Cuthbert's Chronicle Issue 3 - January 2016

Issue 3, January 2016

Cuthbert’s Chronicle The biannual publication of St Cuthbert’s Society

Writing for Rights

Lumiere

Amnesty International at A weekend in pictures, a Cuth’s Formal, p.5 pp.8-9

Plus news from the term and information on how Recollections from to get more involved at author Dan Boothby, p.6 Cuth’s.

‘Island of Dreams’

Cuthbert’s Chronicle A message from...

The Principal Last term we underwent a college review (the first since 2007), when a panel spent a day talking to staff and students and looking at our buildings. Overall their comments were very positive indeed; they were particularly impressed by the warm, welcoming and inclusive atmosphere. This is in part due to the dedication of our staff, many of whom have been at Cuth’s for decades, and in part to the energy and enthusiasm of the JCR, led this year by President Rich Root.

Over 200 of our 1300 students are postgraduates, and it is particularly pleasing that they are increasingly active as a group within the JCR, organizing both social and scholarly events, such as well-attended Research Fora on ‘Visual Arts and Culture’ and ‘Politics, History, Democracy’.

One speaker was Ted Gup, an awardwinning American Journalist and Visiting Fellow last term; he made many student friends, not only giving talks but also playing pool for Cuth’s! Wherever you are in the world, please keep in touch, and visit us if you are in Durham. We hope to have a new building at Parson’s Field in 2017, but you will find the Bailey premises largely unchanged.

Professor Elizabeth Archibald

Development Officer It’s been an exciting term so far, with the first of our bar refurbishment taking place over the summer, thanks to the generous donations of our alumni. In September we were also thrilled to host the annual Alumni Weekend, which this year focused on a celebration of women in Cuth’s. We were delighted to be joined by two of the first women in St Cuthbert’s (and their

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husbands, also Cuthspeople), and heard plenty of memories from the pair who were two of the original six women to arrive at Cuth’s in 1969. There was a diverse range of attendees, from those who matriculated in 1948 right through to recent graduates, and many stories were shared over the course of the weekend.

From tales of favourite old haunts and proposals in the Dun Cow pub, to in depth discussions about the layout of the JCR in years gone by, and suggestions of the best ways to sneak in and out of St Mary’s after hours - a fantastic time was had by all, and we look forward to another successful year in 2016!

It has been hugely enjoyable creating this edition of the Chronicle, and I hope you enjoy it. If you ever have any questions, all my contact details can be found on the back cover.

Harriet Rawet

JCR President Taking over from Millie has been no easy task after her fantastic year, however I am grateful for the opportunity to help our wonderful community flourish. The academic year began by welcoming our new cohort of students and as ever we aimed to instil in them our pride for St Cuthbert’s. A 50 strong team of reps put on a variety of events with great success, and in particular we had a large number of Postgraduate students in attendance, an enterprising subset within the JCR that has continued to thrive throughout the term.

It is our sports and societies that often help to create strong bonds throughout Cuth’s, and I would like to highlight one in particular. Over the course of 2015, the men's rugby club have organised a charity football match, bucket collections in the bars and taken part in Movember to raise money for Teesdale and Weardale Search and Mountain Rescue Team. In total they have raised over £1000 over the year, a fantastic achievement! Along with fundraising efforts from our Charity

Fashion Show and Outreach Committee, they have really shown the positive impact which we can have on the wider community, from which we receive so much support.

Rich Root

Alumni Association Chair The Alumni Association is a group of fellow alumni who work together to run events, catch up with old and new friends, and volunteer expertise for the mutual benefit of our current, and future, members. The Alumni Association has been particularly active in the last few months holding a number of events, collating the 2016 calendar, and putting in place a long term plan. As Cuth’s alumni, we are all automatically members of the Association, so welcome to those congregating in January 2016!

Association activities and events are organised by alumni, for alumni and we would love for you all – old and new members alike – to get involved in any and all ways you can. Highlights of 2015 include the inaugural Founders’ Dinner to celebrate those who formed St Cuthbert’s, and creating a new award for outstanding contribution to the Society by a first year.

We launched a new #CuthsChristmas initiative which celebrated our shared Society heritage across two continents, with events in Vancouver, London and York.

There are a number of ways in which you can get involved, depending on the areas you are interested in, and these can be found on the back cover. Please get in touch if you want to organise a future event nearer to you, and we can help with publicity and emails. In 2016, we are planning two more events – a St Cuthbert’s Day lunch on Saturday 19th March, and graduation anniversary drinks on Saturday 2nd July. If you graduated in any year ending in a 6 or a 1 you will be hearing from us very soon for a big get together in London, or to organise an event in your area!

Richard Peralta

News Also, congratulations to Cuth’s University Challenge team who won the Universitywide intercollegiate competition, with a team made up of James Simpson and Josh Butterworth (both of whom participated last year), and new additions Alexandra Newman and Sam Keay, a Master’s student and first year respectively.

New Blood in Cuth’s Freshers’ Week has now been and gone, and we are already through the first term of the year – how time flies! Our 528 new students matriculated on a grey October afternoon, but there were still smiles all round as our Freshers’ Reps welcomed them out of the Cathedral to a cacophony of pots and pans, and plenty of cheering.

The ceremony began with a speech from the Students’ Union President and former Cuth’s JCR President, Millie Tanner, who spoke about the importance of embracing every aspect of student life while at Durham. She was followed by our brand new Vice-Chancellor, Professor Stuart Corbridge, who spoke on the many and valuable aspects of community to be encountered and appreciated at Durham.

We are looking forward to seeing how the coming year progresses with these fresh and enthusiastic faces!

Sporting Round up Despite a considerable amount of terrible weather throughout Michaelmas term, there have still been a number of fixtures and victories, with Cuth’s currently sitting at a comfortable third place in the College Sport points table.

Cuthle (Cuth’s & Castle) women’s rugby has come back stronger than ever after an initial loss at the start of the season, and have won both of their latest matches, against Graidan’s (Grey & Aidan’s combined team) and Hatfield.

There have been a number of new faces this year but all have come together to form an incredibly strong team.

Cuth’s chess team have also had a successful term, managing to beat Hatfield 5-3 in the final to retain the intercollegiate title and the trophy. The team is captained by Phil Purcell and made up of Peter Hornsby, Ben Percival and David Grant.

Michaelmas Ball By all accounts, the highlight of the term was the Michaelmas Ball, where 380 students and entertainers descended on Beamish Hall for a night of luxurious food and entertainment, including music from The Funkyard, a funk and soul band made up of a number of Cuth’s students.

The theme for 2015 was ‘Fire & Ice’ which provided plenty of inspiration for fabulous decorations and entertainments from Social Committee.

Cuth’s Panto

Ultimate Frisbee continues to go from strength to strength, with Cuth’s now In December, Cuthbert’s second years fielding three teams with well over 50 Anna Murphy and Alex Ashton took part members in total, while women’s football in Jailbreak, a challenge in which pairs of continue to improve and are now third in students have 36 hours to hitchhike as far their league and through to the quarter away from Durham as possible. The pair finals of the cup. Men’s football continues managed to hike their way to Albania, just to field six teams (A-F), each with its own in time for their independence day distinct character and varying degree of celebrations, and raised an impressive success! £285 for Amnesty International in the process!

Anna and Alex take Albania

This year Cuth’s Panto was an updated version of ‘The Little Mermaid’, written by third-year Rhys Crowley, in which Ariel had a feminist awakening after changing college in order to pursue her Hatfield Prince Charming. There were some stand out performances, particularly Alex Shaw, who played Hatfield’s answer to Prince Eric, and Dom McGovern, who stole the show as Ursula, the Panto dame, and led the proceedings with confidence and humour, from time to time even heckling the rowdy audience. It was a fantastic couple of nights and a total sell out.

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Cuthbert’s Chronicle Update from Cuth’s Boat Club Following the success of Cuth’s oarsmen Hugh Crawshaw and J-L Wilkinson qualifying for Henley as part of the Cuths/ Hild Bede composite over the summer, expectations were very high for the boat club coming into the new season.

Unfortunately, the weather has led to a very frustrating opening term for the club.

Most of the major races, from Rutherford Head to York SBH, have been cancelled or postponed to the New Year, and Novice Cup remains half finished with the Finals and Plate to be decided.

Nevertheless, there have been some notable achievements on and off the water so far this year.

Both the men’s and the women’s squads came second at Tyne United, with the women’s squad matching the achievement at Tees SBH and Durham SBH as well. There were excellent results for the club at Durham Autumn Sculls, with Hugh Crawshaw winning both his category and the division in a single scull, and a win for the women’s double rowed

by Ella Holloway and Darcey BroughMylod.

SCSBC started sending crews to race on the Tideway in 1966. In order to highlight this important landmark for the club, I would like to encourage any alumni to email me any memories they would like to share of their experiences rowing for Cuth’s at WeHorr or Horr. Hopefully, we will be able to publish these extracts across the club’s social media platforms as part of the build-up for both events.

In November, Durham was once again host to the Lumiere Festival, which saw 27 different light installations across the city, including striking projections on the Cathedral, a huge whale leaping out of the Wear which could be seen from Elvet Bridge, and a garden of light along the Bailey and behind the Cathedral (magazine cover image). Take a look at Alasdair Macfarlane, pp.8-9 for some more pictures from over SCSBC Captain of Boats the weekend. cuthberts.boatclub@durham.ac.uk

Off the water, there were some outstanding performances at NEIRC (North East Indoor Rowing Championships). The women’s squad made the podium for the team erg event: Strictly Durham Nate Risser recorded the fastest college 2k with a time of 6:36.6, and Jack Kitching Each year, Durham Dance Sport hosts a won the open Lightweight category with a ‘Strictly Durham’ event where time of 6:36.7, beating eight rowers from ‘professionals’ (Dance Sport members) DUBC in the process. are matched with ‘celebrities’ (usually Common Room and society Presidents) On the social side of the club, following the rescheduled races, we have the boat to compete in one night of ballroom club’s ‘Burns Night Supper and Ceilidh’ to dancing, with all proceeds going to look forward to on Saturday 30th January, charity. As well as being our JCR President, Rich Root has also spent the which any interested club alumni are last three years ballroom dancing and so warmly welcome to attend. The main participated as a professional, partnered focus of next term however, will be with Cuth’s alumna Millie Tanner, WeHorr and Horr on the Tideway this President of the Students’ Union. Sadly coming March. the pair didn’t win, but it was a splendid This year, WeHorr and Horr have a evening and raised £900 for Syria Relief. special significance for the club, as 2016 marks the 50th anniversary of when

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Lumiere 2015

News Amnesty International Formal In late November this year, Durham University’s Amnesty International was showcased with ‘Movember’ in a Charity Formal at St Cuthbert’s. With moustaches both real and false abounding and our huge banner proudly brandishing Amnesty’s candle, the atmosphere was immediately lighthearted and intriguing. What made this event such a success was the solidarity which Cuth’s showed to serious causes and people’s concern for the wrong-doing in the world, combined with the celebratory mood in which we went about making a difference.

So what was different about this Formal?

By each person’s place, there were two letters for them to sign. One was addressed to Phyoe Phyoe Aung and the other 99 students of Myanmar who have been imprisoned for peacefully protesting for their right to an unrestricted education – some face up to nine years’ imprisonment. The other was to President Thein Sein of Myanmar, calling for their release and fair treatment while in prison. The Formal thus formed part of Amnesty’s Write for Rights Campaign, in which individuals from all over the world suffering human rights abuses are assisted by Amnesty. International support is rallied together and thousands of letters are sent, both to the relevant authority in order to call for change, and to the individuals themselves, and their loved ones, to bring them strength in hard times. The campaign includes artists imprisoned for expressing political views through their work in Malaysia, people subjected to ‘enforced disappearances’ in Iran for no explicable reason, men tortured in prison for their sexuality in Tunisia, and the persecution of students calling for democracy in the DRC, to mention just a few. It’s a hugely successful campaign as it not only supports the targeted individuals, but also sets an important precedent in the country in which they have suffered, often leading to changes in law which act preventatively thereafter. An example of this success

occurred in 2014, when Mexican prisoner of conscience, Angel Colon, was freed after six years’ imprisonment when 20,000 members of the public showed their support through Amnesty.

What we from Amnesty sought to demonstrate to students and High Table alike was that every small action is worthwhile as it does contribute to significant change. Everyone had a fantastic time, and we also gained 174 signatures – and these could contribute towards one hundred students, much like us, gaining their freedom. An evening well spent.

the Ranald Michie Prize, to be awarded annually by the Association for outstanding contribution to the Society by a first year. This award was funded by the attendees of the Founders’ Dinner using a small contribution from tickets.

The first ever recipient of the Ranald Michie Prize was Dan Fox, a combined honours student reading Physics and Philosophy. We have included some brief notes about both Ranald and Dan below.

Professor Ranald Michie was an extremely popular Resident and Senior Tutor at St Cuthbert’s Society during the 1970s and 1980s, serving Cuth’s tirelessly for 14 years. Ranald initiated Anna Murphy, Amnesty International major changes in the way the Society was Member & Cuth’s second year managed, increasing the housing stock and working actively to enhance the relationship between the JCR and Society management. He personified the Cuth’s values and ethos and since ‘officially’ leaving, Ranald has stayed involved, and spoke passionately about his time as Tutor at the 125th Anniversary dinner. In June 2015, in recognition of a lifetime career dedicated to the history of the City of London and the development of financial markets, Ranald was admitted as a Freeman of the City of London, a Medieval honour first bestowed in 1237, and you can read more about Ranald's Ranald Michie Award achievements on cuths.org.

The Alumni Association has been busy this year, and initiated a Founders’ Dinner Dan Fox arrived at Cuth’s in 2014 and to celebrate St. Cuthbert’s Society’s birth was nominated for the award by current and former Cuth’s Presidents, Rich Root on 25th October 1888. The dinner was and Mille Tanner, and chosen by a panel held at Boulevard Brasserie in London’s of Elizabeth Archibald (Principal), Richard Covent Garden. 25 graduates attended, ranging from 1959 to 2015, and this event Peralta (Alumni Association Chairman) will recur annually as close as possible to and Ranald himself. In particular, Dan has our founding date, building on successes been praised for his incredible leadership during the 2015 Open Days (team leader of our 125th Anniversary Dinner held in is a position usually reserved for second 2013. When the group of 'unattached' students met in the Market Tavern in the and third years). He was, and continues to be, an active member of the football autumn of 1888, we are sure they had little idea that the institution they founded club and writes for Palatinate, where he is now News Editor. Rich Root spoke highly would go on to last over 127 years (and of Dan, saying he has been “an excellent counting) and produce as many fine role model to his peers", while Millie wrote graduates as we have, but we hope to have done their memory proud! This year, that she would “strongly recommend Dan the Alumni Association was also delighted for this prize - he has been exemplary and in my view he represents the best of to launch a new undergraduate award, Cuth's”.

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Cuthbert’s Chronicle Island of Dreams It’s not every day that you receive an email with the subject line ‘Cuth’s alumnus becomes famous author!’, and so naturally my interest was piqued. It was a delight to hear from Dan Boothby (1992-1996), who told me about his recently published book, ‘Island of Dreams’, and in exchange for reviewing it here, I asked if he would be interested in sharing his story, from Durham to Lighthouse, and he willingly obliged.

Island of Dreams is an account of Dan’s time as a lighthouse warden in the former home of author Gavin Maxwell, and is part biography of Maxwell, part autobiography. The book is full of beautiful and charming descriptions of Dan’s experiences, and the characters he meets along the way, which makes for a wonderfully immersive reading experience. While a treat for those with an interest in Maxwell, this book is a delight for any reader with a curiosity for other lives and worlds. For now though, I will let Dan tell you about his life in Durham and journey beyond it...

It wasn’t so much an interview I got, as a welcome. The senior lecturer beamed as he shook my hand, enthused about his subject, the university and the town, showed me around the Centre for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, shook my hand again and told me he looked forward to seeing me come the Michaelmas term.

I’d left school at 16 and by 22, tired of dead-end jobs, I knew I could do better.

Education was the answer; it almost always is. On my first evening, sitting on the stage in the Bernard Gilpin Society (“BeeGees”), I spoke with the others and was so pleased to find myself among the quick and the intellectually curious.

BeeGees was located down on The Sands and was divided into a blue and a red side. Cuth’s used it to accommodate, in the main, its mature students. It was

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raffish – falling apart at the seams maybe – and sociable, and we had the space downstairs to host large raucous parties.

The last time I looked, where BeeGees once stood, there was only a pile of rubble.

Of the three years I spent at Durham I remember most the traipsing up those hidden hills, the beauty of Prebends Bridge and the mossy calm of the riversides on the long walks to and from lectures. I remember the exhaust trailing behind the Prince Bishop in the cold crisp air, the wooden rowing boats moored in their rows beside Elvet, the Cathedral spire in the mist, and the sheen of cobbles in rain on South Bailey. I remember the crush and boisterousness of the ents in the Students’ Union, and the sweaty college bars and Freshers’ Week, and the feel of the stiff shiny paper of Palatinate; dancing with Sarah to Wonderwall and singing out loud to Disco 2000 in Klute then snaffling cheesy chips outside Saddlers under light rain afterwards; the t-shirted and mini-skirted local lads and lassies out on the lash on those bitingly cold winter nights; quaffing pints in The Dun Cow and The Shakespeare and The ‘Big Jugs’, the echoes of cricket and rugby matches on Maiden Castle, and clattering down the stairs of Robins cinema on student nights.

I still see in my mind’s eye the man on the horse in Market Place, jackdaws squabbling with a chattering magpie on the roof of a house behind the bus station in the summer sun, a train pulling in high above terraced streets. And the more I think about those most care-free, social (and drunken) days of our lives, the more comes back to me. We were still unformed – eager for romance, for experience, for adventure. Durham partly formed us.

After shaking the hand of the begowned Peter Ustinov – then Chancellor – in 1996, many of us headed to London. But as friends eased their way into middlemanagement, I started to slide and left London for Wales, and drifted… until in 2005 I became the warden of a tiny 6½acre lighthouse island off the Isle of Skye.

Gavin Maxwell, the aristocratic otter man and author of ‘Ring of Bright Water’ had once lived there. My island is encircled by heather-sided mountains and sea. Otters, dolphins and seals are everyday visuals.

Puffins bob and chuckle on the water, guillemots race over waves, ravens tumble and turn in the wind. You are very close to nature up there and the weather can be heavenly one moment and hellish the next. I stayed for 2½ years and when I left I missed the place and wanted to remember it all. The Highlands – the Hebrides – a world away, are exceptionally beautiful, and difficult, and I ended up writing a blend of travelogue, biography and memoir – a natural history.

It took four years to complete the book and six months to find an agent. Two years later I let the agent go and within three weeks I’d five offers to publish.

Discipline and tenacity are required. After that you will need luck with your timing, and the right editor – a champion who will continue to support and promote your book once it’s published. ‘Island of Dreams: A Personal History of a Remarkable Place’ was published by Picador in September 2015 and is doing well. It is a strange and rare thing, and a privilege – being published.

Dan Boothby

Features you did. That being said, my digs were only £3 a week including breakfast and It is part of the role of Development laundry, so my £10 went a long way! The Officer to manage the Cuth’s Facebook new Dunelm House was not open at first, page, and while doing this I came across but a decent meal in the Old Dunelm a message from Stuart Lodge, who read could be had for around 2 shillings (10p), Chemistry from 1965-68, telling us about a pint of beer was 1/8d (8.5p) and the a recent 50 year reunion he had attended. cheapest I ever found was only 1/4d Since finding each other again, Stuart and (6.5p) in the Union bar on the Bailey. How his group of Cuth’s friends have had a times change! number of reunions, and here he shares We all left with the intention of keeping in some memories from his time in Durham contact but of course such things as and a reflection on managing to reconnect Facebook were not around and we all with old friends. more or less lost touch, but when the Some recollections from Stuart internet became easily accessible we managed to get a group of 10 Cuthbert’s Lodge (Chemistry 1965-68) men together again (no women in those days, unfortunately!) and we have now Here are just a few thoughts on being a had 10 reunions spread over the last 18 Durham student in the 60s, from when I years, some of the pictures you can see arrived at St Cuth’s in 1965. This was in here. the days of grants, and mine worked out at £10 per week, although you could All I can say is don’t lose touch with your boost this in the Summer as, at the time, Uni friends - it’s much easier to stay in student jobs were pretty easy to come by, contact than to try and seek people out 30 especially if you weren’t too fussy what years down the line!

Memories of Cuthbert’s

Above, a 1960s raft race on the Wear and photograph from one of the RAG Raids during Stuart’s time in Durham.

Left, a reunion of the men (plus wives who include 3 Aidan's and 1 St Hild's).

Bottom left, a photograph of the group taken while in Durham. Bottom right, a group photograph from the most recent 50 year reunion in 2015.

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Cuthbert’s Chronicle

A children’s story plays out across Durham Castle Old Shire Hall on Old Elvet, illuminated with a kaleidoscope projection

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Features Koi carp swim through the skies over Market Square

Spikey sculptures and rainbow trees are visible across Prebends Bridge

A cloud of light, illuminated when the hanging chains are tugged

Part of the Cathedral projections, this year entitled ‘The World Machine’ and about the birth of modern cosmology

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Cuthbert’s Chronicle A 40 Year Reunion When I was twenty-one I doubt that I could possibly have conceived of a sentence which would include the words ‘forty years’ or ‘retirement’ but here I am, still standing. I knew I was in trouble when David Maxwell turned up on my doorstep and said ‘I’ve been talking to Jenny.’ He had no intention of allowing me to continue in denial, and the idea of a reunion started to take shape. Two attempted to play the thirty-nine year card as they had been doing their year abroad so technically were not Class of ’75, but we saw through that— nice try, ladies!

Finding people wasn’t that hard, mainly due to David’s habit of turning up on doorsteps, usually with a forty-eight seater coach parked at the kerb but that, as they say, is another story. One of our group was MIA, but David was undeterred and after several months, he was on yet another doorstep, this time at Marilyn’s workplace two days after she retired.

Fortunately a colleague was unable to resist his Ulster charm and offered to pass on a message so soon she was returned to the fold.

Setting a date was a little more problematic. You might think that since most of us are at least semi-retired, it might be straightforward, but with holidays, Dad’s Army Appreciation Society, holidays, 10k’s to be run, ukulele orchestras, gymnastic summer camps, holidays, triathlons, children moving house, children to deliver to university and more holidays, it seemed that diaries were full. I almost had to resort to an Excel spreadsheet to work out the best option but finally we settled on August bank holiday weekend.

The next problem was a venue. On the face of it there are any number of hostelries in Durham, unlike in our day when there was really only the Chinese upstairs on the corner of Saddler Street.

Somehow going to a pub or restaurant that had no memories for us seemed to rather miss the point; we needed somewhere, well, like Cuth’s. One phone

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call to Cressida (Development Officer at the time) and suddenly plans started to fall into place. She set up a booking diary and coordinated payment and dates for those who decided to stay in college, so I wouldn’t take the blame if it all went horribly wrong.

“It still smells of garlic in the spring, there are still crews on the river and coaches on the tow path, fancy dress and evening dress.”

was well and even the Principal dropped in for a word. The dining room looked great, white tablecloths and green and white bunting, much more sophisticated than a normal Saturday night teatime.

Chef Marc had produced a great buffet and the lovely Tracey looked after us all evening. Dodgy photos appeared from handbags, and on iPads and there were long discussions about who was who and what had happened to them, not to mention the ‘what was I thinking wearing that?’. There was even a fairly tame rendition of the Cuthbert’s drinking song, although you will be relieved to know that this does not appear on YouTube.

London is convenient for a lot of alumni but there’s nothing quite like coming home for a reunion. Cuth’s will provide as warm a welcome as they did for us, nothing was too much trouble, including making up a new bed so Mike could spend the night in his old room in Number 13. Durham hasn’t changed that much at heart; it still smells of garlic in the spring, there are still crews on the river and coaches on the tow path, fancy dress and evening dress. Kingsgate Bridge still has wobbly paving stones, and the Students’ When the day finally came, Cuth’s did us Union building? Well, it’s still there. Walk proud. It was strange going in through the across Prebends and look at that view door of Number 12, which still needs a one more time. You know you want to. good shove and makes exactly the same Shelagh Barton, rattle as it always did. Harriet, Cressida’s Natural Sciences 1972-75 successor, met us to make sure that all Now I just had to find something to wear.

I stopped short at a retro dress code, conscious of the fact that partners were coming and it might be a step too far, but I was well into the whole nostalgia thing by this time, as my husband was compiling a playlist of Seventies music. He’s a Hatfield man by the way, but I had special dispensation to invite him! Trawling through ‘vintage’ fashion sites was both embarrassing and sobering, but I think you’ll be able to spot me in the photo.

Features feel more at home than at St Cuth’s.

Much of the credit must go to Principal Archibald, now my dear friend, under whose ample wings (I think she must have been the model for the Angel of the When I arrived at the University of North) I have been made to feel most Durham in late September, I knew my special and included. It is not easy experience as a Fellow of the Institute of capturing the spirit of a place, but for me, Advanced Study was going to be St Cuth’s represents a curious mix of challenging and rewarding. What I was contradictions – a deep appreciation of utterly unprepared for was the impact of intellectual and humanistic pursuits whose St Cuthbert’s Society on my Durham passing I had prematurely mourned, a experience. Looking back over the respect for both tradition and innovation, a preceding three months, I find it maturity of purpose linked to a playfulness unimaginable to view my time here in any and spontaneity that made it all seem like way other than through the prism of St scholarship and joy and hijinks were all Cuth’s. I include in this the entire Cuth’s inseparable. And despite all my best community – and community it is – research and meditation, it was the including that inimitable force of nature, its students of St Cuth’s who had the biggest Principal, Elizabeth Archibald, the kitchen impact on my research project, their staff – not limited to the inspired chef, gentle but probing questions ultimately Marc, the ever-buoyant Gillian, Tracey, changing the course and outcome of my and many others - the wonderful porters, work here. I leave with great reluctance the learned and charming President and but with the prospect that I may return in Committee of the Senior Common Room, some way or other. I will always feel that the cleaning staff who keep the place St Cuth’s is my away-home, and to all sparkling in both spirit and appearance – those who have made it so, I offer a most not least of all the side-splittingly funny heartfelt thank you.

Jenny who made my flat gleam, and last Professor Ted Gup of all, but perhaps first in my heart, the students. More about them in a moment. Recipe Corner

A message from Professor Ted Gup, visiting IAS Fellow for Michaelmas Term

How I had the good fortune to end up at St Cuth’s I do not know. I am an American journalist and author who has taught at many universities in the States and abroad, but never have I been made to

White chocolate cheesecake 450g soft cream cheese 4 large free range eggs 1 vanilla pod (seeds scraped out) 225g quality white chocolate 225g crème fraiche Butter for greasing 55g biscuit crumbs (your choice of biscuit) 1. Beat the cream cheese in a bowl until soft. Add the eggs one by one along with the vanilla seeds.

2. Melt the white chocolate in a pan, then fold in the crème fraiche until smooth.

3. Gently fold the chocolate mix and the cream cheese. Mix together.

4. Grease a 25cm cake tin with the butter and sprinkle the biscuit crumbs onto this, pour in the cheesecake mixture and gently bang the tin on the bench to remove any air bubbles.

5. Bake in a low oven (150°C for 45 minutes to1 hour) or until the centre is just firm to the touch. Allow to cool for several hours before portioning and serve.

Alumni Association Aims Our Alumni Association works with the College Officers and JCR towards a number of aims, which include the following:

Marc Reavley is the incredibly talented Head Chef at St Cuthbert’s Society and has shared with us his cheesecake recipe Connect - Help alumni keep in touch with from the most recent Senior Common friends they made while at St Cuthbert’s.

Room guest night: Entertain - Organise reunion events, dinners, sports and a varied social calendar for alumni.

Inform - Keep alumni up to date with St Cuthbert’s Society and Durham University news.

Support - Provide help and assistance to alumni and students whenever possible.

Fundraise - Fundraise and provide financial support to the Junior Common Room and members of St Cuthbert’s Society.

Ted (centre) with Marc and Gillian outside the front door of 12 South Bailey

More information on forthcoming events and Association news will be available in our monthly Newswire updates, as well as on the Association and Durham websites.

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Get Involved 

Come to an event!



Be a representative for your year group and organise a reunion.

   

Stay in Touch Cuth’s Development Officer, Harriet Rawet, can be reached in a number of ways: www.facebook.com/CuthbertsAlumni

Volunteer as a local representative to help us host regional events.

@CuthsAlumni

Offer time or space to help run an industry networking event.

www.durham.ac.uk/st-cuthberts.society/alumni

Become a Careers Angel and support current JCR members.

cuthberts.alumnirelations@durham.ac.uk

Let us know if there is a particular cause which you would like us to raise money for.

Association Contact Details:

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Tell us what’s important to you as a Cuth’s alumnus or alumna.

www.facebook/st.cuthberts.association

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Send us your photos and memories from your time in Durham.

@Cuths

If you’re interested in any of these, please don’t hesitate to get in touch using the details to the right.

www.cuths.org contact@cuths.org

Are there things you wish you had known when you set out into the world of work? Or had someone to ask about a certain career?

Cuth’s Careers Angels is a scheme in which alumni are asked to give current students help and advice about their future career.

We recognise that our alumni are diverse, ambitious and successful, with expertise in just about every career area.

By becoming a Cuth’s Angel you can share invaluable advice and information with current Cuth’s students about your area of employment, making sure that the next generation of Cuthspeople to enter the workplace are better informed and more prepared for what lies ahead.

Our Careers Angels receive free membership to the SCR and UK-wide event invitations.

To become a Careers Angel or find out more, please visit: www.durham.ac.uk/st-cuthberts.society/alumni