Chancellor's Tour

If there seemed to be some departments which were looking sparkling in June, it may have been because they were preparing for a visit by The Chancellor, H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh. A major programme of visits allowed him to meet staff and students all around the University, before the ceremonial side of his visit, the Honorary Degree ceremony at the Senate-House.

The Goldie Boathouse proved a strenuous start for the Boat Crews as they pulled and pushed their way through a range of exercise machines. This year's winning men's and women's crews were on hand to greet the Chancellor. This year's President, John Carver, led the Chancellor on a tour of the Boathouse and explained the training routines which make for winning crews. Dr John Marks was able to talk through the history of the Boat Club in the splendid light blue environment.

Throwing light on chemistry was demonstrated in one of the displays in the Department of Chemistry as Drs Andy Holmes and Andrea Lux showed their work on light emitting polymers. The Chancellor was also given a chance to see how atoms can be moved on a surface and how the Department of Chemistry is helping to tackle super-bugs with futuristic antibiotic design. Twenty years ago, the new technique of NMR was explained by a young researcher, Jeremy Sanders, now Professor and deputy head of Department. On his visit, the Chancellor learned from Dr Sophie Jackson how NMR is used today in chemistry and many other fields.

The Multi-Imaging Centre opened in September 1995, providing a multi-disciplinary laboratory for scientific analysis. The Chancellor was shown around the department by Dr Patrick Echlin and his staff, who demonstrated some of the amazing microscopes and scanners in use there. The Chancellor particularly enjoyed a demonstration of tea-leaf analysis, where staff showed how equipment could detect trace elements of aluminium in a normal fragment of a China tea-leaf.

The Department of Earth Sciences provided an exciting conclusion to the day with everything from X-ray diffraction to dinosaurs. Professor Nick McCave showed the full range of work in the Department, including sea sediments, the deep sea floor, and the secret life of volcanoes, and explained the vital links that the Department has with industry. The Chancellor also saw some of Charles Darwin's collection of his early geological work and toured the Sedgwick Museum.

The second day's programme began with a chance to look at the summer exhibition at the Faculty of Architecture. A wide range of drawings and models were on display and prize-winning student Debbie Sher explained the third year projects and the first use of video in a final year dissertation. Outside in the Department's garden, the Chancellor was able to try out some new ideas for furniture in public parks, which were on display. They included novel benches as well as a 'leaner' for relaxing. The high-tech show was stolen by the Martin Centre's award-winning Piranesi system, which is an innovative package for 3D modelling, was demonstrated by Dr Paul Richens, Dr Tim Wiegand and student Jiang Kang.

From Architecture it was a short journey to the alumni teams in wonderful sunshine. Appropriately, The Chancellor's signature is the first to appear in the Visitors' book at Fitzwilliam House. The Chancellor opened the house, 32 Trumpington Street, on his visit to Cambridge in June, and saw something of the work of the American Friends of Cambridge University, the Alumni Section of the Development Office, and the Cambridge Society (of which he is Patron). He was presented with a copy of the Graduation Yearbook. The Yearbook was available at the end of that week at the graduation ceremonies as a record of their time at Cambridge. It also featured the University's honorary graduates. Once graduates become alumni, they can make use of alumni facilities. All the alumni staff are based in Fitzwilliam House and welcome visitors, who can use a comfortable Combination Room which has been set up for them.

Do you have recollections of Fitzwilliam House, when it was the home of what is now Fitzwilliam College, or later? Brief reminiscences (not more than 500 words) are invited by the Editor of Cambridge, the Cambridge Society magazine. Please send them to him at Fitzwilliam House, 32 Trumpington Street.