Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge

Fitzwilliam College (usually called 'Fitz') is a college of the University of Cambridge. The college was formed out of the Non-Collegiate Students Board in 1869. This body was based at Fitzwilliam House, opposite the Fitzwilliam Museum . The Non-Collegiate Students Board eventually evolved to become Fitzwilliam College in 1966. Female undergraduates were first admitted in 1979.

The main grounds of the College are sited off Storey's Way, towards the north-west of Cambridge, amid Churchill College, New Hall and Trinity Hall's Wychfield site. Its buildings are of contemporary design, in contrast to many of the University's other colleges. The first college courts and central building (comprising the library, dining hall, junior common room and bar) were completed in 1963 and were designed by Denys Lasdun. The original intention was for these buildings to constitute the 'back' of the college, and as funding became available, the college grew to the south, with New Court (1985), Wilson Court (1994), and finally 'completed' with Gatehouse Court (2003) giving the college a new frontage. At the same time the college concluded the new Auditorium building, with some of the best facilities in the University. The college surrounds the building called The Grove (1813) which has rooms for some fellows and graduates. The Chapel (1991) is an excellent example of modern architecture. The college is also well-known for its beautiful gardens, which are excellently kept all year around.

Fitzwilliam College is a 15 minutes' walk away from the main tourist centre, having a rather less imposing architecture. However, the college is close to the flourishing West Cambridge site where the university concentrates most of the departments on mathematics, pure sciences and technology. The college's less traditional image help to attract students who have the image of Cambridge being an elitist university. The membership is largely state school based, usually comprising around 70–75% of undergraduates - however many of these are students drawn from provincial grammar schools and the leading comprehensive schools in the Home Counties, so is somewhat less balanced than the figures suggest.

The Music Society is particularly strong, and Fitz is the only college in Cambridge to have access to a professional string quartet, the Fitzwilliam String Quartet, in residence at least once every term. As well as its own Chapel Choir, the college is home to numerous other singing groups, including Fitz Barbershop, and the Sirens, both well-loved throughout the university. Fitz is also heavily involved in the Orchestra on the Hill, whose membership is drawn from the 'hill' colleges, performing large scale works on at least a termly basis.On a less formal basis, Fitzwilliam College is renowned for having some of the best student entertainment of the Cambridge Colleges in the form of 'Fitz Ents'. These student organised parties are usually held at least once every term and attract many different musical acts including live performances from student bands to professional DJs.

'Fitztheatre', the 'hill' college drama society is based at Fitzwilliam's auditorium, one of the largest and best equipped in the University, newly opened in 2004.

Sports teams play a large part in college life; the college is particularly strong in football, having won the league in 2005 (winning every game on the way) and Cuppers in 2006. The college has three of its own squash courts, although one of these is habitually used by the college to store excess furniture and the like. There are also a number of academic societies.

The 2006 yearbook is online.

[edit] Notable alumni

Norman Lamont, former Chancellor of the Exchequer
Andy Burnham, Labour Member of Parliament (MP) for Leigh and Minister of State at the Department of Health
Vincent Cable, Liberal Democrat MP for Twickenham and Shadow Chancellor
Julia Goldsworthy, Liberal Democrat MP for Falmouth and Camborne
Lee Kuan Yew, former prime minister of Singapore
Subhas Chandra Bose, Indian revolutionary
Derek Pringle, cricketer
Christopher Martin-Jenkins, cricket journalist and broadcaster
Nick Drake, late singer/songwriter (although he did not graduate, and thus is technically not an alumnus)
David Starkey, TV historian
Giles Foden, author
Brian Dooley, television writer
Ahmed Rashid, journalist/author
Peter Bazalgette, popularised Big Brother in the UK.

College sign on Huntingdon Road	Main Hall in summer	Main Hall in winter	Main Hall in twilight
Inside the main building	College library	Gatehouse Court	Gatehouse Court
Wilson Court	The Grove	Inside the Chapel	New Court
Auditorium	Fitzwilliam College	Tree Court in the snow