On Monday, the 27th of March, two Year 12 Politics students, Lucy and Charlie, were proud to have the opportunity to speak with BGS’s newest Chair of Governors, Mr Richard Smyth. The following report is written by Lucy and Charlie. 

Meeting with Mr Smyth was an opportunity that we were very grateful to have, and we are very thankful to Mr Smyth for the time he gave to us to speak about his life as an Old Boy of BGS, as well as his 45 year career in law, and where he spoke about his goals for our School in his new role. We would like to thank Mr Smyth, Mrs Anderson (Principal), Mr Bell (Teacher of History), and Miss Davies (Senior Marketing Officer) for this opportunity. 

Mr Smyth’s enthusiasm to help BGS in the role of a Governor originated from his being an Old Boy of our school. During his time away from Bury, he began his career as a trainee solicitor (what was then called an Articled Clerk) in 1975 and qualified in 1977, from there, Mr Smyth enjoyed an illustrious career, specialising in Regulatory law. Mr Smyth spent large portions of his career with the global law firm DLA Piper, recalling cases surrounding the issue of Gas storage in the countryside, as well as the price-fixing scheme many top football clubs were conducting covering their shirt prices in the early 2000s. Mr Smyth practiced law for more than 35 years, gaining experience along the way that enabled him to take on many responsibilities, the latest being our Chair of Governors. 

Within this extensive career, Mr Smyth often carried out his work in what is now the Sixth Form’s Courthouse, further establishing his strong connection to the School. Throughout his career, Mr Smyth learned many things, priding himself on the view that one should ‘never stop learning.’ 

He explained that one of his main aims for the School under his new role is one that he picked up during his time at BGS as a pupil; when asked about his main goals for the school, Mr Smyth told us about his old English teacher, whom intentionally never gave a mark higher than 8 out of 10, which Mr Smyth’s fellow pupils once questioned nearing the end of their time in the school. To this question, Mr Smyth’s teacher proclaimed that 9 out of 10 was good enough only for the teacher of a subject, and he reserved 10 out of 10 for God. Mr Smyth took from this the idea that there is no such thing as perfection, a view which he held throughout his career, shown in his assent to working for DLA Piper, one of the world’s top legal firms. This is what Mr Smyth mentioned when asked about his goals for the School, as he told us that while he views the School in an incredibly positive light, there is always going to be room for improvement, arguing that as an entire school community, we should strive for the very best that we can, making sure every area is constantly evolving. 

On a more nostalgic note, Mr Smyth delighted in remembering some of his memories of his time at BGS as a pupil, making specific reference to his unique experiences as a Cadet in the CCF, mentioning an activity in which the Cadets were put into pairs and told to reach a particular school on the Wirral, located just outside of Liverpool, and then return to BGS before four o’clock the same evening. Mr Smyth mentions that he and his partner managed to get the attention of a high-end car, such as an Aston Martin or a Rolls Royce, to take them most of the way. However, he also spoke of the stark contrast of how they returned to Bury from the Wirral, which they did in the scoop of a JCB! 

We also asked Mr Smyth what career advice he would give the School’s current pupils. His answer remained similar to a view he had already slightly touched upon in the interview; Mr Smyth believes that "one should never stop learning, no matter what." 

He believes that every day is an opportunity where one can grow academically and socially, which is the main reason for the advice he offers so constantly. Mr Smyth’s suggestion was one that was universally agreed to within the room, with Mrs Anderson, as well as both of us, echoing Mr Smyth’s interpretation of education. 

Adding to Mr Smyth’s wide-ranging experience in professional settings, he also describes his skill in working in boardroom environments through his time with the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust. In Mr Smyth’s time with the NHS, he has acted as a Non-Executive Director, as well as being a member of the Charitable Funds Committee; this all goes to show his skills in a workplace similar to that of Bury Grammar School’s board of governors, only ensuring further that he can bring many benefits to the School in his new role. 

Outside of the interview, Mr Smyth agreed that it was essential to have clear communication between the students and the board of Governors, and we believe that interviews like this are part of the key to achieving that goal. So, we would like to once again thank Mr Smyth for his advice, as well as some of the experience in his career which he has passed down to us. We wish him the very best in his new role as Bury Grammar School’s new Chair of Governors. It is clear that Mr Smyth has great ambition for the School, which helps us maintain its continuous growth.