St John's College Alumni eNewsletter - October 2026

College and Alumni News for October 2026

Celebrating 10 years of the SJC Women's Network

To commemorate 10 years of the SJC Women's Network, the College brought together inspiring speakers, alumni, students and members of the St John's community for an engaging afternoon of discussion and connection. The workshop was followed by a drinks reception in Canterbury Quad and dinner in Hall, providing a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the Network's achievements and impact over the past decade. More information on the event will be shared in the next edition of the SJC Women's Network e-Newsletter.

Alumni News and Publications

Alumna exhibits work at Rhodes House

Writer and artist Dr Nadine Pinede (1986, English and Modern Languages) is exhibiting her work NOU LA: A Knot in Time at Rhodes House, Oxford, as part of Show Me Why You Love Home, which launched earlier this month. Inspired by Chilean artist-poet Cecilia Vicuña’s reimagining of the quipu, Nadine's accordion-book installation brings together family photographs, Haitian women’s histories, proverbs, and her mother’s recorded voice. Drawing on the Haitian proverb Fanm se poto mitan ('Women are the central pillar'), the work honours women whose stories have too often been left out of the historical record.

John McGahern: A Writing Life

Professor Frank Shovlin (1997, English Language and Literature) has published John McGahern: A Writing Life (Faber & Faber, 2026), the authorized biography of Ireland's most revered post-war fiction writer. It follows McGahern's life from early childhood trauma under a tyrannical father through to the banning of his second novel, The Dark, in 1965 by the Irish Censorship Board and his emergence as a mature writer with the Booker-shortlisted Amongst Women in 1990 and his final, recently adapted for cinema, masterpiece, That They May Face the Rising Sun (2002).

The Higher-Order Self

Rupert Glasgow (1982, Modern Languages) has published The Higher-Order Self: An Essay on the Unity and Community of Social Beings (two volumes; Würzburg University Press, 2026). Higher-order selfhood is what emerges when a multiplicity of selves join forces to behave in their collective rather than their individual interests. In these two volumes, Rupert explores how far human society may come to constitute such a higher-order self – some form of organism or superorganism – and what the most appropriate unit of selfhood is.

Better Neighbourhoods For All - Jane Jacobs Today

In Better Neighbourhoods For All - Jane Jacobs Today (Troubador Publishing, 2026), Andrew Rowson (1971, Philosophy, Politics and Economics) takes a fresh look at Jacobs’ revolutionary influence on urban development. The book considers her relevance in today’s climate of housing shortages and city planning challenges. Through case studies of UK cities, Andrew brings her ideas to life and argues that her insights are essential for successful and vibrant urban communities.

Political Leaders at a Distance

Professor David G. Winter (1960, Philosophy, Politics and Economics) has recently published Political Leaders at a Distance: Methods of Analyzing Personality (Oxford University Press, 2026). The book reviews 'at-a-distance' methods of studying the social contexts, traits, cognitions and beliefs, and motives of a leader’s personality. For each method, the theoretical basis, measurement techniques, and validity credentials are reviewed and illustrated by contemporary and historical examples.

Alumnus appointed High Court Judge

Andrew Twigger KC (1987, Literae Humaniores) has been appointed by His Majesty the King to the High Court following an open competition run by the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC). Taking up the role on 1 October, Mr Justice Twigger has been assigned to the Business and Property Division, where he will bring over 32 years of experience as a barrister, and three years of judicial experience as a Deputy High Court Judge to the role. He will be known as The Honourable Mr Justice Twigger.

1555 Society Drinks Reception 2026

Held at the Ashmolean Museum in late September, the 1555 Society Drinks Reception was a highly successful occasion, providing a valuable opportunity to thank members for their continued generosity and celebrate the lasting impact of their support for St John's.

Guests enjoyed drinks and canapés in the Greek and Roman Sculpture Gallery, followed by a private viewing of the Rome Gallery and an engaging talk by Dr Matthew Nicholls on his digital model of the ancient city.

If you would like to find out more about our 1555 Society and how to get involved, please contact Sophie Parkinson, Development Manager - Philanthropy.

Calling All Teachers! JCR Alumni Careers Talk - Thursday 19 November 2026

The JCR Officer, Maxim Vorobev, is seeking alumni to participate in the Michaelmas Careers Talk on careers in teaching, including primary, secondary and sixth-form education. Particular interest is in hearing from alumni who have recently completed the Teach First programme, currently a popular route for Oxford graduates.

The event will take place on Thursday 19 November, with the talk running from 5.30pm to 7pm, followed by Formal Hall. Accommodation is available if required. If you would like to get involved, please contact the Alumni Office.

Friends of the Fifties Lunch

For the past two decades, many St John’s alumni who matriculated in the 1950s have held an annual ‘Friends of the Fifties’ lunch meeting in London. The next Friends of the Fifties lunch will be held on Wednesday 18 November 2026 at the Savile Club, 69 Brook Street, London W1K 4ER.

Any alumnus who matriculated in the 1950s and wishes to book a place is kindly requested to contact Henry Amar (1957, PPE) at hamar@rhamar.com for further information.

College News

Black History Month Lecture 2026

The College is delighted to welcome Professor Mia Bay, University of Cambridge, to give this year's Black History Month Lecture on 'The Call and the Answer: Travel and Literature in the Work of Addie B. Hunton and Kathryn M. Johnson'. The lecture will take place on Thursday 29 October at 5pm in the Garden Quad Auditorium. More information, including how to register, can be found on the event webpage.

St John’s Elects Seven New Career Development Research Fellows

In 2024, St John’s established an ambitious new fellowship programme for early-career researchers (Career Development Research Fellows or CDRFs). Ahead of the 2026/27 academic year, Governing Body approved the appointment of seven further CDRFs in Classics, English, Geography, Modern Languages, Physics, Psychology and Theology.

St Andrew's Book Festival: ***An Expert Witness: Forensic Science on Trial *by Professor Lady Sue Black**

Join Professor Lady Sue Black, one of the world’s foremost forensic scientists, in conversation with acclaimed crime writer Val McDermid, at the St Andrew's Book Festival on Saturday 21 November 2026. Drawing on her new book An Expert Witness (Transworld, 2026), Sue explores forensic science, justice and the courtroom, revealing how evidence can convict, exonerate—or fail—with profound consequences for us all.

Event details:

Saturday 21 November 2026

12.30pm to 1.30pm

St Columba's Church (Sanctuary), Knightsbridge, London, SW1X 0BD

Click here to book your place.

Follow for more:

@standrewsbookfest (Instagram)

@standrewsbkfest (X)

St Brice's Day Commemorations

Join us at St John's for an interdisciplinary programme of talks and events on 13 November 2026, commemorating the St Brice’s Day Massacre of 1002. Leading researchers will share their insight into Oxford's Viking past and what we can learn today from this violent local history.

The full programme is available on our website and on Eventbrite, where you can register to attend. All events are free, but advance registration is essential. Lunch and refreshments will be provided free of charge.

Pattern and Place - Knit the Beehive! Workshops with Emma Vining

Join knitwear designer Emma Vining to discover how architecture, pattern and place can become the starting point for creative knitting.

Emma’s Pattern & Place project grew from her fascination with the buildings and architectural details of the modern architecture at St John’s College. During a visit to the College, she became particularly drawn to the distinctive modernist Beehive Building. Its repeating concrete forms, windows, glass panels and structural details provided the inspiration for a collection of knitted stitch patterns and, ultimately, Emma’s Beehive Shawl and Beehive Scarf.

The workshops offer an insight into Emma’s design process and an invitation to look differently at the buildings and details around us. If you’re curious about where creative ideas come from, Pattern & Place celebrates the possibilities that emerge when we slow down, look closely and translate the patterns of our surroundings into something new.

Dates:

Saturday 24 October 2026, 2pm

Saturday 28 November 2026, 2pm

Yarn (in St John’s colours) and needles for the Beehive Scarf will be provided for workshop attendees. Find out more and register here.