Netherhall House

Overview

Netherhall House is a corporate undertaking of Opus Dei, a personal prelature of the Catholic Church. It has a Chaplain who is also a member of the University of London chaplaincy. However, the House is open to students of all faiths and backgrounds. Netherhall has a large range of facilities; it has its own library, computer and laptop rooms, newspaper reading room, its own outdoor sports pitch used mainly for 5-a-side football and basketball, music practice rooms, a coffee lounge, an auditorium and a TV lounge. There are a variety of different activities on offer for residents, including a yearly play performed in the House's own auditorium. This auditorium is also used to stage free classical music concerts for students each term. During term time there is also a weekly guest speaker series featuring various individuals, all highly distinguished within their fields. There are daily get-togethers and weekly debates. There is a curfew in place at midnight on weekdays and 2am on weekends.

Residents

Netherhall has a varied group of Residents every year, studying various different courses. The majority of residents are undergraduate students from different higher education institutions in London. There are also a number of postgraduate students every year, from both MA and Doctoral programmes. The House, with its auditorium and music practising facilities usually attracts a number of music students and there is a concert every term given by one of these residents. The average resident of Netherhall House stays for more than one year, usually up to half of residents stay on from one year to the next.

Staff

There are usually around two staff members who run the house. Currently there is a Director and a Secretary working full-time and a Bursar working part-time. The current director is Dominic Jones. Staff members live in the House and are available to help the students. Bedrooms are cleaned daily and the halls is catered by the neighbouring Lakefield, a college that provides training in Cookery, Food & Drink Service and Housekeeping services.

History

Existing Victorian buildings in Netherhall Gardens were in use from 1952. The first phase of new purpose-built accommodation was finished in 1966 and opened by HM Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.

The Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, HE Chief Emeka Anyaoku laid a foundation stone for the second and definitive phase of modern building in 1993, and the completed project was inaugurated by HRH the Duchess of Kent in 1995.

In June 2002 and again in September 2002, hundreds of residents and former residents attended celebrations at Netherhall marking the 50th anniversary of the opening of the House.

Spiritual activities

Daily Mass is celebrated in a recently refurbished Oratory for those who wish to attend.

Other spiritual activities are organised such as seminars on Christian faith, retreats, and praying of the Rosary. All students are welcome to participate in these activities, whatever their creed, but are also totally free not to.

The hall has a resident chaplain, at present Father Dancho Azagra.

Sports

On weekends there is football played on either Netherhall's own sports pitch or in the nearby Primrose hill. There is usually cricket on the weekends also and the sports pitch can be used for basketball. There is an annual 5-a-side football tournament open to teams from other student halls which is hosted to raise money for the Netherhall's charitable undertakings.

Music & Other Activities

There are termly classical music concerts given by different residents of Netherhall House. There is also an annual Jazz concert and at least one rock concert a year. The House organises a few annual trips open to any residents. There is a yearly trip to Rome for Holy Week and also a 3-week 'work camp' where students go to a developing country and help a charitable undertaking. Recent trips have included going to Cambodia to build a small medical clinic, and going to Mae Sot to build a classroom for Burmese immigrants.