Message from the Master

Last year, Fellows and staff ensured a safe return to a wide range of intellectual, social, sporting and creative experiences for students. The College ’ s Pandemic Strategy Group, who supported colleagues throughout the pandemic, disbanded at the end of Lent Term. It was a privilege to work with such committed colleagues.

We look forward to welcoming everyone back to our Halls and to a refreshed Pump Court, resplendent with York stone, tulip trees and a fabulous new stone staircase giving direct access to the Hall. When I first visited the old kitchen, I marvelled that our chefs consistently produced some of the best food in Cambridge (in my opinion, the best) from such a constricted space. Our chefs will continue this tradition in a transformed space, fit for the next few hundred years. The new kitchen and Caff are filled with light and are ergonomically designed with meticulous attention to detail. Jesuans will be proud of the project’ s environmental credentials, which include ground source heating. Thanks to the team who have overseen this huge project.

The Forum and Forum Upper Hall, our dining home since 2020, will next year be incorporated with the Frankopan Hall to enhance our West Court conference complex, enabling us to attract even more interesting and dynamic thinkers from academia and beyond.

The foundation of intellectual life at Jesus is the large programme of events organised by our Fellows. Dr Julian Huppert leads the Intellectual Forum (IF) team, who have fully embraced the potential to reach a global audience through hybrid events. Highlights of last year included Professor Bill Sherman ’ s 2022 Lisa Jardine Memorial Lecture on ‘Erasmus and the Reader ’ s Eye ’ ; a conference about healthcare in refugee and conflict zones in the Middle East and North Africa (with a live stream from the regions); a conversation with Professor Mary Beard; Lord Bernard Hogan Howe ’ s lecture ‘Should the police use more facial recognition?’ Visiting Fellow Sharon Dodua Otoo read from her new novel Ada’s Realm, and a symposium on the artistic practice of Shahzia Sikander followed her exhibition in our West Court Gallery. The IF also went on its first road trip, taking over a stage at the Cambridge Club Festival. Campers listened to some of our world-leading academics, alongside other headliners Diana Ross and Nile Rodgers and Chic!

It is a pleasure to be Master of a College which is so dynamic. Last year, one day particularly stood out thanks to three notable events. On 27 October 2021, we hosted the first Universal Ownership Summit which brought together Fund Managers who control investments worth hundreds of billions of pounds, to discuss how to make the world a better place. We also held a launch event for the Jesus College Careers Programme, which this year expanded our mentoring platform Jesus Connect to

over 2,000 members and 800 mentors, while running a full programme of talks and skills workshops. Finally, on that day, Jesus College became the first institution in the world to hand back a Benin Bronze, at a moving ceremony in the Frankopan Hall. A few months later, I received a film clip of that same Bronze being received at the palace of the Oba of Benin. The best moment was a shot of the cockerel statue in the foreground, with three children in the background looking at their cultural heritage. Since the Fellows of Jesus College decided to “do the right thing ” , other organisations and countries have followed suit. I applaud the Fellows for their clarity and vision and for the global change that they have started.

When I wrote my first Annual Report message in 2020, I mentioned the “ comfort of the Chapel” . Since then, exploration of the history of our benefactor Tobias Rustat has affected how our Chapel can offer mission and worship to our diverse community. We lost the much-publicised Consistory Court hearing in February, but discussion continues because high-profile members of the Church of England came out to express their deep concerns with the decision made. Thanks to our Fellows – and especially to the Legacy of Slavery Working Party, led by Dr Véronique Mottier and Dr Michael Edwards –for bringing the truth of Tobias Rustat’ s capital investments to light.

Events last year included the crucifixion of a student in the middle of the Cloisters (a sentence I never thought I’d write!). This was the climax of our medieval mystery play, which saw an audience of over 100 Jesuans following actors around the College grounds for an impressive performance. Let me assure you that no students were harmed during the production. After a two-year absence, the Jesus May Ball welcomed over 2,000 guests. I had a fabulous time on the dodgems and at the silent disco. I lost fake money in the casino and hit a hole-in-one at the crazy golf. I did not make the survivors ’ photo, but I have seven more years to try.

Our Fellows have been extremely active this year, as detailed in the news section on page 55. Without repeating the many impressive achievements, I’d like to congratulate Professor Roberto Cipolla for his election as a Fellow of the Royal Society, and Professor Marie-Louise Sørenson for her election to the British Academy. On behalf of all the Fellows, staff and students, I would like to record my profound thanks to Professor Geoff Parks for his ceaseless and tireless efforts as Senior Tutor for ten years. As he steps down, he leaves behind a strong Tutorial Department of staff and Fellows. I welcome Dr Paul Dominiak as our new full time Senior Tutor.

It is with great sadness that I report the death this past year of Emeritus Professor Ray Freeman, the former John Humphrey Plummer Professor of Magnetic Resonance, and that of Dr Geoffrey Harcourt, former Reader in the History of Economic Theory and President of Jesus College. As you ’ll see from their obituaries, they will be greatly missed. In September 2022, we received the incredibly sad news of the death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. We offer our heartfelt sympathies to the Royal Family. Over 70 years The Queen touched the lives of so many people. We were fortunate enough that she visited the College on two occasions, remembered with pride and fondness by many Fellows and staff members.

Last year, we firmly established ourselves as a College which seeks to do the right thing and explore the art of the possible. I hope these values resonate with all Jesuans throughout the world. I wish you a healthy, happy and successful year ahead. n