The Cyril Malyon Memorial Fund (CMMF) was established in 2013 as a charitable, not for profit voluntary organisation, by Jennifer Chacksfield (nee Malyon) and Alec Malyon, in recognition of their father’s work at Markhouse Secondary School and the Markhouse Drama Club that he ran between 1955 – 1977.
The main purpose of the CMMF, which has been run on the Malyon family’s behalf by a number of former members of the original MDC, has been to develop and finance opportunities for young people to experience drama and other related performing arts activities.
In funding such activities the hope has been that this experience has enabled the young people to become more self-confident, creative, be more able to take responsibility, learn how to work as part of a team and to have great fun and friendships whilst doing so – thus replicating the aims that Cyril Malyon had in his work at the Markhouse Drama Club
Access to funding by the CMMF is very specific as it requires that there is some form of ‘link’ between a former member of the MDC and either the young people who become involved, or with the organization providing the performing arts project. This criteria has thereby ensured the continuation of the relationship between the former members of the Markhouse Drama Club and Cyril Malyon and his family
Since its inception, the CMMF has renewed links between former members, ran Re-Unions and, in 2016, also funded an ‘in house’ project of establishing a new MDC Website to replace and expand the memorabilia that was originally contained in Dickie Dunn’s ‘walthamstowhistory’com’ website
In May 2017 the CMMF was incorporated into a distinct, and newly formed (non performing version) of the Markhouse Drama Club, with its residual work and funds held within the new organisation.
Note: An Information Leaflet on the CMMF, with details of its funding arrangements, can be obtained by former members of the original Markhouse Drama Club by leaving a note on the website Contact Page or at dm2013cmmf@googlemail.com