Dear Clare Hall members and friends,

Please find below a list of events taking place this week and beyond, to which you are warmly invited.

➢ Members’ events

Family Supper |
Friday 12 December 2025, from 5pm

Join us for a festive Family Supper on Friday 12 December! We gather in the meeting room at 5pm and head to the gardens for a treasure hunt, after which we head back to the meeting room where we do a craft activity. This is followed by supper at about 6pm, after which we go back to the meeting room to watch a film together if there is enough demand. 

There’s no need to book – this is an informal event and dinner will be the regular dining hall with usual prices, and half price for children. Family suppers are organised by Chandy Nath and Susanah Salter.

Burns Night 2026 |
Wednesday 28 January 2026, from 7pm

Join us for an unforgettable Burns Supper, an evening filled with Scottish tradition in celebration of the life and poetry of Robert Burns. The event will feature live bagpipes and a Ceilidh band, creating an authentic and lively atmosphere. Warm thanks go to Lady Patricia Mirrlees (Life Member) and Prof David Cope (Foundation Fellow) for their generous support in making this occasion possible.

➢ Lectures and talks

Film & Moving Image SIG |
Thursday 11 December 2025, from 6pm

All Clare Hall members are welcome to attend the screenings and events of the new Film and Moving Image SIG. The next screening is: Human Traffic (Justin Kerrigan, 1999) [Blu-ray] + Introduction by Latina & Audience Panel Discussion

A table will be reserved for the SIG in the Dining Hall from 6 to 7 pm for those who wish to have dinner before the screening. The group will then proceed to the event together. Refreshments will be available during the screening.

Find more information on the event page.

End-of-Michaelmas Postdoc Gathering |
Friday 12 December 2026, 7pm

We are delighted to invite you to our End-of-Michaelmas Postdoc Gathering, taking place in the King Room on Friday, 12 December at 7pm.

This will be an informal opportunity to get to know each other’s research through short, three-slide presentations. The idea is to keep things light, playful, and accessible — a space where we can share what excites us intellectually without the pressure of a formal talk. If you would like to present, please send your theme. All disciplines and levels of ‘work-in-progress’ are welcome. Contact: Valeria Ramirez –  mvr26@cam.ac.uk.

There will be drinks and nibbles, and plenty of time simply to chat and enjoy each other’s company as we bring the term gently to a close.

Clare Hall Colloquia |
Tuesday 20 January – Tuesday 10 March 2026, 7.15pm

The Clare Hall Colloquia provide members of the College – especially (but not exclusively) Visiting Fellows and Life Members – with an opportunity to present their research, whether in its early stages or already published, in a friendly setting. They are a great way to discuss your ideas, meet fellow members and to contribute to our vibrant community. Sessions take place on Tuesday evenings during term time, 7:15–9:15pm, in the Clare Hall Meeting Room. Refreshments are provided.

Please see the full Lent programme here.

➢ Music

Christmas Concert |
Sunday 21 December 2025, 4pm

Join us for an informal Christmas concert on Sunday 21st December at 4pm in the Clare Hall Dining Hall! All are most welcome, children especially.

The programme will include a performance of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf with a Christmas music interlude, followed by carols and readings. No tickets are required, and admission is free. Mulled wine and mince pies will be served.

Please register using the sign-up form. 

Fitzwilliam String Quartet: Beach, Shostakovich, Beethoven |
Saturday 17 January 2026, 7.30pm

Join us for an evening of remarkable music as the Fitzwilliam String Quartet return to Clare Hall on 17 January with a programme that spans three distinct musical landscapes. The evening begins in America with Amy Beach’s String Quartet in One Movement, inspired by expressive Alaskan Inuit melodies. It then moves into the intimate and emotionally charged world of Shostakovich through his String Quartet No. 9, a continuous five-movement work known for its depth and intensity. The concert closes with the majesty of Beethoven’s String Quartet in E-flat major, Op. 127, one of his late masterpieces and a pillar of the quartet repertoire.

Programme:

• Beach: String Quartet in One Movement
• Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 9
• Beethoven: String Quartet in E-flat major, Op. 127

Tickets are available via Eventbrite: General Admission – £20, Clare Hall members – £15, students – £5.

➢ Art

Paintings and monoprints by Benita Kevill-Davies |
Friday 28 November 2025 – Thursday 8 January 2026, 10am-3pm

Clare Hall is pleased to present an exhibition by Benita Kevill-Davies, from 28 November 2025 to 8 January 2026. The exhibition is open for public viewing, 10am to 3pm, on weekdays.

Learn more about the exhibition here.

The Bell Collection of British Studio Pottery, 1920-1980 |
Ongoing

A rotating display of some 400 pieces of studio ceramics. Learn more at https://www.clarehall.cam.ac.uk/bellcollection/

➢ University events

Cambridge Botanic Lights |
Friday 28 November – Tuesday 23 December 2025, from 4:30pm

Cambridge Botanic Lights returns this month with a new theme, new installations, more food and drink and even more opportunities to visit! The spectacular lights display showcases the wonderful world of plants and will illuminate Cambridge University Botanic Garden into a stunning trail of light and sound, creating the perfect opportunity to unwind and spend time with family and friends.

Clare Hall has 12 corporate passes to the Botanic Garden available for members to borrow from the Porters’ Lodge. These are shared passes, not individual memberships, and are available to all members of the Clare Hall community. If you would like to borrow a pass, please see the Porters’ Lodge. We kindly ask that passes be returned within 2 days so that others may also enjoy this benefit.

➢ Activities and Societies

Pilates Sessions |
Mondays, 9 January – 20 March 2026

We are delighted to host pilates classes at Clare Hall throughout the Lent Term. The classes will be held on Mondays during lunchtime. Pilates is a form of low-impact exercise that aims to strengthen muscles while improving postural alignment and flexibility.

A full list of dates and the sign up sheet can be found here.

Taiji (Tai Chi) and QiGong Sessions |
Wednesdays, 14 January – 18 March 2026

We are pleased to host Taiji (Tai Chi) and QiGong sessions at Clare Hall in the Lent Term. The sessions will be taking place in the Richard Eden Suite on Wednesdays during lunchtime, starting on 1 October 2025.

A full list of dates and the sign up sheet can be found here.

Choir Practice |
Various Dates

A reminder that Clare Hall Choir practice takes place in Robinson College Chapel every Monday (in term-time, but not always restricted to the official Cambridge term dates) from 7.30-9pm. New members are always welcome, and no previous singing or musical experience is necessary. The only requirement is that you want to sing and have fun doing it! If you are interested in joining, please email Ben de Souza, the Choir’s Director, who is a Clare Hall Associate, freelance choral conductor and accordionist: bd402@cam.ac.uk.

Recent recordings of the choir can also be found on our YouTube channel.

Clare Hall Families |
Various Dates

Clare Hall Families is an informal group that holds events throughout the year, centred around our popular Family Suppers, which take place each term.

Join the Clare Hall Families mailing list and WhatsApp group by filling out the form.

For any enquiries, please contact Chandy Nath at chandy.nath@gmail.com.

Find a full range of events at https://www.clarehall.cam.ac.uk/events