In 2014, we cycled from Oxford to Venice; it was without doubt the toughest physical challenge of my life. In 2020, I’ll turn 70, and yet with some trepidation (and hoping my knees and everything else holds out) I will be making the return journey – from Venice back to Oxford – to celebrate my ninth and final year as Hertford’s Principal.

We’ll be covering 560 miles in 8 days, with over 7,000 meters of climbing. We’ll be crossing the Italian and Austrian Alps as well as the Vosges mountains – though thankfully the route gets a little gentler once we reach Belgium and the Netherlands!

I hope you’ll support me in this, my final adventure with Hertford. If ever you felt inspired by the work that we do supporting outreach and access for students across the UK and overseas, the ground-breaking academic research of our tutors, or if you would like to help us renovate and extend our Catte Street site, now is the time. I will be enormously grateful for your support.

Thank you – and if you would like to come on a training ride between now and July, get in touch!