St Cross College, Oxford

A Gaudy to mark the 40th Anniversary of the founding of St Cross College was held over the weekend of 3-4 September. Guests gathered in the Common Room on Saturday afternoon for a splendid tea, where they were formally welcomed by the Vice-Master, Professor Nick Mayhew. Tea was followed by a choice of tours around Oxford led by Fellows of the College.

Dr and Mrs Pound Dr Hélène La Rue took a large group to the Pitt Rivers Museum to have a behind-the-scenes tour of both the Pitt Rivers and the University Museum while others joined Mr Richard Briant for a tour of the Saïd Business School, or Professor Nick Mayhew for a visit to the Ashmolean Museum.

Dr Charles Mould, an Oxford Tour Guide as well as an Emeritus Fellow of St Cross, led a group around the buildings of Wadham and Merton Colleges, while others chose to remain in St Cross to hear the fascinating account of the College Art Collection given by Professor Derek Roe.

One highlight of the weekend was the Black-tie reception and dinner, which was a sell-out with the Hall filled to capacity with 120 people. We were particularly pleased that guests had come from far and wide to share in the celebrations, with alumni and former Fellows arriving from the United States, Belgium, China, France and Germany as well as from around the UK.

Hélène La Rue and Jessica Sack

The guest speaker was educationalist and author Colin Dexter, also a Fellow of St Cross, who held the audience spellbound with an eloquent, witty and moving account of his varied career.

The Master also addressed the Hall with an update about the College and its plans for the future, making particular reference to the increase in student numbers - and the achievements of the students in academic, sporting and social arenas - and to the College's plans for expansion and improvement of the St Giles site, starting with the very-much-evident building of a new Porters' Lodge and culminating with the planned North and West Wing building.

A group of alumni enjoying brunchAs ever, James Rudman and his catering team put on a wonderful feast. During the reception and after the meal, St Cross graduate Julian Faultless played mellow piano music to enhance the mood. The College bar provided further refreshments and guests lingered in the beautifully floodlit quads until the early hours.

On Sunday morning the weather was kind, and guests of all ages were able to enjoy the sunshine in the garden quad after a veritable feast of brunch, to the accompaniment of a jazz trio. From the comments received during the weekend and since, it seemed to be a very successful occasion.

More photographs of the event are to be found on the St Cross website.