I must admit that when I began working here at St John’s in November 2021, spring 2022 sounded like a long time away, especially as we were then only just emerging from the hazy days of the coronavirus lockdowns. Now, as I pen the introduction to this forty-eighth issue of Johnian – and my first – I can’t believe how quickly that time has gone. A feeling perhaps shared with Sharon Chen as she reflects on the 40 years since beginning her degree at St John’s in the first cohort of female undergraduates. In our timeline you can see more female firsts and some of the key changes at St John’s in that time, and the Master, Heather Hancock, describes both the continuity and evolving plans that can be seen around the College today. Heather and Rachel Powell both highlight how the Dobson Free Places scheme will help St John’s to increase access and sustain student support in perpetuity.
The theme of accessibility surfaces throughout the issue, with Stephen Munday continuing the conversation about access to education and Nick Ahamed considering barriers to voting and how to overcome these inequalities. Also breaking down barriers is Victoria Avery, who describes her work engaging with diverse audiences at the Fitzwilliam Museum.
The last two articles of this issue both give a glimpse of the person behind the professional, in this case both from finance backgrounds. Claire Griffiths explains how dance has provided her with lifelong inspiration, and Peter Bacchus gives an overview of some of the many adventures that his career has afforded him. The promise of returning to live performances and international travel as we ease out of the pandemic certainly resonated with me, and I hope that you too might find some escapism amongst these pages.
PS Please email me your thoughts on the magazine and look out for more College updates and Johnian stories on our news pages and in our monthly alumni enewsletter.
The opinions expressed in Johnian magazines are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of St John’s College and the University of Cambridge.
Written by
Ellie is the Publications and Project Manager at St John’s. As Editor of Johnian magazine and The Eagle and manager of the alumni blog, she project manages print and digital publications as well as commissioning, writing and editing their content. Ellie has previously worked in the Development Office at Darwin College and for a Heritage Lottery funded landscape partnership scheme in the Brecks. She holds a BA in History from Cardiff University and an MPhil in Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic Studies from the University of Cambridge (Clare College).
