Why I Support
From The President
Securing Our Future
The Urgent Appeal
Our Vision and Fundraising Goals
Recognising Generosity
Our Development Journey
US Oxford Union Foundation
The Senior Treasurer's Report
From The Old Library
Debating Achievements
How To Support
It was at the Oxford Union that I first debated the pressing issues of the day with world leaders. I remember, for example, discussing with Senator Robert Kennedy how to end the war in Vietnam. I am delighted to help future generations share this most valuable part of Oxford education.
Sir Ronald Cohen President, HT’67 2025 Foundation FellowThe intolerant and dogmatic orthodoxy that has pervaded global university campuses should concern us all. The Oxford Union remains one of our last bastions of unfettered debate. I couldn't be more happy than to do my small part in helping assure its survival for future generations.
Oliver Evans President, TT’97 2025 Foundation FellowThe Oxford Union serves as a haven for robust debate amid the growing tendency to intolerance across the world. By providing a forum for reasoned and reasonable disagreement, the Union remains an exemplary international institution and defender of civilization.
Laurence Grafstein President, MT'84 2023 Bicentenary Patron
Dear Members and Friends of The Oxford Union,
The beginning of every term presents a myriad of opportunities. As the Society continues in the first year after our bicentenary, I have been reflecting not only on its illustrious history, but also what the future may hold.
Whilst many of our greatest traditions remain constant, the Union must also navigate the everchanging nature of the modern world. As threats to free speech become more commonplace, and society grapples with the challenges of polarisation, the role of the Oxford Union in upholding its founding values remains critical.
These values - of promoting robust debate amongst students and standing up for free speech - have defined our history and we have a responsibility to ensure they continue to guide our future. The opportunity to hear from people with whom you may passionately disagree is one that must not be taken for granted. This is why I first became involved in the Union and over the past year it has been an honour to be a part of our shared Society. To hold the position of President is a tremendous privilege and has served to reinforce my commitment to fostering an environment in which all those who share our values are welcome.
As members and supporters of the most famous debating society in the world, we all embody this sentiment, not only within the halls of The Oxford Union, but also in our own lives. The Urgent Appeal launched last year is crucial in ensuring the survival of this legacy, especially in a world where discerning the truth has become more challenging than ever.
I wish to express my sincere gratitude to all those who have donated and contributed in other ways. This Society would not be what it is without your generosity. With your support, the Oxford Union will remain a bastion of free speech for many more centuries to come.
Louis Wilson President, Trinity 2024
As Patron of OLDUT and as an Ex-President, I am delighted by efforts to date that saw the successful launch of The Urgent Appeal – and to our existing and recent donors, I extend my most sincere appreciation and thanks.
This year, 2024, marks 70 years since I stood for election as President of our shared Society, an experience which set me on the path of my political career and the benefits of which have remained with me throughout my long life.
Reflecting on the last seven decades and the geopolitical turmoil of today, I cannot stress enough the importance of upholding freedom of speech, both in the United Kingdom and abroad. I would like to think that the laudable efforts of recent Oxford Union committees to resist calls to cancel controversial speakers have indeed had an impact on discussions at the national level about the importance of challenging, questioning, and scrutinising a range of opinions, no matter whether one finds them disagreeable.
Yet these recent developments once again remind us that we cannot take The Oxford Union for granted; the possibility of inviting speakers of whatever persuasion or belief as well as holding debates in the true sense of the word, is simply not always possible in other settings. Preserving our independence as a Society is therefore of significant importance so that future generations of leaders can begin their careers keeping in mind at all times that one must approach challenges by pausing to listen, think, and then decide.
The Oxford Union is a Society that I hold most dear to me and have been pleased to support for many years. To those who have already joined me donating, I once again express my gratitude to you. To all other members and friends, I would be most grateful for any consideration you might give towards a contribution to secure our future - no gift is too small.
Since 1975, OLDUT - the Oxford Literary and Debating Union Charitable Trust – has owned most of the buildings used by the student-run Oxford Union Society (OUS), including the libraries and debating chamber. OLDUT delegates fulfilment of its charitable educational objectives to the OUS. As custodians it is our duty to preserve and care for these buildings especially since the purpose-built premises are the very embodiment of the OUS itself and the Old Library – the former debating chamber - is categorized as ‘unique’ in its heritage register entry.
The deterioration of the buildings was the catalyst for the Urgent Appeal launched last year. Due to its charitable status, OLDUT receives any contributions towards the Urgent Appeal which enables gift aid to be added to eligible donations. Progress to date is set out within this inaugural development report; as indicated, those who have most generously supported will be recognised according to our donor scheme. It should be noted that unlike colleges and other higher education institutions, the Union does not receive taxpayer funding.
In a short space of a time, a great deal has been achieved; but we still have a long way to go in order to raise the £5 million needed to carry out essential maintenance works; in the event that, for health and safety reasons, we had to close the buildings, however temporarily, this would pose a serious threat to the ability of the OUS to operate independently and with legitimacy.
In order to determine a strategy for the next phase of development activity and maintain the momentum achieved to date, OLDUT and OUS are working to bolster development resourcing; this will enable us to pursue our immediate fundraising target, while also continuing to develop a sustainable, scalable alumni engagement programme that benefits life members, irrespective of when they left Oxford.
I would also like to thank all of those who have contributed to the successes realised so far. In particular, I should like to thank Michael Li (President, Trinity 2017) for his tireless efforts in establishing US Oxford Union Foundation (OXUF), an independent 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity recognised by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service. I should also like to thank Laura Winwood L’vov (President, Trinity 2010) who has laid the groundwork for a lasting development function which has underpinned our ability to receive donations online for the first time, as well as her leadership and tenacity during the Bicentenary year. We are delighted that Laura will continue to support development efforts from Hong Kong, further expanding our international presence and identifying additional opportunities to secure the future of the Society.
Victoria Schofield President, Trinity 1977 Chair of OLDUTAs an immediate priority, we are now seeking to build on funds raised to date to achieve our target of £5 million by the end of 2025 to prevent the closure of the independent buildings, and ensure the Oxford Union Society can continue to fulfil its time-honoured role as the ‘last bastion of free speech'.
Once our premises our secured, our future priorities will focus on:
HERITAGE – the preservation of our unique artworks, volumes and archives;
ACCESS – the removal of financial and physical barriers to participation; and
FREE SPEECH – upholding our founding purpose in the face of growing pressure to cancel the discussion of controversial issues.
We also aspire to establish an endowment fund so that future generations of Union members will not need to launch a further appeal.
£1,599,961 raised
£3,400,039 to raise
Gifts received by OLDUT (including Gift Aid & pledges) - £349,961
Gifts and pledges raised by OXUF - £1,250,000
122 individual donors
We define a formal pledge as one that has been committed in writing and have included Gift Aid where a donor has indicated that their gift would indeed be eligible. We do not include pledges delivered verbally but are grateful to those who have shared their intent to donate at a later date, especially in light of the current economic climate.
With sincere thanks to all who those who have supported the Urgent Appeal, at any level.
We are grateful and proud to have received gifts from alumni life members from the 1950s to our members who are still studying.
For transformational gifts of £500,000 and above
Sir Ronald Cohen*
Oliver Evans* President, HT’67 President, TT’97
For extraordinary generosity of £100,000 and above
Mark Carnegie
Laurence & Rebecca Grafstein*
Treasurer, TT'85
President, MT’84 & Spouse
For extraordinary generosity of £50,000 and above
Lord Heseltine of Thenford CH PC
Michael Li*
Neil Mahapatra
Anonymous President, MT’54; Patron of OLDUT President, TT'17; Chair of OXUF President, MT'01; OLDUT Trustee
For generous gifts of £10,000 and above
Sultan Al Kawari
Dr Sara Althari*
William Barnes*
Eleanor Blagbrough
Oliver Campbell KC
John Curbishley*
Anthony Goodman*
SY Lee*
Robert Palmer KC
Hope Rinehart-Welker*
Rupert Soames OBE
David Soskin
Lord Stevens of Birmingham, Kt
Laura Winwood L'vov & Nikolai L'vov
Life Member
Life Member
Treasurer, HT'17; Treasurer of OXUF
President, TT'98
President, HT'91
Treasurer, TT'96
President, MT'85
President, MT'12
President, HT'95
Life Member
President, MT'80
President, MT'75; OLDUT Trustee
President, HT'87
President, TT'10 & Life Member
You can learn more about our recognition scheme and the possibility to become part of the Union's history with your name on a seat in the Chamber
https://oxford-union.org/supportus
For generous gifts of £5,000 and above
The Hon. Michael Beloff KC
Fraser Campbell
Michael Crick
Dr Nicky Gyimah (Black) & Sam Gyimah
Christopher Laconi*
Mark Le Page
Dr Matthew & Dr Erica Richardson
Victoria Schofield & Stephen Willis
Sir Michael Soole
Anonymous
For generous gifts of £1,000 and above
Clare Dixon KC
Sir Jeffrey Jowell KCMG KC
James Robertson
W. Peter Wilson
David Woodcock
For generous gifts of £100 and above
Lucy Aitkens
Erik Anggard
Philip A. Bean*
Dr Sarah Beaver
James Burgert*
Duncan Caine
William Charles
Robert Clarke
Richard Coates
S Jackson Collins
R. Clarke Cooper*
Wilson Cotton
Edwina Currie
Harish Dadoo*
Freya Darvall
Henna Dattani*
David Deighton
Kreig DuBose
Robin Edward Wells*
Charles Ewald*
Richard Fattorini
Mohamed Fawzy
Sir Roderick Floud FBA
Anne Fowler (Heal)
Joanna Gwozdziowski
Matthew Guy*
Daniel Hasler*
Serena Hedley-Dent
Natalie Hodgins
President, HT'99
Supporter
Life Member
Senior Treasurer
Life Member
Life Member
Treasurer, TT'01
Life Member
CCC, TT'99
Life Member
Life Member
Life Member
Librarian, MT'68
Life Member
Life Member
Secretary, HT'16
Life Member
Life Member
Life Member
Life Member
Life Member
Life Member
Treasurer, MT'64
Librarian, HT'83
Life Member
President, MT'95
Life Member
Treasurer, HT'95
Life Member
President, MT'62; Former OLDUT Trustee
President, HT'03; OLDUT Trustee
President, MT'79; OLDUT Trustee
President, TT'99 & President, MT'97
Life Member
Life Member
Librarian, TT'03 & Spouse
President, TT'77; Chair of OLDUT & Spouse
President, TT'74; Former Chair of OLDUT
President, HT'98
President, TT'63
President, HT'93
Life Member
Life Member
Melissa Holloway (Ford)
Dr Deborah Horowitz*
Stephen Horvath*
Sarah Hubbard
Carolyn Kelly
Judith Kidd
Adam J. King
James Kingston
Dr Kirstine Knox
Allan Lees
David Manuel
Sir Philip Moor
Ekaterina Mitskevich
Laura Poots
Paula Rocktaschel
Dr Ian Sanderson
Matthias H Schneck
Richard Silcock
Jack Solomon*
Anthony Speaight KC
Dr Cecil P. Staton Jr*
Lesley Titcomb CBE
Paul Walton
Thomas Whitelaw
Tamer Yalav*
Eve Young
Apollo University Lodge
Anonymous
Anonymous
Life Member
Life Member
President, MT'18
Life Member
Life Member
Supporter
Life Member
President, MT'10
Supporter
Supporter
Life Member
Life Member
Life Member
President, HT'05
Life Member
Life Member
Life Member
President, MT'00
Treasurer, TT'20
Secretary, TT'70
Life Member
Life Member
Life Member
Returning Officer, MT'10
Supporter
Life Member
Supporter
*Denotes gifts received by US Oxford Union Foundation ('OXUF'), an independent 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity recognised by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.
Like many of you, I had returned to the Union from time to time after graduating - proudly brandishing my fading membership card, but noticing upon each visit that the place itself was becoming slightly more threadbare. I remember thinking to myself: why isn't it possible to donate online? Surely this ought to be simple?
Nearly two years ago, I returned to Frewin Court once more but on this occasion departed not with the warmth that nostalgia brings but images of blistering plaster and fading murals, and the knowledge that the buildings - the very embodiment of the Union - were on borrowed time.
I had no idea at that time about the complexity of the task ahead or that development functions typically take several years to establish; what began as an initial spate of volunteering quickly morphed into a project to modernise the website and then to research and implement an interim development strategy. In spring 2023, following many months of preparation, we finally launched the Urgent Appeal.
'The Minute Book', our inaugural development report, is the culmination of herculean efforts by so many - not least by those who are listed within (many of whom will become part of the Union's history with their name engraved on a seat in the chamber) but especially the trustees, senior officers, staff and of course the student-led committees who have together shaped a vision for the Society's future.
I am often asked why I decided to 'get back involved' in the Union. Quite simply, my experiences on committee have been transformational in shaping my career since joining the Society as a shy fresher some 17 years ago and I am grateful. If you feel that the Union has had a positive impact on your own life, you can donate your time or expertise to support ongoing efforts - and a sincere thank you to those who are already doing so.
Finally, it has been an incredibly humbling experience to meet so many other life members from multiple decades and from a variety of backgrounds during the initial programme of alumni events that took place in 2023-24 when resources permitted. Once the Society's future can be assured, it is envisioned that events will take place more frequently - both in Oxford and elsewhere - and I am looking forward to (re)connecting with members in the Asia Pacific region as we broaden our presence there.
While there is still much to be done to assure the Society's future and we must remain focused on our fundraising target, together we have already achieved so much in a relatively short period of time and there is much to celebrate.
Laura Winwood L'vov President, TT'10The Bicentenary Debate which took place during the Presidency of Charlie Mackintosh (Hilary 2023) welcomed 22 former presidents, 10 former officers, and more than 70 former committee and life members back to the Union. With thanks to our guest speakers for an exceptional evening: Victoria Schofield (President, TT'77), The Rt Hon. Ann Widdecombe (Treasurer, MT'72), The Rt Hon. Michael Gove (President, HT’88), Gyles Brandreth (President, MT’69), Amanda Pritchard (Librarian, HT’96), Lord Heseltine of Thenford CH PC (President, MT’54).
Images below (anti-clock wise from top left):
Celebrating 60 years of since women were able to join the Society on the same terms as men with guest lecture delivered by The Hon. Michael Beloff KC (President, MT'62) who successfully moved admission of women to full membership HT'63 (February 2023)
A 'thank you' lunch for Stephen Dixon who supported the Union as Financial and Administrative Advisor (FAA) 1993-95 and as Senior Treasurer 2001-21 (December 2022)
Celebrating two hundred years since the Union's first debate in 1823 during a zoom call with alumni from the Asia Pacific region (April 2023)
Raising a glass to mark the end of the Bicentenary year in London with 'Oxmas' drinks - with thanks to Simon Walker CBE (President, HT'74) and James Wise (President, MT'06) for speaking about the importance of the Oxford Union in their respective careers (November 2023)
Overleaf: The Bicentenary Dinner with photos by Eddie Gallagher and Roger Askew (June 2023)
The Union has long been part of the Special Relationship. President Reagan, addressing the Chamber in 1992, said “I have enjoyed more than my share of honours – few of which can match the experience of standing at this podium, speaking to this distinguished audience”.
He reflected it was a chance to “meet a future President of the United States”. Much like the UK, we are proud that Life Members serve at the highest levels of US Government, including National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, a Union world debating finalist, his deputy Jon Finer, and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
Other notable events included Malcolm X’s impassioned proposition that “extremism in the defence of liberty is no vice” in 1964, and Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger’s 1984 opposition to “no moral difference between the foreign policies of the US and USSR”. More recently, Honorary Member John Kerry commented “Oxford University, needless to say, and the Oxford Union are the real deal”.
Building on this rich history, in 2023 the US Oxford Union Foundation (OXUF) was established. Our Bicentenary Reception in New York was attended by over 50 Ex-Officers and Life Members, with distinguished guests including Dame Louise Richardson and Stephen Schwarzman, underscoring the Union’s strong community in the US, and global reach.
We hope to build on this engagement with Life Members and supporters across the US this year, with events planned in Washington DC, New York, and San Francisco. If you are interested to join, we would be delighted to hear from you on development@oxuf.org
I am grateful to Laura Winwood L'vov, Will Barnes, David Simon, Miles Young, Victoria Schofield, and OLDUT for their support and encouragement in forming OXUF. This has allowed us to realise the tremendous generosity of US donors, who committed over £1.25m in 2023. I hope many more will be inspired by the leadership of our Foundation Fellows, Sir Ronald Cohen and Oliver Evans; and Bicentenary Patron, Laurence Grafstein.
Michael Li President, TT'17Chair, US Oxford Union Foundation (OXUF)
Above: Senator Robert Kennedy addresses members of The Oxford Union in Hilary 1967 during Sir Ronald Cohen's term as President. Photo supplied from a private collection.
The Grade II/II* listed buildings as a whole are in a critical state with immediate action required to make them structurally sound, safe, and suitable for current requirements. Over the past year, we have worked with a RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) Buildings Surveyor to determine and prioritise the required works to address the most serious problems over the next five years. Despite the challenges this presents in historic listed buildings, we also need to improve the buildings’ accessibility.
The windows to the chamber have been surveyed by ARK Stained Glass with whom we have developed a three year refurbishment programme. Phase One comprising the ground floor windows facing the courtyard has commenced and it is hoped that reinstatement will take place in the coming months (weather and term time commitments permitting).
A new fire alarm system (throughout the buildings) was installed in 2023.
The refurbishment and fire-stopping of the kitchens has ensured compliance with current building regulations enabling debate dinners to go ahead throughout Trinity and Michaelmas 2023.
Immediate priorities in 2024 and beyond
The cellars occupied by the night club Plush (formerly ‘The Purple Turtle’, and previously ‘The Cellar Bar’) flood regularly with evidence of the stonework and foundations crumbling. The only way to secure the water tightness is to tank the whole of the basement. Further investigative works will commence in the near future to understand the scale of the project.
It has been assessed that the slates on the 1850s roof are beyond the end of their working life; they are delaminating, with many slipped and cracked slates. There is evidence of some historical maintenance but, the majority are very likely to be original. External areas adjacent to the Old Library have been cordoned off to mitigate the risk to those on site due to slipped tiles.
Within the library, the upper gallery will remain closed for the foreseeable future until works to the handrails can be undertaken to enable the safe use of this space by members, and so that members and visitors can admire the historic William Morris ceiling and murals depicting the legend of King Arthur.
Commensurate with the condition of the library detailed above, the roof over the Gladstone and President's Office / TV room require the same work. It should also be noted that the ‘Officers’ Offices’ (‘OOs’) were condemned by Health & Safety advisors and insurers in 2023 due to water ingress.
The condition of the lavatories is appalling with investigations revealing that the joists supporting the mezzanine floor are rotting. Works to carry out the necessary structural repairs are scheduled for the summer vacation to avoid disruption to the term.
Our most recent buildings review (2023) has costed all works to a sum of more than £4.7 million although this sum does not take into account inflation or potential disruption to the supply of core materials such as slate.
This figure is in line with our previous estimations and the need to raise £5 million to secure the purpose-built premises that we hope will continue to provide the inspirational setting to debate, study and socialise in the heart of Oxford. If the buildings can be secured, it is envisioned that a longer-term maintenance plan to span several decades will be put in place to explore how the site may evolve to meet the changing needs of the active membership, while conserving and enhancing heritage assets for the longer term.
Dr Sarah Beaver Senior Treasurer
"May it not be hoped that if the debates were ever to cease, the Union would still survive, attached to a library?”
- Herbert Arthur Morrah, President, Michaelmas 1894As we enter our 201st year, the Union endures. There is a record of the existence of a Union Library from 1825 onward, occupying various locations around Oxford, traversing the High at least once, before settling on the current site in 1857. The library has been growing ever since: The Goodman Library was added in 1911, and the library office was the latest addition, in 2005. There are now around 60,000 books in the collection, each one of which has been hand picked by a member: In one of the many quirks of the Union, additions to the collections (and withdrawals) are chosen by a committee. The end result is a collection that provides a very physical manifestation of the diverse range of interests our members hold dear: From Roman Law to Macroeconomics, Hansards to travel guides, not to mention plenty of books our members themselves have written.
It is hard to overstate the cultural impact the library has had, not just on Oxford, but the world in general: We know that luminaries such as C.S. Lewis were regulars in the library, indeed we still have books annotated by him on the shelves (librarian’s note: Don’t annotate the books please!). It would be a fascinating exercise to collate the collective output of our membership each year: How many articles, speeches, theses, and monographs were born out of the Society's Library?
We recognise that the heritage of the Oxford Union is a powerful one, of which the Library is an integral part. Within its volumes there are many stories to be told. In order to be able to continue to do so, much needs to be done. In addition to the priorities detailed in the Senior Treasurer's Report, key objectives for 2024 and beyond for which funding is required include: the restoration of the murals which are at risk of fading beyond recognition, along with a replacement lighting system; humidity controls and the rebinding and repair of precious volumes; the maintenance of bookshelves and bookcases which house the books not only in the Old Library but also in The Goodman Library; the recent cold snap also highlighted the shortcomings of Victorian heating; and, as well documented elsewhere, the roof is in urgent need of repair.
In the meantime, we have employed an Archivist to start work on professionalising the Union’s extensive archival collections and uncover our past. Thanks to an earlier donation we have begun the digitisation of our audio collections of historic debates to preserve them in perpetuity and to make them available for researchers in due course. We have also created a microsite with blog posts on the history of the Union, as well as with digitised term cards going back to the 1940s. Upcoming projects include a collaboration with the Bodleian Libraries to digitise and make publicly available rare items from the Union’s library collections, and a fully immersive virtual tour of the library and debating chamber, populated with items of interest from our collections.
Although the library aims to move more 'online' than ever, we want to ensure that our home remains firmly rooted in our traditional premises in Frewin Court. The brilliant library team have worked hard to ensure our members have the best possible experience, but only so much can be done when we have a pressing need for repairs and restoration. With the support of our membership, we hope to secure both the heritage and the future of the Union.
Tom Corrick Librarian in Charge
In addition to holding debates in its premises in Oxford, the Oxford Union Society sends teams from amongst its members to debate in competitions worldwide against those from other institutions. Past teams have successfully debated on the English Speaking Union (ESU) tour of Australia, as well as competing in debates in the United States.
Competitive Oxford Debating remains as prolific as ever. Last summer at the European University Debating Championships in Burgas, Bulgaria, Oxford realised the greatest number of teams that qualified for knockout rounds. Out of the seven teams we entered, five successfully qualified with the other two only narrowly missing the cut. This was more than any other COUNTRY had qualify, let alone other institutions. Yet although two of our teams made it to the semi-finals, we were unable to bring home another trophy on this occasion.
Nevertheless, our debaters remained motivated to build on this momentum and in January 2024 we were crowned as World Champions! In Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, at the World University Debating Championships, Oxford Debating defeated 300 of the world's best teams, marking the 5th time we have won this tournament. Massive congratulations to the team, Aniket Chakravorty and Mark Rothery. Mark also claimed the title of second best speaker in the world and Aniket was close behind at 8th. We look forward to building on these successes as we prepare for the next European Championships in Glasgow this summer.
Patrick Rees Chair of the Debate Selection Committee (CDSC)
We hope you have enjoyed reading about the generous support we have received from life members and friends.
You can make a one-off donation or set up a regular gift to support The Urgent Appeal online here: https://oxford-union.org/supportus
UK Taxpayers may also claim Gift Aid.
Donations will be received by the Oxford Literary and Debating Union Charitable Trust (OLDUT), a registered charity which, since 1975, has owned most of the buildings used by the student-run Oxford Union Society (OUS), including the libraries and debating chamber. OLDUT delegates fulfilment of its charitable educational objectives to the OUS. The receipt and use of donations by OLDUT will enable gift aid to be added to eligible donations. More information on OLDUT and its trustees, none of whom is remunerated, can be found on the Charity Commission website (registered charity no. 270292).
International donors may give via US Oxford Union Foundation ('OXUF'), an independent 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity recognised by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.
Website: https://www.oxuf.org/
Your employer may also offer a donation matching scheme. OLDUT is registered on the Benevity portal https://causes.benevity.org/causes/search/
“These pages are dedicated gratefully for the past, hopefully for the future.”
Morrah, H. The Oxford Union 1823-1923. London. 1923.
https://oxford-union.org/supportus