Clifton College Website

Hello and welcome to The Friends of Clifton

You are all Friends of Clifton whilst your children are at School and as the committee of staff, parents and teachers from Butcombe, the Pre and Upper School we work together to provide events for all to enjoy.

Our calendar includes a termly Breakfast where a warm welcome to all parents awaits in the Crypt on a Saturday morning, at the beginning of each term. Forthcoming dates for your diary are: Saturday 21 January 2012; Saturday 12 May 2012; and Saturday 15 September 2012.

Bollywood Night was a new venture for The Friends and about ninety parents and their friends enjoyed an evening of Indian food and dance in the Pre Hall.

Special thanks go to Amit and Kalpana Lakhani for all the hard work they did in providing the delicious meal and also the music and dance. Thanks also to Liddy and Helen, plus other members of the committee who worked hard to make the tables look so spectacular and to Jeremy and Heather for running the bar.

A tricky Indian-themed quiz kept guests’ brains active between courses, but the evening will probably be most remembered for what everyone was wearing – there were as many interpretations of ‘dress Bollywood’ as there were people and it made for a very colourful and enjoyable evening!

A few fun photographs capture the spirit of the evening.

Race Night returns on Saturday 10 March, again in the Pre Hall. This is always a popular night with supper, a bar and about 7 races from which to pick your winners.

In addition to this we arrange an annual Golf Day in June where anyone can play or put together a team of four players. In 2012 we return to Bristol and Clifton Golf Club on Tuesday 14 June, followed by an informal dinner in the wonderful setting of the Cricket Pavilion back at School. Applications should be sent to Philip Hallworth at phallworth@clifton-college.avon.sch.uk.

Every two years the Friends organise the Clifton Commemoration Ball. This is a great night when parents and Sixth Formers enjoy dinner, dancing and entertainment in a marquee on the Close. Our next Ball is a special occasion being the 150th Celebration Commemoration Ball. It will be a spectacular event for 1500 people with a Victorian theme. Commemoration is at the end of term in 2012 so the Ball will be held on Saturday 7 July.

The aim of Friends of Clifton is to provide opportunities for parents to meet and enjoy social events. With the money we raise we have been able to contribute to the following projects: the refurbishment of the Cricket Pavilion; the refurbishment of the Butcombe playground and climbing frame; Butcombe radio microphones; the refurbishment of the foyer at the Redgrave Theatre and the replacement of the theatre fire curtain; electronic information signs for the Pre School; and the art department kiln – to name just a few.

None of this would be possible without the Committee who give their time to make these events possible. I would like to thank all those involved for their help and commitment throughout the last year and look forward to the next!

Judith Hood, Chairman
Friends of Clifton College

Aims

The Friends of Clifton (FoC) was established in the 1980s to enable a wide circle of people to participate in and keep in touch with the life of the School. In addition to former parents, current parents, current and former members of staff, governors and Old Cliftonians, the membership is open to our neighbours in the local community.

Organisation

Members are kept in touch through the twice-yearly printed newsletter Colloquy, which has news of activities in Butcombe (Pre-Prep), The Pre and the Upper School. There is a regular article written by the Chairman of the Friends informing members about the various social and cultural events organised by the FoC Committee throughout the year.

FoC are encouraged to support Chapel services, sports fixtures, concerts etc, and the dates of these events can be found in the Calendars. The range of events depends on the talents and enthusiasm of the Committee, and so new members are always welcome!

Regular Events

• Family Breakfast (each term, usually the third Saturday – see the Calendars)
• Summer Barbecue

See the Friends of Clifton gallery

• Race Night
• Golf day
• Butcombe Christmas Fair
• The Biennial Commemoration Ball

Funded Projects

Although primarily a ‘friend-raising’ rather than ‘fund-raising’ group, the FoC have been fortunate to make a profit from some of its events and thus contribute to projects that benefit the Clifton community. The following is a list of funded projects since January 2002:

Subscription

The FoC is a non-profit making organisation and is self-financing. All members, except for current parents and members of staff, pay a subscription to be life members (the current rates are given below). Current parents are all automatically members of the FoC on a non-subscription basis, and they enjoy the benefit of a reduced life membership if they join as Life Members whilst their children are still at School.

Current Rates

• Life Membership – £60 payable by cash or cheque
• Life Membership for current parents/staff – £50 payable by cash or cheque

How to Join

Please contact:
Philip Hallworth, Membership Secretary FoC, 32 College Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 3JH.

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