Autumn Edition 2016/17

The official magazine of the The Cestrian University of Chester alumni community COCKTAILS ARE NO 'WHISKY BUSINESS' PAGE 12

NEW TEACHING ALUMNI SUCCESS RECOGNITION FOR LABORATORIES IN RIO 2016 UNSUNG HERO PAGE 9 PAGE 14 PAGE 28 Introduction WHAT’S INSIDE? Canon Professor TJ Wheeler DL 6 Welcome to the Autumn Shrewsbury Flower Show this 2016 edition of The Cestrian, summer, you may have spotted the University’s magazine for the UCS entry ‘Home Grown,’ its alumni community. As I which won ‘Best in Show’ and a write, another generation of silver trophy! 10 students is just beginning the Last academic year ended higher education journey which with one of my personal you have all experienced. I highlights, the installation hope they will embrace the of the Alumni Window and opportunities which lifelong a special Donor Reception learning brings as they service, which completed the 15 eventually become alumni. University’s celebration of its 9 The University has had 175 year history. Thanks again another busy year which has to all those who contributed seen a number of significant towards this project. It will developments taking place. serve as a colourful reminder of Programmes were successfully all those who have worked and launched in the new Faculty studied at this institution. of Medicine, Dentistry and A record number of alumni 18 Clinical Sciences, and jointly returned to celebrate their with Reaseheath College, with various anniversaries at this 6 Window unveiled 10 Alumni stars of whom we have entered into year’s annual Alumni Reunion. to donors at special recruitment campaign a strategic alliance, we are in I hope that you enjoyed Chapel service the process of establishing our catching up with old friends, 15 Cestrian Award winners ninth faculty, that of Agriculture and perhaps making some new 9 New teaching thank the UCAA and Veterinary Science. ones too. laboratories at Facilities have been Finally, the new academic  Thornton 18 Annual Alumni Reunion enhanced throughout the year began on a sad note campuses, including an with the passing of Gerald extension to the Seaborne Cavendish Grosvenor, 6th Duke WELCOME Library and new catering of Westminster. His Grace was TO THE AUTUMN 2016 facilities at the Parkgate installed as our Foundation EDITION OF THE CESTRIAN MAGAZINE. Road Campus, refurbished Chancellor in 2005 in Chester For many of you, this issue of The Cestrian laboratories at Thornton Cathedral, and remained will be your first sight of the Alumni Window. Science Park and a new a tireless supporter of the Our aim was to mark the 175th Anniversary Learning Resource Centre at University until his death. Our and leave a lasting testament to all staff and Kingsway Campus. thoughts are with his family students who have been influenced by their time here. Recruitment to our new at this sad time and I will be We would like to thank everyone who helped us to make this Foundation School, offering attending a memorial service possible and hope you enjoy reading about what the images a new way to access higher in his honour at the Cathedral symbolise on page 6. If you would like to see it for yourself, please education, has exceeded on November 28. I hope to do call us to arrange a visit. We would be delighted to see you! Holding a special event for donors to participate in the blessing expectations and student update you on his successor’s of the Window, the two Memory Lane events at Chester and numbers have increased appointment in the spring Warrington, followed by a very well supported Annual Reunion by 108% at the University edition of The Cestrian. has ensured we have met a lot of alumni this year! Many have Centre Shrewsbury (UCS), our new sister organisation in Professor Tim Wheeler, DL kindly donated memorabilia and photos for our archive, and we Vice-Chancellor and Principal, are very grateful for these additions. We are always looking for Shropshire, which is extremely University of Chester volunteers and have a few vacancies on our Committee, so if you promising. If you happened Chair, University of Chester Alumni would like to be more involved, do get in touch. to visit the prestigious Association (UCAA) Fiona Roberts, Alumni and Development Manager

Alumni and Development Office To obtain this publication CREDITS: contact information: ISSN 1750-6662 Editor: Amy Owens, Fiona Roberts, Helena Astbury, Amy Owens in an alternative Corporate Communications [email protected] format, please call Design: Suzanne Fletcher, Graphics, LIS Telephone: 01244 511091 01244 511344 or email Photography: AV team, LIS; contributors www.chester.ac.uk/alumni [email protected] 9 771750 666006

2 The Cestrian 2016/17 Nic Leeds with his kiwi berry vines. Photo courtesy of @Adam Fradgley / © Exposure Photography. New super-food proves fruitful for Business graduate They are sweet, juicy and healthy, and they look very much like their larger cousin the kiwi fruit, however kiwi berries have one obvious benefit – no coarse, furry skin that’s tricky to peel!

The official name of the berry is Actinidia argute and it grows in wild parts of China, north-eastern Siberia, Korea and Japan. Similar in proportion to a gooseberry or grape, Kiwi berries are “They are a very quick growing plant and they take a lot also a fraction of the size and are relatively unheard of in the UK. One of pruning, training and tidying up. If you don’t do the University of Chester graduate is hoping to change that, however, untangling, you suddenly realise what you’re faced with. and even based his dissertation on ‘a product launch strategy for kiwi It took us a while to realise that. We didn’t allow that to berries in the United Kingdom’. happen and this year, the vines looked quite neat and tidy.” Nic Leeds, who graduated with a BA (Hons) Business Studies in 2015, is the man in charge of growing kiwi berries at Wither’s Farm- his family’s 350-acre fruit farm in Ledbury, Herefordshire. With the nation becoming increasingly conscious about their Nic’s dad, George, began growing the berries in 2008, after health, this super-fruit, packed with vitamins and antioxidants, is a discovering them during a visit to another farm in Belgium. Wanting great as a snack, in chutney or as a sauce to accompany fish. to bring a new type of fruit to the UK and diversifying his own produce The berries have also been well received by supermarkets up on the farm, he brought some home to the UK and planted a very and down the UK. Wither’s Farm now supplies kiwi berries to 200 small patch to begin with. Pruning and spacing were all issues at first, Waitrose stores in the UK, as well as some Tesco, Marks and Spencer but by 2012, the family had planted a whole field of kiwi berries. and Co-op stores. The vines which stand at 7ft tall, still take a lot of looking after. Nic, added: “The berries are harvested towards the end of Nic, explained: “The branches tangle a lot. By the time you’ve summer so they’re usually in the shops in the autumn. We’re really finished untangling the whole field, you have to go through and do it happy with this year’s crop as we picked more than last year. We’ll all again. It’s constant untangling! see how they get on at the supermarkets!”

Autumn Edition 3 The group gathered together at the University’s Business School, based at the Queen’s Park Campus, Handbridge, for their induction session.

Trailblazing degree Thank you! Around 16 years ago, the then apprentices start work Chester College entered into a partnership with MBNA to provide an affinity credit card A pioneering cohort of degree apprentices Manager status. This combination gives a unique exclusively for alumni. The have started their journey at the University of undergraduate and postgraduate offering in the idea was that money could Chester – the first group in the UK to take a UK for aspiring managers and leaders called the be raised for the College as new and non-traditional approach to gaining a Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship. each card was used. Over degree by studying in the workplace. Degree apprenticeships were launched by the years the total raised was Recruited as employees by a range of the Government enabling groups of businesses, £16,289.60. However, much companies, specialising in everything from universities and colleges to develop practical, has changed since then; the energy to IT and from manufacturing to vocational degree courses which will allow credit crunch, switching cards textiles, the group will enjoy a specially tailored people to combine both the academic study to benefit from special deals programme for their workplace which leads to from a traditional university degree and the etc. and this scheme has now a BA (Hons) degree in Business Management practical experience and wider employment come to an end. and Leadership - attending the University for 12 skills vital for career success. We would like to thank days, alongside their job. The University had already worked with Airbus all those who participated The apprenticeship degree has been on creating the degree apprenticeship ahead of in the scheme, and hope aligned with the Institute of Leadership and the government drive for this type of study and that they have enjoyed using Management professional qualifications, has conducted underpinning research which will their cards while at the enabling the group to come away with an ILM be presented to the House of Commons with the same time supporting the Diploma at levels 4-6 and achieve Chartered University Vocational Awards Council. University of Chester.

4 The Cestrian 2016/17 First World War research Are you related to any of the former students remembered on this College Plaque in the Chapel? I have been researching the service records of these brave servicemen, who gave their lives in the Great War, but would appreciate any personal records which you may have. This could be possibly an old photograph, College record, newspaper cutting etc. To date, I have found records of over 60 of these former students and hope to publish the complete records via the alumni website next year, to commemorate 100 years since many of their deaths. If you do have any information that you think would be useful, please get in touch. Steve Parker 1972. A plaque sited in the University Chapel, detailing the names of the students who lost their lives during the Great War. [email protected]. Wartime hero honoured for his service to Russia The Alumni and Development Office recently received information about one Joe Rawlings as a of the institution’s oldest known alumni, Joe Rawlings, from Cumbria. young serviceman. Joe, now 103, was recognised with an OBE that might never have been were it not for in 1974 for his contributions to education an arduous train journey, back in 1941. Joe continued to and youth work, mainly with the Scout Living in Aspatria, in the north of the serve in the Royal Navy as an Air Directions movement - but this is an achievement Lake District, Joe had just qualified as a Officer, and played a crucial role getting schoolmaster when he was called up for lifesaving supplies and ammunition to the service. Opting for a large ship in the Royal Soviet Union. Navy, he was summoned to Portsmouth, After the war, Joe returned home and in undertaking the 400-mile train journey to 1946, became headmaster at Bowness on get there. Solway School, followed by Eden School in Wartime travel, as you can imagine, was Rickerby, until his retirement. slow and he arrived just in time to see his After 68 years, and one the eve of his battle cruiser, HMS Hood, steam out of port. 100th birthday, Joe was honoured by the He was distraught. Russian government for the vital part that HMS Hood sailed with the brand new he played serving in the infamous Arctic battleship, Prince of Wales, to intercept Convoys during World War Two. He was one the German battleship, Bismarck. of several men to receive the prestigious Unfortunately, the Bismarck hit the Hood Ushakov Medal, presented to him by a

Joe received his medal from the Russian government, with catastrophic results. The Hood sank delegation from the Russian Embassy, on on the eve of his centenary. (Photograph courtesy of and only three of her 1,418 crew survived. behalf of President Vladimir Putin, when The Cumberland News, Carlisle) Joe counts himself as the fourth survivor. they visited his home in Carlisle.

Autumn Edition 5 Window unveiled to donors at special Chapel service Following the campaign to raise funds for the Alumni Window, a special service was held in June to celebrate the occasion. Donors who made the creation and installation of the Window possible were invited and around 80 people attended the colourful Chapel celebration. Former students, for whom the Chapel played an important part of their College life, and still remains a special place for them to this day, shared their memories and reflections during the service. The Chapel’s new, modern technology which was installed as part of the renovation work in 2015, allowed current students to share their thoughts about Chapel, via video! Alumni, Peter Thompson and Alan Hall, wore their carefully preserved gowns and once again resumed their roles as Chapel Wardens, providing all worshippers with a souvenir Order of Service. Representatives from Pendle Stained Glass, the company which designed and produced the Window, also attended the service and were on hand at the ‘Afternoon Tea’ Reception which followed, to describe the methods used in its creation. Fiona Roberts, Alumni and Development Manager, said: “It was wonderful to see the Chapel filled with alumni from six decades, and to see old friendships being renewed. The alumni who donated the money for the window, saw the Alumni Window in place. It has magnificent artwork, showing images of events and places which inspired them and earlier students from the past. We are very grateful to everyone who supported this special commemoration of all staff and students of the institution during its 175 year history.”

Left hand pane Right hand pane

Mount Snowdon - As part of the From 1842 to 1847, the students The view of Old College - these Queen Elizabeth II was on the 175th Anniversary activities, a helped to build the Chapel in their original buildings appear much throne at the time of the 175th climb was arranged for members leisure time. The tools shown the same today. Anniversary; while the Window of the University and alumni on in the Window are a mallet, was in production, her reign the longest day in 2014. saw and square, together with overtook that of Queen Victoria scissors. The teachers' blackboard and she became the longest calculates the Anniversary date. reigning monarch in British history.

A full explanation of images and themes depicted in this Window, can be found on our website www.chester.ac.uk/alumni

6 The Cestrian 2016/17 More Matter for a May Morning celebrates the life of Shakespeare

Throughout the year, many celebrations have been held worldwide Dr Elizabeth Dollimore with to mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death in 1616. To Dr Graham Atkin from the Department of English. commemorate this quadricentennial anniversary, the Department of English held a series of talks about the Bard; his life, his work, and his impact on the international stage. Throughout May, expert speakers were invited to the University to give talks and enlighten audiences, in an event which was called, More Matter for a May Morning - named after a line from one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays, Twelfth Night. Former student, Dr Elizabeth Dollimore, now the Outreach and Primary Learning Manager at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in Stratford- upon-Avon, gave a fascinating presentation on what we do and don’t know about Shakespeare. Liz, who completed her BA English in 2001 and then continued her studies, gaining a PhD in 2006, also gave up her time to take part in a question and answer session for students, via a live webinar.

Padgate memories Shropshire shared on campus alumni visit the Following the success of the ‘Memory Lane’ event in Chester, which took place earlier University Centre this year, a similar event was held at the “We would love to create Warrington Campus during the summer. a permanent collection of Local former staff and students of the College or University related Shrewsbury then Padgate College were invited to get together to share their memories and memorabilia at the Warrington Alumni from Shropshire and the view items from the archive. The gathering Campus and would be grateful surrounding area were invited to a sparked many recollections and led to a to anyone who was perhaps pre-lecture networking reception at number of historic artefacts being donated unable to attend the event, but the University Centre Shrewsbury in to the University’s archives. Among these July. Supported by members of staff was a 67-year-old College blazer and scarf, by would like to donate items which and the University for Shropshire Mrs Gwenyth Altmann - a teaching student may be gathering dust in the loft Advisory Board, guests enjoyed the from 1949 – 1951. or garage, to the archive.” opportunity to meet local alumni Hilary Tucker, the last Principal of and tour the new Shrewsbury Padgate College of Education, shared her campus for themselves. own memories from her time spent at the The reception preceded a institution, while other alumni from the past lecture delivered by Vice-Chancellor, seven decades shared their photographs and Professor Tim Wheeler, which reminisced over life at the College. explored the impact of local, Fiona Roberts, Alumni and national and global trends for Development Manager, said: “It was the economy of Shrewsbury and fantastic to hear such inspiring stories from the county. He also discussed the the past, learning more about the history challenges and opportunities in a of the institution and the people connected post-Brexit economy and to what to it. Keeping these connections is pivotal extent these could be understood, as we build our archive, and we are grateful Please get in touch with the Alumni and predicted and controlled. to everyone who has donated photos, Development team if you have anything that documents and other items.” you wish to donate.

Autumn Edition 7 Why did you choose Chester College? it would happen. I wanted to stay focused on Alumna learning and teaching. It was working with the I remember the Open Day at Chester really VC at Derby that inspired me to think ‘I could do well. There was a cricket match going on this’ as he pushed me out of my comfort zone behind the De Bunsen Centre and it was a appointed new and gave me things to do which had a broader beautiful hot day. I remember the students sat business responsibility, not just the academic around watching the match, and the cricket focus that I’d been used to previously. Getting Vice-Chancellor pavilion. It was the Open Day that sold it to me. this job was a real honour, and it’s a privilege to be in a position to lead a University. But I would of Staffordshire What are your memories of your never have seen it coming. student days? University I met my husband Chris at College. He was a You gave a key note speech in Spain, first year when I was in my final year. Thursday recently, about the importance of digital mornings were sport mornings – I was a big technology in teaching. How do you see Professor Liz Barnes part of the netball team as well as athletics. that progressing? I remember going swimming first thing in a morning, and then going out to play hockey in Digital technology to me, is an important part the freezing cold. of university life. It’s part of what a university of I remember RAG week- doing the Deva today is, and at Staffordshire, we want to focus Mile, the Pyjama Parade where we went on what being a ‘digital university’ means, for around town in our PJs blowing whistles, and in every part of the University. the afternoon there was a parade with floats. My interest has been focused on how digital We were very noisy! There was a RAG Ball and technologies help us to be more creative in our a President’s Ball, and every sports club had teaching, in particular the blurring of boundaries dinners – I went to a lot of dinners! The Bops between formal and informal learning: about in Gladdy Hall always ended with ‘Daydream being in learning communities with staff, Believer’ by the Monkees, and I also remember students, sharing open spaces because of the doing ‘Oops upside your head’ in there ! connectivity through technologies. I loved my time at Chester, particularly PE and Maths graduate, Professor teaching practice. Right through my university You were one of the VCs who signed Liz Barnes, has come a very long way career, it’s been built on my love of teaching an open letter to the Government, since her days at Chester College. and still now, the thing that drives me is opposing Brexit. How do you think Having left College in 1983 to teach learning, teaching and the student experience. VCs can lead their universities forward at a school in the Midlands, her following the leave vote? subsequent career has seen her lead What are the highlights of your career Throughout my career, I’ve always believed some monumental developments at and what are you most proud of? universities in England. that we should work closely with employers, She spent 23 years at Teesside I’ve really enjoyed the fact that it’s been teachers, NHS, law enforcement etc. I feel as University where she had a range varied. After being a PE and Maths teacher, I though Staffordshire University has a big role of different roles and was most moved into recreation and became a lecturer to play within the county and the City and is recently Dean of Social Sciences in Physiology at Teesside after studying for central to the future, so being connected is and Law. While at Teesside, she my MMed Sci at Sheffield University. I taught really important. also led the development of Health Care students, initially physiotherapists, My concern is that we remain connected technology enhanced learning and and became a subject leader for the allied in Europe and overseas. Areas like Stoke internationalisation across the health professions. While I was there, I set up on Trent do have major challenges around University, and was appointed as Sports Science - I’m really proud of the fact that social mobility, so retaining the Erasmus the first University Teaching Fellow I led the development as it’s so well established student exchange programme and supporting in 1998. Following Deputy Vice- at Teesside now. I became Deputy Dean of opportunities for students to go overseas, as Chancellor and Pro-Vice-Chancellor Health and Social Care before I became Dean well as for international students to come to roles at the University of Derby, Liz of Social Sciences and Law. Working in different the UK, is really important. I think we need to joined Sheffield Hallam University in disciplines, cross-faculties was really nice and focus on what we need to do and not stop and 2014 as Deputy Vice-Chancellor. I worked closely with partnerships such as the worry about what the government are going In April this year, she took over as NHS and law enforcement. Teesside was great, I to do around Brexit. We are already seeing Vice Chancellor (VC) of Staffordshire was there for 23 years in nine different roles. some potential collaborative projects being put University, making her one of a I then worked at the University of Derby, on hold because funding isn’t being released growing number of female VCs of where my focus was on raising performance currently, but we mustn’t let it stop us. We British universities. and the student experience. I left in the January need to continue to build those relationships We paid a visit to Staffordshire and in The Guardian league tables that year, the and continue to research, even though the University to meet Liz and talk about University of Derby had hit the top 50. It wasn’t funding might not be there now. I believe in the her College Days, and find out about just down to me of course, but I provided future there will be arrangements for funding the influences that have helped leadership around that agenda and I felt so that we can still access collaboratively, but it drive her successful career in higher proud. Now in my role as VC, I never dreamt just might be different. education (HE).

8 The Cestrian 2016/17 NEW TEACHING LABORATORIES MEAN BUSINESS FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING STUDENTS A multi million pound investment is now paying dividends for the engineers and scientists of the future, with a suite of new facilities at the University of Chester’s Thornton Science Park.

The Higher Education Funding Council for Science, Technology, Engineering and England (HEFCE) has invested almost £8 million Mathematics (STEM) outreach activities for pounds in total towards the start-up of a new local schools and colleges. Faculty of Science and Engineering at Thornton For the Department of Electronic and Science Park, which has included a £453,000 Electrical Engineering, three former Shell STEM Capital award to refurbish some of the petrochemical laboratories have been teaching laboratories as part of the ongoing updated, to provide the latest practical development of the site. teaching facilities for engineering students. The Faculty is the first of its kind to Subjects which can now be covered in the new be established in the UK for over two lab include Principles of Electronics, Robotics, decades and it is committed to addressing Power Electronics and Control Engineering. national skills shortages in the science The Faculty has also benefited and engineering sectors, by training and from a complete refurbishment of the educating employment-ready graduates. Kingsley Building on the Thornton site, to For the Faculty’s Chemical Engineering accommodate an engineering workshop. and Natural Sciences departments, HEFCE This provides state of the art facilities for New teaching labs at Thornton Science Park. funds were spent converting three formerly undergraduates to learn techniques in derelict lab areas into a 50-seat lecture and mechanical engineering and manufacturing. demonstration room, preparation area and It also hosts large-scale equipment for "The combination of financial support from chemical store. The area also includes two undergraduates studying Chemical Engineering, HEFCE, the unique legacy from Shell at large laboratories for experimental work. which gives students a series of model systems, Thornton Science Park site and the excellent This enables both departments to deliver based on plant found in industry. efforts of the University and its staff have programmes for its students in the new Professor Nick Avis, Provost of Thornton been critical in developing outstanding new laboratory areas, with more planned for Science Park and Executive Dean of the teaching laboratories and workshops for the next academic year, as well as several Faculty of Science and Engineering, said: Science and Engineering.”

Pictured is one of the electronic and electrical engineering labs in the Faculty of Science and Engineering.

The state of the art engineering workshop at Thornton Science Park.

Autumn Edition 9 GRADUATES ARE PLACED AT THE HEART OF NEW RECRUITMENT CAMPAIGN

Faces of some of the University’s most recent and inspirational former students were a familiar sight around the city and further afield this summer, as they became the focus of its latest recruitment campaign. The campaign featured real-life stories from graduates and highlighted some of the interesting careers that the University’s former students have gone into since leaving the University. Alumni from the past decade, all sharing their thoughts on their University experience, featured on outdoor advertising spaces including buses, bus shelters and phone boxes across Chester, Warrington, North Wales, Shropshire, Wirral and surrounding areas.

Jay Petherbridge.

10 The Cestrian 2016/17 James Locke. Bwalya Mutale.

Shantelle Gaston-Hird. Rich Pyatt.

Dean Paton – BA (Hons) Archaeology graduate, who is the connection is to the institution, prospective applicants are able to obtain Founder and Managing Director of the award winning Chester-based an authentic and trustworthy overview of the student experience. social enterprise, Big Heritage. The company is behind some of the In order to raise the profile and promote the use of the hashtag region’s most highly successful archaeological initiatives, which have among new and current students, the Department of Marketing, helped engage museums, schools and communities with the past, Recruitment and Admissions (MRA) introduced the ‘Yellow Sofa such as Chester Unlocked and the Roman Medicine Roadshow. Tour’ during Induction Week, and more recently, at Graduation. BA (Hons) Drama and Theatre Studies graduates, Hayley Evans and This initiative, for which the MRA team recently won a bronze Heist Louise Riley, who are the two co-founders of Haylo Theatre. Based in Award, encouraged students to share their student journeys through Chester at the University’s Riverside Innovation Centre, the theatre University, while sitting on a Big Brother style diary chair and talking company creates bespoke performances and workshops that initiate to a camera. This is the third consecutive year that the MRA team has inter-generational conversations around difficult subjects, such as the been successful at the national Heist Awards, which seek to celebrate impact of health upon individuals, families and communities. Their the work of education marketing across the sector. self-penned debut play, Over The Garden Fence which promotes the With the help of the awareness raising campaign, the awareness of dementia, has been taken on tour across the UK and #MyChesterStory hashtag has dramatically increased among students, internationally and has received critical acclaim and outstanding reviews. staff and graduates, and as such has topped the Instagram charts BA (Hons) French and Natural Hazard Management graduate, among institutions in the region - being used, on average, on 300 to 400 Thomasin Sayers, who is a Community Flood Resilience Project Officer posts per month on social media, covering everything from Induction with the National Flood Forum. She works with communities affected Week to Graduation; nights out to days out; field trips to study time. by flooding in Shropshire and Staffordshire, helping people to overcome Ric Bengree, Director of the Department of Marketing, Recruitment their issues and concerns about flooding - both mentally, such as and Admissions at the University, said: “The University is incredibly developing an emergency plan for peace of mind, and physically, such proud of its graduates. We hear of so many success stories and of those as resolving infrastructure problems which cause the flooding. who go on to pursue really interesting and exciting careers. James Locke, who is an award-winning Mental Health Nurse, What’s your story? Get in touch and let us know! committed to helping patients with mental health illnesses after Email: [email protected]’ graduating from the Pre-Registration Mental Health Nursing Programme. He achieved the Chester Volunteering Gold Award and The Chester Difference Excellence Award while at University, for his commitment to making a positive difference to mental health nursing. “The idea behind the new campaign is to Rich Pyatt is fulfilling his lifelong ambition of teaching in a primary school and making a positive difference to children’s lives, after let our graduates speak for themselves and studying for a Bachelor of Education at the University. tell their Chester story to current students, Shantelle Gaston-Hird, Bwalya Mutale, Yvette Embleton and Jay Petherbridge, who have all gone on to make their mark in the prospective students and the community competitive world of TV Production, after studying media-related degrees at the Warrington Campus. as a whole. We believe that there’s no This latest campaign is another example of how the University is better way for people to learn more about currently focusing on real-life stories, to give an authentic insight into life at the University. what Chester students can achieve than Over the past two years, students and staff at the University from these first-hand accounts.” Ric Bengree. have been using the #MyChesterStory hashtag, to tag their tweets, Facebook posts and Instagram pictures. As a result, whatever a person’s

Autumn Edition 11 COCKTAILS ARE NO 'WHISKY BUSINESS' FOR CHRIS

Question: What do you get if you cross a teardrop caravan with a cocktail shaker? Answer: An innovative business idea from former Events Management and Drama and Theatre Student, Chris Smith!

Chris, 26, from Stevenage, Hertfordshire, set up Chris, being the cocktail brains behind the Elsie Road – a unique mobile bar business – back concept, has used his extensive training in in 2014, with his good friend Tom. mixology, gained during his time working as a After University, Chris went into a bartender, to create an entirely new cocktail managerial role in one of Chester’s popular bars, menu for Elsie Road. Something which makes while Tom – a friend of Chris’s from college – their business special is that the pair are able worked as a craftsman, building teardrop to create something bespoke, or even design caravans. Although very different career paths, a tailor-made package exclusively for an event the one common interest that they both or function; creating themed menus based on possessed was a mutual admiration for typically a honeymoon destination or brewing one-off British, sleek retro constructions; those built special ales for beer lovers, are all possibilities. with real detail and craftsmanship. The business venture has taken Elsie Road After brainstorming business ideas, Chris and to events up and down the country and to the Tom came up with the novel idea of combining homes of the rich and famous. For the past two their professions and running a cocktail bar from summers, Chris and Tom have served celebrity a mobile caravan. guests of Britain’s Got Talent judge, Amanda And so Elsie Road – so called, as a tribute to Holden, at her annual summer garden party. Chris’s late grandma, Elsie - was born. They have also worked at large festivals, parties, The unit itself was built by Tom and Chris, using corporate events, Christmas light switch ons, and Tom and Chris with Amanda Holden. three different types of wood – American Walnut; next year will see them working their first event Canadian Maple and Far Eastern timber. Shelves abroad, in the south of France. were built to house bottles of carefully selected The future looks bright for the young spirits, jars of Fairtrade coffee and containers in entrepreneurs, who are always thinking of ways which to keep locally sourced fresh ingredients. A to improve their service and how to expand concealed, pull-out bar area enabled space for the their business. Chris said: “As a company, we mixologists to create their delicious concoctions, want to be a feature at an event that people will while a large, insulated ice bucket, in the centre of remember for years to come, not just a standard the worktop, holds enough ice to keep drinks cold, bar. Some of our ideas for expansion include all night long. Vintage 1967 Morris Minor wheels running our own Elsie Road Jazz Festival next were also refurbished, and added the finishing year and perhaps opening our first fixed Elsie touch to the unit, also making it mobile. Road bar… maybe in Chester, who knows!”

12 The Cestrian 2016/17 Performance talks and exhibitions announced in the University’s Public Events Programme Ian McMillan. BBC presenter Louise Minchin and post-apocalyptic novel, The Fire Sermon, renowned Yorkshire poet Ian McMillan are The Map of Bones, was published this year. just two of the highlights of the University She will be running a workshop on ‘Writing of Chester’s Public Events Programme for Dystopian Fiction’. this academic year. Our Chester Research Unit for the Louise, who is also an Honorary Psychology of Health (CRUPH) is hosting a University of Chester graduate, will be a number of fascinating public lectures. With guest of the Department of Media, next our hectic lives, make sure you find the time January 24 at the Warrington Campus of to book a place on ‘The stressed ape: Why the University. Over at the Parkgate Road human beings are so prone to stress and what Campus in Chester, Ian McMillan is the to do about it’ – Dr Lee Hulbert-Williams’ guest speaker at the Cheshire Prize for public lecture on stress, including how to Literature Awards evening, which is held on reduce it, which takes place next June. November 22. As always, there will be an inspiring range Other topics this year include of Professorial Inaugural Lectures by newly ‘Shakespeare and Religion’ – Visiting appointed Professors from Faculties across the Dr Francesca Haig. Lecturer Raymond Salter will focus on University, including Professor Emma Rees. the Bard’s habit of thinking, and his The Faculty of Health and Social Care’s philosophical and religious outlook. On Museum will be open monthly and there Professor Emma Rees. November 17, a Military Veterans and their will be several talks hosted by the Faculty’s Families Wellbeing Symposium will take Historical Society. place at the Riverside Innovation Centre, Jenni Westcott, Events and which should be of interest to a wide Administrative Manager, said: “We very variety of people, including those from much look forward to welcoming as many health and social care backgrounds, as well people as possible to the University to enjoy as veterans themselves and their families. the variety of events we have on offer, Once again, the University’s lecturers which should have a broad appeal.” will be taking part in the popular Please visit Chester Literature Festival organised by www.chester.ac.uk/at-chester/events for Storyhouse in Chester Town Hall. Among the latest information or contact Corporate the contributors is Visiting Writing Fellow, Communications on 01244 511344 or Dr Francesca Haig, whose sequel to the [email protected].

Autumn Edition 13 (R-L) Karen Tonge MBE with gold medallist, Will Bayley and Gorazd Lewis Marsden in Rio. Vecko, Performance Director. Chester alumni help make dreams come true in Rio This summer will go down in sporting history, as one of the most successful for Team GB’s Olympic and Paralympic athletes, as they returned home to the UK with hundreds of medals.

Paul The University is extremely or Biomechanics, also involved at the very highest Worsfold. proud of the fact that many of its accompanied Team GB to the level of sport is testament to current staff and students, alumni Olympic Games, working with the success of the University’s and honorary graduates were different GB sports teams. sports sciences programme.” directly involved in the Games Dan Cooper was Head of Karen Tonge MBE, and a in some way, and undoubtedly Performance Analysis for Team 1968 Chester College graduate, all played a part – however large GB’s Rugby 7s team; Yana has been involved in sport, or small – in the Team’s record- Radcliffe oversaw Taekwondo particularly table tennis for many breaking success. (TKD); Lewis Marsden worked years. She received an MBE At the Olympic Games, Senior with the GB Cycling team and in 2008 for voluntary services Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Para-cycling team; while Chris to table tennis and is now Sciences, Paul Worsfold – who is Connelly worked with the GB Chairman of British Para Table also Head of Biomechanics at the Boxing team. And, based in Tennis (BTTAD). With 13 athletes English Institute of Sport (EIS), Manchester – Scott Nichols was selected for the 2016 Paralympic the ‘science team’ behind Great part of the EIS analysis team; Games, Karen spent two weeks Mark Britain’s Olympic athletes – was Garry Owen looked after video in Rio with the Para Table Tennis Bone. one of four experts representing analysis for the GB Taekwondo team – a new experience as the EIS as members of the British team; current Master’s student, Chairman, as she attended the Olympic Committee’s Capture Mark Bone, led on data capture London 2012 Paralympics as a and Analysis Unit. The specialists for the duration of the Paralympic Technical Official. analysed statistical and video Games; and Kevin Gill, Head of Since winning four medals footage of the British athletes Analysis at Harlequins Rugby in London in 2012, the GB Para in action, a vital service which Club, was part of the home-based Table Tennis team has gone from involves systematic observations, analysis team. strength to strength, and Karen to enhance performance and Paul said: “We provide our is very proud to be involved with improve decision making. students with the knowledge and the development of the sport. A group of former students skills they need – as well as very She said: “Helping others to from the Department of relevant work placements – to succeed in their chosen sport and Sport and Exercise Sciences, work in high-performance sports. be the best they can inspires me who all graduated with an “The fact that we have to be active. Sport has the power MSc in Performance Analysis so many former students to change lives and nowhere is

14 The Cestrian 2016/17 CESTRIAN AWARD WINNERS THANK THE UCAA This year, the University’s Alumni Association (UCAA) was able to help two sportsmen achieve their sporting ambitions, by selecting them as worthy recipients of two financial awards.

The Cestrian Awards are administered by Josh, said: "It was a fantastic experience the UCAA Executive Committee. Each award and to top it off, we won the tournament! grants £500 to current students or staff, I was really grateful to the Alumni individuals or members of a team, to help Association’s generous offer of support to them participate in sports activities at a help fund my travel to the Championships. higher level, or support the community in I have gained exceptional experience which some way. is essential to have in this area of work Richard Bott, a Technician with the and will help me along with my future Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences ambitions of undertaking a PhD. I would like and Joshua Lee, a Master’s student studying to thank the Alumni Association’s Executive for an MSc in Sports Science (Physiology) Committee members for their support as, were the two lucky recipients. without it, I would not have been able to Sir Philip Craven MBE received Richard used his award to help achieve my dream." an honorary degree from the him compete in several road and track Richard, added:“The Cestrian Award University in 2015. cycling competitions, while Josh was meant that I was able to purchase a able to accompany the England Senior new track bike, which will enable me to this illustrated more powerfully than Men’s Lacrosse team to the European compete in further regional and national during a Paralympic Games. As one Championships in Hungary, in his capacity competitions, as well as hopefully be of the 22 sports that featured in this as Head Sports Scientist and Assistant selected for the GB Masters competitions year’s Paralympic Games in Rio, table Manager of the team. for 2017.” tennis is one of the most inclusive sports for people with a disability. We are currently looking for new players for Tokyo and beyond so I’d urge anybody interested in engaging in sport to pick up a bat and give table tennis a go!” Sir Philip Craven MBE, is an honorary graduate of the University. As an accomplished Paralympian in wheelchair basketball and swimming, and a gold medal winner in the Gold Cup – World Championships, European Richard Bott leads the way in one of his cycling races. Championships, Commonwealth Games and European Champions Cup, his many astounding contributions to Paralympic sport, led to his election as President of the International Paralympic Committee in 2001. Hailing the 2016 Paralympics, ‘the people’s Games’ and ‘uniquely Brazilian and wondrous’, he handed the Paralympic flag over to the Governor Joshua Lee (back row, 3rd from right) with the of Tokyo, Yuriko Koike, during the England Senior Men’s Lacrosse Team. closing ceremony of the Games.

Autumn Edition 15 Fencing at 50 and beyond By 1965 alumnus, Peter Baron.

“For many years my fencing career was pretty and have been Domestic Fencing Officer of British mundane. I took it up in College, but afterwards Veterans Fencing (BVF) for eight years. couldn’t quickly find a club. Immediately “cajoled” “Whilst mainly organising, I had moderate by my first Head into starting a fencing class, I was success locally and was County Champion in all thrust into coaching. Before moving to the Midlands, three weapons a number of times, but never quite in 1974, fencing in the Manchester League gave Regional Champion. The pinnacle of my success in experience that helped in later competition. Opens, was 3rd - three or four times, with a highest Peter Baron wins first place. “It was only after relocating that my fencing national ranking of 41. I managed once to qualify career began to really develop. My new Head put for an “A” grade International competition - in my me in touch with a local club. On first contact I was mid fifties - and missed out on a World ranking by invited to take part, at two days’ notice, in an open one hit! I remained in the top 100 until 2013, when I competition – not having fenced for several months! missed several events and age began to tell. It was there, after avoiding a complete disaster, “Shortly after veterans’ fencing started, I began that I was introduced to my future wife by the club to get more success. I have been National Age Chairman. I joined and our relationship blossomed. Group sabre champion on numerous occasions and, “He was also Chairman of the County Fencing in the early days, with fewer rivals, took silver in the Union and he soon had me on the committee Vets' Nationals. I have since competed many times alongside my then girlfriend, Janet, who didn’t in Veteran European individual and team events for yet drive (“Well, you’ll be coming anyway, won’t GB and in 14 World Championships. you?”). He also encouraged me to take coaching “I have three European team bronze medals qualifications - I'm now Level 3 in all weapons and silver from the World Team Championships. and a coach tutor. Any competitive progress, However, 2003 was the high point of my career; which only began in the early 70's, was restricted I won both European Individual and World by time organising. I became involved with 60+ Championships, in Moscow and Limoges club, county and regional organisation, holding respectively, I believe this was the first time those all officer posts in the county over many years, feats were achieved in the same year. Back in “Perhaps most including 10 years organising its nationally Limoges in 2008 I took World Bronze, just losing the importantly, I respected Open competition. I was later involved semi-final to a fellow Briton, who then took Gold. with the wider aspects of sport, serving for many “Finally, in May 2015, I won the European 70+ have made friends years on Dudley Sports Council, again holding Sabre Championships and, later, was 3rd in the in many parts of most posts including Chairman. World Championships – coincidentally in Limoges “Eventually, realising that all this might be again. In May this year, I was again in the GB team the world.” affecting my teaching, I withdrew from organisation. at the European Team Championships, also being I have since become involved again in various ways involved with running the event, hosted by BVF.”

16 The Cestrian 2016/17 Coaching the next generation of hot wheels

As the world’s top disabled athletes prepared to battle it out for a place in the medal’s table at the Rio Paralympics, some of the UK’s elite junior players descended upon Loughborough earlier this month, for a chance to take home the prestigious School Games Champions title.

Hoping to lead the Wales Under Anna’s coaching and Basketball squad and a 10 year Under-19 Wheelchair Basketball guidance, and after an exciting international playing career team to victory, was Anna tournament, the Welsh U19s followed, during which time she Jackson - a 1996 PE and Sports team came 5th in the National earned 70 Caps, won bronze at Science graduate, who, earlier Junior Championships and 4th the Paralympic World Cup in 2008 this year, was appointed the in the School Games, narrowly and silver in 2005 and played at team’s new Head Coach for the missing out on the bronze medal. two World Championships, three “Wheelchair Lords Taverner’s National Junior Anna, originally from Ruthin, European Championships winning Championships and the UK North Wales, has been a pioneer bronze in 1999 and 2003 and the basketball is an School Games. of wheelchair basketball in the 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games. amazing sport – The School Games forms one Chester area since she took Eventually Anna had to make of the highlights of the UK’s junior up the sport in 1997. Having the difficult decision to retire from open to people sporting calendar, combining previously been a keen hockey playing basketball. Off the court, of all ages with sports for athletes with and player, she was forced to retire however, she has continued to without disabilities. It is also one during her time as a student due demonstrate her passion for the and without of the highlights of the wheelchair to severe knee problems, which sport and is now Club Chairperson basketball calendar, truly eventually prevented her from and Head Coach for Cheshire disabilities. Our demonstrating the transformation playing any 'running' sports. Phoenix Wheelchair Basketball club encourages and impact the sport continues After just a short amount of Club, based in Ellesmere Port. She to have since its inception as a time spent involved in wheelchair also works with young people and everyone to rehabilitation and recreational basketball, and playing for her athletes, through her role as a come and have a activity for spinal cord injured local club, she was selected to member of the ‘Give back team’ patients in the late 1940s. join the GB Women’s Wheelchair for the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust, go, so just get in and as a ‘Sporting Champion’ - part of a Sport England initiative touch if you fancy bringing world-class athletes coming down.” face-to-face with young people Anna Jackson. and young adults, to inspire and motivate them. Anna, said: “When I look back on everything I have experienced with wheelchair basketball I still can’t believe some of the things I have done. It was amazing to play for Great Britain and now being the Head Coach of the Wales U19 team is an achievement I am really proud of. Wheelchair Basketball has changed my life and through my coaching and development work I hope that I can change other people’s lives too.” More information can be found at: Anna coaching new players at Cheshire Phoenix WBC. Anna Jackson. www.cheshirephoenixwbc.co.uk

Autumn Edition 17 Alumni Annual Reunion 2016 This year’s alumni Annual Reunion was our busiest yet! With group reunions for the 1966 starters, 1966 leavers, the 1976 leavers and 1986 leavers, who all celebrated their big anniversaries, it was a great occasion for friends to catch up with each other. Some people flew all the way from Australia and Canada to attend the event and it’s safe to say that everyone had a great time. Take a look at a selection of photos from the weekend. We only have limited space here, so haven’t been able to feature them all. If you can’t spot yourself, take a look at the online photo album at www.chester.ac.uk/alumni, where we’ve uploaded all those that we’ve received.

18 The Cestrian 2016/17 Autumn Edition 19 Sophie Neller.

Teaching local school BY SOPHIE NELLER childen about the bird.

Southern Ground-Hornbills in the wild.

20 The Cestrian 2016/17 SAVING THE ENDANGERED SOUTHERN GROUND-HORNBILL Standing at approximately 80cm tall, the Southern populations across Africa. I am currently responsible for the Ground-Hornbill is both culturally and ecologically development of a new monitoring technique using horseback, which enables us to follow wild groups without altering their behaviour, and important. They are known as both the Rainbird keeps us safe from dangerous wildlife. I also contribute to the large and the Thunderbird, due to their loud ‘booming’ variety of outreach and educational work that the project completes throughout the current range, and participate in the yearly harvest call just before dawn, which is used to protect their of redundant, second-hatched, wild chicks for hand-rearing. The large territories from intruding groups. The species, Mabula Ground-Hornbill Project has spent many years developing a now endangered in South Africa, has an estimated successful reintroduction strategy, which means that the harvested chicks, which would otherwise perish in the nest, can be hand-reared remaining population of only 1,500 individuals, which and, after training from a wild alpha-male, can be reintroduced as makes up approximately 450 co-operatively breeding part of a group into areas where the species historically occurred. groups. Very little research has been conducted on “Working on the project has so far taken me to six African countries, which has opened my eyes to a variety of cultures, and the the populations outside of South Africa, and so the different forms of protection each one can provide for a species. It international population which is currently recognised is a privilege working in partnership with the local people, who are as ‘vulnerable’ could be in even greater decline. Sophie extremely knowledgeable and concerned about the environment around them. The community work we conduct in local schools is Neller, a 2013 Zoo Management graduate has been not only the most incredible fun, but also one of the most effective living and work in South Africa, trying to conserve this tools for conservation we have, in order to safe-guard the species fascinating species. for future generations. With the number of high-profile endangered species in Africa at the moment, it is so easy for ones which are lesser “It was only during my studies at the University of Chester that I known to be over-looked, and we have to keep finding new ways discovered my love of hornbills. Having never been interested in birds to draw attention to the problem, as so many people simply don’t before, this was somewhat of a surprise! On one of our regular trips realise how few of these iconic birds are left. to Chester Zoo, the pair of Great Indian Hornbills caught my eye. Their “I am now studying for my MSc degree in Veterinary Science in charismatic behaviour totally captivated me and I was hooked. I went South Africa, for which I am looking into the hormonal changes in the on to focus every piece of course work I could on hornbills so that I Southern Ground-Hornbill and trying to establish how that affects could research them further, and my final dissertation project was a their throat colouration and behaviour. Even though it has now been comparison of the enclosure use of several different hornbill species. three years since I graduated from the University of Chester, I often "One year after graduating, I was incredibly lucky to secure a think of the great times my friends and I had studying there, and am position at the Mabula Ground-Hornbill Project in South Africa, very grateful to them and the University, especially my supervisor, for helping to slow and reverse the decline of the Southern Ground- helping me reach my goals. Hornbill. The main threats to the species are habitat loss, secondary “If you would like to know more about the project or how you poisoning, electrocution and trade, all of which are also problems for can help to conserve Southern Ground-Hornbills, please contact many other savannah species, which makes our conservation work all [email protected] or visit www.ground-hornbill.org.za the more critical. or follow us on Facebook.” “The Mabula Ground-Hornbill Project is a non-profit organisation, and is responsible for the conservation of the entire South African population of Southern Ground-Hornbills, outside of protected areas. With the help of sponsors and collaborators, our small team of seven is able to conduct an extremely broad conservation effort, which relies solely on fundraising to continue. The project is constantly conducting new research, making discoveries and creating new ways to eliminate the many threats to the species, which is what makes it such an exciting team to be a part of. "As part of my work for the project I have been actively involved in the capturing and sampling of wild birds as part of a Monitoring the birds on horseback. larger research project, to establish the genetic profile of different

Autumn Edition 21 University of Chester Professor appointed Chair of International Committee aimed at empowering women through education

A Professor at the University of Chester training up to the highest levels. has been working on the international Under the collective banner of stage, to raise the profile of girls’ and education, gender and human rights, Pictured with attendees at the Graduate women’s education. the Graduate Women’s International Women’s International (GWI) conference Professor Cynthia Burek, Professor of (GWI) conference takes place every three in Cape Town is Professor Cynthia Burek. (Professor Burek is seated, first on the left.) Geoconservation and Director of the British years, exploring issues affecting women Federation of Women Graduates, has and education. Representatives from recently returned from an international United Nations agencies, The Brookings academics, and a range of independent conference in Cape Town, South Africa, Institution (a non-profit public policy experts presented on innovation and best which aimed to empower women and girls organisation based in Washington, practices in providing lifelong, quality through lifelong, quality education and DC), global and South African-based education for girls and women.

MERSEYSIDE BANDS UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT IN SECOND SERIES OF SCOUSE POP Frankie Goes to Hollywood is among the iconic bands interviewed by a University of Chester academic, for the second series of a television programme celebrating the eighties music scene in Merseyside.

Scouse Pop has been held in high regard since the first series aired on Paul said: “The success of the first show took me a little by surprise. Liverpool Bay TV in July 2015. The TV series will also be accompanied by Getting hundreds of comments on social media was an encouraging a book to be released in 2017. acknowledgement of the show’s appeal. The quality and calibre of the Dr Paul Skillen, Programme Leader for Education Studies, will be bands is a big draw and the opportunity to see them in full voice some interviewing more of the decade’s leading musicians for series two. 30 years after their initial success also draws in the audience.” Paul’s interest in ‘Scouse Pop’ stemmed from his time at university He added: “I think people of a certain age thought that their youth in late 1970s Liverpool, where he wrote articles for Merseysound – a in Liverpool was different from other cities. For a while, Liverpool was fanzine about the local bands at the time. He said: “The rich diversity the creative hub of the UK. People who were there at the time knew and creativity of youth culture in Liverpool during the eighties has not this was a special place and I think the series acknowledges this and been replicated anywhere else in the world. Liverpool remains unique confirms the appreciation of those creative days in the 1980s when as a musical city that has created so many successful bands, all of whom music was the medium which defined our lives.” are unique in their sound and image.” The second series of Scouse Pop began in September and will be The format for each episode of Scouse Pop consists of four aired on Wednesday evenings on Bay TV (Freeview 8, Virgin 159). All performances recorded live and interviews with the guests. Paul has previous episodes are also available on YouTube. particularly enjoyed learning more about the creative processes and personal lives of individuals through these interviews. He said: “As the series has developed, the format of the show has become really interesting, because all of the bands have had the similar struggle to succeed, international success, break-ups and frustration, and finally maturity and renewal. It can be an emotional rollercoaster at times. All of the guests I have interviewed have demonstrated great Scouse wit and resilience.” Other people that Paul would like to interview include Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), Nigel Blackwell of Half Man Half Biscuit and Paul Simpson of the Wild Swans, who has also contributed Left to right: Producer Neil Duffin, Frank Maudsley (from A Flock of Seagulls) and Paul Skillen. to the book.

22 The Cestrian 2016/17 OBITUARIES The University was saddened to receive obituaries for the following alumni and supporters, this year.

Gerald Cavendish Grosvenor to abandon his dream of a career 1,500 charitable organisations occasions. He was delighted to KG, CB, CVO, OBE, TD, CD, DL, as a professional soldier in his since 1974, and the Duke was open the Westminster Building 6th Duke of Westminster. uncle’s regiment, the 9th/12th also president of the RNIB for 25 and Grosvenor House, reflecting Lancers. He instead signed up to years and President of the St John his close association with the the Territorial Army and in 1994 Ambulance for 10 years. University. The University has lost His Grace was the University’s received an OBE for his work as a A close friend of the Royal a dear friend, enthusiastic backer Foundation Chancellor, who died volunteer soldier. Family, he was a philanthropist and loyal champion. aged 64, on August 9. When his father Robert died who supported both rural and The Duke of Westminster is Born in 1951, Gerald in 1979, he became the sixth inner-city areas with links to his succeeded by his son, Hugh, and Cavendish Grosvenor was Duke of Westminster aged just estate. But he was also a private is also survived by his wife Natalia educated at Harrow, where 27. He succeeded his father to man who defied expectations and daughters Lady Tamara, Lady he gained two O-levels, and become Chairman of Grosvenor and regularly spoke out on Edwina and Lady Viola. later went to work on ranches Holdings, the commercial arm controversial issues. Alumni and Development Office. in Australia and Canada. of the Grosvenor Estate, and The Duke was a tireless He then served an informal dedicated himself to using supporter of the University and apprenticeship in property his wealth responsibly. The used his influence to further the management. In 1973, when he Westminster Foundation, which University’s interests at every was 22, he became trustee of the manages the estate’s charitable opportunity. He represented the Grosvenor Estate and was forced giving, has donated to more than University on many ceremonial

Autumn Edition 23 Peter Axson at the cryptic crosswords in The Geoff Collier at a reunion in the eighties and 1948 Guardian and Telegraph. 1953 thereafter travelled down the For over 60 years, Peter was M6 together every September. Peter died very peacefully on married to my cousin, Joan, Forty-five years after leaving He took mischievous pleasure September 2 at his home on who survives him, along with College, without any further in introducing me to his other Congleton Edge, aged 87. He daughter Ruth, son John, three contact, Geoff Collier turned up friends as his chauffeur and I was was sitting in his favourite chair grandchildren and two great- at Reunion, accompanied by his happy to adopt the role. In fact, next to the window that gave a grandchildren. I personally owe wife, Maureen. He so enjoyed the long journey from the North view across the Cheshire Plain a great debt of gratitude to the event, and meeting old mates East passed much more quickly, towards Chester. Peter, as it was he who advised once again, that he became due in no small measure to Eric's Peter studied PE and me to do my teacher training at a regular attender and often steady flow of chatter. French, but was known to be Chester. How right he was! expressed regret that he hadn’t As time passed, Eric's health an outstanding sportsman, Colin Rodgers done so in earlier years. began to suffer and he had representing the College at a A Lancashire man through problems with his eyesight. number of sports. His forte was and through, Geoff spent the Worse was to come when, in swimming. As part of a cops Eric Barber whole of his teaching career in, March 2012, he suffered a severe and robbers RAG stunt, he was 1948 or near, Manchester. Naturally stroke, which marked the end of chased on to the suspension the conflicting interests of our his freedom and independence. bridge, and made his escape by I am very sad to report the respective counties were much After treatment in hospitals in diving off it into the Dee! death of yet another of our to the fore in conversation! Durham, Bishop Auckland and After College he did national colleagues, Eric Barber, who One of Geoff’s passions was Newcastle, he was eventually service in the Royal Electrical died in April, aged 87. photography and I have him found a place in a care home at and Mechanical Engineers. Eric has, for many years, to thank for many excellent Stanley, not far from his home His teaching career began at kept me supplied with a great photographs taken at reunions. in Catchgate. During his time the Woodcock Wells school at deal of information for inclusion About three years ago he there, despite excellent care, Mow Cop, commuting from in The Cestrian. He and his good was accompanied at Reunion by his health deteriorated further. Congleton on a motorbike, friend, Brian Carter, attended his daughter and gave us the sad He was unable to walk and he which wasn’t always up to the many of our reunions together. news of the death of his wife. lost that great gift of speech task of getting him up the steep At Chester, Eric was Captain After that event he disappeared - a cruel blow for one who so hill! His career was interrupted of the College Harriers team, from my radar, there being no enjoyed conversation. Although by tuberculosis in the mid ’50s, but kept very quiet about his response from the address, communication was difficult, he but restored to health, he took considerable music ability! telephone etc. so I assumed that was able to show, through his a post at Congleton Secondary In retirement, he held many he had moved home. In March eyes, his gratitude to his visitors Modern boys' school, then posts as church organist and of this year I received the sad for their concern. moved to Buglawton Hall School Choirmaster, and also played news of his death. He was a very His funeral was attended by for what were then called the Wurlitzer organ at many friendly, pleasant man and I echo a small number of true friends 'maladjusted boys'. In the ‘60s concerts in County Durham. his thoughts about missing so on a calm and sunny day near he gained an MEd and shortly He taught first at Victoria many years of reunions, prior to his County Durham home. For afterwards moved on to be a Secondary School at Dewsbury, his retirement. them, and particularly for his lecturer at Elizabeth Gaskell became Head of Mathematics - Alwyn Peel Chester College friends and me, Training College in Manchester, then Deputy Head - at Thornhill his memory will endure. Small where he stayed until he took High. His wife pre-deceased him. in stature but tall in spirit and early retirement. At his funeral, his own music Eric Foster personality, completely without Peter was a man of many was played - recordings set 1953 pretentiousness, a dear friend to interests: as veteran long to photographs of his life and us all - that was Eric. distance swimmer he swam career. He leaves one son, three Eric Foster died peacefully in Eric Henderson lakes and estuaries including daughters, eight grandchildren, Durham Hospital on June 15, Windermere, Coniston and the and seven great-grandchildren. 2016. He regularly attended Solent. He was one of a team of David Lewis College reunions and delighted in Norman Green MBE six that completed the first ever seeing old friends there. Perhaps 1953 relay Channel swim, using only the most memorable occasion breaststroke. He was awarded was when, after many years, he During this year’s Reunion, an MBE for services to swimming was reunited with Brian Platt, his I posted a card to Norman, in the Congleton area. He took closest friend during his time at who wasn’t well enough to a keen interest in antiques, Chester. Eric loved to chat about attend. Sadly Norman never notably lustre ware. Horse racing old times, as did we all. received that card, for he was another of his interests, and Although I did not know Eric died the day before Reunion. in later years, he became expert well at College, we met again He had attended our 50th

24 The Cestrian 2016/17 anniversary gathering and Alan Heaton no longer be with us and is a painting by John Farquharson, every Reunion afterwards, 1953 very sad loss, but he leaves another of our year’s artists. nearly always travelling with lots of happy memories. Very When I enquired why after Jeff Steele and myself. Norman Alan Heaton died suddenly in appropriately on his service card the odd number of 47 years as had lived in Leeds for many hospital in November 2015, were the words, “Some people Year Secretary, his answer was years, where both he and his aged 85. make such a difference in our “The years are passing and we wife, Joy, were Headteachers of Born in Lancashire, Alan lives by simply being who they wanted to show our gratitude schools in Cookridge. He used spent all his life in the county, are. They make the world a whilst you are still here!” Very to say that they were often other than his two years National better place and when they’re sadly Warwick is now no longer referred to as the “Cookridge Service in the army. His teaching gone we realise how lucky we with us but he leaves some Mafia”. Sometime in the 90’s he career was spent in primary are to have known them.” wonderful memories. received his MBE for services to schools in Darwen, Bury and Alwyn Peel Alwyn Peel education in Leeds and he was Bolton. At College, a quiet never happier than when he had though friendly man, he would the opportunity to share some always be remembered for his Warwick Tart James Robert Morten of his experiences at that school contagious laugh and smile which 1953 1965 and also at an earlier headship always seemed to encompass of a school in Spain, where one his whole face. Arguments or A tall, distinguished man, Bob Morten died on September of his daughters still resides. disagreements with anyone Warwick lived and worked all 18 following a very short illness. Norman was one of four were not Alan’s style, other his life in Shropshire, the county The previous weekend he had who came to Chester in 1953, than the usual Lancashire/ of his birth. Talented in many been doing what he really loved after attending the same school Yorkshire banter about football, ways, not least of which was during the season, umpiring a in Southport, the others being especially with me and one or his artwork and his goalkeeping cricket match. Harry Foster, George Bromilow two others from the other side (College first XI ) he and his wife, Bob was born and brought and Roy Smith, all of whom of the Pennines. I do recall him Joy, bought a lovely house in up in Whaley Bridge in the Peak sadly predeceased him. Arthur missing Reunion in 2009, due to Wellington when they married District. He came to Chester in Pendlebury Green (1952) was his car having a slight argument, and have lived there since, raising 1962, his subjects being History also at the same school. During but I am sure that wasn’t Alan’s three fine sons, including twins. and Art, but it was on the sports his National Service in the army, fault. He enjoyed sport and was Warwick was Head of a Junior field that he really excelled. At Norman’s skills in badminton especially involved in football, school for some years until he well over six feet tall, he was saw him selected for both the being a member of the first managed to persuade the Local a good second row forward in army and the Lancashire County team, and Badminton. He was a Education Authority to give him rugby, and a dependable centre teams. In retirement he was regular member of the College retirement in the mid 80’s, with half in soccer. But cricket was never still, either gardening, chess team. The latter interest the full 10 years enhancement. his favourite sport, and after swimming or DIY at the house, was something he maintained His lengthy retirement saw him playing for Whaley Bridge and which he lovingly called “The throughout his life, as was the involved in a printing business Hadfield, he took to umpiring, Arcadian Halls of Beauty”, and game of bridge. With his wife, and some dealing in antiques, gaining great respect for fairness when he and Joy were either Dorothy, he shared a love of with plenty of time for gardening and reliability. In our final year I visiting or entertaining their gardening and for years enjoyed and DIY. Regularly in touch over shared digs with Bob, and as he son and two daughters and the an allotment, as well as long the years, he was proud of his was an early riser we were always six grandchildren. Spain was a distance walking in various parts fitness which he claimed was due amongst the first at breakfast. favourite holiday destination. of the UK, and they were also to running up and down stairs Without him I would often have Reunion weekends in Chester both long term members of the many times a day and a lack of missed the 8.30 deadline. were also a passion and he Ramsbottom Choral Society. medication. I recall asking him to Bob's teaching career was would never miss a Chapel Alan kept in touch with do an extra few minutes for me. spent entirely in primary schools in service having served as Chapel me regularly and it was always Not a man to travel far, I the Glossop area, his final school Warden when at College. good to see him at reunions, think that he was only once being Oakwood where he was Norman loved to chat to all often happily chauffeuring Harry persuaded by Joy to visit their Deputy Head. In 1968 he did me and many is the laugh we have Glover, another chess enthusiast son in Australia . He came to the honour of being my Best Man, shared there and afterwards. He and member of our College team. reunions quite often, though and at our wedding he met and leaves many happy memories. Alan last attended Reunion in not in very recent years, and at fell in love with Diane, my wife's Alwyn Peel 2013, accompanied by his wife Reunion in 2000 he organised a cousin and chief bridesmaid, Dorothy, helping the rest of us wonderful surprise for me, for whom he married in 1970. I had to celebrate our 60 years of which I owe him a great debt of the pleasure of acting as Best Man influence upon the world. gratitude. Unbeknown to me, for him. To Dorothy, their son and he had written to all of 1953, as In addition to his prowess two daughters I have expressed a result of which I was suddenly in sport, Bob was a railway buff, our condolences. Alan may presented with a magnificent belonging to the society Cheshire

Autumn Edition 25 Lines, and using the railways His wife, and three children If your plans are for a lifetime, Having recently researched wherever possible in preference to were overwhelmed by messages educate your children. her family history, she found an the car. His Ruby Wedding present from all over Britain, from Well done Steve, a great illegitimate forebear who had was a session on the footplate of ex pupils and their families, achievement in your life. You taken the mother's name. The a steam locomotive on the East expressing the esteem in which were a credit to Chester College. father being called Lydiard, she Lancs line. he was held. Sue Carmichael changed her surname by deed Bob was a devoted family Sue Carmichael poll to Lydiard Cannings. man, a loving husband to Diane, Some years ago she appeared father of Ian and Helen, and Cynthia Mavis Elsie on the quiz programme Fifteen grandpa to Harvey. He will be very, Stephen Woodward Lydiard Cannings to One and also on Mastermind, very sadly missed. At the time of 1966 1967 coming second - specialist writing, the funeral arrangements subject, Cowboys and Indians! have not been finalised, but it was Steve came to Chester after Cynthia was in that first group She never married, eventually intended that after the church student teaching at Warsop of 30+ girls to occupy the sharing a house with her older service and cremation, family and Junior School, where he returned refurbished Old College. brother Ray and various dogs. Ray friends would be invited to the as a member of staff in 1966. She was popular and, despite died five years ago and that hit her Hadfield Cricket Club, the ground After he was married, he moved missing half of her right arm hard. She was just beginning to where Bob scored his magic "ton"! to various Derbyshire schools, (congenitally), took part in many recover when she was diagnosed Colin Rodgers becoming Deputy Head, and activities including sporting with a particularly virulent form then Head at three different ones and the choir. She was also of leukaemia and died only about junior schools. He retired in 1997. a keen photographer, skilfully three weeks after the diagnosis. Malcolm McGregor This was not to enjoy a relaxing manipulating an SLR camera Sybil and I, independently, 1966 retirement, but the start of an despite the difficulties. She was attended her funeral on Thursday amazing part of his life. very determined and could be May 26. Malcolm started at Chester Steve became involved stubborn about accepting help. Peter Baron College in September 1963, in promoting Reading and She was known to her friends where he was one of the few Writing courses, mentoring new as 'The One-Armed-Bandit', the students in his year from the teachers, and presenting Stress nickname accepted with a smile. Gary Townsend North-East of England. He was Management courses for Heads! She had a very sharp, sometimes 1994 always fiercely proud of his He also became involved with acerbic, wit and anything less Northumbrian heritage, but his The Smiles Foundation, visiting than sensible would draw a quick We are sad to report that Gary teaching career certainly went Tileagd, Romania, in 2002. The put-down. passed away suddenly, following much further afield. village had no education facilities, After leaving Chester, she an early morning run, while on After leaving Chester he but thanks to Steve's efforts, and Sybil Hartley, took a trip holiday in Spain in June. taught at schools on the Wirral, using an abandoned church, a hitch-hiking round Europe, taking Gary was 43 and was serving then studied French at university school was been set up. This on various jobs. Apparently, as the Chief Executive of Brighton in Besançon, France, and became very important in the they arrived at the Greek- and Hove Albion’s official charity, subsequently became involved lives of the children, besides Turkish border just after Turkey Albion in the Community, at the in the first teaching of French in educating them, it fed them, and had invaded Cyprus. Having time of his passing. He had been primary schools in the UK. kept them warm and clean. negotiated massed Greek troops, working at the club since 2013 and He went on to teach at RAF. With even more effort, a new they were strongly discouraged was appointed Interim Executive in Bruggen in Germany, where he school with medical facilities was from trying the same with the March this year, before taking up met and married his wife Mary. opened in 2006. An 'Educational Turks and a bus driver was the post as Chief Executive, after a He settled back in the UK, Challenge', taking groups of persuaded to take them onwards. successful interim period in charge in 1973, teaching in Hawick, teachers from the UK to Romania Once in Istanbul they taught of the charity. then becoming Headteacher of began. This work still continues. English at the Berlitz School. He raised tens of thousands the village school in Yetholm, His wife, children, and She taught French fairly of pounds for charity outside of near Kelso, Scotland. Malcolm his granddaughter Zoe, are briefly before leaving for his day-to-day work, not least was very involved with village extremely proud of what he Australia and New Zealand, in support of ‘Jacky’s Dream’, a life, playing cricket for the achieved. where she lived for a couple of fundraising camping to provide local team, and organising A tribute to Steve years. She was a prolific and witty support for more disabled people tournaments for many sports. was placed on the Smiles writer and friends and family to participate in sport. The local children also benefited Foundation website. were treated to a string of letters We extend our deepest from his tennis coaching. His maxim was: about her exploits. sympathy and condolences to He retired in 2003 because If your plans are for a year, Returning to the UK, she Gary’s partner, Hannah, and of ill health, but still played a big plant rice. never really settled to teaching his family and friends at such a part in the community. If your plans are for a decade, and had a variety of jobs difficult time. He died suddenly in 2015. plant trees. including being a postmistress. Alumni and Development Office

26 The Cestrian 2016/17 IN MEMORIAM The University is saddened to have been informed FRIENDS YEAR of the following deaths over the past 12 months: REMEMBERED NOTES

Fr Martin McAlinden We are very conscious The spring 2017 edition that it can be impossible of The Cestrian will to summarise the feature year notes from George Quayle lifetime achievements of our year secretaries.

some of the inspirational So that we can include Carla Garbutt alumni that we hear everyone’s news, please about in 350 words. could we request that We have therefore set submissions are kept to a Ryan O’Hara up a section on the maximum of 350 words, website called ‘Friends and are received by us Remembered’, where no later than Friday, Susan Wilcox we will upload, in full, January 20, 2017. It is these obituaries that we recommended that year have had to reduce in notes are emailed to Craig Hooper size in order to ensure [email protected] that there is space for so that we can Christopher Erangey everyone’s contribution acknowledge receipt. If in the printed version of you are unsure of who The Cestrian. your year secretary is, John Callister or would just like to let others know of your news, please get in touch Barbara Harding with the Alumni and Development Office. Stuart McCarthy

Sally Nieberg

Barry Geddis

Autumn Edition 27 ‘Unsung Hero’, who always put students first, receives national recognition

After spending the past quarter the award by many current of a century helping students at and former students, as well as the University of Chester achieve several members of staff at the sporting trophies, one of Chester University. She said: “It was a Students’ Union’s (CSU) longest huge surprise to find out that I serving members of staff has had won the award. I feel very achieved an award of her own. honoured that the work that I Jane Hodson, Sports and have done has been recognised Societies Administrator at CSU, in this way. It’s a fantastic way to beat fierce competition to win start my retirement!” the ‘Unsung Hero’ Award at the Sarah Latham, Student British Universities and Colleges Activity Manager at CSU added: Sport (BUCS) Awards 2016, which “We are very proud of Jane’s were held in Warwick as part of achievements at Chester the BUCS Annual Conference. Students’ Union. After 25 years The Unsung Hero Award of encouraging and supporting recognises an individual that has students to win BUCS trophies, worked tirelessly and without Jane has now been awarded her broader recognition to support own national title. This is the first student sport at any level, and BUCS award we have received this is the first award that CSU and it couldn’t have gone to and the University of Chester someone more deserving.” have ever won at BUCS level. In addition to the BUCS After joining the CSU staff Award win, Jane was also team in 1991, Jane worked honoured to receive the CSU tirelessly to ensure the success Outstanding Contribution of the University’s sports teams Award at this year’s Above and and provide help and support Beyond Awards and has also had to students, both on and off the one of the University Rowing pitch - earning her the nickname, Team’s boats named after her, ‘My Chester Mum’. ‘Lady Jane’, in recognition of Jane who lives in Marford, all that she has done for the Wrexham, retired from CSU development of sports and Jane Hodson. in July and was nominated for societies at the University.

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28 The Cestrian 2016/17