Bolton School Boys' Division offered a moving tribute to the highly popular and long-serving Mr Roger Whitten, Head of History, who died suddenly on 5 November of pneumonia. Mr Whitten spent his entire working career in the Boys' Division, joining the School straight after graduating from Cambridge University 32 years ago.
Three hundred Sixth Form students and staff formed a guard of honour along Chorley New Road outside the School as Mr Whitten's funeral procession slowed outside the main gates. The mourners bowed their heads in honour.
A Memorial and Thanksgiving Service for the life of Mr Whitten was held in the Great Hall, which was full of friends, family, teachers, pupils and Old Boys. The service followed on from a private internment at Heaton Cemetery.
In the ceremony, there were five moving tributes made by the Headmaster, Mr Mervyn Brooker; the School Captain, Robert Jones; Mr Rich, his departmental colleague; his long-standing friend and colleague, Mr Cropper; and his life-long friend, Mr Lawrence. The tributes revealed Mr Whitten"s vast knowledge of all subjects, his ready wit and his genuine concern for others. The Reverend Canon Dr Bracegirdle, Vicar of Christ Church Heaton, oversaw the ceremony and commented that he could not recall hearing such heartfelt and inspiring tributes.
Hymns were sung by the School's Chamber Choir. Another of Mr Whitten"s long-standing colleagues, Mr Wadsworth gave a bible reading from Corinthians 13.
Head of the Sixth Form, Caspar Joseph, said: "Mr Whitten was a hugely respected and admired History teacher, held in great affection by pupils, colleagues, old boys of the school and parents due to his intellect, genuine concern for the welfare of the boys and inspirational teaching. He became a true friend to those in his charge and was a legendary figure within the History Department where his outstanding teaching and leadership will be hugely missed.”
Mr Whitten’s popularity amongst both pupils and staff was expressed in two books of condolence at the School.