President 2009-2010 : Donald Elliott

Donald was born in 1940 on the outskirts of Sheffield to Laurence and Kathleen; neither of whom was linked with the Quakers until the family, including three younger sisters and grandmother, moved to Scarborough ten years later. It was here that Laurence discovered the Meeting House, having lost his way en route to another place of worship; he remained committed to the Quakers for the rest of his life.

After two years at the local boys’ grammar he transferred into the third form at Ackworth in 1953, studied French, German and Spanish to Advanced Level, followed by a Spanish and French degree at Sheffield University. After a Postgraduate Certificate in Education he spent a year as a foreign language assistant near Trier, Germany where he met and married Ute. They had two children, Michael and Sally.

On his return to the UK he was fortunate in his first post to teach all three languages at Hyde Grammar, followed by a short spell at Stretford Grammar. During these years he was much involved in looking after the first Xl soccer teams at both schools.

Seeking a new challenge after nine years teaching very able boys he was appointed head of department of modern languages at Myers Grove, the first comprehensive in Sheffield with a number on roll of 2300 pupils. It was indeed a baptism of fire with too many of his early charges disenchanted with the learning of a foreign language.

After eight years, during which time pupils opting for languages had increased both pre-and post 1 6, his career took a different path when he was appointed to the Department of Education and Science as Her Majesty’s Inspector of Schools. He was initially based in the Sheffield Office with pastoral responsibility for all types of schools in South Humberside and Rotherham but a much wider brief for modern languages in the Northern Division.

A transfer to the North West, based in Preston, followed in 1983. Secondary school inspections throughout England and regular visits to primary schools in Lancashire were the norm. Directing language enrichment courses abroad for UK foreign language teachers occurred annually during the next ten years until the Secretary of State drastically reduced the number of HMI; those over the age of 50, like himself, were encouraged to take early retirement. He has since continued to work as an educational consultant, latterly as an assessor for schools applying for Specialist Schools’ status and also as a monitor of the work of foreign nationals on the Graduate Teacher Programme who seek Qualified Teacher Status.

Since 1993 his involvement as a member of School Committee and as clerk to the Education Sub-Committee has ensured regular contact with the school. It has been a privilege to observe and contribute to the continuing success of Ackworth for so long.

A passionate interest in tennis has led to work for the Lawn Tennis Association, initially as a coach, and later as a referee at junior and senior tournaments in the north. His current involvement remains twice weekly games of doubles and annual visits to major tournaments in Europe. Retirement beckons with further plans for travel at home and abroad.

Donald hopes to see as many of you as possible at Easter 2010.

President 2008-2009 : Christopher Rengert

Chris was born on 14th January 1939, the only child of Reg and Hetty. Home until age ten was Hampton-on-Thames. Chris is one of the quite small age group old enough to have vivid recollections of wartime life but no knowledge of pre-war times. Young childhood was full of references to marvellous things which you couldn’t have because of the war and most of which when eventually encountered left him wondering what the fuss was about! Primary education was at a marvellous small independent school in Hampton. There was a short break in 1944 when Chris and his mother sought refuge from doodlebugs in Oswaldtwistle in Lancashire.

At age ten the family moved to Southend-on-Sea, to be closer to various grandparents, and Chris spent one year at a large state primary school in Southend. After two years of French and one year of Latin, a year spent seemingly only training for the eleven plus seemed to Chris an educational regression.

Ackworth arrived in Chris’s life in a fairly unconventional way. His mother was for several years seriously ill, and Southend ran a scheme for part funding boarding education for supposedly deserving cases. The panel of schools consisted of Felsted, Dulwich and Ackworth. Chris’s mother knew of Ackworth and this led to an interview with Kathleen Cottrell, acceptance and arrival at Ackworth in September 1950.

In 1955 Southend Council abolished the policy and so ended five very happy years with a reasonable clutch of O levels. The choice of ongoing sixth form at Southend High School was forestalled by a trial period of work in a small City firm of chartered accountants. Chris stayed on for five years’ articles and qualified in 1961, missing national service by fourteen days. A totally unplanned career took him through four years at Thomson McLintock, then a smaller national firm, four years at Courtaulds and then back to the profession as a senior audit manager at Touche Ross, then a burgeoning international firm. This was followed by several years as audit partner of medium sized West End firm. In 1980, in complete contradiction to his previous life he dropped out of large firm life and set up as a sole practitioner working from home. He is still there!

Running a very long audit assignment in Norwich in 1962 Chris met Sheilah, then working as a health visitor in Great Yarmouth. They married the following year, and Belinda was born in 1965. Their first home was in Thaxted in north Essex, and apart from a short break, they have lived in the same village ever since.

Belinda followed Chris to Ackworth in 1975, culminating in her being head girl in 1981, leading to Nottingham University, law school and a very successful career as a solicitor. Belinda married Geoff, an Australian, and Chris and Sheilah’s grandson Benjamin was born in 1998.

Since Belinda’s arrival at Ackworth, neither Chris nor Sheilah have been able to get away from it. Chris was treasurer of AOSA from 1989 until quite recently, and a member of School Committee for two spells, the second as treasurer for eight years. Belinda was an Easter Secretary for many years and also served on School Committee. Sheilah, perhaps thinking “if you can’t beat them, join them” was the AOSA executive committee’s secretary for some years.

Chris keeps trying to retire, but has not so far succeeded. Sheilah has a fast developing new career in providing expert witness reports in cases involving nursing care of elderly people, and has been associated for several years with an advisory group for the Royal College of Physicians.

Chris and Sheilah hope to see as many of you as possible at Easter 2009.

President 2007-2008 : Diana Chadwick

The AOSA President 2007 to 2008 is Diana Chadwick.

The following has been taken from the 2007 AOSA Annual Report:

Diana spent eleven years at Ackworth as Deputy Head having previously been Deputy Head of Devizes School in Wiltshire. Her earlier teaching posts were held in grammar and comprehensive schools in Kent, Derbyshire and Sheffield so coincided with a period of considerable educational change at secondary level. Her increasing contact with Friends over the years and her sympathy with their basic philosophy mean that Ackworth, which she joined in 1986, present an especially interesting challenge.

Her own school education took place in the 1940s and 1950s in south-west Sheffield, a city to which her parents had moved just before she was born. Abbeydale Girls’ Grammar School with its cohort of well-qualified staff and fine facilities provided ample stimulus for energetic and curious youngsters. The local area, adjacent to the Peak District, undoubtedly contributed significantly to her great interest in landscape and the many influences that affect it.

Later studies took her to the University of Hull to read for a degree in Geography specialising in Geomorphology (including past climatic changes!) and to the University of Reading where the Education Department was headed by the well-known Quaker, Professor Charles Dobinson. It was in Reading that she first encountered the boys of Leighton Park School attending the local Quaker Meeting, as well as other Friends.

Teaching Geography in Grammar Schools dominated the sixties and the subject was popular at all levels. By 1970, within a Sheffield School that was becoming comprehensive, she was also involved in management as a Head of House, devoting much time to the integration of local thalidomide youngsters and to pupils who had recently settled into the city from overseas. It was during this period that, appalled at the loss of so much of the region’s architectural heritage, she helped to establish the Hallamshire Historic Buildings Society and learned much about campaigning in the process.

Devizes School in Wiltshire brought a wider range of management responsibilities in a setting that required the integration of two groups of pupils and two groups of staff. Pupils’ awareness of places north of the M4 was limited so Diana soon realised she owed it to them to extend their field studies. At Devizes she worked closely with three Heads (as she did at Ackworth) and learned to cope with some interesting situations, including major emergencies, in both locations. She is not convinced that large secondary schools really fulfil youngsters’ essential needs; those the size of Ackworth, given adequate resources, may well achieve considerably more in aiding their development and maturity.

She valued the outlook of youngsters whose growing awareness of others’ needs – whether in medical, social, animal welfare or environmental matters – was so apparent at Ackworth. Since retirement Diana has had more opportunity to pursue her special interests in health services (she is a governor of Sheffield Hospitals’ Foundation Trust) , farm animal welfare, vernacular architecture, music and gardening. Attractive Derbyshire walks beckon daily.

She very much hopes to see many former pupils and staff over Easter 2008.

Previous Presidents

President 2006-2007 : David Bunney

David Bunney was born on 18th April 1952 at Burton on Trent General Hospital, the eldest child of John W. (scholar 1934-39) and Margery, nee Wilson (scholar 1941-45, President 1997-8). After an upbringing on the family market garden 10 miles east of Birmingham David went to Ackworth in September 1963, continuing the family connection by following Uncle George (President 1986-7) and three aunts, Elizabeth, Margaret (nee Scaife) and Helen. His grandmother Helen M. Bunney also served on the School Committee.

Andrew (1967-74) and Catherine(1973-7) followed David to Ackworth. He became a day scholar when Andrew entered school and Margery joined the staff as Domestic Bursar.

In his time at Ackworth (1963-70) David had an undistinguished academic career but enjoyed the sporting opportunities. After Ackworth David attended Whitwood Mining & Technical College in Castleford, concentrating on Business Studies and some A levels rather than mining! As one of the older students he did achieve some academic success prior to attending Sheffield Polytechnic, again with Business Studies. It was during this period from 1972-76 that David first encountered the heavy engineering industry. One academic year and holidays were spent at the River Don Works of British Steel in Sheffield and David has worked there almost ever since!

He started full time employment as a graduate trainee in August 1976 in the forging sales department, not the forgery department as some have described it! Since then he has seen privatisation, booms and slumps, mergers, continual job losses and faced a lot of challenges. There has also been some fun. He left what became Sheffield Forgemasters in 1986. David spent 3 ½ years at Walter Somers, a forging company in Halesowen on the edge of the Black Country and nearly back to Midlands roots. It was good to see what a profitable company was like from the inside!

Tina and David were married in York on 12th April 1982 having met on a skiing trip to Spain. Theirs was the second Bunney wedding involving Mount staff, (after Andrew and Frederique) Tina being Head of PE. David and Tina lived in York for 8 years during which time Nick was born in May 1984 and Simon in April 1986. The family moved to Ackworth in April 1990 when David returned to Sheffield Forgemasters. He is now a senior sales manager responsible for international sales for a group of products and he has been fortunate enough to visit on a regular basis to Europe, USA, Brazil, China and Japan.

Sport has played a big part in the family life. David has played hockey every season since 1970, mainly for Wakefield but also for York, Yorkshire and the Yorkshire Veterans having been captain of several teams. As the boys grew so the playing career seemed to extend with the addition of cricket in summer. David has really enjoyed playing alongside Nick and Simon and then watching them go to higher levels.

Retirement is not an immediate prospect!

President 2005-2006 : Geoff Pedlar

Where to start, that is the most difficult part, especially when you are not too good with this "I" word. Nevertheless tradition (actually only from 1976, previous to then presidents' past exploits were apparently shrouded in a cloak of secrecy !) dictates that I must tow the line. Well actually, it's the editor bullying me !

Born during the war (so long ago that it is now taught as part of history, so I had better say "born during the second world war") I was brought up in a period of serious, if not extreme, scarcity, making thrift very much the order of the day. A personal quality that has stood me in good stead for much of my life.

Life at Ackworth School in the 1950s was not a hardship in the way that it must have been in the 1700s & 1800s. Nevertheless it was a great deal harder than today; an unsatisfactory situation measured by today's standards, although ironically it developed in many of us a range of personal qualities sadly uncommon today.

Indeed, in spite of, or perhaps because of, these circumstances I enjoyed my time at the school, having mounted obstacles and met challenges (more of that in my address at Easter) and succeeded in leaving my name in (and on) several annals of the school's history, mostly sporting.

So what to do next now became the great quandary. Here I can identify with modern youth; I could go to Uni so I might as well make that the next thing. What I wanted to study, space engineering (yes, in those days this country really did have a space industry), simply wasn't available at Uni. So, without any careers advice available to guide me to go directly in to industry, I went to Glasgow to study aeronautical engineering (the nearest substitute), didn't like that so switched to metallurgy at Sheffield.

Then eventually I could no longer escape the real world. I remember the job advert clearly "are you a round peg in a square hole ?". Well, I guess most of my contemporaries would answer "yes" to that question, we were a bizarre bunch. Much to my surprise it got me onto the bottom rung of BT's management ladder, with whom over the next 18 years I learnt most of my organisational and business skills.

That kept the "roof over our heads" whilst I indulged myself in typical male activities of sport and motorcycling. I did pretty well at hockey, played squash too; and became involved in the running of the motorcycle club I had joined. That took me to many European countries including those "behind the iron curtain" except Russia (several of which we are now partners with in the EU. What an enormous change of regime that is).

During this period I married and we had two sons Daren & Ashley, both of whom are now with partners. Daren now has children of his own, so I am also a proud grandfather to Stacey & Jamie.

Life after BT was rather different, to say the least. From one of the largest corporations in Europe at that time to a one man band, you can't get a much more dramatic work change than that. So now this really is survival of the fittest; will all that resolve gained at school come in to play again ?

Just what does a one man band do ? Well, not a lot if you can help it ! Otherwise, run your own management and business consultancy (some would say unkindly that amounts to the same thing).

Finally we get to the third career, still taking place (ideas for a fourth career gratefully received !). All I wanted was a decent cover for my very nice, and by then quite old, car. So when I was unable to find anything that I thought had the right quality and was available at the right price, I decided that I couldn't be much in the way of a business consultant if I couldn't get a business going to meet that need; others must surely want the same ! Well it so happens that they did, and still do.

It seems that resolve has paid off again; 15 years later & I've created jobs for 10 people, and we make covers for anything from 3 wheel Morgans & double deck buses to motorbikes to aeroplanes; plus a variety of industrial uses.