I hope you enjoy reading below just how active life at Worcester has been during the last term. As I write, we are well into the vacation and Worcester really is sparkling in the sunshine, with the sight of magnolias in a carpet of daffodils dazzling anyone who emerges onto the Nuffield Lawn from the Quad.

While there can be a slight melancholy when the site empties of students at the end of each term, the end of Hilary at Worcester is marked by the annual Law Dinner and a Gaudy, meaning the College is soon buzzing again and we have the great pleasure of welcoming many of you back to your college. This year both dinners were busier than ever, so we are working on ways to accommodate more of you at reunions.

We started this Hilary Term with two fabulous events for those of you based in Asia, one in Singapore (graciously hosted by Sultan Nazrin Shah of Perak) and one in Hong Kong. Having enjoyed this wonderful opportunity to reconnect with a number of Old Members, we would love to see Worcester networks developing in the region. Please contact development@worc.ox.ac.uk if you are based in East Asia and would like to join regional WhatsApp and LinkedIn groups.

A significant moment for the University of Oxford took place this term as Lord Hague was welcomed as the new Chancellor, the 160th recorded Chancellor in the University’s history. You can watch the admission ceremony and his speech (a transcript is also available) on the University website.

As befits the season, our packed events programme for Trinity Term has something for everyone. We are especially pleased to host the second 1714 Society lunch on 26 April. The 1714 Society welcomes all those of you who show far-sighted support of Worcester by planning a gift in your will, and the lunch is our opportunity to express our thanks.

Please know that you are always welcome at your college, and we very much look forward to meeting many of you both this term and beyond.

With very best wishes from Worcester,

Viola Kerr, Fellow and Director of Development

 

College news

Worcester Energy Day

After a very successful first edition in 2024, the Sustainability Research Working Group held the second Worcester Energy Day on Friday 28th February. In partnership with the ZERO Institute (Zero-carbon Energy Research Oxford), the conference looked at all aspects of energy generation, conversion, consumption and storage and discussed recent advances in these fields.

Sustainability is a Worcester priority. We are committed to reducing our waste and energy usage in College, while boosting biodiversity; we also a dedicated group of academics whose research focuses on combatting the climate crisis.

 

Announcing our new Sachs Scholars

Each year, the Daniel M. Sachs Scholarship enables one Worcester student or recent graduate to study at Princeton University for a year, while a Princeton senior switches places and travels to this side of the Atlantic.

This year, two lawyers have taken the scholarships, with Farzana Salik (2022, MSc Criminology & Criminal Justice) heading to Princeton’s Graduate School in September. Currently a policy adviser in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, Farzana is also the founder of Taahirah, a movement championing Muslim women’s health by combining faith and holistic health guidance. At Princeton, she plans to research the ethical use of artificial intelligence to address reproductive health inequities.

Noah James is the Princeton Sachs Scholar coming to Worcester. Majoring in Princeton’s School of Public and International Affairs, Noah has volunteered with the Princeton Asylum Project. He intends to earn two Master’s while at Oxford, in Criminology & Criminal Justice and Global Governance & Diplomacy.

 

Provost’s Role Models: broadcaster Mishal Husain

Mishal Husain hosted BBC Radio 4’s flagship Today programme for 11 years and also fronted BBC One’s UK general election debates. She visited Worcester on her third day at Bloomberg as editor-at-large of its Weekend Edition, to discuss her career, the future of the media, and the traits that make a good journalist, particularly in a polarised world where ‘truth’ appears to be an increasingly flexible concept.

See upcoming events

 

‘Talking Peace’ with Palestinian and Israeli peace activists

In an increasingly fractured world, Worcester is pleased to be a space where people can come together to try to bridge divides and work towards a happier, more united planet. On 6 March peace activists Hamze Awawde and Magen Inon joined forces to discuss how dialogue across identities and ideologies can build lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians in an event organised by Worcester’s Israel & Ione Massada Fellowships Programme.

See more Massada events

 

Annual Worcester pancake race

Oxford is a city of traditions, and a new favourite tradition in College is the annual pancake race on Shrove Tuesday. A series of heats saw students and staff sprinting around Main Quad, flipping a pancake at each corner, competing for the title of ‘First Flipper’. Junior Year Abroad student Sparky put up a good fight but it was first-year Earth Scientist Sam who took home the ceremonial frying pan, before everyone tucked into a morning snack of crêpes.

 

An update on the lake

As many of you will know, the beautiful Worcester lake is leaking and needs dredging to remove the build-up of harmful algae and silt. Alumni have been very generous in supporting this ongoing project, but initial feasibility studies have shown the damage is more extensive than anticipated. The project team are currently choosing between three courses of remedial action, which will likely take place over two months in the summer. If you would like to find out more or support the project, please contact Millie Papworth, Deputy Director of Development.

 

BBC Radio 4 at Worcester

On 26 February the radio trucks rolled into Worcester for a recording of ‘The 3rd Degree’, a BBC Radio 4 quiz show hosted by comedian Steve Punt. The format challenges three tutors and three students in the same subjects to a face-off with general knowledge and subject-specific questions. The three subjects were Maths (Dr Richard Earl v. Lizzi Hayman), History (Dr Michael Drolet v. Mujaahid Arian) and Theology (The Revd Canon Dr Peter Groves v. Billy Watkinson).

The contest was very close indeed, with excellent knowledge of British philosophers from the students and more than a passing acquaintance with darts from the tutors. The show will be broadcast on Radio 4 in the autumn – no spoilers until then!

 

Worcester at Varsity rugby

Saturday 8 March was an important day for Oxford rugby fans: not the Six Nations, but the annual Varsity matches. The historic clashes between OURFC and CURUFC featured Worcester students Amelie Harris-Lovett, Estelle Onwuka, Marged Williams and Will Roddy donning the dark blue and taking to the pitches. After a thrilling match, Cambridge ultimately took home the Men’s victory, 35-28, despite two tries from Worcester’s Roddy, but the Women’s Blues scored an impressive 27-7 win over the Light Blues.

 

Old Members

Telephone Campaign

As you read this, the 2025 Worcester Telethon will have just drawn to a close. Our team of 12 callers – you can find out more about them online – have learnt about being a student over the years, and the career options which lie ahead of them after graduation. With Worcester dependent on donations, which make up about 25% of our income annually, the student callers have also asked alumni to show their support by making a gift towards the Worcester Fund, or our Access & Outreach programmes. Thank you to everyone who contributed so generously. If you missed the call, but would like to make a gift, please just contact Rob on 01865 288321 or at rob.moss@worc.ox.ac.uk.

 

Media & Creative Industries Network

We are delighted to have launched a network to bring together Worcester alumni across the media and creative arts sectors. The aim of the network is to help build connections, provide an annual opportunity to come together for a drink, and help students and young graduates entering these industries which often don’t have clear career paths. You can join our LinkedIn group and sign up using this form, which will give you priority booking for our first event, to be held in central London on 3 July.

If you would like to enjoy more from the creative Worcester community, don’t miss the opportunity to visit Exhibition 004 in early May – see below in this newsletter.

 

Law Society Dinner

The annual Law Society Dinner is a gala occasion at Worcester, and an opportunity for those who studied Law and who now work in legal fields to gather, reminisce and build connections. Over 100 Old Members and students enjoyed the evening, including some of the UK’s most eminent scholars and practitioners. Particular thanks are due to Sir Christopher Nugee, Lord Justice Nugee, who delivered an insightful post-dinner address. It was also an opportunity to announce the launch of the new Francis Reynolds Law Scholarship, which will support graduate students studying for the Batchelor of Civil Law.

 

Worcester in South East Asia

At the start of the year, the Provost and Director of Development made the College’s first trip to South East Asia in many years, reconnecting with alumni and updating them about life in Oxford. David and Viola hosted a reception for alumni in Hong Kong and attended a dinner generously hosted by HRH Sultan Nazrin Shah (pictured here) in Singapore. It was a wonderful opportunity to reignite old friendships and develop new ones. The Old Members who attended our events were delighted to see Worcester make the trip and keen to find out about how they can get involved in College life.

 

You’re invited: Exhibition004

This student-led exhibition, now in its fourth year and organised by Visual Arts Worcester, showcases the best and freshest of creative and visual arts in Worcester and Oxford. Whether painting, drawing, sculpture, digital, film or installation, there’s sure to be something here to engage and inspire.

Old Members are invited to visit the exhibition during the times below. No booking required, but a voluntary donation of £5 towards exhibition costs is welcomed. Please identify yourself at the Lodge as you come into College.

• Tuesday 6 May: 12-2pm
• Wednesday 7 May: 5-7pm
• Thursday 8 May: 12-2pm
• Friday 9 May: 12-2pm

 

Alumni dining in College

We are pleased to be introducing the opportunity for Old Members to dine in College on selected evenings each term and in the summer vacation. During term time, there will be the opportunity for a small number of alumni to enjoy a pre-dinner drink in the SCR, before dining on High Table with Fellows, with coffee in the SCR to follow. The vacation dates will be reserved for Old Members, and will feature pre-dinner drinks in the Fellows Garden (weather permitting), followed by dinner and coffee in the Lower SCR.

Each Old Member will be able to book for themselves and one guest. We anticipate demand being high, especially in this pilot period, so please do not be disappointed if you cannot book in right away – more dates will be released each term. All dates can be booked via our booking page.

Trinity Term 2025

• Wednesday 14 May
• Wednesday 28 May
• Wednesday 4 June

Summer vacation 2025

• Wednesday 30 July
• Wednesday 13 August
• Wednesday 20 August

Please remember that the SCR can also be booked by Old Members for private dinners. The room seats up to 18 people, and the best availability is during vacation periods, although some term time dates are possible. Please contact the Development Office (development@worc.ox.ac.uk) if you are interested in holding your next birthday dinner, reunion with friends, or celebratory meal in College.

 

Visiting Worcester

Worcester Old Members are warmly welcome to visit the College. From 29 March 2025 until the clocks change in October, the College’s opening times will extend to 11.30am to 5.00pm each day. If you are unable to arrange your visit within these times, please email the Development team with the time of your arrival so that we can notify the Porter’s Lodge. Please be aware that on rare occasions we may need to close the College at short notice.

The Development and Alumni office is based in the Provost’s Lodgings and is staffed during working hours, Monday to Friday, with the exception of bank holidays and the Christmas and New Year period. Do get in touch if you would like to meet one of us during your visit.

 

Old Members’ Sport

WCBC 200th anniversary year & success at Torpids

Torpids week started off with the unfortunate news that the weather would rule out all but the top boats for the week, but nevertheless the three racing crews had an overwhelmingly successful week. Going up 11 places in the bumps charts meant that Worcester College Boat Club were the most successful club on the river for the second Torpids in a row! It was a fantastic start to the 200th anniversary year.

Booking is now open for events including the Boat Club Dinner on 31 May and 200th Anniversary Dinner on 1 November. If you would like to join the WCBC alumni mailing list, please email development@worc.ox.ac.uk.

 

Upcoming events

For the latest event updates and information, and to book your place, please visit the Alumni Events page of the College website.

Go to alumni events

From the Development Office

Meet our team