Events

Oxford University Society East Kent Branch

The East Kent Branch organises several events each year, including a spring lunch, a summer garden party, the AGM and a pre-Christmas lunch, as well as an outing to Oxford if there is something going on that appeals to members. Often we have informal talks on these occasions, given by members. These are mostly daytime events, normally on a Saturday or Sunday.

Many of these events support our student grant scheme.

AGM 2025

Around 30 members came to our meeting at the Kent and Canterbury Club on Sunday 5th October. A summary of the minutes will be posted in due course, but Peter Morgan’s report which covers the main points is given below:

‘We have come through a difficult time in the last few years, including COVID which made meetings impossible. We have also faced the loss of dear Jayne Cohen as Secretary and the retirement of Nigel Beevor as Treasurer; but we are now once again in better shape. We are fortunate that David Hornsby has most ably taken over the role of treasurer, and more recently Geoffrey Lymer has agreed to be your Secretary, and is already proving to be invaluable. So, a special thanks to them.

But that is not to forget the other members of the committee who have supported us all the way. Many have also helped to manage the society itself. Peter Berg as Vice chairman, who is always there for me with sage advice, also oversees the website, with which Mark Fernando also helps. Diane Worth chairs the Grants subcommittee with Patrick’s help. Li has contributed enormously to the success of the Party for Freshers, while Lorna, Brenden and Gail have all given me great support , and so the committee is strong and is about to have fresh impetus.

However support from the wider membership is patchy. Last year I reported on the success of the summer party courtesy of the President and Lady Freud, with some 75 attending. This year another summer party was organised and your secretary in particular put great effort into arranging it, while committee members and their partners provided lunch. The day was kind, the setting in Nonington lovely and kindly hosted by a member of the Cambridge Society. Admittedly the notice was short at some 6 weeks but the entry fee to include lunch and wine was only £10 and yet, if you took out of account Committee members and their partners, and several members of the Cambridge Society who were invited , only a small handful of members was there.Today for the AGM after a reminder and a personal plea form me we have a reasonable turn-out, so first of all many thanks to you all for being here,but it will be a matter for the new Chair and the committee as we are getting to the point where our social events such as the summer party and the Christmas party are not worth the trouble they take to arrange.

There are brighter notes. Firstly though turn out was low ,those attending the summer party were generous and a useful sum was raised for the grant fund. Secondly the spring talk by Sir Geoffrey Nice KC on International War Crime Tribunals – Why Bother? was a stimulating master class and well attended, and again a profit was made for the fund. We may have many members who could give us interesting talks and this rather than social parties may be the way to go. Maybe even the AGM should be in a Church Hall without lunch?

Thirdly for the second year we held a party for freshers in mid September . The idea as you know is to bring freshers together informally when they can meet other freshers from Kent and maybe make contacts they will keep up at University. One of this year’s grantees(Tia Westwood) gave a short talk about how to survive in the first few weeks , and I told them something about our grant scheme.

Though informal, it is quite a big deal for the students as it is the first time they are attending something not as school kids but as members of the University. One of them told us “Tonight it’s made me realise it’s for real”.

This year 29 students attended and I think we can say it was a success because when I and Mary and Li and Tim Armstrong left half an hour after the advertised closing time, it was still in full swing ,and one of them told Li that when the party ended, some of them planned to go on to Wetherspoons . Better still, thanks to the generous support of the Alumni Office in Oxford, the whole exercise cost the branch practically nothing.

Also good news about the Grant Scheme. After lean years during and after COVID, you will hear that this is once again receiving a good number of applications. Two of those we have supported are here today to tell you how they spent your money! The result is that we have spent more in grants this year than has been received in donations, so it underlines the need to give generously.

The final piece of good news for you is that after 14 years I am retiring and you will shortly be electing a new Chairman or Chairwoman.

And, indeed, a new Chairman was elected, Tim Armstrong (Christ Church), former head of Modern Languages at the King’s School.

Two of the 2025 scholars, Jude and Leo (see Grants page) told us how they had made use of our support, and the other two presented written reports – more about these later.

PAST EVENTS:

SUMMER GARDEN PARTY 2025: This year, on Saturday 26th July, we enjoyed the hospitality of a CAMBRIDGE man, John Garcia-Rodriguez and his partner Clare Delf at their house at Nonington. We enjoyed drinks and food – lots of it – though nobody played tennis on the splendid court, nor took a sauna in the remarkable original timber building brought from Finland (long story…). Many thanks to Clare and John and all the helpers.

OUS EKB AGM 2024: was held on Saturday 28th September at the King’s School Canterbury, St Augustines Undercroft. Apart from the usual business, we were pleased to present three new committee members: Tim Armstrong, Simon Low and Geoff Lymer. This means that with Lorna Durrani coopted later on, we have a strong injection of new blood. This was followed by an account by this year’s grant recipient Anna Bradley, of how she made use of the funds. And then we were treated to the usual fine buffet lunch – at a very reasonable £30 per head, including a glass or two of wine.

Anna Bradley with our President David Freud and Apollon Alexopoulos, a previous year’s grantee

The 2024 Summer Party was held on July 13th at Eastry Court by courtesy of our President and Cilla Freud. It has to be said that it was a huge success with around 80 participants, many of whom were new to us, as well as many guests from West Kent where the OUS branch is now dormant. The setting was perfect, the house and gardens magnificent in the sunshine. David told us a little of the history of the place, going back to dastardly deeds in Saxon times and later visits by royalty, including a three-month sojourn by the Black Prince. And as a fundraiser it was also a great success, making a record-breaking £1,000 contribution to the Grant Fund. We are extremely grateful to Cilla and David and to all the other helpers.

Cilla, Vice Chairman Peter, Chairman Peter, President David

Cilla clearly happy with her modest bouquet!

PRE-CHRISTMAS PARTY

Many thanks to Jackie Penner for inviting to a joyous party at lunchtime on Saturday 25th November at the Old Vicarage, Eastry – the last of our many visits to this fine house where Jackie and Talbot lived for many years, as Jackie is moving to Canterbury. Thanks, also, to the catering team, and to Tim Armstrong who shared some profound thoughts on the Ossal Numismatist Manifesto (don’t bother to Google it…). About forty of us were present, and I think we may safely say, a good time was had by all – thanks to Lucy Beevor for the pictures to prove it!

OUS EKB AGM 2023

The 2023 AGM took place on Sunday 1st October, at the Kings School, St. Augustines undercroft as before – and we enjoyed this year’s scholar’s talk about her work with zebra fish. More details and minutes will be sent out shortly.

SUMMER AT THE SEASIDE

On Saturday 22nd July we returned to the Walpole Bay Hotel for a strawberry cream tea – much enjoyed by sixteen members.

SPRING TALK AND DRINKS 2023

Our member Sir John Mummery, Pembroke 1960, a former Lord Justice of Appeal, gave a talk with the title “Decisions in Public Affairs”. He is troubled by the way that some big decisions relating to the public sector have been taken in this country and thinks it is a subject worth examination and discussion. The talk was largely a series of witty, but relevant, anecdotes, starting from decisions taken in his own life before proceeding to higher matters. Fascinating and illuminating.

The talk was held on Saturday 29th April at 11.30 am in St. Dunstan’s Church Hall, a new venue for us, which proved most convenient – we shall bear it in mind for future events.

OUS EKB AGM 2022

Our AGM was held at the King’s School, St Augustine’s library undercroft, on Sunday 1st October.

Full minutes will be added later, but two items of business need special mention:

Following the collapse of the West Kent branch, some of their former members have asked if they could cooperate with us in some way – our wise President suggested a straw poll to see what EKB members present thought about this, the result of which was that full merger and total rejection were both ruled out in favour of a very gradual approach. This will be further discussed by the committee.

And the committee will be strengthened by the addition of Li Zhoa and David Hornsby.

Afterwards we had presentations from three those who have received grants, Apollon Alexopoulos telling us about his research into HIV vaccines; Alice Scharmeli recounting experience as a medical volunteer at a refugee camp on Lesbos; and a video sent by Jenny Evans setting the background for her studies at the Sorbonne.

This year we had a buffet lunch, in the first instance in order to save costs, but which turned out to be a welcome improvement, allowing members and guests to circulate freely.

And, miracle of miracles, Jayne, our Hon Secretary, out of hospital and seemingly well on her way to recovery, was able to be with us!

SUMMER TEA PARTY BY THE SEA

On July 30th 2022 we took tea at the Walpole Bay Hotel in Cliftonville: a long-awaited get together – traditional strawberry cream tea in atmospheric surroundings. Jane, the proprietor, gave a delightful presentation on how the hotel became what it is today, with its vintage atmosphere, including its own museum with an astonishing array of artefacts, even a table napkin with a sketch by Tracy Emin.

VISIT to ROCHESTER

Nigel Beevor writes:

“On 2 April 2022 eight members of the branch met at Rochester Cathedral for a tour of the Cathedral, organised by Nigel and Sheila Beevor. The numbers applying were disappointing, this was a side-effect of the lockdown due to the pandemic, which had discouraged outdoor visits. The Cathedral was the second English Cathedral, having been started in the 7th/8th century. The main parts were built in the late 11th and early 12th centuries. Stone from Normandy was used, as at Canterbury. The interior gave a feeling of great spaciousness. We had a good guided tour, followed by refreshments in the crypt, which is beautifully illuminated. “

OUS EKB AGM 2021

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting on Saturday 2^nd October 2021, held at the St Augustine’s undercroft at the King’s School Canterbury, with around 40 members and their guests present.

The President took the Chair. The Chairman, Deputy Chairman and Treasurer were present. The Secretary was not present as she had been taken to hospital the previous day. About 30 members of the Branch were present. Apologies for absence had been received from 25 members.

The minutes of the AGM for 2020 were approved. The Treasurer presented the accounts for the year to 31 August 2021, which were approved. He asked that members ensured that they correctly address their cheques to East Kent Branch Oxford University Society. The following members of the Committee were re-elected, Dr Patrick Wheeler, Mrs Diane Worth, Mr Andrew Joynes and Dr Mark Fernando.

The Chairman, Mr Peter Morgan presented his report. He thanked members of the Committee for their work in a difficult period, caused by the pandemic. He drew attention to Jayne’s unwavering commitment to the Society, even when in poor health, and he spoke for all present in wishing her a full and speedy recovery.

He reported that the Branch had staged two events, one a talk by Zoom by Hubert Pragnell on JMW Turner and the second was a summer party at Eastry Court, the President’s home. He expressed his gratitude to the Freuds for opening their garden for the event and for declining reimbursement for the excellent lunch, which had benefitted the Branch’s accounts. He said we had been worried that, because of the pandemic, no requests for grants would be made but this was not so. He raised the idea of a merger with the West Kent Branch, which the Committee had discussed and had shown a lack of enthusiasm, because of the size and shape of the county and West Kent has no grant scheme. He asked the meeting for views. The feeling was that we should co-operate in discussions but not merge with West Kent, as their ideas are rather different from ours. He added that West Kent did organise a successful Zoom meting for Freshers. He added that we would announce a social event for the New Year and, possibly a Zoom meeting before Christmas. The President reported that the Branch had made four grants in 2020/21 despite the pandemic and we would hear shortly from two grantees.

Peter Berg reported on the Branch’s web-site. He emphasised that he would welcome more contributions from members who attend events.

The President asked if anyone had other business to raise. There being no point raised the President declared the AGM closed.

Diane Worth then reported that the Branch had made four grants in the year.

To Bartol Sikora at St.John’s, reading engineering Science. He wanted to take up an internship at Imperial College, London, working on the design of various nano-structures to be used as drug delivery systems, to help with encoding DNA strands.
Nicole Szekeres-Tappat at University College, reading bio-chemistry. She wanted to stay in Oxford for 6 weeks to take up a placement in Professor Peter McHugh’s laboratory, which focuses on genome integrity and DNA damage and repair.
Cara Fuller at St.Catherine’s College, reading bio medical sciences (neuroscience). She wanted to stay in Oxford during the long vac to extend her work in Professor Trevor Hugh’s laboratory, researching neuro psychopharmacology with a particular interest in serotonin and the effect of anti-depressant drugs. This research aims to delve deeper into the neurochemistry of depression.
Alice Scharmeli at Wadham, reading medicine. She wanted to volunteer with Medical Volunteers International on Lesvos, Greece as part of the medical team. She is a 4^th year medical student and has been working with medical teams in hospital helping with Covid patients. She wants to work in disease control and has a long standing interest in public health and health inequalities.

Cara Fuller spoke on Glutamate and its role in the neurochemistry of depression. Nicole Szekeres-Tapp spoke on synthetic biology, involving venoms and toxins and intermediate bacteria.

Both talks were warmly applauded by all present.

In closing the meeting the President spoke for all those attending in saying what a talented lot of undergraduates we had been fortunate to support.

The meeting was closed at 1.20pm

Oxford Alumni events

The Oxford Alumni Office organises many events in Oxford and around the world to keep you in touch with fellow alumni and the latest research and news from the University.

Find out more about the stimulating programme of events at www.alumni.ox.ac.uk/alumni-events.