THE JULIAN BEWICK MEMORIAL FUND
NURTURING POTENTIAL, SHAPING FUTURES
It must be a very rare thing for one person to leave such a strong mark on so many young lives.
Chris A, OM - 1984
THE JULIAN BEWICK MEMORIAL FUND
NURTURING POTENTIAL, SHAPING FUTURES
Julian Bewick: A Legacy of Inspiration
Julian was an extraordinary individual who transcended the roles of Maths Teacher, Housemaster, and rowing coach. What truly distinguished him was his profound dedication to acknowledging and cultivating the unique potential within each student. He possessed a remarkable talent for instilling confidence and fostering self-belief, even in pupils who doubted their own abilities.
A compelling illustration of Julian’s impact is the narrative of Steve Williams, which was recounted by Steve at Julian’s recent rowing memorial. As a young rower, Julian encouraged Steve to prioritize his overall fitness and to aspire to represent his country. The time Steve dedicated to gym training proved invaluable when he later tried out for the GB rowing team, ultimately representing Great Britain and winning two Olympic Gold medals.
Beyond his contributions to rowing, and sport in general, Julian was notably forward-thinking in advocating for emerging fields, particularly computer science. Many of his former students went on to make substantial contributions to the technology sector, shaping innovations that continue to influence our lives today.
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Our Vision: The Julian Bewick Memorial Fund
The Julian Bewick Memorial Fund aims to embody Julian’s spirit: to provide the resources and environment where every pupil can discover their talents, embrace new challenges, and reach their full potential, just as Julian inspired in so many.
This proposal outlines a fundraising initiative designed to honour Julian’s profound impact on our school community and to continue his vision of nurturing individual potential. Julian was remarkable for his unparalleled ability to believe in students, even when they doubted themselves, guiding them to achieve ambitions they never thought possible. This fund will be dedicated to supporting rowing at Monkton, including updating our fleet of boats, improving facilities at Dundas, the acquisition of a state-of-the-art rowing tank and providing access to strength and conditioning for all students. Additionally, the fund will provide bursarial support for talented pupils demonstrating excellence in Maths, Computer Science, or Rowing. Through these targeted investments, we seek to provide exceptional opportunities, foster innovation, and ensure Julian’s legacy of encouragement and forward-thinking support continues to shape the lives of future generations.
wasn’t a rower or in School House, but he was an inspiring teacher who had such a positive and lasting impact on me.
Chris E, OM - 1994
Rowing at Monkton
Under Head Coach, Nick Baker, Monkton rowing is embarking on an exciting new chapter. We believe rowing should be an inclusive and inspiring experience, offering every pupil the chance to gain its physical, psychological, and social benefits. The school has demonstrated significant commitment and ambition by recently investing in two Aliante Filippi 4x’s for our top boys’ and girls’ sculling crews to compete in major events. Rowing holds a special place at Monkton, having produced 11 of the school’s 12 Olympians. Beyond results, rowing fosters character, spirit, camaraderie, and respect among all boat club members.
As part of Monkton’s ambitious drive to elevate our rowing program, we are now looking to establish a state-of-the-art land-based rowing tank. This cuttingedge facility will revolutionize how our students learn and develop in the sport, providing a safe environment for novices to master fundamentals and enabling advanced rowers to refine their technique with unparalleled precision. Crucially, it will ensure uninterrupted training regardless of weather conditions or river accessibility, including the more frequent flooding of recent years, and will provide vital rehabilitation support for our competitive athletes.By integrating the Dreher modular system from the USA, we can achieve a custom-specified, high-quality, and long-lasting structure by retrofitting it into an existing school building - a remarkably economical solution that underscores our commitment to excellence and innovation in rowing.
Maths & Computer Science at Monkton
Julian Bewick’s visionary passion for computer science led him to be remarkably ahead of his time in championing this emerging field. Not only did he inspire many former pupils to make significant contributions to the technology sector, shaping innovations that continue to impact our daily lives, but Julian also spearheaded the effort with pupils to build Monkton’s first computer in the 1970s. This pioneering spirit laid the groundwork for computing at Monkton, inspiring many to pursue careers in the IT industry.
Building on Julian’s foundational legacy, Monkton continues to empower and equip the next generation of problem-solvers and creators. Our integrated STEM approach, built on Mathematics and Computer Science, gives students the critical thinking, creativity, and analytical skills needed for a complex world. From solving hard problems in the UK National Maths Challenge to hands-on projects like designing solar cookers and restoring vintage tractors, our students experience Maths and Computer Science as engaging journeys of discovery, not just subjects. Whatever their future path, Monktonians gain the flexibility and ingenuity to thrive as tomorrow’s innovators and inventors.
INVESTING IN EXCELLENCE OUR VISION
The Julian Bewick Memorial Fund will be invested in areas that align with Julian’s passions and will have a lasting, transformative impact on our students’ educational journey and future prospects. The projects identified for support, depending on the total amount raised, include:
Developing Rowing at Monkton: Facilities, Fleet, and Performance
A Key Aspiration: The Julian Bewick Performance Centre, in which our flagship project is the development of a state-of-the-art land-based rowing tank, directly echoing Julian’s commitment to sporting excellence and individual fitness. This facility will revolutionise student learning and development, providing a safe environment for novices and enabling advanced rowers to refine technique regardless of weather or river conditions, including periods of rehabilitation for competitive students. The Dreher modular system offers an economical, high-quality, and long-lasting solution, retrofitting into an existing school building.
Broader Rowing Enhancements: Beyond the tank, the fund will also support the updating and expansion of our fleet of rowing boats and the refurbishment of the Dundas site. These enhancements are crucial for accommodating more rowers, ensuring access to the best equipment for training and competition, minimizing travel costs, and maximizing time on the water for all levels. This comprehensive investment will elevate our Boat Club, attracting and developing top talent, enhancing the overall rowing experience, and fostering discipline, teamwork, and resilience.
Estimated Cost for Rowing Development: £500,000
Julian Bewick Bursary for Excellence in Maths, Computer Science or Rowing
This bursary directly honours Julian’s belief in developing individual potential. It will provide essential financial assistance to highly talented pupils in Mathematics, Computer Science, or Rowing who otherwise could not attend Monkton. By being means-tested, it ensures support goes to those who need it most. This initiative will remove financial barriers for gifted students, enriching our school community by attracting exceptional talent and fostering a diverse student body, all while upholding Julian’s commitment to unlocking potential regardless of background.
He encouraged us to write early computer programmes in the 1970s which he personally input and ran for us using punched cards at Bath University. It was probably this which inspired me later to take up Computer Science at University and my career began in the IT industry.
James M, OM - 1978
WHY INVEST?
This fund began with a generous legacy gift from Julian — a final act of support from someone who spent his life encouraging potential and inspiring ambition. In his honour, we are now building on that foundation, inviting the wider Monkton community to help us raise over £500,000 to create state-of-the-art rowing facilities and fund bursaries which will benefit generations to come.
Honouring a Legacy
Your contribution will directly honour Julian’s profound impact on countless lives and ensure his forward-thinking vision continues to thrive.
Transformative Impact
These projects are not merely upgrades; they are strategic investments that will fundamentally enhance the educational experience and future opportunities for our students.
Nurturing Talent
By providing bursaries, you enable us to identify and develop exceptional talent, empowering the next generation of leaders, innovators, and athletes.
“
He was definitely one of my favourite teachers. Without his sympathetic maths lessons, I would never have got my crucial Maths O-Level, needed for Oxbridge entry.
Murray W, OM - 1970
CONTINUING JULIAN’S LEGACY
Achieving Our Fundraising Target: How You Can Help
We aim to make contributing accessible at every level, allowing our entire community to participate in continuing Julian’s legacy.
The target we are aiming for, for the development of rowing, is £500,000. There is no set target for pupil support but we would like to offer at least two ‘Julian Bewick’ bursaries of between 30% & 50%.
Please consider if you could help us finish the race by giving in any of the following ways, or indeed, with any gift of any amount:
£30,000
£5,000
£1,000
£520
£378
A gift at this level, or higher, will give the donor the opportunity to name one of our new fleet
Eleven individuals giving a one-off gift of £5000 representing one of the 11 Monkton Olympic rowers
individuals giving £1,000 one off gifts, one for each year Julian taught at Monkton
To mark the 1970s, the decade Julian built Monkton’s first computer, with each supporter giving £700
Forty eight individuals, one for each year Julian was involved in rowing at Monkton giving £520 each - equivalent to a cup of coffee and cake week (roughly £5/week over 2 years) £31,200
The National School Regatta was a true test of Julian’s unparalleled computer expertise. A new race started every five minutes for days, with each result needing to be online before the next began – a task he described as the ‘most challenging computer task’ he ever undertook, managing up to 378 races over three days. You can honour this incredible feat by sponsoring each race Julian oversaw. Ten individuals giving a gift of just £378 (£10 per race)
£4,725
£100 150 We would also be so thankful for any smaller, recurring donations. £18,750
WAYS TO GIVE
Thank you for considering making a gift to the Julian Bewick Memorial Fund, there are a number of ways you can make a donation:
Regular Giving
Regular donations to the fund would make a remarkable difference as they enable us to plan financially; many people giving small amounts really do add up to make a real impact.
If you are in a position to donate regularly, please fill out the relevant section on our donation form to set up a Direct Debit to the school. Please use the QR code below to access the form.
Gift Aid
If you are a UK taxpayer, please consider Gift Aiding your donation, as we will be able to claim back the tax on your donation - that’s 25p extra for every £1 you give, on a £100 donation that would be an additional £25!
Making a Donation from the USA
To find out more about how you can support us and view giving options, please follow the link below or scan the QR code: https://www.monktoncombeschool.com/monktoncommunity/supporting-monkton
Single Donation
Making a single gift couldn’t be easier. You can give online via Stewardship or set up a BACS transfer, simply use the QR Code below for more details.
You can make a tax-efficient gift from the USA via the British Schools and Universities Foundation (BSUF). You can do so online at bsuf.org, please ensure you state your chosen organisation as Monkton Combe School. You are supporting Monkton Combe School, a company limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales (3228456) and a registered charity in England and Wales (1057185)
