Mrs Alison Burrowes took up her post as Head Teacher of Thornleigh Salesian College, Bolton, at the beginning of 2008. On Friday 8th February she was officially welcomed in an induction service led by Fr Anthony Bailey SDB, who is Rector of our Bolton Community and Chair of Governors of the School.

The service took place in the school chapel. It included readings from scripture and acts of commitment from Mrs Burrowes, and from representatives of the parents, staff, governors, pupils and the entire congregation, representing the local Church.

Fr Bailey then presented the new Head with symbols of her office as the spiritual leader of the community: the keys of the college, and the book of the gospels. After intercessions and prayers, the service ended with a hymn to Saint John Bosco and a Final Blessing.

Mrs Burrowes is from Lanchester in county Durham. She first met the Salesians when Fr Joseph Brown SDB taught her, while he was a member of the Salesian student community at Ushaw College Durham. With her husband and two children she spent a year in Kenya through the Vides project. Her previous post was deputy head at the Salesian Sisters' school in Liverpool, St John Bosco High School, Croxteth.