Meet our Alumni
Page includes: Graham Mills, Jeff Smith, Neil Smith, Robert Shillitoe, and Sir William Lyons
Simply click the name to read the profile.
Attended Baines 1957-1964
I am a true Bainesian being a former pupil of Baines Endowed Junior School in Thornton-Cleveleys. After Baines, and Leicester University where I failed Physics I was employed for 8 years (1965 to 1973) with the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority at Culcheth Laboratories, outside Warrington. We researched reactor materials metallurgy and during this time I spent 3 ½ years (1968 to 1972) on assignment to the Radio and Space Research Station in the Falkland Islands for scientific satellite ground station operations, where I was also married.
I have been employed in the offshore oil and gas construction industry since 1973, initially 8 years with Unit Inspection Company, a subsidiary of British Steel doing NDT, working at Nigg Bay in NE Scotland helping build the BP Forties Field offshore platform, Highlands 1. I was moved to Glasgow and then to the company’s HQ in Swansea as Contracts manager.
After a divorce, I joined Oceaneering and returned to Scotland, this time Aberdeen, in 1981, for diving and underwater remote technology for offshore oil and gas developments in the North Sea and Middle East. I have worked predominantly overseas since the late 1980’s for Oceaneering (Norway, Qatar and Egypt) then for Occidental Petroleum in Qatar and for Global Industries (an American offshore construction company) in Thailand doing project and contract management. My last project Offshore Indonesia with Global went to arbitration, which was heard in Singapore.
I planned to retire in 2004, once the case came to a successful conclusion, but our Valuation Expert on the case, Trett Consulting, asked me to join them for part time work on arbitration cases. That was interesting until in 2008 they asked me to help a Japanese company, MODEC, in Singapore. MODEC had a $750-million project with BP converting a tanker to a floating production and storage offshore (FPSO) unit destined for Angola. The contract included 30% of its value in Provisional Sums and I ended up responsible for claiming these formally via the Variation procedure in the Contract. The project grew in value with an out-turn of $1.4-billion.
At the end of that, I planned to retire again, but MODEC liked my work so much that they hired me directly and I became the Project Contracts Manager for an FSPO for Tullow Oil and Gas destined for offshore Ghana. That $1-billion project took 5 years to complete and I eventually retired, much against MODEC’s wishes, in 2018 aged 72 years. .
I am currently retired, living principally in Bangkok with a flat in Singapore and one in Aberdeen. I also visit Swansea and the Gower regularly to visit my 2 sons and 3 grandchildren. With the current Covid19 suspension of international travel, I have been “stuck” happily in Bangkok in self isolation for most of this year with my Thai partner and enjoying Thai culture and food … it’s a great and very varied life! I have been very lucky.
Return to meet the Alumni page
Attended School 1971-1978
Taken from an interview given by FPA member Robert Wright
Jeff, an old boy of the school, is the current Head of Music at BBC Radio 2 and BBC 6 Music. He was born in Fleetwood in 1960, at a time when the pirate radio stations were in operation. He was fascinated by Radio Caroline and the fledgling BBC Radio 1. Growing up in Fleetwood he was able to see the Radio Caroline ship moored off the coast and he used to be fascinated by this.
Jeff was ambitious to go to Baines as it was ‘the’ school that played football. Whilst at school when he was 12 Jeff used to give radio cassettes of himself to his friends. He was then hooked on radio and tried to get into radio for work. When he was 15 he had a job at Poulton record Shop later Fleetwood Mixing. From there he got a job with hospital radio at Radio Victoria then Piccadilly Radio in Manchester.
After leaving Baines he studied for his BA in Communication Studies at Padgate College in Warrington. Before working with the BBC he worked as a producer on Radio TFM in the North East. When he was 23 he joined the BBC as a studio manager and then a producer on BBC World Service. Whilst working as an Executive Producer on Radio 1 he had a discussion with presenter Mark Radcliffe to talk about the creation of a smart music station in a pub in Liverpool in 1993. These plans were eventually realised in 1999 with a new station called Network X later become 6 Music. Rather than a smart music station this has developed with the help of Jeff to become an alternative spirited station across a range of audiences.
In 1994 he became Editor, Mainstream Programmes and Music Manager at Radio 1. Leaving Radio 1 he became Director of Programmes at Wisebuddah before returning to BBC Radio 1 as Head of Music. Where he played a major role in the revitalisation of Radio 1 as Head of Music Policy from 1997 to 2000. His achievements at the BBC included founding the influential Evening Session programme and bringing current Radio 1 breakfast host Chris Moyles, Jo Whiley, Trevor Nelson, Stuart Maconie and Steve Lamacq to the BBC.
He left the post in 2000 to become Controller of Capital FM where he helped to rejuvenate the station a post he kept for 3 years. Jeff has worked with many of the great musicians, Jeff Lynn from ELO, David Bowie and Tim Manchin to mention a few. In 2003 he became Director of UK and International programming at Napster.
In 2007 Jeff took over as the Head of Music for Radio 2 and 6 Music; he is still in post. He sets up the play lists on Radio 2 and 6 Music. Radio 2 is the U.K.'s most listened to radio station, with a weekly audience reach in excess of 13 million people. The head of music post is acknowledged as one of the most important radio jobs in the country as it involves control of Radio 2's hugely influential playlist. It has been said by many that he has ‘the Midas Touch’ when selecting must for the radio stations. In his time at both Radio 2 and 6; 6 Music’s audience has doubled to nearly two million since 2010 and Radio 2’s audience rose to an all-time high of 15.5 million weekly listeners. The average age of the Radio 2 audience is 51, but Jeff says it is currently seeing huge growth in listeners aged 65-plus. Choosing music for this wide ranging age range is very difficult as they have to stay modern and relevant to their audience. He also works on Radio 2 live in Hyde Park. He liaises with the record industry and from May 2018 he took over as the Chairman of The Mercury Music Prize.
I hugely enjoyed my time at Baines, and it was very nostalgic to recently look at the photographs on the Baines300 site and to see so many of the staff who taught me. As my main academic interest at school was History, I have fond memories of all those in that department who taught me, especially Messrs Stevenson and Edwards: their interest in the subject and ability to convey this to the pupils (especially at A Level), was hugely influential on me, and later choice of career. Alongside these, I remember many other teachers with fondness: Mr Field, Mr Lawrenson, Miss Chantrell, Mrs Simpson, Mr Wilkins, Mr Bradley, Mrs Fletcher, Mr Darbourne, Miss Nuttall, Mr Beresford, Mr Marsden, Mr Ward, Mrs Shepherd, Mrs Burtonwood, Mr Thwaites, Mr Wilson...
Return to meet the Alumni page
Attended 1981-1988
After graduating with a degree in History and Politics, I went into teaching and stumbled into the independent sector for my first post, getting a job at Leeds Grammar School (now the Grammar School at Leeds) After 4 years I moved across the Pennines to run the Politics department and teach History at Cheadle Hulme School (until the late 1980s it was known as the Warehousemen and Clerks’ Orphans School), before moving to The Manchester Grammar School to teach History and Politics in 2002.
After staying at MGS for 16 happy years and performing various roles there, I returned to CHS to take up a headship in September 2018. Being a Head at this moment in time has certainly presented me with experiences and problems which I could never have envisaged when I started the role, but it has been hugely rewarding to see the School respond so well to the many challenges which it has faced since the start of the current Covid crisis.
Whilst Baines was considerably smaller in the 1980s than it is today, it is a little bizarre that I have come across several Baines alumni at CHS, either through their employment as teachers (there may be as many Baines alumni as Old Waconians at the School), through their role in organisations who we work closely with, and even as parents.
Beyond teaching, I have written several education-related books, and enjoyed a very cheap thrill when my book on the Vietnam War was, for a very brief period, the best-selling book on the conflict on amazon. I’m quite certain its price of £0.99 and relative brevity played a not insignificant part in its popularity! My record collection remains a source of puzzlement to my streaming-fixated daughters, whilst attempting to explain the concept of a record-library (which the one in Blackpool helped nurture and broaden my musical interests) is perhaps one of life’s least fruitful endeavours.
Return to meet the Alumni page
Attended School 1998-2005
The current Head of Creative Arts is Robert Shillitoe, a former pupil.
Robert writes: I should start by saying that my memory is poor! I struggle to remember events from the previous week, let alone over 2 decades ago. However, as the following is about special and significant chapters in my life whilst being part of the Baines community, I will do my best to dig up fond memories and recollections of music at Baines.
I have a unique and rather special viewpoint on the life of music in Baines, both being a former student and now Head of Creative Arts. During my time at Baines (1998 - 2005), I was fortunate enough to take part in what was a rich and varied extracurricular programme. From the school Swing Band led by Tony Harrison, through to Joan Swan's Orchestra and our small Brass Ensemble, the Music department had a buzz about it all the way through my years as a student. We were kept busy with a jam-packed concert series, with music programmes carefully designed by Joan Swan, so as to provide a superb evening's entertainment for all, whilst remaining broad and inclusive. We were also fortunate enough to experience many performances outside of school, including performing at local venues with a small jazz ensemble, through to performing at local primary schools, hoping to inspire the younger generation.
The annual Junior and Senior Young Musician of the Year Competitions were another highlight; bringing together young hopeful musicians, all of whom wished to hold high the title of 'Musician of the Year', these events were another fabulous opportunity for musicians of all abilities and ages to showcase their talents.
And then on top of all this (which already is enough for any school Music department to boast about), three musical memories stand out for me; Kirchentag, Gel and the Cabaret Evening.
Kirchentag
A small oratorio of musicians, including myself, were fortunate enough to travel to Germany to perform in the biennial event Kirchentag. If my memory serves me right, I believe it to have been 2001 in Frankfurt. This was my first time travelling abroad to perform as a musician, and what an experience it was. I remember the long rehearsals we had in England before setting off, the hours of prep to ensure we had our music rehearsed and ready to play; for this short period of time in my school career, I felt like a professional musician.
Gel
Gel was the only musical that I took part in during my time at Baines. This was my first experience of performing in a pit band, and again, an opportunity for me to feel like a pro. Whilst the show was an amazing experience, with production week providing a buzz for all students involved, for me, my most cherished memories from this experience include everything 'around' the actual performances; the late-night rehearsals, feeling part of a large team alongside cast and crew, the mounting pressure as we worked towards dress and production weeks, and the sense of being part of some rather special, that would long remain an important chapter in Baines' history.
Cabaret Evening
The final cherished memory I have as a student was the Cabaret Evening. This is where my memory becomes a tad sketchier, but I do remember round tables set out in the school hall, families enjoying a bite to eat and maybe some drink, a variety of performers (including myself) getting up to perform as part of what was without a doubt, the most varied programme during my time at Baines, and finally, the entire evening being brilliantly compered by a juggling (!) Richard Darbourne. I am sure I have this last bit correct...otherwise I really do need to worry about my memory.
I'll be honest, there are without a doubt far more cherished musical memories from my time at Baines as a student, but I'll fast forward now to 2018, when I seized the opportunity to return, this time as a staff member as Head of Creative Arts.
I was determined to continue the brilliant concert series that had long remained, and develop a rich extracurricular programme, something that I believe we have done and something which we can be proud of.
But without a doubt, one of the most (if not the most) significant moments in my time as a teacher at Baines came in June 2018, when I sat down with Mrs Chapman to discuss the possibility of reviving the school musical. I had in previous schools been involved in musicals as a musical director, but this venture would mean taking hold of the reins and captaining the musical ship at Baines! I was a tad hesitant, if I'm being honest; I spoke to Mrs Chapman about doing it, but maybe in a year (2019/20). In classic Mrs Chapman fashion, I was encouraged to not wait, dive in, be bold, brave, and just go for it. So, once I had found time to sit down and talk to Simon Davies (Head of English) and Louise Lister (ILC Manager/Drama Support) and pitch the idea to bring musicals back to Baines with Bugsy Malone...we were off!
And what a journey...Bugsy Malone was my 9th musical in my teaching career, but without a doubt the best musical experience. And what I loved MOST of all about it, was how much of a Baines team effort it was; from staff and students helping to design/provide costume, props, set etc., through to the large number of individuals volunteering to help through tech, dress and production weeks. I'll be absolutely honest...it surpassed all of my expectations. It was and will always remain one of my most cherished memories.
And then sadly, moving forward, following the success of Bugsy we then moved onto Return to the Forbidden Planet, a bolder, more daring and larger musical. We had everything in place, everything ready to go...and then COVID-19 hit. And like the Performing Arts industry around the WORLD, we ground to a halt. In the early days, I naively hung onto the hope of maybe just having to delay the musical...but alas, we had to formally cancel, and Baines will sadly not see Forbidden Planet on stage.
And so, I now find myself in 2021, working under COVID restrictions, and whilst we still struggle to fully return to a rich, varied, and full Performing Arts calendar, we are slowly but surely seeing the return of small pockets of performing opportunities for our students.
And the number one question I get asked, especially by ex-cast members...are we doing another show.....I'll tell you now...the show has already been picked..!
Return to meet the Alumni page
As you drive down the road you will probably see a few jaguar cars. Did you know that the founder of Jaguar Cars was an old Boy of the School. William Lyons was born in Blackpool on 4th sept 1901 at 26 Oxford Road, Blackpool. His father William was a musician and ran a ‘Music and Pianoforte Warehouse’ in Bank Hey Street.
William may not have been at the school long before moving to Arnold School but he claims dual citizenship. William stated that of his time at Baines he was, in his own words, an ‘average scholar’,
William known as "Mr. Jaguar", working with fellow motorcycle enthusiast William Walmsley, co-founded in 1922 of the Swallow Sidecar Company, which became Jaguar Cars Limited after the Second World War. William Lyons took a small sidecar manufacturing business and developed it into a prominent World-wide Company in a few years.
William certainly lived up to the school motto – Nil Sine Labore (Nothing without hard work). He was a charismatic man, single-minded and certainly strong-willed. Tremendously hard-working William expected his staff to do likewise. He surrounded himself with exceptionally talented people who were just as keen on the enterprise as he was. They may not always have agreed with the Boss, but they were loyal, both to Lyons and to Jaguar.
By 1911 his parents business was doing well and they moved to Red Cottage in Newton Drive, close to what would later become Stanley Park, and they had enough money to send William to Arnold House, a small private school in Lytham Road, Blackpool. Lyons may have lacked scholastic skills but from an early age he showed an interest in mechanical items, particularly bicycles, which he used to repair for other boys at the school, but his real interest was in motor cycles and their engines.
On leaving school in July 1917 Lyons was due to become an apprentice at Vickers shipbuilding yard at Barrow-in-Furness, he had attended a special course to help him with the apprenticeship examination, but his heart was not in shipbuilding and he was not keen to follow that path. His father came to the rescue; he knew the Managing Director of Crossley Motors in Gorton, Manchester, and asked if there was a place for his son. The result was that young Lyons took up an apprenticeship with them. Part of the arrangement included studying engineering at Manchester Technical College some of the week. Lyons wanted to get closer to the Crossley cars but production at the time was concentrated on ambulances and lorries for the military.
He then moved back to Blackpool where he found work with Jackson Brothers and then Jack (John Edgar) Mallalieu offered him a sales job at his new dealership – Brown and Mallalieu. Here he learned more about motorcars than he had with Crossley; how they were made and how they worked. He also learned how to demonstrate a model to a prospective customer and, importantly, how to close a sale.
He attended the first post-war [WWI] motor show in London in 1919 where he helped on the Brown and Mallalieu stand. William was just eighteen-years-old and was now as experienced with motor cars as he was with motorcycles, but when a new General Manager, Charles Hayes, was appointed to oversee the expanding business, William found many of his responsibilities taken away. He may have had the experience but his age was against him. Consequently, William’s services were dispensed with and in 1920 he found himself unemployed.
In August 1922, William Lyons senior and Thomas Walmsley put up £500 each to fund the enterprise by guaranteeing a £1,000 loan (roughly £30,000 in today’s terms) at Williams Deacon’s Bank in Blackpool.
They found suitable premises at 5 Bloomfield Road and the partnership agreement was signed on 21 November though it was backdated to 11 September 1922. Interestingly, the name ‘Swallow’ is not mentioned on any of the surviving documents from this time, but from the very start they traded as the Swallow Sidecar Company. This was the start of Jaguar Motors.
The big break came when the company moved to Coventry and mass production of Jaguar Cars started. Due to his work in the motor industry William Lyons was knighted in 1956.
William Lyons died on 8 February 1985 at Wappenbury Hall, his home in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, at the age of 83.
Return to meet the Alumni page