Alumni of the Year Awards Inspire Next Generation at Bolton School | News

November 19th 2025

Bolton School is pleased to announce the winners of the Alumni of the Year Awards 2025. These Awards recognise Alumni who embody the School’s ethos of producing people who go out into the world and make a difference for good, and all students in the Junior and Senior Schools vote to decide the two winners.

This year, the winners were Rob O’Kane and Francesca Harding, coincidentally both from the Class of 1994.

The Head of Primary Division Mrs Sue Faulkner led the Award Ceremony, which was this year held in the Girls’ Division Great Hall. In addition to nominees and their families, students from the Primary Division, Girls’ Division and Boys’ Division gathered together to watch in the Great Hall, and the occasion was livestreamed for pupils in classrooms throughout the school and for the world-wide Alumni community.

This year’s nominees come from a huge range of careers, with broad interests and experiences, but what links them all is their sense of dedication, passion, determination and willingness to work hard for something. The six nominees, who were introduced during the ceremony, were:

Old Boy of the Year Nominees: Michael Ainsworth (Class of 1977), Andrew Jameson (Class of 1970), Thomas Relph (Class of 2005)

Old Girl of the Year Nominees: Beth Allen (Class of 1986), Val Marshall (Class of1974), Gill Moss (Class of 1984)

Students in the Girls’ Division, Boys’ Division and Junior Schools had read about the achievements of all of those nominated for the Awards ahead of casting their votes for the winners, who were invited to speak at the Award Ceremony.

The Head of the Boys’ Division, Mr Nic Ford, introduced the Old Boy of the Year, Rob O’Kane, a Captain in the Royal Navy whose career has been defined by service, leadership and enduring commitment to others. In his 27 years with the Royal Navy, he has served as a Fleet Air Arm Observer, supporting operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, before specialising in Search and Rescue operation with 771 Naval Air Squadron in Cornwall. He has also pursued a lifelong passion for rugby, winning his first Royal Navy Rugby Union cap in 2000, and eventually being appointed Director of Rugby for the Royal Navy in 2020.

Rob began his address by acknowledging the other nominees this year, as well as the amazing positive impact that thousands of Bolton School alumni have on the world. He went on to speak about a quote that has been an inspiration to him from his time at Bolton School to the present day: “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land amongst the stars.” In his address, he recalled some of the setbacks he has faced, including not achieving his original childhood ambition of becoming a doctor. However, he explained that his experiences at School – getting involved with sports, debating, music and trips both in the UK and abroad – helped him to find his path into the Royal Navy. He advised the students listening: “Take every opportunity that comes your way. Try new things, even if they seem daunting. Push yourself out of your comfort zone, and most importantly, never stop aiming high.”

Later, although he wanted to be a fighter pilot, he was told his skill set was more suited to be an Observer, and then he was assigned to the larger Seaking helicopter instead of the Lynx, or “Ferrari of helicopters at the time”. However, this led him to work in search and rescue across the south of England, something he described as “the most amazing job I’ve had in the Royal Navy”.

To close his address, he added, “My message is this: even if you don’t quite reach the moon, you’ll find your star, and when you do, don’t settle. Keep striving, keep dreaming, keep pushing yourself to be the best you can be.”

Mrs Lynne Kyle, Head of the Girls’ Division, then introduced the Old Girl of the Year for 2025: Francesca Harding, who is known across her communities as a mentor, a supporter and someone who lifts other ups. In the past 22 years has built up the largest and most successful animal care establishment in the North East, which now trains apprentices and student vets. She has been recognised nationally with an award from the Kennel Club in London and this year earned the accolade of Best Pet Boarding and Daycare Services in Europe. Alongside this, she is also a driving force in women’s and girls’ rugby, all on a volunteer basis: she founded and chaired female sections of two clubs, co-founded the North East Senior Women’s XV, and has helped shape the England Rugby Under 16s Girls’ pathway. For this, she has received the Mitsubishi Volunteer of the Year Award in Twickenham.

Francesca began by addressing the students in the hall, imagining the “bright exciting futures” stretching out before them. She said a future Alumni of the Year recipient was no doubt looking back at her as she stood at the podium, and added, “Your possibilities are endless. The only thing that will limit you is you.”

She went on to recap the non-linear path that has led her where she is today, beginning with her time at Bolton School on an assisted place, where she was inspired by teachers who laid the foundations that have guided her through her life. Her initial career in financial services never quite fit and she dreamed of owning a dog-related business. “If you can dream it, you can do it,” has been the motto she lives by and, she said, “Through the skills I gained at Bolton School and in the financial world, I made a dream a reality.”

Speaking about her passion for rugby, Francesca explained how she met the challenge of being a woman in “a man’s sport” head on time and time again, working to break barriers, creating new leagues, and focusing on athlete development in the women’s and girls’ game. She said, “My goal is to provide opportunities where there appear to be none, and to lift others up so that they can shine. I live by that idea.”

Francesca ended her address with a question: “Who can you pass your light on to? Where can you volunteer your time? How can you share the joy and passion that you’ve been given to help others find their place in the world? How can you extend to others that which you so richly enjoy?”

Mrs Faulkner offered her congratulations to both winners and noted that their achievements, and those of all this year’s nominees, have been underpinned by the values of resilience, curiosity, creativity, commitment and compassion that are still a key part of Bolton School today.

The Alumni of the Year Awards at Bolton School were launched in 2022 to celebrate the many varied contributions that Old Boys and Old Girls make to society. Their achievements are a source of continued pride within the school, and an inspiration to the current generation of students.