Registrar Emeritus Hugh Amoore, who worked at UCT for 42 years, of which 29 years were as registrar, has been serving as President of the UCT Legacy Society for the last six years.  His trademark bowties and calligraphic handwriting are in itself a legacy and his signature on degree certificates on walls in offices and homes across the world link a community of alumni from the many years he was registrar. Despite retiring from UCT eight years ago, Hugh has remained active in higher education policy work as well as being president of the Legacy Society. 

Alumni News (AN) interviewed Hugh (HA) about his involvement with UCT and the Legacy Society:

AN: What is the Legacy Society and why is it important?
HA: The Legacy Society was started by Stuart Saunders and carried on by Francis Wilson with a view to encouraging people to give back to and think about providing for UCT in their wills.  One’s UCT experience would not have been possible were it not for the generosity of others who gave money to UCT in the past.  What happens to your material wealth when you die?  We encourage you to think of UCT as part of that family that you leave a legacy for. 

AN: Why do you give back to UCT with your time and money?
HA: I had a great time studying at UCT and have had a fantastic career here.  I believe in UCT – it is a truly worthwhile institution that is worth working for. 

UCT alumni and staff impact and influence on the world
Evidence of UCT’s far-reaching impact and influence across the globe, is reflected in many ways; take one example. In the last five years, four UCT staff or alumni Felows of the Royal Society.  Being elected FRS is a tremendous accolade. As interesting is the work for which each of these alumni has been recognised: global concerns of medicine, engineering, science and climate change.  Valerie Mizrahi’s work and research on the physiology and metabolism of tuberculosis and drug discovery and drug resistance has huge implications for the medical world. William Bond’s work on grassland and forestation is critical for climate change understanding Michael Thackeray made a significant contribution to battery science, putting lithium into batteries. Jonathan Knight’s research on photonics and photonic materials has made an exceptional contribution to fiber design and fiber optics, with diverse applications from healthcare to atomic physics. 

A quite different example is UCT Opera’s impact on world opera.  The world premier of the recently discovered Donizetti opera took place this month – not in Milan or Vienna, but at UCT!

Philanthropic and influential donors in the early years

Hugh, being the wellspring of institutional knowledge and history that he is, highlighted stories of a few invaluable donors in the early years. 

HA: Mrs Jamison, was the first significant donor in the nineteenth century and gave money to build what is now the Little Theatre as the Chemistry Laboratory, as well as giving money to endow a chair in inorganic chemistry.  Many sporty alumni will recognize that at the annual Sportsperson of the Year awards, the winner receives the Jamison Cup, which Mrs Jamison donated in the 1890s .  

Mrs Jamison was important in UCT’s history, first because she was a significant donor and secondly because of her friendship with PD Hahn, whom she persuaded to propose the admission of women to study at UCT in 1878. Women were then allowed, as an experiment, to be enrolled for Botany and Chemistry. 

Another donor family – The Fuller’s -also made significant contributions to UCT.  Mrs Fuller was one of the first class of women students allowed onto UCT campus on an experimental basis and was of the first women graduates.  In 1918 when the South African College became UCT, the Council included five people appointed by the Governor General Viscount Buxton.  Buxton was given a list of names but said he wanted women on the council and wouldn’t only appoint men.  Mrs Fuller was one of two women appointed to the council.  In the 1920s Mrs Fuller persuaded the council to do two things which were ahead of their time in the world:  the first was to abolish the rule that women academics (who there weren’t many of) had to resign when they became pregnant; and the second was to ensure that women academics were paid the same as their male counterparts.  

AN: Encouragement to alum to give back and be involved with UCT? 
HA: UCT is an important institution that has a significant impact on society and our world.  It is at risk and needs support.  I believe that alumni have an obligation to support it. We need to create a culture of philanthropy in South Africa and encourage all alumni to give back.