Find out more
If you are interested in more information about leaving a legacy to St John’s and joining the Beaufort Society, please contact Emma Talibudeen by email at beaufortsociety@joh.cam.ac.uk or phone on 01223 338605.
Email nowSouvent me Souvient
The support of legacies has allowed the College to flourish over the last five centuries, since Lady Margaret’s founding bequest. In 2009 the College established the Beaufort Society, named in honour of our Foundress, to thank those generous and far-sighted individuals who have remembered St John’s in their will. This community of friends continues to thrive and grow each year, enjoying a close relationship with the College.
My husband and I believe passionately in education and want to do something practical for future generations. That is why we are leaving a gift to the College in our wills. The Beaufort Society is much more than a way of keeping in touch with St John’s. It is a unique family community, and through it we’ve made new friends, all with a common interest: the College.
Dr Heidi Doughty OBE (1983)
Members and their guests are invited to two exclusive annual events in College. The autumn meeting typically includes drinks on arrival, formal lunch in Hall and a range of optional afternoon activities, such as tours, musical recitals and lectures from Fellows. The day is rounded off with afternoon tea before heading to Chapel for Evensong. The spring gathering is a smaller, more informal event, the format of which varies from a buffet lunch in College to evening drinks.
These festivities keep members in touch with life at St John’s and provide them with the opportunity to get to know one another.
Souvent me Souvient, usually translated ‘I often remember’, is the Beaufort family’s motto. It can also be thought of as ‘Forget me Not’, which is why a tiny blue flower appears with Lady Margaret’s white daisy – the marguerite – in the decoration surrounding the College arms on the Great Gate.
This is a fitting motto for the Beaufort Society; celebrating and remembering our connections with St John’s while looking forwards to the future.
The simple white and gold marguerite appears throughout the College, from above the Great Gate to the drainpipes in Chapel Court.
As a small gesture of our appreciation, members are given a beautiful silver pin in the shape of a marguerite when they join the Society.
Tell us about your intentions for a gift in your will
The Beaufort Society features regularly in the Johnian magazine, the Marguerite and on the blog:
News and events
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Beaufort Society Annual Meeting 2024
The Beaufort Society’s Annual Meeting took place at St John’s on Saturday 12 October.
Portrait of a Lady
A portrait of Lady Margaret Beaufort is the centrepiece of the Tudor exhibition at the newly restored National Portrait Gallery.
Beaufort Society Annual Meeting 2023
Members of the Beaufort Society gathered for their annual meeting in College on Saturday 14 October.
Communicating with cetaceans
Wildlife film-maker Tom Mustill talks to the Johnian editor about the accident that began an obsession with whales and how AI might help us communicate with them.
Beaufort Society Annual Meeting 2021
Members of the Beaufort Society enjoyed a talk by Dr Heidi Doughty OBE and a series of activities including a guided tour of the College architecture with Professor Deborah Howard.
Beaufort Society spring meeting 2021
Members of the Beaufort Society enjoyed a welcome talk by Lord Browne of Madingley and a virtual concert performed by current students.
Beaufort Society Annual Meeting 2020
On Saturday 17 October, members of the Beaufort Society joined their first ever virtual meeting together.