The Pernbrokian Autumn 1999 Issue XII
Pembroke College Development Newsletter
College or Building Site?
Under Wraps - Staircases IX and X
North Quad - A Temporary Builder's Yard ?
This summer, students, Members and visitors alike have been met by views of building works rather than views of the College. What has been going on? Vital restoration work to our old buildings is now in progress in Chapel Quad, Old Quad and the Alms Houses. North Quad has been acting as a temporary builder's yard for the extensive works being carried out on staircases IX and X. The exterior stonework of both staircases on the Chapel Quad side is undergoing a major programme of restoration and by the autumn will once again match the stonework of the rest of the Victorian buildings in the Quad. 375th Anniversary
Contents
At the same time, the first phase of work to refurbish the interiors to staircases IX and X is progressing well. By the start of the next term there will be modern central heating throughout and redesigned study-bedrooms with individual bathrooms on staircase X. The next phase, to extend interior work to staircase IX will take place during the summer vacation of 2000.
Celebration at Glympton Manor North American Reunion 2000 Sports Fund Latest
In Old Quad, we have been replacing many of the old windows which have reached the end of their useful life, and the roof of the Master's Lodgings has finally been repaired with new slates. At least the Master can put his umbrella away now!
Diary Dates 1999/2000 Your Letters
(contd.) Christmas Card
- Editor's Note This issue of The Pembrokian focuses on two very different main stories - current building and restoration work in College & the celebration of our 375th anniversary at Glympton Manor on 3.1-lily 1999. Our cover story continues to the right of this column, but I would like to turn here to the service of commemoration and celebration that took place recendy in the small parish church of Glympton in Oxfordshire. The service was followed by a splendid reception in the grounds of Glympton Manor, where Thomas Tesdale and his wife Maud had their home in the early part of the seventeenth century, and which is now owned by HRH Prince Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the United States ofAmerica.
(contd. from cover page)
As many of you will know, no work ever goes smoothly when dealing with the restoration of old buildings. Extensive rot was discovered below the slates on the roof of the Master's Lodgings and throughout staircase IX. Our intrepid Alumni Officer, Gloria Mundy, braved the many ladders and pieces of scaffolding which currently adorn the College to bring you the pictures featured below
The celebration of our Foundation as a College gives us all, I believe, a chance to reflect. Pembroke has a strong and vivid history, and it is good on occasions such as these, to stop and remember that the College does not exist for just the three or four years of our stay. The lives of all our Members are touched by their time at Pembroke for better or for worse! We do hope that the change is usually for the better. We can reflect upon the vision of those who have made the College what it is today. To name just two , we can reflect upon the contributions of Jeune, who developed the Chapel Quad, and of MacCallum , who saw the importance of science to the future of Pembroke and brought the North Quad to fruition.
BUILDING ON THE PAST CREATING THE FUTURE
Anniversary celebrations such as these also enable us to reflect on the challenges facing Pembroke in the future, and to offer thanks to those Members and friends who are making a major contribution to the continuation of Pembroke as a unique place in which to educate our brightest young people.
Thank you. Ray Rook Director of Development Pembroke College Oxford OX1 1DW tel - 01865 276 417 fax - 01865 276 418 email - ray.rook@prnb.ox.ac uk
why not visit our new website? www.pembroke.oxford.ac.uk
However, we are happy to report that despite these quite serious problems, the work is expected to be completed on time and within budget. Much of the work currently being carried out in College should have been done in the last decade but it is only now that, thanks to you, our Members and friends, money has become available for such projects. We do hope that you will come back to Pembroke soon to see what we have all achieved together.
See Diary Dates
Pembroke College - 375 Years A Celebration at Glympton Manor Although only half the age of University College, on 3 July 1999, Pembroke took a proper pride in the celebration of the 375th Anniversary of its foundation; the Royal Charter which brought us into being is dated 29 June, 1624. We were particularly fortunate in being able to mark this occasion in a delightful rural setting, a few miles north of Woodstock, with a Service of Thanksgiving in St. Mary's Church, Glympton which houses the grave and the superb alabaster monument of our principal Co-Founder, Thomas Tesdale together with his wife, Maud. The small medieval church was crammed to overflowing for the service which took the form of a simplified version of the traditional annual rite for the Commemoration of our Founders and Benefactors. In his address the Master gave a lively account of Tesdale's career as an outstanding example of an Elizabethan entrepreneur. In the words of the historian of Abingdon, whose sons were to benefit from the bequest, 'no proper opportunity of making money was ever neglected by Tesdale.' The benefactor died in 1610 and left the ÂŁ5,000 - for those days a vast sum of money - to Balliol to provide places for Abingdon boys at Oxford. However, the citizens of Abingdon were unhappy at this arrangement, not least because one of the first to go to Balliol was fatally knifed in a quarrel there!
Pembroke College was established by Royal Charter on the site of Broadgates Hall After prolonged negotiations involving in particular the Archbishop of Canterbury, George Abbott, and our CoFounder, Richard Wightwick, the money was transferred from Balliol to transform Broadgates Hall into the new foundation of Pembroke College. Following the service, in which the College choir sang beautifully, the congregation moved over a few yards into the superb grounds of the Manor House to partake of the fine refreshments generously provided by the estate's owner, HRH Prince Bandar bin Sultan. The College is most grateful to him and to the Vicar of Glympton, the Revd. Robert Farman, for providing such a background for our celebrations. As the Master reminded us, the original College Statutes explicitly set up Pembroke as a family and it was very evident to all our Members and friends present on this occasion that we have remained true to this vision from our foundation until now. The Master's address at Glympton will be reprinted in a future edition of The Record. John Platt
,Announcing
Pembroke North American Reunion Monday 31 July - Thursday 3 August 2000 The theme of this historic event will be :
`Pembroke - Past, Present & Future' Following the great success of the 1996 reunion which was attended by fifty-six Members, many of whom were accompanied by their families, the College has exciting plans to make the Year 2000 Reunion an event to remember. We would like to hear your views as to its content. We have had strong representations to exclude outside excursions (but if enough of you request excursions we will include them on Thursday 3 August - let us know) and to concentrate on Pembroke's history and future. To this end we will incorporate presentations by Fellows and others on all aspects of 'Pembroke - Past, Present and Future.' If you live in North America you should receive an invitation by 31st December. If you do not receive an invitation and would like one please contact the Development Office (use email: development.secretary@pmb.ox.ac.uk)
Dates For Your Diary 1999/2000 2 or 7 December 1999
Reception in New York with the Master. Invitations will be sent to those living in the New York area. If you want an invitation or more details contact Denis Lyons (email: dlyons@spencerstuart.com)
Thursday, 2 December 1999
Christmas Concert in the Damon Wells Chapel - restricted attendance (please contact Development Office for ticket details)
Saturday, 8 January 2000
Gaudy for Matriculation years 1986 - 1987
Friday, 14 April 2000
Inter-Collegiate Golf Day at Frilford Heath
Friday, 30 June 2000
Gaudy for Matriculation years 1990 - 1991
Monday 31 July thro Thursday 3 August 2000
North American Reunion in College
Friday, 5 January 2001
Gaudy for Matriculation years 1992 - 1993
Further dates to be announced in our Spring Issue
Sports Fund News
In the autumn of 1991, Sir Roger Bannister launched a Sports Fund Appeal, necessitated by the fact that expenditure on college sport regularly outstripped the income derived from that portion of students' tuition fees which is allocated for sport. Over the next few years, Members very kindly gave ÂŁ26,000 to the Sports Fund which has helped to fund a number of important projects aimed at upgrading our facilities. These projects included : Renovation of the tennis courts Renovation of the cricket net, so as to ensure a more even bounce (and fewer bruised bones!) Provision of a new storage facility at the sportsground Purchase of new lightweight football and rugby posts In addition, the Fund has enabled financial assistance to be given to sports clubs and individuals. Examples include :
1991 Appeal Update
An expedition to Svalbard (690 miles from the North Pole) to study global warming and the impact of tourism in the region The first Pembroke Ski Club trip, involving 40 students A tour to South Africa by OU Squash Racquets Club in which two Pembroke students took part Pembroke enjoys a very active sporting community, and as Treasurer of the Amalgamated Clubs, I am constantly surprised by the imaginative requests for funds I receive. It is the generosity of Members over the years that has enabled many of our students to benefit from the opportunities made possible by the Sports Fund.
Richard Young Treasurer, Amalgamated Clubs
Annual expenditure continues to outstrip income. We are, however, delighted to announce that we have donors for the refurbishment of the pavilion while the College intends to refurbish one of the squash courts. For as long as Pembroke continues to thrive as a sporting college, Sir Roger's Appeal will, by necessity, remain open. Your ideas and offers of support are, of course, always most welcome! Please contact me via the Development Office.
Development Office 01865 276 478 or email development.secretary@pmb.ox.ac.uk
Golf
Members' Notice Board
On 3 September, 8 stalwart Members took on 12 Members of St Catherine's at Whittlebury Park Country Club - best 5 cards to count - and achieved an honourable draw. Prizewinners for Pembroke were Richard Thompson (56), Peter Letts (`54) and Derek Charman (`41). If you would like to be kept informed about golf fixtures, please contact John Barlow or Richard Thompson (01483-223640), secretary of the newly formed Pembroke Golf Society (Pictured L to R) Richard Thompson (`56), Derek Charman (41), Paddy Nolan (`52), Peter Letts (`54), Peter Turner (`55), Philip Goldsmith (`54), Richard Graham (`64) & Geoff Bissenden (`63) Autumn Issue Inserts Accompanying this issue of The Pembrokian you should receive a colour insert depicting the design for the 1999 Christmas card. A few 1998 cards, depicting the Chapel Altar, are available at the same price as the 1999 cards. You will also find an insert and order form for the CD recording by David Titterington on the splendid Letourneau organ in the Damon Wells Chapel.
Pembroke Merchandise We would like to draw your attention to the fact that in the last issue of The Pembrokian we unfortunately omitted to include p&p in the prices indicated. If you wish to place an order, please contact - in the first instance - the Catering Manager, Mr Steve :Rhodes, on 01865 276 425 for details.
To ride out changes successfully, Pembroke will need much greater financial resources or risk becoming a mere student dormitory. Doing nothing will result in the College fading away.
From David Fell (72) Dear Sir, I note that the. College will shortly be appealing to its alumni again to boost the Foundation.
Pembroke Postbag
Many old members will be wondering why the College needs to seek further funding when the appeal just ended was successful in apparently restoring the College's fortunes. Other members, up to the 1950 to 1990 period when state funding to the University was relatively generous, will find it hard to understand why the College needs further assistance.
It appears to me that English further education is at just the beginning of very fundamental changes in the way in which it is funded and what it needs to do. Simplistically, Government can no longer afford to fund the best in further education and if Oxbridge is Letters to : to compete with the top overseas institutions it must fund much more of its activities and substantially The Editor lessen its dependence upon Government. Secondly, The Pembrokian Oxford will lose its status as a world class University The Development (some say it may have already lost that status) if it Office Pembroke College does not compete head on with Yale, Harvard, Oxford Stanford, MIT, etc. To compete successfully the whole OXI 1DW University will need far greater financial resources and academics must be paid far more than currently.
I do hope that this letter helps to show why the College must fundraise and why I support such efforts. Yours faithfully,
From The Rev. David Evans (`32) Dear Sir, Thank you so much for the print of the engraving of the College and the Certificate. I am so delighted to have them and they will certainly remind me of my time at Pembroke and my long family connection. I went up in 1932 exactly 100 years after my grandfather, Evan Evans. As you know, he became Master in 1864 and remained so till he died in 1891. Also my father was born in the Master's Lodgings in 1870 and went up, I think, in 1889 - hence my special interest in the College and the Century 5 Campaign. Yours faithfully,
- Physics & Computing at Pembroke The College can no longer support all of the activities which it would like and the University has suggested that we should reduce the number of Fellows. The opportunity has arisen to reduce our Fellowship by ceasing to teach both Physics and Computing. As a result, the students starting in 1999 will be the last to be taught in these subjects at Pembroke. There have been altogether three Fellows in Physics - Dr Wilks, Dr Rook and Dr Klipstein, and one Fellow in Computing - Dr Morgan. This step does represent a very regrettable reversal of the expansion of the sciences initiated by Ronald MacCallum when he was Master. Ray Rook Director of Development
- Society WebpageNigel James (`63) is interested in setting up a Society Webpage. In the first instance it might act as a postbox between Members but he would like your ideas. E-mail him at n.t.james@sigmametrics.co.uk
Congratulations! Although thirty years separate the matriculation years of Peter (1963) and Tim (1993) Beard, the above photograph shows them formally receiving their degrees on the same day. On 31 July 1999, Peter, an English graduate, took his BA and MA, whilst Tim, who achieved a 2:1 in Engineering, Economics and Management, became a Master in Engineering. John Platt