St John's College Alumni eNewsletter - September 2026
An exhibition of ceramics and life drawings by alumna Gaby Guz (1980, Experimental Psychology) is currently on display in the Kendrew Barn Gallery until 29 September. Gaby held a very successful exhibition of her work at the Kendrew Barn in 2019 and is delighted to be back in 2026. The opening times for the exhibition are 12pm-5pm on weekdays and 11am-6pm on weekends.
Alumni News and Publications
Exhibition: Activating Intersections
Supported by a major Arts Council England commission, Activating Intersections by Quilla Constance (1998, Fine Art) will showcase a series of newly commissioned large-scale oil paintings, a new costume installation, and a curated selection of video and performance works. It will be held at the New Art Exchange, Nottingham, between 10 October 2026 - 16 January 2027.
Alumnus awarded Fellowship by CIGRE
Congratulations to Simon Ryder (1992, Engineering Science), who was awarded a Fellowship by CIGRE in recognition of his leadership and contribution to the global power engineering community. In Simon's case, this involved chairing one of their committees and acting as editor-in-chief for two of their handbooks.
Golden Gate by Vikram Seth, translated by Christophe Fricker (2003, German)
Forty years after its first publication, Golden Gate by Vikram Seth is now available for the first time (Weissbooks, 2026) in what is an already award-winning German translation by alumnus Christophe Fricker. Set in the 1980s in California's Silicon Valley, Golden Gate was awarded the British Airways Commonwealth Poetry Prize in 1986.
Alumna starring in production of Puccini’s La bohème
Sofia Kirwan-Baez (2015, Music) will return to Oxford this autumn as Musetta in Welsh National Opera’s production of Puccini’s La bohème. Since leaving St John's, Sofia has continued her training at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, the Royal College of Music, and the National Opera Studio, developing a career as a soprano across the UK and Europe.
Occupied Istanbul: Urban Politics, Culture and Society, 1918–1923
Dr Gizem Tongo (2013, Oriental Studies) has co-edited Occupied Istanbul (Berghahn Books, 2026), which brings together new research on the political, social, and cultural history of Istanbul during the Allied occupation following the First World War. Also published this year was the catalogue Occupied City: Politics and Daily Life in Istanbul, 1918–1923, which Gizem co-edited and which grew out of the exhibition of the same name that she co-curated at the Istanbul Research Institute.
Language and Civil Conflict in the Greco-Roman Tradition
Offering new readings on language and civil conflict in a variety of Ancient Greek and Roman texts, Daniel Sutton (2015, Ancient and Modern History) puts ancient reflections in dialogue with contemporary philosophy and political theory. Published later this month by Cambridge University Press, the book focuses on Thucydides, Plato, Sallust, and Tacitus, showing how these texts can help us better understand civil discord today.
College Society Dinner
Earlier this month, alumni and their guests gathered at St John’s for the return of the College Society Dinner. The black-tie event was a great success, providing an opportunity for members of the St John’s community to reconnect with friends, meet current Fellows and staff, and enjoy an evening celebrating their shared connection with the College.
Did you know that alumni are welcome to attend Formal Hall on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays during Term? The cost is £39 per person, including VAT, and includes a three course meal and wine. Alumni are welcome to bring up to three guests, but places are limited and all guests must be over the age of 18.
You can find more information, along with the booking form, on the Alumni Benefits page.
College News
Professor KJ Patel recognised in the 2026 Royal Society Awards
Congratulations to Professor KJ Patel, Director of the MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine and a member of St John’s Governing Body, on being awarded the Royal Society’s Buchanan Medal for 2026 in recognition of his distinguished contribution to the biomedical sciences.
President to Chair Review of the Guidance for the Care of Human Remains in Museums
The President, Professor Lady Sue Black, has been appointed Chair of an independent working group that will review Guidance for the Care of Human Remains in Museums in England, Wales and Northern Ireland to ensure it remains a practical, relevant and ethically robust tool for museums.
Notice: Closure of the Great Lawn
Please note that the Great Lawn will remain closed to any and all St John's College members, as well as alumni and the public. Please avoid walking or sitting on the Great Lawn, as indicated by the current signs in place.
As the hosepipe ban is still in effect, this closure will remain until such time as the Keeper of the Groves announces the Great Lawn has been reopened.
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