OBMAGAZINE 2020

INSIDE...

PARLOPHONE RECORDS' NICK BURGESS SARAH CREED ART CURATOR OF ONE OF LONDON’S MOST TALKED ABOUT MUSEUMS

Playwright, author and television scriptwriter JONATHAN HARVEY

Blue Coat Eco-Committee drives NEW GREEN AGENDA

CHESS CLUB’S THE WOMBATS' RESURGENCE DANIEL HAGGIS NICK COWAN ON PERFORMING WITH PUTTING THE BLAZE THE ROLLING STONES INTO BLAZER CONTENTS CONTENTS KEEP IN TOUCH! We require your consent to communicate with you. 12 To view our Privacy Notice and communications consent form head over to our website. Once complete you will never miss an event invitation, e-newsletter or Old Blues magazine.

www.bluecoatschoolliverpool. 38 HITTING36 THE RIGHT org.uk/old-blues/keep-touch 4 16 NOTE You can contact the Development 4 SCHOOL NEWS 22 AND THE AWARD 39 TECH STARTUP ZYNG Team directly at development-team @bluecoatschool.org.uk or on 7 SPORT REPORT GOES TO… 40 CALL THE BLUE COAT 0151 733 1407 ext. 207 9 CATCHING UP WITH… 23 ROBERT SKYNER MIDWIFE Don’t forget you can also keep in touch THE CLASS OF 2019 RAISES THE BAR 41 FLYING DOCTOR MATT with Blue Coat using our social media 10 TAKING TO THE STAGE 24 WOMEN IN STEAM IS READY FOR TAKE platforms: 12 INTERVIEW WITH… 26 INTRODUCING NICK OFF - AGAIN! /bluecoatschoololdblues JONATHAN HARVEY BURGESS, CO-PRESIDENT 42 5 MINUTES WITH… 14 IN BRIEF... OF PARLOPHONE RICHARD DOWNEY @LiverpoolBCS 16 EMPOWERING ART 28 NICK COWAN, PUTTING 43 REDMEN OF LIVERPOOL 18 POPPING IN TO SAY THE BLAZE INTO BLAZER www.linkedin.com/ 44 OLD BLUES AROUND groups/8153535 HELLO 30 OLD BLUES INSPIRING THE WORLD 19 5 MINUTES WITH… THE NEXT GENERATION 46 BE MINDFUL ABOUT Cover photo: Old Blue Daniel Haggis, GRAHAM JONES 32 PASS IT ON YOUR MENTAL HEALTH from the Class of 2002, and his band The Wombats perform at the 2019 19 DELVE INTO THE ARCHIVE 36 CLASS OF 1991: OUR 47 5 MINUTES WITH… Leeds Festival.

20 HELP IS AT HAND FOR PIONEERING FEMALES Jonathan Harvey photo GRAHAM O’CONNELL Photo credit: Harry Holm HUNGRY DINERS RETURN 48 BLUE COAT FOR ALL

02 | OB MAGAZINE 2020 WWW.BLUECOATSCHOOLLIVERPOOL.ORG.UK | 03 SCHOOL NEWS

Parent Power Schools SCHOOL NEWS Guide 2019 ranks Blue Coat 28th nationally and 3rd in North West

In November 2019 The Sunday Times published its prestigious Parent Power Schools Guide 2019, ranking The Blue Coat School 28th nationally amongst state schools and 3rd in the North West.

Reporting on the committee’s progress to date, founding members Hillary The list identifies the highest performing and Lucy from Year 11: schools in the UK, ranked by recent examination results. Our 2019 exam “In order to use our grant wisely, 420 trees were ordered and planted on the season culminated with an exceptional set of results, with both A Level and GCSE schools Playing Fields, with representatives from Years 11 and 13 helping to students having their hard work plant them. rewarded.

We are also planning to spend some of our funds on a sensory garden that • At A Level of all grades 61% were A*–A will benefit the biodiversity surrounding our School. Everyone will be able and 82% were A*–B, with students achieving the highest number of A*–A to take part in planting, growing and maintaining this important space. grades ever achieved at Blue Coat. Students will soon be able to access leaflets and information relating to • Our Year 11 students celebrated some Climate Change, what an Eco-School is and how we can have a healthy of the best GCSE results ever recorded and environmentally friendly lifestyle in and out of school. Muddy Good Fun! at the School and of all grades 54% Students celebrating their results on A Level Results Day 2019 were ‘9-8’ and 78% were ‘9-7’. Launched in July 2019, with financial (Photo credit: John K Roberts Photography). But perhaps the biggest piece of news is that we are officially applying support from the MBNA Foundation and Our national and regional ranking reflects for the Eco-Schools Bronze Award, bringing us one step closer to the coveted the Development Fund, our new the enormous amount of focus and Green Flag award – something only presented to the most sustainable Eco-Committee has wasted no time in energy shown by our students and staff, schools. None of this could be possible without the amazing support of our driving forward their green agenda. and firmly cements Blue Coat’s position Development Fund supporters, staff, parents and Old Blues. Without your Our 2019/20 Head Boy and Head Girl as one of the UK’s leading state schools. At the top of their list is seeking Eco-School help, we truly do not know where we would be and the Eco-Committee is status, an international programme which forever grateful for your continued support.” After a competitive application process Alexander Campbell and Katy aims to help schools make sustainability an McEwan were appointed to the prestigious positions of Head Boy integral part of school life. and Head Girl. While managing their studies, university applications and extra-curricular activities, Alexander and Katy are responsible for overseeing a Senior Prefect Team of 38, as well as representing the School and delivering speeches at events throughout the year.

Huge generosity shown during ‘12 Days of “We feel very privileged to have been given the opportunity to Christmas’ foodbank represent Blue Coat. Creating new relationships with staff and campaign students as well as giving back to the School that has provided us with so much lies at the heart of our work. Over the course of 12 days in early December 2019 a team of Year 13 students, under the watchful eye of We are thoroughly enjoying being able to play a more active role Blue Coat teachers Mrs Driffill and within the School, by attending events throughout the year and Mr Pearson, Old Blue from the Class supporting the wider school community. Meeting and working of 2001 (pictured), coordinated a with people who share our passion for Blue Coat and who have tremendous campaign for the North generously done so much for the School and its students, is Liverpool Foodbank. something we continue to be very proud of. Thanks to the generosity of our students, parents and the wider School We hope we have helped our youngest students feel welcome community, a total of 3,745 items and that we have played a role in creating a positive and exciting were donated during our ‘12 Days of environment for all current and prospective Blue Coat students!” Christmas’ campaign, bringing festive joy to families across North Liverpool.

04 | THE OB MAGAZINE 2020 WWW.BLUECOATSCHOOLLIVERPOOL.ORG.UK | 05 SCHOOL NEWS

Chess Club’s next move

Chess Club coordinator and Old Blue Jenny Long from the Class of 2009 is the driving force behind the Club’s incredible resurgence over Lego Robotics the past four years. This year Jenny is aiming high and our Chess enthusiasts are set for a busy year! Seven Year 8 students travelled to the University of Central Lancashire in January to take part in the First Lego League To help stretch and challenge our players, plans are being put in place competition. This is the first time Blue Coat has entered this to enter four teams into the Merseyside Chess Association Junior popular competition, in which students had to design, build League. So far this year our teams have performed strongly in the and program a Lego robot to complete a series of missions. English Chess Federation National Schools Championship, held at Judged on Core Values, Innovation, and Robot Design our Bolton Grammar School. team of avid computer coders emerged third overall and were awarded first place in the Core Values section thanks to their Students will also have the chance to participate in the world’s largest excellent teamwork. children’s chess tournament, the prestigious Delancey School’s competition. International Master Malcolm Pein will be dropping in to deliver a series of highly anticipated workshops and students will be able to join in with our very own Blue Coat league. In September 2019 four new team captains were appointed and a new online captain, to help support the Club’s online international ventures. With the skill level of our members going from strength to strength we are delighted that a number of students have been invited to play for the County.

SPORT

In January Chess Club played host to students from King David High School, The Academy of St Nicholas, St Margaret’s Academy REPORT and St Francis Xavier’s College, for our first blitz tournament of 2020. Not for the faint-hearted, competitors had just 5 minutes to play their entire game! Several matches drew in a number of Netball spectators as games came down to the crucial final seconds. Among those supporting the event Maths teacher and Chess Club Our Year 10 and 11 Netball teams coordinator at The Academy of St Nicholas, Old Blue Michael Sweeney In all 125 games were played during the tournament, with some enjoyed a successful start to the from the Class of 2008. students maintaining an impressive unbeaten streak. 2019/20 season with victories against local rivals St Hildas, Bellerive and Liverpool College. So too for our new Year 7 team who have shown no signs of nerves, having progressed to the semi-finals of the Liverpool Netball League alongside their Year 8 and Year 9 peers. Settling into their new roles representing Blue Coat on court, Ciara Football and Millie, who reflect on an excellent Love Chess? start to their first season. During the February half term break, members of our Year 8 football team took to the road for their first Football tour. Their tour of Holland included a training session like no other, with former Manchester United and Holland international Why not drop in and share your player Ruud van Nistelrooy sharing advice and support to our talented players at PSV Eidhoven’s training ground. skills with our growing Chess Club

or challenge our players to a game or two? “The trip was a fantastic experience for the students and staff alike. The trip was extremely busy, but equally rewarding for the boys as they experienced 4 training sessions with elite coaches at De Herdgang, We would love to host a Chess PSV’s state of the art training facility. On the Sunday we played two U13 Club vs. Old Blues tournament fixtures against local clubs with fantastic facilities and great heritage. “So far, while being in Blue Coat’s One 9-a-side match against ‘Quick 1888’ and one 11-a-side against ‘SC – to express your interest or for Year 7 Netball team, we have won Woezik’. We are pleased to say that both Blue Coat teams won their more details about how you can all four of our matches and not games; 3-2 and 2-1 respectively. conceded once. It has been an get involved please contact Chess amazing experience and we are The boys were also lucky enough to go on an all access tour of the Club coordinator Jenny Long at always excited to play netball. Philips Stadion, PSV museum and attended a league fixture in the Our training has helped us a lot, Eredivisie, Den Haag v PSV at the Cars Jeans Stadion. Overall the [email protected] because we learn how others play students not only developed their footballing skills but enjoyed a and work hard to become better once in a lifetime experience and created memories which will last players ourselves. Friendships a lifetime. One student said it was the “best holiday he’s ever been on!” with our teammates have also Chess Club on their way to a tournament at Bolton School Mr Ed Carney – PE Department strengthened which helps us to play better and as a team on the court.”

06 | OB MAGAZINE 2020 WWW.BLUECOATSCHOOLLIVERPOOL.ORG.UK | 07 CATCHING UP WITH THE CLASS OF 2019

Garance Levy - Paris, France. Sorbonne Université: Maths and Philosophy CATCHING UP WITH…

“Despite having lived in the UK for 17 years, I chose to study at La Sorbonne in Paris mainly due to tuition fees and fears of what Brexit meant for me as a European without THE CLASS OF 2019 British citizenship at the time. France hasn’t been devoid of political surprises. Opposition to proposed pension reform led to my first semester being very much disrupted by a nationwide public transport strike – which lasted over a month and grounded Paris to The Class of 2019 are now scattered across the country and around the world, embarking a halt. Lectures and exams were cancelled, and those which took place had very poor on degrees, apprenticeships and gap years. We caught up with three of our youngest attendance rates. As I’m studying for a double degree in mathematics and philosophy, my lectures and classes are held at two separate university sites, so the strike made things Old Blues, to find out where their Blue Coat education has taken them… particularly difficult for myself and others on my course when it came to travelling from one site to the other!

But the strikes had positive outcomes too; namely pushing me to explore this beautiful city by foot and by bike, discovering places I might never have otherwise found. A 10km Jake McKettrick - Kentucky, United States. cycle ride along the Seine from the Eiffel Tower in the East to the National Library in the West, a 2 hour walk from my philosophy campus in the North of the city to my apartment Georgetown College: Football Scholarship in the South. There’s so much to see; I’ve been here for 5 months now and yet I still barely know the areas around my campuses and my accommodation, let alone the rest of the “Studying in the United States is something I have wanted to do since I started at Blue city. Coat, so to see it materialise was literally a dream come true for me! I started my American adventure with a holiday in Chicago before driving down to Cincinnati, and then The main difference from a first-year student’s perspective between the UK and French to my new home at Georgetown College, Kentucky. university systems is actually the accommodation, as very few students in France qualify for university accommodation. Unlike in Britain where all first-year students are I started classes on August 19th 2019, and played in my first game on August 23rd. There guaranteed accommodation, in France it is reserved for those from low income is definitely an international feel to the football team, with my teammates coming from background, which means many students stay at home with their parents or in private cities including Vienna, Brisbane and Budapest. Hearing my name announced on the PA housing, and – especially in a big city like Paris – students end up living quite far away from system in the stadium for the first time is something I’ll never forget. It was an absolutely each other, scattered around different areas and suburbs. This seemed daunting at first, surreal experience to me considering I never thought I would actually accomplish my as it’s harder to make friends near home, but I have gotten used to travelling to meet up dream to play football in America. Playing in my first match I felt like all the hard work I’d with the people on my course, as well as other friends met through rock climbing, and put in had finally paid off. debating societies. We finished the season with 14 wins and 5 losses, the best performance Georgetown has Despite the challenges of changing country and living alone in a huge city, I am thoroughly ever achieved. Unfortunately we were only one win away from going to the National enjoying my time here in Paris, and would encourage any students reading this article to Tournament in California, which would’ve been an incredible experience. Away from the grasp all opportunities to experience different cultures and countries throughout their pitch classes in America can test you, but after doing A-Levels at Blue Coat you’re pretty studies.” much prepared to take any class, so my first semester wasn’t too bad in terms of difficulty.

It took me a while to settle in, but now I have made a lot of friends and it feels like a home away from home, and I do not regret a single decision I made about studying here.”

Jamil Abbasi U Having been in academic study for my entire life it was refreshing and . - University of Surrey, England. exciting to now formally be learning about my craft and developing S my skills as a performer. .A Guildford School of Acting: Musical Theatre Not long after arriving at GSA, I was informed that first year students would be performing in the Royal Albert Hall as a choir for the opening of the annual Global initiative, ‘One Young World’. “In 2019 I underwent a rigorous audition process to get into the This was a once in a lifetime opportunity to sing in the presence of Guildford School of Acting, GSA, one of the top Drama Schools global influencers such as Sir Richard Branson and Sir Bob Geldof. in the UK. In total thirty-six people are accepted on to the BA Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were also in attendance due to the Musical Theatre course, out of 3,000 applicants. high profile nature of the event. This opportunity was incredible for all of us who only three weeks prior had not even met and now we were I began my training in October and it was immediately evident singing in one of the most coveted concert halls in Europe. I am now halfway through my first year and I can honestly say coming that it was going to be difficult. My timetable consisted of to GSA has been one of the most rewarding and exciting experiences. 9am-6pm days with 2 hours of dance, along with physical, vocal Training at GSA is thorough and covers a large array of performing I train every day with enthusiasm and ambition under industry and personal conditioning every day. It took a considerable techniques. I practice Ballet, Jazz and Tap dance for upwards of 10 professionals with likeminded individuals who share a passion for the amount of adjustment to begin with, but I soon grew into the hours a week. There are singing classes in solo and ensemble forms art. I am learning and growing constantly and cannot wait to lifestyle by reminding myself of the privileged position I was combined with music theory to provide a deeper understanding of the continue.” now in. musical elements that will enhance performance.

08 | OB MAGAZINE 2020 WWW.BLUECOATSCHOOLLIVERPOOL.ORG.UK | 09 TAKING TO THE STAGE TAKING TO THE STAGE

Having a heart attack was bad news for Mick Jagger, but paradoxically good news for Liverpool indie pop rockers The Wombats and their drummer Old Blue Quick fire Q&A: Daniel Haggis, from the Class of 2002. Sir Mick had First job? Recycling bottles at posted a video of himself dancing to a Wombats song Keith’s Wine Bar on Lark Lane on to show off his recovery from heart surgery. a Sunday morning.

This prompted the band’s manager to write to him Currently reading or listening suggesting if he ever needed a support band to? Listening to new mixes of our Sunship Balloon album and new The Wombats would love to do it. Wombats demos. Been loving the new Bon Iver album. Reading The Uninhabitable Earth by David Dan takes up the story: “It was honestly one of the most incredible Wallace-Wells, one of the latest experiences I’ve ever had. The Rolling Stones management wrote back and climate change books. It’s pretty The band’s distinctive name emerged as a last minute choice asked if we could do the show at the Met Life stadium in New Jersey to scary. by Dan when it was needed for their first Liverpool show (at which we of course said YES! Hannah’s Bar, Hardman Street). Dan said: “Wombo the Wombat What do you love most about and Charles the Goat were characters from two silly songs by Murph “All our families came over for it. It was a bit overwhelming, we met all the Liverpool? I love the people, the and myself. I told the promoter to put ‘The Wombats’ down. The guys band and chatted to Mick in his dressing room. He and the band were so banter and just how vibrant and laughed and we said we would change it at some point.” But they nice and welcoming. We couldn’t have had a better time and they put on buzzing it always feels. There’s never did and embraced the name so much that five years later a such an amazing show. If we have 10 per cent of their energy at that age such a good energy there. giant inflatable Wombat featured on stage with them.“However, I’d be happy!” Everyone I bring to Liverpool that’s far more memorable than the ‘close second’ choice name of The loves it for those reasons. Goats!” It was a long way from performing to five punters on a wet Wednesday night in Glasgow. Coming from Aigburth, Dan’s Favourite Blue Coat teacher? Touring can be tough, so he likes visiting familiar cities and said: music career began with the flute and piano at a young age when I had several, but I’d have to go “When we’re on the road we can be away from friends and family for his mother, an amateur violinist, placed him and his sister in with Mr Marsh. I only had him for months, so I always look forward to playing cities where I have friends Cressington Orchestra’s junior group. a year, but before him, I began or family. Liverpool, London and Paris are my main three, but in losing interest in French and he terms of just a city itself, probably Tokyo. “I eventually moved up into the main orchestra and just always totally reignited my love for the loved making music with people. There’s nothing quite like it. I always had language. Thanks partly to him I “Back at home after a tour, I love doing yoga, swimming, playing one eye on the drums, as it just looked such fun to play. I got mini-lessons took A-Level and got an A! Then football, squash, tennis, golf. . . just anything active really. All that from the orchestra drummer, who taught me ‘I Wanna Hold Your Hand’ to went on to study it at uni and met energy needs to go somewhere! I also miss cooking, so at home I play with the orchestra. Obviously, I didn’t go back to the flute after that!” my fiancée in Paris after visiting an love getting creative in the kitchen.” exchange friend - so I have a lot to His future was set around that time after seeing the music video to thank Mr Marsh for! If it wasn’t for Apart from success together, the band members also branch out ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ by Nirvana and Dave Grohl, which made music, I’d probably have become a on solo projects, or with each other, to create different sounds playing the drums in a band look like the best fun ever. French teacher. from The Wombats. Dan has released solo albums under the name ‘Dan The Man’, in a more alternative folk side style and is now embarking on a new venture, ‘Sunship Balloon’ with fellow bandmate Tord.

“This new band is more psychedelic, alternative and electronic maybe (I’m terrible with genres) with some instrumental songs too,” he said, “The first show I ever did, and why I started a band with my “we have an EP out now and an album out next year with some school friends, was actually at a Blue Coat ‘Battle of the Bands’ shows to follow. It’s important to keep challenging yourself and to However, it’s his parents who Dan thanks most for getting him keep learning. For us it’s just a way to explore some different parts of event in Shirley Hall. We played Everybody Hurts by R.E.M into music. He said: “They were the ones who encouraged me to our brains!” and Johnny B Goode by Chuck Berry.” take up instruments, who bought my first drum kit and guitar. When The Wombats started they would come to nearly every gig we did Blue Coat School provided him with many memorable moments, and were always ready with some petrol money to get us to a gig in such as playing the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz in the Upper Glasgow! Without them I wouldn’t be doing music which has been the Sixth. He recalled: “I’d been in the choir of a few productions, but The Wombats… most positive force and source of happiness in my life for as long as I that was my first proper role in a play and I absolutely loved it. Clips can remember.” from it get pulled out at some of my birthdays! Also I won’t forget 4 Studio albums sanding my finger down to the bone in DT class in Year 7. 2008 NME Award – Best Dancefloor Filler – “Let’s Dance to Joy Division” The Wombats were formed in 2003 with Dan’s student friends A lesson to all pupils not to mess around on those machines!” 2019 Tour Highlights: Concerts stretching from Los Angles, from the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, Matthew Murphy And in spite of being immersed in the rocky world of rock ‘n’ roll California to Buffalo, New York, Glastonbury and Reading and Leeds. (from Woolton) and Tord Overland Knudsen (from Norway). Their for nearly two decades there is one fundamental aspect that he’s internationally successful albums range from A Guide to Love, most proud of: “Overall I’m just so proud that we’re still a band, still Loss & Desperation in 2007, to Beautiful People Will Ruin Your making music for a living and above all, STILL FRIENDS!” Life in 2018.

10 | THE OB MAGAZINE 2020 WWW.BLUECOATSCHOOLLIVERPOOL.ORG.UK | 11 INTERVIEW WITH JONATHAN HARVEY

INTERVIEW WITH… JONATHAN HARVEY Which book or author do you always return to? My plays have been performed all over the world and usually they’ll fly you out to see them. Many moons ago “I never miss a Marian Keyes. I have re-read a lot of my film Beautiful Thing did all the international film Armistead Maupin.” festivals so I did a lot of travelling then. And of course… I get to go to sunny Manchester a lot with Corrie. How would you describe Liverpool’s contribution I know how to live.” Whether he’s in LA or Chris’s Rose Lane Chippy, Old to literary life? How do you relax? Any hobbies? Blue and writer Jonathan Harvey, from the Class of “I grew up surrounded by Liverpool writing on the telly 1986, is always on the look-out for stimulating ideas and in the theatre. Willy Russell, Alan Bleasdale. “I watch an inordinate amount of telly. I see a lot of to get his creative juices flowing. Brookside, Letter to Brezhnev. They gave me a belief theatre. I talk rubbish on social media.” that I could come from Liverpool and be a writer.” Where is your favourite place in Liverpool? Rising to prominence in 1993 following the Tell us about your latest play ‘Our Lady of publication of his critically acclaimed first play Blundellsands’ and its inspiration? “Chris’s Chippy on Rose Lane.” Beautiful Thing, Jonathan’s career now spans “It’s a darkly comic play about a family in Liverpool. What is your advice to budding Blue Coat writers? television, film and theatre. He is the face behind The two matriarchs of the family, sisters Garnet and the hit BBC show Gimme, Gimme, Gimme, which he Sylvie live frozen in time in their house on the edge of the “Write. Do it. Also. Watch as much as you can. if you wrote for his friend Kathy Burke and in September sea. Sylvie lives in a dream world and Garnet props her want to work in telly, look at the credits of the shows you up. When the whole family gathers for a birthday party love. Write to the producer. Introduce yourself. 2020 his stage musical version of My Best Friend’s secrets come tumbling out and – da nah! - the future Look at the BBC writersroom website, it’s full of helpful Wedding will make its world premiere. In 2001 will never be the same again! information and competitions and mentoring. And if you he collaborated with The Pet Shop Boys on the want to write books then read as much as you can and musical Closer to Heaven and for the past sixteen I come from a matriarchal family. My nan was the eldest try and work out which genre you want to do. Who do of eleven kids and she and two of her remaining sisters you like? Who’s their publisher? Write to them and ask years he has been a scriptwriter for Coronation were the head of our family. When my nan died, the how you get started. Again, research competitions and Street. sister who had stayed by her side and never married, use them as a deadline to get something finished and fell to pieces. I have always been interested in that then send it in.” sacrifice, and that co-dependence. I’m also interested His dream project is a “big bold TV drama set in in the stories we tell, the folklore each family has, Liverpool” – so his best could be yet to come! be it true or reinvented.”

What would be your dream project? Novelist, playwright, scriptwriter, television producer – which is your favourite creative area of work? “A big bold TV drama set in Liverpool.”

“I do love a bit of theatre. It’s such a communal experience and you Where do you feel most creative? can see the audience having a good time. Hopefully. TV and books are sampled more in isolation so it’s hard to be nosy and watch “As long as I’ve got pen and paper, or my laptop, how people react.” I can work wherever. But I like sitting in the Neighbourhood café in Childwall with fellow Corrie How did you get started as a writer? writer Jan McVerry bouncing ideas around. Writing’s a lonely business usually so it’s good to have someone “The Liverpool Playhouse did a season of new plays by local writers to create with.” in their studio space while I was in Sixth Form and I saw them all. At the end of the season they ran a new writing competition. I wrote How do you get your ideas? a play and sent it in. It won first prize and got a production at the studio.” “Everywhere and anywhere. People chatting, stories in newspapers, reading history books… anywhere. People’s What was the best piece of career advice you received? lives are what’s interesting to me, the untold stories.”

“If it’s good, nick it.” Do you get to travel with your work?

Who do you regard as the best northern writers? “I’ve been all over the world with work. I’m better at that than going on holiday, truth be told. I’ve recently been “There is a screenwriter called John Fay who is from Liverpool who developing a stage musical based on the movie My Best Jonathan’s latest play ‘Our Lady of in my eyes can do no wrong. Frank Clarke who wrote Letter to Friend’s Wedding and I had to go to LA to meet with the Blundellsands’ premiered at Liverpool's Brezhnev. Andrea Dunbar who wrote Rita, Sue and Bob Too.” original screenwriter Ron Bass and work with him there. Everyman Theatre in March 2020.

Who has been the biggest influence on your work?

“Mike Leigh and Victoria Wood.” Photo credit: Dave Bennett

12 | OB MAGAZINE 2020 WWW.BLUECOATSCHOOLLIVERPOOL.ORG.UK | 13 IN BRIEF IN BRIEF... Mr York completes the… York marathon

During the October half-term maths teacher Mr York swapped his textbooks and calculator for his trainers, as he took to the historic streets of York along with 10,000 fellow runners, to ‘Liverpool’s Banksy’ receives royal seal compete in the city’s marathon. Criss-crossing the city and passing places of cultural and historical importance, including of approval York Minster and the beautiful Yorkshire scenery, Mr York completed the course in 5 hours and 20 minutes. Last year street artist and Old Blue Paul Curtis from the Reflecting on his performance he was delighted with his Class of 1997 took centre stage on our 2019 magazine cover half-marathon time of 2 hours and 17 minutes but not so with his celebrated artwork ‘For All Liverpool’s Liver Birds.’ proud of his finishing time. We caught up with Paul to find out where his creativity took him next.

“2019 was a year of progression for me. I continue to develop as an artist with each new mural. I have been lucky to have constant work throughout the year for the first time. It’s never too late

There were many highlights last year. In February, The Having spent 23 Years in the Royal Air Force as a Physical I completed 38 public murals in 2019, along with a handful Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker-Bowles, came to Liverpool Training Instructor, followed by 11 years as a qualified Police of domestic murals, portraits and other minor commissions. and stopped to have her photo taken in front of ‘For All Trainer, former Blue Coat boarder Richard Weavill from the It feels now like all my hard work and perseverance is finally Liverpool’s Liver Birds.’ I was amazed that she was such a Class of 1975 has acquired over 30 years of training experience. paying off! I still get asked to paint wings about once a month, keen instagrammer! In April, I was invited to walk onto the pitch Retiring in 2013 Richard decided to go back to full-time down from 4 times a month. I always refuse. People are also at Prenton Park. I received a standing ovation from the Kop, education, spending 3 years at the University of Hull studying realising that the wings thing is so 2017!! which was quite emotional. This came about following my Adult Nursing, from where he gained a BSc (Hons) aged 60, continued partnership on art projects with Tranmere Rovers. proving that it is never too late to learn something new! I was also commissioned to create a mural to celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Beatles Abbey Road album, giving fans the Congratulations Richard! chance to be photographed on the iconic zebra crossing. Richard now works full-time in a High Dependency Unit, Unfortunately ‘For All Liverpool’s Liver Birds’ missed out on providing critical care support. Liverpool’s Small Tourist Attraction of the Year award. Bar 53 went up in flames and took 5 of my murals with it, the owners have supported me from the early days and I was heartbroken for them. It’s best to use set-backs as a driver to push myself to improve. In the end, there are always other opportunities.” Have you spotted Paul’s top five murals of 2019? Wedding Bells

Tranmere Rovers: Ian Muir and Ray Mathais Special congratulations go to Old Blue Geoff Edwards from the Jurgen’s Bar Kop Mural Class of 1984 and his partner Mark Radcliffe. The pair tied the The Baltic’s Abbey Road knot at Liverpool’s Town Hall on Saturday 15th February 2020 The Jaguar, Kingdom nightclub among friends and family. Audrey Hepburn at D. Myers, Southport After a short mini-moon in the Peak District the pair hope to To follow Paul’s work head to @PaulCurtisArtwork take an exciting trip down the Amazon River later this year.

Be sure to send us a postcard!

Westminster Awaits Happy Birthday Kendrick! During the summer of 2019 Georgia Staunton, from the Class of 2015, celebrated graduating with a First Class Degree from University College London in European Studies, a multidisciplinary degree At the end of 2019 a very special Old Blue celebrated a very covering politics, economics, history and Spanish language. special birthday! Kendrick Rannard attended Blue Coat as a For Georgia, the highlight of her degree was spending a year boarder from 1924 to 1931, with his brother Ronald and studying abroad in the Spanish capital. sisters Mona and Dorothy. During his time at Blue Coat Kendrick regularly performed with the famous School band, Having just completed an internship at Health Poverty Action, an entertaining guests on the Welsh coast cruise liners. To mark international development NGO focussing on health and inequality this special occasion we enlisted the help of 7 Graham to in the global south, Georgia is just about to embark on a new role as create a short film wishing Kendrick a very happy 104th a Programme and Policy Officer at the Foreign and Commonwealth birthday! Office.

Good luck Georgia!

14 | OB MAGAZINE 2020 WWW.BLUECOATSCHOOLLIVERPOOL.ORG.UK | 15 EMPOWERING ART EMPOWERING After following the museum’s creation on social media, I was sent the job spec by former colleagues ART and friends who said “you HAVE to apply for this!”, knowing my interest in intersectional feminism and my involvement in other voluntary charity work for non-binary and transgender teenagers. It was the perfect blend of bringing Tucked away in Camden’s famous Stables my professional experience to an organisation that needed this in its infancy Market in London you’ll find one of the and me being able to talk about the values I strongly believe in every day! capital’s newest and most talked about Pretty perfect really. museums, the Vagina Museum. Its Curator is Old Blue Sarah Creed, from the Class of The museum’s main aims are to spread knowledge 2008. and raise awareness of gynaecological anatomy and health, give people confidence to talk about gynaecological issues, erase the stigma around the body, act as a forum for feminism, women’s rights, the LGBT+ community At the end of 2019 Sarah found herself in and the intersex community, while challenging established cis-normative the international media spotlight with the behaviour. opening of the museum, which will host exhibitions, workshops and events on We hope to normalise conversations topics including body image, consent about gynaecological anatomy and become a centre for education and discussion for all of the above. There are some really shocking statistics and mental health. – such as one in four don’t know what a period is until they have one, or that in a recent government survey 52 per cent of women asked couldn’t locate the vagina on an anatomical drawing. It’s something literally half of the world population has, yet it is so shrouded in shame and stigma and a lack of correct information that we have created this taboo subject. It’s stopping people getting correct health care, looking after themselves and their mental wellbeing properly, and obtaining proper sex education.

“I have always been interested in art history and social history, especially regarding interpretation in museums. From the age of 16, I volunteered at Tate Liverpool as part of their youth Photo credit: Angus Young programme, Young Tate, then to the Open Eye Gallery and The Bluecoat Gallery during my undergraduate degree.

Being a curator and working on My first job after university Since we opened we’ve had over museum exhibitions is not just was in the British Museum’s exhibitions team in 70,000 visitors from all over the world, all genders about looking after objects, or 2012, where I worked whilst completing my MA in and ages from toddlers through to 90-year-olds. Contemporary Curating and Art History, followed being a subject specialist. by Dulwich Picture Gallery and Museum of London. I love bringing under-represented stories to life through art I have also worked at Imperial War Museums and The museum has a few collaborations and objects and making collections more accessible to different English Heritage before joining the Vagina Museum booked for 2020. We’ve had an overwhelming amount people. team. of support from all over the world from people such as comedian Sara Pascoe, actor Gillian Anderson and activist Jameela Jamil. It’s a really dynamic job and a Vagina Museum started its role which you shape yourself. life as pop up events The biggest challenge for curators One day you’re leading a school group and the next you’re around London and the UK, at the Science Museum in the 21st Century is keeping content relevant and moving artwork across the world. Two years ago I managed in London, Cheltenham Science Festival and the interesting. We live in a very digital, quick world, and galleries have the exhibits at the Churchill War Rooms and we worked very Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and in March 2019 historically been places of slow-paced learning and where nothing changes closely with the team which created Darkest Hour starring Gary our director Florence Schechter started a very much. People are having to think more dynamically about how they Oldman as Winston Churchill. I took Gary and other actors crowdfunding campaign to get the first premises are engaging their audience with their collections and exhibitions - we are around the site, helping them promote the film on TV and radio and staff for the museum. The initial target was to really fortunate that we are almost reverse engineering that aspect at the interviews. My work also includes published writing and guest raise around £100,000, but we only managed to raise Vagina Museum - we have an incredibly engaged audience who want more lecturing at universities. just shy of £50,000 in the four month campaign, yet and more content, it’s just my job to deliver it now!” we got that from over 1,200 supporters.

16 | OB MAGAZINE 2020 WWW.BLUECOATSCHOOLLIVERPOOL.ORG.UK | 17 5 MINUTES WITH GRAHAM JONES Open Monday to Friday throughout the year, including POPPING IN School holidays, we have welcomed countless Old Blues and their families back to Blue Coat from across the UK and around the world. Welcome back to Blue Coat! Favourite subject within Geography? TO SAY HELLO What is it like to be back? “I enjoy teaching both physical and human “It feels like coming home and it is lovely to geography. In physical geography I enjoy see so many familiar faces who taught me teaching the case studies surrounding major including Mr Ainsworth, Mrs Bennett, Mrs Rowe, hazards for example I think tsunamis make Mr Phelan, Mr Adamson and many more. I’ve for fascinating lessons. Within human Travelling up from his home in Devon, Alan Haynes, really enjoyed going along to Chess Club at geography I enjoy teaching about issues which lunch time to play some of the students. I must affect urban areas and the regeneration a Blue Coat boarder during the 1960s. say the standard is pretty high and I’ve had a projects which can transform the fortunes few crushing defeats among some hard fought of a town or city.” victories.” Are there any exciting field-trips in the Jetting in from his home in Los Have you noticed many changes? pipeline? “I left before the building work had fully started “I am currently organising a trip for our Angeles, on his way to the Cannes and as a result there are parts of the school students to Iceland in the summer of Film Festival, Stuart Ford from the that exist today that were not here when I was a 2021. Whilst there they will get to see the Class of 1988. Stuart delivered the student. The facilities available to our students geographical wonders that Iceland has to offer keynote speech at our Bright Minds have improved drastically. For example I really including the opportunity to walk on a glacier Bright Futures campaign dinner. like the table tennis tables in the Quad area, and bathe in the thermal pools of the blue it’s great to see so many students out there in lagoon.” 5 MINUTES all weather playing so enthusiastically. There are the two new houses, Styth and Tod, and I Do you have any passions outside of the Father and son George and Matthew Lunt, Class of 1964 and WITH… still have a soft spot for Bingham which was my classroom? 1994, retraced their steps with tour guide Mr Caulkin. house.” “I am a huge Liverpool fan and try to see After 18 years away we them as often as possible. Being a geographer welcome back Old Blue What do you love most about teaching? of course I enjoy travelling, I took my family “I love the feeling when you teach a great lesson recently to visit China to stay with a friend and Graham Jones from the and the students are buzzing about what they Old Blue. We also met up with another good Class of 2002, as our have learnt. When students are inquisitive and friend and Old Blue while we were there.” new Head of Geography. have a thirst for knowledge and want to know more.”

Blue Coat boarder David Lee, Class of 1991, visited all the way from Hong Kong with his family. With over 300 years worth of history there’s a lot to discover in our archive. Here’s just a small sample of some of the items our Heritage Volunteers have come across while ARCHIVE cataloguing our extensive archive, as part of our Blue Coat For All project.

Former Arts and Crafts and Drama teacher Mr Preston and his son Jim, who attended Blue Coat during the 1980s, 107 trophies and his grandson Tom popped in. 312 Squirrel magazines 4 floor plans and architectural plans 1 set of drain plans 9 Silver Jubilee commemorative mugs 1 silver squirrel nutcracker 2 hand bells If you would like to retrace your steps through 1 engraved decanter and drinks set Shirley Hall, down Peg Leg corridor or explore 1 book of Blue Coat benefactors our East Wing Sixth Form Centre please 1 School menu from 1912 contact the Development Team at 1 (empty) bottle of beer to [email protected] or celebrate our 2008 tri-centenary on 0151 733 1407 ext. 207 and a member of the team would be delighted to show you round. 12 pictorial postcards of Blue Coat Richard Weavill, Class of 1975, who attended Blue Coat as a B boarder along with his brothers Robert, Andrew and Jamie. dating back to 1906 EERE

18 | OB MAGAZINE 2020 WWW.BLUECOATSCHOOLLIVERPOOL.ORG.UK | 19 HELP IS AT HAND FOR HUNGRY DINERS HELP IS AT HAND FOR HUNGRY

Why do you think Liverpool has become such DINERS a foodie destination? “Scousers have their own unique charm and they’re Liverpool has well and truly put itself on the food bringing that to their businesses. Liverpool food is diverse and ambitious whilst retaining that sense of map, emerging out of the shadow of music and fun we associate with the city. You can get some of sport. With so many new restaurants and food the best food in the city.”

outlets popping up, hungry diners can often be Outside of Liverpool which city, UK or overwhelmed by the level of choice. But help is international, do you love to visit most for its culinary delights? at hand. Guiding locals and visitors through Liverpool’s thriving culinary scene, primary “If you choose your holidays based on the food then I’d recommend Bologna to anybody. As well school teacher and food blogger Rebecca Fry, as being a really interesting and beautiful city their from the Class of 2009. winding cobbled streets are bursting with bars, delis and coffee shops so you can wander about eating When and why did you decide to start as much pasta, pastries and gelato as you can a food blog? manage. Italians love the food there so much they nickname it La Grassa - the fat one.” “It started as an Instagram page a few years back when my personal account was being saturated by food pictures. I must have posted about 15 pictures in one day from the Liverpool Food and Drink Festival and I knew it was annoying everyone so I decided to make a separate account just dedicated to the things I was eating. The blog came a few months later when I realised I had more opinions than I could post on an Instagram caption and it’s just grown from there.”

How would you describe your site to new readers?

“It’s essentially a down-to-earth Liverpool restaurant guide. It’s primarily aimed towards Mary Berry or Heston Blumenthal? Scousers but I like to think it’d be useful for tourists and first-timers as well. It’s mostly “It’s got to be Mary! Heston’s a genius but some of his food is just restaurant reviews, information about new too weird for me. I’d choose simple, tasty food over ‘clever’ food openings and some daft things too like an A-Z every time.” list of where to get a pizza in the city. It’s an informal and completely honest look at places Food market or restaurant? that I’ve been as well as lots of interior photos and close-up food shots.” “Food market - I am a woman of indecision and at a market you can have a little bit of everything without having to commit. Who are your food heroes? I’m over the moon with all the markets that have opened recently around Liverpool- we’re spoilt for choice at the minute.” “I love Nigel Slater- I find him so relaxing to watch and I love the way he talks about food Do you have fond memories of Blue Coat School meals? with so much passion. I’m also a big fan of Ruby Tandoh- she wrote an amazing book “I didn’t join Blue Coat until sixth form so I was a little late to about eating whatever you want and enjoying the party but I distinctly remember having a slice of square ‘junk’ food without any guilt. Jay Rayner too - his pizza from the canteen for breakfast every morning- it was the restaurant reviews are completely effortless highlight of my day!” and he’s written some really great books about the things he’s experienced in his career." How would you describe Liverpool’s culinary scene?

“It’s absolutely incredible to me how much has changed since I was growing up. When I was a teenager the only restaurants we went to were Caesar’s Palace and Uncle Sams. We’ve had many cool independent restaurants and bars open over the last few years but I still think we have a lot more to come and a bit more work to do to rival the likes of London.”

20 | OB MAGAZINE 2020 WWW.BLUECOATSCHOOLLIVERPOOL.ORG.UK | 21 ROBERT SKYNER RAISES THE BAR AND THE AWARD GOES TO... ROBERT SKYNER In October 2019, we welcomed back and introduced RAISES THE BAR our students to Old Blue Mike Deriaz, from the Class of 1977. Mike, formerly the Head of UK Tax at BNP In January 2020 Robert Skyner, a Barrister from the Paribas, gave up his job to found The Friends of Class of 1997, offered Rebecca McNulty from the Kipkelion, a Charitable Trust, which has operated in Class of 2018 a mini-pupillage at his Chambers in a remote and mountainous part of Kenya since 2010. Leeds.

Robert is a Barrister and Joint Head of Chambers at 39 Park Square in Leeds. Called to the Bar in 2003, Robert is an experienced Civil Practitioner with an emphasis on all types of personal injury work, and Since Mike’s return to Blue Coat, we are thrilled to report that is also considered an expert in providing advice he has been honoured with a UK Points of Light award for his on quantum and liability, and in drafting complex For Robert; “It was my pleasure to be able to help Rebecca So far the charity’s fundraising has secured over £750,000 with outstanding volunteer work. statements of case. Robert acts in equal measure for secure her first mini-pupillage at my Chambers in Leeds. donations supporting maternal and new-born healthcare Claimants and Defendants and is particularly sought It is a privilege to help a young person begin their chosen projects, access to clean water and delivering and improving In a personal letter to Mike, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: after in claims involving allegations of fraud and career path and I’m so pleased to hear Rebecca would education opportunities for children, especially for girls. “I know you do this with no thought of praise or reward, but allow fundamental dishonesty. Outside the Chambers like to join the legal profession, and pass on her skills and The charity also receives UK aid through the Department for me to offer my own recognition of how you are supporting the Robert is a huge football fan and has been a season knowledge to the next generation when the time comes!” International Development’s Community Partnership grant, movement to end FGM in the Kipkelion region of Kenya by ticket holder at Anfield for over 35 years. He has for its work in trying to eradicate Female Genital Mutilation educating thousands of girls about alternative rites of passage.” followed Liverpool FC all over the world and is now (FGM) in the region. delighted to be in a position to share his love for On receiving the award Mike commented: “It’s so important to football with his son. An enthusiastic but unskilled Highlighting the charity to students during a special assembly know that things you do as an individual to make the world a better sportsman (his words!) Robert likes to spend his Mike said, “One of our big focuses has been building school toilets, place are supported by the community at large. The Points of Light spare time playing football, skiing or running. which in Kenya are often inadequate as well as dirty and dangerous, award demonstrates that support – and that’s wonderful.” Park Square in Leeds, taken by Rebecca during her mini-pupillage with nowhere to wash your hands. This can cause students to miss Rebecca is currently studying law at the University of school through illness or even drop out of school altogether, We would like to congratulate Mike on receiving this award Liverpool and approached Blue Coat to see if any especially girls. Friends of Kipkelion has built over 50 high quality and we wish him and his charity every success for the future. Old Blues practising as Barristers could help her latrine blocks in schools in Kenya.” gain some work experience. Robert was only too happy to offer Rebecca a mini-pupillage at his As well as providing an insight into the charity’s work, Mike set Chambers in Leeds. our Year 9 Business Studies students an Enterprise Challenge, with all funds raised going directly to the Friends of Kipkelion Rebecca had a fantastic time during her charity. Year 9 Business Studies students raised an impressive mini-pupillage which has cemented her ambitions £851.55 for the charity at their Christmas Market. in practising law; ”The legal world can be highly Tapping into the popularity of Christmas Markets, our budding competitive, especially when it comes to work entrepreneurs organised and delivered a successful Christmas experience. I was fortunate enough to be taken Market of their own, with stalls selling Christmas crafts and under the wing of an Old Blue, Robert Skyner, for a sugary treats. Altogether, a fantastic £851.55 was raised for the mini-pupillage in Leeds. This was just what I needed charity. in order to make up my mind that it was a legal career that I wished to pursue, despite the various doors that open from a law degree. During this placement, I attended Leeds crown court and was able to sit in on a number of interesting trials- one included murder ( it was nothing like I had seen in Legally Blonde!). I attended chambers at 9am where I was greeted by numerous experienced barristers who were keen to show me an insight into their career and were open to questions. I was able to gain a better insight into what a legal career entails and what sort of law would suit me. Once again, I would like to thank Robert and the Development Team for organising this for me, and I would recommend to everyone to make contact with Old Blues. This experience was valuable to me and my future, and I hope that one day I can offer this opportunity to someone that is in a similar situation to me today.”

22 | OB MAGAZINE 2020 WWW.BLUECOATSCHOOLLIVERPOOL.ORG.UK | 23 WOMEN IN STEAM WOMEN Why do you think young girls shy away from STEAM?

IN STEAM “I feel that they simply don’t have enough role models in STEAM that they can relate to. Nowadays, social media has a huge influence on young people, but The gender imbalance in Science Technology Engineering these platforms are mostly used to follow reality stars, models and makeup artists – there aren’t many people out there for young girls to look up to due to Arts and Mathematics, often referred to as the STEAM gap, their career in science. That’s exactly why I have started ‘The Scouse Scientist.’” is widely talked about and is never far from the headlines. Yet a statistical snapshot of women working in STEAM What advice would you give to Blue Coat students today, shows an upward trend. Here we shine a light on two in particular females, considering a career in STEAM? of our female Old Blues working in STEAM. “I would say that if it’s what you enjoy and have a passion for then don’t let anyone put you off. Unfortunately, when we see scientists on TV or in the media, they are often portrayed as an older male, with crazy hair and a “posh” accent. I am here to break down those stereotypes and show that normal girls can be scientists too, so if it’s what you want to do then go for it!”

Are females well represented in your field of work?

“I’m not sure of the exact figures but I know that women are generally underrepresented in STEAM subjects as a whole. However, my message goes beyond supporting women in science and focuses more upon encouraging young people to reach their full potential and not be put off by thinking that they don’t “fit the mould” of a particular career type.”

Are there any new developments within the sector that you are In 2019 Holly Ellis from the Class of 2011, also excited about, new equipment/technology, new research or Dr Chloe James, Senior Lecturer at the known as ‘The Scouse Scientist’, stepped into scientific breakthroughs? University of Salford’s School of Science, the media spotlight. A Clinical Scientist in Engineering and Environment Genetics, Holly has taken to social media to “For me, the most exciting thing about genetic testing is that it’s becoming inspire young people from all backgrounds, more and more integrated into routine practice in the NHS. Whole Genome On graduating with a BSc in Medical Microbiology from the to pursue a career in science. Sequencing in particular is a new type of test that is likely to have a huge University of Edinburgh, Old Blue Chloe James from the impact on children and families living with life-limiting conditions but for Class of 1994, returned to her home city to complete her Providing a first-hand insight into the which a definitive diagnosis has still not been reached. Many of these PhD at the University of Liverpool. Over the course of five fascinating world of Genetics, Holly discusses families have been on what we sometimes call a “diagnostic odyssey” years Chloe’s extensive research helped her to understand challenging topics such as Huntington whereby many different tests have been performed over their lifetime how viruses help E. coli to cause food poisoning. Disease and Down’s Syndrome, and takes but none of which have been able to explain their symptoms. viewers into a laboratory to find out more Chloe’s love of microbiology led her to the University of about the variety of genetic tests available Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) allows us to interrogate all of the genes in Florida for her first postdoctoral research position and to patients. the DNA of an individual in hope of finding a faulty gene that can explain the from where she investigated how different bacteria patient’s symptoms and provide a diagnosis. Having a diagnosis allows families communicate with one another in the mouth. Taking up We caught up with Holly to find out more to plan for the future and know what to expect from the condition. It also her second postdoctoral research position in Marseilles at Leading the University of Salford’s MICROBIhOME about her passion for Science, her new allows us to assess the risks of other family members being affected with the the Universite de La Mediterranee, Chloe’s work focused on team at the 2018 Manchester Science Festival, Chloe online venture and the latest scientific same condition and possibly prevent passing it on to future using biophysical models to measure how antibiotics get encouraged visitors to take a virtual reality tour around breakthroughs in the field of Genetics. generations.” inside bacterial cells and how the bacteria respond. a real experiment testing the efficacy of antibiotics.

Visitors could also have their DNA read live during a What was the trigger point for setting up your Scouse Scientist After the birth of her son, the family moved back to special exhibition, whereby a member of Chloe’s team What attracted you to the field of genetics? platform? Liverpool and after a year of maternity leave, Chloe analysed and identified participants bacterial DNA. embarked on two more research projects, investigating “In my previous school, the science building was “I have had the idea for years but always managed to find an excuse not to how genetic differences affect the way that different people called the “Rosalind Franklin” building. One day I pursue it because I was worried about how people would react – especially respond to anti-HIV therapy, and how viruses help bacteria asked my Biology teacher who Rosalind Franklin nowadays with the rise in internet “trolling”! Eventually, one morning I just persist in chronic lung infections. was and I learned about her role in discovering the plucked up the courage and made my first video!” structure of DNA. I was inspired by her work but In 2012, Chloe was appointed her first lectureship at disappointed that she never received the credit she What are your ambitions for the platform? The University of Salford and is now a Senior Lecturer in deserved, and instead Watson and Crick took all the medical microbiology, teaching across numerous areas of glory. This sparked my interest in genetics and got “I want to reach as many young people as possible and give them a different microbiology at Undergraduate and Masters Levels. Chloe me thinking about women in science.” type of role model to look up to. I want to show that normal girls, from also leads her own research group, which conducts a wide working class backgrounds, with strong regional accents can not only variety of investigations, including bacterial genomes and What do you love most about your role? become scientists but can achieve anything if they put their mind to it!” how they resist antibiotics as well as how they interact with viruses. “I love knowing that my work directly affects the Do you carry out any additional outreach work? lives of patients and their families. The results of Although microbiology is Chloe’s first love, Chloe is also genetic testing can have a huge impact on patient “I am always the first to volunteer for anything that comes up involving extremely passionate about science communication. care and in some cases can even save their lives!” outreach work. I have visited many schools in the city to talk about careers Overseeing numerous public events across the country, in genetics and been involved in careers fairs across the city.” provides Chloe with an opportunity to introduce adults and children alike to science that they would not necessarily get involved with in their day-to-day life.

24 | OB MAGAZINE 2020 WWW.BLUECOATSCHOOLLIVERPOOL.ORG.UK | 25 PARLOPHONE'S NICK BURGESS

This year we have some strong new artists such as Ashnikko, The Snuts, Balcony, Jack Curly and Sad Night Dynamite. All of these artists are unique and gifted so time will tell if the world agrees with us.

My passion for music definitely started at Blue Coat I was obsessed with music from Year 8 when I became friends with Ian lee. We both bonded over our love of Queen and that has developed into a life long friendship.

INTRODUCING I have been an A&R person PARLOPHONE'S for 20 years, however I felt a need to broaden my depth of knowledge and skill set towards the end of my time at Virgin. I have to say I NICK BURGESS enjoy the whole aspect of running a label and being involved in every aspect of an artists career. I’ve always been the type of A&R who shapes the whole To be signed by EMI Records was a huge output of my artists so it was a natural step to Appointed Co-President of Parlophone in oversee the machinations of the whole label. surprise. My Gluebound bandmates Ian lee, February 2019, Nick Burgess from the Class Spencer Jones, Matt Smith and I were all in of 1991 has built up a wealth of experience I don’t think that there is the same year at Blue Coat and we all shared within some of the music industry’s biggest a secret to Parlophone’s a love of music and similar tastes. powerhouses including EMI and Virgin. success, success attracts success and if you build the right foundations it is natural that success will come if you work hard enough and stay humble. We started out doing covers at my place or As well as overseeing sectors such as A&R, The two most important aspects of success for a Ian’s mum’s house but we developed into marketing, press, promotion, digital and label are identification of talent and articulation of writing our own songs and labels started to design, Nick has signed and worked with their message. If a label can master both those skills My first year running a then it will be successful. Parlophone were the best take notice of us. some of the country’s prominent stars, such at this in the 90’s and early noughties. My challenge major label was probably as Bastille and Lewis Capaldi. is to bring back that level of consistency. the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. I just use my instincts when Rewind twenty nine years and it was Nick’s I was Head of Artists and Repertoire at Virgin for searching for future stars. Spotting talent in any musical talent and that of his fellow Blue 15 years so I was very comfortable in that role but field is about understanding what constitutes Quick fire Q&A: Coat bandmates that were attracting the stepping up brought with it a lot of challenges. greatness and what level the artist can reach. They However like all things, being outside ones comfort all share some of the same qualities, hard work First job? “A glass collector at the Devonshire pub on edge lane” attention of music labels. The band, named zone is the only way that we grow as individuals and determination to succeed, coupled with innate Gluebound, were signed to none-other than and by the end of 2019 I started to really enjoy talent and a unique and well defined vision for their What do you love most about Liverpool? “I love the humour EMI Records. the job. It helped that we had a great last quarter music. Other than that it’s in the land of the gods of Liverpool, it’s not the same anywhere else. There is a commercially so overall it was a good year. The as no one can really know what someone else will self-depreciation that I love, you can’t get away with anything.” biggest challenge was executing the vision for the connect with. You just have to believe in your own Now 12 months into his role at Parlophone label that Mitch and I had formulated which was decision making. Most played track of 2019? “Tough one... Shawn Mendes and we caught up with Nick to see how he’s very different from the previous management. Camilla Cabello’s Senorita. I don’t listen to music much you’ll The label had not had a lot of success for several be surprised to know. I like to get away from music when I’m getting on… years so we needed to completely overhaul the not working.” structure and implement a new strategy for the label. We hope we can convince Gluebound to reform and perform back at Blue Coat one day!

26 | OB MAGAZINE 2020 WWW.BLUECOATSCHOOLLIVERPOOL.ORG.UK | 27 HOW NICK COWAN PUT THE BLAZE INTO BLAZER

Through friendship with BBC Radio Merseyside’s Appointed as a boarding master at Blue Terry Lennaine, who lived near to Blue Coat Coat in 1973 aged 23, he was tall and thin. and presented the soul music show ‘Keep On Truckin’, Mr Cowan promoted his love of rhythm As this was the new age of facial hair, and blues with a guest spot from 1976 to 1981.

Peter Arnold-Craft suggested that he grow “Nobody liked R&B music much back then, but a moustache to increase his gravitas. I would drop quotes from pop song lyrics into my lessons to see if any students noticed, such as saying ‘Watch this Fade to Grey’, a title of synthpop group Visage’s big hit. It was got by It also coincided with the tall moustachioed comedian John Andrew Hussey – just a slight smile – who later Cleese’s huge popularity on TV in Monty Python and Fawlty worked for the BBC. Towers. “Having grown a moustache to make me look older, I shaved it off on turning 65 in 2016 to make me look younger!” “I prefer people to test tubes. I’ve had the most wonderful time. When I arrived at Blue Coat it “The students nicknamed me Basil, after Cleese’s Basil Fawlty was a boom-time with the School making waves character. I loved playing up to this and did silly walks around under Arnold-Craft’s headship." the class, like his Ministry of Silly Walks sketch in Python. “There were only 600 pupils and a quarter of “Interestingly, John Cleese’s rooms at Downing College were those were boarders, with many from Hong on my staircase, although he’d left by then. I was a young, Kong. There were eight periods a day instead enthusiastic, out-of-left field mad scientist. Never wore a lab of the current five. I was thrown in at the deep coat as that’s what technicians would look like. end as some of the boys were very clever, but only one set of nine were doing A Level “The great thing about teaching is that once the classroom door Chemistry. When I stood down in 2006 we is closed it’s just you and the pupils. After five years, aged 27, I had five sets of 80-plus studying it.” became Head of Chemistry and served for 28 years." Proving his lasting popularity he adds, “I regularly see a lot of my former To keep his “brain active”, he still pops into Blue pupils for drinks.” Coat to tutor students for the British Medical Aptitude Test, Chemistry Olympiad and Cambridge University Challenge.

He had form, as while studying Natural Sciences at Downing MR NICK COWAN, College, Cambridge University, he set fire to the Chemistry Laboratories and explains: “I let loose some ether vapour which crept along a bench and came into contact with a live flame.” PUTTING THE Not especially repentant, this former Head of Chemistry, who retired in 2011, insists: “It wasn’t deliberate. I know I am a clumsy person and, although I know what I’m doing, I do act like a big ‘BLAZE’ INTO schoolboy.”

Like all behaviour patterns, it started early. Making gunpowder, BLAZER aged 8, he singed his father’s ladder: “I got a smack for that. I also got the Stoke Fire Brigade out after setting fire to grasslands. To say that retired Chemistry teacher As I watched, I thought ‘this is power’!” Nick Cowan has had an explosive impact Among his Blue Coat mishaps was sitting on a lab bench so his jacket flap reached a lighted Bunsen burner and ignited, giving on Blue Coat during his time here is a rise to his quip: “I was explaining to the students how a blazer got literal as well as metaphorical truth, its name!” Other mishaps include a tie with a large hole burned by concentrated sulphuric acid, which he looks upon as badge with his love of demonstrations which of honour. always went off with a bang. Whether His interest in playing Bridge led the Blue Coat’s Bridge Club Favourite demonstration? an end of term treat, Bonfire Night, or to become National School Champions in 1986. He muses: parents’ evening, he chuckles: “It was “We beat all the public schools. If I’d not played so much Bridge “Heating ammonium dichromate to create ‘the volcano at university I’d have got a First not a 2.1.” experiment’ to amuse students. This was used in my platform to let it rip!” close-ups for the volcano scenes in the 1933 film of Also a keen chess player he helped run the highly successful King Kong. school team with the Head of Maths, Ken Champion. After a PGCE at Leicester University, his first teaching practice It involves four different types of energy given out was at a “hairy” Leicester comprehensive and then the elite during a reaction: heat, sound, light and kinetic. You put a little energy in and you get much more out! Uppingham public school. Nick pictured at his retirement celebration in 2011 It’s a metaphor for life.”

28 | OB MAGAZINE 2020 WWW.BLUECOATSCHOOLLIVERPOOL.ORG.UK | 29 OLD BLUES INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION

We are grateful to all of our Old Blues who generously give their time and talent to help inspire the next generation of OLD BLUES INSPIRING Blue Coat students. We regularly welcome in Old Blues who volunteer to support our Careers, Information, Advice and Guidance Programme through careers talks, mock interviews and our annual Careers Fair.

THE NEXT GENERATION We also have four special Prizegiving events each year to celebrate the achievements of students throughout the School and always enjoy welcoming in inspirational Old Blues as guest speakers to share their story.

Georgia Stevens Following on from being shortlisted in the Women’s Rising Star category at the North West Football Ian Lee Awards 2019, Georgia Stevens from the Class of 2018 returned to School to run a football training session for Year 7 students, spoke to students about a career in football, provided an insight into her Ian Lee left Blue Coat in 1991 and now lives in Shanghai teaching English at an international Multimedia Sports Journalism degree, and proudly showed off her first England cap! school. Ian found some time on a recent visit back to England to stop by Blue Coat and be guest speaker at our Year 8 Awards Afternoon.

Bill Currie Returning to share some words of wisdom on how to progress in their chosen career during Liam Loftus A Level Prizegiving, Bill, who is founder of the William Currie group, which specialises in investments in the retail, e-commerce and tech sectors, cited numerous examples of his own Former Blue Coat Head Boy Dr Liam Loftus from the Class of 2011 returned to School to talk to career in finance. To help build their resilience and confidence Bill encouraged the Class of students about his career to date and to offer a realistic appraisal of what life is like as a junior 2019 to work outside of their comfort zone and to not shy away from challenging roles. doctor working in Accident & Emergency at Liverpool Royal Infirmary.

Jonathan Allday Matthew Back An expert in Elementary Partial Physics, Dr Jonathan Allday was our 2019 GCSE Prizegiving guest speaker. Whilst in School Jonathan also found time to deliver a fantastic talk to our As Head of Communications at Liverpool Heart & Chest Hospital, Matthew Back from the Class of aspiring physicists, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first man on the Moon. 1996 arranged for aspiring surgeons to take part in a mock operation led by one of the region’s top cardiac surgeons, as part of World Heart Day.

Jack Hayes Jack Hayes from the Class of 1991 is a Chemical Engineer and has worked for Unilever for the past Chris Pajak and Paul Machin ten years in Product and Process Design and Implementation. Jack inspired students as guest speaker at our Key Stage 4 awards afternoon. Jack also hosts a stall at our careers fair each year. Founders of The Redmen TV, Chris Pajak and Paul Machin from the Class of 2001 shared with students what their careers have been like since founding their Liverpool Football Club Youtube channel and website for LFC fans.

Kelsey Walsh Roger Jones Budding West End musical star Kelsey Walsh, from the Class of 2015, returned to Blue Coat to provide some professional advice and boost the confidence of performers in the 2020 School Roger Jones is a Professor of High Energy Physics at Lancaster University and regularly comes in show, Legally Blonde. to School to inspire our young aspiring physicists.

Sam Myers

Our awards afternoons provide us with a great opportunity to highlight our Old Blues community If you’d like to share your time and talent to support our and to introduce students to successful alumni. Director at Tilney Group Sam Myers, from the students please get in touch with Jennifer Graham at Class of 2000, returned to Blue Coat in June 2019 to deliver an inspiring speech during to our Year 7 students. As well as encouraging students to maintain their high standards and commitment to [email protected] or on 0151 733 1407. their studies, Sam stressed the importance of taking advantage of every opportunity, from entering competitions to experiencing new cultures.

30 | OB MAGAZINE 2020 WWW.BLUECOATSCHOOLLIVERPOOL.ORG.UK | 31 PASS IT ON BRIGHT MINDS, BRIGHT FUTURES Thank you to all of our Old Blues who generously support the School with donations, whether through a one off gift, regular support or through pledging a gift in your Will.

RAISING THE BAR IN 2018/19 2018/19 was our most successful fundraising year to date, raising £282,823 to benefit our students

We have outstanding students, and we believe that outstanding students deserve the very best learning environment, resources and equipment to support them in achieving their potential. Blue Coat students are the leaders of the future, striving for excellence in all they do. They inspire us to be ambitious at a time when School budgets do not always allow us to realise all of our goals and ambitions. It is because of their bright minds and the future that they represent that they inspire us to be bold and ambitious in our fundraising efforts.

INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AND Through our Bright Minds bright Futures fundraising campaign we will be able to create a new state-of-the-art 280 Learning Resource Centre (LRC) which will become a hub for learning in the School; a space to collaborate and a space to breathe. It will also enable us to create a step-change in our social mobility programme, providing the 10 CHARITABLE TRUSTS AND LOCAL After several years without chess in School, Chess Club has made a triumphant return to space and resource to engage with more local children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Blue Coat thanks to donations to our COMPANIES FORMED OUR GIVING Development Fund. Led by Old Blue Jenny Long from the Class of 2009, Chess Club is now the COMMUNITY, THAT’S most popular extra-curricular activity at School.

“We’re relying on you to help us transform this library into a place everyone at this school can be proud of creating, and to make it a space that future generations of students can use to push their bright minds to MORE SUPPORTERS be the best they can be. This campaign can make all of that happen THAN IN 2017/18 with your generous help towards it. Thank you.” 29% Rosie and Ashish, Year 11 student librarians In the past two years over £500,000 has been raised in voluntary income for the School, making a huge difference to the extra opportunities we can offer our students, as well as significant Our Key Stage 3 Chemistry Club is fully funded thanks to donations. improvements to their learning environment. To find out more about Bright Minds Bright Futures or to donate online visit Here’s students learning how to make slime! www.bluecoatschoolliverpool.org.uk/support-us/brightmindsbrightfutures

32 | OB MAGAZINE 2020 WWW.BLUECOATSCHOOLLIVERPOOL.ORG.UK | 33 HOW YOU CAN HELP HOW YOU CAN HELP We are so grateful to all of our supporters. However, there is always so much more we can do, LEAVE A GIFT so many more projects and opportunities and so many more resources we’d like to provide for our students. If you’d like to help our community grow stronger into the future you can: IN YOUR WILL

A gift in your Will can achieve great things at Blue Coat. Throughout the history of the School we have benefited from gifts left in the Wills of our Old Blues, and this tradition of ‘giving back’ continues today. If you’d like to find out more about how you could support us in this way MAKE A DONATION please get in touch with the Development Team.

You can support the School by making a gift online at www.bluecoatschoolliverpool.org.uk/give CONTACT US Cheques, made payable to Blue Coat Charitable Donations can be sent to the Development Team at the School address. The Blue Coat School, Church Road,

Regular gifts are amazing as they help us plan for the future Wavertree, Liverpool, L15 9EE and collectively make a big difference to what we are able [email protected] to achieve. You can set up a Direct Debit online at 0151 733 1407 www.bluecoatschoolliverpool.org.uk/give or contact the Development Team if you’d like a Direct Debit www.bluecoatschoolliverpool.org.uk Form sending to you in the post. /support-us

“Pass the parcel. That’s ...Not for me, not for you, but for sometimes all you can do. someone, somewhere, one day.” Take it, feel it, and pass it on Alan Bennett, The History Boys

34 | OB MAGAZINE 2020 WWW.BLUECOATSCHOOLLIVERPOOL.ORG.UK | 35 CLASS OF 1991: OUR PIONEERING FEMALES RETURN CLASS OF 1991: OUR PIONEERING FEMALES RETURN

“Having taught here for the past 24 years, I have seen many changes but one thing which doesn’t change is the quality of staff, variety of extra curricular activities and lovely students, most of whom "We had our own girls room which was a welcome space to I can remember!” In 1989 the Berlin Wall came down, Madonna was riding high at the top of the UK charts with retreat to. Boys could enter by invitation only. I was the only girl in my economics class so this was rather overwhelming Like a Prayer, Nintendo released the Game Boy and Blue Coat made its own history when it too. For fellow Old Blue Katherine Grady reflecting on her return to opened its doors to the first cohort of twenty female students into the Sixth Form. The decision Blue Coat, “It was so lovely to see everyone again and reminisce I am grateful for the excellent teaching I received and about our Sixth Form experiences and antics! The variety of came 40 years after the School had opted to end its co-educational status, which had stood since especially in my favourite subjects of French and history. memorabilia on display for us in our old music room was its founding in 1708. My degree was a combined honours in these subjects fabulous and Mr Caulkin delivered a fantastic tour. Seeing and my teachers had greatly inspired me, especially the space that was once our common room and work room Mrs Roberts, in my love of French literature. Mr Moore brought back so many memories of good times we shared encouraged me to get involved in beach missions to together. The school is looking so much better with all the To mark this special anniversary we were with the news that I had been offered a place Kirsty’s school France and Belgium and this was a great opportunity renovations and the facilities are wonderful." delighted to welcome back to Blue Coat eight and would be part of the first cohort of female photograph taken in 1989 to practise my French too. I appreciated all of the of our pioneering female students for a students to join in September 1989. extra-curricular opportunities such as the Christian celebratory glass of fizz and to show them Union, orchestra, trips to French plays and school some of the latest redevelopments to have On our first day we were ushered up to the productions. taken place at the School since their last balcony area of Shirley Hall at the start of reunion in 1989. assembly and I distinctly remember the boys I am pleased that I am still in touch with many of our first turning around and staring at us as if an alien female cohort. The first reunion I organised at school was Reflecting on her Blue Coat experience, Old Blue species had landed. I’m sure many of the boys in February 2010 and I managed to track down 18 out of and Blue Coat French teacher Kirsty Rowe, who has had never even spoke with girls before!” 20 girls and they all attended and we had a great time been teaching at the School since 1997. reminiscing about our time here." “I distinctly remember the boys “Like so many Old Blues I remember waiting anxiously in the Board room before my admissions turning around and staring at us interview and being delighted to receive a letter as if an alien species had landed.”

36 | OB MAGAZINE 2020 WWW.BLUECOATSCHOOLLIVERPOOL.ORG.UK | 37 TECH START UP ZYNG HITTING THE RIGHT NOTE TECH START-UP TAKES STRESS OUT OF ORGANISING YOUR SOCIAL CALENDAR Fascinated with machines and technology from an early age, University of Exeter graduate Duncan Cowan from the Class of 2011 is the developer behind ZYNG. One of the newest apps to hit the market, ZYNG is designed to make our lives a little easier. Released in December 2019 the app has already attracted close to 3,000 users. How did ZYNG come about and what’s next for this small tech start-up?

We’re incredibly happy with the app’s reception after its release in December 2019. We shattered our initial aim of 500 users in the first “Organising your plans is a pain. There is no ‘go-to’ platform to month, with over 1,000 users! And we are fast approaching 3,000 properly and easily arrange plans; finding when you and your friends downloads within three months. We’re delighted with the quality of are free to meet can be tedious and staying in control of your diary new investors and their industry experience and networks, which will is frustratingly ‘manual’. bring us so much added value. I’m working hard to get the big update out which will make the app work even better for our users. That’s why we’re developing ZYNG, a free app that puts people in control of their social life by combining their plans, calendars and Currently we’re focusing on getting UK users, but there’s no limit to chats in one place. It solves a clear problem that everyone has: where the app will work and we do have some users in countries such organising. ZYNG allows users to arrange and chat easily about plans as Australia, the US and India. (that sync directly into their calendar), automatically find when their friends are all next free to meet and share their limited or full I’ve always been fascinated with machines and technology. At primary Year 9 Organ Scholars George Ke and Olivia Stone pictured with organists Daniel Greenway and Simon Cheung from Year 13. calendars. school my friend’s mum showed us how to make a simple website using HTML, which started my fascination with coding. I love to create Currently ZYNG consists of myself and two co-founders, Neil and Jake, things, but a physical machine requires parts and can be expensive, who work on securing investment. I’m mostly based in my flat in whereas a computer can create all sorts of applications. While at Stevenage as we don’t have an office and I use my desktop PC to Blue Coat I spent my evenings working on coding projects (usually Our new Blue Coat Organ Scholars George Ke and Olivia Stone He said: “The key to good piano playing is to lose yourself in the work on the app, joining my colleagues once a week in London. web-based games) which is how I learnt my early programming music. I like Beethoven’s music as it’s so expressive, he said that to will be the pioneers in taking the School’s already outstanding experience. music-making tradition into an entirely fresh area. play a wrong note is insignificant, but to play without passion is The name ZYNG reflects the speed and ease of the product and inexcusable.” solution. We also wanted a name that could be used as a verb as well, I worked for Airbus Defence and Space as an Electrical Design/Test Our Blue Coat Organ Scholarship emerged out of the desire to so we thought of ZYNG as it’s quick and easy to say “I’ll ZYNG you the engineer, working on satellites, before leaving for ZYNG. My job create a legacy for our Blue Coat For All project, the centrepiece of Olivia, plays the violin and also has musical parents, whose details!” We fully capitalised the name simply as it looks better! involved creating and testing satellites, rather than keeping them in advice on piano playing was, she said: “To keep going, even if which has been the restoration of our historic Father Willis organ, the sky. During my three years at Airbus I mostly worked on the and has been generously funded by the Young Organ Scholars you don’t enjoy it, as eventually you will. I like listening to indie I met my co-founders at the University of Exeter, and after graduating Aeolus satellite, living all over Europe and at the French Guiana Trust and our Pipe Up supporters. Old Blue and Director of Music music, not classical – even though my dad’s in the Liverpool Mozart I was at a party in London with Neil, who told me about his idea for a satellite launch base. Then I worked on the Solar Orbiter, launched at Liverpool Cathedral Lee Ward, from the Class of 1983, will lead Orchestra!" contact management app and asked me to join him as the developer. in February 2019 to orbit around the Sun. Leaving Airbus for ZYNG this exciting new programme by delivering tuition on our Walker We slowly got things moving while in full time jobs and brought Jake was an especially difficult decision, as I was due to go out to Florida organ, located in the Chapel, and on Liverpool’s two cathedral “My ambition to play the organ started when my dad gave me on board for the financial side, but pivoted away from the contact for Solar Orbiter’s launch! organs. a piano transcript of Bach’s Toccata and Fugue. I liked it so much management idea into the event and shared calendar app. ZYNG is a that I wanted to learn how to play it on the organ. George’s group effort between the three of us. I technically produced the app My outstanding Blue Coat memories are of the school plays, working George, 13, of 9 Bingham, and Olivia, 13, of 9 Graham, are both audition was so good I thought he’d get the scholarship, - selected the infrastructure and wrote the code – but how the app as stage manager for my final three years. I loved working with such accomplished piano players, but with very varied musical tastes. so I was thrilled to get the second one.” looks and what it does is the result of us all. a broad range of people to put on great performances.” George, performed a Beethoven piece for his Organ Scholarship audition, but also enjoys rock music and is a big fan of guitarist As George and Oliva’s lessons get underway we look

Jimi Hendrix and jazz saxophonist John Coltrane. forward to keeping you updated on their progress.

George started playing the piano aged five and said his mother’s If you would like to get involved and dream was to become a singer and his father was very musical support our Pipe Up fundraising appeal please visit when younger. www.bluecoatschoolliverpool.org.uk/pipeup

38 | OB MAGAZINE 2020 WWW.BLUECOATSCHOOLLIVERPOOL.ORG.UK | 39 FLYING DOCTOR MATT

CALL THE FLYING DOCTOR MATT IS BLUE COAT READY FOR TAKE OFF – AGAIN! MIDWIFE Watching air ambulance crews remain calm and It’s an honour to know how the charity has made a difference to a patient when they were extremely unwell from severe injury or illness.” collected as they flew in seriously ill patients from all over south east England so impressed junior doctor Following his year with Air Ambulance Kent Surrey Sussex, Matthew is now a full-time consultant in emergency medicine at Lucy Pearsall’s career in and Old Blue Dr Matthew Mak, from the Class of the Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, East London. As Europe’s 2002, that he was determined to work for the busiest major trauma centre it daily handles more than 600 midwifery has a life-affirming patients. dimension having been involved service one day. Matthew says: “In spite of the NHS’s pressures, I love working with in delivering babies for more than He achieved his goal and it surpassed his expectations: “Hands an inspiring and amazing team of doctors, nurses and allied health 20 years, learning to deal with its down, it’s the best job I have ever had in my entire life. Without professionals who are dedicated to looking after the most a doubt.” inevitable emotional highs and vulnerable people in our community." tragic lows. The hit TV series Matthew had applied towards the end of his medical training at However, the lure of the flying doctor’s life is proving impossible to King’s College Hospital, South London, and was given a year-long resist and he adds: “But I’m also due to start a six month sabbatical Call The Midwife has put a new job with Air Ambulance Kent Surrey Sussex. He says: “I was always with London’s Air Ambulance so it won’t be long until I’m back in the spotlight on the profession, but impressed with the crews’ ability to remain calm in stressful skies!” situations and to deliver critical interventions to the sickest while practical techniques have patients. drastically changed since its “I’d always hoped in the back of my mind that one day I might be able pre-war period setting, some By the time I qualified as a midwife in to work for such an amazing service. I applied and somehow was lucky basics remain timeless, as Lucy enough to get through the recruitment process.” 1997, I had been present at 52 births. from the Class of 1991 explains. Since then there have been many more, having been a long time Community In essence, the air ambulance services takes the ‘emergency Midwife supporting women and families during the pregnancy and at home department’ to the patient and delivers life-saving interventions at

with their babies. the roadside. Besides the pilot, the helicopter usually carries a two person doctor and paramedic team, who are sometimes joined by “I think Call the Midwife a trainee. has brought midwifery to Midwives work in many different Matthew says: “We carry equipment that allows us to perform an the forefront and it is now a first line clinical environments, including the community and anaesthetic to place patients into an induced coma if they have a career choice for many people. I personally love it, women’s homes so there isn’t a typical day. Each brings its rewards and severe head injury. and although there are huge differences between challenges dependent on the events that unfold. It is a huge privilege to the practice of then and now, the need for care develop relationships and support women to make informed choices “We can also perform emergency chest surgery to treat collapsed lungs and compassion and the need to know women about themselves and their babies. or stabbings to the heart. We also have the latest art ventilators and and families on an individual basis is still the infusion pumps to deliver lots of different types of medicines, as well as same, along with vital teamwork. Team work is key and having support blood transfusions.” from each other and from other systems is vital. You can Inevitably, what is possibly a patient’s most traumatic illness or accident experience is, in contrast, routine work for the flying There are many more have competing highs and lows in the same day and even in the saddest of medical team. Matthew has worked more than 200 shifts air circumstances the care which a woman, her partner and family receive can interventions in ambulance shifts and looked after more than 250 patients. Of these maternity care today. make lasting memories. 35 per cent were road traffic collisions, 25 per cent were accidental injuries, 20 per cent were medically unwell patients (as opposed to However, facilitating decision making, informing I have worked in a variety of roles within accidents) and 15 per cent were assaults. and educating and the support of choice is the midwifery such as Community Team Leader and Community Midwife same. The programme portrays the value of “It’s easy to forget that our patients’ worst day is our normal day,” says Quick fire Q&A: Manager. All have shaped my career and brought me to where I am now as continuity of carer very well. Matthew, “and we are lucky that we have such a supportive network Quality Improvement Manager for the East of England Maternity Clinical within the air ambulance. Our managers look after us and my Describe yourself as a Blue Coat teenager Network. It is these values which colleagues are great if we have had a particularly stressful shift. in 3 words “Quiet, nervous, confused!” There is a formal trauma risk management programme which are key to the current provides counselling if needed. Other than that, I make sure I Most inspiring Blue Coat teacher “Miss Ford I had a fantastic experience as one of spend quality time with my friends and family. I always know (Spanish) or Mr Johnson (English).” maternity transformation when my next holiday is!” the twenty pioneering female students work and the ‘Better Births’ report (about joining the Blue Coat Sixth Form in 1989. Once the initial apprehension was The emotional reward for all his high-octane stressful work is the If you hadn’t become a doctor what sector do improving outcomes of England’s maternity overcome we were welcomed and integrated well in Blue Coat life, bringing gratitude shown by patients after their recovery and their families. you think you would be working in now? services). While Call The Midwife’s context is of a new perspective into the previously male domain.” Matthew says: “The best thing about working for an air ambulance “Either Politics or Law.” yesteryear, the issues such as screening, service is the opportunity to meet patients and families that you have abnormality, female genital mutilation, poverty, treated when they come back to base to visit. pregnancy loss, support of communities and inequalities of outcome remain those of today. 40 | OB MAGAZINE 2020 WWW.BLUECOATSCHOOLLIVERPOOL.ORG.UK | 41 THE REDMEN OF LIVERPOOL 5 MINUTES WITH… RICHARD DOWNEY, CLASS OF 1994

In 2018 Old Blue Richard Downey, from the Class of 1994, was tasked with setting up independent THE media and creative agency, The Specialist Works' first West Coast office in the United States. A growing organisation, with seven offices in cities Quick fire Q&A: REDMEN including Beijing, London and now Los Angeles, Senior Vice President Global New Business Describe yourself as a Blue Coat teenager in 3 words “Bright, interested, lazy” OF LIVERPOOL Richard is responsible for attracting fast growth

digital and mobile brands to the agency. Most inspiring Blue Coat teacher “I had a Spanish Chris Pajak and Paul Machin’s passion for Liverpool Chris and Paul, from the Class of 2001, with their Teacher called Mr Ling. He was one of the few that Football Club led to the launch of their YouTube channel wives, at the North West Football Awards 2019. How’s Richard finding life in sunny California? really thought I would get the grades I needed to go The Redmen TV in 2010 and their website followed The duo won Best Fan Media Channel. We caught up with him to find out. to my chosen University (Newcastle). He was right a year later in 2011. To date their channel, which fortunately.” provides fans with club stats, match analysis,

Apart from the sunshine, what do you love most interviews with players and opinions from fans, about living in California? First job? “I was a caddy at Woolton Golf Club when I was 13.” has attracted over 400,000 subscribers. Their popularity What makes Liverpool Football Club so appealing to fans The weather helps definitely but California is also an incredibly among Liverpool fans has grown at an astonishing rate. across the world? beautiful place. The lifestyle is definitely geared towards outdoors activity, which is exactly what I enjoy. You had the enviable task of travelling to America for “I often ponder this question. Clearly, past successes are a factor when deciding which football team to support, but one thing that What do you miss most about Liverpool? As an independent media agency how do you stand out Liverpool’s pre-season tour, what were your tour highlights? from the crowd and attract international business? seems different about Liverpool, compared to other teams, is that people buy into the culture of the fanbase. I see so many fans Family and friends. Going to Anfield, although Joxer Daly’s, the “I got to sit down and interview Jurgen Klopp. I’d been jotting down from outside the city helping the same causes that we champion official Liverpool supporters’ pub in LA, is not a bad substitute. Mainly by building relationships, doing great work and interview questions for the best part of a year and whilst on the plane continually looking for new and innovative ways to deliver to the USA I had to whittle 50 questions into something more befitting as fans from Liverpool. An example of this would be the Fans Supporting Foodbanks appeal. They receive donations from How would you sum up your Blue Coat experience? value for our clients. It’s not easy though. We are an agency an interview. We’d just got up after a ‘relatively’ heavy night out with of 220 people often pitching against global media agency the Boston Reds and were planning on having a lazy morning when Liverpool supporters all around the world. This is what makes Liverpool so special.” Great. My group of school friends are still my best friends now and networks with over 20,000 employees and offices in every we got the call from the Liverpool FC press officer saying we’d have 15 I am incredibly grateful for the education it gave me. I wouldn’t be major market. This is where we emphasise the advantages minutes with Jurgen across the other side of Boston starting in less than As Liverpool fans do you ever get star struck when here without it that’s for sure. of working with smaller, independent agencies. Flexibility, an hour’s time! It was panic stations. We had a few minutes to set up speed and innovation for example. and that’s when it hit me what I was about to do. Jurgen entered and interviewing players? As Global New Business Director at The Specialist Works, we had the cameras rolling. We’ve met him a few times and it turns out “I used to, but now we’ve met all the players on numerous what does your role entail? What do you enjoy most? The Specialist Works has welcomed internationally he’s watched a lot of our videos so he made a joke about me missing occasions I don’t get nervous, they are always so welcoming. recognised brands eharmony, Bloom & Wild, and the Champions League final in Madrid. We had an incredible 20 minute I was nervous when interviewing Klopp!” My role entails attracting new clients to the agency and ensuring Alibaba Group’s Alipay, what is the secret to your discussion and I left feeling like a million bucks. I’d just achieved a that we retain them. It also involves developing new services to success? dream by interviewing Liverpool’s manager.” What triggered your passion for Liverpool? meet the changing needs of the kind of clients we work with. Mainly

digital and mobile first brands. The part I enjoy most is working in Probably identifying opportunities quickly and being faster to You have built up an incredible fan base, what lies at the “Watching and playing football from a young age. Everyone I partnership with clients who are embarking on fast growth journeys react than the bigger agency networks. For example we have heart of your success? grew up with was obsessed with it so it was easy to fall in love. and helping them to achieve their objectives. an office in Beijing which has enabled us to win business from brands the size of TikTok, Tencent and Alibaba. Most of our “From what I’ve been told we’re relatable. It’s the one thing that people As an adult, I truly love the sport, the tactics, the personalities and everything else that goes into the game. The comradery inside What is your proudest career achievement? competitors would be too wary of failure or the decision from all over the world say to us consistently. If I had a pound for every making process would be too slow and risk averse to do time someone said to me they feel like they know me or that I’m one of and outside the grounds is what makes it special. Nothing beats 55,000 Liverpool fans singing in unison. Nothing.” Before working with the agency, I spent 13 years as a magazine something like launch into China. But we were confident their mates I’d be a rich man. I do it for every person who has emailed

publisher. During that time, I launched and ran a business in in our ability to make it work and luckily for us it has. me or spoken to me and said I’ve helped them get through a difficult Is there a player or manager, past or present, that you India. Making a success of that, in sometimes extremely trying time in their life. If I can bring a bit of joy to someone else then I will do would have liked to have interviewed? circumstances, would probably be the career achievement I Your role has taken you across the world, do you whatever it takes.” am most proud of so far. have a favourite city or country? “Shankly. I’d have loved to chat to him to about football and the

world. I cannot think of anyone I’d enjoy talking to more in any In 2018, building on the success of the organisation’s New City I would say Shanghai or Tokyo. Country is tricky. Favourite walk of life.” York office, you established a new office in Los Angeles. to live in would be the US and favourite to holiday in would be Why LA and how is it going? Argentina or India. Are you willing to make any predictions for this season? Will Liverpool finally be crowned Premiership champions? LA because the type of clients we like to work with are based in Name one thing you would like to achieve in 2020?

California, mobile games companies and app publishers. “Yes (hopefully)!” San Francisco would have been another logical choice but I would like to double the size of our business in the USA. 2020 the weather is better here! will be my second full year out here and hopefully the year that all of the groundwork we have been doing starts to pay off.

42 | OB MAGAZINE 2020 WWW.BLUECOATSCHOOLLIVERPOOL.ORG.UK | 43 OLD BLUES AROUND THE WORLD

OLD BLUES Nikoletta Michael, Class of 2011 British Consulate in Palma de Mallorca Ben Hayes (‘93)

AROUND THE WORLD Bangkok, Thailand “I currently work for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, based at the British Embassy in Spain. Since January 2019, Our current students love to see where our Old Blues are around the world, inspiring them in their career I have been at the British Consulate in Palma de Mallorca choices, travel aspirations and personal ambitions. We’ve got some fantastic new additions to our Old Blues’ where I am the Brexit Coordinator. Yes I know what you’re World Map highlighted below. thinking! Sunshine, beaches and great food! All of which are true. However, it has been an interesting year indeed and Brexit has made my job challenging and tricky at times - as we aim to ensure the rights of British nationals after Brexit are fully protected and contingency plans are in place.

Ian Lee (‘91) Living on the island which hosts approximately 20,000 British Shanghai, China nationals, I have been able to understand the needs of British Dr Martin Randle (‘69) Iain Rusling (‘92) people living in Spain first hand, from business owners to those enjoying retirement. Our office works closely with the British Columbia, Canada Munich, Germany Balearic government in Mallorca, Ibiza and Menorca to ensure the significant bilateral relationship between the UK and Spain continues to flourish.

I love my job and am passionate about UK and international politics. My current role has not drawn me away however, from the keen interests I developed during my Master’s degree in Identity politics - that concern minority voices and the integration of immigrants across Europe. I have volunteered extensively with refugees around the world; throughout the Middle East, Azerbaijan and Latin America where I became accustomed to working in distressing circumstances. These were the most enlightening experiences I have had to date and allowed me to develop key skills and ideas I have for my future career plans. I hope one day to have my own organisation that mentors underprivileged youth and children from minority backgrounds and underrepresented communities in the UK (and beyond) - ensuring they are able to reach their full potential.

I would encourage Blue Coat students who are interested in working in the field of international relations to take up every opportunity they can when it comes to volunteering abroad, Michael Wrigley (‘97) taking up internships during their summer breaks, learning a language and making connections – because these are things Panama that really give you an edge and provide you with a platform to grow on both a professional and personal level.” Martin Keighley (‘82) Gordon Bartley (‘81) Texas, USA Faridabad, India

To take a more detailed look at the We are seeking to build a map visit: www.bluecoatschool network of international liverpool.org.uk/old-blues/ alumni willing to support International Old Blue Tim Wardill, from the Class of 1966, recently got old-blues-around-world in touch to say that he’d love to meet up with Old Blues relocating to or our students via our Careers holidaying in the Bahamas where he now lives. If, like Tim, you’d be Information Advice and happy to connect with globetrotting Old Blues please contact the Are you an international Old Blue? Guidance programme. If you Development Team. And similarly, if you are holidaying or relocating Would you like to be added to our would like to provide an insight to a new country we can put you in touch with Old Blues scattered map? If so, get in touch at into your international career across the globe who can help answer your questions or even show development-team@bluecoatschool. please get in touch. you round your new city. org.uk

44 | OB MAGAZINE 2020 WWW.BLUECOATSCHOOLLIVERPOOL.ORG.UK | 45 5 MINUTES WITH GRAHAM O'CONNELL

BE MINDFUL ABOUT YOUR MENTAL HEALTH SAYS OLD BLUE DR ED LYNCH

Solving Britain’s mental health crisis is at the heart of an award-winning social enterprise set up by Old Blue Dr Ed Lynch, from the 5 MINUTES WITH… Class of 2013, and his Liverpool University Medical School colleague Tobias Fox. GRAHAM O’CONNELL, Both Ed and Tobias are passionate about psychology and From his New York City office, Old Blue Graham psychiatry with regard to changing people’s attitudes about “We want to create lasting social O’Connell leads PricewaterhouseCoopers’ New CLASS OF 1989 mental health and helping individuals create a life-long healthy York and Boston Forensic Investigations division, mindset. change where people are in a better responsible for investigating and preventing a In 2019, Ed and Tobias delivered a series of workshops with our position to look after their health and wide variety of financial misconduct. Sixth Form students, during which they discussed, “the transition to university life, including how to safeguard yourself against the life, in a completely holistic manner.” Quick fire Q&A: changes that inevitably occur. We also more specifically addressed Where is the best place your job has taken you to? First job? Shelf stacker in a freezer store. mental health and discussed techniques about how to move forwards effectively, using relevant NHS services if needed." “I’m lucky enough to live and work in New York - self-proclaimed How do you relax? A rare trip home to go horse Ed says: “Our initiative is an incredibly ambitious venture which centre of the universe!” “These are universal principles which are effective for everyone and aims to change the way we live in today’s society. We want to create racing - Cheltenham or Ascot to watch National we believe students will gain a lot of benefit from them, providing a cultural shift from addressing mental health problems to teach Who has been the biggest influence on your Hunt racing. they approach the subject with an open mind. We also held a session instead all people from a young age to look after their mental fitness, career and life? with Blue Coat staff to advise on what signs to look out for in the enabling them to live their lives to their best potential.” What are you currently reading or listening to: students and how to create the right mindset. “My Pupil-Mistress Linda Strudwick, who I trained under, learning Chapter & Verse by Bernard Sumner / anything by Their first mental health initiative called Sophron, took off after my craft as a barrister. An amazing education, inspiration and New Order or Joy Division. “We believe that a more preventative approach is required to change winning the prestigious 2019 HRH The Duke of York Young role model.” the way we live in today’s challenging society and to start solving the Entrepreneur award, having been nominated by the University of Favourite Blue Coat teacher: The English mental health crisis.” Liverpool. Which of your accomplishments are you most proud of? teachers: Mr Hayes, Mr Gleave and Mr Halton. They were “good people” and had a profound effect In January, the pair were invited on to Radio City 96.7 to deliver “Being Lead Investigator into the collapse of the Royal Bank their first mental health talk of 2020, to discuss how to improve Scotland; Appearing before the Court of Appeal - and winning!” on developing my skills. I wasn’t great at hard work mental health and well-being and to highlight their latest venture or exams until I realised the importance of them Lyfe, a healthy lifestyle app which will publically launch in 2020. You hold the position of Financial Services sector leader when I got to Law School. These guys nurtured for PwC Forensics in the United States. What does this role talent, opened my eyes to a range of literary Crowned the winner of the 2019 University of Liverpool entail / what are your responsibilities? influences and always believed in the students. Business competition, Ed and Tobias received £5,000 to further develop their new lifestyle app. Further funding for “Banks and their people get into trouble. Often. We help investigate developing and building their app soon followed, courtesy of a and prevent a wide variety of misconduct: bribery, corruption, joint grant from the European Regional Development Fund and insider trading, fraud etc. We are a national business covering LCR Activate. With huge interest in the app, the pair have pitched Miami to San Francisco, but our work takes us across borders to When you look back on your time at Blue Coat what to more than 80 ‘angel’ investors and are in discussions with countries such as China, Nigeria, Venezuela, Switzerland.” stands out? seven different ‘angel’ investor companies. Already around 100 retailers have provisionally signed up to their new app and more What is one issue you are truly passionate about “The Debating Society, a bear pit of passion and advocacy. than 500 users are showing interest. outside of your work? The school did a fantastic job giving students the environment to develop their skills.” As a registered social enterprise, 50% of all profits will go back “Equality.” into the community to help educate people about mental health What do you love most about Liverpool / New York? and how to optimise their well-being. Name one thing you want to do in the next year “They’re surprisingly similar cities! Fierce pride in their To find out more about Ed and Tobias’ new app please visit their “Complete the 2020 Olympic Distance Westchester Triathlon.” identity; a passion for sports; surrounded by water; Instagram page at www.instagram.com/thelyfeclub and kind people who will help you out.”

46 | THE OB MAGAZINE 2020 WWW.BLUECOATSCHOOLLIVERPOOL.ORG.UK | 47 BLUE COAT FOR ALL Our Blue Coat For All (BCFA) project, which was launched to restore our historic and rare Father Willis organ, has succeeded far beyond this goal, which in itself was an ambitious aim. If ever a project was blessed, it is this one, for not only has BITS AND PIECES a large musical instrument of national importance The hard work began a month later in February 2019 when been restored for public enjoyment, but it has also a dozen staff from Henry Willis & Sons dismantled the organ created a dynamic new community outreach during half term. Being unimpeded by students was crucial as the organ consists of some 10,000 pieces including 1,224 pipes, programme. which were transported to the workshops in Islington, Liverpool. The close proximity of Henry Willis & Sons allowed guided tours by Director David Wyld around its workshops to view progress on After 145 years of use, our Father Willis had fallen the instrument. Trips were organised for 60 Blue Coat Music and Photo credit: Charlotte Graham into a perilous state, having survived so long with Design Technology students and for Merseyside Civic Society. An important aspect of the project was to stimulate interest in so little attention due to its superb construction. the organ, an instrument that the majority of our students are Thankfully, before it became totally unplayable, the unfamiliar with. National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) agreed to award £180,600 for its full restoration and a number of other generous supporters agreed to provide match funding to support the project. This project was carried out by the original builders, Henry Willis & Sons, at its Liverpool workshop.

The grant also enabled us to deliver an array of public engagement activities including a Community Choir, Science Ceilidh workshops, an

Image credit: Anna Elcock, Old Blue Class of 2018 Class of Blue Old Anna Elcock, credit: Image ALL ABOARD THE ORGAN Oral History project, organ workshop tours and BANDWAGON! the creation of a new website filled with archive material, which will soon be made available Communicating BCFA to the outside world and CONCERTED EFFORT promoting organ music was a vital part of the overall to the public. project. Luckily, two highly skilled Blue Coat organ players, Sixth Form students Daniel Greenway and Held in the grand surroundings of Liverpool Cathedral, our BCFA Simon Cheung, were available to promote the launch concert took place in January 2019. Designed to generate project throughout. public awareness of the project, the event was attended by a number of special guests, including the Lord Lieutenant and High Publicity highlights included their performance on Sheriff of Merseyside, and NLHF North West England director, the Blackpool Tower Ballroom Wurlitzer for 900 Nathan Lee. Hosted by BBC Radio Merseyside’s Roger Phillips, dancers, with Daniel and Simon rising on the organ’s the concert’s six organists all had links with Blue Coat, either as stage lift to play. Secondly was the recreation of the former teachers or past and present students, and their Father Willis organ’s 1906 move from the old Blue performances alternated with the Senior Choir and Chamber Coat School building in central Liverpool to the Choir, both conducted by Mr Simon Emery, the School’s Director present premises by horse and dray. The pair of Music. loaded up original organ pipes and rode for the four mile trip. These events were featured on BBC and Sixth Form student Daniel Greenway opened the concert and ITV regional news, The Daily Telegraph and in he was followed by Old Blues Tim Harvey, Lee Ward (Director of publications including Lancashire Life and Music at Liverpool Cathedral) and Alan McGuinness; David The Lancashire Magazine. Houlder, former Blue Coat Director of Music; and finally Old Blue Dr Christopher McElroy (Director of Music at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral).

PIPING IN THE FUNDS

Our Pipe Up campaign was launched to raise money to fund current and future Blue Coat Organ Scholars, by inviting individuals and organisations to sponsor one or more of the Father Willis’ 1,224 pipes. We are delighted that over £15,000 has so far been raised thanks to support from the Young Organ Scholars’ Trust, Old Blues, Blue Coat parents, organ enthusiasts and well-wishers. All funds received will go towards our organ scholarship, the organ’s ongoing maintenance, extra-curricular music activities and music outreach work with local primary schools and specialist schools.

48 | OB MAGAZINE 2020 WWW.BLUECOATSCHOOLLIVERPOOL.ORG.UK | 49 BLUE COAT FOR ALL

COME SING WITH US TELLING TALES IN SCHOOL What better way to engage the public in a fully-immersive project than to set up a Blue Coat Community Choir? This was as much Our Oral History project was a fresh initiative to record about social bonding with a varied group of individuals of all the memories of Old Blues, former staff and individuals ages, backgrounds and abilities, as it was with music. It was with a connection to the School. Guided by professional equally about allowing the public who had no connections with oral historian Christine Gibbons and supported by Old the School to enjoy its fine buildings, in particular the School Blue and former Deputy Editor of the Liverpool Echo Chapel where rehearsals took place. Tony Storey, from the Class of 1979, Blue Coat students conducted 50 interviews, including our oldest Old Blue Old Blue and Director of Music at Liverpool’s Metropolitan 104 year old Kendrick Rannard. Cathedral Chris McElroy, from the Class of 1996, agreed to become Choir Master, accompanied by Blue Coat student In June we held a series of afternoon teas for those Daniel Greenway and Old Blue Tim Harvey from the Class of wanting to share their memories of Blue Coat days gone 1983, a former Blue Coat Organ Scholar. Thanks to their by. Nothing like this has been attempted by the School incredible input and tuition, the choir, made up of Old Blues, before and we were delighted that memories from the past and present Blue Coat parents and members of the public 1920s through to the 2000s were captured. delivered two fantastic performances during our Celebratory Getting current students involved was an important Concert in January 2020. aspect of the project, not only because of the new skills they learnt, but also to inform them of how much the School has changed over the years. We look forward to sharing these oral histories on our new archive website launching later this year.

LAIRD OF THE DANCE DETECTORISTS AND DIGITISTS

One of the most creative and imaginative projects to The evolution of The Blue Coat School over the past emerge from our BCFA project was undoubtedly Science three centuries can be found in our extensive archive Ceilidh, an award winning concept created by Old Blue collection. Thanks to a tremendous effort by our team and neuroscientist Lewis Hou, from the Class of 2008. of 8 heritage volunteers, including retired teachers Keith Over the course of four days 172 pupils from local Caulkin, and Ian 'Jake' Preston, as well as Old Blues and primary and specialist schools, 40 neighbours from past and present Blue Coat parents and grandparents, charity Liverpool Cares as well as 50 parents, Old Blues our archive collection has been centralised and and friends of the School and 50 Year 7 Blue Coat catalogued. students, participated in the workshops. Thanks to advice and digital support from Liverpool Working alongside retired Physics teacher Mr John Moores University we have also been able to start Caulkin, Lewis provided a great insight into the science digitising material, including our entire Squirrel magazine CHORUS OF APPROVAL and physics of sound, demonstrating how sound is collection. Other materials including our admissions created through an organ pipe. The ‘slinky orchestra’ register, photographs, reports, architectural drawings proved to be one of the most popular elements of the and letters and postcards will soon be digitised. This The Celebratory Concert to officially unveil the restored Father Willis workshop, with laser sound effects created whilst singing material will soon be available on our new archive organ, was held in the School’s Shirley Hall, in January 2020, exactly along to the Star Wars theme tune being played on the website, providing our alumni community with an a year after our launch concert. It starred acclaimed international Chapel organ. Lewis has taken Science Ceilidh around the opportunity to take a trip down Blue Coat memory lane. organist Professor Ian Tracey, who was tutored on the organ. The world and has consulted on countless STEM and public It is hoped the project will encourage Old Blues to programme was once again hosted by Roger Phillips and opened by engagement projects, particular career highlights consider loaning or donating items from their own Sixth Form student Daniel Greenway, Simon Cheung and Old Blue including being involved in the Alan Turing Institute’s Blue Coat collection to the School. Lee Ward. The 53 members of the Blue Coat School Community STEM Gamechangers programme, winning the NCCPE Choir, led by Old Blue Christopher McElroy also joined forces with the Engage STEM 2014 Award for his involvement with the School Senior Choir, totaling 175 voices, book-ending the concert with science-theatre show Deadinburgh and meeting Michelle Jerusalem and the Hallelujah Chorus. It paves the way for the NLHF’s Obama at the World Innovation Summit Education 2015 wish that our Father Willis organ be enjoyed by future generations to in Qatar. come.

AMBASSADORS ‘SPOIL’ US!

Our BCFA Ambassadors initiative created a group of influential specialists to promote the project at higher levels. Our Ambassadors include organists Chris McElroy, Ian Tracey and Lee Ward, with Peter Toyne, Liverpool John Moores University founder Vice Chancellor, Young Organ Scholars’ Trust co-chair, who has been crucial in raising sponsorship; Lord David Alton who has been long associated with the School; Roger Phillips, BBC Radio Merseyside senior presenter, who hosted our concerts; Carol If you'd like to find out more about Midgley, The Times columnist who publicised the project; and Julia Bryan, National Museums Liverpool Senior Education Manager, who helped Blue Coat For All please contact Peter Elson guide the Oral History Project. at [email protected] or on 0151 733 1407. 50 | OB MAGAZINE 2020 WWW.BLUECOATSCHOOLLIVERPOOL.ORG.UK | 51 'NON SIBI SED OMNIBUS' 'NOT FOR ONESELF BUT FOR ALL'

THE BLUE COAT SCHOOL Development Team, The Blue Coat School, Church Road, Wavertree, Liverpool, L15 9EE Tel: 0151 733 1407 ext 207 Email: [email protected]

www.bluecoatschoolliverpool.org.uk

/bluecoatschoololdblues

@LiverpoolBCS

www.linkedin.com/groups/8153535