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THE YEAR OF ’69
Nestled within idyllic playing fields just a few minutes’ walk away
from Hoylake’s tranquil beachfront in Wirral, is a historical,
independent school that has produced some of the country’s
finest business brains and creative talent. Well-known art dealer, writer and broadcaster Philip Mould OBE
also joins the list of famous Kingsmead alumni for that year, joining
at a time when his father owned a factory in Liverpool, and he first
became fascinated with antiques on the Wirral.
For Kingsmead School the ‘class of 1969’ really stands out, providing
an eclectic mix of world-beaters across the year groups. Among the
talented year group was Nicola Horlick, best known as one of the
UK’s financial ‘superwomen’ who adds the titles of restaurateur,
author and film producer to her already impressive CV. Best known as the co-presenter on BBC’s ‘Fake or Fortune’ with
Fiona Bruce as well as Channel 4 programme ‘Changing Faces,’ he
is also featured regularly on The Antiques Roadshow. Mould has
made a number of major art discoveries including some of Thomas
Gainsbourg’s earliest works, the only known portrait of Arthur
Prince of Wales and lost works by Anthony Van Dyk and Thomas
Lawrence. He has written two books about art discovery and has
sold works to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and
The National Portrait Gallery in London, and has been an adviser
to the House of Lords, The House of Commons, and is President
of the charity, Kids in Museum. In 2005 he was awarded an OBE in
The New Years Honours List for his achievement in his field.
Fellow pupil and famous name in the alumni of ’69 is well known
British hairdresser, Andrew Collinge, known around the world as
one half of the go-to styling team to the stars together with wife Liz,
who created life-changing make-over’s for viewers on ITV’s This
Morning in the 1990’s.
Collinge started his career in hairdressing in 1974 at his father’s
West Kirby salon before completing his training at the famous
Mayfair salon, Michaeljohn. He has been twice awarded prestigious
‘British Hairdresser of the Year’ and was the first British hairdresser
to win ‘Mondial Coiffure de Beaute’ in Paris. He styled the hair of
Sophie Rhys-Jones for her wedding to Prince Edward and later that
of Autumn Kelly for her marriage to Peter Phillips, son of Princess
Anne.
The brand journey continued with Andrew Collinge salons,
graduate salons, training schools and a premium product range,
‘Collinge & Co.’ Andrew Collinge Training continues to inspire
the creatives of the future and was awarded a Princess Royal
Training Award for commitment to excellence in training and
skills development last year. It remains a well-nurtured, family-
run business with Andrew as Creative Director and Chairman
along with son Charlie, a design and retail specialist, as Managing
Director.
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So many ex-pupils credit Kingsmead for their success because
during their time at the school they were made to think for
themselves and to grow and develop as individuals, in a place
where their creative talents were cultivated and praised along with
their academic achievements.
Headmaster of Kingsmead School, Mark Gibbons adds: “Here at
Kingsmead we provide a wholly pupil-centred education. Small
class sizes enable us to focus on the individual by supporting and
drawing out their own talents and passions, understanding how
each pupil learns best, seeking to open their minds and offering
pupils unique opportunities to try new challenges and activities
beyond their academic world. Support, respect and affection are
part of everyday life and our strong school community here, both
past and present, feels like an extended family.”