The Julian Hill Cricket Centre
Our Campaign Vision
Our Plans
We are building a world-class cricket facility for the school and the community which will transform indoor cricket provision in the region and will be one of the best of its kind in the country.
Since we started planning this project, we have visited a number of recently opened cricket centres around the country. On each visit we have learned something new that we have been able to incorporate into our design. From the innovative system of netting, to the quality of surfaces and lighting, the Julian Hill Cricket Centre will be truly special.
The Centre will provide a training base for Merchant Taylors' cricketers to train all year round, whether elite players or enthusiasts. It will become the base for Middlesex County Cricket Club's indoor training, as well as for our regular visits from international touring sides. It will be made available to local schools and clubs, so that the whole community can benefit from this wonderful facility.
Julian Hill’s gift of £1,000,000, and generous pledges and donations from other supporters, have made the project possible. Our overall fundraising total has just gone past £2.2m. Our first fundraising target – what we need to make it a reality – is £2.7m. We now ask for the support of the whole community to help us build this world-class facility. I hope you will get behind our campaign and help in any way that you can. Further down this page are details of how you can help.
On this page, you can take a virtual tour of the building, view a full campaign video, featuring school staff, pupils, and Middlesex CCC players and staff, and you can learn more about how this project can bring benefits beyond cricket. As construction nears completion, we have also added a video charting that progress from campaign launch and ground-breaking, to mid-December 2023 and the building almost ready for cricket.
Take a Tour
The video below is a 3D virtual fly-through of the Julian Hill Cricket Centre. The video really brings the building to life; there is no better way to find out about the features of the planned Centre.
Our Campaign Presentation
The video below presents our plans for the Cricket Centre. It explains the clear benefits to cricket, while also elaborating on some of the less obvious benefits to hockey and to our future bursary provision. The Head Master sets out our plans, while our Director of Cricket, Ian McGowan, explains the features and how our boys will benefit. Middlesex CCC are represented by Angus Fraser, MCCC Development Director, current 1st XI players Robbie White and Max Holden, while Middlesex women and the Sunrisers are represented by Cordelia Griffith. Hear them explain how it will transform their elite training programme. Our boys talk of what the Centre will do for their cricketing prospects, while Development Director, Nick Latham, elaborates on the transformational effect the Centre will have on our ability to fund bursaries in future.
Construction Progress
The video below charts the progress of construction of the Julian Hill Cricket Centre from before we began building, to mid-December 2023. It ends with images of an almost complete building. You will see just how close we are to opening the doors to the finest indoor cricket facility in the country. This video, and others charting earlier progress, including drone footage of the site, are available on our YouTube channel.
White Space
How You Can Help
Our first fundraising target is £2.7m. The school community has already given just over £2.2m, but will need the help of the whole community to make this building a reality. This fundraising gap may seem daunting, but everyone can play their part by giving what they can.
If you would like to help us reach our target and make the project possible, you can make an online donation here.
As Merchant Taylors' School is a registered charity (No. 1063740), all gifts to the school can be made as charitable donations and can be made tax efficiently. More information about tax efficient giving from UK income, as well as through gifts of shares, legacies, or from overseas, is available on this page of our website. Some basic information about how your gift can go further through Gift Aid and cost you less by claiming back tax paid on a donation is below.
Please note that online donations (unless made by Direct Debit) mean that the school incurs a credit card charge of around 3.5% of your donation. If you are considering a significant gift, a one-off Direct Debit or a bank transfer may be a good option. You can make a bank transfer directly into the school's charitable fund using the details:
Account Name: Merchant Taylors' School
Account Number: 23517594
Sort Code: 20-92-94
If you do make a bank transfer, please use your name in the reference and please do let us know you have made a donation, so we can look out for it and acknowledge safe receipt (nlatham@mtsn.org.uk).
If you prefer to make a gift by cheque, please make them payable to Merchant Taylors' School Charitable Fund and send them to Nick Latham, Development Office, Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood, Middlesex, HA6 2HT.
If you prefer to have a conversation about your gift – perhaps you are unsure of the best method of giving, or you wish to discuss naming opportunities within the building – please do get in touch with the Development Director, Nick Latham, at nlatham@mtsn.org.uk or on 01923 845589.
Perhaps you know someone else you think can help. If so, please do share this page with them. Alternatively, please do get in touch to let us know and how you might be able to help open a conversation.
Tax Efficient Giving
Here is a breakdown of the cost and the extra impact of making a gift of £100 at the three different levels of tax:
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|
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|
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Tax Payer Rate
|
Donation Made
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Gross Amount MTS receives after Gift Aid
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Tax Relief through Donor's Tax Return
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Effective Cost to Donor
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|
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20%
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£100
|
£125
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£100
|
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40%
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£100
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£125
|
£25
|
£75
|
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45%
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£100
|
£125
|
£31.25
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£68.75
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|
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Recognising Your Support
Everyone who supports the project will be recognised on a benefactors' board in the Cricket Centre. For major donors there are a number of naming opportunities within the building listed below. We also have a number of giving levels which will be displayed, linked to OMTs and former staff and their 1st XI playing records.
Gift Levels
| £4,104 |
Adam Brand Club |
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| £1,000 |
Harry Latchman Club |
|
| £500 |
Ravi Patel Club |
|
| £216 |
Mike Grimsdick 216 Club |
|
| £100 |
Century Club |
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Adam Brand (OMT 1985-1990) played for the 1st XI at MTS for four seasons and in that period was a prolific run-scorer. His cumulative total of runs – 4,104 – remains a school record. “Brando” is also the only player to have scored a double hundred for the 1st XI, a feat he achieved twice. He also took 112 wickets. Since then, Adam has been a stalwart of OMT cricket, particularly in the Cricketer Cup competition where he still manages the Old Merchant Taylors’ team.
Harry Latchman was the Cricket Professional and Head of Cricket at Merchant Taylors’ School from 1988 to 2012. In that time he coached a huge number of OMTs who have Harry to thank for not only developing their skills, but also giving them an enduring enjoyment of the game. Before he joined MTS Harry had a distinguished 1st Class career for Middlesex and Nottinghamshire as a leg-spinning all-rounder. His association with Middlesex continues, having been MCCC’s President from 2015-2017, during which time they became County Champions.
Ravi Patel (OMT 2004-2009) is a slow left-arm spin bowler who not only had a superb school record, taking 107 wickets for the 1st XI in four seasons, but also went on to a professional career in the game. Ravi made his debut for Middlesex against Oxford MCCU in 2010 and has taken 81 First Class wickets, earning him a call-up to the England Lions squad. Ravi continues his association with Middlesex today as a bowling coach in their youth setup.
Mike Grimsdick (OMT 1961-1966) was a slow left-arm spin bowler and outstanding all-round sportsman for Merchant Taylors’ School. Mike took a school record 216 1st XI wickets over five years; a record which still stands today. Mike continued demonstrating his all-round ability at Cambridge University, winning Blues in squash and golf. He went on to play OMT cricket for many years, including in the Cricketer Cup, a team he continues to support today, despite living most of the year abroad.
Naming Opportunities
| Recognition opportunity |
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Gift Level |
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Number Available |
| Building |
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£1,000,000 |
|
1 0 |
| Main Hall |
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£500,000 |
|
1 |
| Long Room |
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£250,000 |
|
1 0 |
| Hockey Viewing Balcony |
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£100,000 |
|
1 0 |
| Nets |
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£25,000 |
|
5 4 |
| Internal Balcony |
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£20,000 |
|
1 0 |
| Analysis Room / Classroom |
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£20,000 |
|
1 0 |
| Team Rooms |
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£10,000 |
|
2 0 |
Thank you to all our supporters so far!
Benefactors' Board at 10th April 2024
Julian Hill's Legacy
Julian Hill was an OMT who was a very keen cricketer. He would admit that he wasn’t the finest cricketer, but he was certainly an enthusiast who lived and breathed the game. Julian also believed in providing opportunities. Before he died all too young, he indicated that he wished to leave something to the school. The two projects he was excited about were the cricket centre – our plans were at an early stage – and bursaries. The building, named for Julian, in recognition of his wonderfully generous £1m legacy, is a perfect fit.
The Julian Hill Cricket Centre will allow every cricket enthusiast to train indoors, not just our elite players. Furthermore, lettings income from the centre – which we expect to be significant – will be made available for bursaries. This could provide as much as a bursary in each year of the school. To set up an endowment fund to do the same would require in the region of £5.25m. Julian’s gift will open the doors to the school and his cricket centre for future generations of Merchant Taylors’ boys.
You can read Julian's Obituary here.
Expressions of Support & Feedback
If you are keen to participate in the campaign to make the Julian Hill Cricket Centre a reality and wish to discuss your gift, or you wish to provide feedback on what you have heard so far about the project, you can send us this information by completing a short pledge form here.
Or, if you prefer, please do get in touch with Nick Latham, the school's Development Director, at nlatham@mtsn.org.uk or on 01923 845589.