Long-term resident and retired businessman, David Barber, will donate $350,000 to Saltus for renovations to its Senior School.

Principal Trevor Rowell this week announced that work on the school's main classroom building will begin in January.

Aged and worn windows will be replaced at that time. This will be followed in the summer with extensive painting and a new concrete wash for the entire complex.

"Thanks to other generous donors, we have been able in the past two years to expand and improve both the Cavendish Preparatory School and the Saltus Junior School,'' Mr. Rowell said.

"Now, Mr. Barber's contribution permits us to embark on structural improvements to the Senior School's central classroom block -- the building most people see when they enter the school grounds and the one which today, quite frankly, looks the worst.'' The building -- erected in 1893 with extensions dating from almost every decade of the century -- was worthy of restoration, he added.

"Replacing the windows and resurfacing the exterior walls will be undertaken to retain the original features of the older portions and, as importantly, will help to seal against moisture which has caused continuous damage over the past few years,'' Mr. Rowell explained.

Mr. Barber recalled that he and his late wife, Mary, lived as newlyweds at "June Cottage'' beside the Saltus campus in the late 1930s. They thereby gained an appreciation for the school.

He said: "I have been able to watch Saltus progress as a worthy educational institution for well over a half century and it will certainly give me great pleasure to see the main classroom building being improved for the benefit of all the children who attend Saltus today.'' Mr. Barber will present a cheque during the school's Prize Giving at Bermuda Cathedral on November 5.

And the Senior School reopening ceremony next fall will include the unveiling of a plaque to commemorate his gift and provide a permanent testimonial to Mr.

and Mrs. Barber's "long and happy association with Bermuda''.

This latest donation brings the Saltus Appeal campaign, launched in 1996 and headed by Saltus parent Fernance Perry, to $3 million.

In addition to the Appeal donations, another $2 million was donated to Saltus in the same period by a number of international businesses to fund the Preparatory and Junior School expansion projects.