Queen's Now

Viewing archives for Old Members & Friends

Queen’s will be holding its first ever celebration for English Old Members on Saturday 30 January 2027.

Fifteen years ago Queen’s finally began admitting undergraduates in single honours English. They joined the small community of graduate students in English, undergraduates in English and joint schools, and a pioneering few who migrated to the English degree from other courses. Now our student numbers have grown, and we have not one but two Fellows in English.

Come and join us for a day of all things literary: we’re arranging book-themed fun, conversations about your interests and careers, as well as a literary lunch and plenty of time to catch up with friends and make new ones.

Over the course of the day, you will have the opportunity to hear from current students and academics what studying English at Queen’s is like now; you will be invited to contribute to a Queen’s English Archive and help us create a timeline for the subject at Queen’s; and there will also be a chance to talk to others working in your field as well as explore new areas that other English graduates have ventured into.

Standard tickets are £50 per person.
If you joined Queen’s in or after 2017, you can book a discounted “New Old Member” ticket for £30.

Because the emphasis of this event is bringing Queen’s English students, past and present, together, guests are not invited on this occasion. The day will be very interactive, so please don’t worry if you don’t know anyone else attending. However, our priority is enabling everyone to come, so if this is likely to stop you attending, just let us know and we’ll see what we can do!

Our celebration will be held in term-time, so that former and current students can meet. Although College accommodation therefore cannot be offered on this occasion, the events will take place during the day, allowing time for travel to and from Oxford.

Booking will open shortly.

Dress code: There is no particular dress code. Feel free to wear something literary-themed!

Programme

11:00   Arrival and refreshments (Shulman Auditorium Foyer)
11:30   Panel discussion: Studying English at Queen’s now (Shulman Auditorium)
12:30   Drinks reception (Shulman Auditorium Foyer)
13:00   Three-course lunch (Hall)
14:30   Building a Queen’s English Archive (Upper Library)
15:00   Tea, coffee and madeleines (Senior Common Room Gallery)
15:30   Building a Queen’s English Network (Upper Library)
16:30   Collective poetry reading (Upper Library)
17:00   Farewell drinks (Beer Cellar – card payments only)
18:00   Close




​We are excited to be hosting an Old Members’ evening at The Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration, in Clerkenwell, London on Tuesday 2 March 2027 for Old Members working within The Arts and Creative Industries. View the map.

Details are still being finalised but to ensure your name is on the invitation list, please fill in this short Expression of Interest form. And in the meantime, please save the date! 

Informal Networking Drinks

Following the success of our first Entrepreneurs and Investors event in February, we are delighted to be hosting an informal evening of networking in London this November.

Join fellow Queen’s Old Members with a shared interest in entrepreneurship and investment to make new connections, exchange ideas and reconnect with the wider Queen’s community.

We will be meeting at The Blue Posts, 81 Newman Street, London W1T 3ET, on Wednesday 25 November, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. View the map.

Just a stone’s throw from Tottenham Court Road station, The Blue Posts has a private room upstairs where we can enjoy a relaxed evening together. Please note that the room is accessible by stairs only.

The aim is deliberately simple: to bring together people from across the Queen’s community who are building businesses, investing in them, working in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, or simply interested in the journey. There’s no formal programme; just an opportunity to meet, reconnect, share experiences and see where conversations lead.

The ticket price (£20 Old Member / £15 New Old Member) includes two drinks from the bar, with beer, wine and soft drinks available.

Special thanks to Old Member Rob Woodhead (Biochemistry, 2000) for his help in getting these events up and running.

Dress code: Business attire

If you self-identify as an entrepreneur and/or investor and would like to join us, please sign up via the Book Here button.

Any questions, please do also get in touch.

Come and join the Provost, Paul Johnson, and his wife Nicola for an Old Members’ reunion in Zurich, Switzerland this November.

We are looking forward to meeting Queen’s Old Members and Friends at the Club Baur au Lac (map), Zurich on Friday 13 November at 6.30pm for 7pm, where we are kindly being hosted by Old Members Chris and Julia Eskdale (1987).

Booking is now open until 31 October.

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.

Guests are welcome, but spaces are limited and priority will be given to Old Member bookings.

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide overnight accommodation but rooms should be available in Zurich or the surrounding area.

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

We look forward to seeing you in Switzerland!

We will celebrate the Ten Years Later-ish Lunch on Saturday 21 November 2026 for Old Members who matriculated in the 2015 and 2016.

Booking now live! Please register before Sunday 8 November.

The lunch marks the passing of ten years (ish!) since matriculation and is an excellent opportunity for Old Members to return to College and meet up with friends. 

If you have any further questions, please contact the Old Members’ Office.

SATURDAY 21 NOVEMBER
12.30pm  Drinks in the Upper Library
1.00pm   Lunch (Dress code: Business casual)
2.30pm Beer Cellar open until 4.30pm

We will celebrate our traditional Needle and Thread Gaudy on Saturday 9 January 2027 for Old Members who matriculated in the years 1980 or 1981.

Booking is now open until 15 November.

Traditionally held at the beginning of the New Year, this dinner involves the College’s Bursar threading a needle into each guest’s jacket and advising them to be thrifty in the coming year. Needles were historically popular as Christmas gifts but it is thought that this Gaudy’s customs are a pun on the College founder’s name, Eglesfield – the French words ‘aiguilles et fils’ meaning needles and threads.

The Gaudy dinner is free of charge. B&B is available for Saturday 9 January at £60pppn.

Please note that due to space restrictions in Hall, this is an Old Member only event (for matriculation years 1980 and 1981).

SATURDAY 9 JANUARY

  4.00pm   Tea and cake in the Shulman Auditorium
  4.30pm   Welcome
  6.30pm   Drinks in the Upper Library
  7.00pm   Dinner (black tie)
10.30pm Post-dinner drinks in the SCR
11.30pm Final drinks in the Beer Cellar (card payments only)
1.30am Carriages

SUNDAY 10 JANUARY

  8.15–9.45am   Breakfast in Hall
  8.45am    Holy Communion

We will celebrate our traditional Boar’s Head Gaudy on Saturday 19 December 2026 for Old Members who matriculated in the years 1990 or 1991.

There is a handful of tickets still remaining, please sign up using the booking form before 2 November 2026.

The programme will begin with tea and Christmas cake in the Shulman Auditorium, followed by a recital of seasonal music in Chapel with the College Choir.

The Gaudy is combined with the Boar’s Head Ceremony, which takes place before dinner. Guests are asked to assemble in Hall by 6.25pm when the Boar’s Head will make its ceremonial entrance.

After the Ceremony, champagne will be served in the Upper Library, followed by dinner at 7.15pm. Holy Communion will be celebrated in Chapel on Sunday morning.

The Gaudy dinner is free of charge. B&B is available for Saturday 19 December at £60pppn.

Please note that due to space restrictions in Hall, this is an Old Member only event (for matriculation years 1990 and 1991).

Programme

SATURDAY 19 DECEMBER

  3.30pm   Tea & cake in the Shulman Auditorium
  4.00pm   Welcome
  5.45pm   Recital of Seasonal Music in Chapel
  6.30pm   Boar’s Head Ceremony
  6.45pm   Drinks in the Upper Library
  7.15pm   Dinner (black tie)
10.30pm Post-dinner drinks in the SCR
11.30pm Final drinks in the Beer Cellar
1:30am Carriages

SUNDAY 20 DECEMBER

  8.15 – 9.45am   Breakfast in the Hall
  8.45am    Holy Communion

We will celebrate the Jubilee Matriculation Lunch on Saturday 17 October 2026 for Old Members who matriculated in the years 1956, 1966, 1976.

Bookings for this event have now closed. Please contact the Old Members’ Office if you have any further questions.

SATURDAY 17 OCTOBER

The event commences at 12pm noon for the commemorative photograph, but refreshments will be available from 11.30am for guests arriving early.

12:00 Commemorative photograph
12:30  Drinks in the Upper Library
13:00  Lunch (Dress code: Lounge suits)
14:30  Beer Cellar opens (please note payment in the Beer Cellar is by card only)
16:00  Close

Lunch is free of charge for Old Members.
If you would like to bring a guest, please register their details when booking. Tickets for guests are £30.