Transforming futures through the Dobson Free Places scheme
In our busy lives, the topic of estate planning and writing a will can often feel overwhelming. Yet ensuring that our wishes are clearly outlined and our loved ones are provided for is one of the most important gifts we can give. The desire to make a lasting impact is a key motivator for supporting charitable causes, such as St John’s.
When the family of the late Peter Dannatt (1947) were administering his estate, they found a note from Peter saying that he wished to make a donation to St John’s, but this was not included in his will. The note was written around 2005, and he wished to support a scheme for means-tested undergraduate support. Peter’s son, Mark, and daughter, Lorna, therefore arranged for a variation to Peter’s will to include a generous bequest to the College in support of the Dobson Free Places Fund.
Peter’s family shared some of his background and described why a gift to Free Places at St John’s is the perfect match for their late father’s wishes:
Peter was born in Stretford, Manchester in 1928 and moved to Hale, Altrincham, where he lived for most of his life. Peter’s father, Sir Cecil Dannatt, was an eminent mathematician and electrical engineer but came from humble beginnings as the son of a house builder in Burton-on-Trent. It was a family anecdote that Cecil was destined to be the bricklayer in the family business, but the First World War and an electrical engineering degree at Durham University changed the course of his life. Both Peter and his father were educated at state-run grammar schools, and both achieved considerable success with a variety of school prizes. The role model of his father proved to the young Peter what could be achieved given aptitude, work ethic and enthusiasm, without the backing of privilege and position.
Peter thought extremely highly of the University of Cambridge and was very proud to have attended St John’s, gaining his degree in Mechanical Sciences in 1950. Throughout his time in College, he thrived in an environment that encouraged and stimulated his intellectual curiosity, and where he was surrounded by peers with similar aspirations in life, some of whom became lifelong friends.
A sense of fairness and equality of opportunity were cornerstones of Peter’s philosophy in life, and his frustration was obvious when he saw talented people held back for the want of a small amount of encouragement, support or assistance. Anecdotally, he was frustrated to learn that there were a higher proportion of state-educated entrants when he entered St John’s in the 1940s than when his grandson (also named Peter Dannatt) went to St John’s about 70 years later.
Peter’s family are proud to have passed on his legacy to St John’s after recently finding the note among his papers. When liaising with the College to make the variation to his will, they said, ‘We are sure this would have translated into support for the Dobson Free Places scheme of today, which similarly maximises gifts and provides assistance for those with ability and academic merit who otherwise might not have been able to benefit from the education he was so fortunate to have received.’
The Beaufort Society
The Beaufort Society was founded in 2009 to acknowledge the tremendous contribution of all those who have promised to support St John’s in their wills. This community continues to flourish with an enriched programme of events, and membership now stands at over 380 Johnians and friends of the College.
It was lovely to see so many members return for the annual meeting in October, which was another memorable day in College. Hosted jointly by the Master, Heather Hancock (1984), and the President of the Beaufort Society, The Lord Browne of Madingley (1966), this flagship event celebrates the generosity and dedication of society members and the extraordinary impact they have on both the present and future strength of St John’s. Festivities included welcome drinks in the Old Divinity School, formal lunch in Hall with guest speaker College Chaplain, Revd Dr Victoria Johnson, an afternoon lecture from Professor Richard Gilbertson FRS FMedSci FRCP on ‘Will we ever cure cancer?’ and tea and cake in the Master’s Lodge before Evensong.
Another highlight of 2024 was the tailored breakfast event at the National Portrait Gallery for the society’s spring meeting in March, which included a private viewing and tour of the Tudor Galleries with the recently conserved portrait of Lady Margaret Beaufort (on loan from St John’s) as the centrepiece of the exhibition. Following the tour, coffee and pastries were served in the Gallery’s cafe, where members met with the Master.
More information about the Beaufort Society, including articles about recent events and features in Johnian magazine, is available to read here: https://johnian.joh.cam.ac.uk/beaufort-society/
If you are interested in leaving a legacy to St John’s and joining the Beaufort Society please email beaufortsociety@joh.cam.ac.uk or phone 01223 338605 to find out more.
Written by
Emma is the Development Manager (Major Gifts and Legacies) for St John’s.
