Alumni Guides

Question 1

Founding of UofC

Answer 1

1209

Question 2

Founding of Peterhouse

Answer 2

1284

Question 3

Old colleges

Answer 3

16, set up before 16th century

Question 4

New colleges

Answer 4

15, set up after 19th century

Question 5

Newest college

Answer 5

Robinson, set up in 1977

Question 6

Range

Answer 6

Clare Hall (±250) to Homerton (±1200, only half are resident undergraduates)

Question 7

Academic departments

Answer 7

150

Question 8

Full membership for women (receiving degrees)

Answer 8

1948

Question 9

Girton

Answer 9

1869

Question 10

Corpus Clock official name

Answer 10

“Chronophage” - time eater

Question 11

CC Inscription meaning

Answer 11

“The world passes and so do its desires” (from the Bible)

Question 12

CC inventor

Answer 12

John C Taylor

Question 13

CC construction

Answer 13

100 workers (jewellers, engineers) - 6 inventions made for the clock

Question 14

CC inauguration

Answer 14

2008 by Stephen Hawking, Time Mag’s on of inventions of the year

Question 15

St Bene’t’s age

Answer 15

1000 - 1050

Question 16

Watson and Crick

Answer 16

1953

Question 17

Cavendish Labs

Answer 17

1874; Henry Cav (founder, physicist), funds from William Cav (chancellor of the university)

Question 18

Nobel prizes

Answer 18

Cambridge - 121; Oxford - 72

Question 19

Cav labs scientists

Answer 19

JJ Thompson (electron), James Chadwick (neutron), splitting of the atom

Question 20

Corpus Christi

Answer 20

1352 by the townspeople to train priests

Question 21

Plague

Answer 21

struck again in the mid-17th century; in 1632 Henry Butts (Master) was left alone to organise relief. Eventually killed himself, haunts the college. Ghost sightings were so prevalent that a master in the 1930s threatened expulsion to anyone who reported it

Question 22

Christopher Marlowe

Answer 22

Playwright, contemporary of Shakespeare. Received scholarship to study at CC, spent most of his time drinking. Uni reluctant to give him degree, but Quen Elizabeth’s Privy Council intervened on his behalf. Led some to believe that he was working in her intelligence service. This is supported by the mysterious circumstances of his death. He was stabbed in the eye in a bar in Deptford. Originally reported that it was a bar brawl over the bill, but in reality he was in a private room with three other men who were linked to her majesty’s service

Question 23

Pembroke

Answer 23

1347, third oldest college. Founded by the Countess of Pembroke, how lived at Denny Abbey just north of Cambridge

Question 24

Accommodation

Answer 24

Primary purpose of college. Single-occupancy, undergrads live in student housing. Assigned democratically or according to academic results (less popular)

Question 25

Food

Answer 25

Eat in Halls, warm meals for competitive prices. Look like Harry Potter.

Question 26

Formal Hall

Answer 26

Go in gown. Grace is said beforehand, gong is rung, three courses

Question 27

Library

Answer 27

Has what you need for first year undergrad, speciality subjects in faculty library or UL. Good work space.

Question 28

Pembroke Chapel

Answer 28

Designed by Christopher Wren in 1665. Cross of the migrants - built with wood from 2016 boat of Lampedusa

Question 29

William Pitt the Younger

Answer 29

Youngest person to attend (14 yrs), became PM at 24. Used to be many Pms came from Cam (Eton), Now most PMs come from Oxford.

Question 30

Hobson's Ditch

Answer 30

built 400 years ago to bring fresh water into the city. Thomas Hobson was mayor, remembered by the phrase 'Hobson's choice'

Question 31

Mathematical Bridge

Answer 31

Legend: designed by Isaac Newton (he died 20 years before it was built). Actually build by James Essex and William Etheridge

Question 32

Queens'

Answer 32

1448, Margaret of Anjou (Henry 6) but construction was interrupted WotR. Re-founded by 1465 by Elizabeth Woodville (Ed 4) Stephen Fry

Question 33

Cambs origins

Answer 33

Leader of the Iceni tribes (Boudicca) burned the Roman capital (Colchester), London and St Albans, Roman legions returned from Wales to crush the rebellion. Built road through cams to keep an eye.

Question 34

Kings College

Answer 34

1441, Henry 6, founded Eton the same time. Meant to be a continuation of an Eton education. Only Etonians allowed, didn't need to take exams as they'd been 'handpicked'. Could do a "gentleman's degree" until the late 19th c.

Question 35

KC liberal rep

Answer 35

No formal halls, no dress code at May Ball. Highest rate of state school students. Soviet Flag in the JCR. Alumni include feminist author Zadie Smith, author EM Forster, Alan Turing.

Question 36

Kings Chapel

Answer 36

Construction spanned the reign of three kings, completed under Henry 8 in 1520. Famous for the Christmas Eve choral service, since 1918, broadcast on the BBC since 1928.

Question 37

Clare College

Answer 37

1326, 2nd oldest. Refounded 12 yrs later by Elizabeth de Clare. (married three times)

Question 38

Clare Bridge

Answer 38

Oldest in Cambridge (1640). Pass through middle door, third in your exams. Reverse by rubbing bust of David

Question 39

Clare music rep

Answer 39

Alum John Rutter, founded Cambridge Singers. Open mic night (Tinie Tempah)

Question 40

Wren Library

Answer 40

Built one floor up to avoid flooding. Original copies of Shakes' first folio, Newton's principia Mathematica, Winne the Pooh

Question 41

St John's clocktower

Answer 41

Rivalry with Trinity because Trin's founder (Henry 8) beheaded the founder of St John's. Began building clocks at same time, Trinity finished first, St Johns went higher

Question 42

Great Court Run

Answer 42

From the movie 'Chariots of Fire' (actually filmed at Eton). At midnight after matriculation dinner, students run around the courtyard before the clock. 377 m / 43-44 sec, 400 m record is 43.1 sec only two have succeeded, one of whom won gold at 100m dash (1924 Olympics). Cold, dry weather = up to six additional seconds

Question 43

Trinity Gate (intro)

Answer 43

Founded 1546 by Henry 8, though parts are older. I.e. Gate is two centuries older (Ed 3 - 1337) Wanted to dissolve King's Hall & Michaelhouse to de-catholicise bc they were to train priests. 6th wife (Parr) convinced him to found a new college instead.

Question 44

Henry 8 statue

Answer 44

holding orb w. cross (symbolise his power over the church) and a sceptre. Sceptre has been replaced with a chair leg (night climbers)

Question 45

Trinity facts

Answer 45

One of the largest colleges, over 1,000 students combined and by far the wealthiest. Endowment of £1.3bn. Landowner, 02 arena etc

Question 46

Trinity reputation

Answer 46

Maths and sciences reputation, 34 Nobel prize winners. Most famous = Isaac Newton

Question 47

Isaac Newton

Answer 47

Undergrad here, stayed the rest of his life. 1665 sent home to Woolsthorpe Manor because of the plague, apple etc. planted here because his rooms were there. Garden in front was infertile because of the chemicals he threw out of his room while conducting experiments

Question 48

Other famous (artistic) alumni

Answer 48

Byron (bear) Anthony Gormley, Angel of the North Wittengenstein, philosopher & linguist, buried in Cambridge

Question 49

Prince Charles

Answer 49

lowest grades, bodyguard

Question 50

Gonville & Caius

Answer 50

1348, Edmund Gonville. 200 years (disrepair) rebounded by John Keys.

Question 51

John Keys

Answer 51

Accepted no payment as master, but refused to allow entry to the handicapped, the sick or the Welsh. Strong tradition for Medicine

Question 52

Caius & law

Answer 52

12 students, 11 bursaries

Question 53

Stephen Hawking

Answer 53

Fellow here, plaque in the old court where his room was

Question 54

3 doors

Answer 54

Humility (matric), Virtue (studies), Honor (graduation)

Question 55

Senate House

Answer 55

Administrative buildings, receive your degree. Grades are posted inside on the wall

Question 56

Graduation procession

Answer 56

Praelector calls students one at a time, addresses the master in Latin "I know these students well, they are hard workers with excellent morals, and I suggest you confer a degree upon them".