Churchill College recently celebrated the formal investiture of Lord Sales, one of its alumni, as the College’s new Visitor. The ceremony took place on November 10th, with the Master, Fellows, and invited guests in attendance.
The role of the Visitor is a unique and ancient one in Cambridge and Oxford colleges – acting as an independent arbiter who ensures the College’s statutes are upheld and who can act as adjudicator of unresolved internal college conflicts. The previous Visitor at the College was Prince Phillip, who was appointed at the College’s foundation in 1959, and the post has remained unfilled since his death in 2021, making Lord Sales the second Visitor in the College’s history.
Lord Sales is a Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom and was recently appointed as its next Deputy President, a role he will assume in January 2026. He studied law at Churchill, graduating in 1983, before going on to complete a BCL (Bachelor of Civil Law) at Oxford. Called to the Bar in 1985, he quickly rose through the legal ranks, serving in key roles including First Treasury Junior Counsel, a High Court judge, and later a Lord Justice of Appeal. He joined the Supreme Court in 2019.
Lord Sales’ distinguished career has been marked by landmark rulings and a commitment to public service. His return to Churchill in this new role reflects the College’s ongoing commitment to principled leadership and thoughtful stewardship.
Lord Sales has been a longstanding supporter of the College, and has been the College’s longest standing consecutive donor, having donated every year for the past 25 years. He has been an active alumnus, attending reunion events, as well as speaking at alumni networking events and student dinners, and keeping the College Library well stocked with books for our law students.
The Master of Churchill College, Professor Sharon Peacock CBE FMedSci, said of the appointment “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Lord Sales as our Visitor. His deep connection to Churchill, demonstrated through decades of unwavering support and engagement with our community, makes him the ideal person for this important role. To have someone of his standing, who understands Churchill from the inside as both a student and a devoted alumnus, is truly special. We look forward to benefiting from his wisdom in the years ahead.”
