We are also on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/company/RunshawCollege), Twitter (twitter.com/RunshawCollege) and Facebook (facebook.com/RunshawCollegeAlumni)AW CO H L S L The Runshaw N E G U E R 1974 2014 RUBYSpecial Souvenir Edition • September 2014 Anniversary An Outstanding Anniversary! Runshaw College was accommodate increasing student students from all around the North success. Meeting the needs of our established in 1974. We numbers. It was during this phase, West. As well as glowing praise students and providing them with an under the nationally recognised from OFSTED, and a record 19 unrivalled educational experience initially began life catering leadership of Principal Bernard students with offers to study at will always be our primary goal”. solely for school leavers O’Connell (who was later knighted Oxford and Cambridge in 2014, Simon also described the college’s from Balshaw’s High for his services to education and to Runshaw has also recently again plans for improving its facilities the college) that Runshaw started topped the Government’s league even further: “Last year we School in Leyland, and to recruit in large numbers from tables, which show that advanced completed the refurbishment of Parklands High School in surrounding towns of Blackburn, level students at Runshaw now our Library and new student study Chorley. Today, according Wigan and Preston. make more progress than at any zones, and we are now adding extra After the millennium the college other college in the country. classroom and practical space to to OFSTED in November achieved: Investors in People Undoubtedly the future is our Hawkshead sports hall. The 2013, Runshaw has been Awards, Grade 1 inspections and exceptionally bright too. Principal idea is quite simple really – we “outstanding for 20 years”! superb links with the country’s top Simon Partington commented: have outstanding students and universities. “We are incredibly proud of the they deserve to continue to have The 1990s saw the college expand Today Runshaw is acknowledged achievements, history and tradition outstanding facilities for another rapidly, as it undertook an as the finest provider of Further of this college and we are looking 40 years!”. extensive building programme to Education in the sector, attracting forward to another 40 years of AW CO H L S L N E G U E R Celebrating 40 YearsCelebrating of Educational 40 Years Excellence of Educational at Runshaw Excellence College 1974 2014 1 Anniversary Are you, or do you know any past Runshaw Alumni? We’d love to get back in touch; please have them call 01772 643000 or email [email protected] Image courtesy of Martin Mercer Martin of courtesy Image Some of our Class of 1974 share their memories... As this was the coolest show on TV at the time, it added to Furry’s ‘coolness score’ immensely. Sadly, Mr Furness passed away just a few years after this photo was taken.” Since Runshaw: “The lack of IT facilities back Ken Addison Martin Mercer then clearly didn’t do me Chris Dickinson Best memories: “Being at Best memories: “My form any harm, as I’ve spent Best memories: “Only working a brand new place. Red tutor, and Computer my entire career in IT. afternoons! In the first term the squirrels in the woodland Science teacher, was John I’m currently head of “upper sixth” worked mornings outside the classroom. ‘Furry’ Furness, the most professional services for and the “lower sixth” worked I did an extra year so I was inspirational teacher I ever the Outsourcing Services afternoons. I also remember actually in the upper 6th at had, and instrumental in my division of Hitachi breaking the stroboscope in Balshaw’s as well.” choosing the career that I Consulting. I emigrated my A level Physics project Since Runshaw: “I worked at have had ever since. He was to Australia in 1983, had when it overheated.” BNFL in Finance and took also notable for an uncanny two children out there, Since Runshaw: “I am now early retirement when the resemblance to Bob Harris, and returned in 1994. a Professor of Clinical option became available.” who at the time was presenter We have been living in Optometry at the University of the Old Grey Whistle Test. Penwortham since then.” of Manchester.” AW CO H L S L N E G U E R 2 1974 2014 Celebrating 40 Years of Educational Excellence Anniversary We are also on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/company/RunshawCollege), Twitter (twitter.com/RunshawCollege) and Facebook (facebook.com/RunshawCollegeAlumni) 1984: Fun and Frolics at Runshaw. Images 1980: (left to right) Sports Tutor Lorraine Geogh, Ian courtesy of Elaine Benson (née Ashcroft). Barker, Paul Eales (who became a professional golfer and won a European Tour in 1994) and Allan Smith, who has worked at Runshaw for 13 years in Study Support. Dusting off the Photo Album Do you have any great pictures from your days at Runshaw? Please share them with us! We’ve loved looking through the archives and finding so many brilliant images of the college and our past students. A picture really does paint a thousand words and can bring back so many memories. So come on, dust off those photo albums and share your pictures, whether they are embarrassing examples of fashion, old college friends or of break times on Worden Park “Hi - this is the Chemistry class about 1976? From bottom right front row we - we promise, we will cherish them all. Please email them to have David Nifton, Me (Clive Weatherby), Julie Howard, Gordon Anderson- Taylor - then my memory goes so if anyone out there cares to add some [email protected] names please get in touch. I would love to track down David and Gordon.” “From the class of 1976. The Maths and Further Maths group.” Raymond Clarke × Foxholes in 1998. The popular training restaurant is open to the public during term time. Ø The old student entrance was We have always offered the very latest in technology remodelled and for our students to use. modernised in 2010. AW CO H L S L N E G U E R Celebrating 40 Years of Educational Excellence 1974 2014 3 Anniversary Are you, or do you know any past Runshaw Alumni? We’d love to get back in touch; please have them call 01772 643000 or email [email protected] Alumni My favourite memory.... “Studying English with our teacher, the late Paul Donnelly. He inspired me to continue my studies onto University which eventually led to my current career as a researcher at the BBC. My time at Runshaw studying both English and Media studies prepared and inspired me for this job.” 1996 2014 Amy Ford studied at All Hallows High School before studying English Language and Literature, Media Studies, Performance Studies, RE, Philosophy “I loved Runshaw! I have lots of good and Ethics A-levels at Runshaw 2002 - 2004 memories from Runshaw days: student Amy is currently working on BBC1 programme theatre, Alan Ayckbourne and Willie Coast, previously having worked on the One Russell in particular. Then there was the Show, Crimewatch and Countryfile. dancing with the Scottish Ballet. My love of modern languages, and English Literature. Not to mention all the good work done in “I loved Runshaw far more the students’ union to help with students’ than school, or even uni. We needs. Everything set me up nicely to go to were all great friends, & there Cambridge and then do the work I do now in was always someone to meet Switzerland.” up. Finally being given a bit of Pav Akhtar studied at Tulketh High School before freedom & learning something taking A-levels at Runshaw 1994 - 1996 you were actually interested Pav went on to study at Cambridge and was President of the Cambridge Students’ Union. He later became a in was brill... I would go back Labour Councillor for the London Borough of Lambeth, tomorrow!” and now lives in Geneva, working as Director for Julia Jacques studied at St. Michael’s before taking Professionals and Managers for UNI Global Union, GNVQ Science at Runshaw 1998 - 2000 working to ensure workers’ rights are protected. AW CO H L S L N E G U E R 4 1974 2014 Celebrating 40 Years of Educational Excellence Anniversary We are also on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/company/RunshawCollege), Twitter (twitter.com/RunshawCollege) and Facebook (facebook.com/RunshawCollegeAlumni) “Mr Banks’ Biology lessons, making the minutest amounts of TNT in Chemistry, an awakening passion for understanding human psychology, club nights at The Park nightclub, end-of-term drinks at The Fox and the brilliant bacon butties in the Refectory.” Mukund Lad studied at Penwortham Priory High School before taking Chemistry, Biology and Psychology A-levels at Runshaw 1995 - 1997 “I had a great time at Runshaw! I can remember being taught Psychology by a great teacher called Michelle for my two years. And my favourite classes by far were PE with Angela and Sarah. I remember 2000 2014 going on the mountaineering “Runshaw College is where I expeditions and having the best few really began to enjoy education. days with great friends - I hated My fondest memories are of the mountain climbing but I guess the various Spanish exchange it prepared me well for a life in the programmes we had with jungle! Oh and those freshly baked Liceo Villa Fontana School in cookies - they were the best.” Mostoles.” Becky Cliffe studied at Priory Sports and Technology College before studying A-level Psychology, Biology, Chemistry Luis Canosa came to Runshaw from Leyland St. Mary’s and and Physical Education at Runshaw 2006 - 2007 studied A-level Economics, Law and Spanish 1999 - 2001 Becky is now a zoologist working at the Sloth Luis graduated from University College London Sanctuary of Costa Rica.