Tim Smit, CBE
Chief Exec of The Eden Project at Dauntsey's
On the evening of Tuesday 24th February, an audience of some 200 pupils, staff, parents and the wider community enjoyed an evening with Tim Smit, CBE. Tim, co-founder and Chief Executive of The Eden Project, came specifically to launch the ODA Richard Sandbrook Award. Richard Sandbrook (OD 59-64), a co-founder of Friends of the Earth, was one of the leading influences in the creation of what we today know as the environment and sustainable development movement.
Tim spoke very warmly about his late friend Richard, reciting both his attributes as a person and his many achievements as an environmental campaigner. Furthermore, he spoke, not only of his experience in reviving the Lost Gardens of Heligan and the incredible project that was (and still is) The Eden Project, but also of his management approach, his philosophy on life and his thoughts on the immense environmental change the world will experience in the next 40 years.
The evening concluded with the launch of the ODA Richard Sandbrook Award (which is open to pupils and Old Dauntseians aged 17-25), after which Tim and the many members of the Sandbrook family (including his brothers, wife Mary, and sons Jeremy and Benjamin) had a chance to meet with members of the audience.
The evening was also co-hosted by Mr James O'Hanlon who heads up the 'Big Green Thing', the Club which looks at reducing the carbon emissions of the School through a variety of different means. In anticipation of Mr Smit's visit, the BGT ran an essay competition on the theme 'Sustainability'. Congratulations to George Coombe who won first prize in the senior category, and to Isobel Hickman who won first prize in the junior category. Second prizes went to Daisy Radevsky (senior) and Hannah Lawrence (junior).