College bulletin: 24 November
A BBC van is now stationed in Forecourt which means that Christmas really is coming, the crew is here to record Sunday’s Advent Carol Service and it will be broadcast on BBC Radio 3 on Sunday 3 December. This week has been a busy one for the Chapel with The Reverend Canon Dr Mark Oakley delivering his final Evensong yesterday, and a new Dean of Chapel has also been appointed.
College news
The Reverend Canon Dr Victoria Johnson named as Dean of Chapel at St John’s
The Canon Precentor of York Minster has been appointed as the new Dean of Chapel at St John’s College.
Heather Hancock, Master of St John’s, said: “We very much look forward to welcoming Victoria to St John’s, and see our Chapel continuing to flourish under her leadership as a place of beautiful worship, warm welcome and inspiring teaching.” Full story
Ancient litter reveals history of ordinary people who lived during first Mediterranean ‘superpower’
The lives of farmers and shepherds who toiled on the land in Italy up to 8,000 years ago have been pieced together for the first time in a new book co-written by Professor Graeme Barker. Full story
AI system self-organises to develop features of brains of complex organisms
Cambridge scientists have shown that placing physical constraints on an artificially-intelligent system allows it to develop features of the human brain to solve tasks.
Jascha Achterberg, a PhD researcher at St John’s and at the Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, co-led the research. Full story
Numbers come up for students in Cambridge competition tackling misinformation
A Master’s student at St John’s has won the Cambridge Misinformation Hackathon with two friends and the trio all did their undergraduate degrees at the same university in South Africa
Computer scientist Josie Rey and her teammates from Trinity Hall and Wolfson College developed a method to address misleading numerical claims in the media for the competition. Full story
Calling cricketers into bat
Women’s and Non-binary College Cricket is back at Cambridge after a long hiatus and is open to players of all abilities across the St John’s community.
Students and staff are welcome, no cricketing experience is necessary and all kit will be provided. Keep an eye on Lounge for details of training sessions and meetings.
Register here. Email Imogen if you have any queries.
Johnian magazine goes digital only
The autumn 2023 issue of Johnian magazine is now live on the alumni website.
In this first digital-only issue of Johnian, the Development Office team has captured a snapshot of the diverse digital careers followed by alumni.
The digital magazine format also enables the use of video, audio and more visual content than a print format allowed. Read the digital magazine
University cards now required to access meeting and music rooms
The Fisher Building meeting rooms have been put on SALTO access control – the keyless card system used in College. Fellows, students and staff will now be able to use their University cards to access the Castlereagh Room and annexe, the Boys Smith Room and annexe, and the Drawing Room. Access to the Music Rooms (booking required) will be via an access card that is available from the Cripps Porters' Lodge.
What’s on
Chapel
Advent Carol Services – Saturday 25 November, 6pm & Sunday 26 November, 3pm
Applications for tickets are closed.
Student Communion – Sunday 26 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.
Christmas Carol Service – Monday 27 November, 6pm
Start to celebrate Christmas at this annual service, sung by St John’s Voices.
Open to all, tickets not required.
Said Evening Prayer (no choir) – Tuesday 28 November, 6.30pm
Sung Eucharist for the Eve of St Andrew – Wednesday 29 November, 6.30pm
Christmas concert – Friday 1 December, 6.30pm: SOLD OUT
Mozart’s Requiem – Saturday 2 December, 7.30pm
St John’s Voices is joined by professional orchestra the London Mozart Players in a performance of Mozart’s ever-popular Requiem, alongside his motet Ave Verum Corpus and his exciting solo cantata Exsultate Jubilate. Soloists are drawn from the Choir.
Open to all, tickets from £5-£25, all seating is unreserved.
Epiphany Carol Services – Saturday 21 January & Sunday 22 January 2024, 6pm
A candlelit service of readings and music for the season. Music by Dove, Joubert, Kirbye, McGlade, Marsh, Mendelssohn, Poulenc, Sweelinck, Tallis, Tavener and Victoria.
Seating in Chapel for the Epiphany services is ticketed and you are encouraged to apply by Monday 8 January. Admission free, however priority will be given to College members.
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
Clare novice regatta – Saturday 25 November, from 8.24am
River Cam reach (Stourbridge Common).
800m of side-by-side racing. The Lady Margaret Boat Club (LMBC), St John’s rowing club, has six novice crews entered, three women’s crews and three men’s.
First race times for each crew – it’s a knockout race, so whoever wins continues racing:
NW2 8.24am - women’s 2nd crew.
NW3 8.32am - women’s 3rd crew.
NM3 9.28am - men’s 3rd crew.
NM2 10am - men’s 2nd crew.
NM1 10.40am - men’s 1st crew.
NW1 12.50pm - women’s 1st crew.
Watch the racing from Ditton Meadows, past Chisholm Trail Bridge. Open to all, no tickets required.
Women’s & Non-binary College Cricket event – Sunday 26 November, 11am-12 noon
University Sports Centre.
An indoor cuppers competition – lots of fun, super relaxed and no cricketing experience needed.
Open to all women and non-binary College members, admission free. Register to participate
Please email Imogen if you have any queries or wish to play.
Drop-in dissertation support group – Monday 27 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: Frontiers of Fundamental Physics: Search for a Theory of Everything – Monday 27 November, 6pm
Boys Smith Room, Fisher Building.
The final lecture in a series of eight 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.
Festive Halls – Monday 27 November to Thursday 30 November, 7.30pm
Hall.
Open to undergraduates and postgraduates, and guests.
Tickets: £22.50 for College members, £27 for guests. Register via Upay.
College Bar quiz – Monday 27 November, 8.30pm
Bar.
Open to all, admission free.
Aquila rehearsal – Tuesday 28 November, 5.15-6.45pm
New Music Room.
Aquila is a friendly a cappella singing group for students, Fellows and staff with upper voices (soprano/alto), 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
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) – Tuesday 28 November to Saturday 2 December, 7pm
Corpus Playroom.
St John’s students Jules Coyle and Blossom Durr star in the ADC production of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged), an uproarious comedy that aims to perform every single Shakespeare play in just 97 minutes.
Bin end wine sale – Wednesday 29 November, from 2pm
Bar.
Stocks are limited so sales are restricted to one case per person (more stock available on single bottles of champagne and magnums). To avoid disappointment, please arrive early. Unfortunately stock cannot be reserved.
Open to all College members.
Upper Library opening – Wednesday 29 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.
Open to College members and their guests. Admission free, no booking required.
Fairbairn Cup novice races – Thursday 30 November, from 9.15am
River Cam reach (Stourbridge Common).
The first day of the Fairbairn Cup, the big final end of term boat race, sees the fresher novice crews race from the boathouses to the middle of the River Cam reach to try and win the Fairbairn Cup. Go along to support the LMBC, St John’s rowing club.
Division start times:
9.15am - men’s novice.
11am - women's novice.
2pm - other lower novice boats.
Open to all, no tickets required.
St John's College Music Society (SJCMS) lunchtime recital – Thursday 30 November, 1pm
New Music Room.
Open to all, admission free, no booking required.
Palmerston Society speakers event – Thursday 30 November, 4pm
Lightfoot Room, Old Divinity School.
The Palmerston Society – for politics students at St John’s – is hosting the Rt Hon Greg Hands MP, Minister of State for Trade Policy, Minister for London and former Chairman of the Conservative Party.
Open to all, admission free, limited availability so booking essential. Please indicate whether you would like to ask a question when you register.
Christmas come-and-sing with the College Choir – Thursday 30 November, 6.30-7.15pm
Chapel.
Informal event for the whole St John’s community and their guests to sing carols with the College Choir. All levels of ability welcome.
Optional rehearsals are on offer in the Chapel with Christopher Gray, Director of Music, on 20 and 29 November, 8-9pm.
Admission free. Email the Choir Office if you wish to attend.
Fairbairn Cup seniors’ races – Friday 1 December, from 9.30am
River Cam reach (Stourbridge Common).
The second day of the Fairbairn Cup, the big final end of term boat race, sees the senior crews take to the water to race over 4.7k. Head along to support the LMBC, St John’s’ rowing club.
Division start times:
9.30am - men’s seniors.
12 noon - women's seniors.
14.15pm - senior 4's.
Open to all, no tickets required.
Aquila lunchtime concert – Friday 1 December, 1.15-1.45pm
Main Lecture Theatre, Old Divinity School.
Aquila, the College’s a cappella group for those with upper voices (soprano/alto), will perform arrangements of traditional and folk songs. Donations welcomed for the British Red Cross to support its work responding to emergencies worldwide.
Open to all, admission free, no booking required.
Palaeography for beginners – Friday 1 December, 3pm
Via Zoom (link below).
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 in term 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
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’.
Newcomers always welcome. If you are interested in attending, email Vona.
Short Book Club for postgraduates, English Faculty and College staff – Monday 22 January, 5.45pm
Merton Hall Cottage (behind the School of Pythagoras).
Join Vona Groarke, St John’s Writer-in-Residence, to discuss January’s book, Baba Dunja's Last Love by Alina Bronsky, published in 2015. It's a chipper little romance set in post-nuclear accident Chernobyl and is, in fact, much funnier and life-affirming than you'd expect. In a novel about families, risk, resilience and what it means to love a home, Baba Dunja is an unforgettable character – irrepressible, sharp-tongued, loyal and wise.
Newcomers always welcome. If you are interested in attending, email Vona.
And finally
A fond farewell was said to The Reverend Canon Dr Mark Oakley following his final Evensong last night as Dean of Chapel.
After the service, Heather Hancock, Master of St John’s, paid tribute to him. She spoke of Dr Oakley’s impact over the last five years, his ‘extraordinary facility’ with words ‘that regularly leaves congregations here silent and spellbound’, his ‘wisdom and perspicacity’, and his ‘unshakeable commitment to serve God though love, justice and truth’.
Dr Oakley, who will be installed as Dean of Southwark on 3 December, said: “Thank you so much to everyone who has sent such kind messages as I prepare to leave St John’s. I was touched at how many came to Evensong last night to say farewell. Thank you.
“Maya Angelou says that people will forget what we did, and they will forget what we said, but they will never forget how we made them feel. Well, the College community has made me feel very fortunate and immensely thankful over the last five years. I shall miss being a part of it, but I have terrific memories and many new friends. Southwark Cathedral is next to London Bridge and so on a direct train line. I hope to see you there one day.”
His last attended services at St John’s will be the Advent Carol services this weekend and the 8.30am communion service on Sunday.
