Selwyn College Legacy Brochure

Building a Legacy for Selwyn

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“Why have I remembered Selwyn in my Will? In a word, gratitude, or perhaps two words, profound gratitude. Selwyn has been part of my life for over 60 years, and this

good fortune has given me many happy memories: a Chapel

in which I was married, lifelong friends, and so many

opportunities in academic life and more widely, at home and

overseas. A great privilege.”

Sir David Harrison (se 1950), Fellow & Former Master of Selwyn

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For more than 130 years, Selwyn has benefited from the

foresight and generosity of those who have remembered the

College in their Wills. Every aspect of Selwyn has been touched

by these bequests, which have been essential for revitalising our

changing infrastructure, supporting the College’s teaching needs,

and sustaining our strong programme of student support.

Although you may not have realised it when you were here, your

Selwyn experience was directly shaped by those who came before

you and who in their Wills made provision for their successors

at the College. It is the continuing support of alumni and friends

which allows Selwyn to plan for the future, helping to ensure that

the College flourishes for the next 130 years.

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Many alumni who would like to make a donation to the College

cannot do so now due to other commitments. Remembering Selwyn

in your Will, however, offers you a different opportunity to give

your support.

Making a Will is an important and personal task, which requires

careful consideration. Providing for your family and loved ones will

of course be a priority. Once your essential commitments have been

met, however, you may wish to remember organisations that have

been important to you or played a key role in your life. We hope you

will choose to remember Selwyn.

All bequests, large or small, will be vital in shaping tomorrow. By

leaving a legacy to Selwyn, you will be making a lasting contribution

that will strengthen the College and influence the lives of future

generations of Selwyn students.

“About fifty-five years ago the College looked after me, and my bequest is a small way of helping Selwyn to

continue to help others.”

Anonymous Legator (se 1955)

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Generations of Generosityh j

Mr Peter Miller Clarke

Revd Hugh Cowham

Dr Geoffrey Wooler

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Mr Peter Miller Clarke matriculated in 1940

but, like many of his contemporaries, was shortly called up to serve

his country in the Second World War. Once the war was over he

returned to Selwyn, completing his degree in 1948. When he died in

2001, Peter left over £130,000 to the College. This generous legacy,

combined with another gift, enabled the College to buy a new organ

for the Chapel. Létourneau’s Opus 95 is widely regarded as one of

the finest organs in the University and is sought after for recitals,

practising and teaching by organists from across the length and

breadth of the UK. It has had a transformational effect on Chapel

Music at Selwyn.

“It is such a privilege to be able to play, develop and learn on the incredible chapel organ. It really is a very special instrument.” Tim Parsons (sE 2011), sEnior organ scholar

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Gifts like Revd Cowham’s have given sportsmen and women, like Emma and Matthias, the opportunity to take up and pursue rowing at Selwyn. Emma coPham (sE 2010), cambridgE lighTwEighT boaT 2012 maTThias schnEllman (sE 2010), boaT club caPTain

Selwyn in 1948 and here developed a lifelong love of rowing.

In his first year he graduated from the fourth Fairbairns boat to

stroke the eight at Henley. You could say that rowing was in his

blood; his father, who was also an undergraduate at Selwyn, had

been triumphant in the first eight in both 1914 and 1919, nearly

30 years before his son took to the water. Hugh’s love of rowing

was such that he took his wife, Elizabeth, to Reading Regatta

on their first date. Hugh left a legacy to The Henley Fund, “in

recognition of the help which I received”. His gift of £500 has

helped subsequent students to discover and pursue the sport that

meant so much to him throughout his life.

Revd Hugh Cowham came up to read History at

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“It is always encouraging to hear of the achievements made by alumni who studied Medical Sciences here. The impact that Dr Wooler has made in medicine, and through his legacy, is inspiring to us as current students.” PEggy Fooks (sE 2011), mEdical sciEncEs

Selwyn, matriculating in 1930. He worked as a Royal Army

Medical Corps Surgeon in North Africa during the war and went on to

become a world renowned cardiothoracic surgeon, making outstanding

medical breakthroughs. Throughout his life, Geoffrey was dedicated to

the service of others. In his Will he left £10,000 to the Andrew Hepper

Fund which was set up in memory of his nephew, who also studied

medicine at Selwyn, and who was severely disabled. The Andrew

Hepper Fund supports students with disabilities and has had a very

positive impact. To this day, Geoffrey’s legacy continues to make a

meaningful difference to the lives of others.

Dr Geoffrey Wooler studied Medical Sciences at

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Dr Philip Blakely

Mrs Catherine Wightwick

Mr Richard Harvey

Looking to the Futureh j

Membership of The 1882 Society honours those who have made

provision for Selwyn in their Will. Through The 1882 Society, we

recognise the very special way that legators have chosen to support the

College and its future. Members, with their guests, are invited to an

annual luncheon at Selwyn, normally held the first weekend in March.

“I have always felt a debt of gratitude to Selwyn in those

immediate and difficult post-war years, and some time ago I

accordingly included a small sum in my Will for the College.”

Mr Derek Ballance (SE 1946)

1882Societyh j

Selwyn College

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Dr Philip Blakely (Mathematics, 2001)

I spent eight years at Selwyn reading Maths both as an undergraduate

and a postgraduate. I formed many lasting friendships not only with

other mathematicians, but also through College groups, particularly

the MCR and Chapel communities.

Part of what seems to make Selwyn such a friendly place is its ability to

house all students near to the main College site, encouraging such

friendships as I made, and supporting students with excellent teaching

and pastoral support, as well as funding extra-curricular activities

through grants and bursaries. I have chosen to remember Selwyn in my

Will to support the College in maintaining this close-knit community

which was an important part of my experience there, and which I

believe helps students to become well-rounded and useful members of

society. I hope that future students will enjoy and benefit from Selwyn

as much as I did.

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Mrs Catherine Wightwick (Natural Sciences, 1981)

I matriculated in 1981, reading Physical Natural Sciences, and had

a great time at Cambridge – not without a few ups and downs,

throughout which the College was very supportive. I have a great

affection for Selwyn, and very fond memories of my time here. I’ve

been back to the College on a number of occasions in the last few

years, most recently the 1981 30-year reunion dinner. Each time, it

feels like I’ve never been away.

Without Selwyn, my life would have turned out very differently. On

the whole, it’s all worked out pretty well. And that’s why I’m pleased

to be remembering Selwyn in my Will – it’s good to know that I’m

giving something back, confident that the College will continue to help

undergraduates to get the best out of their time in Cambridge.

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Mr Richard Harvey (Moral Sciences, 1962)

I came up to Selwyn in 1962 facing the Cuban Missile crisis, followed

by the worst winter for many years, when it was possible to walk,

as I did, on the frozen Cam from Magdalene Bridge to Grantchester.

However, despite there being some echoes of Selwyn’s original aim

of providing a more economical lifestyle than elsewhere, I do not

remember feeling cold in College, and the pipes in my staircase

(A) didn’t freeze! Times have certainly changed since then, but my

fondness for Selwyn remains.

I am happy to include the College in my Will, as I feel that those like

myself who benefited from an entirely free Oxbridge education have an

obligation to put something back into the education system to help our

successors who do not have the same advantage.

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Leaving a gift to Selwyn in your Willa legacy gift can be written into a new Will, or added to an existing one. in all cases we advise that you seek professional legal advice. to amend an existing Will a codicil needs to be added. the following wording can be used:

I give to the MASTER AND FELLOWS OF SELWYN COLLEGE in the University of Cambridge Registered Charity (Inland Revenue number 1137517) the residue of / [a proportion of] the residue of my estate / the sum of £[amount] free of tax for the general purposes of the College and I DECLARE that the receipt of the Bursar or other authorised officer for the time being of the College shall be a good and sufficient discharge to my executors.

your legacy can be left to the general purposes of the college, where it will be used in the area which requires most support at the time. alternatively, you may like to choose to support a specific area of the college. if you would like to discuss possible options please do contact the development director.

There are several ways you can leave a legacy to Selwyn:

a residuary legacy allows you to leave all or a percentage of the remainder of your estate after all costs and other legacies have been met.

a pecuniary legacy is a monetary gift of a specific fixed sum, which can be index-linked to safeguard its future value.

a specific legacy allows you to leave items, for example, stocks, property, furniture or paintings, to either be used, or sold to generate funds.

a reversionary legacy leaves your assets to a named beneficiary, for example a spouse, for their lifetime, the whole or a proportion reverting to the college on their death.

Inheritance taxas a registered charity, Selwyn pays no tax on gifts bequeathed in a Will. leaving a legacy gift to Selwyn can mean that the inheritance tax burden on other beneficiaries is reduced from 40% to 36%. under current legislation, the first £325,000 of an estate is exempt from inheritance tax, which is payable at 40% on the amount over this threshold. this falls to a reduced rate of 36% if a charitable donation of 10% of the estate is made. Please talk to your financial advisor for guidance on inheritance tax.

to discuss your legacy giving in complete confidence, please contact Sarah harmer, development director. telephone: 01223 330 403. email: [email protected].

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The information contained in this brochure is, to the best of our knowledge, correct at the time of going to print. We would always advise that you consult your financial advisor for specific advice about inheritance tax and your solicitor for advice about making your Will.

“I believe that Selwyn deserves my support. This is

not simply because I owe much to the College for

my time there and for my becoming part of the

wider Selwyn, and indeed Cambridge, community

in subsequent years which has served me well in

both the private and public sectors, but also because

Selwyn has shown the willingness, ability and assurance to continue to develop.”

Mr Christopher Clarke (SE 1964)

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Building a Legacy for Selwyn