Bricks For Rick

Welcome to the Project page for the “Bricks for Rick” Appeal, and thank you for your interest.
We launched this project in February 2008 with the aim of raising R 2 million for a Pavilion named in honour of Rick Skeeles.  What we wanted was more than just a building in memory of a man who in the past had made such a huge impact on the Prep and on all the boys who went through the Prep, but more importantly a memorial which also would serve as a much-needed facility for parents and boys presently at the school.  There was at that stage no structure on Lutgensvale, but the field was being used almost every day and most weekends by boys from the Prep and from the College.
The Skeeles Committee was formed which worked with the Development Office and launched a fund-raising campaign consisting of two main drives.  The first drive was based on the Bricks for Rick appeal in which a donation of R5000 secured for the donor a marked Brick on the Funding Wall which would then later also constitute a ticket into a draw for a Red Chilli Mini Cooper.  The second major drive was around the Teddy Bear Ball which was successfully held on 13 March, 2009.  The focal point of the ball was the auction of a number of teddy bears decorated in various ways and carrying with each bear a prize donated by a number of friends of Bishops.
By July 2009, over 2 million rand had been raised and the decision was taken to go ahead with building the Pavilion.  The architect, Mr Ciffy Austen, had prepared plans and these were submitted to the Cape Town city council for approval.

Download the Project Brochure (pdf)

Update – February 2010

We are coming to the end of our tremendously successful ‘Bricks for Rick’ Campaign and would like to update you as to our progress. We would like to thank everyone who has so generously donated to make this project happen.

Silent Auction:
Many people attended the Teddy Bear Ball on the 14th March – it was a great success with over R600 000 being raised. Regrettably three of the bids were not able to be completed but a silent auction was held and successful bids were entered and now all 3 bears have a home!

Draw for the Red Chilli Mini Cooper:
All those donors who have bought a Brick (or several Bricks) received their invitations to the draw of the Red Chilli Mini Cooper and a very successful cocktail function was held on Monday the 12th October.

The Building Progress:
The plans have been drawn and submitted to the City Council for approval. Objections were raised by some of the neighbours and the various processes as laid out by City Council regulations are now being followed. At the end of this, the City Council will then make its decision. To our knowledge the plans are within building regulations. In the interim, the architect is drawing final plans to expedite the tendering process once we receive approval. Thereafter we will start the building process immediately with the Physical Planning and Development Committee managing this process. 

Thank you once again for your support.
Grant Nupen and the Skeeles Committee