The Oundle Lecture Series
The annual Oundle Lectures are given by Old Oundelians who are distinguished in their particular field. Newly appointed Sanderson Fellow Dr Richard McKim continues the trend of linking each lecture with an academic department, and also tries to alternate the theme of the lectures between the sciences and the arts. This year's lecture will be given by Andrew Anderson OO, Emmy Award-winning wildlife photographer. Last year's lecture was delivered by Anthony Holden.
Professor Richard Dawkins (Ldr, 1959) delivered the first Oundle Lecture in 2002. He chose ‘Evolution: the new Classics’ as his title, including in his text a eulogy of F.W. Sanderson which appeared a week later as a two-page article in The Guardian. He was followed in 2003 by the author, poet and noted poker-player Al Alvarez (C, 1948), who gave an insight into the challenges faced by a professional writer in his lecture, ‘My Dreadful Trade.’ In 2004, Sir Alan Budd (C, 1955), asked the question in his title ‘What do Economists know?’ The choice of Sir Alan, along with that of Al Alvarez, drew the comment that there could not be many schools who could invite two of the UK’s leading experts on gambling to come back to their old school for such an occasion in successive years.
In 2007 Sir John Lilleyman delivered a moving talk about his career in medicine and in particular about the fight against childhood leukaemia.
Each Oundle Lecture, given in the Stahl Theatre, is followed by dinner for a limited number of guests in the Great Hall. This is a charity event, intended to raise funds for a good cause chosen by the speaker, and for scholarships and bursaries at the School. The chosen charities supported so far have been the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, the Roundhouse Trust, and the British Association for Performing Arts Medicine. The 2005 lecture supported artists and scientists who were victims of the South East Asia Tsunami, and in 2008 the charity will be the South Bank Centre. Each year in excess of £1000 is raised for the chosen charity.
For further details about the Oundle Lectures, please contact Dr Richard McKim on 01832 277189, or by email at rjm@oundleschool.org.uk .