As St Catharine’s has traversed the centuries, legacies – or recognising the College in one’s Will – have been a constant in helping it to secure its future. In 1745, Mary Ramsden’s bequest to the College provided the funds to build and expand the site of St Catharine’s into much of what we know and cherish today. Her generosity also supported students with bursary funding well into the late 19th century. There can be no doubt of the lasting impact legacies can have, well beyond the time of the bequest.
Portrait of a Lady (known as Mary Ramsden, Benefactrix) attributed to Godfrey Kneller (1646–1723), from the St Catharine's College collection
Why I’m recognising the College in my Will
Professor Dame Sarah Springman DBE CBE (1983, Engineering; Honorary Fellow 2015) is a triathlete, civil engineer and academic. She is Principal of St Hilda’s College, University of Oxford, where she lives with her wife, Rosie Mayglothling OBE, and their two cats.
“I came to St Catharine’s for an MPhil in Soil Mechanics and carried on with a PhD. I had taken my BA at Girton, but many of my friends had been at St Catharine’s and I liked the ethos and the sporty nature. Mr Dudley Robinson (1955) and Dr Chris Thorne (1963) were both particularly supportive during my time, the latter encouraging me to represent College in Cuppers cross-country and squash.
"As Principal of St Hilda’s, I am now back in a collegiate environment: living in the Lodgings, with enjoyable views of beautiful gardens, the meadow and the River Cherwell. I hope to continue to help young people at university develop and mature into ‘future-ready’ graduates. Being a Head of House has also caused me to rethink my own philanthropy: I discovered that at Oxford and Cambridge, each student creates a financial shortfall for their College, based on the share received for a student’s tuition fees or accommodation income. This is around £6,000 per student at St Hilda’s, so we compensate through other earnings, such as investments or business opportunities. Richer Colleges may not catch a cold, but those that are smaller and less wealthy have to work very hard indeed."
Professor Dame Sarah Springman
"Earlier generations of alumni may have benefited from financial support – no tuition fees, or perhaps a scholarship or grant – so might be encouraged to give back that support, if they are able. Meanwhile, for younger alumni – who feel less able to support in their lifetime – a bequest entails the knowledge that one is still strengthening future generations.
"My own legacy to St Catharine’s comes with no strings attached. I hope that it may help in a small way to enable the College to offer an opportunity to someone with potential to study at St Catharine’s, or to enhance the student experience in some way.”
Named for the College’s founder, Robert Woodlark, the Woodlark Society of St Catharine’s recognises those who have made a legacy in favour of the College. Membership is optional, and there is no obligation to tell us of your intentions to leave a gift – however, the Woodlark Society is a way for us to thank you for your generosity and plan for the next chapter. Contact the Alumni and Development Office if you’d like to discuss leaving a legacy to the College: alumni@caths.cam.ac.uk.
