It is with great sadness that we report the death on January 5th 2019 of Dr Christopher Johnson, Honorary Fellow of the college.

Our homepage shows the photograph chosen for the college Christmas card: an aerial shot of Selwyn taken by our recent alumnus Laurence Moscrop, who studied engineering here. The image was captured by Laurence, using a drone, on 26 February 2018.

The annual Telephone Campaign is underway, with current students calling alumni and friends to update them on recent developments at Selwyn. We’re also grateful for support for the big challenges facing the college: backing students with bursaries and grants; ensuring we have the best teaching; and providing world-class facilities.

The season for Carols began early this year. The first service in Selwyn’s chapel took place on November 29^th; and the Sunday Carol service was actually at the start of Advent.

Planning is well underway for the start of building work on Selwyn’s new library and auditorium – which will be constructed during 2019 and 2020. The project will create a library fit for the digital age, with a mix of communal and individual spaces for students to work; and the auditorium will be a flexible space with tiered seating for lectures and performances. The site is on the corner of Grange Road and West Road, completing the acclaimed Ann’s Court development.

Selwyn will be remembering those who died in conflict with services in the chapel on Sunday November 11^th. There will be a two minutes silence in Old Court at 11am; and later at 6pm the choir will sing Parry’s Songs of Farewell to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War.

The college has named a room in honour of Kathleen Lyttelton (1856-1907): campaigner for women’s rights and social justice; journalist; and wife of our first Master.

The room, formerly known as the Tower Room, was opened on Sunday October 14^th by members of the Lyttelton family. Pictured are her three surviving grandchildren – Ned, Lavinia and Kate – with a photograph of Kathleen from the National Portrait Gallery.

The college is now home to a new generation of graduate students and undergraduates, following matriculation ceremonies on Friday 29 September and Monday 1 October. We’ve been joined this year by a total of more than 200 new students.

Undergraduates were addressed in Hall on Monday morning by the Senior Tutor Dr Mike Sewell and the Praelector Dr Stewart Sage.

The college admitted its latest Fellow Benefactor at a reunion dinner on Saturday September
22^nd.




Fellow Benefactor status is Selwyn’s highest recognition for philanthropy, marking a gift of
at least £1m. We were delighted to welcome Robin Jeffs to this cohort following his donation to the

The college is looking forward to welcoming its new undergraduates at the end of September. This year they will total 119: 57 men and 62 women.
Of the UK students, 74% are from state schools. This is up from 71% in 2017, and compares with an official Cambridge University target of 63.4%.