Univ Record 2018

our acknowledgement for their dedication to that important rustic French retreat which
has meant so much to the modern history of the College.
Beyond Oxford, dinners were held in London and New York to encourage philanthropic
support for key College initiatives. Khalid Siddique (1989, History) graciously sponsored
a leadership dinner at the famous Brown’s Hotel in London. Andrew Bell, Senior Tutor
(1993, History) enlightened the gathering about the background and impact of the
College’s new Opportunity Programme. The College has a true impresario in Omar
Khan (1984, PPE). He kindly sponsored an unparalleled evening which highlighted that
his passion for food, wine and occasion is only matched by his appreciation of history
and Univ. The UN Ballroom of Ten Trinity Square London was the setting of a true
“experience” created to support the College’s 1249 Society as Metternich met Talleyrand.
Attendees were magically transported back to the Congress of Vienna 1815, courtesy of
Dr Leslie Mitchell, the Martlet Ensemble led by Richard Tunnicliffe, and delightful
food and wine worthy of the cagey diplomats. Dr Sasha Zaslavsky (1992, PPE) kindly
organised a less grand, but no less important, dinner featuring the Master in New York
for our Big Apple-based Old Members. Kal, Omar, and Sasha deserve special kudos
for their loyalty and leadership. Their dinners helped the College to connect with its
supporters and increase its funds in a stylish and considerate fashion. I thank them for
their significant contributions to our philanthropic outreach.
Over the past few years the College has initiated several new series of events and
2017-18 continued to see these forums evolve. The College held the third edition of its
Benefactors’ Evensong and Dinner in College to thank our most generous supporters.
This forum is growing in its popularity and we are hopeful it will further establish itself
as a date to mark in the diary which inspires benefactors to come back and be honoured
for their generosity. The biennial Edinburgh Dinner and North American Oxford
Reunion were celebrated in grand style this past year. The New Club of Edinburgh was
the destination for several of our Scottish-based alumni to hear from The Master and
feel more connected to Univ. The Oxford North American biennial reunion broke new
ground when it took place in San Francisco. The City Club of San Francisco was an
impressive venue for our Old Members to hear Michael Dart (1981, History) discuss his
recent book on management and enlighten the gathering on the special history of the last
40 years of the City by the Bay. We thank Dr Chris Mammen (1993, Law) for helping
the College put this gathering together.
The College’s Univ in the City programme took a novel turn this year as it focused
on entrepreneurship. More than 70 Old Members came to London to hear restauranteur
and mastermind of the successful Dishoom chain, Shamil Thakrar (1990, PPE) discuss
the formation, rapid rise and unique family values of Dishoom with fellow entrepreneur
and CTO of CodeNewbie, Nadia Oduyano (2010, PPE).
To mirror the Univ in the City concept the College’s rich heritage in the Humanities
was given a new boost this year in the form of a new series called Univ in the Arts.
This series seeks to promote the talent of the College’s Old Members who studied in
Humanities based subjects or who work in areas that explore and advance humanistic
development. The Univ in the Arts Committee includes Chairman Amanda Brookfield
(1979, English), Jonathan Earl (1977, English), Chris Birkett (1979, PPE), Jonathan
Hourigan (1979, PPE), and Philly Malicka (2007, English). They have established a
high-quality forum which seeks to inform, entertain, and engage Old Members in deeper
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