Ann's Court
Ann's Court is named after Ann Dobson, the wife of Dr Chris Dobson (SE 1957). Chris and Ann met on a blind-date in 1959. Ann was then a nurse and Chris an undergraduate at Selwyn. They married soon after and enjoyed a long and happy marriage until Ann’s death in 2015.
In the intervening years, Chris built up a successful semiconductor equipment business. When it was sold, Ann and Chris decided to create the Ann D Foundation, a charitable grant-giving trust designed to support education. Chris says he will always be grateful to Selwyn for accepting him after completing his National Service. He retained a strong association with the College and was fortunate enough, later in life, to return to Selwyn and study for a PhD in material science.
He and Ann had long been interested in the idea of helping to provide new buildings at Cambridge. Their permanence was appealing, and when the idea of a new Court at Selwyn was first raised in the late 1990s Chris was drawn to the idea of becoming involved. It was their gifts that provided the major part of the funds required for the first two phases of Ann’s Court, comprising accommodation and spacious offices in what is now known as the Christopher Dobson Building.
Phases one and two of Ann’s Court (2005 and 2009) were designed by the architect Demetri Porphyrios. Chris and Ann took great pleasure in what they called the “brilliant” process by which the College, the architects and the builders delivered everything that he and Ann could have hoped for.
However, phases 1 and 2 did not complete the court. These buildings made up two sides and a third side (along West Road) comprised of existing College hostels. On the fourth side (along Grange Road) a further phase of accommodation had been suggested but in fact was no longer required. Instead, the College revisited its long held aspirations to build a new Library and an Auditorium – but constructed within a single building. Following Ann’s death in 2015, Chris confirmed his support for this final phase of Ann’s Court with yet another generous benefaction. Porphyrios Associates were once again involved and building started on site in late 2019 and despite the challenges of the pandemic, work was completed in spring 2021. The new building is much admired and harmonises successfully with both earlier phases of Selwyn’s late Victorian estate and the rest of Ann’s Court.
Alongside the foundation gift from Chris Dobson, other major benefactions were received from Tom Bartlam (SE 1966) and from Gareth Quarry (SE 1978) and Jill Whitehouse (SE 1978) after whom the library and auditorium were named. Additionally, more than 1,000 Selwyn alumni and friends contributed to the building, recognised by inscriptions on over 700 paving stones, bricks or items of furniture. The new building has become the intellectual hub of the College; a superb library over two floors and a popular auditorium/lecture theatre providing some of the very best facilities in Cambridge. Chris says he takes particular pleasure from the comments he hears about how lovely the Court is. “There’s an awful lot of reflected enjoyment,” he says, “from seeing the buildings used and appreciated by students and in knowing that the Court will be there, bearing Ann’s name, for centuries to come.”
Learn more about the buildings on Ann's Court
Be part of the next chapter of Selwyn’s development
As a college that was founded in the late 19th century without an endowment, the development of Selwyn’s estate has always depended on the generosity of benefactors, both alumni and other friends. In the 21st century, the college continues to evolve plans to upgrade its much-loved heritage buildings, especially Old Court. Additionally, there are ambitions for brand new buildings that will help ensure Selwyn continues to offer some of the best accommodation and facilities in Cambridge.
If you would like to help or simply learn more about our plans, please contact the development office by email on development@sel.cam.ac.uk.