Alumni Issue magazine 11 06 The greatest stage students and alumni competing at the Olympics and those behind the scenes

14 A world of sound Ilan Eshkeri talks composing and working on blockbuster films

20 The stuff of language Poet Simon Armitage explains why poetry is so important

24 Mixing expertise What happens if you cross research in performance and computing, or food science and history? Contents Contents From the Editor Contents Where will you be in July and August? If it’s 187,000 glued to the TV, watching the Olympics (or if Readers you’ll be there in London), then you should know Regulars that Leeds is involved in almost every aspect of the Games, right from the opening ceremony. Leeds alumni 02 This issue, we’ll show you just some of our many From the streets of Leeds to the people behind the London 2012 Olympic and streets of Shanghai via Everest Paralympics Games. Leeds is published The latest from Leeds 18 We’re celebrating culture as well as sports, and twice a year by Leeds activity on campus, at Chelsea so we take two areas – music and poetry – and the University of and Buckingham Palace look at how Leeds staff and alumni are taking Leeds Alumni What’s going on 26 the creative arts beyond the campus and into the & Development Across our departments: bassanite crystals, public sphere in different ways Team. It is received by more than cancer research and elvish languages Ultimately, whether it’s culture, sport, or a 187,000 graduates, members and Giving to Leeds 30 staggering range of other disciplines from friends of the 24 How alumni support is benefiting medicine to mechanical engineering in which University across Mixing it up the student experience Leeds people excel, we’re about collaboration the world. and sharing. The is a melting The VC 32 pot of ideas, experience and expertise, and so ... on a very special year we’ve picked some examples of the sort of cross- Forthcoming events 33 discipline collaboration you might not expect. As What’s on for alumni in the usual, with a University and alumni community next few months like ours, we’re only ever showing you the tip of the iceberg.

Enjoy! Features

Phil Steel (English 1997) Totally champion 06 Head of Alumni Relations The Leeds Olympians at, and behind, the London Games Musical stardust 14 20 06 Film composer Ilan Eshkeri’s film adventure Poetry matters 20 Talking poetry The track to success Simon Armitage back on campus, and the work of the Leeds Poetry Centre Photo credit: LOCOG credit: Photo Ten Leeds combinations 24 our How collaboration breeds innovation Contributors

Ian Beetlestone (English Andy Wilson (Politics Editorial Team This magazine is also 2000) is a writer and 1994) covers sport Phil Steel, Editor available for download from Join the pianist based in London. – mostly cricket and Jill Bullock, Deputy Editor www.alumni.leeds.ac.uk discussion Simon Jenkins, or can be emailed out He has written for rugby league – for The Melissa Snowden on request the Guardian and the Guardian and The Observer, and before that Observer, which has This magazine is printed Thanks the Leeds Guide. He has the happy requirement on 50% recycled paper www.facebook. Caroline Bartholomew, performed throughout of regular returns to and mailed out in 100% com/leedsalumni Matt Davison, Kathy biodegradable packaging Soho and the West End. Headingley. He is Cover image: Isherwood, Emma Leeds Alumni also a member of the The AccelorMittal Orbit, designed for the 2012 Olympics by sculptor Anish Kapoor (honorary DLitt 1993) McKeown Views expressed are those on LinkedIn Phil Sutcliffe is a regular University’s Rugby of the contributors and Correspondence is @LeedsAlumni contributor to Leeds and League alumni having not necessarily those of welcomed and should be on Twitter has written for Sounds, played for three seasons the University of Leeds addressed to the Editor at: The Face, Q, Mojo, The including an appearance Appetite Los Angeles Times and in the UAU final at Alumni & Development, Design: www.appetiteuk.com EC Stoner Building, The Northern Echo. He Doncaster. University of Leeds, If you would is Member of Honour Leeds, UK like to receive of the National Union of Kipper Williams (Fine LS2 9JT this magazine Journalists. Art 1974) draws for a electronically and number of publications Web: alumni.leeds.ac.uk help reduce our 14 including The Sunday Tel: +44 (0)113 343 7520 environmental Email: [email protected] impact, email Facing the music Times, The Guardian and [email protected] The Spectator. Photo credit: Dan Smith

Summer 2012 — 01 News – Leeds alumni Leeds Alumni – News taking centre stage a great Dame celebrates A remarkable engineering feat for at the great hall The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee concert More tales of relationship building in the alumni community

Springing into Dame Fanny Waterman Graduate takes (honorary MA 1966; honorary action DMus 1992) celebrated her 92nd Olympic gold birthday by hosting a dinner fundraiser in the Great Hall for When professional footballer the Leeds International Piano On his record breaking 10th Fabrice Muamba collapsed on Competition (LIPC), which summit of , the pitch during the first half takes place from 29 August to Kenton Cool (Geological of a FA Cup match in March, 16 September. The dinner also Sciences 1984) fulfilled a pledge cardiologist Dr Andrew Deaner marked the internationally- made after a failed Everest (MBChB Medicine 1987) was renowned competition’s golden expedition that gripped the one of the first to reach him. jubilee. Dame Fanny recently world in 1922. Andrew, a fan seated in the arranged a Children’s Jubilee Kenton had been spurred stadium, sprang to the field Concert to honour The Queen’s into action by a long-forgotten to assist medics when Fabrice Diamond Anniversary, held at story uncovered in the lead- suffered a cardiac arrest. Leeds Town Hall. It featured up to the London Olympics. He accompanied the victim more than 400 children from Two years before George in an ambulance to London underprivileged schools, who Mallory’s famous effort, a Chest Hospital, where Andrew had no prior music background. group of British explorers had works. He remained by Fabrice’s The BBC is currently making been thwarted by an avalanche a documentary about Dame a mere 500 metres from the Fanny’s life. summit of Mount Everest.

Photo credit: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images The Queen Victoria memorial U2, Pink Floyd and Take That, “The roof over the stage was a Candid street a residential street in Leeds helped by a in front of Buckingham Palace Neil helped to create a premiere series of canopies radiating out appeared at the London received a modern makeover concert stage for the Queen’s from the centre supported at the scene College of Communication’s bird’s eye view with help from Atelier One Diamond Jubilee concert, which rear only,” Neil says. “Achieved Street Photography Exhibition Director Neil Thomas (BSc featured Sir Paul McCartney, with springs beneath the bases held in March. All entries were Architectural Engineering Dame Shirley Bassey and Sir as the wind increased, the forces A street scene snapped on a taken by citizen journalists Lara Jordan (MSc Biodiversity 1980). Having previously Elton John among others. The were transferred around the mobile phone won Kheoh Yee or non-professionals on their and Conservation 1999) engineered grandiose stages for structure proved a challenge: structure to avoid overloading.” Wei (MEng Electronics and mobile phones. manages and develops the bird Nanotechnology 2011) Street Kheoh’s photo depicts a collection at Johannesburg Zoo Photographer of Year in an mother and child walking, an in South Africa. As Curator international competition run excitable dog and on-looking of Birds, she has been part of Photo credit: Cool Ascents Designing for Photo credit: Julian Finney – The FA/The FA via Getty Images by the Citizen Journalism neighbours. He says: “I knew the conservation projects for When Pierre de Coubertin, diversity Educational Trust (CJET). I had to stop and capture a endangered species including the father of the modern side in intensive care after his His prize-winning photo of candid street photograph.” the Wattled Crane, Cape , presented the heart stopped beating for 78 Vulture and Mabula Southern adventurers with gold medals Abu Dhabi-based fashion minutes and was revived. “If I Ground Hornbill project. Lara, for in 1924, designer Manar al Hinai (MA was ever going to use the term has specialized in hand-rearing their leader vowed that one day Diversity Management 2009) miraculous, it could be used and incubation of chicks, her the medal would go to the top won an Arab Woman of the here. He has made a remarkable passion is for conservation of of Everest. Year award from L’Officiel recovery so far,” said Andrew. bird species. Time passed. The pledge Middle East magazine and During the game’s rematch- Previously she worked with was forgotten. Kenton heard landed on Alhan!’s Hot 100 minus Fabrice-fans of both Mauritian Fody, Mauritian the story and said ‘I have to do list for her contributions to teams were seen bearing white eyes, Waldrapp Ibis and that’. On learning of Kenton’s fashion and business. Manar messages of hope for the athlete. hornbills in the Philippines. quest for an original medal, a created clothing brand Lucky Andrew once again smiled and She is currently working on Toronto resident invited Kenton Nooni after noticing the lack cheered from the audience. her PhD proposal the subject for a visit. His grandfather’s of Arabian Gulf designs in Fabrice, released from hospital of which is a secret for now! medal found itself taken out fashion. She says: “That really one month after his collapse, The Johannesburg Zoo recently of storage and accompanying bothered me, so I decided this said: “I would like to take this received We Make Joburg Great Kenton across the world to was something I had to do.” opportunity to pay tribute to Excellence Award from the the top of the world’s highest Her clothing retails online and every single member of staff City of Johannesburg, for their mountain, 88 years after it had in boutiques in Oman, Bahrain who played a part in my care.” conservation efforts. been awarded. See Kenton’s and United Arab Emirates. A model wears one of Manar al Hinai’s designs climb at kentoncool.com Photo credit: Michelle Lukins

02 — summer 2012 Summer 2012 — 03 News – Leeds alumni

hooked on ethics Share your Angela Fitzpatrick (Latin 1982) co-founded The Reel Fish Co., a tinned tuna business that uses only poles and lines in the experiences Maldives to catch its selection, and provides a more ethical alternative to netting practices. In brief Angela decided early on to with Leeds Professor of Social Work for pursue a career with consumer Children and Families at the goods, but was always keen to University of Birmingham Sue study Latin at Leeds. “I always White (PGDip Applied Social students to knew I could add a business Studies 1984) received funds to qualification later in life,” develop a transferable hospital she said, “but I would never tool-kit for detecting child abuse and have had a second chance at a safeguarding children prior to release. help them classical education.” Rugby lock Tom Palmer (Physics 2001) will return to from Photo © Apex News & Pictures & News Apex © Photo next season to play for What did you do to London Wasps. He played in four on their way. She takes to the sky of England’s 2012 Six Nations break into your career? rugby matches earlier this year.

Kate Moran (Aviation pursued any courses that would Singer-songwriter Corinne Bailey Technology and Management lead to her flying professionally. Rae (English Language & Literature 2007), aged 25, has begun a “I’m getting paid to do my 2000; DMus honorary 2011) won career as a commercial airline hobby – how many people can Best R&B Performance at the How did your If you were pilot in an industry where less say that? There has never been GRAMMYs for her recorded version of Bob Marley’s “Is This Love”. than five percent of pilots are a time when I have wanted to degree get starting out women. Kate has dreamed of do anything else.” She flies with Dannick Jethwa won the UK Best becoming captain of an aircraft Devon-based airline Flybe. Young Dentist award in 2011 and you that job? again, what since the age of nine and was highly commended as Dentist of the Year (North UK) at the Dental advice would Awards 2012. He is studying for Campaigning benefits. CPAG researched help in an MSc in Clinical Dentistry at you give? various scenarios to predict Leeds Dental Institute while running for the outcomes of benefit cuts, shanghai a thriving practice in Derby. concluding that families with children Nicholas B Lydon (Biochemistry three or more children could be & Zoology 1978) became 2012 pushed below the poverty line. Japan Prize Laureate for his role As Chief Executive of the Child “The effect of more than £18 in developing Imatinib, a drug Poverty Action Group, Alison billion cuts to welfare benefits that targets cancer cells. Garnham (Philosophy and together with stagnating wages Psychology 1980) campaigns and rising unemployment and Nancy Carroll (Fine Art 1997) against rising child poverty in rising prices will result in there co-starred in The Recruiting the UK. Working with MPs being 800,000 more children Officer, a Restoration comedy in and lobby groups, Alison has in poverty by 2020,” she said. London’s Donmar Warehouse. Nancy won Olivier and Evening stressed the importance of “My whole career has felt like Standard awards in 2010. maintaining universal child preparation for this job.” Leeds A Shanghai centre supporting Philip Broadhead (History 1973) homeless people, founded has been appointed Deputy Rector by Jimmy McWhinney (MA of academic services at University Network Asia Pacific Studies 2011), of the Arts London. His new role has been nominated for the begins August 2012. He was formerly Rotary Leadership Awards in Pro-Warden at Goldsmiths. Register with the Leeds Network Shanghai for excellence in social Elizabeth Price (PhD Fine Art responsibility. Jimmy founded if you would like to answer career 1999) has been nominated The Renewal Center, to support for the Turner Prize, the most questions from students by email or Shanghai’s homeless men and prestigious prize modern art. women with daily provisions, could write a profile about your career. medical attention, employment, residency and support. For the latest alumni news visit During the winter months alumni.leeds.ac.uk/alumninews, Jimmy worked with the local check out facebook.com/leedsalumni community to collect warm and follow @leedsalumni on Find out more here clothes and donations for The Twitter. To tell us your news email [email protected] Renewal Center’s residents. alumni.leeds.ac.uk/leedsnetwork LeedsforLife Photo © David Levene/The Guardian

04 — summer 2012 Feature – The Leeds Olympians The Leeds Olympians – Feature More Leeds students and Leeds may be 200 miles from the Olympic Stadium – but alumni and alumni than ever will be students are putting the University competing at London 2012. right at the heart of the London Games. From the top sports these are the athletes doctor to the man responsible for to look out for: 1,000 medal presentations, the dancers performing in the opening ceremony to the brothers chasing Paul Mattick (GB Men’s Rowing, Lightweight Fours) Gold medal glory, London 2012 Heats, 28 Jul /// Repechage, 29 Jul /// Semi Final, 31 Jul /// will be a showcase for Leeds talent. Final, 2 Aug Andy Wilson and Simon Jenkins Andrea Dennis meet some of those involved (GB Women’s Rowing, Lightweight Pairs) Heats, 28 Jul /// Repechage, 29 Jul /// Semi Final, 31 Jul /// Final, 2 Aug Matt Holland & Ed Scott (GB Men’s Water Polo) Preliminaries, 29, 31 Jul, 4, 6 Aug /// Quarter Final, 8 Aug /// Semi Final, 10 Aug /// Final, 12 Aug Ashleigh Ball (GB Women’s Hockey) Preliminaries, 29, 31 Jul, 2, 4, 6 Aug /// Quarter Final, 8 Aug /// Final and Bronze Medal Match, 10 Aug Rebecca Gallantree (GB Women’s Diving) 3m synchronised heats and Final, 29 Jul /// 3m springboard preliminaries, 3 Aug /// Semi Finals and Final, 4 Aug /// 10m platform preliminaries, 8 Aug /// Semi Finals and Final, 9 Aug Jack Oliver (GB Weightlifting) The leeds 77kg class heats and Final, 1 Aug JONATHAN HAMMOND (GB Prone Rifle Men) Qualifying and Final, 3 Aug (GB Men’s Athletics) , 7 Aug Jonathan Brownlee (GB Men’s Athletics) Triathlon, 7 Aug

Paralympics: Claire Cashmore (GB Class S9 swimming) 30 Aug Kim Daybell (GB Class 10 Table Tennis) Preliminaries from 30 Aug Karen Darke (GB Hand Cycling, H2 time trial and H2 road race) 5, 7 Sep Photo credit: LOCOG credit: Photo 06 —olympians summer 2012 summer 2012 — 07 Feature – The Leeds Olympians The Leeds Olympians – Feature

f all goes well in Hyde Park on The gruelling event, introduced August 7, Leeds University could to the Olympics in Sydney 2000, be basking in the golden glow of begins with a 1,500m swim in the The Rowers the water the brothers Brownlee. Alistair Serpentine, before the 55 competitors the I(Biological Sciences 2009) and third cycle 40km – seven laps of a scenic As Leeds went to press, both year history student Jonny say the circuit taking in Buckingham Palace Paul Mattick (Pharmacology and polo players city has been the perfect base from and the Wellington Arch – then finish Physiology 1999) and Andrea Dennis which to prepare a dual medal with a 10k run back in Hyde Park. (Sports Science and Physiology 2003) Leeds could have two representatives challenge in the triathlon. The two brothers are not are in contention for a place in Great in the GB water polo squad – Matt triathletes They grew up in , went physically imposing, but that Britain’s rowing squads. Holland (Sport and Exercise Science to school at Bradford Grammar and normal appearance belies a wiry For Paul, from Abingdon in 2010) and Ed Scott, studying now split their training between toughness achieved by years of self- Oxfordshire, London would be his medicine. But only one of them will the University pool and the rugged sacrifice – which must require huge second Olympics, having been a be in the water at any one time, as Chevin Country Park. “A lot of our mental strength when surrounded member of the Lightweight Men’s both are goalkeepers. success is down to really,” by contemporaries indulging in the Four which was placed fifth in After success with the national says Jonny, at 22 the younger by traditionally hedonistic student junior team, Ed, from Bolton was two years, and impressively relaxed lifestyle. “I don’t necessarily miss the youngest member of the GB team about his standing as second it,” says Alistair. “A lot of people say at the 2006 favourite behind Alistair. “We love ‘Wow, how can you do that much in Melbourne, aged just 17. After training here.” training?’ But if it’s what you’ve his A-Levels he spent a season with “We’d rather be here than away,” done – cycling, swimming, running Hungarian club, Szolnoki Foiskola echoes Alistair, who won gold to since you were 12 years old – you – and he also took a year out of his Jonny’s silver in last year’s World don’t know any different. That’s a medical studies to play full-time at and European Championships, and big advantage.” Club Mediterrani in Spain. As we jumped at the chance to return to “Sometimes it’s really nice to have go to press, Ed is looking certain to Leeds from Cambridge when the something different,” Jonny says High Performance Triathlon Unit of his studies. “Other times you’re Paul Mattick – Photo credit: Matthew Lewis/Getty Images was set up in the city four years. tired and it’s hard. But now it’s my battling each other for gold. Watch for the brotherly Beijing. He was also part of the crew rivalry of the Brownlees “The feeling that drove me own personal study. I like doing “We get asked the ‘brothers’ of Leeds. Having trained that took gold medals at the 2007 more than anything really was something different and I think it’s question a lot,” says Jonny. “It’s good and studied on campus, and 2009 World Championships, Alistair and Jonny will just enjoying training – away from important to take your mind away having Alistair around. Good to represent Great Britain and has competed in the pairs and inspiring places to train I just didn’t from it, otherwise all you think about train with him, good for interviews in the London games individual events. At 30, Andrea is Photo credit: Copyright enjoy it any more. Cambridge is a is triathlon.” like this. It makes it a lot nicer. I’m © 2011 Nigel Farrow a veteran of two European and five kind of used to getting beaten by World Championships, at the most Alistair now. If I come second and get recent of which in 2011, she took a beaten by him in a way it’s a victory, gold medal as part of the Lightweight because if anyone else is going to win Women’s Four. A former county track “A lot of people say ‘Wow, how can you I want my brother to win. But it is athlete, Andrea took up rowing in her be chosen, and may be joined in the nice to beat him sometimes.” home town of Oxford, when home squad by Matt, from Carshalton in “I haven’t come second very from University for the summer, and Surrey, who made his senior debut do that much training?’ But if it’s often,” responds Alistair with a rowed for the Leeds team in the final for the GB squad in January 2008. smile that is somewhere between year of her studies. Great Britain will have a tough what you’ve done – cycling, swimming, task competing for the final stages of the competition. Their first round running since you were 12 years group includes matches against Hungary, the US and Serbia – the old – you don’t know any different” “If anyone else is The gold, silver and bronze medallists going to win I want respectively in 2008. boring place to train: the footpaths Their training routine is relentless, weightlifter aren’t that good, the roads just tend but so much easier to bear because my brother to win. to be flat. Here you can just go out they do it together. They live together, Weightlifter Jack Oliver has his on the moors and it’s really inspiring. too, only 10 minutes’ drive from sights firmly set on London after Leeds to London When you move away that’s the big their parents in Horsforth – which But it is nice to beat smashing Britain’s under-20 and thing you realise.” is handy for the odd home-cooked under-23 records at the 2011 World Olympic celebration Alistair had been in Cambridge meal. “I’m awful at cooking,” says him sometimes” Championships, held at Disneyland reading medicine, and after moving Jonny. “Alistair cooks occasionally, Paris. Jack, who is studying Classics Tuesday 7 August north to study sports science but I think it’s a waste of time. We’re sheepish and steely. “To get two of at Leeds, lifted a combined weight of 11.30am – 2pm (Triathlon) and physiology, now combines sponsored by the Chevin Country us on a podium of three in the most 300kg in the two lifting disciplines – 2pm – 4pm (Paxton’s Head pub, his Olympics preparation with Park Hotel, so they give us some food. competitive race in the world, it’s not snatch and clean and jerk – to achieve Hyde Park) a masters in finance. When we If I ever need anything else, I go back easy going, is it? To do it last year in the Olympic qualifying B standard Come and celebrate Leeds’ spoke, in the cafe bar at The to my parents’ house – about three the World Championship in London, and put himself in contention for contribution to the London Games Edge after the brothers’ Thursday times a week.” I thought that was pretty special.” the 2012 Games. Jack, from Bexley with staff, students and alumni. morning swimming session, They talk of long winter bike rides Now the final countdown to the in South London, only began The reception at the Paxton’s Head Jonny was halfway through with cafe stops for a toasted tea cake, race that could define the rest of their weightlifting six years ago, quickly follows the Triathlon in Hyde Park, his dissertation on Richard III, and Christmas dinner with their lives is very much on. So when will climbing the rankings and winning where Leeds brothers Alistair and part of his history degree. grandparents at the family home. they leave Yorkshire for London? numerous Junior National Titles will be representing But they admit that triathlon Theirs is a terrific story of two level- “As late as possible,” says Alistair. before being selected to compete at Great Britain. has been their main focus in the headed, down-to-earth lads, yet in For the Brownlee brothers, there the 2010 Commonwealth Games in > Booking essential at alumni.leeds. Photo credit: Copyright © 2011 Nigel Farrow countdown to London 2012. Hyde Park this August, they could be really is no place like home. Delhi, where he came eighth. ac.uk/triathlon

08 — summer 2012 summer 2012 — 09 Feature – The Leeds Olympians The Leeds Olympians – Feature

times by England and five times Slovenia and Poland. At the moment or swimmer Claire Cashmore by Great Britain. From Brighton, I’m rated number eight or nine in (Linguistics 2011), who was born The Hockey Ash started playing hockey at 10 the world so I’m aiming to reach the without her left forearm, London years old alongside netball and a quarter finals at least – and hopefully will be her third Games – and she number of other sports while at the a bit better!” Fis hoping to add more silverware to Player school. The midfielder now plays the three bronze medals already in for and has the happy ondon may be Karen Darke’s her collection. Having competed in the 2011 knack of scoring key goals, like first Paralympic Games, but it Her first, in the 100m backstroke World Championships and 2010 the ones that secured victory over represents just another milestone in Athens, is a special memory: “I Commonwealth Games, hockey star Olympic silver medallists China paralympians for an inspirational grdauate looked up at the scoreboard and it Ashleigh Ball (Medical Sciences and semi-final opponents Germany Lwho has skiied across Greenland, said I was third. I couldn’t believe 2007) is now hoping to add the at this year’s Champions Trophy kayaked around Corsica, cycled in that I had won a medal. I was still so Olympic Games to an impressive in Argentina, where Great Britain the and been world Para- stunned that I forgot to smile when I CV which has seen her capped 47 finished second. Triathlon Champion – all since a ten- was on the podium!” metre fall from a cliff in 1993 left her She achieved another third place in severely disabled at the age of 21. the individual medley, but her bronze Officials from Leeds and the Chinese Olympic After watching the 2008 medal in the 100m breaststroke in Committee met in March Paralympic Games on television, to arrange for Leeds to be the pre-Games training The chinese hand-cyclist Karen (Chemistry base for the Chinese and Geological Science 1992) was Olympic programme determined to compete in 2012. “Beijing was the first time they had “I couldn’t believe team Photo credit: Dr Ayoade S Ademakinwa included hand-cycling and I thought A team of 60 student volunteers he dust will barely have settled it would be amazing to compete.” that I had won a will welcome around 300 Chinese on the Olympics, before the She qualified for London last year athletes, coaches and support staff paralympians take centre stage after winning two bronze medals based in Leeds as they make their for 12 days of competition. Three at the World Championships – and medal. I was still 51 final preparations ahead of the games. Tathletes are flying the flag for the now has her eyes on Paralympic The students, all Chinese speakers, University of Leeds. glory too. “Originally I just so stunned that I Gold medals won by China at will act as hosts and translators for Medics have a reputation for wanted to get in the team; now I 2008 Olympics the visitors. working hard and playing hard. am there, I will be disappointed forgot to smile when Athletics stars, swimmers, In the case of Kim Daybell, that if I don’t win a medal.” boxers – and competitors from a has a slightly different meaning. host of other sports – will be based He’s combined the first year of his I was on the podium!” Photo credit: The Hub Entertainment in the University’s Storm Jameson course with preparations for the Beijing was a serious disappointment. hall of residence. Many will use Paralympics, where he hopes to make “I had set the fastest times going the state-of-the-art facilities in the a real impact, having represented into the Games, but then someone 2550 University’s new gym and swimming England in able-bodied table tennis came from nowhere to win it. It was Rooms used pool complex The Edge, while at junior levels despite having been a girl who had been an able-bodied over the course others will use the John Charles born with Poland’s syndrome – which competitor, but then lost a limb and the diver of the whole training camp Centre for Sport in South Leeds and in his case meant no fingers on his switched to the Paralympics.” Essex-born Rebecca Gallantree venues further afield. right hand. Since graduating, Claire has (Sport & Exercise Science 2005) China is a world superpower at “It’s been a busy year,” says Kim, worked for Leeds charity the Jane settled in Leeds after completing Olympic level, having topped the who will turn 20 shortly before the Tomlinson Appeal, and has visited her studies, and is on course to be medal table in their home Olympics Games. “But one of the big appeals for schools to spread the word about the selected for two separate diving in Beijing in 2008, claiming 51 golds me about Leeds – as well as the course, Photo courtesy of Back Up and riversidecreatives.com Paralympics. She is hoping to forge a events – the 3m springboard and a total of 100 medals overall. which is great – was the support they career in the media “ideally as a Blue individual competition, and the 3m 6 The most high-profile among the would give me as an athlete.” Peter presenter!” Chinese Men Chinese athletes coming to Leeds Originally from Sheffield, which Having already qualified for ranked in World will be table tennis stars who enjoy is the training centre for all Britain’s “Originally I just the games, Claire is determined to Photo credit: Feng Li/Getty Images top 10 for Table near-total dominance over the rest leading table tennis players, Kim make amends in the breaststroke, Tennis (May 2012) of a home crowd was fantastic, and of the world. China currently boasts took a year out to work on his game wanted to get in though she will not know until “…when I was obviously now I want to experience four of the top five men and five of full-time before starting his degree. nearer the time which events she will that again in the Olympics.” the leading six women in the world “The Chinese will be the players to be competing in. And despite her looking around to Rebecca trains at the Aquatic rankings. Another athlete expected in beat, as they are in the able-bodied the team; now I experience, Claire is clearly excited Centre John Charles Centre for Leeds is 110m hurdler Liu Xiang, gold sport,” he says. about London: “Being in front of a choose a university, Sport under Ady Hinchliffe, the medallist in 2004 and on course to “But it’s probably a bit more am there, I will be home crowd will be incredible.” senior coach of the Leeds Diving 8 claim gold again in London. equal in the Paralympics with good Training Scheme. “I’d been up to sports represented: The visit is also expected to European players from places like disappointed if I Leeds was definitely Leeds a couple of times for diving Fencing, Table provide a major long-term boost to competitions, and then when I was tennis, Taekwondo, trade, commerce and tourism as well looking around to choose a university Swimming, as strengthening longstanding cultural don’t win a medal” my favourite” Athletics, Boxing, Leeds was definitely my favourite,” Women’s Hockey, ties between Yorkshire and China. “The Chinese will be She’s so determined to succeed, that synchronised competition, with she explained. Canoe Slalom It isn’t just the Chinese team that her successful coaching and speaking Alicia Blagg, a 15-year-old from “We train six days a week, twice has chosen Leeds as its base. Members business Inspire and Impact has been Wakefield. a day most days, with about half of of the Canadian paralympic team the players to beat, put on hold, at least for now. “My “I finished ninth in the World what we do on dry land – in the gym, will also be based on campus before focus is completely on cycling – I have Cup in the Olympic pool in London fitness work, stretching and weights. the start of the Paralympic Games. as they are in the world Championship races in Italy, in February, which was an amazing It’s going to be a busy few months, Canada’s wheelchair rugby team Switzerland and Spain coming up, and experience,” she says. “To be in front and so exciting.” tested out the facilities last year. able-bodied sport” then it’s all about London.” Photo credit: Guang Niu/Getty Images

10 — summer 2012 summer 2012 — 11 Feature – The Leeds Olympians The Leeds Olympians – Feature

the most watched TV event on the Edinburgh Festival. For me that’s “It’s terrifying.” planet; around one billion people where it all started.” tuned in four years ago. But Martin And the future? “I don’t think the dancers Martin Green (MA English 1996) feels no pressure to better Beijing: about it. I have a team of 500 making it admits that his is among the more “Comparisons don’t work. The people who feel it is a privilege to be Holly Welham and Georgina daunting roles at London 2012. As opening ceremony should be an delivering on the expectations the Ketteman will be among the cast of head of ceremonies, he is charged idiosyncratic display of our city and UK has of us. You can’t conceive thousands in the opening ceremony with delivering the opening and country at this moment in its history. of the ‘after’.” – an event set to break global records closing events at both the Olympics The Beijing ceremony was very for its TV viewing figure. happen and Paralympics – and something Chinese, the Athens one very Greek.” s leading sports doctor for Holly, a first year chemistry like a thousand medal ceremonies With a cast of 12,000 and film the Olympic and Paralympic and biology student from St Neots From planning to in between. director Danny Boyle installed Games, Dr Stuart Miller in Cambridgeshire, explains: “I construction, transport In some ways the job is a as Creative Director, Martin is (Medicine 1982) will co- applied online two years ago, when natural progression from previous promising to deliver “the very best Aordinate the care of all 15,000 I was in the Lower Sixth, and had management to media high-profile roles including major ceremony that we possibly can.” athletes competing in London. to attend two big auditions before London events such as the New For the medal ceremonies, he “It’s a great honour,” says Stuart, finally hearing in January that I’d coverage, Leeds alumni Year’s Eve celebrations, festivals in opted for military precision. “We but it reflects his pre-eminence in an been chosen.” For second year dance have been involved Trafalgar Square and the opening have 1,000 ceremonies – that’s 3,000 emergent field. The General Medical student Georgina, performing is of the O2 Arena in the former flags and 1,000 national anthems. Council established the specialism While athletes are ooking after the athletes is a big second nature, but for Holly it’s a competing in the Olympic in every aspect of Millennium Dome. We can’t afford to get one wrong.” of Sports and Exercise Medicine as Stadium, Leeds alumni part of Simon Mason’s remit totally new experience: “I’ve never The first ceremony is already well So the responsibility has been passed recently as 2007; Stuart was its first are involved at the highest too. As a veteran of the Atlanta, done anything like this at all. I was creating a successful level in some of the crucial under way. The torch relay began to the armed forces: “Who else recognised specialist. behind-the-scenes activity Sydney and Athens games, the Olympic Games on 17 May and culminates in the would you turn to, to make sure it’s His own interest in the field was Lformer GB hockey captain was lighting of the Olympic Stadium all executed perfectly?” sparked by a painful incident “on ideally placed to ensure that for those flame. 8,000 runners are involved Though only a student at Leeds the awful Woodhouse Moor tennis taking part, the London experience is during a 70-day marathon taking the for a year, Martin “arrived early courts” where Stuart twisted an second to none. “There’s so much torch the length and breadth of the and left late” because he liked the ankle and was lucky to be treated As a member of the Athletes Sculptor Anish Kapoor (honorary DLitt 1993) has UK. “When the torch relay started, city so much. “The department at Leeds General Infirmary by Dr Committee, Simon helped shape going on, just in designed the iconic 376-foot-tall Orbit tower, which was commissioned specially for the Olympic Park in east people began to realise the Olympics had such extraordinary staff who Ian Adams, considered by many to every aspect of London 2012 – London. Unveiled in May, the twisted tangle of red steel, really are happening.” encouraged us to follow the paths be the father of sports medicine. from the detail of billion-pound those ten minutes. described by Kapoor as ‘awkward but beautiful’, is right beside the Olympic Stadium and features two observation Come July, the whole world will we wanted. I wrote a play, and the At the time, rehabilitation for media contracts, to the food floors, a 455-step spiral staircase, a lift and a restaurant. know. The opening ceremony is University funded us to take it to the sports injuries was considered served for breakfast in the athletes’ complete once the patient could village. Chaired by Jonathan the whole thing walk comfortably. “Dr Adams went Edwards the committee includes much further,” says Stuart. “He notable ex-Olympians such as will be incredible” took the view that patients should Karen Pickering, Tim Henman and be able to do the things they were Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson. determined to be involved with the able to do before.” “Athletes were involved at every Olympics, but I didn’t really want to After graduating, Stuart had stage,” says Simon (Economics do something behind the scenes.” stints in Otley, Hertfordshire, 1994, Hon LLD 2009). “Even when It’s a big commitment, says Surrey and Bristol, before moving they were deciding whether London Georgina: “We have to go to London to the University of Bath where he should submit a bid, there was for about 20 half-day rehearsals – is Clinical Director of the biggest a determination the competitors and then there are three full dress sports medicine course in the world. should be at the heart of the Games.” rehearsals in the stadium before the The group’s wealth of sporting opening ceremony.” Both are tight- knowledge, their range of skills outside lipped about the content, and neither the competitive arena – and their has yet seen the whole performance: independence from the organising “We’ve had to sign declarations “We have 1,000 ceremonies – committee – are key strengths. “If of confidentiality,” says Georgina. there’s something which we don’t like, “Although we know about the short that’s 3,000 flags and 1,000 we simply say ‘no’.” sequences we’re involved in, we won’t Simon brings to the group the see the rest until much nearer to the business acumen developed by date. “There’s so much going on, just national anthems. We can’t owning and running Mercian in those ten minutes. The whole thing Sports, which exports hockey will be incredible.” afford to get one wrong” equipment worldwide. Simon remembers his time at At London 2012 he is charged Leeds with fondness – even though with looking after all the athletes, he was travelling to Bristol every including those who use the weekend to play National League Polyclinic in the athletes’ village – Hockey. “I perhaps chose to study essentially a small hospital which the wrong course, but I threw myself features everything from a minor into every sport going at Leeds!” accident unit to the very latest So will London be the best imaging equipment. “Our team will games ever for those taking part? be supporting the team doctors who “Sydney was wonderful – it set a are travelling to London with the new benchmark. Beijing was good athletes, and we can call in dental, too. “But if London is as good optical and massage experts as we as Sydney the athletes will have a need them.” fantastic experience.” Holly Welham and Georgina Ketteman

12 — summer 2012 summer 2012 — 13 Feature – ilan Eshkeri ilan eshkeri – Feature

London making tea for him and setting up computers, copying music.” It only got better. Shearmur often collaborated with established big-timer (Brazil, Die Hard, Licence to Kill, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Steven Spielberg’s HBO series Band of Brothers). Another introduction produced further chances to brew up and peer over the shoulder of a master. more time you spend doing business. It gets Still, Ilan stuck with his degree course. In harder to carve out writing periods… But I Leeds, he wrote and recorded demo cassettes wouldn’t grumble!” – David Cooper recalls him “bringing It’s not what he wanted to do when he was professional-standard work into the class” growing up in London. That would have been – and sent them to anyone who might be weird, he says. “No, I wanted to be in a rock interested: “When I was living at Oxley Hall “Movie soundtracks are band,” he says. “Because I thought I wouldn’t a guy making a short at a school in London invisible to the ear,” says Ilan have to work too hard to make a living. I wrote to say he liked the tape and he wanted took up guitar when I was 13 and… messed me to write a soundtrack for him. I remember Eshkeri, enjoying the sensory about.” But, as parents will, his Israeli father jumping for joy. My first film!” contradiction and apparently and French mother had already pressed him And so to Hollywood, though only untroubled by the implication: into formal music lessons on the violin. So, a for more dogsbodying at first, assisting Instrumental firm basis for he didn’t know what. Chichester-born Harry Gregson-Williams that his work as a film-score “I guess I was always aware of (Shrek, The Chronicles of Narnia). Plus, composer passes unremarked soundtracks,” he muses, unconvinced, naturally, he networked. As the former cute by the people who hear it. naming only Indiana Jones and Back to the English kid in town, he recalls, “There’s a to the Future. He was hardly on a mission before studio Vice President in Hollywood who still arriving in Leeds. It’s more that once he got looks at me like, ‘Ah, there’s little Ilan’. She Because they’re not listening. Nor should there doors opened, helpful voices said “walk doesn’t squeeze my cheeks but almost.” they be, he reckons: “If you notice what I’ve this way”, and opportunity revealed ability. While Hollywood was a bold post-uni film done, probably I’ve done something wrong. I Everything worked, planned or random. adventure, real progress came when he have to not take people away from the story. He loved studying music technology under flitted back home to do some arranging Even so… you do want them humming your Professor David Cooper (Music 1978). and programming for Kamen, who then tunes when they walk out of the cinema.” Likewise composition with Professor Philip suddenly died in November, 2003, in the This anonymity is an odd aspect of a Wilby (DMus 1997), a composer himself, in middle of scoring an animated movie called career which has gone like a train ever since particular, a lesson about creative ego: “He Back to Gaya. At the age of 29, Ilan graduated from Leeds with a Music and believed a lot of composers spent too much “I played a large part in finishing it from English degree in 1999. Only 34, he’s already time trying to establish their ‘signature’ – the themes he’d written and other material Ilan Eshkeri was composing written music for 20-plus films, Hollywood something to make them different and attract he’d left,” says Ilan. “A few weeks later Layer the score for a $70 million film.Phil Sutcliffe and British, including Layer Cake, Stardust, attention. He said, ‘Then they forget about Cake (a British crime thriller starring Daniel , Johnny English Reborn writing music’. Creating work is the thing, Craig) needed some work. That was my finds out about the drive and talent behind one of the and Coriolanus. the rest will take care of itself.” first proper credit on a movie.” Via director UK’s most sought after film score composers Big business this: tens of millions of Ilan plunged into the English half of his and various intervening dollars. Which explains why he’s hard to pin joint honours degree too: “Lynette Hunter detours, it led to his breakthrough: a down for an interview. Leeds missed him in was an inspiring teacher. With my English, I commission to score Paramount Pictures’ London and Venice, finally caught up with was studying narrative and that’s what film $70-million comic book fantasy Stardust him in Los Angeles. It’s a hustling life, then? composing is about. Later, it helped me with (featuring Robert De Niro as a camp pirate), “Oh, the larger your business becomes, the reading scripts.” and in due course the Best New Composer Then luck got involved: “Someone award from the International Film Music Photo: Ilan Eshkeri (right) collaborating with director introduced me to Ed Shearmur who was Critics Association. and producer Matthew Vaughn. The two have worked together on Kick-Ass, Stardust and Layer Cake ten years older than me and already writing “Writing and recording the whole soundtracks (The Wings of the Dove, Stardust soundtrack when I was 29, that’s Charlie’s Angels, Johnny English). I started really unusual,” he says. spending summer vacations in the studio in Leeds lecturer in music and film score expert, Dr Ian Sapiro (BA 2000, MMus 2002, MPhil 2005, PhD 2011), says Ilan got the breaks for sure, but only because he’d built his working life on such firm foundations: “He served those ‘apprenticeships’ here and in LA, and he developed a well-rounded sense of the composer’s place in the process. He can do British pop as in Layer Cake and Hollywood symphonic as in Stardust. That’s why he’s in demand.”

14 — summer 2012 summer 2012 — 15 Feature – ilan eshkeri ilan eshkeri – Feature

And up for anything: “Within three years I did Ninja Assassin which was super-violent, noisy guitars, loud orchestras, The Young Almost music, Victoria, a love story with a light, orchestral But some of the most riveting moments in score…” He breaks off. “I put my heart and any film may involve the composer sitting on but much more soul into everything, but The Young Victoria his hands: there’s a screaming argument or People can get sniffy about film soundtrack is a very personal work for me. I was falling a cacophonous battle and the next moment music when they see it on a curriculum. However, in love with a girl I thought I was going you cut to… the sound of silence: “I like those the University’s pioneering has helped to rebuff to marry. Emotionally it’s all about that. times at the cinema when it gets quiet, intense that attitude. “It’s not regarded suspiciously at Anyway, then there’s Coriolanus, a modern- and the walls close in on you. You hear the all now,” says Professor David Cooper, whose dress Shakespeare tragedy set in ancient person next to you breathe, you hear a own specialisms include Alfred Hitchcock’s Rome, and Johnny English Reborn, an character’s sleeve brushing against a wall…” go-to soundtrack maestro Bernard Herrmann 01 / (renowned progenitor of the nerveshredding action comedy caper. I think film composers That’s the magic all right. But what about However, he’s not telling them to “do Psycho shower-scene violin shriek). need to be musical chameleons.” the nuts and bolts? Does film composition what I did” exactly. “You pay the price for David points to the ’80s when Peter Franklin start when a film’s almost finished and you success at a young age,” he says. “I didn’t boldly launched film music studies to music sit in front of a screen, rolling images back go on holiday until I was 27. Meanwhile, students. “It’s about developing students’ critical “I like those times at the and forth, jotting ten-second snippets? my friends had travelled the world and had interest,” says David, “finding out how the music “Partly, but often you come in earlier and works, the psychology, the systematic nature amazing experiences. Well, part of it was that of the way it connects emotionally to us.” cinema when it gets quiet, work on the main musical themes without I didn’t have any money. I’d walk an hour to Film score academic Dr Ian Sapiro, now writing intense and the walls close in any footage in front of you. That’s hard the studio because I was too proud to ask the a book about Ilan Eshkeri, sees the study of film and that’s the creative process. The nitty- people I worked for to advance my pay. So music as both simple and sophisticated: “Classical, on you. You hear the person gritty is the ‘spotting session,’ usually at I missed those hanging-out years. I love my pop, world, jazz, they all come together and film the director’s cut stage, when you discuss life, but if I was advising someone young now composers need to be grounded in all of them. next to you breathe, you Whether it’s Elizabethan costume drama or a New exactly where music is needed. For instance, I’d tell them to go slower, take your time.” hear a character’s sleeve 02 / York gangster movie, the composers know how the director will tell me things like, ‘This No belated gap year for Ilan now, to come up with sounds that tell us more about a brushing against a wall…” scene needs some support,’ ‘I never got the though. At time of writing, he’d just scene than pictures and dialogue can. So you teach performance I wanted here,’ ‘Can you help finished the soundtrack for a film called it musicologically because it’s very serious work.” me emotionally?’ That’s the craft bit, like Austenland (romantic comedy set in a Jane Going from Coriolanus to Johnny English building a chest of drawers.” Austen theme park) and started early drafts Reborn looks quite a leap. “I think comedy Ultimately, is the director the boss? for -directed The Invisible 1 Ralph Fiennes in Coriolanus, a contemporary, Treasures of action-packed version of Shakespeare’s classic is the most difficult discipline,” says Ilan. “Director, editor and producer all have a Woman (the story of Charles Dickens’s story of revenge. Copyright Lionsgate Films “Rowan Atkinson taught me a lot. He was lot to say. And I have a strong voice too. mistress). But he says he’s “thinking a lot Coriolanus is now out to own on DVD and Blu-ray the white van hands-on about every detail of the entire In the end, though, if they insist on one about doing my own work”, making music 2, 3 Ilan Eshkeri at work 4 Michelle Pfeiffer in fantasy adventure Stardust ™ ® In June 2005, a white van arrived at the School score, the timing, what happens if we do piano note…” When you’ve argued for an that isn’t fundamentally “serving someone and Copyright © 2007 by Paramount Pictures. All of Music. Trevor Jones, author of three decades’ Rights Reserved. Stardust is out now on DVD and this… or that? Eventually we decided to orchestra? “Well, you have to do what they else’s vision”. Blu-ray, from Paramount Home Entertainment worth of lauded scores for British and Hollywood score Johnny English extremely seriously, say. But then they test-screen and things can He talks fondly of a tone poem he’s 5 Comic superhero filmKick ‑Ass; Photo credit: Dan Smith movies including Brassed Off, Mississippi not ‘play’ the jokes. So, straight action-movie change quite dramatically.” currently composing for a Paris Tuileries 03 / Burning and Notting Hill, unloaded about 400 music with a slightly Bond-style brass section exhibition this summer by South Korean reel-to-reel tapes of music in various stages of even while the audience is laughing at him completion along with piles of related paperwork. photographer AHAE. “It’s different, even It was an accidental coup, David Cooper making a fool of himself. And there’s sad though it’s true I’m still responding to avers. That March, at a Bradford Film Museum music where he’s in trouble – you need to “You pay the price for success his art,” he says, trying to be honest with conference, he’d chatted with keynote speaker make the audience really care about him.” at a young age … I didn’t himself. “I’ve been talking to some people Jones: “I said it was difficult to get hold of ralph Fiennes was a first-time director about writing an opera, but it would be a materials to study film scores and he said he had playing the lead too when he made go on holiday until I was 27. hell of a commitment, I’d have to take a lot of a load of tapes sitting in his son’s garage…” That Coriolanus. Ilan has been quoted saying comment led to Leeds having one of the best Meanwhile, my friends had time out. And I’ve got a great idea for a ballet. collections of film score archives in the UK. that initially Fiennes “didn’t really want travelled the world and had And I’ve finished a violin concerto I started at At a conference in 2007, David spoke about any music at all, or just the bare minimum”, Leeds – really difficult stuff for someone else archives to Michael Nyman — The Piano, The which sounds like a challenge? “No amazing experiences” to play, I’m just not good enough!” Libertine, and a slew of Peter Greenaway-directed difficulty. He was open to ideas. So the maybe he’ll get to them. No time for that movies including The Draughtsman’s Contract. Coriolanus soundtrack doesn’t have tunes, now, though. His friends from British rock A similar response ensued (bar the white van). it’s not accessible, but I love the sounds, no Nyman handed over 700 assorted master tapes, I ask whether there are any examples band Kasabian are in reception waiting to drive demos, final mixdowns. This archive has proved reverb, very brutal, very uncompromising. of films where he’s had to write new music out to the Coachella Festival in the Californian a great research resource. “You can track the We banged bits of metal and coiled springs. because a tragic ending had to get happy, or desert. Now, if that’s not a day off… development of ideas; it’s like reading early I focused a lot on the imperfection when I similar. It’s the one question Ilan ducks. “I © Phil Sutcliffe 2012 drafts of a play or a novel,” marvels David. moved a bow quietly against a violin or cello can’t really say without undermining a film The fragile two-inch tapes can rarely be string rather than trying for the best quality I’ve worked on and therefore undermining 04 / / 05 used. “If we could digitise more of them we of note.” could illustrate the whole process of film score my own contribution,” he replies coyly. development,” says Dr Ian Sapiro. “It would This reminds me of a striking moment Ilan Eshkeri has come a long way be very helpful in teaching composition for when James Nesbitt as Sicinius is inciting since graduating: not only from Leeds to films— if we could get the funding.” They’ve the mob to rise against soldier-hero cum Hollywood, but from student to studied. From digitised a quarter of the reels, but it’s a tricky monster Coriolanus. Subliminally, if you’re novice to mentor too. He’s now employing business, as Ian explains: “A lot of tapes need not on soundtrack watch or pan-sensorily- younger Leeds graduates, Paul Saunderson baking in industrial ovens, otherwise they can aware, an eerie, low ticking effect beats out stick together like cling film. And you can only (Music 2008) and Steve Wright (Music 2009, bake them twice, after that they’re useless.” the tension: “Glad you heard it! I don’t think MMus 2010), as studio assistants. Meanwhile, Jones and Nyman seem happy there’s a real distinction between noise and to keep lending and the School hopes develop music; that was me banging a cello with the an archive of even greater use (and renown) back of the bow.” by drawing in more soundtrack composers.

16 — summer 2012 summer 2012 — 17 News – The latest from Leeds The latest from Leeds – News M&S at home in leeds our royal appointment Archive opening marks a stellar partnership Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education In brief

Spin-out success A University of Leeds spin-out Former head of MI5 Dame climate week University Chancellor Lord company with an innovative idea Stella Rimington cut the ribbon Bragg, Vice-Chancellor Professor to tackle climate change has been to officially open the newM arks Michael Arthur and Deputy shortlisted for a national award. & Spencer company archive at From cutting-edge atmospheric Vice-Chancellor Professor John C-Capture Ltd, spun-out from the University. research to switching off Fisher visited Buckingham research in organic chemistry, The Michael Marks Building appliances – a host of events Palace in February to receive has been shortlisted for the Shell on the University’s western highlighted the positive work the Queen’s Anniversary Springboard award for its novel solvents for the capture of CO from campus houses more than which Leeds is doing for the Prize for Higher and Further 2 70,000 items from the history of environment. Education. As reported in the gas streams, including the exhausts of coal-fired power stations. the world famous retailer which A series of themed activities last issue of Leeds, the Institute Shell Springboard is a Shell- began life as Michael Marks’ hosted both by the University of Medical and Biological funded UK Social Investment Penny Bazaar stall on Kirkgate and Leeds University Union Engineering was awarded programme, which gives financial Market in Leeds. took place during Climate the prize for its pioneering support to small and medium Previously housed in London, Week in March, focused on research into joint replacements, enterprises with innovative, the move makes the archive the benefits of developing spinal interventions and tissue low-carbon business ideas. fully accessible to the public for a sustainable world and a engineering. the very first time while opening sustainable University. The prizes, awarded every For flora and fauna up the collections to academics They showcased our world- two years, are part of the UK is recognition of the hard work disability in the world by 2020. The University has published its first Biodiversity Action Plan setting and students for research, leading climate research, while honours system, and promote for a lot of people – and of the Professor Fisher added: out how we can increase the variety teaching and learning. demonstrating how minimising world-class excellence in UK fact that we are taking this “We can’t live forever. Our of plants and animals on campus. The collection includes waste, recycling, cutting universities and colleges. This is work forward into the future. work is about enabling people Prepared by staff in the faculties of business papers, advertising down car use and turning off the second such award to Leeds, Our objective is to improve to enjoy their old age more Biological Sciences and Earth and materials and merchandise such appliances has helped Leeds to whose Institute for Transport the quality of life of people actively, but of course by Environment it provides a detailed as clothing, toys and household meet tough targets for reducing Studies was a winner in 2010. as they age by focusing upon staying active, people are also study of the current habitats and items. It will be of particular its carbon footprint. The Institute of Medical and the research, development and reducing their risk of heart species already on campus and interest to staff and students Biological Engineering is led translation of practical medical disease, diabetes, obesity – all gives clear direction on how we working in subjects including by Professors John Fisher and engineering interventions.” of them potential killers. can encourage them to flourish. business, economics, textiles, Eileen Ingham and they were A major focus for iMBE in “We are driven by the New wildflower meadows, bat and Honorary bird boxes – and a grass mowing arts, history, communications, accompanied at the ceremony the years ahead will be on early conviction that, with the regime that takes more account of marketing, colour chemistry, degrees by postgraduate students and interventions to address the right medical and biological wildlife – are all part of the plan. food sciences and the social research assistants. global burden of osteoarthritis interventions, the goal of fifty sciences. Highlights from the Professor Fisher said: “We which is predicted to be active years after the age of fifty New partners collection will be on display Director of Public Prosecutions are absolutely delighted. This the fourth leading cause of is within reach.” The University has signed a five-year in an exhibition which walks Keir Starmer (Law 1985) will education and research agreement visitors through the company’s receive an Honorary Doctorate with design consultant Arup. 128-year history. of Laws from the University gold at world’s most prestigious flower show The partnership will see our The building also comprises this summer. Starmer has academics from engineering and the social sciences working education space, a dedicated earned a reputation as one alongside Arup’s designers, reading room, temperature and of the country’s most gifted A green-fingered team from The design focused on engineers and technical experts on humidity-controlled units to lawyers and an expert in the University travelled to the how gardeners can control sustainable and resilient business house the vast collections – and the field of human rights. RHS Chelsea Flower Show water to keep plants growing practices, innovative transport additional space for archived As DPP he is responsible for in May to exhibit a garden during dry periods, how to systems, energy reduction and items from the University’s prosecutions, legal issues and at the show’s Environment encourage bees and insects the efficient use of resources. extensive collections. criminal justice policy. He Zone. The garden, designed by and how to turn a garden The University already enjoys Vice-Chancellor Professor gave the keynote address at the gold-medal winning designer into a carbon sink. several research links with Michael Arthur said: “Our formal opening of our new law Martin Walker, brought to A “bee-vision” camera and Arup in areas including asset management, lifecycle carbon partnership with Marks & school in October 2011. life research conducted by linked screen also allowed and energy accounting, low Spencer represents a new Others to be honoured this academics from the Faculty of visitors to see the garden carbon vehicles and the critical model for how a world-leading summer are historian Sir Ian Environment and the Faculty from the perspective of a assessment of urban infrastructure. university and an iconic Kershaw, former head of MI5 of Biological Sciences. pollinating insect. FTSE 100 company can work Baroness Eliza Manningham- Dr Rebecca Slack, of Leeds’ The garden won the gold together. The new Michael Buller, philosopher Baroness Faculty of Environment, said: award in the Environment Find out more Marks Building will be a Onora O’Neill and Sir Mark “Chelsea Flower Show was category. Rebecca said: “It’s For more news on what’s happening fantastic resource for staff and Elder, Music Director of the fantastic. Our message that an accolade for the team, but Photo credit: Michael Leckie at Leeds visit alumni.leeds.ac.uk/ students, the company and the Hallé Orchestra. simple changes can make a more importantly it’s a great universitynews, check out facebook. community.” positive contribution to the way to draw attention to the For further details visit com/leedsalumni and follow (left to right) Professor Michael Arthur, Dame Stella Rimington, M&S Chairman Robert Swannell planet, was a great success.” science behind the garden.” gardenchampions.leeds.ac.uk @leedsalumni on Twitter

18 — summer 2012 Summer 2012 — 19 Feature – Simon armitage simon Armitage – Feature

Ian Beetlestone talks to poet Simon Armitage about his archive at Leeds, and why he sees local hero poetry as an inclusive art

met Simon Armitage at a you get involved in teaching poetry activities […] One of my big worries University of Leeds Poetry and spreading the word of poetry. when I gave up being a probation Centre reading and asked him [Poetry] can be thought of as a very officer was that I would come I why, as a poet with links to inclusive art – on a very crude level downstairs on a Monday morning many educational establishments, all you need is to be able to read and and be confronted by a blank piece of including the Universities of write, and a pencil and paper, and paper and I wouldn’t have anything Sheffield, where he currently teaches, you’re away.” to say, so I quite often fill my time

and Portsmouth and Manchester, But Simon’s body of work is “I believe that art doing other things.” where he studied, he chose to house much wider-ranging than the is a good thing for Those other things include people, it increases his archive with the Brotherton straightforward production of their self-worth.” several television projects. We talk Library’s Special Collections. volumes of poetry. As well as the about Feltham Sings, a film in He explains that he was memoirs and novels there have which the inmates and staff of the approached by Chris Sheppard, as been forays into radio broadcasting, young offenders’ institute sing, rap Head of Special Collections at Leeds, and even a (rather good) band, and recite lyrics written for them some time ago with a view to housing the Scaremongers. by Simon. It’s an extraordinary the archive here, but it was only I’d read in an old piece from the project, and it seems to me a perfect after later interest from the USA that Holme Valley Express, found in one example of the kind of outreach Simon got back in touch with Chris of Simon’s archive boxes, that he still work that Simon has been fairly to make the current arrangement. “I thought of himself as a probation reluctant to lay claim to. Indeed, really wanted them to stay local,” officer long after he’d become amongst his film projects, Simon he says. “They’ve got a good and established as a poet. I wonder if lists writing for “soldiers, women unusual and eclectic archive of he still feels a little like that, since prisoners, women in the sex industry, poetry related papers and documents so much of his work is non-poetry prostitutes, alcoholics…” Surely this here […] there’d been a kind of is a kind of outreach he is doing? leaching away of papers towards “Straightforwardly,” he says, which America and I’m somebody who has is rather the way one expects him to stayed local in lots of ways.” speak, “I believe that art is a good Simon grew up in Marsden in the thing for people, it increases their Pennine foothills of West Yorkshire It’s important to me that life self-worth.” and still lives in the same area. His And poetry in particular? What work has consistently referenced the isn’t just functionality, that is important about that? “There’s county, as exemplified by the popular absolutely no rational reason for memoir All Points North and the there are other ways of living writing a poem, so that makes it forthcoming Walking Home, in very important. We don’t just want which he walks the Pennine Way to and forms of expression that to live our lives out of the left hand Marsden without the aid of money, side of our brain. It seems to me that hoping poetry will pay his way. just go beyond mere description it’s inevitable for as long as we have The difference between Simon’s and information, and I think it’s language and as long as we have archive material and the larger feelings we’re going to be trying to archive it joins is that Simon’s is a a human instinct towards art combine these two things in a sort work in progress. Chris Sheppard of compact and intimate form. It’s had talked to me about investing important to me that life isn’t just in the history of the future with functionality, that there are other Armitage’s ever-developing archive – ways of living and forms of expression does Simon too see this as a two-way that just go beyond mere description project? “I think it is an ongoing related. It’s interesting that Simon’s and information, and I think it’s a project. In some ways I think [Chris] response to this suggests that, more human instinct towards art.” took a bit of a gamble on me, it could than just being about having wider This certainly feels true of “You’ve got to let all have come to nothing.” interests, this state of mind is an Simon himself, a man who studied Does Simon see an opportunity in essential part of his creative process: Geography in Portsmouth and building the archive to do a similar “I think if you consistently and worked as a probation officer in the poems sneak favour for younger people and the continuously thought of yourself as Salford, yet who’s now responsible public at large? Is the archive in a poet that might get in the way of for the existence of an enormous some way an outreach project? “I’m actually doing some work, you’ve archive of his own prolific poetic up on you” not a campaigner and I’m not a got to somehow let the poems sneak output at the University of Leeds. crusader. I’m a writer. It just seems up on you, or imagine that you’re “Stuff,” to quote from his poem The

Photo credit: www.richardmoran.co.uk www.richardmoran.co.uk credit: Photo to be the way of things that as a poet stealing time away from other Christening, “comes blurting out.”

20 –– Spring/summer 2012 summer 2012 — 21 Feature – leeds poetry centre Leeds scholarship > Headingley Leeds Poetry Centre is THE WHY POETRY using a rich archive to home > Late nights in Edward spearhead a programme FOOTSTEPS Boyle > Discovering my of activity on campus MATTERS and beyond. Ian FUND vocation > Led to this… Beetlestone finds For Cheryl, Leeds wasn’t just the out more place where she could begin to realise her dreams – it was the first place she could properly call home.

’m in a vast, dimly lit room from 1950 to 1980. There is a huge year, Leeds will be hosting poets Cheryl’s £1,000 per year down a corridor off the main amount of material relating to the and novelists (Stand also publishes scholarship, provided by the rotunda of the Brotherton celebrated Geoffrey Hill (honorary fiction), as well as workshops on Footsteps Fund, was a life-saver. I library. The room is packed DLitt 1988), who taught at the campus and further afield. It gave her the financial security with hundreds of metres of movable School of English during roughly the An exhibition of visual poetry to move away from a troubled shelves, each marked alphabetically same period. is coming up in the autumn too and family background and begin to with names like Bragg, Harrison, Hill will be back at Leeds this there are plans for exhibitions of discover what her true potential Hill, Silkin. October in one of a series of events archive materials, for example on really was. She discovered a true My eye is caught by a Subbuteo organised by the new Poetry Centre, an electronic display of a variorum love of teaching and mentoring. set, on closer inspection a souvenir which sits across the School of text of Tony Harrison’s poem Them In her vacations she began edition from the launch of Simon English, the Faculty of Arts and And Us. John Whale says “the working with our Access Armitage’s first novel,Little Green the Library. archive provides us with a unique Academy - to reach out to other Man, in 2001. Armitage’s entire I ask John Whale (English 1977, opportunity to chart and document young people in the same archive is stored here, growing in PhD 1982), Head of the School of that process of creation.” situation as she had been in, parallel with the poet’s career. The English and Professor of Romantic and show them what could be Subbuteo set is one of countless Literature, to tell me more about the possible for them, too. curios in this Aladdin’s cave of plans “The Poetry Centre will bring delights for anyone with an interest together the whole set of expertise Now, just 2 years since she … poetry gives us a unique opportunity graduated, Cheryl is already an in the creative process. on campus, give us greater reach and inspirational teacher. And all There are boxes and boxes of impact worldwide, and link research to reflect not only on ourselves but on the from a scholarship of £1,000 notes, doodles, drafts, rare editions more fruitfully with the cultural language in which we articulate ourselves. per year, provided by donations of pamphlets, half-formed ideas – activities of the city and the region. Language, the very stuff of poetry, is often from Leeds alumni. the detritus and treasure left behind It will also give the general public during the writing process by writers the opportunity to meet writers and taken for granted, but best poetry wakes Just 25 gifts of £40 to the through the centuries. enjoy workshops.” us up to new linguistic possibilities Footsteps Fund will provide Amongst them are riches from As well as the Geoffrey Hill a whole year’s scholarship for poets Sir Geoffrey Jon Silkin (English reading, Leeds has held 12 poetry another student like Cheryl. 1962), Tony Harrison (Classics readings over the past 18 months. In Please give today, and help 1958, honorary DLitt 2004) and Ken September the Centre will celebrate another student follow in Smith (English 1963). Writers with the 60th anniversary of Stand, Why does all this matter, and her footsteps. a particular connection to the city an independent poetry magazine why in Leeds, particularly? Because or the University, or both, many of associated with the School of English poetry does matter – as John tells Our funding deadline to award them artists in residence as part of since it was founded by Jon Silkin me, “poetry gives us a unique the next cohort of scholarships the Gregory Fellowships which ran in 1952. During the anniversary opportunity to reflect not only is 1st August 2012, so please on ourselves but on the language give today. in which we articulate ourselves. Language, the very stuff of poetry, Send back a donation with the is often taken for granted, but best ‘Update Your Details’ form with this magazine. poetry wakes us up to new linguistic possibilities.” Alternatively, give online at Leeds, meanwhile, has always www.alumni.leeds.ac.uk/makeyourgift been at the forefront of our or text ‘STEP05 £3’, ‘STEP05 national, and international, £5’ or ‘STEP05 £10’ to 70070. poetic life. Through the Gregory Fellowships, and Stand and Poetry (Texts are charged at your carrier’s rate, in addition to your donation, and you must have & Audience (which turns 60 next the permission of the person who pays the bill in year) magazines, there is something order to text. Text donations are handled by Justgiving in partnership with Vodafone so that “profoundly rich and very distinctive 100% of your donation is received by the about Leeds” which has led to this Footsteps Fund). extensive archival resource. John sums up the Centre and what it stands for: “It’s about having high quality internationally excellent research that’s taking place alongside engagement with the general public. We’re mobilising our distinct history and giving it due prominence.”

22 — summer 2012 Feature – ten leeds combinations ten leeds combinations – Feature

Our large single-campus University, where academics research and teach virtually everything ten leeds from Accounting to Zoology, is the perfect breeding ground for collaboration. Here are just ten examples combinations of how colleagues from quite different disciplines have benefited from putting their heads together

1. Colleagues in textiles 2. Engineers and 5. Academics in For the latest on 8. Academics in gender sociologists are performance and Leeds research visit studies and geography are and chemistry are alumni.leeds.ac.uk/ making playtime fun computing have created universitynews, examining the burgeoning developing a range of for all children SpiderCrab, a 3.5-metre- check out global market for cosmetic facebook.com/ sustainable commercial Moves towards inclusive education high robot which is both leedsalumni surgery tourism cosmetics, reducing the have seen more disabled children architectural environment and follow in mainstream school, but they can and dancing partner @leedsalumni and its potential impact on impact of chemicals still feel excluded at break times on Twitter healthcare providers in the future. if they are not invited to join in. The project will look at people’s on waste water The project is looking at the social SpiderCrab dances by moving its motivations and experiences, and factors at work in the playground limbs – and the team is examining how countries such as Spain and and exploring how designers of play how performance theory and Thailand market the “sun, sand, Using clean technologies to equipment can help make playtime practice might inform the design sea and silicone’ package. extract and purify active truly inclusive. process – and how similar tools might help us to better understand ingredients from plant materials, our relationship with technology. 9. The Socio-Technical the team has already developed 3. Engineers, geographers, Centre incorporates a commercial-standard hair dye biologists, economists, 6. Food scientists and the expertise of staff in which they hope to bring political scientists and historians are leading engineering, geography to market in the next year. lawyers are tackling the the ‘You Are What and psychology complex challenges You Ate’ project affecting the world’s and aims to put people at the heart of the design of buildings, services and water supply This three-year project draws on computer systems. Through its work research into how food affected our on understanding crowd behaviours, Their work will bring scientific ancestors – and examining how our the Centre has been involved with innovation to areas where water is knowledge of the past can improve the Cabinet Office in its preparations scarce, and the combined efforts health now and in the future. The for the 2012 Olympics. of physical and social scientists to project aims to get people thinking regions where poor infrastructure about their own diet through a and socio-political failures mean variety of fun and interesting public 10. Textiles and plentiful water is poorly distributed. engagement activities. epidemiology researchers are leading a collaboration 4. Experts in biology, 7. Computing and medical to improve the design environment, engineering, researchers have developed of maize storage sacks the social sciences and a digital scanning system to transport are addressing study tissue samples in 3D so they don’t harbour the harmful aspergillus fungus. Exposure to concerns about whether aflatoxin produced by this fungus the world will be able to Its high-resolution, multicoloured can cause growth impairment in images can be rotated, allowing them children and is a known risk factor feed itself in the future to be examined easily from any angle. for the development of liver cancer The system has a number of potential – a particular risk in some African As the world’s population grows and uses in showing how organs develop, countries where maize forms a major the environment changes, Leeds is why some therapies are less effective part of the diet. responding to the huge ecological, than others, and creating new drugs social, economic and political to precisely target disease. challenges of ensuring food is produced and distributed efficiently and sustainably.

24 — summer 2012 summer 2012 — 25 News – Department round-up Department round-up – News What’s going on 20% Eating three daily servings of wholegrain foods lowers risk of A selection of news from our bowel cancer by 20 percent, while every 10 grams of daily intake University departments decreases risk by 10 percent

Biological Sciences about a natural process but, New approach to pain treatment compared to what is industry Dr Nikita Gamper and his standard currently, our research team have found a previously could also lead to a massive unknown mechanism through cost and energy saving for which pain is signalled by the production of plaster.” nerve cells. They have been investigating the difference between persistent pain, such Humanities, Theology as toothache, and hyperalgesia, and Religious Studies when pain results from Way of the samurai the increased sensitivity of Keanu Reeves sought samurai nerves in injured or diseased expert Stephen Turnbull’s (MA tissue. They have found that Theology 1993; MA Military these two types of pain are History 2005; PhD Theology & generated by the same nerves, Religious Studies 1996) advice 01 03 but result from different on ancient Japanese customs, Chemistry must always challenge consensus underlying mechanisms. The costumes and weaponry for his Silver metal for the win reality is as vital today as it discovery could explain the role in 47 Ronin. Dr Turnbull Dr Charlotte Willans is using was nearly 40 years ago.” current failings in painkiller worked on location to help a grant of more than £44000 effectiveness for some authenticate details of props, from Yorkshire Cancer Research 05 conditions and should help with sets and wardrobes. “I am to carry out research into School of Medicine (LIGHT) 01 Keanu Reeves and Dr Stephen Turnbull 02 Professor Barry Cooper spoke development of hyperalgesia delighted at what they have whether silver could be used Getting the numbers right about Alan Turing in a Distinguished drugs with fewer side-effects. done with my suggestions and as a treatment for cancer. As The number of children with Speaker Luncheon in Hong Kong 03 Children who receive specialist palliative have been proud to work on silver is thought to have a lower conditions such as muscular care share quality playtime with parents the movie,” said Dr Turnbull. toxicity level than other metals, dystrophy, neurodegenerative and staff (photo courtesy of parents from 02 Martin House Children’s Hospice) Earth and Environment Dr Turnbull has written a book its use could reduce negative disorders or severe cerebral 04 Professor Denise Bower Crystal clear on the subject, The Revenge side effects of chemotherapy calligraphy-inspired lexicon palsy who are surviving 05 Colossal translucent crystals formed from gypsum Bassanite crystals have been of the 47 Ronin: Edo 1703. and lead to a more targeted of Middle Earth’s Elves. into adulthood has been 06 Professor Surya Subedi caught in the act of assembling approach to cancer therapy. underestimated, a new study into gypsum by Professor Dr Willans and her team have shows. Because the number of Liane Benning and her team. Law prepared silver complexes German children in England who have 04 06 Gypsum can grow into UN Rapporteur which possess comparable Film school received specialist palliative translucent crystals more than Events in Cambodia have been cytotoxicity to cisplatin, the Films like The Matrix and care – or who might need it School of Medicine (LIGHT) School of Medicine (LIMM) Health Sciences 10 metres tall in nature and under the watchful eye of Surya most widely used drug in the Avatar have Rainer Werner in the future – is not recorded A helping of fibre Top honour for top research Heal thyselves its formation has been largely Subedi, Professor of International treatment of cancer. They Fassbinder’s Welt am Draht nationally, there are concerns A team has come up with The highest rheumatologist Self-help groups, peer education, unexplored. Understanding Law, since 2009 when he became plan to find out how exactly (World on a Wire 1973) to that health authorities may correct amounts of high-fibre award in the world has been counselling and befriending this process can lead to more the UN Special Rapporteur for the compounds cause cellular thank for starting to question be overstretching existing foods like wholegrain bread, given to Paul Emery. He is only have long been known as efficient anti-scaling strategies human rights in Cambodia. reactions and kill cancer cells. the nature of reality in science resources. When compiling cereal, porridge and brown the second person in the UK effective ways for prison inmates for water desalination plants. Fact-finding missions have led fiction movies, according to Dr national data, lead researcher rice needed to decrease the risk to receive the Carol Nachman to support the physical and A cleaner, greener way to Professor Subedi to examples of Ingo Cornils. He has found that Dr Lorna Fraser found a of bowel cancer, England’s Award, which is granted mental health of peers, but there make plaster of Paris has misconduct including land grabs, English Fassbinder’s attempt to mix steady increase in the number third most common disease. annually in recognition of has never been a systematic become one goal of this study. evictions and environmental New languages art house cinema and popular of children living with a life Eating three daily servings of outstanding, innovative research review of their effectiveness. In Huge amounts of gypsum are degradation. The collapse of At this year’s Headingley culture paved the way for a limiting condition, particularly wholegrain foods lowers risk in rheumatology. Professor the first study of its kind, Dr dehydrated at high temperature the communist Khmer Rouge LitFest, Dr Richard Brown more ‘mature’ approach to the in the 16-19 age group. Dr of bowel cancer by 20 percent, Emery’s research centres around Claire Hulme, in collaboration to make bassanite plaster, regime in 1979 left Cambodians discussed his expertise production of science fiction Fraser said: “Children and while every 10 grams of daily the immunopathogenesis and with colleagues at Leeds Met, which is used in industries with no land ownership. in literature’s use of new films.Welt am Draht represents teenagers with life limiting intake decreases risk by 10 immunotherapy of rheumatoid is looking at whether peer- worldwide. By experimenting Land grabs ensued, with little languages. His talk, a significant and distinct medical conditions will often percent. The work by teams arthritis and connective tissue based intervention provides with supersaturated gypsum consideration for human rights. “Experimental Languages: contribution to the iconography need many years of specialist from Leeds, Imperial College diseases. Professor Emery is economical, reliable treatments solutions, the researchers were Professor Subedi urges the Elvish and Newspeak” covered of apocalyptic thinking. “The palliative care before they reach London and Wageningen the Arthritis Research UK for prison populations. able to produce bassanite at current Cambodian government imaginative approaches film transports us back to the the end of their life, making University supports fibre’s value Professor of Rheumatology and Their work will address this room temperature. Professor to address the human rights by JRR Tolkien, Anthony beginning of the information it all the more important that in forming a daily balanced diet. Head of Division of Rheumatic research gap and support Benning said “If we manage to issues associated with granting Burgess, George Orwell age in the 1970s, and forward their needs are not overlooked.” & Musculoskeletal Disease decision-making in the NHS. produce and stabilise bassanite of land concessions. and James Joyce in their to a world where virtual realities Research was funded by at the University of Leeds. crystals at room temperature, novels – from transliterated challenge our sense of self,” Together for Short Lives. we don’t just learn something Russian to the multilingual, he said. “The message that we

26 — summer 2012 Summer 2012 — 27 News – Department round-up Leave a legacy Mathematics Championing a hero In the centenary year of the brilliant mathematician Alan Turing’s birth, Professor of Mathematical Logic Barry for generations Cooper is chairing a group of UK academics who are celebrating the Alan Turing Year. Professor Cooper has fronted a campaign for the In the news to come government to grant a pardon to Alan Turing, co-edited the Women reduce insolvency book Alan Turing – His Work UK officials cited Leeds research and Impact, written a piece that business boards with one Many of you say your time at for Nature, presented at and woman have a 20 percent less co-ordinated Turing conferences chance of bankruptcy. Those with Leeds was something special. worldwide and built a big more women decrease the risk following on his blog about even further. (Channel 4 News) You talk about the impact Leeds Turing. In Nature, Professor LGBT communities Barry Cooper discussed the LGBT populations increase in had on your future. And you tell us importance of turning to the Mark Goddard, with the University’s garden at the Chelsea Flower Show (see page 19) cities with historically progressive universe’s organic traits for policies, though urban areas often it was the opportunity of a lifetime. more creative approaches England and Wales will follow Brookes delivered a lecture get misidentified as more tolerant to computing, promoting suit and produce their own on ‘Megaprojects: why they than rural ones, said Centre Director Sally Hines in BBC News Magazine. We want the same for all maps in due course,” he said. fail, why this matters and what we can do about it’. European austerity our future students. Geography In a letter to the Financial Times, Mapping the wild Civil Engineering Professor Emeritus Rachel Killick Legacy gifts both large and small provide Improved environmental Managing massive projects Physics and astronomy (PhD 1977) stated that current protection, land development The Engineering Project Living computers austerity measures reflect post-WWII vital financial support for your University efforts to restore Greece’s failing and tourism promotion will Academy was launched in Magnet-making bacteria could economy under the US Marshall Plan. – and may give a student the crucial be helped by the first-ever March to develop excellence be used to build tomorrow’s assistance to get here in the first place. definitive map of Scotland’s in both the people and computers with larger hard Taking liberties wild landscapes. Prior maps organisations who initiate and drives and speedier connections. Liberty Director Shami Chakrabarti To find out more about legacy gifts to identified national parks or deliver engineering projects. A team led by Dr Sarah spoke at the School of Law about scenic areas only. The mapping The Academy, headed by Staniland used a type of international human rights flaws – Leeds, and how you can give someone particularly civil liberties, indefinite method developed by Leeds Professor Denise Bower, brings bacterium which ‘eats’ iron to detention, and the proposed UK the opportunity of a lifetime, please researchers and the Wildland together a growing interest create a surface of magnets, Bill of Rights – and the need for Research Institute is “robust and from government, industry similar to those found in embedding protection in society, complete and return the coupon below. repeatable,” according to Dr and professional institutions traditional hard drives, and not just the courtroom. Steve Carver (PGDip Learning to develop education and wiring. As the bacterium ingests and Teaching in Higher best professional practice the iron it creates tiny magnets Quantum dot dilemma Dr Kevin Critchley (Physics with Education 2004). Using a for engineering project within itself. The team has also Electronics & Instrumentation 2000; Geographic Information System management. The Academy begun to understand how the PhD Physics 2005) commented Remembering Leeds approach, certain attributes of will look at evidence-based proteins inside these bacteria in New Scientist that University of Name: ...... wildness are mapped in layers research, collaborate with collect, shape and position these Washington findings about restorative Legacy support for your University and overlapped in levels of practising engineers and share “nanomagnets” inside their light-sensitive molecules (quantum Address: ...... importance. Results are then expertise with both students cells and can now replicate this dots) offer biomedical advancements but pose a risk of toxicity. I would like further information on leaving a gift to generated with the Multi-criteria and professionals. To mark behaviour outside the bacteria...... evaluation method. “Hopefully, the launch, Professor Naomi Children’s food security Leeds in my Will. Please contact me by phone/email/ Save the Children reported that 500 post (delete as appropriate)...... Postcode: ...... History million malnourished children will Head of School advises grow up mentally and physically I have made a gift to Leeds in my Will, and would like Number 10 underdeveloped within 15 years. Email: ...... Despite improved food conditions, Head of School, Professor to join the Brotherton Circle. Dr David Hall-Matthews said in the Telephone: ...... Kevin Theakston joined Prime Yorkshire Post that pricing, demand, Anyone who pledges a legacy to the University of Leeds Minister David Cameron at distribution and environmental Number 10 Downing Street damage remain concerns. will be entitled to join the Brotherton Circle, our exclusive Please return this form to: for the official launch of the donor recognition society created to thank those who are new history section for the England’s drought Adrian McDonald, professor of supporting the University in this unique way. We will be Legacies, Alumni and Development Team Number 10 website. Professor environmental management, was University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT Theakston has been advising heavily consulted by the press on in touch to confirm your membership. the PM’s Office on the history his views on the consequences of Alternatively please contact us on 0113 343 9037 of British prime ministers and this year’s drought in England. or [email protected] working with it to update www.alumni.leeds.ac.uk/legacies and refresh the website.

More department news: alumni.leeds.ac.uk/news

28 — summer 2012 News – Giving to Leeds Giving to Leeds – News a tribute to phil gifts being well-used Communications Studies lecturer’s memory honoured with Alumni-funded exercise and wellbeing programme scholarships and bursaries for future students helps students’ mental health In brief

In better focus A gift from Michael Beverley s a longstanding a to the Institute through its left over. It’s quite different Students are benefiting from (Economics and Politics 1973) has popular member Philip M Taylor Cinema, which today. With the thought of a programme to help their enabled the purchase of a Super of staff at Leeds, opened in 2011, and a student repaying £9,000-a-year fees and wellbeing through health Resolution Light Microscope for Professor Phil Taylor prize which will be funded by maintenance loans after they and fitness with a programme medical research. Each human cell A contains millions of proteins, each (History 1975, PhD 1978) the continuing royalties from his graduate, there might be a lot of funded by The Footsteps with its own function. In many areas touched the lives of very many many books. people who think ‘I don’t want Fund and run jointly by the of medicine, an understanding students over the course of his Now Sue is planning to go that burden’. Student Counselling Service of these proteins, how they work career. Now students from less further, and after providing for “If I were in the same and the Sport and Physical – and how they malfunction – is privileged backgrounds will some personal gifts to friends position now, it would give Activity team. critical to understanding disease. benefit from a legacy which has and relatives, a share of the me a big question mark about Counsellor Liz Oxley The microscope will enable been pledged in his memory by residue of her estate will enable whether I wanted to study or explains: “We have students scientists to look at these proteins in previously unimagined detail, Sue Heward (History 1975), his us to give scholarships and start earning some money. facing a whole range of issues opening new possibilities in the widow. The two met on their bursaries to Leeds students Hopefully this will help – anxiety, bereavement, illness, search for effective treatments. second day as undergraduates who face challenging financial someone who is facing that she says. “The Students’ Union depression, debt – on top of Professor David Beech, head of the – and their lives have been circumstances. question about whether or not looks the same from the outside, academic pressures.” For some, Multidisciplinary Cardiovascular interwoven with that of the “Phil and I talked about this they should go to University.” but the facilities inside are so this can lead to self-neglect, Research Centre, says: “The greater University ever since. a long time ago,” she says. “We Sue hopes that as well as much better than they were. But where health, diet and sleep magnification will enable us to drill down into what is really wrong with After winning a trial with didn’t have children, and we enabling such students to it’s good to see that some things patterns suffer. a patient. In my area it will enable Merseyside club Tranmere don’t have large families and gain the benefits of studying haven’t changed.” Exercise can be an effective us to differentiate between patients Rovers, Phil turned his back on it was a question of what we panacea. “We find that a lot of swimming pool and exercise supermarket. “Most of all, it is who are at different stages and a promising future as a football should do with our estate, after students used to be physically classes – as well as guidance allowing them to effect changes with different types of disease and goalkeeper, choosing to study we go. We decided we wanted active at school, but when they from wellbeing consultants who in their lifestyle. It improves work towards therapies tailored rather than chasing the dream of to help students less fortunate began A-levels that fell by the encourage them to structure confidence, helps them deal to these different needs.” We didn’t have children, and we don’t have a professional contract. than ourselves.” wayside,” she says. “Research their days, work, leisure time with the issues in their life and A crop of successes He spent the whole of his Though neither came from a large families and it was a question of what shows that nutritional, and diet. focus more effectively on their A gift from Nigel Bertram (Agriculture career at Leeds, joining the privileged home, Government psychological, recreational “It’s about getting students academic work.” 1971) has not only supported our School of History as a lecturer support enabled the couple we should do with our estate, after we go. and physical interventions can to work more effectively – and A student on the programme work in sustainable agriculture, it has after completing his PhD, and to study without worrying We decided we wanted to help students less positively impact on wellbeing.” nourish themselves in different commented: “I have never felt also helped secure public funding to later moving to the Institute about the finances. “I got a The programme gives these ways,” says Liz. “Exercise more in control and able to cope take the research to the next level. fortunate than ourselves It is tackling a key issue – how we of Communications Studies, full grant of £365 a year and students a 12-week membership doesn’t necessarily mean going with my academic and personal manage land better to produce high- becoming its director in 1998. my tuition fees were all paid of Leeds’ Sport and Physical to the gym, it can be taking pressures.” Another said: “I can yield crops – while also maintaining He died in 2010, though his – and I ended up with money Activity facilities – with access a stroll around St George’s sleep properly and my days are thriving ecosystems and biodiversity. name will always be connected to the gym, squash courts, Field or walking back from the getting back to normal.” Nigel’s gift enabled the three- year appointment of postdoctoral for a degree, it will also give Having enjoyed “a wonderful research fellow Ute Bradter, part of a team working on ways to use the recipients the same life time at Leeds”, Sue is now turn their ideas into businesses. Enterprising spatial modelling and remote sensing experiences which were afforded planning to return to the This year’s scholars are technology to map the landscape. to her and Phil during their history department to study for students involved in a variety of Ute says: “I am really grateful for time at Leeds. “I think in the a Master’s degree. “Phil got a ventures, including an Nigel’s support. To work out how discussion about the value of First – he was the first history orthopaedic sports consultancy, to improve our land use, we need degrees, we have perhaps lost student to do so for years. I got language summer camps for to understand what is produced Scholarships support where and what wildlife lives there, sight of the fact that your three a 2:2, but hopefully they’ll still schoolchildren, a swimming student entrepeneurs and traditionally this comes from or four years at University have me..!” school, training DVDs for the time-consuming survey work. form a pivotal point in your catering industry and a vintage The methods we are developing development. Thirteen enterprising clothing venture. are enabling us to do this more “It’s where you grow up A website of tributes to Phil can be students have been awarded In addition to financial quickly and more accurately.” and where you learn how to found at www.philtaylortributes.org. scholarships which were support, scholars attend a Medicine classmates to market Her progress has enabled the team to apply for – and win – a To add a tribute email conduct relationships. It sets generously funded through two-day residential bootcamp a wireless medical device. grant from the Biotechnology and you up, not just for a career [email protected]. the support of a number of which features workshops and “The information and advice Biological Sciences Research but for life. We need to make Leeds alumni – several of presentations from the region’s we have been given will help Council to push the research sure that these opportunities For more information about them successful entrepreneurs business community, giving us avoid common pitfalls forward further and more quickly. are not denied to people on remembering Leeds in your Will, visit themselves. them a grounding in key areas and improve our chances purely financial grounds.” www.alumni.leeds.ac.uk/legacies, Now in its third year, the such as planning, finance, IP of success,” she says.” Thank you 3,540 Leeds alumni have helped us email [email protected] or We’re talking as Sue Enterprise Scholarships offer protection, marketing and “I don’t know where else we fund projects across the University is looking around her old telephone Caroline Bartholomew on financial and professional PR, tax and legal matters. could have accessed that level so far this year. Your support has Professor Phil Taylor and Sue Heward University: “It’s amazing how 0113 343 2347. support to enable the very best Helen Whitwood is and quality of knowledge and been invaluable. Thank you! on their graduation day it has changed and grown,” undergraduate entrepreneurs to working with three of her experience all under one roof.”

30 — summer 2012 Summer 2012 — 31 Vice-Chancellor’s View Forthcoming Events – News VC’s view Forthcoming events For a full list of all events, Professor Michael Arthur on a momentous What’s on for Leeds alumni including class reunions and over the next few months international events visit year for the University of Leeds www.alumni.leeds.ac.uk/events

he rhythm of the term business practices, innovative Kath Hodgson; Dr Neil Morris being august Alumni parents’ lounge at the 6.00pm (lecture) LUOSA EVENTS brings us back to summer transport systems, energy reduction named Britain’s Biology Teacher of University Open Day Clothworkers’ Centenary Concert – examinations and degree and the efficient use of resources. We the Year; and you have the clear Celebrate the London Saturday 13 October Hall, University of Leeds T ceremonies and a warm are also embarking on a partnership sense of a University whose staff are 2012 Olympic Triathlon 1.00pm – 3.30pm, 1913 Room, > Free entry but places limited. Leeds University Old Students farewell to a cohort of graduates, each with the Chinese University of Hong making their own mark while taking Tuesday 7 August, 11.30am Great Hall, University of Leeds Online booking available from Association in Yorkshire set to make their mark on the world. Kong, which alongside our research the name of Leeds out into the world. – 2.00pm (triathlon), 2.00pm – Complimentary cream teas, early September at www.alumni. September: Visit to Mount Grace Yet 2012 is set to see a special summer, agreement with chemicals giant Around campus, there is a sense 4.00pm (refreshments), Hyde strawberries and cakes leeds.ac/jporritt Priory capping a year of real highs for us. Sinochem demonstrates strengthening of optimism about achieving our Park and the Paxton’s Head pub > Further details www.alumni. October: Trip to the National Coal The opening of the Marks & links with China. ambitions. Amid the publicity > Booking is essential www. leeds.ac.uk/openday Mining Museum Spencer company archive was one The University strategy identifies surrounding the new fees regime our alumni.leeds.ac.uk/triathlon Leeds alumni media such high, when the former head of such high-quality partnerships as application figures have stayed strong, group reception Leeds University Old Students Britain’s spy service MI5 Dame Stella a way of enhancing our profile while those students completing their september Faust opening night and Tuesday 13 November Association in London Rimmington and M&S chairman worldwide. Our collaboration with degrees have given Leeds a big vote post‑show party 6.30pm – 8.30pm Saturday 18 August: Trip to Robert Swannell unveiled the Opera North is a model for how of confidence in the National Student Saturday 13 October Bond, 24 Kingly Street, London Bletchley Park for the Alan Turing Michael Marks Building, symbolic two quite different organisations Survey. Perhaps more than anything, from 7.00pm Join the annual networking Centenary of our partnership with this world- can work together to their mutual these show that we’re moving in the Leeds Grand Theatre event for Leeds alumni 19 or 20 September: 100th renowned company whose roots are benefit. With more than 100 projects right direction. Join VIP guests for a pre- working in journalism birthday party of LUOSA in in Leeds. The wealth of resources in involving research, performances, Yet we won’t rest on our laurels. performance reception and media industries. London the archive opens new opportunities From September we are doubling to celebrate at the post-show party > Booking essential www.alumni. for research, teaching and outreach. £16m a year financial support to the with the production’s cast, leeds.ac.uk/media > For more information on LUOSA A fortnight later saw the opening brightest students from low-income orchestra and creative team. events, visit alumni.leeds.ac.uk/ of our Energy Building which families. We are also preparing > LIMITED AVAILABILITY luosa will be a hotbed of collaboration our submission for the Research 10% ticket discount, tickets Leeds Dental Institute alumni day in energy research, teaching and To meet the Queen in her Excellence Framework, which available from 17 July. Visit www. and reunion dinner innovation, housing staff and measures the strength and impact Leeds International Piano operanorth.co.uk/productions/ Friday 16 November LUOSA London Centenary students from the Faculties of Diamond Jubilee year was of our work, and whose results are Competition Gala Recital faust or call 0844 848 2720, Study day: 8.45am – 4.00pm at celebrations Engineering and Environment. crucial to our global reputation, our Sunday 16 September, 2.00pm quoting the promotional code Leeds Dental Institute Leeds alumni have been getting In February I joined Deputy Vice- special enough, to receive standing in world league tables and to Great Hall, University of Leeds Love Leeds Alumni and providing Reunion dinner: 7.00pm – together since the University was Chancellor John Fisher and members securing future research contracts. > LIMITED AVAILABILITY your email address. 10.00pm at The Met Hotel, King founded, and Leeds University of his team, who have won the Queen’s this prize on behalf of the But we have every reason to feel Contact Kathy Isherwood on 0113 Street, Leeds, LS1 2HQ Old Students’ Association, our Anniversary Prize for two decades University was a tremendous confident. That a number of US- 343 7520. For more information > Enquiries to Connie Koh-Grieve, oldest social network, celebrates of pioneering research into medical based academics have applied to take visit www.alumni.leeds.ac.uk/ Leeds 2 London pub night [email protected], its 100th birthday this year. devices and regenerative therapies honour and an experience up Leadership Chairs – a series of key pianocompetition Thursday 18 October 0113 343 4280. LUOSA has been organising that is changing lives the world over. research appointments – is the symbol 6.30pm – 8.30pm More information: www.leeds. regular social events non-stop To meet the Queen in her Diamond I will never forget of a University known and respected october The Yorkshire Grey pub, 2 ac.uk/dental/alumni for a century, and is running Jubilee year was special enough, to worldwide. That we will be hosting Theobald’s Road, London a special programme of activities receive this prize on behalf of the the Chinese Olympic team as they ALUMNI ANNUAL LECTURE > Booking and further details and a very special birthday party University was a tremendous honour prepare for London 2012 is further John Hirst (Economics 1973), www.alumni.leeds.ac.uk/ The big debate: Chinese in London in the autumn. and an experience I will never forget. evidence of the same phenomenon. Chief Executive, The Met Office londonpubnight investment – From ‘Open door’ The award of a Gold Medal to the The Olympics may be 200 Separating climate science to ‘Going out’ > To find out more about LUOSA, team which created the University lectures, seminars and activities to miles south of here, but Leeds’ from politics Tuesday 20 November visit www.luosa.org.uk garden at the prestigious Chelsea inspire young people – as well as involvement is a source of real Saturday 6 October Rowing Club’s 100th celebration 6.30pm – 9.00pm Flower Show was another ringing funded scholarships and fellowships pride, both in the number of alumni 11.30am – 12.30pm with speaker Paul Mattick Asia House, 63 New Cavendish endorsement. Those of you who went – it is making a big impact in the holding key administrative positions Rupert Beckett Lecture Theatre, Friday 27 October Street, London along will have been impressed by University and the whole region. and the alumni and students taking Michael Sadler Building, from 7.00pm Chaired by Kamal Ahmed how this small garden showcased Add an impressive string of part. Among those flying the flag University of Leeds The Refectory, University of Leeds (Political Studies 1990), Business research into ecology, biodiversity individual achievements: for Leeds will be brothers Alistair > Free, but booking is essential. > More information and bookings Editor of The Sunday Telegraph. and water scarcity by our Faculties of Professor Paul Emery winning the and Jonathan Brownlee, who live Admission by ticket only. [email protected] Not to be missed by anyone Environment and Biological Sciences. prestigious Carol Nachman Prize in the city, study and train at the www.alumni.leeds.ac.uk/ with an interest in business Such collaborations are a for rheumatology; Professors John University – and have a real chance JohnHirst november or international policy. hallmark of Leeds and the bedrock of Fisher, Tony Turner and Peter Grant of bringing home medals for Great > A three-course alumni lunch at The discussion will be partnerships such as the one we have being elected to the Fellowship of Britain in the triathlon. University House will follow the An evening with Jonathon Porritt: followed by networking signed with design consultant Arup. the Academy of Medical Sciences; Such an achievement would crown lecture at 12:45pm. The lunch lectures and conversation on over drinks and canapés. This fuses expertise in engineering Queen’s New Year Honours for an amazing year for Leeds. costs £30 per person. why everyone should care about > Cost £10. Booking and further and the social sciences to address Professor of International Business Booking is essential. Climate Change details www.alumni.leeds.ac.uk/ global issues of engineering and Peter Buckley and Director of Thursday 1 November pn/china John Hirst, Chief Executive, The Met Office to give human behaviour – sustainable Learning and Teaching Support 5.30pm (drinks and registration), the Alumni Annual Lecture

32 — summer 2012 Summer 2012 — 33 THE A talent for gymnastics > Passion for medicine > FOOTSTEPS A Leeds scholarship > FUND Rio 2016?

For any top athlete, the balance between sporting and academic commitment is incredibly hard to maintain.

First year medicine student Sasha is an international athlete aiming for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016. This means training in Manchester up to four times a week on top of one of the most challenging degrees at Leeds, and the financial implications are huge.

The Footsteps Fund Olympic Scholarship gives students like Sasha the chance to fulfil their athletic and academic potential. From train fares and access to top coaches, to support with planning her academic study.

Ed Scott and Alistair Brownlee, both Olympic Scholars at Leeds thanks to alumni support, will be representing their country at London 2012.

Just 25 gifts of £40 to the Footsteps Fund will provide a whole year’s scholarship for another student like Sasha. Please give today, and help another student follow in her footsteps.

Our funding deadline to award the next cohort of scholarships is 1st August 2012, so please give today.

Send back a donation with the ‘Update Your Details’ form with this magazine.

Alternatively, give online at www.alumni.leeds.ac.uk/makeyourgift or text ‘STEP05 £3’, ‘STEP05 £5’ or ‘STEP05 £10’ to 70070.

(Texts are charged at your carrier’s rate, in addition to your donation, and you must have the permission of the person who pays the bill in order to text. Text donations are handled by Justgiving in partnership with Vodafone so that 100% of your donation is received by the Footsteps Fund).