Following a fundraising appeal which raised £6.5million from the Downe House community, the Murray Centre has been the most significant new building project that the School has undertaken in its history. Guests were given a guided tour around the new building and enjoyed a celebratory lunch before attending an interactive session, ‘A Glimpse into the Future’ in the new 250-seat China Auditorium. The panel of guest speakers included leading technology journalist and presenter, Zoe Kleinman and the Vice President of Marketing Cloud, Salesforce EMEA, Helen Kelisky. These two experts shared their thoughts and answered many questions from the audience on how technology may impact, influence and shape the future for young people.

Headmistress, Mrs Emma McKendrick said, “It has been super to see the way in which the girls have embraced this wonderful new building. The successful completion of this project reflects the culmination of months of hard work from a wide range of people as well as generous support by many. All are owed a debt of gratitude and I would like to thank all our donors, who have allowed us to turn this dream into a reality. Special thanks must also go to Alasdair Heath, the Director of Estates, Michelle Scott, Assistant Head (Foundation), and Philippa Toogood, the Director of the Murray Centre, for their unwavering commitment to ensuring such an excellent outcome.”

The Murray Centre is a strategic development which forms part of Downe House School’s Ten Year Vision plan to ensure that the School moves forward and remains at the forefront of boarding education. It has been named in honour of alumna, Rosemary Murray who attended Downe House School from 1927 to 1931. Rosemary went on to read Chemistry at Oxford University and followed a distinguished academic career, becoming the first woman Vice-Chancellor in Cambridge University’s 765-year history.

View the photos from the Gala Opening here