From Stockton to Durham

Reflections of an Assistant Principal

I joined the College team in 2009 when Stephenson was located in its first home at Queen’s Campus, Stockton. The iconic Infinity Bridge which crossed the River Tees had just opened and work was beginning on ‘Stephenson Central’, a brand-new facility for social and study space. This was to replace two Portakabins – the previous home to the JCR; a far cry from the fantastic space and facilities we are lucky to enjoy now.

Our Stockton years have afforded us many fond memories; dining in The Waterside, performances in the Arc Theatre and the annual Stockton fireworks. Not forgetting the replica Locomotion train on our doorstep, the ducks that frequented College or the riverside being lit up red as we headed into town for various events. Less fondly, I recall the sticky floors in the Rocket Union and the many hours spent on the X12 (or at least at the bus stop waiting for it!).

With our relocation planned, we wished our medics and pharmacists all the best in their next chapter at Newcastle University. Occupying Hilton Cottage as our interim Durham City base, we spent 2017-18 as a split-site College before fully relocating to Durham in the summer of 2018, when Stephenson said farewell to Queen’s Campus.

Twenty-four miles down the road (we know because we walked it), primed with apprehension and excitement (packing crates and sticky labels), we arrived at Howlands Farm in late September, with just days to rip up flooring and unpack a few boxes before welcoming our new students; Stephenson’s first ever historians, mathematicians and geographers, to name a few.

Since settling in Durham, we have moved from strength to strength. Our café-bar is among the best of all Colleges, we are spoiled with our fantastic green space and the calendar is jampacked with so many student activities. Throughout the twenty years of Stephenson, we have seen much progression; we have moved, we welcome students from all disciplines, JCR Presidents no longer write their speeches on napkins and the ‘Danger Ranger’ became a ‘Steamo’, with an addition of a ‘Purple Train’!

We are proud of our heritage and many things remain; our Locomotion dinners, our accommodation block names and belting out Sweet Caroline on the karaoke. We maintain and stand proud of what makes us Stevo; our spirit, our warmth, our community.

I feel lucky to be a part of the Stephenson community and to have shared in memories old and new. I have shared celebrations over the years, at Summer Balls, Stevo Day and holding back tears at the annual Handover and Awards Dinner. Confiscating pets from rooms and subsequently fostering a hamster, losing a piano and having a transit van instead of a lorry turn up to move an entire College, are days that remind me that life at Stephenson is never dull. My fondest memories however are always of working closely with our students, getting to know them, watching them grow as individuals, graduating with their futures ahead of them and in some cases, going on to marry a fellow Stevo Ranger!

Being a part of Stephenson has given me memories and friendships to last a lifetime and I look forward to many, many more.

Our Stockton years have afforded us many fond memories; dining in The Waterside, performances in the Arc Theatre and the annual Stockton fireworks.