Old Stops Review – Issue 2
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ANTARCTIC ADVENTURES TIME OUT WITH JOHN AMAECHI OBE OLD AT THE OSCARS WITH LUCY COTTER STOPS’ REVIEW ISSUE 2 2012 Old Stops’ Review | Welcome Old Stops’ Review | Welcome The prime purpose of a school is WELCOME to broaden the experiences and TO OUR SECOND EDITION horizons of each individual. n this, the 525th anniversary The prime purpose of a school is The Duke of Edinburgh Award The new Woodsmoor classroom There is no better way to mark this CONTENTS of Shaa’s foundation, it is right to broaden the experiences and programme goes from strength to accommodation is due for completion anniversary year than by celebrating that we reflect on the extent to which horizons of each individual and it strength. Our sports teams have this summer and will give us and promoting the influence of Tom Gare 4 his legacy survives in his home town is easy to underestimate the value enjoyed notable success in national outstanding facilities for the teaching Edmond Shaa’s legacy to future of Stockport. Thanks to the support of participation in extracurricular competitions this year, whilst of arts subjects. But we do not build in generations. From the Helm 4 of all sections of the school community activities in fostering personal the recent Model United Nations bricks and mortar alone. Our Bursary Richard Rimmington 5 and the Worshipful Company of development. Conference was a fine example of the campaign seeks to ensure that local Andrew Chicken Lucy Cotter 6 Goldsmiths, Stockport Grammar capacity of our young people to think boys and girls can contribute to and Headmaster Where Are They Now? 8 School is now as successful as it Last term’s spectacular production both for themselves and of others. benefit from the education we offer has ever been – in the number of of Oliver! together with the seasonal irrespective of family circumstances. John Amaechi OBE 10 boys and girls we educate, in terms round of concerts and recitals OS Sport 12 of academic results, in extracurricular demonstrated the wealth of talent Charles Speight 13 sport, music and drama and in the which exists within our school. quality of facilities and working Dr Alex Kumar 14 relations which exist in the school. 525 Years 16 Announcements 17 School Highlights 18 OS Highlights 19 Dates for Your Diary 20 2 Cast of Oliver! 3 Old Stops’ Review | Tom Gare, From The Helm Old Stops’ Review | President of The OSA In 1992 an All Weather Pitch on the This brings us to the present, with north side of the site, named in the most recent development being memory of Junior School Headmaster due for completion this summer. FROM Richard Reeman, was added. In March This provides a major new teaching 1991, the house immediately to the block located on the site of the original south of the drive on the A6 was Woodsmoor Hall and classrooms bought, enabling the school to add which were demolished in the THE much needed additional car parking. summer of 2010. Full details of this This was followed a little later by the development may be found on the house just to the north and in website. These recent buildings have December 1994, the purchase of 3 all been constructed in a style which HELM Clifton Park Road allowed for further is sympathetic to that of the original expansion of the Junior School. Hallam Buildings of 1916. From 1980 to 2012 – Building a Future for the School In January 1995, the school acquired This programme of land acquisition, Tom Gare President of the OSA 2011-12 The Davenport Theatre from Apollo building and continuous refurbishment Just over 30 years ago, we celebrated Leisure. A year later a major planning over the last 32 years has been an TOM GARE (OS 1957) SHARES the acquisition of the former Convent application was submitted to increase act of faith by the Governors and HIS EXPERIENCES FROM HIS buildings and co-education at the the size of the Junior School still the Senior Management of the school school. However in the period between further, re-orientate the entrance with the support of the teaching YEAR AS PRESIDENT OF THE OSA 1980 and the present day, the school to face the Senior School, and to staff and all members of the school has enjoyed unprecedented growth in extend the car parking facilities community. It has been achieved On leaving the school in the late In a moving dedication we learned both numbers of pupils and resources. on the Woodsmoor site including through prudent financial planning 1950s I automatically became an of the visits of today’s pupils to the Strong financial commitment and an additional entrance on the A6. and good housekeeping and continues Old Stopfordian. I played lacrosse first world war battlefields and strategic planning has seen the further This work was completed in 1998. to facilitate the growth and CHAIRMAN OF for the Old Boys’ teams and cemeteries in Belgium and France, expansion of the site and a raft of development of the school. GOVERNORS RETIRES attended the Stopfordian Annual where a wreath was laid on behalf new building. In the autumn of 1999 the Governors Richard Rimmington (OS 1962) Ball held in the Stockport Town Hall. of the school and our association. were able to announce plans to build Records of all aspects of school life was elected onto the Board of More than fifty years later the title This is an annual event worthy of Very little money had been spent on a comprehensively equipped Sports are housed in the Archives and you Governors in April 1992 and has ‘Old Stopfordian’ seems apt. our support. the Convent buildings over the last Hall and Technology Centre, adjacent are always welcome to explore any been Chairman for the past ten years of the previous occupancy and to the Swimming Pool which was areas of interest in greater depth by years. Richard has enjoyed Today, with technological It remains for me to thank my substantial refurbishment was completed by the start of the Autumn initially contacting the External a long and distinguished advances and ease and speed of fellow Stopfordians for their help necessary to conform to planning Term of 2001. Following on from this, Relations Office on 0161 419 2408. association with SGS, which communication, our school is hardly and guidance during the past year regulations and health and safety a new Library and Resource Centre began when he joined the recognisable. Noticeable differences and record my gratitude on the considerations. Even the ‘jewel in the with Physics Laboratories on the floor Best wishes school as a pupil in 1949. are the far greater number of pupils occasions when members of staff at crown’, the Swimming Pool, needed above was opened in 2005. Stuart Helm (OS 1964) and staff, the addition of female the school have smoothed my way. major work on its roof. These Archivist and OSA Membership Secretary He will be succeeded this year, pupils, the considerably wider buildings, however, were able to by Ron Astles, who has been on curriculum and much larger and OSA President 2012/2013 provide substantial accommodation the Board of Governors since continually expanding facilities. Ken Clough was due to take over as for the growing school population in 1993 and has been Vice President at the Old Stops’ AGM in The new Woodsmoor teaching Chairman since 2002. Ron is the initial years. facility nearing completion. I have attended almost all of the April. Unfortunately, Ken has been the Father of Old Stopfordian musical and theatrical performances undergoing medical treatment and In March 1985 the school bought a Christopher Astles (OS 1991) this year. They have been a delight will be unable to assume office this strip of land on the south side of the and was formerly Chief to the ear and eye and confirm the year. All Old Stops wish him well drive known as the ‘Orchard’ and in Superintendent of GMP prior school’s reputation for excellence and very much hope that he will 1986 the Governors approved the to his retirement. in this area. Many performances be able to become President in building of an extension to the Junior WELCOME are a ‘sell out’ well in advance April 2013. School and a new Bursary, Kitchens We will be running a full article and I recommend them to all and 400 seat Dining Hall which were We are delighted on Richard in the next issue of Old Stopfordians. Meanwhile, we are grateful to Paul Old Stops’ Review. We would like completed in early 1987, the year of to welcome our new Carr who, following a unanimous the Quincentenary. to take this opportunity to thank On 11th November 2011 more request by past presidents on the Alumni Assistant, Maili Lavin him for his dedication to SGS. than one hundred former pupils committee, has stepped into the Next, a further programme was (OS 2008) and guests joined current pupils breach and taken on the presidency announced to build new Geography and staff in the Main Hall for the for this year. Paul has returned to rooms and Chemistry laboratories, annual Service of Remembrance live in the area after being based a further Sixth Form Common Room, and a 1930s to 1950s Old down south for a number of years a Design Technology centre and an Stopfordians reunion. where he served the Association Exhibition Room to be housed around on the committee of the London a new courtyard adjacent to the Branch, acting for some years as Dining Hall. These welcome additions Branch Secretary. were opened in September 1991.