Open Cambridge - the University Offices - University of Cambridge

what’s new
Your comments and contributions are always welcome.
Please send them to the Editor at newsletter@admin.cam.ac.uk
The deadline for the next issue is 22 September.
Newcomers to get even warmer welcome
New staff and visiting scholars are now
able to make use of a variety of enhanced
services to help them and their families
settle in at Cambridge.
The services, run by the Newcomers
and Visiting Scholars Society, include a
revamped website and Facebook page,
to go with a new programme of events
for Michaelmas Term.
Activities ranging from guided tours
of the University’s museums, Evensong at
King’s College and talks on British culture
– many of which are free – will take place
over the coming months. These are in
addition to the society’s regular weekly
meetings at the University Centre
(see ‘Find out more’).
Newcomers and Visiting Scholars
Society Director Liz Hodder says
Cambridge the city and University
can seem an impenetrable place to new
joiners – particularly those who have
arrived for the first time from overseas.
She says: “A lot of people feel
intimidated, especially by the buildings –
they feel they are not available to them.
Our events give people a chance to meet
others in a similar position and learn
about the University.”
The society’s bid to attract people
using social media channels is particularly
important, says Liz, as many of today’s
newcomers want to research the
The Newcomers and Visiting
Scholars Society’s weekly
meetings are a good place to
make friends at Cambridge
University and try to develop a social
network months before they arrive.
And it isn’t just those who work at
the University who can benefit from the
society’s work; partners and family are
also welcome.
Says Liz: “Our biggest mission
is to reach people. We would like
departmental administrators to pass
on our details if they know someone
who is a newcomer or visiting scholar
and encourage them to get in touch.
We can do the rest.”
find out more
Telephone: (01223) 338099
Email: Julie Darsley at
jrd32@admin.cam.ac.uk
Website: www.accommodation.cam.ac.uk
Facebook group: University of Cambridge
Newcomers and Visiting Scholars
Meetings: Every Tuesday at the
University Centre from 10.45am
until 12 noon
Dr John Cleaver
College quartet hits 40
The Fitzwilliam String Quartet celebrates
its 40th anniversary this year. The quartet,
resident at Fitzwilliam College, recently
gave a concert at the college’s auditorium
to mark the milestone. The evening’s
repertoire included Tchaikovsky’s
Quartet No. 1, which also featured in its
first concert in 1969. Since then it has
performed across Britain, Europe, North
America, the Far East and Southern Africa,
as well as recording many award-winning
LPs and CDs for Decca and Linn. For
further information on the quartet, visit
➔ www.fitzwilliamquartet.org
The Fitzwilliam Quartet,
comprising (from left to right)
Lucy Russell, Jonathan Spasey,
Heather Tuack and Alan
George, celebrates 40 years
of excellence
Music festival
inspired by Darwin
The 2009 Cambridge Music Festival
is to take the theme ‘Music and
Evolution’ in commemoration of
the 200th anniversary of Charles
Darwin’s birth and the 150th
anniversary of the publication
of On the Origin of Species.
The festival, which runs from
8–29 November, incorporates more
than 70 concerts, recitals and talks in
various venues across the city.
The choir of Gonville and Caius
College will perform new settings of
psalms by six Cambridge alumni on
22 November in St John’s College Chapel.
Tickets for all concerts are available now
from the Corn Exchange box office on
(01223) 357851. For more information
on the Cambridge Music Festival, visit
http://www.cammusic.co.uk/
september/october 2009 | UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE Newsletter | 3