Freshers Guide - Final Draft - Peterhouse JCR

Peterhouse Freshers
The Guide
2012/13
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

Welcome to Peterhouse!
Congratulations, you have found the Peterhouse freshers’ guide! If all went
according to plan, you have been directed here by the letter you received from
me in late August/September. This letter introduced you to: (1) me - your
freshers’ rep, (2) the College families system in operation at Peterhouse, and (3)
where to turn for further information.
In this guide you will find “everything you need to know” about arrival at
Peterhouse and your subsequent life here - it is divided into four sections. The
first section includes information about packing, arrival and support. The second
explains about Freshers’ Week, and the boring (but nonetheless important)
things that need to be sorted out on arrival. The third section contains more
general information about life in Cambridge both at a college and university
level. This is information of less importance at this stage, but we still recommend
you read it all to familiarise yourself with some of the quirkier parts of university
life in Cambridge. The final segment contains both specific information (e.g.
information targeted at LGBTQ and international students), and miscellaneous
bits and pieces such as a map and dictionary.
Whatever your preconceptions of Cambridge I can assure you that Freshers’
Week will be one of the best weeks of your life, and that you will love Peterhouse
from the minute that you arrive.
Further updates (e.g. the Freshers’ Week timetable), will be posted in two
locations; (1) my page of the the JCR website, and (2) the official Facebook page
at “Peterhouse (Cambridge) Freshers 2012”. Further questions can be directed
towards either your College parents, Facebook or me (details below).
I’m looking forward to meeting you all in late September,
Sam Mackrill
Peterhouse Freshers’ Rep 2012/13
Contact: sm906@cam.ac.uk
www.peterhousejcr.co.uk/jcr/freshers

Contents
Welcome from the JCR President
Part 1 – Settling In
What do I need to bring?
What do I do when I arrive?
Where can I turn for help?
Freshers’ committee members
Part 2 – Freshers’ Week
Checklist
Part 3 – Life in Cambridge
Money
Academic
Food and drink
Accommodation
Facilities
Sports
Chapel
Going out
Drama
Miscellany
Part 4a – Specific Information
Internationals
LGBTQ
Part 4b – Other
The parents’ guide
Map of Cambridge
Map of Peterhouse
Who’s who
Dictionary
Contact details

Welcome from the JCR President
All undergraduate students at Peterhouse (including you once you’re here) are
members of the Peterhouse Junior Common Room (JCR). The JCR is served by the JCR
committee, introduced here by our JCR President:
The JCR committee exists for your benefit. We represent your wishes and
opinions, or are there to help you with any problem you might have during your
time at Peterhouse. I meet with the powers that be, both within Peterhouse and
in CUSU (Cambridge University Students' Union) on a regular basis to represent
the views of Peterhouse students, assisted by my Vice-President Adam.
We have two fantastic Academic and Welfare Officers, Pete and Hannah. Their
job is to be there for you: nothing is too trivial, or too serious for them to have a
chat about. They put on stress-busting welfare events and provide welfare items
such as condoms, pregnancy tests and bike lights. Ollie, the Access Officer,
organises our access commitments and represents any minority groupings
within College. International and LGBTQ students have their own
representatives – you will hear from Alba and Rosie later on in this guide.
Rachel is our Charities, Campaigns and Environmental Officer. She is responsible
for a range of things, from recycling to raising money for charity appeals. Then
there are our crucial administrators: Kayleigh – the Treasurer, Natasha – the
Secretary, and Josh – the Webmaster. George, as Ents Officer, sorts the parties;
Tom, our Bar and Buttery Officer, handles recommendations, complaints or
general comments about the quality of food and drink in the hall and bar, and
James, our Amenities Officer, makes sure there are amusing things in the JCR
itself. And you have already encountered Sam, our First Year Officer, who will be
available to help you settle in throughout your first year.
As I said in my opening, we are here to help you with any problems or issues you
may encounter during your time at Peterhouse. Please never hesitate to
approach us: the more informed we are, the more effective we can be, and the
better able to cater to your needs. Our whole purpose is to be at your disposal.
Rhys James
Peterhouse JCR President 2012/13
Contact: rhj25@cam.ac.uk
www.peterhousejcr.co.uk/jcr/president

What do I need to bring?
Don’t worry, I am not going to patronise you by reminding you to bring your
toothbrush. The following list focuses on things that you might not be sure
whether to bring, and niggly little things that you will forget unless I remind you.
But none of the items are compulsory, just recommended.
Food stuff:
(All food is provided in hall, but you may want to
make yourself a few meals/snacks)
• Cutlery, bowls and plates
• Microwaveable bowl/plate
• Snacks
• Drinks
• Glasses/mugs
• Tea/coffee
• Tin opener
Bureaucracy:
• Passport
• Driving licence
• NI number
• Student loan assessment form
• NHS card
• Passport photos
Easy to forget:
• Phone charger
• Washing powder
• Spare coat hangers
• Pins (for notice boards)
• Batteries
• Cheque book
The big things:
• Clothes – see below
• Bed linen – including duvet,
pillows and covers – see below
• Computer/laptop – highly
recommended (a printer can
also be useful)
• Stereo/speakers – not necessary,
but nice to have some music
• Bike – see below
For your room:
• Extension/adaptor lead
• Desk lamp
• Pictures/posters
• Alarm clock
• Laundry bag, spare cushions
• Stationery
Do not bring:
• Kettle – provided in the gyps
• TV – unless you want to pay for a
TV licence
• Pots & pans – there are no hobs
on which to use them
Note: Any electrical items will need to be PAT tested when you get here.
Clothes:
Everyone knows that Hitler was defeated in Russia by its winter. Less well known
is that Hitler could never therefore have conquered East Anglia, as our winter is
even colder. Remember this when you pack your clothes.

Formal items of dress:
1. Gown – You will need to wear this at formal hall and at other special
academic events such as matriculation. This can be purchased from the
porters when you arrive, new or secondhand. Write your name in it – they
all look the same.
2. Lounge suit/smart dress – This means a normal (business) suit and tie for
guys, and equivalent for girls. You will need these for formal hall, as well as
various occasions where smart dress is required.
3. Black tie – A special smarter suit with bow tie for the lads, and a dress that
covers the knee for the girls. Black tie is interchangeable with the lounge
suit until the final term, when it is required for May Balls. Many people
choose to hire these as and when they are required. You will ultimately
need to decide whether it is worth owning one (if you don’t already).
4. Matriculation – Matriculation is an event on the Monday of Freshers’
Week, where you officially become a member of the university. Gowns
must be worn, plus a lounge suit for the guys, and a black dress with white
blouse for the girls.
It is possible that some May Balls at the end of the year will require evening tails
(white tie) – but don’t worry about buying or bringing these in first term.
Bed linen
The college only provides a mattress (no pillows or other such luxuries) – the
rest is up to you. Remember a duvet – I suggest a thick one.
Bikes
Cycling students are one of the most famous Cambridge archetypes, but it is up
to you to decide whether you need a bike. Peterhouse is very central, with the
town less than ten minutes’ walk away, and nearly all lectures and practicals
similarly near, whatever your subject. However, you may be required to visit
more distant colleges for supervisions and sports fixtures, and medical students
may need to visit Addenbrooke’s for some lectures. So day to day a bike is not
really necessary for a Petrean, but you will still find one very useful on many
occasions, and you should definitely bring one along if you can get hold of one
easily. Also, remember lights, a helmet and invest in a solid D-lock.

What do I do when I arrive?
You should all (with a few exceptions – you will know who you are) be arriving on
either Saturday 29th or Sunday 30th September, ready to establish yourself in
your new home with cart-loads of stuff.
Parking (for this weekend only) is provided between Saint Peter’s Terrace and
the William Stone Building (see map below). The turning you want to take is onto
Grove Lane, off Trumpington Street. Grove Lane is opposite the restaurant,
“Browns”, and at the entrance there is a very noticeable red telephone box.
The first thing you should do when you arrive is walk over to the Porter’s Lodge
and collect your room key. There will a group of us waiting to greet you in the
Porter’s Lodge and show you to your room.
Then, try to get hold of your College parents, who should hopefully be around to
help you. If you can’t find them at first, anyone will be happy to lend a hand or
advise you as to what’s going on, but the Freshers’ Committee especially will be
around and ready to assist (photos overleaf).
An inevitable fact of teenage life is that everyone finds their family
embarrassing, and you may want to be rid of yours as soon as possible. Make
sure they have seen the “Parents’ guide” section here, which provides some
suggestions for what they might like to do with their remaining time in the city,
and where to stay if they don’t live within day-trip distance.
The William
Stone Building
Parking Area
Porter’s Lodge
Browns Brasserie
St. Peter’s
Terrace
Phone Box
Note: Access via this end of Trumpington St. only - one-way system

Where can I turn for help?
College parents:
All new students at Peterhouse are looked after first and foremost by their
“College parents” – a union of second years who have elected to care for a family
of “College children”. They will write to you between now and your arrival, and
from then on they are the first people you can rely on to answer your questions,
give advice and buy you drinks.
Either your “College mother” or
“College father” will study your subject,
so you can also depend on them if you
get stuck with your work. Moreover
they will counsel you on the mundane
lectures and appointments that must
be attended to in your first week, such
as filling in forms, sorting out your web
connection and registering with a GP’s
surgery. For medical students there
are a number of inoculations that you
will need also.
Subject reps:
Subject reps are responsible for attending to all those who study their particular
subject. This means answering your questions, advising you on module choices,
buying you even more drinks, and ensuring that their subject-brood don’t get
lost on the way to lectures. They will introduce themselves at some point over
the week at your ‘subject tea’ (probably Tuesday morning), when they will tell
you all about your subject and then show you around the department and
lecture theatres.
House reps:
Over the first few days, in addition to College parents, a select few second years
will be responsible for organising some events within your St. Peter’s Terrace
houses (for those of you who live in the William Stone building, there will be a
rep there as well). They will be getting you out of your rooms and meeting your
fellow freshers, perhaps organising some small sports tournaments in the Deer
Park and trips into town to see some of the sights and try some of the cafes.
They are also yet another face to turn to if you get confused.

Freshers’ Committee Members
The Freshers’ Committee aid the Freshers’ Rep in the organisation of Freshers’ Week.
They are also responsible for your welfare and are happy to talk to you about any
problems or questions you may have:
Alba Godfrey
JCR International Rep
James Ellis
Freshers’ Committee – Ents
Miranda Bain
Freshers’ Committee – Welfare
George Johnson
JCR Ents Officer
Jenni Reid
Freshers’ Committee – Artistic
Charlotte James
Freshers’ Committee – Ents
Rosie Shewell-Brockway
JCR LGBTQ Rep
Hannah Laidley
Freshers’ Committee – Welfare
Siana Bangura
Freshers’ Committee – Ents

Freshers’ Week
Your first week in Cambridge is Freshers’ Week. During this week we will
introduce you to the city, the College, and university life in general. There will be
formal dinners, a pub crawl, various club nights, sports tasters, nights in the
Peterhouse bar and many more social events. The timetable will be finalised
over the summer and through September, and constantly updated. The most
recent version of this document should be available on my page of the JCR
website (www.peterhousejcr.co.uk/jcr/freshers), and a final version will be
posted on the Facebook page – “Peterhouse (Cambridge) Freshers 2012” – in late
September.
Freshers’ Week Checklist
1. Meet:
i. College parents – these should write to you before you arrive, and
represent one of your first points of personal contact with the college.
They should give you means to contact them when you arrive. Please
contact me (Sam Mackrill – sm906@cam.ac.uk) if you have not heard
from your parents by September 18th 2012.
ii. Your tutor – times for these meetings will be posted just outside the
servery.
iii. Your DoS (Director of Studies) – they should contact you about this.
iv. The Dean – times for these meetings will be posted just outside the
servery.
v. Subject reps – these should contact you via email/pigeon holes about a
subject tea/drinks party, probably held on the Tuesday morning.
2. Establish your internet connection – details of how when you arrive.
3. Register with a GP – many nearby (Newnham Walk, Trinity Street and
Lensfield Road practices).
4. Ensure your student loan has hit your account.
5. Sort any more College bureaucracy (e.g. exam certificates). DO NOT PANIC
ABOUT THIS BEFORE YOU ARRIVE – EVERYBODY ALWAYS DOES. You will
receive emails/letters from the college with forms to fill out and lists of things
to send in. Do what you reasonably can, but the majority can be sorted once
you are here and settled (I know a lot of you don’t receive exam certificates
until later in the year – school-issued declarations of results are sufficient in
the meantime).

Life in Cambridge
We are now past the essential information. This section of the guide provides
background information about College life and living in Cambridge. Familiarising
yourself with this will help make many things a lot easier and less confusing for
you in your first few weeks.
Money
This is a practical guide to how much Peterhouse will cost you (aside from the
obvious tuition fees). Of course it depends vastly on how extravagant you are, so
take anything I say with a pinch of salt. Note, there are many things that you
may have to/want to purchase at the start of you time here (e.g. a gown/bike)
that are not recurrent costs.
Accommodation – Range from £720 – £1,645 per term, but can be anything
between £700 and £1,500 per term in the most extreme cases. You will have
chosen already between categories A (showy), B (standard) and C (frugal), but
otherwise get no more choice in your first year.
‘KFC’ – Everyone has to pay a flat rate of £165.77 a term just to keep the kitchens
going, on top of whatever you pay College for your accommodation.
Food – A meal in hall tends to cost £3–5, but this can vary a lot according to taste
and appetite. Those who eat twice/three times a day in hall can rack up bills of
£400–600 per term.
Books – Depends on your subject. Scientists can get away with never buying a
book in their lives, while lawyers have to spend as much as £50 on each, with
about ten books needed in the first term. Always ask second years if you can buy
their old copies on the cheap. Your subject reps will have more information on
this. The college does have book grants available.
Phone – Personally, I couldn’t function without a smartphone. Getting all my
emails/calendars/internet in one place is incredibly useful, and in subjects such
as law where a number of events are on a first-come-first-served basis they can
be a great advantage. Be aware, “three” mobile coverage in College is awful.

Other costs – If you like to go to the theatre, eat out, go clubbing, go to formal
dinners, or just buy lots of snacks from Sainsbury’s these all cost money. This is
entirely dependent on how you want to live. General toiletries and clothes also
cost a bit too if you are watching the pennies. Don’t, for the sake of your
housemates, choose another pint over a new can of deodorant.
Academic
Your most pressing question will be how much you are expected to work, but
sadly this is one that I cannot answer as the volume and type of work depends
vastly on your subject. It might shock you to hear that whatever subject you
have chosen, you will be expected to work very hard. But don’t worry, you will
have plenty of time to enjoy yourself – “work hard, play hard” is often bandied
about incessantly to new students.
Your subject reps will try and answer all your questions about your particular
subject in due course; if they cannot, then go and see your Director of Studies,
who will be happy to help.
The sciences:
Natural Sciences, Medicine, Engineering, Computer Science, Maths, Economics.
The dominating characteristic of the sciences is a very structured life, not unlike
that which you were used to at school, just much harder. This comes with the
often mentioned disadvantage of regular 9am starts, but the other side of this
highly regulated lifestyle is that so long as you keep rigorously to your timetable,
your requirement to self-motivate beyond it is quite easily fulfilled.
Your work will consist of three components:
1. Lectures – 10–12 hours per week, and these will probably be much as you
expect. And yes, you really must attend them: they are sequential, and if you
miss more than a couple without very carefully working through the notes,
you will rapidly fall behind. Take notes and write them up on the same day.
2. Practicals – These can be a terrifying prospect until you arrive in Cambridge,
but they are nothing to get worked up about. The instructions take you
through them step-by-step, and there is ample help available from
demonstrators if you get stuck. You will find some of them very interesting
and some of them mind-numbingly tedious, depending on how much you
were lying when you told your interviewer that you “love your subject”.
3. Supervisions – These are what make the Cambridge education unique. They
are generally hour-long sessions of dedicated contact time where you will go
through lecture and practical material to ensure that you fully understand it.

You will also be set work to complete for the next week. They are compulsory.
Make sure you ask plenty of questions so that you can leave with no gaps in
your knowledge. If you prepare and make sure you have a grasp of the lecture
material beforehand, you might even enjoy them!
The arts:
History, English, Classics, History of Art, Politics, Law, MML, Arch & Anth, Theology,
Architecture, ASNAC, etc.
Despite the fact that you will be told, repeatedly, by officious science students,
quite possibly as you are on your way to an actual lecture, if not even in one,
that 'you have no lectures', this is an evident fallacy. Arts students do have
lectures. They run daily, omitting the weekend, from 9am through to 1pm. They
are less essential for academic success than for a scientist, although the truth of
this varies from subject to subject; you may find that some lectures are
compulsory, depending on your subject and paper choice.

For some subjects, like history, lectures are supplementary to your working
week. Far, far more important is the time you put into self-motivated private
study. Indeed, this is what will, or should, comprise the bulk of an arts student's
day, as you read and note-take for your one/two essay/s a week.
This sort of independence can be very scary, and one can often, initially, feel
adrift. To a certain extent this is a rite of passage: as one supervisor was heard
to say: 'The first term is always a car crash… and there are no survivors'. The
important thing is to speak to someone if you are feeling frustrated or anxious.
Talk to second and third years in your subject , as they have usually just been
through what you are currently experiencing. You can also speak to your
supervisor or Director of Studies to clarify any comments on essays, what you
should do in order to improve, how to go about things if you are not sure and do
not feel you are being told, etc.
The focus point of every arts student's week is their essay deadline(s) and
supervision(s). A supervision is normally an hour long and will usually be either
one-on-one with your supervisor or with one other person from your subject
year group. Part of it will be spent discussing ideas and themes pursued in your
essay and part of it will be taken up with introducing you to new ideas and
themes to deepen the way you understand and approach a text/issue. The first
supervision is, of course, terrifying, but you needn't worry – supervisors are
there to engage you and get you to think, not to spend an hour mortifying you
with how much more than you they know. Soon this should become a highly
enjoyable part of your week, a place to wrestle with points of interest, and with
challenging themes and the intricacies of a text or problem with those who are
the best in the world at what they teach.

Food and drink
Hall:
Peterhouse is fully catered, with every meal
available in the hall with the exception of
Sunday breakfast and lunch. Meals are
served canteen-style, and are paid for with
your College card. The menu can become
repetitive but the general quality is high
and there is a good choice. Our food is
considerably better than at most colleges,
and it is a very convenient system
compared to other universities.
Meals are served at:
Breakfast: 8.15 – 9.00am
Lunch: 12.30-1.30pm
Dinner: 6.00-7.00pm
Our small size does come with its drawbacks: each individual meal is not too
expensive (generally a little under £5), but the lack of economies of scale
manifest as the “kitchen fixed charge” of £165.77, which must be paid at the end
of every term on the College bill to help maintain the kitchens throughout the
year. 35 sign-outs for dinner are permitted per term. A meal taken in the Servery
must cost at least £2.35 for it to count as a meal for the purpose of reckoning
sign-outs. Excess sign-outs will be charged at £4.00. Up to ten excess sign-outs
may be carried over from one term to the next, within a given academical year,
to accommodate uneven dining patterns.
Payment:
Purchases in hall, including for formal hall, and in the bar, are made on your
College card. The balance is then paid off at the end of term, alongside other
charges such as your rent, on your College bill.
Formal hall (7.30-9:00pm):
This remains the unassailable Cambridge
institution. For the princely sum of £5.85 you
are treated to a three-course meal with
waitered service, in the candle-lit beauty of
what is repeatedly and mechanically quoted
as “the oldest building in Europe still used
for its original purpose, excluding religious
buildings”. There is a list available in the
servery that can be used to sign up. You can

either pay when you make your booking, or just before you enter. If you change
your mind and do not wish to attend you can cross yourself off the list, but you
will be charged if you forget to do this. You can bring up to six guests too but
they must pay a slightly higher price (£7.85) because they do not contribute to
the KFC. There are super halls a few times per term which cost around £15 when
the kitchens pull out all the stops for a delicious four-course meal. Super-halls
tend to sell out quickly, so make sure you get your name down early.
Your gown is the only item of clothing that must be worn, but a reasonably
formal level of dress is expected – girls always do this anyway, and guys, please
do wear a suit.
While the Fellows are in the room, formal hall etiquette must be carefully
observed. You must endeavour to remain in your seat at all times (if you
desperately require the services of the beautiful upper-hall loo painted with the
College crest then this is excusable, but certainly no getting up to banter with
your mate at the other table).
There is a special freshers’ formal in the first week (probably on the Thursday –
see the timetable for details). This is your first chance to try it out, and you need
to sign up in the usual way (i.e. the list in the servery).
Gyps:
All College accommodation includes a few small kitchens known as gyps. Most
contain a fridge, microwave, toaster, and often a sandwich toaster. Do be aware
of this before you enthusiastically pack your saucepan (there are no hobs).
The bar:
The bar is nestled in the corner of Old Court and is open every evening in full
term. It serves a range of beers, ciders and wines, as well as almost every spirit
imaginable. It is good value (a pint is around £2.50), and is open every day from
7pm, shutting at 11pm, and 12 on Fridays and Saturdays. Although our bar is
small, so is our college, and it is the perfect size to build up an atmosphere
without getting too crowded.
Eating out:
Cambridge is serviced by all and every restaurant chain imaginable. Italian is
particularly abundant, and a walk along Bridge/Sidney/Regent Street will
demonstrate the full hand of identical pizza restaurants from ASK to Zizzi.

Accommodation
When it comes to accommodation, Peterhouse has an edge over all other
academic institutions. You will never have to go through the fuss of locating a
flat for your second and third years, nor will you ever have to deal with an
external landlord, as you are provided with excellent accommodation by the
college for the duration of your degree – almost all within five minutes’ walk of
the college.
While on a per-week basis it is pricey, the yearly cost works out cheap, as you do
not rent your room through vacations. The drawback is, of course, that you must
clear out all your belongings at the end of term. This can create particular
problems for international students – discussed by your International Rep (Alba
Godfrey) in her section of the guide.
All first years will live either in St. Peter’s Terrace (SPT) or in the William Stone
Building (WSB), which are right next to each other. In all cases, showers and gyps
(small kitchens) are shared between approximately five people. All rooms come
with internet access, included in your rent.
St. Peter’s Terrace:
This is where the majority of you will live for the duration of your first year. It is a
beautiful terrace of seven houses set back from the road, with around ten
luxurious rooms in each.
The William Stone Building:
Known imaginatively as “WSB”, it stands in the midst of the beautiful Scholars’
Garden and closely resembles a multi-story car park. Having been renovated in
2008 it is very comfortable inside and the rooms are spacious. They are all ensuite
including shower, but this does make them more expensive.

Facilities
Libraries:
The Ward Library contains books – lots of them. It is quite possibly the best
College library in the university, especially for historians, but like all College
libraries, it usually houses only one copy of each book, so sharing, children, is
necessary.
Alternatively, it will be necessary to visit your respective faculty libraries, which
your subject reps will identify to you. These not only contain a greater range of
books, but often more that one copy of key texts. There is also always the
magnificently bleak University Library (UL). Being a copyright library it has a copy
of every book ever published in the United Kingdom. It now lends to all students
at the university.
Your College card is essential for withdrawing books and often for gaining entry
also – this is especially true of the UL.
Laundry:
Like me, many of you will never have used a washing machine in your life until
you arrive at university. It turns out, boys, that there is no such thing as a
laundry leprechaun who does your washing – it was your mother all along.
Washing is about as easy to understand as a cannibal tribal-island god, and
washing machines are indeed similar to them in many ways. They too require a
sacrifice, although in this case not of human flesh but of a £1 coin and 2 x 20p
pieces. They also require a source of food, known as washing tablets. The drying
machines likewise require an offering of a 50p piece, and they are vengeful
masters, liable to shrink your clothes if you offend them, or turn them up too
high.

Make sure you shut the door properly on your way out, as thefts have been
reported in the past. If there is no available machine and you must empty one
that has finished, put the clothes in the bag that the owner should have left in
front of it. If there is no bag, put them on a chair, but please do not ever dump
them on the floor, as it is about as clean and hygienic as a Latvian
slaughterhouse.
Computer room:
The computer room is located under the theatre and contains a few PCs and
Macs. You need your card and PWF password to use this room. It also has a
colour and b&w printer, useful for those without.
Sports
In addition to the countless clubs and societies that are open to all university
students, there are many that are based exclusively within Peterhouse. We have
some limited facilities within the college, including a squash court (right next to
the first year accommodation) and free pool table. We also have access to a
sports’ ground (Grantchester Road) and our own boat house, fifteen and ten
minutes’ cycle ride away respectively. Those wanting to use a gym to work on
fitness or weight loss should try the university gym, Fenner’s (15 minutes’ walk
from Peterhouse).

As might be expected from a small college, competition for team places is
negligible, where it exists at all, and anyone with the necessary enthusiasm
is welcome within almost any sport. At College level the emphasis tends to be
more on having fun than on competition, but most first teams still reach a
decent standard. Limited access to players has not prevented us from achieving
notable victories in the recent past, particularly in pool and rowing. The
Peterhouse Boat Club is a big part of College life for some people and there is
separate information that will be available to you about taster sessions during
Freshers’ Week.
Those wanting to compete at a university level at any given sport should go to
the Freshers’ Fair and talk to the club rep, as procedures vary between sports.
Chapel
Services:
Peterhouse Chapel is above all a friendly and inclusive community – and a
vibrant one at that. People come from all denominations and none: some are
committed Christians, some are curious enquirers, others simply come to enjoy
the aesthetics of the sung services. Most importantly, everybody is welcome.
Even if you are not interested in Christianity per se, seriously consider attending
at least a couple of Sunday Evensong services in order to experience the unique
blend of a candlelit 17th-century Chapel and our excellent choir. Our visiting
preachers are normally of extremely high quality, ranging from leaders of
various Christian denominations through to prominent political figures. Apart
from services, there are many other opportunities to meet over food and/or
drink such as the Dean’s port parties or the splendid termly Chapel Feasts. For
further information contact either one of the Chapel Officers or the Dean, Dr
Stephen Hampton, who will all be happy to entertain you.

Music
As we are constantly being reminded, Peterhouse is the smallest college in Cambridge
which means that everything within it is on a smaller scale, including music. However,
there are plenty of opportunities for people of all abilities. As with other colleges the
focus in on choral music, but we also have our own orchestra, and solo
instrumentalists are always wanted for informal concerts.
Chapel Choir:
Singing in the Peterhouse Chapel Choir is special for two main reasons. First of
all it’s tiny; made up of only 16 voices. Second, it is organised and run by the two
organ scholars (with a little help from our choir librarian). The combined effect is
that it is more friendly and relaxed than the average Cambridge choir. That
doesn’t mean to say that the standard is any lower, or the perks any fewer. If
you are looking to sing to a wide and varied repertoire of sacred music to a
really high standard, but with a reasonably low time commitment, then
Peterhouse is a fantastic place to be. We sing evensong twice a week, with one
extra rehearsal, and for that commitment singers get three free meals in formal
hall per week, several free feasts throughout the year, free singing lessons, and
one heavily subsidised tour (this year we went to Paris and sang in Notre Dame
and Chartres Cathedral, among other venues). There are a few choral scholars
each year, but those without choral scholarships can audition for the choir at the
beginning of the year and I would encourage anyone at all interested to give it a
go. It really is a fantastic opportunity and the camaraderie in the choir has been
one of the best parts of my year. For more information go to
www.srcf.ucam.org/petcc/w/Main_Page

Peterhouse Singers:
If, however, you think the chapel choir is a bit too serious for you but you still
love singing, then Peterhouse Singers may be a perfect fit for you. It is the
College’s informal singing group and sings a truly diverse selection of music,
from Vivaldi to Disney and everything in between. Everyone is welcome, whether
they've sung before or not, no audition necessary, and while you might find sight
singing helpful it is by no means necessary. The group rehearses every Monday
evening, but attendance isn’t strict, which makes it a great break when you feel
like a brief respite from work.
Peterhouse Players:
Peterhouse Players is our orchestra. This is unauditioned too, although players
should be comfortable with sight reading up to a reasonable standard. The
orchestra tends to play largely baroque and early classical pieces in keeping with
its small size and string-heavy composition. Unfortunately at the moment there's
not a lot on offer within Peterhouse for wind players, although as anyone can set
up a new music group, that could change. College musical groups perform in the
College concerts that take place at the end of each term. Soloists are often
included in the programmes for these concerts, although many soloists prefer to
perform at the informal coffee concerts that are put on every two weeks, so
there is no shortage of solo opportunities.
University Music:
Those wishing to expand their musical horizons may wish to join one of the
university-wide music groups, some of which are auditioned and some of which
are open to all. There is a wide array of these, from orchestras CUMS and CUMS
2 to CU Show Choir and CU Jazz Band. It’s a good idea to join the Music Society
mailing list early on to stay on top of auditions and concerts, or get in touch with
a particular group at the Freshers’ Fair.
Eavan Prenter
Contact: ep388@cam.ac.uk

Going out
There are five clubs in Cambridge: Cindies (Ballare), Fez, Life (The Place), Lola Lo,
and Vodka Revs. Each night tends to have a particular club associated with it,
that you will become alarmingly used to, and that is where all the students will
go – we will acquaint you with this cycle. There are also a huge number of pubs
in the city, some of which you will sample on the pub crawl. The indisputable
highlight is The Regal, the largest Wetherspoons in the country, where you can
sample their selection of £3 pints of real ale – that is unless a lairy pikey on the
dance floor knocks you out with a broken table-leg first. Also notable is The
Eagle, where Watson and Crick went to celebrate the discovery of the structure
of DNA. The pubs closest to College are The Anchor and The Snug, both popular
watering-holes should you feel energetic enough to stride forth beyond the bar
for an evening pint.
Cindies:
Cindies is the name of a club that has now been officially called “Ballare” for over
12 years. It is a tribute to the stubbornness of Cambridge undergraduates that
we still refuse to accept its rebranding, just as old-fashioned individuals continue
to hold on to the dream that Starburst will once again be known as Opal Fruits.
If you thought formal hall sounded lame, wait until you consider the idea of a
packed club reverberating every Wednesday night to the sound of S Club,
B’Witched, Journey and other such atrocious balladeers from our youth (and
indeed, the youth of our parents), but it still holds a dear place in all our hearts.
There will be a night here during Freshers’ Week.

Drama
The Cambridge drama scene is probably the best of any university in England. There
are literally hundreds of shows each year at venues all across Cambridge, catering
for all, from the first-time enthusiast to the experienced campaigner with
professional aspirations. Actors, directors, musical directors, producers, writers, stage
managers, costume designers, lighting designers and set designers are all constantly
in demand, so no matter what you are interested in doing there will be something for
you here.
University drama:
The ADC (Amateur Dramatic Club) is the main theatre company in Cambridge. It
puts on shows in both the large ADC theatre near Jesus College and the Corpus
Playrooms, a small studio theatre which is directly opposite King’s College. There
are two shows a week at these venues, a main show and a late show. Smaller
companies across Cambridge will also fund shows in these venues and put on
shows in their own theatres.
The best way to get involved is to go along to as many auditions (for actors) or
interviews (for people on the production side) as possible. The way to do this is
to sign up to the actors’ list and the production list at the ADC stall at the
Freshers’ Fair. These are email lists that go out twice weekly with details of
auditions and interviews for upcoming productions. Don’t worry if this all seems
a bit confusing, it was all a bit much for me when I first came, and it now seems
much the norm. If you have any queries don’t hesitate to get in touch with me
and I’d be more than happy to show you around the theatres and help you get
to auditions in the first week. Perhaps the best opportunity for newcomers are
the two freshers’ shows in week 6, where assistant direction and production are
done by freshers and all the actors will be freshers as well.

College drama:
The College drama society is the Heywood Society, which puts on a show once a
term. This provides a great opportunity for people who are new to drama to get
involved in some capacity as there are always people needed to help out.
University card:
James Ellis
Contact: je319@cam.ac.uk
Miscellany
This is used to pay for meals in hall and drinks in the bar. It is also the
only university-approved form of ID (required for exams etc.).
The porters:
The porters function as the day-to-day contact point between the college
authorities and the students. They are responsible for security and generally
keeping the life of the college running smoothly. Should you require any advice
on where to find something, how to get there etc. the porters should be your
first stop, as they know everything there is to know about the city.
They are based at the Porter’s Lodge, or ‘Plodge’ at the main entrance to first
court which late at night is the main access to Peterhouse. It is where post is
delivered, and it also functions as a general focal point of the college. It is
therefore often used as a convenient meeting point.

Term:
"Full Term" runs from a Tuesday to Friday - exactly eight weeks of lectures and
study. Lectures start on the Thursday after Full Term begins and end on the
Wednesday before the final Friday. “University Term” refers to a longer period
that extends a week or so either side of “full term”, and represents the period for
which you are provided accommodation without special permission. The first
term is known as Michaelmas Term, the second as Lent Term, and the third as
Easter Term (or Exam Term). There is no half-term or “reading week” at
Cambridge. You can find the term dates on the university website (google:
Cambridge Term Dates).
May Week:
This is the name given to the period at the end of Easter term once exams are
over; it is neither in May, nor exactly a week long, yet the name persists. This is
the time at which all our pent-up over-worked frustration is released, with the
Daily Mail never failing to publish a photo of an unconscious student or two. The
May Balls, for between £60 – £170 will show you for one night only that
hedonism never died.

International students
First, I’d like to wish you a very warm welcome to Peterhouse. Before giving you
practical information, I just want to say that being an international student at
Cambridge is a great experience. Not only can you socialise within College, but
you can also meet people from outside College very easily through iCUSU – the
International Students’ Union. So you get the best of both worlds! If you still
have questions after reading this, please do not hesitate to contact me:
ayg20@cam.ac.uk
Before you get here:
1) Visas
Not all nationalities need to get a visa, but if you do I’d suggest you get it done as
early as possible. To issue a Visa, the UK border agency typically requires
passport photos, your passport and a Confirmation of Acceptance of Studies.
2) What you need to bring
Most importantly, not too much! I know it’s tempting to pack up your entire
room and bring it over here, but trust me, the less you have, the easier packing it
all up again at the end of each term will be. Peterhouse offers very limited free
storage for internationals over the vacation. As far as clothes are concerned, the
main thing to remember is that Cambridge can get quite cold in winter time. You
will need something smart to wear to matriculation and for the dinner
afterwards. Kitchen-wise, all you will have is a microwave and a toaster, so there
is no point in weighing yourself down with pots and pans. And Cambridge has
lots of shops, so if you don’t have very much room in your bags, don’t worry, you
can buy whatever you need once you get here.
Once you get here:
1) Arrival
If you’re arriving by bus or by train, I’d recommend taking a taxi (which will only
cost you about £5). Go to the Porter’s Lodge at Peterhouse. The porters are all
very friendly, and they’ll give you your keys and direct you to your room. I’ll be in
College from early on, so feel free to contact me to let me know when you’re
going to get here so I can be there to meet you.
2) International Freshers’ Week
iCUSU organises an International Freshers’ week for all members of the
university, which takes place before most other people arrive. For more details
and dates have a look at: www.international.cusu.cam.ac.uk/freshersweek.
Obviously whether you arrive here early or not and participate in any of the
events is completely up to you. The international office itself organises a

useful orientation day, which you need to sign up for here: http://
www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/internationalstudents/orientation/.
3) Peterhouse Freshers’ Week
This is for all freshers in College, and I suggest you participate in as many events
as you can. It’s a great way of meeting people and of getting to know more about
College life, your course, and Cambridge in general. I’ll be organising a tea for
international freshers sometime during the week (probably on Wednesday), so
make sure you come to that (there will be cake!).
Throughout the year:
Even after the excitement of coming to England has died down and you’ve
begun to work, there’ll still be plenty to look forward to throughout the year. The
international reps from all colleges are planning to organise lots of ‘swaps’ (going
to formal with internationals from other colleges), and iCUSU will be organising
various events. There are also societies for virtually every nationality (you can
sign up at the Freshers’ Fair). You’ll find out more about all this when you get
here. In the meantime, I hope you have a nice summer and are excited about
starting at Peterhouse!
As I mentioned earlier, please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions
you may have, however trivial they may seem. Looking forward to meeting you
all!
Alba Godfrey
Peterhouse International Rep 2012/13
Contact: ayg20@cam.ac.uk
www.peterhousejcr.co.uk/jcr/international

LGBTQ students
Hello! My name is Rosie and I am the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,
Transgender, Questioning) representative for Peterhouse. This means that I am
responsible for providing LGBTQ-related support to members of Peterhouse,
and also for organising social events for our LGBTQ community. I am always
available if you are ever in need of support. I hold a surgery hour each week
where I am available if you ever need someone to talk to (details of this will be
circulated in October), and you can contact me at any time by email at
rjs231@cam.ac.uk, during term or before you arrive.
As well as the LGBTQ community in College, there is a CUSU (Cambridge
University Student Union) LGBTQ executive for the university-wide LGBTQ
community, which organises a wide range of social events and campaigns, and is
also a great source of support for those in need of it. They are a brilliant network
for the university LGBTQ community as a whole, and a great way to meet new
people and get involved. For more information visit www.lgbt.cusu.cam.ac.uk/
New last year is the CUSU LGBTQ parenting scheme. This exciting scheme is
similar to the College parenting scheme, except it is university-wide and
intended to provide extra support specifically to LGBTQ freshers. If you wish to
take part, you will be assigned two students from later years whose job it will be
to look out for you in and beyond Freshers’ Week, helping you to settle in and
answering any questions you may have about life at Cambridge. Details on how
to sign up should soon be posted on the CUSU LGBTQ website above.
Coming to university for the first time can be scary, but Peterhouse is an
incredibly tolerant and accepting college and you will feel at home here from the
moment you arrive. I look forward to meeting you all in October!
Rosie Shewell-Brockway
Peterhouse LGBTQ Rep 2012/13
Contact: rjs321@cam.ac.uk
www.peterhousejcr.co.uk/jcr/lbgtq

The parents’ guide
This next piece is for parents. When they have dropped you off, they may be at a loss,
and without College parents or a freshers’ guide to turn to for help! This, then, is a
brief guide to Cambridge specifically for them:
Meet the parents!
Hello Parents, my name is Sam. I am a second year medical student at
Peterhouse and co-author of this guide. In case you are not already aware, in my
role as first year representative I am here to help your son/daughter’s smooth
transition from home to university life.
The amount that each student includes their parents in preparation for
university varies greatly, but irrespective of this you are probably making some
plans, and maybe feel quite apprehensive. This is an opportunity to allay any
concerns you might have, and for me to explain a bit more about the weekend
when freshers arrive (29th-30th September 2012).
Here at Peterhouse, we operate a “College family” system that is designed to
give each student a personalised induction to the college. You son/daughter will
be assigned two second year students to act as their “College parents”. One of
these students will study their subject. They will also have at least one “College
sibling”. The College parents will write to their College children during
September, and provide their source of information prior to arrival. Your son/
daughter is encouraged to contact his/her College parents when they arrive in
Cambridge. Meeting College parents can be an interesting and slightly surreal
experience; meeting someone who introduces themselves as your child’s new
parents is a bit odd. But don’t fear, the College parents will be friendly and
helpful, hopefully putting both you and your son/daughter at ease while
assisting with carrying the assortment of bags, boxes and the like which will
invariably accompany your child.
While you might feel the urge to unpack and organise their new room, you may
also like to leave them free to meet new neighbours - something I leave up to
you.
Where to stay:
Many of you will live some distance from Cambridge, and so may need to
arrange to stay the night and return home the following day. The full selection
of Cambridge hotels can be found on the Cambridge Tourist Office Website

(www.visitcambridge.org/VisitCambridge/Home). Note also that parents of
Peterhouse students receive 10% off the best available room rate at the
Cambridge Crown Plaza Hotel.
Where to eat:
Within a week of having to pay for their own food students will be desperate for
you to take them out for any meal, but on the first night we recommend that
students eat in College with all the other new undergraduates, as it is an easy
way to start meeting people. In due course you will be able to eat at formal hall
too; your son/daughter can invite you and your guests on any evening so long as
it is pre-booked.
Otherwise, if going out and about during the day to watch Cambridge life go by,
visit the Copper Kettle or Aunties Tea Room on/near King’s Parade. Alternatively,
drive out to Grantchester and have a cream tea in the Orchard Tea Gardens
(highly recommended). Browns, right opposite St. Peter’s Terrace is another
popular place for supper, and there is a Loch Fyne right opposite College.
Shopping and walking:
Cambridge has good shops, a combination of what appeals to parents and
siblings; the specialist individual shops and the popular chain store variety. If
you find you have forgotten anything, you are sure to be able to find it in
Cambridge. However, beware of shops selling over-priced tourist merchandise!
Walk along ‘the backs’ (of the colleges, along the River Cam); some of the
colleges also have beautiful gardens. You could try punting; punt hire including
someone to punt for you is available from the Silver Street Bridge (follow
Trumpington Street to its far end and curve left towards Queens’ College).
Although Peterhouse is not on the river, many other colleges are and are well
worth a look.
And finally:
If you have any further questions, please feel free to email me and I will
endeavour to assist. Hope all goes well – I’m sure it will.
Sam Mackrill
Peterhouse Freshers’ Rep 2012/13
Contact: sm906@cam.ac.uk
www.peterhousejcr.co.uk/jcr/freshers

Map of Cambridge
This marks out all the key places you will need in your first term. Be sure to have a
walk around to familiarise yourself. College parents will also be happy to take you on
a little tour. Note, this map is a rough guide, and we recommend you use it in
conjunction with an official map of Cambridge to help orientate yourselves.
Sidgewick
Site
Sliver Street
Fen Causeway
Bridge Street Sidney Street
Kings Parade
Peterhouse
Green
Street
Market Square
and Gt. St.
Mary’s
Bene’t
Street
Pembroke Street
Trumpington Street
Fitzwilliam
Museum
Gardie’s
Kebab
Rose Crescent
Fitz
Street
WSB SPT
Jesus Lane
Grand
Arcade
& Lion
Yard
Architecture &
Engineering
Kings Street
Downing
Site
tennis Court Road
Christ’s
Pieces
Regent Street
Regent Street
Lensfield Road
Midsummer
Common
Banks
Peterhouse’s nearest
cashpoint
Parker’s Piece
St Peter’s Terrace’s
nearest cashpoint

Where you will live
in your first year.
Key people at Peterhouse
Prof. Adrian Dixon
The Master of Peterhouse
Map of Peterhouse
Who’s Who
Dr Stephen Hampton
Dean and Senior Tutor
Mr G Meade
Head Porter

Tutors – You’ll be assigned one of the college’s four tutors to assist you with
pastoral concerns. For academic matters, see your DoS, for anything else, see
your tutor.
The Fellows – Academics associated with the college. Some teach, either as
lecturers, supervisors or DoSs, while others focus more on their research, or
take on specialised roles, for example that of the Senior Bursar
Directors of Studies – Directors of Studies are in charge of running their subject
and, in each case, overseeing the academic progress of all those studying it.
The Porters – The day-to-day contact point between students and College.
Bedders – Cambridge term for a cleaner. They keep the communal spaces tidy,
and will clean in your room once per week.
Graduate students (Grads) – Those studying for their second degree (Masters,
PhD etc.) They have their own common room just opposite the bar, but
otherwise are as us.
Undergraduate students – Anyone studying for their first degree, i.e. you and
me.
Dictionary
Essential guide to general Cambridge (GC), and more Peterhouse-specific (PS), Jargon.
ASNaC
Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic. The subject or someone who
studies it. GC
Bop Big party in College. Three times a term at Peterhouse. GC
Bunder Vomit. PS
Compsci Computer sciences, or a computer scientist. GC
Cuppers Tournament or competition – played for a cup. GC
Ent Short for “entertainment”. Huge parties at certain colleges. GC
Fitz Street
Fitzwilliam Street, where most of the second years live and
maybe a few of you. PS

Going up/
down
Gowned
Arriving/leaving at the start/end of term. GC
The standard disciplinary procedure, which involves you getting
told off while wearing a gown. PS
JCR Junior Common Room. GC
Mathmo A mathematician. GC
Natsci Natural sciences, or a natural scientist. GC
Peterhouse
College
This place does not exist. Forget it. It is just “Peterhouse”. People
are more snobby about this than Hyacinth Bouquet is about the
pronunciation of her surname. PS
Plodge The Porter’s Lodge. GC
Spade To hit on relentlessly. PS
SPT Saint Peter’s Terrace, where most of you will live. PS
Squash Teams/societies trying to persuade you to join. GC
The Sex Club The JCR (it’s short for “The Sexcentenary Club”). PS
UL The University Library. GC
WSB
William Stone Building, where some of you live, plus some
second and third years. PS
Contacts
Finally, a list of contacts that may be of use to you throughout your first year.
Postal address (Post is sorted at the porter’s lodge, not sent to your room):
Peterhouse, Trumpington Street, Cambridge CB2 1RD
Emails:
Tutorial Office: 01223 338201 / tutorial@pet.cam.ac.uk
The Porter’s Lodge: 01223 338200 / plodge@pet.cam.ac.uk
The College Nurse: nurse@pet.cam.ac.uk
The Dean: dean@pet.cam.ac.uk
The Fresher’s Representative (me): sm906@cam.ac.uk

Acknowledgments
With thanks to the following for their contributions:
Authors - Sam Mackrill and Nick Dixon-Clegg
Additional Material from - Ashley Abrahams, Richard Dearden, Rhys James, Karel
Kabelík, James Ellis, Alba Godfrey, Rosie Shewell Brockway and Eavan Prenter.
Design and Layout - Jenni Reid
Proof Reading - Kath Mackrill and Dr P. Pattenden.
Photography - Various Sources (special thanks to Jenni Reid)
Peterhouse Freshers’ Guide © Sam Mackrill 2012