Life in John’s editor, Laila Banerjee, describes what the opening of Binks Hall means to St John’s and the Durham community at large. Wednesday, the 14th of October, 2026 marked the opening of Binks Hall at St John’s College and was celebrated with a drinks reception and a vibrant formal dinner. Originally the College Chapel, […]

Arts and Culture editor, Chloe Showell, takes us back in time to explore Halloween’s roots and is continuing legacy in Durham and St John’s College. If you walk through the reception and halls of St John’s this week, you’ll be forgiven for thinking that college has been taken over! Cobwebs stretching along the corridors, paper […]

Chevening Scholar, Swastika Paudel, poignantly reflects on the lessons learnt, opportunities embraced, and connections made during her Masters studies at St John’s college. Written by Swastika Paudel Edited by Chloe Showell, Arts and Culture Editor. Arriving in Durham as an international student meant leaving almost everything familiar: Nepal, my family and my work as an […]

The 2025-26 academic year was a great success for both squads at St John’s College Boat Club (SJCBC). The women’s squad continued to climb the ranks of college rowing, headlined by a well-earned win at Tyne New Year’s Head for the 1st VIII, and a third-place finish for the novice women at Novice Cup. Two […]

This September, St John’s and St Cuthbert’s Society welcomed more than 40 guests, including alumni from both communities, for a special Secret Gardens of South Bailey event exploring the history, ecology and changing landscape of the Durham peninsula. For the past four years, St John’s has opened its hidden gardens to the public, sharing the […]

Chris Courtman has served as the Finance and Operations Director at St John’s College since 2023. Overseeing finance, estates, strategy and compliance, Chris’s wide-ranging role touches almost every aspect of life at St John’s. The Chronicle sits down with him to hear more about his responsibilities, the opportunities and challenges they bring, and the exciting […]

Katie Hickson reflects on five years on the trustee board of the SJCR. A St John’s student from 2013 to 2016, she returned to the SJCR as an external trustee in 2021, later serving as Chair. As she steps down from the Board, Katie looks back on her journey with John’s and her time with […]

PhD student Xiaoge Wang on their experience at the 2026 Cambridge Literary Festival As a third-year PhD student in English researching contemporary British literature, much of my academic life is shaped by intensive reading and writing under considerable time pressure. It has inevitably narrowed my reading practices, as theoretical and critical materials must take priority […]

Eleanor Arneil explores the work that goes into running our college formals Formals are a massive part of college life, providing an opportunity to socialise with friends, network with guests and enjoy a tasty meal. However, the considerable behind-the-scenes effort to organise formals is often underappreciated. After learning more about how St John’s formals are […]

Shravanee Amrute: Anecdotes from a student’s life in Durham. Some cities are flashy, and some are Durham. Durham shows itself to a person through a gradual shift that is very much like charcoal drawing on textured paper. It doesn’t want to impress you or make you love it. Rather, it waits patiently for you to […]