Garden Party Welcome for new Warden

In his inaugural speech to alumni, Robert congratulated the College on its impressive outreach work, broadening access to an Oxford education.

“The Access Centre is a fantastic statement, right at the heart of the College, of our commitment to making this education accessible to all, as our Foundress would have wanted it to be...Our new Access Centre is a very visible manifestation of that commitment to the future,” he said.

“We are incredibly lucky to have a great group of alumni and supporters who are active, not just in their financial contributions, although that is extremely welcome, but in their kindness and support and, in the last two years, their online engagement with the College which has helped support us through the pandemic.”

Commenting on future plans for the College Robert said: “I know your generosity has helped transform the way the College supports students from all backgrounds in their common pursuit of knowledge. But Dorothy Wadham’s ambition went beyond education for its own sake: she wanted the College to ‘benefit the nation’, to make the world a better place. We are all very proud of the impact our academics have been making on the world beyond Oxford. From medical research and engineering ventilators during the pandemic, through key advice to COP26, our scientists are having practical effect, while our humanities academics are challenging students to think critically and to be rigorous in their examination of contemporary ideas. Now more than ever, when countries and even universities are tempted to turn inwards, we want Wadham to maintain its tradition of being outward looking and engaged with the world.”

President of the 1610 Society, Colin Drummond, spoke of the effect of the pandemic in highlighting national inequalities while also impacting teaching and learning at Wadham.  “Wadham has quietly and confidently navigated these things in the most wonderful way” he said.  Commenting on the strong set of values held by Wadham College members and 1610 Society supporters he added: “By supporting the College we are preserving something of intense value.”

Garden party guests included founding President of the 1610 Society Alan Green (Chinese, 1948) and his contemporary Eddie Tyson (Physics, 1948) as well as current Alumni society President Sachin Patel (Physics, 2001).

Alumni and friends enjoyed tours of our magnificent new Back Quad buildings, the Locke Access Centre in the Dr Lee Shau Kee Building, and the William Doo Undergraduate Centre and heard from tutors involved in the 2021 Summer Schools. Local band ‘Pandora’ provided a relaxing soundtrack to the afternoon.