After the OLA Annual Dinner in March 2018, Michael Foster (OL 1976) and Paul Matarewicz (OL 1976) approached the School about an idea to help support a local boy with his education. The OLA Annual Dinner reminded them of how many boys have been educated at John Lyon and all in some way or another greatly affected by their experience at School. Michael, a huge advocate of social diversity with a successful and passionate career in supporting young people to enter the workplace in order to boost social diversity, saw this opportunity to give back to the local community, do a good deed and assist the School in growing their social diversity.

In November 2018, a Bursary Appeal was launched in memory of their very dear friend, Jeremy Geelan OL 1975, who sadly lost his life to cancer a number of years before. After launching the appeal, initially to their year group and those in the years above and below, we soon realised that many more showed interest in supporting the School through bursaries to honour the fond memories of a friend or family member.

Just over a year later, through discussions at various events and reunions over the year we are strongly encouraged by a large number of OLs who have also expressed an interest in remembering an OL no longer with us. Through these conversations we have evolved the Appeal to be an "In Memoriam Bursary Appeal" which enables OLs to support the School and creating a lasting memory of a loved one.

Each year the School receives many Bursary applications and sadly has to refuse entry to a large number of deserving and worthy pupils, purely because the funding is not available. The Bursary Appeal aims to raise money to support the education of one child from Year 7 to Upper Sixth, over seven years with an annual commitment that covers their annual fee. We hope to grow it from there!

By supporting a Bursary, you can offer an education to a boy with transformational opportunities, a boy who otherwise may see an independent education as out of his reach. Through this you will enrich the School through social diversity and transform the life of a local boy.

We have several annual commitments until 2026 totalling £43,780 but still some way to go to reach our target of £130,000. Join us today and support the In Memoriam Bursary Appeal. This is a wonderful way to remember a friend or loved one that you have fond memories of during and after your time at John Lyon. Once we reach our target, we can identify the pupil that will receive the Bursary support and would love to create a plaque or fundraising tree where we can thank our donors and share the names of all those remembered.

Please contact lyonianassociation@johnlyon.org if you would like more information on how to make a donation.