University of York colleges celebrate 40 years
Posted on 20 October 2005
Derwent and Langwith Colleges, the University's first two colleges, were opened by the Queen on 22 October 1965, two years after the University was established.
The two colleges will be holding receptions on Friday 21 October 2005 to mark the occasion.
Langwith will be serving Buck's Fizz and cutting a birthday cake while Derwent's birthday cake will be cut by its youngest member, 17-year-old medical student Amrita Chandra.
The colleges were opened by the Queen though contemporary reports suggest Her Majesty was "unimpressed" by their concrete architecture. The Royal Party toured the new buildings with the then Chancellor of the University, Lord Harewood.
Since 1965, more than 14,000 students have graduated from Derwent and Langwith and next month, some of them will be helping the colleges to mark the anniversary at a jointly-organised celebration in London.
Former members of the colleges are being invited to a party at a Central London club, complete with 1960s/1970s style party food and drink, and hosted by the Provosts of Derwent and Langwith, Dr Ron Weir and Dr Ron Clayton.
Notes to editors:
- Derwent College, which includes study bedrooms for 249 undergraduates, 26 postgraduates, and staff flats, is home to the University's Departments of Politics and Philosophy.
- Langwith College has accommodation for 261 undergraduates and 32 postgraduates and is the headquarters for the Departments of English and Related Literature and Educational Studies.