Why I Support King’s

The family behind Engineering’s new innovation space

From providing talented teams of researchers with the tools they need to tackle their next big breakthrough to funding innovative spaces where aspiring engineers can bring bright ideas to life, our supporters are shaping education environments for future changemakers.

Helping pave the way is proud King’s alumnus, Bernie Rumbold (Chemistry & Engineering, 1966). Bernie is a semi-retired engineer, business owner and one of our university’s most dedicated supporters. Here, we dig into his connection to King’s, open a window into the Rumbold family legacy and celebrate the eponymous ‘Rumbold Makerspace’ on our Strand Campus.

Laying the foundations

Bernie Rumbold’s King’s story began in 1963, with a degree in Chemistry & Engineering. Inspired by his parents to pursue higher education, Bernie told us: ‘Growing up, my mum and dad believed in one thing: education. We had magazines and books all over the place, and I absorbed them all.’

The first in his family to go to university, Bernie commented: ‘I appreciate the advantage my King’s education gave me, and I’m passionate that others get the same opportunity.’

60 years later, Bernie remains a proud member of the King’s community and has been building on his parents’ legacy ever since.

Making space for talented engineers to thrive at King’s

Since graduating, Bernie has enjoyed a long and varied career – starting as an engineer and business manager, before becoming an entrepreneur and setting up successful businesses in the construction and aggregates industry. He explained, ‘An engineering degree at King’s gives you excellent training for the university of life. I am pleased to be able to give the engineers of the future a kick-start.’

Bernie’s ongoing support has helped fund some of King’s most successful campaigns, including the refurbishment of the Quad. Launched in 2021, the appeal encouraged alumni to donate towards the redevelopment of the beloved Quadrangle on our Strand Campus and build a new home for King’s Department of Engineering.

Thanks to generous alumni like Bernie, we have now resurfaced the entire Quad and transformed the historic labs below into state-of-the-art teaching spaces. This includes two new Makerspaces – labs for project-based work, fitted with engineering tools and equipment.

Recognising the Rumbold name at King’s

Those who set foot in this new innovation space will once again spot the Rumbold surname on campus. At the entrance to one of these historic labs is a plaque bearing the inscription ‘Rumbold Makerspace’, with the lab respectfully named in recognition of the generous philanthropic support from Bernie and his family.

It is within these Makerspaces that talented engineering students and academics can collaborate, bring their designs to life and follow in the footsteps of scientists such as Rosalind Franklin and Ray Gosling, who took Photograph 51 in the labs beneath the Quad. Taken in 1952, Photograph 51 captured the double-helix structure – an extraordinary event in scientific history that would lead to the discovery of DNA and shape our understanding of genetics forever. Over 70 years later, our exceptional teams of engineers are building on this proud legacy. Current projects range from creating new technologies to help people with speech and language difficulties to communicate effectively, through to working with the world’s very first Human Support Robot.

During a ‘thank you’ reception to celebrate the opening of the Rumbold Makerspace, Bernie and his wife, Rosemary, their children, Chris and Paula, Bernie’s sisters, Karen and Karla, his children-in-law and his grandchildren came together to inaugurate the eponymous facility. The event was led by Professor Barbara Shollock, the Head of the Department of Engineering, who added, ‘Every day I see students who are enjoying the Rumbold Makerspace immensely and interacting in it in ways we could not have even imagined. Looking ahead, I know that there are many more students who will come to this place and be inspired to make a difference in the world by becoming engineers.’

Lastly, Bernie offers some words of advice to potential philanthropists: ‘My message to anyone who is in a stage in their life where they have some extra capacity: consider using it to do some good in the world.’

Bernie’s building blocks for budding engineers

1. Treasure the education.
2. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes.
3. Go out there and make the world a better place.

Why I Support King’s

The family behind Engineering’s new innovation space

Laying the foundations

Making space for talented engineers to thrive at King’s

The family name forever at King’s

Recognising the Rumbold name at King’s

Bernie’s building blocks for budding engineers

Share your thoughts on Bernie’s story Cancel reply

Browse and download free King’s wallpapers for your desktop and mobile devices

Why I Support King’s

The family behind Engineering’s new innovation space

Laying the foundations

Making space for talented engineers to thrive at King’s

The family name forever at King’s

Recognising the Rumbold name at King’s

Bernie’s building blocks for budding engineers

Share your thoughts on Bernie’s story Cancel reply

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