St Mary's College in Crosby welcomed back one of its most famous former pupils as the VIP guest at its annual dinner at the weekend.

Former BBC Director-General Lord John Birt was the main speaker at the third reunion event organised by the Friends of St Mary's, the organisation for ex-pupils, parents, governors and staff of the school which is 90 years old this year.

Around 200 people attended the event at the Marriott Hotel in Liverpool city centre, including 96-year-old Colonel J Graeme (Paddy) Bryson from Formby.

Colonel Bryson was the special guest at the St Mary's prize-giving ceremony in 1963, the year that Lord Birt left the school.

In fact, 1963 turned out to be a vintage year for St Mary's as Lord Birt's classmates included Vincent Nichols and Ivor Roberts.

Earlier this year Vincent Nichols was appointed as Archbishop of Westminster, the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, while Sir Ivor Roberts is a former British Ambassador to Italy and the current President of Trinity College Oxford.

Lord John Birt (centre) with St Mary's College Principal Mike Kennedy (left) and Tony Bradshaw, Chair of the Friends of St Mary's.

Lord John Birt (left) with Colonel Bryson (second right) and St Mary's College Principal Mike Kennedy and his wife Catherine.

Other special guests at the reunion included six of the seven Murphy brothers from Bootle who were educated at the school.  The brothers - who come from a family of 15 children in total, nine boys and six girls - travelled from all over the UK to attend the event.

Six of the seven Murphy brothers from Bootle who were educated at St Mary's

- Eamon, John, Michael, James, Cormac and Daniel - with cousin and former pupil Des Herlihey standing in for Patrick Murphy who was unable to attend the dinner.

In a humorous and well-received speech, Lord Birt spoke about his own humble origins in Bootle and also about the values that St Mary's College had instilled in him.

He also reflected on the fact that the subject of his final year project at the school - digital technology - was particularly apt, bearing in mind his future career in television.

Other speakers at the dinner included St Mary's College Principal, Mike Kennedy, who said that Lord Birt was one of many outstandingly successful former pupils in the school's 90-year history.

Other famous names include poet Roger McGough, broadcasters Laurie Taylor and Will Hanrahan, comedian Tom O'Connor and current TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber.

Following the speeches there was entertainment from the St Mary's College Stage Band who received a standing ovation after their 75-minute set of big band favourites.

Friends of St Mary's Chair, Tony Bradshaw, said: "There is a national and international family of people with links to St Mary's College and it's fantastic to see so many of them here tonight.  This reunion dinner has been our best yet and, with our membership growing all the time, our aim now is to expand the programme of Friends events in the future."

St Mary's College Stage Band and Director of Music Mr Andrew Byers

Some of the organisers put the finishing touches to the tables before the start of the dinner (from left) Lianne Ismay, Tracey Gogarty and Chris Parkinson.

I am sorry to have to write that Wing Commander George Leatherbarrow, AFC, the College's "oldest Old Boy" died on Saturday, 26^th September.  He would have been 97 on 22^nd December.

I met George in October 1994 at the luncheon following the Mass to commemorate the 75^th Anniversary of the foundation of St. Marys.  Yet for George and me it was as much a reunion as it was a first meeting, as he had been at the College with my Father, and they were tow of the six boys - all from St. Mary's - who were recruited by Mr Frank Mainey to found 77^th Crosby Scout Troop, which was based at SS Peter & Paul's up to the War, but thereafter at St. Helen's.

George and I stayed in touch by letter.  He was always very interested in what was happening at St. Mary's and frequently asked to be remembered to those he had met during the Anniversary celebrations.

George led an interesting life. After leaving school he joined the Royal Air Force, and by the end of the Second World War he was a Group Captain with an Air Force Cross to his credit.  After the War he reverted to the rank of Wing Commander. I never asked George about his AFC, but it must have been for an act of considerable bravery. Such decorations don't come with the rations!

Sometime after the War George left the Royal Air Force and went to Khartoum to establish both the Sudanese Air Force and the Civil Aviation System. When this project ended George returned to the United Kingdom, but for some reason his RAF pension had been jeopardised. Fortunately, this matter was duly rectified!  He then went into the catering business, first managing a public house in Beaumaris, where he also became a member of the local council.  After that he moved to the Isles of Scilly where he and his wife, Audrey, managed a hotel on Tresco.  It was in this capacity he and Audrey played host to the Queen and Prince Philip, lending them a couple of umbrellas to get them dryly back on board the Royal Yacht "Britannia". George then had the temerity to phone the Royal Yacht and ask for his brollies back! (The Queen subsequently told George that she had laughed like a drain when informed of his telephone call!)

George first met King George VI and Queen Elizabeth before the War, and apparently the King followed his career with interest.  He maintained his friendship with the Queen Mother until her death. They stayed in touch both by phone and occasional meetings at the RAF Club, and he never failed to phone her on her birthday.

George retired to St. Mary's Isles of Scilly, where he was a highly respected member of the community, leading a very full life until a few years before his death, but age took its toll and he was eventually unable to get out. He has an omnivorous reader, having a library of over a thousand books, but in the end even these lost their appeal. He spent the last two years of his life in Park House, a nursing home on St. Mary's run by the Isles of Scilly Social Services, and where he was happy and well cared for - and probably teasing the care staff!

George Leatherbarrow was a wonderful character; an admirable man who lived life to the full. As his daughter Penny has written: "[He] was indeed a fine man, and much respected by many".  He was always proud to have been educated at St. Mary's College, fiercely defending both the school and the Christian Brothers against criticism. He was extremely loyal, and St. Mary's may be proud to have had him as one of its founder pupils.  His ashes are scattered at the Garrison, St. Mary's, as are those of his beloved wife Audrey. I ask that you remember George in your prayers.

Paul J McVey.

A Governor of St Mary's College in Crosby has been named Barrister of the Year 2009 at the Liverpool Law Society Legal Awards.

Paul Burns of Exchange Chambers, which has offices in Liverpool and Manchester, was declared the winner of the coveted title at a packed function held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Liverpool city centre.

This success comes on the back of a series of notable successes in recent years for Paul who lives in Freshfield.

In 2008 Paul was the only barrister in the North West to be listed by The Times newspaper as one of the top 10 UK 'Future Stars of the Bar'.

Earlier this year Paul was awarded the highest available ranking for local government work in the North in the Chambers & Partners 2009 publication, having consistently been recognised as a leader in his field by this and other independent publications in recent years.

Commenting on the Barrister of the Year honour Paul said:  ³I am really pleased to have won this award which is a great accolade for me personally but also great news for the whole team at Exchange Chambers."

Director of Chambers, Tom Handley, added: "This honour is thoroughly deserved and everyone at Chambers is delighted for Paul.

"With Tania Griffiths QC winning the title at the last biennial awards ceremony in 2007, Paul's success keeps the Barrister of The Year accolade within our Chambers until at least June 2011."

The latest event arranged by the organisation for former pupils, parents and staff of St Mary's College proved to be a ‘vintage' occasion.  The Friends of St Mary's held a very successful wine tasting and fun quiz night at the College, attended by around 80 members and guests.  The format of the event included six rounds of questions relating to mystery bottles of wine which competitors had the opportunity to try, interspersed with rounds of general knowledge questions.  The wines for the event were supplied by sponsors the Purple Wine Company, a Liverpool city centre-based merchant with decades of experience in supplying quality wines, most of which are not available from mainstream retail outlets.

Michael Mansour, Chair of the Friends of St Mary's, commented: "Following our black-tie annual dinner at the end of last year we decided to make our latest get-together a much more informal affair.  Everyone really seemed to enjoy themselves...  It was a great opportunity for guests to enjoy some excellent wines - and an accompanying cheese board - and to learn more about the subject as well."

The Friends are also planning to put the accent on fun for their next event which will be an eighties reunion disco on May 2nd.