Light that lives on: New memorial space lets families honour loved ones and help future generations

Located on West Campus between the Nidd and Skell Buildings and surrounded by ornamental trees, the Garden is arranged around three connected circular spaces, two of which feature central planters enclosed by curved benching and timber trellises with climbing plants. A central path leads to the principal memorial space, where a Memorial Tree stands as the garden's focal point. This sculptural tree holds individually engraved leaves each bearing the name of a person being remembered.

The space is intended to commemorate anybody connected with the University. Memorial leaves are provided for students who passed away during their period of study, staff who were lost during their period of employment, and legators to the University. For anyone else connected with the University - whether family members, friends, alumni, or members of the wider community - memorialisation can be achieved through the establishment of a Light Scholarship.

Light Scholarships represent a living legacy, enabling friends and family to extend remembrance beyond the physical memorial of the engraved leaf in order to support the current generation of Hull students. These can be established either by the individual themselves during their lifetime, through their will, or through joint contributions from family and friends of a loved one. They provide financial support to a student or students within a chosen subject area, whilst commemorating the person being remembered.

A minimum donation of £1,000 is required to establish a Light Scholarship and the typical format for naming the scholarship would be “The [Name] Light Scholarship in [Subject Area].” The subject area will usually match the loved one’s subject of study, though it could equally match an area of interest. The full amount funded (with Gift Aid where eligible) is awarded to a student completing their first year of study in the nominated subject area and the recipient will either be the highest attaining or most improved student in the cohort as selected by academic staff. The scholarship can be given as a one-off, over multiple years or in perpetuity depending on the donor’s wishes. At their discretion, donors can elect to fund multiple awards.

The Garden of Light and its associated scholarships are intended to reflect the ties that bind our University community; a space where those who formed that community remain a living presence in the memories of those who visit and the daily life of the institution. If you would like more information about the Garden of Light and/ or Light Scholarships, please contact Dr Ben Butler on (01482) 466866 or ben.butler@hull.ac.uk