Pirie Society – Legacy
The Pirie Legacy Society brings together everyone who has chosen to remember Green Templeton College in their will and those considering doing so. Anyone who cares about the college’s future is invited to join: alumni, friends, staff and supporters.
Named in honour of Michael Pirie, Green Templeton’s Head Gardener and longest serving member of staff, the Society embodies his and the college’s values: care, continuity and belief in future generations.
Read the brochure online Register for the launch event
Why join the Pirie Society?
Joining the Pirie Society expresses actioned belief in the college and its future. Members of the Society:
- become rooted in a community of care, committed to the long‑term flourishing of Green Templeton
- are formally acknowledged for their support
- are invited to select gatherings and events
- receive occasional updates about the impact of legacies and the areas they help sustain
Notwithstanding, participation is entirely optional, and the college respects all wishes regarding privacy and recognition.
Why legacies make a difference
Legacy gifts help sustain the long‑term health of the college and its outstanding community. They provide flexible, future‑focused support that allows responding to changing needs swiftly while staying true to the college’s mission.
Your gift can help:
- supporting students through scholarships, bursaries and hardship funding, ensuring that talented students can thrive regardless of background
- advancing academic initiatives and teaching in areas where Green Templeton has particular strength, including health, medicine, social care, business and public policy
- caring for our heritage and spaces, including the Radcliffe Observatory and the college gardens, so they continue to inspire learning and community life
- strengthening belonging, funding activities and spaces that bring people together across disciplines and generations
You may choose to support a specific area, or leave an unrestricted gift so the college can use your legacy where the need is greatest.
How to join the Society
There are two simple ways to join the Pirie Legacy Society:
Complete the legacy pledge form
You can let us know about your intention by completing our non‑binding Legacy Pledge Form. This helps us thank you appropriately and keep a confidential record of your wishes. You can change your mind at any time.
Complete the online pledge form
Attend the Society’s launch
You are invited to mark the launch of the Pirie Society with a special Afternoon Tea in the College gardens on Thursday 23 April 2026 at 15:00
Guests will be welcomed to an afternoon of conversation and reflection, including live music, a guided garden tour, and an address from the Principal, Sir Michael Dixon, who will share the college’s vision for the future and the role of legacy giving in supporting it.
Set within the gardens shaped and tended by Michael Pirie over many years, the event reflects the Society’s central idea: that legacies, like gardens, are acts of care, patience and forward planning.
Register for the launch event
Speak to us
If you would like a confidential conversation, we would be very happy to hear from you. We can talk through your interests, the different ways a legacy can be structured, and provide suggested wording for your solicitor.
Maren Florenz
Head of Development
Green Templeton College
Email: legacy@gtc.ox.ac.uk
Please note that we cannot provide legal or financial advice.
Our commitment to you
We will:
- use legacy gifts carefully and in furtherance of the college’s charitable objects
- respect your privacy and any decision to remain anonymous
- respect your right to change your intentions at any time
- process personal information securely and in accordance with data protection law
- be transparent about how legacy gifts are managed and applied
