jesus college • cambridge one hundred and first annual report 2005 jesus college • cambridge one hundred and first annual report 2005 photo: frances willmoth Above, two men paddling in a boat; below, Jonah emerges from the fish’s mouth and clutches a tree From July to December this year the Fitzwilliam Museum is showing a most magnificent exhibition of illuminated manuscripts, many of which are from college collections. Jesus was not asked to lend anything for this exhibition – ‘as most of our manuscripts are of the working kind and not elaborately decorated’. Some of the college manuscripts, however, do have illuminations. A 13th century Holy Bible in the college’s collection (Q.A.11: no. 11 in M. R. James’ 1895 catalogue) not only has beautiful writing but ‘historiated initials of more than usual interest’. So that readers can see something of what the Fitzwilliam has missed, this year’s Annual Report carries a number of illustrations taken from that Bible. COPYRIGHT This publication is protected by international copyright law. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means – graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or information storage and retrieval systems – without the prior permission of the copyright holders, except in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. contents Message from the Master 5 The College Year 2004–5 7 College News 7 Domestic Bursar’s Notes 13 The Old Library and College Archives 15 Chapel 17 Chapel Music 19 Art 20 Sculpture in the Close 21 Development Office 24 Development Director’s Report 24 Society of St Radegund 24 Bequests 24 Report of Events 24 Calendar of Events 2005–6 30 M.A. Dining 30 Jesus College Cambridge Society 31 Executive Committee 31 Draft Minutes of AGM 24 September 2005 32 Annual General Meeting and Annual Dinner 2006 33 Reports of JCCS Events 2004–5 33 Forthcoming JCCS Events 33 Awards 35 University Prizes, Grants and Scholarships 35 University Tripos Prizes 35 College Awards, Elections and Prizes 35 Tripos Results 39 Approved for Ph.D.s 40 College Societies 42 The Undergraduate Art Collection 48 College Sports Clubs 49 Jesus College Boat Club Trust 60 Years Ago 62 Women at Jesus – An Anniversary Event and Exhibition 64 The Anniversary Event 64 The Exhibition: History of Women at Jesus College 66 Reminiscences 75 Early American Connections 78 Organ Scholars 83 Members’ News 84 Births and Marriages 88 Publications and Gifts to the College Libraries 90 Obituaries 95 A Short but Memorable Life 115 Return Forms Records Update CDs from Jesus College Jesus College Cushions Annual Fund photo: neville taylor Saint Radegunda from a window by Morris & Co in Chapel, designed by Sir Edward Burne-Jones message from the master | Jesus College Annual Report 2005 7 Message from the Master This year the Annual Report begins its second century. Through its pages we can all share in the successes of the college’s senior members, graduates and undergraduates and of its old members. If we missed Jesuan names in the honours lists, the Annual Report can be relied on to tell us who they were. We can learn from it of the achievements of our fellows, what prizes they won, their promotions, elections and appointments. Society and club reports keep us informed about all that happens on the playing fields, courts and river and the awards section proclaims students’ achievements in the examination rooms. Once again there were some superb results and we have continued to rise in the academic league tables – Jesus is now one of the top Cambridge colleges. The women’s 1st VIII went Head of the River in the May Bumps and six of our other boats won their oars. In addition to this, the cricket team won Cuppers. And, to dispel any myths about rowing and academic excellence being incompatible, our Captain of Boats and our President of the University Women’s Boat Club obtained firsts, as did a number of others in both our first boats. The longest section of this year’s report celebrates the single most important change in the history of Jesus College, the admission of women undergraduates in 1979. There is an account of the Women’s Day in September 2004, a fascinating article on the exhibition held in the Quincentenary Library on the history of women at Jesus and an abstract of reminiscences recorded during the Women’s Day. As if in further celebration, the college in May elected Dr Jana Howlett as its first female president. The Works of Art Committee chose five women out of seven exhibitors for the successful Sculpture in the Close exhibition held in College this summer. Professor Michael O’Brien, much honoured this year for his book on the intellectual history of the American South, has written an article on Early American Connections. Much of this will be new to most of us and it invites us to reflect on how much the college owes to those who come to it from overseas, as well as how much it exports through those Jesuans who live and work abroad. The college continues to encourage donors who wish to set up scholarships or bursaries to help those from abroad who would not otherwise be able to afford it. Some of these bursaries are mentioned in College News. Photographs have enlivened the Annual Report for a number of years, but before 1995 they were all black and white. Coloured photographs first appeared in the quincentenary edition and each year there seem to be more of them. The editor tries to balance pictures of the courts and buildings, which I hope will bring back happy memories to Jesuans who do not manage to get back to College, with those of sports and other events which illustrate the things we get up to. There are also some photos of the construction and renovation that has been taking place. Last year, I said that ‘the College will be something of a building site.’ The domestic bursar’s report gives details of what has been achieved: the Prioress’s Room has been refurbished, the cricket pavilion extended, the new maintenance and gardeners’ compound completed, and a refurbished North Court again has a full complement of undergraduates. We are fulfilling our commitment to provide the best facilities we can afford. The hundred and first edition of the Annual Report is full of interest and information and reminds us all what a marvellous thing it is to be a member of such a distinguished college. Degree Day in July particularly highlighted this for me. Starting with the photograph in Chapel Court (endless adjustments of gowns and hoods), then marshalling by the praelector in First Court, the procession was led by our head porter in top hat to the Senate House, where it gave me enormous pleasure to confer degrees 8 message from the master | Jesus College Annual Report 2005 on our very talented graduands. The lunch in College afterwards with their proud parents is a celebratory occasion, tinged with some sadness that this really is the end of an era. Although it is goodbye to student life, it is clear that many of the friendships made here will endure. And, of course, it is emphatically not goodbye to the college. At the Graduation Dinner, I remind those leaving that they have been extremely fortunate to have been resident members over the past few years of a very distinguished college, but that it is not over. All Jesuans have lifelong membership and we very much hope that they will come back and visit – they are always welcome. I see many of the final year undergraduates on an individual basis – to review what they have made of their time here at Jesus and to find out what they are planning to do with their lives. In preparation for the meeting I ask them to write a brief summary. It is always heartening to read what they write of their experiences. Recently one young woman wrote: ‘Jesus College has changed my life more than I could ever have imagined’. Earlier I referred to league tables. Cambridge has recently been ranked second in a prestigious world league table (Harvard again winning top ranking). As the university celebrates its achievements and faces the many challenges of the coming years, so will Jesus strongly support it – and the college will continue to change the lives of its students more than they could ever have imagined. Robert Mair photo: nicholas ray The new extension to the cricket pavilion the college year 2004–05 | Jesus College Annual Report 2005 9 The College Year 2004–5 College News A memorial service for the life of Sir Robert Jennings was held in Great St Mary’s on Saturday 11 December 2004; there was an address by H.E. Judge Rosalyn Higgins, D.B.E., Q.C. One for the life of Derek Taunt was held in Chapel on Saturday 20 November 2004; Dr Jim Roseblade gave the address. On 8 June, HRH the Duke of Edinburgh, Chancellor of the University, made an informal visit to the college after engagements elsewhere in Cambridge. He was entertained to dinner in the master’s lodge by the master and Mrs Mair, college officers and other fellows. At drinks beforehand he met students of the college. On Sunday 8 May the Most Revd and Right Honourable Dr Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, preached at choral evensong. After the service undergraduates and others talked with Dr Williams over drinks in the cloisters.