John Cridland on Radio 4 Any Questions

John Cridland

John Cridland (BGS 1972-1979), Director General of the CBI, appeared as a member of the panel on Radio 4's Any Questions on 15 August, repeated on 17 August.

John answered questions on subjects including education and Islamic State.

The programme was presented by Shaun Ley from Broadcasting House Radio Theatre in London. John was joined on the panel by the Deputy President of the NFU, Minette Batters, crime writer, Val McDermid, and Sir Robert Francis QC, the President of the Patients Association who also led the inquiry into poor care at the Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust.

For a limited time you can hear the programme on the BBC iPlayer.

New notables on the wiki

John Cridland speaking
at the 2011 OBA Annual Dinner

There are two new articles on the OBA Wiki today. They are about two old boys who have gone on to very different careers.

• John Cridland is the current Director General of the CBI. He was one of two guest speakers at the 2011 Old Bostonian Association Annual Dinner and was also the guest at the 2012 Boston Grammar School Prize Giving. He is often in the news, making statements on behalf of the CBI.



Danny Butterfied

• Danny Butterfield is a professional footballer who has played for Grimsby Town, Crystal Palace, Charlton Athletic and Southampton. There is speculation that he is on the move from Southampton in the current transfer window. If there is any news it will appear on the Old Bostonian Association website. 

Prize Giving - Part 2

John Cridland CBE,
Director General of the CBI,
who awarded prizes at the 2012 prize giving

I attended the Boston Grammar School prize giving today at the Centenary Methodist Church.

Unfortunately I didn't get to hear the BGS Jazz Band, which played before the event started, but various musicians from the school accompanied Christmas carols and played a number of musical interludes which punctuated proceedings.

The main BGS news was that the school will become Boston Grammar School Selective Academy on 1 January 2013. This will mean the end of the Boston Grammar Schools Federation, although an umbrella governing body will still exist for matters where the two schools can usefully coordinate - Boston High School will also become an academy on the same date.

Prize Giving

I've accepted an invitation to attend the school prize giving at the Centenary Methodist Church on 21st December. Don't worry, I'm not making a special journey; I was going to be in town anyway, as I was last year. It's not a bad event with some music, and this year's guest is John Cridland, Director General of the CBI. If you're also there, then do say "hello".

What are your memories of prize givings / speech days past? How many prizes did you receive? What famous person's hand did you get to shake? Maybe you were the special guest? Of course, I'l post a report from the prize giving after the event.