magazine - Somerville College - University of Oxford
magazine - Somerville College - University of Oxford
magazine - Somerville College - University of Oxford
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<strong>Somerville</strong> Magzine | 3<br />
Principal’s Message<br />
DAME FIONA<br />
CALDICOTT<br />
This year’s Magazine includes many stimulating<br />
stories about the lives <strong>of</strong> Somervillians throughout the<br />
world, ranging from two very different perspectives on<br />
Afghanistan by Thomas Wide (2003) and Tom Norton<br />
(1997) in their respective civil and military roles, to the<br />
inspirational new Dean <strong>of</strong> Columbia <strong>College</strong> in New York,<br />
Michele Moody-Adams (1978), Sarah England’s (1986)<br />
thought-provoking observations about tobacco control<br />
in China, and Nick Martlew’s (2002) humanitarian<br />
plight working with Oxfam in Ethiopia. Creatively, as<br />
ever, Somervillians have been highly commended in<br />
the past year, with Francesca Kay (1975) winning the<br />
2009 Orange Award for New Writers for her novel An<br />
Equal Stillness, and Tessa Ross (1980) receiving a New<br />
Year’s honour for her services to broadcasting. I do hope<br />
that you enjoy reading about the remarkable work <strong>of</strong><br />
these and many more <strong>of</strong> your fellow Somervillians, who<br />
unquestionably demonstrate the enduring Somervillian<br />
spirit for which the <strong>College</strong>’s alumni are renowned<br />
In my introduction to the Magazine last year, I wrote<br />
about how the outlook from parts <strong>of</strong> the <strong>College</strong> had<br />
been transformed by demolition on the Radcliffe<br />
Observatory (formerly the Radcliffe Infi rmary) site. The<br />
planning <strong>of</strong> <strong>Somerville</strong>’s two new buildings <strong>of</strong> student<br />
accommodation on the periphery <strong>of</strong> the site, behind<br />
House and the Library, has proceeded apace since then.<br />
Planning permission has been granted and contractors<br />
have been appointed, so we can look forward to work<br />
on site being commenced in the early summer. Our<br />
students have appreciated being involved in the design<br />
<strong>of</strong> the rooms, while regretting that these (available in<br />
October 2011) will not benefi t most <strong>of</strong> them. Alumni<br />
are also excited at the prospect <strong>of</strong> new accommodation<br />
being available when coming to stay in <strong>College</strong>. It will be<br />
interesting to see if these rooms, or those in the Dorothy<br />
Hodgkin Quad, which are arranged as four bedroom<br />
fl ats, are the most popular.<br />
Meanwhile we are busy fundraising for the building<br />
and are optimistic that we can achieve our target <strong>of</strong> £2<br />
million, thanks to the generosity <strong>of</strong> alumni and friends<br />
<strong>of</strong> the <strong>College</strong>. Such support for, and investment in, the<br />
<strong>College</strong> and its future is very heart warming.<br />
In contrast, many <strong>of</strong> you will remember the damp, cold<br />
climate in <strong>Oxford</strong>, particularly in Hilary Term. This was<br />
particularly inclement this year, and many students and<br />
staff had persistent infections interrupting their studies<br />
and work. The daffodils fi nally appeared in the quad as<br />
the vacation began, and hopefully everyone will return<br />
for the summer term in better spirits, even if they face<br />
academic hurdles.<br />
There have been celebrations, sometimes mixed with<br />
regret. Such is the calibre <strong>of</strong> our tutorial fellows that<br />
we lose them because they are promoted to chairs.<br />
So Tobias Reinhardt moved to the <strong>University</strong>’s Chair<br />
<strong>of</strong> Latin, associated with Corpus Christi <strong>College</strong>, and<br />
James MacDonnell (Biochemistry) left to take up a<br />
chair at King’s <strong>College</strong>, London. Our newest fellows,<br />
Hilary Greaves in Philosophy and Luke Pitcher in<br />
Classics, have engaged in their busy academic<br />
schedules and our Domestic Bursar, Carol Reynolds,<br />
Librarian, Anne Manuel and Director <strong>of</strong> Development,<br />
Julie Hage, are now well established in their posts.<br />
Joanna Innes, Tutorial Fellow in History, has become<br />
Vice-Principal for my last year, and for Dr Prochaska’s<br />
fi rst, providing very helpful continuity from August to<br />
September and beyond.<br />
It does feel strange to be part <strong>of</strong> the cycle <strong>of</strong> the<br />
academic year for the last time, and to be able to<br />
contemplate a holiday in October as 2010 - 11<br />
begins. The <strong>Somerville</strong> women’s soccer team rose to my<br />
challenge to win Cuppers last month, having reached<br />
the Final for the third time. Scoring for the fourth time in<br />
the fi nal minutes ‘Dame Fi’s Barmy Army’ did me and<br />
the <strong>College</strong> proud. Those are the moments that<br />
I will miss the most.<br />
Even more than events, I will miss the people who are<br />
what <strong>Somerville</strong> is today. The students, academics and<br />
staff, as I have said before, make this a wonderful place<br />
to work, and I thank them all for their contributions to the<br />
<strong>College</strong> and its activities, academic, creative, sporting and<br />
social. The alumni, too, have contributed much <strong>of</strong> my<br />
enjoyment, and some challenges, in my years here, for<br />
which I thank them too.<br />
My predecessor but one, Daphne Park, provided me<br />
with much wise counsel, in what can be a lonely role.<br />
Our great sadness in <strong>College</strong> at her recent death marks<br />
the personal loss that many <strong>of</strong> us feel, though marked<br />
with gratitude for all that she did in her distinguished life<br />
<strong>of</strong> service, not least for <strong>Somerville</strong> <strong>College</strong>.