Cheltenham College is delighted to announce that a gift of £670,000 has been made by former pupil John Chatfeild-Roberts, Chief Investment Officer at Jupiter Asset Management. The gift has aided a major refurbishment of the College Library which will now be named The Chatfeild-Roberts Library in memory of the donor’s father, also an Old Cheltonian (OC).
The gift will also help finance the College’s new girls’ boarding house, set to open in September 2013. Both major building works are part of the College’s long-term development plan which has also seen the opening of a renovated Performing Arts theatre, a new dance studio and green room space this November.
Over the past 18 months under the leadership of Dr Alex Peterken, the College has entered an active phase of development, underpinned by a new giving programme encouraging both OCs and parents to become more closely involved. Over one million pounds has already been raised by 260 members of the College community.
John Chatfeild-Roberts commented: “I believe that those who are fortunate should give, and each generation has a responsibility to ensure that our great British educational institutions not only continue to prosper but to develop. Cheltenham College is entering an exciting phase of development and I am delighted to be part of it.”
He continued: “As a second generation Old Cheltonian, I owe a lot to the College, and to my parents for sending me there. My father was its devoted servant. Having been a boy there from 1928 – 1932, he was an active lifelong member of the Cheltonian Society, and served on the Council for 15 years. He was a keen regular and territorial solder, seeing service at Arnhem, so it is highly fitting that my gift has helped to pay for the new College Library which is not only the old military wing of the school but where all the 14 Old Cheltonian Victoria Crosses are housed. I am proud to be able to honour him in such a way.”
Dr Peterken, Headmaster of Cheltenham College commented: “This gift is a huge gesture from Mr Chatfeild-Roberts and a significant endorsement of the direction that Cheltenham College is taking. With academic results soaring and new facilities being both planned and built, his spirit of giving is already inspiring others to be part of our drive to be one of the very best schools in the West of England. These are very exciting times indeed.”