Why I give: Michael Ridpath (1979)
Merton’s students and academics have benefited greatly from the generosity of alumni and friends who have made gifts to the College during their lifetimes or as legacies in their wills. We are enormously grateful to everyone who makes a donation, because it enables us to provide a huge variety of assistance to our academic community at all levels. We spoke to two very different donors – an alumnus and a current undergraduate – about why they give to Merton.
Michael Ridpath (1979, Modern History) is the author of a detective series set in Iceland, financial thrillers and spy thrillers, one of which (Traitor’s Gate) was inspired by his time at Merton. He retains great affection for Merton, which is why he has chosen to become a regular donor through the 1264 Society and also plans to leave a legacy to the College in his will.
As an undergraduate, Michael was a contemporary of current History Fellow Steven Gunn, "who I realised was very good at History even then". He credits his tutor Philip Waller with honing his writing style and teaching him to write clearly and concisely.
Outside his studies, Michael played rugby for the College and was in the University athletics team as a pole vaulter. "I loved having freedom without much responsibility. But without realising it at the time, I also enjoyed the academic side of things. Looking back, I see how lucky I was to be taught in that way."
I was fortunate enough to be educated at Merton and I want to give something back to the College… it is a small organisation of real excellence
After Merton, Michael went into banking before leaving to write full-time. "With History, you learn how to analyse information and work out what the causes are. In banking, you can apply a similar way of thinking to determine what makes a company thrive, or a market behave in a certain way. All that training has proved to be very useful, and continues to be useful. I’m quite analytical in my thriller writing."
Asked why he gives to the College, Michael had this to say:
"First, because I was fortunate enough to be educated at Merton and I want to give something back to the College. And secondly, because it is a small organisation of real excellence. I give through the 1264 Society because I want to give some money now, and I also plan to give a legacy in my will, because it’s easier to give a larger amount after my death.
"One concern I had is that Merton is an elite institution and our country is unequal. I hear others say that giving to a college like Merton perpetuates inequality, and they offer that as a reason not to make a donation or leave a legacy.
It’s important to me that Merton genuinely does try to open its doors to people from any background, from anywhere
"So it’s important to me that Merton genuinely does try to open its doors to people from any background, from anywhere. It seems to me that the colleges with the most money and the most resources are able to do this the best. And I really do think that Merton does it well.
"As long as Merton is genuinely willing to widen its intake and seek people out so that it’s a real meritocracy, I am more than willing to help financially."
- This article appears in With Our Thanks, Merton's annual Donor Report
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