 When Warwick Charlton had his big, wild idea of building and sailing a replica of the Mayflower to America in 1957, he had an even bigger idea behind the grand gesture. He knew the little ship would attract attention, but his real interest lay in finding a way to celebrate the democratic ideal of the first settlers. It was his intention to set up a scholarship fund to promote Anglo-American exchange.
That goal was never fulfilled. Now the family of Warwick Charlton are on a mission to establish a permanent fund that will yield an annual income to be devoted to supporting American students in the U.K.
Our target over the next five years is to raise $10 million. However, we cannot do it alone. We are a family foundation with limited financial resources. However, we can - and have - kickstarted the fund raising and we want to work with foundations, individuals and corporations who supported Warwick Charlton when he built the Mayflower II, sailed it to the U.S and gave it to the American people.
At the time when Warwick Charlton set out on his great Mayflower adventure, he had no assets, no house, no car, and no money in the bank and yet he raised a sum which would have been in the millions compared with today's money .... and he achieved his goal.
When told he was on an impossible mission, Warwick used to refer back to the efforts of the small settlers who signed a compact to govern themselves, without interference from Kings, Queens and religious leaders. Theirs was the first stirrings of democratic ideals which would lead to the establishment of the United States.
Warwick Charlton's Mayflower II is now an American icon and in 2020 will be the center of celebrations of the 400 year anniversary of the arrival of the first Mayflower. As part of the celebrations planned on both sides of the Atlantic, we hope to award the first scholarship in 2020.
If you would like to learn more about the Scholarship Fund and help to realize the dream of Warwick Charlton, please contact us at The Charlton Foundation and put "Scholarship enquiry" in the subject line.
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