Boston Grammar School Prize Giving 2015

The 2015 Prize Giving took place at The Centenary Methodist Church, Boston on 17 December.

In his welcome speech the headmaster, John McHenry talked about the federation which happened 7 years ago between Boston Grammar School and Boston High School. He thanked those who worked to make it a short episode in BGS history. In particular he thanked Mr Graham who retired from the school last year. Most of all though he thanked the students and their parents who are currently in year 13 for showing their confidence in the school. When they started in year 7, the whole selective intake from Boston was assigned to the high school: boys and girls. After that year all and with the end of the federation, all of the boys in the year-group were offered the chance to transfer from the Spilsby Road site to Rowley Road. Thirty of those boys chose to make the switch.

At the time of the federation the county's estimates were for falling rolls but the current intake is over 100 at BGS alone and that level is forecast to continue, which justified the existence of two selective schools in Boston.

John also made a presentation to Martin Wright, who has taught mathematics at the school for 37 years and will soon reach his 60th birthday. Martin was invited to respond but declined. When congratulated later he typically questioned why he had received the honour.

Chairman of the School Governors, Philip Bosworth's speech included recognition for Jim Howes who had been borough councillor, Chairman of School Governors and Foundation Governors, and President of the Old Bostonian Association who died this year.

The event was punctuated by carols and musical interludes.

Prizes were distributed by Dr Sunita R Deshmukh, who was a student at BGS, leaving in 2005 as the first female winner of the Parry Gold Medal. In her speech she told how she had to make a decision between medicine and art. Eventually she chose medicine, which she studied at the University of Nottingham. While still an undergraduate she was one of the authors of a text book on the renal system. Eventually she specialised in psychology with a particular interest in Alzheimer's Disease. By getting involved in the use of art therapy with Alzheimers patients and by doing illustrations for medical publications, in the end Sunita has been able to combine her passions of medicine and art.

Head of School, Harvey Potter gave the vote of thanks, presenting Sunita with gifts including a prefect's tie.

The event was finished in the customary manner with the singing of the school song and the national anthem.

Boston Grammar School Prize Book - c1861

Photo: Allan Krill

I have recently been updating the entry in the OBA wiki to list as far as possible, all the speakers at BGS Speech Days and Prize Givings. Coincidentally, today I received an email from Allan Krill, Professor of Geology at NTNU Trondheim, Norway.

Allan is collecting copies of The Playbook of Metals by John Henry Pepper who is most generally known as having invented Pepper's Ghost, the theatrical illusion where a brightly lit subject off stage appears as a "ghost" on stage using a sheet of glass to create a partial reflection.

Allan has bought an 1861 first edition of the book on the internet which was presented as a school prize to a pupil of BGS. Unfortunately the bookplate is missing as is the back cover and the spine. However, the book was leather bound and the front cover bears an image of the Boston Grammar School "big school" building (currently the school library). The "big school" was built in 1567.

BGS Prize Giving - report

Adam Shergold

The Boston Grammar School Prize Giving 2014 took place on 18 December at the Centenary Methodist Church, Boston. The guest of honour was Adam Shergold, an Online Sports Journalist at the Daily Mail.

Music for singing and for musical interludes was provided by the Boston Grammar School Jazz Band and other musicians from the school.

John McHenry, the headteacher of the school gave the welcome and Phillip Bosworth the Chairman's Address.

The prizes notably included two new ones marking the retirement of well loved members of staff. The NW Wainwright Award for outstanding sporting achievement went jointly to Zurna Olali and Stuart Wharff. The Anderson Prize for German went to Louis Holland.

Head of School, John Lisle, gave the vote of thanks to Adam Shergold as the guest of honour.

The event was closed with the usual singing of the school song and the national anthem.

BGS Prize Giving - report

The Boston Grammar School Prize Giving 2013 took place on 20 December at the Centenary Methodist Church, Boston. The guest of honour was Charles Hart, the father of Manchester City and England goalkeeper, Joe Hart.

Music for singing and for musical interludes was provided by the Boston Grammar School Jazz Band and other musicians from the school.

Paul Marsh, the principle of the school spoke of the school's excellent academic and sporting achievements throughout the year, particularly noting that as a small school, BGS "punches above its weight" in sporting competitions.

In his address as Chairman of the Governors, Cllr Stephen Woodliffe, told of his original involvement with the school as a mathematics teacher for 18 years, how having left to teach elsewhere, retired and become a Boston councillor, he became involved again with the school as a governor, and eventually became Chairman of the Governors earlier this year, just before the Ofsted inspection which showed that the school had improved significantly since the previous inspection in 2010. He noted that the recent flood was probably the biggest challenge for the school in the last 50 years but showed hope that it would recover well.

The prizes notably included the new Trevor Page Sports Prize, donated by Trevor Page (BGS 1949-55) - two of his father's sporting trophies, originally won in the 1920s or 30s. The junior prize was won by Jack Henton and the Intermediate prize by Stuart Wharff.

Following presentation of the prizes, Charles Hart spoke of how his son, Joe, achieved his goal with support from his family and by putting in the extra effort which allowed him to rise to the top in his chosen field, football. Charles invited those present to do likewise, for each to put in the extra effort to achieve to their potential: in sport, engineering, politics, or whatever their chosen goal.

Head of School, Ellis Potter, gave the vote of thanks to Charles Hart as the guest of honour and presented him with mementos of the day including a prefect's tie and badge.

The event was closed with the usual singing of the school song and the national anthem.

BGS dates for your diary

The school has informed us of the following events. If you would like further information or would like to attend any of them, please contact Peter Sharman.

• 17th October 2013 - Charter Day at St Botolph's Church
•  11th November 2013 - Armistice Day Service at BGS (in the hall)
•  6th December 2013 - Beast Mart at BGS (in the yard)
•  19th December 2013 - Christmas Concert
•  20th December 2013 - Prize Giving at Centenary Methodist Church, Boston
•  3rd April 2014 - Spring Concert
•  17th July 2014 - Summer Concert

1981 senior prize-winners

It's been a while since I added an article to the OBA Wiki. I won't bore you with the details of why: partly me feeling not too great, and partly having the sad job of publicising lots of deaths. Anyway, I'm kicking off the wiki again with a photograph of the Boston Grammar School senior prize-winners of 1981. I've named some of them, mainly my own school colleagues, but there are still quite a few left to be named if you feel up to the challenge.

If you've got anything to add on this article or anywhere on the wiki, I encourage you to set up a user account for yourself, roll up your sleeves and get to work on it. You can't do anything seriously wrong - if I see you've accidentally wrecked a page I can restore it, so don't worry that you haven't edited a wiki before.

If you don't feel confident enough to get your hands dirty then just send me an email with the details you would like to add, and I'll apply them as soon as I can.

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.