The Sundial Circle

What is The Sundial Circle?

The Sundial Circle, previously named The Arthur Armitage Society, allows us to recognise and thank those who have pledged to remember Queens' in their Will.

Members are invited to attend regular online webinars and an annual garden party at the end of June in the President's Garden.

Legacies from members and friends of the College have made a tremendous difference to all aspects of College life, for instance:

• Mr Anthony L. Lyster’s (1949) Will provided three Fellowships in Mathematics, Modern & Medieval Languages and Sociology, while Mrs Thelma Seear’s Will provided a Fellowship in Architecture & Art History.
• Professor Robert Haszeldine’s legacy has supported the endowment of a subject fund in Chemistry.
• Mr Geoffrey Weaks (1945), a former Crusaders Cricketer, left an unrestricted legacy which facilitated the endowment of The Nelson Blues Fund.
• Other legacies have helped provide postgraduate awards, establish a fund to look after and maintain the College gardens, renovate the College’s historic buildings and enable the Boat Club to acquire new boats.

What does leaving a legacy mean to alumni?

"I’m proud to be a member of the College's society for legators and I’d urge everyone thinking about making a will to do so! It ensures that your money goes where you want it to.

I had a wonderful time at the College and it means a tremendous amount to me, so I’m pleased to think that my estate will be able to give something back. I’ve also got charities, including Queens’, as my final beneficiaries, in case other family members predecease me."

(Ms Jital Doshi, 2013)

The impact of legacies on Queens' students:

"I received funding to travel to Ghana for three weeks to complete a mental health placement. I spent my time at Manhyia Government Hospital in Kumasi, observing consultations, updating patient notes, and prescribing medications. I was able to learn so much about the history and development of mental healthcare in Ghana, and how this compares to mental healthcare in the UK. Having the opportunity to complete this project has really helped me to thrive academically as I was able to learn a great deal from the doctors and psychiatric nurses about the possible neurological bases to conditions such as Schizophrenia.

When not at the project, I spent my time living with a local family, and as such, I learnt so much about the Ghanaian culture and even had the opportunity to travel to the Cape Coast and Mole National Park to really embrace everything that the country has to offer – something that wouldn’t have been possible without the support I received."

(Charlotte Rye, 2019)

Charlotte was awarded this funding from The Treglown Fund for undergraduate and graduate travel abroad to undertake worthwhile projects. This was made possible by a gift from the estate of Mr Geoffrey Treglown (1959).

After achieving a distinction in her MPhil, Charlotte is now embarking upon a PhD in Psychology at Queens'.