Giving to the University of Exeter
1911 – after beginning life in the Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Queen Street, the aspirant University of Exeter moved to its first purpose-built premises in Gandy Street.
1922 – the then empty acres of Streatham campus were acquired thanks to the generosity of a local benefactor, Alderman W.H. Reed.
June 1927 – HRH Prince of Wales laid the foundation stone for the first major new academic building, Washington Singer, named after a benefactor.
1933 – Exeter’s first purpose-built hall of residence, Mardon Hall, was completed thanks again to the generosity of a donor, Evelyn Mardon.
May 1956 – Her Majesty the Queen arrives to present the new University of Exeter with its Charter and unveil the foundation stone of the Queen's Building.
2001– His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohamed Al-Qasimi (PhD 1985, Hon DLitt 1993) funded a new building to house the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies.
2004 – Benefactor Mr Ian Henderson (Hon LLD 2008) helped to fund the Xfi Centre for Finance and Investment.
August 2011 – Building: One, the new state of the art business school building, was funded by the generosity of our alumni.
May 2012 – Her majesty The Queen returns to the University to open the multi million pound Forum building.
2012 – The Forum was made possible because of the generosity of His HighnessDr Shaikh Bin Mohamed Al Qasimi (PhD 1985, Hon Litt 1993).
2012 – Each of the 400 seats in the alumni auditorium have been named after the volunteers and donors have so generously donated to the University.
The 150-year history of the University of Exeter is one shaped by the vision of generations of philanthropists and educational reformers. Exeter traces its history back to 1855 when Sir Stafford Northcote, an MP and later Chancellor of the Exchequer, was the driving force behind the establishment of higher education in Exeter.
The history of the University is one marked by acts of vision and philanthropy from our alumni and supporters. It all started with the vision of a small group of individuals who wished to establish Exeter as a centre of higher education.
When you look around the University of Exeter's campuses you see evidence of this philanthropy in the names of many of our buildings. Names like Washington Singer, Mardon and Hatherly represent some of the many benefactors who helped shape our University.
In 2006, the University's College of Benefactors was formed to recognise Exeter's most significant benefactors. Just as important is the support of more than 4,000 alumni and friends since 2005.
Together, their combined pledges have contributed £15 million to the University to support our students, expand our research and develop our infrastructure. Their generosity continues a tradition of philanthropy in the University that goes back more than 150 years.
