Venta 11 - University of Winchester

venta
The Winton Club - University College Winchester’s Alumni Association
Issue 11 - Summer 2004
Style Legend
Sir Terence Conran at West Downs
Alumni Go Live!
Broadcasters & DJs hit the airwaves
Ice Dancers Ria and Mary
join the British Team
King Alfred’s is Reborn!
Dear Alumni …
Welcome to the very first Venta under the auspices of
University College Winchester! The alumni office has
been busier than ever this quarter with many calls, letters
and emails from all of you.
There are many exciting changes afoot here – not only do
we have a new dedicated Alumni Officer, Eleanor
Balson, who started on 1st June - but Professor Chris
Turner, Vice Principal (Academic) has taken a lead on
the College’s Development Campaign and will be
focussing on reinvigorating alumni support.
"Cementing our links with past students is a key way of
ensuring King Alfred’s history and University College
Winchester’s future move in harmony," says Chris.
"We’re looking at phasing in an increased number of
alumni events."
Ideas in the pipeline include a dinner in London just
before Christmas; and events in Japan and America.
If you’re in the Class of ’94
watch out for the post this
month! Invites will be going
out shortly for the Summer
Reunion Ball on September 18.
Finally, enjoy the fine English weather and remember to
keep in touch – Venta needs you!
Jayne Sambrook Smith
Editor
Our Cover: Taking off the wraps... College
minibus gets a makeover ready for the launch of
University College Winchester
Contents
The Ultimate in Good Taste
Food and style giant, Sir Terence Conran celebrated the 40th Birthday of Habitat
recently by delivering the latest College Enterprise Lecture at the West Downs Centre.
Features
3 Dawn of a new era: The launch of
University College Winchester
5 Ice Dancers, Ria and Mary join
British team in Croatia
6 The Bard – US style
7 The Best of British Tourism
8-9 Watch out Joe Public …
Alumni Go Live!
10 Grand headstart for Wandsworth
11 Jane’s very own Garden of Eden
12 Tolkien of Thanks? Harry thinks not…
12-13 Andover pupils AimHigher
15 Happy Ending for Slave Narrative
His talk, entitled "A Style of Life – Improving
Lives through Design" was sponsored by Business
Link Wessex and attracted a high level of interest
amongst the local business community and general
public as well as students and staff at the College.
Terence Conran founded the Habitat chain of
stores that brought modern design within reach of
the general population.
"I was scared stiff the day the doors opened," he
laughed. "Although it was forty years ago to this day,
I still remember it vividly. I knew nothing about
retailing … I was just doing things I liked and that my
friends liked. I was bowled over by the response!"
Regulars
14 In Memory of …
16 Blast from the Past!
16 Desperately Seeking
Contact Venta:
The Alumni Office
University College Winchester
Hampshire SO22 4NR
T: (01962) 827403
F: (01962) 827548
E: [email protected]
Luckily for him, his flatpacked furniture, most
unusual in those days, appealed to the new ‘instant
gratification’ generation. Through the merger of
Habitat and Mothercare and the subsequent
additions of Richard Shops, Heal’s, British Home
Stores and Blazer, Sir Terence created the retail
group Storehouse.
"In the 1990s I went on to become Chairman of
Conran Holdings, the parent company of the retail
and restaurant businesses, and also Chairman of
Conran & Partners, an architecture and design
practice," he explained. He outlined recent
projects that have included the Ark Hills Club in
Tokyo, Rex Bar in Iceland, the Fitzwilliam Hotel in
Dublin and the Ocean Terminal in Edinburgh.
“I knew nothing about retailing…
I was just doing things I liked
and that my friends liked.”
Detailed slides were shown and some insight was
given into the exciting world of design.
The evening concluded with questions from the
floor, which Sir Terence clearly enjoyed, followed
by drinks in the gallery.
"From the Festival of Britain through Habitat to his
current work Terence Conran has shown how
creativity changes lives and societies," said College Vice
Principal, Professor Chris Turner. "We were delighted
to be able to welcome him to King Alfred’s.".
When I applied to become Principal of King
Alfred’s College in 2000, I was asked for a ‘five year
vision’ of what the College would become. I said
amongst other things that by 2005 the College
would have become a University College and would
feel itself ready to assume full University title. I
think we are on track for this.
University College Winchester is a new name which
recognises our new achievement in being able to
award our own degrees at both undergraduate and
MA level for the first time in our history. It also of
course signals rather more clearly than before
exactly where we are – Winchester is a very
important part of the College’s identity.
The Diocese of Winchester and the Cathedral are
also important parts of the College’s history, of
course, and we have sought in our new logo to
mark that continuity and connection with the
Cathedral.
As far as University title is concerned, it may not be
far off. We are clear in our aspiration to become the
University of Winchester, but we are presently
hampered by some government prevarication. This
The evolution of a logo
A lot of creative people have been working flat out
over the last few months in order to come up with a
striking new identity for University College Winchester.
The logo had to be able to be reproduced easily both
in electronic form as well as in black and white on
copier paper.
"The development of the new logo has been quite an
evolutionary process," explained John Kay from
Linney Group. "We have worked very closely with the
College to ensure the right overall image is achieved in
the end."
"Our breakthrough came when the Principal
suggested we look at designs based on Winchester
Cathedral in order to establish a strong sense of place
as well as history for the new University College," said
John.
Initial ideas included the modernising of the original
heraldic shield with cross keys. Then a simpler cross
hatching design was tried out. Even a 3-d look was
explored with the working name, ‘anemone’!
"Leon Dufour in Student Recruitment & Marketing
had already put together an illustrative image of the
Cathedral’s West Front for us. Our artists then
produced sketches for the final logo."
3.
Meanwhile we take great pleasure in adopting the
title of University College Winchester and hope
that you will feel as proud of us as we feel of
ourselves.
Paul Light, Principal
Changing Times for
King Alfred Campus!
Local alumni may have seen the publicity which
accompanied the "birth" of the new institution.
The official launch of University College Winchester took
place while this publication was at the printers. Events
included an academic procession from Wolvesey to the
College Chapel. Following a Service of Celebration, there
was an official reception at the West Downs Centre. A few
days later there were informal celebrations for staff and
students (timed carefully to coincide with the traditional
drink the bar dry event!). Hopefully, there’ll be pictures of
all the highlights in the Christmas edition of Venta!
The main celebratory event for alumni is likely to be a preChristmas dinner in London so please watch the post for
further details. If you’ve got any ideas of how you’d like to
mark the change or would like to get involved organising
the event please contact Eleanor Balson our new alumni
officer on the contact details opposite.
2.
4.
is understandable while the Higher Education Bill is
going through the House, but we hope that the
pathway towards full University title will be opened
for us quite soon.
Former students naturally have an affection for the "Alfies"
name – and to maintain a sense of continuity with the past,
the main campus has been re-named the "King Alfred
Campus." This distinguishes it from the West Downs
Campus which newer alumni will recognise as the home of
the ever-popular student village.
Elements of design:
1.
Venta - Edition 11 - Summer 2004
The dawn of a new era…
3
5.
In the meantime we hope you enjoy reading the enclosed
souvenir brochure which we have produced to mark the
event. Who knows you may even spot yourself in some of
the pictures!
Dancemaster
brings sense of
‘living history’
Venta - Edition 11 - Summer 2004
4
Namron, a dancing legend, took time out of his
busy schedule of rehearsals to visit the dance studio
at the King Alfred campus recently.
The Jamaican-born dancer, who was a founder
member of London Contemporary Dance
Theatre, founder tutor at Northern School of
Contemporary Dance at Leeds and Phoenix
Dance’s first Rehearsal Director, led a series of
workshops on a variety of techniques for dance
students.
As well as teaching double work and partnering
skills to a group of third year students, Namron
spoke at length to first years about his involvement
in the beginnings of contemporary dance in
Britain.
"He has been inspirational," said Paul Jackson,
leader of the dance programme at the College.
"Students can read about the sixties in books but
Namron was actually there in the midst of it all.
Now they know how contemporary dance came
into being from the master himself."
SAFE PRACTICES. Dance virtuoso, Namron advises
third year dance student Nichola McLaren the best
way to lift her partner, fellow student Victoria
Sigournay.
College workout -
UP AND RUNNING!
University College Winchester has opened its
newest facility to promote healthy living on
campus! Following a well-attended preview day,
the Fitness Suite, situated in the Human
Movement Centre adjacent to the Sport’s Hall,
opened its doors for students and staff in March.
CPA subject administrators, Elaine Jakeman, Lesley Wood,
Kate Smith and Heather Dearing were amongst the first
members of staff to test out the new equipment. They
were put through their paces by the new Sports Facilities
Manager, Oliver Vincent together with Sports Recreation
Assistants, students Sean Davies and Jon Rhodes.
College Rugby Revisited:
Hampshire 7s Champions
David Hardy (Certificate in Education 19611964) wrote to Venta earlier this year from
Canada, asking if anyone at the College
remembered the historic achievement set
by his former College rugby team. David,
who is now a Teaching Supervisor in the
Education Department at McGill University
in Montreal, says the team shared in a
record that was second-to-none.
"The 1961/1962 team never lost a match in 28 tries,
winning 27 of those 28 – the other one was a 0-0
draw," he recalled. "They were one of the only two
UK teams that year to be unbeaten for the whole
season, the other team being from Wales. They were
the start of a great record over my three years at
KAC in which only five games were lost.
"They beat all the teams in Hampshire with the
exception of Havant, Basingstoke, Winchester and
the Trojans – they did not play against student sides,
we were told! One of the team went on to play for
England and the British Lions (R B Taylor) and
several others went on to play top-class rugby after
College.
"In addition to being successful at 15-a-side, 1961
was the start of KAC winning the Hampshire 7s
Tournament four years in a row - we lost in the final
in the fifth year. Over my three years, many of the
players also represented Hampshire in
representative rugby games against other countries.
"The KAC 1961-1962 rugby team was as follows:D Hardy; P Brown; D Johnstone; R Iverson; R hind;
D Smith; C Woods; R Hooper; D Scourfield; R
Hailwood; R B Taylor; M Towle; G Jones; A
Henderson; D Lewis (Captain)
"This was an exceptional team, thrown together
purely by chance, that represented the College well
at a time when there were only 420 students (men
and women) and there were also very successful
field hockey and football teams.
"When they all had home games the Bar End Sports
Field was the place to be!"
5
Venta - Edition 11 - Summer 2004
College on ice!
Ria and Mary join
British team in Croatia
Ice dancers Ria Purser and Mary Durell returned in April from Zagreb, Croatia where they had been
competing in the Synchronised Skating Senior World Championships.
Ria and Mary, both 21 year old sports studies
students are part of the Basingstoke-based
"Storm" team which won the British
championships earlier this year.
Unfortunately the team faced formidable
opposition in Croatia from 23 teams
representing 18 different nations and despite
a superb performance didn’t get placed. "We
had a fall in our short programme and a fall in
our long programme!" Mary explains. "Other
than that we all skated really well."
The girls train four times a week and have to
fit their dancing around their studies and the
part-time work
expensive hobby.
which
supports
their
"We often train incredibly early in the
morning or late at night as it’s the only time
we can get on the ice," says Ria. "The awful
hours mean it can be hard to get the full team
together. However everyone’s worked very
hard and has stuck together.
"If we get to the Worlds next year we will be
putting out a stronger team. Improvements
are being made – we have better ice times and
also a dance class and more off-ice training,
which is good."
Their commitment so impressed bosses at the
College that they offered to contribute to the
team’s World Championship bid. The College
also said it may consider a formal sponsorship
arrangement for the Basingstoke team next
season.
Ria, who lives in Brighton Hill, Basingstoke
started skating when she was just seven years
old. Mary, from Ampfield near Romsey was a
relative latecomer at 12. Both students are
hoping that synchronised skating will be
accepted as exhibition sport in time for the
Olympics in 2006.
Venta - Edition 11 - Summer 2004
6
The Bard – US style!
Why do so many Americans celebrate Shakespeare? Today the largest group of
overseas visitors to Stratford-upon-Avon, the Royal Shakespeare Company and
Bankside’s Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre come from America. Why is this? Is there
more to Shakespeare’s American popularity than just a love of men in doublet and
hose speaking soliloquies?
A new publication by former student, Dr Kim
Sturgess looks at precisely this question and seeks to
explain how and why Shakespeare has become a
hero within American popular culture.
Published in June by Cambridge University Press,
Shakespeare and the American Nation is the
finished result of Kim’s final year dissertation for a
degree in English and American Studies which he
completed back in 1998. The initial work was
supervised by English lecturer, Geoff Ridden.
As part of his course, Kim spent a semester at UWEC,
Wisconsin on a student exchange programme. It was
there he got the inspiration for his book.
"While I was in America I noticed a marked
contrast in the way Shakespeare was
presented there,"
"While I was in America I noticed a marked
contrast in the way Shakespeare was presented
there," explained Kim. "The approach was much
more enthusiastic which I found ironic. After a
little research and lots of thought I decided that
there was perhaps more behind the fact that today
Americans consume far more Shakespeare than
Brits here in the UK."
After Kim achieved his degree, he studied for an
MA at Kings College, London and went on to the
University of East Anglia, which awarded him a
PhD in 2003. Now he lectures at Richmond, The
American International University in London.
Kim returned to the King Alfred’s campus in
March to speak to undergraduates taking the
Shakespeare Phenomenon module. During his
visit, students were anxious to find out how Kim
went about getting his dissertation into print.
"Now I’ve been through the whole publishing
process, my advice would be find a good topic,
write in your own style and then heavily market
your book outline to would be publishers," he said.
"It’s important to make sure you show them how a
finished book might appeal to readers. And finally
– be prepared to put in lots of hard work!"
YES - it’s finally here -
Harry Potterin Ilmestys!
This spring, Finland was hit by its latest phenomena. Professor Andrew Blake’s book,
"The Irresistible Rise of Harry Potter: Kid-Lit in a Globalised World" was released in
Finnish along with what seemed to be an extraordinary level of public interest.
Andrew, who is Head of the School of Cultural
Studies at University College Winchester, was
delighted with the response.
"Photos in the national press even seemed to show
anxious readers queuing up to buy the first few
copies of my book," he laughed. "I guess that
might have had something to do with the fact that
my book was scheduled for release at the same
time as the Finnish Translation of the fifth Harry
Potter book!"
But more fame and public interest was to follow.
The translator for Andrew’s book was asked to
appear on Finnish TV and, owing to public
demand, an interview with Andrew himself was
recorded a few weeks later for a TV discussion
programme.
Anyone wanting to see the Finnish book details, along with a picture of those
first edition queues, should log onto www.vastapaino.fi. Alternatively, a copy
of Andrew’s book in English can be found on www.amazon.co.uk.
Want to write for children? Then join
the SCBWI – Find out more at:
www.wordpool.co.uk/scbwi or email
[email protected] Tel: 020 8 671 7539
Writer’s Day 2004 – Go Fish!
Creating Stories that Really Hook
6 November 2004, King Alfred’s College, Winchester
with Malorie Blackman, Julia Donaldson, Jeremy
Strong, Sandy Watson & Andrew Melrose. Special
guest publisher David Fickling. Find out what
publishers are looking for on our exclusive editor’s
panel! Get advice, inspiration & ideas for
developing your craft, meet fellow professionals,
and learn what’s new in the children’s book
marketplace! Individual mss critiques offered.
Come & be inspired! Sign up now!
Tourism & Heritage Management
7
Venta - Edition 11 - Summer 2004
The Best of British
Friendly job at National Museum
When Laura Le Cheminant graduated in 2003 with a BA in Archaeology with Tourism
and Heritage Management she was determined to get a job in the museum service.
When a position came up in the British Museum, she couldn’t believe her luck.
“I’d been checking daily on the museumjobs.com
website and then there it was – a job working with
the British Museum Friends,” she said. “It was
ideal for me, combining both elements of my
degree perfectly.”
Laura has now been working as membership
assistant at the Museum since November helping
with membership enquiries and events for over
16,000 Friends.
“We are a registered charity and do our best to raise
funds for the Museum in order to help with new
acquisitions,” Laura explained. “Last year we raised
a staggering £650,000.”
Recently Laura helped her colleagues to organise
‘The Big Egyptian Bash’ where the Museum was
decked out in all things Egyptian.
“It was a huge success! Over 1500 people came
and it was amazing to be part of such an exciting
event. The British Museum really is the most
incredible environment for a party. I feel so
privileged to be able to work here amongst so many
wonderful treasures.”
Brighton – The happening place to be!
Jonathan Barber also completed his THM degree last year and is currently working in the Brighton and Hove Visitor Convention Bureau.
Jonathan on tour!
“I consider myself to be pretty lucky to be working
in Brighton as it is such a vibrant and cosmopolitan
city which attracts a huge number of tourists each
year.
I am really looking forward to the Brighton Festival
as I’ll be working closely with both performers and
hosts. This means I’ll be trying to take in as many
shows and performances as I can!”
Although Jonathan is now getting the opportunity
to put some of the theory from his course into
practice, he says:
Jonathan is planning to take a Masters Degree in
International Tourism Management at Brighton
University this September.
“You wouldn’t believe some of the questions I
get asked! Once someone asked me who put
‘that road’ into the sea and could they drive
down it? They were, of course, referring to
the Pier. Also, several people have asked me why
the Queen doesn’t live in the Pavilion anymore!”
“One day I hope to get a job in Brighton in tourism
and city planning and destination marketing. I see
myself living here for many years to come - no
other city in the UK compares to it, even
Winchester!”
To Serve Queen and Country
It’s all change for Suzy Hancock who
completed her BA in Tourist & Heritage
Management with Archaeology only last
summer. Suzy has now left her job with
English Heritage to take up a high flying
career as an officer in the RAF.
Until March Suzy was working at the National
Monument Records Office in Swindon, heading up
a unit of the Images of England Project.
“I was working on a pictorial reference archive of
all listed English structures at the beginning of the
21st century,” she explained. “When it’s finished,
there should be around 370,000 separate images.
“You’d be surprised what’s listed. So far we’ve
recorded mileposts, phone boxes and even some
classic privies!
“The job was really interesting and I met some great
people. However, my life-long ambition has always
been to get into the RAF. I enjoy the lifestyle the
military has to offer and will benefit from a
structured career path as well as excellent benefits.”
Suzy has now begun her officer training at RAF
Cranwell in Lincolnshire. She soon hopes to start
her specialist training which will enable her to
ultimately become a skilled administrative officer.
Hopefully her earlier training as administration
assistant behind the counter at Student Services in
St James’ will have held her in good stead for the
future!
For anyone wanting to find out more about the
project Suzy was working on for English
Heritage see www.imagesofengland.org.uk.
OUR Listed HERITAGE: Clayton Tunnel, Pyecombe, West Sussex
(Grade II) and the Penguin Pool at London Zoo (Grade I).
Venta - Edition 11 - Summer 2004
8
Watch out Joe Public –
Radio
-activ
ity Sc
oop…
ALUMNI GO LIVE!
To many, the exciting world of broadcasting seems like a dream
existence. A busy life packed full of celebrity interviews, high
profile events and ground-breaking news. So what is the truth
behind this myth? Is the Union radio station, The Voice, really a
million miles away from reality? Former students turned
newsreaders/presenters gave Venta the inside story…
“I think I was rather a shock jock in my undergrad
days,” laughs David Woollatt who completed his
degree in English, Media and Film Studies in 2001
and had a regular slot on student radio. “I guess I
really pushed the boundaries because I knew that I
could!”
However, now David works for Immedia
Broadcasting as a responsible producer and
presenter for three national radio stations as well as
presenting for his local radio station, Spire FM in
Salisbury. He is also just started a part time MA in
Contemporary Popular Knowledges at University
College Winchester.
David originally contacted Venta with “a bit of a
one in a million story”.
“About six months ago,” he wrote, “after hearing a
new presenter on air at Spire FM, I went up to the
studio to meet him. It was the same Martin Starke
who had been at the same lectures on the same
course as me – neither of us had realised we both
had an interest in radio! We would never have
guessed we’d end up on the same station doing
shows following on from each other on a Saturday
and a Sunday!”
David picks up top tips from DJ Steve Wright
“I absolutely love my job,” he says. “I work with ex
Radio One DJ, Bruno Brooks at Immedia
producing ads for retail outlets all over the country.
It’s not an easy ride though – the hours are long and
the work often demanding.
“Celebrity wise I have interviewed Liberty X,
Chesney Hawkes, Julian Clarey, Wheatus, Elkie
Brookes and Feeder. I also work regularly with
Radio Two Newsreader Patrick Lunt.
Other
highpoints include a feature where I gave away a car
and a holiday in Greece!
“I’ve had a few broadcasting blunders too. I’ve
pushed the wrong buttons and taken stations off air
a few times, also shut the studio desk down once.
Do I get nervous? Yes very and many times,
particularly during my one and only news shift! I
think I’ll keep the rest to myself.”
Martin on air at Spire FM
Following David’s letter, Venta managed to track
Martin down too. He spent three years doing a
degree in Media with Business at the College
travelling in from Southampton everyday.
“I first got involved in a small time radio station in
Southampton called Max FM,” he explains.
“I didn’t really speak much to Dave at College so it’s
strange we should end up working at the same
station two years later! It really is a small world.
“I worked in retail for River Island after College but
kept sending off tapes till I eventually got a gig at
Spire. All the other kids at school wanted to be
footballers or spacemen but I always wanted to be
on the radio, so this is a boyhood dream come true
– how sad is that!”
David at Immedia with DJ, Bruno Brooks
Celebrity Status - Richard Roberts collects his NTL National
Radio Award from Gareth Gates, Kim Marsh and Mark
Owen.
9
Gareth Gates, Craig David, Ronan Keating
and Mark Owen are just some of the UK
Pop stars that Richard Roberts, Media, Film
& Communications graduate (1994-1997)
has rubbed shoulders with since leaving
Winchester.
Richard undertook various work experience
placements in the media whilst studying on his
degree programme and started working for the
Capital Radio Group the day after his final
lecture. He worked in the radio industry for six
years arranging the marketing and events for
several local radio stations before competing
with the likes of Radio 1 and Virgin Radio and
winning one of the NTL National Radio
Awards for Marketing Excellence. Richard
decided to study for a PGCE at Canterbury
Christ Church College in 2002 which has taken
him into his current role as marketing manager
for a group of colleges that specialise in
education for international students. He also
teaches these students A-level Media Studies.
He is still involved in radio though and twice a
year he takes on an event management role for
various radio charity concerts.
Amy goes to the dogs
Amy Redmond (BA Performing Arts 1999-2002)
has just finished a placement with the BBC and is
still hotly pursuing her career in the radio industry.
“My first lucky break came when a friend asked me
if I’d help out on a TV channel she was working on.
It was a Sky Sports channel devoted to greyhound
racing! I was called in to present an adlib live
between the races. Before I knew it I was offered
my own regular show and nine months later was the
face of “Go Barking Mad!”
“Last summer the channel went bankrupt but
luckily by then I’d been spotted by a radio director
and offered work on Eagle FM co-presenting the
breakfast show.
“I am currently working at Break FM, a local radio
station in London with my own T4 style show in
the pipeline. I have just finished work experience
on BBC 7’s Big Toe Radio Show, a live programme
for 8-13 year olds. I also teach this age group
dancing so I know the audience well. Getting in at
the BBC was a hard break in itself, since being there
I’ve proved myself by working for free and I’ve had
regular paid work.
“I’ve still got heaps to learn but I’ve feel much more
prepared in all I am doing with my three years at
Winchester behind me.”
“My first lucky break came when a
friend asked me if I’d help out on a
TV channel she was working on. It
was a Sky Sports channel devoted
to greyhound racing!”
Youthful approach - Amy at BBC Children’s Radio, Broadcasting House
Venta - Edition 11 - Summer 2004
Gateway to the stars
Venta - Edition 11 - Summer 2004
10
Grand headstart for Wandsworth
Do you remember alumni Jeffrey Risbridger (BEd 1977-1981), who was featured in the
Summer 2002 edition of Venta? Jeffrey had just been chosen to be Inaugural Headteacher
for a brand new London school which was due to take its first pupils September 2003.
schools established in the wake of the Dearing
Report and in response to local demand for
continuing faith-based education post-primary
school.
Nearly two years on, Venta asked him how Saint
Cecilia’s, Wandsworth Church of England School is
fairing. He sent us this reply…
“The School opened in September 2003 with 150
Year 7 pupils. We hope to have nine hundred 11-18
year olds by 2009. I’m happy to say St Cecilia’s is
already extremely popular, with more than eight
applications for every available place.
“It’s difficult to describe the sense of excitement
and anticipation everyone felt on the first day the
school opened to pupils. Although five of my staff
and I moved into the school building a term ahead
of everyone else in order to get everything
prepared, we still felt as if we were in limbo until the
first children walked through the door. It was a very
special moment and made me realise that no matter
how wonderful the facilities, a school is nothing
without its pupils.
Saint Cecilia’s, Wandsworth is one of the new wave
of brand new Church of England secondary
“The School is an extremely ICT-rich environment,
with all pupils and staff having a laptop computer
for their personal use. All the classrooms are
equipped with interactive whiteboards which enable
teaching staff to use presentations they have preprepared, adapt them in the light of experience with
individual classes, and save them for future re-use.
They can show extracts from video and DVD to
illustrate a particular teaching point, access websites
live with a class and pick up files, worksheets and
materials prepared by other colleagues on the
shared drive of the network. They can also hook
up equipment such as a digital microscope so that
the whole class can see together something that
thirty pairs of eyes would once have had to have
seen separately one at a time! The teachers wonder
if they’ll be able to move on to work anywhere
‘normal’ ever again!
“A highlight of the first year was the official
opening by The Rt. Revd. Dr. Rowan Williams,
Archbishop of Canterbury, at a Service of
Dedication and Thanksgiving in March. I see it as
a milestone in the life of the school. The
Archbishop toured the school, visiting classes and
talking to pupils. He spoke to us about our work in
the school in a way that will stay with us all for years
to come. The Service not only included prayers and
hymns but was also a chance for the school to
showcase its musical talent (10% of its pupils are
selected on the basis of their musical ability) and the
pupils’ strengths in drama and dance.
“The school now faces the prospect of a second
year group arriving in September 2004 and the
present pupils moving up to Year 8. When I was
appointed the job was advertised as ‘The Best
Headship in London.’ I think I can safely say that I
won’t be suing anyone under the Trades
Descriptions Act! I’m still having the time of my
life!”
Sign of the times for Basingstoke
Earlier in the year, Dr John Hird, former
tutor in the Department of Professional
Studies, sent in this group photo to share
with alumni. He wrote:
“With Chute House now firmly established in
Basingstoke, some will recall an earlier presence
there known as ‘The Outpost’. Each year from
1968 to 1977 King Alfred's enrolled around twenty
mature students to train as primary school teachers
there. The majority of the students were women
(only five men made it) and most of the course was
based in Basingstoke at ‘The Outpost’ in Bramlys
Close. On their once or twice weekly visits to the
parent college they formed a group known as the
"Basingstoke Ladies”. They often combined their
studies with the demands of bringing up a family so
they tended to be not only very industrious but have
more than a passing interest in education
“During its existence the teacher supply position
improved so much that the case for the
continuation of ‘The Outpost’ could no longer be
justified and it became the local Teachers' Centre.”
Following this, John returned to the College to
officially hand over a commemorative plaque to the
Principal, Professor Paul Light.
Dr Hird presents the Principal with the commemorative plaque
“I thought Chute House might like it as a piece of
memorabilia marking our former connections with
Basingstoke,” he said.
The plaque was made by one of the students, Mrs
Shelagh Spencer, and was presented to John when
“The Outpost” closed in 1977.
11
Jane’s very own Garden of Eden
Jane Mossendew (nee Fulthorpe, Teacher Training 1961-1964)) has just had her second book in the Gardening with God series published.
Entitled Thorn, Fire and Lily: Gardening with God through Lent to Easter, the book covers the period from Ash Wednesday to Easter
day, and gives practical proof of the close link between prayer and gardening.
Along with each day’s plant there are cultivation
notes, fascinating history and folklore, some
guidance on appropriate meditation and Bible
readings from the liturgy of the day. Her first
book, Gardening with God: Light in Darkness was
published in 2002 and Jane hopes to complete the
series with two further books.
Jane’s successful career as a teacher of English and
Drama spans forty years during which time she has
been highly commended for best practice by HM
Inspectorate. During the 1980s she also worked
for the Tablet and the Clergy Review, and later for
the Church of England Children’s Society. In
addition to her long dramatic career as both an
actor and director, she is now Head of English and
Drama at Barbara Speake Stage School in west
London.
Her particular memories at the College include
playing Ursula in Much Ado and Amanda in The
Glass Menagerie, both under the excellent
direction of Brian Watkins. She also remembers a
memorable performance of 'Les Feuilles Mortes'
in cabaret at a valedictory ball!
“I’ve always been a committed and practising
Christian,” said Jane. “But it was during my period
in France between 1993 and 1997 that I was
granted the inspiration to write my books. At that
time, I was running Shakespeare performance
courses in France.
“After four years, I reached the point where
gardening had become not merely an aid to prayer,
but increasingly synonymous with it; more and
more I was gardening with God as well as for God;
and the effect was spilling over into the rest of my
spiritual and practical life.”
“The Garden is God’s … every plant in it has a spiritual significance, so they
themselves are what the garden is for. They remind of a specific feast, evoke a
biblical event, call to mind a Saint, a virtue; help in the remembrance of the past
and present grief and joys.”
FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES
The Reverend Canon Russell Bowman-Eadie (BEd 1963-1966) is Director of Ministry
Development and Canon Treasurer of Wells Cathedral in Somerset.
“The main thrust of my work is directed towards
the in-service training of our clergy,” said Russell.
“We have something like 300 in this Diocese –
and I also have oversight of all lay training.
“In 1996 I was awarded a Fellowship with the
College of Preachers,” he added. “I now run
workshops both nationally and in the USA n what
is now called Narrative Preaching.
BOOK SIGNING TOUR … Jane with College pal, Russell in
Wells Cathedral Bookshop.
After leaving Winchester, Russell first taught at
Fortescue House School in Twickenham before
leaving to study Theology at Kings College
London. He was ordained in 1972 and was curate
at St Peter’s Hammersmith. In 1974 he was
appointed Senior Chaplain to the University of
Leicester and Vicar of the University Church of
St Nicholas. In 1980 he did a brief spell as relief
Chaplain in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia before
taking up the post of Adult Education Adviser
for the Diocese of Durham. He left Durham in
1984 to join the Diocese of Bath and Wells.
“These last 20 years have simply flown by,”
reflects Russell with a smile. “This has been a
most rewarding job having, as it does, so many
different facets to it.”
Venta - Edition 11 - Summer 2004
A spiritual pilgrimage …
Venta - Edition 11 - Summer 2004
12
Tolkien of Thanks?
Harry thinks not…
Tolkien may be a global sensation now but former Head of English (19481976), Harry Blamires studied under him at Oxford and remembers his
lectures not scoring quite so highly in the popularity stakes.
Andover pupils
In fact, headlined “Bore of the rings” a recent
article in The Times by Harry’s granddaughter
Diana, stated that far from attracting a large
crowd, Tolkien’s lectures were so boring that few
students turned up.
“He was Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford,”
explained Harry. “I attended his lectures when I
studied English at University College in the mid1930s.”
–Thanks to Sir!
He recalls that part of the reason he braved the
dull sessions was that the turnout was so low that
he would have been missed had he not attended.
“The only series of lectures by Tolkien that I
attended was a formidable twice-weekly series on
‘The Finn and Hengist Episode in Beowulf. I
went because one of my other tutors, C S Lewis
suggested I should. But it was way above my head.
Tolkien’s digressions covered the blackboard with
learned linguistic connections and derivations,
seemingly involving half the world’s languages!
“My friend and I found ourselves in a group of
students so small that removing ourselves would
seem very obvious, but I’m not sure that sympathy
for the lecturer’s feelings was the dominant motive
for sticking it out. There was an element of that, I
suppose, but we were curious, and we were
providing ourselves with something to talk about
at sherry parties.”
“We were all tickled by the fact that among a
certain publisher’s list of newly edited AngloSaxon poems, a book by Tolkien was advertised
and repeatedly failed to appear.”
It was during his time as an Oxford don that
Tolkien wrote The Hobbit. He was engaged in
the onerous task of marking exam papers when
he discovered a candidate had left one page of an
answer book blank. On this page, for some
unknown reason, Tolkien wrote “In a hole in the
ground there lived a hobbit”.
After the success of The Lord of the Rings
trilogy, filming of a major new adaptation of C S
Lewis’s Narnia novels is now underway in New
Zealand.
Youngsters from Harrow
Way Community School
in Andover were given a
taste of University life
recently when they took
part in a series of
unusual ‘trust’
exercises on campus –
thanks to their teacher,
alumnus John Baxter.
Time will tell just how much of a resurgence of
interest this will bring for his chronicles.
However, one thing is for sure. Harry
remembers Lewis pulling far bigger crowds than
Tolkien as a College don.
Harry, who is now retired and lives in Keswick in
the Lake District, is a distinguished writer himself
of literary history and criticism. In his classic
guide to Joyce’s Ulysses, The New Bloomsday
Book Harry writes: “I was a member of a small
tutorial group whom Tolkien took for a term
through some Old English poems. He was plainly
a likeable man, free of pretentiousness, and
conveying a vague impression of scholarly
unworldliness.”
It seems that Tolkien fitted well into the largely
male world of teaching, research, the exchange of
ideas and occasional publication. His sparse
publication record – which would have been
frowned on today – was a source of amusement
to his students.
“Lewis had an entertaining flamboyance as a
lecturer, a captivating sense of humour, and also
a knack of supplying concisely the material
students wanted. So he kept a large and
enthusiastic audience!”
So what does Harry have to say about his own
lecturing techniques at King Alfred’s? On this
subject he speaks plainly:
“I never believed much in lecturing, but no one
ever publicly protested when I tried it. I had
picked up from Lewis the now unfashionable
notion that the proper thing to do with English
Literature was to read it.”
“Bore of the Rings” was published in The
Times on 11 December 2003, (Times2 p7) and
can be found in its entirety in the archive material
on www.timesonline.co.uk.
On it’s way to becoming a performing arts school… Harrow
Way Community School, Andover
13
Venta - Edition 11 - Summer 2004
Gaining University support: Performing Arts Lecturer, Steve Solloway (left) puts pupils from Harrow Way through a series of
undergraduate routines under the watchful guise of their teacher, John Baxter (middle) in the examination hall.
The pupils, who are all studying for a GCSE in
Drama, were visiting the College as part of a
schools’ taster day organized by Aimhigher:
Partnerships for Progression for Hampshire and
the Isle of Wight as part of the government’s
objective to widen participation in the field of
higher education.
“We’ve got some brilliant kids!” said John, Head of
Performing Arts at the school and recently
designated an Advanced Skills Teacher for Drama.
“I wanted them to have the opportunity to see just
what fun they could have if they further their
studies.”
“I hoped a visit to a University
College like King Alfred’s would
encourage more of our kids to
think about continuing education
once they’ve finished at school.
For many of them, it will be a
massive quantum leap in the way
they think of their future.”
And of all people, John should know. He
completed his teaching certificate at Winchester
thirty years ago (1971-1974) and has been at
Harrow Way ever since. “I have some wonderful
memories of my time at King Alfred’s,” he laughed.
“It was much smaller in my student days,” he said.
“There were only about 1000 students and there
was a great community feel about the place –
everyone seemed to know everyone else.
During his return visit to the campus, John took
time out of the busy day to wander around some of
his old haunts. “I was so relieved that some areas
hadn’t changed completely. For instance, I went
into the John Stripe Theatre and felt like I’d stepped
back in time to 1972!
“In those days, the Drama Department consisted of
Bob Silvester, Paul Ranger and Sallie Williams.
Later Ray Ingram joined them and it was him that
directed our final production, The Italian Straw Hat.
I remember Roy Faithful also supervised our
practical assessment piece - a son et lumiere telling
the story of the history of King Alfred’s.
“In the summer of 1974 many of us stayed on to
take part in the Winchester Mystery plays,
performed in the grounds of the Wolvesey Palace.”
However, all that was thirty years ago, and a very
different world to John’s longstanding career as a
secondary school teacher in Andover.
“Harrow Way School is a true comprehensive,” he
explained. “Our intake stretches from areas of real
social deprivation to areas of relative prosperity.
Andover is a strange town in that it has virtually no
unemployment, yet the employment that is there is
largely ‘blue collar’ low skill type. It’s for this reason
that the school has a lower than average higher
education participation rate.
So what has kept John in teaching all these years?
“That’s easy,” he said. “The rewarding parts of
teaching are still those moments when something
has come together and a group of pupils or an
individual suddenly grasps what you are aiming at.
Strangely, I enjoy parents’ evenings as it is here that
you really begin to feel as if you do make a
difference.
“To anybody considering going into teaching now I
would say, “Go for it!” as long as you can be really
committed to the job as well as your pupils.
Teaching isn’t something you can just turn up to
and do. You have to be wholehearted about it
Drama Group of 1974 – John with the rest of the cast of the
Italian Straw Hat, directed by Dr Ray Ingram.
because if you’re not the pupils will soon suss you
out and make your life difficult!”
So what do his kids say? “Mr Baxter is a great teacher,”
said Yr11 pupil, Richard Moger who now hopes to take
a degree in psychology and will be the first member of
his family to go on to University. “Everyone wants to
do GCSE Drama at our school - he’s so enthusiastic
and really makes learning fun.” A sentiment which is
echoed by 16 year old, Emma Gooding whose future
plans now includes a further qualification in media
studies. “Going to College is not the natural thing to do
in my family,” she said. “But Mr Baxter has given me
the confidence to think I can do it and I’m going to try
my hardest to get there.”
Enough said!
FOR OLD TIMES SAKE… The drama group holds regular
reunions to catch up with news of each other. This shot
shows 1974 alumni plus partners in 2000. Another reunion
is currently being organised for 2005.
Venta - Edition 11 - Summer 2004
14
In memory of …
Donald Langford Venning
Donald Venning joined the College in 1959 as a lecturer in the
Mathematics Department. When he retired in 1978 he left a
College greatly changed from the one he had joined, a College that
had managed to survive the tumultuous upheavals that had beset
the whole field of higher education. In many of the changes that
had taken place Donald Venning played a pivotal role.
It was in 1932 from Thetford Grammar School,
Norfolk, that Donald won a Goldsmiths’ Company
scholarship to Selwyn College, Cambridge. He read
Mathematics and achieved the distinction of
Wrangler, supplementing his income by working
for the University of Cambridge Examination
Board, for which he continued as examiner then
chief examiner and subsequently moderator.
His teaching posts were at Chigwell, Essex,
Kimbolton, Cambridgeshire, and Oundle,
Northamptonshire. At College he worked with
Ralph White as head of department, and Harry
Pratt and John Davis were his congenial colleagues.
He proved both a gifted teacher and schools
supervisor as well as a strong supporter of
students.
During the 1970s, Donald Venning was appointed
Senior Administrative Tutor and then Academic
Registrar, a key role in supporting the Principal
through the institutional reorganisations that were
necessary for the College’s survival. He was clearminded, methodical, infinitely patient with
colleagues under stress, ever conciliatory, and a
calming and reassuring presence at moments of
crisis.
Donald’s interests ranged far beyond the College.
He was an enthusiastic swimmer, an experienced
rowing coach, and had considerable scouting
experience. He was a most active Vice President of
the Winton Club. But above all he was a family
man, and the care of his wife and three children
was paramount.
Donald Venning was born on 16th May 1913
and died on 3rd December 2003. He will be
sadly missed.
Ralph Ellis White
Ralph White came to take charge of Mathematics at King Alfred’s in 1948.
Brought up in Goole and a graduate of Leeds
University, he had served in the army throughout
the war, eventually with the rank of Major. They
put him in the Guards at first and that experience
left him with a notably dignified, straight-backed
walk; but he was soon transferred to more
appropriate duties. He would recall entertainingly
how he was driven from one artillery site to another
on the South coast to check up on what was
happening there, and he could reminisce with relish
about his last months in the forces, when he was
doing educational work at Welbeck Abbey, cheek by
jowl with the resident aristocracy.
As a resident bachelor, Ralph was in great demand
by students seeking a sympathetic ear or helpful
advice. Punctilious in all things and unfailingly
polite, he combined intellectual rigour with a fund
of common sense. His insight, together with his
ready availability as a resident, meant that the then
Principal relied heavily on his support in
interviewing students. When John Stripe became
Principal in 1958, Ralph ceased to be resident in
College. He married and settled with his wife,
Margaret, at Chandlers Ford. He retired in 1974.
For some time, after the initial shock of losing his
wife, Ralph did seem to be finding his feet again,
but alas he soon lost the will to live and the end
when it came was a merciful release.
Franklin New
It is with great sadness that Venta reports the news of the death of Franklin New (BA
American Studies 1995-1998) who would have been 28 years old in October.
Since leaving KAC he had worked while
studying at university in London, graduating
with a Masters in American Studies. He had
also travelled, visiting the USA and the
Philippines. More recently he had been living
in Worcester with his partner and working for
a catalogue company.
His death, the result of a tragic accident,
came as a tremendous shock to his family and
friends.
The funeral was held in
Northampton in April and his parents were
anxious that this sad news should be
circulated to all who knew him at the College.
Dr Kiyo Okami
Dr Kiyo Okami, former Dean of Shoei College
for Japanese girls and honorary King Alfred’s
graduate has died at the age of 90.
He was Dean of Shoei, Winchester for seven years
and, during this time forged close ties with the
business community and the mayors of the city as
well as with King Alfred’s.
Mr Okami was born in
Tokyo and went to
America when he was 23
to study at Stanford
University and then later
majored in sociology at
Kalamazoo, Michigan.
He married his wife
Louise in 1940.
Briefly interned after the Japanese attack on Pearl
Harbor, in 1941, he joined the US Office of War
Information and lectured American military
intelligence officers on Japanese language and
culture.
After the war, he was diplomat for America,
serving in Ireland, Italy and Tokyo, ending with a
second tour in Dublin, where he was the American
consul-general and afterwards, the general manager
in Ireland of the Marubeni Corporation.
Following this, Mr Okami decided to change
direction and enter into the family business of
education. His grandfather had established Shoei
College in Tokyo and his brother, Naoyuki had it
headed it for many years.
Vice Principal, Tommy Geddes said: "Kiyo
pioneered what was to become an enduring link
between the City and Japan. In 1995 both brothers
were awarded honorary degrees, a fitting testament
to the high renown in which Kiyo was held by all
who knew him and worked with him at the
College.
"He continued his association with King Alfred’s in
retirement and shall be sadly missed."
We have also been recently notified of the
following deaths:
Mr R A Morris
Mr A Johnson
Mr W A Needham
Rev W G E Porter
Mr L G Howe
Mrs G Miller
Mr A R Webster
Mr M H Clarkson
Mr A W Gething
Mr R T Terry
Mr N A Marsh
Mr H Z Vickers
Mr R J Bambridge
Mr A A Chapman, College Architect
Mr B Hale
Rev J O Ardley
Mr F New
1935-1937
1937-1939
1937-1939
1937-1939
1938-1940
ATS
1949-1951
1950-1952
1950-1952
1953-1955
1954-1956
1955-1957
1957-1959
1958-1994
1959-1961
1962-1965
1995-1998
15
Happy Ending for Slave Narrative
The groundbreaking Clotel website has been
officially launched and handed over to publishers
for worldwide circulation. This project, involving a
dedicated research team from Cultural Studies,
marks a sea-change in collaborative international
research by providing electronic research material
for the first African American novel ever published.
Clotel or the President’s Daughter: a Narrative of
Slave Life in the United States was published by
William Wells Brown on November 12, 1853. It
was written and produced in London because
Brown was a fugitive from the United States.
Professor Christopher Mulvey who has been
leading the million-word international research
project explained:
"Brown went on to publish three further very
different versions of the novel and the Clotel
problem has always been to know which text to
read. The net offers a solution, and King Alfred’s
have been collaborating with the University of
Virginia and Adam Matthew Publications for four
years to produce an electronic scholarly edition of
Clotel which will present all four texts together."
"The work of Chris Mulvey and
colleagues
on
Clotel
exemplifies much of what is
best about humanities
research,"
An image of each page is linked with the text of
each page, and the search program reaches texts,
commentary, annotation and support material with
software providing a historical collation. The
interactive nature of the project means that it is
accessible and adaptable for a range of audiences: it
can be readily used in a teaching context or for
research purposes. The project has attracted
extensive external funding.
The launch of the Clotel website was attended by
Adam Matthew Publications, staff from
Southampton University as well as other higher
education institutions. The Principal, Professor
Paul Light, welcomed those present and praised the
high level of research and commitment that has
made this venture possible.
"The work of Chris Mulvey and colleagues on
Clotel exemplifies much of what is best about
humanities research," said the Principal.
"Especially on a web-based project such as this,
international cutting-edge work can be pursued as
readily from a small institutional base as from a
large one. It’s relation to teaching is strong, offering
opportunities for engagement to both
undergraduates and postgraduates. Its topic is one
of abiding importance which readily connects with
the College’s mission".
Fact Finding - Professor Chris Mulvey
Leap of Faith for Deer Doctor!
CONGRATULATIONS to Dr Mandy Richardson who has just been appointed as
a Research Fellow attached to the Archaeology and History Research Centre.
"My PhD was entitled 'The Forest, Park and
Palace of Clarendon, 1200-1650: Reconstructing
an Actual, Conceptual and Documented Wiltshire
Landscape'," says Mandy.
Mandy from Poole in Dorset, graduated in 1998
and then went on to do her masters at
Southampton University before taking her PhD at
Winchester.
"One of the most enjoyable things about the PhD
was doing a five day deer management course at
Bisley with the British Deer Society and a load of
deer stalkers!" She laughs. "I wanted to actually
understand the deer by mixing with people who
worked with deer every day, rather than just
reading historians ideas about deer behaviour,
which are usually wrong. I am now the proud
owner of a level 3 Deer Stalkers badge – to my
relief I didn’t have to shoot anything. It was a bit
of a shock to the hunters though, who had never
had a woman on the course with them before!"
"I’m extremely flattered with my new title as
Research Fellow. I’m lecturing part time at the
College now and finding that to be quite a
challenge!"
Venta - Edition 11 - Summer 2004
Triumph for College Research -
Blast from the Past!
Libby Turrell BEd English (1987-1991)
I recently returned to Winchester with a few close
friends from my student days to ruminate
nostalgically about those undergrad years.
Highlights of the
Summer Season...
This month the conference office kicks into full gear filling
University College Winchester with a multitude of events,
conferences and language schools from across the globe. Not only
will we see the return of many regular conferences, including the
ever popular Annual Writers Conference towards the end of June,
but there are some exciting new fixtures as well this year.
Early on in the summer, the Girl Guiding Association will be
joining us for their annual conference, the same weekend as the
Winton Reunion. Following this busy start, approximately 200
language students will arrive here for the majority of the summer,
to study English. We also have conferences and events organised
by Hampshire County Council, the Royal Hampshire County
Hospital, Medieval Pottery Society, Winchester Tennis and Squash
Club, Quekett Microscopical Club and the Freddie Gee Drum
Academy.
Events organised by other departments have also increased. This
summer the College will hold four ‘AimHigher’ Summer Schools
during July. Run for young people from schools where the interest
in higher education is below the national average, the youngsters
are invited to stay at the College to experience for themselves what
it's like to be a student.
The School of Cultural Studies is also holding two important
conferences. Their first conference, ‘Recreating Arthur’ is being
held in the West Downs Centre in August and will welcome
approximately 100 international delegates to discuss the historical
figure of King Arthur. Topics of discussion will include Arthur
and national identity, film, warfare, fantasy and science fiction.
Their second conference is entitled ‘Dying Well’. Theology and
religious studies will play a major role here in this event designed
mainly for members of the church and religious community who
deal with death and dying as part of their ministry.
I hope this gives you some idea of just some of the 4,500 visitors,
delegates and students who will pass through the College during
this summer season!
After the requisite wander around buildings and
grounds; recalling everything from making a film
about Mary Shelley to how much washing we
dragged to the launderette, finals in the exam hall
and summer balls, we found ourselves in the Union
contemplating what was the chaos of
communications stuffed in pigeon-holes (a
haphazard antiquarian system – pre the delights of
mountainous e-mails!).
Desperately seeking …
Pippa Chapman – Biological sciences student, graduated in
1991. Any idea where she is? Do contact Joy Harper on
[email protected].
Camilla Lacey who studied Drama and World Music and left
the College back in 1998 is trying to track down South African
friend, ‘Chris’ who studied Design and Technology at around
the same time. He lived in West Downs Student Village in
house number 73 with Rebecca Komene. Please get in touch
with any news on [email protected].
We have warm memories of College days and plan
to revisit – before another 12 years slip by!
A group of students were merrily preparing for a
friend’s party that evening but stopped to ask us
interested questions about how it was at KAC "in
our time". We realised with a chuckle that it must
have seemed a long time past. To us the years have
zipped by in the blink of a camera lens; we agreed
that weekend that we felt no different and our
friendship is as rich and valued as when forged at
King Alfred’s.
Catherine Furlong is teaching part time in West
Sussex while her two daughters are small. Rosie
Taylor teaches in Winchester – her "children" have
KAC TEACHERS RETURN TO OLD HAUNTS: (l to r) Catherine
Furlong (nee Owen-Ellis), Rosie Taylor, Rosie Austin (nee
Sparks) and Libby Turrell
Where are they now?
Andrew Gemmel BSc Psychology & Drama
(1999 - 2002)
In recent years, students have had the opportunity to
"star" in the prospectuses. In the 2003 Undergraduate
Prospectus (prepared in 2001) third year psychology
student Andrew Gemmell was featured. He made the
point to potential students that that thanks to the
psychology department he had managed to gain a range
of experiences that would offer employers something
extra, aside from his degree. So three years on from that
interview, Venta asks just what has he been up to – apart
from graduating with a first class honours degree!
"Since my time as a student, I have carried on working
and studying in the area of Psychology. In fact, the
summer after the end of my degree was spent working
as a research assistant at the College. This research
(which started life as my final year dissertation) was
subsequently presented at the Cognitive Neuroscience
Society Conference in New York in March 2003 and
published in the prestigious psychology journal,
Perception.
Hannah Westlake Conferences and Events Supervisor
Need further information? Contact us on
[email protected]
recently graduated in medicine and engineering
respectively. Rosie Austin’s three children have
adventures a-plenty in North Devon – where she
runs an outdoor activity centre, and I am a careers
adviser in Exeter – having taken a post grad in
guidance after seven years of teaching.
"I am now working in Plymouth University’s
Psychology Department and I’m just finishing a part
time Master’s Degree in psychological research
methods. My job as research officer means I assist
colleagues by carrying out experiments, collecting data
and analysing it. I also do some part time lecturing
which I really enjoy.
"Looking back on my time at King Alfred’s, I’m pleased
that I managed to overcome most of my difficulties
with dyslexia. My dyslexia had held me back when I
was studying for GCSE’s and A-levels. However, the
improvement in grades at King Alfred’s was largely
attributable to two things; firstly the help and support I
received from the Psychology Department as well as
Student Services and secondly the different way of
thinking and assessing achievement at degree level.
"Throughout the final two years of my degree I had
‘readers’ who helped me to tackle the large amounts of
reading necessary. Although my reading is ok I am very
slow and have big problems inhibiting distractions
around me. I owe a big thank you to all those who
helped with the reading, particularly Andrew
Humphrey, Martin Christopher and Julie Smith. The
strategy worked very well for me and I am still using it
at present to help me through my master’s degree."
Don’t Wait - contact Venta now!
The Alumni Office is waiting for your news and already starting to gather features for the next edition of Venta.
Perhaps you’ve been asked to stand for Parliament or better still, you may be lion taming for a travelling circus.
You could even have come across a tattered old photo in the loft and it’s brought back vivid memories.
Whatever the case, we’d like to hear from you. Please get in touch by mailing [email protected]. We
may have a new name but we’re still your old college!
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