Leave a Legacy
Your Pembroke legacy – Remember us in your Will.
The importance of legacies has never been clearer. In recent years, funding for universities has declined significantly, while operational costs have increased. Legacy gifts large and small help to ensure the future of Pembroke College, whilst recognising the impact Pembroke has had on a person’s life.
From Thomas Tesdale to Damon Wells, Legacies recognise the impact Pembroke has had on a person’s life as well as providing for Pembroke’s future.
The Impact of Legacies

In my 15 years at Pembroke, I was able to see the impact of legacies on a day-to-day basis. As Bursar, legacies allowed me to have a greater sense of financial freedom to respond to an ever-changing environment. I was so impressed with what legacies were able to do for Pembroke, my wife and I have decided to leave a portion of our estate to Pembroke.

Pembroke has had a huge impact for both of us. The subjects we studied and the people we met have enriched our lives ever since. We have left a provision for the College in our Will, so are both members of the Tesdale Society. We highly encourage others to consider doing so.
The Tesdale Society
We are delighted to invite Pembrokians who inform College of a gift in their Will to join the Tesdale Society. A biennial luncheon offers members the opportunity to meet fellow supporters of Pembroke, learn about the latest developments at College, and gain exciting insights into our Fellows’ research.
If you are leaving a gift in your Will to Pembroke, we would be pleased to hear from you!
If you would like more information about leaving a legacy gift or have questions about how to include Pembroke College in your Will, please email development@pmb.ox.ac.uk.
You can make a legacy gift of any size. Some people leave a percentage of their estate and others give a specified sum of money.
We highly recommend you seek legal advice before drafting a Will or updating an existing one.
There are tax advantages to making a bequest in favour of a charity; if you leave 10% of your estate to Pembroke (or any other registered charity), then your Inheritance Tax Threshold reduces from 40% to 36%. Because Pembroke is a charity, a legacy to the College is free from inheritance tax and a gift of appreciated property also has tax benefits.
If you would like more information about leaving a legacy gift or have questions about how to include Pembroke College in your Will, please email development@pmb.ox.ac.uk.
The following is a suggested sample wording – we highly recommend you speak with a legal professional when finalising your Will.
‘I give to the Master and Fellows of Pembroke College, Oxford, (Charity No. 1137498) [all/ a percentage] of the residue of my estate for its general purposes and I direct that the receipt of the Bursar, or other duly authorised officer shall be a full and sufficient discharge to my Executors.’
If you have already made a Will, you can add a gift to Pembroke by including a simple codicil or a letter of wishes. Please contact development@pmb.ox.ac.uk for an example document.