Christ College Bursary to boost science

A seven figure legacy left to Christ College, Brecon, by a former pupil will be used to help redress the national shortage of science students, by funding up to 13 bursaries.

While the number of pupils choosing science subjects is rapidly falling throughout the UK, nearly 34 per cent of Christ College pupils over the last nine years have read science at university.

In 2003 of nearly 350,000 students starting degree courses, less than one per cent pursued the traditional sciences of physics and chemistry. In many areas the limited availability of A Level courses in maths and sciences is also deterring students.

This shortage is having dramatic consequences on physics and chemistry departments with many of them forced to shut down in major universities across the nation.

But Christ College continues to buck the trend. Said headmaster, Phillip Jones: “We will not know the exact size of the legacy until sometime in the New Year, but it is significant and certainly over seven figures. It will enable us to fund up to 13 bursaries and enhance the school’s already excellent science facilities”.

The legacy is a result of the generosity of the widow of Old Breconian, David Hubert Jones, a former Christ College science student, who established a successful pharmacy business in West Wales.

His widow, Florence, who went to live in Llandeilo after his death died in November 2000. They had no children, and on her death Christ College became a major beneficiary of her will.

The director of the Christ College Foundation, Major General the Reverend Morgan Llewellyn said: “The shortage of science students is having a major impact not only on the future of medical science in the UK, but also on engineering and the technical industries. These are areas that in the past the UK has taken a lead.

“We propose to enlist the help of the medical and teaching professions to seek out those students who would most benefit from this wonderful opportunity.

“This public-spirited legacy might also provide a spur to other potential benefactors to join in a partnership with Christ College, which will further expand and enhance this exciting initiative aimed at promoting the traditional sciences.”