A FEW months ago I received a letter from the head teacher of Altrincham Boys' Grammar School asking if our firm would be prepared to help sponsor a two day 'Challenge of Industry' seminar run by the Industrial Society.

The school required to raise £1,200 towards the event which would then involve speaker and mentors from local firms helping teams of boys from the sixth form to take part. We made a modest contribution.

I was then asked if I would go and open the event by saying a few words on the first day. Imagine my surprise when I noticed on the programme that we, Brian Clancy Partnership, were named as the only sponors of the event.

The head had written out to dozens of local firms asking for assistance with this important event but we were the only people to offer any financial assistance. He received a few 'conscience letters', but the vast majority of those to whom he wrote did not even bother to reply.

So here we have an interesting situation - a school which has an excellent academic record for producing top class pupils of broad experience and competence but few local firms apparently interstead in helping.

I may be wrong but I thought our society was one which relied upon the inventiveness of its young people, their technological and professional competence. It must be very difficult for teachers and mentors of these young men to persuade them that society places some value on them, when most local firms are not even prepared to write a letter of response - even to say no, not us mate.

Yes I suppose I am a sanctimonious old prat, but believe me those few quid were money well spent - if only for the advertising value alone which our company received.

Brian Clancy, Brian Clancy Partnership.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.