The Monkton Bluefriars Charitable Trust
Trustees Jane Perry Jeremy Hepworth John Clark Julian Bewick
A message from the Chairman The traditional place of sport within education has suffered in recent years, possibly from the increased emphasis placed on the individual that, during the 1980s, has seen an egoistic culture effectually replace that of the community. However, there has recently been a renewed recognition of the qualities which participation in team sport can engender not only for the individual - self-discipline; initiative; self belief; ambition - but also as part of a community - team building; a sense of responsibility; mutual dependence and reliability. The government Specialist Sports Colleges initiative is an indication of this revived recognition.
Monkton has long specialised in rowing, a sport that, until you have experienced a crew rowing absolutely together - almost becoming one in mind and body - must appear ridiculous to the casual observer but which to the participant will always hold a peculiar magic. Unfortunately, it is also an increasingly expensive sport and one which a school the size of Monkton is unlikely to be able to offer without outside help.
Thanks to many generous OMs and others associated with the school, this outside help has been forthcoming for many years. It became clear, in an informal chat between a small number of coaches, parents and OMs at Leander Club after the Bluefriars Dinner of 1995 that this support ought to be focussed in order to secure the pleasure of rowing to future generations of Monktonians. A number of like-minded people was soon gathered together, and with the help of Robert Quayle (oarsman, OM, parent, and - crucially for this task - lawyer), the Monkton Bluefriars Charitable Trust was founded. This will allow us to make a more tax-efficient use of donations and to provide a formal structure to protect and direct those donations to the long-term benefit of the Boat Club and the whole school.
I and the other Trustees hope that you will give the Trust your ongoing support.
John Clark - Chairman of the Trustees
The Chairman John was at Monkton and, like his father before him and his son and his daughter after him, rowed. The magic of which he speaks in his message as Chairman of the Trust is perhaps typified by the photograph which includes Desmond Clark (L30 - S33), himself (M55-S60) and Simon Clark (L81-S85) who all visited the school for OM Day 1994 and took out a four - with the help of two hangers-on [Michael Keighley (1st VIII 1962) and Stephen Hausey (Development Director of MCS and formerly Rowing Coach at Scotch College, Melbourne and Collegiate School, Wanganui, who has promised to write an article for next year's newsletter) - Ed.]. After John left school he took a degree in Zoology at Durham and logically started selling tyres for Dunlop. He was stationed in Nigeria, Kenya and Saudi Arabia and later covered all Africa and the Far East from London. After running his own company for a number of years, John now runs a chamber of commerce in Kent which he thought would be a nice quiet job, but it has turned out to be nothing of the kind! Julian Bewick writes The Boat Club has been fortunate in its friends over many years, and the tradition of giving to Bluefriars is well established. In recent times, we have benefited from gifts both large and small, as well as the goodwill, kindness and support of many friends. The Trust gives us a new opportunity to support rowing even more efficiently than before. It is important that you know precisely what our aims are, as they are set out in the Charitable Deed, the relevant part of which is repeated here: The Trustees shall hold the Trust Fund upon Trust that they shall from time to time pay or apply the income thereof and may at any time or times (if and when they think fit) apply the whole or any part or parts of the capital thereof for the purposes of promoting (a) the physical education and development of the pupils and former pupils of Monkton Combe School by encouraging and facilitating the sport of rowing through the provision of facilities equipment and financial support including sponsorship of individuals or crews training for and participating in competitive events where such individuals or crews represent the School or Monkton Bluefriars Boat Club. (b) the physical education of students of such Other Educational Establishments as the Trustess shall in their absolute discretion determine by encouraging and facilitating the sport of rowing through the provision of facilities equipment and financial support including sponsorship of individuals or crews training for and participating in competitive events. Julian Bewick - Treasurer of the Trustees and Honorary Secretary Monkton Bluefriars Boat Club
The Treasurer of the Trustees Julian started his rowing aged 13 at Haileybury in 1956, where he was too heavy to cox and too light to row; he later rowed at bow in the Second IV, whose first race was in a match against The Kings School Ely, and whose one and only regatta appearance was at Bedford after the end of term. At Cambridge, he coxed Caius 1st VIII for three years (still too heavy to cox), coached the 2nd VIII, and rowed (still too light to row) in the 3rd VIII. He was Secretary of Caius Boat Club and of the Cambridge University Coxwains Society, for whom he rowed twice (at 5 - the heaviest man in the boat) against the Oxford coxes (winning both times). His first experience of Monkton rowing was in 1965 when he commentated at Henley Royal Regatta (from the Barrier) for the race in which the Monkton crew was beaten by Tabor (in the days when losing college crews were invited to commentate and generally help out at the regatta). A week later, he was introduced to Bluefriars rowing by Charles Grimwade, who took a Novice Four to Ironbridge on an extremely wet day! In 1976 his Monkton 1st VIII won SB VIIIs at Bedford Regatta, beating the record by 12 seconds, on a day when, according to Desmond Hill in The Daily Telegraph, "The breeze hardly ruffled the tree-lined embankment, the water in the downstream course was barely moving and few would deny that the quality of entry was a trifle suspect." His umpiring experience has included assisting at the World championships in 1986, when his duties included escorting members of crews who were required to undergo random testing for drugs. Since leaving Monkton he has been involved with coaching many Monkton crews as a visitor, and is currently Secretary of the Kitchin Society of school rowing coaches and Chairman of WAGS - the Wiltshire, Avon, Gloucester and Somerset division of the ARA. In 1996, he was involved in the production of 50 Years to Row - the History of the National Schools Regatta. Jane Perry writes A raw, blustery afternoon spent at Bristol Docks supporting a novice and his crew was my introduction to the Boat Club and what I came to appreciate as the Monkton Spirit. In a few hours I was to witness a very special aspect of a sport which by its very nature demands cooperation and self-discipline and can have no individual stars. Without exception, every member of a Monkton crew not on the water was supporting that enthusiastic, inexperienced and probably fearful crew on its first event in whatever way was appropriate, from the practical to the verbal. We all learned a great deal that day. The cohesive spirit became even more apparent at the prestigious events - the Schools Head Race, National Schools Regatta and Henley. Other schools had their supporters, but the fervour of goodwill, concern and focus was diluted in comparison. The commitment, example and guidance set in the club was deft and something which those of us who are parents came to appreciate increasingly as our offspring moved up the school and assumed the mantle worn by their predecessors. The Boat Club has immeasurably enhanced the character and lives of our sons and daughters and for this we are grateful. I was deeply honoured when I was asked if I would become a trustee, and I am delighted to commend this charity to you. The trustees have several projects in mind - their fulfilment will depend on the level of your support. Bluefriars has, since 1964, provided crucial support to our children in the Boat Club and the charitable trust aims, with your goodwill to continue and expand that work. The Secretary of the Trustees Jane Perry is mother of Julian (Fred), School House 1989-94, 1st VIII, Secretary of Boats, and Helen, Hill House (1996- ). Some years ago Jane, by this time a riverbank groupie, was persuaded by another enthusiastic parent to consider participating in a charity four. However, the advice of the experienced oarsman in the family made it abundantly clear that one required a reasonable sense of balance, and since this was not one of his mothers accomplishments it would be a very misguided idea to consider taking the risk - a very diplomatic way of ensuring that one was not embarrassed by ones parent! Since then Janes support has remained strictly from the towpath and riverbank. Jane trained as a teacher at Westminster College, Oxford, and thereafter taught in comprehensive schools in Surrey and North Somerset. She specialised in the area of remedial education and became increasingly interested in specific learning difficulty (dyslexia). Prior to returning to teaching having had a break whilst her children were small, Jane studied at The Helen Arkell Dyslexia Centre and gained an RSA Diploma. She is now assessing and teaching boys in a Surrey Preparatory School. Jeremy Hepworth - Trustee Jeremy started sculling at the age of 7 on the Ouse in Bedford, encouraged by his father who coached rowing at Bedford School. Then at 16 he entered MCS VIth form and found himself sculling on the Avon (after 6 years at Sheffield). At Monkton he learnt sweep-oared rowing and was in the 1st VIII for two years, Captain of Boats for his final year, his last race as a schoolboy sculling at Bedford Regatta, winning the Senior III event. Since then he has rowed at Oxford Brookes, Queens Tower and Thames Rowing Club, winning Henley Medals and rowing for Great Britain in the U23 squad.
Trust Funds The Trusts financial year starts in September and the first set of accounts will be for the period ending in August 1997. We are grateful for the original gift of 250; for an anonymous donation of 200 and for a gift of 1,500 from the estate of Peter Kirkpartick. Peter was a regular supporter of Bluefriars, and we are grateful that his gift has helped our fund off to such a good start. The current amount held in the fund, including a small amount of interest received is 1970 (15 Nov 96). To give to the Trust Please see the forms printed at the centre of this Newsletter. Supporters who have given in the past to Bluefriars Boat Club funds are encouraged to switch their regular payments to the charity account. Young donors for whom the tax benefits of the charity are not relevant are encouraged to give to the non-charitable Bluefriars Boat Club fund. The Boat Club has received several large donations in recent years. The Trust is an ideal vehicle for such gifts. Uses for the Trust funds The Trustees do not feel that it is their place to run an appeal for funds. The trust exists so that those who wish to contribute to the work we do may do so. There are potential uses for large gifts - e.g. we would like to have sufficient funds to give substantial amounts of expensive rowing equipment to MCSBC (ideally through income from a large capital fund); we would like to help to fund an indoor rowing tank which may be put in the basement of the new sports hall. On a less costly level, we are determined as a top priority to continue the traditional work of Bluefriars, which is to support individuals and crews who row at Monkton. So gifts large and small will be welcomed. They will all be well used. It has been suggested that some donors may wish that a proportion of a gift to Bluefriars is directed to another Boat Club (e.g. a University Boat Club), using the tax benefits of the charity. The Trustees will happily encourage such arrangements. The Trustees will be in a better position to see the way forward for the fund after a few months.