OBA sponsorship for Tyler Atkin

The Old Bostonian Association is pleased to be able to sponsor Tyler Atkin, a student of Boston Grammar School, who has qualified for a place on the England team at the WFMC world amateur kickboxing championships to be held in Germany in October 2015. The OBA has helped him towards his goal to raise £699 required to send him to the championships.

My name is Tyler James Atkin, I am 12 years old and currently a year 7 Boston Grammar school student. As you probably know kickboxing is my hobby and has been since I was four years old! The gym I attend is pride UK and is located in Broadfield Lane industrial estate. Through my eight years of kickboxing I have achieved many ranks, and right now I am a second degree black belt which I worked very hard for and managed to achieve earlier this year.

Over the years I have participated in many competitions and have collected lots of trophies. This year though is particularly special to me because at the beginning of the year I competed at an event called the WFMC British championships and placed first in a category called K1. Because of this I was invited to be a part of team England and compete in the WFMC world amateur championships in Hagen Germany between the 14th-19th October later this year. As you can imagine to have an opportunity like that after so many years of dedication, hard work and training, was one I was thrilled about and so grateful to have. 

In order to make my trip possible I have been fundraising, and once again would like to thank you for your big donation! Boston Grammar school have also been so kind to donate £50 towards my trip and my form tutor has a shrapnel jar to help towards my target too.

I am lucky to have a kickboxing instructor who is dedicated to helping me and his other students to succeed. So far my training regime has consisted of two kickboxing sessions a week, one circuit training session, one black belt club training plus sparring sessions. I have also been using the treadmill and spin cycle at home. And squad sessions are arranged for team England to train together. I am very fortunate as school has also been very supportive and has offered to let me train during my lunch time if I wish to do so.

In return for the sponsorship the Old Bostonian Association has asked Tyler to keep up posted of his progress, so I hope to be reporting again on him in the not too distant future.

New furniture for flood damaged BGS

Left to right: Headteacher, John McHenry,
Jon Warner of Cammacks of Boston, who sourced the furniture,
and President of the OBA, Peter Sharman.

Following the devastating tidal flood of 5th December 2013 the Old Bostonian Association raised £3500 in donations from its members. This money was then used to provide a new oak display cabinet, a coffee table and two bench seats. These have now been installed in the foyer to the 16th century Grade I listed school library which was flooded up to around 12 inches and suffered considerable damage.

The aim is to make the foyer a place for students to meet and by displaying items relating to the history of the school, raise the profile of the Old Bostonian Association.

Margaret Haworth - RIP

Margaret Haworth, the widow of Lt Col Norman Owen Haworth (BGS Staff 1955-78), died on the morning of 13 July 2015.

In 1978/9 Margaret was the first lady Mayor of the Borough of Boston. Norman, who taught mathematics at Boston Grammar School and was responsible for the CCF (Combined Cadet Force) at the school, was her consort.

Norman died in 1978.

The following account about Margaret Haworth appeared in the Boston Target in February 2015:

The front page story from October 28, 1983 on the Lincolnshire Echo carried the headline: Women's Lib Battle on the Council. And by 21st century standards, the introductory paragraph underneath – Petticoat power is making itself felt in Boston borough council chamber – was even more quaint. 

The story went on to explain how seven councillors – three Conservatives and four Independents – had formed a support group to "make sure they receive a fair hearing on the male-dominated council".

The campaign was led by Cllr Margaret Haworth, Boston's first female mayor, who said at the time the group's focus was environmental and housing issues surrounding council estates. 

She told the Echo's George Wheatman, who left to become the Target's first editor months later, that it was particularly important for new women councillors to get their facts straight in meetings or they would risk being treated as figures of fun. 

She added: 'There is no doubt that it is a man's world – there is no equality. 

"We may not have the same views, but we will not let any of our group be trampled on by the men. 

"You do not have to throw your bra away to be liberated. We are fighting for equality but it will be a long time before it comes. It is so easy for men."

The full Boston Target article can be found here.