Engineering - the Tuck Bequest

Bequests make a significant difference to the University, its Colleges and Schools. A notable gift of £635,000 was received for use by Mechanical Engineering from the Estate of Melville George and Sheila Murdoch Tuck.

Mr Tuck matriculated at the University of Glasgow in 1947. He postponed his studies in 1949 to complete his National Service and graduated with an ordinary degree in Engineering in 1955. Mr and Mrs Tuck subsequently married at the University Chapel.

After Mrs Tuck passed away, she ensured that a bequest was made in memory of her husband who had enjoyed and highly regarded his degree from the School of Engineering.

Monies will be put towards three areas which will all carry the Tuck name: an undergraduate teaching laboratory for mechanics, a student workshop and a prize for the best Mechanical Engineering student.

The Tuck Mechanics and Teaching Laboratory will be created to further enhance the learning experience. The bequest will enable brining together currently separate teaching facilities and will allow for investment in new state-of-the-art teaching equipment.

The Tuck Student Workshop will provide students with a dedicated space where they can undertake hands-on practical work. This will benefit students across all years of the degree programme and in other activities such as Formula Student – where students design and build a single seater racing car to compete in competitions.

The Melville and Sheila Tuck Prize for Mechanical Engineering will be endowed in perpetuity. The interest generated each year will be awarded to the best student in Mechanical Engineering.

Professor Chris Pearce, Deputy Head of the School of Engineering, explains:

‘We were delighted to receive this most generous and thoughtful donation from Mr and Mrs Tuck. We have been careful to ensure that we direct funds in keeping with their wishes and the bequest will go towards enhancing the student experience and encouraging talented undergraduates. This gift will make a remarkable difference to the next generation of engineers.’