Former pupil John Gillette returned to Durham School to collect a donation of over £40,000 worth of uniforms, sports kit, and equipment for schools in Zambia. 

A founding trustee of the Zambezi Sunrise Trust (ZST), John will be flying out to Livingstone, Zambia’s capital, to personally deliver the first of around 10 consignments taken out by ZST volunteers over the next 12-18 months 

John said, “This donation will be invaluable to young people attending Zambezi Sunrise Trust schools around the Livingstone area.” 

Alongside standard uniform and sports attire, the donation also includes some more unusual items. 

“The start of the year is the beginning of the rainy season in Zambia.” says John “So amongst all this clothing, we’re delighted to be taking over 100 lightweight rain jackets and splash tops. Many of our pupils walk a long distance to attend their school, often without a coat of any kind.” 

The uniforms and sports kit became surplus to requirements after Durham School merged with The Choristers School in 2021 and the newly formed Durham Cathedral Schools Foundation (DCSF) decided on a new uniform.

In addition to the donation of new kit and uniform, DCSF have been collecting second hand uniform to send out alongside the unworn items. 

Foundation Development Director, Andrew Beales, who helped arrange the donation, added “We are delighted to work with John and his team on the redistribution of over 3,000 items of clothing to support young people in Zambezi Sunrise Trust schools.  

“This support is part of a much longer-term association ZST which has already seen DCSF raise several thousands of pounds to support classrooms and other building projects out in Zambia.”   

Durham School will be hosting a Band Night for ZST in March. Tickets will be available in February from the trust website https://www.zambezisunrisetrust.co.uk/