2009-2012 Gaudy

On 27 September, Univ’s Old Members who matriculated between 2009 and 2012 were invited back to College for their Gaudy.

Matthew Robson (2012, History and Politics) and Matthew Small (2012, PPE) have written a report of the reunion.

As we pulled into Oxford train station ahead of the recent Univ Gaudy event, we were filled with feelings of nostalgia and sentimentality. Univ played an important role in both of our coming of age, not only providing us with the very best in terms of academic education but also providing the setting for so many fond memories. Univ is where many of our closest friendships have their foundations, and it was also where we met. As such, it was a no-brainer as our choice of wedding venue in 2018, a day we can say without exaggeration was the happiest of both of our lives. So it is safe to say that Univ is special to us, and it was truly wonderful to be back after several years.

In many ways, the event felt like falling back into a routine from days gone by – so many of the elements were familiar from our time at Univ, from afternoon tea in Master’s lodgings, the service in the College Chapel, drinks in the Alington Room (where we were married), to formal dinner in Hall. We even ended the night in the nightclub we remember as the “Purple Turtle”, which made us feel simultaneously young again and really quite old, though thank God the students weren’t back for term yet! Reliving all these elements felt both reassuringly familiar and an extraordinary treat, a reminder of how special it is to be a student at Univ.

It was also a pleasure to see so many familiar faces around the room. Catching up with everyone, on the one hand it was almost as if no time had passed at all, while on the other it was great to hear all about what everyone has been doing in the intervening years. The Master’s remarks over dinner highlighted many of the recent developments at Univ, a reminder that while the College may feel timeless, it is committed to self-improvement, grounded in its values of excellence and opportunity for all. Overall, it was a real pleasure and a privilege to be back.