Sir James Irvine's Creation

Thoughts from Dr Willie Lister
Resident, 1967-70

This note has been prepared by Dr Willie Lister who was a resident in Deans Court from September 1967 to August 1970. It is based on a talk that he gave to the residents of Deans Court in May 2019 and gives his personal views on the changes between his time there and now. An article on the history of Deans Court prepared by Rachel Hart, Muniments Archivist in the university, appeared in the Alumnus Chronicle 2012.

In 1967 when I arrived in Deans Court there were around 30 residents based in the main building or housed in the annexe at 5 South Street. In addition, a number of post-graduate students and members of the university staff came in on a “meals only” basis. This compares with the maximum capacity of Deans Court in 2019 which was 54 between the main building and the North and South Street annexes.

In my day the residents were almost exclusively male post-graduates though in 1969-70 a small number of under-graduates were admitted. During the Summer vacation a few female students did find accommodation there. This contrasts with the position, where in the academic years of 2017-2018 and 2018-2019, slightly more than half of the residents were female! We did however have “exchange dinners” with the various women’s residences. These were very popular occasions and most ladies were keen to see the inside of Deans Court – but ladies had to be out by 11 pm (certainly in earlier days)

About two thirds of the residents were from the UK and a third from abroad (Japan China, Middle East, South Africa, Australia, USA). This compares with the position now where the majority is from overseas – primarily from America, Germany and China – and the rest UK students, mostly from England. All the residents are post-graduate only with the majority pursuing Masters’ degrees, and about 25% pursuing PhDs.

We had no official “Senior Student” but, in my time, David Powell, who was studying for a PhD in geology took on this role.  A memorial plaque to David (who died in 2004) is placed under a cherry tree against the far wall in the Deans Court garden. We had wardens (Dr David Calvert 1967-68, Dr Tony Smith 1968 onwards. Tony died in 2009).

In my time I was not aware of St Leonards College and we did not wear postgraduate gowns.

We did, however, initiate the Deans Court Ball in 1968. For this we had a buffet meal in the dining room, dancing and a cabaret in the lounge. The courtyard was lit up as was the garden where we could play flood-lit croquet. We also held a Ball in 1969 and 1970 with entertainment supplied by the residents.

In 1969 /1970 we had a Deans Court rugby team. We played – and beat – a team of divinity students from St Mary’s College. I cannot remember the score – but I know we won!

The most eminent academic from this era is Eric Priest who is now an emeritus professor in the university and an FRS. Eric takes a keen interest in university affairs and has been, and still is, a leading light in the musical world here.

Since our days in Deans Court we have had three reunions. The first was held in June 2008 and was initiated by Ian Smith (a South African student) with help from Alumni Relations. This was attended by 26 (16 ex-residents, plus 10 wives or partners). We had tea in the Deans Court lounge, and an evening meal in The Grange (which had been our “local” when we were research students).

The second was held in 2013 and was attended by 20 (11 ex-residents, plus 9 wives). Again, tea was served in the Deans Court lounge with an evening meal in the Rufflets Hotel. On this occasion three former residents from earlier generations attended.

Our third and latest reunion was held in 2018 marking 50 years since most of us had been resident in Deans Court, This was attended by 22 (13 ex-residents, plus 9 wives).As in 2013 we had tea in the Deans Court lounge , with an evening meal in the Rufflets  Hotel. At present we have no plans for a further reunion – we are all getting rather old! –but I hope that we may make use of the other reunion activities – the Alumni Weekend in April and the After Many Days Club reunion at the end of June.

I am very pleased to hear that the younger generation of Deans Court residents decided to plan the Deans Court Alumni Association.

Written April 2020.

Thoughts from John McCabe
Warden, 1975-85

In the academic year 1974-75 Deans Court was an all male hall of residence, as it had been since its creation as a hall for international post graduate students in 1952.  During that year a referendum was held among the residents on whether to admit females to the hall. I believe that there was just one vote against but I have no knowledge of the turnout or of possible abstentions. The result was to admit females.

That same year the university made the decision to return to having a resident warden. At the time the Warden was Reverend Dan O’Connor, the Anglican chaplain to the university.  Among his predecessors were Douglas Lloyd and David Calvert, both members of the Chemistry Department, and Tony Smith from the Physics Department. There may have been others. Douglas Lloyd was also the first Provost of the reconstituted College of St Leonard in 1974. When the post of warden was advertised I applied and I was delighted to be appointed. I was also a little surprised because I had not ‘served my time’ as a deputy warden in an undergraduate hall of residence, a fact pointed out at my interview. I would not have applied if the result of the referendum had gone the other way.

At the time Deans Court consisted of the main building, with 21 rooms, the house at 11 North Street, with 8 rooms and two houses on South Street, numbers 3 and 5, with 6 and 15 rooms respectively. The house at 3 North Street with 6 rooms was added soon afterwards.

The intake for the year 1975-76 included eight female students and they were housed in 11 North Street.  This house remained all female throughout the ten years that I was the Warden, and although that is no longer the case.

However, over these ten years the number of females gradually increased and they occupied rooms in the other three, and then four, houses. When I left in 1985 the split was approximately half and half. In more recent years, this has edged towards a higher number of female residents.  Another change that took place early in my term as warden was the appointment of a professional Domestic Bursar to look after the domestic side, rather than a senior member of the house staff.

As I became the Warden at the same time as the hall became a mixed residence I am unable to comment on how the ambience of the place changed from when it was male only, other than say that from speaking to students who were there before and after my belief that it was a ‘better place’ to be was confirmed. Many residents met their partners while in Deans Court, as I suspect is still the case. If I have one regret from my time as Warden it is that I did not create, and retain, annual lists of the residents.

We had a Bar-B-Q in May each year,  held in the garden and courtyard if weather permitted, as it usually did. There was also a formal dinner held each term, in the days before semesters, and each  time we had the services of two ‘professional’ wine waiters, one a technician and the other a janitor in the Department of Chemistry, to add a welcome touch to the formality of the occasion. Many residents, following the dinner, would then transfer to what was our local, the Castle Tavern. This was a very welcome resort on other occasions too, and its subsequent closure and recreation as flats meant a valuable amenity for Deans Court was lost.

Written January 2020.