Sir Rick Trainor sworn is as Rector

At 11am today, 1 October, Exeter College’s new Rector, Sir Rick Trainor, was officially sworn into office.

The ceremony took place in Exeter College’s chapel, presided over by Ms Jeri Johnson, the Sub-Rector and a Fellow in English. Sir Rick Trainor became Exeter College’s 130th Rector and takes over from Rector Cairncross, who retired on 30 September.

Sir Rick said: “I am honoured and excited to be succeeding Frances Cairncross, and joining the Exeter family in the College’s 700th anniversary year. Exeter is one of the most dynamic, diverse, open and international colleges within Oxford. I look forward to leading the whole College community in even greater academic and fundraising achievements in the years ahead.

“As incoming Rector I would like to express heartfelt thanks to Frances Cairncross, not only for all her splendid achievements for Exeter over the past ten years but also for the extraordinarily warm welcome that she and her husband Hamish McRae have given to me and to my wife Marguerite Dupree as we prepare to live in College.

“Exeter is a great college, with a very promising future as well as seven centuries of highly substantial accomplishments. It has accelerated its progress in recent years, increasing its prominence, opening itself ever more to the world beyond Oxford, achieving record-breaking proportions of alumni giving and undertaking the innovative Walton Street project.”

Students, Fellows and staff filled the chapel to witness the occasion and welcome Sir Rick officially to his new role.