Top of the class

The SLV's school is 200 years old. Nicola Collenette pays a visit.

Last month heralded the start of a new year at the Licensed Victuallers' School in Ascot. From humble beginnings of just six boys and 14 girls in 1803 the school now has 825 pupils between the ages of four and 18 - 200 of them boarders.

The main reason behind the school was to take children out of a poor environment - and away from crime - to educate them and give them a better chance in life.

The Society of Licensed Victuallers (SLV), which owns the Licensed Victuallers' School, was set up in 1793, when a group of London licensees got together and decided to help the needy within the licensed trade. It took three months to find the school's first site, which was in Kennington Lane, London.

The school moved to Slough in the 1900s and more recently relocated to Ascot, Berkshire, in 1988.

The school has been open to children outside the trade since the 1950s and around 10 per cent of pupils are now from licensed trade families.

This year marked the school's bicentennial. A £3m capital appeal was launched for a new sixth form and library resource centre and the foundation stone was laid in May.

Former pupils William and Frank Brake, of food suppliers Brake Bros, pledged a £500,000 donation.

The SLV also owns Clevedon House prep school in Ilkely, West Yorkshire, which is for boys and girls aged three to 11.

A discount of 10 per cent against fees to both schools is available to all SLV members' children - this goes up to 20 per cent for junior boarders.

Additionally, bursaries are awarded on a sliding scale of up to 100 per cent of fees, which are available at the discretion of the trustees of the SLV.

As well as running two schools, the SLV helps all sorts of people in the trade, the disabled, the disadvantaged and those with financial or legal problems.

The society has been helping people in the retail industry for over 200 years. It gives out more than £1m each year and also offers immediate business, personal and social benefits to members.

Spokesperson Bev Frost said: "We give out lots of advice to people in the pub industry - and their families.

"We have a legal helpline with free access for members and we help out with a lot of other problems, such as if licensees are having problems with their pub company. The SLV also offers debt counselling and business benefits.

"Our membership package provides services which will help licensees to stay in business as well as long-term help when needed. We keep our membership package under constant review to ensure it stays relevant to the people who operate at the frontline of the drinks industry."

• If you need help, or know of someone who might benefit from the services the SLV can provide, telephone the welfare department on 01344 884440. For more information visit www.slv-online.org.uk.

Merger talk for charities​

Merger talks have been going on between the SLV and the Licensed Victuallers' National Homes (LVNH). It is thought the two charities may well merge by the end of this year but nothing has been officially announced as yet.

The LVNH is the SLV's sister charity and was founded in 1827. It was set up to provide affordable housing for the elderly from the retail licensed trade.

The SLV's chief executive Colin Wheeler said: "Throughout the history of the charities there has been a strong working relationship between the SLV and the LVNH.

"The vision of the trustees is to create a significant voice in the trade, to be a natural channel of support for the trade companies and most importantly an automatic resource for those who need help in the industry."

First lady​

This year saw the SLV's first lady governor. Maureen Batty, who along with her husband Ray runs the White Horse Inn in Woolstone near Swindon, has been an SLV supporter for nearly 20 years. In 1998 Maureen became the chairman of the National Fundraising Committee and when the charity formalised the changes to its Royal Charter the following year, she was one of the first female trustees.

Pictured: children at the original school in Kennington Lane (top) and the Ascot school today.​