Bob's trip to Oxford, February 2011

So.... I had the opportunity to be the guest of Oxford University for 3 days in February- they invited guidance counsellors from 60 schools in over 50 countries to attend this workshop- you will be pleased to know that Shawnigan Lake was one of the schools represented! Over the 3 days we had the opportunity to meet the Dean of Admissions, sit in on admissions interviews, attend tutorials- I was with a Nobel Laureate engineering professor with 2 students during a 90 minute tutorial- absolutely amazing. Wined, dined and spoiled throughout- my kind of a conference!

first day in Oxford- pub in my hotel- my introduction to the "Real Ale" Movement
beautiful spring day- probably about 15 degrees and sunny the first day- for about 2 hours and then it rained!


Martyr's Memorial downtown

on our way to the Bodleian Library
alleyway leading to one of the 37 colleges in Oxford- to the right is Christ Church Cathedral

Prior to going to Oxford University, I spent a day at Oxford Brookes University- they have the UK's only race car engineering program- I have their business faculty doing a course at our school this summer

forumula one cars that are provided by Lewis Hamilton's team to the school

The Bodleian Library- dates back to the 14th century- absoluting amazing place- we were given a very thorough tour of the facility
St.John's College ( I think)- dates back to 1555
Back of the Radcliffe Camera- a reference/reading room as part of the Bodleian-amazing building
The Bridge of Sighs- named after the Venice original- built to join 2 buildings that make up Hertford College

church in downtown Oxford
The Eagle and Child- a great pub that I went to my first night in Oxford ( sampled 4 that night I think)- claim to fame here is the pub, dating back to the 17th century, was the regular haunt of the Inklings, a group of Oxford writers that would meet to discuss their works. CS Lewis brought forward the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe here and Tolkien was convinced to go ahead with his Hobbit novel here

typical grounds inside a college- all stone wall from the street and then beautifully landscaped inside

site of our workshops for the 3 days in Oxford
downtown Oxford- market street

bookstore in downtown Oxford

Interested to find out this is actually a residence for one of the colleges in Oxford
I think this is Christ Church College- probably the most prestigeous of the colleges

Awesome pub- roof is about 6 feet high- tucked away in an alleyway that makes it almost impossible to find- dates back to the 13th century- part of its claim to fame is this is where Clinton said he "didn't inhale marijuana" while attending Oxford

Rhodes House Oxford- residence for Rhodes Scholars
grounds of yet another college!Wadham College- Harry Potter was shot here
doors to the Bodleian
thought this was an interesting room in the Bodleian so I took a photo- found out afterwards it was the seat of parliament during the War of Roses


Oxford by night

Where I stayed while in Oxford- New College sits in Wellington SquareHigh table dinner on our final night at Wadham College- apparently they have the best wine collection in the United Kingdom- did my best to check it out

Beautiful Sunday morning downtown