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.

Upcoming Events

Wednesday 1 October – Wednesday 10 December 2025
Clare Hall Through Your Lens: Community Photo Project

As Michaelmas begins, we invite all members of the Clare Hall community — students, fellows, staff, and families — to share photos of our beautiful grounds and gardens. Whether it is autumn colours, hidden corners, or favourite gathering spaces, we would love to see Clare Hall through your eyes.

Photos don not need to be professional — good-quality smartphone shots are very welcome. Please note that photos featuring identifiable people cannot be accepted. Selected images will be featured on a rotating display in the College Main Site, as well as on our website and social media, with full credit to the photographer. They will also be permanently preserved in the College Archives as part of our record in this milestone 60th anniversary year.

Find out more and submit your photos on the main event page.

Friday 10 October – Friday 28 November 2025, 2.15pm
The Betty Behrens Seminar on Classics of Historiography

The Betty Behrens Seminar on Classics of Historiography offers a unique opportunity for students and scholars to reflect on some great historical works and engage in discussion with renowned experts.

This term, the seminar will be composed of three meetings, taking place in the Richard Eden Suite, Clare Hall, West Court. To attend, please register via Eventbrite. 

Learn more about the seminar here.

Tuesday 14 October – Tuesday 2 December 2025, 7.15-9.15pm
Clare Hall Colloquia

Clare Hall’s 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.

The next session of the term is on 11 November 2025, with speaker Professor Gregory MacIsaac (Visiting Fellow; Carleton University, Canada).

Title: ‘Theaetetus’ – Plato’s Dialogue about Knowledge

Plato’s dialogue ‘Theaetetus’ considers the question, ‘What is knowledge?’ It proposes three possibilities. Knowledge could be an immediate sensory awareness of a quality like ‘red’ or ‘green’. Or it could be a simple judgement that identifies a given object, such as ‘That is a horse’ or ‘That is Socrates’. Finally, it could be such a judgement, accompanied by some kind of account or explanation of the judgement. Socrates examines and rejects all three possibilities, and the dialogue ends without an answer. I argue that the dialogue is a criticism of Plato’s predecessors, the ‘Presocratic’ philosophers, showing that it is their philosophical assumptions that dictate these three possibilities, and that also make it impossible to explain knowledge. Plato himself thinks knowledge is of immaterial Forms.

Please see the full Michaelmas programme here.

Friday 7 November 2025, 9.15am-12pm
Advancing Research Impact for College-Based Academics

Clare Hall researchers are warmly invited to Advancing Research Impact for College-Based Academics – an event jointly organised by Newnham College, Hughes Hall, and Wolfson College, exploring how to raise the profile of knowledge exchange (KE) and impact across all Cambridge Colleges.

Aimed particularly at Junior Research Fellows, Early Career Researchers, and Postgraduates, the session will offer insights and support for developing the impact side of your work. College-based staff who support researchers are also welcome.

The event will focus on the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, though all disciplines are invited to attend.

Find out more information and reserve your place here.

Friday 7 November 2025, 5.30pm
Family Supper

Join us for a Family Supper starting in the Meeting Room at 5.30pm where we do a craft activity, before heading for supper at about 6pm. After supper we will return to the Meeting Room to watch a film together if there is enough demand. 

There is 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 Susannah Salter.

Saturday 8 November 2025, 7.30pm
A Journey through the History of Period Instruments

Clare Hall launches its 2025/26 Intimate Engagements series with a performance of period instrument specialists Maggie Faultless, Rachel Stroud, and Andrew Skidmore. Join them for a captivating journey through the history of music, exploring the evolution of instruments, the hidden meanings in musical notation, and the evidence that informs our understanding of historical performance practice.

The trio will perform repertoire spanning nearly 200 years – some familiar, others newly rediscovered – all brought to life with a fresh, playful perspective on musical history.

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

Tuesday 11 November 2025, 2pm
College Photograph

A friendly reminder to all College members: the College Photograph will take place on Tuesday, 11th November at 2:00pm in the Fellows’ Garden.

If you haven’t already signed up, please do so here: Sign Up Form for the College Photograph 2025–2026.

If you previously signed up but can no longer attend, please contact the College Events Manager at college.administrator@clarehall.cam.ac.uk.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Friday 14 November 2025, 5pm
English Literature SIG

All Clare Hall members are welcome to attend the meetings for the English Literature (Jane Austen) SIG this Michaelmas term. The next meeting is taking place on Friday 14 November at 5pm in the Clare Hall Meeting Room, followed by a group dinner in the Dining Hall.

Please contact Professor Eric Nye (email: ewn10@cam.ac.uk) for further details.

Saturday 15 November 2025, 7.30pm
Fitzwilliam String Quartet: Beethoven, Bray, Shostakovich

The Fitzwilliam String Quartet open their series of three concerts with Beethoven’s String Quartet Op. 18 No. 1, a work of youthful genius, its famous Adagio inspired by the tragic passion of ‘Romeo and Juliet’. The programme continues with Charlotte Bray’s poignant 2022 work, ‘Ungrievable Lives’, a powerful meditation on the global refugee crisis, concluding with Shostakovich’s monumental Third Quartet, composed in the shadow of the Second World War.

Join us for an unforgettable evening of music that explores human emotion, resilience, and connection across time. Tickets: £20 General Admission, £15 Clare Hall members, £5 students (available via Eventbrite).

Sunday 16 November 2025, 6pm
Clare Hall and Corpus Christi Joint Evensong

The Clare Hall Choir will be performing in a joint Evensong with Corpus Christi College on Sunday 16 November. The service is 6pm and will be in Corpus Christi Chapel. The service will include music by Charles Villiers Stanford and Ola Gjeilo. All are welcome to attend.

Wednesday 19 November 2025, 6-7pm
Biomedical and Life Sciences SIG

All Clare Hall members are welcome to attend the meetings for the Biomedical and Life Sciences SIG this Michaelmas term. Meetings are held on Wednesdays 6-7pm in the Clare Hall Meeting Room.

The next talk will take place on 19 November, led by Dr Steve Holmes (Co-Founder, Cubeco Biologics) – “Advances in antibody engineering for therapeutic applications”.

See the full SIG schedule on this page.

Wednesday 26 November 2025, 7.30pm
Thanksgiving Formal

Celebrate Thanksgiving with friends and family with Formal Hall on 26 November 2025. Normal formal prices will apply, and bookings are open on Upay. Bookings will close at 1.45pm the day before the formal.

Thursday 27 November 2025, 7pm
Genealogy SIG

All Clare Hall members are welcome to attend the meetings for the new Genealogy SIG this Michaelmas term. The next meeting will take place on Thursday 27 November at 7pm in the Clare Hall Meeting Room.

Please contact Kevin Edwards (email: kevin.edwards@abdn.ac.uk) for further details.

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

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 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.

Saturday 6 December – Sunday 7 December 2025, 7.30pm
Celebrating Maurice Ravel: The Complete Piano Music

Join us for two special concerts at Clare Hall celebrating the 150th anniversary of Maurice Ravel’s birth. Pianist Patrick Hemmerlé will perform all of Ravel’s major piano works – a rare chance to experience the full scope of this extraordinary composer’s artistry. His piano music remains one of the greatest achievements of 20th century music, distinctive by its extreme refinement, perfectionism, and versatility of a composer who never repeated himself, but went on to reinvent his style throughout his creative life.

These concerts include talks that will explain the background behind the music and help to shed light on the shifting styles of this cameleon-like composer.

Tickets are available via Eventbrite: General Admission – £20 (one night only) or £30 (both nights); Clare Hall members – £15 (one night only) or £22.50 (both nights); students – £5 (one night only) or £7.50 (both nights).

Wednesday 10 December 2025, 7.30pm
Christmas Feast

Join us for a joyous and festive dinner on 10th December!

We are delighted to have the choir, directed by Ben de Souza, performing at the Christmas Feast again this year. Enjoy a new Christmas carol written especially for us by Lucy Walker, along with a selection of other festive music to sing.

• Bookings: Open on 14th November via Upay and close on 3rd December
• Cost: £55 for seniors | £36.50 for students (includes wine or a soft drink)
• Dress Code: Black Tie

Celebrate the season in style with good food, music, and festive cheer!

Current Exhibitions

Friday 10 October – Thursday 20 November 2025, 10am-5pm
Everyday Wonder to Revelation

Clare Hall is honoured to host an exhibition of paintings by Alan Caine (1936–2022), running from 10th October to 20th November 2025. Visitors are welcome daily between 10am and 5pm.

Learn more about the exhibition here.

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

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

Activities and Societies

Thursdays and Sundays, 21 September – 11 December 2025
Yoga Sessions

We are delighted to host regular Thursday lunchtime and Sunday afternoon yoga sessions in the Michaelmas term. Yoga is a holistic mind–body practice that combines physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation to promote strength, flexibility, and inner balance.

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

Tuesdays, ongoing through the Michaelmas Term
Mindful Meditation Sessions

Through mindfulness we cultivate attention to the here and now. We aim to witness our thoughts and feelings with detachment. We develop concentration, peace of mind and enjoyment of life with all its challenges.

As a group, we explore different means of developing mindfulness, including relaxation, guided meditation and attention to the breath or to a mantra. The sessions are led by Elizabeth Garnsey, and meet in the King Room on Main Site on Tuesdays 1-2pm. The door is open 1-2 but you are welcome to slip in and out whenever convenient for you. All members of the college and friends are welcome, including students, staff, fellows, researchers and visitors. Please contact ewg11@cam.ac.uk with any questions.

Wednesday 1 October – Wednesday 10 December 2025
Taiji (Tai Chi) and QiGong Sessions

We are pleased to introduce new Taiji (Tai Chi) and QiGong sessions at Clare Hall for the Michaelmas 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.

Mondays, 6 October – 8 December 2025
Pilates Sessions

We are delighted to host pilates classes at Clare Hall throughout Michaelmas. 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.

Monday 1 December 2025, 8pm
Clare Hall Book Club

Join the College’s Book Club as they discuss Elective Affinities by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. All College members are welcome to attend in-person, meeting in Clare Hall’s Meeting Room, or via Zoom. If you are not on the mailing list and would like to be, please send an email to gloria.carnevali@icloud.com, confirming your Clare Hall connection and putting the following as the email title: I would like to join the Book Club mailing list.

Learn more about the Book Club on this page.

Various Dates
Choir Practice

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.

Various Dates
Clare Hall Families

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