Food and accommodation
There have been so many positive comments about all
the Durham courses and food has always been high on
the list of compliments. Excellent choice and
quality is a recurring theme with the "Fair Trade"
cookies actually elicited an 11/10 from one
participant. The coffee even meets with approval
from the Canadian contingent. A decent cup of
coffee is as rare in the UK as a decent cup of
tea is in North America. (Blatant plug ..... see http://www.bobthecoffeeman.co.uk to
find the U.K.'s most amazing and excellent coffee!).
Van Mildert College offers the Maggini Summer
School excellent accommodation in single or double
en-suite rooms. We will be using the Deerness and
Tunstall blocks. Playing rooms are generously
spacious. We have the whole of Elvet Hill House to
ourselves and the use of large rooms in the main
college building. other. There are lifts between
floors so lugging equipment about is easy. Dining is
self serve with plenty of choice for all
palates and dietary requirements .... and here's the
view as you dine.
Durham University, England's third oldest, was
founded by the Second Earl Grey (after whom Grey
College and Earl Grey tea is named) and William Van
Mildert, (Prince-Bishop of Durham from 1826 to 1836
and a leading figure in the University's 1832
foundation)
Van Mildert College was established in 1965 and
occupies eight acres (32,000 m²) of grounds
alongside South Road and is centred on a small lake.
It's just across the road from Collingwood College
and therefore a pleasant walk away from the
Botanical Gardens. There is a sense of being in an
idyllic rural area even thought it is only a 15
minute walk into historic Durham City Centre. There
is a regular bus service from South Road to and from
the city. Whilst all our course activities and
accommodations are within the College there is no
reason to spend all your time indoors.
The central focus of the course will obviously be
the playing. The opening and closing concerts, the
open rehearsals and coaching will all be fitted in
around meals. While food and sleep are self-evident
necessities the social aspect of the course is a joy
worthy of proper attention. Mildert offers us
spacious social spaces including a fine large bar.
Wine will be available for purchase with meals in
the dining room as it has been on previous courses.
Bedrooms for our course are all en-suite with
single and double rooms available. The move to Van
Mildert means that there is a greater opportunity
for non-playing partners to join us. All rooms are
well equipped (radio alarm, internet access,
hospitality tray etc.) and are serviced daily.
Deerness has lift access to all floors. Each floor
has a lounge area and a kitchenette. There are
also laundry facilities available on the ground
floor.
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Those of you who have attended previous
courses will testify to the quality and variety of
the food provided. There are extensive options
sure to please most palates and the only complaint
we ever heard was that just when you thought you
were really quite replete an overwhelmingly
tempting dessert would be on offer.
The grounds of the college are tranquil and the nearby Botanical Gardens offer breathing room in a busy week
A visit to the city is a must. The designation
"World Heritage site" may sound rather grand but
Durham Cathedral and Castle and all that surrounds
it more than lives up to such a title. For a taste
of Durham and the University background start here
Costs
The cost of the course is £759 fully inclusive of
meals and accommodation, all tuition and the Maggini
concert on the first night.. It is also possible to
attend as a non-resident or accompanying
non-participant. Please contact us for price
details.
If you would like wine with your meals it will
be available for purchase in the dining room. There
is a splendid bar available to us in the evenings
conveniently located across from the dining room.