Mr H Percy Gee

Percy Gee was more than just someone who gave money to the University. He did give money – very large sums – to ensure that the City of Leicester got the University that it deserved. On at least two occasions he contributed a very significant proportion of the funds in appeals to build parts of the basis structure of the University. But in addition he supported the University in many other ways.

His father was an important part of the team who founded the original college that formed the basis of the University, and later, with his brother, Percy Gee extended the University and achieved its final degree awarding status. He was the Chair of the finance committee and raised the equivalent of £300,000 to build some of the first formal University buildings.

He made major donations again in 1936 and was awarded the freedom of the City of Leicester in 1950.

Throughout his time he was a significant driver of the growth of the University.

“He possessed a special combination of generosity, shrewdness, and prudence that the college came to rely on so completely, and the University relies on still.” (Simmons, 1959 New University)

However, for ordinary students these high finances may have been very distant, and it would have been possible that none of them would have heard of the Chairman of the Council. Except for the fact that he was involved in every day life as well.

There are stories of him walking across the park and stopping students to ask about their various problems, and the small donations that he made that would have made such a difference to the individual students. £20 to help a student complete their studies; the billiards table for the Union; the support of student causes.

H. Percy Gee help individual students get through their courses.

Nothing better shows this than the building of the Students’ Union in the 1950’s. At the time the University had just completed a significant building programme and was now looking at its priorities for the next wave. The list included accommodation for chemistry, physics, a new women’s hall of residence, and a Students’ Union building. The University approved the Union’s new accommodation in the summer of 1953 ahead of the others. This new building would provide reading rooms, a refectory, meeting rooms and offices for the Union.

The fact that it was decided to name this building after Percy Gee is a tribute to his work and to the feelings that students had about him.