On Tuesday 2 June, we welcomed Simon Turner, Old Bristolian (1987) and our biggest donor for bursaries to date.

For Simon, the visit marked his first time back to BGS in nearly 40 years and he was welcomed not just by familiar buildings, but by the people who define BGS today. Our students, with their warmth, talent, ambition, and confidence created an atmosphere that immediately put him at ease. Every member of our student welcome party played a role in making the day memorable, and Simon left feeling deeply moved and connected to his school.

Simon’s extraordinary generosity has already created life‑changing bursary awards for many children at BGS. His latest donation will be used to support matched funding for this year’s Giving Day in November, bringing his total contribution so far to an incredible £1million.

BGS is proudly a school for the city of Bristol, not just a school in the city and Simon’s continued support helps us to build momentum, ensuring that more motivated and talented children can access a life-changing BGS education, regardless of their background and financial means.

Thank you to everyone who supported the visit, and a particular thank you to the students who took part. You represented BGS with pride, warmth, and kindness, and you made Simon’s return an experience he will not forget.