New art facility unveiled at Christ’s Hospital

This upgraded facility was made possible by a generous gift made to the School last year.

It was the wish of Mrs Alison Forbes, wife of James Forbes, former pupil (Old Blue 1934-41) and Treasurer (1987-96) that a sum of money should be made available to the School in her husband’s memory.

Head of art at Christ’s Hospital, Paul Deller said: “It is with gratitude that we remember James Forbes through this wonderful resource.

“The gift has enabled us to move the kilns into a more space specific environment providing them with their own ventilation system and the remaining space has been converted to a wood workshop, with a brand new band saw, extraction unit, work surfaces and storage facility. ‘The Forbes Kiln Room and Workshop’ is a user friendly studio with machinery and space that will have a profound effect on our ability to teach sculpture and ceramics to pupils in the future.”

The unveiling of the plaque was attended by one of James and Alison Forbes’ sons, Moray, and their Grandson, David.

Moray Forbes said: “I am pleased that the donation received from my parents has enabled Christ’s Hospital to upgrade this area of the Art Department.

My mother was a keen artist, as was her father and in the same creative spirit, compliments to the young artists and designers whose exhibits are in front of us today.

We are delighted to see the new Kiln room and to see the plaque, the words on which we hope will help inspire both current and new generations of pupils at Christ’s Hospital.”

Pictured here, is Paul Deller (left) and Moray Forbes (right) with pupils