Newsletter: Events at Clare Hall, Easter 2025
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
Tuesday 29 April – Tuesday 17 June 2025, 7.30pm
Clare Hall Colloquium
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. The full Easter Term 2025 programme can be found here.
The final talk of the term will be by Eric Nye (U. of Wyoming) – Leslie Stephen and “Sketches from Cambridge by a Don”.
Friday 20 June 2025, from 6:30pm
Clare Hall May Event
Welcome to 21 Club: After Hours! The college will transform into the famous 1920’s New York speakeasy- 21 Club- where curious hidden rooms, incredible live music and unlimited food and drink await! See both the posters for the event attached in this email.
Please join us from 18.30-02.00. Bring guests both from Cambridge and further afar to join us for Clare Hall’s biggest night of the year. We look forward to welcoming those who have purchased tickets!
Saturday 21 June – Sunday 22 June 2025
CHBC 30th Anniversary Events
It’s time to celebrate Clare Hall Boat Club’s 30th Anniversary! And what better way to celebrate than over the 2025 May Bumps weekend, Saturday 21-Sunday 22 June 2025. Join us for the three events we’re hosting in honour of CHBC glory on the Cam since 1995, including a Bumps Tent on the final day of May Bumps, a Gala Dinner, and a Morning Paddle. We look forward to welcoming you to the event!
Monday 23 June 2025, 7:30pm
Joint Concert – the Choirs of Clare Hall and Darwin College
The choirs of Clare Hall and Darwin are hosting another a joint concert on Monday 23rd June at 7:30pm in the Clare Hall dining hall. Both choirs will sing individually and together, including music by Goss, Chilcott, Kirby Shaw and Amy Beach. The concert will also feature musical performances from members of both colleges. There are still performing slots available – please email Ben de Souza (bd402) for more information.
There will be refreshments served afterwards, courtesy of the Clare Hall Tutorial office.
Entry is free, but audience members are requested to complete the attendance form.
Wednesday 25 June 2025, 12:30pm
Annual Cricket Match
Join us for this year’s annual cricket match! There will be an enjoyable game of cricket, followed by afternoon tea. The event is free and open to all, and if you would like to learn more or get involved, please email cricket@clarehall.cam.ac.uk.
Please RSVP for the match and tea through this form.
Wednesday 25 June 2025, 7pm
Formal Dinner
Join us for formal after the Cricket Match on Wednesday 25 June. All are welcome to attend, and usual formal prices apply. Bookings are open via Upay.
Current Exhibitions
Thursday 19 June – Thursday 31 July 2025
A Painter’s Progress: an exhibition of paintings by Ben Henriques
Clare Hall is delighted to present an exhibition by Ben Henriques, from 19th June to 31st July 2025.
Introduction by Frances Spalding, Chair of the Clare Hall Art Committee
One long-standing tradition in the History of Art is the habit of painting ordinary things. Much loved, in the Fitzwilliam Museum’s collection, is Henri Fantin-Latour’s small painting of a white cup and saucer, with a silver teaspoon, against a dark background. It is almost always on display and reproductions of this picture sell like hot cakes by the dozen. Ben Henriques is likewise a skillful exponent of this genre, bringing a remarkable intensity to simple subjects. But how does he achieve this? This question will be asked by many who come to his exhibition at Clare Hall, on show between 19th June and 31st July. Two things come to the fore: the quality of attention given to his subject matter, and the grip that his handling of paint achieves on canvas, his brush marks veering between the willed and the spontaneous, as if searching for ontological certainty. Yet, his paintings result in recognisable images, but this is not slick photo-realism, but something much more alive and sensuous. Come and experience the effects he creates, for, like Fantin-Latour, his art has both simplicity and depth.
Ongoing
The Bell Collection of British Studio Pottery, 1920-1980
A rotating display of some 320 pieces of studio ceramics. Learn more at https://www.clarehall.cam.ac.uk/bellcollection/
Activities and Societies
Monday 7 July 2025, 8pm
Clare Hall Book Club
Join the College’s Book Club as they discuss The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon. 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.
Mondays and Fridays, 25 April – 20 June 2025
Pilates Sessions – Easter Term 2025
We are delighted to host pilates classes at Clare Hall throughout Easter Term. The classes will be held on Mondays during lunchtime, with additional bi-weekly Friday evening classes. 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.
Tuesdays, 29 April – 17 June 2025
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.
Thursdays and Sundays, 4 May – 19 June 2025
Yoga Sessions – Easter Term 2025
We are delighted to host regular lunchtime yoga sessions, starting on 8 May 2025. Due to new instructor arrangements, the weekday lunchtime sessions will now occur on Thursdays.
In addition, we offer Sunday afternoon yoga after the allotment sessions, starting on 4 May 2025.
Please sign up for both sessions through the spreadsheet here.
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.