Keele Hall Courtyard, � Stephen Clifford, August 2011

LATEST NEWS

THE SCR IS BACK!

We had two pre-Christmas activities for SCR members:

Of course, for those still wishing to re-join (and then come to the events!), the link to send subs is below. Just a reminder that this will automatically set up an annually recurring 20 pound subscription:

Alternatively existing staff members can renew their subscription by completing the standing order mandate which can be downloaded here , either by returning to your bank or quoting the details to set up your subscription through online banking.

Kind regards
Chris Adams

Burns Night

Despite these uncertain times, the SCR Committee intends that our traditional Burns' Night celebration will go ahead on January 28th, though probably with a smaller gathering.

I attach the menu details and booking form for the SCR Burns' Supper on Friday 28th January, 6.45 for 7.15 pm.

According to Government guidelines at present, the catering by University Events may go ahead as in previous years. However, we do have to reach a minimum of 30 guests for the event to be viable.

So I would ask people to return their booking forms as quickly as possible, and in any case by Wednesday 19th January. The price, which includes a dram of whisky is £34 per person, the same as in 2020.

I am very pleased to announce that Angela McCully-Jackson will be addressing the haggis, and that Jim Fraser will be in attendance again with his bagpipes!

Dress code: Highland dress, dinner jacket or lounge suit as preferred!

Margaret Bird

SCR Office

The SCR office is situated on the floor immediately above the Bar (Keele Hall Room 74). A PC has been installed with network access to the SCR's University financial systems, and to the database of room bookings. If a member of the Committee is in at lunchtime, this office will be available for use. The internal telephone number is 33954 (01782-733954), with Voicemail facility available, since the office is staffed only when officers are in Keele Hall.

Note that SCR members receive a 10% discount on lunches served in in the SCR Bar & UCR (in collaboration with Keele Hall Catering) when using a Keelecard. This is in place of the standard staff card discount of 5%.

Chess Competition 2018/20

The SCR is organizing another chess competition, for the very prestigious cup which may be seen behind the bar. If you would like to enter, then please send an email to Chris Wain. It is not necessary to be a player of a very high standard, or even an SCR member! The competition which began in 2015 has now (2018!) been declared closed. Play in the current competition is suspended but we hope as more things open up to resume soon.

The draw can be downloaded here.

Chris Wain

The draw and results of the 2013/14 Chess Championship of the SCR, concluded in early 2015, appears here.

Winner 2014: John Staniforth - congratulations to our new Champion. (This competition took until 2015 to complete, through no fault of the finalists.)

Staff Catering in Keele Hall

As you may be aware the SCR Committee worked with Catering in Keele Hall to look at ways in which they can deliver their lunchtime food offer.

We are delighted that, as part of the agreement, existing SCR services and facilities were safeguarded with a 10% discount on all the meals for our members, on use of a Keele card to pay for the meal. Cards can currently be charged with money in Chancellor's Building, or online. A sample menu is attached, and under our Constitution temporary membership is available for others when buying from this range.

We hope you'll agree that this is an ideal location for staff and SCR members to meet for lunch with colleagues and friends, and that it is also a great opportunity to raise awareness of the SCR itself. Food is served in both the Bar and the Common Room.

Facebook Page

The SCR has its own Facebook Page - members with facebook accounts are invited to 'like' this at www.facebook.com/KeeleSCR

SCR Golf Tournament for the Rolo Cup

If you would like to play next year (2019/20), even if you are new to the competition, please let me know your handicap. If there is anyone else that you would like to invite to play, even if they are not employed by the University, please give me their details also. I hope to revive the competition in the coming year.

Regards, Chris Adams, Chairman

Burns Night 2012

See the Piping of the Haggis here. Photos from 2013 may be seen on Facebook.

Favourite Rambles of the Senior Common Room

The SCR was delighted to announce the publication of a booklet by John Winchester, who led our rambles for so long, in which he describes and details the routes of 18 of his favourite rambles, within 60 miles of Keele. The SCR has acquired copies of this handy A5/pocket sized booklet, which are available for sale at £3 each. Copies may be purchased in the SCR Bar in Keele Hall, during opening hours, or will be sent out in the internal mail by request, on receipt of cheques payable to "SCR". (Please email to ask for postage rates if you need us to post a copy using Royal Mail.)

As well as a written description and a map for each of the walks, John has also provided an introduction describing the area covered, and a handy section on the geological background and scenery to be experienced.

As he says, the descriptions were correct at the time of writing (2008), and small changes in availability of pubs and footpaths may subsequently occur. Users should of course take this into account.

SCR Committee