magazine - Somerville College - University of Oxford

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