Reports
JCR President
JCR President
Courtney Caton gives us the low down
The 2015 / 16 year has been one of great change and transition for Grey JCR . Over the Summer we undertook a £ 30,000 JCR redevelopment , thanks to approval at the last JCR meeting of the 2014 / 15 academic year and a generous contribution from the College . It is commonly claimed that Grey owns the largest television screen in all of the Durham Colleges , but we have bettered ourselves installing a 136 ” mounted projector screen with inbuilt sound , new lights , new sofas and café style seating , and AV . The JCR is even more the social hub of College , which would not have been possible without the efforts of Will Hockedy ( Finance and Commercial Services Officer 2014 / 15 ) and Nick Klein ( JCR President 2014 / 15 ). The Freshers ’ Helper team once again did a superb job welcoming new Freshers to the Grey Army ! Our new students persevered throughout the week , most notably as the rain poured down during their matriculation photo . Later on , in Michaelmas , Fireworks Guru Alex Curtis and his team ran a great event entertaining crowds of students , staff , and locals with an incredible display and time-travelling set-list . This year ’ s Informal Ball was themed ‘ The Magic of Disney ’. Attendees were treated to a rendition of The Circle of Life by James Quitmann , the ever-popular photobooth and a petting zoo ! We also had a Great Gatsby themed formal raising money for Mind , with Bassment Jazz performing afterwards . Highlights from Epiphany term included a London-themed BarFest and Valentine ’ s Formal , which raised a staggering £ 2,000 for the British Heart Foundation ! President ’ s Guest Night was held at Wynyard Hall , with entertainment from Bassment Jazz and second year DJ Andrei Sandu ; Issy Britton was awarded Unsung Hero for her incredible work with our Teikyo students . Charities Committee , Darts , Women ’ s Hockey and Men ’ s A Badminton all picked up awards . Honorary Life Memberships ( HLMs ) were given to Bill Curry ( page 16 ) and James Collinson . The beginning of our final term saw the Annual Charity Fashion Show , in support of Doctors Without Borders , with Events Comm . creating an incredible black tie atmosphere in the Students ’ Union Ballroom . For the second year in a row we were treated to glorious sunshine over Grey Day ; Western-themed this year - the line dance caller was particularly popular . Full credit must go to Layla Batchellier for her fantastic organisation of the Day and her Committee . Not ones for rest , Grey Day was immediately followed by the third annual George Palmer Rugby Sevens tournament , in which 36 teams battled it out in aid of the Samaritans . The final pitted teams from Grey and Collingwood against one another and there was a deafening cheer as Grey won the day . Thanks must be given to Ellie Conroy and Chris Bailey for organising this event , which is now a firm favourite of the post exam calendar . Once again , Phoenix Ball took place at Hardwick Hall , with the threat of thunderstorms clearing miraculously for our own ‘ Cirque du Soleil ’. We had a wonderful meal in the big-top styled marquee , an inflatable helter skelter and a silhouette cutting artist , before returning to Grey for the infamous Silent Disco and Hog Roast breakfast , finishing as tradition dictates with Wonderwall on the Croquet Lawn . Thanks should be given to Helen Burke and Becca Agar , as well as Events Comm ., for organising our best Phoenix Ball yet ! This year ’ s HLMs were awarded to Courtney Caton ( JCR President ), Bethany Allen ( JCR FACSO ), Craig Fisher , Edward Preece , Alice Ashwell , Alice Harfield , Sarah Kimber , and Henry Sawczyc , for their contributions to JCR life during their time here . As this year draws to a close there are many exciting prospects within the JCR to look forward to – the Fountains Hall redevelopment ( page 12 ) and reconsidering our Charitable Status next year . I certainly have had the pleasure of being our JCR President over this year , and look forward to where my successor David Jones takes it forward next !
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