Lifelong Support for Old Stoics
Published by Stowe School on Monday 2nd of June 2025
We are honoured to have permission to publish a letter from Old Stoic, Jess Miller (Cobham 67), who is a recipient of the Old Stoic Benevolent Trust (OSBT). The OSBT is a registered charity that exists to provide support for Old Stoics and their families in an hour of need. For more details, please click here.
To the Director and Trustees of the Old Stoic Society and Old Stoic Benevolent Trust
From Jess Miller, Cobham 67
26/05/2025
Dear Director and Trustees,
As you know until recently I had been doing free house and pet sitting all over Britain to keep a roof over my head for some eighteen years, however three month sits looking after time demanding dogs had begun to exhaust me (I am 76) and I was never able to properly relax and rest.
I did not know about Housing Benefit covering the rent or service charge on a dwelling, however I had no reason to believe there was more help out there for me as I was already on Pension Credits.
Then out of the blue Anna Semler contacted me and wanted to know how everything was going. I was actually shocked to get Anna’s uplifting email.
Anna said she would find out how to locate an abode for me and soon gleaned knowledge from my contemporary John Arkwright about Almshouses. So I attempted to apply for one, which involved my driving to an interview from West of Glasgow 400 miles each way to South Oxfordshire, part of the cost you kindly assisted with, to what proved to be a more than difficult interview.
Then Anna found sheltered accommodation units within 30 minutes of Stowe.
The time that passed while the charity that manages them checked me out was trying, but at the meeting to hear their decision, to which Anna kindly came, I was stunned when the lady in charge said, ‘Well we are delighted to offer you the flat Jess and we would really like you to stay here with us’.
That was the start of a humbling and overwhelming avalanche of help from your good selves, the charity that runs the sheltered housing units, Anna, Charlie Evans and my friends to furnish and equip the flat because all I owned was my old car and everything I could fit in it.
Your contribution resulted in such an immensely positive change in my life and I thank you sincerely for your invaluable assistance in helping me get into a situation that I am benefiting from every day.
Your giving such positive assistance to the lives of needy Old Stoics is hugely important.
Kindest regards,
Jess
We wish Jess every happiness in his new home and are delighted he is now within easy reach of Stowe and can take an active role in the Stowe Community in the years to come. Jess is a published author and hopes to now have time to return to his writing.
We hope this uplifting news will serve as an encouragement to others facing a personal crisis to reach out for help and support from the OSBT. To get started, simply contact the OS Office by emailing oldstoic@stowe.co.uk or telephone 01280 818349.
