St Cuthbert's Society, Durham

St Cuthbert's Society, Durham
Head	Prof Roy Boyne
JCR	Iain Taker (2006/7) Tom Foulser (2007/8)

St Cuthbert's Society, almost universally known as Cuth's, is one of the University's 16 colleges. It was founded in 1888 to cater for non-resident students and is named after Cuthbert of Lindisfarne, whose body rests behind the high altar in nearby Durham Cathedral. St Cuthbert's was the third of Durham's collegiate bodies to be founded, following University and Hatfield College. It is located on Durham's peninsula - and as such qualifies as one of the university's 'Bailey colleges' - and offers accommodation to all first year students and a small group of second, finalists and postgraduates.

Relationship with the University

St Cuthbert's foundation as a Society differed from that of the earlier colleges in that it was founded as much by its students as established by the University. The head of the Society at that time was the President of the Society: a student. However, in 1947 the Principal became head of the Society, although the close relationship with the JCR Executive still continues today. Several other Societies followed, including St Aidan's Society (now St Aidan's College) and the Graduate Society (now Ustinov College), but St Cuthbert's is the only college which retains the title of Society.

Location

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St Cuthbert's Society

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Door,12 South Bailey

The Society is split on two sites with most central facilities provided at its main site at the end of the South Bailey, in and around a large, late seventeenth century building. Notable among these facilities is the bar, which is the only Durham college bar to have regular day-time, as well as evening, opening.

There is some student accommodation in the Bailey, and the Society also houses students at its Parson's Field site off Old Elvet. The Parson's Field site includes Refounders House, Brooks House, Fonteyn Court and Parsons Field Court. Brooks House, a new 192-bedroom accommodation block, named after former Principal, Professor Leslie Brooks, was completed by the start of the 2006-2007 academic year.

Traditions

The Society's patron, St Cuthbert, continues to be remembered annually, if somewhat incongruously for an ascetic, in 'The Feast', a traditionally uproarious, members-only banquet held on or near St Cuthbert's feast day on 20 March.

Another, summer-based, event is 'Cuth's Day'. This includes entertainment conducted on, off and in the River Wear - which curls around the foot of the Society's gardens - live music, and a day-long garden party. In both its baccanalian character and aquatic activity it resembles in spirit, if not antiquity, the more famous May Morning revels of Magdalen College, Oxford.

In contrast, more solemn events, held on both the Society's own Cuth's Day and the traditional ecclesiastical festival, comprise a silent gathering of Cuth's students at the shrine of St. Cuthbert at the east end of Durham Cathedral at dawn, followed by a hearty breakfast in one of the city's better hotels.

The survivng Refounders of the Society hold a reunion weekend every September. The Founders of the Society are remembered at the annual Founders' Formal. Past Presidents attend the President's Formal.

Coat of Arms

The Society's arms depict the original, seventh century pectoral cross of St Cuthbert, discovered when his grave was opened in 1827, and now preserved in the cathedral treasury. The motto, gratia gratiam parit, appears in the Adagia of Erasmus, a collection of Greek and Latin adages, and can be translated as ‘friendship begets friendship’ or ‘kindness begets kindness’. The college crest includes an eider duck. This is because, while resident in the Farne Islands, St Cuthbert instituted special laws to protect these and other seabirds nesting there, instituting what may have been the first bird protection laws anywhere in the world. Consequently, eider ducks have long been known as 'cuddy ducks' (Cuthbert's ducks) in the Pitmatic dialect as spoken in Northumberland.

Boat Club

Launched in the summer of 1893, only five years after the foundation of the Society itself, it immediately entered two boats in the inter-collegiate races. The next year the Club won its first trophy - the Challenge Pairs - and acquired its boathouse. This building remains the hub of the Club's activities.

Distinguished Alumni

• John Pugh MP, Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Southport

• Leo Blair, Society Tutor, father of Tony Blair

• Norman Askew, Chairman of Taylor Woodrow, Chief Executive, British Nuclear Fuels

• Alex Kovach, Managing Director of Lycos UK

• Sir Nick Scheele, President and Chief Operating Officer, Ford Motor Company

• Michael Knighton, Chairman, Carlisle United

• Kevin O'Connell, Commander, Metropolitan Police

• Nina Hossain, Broadcast Journalist

• Kate Silverton, Broadcast Journalist

• Guy McCrea, Broadcast Journalist

• Alistair Fothergill, Head, BBC Natural History

• Rod Clements, Musician, Lindisfarne

• Malcolm Miller, Chevalier of l'Ordre National du Mérite, Chevalier of l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres and guide of Chartres Cathedral

• Frank Jude, author of The Complete Poems of Tyutchev In An English Translation

• Dr. Anthony Peabody, President, International Banjo Circle

• James Clarke, GB Rower

• Paul Kelly, GB Rower

• Russell Ash, Author

• Justin Hill, Author

• Joel Taylor, Journalist, Metro Newspaper

Presidents of the Society

• Thomas Foulser, 2007-present
• JCR assumes presidency due to resignation of President, Iain Taker (Vice-President) 2006-2007
• Shane M. J. McBreen, 2006
• Richard Peralta, 2005-2006
• Hannah Bridge, 2004-2005
• Alexander Baulf, 2003-2004
• Timothy Chapman, 2002-2003
• Nik Miller, 2001-2002
• Lena Recknagel, 2000-2001
• Karl Southworth, 1999-2000
• Alex Bray, 1998-1999
• Alex Bray / Alice Clarke (joint), 1998
• Simon Bell, 1997-1998 (resigned)
• Jan Mark den Hollander, 1996-1997
• Allie Griffiths, 1995-1996
• Joss Raines, 1993-1994
• P. Murphy, 1987-1988
• T. McTear, 1986-1987
• K. Paulin, 1985-1986
• T. Easterling, 1984-1985
• J. Burgess, 1983-1984
• M. Collis, 1982-1983
• M. Izza, 1981-1982
• A. Honeyman, 1980-1981
• A. McGivern, 1979-1980
• S. Weatherseed, 1978-1979
• C. N. Holroyde, 1977-1978
• J. B. Harrison, 1976-1977
• T. Mountford, 1975-1976
• Miss R. Dobbie, 1974-1975
• T. Pile, 1973-1974
• J. Rimmer, 1972-1973
• L. G. I. Skagerlind, 1971-1972
• B. M. Collyer, 1970-1971
• P. W. Taylor, 1969-1970
• N. C. Oxley, 1968-1969
• M. A. G. Rowland, 1967-1968
• P. W. D. Preston, 1966-1967
• A. R. Wells, 1965-1966
• A. C. Ninham, 1964-1965
• S. S. Tate, 1963-1964
• G. G. Williams, 1962-1963
• E. N. B. Adams, 1961-1962
• D. Parsons, 1960-1961
• D. J. Clinch, 1959-1960
• P. L. Denny, 1958-1959
• J. R. Jeacock, 1957-1958
• J. T. Hall, 1956-1957
• B. Topping, 1955-1956
• J. M. Munro, 1954-1955
• B. L. Seager, 1953-1954
• A. W. S. Mould, 1952-1953
• T. A. Gardiner, 1951-1952
• P. M. Eaton, 1950-1951
• C. C. Colclough, 1949-1950
• J. R. Ison, 1948-1949
• R. D. Price, 1947-1948
• T. A. Percival, 1946-1947
• Unknown, Epiphany 1920
• B. H. Dewhurst, Easter 1920
• Unknown, Michaelmas 1920
• Unknown, Epiphany 1919
• Unknown, Easter 1919
• Unknown, Michaelmas 1919
• V. T. W. Sweetman, Epiphany 1918
• V. T. W. Sweetman, Easter 1918
• Unknown, Michaelmas 1918
• Unknown, Epiphany 1917
• Unknown, Easter 1917
• V. T. W. Sweetman, Michaelmas 1917
• P. Gresty, Epiphany 1916
• F. A. Cooke, Easter 1916
• J. V. Q. Kerr, Michaelmas 1916
• B. P. W. Hunt, Epiphany 1915
• C. Fielding-Smith, Easter 1915
• A. S. Harnby, Michaelmas 1915
• A. H. Powell, Epiphany 1914
• W. E. Stone, Easter 1914
• T. W. C. Hudson, Michaelmas 1914
• W. L. Mann, Epiphany 1913
• J. G. Llewellin, Easter 1913
• B. T. Greenwood, Michaelmas 1913
• W. Shepperd, Epiphany 1912
• F. E. Thornton, Easter 1912
• C. P. Young, Michaelmas 1912
• H. P. Young, Epiphany 1911
• E. B. Alban, Easter 1911
• H. J. Edwards, Michaelmas 1911
• D. W. Bentley, Epiphany 1910
• A. G. D. Bartlett, Easter 1910
• C. J. Gilmore, Michaelmas 1910
• J. T. Hiscock, Epiphany 1909
• W. J. Hands, Easter 1909
• J. B. West, Michaelmas 1909
• W. E. Dexter, Epiphany 1908
• R. Douglas, Easter 1908
• E. W. Smith, Michaelmas 1908
• W. A. Elder, Epiphany 1907
• W. A. de V. Dodd, Easter 1907
• B. C. Kiddell, Michaelmas 1907
• H. S. Martin, Epiphany 1906
• J. S. Herbert, Easter 1906
• T. A. Sankey, Michaelmas 1906
• A. Kewley, Epiphany 1905
• J. Mitchell, Easter 1905
• J. H. L. Holt, Michaelmas 1905
• H. Jordan, Epiphany 1904
• H. R. Stevenson, Easter 1904
• E. C. Summers, Michaelmas 1904
• O. Manby, Epiphany 1903
• J. V. C. Farquhar, Easter 1903
• J. Wallace, Michaelmas 1903
• Ll. A. Richards, Epiphany 1902
• J. B. Eddon, Easter 1902
• B. Morey Ford, Michaelmas 1902
• H. J. Dodd, Epiphany 1901
• R. W. Wheatley, Easter 1901
• E. Jackson, Michaelman 1901
• W. L. M. Law, Epiphany 1900
• A. Button, Easter 1900
• H. H. Harper, Michaelmas 1900
• W. H. Davis, Epiphany 1899
• G. Z. Edwards, Easter 1899
• F. B. Alcock, Michaelmas 1899
• T. H. Simpson, Epiphany 1898
• A. H. Robertson, Easter 1898
• H. J. Rushton, Michaelmas 1898
• S. Freeman B. A
• J. Beale, Epiphany 1897
• H. H. Taylor, Easter 1897
• F. W. Milnes, Michaelmas 1897
• S. Hirst, Epiphany 1896
• W. B. Houldey, Easter 1896
• J. Casson, Michaelmas 1896
• G. H. Holoran, Epiphany 1895
• G. F. Rickard, Easter 1895
• S. Boyton Smith, Michaelmas 1895
• A. H. McElwee, Epiphany 1894
• F. W. Shields, Easter 1894
• G. W. Froggatt, Michaelmas 1894
• J. H. Sutcliffe, Epiphany 1893
• W. F. Cullen, Easter 1893
• H. H. Slade, Michaelmas 1893
• T. J. R. Hindermarsh, Epiphany 1892
• T. J. R. Hindermarsh, Easter 1892
• C. J. Barker, Michaelmas 1892
• H. E. Boultbee, Epiphany 1891
• W. F. W. Hunter, Easter 1891
• F. E. Milner, Michaelmas 1891
• L. G. W. Lumb, Epiphany 1890
• G. H. Patton, Easter 1890
• W. H. T. Blair, Michaelmas 1890
• H. H. de'isle Booth, Epiphany 1889
• H. Serjeant, Easter 1889
• Bertram Hill, Michaelmas 1889
• H. H. de i'Isle Booth, 1888

Principals of the Society

• Prof. R. Boyne, 2003-present
• D. Robson, 2001-2003
• B. Robertson, 2000-2001
• S. Stoker, 1990-2000
• J. D. Norton, 1985-1990
• J. L. Brooks, 1963-1985
• J. J. Grant, 1961-1963
• W. A. Whitehouse, 1954-1961
• Emile de Groot, 1952-1954
• Clifford Leech, 1948-1952

Further reading

• Tudor, Henry, St. Cuthbert's Society, 1888-1988 : the history of 'a modest but exciting institution in the University of Durham'.

External links

• St Cuthbert's Society official website
• St Cuthbert's Society JCR undergraduate student organisation