Bolton School student wins place at The Great Debate

Bolton School student Molly Grimshaw will be taking part in the national final of The Great Debate organised by the Historical Association after highlighting a landmark historical Bolton event.

This year, those taking part were asked to debate which local historical person or place deserves greater recognition.

Molly  chose to talk about the Winter Hill Trespass, arguably the first right to roam protest.

The Year 12 student spoke about the event of 1896, which took place some years before the Kinder Scout trespass in the Peak District in 1932.

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More than10,000 people from Bolton marched over the hill to regain access to a path that had been off closed off by a landowner.

Colonel Richard Ainsworth, of Smithills Hall, unlawfully blocked the path that crossed his land on the slopes of Winter Hill, so that he could practise his game-shooting without being disturbed.

The 125th anniversary of the trespass took place in 2021.

At both the initial Bolton Heat in December, hosted by Bolton School, and at the second round of the competition in February, Molly described these events with great enthusiasm.

A spokesman said: "Molly pointed out that the ramblers deserve greater recognition because their poor socio-economic status means that they have been forgotten in history for too long.

"Molly is now eagerly awaiting the Grand Final, which takes place at The Vicars’ Hall, St George’s House, Windsor Castle on Saturday 23 March."