Univ Record 2017

A dinner at Blixen Restaurant in London featuring Psychology Professor Elaine Fox
who spoke on the interesting differences of Rainy Brain, Sunny Brain caused a healthy
discussion among attendees. A trip to the Yard Theatre provided young Univites with a
cultural offering and thanks goes to Jack Haynes (2008) for organising this outing. The
visual aesthetic was served as the Young UNIV Photo Gallery had its launch event in
the Hall in February. The Master explained to the assembled the rationale behind the
Gallery and people were dazzled by the photographic quality of the portraits and the
personal qualities of the almost 50 subjects.
The College has been blessed year-on-year with tremendous support from its
philanthropic benefactors. A number of events throughout the year sought to pay
tribute to these College supporters. The revived Feast of St Simon and St Jude and
Benefactors Evensong kicked off the annual stewardship series. A special gathering of
40 Old Members and their partners met at Ditchley Park for a long weekend to reflect
on the accomplishments of the UNIV 20/20 Campaign and to look ahead to the next
decade of College planning. Two leadership dinners hosted by Jamie Pike (1973) and
Sara George (1993) in London helped immensely the College’s fundraising efforts. A
Major and Principal Benefactors’ event was held in April at the British Film Institute
featuring David Cooke (1974). David was the former Director of British Board of Film
Classification and he discussed the interesting history behind the classic The Awful Truth
before a special viewing of the classic Cary Grant film. The annual William of Durham
Club Day in May allowed the College to honour those who have left a legacy to the
College in their estate plans. The Chapel was the key setting for the day’s William of
Durham festivities which included a talk by College Archivist Robin Darwall-Smith
(1982) on The Growth of the Two Main Sites of Univ and a special performance of the Univ
Players’ Spring offering, Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas.
While Oxford and London are primary foci for the College’s alumni outreach efforts,
several receptions and dinners were held around the globe to engage the College’s Old
Members based overseas. Dinners in Hong Kong hosted by Gigi Woo (1991) and in
Singapore featuring Jee Say Tan (1973) hosted by Lak Chuan Ng (1984) brought together
some new and familiar faces to hear the Master. In the United States, the College
supported alumni gatherings in San Francisco featuring a talk by Kurt Giles (1987) and
hosted by Chris Mammen (1993) and in New York at the Fridman Gallery sponsored by
Sasha Zaslavsky (1992) featuring a talk by Oxford TORCH Fellow Oliver Cox (2006).
The biennial Univ Society European Dinner moved to Central Europe and was held at
the roof top restaurant, CODA. There, the Master was joined by Old Members and by a
representative of the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Master used the occasion to
announce the launch of the new Dr Andrei Klein Scholarship for undergraduate students
from the Czech Republic. The year’s events programme ended in that most foreign of
places, Cambridge, in July. Old Members came along to visit our sister College, Trinity
Hall, and spent a delightful Summer’s afternoon punting, exploring their ancient Library
and collections, and pushing away amazingly prepared scones.
Overall, the College put on more than 40 official gatherings and activities overall
in 2016-17. This could not happen without the valued assistance of our Old Member
event sponsors and hosts. Their help in finding venues, shaping programmes, and leading
forums made our events more inviting and satisfying and for that we express our deep
appreciation.
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Thanks
I wish to express my appreciation to the members of the University College Development
Board and the North American Fundraising Committee, and the Young Univ
Committee, led by John Crompton (1981), Alastair Tedford (1977), and Minesh Shah
(2004) respectively. Thanks must also go to the College’s unsung volunteer heroes, the
trustees and subcommittee members of the Old Members Trust (OMT) led by Chairman
John Cummins (1981). I wish to publicly welcome new trustees Margaret Chamberlain
(1979) and JP Spencer (2010) and offer my warmest thanks to outgoing trustees Helena
Miles (1986) and Frank Marshall for their years of dedicated service to the OMT.
The Class of 1966 and 1967 Golden Anniversary Committees also deserve my thanks
for their efforts to organise wonderful 50th reunion weekends for their classmates and
friends, while in the process raising considerable funds for the College’s academic and
access priorities. We thank all the members of these committees for their personal
commitments of time, expertise, and funds to the College’s Development efforts.
In addition to the wonderful support we receive from our external volunteers, the
Development Office also greatly benefits from the efforts of my College based colleagues.
The Master and the College officers, the Fellows on the College’s Development
Committee along with other staff members, all of them permit the Development Office
to serve the College’s external community better. I am fortunate to work with dedicated
and skilled colleagues in the Development Office. Their consistent attention to and care
for our Old Members is special and fortunate.
Thank you to our Old Members for all your continued interest in and care for the
College. We hope that you will continue your support, or make 2017-18 the year you
re-engage with Univ. There are many exciting things going on involving the College, its
students, Fellows, and Old Members. I hope that in the coming year you will join us at a
regional or main site event or virtually online. It would be great to see you. All the best
from 10 Merton Street!
William Roth
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