Happy new year! As 2024 begins to take shape, now seems a good time to look back on another brilliant year for Somerville.

There were our alumni gatherings, with friendships new and renewed both in Oxford and around the UK and the world. It was particularly special for us to be able to meet your families (and get your children started early on being Somerville fans!) at our Family Day on a beautifully warm day in September, the first such event we’ve hosted since 2019. You can see some photo highlights below.

2023 also saw us go even further in our efforts to include the excluded by breaking down financial barriers to studying at Oxford. We awarded our fiftieth Margaret Thatcher and Oxford India Centre scholarships, including the ground-breaking new Savitribai Phule Scholarship for those from the most marginalised backgrounds in India. We also consolidated our work to support refugees as a College of Sanctuary by welcoming our largest ever cohort of Sanctuary Scholars. They have joined what is now the largest overall student body in Somerville’s history, numbering 747 – something our founders never dared to dream of when they welcomed the college’s first 12 students in 1879.

The choir set off from Somerville for their tour of IndiaThe choir set off from Somerville for their tour of India
The Choir's trip celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Oxford India Centre for Sustainable DevelopmentThe Choir's trip celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Oxford India Centre for Sustainable Development
Somerville Choir perform in the Tata Theatre of the National Centre for Performing Arts, MumbaiSomerville Choir perform in the Tata Theatre of the National Centre for Performing Arts, Mumbai
IMG_1463IMG_1463
Vice-Chancellor Prof Irene Tracey stands beside Cyril Shroff, Managing Partner of CAM and her former student, OICSD Scholar Vaanathi SundaresanVice-Chancellor Prof Irene Tracey stands beside Cyril Shroff, Managing Partner of CAM and her former student, OICSD Scholar Vaanathi Sundaresan
Leslie Thomas with Somerville Principal Jan Royall and our Professorial Fellow in Law, Iyiola SolankeLeslie Thomas with Somerville Principal Jan Royall and our Professorial Fellow in Law, Iyiola Solanke
The 2023 Scholars of the Oxford India CentreThe 2023 Scholars of the Oxford India Centre
Lewisia in the gardens' new alpine bedLewisia in the gardens' new alpine bed
The Strawberry trees were a hit with the final few bees of the yearThe Strawberry trees were a hit with the final few bees of the year
Jan Royall during the 2023 CEO Sleepout, with Dame Helen Ghosh (centre), Master of Balliol College; and Professor Irene Tracey, the Vice-Chancellor of Oxford UniversityJan Royall during the 2023 CEO Sleepout, with Dame Helen Ghosh (centre), Master of Balliol College; and Professor Irene Tracey, the Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University
We can't really put into words how fun our Family Day this summer was, so here's a picture instead.We can't really put into words how fun our Family Day this summer was, so here's a picture instead.
Memories from the Somerville Family DayMemories from the Somerville Family Day
Memories from the Somerville Family DayMemories from the Somerville Family Day
Memories from the Somerville Family DayMemories from the Somerville Family Day
From left: Professor Louise Mycock, Daniel Street, Dylan RyderFrom left: Professor Louise Mycock, Daniel Street, Dylan Ryder
Ozlem Kesgin (third from left) joined by Professor Noa Zilberman and Somerville Engineer Sawsan El ZahrOzlem Kesgin (third from left) joined by Professor Noa Zilberman and Somerville Engineer Sawsan El Zahr
Liz Cooke at the 2023 Spring MeetingLiz Cooke at the 2023 Spring Meeting
Our South Western alumni reunionOur South Western alumni reunion
Our Berlin alumni reunionOur Berlin alumni reunion
The gardens' new alpine bed by the Flora Anderson HallThe gardens' new alpine bed by the Flora Anderson Hall
The House at 15 Walton Street, Plaque unveiled. Credit: Jack EvansThe House at 15 Walton Street, Plaque unveiled. Credit: Jack Evans
We launched the Savitribai Phule Graduate Scholarship for Indian students from the most underrepresented backgrounds and marginalised communitiesWe launched the Savitribai Phule Graduate Scholarship for Indian students from the most underrepresented backgrounds and marginalised communities
The Progress flag flew above the college in February to mark LGBTQ+ History Month. We also published a series of reflections on our website to celebrate the occasion.The Progress flag flew above the college in February to mark LGBTQ+ History Month. We also published a series of reflections on our website to celebrate the occasion.
Somerville's students and fellows went head to head in the BBC R4 quiz show '3rd Degree'Somerville's students and fellows went head to head in the BBC R4 quiz show '3rd Degree'
The Fellows' team for The 3rd DegreeThe Fellows' team for The 3rd Degree
John Baily, Veronica Doubleday and Sulaiman Haqpana Afghan music concertJohn Baily, Veronica Doubleday and Sulaiman Haqpana Afghan music concert
The 1962 reunion lunchThe 1962 reunion lunch
The Somerville Boat Club's Women's first boat show off their new craft ahead of its debut performanceThe Somerville Boat Club's Women's first boat show off their new craft ahead of its debut performance
The 1973 year alumni reunionThe 1973 year alumni reunion
The 1953 year alumni reunionThe 1953 year alumni reunion
The Holtby Group reunite at their old corridorThe Holtby Group reunite at their old corridor
Patricia Owtram receives a copy of her republished DPhil thesis from the Malone Society. seventy years after the work was plagiarised by her supervisor Arthur BrownPatricia Owtram receives a copy of her republished DPhil thesis from the Malone Society. seventy years after the work was plagiarised by her supervisor Arthur Brown