University of Worcester Spirit Magazine Issue 4

UNIVERSITY of WORCESTER

Issue No.4 Autumn/WinterFREE TO ALL ALUMNI MEMBERS

Special graduation issue In this issue

Delving into the decadesBuy a BrickMake your name part of our city’s history at the Worcester Arena

HugeThe Worcester Arena

fundraising campaign aims to support success in sport

Each year, we organise the official University of Worcester Alumni Reunion for all our former students. It is a wonderful opportunity for our alumni to enjoy a relaxing day and reacquaint themselves with old friends and former colleagues.

Turn to page 16 to see more of the photos from the day and find out about next year’s reunion.

ReunionAlumni

Next year’s Alumni Reunion takes place on Saturday 9 July 2011

RSVP to the enclosed invitation so that we can confirm numbers for catering arrangements and other activities.

2 /Further information about alumni news and benefits can be found at www.worcester.ac.uk/alumni

On my recent visit to the University of Worcester I was delighted to be given a tour of the new City Campus on Castle Street. It was lovely to see this historic building carefully refurbished after so many years of being derelict.The University of Worcester has celebrated some excellent achievements this year, such as the training of its teachers rated as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted for the second time. The Vice Chancellor, Professor David Green, must be congratulated on the superb work he has undertaken and for the wonderful support he has given to alumni over the last three years, which is much appreciated.

As President Kennedy once famously said: “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” We may wish to reflect and consider – after benefiting from our time at Worcester – what we can do for the University? In this respect, I ask you to remember the ‘Making a Difference – Inspired for Life’ fundraising campaign, under which the Government will double every £1 donated through its Matched Funding Scheme until 31 July 2011. Read on for further details of the scheme, as well as other opportunities to contribute to the funding of University projects.

In July we welcomed back former students to the University for the third Alumni Reunion. It was fantastic to speak to many of you and I’d like to thank everyone who attended for putting in the effort and for making the event such a wonderful success. What’s more, at long last we had fine weather! I would like to thank Kate Moss, and Beth Heaney and her team for organising the event and activities. I would also like to thank the Alumni Forum team members for their help and support.

Season’s greetings to you all and I wish you the very best for the New Year.

Paul Deneen OBE JP DL President of the Alumni Association

1. Huge fundraising campaign page 6 2. Mementoes & Gifts page 9 3. Former student protects endangered wildlife page 12 4. Building futures in Nepal page 14

contentsAlumni Reunion 2Another academic year 4Former hospital is brought back to life 4A return to creativity 4Nigel Mansell makes a pitstop at the University of Worcester 5Archaeology students excavate prehistoric Shropshire site 5The University spends over £1.5 million on scholarships 6

The Worcester Arena Huge fundraising campaign 6Buy a Brick – Make your name part of our city’s history at the Worcester Arena 7

Memories of graduation 8Mementoes & Gifts 9

Where are you now? 19Alumni Careers Network News 20

Graduate entrepreneurs 20I’ll show you mine if you show me yours! 21Caption Competition 21Last issue’s winner was... 21

In memoriam 22

Donation Form 23

Delving into the decades 10

Former student protects endangered wildlife on Ascension Island 12Brother & sister reminisce about time at Worcester 13Couple celebrate 40 years of marriage after meeting at Worcester 13Building futures in Nepal 14

Healthy eating & recipes 15Alumni Reunion 2010 16

Invitation to Reunion 2011 17

COvER STORy

ALUMNI STORIES

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

ALUMNI NEWS

ALUMNI CAREERS

GRAdUATION NEWS

ALUMNI COMpETITION

IN MEMORIAM

FUNdRAISING

welcomeDear Alumni,to the autumn/winter issue of Spirit magazine.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Beth Heaney Alumni Relations and Development Officer

[email protected]

Dear Alumni,

This edition celebrates the graduation of our 2010 leavers and their evolution from student to alumni. We share with you some former students’ memories of their best times at University and their experience at graduation. For the first time in this magazine you can now order gifts for graduation, as well as alumni merchandise.

The University of Worcester has launched a buy-a-brick campaign, which gives our alumni the opportunity to add a special message to bricks which will form part of a commemorative wall at the University’s new Worcester Arena. All funds raised from the campaign will help to pay for the development. In July we enjoyed celebrating the annual Alumni Reunion in the sunshine and caught up with some friendly faces.

We have already started making plans for the next reunion. Your invitation is included, and we hope to see you there.

Now, we received some interesting Spirit feedback from you recently.

You said that you would like more stories on alumni news in the magazine. This issue, you’ll see that we have packed even more stories into the magazine about former students, where they are now and what they have done since leaving Worcester.

If you would like your story to be included in the next issue, please write to me at [email protected] or Communication & Development, University of Worcester, Henwick Grove, Worcester, WR2 6AJ.

I hope you enjoy the winter issue of Spirit. I look forward to speaking to you again in the New Year.

spirit / autumn / winter 2010 / 3

WELCOME

The sympathetic refurbishment of the former Royal Infirmary has taken just over two years to complete, breathing new life back into one of Worcester’s most historically significant buildings.

Both the Royal Infirmary and the adjacent Mulberry House will become innovative new homes for Worcester Business School and the University’s Wellbeing Centre.

The central location will present further opportunities for the University, helping the Business School to work closely and create new links with city-based firms. The Wellbeing Centre will become a new service offered to businesses, students and staff – providing sports therapy, counselling services, nutrition advice, health-related clinics and a gym for members.

The Royal Infirmary has been one of Worcester’s most important buildings for more than 200 years.

The original building was completed in 1770, with significant additions made throughout the Victorian era. In 1832 the British Medical Association, the first of its kind in the world and still the professional association and registered trade union for doctors today, was founded in the Infirmary’s boardroom. This milestone for world medicine will be commemorated as the boardroom is restored and opened to the community.

Mulberry House, adjacent to the Infirmary, was completed in 1898 and served as the doctors’ residence for many years.

Since the University of Worcester started work on the site in 2008, a number of unattractive modern additions have been removed to return the building to its original style. The restored Infirmary is now a dramatic fusion of old and new.

The City Centre Campus will link to the new Worcester Library and History Centre – the first joint public and university facility in Europe – construction of which is scheduled to be completed in 2012.

FOrmEr hOsPItAL Is BrOught

the university of Worcester opened the doors to its new City Centre Campus for teaching in september.

As another academic year starts and the autumn mists begin to swirl, it is timely to remind ourselves of the benefits of higher education and reflect on the pleasures we all had as students.

Universities are about personal and individual growth, as well as the acquisition of skills and professional qualifications. University life gives students both time to reflect and time to play.

Perhaps this is also the moment to think about how we can give something back to help future students. I would like to call on you, as alumni, to make a donation to the University, however small, to allow us to do things we could not otherwise afford to do. Your donations will benefit our current and future students, as well as the wider society in which we live.

Unlike many older universities which were founded by wealthy philanthropists, establishments like Worcester have no tradition of fundraising. However, donations make a huge difference to help us to inspire talented individuals.

There are many ways of helping. Elsewhere in Spirit, there is news about our recently launched fundraising project for the new Worcester Arena and the Buy-a-Brick campaign, which enables individuals, families or companies to buy a brick with a personal dedication. It is a lovely way to mark your time at Worcester. We also have a Buy-a-Book scheme, to help to make our library resources even better.

For those of you who have just graduated and are receiving awards in November, remember your time at the University with pleasure and give a donation, for the benefit of future students, whatever their backgrounds.

Thank you

back to life

A return to creativityin England’s primary schools is what is needed to produce the next generation of creative thinkers, according to two lecturers from the university of Worcester.Dr Robyn Cox and Julie Maclusky have teamed up to produce a teaching handbook to bring back creative writing in the classroom. “Creative writing is expanding massively,” said Mrs Maclusky. “More and more courses are becoming available in the creative industries and the future economy of this country is becoming more dependent on creative thinking. While the national curriculum has raised the scores of children in tests, the result has been that a generation

of pupils can now locate the verb in every sentence but have never written a poem or a story.”

The Primary National Strategies of the last 15 years have discouraged teachers to be creative in their teaching, thus hindering creativity in their pupils, say Dr Cox and Mrs Maclusky.

Instead, teachers have been driven to achieve pupil targets and standards, encouraging pupils to write to demonstrate that elements of their writing fit and exceed level descriptors and feed into SATs outcomes and school league tables.

Dr Cox added: “It is so important to foster creativity in children. Today’s

creative thinkers and writers are going to be tomorrow’s entrepreneurs and those that will drive this country forward.”

Creative Writing for Primary Schools: Delight, Entice, Inspire is an aid for teachers who want to nurture creativity in their pupils, and includes a mix of practical exercises that build a range of transferable skills and the theoretical background that will enable teachers to employ creativity within the modern, accountable classroom.

The pair said: “This book will provide a resource full of good ideas, jam-packed with do-able, exciting activities and supported by photocopiable templates.”

The book will be published in early 2011 by the Open University.

Professor Judith Elkin Deputy Vice Chancellor Emeritus


Formula 1 legend Nigel mansell OBE greeted fans at the university at the end of the third day of his Cycle Challenge in aid of uK Youth, during which he cycled 1,200 miles around the uK.

Despite having spent 10 hours on the road with an injury, the ex-Formula 1 champion posed for photographs and signed autographs for fans.

He arrived at the University with his cycling companions, sons Leo and Greg, and former Tour de France racer Magnus Backsted, in need of some attention from our sports injury therapists.

Vanessa Incledon, Associate Head of the Institute of Sport & Exercise Science, who welcomed Nigel and his team into the University, said: “We were delighted to have supported Nigel and his team of friends and family in their ride across Britain. Our Sports Therapy students were on hand to give massages to help the riders get back in the saddle and Two-O-Six physiotherapist Mindy Davey, based at the University of Worcester, treated Nigel’s hamstring strain. We wish them every success in their challenge, which is for a fantastic cause.”

As part of the welcome event, Mr Mansell and his fans were also given the chance to see the work of the University’s Motion & Performance Centre (MPC), which helps deliver breakthroughs in 3D motion analysis, providing support for teaching, research, and consultancy. There was also the opportunity to take part in activities such as heart rate monitoring, wobble boards to monitor balance and batak walls to check reaction timing.

Mr Mansell, also President of the UK Youth charity, is undertaking the challenge to promote the campaign ‘Positive About Youth’. The tour started at Kensington Palace, London and at Canary Wharf. Mr Mansell said:

I want people to realise that over one million children are not in education and employment. We are doing this for every kid in the country.

Nigel Mansell makes a pitstop at the University of Worcester

Around 100 weapons were found at the site, near Leintwardine in Shropshire, in the 1860s when workmen were installing drainage pipes. Most of the items are now in the British Museum.

The site has remained largely untouched since the discovery, and students from the University of Worcester, working with the Leintwardine History Society, have been helping to uncover its history.

Dr Jodie Lewis, Course Leader in Archaeology at the University and an expert in the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods, said: “Despite this being one of the largest hoards of Bronze Age spearheads found in Britain, little work has been carried out since. Preliminary investigations were carried out by the Leintwardine History

Society last year and their discoveries led them to call on Professor Richard Bradley of the University of Reading, Europe’s leading archaeological expert on Bronze Age metalwork deposition. Richard agreed more work was needed and contacted me to see if I wanted to run a joint project with him.”

The group opened several trenches including one in the area where the metalwork was found in the 19th century, and another trench over a large mound in an adjacent field.

They uncovered a number of pieces of flint dating back to around 6,000BC. Using specialist mapping equipment from the University, the students also discovered what appears to be a Late Bronze Age high status settlement.

Dr Lewis said: “During the Bronze Age the site where the metalwork hoard was placed seems to have been a bog or marsh. We know that at this time deposition in water was carried out across Europe – we think it was some kind of ritual act. The settlement may be contemporary with the metalwork deposition and related to communal gatherings associated with deposition. This was all happening in the Later Bronze Age, around 800BC.”

The artefacts found will now be analysed by experts and will eventually end up in a local museum. Dr Lewis said: “We will be analysing all our findings and preparing a report for publication in a peer-reviewed academic journal. We will have to go back to the ‘settlement’ site and monitor things and complete topographical surveys of the location too.”

Archaeology students excavate prehistoric Shropshire siteArchaeology students from the university of Worcester have been excavating the site of one of the largest hoards of Bronze Age spearheads ever found in Britain.


NEWS IN BRIEF

the university of Worcester launched its first ever fundraising campaign in June, kick-starting an 18-month plan to generate donations for the build of herefordshire & Worcestershire’s largest indoor sporting venue – the Worcester Arena. The University used its annual and nationally acclaimed Learning Through Sport event, which uses sport to promote education, to mark the new campaign.

The arena will be a brand new facility for the University of Worcester, capable of

hosting major sporting events and seating 1,500 people. It is being developed by the University as part of its commitment to the city and increasing participation in sport. The Worcester Arena will be available for the whole community to use and will be specially designed to cater for disability sports, enabling true inclusiveness.

There will be three basketball courts, which can be used simultaneously, and facilities for a wide range of other sports.

The changing rooms will be designed for disabled teams to use and the arena will also include treatment and first aid rooms, meeting and analysis spaces, a cafeteria with river view balcony and a hospitality suite. A dance studio, gym and classrooms will be located next to the

arena at the old car showroom site, which is also being redeveloped by the University.

The University of Worcester is giving people the opportunity to leave a permanent presence at the Worcester Arena by creating a personal or corporate message on a brick or stone which will be added to a special wall. The funds raised from the wall will help pay for the completion of the exceptional multi-purpose arena.

In the coming year, the University will be hosting a variety of events and encouraging our alumni, students, staff and the public to take part in challenges and activities to raise money for the Worcester Arena. The Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor David Green, has spearheaded the initiative by applying to take part in the Telford 10k run in aid of the Arena.

If you would like to buy a brick for the Arena wall, please complete the form on the opposite page.

A report released by the Office for Fair Access (OFFA) reveals that the University, the fastest growing in Britain, helped 2,145 students from lower income and other under-represented groups with a bursary or scholarship in 2008/09, 892 of whom were from the poorest backgrounds.

The total amount spent on bursaries and scholarships last year was £1.4 million. An additional £190,000 was spent on outreach and widening participation work in local schools and communities.

Vice Chancellor Professor David Green said: “We believe that everyone who has the potential to benefit from Higher Education should do so, no matter what their financial situation, and we are deeply committed to making this happen.

Places at universities across the country are going to be very hard to come by this year, and we must ensure that we do all we can to make Higher Education as accessible as possible.”

The University of Worcester has a universal bursary scheme for eligible students with a minimum of £500 a year available. These bursaries do not have to be paid back. Students from the lowest income households get bursaries of £770 a year.

There are also opportunities to get scholarships worth up to £1,000 for outstanding academic achievement or community volunteering work.

The University of Worcester relies on gifts from donors to support the scholarship and bursary scheme and welcomes financial contributions to enable a continued investment in students from lower income and under-represented groups.

on bursaries, scholarships

£1.5 million

and outreach work last year, new figures

have revealed.

the university spent more than

If you would like to make a one-off or regular donation to the University Scholarship and Bursary Fund, please fill in the form at the back of Spirit. Alternatively, if you would like to speak to someone for further information, call the Alumni Relations and Development Officer, Beth Heaney, on 01905 542273.

You can find out about other ways to support the Worcester Arena at www.worcesterarena.com or by contacting: Beth Heaney Alumni Relations and Development Officer on 01905 542273

HugeThe Worcester Arena

fundraising campaign aims to support success in sport


Please enter your details:

I enclose a cheque for £ ......................................................................................................(Please make cheque payable to University of Worcester)

Please charge my: Visa Switch/Delta Mastercard Name on card ....................................................................................................

Card number

CVV: (last 3 digits on back of card) .................................................................................. Expiry Date / Valid From / Issue Number

signature.................................................................................................................................

Name.........................................................................................................................................

Address .....................................................................................................................................................................................Postcode ....................................

Phone number ............................................................................................... Email .................................................................................................................

If you are a graduate of the University of Worcester:

Year of graduation.................... Course taken................................................... Occupation ..........................................................................................

gift Aid DeclarationI wish the University of Worcester to treat this and all other donations that I have made in the last six years, and all future donations, as Gift Aid donations until I notify you otherwise.

signature....................................................................................Date....................................The wall will be unveiled to the public in spring 2012.

Please return the completed form to: sponsor a Brick Campaign, Finance Department, University of Worcester, Henwick Grove, Worcester, WR2 6AJ.

Points to note • All bricks remain the sole property of the University of Worcester • The University reserves the right to approve all lettering and to refuse any application. In such cases, the University has no obligation to cite reason • It is envisaged that the bricks will be displayed at the arena site for a minimum of 10 years. In exceptional circumstances, the University reserves the right to move or relocate the bricks without liability• Although of excellent quality and designed to last, bricks may become worn or damaged over time owing to natural causes. No liability can be accepted for this by the University• The University will have complete control over the location and installation date of the bricks • Any amendments to the inscription provided on the order form must be done within seven days of receipt of the Certificate, thereafter the University is no longer responsible for the inscription. Amendments made within this deadline will be free if they are necessitated by an error on our part. However, if they involve a change from the original order, a reasonable amendment charge may be made• Orders will be handled on a first-come, first-laid basis • Your donation will be used to fund the cost of the brick with the remaining balance of the donation gifted to the Worcester Arena appeal. This balance of the donation over the cost of the brick will be eligible to be match-funded by HEFCE.

Choosing your stone There are several types to choose from – single (two lines) and double (four lines) brick wall slips or exclusive granite stones with an optional logo and your personal dedication. A maximum of 15 characters per line is given including spaces and punctuation on each.

select your brick wall slip style:

65x210mm – Two lines of 15 characters – £50

140x210mm brick – Four lines of 15 characters – £100 Blue lettering Silver lettering at an extra £10

300x300mm granite stone – Three lines of 15 characters, silver lettering and logo – £500

400x400mm granite stone – Three lines of 15 characters, silver lettering and logo – £1,000Please enter the text you would like to appear on your brick wall slip. Your text will be centred on your brick wall slip automatically – no need for you to add spaces:

Line 1:

Line 2:

Line 3:

Line 4:

For each brick you buy you will receive a certificate* for framing, confirming the wording of your inscription, which needs to be immediately checked by you on receipt. Images are representations only.

300x300mm

65x210mm

140x210mm

400x400mm

*The certificate will be sent to the person whose name is given in the payment details section of the application form. Any proposed amendments or changes to the inscription must be made by the purchaser within 7 days of receipt of the certificate.

Buy a BrickMake your name part of our city’s history at the Worcester Arenawww.worcesterarena.com

✁


COvER STORy

Memories of graduation


my graduation memoir by Dominic Crawford aged 43I remember it being a great day, I looked on it as something I would probably only do once, so I wanted to make the most of it. It was great to see mates from my course and strangely, I really enjoyed wearing the academic clobber. It seemed like material validation for all the midnight oil that had been burnt over my three years at Worcester.

However, my favourite memory of the day is of my parents. I was the first in the family to do the whole university thing, and as such, they were beaming. Although I was a mature student, I was still their boy and they were as proud as punch to see me graduate from university. My graduation photo with them is hanging up in their home and every time I visit it makes me smile.

From experience, here’s a tip: If you throw your cap in the air for the photographer, just make sure you pick up the right one from the heap.

my graduation memoir by Lucy robson aged 39I recall my graduation day as one of those beautiful crisp and sunny autumn days where the sunshine perfectly reflected the happy mood. I was incredibly proud to join my friends and family at the cathedral to celebrate our achievements in such an awe-inspiring setting. Before mounting the podium the only thing going through my mind was ‘I must not trip over, I must not trip over’. Thankfully I didn’t.

As my ceremony took place in the morning, I was able to keep the gown on all day and I greatly enjoyed the opportunity to flounce around in it to great effect. By the time of graduation I had already been working for a few months in Worcester city centre at Beatties department store. I vividly remember my pride in strolling down the high street in full regalia, gown billowing out behind me, and popping into the store for even more showing off to my new work colleagues.

Now working at the University of Worcester, it has been my good fortune to help out with recent graduation ceremonies, and the amazing feeling of pride and achievement the new graduates share with their loved ones still brings a lump to my throat.

my graduation memoir by richard rammell aged 27My graduation took place in a morning ceremony at Worcester Cathedral. It was a busy event with several hundred students graduating throughout the morning and families and friends attending. It’s special for all students to be watched by your family members when you graduate. My parents and granddad came and, as luck would have it, had seats alongside the Cathedral that perfectly faced my pew. My granddad is hard of hearing but in the Cathedral he could hear every word, although it didn’t stop him dozing off on several occasions throughout the ceremony! It was a bright November morning which was perfect for pictures outside. I had no idea what to expect from graduation, but there is a definite feeling of pride when you wear the cap and gown. The ceremony is a formal occasion and the Cathedral in all its grandeur makes the perfect setting.

I didn’t have tickets to the Graduation Ball, so several of my friends and I decided to celebrate graduation in Worcester city. I feared that this would be an anti-climax to the day, but it was a great atmosphere and a fitting last night to my time at Worcester. The evening was spent in a local nightclub with many other students who had just graduated, some of whom I had never met before. The day seemed a great balance between the traditional formal ceremony in the morning and the night spent celebrating.

since 1990, the university of Worcester has enjoyed a colourful

and impressive procession of academic

staff in their robes making their way

from the guildhall to Worcester Cathedral,

whereupon the university proudly hosts

its graduation Ceremony. here, former students

of the university of Worcester remember this momentous day.

University of Worcester gifts and mementoes will be available to pre-order before graduation at the following web address www.campusclothing.com/worcester and for the first time at graduation we will also have a stand with commemorative gifts for you to buy and take away the same day.

If you would like to place an order for a David Birtwhistle Graduation print, please email [email protected] call Beth Heaney, Alumni Relations and Development Officer, on 01905 542273, or write to Alumni Relations & Development Officer, University of Worcester, Henwick Grove, Worcester, WR2 6AJ.

Mementoes & Giftsremember your university years with commemorative clothing and merchandise

David Birtwhistle graduation ceremony prints

Card and envelope £3

Mounted print (315 x 400mm) £20


GRAdUATION NEWS

the 1950s marked the end of food rationing and the opportunity for

people to leave the trials of the 1940s behind. Car ownership more

than doubled, the first motorway, the m1, was built and the world

witnessed some great events, including the Coronation of Queen

Elizabeth II, the summit of mount Everest being reached by Edmund

hilary and Laika the dog becoming the first animal to travel into space.

The mid-50s saw the arrival of a new cult of clothing, music and style with the emergence of rock ’n’ roll and a fun new sense of fashion.

Delving into the Decades involves our former students recalling the community spirit

and student life at the City of Worcester Training College during the 1950s.

into theDelving

decadesmrs Anne Bulmer (née Davis), Arts & Crafts (primary and woodwork), 1953-55

I have so many memories of my time at Worcester. I remember some of the pranks that people used to get up to. One male student had a sports car and on my way to breakfast one morning I saw it was up on the flat roof of the dining hall. Mr Peirson was not amused. I also remember a motorbike – the pride and joy of another male student – was one day found, engine running, in the showers.

Jill marshall’s memories of the 1954 halloween Dance

Jill Marshall (née Roberts) studied Domestic Science during 1954-1957.

The sight of a goat relieving itself on the College hall dance floor may not be to everyone’s taste. In contrast to the times when the College farm’s billy goat, notorious for its smell, would be secretly imported into the College buildings as a student’s prank, this one had been carefully led in with good intent.

The occasion was the 1954 Halloween Dance when students, either in groups or as individuals, participated in fancy dress contests. The goat was the key figure in the Domestic Science 3’s prize entry depicting their answer to the then College milk deliveries controversy – two dairies, namely Bennett’s and Croft's, were then delivering milk to the College residential blocks. Perhaps there had been complaints from students disturbed each morning from 5am onwards by the sound of two lots of milkmen’s footsteps echoing along the main corridors. Bottles of milk rattled in metal crates as they walked, plus the sounds of the empties being collected and full ones being placed at the end of each corridor as per the notes of requests and pennies left out overnight. Be assured that in those buildings every sound travelled.

This source of Halloween Night inspiration resulted in a carnival procession featuring appropriately dressed milkmen cycling into the dance hall, riding milk delivery bikes with substantially sized billboards attached. One carried the slogan, ‘Bennett’s is Best’, the other one, ‘Croft’s is Creamier’.

Laughter broke out when the goat was carefully led in – already dropping its calling cards – with one of the group running behind mopping up. Domestic Science 3 placed bottles of milk in a row across the dance floor backed up by an even larger billboard captioned ‘Blow you Jack, I’m alright’. This was already a popular song title at the time which, from then on, became a College campus expression.

It was while the fancy dress judges were up on stage making their awards decisions that the goat decided that enough was enough and proceeded to empty what appeared to be a very full bladder. Mops and buckets were promptly brought into use. The goat was carefully taken home to the farm and suffered no ill effects.

I won the fancy dress prize for individual entries that evening with my carefully created flying saucer costume made from cornflake boxes and egg trays. The prize was a 15 shilling (75p) book token.

rosemary Chapman (née scattergood), secondary teacher training specialising in Biology and rural husbandry, 1955-57

The best years of my life were spent at Worcester. At the time most houses were cold and food was limited as rationing had only just ended. College was centrally heated and we were fed so wonderfully that at the Christmas dance I had to be sewn into my strapless dress!

Social life every day centred around the Dive where coffee or tea was available and huge plates of bread rolls with fillings were left out for general consumption.


The bread was homemade and the farm provided all sorts of extra delicacies.

The city had a large dance hall where big bands played. We were supposed to be in the girls block by 11pm and usually were, but if we went out late, one could climb in the window if the door was shut, as all of the bedrooms were on the ground floor.

It’s hard to believe today that the College was situated among fields, and Malvern Road back then was a quiet country lane.

Anne savage (née Pickering) studied Domestic science during 1955-1958

I arrived at the City of Worcester Training College at the end of September 1955 to embark on a three-year training course to teach Domestic Science.

The main entrance to the College was from Oldbury Road, with C Block (the women’s residential quarters, which have now been demolished) on the left, a field of Ayrshire cows on the right. It was also close to a wartime pill box to remind you of the Air Ministry History, tennis courts where the Peirson Library now sits and then, past the large expanse of lawn, was B Block – the main hub of the College where everything happened.

There was a farm at the College with a small milking herd of Ayshire cows, a small breeding and milking herd of goats, a few large pigs and a collection of rabbits and hens. All these provided some meat, milk and other produce for the College dining room and became part of my life for the next three years, as Domestic Science included some rural studies as well as cookery, needlework and housecraft.

Lectures were Monday to Saturday with sports afternoon on Wednesday. To satisfy my sporting needs I joined the Hockey Club and Badminton Club.

On Saturday nights the College held dances, which didn’t get going until the Wheatsheaf and the Crown closed, as the College didn’t have a bar. The music was ballroom, jive and the beginnings of rock ’n’ roll. The end of term dances at Christmas and Easter, and the Going Down Dance at the end of the year were all-night affairs with a live band.

There were light opera productions of the Mikado, HMS Pinafore and Ruddigore. The leading role in the latter production was played by the late Alan Jones, who went on to sing with the English National Opera under his stage name Richard Van Alan.

We had fun, we sweated and there were tears, but all in all, happy days culminating in a Certificate in Education and the passport to a teaching career. Lasting friendships and marriages were made.

My room mate from C Block and I are still friends – she was a bridesmaid at my wedding and our families have met every year since 1958 – 52 years of happy memories.

Alan hamilton BADPE and marlene hamilton (née Davies) recollect their time at the City of Worcester training College during 1956-58

Alan studied physical education and sociology while Marlene followed the infant/primary course.

We had a great time at Worcester – really enjoyable and memorable. Male students were housed in A Block and female students in C Block. In our first year the rooms accommodated two students; in the second year single rooms were available to those who wanted them.

On the first day of each term the College mini-bus, driven by Arthur, picked up students travelling from the north and the Midlands at Shrub Hill Station and took us to the College. One distinct memory for those travelling from the north was the temperature – it was warm – and in the spring the plants and hedgerows were much advanced compared with the northern climes.

Social life was great – coffee parties after dinner and good conversation in Ivy’s. Saturday night dances were a highlight of the week and well attended. We supported the Friday night folk dancing and Scottish country dancing run by Joan Russell.

The facilities for sport were very good with extensive playing fields and many tennis courts. I played football and basketball for the College teams and was a member of the athletics and gymnastics teams, while Marlene played for the hockey team. We were both in the cast of two dance and drama productions also run by Joan Russell. There was social cricket and rounders and my great friend Mick Matthews (who sadly passed away many years ago) and I hit golf shots on the playing field. Worcester City were, at that time, quite a successful southern league team and three of us trained with the club once a week and played occasional games for them.

We very rarely went into the city apart from watching county cricket at New Road and the occasional shopping trip or visit to the cinema. We had little money but with free accommodation, food and plenty of entertainment, College campus life was very full and most enjoyable.

There were many talented lecturers on the staff, a tribute to the recruitment policies of Ned Peirson, the principal. My main lecturers were Martin Roundall (PE) and the outstanding Jim Porter (Sociology). Joan Russell was a very gifted and inspirational teacher of dance. Marlene’s lecturers were Miss Stone, Miss Dodge and Miss Purser.

I couldn’t swim (there were very few swimming pools in the north east in the 1940s and 50s). As a PE student I had to learn, which I managed with the help of friends, in Worcester’s open-air freezing cold swimming pool during the late autumn months.

In our two years the Presidents of the Students̓ Union were Dick Newton and John Smith. There was a distinctive harmonious community spirit in the College and everyone seemed to be happy.

It was a pleasure to be part of the community and to mix with students from throughout England and South Wales. The influence of Ned Peirson was evident, especially as he took part in almost all interviews for students seeking a place at Worcester.

On completion of my studies at Worcester, I went to Carnegie College of Physical Education, Leeds. Marlene taught in Warwickshire and I joined her there following my graduation from Carnegie. Later, we moved to Northumberland.


COvER STORy

A former university of Worcester student has been scaling perilous cliff faces thousands of miles from home in a desperate attempt to save an endangered plant.

Olivia Renshaw is part of a team that has rediscovered and revived a fern, long thought to be extinct, in the tiny UK overseas territory of Ascension Island in the South Atlantic.

It has been a hazardous mission, involving twice-weekly expeditions down the knife-edge ridge of the wild southern slopes of Green Mountain, Ascension’s dormant volcano, to water and weed the patch.

“One of Ascension’s endemic ferns that was officially declared extinct on the IUCN Red List, and last seen in 1958, was rediscovered last year by my colleague Stedson Stroud,” Olivia explains.

“During the months that followed the rediscovery, Stedson and I climbed down a cliff face to take water to the five remaining plants of this species, the Ascension Island parsley fern. They were all very delicate and needed taking care of every week. Due to our efforts the plants survived long enough to produce spores. These were collected and there are now many more plants of this species growing on Ascension Island and at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew. This is a fantastic achievement – the fern has gone from extinct to now having a future, thanks to the hard work and dedication from all involved.”

Olivia moved to Ascension Island last year after seeing an advert for a horticulturist to help with the propagation and cultivation of its rare endemic plants. She is now the Assistant Conservation Officer on the Island.

Olivia joined the University of Worcester’s BSc in Horticulture in 2000, spending time studying at both Pershore College and at Worcester.

“I knew from an early age that I did not want a job where I was tied to a desk all day,” says the 28-year-old.

During the course at Worcester, Olivia spent a year working at Tatton Park National Trust property in her home county of Cheshire.

“I was employed as a gardener, which involved working in all weather conditions,” she adds. “The course provided me with a fantastic start to my career.”

After graduating, Olivia went on to study for a Masters degree at the University of Edinburgh, before working voluntarily at Cambridge, Birmingham and Kew botanical gardens.

Olivia’s work highlights the continued success and growing reputation of the University of Worcester’s Institute of Science and the Environment.

Former student

PrOtECts ENDANgErED WILDLIFE on Ascension Island

The course provided me with a fantastic start to my career


A couple who met as students at the university of Worcester, which was then known as Worcester College of Education, are celebrating 40 years of marriage this year.

Ron and Chris Rodgers (née Collingborn) were both training to be teachers in 1965 when they met at a dance.

“It was my second day at the College,” Chris said. “Ron was a third year and he asked me to dance.”

Ron, who came from Exmouth, studied Primary Education, History and Geography at the College while Chris, from Swindon, did Early Years Education, Sociology and Needlecraft. They now live in Cirencester.

“The College had a very good reputation,” Ron said, “So I was pleased to be accepted as a student. When I attended for interview everyone was so friendly.”

As a young couple dating on campus, Chris recalls how boys and girls lived in separate accommodation.

“The girls’ blocks were locked at 11pm,” she said. “No visitors of the opposite sex were allowed after 10pm. It was really funny thinking about it now, and I'm sure those rules were broken on occasions!”

The couple married in 1970 and went on to have two children. They both stayed in the teaching profession until retiring.

We have so many happy memories of Worcester,” Chris said, “especially as we met each other there.

The couple hope to attend the reunion again next July, and would be pleased to meet anyone who remembers them.

Couple celebrate 40 years of marriage after meeting at Worcester


ALUMNI STORIES

“Worcester had a very good reputation for early years,” says Georgina.

“I absolutely loved my time at Worcester and have very fond memories. It’s interesting to come back and see how it has changed and catch up with old friends. We would certainly enjoy meeting others from our cohort at future reunions and would love to get in touch through the alumni.”

She remembers the welcome received from other students both at interview and in the initial weeks of her training. She enjoyed the rural setting of the College – even if the cows woke you up!

“The teaching practices in rural areas sometimes presented difficulties if you needed to cycle, especially if your colleague could not ride a bike,”

she remembers. Finally, she recalls that although she enjoyed the subjects she studied and had a great social life, the best part of College life for her were the local schools in which she practised her teaching.

Four years later Georgina’s younger brother Philip followed in her footsteps, joining the University in 1972 to study as a geography teacher.

Philip was among the last cohort to receive his degree at Worcester from the University of Birmingham, before the Council for National Academic Awards (CNAA) took over the validations.

“I was aware that I was here at a time of change,” Phillip recalls. “You could not escape the changes taking place. It was really interesting.”

Philip was taught at St Barnabas Primary school in Portishead by one of Worcester’s first ever graduates, Christine Mallett. After graduating from Worcester, Phillip went on to teach at a primary school in Clevedon, where he spent 29 years.

“Worcester gave me a very good grounding for my career,” he adds. “But it was a very happy time as well. It’s been lovely to come back and share my memories. Things have changed so much here.”

Brother & sister reminisce

Phillip Baldwin studied as a geography teacher in 1972 and georgina Baker (née Baldwin) studied needlecraft at the university from 1965 to 1968 when it was a teacher training college, before graduating as an early years teacher.

ABOut tImE At WOrCEstEr

However, it wasn’t Tom Allen’s far reaching compassion or his unwavering values that initially sparked his involvement, but his love of the beautiful game.

Many might see retirement as a time when they can put their feet up, a well deserved rest for all those years of hard work. But Tom sees things a bit differently. After recently retiring, he is back in the school yard trying to pair British primary and secondary schools with those in Nepal.

Tom became involved in 1992, when Howard Green, Chairman of The Pahar Trust, contacted him regarding a Grimsby Town Football Club programme from the 1950s. Reading Howard’s position on the letter, Tom was intrigued. A postal conversation ensued and Tom quickly became interested in the work of the trust, which helps build schools in the most remote mountainous regions of Nepal.

After successfully pairing his former school, Matthew Humberstone Comprehensive in Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire,

Tom was made trustee of the Pahar Trust. The 64-year-old former coach of the 1968 Worcester College of Education Football Team now oversees the charity, which currently works with 18 different partnership schools from across the UK.

It was a real honour to be made Trustee of The Pahar Trust. It is a real joy to work for such a good cause,

Tom says.“The benefits for the children and staff of both the Nepalese and UK schools are vast. I have recently been busy developing a series of lesson plans and shared projects for a booklet that is available to all those taking part in the scheme.”

The trust itself was established by two ex-servicemen of the Brigade of Gurkhas, Tom Langridge MBE and Chandrabahdur Gurung, who both served as Warrant Officers in the Queen’s Gurkha Engineers. Both men wanted to help improve the poor standards of education found in Nepal’s mountain

regions. Since the first school in the village of Pokhari Thok was completed in 1991, 49 other schools have now been built with the help of the charity, with several other construction projects currently under way.

Although each project has a team of professional artisans funded by the Pahar Trust, the work is very labour intensive due to the difficulties of sourcing materials in remote areas of the country. For this reason, the villagers themselves provide the labour necessary for collecting and carrying building materials. For example, in a typical school, villagers will have to produce over 25 tonnes of aggregate using only simple hand tools. However, the construction is of the highest quality, using only local materials that adhere fully to Forestation Management and Conservation guidelines.

BuildingFuturEs IN

NepalJust when he thought it was all over, a retired teacher and former teaching Practice student is helping to ensure that deprived children in remote himalayan regions of Nepal receive the education they deserve.

photos Chris Hughes

To find out more about how you or your school can get involved visit www.pahar-trust.org or email them at [email protected]



Carrot and lentil soup (Serves one to two)Ingredients ■ ½ cup of red lentils■ 1 onion■ 4-5 carrots■ 5 cups of vegetable stock (you can use a stock cube)■ Coriander and parsley (optional)■ Seasoning

Method■ Rinse half a cup of red lentils and put in a large saucepan with the sliced onion and sliced carrots, five cups of vegetable stock and a teaspoon of ground coriander (optional). ■ Stir, season and bring to the boil. ■ Lower the heat, cover and simmer gently until the lentils are cooked. ■ Add three tablespoons of chopped parsley (optional) and cook for a little longer. ■ You can leave the soup chunky or purée it in a blender or food processor, return to the pan to reheat, and thin with a little extra water (if needed) before serving.

Good for youLentils are an ideal food for weight management. One cup of lentil contains just 230 calories, 0.4 grams of fat and 0 grams of cholesterol. They are also high in iron, protein and fibre, which can help in lowering cholesterol and managing energy levels. Carrots are a good source of fibre, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin K, biotin and potassium.

Justine Bold, a lecturer on our msc Nutritional therapy course, has created a couple of winter warming recipes to provide you with a good variety of nutrients, helping your body to stay healthy in these colder months. The University of Worcester offers an undergraduate course in Human Nutrition BSc (Hons) and a postgraduate course in Nutritional Therapy MSc. If you would like to find out more, please visit www.worcester.ac.uk

eating& recipesHealthy

Vegetable pasta with pesto

(Serves one to two)

Ingredients

■ 2 carrots

■ 1 potato

■ A handful of frozen peas

■ 1-2 tablespoons pesto sauce

■ 1/4 of a packet of cooked pasta

Method

■ After washing the carrots and the potatoes,

peel the carrots and put them together with the

potatoes in a pan, cover with water and cook for

about 20 minutes. ■ Meanwhile, you can cook

the pasta according to the cooking instructions

on the packet. ■ When the potatoes and the

carrots are cooked, keep the stock to make a

sauce later. ■ Chop the potatoes and carrots into

cubes add them to the cooked pasta together

with the frozen peas. ■ In a saucepan, melt the

butter on a low heat then add the flour slowly,

whisking continuously until they are mixed well.

■ Gradually add the vegetable stock (reserved

after cooking the potatoes and carrots) and

keep whisking until you have a sauce. ■ Add this

sauce to the pasta mix, then add the pesto sauce,

season to taste and mix them all together. ■ For

a finishing touch, you could also add some grated

Cheddar cheese or herbs.

Good for you

This food is low

in saturated fat

and very low in

cholesterol. It is also

a good source of

dietary fibre, thiamin,

riboflavin, niacin,

iron, magnesium and

phosphorus and a

very good source of

vitamin C, vitamin

K, potassium, copper

and manganese.

■ 2-3 chopped sun dried tomatoes (optional)

■ 1 tablespoon butter

■ 1 tablespoon flour

■ Approximately 1 cup of vegetable stock

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Invitation to Reunion

2011

The University of Worcester provided a lively reunion event for its former students. Parents and children took part in some of the extra activities put on this year, including Kwik Cricket, Golf Swing Analysis and Inflatable Penalty Shoot-out while Donna Whitehouse (1996) and Matt Broxholme (2004) correctly identified all five pieces of evidence in the mock murder crime scene set up by our forensic lecturers.

Many of you enjoyed the delicious home reared hog roast from Elmore Farm Foods, as well as the complimentary refreshments and afternoon cream teas provided by the University.

Here's a selection of pictures to give you a flavour of the day.

ReunionAlumni

CAmPus WOrCEstEr – Stay a while in Worcester…The University of Worcester offers excellent facilities all year round, and over 1,000 bedrooms, many en suite, from June through to September each year. You can choose to stay on our St John’s campus, set in idyllic leafy parkland surroundings, or our brand new City Centre campus built to the highest specification. We offer a 10% discount to our alumni for accommodation and room hire. To find out more call 01905 855300 or visit www.worcester.ac.uk/conferencing


Invitation to Reunion

2011rsVPi would like to attend the university of worcester annual alumni reunion – saturday 9 July 2011 at 2pm

name(s) ..........................................................................................................................................

course taken and year of graduation .........................................................................................

address ...........................................................................................................................................

contact telephone number .........................................................................................................

Have you attended a reunion before, if so, which year? .........................................................

Once we have received your RSVP we will be in touch to confirm receipt, go through your requirements and take payment if you have pre-booked any of the following optional extras.

Quantitycold finger buffet and soft drinks ............... at £10 per head = £..................

three course evening meal, including wine ................. at £28 per head = £..................

Bed & Breakfast accommodation in st John’s Halls of residence

Please reserve ............... single room(s) at £25 per night

............... single room(s) en suite starting from £27 per night

............... double room(s) en suite at £46 per night

Please return your rsVP to: Beth Heaney, Alumni Relations and Development Officer University of Worcester, Henwick Grove, Worcester, WR2 6AJ.

The University of Worcester and

Alumni Association Annual Reunion

saturday 9 July 2011

enjoy an afternoon catching up with past and present friends and take part in a

variety of activities for the family at the university of worcester.

welcome drinks will be served to the sounds of the worcester swan theatre jazz band followed

later by afternoon cream teas. if you wish to attend, please tear and return the

rsVP (right) to Beth Heaney, alumni relations and Development officer, university of

worcester, Henwick road, worcester, wr2 6aJ.

✁


ALUMNI NEWS


w w w. r o c k l o b s t e r j e w e l l e r y . c o m



ALUMNI CAREERS

What made you choose to study your course?

It was two things really. I was always interested in people and what motivates us to do the things we do. Secondly I wanted a course that I was genuinely engaged with, so that studying was not a total drag but rewarding.

Describe your time at university of Worcester

All the clichés, the best time of my life, two of my closest friends are guys I was with at Worcester. The College was small then, so you knew pretty much everyone. The Dive lived up to its name in those days, but we loved it. I also had fun helping to run nights for the SU.

What did you do after graduation?

I initially went home to Devon and then I took a chance on a three-month short term contract in London working at a small advertising agency through someone I met at Worcester. I worked my way up at some bigger agencies running accounts for Muller Yogurts, McVities and Holsten Pils among others. I was in London a total of 14 years before I was transferred by my then company to New York in 2007.

What made you decide to become an Account Director in advertising?

I always wanted to do something that involved the creative process. I had done Art, Music and Drama at school and I was also interested in how brands are able to persuade people to buy things. I was reasonably confident and good on my feet so wanted to find a career where I could bring all those passions together.

Who has really inspired you?

Lots of people I’ve worked with, probably my first boss who pushed me to get on, work abroad and not settle for anything other than the best. From College days it would have to be Jan Francis-Smythe.

What has been your biggest challenge?

A couple spring to mind. Moving to London on no promise and no money. Losing my job (which is common in advertising due to the economic pressures on marketing in a recession), then bouncing back. Moving to New York was actually easy after London.

What has been your biggest achievement?

Seeing as I grew up in a small fishing town in South Devon and now I am looking out of my apartment at the Empire State building, it has to be coming to this amazing city to work and live.

have you received any awards you would like to tell us about?

No, but I would win the gold medal for being stubborn...

What advice would you give to graduates wanting to do something similar?

Well, the first thing is that if you really want to do something you have to be totally single-minded about it. There was a careers teacher who told me that no one from the College had ever made it into the world of advertising. That actually helped me focus and realise that I would need to take some risks and dedicate myself to getting in. So I guess a total commitment to getting a job in advertising, taking anything you can (I made tea for at least three months) and going for it.

has your degree, or your experiences at the university of Worcester, had any particular impact on your decision to be in advertising or your life in general?

Totally. I had some excellent teachers; Alan How was great and especially helped with my dissertation on advertising. He encouraged me greatly. I gained some fantastic insights into consumer behaviour that has served me well since. Plus, I have some top friends and some amazing memories.

Name: Leigh Baker Course of study: BA(Hons) Social Science

(social psychology and sociology) Year of graduation: 1993

Occupation: Group Account Director for a leading advertising agency in New York

Where are

Fourteen out of every 15 Worcester graduates found work within six months of graduating last year – despite entering the jobs market in the middle of the worst recession for 70 years and in a region that was hit hardest by job losses.

Worcester is ranked joint sixth across all of England’s universities for graduate employment. The figures, released by the Higher Education Statistics Authority (HESA) show that the University’s employment rate was 93% for 2008-09 leavers, well above the national average of 89.9%, and the highest across the West Midlands’ universities. It beat the likes of University College London, Oxford and Manchester universities and is the best performing university in the whole of the west of England.

Professor David Green, Worcester’s Vice Chancellor, said: “We are delighted, but not surprised, that Worcester graduates have fared so well, despite the economic crash. Our graduates have the specific skills, abilities and work ethic needed to build a strong economy and society. They are one of the very brightest parts of the country’s future.”

Worcester is the fastest growing university in the country with applications trebling in the last seven years. It offers a wealth of part-time, flexible and full-time course opportunities, to help people of all ages and backgrounds take their first steps into university study.

The University secured additional places for September for high

achieving students in biological and environmental sciences and computing, thanks to success in two national competitions for student places.

Professor Geoffrey Elliott, Director of Regional Engagement at the University, said: “Eighty per cent of our graduates remain in the West Midlands region, demonstrating the importance of the University to the local economy. It is also noteworthy that the figures demonstrate more graduates entering employment with small companies of less than 50 employees, than larger companies.”

He added: “We are committed to ensuring all of our graduates are equipped with the right skills, and the support needed, to find employment when they leave here.”

Last year the University of Worcester launched the country’s first salaried graduate internship scheme to help graduates find work. The scheme is supported by local firms and the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, and offers graduates from any university the chance to find paid employment while studying for a postgraduate qualification. It has won accolades from the CBI, TUC, National Union of Students and government for its innovative, practical approach to tackling the recession.

A number of the graduates who are now coming to the end of their internship have secured employment as a result of the scheme. New internships are now being advertised. For more information visit www.worcester.ac.uk

Alumni CareersNetwork News grADuAtE

ENtrEPrENEursbacked by new alumni networkWith graduate careers uncertain, a new alumni network sets out to rekindle budding entrepreneurs’ hopes of starting their own businesses.

The Entrepreneurial Alumni Network (EAN), set up by the University of Worcester’s Business Development Office, will help members access a range of professional support services and funding.

The news comes after the Universities Minister, David Willets MP, called for students to re-think the traditional graduate career, urging them to start up their own businesses.

Members of the EAN network will receive access to expert advice, mentors and coaches, invitations to Enterprise Hub and EAN events, business support contacts and the chance to apply for start-up and intellectual property grants.

Graduates should feel optimistic about their future prospects, with entrepreneurship being an alternative avenue to explore,

said Katherine Jones, Head of Enterprise.

“Small businesses remain the life-blood of the British economy and the EAN network aims to keep this tradition alive by supporting students after they have graduated, either by helping those thinking about starting their own business or supporting those that have already done so.”

The EAN network is open to all University of Worcester graduates, past and present. For further information about the EAN network please contact Katherine Jones, Enterprise Manager, 01905 855556, [email protected]

graduates leaving the university of Worcester are among the most likely in the country to find employment, new figures have revealed.


since the last issue of Spirit, we have received more pictures of days gone by, which have been kindly donated by our alumni. Mrs Thomas (née Sherlock) (1950-1952) has given the alumni department some fantastic photos showing the old University grounds and outings with friends. Here is a snippet of the selection, but if you would like to see more, please go to our web page www.worcester.ac.uk/alumni and select ‘Pictures from the past’.

I’ll show youmine

Last issue’s winner was...

“these lads from rural science don’t look as if they know their onions.” John Fernie

if you show meyours!

caPtion comPetition

Entries will be judged on their humour and originality. Winners will have their comical caption published in the next issue of Spirit and on the new and improved web pages.

To enter, email [email protected] and don’t forget to put

‘Caption Competition’ as your subject. You can also enter by post; just send your entry to

‘Caption Competition’ Alumni Office University of Worcester Henwick Grove Worcester WR2 6AJ.

Can you think of a witty one-liner to caption this photo?

We would still love to see the best of your photos. If you would like to share them with us, please email your images to [email protected] or send them by post to ‘My Photos’, Alumni Office, University of Worcester, Henwick Grove, Worcester, WR2 6AJ


ALUMNI COMpETITION

In memoriam

Colin Crampton (1951-2010)It is with great

sadness that we inform you of the

sudden loss of Colin Crampton.

Colin was the consummate lecturer with a specialist interest in cognitive and conceptual psychology. He had written many articles, both for academic colleagues and students, on these topics.

Colin was popular with students, who loved his lectures and his enthusiasm for his subject, despite the difficulty and complexity of some of the topics. He would always be there to help both colleagues and students alike and on many occasions would stand in at short notice to assist colleagues in need.

Colin was a master of many arts, an accomplished chef, marathon runner, gardener and linguist.

He was a friend and colleague to many in Bredon over the 10 years he served the University of Worcester before retiring in 2009. Colin will be remembered for his exuberance, his kindness and dedication. He was well liked and respected, and will be sorely missed by his family, colleagues and friends.

Colin Crampton Senior Lecturer, Psychological Sciences, University of Worcester

Ronnie Kowalski (1949-2010)It is with deep regret that we inform you that Dr Ronnie Kowalski passed away at his home in Worcester on 22nd July 2010 after a long struggle with cancer.Ronnie was a graduate of the University of Glasgow who taught in the History Department at the University of Worcester from 1979 until his retirement in 2009. Throughout his career at Worcester, Ronnie taught on a wide range of courses ranging from his research specialisms in the history of modern Europe to, in recent years, the history of popular music. Within the broader historical community, Ronnie was best known for his highly regarded published work on the Russian Revolution and on the history of Communism in Europe. His grasp of the Russian language, along with

his expertise in the history of the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, led him to collaborate with Dil Porter on research into Moscow Dynamo’s famous British tour in 1945 and into the significance of Hungary’s victories over England in 1953 and 1954. More recently, Ronnie published articles on the relationship between sport and national identity in Scotland and was engaged in writing a comparative history of totalitarianism.

Former students of Ronnie will recall the inspirational nature of his teaching, as well as his larger than life character. He was passionate about history and sport, and was a long-suffering supporter of his home town club St Mirren, referring to their old ground at Love Street as his chosen ‘theatre of suffering’. He will be much missed by his many friends and colleagues and by his daughters, Anna and Helen, who nursed him through his final days.

Dr ronnie KowalskiSenior Lecturer, History, University of Worcester



FUNdRAISING

In memoriamDonation Form Appeal code: SP

Regular Gift i would like to give:

£100 £50 £25 £10 £5

other:

Per month/quarter/year via direct debit

starting on the (month) (year)

Instruction to your bank or building society to pay by direct debit

to: the manager (bank name):

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name(s) of account Holders:

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Please pay the University of Worcester direct debits from the account detailed in this instruction subject to the safeguards assured by the Direct Debit Guarantee. I understand that this instruction may remain with the University of Worcester and, if so, details will be passed electronically to my Bank/Building Society.

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i enclose a cheque for: £ (Please make cheque payable to University of Worcester)

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Gift AidYour gift is worth more than ever before thanks to the Government’s matched-Funding scheme. until 31st July 2011, the Government will match every £1 given to the university of worcester with £1. when added to Gift aid, this could increase the value of your gift by over 100%.

Gift £100Gift aid £28Government match £100total value £228

name:

address:

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If you are a graduate of the University of Worcester: Year of Graduation:

course taken: occupation:

you make between now and 31 July 2011the impact of any donation

We can

double

✁

Gift Aid DeclarationMake your gift go furtherthe university of worcester can reclaim basic tax on all gifts provided that you have paid an amount of uK income tax or capital gains tax equal to or higher than the tax we reclaim. this means that every £1 donated is worth £1.28. Donors who pay a higher rate of tax are able to reclaim the difference between the higher rate and the basic rate in their self- assessment return – bringing the cost of your gift down to less than £0.77 pence in the pound while still making the gift worth £1.28 to the university of worcester.

i wish the university of worcester to treat this and all other donations that i have made in the last 6 years, and all future donations, as Gift aid donations until i notify you otherwise.

signature Date

all donations will be directed towards the projects and activities where they are needed most unless you wish to specify one of the following options:

university of worcester campus & course Development Fund

university of worcester student scholarship Fund university of worcester endowment Fund

the worcester arena Buy a book

other (please specify)

request further information about:

Leaving a gift to the university in my will Buy a Brick for the Worcester Arena

(NB: As the University of Worcester is an exempt charity, your bequest will be given free of tax and could reduce the amount of Inheritance Tax payable by your estate.)

Please seek independent tax advice. The University of Worcester is an exempt charity under Schedule 2 of the Charities Act 1993.

thank you for donating to the university of Worcester

Please return the completed form to Finance Department, university of worcester, st John’s campus, Henwick Grove, worcester, wr2 6aJ.

i require further information about Fundraising and endowment at the university of worcester. Please contact me

Please detach the Direct Debit guarantee form and keep for your records

Direct Debit Guarantee• This Guarantee is offered by all Banks and Building Societies that take part

in the Direct Debit Scheme. The efficiency and security of the Scheme is monitored and protected by your own Bank or Building Society.

• If the amount to be paid or the payments date changes, the University of Worcester will notify you ten working days in advance of your account being debited, or as otherwise agreed.

• If an error is made by the University of Worcester or your Bank or Building Society, you are guaranteed a full and immediate refund from your branch of the amount paid.

• You can cancel a direct debit at any time by writing to your Bank or Building Society. Please also send a copy of the letter to the University of Worcester.

www.worcester.ac.uk

university of WorcesterSt John’s Campus, Henwick Grove, Worcester, WR2 6AJ

This magazine is printed on material obtained from a managed sustainable forestry source.

To find out more about the University’s policy on sustainability, please visit www.worcester.ac.uk

University of Worcester Spirit Magazine Issue 4

Documents

Transcript of University of Worcester Spirit Magazine Issue 4