Old Gregorians

The Downside Fisher Youth Club, originally formed as the Downside Settlement, was founded in 1908. I am pleased to report that, thanks to the marvellous support of OG’s and the Worth alumni, it is still thriving. It is a testament to the Benedictine teaching at both schools that former pupils are so aware of the need to help those who are disadvantaged.

As an OG (C53) I am proud that, for nearly 100 years, the Benedictine tradition has done so much to improve the lives of children and young people in a deprived area of London. In the early 1900s there were many such settlements established in deprived areas by public schools, but few have survived. It is great credit to the continued support given to the club that it is still able to provide this much needed service In Bermondsey today.

When I was invited to become a trustee the club, the club was still using its traditional name of the Downside Settlement, but in 2003 this sounded passé and gave no indication of the outstanding work of both the Downside and Fisher Clubs. We have, therefore, re-named the charity as the Downside Fisher Youth Club and resolved to let all our supporters know of the achievements of the combined clubs. Through this website, and through Downside’s post and email, we try and keep in touch with as many OGs as possible.

I wonder how many old boys and girls of both Downside and Worth know that three boxing world champions and two world title contenders were trained at the club. We have one of the leading ABA instructors coaching our young people and the Fisher is one of the most respected amateur boxing clubs in the country; we are still training potential world champions.

As you will see from the website the club is very active in the evenings with around 80 young people enjoying the facilities every weekday evening. However, we would like to do more. In particular, we would like to make better use of our climbing wall, to keep the swimming pool open for longer, to organise more water polo matches, canoe and scuba training, to arrange more specialist art and drama work, and extend the hours of instruction in the computer suite. We would also like to increase our outreach work, where we are beginning to have an important impact on reducing ‘gang warfare’ on local housing estates. All this would need additional trained staff that, sadly, at present we cannot afford.

The work we are doing with these young people is not just recreational, it is educational, it develops their self-confidence, keeps them off the streets and away from the drug and crime scene.

I hope that the old boys and girls of Downside and Worth will be prepared to continue to help funding this enterprise, as your support is both greatly needed and appreciated. The web site gives details of how you can support the Downside Fisher Youth Club.

Many thanks

Chris Dick
Chairman

p.s. If you interested in supporting the club, please visit the individual giving page.