College bulletin: 27 January
College Bulletin – 27 January 2023
After years of planning and more than 18 months of construction work, the new Café, Buttery and Bar will fully open at 11.30am on Monday 30 January. Many members of College attended various preview events this week as the finishing touches continued to be made to the three new social spaces. The temporary structure will close for good on Sunday night and from Tuesday 31 January, the opening hours will be as outlined below.
Food has been a topic of lively conversation at College since St John’s was founded, so in advance of the new dining areas opening, we delved into the archives to find out what Tripadvisor reviews would have said about the menus at St John’s in centuries gone by. Spoiler – the story involves protests in Hall and very robust written feedback from across the years. Let’s hope the new Fitzbillies focaccia sandwiches in the new café spark fewer complaints than the potatoes apparently ‘held together with glue’.
College news
Memorial service to be held for Professor Andrew Wyllie
St John's May Ball 2023
The May Ball Committee is pleased to announce that ticket applications will open on Monday 30 January at noon.
The St John’s May Ball is a world famous event with a history stretching back to 1888. This year, on Tuesday 20 June, the College will be transformed with beautiful decorations illustrating the theme, which is kept secret until you arrive. There will be an array of bars and food stands, as well as an amazing headline act, a fireworks display and plenty of other surprises to keep you entertained until sunrise.
Applications are open to all current students of the College, as well as alumni and Fellows. Allocation does not operate on a first-come, first-serve basis. Ticket applications will close on Sunday 12 February. Apply here
For any further queries please consult our FAQs or email.
Acts for the May Ball
The May Ball Committee is looking for student acts of any type: music, comedy, tarot reading, face painting, puppet shows, glitter art, juggling - or anything in between. Performers and artists do not have to be College members or students of the University. Auditions will be held on Saturday 28 January, Sunday 29 January and Saturday 4 February.
What’s on
Chapel
Student communion – Sunday 29 January, 8.30am
Student Communion takes place every Sunday at 8.30am, followed by a subsidised cooked breakfast in Hall.
Sung Eucharist – Sunday 29 January, 10.30am
Open to all, admission free.
Organ recital – Sunday 29 January, 6pm
Makoto James of St Michael, Cornhill, will be performing works by Howells, Litaize and Darke.
Open to all, admission free.
Sunday Evensong with Sermon – Sunday 29 January, 6.30pm
This term’s sermon series invites the preachers to help our faith learn from the past. The preachers have chosen figures from the 16th and 17th centuries in order to suggest ways in which our faith might deepen through a closer encounter with their life and work. The preacher this evening, who draws his subject from the title ‘Past tense, future perfect? Learning from the history of faith’, is the College Dean, the Rev’d Canon Dr Mark Oakley, who will be preaching on the early 17th century poet George Herbert.
Open to all, admission free.
Evensong – Monday 30 January, 6.30pm
Sung by St John’s Voices.
Chapel Late – Tuesday 31 January, 8.30pm-9.15pm
Ante-chapel.
Purcell’s Fantasia performed by Daphne Defas, Alma Vink, Leon Sturdee and Seth Collin.
Open to all, admission free.
Morning prayer – weekdays, 8.30am
Taking place in Ante-Chapel every weekday morning, lasting about 15 minutes.
Organ recital – Sunday 5 February, 6pm
George Herbert, Assistant Organist at the College, will be performing works by Farrington, Parry and Howells.
Open to all, admission free.
The Meditation on the Passion of Christ – Saturday 4 March, 6.00pm
A Service of readings and music for Passiontide.
Deadline for applications is Monday 13 February. Book here
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
Capoeira workshop – Saturday 28 January, 4pm and 7.30pm
Ross Street Community Centre.
Capoeira has been described as a Brazilian martial art. The workshops, held with a visiting Contra Mestre, will include the basics of this movement discipline and an introduction to the indigenous music that accompanies it (participants will play instruments such as the pandeiro, berimbau, agogô).
Open to all, no previous knowledge or experience is necessary. Cost: £30 for 4pm movement class, £20 for 7.30pm music class, £42 for both classes. Further details
St John’s Picturehouse: Braveheart – Sunday 22 January, 8.15pm
Palmerston Room, Fisher Building.
The second Picturehouse society film of 2023 celebrates Burns Night with a screening of Braveheart. Scottish warrior William Wallace leads his countrymen in a rebellion to free his homeland from the tyranny of King Edward I of England.
All films are shown with a cinema-grade DCP projector and events are open to all University students and staff.
Mathematics and Mathematicians at St John's – weekdays, 9am-5pm
St John’s College Library.
Exhibition which is open to all, admission free, no booking required.
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.
Open Orchestra – Monday 30 January
The St Johns College Open Orchestra (SJCOO) meets fortnightly on a Monday evening during term time. The orchestra is always happy to have more musicians who want to meet for relaxed and fun rehearsals, and sight read through some fun numbers from a wide variety of genres from classical to film. Brass and string players are particularly needed.
Open to all University members (Grade 4/5 minimum, no auditions required). Time and location to be confirmed upon registration.
Further details and to register or email the SJCOO Director, Daniel Livermore.
Palaeography for beginners – Tuesday 31 January, 3pm
Zoom.
Weekly ‘have-a-go’ sessions for anyone interested in reading handwriting c. 1500 – c. 1700, 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. Meetings are held online, using photographs of the documents which will be emailed out in advance along with the Zoom link.
Open to all, attendance free. If you would like to join in, please contact the archivist, Dr Lynsey Darby.
Tuesday 31 January to Saturday 4 February, 7.45pm
ADC Theatre.
In 1906 Sholem Asch wrote a play about a young woman who falls in love with a sex-worker working in her father's brothel. In 2015 Pulitzer Prize winning author Paula Vogel wrote a play that brought Asch's story, and the world in which he lived, to life. Indecent brings the haunting legacy of Jewish life at the beginning of the 20th century to the stage, confronting its complexity and beauty. It is a play about immigration, displacement and the pain of losing one’s home. It also asks us what place theatre might have in the midst of suffering. With St John’s’ Alex Bouffler as clarinettist in the onstage band, and Marcel Badeau as co-musical director.
Open to all. £11–£14 Tuesday-Thursday, £13–£16 Friday–Saturday. Purchase tickets
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.
Special collection display – Wednesday 1 February, 2pm-4pm
Old Library.
The Old Library will be open on a drop-in basis for people to view a display of items from the special collections. Every Wednesday during full term with the exception of 15 February.
Open to College members and their guests, admission free, no booking required.
Postgraduates Dine with Fellows – Wednesday 1 February, 7.30pm
Hall.
Open to College postgraduates. Postgraduates can attend one Dine with Fellows dinner per academic year.
Free of charge, limited places, register via Upay after 1 January. Booking closes at 9am on 31 January.
St John's College Music Society (SJCMS) lunchtime recital – Thursday 2 February, 1.15pm
New Music Room.
Martinů Piano Quartet and Berbettes for piano trio.
Open to all, admission free, booking is not required.
Social tennis sessions – Friday 3 February, 3.30pm
St John’s tennis courts, behind the College playing fields.
Hour long social tennis sessions run by St John’s Tennis Club, every Friday during term time. No prior experience is needed, the games are intended for all students of all ages and all abilities. There is no need to come with a partner or tennis balls. If you need a racket or have any queries please contact Jonny Fox.
Open to all St John’s students, admission free, no booking required.
Clothes swap – Saturday 4 February, 11am
Fisher Building Foyer.
Recycle and refresh your wardrobe, while taking steps to protect the planet.
Women’s and men’s clothes and fabric accessories, in good, clean condition can all be donated from 10.30am, when the doors open. Alternatively leave your donations in the Swish container that will be located in the Forecourt Porters’ Lodge from 17 January.
If anyone would like to volunteer to help organise the event please contact Clara Manco.
Admission free. Open to College members, their friends and family.
Prof Andrew Wylie memorial service – Saturday 4 February, 12 noon
St John’s College Chapel.
A memorial service is being held for Professor of Pathology and St John’s Fellow, Prof Andrew Wylie, who died in May.
All welcome to attend.
The chemistry of wine and wine tasting – Wednesday 8 February, 6pm
The Wordsworth Room.
Dr Paul Wood, St John’s Fellow and Lecturer in Inorganic Chemistry, presents a 45 minute talk followed by mingling and wine tasting.
Open to College postgraduate students, Fellows, visiting Fellows and their guests as part of this term’s Sans Frontières events programme.
£10 admission charge, details on how to sign up to be confirmed.
Linacre Lecture 2023 – Thursday 9 February, 5.30pm
Main Lecture Theatre, Old Divinity School.
This year’s Linacre Lecture is entitled Dyslexia, Rhythm, Language and the Developing Brain and will be given by Professor Usha Goswami, Director at the Centre for Neuroscience in Education, Professor of Cognitive Developmental Neuroscience at Cambridge University and Fellow of St John’s. The lecture will be followed by a drinks reception.
Register for the lecture by Friday 3 February.
Pink Week Formal Hall – Thursday 9 February, 6.45pm
A Super Hall to raise awareness for breast cancer, with a drinks reception at 6.45pm followed by dinner at 7.30pm.
Open to St John’s students, two guests per student. £21.90 for College students, £26.25 for guests. Tickets available via Upay until Wednesday 8 February, 9am.
St John's College Music Society (SJCMS) orchestral concert – Thursday 9 February, 8pm
St John’s College Chapel.
The Society will be performing Mozart's symphony no. 40, Carwithen's piano concerto and Sibelius' Andante Festivo.
Open to all. Tickets available on the door. Free for members of College community, £5 for other students, £10 for others.
A tour of the Chapel windows – Saturday 11 February, 2pm
Meet in the Ante-Chapel.
The story of St John in the College’s stained glass, presented by College Fellow Professor Patrick Boyde.
Open to College postgraduate students, Fellows, visiting Fellows and their guests as part of this term’s Sans Frontières events programme.
Attendance free, booking not required.
Valentine’s Superhall – Tuesday 14 February, 6.45pm
With a drinks reception at 6.45pm followed by dinner at 7.30pm.
Open to St John’s students, two guests per student. £21.90 for College students, £26.25 for guests. Tickets available via Upay until Monday 13 February, 9am.
A tour of the Old Library – Wednesday 15 February, 2pm
Meet in the Upper Library entrance on E staircase, Second Court.
With Dr Adam Crothers, Special Collections Assistant.
Open to College postgraduate students, Fellows, visiting Fellows and their guests as part of this term’s Sans Frontières events programme.
Attendance free, booking not required.
Pre-Dinner Lecture Series talk: Bishop Colenso, Proudly Johnian – Tuesday 21 February, 6.15pm
Boys Smith Room, Fisher Building.
Dr Paul Murray, Diocesan College, and Colenso Visiting Fellow at St John’s, will examine aspects of the Bishop Colenso’s life relative to his time at St John’s, drawing on archival sources at the Special Collections at St John’s College to show the links Colenso had with the College and how these experiences here were processed in aspects of his life.
The Bishop came to St John’s in 1833, and remained directly associated with the College until 1853 when he went as the inaugural Bishop of Natal, to South Africa. He is known for his controversial approach to the religious doctrine of the time in mid-C19 England and elsewhere, as well as a campaigner for human rights in South Africa until his death in 1883.
The lecture will last 20-30 minutes and be followed by audience questions and drinks.
Open to Fellows, affiliates and postgraduate students. Admission free.
St John’s Book Group for postgraduates, English Faculty and College staff – Wednesday 22 February, 5.45pm
Merton Hall Cottage.
Postgraduates, English Faculty and College staff are invited to join Vona Groarke, St John’s Writer-in-Residence, for the second book group meeting of Lent Term. This month’s book is Julian Barnes' 2011 novel, The Sense of an Ending.
If you are interested in joining this or the book group for undergraduate students, email Vona.
Rainbow Superhall – Wednesday 22 February, 6.45pm
Celebrating LGBTQIA+, with a drinks reception at 6.45pm followed by dinner at 7.30pm.
Open to St John’s students, two guests per student. £21.90 for College students, £26.25 for guests. Tickets available via Upay until Tuesday 21 February, 9am.
David and Absalom – Wednesday 22 February, 7.30pm
Main Lecture Theatre, Old Divinity School.
Directed by St John’s Fellow Professor Patrick Boyde this is a semi-staged performance in the original Hebrew, dramatised from the Second Book of Samuel. Watch unfold a 3000 year old story of adultery and ambition, rape, rebellion and retribution, love and loyalty. With images and original music. Surtitles translating the Hebrew into English will be projected on to a screen during the performance.
Open to College postgraduate students, Fellows, visiting Fellows and their guests as part of this term’s Sans Frontières events programme. Attendance free.
Please note that this event replaces the previously advertised dramatisation from Isaiah.
St John’s Book Group for undergraduates – Monday 27 February, 7pm
Merton Hall Cottage.
Undergraduates are invited to join Vona Groarke, St John’s Writer-in-Residence, for the second undergraduate book group meeting of Lent term. This month’s book is Grief is the Thing With Feathers by Max Porter.
If you are interested in joining this or the book group for postgraduates, English Faculty and staff, email Vona.
Pre-Dinner Lecture Series talk – Tuesday 28 February, 6.15pm
Castlereagh Room, Fisher Building.
Presented by Dr Anna Florin, Research Fellow at St John’s. Details to be confirmed.
The lecture will last 20-30 minutes and be followed by audience questions and drinks.
Open to Fellows, affiliates and postgraduate students. Admission free.
Postgraduates Dine with Fellows – Wednesday 1 March, 7.30pm
Hall.
Open to College postgraduates. Postgraduates can attend one Dine with Fellows dinner per academic year.
Free of charge, limited places, register via Upay after 1 February. Booking closes at 9am on 28 February.
Pre-Dinner Lecture Series talk – Tuesday 7 March, 6.15pm
Boys Smith Room, Fisher Building.
Presented by Dr Ann Benson, Leverhulme Emeritus Fellowship, and Beaufort Visiting Fellow at St John’s. Details to be confirmed.
The lecture will last 20-30 minutes and be followed by audience questions and drinks.
Open to Fellows, affiliates and postgraduate students. Admission free.
How Cambridge works – Wednesday 8 March, 8pm
Main Lecture Theatre, Old Divinity School.
A talk by Richard Partington, Senior Tutor.
Open to College postgraduate students, Fellows, visiting Fellows and their guests as part of this term’s Sans Frontières events programme.
Attendance free, booking not required.
Precarious lives: inequalities in health through the lens of the film maker – Thursday 9 March, 1.15pm for 1.45pm start
Palmerston Room, Fisher Building.
Director Ken Loach is due to appear at a workshop and screening of his acclaimed 2019 film Sorry We Missed You.
St John’s Reading Group on Health Inequalities has organised the event, which comes at a time of deep concern about the impact of rising poverty on child health and development, in association with the University’s Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (CRASSH).
Free of charge. Donations will be collected at the event for Cambridge City Foodbank and Cambridge Aid.
Book your place via the CRASSH events page
Botanic Gardens tour – Sunday 19 March, 2pm
Join Professor Tim Bayliss-Smith for a tour of the Cambridge University Botanic Gardens to see the spring flowers.
Open to College postgraduate students, Fellows, Visiting Fellows and their guests as part of this term’s Sans Frontières events programme. Students should bring their University cards for free entry.
Further details to be confirmed.
And finally
Students studying in the new café during one of the preview events this week.
