A life less ordinary

A generous legacy gift from the late alumnus, Vincent Eyre.

As an alumnus and longstanding supporter of the Student Opportunities Fund, the late Vincent Edward Frederick Eyre (known as Ted) had a long-established connection with Imperial College. Now, a £60,000 unrestricted legacy gift will help to ensure that his memory lives on through the creation of new opportunities for future students at the College.

Ted joined the College in 1933 to begin an undergraduate degree in the Department of Biology. Throughout the four years he spent at the College, he took an active role in many of the social activities on offer. He joined the University of London Officers Training Corps which took him on a variety of summer excursions to camps in Wiltshire, Yorkshire and the Isle of Wight, and also took part in the Winter Eight at the Head of the River Race on the River Thames.

Following his graduation in 1937, Ted headed to Africa to work for the Sudan Plantations Syndicate as a Field Inspector in their cotton plantations. Sudan cotton was in high demand for the manufacturing of British Army uniforms during the period of Ted’s employment. The growing of it was a reserved occupation and meant that Ted wasn’t released for war service until 1941, when he joined the Sudan Defence Force. His first assignment was as a Governor General’s commission as a Bimbashi (Major), and the next, a King’s commission as a Major on the General List of the British Army.

In 1948, Ted passed exams in Higher Arabic and Law which led him to become a First Class Magistrate, and subsequently a District Commissioner in 1951. He described the 18 years he spent in Sudan as “the happiest of my life” and fondly remembered one particular adventure in which he travelled south up the White Nile in a wood-burning paddle steamer.

Wishing to continue working in an Arabic speaking country, Ted proceeded to Yemen where he worked as a Colonial Officer in the city of Aden, responsible for the volcanic island of Perim. During one particular return trip to the island, the pilot announced that he had run out of fuel. Despite managing to land upright, the plane flipped over onto its back and left Ted and the other passengers hanging upside down by their seatbelts. “Fortunately” remembered Ted, “the only casualties were a broken toe and a black eye.”

In 1963, Ted was awarded the OBE and four years later in 1967, was honoured with the CBE. After his retirement in 1967, Ted returned to the UK and settled in Wimborne, Dorset. One of his first pursuits was the occupation of the role of Scout District Commissioner for the Wimborne District. He became the District Activities Advisor until 1992 and accompanied scouts on a variety of skiing, gliding and canoeing trips. Ted also stood as an independent for the Dorset County Council local elections, where he served until 1977. Ted served as a Governor at two Dorset schools for over 30 years. He was the original Chairman of Governors at Corfe Hills School, Broadstone, and served as a Governor at Lockyers Middle School. He played a leading role throughout on the Special Educational Needs front for students with learning difficulties.

Since its launch in 2003, Ted was an ardent supporter of the Student Opportunities Fund and gave a number of generous gifts to help support financially disadvantaged students around the world. Following his sad death in May 2007, the College received an unrestricted legacy donation of £60,000 from Ted’s Will. This generous and thoughtful gift is an accolade to the unique and captivating life of an individual with whom the College is proud to be associated.