Queen’s Tower Society celebrates the impact of legacy giving

More than 50 supporters enjoyed an exclusive afternoon tea last week to commemorate the significance of legacy gifts at Imperial.

The Queen’s Tower Society was established in 2016 to acknowledge the generosity of donors and friends who pledge a donation to Imperial in their will. Society members meet up annually to learn about recent developments and the impact of philanthropy in Imperial.

The afternoon tea took place in The Smith Centre at the Science Museum, accompanied by a jazz and classical string quartet performance from student musicians from the Imperial College Symphony Orchestra String Quartet.  

Professor Deborah Ashby, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, welcomed guests with news of the opening of the School of Public Health at the White City Campus. The building was made possible thanks to philanthropic support and is a major new research facility that will drive advances in health policy and preventing and treating diseases. 

Guests also heard from President’s PhD Scholarship recipient Elsy Milan from the Centre for Environmental Policy, who spoke about how the scholarship supported her in pursuing research in the energy sector, where women represent only 20-30% of the workforce. The President’s PhD Scholarship covers full tuition fees and living expenses, among other costs for high-performing PhD students, and is partly supported by legacy gifts.

Legacy Giving at Imperial

Imperial received £5.1M in legacy donations in the last financial year, which contributed toward student support, research, and scholarships. With 45 new pledgers last year, the Queen's Tower Society now has more than 400 members.   

Anna Wall, Head of Regular Giving and Legacy Giving, spoke about Imperial alumnus Bill Anglesea who set up a scholarship in his wife’s memory, before leaving a legacy gift of his own to the Faculty of Engineering to help future students. Anna said: “I’ve seen firsthand the incredible impact legacy gifts have on supporting exceptional students and helping them realise their dreams of receiving an Imperial education. Your support provides students with long-term financial security which means that, regardless of their financial circumstances, those who have the talent can thrive here and play their part in making the world a better place.”

Find more information about legacy giving and get in touch with Anna to discuss legacy giving options.