Bull College
Encyclopedia
Bull College is one of the former colleges of the University of Cambridge
, existing from 1945 to 1946. It originated as the Cambridge branch of the Training Within Civilian Agencies programme of the U.S. Army, and provided a Cambridge degree programme for American GIs. It was named for the Bull Hotel
(requisitioned by the British Army from its owner, St Catharine's College
and subsequently incorporated into St Catharine's) in which most GIs in the programme were initially billeted. Bull students made an impression on the university, not least through the first participation of a female coxswain
in a Cambridge boat race, in the 1946 Lent Bumps
. Bull was also involved in a fixture against Pembroke College
, in which the first half was played under rugby union
rules, and the second under American football
rules.
In March 1946 it was announced that the US Army's educational programmes would be cancelled. Plans were made to sustain the College on a longer-term basis using charitable funding, but these came to nothing. Bull students were able to witness the 1946 Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race
before being recalled to active service. Bull items including its shield and copies of its student magazine were transferred to the St Catharine's archives.
David Braybrooke, later a Professor at the University of Texas at Austin
, enrolled in 1945.
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, existing from 1945 to 1946. It originated as the Cambridge branch of the Training Within Civilian Agencies programme of the U.S. Army, and provided a Cambridge degree programme for American GIs. It was named for the Bull Hotel
The Bull Hotel, Cambridge
The Bull Hotel was a historical hotel located at 68 Trumpington Street, Cambridge, England, next to the St Catharine's College.The four storey hotel was built in 1828, and occupies the site of an inn previously known as the Black Bull, which was in existence as early as Edward V's reign. The Black...
(requisitioned by the British Army from its owner, St Catharine's College
St Catharine's College, Cambridge
St. Catharine’s College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1473, the college is often referred to informally by the nickname "Catz".-History:...
and subsequently incorporated into St Catharine's) in which most GIs in the programme were initially billeted. Bull students made an impression on the university, not least through the first participation of a female coxswain
Coxswain
The coxswain is the person in charge of a boat, particularly its navigation and steering. The etymology of the word gives us a literal meaning of "boat servant" since it comes from cox, a coxboat or other small vessel kept aboard a ship, and swain, which can be rendered as boy, in authority. ...
in a Cambridge boat race, in the 1946 Lent Bumps
Lent Bumps
The Lent Bumps are a set of rowing races held annually on the River Cam in Cambridge. They began in 1887, after separating from the May Bumps, the equivalent bumping races held in mid-June. Prior to the separation there had been a single set of annual bumps dating from its inception in 1827...
. Bull was also involved in a fixture against Pembroke College
Pembroke College, Cambridge
Pembroke College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college has over seven hundred students and fellows, and is the third oldest college of the university. Physically, it is one of the university's larger colleges, with buildings from almost every century since its...
, in which the first half was played under rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
rules, and the second under American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
rules.
In March 1946 it was announced that the US Army's educational programmes would be cancelled. Plans were made to sustain the College on a longer-term basis using charitable funding, but these came to nothing. Bull students were able to witness the 1946 Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race
The Boat Race
The event generally known as "The Boat Race" is a rowing race in England between the Oxford University Boat Club and the Cambridge University Boat Club, rowed between competing eights each spring on the River Thames in London. It takes place generally on the last Saturday of March or the first...
before being recalled to active service. Bull items including its shield and copies of its student magazine were transferred to the St Catharine's archives.
David Braybrooke, later a Professor at the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
, enrolled in 1945.
External links
- Cambridgeshire Libraries have a photo of the Bull Hotel flying the Stars and Stripes