How we thank you

Lancing College is enormously grateful for the support shown by OLs, parents and friends of the College.

The school respects the wishes of those who would like their gifts to remain anonymous, but in other cases we would like to acknowledge people’s generosity during their lifetime.

Donors are thanked and acknowledged each year in the Foundation Annual Report and receive a letter from the Head Master updating them on the school’s progress. Every donor is invited to the Evelyn Waugh Lecture and Annual Dinner.

We have introduced a new benefactor scheme to reflect the gratitude the College owes to its major donors. Divided into tiers, the different benefactor levels are named after significant figures in the fundraising history of the school. All of these men formed part of Nathaniel Woodard’s inner circle of influential friends; he was able to inspire some of the most eminent men of his time and appeal to their charitable instincts. Patrons and Benefactors will be recognised in the Foundation Annual Report and invited to an exclusive Lancing event as a small token of our appreciation. Their names will be also be on an honours board if the donation is associated with a specific capital project.

Sir Alexander Beresford Hope was a Conservative MP and a member of the Privy Council. His philanthropy covered a number of different areas including Lancing; he was President of the Royal Institute of British Architects, a trustee of the British Museum, a co-founder of the Saturday Review, a fellow of the Royal Society and a founder of St Paul’s Ecclesiological Society. Beresford Hope was married to Lord Salisbury’s sister and his coat of arms is recorded in a stained glass window in the College Dining Hall.

Robert Arthur Talbot Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury, KG, GCVO, PC was a Conservative statesman and three times Prime Minister, serving for a total of over 13 years. He was the first British Prime Minister of the 20th century. As one of Woodard’s inner circle of powerful friends, his portrait hangs in the Dining Hall at Lancing.

William Ewart Gladstone FRS FSS was a Liberal statesman. In a career lasting over 60 years, he served as Prime Minister four separate times. Gladstone, at 84, was Britain’s oldest Prime Minister when he resigned for the last time. Gladstone’s coat of arms is recorded in a stained glass window in the Dining Hall at Lancing. His great-grandson, Sir William Gladstone Bt, KG was Head Master of the College from 1961-1969 and is himself a benefactor of Lancing.

Henry Tritton was a partner in Barclays Bank (then known as Barclay, Bevan and Tritton) and contributed £10k annually (valued at £9m today) to Lancing. His portrait hangs in the College Dining Hall alongside our Founder and other major benefactors.

Lancing Foundation Recognition Levels for Major Benefactors

Patron £1838 per year *
Principal Patron £10k
Beresford Hope Benefactors £25k
Salisbury Benefactors £50k
Gladstone Benefactors £100k
Tritton Benefactors £250k

*(minimum 3 years)

For supporters who have informed us of their intention to remember Lancing in their Wills, the School has established the 1848 Legacy Society. Click here for more about the Society. Legators’ names will be recorded on commemorative boards in Great School.