Gilbert Hannam Education Foundation
The Gilbert Hannam Education Foundation is an independent charity which supports the education and welfare of MRC students through individual, group and school grants. The grants we give make a difference to students, helping improve opportunities or supporting special skills or talents.
Through our grants and awards we:
- Encourage students in their learning journey and develop new skills.
- Support extracurricular courses and development to improve skills and knowledge.
- Support students where there are financial difficulties that hinder educational opportunities.
We encourage parents, carers, MRC Departments and students themselves to make applications for support through our online form.
If you are unable to use the online form, please contact Midhurst Rother College 01730 812451
Management of the Foundation
The Gilbert Hannam Education Foundation assets are managed by The Trustees to generate the income of the Foundation which is distributed towards the grants and awards.
The Trustees are responsible for reviewing and approving applications for funding and monitoring the performance of funded projects.
The Trustees include members of the local community plus the Principal of MRC who is an ex-officio trustee. The Foundation appoints a trustee to the College’s Local Governing Body.
Trustees:
- Gill Welsman (Chair)
- Christopher Hunt (Deputy Chair)
- Phil Stringer
- Adrian Moore
- Stuart Edwards
- David Lawes (Treasurer)
- Alexa Dugan
Trustees Report
Who was Gilbert Hannam?
As a young man in his teens, Gilbert Hannam was a soldier on the side of Parliament in the English Civil War. He fought his way eastwards across England. For a considerable time Hannam’s troop was stationed near Petersfield, and he frequently delivered messages to parliamentary forces in the Midhurst area. Edward Hannam, his uncle, had a prosperous wool business in Midhurst and Steyning and Gilbert joined him after the war as a weaver and coverlet (bedspread) maker.
In 1672, believing strongly in the importance of education, he set up a free school for twelve poor protestant boys in a classroom in the loft of the Market House in the town square. Later the school was moved to Gilbert Hannam’s old house in North Street. He died in 1677. His wish that poor students should be educated for free was maintained until the Grammar School merged with the neighbouring Secondary Modern in 1966.
Registered charity number 1159447