Selwyn College Family Day
We are delighted to welcome you back to Selwyn for our annual Family Day, a relaxed and informal afternoon for alumni, families and children of all ages. Family day will take place from 2.00pm until 5.00pm and there will be range of entertainment on offer for all ages to enjoy. Olly’s Jazz Band will be entertaining us throughout the afternoon – alongside a cohort of some of our best singers from the famous Selwyn College Choir. There’ll be a children’s entertainer, face painting, croquet and all sorts of games to play. At 3.00pm there will be a delicious cream tea served in Hall.
Throughout the afternoon the college’s newest buildings will be open for you to explore. Visit the superb Quarry Whitehouse Auditorium and the Bartlam Library and, if you are feeling fit, climb the 100 steps to the tower for breathtaking 360° views over Cambridge. See how the Old Library has been transformed into a home for the College Archives and experience a demonstration of Cambridge’s first Anatomage Table – a digital, high-tech piece of kit that provides an introduction to anatomy (humans and animals) without lifting a scalpel!
To help you plan your day, some activities are listed below - to help us plan for catering purposes and to secure your place on one of the tours, please register using the form at the bottom of this page.
For Families & Children
Educational Science shows
2.15pm and 3.45pm (30 minutes)
Join the Mad Scientists Dr. Dee Enay and Pre-historic Paul for an electrifying show packed with motion, mayhem, and high-voltage fun! Brave volunteers can experience the pedal-powered Van de Graaff as static electricity sends their hair soaring, plus see lightning leap from the Tesla Coil straight to fingertips. A shocking science spectacular guaranteed to spark curiosity!
Perfect for ages 4–11 but entertaining for the whole family.
Children's Book Talk & Signing
2.30pm and 3.30pm (30-40 minutes)
Join Selwyn alumnus Jenny Moore (SE 1994, English) to hear about her books…step into the world of time-machines, robots and adventures! Jenny is skilled at weaving history and places into her many stories, as well as creating a range of entertaining, heroic characters. She was the first UK winner of the Commonwealth Short Story Competition and was shortlisted for the James Reckitt Hull Children’s Book Award and the Greenhouse Funny Prize. Jenny will entertain children young and old with stories and readings from her vast range of books – please do bring along any of her books you would like her to sign.
For Adults
Selwyn Cellar Wine Tours – please book your place in advance
2.15pm, 3.15pm and 4.15pm (30 minutes)
Join our Cellar Manager Phil Shephard, for an exclusive tour of the Selwyn College cellar. Discover the variety of wines we store, learn how they're kept and enjoy the chance to ask Phil any wine-related questions along the way (and perhaps buy a bottle or two of something special).
Please note that this tour requires stair access and is not wheelchair accessible. Ceilings are low in some areas.
Selwyn Gardens Tour – please book your place in advance
2.30pm and 3.30pm (30-40 minutes)
Join Head Gardener Alex Turner for a tour of our beautiful gardens. Explore the variety of plants and flowers on display, get helpful tips on how to care for them, and learn why each one was chosen. Alex will also be happy to answer any of your garden related questions along the way.
If you need any additional information, please contact alumni-office@sel.cam.ac.uk who will be pleased to help. We look forward to seeing you all back at Selwyn in July!