College bulletin: 25 November
At last the sun is shining today after a particularly wet week that saw raincoat-clad students, Fellows and staff alike scurrying across the Courts to avoid the worst of the deluge.
Earlier this week Head Gardener David Austrin told us we were still 120mm below the national rainfall average for the year with six weeks to go so don’t pack away those waterproofs just yet.
Luckily, this week’s Bulletin brings you more sunshine to top you up for the weekend.
College news
40 years of women being members of St John’s – record-breaking Formal Hall
As a year of events marking the 40th anniversary of women first being admitted as members of the College draws to an end, eagle-eyed students at Formal Hall last night might have noticed something unusual about the complement of Fellows.
The Master and 34 of our female Fellows dined at High Table together, making a record number of women at High Table.
The Master said: “We thought it would be fun to end the 40th anniversary year with a female Fellows’ flashmob at High Table, a lovely moment for us to celebrate and reflect.
“We were all proud to be dining in the company of pioneers like Professor Jane Heal, Dr Sue Colwell, Professor Christel Lane, Dr Helen Watson and Professor Deborah Howard, who became Fellows in the first decade of women joining the College. It was quite an emotional sight, two long tables almost entirely occupied by our brilliant women Fellows, one that will stay with me for a long time.”
Sit down with Olympian’s dream dinner guest
St John’s alumna Annamarie Phelps CBE reveals her top book, dream dinner guest and favourite spot in Cambridge (guess!) in the latest addition to the College’s new podcast.
Tune into the world champion rower’s quick-fire chat with the Master in the exclusive bonus content added this week to accompany the first episode of Souvient – The Cambridge Podcast, currently available on Acast, Spotify and Amazon.
Listen to The power of sport to transform lives – bonus content (three minutes)
Academic’s exhibition on 16th-century industrial heritage has lessons for today’s innovators
A new exhibition by an architectural historian from St John’s explores the ‘spirit of enterprise’ underpinning industrial buildings of the Renaissance in a region of north-eastern Italy.
Acqua, Terra, Fuoco (‘Water, Earth, Fire’): Industrial Architecture of the Renaissance in the Veneto, curated by Professor Deborah Howard, a Fellow of St John’s, has opened in Vicenza.
Prehistoric chefs’ culinary skills revealed after discovery of ancient charred food
Analysis of the oldest charred food remains ever found has revealed some of the cooking tricks used by early modern human and Neanderthal chefs to make their meals more palatable.
The research by a team of archaeologists, including St John's Fellow Professor Graeme Barker and External Director of Studies Dr Emma Pomeroy, has been published in Antiquity.
Parents of late student pay tribute to College community
The parents of the late Jonathan Gilmour, a PhD student at St John’s, have thanked the College community for its support following their son’s death.
Jonathan, whose memorial service was held in Chapel on 5 November, first joined St John’s as an undergraduate in 2005. The 35-year-old, who had Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, died in April at his family home where he had been shielding from the pandemic.
In a letter, Jonathan’s parents Angela and Brian said: “Throughout his whole 16-year journey from being an undergraduate, through his postgraduate years and PhD, there is no doubt that Jonathan received an amazing amount of support and encouragement from so many people at St John’s. This helped him to excel in his studies despite the huge physical daily challenges that he faced.
“Jonathan regarded College as his ‘home’ and he was a Johnian to the core. He always felt valued and respected for the person he was and told us that he never felt patronised or given favour just because of his disability.
“We feel that his wonderful College Tutors, Fellows, assistants, Porters, Domestic Bursar and his many friends helped him to achieve his hope that people would see his ability, not his disability.
“The many moving and heartfelt tributes paid to Jonathan by members of the College community on hearing of his death, the lowering of the College flag to half-mast and the wonderful memorial service is testament to the love, support and respect that he experienced.”
Permission has been granted for Jonathan’s ashes to be interred in the Scholar’s Garden, which he frequently visited with his friends and assistance dog, Uri.
His parents said: “Jonathan was very proud to be a St John’s Scholar… It gives our family comfort to know that Jonathan’s final resting place is in a place where he felt so happy for the last 16 years of his life.”
New multi-faith room
The College multi-faith room has moved to F2 Third Court from the Cripps Building.
At present, there is no water supply but the room is available for use until the end of this term. Water will be connected the week beginning 5 December so the room is fully equipped by the start of Lent Term.
This is the first move to develop a new multi-faith room. The JCR committee and The Rev’d Andrew Hammond, Chaplain, will be consulting on how it can be of value to as many students as possible.
Epiphany Carol Services
Ticket applications have opened for the candlelit Epiphany Carol Services taking place on Saturday and Sunday 21 and 22 January in the College Chapel.
The service of readings and hymns celebrate the season of Epiphany, telling the narrative of the coming of Christ, the Magi’s visit, and the presentation in the Temple.
Tickets for the services are free, however priority will be given to College members. Applications close on Monday 9 January 2023.
Festive family treats from St John’s
Christmas hampers filled with festive food, drink and even teddy bears from St John’s are for sale in the Buttery.
Three options are available: small (£18), medium (£30) and large (£50). They can be purchased in the Buttery and collected from the Catering Office in Second Court (O Staircase) between Monday and Friday, 9-11.45am and 12.45-4.30pm.
Scented candles made from recycled wax stubs from candles used for dining in St John’s launched on Monday and cost £7.50 each.
Staff Photography Competition ends next week
It’s the last call for entries in the Staff Photography Competition – the Library is accepting submissions until Wednesday 30 November.
£100 and £50 prizes are up for grabs. Entries can be placed in the Library pigeon hole in the Forecourt Lodge or handed in at the Issue Desk in the Working Library.
Full details on the staff intranet
What’s on
Chapel
Advent Carol Services – Saturday 26 November, 6pm, and Sunday 27 November, 3pm
Organ music will be played by George Herbert, Assistant Organist, and Alex Robson, Herbert Howells Organ Scholar.
Doors open at 5pm on Saturday for an organ recital before the 6pm service, and 2pm on Sunday before the 3pm service, which will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 3.
Both services are ticketed and all tickets have been allocated. However, should any seats be unclaimed by 5.45pm on the Saturday or 2.45pm on Sunday, non-ticket holders may be admitted (admittance is not guaranteed).
Further details and order of service
Student communion – Sunday 27 November, 8.30am
Student Communion takes place every Sunday at 8.30am, followed by a subsidised cooked breakfast in Hall.
Morning prayer – weekdays, 8.30am
Taking place in Ante-Chapel every weekday morning, lasting about 15 minutes.
Christmas carol service sung by St John’s Voices – Monday 28 November, 6pm
Open to all, admission free.
Andrew Nethsingha’s final Evensong and Reception – Thursday 1 December, 6.30pm
This will be the final Evensong for Andrew, the College’s current Director of Music. It will be followed by a drinks reception in the Ante-Chapel. This will be an opportunity to thank Andrew for his wonderful leadership of the Choir over the past 15 years and to wish him well for his new role at Westminster Abbey.
To help with logistics, kindly indicate your attendance at the reception by completing the form at https://bit.ly/3E0ogv5
Follow the Facebook page, SJC Chaplain, for Chapel service updates; and Andrew is on TikTok @thedetoxpriest. The Chapel is always keen to hear from more volunteers to read in services or assist in other ways: please contact Andrew.
Other events
St John’s College Jazz Band Bridgemas Concert – Friday 25 November, 8.30pm
Central Hall, Old Divinity School.
A few up-beat Christmassy numbers to get you in the festive spirit, dancing is encouraged.
Open to all, admission free.
CU Show Choir: A Night at the Movies – Friday 25 November, 11pm
ADC Theatre.
Featuring St John’s student Lingquan Kong, the Cambridge University Show Choir presents an evening of your favourite songs from Hollywood and beyond. From Footloose to Mamma Mia, James Bond to Pitch Perfect, go along for an hour of fun-filled entertainment, four-part harmonies and cheesy choreography.
Live lunchtime meditation – Monday to Thursday, 1.15-1.30pm
Via Zoom.
Spend 15 mindful minutes relaxing or meditating with the University’s mindfulness practitioner, Dr Elizabeth English, in these weekday sessions, free to students and staff.
Drop-in dissertation support group – Monday 28 November, 2pm
Via Zoom.
Weekly online group run during term time by the Library, offering a structured study space, support and encouragement for any undergraduate student who is taking on a dissertation next academic year.
Email Rebecca for the Zoom link or if you have any questions.
Maths for Everyone lecture series: Axioms for numbers – Monday 28 November, 5.30pm
Boys Smith Room, Fisher Building.
St John’s Fellow Professor Nick Manton presents the final in a series of eight maths refresher lectures aiming to broaden and deepen your understanding of what maths can do and how it works. This lecture looks at proofs in geometry and arithmetic, proof by induction, and Peano axioms.
It will help if you have some familiarity with A-Level maths topics.
Open to all College members. Admission free, booking not required.
St John’s Book Club (undergraduates) – Monday 28 November, 5.30pm
Merton Hall Cottage, behind the School of Pythagoras.
This is the launch meeting of the new book club for undergraduate students set up by Vona Groarke, the College’s Writer in Residence. The first book is Claire Keegan's Foster.
A second book club for postgraduates, College staff and members of the English Faculty, is taking place on Tuesday 6 December at 5.45pm.
Email Vona for more information.
St John's College Architecture Society talk: Women in Danish Architecture 1925-1975 – Monday 28 November, 5.30pm
Lightfoot Room, Old Divinity School.
Henriette Steiner, Associate Professor from the University of Copenhagen, questions how can we build more diverse and equitable cities in the future if our existing knowledge of architectural history unjustly focuses on the creative work and formal innovations of a handful of architects?
The research project ‘Women in Danish Architecture 1925-1975’ attempts to shift that unjust focus with regard to the so-called golden age of Danish design. Prof Steiner will bring untold stories about Danish architecture to light by focusing on the work of women architects, landscape architects, planners, educators, activists and artists.
Open to all, admission free.
Further details and to register
POSTPONED: Precarious lives: inequalities in health through the lens of the film maker – Wednesday 30 November, 1.45pm
Palmerston Room, Fisher Building.
This event has been postponed and will be rescheduled to Lent Term, date to be announced.
Director Ken Loach is due to appear at this workshop and screening of his acclaimed 2019 film Sorry We Missed You, organised by St John’s Reading Group on Health Inequalities in association with the University’s Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (CRASSH).
Free of charge. Donations will be collected for Cambridge City Foodbank and Cambridge Aid.
Book your place via the CRASSH events page
View Old Library collections – Wednesday 30 November, 2-4pm
Old Library.
Explore the College’s historic 17th century Library; highlights from the collections will be on display including medieval manuscripts, pioneering photography and books that changed the world.
Open to all College members and their guests, admission free. Entry is via E staircase, Second Court.
UniVox rehearsals – every Wednesday during term, 5.15-6.30pm
Palmerston Room, Fisher Building.
UniVox is a non-auditioned contemporary choir for students across the University run by the new Centre for Music Performance (CMP) and hosted by St John’s.
Places are limited so must be booked via the UniVox page of the CMP website.
Pantomime: Beauty and the Beast – Wednesday 30 November, 8.30pm
Palmerston Room, Fisher Building.
Presented by the Lady Margaret Players, ‘Oh no it isn’t!’, ‘Oh yes it is!’.
Open to all. Tickets £5, available on the door, cash only.
St John's College Music Society (SJCMS) lunchtime recital – Thursday 1 December, 1.15pm
New Music Room, First Court (staircase A).
Performed by Tammas Slater and Isaac Sebenius, piano duo.
Open to all, admission free, booking is not required.
An eclectic musical collage of classical/folk music – Thursday 1 December, 8pm
Main Lecture Theatre, Old Divinity School.
This short concert is a rapid tour of arranged and recomposed music, including Beethoven, Carmen, Webern, and Rossini. Featuring soloist Imaan Kashim playing Hubay’s Carmen Fantasie, and a new student composition and a contemporary take on the Overture to the Thieving Magpie by Sohan Kalirai.
Complementing this tightly wound blend are new arrangements of traditional Soviet accordion pieces.
Open to all, admission free.
Christmas concert – Friday 2 December, 6.30pm
St John’s College Chapel.
The Choir of St John’s College Choir perform a 50-minute concert of music for the Christmas season, with festive favourites together with contemporary works by Chilcott, McGlade and Farrington.
Open to all. Tickets £10 (front of Chapel), £7 (rear of Chapel) and £5 (Ante-Chapel). All seating is unreserved. College members and families of Choir members may apply for a £2 per ticket discount on the top price tickets; add the discount code CHRISTMAS10 at the check-out stage when making your booking.
Tickets can be purchased from the ADC Theatre Box Office by phone (01223 300085) or online.
Behn Quartet concert – Friday 2 December, 8pm
Main Lecture Theatre, Old Divinity School.
In this term’s final concert to mark the 40th anniversary of the admission of women to St John’s, the Behn Quartet – whose cellist is Johnian alumna Ghislaine McMullin – takes its name from the 17th-century playwright, political activist and philanthropist of the arts, Aphra Behn.
Its recital places two refined Neoclassical string quartets from the 20th century alongside one of Haydn’s most effervescent and soulful contributions to the medium.
Tailleferre’s only string quartet gained her an invitation to the group of young composers that became known as Les Six, while the fourth and most widely performed of Bacewicz’s seven quartets draws eloquently on elements of Polish folklore.
All welcome. Register for free tickets
St John’s Voices concert with Cambridge Baroque Camerata – Saturday 3 December, 7.30pm
St John’s College Chapel.
St John’s Voices join forces with long-term partners Cambridge Baroque Camerata for this celebration of Christmas music by French composers Francis Poulenc and Marc-Antoine Charpentier. Poulenc combines achingly beautiful and soulful feeling with a joyful playfulness, while two of Charpentier’s major works for Christmas receive a rare performance.
Open to all. Tickets £20 /£10 (students £10 /£5).
Further details and to buy tickets
St John’s Book Club (postgraduates, English Faculty and College staff) – Tuesday 6 December, 5.45pm
Merton Hall Cottage, behind the School of Pythagoras.
This is the launch meeting of the new book club for postgraduates, English Faculty and College staff set up by Vona Groarke, the College’s Writer in Residence. The first book is Claire Keegan’s Foster.
Email Vona for more information.
Ghost stories – Wednesday 7 December, 8.45pm
Combination Room.
With Professor Patrick Boyde.
Open to College postgraduate students, Fellows, visiting Fellows and their guests. Admission free, booking not required.
Close-up with manuscripts – Thursday 8 December, 6pm
Online.
St John’s postgraduate Lewis Roberts will be among several speakers exploring the emotional, creative and social stories behind their favourite manuscripts in the Wordsworth Trust’s collection at Grasmere, the former of home of William Wordsworth, St John’s alumnus.
Lewis, whose PhD is on the value of line-endings in poetry of the long 19th century and manuscript revision, will focus on the drafts of what became Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s Dejection: An Ode.
Tickets cost £5.
More information, including how to book
Book launch, Snapshots of Women in COG: Scientific excellence during the Covid-19 pandemic – Thursday 19 January 2023, 11am-3pm
Main Lecture Theatre, Old Divinity School.
A book presentation by St John’s Honorary Fellow Professor Sharon Peacock, Professor of Public Health and Microbiology in the Department of Medicine and Executive Director and Chair of the Covid-19 Genomics UK Consortium (COG-UK). The presentation will be followed by a roundtable discussion, lunch and networking.
Open to all, admission free. Further details and to register.
Registration closes on Monday 5 December.
And finally
The BBC has arrived in Forecourt today to set up for this weekend’s traditional Advent Carol Services, taking place in the College Chapel tomorrow and on Sunday.
The Sunday service will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 from 3pm and online
