Radcliffe Camera, Oxford (Wikipedia)

Oxford University Society Cambridgeshire

Oxford University Society Cambridgeshire alumni

Welcome to the Oxford University Society in Cambridgeshire (OUSC).

We are a group of Oxford alumni and former lecturers who now live in Cambridgeshire.  We organise talks on a wide range of topics, visits to interesting places in the area, and opportunities to socialise.  We also contribute to activities in local schools who are encouraging young people to apply to Oxford and organise an annual get together for new Oxford students just before they embark on their first term.

There is a  programme of talks in central Cambridge as well as social meetings each year. If you would like to know more or join our email list please contact us on <ouscambridgeshire@gmail.com>

Send us your name and email address, as well as the college you attended, subject and year of matriculation.

We are looking urgently for new members for our organizing committee. Please let us know if you are interested on the same email address as above.

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Events Calendar

Next event in 2026:

Why Cambridge Lied About Its Past, a talk by Lord Bird of Notting Hill at the David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, 6.30pm Tuesday 6th October.

Lord Bird is widely regarded as one of the founding fathers of social entrepreneurship. Born into poverty and raised in care, his early years included spells sleeping rough and in prison.  In 1991 he founded The Big Issue, which has since grown into the Big Issue Group, spanning the magazine, a foundation and a social investment arm, and has put well over £100 million directly into the pockets of people experiencing homelessness.  In 2015 he was appointed a crossbench peer and continues to campaign in Parliament on poverty prevention. He’s known as a forthright, unfiltered speaker — his maiden speech in the Lords was described by a fellow peer as “astounding and eccentric.”

A true renaissance man, John has excelled as an artist and painter; a poet and writer; a printer and publisher; a politician and legislator; a businessman and social innovator; an activist and public speaker.   He has addressed the UN, Downing Street, Buckingham Palace, and on 6th of October he will hold a talk for OUSC on Why Cambridge Lied About Its Past, followed by what promises to be a lively discussion.

Details:
Date: Tuesday 6th October
Time: 6.30pm
Location: The David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QZ
Cost: £7.50

Please RSVP to book your slot as spaces are limited:

<ouscambridgeshire@gmail.com>

Payments can be made in advance to:
Oxford University Society (Cambridge Branch)
Account number 23844749
Sort Code 20-45-45

We look forward to seeing you there!

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6th January 2027 6pm The Castle, Castle Street, Cambridge

New Year Drinks for alumni and current Oxford University students

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Thank you to all those who visited the Museum of Cambridge in May and joined guided tours by Roger Lilley, Chair of the Trustees and editor of Capturing Cambridge.

Members of OUSC and indeed others are very welcome to book a guided tour which lasts about 75 minutes.

There is a charge of £6 per person (£2 for children) that will go to the museum. There is a maximum group size of 15 and a minimum of 4. To request a tour please send an email to <ouscambridgeshire@gmail.com> with a suggested day and time, morning or afternoon. Payment will be at the museum.

There is metered parking on Pound Hill about 100m from the museum.

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Past Talks

Cambridge Sport: in Fenner’s Hands.

Guided tours of the Museum of Cambridge

Genomics and the treatment of serious infections

Hereward the Wake

Etheldreda, Fen Princess
Japan, Russia, Vietnam
Making illuminated manuscripts
The Houthis in Yemen
The Museum of Cambridge
The future of electric batteries
‘A writing life’
Misericords
Writing family history

Past Visits

The Parker Library at Corpus Christi College
The Cambridge University Botanic Gardens
The women’s art collection at Murray Edwards College
Denny Abbey

2026 Committee

Fenella Boyle (Oriel, PPE) Chair

Roger Lilley (Christ Church, Theology) Treasurer, email and website

Mike Lynch (St Edmund Hall, English)

Mo Middleton (St Peter’s, Theology)

Elizabeth Stazicker (LMH, History)