Campaign for Culford: Phase II Brochure

Campaign for Culford Building on Excellence for Future Generations

From the Headmaster I am thrilled and delighted to launch the second phase of the Campaign for Culford.

The original Campaign set out an ambitious list of

We were overwhelmed by the generosity shown at the

six key projects: A new library, refurbished teaching

start of the campaign and I hope that during this second

facilities in Hastings and Skinner, a second girls’

phase, we will witness once again the altruistic spirit

boarding House, new kitchens and the refurbishment

of our community as it shares in our determination to

of our dining facilities, a redeveloped art department

provide an outstanding education at Culford and to

and the continuing restoration of Culford Hall.

preserve this beautiful, historic estate.

Five years later we have surpassed our own expectations and this brochure will tell you more about what we have achieved.

Please do support us however and whenever you can.

Rest assured that in the future, countless deserving pupils will bless your generosity.

With very best wishes,

Julian Johnson-Munday MA MBA

The new girls’ boarding House goes from strength to strength; classrooms in Hastings and Skinner are being upgraded each year; the new kitchens are in operation; the historic Workman Library in Culford Hall has been restored and, of course, our magnificent new Library represents a triumph at the academic heart of the school.

We are now turning our attention to our art facilities, the dining hall and the creation of an Archive and Heritage Lounge, which will require the restoration of the Big Hartley area of Culford Hall.

We also intend to focus directly upon people. Many pupils have benefited from bursaries because of our charitable and Methodist ethos. Now our ambition is to create a Bursaries Fund worth ÂŁ2.5 million by 2025, to ensure that future generations of pupils can enjoy all that Culford has to offer, regardless of their financial background.

Campaign for Culford | 3

What have we achieved?

Since its launch, the Campaign for Culford has raised almost £1million in gifts and pledges, enabling us to make huge strides in maintaining and developing our excellent facilities for pupils.

We are enormously grateful to all those who have

Smaller projects include the refurbishment of the

supported us thus far. We simply could not have done

Workman Library as a stunning Visitors’ Room and the

it without you.

redevelopment of the Art Department entrance into an

Our largest, most transformational development was

impressive exhibition space, the Foundation Gallery.

the landmark Library at the heart of the school. It cost

The generosity of Old Culfordians and East Anglians,

£2.3m, of which over £750,000 came from donations.

former and current parents and staff, charitable trusts, and other friends of the school, has made this possible.

LIBRARY Opened in 2015, our Library is a vibrant, inviting space at the academic heart of Culford. It has exceeded all expectations and its impact goes far beyond striking aesthetics. This stunning new facility has become the academic hub we envisioned: footfall and book loans have increased and the space is variously used for seminars, workshops, poetry readings and parents’ evenings.

Total project cost: £2.3m

4 | Campaign for Culford

FOUNDATION ART GALLERY With a generous donation from the Old Culfordians Association, together with Foundation funds, we transformed a less than impressive entrance to the Art Department into a beautiful gallery space complete with new lighting, a professional picture rail system and glass stairways to the Art Studio.

The development provides a gallery for the artwork of pupils and visiting exhibitors, and a workshop and lecture space for visiting artists.

Project cost: £59,000

WORKMAN LIBRARY ‘The Workman’, with its antique bookcases and secret door, is among Culford Hall’s oldest and most beautiful rooms. Named after Rev Dr H B Workman (1862-1951), a great friend of Culford, it served as the school’s library between 1935 and 1974.

In 2013, it was restored as an event space and a beautiful reception room for visitors.

Project cost: £25,000 Campaign for Culford | 5

Redeveloping the Art Department The main art studio

There will be space for textiles, ceramics and painting, and a separate computer area where pupils can experiment with digital media and graphic design.

Culford’s Art Department is a special place. Pupils enjoy the expert guidance of excellent teachers and produce

Just as the new Library represents the heart of academic life

outstanding creative work. However, the main teaching

at Culford, so the new Art Studio will provide a beacon for

studio has little changed since the 1950s and is a dull

the creative arts, serving as a springboard for talented pupils

space, hardly conducive to inspirational work. It lacks both

now and in the future.

display and storage facilities.

To achieve this amazing transformation and create an Art

We plan to redevelop it into a bright and inviting space. It

Department we can be proud of, we must raise £350,000

will mirror the frontage of our impressive new Library, with

towards the total estimated project cost of £650,000, with

a sweeping, glass-panelled roof and sliding doors leading

the school funding the balance.

to a terrace affording wonderful views of Culford Hall.

Please see pages 18-21 to find out how you can donate to this iconic project.

An artist’s impression of the Art Department

“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.”

Edgar Degas

6 | Campaign for Culford

Estimated project cost:

ÂŁ650,000

Campaign for Culford | 7

“Art gives you a freedom unlike other subjects. Having a great environment to work in is really important.”

Jono Le Grice

Jono’s story A talented young Australian artist, Jono originally came to Culford, his father’s old school, for a single term. He so enjoyed his stay that he returned to take his A Levels.

‘I love photography, and for my Art A Level I’m using my own photographs as inspiration for paintings and collages. I think that the ideas for the new art studio sound really great; having all that natural light flooding in would be amazing, while still keeping the warm and welcoming vibe that the art department has.’

Turn to page 15 to see one of Jono’s striking images.

James and Clare Taylor’s story James and Clare are parents of current Culford pupils and run a specialist joinery company.

They generously donated the oak shelving and corian desks in the Library and now they want to help with the interior of the Art Studio redevelopment. ‘Our girls embrace Culford life with such enthusiasm,’ says Clare. ‘Our field of expertise gives us the chance to give something back to the school whilst enhancing the childrens’ learning experience’.

‘The library looks even better than we imagined’, adds James. ‘I’m sure the new studio will encourage even the most reluctant pupil to explore their creative talents’.

8 | Campaign for Culford

“Our field of expertise gives us the chance to give something back to the school whilst enhancing the childrens’ learning experience.”

A message from Brenda Hunt, Head of Art since 1996 ‘I have been privileged to teach fantastic students here, and to stay in touch with many of them.

‘We’ve seen fashion designers go to Central St Martin’s, fine artists study at Goldsmiths and The Slade, and others become architects, product designers, film-makers and digital artists. One recent leaver was awarded the Saatchi Gallery Art Prize for Schools and another Old Culfordian exhibited her work at the V&A. ‘The new Foundation Gallery gave us a superb space where we can show off the amazing work our pupils produce. Now we need a main Art Studio to match. I would love to see this fantastic new space become a reality for future Culfordians.’

Campaign for Culford | 9

The Culford Archives Our archives stretch back through generations of pupils from Culford and the East Anglian Schools, encompassing the history of Culford and its parkland.

Decades of school photographs, commemorative cups and trophies, old school uniforms, volumes of school magazines and journals our collection constitutes a unique and fascinating resource.

What were the East Anglian Schools?

For many years it has been stored away in our cellars, inaccessible to alumni, pupils and local historians. Now we plan to bring it to

In 1881, the Methodist Board of Education opened the East Anglian

life by transforming an historic room in the Hall into the Culford

School for Boys in Bury St Edmunds. It outgrew its original site and

Archive and Heritage Lounge, where prized items will be on display

in 1935 succeeded in buying Culford Hall. The East Anglian School

and material will be accessible online.

for Girls eventually joined us in 1972. We are now home to EAS and Culford alumni and our archives include material from all of the schools.

Estimated project cost:

ÂŁ350,000

to restore and refurbish Big Hartley, including a new roof

What is the Archive and Heritage Lounge?

We plan to refurbish Big Hartley, once a boys’ dormitory, into an exhibition and display space where our historic materials and digital archive will be available to visitors. This stunning room needs major structural work before we can begin its transformation into an Archive and Heritage Lounge. It will also host reunions and other events.

10 | Campaign for Culford

Preserving Memories The Digital Archive Project We have begun to digitise our archive materials to make them available online.

This will include old school magazines, photographs and other memorabilia.

Eventually, we aim to produce a fully-searchable and comprehensive online resource covering the history of the schools and the historic Culford estate.

Each page costs £1 to scan. With copies of The Culfordian averaging 50 pages, the cost of digitising all the archives, which includes magazines, books, letters, photographs and reports, quickly mounts up. Year group photographs require gentle and time-consuming handling and cost, on average, £20 each to scan.

You can help by donating from just £20 to pay for 20 pages of a publication or for a year group photograph. Every gift counts and you can request digitisation of material relevant to you.

Find out more at www.culford.co.uk/archiveproject

From historic estate to thriving school

Estimated project cost:

£50,000

to digitise the archives and create the Archive & Heritage Lounge

Culford Hall was built in 1591 by Sir Nicholas Bacon, the first Chancellor of the Exchequer, and later owned by the historic Cornwallis, Benyon and Cadogan families, all of whom altered and extended the estate.

Renowned landscape designer, Humphry Repton, advised on landscaping the park and created a Red Book for the estate in 1792. The fifth Earl Cadogan saw electric lighting installed ready for the visit of King Edward VII and Queen

Alexandra in 1904, each of whom planted a mulberry tree on the South Front.

As well as preserving the history of the school the archive will preserve the rich history of this fine building, the families who owned it and the beautiful parkland which surrounds it.

Culford School in June 1938

Campaign for Culford | 11

Creating Opportunities Over the years, Culford has provided fantastic opportunities to pupils. Some of those who have benefited talk about their experiences and their lives beyond school.

Larissa Clark

(OC 1996 – 1999) As a Sixth Former Larissa was awarded a bursary at Culford.

‘Coming from a huge North London comprehensive to being a boarder at Culford was life-changing. Suddetnly I felt valued and met amazing people who helped and guided me.’ Larissa was made Head Girl in her final year.

‘My experience at Culford gave me the confidence to do extraordinary things.’ These include co-founding an internet start-up, working at the Environmental Justice Foundation, volunteering in Uganda and sailing across the Atlantic.

Larissa is now a Director of Another World Adventures, motivating others to take life-changing journeys.

Tom Hargreaves (OC 2003 – 2011)

Now in his final year of studying Medicine at Magdalene College, University of Cambridge, Tom was an Academic Scholar at Culford. He says: ‘Small classes and engaged, caring teachers who were more like mentors, were so valuable to me.

They pushed and stretched me while also being approachable and incredibly supportive. Then there’s the extra-curricular programme and the confidence that Culford gives you that you can do anything you turn your mind to. All of this has helped me to excel at Cambridge.’

12 | Campaign for Culford

Kylie Bilchev

Tennis Scholar (2014 – present) In 2016, 13-year-old Tennis Scholar Kylie was ranked 9th in Europe for her age, while coming 5th in the Miami Orange Bowl competition. She won the Doubles event for her age group in the Eddie Herr Tournament, as well as being crowned Suffolk Young Sports Personality of the Year.

Her scholarship means that she receives worldclass tennis coaching together with an excellent education. Kylie says, ‘I love being here! I have a great coach who always pushes me to be better. I have lots of friends in my boarding House and great teachers. I feel that Culford is giving me the best chance to fulfil my aim to be a professional tennis player.’

Ophelia Yannaghas

Art Scholar (2009 – present) Upper Fifth pupil, and Art Scholar, Ophelia has already set up her own business, selling her digital artwork. ‘I like to draw to make people smile,’ she says. ‘My designs are a bit like detailed cartoons. I sell them as prints and cards and really enjoy fulfilling commissions.’

Ophelia receives much support from her teachers. ‘They’re wonderful!

They have opened my eyes to different ideas and techniques. I’m hoping I might study Art when I leave Culford.’

Talented pupils like Ophelia will benefit enormously from the latest creative tools in the redeveloped Art Studio.

Campaign for Culford | 13

Bursary Fund Culford is proud of its long-held commitment to providing bursaries, both to assist children who might not otherwise be able to come here and to help current pupils remain, should their family circumstances change.

Some 15% of our pupils received a bursary award

Consequently by 2025 we aim to establish

in 2015/16. Each award is means-tested and

a dedicated Bursaries Fund of £2.5m. Every

reviewed annually.

donation, however modest, strengthens our

This significant financial commitment is met in part from gifts, legacies, acceptance fees and returns

Target:

long-term capacity to provide financial help to deserving children.

on investment. The balance is provided from the

Please turn to page 18 for details on how

school’s income.

you can help.

Every year we receive more requests than we can meet

£2.5m by 2025

to help deserving children who would thrive here.

Prof Watson at the Library opening.

“Culford opened up so many opportunities for me.”

Prof Harry Watson (OC 1949-1959)

Prof Harry Watson’s story

Professor Watson is a member of the FISITA

‘Culford opened up so many opportunities

Council, was President of SAE Australasia

for me’, he says. ‘I learnt a lot about

(2002-2006) and Head of Mechanical

values that make a difference and how to

Engineering at University of Melbourne

deal with people compassionately. I felt it

(1996-2000). He is a Fellow of the Australian

was important to give something back and

Academy for Science and Engineering.

so I was delighted to see the Harry Watson Scholarship Award for Science, and to support the Library project with a gift.’

14 | Campaign for Culford

From the Chairman ‘As the parent of two Old Culfordians, I am immensely proud of the range of opportunities offered by the school and the way our pupils grasp them to develop confidence, self-esteem and qualities of leadership. Whether scuba diving, doing charitable work in Malawi, winning debating competitions or participating in the CCF or the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, the wealth of opportunities on offer make our children flexible, innovative, dynamic and resilient young adults. Culford is a remarkable school and its pupils regularly achieve remarkable things.’

Air Vice Marshal Steven Abbott CBE, Chairman of Governors

“Culford is a remarkable school and its pupils regularly achieve remarkable things.”

An image by pupil Jono Le Grice (see page 8)

Steven Abbott, Chairman of Governors

Campaign for Culford | 15

Ashby Dining Hall The Ashby kitchen and dining complex is now 40 years old and we have outgrown its facilities.

The catering team prepares and serves 1,250 meals

We now intend to refurbish the dining area to offer

each school day, as well as providing match teas, packed

a better eating and social space for pupils, teachers,

lunches, formal luncheons and occasional grand dinners.

colleagues and visitors alike.

During the summer of 2012 the kitchens were

We aim to refurbish the two dining areas with a new

completely redeveloped at a cost of £500,000 to meet

breakfast bar and modern dining furniture.

all our catering needs.

Estimated project cost: £100,000

“First we eat, then we do everything else.”

M.F.K. Fisher, American food writer

16 | Campaign for Culford

Improving Hastings & Skinner The majority of Senior School lessons take place in Hastings & Skinner classrooms, which deserve to be upgraded to match other school facilities.

“We shape our buildings.

Thereafter they shape us.”

Winston Churchill

Estimated project cost:

These buildings are named after former Headmaster, Dr John Skinner, and Raymond Hastings, Chairman of Governors in the 1950s. Recently a new roof was added, transforming the somewhat

£150,000 classrooms

£350,000 new windows

utilitarian building. A new foyer and staircase followed, creating a new entrance leading to the Library and William Miller Science facility.

Now we are turning our attention to the interior and have started the refurbishment of all 19 classrooms, completing four in 2016, with cloakrooms and a kitchen area. In time we also plan to replace all the windows.

Donations will enable us to complete the work, providing an attractive learning environment to match Culford’s other facilities.

Campaign for Culford | 17

Five different ways in which you can help Every gift counts. Together, our donors make a huge difference to the educational experience offered at Culford.

We understand that not everybody is in a position

we introduced two initiatives to help raise the funds

to help now. We do hope, however, that those who

we needed. The second phase of the campaign

are willing and able will give within their means or

consists of a further three new initiatives. You can

consider making a gift in the future.

read about them all on the following pages.

When the Campaign for Culford launched in 2012,

1. The Culford Oak Donor Tree We launched our beautiful Oak Donor Tree in 2012 with 100 leaves, each available for inscription for a donation of ÂŁ2,500.

So far, half have been sponsored by alumni, parents, staff and other friends of the School, or dedicated to those who have left a gift in their will.

Initially the funds were donated to the building of the new Library which opened in September 2015. In future they will support other projects within the Campaign.

The Donor Tree is situated in the foyer of the Library, facing The King of the Park, an ancient English oak planted in the time of Shakespeare.

For more information please contact the Foundation Office on:

Leaves will be displayed in perpetuity in recognition of gifts to the Campaign.

We sincerely thank all those who have already supported us in this way and hope that the second phase of the Campaign will see the sponsorship of the remaining leaves.

18 | Campaign for Culford

01284 385310 or email foundation@culford.co.uk www.culford.co.uk/donortree

2. Join the

Culford 20:12 Club

Besides the Donor Tree, the Foundation also launched the Culford 20:12 Club, recognising those prepared to make a donation of £20,000 or £12,000.

We are extremely grateful to the members of this exclusive club. Without

Our thanks go to 20:12 Club members: The Crane Family

William R Miller CBE

Edwards & Blake

The Ng Family

Garfield Weston Foundation

The Old Culfordians’ Association

J. F. Johnson-Munday

Anonymous

their generous support, our Library would have remained a dream.

Campaign for Culford | 19

More ways to help...

3. Make a gift in the future with The 1935 Society Culford has received generous support through the wills of Old

The 1935 Society members will enjoy an annual dinner and receive

Culfordians, East Anglians, former staff and friends of Culford.

a lapel badge in recognition of their pledge.

Legacies large and small have made a real difference – from benches in the school grounds to a new music suite for the Prep School.

Those who pledge a gift in their will become members of The 1935 Society, named after the year that Culford Hall became home to the school. We are incredibly proud of this beautiful building and it seems fitting that we remember the date that we moved here in this way.

Leaving a bequest is a highly personal decision and you may prefer not to declare your intention in advance. However, we would be delighted to answer any queries you may have.

Your gift will be used wisely and effectively, and can be for a specific project agreed with you. Find out more at www.culford.co.uk/1935society

For a confidential conversation please contact the Foundation Director, Jo Johnson-Munday, on:

01284 385306 or email jjm@culford.co.uk

Making a difference A generous legacy from a former matron, Mrs Thelma Fretter, enabled Culford Prep School to redesign and refurbish the music facilities of Cadogan Hall in 2016.

The classroom has new acoustics and lighting and is equipped with iPads. A superb facility, it encourages Thelma Fretter’s nephew, Mr David Bruce, and his wife Wendy at the opening event.

20 | Campaign for Culford

pupils to engage with music in new ways.

4. The wall of fame!

We are offering 200 sponsors the opportunity to have their

Your portrait will be on display for a year, after which you can take

portrait on our POP ART Wall of Fame, to raise money for the

it home. Pupils, parents, alumni and staff can all get involved in

Art Department refurbishment.

transforming the Art Department for the benefit of current and

For £100 your image will be transformed into a pop art

future pupils.

masterpiece, printed on canvas and hung in the foyer of the

Portrait places are limited, so to reserve your masterpiece email

Hastings & Skinner building and other pop up locations in the

the team at foundation@culford.co.uk or call 01284 385310.

Prep and Pre-Prep Schools.

£100 per portrait, to find out more, visit:

www.culford.co.uk/popart

5. Engrave a stone paver To ‘pave the way’ to a refurbished Art Studio, you can purchase a stone paver, engraved with your name or message, on the terrace outside the Art Department. £250 buys a small flagstone or £500 a large one. £5,000 will secure one of two beautiful stone benches, inscribed with your own message.

These donations will help fund the refurbishment and leave a lasting legacy in the beautiful new terrace area.

Please contact the Foundation team on 01284 385310, email foundation@culford.co.uk or find out more at www.culford.co.uk/pavers

Campaign for Culford | 21

Your questions answered Our aim is to meet the needs of future generations of Culfordians, sowing the seeds of their success and sending them into the world with a passion for learning.

Planned developments will ensure that the school continues to be one

We hope that one of the projects, at least, strikes a chord in you

of which our community and alumni can be proud.

and that you will decide to help us. This page seeks to answer some frequently-asked questions.

Why does Culford need financial help with these projects?

existing talents and to discover new ones. Our ambitions for our pupils have never been higher. Now we need the facilities to match them.

Culford is not a wealthy school and, unlike some of our competitors, does not have a large, historical endowment. Although we are a strong, well-managed institution our modest operating surplus does not provide us with the level of capital or the funding for bursaries that we need.

I am a Culford parent. I already pay significant school fees. Why should I contribute?

Asking parents for assistance is a sensitive matter and we

Prudent financial management and the support of donors have

recognise that you are already making a substantial investment

allowed us to invest more than ÂŁ10m in the many development projects undertaken during the last decade. While we are committed to continued investment in our facilities, we need your help to bridge

in Culford. However, like many other independent schools, we cannot achieve all our goals without financial help.

We know that parents want the very best facilities for their

the gap and to realise our ambitions for our pupils’ benefit.

children and the donations we receive will enable us to create

Why does Culford need these new facilities?

those facilities much more quickly than we otherwise could.

We are therefore asking everyone to consider making a gift within their means. Every gift counts, whatever its value.

Parents choose to send their children to us because we offer them a fully-rounded education in a environment that is challenging, enriching and fun. Consequently, we are committed to providing

How can I help?

If you are prepared to help, there are many ways to give - from

that education in the best possible environment.

sponsoring one of our fundraising initiatives or making a small

Institutions that fail to look to the future risk living in the past.

regular monthly donation, to large gifts and endowments with

The best schools do not stand still.

appropriate opportunities for recognition.

Culford employs outstanding people to teach and develop young people. But our teachers need the best resources, and pupils need outstanding facilities in which to learn and grow, to develop

Contact Information: Jo Johnson-Munday, Foundation Director, jjm@culford.co.uk 01284 385306 www.culford.co.uk/foundation 22 | Campaign for Culford

You will find more information in this brochure. If you would like to help but cannot donate now, you might consider leaving Culford a legacy in your will.

Please note that although we believe the information in this brochure to be correct at the time of printing, Culford School and the Foundation Office can accept no responsibility if donors rely on the information contained within it. If you require answers to specific questions before making any gift, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will do our best to help.

Registered Charity No 310486 Administered by Culford School Trustee Company Ltd No: 5609905

“Education is the one thing nobody can ever take from you�

B.B King

Bury St Edmunds Suffolk IP28 6TX Tel: 01284 385310 Email: foundation@culford.co.uk www.culford.co.uk