Student Life
Gifts to support Student Life continue to enrich the student experience. This year gifts totalled £115k.
Music, sport and drama are thriving at all levels. In the arts, we continued to award the KAALAs — The Keble Association Arts Leadership Awards. Made possible through generous funding from Keble alumnus Mike Fawcett (1972 Literae Humaniores), the awards recognise and celebrate artistic excellence and leadership. We also continued the Nabila Walji Photography Prize. The Poets at Keble, The Poet’s Essay series with Adam Phillips, and the T.J. Clark Poetry and Painting seminar drew large audiences as ever, with speakers including Alice Oswald, Henri Cole and Lisa Robertson.
The termly Keble Debates are focused on topical issues in the arts, and are open to all. Recent events have included a debate on Theatricality and Theology with Professor Christine Gerrard (LMH 1977), Chair of the English Faculty and Vincent Gillespie (Keble 1972, Emeritus J R R Tolkien Professor of English Literature and Language and Keble Honorary Fellow). This series of events is generously endowed and hosted by Honorary Fellow and alumnus Robin Geffen (1976 Philosophy and Theology).
Chapel life continued to flourish, and a variety of sports teams enjoyed sponsorship from the Talbot Fund to support new kit and facilities. MCR and JCR projects included Women’s Netball kit, Women’s Football kit, Men’s Ruby kit and the Choir Tour to Italy in summer 2024. The Jonathan and Amanda Phillips Awards honouring former Warden Jonathan Philips and his wife Amanda, celebrate outstanding student contributions to arts, sports and volunteering amongst other areas.
Keble Ball
Since 1947, the Keble Ball has transformed the College into a wonderland. After a five-year hiatus, and with the generous support of Honorary Fellow Robin Geffen (1976 Philosophy and Theology), on 11 May 2024, the Keble Ball returned for a wonderful night in the Land of Oz. More than 1,400 guests walked the ‘Red’ Brick Road, strolling through Kansas and dancing in the Emerald City.
Through the generosity of those in attendance, funds were raised for Child Bereavement UK.
Jade Morris
2022 Human Sciences
Ball President
“The Ball was a special night for the Keble community… The Committee would like to thank all the students, alumni and guests who attended the Ball and made this night what we all hoped it would be!”
Sport at Keble
The Talbot Fund continues to help students to alleviate some of the cost of participating in sports. Thanks to alumni donations, the fund was able to support netball, football, rugby and cricket teams, and rowing.
With this support, the 2023-24 season saw Keble teams performing at a very high level with great success for many.
In football, the Keble teams completed the treble with Men’s 1s and 2s along with the women’s team all winning the major inter-collegiate football cup competitions — known as ‘Cuppers’.
Rowing at Keble has a strong tradition and KCBC continues to draw returning and new students, and remains the largest club or society in terms of participation. With Torpids being cancelled due to the weather, and many novices having only been able to complete land training, Keble still had 5 crews enter into Summer Eights which saw the W2 crew making blades for the third year in a row.
Grace White
2022 Human Sciences
Netball Captain
“Keble Netball was generously supported by the Talbot Fund over the last academic year. Our 'Cuppers' team reached the tournament's final in June, where we came in second to Pembroke after an intense game. We were so pleased to have made it so far in the tournament after our defeat in semi-finals the preceding year. What may have been a lucky charm, Cuppers was the debut of our brand-new netball uniform. We were so very grateful to have had the opportunity to design and receive 12 of these dresses as a result of the generosity of the Talbot Fund. We intend to use these dresses on a weekly basis in our league games, and hope they are passed on through generations of Keble netball players. Phil (Head of Operations and Annual Giving) was extremely encouraging and helpful throughout the process of designing and ordering the dresses as I liaised with the company. It was a really exciting process for us as a team, and we are all so grateful for the Talbot Fund's generosity. It is something which I feel represents the values of Keble at its core. Thank you."
Sierra Sparks
2021 DPhil Engineering
KCBC President
“We couldn’t be more proud of our athletes who raced and displayed immense Keble spirit. It was fantastic to see the support from friends, family, and alumni at Boathouse Island throughout Summer Eights and through their encouragement from afar — thank you for your support!”
Sport has always been a strength of Keble. We want all Keble students to know that sport is for everyone, and all students should be able to experience the many benefits — the camaraderie of sport, of keeping fit, making friends, and contributing to the life and community of the College.
In April 2024, this was reflected when Keble hosted the first ‘Festival of Sport’, thanks in no small part to the Warden’s enthusiasm! The day saw students and alumni taking part in 7-a-side hockey, football, netball and rugby and concluded with an informal curry in Hall shared by everyone involved.
The 2025 Keble Festival of Sport will take place in Hilary Term on Saturday 26 April 2025. If you would be interested in finding out how you can support widening participation in sport through the Talbot Fund, please contact Rachel Page.
Noah Fletcher
2022 Economics and Management
Football Captain
"The Festival of Sport was a brilliant occasion, with alumni from up to 50 years ago making the effort to come and play. As well as the games, the dinner afterwards was also a great event and a perfect chance to talk to the alumni and hear their stories of years gone by in Keble. Bring on next year!"