Earlier this term, the College welcomed a new portrait to its walls. The likeness of alumnus David A Gledhill CBE (1955, Economics), generously offered to the College by Julian Thorogood and accepted by Martin Parker Dixon, Curator of College Pictures, Bye-Fellow, Teaching Associate of Sidney Sussex College, now hangs on the first landing of Garden Court. It is a quiet but powerful reminder of a life intertwined with the College and of the impact one family can have on generations of students.
David, who died in December 1999, had a long-standing affection for Sidney and was a major supporter of its mission. His early gifts established the David Gledhill Fund and the David Gledhill Research Studentship, which has enabled PhD students to pursue ambitious research and contribute to the academic life of the University of Cambridge. His name also appears on the Gledhill skyline, the additional storey atop Blundell Court that has expanded Sidney’s capacity to house its community.
After David’s death, his wife Kyoko chose to settle in England and became an active, cherished member of the Sidney family. Encouraged by her connection with Professor Dame Sandra Dawson, Kyoko became a Friend of Sidney, a Fellow Commoner, a Montagu Fellow and a member of the Master’s Circle. She attended College events with enthusiasm and grace, always reminding others that generosity is not only about gifts but about presence, loyalty and shared purpose.
Kyoko’s support for Sidney was as imaginative as it was transformative. She commissioned the sundial in Cloister Court, endowed further support for graduate students and continued to champion the Gledhill skyline project. Her philanthropy has shaped both the physical campus and the educational opportunities of those who live and work within it.
Kyoko died on 15 October 2025. Her legacy, like David’s, continues to live in the spaces they helped to create and in the students whose lives have been enriched by their generosity.
The display of David’s portrait is more than an act of remembrance. It is a celebration of a couple who chose to invest in a community they believed in and loved. Their story is a reminder that Sidney is built not only by the ideas and achievements of its members but also by the quiet, enduring contributions of those who choose to support its future.
As we reflect on David and Kyoko’s lives and generosity, we do so with gratitude.
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