Welcome to the Hertford Festival page!
We are excited to invite all Hertford alumni to a weekend of talks, events and fun for all ages.
Please note that tickets for the family day on Sunday have now sold out, but there are still some spaces for the college talks on Saturday. Book now to avoid disappointment!
Programme
Saturday 1 July
14:00 Arrival and registration.
14:15 Video exhibition from Hertford’s archives covering the stories of Hertford members in 20th century opens in the Old Library. Families with younger children are invited to take a family-friendly self-guided Hertford Trail “In Simpkin’s Steps” to explore college history, buildings and treasures from the library.
Picnic space on the Quad will be open, with take-away afternoon tea bags. Quad activities are suitable for all ages and will be available until 5pm.
15:00 Programme of talks, with speakers from Hertford community and beyond. Scroll down for a full list of speakers and details of the talks. These are suitable for alumni and guests over the age of 12. Refreshments will be provided during the afternoon between the talks.
There will be an opportunity to join a college tour with Arabella Warner and a session on how to solve a Rubik’s cube with Christoph Bettin during the talks programme.
18:30 Talks programme finishes
18:45 Pre-dinner drinks
19:30 Festival dinner in Hall. Alumni are welcome to bring one guest (over the age of 18). Dress code: smart. (Unfortunately, refunds for cancelled dinner tickets are not possible after 16th June).
Sunday 2 July
09:30 Family breakfast in Hall. Open to all ages, with cooked breakfast and continental options. Breakfast will have two sittings – time can be selected at registration.
11:00 Hertford special University Challenge. Alumni who took the college into its first ever University Challenge final in Christmas University Challenge 2021 meet the 2021 student team. Suitable for alumni and guests over the age of 12.
12:00 Morning programme finishes.
12:30 Family Day in OB quad, including bouncy castle, face painting, garden games, hands-on activities, food and drinks, and music by Oxford’s famous Sol Samba band. Free for children under 5.
Family-friendly self-guided trail “In Simpkin’s steps” and a video exhibition from Hertford’s archives will be continued during the Family Day.
Picnic lunch will be served in Hall (pay on the day) between 1pm and 2:30pm.
We will also be showcasing some of the ground-breaking research that is currently being conducted at Hertford. With hands-on activities to suit all ages, there will be opportunities to dive into the world of flood forecasting with Geography Fellow Linda Speight, and learn about spiderwebs with Biology Fellow Beth Mortimer.
16:00 Family Day comes to a close
Speakers
Corin Throsby
Shakespeare fandom – how the Bard got famous
Corin Throsby, a historian of celebrity culture and Hertford alumna, in conversation with Emma Smith, Fellow in English. Together they will explore how a glover’s son from a one-horse Warwickshire town became an international celebrity, via the First Folio, mulberry wood souvenirs, and the invention of Stratford-upon-Avon. Can the modern experience of fandom help us understand how he went viral?
Peter Frankopan
The Earth Transformed
Climate change and depletion of natural resources is one of – and perhaps the most – important challenges of the 21st Century. In this conversation, Tom Fletcher will talk with Peter Frankopan, Professor of Global History and Director of the Oxford Centre for Byzantine Research, about the past, present and future of the natural world and how to best learn from history for the years ahead.
Fiona Bruce
A chance to turn the tables: Principal interviews Fiona Bruce on her career in journalism
Journalist, newsreader and presenter. First female newsreader on the BBC News at Ten. Presented many flagship programmes for the BBC, including BBC News at Six, Crimewatch, Real Story, Antiques Roadshow, and Fake or Fortune? Since 10 January 2019, she has been the presenter of the BBC One’s Question Time.
Sarah Brown
Wavewalker: Breaking Free – Sarah Brown in conversation with Suzanne Heywood
Campaigner for global education and health. Works across the worlds of business, philanthropy, social media, and global campaigning to create sustainable change for young people. Founder and Chair of the children’s charity Theirworld and Executive Chair of the Global Business Coalition for Education.
Sarah will talk to the author Suzanne Heywood on her recent book and the topics of childhood, self-discovery and fight for education.
Suzanne Heywood
Wavewalker: Breaking Free – Sarah Brown in conversation with Suzanne Heywood
Aged just seven, Suzanne set sail with her parents and brother on a three-year voyage around the world. What followed turned instead into a decade-long way of life, through storms, shipwrecks, reefs and isolation, with little formal schooling. Suzanne fought her parents, longing to return to England and to education and stability. Suzanne’s recently published Wavewalker: Breaking Free covers her astonishing upbringing, a survival story of a child deprived of safety, friendships, schooling and occasionally drinking water…
Roberto Trotta
From Big Bang to ChatGPT: Astronomy, Data and Society
AI is poised to change every aspect of our lives – from the way we learn to the art we make, from our relationships to scientific discovery. How is AI already affecting research in cosmology and astrophysics? Is reaching for the stars the right way for humankind, or should we look up for a different kind of inspiration?
Join Pat Roche in conversation with cosmologist and author Roberto Trotta as they discuss our understanding of the cosmos seen through the lens of modern astronomy and data science.
Highlights
College tour with Arabella Warner
Why was Hertford once known as “the paper college”? Which Principal caused a revolt from some of his students for being too disciplinarian? Who was described by his tutor as “a silly little suburban sod with an inferiority complex and no palate”?
Hertford College alumna and local guide, Arabella Warner, will be explaining how her old college became a whisker away from burning to the ground on more than one occasion, and why the new “Bridge of Sighs” heralded in a new era of cleanliness. There will also be a rare chance to see artwork by Stanley Spencer and David Hockney.
How to solve a Rubik’s Cube
Ever wondered how to solve the Rubik’s Cube?
Christoph Bettin, Hertford College alumnus and former Global CEO at Rubik’s Brand, will do a workshop on how to solve the Rubik’s cube. There are proven links to improved cognitive functions after having learnt to solve. Christoph has taught hundreds of kids and adults over many years, so come with an open mind and you are guaranteed success.
The session is suitable for all ages.
College archives video exhibition
Hertford has always been a home for people with creativity and flair. In the 20th century the college hosted many talented students who became famous in their choses careers, among them the writers Evelyn Waugh and Terence Greenidge, actor Tony Bushell and the theatre director Frith Banbury. But did you know that Hertford was also the college of Gavin Maxwell, the author of the “Ring of Bright Water”; Rupert Bruce-Mitford, the archaeologist who worked on the Sutton Hoo excavations; and Dom Mintoff, the prime minister who took Malta into independence? Stories of Hertford staff and servants who have formed the backbone of the college from the foundation in 1874 to its centenary in 1974 will be brought to the fore in our short video exhibition.
Self-guided tour “In Simpkin’s steps”
During both Saturday and Sunday afternoons families are invited to take a map of the college and follow the clues to discover interesting facts about Hertford’s buildings and history.
Tickets
Please note that some parts of the Festival are not suitable for children, and capacity is limited.
You will notice there are several ticketing options which you can combine to build the perfect weekend for you and your guests. If you have any questions about the booking procedure, please contact the Development Office.
Please note that ticket sales will close two weeks before the Festival. Refunds for cancellations after 16 June 2023 will not be possible.
There will be some single student rooms (with shared facilities) available for Saturday night at the cost of £50.
Ready to book? Please click here:
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the Hertford Festival?
The Hertford Festival is a chance for all Hertfordians and their families to come together and celebrate our wonderful college community. Guests can enjoy talks, music, family activities and plenty of delicious food whilst reconnecting with friends old and new.
2. When and where will it happen?
Saturday 1 July – Sunday 2 July, Hertford’s main Catte Street site.
3. Sounds great! How can I book tickets?
Booking is open via EventBrite. Guests will be able to book for specific events or for the whole weekend.
4. Can I bring family?
Absolutely! Although please note that due to the capacity of some of our spaces, notably our Hall, there will be some age restrictions and a limit of one guest for some events.
5. How do I get there?
The best way to get to Oxford is by public transport. Oxford is well connected by train services from London and the South East, the Midlands, Manchester and further afield, and there are frequent coach services too. We do not recommend driving into central Oxford as parking is limited and traffic heavy. Instead, we advise that you use one of the four Park and Rides on the outskirts of Oxford.
6. And is there anywhere I can stay?
We will have 75 single occupancy rooms with shared facilities on our main site, as well as a limited number of double rooms at the college accommodation on Abingdon Road. If you miss out on one of those rooms or don’t fancy staying in college, we can recommend some local hotels.
7. What can I expect to eat at the festival?
On Saturday 1 July, there will be refreshments and take-away afternoon tea bags available at Hertford College on Catte Street and a black-tie formal dinner in the evening. Our dinner menu offers seasonal dishes and we can cater to all dietary needs. On Sunday 2 July we will hold a Family breakfast in Hall with a range of tasty options. On Sunday afternoon at the Family day there will be a food and beverage stall with plenty of delicious options for guests to purchase.
8. What can I expect regarding access?
The Hall at Hertford is accessed via the notable Jackson Staircase which unfortunately does not have a lift and thus does not make the Hall accessible. Some of our events and talks will take place in the Chapel and Old Lodgings where we can welcome wheelchair users. We will host one of our talks at the Weston Library, part of The Bodleian, which again, has good access. There is a possibility that one of the talks will take place in the Baring Room which in on 3rd floor and can only we accessed by stairs. Please note that there is no parking available at Hertford College, Catte Street.
Have you got any questions?
For any queries please email us at development.office@hertford.ox.ac.uk
Hertford Festival 