2016 -2017 heralds the 10th Anniversary of Josephine Butler College and we have marked this special occasion with plenty of opportunities for you to get involved and for us all to celebrate together.As part of our 10th Anniversary celebrations, we decided we wanted to undertake a project to transform the student experience in the college. The main thing which students said they wanted was more appropriate study space and so it is on that which we have set our sights. We plan to build an annex at the back of the bar which will create two large and two smaller spaces, as well as a new foyer entrance to the bar. This will allow us to create space for an expanded library and space for both quiet and group study, and should transform the experience of the students in Butler. To read more about the Study Space Project and support us please click here.
On the 3rd of June 2016 the College’s Tenth Year was launched with a celebratory dinner attended by the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor and members of the University Executive Committee amongst College staff, students, alumni and community members. All guests came together to enjoy the atmosphere that has been created at Butler over the last ten years. During the course of the night various groups performed to showcase Butler talent including Butler Tigers, Troupe, Chamber Choir, AccaButler and Jazz Band. Other areas of the College were represented through speeches on sports, societies and committees. A silent auction took place to raise money for the expansion of study space for students at the College. The dinner managed to raise over £800 from silent auctions bids and pledges. Thank you to everyone who donated.
The festivities of Butler Day 2016 were the official launch of the Tenth Year celebrations for students. The day was Rio Carnival theme and the Butler site transformed to accommodate waltzers and three large inflatables. During the day there were performers from students and local groups, including a drumming act. To ensure all students were kept entertained there was also a balloon artist and face painter. The highlight of the day was performances by Let’s Circus. Acts included the gymnasts, Afrikann Warriors, juggler, Nat Lunatrick, and hula-hoop artist, Miss Gracie.
The Sunday after Butler Day a Societies Showcase was put on. Societies took the stage during the afternoon to showcase Butler’s talent, including Jazz Band, Chamber Choir, STAB and AccaButler. Pudding Soc put on a bake sale to raise money for Grace House. Other societies made sure they were part of the day in some other way with films for Disney Soc and Marvel and DC Society, whilst Fem Soc put on a quiz and unicycle society did a taster session.
On the 22nd of October 2016 at 7.30pm Butler hosted a Boat Party on the Thames to celebrate the Tenth Year Anniversary. The Boat Party left Tower Pier sailing up towards the O2 past the Tower of London, London Bridge, Cutty Sark and the Royal Observatory. This was our biggest ever alumni event with over 200 Butler alumni attending. The views, conversation and company were all fantastic and we hope that everyone enjoyed themselves at this special reunion event.
As part of the college's Tenth Anniversary celebrations we hosted a special service in Durham Cathedral. The service included readings from our students and alumni as well as musical performances from our Woodwind group, Chamber Choir, and Jazz Band. We also listened to reading about the life and work of Josephine Butler herself and readings about out college's past, present and future.