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08 May 2024

A proud tradition of giving at Nottingham

Throughout Nottingham’s history, individuals like you have played a key role in our growth and development. They helped fund the construction of many of the buildings in which you studied and have been key to ensuring we remain a place where family background and circumstances are not barriers to achievement.

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The period from 1920-1948 was a key period in the College’s expansion and eventual award of a Royal Charter. With the help of the university’s archives, here we revisit some of the individuals who in that period, just as alumni do today, made a significant contribution to Nottingham.

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Sir Jesse and Lady Florence Boot

When the College launched a fundraising appeal in 1920, prominent local people were contacted with requests for donations. Jesse Boot’s initial response was not encouraging. In a letter dated 2 March 1920, Boot explains that he is unable to give a donation at present, adding that he may perhaps be able to do something small in the future. However, he was soon to change his mind in spectacular fashion. By the end of the same year, Boot had given £50,000 to the College, beginning his series of large gifts.

Over the course of the next ten years, he gave donations totalling more than £9,000,000 in today’s terms. His gift of land at Highfields resulted in the establishment of the present University Park campus. His wife Florence shared his passion, paying for the building of a hostel for female students, which was christened Florence Boot Hall.

The impact of the Boots’ generosity and vision is still felt by students today, in several of the buildings in which they study and meet. Similarly, alumni's contributions shape today’s Nottingham, by helping to ensure that students from lower-income backgrounds can experience all the university has to offer.

Edmund Huntsman

Huntsman was an important figure in the civic life of Nottingham in the early twentieth century. He was a member of the city council for many years and in 1927 became Mayor of Nottingham. A qualified solicitor, his association with University College began in 1907 when he was appointed director of the Law department. In 1917 he joined the College Council, serving as chairman from 1921-1939. Huntsman was a key promoter of the scheme to acquire full university status. He gave innumerable public speeches on the topic and is credited with engaging Jesse Boot’s interest in the College.

W H Revis standing with his family.

WH Revis

William Henry Revis was an important benefactor whose generosity enabled many students who otherwise could not have afforded to do so to attend University College.

Revis was born in Nottingham in 1849. He owned a lace and hosiery machine building business in Nottingham, before emigrating to America in 1899, where he spent fifteen years working as a merchant. In his will he left £10,000 and a portion of his estate to University College.

The trustees of Revis’ will directed that the money should be used to fund scholarships, grants and loans for poor students “of pregnant parts and laudable inclination by whom a full education cannot be reached without considerable money help”.

The WH Revis bequest fund is still in operation, helping to fund part-time postgraduate students and undergraduates with asylum seeker status. Like many kind supporters today, Revis was motivated by the desire to ensure a Nottingham education was available to the most talented students, regardless of their material circumstances.

Hugh Stewart

Stewart was principal of University College from 1929 until his sudden death in 1934.

He was born in September 1884 in East Aberdeenshire, Scotland. He won a scholarship to Edinburgh University, where he stayed for a year before moving to Trinity College, Cambridge. After leaving university Stewart went on to enjoy a varied career which saw him employed as a private tutor in Russia, a Professor of Classics in New Zealand and a Colonel in the army during the First World War. At the end of the war, he moved to Leeds University before accepting the position of Principal of University College, Nottingham. After a holiday to New Zealand, he died onboard ship on the journey home.

In his will he left £1,000 to University College. Three years later his widow gave £5,000 to establish the Hugh Stewart Scholarship to be awarded to a male arts graduate. Lenton Hall, a student residence, was renamed Hugh Stewart Hall in his memory.

Will you join a history of giving at Nottingham by donating to our scholarships appeal 2024?

Please donate before the deadline of 31 July.