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Alumni News
As we conclude an exceptional start to our Bicentenary year, our most recent Ex-President, Charlie Mackintosh of New College, sets out why free speech matters for QUAD magazine. You can read his opinion piece here.
This piece first appeared in the University of Oxford’s alumni magazine QUAD.
On Friday 24th February 2023, we welcomed 22 ex-presidents, 10 ex-officers, and more than 70 former committee and life members back for our Bicentenary debate, "This House Believes It Was Better 'Back in my Day'," presided over by Charlie Mackintosh of New College.
While "the noes had it", excellent speeches from both sides of the house were a tribute to our 200th celebrations - and to free speech.
With thanks to our guest speakers for an exceptional evening: Ms Victoria Schofield (Ex-President, Trinity 1977, Lady Margaret Hall); The Rt Hon. Ann Widdecombe (Ex-Treasurer, Michaelmas 1972, Lady Margaret Hall); The Rt Hon. Michael Gove (Ex-President, Hilary 1988, Lady Margaret Hall); Mr Gyles Brandreth (Ex-President, Michaelmas 1969, New College); CEO of the NHS, Amanda Pritchard (Ex-Librarian, Hilary 1996, St Anne's); and, former Deputy Prime Minister, The Rt Hon. the Lord Heseltine CH (Ex-President, Michaelmas 1954, Pembroke College).
We invite our alumni life members, friends and supporters to continue to celebrate our Bicentenary year of 2023 by raising a glass on Wednesday 5th April to mark 200 years to the date since our first ever debate was held in 1823.
On Saturday 11th February 2023 we gathered to celebrate 60 years since women gained admission to The Union on equal terms as men to mark the anniversary of a poll held on 8th February 1963. Members heard from Victoria Schofield (Ex-President, Trinity 1977, Lady Margaret Hall & Chair, OLDUT) and The Hon. Michael Beloff KC (Ex-President, Michaelmas 1962, Magdalen) who shared their own reflections on this historic milestone that fell within our Bicentenary year, and paid tribute to those who campaigned for this important change for many decades.
It was wonderful to see many of our alumni life members from the 60s, 70s, 80s and 00s return to the Union to join the celebrations. The event also served as an excellent opportunity for our members currently studying in Oxford to network with alumni life members from a range of professional backgrounds.
If you are interested in supporting our members currently studying in Oxford by providing careers advice or mentoring, please don't hesitate to get in touch with development@oxford-union.org
To learn more about Women in The Union see here.
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