Paul, 57 years old, patron of the arts
Architect, single, has set up a foundation to help talented musicians

What I wanted

My great passion is music. My piano teachers said that I had real talent. However, I wasn’t sure that I had what it took to become a concert pianist. When I turned 18, I was faced with a choice, and I chose a safer career that worked out well for me. But I have remained passionate about music and a couple of years ago, I felt the need to get back into the area that had occupied so much of my teenage years. Philanthropy provided that opportunity.

How I'm doing it

I have the money, but not the genius. Others have the genius but not the money. I remembered once a few of years ago during dinner at a friend's house, we were talking about a promising young pianist who had only a second-rate instrument to practise on. I decided that I would buy him a better instrument. I set up a small trust for musicians. I had no idea how whether my venture would be successful, but little by little, I found myself donating Stradivarius violins to a number of players in the same situation.

What the Bank did

Assistance provided

• Centralisation, structuring and management of assets
• Setting up a foundation