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College News
Cuth’s News
The past few months have been an exciting time for Cuth’s with a new building approved, JCR elections, and ongoing support from the alumni community.
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New building at Parson’s Field approved
The Society is delighted to be able to announce that after many years of speculation and planning, Cuth’s is to get a new multi-purpose building capable of hosting social events, performances and lectures. The funding for the new building was approved last year and we have been able to agree a design within the budget that will benefit both the college and the JCR. The building will be built in the courtyard at Brooks House.
Previous development proposals were focussed on the Bailey; for example one put forward during the Society’s centenary year in 1988 envisaged building in the Wendy House garden. It was felt that a development on the Bailey was impractical due to the restriction the World Heritage rightly places upon new buildings. Parson’s Field is home to the majority of Cuth’s residential students, the new building will provide a new focus for its residents and a much needed space for all of the Cuth’s community. The development will also incorporate improvements to existing facilities at Parson’s; a new JCR will be built with the current space becoming a gym. Reception will move to the entrance of Brooks House with space for the ever increasing volume of mail and parcels.
Planning permission has been granted, so it is anticipated that construction work will begin in July 2020 with the new building being ready for use by early 2021. Artchitect’s impression of new building in the courtyard of Brooks House. Copyright GSSArchitecture
IAS Fellow
Dr Elshan (El) Abdullayev was Cuth’s resident Institute of Advanced Studies Fellow from October to December 2019, taking part in the “Antibacterial Clay Therapy” project led by Dr Gary Sharples (Biosciences) and Dr Kimberley Jamie (Sociology), which aims to identify antibacterial properties of clay. He gave a public lecture on his work at Cuth’s in November 2019. El enjoyed some theatre and ballet performances, found English weather a relief after the heat and humidity of Baku, and sampled a lot of English cake with great pleasure. He was also very impressed by Cuth’s catering, and by the students he met here. He graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in hydrogeology and engineering geology in 2005 and Master’s degree in sedimentology in 2010 from the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy. El did his PhD at the University of Leipzig, Germany, between 2011- 2015. He had 5 years experience (2006-2011) in the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic and worked for almost 4 years (2015-2019) as a researcher in The Institute of Geology, Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. Since 2019, El has worked in the French-Azerbaijani University as a geoscience programme coordinator studying clay minerals, their chemical composition and geochemical processes in terrestrial and aquatic environments.
Staff News
Mandy Patterson Wayne Turfrey with Ted Gup The Society has lost two key members of staff unexpectedly in the last six months: evening porter Wayne Turfrey died in August, and Housekeeper Mandy Patterson in October. They were both central to the smooth running of the college, and were very much valued by all with whom they worked over the last 15 years. We intend to commemorate them with benches and plaques on the Bailey and at Parson’s Field. Wayne’s brother and son came to a Charity Formal in aid of St Cuthbert’s Hospice, and we welcomed Wayne’s family members at the launch of a new boat named after him in early February. (see page 20)
Letter from a Cuth’s Alumnus: Giles Turner (Music 1958-61)
I was interested to read the double page spread in your last edition, on stage and musical activities. I had an enjoyable three years at St Cuthbert’s (1958-1961), studying music under the legendary Arthur Hutchings.
During my time I sang in the Choral Society and became Secretary; I played in the Colleges’ Orchestra and took part in a number of the Light Opera Group shows, including Schubert’s ‘The Conspirators’, and Walter Leigh’s ‘Jolly Roger’. One of my friends from Cuth’s was Anthony Payne; he went on to great things in the musical world as a renowned composer. grandson. I also play the church organ. My studies at Durham have helped me over the years to arrange orchestral pieces for the organ that sound effective and which I can actually play comfortably.
I made my subsequent career in publishing, but music has always been an enthralling hobby. I spent nearly thirty years conducting opera, light opera and musicals; in retirement I occupy myself in accompanying choirs and solo singers, including my highly talented A final note about Cuthbert’s Dining Hall; it was not in use at first in 1958, as the building had not yet been completed. But once it was finished the meals were really rather good!
Giles Turner
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Cuth’s Choir 2019-2020
