Bonfire night

Saturday 5th November is bonfire night – or Guy Fawkes night. Bonfires and fireworks displays take place all over England to commemorate the foiling of the “gunpowder plot” plot to blow up the King and Parliament in 1605. 

Remember, remember the fifth of November: 

Gunpowder, treason, and plot. 

I see no reason why gunpowder treason 

Ever should be forgot.

Bonfire night parties often include activities like apple bobbing, and foods associated with bonfire night include parkin, toffee apples, jacket potatoes, and hot chocolate.

For more information about Guy Fawkes night: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes_Night.
And the gunpowder plot: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunpowder_Plot.

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There will be bonfires and fireworks displays around London this week. Some will be on 5th November; others will take place on Friday or Saturday. Here is a listing of displays:

• timeout.com/london/things-to-do/bonfire-night-fireworks-displays-in-london 

The closest display to Connaught Hall will be at Coram's Fields on Friday 6th November, and we expect this to be quite a traditional display:

• timeout.com/london/kids/corams-fields-fireworks-display

It's also free of charge!

Another free thing you can do is climb Primrose Hill (goo.gl/maps/WVa27KZK8PC2) on Friday or Saturday night. Although there is no display at Primrose Hill, from that vantage point you can often see the fireworks from displays all over London.

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* The Multicultural Students' Forum (McSF, connaught-hall.org.uk/pages/community/mcsf.html) recommended in October 2015 that we publish through our social media channels an explanation of all the cultural events we celebrate in Hall, as well as significant celebrations that are unique to the UK. The idea is that all our residents will understand what is going on and be equally able to participate in events, festivals, and celebrations.

FAQ: Getting to Connaught Hall from Heathrow or Gatwick airports

Getting from Heathrow to the Hall

Your options are taxi (convenient but expensive), Heathrow Express train (fast but expensive), Heathrow Connect train, or the Underground (easy and cheap, but slow and can be very crowded).

Taxi / minicab

Black cabs stop at the taxi ranks outside all five terminals at Heathrow. You can also book a taxi or minicab in advance online here: heathrowairport.com/transport-and-directions/taxis-and-minicabs. 

You should expect to pay anything up to £90 for a taxi to Connaught Hall from Heathrow.

Heathrow Express to Paddington

Tickets

Book tickets for the Heathrow Express train, direct from the airport non-stop to London Paddington station, online at www.heathrowexpress.com. Tickets cost around £20.

Finding the train in the arrivals terminal

If you’re arriving at Terminal 1 or Terminal 3, follow signs for Trains to reach Heathrow Central station.

In Terminal 5, the station is at basement level and reached by lift or escalator.

In Terminal 4, take the inter-terminal shuttle to Heathrow Central.

Onward journey: Paddington to Euston Square

The Heathrow Express will take you to London Paddington. The journey time is about 15 minutes.

When you get off the train at Paddington, follow the signs for the co-located Underground station and take an eastbound train on either the Circle Line or Hammersmith & City Line to Euston Square. 

Connaught Hall is a 7-minute walk from Euston Square.

Heathrow Connect to Paddington

The Heathrow Connect train departs from the same place as the Heathrow Express, and also takes you to Paddington Station. However, this train stops at other stations along the route. The journey time is about 25 minutes and the ticket price around £10. More information and online ticket booking here: www.heathrowconnect.com.

Underground (Picadilly Line) to Russell Square

Follow the signs for the Underground at any of the terminal buildings. You can buy a ticket at the Underground stations, costing around £5.

Heathrow is on the Picadilly Line. Take the train to Russell Square (journey time around 1 hour).

Connaught Hall is about a 7-minute walk from Russell Square.

Getting from Gatwick to the Hall

It’s best to travel by train from Gatwick Airport to central London. There are three different train services: Gatwick Express, Southern Trains, and First Capital Connect. The railway station at Gatwick Airport is located at the South Terminal, but is just a few minutes from the North Terminal by a free shuttle.

Gatwick Express to London Victoria

This non-stop train service to London Victoria runs every 15 minutes with a journey time of 30 minutes. Ticket prices are around £16 to £20. Information & tickets: www.gatwickexpress.com.

When you arrive at London Victoria, follow the signs for the co-located Underground station and take a northbound train on the Victoria Line to Euston Station. 

Connaught Hall is about a 5-minute walk from Euston.

Southern Trains to London Victoria

Southern trains services to London Victoria run four times an hour with a journey time of around 35 minutes. Ticket prices are around £12 to £18. Information & tickets: www.southernrailway.com.

First Capital Connect to St Pancras

Services to St Pancras International run four times an hour with a journey time of between 30 and 45 minutes. Ticket prices are around £15 to £20. Information & tickets: www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk.

Connaught Hall is about 12 minutes’ walk from St Pancras, or you can take a black cab for around £5.

FAQ: I’m an international student. Do I have to register with the local police?

Students from some countries do need to register with the Metropolitan Police. If you need to register, it will say so on your visa in your passport or biometric residence permit.

If your visa does not say that you have to register with the police, then you do not need to register.

For more information, visit http://content.met.police.uk/Site/overseasvisitorsrecordsoffice

Multicultural Students' Forum

The Warden established a new Multicultural Students' Forum (McSF) at Connaught Hall in September. The reason for establishing the McSF is to increase and expand participation in the Hall community by students from different backgrounds.

The need for a body like the proposed forum was highlighted in the residents' survey this year, to build on good work that had alrady started with our themed cultural nights:

I love the international nights where the food is themed, there are speeches, decorations, and activities. I would love to see an Eid celebration and a Diwali celebration.

Consider cultural events from India, Brazil, Turkey, Russia.

More events from a wide variety of different cultures. Make sure you have all the nations flags in your welcoming party and not ones that fit with British foreign policy only.

St David's Day ought to be recognised - the Hall was incapable of acknowledging this national celebration, though did choose to host a special meal, speeches and bar event to commemorate the Super Bowl. Following from this, it should be said that it is in the interests of the Hall that they should view a day of a patron saint, and therein a nation, to be at least on the same standing as a football match. It is clear that there is no ethnic equality in the representation of events - we have hosted Chinese New Year and a German evening, and it ought to be the case that people of every heritage are viewed equally should such a precedent be put in place.

Also residents of black and ethnic minority background needs to be more enfranchised and protected, maybe you could have a diversity officer on the student council.

The McSF will operate as follows:

Membership will be one Senior Member; the Warden; the Secretary and the Entertainment Officer from the Residents’ Club Committee; and any resident students who are interested in the objectives of the forum. Student representatives of any and every colour, reliogion, natioanlity, and culture are welcome.

A Senior Member will provide administration for the forum.

The objectives will be -

1. To encourage participation in Hall community life by international, overseas, and ethnic minority students (IOEMS).

2. To promote and facilitate the experience of British life and customs by IOEMS – based on the idea that if you come to London to study, we should help you make the most of your time here and experience London/UK/British life to the full.

3. To broaden the range of social and cultural events in Hall so that IOEMS can share their home cultures with other residents.

4. To review and improve the way the Hall communicates with international, overseas, and ethnic minority students.

The McSF will work closely with the Residents' Club Committee. Any funding required for the organisation of events will be drawn from the Residents' Club, with agreement from the Residents' Club Committee.

I welcome any comments on this proposal, and ideas for how the McSF can best meet its objectives. Email: warden@connaught-hall.org.uk or multicultural@connaught-hall.org.uk.