Legacy Giving

“A society grows great when the old plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.” Greek Proverb

Legacy is a word that is frequently used as part of the Barney education today in an attempt to ask our young people how they will leave a lasting impact: on School, on others and on life. We simply ask them to leave the School in a better place than they found it, in the hope that every Barnardian is the beneficiary of the generations that have gone before.

It is not simply the intangible environment which we hope the current and future generations will benefit from, but also opportunities that arise for them as a result of the generosity of Old Barnardians.

Making a bequest to the School in your Will is one such manner and it can have a significant impact on the future of the School. It can also provide an extremely appropriate and effective way to:

  • Leave something permanent behind you
  • Give something back to the School
  • Do more than you might have been able to do in your lifetime
  • Save Inheritance Tax

The specific wishes of our donors are of the utmost importance to Barney, especially in the case of bequests. The School would be very happy to talk to you, in confidence, about whether there are any particular areas of the School that you would like such a gift to be used for and how the School might acknowledge your generosity.

MICHAEL RIDER PICKARD
DURHAM HOUSE 1949 – 1955

My twin brother Mike’s legacy to the School was long established, in fact, for over thirty years we have discussed it at length whilst on our annual fishing holiday in Scotland. I feel his decision was guided by several key elements.

Firstly, we had an amazing role model in our Uncle Tony who had been a pupil at Barney in the 1920s. Uncle Tony became a very successful entrepreneur in the USA, but also became the committed president of a number of public bodies.

Secondly, Mike had always appreciated his own education at Barney, and as a committed Christian, accepted the concept of tithes to good works and charities.

Thirdly, he was determined not to undermine parents in the upbringing of their children by leaving a life changing sum to a minor

Finally Mike was determined to minimise the amount paid to the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

These reasons, along with the fact that he was brought up during the war years, a time when there was rationing and shortage, influenced the scale of his gift to Barney and to the other charities he supported throughout his life. Mike, who never married, was a saver who enjoyed the simple pleasures of fishing and holidays in the UK.

Written by Gordon Wilson Pickard, Durham House 1949-56