Oxford Lives

New College was founded in 1379 by master mason William of Wykeham as a self-contained institution to quarantine and train priests at the time of the Black Death. As well as being one of the first Oxford colleges to take undergraduates and to appoint tutors to teach them, New College was the first in Oxford to be deliberately designed  around a main quadrangle and still maintains many of its ancient features. In today's episode we talk to former Assistant Catering Services Manager and Butler to the Wardens, Nigel Ewers. Nigel retired in 2018 but was then reinstated as Visitor Liaison Officer and is a familiar sight to Oxford residents with his affable manner and fascinating anecdotes. We also talk to Nigel about his compelling life story and what drew him to the city in the first place.