David Kettle

When the student team of Letitia Blake, John Simkins, and myself met last January to take on the extremely rewarding task of awarding our 2025 bursaries, one of the conversations we had was about how different things were for the very first students back in 1989. Travelling to a big city back then was a grand adventure, full of mystery, excitement and the constant danger of getting lost because Google Maps had not been created.

These days, young people travel all the time, and with phones in their hands they can navigate the entire continent without ever having to ask for directions.
This year, we welcomed 40 young Italians to the UK, from regions including le Marche, Emilia-Romagna, Abruzzo, Molise, and our new partner, the British Institute in Florence. We also had students through new contacts at Biella (Piedmont) and Bolzano (Trentino-Alto Adige). Fourteen ventured to Oxford, and twenty-six chose London.

From the moment the bursary is accepted until the day they return home, I somehow become a surrogate godfather to 40 young people. And like any good godfather, understandably, I field worries, concerns, and – of course – calls from anxious parents, particularly concerned about what exactly their son will be eating.

One student who was especially anxious was Raffaele Orlandi. Many emails were exchanged: Where will he stay? Is the area safe? Who will he be in class with? Will he ever see sunlight again?

So I was ready – spiritually and emotionally – to assist him on arrival day. Instead, I got this:

“Mr David… the host family are very kind. But they gave me dinner last night… and all the food was on the same plate!”

This is not the first time our British approach to mealtimes has traumatised an Italian. And I suspect it won’t be the last.

Then he told me how his day had been. He said the school was sensational, and afterwards he’d visited the National Portrait Gallery, had dinner in Soho, and was currently floating down the Thames on a barge with absolutely no idea where he was going.

From terrified to Thames pirate in under 24 hours.
It goes without saying that we take the responsibility of looking after our students very seriously.

Of course, none of this would be possible without CES Schools in Wimbledon and Wheatley. They welcome our students warmly every year and consistently describe them as some of their best.  Our new chair, Phil Cooke, made it one of his first duties to visit the school in Wimbledon earlier in the year. Phil, being a professor, was particularly impressed by the school and its teachers.

A huge thank-you also goes to our student volunteers, many of whom came to the annual lunch in November. They act as the vital link between MSMT and the students – helping on arrival day, guiding them through their first steps, and occasionally rescuing them from the wrong side of the Circle Line. If anyone would like to volunteer for 2026, please send an email to dkettle@msmtrust.org.uk.

This year, we also introduced two student lunches – one in Oxford and one in London. They gave the trustees and me the chance to really get to know the students, and I must say what a delightful, curious, charming group they were.

As I mentioned earlier, we often ask ourselves how different the experience is today compared with that of our first bursary recipients. To show how meaningful it still is, I want to share an email from one of our students this year – Rita Delle Noci from Modena:
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the wonderful opportunity to study in the UK. Spending a month in Oxford was truly a dream come true – an unforgettable experience that has been both academically and personally enriching.

“I am deeply grateful for the kindness, professionalism, and support of everyone involved throughout my stay. This experience has greatly broadened my horizons and will remain an important milestone in my personal and academic journey. Thank you once again for making this extraordinary experience possible.“

The mission envisaged by Keith Killby – to thank the Italian people for their sacrifice and kindness, and to give young Italians not only the chance to learn a language but to step into a completely different world – is still as relevant now as it was in 1989.
And with the help, enthusiasm and, occasionally, the  patience of our supporters, may it continue for many years to come.