Graduation honours for supporters of study and research
27 July 2023
An organisation supporting access to university education and an individual who helped strengthen literature research and teaching at Reading have been honoured at this summer’s Graduation.
Real estate provider Savills PLC was inducted to the University’s College of Benefactors for its widening participation work, giving more people the opportunity to study Real Estate at Henley Business School.
Professor Mary Bryden, who had a longstanding relationship with the University before her death in 2015, was also inducted. Her generous gifts left to the University have supported the study of Samuel Beckett’s writing and other literature at Reading.
Launched in 2014, the College of Benefactors celebrates the generosity of supporters who have made exceptional gifts to the University of Reading. Induction into the College is the highest honour that the University can bestow upon a donor.
Both inductees were confirmed at a Graduation ceremony in the great Hall on Friday 21 July.
Savills PLC
Savills PLC is a global real estate provider with a dedication to widening access and participation to the real estate Industry.
As Corporate Patrons of the Reading Real Estate Foundation (RREF), Savills have supported and continue to support the core activities of the Foundation by promoting access and widening participation. This includes seed funding for University research, bursary and hardship funding for Real Estate & Planning Students and promoting the Access Internships scheme.
Savill’s are gold level supporters of the Pathways to Property, an RREF initiative that aims to widen participation in the real estate sector.
Vice Chancellor Professor Van Der Noort presented the award to Kat Norton, Savills Development Management Director.
Professor Mary Bryden
Tributes were also paid to Professor Mary Bryden for her long-standing commitment and generosity to the University.
Mary had an longstanding relationship with the University. She graduated from her honours degree in 1975 and then later returned to complete her PhD and occupy roles such as the Head of the Department of Modern Languages and European Studies, School Director of Research, and Director of the Beckett International Foundation.
She was recognised nationally and internationally for her expertise in the sphere of 20th century literature, philosophy and culture, and was known for her interest in the work of Samuel Beckett – whom the University of Reading has a world leading collection of research works.
In Mary’s will, she generously left a Modern French Drama Collection of books, letters and manuscripts to the University, which will benefit the next generation of Beckett Scholars and the University’s language teaching and research.
Other legacy gifts have also enabled the creation of the Mary Bryden Translation Prize and the Mary Bryden Samuel Beckett Studentship.
Mary’s husband Professor Ray Loveridge has continued the relationship with the University to help execute the wishes of his late wife and accepted the honour on her behalf.