The Warden walks into the Cloisters

History has been made at New College

We move into the new academic year with the knowledge that the current Warden, Mr Miles Young, will not be retiring at the end of it. 

On 15th June 2022, the Governing Body met to re-elect Miles Young as Warden of New College, for a further three years, from October 2023. At the Trinity Term Stated General Meeting, a secret ballot was held in the McGregor-Matthews Room. Governing Body members voted anonymously, and the ballots were then counted by the most senior and most junior Fellows: David Palfreyman and Dr Elena Baena-González respectively.

The secret ballot confirmed the re-election of Warden Young, who first took up office in 2016. Having determined the results, Governing Body Fellows progressed in order of seniority to the Chapel, where the formal election takes place.

The GB of New College

The Governing Body line up in order of seniority, ready to enter the Chapel.

 Once firmly locked inside the Chapel by the Head Porter, Chris Wyatt, the Outrider (incoming Sub-Warden) and Tutor in Classics, Prof. Jane Lightfoot proclaimed the Declaration, in Latin, to be made by the Electors at the Election of a Warden:

 

Master, you will give your pledge that you will nominate with all the expedition you can, the person whom in your conscience you believe to be the most suitable, competent, discreet, useful and well-qualified for understanding and exercising the Office of Warden. You will subordinate and put aside all feelings of liking, personal bias, fear, envy or partiality, all consideration of blood relationship, friendship, faculty or branch of learning; and, furthermore, all respect of persons, nationality and opportunity for gain or reward”.

 

Moreover, that you hope and firmly believe that the person whom you nominate is the best capable and deserving of discharging the good and healthy governance and diligent care of the College, of the College’s members, statutes and property, and of its lands, possessions and revenues spiritual and temporal with the rights of the same”.

 

The Fellows then declared for Warden Young, each rising from their seat to announce “I declare for Miles Young”. 

 

Having re-elected Warden Young in accordance with New Colleges Statutes and By-Laws, the Head Porter unlocked the Chapel doors, and the Fellowship gathered in the cloisters for a champagne reception.

 

The GB toast the newly reelected Warden

Members of the College’s Governing Body celebrate the re-election of Warden Young.

 

At this point, The Warden was summoned from the Lodgings by the current Sub-Warden, Professor David Gavaghan, and entered the cloisters to the sound of New College’s bells, ringing for the first time since the pandemic.  This is the first time in the College’s history that a Warden has been re-elected.

The Warden emerges in the Cloisters

The newly re-elected Warden Young, joins the celebrations in the Cloisters.

The sub Warden toasts the Warden

Professor David Gavaghan toasts the newly re-elected Warden