The Senior Common Room (SCR) brings together staff, academics, alumni and friends as part of the wider St John’s community, playing an active role in College life through events, conversation and engagement across the year. In this series, we introduce members of the SCR Exec and their role in shaping the SCR today. A member of the first cohort of women admitted to St John’s in 1973, Revd Canon Jane Grieve has been part of the College community for over five decades, as a student, member of staff and now SCR committee member.
What drew you to get involved in the SCR at St John’s?
I was invited to become a member of the SCR back in 1989. At the time I held a variety of part time admin roles on the staff, moving to fulltime employment as Alumni Officer and Development Director around 1992, and serving as a Johns Hall personal tutor for ten years. I also served as SCR treasurer for several years, back in the days of paper invoices, receipts and calculators! I found the SCR to be a warm and vibrant community to be part of then with membership from academics over several departments (with a majority from the Theology Department back then), alongside many local alumni friends of College who supported the fundraising campaigns of the 1970s, 80s and 90s. There was a high level of active engagement from all Cranmer and John’s tutorial staff in those days, with close to 100% active involvement.
What do you value most about being part of the SCR community
A sense of continuing to have an active link and role within the St John’s of today, with the opportunity to be involved in day to day College life, and meet successive generations of students. Friendships with other SCR members who share this commitment to College life are important to me. It is good to have an opportunity to give back to this special community of which I have been a member since becoming an undergraduate back in 1973, and within which I have been either a student of some kind or employee for 21 through the past 52 years! There is a real desire at present to listen to our members and the wider college community and develop the role of the SCR further, which is very exciting.
Are there particular events or aspects of college life you especially enjoy?
I have throughly enjoyed every event I have attended since retirement and moving back to Durham early in 2024 – but also the opportunities to eat in College informally and strike up conversations with today’s students.
How does the SCR contribute to the wider life of the College?
By developing the potential of St John’s as an independent College to add value for its students through its unique ethos and the links between JCR, MCR, CCR and SCR.
By being available as a conversation partner with staff and students concerning the further direction of the College and especially in the guarding of the College ethos – an explicit duty of those in leadership in the College in its original Memorandum and Articles of Association.
By being open to supportive relationships as appropriate with current undergraduates and postgraduates – knowing how much I appreciated such support in my own student years.
By supporting College JCR and MCR events – e.g. sporting, musical, dramatic, social. By promoting the College via personal networks and contacts.
By working with other SCRs to enhance the value of the Collegiate system in the wider University.
What would you say to someone considering SCR membership?
I would encourage anyone who values the unique St John’s ethos to join and engage with our activities and the wider life of the John’s community.
Read more about Jane’s time as a student at John’s: 50 Years of Women at St John’s: Jane Grieve – John’s Chronicle.
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