OLD boys at a Blackburn school are signing over a legacy to help fund bursaries for today's students.

A new society will be launched today to recognise those who have written in their will to leave money to Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School.

And its headmaster, Dr David Hempsall, said the generous donations will go towards funding bursaries for boys and girls from lower income families.

At the inaugural lunch, members of the 1509 society, named after the year the school was founded, will meet with the society's patron, Sir Netar Mallick, professor of renal medicine at Manchester Royal Infirmary and Emeritus Professor at Manchester University.

Sir Netar, a former QEGS boy from 1947 and 1953, said: "I am grateful for the education I received and would like to make sure this tremendous school, which has such a long and proud history, has the resources necessary to offer a bright future for generations to come."

He added: "We have recently benefited from the generosity of two former pupils whose legacy has helped future generations at QEGS.

"The John Law Scholarship is awarded each year to help bright pupils while we have also refurbished a Physics laboratory in honour of another former pupil, Brian Mercer."

The school currently has 820 pupils, of which 15 per cent receive of assistance towards their fees.