On Saturday 18 April, Clare Hall was delighted to once again welcome supporters, friends, and Life Members to its annual Garden Party, held earlier than usual this year to mark the College’s 60th Anniversary. The occasion carried a particularly festive atmosphere, bringing together the community for an afternoon of conversation, celebration, and connection.

Guests enjoyed a relaxed setting filled with lively exchanges, delicious food, and a warm sense of occasion. A special highlight of this year’s gathering was the presence of the Cambridge Pentacle Club, a long-standing society of magicians founded in 1919 by Walter William Rouse Ball. Their return to Clare Hall, to a site connected with Rouse Ball’s former family home, now the Elmside building and Ashby Library, added a unique and playful dimension to the afternoon, delighting guests with moments of surprise and wonder.

We are very grateful to everyone who joined us and helped make the event so enjoyable, and to Jeremy Peters for capturing the day so beautifully in photographs. Above all, we extend our sincere thanks to our supporters and friends for their continued generosity and engagement with Clare Hall!