Keys for Life

Clive Kelday Smith OBE, Order of the Two Niles, MA (Cantab) (School House 1953)

1934 - 2021

With spectacular results, coming top of overall entrants that year and with exceptional Latin results Clive was awarded a scholarship to board at St Peter’s in 1948. Clive’s nephew Martyn writes that Clive attributed St Peter’s with giving him direction, purpose, focus, selfesteem, and strong independence. He received excellent A Level results and following his period of National Service in Kenya, went on to read Classics at Emmanuel College, Cambridge.

In 1959 Clive joined the Overseas Civil Service and returned to Kenya for another five years, before a year as Aide de Camp and Secretary to the Governor of Mauritius. This was followed by a new job in the British Council and the first of two tours to Libya from 1967 to 1970, completing them as Director. Clive was in Lebanon for six years until 1978, and the following year was awarded his OBE at the age of 44, for services in the British Council.

In 1984 after a four-year term in Sudan as a Director, Clive was awarded The Order of the Two Niles by the President of Sudan. An honour for which he had to ask permission from The Palace that he could accept, as it is one of the few honours that the Queen does not have and needed their approval, which he received.

His last posting was to Saudi Arabia until 1992, and Clive retired from the British Council in 1993 after 28 years. In addition to his gift to St Peter’s Clive has left a rich legacy of publications, writings and papers on subjects ranging from the Yemen and Kenya to Saudi Arabia and Ottoman campaigns and of course his two honours, the Order of the Two Niles and his OBE.

With thanks to Clive’s nephew Martyn Roan

Keys for Life

St Peter’s is built upon long-standing traditions of community and generosity. In the last year alone, the School has been the beneficiary of several legacy donations of varying sizes, which have totalled over £350,000 in support of our Bursary Fund. Together these gifts will have a significant impact on the bursary awards that can be made in the coming years.

As the School looks towards our 1400 Anniversary, which will take place in 2026-2027, we are considering ways in which we can ensure that more pupils can access the opportunities that come with a St Peter’s education. We are so thankful to all the Old Peterites and their families who have remembered St Peter’s in their will.

Nigel Thornton (The Grove 1961) 1942-2020

Nigel joined St Peter’s in 1956 and represented his House The Grove in several sports including rugby and fencing during his time at School. Following his A Levels he studied at the Leeds School of Architecture. Nigel recounted he had done his minor thesis on Bolton Abbey and was able to use his connections to York Minster, including recalling records in Latin because of his studies at School.

Nigel worked as an Architect and remained in regular contact with the school often sharing stories and memories from his time here, including sharing a birthday with former Head Master John Dronfield. Nigel had great pride in the School and was a Patron and founding Donor to the 627 Society, supporting bursaries and the Boathouse appeal in his lifetime.

Nigel’s passions included classic cars and he was also a long-term supporter of the RNLI.

It is wonderful that all the donors who have supported the school have shared the same vision, the hope that their legacy will help transform the lives of the pupils who otherwise would be unable to attend the School.

A Donation to

Make A Difference

Guided by the wishes of their parents, one family were able to make a significant donation to the school that will help ensure that local pupils from York can access Sixth Form education.

“Our Parents were always delighted that we were offered places at the School, after St Peter’s was recommended to our parents by friends, who had a son in The Rise. We joined St Peter’s from a large comprehensive college (Desford in Leicestershire) in 1974 in to the Fourth Form. We were boarders in Dronfield, under the charge of the inestimable Keith & Margaret Coulthard.

Our Parents were very grateful for the role the School played in our development as young people. Specifically for:

The teaching team in its entirety

Progressive leadership (Peter Gardner and Jack Cummins)

The School (and its boarding) ethos

Its sporting (David Hutt) and extracurricular activities

The guidance/discipline of the Coulthard’s It went without saying, but we also knew from our parents’ ‘wishes’, that they would have liked to have helped provide youngsters of the future with the same opportunity that we had.

Our parents would have been proud to be part of the School’s ‘Help with Fees’ programme, especially its proactivity in terms of pupil selection and their development once they were a Peterite.

In short, our parents would have wanted to make a legacy that might help ensure the School’s continued legacy of bringing educational achievement and development of life skills to young people from diverse backgrounds.”

This generous anonymous donation made in 2021 will help fund a total of five means-tested bursaries that will be awarded over the next ten years. These bursaries will be for day pupils and will cover their full tuition across Lower Sixth and Upper Sixth, allowing these pupils to undertake their A Level studies at St Peter’s. We are delighted that the first pupil will be joining the School in September 2022.

Leaving a gift to St Peter’s in this way allows for you to plan your donation. Any gift in your Will is tax efficient. Such gifts are deducted from your estate before inheritance tax is calculated and can reduce the liability to your beneficiaries.

For those who hold St Peter’s School in their affections, remembering us in your Will is one of the most personal and significant ways in which you can help give the Keys for Life to future generations.

If you would like a copy of our legacy information pack or to discuss leaving a gift in your Will please contact Philippa Dunford-Jeffs, Development and Alumni Manager 01904 527363 p.dunfordjeffs@stpetersyork.org.uk