Forty-two Finalists achieve Firsts! Rector Roe looks back at the 2025 Long Vacation
I am delighted to start this update with further evidence of Exeter’s academic advancement. Forty-two (40%) of our undergraduate Finalists received a first in 2025. This is four more firsts than last year, and a big jump from 2023 (34). Fifty-two students received 2.1s and the remaining 12 secured a 2.2. Needless to say, we are very proud of all our students’ achievements – undergraduate and graduate alike – and wish them bonne chance in the next stage of their careers.
Far from a time of quiet and an opportunity to re-balance, the ‘long vac’ has been a period of considerable activity and betterment. The moment the students depart for the summer, the College has hosted back-to-back events, from summer schools (including our own, the highly regarded ‘Exeter College Summer Programme’) to seminars, conferences, weddings, and dinners. It is fair to say that Exeter truly ‘sweats’ its assets and, particularly for the catering and domestic staff, there is absolutely no let-up in activity. On top of this, we have continued to drive forward betterment across the estate. Cohen Quad, our state-of-the-art facilities on Walton Street, has undergone a deep clean and polish, both internally and externally. The Thomas Wood building, located in the back quad at Turl Street, has been covered in scaffolding, whilst specialists replace all the decaying single-glazed windows with double-glazing and insulate the roof. We have also isolated the heating in the Hall, so that we can better regulate the temperate in the colder months, and revamped elements of Palmer’s Tower, the oldest remaining structure at the College, built in 1432. It has been an extensive table of work brilliantly coordinated by Babis Karakoulas (Domestic Bursar).
After a very successful ‘long vac’, I wish to take a moment to look to the future. We are increasingly well set for the forthcoming fundraising campaign, which launches at Exeter College on 29 November 2025. I am delighted to report that Sir Ronnie Cohen (Honorary Fellow and alumnus) has agreed to Chair the Campaign Board and steer us through the next phase of this journey. And over recent weeks we have been very busy with the creative agency (Baxter & Bailey), who have been tasked with developing the branding and messaging for the campaign. We have already agreed to the verbal messaging, and we are now at the visual stage – which is very exciting. Things are coming together nicely under the excellent stewardship of Yvonne Rainey (Director of Development & Alumni Relations) and Adale Bennett (Campaign Director). We are also ready to receive our new students in early October. The academic office, under Josie Cobb, has worked tirelessly over the period to ensure that the start of term will commence without hitch. As ever, at this time of year, we are very much looking forward to welcoming new Exonians to the family.
I finish this short update on a sad note. David Crispin, a highly admired member of staff, suffered a severe heart attack, and, following a week in intensive care, died on 10 September. David’s connections with Exeter College reach back to the 1980s, when, as a lay clerk, he sang in the choir. He moved away from Oxford, to pursue a career as a singer, but in the early 2000s returned to Oxford, a place he loved. He was a stalwart of the College choir, having re-joined it in 2012, and, from 2021 was a much-loved porter. His kindness, genuine care for students and mischievous sense of humour will be sorely missed by all. David’s death comes hot on the heels of the sad passing, on 16 August, of the former Head Porter, Chris Probert. He was an extremely popular figure and served the College for many years with great distinction, retiring in 2020. Chris will be well remembered fondly by many alumni.
Left: David Crispin. Right: Chris Probert
