The Old Shebbearians' Association

War Memorial Scholarship Fund - 2007 Report

FIRST AWARD IN 2007 BUT MEMORIAL FUND NEEDS MORE SUPPORT

The Trustees of the OSA War Memorial Fund are hoping to make the first scholarship award of around £2,500 to a pupil at Shebbear this year.
Steady progress has been made since the re-launch of the Fund in 2005 but more donations are urgently needed.
Members of the OSA can honour the memory of the 86 Old Shebbearians who have laid down their lives on active service since 1914 by contributing to the War Memorial Fund through a one-off payment, standing order or bequest..

In their report, the Trustees say:
“By 15 August, 45 Old Shebbearians had donated £5,595 to the Scholarship Appeal launched in June 2005. Of these, 22 have pledged themselves to give a total of £1,906 this year and in each succeeding year; £5,000 of the £5,595 has been invested in an M&G  Charibond.
“This investment should provide an annual income of £300 to which should be added the annual income of £400 from the Trustees’ holding with the Charities Investment Fund (COIF). The three amounts of £1,906, £300 and £400 will thus produce an annual income of some £2,600.
“In addition, the tax refund in respect of Gift Aided contributions will augment the annual income. This year the trustees have been able to claim the sum of £1,145 which represents tax refunds on a number of one-off gifts as well as annual gifts. “Unless substantially more annual gifts are received (over and above the £1,906 already pledged) some £500 only will be recoverable annually under Gift Aid.
“The Trustees are very conscious that the Fund was set up in 1924 as a memorial to the 48 Old Shebbearians who lost their lives in the 1914-18 War with the object of providing some financial assistance to Old Boys embarking on course of higher education, preference being given to the sons and brothers of those who had served in the War. Changing circumstances have encouraged the OSA to enlarge the Fund’s remit to allow support to pupils at the school.
“Although an award of £350 was made at the January 2006 reunion to Rebecca Betambeau, a music scholarship student at the Birmingham Conservatoire, the Trustees do not envisage making future awards for further education, preferring to use the annual income to fund scholarships at Shebbear.
“By September 2007 the Trustees hope to be in a position to award a scholarship of something in the region of £2,500 a year. Whilst this would be a modest beginning, it is necessary to raise further funds if assistance is to be given to those who otherwise would not benefit from an education at Shebbear.
“Therefore the Trustees urge all Old Shebbearians who have not already contributed to the Fund to match the generosity of those who have already responded to the Appeal.”
Standing Orders and Gift Aid forms are available either from the Fund’s Honorary Treasurer, David Shorney, 81 Tarnwood Park, London SE9 5PD, or from the OSA Honorary Secretary, David Haley, Cold Norton Farm, Ockham Lane, Cobham, Surrey KT11 1LW.

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Rolls of Honour 1914-18, 1939-45 & 1965

 
OSA Hon. Sec. is David Haley, Cold Norton Farm, Ockham Lane, Cobham, Surrey KT11 1LW
Tel: +44 (0)1932 863746 Fax: +44 (0)1932 866709 Website: www.oldshebbearian.co.uk