The Chadsian: Easter 2014

The Chadsian

Easter Term 2014

St Chad’s College Magazine

Decades Reunion 2014

Were you at St Chad’s in a year ending in 3, 4 or 5?

Yes? Then do what these guys did and get in touch with your friends and enjoy a memorable weekend back in Durham this September.

Contents The Magazine of St Chad’s College, Durham University

The Chadsian Easter Term 2014

4 6 Junior 8

College View

Common Room

Middle Common Room

St Chad’s College Magazine

10 12

From our own Correspondents 14

16

College Life

Chadsian Interview

A culture shock, and other discoveries 20

Esprit de Corps 23

Careers 24

Diary

4

College View parts of it) seem almost as old as the College. Though it would be an exaggeration to say that we are a sporting powerhouse, there is no exaggeration in saying that Chad’s has the highest sports participation rate in the UK (the highest in Durham, which has the highest in the UK). That flattering statistic is almost entirely dependent on our students’ willingness to support one another by supporting their College teams. This is where being a small college is such a bonus: almost everyone knows everyone else and this builds a sense of comradery that is just as evident off the pitch as it is on it. In the past, the College has left sports-expenditure largely in the hands of students. It was a strategy that worked almost well enough: we used fees income on academic and residential costs and students used the income they raised themselves on sports and social activities. As I said that worked ‘almost’ well enough: it worked on such day-to-day expenses as kitting out teams, paying for pitch-rental, even buying a new boat now and then; but it can’t really pay for large infrastructure costs: hence the current campaign. Our target is £150,000 and we have already received prelaunch donations totalling £50,000. We would like to meet our fundraising target by this Christmas. This would allow us to begin ordering materials for a winter start to the build, ensuring that the facility is in operation for Autumn 2015. I am particularly excited by this whole venture. The approach is state-of-the-art and the building has been conceived to withstand the flooding which has hastened the demise of our current boat house.

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ne of the perks of my job is being able to read The Chadsian before anyone else - and then write my bit after everyone else. I must say it is a very satisfying task. I hope you’ll agree that both the dedication and enthusiasm of our students jump out in this issue. I know one should hesitate before making moral judgments about people, but it strikes me just how ‘good’ our students are: they are generous, sincere, and very much focussed on others. I am intensely proud of all they do, and prouder too that they do so under the College’s banner, letting us know time and time again that we had a role in enabling them to make such a difference. The articles, most by students or alumni, paint a picture of a strong college community that is academically-focussed, locally and often-internationally engaged, and strikingly confident. From my point of view, that fits: our students have an uncommon sense of ownership of their College and it shows.

Paddock Pavilion. This issue sees the formal launch of our fundraising campaign for the ‘Paddock Pavilion’ - combination boat house, exercise and social facility for the whole College. It is long overdue as the boathouse (or

Buildings. The acquisition and redevelopment of Queen’s Court (No 2 North Bailey) set a standard for this coming summer’s redevelopment of No 1 North Bailey. We shall be taking the building back to a shell and rewiring and replumbing the whole thing, adding en-suite facilities to all the bedrooms. We have just begun the planning process to refurbish Ramsey House (25 North Bailey): the plan there is also to add en-suite facilities throughout, to add two new bedrooms by converting some of the current shared bathrooms and adding a new Fellow’s Flat in the cellar. We hope to have this completed by autumn 2015.

After that, the only building left to refurbish is Main College (can anyone think of a better name for our main building?). We reckon that it is half-finished, but we have new plans to move a few walls to create larger social spaces for students. Unfortunately, our newest building is the one that lends itself least to en-suite conversion. Still, we are continuing to spruce up shared facilities and are installing en-suite facilities where we can. By the end of 2015, almost 90% of College rooms will be en-suite, which is great for students, but also great for summer payingguests. After all, the income we earn from our conference trade is used entirely to pay for improvements.

6

Reunions. I've been to a half-dozen reunions in the last year. They are always engaging, and I learn about not just what alumni are today up to, but also what they got up to when they were here. I often find myself urging caution, lest our current students find out about some of the more colourful antics of the past (if half the stories are true, some of you had a very, very good time). I say this to encourage you to come to one of the scheduled reunions.

They really are great fun and your participation gives us a real boost.

š

F

ollowing my election as President of the SCR in June, I posed a number of questions to the Senior Woman and the President of the Middle Common Room: ‘What is the role of the College common rooms? How can relations between the common rooms be strengthened?

How can the involvement of members of the SCR in College life be improved? How can we use the experience and expertise of SCR members to support students at all levels?’ The Presidents of the three common rooms then met their respective executive committees to discuss these questions.

When we three met again it was clear that we all had similar views, namely: ● Students didn’t understand the purpose of the SCR. Students knew their own tutors, College Officers and a mere handful of members of the SCR. There is presently little interaction between SCR members and students. The strongly held view is that this situation needs to change. ● To strengthen relations between the common rooms the SCR must have a key role that is not presently being discharged through greater interaction between the common rooms. ● Members of the SCR represent different backgrounds, training and experience, all of which could provide an important resource to students not necessarily found in their various degree courses. The issue here is not an academic one but much more about life and the ‘world out there’. At present there is no mechanism through which the students and SCR members can interact in this way. ● SCR members should be encouraged to give talks but also bring into College specialists from their own fields. ● Charity and social justice issues were seen as fruitful areas for collaboration between the common rooms.

Following a Senior Common Room meeting in November the Officers met to consider the following questions: ‘What is the role of the SCR? Is the SCR a driving force in the intellectual life of the College? Should it be? What does the SCR mean to non-members? Are there too many members? What are the criteria for

Membership? What are the duties & responsibilities of members of the SCR, if any? Are membership fees too low?

Who ‘owns’ the SCR ‘common room’? Could the SCR be available during the day for coffee and newspapers?

Consequent upon this meeting, an extraordinary meeting of the SCR was held in February at which it was agreed that the role of the SCR is to: ‘Support the aims of St Chad’s College. Provide intellectual stimulus to the the work of the College as a flourishing academic community.

Stimulate the links between the College, its three common rooms and the wider community.’

A lively discussion took place about how this role should be carried out, which led to much further discussion about the size of the SCR, the level of involvement of members, potential for more social interaction and so on. It was agreed that, if the SCR is to become more collaborative with the other common rooms, more people will need to be actively involved. At the end of the EGM a number of willing volunteers had been recruited.

Firm proposals for the future activities of the SCR in support of its agreed role will be put before the SCR Annual General Meeting in Easter Term and, no doubt, reported in the next issue of the Chadsian.

I am glad to report that one of the ideas for more interaction between the JCR, MCR and SCR happened within three days of the EGM. We had a Formal without High Table at which SCR members randomly ‘seeded’ themselves around Hall. This was a great success and it has been agreed among all parties that such a Formal will be held once a Term. The first step has been taken.

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Junior Common Room

I

t has truly been a great year. As I sit down to write this report I can't really fathom where to begin. From old traditions, like the Candlemas Ball and Matriculation, to newer ones, like our Schools Outreach programs and many new social events, the past year has been a whirlwind, and with exams looming it's soon to become even busier.

Michaelmas Term saw the matriculation of 120 new Chadsians, eager to discover their new home. A frantic Freshers’ Week saw their introduction to our great college which included a tour of the Cathedral, wine tasting, greyhound racing, a trip to Newcastle, a boat party and (my personal favourite) a ceilidh in the Quad.

However, I like to believe that one’s true ‘initiation’ into St Chad’s doesn’t occur until one’s very first Chad’s Day - the most green and glorious day of the year, and the moment you realize just how lucky you are to be here.

After celebrating with current students, I was given the opportunity to celebrate again with alumni on the following weekend in London at a conveniently named bar near King’s Cross called 6 St Chad’s Place. It was great to see that even though the traditions of celebrating St Chad’s Day have changed over the years, the spirit and the essence of celebrating what it means to be a Chadsian is something that stays with you long after you've graduated.

Another outstanding event this year was the Candlemas Ball. The theme was One Thousand and One Nights. With henna, camel racing, comedy shows,

masseuses and a magic carpet ride, we were transported from Durham to a whole new world! Having scoured the internet for inspiration for my speech for the Ball, I found a few quotes from alumni reminiscing about the night, describing it as: “a rather drunken night in the depths of winter”, “a real moment of light and celebration” and “the high point in the social life of St Chad’s, and indeed in the University as a whole”. I can certainly confirm that these quotes still hold true today.

Amongst the successes of the JCR as a whole, several individuals have made the College very proud this year.

Victoria Turner, a second year English student, broke the University's record for 50m backstroke, and qualified for the national swimming championships. Another success in the water came from Patrick Vis, a fourth year French and History student, who rescued a woman who fell into the river attempting to rescue her dog. She said that Pat helped save her life.

This year our Careers and Alumni showcases really took off, with careers events left, right and centre. We gave students the chance to explore careers in marketing, accountancy, the Navy, sports psychology, the Civil Service, law and careers in the third sector. I want to thank all the alumni who came back to give advice on different careers. It's so insightful to hear about these roles from people who, like us, were once students at St Chad's and who are now successful in their various careers. We're always looking for more alumni to come back to College and talk about their exciting careers and give us advice.

I’m sitting in the Brewis Library (formerly Lower Library) writing this article, procrastinating from revision, surrounded by a few of my closest friends who are dutifully getting on with theirs. This time of year is often dreaded, but the sense of community in Chad’s is never stronger than when the libraries are packed with students helping and motivating one another. I feel so privileged to be part of a community like this, and find it hard to imagine that Chad’s was not always so academically focussed (or so are the rumours I’ve heard!).

Having burst into tears in my final speech as Senior Woman, I have to say what an honour it has been to serve this JCR and College, and to give something back to our small but mighty community, as I’m sure every Senior Man before me knows well. I relish the thought of being able to look back in years to come at the achievements and successes of our College, and to re-live what many refer to as their golden years.

Many thanks to my Exec who have been absolutely brilliant over the last year and supported me all the way.

And good luck to the next Exec under the leadership of Philip Whitehead, our new Senior Man.

F

reshers’ Sunday. We had made good time. It was as if my own anticipation had driven us up the M1.

Then we reached Durham and everything slowed down. Suddenly there was traffic. Waiting. Nerves began to set in. The mood of two parents who had never been away from their child for more than a couple of weeks mingled with my nervousness as we sat in the car, tension gradually building.

What better remedy could there have been than the scene that greeted us when we finally drove up the Bailey? Music blaring, green Chadsians everywhere, bustle and excitement, friendly faces, a goat. Before I knew it, the Senior Woman, Chloe, had given me my room key and a team of freshers’ reps (freps) had transferred my possessions into my new home for the year.

Then it was straight back into Main College and to the centre of the Chad’s universe: the Quad. We met and exchanged names, hometowns and course details in the infamous ‘awkward circles’, but I soon learned that the Quad is the place for a vast range of events: from the champagne reception and the JCR meeting, to the time of night, just after the bar closes, when Chadsians amble around at varying stages of inebriation chatting to each other about issues of the day.

The Freshers’ Week programme continued at a deliberately restless pace. I was matriculated; participating in and becoming part of a century-old tradition.

We experienced our first formal, daunting at first for some but, behind the gowns and ceremonial was the simple joy of a meal and wine with friends. Quickly we came to love this tradition as part of our own identity as Chadsians. We enjoyed our first visit to the College Bar. There was a Cathedral tour, a trip on the Prince Bishop river boat (the Princey B) with endless burgers and a few ill-advised Jagerbombs. As the week continued there was a fancy dress formal, a Ceilidh, Greyhound racing, wine tasting, a trip to Newcastle. We hadn’t got time to get homesick; this is the genius of Freshers’ Week.

Quiet moments were, however, inevitable. Some down time is needed simply to survive the unrelenting schedule of the week. And despite our expectations of ourselves, the Principal, Dr Cassidy, already affectionately known to us as ‘Papa Joe’, in an email sent towards the end of the Freshers’ Week said something that no fresher would admit, but could not deny: “Many of us have unrealistic expectations of ourselves: we expect to make great friends overnight, we expect to get completely and utterly caught up in the excitement of new things (when we are actually quite apprehensive), and we are more worried than we like to admit about whether we will fit in, whether we will be liked, and so on.”

This was indeed my worry, and I’m sure most other freshers’ worry too, hard as it would have been to admit at the time. Which is why Dr Cassidy’s email was perfect, directly from the man in charge of it all was a message to soothe our worries and to make us feel part of a truly supportive community. This is what I have come to appreciate over my first year at Chad’s. We may pursue different interests: sports, music, charity, drama or any of the numerous College committees; we may come from different backgrounds and different corners of the globe, but we all support each other. In short, Freshers’ Week made me feel the complete opposite of ‘fresh meat’: valued and cared for as an individual, and as a member of this amazing College.

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Middle Common Room

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am immensely proud to be here to celebrate a quarter century since the foundation of Chad’s MCR. It is a milestone that is particularly worth marking as we move past the typical age of our members and the date of foundation of our Common Room becomes, for most of our new students at least, a point before living memory.

This is not to say we are a homogeneous bunch: the pleasure of being a part of St Chad’s MCR is the wonderful spread of age, origin, and experience that our students bring to the College and to our community. Already, I look forward to visiting the MCR for our fiftieth anniversary, and expect to do so secure in the knowledge that I will likely find a sixty-year-old MA student locked in conversation with a twenty-three year-old PhD candidate.

Of course, there have been postgraduate students at St Chad’s almost since the College’s inception - long before the birth of the MCR - and we continue to maintain a strong presence in the life of the College as a whole, with two postgrads in the Men’s 1st Boat, the Chapel Choir riddled with MCR members, and any number of greenpainted postgrad faces taking a break from their books or their labs to celebrate St Chad’s Day in style and splendour.

This year the MCR have had the pleasure of co-ordinating with a fabulous and incredibly hard-working JCR Exec, and I can honestly say that it is a pleasure to share a College with such an excellent group of students as this year’s crop of undergraduates. As for the SCR, the inception of occasional ‘Combination Formals’ this year has seen a rare disbanding of High Table, dispersing members of the SCR throughout the dining hall and giving all three Common Rooms a chance to get to know one another a little better.

While cooperation has its merits, sometimes a little healthy competition can be good too: racing against the JCR to raise money for the Live Below the Line campaign, we have driven each other to greater heights and,

between us, raised nearly £900 for hunger-related charities.

The MCR’s programme of academic and social events continues to expand, with our regular Postgraduate Formals and pre-formal MCR Research Forums being supplemented by an informal dinner (at Thanksgiving, for our many American students), film nights, and summer trips. Extending these beyond the walls of the College, we are hosting over 100 postgraduates from across the University at our second annual Inter-MCR formal and, this year, our turn has come to host the South Bailey Research Forum, where postgraduates from St Chad’s, St John’s, and St Cuthbert’s come together to share ideas and to present their research.

In the coming academic year we look forward to welcoming our first contingent of alumni-funded Master’s students: four of next year’s postgraduate intake will be former undergraduates returning to Chad’s on the new Postgraduate Scholarships, and we hope that, with continuing generous donations from former students, we can offer the fantastic opportunity of a graduate education to even more Chadsians in years to come.

m A

fter completing my undergraduate degree in Economics at St Chad’s, I realised that I still wanted to know more. I wanted to expand my knowledge beyond the often unrealistic economic models found in the standard undergraduate textbooks and get a greater understanding of the historical events that have shaped the world in which we live and the issues that currently dominate the international agenda. From addressing the potential for peace in the Middle East, analysing American foreign policy and examining the impact of the Eurozone crisis on the European Union, my Masters has provided me with a range of opportunities to do exactly this.

Being a part of St Chad’s has further enhanced my postgraduate experience through our regular Research Forums, Question Time debates and the College's strong academic focus. Put simply, I will leave this College as a more complete person, far more aware of contemporary global debates and conflicts, something that will undoubtedly benefit me in the future, regardless of my career path.

I

took my undergraduate degree at Carleton University, Ottawa, my hometown in Canada, but decided to apply to St Chad’s College after an inspirational meeting with Professor Neil Cartlidge from Durham University’s English Studies department. I am currently researching the representation of werewolves in medieval literature; elements include the ecology of wolves, memory, madness, identity, and the forest as a spatial place. St Chad’s College is the perfect place for involvement, with easy access to the local

medieval sites and many other events, resources and opportunities for the dedicated medievalist.

In my first term in Durham, I was the first MA student in the academic year to give a talk at the Medieval & Early Modern Students’ Association and I organised a successful mead-tasting event in College. During Epiphany Term, I gave a talk to the College research forum on the medieval physician Ibn Sina and his contributions to ophthalmology.

I have also curated a film series at The Empty Shop venue in Durham and become involved with a number of voluntary activities including the Durham Book Festival, the Durham LEGO Cathedral Project, and Durham Falconry.

I am excited to be able to engage further with the College community at St Chad’s next year. I hope to organise research workshops and broader College activities. I am already planning to publish articles in the College Journal and present at conferences in Durham and Oxford this summer.

Studying for my MA at St Chad’s College has been a fantastic opportunity, allowing me to fulfil my academic desires and personal ambitions, and enabling me to begin a PhD.

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aving studied law at an ex-polytechnic, I wanted to do postgraduate studies at a university with a collegiate system - a system that some friends have experienced and highly recommended. They were absolutely right to recommend it; the teaching at Durham’s Law School has been worth the big move from my roots in the south-west and being a member of St Chad’s College has made my experience of Durham a truly unforgettable one.

As Chad’s is one of the smallest colleges, it effortlessly fosters a strong sense of community and kinship.

Coupled with this, of course, is a matchless College spirit a devotion you can’t help but adopt within the first week of Michaelmas Term! Chad's has opened up so many opportunities for me and has made my time here invaluable. As well as offering a plethora of extra-curricular activities to get involved with, and ample social events and societies, Chad’s is cognisant of steering clear of insularity and provides great support to its members in their future endeavours. A crucial part of this are the careers events and talks that the College frequently hosts; I know that as a result of these they have not only helped fortify my lawyerly aspirations, but have given me a real leg up into making it a reality.

I can say that, without a doubt, doing a Master’s degree at St Chad’s College has been the best decision I’ve ever made.

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College Life I

n keeping with a tradition upheld since 1956, on the first Friday of February, 2014, St Chad’s College was transformed - this year’s Candlemas theme was The One Thousand and One Nights. The thirteen-strong Ball Committee proved themselves to be more than a match for the high standard set by previous years, as from the moment the theme was revealed in glowing UV letters at the launch party there was excitement around College.

On the night of the Ball, after the customary photo and glass of champagne upon arrival, guests consulted a glittering map to see what entertainment was in store before they took their seats in the marquee for the banquet.

The culinary delights continued throughout the night; ballgoers were offered hot dogs, candyfloss, popcorn, stir-fry and finally a few slices of pizza before a survivors’ breakfast of Danish pastries and juice.

The night’s entertainment had something for everyone: the chance to sit down with popcorn and watch some Durham Revue comedy, to hit the high notes at ‘Arabian Idol’ karaoke, or relax with a shoulder massage.

Sadly, there weren’t real camels but an intensively competitive camel racing game in the JCR left some Chadsians clutching multiple medals!

The beautiful decorations depicted the well-known ‘Arabian Nights’ stories of Queen Scheherazade and the Fisherman and the Jinni on enormous canvasses in Quad, sand dunes in the JCR and intricate murals along corridors.

The range of activities available made the night fly past – for the adventurous a magic carpet ride, for the frantic collecting bank notes in the ‘Tornado of Money’ machine, or for the more laid back seeing a performer, there was no time to be bored. The music added to the vibrant atmosphere, with a swing band to start the night and later a DJ set from one of our own students.

When the night drew to a close after the survivor’s photo, everyone left with henna tattoos and caricatures as mementos of what was a truly fantastic evening. Thanks for a great Candlemas to Head Steward Alex Kirk and her committee, and all involved with the decorations. Thanks to the Bar and Wine Cellar Committees and all the members of College staff who brought Candlemas 57 alive.

Finally, the annual post-Candlemas auction of decorations and promises raised over £1,300 for the Make a Wish Foundation.

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he Senior Woman of Chad's was held aloft on a makeshift throne by a ninja turtle and a dinosaur.

Apples and sprigs of broccoli expressed great anger at the news that the Senior Man of Castle would not be awoken by the parade of Chadsians banging pots and pans at 7am. Against the impressive Cathedral backdrop a group of green Greek goddesses began scaling the Castle walls. It was a bizarre yet beautiful image that any committed Chadsian would find difficult to forget.

On the Saturday closest to 2nd March, members of our ‘small but mighty’ college gather to begin a parade along the Bailey, waking up everyone from Cuth's to Hatfield. The green milk served at breakfast would turn the stomach of anyone but a holder of true Chad's spirit. This year, with a pile of plastic fruit on my head, I carried a ball down the aisle of the Cathedral to be placed by the altar to represent the netball team’s part in the Chad's community. It was at this moment that I truly appreciated just how strange Chad's Day must appear to an outsider. Onlookers just looked bewildered at the sight of a swarm of viridescent creatures racing around Palace Green and the winner of the midday race announced (and subsequently crowned Keeper of the College Goat) .

With the afternoon, and tiredness starting to hit, came Chad's Sports Day. Unprecedented levels of competitiveness came to light in the space hopper race as Chad's garden was transformed into a theatre of sporting carnage. The day continued with Chad's ‘Family Fortunes’ and ‘Take Me Out’.

The new Mr and Miss Chad's were crowned in a combination of chilli-eating and tango dancing challenges. Laser quest and a silent disco led seamlessly to this incredible day being rounded off in a way that only Chadsians find natural: a rendition of ‘Country Roads’.

I don't believe it is just the silent disco, the cathedral service or even the early morning parade that make Chad's Day such a special occasion but rather it is the overall undefinable atmosphere that invades the College.

The adornment of oneself in questionable green attire is a symbol to the City and University that you are a proud Chadsian. Barriers between freshers and third years, postgrads and undergrads are broken, and all are unified under a common colour to celebrate their love for their College.

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n addition to being a welcoming environment at preand post-application Open Days to students considering studying a Durham, St Chad’s also opens its doors to younger pupils as well. Primary school children from the local towns of Crook, Horden and Willington have been coming to Chad’s for the past seven years. The programme, called Inspire, aims to encourage local children to consider studying for a degree, even before they have started secondary school – an important message in areas where university education is not the norm.

The most recent Inspire visit took place on the 19th March 2014. A group of about 100 children taook part in a range of activities across the day including learning about Durham’s history, life at Chad’s and College traditions such as academic dress with Fellow and Tutor Nick Barton, taking part in an African Drumming workshop with Chad’s PhD Music student Peter Okeno, learning about magnets with Dr Del Atkinson of the Physics Department and recreating hieroglyphics with Dr Stuart Weeks from Theology & Religion.

During the summer of 2013 current Chad’s 3rd year David Myers worked in a secondary school in West Yorkshire and was struck by pupils’ potential, yet lack of motivation. Working with Chad’s Senior Tutor Dr Margaret Masson, David set up a link between the school and St Chad’s, with a group of 46 Year 11 pupils and their teachers visiting for the first time in November 2013. The visit included an introduction to Durham and Chad’s from the Principal, Vice-Principal and students, tours of the College and the Cathedral, and academic subject taster lectures. The intention of the day was to encourage school pupils whose decisions regarding further education were imminent. The taster sessions with University staff gave the pupils an insight into the study of History, Law, Maths, Natural Sciences, Combined Arts and Social Sciences followed by a ‘subject carousel’ at which the pupils could talk about studying at University informally with Chad’s students.

The Yorkshire school visit will hopefully become an annual event, forging a link between the two institutions.

The overwhelmingly positive reports from both teachers and pupils who have participated in our schemes shows that there is fantastic outreach work happening at St Chad’s College thanks to the enthusiasm and hard work of Dr Masson. In future this work will be supported by the JCR through its recently created Outreach Officer post.

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he Tutor System is at the heart of College identity at St Chad’s, strengthening ties between the different common rooms and helping students to form valuable connections with senior figures in College life. College Tutors form the backbone of a web of pastoral support available to students during their time at Chad’s, complementing the roles played by the JCR Welfare Committee and the ‘College Families’. Dr Bill Apedaile (Tutor & President of the SCR) who has been a tutor for seven years, emphasised the range of issues tutors are able to help students deal with.

Bill commented: “In my time as a tutor I’ve resolved problems ranging from a student not being able to get to lectures at the Science Site because of a badly injured leg, to a student needing advice about whether to accept a job without sufficient detail from the employer. It is”, Bill reflected, “a huge privilege and a great joy to be a tutor at St Chad’s. The system is a major strength of the College.”

The Tutor System at Chad’s continues to flourish.

Indeed, I am writing this article during a week in which, over the course of three nights, the majority of our fortynine tutors will attend formal meals in College with their personal tutor groups. These occasions not only provide an opportunity for social interaction but also for reflection on the University experience of each individual student.

The success of the system is based on the fact that the tutors mirror the diversity of the College. Spanning all ages, and reflecting all backgrounds and lifestyles, each tutor brings something of unique worth. Indeed, students are encouraged to seek help from the other tutors, as well as their own, and make use of the vast array of experience and knowledge available in College.

Though the Tutor System is certainly not unique to Chad’s, due to our size the College can offer a fantastic student-to-tutor ratio of seven-to-one, the best in the University, allowing students to enjoy close and trusting relationships with their tutors. By breaking down barriers of age and position, this adds to the feeling of community students experienced in St Chad’s. No one is perceived as unapproachable. Ultimately, the Tutor System in Chad’s continues to be crucial in furthering the College’s ethos of diversity and excellence, where students are encouraged to pursue whatever fields of interest they feel drawn towards.

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From our own corresp promenaders and marked only by Lebanon's divisive inequality which was on display. In the shadow of luxury western hotels, private beaches, and super-yachts, unemployed young males heckled the runners and migrant street-cleaners cleared discarded water-bottles.

Continuing into Hamra, the most westerly district of Beirut, streets of tower blocks peppered with decaying former mansions offered a glimpse into the pre-war city.

Shelling during the Lebanese civil war killed about 120,000 people, and also destroyed much of the city's architecture.

Rebuilding work and renovation has not been uncontroversial, as the remaining buildings which immortalise Beirut's troubled past fade from memory and sight.

One such reminder is the bullet-ridden Holiday Inn - a sniper base during the war that remains standing and visible from the final 2 kilometres of the route.

Windowless and decaying, it is an ever-present reminder of war in the midst of high-end hotels.

As we turned the corner onto Martyrs’ Square and the finish line, we were hit with the beautiful image of the vast, blue-domed central mosque, and next to it the Maronite Church, both surrounded by marching bands, cheering spectators, and celebrating runners - the image of a modern, multi-faith Lebanon. But how long can it last?

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t's 9am on a Sunday morning, already 25 degrees, and I'm standing amongst 4,000 ‘serious runners’ who are singing the Lebanese national anthem at full volume.

I'm beginning to wonder why, 6 weeks into my year abroad in Lebanon, entering a 10k race, part of the Beirut Marathon, seemed like a good idea.

Before I reach the answer, the starting gun sounds and red, white and green smoke rises into the air; the pro athletes speed ahead, leaving the not-so-serious of the category to enjoy the 10 kilometre route around Beirut's historical sights at a more pedestrian speed. But this is a history-lined route that reached into the present.

The heavily guarded event, lined with tanks and battalions of soldiers, reminded race-goers of the continued security threat. If you thought the US shutdown was inconvenient, spare a thought for Lebanon's citizens who have been without a government since March.

This state of paralysis is now reaching breaking point.

The huge influx of Syrian refugees, increasing Lebanon's population by a quarter, has added to an already delicate sectarian balance. That the marathon could act as an opportunity to demonstrate public discontent was evidently a concern.

The first 4 kilometres of the race spanned the Corniche, an elegant waterfront area popular with

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here is so much I could write about my year abroad.

The good: I’m living in Paris, the bad: narrowly escaping being mugged, and the ridiculous: politely eating the steak tartare I’d accidentally ordered.

The most unexpected aspect of Parisian experience, however, is the University. I arrived with the naïve assumption that the Sorbonne would be a French-speaking Durham. I was not prepared for the radically different way that history is taught here. The teaching system is vertical, and even seminars are teacher-led, with little or no student participation. There is a massive focus on rotelearning over debate and reflection, with frequent tests ominously called ‘interrogations’. Hardest of all to get used to is the rigid structure of essays, divided equally into 3 parts and a further 3 sub-parts.

While there are some differences I’ll never warm to, I can now see the benefits. French students really know their stuff and there is none of the ‘blagging’ which is a regular feature of seminars in England. Also, while I originally rebelled against the rigid structure, it ensures clarity of thought and expression.

There is no perfect system, but having the chance to experience a different way of doing things is eye-opening.

I’d encourage anyone with the opportunity of going on an Erasmus Year to take it!

pondents D

ance has been a constant in my life for over ten years but I have never been able to dedicate myself fully to my art as I’ve always been a student first and a dancer second. The beauty of my year abroad in Madrid is that I’ve been able to submerge myself in the dance scene here without worrying about its effect on my degree – one of the perks of only needing to ‘pass’ this year.

For once I feel as if I am living the life of a dancer and it has been really fulfilling. A month ago I competed in my first international hip-hop competition and reached the quarter-finals for freestyle. I train with the same crowd of dancers inside Madrid’s largest Metro station, Nuevos Ministerios, as the floor is smooth and (surprisingly) clean, perfect for the break-dancers. I’ve been rehearsing for my part as a ‘female urban dancer’ in a musical since November and I was also part of the ‘entertainment’ for a club called Sugar Box in April, performing a hip-hop piece.

Through these experiences I’ve come to know the city in an authentic, organic way. I’m always in the company of Madrileños (residents of Madrid) and always speaking, hearing or being taught in Spanish. Madrid has become a second home for me.

N

ow I’m living in Paris people have this conception of me roaming around the city wearing one of those artist hats or chilling in front of the Eiffel Tower with a glass of wine. I kind of wish it was like that, but not quite. I am enrolled as an exchange student at the Paris Institute of Political Studies. Although grades here don’t count towards my final degree at Durham, I am working quite hard.

Being a student in such a big city, very different from Durham, was quite a shock to me at first. Although studying in Paris doesn’t provide the close-knit community Chad’s does, there are many opportunities to see so many things beyond the University. I am in awe of the myriad monuments, museums, parks, markets and restaurants; there is always so much going on.

Exploring Paris and beyond has been my main priority this year, besides studying of course! I have walked around the gardens that inspired Claude Monet, I have been ice-skating in front of the Hôtel de Ville, been to Versailles three times since getting here and, randomly, went on a Techno Parade. My next stops will be Normandy and then Strasbourg. In terms of food, I have definitely had my fair share of crepes, croissants and garlicky escargots!

I

’m currently on my year abroad at the University of Melbourne, Australia studying Criminology. While I have had many amazing experiences over the past seven months, my encounters with Australian wildlife have been the most exciting. Despite the fact that Australia has some of the most deadly animals known to man - sharks, crocodiles, redback spiders etc - it also has some of the most extraordinary.

The first time I saw wild kangaroos was at the back of a golf course from a parked car with some binoculars; apparently they are somewhat of a pest on the greens, congregating in large groups to lounge around in the sun.

The next animal encounter was with a jellyfish off the Great Barrier Reef, a moment when I thought I was going to die, but instead spent most of my time touching its translucent exterior and staring at coral.

Yet the most lovable animals I have come across, other than the sleeping koala bear I woke up while feeding some very aggressive King parrots, are wallabies. On a recent trip to Tasmania, I saw one on a beach with a joey in its pouch sniffing for food, and that for me is the epitome of cute. So while Australia has an assortment of animals that can kill you, it also has a collection of truly adorable creatures as well.

Chadsian interview Charles Colville (St Chad’s 1979 – 1982) read Medieval History at Durham.

A journalist by training and profession, in 2010 he became the 5th Viscount Colville of Culross. With their origins in Scotland, Charles’ forbears include courtiers of Scottish kings, Army and Navy commanders at the Battles of Flodden, Culloden and Waterloo, university academics and British politicians. In 2011 Charles was elected a member of the House of Lords by a vote of the whole House, where he sits on the Crossbenches. He divides his time between working as a producer for BBC factual programming and sitting in the Lords. Charles made his maiden speech in the Lords about the detrimental effect of unpaid internships on creative industry in the UK. He is currently producing a TV programme for the BBC, which will be broadcast in the autumn.

Charles was interviewed for the

by St Chad’s final year Politics undergraduate Isabel Fitzpatrick-Pirie. Isabel spent a year abroad studying at the University of Amsterdam.

Charles (far left) on location in the Andes with a BBC film crew.

15 Isabel Fitzpatrick-Pirie: What made you choose Durham and St Chad’s?

Charles Colville: I wanted to study medieval history at Durham because of the brilliant medieval scholars at Durham who I had read and admired. And Chad’s seemed like a pleasant and friendly little college.

IF-P: Are there any particular favourite memories of your time in Durham?

CC: At the end of the first year some friends and I decided to organise a party after exams. We had a great time, lots of people came. We took over St Chad’s Paddock on the banks of the river. And I remember Klute. Is it still there?

IF-P: Were you involved in any college societies?

CC: Yes, I was involved in drama. Chad’s had a drama group and I was in some really mad play about a reluctant debutante; can’t remember what it was called. Of course, Chad’s was all male in those days so we had to draft in some women from Mary’s and Trevs. Chad’s students in my time were really loyal, as I’m sure they are now, the whole college turned up to support us and see the play.

IF-P: What do you value most from your time at Durham?

CC: I’ve kept in touch with many of my friends from Durham. I think that’s one of the nicest things about Durham and St Chad’s, you make friends and you really hang on to them. Durham was also a really good education. History was a demanding and stimulating course, particularly having to write an essay every week from scratch, and whittle it down to 2,000 words. That was the most useful thing for me because when you're making television programmes you’re using evidence to push an argument in a short space of time with very few words.

The discipline of knowing what is most important to include to support an argument is something I learnt from my tutorials in the history department.

IF-P: How did you get into journalism?

CC: I did a course in journalism at Cardiff University after leaving Chad’s. I then wrote to every single newspaper in the country. Only one small newspaper, the Ludlow Advertiser, offered me a job. I had to be the sports reporter, the funeral reporter…. everything in fact! After that I went to the Worcester Evening News, and then I got a job as a writer for London Weekend Television. From there I went to work on Weekend World - a major political interview series at the time. Then I became a producer for BBC Newsnight. I was with Newsnight at the time of the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. I did some of the first ever live transmissions from Moscow with David Dimbleby which was both incredibly nerve-wracking and exciting. I was in the former Soviet Union for about two years altogether, travelling all the time. I did Russian history as an option while at Durham and my dream was always to work in Russia. I really do feel that if all I do for the rest of

my life is count chickens I’ll be satisfied to be able to say that I was there when the great tectonic plates of Cold War history crashed together. After Newsnight I went to New York. This was during President Clinton's first term in office. I covered New York for the whole of the BBC children's programmes, drama, everything. I was there for two years and had a really good time.

IF-P: You were elected an hereditary peer in the House of Lords in 2011, how do you balance your work for the BBC with your commitments in the Lords?

CC: The House of Lords is an incredibly stimulating place, there is such a wide range of people. It’s a fantastic opportunity for me which I am extremely lucky to have. Of course, it means that I have a double workload but I really enjoy having a busy life. What is really brilliant in my work is that I find that TV and the Lords are very complementary; I’m able to use my connections in the media, and the research I do for my programmes, to make informed speeches in the Lords to help make legislation better and stronger, particularly concerning public service broadcasting. The skills necessary for both are very much the same. Looking back to my time at Chad’s in the early 80s, I’m really grateful for the rigour of my degree at Durham for giving me the training to carry through an argument. In the Lords and in television well researched argument is essential - essential for a speech and essential for a programme. I learnt that skill at Durham.

IF-P: Your maiden speech in the House of Lords was in a debate about creative industries in the UK. Why did you choose to highlight the issue of internships?

CC: I’ve worked in creative industry all my life as a journalist and programme-maker so I was really pleased to be able to speak for the first time in that debate. My concern was about how much my industry is dependent on the talents of those we recruit, and how the creative industries are increasingly restricting the range of new recruits because of the prevalence of unpaid internships.

So many companies depend on unpaid internships for their pool of new talent; for a week or even a month, internships are a wonderful way to introduce recruits to the incredible opportunities of career in the creative industries. But in recent years there has been an explosion of long-term unpaid internships. I fear that these are not only replacing paid jobs but are driving many would-be recruits, who are not just from poorer backgrounds but also from the middle classes, away from the industry. In the present economic climate there is a temptation for creative companies to take young people on as unpaid interns as part of their business model. But I believe the industry must take note: it is endangering its future vitality, and the creativity of one of our greatest exports, by not recruiting as widely as possible from the very best talent from across our country and across society.

A culture sho

ock, and other discoveries

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W

hen I returned home from ten weeks in South India working with Raleigh International, a youth-led sustainable development charity, I found on my desk the Michaelmas 2013 issue of The Chadsian. Since leaving for India with Raleigh, this was the first time that I had been truly reminded of the importance of the three years of my life I had spent at St Chad’s. I also realised what a challenging, heart wrenching, and, in spite of that, fantastic, ten weeks I had just spent in the tiny agricultural Indian village of Hodeyanapura, Mysore District, Karnataka State, and how lucky I was even to have had the opportunity to go there after leaving Chad’s in the summer of 2013.

Three weeks before my graduation, amidst a serious panic about what to do next, I found International Citizen Service (ICS). I was stunned by the range of opportunities for work in international development, all partly funded by the UK government Department for International Development (DFID). Within the week I had a place on the scheme through Raleigh International, one of six charities that facilitates the ICS programme.

Raleigh ICS provides opportunities for volunteers to get to the heart of grass-roots international development work. Volunteers, like me, contribute to, and help shape, international aid in some of the world’s most underdeveloped communities. More importantly, these programmes provide an opportunity to live in another community, to understand another culture, and to form global friendships. For me, doing this helped to explain why development work is, and should perhaps remain, a slow process.

My work with Raleigh ICS in Hodeyanapura was with a network of different external organizations and also individuals from within the village which became my home. Together, we worked to improve sanitation and, in the process of doing that, to educate the villagers and wider community more broadly, raising issues such as disease, nutrition and gender equality.

On arrival in India, and during the first few weeks of the placement, my team, made up of UK and local volunteers, had many discussions about just what is the best way forward for development in rural India. Fears about what long-term impact short-term projects could possibly have, and to what extent we were actually wanted in the village, were aired. I think it’s fair to say these thoughts were, to some extent, justified. We cannot improve living standards for the entirety of rural India overnight, and we have to understand the intricacies of Indian village life and culture before the work of development charities can become fully efficient. More than that, people from development charities around the world must be on the same page, aiming for the same goals, willing to learn and adjust to make room for cultural differences on all sides if they are truly to work in partnership. As for whether or not we were welcome in the village: I think the question is understandable. We were the first white people many of the villagers had seen, and for others we were probably reminders of the not too distant days of colonial rule. We were alien in our looks and behaviour. However much we were trying to fit in, living in a primary school classroom does tend to set you apart. But not long into our stay, we began to be invited into peoples’ houses for chai tea and lunch. By the end of our time in India this had escalated to being welcomed to family parties and neighbouring village festivals - the villagers were, we now knew, grateful for our work, and, in the end, were sad to see us go. Most importantly for us, the villagers had become our friends.

Hodeyanapura, so small it does not even show up on Google Maps, is officially one village but is, in reality, split physically and socially into two separate castes. Living in the village allowed us to appreciate just how deeply entrenched the caste system is in rural Indian society; before long we realised that we’d have to work with the system to a certain extent, rather than challenge it. Despite this, we

did manage to start a youth club, which children from both castes attended - once we’d made it clear that we were not going to take sides. Hopefully these children, like many of the young people in the cities in India, will start to see that they have a lot in common with their counterparts from other castes and, through this understanding, start to form multi-caste friendships. At the moment it seems that the caste system is a very convenient way of keeping communities confined socially and, to some extent, economically. For the high levels of economic and social development present in some urban areas of India to even begin to spread to the rural parts of the country, in which people are quite happily living under the stars, small rural communities like Hodeyanapura will have to stand together and demand more. For this to happen caste divisions will have to become more fluid; this process will inevitably take generations. In Hodeyanapura I hope it has started.

For me, India was the realization of a dream I had been developing through my time at Durham, helped by some brilliant lecturers who had done ethnomusicological research in the country. The project I worked on in India is far from the only option. Raleigh ICS and the ICS programme as a whole, operate in countries around the world. On every project volunteers are part of a team of UK and local workers, giving everyone involved an amazing opportunity to learn from each other and develop cultural understanding. One of the most important aspects of the programme is that each project is managed in partnership with a local NGO, meaning a better understanding of local issues and local methods of working. This partnership ap-

proach hopefully results in projects being supported and appreciated by local people and, as a consequence, provides far-reaching and long-lasting impact. In Hodeyanapura with Raleigh last year, I believe that this goal was achieved. For the families who live there Hodeyanapura is their entire world: their past, present, and future are within the village and the surrounding lakes and jungle. I hope that, one day, I can go back and see if some of the children who were so happy to teach us their language and culture, and so proud to learn a bit of ours, have made names for themselves.

ICS is constantly looking for more volunteers, so if you are aged 18-25 and interested in having an adventure, learning about international development, or doing something different and beneficial for communities that have asked for help, please consider an opportunity with ICS. www.volunteerICS.org

Laura (centre) recently started working as a Research and Marketing Assistant for Cambridge-based arts consultancy Baker Richards.

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Esprit de corps

S

mall and mighty’ and ‘it is the taking part that counts’ are unquestionably overworked clichés - yet these phrases we use today to describe that great Chadsian spirit we all know are most definitely apparent in the early history of one of St Chad’s College’s oldest sporting societies - the Boat Club.

Throughout our history we have never been the richest club on the water, nor the fittest and by no means the most victorious, but through determination, enjoyment and by facing our challenges together, we believe that we are, ultimately, the best boat club in Durham.

The origins of ‘boating’ at the College are uncertain but perhaps coincide with the foundation of St Chad’s Hall in 1904. Since, in the early days, there were neither boats nor a boathouse, St Chad’s students’ activity on the river was dependent upon the kindness of the other established colleges. In this respect the modern Chadsian may be horrified to learn that we owe a debt to the charity of Hatfield who let us use their boats in the early years.

‘Georgie’, a second-hand wooden coxed four, was the first clinker in the Chad’s fleet. She allowed the College to participate in various inter-collegiate races. In the absence of a boathouse ‘Georgie’ most likely lived outside, or in Hatfield’s boathouse, until the Chad’s boathouse was constructed on the riverbanks below Ramsey House in 1906. It is presumably the same boathouse, or at least part of it that remains there today; rotting and in a very poor state of repair. It is a miracle that our venerable old boathouse has lasted all these years.

The rapid growth of the Boat Club in those early days engendered great excitement. The then Captain of Boats and Sports commented, ‘It looks as though we mean to do something really good, many men who have never rowed before are now manfully plying the oars. True, we have not many great boating men, but we have the esprit de corps, and, after all, it is that which will make them great’.

Unfortunately, despite the enthusiasm for boating, ‘Georgie’s’ service at Chad’s was not to last. In Easter Term 1906, on Sunday May 20th, the JCR minutes note the loss of ‘Georgie’ owing to a sudden rising of the Wear. The minutes say (somewhat romantically) that: ‘The Captain was inconsolable, and is reported to have stood on the banks crying to the angry waves as they rushed past, “Oh Wear! oh Wear! Wear is my little boat gone?” Whether

this is true or not we are unable to say. All we do say is, that he was late for breakfast that morning - a most unusual thing for him indeed.’

Since ‘Georgie’ was the College’s only four, there was some great urgency in searching for her replacement.

This was met by a kind donation from Archdeacon H.W. Watkins and is indicative of the support the Boat Club received from members of the Durham Cathedral Chapter, not only financially but also through their time and, in the case of Canon R. Knowling, coaching.

1908 marked Chad’s first Senate Cup. The Stag, the College magazine at the time, recalls some advice from the Captain of Boats and Sports concerning the crews’ training: ‘The beginning and end of the stroke is weak thus the boat did not run smoothly. In addition there is a tendency to swing out … the boat lacks pace, but when the above faults are corrected we may hope to increase this.’ Furthermore, also to Chad’s advantage was the fact that both of the College’s Senate crews were exceedingly light: the undergraduate crew members, on average, weighing 65kgs (10st 3lb) and graduates 62kgs (9st 10lb). Today’s Senate crew members weigh in on average at 75kgs (11st 11lb). The 1908 Captain went on to qualify the Chadsian spirit with the claim that: ‘though we have not the weight we have the keenness!’

A new year marked positive boating prospects when in 1909 St Chad’s added a new boat to our boathouse.

Built by Brown’s of Durham, one of the finest they produced, the boat was named ‘Stephen’ by the wife of

the Archdeacon of Durham on account that it may grant us success. She said, ‘I send you forth as Stephen, and as Stephen means a crown, may your course be always crowned with success.’ Stephen finally brought us success in 1920, eleven years later.

Pairs were also a distinctive feature of life at Chad’s, but the Chad’s crews were often unable to keep ahead. As today, our passion is often greater than our resource, and in 1910 we lost to Hatfield, in a borrowed pair. It is recalled by competent spectators at the time that Chad’s men appeared to be doing twice as much work as the opponents. Amusingly, on account of a lack of coaches, Chad’s became reliant upon members of University College to assist. We returned the favour by beating them in subsequent races; clearly the work of their coaches was too good.

The passion for rowing led St Chad’s crews to spend the summer along with the Varsity crews frequently disturbing the waters of the Wear. The Stag reports that they ‘have a hearty willingness to turn out’ which has been ‘utterly altogether gratifying’.

The next few years were overshadowed by the tragic death of Jesse Parsons, the graduate crew cox. The accident took place at the start of the racecourse where the depth of the river was around two meters. Events of the accident were well recorded by onlookers who recall a sudden surge of large waves that caused the boat to fill with water.

When the boat went down the crew was dispersed, some swimming to the Pelaw side of the river, others scrambling for the racecourse, helped by other colleges on the river that day.

In 1912, it was decided to place a St Chad’s cross on the grave of Parsons in the University graveyard opposite St Mary’s College, where it remains under the jurisdiction of the Chad’s Boat Club to maintain to this day.

It was a surprise, even in those days, indeed, as it is today, to receive a new boat. In 1913, St Chad’s was gifted a new ‘fine’ half by the founder of the College, Douglas Horsfall, in memory of his son ‘who had recently stroked the Oxford University crew to victory’. The older ‘Methusaleh’, another ‘fine’ or single, was relegated to the roof space for retirement. It was considered that she should be sawn up and sold or even presented to a museum on account of her ‘pre-historicism’!

The new boat was used in the following year’s Senate Cup. This saw a tough race against University College where, despite being left in the crew’s wake early on, as they shot under Old Elvet Bridge, Chad’s maintained its integrity and after emerging from the bridge had pulled up against University College. Then keeping their eyes forwards and ‘with a fine piece of rowing’ the crew kept up

until the end of the course where in the last minute University College made a small jump and we were just beaten ‘by a few feet after a splendid race’.

The four years of the Great War left the Boat Club a shadow of its former self, serious rowing was almost nonexistent as many of the fittest men from the College were serving in the forces. However, after the war ended, and helped by the arrival at St Chad’s of several competent rowers and coaches, as well as an influx of novices, the standard of rowing was brought back to its former glory.

This was helped by the decision of the Durham University Boat Club to instigate inter-collegiate races. This certainly helped St Chad’s, winning the Senate Cup in Epiphany Term in 1920; it was an incredible surprise to win at a time when the Boat Club was in such a poor state, yet is a testament to Chadsian determination that it did achieve this long awaited goal.

A report on St Chad’s rowing by a S G Caulton (above, centre) sums up this early period well, ‘four trophies have been won in the years 1920-22, while from 1905-14 the club did not record one success.’

So, the story of St Chad’s College Boat Club between 1904 and 1922 is certainly one of esprit de corps, of unity and common interest, of resolve and perseverance, where taking part really did mean more than winning.

Careers

F

or most current Chadsians, the notion of a ‘life beyond Chad’s’ is a bewildering if not unintelligible concept. Engulfed by the Durham bubble, it can sometimes be daunting to imagine a future without cathedral bells, excitable green-clad people and Candlemas.

However, given the increasingly competitive job market, students are becoming more anxious to ensure a smooth, non-bubble-bursting transition from gown to the workplace. In addition to this, the hype surrounding the recent rise in tuition fees has made the question, ‘Is my degree worth it, and where will it lead to?’ even more pertinent.

In order to tackle this, Chad’s strives to create a culture in which Chadsians feel supported rather than daunted when considering their futures by bringing together the many skill sets and experiences of our alumni.

The JCR has, therefore, been working this year to develop the new role of Careers and Alumni Officer, an elected non-executive JCR position, to address this need. The aim is to be a point of contact between current students and alumni and provide a conduit for careers advice. The hope is that if students are regularly engaged in careers events on our familiar green Chad’s turf from the moment they arrive as freshers, then, with any luck, they should be prepared for the world ‘out there’ when they graduate.

In order to achieve this, we have increased the number, variety and profile of careers events in College. In Michaelmas Term we invited Dr Bill Nichols (English BA, 1973-76 & MA 1977) to share his experiences in Marketing and PR, Adam Wigley (Human Resource Management MA, 2012) to host a Q & A session on the Fast Track Civil Service Recruitment Scheme, followed by Nick Archer (English BA 1979-82) and Adam Wurr (History BA, 1991-94) who gave us an insight into the workings of the Foreign Office. During Epiphany Term we invited back Tom Lucas (Sociology BA, 1973-76), an experienced sports psychologist, who talked to us about the psychology of motivation, and Temi Hollist (Politics BA, 2005-08) who, having worked for BBC Worldwide Americas and now the Guardian, shared her thoughts on progressing through the media

industry. We also welcomed John Marshall, Vice-Chairman of law firm Bond Dickinson (Law BA, 1985-88) who gave his advice on careers in law. Patrick Smith (Combined Arts BA, 2008-11) hosted an Ernst & Young ‘Beer & Tapas’ evening in the Quad, which included tips on applying to the ‘Big Four’ as well as an interactive mock assessment day.

Another recent graduate, Jonas Ahlström (PPE BA, 200912) returned to Chad’s with Medallia, a fast-growing customer experience management company.

Meanwhile, we have also tried to make the most of the talents and experience we already have amongst current students, many of whom have participated in an impressive summer internships and have accrued some interesting contacts. For example, 3rd year students Andy Earnshaw and Will Basing invited Lieutenant-Commander Paul Engeham, a Falklands War veteran (and gate-crasher at last year’s Chad’s Day), to speak to us about his stance on the current Argentine situation. Paul currently works for the MOD in Defence Intelligence, and gave a fascinating account of his experiences. Another 3rd year student, Josh Parker, who is currently working for the recruitment company Instant Impact, organised an informal CV advice clinic during a lunch-time.

We have also made use of the expertise of our college tutors and MCR members. At the beginning of Michaelmas Term, amidst the frantic application season, we held a ‘Quick Fix CV and Interview evening’ with tutors Paul Chandler and Colin Woodward who guided us through writing a CV and a covering letter and mock interviews. Students were also offered advice from alumni Lois Ireson (Modern Languages BA, 1993-97) and her husband and business partner former Senior Man Martyn Barmby (English BA, 1993-96). Lois and Martyn are co-directors of communications firm MSB Executive.

We followed this up with a Chad’s Internships ‘Show and Tell’ to share our experiences of summer internships and work experience. Placements ranged from GlaxoSmithKline to The Sunday Telegraph and KPMG. Also in Epiphany Term, we held an information evening on careers in the Third Sector with contributions from former MCR president and current PhD student Chris Diming (Defence, Development & Diplomacy MSc, 2013) and former Chief Executive of Traidcraft and College Tutor, Paul Chandler.

These events have proved to be a great way of welcoming alumni back into our community, celebrating their talents and enabling interaction between new and old Chadsians alike. Those who have returned have commented on how they’ve enjoyed offering something back to College, getting to know current students, ‘standing in the dinner queue again’ and reacquainting themselves with the bar. We’ve united past and present Bar Presidents and past and present Candlemas Head Stewards and proving that a life beyond Chad’s should, and can, in fact, include Chad’s!

23

24

Diary Alumni Events Saturday 28th June 2014 ●7pm for 7.30pm Domus Dinner in College By invitation to Patrons, Moulsdale Society members, Foundation Fellows and Horsfall Society members.

(Free B&B available)

Chadstide Festival Saturday 28 February 2015 ●10.00am Festival Celebration in Durham Cathedral ●12.00noon Palace Green ‘Chariots of Fire’ run ●12.30pm Alumni & SCR Lunch with the Principal & College Officers in College

Saturday 6th September 2014 ●12.30pm Horsfall Society Lunch in College.

By invitation to all who are leaving a legacy to College in their will. (Free B&B available)

Chadstide Festival ●Friday 6 & Saturday 7 March 2015 Details to follow, save the dates

Friday 12th - Sunday 14th September 2014 ●Decades Reunions in College For graduates of years ending in 3, 4 & 5 and all former MCR members. Two nights free B&B; reunion dinner £25 per person.

For more information and all bookings contact: Mark Roberts (St Chad’s 91-94, 94-97) Director of Development m.r.i.roberts@durham.ac.uk 0191 334 3325

Saturday 20th September 2014 ●7pm for 7.30pm 1904 Society Dinner in College.

Membership of the 1904 Society has now been extended to all JCR and MCR exec members. If you were an Exec member then you’re in the 1904 Society. Contact your fellow Exec members and come to dinner in College. Free B&B available. Donations welcome!

St Chad’s College, 18 North Bailey Durham. DH1 3RH College Reception: 0191 334 3358 www.stchads.ac.uk Twitter: @ChadsAlumni Facebook: St Chad’s Students Alumni & Friends

St Chad’s Paddock & Pavilion - Our plans £50,000 already raised - we need £100,000 more. Can you help?

St Chad’s College DURHAM UNIVERSITY

‘Pavilioned in Splendour…’

The St Chad’s Paddock Pavilion Appeal

A

new Pavilion, discretely placed within Chad’s Paddock, slightly raised off the ground on a plinth to cope with river flood, and shielded by trees, the Pavilion will provide generous, secure storage for more boats and rowing equipment.

The new Pavilion will also benefit from an upper floor, having separate secure access, there will be space for a dedicated Ergometer training room, a new gym, male and female shower rooms and a small kitchen.

To complement its natural surroundings, and minimise environmental impact, the Pavilion will be built from lightweight blocks and clad in weathered raw timber. The roof will be tiled in traditional wooden shingles.

In the rest of the Paddock, with intrusive scrub removed to reveal older walls, terrace and steps, the space will be improved with new groves of native woodland trees and low hedges to ‘anchor’ the Pavilion. The existing ivy cover will be encouraged and replicated in other areas to provide a lowmaintenance landscape suitable for outdoor theatrical and musical performance, picnics and peaceful reflection - a wonderful and much needed resource for our students and our city.