12 days of Pembroke: the details

If you follow us on social media you'll have seen our 12 days of Pembroke photos.  If you missed them or want to know more about the photos, look no further!

Day 1: Martlet in a pear tree

The martlet motif can be seen all around Pembroke, but the birds aren't actually real - they're normally inhabiting our crest, not our trees!

Day 2: Librarians

This photo actually doesn't include our librarian, Patricia Aske.  Pictured here are Natalie, junior librarian, and Charlotte, our graduate librarian.  They're standing in front of a fireplace constructed out of books by the 'Pemgineers', Pembroke's very creative, engineers. Last year's construction, an igloo, was captured in a timelapse video. A particularly important project for the library this year has been the cataloging of our rare books, beginning with the oldest, the Incunabulas.  Rare books cataloguer, Adriana Celmare, wrote about an exhibition held in the library on our blog. For a small glimpse into how busy the life of our college librarian is, you can read about a day in her life here.

Day 3: Gardeners

The team at Pembroke, led by Nick Firman, keep the gardens looking tidy and beautiful all year round.  Nick, who celebrated 50 years at Pembroke last year, grows an amazing variety of trees, plants, and shrubs, including our unusual banana plant! Read more about our gardens here, view a photo gallery of some of the many trees in Pembroke here, and read Kit Smart's trip around the gardens with Nick here.

Day 4: Porters

Porters are the face of the college, they're the first person many people see and they're who you ask if you've got a problem, are lost, or don't know who to ask.  They direct first years, interview candidates, and visitors.  They welcome guests, help keep college running smoothly, and keep an eye on all our members, students and staff alike!

Day 5: Martlets on the crest

The Martlet, which you can see in the college crest, featured all around college, has been part of Pembroke since we were founded in 1347. Marie de st Pol, the Foundress, was part of the Valence family through her marriage in 1321 to Aymer de Valence, Earl of Pembroke. Aymer's crest included Martlets around its border, hence their inclusion into our college crest.

Day 6: Cushions in chapel

Gifted to the College by Matthew Wren after a promise he made during his imprisonment in the Tower of London, the Chapel is renowned for being the first building designed by Matthew’s nephew, Sir Christopher Wren. However, arguably the Chapel’s greatest treasures sit unassumingly underneath the noses of the congregation: the cushions.

Commissioned by Matthew Wren, it is thought that they were made either before he was imprisoned in the Tower between 1638 and 1641 or after his release in 1660. The latter seems most likely as the number of cushions, 28, directly corresponds with the number of stalls in the Chapel. Decorated with Matthew Wren’s coat of arms and his episcopal shield, the cushions were given to the College, along with the Chapel, in his will. You can read about the cushions in full here

Day 7: Birds in the Old Library

The Old Library has a really wonderful ceiling, so if you're ever in there do take the opportunity to look up.  Part of the complex detail is 7 birds, flying above the Old Library!

Day 8: Portraits

There are more than eight portraits in hall; only one wall is pictured here.  These portraits depict key individuals from our history, including the most recent acquisition, a portrait of renowned clarinettist Emma Johnson. Last year, as part of PemWomen@30, the traditional portraits were covered with photographs of female Fellows.

Day 9: Rowers

Pictured here is W1 (the first women's boat) celebrating after Fairbairns, a race that takes place every year at the end of the Michaelmas term.  Rowing is a big part of Cambridge life, and Pembroke is no exception. If you're interested in rowing, you can read more about why our students row, what it's like to go straight into CUWBW, the university women's boat, and about the 'Pemgibeers', a rather more unusual boat than the traditional Pembroke crews!

Day 10: trees in Ivy court

Day 11: Choir

While the choir is more than 11-strong, the 11th day of Pembroke requires 11 choristers! The choir is another major part of college life, with lots of rehearsals, services and concerts keeping them busy throughout the year.  It's run by Director of Music Anna Lapwood, who's taking the choir from strength to strength this year. Last summer the choir visited Croatia for the choir tour. We have lots of videos if you want to hear the choir sing: 'People Look East' in the background of our Christmas tree decorating timelapse, excerpts from the Faure Requiem sung during the 2016 Remembrance service, a visit from a spooky guest at Halloween, and the Choir singing Oculi Omnium.

Day 12: Catering

Without the catering team there would be none of the great food we come to expect three times a day, every day.  No formals, no special dinners, no BA dinners for our grads, no Christmas dinners...Pembroke would be a very different place.  Thank you to the catering team for everything they do.

We hope you've enjoyed the 12 days of Pembroke.  We look forward to the new year, and all the wonderful things to come