Cambridge Alumni

Did you imagine who you'd become when you first stepped into your College room?

When Sathnam Sanghera (Christ's College, Cambridge 1995) arrived at Y43, he never imagined he would write a book.

Returning to the room three decades later, he reflects on the excitement, uncertainty and possibility of those first days at Cambridge, and how his time here opened doors he never thought possible.

Step inside author Sathnam's old room with current student Rocio Leyva Thomas. https://www.alumni.cam.ac.uk/magazine/issue-108/y43-christ%E2%80%99s-my-room-your-room

Planning a holiday, staycation or simply some quiet time with a good book this summer?

We have asked academics from the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics, University of Cambridge to share their summer reading recommendations, from contemporary fiction and classic literature to philosophy and cultural history.

Explore their picks and find your next great read:

https://www.alumni.cam.ac.uk/stories-and-successes/holiday-reads-from-the-faculty-of-modern-and-medieval-languages

What are you reading this summer?

Holiday reads from the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages To help inspire your summer reading, asked academics from the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages and Linguistics to share the books they will be diving into over the summer.

Today we celebrate the life and legacy of Bill Oddie (Pembroke College Cambridge 1960), who has passed away at the age of 85.

During his time at Cambridge, Oddie's passion for performance flourished through his involvement in the 'Footlights'. 🎭

While still a student, he was already writing for productions and went on to contribute to the satirical TV series 'That Was The Week That Was' in the early 1960s. ✍️

After graduating, Oddie became a household name as a member of the much-loved comedy trio 'The Goodies'.

He later devoted himself to his lifelong passion for wildlife as a presenter for the BBC's 'Springwatch' and an advocate for birdwatching. 🍃

Join us in remembering Oddie's remarkable career and long-lasting legacy.

Your Easter CAM 2026 is here, with stories that celebrate the people, places and traditions that make Cambridge so special.

In this 108 issue:

We step inside author Sathnam Sanghera's old room with current Law student Rocio Leyva Thomas. 🚪

We travel to Okinawa, Japan, to find out the secret to ageing well, finding purpose and living a fulfilling life. 🇯🇵

We tuck into light-night Cambridge food spots, including the long-lasting rivalry between Trailer of Life and Van of Death. 🍔

And we hear from the Cambridge University Golf Club to discover the curious traditions and 'serious fun' behind one of the University's oldest sporting clubs. ⛳

Read these stories and more in the latest issue of CAM: https://www.alumni.cam.ac.uk/magazine

Poker, but the Cambridge way ♠️

Dr Robert Wells (St John's College, 2000) used his maths PhD to turn poker into a game of strategy, not superstition, swapping gut instinct for probability and a well-played hand for a well-worked-out one.

Despite his hate for gambling, Rob loves the intellectual challenge.

Perhaps a proof that even a game can be 'methodically' fun? 😄