Current Poor School students contributed 2100 hours of free labour in the immediate aftermath of the arson attack last June (see the sequence of photos at the foot of this mail). This work, much of it frantic, allowed the school not to close and it meant that the summer and short courses scheduled were able to go ahead. Each year the school finds several full time students from these courses; cancellation would have had a knock-on effect and would have meant taking a very serious financial hit.

The insurers contractors in due course took over the work and have been fantastic. The school stayed open, however, because of the students. Did they save the school? It is touch and go. A desperately difficult situation would have become considerably worse without them.

There is a time for balance, discernment and, indeed, criticism, and this wasn’t it. We needed good news every day and we all gave it to each other, cheering ourselves up in the process.

Their reward for this effort and spirit is, simply, a functioning school in which to complete the last year of their training. Other than that they have the gratitude, forever, of those, like me, who run or teach at the school.  I want now to repay in a tangible way; to appeal for and raise funds to pay for those hours. The school, notwithstanding the insurance, has taken a financial blow which will take a year or two to recover from. I want to raise £31,500 (£15 per hour) to give something back to those who gave something to the school.

I therefore ask anyone (not current or prospective students, or current staff) who feels positively towards the school, who has attended the school perhaps, or knows of it, or who simply feels uplifted by a story of a genuine and successful battle, won, for once, by the good guys, to help this appeal with a donation. PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO ANYONE, WHETHER THEY KNOW THE SCHOOL OR NOT, WHO MAY BE INTERESTED, OR INTERESTED IN HELPING.

The fire will always be important to us and there will be a modest memorial to it in due course on the premises, including the names of the people who helped and, of course, an acknowledgement of those who gave to the appeal. We could, and maybe will, have a “Gala” evening to raise funds, or a ten mile sponsored run, or even pogo stick to Land’s End if we have to, but I hope we can reach our target just by asking.

You can make a donation by calling the school on 0207 837 6030 and giving card details, by sending a cheque to The Poor School, 242 Pentonville Rd, London N1 9JY, or by transfer to the school account no: 41567072 code 60-40-05 (please then email acting@thepoorschool.com giving details).