We’re pleased to announce two more winners of prestigious Vice-Chancellor’s and Selwyn College scholarships. The first goes to Paula Czarnowska, who’s already studying here for an MPhil in Computer Science. She will now stay with us for her PhD.

The other award is to George Severs, currently taking his MPhil at Pembroke College. He will study at Selwyn for a PhD in History.

This makes a total of four Vice-Chancellor’s and Selwyn scholarships, in what is the first year of our partnership. We’re able to do this because of the generous support of benefactors, and we’re grateful to everyone who supports students and education at the college. You can read more on our alumni website https://www.selwynalumni.com/pages/student-support- or please contact the development office: alumni-office@sel.cam.ac.uk. There’s an account of how the Vice-Chancellor’s scheme works on the Cambridge Trust website: https://www.cambridgetrust.org/scholarships/v-c-awards-and-cambridge-international-scholarships/.

On his retirement from full-time work, Selwyn’s Professor John Morrill generously commissioned the renowned composer James MacMillan to write a new piece in memory of John's wife Frances and in gratitude to Selwyn College. The choir gave the première of 'One equal music' at Evensong on Sunday May 21^st. It’s a setting of John Donne's famous prayer beginning ‘Bring us O Lord God at our last awakening into the house and gate of heaven’.

The photograph shows John Morrill (left) with Selwyn’s director of music Sarah MacDonald and chaplain Hugh Shilson-Thomas. The music is published by Boosey and Hawkes, and details are online.

We pride ourselves on the pastoral support that's offered to students at Selwyn – and now there's recognition for one of our Fellows.

Stuart Eves, who is a tutor and also director of studies in veterinary medicine, has won an award from the Cambridge University Students’ Union (CUSU). The Student Led Teaching Awards exist to acknowledge outstanding teaching and student support; and Dr Eves won in the category of pastoral support, which recognises members of the university who go above and beyond what is expected of them in terms of student welfare. He received 14 nominations in total from Selwyn students.

Undergraduate Flora Miles, who presented him with the award, said he had always been a perceptive and proactive tutor and had made her life at Cambridge immeasurably better. You can read more about the nominees and the award scheme here:

The college men’s rugby players emerged victorious from a hard-fought final for the Cuppers Plate. The joint Selwyn-Peterhouse team beat Hughes Hall-St Edmund’s by just two points, in a match that ended 30-28. Our photos show action from the game; the excellent support from Selwyn students; and the silverware being held by captain Matt Wilson (seated front right) with the rest of the team.

Photographs by Ted Mackey, JCR president.

Selwyn third-year student Lee Robertson has received an Imber Lloyd award at the Tallow Chandlers’ educational lunch. It recognises Lee’s contribution to Selwyn as JCR president in 2016; and the award is presented annually by the livery company to students who combine academic achievement and service to the college community.

This year’s other winner was Felix Newman, who was the first Selwynite in a winning Boat Race crew since 1971. He was also awarded first class honours in his engineering exams. Many congratulations to both Felix and Lee.

The full list of grants and prizes available to Selwyn students is on our website at http://www.sel.cam.ac.uk/ughandbook/finance/grants-and-funds/ and  https://www.sel.cam.ac.uk/ughandbook/finance/grants-and-funds.

Chloe Allison, who's currently studying for an MPhil at Selwyn, has been awarded a highly prestigious Vice-Chancellor's & Selwyn College scholarship for a PhD in Music. The Vice-Chancellor's scholarships go to the most promising PhD students across the university. Selwyn has partnered with the Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarships for the first time this year and we are thrilled to be able to welcome Chloe back next year for her PhD.

Joining Chloe, and the recipient of our second Vice-Chancellor’s and Selwyn College scholarship, is Áron Kovács for a PhD in Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics. Many congratulations to him, too.

Meanwhile, Gates Cambridge has announced its list of what they call "the most academically exceptional and socially committed people from across the globe" who have been selected as Gates Cambridge Scholars after interviews in Cambridge in late March. Those chosen include Parker Lawson, who joined us from the United States in October 2016 to read for a Masters and is vice-president of our MCR. 

Parker tells us: "The PhD proposal is to study the practice and policies of education in Spain (1898-present) as a way of understanding the relationship between education and the formation of national identities."

He will be joined at Selwyn by other Gates scholars from universities worldwide, with the full list of Cambridge participants here: https://www.gatescambridge.org/our-scholars/new-scholars

The college held a reunion for the 1967 and 1977 year groups on Saturday April 8^th, marking the 50^th and 40^th anniversaries of their arrival at the college. Among those attending was Richard Budgett (SE 1977) who won a gold medal for rowing in the men's coxed fours at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984. Richard studied medicine at Selwyn, and he is now Medical and Scientific director for the International Olympic Committee.

It was a glorious weekend of weather for all those attending the reunion. We were able to hold drinks outside in Old Court before the dinner; and the following morning a group of alumni went on a tour of the college with Fellow Mike Young.

Selwyn's Honorary Fellow, Robert Cripps, hosted a reception for college alumni and friends in Melbourne attended by the Master, Roger Mosey. The event, part of the college's reunion tour of Australia and Hong Kong, was also an opportunity to thank the Cripps Foundation for their generous support of the refurbishment of Cripps Court. The Foundation has contributed over £7m towards the £13m cost; and it was Robert's father Sir Humphrey Cripps who was the benefactor at the time of the building's original construction.

Robert Cripps (centre) is pictured with his wife Jan and with Roger Mosey.

Other photos from Melbourne:

Roger Mosey then went on to Sydney to meet alumni there. They include Joanna Davison (second from left) who was the first woman president of the JCR.

Earlier in the trip, the first stop had been Hong Kong where another reception was generously hosted by an Honorary Fellow - our alumnus Sir David Li. Below is a group of those who attended, along with college development director Mike Nicholson (second from right.)

We’re pleased to announce that this year’s Ramsay Murray lecture at Selwyn will be given by the historian Professor Amanda Vickery. Her title will be ‘No Happy Ending? At Home with Miss Bates in Georgian England’ and it will bring to life England in the time of Jane Austen.

Amanda Vickery is professor in early modern history at Queen Mary University of London, and she is also known for her television and radio work. On her website she describes her background: “I was born and raised in Preston, Lancashire. Growing up in a matriarchal mill town where wives historically worked out of the house as well as in, fostered my love of social and economic history, and fascination with the warp and woof of work and family, power and emotion.”

The lecture will take place at the West Road Concert Hall on Friday May 19^th and all are welcome.

Photo credit: Andrew Hayes Watkins