OS NEWS AND HIGHLIGHTS
Sophie Gilpin
Alex Hall and Tasha Dambacher
Ellie Allen( OS 2023) is captain of St Andrew’ s University’ s netball 1st team, and Betrys Galloni( OS 2023) is captain of the Oxford Women’ s Blues hockey team for 2026.
Ian Bainbridge( OS 1970) continues to compete internationally in the GB Masters team for marathon kayak racing. In 2022 he won silver in the European Cup and achieved a top 10 finish at the World Masters in Portugal, aged 70.
Phoebe Barker( OS 2018) won University of Cambridge Sports Person of the Year 2024, took home a silver medal at the World Triathlon Multisport World Championships in Australia, and was the Spanish National Sprint Duathlon winner.
Will Burrard-Lucas( OS 2002) released a new series of photographs of elusive wildlife following a 12-month project in the Republic of Congo’ s Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park. Working with nonprofit organisation the Wildlife Conservation Society( WCS), Will hopes his images will help efforts to protect endangered species.
Bloomtide, a short film by award-winning director Louis Catliff( OS 2013) was screened at Riverside Studios, London, located next to where the film’ s story unfolded. It tells the tale of pioneering urban gardener Seth El-Shaddai’ s fight to save his Thames riverside garden.
BBC Studios Kids & Family will release a new animated series of My Friend Maisy by Lucy Cousins( OS 1982). Lucy was 11th in the list of the mostloaned authors in UK public libraries of 2024.
Tasha Dambacher and Alex Hall( both OS 2021) led the Lady Margaret Hall Chamber Choir’ s most ambitious tour yet, to Paris. They performed in four extraordinary venues including La Madeleine with the aim of making high-level choral music accessible to all Oxford students.
Senior civil servant Emma de Closset( nee Kenny)( OS 2005) was appointed CEO of UK Community Foundations( UKCF), a network of accredited community foundations with a shared commitment to tackling local issues.
Sir Dexter Dias( OS 1981) was appointed by His Majesty the King to the High Court, assigned to the King’ s Bench Division, and received a knighthood in January.
England Badminton player Rory Easton( OS 2017) competed in the Sudirman Cup, China, and the 2025 European Championships.
Tash Farrant( OS 2014) was vice-captain of Surrey Women’ s cricket team, and Coco Streets( OS 2020) was vice-captain of Kent Women’ s cricket team for the 2025 season.
Gramophone named Mozart Horn Concertos, with Alec Frank-Gemmill( OS 2003), the Swedish Chamber Orchestra and Nicholas McGegan, one of its best classical albums of 2025.
Award-winning theatre, opera and film director Sophie Gilpin( OS 2007) directed the comic opera Pimpinone at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
Josefina Hippe( OS 2024) represented the U19s in the European Hockey League.
Glen Inanga( OS 1991) founded the Cayman Arts Festival in 2003. At this year’ s festival, violinist and fellow Old Sennockian Hannah Dawson( OS 1999) and Sevenoaks music teacher Robin Ashwell performed with their ensemble, the Sacconi Quartet.
Rex Kobayashi-Boulter( OS 2014) played for the Japan team who won the Rugby League Asian Cup 2024.
Rahul Nambiar( OS 2020), co-founder of web-based education management tool Jochi, was awarded the University of Pennsylvania President’ s Innovation Prize 2024. Jochi improves the experiences of students with learning differences and allows educators to better provide support.
124 ALUMNI