We are delighted to announce the launch of our Margaret Bloomfield Scholarships. Margaret Bloomfield (English Literature, St Mary’s College, 1944-47) left a generous gift to St Mary’s College that will prove transformational for a number of students and for the College.
The scholarships and bursaries in Margaret Bloomfield’s name were formally announced by College Principal Professor Adrian Simpson at a dinner to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the foundation of the College.
“These scholarships will be transformational for St Mary’s College. They will put the college at the forefront in supporting Durham University’s strategy to widen access. It will enable students from lower income households to benefit from Durham’s unique collegiate education and from the particular supportive environment of St Mary’s. Miss Bloomfield’s ongoing support for the College is typical of the sense of belonging which successive generations of our community have fostered. We are full of admiration for her lifelong commitment to education and grateful for the support of all of our generous benefactors.” (Prof. Adrian Simpson)
While the college has a number of existing generous donations supporting students from lower income households, these will be the first permanently endowed, fully financed scholarships in St Mary’s College’s 125-year history.
The scholarships will be awarded to students from lower income households, and it is planned that at any one time, there will be five Margaret Bloomfield scholars at varying stages of their undergraduate studies.
In what is believed to be the largest single donation to the College, Miss Bloomfield’s legacy will also fund a number of bursaries to ensure all students at St Mary’s can benefit from the collegiate experience, regardless of financial circumstances.
After reading English Literature at Durham, Miss Bloomfield undertook a further year’s study to obtain her teaching qualification. After completing her studies, she had a long and fulfilling career in education.
She was an English teacher and Head of Department at Frederick Gough School in Scunthorpe and then went to work at a school in Harlow where she eventually became Head Teacher, at a time when it was very rare to have a woman as head of a secondary school.
Margaret is remembered as a formidable, hardworking lady, who had strong opinions and knew her own mind.
Miss Bloomfield remembered Durham, and specifically St Mary’s College in her will with the words “In gratitude for my four happy years at St Mary’s which made possible my rewarding career”.
Margaret remained in close contact with Rachel Linfield, the daughter of Margaret’s good friend Lucy Fields, until her death in 2023.
Margaret had met her two closest friends even before arriving at St Mary’s; they met on the platform at Doncaster railway station whilst waiting for the train to Durham. The three were lifelong friends and Margaret remained in close contact with Rachel Linfield, the daughter of Margaret’s good friend Lucy Fields, until her death in 2023.
Rachel Linfield attended St Mary’s 125th Anniversary Dinner to hear the announcement of the Margaret Bloomfield Scholarships and Bursaries. She told us:
“Margaret was an important part of my life and often told me ‘my time at Mary’s made me the person I am and led to all I achieved’. She simply couldn’t speak too highly of Mary’s, and she and my mother always remembered their student days with great fondness.” Rachel Linfield.
Margaret is pictured on the left in the above image.
Contact us
If you are interested in donating or would like to leave St Mary’s a legacy, please contact us - stmarys.alumni@durham.ac.uk
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