New Hall is set to become ’‘Murray Edwards College’ in recognition of the biggest ever gift to a Cambridge College by a British couple.

Ros and Steve Edwards, Cambridge-based entrepreneurs, will be donating £30 million to Ros’s old College. By so doing they hope to encourage their UK peers to give to their own universities. Their gift will enable New Hall to pursue its desire to recruit more students from non-traditional backgrounds.

“We need to fund our universities so that they can compete with richly-endowed ones in the United States,” said Ros. “Britain is a value-added country, we live by our brains. And Cambridge provides a world-class education which is our life blood. However, Cambridge can only continue to provide the high standard of education if we are able to compete on an equal footing. This is why we are giving something back to my old College. We hope that other alumni will feel able to do the same for their colleges and universities.”

The gift seals the dream of the late Dame Rosemary Murray, the College’s founder, to see the College properly endowed and given a permanent name. In 1954, the College began with one shilling and no name. It was to be known as the ‘New Hall’, waiting for a donor to appear who would endow and name it.

Fifty years have now passed, in which New Hall has established itself as a strong and independent College with over 4,400 alumnae, and a history and values of which it is proud. These are the values which inspired Ros and Steve Edwards to make their £30 million gift. The Edwards asked to recognise the founder, Dame Rosemary Murray in the new name. The College chose to honour the donors also, making the name ‘Murray Edwards College’.

Anne Lonsdale, President of the College, said: “We are thrilled. The money will transform the experience of those at the College for generations to come. We were set up to provide the best education to able women from all backgrounds. All our students are special – but they may not be rich. Now we can allocate further financial help where it is needed and build on our teaching strengths.”

The gift will make a significant contribution to the goals of the Cambridge University 800th Anniversary Campaign. Ros Edwards (nee Smith) is herself a member of the Campaign Board.


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