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Downside Annual Report 2021

from the head Amidst the turbulence and disruption caused by the pandemic over the last eighteen months and against the backdrop of the monks’ imminent move from Downside, their home for over two hundred years, it might seem a little strange for me to choose this moment to focus on the Benedictine vow of stability at the heart of the Rule of St. Benedict. On the other hand, it might actually make complete sense, as we seek not to ward off and immunise ourselves against the challenges and adversities we face, but to embrace them as opportunities for growth and change, both as individuals and as a community. The stability which St. Benedict recommends is not achieved through inertia and staying still, but through a dynamic and relentless commitment to living in community. As I said in writing to members of the St. Gregory Society a year ago, when the monks announced their intention to move, we stand at a crucial moment in Downside’s history, but we can look to the future in hope and with optimism. As a school we are fit and ready to build on the legacy entrusted to us. Staff and Governors are united in their commitment to continue to develop and strengthen Downside’s Catholic and Benedictine culture, working in partnership with

families, who want their children to be educated in a community with Christ at its centre. It is exciting and affirming to see our pupil numbers have risen significantly this year, despite the many challenges we have faced. We are hugely grateful to each and every one of you, who has supported us so loyally and generously in so many ways over so many years. We have never needed that support more than in recent times. Your thoughts and prayers have made a very real difference and your goodwill towards us has provided a tangible lift to us all. The generosity of those who have felt able to give their financial support is also making an enormous impact on the lives of those pupils whose families would not otherwise be able to afford to send them to Downside. They enrich our community by their presence and contribution, and we thank them, and you who so kindly make this possible. We move forward together as a community, both those of us who continue to reside at Downside and those who move on to other places. This has always been the way. Our stability comes not from being rooted in a geographical location but on our shared commitment to build relationships on our recognition of Christ in others.

THE NEXT GENER ATION

Not only did the academic year begin with renewed joy from pupils and staff alike, once again able to return to Downside, converse in person, and enjoy the beautiful Somerset countryside, but it also began with an extremely generous gift from Hans Fleischner (C45), just one of our donors, of $1 Million specifically towards the Bursary Fund. Following the unprecedented year, this year’s Annual Fund also diverted its focus from smaller projects to the area of greatest need, our Bursary Fund.

Without the continued support and generosity from our alumni, parents, and friends, especially in today’s world of such uncertainty and ever-growing financial strain, we would not be able to offer this life changing provision to so many deserving pupils.

We have a longstanding tradition of supporting pupils whose family financial circumstances would mean a Downside education is unattainable, with this demand increasing following the recent pandemic. Some families have required hardship support whilst others are looking to secure their child’s future surrounded by Benedictine values and the ethos of the School, requiring over £1.1 Million each year.

If you are in a position to offer the gift of education to the next generation, please contact, Jessica Newman, Development Manager, on 01761 235194.

Thank you to all who have enabled a child to receive a Downside education. Your donation has made a direct impact on the next generation, our future leaders of the world.

Downside is and always has been so much more than just a place of education. Thank you for your extraordinary degree of loyalty and commitment.

2020-21 IN NUMBERS Total Raised £1,086,968 Total Gifts 248 Total Donors 106

11%

New Donors 26

5% 5%

78%

Received Gifts Old Gregorian Honorary OG Current Parent Past Parent Trusts and Foundations

Virtual reunions across the globe uniting the whole community. £1789 raised specifically from the Virtual Carol Service, split between the Abbey Church and Bursary Fund.

Career Volunteers – 45 OGs and Parents offered the gift of time.

760 OGs completed the communications preference survey, 591 willing to offer careers support, 741 want to keep in contact, 699 want monthly updates

1,325 ‘lost’ OGs (where we do not hold an email address) were contacted, with a huge response of OGs wanting to remain in contact. \3

The impact you make Your support has facilitated 93 means-tested Bursary places at Downside School this year, offering life changing opportunities and ensuring talented individuals from all backgrounds can benefit from a Downside education. Of the 93, 35 have been awarded scholarships:

Means-Tested Bursaries

Supported by your donations of £1,086,968

All Rounder

Academic

Music

Sport

18 Art & Design

Polish

Looking back on my time at Downside, I can really understand why I am the person and player I am today. Prior to Downside, I struggled with confidence but through the support and encouragement of staff and my friends, my confidence levels increased, allowing me to progress and develop on and off the pitch. Without their help I would not have secured opportunities to play rugby for Bath U18s and Wales U18s. I loved every moment and cannot thank Downside enough for what they have done for me. Ethan Morgan (B20) \5

MANY THANKS from Downside School and Downside Abbey in 2020 Peter Abraham B50 Raleigh Addington S14 Richard Addington B75 Philip Allott C54 Downside Association Charles Atchley B58 Stanley Ball R58 James Barrett B76 Ken Beedle R73 Nick Bingham U81 Michael Binns C50 Chris Bolton John Bone R55 Tim Broughton U81 Mark Brunel-Cohen U67 John Buckenham (RIP) S48 Frank Buhagiar B89 Jan Buhagiar B58 Tom Burkitt David Burnand R58 Simon Butterfield R64 Aleksandra Calicka I19 Rory Campbell-Lamerton B07 Valerie Candy Michael Cane S58 Francis Carr R58 John Carter C63 Jane Cary Paul Cautley S58 Bernard Clark Ra59 Peter Clothier Graham Colbourne James Corry S65 James Cottrell B83 Denis Cross B55 David Cudlip Tony D’Alton R65 Mary Daley Stephen Day Bridget de Salis Chris Dick C53 James Douglas S62 Michael FitzGerald S54 Charles Fitzgerald-Lombard S59

Hans Fleischner C45 Mike Flynn U72 Guy Fulton C88 Mary Gore St Gregory’s Society Jonathan Grew C77 William Griffiths S71 Dominic Hall Sir Harold Hood’s Charitable Trust Mr & Mrs Hobbs Piotr Holysz Henry Hudson-Evans R06 Sarah Hudson-Evans David Irving B76 Paul Johnston R71 Christopher Jones-Parry B46 Miky Kambara Damian Keeling B98 Nicholas Kemp S56 Mark Kent R92 Rebecca Keyte Igor Korczagin S95 Joseph Krause U73 Kevin Last S65 David Lawrence R54 James Leeper C76 Martin Lueck C78 Sean Lundy Simon Maclachlan C52 Patrick Manning B61 Adrian Marryat C54 Shane Martin C76 Nicholas Martin-Smith (RIP) B68 Mark Matthews S80 Desmond McCann Ra67 Gerald McEnery C56 Paul McNally Richard Michell C63 Anthony Midgley Ra61 James Midwood C47 Jock Miller R69 Matthew Mostyn C89 Dariusz Nehrebecki C04

Roger Nicholas Ian Norrington Moira O’Brien Maeve O’Driscoll Paul O’Leary Rupert Orchard Michael Paine Peter Pavry Mary Jane Platt Ingrid Quaife David Quinn Niall Quinn Mark Radcliffe Graham Reid Paddy Riordan Hugh Rolfe Alison Rothwell Tim Rowell Charlie Sankey John Scanlan James Scott-Gatty Richard Shaw (RIP) David-James Sheehan Nicholas Sibley Neil Sirkett Charles Skjoldebrand Christopher Skottowe Edward Smith Andrea Standivan Tanya Stanford Anthony Steiner Thomas Sutcliffe Fr John Tabor Clodia Tomkins G Upham Michael Wakeford Edmund Wan Ursula Warrington Simon Westlake Ivan Whatley Emily Wilcox Charles Wiles

B54 R62 R74 S58 C62 Ra76 B55 Ra67 S56 Ra67 S74 B58 B75 S54 R76 S63 B55 B61 U65 C50 C78 B60 C91 B55 Ra90 S81 S56 I17 C66

from the abbot I am sure that every report or review of 2020-21 will begin by mentioning the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our lives and activities! The monastic community have been lucky to escape any serious illness during the year but we all know friends, colleagues and parishioners who have suffered and we remember them all in our prayers. Obviously, the pandemic continues to affect many of our charitable and religious activities but parish life is beginning to re-awaken and our first monastery guests are returning to our guesthouse, in reduced numbers initially. The visitor centre and bookshop, recently redecorated and improved thanks to a grant from the Sir Harold Hood Foundation, has also reopened for a few days a week and our volunteers are also slowly making their way back to the library and archives. Obviously, the past year has been anything but quiet for the monastic community of St Gregory. The extraordinarily isolated year imposed on us by the lockdowns allowed the brethren to spend serious time revaluating their monastic apostolate and those things that are at the very heart of their Benedictine vocation. Throughout last year, and in particular last summer, we met together whenever possible, but also regularly by

Zoom, to discuss, discern and pray about the future. This culminated in a unanimous vote by the monastic Community to move away from Stratton-on-the-Fosse. This wasn’t an easy decision or indeed one taken quickly as the Community have been exploring ideas and questions over the last six years about how best to reorder and live their lives. We have been a resident community of only eight this last year living in a monastery designed for fifty monks or more. This has two consequences. Firstly and most importantly, it is a spiritually burdensome experience for those living here and unattractive to new vocations. Secondly, the running costs of such a large site are exorbitant in relation to the numbers who live here. I think we all know of religious communities whose numbers dwindle and age until they end up either dying out or in nursing homes. This community decided to make a positive decision to revitalise their monastic lives and apostolic work – and we cannot achieve this in these beautiful, but vast and expensive buildings, which now need huge investment. Unfortunately, simply carrying on as before is not a spiritual or practical option. Following the decision to leave Stratton-on-the-Fosse, the Chapter of St Gregory met in late August and elected me as their 13th Abbot with the specific brief to help them with this move to a new home (their fourth in 400 years). Unfortunately the pandemic, has

2020-21 IN NUMBERS Total Raised £73,108 Total Gifts 247 Total Donors 77

once again, played its part in delaying the progress in discerning this new home. It is essential that we engage and visit other communities and this was certainly problematic until recently. However, throughout the month of May we met by Zoom with the monks and nuns of our Congregation to share our thoughts and aspirations for the future and listen to their comments and suggestions. Fortunately, in the last few weeks, with the easing of restrictions, we have begun to get out and visit other monasteries. The Community recognise that our monastic houses are stronger when we work together and it is the brethren’s hope to share their future with another House, or Houses, of the Congregation. Our discernment continues. Obviously leaving Stratton on the Fosse will be difficult and emotional. In 2019, we faced a similar challenge when we set up the new independent School Trust but we are comforted to see how successfully the School has responded to the challenge, especially given the difficulties presented by the pandemic. We share the School’s enthusiasm for the future and are delighted to see the strong numbers and plans for the new school year. In a similar sort of way, we would like to ensure that the heritage legacy is cared for and is experienced and shared by future generations. We will continue to fundraise in the years ahead for restoration and maintenance projects to the Abbey Church and the

Compton Organ. We have various projects in mind for the church – some more pressing like the electrics but others that look forward to at time when we leave here. The School, and hopefully many others, will continue to use and pray in our beautiful Grade 1 Listed Church. We hope too, that we will be able to continue to welcome scholars and researchers to the wonderful library and its precious and important collections. What shape this heritage legacy takes remains to be seen, but we hope that it will be something the monks, our friends and benefactors will support and make available for future generations. Obviously, given the pandemic and our own circumstances, this has not been a year for big projects. However, in a quiet way, we have been strengthening our Trust structures and researching and commissioning expert advice with a view to developing our heritage project so that when the monastic community leave Stratton on the Fosse, the legacy they leave behind will be in safe hands. We are extremely grateful to all our friends who have been particularly understanding and supportive since we shared our news and we continue to pray for you all.

ways to give Every donation, no matter its size, can make a huge difference.

DOWNSIDE SCHOOL

DOWNSIDE ABBEY

UK DONATIONS

Donate online now www.downside.co.uk/supportingdownside-school/making-a-donation

Donate online now w ww.justgiving.com/downsideabbey

Bank Transfer to: Downside School Development Account Sort Code: 20-47-06 Account Number: 00626031 Standing Orders can be set up with your bank using the bank details above.

Bank Transfer to: Downside Abbey Trustees Development Account Sort Code: 20-47-06 Account Number: 33925137 Standing Orders can be set up with your bank using the bank details above.

Registered Charity Number: 1158507

Registered Charity Number: 11751009

Send a cheque payable to Send a cheque payable to Downside School Development Downside Abbey Trustees Account to: Development Account to: Downside Development Office, Downside Development Office, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, Radstock, BA3 4RJ Stratton-on-the-Fosse, Radstock, BA3 4RJ

INTERNATIONAL DONATIONS for the School or Abbey

US donors can donate online donatenow.networkforgood.org/BSUF

r send a cheque payable to BSUF and send it to: British Schools and Universities O Foundation, Inc, 575 Madison Avenue, Suite 1006, New York, NY 10022-2511.

€

European donors may find a tax efficient route through www.transnationalgiving.eu

For further information please contact the Development Office on 01761 235158 or development@downside.co.uk 10 /

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the Petre Society The Petre Society is a group of like-minded individuals, who generously remember Downside in their wills for when the time comes. Despite the Society being unable to gather on St Gregory’s Day for a whole school mass in the Abbey Church followed by a convivial lunch, members have been updated on the School and Abbey news through more traditional means this year! Pupils shared their experiences through Christmas cards, the Head wrote to all members thanking them for their continued and loyal support and the Development Manager wrote postcards following the end of the academic year. We very much look forward to welcoming the Society back to Downside next year.

The gift of a legacy not only provides an opportunity to make an impact which may not have been possible during your lifetime, but as Downside School and Downside Abbey are both registered charities any gifts to us are exempt from inheritance tax. Furthermore, a gift of 10% of your estate is not only exempt, it also reduces the tax liability on your whole estate from 40% to 36%.

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Petre Society Members Leslie Addington Rudolph Agnew Philip Allott Martin Appleby Charles Atchley Stanley Ball David Barnett Rachel Bevan Eddy Body Patrick Branigan Michael Callender John Carter Robert Cattell David Clark Tim Coghlan Brian Donovan Michael FitzGerald Sean Fox-Slater Robert Gibbons Susie Gore Anthony Greenwood

B41 S51 C54 S50 B58 R58 C55 R58 C56 C63 S62 S68 U65 C53 S54 R71 B54 U79

Christopher Grievson William Griffiths Edward Hallinan Mr & Mrs Harwood Mark Heath Tom Heath Sean Hughes Edward Hutton John Jackson Oliver Jefferson Ian Jessiman Edwin Kemp Michael Kennedy Mervyn Langran David Lawrence Michael Leeming John Ludlow Michael MacKenzie Nicholas Mander James Midwood Ian Norrington

Ra62 S71 R55 R62 R68 S59 B70 R61 R72 R49 R63 S55 B49 R54 C74 C82 B55 S67 C47 B54

John Nye Michael Paine Martin Powys-Lybbe Edward Pryce John Scanlan Aylward Shorter Nigel Sill Hubert Staples Mark Steed Michael Stokes Thomas Sutcliffe Christopher Tanfield Chris von Patzelt John Webb Daphne Westlake Michael Weston-Burt Charles Wilcox Charles Wiles Elizabeth Williams Peter Wilson Peter Wright

S58 B57 S57 S54 B50 S65 C48 C71 B54 S66 U60 R59 S81 C66 B59 C53

We are so grateful to all who have pledged to remember Downside in their wills If you would like to find out more about becoming a member of the Petre Society, please don’t hesitate to contact Jessica Newman in the Development Office or look on our website at www.downside.co.uk/our-future/legacies

We have had two of our sons go through the School and a third to complete in 2022. From the moment we stepped into the Quad as far back as 2009 when visiting senior schools, we were drawn into the friendly, caring, supportive and hospitable community. The Benedictine values shone through! The boys have been so very happy at the School and have embraced so much of what is on offer. So we felt compelled to join the Petre Society, enabling us to give something back to the community for those future pupils in the School who would hopefully benefit and experience the same education as our sons have. Daniela Harwood, Parent \ 13

Downside Downside School Trust – Registered Charity No: 1184700 Downside Abbey General Trust – Registered Charity No: 1158507 Downside, Stratton-on-the-Fosse, BA3 4RH Tel 01761 235158 Email development@downside.co.uk www.downside.co.uk