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Corpus Christi College, Lent 2025
With a later start to Lent Term this year, we are thrilled that College is alive with students once again after the festive break. As offer letters went out this week to hopeful applicants, our first-year students have settled into the rhythm of College life and already feel like longstanding members of the Corpus family.
The Admissions team (pictured above) have worked tirelessly, sifting through over 560 applications to shortlist 394 candidates, and carry out over 750 interviews, to fill less than 100 undergraduate places. We are thrilled that many of those offers have gone to students who participated in our Outreach Programmes, including PeliSTEM (for young women in a STEM subject), the Northern Ireland CLASS summer school, the Medieval Worlds weekend, and the Pelican Programmes.
NEWS
SIR MURRAY STUART-SMITH
18 November 1927-21 January 2025
We are saddened to report the passing of alumnus and Honorary Fellow Sir Murray Stuart-Smith (m.1948).
Sir Murray was appointed QC in 1970 and served as a judge of the High Court from 1981 and then as a Lord Justice of Appeal from 1988. He was elected as an Honorary Fellow of Corpus in 1994, and was at his death, aside from former Masters, our most senior Honorary Fellow. He was a great supporter of the College, especially through the Nicholas Bacon Law Society. Read more
JAMES WARREN ON RADIO 4
Corpus Fellow and Director of Studies in Classics, Professor James Warren, recently appeared on Radio 4's In Our Time programme to discuss Plato's Crito and Phaedo, his accounts of the last days of Socrates in prison in 399 BC as he waited to be executed by drinking hemlock.
DAVID IBBETSON'S WORK RECOGNISED IN FESTSCHRIFT
The work of alumnus, former Fellow and Warden of Leckhampton, Professor David Ibbetson (m.1973) has been recognised in the publication of Essays in Law and History for David Ibbetson.
Professor Ibbetson has been praised for paving the way in a broad range of fields, including ancient law, English legal history and European legal history.
The book combines chapters from leading legal historians, close colleagues and over a dozen of his former students. Read more
Many congratulations to Honorary Fellow Dame Jacqueline Wilson, who was awarded a GBE in the King's New Year Honours. A richly deserved recognition of her writing, her charitable work and her patronage.
Dame Jacqueline is a novelist known for her popular children's literature, including The Story of Tracy Beaker. She has written over 100 books. Read more
PARKER ON THE WEB CELEBRATES 15 YEARS
The Parker Library is home to a vast collection of medieval and renaissance manuscripts and early printed books. Fifteen years ago the library joined forces with Stanford University to create Parker On the Web, making its remarkable collection available online to a global audience for the first time.
In this video Professor Philippa Hoskin, Fellow Librarian and Director of the Parker Library, and Tuija Ainonen, Sub-Librarian and Special Collections Librarian, highlight the significance of the collection and how the digital platform operates in relation to the physical library. Read more
IMPACT REPORT 2023-2024
HOT OFF THE PRESS
We are pleased to share the latest edition of the Impact Report (2023-2024).
We hope you all enjoy reading about our fundraising successes and aspirations for the coming years. Plus, read about the impact your vital gifts continue to make to our community.
The digital version of the Impact Report is available to read online here, or download here. Printed versions should be arriving to those who requested them over the next few days.
MEET OUR ALUMNI
KATHY WILLIS (m.1986)
Baroness Kathy Willis of Summertown CBE, FGS, FRSB, FLS is a highly decorated academic and peer, internationally recognised for her work, on plant (and fungal) biodiversity change.
Kathy is a Professor of Biodiversity in the Department of Biology and the Principal of St Edmund Hall, University of Oxford. She is also a Crossbench Peer in the House of Lords. Read more
PHILIPPE SANDS (m.1979)
Philippe Sands KC Hon FBA is an international human rights lawyer, academic, author, lecturer and documentarian. He is currently Professor of Laws and Director of the Centre for International Courts and Tribunals at University College London and a practising barrister at 11 Kings Bench Walk.
Philippe lectures around the world and has held numerous academic positions.
Read more
ALUMNI NEWS
CORPUS MAY BALL 2025
The Corpus May Ball is returning on Friday 27 June! You are invited to a magical evening of grand entertainment and delightful food and drink.
Alumni and alumni guest tickets will be available from 7pm on Thursday 6 February. Click the button below for further information on how to secure yours.
SUPPORT OUR MEDICS
The Lewis Society of Medicine runs a shadowing scheme, helping give students the opportunity to gain valuable experience in hospitals across the country. We would love to hear from any medical alumni able to assist our students in this way. Please email development@corpus.cam.ac.uk if you are able to help.
NEW ERGS FOR CCCBC
CCCBC are delighted to have acquired ten much-needed new ergs with the help of College donors. Eight have already been sponsored and named by generous donors, with two naming opportunities remaining.
Sponsorship is available at £1,000 per erg. Please contact the Development Office at development@corpus.cam.ac.uk for more information.
CALLING ALL CORPUS COUPLES
With Valentine's Day fast approaching we would love to hear from any Corpus couples out there. We shared some great stories last year and we know there must be more of you. Please share your Corpus love story and a picture of the happy couple with us via development@corpus.cam.ac.uk.
Right: Kate (m.1983) and Ed Langford (m.1981) pictured at their wedding in Chapel in 1989, are rumoured to have been the first couple to meet as undergraduates.
UPCOMING ELECTION FOR THE NEW CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY
To vote in the July election for the new Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, you must have had your Cambridge MA or other Cambridge Master’s degree or Doctorate conferred. The University has scheduled a special in absence Congregation for Friday 11 April, so that those who qualify but have not had their degree conferred, can have this done.
Please note that those who receive their MA/postgraduate degrees in absentia will not be allowed to attend any later Congregation in person for that degree, and those whose degrees are yet to be approved or who already have a degree that gives Senate membership shouldn't apply. This additional Congregation does not affect the MA Congregation already scheduled to take place in March.
Alumni will be able to register for this special in absence Congregation by emailing tutorial@corpus.cam.ac.uk by Friday 28 March.
EVENTS
CORPUS IN EDINBURGH
We are delighted to be bringing Corpus to Edinburgh in March! Join Rachel Lawson, Development Director, and Professor Chris Howe, College President, at the Royal Scots Club on 13 March for drinks, followed by dinner.
FREE LUNCHTIME MUSIC RECITALS
Alumni and guests are welcome to attend our weekly lunchtime music recitals in Chapel. During termtime Bene't Club musicians perform recitals on Thursdays at 13.15, and Organ Scholars from across the University perform on Fridays at 13.15. More info
UPCOMING EVENTS
Saturday 8 February, 17.30: Lewis Society of Medicine Annual Lecture and Dinner (booking now closed)
Saturday 8 March, 11.30: The Varsity Matches
Thursday 13 March: Corpus in Edinburgh
Saturday 15 March, 19.00: Nicholas Bacon Law Society Dinner
Saturday 5 April, from 14.30: Beldam Reunion Dinner (1989-93) (fully booked; waiting list in place)
Saturday 26 April, 17.30: Oliver Rackham Society Annual Lecture and Dinner
Saturday 24 May, 19.00: Old Members' Guest Night
Saturday 21 June: May Bumps Dinner (save the date)
Sunday 22 June: Alumni 'Come and Sing' Evensong (save the date)
Friday 27 June: Corpus May Ball 2025
Saturday 27 September: MacCurdy Reunion Dinner (1994-1998) (fully booked; waiting list in place)
Saturday 4 October: 1352 Foundation Society Day (save the date)
Monday 8 December: Carols in the City (save the date)
