The University of Leeds has unveiled the name for its new eagerly anticipated state-of-the-art on-campus accommodation which opens to delegates in June 2011. The striking 459-bedroom building, which features floor-to-ceiling windows in every room to maximise the light, has been named Storm Jameson Court after former student and prolific author of more than 50 literary works, Margaret Storm Jameson.

The £27.1 million Storm Jameson Court will be the benchmark by which university campus accommodation for conference delegates is measured and is set to rival anything in British higher education.

Richard Handscombe, Head of Sales and Marketing for the University of Leeds conferencing, events and accommodation said: “Storm Jameson Court will be a welcome addition to our family of excellent accommodation and venues both in the city centre and more rural locations, helping to move us into the premier division of UK conference venues.

“We’ve had a lot of interest from conference organisers and are already taking bookings so it’s great that we can now put a name to this fabulous new building.”

Key features include a 24-hour reception service and a range of attractive social areas where delegates can meet. All rooms have contemporary décor, high specification en-suite bathrooms, telephone, data access points, an IPTV facility and a safe and there are 23 rooms available specifically designed for anyone with a physical disability, with easy access to the rest of the campus.

While studying at the University, Margaret Storm Jameson was elected Secretary of the Women’s Representative Council. As a graduate, she moved to London where she taught at the Working Women’s College. Richard continues: “We are very pleased with the name of the new building. Margaret Storm Jameson was a very influential woman with an impressive career, publishing many novels, poems, essays, biographies and several volumes of autobiographies and we’re delighted to honour her in this way.”

For many years Jameson was president of the International Association of Poets, Playwrights, Editors, Essayists and Novelists (PEN). She died in 1986.

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Note to editors
The University of Leeds offers a wide range of services from day meeting rooms for groups as small as four to large residential conferences for up to 550 delegates. It offers residential events, exhibition halls, hospitality and fine dining as well as a comprehensive conference management service.

For further information or photography please call Rebecca Douglas or Claire Bancroft on 0113 268 5000 or email claire.bancroft@mcgpr.co.uk

About Margaret Storm Jameson
Born in Whitby in 1891 Jameson’s studied at the University of Leeds where she was elected Secretary of the Women’s Representative Council. After leaving University she moved to London where she taught at the Working Women’s College.
Soon after the outbreak of the First World War her father joined the Royal Navy and became captain of the Saxon Prince, which was sunk off the Irish coast and Jameson was taken prisoner and sent to military camp in Hamburg.
Margaret’s brother – Harold Jameson joined the Royal Flying Corps at 17 and won the Military Cross for attacking a German kite balloon under heavy fire. He was killed in 1917 after being shot down while over No Man’s Land.
Margaret published her first novel in 1919 called The Pot Boils. This was quickly followed by other works of fiction including a trilogy about a family of Yorkshire shipbuilders. Jameson’s husband – Guy Chapman wrote several books about his experience of the First World War. Jameson also published poems, essays, biographies and several volumes of autobiographies. For many years Jameson was president of the International Association of Poets, Playwrights, Editors, Essayists and Novelists (PEN). Storm Jameson died in 1986.