Selwyn has a strong contingent in the Cambridge team that will take on Oxford in this year’s Netball Varsity Match. Four of our students (pictured below) are in the Cambridge squad. Representing the Light Blues will be Frances Lee-Barber (1^st year economist), Nicola Taylor (2^nd year natural scientist) and Emily Coulter (3^rd year theologian and club captain). Becky Haggie, a 3^rd year medic, is in the University seconds. The matches will take place at the University Sports Centre on Sunday, March 1^st, and supporters are welcome. The timings are: Swallows (3rds) at 9.30am; Jays (2nds) at 11.30am; and Blues (1sts) at 1.30pm.

Selwyn’s Professor Sir Colin Humphreys will be giving a public lecture in Cambridge about the next generation of LED lighting on Monday February 9th. Titled “Lighting the future”, it will take place at 6pm in the Bristol-Myers-Squibb lecture theatre in the Department of Chemistry. Sir Colin is Professor and Director of Research in the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, and a Fellow of Selwyn.

He describes his theme:

“Gallium nitride is a remarkable new man-made material which is arguably the most important new material since silicon. Its use in LED lighting has the potential to save 10-15% of all the electricity we use. Research on low-cost GaN LED lighting by my group is currently being exploited by Plessey who are manufacturing such low-cost LEDs in the UK. GaN also has low energy consumption for power electronic devices, which could save another 10% of electricity use. Deep-ultra-violet LEDs made from GaN can kill all viruses and bacteria, hence have huge potential for water and air purification, which could save millions of lives in the developing world. Finally, lighting using optimised GaN LEDs really could improve not only our health but also students' exam results!”

This is a public event, and more details can be found at http://talks.cam.ac.uk/talk/index/53971

Later in the week, on Friday February 13th, Dante is the theme of an event being held at the College. Hosted by Selwyn Fellow Dr Heather Webb, it will look at theology and society in the age of Dante with distinguished speakers from Italy and the UK. Again, all are welcome to attend. Click on the image below for full details.

Selwyn’s football teams have achieved success on the pitch despite tough tests from their opponents and from
the weekend’s wintry weather. The men’s team is through to the final of the Cuppers Plate, after beating
Queens’ College 2-1 in a close semi-final. The match went to extra time, but victory for Selwyn was sealed by this
penalty:

The women’s team representing Selwyn and Robinson Colleges, and pictured below, came out 3-0 winners over
Emmanuel. SRWFC produced their best performance of the season so far against a strong Emma team, producing a great win in
adverse weather conditions. Players of the match were judged by our reporter to be Charlotte Diss for her hard work and
strength at the back, and Hayley Johnson for her unrelentingly high work rate in the midfield.

For information on Selwyn.s full range of sport, have a look at our college sport Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/SelwynSport?fref=ts

The actor Tom Hollander visited Selwyn on Friday January 23rd to attend a dinner for students currently studying English. Tom was a student here, reading English, in the 1980s; and since then he has received considerable acclaim for his performances on stage, television and in film. His best known roles include starring in “Rev” on BBC Two, which he helped create, and playing Lord Cutler Beckett in the movie series “Pirates of the Caribbean”. He was joined by another distinguished Selwyn English graduate, Professor Juliet John who is the Hildred Carlile Chair in English at Royal Holloway College, University of London. Others attending the Selwyn dinner included Dr Jean Chothia, who was Tom’s director of studies when he was at the College, and some of today’s undergraduate and graduate students in English.

We learned today, with deep regret, that Ann Dobson has died. Ann and her husband Chris provided almost all the funding for
the first two phases of the College’s masterplan for expansion; and Ann’s Court is named in her honour. The Master of
Selwyn, Roger Mosey, said: "This and future generations of students will be enormously grateful to Ann Dobson, along with
Chris, for the wonderful buildings and excellent accommodation they enjoy. At this time of sadness, we’re proud that the
Court will continue to bear her name." The College sends its condolences to Chris Dobson, an honorary Fellow of
Selwyn, and to Ann’s family and friends.

Ann Dobson at the topping-out ceremony for Ann’s Court, accompanied by her husband Chris and former Master Richard
Bowring.

The College is deeply sad to report the death of Ruth Chadwick. Ruth’s service to the College over the years in partnership
with her husband Owen was immense; and they were a welcoming presence for generations of Selwyn students during Professor
Chadwick’s long Mastership. It was heartwarming that, even with her illness in recent years, she was able to come to the most
recent Carol Service in the College Chapel. Funeral arrangements will be made known in due course; and we send our most
sincere condolences to Owen and his family.

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Selwyn supplied its choir and a number of musicians for a Cambridge University Musical Society concert in King's College Chapel on Saturday January 17th. They were joined by the choirs of Caius, Clare and Jesus Colleges; and the CUMS orchestra was supplemented by members of the University Chamber Orchestra. They performed Dvo?ák's Symphony number 8, and then the demanding "Ein Deutsches Requiem" by Brahms under the direction of Howard Shelley. The event was sold out, and the student musicians received a prolonged ovation from the audience.

Our pictures are of rehearsals for the event, showing some of the Selwyn students alongside their University colleagues. They were taken by our development officer Andrew Flather. Traditionalists should be assured that for the concert itself the chorus wore black tie!

On Saturday 20th June, the grounds of Selwyn will be transformed as the May Ball Committee welcomes students, alumni, staff and guests to celebrate the end of May Week in style. This marks the restoration of a May Ball to the College calendar after a number of years’ absence.

Ticket applications will open for Selwyn members and alumni from 9am on Sunday 18th January at www.selwynball.com. Those that are eligible for the Selwyn priority sale may also purchase tickets for their guests but are recommended to apply early as demand is expected to be high.

Ball-goers can look forward to an eclectic mix of live entertainment across a number of stages within the College, and a fabulous variety of food and drink throughout the night.

In addition to Non-dining tickets, two upgraded ticket types are available, VIP and Dining. Holders of upgraded tickets will be invited to attend a Champagne reception in the Master's Garden prior to the start of the Ball, whilst Dining ticket holders will also enjoy a four course formal dinner.

The Master of Selwyn, Roger Mosey, appeared on Radio 4’s Today programme in an item about the
proposed television
debates during the 2015 General Election campaign. In a live discussion with Lord Grade, he said
that he hoped all the party
leaders would take part, but that a single party leader’s refusal to do so should not be allowed
to scupper the whole idea.
You can hear an extract from the broadcast on the BBC website:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02gr53k

There is a news report about it here:

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jan/12/debates-go-ahead-without-cameron-roger-mosey-ex-bbc-executive

And there is also an article written by Roger Mosey for The Guardian on January 14th:

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jan/14/tv-debates-broadcasters-david-cameron-empty-chair-treatment

The former Labour education and home secretary, David Blunkett MP, visited the College on Thursday January 8th. He spoke to students in the Master’s Lodge about his career and current issues, and then had dinner in Hall with some of the Fellows.

This is the latest in a series of visits by high-profile guests from the worlds of politics and the media. Shortly before Christmas, there were similar student events featuring James Naughtie, presenter of the Radio 4 Today programme; and Lord Deben, a Selwyn alumnus, better known as the former environment secretary John Gummer.