An Old Oundelian, Anthony d’Offay, (1951 – 1957), has recently given the Tate Modern and the National Galleries of Scotland his vast collection of modern art worth £125 million on a part gift and part sale basis; only being paid £26.5 million for the collection. The art work spans decades of artists, including Gilbert &George, Damian Hirst, Diane Arbus and Andy Warhol.

This exceptional act of generosity came shortly after d’Offay closed his gallery suddenly in 2002, the Anthony d’Offay Gallery. The British art dealer has not stepped quietly into the background, however, and his insight and clear passion for art remains relentless. In an interview with The Times, Mr. d’Offay said that although many things were difficult to part with, “The jewel for me is walking into a museum and seeing a school party there”.

Born in Lancashire, educated at Oundle School and then at Edinburgh University, d’Offay has had many sources of inspiration to develop his love of art. However it was his experience studying art at Edinburgh University where he had “the defining experience” of being able to walk up and down the city’s many galleries. Being of such an impressionable age, d’Offay was Mr. d’Offay told The Guardian that his generosity is “really to do with education for young people.

Outside London and Edinburgh it is very difficult to see great contemporary art”. This may have something to do with the fact that as a boy growing up, d’Offay would not have had the opportunity to see as much art as he would have liked. Such philanthropy can only come from somebody who has a clear vision to help children to understand and learn to love art in the many different forms that it can take.