Spooning before formal meals celebrates Hatfield College achievements and building a community between college members
31 January 2025
The Durham Tab online news site has recently reported on the origins of the custom of spooning that takes place before formal meals at Hatfield College.
Generations of Hatfield College students will recall joining in spooning – by banging their spoons on the table for a short period immediately before the start of a formal meal in the Hatfield College dining hall – as being longstanding tradition in college.
The Durham Tab has now reported that the Master of Hatfield College has debunked the rumoured tradition about the practice of banging of spoons on tables at formal dinners.
It had incorrectly been believed among some Durham University students that the tradition to bang spoons began as a protest against the admission of female undergraduates to Hatfield or the election of the college’s first female senior man, which is the equivalent of a JCR president.
Spooning tradition pre-dates admission of women undergraduates
However as the origins of banging spoons is several decades before the admission of the first female undergraduates to Hatfield College at the start of Michaelmas Term 1988 the suggestion of it being a protest against the admission of female undergraduates or the election of the first female senior man (JCR President) has no element of truth.
Hatfield College along with St Chad’s College and University College were previously all male colleges. All three colleges admitted female undergraduates at around the same time in the late 1980’s (It had been planned for Hatfield to go mixed in 1987 but it was delayed for one year and Hatfield College and St Chad’s College both went mixed in 1988; University College went mixed in 1987).
Trevelyan College and St Mary’s College were all female colleges, both subsequently also going mixed and admitting male undergraduates.
Celebrating College achievements
The tradition of spooning has been confirmed as a way to celebrate college achievements and build a community between college members.
As reported in The Durham Tab, the Master of Hatfield College, Professor Ann Maclarnon, explained the true origins behind the tradition of spooning:
“The tradition of banging spoons on tables during Hatfield College formal dinners did not begin with the election of a first female student leader.
Rather, it has historically been used to celebrate college achievements. It is currently used before each formal dinner as a way of building community across the College.”
We are #AllOneHatfield
Explaining how Hatfield College celebrates being a modern diverse community, Ann also emphasised the community-building aspect of the tradition in the broader context of Hatfield’s goals as a college:
“Hatfield formal dinners reflect our ethos, #AllOneHatfield – that living and learning in a diverse community is enriching for all.
We have held dinners marking Black History Month, Chinese New Year, Diwali, County Durham, International Women’s Day, and more.”
However, Ann also highlighted Hatfield’s ongoing efforts to champion inclusivity and diversity in and amongst the college community.
Bursaries and Lioness scholarship
Referring to the Lioness Postgraduate Scholarship, which provides a fully funded masters studentship for a woman from a developing country, Ann explained the previous and current steps being made towards Hatfield’s commitment to gender equality.
Debunking the theory that the tradition was in protest of women joining the college, Ann said:
“Hatfield is contributing across multiple fronts to ensure our university community is welcoming and supportive for students of all backgrounds.”
In a statement, Ann highlighted Hatfield’s efforts to ensure greater accessibility and financial support for its students.
She noted that Hatfield was the first college at Durham University to introduce automatic bursaries:
“covering college expenses including the JCR levy and college ball for all home undergraduate students from lower income backgrounds.”
Additionally, the statement explained that the college also offers higher-value undergraduate scholarships targeted at:
“lower income students studying particular subjects or from North East England.”
The Master’s statement read:
“We also award higher-value undergraduate scholarships to lower income students studying particular subjects or from North East England, as well as the Lioness Scholarship for a fully funded masters studentship for a woman from a developing country, and have available hardship funds for students in unexpected financial difficulties.
“We have a diverse student leadership team, and active student-led communities including LGBT+, people of colour, first generation students, international students, students with disabilities, and feminist students. We have several student awards recognising contributions to inclusivity, and make clear our ethos to all incoming students from their first arrival.”
Find out more
- Read more about support provided by the Hatfield Trust
- Read more about Hatfield bursaries
- Read more about the Hatfield Lioness Postgraduate Scholarship
About Hatfield College
Hatfield College is a vibrant and welcoming community to which each and every student, alongside other college members, belongs reflecting our ethos and recent joint declaration #AllOneHatfield. Established in 1846, as the second college of Durham University, with the explicit purpose of being open to a wide range of students, we greatly value the rich diversity of our college members, who come from all sorts of backgrounds and places of origin, with all sorts of interests, experiences and views. We strive to ensure that all Hatfielders have the opportunities and encouragement to be the best they can be, reflecting the words of our motto, Vel Primus Vel Cum Primis.
About the Hatfield Association
The Hatfield Association was established in 1946, at a time when the future of Hatfield College, Durham University was uncertain – this was the first time that Hatfielders came together and probably the finest proof of the legendary Hatfield spirit.
Our aim is to ensure we have a strong, active and engaged network of Hatfield alumni (graduates), to facilitate and build strong relationships with the College and to support its educational and welfare needs.
Vel Primus Vel Cum Primis since 1846