DELIVERING FOR OUR FUTURE
Donations and gifts in Wills of all sizes are helping to transform our University. While they make an impact across many areas of our work, most gifts will support our students and world-class research.
We are committed to ensuring that students who have the ability to benefit from an education at Queen’s should have the opportunity to access it, regardless of their background. Gifts in the form of scholarships or bursaries help students who may not otherwise consider university to come to Queen’s and thrive. Read more about our Pathway Bursary Fund campaign on page 2. Queen’s has a proud history of conducting innovative and impactful research that changes people’s lives, but much of our medical research simply would not happen without philanthropic
donations. Approximately 31% of the research that takes place in our Johnston Cancer Research Centre, and 35% of the research in our Wellcome Wolfson Institute of Experimental Medicine, is supported by charitable donations and legacies.
If you have yet to write your Will, you’ll find five reasons to do so on page 4 alongside some information on our free Willwriting service for supporters. Writing a Will ensures that your wishes are fulfilled and that the causes you care about most, including Queen’s, can continue to benefit from your foresight and generosity.
Until next time, thank you for your continued support and belief in making a lasting impact through charitable giving.
Eddie Friel Director of Alumni
Engagement & Philanthropy Queen’s University Belfast
CONTACT US
If you are considering leaving a gift in your Will to Queen’s and have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our Legacy Manager, Louise Carey , at L.Carey@qub.ac.uk or on +44 (0) 7747 234 282
QUEEN’S MARKS 180 YEARS – ONE STEP AT A TIME
180 Queen’s students, staff and alumni took to the streets for this year’s Belfast Marathon as part of our 180th anniversary celebrations.
Across 36 relay teams, the 180 runners raised vital funds for life-changing medical research and student mental health initiatives at the University.
QUEEN’S MEDICAL SCHOOL AT 190
This year the School of Medicine celebrates 190 years of delivering excellence in education, shaping modern medicine and driving groundbreaking innovation - from the portable defibrillator to titanium plates for trauma care.
SECURING PATHWAYS INTO THE FUTURE
Queen’s has launched an ambitious campaign to secure the long-term future of the Pathway Bursary Fund, a philanthropic fund that supports students who have overcome barriers to get to university. The University has pledged £4million
in match funding, doubling donations to create a potential £8million endowment fund by 2028.
While these bursaries provide financial support for the student, they are also an investment in the talent, ambition and future of our young people.
Read more on any of these stories at qub.ac.uk/news
WHY I PLEDGED A GIFT
Dr Jennifer FitzGerald Retired Lecturer in School of English at Queen’s
I have always felt a connection to Queen’s students in the past: my grandmother took her degree at Queen’s in 1906, and I have written biographies of Queen’s graduates, medievalist Helen Waddell and her best friend, Oxford historian Maude Clarke. But I am motivated most by the experiences of my own Queen’s students from 1975 to 2002. Each student is a whole student being, with pressures outside the classroom which impact their performances within it. The students I taught at Queen’s lived through the Troubles, many experiencing fear, pain and loss which I could not imagine. They faced financial difficulties and were challenged by the messy process of learning, necessitating mistakes and self-doubt.
WHAT’S NEW?
Enrolling just 15 students a year on opening, the School now welcomes 300 future doctors annually.
Find out more about our history of medicine at go.qub.ac.uk/timeline.
The students of today and tomorrow live in a different Belfast, but for many, finance remains an intractable obstacle while they struggle to recognise their own capabilities.
I have therefore chosen to support Queen’s Pathway Opportunity Programme with a gift in my Will, encouraging secondary school pupils who face financial and other barriers to realise their talents and abilities, to seize the opportunity of pursuing a university degree. It was the greatest privilege of my life to teach amazing students at Queen’s. I hope my legacy will continue to encourage Queen’s students into the future.
LEGACY OBITUARY
Alan McKelvey BEM
Died 19 February 2026, aged 80
Alan graduated with a degree in Economics and Accounting from Queen’s in 1969. During his time at the University, Alan fully immersed himself in the student experience: he acted in productions with the University Dramatic Society, edited the University News Magazine and was elected Treasurer of the Students’ Union.
Long after his graduation, Alan continued his relationship with Queen’s, completing two years as the inaugural President of the Queen’s Graduate Association in 2003-2004.
A true entrepreneur, Alan founded several successful businesses throughout his lifetime and, demonstrating his giving nature, was also director and trustee of Masicorp, a charity dedicated to improving the lives of 38,000+ people living in the Masiphumelele Township near Cape Town.
In 2016 he was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to the community in Northern Ireland.
Alan also contributed greatly to the Queen’s community. His generous nature and commitment to the student experience was evident in many ways, not least through his lifetime support of the Annual Fund and through a
IN MEMORIAM & LEGACIES
generous gift in his Will. His daughter Rebecca said: Dad always spoke with such affection about his time at Queen’s - the lifelong friendships he formed, the societies he threw himself into and the music acts he went to see. He had a natural gift for bringing people together and became deeply involved in every community he was part of. Although he no longer lived in Belfast, he remained close to friends from his university days and proudly shared his love of ‘Norn Iron’ wherever life took him.
A LEGACY OF SUPPORTING STUDENTS
LEGACY OBITUARY
George ‘Ted’ Robinson
Died 12 June 2021, Aged 90
As a former student at Queen’s, the late George ‘Ted’ Robinson chose to leave an exceptionally generous gift in his Will to support the two academic disciplines he and his wife, Lorna, studied: Civil Engineering and Medicine.
Ted’s gift has since made a meaningful and lasting impact on both areas at Queen’s.
To date, 60 medical students have benefited from a £1,000 bursary through the Pathway Bursary Fund, helping to ease financial pressures and enable them to focus on their studies.
In addition, Ted’s gift will allow Civil Engineering students to benefit from subsidised site visits and field trips, providing valuable hands-on learning experiences.
Ted’s legacy reflects a deep appreciation for the education he and his wife received and has enriched student learning for years to come.
ARE YOU A QUEEN’S GRADUATE?
If you’d like us to keep you up to date with news and events at Queen’s, sign up at alumni.qub.ac.uk/signup
LEGACY NEWS SPRING / SUMMER 2026
5 REASONS TO WRITE YOUR WILL
It’s a piece of life admin that often gets pushed to the bottom of the pile, but your Will is probably one of the most important documents you’ll ever write. Here are five reasons why you shouldn’t wait:
1. When you write your Will it’s you that decides who gets what. Without a Will, the law determines how your estate is distributed and it doesn’t always go to who you might think. Did you know that ‘common law marriage’ offers no automatic legal rights or inheritance upon separation or death in the UK?
2. You can protect your loved ones, especially children and dependents. If you have children, you’ll need to appoint legal guardians and make clear arrangements for their future.
3. Avoid family fallouts. Being clear on your wishes means fewer disputes at an already stressful time for a family. A well-prepared Will helps reduce the risk of family disputes, delays and additional legal fees.
4. Support the causes you care about. You can leave a gift to one or more charities free of tax, and in doing so, may be able to reduce inheritance tax on your estate.
5. You will have peace of mind knowing everything’s in place when it matters most, giving you confidence that everything is organised and your wishes will be respected.
To help you get started, Queen’s has several resources to use including a Guide to Making your Will and a number of informative videos at go.qub.ac.uk/will-writing-resources .
FREE WILLS SERVICE
Did you know that as a supporter of Queen’s you can access our free simple Will-writing service?
You can make your Will with a local solicitor and we’ll cover the cost. We hope that in return you will consider leaving a gift to Queen’s to support our vital work in education and research.
To use the service, you must be aged 18+ and a resident of the UK. If your Will is more complicated, you may require additional services. If so, the provider will advise you of this and present a no-obligation quote.
To learn more about this service visit go.qub.ac.uk/freewills.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
DUBLIN ALUMNI SUMMER SOCIAL
When: 18/06/2026
Where: TBC
REUNION –MEDICINE & DENTISTRY, CLASS OF 2001
When: 26/09/2026 3pm - midnight
Where: The Great Hall, Queen’s
REUNION –PHARMACY, CLASS OF 1986
When: 3/10/2026 7pm - 11pm
Where: Deane’s at Queen’s
For more details on upcoming alumni QGA & QUAL networking events visit go.qub.ac.uk/alumni-events
The information contained in this newsletter is general in nature. It does not constitute legal or financial advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional advice.