College bulletin: 23 June
St John’s students sat 3422 exams this term and to celebrate their hard work, as is tradition, this week College hosted the annual St John’s May Ball.
We spent a lot of the week peeking out of our window at the various exciting developments going on around College in between writing about all of the awards members of College have been scooping up recently – read on for more on those.
Congratulations to the Committee and all the helpers and continued good luck to the medics and vets who are still sitting exams.
College news
Academic wins European Heritage Award for ‘unprecedented’ study
An architectural historian from St John’s has won Europe’s top heritage award for her ‘inspiring’ research.
Professor Deborah Howard is among 30 winners in the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards 2023 for her study into the architectural heritage of industrial development of the Veneto, Italy, in the 16th-century.
People can now vote online to decide who will win the Public Choice Award 2023.
Full story and to vote for Professor Howard
Archbishop of Canterbury confers education and scholarship award upon Dean of Chapel
The Rev'd Dr Mark Oakley, St John’s College Dean of Chapel, has been presented with a prestigious award for ‘outstanding’ education and scholarship by the Archbishop of Canterbury today.
The Lanfranc Award was conferred upon Dr Oakley by The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Justin Welby during a ceremony and reception at Lambeth Palace.
Clean, sustainable fuels made ‘from thin air’ and plastic waste
Researchers have demonstrated how carbon dioxide can be captured from industrial processes – or even directly from the air – and transformed into clean, sustainable fuels using just the energy from the sun.
Results newly revealed by the research group of Professor Erwin Reisner, a Fellow of St John’s, represent an important step toward the production of clean fuels to power the economy.
Oarsome achievements in the May Bumps
The College’s 1st women’s crew (W1) reached their highest position for 15 years and all three women’s boats bumped for the first time in a ‘great and unpredictable’ May Bumps.
W1 went up three, W2 bumped up out of the 3rd Division and W3 bumped up three nights in last week’s Bumps. Lance Badman, St John’s College Boatman, said: “It is the highest position W1 have been since 1998 and one night all three women's boats bumped and that has never happened before.”
The men’s crews also had an exciting Bumps, with M1 retaining second position on the river and M4 got blades.
“M2 were in the 12th position in the men's 1st Division, but sadly they were bumped for the first time in years. But to put things in perspective, it's like Man City winning the Premier League and their second team finishing 13th – it is a marvellous achievement,” Lance added.
“M3 had mightily fast crews behind them but the god of rowing was smiling on them as, just when they were about to be bumped, Caius M3 were bumped by King’s M2 crew.
“M4, our Red Boys rugby boat, got blades. A great and unpredictable bumps for every College involved this year. A big thanks to all the coaches involved, roll on next year.”
In other rowing news, Henley Royal Regatta men’s qualifying races are being held today. Should the men’s crews be successful they will begin racing on Tuesday.
University awards for College sporting stars
St John’s postgraduate Jordan Mubako has been named as a Newcomer of the Year in the University of Cambridge Sports Awards 2023 while a club captained by College medic William Tan took Sporting Moment of the Year.
Jordan, who has been studying for an MPhil in Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology this year, was recognised after competing at a high level in three different sports: Rugby Union, athletics and basketball.
As well as a league and cup double with basketball, Jordan won a Rugby Union Varsity, gained a Blue in athletics, and won Rugby Cuppers with St John’s.
He has been described as ‘incredibly skilful, energetic and motivated, his joy and kindness makes everyone around him better’.
Sporting Moment of the Year went to Cambridge University Amateur Boxing Club for its historic Varsity victory and knockdown from heavyweight boxer Chike Pilgrim (Darwin), under the captaincy of St John’s medical student Will.
Winners were decided by a judging panel made up of senior University staff, with the exception of Sporting Moment of the Year, which was decided by an audience vote in the lead up to this week’s ceremony at the University Sports Centre.
Jordan is pictured below with Charlotte Bardsley, from Sidney Sussex, who also received a Newcomer Award.
Catering team still giving five-star treatment
The College’s Catering services have retained their five-star rating for hygiene from Cambridge City Council Environmental Health as part of its regular assessment programme.
The news follows the first routine inspection since before the pandemic and the opening of the College’s new dining spaces in January. The previous inspection in September 2019 also achieved five stars.
Chris Pope, St John’s Catering and Hospitality Manager, said: “We are pleased to have maintained the standard. The lead inspector noted that they had high levels of confidence over how the kitchen was managed by Tom Stewart, our Executive Chef.”
Busy weekend for Midsummer Fair
The annual Midsummer Fair is taking place on Midsummer Common and Cambridge City Council has warned visitors and residents to be prepared for a busy weekend on the roads.
Traffic is expected to be heavier than usual, particularly between noon and 10pm tomorrow, so do plan well ahead if you are leaving College.
Full city council announcement
Chapel
Evensong sung by Stanford University Chamber Chorale (USA) – Saturday 24 June, 5pm
St John’s Chapel.
Second consecutive Evensong performance by Stanford University Chamber Chorale in the Chapel.
Twentieth-Century Masterpieces for Choir – Saturday 24 June, 8pm
St John’s Chapel.
St John’s Voices returns to the concert platform for a celebration of the 20th century’s finest choral music including pieces by Janacek, Britten, Walton and Copland. With solos from Ruth Murphy, John Stowell and Eleanor Medcalf, alongside organists and pianist Benedict Turner-Berry and Jack McCabe.
Open to all. Tickets £5-10 for students, £10-20 for general admission.
Further information and tickets
Ten Year Evensong sung by St John's Voices – Sunday 25 June, 5.15pm
St John’s Voices celebrates its tenth birthday with a reunion Evensong. Many past members of the Choir will be returning to sing with the Choir, and those who remember them – and others – are warmly encouraged to attend Evensong and a drinks reception after the service.
Open to all, admission free, no booking required.
Evensong sung by the College Choir resumes on Tuesday 27 June, 6.30pm.
Organ recital – Sunday 2 July, 6pm
Alex Robson (St John’s College), will be performing works by Bach, Messiaen and Pärt.
Open to all, admission free.
Sunday Evensong with Sermon – Sunday 2 July, 6.30pm
This term’s sermon series – ‘The Disappeared: attending to the unseen’ – has been inspired by the piece of music which the Choir will sing this evening, one of James MacMillan’s Cantos Sagrados. In these MacMillan is responding to the horrors of political oppression in Latin America, especially ‘The Disappeared’ in Argentina. This evening Fr Luis Orlando Pérez Jiménez SJ (priest and human rights specialist) will be preaching on ‘Mexico’s Mothers: The Search for their Loved Ones’.
Evensong sung by Cambridge Choral Summer Course – Monday 3 July, 6.30pm
Joint Evensong with the Choirs of St John’s College and King’s College – Tuesday 4 July, 6pm
King’s College Chapel.
This annual service will be held in King’s College Chapel this year. Seating is allocated on a first come, first served basis, tickets will not be issued.
King’s College has advised that members of St John’s should queue in the King’s College queue alongside the Gibbs Building (this will be signposted as ‘Members of King’s’ and staff will be on hand to direct members to the correct queue) and enter the Chapel via the South door.
Organ recital – Sunday 9 July, 6pm
George Herbert (St John’s College), will be performing Sonata on the 94th Psalm by Reubke.
Open to all, admission free.
Sunday Evensong with Sermon – Sunday 9 July, 6.30pm
This is the final service of the academic year. This term’s sermon series – ‘The Disappeared: attending to the unseen’ – has been inspired by the piece of music which the Choir sang on 2 July, one of James MacMillan’s Cantos Sagrados. In these MacMillan is responding to the horrors of political oppression in Latin America, especially ‘The Disappeared’ in Argentina. This evening Chine McDonald (Author of God is not a white man; Director of Theos) will be preaching on ‘People of colour’.
For all other regular services, see the Chapel webpage. Follow the Facebook page, SJC Chaplain, for Chapel service updates; and Andrew is on TikTok @thedetoxpriest. 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
Bin end wine sale: magnums and mixed cases – Friday 23 June, from 2pm
College Bar.
Open to all College members.
Tutors’ reception for graduands – Tuesday 27 June, 4.30pm
The Backs.
This event is held by Tutors on the evening before General Admission to celebrate with the 2023 undergraduate graduands and their guests, Directors of Study and subject Fellows.
Sign up for this event has now closed but if you would like to attend please contact academic.admin@cam.ac.uk
Old Library opening for General Admission – Wednesday 28 June, 2.15pm-4pm
Old Library.
Graduands and their guests are invited to visit the 17th-century Upper Library, where a selection of treasures, including medieval manuscripts, will be on display. Entry is via E staircase, Second Court.
Open to graduands and their guests, admission free, no booking required.
And finally
Kay Lovett, Porter, captured this pretty photograph of spectators gathered in punts to watch the fireworks at the annual St John’s May Ball.
