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Rachel Ashton – Old Girl (1988-1995)

Rachel Ashton – Old Girl (1988-1995)

I can remember now the feeling of trepidation, age 11, walking into MTGS on my first morning at ‘The Big School’, wondering who I would meet and if I’d make friends. I needn’t have worried, the first person I met was Rachel, who greeted me with a smile, introduced herself and it felt like we’d known each other forever. Over the following seven years, we stuck together and through our mutual love of singing, drama and avoiding PE became firm friends, a friendship that would endure long beyond school.

She was one of the big characters of our year, known and loved by all for her quick wit, comic timing and bubbly personality, who threw herself wholeheartedly into any challenge (except PE, where we always came last in cross country). It became clear very early on that she was an immensely talented actor and singer, with a knack for impressions and a facility for dialogue, and had really beautiful handwriting. Her impersonation of Mrs Stubbs is legendary.

She always had projects on the go, whether writing a new Red Dwarf script, memorising Alec Guinness quotes or arranging TV theme tunes (like Blackadder) for organ, as she was the organist at Ince Blundell Hall, another one of her talents. She was an enthusiastic member of the choirs (though grew a little tired of singing Beatles songs), and in latter years performed a number of solos, where she could show just how brilliant a singer she was. The last time she and I ever sang onstage together was at Prize Giving, where we performed Rossini’s Cat Duet, something we both found hilarious and relished every second.

Whatever her choices, they were always completely individual and she would never be influenced by others. One example of that was her insistence that she wanted to learn Russian, a language she embraced and loved, and she was highly entertained on arriving in Russia on a school trip (staying with a family she was convinced were Mafia) for people to keep asking why she was speaking with a Scottish accent (well done, Mr Aitken…).

After A-level, she studied Linguistics and Italian at Lancaster University, and worked for a time for the Charities Commission. It was her love of singing and music that won the day, though, and she gained a place to study at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, after which she sang professionally and also trained as a music educator, so she could pass on her love of performing to the next generation. Not content with that, she also appeared as a straight actor in a number of productions and continued to write plays, her love of drama undiminished from when she was younger.

That she was so full of life and hitting her creative peak made the shock of her cancer diagnosis even worse. With characteristic stoicism, and a relentlessly positive attitude, she faced chemotherapy and radiotherapy with real courage, even teaching herself to play the mandolin to alleviate her boredom whilst recuperating. On being told that she was in remission, she gained a place to do a Masters Degree at Birmingham Conservatoire and she began the course with relish, loving every second and grabbing life with both hands. It was a hard blow, then, to discover the cancer had returned but once again she faced months of treatment with positivity and determination, and her sense of humour remained fully intact to the end.

She wasn’t able to complete her Masters, but was granted her degree posthumously, something that would have made her immensely proud. She was an incredibly talented individual, taken from the world far too soon, before she had fully had an opportunity to demonstrate just how gifted she was, in any number of fields, although she will be remembered for her singing above all. But more than that, she was a much loved daughter, sister, auntie and friend, someone who was kind, thoughtful, funny, loyal, witty, brave, and unique. I, along with everyone who knew her, will miss her enormously and I am honoured to have called her my friend.

Jennifer Johnston
Old Girl (1988-95)

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We’re incredibly proud of Aurora in Year 9, who We’re incredibly proud of Aurora in Year 9, who has been accepted onto the prestigious PLACED Academy Studio, a year-long programme in design, architecture and engineering for pupils across the North West.

Aurora secured her place through a competitive application process open to pupils from Years 9 to 12 throughout the North West, impressing the panel with her creativity, ambition and passion for design.

Over the next year, she’ll take part in workshops, skills sessions and mentoring - Well done, Aurora! 👏
Make this summer one to remember at Merchant Taylo Make this summer one to remember at Merchant Taylors’! ☀️🏫

We’ve got an exciting line-up of summer camps and activities for children of all ages, perfect for staying active, learning new skills and having fun with friends during the holidays.

Here’s what’s on:

⚽ Football Camp with @bobbygrantcoaching 

🏐 Netball Camp with Head of Netball, Jess Fowler

🏏 Cricket Camp - with Gary Yates and Simon Sutcliffe, 

🏉 Sale Sharks Rugby Development Camp – Train with the professionals from Sale Sharks

🎨 Summer Holiday Club – A fun-filled programme of games, sports, crafts and more for primary-aged children

All camps take place on site at Merchant Taylors’, with expert staff, outstanding facilities and a friendly, supportive environment.

Spaces are limited – book now and join us for an unforgettable summer - More info available by clicking the link in our bio ⤴️
Bound by Shared Tales ✨ As we close the doors t Bound by Shared Tales ✨

As we close the doors to our Girls’ School site for the final time, we reflect on the memories, friendships and futures shaped within its walls.

Bound by Shared Tales was written and narrated by Year 13 pupil Lauren Roseberry. Her words capture the spirit of the generations who walked these corridors - their voices, their dreams, and their enduring legacy.

Though the site may fall quiet, the story lives on.
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 📸
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