Steve Acklam (1965) studied English at St John’s and set up the Acklam Award in English for current Johnian students. In this article he explains why keeping a connection with St John’s is important to him and shares his motivation for leaving a legacy.
I didn’t know anything about St John’s while I was at school, but my then headteacher suggested I apply because there were lots of northern people there! I joined in 1965 (I can’t promise I was the most diligent student) and met my wife when I was at College. My roommate invited the Cambridge modern ballet society for tea and cake, and Veronica came along. We got married in the Chapel in 1969, had our silver wedding anniversary in the Wordsworth Room in 1994, our Ruby wedding lunch also in St John’s and we renewed our vows in the Chapel that afternoon. For our wedding George Guest, who was then Director of Music, brought along his own Choir for the day. So, my connection with St John’s is very long, very deep and very special.
I can’t claim that my degree in English has been directly used, but what I did get out of my course was a love for King Lear – I was doing it for the fifth time and finally understood it – and I fell out of love with Ernest Hemingway. I read voraciously and loved playing football. In 1967 the football team I played with, St John’s third team, won the intercollege Plate, a competition for all teams below first team. On the 50th anniversary of this unexpected victory we met up again for the first time. In October 2024 we met again and there were six from the original teams there (three sadly have died) and there were three supporters.
When I got an initial job offer from Proctor and Gamble, I was using the eloquence I gained from my course to sell soap powder and toothpaste. I then moved into the world of selling biscuits, ending up at McVitie’s where I became the Export Sales and Marketing Director. It’s the ability to think through issues that a degree from Cambridge gives you. I also ran a charity for 12 years recruiting school governors and that capacity to scrutinise problems stood me in good stead then and stands me in good stead now as I try to add value to the community roles I take on.
My connection with St John’s remains constant. In terms of long-term friends and comrades, they are nearly all Johnians. They are still a fundamentally important part of my life. At Beaufort Society meetings I’ve even caught up with some I’d lost contact with. My wife and I used to come in for the alumni weekends, and I love the College Chapel and its Choral Evensong. We also came back to live close to Cambridge because it was the one place in the country to which we had an emotional attachment, and part of that was St John’s. Whenever somebody comes to stay with me, I take them around the College.
So, when it came to considering whether I was going to maintain links with St John’s, there was never any doubt. There are two reasons I decided to leave a legacy to St John’s. One is the connection I’ve just described. The other is that my father was so envious of me having gone to Cambridge. He was self-educated after the serving in the army during the war and built his education up by attending night classes at technical college, as it was then. By creating the Acklam Award for students reading English at St John’s, I was recognising his love for both Cambridge and learning. Making a gift to benefit students reading English who have demonstrated exceptional academic performance, while also factoring in their financial circumstance, seemed appropriate. My father worked hard, and it felt appropriate to give the award the family name. I worked closely with the College to make it socially valuable, which is very important.
When you join the Beaufort Society and you get your lovely silver pin, there is a strong sense of pride wearing it. Plus, the events are special. I will never forget going to the Fitzwilliam Museum for a private visit to see the Chinese jade – we were so lucky. We’ve had tours of the Old Library and a fascinating visit to the College archive in the School of Pythagoras. The lectures after lunch are wonderful – fascinating and educational. They give an insight into areas that academics are working in.
The Beaufort Society offers a social opportunity, a learning opportunity and a unique opportunity to meet and talk to other people. I don’t think I have ever been disappointed in conversation even though most times I have sat with people I don’t know. We are very well looked after at the events.
What effect has St John’s had on my life? Well, apart from the fact that it got me a wife, it has enabled me to achieve more as a result of my education. It’s always what you make of it. If people are minded to leave a legacy to St John’s, I think they should. They will feel the benefit of it through the Beaufort Society.
If you are interested in more information about leaving a legacy to St John’s and joining the Beaufort Society, please visit johnian.joh.cam.ac.uk/beaufortsociety, email Emma Talibudeen at beaufortsociety@joh.cam.ac.uk or ring her on 01223 338605.
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Steve studied English at St John’s before pursuing a career in sales, which led to him becoming the Export Sales and Marketing Director at McVitie’s. Steve retired in 2012 but has had a number of voluntary roles. Among other things, Steve is Chair of the Carer Council of Caring Together, a Fellow of the RSA and Senior Circuit Steward for the Methodist Church in Cambridgeshire.
