Isobel Duncan Building

Esther Isobel Searles, nee Duncan, 1931-2017

Isobel met Jock and Eileen Macdonald, our Chairman’s parents, at Dollar Academy and they became life-long friends. When she learned about the fledging school in 2013 she started to support the project with one-off donations and was always eager to hear updates on progress and see pictures of the children.

Shortly before she died she made a generous living legacy donation to The Uphill Trust, which allowed us to build the much needed administration building that bears her name.

Isobel and Eileen Isobel (in pink) with Eileen, firm friends from the age of 8

Isobel’s son, Tim says: “I am delighted that Mum’s love of children and education will be permanently honoured, in a place where it can make a real difference. I hope to visit the school and see Mum’s building when I visit Uganda in the years to come.”

The Isobel Duncan Building was completed in 2018 and painted her favourite colour – orange. Containing a staff room, offices, treatment room for the new school nurse and a shady verandah, it has quickly become the administrative hub of the school.

Adminstration block Primary children getting ready for a photo outside the Isobel Duncan Building in 2020

If you would like to find out how to leave a legacy to The Uphill Trust before, or after your death, please download the Leave a Legacy information sheet or talk to the the trustees.

Constructing The Isobel Duncan Building

Head builder Waren and his tea, take a first look at the plans builders-drawings Discussing the build – with the help of local materials admin-block-build District Physical Planner Musana Samuel checks the foundations admin-foundations Packing the foundations with hard core foundations of isobel duncan building The foundations are left to cure over the school holidays uphill-builders Uphill Build team – local men, many with children at the school new admin block Another blue roof at Uphill Junior School! new uphill staffroom The staff room taking shapeWindows and doors in place – the room on the right will be used by the school nurseThe Isobel Duncan Building is the first school building to get an electricity supply! staff meeting in school office Curriculum planning meeting in the director’s office (2019)Staff room – used for meetings, staff lunches, training sessions and…ironing the kindergarten graduation gowns!