If Walls could Speak – Alumni Newsletter, Summer 2019
Since our humble beginnings with just one student – Edward Cordukes, on 17th May 1841, heritage has been key to the University identity. For many years, we stored and displayed our memorabilia in the Heritage Room, carefully curated by Alumni Relations Volunteer Peter Monether, but we recently made the decision to showcase our heritage around the university. A carefully created selection of our collections and objects are now on permanent display in cabinets placed all around campus, forming the Heritage Trail. A Heritage Trail Guide, which will launch in the summer, is being created to allow visitors to take a self-guided tour of the university’s most important historical areas and to admire various items telling the story of Ripon Training College, St John’s Training College and from our days as a University College. The trail will guide visitors around some of the most interesting buildings and landmarks on the York St John University campus and discover the hidden stories behind the bricks. A printed version of the Guide will be available from the University reception and it will also be possible to download it from our website.
We are asking the help of all our alumni to help us determining the history of some memorabilia we unearthed while working at the creation of the Heritage Trail. If you are able to shed light on the dates or any stories around the objects below, please get in touch.
Picture 1 is a silver-plated pen and notepad with the YSJU crest. Do you recognise this? Do you know the date it may have been produced?
Pictures 2 and 3 are of a silver-plated case with the YSJU crest and a mirror inside. Do you remember seeing this or know when it may have been available?
Picture 4 shows a series of YSJU pin badges. Do you own one of these? Are you able to help us date them?
Picture 5 is the spread-eagle emblem on a Physical Education material badge. Did you study Physical Education? Do you know the date this badge would have been issued?
One – silver-plated pen and notepad with the YSJU crest
Two – silver-plated case with the YSJU crest
Three – silver-plated case with the YSJU crest
Four – YSJU pin badges
Five – spread-eagle emblem on a Physical Education material badge
EILEEN GRAHAM SAT 17 AUGUST 2019
(Nee Ridley / St JC 1970-73 / Middle School Music & Science).
Visited the college this morning to see the above display (Also the gap & new view left by the A – I accomodation blocks’ demolition).
Now I only have my 1970 Prospectus (Includes a photo of an Olivetti Programma 101 Computer in the Maths Dept. – who knew?)! Also the 150th Anniversary Concert Programme 31 May – 01 June 1991 in Ripon Cathedral & York Minster.
I still have my St. John’s College lapel badge,the triangular one shown top left in your illustration. It was introduced during the latter part of my first year (1946 – 1947). This was the time of a two year Teaching Certificate course. I think it was first available Feb. to April 1947 but a month or two either way is possible. I have it in the back of my mind that it was designed by one our senior year. Mine is not pin badge but a buttonhole version. If you would like it for your collection I will bring it on 26th June.
Sorry, cannot help but would be interested in the Trail.
The P E badge came into use in 1956 ; I was in the second P E third year course 1956/57 and I proudly wore one on my black blazer.I can’t find it,unfortunately,but I still have the black College tie with the spread eagle on it.
Cloth badge was available to all students playing in a sports team – you didn’t have to study PE to get one ( I think I may have had to buy one from SU). It was worn on blazers of the rugby, cricket and football teams that were worn to away games (number ones). I got the girl in the room next to mine to sew it onto a black blazer I bought in the city! Certainly worn between 1980 – 85. Team photos show it still being worn on blazers much later.
I studied PE at St John’s 1977-81 my badge is square with the college moto beneath
“Ut Vitam Habeant et Abundantius” —
that they may have life and have it more abundantly,
so this may be earlier.
I saw most of these items at the souvenir shop of York St. John University but didn’t know the dates they were produced.
I bought one sweater with an emblem of the University that looks like the spread-eagle emblem (item 5) and on book bag with the University emblem.
Attended 1972 to 1976. Did PE. Still have my tracksuit top. Badge embroidered into tracksuit. Badge the same but no red tongue.
Please would you tell me what happened to the St John’s College constitution which was hand written on vellum by my husband before he left the College in 1965. I am sure he would love to see it when we come to the graduation ceremony on July 25th at 3 p.m.
Barbara Mawer, also ex St John’s.