Ground Breaking Ceremony for the new Chellaram Sports Complex at Beggars’ Bush

On Saturday 1st July, Clifton College and the Chellaram Foundation held an official Ground Breaking Ceremony on the site of the new Chellaram Sports Complex at Beggars’ Bush in Bristol.

The new indoor sports complex will include enhanced sports and changing facilities and will be available for use by both the College and local community groups from September 2024. The proceedings included a Hindu blessing by Dr Nandakumar MBE and by the College Chaplain. This was followed by a ceremonial breaking of a coconut on the site of the new building by Mr Chellaram who then took part in breaking the ground of the site. 

Attendees included representatives of the Chellaram Foundation, Clifton College, pupils and representatives from the development project including Architects Alec French. The ceremony was held during the Prep School’s annual Sports Day demonstrating the already popular use of the sports facilities by the pupils and an opportunity for parents and pupils to see the design for the new facility. 

Nick Tolchard, Chair of Council “We are hugely grateful to the Chellaram Foundation for joining us for this ceremony and making such a generous donation to build our new Sports Centre. This is a transformational development of high quality which will benefit not only our pupils, but will welcome groups and schools with a wide variety of backgrounds from across the city.”

Dr Tim Greene, Head of Clifton College “Today we gather to break ground for the construction of the Chellaram Sports Complex and to express our deep and lasting gratitude to Mr Lal Chellaram whose name joins those who have gone before to advance the College and to be forever part of every Old Cliftonian’s memory of their time at Clifton.

“The site has undergone extensive improvement, ground levelling, 3G and 4G pitches, water-based astro in recent years but this new superb Sports Centre is the most significant improvement since the Old Cliftonians generously joined forces to purchase the site in time for the College’s jubilee in 1912.”

Dr Nandakumar MBE, during his Hindu blessing of the site, said: “For everyone who comes to this place, may they feel welcome. May everyone who uses this place leave good vibrations and inspiration for those who use it in the future. May it bring joy.”

Mr Prakash Bhoopaktar, Trustee of the Chellaram Foundation said: “The College believes that its education is the best preparation for the rapidly changing modern world. Mr Chellaram fits into this shared vision extremely well having joined the most rapidly changing aspect of the world in his business and balances this with his continued philanthropic work, particularly within education provision, across India and the globe. This is the contribution he has continued to make starting from the education he received at Clifton College. There is a part of his heart that will always belong here.

“What we are most proud of, is the ability to give something back to the community. This facility will be part of the wider community, to attract a variety of talent and aspiration in sports.”

At the ceremonial moment of breaking the ground and blessing it, Mr Lal Chellaram said: “This is a symbolic event for all those involved in the building of this facility and to all those who will be teaching, practising, learning and playing in the sports centre.” 

Mark Hudgeon, regional director at Spelle Metcalfe, said “Clifton College is known for its first class education provision and Speller Metcalfe is delighted to be supporting them with their vision to expand sporting facilities for students. We have  wealth of experience in partnering with both independent colleges and delivering state-of-the-art facilities, and look forward to making Chellaram Sports Complex a reality for the college.”