MERTON College has celebrated its 750th anniversary with a host of speakers and guests including Stephen Fry and Professor Brian Cox.

More than 4,000 alumni and members of the public have taken part in the college’s celebrations both in Oxford and across the world.

There have been musical premieres from the college’s choir, a summer ball and a three-day long weekend, which rivalled the University of Oxford’s own alumni weekend in size, by bringing back 1,200 former college members to celebrate the college’s inception.

Speakers have included current members of the college such as the mathematician Sir Andrew Wiles and there have been appearances from Friends of the college including Bill Bryson.

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The Merton Street college is also celebrating reaching its £30m fundraising campaign target with £7m going towards essential restoration and renovation of its historic buildings.

The college was founded by one of the leading figures of the 13th century, Walter de Merton, sometime Chancellor of England and later Bishop of Rochester. He was educated at Merton Priory in Surrey before enjoying a long and successful career serving the church and Henry III.

In a speech at the college, the warden of Merton, Sir Martin Taylor, said: “We can be proud at the end of an amazing year, and grateful that this college has stood the test of Walter de Merton’s vision over 750 years.”

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