The 5th of March brought what many of the members of St Chad’s consider to be the social pinnacle of the year, St Chad’s Day, which forces the pens to be put down and the laptops to be shut for one day just before the Easter break.

As the rabble of horns and pots and pans approached the sore heads of Hatfield, you couldn’t help but feel only pity, as they had just finished their Lion in Winter Ball celebrations the night before. The parade then proceeded to Castle, John’s and finally Cuth’s before returning to main college for a very green breakfast. I can gladly report our Senior Man fended off all opposition in the traditional speed-drinking competition against each JCR President, although J₂O at that time in the morning was somewhat nausea-inducing, apparently.

After the green coloured breakfast, the College convened at the Cathedral for the annual St Chad’s Day Service. Representatives of various aspects of college life placed items to represent their them on the altar, after which followed readings, hymns and reflection on both the College and the part it plays in the lives of everyone associated with it. A special thank you must be extended to everyone for their musical contributions!

The race around the Palace Green at 12 noon was won by David Fairbairn, who now has the honour of dressing as the College goat mascot for the next year.

The early afternoon of Chad’s Day normally provides a lull in an otherwise frantic day, however, the Social Committee had brought some pandemonium to the back garden with the addition of a Holi Festival-style powder paint party shortly after lunch. Once everyone was dusted off, the evening’s festivities began with Family fortunes, Take Me Out and Mr & Mrs Chad’s taking place in the Quad. Our new Mr and Mrs Chad’s are Ollie Griffiths and Helena Morgan – congratulations!

As everyone tucked into their evening meal, the College was transformed once again, with Laser Quest and a ball pit appearing in the back garden, a photo booth in the front foyer and a silent disco in the Quad.

The disco went on until the early hours of the morning, resulting in a very poorly attended breakfast the next day, a sign of another successful Chad’s Day! Roll on 2017!

The second mega-formal of the year – Principal’s Feast – was held on Thursday 10th March. This was the first, hopefully of many, with Dr Masson as Principal, and as such was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate her appointment.

Themed as a black tie event with a touch of green, the Dining Hall and the Quad were laid out for the meal and decorated with green balloons, green streamers and even green sweets. On arrival, attendees found photos of themselves from a variety of college events placed on their table; a lovely tradition to bring a personal touch to the meal.

Following the meal (thankfully not green), there were speeches. Dr Masson thanked the outgoing JCR Executive Committee for their hard work over the last year, under somewhat difficult circumstances. Frederik Seidelin, President of the Middle Common Room, spoke next, congratulating Dr Masson on her appointment, on behalf of the MCR.

Last but not least, in his own estimation in any case, came the Senior Man, James de Lusignan. The primary purpose of his speech was to thank each of his executive committee personally in public; the careful selection of teasing, in-jokes and genuine sentiment made for a touching tribute to the hard work all 11 members of the committee have put in this year and the relationships they have built in the process. A further strengthening relationship was highlighted by the announcement at the end of James’ speech that the Quad will now be known as the Cassidy Quad, in tribute to our much-loved former Principal.

Though the idea had been in progress for some time, the eventual timing of such an announcement was ideal, coming not only at a time of celebration and anticipation following Dr Masson’s appointment, but also at a time of remembrance and reflection, it being almost exactly a year since Dr Cassidy’s death. The tribute is particularly fitting due to the important role Dr Cassidy – affectionately known by students as Papa Joe – had played in the roofing of the Quad, which allows its use as a 24/7 space throughout the year.

Personal highlights of the evening were Dr Masson’s comment regarding her constant worries about what would appear as “light entertainment” on James’ regular emails; the truly heartfelt thank you from James to Hannah Papachristidis, outgoing JCR Welfare Officer, for all her support and hard work; and the fact that for once BarComm were not forgotten in the thank yous!

Jonathan Blackie (Chair of Governors of St Chad’s College) has today announced that Dr Margaret Masson has been appointed to the post of Principal, with effect from 1st March.

Dr Masson is currently Vice-Principal and Senior Tutor of the College and has been Acting Principal since the death of The Revd Canon Dr Joe Cassidy last March.

Margaret will now lead the College through a significant phase of change. St Chad’s College will need to react and adapt as Durham University revises, develops and implements its own strategy.

A Scot brought up in Zambia who lectured in English in the USA for a number of years, Margaret was a Board member and then Vice Chair of Trustees of Traidcraft, the fair trade organisation, between 1995 and 2012; she served as member of the Leech Research Management Committee from 2001 – 2014.  She is on the Board of Ridley Hall, Cambridge, serves as a Bishops’ Reviewer for Ministerial Training for the Church of England, and co-organises the Neville’s Cross EcoFest. She speaks and writes mainly in the area of Literature and Theology.

Margaret said:  “I am delighted to be appointed to this role.  I look forward to building on the brilliant legacy of the late Joe Cassidy and leading the College into what promises to be an exciting new period of opportunity.”

Jonathan Blackie, Chair of Governors for St Chad’s College, said he was delighted to welcome Margaret as the new Principal of the College. “Margaret brings exceptional skills to the position, she understands the collegiate nature of the university, and her appointment has been widely welcomed by both staff and students”