211075 Downing Record 07 - Downing College - University of ...

understanding! The music recitals in the drawing room of the Master’s Lodge andin the Chapel by current and past students have continued in the intimateatmosphere which makes them very special. The talent displayed by theperformers is quite remarkable, especially when one finds that many do not readmusic as their academic subject.Meeting members at this year’s College Reunion was again a privilege. Thoseattending were from Matriculation years ending in 7 as well as 1950 and earlieryears. Organised by the College this event was notable in attracting some 45people from the 1997 vintage. This was a magnificent achievement in the lightof the historic difficulty which almost every similar body finds in attracting the“younger” generations to such events.At the end of Easter Term came the May Ball which required that the Collegebe transformed into a Celtic Paradise under the touch of Danu, a Celtic deity, thepersonification of the earth. Under a clear and warm June sky some 1000 peopleenjoyed food, music, dancing, drinks, crazy golf, chair-o-planes, swing boats andsome wonderful fireworks as well as having the opportunity of having their hairdone or watching a range of classic films. The casino in the Howard Building wasa continuous attraction offering the chance of winning a prize for the highestroller, but no real money changed hands.Whenever an event took place in College this year one was bound to encounterRichard and Eleanor Wilson. Richard has been this year’s Thomas Jefferson VisitingFellow and both he and Eleanor hold chairs at the University of Virginia. Theyhave extended the conversational spectrum at many a College function.The Master writes:Is it really a year since I last wrote my overview for the Newsletter? At least it hasbeen a year during which we have been blissfully free of major building workson the domus, having completed the first phases of what we call the ‘West RangeProject’. We have superb new kitchens, buttery, servery, administrative offices anddisabled access to the Hall and Offices via B staircase. But this relative calm willnot last and more of that below.I wrote last year about the ways in which we were trying to refine ouradmissions process in order to maximise our ability to select those students whohave the potential to thrive here. A key aim of these efforts is to try to help ourundergraduates to meet the challenges posed by the widening gulf between the12