Alumni Issue 6

edgehill.ac.uk/alumni

Kerry HowardThe accidental actor

Rewarding ExcellenceHow scholarships are helping some of ourextraordinary students

Memories of OrmskirkCelebrating 80 years of Edge Hill in Ormskirk

ALUMNIIssue 06

Welcome to the latest edition ofAlumni – the magazine for, andabout, former Edge Hill students.

In this edition we are celebrating the careers ofgraduates who have made an impact in a widevariety of fields. Read about funny girl Kerry Howardand her success as a comedy actress; Olympic athleteStuart Stokes, the oldest member of London 2012men’s track and field team, and award-winningauthor Carys Bray.

We have a glimpse inside the growing Department ofMedia, a recap of 20 years of Social Sciences, andtake a look around the new Students’ Union with SUPresidents past and present.

As always there are lots of alumni profileshighlighting the range of jobs our graduates enjoy –from teaching and filmmaking to theatre production– plus a feature on your Memories of Ormskirk .

As always, we welcome your feedback, stories, memoriesand ideas for articles – please keep them coming.

I hope you enjoy the magazine.

Best wishes,

Caroline Mitchell Affinity Officer

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edgehill.ac.uk/alumni

Kerry HowardComedy girl came to acting by chance

Rewarding ExcellenceHow scholarships are helping some of ourextraordinary students

Memories of OrmskirkCelebrating 80 Years of Edge Hil in Ormskirk

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Interview:

Funny Girl

Edge Hill University Alumni Magazine 3

She’s known to millions as Laura,Becky’s highly strung youngersister in hit BBC Three comedyHim & Her, starred alongside RafeSpall in her first feature film andhas just finished recording thepilot of her very own sketch show.

But Kerry Howard, acclaimed comedy actress and starof Sky’s new sitcom, Give Out Girls, came to actingalmost by chance.“I wasn’t expected to get the grades to go to universitybut, much to everyone’s surprise – including mine – Idid quite well in my A-Levels,” recalls Kerry. “I hadn’teven applied to university but suddenly everyone wastalking about Clearing. I’d always been interested indrama, so my mum and my cousin got on the phoneand started ringing round. I went out and by the time Icame back I was enrolled on a Drama course at Edge Hill.”Two weeks later, a slightly apprehensive Kerry travelled200 miles from her home in Somerset to Ormskirk, aplace she’d never heard of, to start a degree she didn’tknow much about.“I was quite conflicted because I’d never been awayfrom home before,” says Kerry, “but Edge Hill wasperfect for me. I’m a country girl at heart and I think abig metropolitan university would have completelyoverwhelmed me. Edge Hill felt manageable. You werenear Manchester and Liverpool so you couldexperience a bit of city life – but you weren’t right in it.“My parents were pleased I was getting a degree but Idon’t think they thought acting was a serious career.My mum made costumes for the local amateurdramatic club, so me and my brothers always had bitparts in pantomimes, and I was in school plays, but I’dnever had lead roles. No-one had ever picked me outas a future star or anything. “It wasn’t until I got to Edge Hill that I discovered myvoice as an actor and met people who encouraged meand told me I was good enough. I learnt so much,about playing characters and about writing comedy,which has helped me get where I am today. It reallywas the best three years of my life.”

Kerry Howard

After graduation Kerry moved to London to look forwork. Like many aspiring actors, she took unpaidacting jobs, did open mic slots and worked as an extrato make ends meet and get her name known. Her bigbreak came in 2009 when she was cast as MartinClunes’ receptionist in Reggie Perrin.“I’d grown up loving Men Behaving Badly so I wasridiculously overexcited to be working with MartinClunes,” she recalls. “Every scene I had was with himso in rehearsals I was just bright red the whole time.I’ve been fortunate to work with some amazing actorsand I always try and learn as much as I can from them;I’m like a limpet, stuck to their side taking it all in.”After Reggie Perrin, Kerry was offered the role ofLaura in BBC Three’s Him & Her, now on its fourthseries. Since then she has appeared in Channel 4’sComedy Showcase and Two Pints of Lager and aPacket of Crisps on BBC Two. She also recently madeher movie debut in British comedy I Give it a Year,starring Rafe Spall, Minnie Driver and Stephen Merchant.“Seeing my name up there on the big screen was anincredible, surreal moment,” says Kerry, “but the bestthing was walking up the red carpet at the premiere. Itwas such an amazing experience. Even if I do nothingelse in my life, I can say I’ve been photographed on thered carpet at a movie premiere!”Give Out Girls is Kerry’s first leading role, and she believesthere isn’t a better time to be a woman in comedy.“There are some brilliantly funny female writers andactors around at the moment,” she says. “People likeLena Dunham (writer and star of controversial UScomedy Girls) have really opened the door foractresses like me. She’s proved the ‘girl next door’ type,which is normally a supporting role, can carry a show– and I hope I can do the same in the UK.”

Give Out Girls starts on Sky Living HD later inthe year. Kerry’s pilot sketch show, Kerry, isavailable on the BBC’s Feed my Funny website(www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p010x9sm).


Vice-Chancellor’s message:

Building Futures

We entered the year as one of only four Englishuniversities to see a growth in applications for2012 entry – up 18% overall – an upward trendthat has seen applications to study at Edge Hillincrease five-fold in the past ten years.

To be enjoying a record number of applications isparticularly encouraging against a national decline instudent numbers of 14% – a result of rising tuition feesand the on-going recession. However, it was only ourthird best year for entrants, and I believe in a differentyear we would have done better. Still, Edge Hill remainsone of the fastest growing universities in the UK, andthat growth looks set to continue in the coming year.

Financially, the University is in good health. Our incomewas £106 million, with a surplus of £16.5 million,allowing us to invest £42 million in capital projects thisyear. Extensions to Founders Court and ChancellorsCourt have added 400 new study bedrooms, bringingthe total on-site bed spaces to 1,750. This means we cannow offer all first years accommodation on campus forthe first time.

We’ve also invested £18 million inCreative Edge, a new flagship buildingfor Media and Computing, £4.5 millionin a Biosciences Building to house thegrowing Department of Biology, and afurther £11 million in our new sportscomplex – which will give Edge Hill the best sports facilities north ofLoughborough by 2014. Alongside thesebuilding projects is a major landscapingoperation, including the introduction of asecond lake, complete with a beach –making Edge Hill the only university with beachfront apartments!

Another sign of growth is our investment in staff thisyear, particularly at professorial level. According to theTimes Higher Education Supplement, Edge Hill’sprofessorial wage bill rose more in percentage termsthan any other UK university, which bodes well for oursubmission to the REF 2014 [Research ExcellenceFramework, the Government system that assessesresearch performance and allocates funding]. We areentering two or three times as many staff as last time,across more subject areas, which shows the increasingquality of our research.

An important measure of our success is the satisfactionof our students. The National Student Survey 2012 again ranked Edge Hill in the top three in the NorthWest for overall satisfaction. We were also rated top inthe region for personal development and assessmentand feedback, and in the top three for satisfaction withthe Students’ Union.

So, all in all, it’s been another positive year for theUniversity despite increasing external pressures. Therewill be challenges ahead for all Higher EducationInstitutions: there will be less money to go round whichwill probably lead to less generous student support; adeclining age cohort; and a more aggressive market.

Can we continue to enjoy year on year growth as wehave for the past seven years? Possibly not. Can weimprove our position relative to other institutions overthat time? I think we can. Edge Hill is well equipped forthe future, and I expect us to continue to go fromstrength to strength.

Dr John Cater

Once again, Edge Hill finds itself in a strong position, despiteeverything an uncertain economic climate and a decliningmarket could throw at us this year.


After 12 years as an elite athlete, Stuart Stokesfinally realised his sporting ambition last yearwhen he stepped up to the starting line for the3,000m steeplechase at the London 2012 Olympics.

As the oldest member of the men’s track and field team,36-year-old Stuart realised this could be his last chanceto represent his country at the world’s biggest sportingspectacle. Despite being a full-time teacher and father oftwo young children, Stuart was determined to qualifyfor Team GB and put everything into his training.

“I got the call at school,” recalls Stuart. “I went in to tellthe Head and just burst into tears. It was a reallyemotional moment. I’ve competed in threeCommonwealth Games and at European and WorldChampionships, but the Olympics is the one that reallymatters because it's the one that everyone watches. Iwas gutted to have missed out on Sydney and Athens,but I got the best one in the end.”

Stuart’s Olympic dream began early. As a sports-madchild he would compete against his two brothers inevery available school sport. Ironically, athletics was hisleast favourite discipline.

“I preferred team games but I was ambitious and knew Iwasn’t good enough to play football or cricket at thehighest level,” admits Stuart. “I also found it frustratingthat you could have a brilliant game individually butstill be on the losing side. I wanted to be in control ofmy own destiny. I was a good runner so I found myniche in the 3,000m steeplechase.”

Stuart competed in the European JuniorChampionships in Hungary in 1995 and continuedcompeting when he started University, making full useof Edge Hill’s excellent sporting facilities.

“I wasn’t a typical student,” says Stuart. “I didn’t drink,I ate properly and I would be out on the running trackwhen other students were just getting in from a nightout. I was totally committed to training and competing,but I studied hard as well. A sporting career can’t lastforever and I knew I would need my degree one day.”

That day came three years ago when Stuart enrolled onEdge Hill’s ground-breaking Teacher Training Partnershipprogramme, in which trainee teachers learn entirely in schools.

“Running paid the bills but it wasn’texactly a stable income,” says Stuart. “Iwas married with two children so it feltlike time to get a proper job. I knew Edge Hill had a great reputation forteacher training from when I was there,and the partner school is ten minutesfrom my house, so the programme wasideal for me.

“I really enjoy teaching but I can’t help but have one eyeon the next big competition. My heart says continue, butmy body says no. I’ve had too many injuries – I waspatched up for the Olympics but I’m not sure I could dothat again.

“For me the journey to the Olympics was as importantas competing. It wasn’t just the pinnacle of my career, itwas also a reward for my family for all the sacrificesthey’ve made to support me,” adds Stuart. “It felt likethe last piece had slotted into place – I’d achieved whatI’d set out to do and could finally move on with my life.”

Stuart now works as a PE teacher as part of his teachertraining programme, and often gives motivational talksabout his sporting career to young people.

“Now, when I talk to kids, I can say I am an ‘OlympicAthlete’, he says. “If that inspires one kid to aim high,I’m happy.”

Alumni profile:

Stuart StokesBA (Hons) Sport in the City, 2000


Picture: Associated Press

Holly HeslopSearch Executive, Online Marketing, John Lewis

Holly Heslop started working at John Lewis,one of the country’s best-known retail chains, inApril 2012 and, as far as she is concerned, thereis no such thing as a “bad day at the office”.

Holly joined the online marketing team at John Lewisas a search executive, responsible for increasingvisibility across search engine result pages (SERPs)through optimisation and advertising.

“My job is to ensure we are immediately visible toanyone who is researching a product or category thatfalls within our remit,” explains Holly, who is based atJohn Lewis’ head office in London.

“I can honestly say that I enjoy every day,” she says. “Irealised I wanted to join John Lewis when I read aboutthe business before my interview. Learning about thehistory of the company and its partnership model reallyfilled me with enthusiasm.”

Holly is convinced that her time at Edge Hill, where shegained a BA in Sociology and an MA in Marketing andCommunications, prepared her well for the world of work.

“The encouragement to work closely with otherstudents, plus the community feel, allowed me toexpress myself with confidence. I can now apply this asa ‘can do’ attitude to my job,” she says.

“During my masters I took a work experienceopportunity at Coca-Cola’s headquarters in Atlanta,Georgia, where I shadowed and interviewed globalmarketing managers. Both my university experienceand the work placement allowed me to pursue mycareer aspiration to work in a large company.”

Degrees that workEmployability is right at the heart of the EdgeHill experience – everything we do is designedto equip our students to succeed in their future careers.

Our reputation is underpinned by latest figures from theHigher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), whichplace Edge Hill top in the North West for graduateemployment, with 93.4% of our students in employmentor further study within six months of graduating.

This is no accident: major employers are involved in the design of our degrees, and over 75% of ourprogrammes carry additional professional accreditation.Our award-winning Careers Centre helps students fromthe moment they start their degree, with friendly, expert and objective guidance that continues well after they graduate.

Here are some examples of Edge Hill graduates whohave secured great jobs with some of the UK’s topemployers.

Graduate Employability:


Eamon KarpuskaUnix Technician, Barclays

A degree from Edge Hill in Computer Softwareand Systems helped Eamon Karpuska to win aplace on Barclays Bank’s prestigious graduatescheme, ahead of hundreds of other applicants.

Eamon is a Unix Technician responsible for supportinglive systems that host a variety of Barclays services,including PingIt, Personal Internet Banking and manyother critical functions used all over the world.

Originally from Jonava in Lithuania, Eamon applied forthe Barclays scheme to pursue a career in commercialsoftware and systems – and has already been promotedto a higher grade.

“I thoroughly enjoy my role – every day has beendifferent and challenging, which has made it veryinteresting,” says Eamon, who is based at BarclaysTechnology Centre in Knutsford. “My ambition is todevelop further skills at Barclays that will betransferable across different business sectors.”

Eamon believes that the realistic nature of his degreeprogramme was good preparation for employment.“Much of the course was based on the kind ofdeliverables and deadlines expected in the workplace,”he says.

“At the end of my last year in university I was given anopportunity to complete a paid business project, whichinvolved delivery and set-up of a computer network in apaper-based company,” says Eamon. “I was able to addthe success of this project to my CV which greatly increasedmy ability to get interviews with different employers.”

Tope SadikuGraduate Trading Assistant, Asda

After graduating last year with a First Class degreein Accountancy, Tope Sadiku is making enormousstrides on the Asda Graduate Buying Scheme.

Tope started on the supermarket chain’s trading schemeand later took an option to move onto the financegraduate scheme. This means she can use heraccountancy degree as part of her training to become achartered accountant, while drawing on her experienceon the supermarket’s trading floor.

“My role brings theoretical knowledge from universityinto practice as I’m now responsible for several thingsI’d learned about at university, such as balances sheetsand profit and loss accounts,” says Tope. “At first it wasslightly overwhelming, getting my head around nine-figurebalances, but the scale of variation and intricacy is exciting.

“My main ambition was always to work for a large companywith a huge range of opportunities. Working for Asda hassurpassed all my expectations because we’re part of theWal-Mart family – the biggest retail group in the world.”

Tope took full advantage of Edge Hill’s career support.As well as seeking advice from the Careers Service, shealso did the Institute of Leadership and Management’semployability module, an additional, optional coursedesigned to boost employability.

“That was a great experience because it prepared me forassessment days and graduate level interviews,” shesays. “I also had great support from the careers team,who opened my eyes to the opportunities available. I’mcertain the team significantly contributed to me gaininga place on a graduate scheme.”

Philip McGuinness and Emily Frodsham set up Edgeof Your Seat Productions in 2010 while still studyingfor their degrees. The idea to form a student-ledtheatre company came from a shared desire simply tosee if it was possible to organise a full production ontheir own.

“There wasn’t anything else like it in the PerformingArts department at the time,” says Philip. “There werelots of opportunities to perform, stage manage or workbackstage during the course, but nothing completelyled by students for students.”

In 2011 Edge of your Seat put on its debut productionof Willie Russell’s Our Day Out in the Studio Theatre,featuring an all-student cast and crew, including Philipas Artistic Director and Emily as Production Manager.

“It was quite an intense experience for Emily and Ibecause we were at classes during the day, rehearsingin the evening then going home and doing all theplanning and admin for the show ready for the nextday,” recalls Philip. “I don’t know how we did it, butboth of us still managed to get First Class degrees.”

Since then Edge of Your Seat has gone from strengthto strength. They took their next production

Wonderland: The Trials of Alice on a mini tour offestivals in Liverpool and Llandudno, where it wasseen by around 10,000 people. Word about thecompany is obviously spreading: auditions for theirlast show attracted 120 people for a cast of 20.

“In the Performing Arts industry youcan’t just sit back and wait foropportunities to come to you,” saysPhilip. “You have to be proactive. Likeany industry it’s very difficult to get a jobwithout professional experience and youcan’t generally get that experiencewithout having a job. “Edge of your Seat aims to fill that gap for studentsand alumni by giving them the opportunity to take partin professional productions in a public theatre whilethey’re still studying or recently graduated.”

Many couples would find living and working togetherquite difficult but, for Philip and Emily, thepartnership seems to work perfectly.

Feature:

A dramaticrelationship

Despite only leaving universitylast year, two ambitious Dramagraduates are already runningtheir own successful theatrecompany, and providing supportand opportunities for the nextgeneration of Edge Hill studentsand alumni.

“We work really well together because we havecomplementary skills,” says Philip. “I usually have ahundred mad ideas flying around in my head and Iwant to do them all immediately. Emily is the one whosays, “maybe we should just try this one first.” Shekeeps my feet on the ground. If it was just me, thecompany would have gone bust ages ago.

“Sometimes, when we’re in the middle of a production,we do have very little downtime. But we do have clearswitch modes and try hard to keep a definite linebetween work and home. It’s not always easy, but weunderstand each other very well and we have a sharedambition which brings us closer together.”

Not content with living and working together, the pairare soon going to be studying together again as well.Philip started a PGCE in post-compulsory education inJanuary, while Emily begins her PGCE in September –both back at Edge Hill.

“We’ve always been interested in the educational sideof theatre. We do a lot of drama workshops for schoolsthrough Edge of Your Seat, and also help internationalstudents explore the English language through drama.Being qualified teachers will help us expand our


educational provision, as well as giving us moreoptions in the future.”

In between writing and performing, running thecompany and preparing for his PGCE, Philip foundtime to take part in a photo shoot for the EverymanTheatre in Liverpool as part of its ‘Everyman forEveryone’ project. Philip is one of just 105 peoplechosen from the hundreds that took part to have hisphoto included on the Portrait Wall, a giant artworkthat will cover the front of the newly renovated theatre.

“I’ve performed at the Everyman several times and, forme, it represents what theatre should be about – it’saccessible to all, it’s not elitist, it really is for everyone.I feel very proud to be part of the project. “When Iachieve my ambition of becoming the 13th Dr Who,people will say “I thought I’d seen him somewherebefore.”

Edge of Your Seat Productions will beperforming at an event in Coronation Park inOrmskirk in October, and at the LlandudnoChristmas Parade in December.

www.edgeofyourseatproductions.co.uk

Helen ByrneSporting Excellence Scholarship winner, 2012

Lots of students spend Saturday afternoonswatching football – not many are on the pitch,come rain or shine, being shouted at by thecrowd and keeping 22 players in line. Evenfewer are women.

Passion, commitment and a love of the beautiful gamehave seen Sport Development student Helen Byrnebecome one of a growing number of female footballreferees. After rising through the ranks, she is nowassistant referee in the Conference Premier League,which sees her keeping teams like Luton and Wrexhamin line each week.

Her determination to succeed, along with her ability toinspire the next generation of young female footballers,won her an Edge Hill Excellence Scholarship in 2012.

“The men’s teams were a bit sceptical about a female refat first but I’ve never heard any negative comments,”says Helen. “There are a lot more women comingthrough now, so it’s becoming less of a novelty.”

She began training aged 14, becoming the youngestwoman in the country to qualify as a level three referee.She is currently working towards level two, and hopes tobecome one of the few women to officiate at that level.

“My dream is to go right to the very top of the professionand be the first female referee in the Premier League,”says Helen.

Helen played football for more than 12 years for Evertonand Liverpool Ladies football clubs, and at 16 gained hercoaching badge. She has a long history of footballvolunteering in schools and has coached the LiverpoolGirls’ team for the past four years. Helen is also helpingto organise Liverpool’s contribution to the Sir BobbyRobson National Football Day, which will showcasegrassroots football in the city.

In May she was selected by the FA to act as assistantreferee in the women's FA cup final, and recentlytravelled to Iceland to referee in the Nordic tournament,an eight-nation UEFA competition.

“The scholarship has helped me pay for things likeequipment and travel,” says Helen, “but, mostimportantly, it’s given me recognition for what I do andinspired me to achieve more.”

Alumni fund:

Rewarding excellenceJuggling full-time study with outside commitments can be difficult. Whether they’re keen volunteers,sportspeople, performers or artists, many students have to fit what they love around their lectures.Edge Hill recognises the positive impact extra-curricular activity has, not just on students but on thecommunities in which they live, and offers a range of Excellence Scholarships to support and rewardaspirational and inspirational students.


Thomas Holt2011 Alumni Scholarship winner and UK StudentVolunteer of the Year 2013

Volunteering has not only changed the life ofChildren’s Nursing student Tom Holt – it hasmade a difference to thousands of childrenacross Britain. His outstanding commitment toothers won him a scholarship from Edge Hill in2011 and has now gained him national recognitionas UK Student Volunteer of the Year.

Tom, who has been volunteering since school, dedicatesfour hours a week to ChildLine as a telephonecounsellor, plus a further four hours to an Action forChildren mentoring scheme in Knowsley. He is also aBeaver, Cub and Scout leader, working with more than50 children a week aged between six and 15. As if thisisn’t enough, he regularly takes part in CHICKS respiteweekends in Cornwall for disadvantaged youngsters.

“Winning UK Student Volunteer of the Year wasabsolutely fantastic – I really wasn’t expecting it,” saysTom. “The award reflects what I’ve achieved and I hope it will inspire other people to put an hour or two aside aweek to volunteer.”

Alongside his volunteering activities Tom is an activeblogger and has had an article published in theinternational online magazine The Huffington Postabout winning his award.

“I blog about volunteering, but also about children’snursing, because there are very few men in this area ofthe profession,” says Tom.

“It’s partly a traditional thing but I also think guys feel children’s nursing isn’t masculine, that they’ll beridiculed, even if they do it at a voluntary level. But there’s a real need. I’ve heard employers say thatone male nurse on a children’s ward totally changes the dynamic.”

Tom is often asked what motivates him to give up somuch of his time. “I just enjoy every second of it,” hesays. “I’m hugely passionate about getting involved. No matter how badly I feel a session has gone, I look atthe children’s smiling faces and think of the differenceI’m making.”

Supporting the next generationEach year Edge Hill graduates help current studentsrealise their ambitions by contributing to the AlumniFund, which supports the Alumni Excellence Scholarshipprogramme, and the University’s hardship fund.

Established in 2009, the Alumni ExcellenceScholarship helps to nurture budding leaders insport, entertainment, the creative industries and thevoluntary sector.

onYou can donate to the Alumni Fund online at:edgehill.ac.uk/alumni/support. You don’t needto give a fortune – just £5 can make a real differenceto a student’s future.

To see the full range of scholarships visit:edgehill.ac.uk/scholarships/guide

“The employment market now demands early specialismso there’s been a necessary shift towards more vocationalcourses.”

Today the Department of Social Sciences offers threeundergraduate degrees in Childhood and Youth Studies,Early Childhood Studies and Sociology, as well as twoMRes programmes in Childhood and Youth and Sociology.

Technology has also moved on. Face-to-face contact isnow supplemented by Blackboard, an online learningsystem that allows staff and students to share informationand communicate, and students can access electronicjournals at any time of the day or night.

Whatever shifts and changes the department has beenthrough in the last 20 years, one thing remains the sameaccording to Mark.

“I remember a HEFCE inspection notlong after I’d arrived which rated thedepartment as ‘excellent’ and described it as having ‘a curriculum with attitude’ –I think that is still true today and that’spart of what keeps me at Edge Hill.

“Our progammes give students the tools to criticallyevaluate the world around them. We encourage diverseviews in our classrooms and we try to help studentsdiscover different ways of viewing a subject – showingthem perspectives and theories they may not have beenexposed to before.

“The one quality that characterises Social Sciencesstudents down the years is an openness to new ideas anda willingness to stretch themselves,” adds Mark. “One ofthe best things about teaching is seeing that sudden senseof revelation on people’s faces when they understandsomething for the first time.

“We’re not asking students to see a different world, but tosee the world differently – and that hasn’t changed.”

In 1993, young lecturer Mark McGovern joinedEdge Hill to teach Irish Studies modules in whatwas then known as the Department of AppliedSocial Sciences. As he approaches his 20th year atthe University, Professor Mark McGovern spoketo Alumni about what has changed and what hasstayed the same in the past two decades.

“I think the most significant change for Social Sciences isthe physical environment,” says Mark, on the phone fromBelfast where he is carrying out research into communityperspectives of state violence and collusion.

“There’s been an extraordinary change in the University’sinfrastructure in 20 years. The view from my officewindow is unrecognisable from 1993. Back then we werehoused in what we laughingly called ‘the penthouse’ – thetop floor of a decrepit building behind what is nowCMIST –and my office looked out onto the old Law &Criminology huts.”

The building has long since been demolished and theDepartment of Social Sciences now occupies the formerBusiness School, extensively refurbished and kitted outwith the latest labs and equipment, which brings allSocial Sciences staff and students together in onebuilding for the first time. Mark’s office now looks outover the piazza, giving him a good view of Edge Hill’sever-changing campus.

The name has also changed over the years. Applied SocialSciences gave way to Social and Psychological Sciences,then when Psychology became large enough to sustain itsown department, simply the Department of Social Sciences.

“The Department has grown immensely,” says Mark,“which reflects the growth of the University as a whole.We now have more than 400 students so we’ve lost theintimacy of teaching in a small, close knit group, butgrowth has given us better equipment and facilities andmore opportunities to contribute to national thinking andeducation in the field of Social Sciences.”

The days of a single undergraduate Applied SocialSciences degree have also gone. “Students used to study achoice of subjects within Applied Social Sciences, which Ithink gave them quite a broad education,” says Mark.

Feature:

What a difference20 years makes

Even if she wanted to, Amanda Oates would findit hard to break her ties to Edge Hill University.As a local NHS Human Resources Director, she isresponsible for recruiting a large number ofnursing and healthcare students, both for clinicalplacements and graduate jobs - and many of themcome from Edge Hill.

Amanda didn’t go straight into the NHS after leavingEdge Hill. She initially secured a place on the NatWestgraduate scheme, working in its Liverpool office, whereshe got her first glimpse into the world of HR.

“After the initial training and doing my banking exams, Ibecame an HR Assistant, then PA to the HR Director,which gave me loads of experience and insights into whatit was like to work at director level,” says Amanda. “It wasa good foundation for my career.”

She eventually left NatWest to become Deputy Head ofHR at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, and hasstayed working for the NHS ever since.

“There is a big difference between working in HR in thepublic and private sectors,” says Amanda. “It’s not justabout money, there’s a moral and ethical difference.Everything we do in the NHS - whatever position we’rein, whatever area of the organisation - is geared towardsmaintaining frontline care for those who need it.”

Previously HR Director at the Walton Centre inLiverpool, the only specialist neurosciences NHS Trust inthe UK, Amanda took up a new role in August as Directorof Workforce at Mersey Care NHS Trust, a leadingprovider of mental health services. She is tasked withhelping to improve the quality of services throughengaging and empowering staff – no easy task given thecurrent economic climate.

“The Trust’s aim is to provide the best in-patient andcommunity services to help people recover from mentalillness,” says Amanda, “ and informed, committed, caringstaff are key to delivering that. It is challenging to try andreconcile increasing demand for services and risingpatient expectations with cuts in funding. But there is lotswe can do – and I enjoy a challenge.”

Despite graduating in 1992, Amanda still has strongconnections to Edge Hill.

“We take a lot of Edge Hill students at the Walton Centresimply because the calibre is so high, and Mersey Carehas very strong academic, health and social care linkswith the University too,” she says. “If the candidatesweren’t strong enough, I wouldn’t give them an advantagejust because they’re from my old University. The standardat Edge Hill is just very high.”

Amanda also worked with Edge Hill on a collaborativeproject to provide bespoke training and CPD courses forthe Walton Centre’s clinicians and executive team, and iskeen to use her HR knowledge to support the nextgeneration of healthcare professionals.

“I’ve spoken to the careers team about how I couldsupport graduates when applying for jobs, help lecturerswith employability issues or give talks to students,” shesays. “I’m delighted to still be involved with theUniversity as an alumnus, as I received so much supportmyself when I was looking for jobs. The hints and tips Igot from the careers team are still relevant to me today.”

Profile:

Amanda Oates


Feature:

Memories of OrmskirkCelebrating 80 years in Ormskirk In October 1933 the staff and students of Edge Hill College left the cramped conditions of Durning Road in Liverpooland relocated to leafy Lancashire – and generations of students have since made the Ormskirk campus, and thetown, their home.

Alumni recently went on Facebook to ask former students for their memories of life in Ormskirk…

The roller-blading granddadin the town centre.Lisa Perkins

“I remember someone paintedfootprints leading from thestatue across the road.Roy Fisher ”The Ropers for cheap tea and apint, the Loose Moose, chips andgravy from Acropolis – there are somany good memories of Ormskirk.Most of mine appear to relate to food and drink, though. Kayte Cronin

“”Midland Bank telling me I had the

highest overdraft of the branch,Ruff Wood and doing theOrmskirk Mile.Rick Moore“ ”Playing hide and seek round the

rose garden and long, long chats sat in the corridor of John Dalton Hall.Louise Hawxwell“ ”“ ”


Top 10 best student haunts*1. The Acropolis (for late night chips)2. The Ropers Arms (for the music quiz)3. The Cricketers Arms4. The Loose Moose (and its sticky floor!)5. Ormskirk Market 6. The Buck i’th Vine (for Scrumpy cider) 7. Cheung’s Fish and Chip Shop8. Styles bar9. Arriba10. Disraeli’s (Dizzies)

*Well, that’s what the people on Facebook said.Disagree? Of course you do. Let us know your Top10 – and any other memories of Ormskirk - andwe may feature them in a future edition of Alumni.

Undertaking an MA in Creative Writingtransformed a need to read into a compulsion to write for prize-winning author and Edge Hillgraduate, Carys Bray.

The Southport mother-of-four won the MA category of the Edge Hill Short Story Prize in 2010 before going on to scoop the Scott Prize for Short Stories in2012, an international award for a first collection of shortstories by a single author.

Carys, who has also had stories published in numerousliterary journals and magazines, is currently completingher first novel as part of a PhD in Creative Writing atEdge Hill.

“I’ve always loved reading, and for some people it’s anatural progression for this to develop into a love ofwriting, which is what happened to me,” says Carys.

“I started writing stories when I was about nine andspent hours on Famous Five-inspired adventuresstarring myself and my friends. Many years later, whenall my own children had started school, I did a BA inEnglish literature at the Open University and there wasan option to do creative writing. I decided to have a goand discovered that I really liked it.

“I began creative writing in earnest whenI started my MA at Edge Hill. I was veryshy about my writing when I started thecourse, but I’d hit my thirties and sawthis as a last chance to find out if this wassomething I could do.”

Carys’ tutors soon spotted her talent and urged her tosend her stories to literary magazines. Her first story tobe published was The Ice Baby, which appeared in NewFairy Tales. More stories were published and Carys wonthe Edge Hill MA student prize with a short story calledJust in Case.

“I found the course fantastic and really inspiring. Iparticularly love writing short stories because it’samazing what can be achieved in such a condensedspace. Sadness, humour and many other emotions canall be expressed in the short story,” says Carys.

After completing her MA Carys continued writing untilshe had enough material for a collection of stories calledSweet Home, which went on to win the Scott Prize – andbe published in the UK, Australia and the USA.

“It took me about 18 months to write the stories,”explains Carys. “The driving element of the book is apreoccupation with family, and with the things that gowrong, and right, when people live together. Thecollection explores a variety of dark familial ‘failures,’ butit’s also meant to be funny and, ultimately, optimistic.

“Some of my favourite short story collections have beenwritten by previous Scott Prize winners and I’m reallythrilled to join their ranks.”

Now midway through her PhD, Carys has completed thefirst draft of her as yet untitled novel, which is aboutmiracles and explores themes of guilt, grief and loss offaith in miracles.

“Although the novel sounds heavy, it’s not entirelypessimistic and has a fairly upbeat ending. It’s abouthow people try to engineer miracles and fail, then there’sa miraculous coincidence that no one could havepredicted,” says Carys.

So how does her literary activity fit in with the hecticdemands of raising four children?

“I write while they’re at school and in the evenings andsqueeze it between the unavoidable things,” says Carys.“My children have been great. They forgave me forcrimes against progeny, such as forgetting mufti daysand hogging the computer, and they cheered my successes.

“My husband, Neil, made extra time for me to write bydoing the ironing and cleaning the bathroom. Hesometimes cooked – until we all decided that it wasbetter if he didn’t – and he read all of my stories, eventhough he prefers non-fiction.”

Looking ahead, Carys’ ambition is to finish her novel,along with the thesis for her PhD, a research projectexploring the development of myths and sacred stories.

“Eventually I’d like to do another short story collection,”she adds. “My first one had a lot of children and youngfamilies in it so now I want to write some material withmore adult themes.”

Profile:

Carys Bray

Alumni support:

Employer Engagement

Alumni have always been an integral part of theEdge Hill student experience. As well as givinginspiring talks to students about gainingemployment, many who are now employersthemselves are able to offer opportunities forplacements, internships and even jobs to thenext generation of graduates. Now, Edge Hillhas a new team in place dedicated to improvingengagement with employers – with alumni set toplay a major role.

The seven-strong Employer Engagement team aims toincrease the number of University links with externalorganisations to raise the profile of Edge Hill among theregional business community and improve the employmentprospects for generations of future Edge Hill graduates.

Lisa Knight, who heads up the team, says: “It’s not allabout what alumni can do for us. We offer a range ofContinuing Professional Development courses that canhelp alumni and their employers to stay ahead of thegame. We work closely with businesses to understandtheir training requirements, then develop a tailoredprogramme that will deliver exactly what they need.Clients can choose from a range of ‘off the shelf’ shortcourses, accredited training programmes or Mastersprogrammes, or we can develop a completely bespokeproduct to meet their needs.”

Darren Mackey, Employer Engagement Marketing Manager,is keen to emphasise the range of benefits that working

with the Employer Engagement team can bring foralumni. “We want alumni to see Edge Hill as more thanthe place they got their degree,” he says. “We want themto consider the University as a touchstone for theircontinuing professional development. All employeesneed to keep their skills up to date and we can helpalumni with their future CPD, whether they are lookingas individuals or as people with responsibility for thedevelopment of others in their organisations.”

Several companies are already seeing the benefits ofworking with the University. Recycling, renewableenergy and waste management company, Viridor,worked with the Faculty of Education to develop abespoke foundation degree programme for itsworkforce; while a collaboration between the Faculty of Health and Social Care and service provider Care UK has resulted in an innovative e-learning programmeproviding essential training for employees across 50 sites.

As well as getting involved in CPD, alumni can alsosupport Edge Hill’s employability agenda by offeringstudent placements or internships at their organisations.

“The benefit to alumni of working with Edge Hill is thatthey know what they’re getting,” adds Darren. “Theyalready know the quality of our staff and students –what might surprise them is the wide range of serviceswe can offer them as employees and employers.”


In the current economic climate, newlyqualified teachers are increasingly lookingfurther afield for job opportunities. But it’s notall about paying the bills – teaching abroadoffers the chance to experience a differentculture, meet a diverse range of people, learn anew language and develop skills and knowledgethat are prized back in the UK.

Louise Rolf is one of many teachers who saw theopportunity to teach abroad as a once in a lifetimeexperience – and is now enjoying a challenging andrewarding international career.

After completing her PGCE at Edge Hill in 2004, Louisegot a job in London as a History teacher and quickly rosethrough the ranks, becoming head of department at theschool within two years.

“I enjoyed my job, but I’d always wanted to live abroad atsome point,” says Louise. “My boyfriend got offered a jobin Trinidad so, when we went over there to visit, I tookthe opportunity to look at some international schools.Trinidad turned out not to be for us, but it planted theidea of teaching abroad in my mind and I started regularlychecking the Times Higher Educational Supplement forinternational teaching jobs.

“I wanted a change of scene, so when a job came up inDubai, I jumped at it.”

Louise has now been teaching at a private internationalschool in Dubai for the past five years. Despite taking astep down career-wise to move to Dubai, within a yearshe was promoted to her dream role – head of sixth form– a position that would take a lot longer to work up to inthe UK.

“In Dubai you follow the same curriculum as in the UKbut you have more freedom to teach it your own way andthere is much less paperwork,” says Louise. “BecauseDubai is such a melting pot of cultures, you also workwith a really interesting mix of children who all want to learn.

“It can be challenging but it’s very rewarding,” she adds,“and how many other jobs give you the chance to gocamping in the desert or have barbecues on the beach inyour spare time?”

Alumni study:

Teaching abroad

Louise’s top tips for internationalteaching1. Get some experience first. Most good

international schools will ask for at least two years qualified teaching experience. If a school doesn’t ask for that, it’s probably not the type of school you would want to teach in.

2. Start looking early. The top international schools will have filled their positions by February, so you need to start applying in November to give yourself the best chance.

3. Teach a shortage subject. As in the UK, teachers in Maths and Science are highly sought after abroad and can generally take their pick of the best schools.

4. Don’t be afraid to take a step down. Opportunities for promotion are often greater than in the UK.

5. Be open-minded. Teaching abroad takes you out of your comfort zone and forces you to think differently. Only the adventurous need apply.


For many teaching graduates, making thetransition from trainee to Newly QualifiedTeacher can be a daunting prospect. Now, a new programme, devised by Edge Hill’s Facultyof Education, is supporting hundreds of NQTsthrough their first year at work, and helpingothers get their foot on the first rung of the ladder.

The NQT programme, developed with input fromalumni, provides mentoring, practical advice andnetworking opportunities for graduates. One of the mainfeatures of the programme is a series of conferences,held three times a year, which bring together recentgraduates, alumni and school practitioners to shareknowledge and develop practical skills for the future.

The theme of the latest conference, held in June 2013,was Leadership and aimed to support newly qualifiedteachers looking to move into positions of responsibility.Alongside keynote speaker, Adrian Packer, formersenior artistic director at the Brit School for PerformingArts, now Principal of the Everton Free School, weremany Edge Hill alumni. They gave up their time to givetalks and run workshops on subjects ranging fromoutdoor learning in Early Years to great ideas forprimary science to behaviour management.

Edge Hill graduate Faisal Ahmed, who completed aPGCE with RE in 2011, has presented at two NQTconferences and sees his continuing connection with theUniversity as vital for his professional development, aswell as being a way of giving something tangible back.

“When I graduated there wasn’t a specific programme ofsupport for NQTs like there is now,” he says, “so I foundmoving into the classroom quite a big jump from being astudent. I realised how valuable it would be to hear fromrecent graduates about the challenges of being a newteacher, so I was more than happy to get involved.”

As well as the conferences, Faisal has maintained hislinks with Edge Hill in other ways including sharing hisexperiences with the current PGCE cohort and workingwith the course leader to bring trainees into his school,Stretford High School in Manchester. He also regularlybrings his own students to Edge Hill events such as theHolocaust Study Day.

Faisal has recently been appointed Director of AcademicSchool at Stretford High, with responsibility forHumanities. He believes his involvement with Edge Hillwas pivotal in securing his new role.

“It was useful to be able to talk about education in awider context and draw on some of the knowledge andideas I’ve gained from the NQT conferences.

“I fully intend to keep attending theconferences as they are a great way ofsharing knowledge with peers andbuilding subject networks.”

“The feedback from the conferences has beenoutstanding,” says Paul Spencer, Senior Lecturer inProfessional Development and one of the NQTprogramme team. “This year, more than 30 NQTs who attended the conference have asked if they cancome back and be involved next year. It’s creating afantastic network of new teachers who want to supporteach other.

“The NQT programme highlights the importance ofaftercare once students have finished studying.Graduation should not mark the end of a university’srole in a teacher’s development; the NQT programme isa clear expression of Edge Hill’s commitment tosupporting new teachers through what can be a difficulttransitional period.”

Alumni support:

Support for new teachers

The next NQT conference is on 9th November 2013and is free of charge and open to all Edge HillUniversity QTS graduates. For more informationabout the NQT programme visit:edgehill.ac.uk/education/newly-qualified-teachers

The University also hosts a range of conferences andevents for those in the teaching profession. For moreinformation please contact the alumni team [email protected] or call 01695 584861.

Feature:

Growth of Media

With more than 700 students and abrand new flagship building set torevolutionise teaching, researchand industry engagement, theDepartment of Media has come along way since Edge Hill welcomedit’s first Communications andInformation Media students backin 1992.

Students can now choose from 13 undergraduatecourses and three postgraduate programmes. Whilemodules in Media Studies remain popular, studentscan now take degrees as diverse as Film & TVProduction, Animation, Public Relations, Advertising,and Music and Sound.

The range of subjects within the Media Departmentreflects the changing face of the creative industries andthe skills today’s employers are looking for. As well asworking on the latest, industry standard equipment,students have lots of opportunities for practice-basedlearning out in the real world, making them highlyemployable when they graduate.

Carol Poole, former Head of Department and nowEdge Hill’s Ambassador to MediaCityUK, has seen thedepartment go from strength to strength.

“We got a brand new £3 million building – CMIST – in2003 to accommodate 300 students,” she says, “butthe interest in our programmes intensified at such arate that we had outgrown it within a year. By 2012 wewere trying to accommodate over 600 students oncampus, so there was clearly a need for development.”

Creative Edge, the Media Department’s new £18million purpose-built accommodation which opens inSeptember 2013, gives the department the space itneeds to grow and develop long into the future.

EDGE HILL UNIVERSITY ALUMNI MAGAZINE 03 27

“Creative Edge will be a catalyst for creativecollaboration – both within the University and withexternal partners from the creative industries,” saysCarol. “We now have the space to do things we’ve neverbeen able to do before like large scale events, festivalsand conferences.

“It really knits the ‘creative campus’ ideatogether. Creative Edge sits alongside theArts Centre and the Performing Artsbuilding to give Media a new unity andcreative identity that will give Edge Hillweight among its peers.”In her role at MediaCityUK, Carol has beeninstrumental in developing closer links between EdgeHill and external media organisations, particularly theBBC. Over the past year more and more students havebeen winning prestigious work placements at thecorporation, demonstrating its confidence in thequality of Edge Hill students. Ten students worked on

the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year, for example,while others enjoyed placements with the BBCPhilharmonic and CBBC, and several have subsequentlysecured full-time employment at the BBC.

Two Media students won this year’s BBC LearningZone challenge, a national competition which givesthem, and several student crew members, theopportunity to make a real live BBC production with a£1,000 budget. Three students from Media also wonthe prestigious Liverpool Sound City InternationalStudent Award in May. The judges were so impressedby the students that they are supporting thedevelopment of their idea, Fanbase.

“I believe our success is down to the vocational natureof our courses and the proactive, forward-lookingattitude of the department,” says Carol. “We are alwayslooking to break new ground in what and how weteach, and Creative Edge is symbolic of that ambition.”

Kyle OgdenMedia, Film & TV, 2008

Kyle Ogden puts his successful career as afreelance editor down to good training, hardwork and perseverance. But, his first experienceof working in TV was simply a question of beingin the right place at the right time.

“We knew someone on the course whose dad wasworking with LA Productions in Liverpool,” says Kyle, “and they needed some students to help out on adocumentary. I must have done something right becauseI ended up going back every few weeks for the next yearand a half.

“It was a great experience and taught me so much.Although I was working as a runner, being on set gaveme insights into a range of jobs and I became reallyinterested in editing.”

After graduation Kyle got a job with LA Productions as atrainee Assistant Editor on the acclaimed BBC dramaseries Moving On, created by Jimmy McGovern. He

stayed with LA Productions for three years, working ontwo more series of Moving On as well as BBC legaldrama, Justice.

“As a trainee I was picking up rushes from the set andlogging them ready for the editor to work on them,”explains Kyle. “You don’t realise at the time how muchyou’ve absorbed and after three years I felt ready to do iton my own.”

Ironically, his first job as a freelancer was with LAProductions. Colin McKeown, LA’s founder and EdgeHill honorary graduate, offered him an assistant editorrole on an episode of the CBBC show Stepping Up,before asking him to edit two episodes of the fourthseries of Moving On. Jimmy McGovern continues toloom large in Kyle’s career – he is currently working onMcGovern’s new BBC film, Common, as well as editingtwo episodes of Moving On series 5.

“Edge Hill really encourages you to go out on your ownand experiment; film things, write, meet people. It’s agood foundation for a creative career.”

EDGE HILL UNIVERSITY ALUMNI MAGAZINE 03 29

Alan DonohoeMedia, Film & TV, 2008

From making the tea to dismantling sets todriving film stars round Liverpool in a Hackneycab, Alan Donohoe’s time as a runner wascertainly varied. It may not have been glamorousbut it gave him the insight, experience andinspiration he needed to make his own film.

“I got a bit of a shock when I left Edge Hill because Isuddenly realised you couldn’t immediately become awriter or director, which is what I wanted to do,” saysAlan. “You get to do so many amazing things on thecourse – writing, directing, working in a TV studio,making films – but in the real world you have to start atthe bottom.”

Alan’s first job was as a runner on the Liverpool filmReds and Blues – and it was the first of many. “It wasn’talways exciting but it paid the bills and built up myexperience,” he says.

“What I really wanted to do was tell stories. I’d made ashort film during my course and I thought there was thegerm of a good movie in there. So, one day I said to mymate, ‘we should make a film’ and once I’d said it outloud that was it, I knew we had to do it.”

Alan scraped together £300 to make a three-minutetrailer then turned to crowd-sourcing website Indigogoto try and raise the money to make the film. Thecampaign raised $16,000 and the result was I have abad feeling about this, a quirky, Star Wars influenced,sci-fi comedy, which has just finished shooting.

“When I started working I felt comfortable being on setbecause that was what I did at Edge Hill,” says Alan.“My last two uni projects were crewed exactly like realfilms so when I came to make my own I knew what Iwas doing.”

Feature:

Part of the Union

Alumni: I’m guessing one of the biggest changes isthe SU offices?Steve: Yes, it is a bit different. In 2004 we had four smalloffices off The Street plus a tiny cupboard/stationerystore/photocopying room that was always full of sports kit.Traditionally, the SU managed the student mail as well sowe were constantly surrounded by parcels. Potentially,there could be 20 people in there at one time. Add the mailand the sports equipment and it was pretty cramped.Gareth:We’ve obviously got more room in The Hub butwe’ve expanded to fill the space already. There are twolarge open plan offices, two small offices, plus a privatemeeting room. It’s a very comfortable and flexible space forthe SU core team to work in but there’s no accommodationfor societies and no room for the radio station. Howevermuch space you have you can always use more.Alumni: Is it easier for students to access the SU now?Gareth: Definitely. The sabbatical team (sabbs) sit on the landing outside the offices to be more visible andapproachable to students. They can come and chat to uswithout having to go into an office.Steve: Coming into the SU in 2004 was like…Gareth: Entering the bunker?Steve: Yes, exactly like that. There was only one entranceand the front desk was manned by two non-studentmembers of staff; the sabbs were in the offices at the backso it wasn’t great for people who wanted to discuss sensitiveissues, but we were constrained by the space we had.Alumni: Has the structure of the SU changed much?Steve: Ten years ago, there were two sabbatical positions -the President and an Academic and Welfare Officer. Wealso had a Community Action Officer, who co-ordinatedstudent volunteering, and ten elected officers coveringsocieties like the Athletics Union, Christian Union, LGBT,Mature Students, etc. Gareth: I think the structure has changed virtually everyyear since you left, Steve. When I started at Edge Hill therewas a President plus eight or ten elected roles but quite afew of those posts were vacant. I’d only been here fourdays when I became Societies Officer because the positionwas vacant - I’d only popped in to the SU to find out howto get involved.

The following year, two new Vice President roles wereestablished, covering Academic and Welfare and Activitiesand Participation. Then, in 2010/11 we added a third VP forCommunications and Campaigns and in 2011 introducedFaculty Vice Presidents for the first time. This year, we’vealso got a Student Advice team and a Marketing team.Alumni: How do your election campaigns compare?Steve: Mine was mainly paper-based as there was noFacebook or Twitter back then. I created some reversedposters that I put up opposite mirrors in the toilets – thatgot people talking. I also made a video that we played inthe bar that involved me on screen having a conversationwith someone I’d planted in the audience. It was prettyinnovative for the time. I’d fractured my shoulder playinghockey so my arm was in a sling and this prompted theslogan ‘Don’t sling your vote away.’ Anything to get yourname known.Gareth:When I stood for President I relied heavily onsocial media, mainly because I got a chest infection just ascampaigning started and was confined to bed. I usedFacebook and Twitter to build up support and get mymessages out there. When I stood for Vice President theprevious year, I spent a lot of time talking to people oncampus to explain what the SU could do for them. Forexample, if I saw someone with a child on campus I’dspeak to them about support for student parents. I thinkthe personal touch is really important.Alumni:What were your campaign promises?Steve:My aims were to deliver more live music events andmore non-sport activities, and organise events for nursingstudents based in Fazakerley for first time. The introductionof Live and Loud, our live music night, was a big achievement.Gareth: I promised to fix the little things that affect thestudent experience – like the speed of the wifi or thetimeliness of feedback from tutors – and employability –getting more placement opportunities for students on lessvocational courses like English and History.Steve: I think there are more opportunities to engage withthe SU today. In my day the SU was very campus-focused;it didn’t really cater for students based at other sites. Wedidn’t really have the resources to expand our reach.

Whether they’re joining a society, becoming a Faculty rep or simply buying an Edge Hill hoodie, more students are engaging with the Students’ Union than ever before. As the University grows, the SU is becoming increasingly important as the voice of theever-increasing student body, and the President’s role is pivotal.Alumni invited current SU President, Gareth Dowling, and Steve Parker, formerPresident and external member of the Board of Trustees, for a chat in the Students’Union’s new offices in The Hub to find out how much has changed in the past decade.


Gareth: That’s only been a recent change though. Mypredecessor, Elliott Hodgeon, was the first President not tocome from Arts and Sciences.Steve: I don’t think the overall percentage of peopleparticipating in SU elections has gone up much, but I thinkmore people are involved with the SU, even if they don’trealise it, because the SU is able to offer a lot more.Gareth: When I started as Societies Officer, there were 12societies, now there are 75. Our new Student Advice Centrehas also helped over 100 students in its first year, so thereare new ways of interacting with the SU now.Steve: You also have online voting which makes it mucheasier to get involved. We had a paper ballot in the bar. Wehad the option for proxy voting but I’m not sure howeffective that was.Gareth: Yes, I think the whole process is more democraticnow because of technology. People don’t have to comeonto campus to vote anymore so it’s opened the SU up toall the Faculties. We’ve also replaced the traditionalhustings with a video of all the candidates answeringquestions based on what students really want to know.That goes on the SU website and people can see itwherever they are.Alumni:What was/is your biggest challenge asPresident?Steve: Having lots of ambition but very few resources. Wedid a pretty good job with what we had but we didn’t havethe people, money or space to do everything we wanted todo. The culture was very different then as well. The SU wasprimarily based around the big societies like the AthleticsUnion and was geared towards students who were physicallyon campus. Trying to get others involved was a challenge.

Gareth: The biggest challenge for the SU today is theexpectations of students now they’re paying £9,000 a yearfor their education. The SU is a major part of the University’soverall offer so there’s a pressure on us to deliver anoutstanding service. Gareth: The President is more involved in what I wouldcall ‘complicated stuff’ these days, like the University codeof conduct, the UK quality code and disciplinary procedures.The sabbs also sit on more boards and committees thanever before – 48 at the last count – from Faculty boards tomodule approval committees. We’re more integrated withthe University.Steve: I’ve been involved in the SU for 22 years now invarious roles and I’ve seen a fundamental shift in thePresident’s role. You’re responsible for creating a strategyfor the SU that is consistent. What you do doesn’t justchange according to the whim of whoever is the Presidentthat year. It’s more professional and driven by studentsnow, which is how it should be.Alumni: Does being SU President help in later life?Steve: I definitely learned things in the role that havehelped my career. It gives you an adaptable skill set – youlearn about finance management and how organisationswork. In my spare time I organise an annual hockeyfestival for 900 people – those skills have their roots inmanaging the SU.Gareth:When I leave I can say I’ve led a hugeorganisation, chaired a board of trustees and sat on aboard of governors – how many other 25-year-olds can say that?

Feature:

A passion forcompassionEarlier this year, an independent inquiry intothe failings at Mid Staffordshire NHS Trustrevealed a culture of putting hospital businessahead of patient welfare and a hospital-widetolerance of poor standards of care. TheGovernment responded by launching a newnational vision for nursing that aims to restorethe ‘6Cs’ of the profession – Care,Compassion, Courage, Competence,Communication and Commitment – andstudent nurses are set to play a vital role.

Gill Neary, Natasha Carroll and Charlene Knox, threeNursing students from Edge Hill, are among 50volunteer ‘care-makers’, selected from more than 250applicants, tasked with communicating the 6Cs to their peers.

“Compassion has always been an important part ofnursing,” says Gill Neary, a third year Nursing studentwho graduates this year. “It’s still there in theprofession; I saw it every day while I was on placementin A&E at Aintree, which is a very challengingenvironment. I just think it’s been slightly lost due toall the other demands of nursing today.

“The idea of the initiative is to embed the 6Cs innursing culture again and encourage people to valueand demonstrate them in their own practice by actingas role models.”

The trio was handpicked by Chief Nursing Officer, JaneCummings, to act as ambassadors as they embody theprofessional values set out in the new strategy,Compassion in Nursing.

As part of their role Gill, Natasha and Charlene havespoken at a number of national conferences as well asgiving presentations to their fellow nursing, midwiferyand other health care students. They even have handycredit card sized reminders of the 6Cs that they handout to colleagues to spread the word.

“People are always interested in my role and themessage seems to be filtering through,” says Gill. “Inhuge organisations like the NHS, communication canbe slow so care-makers can help speed up the process.”

Being involved in the project is also beneficial for thetrio’s personal and professional development. As wellas looking great on their CVs, the care-maker roleoffers opportunities to network at the highest level,enhance their leadership skills and see how nursingpolicy is developed.

“It’s not easy against a backdrop ofpublic spending cuts,” adds Gill, “but, atthe end of the day, all patients need to betreated with dignity and respectregardless of external factors. It’sdefinitely a challenge – but one that I’mdelighted to take on.”


On 10th September 2012 Edge Hill graduateKerry Ogden was returning to Merseyside after aweekend at the Bestival music festival when thecoach she was travelling in crashed, killing herand two other people.

A year on, her dad Rob remembers his “kind andbeautiful” daughter and talks of his decision toattend Bestival this year in Kerry’s memory.

“I know I’m biased,” says Rob, “but Kerry really wasbeautiful inside and out. She was also a real people personwho brought the best out in everyone. We always knewshe had a lot of friends but, since the accident, we’ve beenamazed, and hugely comforted, by the number of peoplewho’ve paid tribute to Kerry.”

A Facebook page (The amazing Kerry Lynne RIP), set upby friends after the tragedy, has nearly 3,000 likes, whilethousands attended a benefit concert arranged by theBestival organisers in March 2013. The event, held aticonic Liverpool club Nation, home of Cream, featuredlocal music legends Ian McCullough and Ian Broudie, aswell as a spoken word set from Howard Marks.

“I was really touched when the event wassuggested but Nation is so huge, I worriedthat there would be about a hundredpeople rattling around in there,” recallsRob. “On the night, though, it wasabsolutely packed. It was a great night butvery emotional.”

English and Media student Kerry graduated from Edge Hill in 2012 alongside her sister, Kirsty, who studied Animation.

“Kerry was supposed to graduate earlier,” says Rob, “buthad to retake one module which meant she ended upgraduating the same year as Kirsty. It wasn’t planned thatway, but now I’m so pleased they graduated together aswe all have the memories of a lovely family event.

“I graduated from Edge Hill myself in 2000 so there is areal family connection with the University.”

Rob and Kerry shared a passion for music and regularlywent to gigs and festivals together. Earlier this year, Robwas invited to attend Bestival as a guest of the organisers.

“It was a big decision to go,” says Rob. “It feels a bit like apilgrimage and I really don’t know what to expect, but Ithink it’s a fitting tribute to Kerry. I’m going with two ofmy closest friends who I’ve been going to gigs with foryears, and I know some of Kerry’s friends are going, so Ihave a lot of support. In a weird way, I’m looking forwardto it.”

Obituary:

Kerry Ogden

The inquest into the deaths of Kerry Ogden,Michael Molloy and coach driver Colin Daulbyrevealed that the tyre that blew out causing thecrash was nearly 20 years old. Existing guidanceadvises against using tyres over ten years old, butoperators are not legally obliged to follow it. TheOgden and Molloy families have now set up apetition to campaign for legislation preventingpublic service vehicles from using aged tyres.

If you would like to sign the petition please visit:submissions.epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/52867


Alumni support:

PostgraduateIn today’s uncertain economicclimate, up-to-date, high-level skills are vital for improving theperformance and prospects of bothindividuals and businesses.

This is particularly true in the fast-changing worldof computing, and the need for businesses to keepabreast of developing technologies is the driver fora new range of postgraduate courses launched bythe Department of Computing.

New for 2013 is a Masters in Research, whichcomplements the department’s existing portfolio of five Masters programmes plus an MBA (InformationTechnology). The MRes can be studied on a full-time or part-time basis.

The department has also introduced a new range ofContinuing Professional Development short courses,ranging from one to five days, to support industryprofessionals and help build computing and informationtechnology capacity within local and regional businesses.

New short courses for 2013 include:• Introduction to Information Security with ISO27001

(1 day)• Principles of Information Security Management using

ISO27001 (3 days)• Mobile Application Development (3 days)• Introduction to Embedded Systems (3 days)• Advanced Embedded Systems (5 days)

“The new courses have been designed with the needs ofmodern business in mind and reflect the rapid changes intechnology and how it is used in society,” says Head ofComputing, Dr Chris Beaumont.

“Our move to the new Creative Edge building also opensup further opportunities to collaborate with the MediaDepartment. By focusing on parts of the economy that aregrowing we’ll ensure the continued employmentopportunities for our students.”

Study and saveEdge Hill is currently offering discounts onpostgraduate study:

• 20% reduction in fees for all Edge Hill graduates enrolling on an eligible postgraduate programme at the University in academic year 2013/14. See edgehill.ac.uk/postgraduate/fees/reducedfees for details.

• 50% bursary on all Computing CPD short courses or individual MSc modules, including Information Security Management, Network Security, IT Management, Cloud Computing, Project Management or Computer Forensics. Bursaries are available on a ‘first come first served’ basis and are open to full-time employees in private or third sector businesses. See edgehill.ac.uk/computing/business-support/cpd for details.

NewsThe latest news fromaround the campus

Edge Hill University is investing more than £4 million in new accommodation and state-of-the-art facilities for Biology students andresearchers.

A new Biosciences building will feature high-specteaching spaces and dedicated laboratories, with brandnew resources including DNA analysis equipment, ascanning electron microscope plus several insectariesfor breeding and studying disease-transmitting bugs.

“Practical experience of molecular biology is vital for arange of careers, and essential for further study,” saysPaul Ashton, Head of the Biology Department. “Ournew facilities will give students the opportunity to workwith the latest equipment, broaden their knowledge anddevelop skills that are highly prized by employers.”

Investment in Biology also supports two new degreeprogrammes in September 2013 – BSc (Hons) HumanBiology and BSc (Hons) Ecology – to complement EdgeHill’s successful BSc (Hons) Biology course.

Three new members of staff have also been recruited tostrengthen the Biology team: mosquito expert ClareStrode, Anne Oxborough, who specialises in spiderdiversity, and microbiologist Dr Angela Ryan-Kewley.

“Our new staff bring significant new expertise into thedepartment,” says Paul. “They will have a major impacton the breadth and depth of our teaching as well asopening up exciting new areas of research within the University.”

INVESTMENT INBIOSCIENCES

EDGE HILL GRADUATES MOREEMPLOYABLE THAN EVER

Edge Hill is once again the top performinguniversity in the North West for employability,with 93.4% of graduates in work or furtherstudy, according to the 2013 Destination ofLeavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey.

The annual national survey by the Higher EducationStatistics Agency (HESA) also positions Edge Hill in the top 10% of mainstream English universities, intwelfth position.

Edge Hill outperforms the national average of 90.8% inwork or further study after six months, with just 5.1%unemployed and 1.4% not seeking employment.

“The University works hard to ensure students have thechance to acquire professional qualifications or creditsalongside their honours programme,” said Vice-Chancellor, Dr John Cater, “and provides substantialopportunities for careers modules, part-time work andvolunteering to enhance an individual’s chances in thejob market.”

The University is continuing to focus on employabilityin the coming academic year. The new Creative Edgebuilding, which opens in September 2013, will enablestudents to work alongside the University’s industrypartners, while employment-experience years will beavailable to all Arts and Sciences students. There willalso be more opportunities for language learning andstudy abroad in China, Europe and the US.

HEAD OF MIDWIFERYHONOURED

Jane Morgan, Edge Hill’s Head of Midwifery,has been named in the Queen’s BirthdayHonours list in recognition of her lifelongdedication to the profession.

Jane was honoured for 30 years of outstanding servicesto midwifery both in the UK and in Rwanda, where herpioneering maternity services are saving the lives ofpregnant women and newborn children every day.

After seeing the poor conditions in a maternity hospitalin the village of Shyira in Rwanda, Jane raised £24,000to build a new hospital and, as part of an on-goingeducation project, has established two scholarships thatwill help nurses to train as midwives. Around 1,000babies are now born in the hospital every year and,since the first midwife qualified in 2009, maternaldeaths in the hospital have been reduced to zero.

Jane, who started her career in 1984 as a communitymidwife in Liverpool, said: “I was overwhelmed to hearthat I am being given an MBE because I feel as thoughI’ve just being doing my job. I’m no good at shoutingabout my achievements but it’s lovely to be recognisedfor what you do.”

CREATIVE STUDENTS IMPRESSAT EXCLAIM!

Edge Hill hosted its most spectacular end-of-yearshow to date when students from departmentsacross the Faculty of Arts and Sciences cametogether at The Lowry in Manchester toshowcase their talents to friends, family andpotential employers.

Exclaim! brought students from Media, PerformingArts, Creative Writing, Computing, Film, Television andAdvertising together under one roof for the first time toexhibit work from across Edge Hill’s creative degreeprogrammes. As well as film screenings, animation,dance, drama and readings, there was also a showcasefor computing and web development activities, showingthe breadth of Edge Hill’s ‘creative campus’.

The event drew praise from some of the biggest namesin the region’s creative sector, including HelenBullough, Head of CBBC Children’s Programming, CarolCrane, casting director and documentary maker, DavidPichilingi, Director of Liverpool SoundCity, and TVproducer Colin McKeown.

Carol Poole, event organiser and Edge Hill’sAmbassador to MediaCityUK, said: “In previous yearswe have had an end of year show within individualdepartments but we wanted to extend this to embracethe sheer diversity of our talented students within artsand culture. It was a great chance for students todemonstrate the quality of their work to the industry.”

You can watch the show on Edge Hill’s YouTubechannel, visit: youtube.com/user/edgehilluni


LETTERSSTORIES, MEMORIES, FAMILY NEWS

Send your stories, memories, family news to:

A DIFFERENT ERAI enrolled as a full-time student in September 1968.Edge Hill was then a College of Higher Education forthose aspiring to be teachers there. My Halls ofResidence for the first and third years was MargaretBain. The warden was Miss Clarke, who ensured thatall young ladies were locked into the hall by 10.30pm.It was not unusual for her to make a tour of eachcorridor, knocking on doors and checking that nomales had failed to leave the building. Also we had tokneel and have the length of our PE skirts measuredfrom the floor to the hem of the skirt. I have very fondmemories of a very enjoyable three yearsRuth Gaulton (née Callender)Via email

BADGE OF HONOURA group of PE students, who have kept in touch sinceleaving Edge Hill, met up recently in Southport at TheMetro, Portland Street on the 4th July. One of the groupwas over from New Zealand and we wanted to celebrateus all turning 60 years old in this academic year. Wehad a great evening and the years just rolled away. Itlooks like it may well become an annual event -especially as it's the 40th anniversary of us all leavingEdge Hill next year.Thanks to the Alumni team for the badges andinformation you provided for the event - they were wornwith pride and it was noted that they matched thecolour of our PE uniform from all those years ago.Lesley HolgateVia email

FANTASTIC VISIONIt has been 50 years since I left Edge Hill and recentlyenjoyed a visit to campus. I was amazed at theenormous changes and congratulate all concerned withthe vision Edge Hill has made in its expansion andendurance in difficult times in the last 50 years.

Lesley WoledgeVia email

IMPRESSIVE REUNIONI recently attended the alumni reunion weekend and itwas a truly memorable event. Meeting up with mystudent friends from 42 years ago was fantastic.I was greatly impressed by the scale of the recentdevelopment on campus, and the future plans look evenmore impressive. What it shows is that Edge Hill continuesto be a first rate centre of excellence for teaching andlearning with a wide range of facilities to help studentsbecome successful in their chosen specialisms.Having spent two decades working in a 6th Form centrein Cumbria, I have had the opportunity to arrange visitsto many universities for my colleagues and studentsthrough the AimHigher programme – sadly now ended.Edge Hill is always seen as an outstanding institutionthat is well respected by students.

John GlaisterVia email

Lancashire Hall

Would anyone else who started in 1971 like a reunionnext year as we left 40 years ago. Carole Mavin, DenaFreem and and I (Rosie Ward) would.

Rosemary Wibberley

I did Social Science in 1999 and graduated with a 2.1in 2002. I went on to do postgrad study at Edge Hilland am now a senior manager in the NHS. I lovedevery moment.

Shelly Stoops

In Lancs Hall I can remember canoes flying off thetop floor and every time you went to the lift therewas something different in it (a fridge freezer andreal ducks to name but two.)

Martin Leigh

My lecturer David Rootes - supportive, inspirationaland nothing was too much trouble, I wouldn't be thenurse I am if it wasn't for him. Like today, I helpedsave a woman's life and I owe that to Dave. Heencouraged me to keep going when things wererough. Keep up the great work.

Laura Leilani Norman

Thanks to Steve Suggitt and Gerry Lucas who put upwith my hangovers every Thursday morning afterrugby for three years in the mid 90s.

Peter Cottam

My fave lecturer was Carmel Stopforth, Adult Nursing.After I missed a whole module due to surgery, shesupported and encouraged me to continue rightthrough it, and I eventually passed with a Distinction. I owe a lot to this lady.

Christina Rogers

I was there in 2006-2007, did PGCE in MFL QTS. Wouldbe nice if anyone from that time could get in touch.

Syed Ishrat Hussain

In Lancs Hall I remember when 'Stick' (can'tremember his real name) had his room moved in itsentirety from the 5th floor to the island in the middleof the pond (after the raft race, I think), by the othersup on the 5th floor. I remember seeing all his shirtsneatly hung up on the branches of the tree, above hisbed. That was our final year 1980-1981.

Peter Robinson

I spent three years (1969-72) in Lancs Hall (rooms405 and 201). In 1973 I was Union President and inroom 201 again. The 3rd floor was always PE Mains,and Ground Floor short end was Walter Edge's wardenflat. Could write a book of tales and pranks. Lovedthe inter-hall obstacle race which had to be bannedas the obstacles threatened to kill someone one day.

Roy Fisher


FROM OUR FRIENDS ON Facebook.com/EHUAlumni

I would like to get in touch with some of the studentsI knew when I was at Edge Hill as a foreign exchangestudent in 1970. Here are some of the names of mylost classmates: Pam Miller, Helen Fayle, RosemaryHalsall, Frank Falkenstaffe, Peter Hedge, Eunice ?,Pauline Turner, Jenny Bradshaw, Penny Forbes, LizKingsnorth, Carol Fletcher, Liz Sweeney. Some ofthem were in John Dalton Hall with me as well.

Nancy Hennekens HelgersonWisconsin, USA.

I am hoping to get in touch with a former studentfrom 1973 - my English partner exchange student,Elizabeth Bedford? She studied German and came toour college in Dortmund for one term.

Günter Plorin – Via email

I am trying to track down a former PGCE (PrimaryEducation) student from 1990. His name is SimonEvans and he was a year above me. I'd love to knowwhat's he's up to/where he's living. I'm contactablevia Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

Nicola Newman – Via email

If you can helpplease email: [email protected]

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Supporting yourUniversity

There are many ways alumni can support the University – and not all of them costmoney. Giving your time, sharing your experiences, recommending our students toyour employer – all of these can help future generations of Edge Hill students andgive you the chance to make a difference.

Inspire current students Show what can be achieved with an Edge Hill degree by sharing your experiences, you could offer valuable tips andpersonal insights to inspire current students to achieve.

Provide a profile or case study Your success stories are our success stories so let us know how your career is progressing. Alumni profiles help uspromote the value of an Edge Hill degree to prospective students and the wider public.

Support graduate employability Help students and graduates by using our website to advertise current vacancies at your company. You could also offerwork placements or volunteering opportunities to current students to improve their skills and enhance their CVs.

Be an ambassador Just by spreading the word about Edge Hill you are helping to support the future of the University. If you thought yourcourse was fantastic, tell people.

Update your details Help us keep our information up to date and make sure you don’t miss out on important communications.

Alumni Team, Edge Hill University, St Helens Road, Ormskirk, L39 4QP

t: 01695 584861e: [email protected]: edgehill.ac.uk/alumnif: facebook.com/ehualumnit: twitter.com/edgehill

Alumni Issue 6

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Transcript of Alumni Issue 6