruins overlooked the
entirety of the valley below so you were able to imagine
the length the ancient people had to travel to reach the
oracle.
This pure
determination
to reach the
home of the
oracle shows
just how
famous and
how much of
a religious and
special place
this was as
the ancients
believed it was the centre of the world.
Epidaurus
The Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus, dedicated to Asclepius,
the god of medicine, embodies a unique connection
between theatre and healing, highlighting how drama
was once viewed as therapeutic. Built in the late 4th
century BCE, this theatre’s design is celebrated for
its perfect acoustics, symmetry, and beauty, with a
capacity to seat around 13,000 to 14,000 spectators. In
ancient Greece, dramatic performances at Epidaurus
were more than mere entertainment; they were seen
as a form of medicine, believed to positively impact
physical and mental health. The idea was that watching
and participating in theatre could release emotions
and bring about a sense of balance and well-being—a
concept that aligns closely with today’s understanding of
drama therapy. This therapeutic tradition speaks to the
significant role theatre played in Greek society, where the
arts and medicine were intertwined in their approach
to holistic health. Epidaurus, with its large-scale festivals
and performances, reflected the ancient belief that
storytelling and communal experiences could soothe,
inspire, and heal.
Student Work – Southall Archaeology Award
29
Student Work – Southall Archaeology Award
Mycenae
Our visit to Mycenae was mainly centred around our
learning in school. We were studying the world of Homer
and were inspired by the idea of seeing where his works
were set and how the drama could have been performed
to give the audience of the time the impression of being
in the setting of the play. Walking through the huge gates
of the palace was out of this world, and sent an almost
chilling sensation through us both as we imagined
what it would have looked like in its prime and we were
reminded of the bloodthirsty myths that surround it. This
intense atmosphere was interesting as we wondered how
it could have been portrayed through the theatre and
drama of the ancient times. The vast scale of the theatres
themselves as well as their acoustics would have created
a suspenseful atmosphere but sometimes it is difficult
to imagine a piece of theatre without all of the modern
advances such as lighting.
How we found Hydra
After initial research on theater companies in Greece we
found “hydrama.” A theatre company just an hour ferry
ride away from Athens city centre. We had made contact
with Corinna Seeds, an english graduate of east 15 (one of
the leading drama schools in the uk) who moved to Hydra
forming her own drama company. After interviewing
her on her own theatre, teachings and knowledge on
Greek theatre we felt that visiting Hydra was the perfect
opportunity to become integrated with Greek culture
and the teachings of theatre as we take part in workshops
and view performances in her replica amphitheatre. She
generously offered to host us in her own accommodation
where she hosts many universities and schools who come
to stay for week-long workshops.
What we did in Hydra
During our stay in Hydra, we took part in many activities
and workshops such as: warm ups, Greek dancing,
learning the Hydra song, analysing Greek texts and
interviewing both the students and teachers about their
knowledge on Greek theatre. These activities helped us
all become well enlightened in different aspects of Greek
theatre and the cultures behind it. Our days consisted
of waking early to join the students at breakfast and
then observe their warm ups and rehearsals for the
performance where we would occasionally help where
we could and join in. At lunch time we would all head
off for food and have some free time where we would
relax and go over what we learnt inside as it was very hot.
After we would go over Greek dancing and the Hydra
song and learn more about the culture or Hydra before
returning back to observing rehearsals and analysing
the performance text to gain a better understanding
of the theatre. Our stay in Hydra really helped us in our
understanding of ancient Greek drama and theatre and
gave us an overall appreciation for ancient theatre and
acting as a whole as without it we would have never
have been able to come as far with drama and the
performing arts as we have. Theatre has been and is such
an important part of culture and human life.
Conclusion
To conclude, our trip was highly beneficial in aiding our
understanding and appreciation of ancient theatre and
its important legacy which has aided and improved
modern day theatre.
Seeing how companies such as Hydrama have truly
embraced the early legacy of theatre and educating
students on the history of ancient drama was truly
inspiring and helped us gain a love and understanding of
how much of an impact ancient Greek theatre has had
on the performing arts nowadays. Being able to visit the
museums and theatres as well as watching live theatre
in the amphitheatres was incredibly interesting and
helpful to picture how exactly performances may have
looked in the ancient times, and the masks and props
that were on display at the
museums were fascinating to
learn about. We discovered
that the drama performed all
those centuries and millenia
ago was not that different
to drama performed today
although it was more widely
appreciated and was seen as
both a healing method and
as entertainment.
Abi and Ruby
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DESIGN &
TECHNOLOGY
31
Student Work – Design & Technology
NEW WORK 2024
32
Olivia Whing 7/06/24
What kind of World do I want?
When I think about the world that I want, I think about
equality, sustainability and a global community. This
ideal world is one where every individual has access to
educaon, health care and opportunies regardless of
their locaon or economic situaon. However the world
that I live in doesn’t have these things.
Educaon around the world is profoundly unequal due
to uneven development. In many developing countries,
limited funding for schools results in overcrowding and
untrained teachers. As the government either doesn’t have
the money, or just doesn’t fund educaon, the skill is lost
in their future generaon. When a country doesn’t educate
its people, children don’t get opportunies and lack basic
skills causing them to potenally enter poverty. In the year
2023-2024, the Uk government spent £116 billion pounds
on educaon;however,in the same year Uganda spent
2.2% of its GDP and 8.4% of the total naonal budget on
educaon. In Uganda, 7 out of 10 children will not nish
primary level educaon as most adults haven’t received an
educaon, and therefore don’t see educang their children
as important - many priorise child labour over educaon.
This also occurs lots when - due to religious beliefs or
nancial state - women and girls do not become educated,
so many important jobs that would benet the economy
of the country in the long term are not being used. This
results in the quality and accessibility of educaon to vary
across the globe and creates poverty cycles and limits
opportunies for children and adults as over 244 million
children are out of school. UNICEF Kenya’s Educaon
Ocer Elizabeth Waitha notes that almost 1.13 million
children of primary school age (6 to 13 years old) are out of
school in Kenya. I wish this would change.
The amount of development is extremely uneven across
the globe. There are countries that are classied as ‘Higher
Income countries’ (HICs) with a GNI (Gross Naonal
Income per capita) of $13205 or above. However, there
are countries that are less developed, with a lower GNI of
$1085 which are classied as ‘Lower Income Countries’
(LICs). I believe that there should not need to be 83
countries that are classied as HICs and praccally half (46
countries) that are classied as LICs, development should
be equal all across the globe to maximise opportunity.
In the long term, invesng in clearing the uneven
development across the globe will have a posive eect if
countries invest in LIC countries, the eect of this would be
fair to everyone and abolish poverty.
Unequal global development means that in poorer
countries, people nd it hard to nd jobs and make a
sucient living for them and their family; as a result of
this, they somemes decide to migrate to richer countries.
In 2021, the number of Guatemalan people (Guatemala is
a LIC classied country) that immigrated to the US a HIC
country was 1 million, this stasc is unbelievable . People
migrate to dierent countries for a multude of reasons,
oen seeking beer opportunies and improved living
condions, for jobs with higher wages and to try to help
provide money for their families in other countries. As
countries are not fully developed, that country does not
ll the needs of its civilians, with no jobs or opportunies.
The civilians are then le with a choice, ‘Do they stay in
a country that does not supply me with what I need? ‘
or ‘Do I make the journey to a dierent country that is
more developed? ’ . Making choices like these are very
dicult, as it could lead to leaving family members and
loved ones behind and risking their own lives. Somemes,
people cannot nd a safe way to migrate to the country
of their dreams, so they put themselves in danger instead
and involve themself with human labour. The government
of countries should plan to stop this, by making sure its
country benets human needs and dreams, to stop illegal
immigraon. As this should not need to be a choice.
To conclude, the world I envision is one where humanity
lives in balance with itself and the planet, where the
pursuit of learning is accessible to all, and where the globe
is united to help everyone full their dreams. This vision
may be ambious, but it is aainable through collecve
eort, dedicaon, and a shared commitment to building a
beer world for everyone.
Carys Cliord USR 9C What kind of a world do you want?
There are many problems in this world that cause unequal development, this then
creates something called a development gap (the dierence between the richest and
poorest countries which can be measured in many dierent ways). This gap causes
people to want to do things like migrate and can also create terrible living condions and
loss of jobs and bad pay. In this essay I am going to explore some issues that cause or are
caused by unequal development and how that aects the world I want to live in.
Another issue that is caused and fueled by unequal development is corrupon and
conict. I think these two social and economic issues go hand in hand as they are both
traits seen a lot in under developed countries. Corrupon in governments is a huge
issue as it can lose countries trillions of dollars a year which forces them into poverty
and has millions of people living in chronic hunger and malnutrion. This leads to less
development and ulmately to conict. Over 238,000 people died due to global conict
in 2022 and that number has only gone up in the years since. This conict happens for
many dierent reasons but I think one of the main ones is because the people in power
want to protect their posions and oppress others. It is also dicult when experiencing
conict to know where to put funding as the priority is usually the war/conict. To help
prevent this issue I think we should put in larger support systems and help prevent
corrupon in governments as I think this is a big cause of conict, and also help sele
conicts rather than ghng to the bier end.
Another unfair reason for the development gap is the amount of natural resources
a country has. This is an ongoing environmental struggle that means some countries
benet hugely whilst others get nothing simply because of where they are located. For
example Russia has a lot of natural resources which make them trillions of dollars a
year, whereas somewhere like South Korea which has very few natural resources do not
have those benets. There are also many countries in Africa for example that have huge
natural resources or good farmland but can’t benet from it as they have very unfair
trading policies or are run by corrupt governments who don’t let them have a fair price.
Some powerful countries such as Russia and China have invested billions of dollars into
countries with any natural resources in order to beer exploit those resources for their
own use. To x this I think we should keep supporng the fair trade organisaon and help
it expand to all people who need it as well as making laws more fair so the organisaon is
not needed in the rst place.
Another factor oen aected by unequal development is educaon. Educaon is another
long term social and economic problem oen forgoen or not something that can be
provided and is a right stripped for many children in underdeveloped countries. Roughly
244 million people in the world do not have access to an educaon with 129 million
being women, (32 million being primary school aged and 97 million being secondary
school aged). There is also a struggle with women in the workplace who are not oered
equal pay with 178 countries sll even having laws to prevent this. I think we should put
a larger amount of our funding or the countries’ budget into educaon as I think it is
extremely important and also really key when it comes to development.
Climate change is arguably the biggest long term environmental challenge faced by
everyone in the world, but it aects Lic’s a lot more than Hic’s, as Lic’s don’t have the
money or resources to prevent further emissions. Countries worldwide are being
encouraged to reduce their emissions, but Lic’s are protesng that Hic’s have been
pollung since the industrial revoluon whereas their emissions are a much more recent
thing due to their late development. Their argument is that they should be exempt from
emissions control unl they reach the level of development that the Hic’s benet from.
With the issue of climate change ever increasing it is causing countries that are less
developed to not be able to aord to x the issues that they are experiencing (such as
oods and hurricanes etc). It is esmated that by 2025 there will be roughly 200 million
migrants who were forced to move due to climate change. This would also push over
130 million people into poverty and ruin years of hard earned development. To help x
this issue I think we should try and sck to pledges made at the climate conferences, and
any countries that can aord it should give a larger amount of their GDP to the Green
Climate Fund. This means that lower income countries can take out of the Fund and use
the money to prevent further emissions and x the issues climate change has caused. In
my opinion, countries need to be careful about how much they give, as then if they need
money they don’t have to take out of the fund and instead just give less.
One big issue that is caused by the development gap is migraon. This is a much more
recent issue caused by all the other issues discussed in this essay. Due to the awful
living condions we have grown to see more of and the poverty which over 23% of
people live in we have started to see many people wanng to migrate to safer and more
wealthy countries in hopes of a beer chance at life. Over 150,000 people crossed the
Mediterranean in 2023 with roughly 3,100 dying there alone. There were also 29,500
people who crossed the English channel as well as 67,350 people who were asylum
seekers. 40,000 people arriving were illegal immigrants. The decision to migrate is an
extremely dangerous one that can cost thousands of lives, proving that people will do
anything to escape the current situaon they have to live in. To improve this issue I think
we should put a lot more funding into the other countries to aid them out of poverty and
nd new ways to earn and develop to prevent anyone from feeling the need to migrate.
In conclusion I would really like a world with far less of these problems as I think it
would greatly lessen the development gap meaning the world is more fair and nobody
is suering. As a summary I think the most important thing to do would be to make sure
countries put their budget into the right things and that other countries put funding
towards the correct causes.
NEW WORK 2024
Student Work – New Work 2024
Creative
writing
33
33
COLLEGE LEAVERS 2024
34
COLLEGE LEAVERS 2024
35
Introduction
Maya: ‘It takes a village to raise a child’
As we gather together to reminisce on yet another eventful
school year, we were drawn to the saying “it takes a village to
raise a child.” Here, in the Bootham community, this sentiment
resonates deeply. Our school isn’t just an institution of learning;
it’s a nurturing village, where every individual, young and old(-
er), plays a vital role in shaping the lives of students. Today, we
have the great pleasure of summarising a very busy year at
Bootham. But fear not, we promise not to keep you here all day.
Staff Changes:
Wesley: We would like to thank and commemorate the
members of the Bootham community who are leaving us. After
37 years at Bootham, we’re sadly saying goodbye to Lis Hooley.
As the Head of Lower and Middle Schoolrooms, Lis has not only
kept us in line and out of trouble, but has positively impacted so
many lives over the years.
Maya: Another long standing, and much loved, member of
the Bootham community, Mark Robinson is leaving too, after
26 years at the school. Having taught Chemistry with such
passion he has infused our classrooms with a unique blend of
eccentricity and brilliance. We hope his future adventures will
be as explosive as his science experiments!.
Jamie: Several members of the music staff are moving on,
including: Kate White, who has been at Bootham for 37 years,
Nikki Warrington for 22 years, and Hannah Feehan for 17 years.
They have helped orchestrate countless concerts and have
nurtured many students’ talents over the years. We extend our
most sincere gratitude for their invaluable contributions to the
school and wish them the brightest of futures.
Wesley: Sarah Robinson will also be leaving us this term after
22 years of guiding students through Latin and Classics. As we
bid her farewell, we carry with us the lessons learnt and the
fond memories of her unwavering support.
Maya: We would also like to say a massive thank you to Jane
Olkiewicz who has helped not only us over the past 2 years,
but is one of the key figures who helps Bootham run smoothly
behind the scenes. She truly is an unsung hero and will be
greatly missed.
Jamie: And how could we not mention Martyn. Joining the
school in the same year as many of us, Martyns’ leadership has
shaped the Bootham experience for every single one of us. We
wish him the best of luck in his new role as Head of Ackworth
School.
Maya: Next year’s Head Reeves Team will equally share the
responsibility between Romilly Tuckley, Joe Motramm, Freddie
Thornton and Millie Haynes. We wish them all the best and
hope that they enjoy their time in these positions as much as
we did.
Wesley: Deneal has settled perfectly into his role as Head
and alongside him we have welcomed many dedicated staff
members who join Bootham’s cohort of excellent educators,
including Claire Dinn as DSL, Kerry Hammond in PE and Joseph
Butler in History. Congratulations to those who have taken on
new leadership roles across the school including Helen Sharp,
James Ratcliffe, Steve Everest, Andy Quarrell and Sarah Bridge.
Finally, we are also pleased to welcome four new tiny members
of our community: Kitty Wilson, Jon Lee, Abigail Hall and Chloe
Harrison each welcomed babies. And best wishes to Sue Brown
who got married earlier this year!
Grounds Changes:
Jamie: There have been extensive changes to the school
grounds this year, the first of these being the development
of the woodland area on the school field, providing a perfect
habitat for wildlife. This is watched-over by our tree carving of
George-the-Fox, who was created by local tree-surgeons.
Over Easter, significant renovations were made to the reception
area to provide a fresh and stylish entrance to the school as
well as to the Evelyn Boarding House on Bootham, which has
undergone its first round of renovations, seeing its top-floor
rooms receive significant improvements. These renovations to
the boarding house will continue over the coming Summer
months and are expected to be completed by October.
Finally, our cricket pavilion has been returned to the nostalgic
charm of its former splendour, a transformation which would
not have been possible without the generous support from Old
Scholars and the Bootham Proud fundraiser.
Old Scholars:
Elly: Bootham’s current students are supported by a great
village of former pupils who continue their involvement long
into adulthood. Old Scholars; Michael Sessions, Andrew Fisher
and Dominic Fairbrass have been appointed to new positions
on Bootham’s Board of Governors. Bootham has also been
indebted to Evie Latham and Jenna Lapish who both assisted
Andy Quarrell in the drama department and productions,
having left Bootham just last summer.
Beyond Bootham, Old Scholars continue to flourish. Charlie
Thornton, was awarded the Salters Advanced Chemistry
Prize in honour of achieving the top mark in the country for
his Chemistry A Level in June 2023. Overall he achieved five
A*s across Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Further Maths and an
EPQ, and is now studying Physical Natural Sciences at Selwyn
College, Cambridge. Furthermore, former student Angus
McMillan was selected to run for Great Britain and Northern
Ireland in the European Cross Country Championships which
were held in December and televised on the BBC.
Sports Achievements:
Jamie: There have been a number of outstanding sporting
successes from both individuals and across Bootham’s many
teams this year.
In regards to individual achievements, Annabel Edwards
achieved 3 gold medals at the Yorkshire Swimming
Championships, qualifying her for the North East Regional
Championships at which she won 2 gold medals in 50 and 100
metre breaststroke. Furthermore, Lilly and Evie Wilkinson came
16th and 15th respectively at the National Schools Biathlon
Finals and will compete for Great Britain in the Biathlon in
Madeira. Felix Cardwell won a silver medal at the KWWC
kickboxing National Championships and a bronze in his points
section, putting him forward for Team England, and the WKC
World Championships in Portugal this October.
In terms of Bootham’s teams, the U12s and U13s netball teams
both came second in the District Tournament with the U13s also
winning the District League. Meanwhile the U14s placed second
in the York Area Tournament.
The First XI football team enjoyed an intense 4-3 win against
Queen Ethelburgas in the English School’s Competition and the
U14 basketball team, who enjoyed a brilliant season became
District and County Champions.
Girls from Schoolrooms and Seniors embarked on a 6-day
netball-tour to Barbados. They won all of their games whilst
finding time to snorkel with turtles and attend the local Oistins
Fish Festival.
Congratulations to everybody involved in sports this year.
School Trips:
Wesley: During October half-term, Andy Quarrell took drama
students and enthusiasts to New York to enjoy plays at Radio
City Music Hall including the Harry Potter Broadway Show.
They also visited tourist attractions such as the Edge SkyDeck
and the New York Yankee Stadium. The French Department
took Upper Schoolroom and Seniors’ students to Paris to
immerse themselves in language and culture. There are exciting
prospects for College Biologists with the recommencement of
the Diving Trip to Malta in July.
The Head Reeves Speech 2024
36
(Abridged version)
Leavers 2024 – Head Reeves Speech 2024
The Head Reeves Speech 2024
37
Concerts and Awards:
Elly: Bootham’s musicians continue to be the heart of a vibrant
series of lunchtime recitals. During the summer term this has
included chamber music and flute recitals and in September,
Old Scholar Isaac Cardow returned to Bootham to showcase a
captivating solo guitar recital.
The Senior Choir continues to go from strength to strength
with an invitation to perform Evensong in York Minster back
in November. For a non-professional choir, the repertoire
impressively included Brewer’s Canticles in D and Rutter’s The
Lord Bless You and Keep You as a beautiful anthem to round off
the occasion.
Since then music has of course continued in great style with the
Grand Christmas Concert and Carols by Candlelight bringing
festivities to the Michaelmas term whilst the Spring Concert
was a vibrant end to the Lent term. To follow this up, the Senior
Choir prepared for its own choral concert which was held in
St. Olaves’ Church at the end of April. The beautiful setting was
perfect for Faure’s Requiem and Britten’s enthralling Rejoice in
the Lamb. Despite the challenging pieces, the choir produced
a concert of great standard setting the bar high for music this
term.
School Production:
Maya: This year’s school production,
“Oliver,”
was nothing short
of fantastic! With a cast of 68 members, it was Bootham’s
biggest production yet. There were 130 fabulous costumes,
1km of cables and and let’s not forget the 45 mascaras used! It
took less than 4 hours for all the tickets to sell out, and the tech
team, cast and 30 talented musicians all lived up to Bootham’s
reputation for creating fabulous shows.
Leadership:
Elly: In order to foster a stronger village spirit through Quaker
Ethos, the Head Reeves Team set out for the annual Quaker
Pilgrimage to 1652 Country in October, alongside students from
Ackworth and Newton schools. Over the weekend we visited
the major Quaker sites, including the Quaker tapestry in Kendal,
with its magnificent intricacy and Bootham’s mention, and
we made the soggy but rewarding hike up Pendle Hill where
we were lucky enough to have Deneal join us for some much
needed moral support. The trip was hugely formative for us all,
altering our understanding of Quakerism.
Prior to this, the Head Reeves and House Captains met with
Ackworth and the Mount for an introduction to Quaker
workings. The space to explore and discuss the ethos shaped
our perception of the requirements of these leadership
positions, especially in such a unique institution like Bootham.
Furthermore, College 2 pushed their limits on the Leadership
Weekend in the Lake District in September. Our teamwork
and personal fears were tested by the challenges but the value
of collaboration was evident. We left feeling more unified as
a cohort, something that feels increasingly prevalent as our
remaining time together dwindles.
QED:
Maya: The Quaker Education Conference, in our Bicentenary
Celebrations, gathered 150 voices from 29 schools across the UK
with delegations from France, Germany, the Philippines, India,
and Palestine. The event focused on the transformative power
of education and featured various speakers. A manifesto and
action plan were created and presented at the Radix Big Tent
Festival and later in Parliament, through Rachel Maskell, York’s
Labour MP. Sadly, the Kenyan delegation could not attend but
have since been able to experience life at Bootham.
During their stay in Fox House, our Kenyan Visitors made
their own pilgrimage, travelling east to Scarborough, south
to London and north to Edinburgh. They attended Friargate
Meeting House where they wore the Coat of Hopes, a symbol
of shared warmth and the responsibility of human life. This
visit was made possible due to the enormous efforts of Elaine
Phillips and many other members of the community.
Boarding:
Wesley: Boarding is livelier than ever with the houses hosting
over 20 nationalities. To provide a taste of home, staff have
put on food workshops to explore cultures and dishes from
across the globe. Thanks to the efforts of Helena Landau and
the Res-Grads, boarders have had a busy schedule outside of
school hours, taking part in exciting activities and trips. This has
included visiting Dalby Forest for stargazing, Mother Shipton’s
Cave in Knaresborough and the Magna Science Adventure
Centre.
A sentimental collage was created at one of our weekly
meetings, to represent the boarding community and will be the
reference for a tapestry made by our artist in residence, Jessica.
Boarders will be invited to place a signature on the tapestry
banner to mark their place in the community.
Jamie: I would like to personally thank Catherine for being my
wonderful Head of House in Evelyn boarding House, and who
has survived being my second mother for the last two years. She
has made my time in boarding one of the best experiences of
my life and my sentiments are shared by every single person in
Evelyn. Merci Catherine et au revoir!
Wesley: I would like to express my most heartfelt gratitude to
Kelly McCarthy, our former Head of Fox, for her love and efforts
in the boarding community.
Social Action:
Maya: The Social Action scene has been buzzing with energy
this year. Claire Hollis and Kayleigh Oliver, our Heads of Social
Action, have been very busy organising many charity efforts.
Following Bootham tradition, the festive season was opened
by hosting a tea party for the York Neighbours, followed by the
Reverse Advent Calendar which collected 470kg for the York
FoodBank.
A new initiative was introduced with Tutor Groups nominating
individual charities to fundraise for. Since then £1,313 have been
raised for 23 charities. Our dedicated staff members also joined
forces to campaign for OSCARS by completing a marathon. In
October, more running events donated money to the British
Red Cross Libya and Morocco Appeal. Furthermore, we took
part in the Great British Spring Clean and celebrated World
Book Day, where money went to buying new books for Carr
Junior School. These interactions with the wider community
greatly feed into the spirit of “it takes a village to raise a child.”
Conclusion:
Elly: The 2023 - 2024 academic year has been another huge
success for Bootham. The community has taken on new
challenges and celebrated many achievements; across the
whole body of current students, staff and old scholars. As our
time at Bootham draws to an end, we take with us a huge
appreciation for the support we have received; it has often
come when we most needed it, but did not reach out. This
exceptional generosity showcases Bootham’s village, touching
our lives and instilling values of perseverance and self-belief.
We are not the only ones facing pastures new, so we wish all
those whose time at Bootham is ending, the best of luck for
the future. As we too venture into the wider world, we feel
confident knowing that there will always be a place for us in
Bootham’s community. Now we must become the village and
support the next generation of Bootham’s talented and free-
thinking children. We shall carry forth the ethos of Bootham
and we hope to make you proud, wherever we go and in
whatever we do.
Thank You
Freddie Mazzi took A Levels in Biology,
Mathematics and Chemistry with an EPQ
Montgomery Grenyer took A Levels in
Psychology, Biology and Chemistry
Monty Guildford took A Levels in
Mathematics, Classical Civilisations and
Drama
Lucy Henson took A Levels in Physics,
Mathematics and History
Freddie Hewitt took A Levels in
Mathematics, Further Mathematics,
Computer Science and Physics with an
EPQ
Luke Higgins took A Levels in French,
Design & Technology and Mathematics
Wesley Ho took A Levels in Art, Biology,
Chinese (Cantonese) and Chemistry
Tara Khunji took A Levels in Psychology,
Art and Drama with an EPQ
Yasmin Khunji took A Levels in Design &
Technology, English Literature and Drama
Daisy Kraemer-Dent took A Levels in
Psychology, Spanish and Religious
Jakob Kurdziel took A Levels in Physics,
Biology and Mathematics
Charlotte Kwok took A Levels in
Psychology, Chinese (Cantonese),
Mathematics and Economics
Raphael Last took A Levels in Physics,
Mathematics, Further Mathematics and
Design & Technology
Chloe Leap took A Levels in Mathematics,
Drama and Computer Science with an
EPQ
Bedat Lee took A Levels in Economics,
Mathematics and Politics
Guanlu Li took A Levels in Physics,
Mathematics, Further Mathematics and
Chinese (Mandarin)
Oliver Li took A Levels in Physics, Further
Mathematics and Mathematics
Maya Lindridge took A Levels in Biology,
Design & Technology, Mathematics and
Chemistry with an EPQ
Rex Lui took A Levels in Physics, Further
Mathematics and Mathematics
Katie Martin took A Levels in Economics,
Mathematics and English Literature
Nell Maughan took A Levels in Art,
Business Studies and Design & Technology
Jamie McAdoo took A Levels in
Geography, English Literature and Music
Theo McCartney took A Levels in German,
Physics, Mathematics and Chemistry
Joe Murphy took A Levels in Spanish,
Physical and Music
Alex Murray took A Levels in Biology,
Mathematics, Further Mathematics and
Chemistry
Lucy Newall took A Levels in Psychology,
Art and Business Studies
Ned Ottaway took A Levels in Physics,
Mathematics and History with an EPQ
George Pearcy took A Levels in
Geography, Physics and Design &
Technology with an EPQ
Joanne Peng took A Levels in Psychology,
Spanish and Economics
Connie Penty took A Levels in Art, Biology
and Religious
Nika Protrka took A Levels in Physics,
Mathematics, Further Mathematics and
Computer Science
Constance Quick took A Levels in French,
Psychology and English Literature with
an EPQ
Hannah Reid took A Levels in Spanish,
English Literature and Religious
Scott Reid took A Levels in Physics,
Mathematics and Economics with an EPQ
Andrew Rowley took A Levels in Physics,
Biology and Mathematics
Katie Seager took A Levels in Psychology,
Mathematics and Economics
Alexander Smith took A Levels in Design
& Technology, English Literature and
Drama
Hugo Sneesby took A Levels in Physics,
Psychology and Mathematics
Matthew Tang took A Levels in Physics,
Mathematics and Economics
Finn Taylor took A Levels in Physics,
Mathematics and Economics
Irie Theyers took A Levels in Physics,
Mathematics, Further Mathematics and
Computer Science
Harvey Tomlinson took A Levels in
Physics, Design & Technology and
Mathematics
Mimi Tse took A Levels in Biology,
Chinese (Cantonese), Mathematics and
Business Studies
Alex Twibill took A Levels in Physics,
Chemistry and History
Sebastien Van Hout took A Levels in
Mathematics, Chemistry and Music
Matthew Vincent took A Levels in
Biology, Chemistry and Physical
Hugh Wainwright took A Levels in
Biology, Business Studies and Computer
Science
Jessica Wakelin took A Levels in
Psychology, Biology and Classical
Civilisations with an EPQ
Alexandra Willis took A Levels in
Art, Business Studies and Design &
Technology
Nicole Yip took A Levels in Physics,
Mathematics and Computer Science
Louis Young took A Levels in Art, Business
Studies and Design & Technology
Rachel Zhuang took A Levels in Business
Studies, Mathematics and English
Literature
Isaac Ailyan took A Levels in Psychology,
Business Studies and History
Uxia Alvarez-Touza took A Levels
in Physics, Mathematics, Further
Mathematics and Computer Science
Logan Anderson took A Levels in Physics,
Mathematics, Further Mathematics and
Computer Science
Ivy Askew took A Levels in Physics,
Mathematics and Music
Charlie Blake took A Levels in Business
Studies, Classical Civilisations and English
Literature with an EPQ
James Booth took A Levels in Geography,
Psychology and Biology with an EPQ
Emily Brereton took A Levels in
Geography, Psychology and Biology
Douglas Brewer took A Levels in Physics,
Biology, Design & Technology and
Mathematics with an EPQ
Lawrence Brewer took A Levels in Physics,
Biology, Design & Technology and
Mathematics with an EPQ
Max Brooks took A Levels in Physics,
Business Studies and Computer Science
Charlotte Brown took A Levels in Art,
Design & Technology and Mathematics
with an EPQ
Emily Bulman took A Levels in Geography,
Design & Technology and Mathematics
with an EPQ
Elly Cairns took A Levels in Geography,
Mathematics and History
Harry Chan took A Levels in Biology,
Chinese (Cantonese), Mathematics and
Computer Science
Alex Chen took A Levels in Physics,
Mathematics and Further Mathematics
Caspar Dallas took A Levels in Geography,
Biology and Art
Jay Darke took A Levels in Physics,
Mathematics and Chemistry with an EPQ
Effie Dodds-Aston took A Levels in
Psychology, Biology, Mathematics and
Chemistry
Lucy Donaldson took A Levels in Business
Studies, Design & Technology and
Computer Science
India Duree took A Levels in Physics,
Biology and Chemistry with an EPQ
Jaya Duree took A Levels in Geography,
Biology and History with an EPQ
Sholto Fox took A Levels in Politics,
Classical Civilisations and History with an
EPQ
Aurélie Gale took A Levels in Art, Biology
and Mathematics
Tobi Garrett took A Levels in Art, English
Literature and Drama
Alex Gegas-Ganev took A Levels in
Geography, Physics and Biology
Chris Gegas-Ganev took A Levels in
Geography, Physics and Biology
College Leavers 2024
38
Leavers 2024 – College Leavers
Leavers 2024 – Destinations
39
Bootham School Leavers Destinations 2024
Isaac Ailyan Northumbria University Accounting
Uxia Alvarez-Touza University of the Arts Creative Robotics
London
Logan Anderson University of Sheffield Mathematics
Ivy Askew Royal Northern Music
College of Music
Charlotte Blake Durham University Classical Civilisation
James Booth University of Sheffield Psychology
Emily Brereton Newcastle University Biology
Douglas Brewer Durham University Physics
Lawrence Brewer University of Warwick Physics
Maximilian Brooks Northumbria University Business and
Management
Foundation Year
Charlotte Brown Northumbria University Architecture
Emily Bulman University of Bath Management with
Marketing with
work placement
Eleanor Cairns GAP Year
Ho Kiu Chan University of the Radiography
West of England
Kriti Chattopadhyay University of Psychology
Birmingham
Ka Kwan Chen GAP Year
Caspar Dallas University of Edinburgh Landscape
Architecture
Jay Darke University of Chemical Engineering
Manchester
Yelena Davies Bristol, UWE Fine Art
Euphemia Dodds-Aston GAP Year
Lucy Donaldson York St John University Product Design
Jaya Duree University of Politics and
Manchester Modern History
India Duree University of Leeds Biology
Sholto Fox University of Reading Consumer Behaviour
Barclay and Marketing
Aurelie Gale University of Architecture
Manchester
Tobi Garrett Norwich University Games Art & Design
of the Arts
Gaia Gausden Manchester International
Metropolitan Relations
University
Alexander Gegas-Ganev GAP Year / Training
Christofer Gegas-Ganev GAP Year / Training
Montgomery Grenyer University College Neuroscience
London
Monty Guildford University of Hull Mathematics
Lucy Henson Ministry of Defence Cyber Security
Apprenticeship
Frederick Hewitt University of Aeronautics and
Southampton Astronautics
Madeleine Hicks University of Sheffield Modern Languages
and Cultures
Luke Higgins GAP Year
Sophie Hindle University of Liverpool Medicine
Wesley Ho University of Glasgow Human Biology
Issey Kennedy University of Sheffield Psychology
Yasmeen Khunji University of Exeter Drama, Film & TV
Studies with
Employment
Experience Abroad
Tara Khunji Falmouth University Art Foundation
Daisy Kraemer-Dent Northumbria University Psychology with
Foundation Year
Jakob Kurdziel University of Liverpool Mechatronics and
Robotic Systems
Cheuk Tung Kwok University of Exeter Accounting and Finance
Raphael Last University of Sheffield Architectural Engineering
Chloe Leap Newcastle University Electronics and
Computer Engineering
Tsz Lok Lee UCL Economics
Guanlu Li University of York Business Management
He Li University of Bristol Mechanical Engineering
Maya Lindridge University of Sheffield Biomedical Engineering
Ho Hin Lui Hong Kong University of Engineering
Science & Technology
Katie Martin LSE Social Anthropology
Nell Maughan Manchester Interior Design
Metropolitan University
Frederick Mazzi University of York Chemistry with Year
in Industry
James McAdoo University of Glasgow English Literature
Theo McCartney GAP Year
Joseph Murphy GAP Year
Alexander Murray University of Edinburgh Chemistry
Lucy Newall Nottingham Trent Fashion Management
University
Edmund Ottaway GAP Year
George Pearcy GAP Year
Huaen Peng University of Management
Manchester (International Business
Economics) WIE
Constance Penty Leeds Arts University Art Foundation
Nika Protrka KVU Amsterdam Computer Science
Constance Quick Newcastle University Psychology
Hannah Reid University of Bristol Politics & International
Relations with Study
Abroad
Scott Reid University of Leicester Accounting and Finance
Andrew Rowley Northumbria University Film
Katie Seager Newcastle University Accounting and Finance
Alexander Smith GAP Year
Hugo Sneesby GAP Year
Matthew Tang GAP Year
Finn Taylor University of Stirling PPE
Irie Theyers University of Cambridge Computer Science
Harvey Tomlinson Northumbria University Mechanical and Civil
Engineering with
Foundation Year
Cheuk Tung Tse Manchester PPE
Metropolitan University
Alexander Twibill GAP Year
Sebastien Van Hout GAP Year
Matthew Vincent Aberystwyth University Sport and Exercise
Science
Hugh Wainwright Manchester Computer Science with
Metropolitan University Foundation Year
Jessica Wakelin GAP Year
Alexandra Willis Northumbria University Interior Design
Maisy Wilson City University of Journalism
London
Pui Ying Yip Bristol, University of the Accounting and Finance
West of England
Louis Young University of Stirling Politics, Philosophy and
Economics
Rachel Zhuang University of York Accounting, Business
Finance and
Management
Staff Leavers 2024
40
Mark Robinson Mark is such a big part of Bootham life that we
felt that it needed two people to deliver his leaving speech!
Rob: Mark has worked at Bootham for 25 years, during this time,
his approach to education has changed, as he has embraced
the student centred, relationship-based approach that has seen
him align with the modern contentious theories of Paul Dix. He,
himself would not quite know this; as he is the most well educated,
academically aspiring individual, yet he is naive to many aspects of
life. This trait is one of his most endearing, as conversations in the
office would suggest that he missed much of the popular culture
of the 1980s and 90’s but has caught up, regularly blasting ABBA
and Queen to his students in addition to the classical classics. He
brings and enthusiasm to his lessons, bringing an energy to his
teaching that aims to infect students with both a love of learning
and by association Chemistry.
Mr Robinson’s passion for chemistry was infectious. Thanks to him,
chemistry became my favourite A-level.
I fondly remember him declaring that one must invert miscible
liquids a minimum of seven times to produce an homogeneous
solution, claiming that he empirically determined this in a previous
role. Perhaps it was apocryphal, but he’ll probably smile knowing
that I have done this religiously throughout my PhD, postdoc, and
now career in biotech!
Tom Wood (B: 2002-09)
Lindsay: Mark lives in the moment. He engages in tasks with an
impressive single-mindedness and an intense focus. His emails
and letters are painstaking crafted; every word chosen carefully.
One lesson or worksheet can take hours to plan. He could lose
himself in the run-up to exams, occasionally putting papers
together on the morning of the exam. It was always ready on time,
and Mark’s serene approach never faltered. He’s equally focused
on leisure and creative activities. I remember him spending most
of his free periods one month folding pages in a book to create
a beautiful birthday gift for Sarah. He was always so engaged in
his interests, that he used to set himself an alarm to remind him
of his Badminton activity. This was after several weeks where the
students turned up around 5pm to remind him to come to the
sports hall. All of this was regarded with a little bewilderment by
the students, but they always understood his underlying care and
compassion, and the joy he brings to all he does.
I remember Mark’s enthusiasm, kindness and patience. He took
time to help me with UCAS, and I thought of him often as I did my
Chemistry degree, PhD and then teacher training. I still reference
him to this day, to explain why I say Le Chatelier in such a ludicrous
French accent!
Emily Robinson (B: 2005-07)
Rob: Mark has a desire to educate students on the broadest scale,
from his morning meeting, delivered through Mime, recent ones
on inclusion and diversity, to the one addressing death and the
possibility of an afterlife. They were never dull, and always tried to
push the boundaries. The first one I remember, was when he put
on his cloths from the 1980s, and glasses to talk about how times
have changed, a simple idea that helped lead the meeting.
He has led whole school events. I cannot forget his self devised
‘Dangerous Game’ a whole school simulation, requiring months
of planning, with video news bulletins, negotiations, collusion
and trading between classes, who were acting as countries on
the global scale. The winners – got lunch and bragging rights,
the losers just a bowl of rice. It was an amazing undertaking
to devise and co-ordinate, and one of those events which truly
helped students experience the differences in living standards and
outcomes for different people. This format was picked up by a
range of schools, who also tried their own version of the game.
Mark opened my eyes to the Philosophy of Science, teaching
and sharing his interest between lessons in College – he was
inspirational. A few years later I followed in his footsteps, completing
an extra course in the philosophy of science at university and I
continue to reflect on the things we discussed with my colleagues
and patients some 20 years later.
Will Cooke (B: 2002-07)
Lindsay: Mark has been a fantastic person to work with, first as
my head of department, then as a supportive colleague when we
switched roles. He is always considerate, never knowingly aiming
to upset, taking time to listen to staff and students. He has always
shown an interest in new ideas, words, concepts and conversations.
He brings this enthusiasm and interest to his lessons, trying to
engage the students in their learning. Even in the last few months
he’s still been reflecting on his teaching and how to bring the best
out of the students and help them learn. Like any true Chemist,
Mark is never happier than when demonstrating a chemical
reaction that has a loud bang or massive flame, preferably both. I
had seen Methane bubbles, before, but Mark is the first and only
teacher I have met who has been willing to set them on fire on his
head! I was also a bit taken aback to find him playing snapdragon
with a sixth form group as an end of year party trick. Ear defenders
have become an integral part of the risk assessment process. The
joy he takes from a good demo is infectious.
It was a pleasure to have been a student of Mark, who brought
intellect, care and entertainment to the classroom, and was a part
of a brilliant scientific department at Bootham, that inspired me
to pursue science and research as a career. Albeit, I could remark
about the numerous times he lit a fire on his head, I will say his
speech he gave at the beginning of A-levels on how studying
Chemistry is similar to climbing Everest, a great analogy on how
hard chemistry can be, without the proper guidance (something
which he provided immensely)
James Heald (B: 2008-15)
Rob: Mark is a friend to many. He represents the true essence of
the ‘Quaker Ethos’ that the school holds in the centre of its core.
He has considered it, his duty to help educate those new to the
school about the Quaker way to do business and the importance
of inclusion in decision making. He learns from; and expects
feedback to help him improve / address his concerns, expecting
the same of others. His high expectations of personal behaviours,
link to the way he treats his friends. His care and compassion
are evident, as is his interest in all aspects of people’s lives that
they care to share. He can be a little too passionate over some
aspects of the school community and I remember a ‘reply to all’
which required some additional smoothing of the waves after
the send button was hit. He is however well meaning and will
hold a position until he has explored all options. He once stated
a Facebook engagement process, where he identified people on
facebook with opposing views, and started to ask these random
strangers questions to help better understand their points of view.
Only when he had started the dialogue, would he start to question
their view points but mainly he was looking for common ground.
What will I miss about Mark?
Rob: The joy he brings to the office
on the days he is in. He is always unerringly positive. Especially
as his work demands have declined, his enjoyment of the job has
increased and it is infectious and refreshing. The element of chaos
that surround his lessons,
Thursday evenings when we used to be in the office till 7pm,
chatting through things. His Singing, humming and nasaling
of classical music, opera and Queen songs and whatever the
Bootham Singers are currently performing.
His high pitched squeaks. Hiccup-like that shock you when you are
working. (Im sure that they are related to stress) so Sarah will have
to monitor if their frequency declines after school.
I will miss him, his joy of learning, his passion to support, educate
and engage. His friendship in the office and the offer to explain
ideas and concepts to all. He seems to have time for you, if you
need.
Leavers 2024 – Staff leavers
41
Things I will miss
Lindsay: All of the above, especially the singing
and squeaky hiccups that always make me laugh. The gentle
teasing and silly comments that lighten everyone’s mood in the
office. Your experiments with the surface tension of custard… never
seen such a full pudding bowl!
The sheer joy you take in finding out something new, and working
through all the linked ideas to see if it holds together.
The wise comments and sensible advice. Your ability to over
complicate things in your quest to find the perfect solution, but
also the way you could laugh at yourself as you spotted this.
Your passion for Quaker values, and the way you sought to build
them into everything you did here.
There are many elements of Mark’s time teaching her that we
will have omitted, teaching GCSE Physics, The Sci Phi club which
he ran with Kirsten. The trips aboard. The trips to the University,
when he forgot to come back to collect Lindsey and half the
students , leaving them standing at a bus stop for over an hour. (We
genuinely feared he’d had an accident!)
We have aimed to deliver an ‘Essence of Mark’ highlighting that he
lives his live through his actions in all elements of his life. We are
contemplating the nature of the void that that you will leave, both
in the Science department and across the school.
I will leave you with the words from Dorian Macak:
Mark was my tutor, and every morning registration with him would
brighten my morning and put me in a good mood for the rest of
the day. I had a bad habit of being late, but I remember running to
make registration because it was a morning ritual I truly enjoyed,
especially as a boarder. He was one of the people who made
Bootham feel like home.
Jane Olkiewicz Jane rocks! She was
my rock for my years as Deputy Head, from
the moment I started the job and hadn’t
a clue what I was doing until the day I
took early retirement. I was so incredibly
lucky to have had such a thoughtful, hard-
working and incredibly trustworthy work
partner-in-crime. What a joy! We laughed
and - on the few occasions that I the job
made me cry - she made me laugh again.
Jane kept me informed of births, deaths
and everything in between for support and teaching staff and she
usually had just the right greetings card ready and waiting. She
was always there, ready to support and to cajole and, sometimes, I
thought she should probably be doing my job!
We went through some pretty intense times - especially
Inspections. I also remember the end of a year when I was
completely worn out and struggling to keep my head above water
only to return to my office to find it completely FULL of balloons! I
lost my sense of humour and went about furiously popping them
- only to find myself covered in glitter. Jane calmed me down and
put me straight, told me the names of the wonderful students who
she’d helped sneak in to my office and what a privilege it was to
have this prank played (cough - thank you Hannah Robinson and
co.).
So, Jane is a rock and a star - some might even say, a ‘rock star’! I
wish her a fabulous retirement from Bootham and I look forward
to seeing much more of her on the outside.
Suzanne Hall
Dina Bonner Dina
joined the MFL dept 12
years ago under the title of
German Assistant. Anyone
who has ever been in the
role of an ‘assistant’, and
indeed our own French and
Spanish assistants will also
most likely agree, that the
title ‘assistant’ never goes
anywhere near covering the
amount of work that they
actually do, and Dina is no
exception.
Dina came initially to teach
conversation classes to Upp
Sen students a couple of
nights a week but it very
quickly became apparent
that she was capable and keen to do so much more. I think the
core of her work in Bootham and her first true love has been the
conversation classes with the students. From small group work
with schoolrooms students, to afterschool exam prep with seniors,
to 1;1 college students, Dina has seen many students develop a love
for German right the way up the school.
Dina has not only remained as a German speaking assistant. She
has taught full classes in the junior school and almost every year
group in the senior school. She set up and ran the Pre A Level
Foundation course for a number of years where she supported
overseas students in their crucial entry year to the School and
UK. EPQs have also benefited from Dina’s expertise where she
has advised on a wide range of topics from remote control cars
to feminism in Argentina to the crime rate in the UK to the
economy of the fashion industry. All were approached with equal
enthusiasm and expertise.
She has joined many trips over a range of subjects from Biology
to being a regular on the Schoolrooms residentials. There are
countless students who made it up Cat bells or Blencathra due
to Dina’s secret stash of wine gums, jelly babies and encouraging
words. Although I have shared many residentials in the lakes with
Dina I am lucky to say I share many memories of overseas trips to
Berlin and Germany.
We wish you well in the next stage of your life and hope you enjoy
the opportunities that you will have for more of your own pursuits
and to be with your family.
Christina Oliver
James Webster We were sorry
to see James Webster leave our IT
Department in October 2024. For over
twelve years, James has been a cheerful,
friendly, helpful and approachable
presence around school. He was always
happy to help and solve our IT issues
(even when he knew they were down to
user issues rather than the system).
We’re all going to miss him but wish him
well in his exciting new role.
Kate White Kate White,
our much loved peripatetic
piano teacher, retired at the
end of the Autumn Term
2023. Kate started teaching
at Bootham in 1987 and will
have taught many students
and Old Scholars over the
years. We wish her well for
the future.
Sarah Robinson Before I say anything about Sarah, I just would
like to say that I am genuinely making efforts to reflect on why the
entire Classics department that was here when I started have now
decided to leave – I am open to feedback.
I am rather nervous to do this speech, as I fear I will not be able to
do justice to Sarah’s long career of 22 years of service at Bootham
School, having only worked with her for two years. I really wish we
could have worked together for longer, including this year actually
... yes, I really do wish that.
However, to summarise such a long career, well, to borrow the poet
Virgil’s phrasing, hoc opus, hic labor est – that is the work, this is
the labour. And thus I have enlisted the help of the Muses, or rather
some helpful colleagues (Elizabeth, Anne, Mark and even Sarah
herself), to tell of this remarkable and resourceful woman.
Sarah started at Bootham in 2002, originally as a maternity cover,
then as a job sharer, gradually gaining more lesson time until she
reached the dizzying heights of leading the Classics department in
2015. In her time here, Sarah has been a Middle Schoolroom tutor
and latterly a College tutor, before going part time again in the last
two years.
I learnt from Mark that Odysseus is Sarah’s favourite hero, and
indeed, like him, she’s had plenty of exciting travels. Maybe there
weren’t quite so many man-eating giants to escape, rather I’m
told by Anne Whittle that they would spend their whole time on
Classics trips running after another giant, Peter Rankin, in an effort
to keep up with him.
This is from Elizabeth, so imagine me saying this in Elizabeth’s
voice. Trips have formed a key part of Sarah’s school experience
- running her own ones in the Classics department, assisting on
other department’s trips and her joint organisation of a cultural
visit from Istanbul to Ephesus with the History department. This
displayed her usual super organisational skills and good humour
as well as her creative thinking and re-enacting Greek and Roman
games Bootham-style.
Anne remembers the trips obviously involved many cultural
highlights, with fabulous Neapolitan pizza, and possibly also
some slighty ‘dodgy’ sections of the museums which left the poor
innocent students a little shocked.
Sarah confessed to me this morning that she doesn’t know
why she became a teacher, because she doesn’t like being the
centre of attention. I know why she became a teacher: because
of her irrepressible passion for the subject and her incomparable
ability to convey that enthusiasm to students. One anecdote that
demonstrates this is the fact that Sarah was still really excited
about the new Upper Schoolroom module on Roman Britain that
she was keen to design and teach this past term. Sadly, she did not
have a chance to do so, but I think anyone who still wants to take
teenagers on trips in their last term of 22 years, instead of resting
on their laurels, must be driven by a great love of their subject, and
a love of the school itself.
I feel that one thing really encapsulates Sarah’s teaching here
at Bootham. I’ve brought a prop for this. When recently I began
teaching Virgil’s Aeneid to Sarah’s College 1 group, I needed a
textbook for the lessons as I didn’t have my own. Not to worry, I
thought, Sarah has been teaching this text for many years, she will
have a copy! And ... she did. Look at it. The pages are coming out,
and it’s a third-hand copy in the first place.
Even worse, her copy of her favourite text, the Odyssey, was in just
as bad a state. When the College 1 students noticed this, they had
a whip round and bought her a beautiful cloth-bound copy. I think
this little anecdote speaks both of Sarah’s modest and self-effacing
nature, and of the love and affection she inspires in her students. It
is true to say that Sarah is not always aware of how beloved she is,
and how greatly she inspires others.
This was most evident in all her classes when they were deprived
of Sarah’s teaching during her convalescence; again, the College
students were absolutely devastated, and their delight in seeing
Sarah again this Parents’ Day really told a tale. Many of her students
have gone on to investigate further the Classical topics they had
encountered in Sarah’s lessons. Her infectious love of the subject
has enabled her to make Classics exciting and accessible for both
younger and older students. As Anne says, Sarah is always so warm
and calm and welcoming in the classroom - very ‘old Bootham’.
I don’t think I can put things any better than in this lovely tribute
from Elizabeth, who says: I’m really not sure how Sarah has
managed to fit in so much hard work and managed to be such a
warm and wonderful colleague and friend. Sarah has been at the
heart of school life in such a way that it is almost impossible to
imagine Bootham without her.
Sarah, the dawn of a new life has appeared, fresh and rosy-fingered
(sorry), and like Odysseus you can take all your accumulated
treasure, your kleos, your reputation, and your time, the honours
paid to you, home with you. Although it was only a relatively short
time in your long and storied career, I have so enjoyed working with
you. You have indeed been warm and welcoming to me personally,
and I have greatly valued your support and friendship sailing what
have not exactly been smooth seas.
Like Athena, you’ve provided guidance and a sense of humour, and
been a true touchstone of what is and isn’t ‘normal’ as I navigated
my way through the mysteries and bafflements of Bootham
School. One of the best things about you, Sarah, is that you don’t
suffer fools gladly, and I hope I have not been too much of a fool
as I have stepped into your footprints. I have really missed your
steadying, positive and patient presence in this last term. If you do
represent, as Anne says, ‘old Bootham’, then you represent the best
of Old Bootham.
Sarah, thank you for everything you have done. We wish you every
success on your new adventure!
Sally Pickup We said goodbye to Sally Pickup at the end of the
Autumn Term 2023. Sally joined Bootham in January 2014, and
as well as her PA role (to three Deputy Head (Academics) over the
years, had various other job titles over the years, one being Head
of Chinese and Italian orals in the year when Peter and Ruth ran
the external exams with two weeks’ notice, Chief Dog Sitter for any
poorly staff pooches, and for many years she was also honoured to
be Quiz Mistress to the Staff Lunchtime Quiz.
We wish Sally all the best for her new adventures.
42
Leavers 2024 – Staff leavers
Anna Harrison We said
goodbye to Anna after 21 years
of service to Bootham and many
more to education in other
institutions. There are so many
highlights from her contributions
over the years, having successfully
taught across all the Junior School
age groups, from the Reception
year upwards.
Her impact stretched widely
across both curriculum and
pastoral development. She
cemented our learning
dispositions – adventurous,
creative, collaborative,
independent, reflective and
resilient – as cornerstones
of our curriculum. She also
revolutionised our pastoral care in
a way that was truly ahead of its
time; offering bespoke care to every family.
She was ever willing to throw herself into school life and all our
students and staff over the years will have been touched by her
enthusiasm and generosity of spirit. She enriched the lives of
our children with her passion for language and her amazing
storytelling abilities. Anna happily stepped in to help her
colleagues by teaching French and German when needed and as a
competitive swimmer herself, always championed the sport with
children and colleagues.
Anna loved to sing and dance, and one of her initiatives was the
introduction of a mini-Eisteddford which the children loved. She
was everyone’s cheerleader and always is guaranteed to break into
spontaneous applause for any performance.
Her colleagues will miss her support and time that was so freely
given in guiding them to be the best versions of themselves.
We are going to miss her dearly but wish her every happiness for
the future!
Htoon Aung Engineer, spiritual mentor, chef, friend to all. How
best to describe Htoon Aung to readers who did not share his time
at Bootham? Htoon served as the Bootham physics lab technician
for twelve years, leaving our community for a new post in late 2024.
Burmese (the name the Htoon unfailing used, and thus used in
this article) by birth, Htoon and his family settled in the UK, where
he worked as a lab technician at another school before finding his
way to us. Htoon was the most delightful colleague any science
teacher could hope for. He is constantly cheerful and will always
do his best to help with any science project that needs a bit of
technical support to get it going. He is an accomplished hand
with a soldering iron, and there appears to be very little he can’t
fix and recycle.
His work with
the eco-car
project, and
the cycle repair
club made very
good use of
his technical
skills. As a lab
technician, he
was always
ready to come in and help students (and teachers) to get the most
out of a practical demonstration and was therefore well-known by
generations of Bootham student physicists.
Less well known was his work as the science faculty chef. When
the mood took him, Htoon very generously set out wonderful
banquets of Burmese cuisine, expertly cooked by him in the prep
room. He would then invite us to have lunch with him, and even
insisted on doing the washing up afterwards. There have been
times when as many as fifteen colleagues would meet together
over a feast donated in this way, and the effect on staff morale was
incalculable. And to be perfectly honest, the food he made was
exquisite; he could certainly run a successful restaurant should he
choose to, and I would be a frequent visitor.
Htoon is a committed Buddhist, and his open-handed, friendly
approach to everyone he met during each of his Bootham days
is surely a reflection of this. Never evangelical about his faith, he
is always interesting to talk to on the topic, and his spirituality
accords very well with the Bootham ethos. In leaving us, he leaves
a gap in our community that will only grow more obvious as we
progress through the rest of the academic year without him.
Martyn Beer At the
end of the spring term
we said goodbye to our
Deputy Head, Martyn
Beer, as he left to take
up the role of Head at
another Quaker school,
Ackworth. This is a
fantastic opportunity
for Martyn and one
that is a reflection
of the outstanding
work he undertook
in his seven years at
Bootham.
Martyn joined Bootham in 2017, this being his first venture into
the independent school sector. One of the great attractions for
Martyn was that he is a Quaker and the opportunity to further his
beliefs and knowledge at Bootham was one that was inspiring
for himself and an exciting one for the school. Martyn quickly
instilled his deep understanding of the Quaker testimonies into
the daily life of the school, further enhancing our supportive and
nurturing environment. Initiatives were the hugely successful
Education Conference that he organised and his role in planning
for and navigating the complexities of the pandemic should not be
underestimated.
A talented sportsman himself, Martyn could be regularly seen on
the touchline or boundary of our fixtures offering guidance and
support to both his sons and Bootham teams in general. He and
his family will be greatly missed on the sports pitches although it
must be said that his desire to be involved in sport did sometimes
have unintended consequences. On one occasion early in his
time at Bootham, Martyn was keen to demonstrate his basketball
prowess to watching boarders. Sadly he overestimated the
adhesive capabilities of his unsuitable footwear which resulted in
him sporting a significantly blackened eye at the following day’s
morning meeting!
Martyn contributed an incredible amount of effort and care to
the whole school community and we wish him all the best for
the future and look forward to seeing him at fixtures and Quaker
school events in the future.
During the year we bid fond farewell and grateful thanks to:
Lawrence Backus (Housekeeping), Martyn Beer (Deputy Head), Jane Benton (Designated Safeguard Lead), Ian Berry (Housekeeping),
Dina Bonner (German Language Assistant), John Brameld (Teacher of Economics & Business), Marzena Brzezniak (Teacher of
Chemistry & Biology), Lucy Carter (Registrar BJS), Phil Cockerill (Housekeeping Team Leader), Hannah Feehan (Peripatetic Music
Teacher), Jennifer Garbutt (Learning Support Assistant), Olivia Hails (Learning Support Assistant), Anna Harrison (Deputy Head BJS),
Jessica Hoggarth-Hall (Apprentice: Sound & Lighting), Lis Hooley (Teacher), Jane Olkiewicz (PA to Deputy Head), Helen Parsons
(Learning Support Assistant), Sally Pickup (PA to Deputy Head (Academic)), Kristina Priest (Receptionist), Mark Robinson (Teacher
of Chemistry), Sarah Robinson (Teacher of Physics), Ruth Roebuck (Teacher of Spanish), Steve Rouse (Facilities Assistant), Heather
Turner (Teacher of Physics), Fiona Ward (Registrar), Nicola Warrington (Peripatetic Music Teacher), Gail Wheadon (Catering Assistant),
Katherine White (Peripatetic Music Teacher), Shazma White (Teacher Business & Economics), Kate Wozniak (Teacher of Chemistry).
43
New senior school students:
Lower Schoolroom
Noemi Bell
Poppy Billings
Georgia Bojke
Cameron Dodd
Eleanor Draper
Antonia (Tonia) Fayoyin
William Field
Aubrey Finch
Yash FitzGerald
Alexander Gibson
Iris Gordon-Thornley
Jana Gutacker Villanueva
Elishah Hampson-Mayne
William Hall
Rowan Hanratty
Rory Hanson
Ethan Harte
Amber Hayes
Sebastian Ho
Eason Hou
Caitlin Heise-Penkman
Macee Hudson
Florence Ingham
Joel Jacobs
Inti Jorda-Ayala
Thomas King
Maks Kryshtafor
Ellie Lamont
Alfred Lister
Catherine Luke-Wakes
Charlotte Mckevitt
Calum Magrath
Marlowe Michels
Madeleine Milligan
Ben Mitelpunkt
Henry O’Connor
Amelie Perrett
Isabelle Pinkney
Basil Plowman
Jacob Ramsden
Juliet Rogers
Freja Roos
Oliver Ryan
Amirhossein Sakhaei
Sam Stock
Gabriel Szulczewski
Nathaniel Thornton
Afonso Vieira Hopearuoho
Nell Warman
Alex Wheeler
Gabe Wheeler
Lexi Williams
Isabella Young
Behrad Zarei
Middle Schoolroom
Alice Pick
Alisam Alipourian
Upper Schoolroom
Sam Blackstone
Joshua Chalmers
Jaken Cheung
Sam Clarke
Harriet Draper
Ben Gunn
Henry Hall
Tanya Hui
Shaheer Jamil
Gabriella Marsh
George Pick
Isla Rattray
George Redfern
Layla Spencer
Lower Senior
Alex Castedo Canales
Alice Chang
Diya Deepak
Samuel Diaz
Lillian Ilsemann
Anna Lorenz
Elena Roschlein
Sonja Soraruf
Charlotte Starken
Gabriel Starr Williams
Konstantin Stolz
Hayden Wong
Owen Zeng
Clover Zheng
College One
Erin Barratt
Ida Bauer
Jan Bode
Penny Brazier
Max Buhl
Ksenija Cekusina
Wilf Challis-Smith
Guanyuan Dong
James Dosanjh
Estelle Ennis
Caroline Greve
Tim Jakubowski
Jiejie Limpanapa
Isabel Marriage
Nura Partovi
Samuel Pearson
Franz Schreder
Vladimir Soloviev
Jessica Spavin
Yuliia Sych
Paula Veldman
Alex Wong
Ethan Wong
Lily Zhao
New members of staff:
Alison Barrington (Peripatetic Music Teacher), Hannah Beaumont (Peripatetic Music Teacher), Kathryn Buchard
(Teacher of Chemistry), Joseph Butler (Teacher of History and Politics), Graham Cockerline (Facilities Assistant),
Claire Dinn (Designated Safeguard Lead), Neil Fenwick (Housekeeping), Sam Ford (Learning Support Assistant),
Will Gilbertson (Teacher of Physics), Rita Hampel (PA to Deputy Head (Academic)), Ruth Hogg (Deputy Head
BJS), Amara Hollinrake-Dobson (Pupil Wellbeing Support Assistant BJS), Emma Hudson (Housekeeping BJS),
Hannah Jorgensen (Learning Support Assistant), Clare Kidd (Admissions Officer), Janet Mason (Attendance and
Administration Assistant), Helen McPherson (Teacher Business & Economics), Keith Newall (Head of Cricket),
David Newman (Cover Supervisor), Christopher O’Gorman (Peripatetic Music Teacher), Helen Parsons (Learning
Support Assistant), Ross Ratcliffe (Receptionist BJS), Sarah Smithurst (PA to Deputy Head (Pastoral)), Fred Viner
(Peripatetic Music Teacher).
44
Bootham sport continues to go from strength to strength
and 2023-24 was, again, a really positive year, with
successes coming in many sports. District championships
in netball and basketball, county champions in
basketball, students gaining representative honours in
athletics, cross country, swimming and football to name
some of the achievements.
Whilst it is always great to get recognition for wins
and successes, the measure of the success of the PE
department should be about the number of students
enjoying participating in sport across the school, and the
life long physical interests that our students maintain and
indeed discover once they have left us.
It was therefore great to hear about one of our former
students, Angus McMillan, who was selected to represent
GB and NI in the European cross country championships
last December. Seeing Old Scholar’s thriving in sport is
rewarding to see.
As a department, we are always looking at ways we
can develop more involvement, as well as promoting
excellence in the sports we offer, and for the coming year
we welcome Keith Newell, our new head of cricket, who
played professionally for Glamorgan and Sussex and has a
vast amount of cricket coaching experience. We have also
assigned sports specialisms to staff already at Bootham.
Jacob Butterfield has become Head of Swimming for
both the Junior and Senior school and will look to push
competitive swimming across the full age range. He has
already secured Bootham entry into the World School
games in the summer of 2025.
I would like to thank all students who represented the
school in any sports fixtures last year...especially students
who have now left us and have been committed to sport
throughout their years at Bootham. You have done the
school and yourself proud!
School Record – New staff and Students, PE and Sport
PE and Sport 2023-24
Barbados
Our adventure began on Saturday 23rd March when 16 girls, Rachel, Kerry and SJ Corani (our tour rep) left for Barbados
from Manchester on a Virgin Atlantic Flight. All went smoothly and we landed in Barbados to be greeted by Mona who
is the netball lead for the island. Our hotel was a short drive away and we were spoilt to have a pool and access to two
beaches, food outlets and shops. Our second day saw us complete our first outdoor training session and it was hot!
Luckily, we were able to cool down afterwards with a trip to the giant inflatables a quick swim away from the beach.
On Monday we had our first game which was the first of our three out of three wins. We were made welcome by the
staff and pupils at Shirley Chisolm Primary School who hosted the match. We stayed most of the day playing with the
whole school and this ended up being a real highlight. We also managed to pack in a whole day catamaran trip with
snorkelling, shopping, the fish festival with live bands and entertainment, Island tour and sunrise on the beach with
race horses.
Millie Porter was a fabulous captain and all the girls were true ambassadors for the school with the hotel staff, guests at
the hotel and the schools and clubs we played against all commenting on how brilliant they were in terms of attitude
and behaviour. We certainly enjoyed their company and were proud to be with them.
A big thank you to firstly Victoria who put in a great deal of effort organizing all the paperwork and coping with all
the logistics of a new trip. SJ Corani our rep was excellent in helping us navigate the Island and contacting Netball
Barbados, especially as it was a first for her company. Another big thank you to Kerry for stepping in at the last minute
and not only being an excellent travel companion but also for taking on the responsibility of all things media.
45
Netball
• U13 netball team - District league champions
• U13 netball team - District tournament runners up
• U12 netball team - District tournament runners up
• 7 students playing for York Netball Club
U12: Laila Barwick, Flo Bojke, Lucy O’Hagan, Jessica Wiseman,
Cerys Barratt, Martha Cumberland-Place, Ariel Jones, Mia
Ramskill, Cordelia Savage, Lily Wilkinson, Eleri Clifford, Sally
Maclean, Evie McLaren, Anna Cook, Sophie Dunning, Lilianna
Foreshaw, Nakshatra Mattoru, Romilly Whiting, Lina Wiebe, Heidi
Hurst, Florence Trotter.
U13: Ella Casson, Janice Chan, Charlotte Chesworth, Isobelle
Cooper, Lara Dale, Isabelle Dean, Annabel Edwards, Carley
Ereira-Kraetzsch, Judy Habli, Esme Hudson,Chloe King, Olivia
Du, Lily May Keys, Ariadne Mackle, Orla Monaghan, Gemma
Neish, Michelle Nganga, Lara Sharp, Chesca Sweeting, India
Weightman, Maddie White.
U14: Bea Ashforth, Amalia Bell, Florence Bennett, Carys Clifford,
Sophie Cole, Maya Fitzgerald, Meredith Gascoigne, Ruby Gilligan,
Matilda Milligan, Holly Hall, Eleanor Leckey, Pippa Millmore, Amy
Pearson, Alice Shepherd, Jess Walker, Bella Smith, Ayla Tayler,
Darcie Walsh, Olivia Whiting, Lucy Yeung, Millie Wasawo.
U15: Roma Bensalam, Scarlett Cameron, Erin Carr, Grace Fisher,
Lily Gordon, Olivia McAdoo, Annie McDermott, Millie Porter, Milly
Trueman, Lizzie Tuckley, Anais Weightman, Clara Whitby, Emilia
White, Eve Whitlock.
U16: Lily Butterworth Francesca Chalmers Holly Feasby, Ariel
Johnson Eliza Lofthouse Imogen Lowe Eve Shillabeer Kaitlyn
White.
U18: Douglas Brewer, Charlotte Brown, Emily Bulman, Lilia
Dean, Ele Cairns, Caty Gardiner, Aria Gausden, Raphael Last, Lily
Latham, Constance Quick, Niamh Saxby, Katy Seager, Finn Taylor,
Nadine Whittington, Susanna Watt.
Basketball
• U14 Basketball team - County champions
• U14 Basketball team - District champions
• U19 basketball team - Unbeaten throughout the season
• 4 students playing for York Eagles Basketball club
U12: Clement Grenby, Dylan Hall, Ralph Hanratty, Jonathan
Leckey, Merlin Liu, Nathan Magrath, Yusuf Moton, Lucas Smeaton,
Cooper Smith, Saumil Mishra, Henry Sinclair.
U13: Adam Harvey, Oscar Llewellyn, Jolyon Beer, Zach
Edmondson, Oliver Brooke, Ollie Grant, Jason Zhang, Isaac Wass,
Wilfred Guy.
U14: Jonty Beer, Seamus Hanratty, Jamie Vicary, James Wormald,
Henka Roos, Tom du Plessis, Tom Grant, Oliver Hayes, Luke
Wiseman, Henry Ward.
U15: Tamon Byas, James Wormald, Seamus Hanratty, Ned Gillard,
Alex Beard, Will Gale, Fuhad Shehu, Oliver Lewellyn, Tom Parry.
U16: Robert Coad, Karl Chui, Benjamin Scurrah-Smyth, Ali
Almazedi, Jack Bailey, Noah Rowntree, Olly Mair, Leo Porter, Alfie
Tomlinson, Felix Cardwell, Laytham Harper-Hindy.
U19: George Pearcy, Freddie Gjonnes-Mazzi, Bedat Lee, Joe
Mottram, Robert Coad, Matthew Vincent, Karl Chui, Joe Murphy,
Harvey Tomlinson, Zeid Abu Zannad.
Football
• 1st XI football: Third in the Tranby 8s independent school
tournament
• 1st XI football: Quarter-final of the county cup
• Jamie Vicary: Represented York Schoolboys U14s
(and U15s next year)
• Oli Brook chosen to represent York Schoolboys at U14s
• Seamus Hanratty chosen to represent York Schoolboys U15s
U12: Jonathan Leckey, Yussuf Moton, Cooper Smith, Henry
Sinclair, Merlin Liu, Lucas Smeaton, Clement Grenby, Ralph
Hanratty, Dylan Hall, Matthew Wilson, Edward Monaghan,
Nathan Magrath.
U13: Ollie Brook, Adam Harvey, Gabe Thompson, Teddy
Chesworth, Jolyon Beer, Sam Field, Ollie Grant, Jasper Kell, Oscar
Llewellyn, Henry Sinclair, Jason Zhang, Merlin Liu, Zac Edmonson,
Jake Cook, Alex Morris, Isaac Wass.
U14: Tom Grant, Jonty Beer, Tom Du Plessis, Gabe Thompson,
Robbie Pudsey, Luke Wiseman, Seamus Hanratty, Henry Ward,
James Wormald, Jamie Vicary, Adam Harvey, Sam Field, Dylan
Probert, Cohen Taylor.
U15: Tom Grant, Charlie Taylor, Sam Darcy, Jonty Beer, Tom Parry,
Charlie Blackwell, Joey Malouf © , Charlie McAdoo, Seamus
Hanratty, Jamie Vicary, Rory O’Connor, Alexander Beard, Oliver
Llewellyn, Hugo Smart, William Gale, Ted Hall, Jules Uteza.
U16: Alfie Tomlinson, Charlie Grant, Leo Porter ©, Zac Edwards,
Alexei Bassi, Gabes Reinholz, Benjamin Scurrah-Smyth, Oliver
Heppell, Joseph Lam, Dawn Law, Noah Rowntree, Louis Barwick,
Jack Bailey, Olly Mair.
1st XI: Joe Murphy, Harvey Tomlinson, Nick Lapish, George Gunn,
Charlie Grant, Leo Porter, Dawn Law, Joseph Lam, Montgomery
Grenyer, Jamie McAdoo, Henry Sprake, Dan Travis, Zeid Abu-
Zannad, Will Griffiths, Noah Rowntree, Luke Higgins, Oliver
Heppell, Max Brooks, Ted Eames, Alexei Bassi.
U12 G: Romilly Whiting, Nak Mattoru, Sally Maclean, Flo Boijke,
Lilianna Forshaw, Martha Cumberworth-Place, Evie Mclaren,
Jessica Wiseman, Mia Ramskill, Alice Muinonen-Martin.
U13 G: Ella Casson, Chesca Sweeting, Orla Monaghan, Isabelle
Cooper, Isabel Dean, Lara Sharp, Lara Dale, Chloe King, Judy
Habli, Gemma Neish, Carly Ereira-Kraetzschmar, Esme Hudson,
Ixia Plowman, Maddie White.
U14 G: Petra Crack, Alice Shepherd, Lyla Gordon-Thornley, Bea
Ashforth, Olivia Whiting, Florence Bennett, Lucy Yeung, Ayla
Tayler, Bella Smith, Amalia Bell, Maya FitzGerald, Amy Pearson,
Meredith Gascoigne, Pippa Millmore, Carys Clifford.
U15 G: Millie Porter, Milly Trueman, Eshal Moton, Clara Whitby,
Eve Whitelock, Emilia White, Olivia McAdoo, Nancy Otterburn.
16-19 G: Lily Butterworth, Francesca Chalmers, Imogen Lowe,
Evelyn Russell, Lily Latham, Suzanna, Millie Haynes, Martha
Clough, Niamh Saxby, Tserena Tsang.
46
School Record – PE and Sport
Swimming
• Swim squad competed in the Bath and Otter National schools
competition for the first time at the London aquatics centre.
• Annabel Edwards - North East and Yorkshire swimming
champion at 50 and 100 m breaststroke.
U13: Annabel Edwards, Lilly Wilkinson, Eleri Clifford, Gemma
Neish, Ella Casson, Iris Hamilton, Ariel Jones, Maddie White, Dante
Miller, Patrick Cairns, Rupert Dodds-Aston, Cooper Smith, Tobias
Tompkin.
U15: Martha Watson, Amalia Bell, Bella Smith, Matilda Milligan,
Nancy Otterburn, Sophie Cole, Alice Shepherd, Erin Carr, George
Barker, Cohen Taylor, Luke Wiseman, Will Gale, Joshua Cooper,
Oliver Langston, Oliver Hayes.
U18: Kaitlyn White, Eliza Loftus, Bel Clarke, Rosa Eggeling, Kalina
O’Brien, Oliver Lawery, Matthew Tang, Freddie Mazzi, James Linch,
Douglas Brewer, Lawerence Brewer, Toby Gledhill.
Tennis
• St Peter’s boys U18 independent schools invitation tournament:
Runners up
• Ralph Plowman and Freddie Thornton won the regional
qualifier of the ‘Road to Wimbledon’ competition and played in
the final at Wimbledon in August
U13 B: Sam Field, Oscar Llewellyn, Teddy Chesworth, George
Morrell.
U15 B: Finlay Hamilton, Alexander Beard, Oliver Llewellyn, William
Gale, Tamon Byas, Hugo Smart.
U18 B: Freddie Thornton, Freddie Gjones-Mazzi, Ralph Plowman,
George Gunn.
U13 G: Ixia Plowman, Romilly Whiting, Nak Mattoru, Sally Maclean.
U15 G: Tils Milligan, Olivia Whiting, Lyla Gordon-Thornley, Holly
Hall, Maya Fitzgerald, Eleanor Leckey.
Rounders
U12: Laila Barwick, Flo Bojke, Jessica Wiseman, Cerys Barratt,
Martha Cumberland-Place, Ariel Jones, Mia Ramskill, Eleri Clifford,
Sally Maclean, Evie McLaren , Lilianna Foreshaw Nakshatra
Mattoru, Romilly Whiting, Lina Wiebe, Anna Cook,Heidi Hurst,
Florence Trotter.
U13: Ella Casson, Janice Chan, Charlotte Chesworth, Lara Dale,
Isabelle Dean, Annabel Edwards, Judy Habli, Orla Managhan,
Gemma Neish, Michelle Nganga, Lara Sharp.
U14: Bea Ashforth, Amalia Bell, Carys Clifford, Maya Fitzgerald, Lyla
Gordon-Thornley, Holly Hall, Eleanor Leckey, Pippa Millmore, Amy
Pearson, Alice Shepherd, Bella Smith, Ayla Tayler, Darcie Walsh,
Olivia Whiting.
U15: Roma Bensalam, Scarlett Cameron, Erin Carr, Lily Gordon,
Olivia McAdoo, Annie McDermott, Eshal Moton, Martha Orton,
Nancy Otterburn, Millie Porter, Milly Trueman, Lizzie Tuckley.
U16: Megan Brown, Holly Feasby, Francesca Chalmers, Lily
Butterworth, Ariel Johnson, Eliza Lofthouse, Eve Shillabeer,
Kaitlyn White.
U18: Charlotte Brown, Emily Bulman, Ele Cairns, Lilia Dean, Zima
Dearden, Caty Gardiner, Rachel Henley, Lily Latham, Constance
Quick, Niamh Saxby, Nadine Whittington.
Cricket
U12: Clement Grenby, Ralph Hanratty, Jonathan Leckey, Merlin
Liu, Nathan Magrath, Yusuf Moton, Henry Sinclair, Lucas Smeaton,
Cooper Smith, Dante Miller, Edward Monaghan, Saumil Mishra.
U13: Oli Brooke, Jolyon Beer, Isaac Wass, Sam Field, Ollie Grant,
Sein Tomkinson, Alex Morrice, Oscar Llewellyn, Zach Edmondson,
Will Barton, Teddy Chesworth, Jolyon Beer, Jason Zhang, Jake
Cook.
U14: Jonty Beer, Robbie Pudsey, Tom Grant, Seamus Hanratty,
Jamie Vicary, Tom DuPlessis, Dylan Probert, Jolyon Beer, Cohen
Taylor, Ollie Grant, Maya FitzGerald, Sam Field.
U15: Charlie Taylor, Joey Malouf, Oliver Llewellyn, Will Gale, Hugo
Smart, Ted Hall, Tom Parry, Tamon Byas, Charlie Blackwell, Charlie
Macadoo, Jonty Beer, Jolyon Beer, Seamus Hanratty.
1st XI: Matthew Vincent, Bertie Shepherd, Montgomery Grenyer,
Olly Mair, Joey Malouf, Jolyon Beer, Jonty Beer, Charlie Grant, Joe
Murphy, Jack Bailey, Will Griffiths.
U12 G: Heidi Hirst, Romilly Whiting, Nak Mattoru, Eleri Clifford,
Lilianna Forshaw, Flo Boijke, Lina Wiebe, Martha Cumberworth-
Place, Lilly Wilkinson, Sally Maclean, Jessica Wiseman, Evie
Maclaren
U13 G: Ella Casson, Lara Sharp, Isabelle Dean, Gemma Neish, Ixia
Plowman, Michelle Nganga, Judy Habli, Roxy Penty, Lara Dale,
Maddy White, India Weightman, Esme Hudson, Chloe King,
Chesca Sweeting, Orla Monaghan.
U14 G: Maya Fitzgerald, Ayla Tayler, Bella Smith, Olivia Whiting,
Amy Pearson, Amalia Bell, Alice Shepherd, Petra Crack, Tils
Milligan, Cary Clifford, Bea Ashforth, Darcie Walsh.
U15 G: Millie Porter, Eshal Moton, Annie McDermott, Lily Gordon,
Martha Orton.
Athletics and Cross-Country
• Over 70 students represented the school in athletics
competitions
• 7 York and District Athletics Champions. 17 top three finishes.
• Y&D Champions: Lily Wilkinson Y7 1200m, Gabe Tomlinson Y8
Javelin, Tom Du Plesis Y9 Javelin champ, Ayla Tayler Y9 Javelin,
Charlie Taylor Y10 Shot put, Millie Porter y10 Javelin Champ, Y7
100m Relay Champs
• Gabriel Thompson: Yorkshire athletics championships: Javelin
(Gold), Hammer (Silver), Shot Put (Bronze), Discuss (Bronze)
• Millie Porter finishing 2nd in the U17 Javelin North Yorkshire
and second in the YDL final.
• Liliana Forshaw had success in the YDL league as part of the
relay team that came first
• Eliza Loftus completed her athletics coaches assistant award,
helping out with training sessions at the club
• Four Bootham students represented York in the County cross-
country championships.
47
Keeping in touch with our Old Scholars is such a joy. We
love hearing about all the interesting and adventurous
activities our alumni are involved in. If we’ve missed
anything out from Across the Months we apologise.
Please keep sending us your stories.
Elaine
November 2023
We were delighted to hear from
Michael Ruse (B:1953-59)
philosopher and historian of
science, who generously shared
his
“far from glowing”
school report
from 1954 with us. Michael has gone
on to become a Gifford Lecturer
and has many published works. We
loved his touching memory of the
music master Percy Lovell who he
hopes
“would have felt pride in having
had me as a student – as I feel
grateful to them – every time
I go to Covent Garden or the
Met, I give thanks to Percy for
having developed my passion for
opera—70 years of joy.”
Congratulations to Bob Johnson
on the publication of
“Friendless
Childhoods Explain War”
. Friendless
Childhoods Explain War uses the
author’s groundbreaking discoveries
working with the UK’s most
dangerous offenders to cast an expert
eye over international conflict. All
such violence, he contends, is born of
childhood experiences that lead to
adult anger, grievance and revenge.
From Toddler Thinking to Nursery
Nightmares and Guff Disease the
book lays bare prevailing thought
on violent conflict - which should
be avoided by building truth, trust
and consent from an early age - not
instilling seeds of hate that continue
into adulthood.
Congratulations to Ant Bagshaw
on the publication of
‘Higher
Imagination: A Future for
Universities’
. Universities face
crises on many fronts, not least
the erosion of confidence from
staff, students, and policymakers.
Yet the conditions in which they
operate - in systems which are
highly regulated quasi-markets
- are unlikely to change for the
better any time soon. Therefore, universities need to work
within the constraints provided, using the freedoms they are
afforded to shape their education and research, the better
to serve their beneficiaries as public-purpose organisations
seeking social impact. And they need new and positive
solutions to the problems they face.
Higher Imagination: A Future for
Universities
provides new insights for
leading the contemporary university
to achieve successful outcomes for
stakeholders. Drawing on experience of
the marketised systems in the UK and
Australia, the book offers solutions to the
seemingly intractable problems facing
universities. Carefully balancing the
social heart with the need for financial
security and organisational efficiency, the
solutions proposed keep the mission of the public university
alive while growing universities’ impact.
December 2023
Old Scholar and talented
bassoonist Guylaine Eckersley
(B:2010-17) was interviewed by
Jessica Gillam on This Classical Life
on BBC Radio 3, which aired on
16th December.
Guylaine has won several
prestigious awards since
leaving Bootham, including a
Philharmonia MMSF Woodwind
Fellowship, a Wolfson Foundation
award and the Vivian Dunn prize
for orchestral playing at the Royal
Academy of Music, where she
studied. It’s wonderful to see her career going from strength
to strength and we look forward to hearing about where her
illustrious career takes her next.
We were delighted
to announce that
Charlie Thornton
(B: 2016-23) has
been awarded a top
academic prize for
Chemistry. Charlie
was given the
Salter’s Advanced
Chemistry prize in
honour of being the
top A level student
in the country for
Chemistry A level
(June 2023). Charlie
achieved 4 grade
A* in Chemistry, Physics, Maths and further Maths. Charlie,
who is studying Physical Natural Sciences at Selwyn College,
Cambridge was invited down to the Salter’s Hall in London
to receive a cheque and certificate.
Congratulations to
Angus McMillan (B:
2016-18) who was
selected to run for Great
Britain and Northern
Ireland in the European
Cross-Country
Championships. The
CCC was held on
Sunday the 10th of
December and Angus
came an impressive
38th of 90 overall. Well
done Angus!
48
Old Scholars – Across the months
Our much
loved former
physics teacher,
Peter Rankin
has recently
published his
first book,
“Fell
Walker - A Danton
Cawood book”.
The early reviews
are excellent and
it sounds like
Danton Cawood
may have more mysteries to solve in the future.
January 2024
David Robson (B:1948-53) wrote about his friendship with
Metford Robson (B:1949-52) and others:
“We have met with
each other quite regularly over the decades as we are both
quite often at Britain Yearly Meeting but because we have
lived at opposite sides of the country not otherwise.
Our two families had quite a close connection mainly from
the time we went to live in Hull. The two sets of parents
retained close links until too old and physically distant (in
opposite corners of England).
I have been reading John Clark’s ‘stories’ in the most recent
Bootham magazine. He is another person who was initially
a family friend before we overlapped at school. We met
in Shipham / Winscombe when we were staying with my
Robson grandparents and the Clarks lived up the hill. My
key memory of first meeting John and his brother Kendal is
when the two families went for a picnic in the so called Water
Valley – (technically Rowberrow, I think) where I was taught
how to dam a stream with remarkable success. We had to
dismantle the dam before water spread over the picnic place!
Apart from his mother’s memorial meeting I have not seen
John since his move to New Zealand.
The other story John told about the home made cannon
reminded me of John Priestley with whom I shared a study
in College 1. As a scientist he was into chemical experiments
including the manufacture of gunpowder. He also made a
cannon but took his experiment to Clifton Ings where he laid
the device in the mouth of a rabbit hole facing across the
Ings. He claimed that the resulting explosion both startled a
passing dog walker and caused a whole flock of rooks to rise
out of the trees which the cannon was facing. I don’t recall
that anything untoward happened. But on a subsequent
outing the cannon pipe was split by firing. Surprisingly John
Priestley was at the bi centenary event and we happened to
sit next to each other over lunch – first time we had met since
the 1950s.
Greetings for a successful 2024,
David
Congratulations to Isaac Cardow (B:2009-22) who received
a scholarship to study Classical Guitar at the Royal Academy
of Music. You may have seen him when he performed as
part of Bootham’s Lunchtime Recital Series last September,
aged 17. He also received offers from the Royal Northern
College of Music, Birmingham Conservatoire and the Royal
Conservatoire, Scotland. Additionally, he passed his diploma
with distinction and is a member of two national level guitar
ensembles.
This is one of the highest achievements that a musician
of Isaac’s age could achieve. He’ll be applying for the BBC
Young Musician of the Year 2024, so keep your eyes open.
George Trifan from the PE department announced the
arrival of his 3rd baby in January, Rocco Sebastian is adored
and is being well looked after by his brothers Louis and
Hugo, and his big sister Poppy the dog! Congratulations to
them all.
Doug Rose (B:2002-09) started a new position as Director
of Transportation Policy and Analytics at NYC Department of
City Planning! Congratulations on the new role. If we want to
talk about off-street parking, transit-oriented development,
zoning, and more we know who to turn to!
February 2024
We were delighted
to hear that Lyndon
Rakusan (B:2006-13)
has been accepted to
do a PhD in Cognition
and Neural Systems at
the University of Arizona,
Tucson commencing Fall
Semester (August) 2024.
He will also be working
as a part-time Research
Assistant setting up a
new Science Research
Lab at the University.
Liz Rakusan wrote:
“We are so proud of Lyndon. If Harriet had
not inspired him to do Psychology at Bootham this would not
have been happening!”
Huge congratulations to Lyndon. You are really making a
difference to the world.
Chris Cooper (B:1962-67) wrote to say: “
Thanks for the latest
newsletter.
I was so pleased to see that there is still a connection with
the Geographical Association. It reminded me of a trip
that was arranged by them to see the vast local authority
developments that were under construction in Sheffield,
my home city, in 1966 or 67. A car load came here from York
driven by John Carruthers (and perhaps another master) and
5 of us came by train. My father left the car keys with the man
at the ticket barrier at the Midland Station and I drove them
up to the Association’s headquarters before setting out in
convoy for the rest of what transpired to be a memorable day.
Whilst it is very sad that we now occupy a world where we
are required to display so little inherent trust in one another,
I imagine that there would be a number of issues there
that would cause raised eyebrows today, especially as I had
probably only passed my driving test a few months before !
With my good wishes,
Chris Cooper
”
49
Carols by Candlelight
Coffee and Mincepies!
March 2024
We enjoyed the
Old Scholars Sports
Reunion in March. It
was great to see so
many familiar faces.
Congratulations to
the Old Scholars’
for their netball and
football victories
and well done
to Bootham for
dominating on the
basketball court. We can’t wait for the rematches next year!
Roger Camrass (1963-68)
has published his third
edition of the CIONET
Cookbook – recipes for
Digital Success, sponsored
by Intel and RedHat.
He continues to be the
research director for
CIONET which now enjoys
10,000 members across
ten European countries.
He is launching a leadership education programme with
Henley Business School this year in the UK. He has also been
appointed a visiting professor at the Hebrew University in
Jerusalem, specialising in Digital Humanities. He continues
to live in Highgate, North London and enjoys spending time
with his first two grandchildren with many more in prospect.
Martin Johnson (B: 1948-54)
is a member of the Bruderhof
community and wrote to tell
us about an article in the New
York Times. The subject:
Few
Smartphones, Some Beer:
A Christian Village Grapples
With Modernity - The New York
Times.
https://www.nytimes
com/2024/03/17/nyregion/
hudson-valley-bruderhof
community.html
Alex Johnson has had a busy year, with the publication of
multiple books including
100 Words for
Rain
which has been printed in the Daily
Express, and
Studios of Their Own
which
has been published in both English and
Spanish!
April 2024
Following on from the passing of John Gray, we received
several messages sharing stories of John. Nick Waller
(B:1968-75) wrote:
“By the way, I went to John Gray’s funeral
in Taunton in March, and saw his sons Patrick and Adrian
Gray (one a year below me, one a couple of years above at
school, but both with me in the swimming team). It was
a simple, straightforward crematorium ceremony with
heartfelt addresses by John Gray’s children, followed by a
chatty, cheerful wake. I told anyone who would listen that my
grandmother, Dorothy A Waller (Bootham housekeeper in
the 1930s) and great aunt Ellen C Waller (headmistress of The
Mount 1926-40), would have known Bootham headmaster
Donald Gray well and so would probably seen John Gray as
a toddler running around the school. My father, Thomas A
Waller, a pupil 1931-35, would probably have seen him too.
“As another aside, also in March this year I visited the House
of Commons for the first time, at the invitation of Robert
Goodwill, who was in my year at Bootham and is stepping
down as a Tory MP at the next election. He got me a ticket for
Prime Minister’s Questions and afterwards we had time for a
quick coffee and a sandwich too. I’d only seen him once at an
OS Reunion in 2000, since leaving school. Robert knows Ruth
Cadbury, a Labour MP, but didn’t realise until I told him that
she had been at The Mount, a year or so below us. So two out
of 650, or about 0.7%, of current MPs are old scholars from
York Quaker Schools in the 1970s!”
Geoffrey Smith (B:1966-73) also got in touch to say
“My
news is that I retired from Cambridge where I was Professor of
Pathology and Head of the Department of Pathology in Sept
2022 because the University has an age-related retirement
policy for its academics (so kicking them out age 67 – whether
or not they want to retire!). Not feeling remotely like retiring
from either teaching or research, I moved back to the Sir
William Dunn School of Pathology in Oxford where I run a
research lab and continue to teach medical students and
biologists about viruses. Next year I am moving to Shanghai,
China to lead a vaccine research centre for the next 5 years
or so whilst keeping the lab running in Oxford too. So I will
spend half the year in Shanghai and half in Oxford.
Coincidently, all our four children as well as Tessa and myself,
live along the River Thames. Our elder daughter, Alex, in
Oxford, ourselves in Appleford, our younger son Nick (a
Bootham Scholar) in Wallingford, our elder son Ralph in
Brentford and younger daughter Philippa in Fulham. We now
have two grand-daughters who are a delight to Tessa and
myself.
Forgive this long message.
With kind regards, Geoffrey
Prof Geoffrey L Smith FRS”
Rylan Holey (B:1995-2002) has been
selected as one of the Attitude 101
Business leaders 2024. Attitude 101
celebrates the work of trailblazers
across the global LGBTQ+ Community.
A huge achievement. Well done Rylan.
Rylan also ran in the London Marathon
in support of Aspens Charities. Aspens’
mission is to provide high quality care
and support to individuals on the
autism spectrum and with learning
disabilities across the South-East.
Upon completing the marathon Rylan
posted
“I did it. I ran a marathon! An
achievement, which for most of my life,
I thought I would never accomplish. I’m so proud!
Running the London marathon meant so much to me - an
experience I’ll never forget - days like this remind me that I live
on the best city in the world. The crowds were incredible all
the way! I didn’t get the time I wanted because of the cramps
from 30k. Those cramps were really something else. Started in
50
my right calf and then they spread all
over my legs to muscles I didn’t even
know I had!
An amazing fellow runner gave me
some salts - without them I don’t know
if I would have finished - thanks so
much to whomever you are!
But what a day! And thanks for
everyone’s support to Aspens Charities
- I was so proud to run for them and
their cause!
And thanks to everyone I saw along
the way - friends and family - including
Sarah who had a fab time cheering all
the runners along!
Maybe. Just maybe. I’ll do another one. With lots of salts in my
bag so I can get the time that I want!”
As many of you will know, our Senior Deputy Head, Martyn
Beer, left Bootham at Easter to become Head of Ackworth
School. Helen Sharp has been appointed as Pastoral
Deputy Head from April 2024. Helen has a wealth of school
experience, with several years as a successful Head of College,
over a decade at Bootham and plenty of experience of other
successful schools.
Nicholas Grenfell-Martin
(B:1993-2001) has been
living very adventurously
with a fabulous trip
to China with Ruthin
Education Limited. The
Polarsteps tracker tells it
all...
May 2024
Congratulations to Tom
Hetherton (B: 2008-15) on his
wedding to Kristine Gjos. Tom
and Kristine were married on 11
May at St Mary’s Birdsall, with a
reception at Birdsall House.
The sun
shone on our
OId Scholars
at our much-
anticipated
annual
reunion.
It was
wonderful
to welcome
back so
many old friends and to hear their stories of life at Bootham,
as well as life after Bootham.
We opened our new garden in
‘Memory of Friends Lost’
Robert Goh (B:1983-84) wrote
“Thank you for your updates.
It is always refreshing in the Far East to hear news from
Bootham. It is especially so this time because of the passing of
John Gray, who was the Headmaster while I was at Bootham
in 1983/4. It was John who introduced me to rock climbing
when he brought a bunch of students from the Far East to
his cottage in Penrith over one Autumn break. I still kept the
letter he sent to my dad after the trip (see attached). From
that time, I developed a
love for the hills and the
mountains and eventually
went to climb Mt Everest
with the First Singapore
Mt Everest Expedition in
1998 and led expeditions
to Antarctica, K2 and
various mountains in
the Himalayas. I came to
within 100m from Everest
and had to turn back due
to inclement weather.
When I was up there, I
remembered John who
started the mountaineering bug in me. He was such a great
person and Headmaster. I was very happy to have visited
him in Illminster in the summer of 2019 with my wife and
2 children. He was amazingly sprightly and took us out for
lunch in his car to Britian’s most famous dish, Fish and Chips!
We returned to his house for tea
where he brought out archives
of one Bootham’s old scholar
who was in Singapore back in
the 1925 studying Bamboos!
John always had something
interesting to share whenever
one meets him. It is with deep
regret that I will be in Japan
on the 11 May 2024 and will not
be able to attend his memorial
meeting. He will be dearly
missed.
Yours sincerely,
Robert”
Roger Bush (B: 1948-52) wrote:
‘When my wife and I
moved to Abingdon in 2005 to be near our daughter and
grandchildren, I found that a senior member of Abingdon
Friends’ Meeting was
Roger
Baker (B:1945-51
and Head
Reeve when I was there).
Roger taught for many years
at Abingdon School and still
lives in the house he and his
wife retired to after his years
as a housemaster there. On
Wednesday 15 May Roger is due
to receive an Award from the
outgoing Mayor of Abingdon in
recognition of his many years
of voluntary service, including
some 55 years at the town’s
Oxfam Shop (the Mayor thinks
this may be a World Record!).
I expect to attend the short
presentation, which will take
place at the Mayor-Making
Ceremony when the Mayor
hands over to her successor.’
Old Scholars – Across the months
51
In May York Civic Trust unveiled a plaque
on 27th May at Upper Poppleton in
memory of the renowned sculptor Austin
Wright who lived and worked there.
Austin was Bootham’s Art master from
1937 to 1949. Then he worked at The Mount
for a period during which he met Susan
Midgley. After she had finished her training at Drama School
they got married and he then devoted his time to sculpture
and drawing. Of him the Guardian Art critic wrote “It would
not be outrageous to claim that he is the most gifted
sculptor working in Britain today.” Susan went on to spend a
long period on Bootham School Committee.
We were delighted to have a visit from Louis Senechal
(B:2014-17). He was particulary pleased to see Andy and
George Trifan.
Huge congratulations to Bootham School’s Head of
Psychology Harriet Ennis who has been chosen to
represent the UK (excluding Scotland) on the Board of the
European Federation of Psychology Teaching Associations.
Harriet joins fellow educators representing 17 countries.
June 2024
Dominic McGregor (B:2004-11) is a
30-year-old entrepreneur and mental
health and sobriety advocate, in early
2021, Dominic was appointed by the
Cabinet Office as a government policy
advisor looking at social media and
digital communications. He posted:
“Yesterday I told the world about going to private school.
My school was very different, it’s a Quaker School (yes like the
porridge).
I think there’s a lot we can learn from the Quaker ethos in the
modern world.
– Quakers are renown pacifists – they have always opposed
violence and have also stood up for and spoken out first in
other major issues like the slave trade.
– They refused to sell alcohol or cigarettes in the 1800’s so
focused on Chocolate. Cadbury UK & Rowntrees were both
Quaker companies.
– Our morning assembles were sitting in silence for 20
minutes – turns out it’s very similar to meditation.
– We called teachers by their first names, which taught
meaningful equality and no hierarchy.
– Learnt the ability to debate and respect other people’s
views.
My school taught me so much more than Pythagoras &
Georgraphy.”
Dominic has also written his first book, he says
“This is a real
pinch me moment. Being dyslexic and struggling my entire
life at English and writing this has been a huge personal
achievement for myself. What is even crazier is that the
book is now stocked in WH Smith
& Waterstones for pre orders. What
is the book about? We’ve all woken
up at some point and said “I’m never
drinking again” this has become
something embedded in culture.
But what happens when you actually
never drink again. I explore through
my own and others experiences what
life is like after following through with
“I’m never drinking again”.”
Roger Sturge (B:1951-56) was in touch to say:
“Thank you for
your newsletter. I’m sorry I can’t be at the London gathering.
I’ll be celebrating the 400th anniversary of the birth of George
Fox at an international Quaker Studies research conference
at Lancaster. Before the conference starts that day, I shall be
presenting my research in progress on British Quakers and
Germany in the 1930s to my fellow students of the Centre for
Research in Quaker Studies.
It was good
to read Roger
Bush’s note
about Roger
Baker. I didn’t
know him
well, but his
parents were
close friends of
my parents in
Bristol before
1935. I last saw
him at the
funeral of his
wife Ruth who,
with her sister and brother were my parents’ wards when
their parents went back to work in China after WW2.
Two deceased old scholars mentioned were friends of mine.
Julian Clapham was at Bootham in my time but younger.
My main memory of him from then was him singing Gilbert
& Sullivan performance, I think as Princess Ida. For some
years, he and his wonderful second wife Jennifer have been
with me at Redland Friends Meeting. Jenn cared for him so
serenely as his Parkinsons developed. I attended his packed
memorial meeting.
I got to know Charlie Lamb through our joint association with
the Friends World Committee for Consultation, in particular
with work in Kenya.
Best wishes
Roger Sturge”
Helene Sundt (B:2012-17) came in to school to talk to
some DT students about her work as a woodworker.
Helene studied at the Chippendale International School of
Furniture. She specialises in high quality bespoke furniture
and it was wonderful to hear her story and experience of
pursuing a unique career.
The wonderful Bette Gleadhall and Matei Canavea
popped into school to say hello during June. Steve Everest
was really pleased to see them back in school.
52
Roger Baker
Old Scholars – Across the months, Christmas Reunion 2019
Old Scholars – Across the months
We were delighted to host the York Festival of Ideas talk
about Mary Kitson Clark; a really interesting talk about an
exceptional trailblazing archaeologist who, amongst other
things, saved the Roman collection in the The Yorkshire
Museum from potential war damage. The talk was given by
Sarah Sheils (former Bootham parent and teacher) and the
audience really appreciated the research and presentation.
We were delighted to meet up with Old Scholars again in
London.
July 2024
Our immensely talented Old Scholars have been producing
many books over the years. During the bicentenary
celebrations many books were generously donated to us.
The photo is of a selection of just a few of them. Thank you to
all who contributed.
August 2024
Alan Hardwick and Rylan
Holey performed Doctor
Who songs with the London
Philharmonic Choir at the
Proms.
September 2024
A huge thank you to Colin
Brewer (B:1954-58) for the
incredibly generous donation
of beautiful harpsichord to the
school. The instrument will
be a fine compliment to our
ensembles and will bring great
joy to future generations of
music lovers at Bootham.
Congratulations to Georgia Haynes (B:2012-19) who
received a first class mark in her masters dissertation. She
graduate with a distinction in her masters… which Georgia
acknowledges “is very cool!” Good luck with the PhD
Georgia!
Storm Lilian has made her presence felt, by uprooting a huge
tree near the Porters Lodge. Luckily, no one was hurt and our
estates team is on hand to make sure the tree is removed
safely.
Freya Leaf
and Charlotte
Collinson organised
a Bootham Old
Scholars v Wigginton
Grasshoppers under
19’s football match
to raise funds in
memory of Peter
Woodmansey. The
sponsored match
raised more than
£3,400, adding to the
total raised in Peter’s
memory now exceeds
£33,000.
53
York Festival of Ideas
Rylan Holey
History
The origin of Bootham School dates back to the Friends’
Boy’s School in Lawrence St in 1823 which moved to
Bootham in 1846. Ever since pupils attended that
early school, past scholars had kept in touch and been
interested in their old school and had been involved
with the school by making financial contributions, giving
lectures and being involved in the Natural History Society.
The cricket match against the school was started in the
1860s followed a decade later by a football match. So, in
many ways, the seed had existed since the school was
formed.
At a business meeting on 31st January 1879, a formal
resolution to create an organisation “The Old York
Scholars Association (OYSA)” was passed and that was
the start of OYSA, renamed in the 1980s as BOSA. The
organisation had a constitution with a requirement for an
Annual Meeting, the first of which was on Whit Monday,
2nd June 1879 and Whit Monday became the focus for
the meeting and the annual reunion. This was up to 1971
when the UK Bank Holidays were changed with Early May
and Spring Bank Holidays which replaced the Christian
festival of Whitsuntide, and the reunion is now on an early
Saturday in May.
Current Position
The current BOSA organisation is quite similar to that
which evolved back in 1879 and is still very similar to what
existed the 1920s,1930s and 1950s when the association
carried out most of the work required to communicate
with past scholars, organise reunions and arrange for the
printing of the Bootham magazine. There is a President,
normally elected for a 2-year period, who is the visible
leader of the past scholars. The Association had separate
funds which required, and still require, formally to meet
banking and accounting requirements. For many years,
the main income was from past scholars choosing to
become members and paying on either an annual or a
lifetime basis. This method of becoming a “member” was
changed in the 1980s when a lifetime fee was added to
the final bill (so, paid by parents) and then more recently,
the fee was dropped as the school increasingly carried
out most of the administration at no chargeable cost, as
is the arrangement to-day.
The organisation to run BOSA continues to reflect an
Association which used to do all the work. It is run by a
Committee with a Chair, Secretary and Treasurer together
with a team of Committee members who are usually
elected at the May meeting for a 3-year period. The May
meeting is officially an AGM. However, over the years, a
number of the posts such as Overseas Correspondent and
Branch Liaison Officer have become unnecessary as social
media technology and e-mail has taken over much of the
previous correspondence and is carried out by the school.
In 2016, I took over as Chair of BOSA from Simon
Hetherton. One of my first objectives was to look at
whether what BOSA did and how it was organised met
the requirements of the past students and the school.
Times and communications were changing quickly, and
it seemed clear that many required a more relaxed way of
life with less formality; those who came to reunions were
less likely to want a formal dinner and preferred to find a
local restaurant for their own peer group. In fact, the last
reunion dinner before the special bi-centennial event in
2023 was in 2017 which was very much focused on the
1967 leavers’ own event. At the same time, the school was
changing the organisation of the team which supported
and did most of the work for the Old Scholars. For several
years, Treasurers asked the question “why are we holding
and investing so much money, what is it for?”.
After quite a lot of discussion, We agreed to do three
things, first to ask Robbie Millar to design a questionnaire
for past scholars to find out what they wanted of the
Association; second to set up a small team under past
treasurer and future President Peter Higson to look at the
organisation; and third, to look at whether full dinners,
at one time an important annual event shared between
Bootham and Mount Old Scholars and still organised by
BOSA and MOSA, should still continue.
The outcome of all this work over a three-year period was
that we should streamline everything, spend most of the
finances on worthwhile school projects and probably
pass over any remaining finances for the school to hold as
part of the charitable trust.
Bootham Old Scholars
The Way Forward for BOSA
54
BOOTHAM
OLD SCHOLARS
EST. 1823
Old Scholars – The Way Forward for BOSA
Implementation was significantly impacted by the Covid
Pandemic and the inability to hold face to face Annual
Meetings and a range of other issues. But progress was
made in conjunction with Elaine Phillips, previous head
Chris Jeffery and current head Deneal Smith. Significant
expenditure on school projects has taken place on:
• Refurbishment of Fox House
• A new minibus
• Cricket Pavilion refurbishment
• Donation to Richard Burton Scholarship
• Bicentenary celebrations
• Providing a £10k matched fund for Giving Days
Discussions are in progress with the Bursar for remaining
funds to be managed by the school.
The Future
It is necessary to be clear that the objective of the
organisation continues to be: -
“To promote the interests and welfare of Bootham School
by any means and, in particular, by encouraging Old
Scholars to maintain their interest in it and to keep in
contact with other Old Scholars”.
However, in updating how that is achieved, the
arrangements for May 2025 were covered in the
presentations at the May ’24 reunion. The plan is to
introduce a new “Old Scholars Forum” which will replace
the previous formal “Executive Committee” and will
be the main interface between past scholars and the
current school. On the Forum, the membership will be
representative of each decade of living Old Scholars, so
with the youngest to the most senior represented. The
Forum will aim to meet face-to-face once a year, probably
at the time of the Spring Sports Reunion, and other
meetings, sometimes of just a section of the Forum can
take place as and when required, either face to face of
using meeting technology or both.
BOSA will continue to be the name of the organisation
and retain the tradition of having a President and the
Forum will be heavily involved in the selection of the
next President. The Forum will be actively involved in
expenditure of the money still held on behalf of Old
Scholars (and will require a Treasurer when it starts
if the move to the school has not been completed).
Current President Sarah True and current Treasurer Alan
Hardwick have agreed to continue for a short time as
members of the Forum for as long as required.
In place of an AGM at the May reunion, there will be a
presentation with any significant decisions highlighted
to enable Old Scholars to give an input. Full details of the
process to nominate Forum members and also the new
Constitution which is legally required to change things
will already have been communicated and posted on the
BOSA part of the school website by the time you read
this.
Andrew Robinson
Retiring and Final Chair of the BOSA Executive Committee
55
THANK
YOU
56
John Hastie came to Bootham
as Head of Music in 1975. In
many ways it was a very good
time for John to join us: John
Gray had recently taken over
as Headmaster and there was
much to build on, in the school,
the Friends’ Schools as a whole
and the City of York.
John had a good background for
this. He had begun his musical
career as a chorister at Durham,
went to RGS Newcastle, then
to Cambridge as Organ Scholar
of Sidney Sussex College. There he had free rein to run the
chapel choir, choral society and any orchestra or instrumental
ensemble. He did plenty of conducting, composition and
administration and took pride in advising on a new organ
for the college chapel. Then, at Whitgift School, he taught
and wrote an opera “Mara”, and next at Bromsgrove School
he wrote more and conducted and composed in the
Bromsgrove Festival.
Bootham, and York, offered similar opportunities. As well as
running classroom music and instrumental lessons, John
could build on Bootham’s musical traditions, which included
a joint choir with the Mount School and even whole school
singing of accessible versions of the Bach Passions at Easter.
For musical productions, this often meant working on Gilbert
and Sullivan with Mount colleagues and our brilliant Peter
Heywood.
Ann Hastie and their three sons became instant members
of our community and their family home at 128 Clifton was
splendidly welcoming. John did well in recruiting highly able
colleagues and especially instrumental teachers. Bootham
soon had system of annual resident graduates, of whom in
any year at least one would be a very promising musician:
two of them went on to become professors. John soon
established himself in the city and in national Quaker music
circles as someone who was both talented and helpful.
It was not long until in 1977 Bootham was hosting the choirs
of all nine Friends’ Schools to perform Verdi’s Requiem
in York Minster. This was musically and spiritually a rare
experience, not to mention a sell-out in the largest medieval
cathedral north of the alps. As much as the music, the Quaker
silence of the audience after the performance remains highly
memorable.
This outstanding success encouraged John to help with a
series of joint Friends’ Schools’ choral occasions, for Northern
and national choirs. It also led him to keep the orchestra
he had pains-takingly recruited as the ‘Guildhall Orchestra’,
which he founded in 1980. The Verdi experience meant John
was established as the person to conduct ‘in a day’ choral
events for York festival sponsored purposes.
There are, of course, far too many Bootham performances to
John’s credit to record them all here. In any case they were
very well-documented in the Bootham Magazine at the time.
It may provide a glimpse of what he could do to add one
story from his Bootham years.
John’s ability to deputise in various capacities has already
been mentioned. During a major Influenza outbreak he
and Peter Heywood were running a joint Mount/Bootham
production of Offenbach’s ‘La Belle Hélène’. One of the
principals went down with ‘flu, I’m unsure whether he was
playing Agamemnon or Menelaus. John said I ought to
deputise: I said I was not well, would mess it up and in any
case, I did not know it, but he did. He said, ‘Well if you can
get another conductor, I’ll do it!” Les Bresnen told me he’d
conduct, if I’d record a rehearsal for him. I did. On the big
night, John wore costume to conduct the overture, which
the orchestra, unaware of the arrangements, thought was
surprising, while they were not surprised to see Les sitting
next to John, as they assumed he was about to play some
extra percussion. After the overture, Les took over and John
went onto the stage. Everyone there said it was a triumph,
which I missed – in bed with the ‘flu.
Life after Bootham
After retirement from Bootham, John became Director of
Music at the nearby St. Olave’s Church, with its well-regarded
choir and organ, not to mention its orchestra, the Academy
of St. Olave’s, which he directed from 1997 to 2009. His final
musical contributions were as a successful and respected
Director of Music of St. Gregory’s Minster, from 2012 to 2023.
Philip Moore, Organist Emeritus of York Minster, and former
Bootham parent, was a close friend of John and played for his
packed funeral in St. Gregory’s Minster.
John himself had continued to play the organ very seriously,
even taking lessons with Nadji Hakim. (Nadji Hakim
succeeded Olivier Messiaen as titular organist at the Église de
la Sainte-Trinité, Paris.) It says much that Nadji told me when
I met him on 15th August, that they had become great friends
and
‘John was a real gentleman’.
Robin Peach, York, 30th October 2024
A number of biographical details have been gleaned from, or
checked with, John’s own contributions to his two orchestras’
websites, The City of York Guildhall Orchestra and The
Academy of St. Olave’s.
RLP
John Alexander Hastie Bootham School: 1975-1997
(born 1938, died June 2024)
57
Rodney Arthur Wills was a gentle, modest and considerate
member of Bootham staff, teaching Mathematics for twenty-
six years, fourteen as head of department. He was born on 19
April 1932 and his early years were spent in Holland. His father
worked for the Liverpool Shipping Company, looking after
Fyffes’ banana boats in Rotterdam. His mother’s parents had
emigrated to Holland when she was seven and thus grew up
bi-lingual; but she and Rodney’s father, together with Rodney
and his older brother, moved back to Britain and Liverpool in
1935 at a time when life was becoming increasingly difficult
with the rise of Hitler’s Germany.
After university, where he completed a degree in
Mathematics, Rodney was called up for National Service and
trained as a radio mechanic with the Royal Signals. He then
completed his education with an Initial Teacher Training
course at Manchester University, which led to his first job,
teaching Applied Maths at Sir William Borlase’s Grammar
School, a selective state school in Marlow, Buckinghamshire.
He then moved on to Reed’s School in Cobham, Surrey, an
independent secondary day and boarding school, where he
met – and married – Anne, who was the domestic bursar.
His third and final move, in 1966, was to Bootham. Anne
already had some knowledge of Quaker ways, having
experienced Ackworth before meeting Rodney, and she
already knew Bootham’s headmaster, Albert Lindley. Rodney
and Anne bought the house in Poppleton where they were to
spend the rest of their married life and where their daughter,
Barbara, was born. It was, he later recalled ‘the best move
we could have made’. Rodney joined the Maths department
when the head of Maths, Stanley Elliot, retired and David
Champion became the new head of Maths; and when David
became deputy Head in 1977 Rodney moved up in turn to
be head of Maths, a post he retained until just before his
retirement in 1992.
Rodney was a good mathematician. As a classroom teacher
he helped and encouraged generations of students of varying
abilities to achieve their best. He was also active in the wider
Bootham community, coaching and encouraging swimming,
looking after badminton, and joining in school ski trips.
His favourite sport, though,
was golf which he played
with colleagues on his half-
days – he was a good as well
as keen golfer and is reputed
to have scored a hole-in-one
on one occasion. He also
liked to take golfing holidays,
if only as a spectator, at
major tournaments around
the country, sometimes taking Barbara with him. He had
a fine singing voice, joining in school choral events and
staff entertainments – his rendition of the ‘Hippopotamus
Song’ was truly memorable. His organisational skills were
evident when he took charge of ‘front of house’ at school
productions. His unflappable temperament and quietly
efficient organising skills were clearly useful in his role
administering School and Public Examinations. In the staff
room he was also a respected member of the ‘crossword
corner’, pitting his wits against the compilers of The Times
crossword each morning break. Another, less conventional
hobby, was knitting with which he sometimes occupied
spare moments during the day as well as at home.
Above all, Rodney was a family man. He often spoke with
loving pride about Anne and Barbara. Away from school and
after his retirement, the house in Poppleton and its garden
gave him quiet contentment. Barbara was now married
and continued to live in the area. Despite Anne’s declining
mobility, the couple were able to enjoy many more happy
years and went on several holiday cruises. After Anne’s death,
Rodney finally left Poppleton for a retirement apartment in
Easingwold. Then, as the frailties of old age caught up with
him, he made his last move to a care home in Thirsk. There he
died on 22 June 2024.
Jenny Royle
An appreciation of Rodney Wills
Staff common room 1972
Staff Spring 1988 Sport 1987
The garden of Penn 1987
– Jenny Russ, Peter and Brenda Heywood,
Chris Moore and Anne Wills
Old Scholars – John Hastie and Rodney Wills
Richard Barnes (B: 1958-62)
Rick Barnes passed away on 8th June this year, three months
short of his eightieth birthday, after a brave fight against
cancer over several years. He had followed both his much
older brother, Michael, and his father to Bootham where he
flourished. He enjoyed playing for the school at both football
and cricket.
After leaving Bootham School, Rick studied for his
accountancy articles in London where he met and married
Lena. Their partnership soon included daughter Victoria. They
travelled the world together during which Rick worked for a
number of leading companies, including RTZ, Courage, and
British Aerospace.
Rick was an avid follower of cricket and horse racing. Latterly
he became interested in antique silverware and established
outlets in cities such as York which had famous race courses
thus combining his hobbies.
Family and friends were particularly important to him,
especially his grandchildren in recent years. Thus many
attended his funeral in Kingston upon Thames on 25th June.
John Brockbank (B: 1959-66)
It is with great sadness that I email you to let you know that
my father John Brockbank has passed away suddenly. He had
a heart attack on 19th July aged 76 and his funeral is on 14th
August in Bradford on Avon in Wiltshire. I was looking through
his belongings and found a birthday card that prompted me
to contact you to inform you. I remember visiting York with my
parents as a child whilst they attended various reunions. HE
always spoke so fondly of his time at Bootham and in York.
Debra Jensen
Julian Clapham (B: 1953-58)
Julian Clapham was at Bootham in my time but younger. My
main memory of him from then was him singing Gilbert &
Sullivan performance, I think as Princess Ida. For some years,
he and his wonderful second wife Jennifer have been with me
at Redland Friends Meeting. Jenn cared for him so serenely
as his Parkinsons developed. I attended his packed memorial
meeting.
Roger Sturge (B: 1951-56)
Edmund (Kendall) Clark (B: 1942-48)
There’s an interesting film from 2014 of Kendall talking about
his experience of Conscientious Objection alongside that of his
father and father-in-law.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-q1si9qK6SM
Dr Michael George Francis Crowe
(B: 1949-54)
Born in Harrogate, Yorkshire
on 23rd April 1936.
Married Audrey O Jones 1963.
[ a Cardiac Theatre Sister at
Guy’s Hospital. London]. Sons
Graham, Alexander and Peter.
Grandchildren India and Finn.
Education. Malsis Hall
Prep School; Scholarship
to Bootham School,
York. Magdalene College,
Cambridge.1956-9 Natural
Science Tripos. Clinical studies
at Guy’s Hospital, London.
Qualified MRCS. LRCP 1962;
MB BChir 1963.
National Service in the Royal
Navy – on discharge Sub/Lt
RNVR.
House jobs in Guildford before starting a 44 year career in
General Medical Practice at Wokingham in Berkshire. General
Practice was in the doldrums in 1966 and he became active
in both Royal College of General Practitioners [RCGP] and
British Medical Association [BMA] – research and committee
work. With the support of the Oxford Regional Hospital Board,
he carried out a research project “Your views on the Future of
General Practice in the Reading Area”. 97% [231] of all the GPs
in the Area responded and the final report influenced GMSC
policy.
He was chairman of the BMA’s Junior Members Forum in
1969 and proposed a motion on “Sex education in schools”
that was passed at the BMA’s Annual Representative Meeting.
He campaigned for the need for Medical Students to have
first hand experience in General Practice; the value of Health
Centres; the active participation of GPs at the emerging Post
Graduate Centres.
The M4 motorway was being planned in 1968 and as Chairman
of the Wokingham Civic Society’s M4 Action Group he was
instrumental in defeating a County Council scheme for joining
the M4 with the M3. The new road link would have destroyed
most of the recreational spaces and school playing fields
across the town.
He moved to the Uppingham Road Practice, Leicester in 1970
before joining a 3 man Practice in Leicestershire’s first Health
Centre at Syston in 1971. Since then the Practice has doubled
in size and taken on a major teaching role. He was always.an
enthusiastic and dedicated family doctor but in addition he
found time for other medical interests.In 1984 and 1985 he did
single handed locums in Barra in the Outer Hebrides.
He was appointed one of the first “Man in Society” Tutors in the
Department of General Practice at the new Leicester Medical
School which started in 1974. He was a Trainer for the Leicester
Vocational Training Scheme for General Practice for 14 years
and Chairman of the Trent Regional GP Sub Committee.
He retired from full time practice in 2001 but continued to do
Locums until July 2009.
As Secretary to the Leicestershire and Rutland Division of the
BMA, he was the prime mover in a successful campaign to
force the Labour Government of the day, Secretary of State
Barbara Castle, to give Leicestershire its fair share of the NHS
resources. Prior to that Leicestershire was only getting 78%
of the National average. The campaign was backed by all the
nine local MPs; all the local Medical and Nursing professions;
the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board and the Leicester
Mercury.
Old Scholars RememberedOld Scholars Remembered
58
Old Scholars – Remembered
As the BMA’s local Press Officer for over 30 years he promoted
successful National campaigns on :-
• Routine testing of pregnant women for HIV;
• The fair distribution of NHS resources Nation wide;
• Cannabis to be available for research and medical treatment;
• The need to add ovaries to the list on a donor card;
• The need to plan emergency treatment centres for providing
Out of Hours care.
He was President of the local Division in 1991 and made a
Fellow of the BMA.
In 1984, as Chairman of the Leicester Faculty he organised the
Spring Meeting of the Royal College of General Practitioners
with the theme “Living with Big Brother.” Daniel Lambert
featured on the publicity papers.
He was elected Fellow of the RCGP 1981. Provost of the Faculty
2002-5.
Member of the Leicestershire Local Medical Committee from
1970. Chairman 1990 to 1998. Agenda Committee of the
National Conference of Local Medical Committees for 12 years.
General Practitioner’s Committee Member 1999-02
President Leicester Medical Society 2003-4
Main interests:- Family and friends; socialising; travel and
sea cruising; gardening and wall building; photography and
video recording; painting and sculpture; DIY; salmon fishing;
sailing; skiing; golf, music – cello and choir member, drama –
was the General in Peter Ustinov’s Romanov and Juliet and
the barrister in Mortimer’s Dock Brief, NADFAS lectures and
church recording; family history; selected television; food and
drink.
John Gray (B: 1940-46) (Head: 1972-88)
See also pages 22-23
I was at Bootham from 1980 to 1984 when John was
headmaster. My years at Bootham changed by life and
made me what I am today. In part, it was due to the school
community that I loved, but it was also in part because John
had made me head boy.
I remember that moment clearly. We were sitting on top of
a 30 foot rock in Sheffield after he had just taught me how
to climb it. He asked if I would accept being Bootham’s head
boy. It was a different Britain then and I was surprised that
the position could even be offered to a Malaysian boy. Yet,
Bootham under John had been an exceptional place, so it was
not surprising in retrospect. Anyway, I said yes. He thanked me
quietly then we climbed down again...
It was a brief moment - contained within it was everything
good about the school and the man who led it - a moment
that I have carried with me ever since.
The year I was head boy taught me values that I still live by.
Leadership, kindness, fortitude, integrity and devotion to duty.
I knew I would never be able to repay the debt even then, and
said so in my Head Reeve’s speech to the school before I left
for university. I only wish I had been able to communicate my
appreciation directly to John more,
Peter Teo (B: 1980-84)
John Harris (B: 1956-60)
John has always appreciated the updates from Bootham – so
thankyou so much.
Sadly John died June 11th this year following a diagnosis of
Colon Cancer. He was 82 yrs of age and had enjoyed good
health and active retirement until very recently.
John thoroughly enjoyed his time at Bootham - he said it
was a kind school where hobbies and ambitions were hugely
encouraged.
Maintaining motor cars was a hobby and necessity , moving
from the Morris Minor of his early days to Triumph sports cars
and finally Turbo R Bentleys .
He never lost his interest in photography- developing his own
prints at home.
After leaving school he studied medicine at Sheffield
University and spent 30 yrs as a GP in Nantwich where we still
live.
With best wishes,
Jean Harris
Peter Heald (B: 1967-74)
Peter was a retired Materials Engineer with over 30 years’
experience in the Oil & Gas industry.
He is survived by his two brothers, Daniel (B: 1968-75) and
Matthew William (B: 1971-78).
Jonathan
Hepworth
(B: 1970-1972)
Jonathan was the oldest
child of Jack Hepworth
and Anne Scott Stokes.
Through his maternal
Grandmother Mary
Elizabeth Morland, he
was descended from
a number of Quaker
families whose Quaker
roots go back to the early
days of the Society.
He grew up in
Glastonbury, attending
Sidcot school as a
boarder at the age of eleven before moving on to Bootham
after his O-levels.
After doing science A levels with a view to medical training,
he spent time working as a nurse auxiliary in an old-fashioned
psychiatric hospital. This was a sobering experience, at that
time treatments were primitive and patients stayed in limbo
for many years. Realising that his interests lay mainly in
humanities and philosophy, Jon went to the University of
Wales, Bangor with his wife Lucy Coate. He much enjoyed
and got a good degree in Philosophy, before deciding to
do a postgraduate social work training at The University of
Kent at Canterbury, which Lucy did also. His work became
increasingly specialised in child protection, fostering and
adoption. He worked in London and Devon, becoming a senior
manager in Devon Social Services, running the adoption
teams and specialising in childcare law as it relates to child
protection proceedings.
He ended his career as Group Operations Manager for
Adoption Services, Devon County Council. He cared deeply
about his work, which was so important to the lives of the
children concerned.
Lucy and Jon separated after some years, and Jon formed
two subsequent major relationships, the first, with Elena Bell,
resulting in a much loved son, Tom, now 37.
Jon had a lifelong enjoyment of sailing, sparked by his Father
during early holidays on the Norfolk Broads and in Devon; for
many years he crewed for his Aunt, Susan Openshaw (nee
59
Scott Stokes) in her Salcombe Yawl, and later with a former
colleague, again out of Salcombe.
He was always a keen observer of nature, especially flowers
and birds. He was a keen motorcyclist from his teens and, after
a gap, he took this up again in later life.
Having bought a wonderful home in Charente twenty years
ago, with one and a quarter acres (he had never previously
shown interest in gardening) and subsequently retired, he
became immersed in, and deeply in love with, all things
French, including its language, food, films and jazz. The birds
and flowers that surrounded him and came into his garden
gave him so much pleasure. With his then partner Rhona
Henderson, he took up cycling, and would often recount tales
of their favourite holiday together, cycling the canals from
Bordeaux to the Mediterranean.
Jon’s other great interest was in family history, and he traced
all branches of his ancestry as far as could be done. Using his
skill at computer programming, he devised his own unique
family tree program, covering several thousand ancestors,
relations and connections. He also created and maintained
a website devoted to his father, who had been an abstract
painter in the 1930’s, and then a modernist architect.
Jonathan was a quiet, non-competitive, kind, funny and gentle
person, who worked hard at those things that interested him.
Two years ago he contracted a very aggressive cancer, which
he bore very stoically, remaining cheerful and inspiring to
those around him.
Martin Impey (B: 1956-60)
Martin was born on June 2nd, 1942 in Selly Oak, Birmingham,
England and passed away peacefully in the North Okanagan
Hospice on June 6th, 2024 just four days after his 82nd
birthday.
Martin will be lovingly remembered by his wife Evi, to whom
he was married for 60 years; one son, Mark (wife Christine); one
daughter, Diana (husband Mike); four grandchildren, Caitlin
(husband Garry), Shawn, Isabelle and Simon; and two brothers,
one sister and their families in England.
Martin and Evi were married on July 11th, 1964 and they made
the perfect couple as a Doctor/Nurse team. Martin graduated
on July 16th, 1965 from the University of Birmingham. They
soon welcomed two children to complete their family and
then together they set out to immigrate to Canada. The
family embarked on what would become the adventure of
a life-time, traveling the world together and enjoying many
experiences while exploring different countries. In November
1973 Martin received his Specialist Certificate of Psychiatry
from the University of British Columbia. After choosing to
settle down in the Coldstream on beautiful Kalamalka Lake in
1977, he proceeded to practise in Vernon for the next twenty-
five years, until his retirement in 2002.
Martin was a devoted family man and one who lived life to the
fullest. He will be remembered as a medical man, musician
who played numerous instruments, an entertainer, singer
in the Counterpoint Choir, a scientist, inventor, and athlete
who loved skiing, sailing, windsurfing, running, biking, hiking,
water skiing and horse-riding. Martin was a thinker, seeker,
birdwatcher, gardener, dog lover....and so much more. He will
be missed by everyone who knew him and he leaves behind so
many memories that will be forever cherished.
Charles (Charlie) Gayton Lamb
(B: 1944-47)
Charlie passed away in
Iveagh Nursing Home
in Banbridge with his
family at his side. We, of
course, will miss him the
most. His funeral was
held in Friends’ Meeting,
Richhill where he had
worshipped for over 90
years. It was a wonderful
service of celebration for a
life well lived. He came to
faith in Jesus Christ at the
age of 21 and spent the
rest of his life serving his
Saviour and Lord.
Dad travelled to many parts of the world - New Zealand,
Australia, many parts of the USA, Kenya, Morocco and lots of
cruises with my mum while they were both able.
He went to Friends’ School Lisburn, before heading off to
Bootham, and spent a time as President of their OSA and
played hockey for the OS team while we were boarders at
Friends. Even though he loved FS Lisburn he talked more
about his time at Bootham. The adventure of heading off form
Northern Ireland to a School in England when transport was
not as good as it is today, to the many friends he made along
the way. In our family we all felt like we had gone to school
in York because he made the stories so real, and I think they
were.
Dad has received the OS magazine every year for quite some
time and though he knew no one currently attending the
school it always brought back happy memories.
We, as a family, would like to say thank you to Bootham School
for the education dad received there and the many memories
he had of a great time in his early life. Thank you also for the
Christmas card and Magazine sent every year, they both
brought a smile to his face.
Glenis Hanna (daughter)
When a mighty man of God like Charles goes home to the
arms of his beloved Jesus he leaves a big void behind.
I shall always remember his warm loving kindness to me a
new convinced member floundering a bit in the new Spiritual
freedom of Friends.
Be assured of my love and lift up your hearts at this time of
celebration.
David Prendergast Saturday 20 April 2024
Robert Eminson Littlewood (B: 1958-62)
Peacefully on Wednesday 23rd August 2023 aged 78 years.
Dearly beloved husband of June. Step father of Simon &
Hannah.
60
Old Scholars – Remembered
Iain Latta McLellan (B: 1957-61)
Peacefully, at Perth Royal Infirmary on Tuesday, 27th February
2024; Iain Latta McLellan, aged 80 years. Born in Friockheim,
and latterly of Northwood and Comrie. Beloved son of the
late Dr. Malcolm and Isobel McLellan, loved and loving
husband to Karen, proud father of Guy, Craig, Kim, Angus,
and Ross, wonderful brother to Mary Anne, devoted nephew
of Margaret, generous grandfather of Zara, Sofia, Skye, Daisy,
Roxy, Mia, Harrison, Bodie, Jade, and Hamish, welcoming
father-in-law to Vicky, Helen, Angie, and Morag, and good
friend of many.
Sir Joseph Gurney Pease (B: 1941-44)
Sir Joseph Gurney Pease Bt., died on the 26th December
2023 after a brief illness, in the Carlisle Infirmary, Cumbria.
His passing was peaceful, and he was well looked after by the
kind professional staff there.
Father, as myself, regarded his time spent at Bootham as the
happiest he would have wished and always regarded those
years and the friendships of that time that lasted throughout
his life.
He attended Bootham from 1941 to 1944 and after National
Service, worked as Assistant to the Secretary and General
Manager in the accounting department of The Cleveland
Car Company. in Darlington. In 1953 he married my mother
Shelagh Munro Bulman (The Mount School), and sister to
John Armstrong Bulman a contemporary at Bootham. He
served on the Guisborough Urban District Council
In 1957 he moved to the New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel where he
assisted my mother’s family in running the business , finding
time to fight 3 General Elections. In 1974 we relocated to the
North lakes, where he fought another election. serving as a
member of the Liberal Party Council and was President of the
NW Regional Liberal Party. Returning to the Lakes, my parents
then ran the Woolpack Inn in Eskdale from 1975 ,to 1985,
when they relocated to Grasmere in a well earned retirement.
For several years they moved once more to Wensleydale finally
settling in their later years in Penruddock near Penrith. He
continued to write and publish until his death aged 96.
His was a life well lived that always abided by the modest
Quaker ethos of his forebears and we were proud of him..
Charles Pease
Martin Potter (B: 1964-69)
Martin Potter
was from 1996
to 2019 Group
Legal Counsel
(Construction)
at Canary Wharf
Group plc who
are building
the multi-
billion pound
commercial
office and retail
development
in east London
and other high
profile buildings
in the centre of
London. He was
responsible for
the provision of
legal advice to
both the construction and management arms of the Group.
He worked as a lawyer in the construction industry for over
38 years, firstly for 10 years with the former Trafalgar House
plc., Offshore and Structural Division and then with Olympia
& York Canary Wharf Limited, the predecessor to his current
company. Following almost two years with Drake & Scull
Engineering Limited, he returned to Canary Wharf in 1996.
Martin was a Member of the Institute of Arbitrators and a
practising adjudicator on the TeCSA panel. He is a member
of the Executive Committee of the Adjudication Society . He
was also a member of the Arbitration Club, the Society of
Construction Law and the Society for Computers and Law.
Martin died suddenly on 6 May 2024 and is greatly missed by
family and friends.
David Rathmell
(B: 1950-55)
Died suddenly at
home on 2 August
2023, aged 86. Devoted
husband to June, who
predeceased him and
whom he missed with
all his heart. Beloved
father and grandfather,
and much respected
part of his local
community for many
years, especially West
Surrey Wine Society,
Round Table and 41
Club.
Michael Ruse (B: 1953-59)
With great sadness we record the death of Michael Ruse
at the beginning of November 2024. Memorial notices will
appear in the 2025 magazine.
Dr Peter Story (B: 1930-35)
Peter was born in Whitby, North Yorkshire to Florence and
Henry Story on the 2nd November 1919, the first of three
children. He was educated locally until he went to Bootham
School in York in 1930. One of his memories was going up in
a bi-plane at Cobbam’s Flying Circus with his father when it
visited Whitby in the late 1920’s.
In 1935 he obtained his matriculation, and went off to St
Bartholomew’s Hospital in London, the first male member
of the Story family not to go to sea for three generations. He
qualified in 1940 and went to Bristol to do paediatrics before
returning to St Bartholomew’s a year later to take up surgery.
In 1943 he joined the army 104 General Hospital and was
posted to Algeria to an all-tented hospital. It was here he first
met his future wife Freda who was in the army with Queen
Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps. There they were joined
by the 6th Armoured Division who had fought their way
from Egypt and were regrouping for the Sicily landings. In
late 1943 the hospital was moved to Italy where the Naples
61
harbour was full of sunken ships. They were able to move
around together, and on the 17th May 1944, they were married
in army tent in Afragola (just north of Naples) while Vesuvius
was erupting. They only had a one-day honeymoon (but they
were given a driver and car) in Positano due to the start of the
British and American attack on Monte Cassino which was
pushing forward towards Rome.
In June 1944 104 General Hospital moved up to Rome, and
Peter and Freda remained there for nearly 2 years, working
side by side, Peter a surgeon and Freda an operating room
nurse in the Italian Military Hospital located alongside the
Colosseum and the Forum.
In 1946, they returned to England and Peter was informed of
a job at St Bartholomew’s Hospital by a Northwood GP and
friend Dr Morris Edmond. Peter had decided he was no longer
going to spend his life cutting and putting together people,
and moved into haematology, and they rented a flat above
the shops in Station Approach Northwood. In 1947, Simon
was born and they moved to a house in Northwood Hills. In
1953 Peter was offered a one-year scholarship to go to St Louis,
and they set sail from Southampton on the Caronia, Simon
was fine and spent all day making friends and exploring the
ship, while Peter and Freda spent most of the time in the
cabin, despite coming from a family of sailors, Peter was not
a good sailor (nor was Freda). In the last 2 months in America,
they drove across the US and Canada to the Pacific coast,
visiting many famous locations, Hollywood, Las Vegas, San
Francisco, the Rockies, Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls and then
back to New York, here Peter managed to lose Simon in Times
Square on the last night. Fortunately, when he got back to try
and explain to Freda; who had remained in hotel to pack; he
was relieved to hear Simon had come home alone some time
before and was asleep in bed. Next day they took the Queen
Mary back to Southampton.
Though the 50’s and 60’s Peter started to specialise in
Leukaemia and various blood disorders, he had a private
practice in Harley Street for a time and was also part of the
teaching staff a St Bartholomew’s Hospital Medical School. In
1959 they moved into the Red Cottage in Dene Road, where
he remained for over 65 years. Not long after moving to Dene
Road, Peter hired a gardener, who asked Peter if he had been
North Africa in 1943, and when he replied yes, he offered Peter
his sincere thanks for saving his life after he had been blown
off his motor bike by a roadside explosive and had spent
many hours on the operating table. He took the family back to
Whitby for holidays, where his mother still lived in the house
he had been born in, together with visiting many old friends
and relations sometime 3 times a year. He would recount
memories of crossing the Yorkshire Moors with chains on the
wheels of the car and 10-foot snow drifts after 10 or 12 hour
drives from Northwood. It was during these holidays, Simon
learnt how to drive the family car on the back roads on the
Moors at the age of 12 / 13 during the weekly picnics on the
moors! In the early 60’s they also ventured to Spain twice (by
car & car train) and flights to Italy. Peter and Freda both spoke
Italian after their time in Rome, though Peter also spoke
French and Swedish (Swedish girlfriend while a student in
London). After Simon married, they continued to holiday
mostly in France, but Freda always wanted more holidays.
Peter retired from NHS at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in 1984
after commuting to Farringdon every day by train since 1946,
but he could not resist working, so carried on doing locum
work across the England until the government stepped in and
told hospitals they could not employ doctors over 80 years of
age. He then devoted all his time and efforts into the garden
at Dene Road, we do not know how long he was a member of
the RHS, but he was known to be visiting Chelsea in the late
1950’s on Members Day.
He managed a splendid 100th Birthday, with a card from
the Queen and a party here at Moor Park. All the family were
there, Simon with his wife Barbie, Peter’s 3 grandchildren
William (with Sophia), Annabel (with Damon) and Benjamin
along with Peter’s 4 great grandchildren Arabella, Emily,
Ava and Charlotte. More recently they all visited him at Dene
Road, including his final great grandchild William born in
2023.
In his last few years, he managed three stays in hospital, but
came home with a smile on his face despite the doctors
warning he may not come home. He had covid twice,
pneumonia, weak heart, skin cancer on his face which he put
down his time in Africa and in the garden and a few other
things, but the staff and carers from Regal kept him going
through it all, particularly Abi who we think was bossier than
Freda, or at least he did as he was told for once. He had many
visitors both family; including his niece, Penny; and old friends
(or in some cases their children) from Northwood.
Overall, he had a great 104 years.
Simon Whitaker (B: 1955-59)
Simon Kidd Whitaker was born on 27th August 1942 and
lived in Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire. After leaving school he
went to Winmarleigh Agricultural College and became a farm
manager, he also played cricket for Pilling Cricket Club.
On 13th March 1971 he married Wendy and took over running
his own farm. He had two daughters, Debbie and Karen.
He enjoyed going to the Lake District walking and climbing
in the hills, enjoyed maintaining and landscaping his garden
and turning his hand to wood making.
Simon was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease over 20 years
ago and this gradually took away his independence. He
passed away surrounded by his family on 1st August 2024,
leaving his wife of 53 years, his daughters and 4 grandchildren
who will remember him forever.
Debbie Fellows
62
63
Deaths notified to the Trust Office since
the last edition of Bootham Magazine
Name Bootham Dates Date of Death
Robert Emminson Littlewood 1958-62 August 2023
David Allan Rowntree Robson 1958-61 21/11/2023
David William Rathmell 1950-55 02/08/2023
Joseph Gurney Pease 1941-44 26/12/2023
Matthew McQuinn 1990-95 2020
John Gray 1940-46 14/02/2024
Michael Crowe 1949-54 21/03/2024
Iain McLellan 1957-61 27/02/2024
Timothy Hughes 1965-72 30/04/2024
Charles (Charlie) Lamb 1944-47 17/04/2024
John (Julian) Clapham 1953-58 05/04/2024
Quentin Newhall 1971-76 June 2024
Richard Barnes 1958-62 07/06/2024
Martin Impey 1956-60 06/06/2024
Martin Potter 1964-69 06/05/2024
John Hastie Staff 16/06/2024
Rodney Wills Staff 22/06/2024
Edmund (Kendall) Clark 1942-48 05/07/2024
John Brockbank 1959-66 19/07/2024
John Harris 1956-60 11/06/2024
Simon Kidd Whitaker 1955-59 01/08/2024
Peter Story 1930-35 11/08/2024
Peter Heald 1967-74 16/09/2024
Jonathan Hepworth 1970-72 30/09/2024
Zoheb Khawaja 1999-2002 October 2024
Michael Ruse 1953-59 01/11/2024
Old Scholars – Remembered / Deaths since 2023
Reunions 2024
64
Old Scholars – Reunions
65
BURSARY
APPEAL 2024
LET YOUR
LIFE SPEAK
Transforming lives through
a Bootham education
BURSARY
APPEAL 2024
LET YOUR
LIFE SPEAK
Transforming lives through
a Bootham education
Over the past 200 years, Bootham’s
ambition has been to educate young
people to ‘let their lives speak’ regardless
of economic background. What we have
achieved so far has only been possible
thanks to the support of Old Scholars,
parents and friends of the school.
We are now committed to offering
transformational bursaries to children
from economically deprived backgrounds.
The chance to live and study here will
change the rest of their lives.
The Culture of Giving
Local Quakers raised money to found
the school which has been sustained by
the generosity of Old Scholars, parents
and friends. This support has allowed
us to offer an exceptional educational
experience and provide some funding
for bursaries.
One of the first things the Old Scholars’
Association did in the nineteenth century
was to set up a bursary fund. Now, in the
early twenty first century, we recognise
that the need for financial support for
exceptional students is greater than ever.
You could help secure a life-changing
opportunity for a young person by
donating to a fund that will be
ring-fenced for the provision of a
Bootham education for these
young people.
For more information please contact:
elaine.phillips@boothamschool.com
or go to our website:
www.boothamgiving.com
BOOTHAM
BURSARY
APPEAL
Bursary page for Bootham Magazine.indd 1Bursary page for Bootham Magazine.indd 1 14/10/2024 09:0014/10/2024 09:00
66
Bootham Bursary Appeal, School Reunions 2025
We are looking forward to welcoming everyone
back in 2025. Remember to look out for more
information in emails and to check our social
media as well.
Saturday 22 March 2025
Sports Reunion
We will be running our usual programme of basketball (tips
off at 11 30), netball (1pm start) and football (from 1 30pm).
Lunch is at 12 noon and afternoon tea served between 3pm
and 4pm.
Everyone is very welcome.
London Reunion
Date and location to be confirmed.
Saturday 10 May 2025
PARKING AT BOOTHAM
Parking on site is limited and priority will be given
to anyone with mobility issues. Please contact
Elaine Phillips (elaine.phillips@boothamschool.com)
for further information.
We would really appreciate your help in
re-connecting with as many Old Scholars as
possible. If you know of anyone we may have
lost touch with please do ask them to get in
touch with us, we’d love to catch up.
School Reunions 2025
67
Bootham Old Scholars’ Reunion 2025
10–10.30am Coffee in the Dining Room
10.30–11.30am Hall – presentations from Deneal Smith
and Head Reeves
11.30am College tours – opportunity for groups to
tour school with College students
12.00–12.45pm Lunch in the Dining Hall
12.45–1.30pm Music in the Auditorium
1.30–3.00pm Cricket
2.00–3.00pm Tours of school with boarding students
2.00–3.00pm Observatory
3.00–4.00pm Tea
4.00pm Reunion photograph
4.00pm School buildings close
