Now, and under the campaign banner ‘A brilliant foundation for life - the campaign for Wells Cathedral School', we will raise funds towards bursaries,  much needed classrooms, a new pavilion to be built on Cedars Field, and a new music teaching, learning and performing building (working title - Cedars Hall).  These four projects are central to the schools future.  Each is needed if we are to be a school that everyone would like to come t o, and the most outstanding music school in Europe.

The government has already contributed £4.5M towards the new music building and classrooms - around 50% of the overall cost of these two projects.  The governors and head have ensured that a sizable sum is already set aside towards the building of classrooms, and have committed £50,000 towards the pavilion.  Further funding will be committed towards the music building.  The details of the overall financing of this overall development programme will be announced in the New Year.  Meanwhile I would like to outline some underlying principles on which the accompanying fundraising campaign will be built.
We realise that we are in a difficult financial environment, and that some will be finding their financial situation very challenging.  We will try to be sensitive in seeking to ask for funds.  Gifts will be warmly accepted over a period of time - up to five years.  People will only be asked for support once.  We will usually ask people to support a specific project but you will always be able to indicate that you would prefer to support one of the others.
We will be inviting parents, Old Wellensians, Friends of Music and musicians around the world, Trusts and Foundations, corporations, businesses and other organisations to participate.  It will take time and while you may hear from us in 2009, it might also be 2010 or 2011 before we ask you to support this important investment in the future of our sons and daughters.

The speed of each project will be different.  Fundraising for bursaries has begun.  The classrooms will be built by April 2010 so our fundraising for this project will begin as soon as possible, and will continue until they are built.  The pavilion will be built when adequate funds are committed.  Cedars Hall will need around £3.0M to be raised and while we hope that the building can be opened in 2012, it will depend on how quickly we can attract funding. 

During the "first phase", we do not announce a public income target, or a conclusion date for any of the projects.  We have "working targets" for each project, and each will be "launched" when we have raised around half the funds we seek for that project.  Because each will move at a different speed, and classrooms may be completed and finished before we have completed 50% of the fundraising for the music facility, it makes sense to have four public launches - and four public completion celebrations.  Yes - this way we have more parties!

Details and progress made will be regularly reported on our website - www.wellsfoundation.org.uk.  If you are interested in helping with any of these projects as a volunteer, please do be in touch with me.  We know it is really important to recognise appropriately those who support the campaign and there will be a variety of ways that we will do this including a special book of benefactors.  I am delighted that Elizabeth Tudway Quilter has agreed to be Patron of the "TQ" Society, which will both honour David Tudway Quilter and all those who make gifts of £1,000 to the School.  We will let everyone know more about the TQ society in due course.

Together we will enable generations of Wells pupils to experience much enhanced facilities; we will honour our heritage, and we will achieve something of which we can all be very proud.  This is our chance to inspire those who follow us.    Esto quod es!
Please be in touch if I can assist in any way.  With kind regards, and best wishes for Christmas and for 2009