The Provisional Council (GR 0)
The foundation of Time Lord society in the 50th Anniversary year of Doctor Who was accomplished by a small conglomeration of people lead by Omega (later known as the Surgeon General). Conceived initially to cater for those who enjoyed the programme but not necessarily other things Sci-Fi, the society was able to quickly grow with an initial group of members from all levels of geek-dom. Later a provisional council was formed by Mattilon (later known as the Lord President) when Omega became lost in an anti-matter universe of dissertations.
Major events included: the live screening of ‘Day of the Doctor’, the 50th anniversary special of Doctor Who, and a grand cosplay party held jointly with the excellent people of the Science Fiction Society; a joint picnic with that society and the Tolkien society; and many episode screenings. These episode screenings showed some of the highlights of the 50 years of Doctor Who, such as the first ever story, the 20th Anniversary special, and those voted in the top 5 of most Doctor Who Magazine poles. Games Nights ensued and even some special guest appearances from the 7th and 8th Doctors, courtesy of the Cambridge Union.
The provisional council left office with an Extraordinary Conclave, which adopted the present Constitution of the Time Lords. All in all a very successful first year of the Society, paving the way to a long future, and also a great celebration of the Greatest Show in the Galaxy!
Council members:
Matthew Kemp (Lord President/Mattilon, 1)
Matthew Chadwick (Castellan, 1)
Curtis Reubens (Chancellor, 1)
James Baillie (Keeper of the Matrix, 1)
Lizzie Pearmain (Cardinal of the Prydonian Chapter, 1)
Alice Pullen (Cardinal of the Arcalian Chapter, 1)
Sarah Binney (CIA Director, 1)
David Cowan (Surgeon General/Omega, 1)
Robert Dillon (Gold Usher, 1)
Others who helped in the inception of CUDWS:
Catherine Bi
Tony Leech
Dan Ivstan
Tiffany Armitage
Diarmuid Maguire
Council Alpha (α) (GR 1)
Created as of the Extraordinary General Meeting of 01 November, GR 1.
After a successful first year, the Society prepared for its first full series of the Doctor’s Chronicles. These were shown on a large screen, live and in the most high of definitions, week in and week out, until that fateful day when one of our most troubled children returned, but this time in the guise of the super-nanny that is Mary Poppins.
As the terms rolled inexorably on, games were played both of miniatures and role-play, discussions on the place science should be used, and nights filled with much music (courtesy of the Didgeridoo of Rassilon) and merriment ensued. Episodes were watched, both ancient and recent, back-to-back with links aplenty, showing how not much has changed over the past half century.
This is to date the shortest serving council, existing only from the Extraordinary Conclave (EGM) of November until the first Full Conclave (AGM) in February. The Full Conclave was chaired by the Lord President, and the sacred Voting Urn of Rassilon was used to elect Council Beta.
Council members:
Matthew Kemp (Lord President, 1)
Matthew Chadwick (Castellan, 1)
Curtis Reubens (Chancellor, 1)
James Baillie (Keeper of the Matrix, 1)
Lizzie Pearmain (Cardinal of the Prydonian Chapter, 1)
Alice Pullen (Cardinal of the Arcalian Chapter, 1)
Robert Dillon (Gold Usher, 1)
Council Beta (β) (GR 2)
Created as of the Annual General Meeting of 28 February, GR 1.
Council Beta saw only one regeneration, that of the Chancellor: the Keeper of the Matrix had a severe coordinate malfunction during the summer after GR 1, and was only occasionally present during GR 2. It was the first council to be elected by a full conclave.
Friends from the Oxonian Chapter of the Time Lords ventured over to do battle in the new tradition of a Varsity Quiz. They fought bravely but Cambridge managed to get the upper-hand. We also managed to pull from their proper place in the space-time continuum two special guests who have played a part in the creations of the Doctor’s Chronicles – Charlie Ross and Keith Temple – who fitted in well to our society and can be considered excellent friends of Gallifrey. They helped with the inception of chronicles of our own, taking shape in the audio form. The end of the academic year was reached, and another new tradition was created in the watching of a finale.
Further of the Doctor’s exploits were viewed by the society once the Time Lords had returned after the summer months, including his notable stratagems for dealing with the Dalek menace, the death of one of his fragile human companions, and a masterclass in how to solve the puzzle of being locked in one’s own confession dial. We also saw a portent of either Gallifrey’s future or its past (the matrix is unclear on this issue) for the first time in some years, with the Doctor’s heightened emotional state wreaking some havoc with the potential stability of space-time, not to mention the political hierarchy of the planet and creating a considerable quantity of work for us.
In brighter news, a notable agent of the Sontaran Empire, temporarily disguised as the human “Dan Starkey”, was brought before the Time Lords whilst we were analysing the doctor’s strategems for avoiding a Zygon insurrection – and he indeed proved a most excellent guest. Also in the autumn months the society’s first simulated universe (or “computer game” as it is known by more primitive species) had a demonstration version released, a creation of the Keeper of the Matrix. Work on this and the society’s other creations continues with great progress.
Finally of note was the second Full Conclave, which saw a more or less complete regeneration of the committee, and an amendment to the constitution to permit consciousness transferrals into advisory cardinals. This was the first time that the role of Lord President was handed over, with the former President becoming leader of the Arcalian chapter. The Keeper of the Matrix became the first advisory cardinal, testing his own consciousness transferral equipment to both regenerate (choosing the excellent features and temperament of the former Cardinal of the Prydonians) and simultaneously become the first Cardinal of the Dromeian Chapter. Another successful year in which the Society grew and prospered, and plans for its continued existence were put in place.
Council members:
Matthew Kemp (Lord President, 1)
Matthew Chadwick (Castellan, 1)
Lucy Parkinson (Chancellor, 2)
James Baillie (Keeper of the Matrix, 1)
Lizzie Pearmain (Cardinal of the Prydonian Chapter, 1)
Alice Pullen (Cardinal of the Arcalian Chapter, 1)
Robert Dillon (Gold Usher, 1)