Visit to the University of St Andrews

Thursday 21st - Saturday 23rd June 2012

The Ceremonies Department at St Andrews University has invited the Burgon Society to attend a Conferring Ceremony on Friday 22nd June 2012. The visit will include a tour of the University Museum, a guided tour of the Cathedral ruins and the constituent colleges with Jonathan Cooper, and attendance at the post-ceremony Garden Party. This will be a two- or three-day visit: travel to St Andrews on Thursday 21st June; Ceremony and tours on Friday 22nd; and then return home either on the Friday night or Saturday 23rd June.

Please note that the University has stipulated a maximum of 10 people for the visit. If you are interested in attending, please contact Kenneth Crawford to reserve a place: magnificat @ live.co.uk

Visit to the University of Manchester

Saturday 12th May 2012

Academic dress from the University of Manchester will be on display, including some robes of office. Talks will be given describing the dress (including its several unique aspects) and how the history of the university has influenced the design. Provisional start: 11.30am.

Spring Conference 2012

Saturday 21st April 2012

Deloitte LLP, 2 New Street Square, London EC4A 3BZ.

This all-day event is an excellent opportunity for those new to the study of academic dress to learn more about it. This year's conference will include a presentation by the distinguished academic lawyer, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of London, and Patron of the Burgon Society, Professor Graham Zellick, on the topic A Life in Academic Dress. There will also be an illustrated talk by Alex Kerr entitled Today's academic gowns and their origins, intended as an introduction to the subject but suitable for all. This will be complemented by a presentation by Colin Fleming entitled Hoods, épitoges, and their antecedents, illustrated with examples from the Burgon Collection.

The conference also offers a forum for recent and aspiring fellows to give a short presentation of their work, which may be work in progress, and to discuss their ideas for the future in a supportive atmosphere. These presentations will be approximately 20 minutes long, with some additional time for questions and discussion. Those interested in making a presentation are hereby invited to submit a short (no more than 1,500 words) position paper to the dean for review. There will also be opportunity for more informal round table discussions on how to approach your fellowship dissertation.

Five New Fellows Admitted and New President Installed

Saturday 8th October 2010

At the 11th Annual Congregation of the Burgon Society on Saturday 8th October 2011, five new Fellows were admitted:

• Nicholas Hoffman (by submission);
• The Revd Oliver Keenan (by submission);
• Dr Alan Ross (by submission);
• Kate Douglas (by submission);
• Charles Tsua (by submission);

In addition, Dr James Thomson, who has been a Patron of the Society since 2002 was installed as the Society's new President for a five year term, the former President, Dr John Birch, having stepped down after serving for two terms. Dr Birch now holds the title, President Emeritus.

Congregation was followed by a presentation by Nick Groves on his winning entry in the competition to design PhD robes for the University of Malta.

AGM and Congregation 2011

Saturday 8th October 2011

The Burgon Society Annual General Meeting and Congregation will take place on Saturday 8th October 2011 in the Charterhouse, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6AN. The program of events for the day is as follows:

10.30am Officers' arrival

11.30am Annual General Meeting
Reports will be received from Officers of the Society and the election of Council Members for the year 2011/12 will take place. Dress: Black gown.

12.15pm Lunch
As usual, a tour of Charterhouse will be available for those who wish. The Burgon Shop will also be open, and there will be a display of Archive items. (Please note: there will be a charge of £5 to cover a sandwich lunch, payable on the day).

2.30pm Congregation
The award of Fellowship by submission will be made to Nicholas Hoffmann, Oliver Keenan and Alan Ross; and award of Fellowship honoris causa will be made to Kate Douglas. Congregation will be followed by a talk (speaker to be confirmed). Refreshments will be available.

Dress for Congregation:
Officers - Official Robes;
Fellows - Black gown and FBS (silk) hood;
Other Members & Guests - Any dress to which they are entitled. Congregation is a black, rather than scarlet day, so doctors should, if possible, wear undress gown with hood.

Customary subfusc with congregation dress is dark outer clothing, with white shirt or blouse. Fellows may wear white bands with a white bow tie; other ties are worn without bands.

Visit to St Andrews postponed

Sunday 22nd May 2011

The Burgon Society regrets that it has been necessary to postpone the visit to St Andrews University, originally planned for 30th Noveber 2011.

More details to follow.

Academic Dress on Monuments in Oxford

Saturday 16th July 2011

Spend an afternoon visiting some of the college chapels and city churches that possess brasses and sculptural monuments illustrating medieval and early modern academic dress. The programme is as follows:

From 12:30 - Lunch at the Turf Tavern, Bath Place.

14:00 - Walking tour led by Alex Kerr, starting from New College. The intended itinerary will include New College, All Souls College and St John's College, the University of St Mary the Virgin and St Michael's Church.

About 16:00 - Tea at the Vaults & Garden Café, which is housed in the Old Congregation House behind St Mary the Virgin Church.

As degree ceremonies are to be held in the Sheldonian Theatre on 16th July, there will be plenty of academic dress in the streets of Oxford - an added bonus.

Please contact Alex Kerr for further details if you would like to join the visit: alexkerr @ jovecentre.co.uk

Spring Study Day

Saturday 7th May 2011

Deloitte LLP, 2 New Street Square, London EC4A 3BZ.

The programme for the day is as follows:

The cost of the study day is £5 for fellows & members, £10 for guests.

Details of the event and reply slip are included in the latest edition of Burgon Notes, but any queries can be sent to the Registrar via email: registrar @ burgon.org.uk.

* N.B. This is a revised start time, and different to the one displyed in Burgon Notes.

Six new Fellows admitted

Saturday 9th October 2010

At the 10th Annual Congregation of the Burgon Society on Saturday 9th October 2010, six new Fellows were admitted:

• Robert Armagost (by submission);
• David Boven (by submission);
• Jonathan Cooper (by submission);
• Dr Les Robarts (by submission);
• Prof. Yves Mausen (honoris causa);
• Rt Revd Graeme Knowles (jure dignitatis).

In addition, our two new Patrons were inducted:

• Prof. Graham Zellick;
• Rt Revd Graeme Knowles.

Congregation was followed by a presentation on academic dress in Spanish Universities by Jerónimo Hernández de Castro from the University of Salamanca; and by Jonathan Cooper who read in his fellowship paper on Scottish undergraduate dress.

At the Annual General Meeting prior to the Congregation, the Revd Philip Goff and Br Michael Powell stood down from Council, Richard Baker was newly elected to Council, and Colin Fleming was elected as Chairman replacing Prof. Bill Gibson.

The full results of the elections to Council were as follows:
Colin Fleming (Chairman), Thorsten Hauler (Registrar/Secretary), Ian Johnson (Treasurer), Richard Baker, Bruce Christianson, Kenneth Crawford, Peter Durant, Bill Gibson, Nick Groves, John Horton, Nicholas Jackson, Alex Kerr, Stephen Wolgast.