The Development Director Reports:
As we contemplate moving back to in-person events, it’s an interesting time to reflect on the last year. One thing that is clear is that the use of videoconferencing technology will undoubtedly be crucial in our future interactions with the worldwide Darwin community. The ability to run an event for close to 100 Darwinians at a time across multiple continents simultaneously, is too good an opportunity not to continue. That said, we are keen to welcome alumni back into College; but in future, a mixture of in-person and online events will enable us to keep our community engaged and in touch with the College like never before.
In the last few months, we were very sad to hear of the untimely death of former Research Fellow Dr Iain Morley. We also mourn Celia Milstein, the widow of the late Cesar Milstein, who was also very much part of the College ‘family.’ In the last issue of the Darwinian, we published an obituary of Prof Hugh Mellor; in this issue I record the College’s profound thanks to Professor Mellor for his most generous legacy to Darwin, which is enabling us to endow D H Mellor Philosophy Studentships in perpetuity.
As you can imagine, fundraising for students has been, and will of course continue to be a major part of our work. The pandemic has resulted in many students encountering unforeseeable financial circumstances and has meant that the College has needed to award increased funds in student hardship grants, with over £80,000 awarded in the last year. We are immensely grateful to the many donors who have contributed at different levels to support our students at this time. The College also needs to continue to attract the best students, and to that end we continue to fundraise for studentships, and with thanks to the generosity of a number of donors we have increased the variety of studentships available to both prospective doctoral and masters-level students.
Over the year we have also received a number of generous donations which have helped us to install a lift in the Hermitage section of the College, enabling step-free access to the first-floor level. Installing a lift is very much the first phase of a more general review of the communal areas of the College, which are much-loved, and which do much to promote the intimate atmosphere of Darwin. At times, these spaces quickly become full given the increase in students over the last few decades. A case in point is the gym, which you may remember is far too small for purpose. The good news is that the College has purchased a building adjacent to Gwen Raverat House which will become a new, larger, purpose-built gym. We will soon be seeking support to equip it. As our plans for other communal areas develop, we will of course keep you fully updated!
In June 2021 we said farewell to Eleanor Collingwood, Alumni Officer at Darwin since 2018. Ellie has made a huge contribution to Darwin and we are very grateful for her hard work and dedication! Ellie moves on to a new role working in the heritage sector, and we wish her well for her future.
To close, I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to Darwin over the last year. Your donations – at whatever level – are greatly appreciated and do much to ensure that the College can provide for its students over what has been, in anyone’s book, a challenging period in the College’s timeline.
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