Update: Our Petition was delivered to the Privy Council on 4th February 2009. We now await developments, and the decision of the Privy Council regarding the proposed change of name from New Hall to Murray Edwards College.
The Campaign is still collecting the names of any New Hall alumnae who wish to register their protest. Should the Privy Council contact us for further information we may have an opportunity to give them a list of additional names. Email campaign@savenewhallcambridge.org.uk giving your name, name at New Hall (if different) and year of matriculation, plus any academic distinctions, honours etc.
On 18 June 2008 it was announced that New Hall, Cambridge was now Murray Edwards College.
This is not the case. The college is still in legal terms New Hall in the University of Cambridge. ‘Murray Edwards’ is currently only the ‘trading title’ or a ‘trading name of New Hall.’ The change of name has not been formally approved by the Privy Council. There is a strong body of opinion, representing alumnae young and old, which believes that the College should retain its proud and distinguished name.
Publicity circulated by the College is factually inaccurate and misleading, implying that the change of name is irreversible. We are asking for the decision to be reconsidered, in the interests of healing the breach now existing between the college and many of its alumnae. We protesters are loyal supporters of the College, deeply grateful both to alumna Ros Edwards for her £30 million donation and to former President Anne Lonsdale for all she has done to secure this. But the name of New Hall and its particular identity have become too firmly established over the last half-century, in Cambridge and in the wider world, to be cast aside like this.
The college has sent some alumnae copies of letters it has written to the Privy Council - we feel these should be available to a wider audience of alumnae and other interested parties, so copies of these letters are now available to download from the 'Links' page. Respond to them by writing to the President if you have views on their content.
On 4 November 2008 the College submitted the change of Statute to the Privy Council for approval. On 6 February 2009 the Campaign submitted its Petition against the change of name.
We encourage you to write to the President of New Hall to make your objections known: Dr Jennifer Barnes, New Hall, Cambridge CB3 0DF
The aim of the Save New Hall Cambridge campaign is to argue for retention of the name of New Hall while recognizing the generosity of the donors in other ways, such as naming of buildings, fellowships, scholarships etc.
We recognize the generosity of the donors and achievements of the past President.
The 1972 Statutes named the corporate title to be 'New Hall in the University of Cambridge'
Dame Rosemary Murray was not the founder of the college. She was its first President.