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In a blow to the Christ Church Cathedral restoration, British philanthropist Hamish Ogston, has come under scrutiny for his unfulfilled pledge of millions of dollars towards the Christchurch Cathedral’s restoration.
The board responsible for the cathedral’s ongoing repairs says that they have not received any funds from Ogston.
They also mentioned that they have a policy to ensure that the values of donors are in line with those of the Anglican Church.
According to The Times, the British businessman is one of Britain’s wealthiest individuals.
However, he has recently become embroiled in the alleged human trafficking of Thai and Filipina sex workers who were allegedly used for his sexual parties,
Based on approximately 1,000 leaked documents and Ogston’s handwritten notes, The Times report alleges that he used his wealth to conceal his activities for over a decade.
Ogston has denied these allegations through his legal representative, stating,
“This paints a picture of my personal life that I simply do not recognise.
“I do not exploit women.
“I am very sad that the publication of these allegations is going to cause immeasurable harm to the charities which I have been able to support over the years.”
The Metropolitan Police in London are reportedly reviewing the information disclosed by The Sunday Times.
In 2011, Ogston committed $4 million to the restoration of Christ Church Cathedral.
He visited New Zealand in 2014 to reaffirm his pledge and controversially suggested that an independent foundation should oversee the cathedral’s reconstruction, albeit with the Anglican Church’s cooperation.
However, in 2014, a spokesman for the Bishop of Christchurch, the Rt Revd Victoria Matthews, said that they had been given no advance information about the announcement, nor had they been invited to the event.
Until recently, the foundation was reportedly still listed among the pledges on the restoration project’s website.
However, The Press reports that in a recent development, Michael Norris, a resident of Akaroa and former business associate of the embattled Hamish Ogston, has expressed his astonishment over the “serious allegations” against Ogston.
Norris, who also serves as a trustee for the Great Christchurch Buildings Trust, cautioned the public against making premature judgements.
“I was shocked and surprised,” Norris said, adding that he remains “fairly sceptical until I see evidence supporting all this.”
“Friends support friends when they are in difficulty. I’m not treating them [the allegations] as true – there’s a long way to go,” he said.
Norris points out that the presumption of innocence applies and that allegations have yet to be substantiated.
“The allegations that are specified are complete news to us,” he remarked.
Norris portrayed Ogston as a bright, perceptive, and philanthropic individual, especially in matters related to arts and heritage.
“One thing we like about Hamish is that he gets things done,” Norris added.
When questioned about the ethical implications for the Christ Church Cathedral Reinstatement project, should the allegations prove true, Norris demurred, said it wasn’t his place to comment.
However, he conceded that such a scenario “would create difficulties.”
Philip Burdon, another trustee of the Great Christchurch Buildings Trust and a significant donor to the cathedral’s restoration efforts, described the allegations against Ogston as “hideous and horrifying.”
Burdon, who has met Ogston only once, voiced his support for Christ Church Cathedral Reinstatement’s existing policy on donations.
Who is Hamish Ogston
Ogston, a prominent philanthropist in the UK, is a regular on the Sunday Times Rich List.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Ogston expressed his long-standing concerns about societal inequalities, stating, “I have always been concerned about inequalities and unfairness and lack of opportunities. I don’t know why.”
His Foundation is known for supporting health, heritage, and music initiatives in the UK and abroad.
In recognition of his contributions to business and community service in York, where his company was based, he was honoured with a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) at Buckingham Palace in 2011.
Reportedly residing in a lavish mansion in Kensington, Ogston’s property is adjacent to the townhouse where Winston Churchill once lived and passed away.
Ogston’s art collection is said to boast works by renowned artists such as Picasso, Chagall, and Magritte.
Sources
- Stuff
- The Times
- Church Times
- Wikipedia
- The article was updated on Sunday.
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News category: New Zealand, News Shorts.
