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No 8, May 2026, Spotlights: ASCR Social Events, ASCR contribution to UCL200
Social events
Once again this term ASCR members are being offered a range of social events, with something to suit different schedules and preferences. Coffee mornings provide an informal opportunity for those on campus earlier in the day to catch up with colleagues, while afternoon tea offers tasty cakes and coffee for those around later in the day. Our series of Housman Talks provides insights to the diverse interests of those who work at UCL, while the evening social events are just that. Members are warmly encouraged to book their tickets and make the most of these opportunities to connect with other ASCR members and their guests.
Tuesday 12th May: Coffee Coffee Morning, 10.15-11.30
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Wednesday 3rd June: Housman Talk, 17.30, Sam Blaxland & Georgina Brewis, Student London
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Wednesday 17th June: Afternoon Tea, 16.00-17.30
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ASCR contribution to UCL200
“A Day in the Life” A snapshot of life at UCL during its Bicentenary Year
Work to produce a hard copy of the A Day in the Life of document is nearing completion. The result will be deposited in the College’s Special Collections. Thank you to the many contributors from across the ASCR membership.
200 Years of Caffeine and Collegiality: The Evolution of the ASCR
With UCL celebrating its Bicentenary this year, the Honorary Secretary of the ASCR, Professor Richard Simons, gave a Housman talk about the evolution of the ASCR. He explained how College has from its earliest days allocated rooms close to the centre of the Bloomsbury site for use as staff common rooms. Over those 200 years, these rooms have provided a place for (relative) quiet, collegial friendship, reading, coffee, academic inspiration and collaboration.
The audio and slides from his talk can be found on the History of the ASCR page on the ASCR website.
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| Hut in South Quadrangle which housed the mixed staff common room, 1946-1953 | Members of the common room sitting around the octagonal tables, 1930s |
Furniture in the Housman Room includes two octagonal tables and one rectangular table made in the 1930s by Professor G.B. Jeffery, Astor Professor of Mathematics, 1924-1945. They were engraved with the names - picked out in gold - of the great and the good of UCL who had previously played key roles in the Common Room. They are an important part of College history and the Committee are considering reinstating the gold lettering.
Housman Room Bar
Photo: Collette, Ruslan, Javier & Oleh
The catering company introduced some evening bar snacks. Homemade scotch eggs, homemade sausage rolls, houmous & crudités, olives, mini pretzels and peanuts are available from 4pm.
Guinness Zero was also introduced.
Furniture and Facilities
All the leather sofas and chairs have now been reupholstered.
We are always open to suggestions on how to make the room more welcoming and comfortable. Please get in touch with the Manager if you have any ideas or feedback you’d like to share.
Assistance Dogs on Campus
Please refer to UCL’s policy on Assistance Dogs for more information.