Oxbridge Chancellors celebrate Royal Charter anniversary at Harris Manchester

Lord William Hague and Lord Chris Smith attended their first ever joint event as Chancellors of Oxford and Cambridge at a celebration at Harris Manchester to mark 30 years since the College was awarded its Royal Charter to become a collegiate member of the University of Oxford

Yesterday (11 March) at Harris Manchester College, Lord William Hague, Chancellor of the University of Oxford, and Lord Chris Smith, Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, attended their first joint event since becoming the ceremonial heads of the UK’s two oldest universities. At a celebration to mark the 30th anniversary of Harris Manchester gaining full collegiate status at the University of Oxford, the two Chancellors were given a tour of the College before meeting students and attending a celebratory dinner. 

During dinner, which was attended by students, staff and supporters, both Chancellors made speeches paying tribute to the College’s distinctive mission within the University of teaching and supporting mature students.

Lord Hague was elected Chancellor of the University of Oxford in February last year, with Lord Smith taking up the equivalent role at Cambridge in July. The two men also share a political past – Lord Hague was formerly the Leader of the Conservative Party, and later Foreign Secretary, while Lord Smith served as Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in Tony Blair’s Labour government. 

^{Image credit: Edmund Blok. From left to right, Sir Ralph Waller, Dame Ffion Hague, Lord William Hague, Lord Chris Smith, Lady Harris, Lord Harris, Professor Beth Breeze OBE}

Also attending were Dame Ffion Hague, an Honorary Fellow of Harris Manchester and Lord Hague’s wife, and the College’s naming benefactor, Lord Harris of Peckham. Other guests included former Principal Sir Ralph Waller, who oversaw its transition to the University of Oxford’s only college dedicated solely to teaching mature students.  

The Principal of Harris Manchester College, Professor Beth Breeze, who took up her role in October, commented: “We were delighted to play host to the first ever official meeting of the current Oxford and Cambridge Chancellors. Receiving the Royal Charter 30 years ago was a hugely significant moment in our history; and a key part of the University’s decision to grant collegiate status was its support for our mission to teaching mature students. It is therefore fitting that we played host to Lord Hague and Lord Smith, who are both advocates of widening access to Oxbridge, irrespective of age or other barriers.” 

Lord William Hague said: “It was a great pleasure to return to Harris Manchester on this important anniversary, as well as to welcome the new Principal, Beth Breeze, and to pay tribute to the contribution of Lord Harris. I also enjoyed spending time with Chris Smith, the new Chancellor of Cambridge, to celebrate the work of our great universities and their rich mixture of close co-operation and friendly rivalry”. 

Lord Chris Smith said: “Harris Manchester has a pioneering history teaching mature students, and it was an honour to be asked to join William Hague to celebrate 30 years of this important work.”