Two new Selwyn boats now grace the Cam, thanks to the generosity of supporters and the efforts of rowers. 

A pair, named John Whitbread honours a former member whose legacy to the club reflected his love of rowing and his wish for more people to take up the sport. It is joined by a four for the women's side, Fiona Morrison, named after one of the college's first female rowers.

The John Whitbread was launched by his daughter Fiona Cook (pictured left). 

Fiona said: "When I first visited the boathouse, I was moved to find my father's name on the boards recording the first eights, something his modesty meant he had never mentioned. This is a fabulous tribute to him."

The women's four was funded largely by the club's rowers. During spring 2025, the club held a 24-hour ergathon raising around £11,000 towards new equipment. The Friends of Selwyn College Boat Club then added to the fund, making it possible to buy a new boat for the women's squad.

Members and alumni were invited to suggest names for the four as so many people had been involved raising money. The whole club voted to produce a shortlist of three, before the women's side chose the final name. They picked Fiona Morrison, who joined Selwyn in 1976 as one of the college's first women students. She rowed in SCBC's first crew, earned a CUWBC Blue from 1977 to 1979 and served as president of the women's club in 1978 to 1979. 

Freya Jenkinson, the club's current president, said: "It was fitting we landed on the Fiona Morrison, especially as the next academic year will celebrate fifty years of women at Selwyn. She is just one of those women who made it possible for those students who followed her."

The boats were named at a ceremony at the boathouse on Saturday 20 June, the final day of the May Bumps. Brian Hornsby, Chair of the Friends of Selwyn College Boat Club, welcomed alumni and rowers before the boats were launched. Fiona Morrison was unable to attend, so the Master Suzanne Raine named the four on her behalf.

Our thanks go to the Friends of Selwyn College Boat Club and to the Whitbread family, whose support helped put two new boats on the water.

Each year, Selwyn celebrates four students who have excelled in their studies and made a real difference to life at the college. Nominated by tutors, this year's recipients have distinguished themselves through research, leadership, outreach and contributions to College life.

Peter Parker and Louise O'Hanlon received Tallow Chandlers Awards. Supported by the Worshipful Company of Tallow Chandlers, the awards form part of a wider programme recognising students across the UK.

Hugo Barraud and Shanjeev Mathialagan received Christopher Johnson Awards, named in honour of Honorary Fellow Dr Christopher Johnson and his longstanding support of Selwyn.

Peter Parker, Natural Sciences

Peter, a third-year natural scientist, has combined student leadership with hands-on research experience. As treasurer and now president of the Selwyn College Natural Sciences Society, he supported events that connect students across year groups and established a graduate panel to help undergraduates explore postgraduate study.

Last summer, he completed an eight-week research internship studying polarisation of the cytoskeleton, which could improve our understanding of cellular dysfunction including in cancer.

Louise O'Hanlon, Music

Louise, a third-year music student from a state grammar school in Liverpool, ranked second in her cohort in her Part IB examinations. An accomplished performer and member of the choir, she was nominated in recognition of both her achievements and the modest way in which she goes about them.

Shanjeev Mathialagan, Engineering

Shanjeev, a second-year engineer, has shown a strong commitment to widening access to engineering, supporting students from underrepresented backgrounds with their university applications and working with Year 9 and 10 pupils through Cambridge outreach programmes.

His contributions extend well beyond his studies. He serves as current treasurer for the Cambridge University Engineering Society, formerly its sponsorship officer. Shanjeev was president of the Cambridge University Tamil Society in 2024/25 and was previously social secretary of the Selwyn College Engineering Society. He also represented the University at the Kings of Gaana Tamil dance competition in 2025, rowed in the Bumps for Selwyn in his first year and was the badminton captain in his second year. He is serving as treasurer for the Hermes and Sirens Club in his third year.

Hugo Barraud, Classics

Hugo, a fourth-year classicist, has made a substantial contribution to life at Selwyn. He chaired the Selwyn Snowball committee in 2024, and on the 2023 committee, helping to deliver a highlight of the student calendar. His nomination highlighted both Hugo's leadership of the Snowball and the wider contribution he has made to the College community.

The Master of Selwyn, Suzanne Raine, has been appointed MBE for voluntary service as a Trustee of Imperial War Museums (IWM).

She served on the IWM board for eight years, the last two as Deputy Chair.

The Master said: "I am really delighted. It is especially lovely to be honoured for voluntary work, and I enjoyed every day of my time working with the museum. IWM was formally established in 1920 to honour the toil and sacrifice of the nation in the Great War, and it feels especially relevant now."

Three members of Selwyn have been promoted by the University of Cambridge, with their new roles taking effect on 1 October 2026.

Professor Uradyn Bulag, a bye-fellow of the College, has been promoted to the most senior professorship level. A historical and political anthropologist, he studies how Mongols have sought to establish their identity and sovereignty across China and Inner Asia, through communist and nationalist revolutions, cultural upheaval, and state violence. His work connects close local study with some of the largest questions in the field, from nation-building to settler colonialism and the governance of minorities, which speak directly to today’s world.

Selwyn Fellow Dr Vicky Young has been promoted to a more senior academic post. Already Kawashima Associate Professor of Japanese Literature and Culture, Vicky works on modern Japanese writing and culture in the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. 

She first came to the subject as an undergraduate at Cambridge and returned to the University in 2017, after a PhD at Leeds and time studying and working in Tokyo.

Dr Zeina Al Azmeh, a Fellow of the College, has been promoted to Senior Teaching Associate. A political sociologist in the Department of Sociology, she studies the politics of knowledge, memory and exile, with a focus on the contemporary Middle East. She co-chairs the Syrian Research and Academic Network, which supports Syrian scholars working in exile. Zeina previously served as Director of External Relations and later Assistant Vice-President for Strategic Communications and Outreach at Qatar University. Zeina’s book Syrian Intellectuals in Exile was published by Cambridge University Press in 2025. 

We congratulate all three on their promotions.

Research co-authored by Selwyn Fellow Sarah Fraser Butlin KC is contributing to the national conversation about how to change England and Wales's Employment Tribunal system. 

Now cases are so backlogged that unfair dismissal claimants can wait up to five years for a hearing.

Sarah, a practising barrister, worked with Professor Catherine Barnard of Trinity Cambridge and Maayan Menashe of City St George's University of London. Their two-year empirical study was funded by the Employment Lawyers Association. Recommendations from the research were published in May and have been covered by BBC News, among others.

Sarah said that single outstanding cases in the Employment Tribunal rose by 15,000 to 58,000 in the past year alone, with the total backlog now standing at nearly 72,000. 

And changes to the Employment Rights Act 2025 are expected to add further pressure.

The research takes a fresh approach to the problem. It argues that workplace disputes are currently handled within too narrow a legal frame. Drawing on how family law manages the breakdown of relationships, it proposes a new model for employment dispute resolution. Key recommendations include a new dispute resolution body to reduce the number of cases reaching court, a tiered system routing simpler claims to legal officers rather than judges, and AI tools designed to evaluate claims rather than expand them.

Reimagining Employment Dispute Resolution and Enforcement is available under an open access licence. 

The 2026 Ramsay Murray lecture was given at Selwyn on May 15th by Director General at Imperial War Museums (IWM), Caro Howell MBE. Her title was “War and Peace: The role of Imperial War Museums in the twenty-first century.”  

To begin Selwyn’s flagship lecture, Caro outlined the IWM’s origins in 1917 as a social history museum, created to represent the “experience, service and sacrifice of everyone, including men and women, military and civilian, young and old, and even human and animal.” 

Caro emphasised that the museum’s collections reveal how conflict shapes every aspect of society, from technological innovation to changing social roles. She spoke about how personal stories and objects are used to humanise war and connect audiences with the lived experience behind historical events. 

A central theme of the lecture was the challenge of maintaining relevance for contemporary audiences. Caro noted that many people today feel little direct connection to historic conflicts such as the Second World War, while others misunderstand the purpose of the IWM. Citing audience research, she noted that many assume the museum offers only displays of military hardware and a dry history lesson, rather than “emotional, inspiring and human-centred stories about the present as well as the past.” She argued that this perception makes adaptation essential, with the museum increasingly incorporating contemporary conflicts, digital innovation and more inclusive forms of storytelling.

The lecture also highlighted the growing importance of museums as trusted sources of evidence in an age of misinformation, as well as the need to engage new and younger audiences through digital platforms, immersive experiences and collaborative projects. Ultimately, Caro argued that the future of the IWM lies in making their stories relevant and ensuring that people can see their own lives reflected in the histories of conflict.

You can watch the full lecture on our YouTube channel. Click here.

Erin Charles will join Selwyn as Development Director on 1 September, succeeding Mike Nicholson, who retires at the end of August after 12 years in the role. 

Erin's appointment ensures continuity for the College's alumni and supporters. She joins at a significant moment as Selwyn prepares to celebrate 50 years since women were first admitted as students and Fellows next year, and looks ahead to its 150th anniversary in 2032.

Erin brings substantial fundraising experience across the independent and collegiate education sectors. She read Jurisprudence with Law Studies in Europe at St Peter's College, Oxford, graduating in 2015 and has since been based in Cambridge. She began her career as a Schools Liaison Officer at Girton College before progressing through development roles at The Perse School, where she became Head of Development. In 2024, she took up her current role as Deputy Development Director at St John's College. She is particularly committed to widening access and social mobility.

Erin said: "I am delighted to be joining Selwyn at such an exciting time in its history. The College is known for its strong academic performance and the breadth and diversity of its community. These achievements are clearly underpinned by the engagement and generosity of alumni. That support is visible throughout the College, from Ann's Court and the beautiful gardens to the opportunities and experiences available to current students. 

"The welcome I have received so far has been characteristically warm and friendly, and I am very much looking forward to working together in support of the College's ambitions in the years ahead."

Selwyn women in University Shield

On Saturday 2 May 2026, Selwyn women’s football team put in a fantastic effort in the Cambridge University Shield, finishing their season as Shield runners-up and fourth in the league overall.

Captained by Jaya Fox, the team looked sharp in their brand-new kit, generously gifted by Selwyn alumnus Nick Craggs.

The final score was 6–1, with our goal coming from an own goal by Queens’, assisted by Alice Cammegh and Daisy Burnip. The whole college is immensely proud of the women’s performances throughout the campaign.

Alice Cammegh said: "Seeing the team grow from 5 people to over 17 has been one of the greatest joys of the season. Jaya has worked so hard to create a welcoming environment, and I think it's clear to everyone how much we love playing together."

Photos by Kit Roberts.

Selwyn men in Cuppers final

On Sunday 10 May 2026 Selwyn men’s football team put in a strong performance in the Cuppers Final at Grange Road, narrowly losing 2–1 to Fitzwilliam to finish off one of the club’s most successful seasons in recent history.

Selwyn took the lead in the first half through captain Lucas Clarke, who also deservedly picked up Selwyn player of the match. Fitzwilliam responded with two second-half goals to claim the title.

This team has represented Selwyn brilliantly all season — unbeaten going into the final, with 11 wins from 13 matches and a place in the history books as the first Division 3 side to reach the Cuppers Final.

Special mentions to vice-captain Maxwell Rich, top scorer Oscar Reeves and every player who has made this such a memorable campaign.

Selwyn men win promotion to Division 2

On Saturday 17 May 2026, Selwyn men's football team secured promotion to Division 2 with a dramatic 3–2 victory against King's in the playoff final, after extra time.

Oscar Reeves put Selwyn in command with a brace, first curling home a free-kick early in the first half, then doubling the advantage after the restart from a corner delivered by Marco Faria. King's pulled level with two late goals to force extra time, but Selwyn held their nerve in difficult, wet conditions. In the final minute, Faria won a penalty and captain Lucas Clarke converted it to seal one of the season's most memorable results.

The win confirms promotion and marks another landmark in what has been an historic season for Selwyn football.

The Right Rev Lord Harries of Pentregarth (1936 to 2026)

We were very sad to hear of the death of the Right Rev Lord Harries of Pentregarth, who died on 29 April, aged 89. One of our Honorary Fellows, Richard Harries read theology at the College (BA 1961, MA 1965) and went on to a remarkable career in the Church and public life.

He served as Bishop of Oxford for nearly two decades and was made Lord Harries of Pentregarth on his retirement. A prolific author of books on faith, ethics and the arts, he is also known to many Radio 4 listeners through his contributions to Thought for the Day. 

Ordained in 1963, Richard rose to become Bishop of Oxford from 1987 until his retirement in 2006. He sat in the House of Lords as a cross-bencher and continued to contribute actively to public debate on faith, ethics, science and politics. A committed advocate for interfaith understanding, he co-founded the Oxford Abrahamic Group and chaired the Council of Christians and Jews. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and received the British Academy President's Medal in 2012.

He will be deeply missed by all who valued his wisdom, his humanity and his unfailing willingness to engage with the hardest questions. 

Our thoughts are with his family.