Chancellor Hall was
named in honour of the first Chancellor of the University,
Her Royal Highness Princess Alice - Countess of Athlone,
and was opened to University students in 1953.
Since then the Chancellor
of the University has also been recognised as the patron
of the Hall. It is as a result if this (royal) connection
that the gentlemen of Chancellor Hall were able to have
tea with Her Royal Highness on an annual basis.
Although University
students lived in Chancellor Hall from 1953, Chancellor
did not become an official Hall of residence until September
1954. In fact, from as early as 1952 student nurses, staff
nurses and nursing sisters of the University College Hospital
of the West Indies resided in the buildings of Chancellor.
Unofficially, Chancellor
Hall began in 1953 when 35 residents (students) of Gibraltar
Hall succumbed to official pressure and moved over to Chancellor.
These students - Gibraltarites - were previously housed
in a group of huts which were occupied by refugees during
the war years. These huts were collectively known as Gibraltar(Gib)
Hall and were located on Gibraltar Road.
So the men moved
to the new hall taking with them their own ways and experiences
which grew and expanded into the Spirit - the very essence
of Chancellor Hall. They also brought with them the mementos
of the merry days on the plain, that is the Bell of Gibraltar.
It is difficult to describe the loyalty which this cracked
and battered relic inspired except that one perceives that
the whole Spirit of Chancellor was symbolized therein.
Gibraltar was truly
embryonic Chancellor. So much so that the last Chairman
of Gib, Kenneth Standard (now Professor Sir Kenneth Standard),
was asked to be the first Chairman of Chancellor in 1954.
The Last Warden of Gib, Dr. Francis "Bobo" Bowen,
was also asked to be the first Warden but due to personal
reasons he refused. The distinction is held by Professor
Leslie Robinson, presently Lecturer in the Math department
and former Principal here at the University of the West
Indies Mona. "Bobo" eventually served as Warden
of Chancellor from 1958-67.
The true lions settled
in and found to their amazement, that the new environs were
very much to their liking and conducive to the true spirit
of brotherhood and camaraderie which was so much a part
of the Gib. Such was the surge of the enthusiasm that the
gentlemen of Chancellor Hall decided that this magnificent
spirit should be immortalized, and, to this end selected
the colours - the brave black and gold.
The Bell remained
the symbol of Lions hope and pride, a remembrance of the
ember from which the fire of Chancellor arose, combined
with all this was an implied vow for excellence, a desire
to succeed and to be the best.
The block provided
ready focal points for a vigorous interplay of competition
which kept he Lions' skills in the arena of sports at a
peak. Through the early years and into the mid sixties,
Chancellor flourished; indeed Chancellorites dominated practically
every field of activity in sports and academics. The Lions
Tolled and basked in the accolades which they felt were
their due.
With the Bell of
Gibraltar, Chancellor Hall prospered Every football term
the Bell would go the matches with the Lions and the struggle
for its possession would he renewed. From the onset there
had been intense debate as to who should have the Bell as
a few Taylorites had also come from Gib Hall. As a result,
the location of the Bell had to be changed periodically
and a close guard kept over it.
Tragedy struck in
1968 when the Bell was stolen from the Head Porter's Plat
by a group of evildoers born the two places (Irvine and
Taylor). The loss of the Bell "rang' throughout the
Hall. Since then the Lions have strived to find the Bell
but to no avail. As Lions, we were all charged to investigate
every niche and employ every device in the never-ending
search for the Great Bell.
Under the leadership
of Mr. Winston Wright (Warden) and Carl Brown (Hall Chairman
'72-73) it was decided that there existed a need for a new
symbol. The Lion was constructed and later christened "Bobo",
in honour of Dr. Francis Bowen, the third Warden of Chancellor
Hall.
Mr. Wright, Warden
1971-76, conscious of the history of the Hall implemented
'Lions Week" during which old Lions and outstanding
present Lions would he honoured. Lions Week has since become
a permanent feature of the Hall calendar.
The Wardens have
been an integral part of our history though information
on many of their deeds have been lost through time Despite
this loss, two things have been passed en through ST., -
(small talk).
The Wardens participated
in a great way to the building of this unique community.
They helped to mould the first Chancellorites and nurtured
the brave new spirit through the early formative years.
The respect and love
which these men inspired in the past Lions transcend time
such that you too, will feel their influence.
Even today Freshmen
are inducted in the name of Bobo, Brongo and Hart.
While in the process
of becoming a Lion you will hear about the exploits of former
Lions, their prodigious for liquor, their unconventional
nature and their Forages to the South. Becoming a Lion will
mean involving yourself in the traditional and favoured
recreations of the Lions. Thus you will learn to S.T. on
any subject on earth till the wee hours of the morning,
to play quadrangle football and to sing poo-songs. You will
also learn to rally round the flag and "Bobo"
and a protect the Siren Sisters of the South. One of the
most important aspects of a Chancellorites's life is his
relationship with the ladies of the South. During Orientation
Week you will be given every opportunity to make their acquaintance.
In sports we have
the reputation of always doing our best. This has paid fine
dividends as Chancellor Hall is the feared and respected
contender in any inter-Hall competition. This attitude is
also evident in academic and non-academic features of University
life.
Chancellor Hall has
the best academic record on campus. This does not mean that
we are book beaters but that the "Mans", by and
large, have found a reasonable balance between work and
play. It is important that you also find this balance.
The changes that
we, as a Hall, have passed through are staggering. Many
of the traditional past-times of the Lions have vanished
from Hall life. Gone are the high teas, gone are the days
of bottle throwing, gone are some of the light hearted pranks
which characterized the institution. However, what has not
changed is the indefinable something called Chancellor Spirit.
Lennox Pike, Hall
Chairman 1959-60, once wrote, "Chancellor is a Hall
rich with traditions". It is to be noted that traditions
can only be a dynamic entity if new ones are being created
and old ones modified. Even though we look at the past with
admiration, we should realize that we are part of a new
tradition. We must not use the noble traditions as an excuse
for stagnation but an impetus for innovative thought and
action.
(Compiled by Barrington
Daley (1989) from History of Chancellor Hall by Lennox G.
Williams and Traditions of Chancellor Hall (Adapted)
