The “Soixante-Huitards”, who matriculated in 1968, held their Golden Anniversary Reunion at Univ on the weekend of 22 September. Old Members and their spouses braved 24 hours of Oxford downpour to spend a packed weekend catching up on five decades worth of news and memories.

OMs punted despite the downpours, explored the new architecture of North Oxford and marvelled at the new Ashmolean, before enjoying a guided wine tasting at the Univ Boat House with Professor Nick Rawlins (1968, PPE), Emeritus Fellow, and dining together at Quod.

President Bill Clinton (1968, Politics) and John Isaacson (1968, PPE), both of whom were Rhodes Scholars, sent letters with memories of Oxford in the Vietnam protest era, which were read aloud. Herbie Knott (1968, PPE) curated a wonderful assembly of photos from the time, entitled Our Oxford in Images.

Old Members also heard from the Master, Sir Ivor Crewe, Professor Nick Rawlins, Dr Catherine Holmes, A.D.M. Cox Old Members’ Tutorial Fellow in Medieval History, and Dr Leslie Mitchell, Emeritus Fellow, about how Oxford has changed over the past fifty years. Broadcaster Paul Gambaccini (1970, PPE), the “Professor of Pop”, gave a talk on “Music from the Quad” – a selection of thirty songs from the late Sixties recalling the Spirit of ’68.

Univ thanks the Soixante-Huitards for their astounding generosity; they committed to raise £100,000 for the College in a special 1968 Appeal.

Published: 22 October 2018

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