The Churchill Newsletter 2016

THE CHURCHILL CHURCHILL COLLEGE NEWSLETTER 2015-16

COWAN COURT Page 5 INTERNATIONAL PLAYER Page 8 BUT IS IT ART? Page 11 THE NEW BOATHOUSE Page 17 CHURCHILL COLLEGE NEWSLETTER 2016 1

IN THIS ISSUE

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Published by Churchill College Editors: Noelle Caulfield and Tim Cribb Storey’s Way Cambridge CB3 0DS. Tel. 01223 336197; Fax 01223 336177; Newsletter.Editor@chu.cam.ac.uk Design & layout: www.cantellday.co.uk Cover photograph: Johan Dehlin All texts, photographs and illustrative material, except where acknowledged otherwise, are © Churchill College 2016. We are grateful to contributors for permission to reproduce illustrations and photographs.

POINTS OF CONTACT Accommodation Alumni and Past Fellows may book accommodation in College via the website: www.chu.cam.ac.uk/conferences/services/ bandb/ Alternatively please telephone the Conference Office on +44 (0)1223 336164 or email: accommodation@chu.cam.ac.uk Alumni Association churchill.association@chu.cam.ac.uk

Churchill Review Editor review.editor@chu.cam.ac.uk Newsletter Editor newsletter.editor@chu.cam.ac.uk High Table Bookings If you would like to attend High Table please email us at alumni@chu.cam.ac.uk Porters’ Lodge +44 (0)1223 336000

Alumni Relations Office alumni@chu.cam.ac.uk Alumni Officer: +44 (0)1223 336083 Development Officer: +44 (0)1223 336240

Møller Centre +44 (0)1223 465500 reception.moller@chu.cam.ac.uk

Development Director John Pennant development@chu.cam.ac.uk +44 (0)1223 336197

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An introduction from the Master

ASPIRATIONS It is always a risky business trying to predict the future and I feel equally nervous about putting down on paper my aspirations for the College during my tenure as Master, knowing how often these things go awry.

Nevertheless, as I’ve been asked to contribute my own thoughts to this issue on ‘forward thinking and innovation’, here goes...

There are certain things that almost go

hardship funds. My aspiration must be that

without saying, and top of that list must be

we build up funds to make this possible.

to retain our extraordinarily high educational

that this college, unlike most others in

remarkable job of identifying smart students

Cambridge, does not have a gender mix

from every kind of background and from

near parity. Being required by Statute to

many different countries to admit to the

have a student body – and Fellowship – that

College. Our performance in last year’s

is 70% in the STEM (Science, Technology,

Tripos exams was truly impressive. Of course,

Engineering and Maths) subjects, perhaps

that means that we have an incredibly

this shouldn’t have surprised me. But in

high standard to keep up or else we will

subjects like Engineering our percentages

slip down the Tompkins Table. What to my

are below the University average, despite

mind makes this performance particularly

this in itself being stubbornly low at around

striking is that we have managed to do it

20%. The biological sciences tend to have

whilst also coming out top (at least in 2014)

a slight preponderance of women overall

in another league table close to my heart:

in the University so admissions in these

the proportion of state school entrants. To

subjects might have been expected to offset

manage this ‘double’ requires constant effort

the situation but that is not the case. So,

right across the College from the students (of

despite the fact we were the first college to

course) and all the staff. Perhaps it doesn’t

vote to admit women, there are perceptions

sound like much of an aspiration to say I

out there in the potential pool of applicants

want to keep this up – but naturally I do.

that deter them from applying. We are

Whereas my generation of students

“There are certain things that almost go without saying, and top of that list must be to retain our extraordinarily high educational standards.”

Finally, as soon as I arrived I realised

standards. The Admissions team do a

working hard to identify the issues and to

could expect that the Government would

try to overcome them. For instance this

support them through their studies if their

year for the first time a residential course

families could not, this is far from the case

was offered to 25 girls studying Physics at

these days. I had no fees to pay and got a full

A-level in our target areas. We will see if such

maintenance grant. To many of our students

actions deliver a better gender balance of

today that must seem like an unbelievable

admissions. Other aspects of diversity also

luxury although we took it for . . . well,

need attention, but with small numbers from

granted. If we are to continue to attract a

minority ethnic students overall this is going

high proportion of the smartest state school

to be an even tougher problem to crack, one

entrants, we must build up an appropriate

that is high on my list of priorities.

endowment so that we can offer bursaries, of sufficient size as well as in sufficient

Professor Dame Athene Donald

numbers, in addition to our emergency

Master

CHURCHILL COLLEGE NEWSLETTER 2016 3

A message from our Development Director

campaign in December 2016. 700 people

We are on track for our best fundraising result in 25 years with £5 million raised in gifts and pledges to support students, the building of Cowan Court, and unrestricted gifts and pledges of over £1.2m to be directed to College priorities.

Our fundraising results continue to climb thanks to the generosity of our donors.

The Churchill community is as vibrant as ever.

helped to fund Cowan Court, reflecting not only current alumni interest but also the hard work over the previous eight years.

The building opens this year.

Our goal over the next three years is to have over 1000 Churchillians give to support students in need. The College has always been a leader in widening participation. In 2014 our percentage of state-educated students was 73.7% – highest of any Oxbridge college (the lowest was 42.2%). A government grant is only available to students from a household with an income below £25k per annum, a

Professor David Vaughan (81 NatSci),

sharp reduction from £40k this past year.

Director of Science, British Antarctic

While support from the state has declined,

Survey and Professor Eric Wolff (U&G75

It has been wonderful working with our

living costs have increased to about £8,500

NatSci). They presented on climate

Development Board, chaired by Michael

per annum. So the need is great. It is critical

changes and gave an idea of the pressures

Cowan (U70 Eng), with Greg Lock (U66 Nat

that the College continue to support a

on experts to give definitive answers. They

Sci) and Dr Tony Wild (G68 Phys Chem).

diversity of undergraduate and advanced

know climate change is happening but it is

They have given hundreds of hours of

students and attract the best students,

difficult to predict where and when rising

volunteer time and generous financial

regardless of financial need. The Master

sea levels may affect, for example, a tiny

support to the College, supported by the

and her husband, Dr Matthew Donald, have

island in the middle of the Atlantic. We

Master and Bursar. The College is fortunate

given £12,500 to this cause. I hope you will

aim to do a larger scale annual event in

to have such leadership. Michael, Greg and

consider joining this campaign.

London, building on the Science Museum

Tony gave even more of their time to go to New York and meet with alumni there.

In one such meeting they were asked why

We continue to offer a variety of alumni events and activities.

Few can say they’ve been to Court

and V&A functions.

We held several events in San Francisco and New York for alumni. We

they were stepping up to make such a

Room Number 1 of the Old Bailey, been

plan events in Asia and more events in

commitment to Churchill. It was powerful

dropped off at the door and wished “good

the US in 2017. Working with the Churchill

being there to hear first-hand what

luck” by London cabbies. Those of us who

College Association, a major event led

Churchill meant to them.

went to the Judge Stokes Bursary Fund

by volunteers is being planned in 2017 in

function organised by former London Lord

recognition of our first Master, Sir John

alumni participation and double the

Mayor and Churchillian, Sir John w, had

Cockroft, on the fiftieth anniversary of

number of alumni giving, in line with

that honour. Several of us, including the

his death. Our programme for alumni

other colleges. To encourage this, Dr

student award winners, even got to sit in

continues to grow and features in our

Adrian Hobden (U72 NatSci) has given

the same dock the Kray twins occupied

monthly e-bulletins; so please also check

$100k to support a student bursary, and

and had the opportunity to listen to High

out the calendar on our website for the

has pledged a further $100k in 2016/17

Court Justices in full regalia.

latest news www.chu.cam.ac.uk/events.

One of the key aims is to increase

as a matching fund to inspire more

A talk on “Melting Ice Sheets in

Churchillians to support these bursaries.

the Antarctic” was given at the Royal

John Pennant

We will back this up with a phone

Institution by fellow Churchillians

Development Director

CHURCHILL COLLEGE NEWSLETTER 2016 4

Cowan Court The trees are being craned into the central

major national firms because of the quality

be occupied by a mix of undergraduates

courtyard of Cowan Court, the carpet is

of the design concept. The building has

from all year groups. The generosity of all

going down in the corridors and the final

become a reality because of the generosity

the donors to the court will be recognised

coat of paint is going onto the kitchen walls.

of College alumni and Fellows and the great

at the official opening.

The signs are on order and the bespoke

work put in by the main contractor, SDC.

furniture will be delivered in early July,

The building has been completed on time

Jennifer Brook

well in time for the official opening by HRH

and on budget.

Bursar

Richard, Duke of Gloucester in September.

The innovative design of the building

The 68 double ensuite rooms will be among the most comfortable in College

came out of an architectural competition

and the timber-framed building will be

held in 2007-08. The architects at the

very energy-efficient and sustainable.

practice 6a were chosen ahead of some

The building will, as with the other courts,

CHURCHILL COLLEGE NEWSLETTER 2016 5

Churchill, STEM, and the Gender Agenda As a Director of Studies in Physics I constantly reflect on why Physics is not attracting the number of UK students it once did. Moreover, from our College perspective, while we attract about 70% of our students from state schools – often more than any other Oxbridge college – we under-perform in gender balance due to our founding commitment to science.

SOCIETAL PERSPECTIVES AND THE GENDER LANDSCAPE Why such a national deficit of female students entering STEM subjects? I believe the short answer is that subjects such as Medicine, Law and Accountancy which are directly linked to professions have a much greater perceived “respectability” and security than subjects like Physics and Maths. Combined with the social prejudice that Physics, Engineering, Computer Science are “not for girls” the pressure is just too great for young women to resist.

The Opening Doors project of the Institute of Physics has taken a wholeschool approach to addressing this gender imbalance and published two reports: It’s Different for Girls (2012) and Closing Doors (2013). They reveal a difficult landscape.

The three subjects with the highest percentage of female students (and hence the lowest percentage of male students)

status – professions like Medicine and

projects, working closely with the

Law – even when they have a clear talent

collegiate University:

for science.

Girls themselves think that Physics

1. The College Area Link Scheme

are: Performing / Expressive Arts (88%),

and Maths are only possible with talent

This Scheme enables schools to build

Welsh (82%), and Sociology and Art and

– working hard won’t help. Yet there are

effective, coherent relationships by

Design subjects (75%), with subjects

many excellent musicians with talent, and

providing specific contact points in

like Psychology (74%), Communication

they still need to practice hard; just as

colleges, and enables colleges to get

Studies (73%) and English (72%) not far

there are many excellent musicians who

to know specific regions and the local

behind. At the other end of the spectrum

enjoy their profession, and made their

educational environments.

we find: Computer Science (7%), Physics

name through hard work.

2. HE+ works with collaborative groups

(21%) and Further Mathematics (29%).

of state schools in 14 regions of the UK.

49% of mixed state schools have no girls taking A-level Physics, 500 out of 3,300

CHANGING THE LANDSCAPE

In 2015–16, 3000 Year 12 students in over 80 schools and colleges are participating.

state schools send no one on to A-level Physics, 1000 send two or fewer pupils on,

We have to change the gender stereotypes

The schools engage their best students

and 400 have no specialist Physics teacher.

(both the male imbalance in the Arts and

in a year-long programme of extension

female imbalance in STEM).

classes, masterclasses, information

To add to the difficulties, girls are often strongly encouraged to consider only vocational subjects perceived as high

We are tackling the problem with sharply focussed widening participation

CHURCHILL COLLEGE NEWSLETTER 2016 6

and guidance sessions, and a visit to the University.

CHURCHILL’S CONTRIBUTION We support an HE+ consortium in South Wales, working with seven Sixth Forms, facilitated through Gower College, Swansea as the consortium hub. In addition to monthly extension classes by teachers from the consortium, Fellows from Churchill travel to Swansea to provide masterclasses. In return, pupils travel to Cambridge twice a year, stay in College, visit the academics in their Departments, and enjoy practical sessions, lectures and classes.

Following the science open day on the 4th April, year-12 girls studying Physics and Maths in schools from the College’s area links were invited to stay in College overnight and participate in a Physics workshop. responses provided clear evidence for

and their teachers called isaacphysics.org.

keen to participate – but under-confident.

our hypothesis that staying in college

This aims to widen participation by helping

They began working with some of our

really makes a difference. We intend this

pupils, in particular those who do not

undergraduates in groups to explain a

residential to be the first of many.

have a specialist Physics teacher at school,

The girls were academically able and

variety of Physics “toys”, such as Newton’s

The College is also widening

to develop the skills, confidence and

Cradle, gyroscopes, spinning tops etc. –

participation through philanthropy, thanks

enjoyment in problem-solving for studying

open-ended, real-life puzzles that take

to the generosity of alumnus Greg Lock

STEM subjects at university.

confidence to tackle. As I watched I saw

(U66 Nat Sci) and his wife Rosie. They have

what excellent ambassadors our Churchill

donated £450,000 to create the Greg &

Churchill is piloting residentials and

students were. After staying in College

Rosie Lock Cambridge Bursaries. These

workshops to measure the impact such

overnight, the girls made their way to

specifically target state school pupils in

interventions can have, so that initiatives

the world-famous Cavendish to join in

Wales, with ideally 50% of the funds going

may be rolled out across other subjects.

sessions modelled on the lecture and

to girls studying STEM subjects.

Since September more than 20,000 users

supervision system. I observed how they

You too can change the landscape,

In collaboration with Isaac Physics,

of isaacphysics.org from more than

became unhesitant in their approach,

just through conversation. Help spread the

1,500 schools have answered more than

willing to just have a go, those initial hints

message that science and technology can

2,800,000 questions – that’s about 150,000

of under-confidence left behind as they

open doors to very bright futures indeed.

questions every month.

began to understand that it’s okay to get Dr Lisa Jardine-Wright (F2009)

things wrong.

Prompted by discussions led by our

CHURCHILL CONNECTIONS

Master, we asked students to volunteer anonymous responses to the following

In Churchill Dr Lisa Jardine-Wright is

questions: What was most unexpected

Director of Studies for Physics for students

about the residential? What was most

in their first two years and in the Faculty

useful? Why / why wouldn’t you choose

of Education is Co-Director of a project to

Churchill College or Cambridge? Their

provide resources for Sixth-Form pupils

CHURCHILL COLLEGE NEWSLETTER 2016 7

Chwaraewr rhyngwladol

Greg and Rosie at the front of the College

Greg Lock, an alumnus and lifelong rugby

and was in the University rugby ‘system’.

Manager, Industrial Sector, with customers

enthusiast from South Wales, has made

Two terms of rugby and the Easter term

in aerospace, automotive, chemicals, oil

a substantial donation to the College. He

playing cricket made for an idyllic, if un-

and gas – about 15% of IBM’s operations

and his wife have endowed the ‘Greg and

academic, existence.

worldwide and $12 billion in revenue. “I

Rosie Lock Cambridge Bursaries’ to enable

“I was not what academics really

was responsible for dealing with more

more Welsh state school pupils, boys

appreciated. Indeed at the end of my first

than a hundred nationalities; my three

and girls in equal number, to study STEM

term my Director of Studies” (who would

years at Churchill were a wonderful

subjects at Churchill..

go on to win a Nobel prize) “very gently

grounding for my 30-year career at IBM.“

It was rugby which set Lock’s sights

suggested we were not compatible. He

on Cambridge. He had been playing since

was dead right! But the stock-in-trade

Chairman of Computacenter plc, one of

the age of about four in Tonyrefail, in the

Churchill and Cambridge gave me has

Europe’s leading IT services companies

mining heartland of South Wales; watching

been extraordinary. The people I met,

with 14,000 employees and £3 billion

the Varsity match on TV sparked interest

friendships I made, and having my eyes

in revenues, on the Board of UBM plc, a

in Cambridge. When he announced this

opened to different nationalities was a

worldwide leader in exhibitions, and on

ambition, his Headmaster said, “You can’t;

wonderful experience. And the College is

the Development Board and a Benefactor

we don’t know how, and no pupil has ever

even more diverse now.”

Fellow of Churchill. He has been quietly

gone to Cambridge from here.” But the

Lock ‘retired’ in 2000. He is presently

“At the end of three years I got lucky.

giving money and advice to the College for

Maths master coached him personally in

First, the College refused to allow me to

the past sixteen years, including significant

the two separate Maths A-levels needed,

stay on for another year so I could try to

funds for the building of Cowan Court.

which were not part of the school syllabus

play against Oxford and finally get a Blue.

and his parents gave him huge support. “I

Second, I got interviewed by IBM. After

consistently enjoyed what I have done in

worked very hard to get to Churchill,” says

getting almost all the questions right in

business. I feel privileged and blessed. I

Lock. “I am determined to help ensure

their very tricky aptitude test I confessed

feel an immense obligation, because the

that bright youngsters today receive every

I had seen them all before in my year

College and Cambridge changed my life.

encouragement to enjoy a wonderful

of Experimental Psychology.” The IBM

The three years of mingling with all those

place to be further educated and develop

interviewers were reluctant to believe him

different people gave me the confidence

their potential.”

and offered him a job.

to walk in to those IBM interviews and get

He settled in quickly. The first fellow

There followed two years of intensive

“I have been very lucky, because I have

the job.”

student he met on the steps of the

training. “Nothing could be as competitive

College on day one turned out to be a

as IBM in the early ‘70s. It was the dawn

to follow his example, giving as much

public schoolboy with a Welsh mother,

of the electronic age of data processing

as they can afford, to help the next

a Dansette record player and every Elvis

and IBM would not be beaten by the

generations make the most of their talents

Presley LP ever made. Doctor Tom Hollway

competition.” By 25 he was helping CEOs

and opportunities.

is still his closest friend. A few days later he

understand how to use computers for

played in the first XV at the Fresher’s rugby

competitive advantage (and buying them

Interview kindly made available by John

trials, got picked to play for the LX club

from IBM). He ended up as Global General

Eifion Jones of The Daily Telegraph.

CHURCHILL COLLEGE NEWSLETTER 2016 8

He hopes others will be encouraged

The Memory of the World On 21 June this year the Director of

Director and Bursar in Cardiff (3 & 4 from R) The post-1945 papers were passed

the course they were taking. It includes

the Archives Centre, Allen Packwood,

directly to Churchill College in 1969 by

correspondence with Gandhi, Stalin,

together with the Bursar, attended an

his widow, Clementine Churchill. While

Nehru, Smuts, three US Presidents and six

awards ceremony at the Senedd in

Michael Hoskin was the first Keeper and

UK Prime Ministers. But it is not all politics.

Cardiff, hosted by the First Minister for

supported by Jock Colville the College was

There are also conversations with painters

Wales. They were presented with the

able to build and open the Archives Centre

such as Walter Sickert, with writers such as

certificate of inscription of the Churchill

to house and conserve the papers in

H.G. Wells, with actors such as Laurence

Papers into the Memory of the World.

1973, funded by donations from American

Olivier, and of course the brisk and

This programme was established by

Ambassadors to the Court of St. James.

colourful exchange about the Chapel with

UNESCO to safeguard the documentary

Next, the pre-1945 papers were relocated

our own Founding Fellow, Francis Crick.

heritage of humanity against collective

to the Centre from the Bodleian Library in

amnesia, neglect, the ravages of time and

1974-75, on completion of the biography

politics is at the heart of the collection. As

climatic conditions and wilful destruction.

of Churchill by his son, Randolph, and by

Allen Packwood says: “It is the evidence

There are two levels to the programme,

Martin Gilbert. In 1995 the National Lottery

that underpins the story of one of the

according to whether the records are of

purchased the pre-1945 papers and vested

most remarkable leaders of the modern

national or international significance. The

them in an independent charitable trust,

era, whose stand against fascism in 1940

Churchill Papers have been inscribed in

to which the College contributed the post-

helped shape the world of today.”

the International Register. They thus join

1945 papers, and since then our Archives

treasures such as the UK’s Magna Carta,

Centre has administered the complete

was launched under Allen’s predecessor,

France’s Bayeux Tapestry, Iran’s epic

collection on behalf of the nation.

Piers Brendon, contracting with

poem The Shahnameh – treasures to be

The collection was amassed during

However, there can be no doubt that

An enormous digitalisation project

Bloomsbury, Harry Potter’s publishers,

preserved and protected for all mankind

Churchill’s long life and career and

and the availability of the papers online

and made accessible to all people without

consists of his personal, public, political

was announced at the Frankfurt Book Fair

let or hindrance.

and literary correspondence and papers.

in 2012. Allen saluted this achievement:

There are some one million items stored

“We look forward to working with

Archive Trust, Dr Alice Prochaska, who

in two and a half thousand archival

Bloomsbury on the further promotion and

accompanied the College contingent,

boxes. It is pre-eminent not just for its

development of this exciting resource.

acknowledged the importance of the

quantity but also for its breadth and

It allows the collection to fulfil its true

inscription: “It is a fantastic privilege and a

quality. In breadth it covers most of the

potential by enabling Churchill’s words to

very great pleasure to see the Sir Winston

major events from the Boer War to the

reach a global audience once again.”

Churchill Archive inscribed as part of

Cold War and thus provides a window

the Memory of the World. This amazing

on the twentieth century from the

Adapted from Archive Centre

documentary resource brings benefit to

perspective of a man either at the centre

press release.

scholars, schools and citizens – a legacy to

of those events or, when expelled to their

future generations.”

periphery, energetically agitating against

The Chair of the Sir Winston Churchill

CHURCHILL COLLEGE NEWSLETTER 2016 9

JAW JAW AS WAR

Hosting the ESU Churchill National Public-Speaking competition

In a statement that is often slightly misquoted, Winston Churchill famously said that meeting jaw to jaw was better than war. But for the eight teams taking part in the ESU Churchill National Public Speaking competition, held at Churchill College on Saturday 30 April, this was a veritable battle of words and wits that even an accomplished orator like Churchill would have relished.

There were eight competing teams, each representing a region of England and Wales, each composed of three 15- or 16-year-old pupils. Having survived a gruelling process of heats and qualifiers, the format of the final saw the chair and questioner from one school required to share the stage with the speaker from another, all mixed up at the last moment.

Nor were the subjects easy. How would you do with just a few minutes to discuss, “There will be no peace in the Middle East until the West stops interfering” or “It’s time to legalise the use of cannabis”?

The atmosphere was exciting, the performances were incredible, and the questions difficult. All teams acquitted themselves well and in the end the expert judges, led by Lord Boateng, must have faced an almost impossible task. There

The victors Best Speaker: Junaid Hameed, Pate’s

to Cambridge. It is also a genuinely fun

Grammar school

and inspiring occasion. My congratulations

were some truly outstanding individual

Runners Up: Tunbridge Wells Girls’

speakers, including Christian Owen from

Grammar School

Manchester Grammar who spoke well

Winners: South Wilts Grammar School for

and fluently without any notes at all, and won the audience’s vote for outstanding personality, but in the end the results were as follows: Best Chair: George Rushton, Manchester Grammar School

Girls This is the third year that Churchill College has hosted this annual competition, and the second that it has been branded for our founder. I hope and believe that it is an excellent way of showcasing our campus

Best Questioner: Thea Ralph, South Wilts

and encouraging young talent from

Grammar School for Girls

around the country to think about coming

CHURCHILL COLLEGE NEWSLETTER 2016 10

to the English-Speaking Union.

Allen Packwood Archives Director

But is it Art? Remember Damien Hirst’s shark? Tracey Emin’s bed? – those profitable winners of the Turner Prize, when a puzzled world cried “But is it Art?” Now Britain’s noisiest art prize has been awarded to Assemble, a collective, so the question comes up again, especially since many of them are not artists but architects. Two, Joe Halligan and Angus Goodwin (both 06) read Architecture at Churchill.

“They make you think at Cambridge. It’s people driving each other,” says Joe. The collective grew from conversations and friendships in Department and College.

Our Curator and Artist-in-residence, Barry Phipps, joined in the conversations as a fellow Brummagem with Joe and according to Barry, “Conversation is probably the main design tool at Assemble.”

4,000 disused petrol stations clutter the streets of Britain. The conversations started in Cambridge continued at a petrol station in the middle of London’s busy Clerkenwell Road. The group persuaded DuPont to donate swathes of a high-specification

The Clerkenwell Cineroleum

sound-absorbent membrane, AirGuard, and hung it from the four edges of the station canopy. Hey Presto! they had a

called themselves Assemble.

They won the Turner Prize with Granby

studious. People are making things. In a woodworking shop young joiners build

soundproofroom. They installed a screen:

Four Streets in Toxteth, Liverpool, scene of

cabinets to a background of rock music;

more magic! – the room became a cinema.

the 1981 riots. Locals resisting demolition

in the metal workshop Assemble bash

Before hanging the AirGuard, they sewed

of their homes called in Assemble, who

out grand chandeliers; there’s a kiln for

three kilometres of vertical seams into it,

worked with residents to restore and fit

pottery and tiles; skeins of colourful silk

so at the end of the film elegantly ruched

up derelict houses, using whatever was

hang above someone sewing cushions. It’s

walls wind up to the canopy, dramatically

to hand (and writing community skills

a long way from the brash hype of Britart.

revealing the street to the audience and the

manuals for the processes involved).

Assemble don’t even bother much with

audience to the street. Before your very eyes,

Marble fireplaces were fashioned from

social media. But their work raises some

a pop-up Cineroleum!

polished-up rubble; doorknobs solidified

interesting questions:

out of sawdust; decorative fabrics created

How can we plan our streets and

aims is to change people’s perception of

by block-printing – every item unique, all

houses better? Can rubble become a

space, and that sounds a bit art-like.

now available online from granbystreet

standard building material? Where else

workshop. Shades of William Morris! –

can Granby Street workshops open?

to address lack of connection between

the waste-not-want-not ethos, hands-on

Why not in Britain’s benighted prisons?

the public and the processes by which

making, transformation of the ordinary –

Can these ideals inspire big building

places are made, so local people were

and practical dream of a better society.

companies? And town planners? When is

Was it art? Well, one of Assemble’s

Another of the collective’s aims is

recruited to help cut up old scaff-planks

Assemble base themselves in the

for seating. Health and Safety risks? Once

grittiest patch of East London, a wasteland

everyone was watching the films no one

whipped by wind and rendered almost

Freely adapted from an article

minded and the polished planks looked

unnavigable on foot by flyovers and

kindly supplied by John Eifion Jones

rather stylish. The media flocked to see.

speeding traffic. Inside their converted

of The Daily Telegraph.

The artist-architects were in business and

industrial shed the atmosphere is

CHURCHILL COLLEGE NEWSLETTER 2016 11

art not art?

The new postgraduate village In 1999 Cottrell Vermeulen Architecture

needs of its community. In this case we

within it. We are working once more with

won the competition to design new

wanted to connect and consolidate the

John to develop a landscape scheme both

postgraduate housing at 42 Storey’s Way.

various buildings in this part of the site

beautiful and sustainable.

Our practice had been established for

into a more distinct postgraduate ‘campus

only seven years and the project was an

within a campus’ through the design

collaborative approach. We held several

important opportunity to develop and

of the landscape and the architectural

discussions involving the whole office

realise architectural ideas that would help

language of the new buildings. As with

to critique and develop the design.

set the tone for future work. The project

the Pepper-Pots, three individual houses

Importantly, Priscilla, the project architect,

won national and local awards, and

will help break down the scale of both

is also a Churchillian. For both of us,

became part of the landscape of Churchill

the architecture and the communities.

the architecture of the original College

College, gaining the affectionate, we hope,

Materials and details will use the same

is an inspiration, and we have tried to

nickname: ‘The Pepper-Pots’.

language, drawing from the suburban

incorporate a number of particular design

context of Storey’s Way and the robust

elements and material choices.

17 years later we return, having won

As a practice we believe in a

a design competition to develop the

Modernism of the College, but the new

adjacent site at 36 Storeys Way; and in the

buildings will feel more like close relatives,

reunion dinner marking 30 years since

same month as the Churchill contract our

rather than clones.

matriculation. Over these years I have

practice was awarded ‘Architect of the Year

In April we walked the site with Head

This summer I will be attending a

had an almost continuous relationship

2016’ and ‘Education Architect of the Year

Gardener, John Moore. The Japanese

with Cambridge, through projects for

2016’!

cherry trees were in full bloom and it was

Clare College and the University, and

a strong reminder of our approach that led

through teaching as a visiting critic at

to understand both the physical and

to the Pepper-Pots, where the landscape

the Architecture Department. Returning

historical context of the site and the

was conceived first, and the houses placed

to Churchill this year brings an odd

With every project we endeavour

CHURCHILL COLLEGE NEWSLETTER 2016 12

combination of memories of College life

dripping into the courtyards along the edges

original rooms were very successful and we

and of re-visiting and re-assessing previous

of the buildings. Even when walking through

have similar fitted joinery, with plenty of

architectural ideas. It also represents an

the internal hallways, I always felt connected

space left over, so students have flexibility

exciting opportunity to make a contribution

to the outside through large windows and

to arrange their rooms as they please.

to the future shape of the College.

external floorings used on the inside.

Simon Tucker (U&G86)

competition for the new houses was a joy

can meet, cook and study together. Large

both as a graduated Churchillian and as

window seats will let them feel connected

a newly qualified architect. Simon and

to the rest of the College through views

Churchill College, to me, was a place of

I spoke a lot about our experiences at

towards the new landscape.

contrasts. As a new student with limited

Churchill, both social and architectural,

knowledge of architecture the College

and we felt it was important to bring

brings back a lot of memories—smells

buildings were both intriguing and

elements of the old College and our

and sounds that trigger a back-home

unsettling. It took a while to get used to the

knowledge of how those spaces were used

feeling. As architects we continually learn

Brutalist environment, but the contrasts

into the new proposal.

from the past. The buildings that we

The opportunity to work on the

in the architecture actually made me feel

My favourite space in College was my

Large communal rooms will be the heart of each new house, where students

Revisiting College for the new project

experience make an impression on the

more at home. Externally, the buildings

room. It was my own personal haven for

way we think about space. Churchill has

are dressed in a beautiful combination of

studying and relaxing – I remember the

influenced the way that I design for people

dark brick and grey concrete, whilst the

warm floors, bright walls, and lots of light

and encouraged my love for post-war

interiors are warm and inviting with yellow

from the window bay, a contrast to the

architecture. As Simon and I contribute

brick pavers and timber-lined walls. The

dark, brick-lined staircases that led to your

towards the next phase of the buildings

entrance is grand and institutional, but

room. The rooms in the new houses repeat

we hope to create an architecture that is

beyond this threshold the hallway soffits

the blonde oak floors and dark stained

woven into its history and withstands the

are low and enclosing, intimate and inviting.

picture rail. We have designed a heated

test of time as the original College has

It’s a wonderful place to walk around in the

window seat with a surface hopefully

done so successfully.

rain – you stay completely dry navigating the

as beautiful as the original terrazzo. The

external walkways whilst enjoying the rain

integrated wardrobes and storage in the

CHURCHILL COLLEGE NEWSLETTER 2016 13

Priscilla Fernandes (U04)

Two of Churchill’s four under thirties The College was set up to encourage

In January this year Forbes announced its first European list of 30 entrepreneurs under the age of 30 and four of them were Churchillians, all in the fields of Science and Healthcare.

They are John Barrett (U06) working on neuroprosthetics, Steven Marsh (G10) founder of Geospock for geospatial big data in real time, and two we’ve managed to interview by email and now introduce to you here.

the UK to be a leader in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and one of its goals was to support British industry. What is the importance of the work that you are doing and will it contribute to British industry?

I am working on fundamental science, which I am sure will contribute to industry in the future. But I cannot predict if it

while the other corner hosts a heated

will be British, EU, or anywhere else

debate about some aspect of world

on the planet.

politics. We all share a smile.

How has being at Churchill College and What was your greatest indulgence

Cambridge influenced your career?

as a student at Churchill?

I must quote the college motto – Forward!

Crabbie’s @ MCR. Churchill said that “the empires of the

Karolis Misiunas (G11)

You’ve been recognised by Forbes

future are the empires of the mind.”

magazine as being one of Europe’s top

Do you agree?

30 under 30. What does this mean to you

The future for Churchill is the present

and how has it helped your career?

for us. I see technology making great

It is an honour, which I am grateful for. It

strides every few years. Medicine is

attracted attention to our science, which

curing diseases one by one. And science

I hope will inspire some students to

is reaching beyond the imagination of

become scientists and will keep the public

man. Therefore, I have no doubt that we

engaged with the research.

live in the empires of the mind. We now need some political wisdom to keep these

MCR External Social Secretary 2013

In what way is the work you are doing

and winner of the Sir David Wallace Prize

making a contribution to society?

at the Conference on Everything 2015

I am investigating the world at the scale of

empires together.

nanometers and higher. Nanotechnology

Richard Bowman

What was your experience of Churchill

is quietly improving computers, medicine,

Royal Commission for the Exhibition

College?

and diagnostics. Specifically, I’m trying

of 1851 Research Fellow, Nanophotonics

I met incredibly kind, creative and

to understand how liquids behave in

Centre, Cavendish Laboratory

intelligent people at Churchill. Together

confined spaces. For example, think of

with them, I have developed as a person.

water inside a biological cell. Here, the

What was your experience of Churchill

I am grateful for that.

function and shape of proteins depend

College?

on the interaction with the surrounding

My four years at Churchill (starting in

What was your best memory of being

liquid. I hope that by understanding the

Comp. Sci. then switching to the four-

in College?

physics behind these interactions we

year Physics course) were a time I will

It is late after midnight and the MCR

will be able to build better proteins for

always look back on with huge fondness.

is still whirling with life. In one corner,

applications in medicine, or even the next

I had a great group of friends and got

a music improv is being composed,

generation computers.

very involved with musical life in the

CHURCHILL COLLEGE NEWSLETTER 2016 14

You’ve been recognised by Forbes

but you need that confidence. I also made

magazine as one of Europe’s top 30

a great set of friends, who have encouraged

under 30. What does this mean to you

me so far and will no doubt keep me going

and how has it helped your career?

in the future.

Having just co-founded Waterscope, a start-up that aims to improve the way

Churchill said that “the empires of the

we test drinking water for safety in the

future are the empires of the mind.”

developing world, I’m absolutely delighted

Do you agree?

that what we’re doing has been picked

Far be it from me to disagree with Sir

up — and I hope the publicity has helped

Winston! I do — though I wouldn’t choose

raise our profile. We’re at a very early stage,

to call them empires. Knowledge is key

so every little helps.

to so many things, whether it’s advanced software or new physical techniques.

In what way does your work make a

There’s a lot of empire-building, but there’s

contribution to society?

also a huge amount of knowledge shared

The project I’m working on aims to create

freely — through open-source software,

reconfigurable optical circuits, with the

freely accessible scientific results and

college. It was a great opportunity to learn

potential to speed up the internet and

datasets, and community projects like

how to make things happen — putting

lower its power consumption. It could well

Wikipedia. Openness has the potential

on shows at the ADC, negotiating with

have a major impact on how we build our

to make the world a better place for

various groups in College to improve how

telecommunications networks.

everybody. I’m involved with a number of

we managed the Music Rooms and the

initiatives to make science more open, and

Chapel, and most notably how we booked

The College was set up to help the UK

I think that benefits professional science

tickets for Superhall! It was fantastic to do

be a leader in STEM areas and one of its

at least as much as it benefits people who

that in such a supportive environment that

goals was to support British industry.

don’t do science for a living.

didn’t push science and technology to the

What is the importance of your work and

nerdy fringe.

will it contribute to British industry?

What suggestions would you have

The microscope at the centre of the new

to improve engagement with our

What was your best memory of being

test for bacterial contamination that

alumni community?

in College?

WaterScope is developing is a 3D printable

I’d have been more likely to attend the

There are too many good memories to

design I’ve worked on over the last year.

reunion dinner for my year if I’d been

pick just one – but if I had to, probably

Technologies that enable things to be one-

able to see who was coming a little earlier.

enjoying May Week with friends. It was so

off custom pieces (like 3D printing) make

I do read the alumni emails, and I liked

good to relax after exams in the sunshine,

new things possible. I’m excited to play

the Edinburgh event that happened while

punting with Pimm’s and strawberries

some small part in that, and hope the UK

I was in Glasgow.

and of course attending the Churchill

stays at the cutting edge of this new model

garden party (complete with inflatable

of production.

paddling pool)!

How has being at Churchill College and What was your greatest indulgence

Cambridge influenced your career?

as a student at Churchill?

My time at Churchill and Cambridge gave

Definitely the Music Practice Rooms —

me a lot of confidence – it showed me that

they were such a fantastic facility, and I

most things are possible if you’re prepared

really enjoyed being able to make music in

to put some effort in. It’s amazing what can

nice surroundings with a glorious acoustic.

be achieved with belief and perseverance,

CHURCHILL COLLEGE NEWSLETTER 2016 15

Funding the future Susan Poland, who read Law at Churchill, fondly recalls her time at Cambridge.

“My best memories are of living on a

Engineering and Mathematics) bursary for

staircase whose residents were composed

Churchill women now.

entirely of women from several different

“At the individual level, a student who

countries. My neighbours included a Greek

is distracted by financial worries has a

astrophysicist, a Swiss statistician, and an

personal burden that even moderately

American engineer. I count the friends I

successful graduates should try to lighten.

made at Churchill among my close friends

By leaving in my will to Churchill a large

of today. The aesthetic component of

part of the earnings from my career, I hope

Cambridge also makes for very happy

to be able to ‘pay it forward’ to students of

memories – cycling to lectures and

a future generation.”

supervisions on winter mornings when every branch of tree glittered with frost.”

Paying-it-forward philanthropy is a deeply held value for Susan. “I was

A long-time supporter of Churchill and

convinced from a very early age that we exist

Collegiate Cambridge, Susan is a member

for a purpose. Part of that purpose has to be

of the Cambridge in America Legators,

to help others. I want to be part of that and

the 1209 Society, and also the College’s

part of moving the world forward if I can.”

Winston S Churchill 1958 Society. Members of these Societies generously include their college (and university) in their estate

If you are interested in leaving a legacy to

planning. Susan’s commitment comes

Churchill College or learning more about

in the form of a bequest to Cambridge in

it, as well as joining with 100 alumni and

America and Churchill College to support

friends in the Winston S Churchill 1958

an undergraduate studentship in Law at

Society, please contact:

Churchill. Acutely aware that the (rising) cost of an undergraduate education at

John Pennant, Development Director

Cambridge can be prohibitive and a

or Annabel Busher, Development Officer

source of stress for many students, by making a legacy to the College Susan

Churchill College Alumni & Development

endeavours to make a difference. Susan is

office, telephone 01223 336 240 or

also making gifts and leading a campaign

email john.pennant@chu.cam.ac.uk or

to support a STEM (Science Technology,

annabel.busher@chu.cam.ac.uk

CHURCHILL COLLEGE NEWSLETTER 2016 16

THE NEW BOATHOUSE On the Saturday of May Bumps, Marcia Miller opened officially the new Churchill College Mays Room – the Canon Noel Duckworth Room – in the brand new Combined Colleges Boathouse in front of about 40 Churchill Boat Club alumni, Sue Brown (President of the Boat Club) and the Master.

Some of those present rowed for Churchill

Council, the selection of the architect (RH

Nonetheless the Churchill crews achieved

before the previous boathouse was built!

Partnership) and the development of the

great successes during the year.

All marvelled at the comfort level in the

design went incredibly smoothly with lots

changing rooms, showers and fitness

of engagement with the users.

suite. Jim and Chris were very gracious

Finally, during May Bumps, the Men’s First Boat was unveiled: “Shall we dance?”

Since the demolition of the old

Named by Lydia Luckevich, widow of Don

about the improvement in facilities for the

Boathouse in June last year, our rowers

Pinchin (G73) who generously contributed

Boathouse Manager to work on repairs to

have rowed from the bank with the boats

to the cost of the Boat. Over 45 alumni

boats, compared to what they had to deal

stored on temporary racking on the grass,

attended the Boat Club dinner that night and

with in their reign.

which rapidly became like a First World

toasted Don, the Queen and Sir Winston.

The project was a miracle of inter-

War battlefield. Two shipping containers

collegiate cooperation with Selwyn,

provided a cold, dark office and store for

Jennifer Brook

King’s and The Leys School. Once a new

Roland, the Boathouse Manager and for

Bursar

lease on the site was granted by the City

some rather insalubrious other facilities.

CHURCHILL COLLEGE NEWSLETTER 2016 17

Graduation main course 2016 Roast Duck Breast with Crispy Leg Ingredients

Method

• 1 duck leg shredded

MAKE THE CROQUETTE

• 1 duck breast

Roast one duck leg. Once cooked, pick the meat off the bone and shred,

• 200g mashed potato

mix with chopped parsley & 200g mashed potato.

• 500g spinach

Pipe into a sausage shape and freeze. Flour-and-egg-wash the croquette

• 100ml chicken jus • 1 bunch parsley

and roll in breadcrumbs.

DUCK BREAST Seal off the duck breast till skin is golden, then roast in oven for 10-12mins at 180c till pink, allow to rest for 10 mins. before carving.

Sauté the spinach with seasoning and drain, deep fry the croquette.

Plate up all ingredients, using a bed of spinach to place the duck breast on.

Serve with a port jus.

Mark Slater Head Chef, Churchill College

The Churchill College Association The Association was founded in 1965 to

evening. We look forward to welcoming

be a special visit for Churchillians to the

promote friendship among its members

you with your family and friends. Please

New Cavendish laboratory on the Saturday

of all ages wherever they are. If you are or

visit www.chu.cam.ac.uk/alumni/association

morning, followed by a discussion panel

ever have been a member of the College’s

for more information about the Association

in College featuring Professor Rolf Heuer

JCR, MCR or SCR, you are automatically a

and its activities.

(current Director of CERN), Dr Dame Sue

member of the Association, free of charge

Ion (nuclear engineer), Graham Farmelo,

and for life.

Michael Smyth (Sir John’s biographer-in-

The first Master

progress) and Sir John’s son Christopher.

- 25 September) includes a celebration on

At the Association Weekend in 2017 (22

Professor Jim Al-Khalili will speak at the

Saturday morning of Founding Fellow and

– 24 September) Churchill College will

Association Dinner in College and on

Senior Tutor Dick Tizard, hosted by Sir Mike

celebrate the life and work of Sir John

Sunday morning in The Chapel at Churchill

Gregory, a literary lecture by Tim Cribb in

Cockcroft, our Founding Master, 50 years

College there will be a special memorial

the afternoon, followed by the Association’s

after his death and 75 years after he and

service. All Association members and their

AGM and dinner in Hall where we are proud

Ernest Walton first split the atom. On

families and friends will be welcome.

to announce Sir Alec Boksenberg as our

Friday the Archives Centre will take formal

after-dinner speaker. High Table and a

receipt of scrapbooks, photographs and

Rosemary Johnston (U73)

wine-tasting will be available on the Friday

letters from the Cockcroft family. There will

Chair

The Association Weekend this year (23

CHURCHILL COLLEGE NEWSLETTER 2016 18

CHURCHILL COLLEGE NEWSLETTER 2016 19

Diary of events Association Weekend

WSC Legators’ Society Lunch

Association Weekend

23-25 September 2016

15 March 2017

22-24 September 2017

Class of ’66 Reunion

Reunion Dinner (1993-1998)

21 October 2016

8 July 2017

CHURCHILL COLLEGE