Blue skies and blades: Rector Dr Andrew Roe reflects on Trinity Term 2025

Dacre Balsdon in Oxford Life notes: ‘The beginning of Trinity term is a mischievous and puckish joke on Nature’s part. You return to Oxford, and summer is there to greet you. People are carrying cricket bats and tennis rackets in the street. The grass in College quadrangles is, and smells, freshly cut …’ Having been caught in Balsdon’s playful snare, he then goes on to postulate: ‘You have fallen right into the trap which Nature has laid for you. It is always cold at six at this time of year, and on May morning it is doubly cold, and probably it is raining too … On the river, instead of the exhilaration that you expected, wetness and cold is everywhere: mackintoshes, umbrellas and drips’. Not so this year. The second quarter of 2025 has broken historical climate records, marking an unprecedented period of warmth and sunshine. Far from experiencing cold and wet conditions, Oxford has basked under blue skies the majority of term.

There were certainly no ‘drips’ during Summer Eights this year. Over a glorious period of racing under blue skies and warm sunshine, Exeter put seven boats on the river (four open boats and three women’s boats). The results were extraordinary: the open first boat (an all-male crew) received blades – the first time in 26 years; the women’s second boat also won blades – this last occurred in 2009; the women’s first boat maintained their historically high position (a significant achievement in itself, deserving of praise); and the remaining boats, often crewed by enthusiastic novices, did extremely well. We also had two Exonians in the Oxford University Boat Club women’s reserve crew (Osiris). The Exeter College Boat Club is not only alive and well, but flourishing.

But it is not just on the Isis that the College has experienced great success. There are lots of activities in which Exonians have truly excelled. The ‘Speirs Cup’, a new annual Exeter College croquet competition, proved to be a significant draw and an enjoyable experience for all participants. Finals day, on 25 May, included an exhibition match and a bake sale in support of ExVac. Likewise, Exeter College Drama Society put on All My Sons by Arthur Miller – a post-World War II drama focused on the Keller family and their moral reckoning – over the period 21-24 May in the Fellows’ Garden. It thoroughly deserved its rave reviews. Similarly, the Exeter College Women in STEM event was another resounding accomplishment. With the Fitzhugh Auditorium bursting at the seams with students and school children alike, keynote speeches from Professor Catherine Green and Professor Kerry Walker really set the tone for this important and highly regarded event.

Other highpoints have included: the J.H. Elliott History Forum inaugural symposium, held at Exeter over the period 5-6 June; the choir’s outstanding performance of Bach’s church cantata ‘Gott soll allein mein Herze haben’; Vaisakhi celebrations in the Hall, with a keynote address by Indarjit Singh, Baron Singh of Wimbledon; the 40th anniversary barbeque celebration of the Williams-Exeter relationship; the annual student ball; and a welcome visit of indigenous leaders from Saskatchewan to reinforce longstanding ties between the College and the province. The relationship began nearly 100 years ago when Canadian Francis Leddy attended the College on a Rhodes Scholarship, completing a DPhil in ancient history in 1938. It has been an incredibly busy and productive term, not least as the focus has been on preparing for exams.

But Trinity Term, at least towards the end, is also a time of great sadness – especially when saying goodbye to the so-called ‘leavers’. During a wonderful Leavers’ Lunch on Sunday 22 June 2025, which included 62 guests from far and wide, former Junior Common Room President, Kate Harrison, noted poignantly in her address:

‘People say it all the time, but Exeter really is the friendliest college. I consider myself so lucky to be able to look around today and see so many people who have made university so unforgettable. Friends are the thing I’m most grateful to Exeter for, and random chats on a bench in the front quad, assembling to chuck buckets of water at friends who have finished exams, and the sense of solidarity with other students in the Jackson Library during exam seasons have made my time in college so special. It has been such a privilege to know so many of you so well, and I can’t wait to see what exciting things come next for everyone!’

Me too. Have a wonderful summer. Floreat Exon!

Exeter’s open first boat bumps Brasenose

Exonians at the Women in Stem symposium