your manchester The University of Manchester Alumni Magazine May 2007

Martin Amis: arriving soon!

Margaret Beckett’s student days Hitching up with Harvard Manchester International Festival Your Manchester Online is launched your manchester features...

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2 YOUR MANCHESTER contents

A word from the President 4 Around the campus 6 Dementia demystified 10 Changing the climate 12 The significance of social capital 14 The scar prevention revolution 16 Martin Amis joins the University 18 TV crews on campus 20 Sport at Manchester 23 Women graduates in the House 26 Manchester’s student newspapers 30 The Manchester 20 International Festival 32 Alumni in the spotlight 34 m u e s

u Alumni Association news 36 M

e c i l o

P Development news 40

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YOUR MANCHESTER 3 A word from Professor Alan Gilbert,

Dear Graduate, well as successes to celebrate. But the The new University’s ambitions have been trajectory has been remarkable. In September, realised particularly in the research field, where Welcome to this third edition of Your we were named ‘University of the Year’ by the we are establishing Manchester as not just Manchester , the magazine for the 200,000 Sunday Times and our position continues to world class but world-leading in fields as alumni of The University of Manchester around improve in the most credible of international diverse as cancer studies, the understanding the world. higher education league tables, the ‘Academic and remediation of global poverty, areas of cell I have been in Manchester just over three years Ranking of World Universities’ produced by the biology and the nuclear-related sciences. Across now and the new University is just over two Shanghai Jiao Tong University, where our the University more generally, we are emerging and a half years old. Reflecting on that period, position has improved from 78th in 2004 to as a genuine research powerhouse with an it is remarkable what the University has 53rd in 2005 and 50th in 2006. Over the past annual research budget of around £350 million achieved. Although the merger was a massive year we moved from 12th to 9th in Europe and and an increase of around 25 per cent in total undertaking, the new University has by now 6th to 5th in the UK. audited research expenditure during our first well and truly established its own separate two years. The appointment of distinguished novelist identity, and the energy of the whole campus Martin Amis as Professor of Creative Writing Without in any way diminishing the importance community is focused on achieving the and Robert D Putnam as a Visiting Professor to that it attaches to fundamental research, the ambitious goals identified in our strategic plan, head a new joint project between Manchester new University has since its inception sought to the Manchester 2015 Agenda . and Harvard on Social Change are covered place equal weight on knowledge and We are making remarkable progress towards elsewhere in this magazine. Alongside the technology transfer. In the past two years, achieving many of those goals and establishing appointment last year of Nobel Laureate there has been a 100 per cent increase in the Manchester as one of the world’s leading Professor Joseph Stiglitz, these two further number of ‘declarations of discovery' which universities over the next decade. Nothing ‘iconic’ appointments reflect the boldness and may be of commercial value. Most worth achieving is ever easy, and the new ambition of the ‘step change’ transformation conspicuously, third party investment in University has had challenges to overcome as laid out in the Manchester 2015 Agenda . University companies is rising substantially.

4 YOUR MANCHESTER President and Vice-Chancellor

The scale and value of some of these Programme (MLP), which was launched in early I know that many more of you are supporting companies is impressive. One spin-out 2005 to encourage students to get involved us more informally by encouraging family and company, NeuTech Pharma, was acquired in with the local community, whilst boosting friends to study here and colleagues and 2006 by Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis their personal development. Combining a business associates to forge partnerships with for £30 million; another, Renovo, was floated challenging curriculum focussed on personal the University. and professional development, and requiring 60 on the Stock Exchange, raising some £50 I am grateful for your continuing support and I hours of formal community work, it attracted million and valuing the company at more than hope that the highlights that we have chosen 75 students in the first year, with a further 300 £200 million. for the pages of this magazine will give you set to take part in 2006/07. I believe that the a flavour of our successes over the past year In the teaching and learning field, applications MLP can become one of the defining and will enable you to become even more to study at the University remain buoyant and characteristics of our alumni, making them the past year has seen record levels of effective ambassadors for your University in more sought after than ever by employers and, the year ahead. enrolment by international students and even more importantly, the kind of informed students enrolled on programmes relying citizens able to help build stable, sustainable, predominantly on on-line and distance learning. civil societies wherever in the world they There has also been a continuing improvement choose to live. in student satisfaction over the past year reflecting our continuing programme of In pursuing all of the goals contained in the Manchester 2015 Agenda , the University is investment in academic facilities and support Professor Alan Gilbert very dependant on the support offered by its services as well as the quality of our teaching President and Vice-Chancellor graduates around the globe. This magazine staff and the courses that we offer. contains examples of the valuable financial Our students – and the local community - are and practical support that many alumni have also benefiting from the Manchester Leadership offered to specific projects and initiatives, but

YOUR MANCHESTER 5 Around the campus...

A string of firsts for The University of Manchester

A series of prestigious awards this year has boosted Manchester’s enviable reputation around the world. A new survey of Britain’s top 100 graduate recruiters for example reveals that Manchester graduates are the most targeted by companies seeking to fill graduate vacancies. The survey, from The Graduate Market in 2007 published by High Fliers Research Ltd, followed the news that The University of Manchester had won the coveted Sunday Times ‘University of the Year’ title. The Sunday Times University Guide is now in its ninth year and is seen by students and parents as an invaluable first reference point for finding a university place. This year’s league table which is ranked second in Another boost came from Association conference held revealed that we retained our the world. The Confederation of British at Edinburgh’s Heriot-Watt Industry (CBI) in the North University Research Park. position as the UK’s most Professor Michael Luger West which chose the popular university with (from the Kenan-Flagler The judges selected University’s President and 62,657 applications to Business School in North Manchester ahead of other Vice-Chancellor, Professor undergraduate courses for Carolina), who joined UK science parks due to the entry in 2006. In addition Alan Gilbert, as its business Manchester Business School contribution it has made to Manchester was beaten by leader of the year. in January as Director, said: the success of the City of just seven universities in the Professor Gilbert was praised Manchester and its excellent judgment of academics “We have faculty members by the CBI for his work in environmental policies. across a range of 30 subjects. from all over the world, and launching and leading the Official assessments of an enormous breadth of The Science Park provides University since its teaching quality show no teaching and research free business development university in the country has experience that’s available to establishment in October support to all its tenant more subjects rated excellent all our students, so it’s great 2004 following the companies and offers for teaching – 36 in all! to see this recognised in the dissolution of the Victoria networking events, free FT ranking. One of my key University of Manchester business and marketing Manchester Business School objectives is to promote and UMIST. support and access to was also well placed in the Greater Manchester Financial Times ranking Manchester Business School And finally the Manchester on the world stage, and Science Park has been universities. It is home to published recently. The more than 100 companies, School is now placed ninth in independent surveys like this judged as ‘Outstanding’ for and the University is a major Europe and fourth in the UK, add weight to our claims to its services to tenants and shareholder. with particular strengths in offer a truly international the local community at the its doctoral programme experience to our students.” annual UK Science Park

6 YOUR MANCHESTER New nuclear research centre announced

A major new nuclear research facility is to be established in Cumbria with £20 million of initial funding from The University of Manchester's Dalton Nuclear Institute and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA). The University and the NDA have signed an initial collaboration Purcell’s puzzling piece agreement, which will see each organisation invest £10 million over Restoration music expert check Pindar's copy with the original,” a seven-year period. Dr Rebecca Herissone has solved she said. “But Pindar also copied three The money will be used to provide a mystery that has puzzled scholars other odes by Purcell, and we are able to specialist research equipment and for more than a century. compare the composer's autographs facilities and to drive forward with Pindar's versions of these pieces. The mystery surrounds Henry Purcell’s research into radiation sciences and I've identified how Pindar makes popular piece, Come Ye Sons of Art , engineering decommissioning. changes to Purcell's music and have which was written to celebrate the used this knowledge to reconstruct A new multi-million pound centre birthday of Queen Mary in 1694. Purcell's original version of Come Ye will initially house around 60 staff The score is riddled with startling errors Sons of Art . It's now almost a new and postgraduate students and will and is quite different to the master- piece, but I'm confident it's pretty close be built on the Westlakes Science composer’s other works. Now, after a to the original.” and Technology Park, near four-year investigation, Dr Herissone has Whitehaven in West Cumbria. discovered that the ode, which was As part of the investment copied by an unknown musician called agreement The University of Robert Pindar, was subjected to major Manchester will recruit a team of changes in the eighteenth century. new academic staff and will work Pindar used different instruments, to extend access for academic changed repeats, notations and words researchers from other universities. and may even have replaced a whole movement with another Purcell piece. By using other Pindar copies and noting pattern changes, Dr Herissone was able to ‘correct’ many of the errors and has produced her own version of the score which she believes is closer to Purcell’s original composition. “As we don't know if the autograph score survives, we don't have any way to Dr Rebecca Herissone

YOUR MANCHESTER 7 Renamed Rutherford A historic building that once housed one of the University's most famous scientists has been renamed in his honour. The Coupland Building, just off Oxford Road, has been officially renamed in honour of Nobel Prize winner, Ernest Rutherford. The event in December was marked by a special ceremony, which was attended by Rutherford’s great- granddaughter, Professor Mary Fowler, and also his great-great-granddaughter Dr Ellen Nisbet. Established in 1900, the Physical Left to right: Dr Ellen Nisbet, Professor Mary Fowler and the President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Alan Gilbert Laboratories at the University were, at the time, among the largest in the During this time he made some of his Development, Student Recruitment, world. They soon became a centre for most significant contributions to science, Admission and Widening Participation the study of atomic and nuclear physics. including the splitting of the atom. activities, and also a small exhibition celebrating Rutherford's work New Zealander Rutherford led the The newly-named Rutherford Building in Manchester. laboratories between 1907 and 1919. houses the University's International Student overcomes obstacles to graduate

A totally deaf Japanese student has paper on the discourses of Human overcome hearing and language Rights in Islamic countries. problems to graduate from the Communicating by writing, Ken said: University with flying colours. “When I started my MA studies I was Kenichiro (Ken) Onishi has thanked concerned that as an international University and Faculty Disability disabled student any funding for Co-ordinators for supporting him disabled students would be denied. to achieve an MA in However my worries were quickly International Relations. removed when I was offered computer equipment to help me.” Ken became totally deaf at the age of two after contracting mumps while Ken’s course was mainly seminar based Left to right: Pat Horrocks (School Disability living in Japan. He has never learnt to so to help him communicate with staff Co-ordinator), Ken and Bryan Coleman (Disability Officer) speak and has had to learn to and other students, the University communicate by sign language and provided a staff member and an Ken, who plans to take a PhD and train by writing. electronic note-taker to relay messages as a solicitor, said: “I strongly believe in a quick and efficient manner. The that my achievement would not have But with the help of the University electronic note-taker also had the been possible without the support of Central Disability Co-ordinator he added benefit of allowing Ken to keep the Disability office.” achieved a merit for his dissertation his files up-to-date.

8 YOUR MANCHESTER Dentists detect osteoporosis

bone disease - which affects a fifth of people in their sixties and more than a third of those in their seventies. Currently no screening is available. Since X-rays are used widely in dentistry, the team has drawn on ‘active shape modelling’ technology, developed by the University’s Division of Imaging Sciences, to automatically detect jaw widths of less than 3mm – a key indicator of osteoporosis. “This cheap, simple and largely- automated approach could be carried out by every dentist taking routine x-rays, and the success rate is as good as having a specialist consultant on Researchers in the University’s Following a three year EU funded hand,” said Professor Horner. School of Dentistry have created a research programme Professor Keith unique way of identifying Horner and Dr Hugh Devlin have The team hopes an x-ray equipment osteoporosis sufferers using developed a largely automated company will now step in and integrate ordinary dental x-rays. approach to detecting the debilitating the software with its products.

Star attraction Jodrell Bank, the UK’s national radio astronomy observatory and part of the University’s School of Physics and Astronomy, has been named as the UK’s greatest ‘Unsung Landmark’ in a BBC online competition. The accolade is a fitting tribute to a piece of science which is about to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Jodrell Bank was the brainchild of physicist Sir Bernard Lovell who had worked on radar during the war and was fascinated by odd signals picked up by the equipment, which he believed might be echoes of cosmic rays. The telescope soon impressed the astronomy community when He started work at The University of Manchester buildings in it was the only facility in the West able to track the rocket the centre of the city, but was obstructed by interference from carrying the Russians’ first satellite, the Sputnik, into space. passing electric trams and decided he needed to get into the countryside. He took up residence at Jodrell Bank, where the Today astronomers at Jodrell Bank spend much of their time University’s botany department had a base. looking for quasars and pulsars, large stars that have collapsed in on themselves and become hugely dense rotating neutron stars. Conceived in the 1940s, and co-designed by engineer Sir Charles Husband, the main telescope at Jodrell Bank was completed in For more details about Jodrell Bank and it’s 50th anniversary 1957. It measures 250 feet in diameter and weighs 3,200 celebrations go to www.manchester.ac.uk/jodrellbank . tonnes, dominating the Cheshire landscape near Goostrey. Also, see page 39.

YOUR MANCHESTER 9 As our population ages, growing numbers of people are likely to develop dementia. Currently there is no cure but researchers in Manchester are at the forefront of efforts to understand the biology of this much feared disease

The Brain Gain

Dementia is the name given to a group promising results, and perhaps even build up in a part of the brain called of related conditions which destroy the hope of a cure. the hippocampus, killing cells brain cells and lead to a progressive responsible for short-term memory. decline in our mental function. It is a In the Faculty of Life Sciences, distressing condition which affects Professor Andrew Doig is working on To tackle this Professor Doig has been some 750,000 people in the UK alone, the design of a new drug for the working in collaboration with a spin- gradually destroying their memory, treatment of Alzheimer’s disease – out company from his laboratory their ability to learn, reason and make one of the commonest forms of called Senexis on the design of drugs judgments. Over time, sufferers often dementia. His results have been so which bind to the β-amyloid lose their ability to function on a day- successful that he is now hoping to aggregates. The drugs interfere with to-day basis. apply the same drug principle to other the aggregates assembly and then devastating diseases. reduce their toxicity. Treatments do exist but their effectiveness is patchy and usually Professor Doig said that the key step in In tests the drugs are more effective short lived. However, world leading the onset of Alzheimer’s takes place than any others discovered to date and research across two different University when a small protein fragment (called it is hoped that trials in humans will faculties is tackling the root causes of β-amyloid) changes shape and sticks to start soon. In fact the results are so dementia and has produced some itself. The protein aggregates then promising that the same drug strategy

10 YOUR MANCHESTER nervous system – the part of the tomography ‘PET’ brain scan on an nervous system other than the brain Alzheimer’s patient - a 77 year-old and spinal cord - usually in former RAF pilot and air traffic controller. dormant form. Stephen Carter of the School of “It was uncertain previously whether Psychological Sciences is using the the virus is also present in the brain”, Centre’s unique technology to look said Professor Itzhaki. “We found that at the transition from mild cognitive it does indeed reside there in many impairment (MCI) to early elderly people, and that those who Alzheimer’s. MCI is often - although have a specific form of a gene (called not always - considered a precursor apoE, type 4 form) are likely to develop to the condition and it is crucial, he Alzheimer’s disease.” said, to be able to detect early changes: “We need to be able to The team’s recent findings have produce a more accurate diagnosis as formed a vital link between the virus by the time dementia is currently and the main abnormal brain features diagnosed, irreversible brain damage of the disease. has typically already taken place.” “Our recent results are extremely In the same School, Professor Matt exciting; we have found that the virus Lambon-Ralph is investigating how the causes marked deposition of the main knowledge we have about the world is components of these abnormalities,” stored in the brain, and why it breaks said Professor Itzhaki. “We think the down in dementia and stroke patients. virus is normally dormant in elderly brains but can become activated by His team at the Centre for Clinical events such as stress or infection. Neuroscience is using a unique Repeated activation in those with combination of comprehension and apoE type 4 eventually causes language tests, plus mathematical Alzheimer’s disease. Our results point models and enhanced brain imaging to treatment of Alzheimer’s disease to increase understanding of how our by using antiviral agents and to the knowledge is encoded. Already the future possibility of its prevention team has identified the part of the brain by vaccination against the virus which forms and processes concepts. in infancy.” Dementia is also under the spotlight in While significant progress has been Psychiatry where Professor Alistair Burns is now being tested on other diseases made in understanding the genetic is investigating the effectiveness of linked with protein aggregation, causes of Alzheimer’s disease, relatively aromatherapy oils in combating the including Parkinson’s disease and type little has been known about the genes agitation that often accompanies II Diabetes, and there are plans to start linked to another common form of Alzheimer’s. Professor Burns, Deputy work on Motor Neuron disease and dementia called Frontotemporal Dean (Clinical Affairs) of the Faculty of other dementias in the near future. Dementia or FTD. Medical and Human Sciences, is currently recruiting volunteers for a “Diseases caused by protein A breakthrough came last year randomised controlled trial in which aggregation are of enormous and however when researchers in the patients will either have the growing importance in our ageing School of Medicine helped identify a aromatherapy oil Melissa massaged into population”, said Professor Doig. second gene mutation behind FTD, their hand, or take a drug or a placebo. “Current drugs can, at best, only following their earlier success in alleviate symptoms for a limited period pinpointing errors in the gene known It is hoped the study will lead to an of time. By tackling the root causes of as ‘tau’. alternative treatment to conventional the diseases, namely toxic protein drugs which can have side effects. aggregates, we hope that we can “We now know that many more cases probably result from errors in the Professor Burns is also working with develop far more effective therapies.” ‘granulin’ gene,” said lead researcher the Universities of New York and Elsewhere in the faculty, Professor Dr Stuart Pickering-Brown, who Sydney in a study to help those caring Ruth Itzhaki’s team is investigating predicts that replacement therapies to for dementia patients - more than half Alzheimer’s from another angle by tackle the condition will be developed of whom suffer from depression. The unravelling the role of a common virus in the near future. work seeks to harmonise support in the development of the disease. across the three continents, enabling The Wolfson Molecular Imaging Centre sharing of good practise in reducing The virus, which targets the nervous is also contributing towards our depression over time. system, infects most humans in infancy understanding of dementia and recently but remains within the peripheral carried out its first positron emission

YOUR MANCHESTER 11 Manchester is at the forefront in developing new technologies to tackle climate change

A sea change in tackling global warming

When you’re next in the city, see if you cells, and academics working at the The vision is to have a series of Bobbers can spot the solar panels on the new Centre are also looking to develop a working together to generate maths, physics and astronomy building host of new ‘smart’ technologies. electricity for the National Grid. After on Upper Brook Street or those on the the successful testing of a 1/10th scale The potential of wave energy has new humanities building on Oxford device, co-inventor Professor Stansby is already been demonstrated by Road; the latter is the second biggest now working with The University of Professor Peter Stansby from the solar scheme in Manchester after the Manchester Intellectual Property Ltd School of Mechanical, Aerospace CIS tower. (UMIP) and other commercial partners and Civil Engineering, who has to drive the project forward. The University is taking climate change attracted considerable attention very seriously indeed and in addition to with his innovative ‘Manchester According to legend, the sun is a rare new green buildings and energy Bobber’ system. visitor to Manchester but nevertheless reduction schemes, many hundreds of the University is still powering ahead The Bobber does exactly what the staff across our schools and research with some dazzling work in the field of name suggests - it makes use of the groups are committed to tackling solar energy. rise and fall of the water surface. environmental concerns. This movement transmits energy, The School of Chemistry recently The Joule Centre for example is which is then extracted by the started a £1.5 million research project investigating low-carbon technologies mechanics to drive a generator and with the School of Materials, the such as wave energy and hydrogen fuel produce electricity. School of Physics and Astronomy, the

12 YOUR MANCHESTER The Rigg-NAFUM Scholarship in Energy Engineering The University’s research into sustainable energy is generously supported by alumnus George Rigg (BSc Science 1960) and his wife Jane, and by a contribution from alumni who support the North American Foundation for the University of Manchester (NAFUM) (see page 36 for details on NAFUM). School of Electrical and Electronic decommissioned and cleaned up safely The Riggs, and their fellow NAFUM Engineering and the Department of and securely. supporters, have provided funding Physics at Imperial College London to for a PhD scholarship in Energy cut the cost of solar power. The University’s Dalton Nuclear Institute is Engineering – the ‘Rigg-NAFUM geared up to tackle this challenge with Scholarship’. The three-year project will investigate some of the UK's most advanced a number of new and novel designs university-based nuclear research facilities. The scholarship, offered by the for solar cells, in an attempt to Faculty of Engineering and Physical produce a cheaper and more efficient Plans for a world-class multi-million Sciences and commencing in system for generating green energy. pound research and learning centre in September 2007, is for a student The research team are aiming to West Cumbria were unveiled by the from the US with a research focus demonstrate solar cells that have the Institute and the Nuclear on energy, the environment and potential to be mass-produced and Decommissioning Agency at the sustainability (including global can achieve a good level of energy beginning of 2007. (See page 7) environmental change; conversion efficiency. environmental quality and human In Manchester, the Institute is helping wellbeing; sustainability and As plans are formulated for the next to train and prepare a new crop of environmental technological generation of nuclear power stations, nuclear engineers through its nuclear innovation; and energy systems). the UK faces the very serious challenge engineering doctorate and nuclear of ensuring ageing nuclear facilities are MSc courses.

YOUR MANCHESTER 13 A Harvard Professor who has impressed Tony Blair and George W Bush has become a Visiting Professor at Manchester in order to conduct a joint investigation into the breakdown of social cohesion - on both sides of the Atlantic

Spotlight on social isolation

Love it or loathe it, successful neighbourhoods, churches, schools, tackle social problems. On a more networking has become a mark sports clubs, civic associations, simple level, social capital enables of success, whether in academia, even bars. people to share information – about business, politics, even the school job vacancies for example - and The problem is that the way many playground. It’s who you know rather reciprocate favours. than what you know that determines people live today tends to isolate how you get on in life and whether individuals rather than bring them But precisely how much influence is you happen to be a captain of industry together. Changes in the workplace, wielded by social capital in the 21st or captain of the netball team, you where we live, even the growth of century is a big question for the many need to be in with the right crowd to computers have tended to fragment social scientists studying the idea, like have influence. communities and reduce the potential Harvard University’s Robert D Putnam for building social capital. who popularised the concept and This is the central idea behind social published a definitive account in his Social capital is productive, since two capital: that groups of people with a book Bowling Alone , published farmers exchanging tools can get more common interest help each other out in 2000. and by doing so, contribute to both work done with less physical capital. economic and wider societal gains. Similarly rotating credit associations Bowling Alone shows how Americans Social capital is not confined to the can generate pools of financial capital have become increasingly upper echelons of power but can be for increased entrepreneurial activity. disconnected from family, friends, identified in many different walks of Social capital can encourage people to neighbours, and democratic life from friendship networks, engage with democratic structures to structures. But it also explains how

14 YOUR MANCHESTER they can reconnect which has strong It also hosts the Cathie Marsh Centre implications for policy makers. for Census and Survey Research an interdisciplinary research centre in the Since the book was published, School of Social Sciences. Professor Putnam’s ideas have attracted the interest of politicians and There are many examples of how commentators – including Tony Blair, university research dovetails with the Bill Clinton and George W Bush. Harvard collaboration. For example Ludi Simpson argues that the United The arguments have also influenced Kingdom’s increasing ethnic diversity the World Bank which accepts that has had no impact on levels of cultural social cohesion is critical for societies segregation - a prominent challenge to to prosper economically and for the views of Commission for Racial development to be sustainable. Equality Chairman Trevor Phillips, who Professor Putnam was named one of warned last year that Britain was the Guardian’s top 100 intellectuals of "sleepwalking towards segregation". 2005 and became a member of both the American National Academy of Similarly, Dale Southerton and a team Science and the British Academy, for of sociologists found that contrary to his analysis of the 30-year-decline of popular belief, families are likely to eat social connectivity and the atomised together in much the same way as they nature of modern life. would have done 30 years ago. Now The University of Manchester’s And in a report for the Joseph School of Social Sciences has joined Rowntree Foundation Professor Ed forces with Professor Putnam’s team Fieldhouse and Dr David Cutts have at Harvard to carry out major research shown a link between the turnout and registration of British South Asian in this area. electors and the ethnic make-up of ‘Social Change: A Joint Project of neighbourhoods. Harvard and Manchester’ will be Professor Putnam said: “There is a long directed by Professor Putnam from and fruitful history of collaboration Harvard’s John F Kennedy School of Professor Robert D Putnam between British and American scholars Government. He will join forces with in learning across our similarities and researchers from Manchester to conduct differences in order to tackle important The Englander a series of transatlantic comparative social issues. The programme builds on studies on topics such as inequality, a foundation of exceptional expertise in Studentship in immigration, religion, the changing both Manchester and Harvard, as well Civic Engagement workplace and civic engagement. as elsewhere in our two countries.” The Harvard-Manchester Initiative They will investigate what drives social He said Manchester had been heavily and the University’s research into change, how it relates to the wellbeing involved historically in using the best sustainable civil societies are of members of society and the scholarship to resolve problems of complemented by the ‘Englander implications for policy makers – issues practical importance to politicians, Studentship in Civic Engagement’. which confront political leaders on industrialists, leading citizens, and the This PhD studentship has been both sides of the Atlantic. working-class - and this project supported by a generous gift from As part of the project, Professor returned Manchester ‘to those roots.’ Peter Englander and will focus on Putnam has taken up a part-time Professor Putnam believes that today’s the role of information technology in Visiting Professorship at The University Americans sign fewer petitions, belong shaping and facilitating the role of of Manchester for five years. His to fewer organisations that meet, citizens in a modern democracy. activities will include a series of know their neighbours less, meet with The scholarship holder will explore collaborative projects, graduate friends less frequently, and even the trend in democracies, such as the summer school coursework and socialize with their families less often. UK, for declining levels of political postgraduate programmes. participation and volunteering, and His research shows how changes in reduced trust in government. Manchester already hosts a number of work, family structure, the ageing centres of excellence specialising in the population, suburban life, television, Peter Englander is an alumnus of exploration of social change and is computers, women's roles and many the University having graduated home to the £3.7 million Economic and other factors have contributed to our with a BSc in Chemical Engineering Social Research Council Funded Centre isolation. Now he is trying to find ways in 1964. for Research on Socio Cultural Change. to bring us back together.

YOUR MANCHESTER 15 An injection of healing Manchester’s world leading research into the prevention of scars is recognised by the World Economic Forum

It is no picnic to be selected as a floated on the London Stock Exchange 48 hours if scar-free healing is to Technology Pioneer: a company must raising more than £60 million. take place. Since surgery is ‘trauma be developing life changing by appointment’, administering the The company is genuinely a world technology which has the potential for drugs promptly is not a problem for leader in regenerative medicine. Its some long term impact on business surgical patients. In the case of major business is developing drugs for the and society. It must demonstrate trauma resulting from say road traffic prevention and reduction of scarring visionary leadership and show all the accidents or burns, patients are usually which results from major injuries or signs of being a long-standing market transferred promptly to hospital where from surgical procedures. leader. And blue sky thinking alone any scar reducing drug could be will not suffice; the technology must Scars are a consequence of a repair administered. be proven. mechanism that replaces missing No one else in the field is even close, normal tissue with an extra cellular These are the stiff criteria laid down and yet there is an important medical mass when normal tissue regeneration by the Geneva-based World Economic need to be met according to Professor has failed. Forum which is committed to Mark Ferguson, Chief Executive Officer improving the state of the world. But scars are not just unsightly. They of Renovo. “There are currently no Funded by one thousand of the can cause major medical problems and pharmaceutical drugs to prevent or world's foremost corporations, the can seriously impair the workings of improve scarring,” he said. “Over the Forum exists to further economic blood vessels, eyes, nerves, internal counter products such as pressure growth and social progress. And this organs, tendons and ligaments. garments, silicone dressings or year it made Renovo Group plc, one of hydrocortisone injections are The new drugs are injected around the Manchester’s most successful spin out unpredictable and largely ineffective.” margins of the wound to either companies, a Technology Pioneer. prevent scarring or significantly reduce Renovo has a portfolio of drugs which Renovo is a biopharmaceutical its effects. But timing is critical and the use different methods to prevent and company which last year successfully intervention needs to take place within reduce scarring. The Company

16 YOUR MANCHESTER The Thornley Visiting Professorship Manchester’s exceptional success in the field of regenerative medicine is to be enhanced by the creation of new links with leading researchers and students in the USA. Alumnus Anthony Thornley (BSc Chemistry 1967) and his wife Gillian are supporting the recruitment of a virtuoso Visiting Professor with a track record in wound and scar healing in the USA. The aim is to build up a joint venture with one of the foremost US centres of tissue regeneration/engineering to share expertise and further our understanding of the science. The Thornley Visiting Professor currently has four drugs in clinical Ferguson added. Since common will continue his or her own development and a further eight in fibrotic disorders share some of the programme at home, while trials. According to external research underlying mechanisms involved in developing major new and conducted by The Mattson Jack scarring, patients suffering from complementary strands of research Group, the potential commercial conditions like pulmonary fibrosis, liver activity in Manchester. There will market is huge, worth in the order of cirrhosis and the kidney disorder be full laboratory facilities and the US$4 billion a year in the US alone. glomerulonephritis also stand to support of a technician. This is largely because there are some benefit from the research. Tony retired as President and Chief 42 million patients each year The final selection of the 47 Operating Officer of Qualcomm Inc undergoing surgical procedures in Technology Pioneers, from a group of in 2005. Based in San Diego, he America who could potentially benefit 225 nominees, was made by a panel of is the newly elected President of from pharmaceuticals that prevent or ‘world leading’ technology and venture NAFUM (the North American reduce scarring in the skin. This capital experts appointed by the World Foundation for the University of market is larger in patient volume Economic Forum. Professor Ferguson is Manchester), an organisation that than depression, osteoporosis, asthma hoping that the award will boost his is playing an increasingly catalytic and diabetes. company’s reputation across the world. role at the interface between By continuing research into the ”There is a real gap in the market for the University and its strategic scientific mechanisms that result in the kind of drugs we are developing links with partner universities in scarring, Professor Ferguson’s team and significant unmet medical need,” the USA. aims to discover different Professor Ferguson said. “There is not Tony said “we are very happy to pharmaceutical approaches to scarring. really any competition and Renovo be able, in a small way, to help For example much of the work is aims to be first to market with a drug the University in its quest for investigating why damaged in the US and Europe to tackle scar excellence and particularly in mammalian embryos heal perfectly, prevention and wound healing.” the field of regenerative medicine with no signs of scarring and complete He was invited to take part in the which has so many potential restitution of normal skin architecture. World Economic Forum meeting in beneficial applications in the Renovo has a strong portfolio of Davos in January where he got the future of medicine.” intellectual property, with more than chance to chat with the presidents of Read more about these links on 300 granted patents and patent South Africa and Egypt and business page 36 applications worldwide, as well as a people from many different sectors. “It number of exclusive licensing was the most wonderful networking agreements which allow access to the opportunity,” he said. “I met interesting key patents required. people from all over the world.” And the potential benefits of the drugs www.weforum.org/ could be even wider, Professor techpioneers/2007

YOUR MANCHESTER 17 Acclaiming Amis In a great literary coup Martin Amis, arguably the leading novelist of his generation, is coming to Manchester as Professor of Creative Writing.

“You can’t teach talent,” said So, whilst coaxing along new writers, another literary coup Patricia Duncker, Martin Amis, “but I believe it can be he is clearly keen to learn himself and, award-winning novelist and short story coaxed along.” as always, is on the look-out for writer, has also just joined the School - possible material for another novel. from the University from East Anglia - Considering that he never had any as Professor of Creative Writing. The special tuition, yet has become arguably “When I was young I might have Irish poet Vona Groarke is yet another the leading novelist of his generation, benefited from some guidance from a new appointee. Amis is genuinely enthusiastic about kind and helpful 57-year-old writer,” he teaching creative writing. He did, of said, with typical irony, considering that John McAuliffe, Co-Director with Ian course, have what might be considered he has something of a reputation for McGuire of the Centre for New Writing, the huge advantage of learning at the being an acerbic writer and a fearsome said: “The creative writing programme knee of his famous novelist father, critic. “I’m sure I can be helpful and at Manchester has long been one of the Kingsley Amis. But his drily humorous gentle. I know that writing fiction leaves best in the country, but the foundation response to that notion is that “he you totally exposed.” of the Centre and the appointments of never gave me any tuition.” The challenge of not only teaching Martin Amis and Patricia Duncker mean Indeed, ‘following in father’s footsteps’ creative writing, but also assessing that we will continue to attract – and is not a suggestion he takes to kindly, students’ work, exercises him. provide a terrific apprenticeship for – even though Sir Kingsley also became “Nabokov said there is only one school talented new novelists, poets and a teacher in later life – at Swansea, – one of talent,” he said, underlining critics. Martin and Patricia are both Princeton and Cambridge - for 15 his original point. And he is not about writers who are interested in the broad years. “By all accounts he was very teaching new writers “the tricks of the swim of contemporary culture, so the good at it,” he said. trade”. But there are what he calls Centre will be a prominent platform for benchmarks, like freshness, freedom the best new creative and critical Now, at 57 and with eleven acclaimed from cliché, levels of perception and, writing being produced in the UK.” novels, as well as collections of short perhaps most importantly, “economy stories, books of non-fiction and Of course, few reach the heights or the of energy – how to make the best countless essays and critical pieces to celebrity status that Amis himself has use of it”. his name, Amis is very much looking achieved over 30 years. After forward to his first academic job – at He is truly committed and strongly graduating from Exeter College, The University of Manchester’s newly believes that the academic milieu has Oxford, with a First in English, where created Centre for New Writing. earned a valid place in fostering creative his tutor was the late Jonathan writing talent. He cites Ian McEwan, a Wordsworth, great-great-great-nephew “I always fancied teaching,” he said. product of the long-established creative of the poet, he went to work as an “I am at the point of my life where I writing course at East Anglia, led by editorial assistant on the Times want a new milieu and I think I have Malcolm Bradbury, a notable exponent Literary Supplement. something to offer. I have a vulgar of the campus novel. The number of curiosity about the young. I want to He wrote his first novel, The Rachel successful writers produced is certainly know how ideological they are and Papers , in 1973, when he was 24. some measure of the effectiveness of what effect modernity has had on Success was immediate - it won the the teaching. them. I can’t think of a better way to coveted Somerset Maugham Award for learn about them, because nothing lays Amis will be based in the School of Arts best first novel. In 1975, Dead Babies you more open than writing fiction.” Histories and Cultures, also home to appeared, followed three years later by He has five children of his own, but he the leading literary theorist and critic, his third novel Success , whilst he was said “they only give you a partial view”. Professor Terry Eagleton. And in Literary Editor of the New Statesman.

18 YOUR MANCHESTER In the 1980s, he produced what is considered to be his masterpiece, Money: A Suicide Note (1984), the first of an informal trilogy along with London Fields (1989) and The Information (1995). In 2003 came Yellow Dog , his eleventh novel, and he is currently working on his latest, The Pregnant Widow . “It is a very autobiographical, generally rash novel,” he said. “At a certain age, you become curious about what you’ve lived through and it is a matter of tweaking and mauling that material. Feminism has been the main issue in my lifetime, hence the title.” Amis has always tackled big and distinctive themes, fearlessly and often controversially. And he has always explored them with a distinctive and innovative literary style. So, he brings to his new job exceptional experience as a writer – and as a man concerned with the big issues. In a way, he is entering a new phase in a wider sense since he has recently returned to England after living for more than two years in Uruguay. He and his second wife, the writer Isabel Fonseca, moved back to London for the sake of their daughters’ (Fernanda, aged nine and seven-year- old Clio) education. And coming back has caused him to look afresh at Britain, Europe and what he identifies as the worrying hostility towards the United States and Israel. “I find that people here are very masochistic” he said. “The tangle of ideologies that dominated Europe has peaked in America. The lesson of “Nothing lays history is the desire for power – and the loss of power causes anger. Britain does you more open not relish being no longer a world power. Islamism lost power centuries than writing” ago and is still angry about it.” When the Centre for New Writing is launched in September, Martin Amis will be there, raring to go, running postgraduate seminars and participating in public events – whilst gently coaxing that talent along. For more information on the Centre for New Writing at The University of Manchester visit www.arts.manchester.ac.uk/cnw

YOUR MANCHESTER 19 From left to right: Jodrell Bank Observatory used in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy; Ashburne Hall as featured in The Mark of Cain and Goldplated; cast from The Innocence Project From Hitchhiker ’s Guide to the

…as well as Top gear, The University campus has become a agency MIDAS, the city’s cool image is firm favourite for film and TV crews much enhanced as a result. “There was Cold Blood and The according to Richard Hanscombe, Sales a time when Manchester conjured and Marketing Manager of STARS images of cobbled streets because Innocence Project, (Sport, Trading and Residential Services). Coronation Street was all there was to film and TV crews “We are always happy to work with TV go on,” he said. “Now we have got a crews,” he said. “Lately we have been much more positive image.” love coming to experiencing an increasing number of Perhaps you spotted some of your old enquiries by film production companies The University of haunts if you watched Cold Blood and we are excited that the University is starring John Hannah which was filmed Manchester as Alison such a popular film location.” in the University’s Whitworth Building. Utley found out Filming generated some £30 million of And Blue Murder starring Caroline inward investment to Manchester in Quentin was made around Chancellors 2005 and according to Colin Sinclair, – which was also the setting for Extreme Chief Executive of inward investment Escapes , a National Geographic film

20 YOUR MANCHESTER

Galaxy to Coronation Street

about the storming by the SAS of the on the University’s Fallowfield campus. whipped away when someone went to Iranian Embassy.The Sackville Street Behrens House was turned into a clinic kick them. building appeared as a mental where characters in the story went to Easy Jet have even filmed a television hospital for The Street starring Jim ‘dry out’, whilst Ashburne Hall was used advert outside Main Campus’ Barnes Broadbent. as St Ethel’s School for Girls. Wallis Building which featured two For the filming of The Mark of Cain The childrens’ channel CBBC has also ‘soon to be’ holiday makers being (a story about the impact of war on recently been filming on the campus. whisked away thanks to a bungee cord young soldiers in Iraq), the University’s They captured some sketches during attached to a giant crane! Woolton Hall was used as the Fresher's Week for Prank Patrol which On a more serious note, a new BBC One sergeants’ mess and also a court airs on Saturday morning children’s TV. mini series called The Innocence Project martial room, while Ashburne Hall’s Banana skins were strewn on the about a group of law students has been dining room was turned into the pavements and when the students went made on the central campus. But this officers’ mess. to investigate, a gorilla jumped out of a time The University of Manchester was Another crew has finished making the hut to make them jump. In another more than merely an attractive drama Goldplated for Channel Four gag, footballs with string attached were backdrop for the drama.

YOUR MANCHESTER 21 The eight part series focuses on law The Centre has also helped some in assessing business ideas that come students researching miscarriages of parents protesting about a school into the Incubator, but to be part of a justice. This theme mirrors some real closure to take their local authority to national TV programme provides an work going on in the University’s Law the High Court, and successfully extra buzz. We are working under School which has been advising the negotiated compensation for a bowling strict confidentiality agreements, as it’s makers of the drama. club that was to be closed down by vital that the applicants to Dragon’s property developers. Den can be sure that their plans and The programme stars Lloyd Owen, of Ms Crystal said she had been impressed ideas – many of which are very Monarch of the Glen fame, who innovative – will be protected. We’re plays a corporate law professor with the amount of effort the BBC had put into making the series as realistic as looking forward to seeing the working with students to take on businesses we’ve assessed featured on high profile dramatic appeal cases. possible. “When I visited the set with one of my students he said it was so TV – and perhaps even have a ‘dragon’ But in real life, volunteering at ask one of our questions!' Manchester’s Legal Advice Centre is real he could have sat down and started slightly less glamorous and more working, their attention to detail has Meanwhile scientists at the University’s been amazing.” about training future lawyers Jodrell Bank observatory came face to according to Dinah Crystal, Director Pro bono work played an important face with Earth destroying aliens in the of Clinical Education and Practice at part in the life of many law movie blockbuster The Hitchhiker’s the School of Law who set up the practitioners, she added: “I hope this Guide to the Galaxy. centre seven years ago. programme will inspire more young Two key scenes of the sci fi classic were people to do pro bono work during filmed at the observatory in Cheshire – Some 300 student volunteers work their legal careers.” ‘pro bono’ at the Centre to help which also features in the book by hundreds of clients every year dealing Manchester Business School has also Douglas Adams. But in a unique twist with problems such as landlord and been working behind the scenes on the to the original plot, in which scientists tenant disputes, divorce, probate, hit business series Dragon's Den . The fail to detect an alien spacecraft as they consumer and employment tribunals. programme follows entrepreneurs are busy enjoying a nice cup of tea, this “We may not take on such dramatic pitching to four ‘dragons’ (potential time it is down to them to stop the cases as the TV show but we have investors) to secure cash for their Vogons from destroying the Earth. businesses. MBS was approached by the our share of complex matters,” she Jodrell astronomer Ian Morison, who is BBC to screen applicants' business plans. said. “For example a prison liaison one of the extras in the film, said: officer at HM Strangeways prison “When we saw this opportunity, we “Actually the aliens take very little contacted us to take up a miscarriage were interested straight away,” said notice of us and blow up the planet of justice for a man convicted of Leigh Wharton, manager of the MBS anyway – we might as well be having a attempted murder.” Incubator. “It’s what we do every day nice relaxing cup of tea.”

From left to right: William Roache (Ken Barlow, Coronation Street); Philippa Adshead from the University’s Visitor Centre; Anne Kirkbride (Deidrie Barlow, Coronation Street); and filming an Easy Jet advert outside the Barnes Wallis Building

22 YOUR MANCHESTER Sport at Manchester Sport has come a long way since a grubby bit of gym kit was installed in a back room at Quay Street 150 years ago

The University of Manchester has mention of sport at Manchester was in wasn’t slow in coming – Mr Lewis for grown its sporting talent to the 1850s and some fairly shabby gym hitting Mr Bell.” unprecedented levels thanks to new equipment in a back room at Owens’ state-of-the-art facilities and the College on Quay Street. The first Sporting pedigree legacy of the 2002 Commonwealth outside fixture didn’t take place until Both UMIST and the Victoria University Games. Last year, the University 1861, but the following year saw the of Manchester have a history of achieved its highest ever finishing first annual boat race on the River producing sporting talent over the position in the British Universities Irwell, and by 1865 the first official years and, not surprisingly, football has Sports Association (BUSA) National Sports Day had been held, becoming a always been central to Manchester’s League table, finishing tenth out of major social fixture at the College. sporting activity. 150 competing institutions. It wasn’t until 1884 that a sending off Dr Richard Cox, former Director of But sport on campus had humble was first recorded of an Owens’ player Sport at UMIST, said: “Many beginnings. Director of Sport, Alison during a game of lacrosse – Mr Bell for footballers will remember UMIST’s Odell, takes up the story: “The first hitting Mr Lewis. A second dismissal envied status as members of the

YOUR MANCHESTER 23 Lancashire League where they played Gary French who went on to play for Manchester said: “The Boat Race plays on quality grounds, sometimes against Bath; Charles Dagnall, cricketer for a special role within the Manchester top players on their way back to form Warwickshire and Leicester; Marie and Salford communities and the following injury or playing in the A Harrison, European Windsurfing generous support allows us to grow team before progressing up the ranks. Champion in 1986; Clare Connor, and develop the event.” Captain of England women’s cricket “Bryan Robson and Norman The Two Cities Race has also attracted team 2000-2006 and Rugby League Whiteside, for example, graced the support from Olympic Gold medalist star John Whittle, who played for both playing fields at MUTECH in my day as Sir Steve Redgrave, who said: Wigan and St Helens. Director of Sport. Other universities “University rowing on the whole is desperately tried to get into the Two Cities Boat Race very important because we need to League without success. There was One of the highlights of the sporting expand the people becoming involved also the annual grudge match calendar at The University of Manchester in the sport. University gives a lot of between UMIST and ‘Owens’, which is the annual ‘Two Cities Boat Race’ people the chance to get involved in was always the highlight of the year.” against Salford. Now in its 36th year, it the sport, an opportunity they may has become a huge family day out never have had before.” Former students include Paul Sherwin, attracting crowds in excess of 5000. a great cyclist who ended up In 2006, The University of Manchester commentating with the Channel 4 Professor Alan Gilbert, President and successfully retained its title, winning team after he retired; rugby player Vice-Chancellor of The University of six of the seven races.

24 YOUR MANCHESTER Key stages From these humble beginnings, sport has flourished at The University of Manchester; •1885 : the formation of the Athletic Union (AU) which has survived to the present day •1900 : the establishment of a Women’s Athletic Union (WAU) •1900 : the Firs Pavilion and Fallowfield sports grounds were opened. Apart from a period during the First World War when the grounds were requisitioned as a POW camp, they have remained in constant use to this day •1932 : The XXI Club was founded. Its members are the elite among Manchester’s student athletes and The future organise over 80 courses and classes this prestigious body boasts many In 2005/6, Manchester claimed its every week; everything from Come international athletes amongst its alumni. 2007 sees the celebration of highest position ever in the BUSA Dancing to Ashtanga Yoga. the 75th anniversary of the Club League. The Trampoline club won the “Over 2,000 students are involved in national title, whilst Canoe, Swimming, •1986 : The completion of the weekly leagues and, on a Wednesday Climbing and Water Polo all finished in Armitage Centre afternoon alone, 600 students take the top five. part in our eleven-a-side football •1993 : The Directorate of Sport was formed Many of our athletes compete at the league at the Wythenshawe highest level. Elaine Radcliffe and Sports Ground.” •1997 : The Sugden Sports Centre was Olivia Clinton have just returned from completed Sport has come a long way since that the England Lacrosse tour of the grubby bit of gym kit was installed in •2002 : The Commonwealth Games United States, whilst 14 other current a back room at Quay Street in the came to Manchester, providing the students have represented England nineteenth century, and Manchester incredible purpose-built Manchester over the last year. Aquatics Centre with two 50m pools will continue to provide opportunities and a specialist diving pool AU President Mark Thompson said: and choices for students and staff to “13,000 students and staff were participate in sport, health and fitness Today The University of Manchester involved in our extensive health and at whatever level they choose. can boast more than 80 health and fitness programme last year. We fitness classes every week, whilst over 3000 students are members of the 42 various Athletic Union Clubs.

YOUR MANCHESTER 25 Manchester has produced more than its fair share of successful female politicians over the decades

Their struggle still i nsp i

Summer 1968: As student revolutionary University were breaking the mould in a of her because of her “studied turmoil reached fever pitch on the really dramatic way and I like to think decision” before Finals to help in a local streets of Paris, Beverley Hughes was that their struggle still inspires us,” said railwaymen's strike. A keen suffragist getting ready to pack her bags for the Ms Hughes, who since 1997 has been and pacifist she never became a Victoria University of Manchester. One Labour MP for Stretford and Urmston suffragette as she abhorred militancy of eight children, she was the first in and is now Minister Of State at the and violence. her family to have the chance of Department for Education and Skills. This attitude was in stark contrast to her studying for a degree. Born in 1891, Ellen Wilkinson was the almost contemporary, Christabel Some 58 years previously, one of her daughter of a textile worker. At the age Pankhurst, daughter of the legendary political heroines, ‘Red’ Ellen Wilkinson, of eleven she won the first of several Emmeline who was equally instrumental was one of the first women ever to go scholarships and in 1910 became a in the Votes For Women movement. to the Victoria University of Victoria University undergraduate, The Pankhurst family lived just round Manchester. And one of the many studying history. Ms Wilkinson was active in the University Socialist the corner from the University and women graduates who would later opt Federation, an active Fabian Society close friends included Keir Hardie, for a political career. member and she is said to have failed founding father of the Labour Party. “Those early women at Manchester to gain the First Class degree expected Christabel studied law, obtained her

26 YOUR MANCHESTER Meanwhile, Ellen Wilkinson had been uneasy at the prospect of the become a Labour councillor and was eleven-plus and selective education. In developing the trade union links 1947, she took an overdose of the m u

which would see her becoming an MP barbiturates which were prescribed for e s u

in 1924. Her finest hour was her asthma. It was a tragic end but her M

e c i probably in 1936, when she led the legacy was the prospect of a university l o P

r

Jarrow March of 200 unemployed education for thousands more children e t s e

workers all the way from the north- from ordinary backgrounds. h c n

east to London. a M

Another fiery redhead, Renee Short, r e t

This was, as Beverley Hughes puts it, followed in her wake as a Victoria a e r G

"inspirational" stuff: "Things still University graduate and Labour MP. f o

y

aren't easy for women in politics but I And, by 1968, the Manchester air was s e t r

would not want at all to imply that it positively swarming with student u o was the same for my generation. The radicalism. C difficulties faced by women in those Beverley Hughes recalls: "It was days were tremendous, they were marvellous to find there were lots of really breaking the mould in a much women like me from the same kind of more dramatic way." backgrounds. The revolution had

m In May 1937 Ellen Wilkinson joined started; we were all very vibrant and u e s with Eleanor Rathbone, Independent questioning all the things going on u M

e MP for the Combined English around the world. You did not need to c i l

o Universities (which included join in a political party; there was so P

r e t Manchester), to establish the much going on. I was involved in and s e h

c Dependents Aid Committee, raising around many of the demonstrations n a

M money for the families of men who that took place then."

r e t

a were fighting in the Spanish Civil War. e

r Beverley Hughes took a degree in G

f

o As Minister for Education, she liberal studies with science and later on

y s e

t supervised the implementation of the a diploma in social administration. r u

o 1944 Education Act but is said to have C res us

degree but then faced the harsh realities of life as a woman in the early 19th century. Her gender prevented her from developing a career as a barrister and she decided to leave Manchester and join the suffragette campaign in London, turning away from the mainstream political parties and advocating direct action. After winning the vote for women (and unsuccessfully standing as an MP for the Women’s Party) Christabel Pankhurst went to America and joined the Seventh Day Adventist religious movement. Dame Christabel Pankhurst, National Portrait Gallery, London Ellen Cicely Wilkinson, National Portrait Gallery, London

YOUR MANCHESTER 27 Another 1960's student was the late the first-ever female Foreign Secretary, Margaret Beckett recalls Patsy Calton MP, who read who studied Metallurgy. Deputy biochemistry at UMIST, before getting Labour Leader and briefly Leader of combining her student involved in political life full-time as a the Labour Party after the death of life at Manchester with Liberal Democrat MP for Cheadle. A John Smith, Mrs Beckett has also some hard graft on the health campaigner, Ms Calton will also served as Defra Minister and Leader factory floor be remembered for her remarkable of the House of Common. bravery in battling cancer, winning two General Elections before being Beverley Hughes pays tribute to her as sworn in again as an MP only days "a fantastic person, someone who is before she died in 2005. Her regarded as a concrete political neighbouring constituency of symbol of women's achievement and Stockport is still represented by who has come through into one of Labour's Ann Coffey, a Manchester the highest offices of State." post-graduate in 1976. So what would those early Ms Coffey studied for an MSc in pioneers make of today's crop of psychiatric social work: "It was a women politicians? vocational course so there was not so Claire Annesley, Lecturer in European much contact with student life. But Politics, has just published a new book what I do remember is that there was Women and New Labour: a real sense of being a part of what Engendering Politics and Policy , on the women's movement was all about. that very issue. We would sit at meetings on the floor Rt Hon Margaret Beckett MP in dungarees. I remember the elegance She said: “I think they would be of the buildings and the sense of being pleased at the record number of in a real student quarter. women politicians in Parliament. We now have the minimum wage, more I was always very conscious of the caring family policies, less sexual The enginee contribution to political life of the inequality, civil partnerships, and this women of Manchester and coming up Government has done more than any to Manchester in those days you had other party to change things. a real sense of industrial history. You Foreign Sec r However, there's a conflict there could still see the mills, you could because of the economic agenda, almost hear that conflict and sense it As the first female Leader of the which preserves the status quo. That in the fabric of the building." Labour Party - she was at the helm in still impacts on women, and the less the interim between the death of Manchester's highest woman political wealthy and disabled. But yes, they John Smith and the election of Tony achiever to date is Margaret Beckett, have made a difference." Blair - Margaret Beckett has one of the most distinguished careers in British political history. And despite once describing herself as a “terrible pessimist” her experience in the labour movement has, she reflects, been a happy one. Britain’s first female foreign secretary arrived first at UMIST and then at the John Dalton Polytechnic in the early 1960s having already established a track record as a hard-working sort who could be relied on. Born Margaret Mary Jackson in Ashton under Lyne, she was Head Girl at her convent school in Norwich and came through some very difficult family circumstances (her father Cyril died when she was just 12 years old) to attain what in those days was a rare achievement for a woman. After secondary school, she was selected for Ann Coffey MP Beverley Hughes MP

28 YOUR MANCHESTER For much of her early career, Margaret Beckett was a renowned left-winger. She vigorously supported Tony Benn in his bid to become Deputy Leader in 1981 and for some years was a member of the dissident Campaign Group of MPs. But opposition to the status quo does not usually lead to high Government office. In Margaret Beckett’s case, her views may have modified but she is said to have retained the friendship and regard of e

c her former colleagues on the left. Her i f f O

appointment as the first female h t l

a Foreign Secretary in 2006 was the e w

n culmination of a long track record as a o

m loyal servant both in Government and m o C the many Shadow Cabinets in Labour’s d n a long years of Opposition. n g i e r o

F Her other top-level roles include

e h

t Secretary of State at the Department

f o

y for Environment, Food and Rural s e t r

u Affairs (Defra), and a stint as Leader of o C the House of Commons for which she won praise. But she has never forgotten her ‘very ordinary’ roots - one of her proudest achievements has ring apprentice turned been helping to bring about the minimum wage. Another is her pioneering work on climate change. etary Unlike other high achievers in Government, Margaret Beckett an engineering apprenticeship, Unlike most of her contemporaries, retains an unpretentious lifestyle. specialising in metallurgy, at AEI Margaret had to combine her years as She has continued to live in one of Manchester. Of the 2,400 a student with some serious graft on the less flashy areas of her Derby apprenticeships available at that time, the shopfloor. “I have very fond constituency and, until security issues only about 20 were held by women. memories of the University, but as an made it a logistical nightmare, she engineering student I was often on six- and her husband Leo were probably Looking back, she concurs that her early month placements in factories, the most famous caravanners in experience of such inequalities shaped sometimes away from Manchester, Britain. A couple of years ago, she her lifelong commitment to furthering during the five years of my degree.” opened the Camping and life chances for women. She was an Caravanning Club’s new HQ in early advocate of all-women shortlists She went on to become a metallurgist Coventry and described her favourite for aspiring MPs because “it needed running an electro-microscopic pursuit as a “cool” thing to do. such measures to drive the aspirations laboratory at the University before of women forward and give them the starting work for the Labour Party as a When John Smith died, Margaret self-confidence to enter political life.” researcher in industrial policy and Beckett faced the immensely difficult special adviser to Minister Judith Hart. task of delivering a eulogy to him only As a young woman, Margaret was hours later in the House of Commons. inspired by female role models like In the February 1974 General Election She described the much-loved Labour Barbara Castle and first became she took on Labour defector Dick figure as "the best leader the country involved in the Labour Party at the Taverne – and lost. But there were two never had". At time of writing, she is 1964 General Election. “I was active in General Elections that year and with one of the safest pairs of hands in Tony Politics when I was a student and was typical tenacity the young candidate Blair’s Cabinet. As the country looks on student council alongside the former came back to fight again and was forward to the interesting prospect of a MP, now Lord David Clark. But I was elected Labour MP for Lincoln in new Prime Minister, this feisty survivor much more active with the Labour Party October 1974. She lost the seat in of troubled political times is likely to at home in Swinton, where I was 1979 but was returned as MP for prove as indispensable as she always Branch Treasurer.” Derby South in 1983. has been throughout her political life.

YOUR MANCHESTER 29 Some Scurrilous Stories Life on a student newspaper veers between scandal-mongering and some more serious journalism

The history of student journalism at Students needed a journal however, notes’ churned out by a photocopying Manchester has ranged from some and the Manchester Independent took machine but soon it became professional award-winning the place of the News Bulletin in 1961. professionally printed as a tabloid. publications to some perhaps rather Chastened by the crisis of 1960, the The Mancunian was generally critical union ventured cautiously back in to less prestigious efforts. of the University establishment and news and started putting out, albeit inclined to accuse it of conspiring with Back in the 1930s, for example, the sporadically, a modest free newssheet the government against students’ students’ union’s first News Bulletin called the Mancunian which was interests – sometimes infuriating veered between the solemn commentary designed to explain the activities of readers by its overt political bias. But of a broadsheet and a tabloid’s appetite Union officers and the Council to the paper itself, and some of its editors for scandal. It lasted until 1960 when it their constituents. was axed by the Vice-Chancellor who and feature writers, won national had by then had enough of its scurrilous During the 1970s The Independent prizes helping the Mancunian to equal news stories published, it was said, with was plagued by financial troubles and the record of the Independent. began to founder and finally collapse. little attempt at verification. One which And by the early 1990s the Mancunian The Mancunian swiftly acquired many attacked the University Registrar and was more inclined to publish good of its rival’s good qualities and its another impugning the morals of humoured satires on the posturing offerings of features, reviews and students in lodgings had proved to be of left wingers or cheerful accounts of sports reports came forward to fill the final straws. The paper had been student hedonism as prospects for the void. widely circulated and assaults on the graduate employment improved. Drink, University’s reputation were not Early editions of the Mancunian be brave and merry, for tomorrow we easily forgiven. resembled a ‘borrowed set of sociology start a career!

30 YOUR MANCHESTER A Manchester graduate turned successful newshound

Many a distinguished newspaper editor got their first taste of the thrill of the scoop on a student paper. And Manchester has produced more than its fair share of household names in the world of publishing and broadcasting - Anna Ford, Sophie Raworth, Mathew Engel and David Aaronovitch for example all began their careers at Manchester, as did Phillip Crawley, publisher of the Canadian Globe and Mail. Mr Crawley can still recall the excitement of his first front page splash more than forty years ago. In fact he can still remember the story. An English undergraduate arriving in 1963, Mr Crawley had started work on the then newly formed Manchester Independent. As its name suggests the paper was detached from both the students’ union and the University authorities and quickly gained a reputation for high quality journalism. His first front page by-line was a story which cropped up during an interview with the University Registrar Vincent Knowles. Mr Knowles happened to mention that there were still significant numbers of unpaid student grant cheques waiting to be picked up. “For a working class lad from Gateshead this was deeply shocking to me,” Mr Crawley said. “I was eking out every penny of my grant and in that Phillip Crawley moment I realised that not all students were having to live like that.” But the paper was running ‘on fresh air’ paper experience and then his career The story was splashed on the front during the early 1960s. There were no really took off. After working for the page and Mr Crawley succumbed to proper premises and the Independent Daily Telegraph in London he became the addiction of breaking news. was put together in bedrooms and on Editor of the South China Morning The Independent went on to acquire kitchen tables: “We really had to be Post in Hongkong (1988-93). He widespread respect for its content and self-sufficient and were flying by the returned to London to become presentation and in 1967 it won the seat of our pants most the time,” Mr Managing Director of The Times highest Daily Mirror prize awarded to Crawley said. “I remember taking the Supplements before moving to New student papers, breaking a stranglehold paper to Macclesfield during lunchtimes Zealand for 18 months as Managing held for some time by Oxford to be printed, then standing on the Director of The New Zealand Herald. and Cambridge. union steps selling it a few days later.” He arrived in Toronto in 1998 to be “The Independent was edgy because Mr Crawley’s early success led to a Publisher of The Globe and Mail, it was not a university mouthpiece and high flying career in journalism. He got Canada's national newspaper, during we had some really excellent his first graduate job, at the Newcastle its battle against Conrad Black's new journalists,” he said. Journal, on the back of his student paper, The National Post.

YOUR MANCHESTER 31 Move over Edinburgh… The Manchester International Festival is on the way, and it rocks

Could Manchester become a serious Festival Director Alex Poots explains as an Oscar-winning film by Roman threat to Edinburgh as an arts capital? that while many may be questioning Polanski and based upon the story of the wisdom of staging yet another Wladyslaw Szpilman’s survival in the This summer the international arts arts festival, Manchester’s will be Warsaw Ghetto during the world will be focusing its spotlight on truly unique. Nazi occupation. the city as it becomes the first ever to hold a festival of completely new and “As the original modern city, Using Szpilman’s original text and the original work. Manchester is well placed to launch ravishing music of Chopin this moving the first ever international festival, account will derive it power from its From June 28 - July 15, the city’s presenting new work, new distinctive Manchester setting for cultural capital is set to soar as the commissions and new ideas,” he said. the location. Manchester International Festival is “And for a city to have committed to launched with a programme of events With an audience of only 200 on each such a festival shows real vision.” featuring leading musicians, artists, of its ten performances, world actors and writers. It is Manchester’s industrial past and its renowned pianist Mikhail Rudy will be musical heritage which have provided seated before a Baby Grand in the And if at first it seems a brave move the impetus for this extraordinary atmospheric attic space of the 1830 for a place which entices thousands of event and, undeniably given such warehouse in the Museum of Science applications for its university each year criteria, it’s a festival that could and Industry. Not your average venue purely on the allure of its pubs and happen nowhere else. All the works for a piano recital, but one that will clubs, let’s not forget that it was which have been commissioned from surely conjure up a sense of the Manchester that gave birth to the across the spectrum of the arts, isolation which Szpilman felt as he Hallé, it was where Annie Horniman popular culture and music reflect these moved from derelict building to started her revolutionary Gaiety themes. derelict building with only memories of Theatre and that it once had its very the music he loved keeping him sane. own ‘Jollywood’ film industry based at For example, there will be a new stage Dickenson Road. adaptation of The Pianist, best known Another commission which is site

32 YOUR MANCHESTER specific is Il Tempo Del Postino , which There’s a new feature film by Greg Rachel Davies, who is participating in involves a remarkable gathering of Hall with music by Steve Martland that the Manchester Firsts strand, is visiting ground-breaking talent for an has been entirely shot in Manchester, John Thaw Fellow in the University’s exhibition, not in a gallery, but at the gigs at Manchester Central, a family School of Arts, Histories and Culture. Manchester Opera House. It’s a show event featuring lots of interactive It is anticipated that Iranian Theatre curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist and performances and a science-meets- Director Amir Reza Koohestani will Philippe Parreno that asks: what if art the-arts slot by The University start an MA in Theatre Studies in was not about occupying space, but of Manchester. September as the result of a John occupying time. Thaw Fellowship offered jointly by MIF The Hallé Orchestra will be playing and the University and additionally, the It will be a relief to many to discover a significant role in the Festival which Exodus Refugee Orchestra, which is that the Manchester International also draws on the city’s musical supported by the In Place of War Festival is not about ‘dumbing down’, heritage and takes as its theme project at the University’s Centre for but that doesn’t mean it’s all ‘urgent stories of our time’. Applied Theatre Research, will also conceptual art and classical music. “To create the world’s first festival of be appearing at the event. Opening the Festival is Monkey: original, new work is a new concept The University has also created an Journey to the West , an astounding and a new context that is wholly innovative higher education festival post million pound circus opera that appropriate for a city that has that’s the first of its kind. The current derives much credibility from the embraced innovation across a wide incumbent Dr Jennifer Cleary said: “This collaborative efforts of the duo range of art forms and popular position will build on the relationship behind the award-winning virtual credible culture. For us to focus on between the Festival and the University. band Gorillaz - Damon Albarn, who music particularly and what I call the The aim is for greater collaboration has written the score and Jamie urgent stories of our time, important between us both in future festivals.” Hewlett who has been responsible for issues, is very relevant to this city I the visual concept. Under the The special relationship forged think.” Said Alex Poots. direction of Chen Shi-Zheng they are between the University and MIF is bringing the Chinese Monkey legend The Manchester International Festival also reflected in the offer of festival to life with a mixture of martial artists, has also forged a special relationship membership at £15 for University circus acrobats and Chinese vocalists. with The University of Manchester. staff, students and alumni. t t e l w e H

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To apply for membership visit www.manchesterinternationalfestival.com/membership and follow the instructions. You will be asked for your password, which is – UNVR01. This password entitles you to buy tickets at the reduced price.

YOUR MANCHESTER 33 n o d n

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out within hours of the tickets Andrea previously presented going on sale. ITV News bulletins after returning from maternity The Manchester band, led by leave earlier last year, having g Tim Booth, formed in 1981. n i given birth to twins. h t The single Sit Down , released o N r in 1990 during the The Belfast-born journalist o l l a Madchester pop boom, has spent most of her H f o

catapulted them to fame working life bringing the y s e t before the release of radio public up-to-date with current r u o favourites Laid, Come Home , affairs, including reporting C Tim Booth and She's A Star assured their Andrea Catherwood from war zones. She was the position as one of the most first British reporter to enter (BA Drama 1982) (LLB Law 1989) successful bands. Mazar-e-Sharif in Afghanistan Tim has rejoined Manchester Andrea is a broadcaster and after it was captured from After nine studio albums, the indie band, James , for a journalist and has been Taliban forces. band split in 2001 and Tim comeback tour after a five- presenting ITV’s new politics pursued a solo career and also year break, and played five show, The Sunday Edition, appeared as Judas in the arena concerts in the UK this with political commentator BBC’s Manchester Passion last April, including one in Andrew Rawnsley. year. Manchester, which was sold

34 YOUR MANCHESTER joining the University of the Management Consultant. By West Indies in 1965. He was 1984 he had become CEO of sworn into the President’s Thorn EMI Fire Protection Ltd office on March 17 2003 for and Director of Thorn Security a five-year term. Professor Ltd. Richards is the first Head of On the sale of Thorn’s State in the Anglophone business he became Chairman Caribbean of Amerindian of Salford Royal Hospitals NHS ancestry. Trust from 1993 to 2001 and Although the position of moved to chair the merged Professor George President is a primarily Peter W Mount, CBE Central Manchester and ceremonial one, Professor Manchester Children’s (BSc Mechanical Maxwell Richards Richards has been outspoken University NHS Trust. He also (MSc 1957, BSc Applied in his criticism of upsurging Engineering 1961) chairs the NHS Confederation Chemistry 1955) crime in Trinidad and Tobago The Chair of Central and serves on the Department The President of Trinidad and and is also well known for his Manchester and Manchester of Health Audit committee. involvement in Carnival. Children’s University Hospitals Tobago recently returned to He was also instrumental in NHS Trust has been awarded the University to help mark He is married to Dr Jean setting up the Manchester a CBE in the New Year the fiftieth anniversary of its Ramjohn-Richards, an New Hospitals Appeal and in Honours 2007 for services to chemical engineering degree. anaesthetist and cousin of 2003 was founder of a charity the National Health Service. Professor Richards was former President Noor called Helping Uganda Principal of the St Augustine Hassanali. They have two Peter’s early career began in Schools, which has provided Campus of the University of children - a son Mark, who is industry as a production support towards the building West Indies in Trinidad in also a medical doctor and a engineer for Rolls Royce Ltd of a school near Mubende and 1996. He previously worked daughter Maxine, who is a and after five years he then to assist one near to Gayazza. for Shell Trinidad Ltd before businesswoman. moved to They are helping to educate PriceWaterhouseCoopers as a nearly 700 Ugandan children.

In 1996 Simon moved to “Before then I’d been writing Wells Cathedral School, one scripts of all sorts and having of the five Specialist Music them rejected,” she said. schools in the UK, as a DfES “When Johnny was Specialist Musician, receiving diagnosed with autism, I the highest scholarship to basically stopped that and study organ with Rupert launched into running a Gough. He performed home programme with him. regularly as a soloist and That was many hours a day continuo player in venues running around a white such as Wells Cathedral, St. room, dressing up as a ghost Simon Lloyd George’s Bristol and St. Angela Pell or a monster or Spiderman (MusB Music 2006) James’ Piccadilly. Whilst at (BA Education 1991) and trying to be the most fun Wells, he also undertook and exciting thing in the Westminster Cathedral’s studies in cello, harpsichord Angela’s first screenplay, room in order to engage my organ scholar, working and composition. Snow Cake , has been turned son. So, when I sat down to alongside the Choir of into a film starring Sigourney write this script a couple of Simon graduated in July 2006 Westminster Cathedral, is Weaver, Alan Rickman and years ago, it was cathartic with first-class honours, recognised as one of the Carrie-Anne Moss. because I’d been thinking playing the organ for his own finest organists in the world. about autism for a while. graduation ceremony. During The film, released in Simon began his musical his MusB (Hons) degree September, is about an “Although some people might development at an early age, course, he continued his autistic woman called Linda think it’s a big responsibility teaching himself the piano organ studies with Gordon Freeman, (played by Weaver) writing about autism, after when he was four. Two years Stewart. He also held who strikes up an unusual about 15 years of writing and later he began organ lessons conducting positions with friendship with Alex Hughes constant rejection it didn’t and has been playing the University Sinfonietta (Rickman). even occur to me that anyone regularly for church services and String Orchestra, as well The script is noted for being would make a film I’d written. since he was seven. as forming his own warm and witty and draws on Ultimately, it’s not really a film chamber orchestra. Angela’s own experiences about autism, it’s a film about with her son, Johnny, who acceptance – about a man was diagnosed with autism. learning to live with and to love somebody who’s autistic.”

YOUR MANCHESTER 35 Our friends in the US It has been a good year for the palate that can cause severe facial important role in maintaining relations deepening of the University’s disfigurements in babies. Further research with the US. At the moment there are academic and alumni links across the is being carried out by the Manchester active regional groups in Northern Atlantic team with scientists at the Stowers California, Southern California, New York, Institute for Medical Research in Kansas. Four Corner States, Texas, Mid-Atlantic The ability to form strategic alliances States and New England. where the University enjoys Over in the School of Mechanical, complementary expertise with academic Aerospace and Civil Engineering (MACE), Elizabeth Pole (BA Economics 1990), State colleagues across the pond has always senior lecturer, Andrew Gale, has contact for Southern California and been a great source of strength at pioneered a successful MSc distance Regional Coordinator for the US, Manchester. The new initiative on social learning programme which has now comments: “There are over 3,500 alumni capital (see page 14) with the University of inspired the development of a ‘sister’ living in the US, including numerous Harvard builds on a range of recent programme at the University of business and academic leaders and our partnerships and appointments, including Pennsylvania. The innovative, web-based members are increasingly lending support that of Nobel Laureate Professor Joseph programme on Project Management is an to Manchester's 2015 goals. We’re thrilled Stiglitz of Columbia University as Chairman industry-led partnership with four of the that leading academics from Manchester of the Brooks World Poverty Institute (see world’s leading companies: Rolls-Royce, are talking more and more with our groups the last issue of Your Manchester). Goodrich, AMEC and EDS. when they are in the States. We are currently working with the Careers Service Research collaborations are MACE is also at the heart of a £1.5 million to identify work placement opportunities developing across the sciences project to develop new composite in America for Manchester students, at an accelerated rate as technologies and materials for future helping those returning and relocating to well. For example, aircraft design in partnership with The the US and otherwise doing whatever we pioneering research carried University of Washington (Seattle). A can through our alumni networks to out by Manchester scientists major focus is to develop more fuel- facilitate US-UK academic links”. from the Faculty of Life efficient aircraft in order to reduce carbon Sciences, together with emissions. The partnership has formally Far from resting on its laurels, the researchers at the University of established the Manchester Seattle University is now determined to build on Iowa, have helped identify the Composite Partnership which is now these activities in the US, and has created a crucial faulty gene that causes working with the Northwest Aerospace strategic board, chaired by Professor Simon Van der Woude syndrome - an Alliance, Airbus, Boeing and a wide range Gaskell, Vice-President for Research, to inherited form of businesses in the UK and US. co-ordinate all its activities in the USA and of cleft lip and promote top level partnerships. A thriving Alumni Association plays an A Record Breaking Year The North American Foundation for The The Board has adopted the following key University of Manchester (NAFUM) has research themes for their philanthropic offered invaluable support following a priorities: World Poverty, Cancer 2015, record-breaking year when more than Science 2015, Regenerative Medicine, 200 donors gave $540,000 (up from Sustainable Civil Society, Transforming $153,500 in 2005). Futures. Visit: An independent, not-for-profit www.manchester.ac.uk/alumni/ corporation, NAFUM supports a range of donorprogrammes/nafum . scholarships at Manchester including PhD A new focus for NAFUM in 2006 was its and Masters scholarships for North support for undergraduate Welcome American students as well as specific Scholarships for Greater Manchester research initiatives and academic students from non-traditional appointments. backgrounds. This was complemented in Directing this 2006 by a gift to NAFUM of $500,000 programme is over three years from the Goldman Sachs NAFUM’s Board of Foundations in order to assist the Directors, the majority creation of the Sutton-Goldman of whom are fellow Masterclasses (a series of summer schools Manchester alumni for students from backgrounds which are who live in the US. under represented in higher education) at the University.

36 YOUR MANCHESTER How do I register for Your Manchester Online? 1 Log on to www.manchester.ac.uk/ yourmanchester 2 Click on the Registration button in the left-hand menu 3 Enter your alumni ID number. This number appears on your membership card and is also Your Manchester printed on the address sheet with this magazine. 4 You will gain immediate access to some parts of the website and Online is Launched will then need to wait for us to validate your information before More than half of Britain’s internet population is having complete access to the busy with social networking, and now Manchester’s secure features such as the alumni directory. As soon as this alumni can connect with each other online. So get is done you will be informed via searching, and bring some memories to life! email – we aim to do this on the same day, but it may take up to three working days. Almost everyone who uses the Web will booking system where you can book to Why should I update have heard of Friends Reunited, the UK’s attend events and pay as necessary my profile? first mass-market taste of social using a secure credit card facility; networking which allows users to search classnotes; discussion forums; 1 To keep in touch with your for former school mates online. e-newsletters; special alumni benefits; graduation year and friends and and Email for Life - the University’s to enable them to contact you. The wider crop of major networking email forwarding service, so that you sites in the UK includes Bebo, Facebook 2 To keep us informed of your never need to remember to tell your and MySpace, with each site receiving career moves and address friends when you change your email more than two million visitors every changes, allowing us to post or e- address, only us! In addition to this, month. They offer far more interactive mail you information directly we have also made it easier for you to features and have become hugely relevant to your interests and update your alumni record by popular with young people, allowing requirements. registering address changes etc. them to create personal profiles, upload 3 The more alumni who update photographs, add links to other sites, Further down the line, plans for the site their profile, the more effective write blogs, and send instant messages include a new alumni careers and YMO will become! or emails to other people’s profiles. business network facility. This aims to Other sites include Friendster, Orkut and encourage alumni who have found For comments, feedback and MSN Spaces. success in their chosen line of work to enquiries please email assist younger alumni and current [email protected] Fans claim that these online students by providing mentoring communities are the future face of Web opportunities, work placement and advice 2.0 and so it seems that the climate has on finding work or choosing a career. never been better for the launch of The University of Manchester’s own brand YMO will also become a valuable and new alumni online community: Your easy way for our international networks Manchester Online (YMO) - specially to plan and organise their activities – designed to easily reconnect our alumni giving co-ordinators the ability to with their University friends. manage their own pages with photographs and notice boards. The interactive website is free to use and provides password-protected areas. YMO was launched in a pilot phase to a Special features include a popular small segment of our alumni community alumni directory where you can access in December 2006 and more than 5,000 details of other alumni; an events alumni have signed up so far.

YOUR MANCHESTER 37 Alumni benefits Your Alumni Association membership card entitles you to over 40 special discounts and offers (see www.manchester.ac.uk/alumni/benefits for a full listing). We have highlighted below some of the latest benefits we have negotiated for you:-

Cox and Kings Mountain Heaven YHA (England and Wales) Ltd Cox and Kings is the longest established Mountain Heaven offers a superb YHA has provided affordable travel company in the world. Their selection of luxury, self-catered chalet accommodation for the budget traveller holidays range from the luxurious to the style apartments in the traditional French throughout the past 75 years and now adventurous and combinations of both. village of Montalbert. This is one of the operates at more than 200 stunning Cox and Kings are pleased to offer a ten villages making up La Plagne, now locations in England and Wales with a 10 per cent discount on both escorted one of the world’s biggest ski resorts. huge range of buildings to choose from group tours and private journeys from The apartments are all within one minute – cottages, mills, mansions, castles and their India, Latin America, Africa, off the piste. University of Manchester lodges. Members of The University of Far East, Middle East and European Alumni Association members qualify for Manchester Alumni Association can join brochures. Brochures can be a 10 per cent discount on all holidays, the YHA and qualify for half price downloaded from except for peak weeks when the membership, costing £7.95 (that’s a www.coxandkings.co.uk or requested by discount is 5 per cent. Please contact saving of £8 off individual membership) calling 0870 225 03 22 (UK only). Please Mountain Heaven for large group rates. and for just £11.50 can take out family quote ‘Manchester’ in order to receive For more information please visit membership. Membership is also valid in the 10 per cent discount. www.mountainheaven.co.uk or around 4,500 other properties telephone + 44 (0)151 625 1921 and throughout the world. For more Vision Express quote ‘Manchester University’. information please call 0870 770 8868 Vision Express is offering members of (UK only) or email The University of Manchester Alumni Gardening Express [email protected] quoting Association substantial savings on their Members of the University of reference MANUNIVERSITY eye care requirements. There is a saving Manchester Alumni Association can www.yha.org.uk of up to £50 with a free eye examination take advantage of a 5 per cent discount when purchasing spectacles and £30 off on all orders placed at The Co-operative Bank complete spectacles if the frame is £69 www.gardeningexpress.co.uk. The Co-operative Bank has developed a or over. The contact lens package costs range of products for The University of To take advantage of the offer please £45 but is worth nearly £90 giving a 50 Manchester Alumni Association. For input the code MANCHESTER_ALUMNI per cent discount. Included in the further details please visit the ‘benefits in the offers box at the end of the package is an eye exam, contact lens and services section’ on Your Manchester checkout when placing your order. consultation and three months supply of Online and follow the link. enhance™ contact lenses when joining the direct debit scheme. Monthly Terms and conditions apply. payment thereafter is £14.95. Other lens Disclaimer: options apply, simply pay the difference. The benefits and services listed do not imply The offer also extends to all family endorsement of the listed companies, nor members of The University of their products or services nor is this list Manchester alumni. To obtain a leaflet exhaustive. While as much care as possible containing the discount vouchers please has been taken in compiling this information contact the Alumni Relations office or these descriptions may not truly represent the visit any Vision Express store with your full capabilities or function of the respective Alumni Association membership card company, which may be determined more and the store will then give you the fully by contacting the company in question. discount leaflet. www.visionexpress.com

38 YOUR MANCHESTER Trio awarded for The Alumni outstanding achievement Register The achievements of three former Neuromuscular Centre. He is also a students have been recognised with Fellow of Green College, Oxford. In accordance with the Statutes Outstanding Alumni Awards in 2006 Dr Rajesh Jeetah, a 1984 Textile Science of the University, there is provision for the maintenance Professor Alan Emery, Dr Rajesh Jeetah and Technology graduate, received his and review of a list of Alumni and Robert Hertz were each award in August while in the UK in his Association members who wish role as Minister of Industry, Small and presented with the Award over the to be kept informed of the Medium Enterprises, Commerce and summer months. proceedings of the Association Cooperatives – within the Government and who are thereby entitled to Outstanding Alumni Awards are given to of Mauritius. former students who have achieved be sent notices and papers distinction within their profession, have The third recipient of the Award was relating to its business and to provided exemplary service to the Robert Herz, a 1974 Manchester participate in elections by the University, or have made an outstanding Business School graduate and now Association. Such elections contribution of a personal Chairman of the Financial Accounting include:- an Alumni Association humanitarian nature. Standards Board (FASB), in the USA. representative on the Board of Governors (cyclic), Professor Alan Emery, who graduated An additional award has been representatives on the General from Manchester in 1952, is one of the accepted by John Cheffins, who is the Assembly (annual), and the founding fathers in the field of Medical Chief Operating Officer at Rolls Royce election of a Chancellor (cyclic). Genetics, having enjoyed a highly Group plc. distinguished career in Neuromuscular The Outstanding Alumni Awards take Only those Alumni Association Genetics. He has held a number of place annually. If you have any members who are on the list will prestigious positions throughout his suggestions for future recipients please be sent relevant notices relating to career including President of the British send these to Annette Babchuk by elections so if you do wish to Clinical Genetics Society and Chief emailing [email protected] or participate you are encouraged to Scientific Advisor for the European telephoning +44 (0)161 306 3066. register on the list. This list currently includes the names and contact details of those members who have, over recent years, shown an interest in alumni Save the dates! programmes and activities. To ensure you are included please keep the Division of Development Forthcoming alumni events and Alumni Relations updated with your current email address by Investigations of concepts and Radio Astronomy at Jodrell Bank, registering with the alumni meaning: the case of the four- 50 years old and poised for community website legged duck the future www.manchester.ac.uk/ Wednesday, 20 June Wednesday, 7 November yourmanchester 5.30pm for 6.15pm 5.30pm for 6.15pm Professor Matthew Lambon Ralph Professor Phil Diamond and you will then be notified when School of Psychological Sciences Director, Jodrell Bank the relevant ballot documentation The University of Manchester The University of Manchester becomes available. (See page 9 for article on Jodrell Bank). If you do not have access to the The Moral Obligation To Improve internet then please contact the on Evolution: The new possibilities Alumni Dinner in London with the Division of Development and for human enhancement University’s President and Vice- Alumni Relations at the address Thursday, 6 September Chancellor Professor Alan Gilbert shown on page 3, providing your 5.30pm for 6.15pm Thursday, 29 November details (including the date of your Professor John Harris 6.30 pm for 7.00 pm award) and indicating that you Institute of Medicine Law and Bioethics One Great George Street wish to be kept informed of the The University of Manchester Home of the Institute of Civil Engineers proceedings of the Association.

For more details, costs, and how to book see www.yourmanchester.ac.uk and click on ‘events’.

YOUR MANCHESTER 39 Transforming Futures

The University’s new Alumni Fund has made great progress in its first year, supporting access into undergraduate and PhD study for almost 100 students - thanks to your generous support. A very big Thank You!

Many of you will have been telephoned themed Fund Areas. Here is a reminder by one of our student callers over the of these five priority areas and an past few months. Thank you for sharing overview of the progress your your fond Manchester memories with generosity has facilitated: them - and for starting or renewing your Alumni Welcome Scholarships support for Manchester! The University of Manchester provides Since October 2006, 950 alumni, have one of the most generous programmes committed to donations which totalled of scholarships in the UK for high- over £230,000. Calling was principally achieving students from low income focused on the UK, but alumni in the backgrounds, with the purpose of USA have generously donated to making Manchester a magnet for NAFUM (the North American outstanding people, irrespective of Foundation for The University of their social or financial background. Manchester) with 151 alumni Professor Alan Gilbert, President and Sean Curley contributing over $39,000. This helped Vice-Chancellor, said the University NAFUM reach a record-breaking total was committed to attracting and of $540,000 and to release funding for Among the recipients is Sean Curley supporting the very best students. ten new scholarships (see page 36 for who is studying Philosophy and has “If students have the talent, we further details). wanted to study at Manchester ever want to ensure that they have the since he was 14. “The scholarship We should like to thank all of you for opportunity to study here regardless has already helped me a great deal,” your generosity. Your commitment is of their financial circumstances.” he said. “I come from an area of having a genuine impact on individual The Alumni Fund has provided poverty and the scholarship helps me students, and on the overall additional scholarship support for - and similar people from student experience at The University 73 students from some of the most underprivileged backgrounds - get of Manchester. deprived neighbourhoods in into higher education by alleviating You may remember from the last Manchester, who achieved the some of the financial issues we face. edition of Your Manchester that we demanding grades required to Education is the best way to break have launched a number of new study here. the poverty trap.”

40 YOUR MANCHESTER Developing Country Scholarships While The University of Manchester is committed to giving financial support to home students, it also has a target of providing 750 ‘equity and merit’ scholarships for students from developing countries by 2015. The Alumni Fund is playing a pivotal role in this programme by providing funding for living costs and international travel. A pilot programme is being launched in 2007/8 for students from Uganda and Malawi, and we look forward to reporting back on this next year. Emergency Student Hardship It is inevitable that during the course of their studies, some students will be affected by unforeseen financial difficulties. Following a rigorous review process, the Sadia Mohammed Alumni Fund assists students who are faced with acute financial difficulties, ensuring that they have sufficient other students and with the many Fund Steering Group which allocates income to complete their studies. external partner organisations involved the funds said the on-going and in the programme. increasing generosity from alumni was So far the Annual Fund has allocated a good sign. “We are feeling £70,000 towards the Student Hardship Research for Society increasingly involved and engaged in Fund from which 22 awards of varying The Alumni Fund also supports the current life of the University and amounts have been made to date. outstanding Manchester graduates its students,” he said. “It has been Student Resources who want to continue their studies at very rewarding to see how our gifts The Alumni Fund continues to provide the University via PhD study across the are being put to highly strategic use equipment and resources across the Fund’s five priority research themes: on campus, and I would like to campus and in halls of residence. World Poverty, Cancer 2015, Science encourage alumni worldwide to get 2015, Regenerative Medicine and behind our efforts.” Projects for funding are prioritised on Sustainable Civic Society (see data collated through the University’s President Alan Gilbert added: “Our www.manchester.ac.uk/alumni/ annual student satisfaction survey so alumni have always been our key donorprogrammes ). This year there that they are of maximum benefit for ambassadors worldwide. The fact that were nine award recipients, including the student body as a whole. These so many feel moved to provide Sadia Mohammed. include a ‘Time Out Zone’ to be added additional support for these student- to the library, which will provide Sadia is currently researching ways of related priorities means a great deal to students with a comfortable and safe relieving poverty in Ghana’s artisanal all of us on campus. We are beginning environment in which they can have a and small-scale mining communities to build the sort of base of support break when studying outside ‘normal’ which are blighted by illegal activity, that can give us vital additional working hours. environmental degradation and flexibility as we strive to make the HIV/AIDS. “I could only have fulfilled Another distinctive feature of the University as a whole, and the student my dream of undertaking doctoral Student Resources Fund is support for experience, among the very best in research on poverty in Ghana if there student-led initiatives within the world.” was necessary financial assistance”, Manchester’s ‘Manchester Leadership she said. “Apart from my work Programme’. This aims to encourage For more information on the contributing tremendously to the students to show leadership in University’s philanthropic priorities and University and to the policy sector of community-based projects in the programme of donor relations, please Ghana, the Alumni Fund offers hope Greater Manchester area. A ‘Pod Cast’ contact Chris Cox, Director of for anyone in the world committed to facility within the Careers Service is Development, Division of Development facilitating change through research.” being funded which will allow students and Alumni Relations, on undertaking leadership projects to Andrew Spinoza, Chairman of the +44 (0)161 275 2620 or email share their experiences on-line with Alumni Association and of the Alumni [email protected]

YOUR MANCHESTER 41 ALUMNI FUND FOR MANCHESTER Please complete in block capitals and return to The Division of Development and Alumni Relations Show your support for the transformational power of The University of Manchester Oxford Road education and research. Manchester M13 9PL The Alumni Fund is the programme through which thousands of Manchester Alumni target their support for a range of student scholarships, resources for learning, and research at the tel +44 (0)161 306 6250 University. For further details on the priorities of the fund, or to donate online please see www.manchester.ac.uk/alumni/donorprogrammes/alumnifund

Name Tel

Address Email

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Regular Gift by Standing Order (please do not send this form to your bank) Single Gift by Cheque or Credit Card

Name I wish to make a donation of of bank £50 £200 £1,000 Bank address £100 £500 Other

I enclose a cheque made payable to Postcode ‘The University of Manchester’ Your account OR number Please charge the above amount to my

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Please Card No £ pay Amount in words Expiry Start * / / Each month / quarter / year * to The University of Manchester date date Annual Fund donations account number 30924369: *Delete as appropriate Issue * * Please note not all cards have Barclays Bank plc, 7th Floor, 1 Marsden Street, Manchester M2 1HW (Sort code 20-55-34) no a start date or issue number. Signature Signature Date

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The purpose of your gift Donor Acknowledgement

The Alumni Fund for Manchester Please tick here if you would prefer your name not to appear in any future list of donors To benefit the five student support priority areas at the discretion of the Alumni Fund Steering Group OR Gift Aid Declaration the following Student Support area: (please tick) If you are a UK taxpayer please take a moment to sign this declaration. In doing so you will increase the value of your Alumni Welcome Student donation by 28% at no extra cost to you. Please see the reverse Scholarships Resources of this form for details and guidelines. Developing Country Research Specific Research I would like The University of Manchester to treat all donations Scholarships for Society Theme (optional) I have made for the last 6 years prior to this year, (but no earlier Emergency Student than 06/04/2000) and all donations I make from the date of this Hardship declaration until I notify you otherwise as Gift Aid donations. Signature Date Other

Data Protection - 1998 Data Protection Act Your data is securely held in the University’s Division of Development and Alumni Relations and will be treated confidentially and with sensitivity for the benefit of the University and its members in accordance with the terms of the Data Protection Act 1998. The data is available to our schools and faculties, recognised alumni societies, sports and other clubs associated with the University and is used for a full range of alumni activities including the sending of University publications and the notification of alumni events, fundraising programmes and for the promotion of benefits and services. If you do not want your data to be used for the above purposes, please tick this box.

42 YOUR MANCHESTER Barabara Smethurst

Your Vision Your Values Without its strong tradition of charitable support, The University of Manchester would not be the great institution of learning it has become today

It was back in 1824 that a group of Barbara Smethurst , is a three times virtually 70 years ago from a two-year businessmen and industrialists graduate of the University, having post-doctoral fellowship at MIT I am founded the Manchester Mechanic’s gained her Certificate in Education powerfully aware of the importance of Institute to teach artisans the followed by her Bachelors and Masters providing opportunities to US graduates principles of science. The Institute in Education. She enjoyed a long and to study in UK universities, and grew into the University of distinguished career teaching students especially at Manchester. Suffice it to Manchester Institute of Science and from a variety of racial and religious add that such an exchange programme Technology (UMIST). Similarly, in backgrounds. Strongly believing in the not only enhances scholarship and 1846, Manchester textile merchant importance of promoting and fostering research but just as importantly John Owens left £96,942 in his Will cross-faith and inter-racial facilitates understanding between our understanding, co-operation and (over £6 million in today’s money) to two countries.” communication, she has established a establish a college which was later to bequest to the University that will As you can see, legacy donors can become the Victoria University support scholarships for students engage in a shared vision with the of Manchester. demonstrating this: “It is my dearest University, and the University is honoured to be the selected partner for Today, many of our alumni and wish that people from all races, religions such far-sighted generosity. The friends, choose to show their and different cultures will live in University is committed to maximising appreciation of the University and its harmony and peace and I believe that the thoughtfulness and efficiency with role in wider society, by remembering education is crucial to achieving this.” which it manages resultant funds - and us in their Will. Emeritus Professor Arthur Porter - to meeting your stated preferences to Mr Joseph Andre Hamilton BSc (Hons) Physics, 1933; MSc 1934; the fullest extent possible. generously left his estate to the John PhD 1936 and Honorary DSc 2004 - and his wife Patricia, have chosen to support Rylands Library because of the If you would like to speak directly to the North American Foundation for The kindness shown to him by former someone in confidence about leaving University of Manchester (NAFUM) by Librarian Henry Guppy - who died in a legacy to the University, please establishing a Charitable Remainder contact Louise Hancock, on 1949. Mr Hamilton first applied for his Trust (a vehicle for deferred giving reader ticket in April 1948 and Tel: +44 (0)161 275 7230, Email: available in the USA). Professor Porter [email protected] continued to renew his readership explains why he and his wife chose to annually through the 1950s. In his donate in this way: “Two reasons Or, we can send a copy of the renewal letter dated April 1950 he predominated. First, as an expression of University’s new legacy brochure: Your wrote, “Some of the happiest hours, our profound gratitude to a university Vision, Your Values, Your Manchester for the past three years of my life, have which provided me with wonderful – a legacy for learning and discovery . been spent within the walls of the opportunities to enjoy a long life filled It is intended for alumni and others Rylands Library. For all these, thank with so many exciting challenges. And who may want to consider leaving a you, with all my heart.” secondly, because having benefited gift to the University in their Will.

YOUR MANCHESTER 43 The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL Royal Charter Number: RC000797 J1459 05.07