Professor Emeritus Stuart Billingham: A York St John legacy
I hadn’t heard of the College of Ripon and York St John (as the University was named) in 1998 before I applied for – and in terms of my life thereafter was lucky enough to get – the new post of Head of School of Linguistics and Social Sciences. I never looked back either personally or professionally from that day.
I have many marvellous memories of my eleven years at the University. Right-up there is playing a part in leading the College to the award of Taught Degree Awarding Powers and, in 2006, to achieving University title, awarded by the Privy Council.
However, my stand-out memory is a purely personal one. It is of the Vice Chancellor knocking on my office door one Friday afternoon and, having just left the Committee of Professors considering my case, entering with the unforgettable words “Good afternoon, Professor Billingham”. You see, before that moment I was simply “Dr Billingham”. I cannot recall ever being so proud or humbled at that moment – the first in my maternal family to go to university; the first in the whole of my family to become a professor.
So, apart from this magical moment, what makes the University stand-out for me? Well, perhaps above all it is the way it tries, as hard as it can, to treat students and staff as individuals. That means recognising our individual Skills, Circumstances, Ambitions, and Needs. In my widening participation/engagement work I call this (surprise, surprise!) a SCAN strategy. It is very far from easy to deliver in a complex organisation. Even the attempt, makes York St John the wonderful place that it is.
Leaving a gift in my Will to encourage this approach is for me, really a “no-brainer”, especially if the money will be used specifically to support students from backgrounds and contexts traditionally under-represented at university.
I have spent the whole of my professional life identifying and promoting policies and practices which will achieve this. And that is exactly how I wish the Legacy to be used.
Of course, I realise that my Legacy is but “a drop in the ocean” of the funding needed to achieve ever greater equality of opportunity in access to university, success whilst there and social mobility afterwards. However, even if it makes the crucial difference for just one student, I will be content.
Finally, I want to recommend anyone who has the resources to seriously consider a Legacy. The process is so simple and if you have any questions, the great folks in the Alumni and Fundraising team are always happy to answer your query and advise when needed.
You can find out more about leaving a gift in your will to York St John University on our website. If you are considering leaving a gift in your will, we would love to hear from you! Please email alumni@yorksj.ac.uk and we would be happy to discuss your ideas.
You can find out more about Stuart’s career and retirement career in our 2021 blog post.
