THE chairman of governors at Bolton School has retired.

Michael Griffiths was given a black-tie dinner send off this week where his dedication to the education of people from the town and surrounding area was praised.

His work creating the independent school's bursary fund to help able children from less-well off backgrounds was highlighted by several speakers.

Mr Griffiths, a pupil from 1958 to 1965 and former school captain, served as a governor for 33 years and took over as chairman in 2007 from Sir Alan Cockshaw.

More than 130 guests attended the dinner including members of his family; the Mayor of Bolton Cllr Hilary Fairclough; governors and former governor, representatives of the Old Boltonians’ and Old Girls’ Associations, and staff representatives.

Mr Griffiths was made an 'Emeritus Governor'.

There were speeches from the head of the girls’ division Sue Hincks and head of the boys’ division Philip Britton, the Incoming chairman of the governing body Ian Riley, Mr Griffiths’ daughter Lisa Jacobs and former Governor Ross Warburton.

During his time as chairman, Mr Griffiths oversaw the building of a new infant school, a new junior girls’ school and the extension of the junior boys’ school, the construction of the Riley Sixth Form Centre and the purchase of the outdoor learning centre Patterdale Hall.

Miss Hincks said “We have been extraordinarily lucky to have had Mr Griffiths as our chairman. Michael embodies the ethos of service and giving back which is the hallmark of a Bolton School education. His promotion of bursaries during his time here means that we can now afford for one in five of our places to be subsidised and for many to be completely free. Michael’s vision of one in three places to be given as Bursary places will be his lasting legacy for the school and the town of Bolton.”