Viewing archives for Old Members & Friends

Plans are coming together for this summer’s family-friendly Old Members’ Garden Party, taking place in the College grounds on Saturday 4 July from 2 till 5pm.

You can look forward to…

Bouncy Castle – Face Painting – Circus Skills – Afternoon Tea – Live Music – Giant Connect Four – Glitter Tattoos – Croquet – Pimm’s – Giant Jenga – Garden Tours – Queen’s Society Reception – Scavenger Hunt – Teddy Bear Zipline – Football World Cup

In case of bad weather, the Hall, Cloisters, Shulman Auditorium and some gazebos will be available for shelter.

There is no strict dress code: we suggest smart casual but being comfortable at this outdoor event is most important!

Tickets will go on sale in mid-May.

The annual Taberdars’ Society Luncheon will take place on Saturday 16 May 2026.

Invitations by email and letter will be sent out to members of the Society shortly. Members are very welcome to bring a guest.

The Taberdars’ Society

The Taberdars’ Society recognises the enormous contribution that legacy gifts have made to The Queen’s College, building academic excellence and nurturing generations of students. We are always pleased to welcome new members and anyone who lets us know that they have included a gift to Queen’s in their will is invited to join the Society.

Event programme

11:00           Tea and coffee in the Shulman Auditorium
11:45           Welcome from the Provost 
12:30           Drinks reception in the Provost’s Garden
13:00           Lunch in Hall

Afternoon programme (optional)

14:30           Musical recital (TBC)
15:15           End of event

Dress code: Smart casual or lounge suits

Contact

If you would like to know more about the Taberdars’ Society and leaving a gift to Queen’s in your will, please contact the Old Members’ Office. You can also find more information at: Your Queen’s legacy – supporting the future in memory of the past.

This year’s London Reception will take place on Tuesday 5 May from 6.00 till 9.30pm. By kind permission of the Dean & Chapter of Westminster, we will be in the Cloisters of the world-renowned Westminster Abbey (map)!

Famous as the site of coronations of the British (formerly English) monarchy since William the Conqueror in 1066, and long established as a traditional site for royal weddings and state funerals, Westminster Abbey is one of the most significant buildings in the history of the United Kingdom. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Abbey also has a unique connection to Queen’s: the College’s namesake, Queen Philippa of Hainault, wife of King Edward III, is buried there. The College’s founder, Robert de Eglesfield, served as a chaplain in her household. 

Special thanks to Old Member Dr Matthew Payne (Literae Humaniores, 1989), Keeper of the Muniments at Westminster Abbey, for helping us secure this venue. 

We are sorry to say that unprecedentedly, all 200 places for this event sold out in less than 24 hours.
You can join the waiting list here.


Please note that this event is for Old Members only.

Programme

17:00  Evensong (optional) – please arrive by 4.30pm
18:00  Doors open to Reception via Dean’s Yard entrance (map)
19:00  Welcome:
Paul Johnson, Provost.
Dr Matthew Payne, Keeper of the Muniments, Westminster Abbey and Queen’s Old Member.
19:20  Further drinks and bowl food service.
21:30  Close

Please note:

The Queen’s London Reception will take place in the Cloisters of the Abbey.
If you want to visit and experience the main Abbey, you have the opportunity to attend Evensong beforehand, starting at 5pm. Please indicate your wish to do so at the time of booking (no charge) to secure a seat. If you would like to attend Evensong, you must arrive before 4:30pm at the Great West Door to be seated; a later arrival will result in experiencing the service on the wrong side of the Quire screen.

Come and join the Provost, Paul Johnson, as he makes his first visit to Singapore to meet with Old Members.

We are looking forward to meeting with Queen’s Old Members and Friends at the Cygnet Bar & Grill Restaurant in Singapore (map).

In addition to drinks and dinner, Paul is looking forward to sharing some updates about Queen’s and answering any questions you might have about life in Oxford today.

The Provost will also be joined on the evening by Dr Justin Jacobs and Heather Weightman from the Old Members’ Office.

Please note that the New Old Members ticket price is for Old Members who joined Queen’s in or after 2016.

Booking closes on 2 April 2026.

Photo of the Cygnet Bar & Grill Restaurant in Singapore

Come and join the Provost, Paul Johnson, as he makes his first visit to Hong Kong to meet with Old Members.

We are looking forward to meeting with Queen’s Old Members and Friends at the Carlyle & Co. Hong Kong, Victoria Dockside, Kowloon (map), where we are kindly being hosted by Rory McAlpine (Jurisprudence, 1976).

In addition to drinks and dinner, Paul is looking forward to sharing some updates about Queen’s and answering any questions you might have about life in Oxford today.

The Provost will also be joined on the evening by Dr Justin Jacobs and Heather Weightman from the Old Members’ Office.

Please note that the New Old Members ticket price is for Old Members who joined Queen’s in or after 2016.

Guests are welcome.

Booking closes on 31 March 2026.

Photo of the East Terrace at Carlyle & Co. Hong Kong

Come and join the Provost, Paul Johnson, as he makes his first visit to the US to meet with Old Members.

We are looking forward to meeting with Queen’s Old Members and Friends at The Metropolitan Club (map), where we are very kindly being hosted by Jack (Politics, 1975) and Christine Giraudo.

In addition to drinks and dinner, Paul is looking forward to sharing some updates about Queen’s and answering any questions you might have about life in Oxford today.

The Provost will also be joined on the evening by Dr Justin Jacobs and Heather Weightman from the Old Members’ Office.

The Metropolitan Club has a dress code and personal communication devices policy:
Please click here to read more information about visiting the Club.

This event is fully booked, but you are welcome to join the waiting list.

Come and join the Provost, Paul Johnson, as he makes his first visit to the US to meet with Old Members.

We are looking forward to meeting with Queen’s Old Members and Friends at Flour+Water restaurant, San Francisco (map).

Paul is looking forward to sharing some updates about Queen’s and answering any questions you might have about life in Oxford today.

The Provost will also be joined on the evening by Dr Justin Jacobs and Heather Weightman from the Old Members’ Office.

Booking is now open until 12 March 2026.

Please note that the New Old Members ticket price is for Old Members who joined Queen’s in 2016 and after.

Photo of the Dough Room at Flour + Water restaurant

Come and join the Provost, Paul Johnson, as he makes his first visit to the US to meet with Old Members.

Thanks to the hospitality of Barry Rigal (Oriental Studies, 1976), Queen’s will be hosting an evening of drinks, lite bites and good conversation on his rooftop terrace in Manhattan, with some stunning views of the city (and a wet weather option in his apartment just in case).

Paul is looking forward to sharing some updates about Queen’s and answering any questions you might have about life in Oxford today.

The Provost will also be joined on the evening by Dr Justin Jacobs and Heather Weightman from the Old Members’ Office.

Dress Code: Business casual

Booking closes on 11 March 2026.

Please note that the New Old Members ticket price is for Old Members who joined Queen’s in 2016 and after.

Our next Subject Dinner will be for all Old Members who read History as part of their degree at Queen’s.
The dinner will take place on Saturday 21 March 2026.

This event is sold out. Please contact the Old Members’ Office if you would like to join the waiting list.

This event offers Old Members an opportunity to meet and hear from current and former academics teaching History at Queen’s.

The History Subject Dinner will also be a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the endowment of the John Prestwich Fellowship in History. Thanks to the generous support of Old Members and friends, Queen’s has raised over £3.3 million in both gifts and pledges, securing the teaching and research of history at Queen’s for future generations.
History at Queen’s received further generous support through the Accomplishment Scholarship, which will support a young person from a disadvantaged background to continue their studies at Masters level in History at Queen’s. We also established the Christine Peters Prize for Women’s and Gender History in memory of Dr Christine Peters thanks to the support of her former students, colleagues and family.

The programme will start with a panel discussion chaired by the Provost, bringing together Brittenden Fellow in History, Dr Meleisa Ono-George, John Prestwich Fellow Dr Conor O’Brien (Theology, 2010) and Emeritus Fellow Dr John Davis to discuss how History teaching at Queen’s has evolved over the years.

Pre-dinner drinks will be served in the Upper Library, followed by a three-course dinner in Hall from 7pm. After dinner, everyone is invited to the Beer Cellar for further refreshments.

Tickets cost ÂŁ50 per person for a 3-course dinner, including wine. Discounted tickets are available for those who matriculated in or after 2016.

B&B rooms (single or twin, no doubles) are available in College, for the Saturday night only, at an extra charge of ÂŁ60 per person. You can book your accommodation at the same time as your dinner ticket. Breakfast in Hall is included. Check in from 2pm on Saturday, check out by 10am prompt on Sunday morning.

Old Members can bring a guest.

Dress code: Lounge suits and equivalent

Programme

16:00 Arrival and refreshments in the Shulman Auditorium Foyer
16:30 Panel discussion in the Shulman Auditorium
17:30 Time to change for dinner
18:30 Pre-dinner drinks in the Upper Library
19:00 Three-course dinner in Hall
20:30 Drinks in the Beer Cellar
23:00 Carriages

Panel discussion
Thinking Historically: A celebration of teaching History at Queen’s

The teaching and funding of History is becoming more challenging in universities, including Oxford. While Queen’s counts itself fortunate to have endowed the subject thanks to the support of its Old Members, we, too, must continually find ways to ensure the subject remains both relevant and robust.
Even as the History syllabus has continued to develop in recent years, adding new approaches, themes and material alongside traditional areas of excellence, it is the tutorial that represents the beating heart of what makes reading and teaching History at Oxford such a unique and enjoyable experience.
Join us before dinner as we hear from our two current Fellows in History – Brittenden Fellow in History Dr Meleisa Ono-George and Prestwich Fellow in History Dr Conor O’Brien (Theology, 2010) – as well as Emeritus Fellow Dr John Davis, about how Queen’s continues to provide students with the opportunity to develop their historical thinking and insight, something of ongoing value beyond Oxford.

Contact

The Queen’s College,
High Street, Oxford,
OX1 4AW

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Tel: 01865 279120

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