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Reflections of the President of the Hatfield Association
Hatfield Association Reunion Weekend 2007
President’s Reflections
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Those of you who read the Record each year will have seen from the other articles in this year’s edition the effect that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on different parts of our College community.
This has been a year unlike any year before and I am sure that it has had a profound impact on many Hatfielders including current students, College staff and the wider university community, alumni, friends and our families. I can clearly remember attending the last Formal meal of Epiphany Term in College on Friday 13 March 2020 (gowns; the enthusiastic spooning followed by silence as the High Table entered the dining hall; hearing our College grace; the good company and good food that followed – which many generations of Hatfielders will recognise) and one topic of conversation that evening was what the future might hold. I don’t think at that point that anyone fully realised that we were attending what would be the last I don’t think at that point that anyone fully realised that we were attending what would be the last Formal meal where members of the JCR, MCR, SCR and friends would be able to come together in Hatfield for well over a year.
Formal meal where members of the JCR, MCR, SCR and friends would be able to come together in Hatfield for well over a year.
Lecturn in Hatfield Chapel, donated by the Hatfield Association in its first year of existence
Quite simply, following the Prime Minister’s announcement on 23 March 2020 that ushered in the first national lockdown the usual rhythm of events and activities that would normally take place was frozen as everything was suspended as we were all encouraged to stay at home. Whilst it was clearly essential that we all complied with the law it did mean that 2020-21 calendars were radically impacted, including the postponement of all the events that the Hatfield Association had planned. member of that wartime generation who following the end of hostilities in 1945 went on rebuild, develop and improve the fabric of our national life.
The weekend that I am writing this article for the Record has also been another time for reflection as yesterday the funeral service of HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh took place at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. Prince Philip made many contributions to our national life over many years, not least as the longest-serving consort, patron and supporter of many charities and good causes, creator and lifelong advocate of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme as well as his service in the armed forces including during the Second World War. He has been remembered as a
Hatfield Association Exec and Senior Man Sam Goring in virtual mode
Great Escape
Indeed many Hatfielders who had themselves served during the Second World War also went on to rebuild, develop and improve the fabric of our national life – including those Hatfielders who gathered together in Durham in 1946 to not only celebrate the centenary of Hatfield College but also on 28 August 1946 to form the
Hatfield Association dedicated to ‘the welfare and preservation of the College’ as part of their campaign to fight against the threat of merger with Castle and to ensure that future generations would have the same opportunity to be part of Hatfield. We are fortunate that their campaign was successful and the university authorities did indeed re-establish Hatfield and Castle as separate Colleges (Hatfield’s ‘Great Escape’) that allowed both Colleges to successfully develop in the years since as significant components within the Durham collegiate community. Within a year of its formation the Association had also given the College chapel a permanent memorial of Hatfield’s 1946 centenary celebrations - a fine oak lectern - that stands there to this day (read the carved inscription next time you are in the chapel). So, the forthcoming 2021-22 academic year will therefore mark both the 175th anniversary of the establishment of Hatfield College in 1846 as well as the 75th anniversary of the formation of the Hatfield Association in 1946.
The first issue of the Hatfield Record
There are many things being planned to mark 175/75, but one date at the end of the anniversary year that you may like to put into your diary now is the concluding event of Hatfield’s 175th Anniversary celebrations: Friday 16 – Sunday 18 September 2022, the Hatfield Great Escape Reunion Weekend with Lion in Autumn Ball:
• This will mark 75 years of the Hatfield
Association, formed in 1946 to fight for the restoration to Hatfield of its own buildings, its own Master and freedom from the threat of merger with Castle
• Celebrate and give thanks for the flourishing of Hatfield over the succeeding 75 years, as a vibrant, eclectic, inclusive community; and • Offer an opportunity for Hatfielders of all generations who have been enriched by the Hatfield spirit to recognise their good fortune and help support the College to offer opportunities for the next generation of young people, including those of limited means in keeping with the 1846 aims of David
Melville.
We have set up a 175/75 working group that reports to the Association Executive Committee to develop plans for the event and we look forward to continuing to working collaboratively with College during the months ahead. More details about the weekend will be shared nearer the time. In the meantime please do mention the dates to your friends and Hatfield contemporaries as we look forward to welcoming as many different groups of Hatfielders as we can to share memories across each part of Hatfield’s communities and celebrate the history of the College as well as the enduring strength of our Hatfield spirit. Vel Primus Vel Cum Primis.
Events, AGM and alumni engagement
As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and the restrictions in place we had to postpone the planned reunion weekend in College in September 2020. We also took the decision to defer our AGM too, as due to the pandemic our normal programme of events had been suspended. There remains some uncertainty over how the rest of 2021 will unfold including our tentative plans for a reunion weekend in College in September 2021. The Association’s committee is thus focussing our efforts on the 2022 reunion weekend plans. Whilst the Association was not able to run physical events during the last year, we did remain active. Many thanks to Hatfield alumni who offered their time to meet with current students as part of the College’s Virtual Careers Conversation events that were held via Zoom. I know from my own participation in these events that they offer a great opportunity for students to learn more about particular career paths and fields of work after leaving Durham, and that the insight and guidance from alumni is well received. If you would like to help with future careers events or you have any other ideas that could help support current students entering the job market after graduation then please do contact Grace Norman, Hatfield Development Officer, at hatfield.enrichsupport@durham.ac.uk Keeping with the Zoom theme, a number of alumni also joined the virtual Hatfield Floreat celebrations on 24 July 2020 as well as the Hatfield Scholars’ Virtual Awards Ceremony on 2 December 2020. The increased use of technology across the last year also allowed alumni to participate in other events including the Service of Remembrance on Hatfield Chapel green on 11 November 2020 led by Canon Michael Everitt and Hatfield Chapel Choir with readings by the Master and representatives of each of the common rooms.
Many of you will remember joining the Hatfield Association in your first Michaelmas Term as an undergraduate fresher at Hatfield College. Or maybe you don’t consciously remember, as in those days you were automatically enrolled
Order of Service from Remembrance Day 2020 when the service was held outside around Chapel Green under Covid restrictions
and the small lifetime membership fee was added to your accounts alongside university accommodation costs, JCR and other fees. The University changed its approach three years ago and since then College alumni associations (as well as JCR’s) have had to request each new student to consciously opt-in to pay such fees. Whilst the Hatfield Association fee remains a very reasonable £25 one-off fee for life membership, the change in the process mandated by the University has resulted in a significant decline in income of the Association. The University’s requirement to opt-in does mean that we have to constantly work to raise awareness of the Association before and during Freshers’ Week. To help with this during summer 2020 a small working group from the Hatfield Association committee created a short film (again using Zoom) to help explain the benefits of being a member of the Association. We promoted this at the start of Michaelmas Term and I would like to thank the JCR and the College for their assistance in signposting incoming students to our website (hatfield-association.co.uk/about-us/ once-a-hatfielder/) and YouTube page. You can read more about the film ‘Once a Hatfielder, Always a Hatfielder’ on page 122 and watch the film to find out about the source of the hashtag #askabouttheelephant.
Bill Heal
We were sorry to learn of the passing of Bill Heal, who contributed to the life of Hatfield College and the Association over many years, including the period 2004-09 when Bill served as Hatfield Association President. Bill was also a member of the Senior Common Room and his stalwart support of all things Hatfield was recognised when he was invited to become a Fellow of Hatfield College in 2001. A full tribute to Bill is given on page 128.
With thanks
Before I end this year’s report I would like to take this opportunity to thank my predecessor, Patrick Salaun who ended his term of office as President in June 2020 after five years’ service. I would normally have had the opportunity to publicly thank Patrick for all that he has done at the 2020 reunion weekend, but as noted above that event was postponed due to Covid-19. Patrick has made an invaluable contribution to the College and the Association (as well as the wider university) over many years and we remain appreciative of his ongoing support, enthusiasm and wisdom.
As many of you will know Patrick is also a previous recipient of the Dunelmensis Award given by the University’s Senate to a Durham alumnus or alumna for meritorious and exceptional service in support of the University, particularly for our institutional advancement and for enhancing the University’s reputation, nationally and internationally.
I was delighted that another Hatfielder, Dr Carl Stephen Patrick Hunter, who was our guest speaker at the reunion weekend in 2019, was announced by the University as a 2021 recipient of the Dunelmensis Award. Many congratulations to Carl. You can read more about the Carl’s Dunelmensis Award success on page 125. I would like to thank each member of the Hatfield Association Executive Committee and our 175/75 Working Group members for their enthusiasm, proactive contributions and good humour at our meetings across the year. Like many organisations we moved swiftly to being a digitally adept group fully embracing the joys of Zoom (as you can see from the accompanying photo of some committee members during one of our Zoom calls) and we have remained in regular virtual contact.
Finally, I would also like to thank the Master, Professor Ann MacLarnon, and College Officers and staff for their dedication to support Hatfield students during what has been a very challenging and unexpected year as the pandemic unfolded. We appreciate everything that you have done to support the wider student experience during this difficult period, and despite the social distancing measures helping to keep us #AllOneHatfield.
Andrew Jackson
President, Hatfield Association
Hatfield Association Executive Committee
President Andrew Jackson
Honorary Secretary Tony Gray Treasurer Stuart Wild
Membership Secretary & Webmaster Stephen Galway College Forum Representative Tony Gray Hatfield Record Officer David Imrie Co-opted Members David Arkless Nicola Candlish Cynthia Connolly Samantha Dowling Charlotte Furneaux David Imrie Adam Kirk Julia Raszewska Stephanie Wood
Ex Officio Members The Master JCR Senior Man MCR President Hatfield Development Officer and Honorary Director of the Hatfield Trust
The White Lion Club
The White Lion Club is an Alumni Network for graduates of Hatfield College Boat Club established in 2019. The White Lion Club is a Chapter of the Hatfield Association.
The objectives of the Club are to: • Maintain links between alumni and current students of Hatfield College who were or are involved in rowing
• Provide an opportunity for past members of HCBC to row together and to meet socially. A termly newsletter has been shared with members since Summer 2019 with updates on the Club, archive sections and members’ submissions.
To be added to the mailing list please email thewhitelionclub@gmail.com
Hatfield Novice Four coxed by Tony Gray in the 1968 Epiphany Term Bumps
HA Video Working Group
Once a Hatfielder, Always a Hatfielder
The Hatfield Association launched a video campaign in August 2020 to explore the myriad ways in which the Association enriches the lives of Hatfielders and celebrates the sense of belonging that comes from membership.
As it became clear the pandemic would preclude in-person representation at Fresher events at the start of Michaelmas Term, a sub-committee of the Association began working remotely on a video project that shared the key values of our organisation. This was a new way of working for the committee and the final video was produced via Zoom. Testament to the success of the video was the high sign-up rate following its release and supporting social media campaign. Taking its name from our unofficial motto, ‘Once a Hatfielder, Always a Hatfielder’ introduces new members to a cross section of the alumni network. The support provided by the Association, career advice, social opportunities and more is discussed by Hatfield alumni Nicola Candlish, Geoff Cullington, Hannah Finney, Adam Kirk and Stephanie Wood in the short film. If you haven’t already seen the video – check it out on our social media or on the Association website hatfield-association.co.uk/about-us /once-a-hatfielder
Rectory Building in the silence of Covid summer 2020
