The College Record 2022

Old Members’ Activities
of the Oxford Botanic Gardens. The London Drinks held in the Royal Academy of
Engineering included a very lively discussion on the links between Engineering and
PPE (in recognition of its 100 th anniversary) by new Honorary Fellow Dr Hayaatun
Sillem (Biochemistry, 1994) its CEO. Full details of these and other Old Members’
events can be found on the College’s website.
Finally, I find it remarkable that, according to the College’s records, the first Old
Members’ Dinner dates back to 1889. Thereafter, it was to be held each year and
to be open to all Old Members. At one time, it became so popular it was necessary
to hold two dinners to meet demand. From discussions with friends from other
Oxford colleges, I believe that such regular dinners were both unusual and envied.
The position only seems to have changed as other colleges have introduced Old
Member dinners as cover for fund raising agendas. This led one College Provost
to comment that while Queen’s Old Members might not be the wealthiest, they
are certainly the most loyal. The Development Office probably has an algorithm to
confirm this assertion.
My earliest dinner was in 1985 and certainly pre-dates any giving. Quite incredibly
it included Old Members who had attended Old Members’ dinners in the 1930s
where, in turn, there were fellow diners who had matriculated as far back as 1874.
In all likelihood people matriculating in the 1870s would have attended the first Old
Members’ Dinner of 1889. At a time when we reflect on the death of our late Queen,
there is a real sense of reaching back into history associated with the Old Members’
Dinner. These days we have a very full calendar of Old Member events, but it is this
dinner with its history and its rich symbolism of sharing our Founder’s Loving Cup
that stands out as the foremost event for many Old Members.
Of course, none of the Old Members’ events would be possible without the
Development Office doing some excellent and inventive work in another difficult
year. They deserve our thanks.
74 The Queen’s College | College Record 2022