Refounders' House

In October 2005, the Society launched its new dual-site development with the integration of three residential blocks on the Parsons’ Field site, previously the home of Ustinov College. In September 2006, a brand-new, 192-bed residential and social block called ‘Brooks House’ was opened for the first time, providing both Freshers and Returners with state of the art ensuite accomodation, a second JCR complete with 50″ Plasma HD Television, Nintendo Wii and DVD player and a second bar for Cuths.

Ustinov College were given a new site up at Howlands Farm, next to where Josephine Butler College is now, leaving the Parsons Field site’s three accomodation blocks, ‘Fisher House’, ‘Fonteyn Court’ and ‘Parsons Field Court’ as well as the space in which ‘Brooks House’ was built. It was felt, however, that ‘Fisher House’ should be renamed, as it was originally named after one of Ustinov’s past principals and the new administration centre at Howlands Farm was also to be called ‘Fisher House’. It was decided that St. Cuthbert’s should launch the Parsons Field block with a suitable and historically important name to us.

Instead of marking the work of an individual, this recognition of the Refounders, as a group, aims to reflect the enormous maturity, independence and resilience that Cuthbert’s students have displayed throughout its history. It also shows our huge appreciation of a group of students without whom St. Cuthbert’s Society would not be here today. It further serves as a commitment to foster the spirit, individuality and purpose in ensuring that the Society continues to pro-vide for all of its members for many years to come.

After WWII, during which the Society dissolved, the Refounders re-established St. Cuthbert’s to pursue their academic, social and sporting needs. The lead was taken by an original seven students, five of whom continued from 1945 into the 1946-7 academic year.

One of these five, Mr T. I. Percival, fulfilled the role of chair when the first general meeting of the unattached was called in Michaelmas 1946. The membership of the forty or so non-collegiate students elected a Committee to represent them for the reformation of the Society. Mr Percival was elected as President, Mr W. E. Austin as Secretary, and Messrs W. H. Smith, P. Kaufman, and L. W. Peck as ordinary members. Clifford Leech, the newly appointed Principal, was elected Permanent Treasurer of the Society and made an ex-officio member of the Committee. The Committee were charged with drawing up a constitution, which was presented, and with a few minor amendments, was passed unanimously at the next general meeting. St. Cuthbert’s Society was officially refounded.

Source material taken from Henry Tudor – St. Cuthbert’s Society 1888-1988: The history of “a modest but exciting institution in the University of Durham”, St Cuthbert’s Society (1988)