As we approach Christmas, Hanukkah and the New Year, Worcester is looking and sounding like a winter wonderland: perhaps you saw the wonderful snowy pictures of College in November? I can also hear the Choir singing carols in the cloisters – brightening up a chilly lunchtime at the end of term.

It’s been a pleasure to welcome so many of you back to Worcester in the past few months – at Gaudies, reunions, concerts and our Honorary Fellows ceremony where we inducted Sir John Benger and Sir Richard Moore (both of whom matriculated in 1982) as our new Honorary Fellows. One of the things I’m most looking forward to about 2025 is my first Worcester trip to Asia, where I’m hoping to reconnect with more of our Old Members in Hong Kong and Singapore.

It’s also an exciting time for me as this month I take on the mantle of chairing the Henry Moore Foundation. Like Worcester, the Foundation is committed to research and innovation and to the widening of educational opportunities. I’d also like to take this opportunity to congratulate and welcome Lord Hague of Richmond as the University’s new Chancellor – I look forward to working with him to advance both Worcester and the University of Oxford.

I couldn’t conclude this introduction without acknowledging the tremendous support we receive from our Old Members – and especially at our recent Giving Day. Thanks to your support, we now have a solid foundation to begin the vital repair work to our lake, as well as much-needed funds for student support, music and the unrestricted Worcester Fund. Thank you for your investment in Worcester’s future.

Do enjoy reading all of our news and the wonderful things happening in College. I wish you and your families a happy and restful break over the festive period and look forward to meeting more of you in the New Year.

Best wishes,

David Isaac CBE, Provost

 

College news

Amazing result for 2024 Giving Day

We are delighted to report that Old Members and friends have shown extraordinary generosity for the 2024 Giving Day, which raised over £300,00 for the College and its students in 36 hours.

579 people made a gift, from 23 countries around the world. £157,300 was raised to repair Worcester’s leaking lake, and over £25,000 raised to support students, £23,300 for Music at Worcester, and £95,220 for the Worcester Fund, which lies at the heart of life here. Thank you to everyone who took part, and especially the generous supporters who matched community gifts.

The donor wall was a testament to the affection Old Members feel for College, and the excitement for the projects and initiatives happening today which make Worcester an outstanding place: “The world needs more than ever the intelligent, caring graduates, motivated to make a positive difference, that Worcester produces.”

 

Academic news

Patricia Clavin delivers inaugural lecture

Professorial Fellow Patricia Clavin delivered her inaugural public lecture as Professor of Modern History to a packed audience at the Exam Schools, addressing the timely topic of European security in modern times.

 

Gabriel Stylianides elected to fellowship of the Academy of Social Sciences

Worcester Fellow Gabriel Stylianides, Professor of Mathematics Education at the Department of Education, has been elected to the prestigious fellowship of the Academy of Social Sciences. This honour recognises his significant international contribution in the fields of mathematics education and mathematics teacher education.

 

Leila Ullrich writes on the part victims play in international criminal justice

Dr Leila Ullrich is Associate Professor of Criminology and Worcester’s Equalities Fellow. In her blog post she explores the concept of victim participation in international criminal justice as ‘labour’ as opposed to the restorative justice measure it purports to be.

 

Three new projects supported by inaugural Wigmore Research Fund

Congratulations to the Worcester researchers who have made successful applications to the first round of Worcester’s Wigmore Research Fund this year. Launched in 2024 by our Joint Heads of Research, the Wigmore Research Fund is the first of its kind and is designed to support research-related projects which explore new methods and novel research avenues. We are grateful to the donor for making new research possible.

 

Explore the topics Worcester’s academics are investigating

Our Online Academic Research Lecture Series has continued to expand through 2024, allowing you to delve deeper into the world-class research taking place at Worcester. This year, Professor John Parrington examined human consciousness versus artificial intelligence, Distinguished Visiting Fellow Dr Tundi Agardi took us to the South Pacific and explored pathways to ocean sustainability, and we toured Byzantium through the on-the-ground research of Junior Research Fellow Dr Maximilian Lau.

All of our lectures are broadcast live and uploaded to YouTube, letting you tune in from anywhere in the world. Join us in February as Professor Jennifer Walshe discusses her work with AI in music and art: book your place on our website.

Catch up with the series on YouTube

 

Provost’s Role Model interviews

The Provost’s Role Models series returned this term with a political theme. In the first interview this Michaelmas, Lord Chris Smith spoke to the Provost about his time as Culture Secretary and the role of culture in society. Later in term, current MPs Naz Shah and Emily Thornberry held a lively discussion about their advocacy work and their experience of being MPs in and out of opposition. Don’t miss broadcaster Mishal Husain in Hilary Term 2025.

 

Music at Worcester

From public concerts to student performances, and choral scholarships to community choirs, Worcester is a place that is brimming with music. With the thriving Music at Worcester programme, you can make music, try something new, or just sit back and listen.

Over two weeks in October, we were privileged to partner with the Oxford International Song Festival for a series of concerts at Worcester. From singing and tai chi in the gardens to lute songs and AI in the Chapel, the partnership created some one-of-a-kind moments. We’re grateful to artistic director and Worcester Old Member Sholto Kynoch (1998, Music) and all the artists who came to Worcester to perform.

In other news, Robert Saxton, Worcester’s Emeritus Professor of Composition has released a new recording of two recent major works with the English Symphony Orchestra and English String Orchestra.

 

Old Members

Meeting of minds: the Franks Society and the Foundation Circle

MCR students were joined at their termly Franks Society Talks in November by members of the Foundation Circle. The afternoon was a real intellectual treat, with talks on how to build a quantum computer, why the ancient Greeks tolerated slavery, who takes legal responsibility when AI systems go wrong, and the future of liberalism. Questions from the audience were lively, and touched on the very nature of existence, demonstrating the academic curiosity which makes Oxford so special. Thank you to the brilliant speakers, and the Foundation Circle members who joined us for the talks and afternoon tea: read more in our news article.

 

Drinks Reception at the Inner Temple

Fireworks, US election fever, and tube troubles did nothing to hold Old Members back from gathering in London for drinks at the Inner Temple on 5 November. Alumni from across the generations met friends old and new, sharing their Worcester connection. The Provost interviewed four Fellows who gave a tutor’s perspective on teaching and a fascinating insight into their research. A very popular event indeed, the requirement for a larger room has been noted – watch this space for details of next year’s London drinks event.

 

Introducing our new Honorary Fellows

This term, two distinguished alumni were inducted as our newest Honorary Fellows. Both matriculated in 1982 and have dedicated their careers to public service.

Sir John Benger KCB studied for his PGCE and DPhil at Worcester before joining the staff of the House of Commons, In 2019 he was appointed Clerk of the House of Commons – effectively the Chief Executive – and went on to become the Master of St Catharine’s College, Cambridge in 2023.

Sir Richard Moore KCMG read PPE at Worcester and won a Kennedy Scholarship to Harvard. He held Foreign Office postings in Vietnam, Turkey, Pakistan and Malaysia before becoming HM Ambassador to Turkey in 2014. Since 2020 he has been ‘C’ – Chief of MI6 and the only member of the Secret Intelligence Service whose identity is public knowledge.

 

Worcester Old Members compete in this year’s University Challenge Christmas Special

With Christmas just around the corner, University Challenge returns to BBC Two and iPlayer for its much-loved festive series. Chaired by host Amol Rajan, this special edition sees fifty-six distinguished alumni from fourteen universities grappling with remarkably tricky questions to claim the title of Christmas champions.

The Worcester team includes: novelist and poet Glyn Maxwell (1992, English), novelist and playwright Alice Jolly (1986, Modern History), writer and food critic Tom Parker Bowles (1994, English) and respiratory scientist and clinician Sir Peter Barnes (1970, Pharmacology). We wish the team the best of luck!

 

Honorary Fellow Peter Kosminsky’s award-winning Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light

The award-winning television drama Wolf Hall has returned with a much-anticipated second series, once again directed by Honorary Fellow Peter Kosminsky (1976, Chemistry). Peter is the winner of six BAFTAs, including Outstanding Contribution to British television. In an episode of This Cultural Life on BBC Radio 4, he discusses the experiences and influences that shaped his career and his stand-out productions.

 

Kaleidoscope: three weeks to view Honorary Fellow and artist Anne Desmet’s exhibition

Artist and printmaker Anne Desmet RA (1983, Fine Art; Honorary Fellow) is currently exhibiting at the City of London’s Guildhall Art Gallery in their first ever solo exhibition by a woman artist. Inspired by ‘climate crisis, escape, and possible new worlds’, Kaleidoscope/London offers a fresh perspective on the capital, its architecture and geography through 150 artworks. Guildhall Art Gallery, Guildhall Yard, London EC2V 5AE (extended until 12 January).

 

Old Members’ Sport

Worcester College Golfing Society

Captain of the Golfing Society Bob Jones (1980, Literae Humaniores) writes: Worcester team’s success at Studley Wood in yesterday’s annual quadrilateral match vs Pembroke, St Catz & Teddy Hall. With the top 4 Stableford scores counting in each team, we managed a pretty decent 131 points between us – victory by 16 points over Pembroke and Teddy Hall in joint second. A good result considering the latter two had larger teams.
If you are interested in joining the golf or cricket mailing lists register your interest here or for (golf) contact Bob via the Development Office.

Pictured below left to right are Jordan Galsworthy, Bob Jones, Andrew Millward, David Fitt, Nigel Platt and Clive Borthwick.

 

Worcester College Boat Club

Max Lau, Head Coach writes: WCBC has flourished this Michaelmas despite incredibly bad flooding, which meant there were only two weeks of rowing in Oxford all term, and which also cancelled the majority of the races in the UK. The club nevertheless recruited well and has been training hard on land, so that we should have the edge when we can return to the water.

Read the latest WCBC newsletter

 

Exclusive merchandise to remember your time at Worcester

Our partners at The College Store provide a wide range of ethical branded clothing, cufflinks and gifts delivered direct to your door. Every purchase made via The College Store helps to support Worcester College and plant trees with Ecologi. Head over to their website to browse the full range of merchandise.

Shop now

 

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