Aysgarth School

The First Clement Hales Society Lunch

The first Clement Hales Society lunch took place on Sunday 16th May 2010 at the School. This lunch was a thank you to those who have become members of the Society after pledging a gift to the Aysgarth School Foundation in their Will and it was also open to those who wanted to hear more about the Society. The lunch provided a forum for old friends to meet up with one another and see what Aysgarth looks like now. They enjoyed going to chapel, taking a tour of the School and having lunch together in the Headmaster’s House. If there is sufficient interest, we would be happy to hold next year’s event in the South of England.

Fundraising Dinners

The first of a number of dinner parties planned took place at Clifton Castle in May, thanks to our kind hosts the Marquess and Marchioness of Downshire. The purpose of this and future dinner parties was to highlight the Foundation’s aims and need for funds to a small number of current parents.

Summer Fete

The Summer Fete held on Bank Holiday Monday 4th May 2009, raised almost £1,000 in aid of The Aysgarth School Foundation! The gloomy weather did not dampen the atmosphere of Aysgarth's first Summer Fete. Stalls, activities and competitions (including a ‘knobbliest knees’ competition!) were enjoyed by all. Thanks go to the staff and children of Aysgarth as well as the parents who generously donated items for the tombola and the cake and bake stall.

Aysgarth School Foundation Launch

Special guest Rory Bremner joined parents and pupils past and present at a Dinner held on the 19th June 2008 to help launch the Aysgarth School Foundation. £100,000 was raised from ticket sales, sponsorship, a silent auction and a live auction kindly conducted by Captain Peter Townley plus other donations, which will help kick – start the funding of bursaries and the School’s development to keep it at the forefront of prep schools in the country.

Staff and boys from the top years of the Prep School helped welcome and assist guests through the evening and the Aysgarth choir and musicians provided entertainment during the champagne reception. Rory’s nephew Charlie Onslow joined Graham Francis, Orlando Hill, Jack Williams-Ellis and their tutor Tom Alexander, to pipe guests into dinner where they were welcomed to a marquee adorned with bright, citrus coloured table decorations, flowers and an array of Chinese lanterns hanging from the ceiling.

A huge thank you must go to all who helped on the night and to the Dinner Committee: Pip Bolton, Claire Crawshay, Lara Fawcett, Kate Fenwick, Liz Foster, Caroline Goddard, Sarah Guthe, Eileen Harrison-Topham, Cindy Onslow, Squeeze Southall and Bunch Stroyan.

A variety of future events will be organised to raise funds for the Foundation. Please e-mail lfoster@aysgarthschool.co.uk if you would like to be kept informed of these events.