st mary's college friends magazine issue 5 (march 2016)

M A G A Z I N E

Issue 5,

March 2016

ST MARY’S| FRIENDS MAGAZINE

Contents Welcome

Team Mary’s

Events

Reunion Review

Durham News

Mary’s in London

Palatinalps

The Boughton Wing

Theatre Review

Mary’s Memories

A Fresh Perspective

7 Decades a Marian

Changing Seasons

Introductions

Support Mary’s

4-9

10-13

14-17

18-19

20-23

24-25

26-27

28-29

30-31

32-33

34-37

38-39

40-43

44-45

46-47

CONTENTS


Principal’s Welcome | Professor Simon Hackett

I am very pleased to have the

opportunity to introduce our

latest Friends’ Magazine. The

term is now in full swing and students

and staff alike are enjoying the many and

varied events that make up life in St

Mary’s: music, drama, sport, guest

lectures and an art exhibition. I recently

attended a brilliant performance

of “Carmen” at the Gala Theatre in

Durham by the Durham University Opera

Ensemble, where the roles of Carmen

and Don José were played to great

acclaim by St Mary’s students, Sophia

Smith Galer and Phil Durrant. Later this

term we will be hosting an art exhibition

by contemporary artist Tracy Levine,

whose work will be on display from 12th

to 24th March in the Kenworthy Hall.

As always, we are very grateful for the

efforts made on behalf of St Mary’s by

Friends of the College and I offer thanks

to all of those to have donated books to

the College Library or supported our

students in any way.

A particular highlight this term, and one

in which I hope many of you will

participate, is the Friends’ and Parents’

Formal organised for Friday, 18th

March. I am looking forward to meeting

many Friends of the College at this event.

Once again, thank you for your continued

interest in St Mary’s and our

community. I hope you will enjoy

reading our latest news and that you will

be able to join us at some of our events

in the coming months. Hannah Mills, our

Sabbatical Development Officer, will

keep you informed. You might like to

“save the date” for an outdoor theatre

performance by ‘Illyria’ on the evening of

Friday 10th June of Roald Dahl’s “Danny

the Champion of the World” which we

are told will be suitable for children of all

ages!

‘I hope you will enjoy reading our latest

news and that you will be able to join us at

some of our events in the coming months’

4

WELCOME

‘I hope you will enjoy reading our latest

news and that you will be able to join us at

some of our events in the coming months’


It seems like just yesterday that we

were welcoming all of our freshers and

families into college. Both Sam Bentwood and

Jason Kwan’s frep teams did a fantastic job and

helped to make this potentially the most

successful week to date. Our College freshers’

video, expertly put together by Rebecca Daniel

and Duncan Wooder, was simply fantastic.

After the excitement of introductory talks and

College matriculation it was time for many new

students to experience Durham for the first time.

The week continued with events such as the grub

crawl, a bowling trip and the Durham Mile, all of

which proved hugely popular. The first Live

Lounge of the year was wonderful as always, and

brave fresher Eliza Asare Parbi made sure it

ended on a high note with a breath-taking final

performance.

Post-induction week, the events kept coming.

The costume competition at the Hallowe’en

Informal was as strong as ever - see the events

review for pictures! This was followed by a very

successful Michaelmas Dinner organised by Paige

Valerie Hickson, in support of the local charity

Moving On. Both the dinner and the ceilidh were

great fun and £185.68 was raised to help tackle

youth homelessness.

Next up in Michaelmas term was the Animal

Kingdom Informal Ball. The entertainment on the

night was tailored to the theme and included a

rodeo bull, live animals and the traditional photo

-booth. As luck would have it, the Ball fell on

Simon Hackett’s birthday and he celebrated in

true Mary’s style - dressed as a giant meerkat. A

massive thankyou to Saoirse Ward and Nina

Mandziuk and their committee for the hard work

they put in behind the scenes to deliver another

fantastic event for the JCR. Finally, term was

rounded off with two Christmas formals

subsidised by JCR levies, meaning that everyone

had an opportunity to go to their favourite

The President’s Review| Rebecca Hunt, JCR President

6

WELCOME

formal and sing along to the Durham version of 12

days of Christmas.

This year saw the launch of our new brand Team

Mary’s - A term that brings together all of the

sports clubs at St Mary’s and allows us to

showcase the talent that we have to offer. The

launch night was a triumph, with the Men’s A

football team defeating league title holders Hild

Bede A 2-1. This year has also seen the

introduction of a fourth Netball Team and a

second Frisbee team, both of which are

competing well in their respective leagues. In the

arts world, Kirsten Pal has been running drawing

lessons weekly and we have had three very

successful live lounges (during one of which I

made my first – and last – ever performance). This

year’s pantomime was Shrek the Panto, directed

by Luke Wagner. It was potentially the funniest to

date and made an incredible amount of money.

Michaelmas term also saw the first old boys’

weekend of many, with alumni from the Men’s

Football Club paying a visit to Durham. Our

University Challenge team, managed by Elliot Fox,

were runners up in the University Challenge, an

absolutely fantastic achievement. In JCR news, we

have introduced two new exec positions - the

Societies and Community Officers - promoted

Sport Officer and Arts President to the core

executive committee, introduced brunch on

alternating Sundays, set up a Beekeeping Society

and have started to refurbish both the basement

area and the JCR.

The rest of the year is looking to be just as busy

with balls, fashion shows and sports fixtures

galore, so I’m sure I’ll have much to report in the

next issue!

The President’s Review|

‘I could not be more proud to

be President of such an amazing

college and I can’t wait to see

what the rest of the year has in

store’

7


Hello and welcome to the 5th edition

of the St Mary’s College Friends

Magazine!

My first few months as your Alumni Relations and

Development Officer have been really exciting on

both a personal and professional level. As a

Marian myself, I was delighted to graduate from

Durham University in January and officially

become an alumna. Despite the winter chill, the

cathedral looked glorious in the sunshine and it

truly was one of the highlights of my time here. It

was also a joy to see other Marians graduating,

and we were happy to be able to celebrate

with them at our winter graduation dinner here

at Mary’s. In September I was fortunate enough

to attend the annual St Mary’s College Society

Reunion, and spent the evening swapping stories

with alumni spanning several decades. It really is

a privilege to meet and speak with so many

wonderful people, and it’s clear that the Mary’s

spirit never leaves you no matter how long you’ve

been away.

We were absolutely thrilled to see so many of you

at our London Christmas Drinks Evening at the

Old Bank of England last year (read more on page

24). It was a fabulous festive evening and a lovely

opportunity to meet Marians from years past –

some guests stopped for a quick post-work catch

up, whilst a few dedicated groups chatted away

until closing time. If you weren’t able to make it,

we have lots of exciting events coming up this

year. Keep your eyes peeled for details of our

next alumni meet-up, which will be held in Leeds.

I’m also very excited to meet many new and old

Hannah Mills | Alumni & Development Officer

‘It really is a privilege to

meet and speak with so

many wonderful people’

8

UPDATES

Hannah Mills | Alumni & Development Officer

Friends of St Mary’s at out formal on Friday 18th

of March. Alumni, be sure to take note of a

couple of key dates later this year; Mary’s Day

will be held on Sunday 19th of June and the 2016

Reunion will be from Friday 16th to Sunday 18th of

September. If you would like to return to college

in the meantime, please get in touch with me so

we can arrange your visit.

This edition of the Friends Magazine is a

collection of articles from both current students

and alumni, to give you a glimpse of life at Mary’s

both now and in the past. If you would like to

contribute an article to the next edition of the

Friends Magazine, have an idea for an event or

just want to reminisce about Mary’s then please

don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at

[email protected]

I look forward to meeting many more of you in

the future and hope that you enjoy this little slice

of Mary’s!

At St Mary’s College we pride ourselves on the strength of our tightly-knit and supportive community.

Many Mary’s students find a second home here and develop a lifelong affiliation with the College. We

understand that parents, guardians, friends and supporters of our students still provide support during

the transition to University life.

We have developed the Friends of St Mary’s programme specifically to provide an opportunity for

parents, supporters and friends of students to feel connected to and keep in touch with college life,

whilst still allowing students their independence. Some of the many benefits of signing up to the free

Friends of St Mary’s programme are outlined below.

Receive our College Magazine

All members of the programme will receive a digital copy of our bi-annual alumni magazine, including

college news, articles written by current and former students and beautiful images from Durham. We

will also send you regular information about upcoming concerts, lectures and events. Members are

also invited to certain college events, such as our annual Carol service here in Durham.

Collection Coffee and Friends’ Formal

Members are invited to join us for coffee on Saturday 25th June, the day after Easter term ends, before

students depart for the summer. This provides students and friends alike with an opportunity to

reflect on the academic year and look forward to the next step. Members are also invited to our annual

Friends’ Formal, held at the end of Epiphany term. term, which provides a fabulous opportunity to

meet other students and friends of the college whilst experiencing a Mary’s formal!

Register free now

Friends of St Mary’s

9

mailto:[email protected]


This year, the sports clubs of St Mary’s

College have been united for the first

time. They have been endowed with a new

identity, one designed to highlight their

achievements, shine a spotlight on their brightest

performers, and unify the student body in support

of their teams. This identity is Team Mary’s, a

new brand and social media entity that has taken

the college and indeed the university by storm.

This is the story of why it was created, how it has

developed and what the future holds for Team

Mary’s.

One of the biggest frustrations for players,

captains and sports officers in years past was the

inability to share their successes with the rest of

the college; stories of amazing goals and

incredible comeback wins rarely percolated

outside of the circle of players involved, and other

than the occasional cup fixture or charity game,

crowds rarely gathered to watch Mary’s teams

play. When I was elected Sports Officer last Easter

I knew that this was a key area for improvement,

but it wasn’t until JCR President Becca Hunt

approached me in the summer with the idea of

creating a College-wide identity that Team Mary’s

really took shape. The first task was to decide

how to get the message out; as the most heavily

used social media sites, Facebook and Twitter

pages were a must if we were to reach as wide an

audience as possible. The weekly JCR emails also

seemed a great way of reaching students, so the

plan to include a fortnightly roundup of match

reports was hatched. To create any strong brand,

visual identity is vital and so creating a

recognisable logo was the next key task. With this

in mind, we worked with a designer to develop a

mark that incorporated elements of the St Mary’s

crest but also showed the qualities of a

professional sports team.

The foundations now in place, the challenge was

to engage students both new and old with Team

Mary’s and bring the College together under this

new sporting banner. Having studied his team’s

early fixtures, SMCFC A-Team captain Rob Wiles

Spotlight on Sport| Jack Tellyn, Sports Officer

10

SPORT

‘Team Mary’s will continue to unite

the sportspeople of St Mary’s

College long into the future’


had the idea of hosting a “launch night”,

featuring back-to-back football fixtures including

a marquee match for the A’s against a strong Hild

Bede side, followed by a large-scale college

social. The crowds of students and staff grew as

the night progressed and the cheering Marians

were rewarded with two impressive wins for the

boys in purple. That night’s performances set the

tone for the quality of Mary’s sport this season

and other clubs have been quick to raise the bar

even further. St Mary’s women’s hockey have

been among the most impressive teams, winning

8 of their first 10 games thanks in no small part to

the contributions of the new girls in the team, a

record which led to their selection as the Team

Mary’s Team of the Week in December. Another

success story has been SMCNC’s expansion to

four teams thanks to the influx of new players,

whilst St Mary’s Table Tennis club have

dominated the college Premiership this season.

The men’s basketball club have continued their

impressive form of recent years whilst the newly

formed volleyball and women’s futsal sides have

also seen early success.

The continuing development of Durham’s college

sport programme has led to the introduction of

an annual College Varsity event versus the

Mary’s Basketball

Men’s Football Floodlit Cup

‘Participation and

achievement are up across

the board and the future

looks bright for Mary’s’

12

SPORT

colleges of the University of York. The third

such event is being held in February and, for

the first time, Mary’s have been selected to

represent Durham in two sports: tennis and

mixed badminton. This recognition is

representative of the effort and commitment

demonstrated by all Team Mary’s clubs this

year; participation and achievement are up

across the board and the future looks bright for

Mary’s sport.

The success of Team Mary’s has not gone

unnoticed by the rest of Durham, and the

concept received high praise in an article

written for the Palatinate newspaper in

Michaelmas term. Perhaps the greatest sign

that the project has been successful is the

number of other colleges which have replicated

the idea and created sports brands of their

own; Team Hatfield, Team Hild Bede, Team

Mildert and Team Cuth’s can all be found

supporting their respective sports clubs across

the Durham Twitterverse.

With such a strong start, the question that

remains is how can Team Mary’s maintain its

momentum and continue to grow in the

months and years to come? With the

enthusiasm for the idea shown by everyone at

St Mary’s this year, as well as its successes on

the pitch, court and water, I am confident that

Team Mary’s will continue to unite the

sportspeople of St Mary’s College long into the

future.

Follow @SportMarys on twitter for regular

updates on college sport

Mary’s Netball C Team

Mary’s Basketball

Mary’s Women’s Football

13


Events at St Mary’s | Review by Luke Wagner

After two very successful formals in the first two weeks of term, the Social Committee once again

organised a Hallowe’en Informal. This event always proves incredibly popular, and year after year

students relish the chance to dress up in the scariest – or funniest – outfits they can think of. This year

we had costumes such as marionette dolls, Sims (my personal favourite costume of the night), ‘Guess

Who’ characters, and even two competing groups of ‘undead Teletubbies’! In the end, the prize for best

costume, as decided by Rebecca Hunt and Simon Hackett, went to Calum Johnson, for his beheaded

vampire. After the delicious meal in the Dining Hall, guests were treated to a performance in the bar by

College’s resident band, Basement Jazz. The band played a brilliant set of crowd-pleasers, creating a

really wonderful atmosphere, and a thoroughly enjoyable evening was had by all.

Hallowe’en Informal | 29.10.2015

14

EVENTS

Events at St Mary’s |

As always, Michaelmas Dinner was the first black tie event of the year, once again being highly over-

subscribed. Every year, the JCR Vice President invites a speaker from a charity, either local or national,

and the event raises money in support of this charity. This year, Paige Hickson decided that the event

would be in support of the Durham-based charity, Moving On, and invited the Chair, Nigel Zwanenberg,

to speak to guests. Moving On aims to break the cycle of youth homelessness in County Durham by

providing a range of services including advising young people on their situation regarding housing and

benefits, counselling for those adversely affected by their situation, and legal advice for young people

on establishing their first home. There were donation buckets around the Dining Hall throughout the

night, including a ‘£1 to Pee’ policy, which meant that anyone who wanted to go to the loo had to

donate to the charity. As well as this, we played a game of ‘Heads or Tails’, which involved everyone

paying £1 to play, then standing up and picking heads or tails; a coin was then flipped, and whoever got

it wrong had to sit down.

The event itself began with formal photos whilst a gin and tonic drinks reception was served. The

backdrop for the formal photos was a beautiful galaxy painting, designed by the JCR Arts President,

Kirsten Pal. After this, a delicious three-course meal was served. Whilst the tables in the Dining Hall

were being cleared away, guests we were treated to two stunning performances by first year Eliza Asare

Parbi and fourth year Sophia Smith Galer in the bar. Afterwards, guests thoroughly enjoyed the

traditional ceilidh, which was the perfect end to the evening.

Michaelmas Dinner | 13.11.2015

15


The theme for this year’s Informal Ball was ‘Animal Kingdom’, with different areas of college being

transformed into animal habitats, including the Arctic, the Savannah, and the ocean. The night began with

a drinks reception, and was followed by a themed three-course meal, with courses such as ‘Lion’s Pride’

and ‘Tapir’s Temptation’. Entertainment began after the meal, and featured such delights as the classic

photo-booth, performances by Mary’s own Dance Troupe, Basement Jazz and a rodeo bull. However, the

highlight of the night had to be the petting zoo. Transforming Kenworthy Hall into an animal-filled

wonderland, everyone who had the chance to see the animals absolutely loved it. With guests dressing up

as different animals, seeing a student dressed as a snake and also holding a snake was interesting to say

the least!

Special thanks must go to Michael MacKenzie and Tim Emkes, the College Social Secretaries, and Saoirse

Ward and Nina Mandziuk, the Social Committee Informal Secretaries.

Animal Kingdom Ball | 27.11.2015

16

EVENTS

Christmas Formals | 10/15.12.2015

The last two weeks of term are always full of Christmas-themed fun, with the pantomime, decorating

the Christmas tree, and Christmas formals all taking place. Due to the overwhelming popularity of last

year’s Christmas formal, this year two were scheduled, and both were quickly filled. Having a gowned

three-course meal in the glow of the newly decorated Christmas tree was a lovely way to end term,

and of course who could forget singing Mary’s own version of ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’. After

the first Christmas formal, guests were invited to a performance by Northern Lights, the Durham

University a cappella group, who sang a medley of Christmas hits. The second formal was followed by

a Christmas Live Lounge, with students signing up to sing Christmas songs such as ‘Fairytale of New

York’, songs from the John Lewis Christmas adverts, and even a rousing rendition of ‘All I Want for

Christmas is You’ by the JCR President (who, by her own admission, is not the most seasoned of

performers).

The Christmas formals were just two of a number of formals we have throughout the year, and special

thanks must again go to Michael MacKenzie and Tim Emkes, the College Social Secretaries, and Erin

Whitehouse and Maddie Smith, the Social Committee Formal Secretaries.

17


SMCS Reunion in review Beth Rudd, Class of 2015

| Visiting Durham after only a week of

working in the adult world made my

trip feel rather surreal. I felt as if I was still

a student, and was half expecting to start

another term at Mary’s in October as if I’d never

graduated. Sadly, that was not the case.

However, it was wonderful to know that I still

felt at home at Mary’s even after my studies had

come to an end. The ‘2015 Reunion’ was an

enjoyable weekend of celebrations that took

place in September, for alumni of all ages to

return and reminisce about memories from

their time at Mary’s. The weekend was

particularly special for one group of alumni, as it

marked 50 years since their graduation!

Reminiscing began over afternoon tea in the

Calvert Room, followed by a trip to the Oriental

Museum just up the road from College. It was

lovely to meet fellow alumni who had such fond

memories of their time at Mary’s and to hear

how they have continued to feel connected to

the college and still have strong friendships with

their peers many years after graduating. It was

equally a pleasure to hear about the many

different things that people have gone on to do

and succeed in after their time at Durham.

More celebrations were to be had in the

evening, which involved a delicious four course

dinner in the beautifully decorated, candle-lit

Kenworthy Hall. I even met the delightful Joan

Kenworthy herself, who told me about how

when she was at university, women were not to

be seen in the college bars. I distinctly

remember thinking how remarkably different

that sounded and how hard it was to imagine a

university experience without the college bars.

Dinner was followed by a classic ceilidh (they

never fail to disappoint) and plenty of wine and

cheese.

The Reunion Weekend coincided with the St

Mary’s College Society (SMCS) AGM, where I’m

very happy to say I was welcomed on to the

Committee by way of vote after I submitted my

18

|

‘It was wonderful to know

that I still felt at home at

Mary’s even after my

studies had come to an

end’

name for election. SMCS is responsible for

things such as the college book fund, travel

bursaries and subsidising various college

formals. I joined the Committee as I thought it

would be a great way to contribute to college

life, even after graduating. I look forward to my

involvement with SMCS and to visiting Durham

time and time again in the future.

FEATURE

SMCS Reunion 2016

The St Mary’s College Society would like

to invite all members to join them for

this year’s reunion from Friday 16th to

Sunday 18th September.

There will be a full programme of

events for you to enjoy over the

weekend, or you can simply enjoy the

college atmosphere and relax with your

friends, with tea and coffee always

available

Features will include:

Friday - A welcoming reception before

dinner

Saturday - SMCS AGM, chapel service

Saturday Evening - The Official Reunion

Dinner, complete with sparkling

reception

Entertainment this year will be

provided by alumni, so all offers are

welcome!

Two visits are being arranged over the

weekend:

Saturday afternoon - to see the new

Treasures exhibition in the Cathedral

Sunday morning: - to visit Crook Hall, a

wonderful old house and garden with a

lot to see – whatever the weather.

Keep an eye on your emails for more

details and how to book soon!

19


Durham News |

NEWS

Durham News |

Business School Appoints New Dean

Professor Susan Hart has been appointed as the new Dean

of Durham University Business School following a competitive

recruitment process. She will take up her position in summer

2016. Professor Hart, currently Associate Deputy Principal at

the University of Strathclyde, will succeed Professor Rob

Dixon, Dean since 2008.

Public event in Durham - Scottish Soldiers

Archaeology Project

In September 2015, after extensive analysis, Durham

University announced that the jumbled remains of at least

17 and up to 28 individuals, found in a mass grave behind

the University’s Palace Green Library, were Scottish Soldiers

who fought in the 1650 Battle of Dunbar.

https://www.dur.ac.uk/business/


Global Leaders in Social Sciences

Durham University has been recognised as a global leader in

Social Sciences and is now in the top 50 in the world for the

subject area according to the latest Times Higher Education (THE)

World Rankings subject league tables. The University has climbed 20 places to 36th in the rankings

demonstrating its strength in social sciences research and

teaching.

NEWS

Improving mobility in rural Africa

Research by Durham University is helping to improve

mobility and access to transport for schoolchildren and the

elderly in rural Africa.

The work, conducted in collaboration with local partners,

has led to changes in policy to raise awareness of the

difficulties children face when travelling to school and to

provide better transport for the elderly.

Durham student elected Chair of

Commonwealth Youth Council

Durham postgraduate student Kishva Ambigapathy has been

given the responsibility of engaging 1.2 billion of the world’s

young people in global issues. MSc student Kishva has been

elected as the new Chair of the Commonwealth Youth Council

(CYC), the largest and most diverse youth-led organisation in

the world.


For a newcomer to London, the city

can be large and somewhat

intimidating. Thrust from the safe confines

of university in Durham, the move to full-time

employment is a big cultural adjustment. Saying

goodbye to housemates who feel like family,

staff who have encouraged you and Thursday

morning lie-ins after Loveshack is not an easy

farewell for anyone. Therefore, expanding the

St. Mary’s College community in the south of

England through events is an excellent way to

maintain a sense of the support and fellowship

that is felt so keenly during the three or more

years spent studying.

Christmas drinks at the Old Bank of England pub

on Fleet Street was one such occasion. With the

December nights getting progressively shorter

and colder (though nothing, of course, can faze

an ex-Durhamite), a reunion with old friends was

a festive treat. The sea of friendly faces that

greeted each Marian as they entered the

impressive venue reminded everyone of the

community that we are still all a part of. As a

recent graduate of 2015, it was delightful to

catch up with people, hearing about their

successes and plans for the future. It is so

exciting to see people move forward on a wide

range of diverse and unexpected paths:

travelling to exotic places, working in interesting

fields and having fun in a new city. So too was it

a pleasure to be introduced to those alumni who

I hadn’t previously met. Many individuals were

eager to offer kind and thoughtful advice on

living in London and to share their experience of

the city. The atmosphere was casual, and there

was a general sense of conviviality and

A Very Mary’s Christmas | Alumni drinks at The Old Bank Of England

24

ALUMNI EVENTS

camaraderie which made the night really

enjoyable.

It was touching to see the concerted effort that

members of the St. Mary’s staff had gone to in

order to attend the event. Becca Hunt, JCR

President, had braved the long train journey

down for the evening, as had Hannah Mills,

Alumni Relations Officer. Particular thanks

must go to Hannah, who organised the

gathering and conducted herself with the grace

and poise she sometimes lacked on the Klute

dancefloor. Simon Hackett, College Principal,

also mingled and asked what everyone was up

to, taking a genuine interest in the many

different trajectories. It is nice to know that

pastoral interest does not end just because

your time at Durham does.

At a time when Christmas formals and carol

services were happening in Durham for the

students of the university, there was also an

occasion for its alumni to enjoy. It was a very

real reminder that even in London, which can

feel so different to Durham and the divorced

from the student experience, there is a support

network of people who will look out for you

and are interested in your development. A

merry event all round for those lucky to attend

St Mary’s college.

CALLUM KENNY, GRADUATE OF 2015

‘There was a general sense

of conviviality and

camaraderie which made

the night really enjoyable’

25

|


This January, St Mary's College and

the rest of Durham University

descended onto Val Thorens for undoubtedly

one of the best weeks of most of our university

experiences. Palatinalps is the biggest single

university ski trip in the UK with over 1400

students and alumni heading to the French Alps.

Naturally, with great expectation comes great

responsibility, but the organising committee

certainly delivered on this one!

Val Thorens were fantastic hosts for this year's

trip, a resort that boasts the largest ski area in

the world; with over 600 kilometers of runs

when combined with Courcheval and Meribel

and a nightlife second to none, it left little to be

desired.

When we actually decided to get our skis on in

search of a bit of fresh air, the snow was

fantastic. A heavy downpour on the first few

days meant we had snow to last the season but

consequentially, unfortunately poor visibility.

The conditions proved rather tricky but luckily

the fresh powder was there to cushion the falls.

As with anything, good things come to those who

wait. On day 4, the heavens finally opened and

the sun beat down on all things glorious, leaving

us to enjoy the mountain in its full beauty. These

were some of the most incredible days of skiing

that I can remember. The sun-drenched slopes

were dotted with brightly-coloured vintage ski

suits, outfits complemented by the famous

Palatinalps wayfarers - supplying all the

necessities for enough Instagram snaps to keep

the fans interested for months. The slalom and

freestyle competitions held on the final day were

a particularly exciting way to end proceedings on

the slopes; there really is very little that can

compare to the adrenaline rush of racing, even if

friendships are won or lost. For those that

fancied even more silverware, Val Thorens is also

home to Europe's largest Toboggan run starting

at an altitude of over 3000m! Needless to say,

that helmets were strongly recommended.

Palatinalps 2016

FEATURE

Bar 360 was the perfect destination for afternoon

beers or even a Vin Chaud or two - an après-ski

delight. Each day the sun would set over the

mountain bar, home to Palatinalps HQ, as we

danced to the tunes of FKJ and Arc. Bar 360 also

hosted the incredibly popular mountain meal,

where guests can dine on fondue, cured meats,

chips and wine well into the evening before

descending to an alpine disco. Heading down the

slopes became tougher with the number of

drinks consumed, but provided one of the most

picturesque views that Val Thorens had to offer.

It was a truly euphoric moment; skiing home

accompanied by a spirited Durham contingent

with the town glowing in the distance.

In the evenings, we were spoiled for choice for

entertainment. We would usually make our way

down to SnowCafe and Saloon first, traditional ski

town bars and the perfect place to reunite with

all of your friends after a long day on the slopes.

The bar managers were all too thankful for the

liveliness of the student crowd, even providing

free Caramel Toffee Vodka - a true favourite

known to all previous Palatinalpers. With the

buzz and excitement of the night still building we

realised that festivities would continue on into

the early hours of the morning… time to head to

the next attraction.

A definite highlight of the trip was Klub Summit,

Europe's highest nightclub. I'm sure they have

hosted some pretty excitable crowds over the

years, but they had no idea what had hit them

when the Mary's Roman Empire and their

spectacular assortment of gladiators and

empresses turned up at their doors - some say it

was the best night out since 476 C.E... On the

final night before heading home we headed to

nightclub Malaysia - with the whole of Palatinalps

invited, it was the ideal way to top off an

incredible week. Stepping inside was like entering

a portal to a new world, as behind its unassuming

exterior was Europe's largest dancefloor, 700m²

to be exact. With none other than drum and bass

legends Chase & Status on the decks, it's fair to

say that not many nights out will ever compare:

the place, the timing and the people all

combining to create some unforgettable

memories.

In short, Palatinalps brought together the perfect

combination of fresh powder skiing, brilliant

venues and even better music to create an

unbelievable week that will be remembered for a

very long time - a fantastic way to kick off 2016.

Alistair McWilliam, St Mary’s

College Palatinalps rep

‘It was a truly euphoric

moment; skiing home

accompanied by a spirited

Durham contingent with

the town glowing in the

distance.’


28

A distinguished small group of the

great and the good of St Mary's

College gathered at the bottom of the

Williamson steps in late October 2015 on the

occasion of the cutting of a ribbon and a few

speeches : from Professor Hackett, Freshta Yosufi

and Dr Gillian Boughton. The location of the all-

women accommodation block needed to be

moved from the Shepherd Wing and by a

generous act of imagination Professor Hackett

has persuaded the University that the relocated

block should be named the Boughton Wing.

Dr Boughton outlined special reasons why the

rationale for a women's block persuaded her

personally : the first arising from St Mary's

unique history and culture as a women's College

from 1899 until 2007; the second to meet

minority faith, health, psychological or personal

choice requirements and the third, a personal

experience when she had been fearful of being

trapped into contact with someone from her

own life who had wanted to confront her and for

time had been significantly afraid of being

hounded by them. This, added to her

experiences as a voluntary prison visitor, had

made her aware of situations beyond someone's

control which might make the relative protection

of an all-women's environment a genuine

contribution to a student's academic success for

a minority of women.

Extracts from her speech follow:

‘It is a wonderful, deeply unexpected blessing to

The Boughton Wing | The opening of the new all-women’s block by a Mary’s legend

FEATURE

29

be back at St Mary's today and in these

circumstances.

When an email arrived from Professor

Simon Hackett last term out of the blue,

outlining today's plan, I was literally lost for

words. I did not know how to respond, to think

or to write. I did not know whether to accept. I

just gurgled 'give me time, Simon, I don't know

what to say'...

I hope I am a tirelessly roving ambassador for

this place because although you don't realise it

at the time as one thing hurtles after another,

the 13 years and one term spent at St Mary's

were special and extraordinary. And this

because of the fourteen generations of students,

and the people here, all of them now friends.

A word about the women's wing in terms of why

it mattered so much. Serious bit. I am

profoundly in support both in principle and for

personal reasons of keeping an all women's

area, particularly an all ensuite one . And so

happy and grateful that my memories of St

Mary's, this lovely place, are now inexorably tied

together.

When I sent an email around my family last term

saying that a Boughton Wing was going to be

named after me, my sister Ruth flipped one

straight back saying - 'but they have left three

words off, Gill . '. 'what words?' I enquired..

'They should have written ...'and a prayer'... Very

true. Oh so true.

So with that thought it gives me enormous

pleasure to cut the ribbon and declare a blessing

on the Boughton Wing and all who sail in her…’


Foot of the Hill’s production of Shrek

had the audience laughing from start to

finish. Their pantomime adaptation of the

beloved movie is something yet to have been

taken on by any other college, at least in my

lifetime, and this certainly made it stand out for all

the right reasons.

The jokes came thick and fast, the musical

performances were dazzling and the cast worked

together seamlessly to create a smashing

production which was enjoyed by all.

The panto featured adaptions of all the beloved

fairy-tale characters found in the movies including

3 drunk mice, Puss in Boots, Gingerbread WAM

(Welfare at Mary’s Officer) and a ‘Pretty Boulder’,

who had the joyous task of sitting onstage for the

entire performance.

The plot centred around the love lives of Durham

first years Fiona and Shrek, and things got off to a

bad start; upon arriving at Mary’s, one green

haired Shrek found he had to share a room with

the anti-Shrek, a ‘nocturnal’ fresher named

Donkey.

Jonathan Vautrey’s portrayal of Shrek was spot on,

with his graphic depiction of Klute and its many

layers of fresh sweat, alcohol and ‘miscellaneous

fluids’ ringing true with most of the audience.

Newcomer Bethany Wright did phenomenally well

as the leading lady, with a superb voice which was

showcased by a performance of Survivor. Fiona

was dealing with her own disaster throughout the

play, with pushy parents and a vast amount of

unrequited attention from Lord Sharkuard. Special

props go out to Sam Martin for performing the

whole play on his knees, and to him and his

cronies’ perfect depiction of the classic Durham

Rah stereotypes.

This play is one which appeals to not just the St.

Mary’s students, but to all of the University, as it

was steeped in Durham stereotypes. Some of my

personal favourites include the use of Stockton as

‘Far Far Away’ and the chaotic sketch featuring a

Harry Potter social in Mary’s bar.

The musical interludes were on point and the

audience saw everything from an enthusiastic drag

queen rendition of Cindy Lauper’s ‘Girls Just

Wanna Have Fun’, an X-Factor worthy cast

performance of ‘Hallelujah’, complete with

electronic candles and swaying, and the Shrek

Classic that is ‘I’m a Believer’.

Congratulations to Luke Wagner for his successful

direction which lead to a wonderful performance

and an evening enjoyed by all. Overall, the

production was slick, the jokes were on point and

the enthusiasm from the cast was infectious. A

spirited cast rendition of ‘All I want for Christmas is

You’ had the audience leaving in high spirits with

the Christmas cheer felt by all.

Foot of the Hill’s next production will be

‘Grease’ on the 21st and 22nd June 2016

Shrek The Pantomime | Review by Julie McElroy, Drama President

REVIEW

31


32

Mary’s Memories | We asked alumni to tell us some of their favourite memories of St Mary’s

College so that we can share them with you all. If you have any memories of your

own that you would like to submit, please send them to [email protected]

MEMORIES

33

I remember coming

back to Durham the

year after I left,

driving in and

seeing the Cathedral

illuminated,

knowing I’d come

home and spending

the weekend with

friends still at St

Mary’s.

- Freddie Howell -

First year Freshers’ week…

Everyone going to breakfast

together and recanting stories

from the night before…

And pretending to be at

Hogwarts during

matriculation!

- Chloe George -

Playing the live lounge on a

cold January evening, friends

sitting either side and a whole

room of Marians - the bar

packed with happy faces

- Josie Green -

To name but one would be far

too easy… Mary’s set me up

for life and I made friends that

I’ll never forget

- Jack Longden -

Unquestionably, the

experiences with the

rugby club.

Winning our first

floodlit cup game

and, more

importantly, the

socials.

- Eliot McGuire -

End of first term 2005 -

Brunch on the last day of

term. An international student

came in with a guitar and

started singing ’leaving on a

jet plane’ next to the rugby

team. After an awkward few

seconds, everybody embraced

it. There were massive cheers

at the end and the rugby

captain gave him a hug.

- Anonymous -

Mary’s Day 2015 paint party

<3

- Anonymous -

On my first day at Mary’s I

was told that Mary’s made

strong, independent women,

Ten years on and how right

that was!

- Anonymous -

Gillian Boughton telling us to

‘wear hats in bed’ so that we

didn’t feel the cold in winter.

Watching ‘Neighbours’ in the

JCR after lunch…

- Emma Thompson -

Making the best

friends ever.

Housemates,

bridesmaids,

confidantes. I love

them so much, 13

years and counting.

Mary’s rocks.

- Anonymous -


A Fresh Perspective… | The fresher’s experience as told by Pip Orchard, 2015 fresher

On the very first day at Mary’s, I was

greeted by a person in a griffin

costume (I still have no idea who it was)

dancing around the car while music was played

through supersized speakers from inside

Fergusson, blasting Beyoncé into the Durham air.

Second and third years rushed to my aid, helping

me with my plethora of suitcases, and escorted

me to room 1 in Williamson. I was and still am so

happy about this – and yes I do now know the

names of BOTH buildings. This was the very start

of my Mary’s and Durham experience and it

definitely set the bar high for freshers’ week.

Freshers’ week lived up to expectations. It was

an exciting and exhausting blur.

Having made a lovely group of friends during

freshers’ week, I had the blessing of taking part

in all which Mary’s had to offer with the best of

company. I performed (in the very loosest sense

of the word) in the college pantomime last term.

The show was ‘Shrek’ and I was cast in the role of

“Gingerbread WAM”, dishing out supplies and

advice to all.

One of the best things about being at Mary’s is

the formal dinners, which happen every two

weeks or so. To sit down and have a delicious

meal with friends, each one looking dapper or

gorgeous (or both) is just so much fun and each

term is highlighted by them.

Recently, I’ve also been part of the Masquerade

Ball committee. We’ve been painting and doing

general arts and crafts in preparation for one of

the biggest events of the year, the Wonderland

Ball. Not only has it given me the chance to show

off my lack of artistic skills but it has also given

me an insight into just how much work goes on

behind the scenes for every college event.

Like many new students, I was one of those

people who signed up for almost everything at

the freshers’ fair: badminton, squash,

trampolining… the list goes on. Needless to say, I

have either given them all up or never went to

them in the first place. However, it was truly

inspiring to see the vast range of societies at

Durham and it has made me realise that you

should not be embarrassed about the things that

you enjoy, whether it be traditional things like

rugby or slightly quirky things like anime or

ballroom dancing.

Along with all the non-academic pursuits that I

had taken up, I soon had to face the genuine

reason for why I came to Durham: to study.

‘Durham and the

surrounding countryside

are stunning’

34

FEATURE

Before I came to Durham, I imagined that all of

my classes would be in rooms filled with people,

that there would be no space to breathe and that

an old man would deliver a long, drawn out

lecture, speaking very quietly at the front,

muttering nonsense to himself and that the whole

workload would fall to me. Then I remembered

that I chose to study Classics, so I was only half

wrong; the rooms are pretty much empty.

All joking aside, the Classics department have

been wonderful. My lectures are very engaging

and they have made all aspects of Classics, a

supposedly old-fashioned and ‘dead’ subject,

vibrant and vivacious. The ‘dead’ languages are

very much alive in Durham, and elsewhere in the

world definitely have at least a pulse.

Because Durham is such a small city and everyone

lives in such close proximity to their friends, there

can be a pressure to be sociable all the time; add

to this the workload and you run the risk of

bottled stress. Luckily, Durham and the

surrounding countryside are stunning. When the

pressures of life get too much, I have found that

going on long walks and removing myself from

the city is the most relaxing thing to do. A friend

of mine told me about a nearby waterfall which I

often go to; it has become one of my favourite

spots in Durham.

Now in my second term of my first year, I already

feel that time is going too quickly. College has

become a home away from home and every day

in Durham is a great day. I cannot wait for what

lies in store over the next three years. Thank you

St Mary’s for such an amazing start to my

university experience.


‘College has become a home away

from home and every day in

Durham is a great day. I cannot wait

for what lies in store over the next

three years.’

PIP ORCHARD, 1ST YEAR

FEATURE


7 Decades a Marian | Happy 90th Birthday to Gwyneth Cole, Senior Woman 1955-56

Gwyneth Cole came to St. Mary’s as a

History student in 1947, which was not so

very long after the end of the Second World War.

She had been serving for three years in the

Auxiliary Territorial Service, the women’s branch

of the British Army.

She has a unique place in the history of St. Mary’s

because she was an undergraduate at two very

significant times. Firstly, she was present when

HRH Princess Elizabeth, the future Queen, laid

the Foundation Stone of the new St Mary’s

building (now known as Fergusson) on the

present site in October 1947. Secondly, she was

one of the very first students to live in the new

building when it opened in October 1952.

Although she had started her degree course in

1947, after just two terms she had to take several

years off to recover from a spinal injury. When

she returned in October 1952 as a Fresher for the

second time, it was to the exciting new

environment on Elvet Hill, St. Mary’s being the

first of the Hill Colleges.

“I had witnessed the laying of the foundation

stone in 1947 and been presented to Princess

Elizabeth before the ceremony. I jokingly

declared that they had built the College in time

for my return,” said Gwyneth, looking back fifty

years later.

Not only was she part of two major landmarks in

the College history but she also experienced

different College lifestyles, firstly in a variety of

old buildings scattered around the peninsula,

including 8 The College (now the Chorister

School) on Cathedral Close and Abbey House on

Palace Green. Then secondly, from 1952, she

experienced College life in the magnificent new

building with its imposing façade and spacious

dining hall; it even had central heating!

Exactly 60 years ago, she was Senior Woman, (as

the JCR President was called then) in the

academic year 1955-56 and saw another

transition: a change of Principals, from Margaret

Fergusson to Marjorie Williamson. She recorded

the ups and downs of College life in her 1955-56

JCR Report for the Newsletter, such as a water

shortage in Durham which “lasted until we went

down, and so we missed the luxury of constant

baths; two inches of water did not encourage one

to linger.”

In 1955, she graduated with a B.A. Hons. Degree

in History and eager for another year in Durham,

stayed on to train as a teacher in 1955-56.

‘I had witnessed the laying of

the foundation stone in 1947

and been presented to

Princess Elizabeth before the

ceremony.’

38

7 Decades a Marian |

Because she was Senior Woman, she again lived in

College.

Gwyneth began her teaching career in Selby.

Eventually, she moved back to the North East to

continue her career. She had a very happy

marriage to Tom Cole (“He was worth waiting

for”, she says) which was sadly, cut short by his

death after only a few years. Meanwhile, her

interest in College grew from strength to strength.

Gwyneth has made a major contribution to the St.

Mary’s College Society (for Alumni) as an active

committee member. With tireless enthusiasm, as

Editor of the SMCS Newsletter, she collected news

of Alumnae and organised events such as the

annual SMCS Reunion. She was the first College

Archivist and with her due sense of St. Mary’s

history, dating back to the beginning of the

College in 1899, she keenly collected archive

items and quickly acquired computer skills.

She was the SCR President during the celebration

of the Golden Jubilee of the Fergusson Building.

She organised activities devotedly; not even thick

snow would deter her from driving to Durham.

In 2000, her efforts were recognised when she

was made an Honorary Fellow of St. Mary’s. A

celebration dinner was held in the October to

mark the occasion.

She herself is part of the College history and her

interest in St. Mary’s past and present is unfailing.

She has a fund of lively anecdotes and keeps in

touch with the many friends she has made at St.

Mary’s College. Gwyneth is a very special Alumna

who has celebrated a very special birthday.

ANNE ELLIOTT

COLLEGE ARCHIVIST

FEATURE

Principal Simon Hackett and Gwyneth Cole on her 90th birthday, 29th September 2015

39


Changing Seasons | In Michaelmas term, we launched the ‘Changing

Seasons’ photography competition for current

students. We wanted photos that captured how

Durham changes through the year, from wintry

snapshots of snow on the riverbanks to new buds

blooming on the trees in spring. We received

close to a hundred fantastic entries to choose

from, and are delighted to share with you the

winner and 4 runners up as chosen by our panel.

Yue Li - ‘This photo was taken in November

2015. As I walked along the drive to St Mary’s

College, the broken pieces of the sunshine were

dancing on the leaves through tree branches. I

was fascinated by the golden scenery. As an

ancient Chinese poet said, the fallen petals are

not heartless - in return, they would transform

into fertilizer to nourish the flowers in the

coming spring. I think the autumn leaves were

also contributing to the tree’s growth in the

coming year.’

Martha Radley - ‘Living in College in first year

and having most of my lectures at the Science

Site meant that I didn't go into Durham City

Centre in the day time all that often. When I did,

though, I went via Prebends Bridge because

whatever the weather was doing, it reminded

me how lucky I was to live in such a beautiful

city! This photo captures my favourite type of

weather: cold and crisp with bright blue

skies. Now I live out, I rarely pass by Prebends

Bridge, but when I do, I'm sure to take a photo

from the same place I did in this one!’

Martha Radley, runner up

‘This photo captures

my favourite type of

weather: cold and

crisp with bright blue

skies.’

40

FEATURE

‘As an ancient Chinese poet said, the

fallen petals are not heartless - in return,

they would transform into fertilizer to

nourish the flowers in the coming spring’

Yue Li, winner


Yizhou Liu - ‘Accidentally, I borrowed a proper

camera from a senior Chinese photographer who

was hunting for good scenes in Durham. He and I

had been strangers to each other before

our lovely conversation about capturing the

beauty of Durham and its people.

I thought, instead of a boring, kitsch photo, why

not add some creative input to this beguiling

prospect? Then, comes the photo between

the two perfect strangers.’

Bruno Martin - ‘I had just got back to Durham

from a rainy weekend in the Yorkshire Dales

when I took this photo. It was November. The

coach dropped me off outside Elvet Riverside and

the air was crisp and cold. I was crossing Bath's

bridge, on my way to our house in Gilesgate,

when I looked over the river towards the

Cathedral, cut out against the setting sun. As I

followed the light eastward, this is what I saw. A

shadow crept along the forest and only the

bandstand gleamed in the autumn leaves and the

Wear's reflections. I took a few moments at the

bridge before hurrying along with the last light.

Home.’

‘He and I had been strangers to

each other before our lovely

conversation about capturing

the beauty of Durham and its

people’

‘A shadow crept along the forest and only the bandstand gleamed in the

autumn leaves and the Wear's reflections. I took a few moments at the

bridge before hurrying along with the last light. Home.’

Bruno Martin, Runner Up

42

FEATURE

Erica Chung - ‘The sharp contrast between

leaves of olive green and golden yellow really

struck me as I walked out of Mary's on this fine

morning in early November 2015. One of the

reasons why I enjoy outdoor walks in autumn is

the observable transition between seasons.

The trees on both sides of the footpath and the

fallen leaves scattered on the ground

demonstrated one part of the cycle of seasons

in the simplest way possible. Being awestruck

by this picture painted by nature, I also realised

how quickly time had passed as it was already

my fourth week in Durham.’

If you have any beautiful photos of Durham

that you would like to be featured in the next

edition, please send them to our development

officer, Hannah, at [email protected]

‘A shadow crept along the forest and only the bandstand gleamed in the

autumn leaves and the Wear's reflections. I took a few moments at the

bridge before hurrying along with the last light. Home.’

Bruno Martin, Runner Up

Above - Erica Chung, Runner Up. Below - Yizhou Liu, ‘Perfect Stranger’, Runner Up


Introducing… | Jackie Unwin | College Librarian

Let’s start with the basics…

how about you introduce

yourself to our students,

alumni & friends?

I’m a qualified Librarian with

experience in a number of

different library environments

– from a busy Public Library to

City oil company! Originally

from this region, I spent time in

Leeds and London before

returning to live in Durham 12

years ago.

What does your role at Mary’s

involve?

My main role is to ensure that

the Library and Reading room

run smoothly. I’ve got a great

team of Student Librarians who

help me with this. My aim is to

ensure that the Study Spaces in

Mary’s meet the needs of the

students by providing guidance

and an excellent range of

resources, along with an

appropriate learning

environment.

So what were you up to before

you came to Mary’s?

For the last 25 years I’ve been a

Course Leader and lecturer, so

am very happy to be merging

my experience with students

with my library background.

It’s a dream job!

You’ve been in position for a

few months now – what have

you enjoyed most so far?

I don’t think there’s anything I

haven’t enjoyed. I’d heard that

Mary’s has the reputation of

being the friendliest college

and it has certainly lived up to

that. Everyone has been very

helpful and patient, even when

I’ve been asking dozens of

questions. I think my first

favourite moment was when I

started tidying the library

shelves in my first week and

realised I was loving a job I

used to think was a bit boring.

Putting all those books into the

right order is very satisfying!

(Does that sound a bit weird?)

And what are you looking

forward to most over the

coming year at Mary’s?

Getting to know people a little

better. I’m hoping to increase

the amount of help I offer in

finding the right resources for

assignments – so that students

can go beyond the reading list!

Finally, could you tell us a fun

or unusual fact about yourself?

For most of my life I’ve lived

close to railway lines and I’m a

bit of a steam train geek. I

spend quite a bit of time

dragging my other half to

remote railway stations if there

is a chance that a locomotive

might steam past.

44

INTRODUCTIONS

Sponsor a Book Scheme

St Mary’s library is as old as the College itself, housing a collection of almost 8000 unique

titles, collected over a hundred years of history and available for the use of all college

members.

Our Library and Reading Room are truly special places filled with memories of scholarship

and relaxation. If as an alumni or friend of the college you would like to support the

Library in a tangible and long-lasting way, why not consider sponsoring a book?

The gift of a new book has a recognisable impact upon all the College community and is a

gift which continues to serve students for years to come. A book dedication may be

sponsored by individuals or on behalf of others as a deeply personal and lasting gift. Books

bought in honour of congregating students make great graduation gifts and personal

dedications provide a tender way to mark a birthday, anniversary, marriage or retirement.

Sponsoring a book costs just £25, and in return a personalised bookplate will be attached

to your gift with your chosen text marking your special occasion.

If you would like to sponsor a new book or learn more about the needs of the library

please email [email protected]


The academic year 2014-15 was an

eventful and in some ways challenging

one for the College. In my letter last year I

reported the sad loss of Euan Coulthard in

Epiphany term. I was truly grateful to all the

alumni who contacted me expressing concern

and offering assistance. Staff and students alike

benefited from the support given by our Vice

Principal, Catherine Paine, Senior Student

Support Officer, Dave Robson and also our

Student Support Administrator, Dorothy Grieve,

during this traumatic time. The dedication shown

by staff supporting our students through this time

led to me as Principal and the entire St Mary’s

Welfare Team being honoured with this year’s

Durham Students’ Union Award for Outstanding

Personal Support. For the new academic year the

College launched a new initiative “Safe Mary’s”,

designed to support and develop positive

behaviours and cultures that will keep our

community as safe as possible. Although the

events of last academic year were difficult, I

remain very proud of the strength of the College

community in adverse circumstances.

A bench purchased by the St Mary’s College

Society in Euan’s memory was dedicated on 10th

June in a moving ceremony and placed in the

College’s Eco-garden. Details and photographs

have been sent to Euan’s family, from whom I

have received a letter of thanks. They have also

donated his text books to the College Library, and

we have produced bookplates bearing an

appropriate message.

In my message last year, I outlined two priorities:

• To continue to fund student activities and

societies at St Mary’s through our Development

Fund, to which students can apply at the

beginning of each term;

• To purchase the former St Chad’s boathouse

and the land it stands on for redevelopment as

a Mary’s boathouse.

Through the kind gifts we received, we were able

to make considerable progress in these areas. We

have continued to support students in hardship

and financial difficulty. Any of our students who

run into financial difficulty whilst they are here

are almost entirely reliant on the support we can

provide to help with the cost of fees,

accommodation, books and general living. We

provided a number of targeted grants of

approximately £500 to students in this position

last year. As one recipient, wrote to me: “Please

thank all those who have given me this chance to

stay here and get my degree. I’ll never forget the

difference that it has made to me”.

As last year, we have also used gifts to support a

wide range of student activities. These include

the purchase of sports equipment for a range of

our teams and clubs, as well as supporting

Support St Mary’s |

SUPPORT

student music and drama events. Through the

generosity of a number of alumni we have raised

some of the funds we need to refurbish the St

Chad’s boathouse. You may recall that in my

letter last year I explained that we aspired to

have a College-specific boathouse for the first

time and that we had earmarked some funding

to make the initial purchase of the St Chad’s

boathouse, but that we needed additional

resources to fund the redevelopment. At the

time of writing, there are some issues with

planning permission for St Chad’s and we have

therefore not been able to finalise the initial

purchase. However, we wish to maintain

momentum on this project.

As I am sure is obvious, these activities have

made a real difference to the lives of individuals

and they have helped us to improve the College

and its facilities for students. I am acutely aware

that we remain in difficult times financially and

many people do not have significant funds to

give away. However, if you could consider

donating to College, please be assured that your

gifts, whatever their size, are both sorely

needed and hugely valued. Any gifts we receive

this year will go straight to work funding

activities in College. We have two distinct

priorities this year:

• Hardship and Development Fund: This

is to continue to help with student hardship and

also to fund student activities at St Mary’s

through our Development Fund. This is our

primary fund open to all students and makes a

huge difference to our students’ time here

in the College. Donations to this fund remain our

first and biggest priority. For example,

£500 could make the difference between a

student being able to complete a degree

or needing to drop out due to financial

problems. £250 could fund a College music or

drama performance or could support one of the

St Mary’s College sports teams with the

purchase of equipment. £100 could help a

student struggling to buy vital textbooks.

• The Boathouse Project: Any further

donations to this specific project would be very

gratefully received. In addition to the

redevelopment of the boathouse, we also need

to repair and add to our deteriorating boats and

associated rowing equipment.

If you are in a position to help us in our plans,

we would be extremely grateful. A single gift of

£100, £50 or even £10 would have real impact.

Alternatively, an ongoing regular gift of, for

example, £10 or £15 per month would allow us

to plan ahead more, as we could be assured of

this income in future months and years.

SIMON HACKETT

PRINCIPAL, ST MARY’S COLLEGE

Please do consider giving to St Mary’s in some small way;

no matter what size, your gift will always be appreciated

St Mary’s College

Elvet Hill Road

Durham

DH1 3LR

0191 334 5955

https://www.dur.ac.uk/st-marys.college/

Principal

Simon Hackett

Email: [email protected]

Alumni Relations and Development Officer

Hannah Mills

Email: [email protected]

01913345987

Facebook www.facebook.com/StMarysCollegeOffical

Twitter https://twitter.com/StMarysOfficial

LinkedIn http://ow.ly/tD8Hs

Email [email protected]

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mailto:https://www.dur.ac.uk/st-marys.college/



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st mary's college friends magazine issue 5 (march 2016)

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