Morrell Fellows

Named in memory of John Bowes (JB) Morrell (right) who was at the forefront of the campaign to create a university in York, the Morrell Fellowships are a means of recognising a small community of benefactors who have made significant contributions to the fabric and life of the University.  The Fellowships were first awarded in 2007.

By honouring our more generous donors in this way we will ensure that their names and achievements are core to the formal history of the University and are forever associated with the highest standards of philanthropy.

Sir Richard Storey

Sir Richard has a keen interest in plays and literature and has been a generous supporter of the University of York for over ten years through the Sir Samuel Storey Charitable Trust. The Trust's support has enabled the establishment, in the University’s Borthwick Institute, of a unique, and still rapidly growing, archive – the Sir Samuel Storey Writing and Performance Collection. The collection comprises the archives of playwrights, novelists, comedians and screenwriters and provides a fascinating resource for students, staff and the public. The lastest addition to the collection, secured with the Trust's support, is the archive of Sir Alan Ayckbourn. Sir Richard's generosity has ensured that many at the University of York and more widely will be able to share his enthusiasm for literature and drama and benefit from this unique resource.

Sir Richard was chairman of Portsmouth and Sunderland Newspapers for a quarter of a century. On stepping down from the business Sir Richard used his business skills in a variety of roles including as Chairman of York Health Services Trust and in voluntary and civic roles within Yorkshire. Sir Richard received his fellowship in December 2012. 

Tony Cann

Tony Cann has had exceptional success in industry, most notably as founder of Promethean World, the world leader in the global market for interactive learning technology. His business has enabled him to become an exceptionally generous philanthropist with manifold interests united by a desire to back ideas that have the greatest potential to make the greatest difference.

Tony’s involvement with the University of York derives from his passion to find out how children learn and how to develop ever better strategies to help people from all backgrounds achieve their full potential. In providing founding support for the Institute for Effective Education at the University of York, Tony wanted to achieve something that other universities were unable to offer, a research centre that not only carried out evidence based pedagogical research into the effectiveness of educational practice, but also to ensure that this research reached a worldwide audience of educators. 

Supporting the University through the Bowland Charitable Trust, Tony has made the largest philanthropic gifts to the University on record. His support has not only enabled the foundation of the Institute for Effective Education, but also the completion of the spectacular Berrick Saul Building which was completed in June 2009 and stands as one of the UK’s most impressive postgraduate study centres.

Graham Paterson

Graham Paterson was one of the first students to come to the newly founded University of York to study Mathematics and Economics, graduating in 1967. Prior to his retirement he worked for Computer Corporation of America, a leading worldwide provider of high performance database management systems.

Together with his wife Kath, he decided to make a gift to support the University in 2004. With their donation they established scholarships to support undergraduate students from lower income families at York. So far 21 students have benefited from, or are currently supported by the scholarships.
 

Dr Anthony Wild

After gaining a BA in Chemistry from the University of York, Dr Anthony Wild (Langwith, 1968) has enjoyed a long and distinguished career in the development of global pharmaceuticals. His successes have included the development of the cholesterol lowering medication Lipitor which became the world’s largest selling branded pharmaceutical product.

Tony has retained an exceptionally modest and generous personality exemplified best by his commitment to education and, in particular, to chemistry students at York.  His very significant donations, made over a number of years, have enabled over 40 additional international students to study at York. They have also helped the University to secure substantial additional funding to develop the infrastructure for chemistry at York. Tony has demonstrated what a highly successful person with a compelling vision and—most importantly—a truly generous spirit can really do in supporting the University.

Raymond Burton CBE

The University has long had particular reasons to be grateful to Dr Raymond Burton. He contributed to the original library fundraising campaign in the 1960s and in the following years gave to the Centre for Eighteenth Century Studies and to concert series. In 2003 the Raymond Burton Humanities Research Library opened. He also donated his substantial collection of books, manuscripts and prints relating to Yorkshire. In recognition of this extensive commitment to the University, Raymond Burton was awarded an honorary doctorate in 2000 and a Morrell Fellowship in May 2007.

C and JB Morrell Trust

The Morrell Studies in Toleration in the Department of Politics were set up by JB Morrell’s son WB Morrell and their friend Edward Goodman. JB Morrell lived through two world wars and the impact of Bolshevism, Fascism and Nazism. His 40 years in public life led him to reason that toleration, like university education, sustains and enhances the conditions of civilized existence. The Trust has sponsored books, articles, seminars, conferences, public lectures and postgraduate scholarships, all exploring issues around toleration. The Trust remains faithful to the vision of its founder and the University was glad to honour almost three decades of support with a Morrell fellowship in May 2007.

Greg Dyke

The Chancellor’s relationship with the University goes back many years, from arriving as a mature undergraduate in 1971 to giving generously of his time and money in recent years. Greg’s is one of the most striking careers in modern British television, and it is fitting that the Greg Dyke Chair was part of the foundation of the Department of Theatre, Film and Television in 2008. This kick-started the new Department, which is rapidly gaining a reputation for innovation and excellence. Greg has also supported extra-curricular activities: the JLD all-weather sports pitch, named in honour of his father, is much used and appreciated. Greg received a BA in Politics from York in 1974, an honorary doctorate in 1999 and a Morrell Fellowship in May 2007.

Jack Lyons

Many students, alumni, staff and friends of the University will know of the Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall, where music has been performed for forty years. Fewer will be aware of Jack Lyons’ contributions to the 1992 extension to house the gamelan, to the Young Musicians’ Fund, the Music Research Centre and to scholarships for PhDs. Jack Lyons often spoke of his belief in the power of music to transcend boundaries of language, race or politics. Through donations to the University of York, he has demonstrated this belief and transformed the musical life of the city. In recognition of this he was awarded a Morrell Fellowship in November 2007.

Roslyn Lyons

Roslyn Lyons had a passion for music from childhood; that passion has manifested itself in support of music excellence in Yorkshire for sixty years. Roslyn met her husband, Jack Lyons, through music, and following their marriage in 1943 they together became involved in many musical projects, particularly in York and Leeds. Mrs Lyons donated a Steinway piano to the Department of Music at its opening, the art gallery in the music research centre bears her name and the Roslyn Lyons MA scholarships offer opportunities to two UK and two overseas students each year. The Morrell Fellowship was awarded to Roslyn Lyons in November 2007.

Dr Kenneth Dixon CBE

Dr Kenneth Dixon served the University in official capacities from 1983 to 2001, with positions on Court, Council and as a Pro-Chancellor. The awarding of a Morrell Fellowship in November 2007 recognised his generous donations to an array of projects to enhance the University. His gifts have provided library resources for the study of History of Art, instrumental tuition for Music students, a lecture series in Economics and the Dixon Studio Theatre in Wentworth College. This theatre, along with his funding of a visiting professorship of theatre, laid a crucial part of the groundwork for the Department of Theatre, Film and Television.

Ashley Burgess

Ashley Burgess was awarded a Morrell Fellowship in 2008 in recognition of his committed support for PhD students in the Department of Biology. As Director of the Burgess Group, a Yorkshire company producing animal feed, Mr Burgess is particularly interested in biotechnology and agricultural science. The James Burgess Scholarships, in memory of his son, enable important research in Biology and start the academic careers of the next generation of plant scientists.

Mike Dawson OBE

Mike Dawson was awarded a Morrell Fellowship in 2009 in recognition of his commitment to fundraising for the University, as well as his substantial personal donations. As a member of the University council during Ron Cooke’s tenure as Vice Chancellor, Mr Dawson was actively involved in the interior refurbishment of Heslington Hall. His gift towards the refurbishment allowed the project to begin, and many other donors followed his example in giving due to his fundraising efforts.

Susan Joyce

Susan Joyce’s first connection with the University was in 1995, when her son Peter began to study History here. As Mrs Joyce met Peter’s friends she became aware of the financial difficulties faced by many students and, with her husband (also Peter), established the Susan Joyce bursary in 1998. Since then the University has continued to benefit from the Joyces’ generosity, with donations to purchase microfilms, to establish a PhD studentship and to stage a series of lectures celebrating the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade. Mrs Joyce completed an MA in History in 2002 and was a member of court from 2005-2010. She was awarded a Morrell Fellowship in 2010.

Francesca and Gordon Horsfield

Mr and Mrs Horsfield have been closely involved in the University since 1995, and their generosity with time and money was acknowledged with Morrell Fellowships in 2010. Mr Horsfield has been Treasurer and Chair of Council, while Mrs Horsfield played an active role in the Theatre, Film and Television development board. Through the Holbeck Charitable Trust they have supported a wide range of key University initiatives: Holbeck Scholarships, the Centre for Immunology and Infection, the Department of Theatre, Film and Television, the School of Law, and the Digital Library Service. The diversity of these projects demonstrates the range of their interests and the scope of their ambition to make a difference.