A legacy of service at Queens'
Mairi Hurrell
A new student welfare fund honours beloved College nurse and new Honorary Fellow Mairi Hurrell.
Mairi Hurrell made history at Queens' College in 2020 by becoming the first member of staff to be elected to an Honorary Fellowship. Inspired by her service as the College Nurse, she received the additional accolade of the Governing Body establishing a permanent welfare fund in her name.
A lasting legacy at Queens’
Mairi joined as the College Nurse in 1993 and became the Welfare Adviser in 2013. She retired in 2015, but returned for six months in 2020 to provide needed support for students. Her appointment as Welfare Adviser sprung from what was (and remains) an increasing need for student welfare provision at both Cambridge University and the college itself.
The health of students is of paramount importance and professional help is often required. Mairi went above and beyond her role to look after students, putting in extra hours when need arose to assist students. She became a linchpin for students in college and, on countless occasions throughout her many years of service at Queens’, assisted students in overcoming their difficulties and, ultimately, excel as individuals and with their studies.
The Mairi Hurrell Fund
Earlier this year, The Mairi Hurrell Fund was set up to support the physical and mental welfare of students at Queens’. This Fund sits within the overarching COVID-19 Student Support Fund at Queens’, which covers a wide variety of student provision. So far, a combined total of £220,000 has been raised for both funds. Queens’ is immensely grateful to its donors, including alumni ranging from 1944 to 2015, who have contributed to the fund.
I attended General Admission every year from 1993 until I retired. Watching from the gallery of the Senate House, as each student received their degree, knowing the challenges that many had faced and had to overcome, was awe-inspiring and a wonderfully rewarding part of the job.
Several alumni keep in touch and some became dear friends. It is always a great joy to hear out of the blue from a student from way back. I remember them all with great fondness.
The Revd Tim Harling, Head of Welfare & Dean of Chapel at Queens’, noted the following:
“Mairi is such a special person; she combines endless love and care for the students and our community with her dedication over many years at Queens’. As the pandemic took hold we called on Mairi to support us even though she was retired. Mairi not only came to help, but added her wise and compassionate experience. Her planning has helped us make the College as safe as it is.
Whilst pondering how we could acknowledge her service and say thank you to her publicly, I floated the idea of an Honorary Fellowship. There was not only uniformity in agreement but a sense that there could be nobody who would more deserve to be the first staff member in living memory to receive this honour. I know many will feel like I do; that we are blessed to have worked with Mairi.”
About Queens' College
Founded in 1448, Queens' College has been in the heart of Cambridge for more than five centuries. Today it supports a thriving academic community of around 500 undergraduates, 450 graduates and more than 60 academics.