The Newsletter of Homerton College, Cambridge & The Homerton Roll

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Sailing Blue I first started sailing to avoid playing Rugby. I lack any hand-eye coordination and the traditional ball sports that I was being asked to engage in served little purpose other than slight humiliation – and I had to run around a lot, something that my 13-year self had serious issues with. So I ticked the box marked ‘Sailing’ on my secondary school form and attended a course over the summer, hoping that I would never have to touch a rugby ball ever again. I loved it, and have never looked back. Sailing has provided the backdrop to my life, and I hope it continues to do so in the future. Through it I have found immeasurable confidence, thoroughly enjoyed myself and found many friends. For those of you not au-fait with competitive sailing, here is a brief overview. Above Having just won the Varsity match Right On being presented with the trophy (Felix in the Blues Blazer) There are three types of racing when it comes to sailing: first, there is Fleet- Racing where one boat wins, often out of a fleet of over 150 vessels. Second, there is Match-Racing – two boats pitched directly against each other, as you might see in the America’s Cup. Lastly, there is Team-Racing – by far the most complex of the three and participated in mostly by Universities and Alumni teams across the world, and something that I have devoted my sporting life to for nine years. A team consists of three boats, with two people in each boat. A team-race consists of two teams attempting to out-sail each other over a short course – a race often takes no longer than ten minutes. What makes it interesting, and tactical, is that beating that other team, not winning, is what counts. Your boat’s finishing position is the number of points your boat gets. (So 1st gets one point and so on) There are six boats in the race, so there are 21 points on offer. The aim is to get fewer points than the opposing team. This can be achieved through ten different combinations – and not all of them include coming first! Slowing down your opponents, letting your team-mates’ boats through and giving penalties to the rival team is the name of the game – actually finishing a race can sometimes leave you at a disadvantage! I came to Cambridge in October 2008 and found a place on a strong University 2nd team – we came 11th at the National Championships in April 2009. I spent every Wednesday afternoon, and every weekend, either training at Grafham (about 45 minutes drive away from Cambridge) or at events around the country, from Aberdeen to Southampton. I certainly learnt to be very organised with work (and how to sail on a Sunday with a horrific hangover…). I gained a half-blue on being selected for the Varsity match – which we then sadly lost. In my second year, I ran successfully for Captain, and was responsible for the organisation of three teams with regards to squad selection and training. We must have done something right: sailing with the 1sts, I came 5th at the National Championships and earned my Full Blue (Full Blue status is only awarded if a top-8 ranking is achieved). Captaining the Varsity Match was a very special experience, and winning was a moment I will always remember fondly – despite being summarily thrown into the sea on our victory by the rest of the team. Outside of Cambridge, I sail both an RS 200 and a Swallow (two and three-man dinghies), the latter of which I took to Cowes Week in 2010, coming a creditable 4th, and being the first Swallow to ever finish a race on the Royal Yacht Squadron Line. This year, I have taken a back-seat, becoming Commodore of the CU Cruising Club, and focused a little more on my degree (spending only four days a week on it was starting to show), choosing only to organise Cambridge’s annual sailing event, the Cam Cup. I have taken on a few coaching roles with a local school up near Rutland Water to keep interested in the sport, and will hopefully return to it next year! Felix Danczak Politics Psychology & Sociology 2008–2011 12 Homertonian
HOMERTON COLLEGE BOAT CLUB 2010 to 2011 has been a solid year for HCBC, consolidating on the ever escalating positions in the bumps charts. With a large novice intake in Michaelmas 2010, we are looking forward to a great rest of the year. The 2010 May bumps gave us mixed results, with the men and women faring quite differently. Both women’s crews went down four places; however, credit must go to the girls in W2 who came together late in Easter term to make sure that we kept our place on the bumps charts. M2 embroiled in a duel with Churchill 3, bumping and being bumped on successive days to maintain their place. A snapped rudder cable was ultimately the only thing preventing them from moving up the division. The Men’s first boat, galvanised by the return of Mike Thorp (Goldie) and Chris Bellamy (Lightweights), rowed to blades, finishing 7th in Division 2, to finish the academic year on a high. October saw the new committee settling in and welcoming 40 novices to the club. Several new oarsmen and women brought added experience. Early indicators at Queens’ Ergs were promising as both of our novice first crews made the final, the women finishing impressively in 3rd, and the men in 7th. On the water, things looked promising, until unusually cold weather hit in late November. With the Reach covered in ice, the seniors’ races were postponed until Lent term, whilst the novices raced over a shortened course. The end of term also saw the delivery of ten new oars for the men after very generous contributions from friends of the club. The beginning of Lent term saw the Men’s side gather a week early for outings in mixed-ability eights and fours, the eyes firmly on bumps. With the women back on the river a week later, and all crews preparing by racing at Pembroke regatta, we entered bumps week with high hopes. Whilst the women remained on the Cam, the men prepared for bumps by racing at Norwich and coming joint 2nd overall, matching Cambridge 99’s for speed. Lent Bumps produced five exciting days of racing, with many (non-HCBC) boats experiencing spectacular and expensive crashes. M2 went down one place, only getting bumped by a blades-winning Downing crew, but otherwise producing some gutsy row-overs. The girls were slightly less fortunate, experiencing some very fast crews just below them and going down three places. M1 finished level after a rollercoaster ride, with quick bumps, wide Grassy’s and gaining whistles on the line on the crew in front. As well as the hive of activity involving students around the club, this April will mark the first alumni rowing day, with a naming ceremony for “Stevie” Stephenson, mixed eight paddling, tub racing in front of the boat houses, and barbeques planned. If you want to get involved with alumni rowing, or just receive email updates about the club, please get in touch at ojr26@cam.ac.uk. Ollie Rubens Boat Club Captain 2010–2011 THE BOAT RACE This year, the College is proud to have our first representative rower in the Cambridge University ‘Blue’ boat. Mike Thorp (History, 2009 entry) will be at ‘Bow’ when the Varsity crews set out from Putney at 5 pm on Saturday 26th March. Left to right Anna Beare, Mike Thorp, Chris Bellamy Although Oxford won the 2011 Boat Race, it is great for the College to have this representation. Mike learned the art and craft of oarsmanship while at school in Chester and soon became part and parcel of the University Boat Club on coming up to Cambridge. Bearing in mind how he manages to maintain a high academic profile while at the same time training to maintain a place in the First VIII, Mike is testament to the epithet that ‘if you want a job done well – give it to a busy man’. We are equally proud that while Homerton representation in the University Lightweight boats is not unique, there are special circumstances this year that are worthy of note. Chris Bellamy (Engineering, 2008 entry) rows again for the Men but this time as their President. On the same day at Henley, Anna Beare (Asian & Middle Eastern Studies 2010 entry) will be parting the waves in the Women’s boat. . . the only ‘fresher’ to be doing so. Philip Stephenson Dean, and Senior Treasurer of HCBC STUDENT NEWS Homerton College 13
Page 1 and 2: Homertonian The Newsletter of Homer
Page 3 and 4: principal’s letter Kate PrettY Th
Page 5 and 6: while working in a school at Soham;
Page 7 and 8: HOMERTON: The Evolution of a Cambri
Page 9 and 10: student news HOMERTON OLD BOYS REUN
Page 11: Left and opposite page Phoebe Haine
Page 15 and 16: HOMERTON COLLEGE MUSIC SOCIETY The
Page 17 and 18: HIV/AIDS EDUCATION, GHANA Thanks to
Page 19 and 20: MCR The MCR has had an exciting yea
Page 21 and 22: OBITUARIES OF FORMER COLLEAGUES Por
Page 23 and 24: Joyce was a gifted student and a sc
Page 25 and 26: Our database of College members is
Page 27 and 28: Yorkshire and Derbyshire Branch Ove

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