Homerton College will start the new academical year having migrated to CamSIS, Cambridge’s comprehensive system for handling student information, records and transactions. In addition Homerton has introduced an Electronic Point of Sale [EPOS] system for purchases made from Catering, the Bar and Porter’s Lodge. The vacation period has also seen a major redecoration and carpet replacement programme in the West House student residences.
Prizes
1st and 2nd year Prizes and Scholarships awarded in Oct 2009.
In 2009/10 a new chamber choir, The Choir of Homerton College, will be formed to sing at concerts and corporate college events. It is also envisaged that the Choir will sing for an Advent carol service and evensong services at St. John the Evangelist, where a number of Homerton events have already been conducted in the past. In forming this ensemble the College hopes to provide talented singers with an opportunity to develop their abilities within the college, and to raise the profile of Homerton's music programme more generally.
There will be a performance of the Piano Trio in memory of Nicholas Toller by Dr John Hopkins on 13 November 2009 at 6.00 pm at the Michaelhouse Centre, Trinity Street, Cambridge. The performance will be given by the Cygnet Piano Trio which includes cellist Gregor Riddell, a former Homerton music student and instrumental award holder. The programme also includes works by Johannes Brahms and Astor Piazzola. Tickets £5, £3 (students) available on the door.
The second Pearce Memorial Lecture was given at Homerton College on 10 September 2009. The guest speaker, Michael Rosen, who has just finished an outstanding stint as Children's Laureate, gave an electrifying speech entitled, What is children's poetry for? : towards a new, child-specific, 'Apologie for Poetrie' (Sir Philip Sidney, 1595). The erudite and thought-provoking talk also included some amusing children's poetry and at various points in the presentation Rosen had an enthusiastic audience of about 300 in hysterics. It was followed by a lively question and answer session. Morag Styles, Chair of Philippa Pearce Memorial Lecture Steering Committee, drew attention to links between the work and interests of Philippa Pearce and Michael Rosen in her opening. She concluded by thanking sponsors, including Connee & Lewis Counts from USA who travelled over for the event and Kate Pretty and Homerton College. Rosen's inspirational talk was followed by a delightful wine reception in the Great Hall.
The Pearce Memorial Lecture moves to Seven Stories Centre for the Children's Book in Newcastle for next year only (Michael Morpurgo is the speaker on 30 September). The Memorial Lecture returns to Homerton on 8 September 2011 when Philip Pullman is the guest lecturer. The lecture will appear on the Memorial Lecture website (http://www.pearcelecture.com/.
