Palatinate (award)
Encyclopedia
The University of Durham awards Palatinates to its athletes or former athletes who demonstrate the following qualities: 'Ability of a High Standard' (international representation), 'Service to a Club' and 'Attitude and Commitment'.
The award is called a 'Palatinate' rather than a 'Blue' because palatinate
(a shade of purple) is the historical colour of the university. A different colour, palatinate blue, is the colour of County Durham
.
The highest award is the Full Palatinate, given to those who have represented their country whilst at University and have, at the same time, also made a significant contribution to their club.
Half Palatinate awards are given to those who have either competed at a very high level, but not made a significant contribution to their club, or held a position of responsibility but lacked the necessary standard of sporting ability.
The awards are notoriously difficult to achieve, and differ from the awarding of colours by other Universities in that a Palatinate is not awarded merely for representing the University. The awarding of Palatinates is decided by a committee which is appointed each year.
Honorary Palatinate awards recognise the success of former Durham students who have gone on to greater things within the field of sport. Honorary Palatinate awards are presented by the Vice Chancellor at the Annual Palatinate Dinner. In recent years, Honorary Palatinates have been awarded to sportsmen such as Nasser Hussain
, Jonathan Edwards
and Will Carling
The award is called a 'Palatinate' rather than a 'Blue' because palatinate
Palatinate (colour)
Palatinate is a colour associated with the University of Durham A separate colour, 'Palatinate Blue', is derived from the Coat of Arms of the County of Durham...
(a shade of purple) is the historical colour of the university. A different colour, palatinate blue, is the colour of County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
.
The highest award is the Full Palatinate, given to those who have represented their country whilst at University and have, at the same time, also made a significant contribution to their club.
Half Palatinate awards are given to those who have either competed at a very high level, but not made a significant contribution to their club, or held a position of responsibility but lacked the necessary standard of sporting ability.
The awards are notoriously difficult to achieve, and differ from the awarding of colours by other Universities in that a Palatinate is not awarded merely for representing the University. The awarding of Palatinates is decided by a committee which is appointed each year.
Honorary Palatinate awards recognise the success of former Durham students who have gone on to greater things within the field of sport. Honorary Palatinate awards are presented by the Vice Chancellor at the Annual Palatinate Dinner. In recent years, Honorary Palatinates have been awarded to sportsmen such as Nasser Hussain
Nasser Hussain
Nasser Hussain OBE is a former Essex and England cricketer.Beginning his career in a strong Essex side in the late 1980s, he was an outstanding fielder and a stylish but inconsistent batsman. In first-class cricket from 1987 to 2004 Hussain scored 20,698 runs in 334 matches at an average of 42.06,...
, Jonathan Edwards
Jonathan Edwards (athlete)
Jonathan David Edwards, CBE, is a former British triple jumper. He is a former Olympic, Commonwealth, European and World champion, and has held the world record in the event since 1995....
and Will Carling
Will Carling
William David Charles Carling, OBE is a former Rugby union player for Harlequins, and a former captain of England from 1988 to 1996, winning 72 caps.-Early life:...