forever lincoln
Legacies at Lincoln
By leaving a legacy to Lincoln you are investing in the future of the College with a gift that endures beyond a lifetime. Making a bequest to Lincoln in your Will can be an important way of supporting our future as we enter the next phase of Lincoln's history. Since its earliest days, Lincoln has relied greatly on bequests from its alumni, Fellows and friends. Virtually every major building, scholarship and facility in the College owes something to a legacy benefaction.
No matter how big or small, every gift benefits the College. In the last ten years, the College was kindly gifted £326,269 from bequests of between £1K -£10K. Bequest commitments entitle the donor and their spouse or partner to membership of the Murray Society. Benefits of membership include: invitations to exclusive Murray Society events, an annual issue of The Grove (the Murray Society newsletter) and an exclusive Murray Society tie and/or scarf in Lincoln colours. As part of the 600 Campaign, we hope to have 600 members of the Murray Society. Please find stories below showcasing the impact of individual legacies.
Meet Our Donors and Recipients
Elman Poole
Elman came to Lincoln in 1953 from Otago, New Zealand to continue his studies in clinical medicine, and stayed in Oxford to pursue a career as a consultant neurologist at the JR Hospital. In retirement, he became a regular visitor to the College, and was a keen supporter of music and the arts here. He died in 2019, and his very generous legacy to Lincoln supports graduate students and a new Junior Research Fellow in Ovarian Cancer, a major cause of death in women.
Nancy Zaarour
Elman Poole Junior Research Fellow
"I want to extend my deepest gratitude for Dr Elman Poole’s generous donation. His support is instrumental in advancing our efforts to develop a preventive ovarian cancer vaccine that can ultimately have a groundbreaking impact in changing women’s lives."
Simon Featherstone
Simon read law at Lincoln from 1977-80, before joining the Foreign Office, where he served with distinction, most notably as Ambassador to Switzerland. He died in 2014, having suffered from cancer, and his wife Gail was keen to ensure he left a lasting legacy at Lincoln. She endowed a bursary in his name for undergraduates, preferably reading law, and enjoys coming back to Lincoln to meet the recipients at the annual Bursarians’ Dinner.
Joy Sidhom
Medicine, 2022
"I am currently in my second year of studying medicine at Lincoln and am enjoying progressing through my course. Thanks to the Simon Featherstone grant, I am able to focus on extracurriculars, as well as my degree, without becoming preoccupied with finances. For example, I am using my time to volunteer with charities such as Jacari. Mrs Featherstone's altruism has in turn allowed me to give back to my community. I am very grateful for this grant and hope that more students can receive support like I have."
