College bulletin: 10 November
This week we’ve got a sneak peek inside the new Porters’ Lodge on Northampton Street, a picture entry from LMBC to mark early progress in their Movember challenge to grow moustaches in support of men’s health, and a plea to reunite a lost mouse with its owner.
College news
Open invitation to drop-in tours of new Porters’ Lodge
Two Grade II-listed buildings have been converted into a new Porters’ Lodge and a number of offices for staff.
The two-year project on Northampton Street is part of the College’s Masterplan and has been designed to improve and manage access to St John’s from the west of the site. A variety of College departments will be relocating to the building including Finance and IT with the Porters’ Lodge itself expected to be in operational use by Lent Term.
The buildings were separate at the start of the project but have had various uses over the years including as a group of Almshouses for the widows of clergymen, as a Granary, as a pub, a grocer’s shop and most recently, it was the St John’s Chop House, which closed during the pandemic.
All members of College are invited to a drop-in self-guided tour of the redeveloped buildings on Thursday 16 November from 10am-12pm and again from 2pm-4pm. Visitors should enter via the glass link building on Cripps Lane.
Rowers take on ‘Movember Challenge’ for charity
Members of Lady Margaret Boat Club are growing moustaches to raise money to support healthier men.
The group of men are supporting Movember by nurturing their whiskers throughout the month and need help to hit their £500 fundraising target. Movember supports more than 1,250 projects to reach and support men – particularly in the areas of mental health and suicide prevention.
Donate to support Maggie’s Movember efforts
Rising star undergraduate celebrated as one of UK’s ‘Future Black Leaders’
A St John’s student has been named as one of this year’s Top 150 UK Future African and African Caribbean Leaders.
Annissa La Touche, Co-President of St John’s College Junior Combination Room (JCR) undergraduate committee, secured the accolade for her work representing the student body and with Beyond Equality, a UK organisation that challenges gender stereotypes.
The Legend of Monica
The ‘exceptional professionalism’ of the College’s IT Business Solutions Manager has been recognised at an industry awards ceremony.
Monica Seix-Leria, pictured, was named as a ‘Legend’ by Kinetic Software for her ‘innovative’ work using KX, a product used for managing the College’s accommodation, events and catering bookings. She won the award at the Kinetic Live! conference in Nottingham earlier this month.
James Hargrave, College IT Director, said: “We are delighted that Monica’s legendary status has been formally recognised. And we know she will use it to continue to lead work across the College to get the best out of our investment in the KX software product.”
Calling music soloists
St John’s College Music Society (SJCMS) is inviting musicians to take part in an evening soloists’ concert on 23 November.
The SJCMS is seeking soloists of Grade 7/8+ standard to play for a maximum of 10 minutes each. Musicians should complete the online form (closes today) to express an interest. For further information contact the SJCMS President.
Armistice Day Act of Remembrance
Students, Fellows and staff joined a small Act of Remembrance and two-minute silence led by the Chaplain this morning to mark Armistice Day.
Heather Hancock, the Master, recited a tribute from the 1914 poem, For the Fallen, by Laurence Binyon and laid a wreath at the College’s war memorial in the Ante-Chapel.
What’s on
Chapel
Student Communion – Sunday 12 November, 8.30am
Gather in the small chapel in the Ante-Chapel for a half-hour service of Holy Communion (aka the Eucharist) with sermon, then go to Hall for cooked breakfast (which is subsidised). This appeals to a real cross-section of the student community.
Remembrance Sunday service – Sunday 12 November, 10.30am
There will be a special Sung Eucharist in Chapel in commemoration of all those who have fallen in battle or died as a result of war. The Choir will sing the Fauré Requiem and the service should finish about 11.45am. All are welcome, as are guests.
Poppies are on sale in the Great Gate Porter’s Lodge (cash only).
Organ recital – Sunday 12 November, 6pm
Harrison Cole (Gonville & Caius College) will be performing works by Jongen, Parry, Mathias and Bridge.
Open to all, admission free.
Sunday Evensong with sermon – Sunday 12 November, 6.30pm
This term’s sermon series is Who do you say that I am? Different preachers are offering their own perspective on Jesus Christ: how they understand him, what he means today and what we might learn from what we know of Jesus and how he has been portrayed in the last two millennia. This evening the St John’s College Dean of Chapel, The Rev’d Dr Mark Oakley, will be preaching on Jesus in Poetry.
Critical Mass – Tuesday 14 November, 10pm
Unlike the ancient traditional feel of Compline, this is an alternative, ‘affective’, meditative experience. Based on a very simple ‘mass’ (Holy Communion), it happens in the centre of Chapel, sitting on the floor, with candlelight, incense, projections and soul music. At the heart of the Critical Mass is a talk by the Chaplain aimed at the life world of students.
Wine and cheese are served afterwards. Open to College members and their guests.
Farewell Evensong for The Rev’d Dr Mark Oakley – Thursday 23 November, 6.30pm
Advent Carol Services – Saturday 25 November, 6pm & Sunday 26 November, 3pm
Applications for tickets are closed.
Christmas concert – Friday 1 December, 6.30pm
A 50-minute concert of music for the Christmas Season sung by the College Choir and directed by Christopher Gray. Festive favourites including The Lamb, Sussex Carol and O Holy Night alongside the Three Carol-Anthems by Howells and works by Sweelinck, Victoria and Mendelssohn.
Not suitable for under-fives. Tickets £12 front of Chapel, £8 rear of Chapel, £5 Ante-Chapel (unsighted). Please note seating is unreserved. Tickets are selling fast and are on sale from the ADC Theatre Box Office and online (or use QR code below).
For all other regular services, see the Chapel webpage.
The Chapel team is always keen to hear from more volunteers to read in services or assist in other ways: please contact Andrew.
Other events
Visit to Cambridge City Council – Friday 10 November, 6.40pm
Meet at Forecourt Lodge.
Following the recent visit to Wintercomfort, all are invited to visit Cambridge City Council on Market Square. A councillor will take the group around the Guildhall, introduce some of the issues facing local government at this time, and engage in a Q&A session. The tour finishes at 8pm.
Open to all, no cost. Please email the Dean of Chapel, Dr Mark Oakley if you’d like to attend.
Orchestral concert – Friday 10 November, 8pm
St John’s College Chapel.
A concert arranged by St John’s College Music Society (SJCMS), with music by Mozart, Holst and Rimsky-Korsakov. Conducted by St John’s Lay Clerk, Carlos Rodríguez Otero.
Open to all, admission free.
Bulb planting drop-in – Saturday 11 November, 9am-3pm
The tree-lined avenue (from Queen’s Road to Bin Brook).
Students, Fellows are staff are invited to help the Gardens team plant thousands of bulbs ready for spring flowering. Bring gardening gloves if you can, or they can be supplied if necessary. Tools will be provided.
There will be hot chocolate and biscuits for the volunteers. If you would like to get involved, please email David Austrin, Head Gardener.
Drop-in dissertation support group – Monday 13 November, 2.30-4pm
Library Seminar Room.
Weekly group run during term by Harriet Edwards, Library Graduate Trainee, offering an informal setting for students to work on their dissertations and other pieces of coursework alongside other students going through the same thing.
There is support, encouragement and the opportunity to ask questions about study skills such as researching, referencing and time management. The group is mostly for undergraduate students but postgraduates are also welcome if they think it would be helpful.
Email Harriet if you have any questions.
Physics for Everyone: Spacetime and Dynamics -- Energy and Momentum, Einstein's famous equation E = mc^2 – Monday 13 November, 6pm
Boys Smith Room, Fisher Building.
The sixth in a series of eight lectures by Fellow Prof Nick Manton, giving an overview of the world of physics for everyone at St John’s. Physics investigates the observable phenomena in our Universe, from the very large to the very small. Elegant theories have emerged, accurately describing a broad range of these phenomena. These lectures cover the key concepts of space, time, particles, matter, energy, forces and fields.
Open to College members and their guests. Admission free, no booking required.
College Bar quiz – Monday 13 November, 8.30pm
Bar.
Open to all, admission free.
Andrew Chamblin Memorial Lecture 2023 – Tuesday 14 November, 5pm
Meeting Room 2, Centre for Mathematical Sciences, Wilberforce Road, Cambridge CB3 0WA.
The 17th Andrew Chamblin Memorial Lecture, entitled Illuminating the Dark Universe with Gravitational Waves, will be given by Professor Alessandra Buonanno, Director at the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics.
The lecture will also be livestreamed on YouTube.
Admission free, booking required via the Faculty of Mathematics Events page.
Aquila rehearsal – Tuesday 14 November, 5.15-6.45pm
New Music Room.
Aquila is a friendly a cappella singing group for female students, Fellows and staff, led by Music Director Dr Chloe Allison. It welcomes new members – no audition is necessary, simply drop in to one of its weekly Tuesday evening rehearsals to try before joining.
For more information and events, visit Aquila’s Facebook or Instagram @johnsaquila
Chapel Late: Jazz in the Chapel – Tuesday 14 November, 8.30pm
Ante-Chapel, St John’s College Chapel.
From the St John’s College Music Society (SJCMS) a recital of jazz standards, ranging from Days of Wine and Roses to Bolivia. With Manav Paul on piano, Louis Henry on bass and Lincoln Grasby on drums.
Open to all, admission free.
Upper Library opening – Wednesday 15 November, 2-4pm
Enter via E staircase, Second Court.
Open every Wednesday afternoon in term time, view manuscripts and rare printed books from the collections in the Upper Library. Requests for material to be exhibited can be emailed to Special Collections and they will do their best to accommodate these during the term.
Open to College members and their guests. Admission free, no booking required.
Postgraduates Dine with Fellows – Wednesday 15 November, 7.30pm
Hall.
Open to College postgraduates. Attendance at Postgraduates Dine with Fellows events is restricted to one event per academic year.
Free of charge, limited places, register via Upay.
Palaeography for beginners – Friday 17 November, 2pm
Via Zoom (link below). Please note change of time for this week only.
Weekly sessions for anyone interested in reading handwriting from c1500-c1700, using documents from the College’s institutional archives. Sessions are informal and aimed at beginners, or those with a little experience who wish to practise their skills.
Sessions are held on Fridays at 3pm and take place online using photographs of the documents. If you would like to join, or have any queries, please email the archivist, Dr Lynsey Darby. If you aren’t sure until the last minute, please join anyway.
Open to all, admission free.
What’s On in the coming weeks
‘Swish’ clothes swap event – Saturday 18 November, 10.30am, then 11am-noon
Hall.
St John’s College is holding its second ‘Swish’, a clothes swap party that helps you to refresh your wardrobe while going easy on the planet. Doors open at 10.30am for participants to bring their clothes to swap before the ‘swish’ starts at 11am.
Clothes can also be donated in advance, just drop them off in Forecourt Lodge. If you would to volunteer to help on the day of the Swish, email Professor Jane Heal.
Open to all College members and their guests. Admission free.
Short Book Club for postgraduates, English Faculty and College staff – Monday 20 November, 5.45pm
Merton Hall Cottage (behind the School of Pythagoras).
Join Vona Groarke, St John’s Writer-in-Residence, to discuss this month’s book, Gwendoline Riley's 2021 My Phantoms. This short novel is about a difficult mother-daughter relationship, reviewed in The Guardian as ‘a devastating, quietly brutal... bitterly funny novel’; in The Times as a ‘riveting, merciless little novel’; in The Big Issue as ‘a work of genius’, and in the Financial Times as ‘a slim but brilliant novel’.
Newcomers welcome. Refreshments available. If you are interested in attending, email Vona.
Dramatisation: Bérénice – Wednesday 22 November, 7.30pm
Main Lecture Theatre, Old Divinity School.
A true-life story of royal love and renunciation in 1st-century Rome, brought to life at the 17th-century royal court of Versailles by one of the greatest tragedians, Jean Racine, in one of his best-loved dramas.
Directed by Prof Patrick Boyde, Emeritus Professor of Italian and Fellow of St John’s, this is an abridged, semi-staged performance in the original French. With English subtitles, images, and incidental music by Chopin.
Open to College postgraduate students, Fellows, Visiting Fellows and their guests as part of this term’s Sans Frontières events programme.
Admission free, booking recommended. Further details and to book
St John's College Music Society (SJCMS) lunchtime recital – Thursday 23 November, 1pm
New Music Room.
Open to all, admission free, no booking required.
Ghost walk – Thursday 23 November, 5.45pm
Meet in Third Court Cloister by the Bridge of Sighs.
With Dr Mark Nicholls, Fellow of St John’s.
Open to College postgraduate students, Fellows, Visiting Fellows and their guests as part of this term’s Sans Frontières events programme. Admission free.
Evening soloists concert – Thursday 23 November, 8pm
Main Lecture Theatre, Old Divinity School.
St John’s College Music Society (SJCMS) invites you to attend a concert of solo performances.
Open to all, admission free.
Ghost stories – Wednesday 6 December, 8.30pm
Combination Room.
With Prof Patrick Boyde, Fellow of St John’s.
Open to College postgraduate students, Fellows, Visiting Fellows and their guests as part of this term’s Sans Frontières events programme. Admission free.
Staff photography exhibition – Monday 11 December to Wednesday 10 January
Library Exhibition Area.
An exhibition of all submissions to the 2023 staff photography competition.
Full details and how to enter (staff intranet)
Short Book Club for postgraduates, English Faculty and College staff – Tuesday 12 December, 5.45pm
Merton Hall Cottage (behind the School of Pythagoras).
Join Vona Groarke, St John’s Writer-in-Residence, to discuss this month’s short book, Ian McEwan's On Chesil Beach, set in July 1962, just before 'the Swinging Sixties changed the notion of innocence forever’. Shortlisted for the 2007 Booker Prize (controversially, on account of its shortness), the novel was adapted for film in 2017, starring Saoirse Ronan and Billy Howle.
Newcomers always welcome. If you are interested in attending, email Vona.
And finally
A mouse is in College custody after taking a brief holiday in the Chapel – but no cheese was needed to catch it.
The Jellycat toy animal, which has a distinctive pen ink splodge on its stomach, was left behind after a service on 27 October and is now chilling with the Porters until it can be reunited with its owner.
Contact the Porters at Forecourt Lodge if you know who it belongs to.
