Introduction
An executive committee was elected whose members later
became the Trustees. Donations ranging from 5 shillings
(25p) to £50 flooded in, totalling over £500. Invitations
were sent to Heads of Secondary Schools and Colleges in
Warwick, Leamington and Stratford areas to nominate a
student for the first bursary of £10, which was awarded in
July 1939.
Further additions have since been made to the Trust's funds
to enable the amount to be substantially increased and
awards continue to be made annually. There is no
examination and candidates are not interviewed, so much
depends on the information provided by heads of schools and
their colleagues about the achievement, personality,
interests and home circumstances of those who wish to be
nominated.
The Trustees do not necessarily confine awards exclusively
to students who share Miss Harris's interests, although
applicants should have embarked on their final year as 'A
Level' students and be intending to go on to higher
education. In choosing the recipients regard is not only
given to academic attainment but also to their
circumstances, character and promise, in its widest sense,
as it is designed to help any promising student to whom
such a grant would give encouragement and support.
The calibre and merits of candidates are always very high
and the choice is often difficult. Therefore the no award
of a bursary should not be regarded in any way as a
failure: this would have been the last thing that Mary
Dormer Harris would have wished.