Service Children Support Network - RAF Benevolent Fund

Oxford Encaenia 2012
Joy is honoured with
The Vice Chancellor’s Civic Award
and meets a truly Inspirational Woman!
On Wednesday 20 June , Joy and Kev O’Neill were delighted to be guests at the 2012 Oxford
University Encaenia where Joy was presented with a Vice Chancellor’s Civic Award. Joy, who is
about to complete her MSc at Oxford, was nominated by her Dean at Kellogg College for her work
with SCSN. The Encaenia Ceremony itself was held in the prestigious Sheldonian Theatre and was
conducted predominantly in latin!
The list of Honorands was very impressive and included Baroness Manningham-Buller (the
previous head of MI5), Mr David Cornwell (more widely known by his pen name - John le Carré)
and Professor Drew Faust (the President of Harvard). But this list of the great and the good was
somewhat overshadowed by the presence of the small, rather shy figure of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.
Ms Suu Kyi, who seemed a little overwhelmed by all the attention nevertheless stood and
addressed the audience with a confidence and depth of conviction that belied her slight build.
Quite rightly she drew a standing ovation and it was a real honour to have been present to hear
her speak from her heart. Then it was off to St Hugh’s College for a VIP lunch where the Civic
Awards were presented by the Vice Chancellor of the University. Joy was then taken aback by a
personal request from Aung San to meet her in person and discuss the work that she and SCSN
have been doing to improve the educational attainment of challenged children. Joy also found
herself sat next to Professor Faust (a world renowned historian specialising in the American Civil
War) at lunch and they discussed military family experiences from the perspective of both sides of
the Atlantic! A garden party in the magnificently manicured grounds of Worchester College where
strawberries and cream were consumed in the warmth of an all too rare sunny afternoon was a
perfect end to a wonderful day.