Calendar: 1969-1970 Page 396

xxxiv Annual Report of the Delegacy In the Faculty of Engineering students compared with last year were placed in the First Class as follows Civil Electrical In the Faculty of Laws student none last year was placed in the First Class In the Faculty of Science 32 students compared with 33 last year were placed in the First Class as follows Biochemistry Botany Chemistry Mathematics Pharmacology Physics 11 Physiology Zoology Sc General In the Faculty of Theology student was awarded First Class in the Honours examination the same number as last year studies During the past session the College has continued very successfully its primary function as centre of teaching and research This is shown clearly by the quite outstanding results listed above in the Final Degree examinations the History department gaining no less than five of the seven Firsts awarded by the University and the Physics dc- partment gaining eleven Firsts in the Sc Special and six in the Sc General It would seem that the College in spite of all the noise and inconvenience of the rebuilding operations is doing as good work as ever it did and staff and students are to be congratulated on their success This proves also that the College is still able to attract out- standing teachers and high-quality students One or two departments have expressed fears that the academic attainments of applicants for 1968 have shown considerable falling-off but the same complaint has been voiced by other colleges and it is to be hoped that this is only passing phase During the year work has continued along the Strand frontage with the excavation of the site for the new Strand block Stage of the re- construction and the laying of the foundations and services for it This has been formidable undertaking rendered more difficult by the cramped nature of the site and the difficulty of the removal of the excavated soil on to one of the busiest streets in London Nevertheless the College has carried on amidst continual noise dust dirt and in wet weather mud In spite of all the difficulties and discomforts the staff and students have borne the ordeal manfully Happily the re- building has been progressing reasonably well and in July 1968 has now advanced above ground level There is good hope that the new block will be ready for occupation not much later than October 1970