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We are extremely grateful to all our donors who have generously given to the Cheltenham College Charitable Trust. These donations have enabled us to complete a diverse range of projects from conserving the heritage of College's listed buildings, to new ventures that enrich and enhance the daily lives of students.
If you would like to support a specific area of College or would like to discuss making a significant gift, please contact Sebastian Bullock, Development Director at development@cheltenhamcollege.org or by phone on 01242 265 689.
For more information about our funds, projects and how you can donate to College please visit our Ways to Give page here.
Recent Projects
Jumping for joy
Generously supported by donations from our 1841 Society regular givers, Cheltenham Prep has seen the installation of five in ground trampolines located in a new fenced off area in The Prep playing field. Installed by Capital Play with help from the hardworking Cheltenham College Estates Team, the project was completed in October 2022.
Used by older pupils at break and lunchtime (with supervision) and by Reception to Year 2 at allotted play slots during the day, the trampolines are an exciting and popular addition to the range of outdoor activities enjoyed at The Prep.
The forefront of technology
With huge thanks to generous donations made to the Annual and Chapel Funds the Chapel audio-visual system has recently seen a significant upgrade.
“The Music Department has always been at the forefront of technology in music, with live audio-only streams of weekly Choral Evensongs starting in 2018. With the advent of Covid and the need to engage with audiences in a different way, much energy was put into developing the live streaming setup to include video with the audio that was being captured. In collaboration with Peak Hire Ltd., we installed a dedicated local area network to connect four professional-quality cameras along with a controller keyboard. With presets programmed in, multiple angles can be called upon at the touch of the button, allowing for much more variety and flexibility. Along with the cameras, six broadcast-quality shotgun microphones were installed in the lunette spaces to discreetly pick up choral singing, with everything controlled from an iMac on the gallery.”
Mr Shaun Pirttijarvi, Head of Academic Music, Assistant HsM, College Lawn at Cheltenham College.
To see the new equipment in action you can view the Service of Commemoration for Queen Elizabeth II here filmed on 13 September 2022.
Inside Tracks
Within the last year the Annual Fund has provided funds for the installation of an aesthetically sympathetic AstroTurf Footpath that wraps around the perimeter of College Lawn. The new path set within the campus boundary, offers students walking between boarding Houses and College, a safer, healthier and more pleasant journey. It also doubles as a middle-distance running track for those who are brave enough to try it!
A welcome precautionary addition during the Covid epidemic, the footpath is now a popular, well-trodden route and will continue to serve students well into the future.
Steps toward sustainability
Thanks to funds provided by the Annual Fund, September 2020 saw every student in the senior school receive an eco-friendly, reusable water bottle, the durable design and proportions making the bottles ideal for transporting about campus.
Conceived with the goal of reducing reliance on single use plastic cups, the reusable water bottles are a step on the road to making College a more sustainable environment. The reusable bottles are also an effective resource for encouraging students to maintain their hydration levels enhancing focus, brain function and mood.
Healthy Hydration
Thanks to generous donations to the Annual Fund a project was launched to replace water dispensers across The Prep and College with newer models. However Covid and the safety concerns it raised saw a revision of these plans and the quantity of dispensers was increased to cover multiple locations around campus that offered staff and students better opportunities to maintain social distancing. The dispensers were also given a full upgrade to the latest, hands-free models reducing the spread of germs.
The new dispensers have been a huge help in keeping College a safe and healthy environment for all.
Restoration Project
At the heart of Chapel lies the College organ, originally built in 1897 by Norman & Beard. The case was designed by Henry Prothero, architect of the Chapel. The organ was rebuilt and extended by Harrison & Harrison in 1930 and was last restored with minor alterations in 1976. In 2013, a 32-foot ‘Double Ophicleide’ stop was added, but by 2017 the time had come for the entire instrument to be taken apart for major restoration.
Donations given to both the Annual Fund and Chapel Fund contributed towards a complete refit of the console where the Organist plays. Eight general pistons were added along with a stepper system which, whilst retaining existing divisional piston system, added further versatility to the instrument.
The restored organ is now in prime condition for the 21st century and College remains one of the finest non-cathedral locations in the country for choral and organ music. We are extremely grateful to all who donated.
Restoration Project
Led by the remarkable team at Hirst Conservation Ltd, the ambitious project commencing in 2015 to restore and conserve the lunettes in College Chapel reached its conclusion in October 2022.
It was discovered that the painted panels depicting scenes from the Old and New Testament did not have a varnish layer protecting the paint and had consequently suffered from water damage, flaking and a build up of dirt. After seven years of painstaking, specialist conservation work the lunettes have now been restored to their former glory, the colours vivid and luminescent for all to enjoy.
We are very grateful for the generous regular donations received from Sir Michael McWilliam KCMG (Cheltondale, 1952), Dr Bridget Jepson (Hon OC) and the Benefact Trust who have enabled us to undertake this vital restoration work.
You can watch a time lapse video provided by Hirst Conservation Ltd showing the restoration of the final lunette as it was removed from its position to allow stabilisation of the unstable plaster wall beneath and then reinstated in the Chapel.
Cheltenham College is registered with the Fundraising Regulator: www.fundraisingregulator.org.uk/