The Chadsian: Michaelmas 2013

The Chadsian Michaelmas Term 2013

St Chad’s College Magazine

Saturday 8th March 6 St Chad’s Place, Gray’s Inn Road Food & chat 6pm - 10pm DJ 10pm - 1am Entry £10

Chadsian

Contents The Magazine of St Chad’s College, Durham University

The Chadsian Michaelmas Term 2013

4 7 12

College View

Year in review 2012-13

Finding future in my past 14

Is leprosy eliminated?

18

The Horsfall Society

St Chad’s, stirring my passion for social change 20

21

Alumni Foundation 24

Events Diary

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College View I’d like to extend the warmest of greetings to all our alumni around the world. I trust that I can speak for all current members of Chad’s when I say that I hope you feel some very real pride as you read about the challenges and successes of our current students. For their part, they are proud to live out the spirit you have bequeathed them – and they do so with great style and verve.

There is a concentration of news about college sport in this issue. I’d urge you to read all the little reports, even if it’s not your favourite sport. The reports underline a common theme: real enthusiasm, affection and dedication. Our students play their hearts out for their College, which is to say for their fellow students. The number of Chad’s fans at matches almost always exceeds the number of fans from other colleges – even those many times our size.

It’s no wonder, then, that our College has the highest sports participation rate in the University.

That is one of the reasons we are launching a campaign to build a new sports pavilion (including a boat house) in the paddock: such incredible dedication on the part of so many of our students deserves our full backing.

There are moving articles by current and former students, showing how our students embrace and address very serious issues with uncommon courage and with humbling gratitude. You will also note our international focus – a focus that is good not just for the international students themselves, but also for our home and EU students. That our College is able to provide a welcoming home and a rich context for such wonderful people is, in turn, humbling for all of us.

You’ll also find details of a number of alumni groups and fundraising initiatives. We are stepping up our fundraising efforts: though there has been a huge increase in tuition fees (to £9k per year), the College does not receive tuition fees. Instead, our per capita funding has actually dropped by over 60% in the last 15 years and it continues to fall. That has meant a lot of hard work by dedicated staff as they develop new income streams to make up for the shortfall, but this has also underlined our ongoing need to attract and sustain generous contributions from our alumni and other supporters.

St Chad’s is a constant inspiration to me: I’ve now seen sixteen cohorts make their way through College. They are invariably impressive and almost

impossibly talented. They genuinely care for one another, not least as they work through personal difficulties, learning to accept themselves and others.

Although I was never a student at St Chad’s, and though I have studied and lived for many years in many other places, I have nonetheless learned more here than anywhere else. There is something about St Chad’s that grabs the heart. Every new intake of students seems to grasp what they call ‘the Chad’s spirit’ in no time, remoulding it just enough to make it their own, all the while keeping it exciting for those who follow.

I’ve used the word ‘humbling’ twice already, but it is indeed humbling to be a part of such a wonderful little College. With your ongoing support, I look forward to using the word many, many times more.

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2013 was an extremely successful year for St Chad’s College. The JCR achieved record-breaking grades and this year’s graduates should be proud that their hard work over the years really has paid off.

Sports teams also excelled this year with Men’s Basketball and Men’s Squash both unbeaten in their leagues, Women’s rugby coming second in the Premiership and Men’s Football being promoted.

Despite coming bottom of Division 1, Men’s Hockey managed to win Festival of Sport! I find myself constantly amazed that as one of the smallest colleges in Durham we still manage to do so well in sport.

Green Door Theatre Company has been added to the JCR constitution and is now a recognised committee (so we will definitely have someone to put on the College Panto every year). The College Choir performed superbly on their tour in Paris and we have had more social events than ever before!

In Epiphany Term the Candlemas Ball had a Cirque Du Soleil theme: certainly a night to remember with fire eaters, cancan dancers, contortionists, burlesque and, of course, magicians.

Our celebrations continued with The Principal’s Feast and then straight into Chad’s Day when the College woke up, as is traditional, every one of our neighbouring Colleges at 7am. The day also provided a chance for us to take in just how lucky we are at Chad’s to be part of such a close-knit community. I challenge anyone to find a single member of Chad’s JCR who isn’t proud to call themselves a Chadsian!

Epiphany Term wouldn’t be complete without a controversial JCR meeting, and the item of discussion

this time was my title. After an hour and a half of conversation and debate, the JCR voted that the President of St Chad’s JCR shall now be called Senior Man or Senior Woman.

Easter Term began with nerves and tension running high. Every library was filled to the brim; students coming into College to work early in the morning couldn’t even find space in the Quad! Easter Term is when you can really see how strong and supportive a community Chad’s is. I had 3rd and 4th years helping me with Maths problems, Economists all around me were discussing essay plans, and other students were frantically swapping key notes. The previous Senior Man, Thomas Bishop, summed it up for me when he said ‘We aren’t just interested in our own grades; if one member of the team doesn’t do well, then none of us will feel as though we’ve done well.

As exams finally ended and summer really began, the motto we adopted was ‘Work hard, play hard’. With a social event happening almost every day it was hard to fit everything into the calendar, and I must take this opportunity to thank SocComm for their incredibly hard work putting on all the social events this year. Highlights for me were the Garden Party, Summer Ball, Beach Trip and Chad’s-John’s Day (we won’t talk about the score). It was also good to see that not only were we having fun on days out, but the JCR was engaging in events to promote Social Justice such as a Body Shop party to raise money for the Syria Appeal and a Vintage Charity Auction. One of the most poignant events was a talk by Renee Salt, entitled ‘Shoah Survivor’. Renee gave her own personal account of the Holocaust and how it had affected her and her family. It was incredibly touching and I think we all felt honoured to have listened to such a moving story.

At the end of Easter Term we said goodbye to our finalists. They have been a wonderful year group, working hard, socialising hard and setting an example for the rest of us; I wish them all every success in the years to come, and look forward to their next visit.

But, as we waved goodbye to our graduates with one arm, on Freshers’ Sunday we welcomed our newest Chadsians with the other, showing them just how lucky they are to have been accepted into what I think we can all agree is quite simply the best college in Durham University: St Chad’s.

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It seems like just yesterday when I wandered off a plane, more than slightly jet lagged, into the quirky arms of St Chad’s, but a year on, and now getting used to the Durham accent, I can reflect upon what we’ve done and how great a year it has been for me and the postgraduate community at the College.

By all accounts this year’s MCR, 150 people in all, can be easily described as a diverse group. We include members from all parts of the world, representatives of nearly every academic department and with many different extra-curricular interests.

This year we have taken our full part in College life from Induction Week, through Chad’s Day and the weekly formals. Other highlights include our welfare events, charity events, research forums and the new South Bailey Forum, a joint research venture between St Chad’s, St John’s and St Cuthbert’s.

For the MCR to make all these events a success takes much hard work by our executive committee; special mention must go to Millie Daglish our social secretary for putting many hours of her time into organising events for the rest of us. I would also like to pay tribute to my predecessor, Tudor Skinner, for his work as President and subsequent advice.

The MCR would be nothing without the rest of College so I would like to thank the College Officers and staff and the JCR leadership for their support.

This year we have continued the legacy we have been given and are making sure that we push forward for greater things to come. I would like to wish all the very best to postgraduates who have left this year and look forward to seeing you again at Congregation in January. To those continuing their degrees and to those starting another one, let’s make next year just as great.

It has been a thrilling experience for me taking over the reins of St Chad's Choir in January as Director of Music. The Choir is terrific: large and vibrant, warm and welcoming, skilful and sociable!

Of the highlights, already I can mention a wonderful Evensong in the Cathedral, a brilliant Ascension Day service in Chapel and a fabulous concert at St Giles’ Church. The End of Year service was a moving occasion: it was difficult to say goodbye to choristers so soon after saying hello.

There is still an after-glow from our tour to Paris in June when we enjoyed wonderful singing as well as glorious food, wine and weather (including a terrific thunderstorm). Venues included the Chapel of Les Invalides, the 18th Century Chapel of the Irish Chaplaincy (whose priest, Fr Sean Maher, is a St Chad's PhD student), and more two stunning churches, St Eustache & St Etienne-du-Mont.

As always on tour there were some bonus highlights including the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Sacré-Coeur & Montmartre, and we heard some wonderful organ improvisations in Notre Dame to celebrate the 850th anniversary of the cathedral’s rededication.

There has been some lovely feedback from Paris including this extract from the Director of Music at Les Invalides: ‘Thank you for your lovely performance, much appreciated by everyone. The Rector particularly liked the Byrd Five Part. Our Chantre told me how impressed she was with your standard (she is one of the key people at Notre-Dame). Perhaps sometime you’ll be able to come again?

With a big ‘bravo’ and best wishes.’

I'd like to pay tribute to James Randle for the outstanding choir he has maintained for many years and thank him for his support in the transition. I wish him all the very best in his new post at the Cathedral Chorister School. They are lucky to have him.

I am deeply grateful for the hearty welcome I have received at St Chad's, from staff and students, and look forward to exciting times ahead.

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Year in review

When I took on the role of Head Steward for the 56th Candlemas Ball, the only thing people said to me was: ‘Say goodbye to the rest of your year’, and they weren’t wrong! For nine months, preparation for the Candlemas Ball took over the lives of eleven people as they set to work, aiming to make the Cirque Du Soleil themed ball one to remember.

The Ball began with a champagne reception which was followed by a four-course meal in the garden marquee. The highlight of the meal was by far the dessert, a caramelised chocolate torte to die for.

Dr Cassidy’s speech preceded the cheese and coffee before guests emerged from the marquee to see how College had been transformed.

The Quad had been filled with Victorian Styled Fair Stalls: Tin Can Alley, Cork-Rifle Shooting and Test of Strength, with prizes varying from rubber ducks to large stuffed animals. The Williams Library was a forest of playing cards, with a magician giving performances every 20 minutes. In the foyer we had a photobooth and caricaturist to capture the excitement of the evening, whilst in the chapel there were circus-themed movies playing for anyone who needed a lie down because of all the bright colours!

No room was spared – the JCR was the inside of a circus tent, with ‘Just Dance’ on a Wii and a facepainter in her own mini-marquee for entertainment.

At midnight everyone collected a Candlemas Cocktail and headed to the dining hall where giant

balloons burst from the ceiling, confetti showering everyone. We were then ushered back into the marquee where we could pick up a slice of Domino’s pizza end settle down to enjoy the first performance of the evening.

The first performer was a man on a ‘Chinese Pole’. Having successfully climbed up the pole with just his feet, he proceeded to drop himself from the top to the bottom of the pole, catching himself just before his head hit the ground. Next on stage were can-can dancers, followed by a contortionist, a burlesque act and finally a fire-eater, who had the Health and Safety Officer paying close attention!

The crowd then emerged from the marquee, filled themselves up on popcorn and candyfloss, found time to win a few more prizes and were then steered back into the marquee after an hour and a half for the next performance.

This one began with a magician/comedian, followed by a rather risqué burlesque act, which certainly raised a few eyebrows! Heavy Metal Steve provided too much for some of our guests, as he stapled pieces of tissue to his chest and threaded different items through his nose and out of his mouth. Our freak-show act out of the way with, it was time for the finale of the show. A man came on stage carrying two long ropes, with fire burning at either end, and began swinging them over his head.

Having again caused the Health and Safety Officer to have a mild panic attack, the shows were over and everyone left the marquee to take part in the Survivors Photo!

Overall the night couldn’t have gone any better, and I’d like to thank my Committee and everyone else who helped us on the way to create a truly memorable Candlemas 56!

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Chadsian Perhaps the flagship event of every Chadsian’s year is Chad’s Day, the closest Saturday to 2nd March (so that we can still concentrate on our academic work during the week). This year at 6am green balloons cascaded into the quad as we sipped champagne to ‘Country Roads’. No one seemed to mind that they were drinking from paper cups. We then set off on the ‘Bailey Parade’ with the Senior Man, Tom Bishop, carried aloft on his throne rudely awaking our neighbours in Hatfield, Castle, John’s and Cuth’s.

By 8am the finest emerald costumes had been exhibited around Durham, but the celebrations had only just begun. The College headed to the Cathedral to hear about the rich history of St. Chad’s, before listening to some stunning readings and performances by students and SCR members. This hour in the Cathedral gave everyone some food for thought; we all realised how lucky we are to call ourselves members of a college so steeped in history, vibrant with community and alive with enthusiasm.

We then attempted the run around Palace Green to the chimes of 12 noon, the winner of which, Harry Nicholas, was appointed Keeper of the College Goat for the next year. The afternoon brought the return of some lovely alumni, as well as a football showdown between Chad’s and Hatfield. Of course, our boys quashed our Bailey rivals with ease as a crowd of Chadsians cheered along at Maiden Castle.

In the evening we enjoyed a special edition of Chad’s Family Fortunes before Charities Committee hosted Chad’s versions of ‘Mr and Mrs’ and ‘Take Me Out’. The day ended with Laser Quest and a UV Silent Disco. Luckily, we had a photobooth to get snaps of all the glorious green too! A special thank you must go to my fantastic Social Committee for making the day run so smoothly and keeping everyone on their toes throughout. Chad’s Day this year was actionpacked, as green as any grass on the other side and a true testament to how much we love this College. I know I speak for fellow finalists when I say we’ll miss our little corner of Durham which taught us ‘Non vestra sed vos.’

Men’s Badminton Winning 6 out of 8 games put Chad’s in a strong 3rd place in the table. Regular training sessions created a welcoming and enjoyable atmosphere and, although we missed out on promotion, results and spirit meant a good send-off for those team members who left this year. Special mention to Danny Whiting who has been a constant at training: his hard work and efforts have meant that he has become a vital member of the team for next year. Thanks to excaptains Will Cunningham-Batt, Johnny Runge and to Mike King, next year’s captain.

Women’s Badminton With some really good opponents in our division this year our matches have been tough, but that did not stop us turning up to every match full of enthusiasm. The highlight of the year was our win against John’s, our best result of the season. Thanks to everyone on the team who has played this year, especially those who stepped in at the last minute to ensure that we never turned up with anything less than a full squad. Best wishes to Amoret Larkin and next year’s team.

Men’s Squash It’s been a fantastic year, every match unbeaten and every player unbeaten making Chad’s Division 1 champions in 2012-13. But it was a dramatic finish to the season with the word ‘bagel’ bandied around a lot. Pressure was on against the 2nd and 3rd placed teams in the last two games of the season, but quintuple bagels (5 – 0) were achieved. I am immensely proud of the boys for a well-deserved promotion to the Premiership next year. Good luck to next year’s skipper, Ali Donald.

Men’s Table Tennis With a win-loss ratio of 3 to 1 it has been an impressive season. Jonny Runge alongside freshers Ali Donald, Antony Mousinho and Harry Nicholas were all constant components and hopefully will go from strength to strength with Harry as Captain.

Women’s Basketball Thanks to the commitment of the team, Women’s Basketball has had a fantastic season. We finished 3rd in the league. Matches have been memorable, mostly because we always wonder whether we will have enough players. However, it proved to be a winning system! Thanks to the whole team for giving 100% at every game. Let’s hope that we are just as successful next year.

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Men’s Hockey It’s been an exciting year with many matches won or lost on the cruellest of margins. The final position could have been very different but performances on the pitch meant that even the strongest opposition was often put to the test. With a large pool of players to draw upon we fielded an eclectic mix of talent. The draw against John’s, narrow loss to Collingwood and performance again Van Mildert, fielding, effectively, a University XI, characterised Chad’s ability to punch above our weight. The performance to savour was our 4 -0 victory over Hatfield. Credit must go to those leaving this year including Robert Cowdrey, George Cooke, Louis Winstanley, Freddie Light and William Heaton who formed the spine of the team. Good luck to Jake Davies , captain next year.

Season’; this was down to the commitment and enthusiasm, and the skills we have developed. The team has also kept up the social side of the sport with regular socials, bringing players together from all years and creating friendships that will extend beyond university.

We had a huge influx of new players this year some of who had never touched a rugby ball before in their lives, all went on to play some amazing rugby.

Players to note include Jen Dixon who has played DU 2nds as well as Hill/Bailey alongside Áine McCann. I would also like to say a huge thank you to Laura Hills for helping to run training sessions and being there every weekend. Good luck to Alicia Hatvany and Áine for next year. I am confident that they can build on our success and ensure that everyone has a fantastic time along the way.

Women’s Rugby

Men’s Basketball Having not lost any members of our squad from the previous season, we were expecting a similar mid-table finish. However, with the addition of a few freshers adding depth, skill and height, we were unknowingly set for an unbelievable season .

Our first game was against John Snow B which we narrowly won 22-20 in a difficult game. Following this we won another close match against title contenders Cuth’s A 32-28. This winning streak continued as we dominated our opposition. After defeating Castle A we realised that not only could we win the league, but we could also win it undefeated.

As the season progressed we continued to win and continued to improved until we did indeed finish as undefeated champions.

I would like to thank the team for making this fantastic season possible but especially the two excaptains Johnny Runge and Simon Gentle whose dedication helped take the team from the bottom of the league all the way to the top. Best of luck to next year’s captain Marshall Postle-Floyd.

‘Team of the Season’ and Premiership Runner’s up, this sums up our season very well. From the first training session we have maintained a solid 25 woman squad and fielded a full team with extras every game. Chad’s impressively won every game they faced right until meeting Cuth’s in the premiership final. We fought right until the end and left the field with heads held high and a silver medal.

We were very privileged to be awarded ‘Team of the

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Chadsian Men’s Rugby As a team we can be very proud of what we achieved this year. At first glance of the league table may it not appear that we have been all that successful, but this is a long way from the truth. The attitude our players have shown at every game and training session is a credit to the Rugby Club and the College. All members of the team put themselves on the line in every game and I cannot thank them enough for the effort and commitment they have shown all year.

The highlight of the season was our handsome 56-0 victory against Van Mildert B, our first victory for two seasons, but it would not be our last. This game was a brutal destruction of the opposition pack that set the platform for a marauding back line to play in a flowing style that any team could be proud of. Other results have not been as impressive on paper, but I was proud of the team every time we walked off the pitch.

I’d like to thank everybody who came to support us, you were a great source of motivation and I hope that you enjoyed watching us play. Personally my favourite moment of the season was walking out of the changing room before a floodlit match to see a huge Chad’s crowd - I apologise that we could not, however, deliver the result they craved.

I especially want to thank all the members of the team; you have made the season unforgettable. It has been a pleasure for me to call myself your captain.

Netball Our two College netball teams, while never the most successful, cannot be beaten for enthusiasm and in the face of many failures they have maintained good sportsmanship. With the unpredictable weather many fixtures had to be cancelled, but with great commitment all players and especially freshers have showed great promise. For

the A Team Emily Watts and Em Lake deserve a special mention and with Chad’s ‘taking part’ spirit it has been an enjoyable year. For the B Team the previous year’s 75-2 defeat is still painful, but in spite of the weather, dedication from team members old and new has been terrific. We now have three victories to celebrate so things are definitely on the up for the Bs. Women’s Football The year started with an intake of wonderful freshers who boosted our numbers considerably.

However, with a largely novice team we did not set our expectations too high. It’s fair to say that it was a mixed bag with some big losses and some very strong wins, but our best performances came in the Floodlit Cup with some amazing support from College.

During a tense half-time chat we were all thrilled that we were holding our own against a team towards the top of the league. It was 1-1 at full time so it was down to penalties, which we unfortunately lost. In technical terms they did beat us, but in terms of hard work, determination, spirit and fun, I think it’s fair to say that we should have won.

More good football was played on wet Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays; the odds may often have been against us but we always turned up with four more players that the opposition and always had a good time, even when things weren’t going our way. I can’t mention everyone but it we are a team of individuals who have developed our own slightly weird, but always fun, brand of football. I know that when I leave Chad’s I am going to be sad not to train in the snow, try to learn the ‘off side rule’ every week or have updates by text from A&E. I’ve loved being captain and want to thank each team member for their amazing dedication and passion.

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Men’s Football Much optimism again circulated about the new season for men’s football. The backbone of the team had largely been maintained; household names such as Hammond, Bishop and Carpenter, as well as crowd-favourites Bieber and Vickers returned to grace the pitch for St Chad’s. For some, however, this would be their last season on the Durham turf.

If ever the phrase ‘start as you mean to go on’ needed to be aptly demonstrated it was at the opening game of the season against Van Mildert.

Although playing the majority of the game with ten men Chad’s was victorious through a wonderful strike from Sixsmith after some slick football from the team. Optimism was high and little did we know that this would be the sign of things to come.

Wins against Hild Bede and Grey, as well as a win on Chad’s Day against Hatfield in front of an enthusiastic Chad’s crowd continued our unstoppable rise up the table. Famous victories against Collingwood (3-0) and John’s A (4-0) will be remembered by the team for years to come, as will the unfortunate loss against Mary’s A in the Floodlit Cup when we narrowly failed to beat one of the Premiership’s toughest teams. Only against Trevs did we fail to register a goal.

It is no surprise that we were promoted! This could not have happened without a superb team ethic and collective responsibility, so I have to thank everyone for making my year as captain highly enjoyable. Best of luck to Anthony Mousinho and Ryan Vickers for 2013/14.

Boat Club It has been a busy year for the rowers of St Chad’s College, starting with a substantial ‘flood’ of novices in October. Not even the early morning swim test could put them off! Organising outings for 12 crews with only 1 training boat to use proved to be quite the test of character for the captains, but luckily they pulled through and every crew managed to get some time on the river before the rain hit and the river flooded. Flooding quickly became the theme of the year, with Novice Cup postponed until the Epiphany Term and Senate Cup nearly called off.

The seniors also hit the ground running in October, well rested after a long summer and as

ready and enthusiastic as ever. Commitment to circuits and ergs training resulted in good performances at York Small Boats Head, Rutherford Head, and Senate Cup. The bad weather followed Chad’s rowers into Epiphany Term where we finally saw the arrival of Novice Cup, the first real race for the novice crews in conditions that wouldn’t have been out of place in the Arctic. However, neither blizzards nor long delays could deter the crews, who all performed admirably.

The prospect of the prestigious Head of the River, a chance to perform alongside professional crews, saw training increase throughout Epiphany term. Unfortunately we were prevented from sending a Women’s crew, while the Men’s crew actually made it down to London before the event was cancelled due to our good old friend, the weather. Fear not, however, for in true Chadsian style, the weekend wasn’t wasted, with the crew touring London instead, furthering their education in museums and bars.

The women kicked off a busy regatta season with pre-season training and Chester-le-Street

Regatta. With exams looming on the horizon, regattas came in thick and fast, and despite a host of technical troubles, the crews did well, with the men performing fantastically to reach the final in York.

With the end of exams came Durham Regatta preparations. The highlight of regatta season, Durham Regatta is considered by many to be the Henley of the North, and training was taken up a notch, with the competing crews on the river at least four or five times a week. Luckily the bad weather finally gave us some peace and a more beautiful weekend couldn’t have been asked for. The crews all did Chad’s proud and two of our novice men competing in a Chad’s/John’s composite VIII, went so far as to win their division!

The dedication and hard work of everyone in Chad’s Boat Club this year has been so impressive, and next year promises to be even more successful.

Of course it wouldn’t be the same without the occasional capsize or early morning wake up!

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Finding future in my past In 2013 Ben Kasstan received a Personal Development Award from members of the SCR. This made it possible for him to be part of

Image by kind permission of MOTL

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T

he March of the Living is ‘an annual educational program which brings students from all over the world to Poland to study the history of the Holocaust and to examine the roots of prejudice, intolerance and hate.’ Since the first March of the Living in 1988, over 150,000 young people from around the world have marched along the same path leading from Auschwitz to Birkenau on Holocaust Remembrance Day. My journey began in Warsaw. I then ravelled to Krakow to learnt about the richness of Jewish life before World War II. Then to the remnants of the Jewish ghettos and finally to the Nazi extermination camps, ending with a march from Auschwitz to Birkenau with 11,000 other Jewish people.

One of the most remarkable aspects of the tour is being accompanied by a ‘witness’ of the Shoah (the Hebrew word meaning ‘calamity’ used by Jews instead of the Greek-English word holocaust). Being with Renee Salt – a survivor, in every sense of the word, who lived through both Auschwitz-Birkenau and Bergen-Belsen gave me the opportunity to build with her a strong and lasting relationship.

My own grandfather was a survivor of the Shoah, but the rest of his family perished in Birkenau.

Because of this I’ve always felt a need to go to the camps and pay respect to my ancestors, both as an act of remembrance but also an action of Jewish continuity. Although this was not easy, being with many like-minded people was comforting, and spending many hours with Renee was a reminder of the lessons that must be learnt before it’s too late.

Walking through the infamous archway of Birkenau is harrowing: there is a silence and a chill that constantly reminds you that the place should never have been a resting place of so many. The reality is that many people are able to go to a cemetery and leave flowers for their relatives; whereas for me and millions of others there is no place with a name to acknowledge my roots, or mourn for the countless lives that were taken and the dreams and ambitions which were never fulfilled.

The March of the Living is perhaps best described as bittersweet for two reasons. Firstly, I cannot escape from the thought that I was part of a Jewish delegation of 11,000 people from all around the world: Auschwitz-Birkenau, at full capacity, would have turned us all into dust by the end of the day.

Each and every step I took reminded me that this could have been my fate in a different time and place. However, The March of the Living is a striking and defiant walk that makes you reconsider the path you take in life and how it can be made more meaningful for yourself and those around you.

Towards the end of the academic year I asked my companion from The March of the Living, Renee Salt, to make the journey to Durham to share her

testimony with over 100 Chad’s students and SCR members. I wanted to organise this talk because the human tragedy of Shoah is immeasurable for anybody - the six million lives that were taken is a figure too great and overwhelming for most to comprehend. This was an opportunity for people to connect with the reality of genocide through an individual story by hearing the pain in Renee’s voice but also the hope in her eyes for more tolerance in the world we share. Furthermore, Renee’s talk epitomised the idea that there is more to an education than a degree – and for many this would have been the first opportunity to hear the words of a survivor or maybe even their first opportunity to learn more about the Shoah.

Renee’s talk was a reminder that there will come a day when there are no longer any living survivors who can offer an individual experience of the Nazi genocide; it is therefore our generation that will have to take on the challenge of sharing the story which Rene entrusted us with. Although Renee and I have had many conversations about her painful experience whilst visiting Poland together, hearing her speak, as the summer sun warmed Chad’s Quad, made me realise how fortunate we are. Being part of St Chad’s College and Durham University is a privilege, but with that privilege comes a responsibility to strive to do good constantly and truly invest in our societies and communities for the sake of future generations.

As the Shoah falls from lived to historical memory, we need to understand that Auschwitz is as much about the future as it is about the past so that we can prevent this catastrophe from becoming just another page in the many chapters of human conflict which keep being written.

With this in mind, I will move onto my PhD research and strive to nurture positive changes from the pain of the past as well as sharing Rene Salt’s story, whenever and wherever possible, in order to honour her generosity and the invaluable relationship I have built with her this year.

Ben Kasstan (Chad’s PhD student, Anthropology)

Kwaku Ananko’s fingers, feet and eyes are severely damaged by leprosy. He’s in his 40s, a musician, usually on his bicycle and seems to be in a perpetual state of delirious happiness.

Enyindakurom, Ghana 2012.

Picture: Tom Bradley

Is leprosy eliminated?

Photographer Tom Bradley (2005-08) can’t not get involved in the fight to eradicate leprosy while working in Africa and Asia

‘In the last 30 years the number of new cases of leprosy each year has been reduced from millions to around 250,000 - officially that is. In all but a handful of countries leprosy has been declared ‘eliminated’. As I delved further into the subject I realised that there are many ways to ask, and answer, the question:

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Chadsian something, anything, that appealed. I got in touch with the Nepal Leprosy Trust, and ended up in Laldagh Leprosy Hospital in the southern flatlands of Nepal where the disease is endemic. I lived at the hospital photographing, learning and interacting with the patients, talking to the doctors, and a leprosy expert called Dr Hugh Cross who explained the situation of leprosy in the world today. This was one of many factors that turned those six weeks into a, now, five-year on-going project exploring leprosy in, so far, nine countries; eleven by the end of 2013.

I

’m writing this article about my work while sitting in a clean, air-conditioned restaurant in the backpacker haven that is Thamel, where thousands of tourists flock after landing in Kathmandu, the dusty, bustling capital of Nepal. I have an ice cold beer and I’m waiting for some middle-eastern food. Having spent the last seven weeks photographing the ways Nepalese people cope with leprosy I’m acutely aware that I am able to fly out of this continent for another. I’m a photographer. Since my first trip to Nepal in February 2009 I’ve been shooting a personal project called Leprosy Eliminated? And other stories.

I fell into ‘the world of leprosy’ quite by chance. I wanted to travel somewhere, anywhere (I’ll admit to having a thirst for adventure), and photograph

Leprosy is a bacteria. It destroys the peripheral nervous system, but very slowly. Someone can have the bacteria inside them, but show no outward symptoms whatsoever. Do they have leprosy? As far as they’re concerned they don’t, and if they’re not showing symptoms then they are blissfully unaware of its presence. Leprosy in fact grows in the body for 7 to 10 years before outward symptoms start to show. What if someone used to have the bacteria, took the cocktail of antibiotics that destroy it, but they took the drugs too late and are now left for the rest of their life with ulcers, clawed hands, drop-feet, lost digits, lost limbs, sunken nose and blindness? To them leprosy will never go away. And then there’s the social stigma associated with leprosy: stigma, that in Hindu culture, for example, has led to suicide attempts. Only last month I interviewed a 17 year old who tried to drown himself after being diagnosed.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines leprosy as being ‘eliminated’ from a country if fewer than 1 in 10,000 people have it; yet, somewhere like India, where the government declared leprosy eliminated in 2005, it still means that there are more than 120,000 new cases each year. Now, ten years later, given how long it takes before symptoms show, numbers are on the rise again.

Then there are those countries in the world where leprosy detection is ineffective, or the countries where figures are unknown, even ‘fiddled’, because governments are eager to reach the status of ‘Leprosy Eliminated’. So, as you can see, it’s complicated.

Chadsian Images and captions all by Tom Bradley: Page 16 (clockwise from top): Gobi, Madi, Monyabo and Bishop in front of Gobi's house. Pygmies are often treated like they're not human in their own country.

These have all had leprosy. Two were on treatment at the time. It's perhaps the poorest community I've ever visited. Libenge, Democratic Republic of Congo 2011.

‘My hand was deformed and so my husband was not happy. He started beating me. I could not work on the sewing machine because of my hand.’ Writing by Archana. Vadala, India 2012.

I’ve just finished a week living at a leprosy colony called Khokana, just outside Kathmandu.

Many people there have severe deformities, all are reliant on the government, living off meagre benefits, and very few actually own anything of value. For those who are trying to bring up children, getting them education sends them into debt, and that’s only if they’re ‘lucky’ enough to get a loan. Few own their own property, and although leprosy-related treatments are free, treating other diseases unrelated to leprosy is not. Often sufferers just lie ill, in their smoke-filled, wood-fired rooms, hoping the latest bout of sickness won’t be the end.

It’s not, however, all depressing. I’ve photographed many people who have done really positive things, showing strength in the face of adversity. And it’s important to understand that this is possible. THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE. But unless provision of health care and education increases, these positive stories will remain rare.

Leprosy Eliminated? And other stories is not just about an infamous bacteria, it is my personal exploration into how part of humankind struggles with wretched circumstances. The project is also about the bad, and the good, that results from it.

I’m undertaking this project for history’s sake, but at the same time, I can’t simply ignore the plight of the people I’ve photographed, those I’ve spent time with and lived alongside. So, I’m working with organisations to use the photographs I have taken to create change, whether it’s for the fundraising needs of NGOs or awareness-raising campaigns targeted at health policymakers.

I took this photo as this woman was diagnosed with leprosy. I hadn't realised. She was quiet, not showing her emotions. Stigma is often self-imposed and beneath the surface. Physically this woman should have no problems. Okegbala, Nigeria 2009.

Page 17 (left): Andrews prays in his room before heading out. He prays often, sometimes out loud, sometimes silently in meditation. He set up a local charity to help fund the education of those affected by leprosy, or their children. Vellore, India 2012.

(Below) A patient in the National Hansen's Disease Centre in Louisiana. He is 27, was born and brought up in the San Francisco Bay area and has no idea how he got leprosy. Despite his message, he scribbled his face out in case friends find out about him. Baton Rouge, USA 2012.

Tom Bradley

www.isleprosyeliminated.com www.tom-bradley.com tombradley.wordpress.com

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Chadsian

The Horsfall Society

‘Without my experience at St Chad’s my life would have been very much the poorer.’

Frank Cranmer (BA 1966, MA 1969)

Chadsian On Saturday 14th September this year six members of the College’s met in the Senior Common Room for the society’s inaugural lunch.

The Horsfall Society has been founded by St Chad’s College to recognise the gratitude we show to those former students and friends who have generously chosen to make provision for the College in their Will. Frank Cranmer has chosen to make a gift to College in this way. Here he explains his decision.

T

o be the first member of my family to go to university could not help but be a life-changing experience for me, and to live in what was, by today’s standards, a very small, traditional college in a rather sleepy and very middle-class academic environment, compounded it.

Coming to St Chad’s College, Durham in 1963 I was, for the first time in my life, away from home (even if home was only twelve miles away) and surrounded by people from a world of which I’d been barely aware. Inevitably, the experience was salutary: if Chad’s did nothing else for me, as a result of three years in its embrace my scruffy, arrogant eighteenyear-old self was turned into a rather tidier, slightly better-mannered and somewhat more biddable postgraduate. Obviously, the academic side of life at Durham was important but the socialising effect of living in a small community – there were still under 100 people on the roll when I left – was far more so.

Without my experience at St Chad’s my life would have been very much the poorer. In the Sixties only about one school-leaver in twenty went to university and, because graduates were so relatively few, a half-decent degree instantly opened up all sorts of possibilities that would otherwise have been closed off.

I was also very fortunate in being encouraged to stay on at St Chad’s as a postgraduate to work towards an MA which meant that I was also excused the preliminary exams for the Civil Service: exams which I, undoubtedly, would have failed because they included rather a lot of maths and statistics. So, as a result of being at St Chad’s College as an undergraduate and postgraduate, I got to spend most of my adult life as a middle-ranking public

official, occasionally doing interesting things and getting moderately well paid for doing them. Very few people make a fortune in the public service but very few find themselves on the breadline. All in all, it could have been worse.

So why a legacy? Simple: it could all have been so different and I’ve never ceased to be thankful that I was one of the lucky ones that got a place at Durham and was able to complete a postgraduate degree as well. When I was an undergraduate there were no tuition fees and my LEA grant was £300: worth about £5,000 nowadays, of which I got to keep about a third after paying my College battels. Many of today’s students graduate with quite frightening levels of debt and the only way now that most people like me can afford to do further study to Masters and Doctorate level at all is by taking part-time jobs and, if they’re lucky, qualify for some kind of help with fees. So I want to help.

Which leads to the obvious next question, why Chad’s? For my part, I happen to think that the college system is one of Durham’s greatest strengths.

It is very easy to feel utterly lost in an undifferentiated mass of 15,000 students but much less so in a small college like St Chad’s. And I’m still very fond of the place. The University was simply the organisation that set the exams and provided lectures of variable quality: but Chad’s was home.

It’s incredibly difficult to write this without sounding like some kind of pious fraud but, in a nutshell, having been so lucky myself I feel I ought to put something back into the system that produces me. Leaving something in my will has two great merits: first, a charitable bequest doesn’t attract inheritance tax, and second, you don’t notice that you’re paying it because you’re dead.

Frank Cranmer (Chad’s BA 1963, MA 1969) Frank Cranmer is Director of Central Lobby Consultants, Secretary of the Churches' Legislation Advisory Service and a Graduate and Fellow of St Chad's College. He specialises in legislation that affects Churches, charity law, and religion and human rights. Previously Clerk of Bills at the House of Commons, Frank was a member of the Commonwealth parliamentary taskforces to South Africa and Nigeria and, from 19982002, held appointment as Joint Clerk of the British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body.

He is an Honorary Research Fellow at the Centre for Law and Religion at Cardiff Law School.

He completed an LLM in Canon Law at Cardiff Law School in 2001.

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Chadsian

St Chad’s, stirring my passion for social change ‘Dear Miss Wizi, I'm delighted to inform you that we have decided to offer you the Ruth First Scholarship. Free full-board accommodation will be provided at St Chad's College.’

Thus read part of an email from the Ruth First educational Trust on 1st August, 2012. For a moment, my heart skipped a beat. I remembered how a few weeks earlier I had received a stack of ‘letters of regret’ from a number of highly celebrated universities throughout the UK and Europe. In fact, I had almost forgotten that earlier in the year I had made an application to Durham and the Ruth First Educational Trust so this news took away all the desperation that had clogged my heart.

So timely it was!

Much as I was so delighted with this news about St. Chad’s College I was also perplexed by the statement ‘no teaching takes place in the college’.

This raised all sorts of questions in my mind: ‘Why St Chad’s? Where were my lectures going to be? What would I do in the college? Why call it a college if there is no teaching?’

Durham is little-known to most people in my country, Malawi. In fact, to many, London is synonymous with the UK, and, indeed, I did not know where Durham was until the day I got my scholarship and looked on a map. Then the journey to my new home for the next 12 months began. But was St. Chad’s really going to become home? I had no idea.

On my first day in St Chad’s dining hall, I was amazed. Out of the hundred or so students that I met, I only saw one person with skin colour like mine.

This was Kenyan ethnomusicology PhD student Peter Okeno, who vibrantly ‘welcomed me into the planet’ in English, sadly, as he could not speak my language.

However, the unexpected happened. On my first evening in Durham, two of my housemates in Trinity Hall (who now I treasure so much) took me to a Ceilidh. I was so humbled. Now I really felt ‘welcomed into the planet’ as Peter had exclaimed earlier. Since then, I began making friends with people from all over the world, people from America, China, France, the UK, and yes, there are other people from Africa here too. Truly, I had found a home in St Chad’s.

Now, I am almost lost for words about my experience at St Chad’s. Having hosted two Malawian students in two consecutive years (the other being Pearson Nkhoma), I confidently guarantee that if any Chadsian visits Malawi in the next few years you will surely find something named after St Chad’s. It could be a club for women who missed school in their childhood, in whom the St. Chad’s Functional Literacy Club, will stir a renewed passion for learning to improve their lives. You may also find St Chad’s Social Enterprise, a group of ambitious and innovative young people who, moved by the horrendous experiences of the communities trapped in acute poverty, will harness entrepreneurship for social good! Mark my words, St Chad’s could even be a big private high school in one of the wealthy towns of Malawi, specifically to generate profits to create social and educations programs for the hardest to reach Malawians.

These are all dreams which throng my mind when I am in my room in St Chad’s, or when I am having some coffee in the MCR, or as I gather information for my Social Work assignments. As each day passes I see at least one if not two of these dreams becoming a reality, while I am still young and full of life. What else can one ask for? St Chad’s College, if I ever forget you, let my feet point backwards.

Agnes Wizi (MA, Social Work)

Chadsian

Alumni Foundation Membership of the College Alumni Foundation is free and automatic for all matriculated alumni of St Chad’s, its Fellows and SCR members. All members will receive two copies of the College Magazine, The Chadsian, each year; usually one in Michaelmas Term and one in Easter term. Members will also receive invitations to events and reunions.

There is now a growing number of alumni groups which meet around the UK and indeed around the world, giving you the opportunity to meet not only friends but also Chadsians of all ages and diverse expertise. Here are a just a few we know about… sWhitehall Alumni Group (WAG): for alumni working in politics, PR, Civil Service, media in central London. Meets three or four times a year. Contact: Clare McAvinchey (claremcavinchey@hotmail.co.uk) sOxford Alumni Group: for anyone within striking distance of Oxford. This new group met for the first time in December 2013. Contact: Emma Simpson (e.j.simpson@hotmail.co.uk) sMerseyside Alumni Group: for alumni in the north West which first met for a barbeque in summer 2013.

Next meeting in January 2014. Contact John Blott (blotty@blotty.freeserve.co.uk) sSt Chad’s College Old Boys Cricket Club: ‘does what it says on the tin’. Contact: Mark Fulton (mark.fulton@fullers.co.uk) sChad’s Law: for our Law graduates or alumni practising law. This networking group will be launched in 2014. If you are interested please contact the College Director of Development, Mark Roberts (m.r.i.roberts@durham.ac.uk) sChad’s in New York: outside the UK the city with the largest concentration of Chad’s alumni is New York. Alumni there are meeting for the first time in December.

Do you get together with Chad’s friends regularly? Do you celebrate Chad’s Day? Do you meet friends for a Candlemas dinner? Are you part of an alumni sports club? However you keep in touch with friends and show your affinity with College, do let us know and perhaps send photographs for the Chadsian.

If you have lost touch with friends and would like to be put back in contact, the College can help with this, especially if you are planning an event.

Every year, usually in September, the College hosts a ‘Decades Reunion Weekend’ at St Chad’s. This is our annual College Gaudy.

Alumni from years ending in the same number as the current year, and one year either side, will be invited by the Principal to enjoy a weekend back in College (for which there will be a small charge). In September 2014 we will welcome all years ending in 3, 4 and 5.

St Chad’s Day is now kept in College on the closest Saturday to 2nd March. Alumni are welcome to join us as we celebrate our College Day.

Since the early years of the College an annual event for alumni has been held in London. The College is pleased to keep up this tradition as London is the city with the highest concentration of our alumni.

The London event is usually on the weekend following Chad’s Day in Durham. In 2014 we will be gathering in London on Saturday 8th March.

Alumni can help current students by volunteering to offer careers advice for their particular profession.

We hold regular careers talks in College and encourage alumni to pass on their expertise.

One of the most valuable experiences for current students when preparing for job applications and interviews is an internship. If you are able to offer an internship to one of students, please do contact the College.

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Fundraising During the last few years our alumni have very generously made gifts to College for which we are most grateful. These gifts have enabled the College to thrive in new and exciting ways, building on our success.

You have helped us to expand our Library to eight rooms throughout College - a great learning resource for our students, both postgraduates and undergraduates. We try to acquire everything for our library on students’ reading lists and to duplicate everything on short-term loan in the University. In addition, alumni support has enabled us to add wireless Internet capacity in our libraries (and soon to all of our buildings) – something students very much appreciate.

Over the last summer we have also completely renovated a newly-acquired building, Queen’s Court (No2 North Bailey. This provides excellent student accommodation, with all rooms having their own private bathroom facilities. During the next two academic years we need to continue this important work if we are to keep up with the rest of the University and so we are asking again for your help to fund, in particular, the following projects:

graduation our undergraduates will be carrying a large amount of debt which might put them off higher study because of the cost. If St Chad's were able to give annual Postgraduate Bursaries of £3,000 or £5,000, then our potential academics, researchers and creative thinkers may not be put off fulfilling their potential. The College, the University, academia and, more importantly, society needs postgraduates so that we can make the world a better place through their research.

Library Our College libraries are very heavily used. Thanks to gifts from alumni we have been able to expand; however, we still need to buy the latest books for all subjects our students study. You can help us to do this by contributing to our Book Fund.

Music Our College Choir, now with 40 members, is part of what makes St Chad’s distinctive. Each year we spend over £20,000 on College music, on choral and organ scholarships and employing our professional Director of Music. To help maintain our musical tradition we rely on the gifts of alumni and friends.

If you are a former College choral scholar or organist please do consider supporting the continuation of excellent music-making at St Chad’s.

Chad’s Paddock For many years our land next to the River Wear has been under-utilised and somewhat neglected. If the College is given planning permission, we want to transform this space to provide a new two-storey riverside pavilion which will include a boathouse, gym, WCs and social space for all College members. We also want to be able to use this space for outdoor theatre and music. It is estimated that this will cost £200,000.

Postgraduate Bursaries Unlike undergraduates most postgraduates do not have easy access to finance to pay for their studies. At

Would you be willing to help us support these improvements to College life? A single gift, say £25, £50 or £100, would have a real impact. However, a regular gift of as little as £10 or £20 per month would allow us to plan ahead as we could be assured of this income in future months and years.

Please do seriously consider completing the donation form sent with this magazine to make your gift to your college. You can also make your gift online through our College website at: www.stchads.ac.uk - look for the Virgin Money Giving icon at the bottom of the front page.

Chadsian

Decades Reunion 2014 Were you at St Chad’s College in a year ending in 3, 4 or 5?

Yes? Then get in touch with friends and enjoy a memorable weekend back in Durham.

S

ignificant anniversaries are always special; 40th, 60th and 100th birthdays are good excuses to bring family and friends together, perhaps those not seen for many years, to celebrate.

We like to think that St Chad’s is a family too where those important anniversaries are also well worth celebrating.

So, each year, the College throws open its doors to welcome year groups celebrating 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 years since they were students in this special place. Of course, alumni are welcome to come back to College at any time, but over this weekend in the long vacation, we are able to make sure that the place is truly yours.

And since these anniversaries only come round once a decade, and we really want to encourage you to come: we won’t charge you for the two nights bed & breakfast, just for the reunion dinner.

So, what are you waiting for? Get in touch with the College friends you haven’t seen for a while and make this the excuse you need to come back up to College. If you haven’t been in a while, we think that you will be very impressed.

This is the excuse you need. What are you waiting for?

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Events Diary Plan your Chad’s year 2013-2014 Alumni Events Sunday 8th December 2013 w7.30pm Advent Procession in Durham Cathedral.

(Organ music from 7pm). Since 1956 St Chad’s College has ended Michaelmas Term with beautiful liturgy of word, music, movement and symbol. Do join us for this moving celebration of Advent in Durham Cathedral.

Tuesday 10th December 2013 w6pm-8pm Chad’s in Oxford at Oriel College.

Chad’s alumnus and Governing Body member, Sean Power (1997-2000), welcomes us to Oriel where he is a Fellow for pre-Christmas drinks and nibbles. All welcome. Numbers please to Mark Roberts (m.r.i.roberts@durham.ac.uk) Saturday 18th January 2014 wfrom 2pm Merseyside Alumni Group in Kirkham.

John Blott (Classics 1978-1981) writes: “I am delighted to invite Chadsians in the North West to join my wife and me at my house in Kirkham, near Preston, to kick off 2014 in true Chad’s style.” Numbers please by Monday 13th January to Mark Roberts at College (m.r.i.roberts@durham.ac.uk) January/February 2014 TBA wfrom 6pm Chad’s WAG (Whitehall Alumni Group) For alumni working in the Civil Service, Government, Media, Politics, PR or in and around Whitehall are welcome to join the WAG drinks, chat and networking.

Our next event will have a guest speaker. For more information about his group contact Clare McAvinchey. (claremcavinchey@hotmail.co.uk)

Chadstide Festival - in Durham Saturday 1st March 2014 w10.00am Festival Celebration in Durham Cathedral w12.00noon Palace Green ‘Chariots of Fire’ run w12.30pm Alumni Foundation & SCR Lunch with the Principal & College Officers in College

Chadstide Festival - in London Saturday 8th March 2014 w1.00pm Alumni Foundation Lunch with the Principal and a guest speaker at The Royal Society of Arts, John Adam Street, off the Strand. £25 per person. wfrom 6pm Chad’s in London at 6 St Chad’s Place, Gray’s Inn Road (King’s Cross end).

Saturday 28th June 2014 w7pm for 7.30pm Domus Dinner in College By invitation to Patrons, Moulsdale Society members, Foundation Fellows, 1904 Society members and Horsfall Society members. (Free B&B available) Saturday 6th September 2014 w12.30pm Horsfall Society Lunch in College.

(Free B&B available) Friday 12th - Sunday 14th September 2014 wDecades Reunions in College For graduates of years ending in 3, 4 & 5 Saturday 20th September 2014 w7pm for 7.30pm 1904 Society Dinner in College.

(Free B&B available)

For all information and bookings contact: Mark Roberts (St Chad’s 91-94, 94-97) Director of Development m.r.i.roberts@durham.ac.uk St Chad’s College 18 North Bailey Durham. DH1 3RH General Enquiries: 0191 334 3358 Development & Alumni: 0191 334 3325 www.stchads.ac.uk

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