Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge

Fitzwilliam College (usually called 'Fitz') is a college of the University of Cambridge. The college formed out of the Non-Collegiate Students Board. 1869. This body, based at Fitzwilliam House, opposite the Fitzwilliam Museum, took students who could not afford to be members of a college and allowed them access to a Cambridge education. The Non-Collegiate Students board eventually evolved to become Fitzwilliam College in 1966. Female undergraduates were first admitted in 1979.

Related Topics:
University of Cambridge - 1869 - Fitzwilliam Museum - 1966 - 1979

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The main grounds of the College are sited off Huntingdon Road, towards the north-west of Cambridge. Its buildings are of contemporary design, in contrast to many of the University's other colleges. The first college courts and central building (comprising the library, dining hall, junior common room and bar) were completed in 1963 and were designed by Denys Lasdun. The original intention was for these buildings to constitute the 'back' of the college, and as funding became available, the college grew to the south, with New Court built in 1985, Wilson Court (1994), and finally 'completed' with Gatehouse Court (2003) giving the college a new frontage. The college surrounds the building called The Grove (1813) which has rooms for some fellows and graduates. The Chapel (1991) is an excellent example of modern architecture. The college is also well-known for its beautiful gardens, which are excellently kept all year around.

Related Topics:
Cambridge - 1963 - Denys Lasdun - 1985 - 1994 - 2003 - 1813 - 1991 - Modern architecture

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Fitzwilliam College is less popular with the traditional Cambridge elite, being a little away from the main tourist centre, and with rather less imposing architecture. The membership is largely state school based, usually comprising around 70–75% of undergraduates - however many of these are students are drawn from elite provincial grammar schools and the leading comprehensive schools in the Home Counties, so is somewhat less balanced than the figures suggest.

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The Music Society is particularly strong, and Fitz is the only college in Cambridge to have access to a professional string quartet, the Fitzwilliam String Quartet, in residence at least once every term. As well as its own Chapel Choir, the college is home to numerous other singing groups, including Fitz Barbershop, and the Sirens, both well-loved throughout the university. Fitz is also heavily involved in the Orchestra on the Hill, whose membership is drawn from the 'hill' colleges, performing large scale works on at least a termly basis.

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'Fitztheatre', the 'hill' college drama society is based at Fitzwilliam's auditorium, one of the largest and best equipped in the University, newly opened in 2004.

Related Topics:
'hill' college - 2004

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Sports teams play a large part in college life; the college is particularly strong in football. There are also a number of academic societies.

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Notable alumni include former Chancellor of the Exchequer Norman Lamont, the Labour MP for Leigh and Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Home Office Andy Burnham, cricketer Derek Pringle, cricket journalist and broadcaster Christopher Martin-Jenkins, late singer/songwriter Nick Drake, the prominent historian David Starkey, author Giles Foden, television writer Brian Dooley, Liberal Democrat politicians Vincent Cable and Julia Goldsworthy, and Lee Kuan Yew, the former prime minister of Singapore.

Related Topics:
Norman Lamont - Andy Burnham - Derek Pringle - Christopher Martin-Jenkins - Nick Drake - David Starkey - Giles Foden - Brian Dooley - Vincent Cable - Julia Goldsworthy - Lee Kuan Yew - Singapore

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