We were delighted to welcome over 300 Girtonians and their guests to this year’s Roll of Alumni weekend. The weekend featured an array of fascinating talks, lively discussions, a concert, the unveiling of two new portraits to the People’s Portraits collection and a full house at the Roll of Alumni Dinner with reunions for those from 1996, 1973, 1983, 1992-94. Please see below for photographs and recordings of the weekend.
Events
Roll of Alumni Weekend and Dinner 2023
Photographs
Quaternions at Twilight: Mary Somerville's studies of mathematics in old age by Dr Brigitte Stenhouse
Using the Somerville collections at Girton and Somerville College, this talk explored both the mathematical work Mary Somerville produced in her twilight years, and how she cultivated a mathematical community for herself when living a somewhat isolated life in Naples, Italy.
Click here for more information and a recording of the event
Rethinking the Roman to Early Medieval Transition at Girton's Cemetery by Dr Emma Brownlee
In this talk, Dr Brownlee discussed what Girton’s cemetery can tell us about the end of the Roman Empire and the emergence of the medieval world, based on the archives and new scientific analysis of the cemetery remains.
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Book Launch: Girton Time
The publication of the Girton Time, an art-poetry book collaboration between Dr Carol Adlam (Mary Amelia Harvey Cummings Visiting Fellow Commoner
2021-22), Fellow in English, Dr James Wade, and poet Dr Adam Crothers (English, 2002).
This book sees art and poetry brought together to reflect on Girton not just as a physical place inhabited by people, but as an idea that passes through time, transmitted through the work of the people of Girton.
Click here for more information and some photos of the event
The Cavendish: A Tone Poem
A composition by Ain Bailey, Cavendish Arts Science Fellow at Girton College 2022-23. This new composition will incorporate the bleeps, pings, drones and other worldly sounds of different labs and equipment at the Cavendish Laboratory for Physics, including the helium liquifier and helium microscope. For the live performances in Girton College Chapel, a vocalist will respond to the recorded material.
Click here for more information and some photos of the event
People’s Portraits Reception
This event will saw a new portrait unveiled to the unique collection of People's Portraits, housed at Girton on a long-term loan from the Royal Society of Portrait Painters.
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Roll of Alumni Weekend Concert
Girton alumnus, composer, pianist, and teacher Tim Watts (1997 Music) and Dr Martin Ennis, Fellow and Director of College Music at Girton College performed at this years' concert. They played sonatas for piano duet by Mozart and Poulenc along with short character pieces by Charles Koechlin.
Click here for more information and some photos of the event
19.45 - 22.30 Roll of Alumni Dinner in the Hall
including reunion tables for those matriculated in 1963, 1973, 1983, 1992, 1993 and 1994.
The Sensory Garden, a new chapter in Girton College gardening by Julia Andersson
In this talk Girton College's head gardener, Julia Andersson, looked at the development of the sensory garden from start to finish, its importance as well as at its future. The talk finished with a guided tour of the Sensory Garden.
Click here for more information and a recording of the event