from Dean Nicholas Baldwin

Firstly, let me wish everyone a very happy birthday

even if the noise one can hear when I write that is Lord North spinning in his grave!

We are having a very busy spring/summer here at the College what with a total of some sixteen different groups/programs taking place during the mid-May to mid-August period. Indeed, the day after the Spring Semester students left the Abbey to return to the United States, we had two groups arrive: a graduate Sports Administration group from FDU and an undergraduate Shakespeare group from St Michael’s College, Vermont. The following day another group arrived, a Creative Writing group from Pace University, New York.

After these three groups had departed, on Sunday 31st May we had three new groups arrive at the College: A Lifelong Learning alumni group from D’Youville University, New York State, a group from FDU’s Hispanic Centre, and an independent Creative Writing group. The, on 1st June, we had an undergraduate History of the First & Second World War group arrive from FDU. This group spent some of their time visiting a large number of war sites – battlefields, cemeteries, memorials, a prison, and a concentration camp - in France.

Between the 6th and the 13th of June, we played host to a Clinical & Forensic Psychology group from FDU. This was followed by a week-long International Child Play Therapy program, which was itself followed by a program designed for a group of individuals from FDU’s FILL program.

Currently we are playing host to a small group of individuals focusing on Lord North, King George III, and the American Revolution, included in which is a reception in the Houses of Parliament.

On Friday 26th June we have a large group from the Gatton Academy of Western Kentucky University in with us through until July 9th (when they continue on for a week in London). After which we have a program for an Alumni group from FDU, an International Parliamentarians & Parliamentary Scholars Workshop, a Library & Archivists Studies program for a graduate group from Rutger’s University, New Jersey, and a Criminal Justice program for a group from FDU.