Founders’ Day welcome to new Fellows

Founders’ Day is the day where the College gathers to remember and celebrate the vision and generosity of the College’s Founders and Benefactors and to give special thanks for the work of Frederick and Maive Goodenough, whose vision and commitment enabled generations of students to benefit from becoming part of the Goodenough community. It is also an opportunity when the College community gives special thanks for Lord Mayor Frederick Rowland’s National Fund for Thanksgiving which enabled the building of William Goodenough House.

The vision of the College’s Founding Partners is captured jointly in the College motto Unitas in sapienta: nemo separabit – unity in wisdom: none shall separate.

Founders’ Day also marks the end of the College’s annual ‘Welcome Period’ and the first day of the Michaelmas (autumn) Term. Each year we use this day as an opportunity to officially welcome our new Members and to proclaim a new cohort of College Fellows – people of distinction who, by their interest and demonstrated participation in the collegiate community, enhance and augment its life. It is also a day when we welcome back current Fellows who use the opportunity to discuss ways their expertise and experiences can augment the College’s academic and intellectual life.

During the ceremony the President of the College, Stuart Shilson, proclaimed the following newly created Fellows:

The Faculty of Business and Economics

Mr Timothy Costigan, Businessman, Alumnus

Mr Martin Schwab, Partner at Pamplona Capital Management, Alumnus and Trustee

The Faculty of Law

The Rt Hon The Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury FRS honoris causa, lately President of the UK Supreme Court

Dr Frederick Wilmot-Smith, of Brick Court Chambers, Fellow of All Souls College in the University of Oxford

The Faculty of Medical and Natural Sciences

Professor Sir Andy Hopper CBE, FRS, Fellow honoris causa of Corpus Christi College and Trinity Hall in the University of Cambridge, lately Treasurer of The Royal Society

Professor Fiona Watt FRS, of King’s College London, Director of the European Molecular Biology Organisation

The Faculty of Political and Social Sciences

Sir Roderic Lyne KBE, CMG, lately Her Britannic Majesty’s Ambassador to the Russian Federation

Her Excellency Karen-Mae Hill OBE, Alumna and High Commissioner for Antigua and Barbuda

The way in which the College celebrates Founders’ Day has changed over the years. Since 2015 it has been used as an opportunity to bring together the College’s Fellowship and Membership to celebrate Goodenough College’s legacy, and to remember and honour the contributions of Alumni, Governors and staff who have sadly departed our global community in the last year.

Goodenough’s purpose today remains true to our founder’s vision – to inspire talented postgraduates to achieve their full potential; and to develop a fellowship of global citizens with shared values of tolerance, respect, understanding, service and togetherness reflecting the spirit of the UK and Commonwealth principles.