Churchill College is deeply saddened to hear of the passing on 14 October 2025 of Mrs Hilary Cowan (F24), Benefactor Fellow of the College and widow of alumnus Mr Michael Cowan (U70).
Hilary was born in London in 1953. Hilary and Michael married in 1981, having met through a mutual friend. Hilary was then working as a legal secretary for Macfarlanes Solicitors in London. She has a degree in modern languages and arts from the Open University which she very much enjoyed taking, not having had the opportunity to access Higher Education upon leaving school. She was proud to wear her Open University gown upon becoming a Benefactor Fellow of the College in 2024.
Hilary and Michael had three children, Philippa, Eleanor and Christopher. Both were supporters together of Grange Park opera in Surrey, as well as the College. Hilary was hugely fond of music, supporting students at the Yehudi Menuhin school and the Royal College of Music, she was also actively involved with the running of Grange Park Opera as one of its trustees. In the early part of this century she was instrumental in a campaign to build a permanent home for Grange Park Opera, and deeply involved in the fundraising campaign for it.
Hilary was a frequent attendee at College events, for example when Cowan Court was opened in 2016, and accompanied Michael at many alumni events.
The College was honoured when Hilary agreed to become a Benefactor Fellow of Churchill last November. She also had accepted the invitation to join the University of Cambridge Guild of Benefactors after Michael’s premature death from pancreatic cancer in 2023. Hilary showed great fortitude in facing her cancer diagnosis early in 2025. She is survived by her three children and three grandchildren.