A legacy for Luca

Today’s students are a living legacy of our alumni’s time here. From those who came through the Christian Brothers’ era to those who were here during the transition to a lay administration. And of course, a special acknowledgment to those pioneering girls in the 1980s who changed forever the face of this school. A legacy left by alumni can often be as abstract as distant footsteps in time, now treaded upon by today’s students. It can also be living, tangible and visible. This is best exemplified by a gift made to the College by the late Bernie Gillan (PPA 1956).

In his will, Bernie (pictured left) made provision for the College and his legacy is a lower sixth boy called Luca. Luca is a former Cricklade lad who enjoys himself on the sports field and plays an active part College life. All this despite the fact that he has endured multiple operations to save his legs.

Bernie played cricket for the College 1st XI and Carole, our alumni relations manager, found some old photographs of him that he was able to look at during his final months. Even with the heavy onset of Alzheimer’s, the photos did bring a smile to his face. Carole, herself a proud mother of a PPC alumnus, knew what might help an old boy.

Bernie did not stipulate where he would like his gift to go, but he had previously supported our bursary appeal and in 1970, gave to an appeal raising money for a television in one of the houses. The Disbursement Committee agreed that it should go towards bursaries as we are alright for televisions!
Luca has recently returned from a summer in the USA and is now in lower sixth after great success in his GCSEs. He was not on holiday in the States, he was undergoing pioneering surgery on his legs.

Luca was born with a condition called Bi-lateral Tibial hemimelia, which resulted in being born with deformities in both of his legs. The left leg having a partial tibia and the right leg having no tibia and no knee. The statistics of a child being born with this condition in both legs is one in three million.

The initial suggested course of action for Luca when he was born was to amputate both of his legs as the rarity of the condition meant limited knowledge and skills to treat Luca. His parents fought from the moment he was born to wait and hopefully, with the advances of medical science and technology, something could be done save his legs.

Luca's legs have been saved and although not as mobile as others, he is a keen cricketer and fully immerses himself in College life. His family have spent in excess of £350,000 to save his legs, remortgaging their house on numerous occasions and hosting fundraising events. They have never once missed a term’s fees, nor ever asked for any assistance. Luca’s Housemaster knew that the family were struggling as the next two, and hopefully final, pieces of surgery will cost another £220,000. With Bernie Gillian’s gift, we were able to offer the family 50% remission on his two years of sixth form. This is a wonderful example of the Prior Park College community helping one of its own.

It takes great foresight and vision to make history. Thank you Bernie.

Luca’s mother’s email to Housemaster:
I just read your email which has made my day, year! Both you and Mr Langley have been so supportive and we are forever grateful for your help to make this happen. I only hope you realise what a massive help this will be for the next two years as the funds we have had to generate for Luca's operation will make the next few years very tight and we as parents will sacrifice everything for our son's mobility and his education.

Luca’s mother’s email to Headmaster:
Thank you for your email and once again we cannot thank the school enough for all the support we have received throughout Luca’s school years at Prior Park. This gesture we have received from yourselves through the kindness of the individual donating and from the school to support us when we are juggling to maintain our son’s mobility as well as keep him through private education we will never forget and we are forever grateful.

If you would like to remember Prior Park College in your will, please do let us know. It will of course be treated as discreetly as you would wish and it gives the College an opportunity to thank you now. If you would like to make a gift now in your lifetime, we would be equally delighted to hear from you.
You can contact the Director of Development by email: drainey@priorparkschools.com or telephone 01225 835353 ext 257. You can of course send a letter.