Charity Club
Charity Club raised money for good causes by holding a variety of events. For many years it was supervised by Richard Anderson. It ceased to exist in about 2015 following the retirement of Richard Anderson in 2014.
In the beginning
From the 1973 issue of the Bostonian magazine, "Second-hand books" written by Michael Leatherland (2A)
Half-way through the Spring term Robert Ledger and I decided to form some kind of club. We thought it would be a good idea to start a charity club to raise money for cancer research.
After getting permission from our form-master Mr Anderson, we started on our first money-raising scheme. This was selling second-hand books at bargain prixes. This raised about £1.50, but some of the masters clubbed together and made it up to two pounds.
Our next scheme was a raffle with a ten-inch slide rule as a prize. The prize was paid for with the money that we made from selling some toffee and some sweets, which were kindly made for us by S Langley's mother. Altogether, adding the money from the raffle, we raised about five pounds.
Towards the end of the Summer term we were still trying to get more money by having a shot-put [sic] contest with an entry charge of one pence [sic] a shot for first formers only and having a money prize which was ten per cent of the profit.
Richard Anderson's recollections
"The Charity Club started in 1972 when two lads in my first year called Michael Leatherland and Robert Ledger suggested holding a sponsored run on the athletics track which raised the first ever five pound note. Over 42 years the lads raised over 100,000 pounds for 30 charities ranging from Cancer Research to Centrepoint Outreach[1]. The main money-spinner was the famous sweet shop, but all kinds of events were held at lunchtimes, after school and at weekends, with many so-called 'ordinary' lads showing themselves in a different light when it came to fun-filled fund-raising. I feel honoured that I am still in touch with many of the characterful clubbers with whom it was usually a pleasure to work."
It's a Knockout - 1980
Nigel Allen, The Bostonian - 1980
November 19 1980 saw the first BGS inter Club "It's a Knockout", organised by the Charity Club. The event was held to raise funds for the National Tape Magazine for the Blind.
The teams, from various clubs within the school, were greeted on competition day by two inches of snow and a temperature near freezing point.
"Surely we cannot go ahead in these conditions?" was the plea.
"Yus", replied RWA.
The teams braved the conditions to put on an excellent performance, with the Charity Club 'A' team coming out on top.
Perhaps the bravest person at the event was Bill Cox, editor of the Tape Magazine. We hope his studio will benefit from our efforts.