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Bowland College, Lancaster

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Bowland College
University of Lancaster
Bowland Main quad
                                              
MottoBowland 'Til I Die
Established1964
Named forThe Forest of Bowland
Colours  Red
PrincipalCasey Cross[1]
JCR PresidentSonny Remmer-Riley[2]
Dean
Ben Mayfield
Undergraduates1677 [3]
WebsiteBowland College

Bowland College is the oldest and fourth largest constituent college of Lancaster University.[4] The college was named after the Forest of Bowland, to the east of Lancaster. Members of the college are informally referred to as Bowlanders.[5]

History

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Bowland was founded alongside Lonsdale College as the first two colleges of the university in 1964.[6] The Bowland and Lonsdale buildings were built as mirror images of each other, but Lonsdale's building was not completed until a year after Bowland's, making Bowland the oldest college on campus.[7] After Lonsdale's move to south-west campus in 2004, the original Lonsdale building was taken over by Bowland and is today known as "Bowland North".

Since 2004 the two colleges have competed in the annual Founders Series, consisting of nineteen sports contested over four days.[8]

Symbols

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The current logo, adopted in 2023, is a red circle containing a bow and arrow, resembling both a capital B and a bird. The bird represents the Forest of Bowland, and the bow and arrow retains the link to the previous logo, the Bowland Lady.[9]

The Bowland Lady represents the personification of Bowland Forest, and is from a Lancashire map drawn by William Hole for the 1622 edition of a poem "Poly-Olbion, or a Chorographical Description of ... The Renowned Isle of Great Britain", the lifetime's work of Michael Drayton, a friend of Shakespeare. The poem is in the University Library. The college magazine is also named after "The Bowland Lady". The Forest of Bowland was originally called "Bolland" and this pronunciation remains common amongst local people living in the forest.

The JCR motto is 'Bowland Til I Die'.

College Buildings

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Bowland College Quad

The college has approximately 650 study bedrooms overall, providing both en-suite and shared bathroom facilities. The standard residences in 'Bowland Main' and 'Bowland North', along the North Spine, provide sociable kitchen spaces shared between 16 and 26 people, and are situated around the college's main quadrangles. In contrast, Bowland Hall offers en-suite residences in a tranquil location by the tree-lined perimeter road; with 4-6 students sharing each flat.

Until 1995, the college occupied its main building, 'Bowland Tower', and 'Bowland Annexe'. In 1995 'Slaidburn House' was completed, providing extra accommodation for the college to the south of Alexandra Square.

In 2004, the college renamed its main building to 'Bowland Main' and took over the space to its immediate north, which had been vacated by Lonsdale College. This was renamed 'Bowland North'. In the same year, the college gained the upper floors of Assistant Staff House and Graduate Hall, with the latter being renamed 'Bowland Halls'.

Bowland Main Quad

Bowland Annexe was later renamed Bowland Tower East and Bowland Tower North. The college also acquired the Art Department building, which subsequently took on the name 'Bowland Annexe'. Bowland Annexe is no longer in use as an accommodation block.

As of 2025, Bowland College occupies the following halls of residences:

  • Bowland Main, Bowland South and Bowland East
  • Ash House
  • Bowland Halls
  • Slaidburn House
  • Bowland Tower

As well as providing accommodation, Bowland College also has its own study space and kitchen for off-campus students, located next to its Porter's Office. The college also has a student common room, located in Bowland Quad, providing an additional study and social space. The common room space is frequently used for inter-college bar sports competitions, as well as for organised events by student societies and the college's Junior and Senior Common Rooms.

Until 2025, Bowland College also had its own bar, the 'Trough of Bowland', connected to its common room space. In January 2025, it was announced that, alongside Lonsdale College's 'The Red Lion', the bar would no longer be used as a bar space. The JCR President, Sonny Remmer-Riley, told the Lancaster Tab that the JCR was "not involved in the decision", and that the decision was taken by the university without consultation with students.[10]

Following a feedback survey posted on Instagram in 2025, the bar space was renovated into a study zone where students can sustain themselves on free tea and coffee.[citation needed]

Governance

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JCR Executive

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The Junior Common Room Executive, a standing committee of the Students' Union, consists of up to 15 students and is elected by the undergraduate population of the college in Michaelmas Term. The JCR Exec exists to represent students' views, organise socials and campaigns and provide opportunities for students to get involved in events and activities taking place in the college.[11]

Bowland is unique as members of the Executive are officially titled "representatives" rather than "officers" (though the two are commonly used interchangeably).[12]

JCR Presidents

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The Junior Common Room (JCR) is the undergraduate student body of Bowland College, led by an elected President. The following is a list of JCR Presidents since the college's founding in 1964.

YearJCR PresidentYearJCR PresidentYearJCR President
2026Sonny Remmer-Riley2005Blair Chalmers / Ross O'Connor1984Stephen Denton
2025Sonny Remmer-Riley2004Jacob Samuels1983Nicholas Dryer
2024Sonny Remmer-Riley2003Phil Steggals1982Liz Hodgen
2024Kinga Kupi2002Lucy Hope-Smith1981Unknown
2023Kinga Kupi2001Evan Roberts1980Unknown
2022Emilija Katelynaite2000Andrew Murphy1979Lesley Burr
2022Krista Shaw1999Alex Wiffin1978Barry Hoyle
2021Michael Oldfield1998Paul Reynolds1977Unknown
2021Samuel Payne1997Ellie Sadler1976Mark Lane
2020Miriam Bonney1996Nicholas Nealson1975Peter Elliott
2019Charles Bradbury1995Unknown1974Nicholas Morgan / Gerald Hayes
2018Oliver Self / George O'Brien1994Ben Carroll1973Rob Wilson
2017Domenica Giorgianni1993Unknown1972Richard Harris
2016Steven Pugh1992Unknown1971Dave Cromwell
2015Julia Sammons1991Unknown1970Stewart Binns / Tim Hamlett
2014Lee Dudding1990Unknown1969Bryan Fox / Frank Fuller
2013Patrick Somervell1989Unknown1968Steve Westacott
2012Daniel-Sean Huisman1988Unknown1967Ray Walker
2011Anastasia Rattigan1987Unknown1966Paul Stafford
2010Kath Embling1986Jo Hardman1965Carole Barker
2009Tom Skarbek-Wazynski1985Unknown1964Paul Bucci
2008Berni Denton
2007Janie Coleman
2006Tom Halstead


Syndicate

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The University Statutes require the College Syndicate to be formally responsible for the strategic governance of the college. The Syndicate is chaired by the College Principal. Membership comprises all senior members of the college plus the current JCR Executive Officers. An additional 10 junior members may be appointed at the discretion of the Syndicate.[13]

Meeting at least once a year, the Syndicate has overall responsibility for the strategic development and governance of the college, including the welfare of the student members and disciplinary matters. It may also discuss general matters relating to Colleges and the university as they arise, and report College views to University Senate, the governing academic body of the university.

College Management Committee

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In practice, most decisions relating to the day-to-day running of the college are discussed and determined at Management Committee meetings. The Management Committee reports to the Syndicate. Membership consists of several senior officers, plus the JCR President and vice-presidents.[14]

Sport

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Bowland College regularly competes in weekly inter-collegiate sports against the other eight colleges of Lancaster University. This comes in the form of their four men's football teams, four lady's netball teams and various bar sports including table tennis, pool, and darts.

Bowland College won the inter-college trophy, the Carter Shield, in 2006, 2007, 2008 and more recently in 2016. It is also the overall winner of the Founders Trophy, an annual competition between Bowland and Lonsdale, the two founding colleges of Lancaster University. The competition usually takes place during the final term of the academic year, over a four-day period. The two colleges compete in various sports including conventional college sports and also sports not usually competed by colleges such as, hockey, basketball, cricket, etc. Bowland has dominated the Founders Trophy since its conception; however, in recent years Lonsdale have found more success in the competition, closing the gap in terms of overall victories.[15]

Bowland College has continued to be a main competitor in the Carter Shield and George Wyatt Trophy, in inter-collegiate sports.

Each year, Bowland College takes part in an Intercollegiate quiz along with the other nine colleges at Lancaster University, inspired by University Challenge.[16] In 2018, Bowland College made it through to the final, along with Cartmel College and subsequently won, scoring 245–145.[17]

Notable alumni

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References

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  1. ↑ "Casey Cross".
  2. ↑ "JCR Executive". www.lancaster.ac.uk.
  3. ↑ "JCR Electoral Count". Lancaster University Student's Union. LUSU. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
  4. ↑ "Nine Colleges Annual Report 2015-16" (PDF). Lancaster University. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 June 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  5. ↑ "Bowland College, Lancaster University - Welcome to Bowland College". Archived from the original on 12 November 2007. Retrieved 5 March 2008.
  6. ↑ "History". Bowland College. Archived from the original on 16 August 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  7. ↑ "Lonsdale College - Origins and Growth". Lancaster University. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  8. ↑ "Founders". Lonsdale College. Archived from the original on 8 October 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2017.
  9. ↑ Jordan, Amelia (7 June 2023). "Bowland College announces new college logo to come into effect by the new academic year". The Tab. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  10. ↑ Malik, Erin (31 January 2025). "Exclusive: Lancaster University students speak out about 'disheartening' campus bar closures". The Tab. Retrieved 1 February 2025.
  11. ↑ "How the College Works". Bowland College. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  12. ↑ "JCR Officers". LUSU. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  13. ↑ "Bowland College Constitution" (PDF). Bowland College. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  14. ↑ "College Management Committee Terms of Reference" (PDF). Bowland College. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 September 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  15. ↑ "Founders — Bowland Online". bowland.lusu.co.uk. Archived from the original on 15 February 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
  16. ↑ "Events". www.lancaster.ac.uk.
  17. ↑ "Nine College Competitions". Lancaster University Students' Union.
  18. ↑ "Daniel Tests Extremes of Theatre at Lancaster". Lancaster University. Retrieved 8 March 2026.
  19. ↑ Dowling, Steve (15 September 2009). "Bruce Sewell to Join Apple as General Counsel & SVP". Apple. Retrieved 22 December 2019.

54°00′40″N 2°47′06″W / 54.011°N 2.785°W / 54.011; -2.785

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