St Aidan's College, Durham

St Aidan's College
                             
University Durham University
Location Durham City
Coordinates 54°45′51″N 1°35′02″W / 54.764167°N 1.583889°W / 54.764167; -1.583889Coordinates: 54°45′51″N 1°35′02″W / 54.764167°N 1.583889°W / 54.764167; -1.583889
Motto Super fundamentis certis
Motto in English Upon sure foundations
Established 1947
Named for St Aidan of Lindisfarne
Principal Susan Frenk
Undergraduates 806
Postgraduates 28
Senior tutor Stefan Klidzia
Website
Map
Location in Durham, England

St Aidan's College is a college of the University of Durham in England. Founded in 1947 as the St Aidan's Society, but able to trace its roots back to the end of the 19th century, the college is named for St Aidan of Lindisfarne.

History

Front view of the central building

The college has its origins in the small group of women, known as home students, who were first allowed to study at Durham in 1895. At that time, and indeed until the Second World War, it was considered unsuitable for female students to live in lodgings: they either had to be members of a College or to live at home. The numbers were never very large; for example, in 1936 there were only five. However, a substantial increase in the number of female students after 1945 meant that the former group of home students was reorganised, emerging as the St Aidan's Society in 1947.

The St Aidan's Society had its offices at 24 North Bailey (now the bar and club of the Durham Union Society). Some of the students lived in Shincliffe Hall, and others in lodgings. A Common Room was soon found in 50 North Bailey and chapel services held at the church of St Mary-le-Bow. The first principal was Ethleen Scott,[1] having been "Censor" of the female home students since 1937.

In 1961 St Aidan's was reconstituted as a full "Council College" (meaning that its governing council is a sub-committee of the University Council, the university's governing body). It moved to its present buildings on Elvet Hill in 1964, becoming one of the first of the university's "Hill" colleges. The college buildings are in a modernist style, having been designed by architect Sir Basil Spence and arranged in a semi-circular arrangement surrounding a central lawn. The original design was intended to represent the hand of God holding a jewel, with the curved corridors as the fingers, the straight corridors as his thumb, and a small chapel as the jewel. However, financial constraints prevented the chapel from ever being built and later extensions to the straight section did not follow the original idea.

In 1963, Scott was succeeded as principal by Dame Enid Russell-Smith,[2] who handed over to Irene Hindmarsh in 1970.[3] It was during her tenure as principal that it was agreed that St Aidan's should become a mixed college. The first male students were admitted in 1981. John Ashworth took over in 1998, before becoming Dean of Colleges in 2007, at which point Susan Frenk became acting principal. In 2008 work on improvements to the extensions were started. The aim was to turn previous fresher rooms into ensuite accommodation for finalists and postgraduates. In February 2009 students were allowed to tour the newly refurbished extensions, named Elizabeth Pease House.

Structure

St Aidan's modern buildings

The college membership divides itself between the Senior Common Room (SCR) and the Junior Common Room (JCR). The SCR is a self-regulating body of senior members of the university, college officers, tutors and postgraduate students. The JCR consists of the undergraduate members of the college and elects its own officers, including a sabbatical president and a bar steward, who liaise on its behalf with the college and university.[4]

Societies

Boat club

St Aidan's College Boat Club
Image showing the rowing club's blade colours
Location University College Boathouse, Durham[5]
Home water River Wear
Founded 1954 (1954)[6]
Affiliations British Rowing, Durham College Rowing
Website www.dur.ac.uk/aidans.boat_club/

In 1954 St Aidan's College Boat Club (SACBC) was founded. Today the club shares a boathouse with University College Boat Club.

Association football

St. Aidan's College participate in the intercollegiate football league. There are 5 men's and one women's team representing St Aidan's College, with both A teams featuring in the premiership as of 2016.[7]

Climbing

The club meets once a week and is open to beginners and experts alike. The club is noted for its 'bizarre' club socials, frequently tying themselves up in rope to traverse some of Durham's many college bars.

Nineteenth Hole Society

St Aidan's College's favourite society, affectionately known as the NHS, is a golfing club dedicated to escaping the hustle and bustle of university life with gatherings held on the 19th of every month. Members adhere proudly to the NHS motto, "Swingin' clubs by day, swing in clubs by night."

Notable alumni

References

  1. ↑ ‘SCOTT, Ethleen Mary’, Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2008; online edn, Oxford University Press, Dec 2007 accessed 7 April 2013
  2. ↑ ‘RUSSELL-SMITH, Dame Enid (Mary Russell)’, Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2008; online edn, Oxford University Press, Dec 2012 ; online edn, Nov 2012 accessed 7 April 2013
  3. ↑ ‘HINDMARSH, Irene’, Who's Who 2013, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 2013; online edn, Oxford University Press, Dec 2012 ; online edn, Nov 2012 accessed 7 April 2013
  4. ↑ http://www.st-aidans.com/the-jcr/
  5. ↑ http://www.dur.ac.uk/college.rowing/resources/rivers/river_wear.png
  6. ↑ http://www.ara-rowing.org/clubs/st-aidans-college-bc
  7. ↑ Team Durham league tables
  8. ↑ Jon Ashworth MP
  9. ↑ http://www.sjd.ac.uk/content/1727/inspiring-bev-is-finalist-in-national-teaching-awards[]
  10. ↑ https://www.societyofbiology.org/news/14-news/505-school-biology-teacher-of-the-year-award-winner-announced
  11. ↑ Durham First : More than a Buddy - Durham University
  12. ↑ Dave Winslett Associates: Judith Hann
  13. ↑ ‘HOYLAND, Jeremy Quentin’, Who's Who 2013, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 2013; online edn, Oxford University Press, Dec 2012 ; online edn, Nov 2012 accessed 7 April 2013
  14. ↑ ‘McISAAC, Shona’, Who's Who 2013, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 2013; online edn, Oxford University Press, Dec 2012 ; online edn, Nov 2012 accessed 7 April 2013
  15. ↑ "Nick Mohammed's heart "lies in Durham"". The Palatinate. 6 December 2010.
  16. ↑ "Nick Mohammed: a profile of the up-and-coming comedian (pg.8-9)". Durham First. Autumn/Winter 2011.
  17. ↑ Nicolle, Stéphanie Claire, Who's Who 2013, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 2013; online edn, Oxford University Press, Dec 2012 ; online edn, Nov 2012 accessed 7 April 2013
  18. ↑ Burke's Peerage - Preview Family Record

Sources

External links

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