Institution supports scholarship in memory of talented young engineer

The family of a mechanical engineering student from Cheshire, who died aged 21, has set up an engineering scholarship in his memory.

Richard Pover, a student of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Sheffield and an Institution member, was in the third year of his degree when he was diagnosed with cancer.

Despite undergoing extensive treatment, Richard died in June 2013, on the day he had been due to leave university. In recognition of his achievements and his unfulfilled promise, the university posthumously awarded him a first class honours Masters of Engineering degree, in a private ceremony.



To help create a lasting memorial to him, which would help others at the same time, Richard’s family members are setting up the Richard Pover Outstanding Contribution Award within the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Sheffield. The aim is to fund a £1,000 annual scholarship for mechanical engineering students, but in order to become self-perpetuating, substantial donations must be found.

Anne Pover, Richard’s mother, contacted the Institution’s CEO, Stephen Tetlow, to inform him of the award scheme. Stephen expressed his sadness at the family’s loss, and said: “We were all touched when we heard about Richard and thought the scholarship was a wonderful idea. This type of scheme falls directly in line with the aims of the charitable purpose of this Institution and we are pleased to be able to support it.”



Anne said: “Richard loved Sheffield, his course, the university and his friends. All these things undoubtedly helped him to maintain his astonishingly positive outlook and determination to carry on as normal.”

She added: “This would be an annual award to help the next generation of Sheffield engineers, open to all students within the department who have excelled in their extra-curricular activities and made an outstanding contribution, just as Richard did. The idea of an everlasting award in Richard’s memory gives us some comfort, as we learn to accept the desperately sad loss of our wonderful, courageous and inspirational son.

“We need to raise around £30,000 at current interest rates. We have been humbled by people’s generosity so far and have already passed the £10,000 mark, but there is still a long way to go.”

Please visit the Remembering Richard Pover page on the JustGiving website, if you or your company would like to support this award.