Development Report

Thank you:

• £20,350 was applied through the 2007 Annual Fund to our Wish List.

• £202,500 now given or pledged to the School by Will since the launch of our Legacy Campaign.

Once again, Kirstine Hogg and I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of you who so generously supported our Annual Fund, Legacy Campaign and Sixth Form House Appeal.

The months ahead will be exciting and demanding times for Merchiston with the opening of the new Sixth Form House. We have been humbled by the generosity of so many towards the Appeal, our most ambitious and exciting project since the move to Colinton in 1930.

B M McCorkell
Development Director

GIFTS TO THE SCHOOL 2006

Football Goals

Football at Merchiston has been going from strength to strength and last season's squad was, in terms of numbers and ability, our strongest since the Scottish Independent Schools Football Association competition began.  Mobile 5-a-side football goals have now been purchased through generous contributions to the Annual Fund and will be used in the back field.

Rugby

Bruce Crawford kindly sponsored rugby balls for the School matches against Fettes and Loretto last season.  Thanks to Alan Mickel we were also able to purchase new Touch Judge flags for the 2005/6 rugby season.

Sailing Club

Senior boys have the opportunity to sail twice a week at Port Edgar sailing school.  They can simply enjoy time on the water or strive to improve specific dinghy handling skills such as working with asymmetrics.  Over 25 years ago the School was donated a classic racing dinghy, which, even at the beginning of this year, was still using the original sails.  Now, through the Annual Fund, the main sail and jib have been replaced to enhance substantially the boat's performance.

Professional Recording Equipment

We were most grateful for the very exciting addition to the Music Department of portable Professional Recording Equipment.  This state-of-the-art equipment comprises a digital mixing deck with software, as well as microphones and tannoy speakers, and was very kindly and generously donated by Mrs Mary Fairweather and Mrs Kate Robson, whose sons are members of the band, "The Mystic Floorboards".

Front of School

The final stage of the Cameron tartan carpeting for the front of the School has now been completed, greatly enhancing the initial impression of the School's main entrance.  Leather sofas and a coffee table have also been purchased for the Lower Well, and have proved to be an excellent and very comfortable area for visitors and informal meetings; awards and trophies are also displayed there now to much greater effect in the glass cabinets.  A new flat screen has also been recently purchased for the front of the School, to run as a "rolling notice board" of events and activities.  Many thanks to Barbara Hunter for her tireless work organising the highly successful Commemoration Dances, the revenue from which is used to purchase these items.

New Trees

JRB has once again been delighted with the continuing flow of gifts for Merchiston trees and their care.  He reports that the "Headmaster's Beech" left a big difficult gap when it had to be taken down last year, but a replacement beech was planted in November, together with five willows, three Salix Daphnoides Aglaia and two Salix Alba Tristis.  There was also room for a very fine Cedrus Deodara Pendula at the top of the rise.  Many thanks for the very generous gift of a Laburnum Vossii, which has been placed by the Art Block, just south of the entrance, and several Cypressus Leylandii, which are in waiting to close the Cedars road at what is now the end of the Merchiston estate.

Gym Equipment

A new "state of the art" high jump mat for the PE Department has been purchased, which, with its extra cushioning, is a welcome addition to the existing equipment.  Contributions to the Annual Fund have continued to fund expansion to the Multi-gym and this year extra weights were purchased.

Chalmers West & Pringle

Donations made through the Annual Fund are regularly used to improve the leisure facilities in the School House, and this year Chalmers West were able to acquire DVD players, further occasional lighting and a much appreciated table tennis table.  Also a very welcome addition for the younger pupils at Pringle House was a pool table.

Miscellaneous

Through the Annual Fund we were able to purchase two further computers for the Geography Department, a projector for the Robertson Hall, an interactive White Board for the IT Department and three new glass-fronted notice boards for the Sports Hall.  A new glass-fronted notice board for the stairway to the Merchistonian Club has also been bought, which is used to display Club Merchandise.

Bursary Fund

The School Bursary Fund gives much appreciated assistance to boys currently at Merchiston who require ongoing support of fees, and enables us to offer others the opportunity to experience for the first time the richness of a Merchiston education.  We are once again very grateful for all contributions through the Annual Fund to this very worthwhile cause.

Napier Society

Membership of the Napier Society is offered as a way of thanking those generous enough to contribute to Merchiston's future with a legacy or bequest under their Will.  Since its launch in 2003, membership of the Society has continued to grow, and we are extremely grateful for the generosity of the many bequests, and have been delighted to entertain those members who have attended select events during the year.  If you would like to know more about leaving a legacy to Merchiston, or about the Napier Society, please contact the Development Office.