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Congregation; an occasion of ’goodwill and happiness!’
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More than 7,000 students from over 120 countries celebrate the completion of their degrees at our Congregation ceremonies. In doing so, they reflect on the time spent at the University and in Durham and look to the future. Collingwood College Assistant Principal, Grant Slater, has been sharing this rite of passage for the last 20 years.
Grant has been volunteering at an average of 30 ceremonies every year since 2004. He has mostly taken the role of Head Marshal, responsible for organising around 250 students into line and ensuring the smooth running of the procession into Durham Cathedral.
Head Marshal
Traditionally, after collecting their robes, graduating students (‘graduands’) report to the Great Hall of Durham Castle. It is here that Grant and his team of marshals confirm their attendance and let them know what to expect before and during the ceremony. This includes calling their names individually to set the order for the procession. Grant estimates that he has called out around 150,000 names over the 20 years. He then leads them from the Castle, across Palace Green and into Durham Cathedral for the ceremony.
Where did it begin?
Some 20 years ago, Grant was working full time in the IT industry. He volunteering as a college tutor for the College of St Hild and St Bede. In this capacity, he acted as a mentor to students, lending a supportive ear and helping them to settle in. He grew close to his charges and would often be invited to their graduations. In 2004, after attending several Congregation ceremonies as a guest, he felt that his presence could be more useful by volunteering. He began volunteering at Congregation, where he could support the students and the University and share the occasion with his tutees.
The greatest joy
In 2016, after 12 years of volunteering, Grant came to work for the University in his current role at Collingwood College, making his work at Congregation even more worthwhile;
The greatest joy about my role at Congregation is seeing students on their last day at Durham. I see them arrive, I get to know them and their families whilst they are here, and at Congregation I see them complete the circle.
Grant also enjoys catching up with the team of volunteers working on all aspects of Congregation. The four marshals (including Grant) based in the Great Hall are from across the University and have been volunteering together for more than 15 years. The team are great friends – they work together twice a year, sometimes not crossing paths at all between times!
Grant describes Congregation as ‘a great soup of goodwill and happiness’. The University – and students – are delighted that he has no plans to stop volunteering any time soon.