The challenge is part of a £1 million fundraising effort to secure the future of rowing at the Oxford college.

A total of 48 alumni, along with current students and staff, will make the journey as part of a challenge to endow Oriel’s boat club during the college’s 700th anniversary year.

Lord Mendoza, provost of Oriel College, said: “The scale of participation in the alumni Channel row to mark our 700th anniversary year is staggering.

“It demonstrates the lasting bonds students form on the water as well as a love for their college.”

The fundraising effort aims to keep rowing free for all students and fund a permanent coach.

Crossings will take place over four weekends in April and May, with crews rowing the 35-mile stretch between Ramsgate and Dunkirk in six Cornish pilot gigs – oar boats built to withstand sea conditions.

A seventh boat, crewed entirely by students, will take a different route through the Solent, north of the Isle of Wight.

Alumni from the past seven decades will take part, with the oldest rower aged 75.

One of the boats will be crewed by an all-women team.

Adam Frost, a member of the organising team and a Channel rower, said: “Celebrating Oriel College’s 700th anniversary is inspiring.

“Rowing the Channel is a challenge — apparently, fewer people have completed it than have climbed Mount Everest.

“Personally though, the greatest joy of planning the Oriel Channel Row is seeing the camaraderie — across the generations, men and women, current students and alumni — all sharing a deep appreciation of Oriel and love of rowing.”

Among those taking part is Roz Lawson, who said: “I never expected to row, but at Oriel in 1987 almost every person in my year gave it a go.

“I’m so pleased to hear that the endowment would maintain Oriel’s commitment to free rowing for all students – I would never have started rowing if I’d had to pay a membership fee.”

She added: “I’m excited (and a little scared) for the Oriel Channel Row!”

Tim Shepheard-Walwyn, another rower, said: “Taking part in the Oriel Channel Row was a challenge I really could not pass up.

“As a former complete novice who learned to row as a student, I can vouch for the life-changing experience that is available to anyone who takes up rowing at Oriel.”

Oriel College, founded in 1326 by King Edward II, is the fifth-oldest surviving college at Oxford University.

It is home to around 320 undergraduates and 230 postgraduates.

Donations to support the boat club endowment can be made through the college’s official fundraising page.

The popular Swedish retail brand, which designs and sells ready-to-assemble furniture, has been the world’s largest furniture retailer since 2008.

Currently, the closest stores to Oxfordshire are in Milton Keynes and Reading, which both require lengthy drives to reach.

With new stores being announced to open in Chester, Essex and Norwich, last April, the Oxford Mail enquired if there were plans for a move to the county soon.

Having been told that there were no solid plans for an expansion into Oxfordshire last year, but with an eye kept on the situation by IKEA, this newspaper has asked again, one year on.

Today (Tuesday, April 7), a spokesperson for the brand said: “We’re in a fast-changing retail environment and we want to make sure we continue to be affordable and convenient.

“Our ambitious growth plans mean we are focusing on all parts of creating a great customer experience, whenever and wherever people need us.

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“This includes investing in our online offer, pick up points and customer services, rebuilding and adapting existing IKEA stores, and evaluating different locations as part of our expansion strategy.​

“Whilst we are reviewing our strategy on an ongoing basis. We are not considering Oxfordshire as a potential location for IKEA at this current time.”

For Oxfordshire customers who prefer not to travel to Reading or Milton Keynes, the brand’s products can be delivered straight to homes or to a Tesco or DPD pick‑up point nearby.

J&K Cuisine Ltd fell into liquidation after Immigration Enforcement paid a visit in the summer of last year.

The company runs Bilash Tandoori in Broadshires Way, Carterton, a place it has operated from since 2014.

Gareth Hunt and Alex Cachini, of Manchester-based business restructuring specialist RPG, were appointed as joint liquidators in August.

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Statement of affairs submitted to Companies House reveal the company went bust with £351,000 worth of debts owed.

Most of this was the £280,000 fine it was issued with after it was found to have employed illegal workers.

Details of this raid and how many illegal workers were found have not been publishing in the recent list by Immigratin Enforcement.

However, as a general rule, businesses that have been caught with an illegal worker on site receive a fine of up to £45,000 per illegal worker.

Company directors Mohammed Alam, 28, and Jamal Hasib, 70, are both owed £26,107 each, the records show.

HMRC has a claim of £9,762 in unpaid VAT which is expected to go down to £6,012 due to the cash in the bank and the electricty company Smartest Energy is owed £9,221.

Bilash, which is still registered as being open on Google, has been approached for a further comment.

The website says: “Bilash in central Carterton is proud to serve wholesome and unpretentious Indian food as a shared dining experience.”