The Queen's College Lodge met in December for its annual festive gathering celebrating friendship, shared values and giving back to the community. This year's event captured that spirit perfectly. 

The day began informally, with coffee and cake, followed by a short members' meeting attended by over 50 people. During the meeting, new member Darren Rumsey was presented with his Grand Lodge certificate. The highlight was a special moment recognising Philip Jubb (OQ 1967), who marked half a century of involvement with the Lodge. 

The aftenoon also shone a light on the Lodge's chosen charity, Somerset Sight, which supports people living with sight loss. Hearing directly from those connected to the organisation brought real perspective - their stories, full of honesty, humour and resilience, made a lasting impression. Many of those present expressed an interest in getting involved, reflecting a genuine enthusiasm to support a fantastic charity's work. 

With everyone in good spirits, the group enjoyed a drinks reception, where Head of College, Julian Noad, dropped in to chat with alumni and guests, including Richard Lewis (OQ 1956) and his wife, Angela. After a very festive dinner, Geoff Dolling (OQ 1962) led a raffle and auction, with the standout lot - a five-course dining experience - raising an impressive £900! 

All in all, the event raised around £2,500. Combined with other Lodge events this year, more than £6,000 was raised in total for Somerset Sight, helping support their work across the local community. 

If you would like to find out more about the Queen's College Lodge, please visit: queenscollegelodge.co.uk