Over 200 Orielenses returned to Oriel College in the second weekend of March.
On Friday, 15 March, 107 alumni who matriculated between the years 1980 and 1983 attended their Gaudy in the Senior Library. In a speech over dinner, Derek Peaple (1983) spoke about the continuity of his experience following his days at Oriel and how the college shaped his life and career.
The Provost, Lord Mendoza CBE (1978), said in his speech that it was wonderful to welcome back this cohort, especially as they had crossed paths in their time at Oriel.
On Saturday the annual Adam de Brome lunch was held for 65 members of the Adam de Brome society and their guests. The Adam de Brome Society consists of alumni who have generously stated their intention to leave a gift to Oriel College in their Will.
The event included talks by Marco Zhang, Director of Development, Maggie Jones, Treasurer, and Orielensis Philip Powell (1958).
Philip has had an illustrious career at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, where today he is an Honorary Associate. Entitled “The Stones of Oriel,” his talk surveyed the materials that make up Oriel’s buildings.
After the talks, guests had lunch in the Senior Library, where they were given a further update on the Society numbers and legacies income from Adam de Brome Fellow John Cook (1965). All raised a glass to John Albert (1956) and his wife Anne, who were both instrumental in setting up the Adam de Brome Society and sadly passed away last year.