The Don Fowler Undergraduate Bursary in Classics

In February 2024, under the inspiration of two of Don Fowler’s former students, Leah Tomkins (1983, Classics and Modern Languages) and Jane Manson (1983, Classics), we launched an appeal to raise funds for an undergraduate bursary in memory of Don Fowler. In the weeks that followed, numerous donations were made, and many wonderful memories and anecdotes of Don’s teaching shared.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of fellow alumni and friends, an impressive £100,000 was raised reaching the endowment goal for this bursary. It is a remarkable collective achievement and demonstrates the high regard with which both Don Fowler and the future of Classics scholarship at Jesus are held.

Don Fowler exhibited a pioneering approach to classical study during his lifetime and the legacy he left in his research of Latin literature and literary theory, notably through the works of Lucretius and Virgil, are woven into the fabric of Classical scholarship at Oxford. Supporting future classicists at Jesus is therefore a fitting way to recognise Don’s continued legacy.

Thanks to the generosity of alumni and friends, we will be welcoming the first recipient of the new undergraduate bursary in Classics named in memory of former Fellow and Tutor in Classics, Don Fowler in Michaelmas 2024.

“I want to thank everyone who donated to this appeal. The speed and generosity with which the donors contributed to the Don Fowler bursary is a testament to the man and the tutor he was, and it is so right that Don should be remembered in a way that he would absolutely endorse.”

Jane Manson
1983, Classics

Donor Roll

A huge thanks to all the generous donors listed here, as well as those who have chosen to remain anonymous, for their support of the Don Fowler Undergraduate Bursary in Classics.

A
Dr David Acheson ●

B
Miss Jennifer Beales
Mr Tom W S Blake (1980)
Mr Christopher W J Bond (1997) ▲
Tom Brown (1975) ◇✾
Mr Nicholas Brown (1974)

C
Dr Deborah K Cairns (1988)
Mrs Caroline M Carr-Whitworth (1979)
Mr David Cartwright (1968)
Mr Edward A Cole (1974) and Dr Deborah J Cole (1974) Δ
Dr Geoff Curtis (1968) Δ

D
Dr Oliver P Dany (1991)
Professor Ceri Davies (1967)
Mr John R S Davies (1961)
Mr David G Deakin (1966) Δ

E
Mr Eugene C Egan (1987)
Ms Catherine L Emmett (1990)

F
Ms Alice R Falk (1977)
Mrs Laura D Fidler (2004)
Mrs Debra H Fleet Machin (1983)

G
Mr Alex K Galloway CVO (1970) Δ✾

H 
Mr Murray Hallam (1965) ▲
Mr John C Harrison (1956) Δ
Miss Nicola J Hart (1980)
Mr David R Hewitt (1963) ▲
Mr Edwin C Horne (1974) Δ

J
Ms Heather Jones (1979) Δ✾

K
Mr Matthew C W Kidd CMG (1975)

L
The Revd Robert Lawrance (1982) and Mrs Sarah J Lawrance (1984)
Miss Stephanie E Lee (2002)
Mr Brian D Lewis (1952) Δ
Sir David Lewis Kt MA, Hon DCL (City), Hon DCL (Wales) (1966) ◆✾
Mr Alan C Lovell DL (1972) and Mrs Virginia Lovell DL▲✾

M
Ms Sharon L Maidment (1978)  
Mr David C Manson (1982) and Mrs Jane Manson (neé Partridge) (1983)▲
Mr A Towyn Mason (1953) ▲
Mr Malcolm McIvor FIA (1961) ●✾
Dr Elizabeth S McKnight (1979) ●
Mr Frederick A Means and Dr Ann P Means (1971)  
Mrs Ann Moore (1986) ▲

N 
Dr Anita H E Nikkanen (1999)

O
Mr David J O'Reilly (1969) Δ

P
Mr Bob Parker (1970)
Mr William A Parker (1966) ◇✾
Mr John K W Pearse (1961) ▲
Mr Graham F Pimlott (1969) ●
Professor Karen E Pratt
Mr Enrico Del Prete (1997)

R
Mr Jeremy J Rider (1957)

S
Mr Martin Saville (1989) and Ms Barbara Macpherson (1989)
Ms Beatrice C Sayers (1984)
Professor J H David Scourfield (1973)

T
Mr Geoffrey D Thomas (1966) Δ
Professor Leah Tomkins (1983) Δ✾

V 
Victoria E Vasey (1994)

W
Dr Brittany Wellner James
Miss Marion A Wells (1985)

The symbols beside each donor's name reflect their respective patron level:
◆ Queen Elizabeth Fellows
◇ Principal’s Circle of Benefactors
● Jenkins Patrons
▲ Meyricke Patrons
Δ Mansell Patrons
✾ The 1571 Society members

For further details on Jesus College Patron Scheme, please click here.