Mission Statement To enhance the life experience of past,

current, and future students of

The Bulmershe School

B.A.C

Bulmershe Alumni

Community

‘Where everyone matters’

ISSUE 8

RESPECT FOR MR HADFIELD

Mr Ray Hadfield was Headmaster of Bulmershe School from September 1976 until July 1991. He was very highly respected

by both students and staff. His reputation as ‘firm but fair’ and having a great humanity, has been confirmed by the many

appreciative comments that have been made about him by alumni who have attended the School’s 50th anniversary

reunions. ‘A truly great Headmaster’, would be a fair summary of the many tributes that have been given in his memory.

Mr Hadfield first came to Bulmershe in 1965 as Head of History, at the start of the School’s second year. By the late 1960s

he had been promoted to Head of Middle School. In 1971 Mr Hadfield left Bulmershe to become the first Headteacher of a

new comprehensive school that was being opened in Runcorn called Norton Priory. However, following the departure of

Mr Ray Stagles, the first Bulmershe Headmaster, Mr Hadfield returned in 1976 to be the school’s second Headteacher.

He was proud that for many years Bulmershe had an annual intake of 240 students, and during the mid 1980s he was

delighted that the School expanded further to a roll high of 1600 students following the closure of nearby Alfred Sutton.

Mr Hadfield had high standards, especially concerning behaviour, dress and litter! There will be many alumni, and younger

members of staff!, who will remember the forceful and authoritative voice reminding them to, ‘take your coat off’, when

inside the school building, and ‘pick up that crisp packet’ etc! He developed a strong PTA, which during his time as Head ran

the hugely successful bingo evenings in the school hall. This was an idea that Mr Hadfield had first introduced in Runcorn as

a way of encouraging parents, and members of the local community, into school informally, where he could get to know

them. He was also renowned for the annual Bulmershe Christmas Fayre, including the school fund raising raffle.

Outdoor education was one of Mr Hadfield's passions, and in 1966, during his very first year at the School, he introduced

the Edale camp which became an annual event for Bulmershe School’s second year pupils for the next 30 years. There are

literally thousands of alumni who have memories of their week in Derbyshire, and of ‘conquering Kinder’! During his first

few years at Bulmershe Mr Hadfield took many activity trips to places such as the Brecon Beacons and the Lake District.

Mr Hadfield was born in 1934 and brought up in Stockport. He attended Stockport Grammar School as a pupil, and after

qualifying as a history teacher, his first teaching post was back at his old school where he worked for 5 years.

Ray Hadfield was a keen follower of sports and always took a great interest in the School’s sports teams, particularly rugby

and football. To those who knew him, he was famously an ardent supporter of Manchester United.

While a Headteacher, Mr Hadfield was also a magistrate and a local councillor, both in Wokingham and Runcorn. After 15

years as Bulmershe Headmaster he retired from the School but continued to work in education as an adviser to the Local

Education Authority at Shire Hall. He assisted with the introduction of teacher appraisal. Sadly Mr Hadfield died in 1999.

REUNIONS REVIEW

Tickets cost £10. To get a ticket by post, send a request,

together with a cheque payable to ‘Bulmershe School’ and a

stamped self-addressed envelope for return. Please send to:

Alumni Relations, Bulmershe School, Woodlands Avenue,

Woodley, Berkshire, RG5 3EU. To pay and receive a ticket

electronically, make payment to the School’s HSBC bank

account sort code 404739 account number 01238361 giving

a surname and year you started Bulmershe as reference.

Then email alumni@bulmershe.wokingham.sch.uk saying

you have made a payment. Once the Finance Office has

confirmed the payment, a ticket will be emailed to you!

Alternatively tickets can be bought in person from school

reception during term time, weekdays 8am to 4pm (3.30pm

on Friday). Partners/family members of alumni do not need

a ticket, although we would like to know how many will be

coming for logistical purposes on the day. Thank you.

BULMERSHE 50th REUNIONS

REMAINING DATES

Saturday 20th June 2015 The 1985 to 1988 Intakes

Saturday 11th July 2015 The 1989 to 1992 Intakes

Saturday 19th September 2015 The 1993 to 1996 Intakes

Saturday 17th October 2015 The 1997 to 2000 Intakes

Just over 400 alumni, from the classes of 1972 to 1984, attended the two reunions held

at the school in April and May. Four of the eight scheduled reunions have now taken

place, with a total attendance of 600. Will the target of 1,000 alumni returning to the

school be achieved by the last reunion in October? Thanks are due to the year group

coordinators for their work in tracking down members of their year groups, and

persuading them to attend. Pride of place so far goes to the class of 1983, who hold the

attendance record for a single year group so far with 55, although the first Intake of

1964 can still claim the highest percentage attendance with 42%.

The alumni who have come back have really appreciated looking around their old

school. They have been impressed with all the changes at the school since they were

pupils, but have also found plenty of familiar rooms and buildings. It has been nostalgic

for them not only to sit in some of the old classrooms, but also to meet with teachers

who used to teach them. So far, in total, just over 30 former teachers have attended

across the four reunions that have been held to date.

Alumni have enjoyed the evening formats of the April and May reunions. A welcome

drink has been followed by year group photos, taken in the gym, and then the

opportunity to tour the school with assistance from current students. An ‘Assembly’

has provided a central focus for the evening before a buffet has been served. Darren

Thomas, from the Class of 1980, who runs Solitaire Events, has helped to create a party

atmosphere with music and a photo booth.

Class of 1984

Class of 1976

Class of 1978

Class of 1975

Class of 1972

Class of 1973

Class of 1974

Class of 1977

Class of 1979 Class of 1980

Class of 1981

Class of 1982

Class of 1983

The Bulmershe Alumni Updates

Dr Sian Davies

degree. From her education at Bulmershe, Sian credits Mr Kohn as a

particular inspiration. After leaving the school, Sian gained a BA in

Geology, and PhD in Earth Science, from Oxford University, and an MSc

in Environmental Technology from Imperial College, London. For nearly

20 years she worked as an academic in the USA, including nine years at

the University of Washington as an Associate Professor and Coordinator

of the Environmental Science programme. Before that, she was an

Assistant Professor at Amherst College, Pomona College and also Ball

State University, as well as for three years, a researcher at the Natural

History museum of the Smithsonian Institution.

Sian returned to the UK in 2013 and was recently awarded Senior Fellow

status of the UK Higher Education Academy. She would love to come

back to Bulmershe to talk with current students about her educational

experiences and to offer advice, particularly to GCSE and A Level

Geography students, and anyone who is interested in Geology.

Sian is a sedimentologist. Her research focuses on understanding

ancient environments from the sedimentological record, with particular

emphasis on rivers and deltas using field areas in North America and

Europe. She has also been involved with research projects that have

used sedimentology to address environmental issues such as radioactive

pollution, harmful algal blooms and, currently, vulnerability to sea level

rise and coastal change. She has published articles on this work in

research and educational journals. Sian has also taught on Semester At

Sea voyages, which provide educational experiences to undergraduates

on an ocean-going ship, in combination with port

visits around the world, including in South America,

South Africa and Asia. She is currently carrying out

research in the East Midlands coalfields, and from

September 2015 will be Head of Geoscience at the

University of Derby.

BULMERSHE IN BUSINESS

Alan Oxlade

If you have looked

online for any

product at Currys PC

World since 2013,

the chances are that

you will have seen

Louise explaining the

item to you, as she is

the presenter of all

their online products.

Louise, who is a

member of the

Bulmershe class of

1989, has over a

decade of experience

as a TV presenter, as

well as working in

production. She is a reporter on Eurosport covering a wide range of

sports, including motor sport, show jumping, surfing, golf, polo and

poker. She has worked as a presenter on Channel 4 for the Dunlop

MSA Formula Ford Championship, and on ITV for BRDC Formula

Four. She has presented on Red Bull TV, and for two seasons was a

news presenter on Arsenal TV. Louise has also worked on lifestyle

programmes and enjoys all aspects of the production process from

preparing scripts, to live broadcasts. She has often worked as a pit

lane reporter interviewing drivers and team leaders. One of

Louise’s proudest moments was working at the London Olympics

as a Live host. She has also compared at awards evenings, including

at the FIA Prize Giving World Championship Ceremony in 2014.

After leaving Bulmershe, Louise trained in acting and dance,

studying at Brunel University, and with the Rambert Dance

Company. However, she says it was work experience at Capital

Radio, that really helped to start her career. From there she got

jobs in production at Virgin Radio and then Capital FM, as well as

working on TFI Friday for Channel 4.

Louise has also done some modelling work. She has her own

website, and a number of her show reels and videos can be viewed

on YouTube, including an interview she did with the Sun.

Most recently, Louise has been doing promotional work with Smart

Car, and for BTs new mobile phone network.

Bulmershe Geography teacher Mr Kohn

Sian was a student at

Bulmershe from 1979

to 1986. She is now a

Senior Lecturer in the

Department of

Natural and Built

Environments at

Sheffield Hallum

University, where she

is the course leader

for the BSc Geography

www.theshoulderplayhatch.co.uk

For a table reservation, or

party booking, phone

01189 473908

Working in Ghana.

On the French Exchange

trip to Rochefort in 1983.

Alan owns the Shoulder of Mutton Country Pub at Playhatch, which he runs

with his wife Wendy. It is also their home. He is the Head Chef and Proprietor.

After leaving Bulmershe in 1986, Alan studied catering at Thames Valley

University and became a chef. He worked in a number of local establishments,

including at the Great House in Sonning. Alan was also Restaurant Manager at

John Lewis in Reading for seven years. He opened his own restaurant, The

Greenwillows, in Caversham in 1998. Alan and Wendy have now been running

The Shoulder of Mutton for fifteen years. They have been Finalists in The Pride of Reading Restaurant Awards,

and in 2008 were runners up in a national Best British Pub competition. The pub has a private function room

and a conservatory, as well as a charming cottage garden, which has been nominated in the 2015 Reading in

Bloom competition. Alan is also nominated this year for a Reading Retail Award in the Pub Restaurant category.

In a recent Greene King Silent Customer Survey, the Pub was awarded 100% for overall satisfaction.

Alan specialises in Mutton dishes, and in 2007 was featured on BBC1’s ‘The One Show’ making a mutton pie.

The School is grateful that Alan, who came to the May reunion, is able to offer a work experience placement to

a current Bulmershe student next year.

The Shoulder of Mutton Country Pub

If you have any pictures or reminiscences from your time at the school, or updates on your life and career since you left and would be happy to share them

with us, please e mail to; alumni@bulmershe.wokingham.sch.uk Thank you.

and let’s not forget the Staff……

and let`s not forget the Staff...

Since September 2013, I have been employed one day a week to organise a series of alumni reunions that have helped

Bulmershe School celebrate 50 years of successfully educating young people in Woodley, Earley and Reading. I have also been

encouraging former students to re-engage with their old school, and each other, and asking for alumni to help current and

future students at the school, in terms of both aspiration and inspiration, by passing on the benefits of their life experience.

From September 2015 my job description, for the day a week employment, changes. My main responsibility for next year is to

develop the presence of Bulmershe School in the wider community. While this can incorporate some aspects of the alumni

project, the reunions will have run their course and I will not have the time in my day a week brief to expand the Bulmershe

Alumni Community initiative further. However, as there have been ideas put forward and discussed to progress the project, it

may still be possible with further assistance from alumni who might be prepared to help.

The thinking from the School is, that if this were to happen, as in examples of some other schools with thriving alumni

communities, the alumni need to take control. This includes regarding organisation, membership and future activities. I would

be very pleased to hear from any Bulmershe alumni who might be interested in discussing this suggestion further. Please send

an email to me alumni@bulmershe.wokingham.sch.uk Thank you.

In the meantime there are two further reunions scheduled to take place in June and July (ticket details can be found on page 2)

and two final events due to take place in September and October, although the School, and some alumni, have asked that a

review of the format for the final two reunion events be undertaken.

Nearing the end, and the beginning? or the end !

A progress report by Geoff Wickens

We are grateful to

KYOCERA for

printed copies of

the Bulmershe

Alumni newsletter.

THANK YOU

Giving something back.

From one generation to

the next!

When Suzanne Carpenter, class

of 2000, came into School in

January to talk to Year 12 about

her career in engineering, she also

offered an amazing opportunity

for students lower down the

school to start an after school club

building, programming, and

controlling a robot using

equipment and software provided

by a company called VEX. The

level of interest was such that

two kits have been provided and

the Bulmershe students will be

competing later in the year

against other schools.

Suzanne’s father David is a

member of the class of 1972 and

attended the April reunion.

Most, but not all, of the teachers who came to the April

and May reunions are shown right, in the two staff group

photos. Included are the two former acting Headteachers

of Bulmershe School, Miss Hulbert and Mr Nicholson.

Chloe Newman

Chris Thompson

Educated at Leeds

Grammar School and

Cambridge University,

Chris Thompson began

his teaching career at

Bulmershe. He taught

English at the School for four years and also produced

two school plays, including ‘Antigone’ in 1973.

Chris left Bulmershe in 1975 to move to Derbyshire, and

later became a Head of English and then a Deputy Head.

By the mid 1980s Chris began writing seriously and had

his first play broadcast on Radio 4 in 1987. Within two

years he had written four more radio plays. He then left

teaching to became a full time writer.

In 1993, Chris was asked to join ‘The Archers’ as a script

writer and over the next four years contributed to 150

scripts. By 2000 he had moved to TV and worked on

‘Heartbeat’, and ‘Verdict’, before starting writing for

‘Emmerdale’, where he wrote scripts for 13 years.

Recently Chris has written a book called ‘Writing Soap’

for anyone who is interested in scriptwriting.

Please ‘Like’ the Bulmershe

Alumni Community on

Facebook, and subscribe to

the YouTube Channel.

Also join us on Linkedin!

Suzanne with two Year 8 students.

Chloe on the left, is the daughter of

class of 1983 coordinator Kelly Hill!

Born in Cyprus, Mrs Newman came

to Bulmershe in 1987. Mr Hadfield

appointed her as the School’s first

Head of Drama. Chloe began the

teaching of GCSE and A Level

Drama at Bulmershe. She also

directed many memorable school

productions. Later Chloe became

Head of Sixth Form before leaving

the School in 2002. She has

worked for many years as an

examiner for AQA, and has also

been a tutor on the PGCE Drama

course at the University of

Reading.