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Christine Parr (1932-2015), In Memoriam

An obituary is a difficult task; writing one for a much admired colleague and later much loved friend, is a mountain to climb.

Chris (née Marsden) graduated from Girton College Cambridge in 1954 with a double first in Natural Sciences. She went on to St Thomas’ Hospital Biochemistry Dept. She returned to the North in 1956 being awarded an M.Sc by the University of London. She began work at Waterloo Park School and married Brian Parr in 1958. Christopher and Elizabeth were born in the following years.

After part time teaching she began work full time at MTGS in 1970. She was appointed Senior Mistress in 1976 and became the School’s first Deputy Head in 1981.

I first met Chris in 1987 when she ‘interviewed’ me as a candidate to succeed Margaret Davies. She was pleasant, fair, rigorous and thorough. Looking back I realise how very importantly the governors regarded her opinion.

With this ability she brought other outstanding personal attributes. One colleague wrote “among all my memories of working at MTGS, Chris stands out as someone whom I could both like and respect for every kind of reason; for her academic rigour which we took so much for granted, her constantly outstanding administration skills which she made seem entirely effortless and for her unfailing personal integrity and quiet kindness.”

Yes Chris was an outstanding Deputy Head, but, and equally important, she was a loving daughter, wife, mother and grandmother.

A friend observed “I only met Chris on a few occasions but she left an indelible impression on me. She was invariably smiling with a sense of goodwill and attentive to those around. On one occasion, at a local restaurant, I remember her surrounded by her grandchildren – the centre of attention. They were full of laughter, chatter, respect and affection. I was very struck by her place in their lives.”

In the academic year 1988-89 Chris lost both her mother and her husband, Brian, and gained her first grandchild, William. As a result she postponed her retirement which was a great benefit both to myself and to the School.

She organised some unique moments in the school’s history. The 100th anniversary which we all, pupils, parents, staff and friends shared with the Archbishop of Canterbury in Liverpool Cathedral in 1988 stands out. I later discovered Chris had managed to acquire the actual copy of the Archbishop Runcie’s speech that day – special words. She also masterminded the Royal visit of the Duke and Duchess of York in 1988.

In the many letters and cards received after Chris’s death some observations are repeated – her smile, her sense of humour, meticulous attention to detail, generosity, integrity and elegance.

During her 23 years of retirement she designed and planted 2 gardens from scratch, or should I say mud and stone!

Her determination to master all aspects of IT (putting me to shame) and her love of music – following her Grade 8 violin at school – were all aspects of these very active years, as was her regular attendance at Church reflecting her quiet Christian faith. She gained further fulfilment from being a loving grandmother to her 5 grandchildren.

She and I walked and explored the Dolomites and Drakensburg, Alps and Pyrenees, Andes and Himalayas, Arctic to Antarctic, and the Tropics. We saw many sights and sites of this wonderful world we all inhabit, all described in her detailed logs and diaries and illustrated by her wonderful photographs.

Appropriate, therefore, to finish with an appreciation from an American student who passed us on the Everest trail. As he loped past the 14 of us, he noticed Chris – who was at 79, many years older than the rest of the party. He stopped, “Excuse me ma’am; can I ask you how old you are?” On being informed, he shouted with disbelief and wonder – “God bless you ma’am, God bless you!”, and he picked her up in a big hug.

A wonderful memory of a very special daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, colleague and friend.

Jane Panton

October 2016.

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A night to remember! ✨ Last week, our Sixth For A night to remember! ✨

Last week, our Sixth Form pupils marked the end of their Merchants' journey in style at the Leavers’ Ball at the Hilton. An evening filled with laughter, memories and celebration, the perfect send-off for a brilliant year group.

Full gallery available via our Facebook page 📸
Last week, Year 7 enjoyed a fantastic day explorin Last week, Year 7 enjoyed a fantastic day exploring Halton Castle and @nortonpriory as part of their historical site study on Medieval England.

At Halton Castle, pupils toured the ruins and got hands-on with replica armour and weapons. After lunch in the sunshine, they headed to Norton Priory for an interactive workshop where they solved a history mystery, tried writing with quills, and made their own herbal 'Muzzy-Tuzzies'.

The day ended with some friendly competition and a visit to the gift shop, a brilliant way to bring their history learning to life!

#lovenorton
Earlier this month, a group of Sixth Form pupils t Earlier this month, a group of Sixth Form pupils travelled to the University of St Andrews to compete in the finals of the National Ethics Cup - a prestigious competition combining debate and public speaking around complex ethical issues.

Pupils presented and defended their views on topics including AI in music, online gossip, and social media identity, before being cross-examined by both judges and opposing teams. The competition demanded careful research, clear communication, and agile critical thinking.

Our team performed strongly, winning their opening heat against Winstanley College before being narrowly defeated by Runshaw College. Despite not progressing to the semi-finals, the pupils gained invaluable experience and thoroughly enjoyed the challenge, particularly the chance to meet and connect with students from across the UK.

We are very proud of how they represented the school and are grateful for the support of the Old Girls’ and Old Boys’ Associations in making the trip possible.
Earlier this week, we launched our Strategic Direc Earlier this week, we launched our Strategic Direction 2025–2030, a forward-looking plan that sets out our priorities for the years ahead, including our commitment to academic excellence, pupil wellbeing, and investment in facilities and infrastructure.

As part of our transition to a fully coeducational school from September 2025, we are undertaking a number of developments across the site, including the full refurbishment of our swimming pool to support sport and physical education for all pupils.

You can explore the full document via the link in our bio ⤴️
Last Friday, our Year 11 pupils marked the end of Last Friday, our Year 11 pupils marked the end of their GCSEs with a fantastic prom at Hope Street Hotel. It was an evening full of laughter, dancing and celebration - a fitting way to round off their time in Year 11.

Full gallery of photos available via our Facebook page 📸
On Tuesday, we held our Stanfield Summer Concert, On Tuesday, we held our Stanfield Summer Concert, a joyful evening of music showcasing the talents of our pupils across the year groups.🎶

With a wonderful selection of pieces ranging from The Child That Is Born on the Sabbath Day to the iconic Star Wars theme, the concert offered something for everyone and plenty of proud moments for families and staff alike.

Well done to all of our performers and thank you to everyone who joined us for a memorable evening of music! 🌟🎵

You can view a full gallery via our Facebook page.
Yesterday’s Speech Day at Liverpool’s Philharm Yesterday’s Speech Day at Liverpool’s Philharmonic Hall was a wonderful celebration of the achievements of our pupils right across the senior schools. Guest speaker and Old Crosbeian Professor Iain Buchan presented the prizes and gave some wise advice to pupils in his speech, drawing on his life and career in public health.  We enjoyed fantastic performances from our music and drama pupils, and our Head Boy and Girl team delivered excellent speeches on the highlights of the year, and thanking our guest speaker. 
 
Congratulations to all of our prizewinners, performers and guests on creating such a special day for our whole school community. 

A full gallery of photos from the day will be available on our Facebook page in due course 📸
All set for Speech Day 2025 🙌 All set for Speech Day 2025 🙌
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