AUTHOR ROGER WIGGINS

CONGRATULATIONS TO
THE SUNNINGWELL SCHOOL OF ART

A COLOURFUL JOURNEY SPANNING 40 YEARS

            The remarkable foresight and initiative that established  the 'Sunningwell School of Art' in the old village school building was, in the first instance, the brainchild of  two tutors at the then Oxford Polytechnic - Duncan Killen of Boars Hill and Len McComb from London (later RA).  Following the initial setting up of the school Len McComb was later obliged to withdraw his support due to work pressures and the principal burden of the school's establishment fell upon Duncan Killen who became known as the school's Founder and first Director. Duncan  later recalled that it was Joe Passingham, a well-known local figure, who first advised  him of the vacant former school, whilst helpful encouragement came from the local Rector - "An approach was made to the Rev. Brunning, to see if it would be possible to lease the Church of England school, ..he was enthusiastic about the project."

               Having acquired use of the Old School building for a token rent in October 1973 and enlisted a handful of  further pioneer class tutors, notably the potter Lesley Williams and artists John Newberry and Archie Utin, the embryo art school opened its doors. Founded  largely on the proverbial wing and a prayer, financial and more general support essential to the school's firm establishment was gradually given by a small number of dedicated local volunteers and well-wishers, the then Parish Clerk Harold Stainton, becoming one of the very first students and later a trustee until his death.

               The school did not enjoy a truly firm footing until it acquired  its own board of trustees, a steering committee and an experienced volunteer administrator - Dennis Williams to see to the finances and  the day to day running of the school.

               In its early years the school was particularly dependent upon the patronage of Blackwell Scientific Publications in the shape of Chief Executive Per Saugman and , that of Steve Crawley of Coleman Construction. Valuable additional support came from the district council, the Southern Arts and other benefactors.

               By 1979 the school could boast of over 100 students, including a number of  parishioners -  local involvement being one of the desired aims of the school from its outset. By this time there were 7 tutors, covering classes in Drawing, Painting, Batik  Watercolour, Sculpture and Pottery - the latter class, along with a drawing class, by then open to children.

               Crisis struck in the same year when it became apparent that faced with the upkeep of a redundant school  the  owners of the building - the Sunningwell Poor's Land Education Foundation  in cooperation with the County Council Education Department wished to dispose of the school and were preparing to place it on the open market. To counter this threat Blackwell Scientific as principal patrons generously offered a life-saving bid of £30,000  as a philanthropic gesture in order to purchase the school, but clearly this sum was insufficient as the school was likely to fetch nearly double that figure when offered for sale on the open market or by auction, as was required under  the strict Charity Commission rules to which the Sunningwell charity was beholden.

                Undaunted, a campaign was launched by Duncan Killen and Roger Wiggins to bring all the interested parties round to the wisdom of preserving the school in the interests of the community. As a result of  correspondence, a petition and a  public meeting with the authorities involved - including the Church and Parish Council, full support for Blackwell proposals was achieved,  though the stumbling-block of the Charity Commission protocol remained : a Resolution from  the public meeting was sent to the Charity Commissioners urging them to accept the Blackwell offer.

                 Following an  approach from the campaigners, local MP Airey Neave visited the school and subsequently, just days before his tragic death at the hands of the IRA, succeeded in persuading the Charity Commissioners that an exception to the rules governing the disposal of the school should be made in the interests of the local community, thus acceptance of the  Blackwell bid was made possible. Thereafter the  school was the beneficiary of a mere peppercorn rent of  £1 per year from Blackwells who also agreed to share the running costs for 7 years along with construction firm Benfield and Loxley.

                 The saving of the school through the good offices of Per Saugman and Airey Neave is commemorated by the plaque erected in the main schoolroom which was unveiled on the 29th March, 1980 by Lady Airey Neave on the occasion of  an exhibition of work by the school's staff and students.

                  Having secured a firmer footing the Sunningwell School of Art went on from strength to strength, an achievement that was to culminate in the Trustees finally being in a position to purchase the premises outright in June 2000.

                  Forty years on  the school is not only an established and respected bastion of the of the local community and a Mecca for those of artistic talent or aspirations from a wide area, but a shining example of what can be achieved through dedicated community involvement and the ethic of self-help.

Author Roger Wiggins