We are delighted to invite you to one of our most cherished traditions, the Freshers' Welcome, an annual gathering that celebrates the students preparing to matriculate at Oxford and Cambridge in 2026, as well as our graduates stepping into the next chapter of their lives, and brings together alumni, current members, and new joiners of the Oxford and Cambridge Club of Geneva.

Date: Monday, 21 September 2026

Time: from 18:30

Venue: Société de Lecture

We are especially pleased to host the evening at the Société de Lecture, one of Geneva's most storied institutions. Founded in April 1818 by the botanist Augustin-Pyramus de Candolle together with a group of notable Geneva scholars, the Société occupies an 18th-century mansion in the heart of Geneva's historic centre that has housed its library and gatherings for over two centuries. It is a fitting setting for an evening that itself bridges generations, past and present, of Oxford and Cambridge in Geneva.

The gathering carries particular significance this year as we welcome not only our incoming Freshers but also our graduates, marking both the beginning of a new academic journey and the culmination of one already completed. It is a moment for the Club to stand alongside its members at both ends of the Oxbridge experience, celebrating ambition on one side and achievement on the other.

The programme will open with a welcome address from the Club, setting the tone for an evening centred on connection and continuity across generations of Oxford and Cambridge alumni in Geneva. This will be followed by an informal reception, offering a convivial setting for conversation and community-building.

Food and refreshments

The reception will feature a generous selection of homemade savoury and sweet canapés prepared by Genecand, with approximately ten pieces per person.

Savoury selection

Mini baguettes with ham and Gruyère

Mini pretzels with salmon and dill butter

Tortilla triangles

Pistachio-crusted pâté en croûte

Mini pastries with sun-dried tomato and cashew nuts

Sweet selection

Fresh-fruit tartlets

Caracs

Canelés

Drinks will be served throughout the evening and will include:

Belles Filles Chasselas AOC Genève

Belles Filles Gamay AOC Genève

Still and sparkling Swiss mineral water

Local apple juice from the Cidrerie de Meinier

Coca-Cola

Guests with allergies or dietary requirements are kindly asked to specify them when registering.

It will be a chance for newcomers to learn from those who came before them, for graduates to be recognised among peers who understand the milestone they have just reached, and for alumni more broadly to reconnect while welcoming the next generation into our shared tradition.

Ticket prices are as follows:

Freshers: Free of charge

Oxford & Cambridge Graduands: CHF 20

OCCG members: CHF 40

Guests: CHF 65.

For any enquiries, please contact the event organisers:

• Ludovic Claude (ludo.claude@gmail.com)
• Christian Mannoni (christian.mannoni@gmail.com)
• Don Birch (donbirch97@gmail.com)

Your participation keeps alive the club's 75-year tradition in Geneva, a tradition built on exactly this kind of gathering, where those arriving and those completing their studies are welcomed with the same warmth. Whether reconnecting with old friends, celebrating a graduate's achievement, or welcoming our Freshers, this will be a memorable evening for all.