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Development &Alumni Relations Update
An obvious highlight of the year so far
is the generous donation of £400,000
from the Dudley and Geoffrey Cox
Charitable Trust for the Design Centre.
Concordia Merchant Taylors’ School Summer 2015
Development:
Benefactors’Day – 13December 2014
The Development Office was delighted to welcome all
those who have so generously supported the school since
September 2013 to a drinks reception in the War Memorial
Vestibule. Prior to the reception, tours of the school were
given by current members of our Sixth Form, which proved
as popular as ever.
While enjoying canapés and a glass of wine, our
65 guests were treated to some music, exceptionally
performed on the trombone by music scholar, George
Wright (3rds). On display were old photographs of many
OMTs in attendance and a photograph album containing
pictures of the construction of the school at Sandy Lodge
in 1931. The Head Master thanked all our benefactors and
spoke about all that we have been able to achieve because
of their support. If you were unable to attend this year,
please do make a note of the date for next year, which is
likely to be Saturday 12th December 2015, and will be open
to all our benefactors.
I am delighted to report on the
extensive range of activities that
the school and OMT Society have
been involved in over the last six
months. The increased activity is very
noticeable, and largely a result of
bringing The Development and Alumni
Relations Office up to three staff, with
both Melissa and Sam now fully into
their roles.
As well as all our UK events, we
are – with the OMT Society – holding
a dinner in New York on 16th October
2015. While we expect it to be mainly
OMTs living on the East Coast, this is
open to OMTs wherever they live in the
world, so please do get in touch if you
happen to be in New York at the time
and wish to attend.
As well as some of the past and future
events reported on in Concordia, we
have launched our new e-newsletter,
Parvae Res, which has been very well
received by OMTs. Feedback has been
very encouraging, with OMTs enjoying
the snippets of news, with the option
of reading further information on the
website. If you aren’t currently receiving
Parvae Res and would like to do so,
please do get in touch; pass on your
email address and we will be delighted
to include you in future editions.
An obvious highlight of the year so
far is the generous donation of £400,000
from the Dudley and Geoffrey Cox
Charitable Trust for the Design Centre.
I’m sure both Dudley and Geoffrey
would have been very proud to have
their name associated with such a
superb facility at the heart of their
school. Another, perhaps less obvious
highlight, came at the OMT Society
Annual Dinner. Since joining Merchant
Taylors’ I have attended many events,
school assemblies and services where
the school song has been sung. However,
I have not heard such a rousing
rendition as at the Dinner at the end
of last year. Even as an Old Borlasian I
found it quite moving! It was fantastic
to have a record-breaking attendance at
the dinner and I hope we can repeat the
feat at Shakespeare’s Globe in November
this year.
At the time of writing, we are in
the midst of what looks to be a very
successful appeal to parents of the
An Eveningwith Shami Chakrabarti
As part of our series of high-profile author visits and
talks, on 12th March a crowd of over 300 guests were
treated to a talk by Shami Chakrabarti, Director of Liberty.
Her softly-spoken, eloquent presentation concerned the
importance of human rights and how these rights can
protect citizens against three major patterns, which she
sees as emerging in the world today. First, she discussed
the legitimacy of the assumption that the innocent have
nothing to fear in a world where we have no privacy.
She addressed the undermining of legal aid and the
presumption of innocence; and finally, she discussed more
generally, the increasing hatred of “others” that has become
so characteristic of today’s societies.
After a question and answer session, Ms Chakrabarti
signed copies of her book and posed for photos. It was
an enjoyable and thought-provoking event. To see Shami
Chakrabarti being interviewed by current pupil, Maneet
Patel, please visit
current Upper Sixth – the Class of 2015.
They have been very generous in our
aim to establish a hardship bursary in
their name. Hardship bursaries support
pupils whose families have a change
of circumstances during their time at
Taylors’ and without support may have
to change schools. The Class of 2015
hardship bursary aims to help future
year groups stay together until the
end of the Upper Sixth. Thank you to
everyone who has pledged their support.
I am very much looking forward to
our 1561 Foundation Lunch. This is to
thank all those who are intending to
leave the school a legacy. I’m pleased to
say that the 1561 Foundation has grown
a great deal since the last lunch we held,
so I expect a good turnout.
There are many opportunities to
engage with Merchant Taylors’ and the
OMT Society, so I hope you will find one
that suits you and I shall see you at an
event or for a visit soon. One of the most
popular features of our events at the
school are the tours given by our pupils.
If you would like to visit the school, but
are unable to make it to an organised
event, we can organise a tour given
sufficient notice. If you do get in touch
beforehand, we can arrange lunch in the
Dining Hall for you too.
As ever, thank you to everyone who
has supported the school. Whether it is
financially, by offering careers advice, by
attending events, or contributing to our
publications, it is very much appreciated.
The Class of 2015
hardship bursary aims
to help future year
groups stay together
until the end of the
Upper Sixth. Thank you
to everyone who has
pledged their support.