Birchall Brothers visit Old School

The Schools were pleased to welcome back Old Boys Bill and Basil Birchall for the afternoon as they paid a visit to departing Headmaster David Cook.

The visit was a result of Bill attending our North American reunion dinner, where he was first introduced to David. The brothers returned at the School’s invitation to meet with the Headmaster before he departed for his new post at Repton School, Dubai over the summer. On their arrival they were given a tour of the site before sitting down for a small lunch with David in his office. They later stayed for the afternoon’s cricket match and were shown several archival materials from their time at the School.

A 1958 leaver, the visit was Bill’s first time returning to the site since leaving as a young man, having made his career as an accountant, first in London, and then in Canada. His younger brother Basil, a 1959 leaver, lives in Harrogate and worked at ICI for many years helping to produce speciality chemicals for use in industry. He was also Head Boy and first XI Cricket Captain during his time at MTS – his cricket portrait hangs in the IRSC Cricket ‘Hall of Fame’.

The brothers have longstanding links with the School and have supported the Bursary Fund generously for many years. Following the unexpected death of Basil’s twin brother Richard in 1992, the brothers set up and have funded the Birchall Bursary in his memory. During the visit, they also met with Louise Robinson, MTGS headmistress, as well as Mrs Beverley Bell CBE, Chair of Governors. They spoke warmly of their time at the School, not least their time spent as boarders in the now demolished Harrison House. They were pleased to see the School in such good health and impressed with how the site has developed since they left.

Our thanks go to Bill and Basil for their continued support.