the brick

the newsletter for the keble community • issue 84 • hilary term 2026

alumni news

college news

student life

FEATURE

150 Years of Music
in Keble Chapel

Since its foundation in 1876, the Chapel has been an integral part of Keble College, reaching far beyond the walls of our wonderful building. The provision of music for worship and community has never been stronger.

College News

Issue 84 content

Keble Subject Taster Days

At the heart of Keble’s outreach initiatives lie the Subject Taster Days, giving prospective applicants unparalleled sense of what Oxford life is like. Current Keble students Alex and Zoe talk about their journey from applicant to ambassador, reminiscing on their Oxford journey.

Chemistry Fellowship Endowed

A newly endowed fellowship strengthens Keble’s longstanding chemistry community and reinforces the tutorial system at the heart of the College, funded through generous donations.

Springtime in Hayward Quad | The Tulips Project

Spring has arrived! Hayward Quad is blooming with hundreds of colourful tulips; Gardens and Ground Manager Ade Roche shares the hard work that goes on behind the scenes of this gorgeous display.

Library Exhibition | Stained

In Hilary term, the library team curated an exhibition on the intentional and unintentional staining of books, presented as part of this year’s Keble Arts Festival. College Librarian Leona Stewart highlights some of the curious artefacts on show from the Keble collection.

Panel Discussion | Hon Justice James Edelman

Justice of the High Court of Australia Justice Edelman joined the College’s Tutorial Fellows in Law for a panel discussion on the balance between predictability versus remaining contemporary in regards to lawmaking: “When should final appellate courts overturn their earlier decisions?”

Quantum Simulation | Professor Andrew Daley

A three-day workshop in January, hosted by Professor Andrew Daley, showcased the cutting edge of quantum simulations in the search for practical quantum advantage.

Staff Retirements

The College is sad to be saying goodbye to two long-serving members of the Keble community: Groundsman Dave Turner and Accommodation Assistant Tanya Pomroy.

College News in Brief…

Keble Professorial Fellow Gui-Qiang Chen appointed to the newly-established Academy for the Mathematical Sciences; Richard Kuehl (2023 Modern Languages) wins Nabila Walji Photography Competition.

Student Life

Issue 84 content

Keble Boat Race Contenders

Keble College has strong representation across men’s and women’s squads in this year’s Boat Race, with 5 of our students representing the University against Cambridge.

Staging Memory | The Glass Menagerie at the O’Reilly

Part of a predominantly Keble cast and crew, Magdalena Lacey-Hughes (2024 Theology and Religion) and George Robson (2024 Music) share their experience of introducing Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie to the O’Reilly stage.

PHASER Magazine | Voicing Oxford’s Music Scene

Ariana Garcha (2024 History and Politics) and Solene Gadsby (2024 Chemistry) discuss developing PHASER, a student publication about the local music community, and on their time each serving as Editor-in-Chief.

Making Music Part II | Ellen Roxby

Continuing from our last issue, current Keble Choir member Ellen Roxby (2023 Theology and Religion) reflects on her own experience of music at Keble and her Choral Scholarship.

KA Report | Representing the UK and Ireland at PLANCKS

Supported by a Keble Association Study Award, Yixun Liu (2023 Physics) took part in the Physics League Across Numerous Countries for Kick‑ass Students competition — advancing from the UK & Ireland round to the international finals in the Netherlands.

Student Life in Brief…

Continuing success for Keble women’s football; Eleanor Warrington (2021 DPhil Engineering Science) finalist for STEM for BRITAIN; three Keble students in triumphant Rugby Varsity squad; reducing textile waste for Green Action Week with a multi-college clothes swap; a busy timetable of workshops, performances, and exhibitions for Keble Arts Festival.

Alumni News

Issue 84 content

Policy in a Changing Climate | Helen Tatlow

Helen Tatlow (2013 Geography), Data Lead for Oxford’s Net Zero Tracker, is interviewed by Hannah Poultney (2024 Geography) about her time at Keble, and the challenges and rewards of her career.

A Decade of Men’s Health and Moustachery | Fraser MacDonald-Lister

Beginning his passion for ambassadorship at Keble, Fraser MacDonald-Lister (2016 Human Sciences) discusses a decade spent volunteering for Movember and the impact his commitment has seen.

Alumni in Print

Recent publications from the Keble alumni community. Authors include Juliet Rosenfeld (1988 Modern Languages), Gareth Winrow (1978 Modern History), Benjamin Caraco (2008 MSt History), John Lewis (1999 DPhil Theology), John Jordan (1966 French and Spanish) and Adrian Jarvis (1986 English).

Young Alumni Drinks

On a late February evening, alumni who began their time at Keble in the last twenty years gathered in London to catch up with friends and make new connections over drinks.

What Keble Taught Me | Susan Mepham

One of the first female students at Keble, Susan Mepham (1979 Modern Languages) reflects on her Oxford journey, from her application to tutorials, Evensong to rowing, and considers how her experience at Keble influenced her life and career as a language teacher.

Paying It Forward | WHT Alumni Stories

Since 2020, Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust (WHT) Scholars have enriched academic life at Keble. We caught up with three former Scholars to discuss where their journeys have taken them since graduation; from a Consultant in Infectious Diseases in Borneo to an Innovation Attaché at the Embassy of Israel in India and a multinational digital wellbeing platform developer.

Alumni News in Brief…

Keble team reach final of University Challenge Christmas Special; Rick Simpson (1985 Theology) appointed Bishop of Durham; Alison Nadel (1983) celebrates 20 years of the Rainbow Centre in Sri Lanka; Valentine’s Day snaps from three Keble couples; 1600 alumni gave us their most up-to-date contact information.

Upcoming events

We warmly invite alumni and friends of the College to join us at our events. A full list of our upcoming events can be found on the Keble website. We look forward to seeing you soon!

View our events

the brick

the newsletter for the keble community • issue 84 • hilary term 2026

FEATURE

150 Years of Music in Keble Chapel

College News

Student Life

Alumni News

Upcoming events

150 Years of Music
in Keble Chapel