Supported by of Queen’s UniversityBelfast A MagazineforGraduates&Friends of Queen’s UniversityBelfast A MagazineforGraduates&Friends Class of200 Blue bell Blue bel Class of200 Sport forA Sport forA £1m Union £1m Unio

Zoe Salmon Zoe Salmon

Appea Appea le e 5 ll 5 ll n

l AUTUMN l 2005 The best view of Belfast!

As Domestic Bursar at Stranmillis University College, Christine Nesbitt is no stranger to visiting conferences. A Catering Administration graduate of the University of Ulster, Christine has been at Stranmillis for 11 years and was appointed Domestic Bursar in 2001. Christine Nesbitt Christine and her team are who were pleasantly surprised at how topics and visits to historical sites. responsible for the full range of convenient it was to travel to Belfast So to ensure that visitors would get housekeeping and catering services and to the College, it was unanimously the best view of Belfast we provided for conferences, which now agreed that the conference should contacted BVCB. form a regular part of the out-of term come to Northern Ireland for the first business at Stranmillis. Christine time. ‘BVCB have been extremely helpful, explains the importance of bringing providing useful information on city conferences to Belfast and the ‘The AMHEC Conference is one of the tours, hotel room deals, sponsorship support available from BVCB. most prestigious in the third level contacts and local musicians and education sector and Stranmillis staff very valuable promotional booklets ‘My colleague, Norman Halliday, who look forward to welcoming the for every conference delegate. The is Director of Corporate Services at Association’s members to the College assistance has been refreshing, in the College, is a founder member next year. Key business matters that the attitude from BVCB staff has and enthusiastic supporter of the discussed at previous conferences has been ‘what can we do for you’ which Association of Managers in Higher included tuition fees, cost effective gives me great confidence that a Education and Colleges (AMHEC). reward strategies, governance, bench group of this importance will be Norman suggested to the AMHEC marking and a code of conduct for dealt with committee that the 3-day annual governors. professionally conference in 2006 should be held in and will Belfast. ‘Following the meeting with the leave having AMHEC executive committee it was had a good ‘After an overnight visit to the clear that local knowledge would impression College by the executive committee, influence the conference discussion of Belfast’.

2 QUEEN’S TODAY Editor: Gerry Power

Managing editor: Kerry Bryson

Designers: Page Setup, Belfast

Editorial Advisory Board: Emma Courtney Message Aíne Gibbons Colin McClatchie from the Editor Kevin Mulhern

Advertising: Julie Forster

Typing & Production: The revamp of the alumni magazine has taken Jacqui McCormick account of the views of the many graduates who took part in focus groups or completed survey forms in recent months, and to whom special

Editorial office: o thanks are due. The new-look Queen’s today Development and recognises that over 60% of our graduates are less

Alumni Relations Office t day than 40 years of age, with different communication Queen’s University needs and expectations. Belfast BT7 1NN Queen’s communications with its graduates has moved on. The spring Northern Ireland publication is now in a shorter newsletter format, while the autumn issue has been expanded to give a wider view of life at Queen’s today – which also happens to be the title of the new magazine! Tel: +44 (0)28 9097 5322 Fax: +44 (0)28 9097 5188 Added to this, the Class of 2005 became the first to be offered ‘email for [email protected] life’ and we continue to circulate the latest news to association members, www.qub.ac.uk/alumni donors and others in our quarterly e-bulletin.

Queen’s today Cover: Zoe Salmon (see Profile p.6) The new-look offers more graduate news (pp.9-11, pp.26-30) and takes a closer look at life at the University on a faculty basis (pp.12, 16 & 20), while retaining a healthy smattering of nostalgia © Development and Alumni (p.44). In this issue Derick Bingham highlights Queen’s links with Relations Office CS Lewis (p.38), Blue Peter’s Zoe Salmon is the profile subject (p.6) and Robin Ramsey explains the role of Convocation (p.24). Queen’s today is a magazine published by the Development and I am delighted to announce that Queen’s today has received corporate support from Ulster Bank. In this and subsequent issues of the Alumni Relations Office, for alumni magazine, readers will receive details of a variety of products which and friends of Queen’s University I am sure you will find of interest. Belfast. And remember, you can keep up to date with all the latest graduate Extracts from Queen’s today should news from Queen’s by visiting the website – www.qub.ac.uk/alumni not be published without the QUEEN’S Editor’s approval. While every Comments on the new magazine format would be most welcome (to [email protected]) or in writing to the address given. effort is made to ensure the accuracy of printed information, I look forward to hearing from you. readers should be aware that this is an alumni magazine and not an Gerry Power official publication. Any views Editor expressed by the contributors are not necessarily those of the University or the editorial team.

Advertisements are carefully vetted, but the University can take no responsibility for their content.

Printers: W & G Baird, Antrim

QUEEN’S TODAY 3

Faculty

12Medicine Safer Medicines for Children by Professor James McElnay

Fit for Practice by Professor Jean Orr

Graduates Gingivitis and premature babies – is there a link? 6Blue Belle – Profile of Zoe Salmon 16Engineering Astronomers on NASA 9 & 26Classnotes mission by Professor Alan Fitzsimmons

19Graduate and Student Telecoms of the future of the Year contents 20Arts 45What’s in it for you? Why join a Queen’s association? The Winds of Change by Dr John Barry

Film makers on show

Creative writing Queen’s extra

Students 42The Class of 2005 – summer graduation

35£1million Union Appeal 46Miscellanea - Quiz/brain teaser/Sudoku Features

23Convocation – making your voice heard by Robin Ramsey

32Sport for all – developments at Queen’s

38A Mind Awake – Derek Bingham looks at the life of CS Lewis

40£39million bookmarked for library by Aíne Gibbons

44Bygones – Martin Gray looks back at a different Queen’s

QUEEN’S TODAY 5 PROFILE

From the age of eleven, Zoe attended Bangor’s all girl Glenlola Collegiate School. In the evenings she did amateur dramatics and tap dancing, two skills that were later to play a big part in her Blue Peter audition.

‘Glenlola was very competitive, with so many girls all striving to be the best’, said Zoe. ‘This really suited me as I was very keen to succeed. And when I was there all I wanted was to go to Queen’s to Blue Belle study law. My parents hadn’t attended university but it From the moment the conversation starts it’s clear that Queen’s was something I knew I was law graduate, Zoe Salmon, is a focused and bubbly individual. destined to do’. She loves life, adores London and clearly cherishes her new job. As the 30th presenter on the BBC’s Blue Peter, and the first new Still living at home, Zoe enrolled member in four years, Zoe has every right to be upbeat. Queen’s in the law school at Queen’s today editor, Gerry Power, caught up with Zoe at her apartment in in October 1998. As an south west London in August. undergraduate she didn’t take part in many extra curriculum student ‘I really love my job; it’s been a very supportive when I left for activities, preferring instead to complete whirlwind since I London,’ said Zoe. concentrate on her studies. Her started. Working on Blue Peter is favourite tutors included Norma a dream come true for me,’ said Zoe’s dad, Joe, worked in the Dawson and John Stannard, Zoe. ‘Blue Peter is a television carpet industry all his life, both of whom are still working institution which has withstood formerly as MD of Northern in the school. the test of time. Like most kids I Ireland Carpets and latterly in the grew up watching the programme retail sector. As a result Zoe has ‘I was a real geek at the time; and it’s a real honour now – if acquired a lengthy list of random always in the library studying. somewhat surreal – to be part of facts about carpets, which no I really hated exams and so I felt I the team’. doubt will come in useful in the had to concentrate on not failing. Blue Peter studio where the Perhaps I should have taken up a At just 25 years old Zoe now has presenters face endless challenges. sport and entered into university the prospect of a lucrative career life a bit more, but I really in television ahead of her. Blue ‘My mum didn’t work, which wouldn’t have had it any other Peter is well known as a fertile meant I never had a child-minder way’, Zoe said. nurturing ground for talent and when I was young. I was always Bangor-born Zoe is set to follow very involved at school and Zoe’s social life revolved around in the footsteps of some of TV’s wanted to do loads of things. So I part-time modelling and at the most famous names – John was in the school choir, played in end of her first year at Queen’s she Noakes, Anthea Turner, Valerie the hockey team, joined the entered the Miss Northern Ireland Singleton and, of course, the Brownies and the Girl Guides and contest. By her own admission, late Caron Keating who presented I even won a handwriting cup!’ she was ‘really shocked’ to win! the show for four years in the Runner-up to Zoe on that late eighties. The young Zoe Salmon attended occasion was Orlaith McAllister Kilmaine Primary School not far of Big Brother 2005 fame, Zoe made her debut on the long from the family home on the with whom she still keeps running flagship children’s outskirts of Bangor. The National in contact. magazine programme on 23 Curriculum award winning December 2004. But the busy school, which is soon to be Though Zoe bagged several prizes and exciting life of a TV presenter demolished to make way for a including a sun holiday, the use is far removed from her roots in new building, welcomed back of a jeep for twelve months, a Bangor, where Zoe was one of a their most famous alumna earlier modelling contract and a range family of four. She has two sisters this year. of designer clothes, she was – Lara and Naomi – and one prevented from entering the brother Julian. ‘It really was a great school and I Miss World pageant as Northern was delighted to be back there a Ireland’s parliament was not ‘I had a fantastic upbringing and few weeks ago as a guest speaker, sitting at the time. ☛ until I moved to London I always though it was funny how much lived in Bangor. I have a very smaller the place seemed’, close family though they are not Zoe added. at all over protective and were

6 QUEEN’S TODAY 7 QUEEN’S TODAY PROFILE

After a year out to attend to street luge (a kind of one man And what of her future in Miss Northern Ireland duties, bobsleigh done lying on a television – where does she Zoe resumed her law studies wooden or metal board not see herself in five years time? and graduated in 2003 with a much bigger than a respectable 2:1 honours skateboard), constructed a ‘Television is a tough and degree. Just over a year raft and recently filmed in highly competitive industry later and a postgraduate the Blue Peter garden for the and while I love the media qualification under her belt first time. She’s a dab hand world, for me it is still early from Queen’s IPLS (Institute with sticky back plastic, days. I don’t know yet if I of Professional Legal Studies), regularly works up to 18 hours could cut it as a Saturday Zoe started work in a Belfast a day – but she loves it all! night presenter’, said Zoe, solicitor’s office. who earlier that week had ‘I feel very privileged,’ said completed a photo shoot ‘The year as Miss Northern Zoe. ‘I am so lucky to be in for OK! magazine. Ireland got modelling out of the job I am in. The travel is my system and I was really amazing, I love working in ‘Traditionally, presenters don’t keen to use my brain. All I the Blue Peter studio (which stay more than a couple of wanted was a career as a is my second home) and I years on any one children’s solicitor, which I had strived never complain about the programme. While I have a so hard for while I was at long hours - well hardly ever!’ hectic schedule, I have University’, Zoe told managed to do one or two Queen’s today. Blue Peter, which is crammed other things in the last six with information, topical months including fronting However, after a couple of items and performance, was Northern Ireland’s input to years as a trainee solicitor first transmitted on 16th Eurovision’s ‘Making your working on personal injury October 1958. And while the Mind Up’. I suppose I could cases in Belfast and with a famous theme tune (entitled pick up a legal career again, well-paid legal career ahead of Barnacle Bill) is still the same, though ideally I’d love to her Zoe was ready for another the programme has had to work on Blue Peter forever! challenge. It was then that she change with the times. Now It really is too soon to say spotted an anonymous advert broadcast every weekday it has where I’ll be in a few years in the Belfast Telegraph for a five regular presenters (Konnie time’, she added. TV presenter. Huq, Matt Baker, Liz Barker, Gethin Jones and Zoe), three With her boundless energy ‘While I am sure it must dogs (Lucy, Meg and Mabel), and endless enthusiasm, sound strange, I asked myself two cats (Kari and Oke) and a coupled with her versatile if I wanted to be a solicitor tortoise (Shelley). talent and a face that clearly for the next 30-35 years. Was fits, Zoe Salmon is surely this all there was to life? The As a regular face on Blue destined for a lengthy spell position seemed to be asking Peter Zoe now finds herself a in the limelight. for all the random skills and role model for a generation of experience I had built up youngsters. ‘It’s wonderful while at school and university, knowing that for many young so I applied’, she said. children we are role models. You have a real responsibility While Zoe initially thought and in a way have to set an the job was based in example as so many kids get Northern Ireland, it soon really attached to the became clear that more was at presenters,’ Zoe told Queen’s stake. The rigorous auditions today, though she admitted took place in four stages over that she had never thought of several weeks and concluded having children herself. with a complete mini- programme which required ‘I am so busy at the moment her to conduct an interview I haven’t had time to think of with regular Blue Peter marriage or having a family, presenter Matt Baker whilst though several of the current jumping on a trampoline! Blue Peter presenters are married,’ she said. Clearly, In the months since, Zoe has however, Zoe hasn’t ruled the travelled to Japan (where she idea out. ‘If the right guy spent four weeks), Iceland, came along, I think I could Germany and Austria. She just about squeeze time in for spent a day as a teacher, tried a boyfriend’, she added with a her hand (unsuccessfully!) at hearty laugh.

8 QUEEN’S TODAY 2000s in the General Law and Leilanie Stewart, Advice Division of the BSc Archaeology and Jennifer Gault, BSc Nursing Federal Election Commission, Palaeoecology 2002, worked 2003, and husband Jonathan a US regulatory agency that as an archaeologist for a year are proud to announce the oversees public funding of after graduating. She then arrival of triplets – 2 girls Presidential elections and applied for a job as a teacher and a boy – born on enforces campaign finance in an English school in Japan. 14 December 2004. laws. She was recently elected Melaine left Belfast in She can be contacted at Senior Articles Editor of the November 2003 and arrived [email protected] Administrative Law Review. in Osaka where she was She can be contacted at transferred to a small rural [email protected] town called Tottori on the Northwest coast. Since then Marianna Corvan, MSSc she has been teaching both Human Rights Law and adults and children. In May Criminal Justice 2002, is she was promoted to Branch definitely not engaged or trainer and manages classnotes married yet! She has a new eight teachers – a lot of job working as a Law Clerk administration work as for an Immigration Attorney well as teaching! She Jennie McCullough, in downtown San Francisco. can be contacted at BSc Computer Science and She can be contacted at [email protected] Business Administration [email protected] 2003, was the producer of the Zhengen Ren, PhD in musical Hippos in the Shower Marlene Doherty, BA Politics Computer Science 2002, is which played two sell-out and History 2002, has pleased to announce the birth shows in the Old Museum completed a TEFL course in of a son, David, who was Arts Centre. In addition Barcelona and is currently born in Belfast Royal she is setting up her own teaching English in Spain. Hospital on 12 May 2004. promotions agency working She can be contacted at He can be contacted at with local bands and hosting [email protected] [email protected] events such as musical and arts exhibitions. Sharon Duggan, BEd Hung Jen Wan, MA 2002, is She can be contacted at Religious Education and currently studying for a PhD [email protected] English 2002, has been in at the Graduate School of Seville since graduation and is International Studies, Aladdin Ahmad Alqudah, currently working in a private University of Denver, US. PhD in Dentistry 2002, was bi-lingual school, teaching He can be contacted at sponsored by Jordan Religion and English. She is [email protected] University of Science and thoroughly enjoying the Technology (JUST) to do a lifestyle and plans to stay Andrew Kenneally, MA in PhD at Queen’s. After there in the long-term. Comparative Ethnic Conflict graduation he returned to Sharon would recommend 2001, is currently working for Jordan where he is employed it to any teacher either as a the Boston City President, by JUST as assistant Professor career break or as a change Michael F Flaherty, as his in Restorative Dentistry. He of lifestyle. She can be Director of Policy and married Mirai in September contacted at Communications. He is 2002 and in December 2004 [email protected] hoping to go back to they had a son named school for an MBA or JD. Ahmad. He can be contacted Daingerfield Henley, BA He can be contacted at at [email protected] English and Drama 2002, [email protected] attended the Bristol Old Vic Craig Bowers, BEng Theatre School where he Margaret Murtagh, BA Electronic and Software completed his classical Politics 2001, is working Engineering 2002, married training. From England he as a youth inclusion Courtney McCandless moved to Manhattan and administrative officer at the on 17 June at Carryduff acted in several successful Hackney Youth Offending Presbyterian Church, Shakespeare productions, Service, which targets young just 3 days after their 10th including playing Romeo people who are at risk of anniversary together. in Romeo and Juliet. anti-social behaviour, social He can be contacted at He currently resides in exclusion or offending [email protected] Kuala Lumpur where he behaviour. Margaret finds teaches English and acts this thoroughly rewarding - Vanessa Burrows, MA in in a Commedia del Arte mentoring young people and Irish Studies 2002, is entering Company. A pan-Asian giving something back to the her last year of law school at sitcom is in the works. community. American University in He can be contacted at Washington DC. She works [email protected]

QUEEN’S TODAY 9 Tariq A Sami, MD 2001, has Careers Advisor in Dundalk We would love to been appointed Consultant Institute of Technology and here from those Urological surgeon with her latest fundraiser involved special interest in urological the male lecturers dressing in interested in oncology at the prestigious wigs, skirts, tights and a bit of including their Birmingham City Hospital. “lippy” to run alongside some news in Class He can be contacted at female members of staff in this [email protected] year’s Women’s mini-marathon Notes. Please in Dublin on 6 June. get in touch with Faleh Sawair, PhD in Gerry Power Dentistry 2001, is now Anne can be contacted at Assistant Professor in Oral [email protected] by email - Pathology in the Faculty of [email protected] Dentistry, University of Michael J Griffin, BEng Jordan. He is also the 2000, has just started a new Assistant and the Supervisor job as a pilot with CityJet. of the Internship Programme He had formerly been a 1990s as well as a Consultant in cadet with Aer Lingus. Oral Pathology in the He can be contacted at Naomi Jones, BA 1999, is University of Jordan Hospital. [email protected] working with a Christian Faleh is still single and mission agency in South missing Queen’s! He can be Barbara Henderson (née Africa, and plans to be contacted at [email protected] Blackburn), BEd Business there for at least 4 years. Studies 2000, is teaching She can be contacted at at Devenish College, [email protected] Enniskillen. Having studied a Professional Certificate in David McLeish, BSSc Management through the Information Management Open University she is 1999, has worked for Segue progressing into the final for 4 years and is currently a year of an MBA in Business Senior Support Consultant. Administration at John At the time of writing he Moores University, Liverpool. advised that he was was Barbara can be contacted at looking forward to becoming rolybarbara@henderson312. a father in July 2005. freeserve.co.uk He can be contacted at [email protected] Martin O’Kane BSc Physics 2000, and Nasrin Jennifer Doyle, BSc Khosravinezhad made Mathematics 2000. After a University history when they few years in accountancy became the first couple in Jennifer decided to put her 160 years to get married at degree to good use and is Queen’s. The graduates first currently teaching Maths met when Martin helped at a private school in South Nasrin complete an London. She loves teaching application form for a and would recommend it part-time job at Queen’s. to anyone as a career. She can be contacted at Martin and Nasrin were [email protected] married in the University’s Harty Room in July, watched Sandra O’Brien-O’Dwyer, Anne Fallon, BSc Psychology by around 100 friends and BSc Sociology and Politics 2000, is travelling to Uganda family, in a Baha’i ceremony. 1999, has completed a PGCE in August with a contingent They now live in Edinburgh and is currently teaching in of 50 volunteers led by Paul where Martin works for the County Kildare. She married Collins as part of the ‘Self Royal Bank of Scotland and Karl in February 2005. Help’ challenge. As a reward Nasrin is a podiatrist. Sandra would like to hear for raising €5000 Ann will about other Queen’s experience white-water rafting graduates particularly past on the River Nile. However member of the Ladies the main aim of the trip Gaelic Football Club is to meet those who have and can be contacted at benefited from monies [email protected] donated to the charity. She currently works as a

10 QUEEN’S TODAY David Whitla, BA Modern Fuchun Xiao, MSc History and French 1999, Manufacturing Systems emigrated to the United Engineering 1997, is still States in 2000 where he playing the pipes with the married June Oppelt Irish Pipes and Drums of the of Pittsburgh in 2002. British Columbia Regiment He currently resides in (pictured right). Enjoyed a Indianapolis where he teaches great show with the band on at Covenant Christian High the St Patrick’s day parade in School. In December he downtown Vancouver – the became the proud father of a second parade after a hiatus daughter, Katheryn Hope. of more than 30 years. David is currently pursuing Fuchun was recently an MDiv degree from promoted to the rank of Reformed Presbyterian Corporal, and led the band Theological Seminary, for a performance in a Pittsburgh PA. He somewhat quaint but can be contacted at delightful re-enactment [email protected] party out of town. of England. He returns He can be contacted at to Northern Ireland on Elaine Bowen, BSc [email protected] occasions to see family. Biological Sciences 1998, He can be contacted at is teaching at Carrickfergus Jennifer Geoffroy (née [email protected] Grammar School and has Lancaster), MSSc Irish been married for two Politics 1996, and her Peter Kee, BSc Physics 1992, and a half years to Jason. husband Robert L Geoffroy, emigrated to New Zealand in She can be contacted at of Monroe, CT proudly January 2004 with his Kiwi [email protected] announce the birth of wife Meillia where they have their daughter, Kathryn a 6-month old son called Claire Logan, BSc (Econ) Amanda on 23 May 2004. Sam. Peter is working as a 1998, married fellow She can be contacted at secondary school science Economics student [email protected] teacher at Mahurangi Mark Looney on College. He loves the Easter Monday 2005. Ann Galpin (née McCabe), lifestyle spending lots of BA Modern History 1995, time on and in the water! Bryan Tipping, MSc has just recently had a second He can be contacted at Information Management baby boy – Michael David [email protected] 1998, is a Business born in December 2004. Improvement Specialist. She can be contacted at He can be contacted at [email protected] Class Notes (1990s to [email protected] 1940s) are continued David S Gilmore, MSSc Irish on page 26 Andrew Beck, MB BCh BAO Studies 1995. After 1997, married Jen in 2003 completing his Masters in and they have a son Matthew 1995 David headed to Essex who was born in April 2005. to continue his social work Andrew is currently career. He worked in the working as a Sessional GP. mental health field in He can be contacted at medium secure units and a [email protected] community health setting. In 2000 he commenced Melanie Cree, BA 1997, the selection process for completed a PGCE in 1998 priesthood in the Church of and gave birth to Christopher England and started training during that year! She is in 2001 with the East currently teaching English in Anglican Ministerial Training a local grammar school and is Course. With the course also Head of Year. completed he gained the award of Master of Arts in Richard Nugent, BSc 1997, Contextual and Pastoral has graduated with a Theology through the Anglia Doctorate and is working Polytechnic University. as a Consultant in He was ordained deacon in PricewaterhouseCoopers June 2003 and then ordained (LLP). He can be contacted a priest in June 2004 and is at [email protected]. now a curate in the Church

QUEEN’S TODAY 11 Faculty news Medicine Professor James McElnay

• • • • •• •••• • ••• •• ••• •• • • ••••••••••••••••••• Medic Health & Life Sciences •••••••••••••

James McElnay was born in Ballymoney and attended the local Dalriada School, where Safer medicines from a young age he wanted to be a teacher. He came to Queen’s in for children the early 70s and completed his PhD in 1979 after which he spent a one year Around half of the medicines used in paediatric hospital wards, postdoctoral fellowship at the University and about 90% of those issued in paediatric intensive care units, of Iowa. James feels that one of the have not been tested specifically in children, with doses often main changes at Queen’s in the last having to be ‘guestimated’, e.g. based on a body weight basis, 25 years can be seen in the built taking account of adult doses. environment. ‘The fabric of buildings has improved dramatically; when I was a student the pharmacy labs were in a A multidisciplinary team of pharmacists, wooden pre-fab building!’ he told ••••••• paediatricians, nurses and laboratory •• • • ••••‘The new Pharmacy Building and scientists, led by Professor James more recently the McClay Research Centre McElnay from the School of Pharmacy, have made such a big difference to the is currently carrying out world leading work environment for my subject area’. research into improving the safety of medicines in children. James has been married for 23 years to wife Diana, who he met at a party in The practice of issuing medicines to Portrush. The couple have three children – children in this way is known as Ryan (18), Joel (16) and Jodi (12) - ‘off-label’ prescribing. Infants and and a dog called Alice. young children are not, however, simply small adults; their organs are Not surprisingly, brisk walks with Alice developing and therefore the ‘handling’ are James’ favourite way to unwind. of medicines within their bodies can He also enjoys reading novels (former differ dramatically. Queen’s academic, Alexander McCall Smith’s • • •• •••• ••• ••• • • • •••• ••• •••• is his This is obviously an unsatisfactory state latest), gardening, music (ranging from of affairs, depriving infants and children choir and 80’s rock), theatre and of the evidence based treatments which holidaying in the Canary Islands and is are available for adults. Ethical issues fanatical about orange sports cars! e.g. informed consent and taking multiple blood samples, which are routine Role models include his former mentor, Professor Pat D’Arcy, who encouraged him in his early career development and in particular to build international contacts. When asked to name an influential historical figure, civil rights campaigner Martin Luther King was the first to come to mind.

12 QUEEN’S TODAY cine

in the adult clinical trials used to develop children the research team have set up a One drop of blood is often sufficient. dosing schemes, present obvious new system. The concentration of the medicine is difficulties in infants and children. then measured using specialist One drop of blood is equipment in the School of Pharmacy. There is therefore a treatment dilemma; ‘’often sufficient. With this approach a small number of it is not desirable to treat children samples are available from a large with medicines which have only been When blood samples, e.g. for a routine number of children during their routine tested and licensed for adult use, but it laboratory test, are being taken from care, so overcoming the need for large is also not appropriate to leave them hospitalised children who have been numbers of samples from any particular untreated when adult medicines offer prescribed medicines in an ‘off-label’ child as would be the case in normal possible solutions. fashion, the sample (with their parents’ clinical trials. permission) is increased slightly to allow To help gain new evidence of a small amount of blood to be available At the time of sample collection the effectiveness and safety of medicines in to the pharmacy team. child is examined by a trained research nurse to evaluate beneficial, along with any unwanted effects of the ‘off-label’ medicine.

Specialist statistical techniques are then employed to convert the data gathered into dosing schedules for children. The research has already attracted much international attention and indeed the whole area of ‘off-label’ medicine use in children is high on the US and EU health agendas.

The Queen’s group is collaborating closely with researchers in large paediatric hospitals in England and Scotland. The initiative, sponsored by the medical charity Action Research and more recently the HPSS Research and Development Office, involves a range of medicines commonly used ‘off-label’ in children.

Initial findings have recently been published and further papers and conference presentations have been pencilled in for the coming 6 months.

QUEEN’S TODAY 13 To do this the School has arrest and vomiting to invested heavily in developing be considered. the Nursing and Midwifery Clinical Education Centre, one What is interesting is how of the most advanced of its quickly students regard the Fit for kind, which is based at the mannequins as ‘real’ patients; Medical Biology Centre. It is they pat their hands, arrange equipped with the latest their hair, talk to them and patient simulators, high tech even adjust their dress. Practice equipment, ward areas and Indeed on a recent occasion Queen’s is the major I am frequently asked if our rooms for CCTV recording. the patient ‘died’ during a provider of nursing nurses really are good in cardiac arrest and one of the education in Northern practice and if they have The provision of a simulated students burst into tears! Ireland and the sole sufficient clinical experience environment means that source of midwifes. The and I can assure you all that students can practice and be The innovative equipment can School of Nursing and they are, and they have! The assessed before being let also recreate rare and difficult Midwifery is one of the undergraduate Nursing and loose on the public. Students cases that are unlikely to arise largest in the University Midwifery programmes at have Objective Structure during normal training but with almost 3,500 Queen’s are 50:50 theory and Clinical Examinations (OSCE), which nurses may well students. Subjects taught practice, and the academic using mannequins and encounter in the course of include adult nursing, component is heavily volunteer patients and are their careers. Scenarios can mental health, learning weighted to skill assessed not only by lecturing be replicated allowing disability and children as development. staff but also by clinicians students to perfect skills well as a wide range of from local trusts. through repetition and to post registration and Moving Nursing and experience the same situation postgraduate courses in Midwifery into Queen’s has Simon and Simone from a variety of team areas like care of older provided real opportunities to ‘’look almost human... perspectives. people, cardiology and share education with cognitive behavioural colleagues across campus. The two patient simulators, The school is delighted with therapy. In one area in In Child Health for instance, ‘Simon’ and ‘Simone’, have the opportunities the particular, however, nursing and medical students revolutionised professional simulators present for Queen’s excels as work together on the wards. education for students. This enhancing learning. This Professor Jean Orr - Head It has also enabled our novel equipment mimics most major investment in state-of- of the School - explains programmes to have a very human functions and presents the-art technology for •••••••••••••• strong basis in biomedical students with lifelike compliments the extensive science to underpin nursing situations in which to practise range of learning and and midwifery care, which their clinical skills and refine teaching equipment already are practice based disciplines. their critical decision making. held in our clinical skills So it should be no surprise learning laboratories, which are that we place great emphasis ‘Simon’ and ‘Simone’ look among the best in the Europe. on the development of almost human, but their skin clinical skills. conceals some highly Queen’s was the first School sophisticated electronic in Ireland, and indeed one of technology. They are equipped the earliest in the UK, to with artificial voices and can introduce these new learning describe their own symptoms; tools. By training on they have a pulse and blood mannequins students can pressure, which of course can learn through their mistakes be measured to further assess without causing harm to a their status. They breathe, human patient. All of which produce heart and bowel suggests that our students sounds and can replicate a certainly do get the best range of health problems practice and experience from a simple cough to full- available almost anywhere blown pneumonia. And clever in the world. programming allows for a range of conditions such as breathing problems, cardiac

14 QUEEN’S TODAY Medics get head start

snippets A revolutionary training tool has been developed for paramedics, hospital anaesthetists and other healthcare professionals.

susceptible. The condition can Known as Airsim, the device develop into periodontitis, resembles a head and throat, and affecting the bone support for is the only simulator in which the teeth which may eventually reactions of the airway are virtually Gingivitis and become loose. identical to those of humans. premature babies So an extensive investigation Airsim has been developed by focusing on gum disease in a new company called TruCorp, •••• ••• • •• •• •••• • • pregnant women and their a spinout from Queen’s chances of having a Department of Anaesthetics. premature or low birth weight baby is currently underway at New labs Queen’s. The three year study, Researchers working on genetic which is taking place in diseases affecting vision, bones and conjunction with the Royal joints, celebrated the refurbishment Jubilee Maternity Unit in of labs in the Royal Victoria Hospital. Belfast, will be carried out by Research Fellow, Martina Pirie The Medical Genetics team has during her PhD programme. developed a research programme The £170,000 project has to identify the genes responsible been funded by the Northern for disorders such as age-related Ireland Research and macular degeneration, a leading Development Office. cause of irreversible blindness, and osteoarthritis, a condition which The research team will recruit requires hip replacement. 150 pregnant women over an 18-month period, with a third A symposium was held to mark the A number of risk factors have already been linked of them receiving dental opening of the facilities, which are with having a premature or low weight baby. treatment for gum disease now based within the Pathology These include smoking during pregnancy, alcohol before they give birth. The building on the RVH site. consumption, psychological anxiety, low socio- rest will receive treatment economic status and education, poor maternal after the birth. Dr Irwin Experts gather nutrition and maternal illness. But according to explained that comparisons Dr Chris Irwin from Queen’s Dental School, maternal will be carried out in a Medical Polymer researchers from gum disease may also be a factor. bid to find out if there is a across the British Isles met in Ireland difference in both groups for the first time, in June. Hosted by Every year around 6% of number of studies, particularly regarding birth weight and Queen’s Medical Polymers Research infants born in Northern Ireland in the US, supports the theory prematurity. Institute the meeting was run jointly arrive too early (before 37 that the presence of significant with the MediTech network. weeks) or have a low birth gum disease in pregnant •••••••••••••••••••••••••• weight of less than 2.5kg women increases the risk of •••••••••••••••••••••••••• Polymer biomaterials are used in a (5.5lbs). Premature and low delivering a premature, low ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• wide range of medical devices to birth weight babies are at a birth weight baby’. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• treat patients in areas such as significant risk of developing ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• respiratory medicine, cardiology, serious and lasting health Gum disease, or gingivitis, is •••••••••••• •••••••••• ••••• orthopaedics and dentistry. problems. inflammation of the gum, •••••••••••••••••••••••••• caused by plaque, a sticky • ••••• • •••• • • • • • • •• ••• • • The medical polymers healthcare ‘Over 50% of the incidence of film of bacteria that adheres •••••••••••••••••••••• sector is growing rapidly both locally premature and low birth to teeth. Almost all adults are •• • •• •••• ••• • ••••••• •• •• ••• and in the Republic of Ireland, where weight remains unexplained’, affected by gingivitis at some •••••••••• •••••••••••••• there is one of the highest Dr Irwin told •••••••••••••. time in their lives, with ••••••••••••••••••••••• concentrations of medical devices ‘Data from an increasing pregnant women particularly companies in the world.

QUEEN’S TODAY 15 Faculty news Engineering Professor Ken Bell

• •••• • •• • • • •• •••• • ••• •• ••• •• ••• • • •• • • ••• • •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Eand Physicalng Sciencesin ••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Ken Bell was born in Portadown where he attended Portadown College. As a child he always had a love of mathematics and knew from a young age that deep impact maths would be part of his life Astronomers at Queen’s have a tonne. After travelling through played an important role in a space for six months the mothership Ken came to Queen’s in recent NASA mission which released the impactor which hit the the late 1950s and encountered, ‘head-on’, comet at a speed of seven miles per graduated with a BSc in the Comet P/Tempel-1. second. This excavated a large crater Applied Maths in 1961 in the surface and threw once-hidden before going on to take In July, and using telescopes subsurface material out into the open. his PhD. At the time there were fewer than around the world and in space, 2,000 students at the University – compared four Belfast scientists studied At impact the mothership was with over 24,000 today. what happened when the Deep passing by at a distance of 500km, Impact spacecraft launched a with its cameras and other projectile at the comet. instruments trained on the comet, ‘New buildings over the last 40 years have Professor Alan Fitzsimmons of recording what happened in transformed the campus,’ Ken told ••••••• the Astrophysics and Planetary exquisite detail. Only a few of the •• • • • . ‘Technology has also made a huge Science Research Division at images and data have been impact; gone are the days of chalk and Queen’s, writing exclusively for released, but we already know that blackboard – everything today is on-line’. ••••••••••••••explains this the spacecraft clearly saw the impact unusual mission. and the resulting plume of debris. Ken and wife Hilary, whom he met when she was working in the library at Queen’s, Bright comets are some of the most On Earth, 130 million kilometres will be married for 37 years this spectacular things in the sky, but it is away, I was operating the Faulkes September. They have three grown-up only since the 1950s that we have Telescope on Maui, Hawaii, as part of children - one daughter and two sons, one understood their gross nature. A comet a worldwide network of astronomers is essentially frozen ices (mostly water monitoring the comet both before of whom has just returned to university to ice) embedded with microscopic dust and after the collision to search for start a PhD. Being a family man has helped particles. When the comet’s orbit brings changes. As it turned out, it wasn’t Ken to realise the pressures which society it close to the sun, heat vaporises hard to see! puts on young people. (or sublimates) ices from the surface which stream out into space along with Almost immediately we saw an To escape from work Ken enjoys walking, the released dust grains. These form increase in the comet’s brightness, reading and DIY – or painting to be more the atmosphere and familiar tails of which continued for 40 minutes and exact. ‘I’ve just finished decorating a the comet. eventually became four times bedroom’ he said, ’and it’s very brighter than before impact; not as therapeutic!’ The last book Ken read was However, this means that most of the spectacular as some predictions, but •••••••••••• •••••• by Belfast novelist cometary material astronomers have still very impressive. Within hours studied to date has come from the image processing revealed an (and Queen’s graduate) David Park. uppermost surface layers. The truly expanding cloud of debris moving primitive matter lies deep within, so to outwards from the comet at 700 Ken acknowledges that the greatest study it we needed a way to dig it out. km/hour. personal influences on him were maths teachers at Portadown College – Iris Boland The NASA spacecraft consisted of two Halfway around the world, my and Roland Turner – though the person he parts – the main mothership and a colleagues Dr Stephen Lowry and most admires from history is Winston copper impactor, weighing a third of Colin Snodgrass, (postdoctoral and Churchill.

16 QUEEN’S TODAY neering

PhD students respectively), were using large telescopes on La Palma in the Canaries. Sixteen hours after impact, and long after the comet had set in Hawaii, they could see the obvious effects in the form of a hemi- spherical cloud moving outwards from the comet.

Utilising the Isaac Newton Telescope, Stephen searched for signs of plasma (ionised gas) forming a tail and while initial inspection did not show any, work continues. Colin monitored the dust particles in the comet in optical and infrared using the Liverpool Telescope, also in La Palma. The images imply that any differences between those released by Deep Impact were small.

Dr Damian Christian, another Queen’s postdoctoral, working with NASA’s Chandra X-Ray space telescope had a major surprise in that he did not see any sign of the collision! It would appear that while the impact released dust particles visible in the optical and infrared, very little extra gas – the main cause of X-rays from comets – emerged. However, it is early days and the data from both the Earth-based telescopes and the spacecraft are still being calibrated and analysed, a process that will take several more months. Appliance of Science

What is already clear is that the The internet has become the global medium for information and mission was a success, and that the communication, bridging linguistic and cultural barriers across the worldwide team of scientists - of which world. It is without doubt the dominating technology of the 21st Queen’s is integral part - will end with a much clearer model of comets. century, and the core medium of the information society.

In the not too distant future we will watch the latest movie on mobile phones and surf the web on domestic television sets.

Queen’s researchers are at the cutting edge of this technology, which will impact extensively on all our lives. The University’s £40 million Institute of Electronics, Communications and Information Technology, (ECIT), which brings together a number of highly specialist research teams, was officially opened in May. ☛

QUEEN’S TODAY 17 Royal Academy of Engineering

The international centre, contrast to staff currently Professor Vincent Fusco has been elected to The Royal Academy of Engineering. He is Chair of High located in the 25-acre Science having to notice the activity snippets Frequency Electronic Engineering, Head of High Park in Belfast’s historic Titanic themselves. Quarter, will act as a hub for Frequency Research Group and Director of Microwave and Millimetre Wave Research Centre high-technology research and Further research covers at Queen’s. enterprise. Supported by speech and language Invest NI, the Department processing, which again Based in ECIT, Professor Fusco is also director of the of Employment and Learning has applications in mobile world-leading International Centre for System-on- and the EU Peace and telephony and personal Chip and Advanced Microwireless (SoCaM). Reconciliation Programme, computers. Currently most the Institute is led by cell phones and PCs recognise SoCaM develops high performance wireless Professor John McCanny FRS, only basic commands and orientated communication chips for use in a world expert in the design words, while in the future advanced mobile applications such as phones, of complex silicon chips it is expected that voice for electronics and video video streaming and vehicular sensors. recognition technology will communications applications. allow people – irrespective World class physics of accents and dialect – to The work of ECIT will provide dictate details into a phone A £9 million facility, which will act as a centre for the building blocks on which or computer and have the world-class international physics research, was future generations of mobile information converted to text. officially opened in June. phones and computers will operate. Working through Finally, researchers are The International Research Centre for Experimental distinct, though overlapping, helping to develop Internet Physics (IRCEP) will encourage collaborative research research groups ECIT is Protocol (IP) TV – an extension within the School of Maths and Physics, other developing more robust academic disciplines inside and outside Queen’s, of digital television. This will systems for both the transfer as well as industry. contribute to the TV being the of data and the processing of main gateway to the home, information. IRCEP will provide local hi-tech companies with with applications such as access to the highest quality research and allow ‘video on demand’ being a One team is working on young people studying physics here to have access key driver for the provision mobile phone antennae to to world class facilities. ensure that the next of the appropriate levels of bandwidth. generation of personal phones Golder bursary can cope with the amount of data necessary to let users Aside from its research Golder Incorporated, a global engineering and view complete movies on activities, ECIT will help environmental services group of companies, has their handsets. accelerate the creation, announced an annual £7,500 research bursary for growth and attraction of use within the Environmental Engineering Research Another - the image and innovative high tech Centre (EERC) in the School of Civil Engineering. vision group - is helping companies, including spin-out to develop ‘intelligent enterprises emerging from Queen’s and Golder have had ties for four event detection’ which has the Institute’s research, and decades. One of its founding members, graduate applications for, among other spin-in businesses established Mr Vic Milligan, was present to personally gift the uses, airport and public by others to capitalise on the bursary to EERC. transport security. Software centre’s expertise. will spot individuals acting The scholarship will be used to facilitate suspiciously and alert security The future certainly is collaboration and exchange of staff between the Universities of Saskatchewan, Manitoba and British personnel to the behaviour, in bright for ECIT. Columbia in Canada, and Queen’s.

18 QUEEN’S TODAY the ‘most traumatic of across the United Kingdom circumstances’. and Ireland, with Northern Rewarding Ireland contributing more Ms Skates told guests how than £1.5 million in the local Dr Gibson, had, ‘amid the Black Santa appeal. Excellence mass of bodies, the heat and the smell’, counselled staff Visiting Thailand in February and volunteer workers at the invitation of the Red A victims’ support specialist David was also acknowledged who were suffering from Cross, Dr Gibson counselled and a final year politics student for his contribution to psychological effects of aid workers who had been were presented with the 2004- Queen’s Radio, an initiative having seen sights no human clearing away bodies in 2005 Graduate and Student of supported by the University’s should ever have to witness. areas worst affected by the the Year Awards during Alumni Fund. Interviewees tsunami where 5,300 people, summer graduation on his current affairs based Just hours after being including 2,500 tourists, lost at Queen’s. programme, The Max Factor, presented with the award in their lives. included Paul Smith, of July, Marion was in London Dr Marion Gibson, who Celador, founder of the on the day of the public Over the years Marion and helped following the Boxing company that brought us Day tsunami, won the Who Wants to be a graduate award, while David Millionaire? and US Consul Maxwell, co-editor of the General Howard Pittman. student newspaper, The Gown, picked up the student Paying tribute to David, who award and a cheque for £250. will graduate later in the year, Student President Maria The Awards are sponsored McCloskey described him as by First Trust Bank and an ‘ambitious, professional recognise excellence, and amicable person’ who achievement or service to would be ‘one to watch’ for others. They were launched the future, whether in in 1999 by the Queen’s journalism or broadcasting. Graduates’ Association (QGA) and the University’s Dr Marion Gibson, a 1989 Development Office. MSSc graduate from south Belfast, received her award David Maxwell, from east from the University’s Vice- Belfast, was presented with Chancellor, Professor Peter the Student Award by the Gregson, for her work in Chancellor of Queen’s, Thailand following the Asian (l-r) Sarah and David Maxwell (sister and father of the student winner), Senator George Mitchell, for tsunami. Dr Gibson is Paddy Skates (QGA President), David Maxwell (Student of the Year), his ‘significant contribution Senator George Mitchell (Chancellor of Queen’s), Janet Maxwell (David’s consultant director of mum), Dr Marion Gibson (Graduate of the Year) and Eileen Sowney, to University life’. Staffcare, the first facility in Regional Director, First Trust Bank Ireland providing counselling In her citation QGA for professionals involved in transport suicide bombings, her colleagues have supported President Paddy Skates told traumatic events, which has which claimed over 50 lives, many local families following guests that the former helped people in the after and extended her trip to help atrocities such as the Methodist College pupil effects of traumas all over the counsel those caught up in shootings at Greysteel and the was a regular contributor to world including the the immediate aftermath of Shankill Road bombing. In The Gown who wrote with Philippines, the United the tragedy. 1989 she was involved in the ‘great maturity, clarity and States and West Africa. sensitivity’ on a diverse range aftermath of the Kegworth air Disturbing images of last disaster and in 1996 was on of issues such as student Addressing the graduation year’s tsunami, which claimed hand to give support to unrest in the Holyland area, audience in July, Paddy Skates the lives of over 250,000 Scottish families in Dunblane the publication of the said there was no doubt that people, provoked a huge where 15 children and their Student Handbook and Dr Gibson had contributed outpouring of generosity teacher were murdered. student poverty. to the lives of people facing

Graduate and Student Nominations for the 2005/06 awards should be forwarded to of the Year Awards - [email protected]

QUEEN’S TODAY 19 Faculty news Arts

Professor Ellen Douglas-Cowie Arts • • • • •• •••• • ••• •• ••• •• ••• ••••• Humanities & Social Sciences ••• •••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Ellen Douglas-Cowie was Film-makers on show born in Limavady and attended Limavady Oscar-nominated Stephen Rea was guest of honour at a special screening at QFT at Grammar School. As a the end of June which showcased the creative talents of Queen’s film students. child she wanted to sell and organise things – The Belfast actor and Queen’s graduate, who was awarded a Doctorate of the useful skills in her University for services to the performing arts in 2004, addressed guests ahead of current role as Dean. the screening of five student films. He said it was ‘really exciting to see all this activity and interest surrounding film and to see a new generation of film-makers After studying at the emerge in this city and at this University.’ University of Ulster, Ellen came to Queen’s in 1972 Head of Film Studies Professor Des Bell, himself an acclaimed documentary film- where she completed maker, said, ‘these films are the work of the first group of students to graduate her PhD. Life then was focused on from the degree course introduced three years ago. Film Studies has been a studying and, as she told ••••••• maelstrom of activity and the work produced is of a high standard. It is good to •• • • • , being poor – it was part of the have this opportunity to show the films at QFT, the heart of cultural cinema in student experience!’ Belfast and to draw attention to the work of new film makers who have cultivated their talents while studying at Queen’s.’ Ellen met her future husband, Roddy (now Professor) Cowie, at an induction The screening, which was organised by the Film Studies department at Queen’s, course for new staff at Queen’s in featured short films reflecting the diverse interests of the students, made with 1975. They were married two years financial support from the Alumni Fund. later and the couple have two children – Dorothy (24) and Christopher (20).

‘I’ve learnt a lot from my kids’ Ellen told •••••••••••••. They’ve helped me to see students in a more sympathetic light and to approach all situations with sensitivity. They’ve also helped me to experience life outside of work’.

Though she openly admits to failing to take time to relax, Ellen enjoys holidaying in the countryside, listening to music (‘everything from Beethoven Stephen Rea chats to student film-makers Timo Oates and Julie Coellen to Radio Head’) and cooking (she makes a mean homemade stew). ••••••• told the moving story of a young Irish student who discovers from his Finnish grandmother the tragic story of the expulsion of the Finns from Karalja Ellen is clear as to the greatest during World War II; •••••••• •••••••••••••, took an irreverent look at the visit of influence in her life - her mother, US President George W Bush to Northern Ireland; ••••••••••••••••• focused on a who encouraged her to be her own film student who plans to make a film about a single parent and her daughter but person and pursue a career. ends up discovering many unanswered questions about her own life. And ••• ••••• dealt with the difficult choices faced by a student who, on finishing his studies in England, is reluctant to return to his conservative home in Northern Ireland.

20 QUEEN’S TODAY environment, risk versus benefit payoff, aesthetic concerns – especially about the ‘landscape’ and ‘countryside’ - and property rights.

Northern Ireland has been identified as having some of the greatest potential in the UK for wind energy and has the most public support for renewable energy. In contrast however, the region has some of the lowest levels of environmental awareness in the UK and public policy is seen to be among the most environmentally regressive. There have been major criticisms of the planning system for its unaccountable nature and inability to regulate development in an environmentally The Winds of Change sensitive manner. Northern Ireland also lacks any regional Against a backdrop of climate the latter being a particular problem in sustainable development strategy and change and the vulnerability of Northern Ireland. has adopted no specific planning existing energy resources, the need guidance in relation to renewable energy. to increase the proportion of energy Planning is pertinent in relation to wind generated from renewable sources is power where one of the key obstacles These factors produce a fascinating well understood though it’s not yet is local opposition to turbines, which backdrop for the case study of an top of the public agenda. Neither are grows more vociferous and organised. ongoing controversy over the proposed all the proposed options popular. How can we explain this? windfarm in an offshore area called the Tunes Plateau, off the North Antrim A Queen’s research project, carried While there are attempts to clarify the coast. Comprising 85 turbines it is the out by the Institute of Governance policy context for regulating the impact largest ever windfarm proposal and has and the School of Environmental of wind turbines in some parts of the quickly generated huge opposition from Planning, is exploring the issues UK, these do not confront the root issue local residents, special interest groups in a Northern Ireland context. of public acceptance and support for and, notably, Coleraine borough council, Writing exclusively for •••••••••••••• renewable energy projects. which has taken the unprecedented Dr John Barry explains. step of launching a high profile So while there appears to be strong campaign against the idea. The Government is committed to public support for a transition to a low increasing renewable energy by 10% carbon economy, this does not translate The Institute’s research will clearly by 2010 and 20% by 2020. With oil into positive backing for specific bring into focus a number of predicted to reach $80-100 per barrel renewable energy projects. One difficulties for the successful national within months, and the UK making response has been to discount implementation and public acceptance climate change a priority during its EU objections as expressions of NIMBYism of wind energy policy. presidency, there is a strong possibility (not in my backyard). However, such that energy – where it comes from, views should not be dismissed. They And the outcome could have how much we use, how can we get it – are often an indication of much deeper consequences far beyond these shores. will again make headlines. conflicts or represent fundamentally different rationalities of understanding Dr. John Barry Despite its wind and tidal power related to development, locality, sense of Acting Director, resources, the UK still lags behind other place and identity and the environment. Institute of Governance European nations in the proportion of energy generated from these sources. Opposition to wind turbines ••• ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Barriers exist in the form of distribution therefore be an expression of a more •••••••••••••• •••••••••••• ••••••••• networks, fiscal arrangements and the complex outlook that could be seen as working of the planning system, with including differing perceptions of the

QUEEN’S TODAY 21 creativewriting Queen’s has long been associated with remarkable achievements in creative writing. The Nobel laureate Seamus Heaney was both an undergraduate and a New degree member of staff in the School of English. Other former students include the poets Ciaran Carson, Medbh McGuckian, Paul Muldoon and Frank Ormsby, the The School of Languages, Literature and novelist Bernard MacLaverty, and the playwright Stewart Parker. Art celebrated the graduation of the first snippets students from its new degree in July, the The •••••••••••••••••••••••••once stated that poetry is the activity for which MA in Modern Irish Translation Studies. the University is best known throughout the English-speaking world. With this in mind ••••••••••••••is publishing a poem by Paul Maddern, entitled •••••• •••. The course was introduced in October A further example of his work can be found on the alumni website 2004 in response to the growing (www.qub.ac.uk/alumni) by following the links to Publications. interest for more Irish language based courses.

POSTAMBLE Swift discovery On Sunday walks beneath pink oleander I’d let loose a week of stored up chat. Pat Miller, a mature student studying for You’d select a stick from fallen branches a Master’s degree in English, has found littering our path to Grape Bay Beach, long-lost documents connected to strip the remnant twigs and snap it to the perfect height for your colonial stride, 18th century Irish author Jonathan Swift for the rhythmic flicking out before during research at Armagh Public Library. and regimental poke into adopted soil. The long-missing fair copy of a The war-filled man on Newlyn’s pier Memorial sent to Swift by the had chucked the mackerel for exotic species. Archbishop is on the subject of the From our tropic shore we watched the barracuda ••••••••• ••••• • • ••• • • ••• •• •• • •••. cross the panoramic window of the breaking wave, The document was prepared for Queen gazed on coral reefs where parrot fish would ape Anne in 1710 to propose that the tithe the sergeant majors’ nibbling drill, payments made to her be cancelled. and Prospero’s son glimpsed his father weave the dreams he heard in shells, holding them holy. Then, adopting to the native pace, The original Memorial has never been hand in hand we combed the tidal margins. in the public domain and this important find will allow scholars a new Without you now on Newlyn’s pebble beach, opportunity to consider exactly what I want support and search for sticks. the author changed in his drafts and I know your row but not the house’s number. possible motives for these changes. Some cousin’s on the hill behind. Godmother’s gone. Her shop, renamed, remains. Classic Greek Jack the crab and crayfish man, best friend who should have been best man is also dead. The Institute of Byzantine Studies hosted His factory stands beside the stream where as a boy a ten-day celebration of Greek language you fished for trout and fell and scarred your knee. and culture as part of its fourth Greek The village tour has brought these pieces back to me. Summer School. I see the ailing Gulf Stream still provides for palm trees on the green. The School is the only one of its kind in UK or Ireland and attracts a wide range So, if trawlers’ gulls won’t call for longtails of students who intend to do academic over deep Atlantic seas, I’ll still mate them. If Cornwall’s trees are unfamiliar, I’ll rename them: research in the field. Among the what might be elms become Bermuda cedars subjects covered was tuition in basic and may-be-oaks feign pleasure to be casuarinas. Byzantine and New Testament Greek, But we share an artist’s light: though these bathers which enables students to engage with don’t lie down on coral shores, they still burn. Greek texts in their original format. And a man who rambles finds a stick to aid him.

Would you accept the branch I hold? In late September, art lovers will have a I hesitate, then poke it in adopted soil. unique opportunity to see an exhibition of • •••••••••••••by distinguished © Copyright remains with the author, Paul Maddern Greek painter-printmaker Alecos Fassianos. The art work will be on show ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• at Gormley’s Fine Art Gallery, Belfast ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •••••••• ••• ••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• •• from 22 September to 6 October. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ••••••••••••••••••••• ••••••••••••••••••••••••

22 QUEEN’S TODAY Convocation – making your voice heard

Keeping alumni in touch with debate. Last year Convocation discussed Queen’s is part of the challenge student unrest in the Holylands and for Convocation, a body about Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Ken Bell which many graduates know offered the University’s appreciation for very little. Currently under new our support. leadership Convocation is embracing the challenge head- Standing Committee on. Robin Ramsey, one of the Convocation elects a Standing youngest ever Chairmen, looks Committee to handle on-going at the changes afoot and invites business, which also provides further graduates to get more involved. opportunities to engage with the University. The Committee meets at NOTICE The problem with the term least four times annually and examines ‘Convocation’ is that it means little to issues in depth. We consider matters the uninitiated. When explaining my arising from University communications ANNUAL MEETING OF role I tend to refer to being Chairman of and reports on meetings of Senate, as CONVOCATION the graduate body because that is its well as business initiated by ourselves. basic definition. Every graduate is Senior University figures regularly brief automatically a member of Convocation. us on their areas of responsibility and It is this desire to simplify and make site visits are made to different parts of Thursday 1 December 2005 Convocation more accessible that I and campus. Great progress has been made the Deputy Chairman, Dr Kate Pope, at Queen’s in recent years in terms of 6.30pm for 7.00pm are determined to work on during our state of the art facilities and research and time in office. Standing Committee feels privileged to get first hand accounts of these. ☛ For many, interest in Canada Room the University does not end at graduation. (Queen’s main building) Convocation affords graduates a chance to maintain links and to play a more active role. For full details, including minutes At the Annual Meeting of the 2004 Annual Meeting and alumni are addressed by, all other papers, visit - and can question, the www.qub.ac.uk/convocation Vice-Chancellor or one of the Pro-Vice- Chancellors. Members can also table motions Or telephone 028 9097 5321 on issues affecting the University, often the source of vigorous Dr Kate Pope, Robin Ramsey & Gerry Power (Clerk of Convocation)

QUEEN’S TODAY 23 Clerk of Convocation, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT7 1NN, Tel: 028 9097 5321 Fax: 028 9097 5188

EETING OF CONVOCATION NOTICE OF ANNUAL M Thursday 1 December 2005 at 7.30pm for 8.00pm

Dear Sir or Madam eeting of Convocation which will be held in the Canada Room, You are requested to attend the Annual berM 2005 at 7.00 pm. Coffee/tea will be served from 6.30 pm. Lanyon Building on Thursday 1 Decem

Convocation will, at this meeting, elect five Queen’s graduates to the Senate of the University to serve for a period of four years to 31 December 2009, or until the introduction of new Statutes, whichever is the earlier. Nominations must be in writing, signed by at least, togetherten members with ofthe Convocation, consent in writing and be of received the persons by the nominated. Thursday 13 October 2005 Clerk not later than illicent Hewitt,

The only current member (elected by Convocation in 2001) who is eligible for re-election is Ruth M LLB, the others having served the maximum term allowed.

However, it should be noted that the University is currently revising its Statutes, and there may be a decrease in the size of Senate. If this is the case and if there is a reduction in Convocation’s representation, then the situation regarding elected Senate representatives will have to be reviewed. to Standing Committee of Convocation Convocation will also, at the annual meeting, elect six members of . Thursday 20 October 2005 serve for three years. Nominations, together with the consent of the persons nominated, must be in writing, signed by not fewer than five members and be received by the Clerk not later than The retiring members who are eligible for re-election are:

Gavin Nicholas David Adams, BSSc, MSSc, PhD Andrew William Mattison, BA Kirk David McDowell, BA Stephen Harold McIIveen, LLB Julie Ellen S Oswald, BA B BCh BAO Dr Philip Ashley Weir, M

Please note that members nominated for election are required to signify their consent in writing, and by Resolution of Convocation, to provide a biographical description for the Agenda in not more than fifty words. In order to facilitate candidates, nomination. papers have been prepared and will be available from the undersigned from Monday 19 September 2005 eeting will incorporate the Report of the Standing Committee, includingThursday revised 13 The business of the Annual M Standing Orders, and any other relevant business of which due notice is received not later than October 2005.

Motions to be included on the Agenda should be submitted. on the appropriate forms, which will be available from onday 19 September 2005 the undersigned from M ber 2005 to those members who Thursday 24 Novem . The detailed Agenda will be sent out not later than Friday 28 October 2005 have requested it on the ‘Agenda request form’ or in writing not later than

All papers will also be available on-line from Thursday September 15 2005 at: -www.qub.ac.uk/convocation

Yours faithfully

Gerry Power Clerk of Convocation

24 QUEEN’S TODAY Convocation also plays an important Convocation and strengthen our of Convocation as a whole, will be ceremonial role in the life of the relationship with the University. determined by the level of graduate University. The position of Chancellor, involvement. currently held by international statesman Participation Senator George Mitchell, is elected by However, the one thing on which So, if you were unaware until now of Convocation. My predecessor, Mrs Ruth Convocation depends is the active the existence of Convocation, or have Hewitt, was an integral part of Senator participation of graduates and I would not been at the Annual Meeting for Mitchell’s installation, reflecting the therefore encourage you to become some time, I invite you to join us on importance of graduates in the life of involved. The commitment required can Thursday 1 December for a first hand the University. be as much or as little as suits you. account of developments at your Simply by attending the Annual Alma Mater. In the past two years, Standing Meeting you can make your voice heard. Committee has been reforming its If you would like to be more active For those who wish to find out more own role. While Convocation is as nominations are now open for Standing about Convocation, please visit – old as the University itself, it is Committee membership. www.qub.ac.uk/convocation important that we adapt to ensure we are as effective as possible against a Institutions such as Convocation are LAST DATE FOR PROCEDURAL STEPS: background of changing trends at often perceived as being ‘old boys’ the University. networks’ but one only has to look at ISSUE OF THIS SUMMONS the composition of Standing Committee Thursday 15 September 2005 A report on the reform of Convocation, to dispel that notion. We have members, produced last year by a Working Group men and women, from a diverse range RECEIPT OF NOTICE OF BUSINESS that I chaired, made a number of key of backgrounds, professions and ages Thursday 13 October 2005 recommendations. As a result we have that make a valuable contribution, while been engaged in a more active dialogue reflecting the fact that 60% of the NOMINATIONS: Senate with the University and now believe we graduate body is under forty years old. Thursday 13 October 2005 can agree proposals that will compliment wider University reorganisation. These The Statutory notice for the Annual NOMINATIONS: Standing Committee are likely to impact on the numbers of Meeting appears in this magazine and a Thursday 20 October 2005 our Senate representation and the size of warm welcome will be extended to all Standing Committee. They will also those who attend. Following our report ISSUE OF AGENDA strengthen links between Convocation on Convocation reform, the Annual Thursday 24 November 2005 and the graduate associations. I hope by Meeting will be somewhat different December we can outline our ideas in from previous years to make ANNUAL MEETING full at the Annual Meeting. I believe this it more of an event. However, I must Thursday 1 December 2005 will both improve the operation of reiterate that the scale of its success, and

AGENDA REQUEST

THE QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY OF BELFAST ✁ Annual Meeting of Convocation - Thursday 1 December 2005

Please return this reply-slip if you wish to receive a copy of the detailed Agenda for the 2005 Annual Meeting.

Name: (Block letters)

Address:

Degree or other Entitlement to Membership

Membership Number

(Please see bottom right of address label)

NB. This slip should be returned to the Clerk of Convocation, c/o Development and Alumni Relations Office, Queen’s University Belfast, BT7 1NN by Thursday 24 November 2005

QUEEN’S TODAY 25 Continued from p11 David Mahon, BA History Sara Duncan, MSSc Irish Caroline Smith where Class Notes and Politics 1992, married Studies 1991, is now serving (née Cooper), BA Modern from 2000 to 1990 Diana Massera of Perth her third term as an Alliance History and Politics 1990, can be found Western Australia on 25 June party councillor having been recently married Owen 2004 in Siena, Italy. They are re-elected to Castlereagh Smith and is living in the expecting their first child in Borough Council in May foothills of the Mournes. January 2006. 2005. She can be contacted She can be contacted at at [email protected] [email protected] Bronagh McAtasney, BA Politics 1992, worked Roisin Marshall (née in a design company in McCrickard), BEd Dramatic 1980s Cincinnati Ohio until she Art with English 1991, is had a son, Liam in September married with 2 children. She Yong Neng Chow, BAgr 2004. The family are moving is working for the Council for 1985, MSc 1987 and back to Northern Ireland Integrated Education as a PhD 1990, would like to sometime this year. Curriculum Officer and still establish contact with his classnote Bronagh can be contacted at enjoys singing and acting. BAgr classmates of 1985. [email protected] She can be contacted at He can be contacted at [email protected] [email protected] Kai W Jung, MSc Chemistry 1992, joined the ‘Luxuriant Julie Begbie (née Wilson), Andrew Yow Foo Chew, Flowing Hair Club for BA Psychology 1990, lives in BSSc Accounting 1985, Scientists’ together with two Edinburgh with her husband had a marvellous and of his colleagues last year and Neil and two sons Jared (2) memorable experience as an in December they were and Finn (1). She has been undergraduate at Queen’s and appointed ‘Men of the Year working as a training would like to express his deep 2004/2005’! Photographs consultant for the past ten gratitude to all his lecturers can be viewed at years but has recently opened and professors. Since then he www.improb.com/projects/ha a business selling engraved has gained experience in ir/2004/m-w-2004-5.html garden plaques for financial accounting, He can be contacted at christenings, weddings etc. management accounting, [email protected] For photographs and further treasury, taxation and information please go to general management. Bryan Burton, PhD 1991, www.treefromme.co.uk has been minister of John Since the beginning of 2005 Knox Presbyterian Church Andrew Biggs, BA Andrew is doing his own and Professor of Theology at Philosophy and Scholastic project consultancy work in Fuller Theological Seminary Philosophy 1990, is working PRC. He provides property in Seattle, Washington since as Associate Director of the development advice to foreign 1997. He can be contacted White House National property development at [email protected] Economic Council, companies from South East focusing on President Bush’s Asian or any part of the world Brian Campbell, BA General proposals to reform the US wanting to gain entry into the Studies 1991, set up a UK Social Security program. China property market. franchise ‘Support Aid He can be contacted at Andrew also helps local Solutions’ to fundraise for [email protected] Chinese companies wanting to UK charities in 2002. seek off-shore listing in Hong This has gone very well and Claire Louw (née Logan), Kong and Singapore for over £20 million has now BSc Food Science 1990, has funding their expansion plans. been pledged mainly to been living in Holland since children’s charities with 1997. She is married to Jan Andrew married in 1989 national coverage, including Louw and they have 3 and completed a MBA by Northern Ireland (of course!). children – Maggie, Danny distance learning at the He can be contacted at and Connor. Claire is University of Durham in [email protected] teaching science at a local 1997. He can be contacted at school and can be contacted [email protected] or

s at [email protected] [email protected]

Former members of the Queen’s University Association Football Club may be interested to know that the current committee is compiling a list of past members. Further details are available on the website - http://quis.qub.ac.uk/qubafc/index.php - by following the link via Graduates.

26 QUEEN’S TODAY Melanie Shanks, BSc He can be contacted at – development Pete is Computer Science 1985, [email protected] married with 2 children has been promoted to and can be contacted at – Manager IT Application Florence Madden [email protected] Technology at Pactiv (née McCartney), BSSc Corporation, Lake Forest, Economic History 1981, Andrew Wimshurst, BSc Illinois. She can be contacted followed a career in Human Zoology 1972, is alive(!) at [email protected] Resources and laterally and can be contacted at Management Development [email protected]. Elaine McKelvey, BSc Maths before setting up her own co.uk and Computer Science 1984, business 3 years ago under has just been appointed Vice- the title ‘Florence Madden Valerie Crouch, BSc Physics Principal of Castlederg High Associates’. She specialises in 1970, and her husband Ewan, School. She can be contacted personal development and have just led their 11th at [email protected] offers ‘open’ courses on Global Village Team on a personal effectiveness at build with Habitat – this one Brian Murray, BA Business work, management skills was to Kuching in Sarawak. Administration and courses, executive coaching There is a new affiliate in Computer Science 1984, and psychometric testing. Sabah and they would was presented with The She would love to hear from welcome a team, as would the Queen’s Award for Enterprise other graduates who are newest affiliate in Kuala Promotion at Buckingham curious to find out more Lumpur, Malaysia. If anyone Palace on 12 July 2005. The about how she could help is interested please contact award was granted for his them/their organisations, Valerie at [email protected] work as founding Chairman or who may be interested of Enterprise Northern in working as an associate. Paul Kernaghan, Ireland and as Chief Her website address is LLB 1978, was made a Executive of Workspace, www.florencemadden.co.uk Commander of the Order of the Local Enterprise Agency the British Empire (CBE) in for the Magherafelt district. the 2005 Queen’s Birthday He can be contacted at 1970s Honours List in recognition [email protected] of his services to policing. Veronica Mullally Mr Kernaghan, 49, took over Eamonn Rice, BSSc (née Duffy), BSc as Chief Constable of (Business Administration) Biochemistry 1979, an 1984, is currently Head of intellectual property trial financial Services at Ernst lawyer, was made a partner at & Young in Edinburgh. Orrick, Herrington & Awarded Honorary Sutcliffe LLP in January Fellowship of the Chartered 2005. She is based in the Institute of Bankers in 2004, firm’s New York Office and Eamonn leads a team of 180 can be contacted at in Scotland and England. [email protected]

Trevor Jamison, BA Modern History & Economic and Social History 1982, is now a Hampshire in September minister for the United 1999. He holds the Reform Church after seven Association of Chief Police years working in London Officers (ACPO) portfolio for as a librarian. He has since international affairs and is worked in Liverpool and chairman of the ACPO currently does adult Southeast region. education work with churches across the North East of Pete Bryan, BSc Geology Brian Hunter, BSc Econ, England. He can be contacted 1974. After undertaking 1976 has been appointed at [email protected] post graduate research for a Managing Director of Tactical doctorate he became the Office Ltd in Lisburn, Frank Denbow, MB BCh principal Arts Officer at which provides executive MRCP 1981, is currently Leicester City Council – management information, working as an Internist in a post held for 22 years planning and control systems Morristown, New Jersey. until he took voluntary to local and international He has been married for 22 redundancy in 1999. organisations. ☛ years and has one son who is He then opened his own studying Computer Science at consultancy business in arts Carnegie Mellon University. management and community

QUEEN’S TODAY 27 Brian has 26 years extensive Anthony Whyte, BSc of A level physics students in business experience, having Zoology 1974, (PhD the UK are girls. Another previously been Director at Cambridge) has recently been Queen’s graduate Dr Julie Consultancy Parity, Regional awarded ScD (Cambridge) Corbett was one of the Director at The Industrial and FRCPath. discussion group leaders at Society and more recently the conference. Altogether MD of Irish Management 45 countries were represented Institute for Northern 1960s with around 150 women Ireland. He is a Council physicists in attendance from Member of CBI and Director Dr John Mosley, BSc across the world. Teri can of Newtownabbey Local Physiology 1968, went to be contacted by email – Strategy Partnership and also Queen’s from Methody in [email protected] sits on the Northern Ireland 1964 to study medicine. Committee of the IOD. He enjoyed physiology and John M Kennedy, BSc 1965, graduated with a BSc in MSc has been elected a 1968. By then his parents Fellow of the Royal Society had moved to England and of Canada. he transferred to Manchester to finish his medical degree. Professor Kennedy is Chair of the Department of Life He trained in General Sciences at the University of Surgery in London, USA and Toronto at Scarborough in Australia before settling down Canada. He is a leader in as a DGH general surgeon perception and cognition in Manchester. He is research, whose work on married with 3 daughters. pictures in vision and touch He can be contacted at – has influenced theory and Dr Danny McGuigan, [email protected] new practices in education, BSc (Econ) 1976, addressed a museums and art galleries key debate on the reshaping David Crawford, BA internationally. of the NHS in Scotland, in Psychology 1966, retired as the Scottish Parliament earlier Health Sciences Librarian at Published extensively, John this year. McGill University in taught at Harvard before Montreal in 2002 and was going to Toronto in 1972. Danny McGuigan is centre appointed McGill’s first director of The Business Emeritus Librarian. Bernard (Ben) Clingain, BA Development Centre, He returned to the China 1964 is looking for some lost an international HR Medical University in pals from the 1960s, Consultancy firm based in Shenyang, where he is an including Brendan Donaghy Glasgow and recently Honorary Research Librarian. who was the Queen’s soccer graduated with his PhD Having moved to Toronto goalie in 64/65 and who went for research in Human with his partner he continues to Manchester, then Resource Management. to teach, research and Scunthorpe. Also John Details are available at - publish. He can be contacted Stewart, Seamus Magee, Ivor www.dannymcguigan.co.uk at [email protected] Simpson - all friends of musician Phil Coulter, who John Rosborough, BSc Teri Jackson, BSc Physics have long passed into history Electrical Engineering 1975, 1963, is a member of the of the Glee Club 64/65. is the managing director of Queen’s Women Graduates Contact Ben at – U105, the new radio station Association and attended the [email protected] owned by UTV which will Second World Conference of go on-air in November. women in physics in Rio de A Cecil Cyrus, BSc Anatomy Janeiro, Brazil from 23 to 25 1957, is to receive the John started his career May. The purpose of the honorary degree of Doctor of as a sound engineer at conference was to devise ways Science (DSc) from the Downtown Radio in 1975 to increase the number of University of the West Indies. (presenting the weekly women and girls studying The conferment will take ‘Student Scene’ on a physics and to get more place in October at the Cave Sunday night) where he later women physicists into key Hill Campus of the became head ofprogramming management positions in University in Barbados. and launched Cool FM. He institutions so more young then moved to Citybeat as women can have suitable role station director before leaving models when they are to head the bid for the licence considering physics as a for greater Belfast. subject to study. Only 23%

28 QUEEN’S TODAY Michael Turner, BSc Econ 1956, received the 2004 Chairman’s Award from the Royal New Zealand OBITUARIES Foundation of the Blind (RNZFB). The top honour, it was awarded for ‘demonstrating outstanding Dr Robert Brumwell (Brum) Henderson, A brief appreciation by John M Gorman can be found on Queen’s alumni website – achievement as a member of DUniv 2002, died on 29 July 2005, aged 76 years. A graduate of Trinity College www.qub.ac.uk/alumni – by following the the blind community of Dublin, the former member of Senate links to Obituaries. New Zealand’. received an honorary degree from Queen’s for his services to the University. His Tom Cartwright Shaw, BSc 1941, MSc, A former teacher at autobiography, A Life in Television was PhD former head of the Physical Chemistry Wanganui Collegiate School, published in 2003. Dept., Esquire Bedell and Warden of the Michael was a RNZFB board RA & RE Officer Cadets, died at home in trustee from 1980-2003 and JP (Paul) Connolly, BEng 1999, died in Ferndown, Dorset in March 2005. is a former chairman. October 2004. Paul was an engineer in the semi-conductor industry, and worked for Dr Shaw was a former pupil of the Royal Michael would be interested Applied Materials in Munich. He went out Belfast Academical Institution and entered in organising an event for for a run with a friend and colleague last industry in 1945. He became Technical New Zealand based graduates October, collapsed and died of acute Adviser to Garfield Weston and Chairman and can be contacted at - idiopathic myocarditis. of Allied Bakeries before joining Spooner [email protected] Industries plc as Deputy Chairman and Dr Donal Deery, MB BCh BAO, BSc 1997 subsequently Chief Executive. He was an Aileen Connon, MB 1954, (Physiology), died on 12 January 2005, aged advisor to the Ministry of Food & Agriculture and an examiner in Bio-Sciences MD 1963, was recognised 29. A senior house doctor at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Dr Deery died from at the University of Reading. in the 2005 Australia Day injuries he received while heroically saving Honours List. his girlfriend Helen McClements from a fall A keen golfer he is survived by his wife Pearl in the Southern Alps in New Zealand. a former lecturer in the Chemistry Dept. Ms Connon was awarded the and son Alan a graduate of the same Membership, in the General Donal loved all sport including running, department. Division, of the Order of cycling, hill-walking and climbing. He spent Australia: For services to much of his spare time in the Mourne William (Bill) Stout, BComSc 1938, public health and medicine, Mountains and was an active member of died in March 2005 aged 98. Bill Stout had particularly through Queen’s Mountaineering Club. His family a distinguished career in the Northern organisations to improve and friends have established the Mourne Ireland Civil Service (NICS) and was the available health care for Cottage Appeal in his memory and already first official in its history to rise through the women and children, and over £6k has been raised towards ranks, from clerk, to become a permanent to medical education. The refurbishment costs. secretary, the most senior grade. investiture took place at Government House, South From Ligoniel in North Belfast, Donal is He entered the Civil Service in 1925 and Australia on earlier this year. survived by his father Francis, mother stayed for 47 years. While working in the Monica and sisters Veronica and Deirdre. civil service, he studied for an external degree in economics (BComSc) at Queen’s. Henry Randolph Conrad Patrick (Paddy) G Mallon OBE BSc Kernohan, MB 1954, is now (Econ), 1978, died on 23 December 2003. He is survived by his son Robert, daughter living in London, Ontario He is survived by his wife Helen. Margaret, four grandchildren and two in Canada. He would be great grandchildren. interested in hearing form Henry Eugene (Harry) McAuley, BSc Civil former classmates and can be Engineering 1977 died suddenly at his (A full obituary can be found on contacted via the Alumni home in South Africa on 16 May 2005, www.qub.ac.uk/alumni) Office – [email protected] aged 49 years. Isobel Mary Wilson Whitelaw James Piggot, MB, BCh, Harry initially worked in Northern Ireland, (née McKibben), BSc 1929, MSc 1931, BAO, FRCSE 1946, attended before moving to England and later Qatar. died last year, aged 96. the recent meeting of the After his marriage he settled in South Africa British Society for Children’s where he ran his own business, HMA Mrs Whitelaw was the first female Orthopaedic Surgery where Construction in Mpumalanga. He is engineering student at Queen’s before he was awarded honorary survived by his wife Judith, two daughters changing courses to biochemistry. membership for ‘Services and one son. Her research took her to Girton College, to Children’s Orthopaedic Cambridge and she later married Dorothy Wilson, MB 1946, died in January Dr Alan Dunlop Whitelaw before Surgery’ and was recipient 2005, aged 83 years. She worked in the moving permanently to England. of the Society’s medal. Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast before going to England and later to the University Mrs Whitelaw is survived by her daughter Hospital in Jamaica where she looked after Dr Joan Whitelaw. public health in Montego Bay.

QUEEN’S TODAY 29 Wesley Finegan, Denis Tuohy, BA 1959, has recently MB BCh BAO published his memoirs Wide-eyed in

books 1980. As a cancer Medialand covering 40 years in patient and a doctor broadcasting. Born in Belfast in 1937 he Wesley has written blew out a candle in a London television two practical books studio in April 1964 to mark the birth for fellow cancer of BBC 2 and was promptly nicknamed patients and lay ‘BBC Tuohy’. carers to try and address common problems not dealt A reporter and presenter for Panorama, with in other books for lay readers. This Week and many other features and The books are entitled “Trust Me, I’m a documentaries on BBC and ITV, he has Cancer Patient” (2004)ISBN 1-85775- covered many of the biggest stories of 877-3 and “Being a Cancer Patient’s the past half century, and has met some Carer - a Guide” (2005)ISBN 1-85775- of its biggest names – from Orson books 638X and are published by Radcliffe Welles to Margaret Thatcher, and from Publishing. He can be contacted at Muhammad [email protected] Ali to the Shah of A review of Dr Finegan’s book can be Iran. He found at - www.qub.ac.uk/alumni - recently follow links to Class Notes extra. took up acting Dennis Cooke, BA 1960, BD 1965, again PhD 1980 has published a book on a and has Zane Radcliffe, BA English 1991, has former 1950s Queen’s chaplain - Revd appeared published a number of books – London Dr Eric Gallagher - entitled Peacemaker. in RTE’s Irish (2002) which earned him the WH The life and work of Eric Gallagher. top rated Smith New Talent Award, Big Jessie soap Fair (2003) and more recently Eric Gallagher was noteworthy for his City. He The Killer’s Guide to Iceland (2005). fearless striving for human rights, his now lives Born in Bangor in 1969 he moved to building bridges of communication in Cork. London in 1994 to become an between Catholics and Protestants and advertising copywriter. He is now a perhaps most noteworthy of all, his Creative Director at Newhaven, an record as the first to publicly suggest Alexander Stewart, BSc 1946, PhD agency in Edinburgh. Power-sharing in government as the 1975, has recently published a book solution to the Northern Ireland entitled A Funny Thing Happened On problem. The Way To The Graveyard which takes a wry look back over his university and Dennis had previously published working career as an engineer. Persecuting Zeal. A Portrait of Ian Paisley in 1996. Alex first came to Queen’s in 1943 as a State Bursar and Leonard Evans, BSc (Physics) 1960 has later in life became an recently published Traffic Safety covering external (part time) the scientific evidence behind road safety research student interventions. Among aspects covered is before being awarded the environment, gender, age, alcohol a PhD in 1975. He effects on survival, older drivers and would be interested airbag benefits and costs. in hearing from his contemporaries and After 33 years in research can be reached at - with General alex.stewart19 Motors @btopenworld.com Corporation Dr Evans now lives in Andy Meharg, BSc Chemistry 1986, is Michigan, currently professor of biogeochemistry USA. at Aberdeen University. He has recently published a popular chemistry book Venomous Earth on the arsenic crisis in SE Asia. Andy can be reached at - [email protected]

30 QUEEN’S TODAY

SSportport forfor

With London securing the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games interest in sport in the UK will undoubtedly intensify, though the benefits of an active sporting life are not just for the elite. That sport increases confidence, energy and vitality has been evident to many for a long time. For others the importance of personal fitness is only just beginning to dawn.

Queen’s has long recognised the importance of sport and has been investing heavily in recent years in improving sporting opportunities for students. As Debbie McLorinan, Sport & Recreation Development Manager, reports for Queen’s today, graduates too can benefit from the extensive range of facilities available.

32 QUEEN’S TODAY summer on refurbishing the PEC’s interior corridors, staircases and dry changing rooms in order to modernise and harmonise ‘old’ and ‘new’ building fabrics. AAllll There is no doubt that regular sporting activity provides many individual benefits. It helps to reduce body fat, improves stamina and concentration and controls overall bodyweight. Not only does it help fight depression and anxiety but participants gain the satisfaction of developing enhanced fitness and skills while making new friends in the process! Sport focuses the mind; it leads individuals to challenge themselves and set new personal goals. It breeds positive competitiveness and fosters team spirit. And while those engaged in sport experience winning and losing, all are much more likely to have a healthier lifestyle as a result.

Traditionally sport provides enjoyment and entertainment to millions of participants, spectators and facilitators every day around the world.

And in recent years growing research has demonstrated that sport as a medium offers a multitude of additional tangible benefits that include: community safety, But first, Debbie would like you to TV screen. On the way back to the improved education, lower levels of relax…close your eyes and imagine the changing area you stop to watch a range social exclusion and wider advantages vision that Queen’s has for expanding of classes delivered in purpose-built for society as whole. So not only its Sport & Recreation provision… exercise studios. is sport good for individuals, it is good for everyone! It’s a beautiful day and you are in the And once exercise is finished, there’s mood for a workout. You drive to the plenty of time to enjoy a coffee in the Existing facilities at the PEC include: tree-lined car park and within seconds new Sports Café on the terrace. What a 2 large multi-purpose sports halls, you enter the pristine glass fronted way to spend a couple of hours! 10 squash & 2 handball courts, reception area. No need to wait – as a diving/swimming pools, weight-training member swipe your card and walk Whether you are travelling past the and cardio-vascular fitness rooms, a through to the changing area. Stranmillis Embankment, walking climbing wall and a martial arts area. through Botanic Gardens or using the Members can also avail of an exciting Ready for exercise, you walk upstairs to Physical Education Centre (PEC) it range of exercise, pool, relaxation and the fitness suite, passing climbers on the would be difficult not to notice the dance classes catering for all levels and new central climbing wall. You notice extensive construction currently being including popular activities such as Tai the open-plan training areas and the carried out. Chi, hip hop dance and circuits. climate controlled temperature. The fitness instructor knows you by name Work on the vision started at Queen’s Certainly something for everyone! and gives you access to a computer- PEC in February 2005 and it is hoped generated fitness programme that that all the new facilities and monitors and records your progress on membership schemes will be available in a choice of over 100 exercise machines. a 12 months time. The frame of the extension is now finished and shows the You work out while watching your circular shape of the new building and favourite programme on the integrated work has also been taking place over the

QUEEN’S TODAY 33 Celebrating Sporting Excellence In good hands Special Achievement and Blues Sports Awards were presented at the In addition to the extensive range University’s Blues Dinner in June, supported for the second year by Ulster of indoor sports facilities Bank. The Individual Sports Achievement Award was presented to Gaelic available, Sport & Recreation Footballer, Martin McGrath. Services also offers treatments Martin has captained the Fermanagh county side at minor, under21 and through its highly regarded Sports senior levels, as well as the Queen’s Sigerson team who were beaten in the Injury & Rehabilitation Clinic. final of the competition this year. He was a Railway Cup winner with Ulster and an All-Ireland Championship semi-finalist with Fermanagh in 2004. A Chartered Physiotherapist, Martin represented his country in the International Rules Series and has Grainne O’Donoghue, will carry many individual awards to his name such as: Irish News Ulster All Star Award, Cormac McAnallen Irish News Ulster Player of the year, GAA out a comprehensive assessment Writers Ulster Player of the Year and Vodafone GAA All Star. in order to make a clinical diagnosis and select appropriate Other awards included: treatment. The following conditions can be treated: ■ Sports Achievement Team Award, which went to the Queen’s Basketball Men’s Club ■ Sports and soft tissue injuries

■ Coach of the Year Award was presented to Paul Welsh for Camogie ■ Neck and back disorders

■ Special Contribution to Queen’s Sport was presented to two recipients ■ Joint problems namely: Clare O’Connell for Ladies Gaelic Football and Denis Clarke for Men’s Soccer ■ Repetitive strain and overuse injuries At the June dinner, Blues Awards were presented to 35 students all of whom had achieved high standards of performance in their sport. ■ Muscle imbalances

■ Martin McGrath (right), Biomechanical dysfunction, with Pamela Ballentine, including on site orthotic MC and Vice-Chancellor, construction Professor Peter Gregson at the June Dinner, The clinic services are available which was supported by Ulster Bank. for the care of recreational, amateur and professional athletes of all ages who live, work or study near Queen’s PEC.

For full details visit the website – www.qub.ac.uk/pec or ring 028 9038 7678 Membership offer

For a one-off payment of only £150 for the year, those who graduated in July 2005, can enjoy unlimited use of the extensive sporting facilities and access to a wide range of classes and courses at the PEC – a saving of £40 and less than £3 a week!

All graduates can choose between 'Pay & Play' (£60 per annum + £1.90 admission each time you attend) or ‘Annual’ (£190 per annum, with no admission charges).

For full details check out the website at - www.qub.ac.uk/pec or ring 028 9038 7670

34 QUEEN’S TODAY £1million Union Appeal

One thing that graduates of all ages are agreed on is that the Students’ Union building needs a facelift! The good news is that major re- development began in summer 2004, with work scheduled to be completed within a year.

A ‘top to bottom’ transformation aims to create a new focal point within the Queen’s conservation zone. Costing around £9m, the project will be financed from University reserves, external loans secured from Students’ Union trading activities and from the Queen’s Foundation.

The Foundation has set up a £1m Appeal to complete funding for the project, which will result in an aesthetically pleasing and functional building more suitable for student numbers and needs in the 21st century.

Union President, Ben Preston, who took up post over the summer, told Queen’s today how vital the facility is for present-day students. ‘Our building is the hub on campus for students –and indeed for graduates – their friends and guests who use it for socialising, shopping or just to relax in. As well as housing cafés and bars, the Union is an important point of contact for over 150 student clubs and societies’, said Preston. ☛

QUEEN’S TODAY 35 unsuspecting students,hasbeen Alex Higgins issaidtohave challenged make over. The snookerroom, where areasthe associatedentertainment geta 70s and80sastheMcMordie Hall) and basement Mandela Hall (known inthe phases. Already Phase Ihasseenthe The work willbecarriedoutinfour representative,’truly saidMcGivern. tobe needs. Andwe alwaysundertook sure theUniversity didn’t forgettheir campaigning ontheirbehalfandmaking hard torepresent thousandsofstudents, after teamofstudentofficersworked pulsed dayandnight,year onyear. Team and theconscienceofUniversity; it ‘For ustheUnion wasboththeheart 1995, explains. Queen’s. ColmMcGivern, President in centre forstudentactivitiesat nerve The Union hasalwaysbeenthe inthearea.quarter to thecreation ofadistinctive youth University buildingsandcontributing architectural balancewithother enhanced, creating amore harmonious surrounding physicalenvironment The Union willberegenerated andthe equally important. welfare, educationandstudyareas) are students, butotherfacilities(including may beessentialresources fortoday’s Bars andrefectorieshigh level ofservice. changing needs,whilestilldelivering a flexible enoughspacetoaccommodate 24,000 itisessentialthattheUnion isa With acurrent studentpopulationof appearance –isinneedofrenovation. alumni stillhave asoftspot,despiteits doubt thattheUnion –forwhichmany Opened almost40years agothere isno 36 ✁ Name on Card Card No date_/ _/Expiry (pleaseindicate) Email I wishtopayby Charity Voucher/VISA/MasterCard (deleteas appropriate) I wishtopayby cheque(madepayableto I wishtomakeagiftof:£5/£10/£20/other Postcode Address Name STUDENTS’ UNIONAPPEAL QUEEN’S TODAYQUEEN’S Queen’s Alumni Fund year, willseethefocusswitch tothe laterthis Phase 3,scheduledtostart Beech Room onthefirstfloor. of thebuildingandarevamp ofthe entrance ontheElmwood Avenue side Phase II,whichwillresult inanew relocated. Work recently on started ) Inland Revenue No. XR22432 University Belfast. Development andAlumniRelations Office, Queen’s Please sendyour donationtoStudents’ Union Appeal, Is thegift anonymous? Y/N Date Signature amount ofUKincometaxequaltothewe reclaim. Inland Revenue regulations. Please noteyou must payan youWe otherwise. needyour homepostcodetomeet from thedatebelow tobetreated asgiftaiduntilInotify UK TAX PAYERS –Gift Aid–Iwouldlikeall contributions and circulation areas. incorporate work ontheSnack Bar rooms. Andthefinalphasewill resource centre andseveral meeting and societiesinmindwillincludea also toberedesigned withstudentclubs accommodation. The third floorarea is ground floorretail spaceandoffice A Place of Meeting A building designed for six thousand students is to be expanded into one for twenty-four thousand: Dr Who’s Tardis was never so accommodating! Professor Emeritus Leslie Clarkson looks back over the history of the Students’ Union.

Student facilities have always lagged behind needs. When Queen’s opened in 1845 there was a single cloakroom, four water closets and a row of urinals for 195 (male) students. There was no common room and nowhere to eat.

A gymnasium was built in 1873, where the Heaney Library now stands, while ‘the coming of the ladies’ in 1882 required some adjustment to the plumbing.

But until almost the end of the 19th century students possessed ‘no place of meeting for societies or clubs save a classroom … and no means of refreshment save the primitive counter where a bun or a bottle of lemonade could be obtained from ‘The Colonel’, in what … was originally the Cloak Room’.

In 1892 President Hamilton set about securing private finance for a union building. By 1896 £4000 had been raised, including the proceeds of a grand bazaar held in Botanic Gardens during May 1894.Construction at the lower end of University Square began in January 1896 and a year later the Former Student President, Jonny Hill, building was opened ‘amid a scene of great enthusiasm’ by the Lord who initiated the plans in 2003, told Queen’s today: ‘It is fantastic to see the Lieutenant of Ireland. It is now the School of Music. refurbishments finally taking place. I have no doubt that the new Union The Union was designed for around 400 students and remained the focus of will meet the demands of a growing student activity for the next sixty years. It was administered by the Students’ student body, while keeping the Union Society, which included ‘all gentlemen undergraduates of the essential elements of campaigning, University …’ Female students had their own Women’s Students’ Hall welfare provision and support, that squeezed into a couple of houses in University Square. make for a strong Students’ Union.’ By the early 1950s student numbers had grown to 2,500 and the University Subject to securing the remaining bought the former Deaf and Blind Institution beside the City Hospital to funding from the Queen’s Foundation, convert into a Students’ Centre, but the scheme foundered on the poor state the Union will eventually house a new foyer and meeting area, a bigger shop, of the building. a new café, several additional clubs and societies rooms and a resource centre In 1960 Queen’s decided to build at the corner of Elmwood Avenue and kitted out with the latest computers – University Road, although this involved knocking down the handsome Old making it one of the best equipped Queen’s Elms (pictured above). The present Students’ Union was opened in Students’ Union buildings in the 1967; it was functional but, architecturally, the building did ‘not quite rise United Kingdom and Ireland. to the occasion …’

If you would like to support the Students’ A decade later a scheme to beautify it with shrubs and sculptures came to Union Appeal, please use the reply slip nothing. Two decades further on an even grander scheme to replace it with opposite to send us your donation. ‘Lanyon II’ failed to get planning permission.

Let’s hope this is third time lucky!

QUEEN’S TODAY 37 In anticipation of the Irish premiere of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in December it could be said that Belfast is firmly in the grip of Lewis fever. Few people are aware, however, that CS Lewis – author of the Chronicles of Narnia – was born in Northern Ireland and fewer still that his mother, Florence, graduated from Queen’s in 1886. Writing exclusively for Queen’s today biographer Derick Bingham finds that the life of Clive Staples Lewis is still causing waves. A Mind Awake

Imagine the scene. Britain has just of Narnia through reading Lewis’ declared war on Germany and many Chronicles of Narnia. Tens of millions children are being evacuated from more are about to enter that wardrobe London. An Oxford don called CS through the coming Walt Disney- Lewis agrees to have some evacuees to Walden Media film of the book The stay at his home. One day in 1939 one Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe to be of the children asks if she can have a released in December, 2005. Derrick Bingham look inside a wardrobe at the Lewis’ home. Since then at least 65 million Lewis’ mother Flora (Florence) Augusta people have gone inside Lewis’ wardrobe Hamilton went to Queen’s, then known in their imagination and found the land as the Royal University of Ireland,

38 QUEEN’S TODAY between 1881 and 1886. The Holywood Hills toward the Mourne It is though for his creation of a land of University’s beautiful Main College Mountains made him a romantic. ‘For wonder and enchantment for children building designed by Charles Lanyon is here’, he wrote in his autobiography ‘is the called Narnia that Lewis is best modelled on Magdalene College, Oxford thing itself, utterly irresistible, the way to remembered. When he was about where Florence’s son would later achieve the world’s end, the land of longing, the seventeen he wrote in a poem that as he great fame. Florence performed breaking and blessing of hearts’ (Surprised stood among the hills of Down, ‘The brilliantly at Queen’s and in 1885 she by Joy, Inspirational Press, by arrangement call of the roads is upon me/A desire in passed the second university exam with with Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Inc, my sprit has grown/To wander forth in First Class Honours in Logic and 1991). Educated at the horrendous the highways/’Twixt earth and sky Second Class Honours in Mathematics. Wynard School in Watford, Lewis also alone/And seek for the lands no foot has She took a BA in 1886. The pale, gifted, spent four months at Campbell College trod/And the seas no sail has known cool-headed, blue-eyed mathematician Belfast and then boarded at Malvern (Spirits of Bondage, A Cycle of Lyrics, Florence married the somewhat College in Worcestershire. Heinneman, 1919). In his imagination tempestuous Belfast solicitor Albert Lewis found those lands and those seas. Lewis at St Mark’s Dundela in 1894. Lewis’ great break came when he went to The world is about to find them in a Her first son Warren was born in 1895 Great Bookham in Surrey for two and a fresh way through film when the movie and three years later, on November 29 half years to be tutored for Oxford by receives its premiere on 8 December 1898, Clive Staples (known the former headmaster of Lurgan (see narni.com). affectionately as Jack) was born. College, W.T. Kirkpatrick. There is no question that Kirkpatrick, known The doors to it all, though, will Over many years the Lewis’s were to take affectionately as ‘The Great Knock’ thereafter famously belong to Queen’s! a furnished home at Castlerock during sharply developed Lewis’ reasoning The wardrobe doors used in the film the summer months. It is maintained powers. Kirkpatrick measured everything will be placed in a Reading Room in the that the seeds of CS Lewis’s romantic by logic. Later, as an Oxford don, Lewis new £44million, 2,000-reader library at love of ‘Northerness’ were sown during was converted to Christ, particularly Queen’s due for completion in 2009. those summer months. He wrote of the through the influence of his friend JRR The Reading Room in the library’s northern sky as being ‘cold, spacious, Tolkein. (Tolkein maintained that The central tower will be named after CS serene, pale and remote.’ He was later to Lord of the Rings would never have been Lewis. The design of the doors has been grow to love Scandinavian mythology. finished and offered for publication given as a gift to Queen’s by the film without CS Lewis). Lewis’ logic was to makers, particularly because of Lewis’ At the family home called ‘Little Lea’ on be used to immeasurable effect in his Northern Ireland connections. Belfast’s Circular Road, Lewis first took defence of his Christian faith. to writing as a hobby in his childhood because of a disability in his thumbs. The most public defence of Lewis faith This meant he could not hold a pair of was made in his famous wartime Derick Bingham, an Arts Graduate of scissors and could not make things with broadcasts for the BBC. These Queen’s University, has written 23 books. his hands. He claimed that someone broadcasts later became his popular book His biography of CS Lewis ‘A Shiver of could do more with a castle in a story Mere Christianity. Quite recently the Wonder’ is published by Ambassador than with any cardboard castle that ever founder of Domino Pizza, Thomas International and is available on stood on a nursery table. Few have Monaghan gave away £600 million amazon.com proved his case better than he did. because he read a paragraph from the book on pride. Lewis wrote very Lewis called the Holywood Hills in successfully in diverse genres. Prominent County Down his ‘main haunt.’ He works include poetry, autobiography, maintained that looking away from the novels, literary criticism, and theology.

QUEEN’S TODAY 39 £39 million bookmarked for new library In less than 18 months, In November The Queen’s University of everyone who has helped to make the Queen’s has raised the Belfast Foundation will hold a dinner in vision of a new library possible! necessary funding to build the Court Room of the Bank of England in a magnificent new library. London, and in December, in a fitting The full library story is included in the As the £39 million appeal climax, the campaign will benefit from the Donor Newsletter. If you would like to nears completion Director proceeds of the Ireland premiere of The receive a copy please contact Kerry Bryson – of Development, Aíne Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the [email protected] Gibbons, reflects on the biggest Chronicles of Narnia film. Already campaign in the University’s history. interest in both events is tremendous For the first 100 years there was only and we envisage exceeding our one library at Queen’s - the Lynn Over 2000 graduates have made gifts to fundraising goal. Library. The current 13-storey Tower the library campaign making it the most (affectionately known as ‘the stack’) important and successful since Queen’s The new library will be a flagship building was built in 1967 and was linked to was founded, almost 160 years ago. demonstrating commitment to scholarship. the renovated Lynn library in the It will be central to the life of the early 1980s. The need for a new library proved so University and provide the latest compelling that 80% of the funding was technologically advanced educational Queen’s is custodian of a number pledged before the architectural plans and research facilities in a cherished of important historical collections, were drafted. As we await the outcome environment. including part of the library of the of the planning permission process this economic theorist Adam Smith. autumn, two major fundraising events are We are proud of our past and our present. It also owns the Hamilton Harty scheduled for later in the year to round The new library will enable us to be Music Collection and the papers off the appeal. passionate about our future. Thanks to of Somerville and Ross.

Support for the Adopt a Book scheme continues, with over 2,000 books sponsored so far. For each £30 donated Queen’s places a bookplate in a volume relating to the donor’s chosen subject and details are then sent to the benefactor.

Books have been adopted by Liam Neeson, Seamus Heaney, Maeve Binchy, Marie Jones, Nick Ross, Emma Thompson and Michael Palin. Academic tomes are most popular but poetry, literature and history books are also being suggested. The Vice- Chancellor has adopted one of the best known books in stock – ••••••••••••••••••

Often books are dedicated in memory of a loved one, or an inspirational teacher or professor. Enquiries are also being received to mark a special occasion, a friend’s birthday, a christening or a retirement. Many graduates request anonymity so these names will not be published but the donor can still have a poem, message or dedication inscribed on their bookplate.

If there is a book that has inspired you, or one that has some personal significance, please consider adopting it and in doing so, helping the new library book fund. Adopt a Book Adopt

Adopt a Book

Name ______Signature ______Address ______Date ______Is the gift anonymous? Y/N Postcode ______Do you want a bookplate/s? Y/N Is the bookplate to be personally inscribed/electronically generated I wish to make a gift of: £ ______(please delete as appropriate)

I wish to pay by Cheque (made payable to Queen’s Alumni Fund) What subject area do you want to support? I wish to pay by Charity Voucher/VISA/Mastercard (eg history, maths, chemical engineering)______

Card No _ _ / _ _ / _ _ If this gift is in memory of a loved one please give details:

Expiry date _ _ / _ _ / ______Name on Card ______UK TAX PAYERS – Gift Aid – I would like all contributions from the date below to be treated as gift aid until I notify you otherwise. Please send your donation to Library Book Fund Appeal, Development We need your home post code to meet Inland Revenue regulations. and Alumni Relations Office, Queen’s University Belfast. Please note you must pay an amount of UK income tax equal to the •••••••••••••••••••••••••• ✁ tax we reclaim.

40 QUEEN’S TODAY

the Class of 2005

Former Celtic boss and Northern Ireland soccer international Martin O'Neill received an honorary doctorate for services to sport from Queen’s in July.

Originally from Kilrea in Co Derry, O'Neill (pictured far right with his family) embarked on an undergraduate law course in 1971 but his time as at Queen’s was short-lived because of the lure of playing full time professional football in England.

He won 64 international caps for Northern Ireland, captaining the team at the 1982 World Cup finals in Spain. On his retirement as a player he entered football management where he made his name as a committed and determined leader. He recently stepped down as boss of Glasgow Celtic and is widely rumoured to be a possible successor to Sir Alec Ferguson at Manchester United.

O'Neill is one of a number of honorary graduates who received degrees this summer including broadcaster Gloria Hunniford (pictured right), journalist Fergal Keane (pictured top right), businessmen Dr Alan Gillespie and David Dobbin, and former Queen’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir George Bain.

Graduation week is the highlight of the academic year and gives graduates, their parents and friends the opportunity to soak up the special atmosphere of the summer garden party. And when the weather is fine, young and not-so-young guests can enjoy champagne celebrations, with traditional strawberries and cream, or simply a chance to reminisce about the year’s achievements while relaxing to fine musical accompaniment.

42 QUEEN’S TODAY 05

QUEEN’S TODAY 43 tram to Queen’s and moor in Ballyholme Bay, sail hopefully arrived in time up to a mile out from the for the first lecture. headlands and go as far as the Copeland Islands and ‘The train had individual Donaghadee. On Sundays the compartments with blackout seafront, Queen’s Parade and blinds on the windows and Marine Gardens would be only a dim blue light, crowded. Life was more insufficient to read notes sedate and quiet than now or to do preparation for and all the better for it! the next day. I received my BSc on 4 July ‘My four-year course was 1942. Exactly sixty years later, condensed into three so it eight of us who had was hard going. The week’s graduated that day went out timetable often included 30 to lunch, just to prove to hours of lectures, leaving little ourselves how well we had time for study. To stay on at lasted. Those present Queen’s, even for a few hours, (and pictured) were: WA was constrained by the last Condy (Walter), RT Huston, train home often being at RM Gray (Martin), 9pm, and as it stopped at K Ross (Kenneth), TJ every station, it took three McCormick (Jackson), quarters of an hour or more. WAS Nutt (William), Miss it and one would have RR Ross (Ronald) and to sleep in the waiting-room! SH Hawthorne (Samuel). bygonesbygones ‘I then walked the mile home I have no regrets about my in the dark as there were no time at Queen’s. I was very My Student Experience street lights. On the plus side young, we all were; every day My Student Experience there was little traffic as cars was new and I loved it all. It were up on bricks; petrol was a learning experience not Martin Gray attended the Royal Engineers, was rations were for priority users. to be missed and it led to a Queen’s in 1939, aged just employed for 26 years in local career I thoroughly enjoyed. sixteen. Though he lives in government, managed an ‘University social life was fine For me, Queen’s was over Bangor, Co Down, his architectural practice for 4 for those housed close by, but sixty-two years ago and the contact with the University years, and ran my own for me it was non-existent, memories fade fast as the since then has been limited. consultancy until retiring, except for occasional Saturday mists thicken. In spite of the However, a telephone call aged 69. I thoroughly enjoyed geology outings to Portrush, war, it was a much simpler from student caller Kieran my working life. Doing a job Donaghadee or Newcastle. age, completely different from O’Connor, earlier this year, you love, and being paid for What social life I had was, of anything I read concerning brought back many memories it, takes some beating. necessity in Bangor. From university life today. of a bygone age, which May to September there was Martin now shares with ‘My three years at Queen’s sailing. Yachts could still R Martin Gray, BSc, FICE Queen’s today. was in no way the ‘University experience’ they talk about ‘I was born, educated and today at the start of the 21st worked all my adult life in century. I went up to study Bangor and, like many older Civil Engineering in residents, tend to regard September 1939, the week Tillysburn and Sydenham as after World War II was fringes of the known world declared. For me Queen’s was of Belfast, which is rarely if an extension of school life but ever visited! with exceedingly long hours.

‘Since Kieran called I have ‘Student accommodation was thought much about the limited so I had to travel daily outcome of my time at from home in Bangor. I arose Queen’s. Had I not been at 7.30am, ate breakfast, awarded a civil engineering walked the mile to the degree my life could have station, caught the 8.20am been different. Thanks to that express train (which reached degree I served five years with Belfast at 8.40am), took a

44 QUEEN’S TODAY Queen’s Belfast Associations Canada Queen’s has a number of graduate associations around the world offering: Dublin • regular events and reunions • personal membership card London • networking opportunities • regular communications Malaysia • benefits package • Associations’ Supplement Scotland More than this, Queen’s associations help Singapore graduates to keep in touch with each other. USA For more information visit the website – www.qub.ac.uk/alumni/associations Association Membership What’s in it for you?

There has never been a Ireland, Belfast Festival, Belfast And we keep members in touch better time to join a Queen’s Welcome Centre, gents outfitters Clarke with the latest from Queen’s through association! Whether you & Dawe, Dial-a-phone, Direct Wine regular publications and exclusive want to keep in touch with Shipments, Dukes, Hastings and Hilton email bulletins! former classmates or to Hotels, ESS magazine subscriptions, maintain links with the Jharna and Indie Spice restaurants, Most association membership fees are University, Queen’s Lyric Theatre, the National Trust, around £10 per annum (or the associations around the Norwich Union, Open Fairways equivalent) – offering great value for world provide graduates (golf packages), Queen’s Film Theatre, money. So if you want to find out with the chance to continue Queen’s Library, Queen’s PEC, more about the great discounts that a lifelong relationship with Stena HSS and the Ulster Orchestra. association members are entitled to, or their Alma Mater. if you require further information on And you can use your personal joining a Queen’s association in Not only do associations help graduates association membership card at Queen’s Northern Ireland, Dublin, London, to keep in touch, but they also offer an Visitors’ Centre to get 10% discount off Scotland, USA, Canada or Asia, then exclusive range of membership benefits a wide range of University merchandise! please visit the website - as well. Discounts off travel, restaurants www.qub.ac.uk/alumni and hotels, tailored financial and As a member of an alumni association healthcare packages, preferential you will be able to attend a varied [Definition: Alma Mater – Latin, magazine subscriptions and special rates programme of networking opportunities meaning ‘bounteous mother’; title at Belfast cinemas and theatres are just throughout the year, usually at given to universities and schools] some of the special deals that have discounted prices. Association events already been negotiated. And every typically include dinners, receptions and [Definition: alumni – Latin, meaning month we give you more reasons to join! other social activities, visits to exclusive ‘nursling’ or ‘former pupil’] venues (like the House of Lords), At present there are over 20 benefit golf days, wine tasting, table quizzes, partners, including Avis, Bank of debates and educational lectures.

Reply slip

I wish to join the association in – Belfast (£10) [ ] Dublin (€12.50) [ ] London (£10) [ ] Scotland (£10) [ ] USA ($25) [ ] (tick as appropriate) Please return this reply slip, and the correct membership fee, to the address below. Cheques should be made payable to •••••••••••••••••••••••••• Name ______

Address ______

______Postcode ______

Year of graduation______Degree ______

Email ______Phone ______✁ Return this reply slip to - Alumni Officer, Queen’s University, Belfast, BT7 1NN, Northern Ireland Miscellanea To solve the Sudoku puzzle below, each 3 x 3 box, all the rows and all the columns must contain Sudoku the numbers 1-9, with no repeats or omissions. And remember, there is only one correct solution.

195 4 8

82

472 3

84 261

26 9

13 4 75

34 6

6912

98534

Quiz

1. Who is the current Chancellor of Queen’s?

2. Who was runner-up in the 1999 Miss Northern Ireland pageant?

3. Who wrote The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe?

Brain teaser

What are the next two numbers in this sequence – 1, 4, 1, 5, 9…?

The first correct entry (for each of the Sudoku, the quiz and the Name brain teaser) drawn on Friday 14 October 2005 will receive a Address £50 gift voucher/ book token for Queen’s Visitors Centre/ Bookshop (please indicate preference). Year of graduation Please return your entry/entries, along with your name and Email address, to arrive no later than

reply slip reply 12 noon on 14 October 2005 Telephone to – Queen’s today, Development and Alumni Relations Office, £50 gift voucher ■ £50 book token ■ Please tick prefered prize Queen’s University, Belfast BT7 1NN or email to - [email protected]

46 QUEEN’S TODAY