Van Mildert College Christmas Card 2015

Van Mildert College

Wishing you a peaceful Christmas and prosperous New Year from Van Mildert College

Dear Mildertian, It is our great pleasure to write and offer you our very best wishes for the festive season on behalf of Van Mildert College. It has been a very special year for the College and we hope that you have had an equally successful 2015.

This year, the College has celebrated a milestone: the 50th Anniversary of our foundation as a College of Durham University. Over the course of the year, we have held a number of celebratory events and re-connected with a number of you, both in Durham and further afield. Events have been held in London, Liverpool, Oxford, New York City and Washington DC, offering excellent opportunities for us to meet with you and hear about your memories of Van Mildert College.

Our largest alumni event, the Van Mildert College Golden Jubilee Reunion Weekend was held in July 2015, when around 400 alumni and friends of the College returned to Durham. The Reunion Weekend included representatives from the founder members, as well as more recent graduates, providing a fantastic opportunity to share memories and reflections of the College.

Culminating in the Reunion Dinner, the weekend offered a number of opportunities to celebrate and share experiences.

The highlight of the weekend was Opera by the Lake, featuring the University’s Chancellor, Sir Thomas Allen. Over 200 attended the concert, which included a series of arias and duets, featuring alumni and members of University staff.

Each of the College’s three common rooms have also joined in the celebrations, with their own series of initiatives and commemorative events.

The Junior Common Room has held over 20 Committee and Society reunions, ranging from basketball and cheerleading to the JCR Executive. In turn, the Middle Common Room has hosted a postgraduate research symposium, which saw a number of current and former research students showcase their research outputs. The Senior Common Room has organised an Anniversary Lecture Series in collaboration with the Climate Impacts Research Centre, attracting guest speakers from a number of UK universities.

We were also delighted to host a number of former staff and tutors for the Staff Reunion Afternoon Tea in September, which included representatives from the housekeeping, catering, operations and College Office teams.

In addition to this schedule of celebratory events, a number of initiatives have also been launched to mark the College’s 50th Anniversary. Two books, ‘A

Place of Water’ and ‘The Birth of a College’ have been developed and a limited edition print of ‘The Lake’ has also been commissioned. Do contact the Development Officer (vm.development@durham.ac.uk) if you are in need of a present for your favourite Mildertian!

There have also been a number of developments around the College estate, including the installation of a commemorative sculpture, The Mildert Feather, which has been welcomed into the College community, with its own social media presence - we now have a number of ‘Guardians of the Feather’.

In 2015, the College’s motto - Sic vis non vobis - has never been more relevant.

Our JCR Outreach Projects, including the Primary School Project, Young Persons’ Project, Prison Project, Carers Respite Committee and Community Visiting Scheme, continue to thrive. So much so, that a sixth scheme has recently been launched - the Environmental Conservation Committee - further developing our already strong links with the local community.

As 2015 draws to a close, we would like to thank all those who have joined us in celebrating this very special year for the College. It has been a pleasure to meet with you and welcome you back to Durham and Van Mildert College, wherever possible.

We are already organising a number of events and activities for 2016 and hope that you will be able to join us. Notifications about these initiatives will be circulated to you in January.

If you would like any further information about the College, our projects or events, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our Development Officer, Martin Brader, who would be happy to help with any enquiries.

All that remains is for us both to wish you a Happy Christmas! We look forward to seeing you in the New Year.

With our best wishes for the festive season,

Professor David A. T. Harper D.Sc. Principal, Van Mildert College

Dr Victoria Brown Deputy Principal, Van Mildert College

Development Office Van Mildert College Durham University Mill Hill Lane Durham DH1 3LH Development Officer: Martin Brader Tel: +44 (0)191 334 7092 Email: vm.development@durham.ac.uk Web: www.durham.ac.uk/van-mildert.college/destination-2015/