BURSAR’S REPORT Deborah Griffin OBE
10 ANNUAL REVIEW COLLEGE NEWS
I
t was interesting for me to look back at the Bursar’s report for 2019 in writing the 2020 update. It has been quite a year which we did not foresee! While last year’s report included a picture of me “turning the first sod” of the new playing fields, we can now include a picture of the completed pitches. The pavilion is now under construction ready for September 2021. It was wonderful to hear comments from our students when they were able to use the facilities for the first time in October. “I am so glad I have another three years to enjoy these.” “Are these really for us?” “We should have the best College sports teams with these facilities.” Let’s hope we can host some student versus alumni matches in 2021. Another change from last year is the length of my hair as hairdressers and others closed during lockdown! The College has also changed significantly if only in appearance. The staff worked tirelessly to prepare the College for the
The new North Wing auditorium
students’ return in October. Signage, Perspex screens and sanitisers abound! Although it has been a difficult term for everyone with the restrictions on activities and movement, the underlying friendliness and support and commitment to our students by our staff has shone through. I must particularly commend our porters, catering teams and the “Quarantine team” which became the “Isolation team” for their support of our students. When West House was in isolation due to the number of positive cases of Covid-19, catering were delivering up to 300 meals a day to the building. Thankfully due to everyone’s efforts, during the last five weeks of Michaelmas term we had only one positive case. Without any conference business we opened up all our rooms for students to study in a Covidsafe environment. The Griffin proved particularly popular despite the bar not being open. We also had a marquee on the Queen’s Wing lawn for the duration of term where we were able to have matriculation welcomes and some events in a well-ventilated if cold environment.
