Chris Brooks (Chemistry, 1962)

Chris, now retired, spent 20 years in manufacturing, mainly on the continent, and then many years as a Global Partner of a headhunting company. He and his wife have made provisions for Hertford in their wills.

I have no recollection of aspiring to be an astronaut or an engine driver. The die was cast when my father read in the Daily Express that the world was short of chemists. He bought a chemistry set for my 11th birthday and that was it: I was to become a scientist. When the time for applications came, I was entered for a scholarship rather than entrance examination, and encountered stiff competition. Undeterred, I posted 24 hand-written letters to Oxbridge colleges, listing my achievements. The following day I took a telephone call from Dr Neil Tanner.

What a break – a small, intimate college with an eclectic and welcoming undergraduate membership! Where else could one attend lectures by the leading scientists of the day, mingle with brilliant minds and participate in activities scarcely accessible to the outside world?

Today’s undergraduates should realise that they are indeed in a highly privileged position and that it is deserved and should be treasured. An Oxford education does many things: it defines career direction, helps the next generation to respect core values, touches the lives of many others, teaches how to combine ambition with gentility and, most importantly, encourages learning – for life.

I am still learning: studying Spanish to add to fluent French and German; I paint and I lead a geology group. My wife and I travel extensively and help with grandchildren. We always find Oxford stimulating, vibrant and uplifting. My time there was truly memorable and I am eternally grateful. That is why we have both made a pledge to the future of Hertford and its students.