The annual Boys’ Division Prizegiving was once again a celebration of all aspects of School life. This year, the guest speaker was Old Boy Professor Anthony Lilley OBE.
A theatre and media producer whose diverse career has involved working in theatre, TV, games and much more, Anthony has won BAFTAS, RTS and Peabody awards in the field of digital innovation. He was awarded an OBE in 2008 for services to media and the creative industries, and has worked with famous brands such as Doctor Who and Top Gear. He now holds a Professorship in Creative Industries at Ulster University; is chair of the Board of virtual production facility Studio Ulster Ltd and Senior Advisor to placemaking specialists, Time and Space; and is a member of the board of UK Theatre and chairs international artists group, Blast Theory. He was introduced by School Vice-Captain Zak (Year 12).
Anthony began his address by saying that everything he has achieved starts with Bolton School. His passion for theatre and the arts began with a school of ‘The Tempest’: although his job was “moving the audience about”, he said it was enough to get him interested.
His speech was entertaining and packed with nuggets of wisdom, from the importance of planning to think things through even though things rarely go according to plan, to the fact that “there is no way to win at life” and that exploration and so-called failure is how we learn. He talked about the future of careers as being more “peripatetic” and advised his audience to try to be the sort of person who adds to the world, lifts people up around them, and collaborates.
He also advised the boys to be curiously optimistic, to talk about anxiety and despair if they feel those things rather than bottling them up, and reassured them that “everybody’s winging it all the time”. He also encouraged everyone listening to be a decent person. He ended his speed with a re-wording of a quote from Lord Leverhulme, saying: “So, as you leave this wonderful place, which you will possibly only realize later in life has shaped you deeply — it certainly did me — may you have wings of liberty and render the best service to your fellow man.”
Anthony then presented the prize winners with their awards and trophies, which was followed by a vote of thanks from the Captain of the School, Nathan (Year 12).
Prizegiving included a number of spectacular musical moments to break up the programme of speeches and awards. William (Year 13 Organ Scholar) opened the evening with ‘March Triumphale “Nun Danket”’ by Siegfried Karg-Elert. There were two further solo performances, both accompanied by Mrs Whitmore on piano: firstly Nathan (Year 12) gave a rendition of ‘Something’s Coming’ from ‘West Side Story’ by Leonard Bernstein that was described by Anthony as “genuinely extraordinary”; and later Matthew (Year 11) played ‘Czardas’ by Vittorio Monti. The whole audience also raised their voices to sing the Boys’ Division school song ‘Forty Years On’ and the hymn ‘Jerusalem’.
The evening featured a triumphant review of the year from Mr Nic Ford, Head of Boys’ Division, who looked back on the many and varied achievements over the past three terms, accompanied by photographs. He mentioned spectacular sporting success in football, rugby, cricket, water polo and chess; the wonderful theatrical performances from students in ‘The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe’, ‘Twelfth Night’ and most recently ‘Shrek The Musical, Jr’; and a whole host of additional achievements and experiences across a wide range of disciplines. He also delivered the traditional ‘Staff Valete’ to say farewell and thank you to the teachers who are departing at the end of the academic year.
There were further speeches from Mrs Karen Diggle, Executive Governor, and from Head of Foundation Mr Philip Britton, who presented the Riley Prize, the Leverhulme Scholarships and the Popplewell Scholarships.
A recessional performance of ‘Carillon Sortie’ by Henri Mulet was played by guest organist James Lonsdale as the platform party departed the Great Hall.
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