Old Waconian Awards

Recognises an Old Waconian’s sustained achievement over a long career. 

Susan Bullock CBE, Class of 1977

This award recognises Susan’s unique and outstanding career as an opera singer as well as her ongoing demonstration of the School’s Waconian values. Susan has developed an international career and has received accolades including the Royal Philharmonic Society’s award for best singer in 2009, role of the solo soprano at the 2011 Last Night of the Proms and was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2014 for services to opera. She has also taken time out of her busy schedule to perform to CHS students and to co-host events for the Old Waconian community.

 “I am absolutely delighted to receive this Old Waconian Award. It means an enormous amount to me because I only came to Cheadle Hulme School part way through the Lower Sixth, and yet in the 18 months or so that I was there, my life was transformed. I was encouraged to follow my dreams by wonderfully supportive teachers and I made lifelong friends. I learned very quickly that anything is achievable if you work hard, and had it not been for Cheadle Hulme School I certainly would not have had the career I am still enjoying today. Thank you SO much!”

Recognises exceptional accomplishment early in the nominees’ post school career. 

Haroon Munir, Class of 2018

The Alumni Board selected Haroon for this award due to his drive and commitment to charity work during his time at dental school and the way he has demonstrated the Waconian values

of integrity and contribution through the projects he has supported. After graduating from CHS Haroon took a gap year to help deliver the message of the importance of oral hygiene in Third World countries. He also undertook training in how to work with children with special needs which he uses in his day to day training in dental school. Haroon has extensive input into several water charities scattered throughout Asia, helping to implement water wells into areas of need. Meanwhile, he is completing his final years of dental school alongside nearing the completion of his own fluoride toothpaste line.   

“I am delighted to have been chosen for this award and am eagerly looking forward to accepting it in person at the school. Returning to the school that has played such an important role in my life will be a truly special experience, and I am grateful for the opportunity to celebrate this achievement with the Waconian community.

I am humbled to be included among the esteemed group of past award recipients, and I am committed to continuing to make a positive impact in the world. This recognition has given me renewed energy and motivation to pursue my passions and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.”

Recognises an individual’s service and contribution to CHS.

Neil Kellett, Class of 1957

This award recognises Neil’s long standing support of the Old Waconians’ Association and his ongoing efforts to ensure that former pupils remain in touch with the School and each other, particularly during recent difficult times. 

After leaving CHS Neil trained as an accountant, working at the same company until 2000. He joined the Old Waconians’ Association as a paid member and has been a key connection for Old Waconians from his year group ever since. Following a very successful reunion in 1997 he has helped to institute regular get togethers, 3 or 4 times per year, including ex-pat members visiting the UK when possible. During the pandemic Neil took the meet-ups online, including OWs from Australia, Greece, and all over the UK. A stoic effort to keep part of the Old Waconian network connected.

Neil was presented with his award in front of other Old Waconians and supporters of the School at our Donor’s Lunch.

Recognises an Old Waconian’s sustained achievement over a long career. 

Elana Campbell née Trueman, Class of 1998

Elana has been recognised with this award due to her unfaltering support and advocacy for her son and the wider autism community, and the passionate demonstration of CHS’s Waconian values throughout her career as a specialised educationalist.

Elana’s contributions in the areas of education and autism grew out of the need to support her son, Euan. At the age of two, Euan received a generic diagnosis of PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified). It wasn’t until several years later that Euan was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Upon learning of the development delays, Elana intensively researched speech and occupational therapy, diet and nutritional matters for children with developmental delays, and arranged for social therapy and organised playgroups for Euan to increase peer-to-peer communication opportunities.

It was from her quest to learn how to support Euan that Elana’s interest in education was sparked. Once in the field, she further utilised her experience and empathy to specialise as an interventionist and student support specialist. After nearly 10 years of shaping Euan’s educational path, and helping her students as a professional educator, she launched her own education consulting services business in 2020, and works with students on executive function skills and study strategies.

Elana has also been a tireless supporter of the autism community in Phoenix, Arizona (and beyond) both as a fundraiser and advocate. From becoming the Legislative Ambassador for the national nonprofit Autism Speaks to launching an award winning tennis program for children with autism, ACEing Autism Phoenix, she is recognised through accolades including a fellowship from the Royal Society of Arts in 2020 for her years of service in education and her dedicated commitment to the autism community.

A quote from Elana’s nomination sums up how she embodies the Waconian values, “Euan’s diagnosis and situation have undoubtedly been a challenge to Elana – a challenge to learn, a challenge to advocate, and a challenge to use her progress and success to help others. Certainly, any mum would break down barriers for her child. However, what truly reflects Elana’s Waconian values is how she has elevated others as her knowledge and influence has risen.  She fought through the unknown, experimented, and rebounded from failures. She learned, and then she taught.  She used her newfound passion for individualised, differentiated education to push her students to overcome their hindrances. She rallied her community to support organisations that are making a positive difference in the lives of children and adults with autism.  As she fought for Euan, she fought for others.”

Recognises exceptional accomplishment early in the nominees’ post school career. 

Hannah Parvaz, Class of 2011

At the age of 18 Hannah moved to London with no money and no career to work in the music industry. After a career change into the world of tech she has become an award winning app marketer with a passion for making positive change through technology.

In addition to running her own consultancy, working with over 200 companies, she has featured in podcasts, talks, and panels, watched by hundreds of thousands of people, and mentors founders and Chief Marketing Officers pro bono, in order to contribute to the tech ecosystem and help new products grow.

She focuses on working with products which mean something to her and have integrity, including: Uptime, an app focused on the democratisation of education; Thriva, an at-home-blood-testing company which is close to her heart after finding out she had pernicious anaemia when she was 18; Heights, a company focused on improving brain health.

Hannah has been awarded this accolade due to the impressive achievements in her marketing career to date, her drive and passion, and the way she has demonstrated the Waconian values of integrity and contribution through the projects and people she has chosen to work with.

Recognises an individual’s service and contribution to CHS.

David Shipley, Class of 1961

David started at CHS as a foundationer pupil in the boarding house in 1951. On leaving in 1962 he took a student apprenticeship with a steel company before going to Trinity Hall, Cambridge to read Natural Sciences. David then qualified as a Chartered Accountant with PwC, and enjoyed a long career in that firm with 25 years as a partner in London and Manchester. He was also an Integrated Professor of Financial Management at Salford University for several years. Retiring in 2002 he became an advisor and non-executive director for several companies and a director at Seashell Trust.

This award recognises David’s outstanding support , as a parent with three daughters at CHS, a Governor, Alumni Board representative and Chair of the CHS 150th Anniversary Bursary Trust which was established during his 20 years service as a Governor. His sage financial advice was invaluable. He is passionate about supporting students from all backgrounds to be able to access a CHS education, as well as personally contributing financially to this cause. He is an avid supporter of the School’s alumni engagement programme, regularly attending events which support both current students and Old Waconians, and sits on the Alumni Board as the 1960s representative. His time and financial contributions have impacted many current pupils and Old Waconians for which the School is very grateful.

Recognises an Old Waconian’s sustained achievement over a long career. 

David Collins, Class of 1960

Originally qualifying as a chartered accountant, David has spent his career working in international development, supporting health projects across developing countries. After working with the Save the Children Fund he joined Management Sciences for Health, a large US non-profit organisation, providing technical assistance and training to health system managers in developing countries for over 30 years. An adjunct Professor at Boston University, where he teaches health economics, he has spent the end of his career developing computer models for planning and costing health services.

Recognises exceptional accomplishment early in the nominees’ post school career. 

Anya Gomulski, Class of 2010

When Anya was furloughed her creative drive saw her turn a local art group into an international movement. A textile designer by day she co-founded Brixton Life Drawing in 2019 as a local initiative to bring more art opportunities to her community. During the Covid-19 pandemic she took the classes online allowing people from all over the world to take part each week. 

 “It was such a shock and an honour to receive the award for the work that we have done on Brixton Life Drawing over the course of the pandemic. My time at CHS was what introduced me to life drawing; I did my very first class in Sixth Form with my inspirational teachers, Mr Yearsley and Miss Craig. It’s been amazing the reaction our classes have had; we’ve had tens of thousands of people join from all over the world and raised over £10,000 including for Mind, South London Cares, Stand Up To Racism and everything in between. We’ve also teamed up with some big names including the Natural History Museum, Southwark Cathedral, and lots of major art galleries, so it’s been a dream come true.”

Recognises an individual’s service and contribution to CHS.

Maggie Evans, Former Staff

Retiring from teaching in 2009 didn’t stop Maggie from supporting CHS’s aspiring diplomats. Continuing her role as MUN Coordinator until 2014 she has returned every year since to help with the MUNCH annual conference and other MUN events, supporting students with conference preparations and providing her expertise to keep things running smoothly, even when the conference moved online. 

“Back in 2001 my daughter was asked to be secretary general for the first MUNCH conference at CHS. As we approach our 21st anniversary, MUNCH has expanded to two days and over 30 schools and colleges take part, from all over the UK and abroad. We are recognised as one of the leading UK conferences. The colleagues that bring students to conferences are all dedicated and many have become good friends over the years. Here at CHS the staff are similarly inspirational and wonderful to work with. The students who take part have been so important to me over the years. Whether they debated, organised, taught me so much about IT, helped raise money for the MUN charity, Small Steps Nursery in Uganda, or produced the conference newspaper, there has been the opportunity for everyone to get involved. Watching the journeys of students past and present has been immensely rewarding and I’m delighted to still be in touch with so many of them. On behalf of all of the students and staff involved I am proud to accept this award that recognises a phenomenal activity: Model United Nations.”