Angie McLachlan
"A favorite quote of the Chief’s was, apparently: "Labor, Art, Worship, Love, these make men's lives." So I guess that may have formed the source of inspiration for our Bedales motto ‘Work of Each for Weal of All’.
"As a Thanatologist, I have spent the best part of nearly 30 years thinking about death in one aspect or another. Therefore, the idea of Legacy, Will Making or talking about my own death comes very easy to me; I do understand that this is not the case for all who have started to read this.
"However, time flies by, my dyscalculic reckoning calculates that 45 years have passed since I left Bedales. I really wanted to mark the importance of the seven years I spent at the school, from Group 4 Dunhurst, through fledgling Middle-School up into 6.1.
"Sitting talking about school is one thing; chatting to OBs on a Facebook Contact Group ‘Dunhurst/Bedales 1965 to 1978 were you there?’ that I set up is another, but a good deal of joy has been gained through visits to the school, latterly through the JHB Society. My wife and I have attended lunches and concerts and had the privilege of visiting the stunning Art and Design block just after it was finished. To witness Bedales evolving as an educational establishment, a working estate and through the lives of past pupils via social media gives a continuation of relationship and more importantly, a continued value as to what the school gave to me. Frankly, in so many areas, Bedales gave me tools for life and this continues as each generation of OBs roll through leaves-taking and shake hands for the final time before heading out into the world beyond Steep.
I wanted to put something back into the place, to add a little to the continuation of the Chief’s educational dream
"At 61, I wanted to put something back into the place, to add a little to the continuation of the Chief’s educational dream. The JHB Society is an ideal platform to do this. One of the benefits of leaving a Legacy to Bedales through the Society is that we get invited back to enjoy school through ‘grown-up’ eyes. It has been a joy to attend Society meetings, because for me, emotional attachment is still palpable. Bedales in many ways made me into the person I am and I am hugely grateful to have had the privilege of learning a wide range of transferable skills there, from jewellery to judo, woodwork to weaving.
"My financial legacy to Bedales may be small in the great scheme of things. The Religious Study/Philosophy Department may or may not welcome the arrival of the bequest of books that will land after my demise; this last legacy surely the result of a bibliophile compulsion that was probably birthed on my first visit to the Memorial Library.
"However, it is the John Haden Badley Society that has been the inspiration for continuing bridge-building between my Bedales - the past, present and future. Please consider your own legacy and think of giving back for the ‘weal of all’."
Neil Blackley
"My children greatly enjoyed their time at Bedales, and have benefitted from its springboard into further education and life. I support the John Badley Foundation as I believe in its ethos of supporting talented children to obtain a Bedales education that they would not otherwise have been able to have, and that I know from my own children is a good one. This is so beneficial for their further education and the rest of their lives. It’s also good for the school and all students, as it creates a rich and more varied in-take. From my knowledge, Bedales understands the need for close pastoral care, which has resulted in the blossoming and success of the vast majority of students at Bedales that are supported in this way by the Foundation."
I believe in its ethos of supporting talented children to obtain a Bedales education that they would not otherwise have been able to have
Valerie Saint-Pierre
"If you are reading this then you must already understand that Bedales is not an ordinary school. The environment that is fostered there is one which encourages independent thinking, self-reliance and creativity, all within a nurturing and supportive environment. This is a place that gives its students the opportunity to explore a wide breadth of new experiences alongside the traditional ‘core’ subjects, discover what they love and expand their horizons safely.
"For me, an independent, creative thinker, this was an environment I could flourish in. However, it was only after I finished my schooling that I realised exactly how lucky I was to have had these opportunities, rather than being encouraged only into those areas for which I had a natural inclination or which were rated as ‘more important’ by career services or government bodies. In fact, ironically, my first ever job in publishing came about precisely because I had a wide breadth of knowledge rather than simply a degree in English Literature; as my employer later told me, he hired me because I could hold a conversation about pretty much anything!
I have no children of my own, but it gives me enormous satisfaction to know that I, even in a very small way, am enabling the broadening of young and curious minds through my monthly donations
"In the intervening 30-odd years I have become more and more aware of how important my schooling was to me, and subsequently how important it is to enable the same opportunities for other children. I have been supporting the John Badley Foundation since its Foundation over 10 years ago regardless of whether I have been employed or not, because I continue to believe every penny extremely well spent if it allows even one child to access the breadth of knowledge that I was given access to – which I believe is the foundation of a true education. I have no children of my own, but it gives me enormous satisfaction to know that I, even in a very small way, am enabling the broadening of young and curious minds through my monthly donations. I hope you will consider donating as well."