On Saturday 6th September, students from across our outgoing Principal Jan Royall’s tenure returned to College to pay her a fond farewell.
As well as reuniting with friends and reminiscing over student days, this special occasion gave Somervillians the chance to express their thanks to Jan. Here we reproduce two of those special tributes, the first by recent MCR President David Cao (2021, DPhil Clinical Medicine) and the second from Emily Louise (2017, History), a former recipient of the Pat Harris Spirit of Somerville Award.
David Cao (2021, Clinical Medicine)
David Cao giving his speech
Hello everyone, my name is David. Like Jan, I have also just retired recently – from two years of tenure as the MCR President. I still remember my first meeting with Jan in her office two years ago, I was carrying the breakfast box with English breakfast like beans and hash brown. Jan greeted me with a very British opening – “would you like tea or coffee?”
I don’t remember whether we talked about the weather but I remember I chose coffee as I was very anxious. I wanted to concentrate and get all the answers right. But as time went by, I felt more comfortable by Jan’s friendly enquiries and kind suggestions on the MCR events. And so in the following biweekly meetings, I basically only chose tea and sometimes Jan even offered me biscuits. And that made all the meetings with Jan very efficient and helpful, which has been the secret behind the success of this MCR community in the past two years.
Jan has been immensely supportive of the MCR events and initiatives. It is through her support and connections that we were able to build a closer relationship with the wider Somerville Association, which has been very helpful platform for the students’ development. Jan was always engaging with MCR events – together we witnessed the establishment of Margery Fry lift (initiated by one MCR student several years ago and then accomplished by a joint effort across the College), making Somerville one of the most accessible colleges; together we celebrated Diwali, Lunar New Year, Eid and International Women’s Day, making Somerville a true home to a largely international and diverse student cohort; and together we even hosted the Principal and over 120 students from our Cambridge sister college Girton over a formal dinner. Some MCR students even invited Jan to the Brat BOP during last freshers week although she did not say yes. But I saw there is going to be a BOP on the schedule today so let’s see.
Jan is always passionate and truly cares about the students’ daily lives. She comes to appreciate all Choral Contemplations which are participated in and sometimes led by our very own students. Every term she invites the students to her house to listen to our progress, problems and achievements. She gives her warm hugs and sincere congratulations to each thesis, degree and paper.
All in all, we are fortunate to have Jan lead this College. Her extraordinary leadership has enabled Somerville College to flourish, all the way through the significant changes and challenges, just to name a few, the turbulent political environment of the world, and of Britain sometimes, three years of pandemic, three years of birth of ChatGPT, four years of Donald Trump, etc.; her empathy and compassion has made Somerville College a warm, welcoming, and more importantly, a sanctuary home to thousands of students from all corners of the world; her dedication has inspired the whole Somerville community to support all Somervillians, including the coming students and fellows.
Beatles has a famous song –‘In My Life’. In that song, they sang: “there are places I remember / All my life, though some have changed. / Some forever, not for better. / Some have gone and some remain.” Years later, we will become “old Somervillians” and I believe the openness, progressiveness and excellence of Somerville that Jan has achieved will remain. Here’s to “old Somervillians”- may we continue with Jan’s endeavour of flourishing Somerville college and uniting this community.
Emily Louise (2017, History)
Emily Louise (r) with David Cao and Jan Royall
For those of you who don’t know me I’m Emily. I joined Somerville at the same time as Jan, matriculating in 2017 and, wow, was it a journey.
As a working-class student, from an ethnic minority background, Oxford was a challenge and, oh, did I let Jan know. During those three years I was in and out of Jan’s office pretty much constantly, testing her open door principle in order to discuss what we could do for Somerville, for Oxford, for current students and future students.
It is only now, as I speak to my peers who had experiences at other colleges, and other universities, that I truly recognise the gift of your door being open, and the extraordinary fact of our shared desire for change.
In the three years I was here, we faced some significanant milestones together. Ups and downs. Whether that was the release of the first annual admissions report in 2018, or the various university and news scandals, including Octopusgate. Then, in 2020, Jan, you oversaw the college as we went through the Pandemic. An unprecedented time, and a time in which many of us lost loved ones.
Jan has never been complacent with what this college does. Her intention and purpose has always been about students, staff and what we can offer to the world. And all of that work can be summed up in one word: community.
The fact that she held 1-1 meetings with every student every year speaks volumes. I remember, Jan, when you rang me on degree results day. Your intention has always been there. I heard tonight that when matriculation took place via zoom and the students were placed into bubbles, you took photos with every bubble there was.
You put in the work, you didn’t shy away from it and, Jan, you have made history.
I cannot list everything you have done. But to name a few.
You supported the Demystifying Oxford day. You developed the relationship with the local Oxford community, including teachers. You oversaw the rennovation of the JCR. You introduced a raft of new scholarships, meaning that Somerville now holds one of the highest numbers of scholarships amongst all Oxford colleges. You drove forward the delivery of the RISE Campaign, which is going to secure Somerville’s place for future generations.
Under your leadership, we became a College of Sanctuary, one of the first in the UK alongside our sister college, Mansfield. You built that idea out of the conviction that these students are an asset to Oxford, and to society. Always about the students.
You protected the very essence of home when you had Thames Valley Police vacate college grounds. There are few in an instutiton who would have acted so swiftly, or so surely, to stand up for the principles this college should uphold.
Thank you for fighting for what’s right. You’ve been there for us and I wanted to take this moment to look around the room and say, Jan, we are here for you, too.
As to the future, I am excited to see what you do next – with the Jo Cox foundation, in the House of Lords, and everywhere else.
To end, I want to come back to right now, and what is happening globally and even within the UK. Thank you for continuing to make this a college that includes the excluded, based on values of dignity, fairness, equality and respect. I know that I am proud to be a Somervillian. Thank you for embodying that for all of us, Jan.
To Somerville.