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RefNoEC/2005/51
LevelItem
TitleWolfson, Leonard, Baron Wolfson of Marylebone: certificate of election to the Royal Society
CitationSome 50 years ago (July 1954), Leonard Wolfson (The Lord Wolfson of Marylebone) and his late father founded the Trust that bears his name. The endowment of the Wolfson Foundation derives from a single source -the personal contributions gifted by Leonard and his father, the late Sir Isaac Wolfson FRS. Leonard has been a Trustee for almost 50 years; since 1972 he has acted as the chair of the Trustees.

Whilst the Foundation has a number of charitable purposes, the Foundation's grants have been focused, to an overwhelming extent, on the advancement of Science and Medicine. The total amount disbursed (expressed in 2004 pounds) is approaching one billion; almost 100 universities (UK universities but also some in S.Africa and in Israel) have been the direct beneficiaries. Leonard Wolfson has taken a very active role in establishing the criteria for awards, and has taken a lively interest in the individual projects which the Foundation has supported. He has established a rigorous procedure for vetting applications, placing great weight on the opinion expressed by external referees, and on the assessment of the achievements and promise of the applicants.

The grants given by the Wolfson Foundation over the years have transformed the ability of many universities to pursue their mission, sometimes by the creation of new major buildings, often by the judicious injection of smaller sums needed to breathe new life into old laboratories. Leonard Wolfson has been conscious of the needs of the scientists - notably in the provision of student residences. Whilst the two Wolfson Colleges are the most immediately apparent, over the years the Foundation has given massive support for many smaller initiatives. The generosity for the objective is always coupled with a passionate interest in deriving value for money - an interest which is also very much applied to the running of the Foundation (He takes great satisfaction in the fact that the Foundations cost of administration are lower than that of any other charity).

We believe that Leonard Wolfson would be most worthy of election, under the provisions of Statute 5, to an Honorary Fellowship of the Royal Society.
AccessStatusClosed
Fellows associated with this archive
CodePersonNameDates
NA8828Wolfson; Leonard (1927 - 2010); Baron Wolfson of Marylebone1927 - 2010
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