The evening began with a sumptuous three-course dinner, accompanied by a superb selection of wines and port. It was a joyous reunion, with friends I hadn’t seen in over a decade in some cases. After dinner, we lingered for another two hours in the Buttery, deepening conversations over drinks and finding comfort in the timeless stability of our 500-year-old college. In a world that often feels increasingly uncertain, the evening evoked not nostalgia, but profound gratitude: Christ Church remains a constant presence in our lives, a sentiment shared by many that night.

The next morning, we reconvened for breakfast and a leisurely meadow walk, reminiscing about our days at Oxford while recovering from the previous night’s revelry. I was struck by the diverse paths we’ve all taken since graduating – academia, journalism, politics, social activism, finance, diplomacy, and charity work. Each of us agreed that our time at Christ Church had been a defining chapter in our lives and careers.

I left Oxford in 2009 after completing my M.St. in Greek and Latin Languages and Literature, specialising in Ancient Greek Epic and Papyrology. I then pursued a degree in politics at the College of Europe in Warsaw before joining the Luxembourgish diplomatic corps. Over the years, my postings took me to Moscow, New York, Brussels, and Strasbourg. In 2023, after 14 years in the foreign service, I returned to my roots and became Director of Luxembourg’s National Institute for Archaeological Research (INRA).

Photos are available here (Katie Bell Photography).