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Contents
Editors' Forward
Rachel Blackie's Forward
Daniel Schütze's Foward
Anna Wright's Forward
Old fashioned though it might seem, it’s always best to start at the beginning. There are plenty of tales concerning how this Yearbook was put together and many people to thank for their ideas, photographic and textual input, and words of encouragement. Before any individuals, however, it is only right to thank everyone who has made up St. Hugh’s during the time that the students of the Classes of 1994 and 1995 have “studied” there - it is, after all, those inspired (or confused) souls who have created the memories which merit immortalisation in the form of this book. From those who only spent weeks here, to those who managed to complete their degree, they’ve all played a part in playing out the dramas and comedies. However, this is not the place to mention stories, for everyone has the chance to recount their own tales in the pages that follow.
Concerning the Photographs: Daniel and Rachel took it upon themselves to take a picture of everyone still at College by chasing around with the dreaded Yearbook Camcorder (thank you James “I had a camcorder once” Golding and Mike “I thought I lent that” Rallings”) and capturing their smiles for perpetuity. In this regard, mentions are due to: Guy “Don’t knock, I’m never in” Ladenburg, Oliver “Camera Shy” Rochman, Audrey “Give me 30 mins for my lipstick” Healy, Simon “I’d run if I wasn’t unconcious” Dadson, and Andy “I can’t do ‘normal’” Collins for making the chase all the more interesting! Apologies to all those drunken people we caught after Hilary Dinner, especially the rather mature looking first years who enjoyed performing for the camera so much (tongues, cleavage and karate sum that up). For the few who actually made it to the “photo-studio” to have their pictures taken, many thanks - I hope smiling at other peoples’ pictures was reward enough. Watching people prepare for their photos being taken was an experience in itself: Alex “!PANIC!” Gooden, Becci “Use any picture” Foster, Ian “I still need to comb this hair” Willets, and A. “Are you sure you’re not filming?” Non. All those beauties complaining that they looked terrible should try modesty sometime! For the troublesome few who evaded us the longest, we’ll fondly remember the few who: were surprised when we stormed the Computer Room to capture them unawares (hint: f |grep shug); thought they were safe at the Porters’ Lodge; didn’t expect a camera in the pub; and everyone betrayed by their friends. There were a few odd speeches recited whilst people’s pictures were taken with Paul “I love St. Hugh’s” Wilson certainly winning the prize for passion. The camera crew weren’t totally innocent as was encapsulated by Daniel’s admission, “There’s nothing worse than a drunkard with a camera”.
Concerning the Text Entries: No doubt many of you grew tired of the endless pleas from Anna et al. to hand in your text. Though the deadlines came and went ‘tomorrow’ (as in “I’ll write it tomorrow”) finally came for many people. With no previous yearbook to reflect on many of you seemed perplexed as to what to write. Thus, while the entries might be cryptic, humorous, brief or downright peculiar, we hope they do their authors justice, and forever shine on (you crazy diamonds).
Concerning the Layout: Unfortunately there were a fair few students who for whatever reason didn’t hand in any text. This necessitated separating students from each year into two sections. Those who did submit something appear at the start of a section and to prevent endless blank spaces, those for whom we only had a picture feature in a subsequent section. People in both sections are, of course, listed alphabetically, and we hope that it won’t be too great a challenge for anyone to find students in one of the two sections!
Concerning the Class of 1994: All those fourth years who refused to leave after their three year stint were matriculated in 1994 (their memories might not go back that far). The hope was to place them among their friends & aquaintances who had already left St. Hugh’s and gotten to grips with the real world (or tried to). The faces you see in this section will no doubt be familiar, as they were stars of the show for their own era (and some still haunt college) and although it was a challenge, we’ve tried to collect photos and text from as many as possible, because they, alas, didn’t have a Yearbook of their own. Everyone mixed in different circles at College and no doubt there will be third years who cherish the images of their “more mature friends” as much as those of their own year.
Your Yearbook Editors: Rachel Blackie, Daniel Schütze, Anna Wright
Seeing as anyone with any sense will just skip this page to get to the interesting bits, I may as well just get on with my thanks. So, huge amounts of gratitude to: Daniel for dragging me (kicking and screaming) into this in the first place, putting up with my ridiculous pedantry over every single comma, and devoting his entire life to ensuring that this Yearbook was actually produced; Anna for making sure there was text to go with the photos and hours spent pleading, planning and proof-reading; Debbie & Sara for all their work behind the scenes; James for trusting us (well, Daniel) with his camcorder - especially in the aftermath of Hilary Dinner; Sacha the fresher for the petition and bags of enthusiasm; Anton for putting up with a lot of abuse - sorry!; and of course, Sandra without whom there simply wouldn’t be a Yearbook...
Now that this Yearbook is before you (and you’ve ripped out this page for use as a bookmark), I’ll refrain from attempting to describe the blood and tears that went into it, other than saying, “What spare time? What Easter Holiday? What light at the end of the tunnel?”. It’s my hope that it’s all been worth the effort and that many of you will be in posession of something you will treasure.
So, what was the advice which was offered as the book was produced? They told me it couldn’t be done (well more exactly they said, “You’re mad for trying”); they told me they were just about to come over to have their photo taken and what an amazing coincidence it was that I was there knocking at their doors (well, I can’t tell you exactly what people such as A. Taylor said when we asked to take their picture); they even told me their life story (in an effort to avoid the camera?); they even told me that they weren’t in their rooms whilst I spoke to them (whoops); Yes they told me enough, but who actually did something?
That strange nagging feeling makes me want to thank all those people who played a little role in the production of the book (be it from actually standing still as I took their picture, to handing in their required contributions early, to having legible writing or e-mailing their entries, to shock horror offering encouragement) because the summation of their individual help made all the difference. No list of ‘names’ could be complete - but thanks to: the Lady of the Grim North for getting me to stop talking and planning and instead start doing the Yearbook, and to those and countless others, such as the “Washing-up Fairy”, who ensured the Yearbook Machine was fit for work.
Firstly, I must apologise unreservedly to everyone for the fact that I seem to appear on almost every page of this book. This was not done deliberately as a way of pandering my egomaniacal tendencies, but was due to a lack of alternative photographs - honest! Secondly, I must thank my long-suffering housemates for putting up with my constant moans and entreaties (not that they worked Plum, Lucy, Ben!). Thirdly, I wish, as ever, to express my heartfelt gratitude to Sara, for believing in the whole enterprise right from the start (way back in Michaelmas ‘96), and for sharing the enmity incurred from those we nagged. “Cheers” too, to Debbie, who stopped torturing people in the labs for long enough to be a fab business manager! I would also like to say thanks to all those who submitted texts for my failed attempt last year - even Jon and Jonny, whose entries sadly remain unprintable. Sorry, whilst I’m on the subject, to the three whom I forced to write memoirs under the influence of substantial amounts of alcohol (John, Nobby, Will - forgive me!). Finally, thanks to rich for being a fantastic hotelier whilst I was working on the book in London, and for supporting me despite the whinging, the evenings spent photocopying and the general stress. It’s all over now - just finalists to go!
All Images © Daniel Schütze (Daniel Schutze) and may not be used or redistributed without permission