Paralympic Pride

The opening night of the Paralympics was a proud moment for Bolton School. Old Boy Sir Ian McKellan appeared in the entertainment and Old Boy Sir Philip Craven, Chair of the International Paralympic Committee was sat alongside the Queen, proud of the games and proud of his home town of Bolton, mentioned in his speech.

The Olympic legacy is about inspiring a generation. Both men certainly do that and have recently done so here at school. Sir Ian came to school to open our new studio theatre (the McKellan theatre) and whilst he was here gave an inspiring workshop to a group of year 10 boys. http://www.boltonschool.org/about-us/old-girls-and-old-boys/former-pupils-news/sir-ian-mckellen-is-back-at-bolton-school/. Sir Philip, joined by Lord Coe, started our Olympic year this time last year in the school Tillotson lecture http://www.boltonschool.org/senior-boys/news/games-to-lift-the-whole-country/.

In each case the defining characteristic is huge talent, great hard work and a tremendous sense of enjoyment and purpose in what they do. That is certainly inspiring. Earlier in the summer our school Olympian was Ed Scott in the water polo. As goal keeper he was certainly in the thick of things as Team GB met with world class opposition and learned a great deal about what will be possible if the sport is better funded before Rio.

And after such a summer we have now been back at school a week. There is always such promise to the start of term. For a moment everything seems possible. Welcoming Year 7, starting their life in senior school, proud in new uniform and ready for anything, is a special moment in the year. Full school assembly, the first time we have all gathered together for two months is another. Then a first lesson with a class, the first training sessions, band practice and sports fixtures. áThrough it all the boys in the current school should be inspired, as a generation, by those two Old Boys at the opening ceremony û the boys have talent; adding hard work and never losing sight of that sense of enjoyment and purpose will see them thrive this year as they did last.