The Old Shebbearians' Association

Old Shebbearians' War Memorial Scholarship Fund

SUMMARY - Update: 18 September 2008

In June 2005, the OSA launched an appeal to finance scholarships to Shebbear College. Twelve hundred letters and pre-paid envelopes were sent out to Old Shebbearians. Twenty-two Old Shebbearians are contributing £2000 each year by standing order. When the tax rebate on Gift Aid is added amounts to over £2500.

This is a fine beginning but comes nowhere near meeting our objective. With senior fees ranging from £8,310 for day pupils to £15,660 for boarders we can do little to help parents unable to pay, nor can we think about providing scholarships for young people whose parents could never contemplate sending their children to the school.
If this seems an objective beyond our reach, then the achievements of other alumni associations should encourage us to realise that this is no idle dream. This year, for instance, the West Buckland School Foundation has funded 13 bursaries, two for boarders.

Why cannot we do as well, or better? If 1,200 Old Shebbearians responded as generously as 12 have already done, the Fund would have £83,400 at its disposal annually which, if gift aided, would provide an annual income of £106,923. We would then be able to give a number of young people an opportunity to enjoy the education we were privileged to receive. Is this not a cause worth supporting, something each of us would like to happen?

Only with your support can we convert this dream into reality. If we ignore this appeal we deny others the opportunity we were given.
Shebbear College came into existence through the sacrificial giving of the early Bible Christians. For more than 50 years it was sustained by the generosity of many individuals and congregations. There could be no more fitting tribute to them and the 83 old boys who died in both world wars than to take part in providing scholarships to attend a unique and special school.

What is the Old Shebbearians War Memorial Fund?  It was founded in 1924 as a memorial to the 48 Old Shebbearians killed in World War One. From 1919-24 Old Shebbearians donated almost £1,000, the equivalent today of £100,000. Since then it has been augmented by gifts from succeeding generations and by the generous response to the Jackson Page Memorial Appeal in 1988. Today the Fund has an income of almost £5000 a year. As a registered charity it is able to reclaim income tax on all gift-aided contributions.

What does it do?  Originally it had one objective: to give Old Shebbearians help in their first year at university or some other place of higher education. At a time when few Old Shebbearians went to university and the cost of higher education was comparatively cheap, this assistance made a considerable difference to recipients. Since then the huge rise in higher education costs and the much larger number going on to university has made it impossible to realise the Fund's initial purpose. For that and other reasons the OSA decided in 2001 to amend the Trust Deed so that scholarships could be awarded to those attending the school. The Fund can now assist pupils whose parents have not the means to send to - or keep them at - Shebbear.

Why should you help? Between 1920 and 1975 up to a quarter of pupils received their education at the expense of Devon County Council and, in a few cases, the Methodist Church. Since the 1970s only boys and girls whose parents could afford to pay have been able to attend. As a consequence, many deserving young people, amply endowed with ability and aptitude, have been denied the opportunity of an education at Shebbear. Contrast that with the time when men such as Sir Pridham Baulkwill, Sir Ivan Stedeford and EW Martin received their education virtually free and went on to bring great distinction to the school. Unlike most other independent schools Shebbear has never had large endowments to enable it to award scholarships to pupils whose parents would never be in a position to pay. Now we have the chance to remedy that anomaly. What is beyond the means of all but the wealthiest to do individually we can now do collectively.

How can you help? We urge you to complete a Standing Order form so that the Fund receives a steady stream of money in the years ahead. Help us to ensure we have an income of £100,000 a year to achieve our objective. If Old Shebbearians after the 1914-18 War could donate the equivalent of £100,000 can we be content with giving less?

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