FIFTY YEARS OF EDUCATION AT SMITHILLS SCHOOLS

On Friday 21st September 2008, 250 former staff and students of Smithills Grammar School, Smithills High School, Smithills Moor Grammar School and Smithills School gathered together to celebrate 50 years of education on the Smithills campus. All eras were represented at the event with people travelling from all over the world to attend. Most notably, Isabel Cole (nee Logan) travelled over for the weekend from Canada, whilst Jane Stott (nee Holden) incorporated the event into her visit from New Zealand. Many others travelled the length and breadth of the United Kingdom to attend.

Guests of Honour were three of the original staff of 1957, Mr. B.A. Ashworth, Mr. A.J. Farr and Mr. John Turner. World Champion musicians were on hand in the form of Smithills Big Band to set the scene and take all present back to the late Fifties and early Sixties. Tours of the buildings that made up the Smithills base of the 1960s were undertaken and thanks should go to Bolton Sixth Form College for allowing a tour of what used to be Smithills Grammar School.

To commemorate the event a Time Capsule will be buried in the ‘Peace Garden’ on the school site and everyone was asked for suggestions as to what should go in it. Similarly, all present were asked to contribute a fond memory from their school days.

Stuart Bowman, who organised the event on behalf of the school, would like to thank all who attended for taking the opportunity to wallow in nostalgia and making the evening such a huge success. He also said that to meet so many people from all walks of life with such enthusiasm for their school emphasises the contribution that the Smithills Schools have made to education in Bolton over the years.