ISSUE 1, 2010 to students now? What does Reading mean s Our response to a globalised world cr ha scriptwriter and father g m Poet, performer, broadcaster, I b t e u e n a d t e i n n t l g a global i c i f e

e today l r o s u e Magazine for for Magazine p16 n n i p20 v e r s i t y p32 A l u m n i and and i F r iends welcome IN thisissue The Diverse Law Firm You may well have heard about the increasingly difficult financial In focus: climate faced by UK universities, Research which will all face funding cuts, to a greater or lesser extent. Reading is relatively well posi- tioned, with three-quarters of our 6 with a proven track record in income sought competitively, and employment law, property law, dispute resolution, corporate law and environmental law across the UK and only one-quarter currently coming internationally. We are the legal adviser to a number of multinationals and FTSE 250 companies and also act from the government ‘block grant’ for a wide range of public sector bodies. via the Funding Council. However, we have seen this as an opportu- Student life today nity to build on our successes; the 16 Internationally, Clarkslegal is part of TAGLaw, a major global network of law firms University is currently in the midst

comprising over 7,500 lawyers giving clients access to high-quality legal advice in nearly 100 countries. of a reshaping programme, in order A very warm welcome to to sustain and augment our reputa- Connected – the University’s mag- tion as a leading research-intensive Being azine for alumni and friends. This institution. This will also increase Michael Rosen new publication will be an annual our already valuable contribution to offer a range 20 issue, complemented by the quar- to solving global problems such as of services and solutions to clients in respect of their HR and Environmental issues both strategic and non- terly Connected online newsletter. food security, nutrition and climate Year in pictures 4 strategic. This means that our people work in a highly innovative, multi-disciplinary environment, which is a I hope you enjoy the new-style change, alongside educating those In focus: Research 6 magazine, which takes a look at who will make a difference in the Research News 10 world away from that of a traditional law firm. Forbury Environmental is also highly active in the past, present and future of our future. My time your time 14 facilitating investment for entrepreneurs across the environmental sector. University from a variety of per- My renewed thanks to all of you – Student life today 16 spectives. staff, students, alumni and friends Being Michael Rosen 20 As ever, the University is continu- In addition to providing advice on commercial matters – who make such a huge contribu- Building for the future 24 ally evolving, but we are delighted tion to the life of your University. issues such as drafting wills, probate and administration of estates, What’s the issue? 26 that a number of things have The achievements you will read My generation 28 tax planning and trusts. remained the same. We are still about in this issue would not be Around the world 30 ranked as one of the leading 200 possible without your support. A short history of Reading 34 universities in the world; we Please do keep in touch – we are remain a very popular place to always delighted to hear your news Alumni honours 38 Clarkslegal are delighted to continue supporting the University’s study, with seven applications per 150 years of fine art 40 House of Lords Alumni Reception. and views. And do send me your place; and our students rate us suggestions for Connected – it is Spark* writes 41 We are extremely proud to have been associated with the University of Reading for over well above the sector average in your magazine. News 42 four decades and to have played our part in many exciting projects and developments the National Student Survey. Our With best wishes, Events 48 with the University during this period. donors have continued to dem- Unearthing Silchester 50 onstrate incredible generosity in Professor Gordon Marshall

supporting Reading, with over £23 CBE, BA (Stirling), D Phil (Oxford), FBA, AcSS Connected is published annually and is sent free to Reading alumni and millions pledged over the last six Friends. It is produced by the Development & Alumni Relations Office. Vice-Chancellor © University of Reading years, to enhance every aspect of The opinions expressed in Connected are those of the our teaching, research and student writers and not necessarily those of the University of Reading. Front cover: Michael Rosen photographed by John Hunt, experience. JJ Hunt Photography Further photography: Laura Bennetto and Diem photography Design: Ashley Smith (BA Typography & Graphic Communication, environmental 2009) and the Design & Print Studio, University of Reading Editorial: Trish O’Neill & Laura Garman (BA English Literature, 2008) Print: Warners Connected has been produced using paper from sustainable sources, and bleached using an Elemental Chlorine-free (ECF) process. The paper is produced at a mill that meets the ISO 4001 environmental management standard and the EMAS environmental management standard. The magazine is fully recyclable. Butterfly Symposium with David Attenborough

Law Reception

Berkshire Show

RUBC Regatta success £1 million British Heart Foundation grant £1.1 million grant for pollinator research Year in

Green week P Ictures Donor day September 2009–August 2010 House Archaeology department prize of Lords

T E SEP Berkshire Show NOV Green week JNA S now on Campus MAR Butterfly Symposium JUN Graduations JUY L RU BC Regatta success The University showcased its agricultural As part of a drive to reduce our carbon Over 12 inches of snow was recorded on White- with David Attenborough June and July saw 2,683 students attend 17 Reading University Boat Club (RUBC) per- expertise at the Royal County of Berkshire footprint and raise awareness of important knights campus in January; the most Reading graduation ceremonies across 3 days in formed superbly at the Men and Women’s The University was delighted to welcome Show. Highlights of the exhibition included a environmental issues, the University teamed has seen in over 20 years. the Great Hall on the London Road campus. Henley Regattas. Eighteen ladies competed in Sir David Attenborough in March, who, as 1920s steam engine, the opportunity to learn up with the Students’ Union (RUSU) to host a Since his inauguration in December 2007, the six events at the Women’s Regatta – the biggest President of Butterfly Conservation, attended the science behind ice-cream production, and special Green Week. Staff members took part Chancellor, Sir John Madejski, has shaken the entry RUBC has ever seen. their sixth International Symposium held on a chance for visitors to blend their own ‘food in a low carbon challenge to see if they could JNA hand of over 2,000 graduating students, and £1 million British Heart the Whiteknights campus. Sir David spoke at for thought’ beverage with our cycle-powered travel from Caversham to Henley without using since Gordon Marshall became Vice-Chan- Foundation grant length to Reading PhD student, Robin Blake, smoothie maker! a car in the fastest time possible. cellor, over 24,000 graduates have processed AUG about his research that is looking to increase MERL exhibition, In January, the British Heart Foundation through the Great Hall. In 20 years the Gradua- biodiversity on farms. 360 degree views of Reading awarded a £1 million grant to a team at the tion Administrator has produced over 100,000 OCT NOV Pu blic Lecture Series for H ouse of Lords University, enabling them to continue their degree certificates. August saw the opening of a new MERL exhibi- IL cutting-edge research into exploring new APR tion entitled ‘A Circle and a Century: panoramic 2009–2010 opens Reading alumni at the House of Lords reception L aw reception and better ways to prevent heart attacks photos of Reading from the 1890s and today’, enjoyed an evening of catching up with old L This year’s Public Lecture Series kicked off with and strokes. The first Law Reception for graduates was JUY which gave a unique 360 degree, bird’s eye view friends over drinks and canapés, before taking £1.1 million grant for a talk entitled ‘Twitter nation: keeping up with held in April. Over 80 Law graduates enjoyed of Reading. It illustrated the many changes to the a tour of the House of Commons. pollinator research the 21st century consumer’. ‘Twisting their the opportunity to catch up with one another, town over the last 100 years, and saw the collabo- B words: why do some children struggle to read?’, FE A rchaeology department and to hear the latest news from their old In June, the University was awarded £1.1million ration of a number of local organisations. ‘Functional foods: good science or marketing department. to help identify the main threats to bees and See page 37 for further details. DEC prize hype?’, and ‘Facing up to Rome: discoveries C hampagne is good other insect pollinators, and how to reverse a at Silchester’, were just some of the other for the heart The Vice-Chancellor, Gordon Marshall, and MAY decline in their numbers. Dr Simon G. Potts, fascinating topics covered by our experts. For the Head of Archaeology, Professor Grenville Principal Research Fellow in the School of Agri- Researchers from the University of Reading D yonor Da details of this year’s Series, please turn to the Astill, visited Buckingham Palace to collect the culture, Policy and Development, is working discovered that champagne could be good inside back cover of the magazine. prestigious Queen’s Anniversary Prize for the Donor Day gave us the chance to thank in with colleagues at other institutions across the for the heart and circulation. Department of Archaeology; a prize that recog- person many of our 5,000 plus donors, whose country on the Insect Pollinators Initiative. nises the Department’s excellence in research, support enhances the student experience, Read more about this issue on page 30. teaching and enterprise. teaching and research right across the Uni- find out more online at versity. Donors were welcomed to campus to www.reading.ac.uk/events see how their donations are making a positive difference.

4 5 D r Tom Johnstone, Centre for Integrative Neuroscience and Neurodynamics, Psychology and Clinical Language Science In focus ‘At the University of Reading, researchers from a wide range of disciplines are applying cutting-edge brain imaging techniques to examine exactly how the brain and body interact in healthy people, as well as those with mental or physical health problems. The aim is to gain new insights into prevention and treatment H ealth strategies for a host of medical conditions that occur from childhood through to older age.’ Health and wellbeing across the lifespan is a key area of research at the University of Reading. Considering both preventative and therapeutic health is essential in order to tackle the growing prevalence of chronic disease and the issues society faces as our population ages.

D r Faustina Hwang, Systems Engineering D r Marcus Tindall, RCUK Fellow in Emerging Technologies for Systems Biology, ‘Technology has great potential for improving quality of life as we age and Biological Sciences and Mathematics it can also help our understanding of the ageing process. Our research is helping to make technologies easier to learn and use as people age. We are ‘The complexity of medical diseases means also developing technologies that can assess nutrition, physical function, new interdisciplinary approaches are cognition, and mental health, to help provide a more comprehensive picture required for treating them. One of the tools of the factors that underpin ageing.’ at our disposal is mathematical modelling; a relatively cost-free and informative tool. Experimental life scientists and clinicians are working together to develop mathemati- cal models, which can be used to gain new insights into tackling medical problems, and to make useful predictions using conventional technologies.’

find out more online at www.reading.ac.uk/research

6 7 Due to the complexity of the food supply approach; we need to draw on expertise chain, a variety of factors can directly in the social sciences in order to under- In focus or indirectly affect food production and stand how people contribute to the consumption. With this in mind, tackling problems of food security and how they the challenges surrounding food secu- will respond to potential solutions. The food SECURITY rity requires an integrated approach. It Centre for Food Security joins together is becoming increasingly apparent that existing areas of research excellence at research in this area should not be based the University to provide a platform for around a purely scientific real-world research around this globally important issue.

Professor Richard Tiffin, Director, Centre for Food Security

‘Food security is about ensuring that everyone has access to a safe and nutritious supply of food. Professor Ken Norris, Professor Tim Wheeler, It also means that we have to do this sustainably, Biodiversity, Centre for Food Security Sustainable Agriculture, Centre for Food Security Professor Glenn Gibson, without compromising all of the other benefits Diet and Health, Centre for Food Security that are provided by the natural ecosystems ‘Food production depends on biodiversity – the diversity of life ‘Global agriculture is changing rapidly and will need within which our food production is embed- on Earth. We eat biodiversity: domesticated crops and animals to continue to do so in order to meet our future ‘The processing of food, its interaction with the human body, ded. Providing access to the appropriate food is that provide our food are derived from wild species, and we also needs for food, animal fodder, and bioenergy. Agri- and the factors influencing the choices made by consumers complex. For example, it is about ensuring that consume some of those wild species. Less obviously, we rely cultural production has to meet the demands of a regarding food are all key parts of food security. Central to people can afford their food and that they under- on the ‘ecosystem services’ that biodiversity provides to our growing population whilst coping with increasing this is the potential for our understanding of how plant- and stand the wider implications of their food choices farming systems, such as fertile soil in which crops can grow, pressures on the use of energy and water for food animal-based food processing, nutrition, digestion and food in addition to ensuring that we have sufficient pollination, and pest and disease control. Despite this reliance, production, and uncertainties arising from climate quality can be used to mediate benefits for improved health food available. We are developing an approach it is becoming increasingly clear that the more intensively we change. Research has a key role to play in generat- through diet. Moreover, understanding the factors and proc- which considers the global food production produce food, the greater damage we do to biodiversity and ing the new knowledge and technologies for a esses involved in dietary choice and behaviour is important system in its ecosystem and social contexts the natural environment. Understanding and managing these future agricultural system that is more productive, for considering the role that the consumer plays in the food in order to address these issues.’ dependencies is a key focus for our science.’ sustainable and equitable.’ security agenda.’

8 9 Research U niversity research safeguards TV chef backs hospital food project the future of chocolate for older people Research from the School of Biological Sciences is leading the Pioneering research from the University of Reading is being used to world’s fight to ensure the sustainability of cocoa production. enhance the taste of hospital food to help prevent or treat malnutri- Pests and diseases already destroy about a third of potential cocoa tion in older people. The project is supported by celebrity chef and NEWS production, and with climate change there will be a greater threat honarary graduate Heston Blumenthal (Hon DSc, 2006) and funded to future supplies of cocoa. Researchers now have the funds for a by Research into Ageing, the medical research arm of Age UK. new five-year project to assess the threat climate change poses to The research is using a taste central to Japanese food to modify the cocoa, which will help develop new cocoa varieties better suited sensory properties of food to increase its flavour. Deliciousness in to likely future climates. foods, especially savoury food, is enhanced by umami – which is known as the fifth taste and is the Japanese word for delicious and savoury. Umami naturally occurs in shiitake mushrooms, tomatoes and tuna among others, and is commonly found in Marmite and Worcestershire sauce for example. Researchers at the Department of Food Biosciences at Reading and Clinical Health Sciences are working with the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust and Heston to modify foods so that older patients in particular will find them more flavoursome. The research is concen- trating initially on minced meat – a staple for many dishes. Once the researchers have perfected their recipes, the meals will be trialled on care wards for older people at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust.

U niversity weather balloon measures T heatre and drama in Shakespeare's age goes digital W orld-class Facility volcanic plume for chemical analysis The first stage of a project aiming to create celebrated and eminent actor and entre- Recent volcanic activity in Iceland has highlighted the need for the world’s single most important digital preneur Edward Alleyn (1566–1626) and of opens at University more information about volcanic ash in the atmosphere. archive on early modern English theatre has his father-in-law Philip Henslowe (d. 1616), The University of Reading has recently opened To help with this, scientists from the Department of been completed. Experts from the Univer- the most successful theatre impresario of a new state-of-the-art £4.5 million facility for Meteorology have been gathering more accurate data sity of Reading and King’s College London the age. The collection is available online at chemical analysis. Researchers from a range about the potential danger to aircraft from volcanic are currently making the largest collection www.henslowe-alleyn.org.uk of disciplines across the University will benefit plumes. Researchers have been using a newly-developed of material on professional theatre and from the new suite of instruments in the weather balloon to feed back important information to dramatic performance in the age of Shake- Chemical Analysis Facility (CAF), based in the the Met Office about the make-up of the volcanic ash. speare available online. School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy. These measurements were the first direct measurements of the The collection includes the only surviving Many areas of scientific research require the plume over Scotland. The instrument used measured the particle records of theatre box office receipts for analysis of chemical components, frequently N ew research encourages toddlers size and concentration using a miniature laser system carried by any play by Shakespeare, and the contract using more than one instrument. The CAF to try healthy foods the balloon. It was specifically designed to take electric charge to build the Fortune Theatre in London, provides a diverse range of techniques to measurements too, which can be an important property of vol- written in 1600, listing the layout and Young children can be particularly fussy when it comes to trying cater for these requirements. The facility canic plumes. The weather balloon technique provided detailed design of the Globe Theatre, where new foods, and will often refuse to eat food unfamiliar to them. was opened in April 2010 by Professor David information on the ash plume position, extent and structure. Shakespeare’s company performed. Research by psychologists at the University are helping to encour- Garner, President of the Royal Society As well as the particle size and concentration data, the balloon age young children to eat healthier foods. Preliminary findings The original collection, housed at of Chemistry. system also reported its position using GPS. The results will be suggest that toddlers (around 21–24 months) who regularly look Dulwich College Archive in London, used to provide vital data about hazards to aircraft should there at pictures of fruit and vegetables that are not part of their normal holds thousands of pages of manu- be similar events in the future. scripts relating to its founder, the find out more online at diet are much more enthusiastic about trying them. www.reading.ac.uk/research

10 11

FEATURE

FEATURE Professor Mark Pagel’s article is reprinted here following its original publication in our Research Review, Summer 2010. To read the full version of the latest Research Review, visit www.reading.ac.uk/research A single, sharp kick for speciation Professor Mark Pagel discusses new research into the mechanism by which new species arise

mating preferences or preferences for between decays of a radioactive atom, intervals between events of speciation. habitat. For example, a genetic mutation In spite of years of difference? The puzzles of speciation and even the distance between roadkills If those same factors multiply each that made fish breed in surface waters study and debate, extend well beyond numbers. So-called on a motorway all follow the exponential. other’s effects, a related distribution instead of near the bottom, or a change speciation still cryptic species are those that even to It has the look of a ‘ski-jump’, with the called the log-normal is expected. All in preference among female lizards for remains one of the trained observers appear to be identical most likely interval being very short with together we defined five different mates with blue spots rather than red biggest mysteries but careful research with genes shows longer waiting times being progressively distributions this way, each one of ones, could lead to speciation. that they are distinct species. less and less likely. in biology. The which points to a different mechanism What of beetles and rotifers? This new traditional There are, for example, around 16 of speciation. The significance of the exponential way of thinking about speciation says Darwinian view lemur species in Madagascar that fit for understanding speciation is that The surprise was that none of the that to understand why there are so of speciation is this description, and it is now well- it is a distribution of single events. Its distributions that sought to explain many of some kinds of species and that the gradual accumulation of many known that many groups of bats, which fit to the real waiting times between speciation by factors combining in some so few of others, we need to look to small adaptive changes eventually leads are otherwise indistinguishable, are speciation events suggests that it way provided a good description of the catalogue of potential causes of organisms to split from their ancestors. actually different species. These cryptic isn’t the accumulation of events that the actual time intervals between the speciation that might apply to a given species hardly occupy such different is important in causing speciation. This is the view that natural selection speciation events. Instead the best fit group of species. Those with a long list ways of life as we would expect from Instead, speciation seems to be brought gradually draws a group of organisms for 80% of the groups was another well should have high speciation rates and a conventional account of speciation. about by single, rare events; each one into some new way of life and over time known distribution – the exponential. vice versa. of which must be individually sufficient they become a new species, incapable of Recently, the research group I lead Like the other distributions, the to cause speciation to occur. Some have interpreted our research as mating with those they left behind. But in the School of Biological Sciences exponential has a straightforward being anti-Darwinian, but it is nothing this common-sense view of speciation came up with a radical new idea to explanation, but it is a disquieting It is a way of thinking about speciation of the kind. Once an event that brings runs into trouble when confronted with understand the processes that give rise one for evolutionary biologists. that removes it from the gradual tug about reproductive isolation occurs, some of the bewildering facts of evolution. to new species. We examined the time of natural selection and puts speciation all of the changes that we normally One is that there are large numbers of intervals between events of speciation ‘It is not the strongest of the at the mercy of these rare, even attribute to species happen as natural some kinds of species, while there are throughout the evolutionary histories arbitrary events that simply happen species that survives, nor the most selection adapts these new species to only small numbers of other kinds. of over one hundred groups of plants, in the lifetime of a species: speciation animals and fungi. What we realised, intelligent. It is the one that is the their environments. Cryptic species Famously there are so many kinds becomes a matter of happenstance – a was that by statistically characterising most adaptable to change.’ such as the lemurs tell us, though, that of beetle – on the order of 500,000 ‘happy accident’ that occurs when one the distributions of these time intervals the actual speciation event itself need species – that when JBS Haldane was attributed to Charles R. Darwin of these events comes along and causes it is possible to infer which evolutionary not have had much at all to do asked what we can conclude about (1809–1882) a group of individuals to be isolated process fashioned them. For example, with natural selection. the Creator from the acts of creation, reproductively from another group. if speciation occurs only after a large The exponential distribution of waiting he replied that he must have had an The events might include the uplift of Reference number of factors have somehow added times is the distribution that is expected ‘inordinate fondness for beetles’. But by a mountain range that splits a species Venditti C., Meade A., Pagel M. 2009. together to create a new species, some when some single infrequent event comparison, there are only around 400 in two, any of a number of rare genetic Phylogenies reveal new interpretation simple mathematics shows that we occurs. For instance, the time interval species of a small invertebrate alterations that make individuals unable of Speciation and the Red Queen. should expect the well known normal between successive telephone calls to animal known as the to inter-breed, or even changes to Nature. 463: 349–352 distribution or bell-shaped curve of time a switchboard, or the length of time rotifer. Why such a Issue 10 Summer 2010 13

12 13 10 12 Research Review They say that you never forget your time spent at university. These are the days that are widely regarded as the best of your life after all. But how have the student traditions and memories changed through the decades? Is the ‘then’ much different from the ‘now’? Here, we speak to three different generations from the same family – all of whom have passed through the University of Reading. My time your time

Three generations of Reading graduates, pictured at London Road, 2010. From left–right, Joan, Rebecca, Susan and Allan.

G randparents Allan (BSc Agriculture, Not everything has remained the ‘University life was a lot quieter back For Allan, Joan, and their daugh- Student numbers are not the only The subject of the Students’ Union 1952) and Joan Haworth (BA French, same however. In fact, Rebecca’s then’, explains Joan, ‘and we didn’t ter Susan, the number of students thing to have risen however, as Susan is also a fine example of how things 1948; Dip Ed, 1949), their daughter University experience is radically dif- have as much freedom as students graduating alongside Rebecca is quite points out. ‘One big difference in my have changed. For Joan and Allan, Susan Stott (BSc Agriculture, 1983), ferent in many respects. Much to her have today’. astonishing. As Susan explains, ‘Only University experience – and Mum it was ‘just one room in the old arts elders’ amusement, Rebecca explains three or four of my year went to and Dad’s too – is that we never got block with the social hub in The and her daughter Rebecca Stott This shift in freedom is very appar- how hectic her life has been in the university, and for girls, it was very into debt, as we were fortunate to Buttery’; for Susan, it was the place (BSc Hons Land Management, 2010) ent as Joan reflects on the boundaries lead up to graduation. unusual. Now, looking at all the stu- have grants, not loans.’ ‘you wouldn’t be seen dead in!’ and tell their story … of student life in the 1940s. dents graduating here today, there is for Rebecca? ‘I went there all the Today is a very special day for the ‘I’ve just got back from a summer The cost of a university education ‘We had great discipline in St an even mix of boys and girls.’ time, every Wednesday and Saturday family, as it marks the graduation of break in Newquay. Every June, it’s may have risen dramatically through Andrew’s Hall. The doors were locked night. Unquestionably, it was and still Rebecca – the youngest generation of tradition for Reading students to rally the decades, but the fun memories at 11 pm, whereas Rebecca was able to is the place to go.’ their friends together and head down have remained priceless. Susan the family to graduate from Reading. return at any time to Wantage Hall. ‘University life was a lot to Cornwall to spend five days cele- recalls the favourite student tradi- Despite the differences in their Still in her robes having graduated Halls were single sex back then and brating the end of the academic year. quieter back then and tions of her time, in the 1980s. experiences, the friendly spirit and only minutes earlier, Rebecca’s grand- we were only allowed male students I’ve been three years in a row now!’ camaraderie at the University of parents and mother are feeling very in our room in the afternoon, provid- we didn’t have as much ‘RAG week just took over the whole Reading is one thing that the family proud of her achievement; and nos- This is news to Joan and Allan, ing we left the door ajar. of the middle of town. Sheep night freedom as students unanimously agree on: ‘Other uni- talgic too. who were here between 1945 and was a great highlight too, where ‘When we took our daughter, Susan, versities never have the same great ‘It’s quite something to know that 1952, and were in St Andrew’s Hall have today’. everyone clubbed together to fill to Wells Hall for the first time in atmosphere as Reading. It is an we all graduated wearing the same and St David’s Hall respectively. the quad of Wantage with sheep. I 1980, it was a surprise to see women amazing place.’ The fast-paced lifestyle that current Allan and Joan concur: ‘It strikes also remember the day the Reading gown’ explains Allan, who has and men had bedrooms in the same students lead is very different to how us how many more students there Agrics managed to get a Mini on the returned to the London Road site corridors, and shared facilities. There things were six decades earlier. are now. In 1945, there were about roof of the dining hall at Cirencester with his wife Joan having graduated were also locks to the bedroom 1,000 of us. Now, there are well over College.’ As Allan, Joan and Rebecca some sixty years earlier. doors, whereas we had none.’ 19,000!’ contemplate the logistics of this, S hare your memories Susan laughs and simply explains – [email protected] ‘we had some very strong Agrics!’

14 15 Student life G reg Tinker, PhD student, School of Languages and European Studies

‘My thesis, The Cultural Memory of the Second World War: D-Day Veterans and Com- memoration in Britain, looks at how Second World War veterans remember their wartime experiences. In particular, the remembrance visits they have made today and the thoughts and feelings they have when remembering those they lost. My research is unique in two ways. First, it is timely. Most remain- Today, the University of Reading is host to a cosmopolitan community ing Second World War veterans are approaching ninety years of age, of over 19,000 students from around the world. Every individual brings meaning this will be one of last projects to explore their living memory before it’s too late. Second, this research focuses not on the war itself, something new and different to the campus, and the University experience but rather on the Second World War’s remarkable post-war cultural legacy. I feel very privileged to be conducting this research, I must say. can be totally different from one person to the next. Here, we talk to four In my spare time, I have worked with the Postgraduate Representation students at Reading who each have a very unique perspective on what Group, which organises special events for postgrads and represents their views at University committee meetings. I have also assisted with University life means to them. welfare support at St George’s Hall. I’d like to have a first draft of my thesis in a few months time though, so I’ll be working flat out this year, but it will be worth it!’ L ottie Burgess, third-year Real Estate undergraduate

‘I started rowing when I was 14 and knew I wanted to get involved with the Boat Club (RUBC) when I came to University. Two years in and I am now the Boat Club President. This summer, I was selected to compete in the under-23 World Championships in Belarus. This and winning Women’s Henley three years in a row in the lightweight doubles would have to be my biggest achievements to date. I train for at least three hours each day, and will be on the river by 7 am before my lectures start at 9 am. I will then be back on the water early evening for more training. As long as I avoid too many late nights and keep my diary up to date, I can still manage my busy schedule! The Real Estate department have been very supportive of my rowing commitments. After I graduate, I hope to qualify as a Chartered Surveyor, although rowing will always be part of my life.’ The PhD student

The elite athlete

16 17 Sarah O’Donnell, third-year History & Politics undergraduate

‘Dance, singing and drama are a huge part of my University life. During my second year, I spent six months rehearsing for the Drama Society (RUDS) The family man production of Fame, in which I had a main part. What I am wearing now is just one of my many stage costumes! Alongside Fame, I juggled being President of the Blessed Melody Gospel Choir and the Secretary of the History & Politics Society; roles that I will maintain this year too. I enjoy writing in my spare time, having written for the fashion and music sections of the student newspaper, Spark*, on a regular basis. I am also facing one of my biggest academic challenges to date, as one of my history essays is being published in November. The Univer- sity of Reading has been a great place to exercise and develop my skills. It may be my final year, but I definitely won’t be slowing down – it’s my last chance to do all these amazing extra-curricular activities after all!’

The performer

R ichard McKenzie, BA German and Russian, 1989, now studying for an MA in German

‘I first graduated from Reading aged 24, and for the last twenty years, I have been a marketing professional. I am now relishing the opportunity to take a year out of working life to focus on one subject in great detail. The biggest difference in this University experience is that I now have a family. There is a clear balance of pros and cons to this! For instance, it is often hard to justify my day of watching research films to my wife when she comes home from a busy day at work. However, I love being able to spend more time at home with my two daughters. I am also seizing more opportunities this time round. One of my greatest highlights has been running my own show on the student radio station, Junction 11. I have presented one of my papers at a University conference; I have worked on the University’s Annual Fund; I stood as a local candidate in the general election – it is fair to say it has been a fulfilling year!’

18 Michael Rosen Being Michael Rosen Michael Rosen (MA Children’s Literature, 1993) is a celebrated children’s author, broadcaster, lecturer, and holder of the Children’s Laureate title, 2007 – 2009. To date, he has written over 140 books. Words by Laura Garman

It is a gloriously hot day in London when I meet Michael ‘From childhood, I always had an idea that I wanted to at the Royal Festival Hall; a place where he feels very get involved in writing, but I don’t think I had the sense much at home having lived in London all his life. that I could write as a profession. I always wanted to be Growing up with his parents and brother in Harrow, an actor.’ Michael’s love for literature was born. Interestingly, when he was 18, Michael began to ‘Both of my parents were teachers and have had a study medicine – an experience he prefers to refer to huge influence on my life and work. They were totally as ‘a little diversion’. ‘I got it into my head that to be a engaged in lots of literature in all its forms. Even in the serious person, you have to do something slightly less last hours of his life, my Dad was still saying to me: “You frivolous than writing, and it took me three or four know I really think you ought to read ...” And despite me years to get this out of my system.’ telling him that he had other things to worry about, he’d remain insistent; still supervising my education in his ninetieth year! ‘My medical training? Yes … you have to think of that as a little diversion.’

After a period of working at the BBC and a few publications later, Michael was drawn into the world of children’s books, and his first book, Mind your own Business, was published in 1974.

20 21 Keeping in touch with what children find scary or moment about five or so years ago just, as it were, imagin- A glimpse into intriguing comes easily to Michael. Considering that ing a child in front of me and explaining to them where I some of his latest poems ponder broccoli growing under am now in relation to Eddie.’ Michael’s work the armpits, and how frightening public toilet hand The illustrator Quentin Blake, who famously collaborated dryers are, I ask how he retains this curious mindset with Roald Dahl, was a natural choice for Michael when it when he is writing. came to illustrating his very personal Sad Book. M ustard, Custard, ‘As we have all been children, there is a level at which Grumble Belly and Gravy ‘I think of Quentin as a mime artist on the page – you can imagine being a child – it is not impossible. In he mimes with his pen and creates a silent show of my Mustard, Custard, Grumble Belly fact, it is quite easy. Part of it is helped by having young poems. If someone was miming my stuff, they would be and Gravy features some of children. I tell them things which I have to explain in doing Quentin-like things. Michael’s favourite Quentin a way that they will get it.’ ‘There are two or three pages in the Sad Book that are Blake illustrations. ‘Don’t pour Michael lights up when he talks about his children, just unbelievable. There is one picture sequence that gravy on the baby’ and ‘don’t and amusingly recounts their feelings on his work. shows an energetic Eddie in various frames, but the pour mustard in the custard’ ‘My five-year-old will plead with me to read “the one last one is blank. I love that, I think that’s great.’ are just two of many witty about the ...”, but if we are on holiday and I haven’t got teachings this colourful book In 2007, Michael was appointed Children’s Laureate, a that particular book with me then he doesn’t understand of poems has to offer. prestigious role which is awarded to an eminent illustra- why I don’t know it. As he has seen me reciting my work tor or writer every two years. What Michael accomplished Michael Rosen, Mustard, Custard, on YouTube, he thinks I know them all off by heart – but Grumble Belly and Gravy. in these two years is outstanding, and quite rightly, he is Illustrated by Quentin Blake. I can’t explain how autocue works to a five-year-old! The London, Bloomsbury 2006. very proud of all he achieved in his time as Laureate. irony is that his Dad ends up saying “No, you can’t have a Michael Rosen poem!” ‘I started the Roald Dahl Funny Prize, which is an award for the funniest book of the year. We also did an exhibition on the history of children’s poetry at the British Library Comes From, ‘As we have all been children, there is and this tribute made me feel over the moon. I also created Where Broccoli a level at which you can imagine being a website where children can upload their own poetry Michael – this website is what I am all about. I am very proud of a poem by a child – it is not impossible. In fact, it these three projects I must say’. is quite easy.’ Michael has continued to impart his wisdom with adults Not many people know too, and is currently lecturing a Children’s Literature that broccoli grows in the armpits ‘I even get a critical analysis from my children. The other module for Masters students at Birkbeck College, of very big green men University of London. day, my daughter told me the poem Chocolate Cake was who live in the forest boring – I said that’s because you’ve heard it twenty times!’ and brave broccoli cutters Just over ten years ago, Michael’s personal life was ‘I think of Quentin Blake as a mime artist go deep into the forests marked by tragedy, when his eighteen-year-old son Eddie and they creep up on the died of meningitis. A few years later, Michael channelled on the page – he mimes with his pen and very big green men. his anguish into Sad Book, a poignant text which mourns creates a silent show of my poems.’ the loss of Eddie. Sad Book reaches out to children – and They wait for the very big green men adults – facing some of the darkest issues we, as humans, Meeting Michael Rosen and hearing his anecdotes has have to deal with, and voices the emotions that are often been filled with hilarity and poignancy at the same time. to fall asleep unspeakable in day-to-day life. With a patient grace that As our meeting concludes, it is strikingly obvious as to and the broccoli cutters signals he is used to being asked about this, Michael why he is a much-loved children’s author. He is fun, yet get out their explains what prompted him to write about his own pensive; entertaining, and extremely hard-working. great big broccoli razors personal grief. And the best advice he has ever received? and they shave the ‘It was partly triggered by the fact that children kept ‘My Dad used to say in a parentally dismissive way, armpits asking me about Eddie, because I used to write about him “Keep writing lad”. But in actual fact, there is no better of the very big green men. as a little boy in my work. Then I would have to say “he advice to give to a writer.’ died”. Then I thought wouldn’t it be a good idea if they And that’s where broccoli could access that in the same way that they’ve accessed the comes from. funny stories I’ve written about Eddie? So it came out of a read the full article online Not many people know that. www.alumni.reading.ac.uk/ Just thought I’d let you know. netcommunities/michaelrosen © Michael Rosen) is printed ‘Broccoli’ by Michael Rosen ( by permission of United Agents (www.unitedagents.co.uk) 22 on behalf of Michael Rosen 23 HO B PKins UILDING University of Reading students A major refurbishment of our TheThis buildingbuilding isis namednamed afterafter ProfessorProfessor value their education greatly. London Road Campus, the original Hopkins, who invented rod-lens endoscopes for that led to the development of modern key- Reading consistently scores very home of the University in the heart that led to the development of modern key- highly in the National Student of the town, is also taking place. hole surgery and who held the Professorship Survey, with an 88% overall satis- The £30 million investment will in Applied Optics at the University from 1967 the faction rate in the latest study. To create a new home for the Universi- until 1984. continue attracting students of ty’s Institute of Education (currently This multidisciplinarymulti-disciplinary centre centre brings brings together B uilding the highest standard and carry out based on the Bulmershe Campus), scientists from a wide range of research fields together scientists from a wide range of world-leading research, Reading which trains nearly 1,000 teachers researchto work to fields understand to work the to developmentunderstand the of needs to keep investing in its every year. The project will be developmentcardiovascular of diseases, cardiovascular and the diseases,underlying and facilities and further improve complete by summer 2011. theobesity-related underlying obesity-relatedmetabolic diseases metabolic from which they develop. the student experience. Current construction on diseases from which they develop. Whiteknights Campus has Whiteknights includes a new pur- seen significant changes in the pose-built home for the University’s future last few years and impressive Department of Film, Theatre & Tel- developments continue apace. evision and a new business facility Students now benefit from a state- which will offer high quality space of-the-art Student Services Centre, to technology-based companies. The the Carrington Building, which facility forms part of the Universi- opened in 2007. ty’s wider plans to work closely with innovative companies and compli- Phase One of the University’s £250 ments Reading’s plans to develop million Whiteknights Development a Science and Innovation Park Plan 2008–18 is almost complete, near campus. ensuring Reading continues to be regarded as one of the leading uni- These exciting developments mean versities in the world. the University continues to evolve and deliver a world-class student experience, maintaining its proud S tudent Halls tradition of producing graduates Nearly 1,000 students will move into new halls, of the highest calibre. Mackinder and Stenton, in October. The design of the buildings will reduce carbon emissions belowto below the the standards standards required required by bycurrent current Build- ingbuilding Regulations regulations by around by around 20 per 20%. cent. Each Each student bedroom is equippedlinked to the with University Internet connections,network and linkedequipped to the with University internet network, connec- thermostatiction, thermostatic radiator, radiator, swipe swipe key entrance, key entrance, work station, large single bed with under henley business school film, theatre and television student services mattress storage, wardrobe and bookshelves, ensuiteand ensuite shower-room shower-room with with toilet toilet, and sink sink and and Henley is one of the few global business The £11.4 million project, due to be completed Located between the Palmer Building and heated towel rail. schools to hold triple accreditation (AMBA, next Easter, will create a dedicated space for the Students’ Union on the Whiteknights EQUIS, AACSB). Its flagship programme is the three theatre performance areas, a screening Campus, the Centre includes a new Helpdesk world-ranked Henley MBA which is delivered room, film editing rooms, TV studio, costume for all general student enquiries, as well as the in different formats to 3,000 students per and make up areas, rehearsal spaces and prop Disability Office, Accommodation, Student year, making it the largest provider of MBAs store, as well as staff offices. Financial Support, Student Records, the in Europe. Careers Advisory Service and Centre for Career The new building houses a dedicated Management Skills, the Study Advisers and resource centre, café, high-tech 275-seat MORET A The sportspark some elements of the Counselling Service. lecture theatre, dedicated research space, New equipment worth £230,000 is now IT rooms and high-quality teaching space. available for members to use.

24 25 Working in partnership with O2 What’s the issue? em ployability Lawyers get Practicing Engaging employers in learning their hands dirty entrepreneurship

T he University is actively seeking tions. Our new Reading Experience financial times, we need to use all L aw students are supplementing In the Centre for Entrepreneurship In the Henley Business School, students more ways in which we can engage and Development (RED) award allows our resources to provide our students their education with some hands- students get an opportunity to work are benefiting from a highly fruitful with employers to enhance the students to gain formal recognition with the best foundation they can on work. at starting their own enterprise. partnership with Telefonica O2. for part-time or voluntary work and have to face the world ahead of them. learning opportunities we provide A new module asks them to They form teams, formulate busi- Senior O2 figures provide expert development activities, to think our students. Today, the value of The challenge is how to provide examine the legal issues arising ness ideas and construct a business teaching input and organise VIP about the employability skills and real-world experience in preparing opportunities for work-related learn- out of a hypothetical project to plan. Successful Reading alumni and events for students as well as giving experience gained as a result, and students for life beyond university ing and employer contact in ways construct new halls of residence experienced entrepreneurs are guest fascinating public lectures and to learn how to present these when has never been so pertinent. which integrate and compliment the on campus. The Vice-Chancellor speakers and assist in judging the funding postgraduate scholarships. seeking employment. Many of our programmes have curriculum, engage and develop the instructs them and off they go entrepreneurship exhibition, where Marketing students are required integrated or optional placements, Through their involvement in these students, and benefit the employer in search of contracts, planning students pitch their ideas in a high to sign a confidentiality agreement and there are numerous other kinds of modules, projects and initia- involved. We believe we’re on the permits, and health and safety intensity trade-show environment. when working on current ‘live’ case opportunities to gain experience tives, students learn how to engage right track; just take a look at these forms to advise senior management. studies and lecture examples pro- with a small business, professional with the ‘real world’ alongside their exciting examples that show the dif- ‘Since graduating I have had a fast- vided by O2. practice, charity, or major company. academic learning. They see their ferent ways in which our students ‘I felt as if I were really conducting moving career gaining experience There are also opportunities to vol- studies in challenging new contexts. and employers are working in and research for an actual client in the in recruitment and fundraising and ‘The opportunity to bring lectures to An added benefit is the positive around the curriculum to improve unteer at the University or in the real world. The materials provided I’m now with an ambitious start-up life and practically apply the knowledge wider community, study in another effect that this kind of learning has the employability of our graduates. made it so realistic. It gave me a company, Seven Hills, working on gained from my Masters at the Henley country, or work alongside University on the employment prospects of And we’re not stopping here … “feel” for what it would be like to PR campaigning with high profile Business School is both exciting and researchers during summer vaca- our graduates. In these uncertain work as an independent lawyer.’ entrepreneurs. My experiences with invaluable. I have no doubt that this A nne-Marié Gregory, Part 3, LLB student entrepreneurship at the University achievement, combined with the of Reading definitely empowered me experience gained during my studies, to feel quickly at ease in a variety of will equip me better to succeed in my M aking language work F air access to professional experience H ow you can help business environments and to grasp future career.’ opportunities to be entrepreneurial F aye Weston, O2 Scholarship winner, MSc Students of English take a short placement Five students from the School of Systems Engineering are gaining valuable work experience We are increasingly looking for ways in Marketing and International Management as part of a module that helps them to this summer with IT solutions company CISCO as part of the government’s ‘Fair Access to the which we can involve our alumni as in developing my career.’ analyse the use of language in a workplace Professions’ initiative. Participating students have disabilities or health issues that have posed employers within our academic and R osie Walkinton, Politics and setting. Students work with host employers specific challenges for them when seeking work experience. These internships will help them development programmes. If you are International Relations, 2008 to develop a project based on communica- to develop their technical and work skills with a leading business and establish ongoing rela- interested in getting involved and tion issues within the organisation. Drawing tionships with industry mentors. believe you have experience and oppor- find out more online at on their seminar learning and observations Chris Long is out at CISCO with his guide dog, Quita. ‘Quita and I have settled in well and are tunities that you can offer our students, www.reading.ac.uk/entreprenurship on site, students’ evaluations often contrib- making friends with all the other interns here. It’s been a great privilege to be able to do this let us know by selecting the relevant www.reading.ac.uk/cstd ute directly to strategic priorities for their “fair access” placement. I feel it will give me a great deal of experience in the networking field.’ boxes through the ‘update details’ form www.reading.ac.uk/alumni employers. which comes with your magazine.

26 27 The 1980s marked the ubiquitous influence of pop culture. Posters of Madonna, Duran Duran and Queen adorned the walls of students everywhere. Leg warmers, jumpsuits and shoulder pads became the defining fashion statements of the era, and people were left puzzled by the Rubik’s cube phenomenon. Here, Sally Robinson (née Manning, My generation BSc Geography, 1987) reminisces on what it was like to be a student at Reading in this colourful decade.

‘Even though I grew up just down ‘Speaking of fashion, big hair was ‘Alongside the colourful fashion and the road from the University, the everywhere. The boyfriend I had iconic pop culture, the 1980s univer- community feel of the Reading when I started at Reading had a true sity experience was an age where it campus confirmed that this was punk hair style; a completely shaved wasn’t too difficult to get a place. I got where I wanted to be. At the time, head save the spiky Mohican with col- a grant and I certainly didn’t leave I was a member of the GB Synchro- oured tips running down the middle. with a huge bill. It was a chance to nised Swimming Squad, and would Really tight drainpipe trousers were make the most of absolutely every- often have to travel abroad for inter- a big hit with the boys too! thing, without the pressure of not national competitions. My tutors in finding a job at the end of it. I wonder the Geography Department, including if I would have had to sacrifice all the the wonderful Dr Whittow, were just ‘Posters of Simon Le Bon time I spent on my extra-curricular fantastic and fully supported my need graced the bedroom walls activities – particularly my synchro- to balance my studies with my extra- nised swimming – if the same curricular activities. of many girls!’ pressure was there then as it is now. ‘On my first day, I remember walking ‘Some twenty years on, and I still ‘As I was so sporty and forever training into the dining room of St Patrick’s cannot claim to have ever mastered for my synchronised swimming, I was Hall and meeting Tim who, unbe- the Rubik’s cube. Given the formula- always dressed in sports wear. In fact, known to me at the time, would later and a lot of patience – I like to think a couple of years ago, I happened to become my husband. I immediately I could solve it. Perhaps I will make see an old friend I studied Geography got to know Tim and his friends, and that my mission to pay homage to with. To my mortification, she placed we enjoyed every minute of our uni- the 1980s!’ me as ‘the one who was always in a versity days. tracksuit’! She was right though, as my ‘We had many great nights at the Stu- distinct eighties style rarely extended dents’ Union. I remember seeing the beyond the comfortable threads of a now-infamous Gary Glitter perform synthetic, brightly-coloured tracksuit! there – he was just outrageous and ‘Rather embarrassingly, as I was born went down a storm at the time. on the same day as the first edition of ‘Duran Duran were at the height ‘the Reading Evening Post’, I took part in of their fame and posters of Simon a feature on all the babies born that Le Bon graced the bedroom walls day, 21 years later. I wore a horrendous of many girls! Bands like Wham and black and red silk dress with huge Spandau Ballet were very popular too, shoulder pads. It really was hideous and I recall sitting in my room doing and still haunts me to this day! my coursework to the songs of Alison Moyet. Madonna was just starting out and many of us would emulate her fashion and hairstyle.

Sally and her husband, Tim Robinson (BSc Land Management 1987), 28 who she met at university 29 Around the world Graduate profile Dr Peter Kwapong, Ghana

Bees are dying in their millions. It is an ecological crisis that threatens to bring global agriculture to a standstill. Without bees and the thousands of other important pollinators, we wouldn’t have healthy crops, fruit, seeds or vegetables. It is an essential process for Bees in crisis stable crops. In June, the University of Reading was awarded £1.1 million to help identify the main threats to bees and other insect D r Peter Kwapong (PhD Entomology H ow did your career progress woman in US agriculture and told expanded our training to include so I plan to work with the govern- pollinators and how to reverse a decline after Reading? in Horticulture, 2008) is one graduate her about my desire to pursue this Nigeria, Benin, Côte d'Ivoire ment to teach young children and in their numbers. undertaking global research to further Well I haven’t done badly since! area of research, but that funding and Cameroon. am very excited about this. Dr Simon G. Potts, Principal Research Fellow inform the world’s entemologists. He I used my studies at Reading more was a problem. B ee populations are declining in the School of Agriculture, Policy and Devel- is providing an initiative in his native in my teaching career. The field of and disappearing (in fact, in opment, will be working with colleagues at Ghana, the International Stingless pollination and bees is where I have the US they appear to be collapsing). other institutions across the country on the Bee Centre (ISBC), which is making a progressed, and I’ve met a lot of ‘We have visitors from all What effects will this have on Insect Pollinators Initiative. great impact on beekeepers, farmers, people from across the world in over the world who come the planet? Pollinators, including honey and bumble and the general public in Ghana, West this area. Pollination became an Bees are vital to crop production. to see the work being bees, butterflies and moths, play an essential Africa and the rest of the world. We international issue and it was new If bees keep declining, food and role in putting foods on our tables through caught up with Peter in Ghana at the to a lot of people. I happened to have carried out.’ seeds will be minimised. Not only the pollination of many vital crops. These ISBC to find out about his time at the spotlight on me because of this will it have a dramatic effect on insects are susceptible to a variety of envi- Reading and his important research. and became part of an international A funding agency went on to call the world economy, but nutrition ronmental threats including loss of natural academic community very quickly. me and I put forward my proposal will be compromised too. I think Peter – why did you choose Reading? habitats, misuse of pesticides, diseases and on stingless bees and they gave me the most important thing is aware- I looked at a lot of universities and A nd of course you have continued climate change. your links with the University of funding to study with the aim of ness creation and education. We I found that Reading was one of the Pollination by insects is vital for agricultural Reading through research you have empowering farmers to make extra need to focus on the major issues most friendly and good for studying production and maintenance of biodiversity - done with Dr Simon Potts … money through honey, and through We have visitors from all over the with pesticides and we also need to the course I chose to do. 80% of British wild flowers and 84% of EU crops Yes, Simon is one of the people I met using the bees for pollination. world who come to see the work increase practices that are friendly depend on insect pollinators, mainly bees. What was it like to be an international and we developed a proposal together Initially we were training farmers being carried out. We have offices, to retaining pollinators in our com- student at the University? Given that the value of insect pollinators to and collaborated on a project in in five communities around the a training hall, bee sheds, a carpen- munities across the world, and For me it was very exciting, and UK agriculture is estimated to be worth more 2005. We often publish together research site. As we trained try shop, a bee walkway and we are ensure minimal destruction of fortunately there were already some than £430 million per year, the research at the and the link continues them, we used them to build hoping to construct a greenhouse their habitats. Ghanaians at Reading who helped me University will make an important contribu- to grow. structures for work on our where we can do pollination trials. settle in. Being international students tion to our food security. T ell us more about the ISBC. studies, and create a sanc- We are preparing to launch the in Reading was a privilege for us. I The funding has been made available under tuary for the bees. We also centre so that the general public made a lot of international friends in The ISBC came about as a result the Living With Environmental Change (LWEC) acquired a 20 acre secondary can have access, and of course it Reading – within the community and of the work I did with Simon. We partnership. This is a joint initiative from forest to provide a sanctuary and will make funding more sustain- at the University. The environment sampled bees in the tropical rainfor- the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences thankfully our funders decided to able if people want to visit. When I left a real impact on me. est and we found that most of the Research Council (BBSRC), Defra, the Natural provide extra resource. We have now was at Reading, I also learnt about flower visitors of all the trees there Environment Research Council (NERC), the trained 150 families from around the teaching children when they are are stingless bees. At a meeting in Wellcome Trust and the Scottish Government. young about nature conservation, South Africa, I met an influential world on stingless beekeeping and

30 31 Becoming a global university

T he University of Reading is already The intention is now to build on an international university. We ‘The creation of Henley this foundation to become what have been receiving students from Business School is a major can be termed a global (rather than abroad for more than 100 years and merely international) university. This currently have about 3,000 students addition to the way we do is one in which teaching, research from outside of the UK studying on business internationally. and enterprise are conceived, our campuses. planned and delivered with explicit We have several teaching and The coming together of two relevance to global needs and issues: research partnerships with internationally recognised internationalisation at Reading is our institutions in other countries and response to a globalised world. are recognised as one of the top 200 brands has resulted in each Why do we want to be a global uni- universities in the world. A signifi- enhancing the international versity? Simply because that is the cant proportion of our research and opportunities of the other in type of university that our staff, teaching addresses issues of global students and stakeholders – ranging concern, from understanding the a wide range of markets.’ from the local community to the impacts of climate change to the UK government – deserve. causes and consequences of international conflict. Professor Steven Mithen Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International and External Engagement)

W hat do our international Professor Dr Aydin in those days (the 1970s) to my city where I am Daniel Orwa is just amazing. When it comes to academics, ‘The University has more than 100 clubs and students and alumni think Ozturk is from Turkey from in Turkey. After I returned home, I intro- from Kenya and is a the lecturers are friendly and always welcome societies to cater for the tastes of the diverse of their time at Reading? and completed an duced tennis to my students and friends! second-year student discussions and questions with responses student population. I joined Reading’s “Model MSc in Applied Sta- ‘Since my time at the University, I have visited in Mathematics and that are timely and of high quality. This has United Nations” to further my interest in tistics and Computer many international countries and places. Applied Statistics. given me a sense of academic security and international relations. Whilst in the society, Studies in 1973. Reading has a very special place in my heart ‘I was awarded the confidence; knowing that help is always avail- I have participated in a national conference ‘My study and living however, as it was where I first came across University of Reading able through the numerous tutorials, drop-in and got an honourable mention. I also joined experiences at the University of Reading gave many different things; my experiences and International Baccalaureate Scholarship that sessions and by email. With top researchers the University’s Naval Unit, where I have been me a great start in my career. After I returned the academic knowledge that I gained has covered my tuition fees and most of my living and dedicated professionals, we get the best able to enhance my teamwork, leadership, from Reading, which was the first place that I played a big part in the person I am today. costs. It was an honour to win the Scholarship and it’s certainly quality education. communication, command and management had ever visited away from Turkey, I brought ‘I am currently the Head of the Department and I hope that others will be lucky enough to ‘I also like the campus environment, where – all lifelong skills essential to the progressive many things back academically, and had of Computer Engineering at Yasar University win it in the future and have the same chance almost everyone around is a student or world we are living in. developed many life skills. in Turkey. I am now looking into collaborating I have had to study here. member of staff. This enables students to ‘If I had to make the choice again, it would still ‘I learnt how to play tennis at Reading. Before with the University in the area of computer ‘I have had a wonderful experience in my first interact more in a friendly atmosphere and be Reading. The experience and environment studying here tennis was unknown to me and sciences.’ year; I’ve enjoyed every moment of it – it’s have the best university experience making it is very fulfilling.’ feel like home! 32 33 Students choose to study at the University Well, perhaps the last one anyway, but Reading has diversi- the pivotal hub of cross-discipline war child research in of Reading for its teaching and research fied. The town and the University have each advanced to the world, informing present and future governments on become a major force at home and abroad. the treatment and welfare of children in war zones. excellence and the student experience on As the University has grown and developed into one The immediate postwar period was a time of austerity, offer. In the past, decisions may have been of the leading universities in the world, Reading has rationing and shortage for Reading although the University influenced by its home town’s reputation seen enormous and significant changes too. The two continued to expand, acquiring the Whiteknights estate have evolved together and forged long-lasting links that for its new parkland campus in 1947. for the three Bs: bulbs, biscuits and beer. benefit the University, the town and its community. In the 1950s the town and University kept growing. People When the University received its Royal Charter in 1926, were moving to Reading to start new lives from all over it taught just 671 students. Last year Reading welcomed the UK and from the former British colonies, especially the over 19,000 students. How times have changed. How Indian sub continent and the Caribbean. Reading now has time has flown. the largest Bajan population outside Barbados. At the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, Reading Life on the University’s campuses today mirrors the A short history was declared a ‘safe town’ by the government and 25,000 changes to the town’s population. Students often comment evacuees arrived under the official evacuation programme. on the vibrant, cosmopolitan and culturally diverse com- Today, the University is home to the Research Centre for munity atmosphere that the University offers them. of Reading Evacuees and War Child Studies. The Centre aims to be

Image courtesy of Museum of English Rural Life, Dann-Lewis collection

34 35 © Jill Furmanovsky In the 1970s and 1980s as old indus- A cultural shift in the town has In 1998, Reading Football Club These developments mean the town tries left, new companies arrived occurred too. Reading has beauti- moved from its humble Elm Park now attracts more and more people including Prudential, Digital and fied its river frontages on the Kennet home to the new Madejski Stadium, and, like the University, continues Yellow Pages. Reading is now at the and the Thames. While preserving named after successful businessman, to flourish. A University of Reading centre of the UK’s ‘Silicon Valley’, its heritage buildings, new architec- Club Chairman and current Univer- degree is so sought-after that every with international companies such tural projects have been encouraged, sity of Reading Chancellor Sir John year, the calibre of students who as Microsoft and Oracle located on notably the landmark ‘the Blade’. Madejski. With Sir John’s investment, apply gets higher and higher. As a its business parks. Reading FC climbed the footballing result the University has raised its The Reading Festival, formerly the ladder and in 2006 was promoted to entry grades this year. The University now enjoys strong Reading Rock Festival, attracts the the Premiership for the first time in and fruitful partnerships with biggest bands in the world and is now The town once famed for its three the club’s history. local industry. Reading’s research one of the foremost music events in Bs now has a University asking for expertise and world-class facili- the UK. Last year over 90,000 people The biggest change to the look two Bs ... and one A! ties have provided vital support for attended the three-day festival. and feel of Reading’s town centre companies in the current economic Recent research conducted by the occurred just before the start of the climate. Plans are underway for the University found that the 2009 festi- new millenium. The opening of the University to develop a Science and val was worth over £16 million to the Oracle shopping centre in September Innovation Park near to campus, town’s economy. 1999 transformed an area of largely which will bring together innova- derelict and undeveloped land into a The late 1990s saw the completion of tive and technology-based companies hub of shoppers, cinema goers two major developments, bringing from both the local and international and riverside revellers. with them a huge boost to the town’s business communities. reputation and economy. A view from ‘The Blade’: C emetery Junction rising 128m above the Reading skyline a Reading landmark and a £1 million movie! Let’s face it: Reading doesn’t boast a Big The comedy-drama is based in a fictional Ben or a Piccadilly Circus. What is does have town in the 1970s. Gervais draws upon his though are small areas of cultural diversity experience of growing up in Reading to tell with a real sense of community, that mean a the funny, touching and universal story of large amount to those who have lived or are being trapped in a small town and dreaming living there, and the town itself. of escape. Cemetery Junction is one of those places. Modern Reading however, has evolved It has been housing those studying at the into a vibrant and fun place to be. Cemetery University of Reading for many years, and Junction, rich in colour and full of flavour, provided much-needed, late-night suste- continues to play a large role in the day-to- nance for many staggering students! day life of Reading residents and University The ‘Junction’ became immortalised this students. Although there is no sign of year when the Reading-born comic and a movie sequel, its new-found stardom now Hollywood star Ricky Gervais, with his means the ‘Junction’ will always be friend, co-director and writer Stephen Mer- remembered. chant, named their latest offering after the East Reading landmark.

V isit our exhibition: ‘A circle and a century’ The full sets of panoramic views of Reading, old and new, will be on display at MERL from 9 August – 29 October 2010. Full details at: www.reading.ac.uk/merl/whatson/ exhibitions/merl-circleandacentury.aspx

Courtsey of the Local Studies Collection at Reading Central Library 36 37 Alumnus of the Year 2010 Honorary degrees

In 2005, a momentous England v gain an excellent psychology degree Alison Carnwath Janet Beer Australia Ashes test series captured which will stand me in good stead BA German and Economics, 1975 BA English, 1978 the hearts and minds of the nation. for my future career, I also grew as a Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters Cricket had never been so popular person in many ways and feel I devel- and it wasn’t just the men wowing oped many crucial and transferable A lison Carnwath is one of only Professor Janet Beer has been the crowds; the English Women’s life skills. I am very grateful for the three women to be chairman of awarded the honorary degree Cricket Team put on a tremendous support of all the staff at the Univer- a FTSE 100 company having, in of Doctor of Letters. Since grad- display, beating the Australians in a sity who encouraged me to pursue 2008, taken up the reins at Land uating in English from Reading series for the first time in 42 years. A my cricket career and helped me to Securities, Britain’s most valu- in 1978, Professor Beer has series win that alumna Beth Morgan balance that with my studies. able quoted property company. achieved outstanding academic She is considered to be one of success, which culminated in (BSc Psychology, 2005) is extremely ‘The best advice I can give new the busiest directors in the FTSE 2007 with her appointment proud to have played a major part in. graduates as they leave university 100 with other significant roles as Vice-Chancellor of Oxford Beth first took to the sport at the would be to pursue your goal in life, in corporations in both the UK Brookes University. age of 13, where she played at Gun- whether it be a career, further study and US and has been named in the Times Power 100 nersbury WCC, and went on to play or a life ambition. My experience Since her appointment as Vice-Chancellor, Janet as one of the ‘top 100’ most influential directors in the for Middlesex. A talented all-round at Reading gave me the confidence has rapidly risen to national prominence, taking up United Kingdom. cricketer, she made her one-day to chase my dream of playing inter- a number of leadership roles in the higher education international debut aged 17 against national cricket and to realise it. After joining Land Securities in 2004 as a non-executive sector, including membership of the Advisory Board Holland and played in her first test Graduates leaving Reading will be director, Alison Carnwath became Chairman in Novem- of the Higher Education Policy Institute and of the match against the Australians in equipped with all the tools they need ber 2008. Land Securities is the largest property company Board of Universities UK, the body which represents all 2005. Her contribution with bat and to succeed in life and it is all about in Europe and the leading British property development Vice-Chancellors in the UK. She is also currently Chair ball in the final test proved vital in applying them correctly and working and investment company headquartered in central of the steering group for the National Students Survey, the team’s magnificent victory. hard to get the best out of yourself. London. The company also owns the Piccadilly lights in a role which amply reflects her long standing commit- Beth Morgan Piccadilly Circus, London and was one of the companies ment to students and to the quality of provision in the Now an established member of ‘It is a huge honour and privilege BSc Psychology, 2005 involved in developing The Bullring shopping centre Higher Education sector. the England team, Beth has taken to even be considered for this pres- in Birmingham. 27 ODI wickets and six test wickets tigious award alongside so many Janet has an established record of research in late ‘I feel very lucky to have in seven games with an economy rate successful and inspirational gradu- During her distinguished career, Alison spent 25 years nineteenth and early twentieth-century American been given such great of 2.18. Her highest score with the bat ates, past and present, from this as an investment banker at a number of companies literature and culture, and contemporary Canadian is 77 in an ODI against New Zealand University. I feel very lucky to have including J. Henry Schröder, Phoenix Securities, Don- women’s writing. She has been the Associate editor opportunities, both in 2007 and 46* in Twenty20, scored been given such great opportunities, aldson Lufkin & Jenrette, Peat Marwick Mitchell, KPMG, of The Year’s Work in English Studies (OUP) since 1999 throughout my sporting against Australia at the Oval. both throughout my sporting career and Lloyds Bank International. She is currently a non- and is a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal and also in gaining a superb educa- executive of two FTSE 100 companies alongside Land of American Studies. Beth graduated with a first-class career and also in gaining tion from the University of Reading Securities; she has been non-executive director of Gal- psychology degree from the Univer- In making her appointment at Oxford Brookes the and I would like to thank everyone lagher since 2003, Friends Provident since 2002 and Man a superb education’ sity in 2005 and is delighted to be Chair of the Governors, Tim Stevenson, said of Janet, involved for all their support in Group since 2001. In addition, she has been on the boards awarded the Alumnus of the Year ‘She is very much a rising star …with impressive lead- helping me to achieve my ambitions of Cullens, Manweb, Sears, National Power, Arcadia, title for 2010. ership and management skills and a deep knowledge and Nationwide among others. and receive this recognition.’ of the issues and challenges facing the HE sector.’ ‘I thoroughly enjoyed my three years Beth Morgan will be presented Somehow Alison still finds time to be involved with at Reading and feel that I graduated In making this award of Honorary Doctor of Letters with her award at the Degree the charitable sector sitting on the development boards with all the skills needed to succeed the University of Reading recognises Professor Beer as Congregations in December. of the Royal Society of Arts and The Healing Foundation, in the world today. Not only did I a firmly-established member of the higher education and is a Woolf Patron of the British Library, and a Pioneer solar system! Donor of the Reading Real Estate Foundation at the University of Reading. Alison epitomises what we hope for in every Reading graduate: individuals who have the confidence and enthusiasm to fulfil their personal ambitions and seek find out more online at to make a difference in the world in which they live. www.reading.ac.uk/alumni This is clearly what she has done.

38 39 150 years of Fine Art

O n 28 July 1860, the Berkshire education in Reading. The exhibi- Donagh’s celebrated ‘White Room Chronicle advertised art classes for tion sought to evoke the spirit of the Experiment’ allowed students to the newly-opened Reading Govern- art school’s rich and distinguished engage with wider political interests. Spark* newspaper is written by students, for students. As well as the usual news and debates; last year, new ment School of Art. Morning classes history. Artworks and ephemera were Performance art emerged through Having evolved through the years from its days as The sections on Health & Food and Science & Technology ran for ladies and gentlemen on drawn from the Museum, University student groups such as the Moodies Rattler, Shell and a brief spell as Splat, Spark* is a much- were added due to popular demand; testament to the alternate days, with apprentices and local collections to tell the story who bemused external examiners loved, now fortnightly, publication that covers a wide continual growth and popularity of the newspaper. admitted to the two-hour Artisans of how the study of art has diversified with their burlesque cabaret along- range of topics that matter to students. Entirely run by student volunteers, Spark* is going from evening class for a monthly fee of from a Victorian desire to improve side the Sunshine Group which strength to strength. Here is a snapshot of what the two shillings. industrial art to the contemporary included Andy Mackay, a founder students have been talking about over the last year. students at Reading today. member of Roxy Music. The University of Reading as it is today with its many different facul- By the mid 1960s, traditional Fine Art In recent times the Department of ties and schools has its origins in the teaching separated into independent Fine Art has produced three eminent During the 2010 general election, student Reading Government School of Art disciplines and Typography and Art Turner Prize nominees, Cornelia representatives challenged local MPs in an opened in 1860 and the study of the History became important depart- Parker, Richard Wilson and Mike effort to put a stop to the increase in tuition Arts has always been an integral ments in their own right. The School Nelson. It continues to foster young fees. Candidates from Reading East were part of the University. became the Department of Fine Art artists to make a difference across invited to campus to hear what our repre- and through the following decades it the cultural industries drawing on This summer the University joined sentatives had to say, giving our students mirrored social and cultural changes its long and rich history. the Museum of Reading, which from the opportunity to get involved with the within art. More experimental 1882 to 1904 housed the Art School, way the country is run. approaches to teaching such as Rita to celebrate 150 years of formal art

Pictured: An image produced by current students for 2010 having worked through the department’s archives in preparation for the exhibition.

In June, the University held the biggest ping acts Scouting for Girls and Wheatus. event of the year: the Summer Ball. Widely The night finished at 6am, proving that regarded as the flagship event to celebrate Reading students sure know how to go the end of exams, this year’s ball included out with a bang! funfair rides and live music from chart-top-

In February, RUSU held the elections that determined which students should represent the University next year. Candidates were campaigning around the clock for the coveted Student Officer roles. There were a record numbers of voters this year and we wish the winners the best of luck for next year!

October saw a team of Reading Meteorology students reach the final of the ‘NPower Future Leaders Challenge’. Competing against university students from across the UK, our students designed a project to help sustainability in local schools, and really showed their passion for creating a ‘green’ world.

40 Community and Friends News Your News

cycle, and on retirement in 2008 he the voluntary organisation PAMIS, S tudents Flower Power extended that interest to the atmo- with his wife, and established the 1970–79 Welcome to Your News. If you’d like to contact us with spheric carbon cycle with a one-year day respite service called the White MSc in Applied Meteorology, again Top Centre. He is now an emeritus R oy Batt PhD 74, WG. Roy’s This year the University and student Kim Cave-Ayland for her news – be it a marriage to a fellow graduate, news of at the University of Reading. He is a professor at Dundee, but he still most recent publication is Giving Students’ Union made the innovative front garden in Grange a new job or an obituary paying tribute to a fellow member of the University’s Bland- works full-time and has no plans Voice (poems 1977-2007): Hub Edi- ford Club, and recently attended a to retire. tions 2008. reunion of 1960s graduates. He is in ‘Blooming Students’ project Avenue, which included edible graduate, then do get in touch using the form that A rlette Kalfleche 61 has retired Kenneth Boyd FdSc 74, WL. contact with David Wells (Geog 62) as Head of Department, Modern See Steve Ecob 1974. bigger and better with a plants such as beans, chives who is godfather to his daughter, came with your issue of Connected or contact us using Languages, at St Mary’s Ascot. and with Tim Treacher (Ag 62 & 68). L ynne Williams (Mrs Brindley) Being French she spends her time grant from the University’s and marigolds; and Mark Ferrey, the details on the back of this magazine. BMus 71, GE has been in charge of between UK and Lille. the British Library, billed as the UK’s Annual Fund. studying information technol- F rancis Mordaunt Dip AgEc ‘collective memory’ for 10 years. 68, SB. After Reading, his first job She supervises the preservation ogy, who had filled his tiny gravel Geog 54, PA - bringing the number of countries This innovative scheme encour- John Smith . was with Lugg and Gould, later Lau- of over 150 million items stored in he has visited to 121. His involve- 1940 – 94 After Reading, John completed his rence Gould. In 1980 he moved to the library’s archives. Her job takes ages students, who live in private front garden with planted con- ment in Freemasonry continues to National Service, extending the the East of Scotland College of Ag- her across the world, from Beijing bring much personal fulfillment and tainers of red, white and blue D avid Liddicoat Ag 47, WG basic 2 years by ‘signing on’ as a 3 riculture, near Edinburgh, as a farm to Buenos Aires, but as often as she rented accommodation, to tidy provides continuing activity. He is having served as a Magistrate for year ‘regular’ serving in the RAF as business adviser. From 1988 became can she heads to Cornwall with her also a qualified teacher of ballroom up their front gardens and make flowers. The prize money was over 20 years and a similar period an education officer stationed in a consultant with Andersons, set- husband Tim to relax in the county dancing and belongs to three film in other public life, David is now Germany. His teaching career began ting up research department in she was raised in. Librarianship was donated by local letting agents, societies. them beautiful with plants and content to sit back and let the when he spent 4 years as assistant William Eneas PG(Dip) Ag 68. Melton Mowbray in 1996. He retired a change of direction for her, as she Space. world go by! geography master at Melton Mow- R ichard Bisgrove Hort 65 has William’s second book, The New at the end of March and planned to was brought up in a musical family flowers. On signing up, students bray Grammar School; then Head Caribbean: A Region in Transition, Philip Millins Fr 42, WG. From been elected an Honorary Fellow move back to Edinburgh and walk in and that was her first love, but she of Geography at Kelsick Grammar was published in February. receive a starter kit of pots, The Annual Fund grant was also 1939-46, Philip was Captain in the of the Kew Guild. The Guild was the Highlands. did not think about how difficult it School, Ambleside. He has attended Royal Berkshire Regiment and Intel- founded in 1893 as an association of Keith Faulkner Phys 65. From might be to make a career out of her many reunions and in 2007, 42 years James Orson Ag 69, WK has compost (made on campus used to purchase trowels, seca- ligence Corps; He has also been HMI alumni of the Royal Botanic gardens. 1962-64, Keith became temporary passion. Now she is more interested after the school closed, former been appointed to the executive (schools) and Principal of Edge Hill Honorary Fellowship is limited to executive officer for the Ministry in collecting modern art, rather by grounds staff) and spring teurs, hedge-trimmers and other pupils attending included surgeons, board of the British Crop Production University, College of Higher Educa- 25 members. The award is made for of Aviation. He went on to perform than books and has supported a few university professors, writers and Council. He is currently research tion, Ormskirk, Lancs. Richard’s ‘distinguished service to various roles, including Deputy living artists in Cornwall. bulbs such as daffodils and gardening equipment which is nuclear scientists. In 1964 he be- and technical director of The Arable the general advancement of horti- Managing Director for TBA Ltd until came Head of Geography at Ripon Group (Tag), which is now part of G odfrey Burrell Geog 70, PA grape hyacinths. borrowed by students to keep culture and garden history within 1969. Until 1981 he held various Grammar School, where he met the country’s largest independent is Rector and Rural Dean in South this country and abroad.’ roles at Manpower, including branch 1950–59 his wife, and remained in post for crop research and information cen- Warwickshire. On 1 July most of the This year 100 student households their front and back gardens tidy manager, division manager, London 25 years. After retiring and until he Celia Walden (Mrs Cart- tre following its recent merger with original RUBC 1st VIII (semi-finalists GenSc 61, GE area administration manager all year round. A nthony Day Dip Art Tchr 55. reached the age of 65, he taught on wright) . Celia Cambridge’s national Institute of in the Ladies Plate and awarded a joined in, and in May, judges and western area manager. From At 87 years old, Anthony is a full- a part-time basis and worked as a enjoyed meeting fellow graduates Agricultural Botany. He joined Adas University Shell) gathered at Henley 1981-2003 he held various roles at visited all the gardens to pick time painter, exhibiting annually, part-time postman. He played rugby at the 1959 reunion in September. where he took on posts as direct for a 40th anniversary reunion. She has been married for 45 years Manpower, including UK client ser- adviser, agronomist and then finally alongside being author of eleven for Goole Grammar School’s first XV, John Canton EstMan 74, WK and is enjoying retirement with her vices manager, company secretary, head of cereals development. he out the best. Two student house- books and a photographer! He bases but had no real interest in athletics. is a partner in Jolliffe Daking Char- husband. They have 2 sons, one in corporate affairs and director of then became director of the Morley find out more online at his work on local history. However in more recent times, tered Surveyors in Peterborough. holds shared the prize money of Cambridge and the other married public affairs. He is currently Chair- Research Centre - a farmer-owned S hirley Dobson (Mrs Haynes) despite the handicap of partial In his spare time he is Chairman of www.reading.ac.uk/community with one son and living in New man of Working Links, having been research station in Norfolk provid- £100 each. They were cybernetics Maths 56, WX is Town Mayor sight, he has taken to running. He Peterborough City Rowing Club, Zealand. Managing Director until 2008. ing information to support the 2010-11 for Thrapston, Northamp- has completed the half-marathon rowing coach and organiser of Pe- Ag 69, WK businesses of some of the biggest tonshire, after 7 years on the Great North Run every year since Paul Hocking has terborough Regattas. 1998. In 2008, at the age of 76, he worked at the Roslin Institute, farmers in Europe. Town Council. She is also a Middle L uciano Cheles Ital/Fr 73, covered the 13.1 mile course in 3 hrs Edinburgh, since 1983 and has Catherine Westby (Mrs School Governor after a lifetime in CH is Professor of Italian studies 46 secs and in 09 he finished in 2hrs transferred with colleagues to the Stewart) Engl 60, WX. In education. She has been married at the University of Poitiers and 58 mins 32 secs. University of Edinburgh Veterinary February 2009 her first children’s for 52 years, has 5 children and 14 living in Paris T he Friends of the University school, with the rank of Reader. grandchildren. Brian Stenning Maths/Phys book was one of 14 entries (out of I an Cowdroy EstMan 74, WL. 57, WG recently moved from the James Hogg PhD Psy 67 left nearly 2000) on the long list for The Basil Longy Ag 58, DA is busy Between 1974 and 2006, Ian worked The Friends’ programme has remained active gave stimulating presentations. Professor The autumn term will bring a visit to Henley Wyre Forest into Bewdley. He is school at 15 to join the Merchant Times / Chicken House Children’s working on his memoirs, including as a surveyor for ADAS/FRCA/RDS. still actively walking, rowing on the Navy but failed the eye test, so Fiction competition for unpublished 9 years in Pakistan and 26 years Since 2007 he has been working as and varied over the last year. The autumn 2009 Gordon Marshall again kindly briefed the Business School on 27 October, and a talk Severn, contributing to local music returned to school and then to Uni- fiction. She is currently seeking an in Africa. a Learning Support Assistant for the and furniture making as a pastime. Brian Durham GenSc 64, PA versity. After Reading he joined Birk- agent / publisher. talk by Alumnus of the Year 2008, Professor Yearly Meeting over tea and was generously on 2 November by Dr Lisa Methven of the Ag 53, PA Royal London Society for the Blind. James Petrides He attends occasional reunions with enjoyed a thirty-eight year career beck College at London University Timothy Treacher AgSc 62. See still lives at the same farm after 54 He is one of a team of volunteers Debby Reynolds, and the Christmas Concert informative in the ensuing Q&A exchange. The School of Food Biosciences, who is currently University Singers from the 1950’s. in field archaeology, mainly with as an assistant lecturer. After 5 years Brian Durham 1963. providing cricket commentary for years in Hailsham, East Sussex, but UK’s top independent consultancy. at Birkbeck he moved to a senior Patrick Webber GenSc 60 was the MCC/RNIB Ball by Ball service for in association with Music@Reading, were meeting also noted the involvement of the working with Heston Blumenthal (Hon DSc, moved to a smaller barn that he In 1981 he married Maureen Mellor lectureship post at the ground- awarded a prestigious medal in June the blind and visually impaired. converted. His daughter and family and they have a daughter and son. breaking Hester Adrian Centre in 1960–69 for his work in plant biology. He is notable highlights. Events Team in our activities, and our Working 2006). Events planned for 2011 include visits to live in the farmhouse and his son In 2003 he was appointed to a new Manchester. He gradually became Peter Crawshaw Bot/Zoo 71, Professor Emeritus in plant biology lives in the old cowshed. The farm is post of Archaeologist to Oxford engaged with people with learning AN. Peter has retired from Town Party on Membership and Communications. CEDAR and to a local silk mill, and a talk from a Peter Adams Hist/Pol 66, WK at Michigan State University and March saw an enjoyable guided tour of the converted for workshops and offices City Council, which allowed him to disabilities and their families. In the Planning and lives with his partner, retirement has enabled Peter to pur- was recognised by the International and the land loaned to neighbours. develop approaches to communal 1970s he produced guidance for Jean, in Harrogate. Madejski Stadium. Sir John Madejski, Chancellor Later in June, The Friends paid their annual visit member of the Archaeology Department. sue his interest in travel with even Arctic Science Committee for his James would welcome visits from heritage and to the preservation of services working with children with more enthusiasm and recent jour- contributions to arctic and alpine R obert Crowell Micro 72, CH old friends. organic artefacts in the ground. The profound and multiple learning dis- of the University and President of The Friends, to the gardens of Bledlow Manor, the home Membership is open to all those interested in neys to Oman, Ethiopia, Madagascar, tundra ecology and plant taxonomy; is a professor in sign language stud- latter involved the terrestrial carbon abilities. In the early 90s he founded gave an entertaining address and was happy to of Lord Carrington, President Emeritus of The the University’s educational goals, its history, Namibia and the Galapagos Islands also the promotion of arctic re- ies as well as the Deaf Studies at the search in general. It is the first time Southwestern Illinois College, St answer questions about Reading FC. Friends. The sun shone and Lord Carrington current activities and future development. Bob Creswell 1948–2010 that the medal has been awarded. Louis, USA. Robert Alexander Creswell was at Reading. In 1979 he changed of the world, and he also became He has focused his career on study- Christopher Dabner 74, PA. The Spring Lecture given by Dr Alastair Culham, circulated amongst members and joined us New members are always welcome. Please born in London on 22 February direction and joined the tax of- an expert cabinet maker – a wood- ing what controls the variety, num- See Steve Ecob 1974. 1948. He was brought up in Mar- fice, Her Majesty’s Revenue and worker and furniture maker of the bers and distribution of plants, ani- for tea. We admired the beautifully landscaped contact: The Secretary, DARO, Blandford Lodge, Michael Dray AgBot 70, WI. entitled ‘Plants for the 2080s – Gardening with low, and went to school in High Customs (HMRC), in which he had a very highest quality. He was by na- mals and micro organisms. He also Michael does some teaching back Wycombe. After taking an honours rewarding and successful career. In ture an intellectual, with interests pioneered a multi-layer mapping a crystal ball’ was well received. new garden that he has created in memory of Whiteknights, PO Box 217, Reading RG6 6AH; at the school where he was Head degree in Chemical Physics at the 2009 he was diagnosed with a brain in many different fields, particularly method that is now the standard of Biology, Pate’s Grammar School, his late wife. email: [email protected] or University of Reading in 1969, fol- tumour, and he died at the early in botany and wild life, and in his required by regulatory agencies. Seventy-five members attended the Yearly Cheltenham, a mixed school. He lowed by a Ph.D. in 1972. He spent age of 62 on 21 July 2010. garden. He collected an enormous D avid Wells Geog 62, PA. See is involved with the school’s con- Membership in excess of 500 enabled The tel: 0118 378 8006. seven years as a research scientist and varied library. With his wife Lee Meeting in June. It was preceded by a superbly Bob led a full and busy life, and had Brian Durham 1963. servation area. He has many happy holding successive positions at they became great entertainers, many friends. He was dedicated memories of the other 15 ‘Ag Bot’ organised visit to the Hopkins Building, where Friends to increase the total of our annual Michigan State University, then and many friends and colleagues to the University and a member graduates of 1969. the Justus Liebig University in will remember the wonderful par- grants to University departments to over of the Blandford Club. Apart from Professor Gavin Brooks and a number of his find out more online at Giessen, and finally a Fellowship in ties that they gave at their home S tephen Ecob Hist 74, PA his professional work he became a www.reading.ac.uk/thefriends Cambridge. He met his wife, Lee, in Cambridge, and later at their belongs to a group who meet fairly colleagues in the School of Biological Sciences £10,000. serious mountaineer and explorer a talented artist, during his time second home in Derbyshire. regularly for reunion weekends,

42 43 which usually involve a substantial and in a private clinic in Cranbrook, German businesses. He became the R obert Fitzmaurice MFA 86. Clive Phillips Ag 80, AN has and was an MP until 2004. Whilst first book was published, High Heels meal! The group consists of: Keith Kent. He has 4 children, is divorced UK business’s Managing Director in Robert is a Reading artist who has published two books - The Welfare serving as an MP he was Minister of and A Head Torch: the essential Young (FdSci 75), Chris Dabner (P&B but about to remarry. 2007. His most notable moves have painted all his adult life, but his first of Animals, the Silent Majority, was Agriculture three times; Minister guide for girls who backpack - which 74), Paul Taylor (FdSci 74), Jeremy been to buy Silverburn, a prime of Lands and Natural Resources for tells women all the things that Wendy Peek CompSc 74, BR solo exhibition in over a decade was short listed for a Eureka Museum Wheeler (Phys & Meteor 75), Ken shopping centre in Glasgow, from two terms; first Deputy Speaker of guidebooks do not with amusing having taken early retirement in held at the Corn Exchange, New- prize in Australia and published by Boyd (FdSci 74) and Steve. Most of Lloyds Banking Group for £297 mil- Parliament once; Vice-Chairman of anecdotes and stories. 2008, Wendy returned to live in bury, from 2-24 June. It was entitled Springer and Principals of Cattle the group are married with various lion, and to announce that he would the Board of Air Vanuatu until March Cornwall in 2009. Over the last 2 ‘From Here On In’ and consisted of production - 2nd edition published James Gale BEng MechEng children reaching adulthood. steer Hammerson’s focus towards 2009 and then Vice-Chairman of years she has completed a number two major themes: the human fig- by CABi. He is working on a book 95, WK has worked for a specialist France, which accounts for a third of Vanuatu Party for four years. A nthony Eden EstMan 70 is of long distance motorcycle rides in ure and what it means to be human. inspired by his 26,000 km drive structural monitoring company for

Plasma-coated steel bangle 2003 its portfolio. retired from full-time employment Australia and the USA, raising funds The exhibition consisted of paint- round Australia visiting cattle and the last 5 years. James visits interest- as a chartered surveyor, but remains to support women diagnosed with Keith Sheppard Maths/ A rthur Baxter Geol 81, BR. ings, drawings and collages. sheep properties as well as other ing places behind the scenes like the a consultant specialising in valu- breast cancer. She also volunteers CompSc 72, WI has decided to Arthur is a self-employed pub- Juliet Reeves (Mrs Gasmi) Fr/ fascinating places. His wife Alison 1990–99 Thames Barrier, Olympic Park, the nee HALL (Maths 80) is still teach- ations for business rates. His son with the Shelterbox charity. retire early and concentrate on his lisher and designer with Dane Stone IRel 85, BR still lives in France and new Wembley Stadium and nuclear David (MSc Real Est 2007) qualified children’s books. His first children’s Cards. He is also a student again, ing mathematics but after the trip N - ajem Al Rubaiey PhD Chem power sections. He is living back in A nthony Pope Ag 74, SB is lead is a faithful Jehovah’s Witness, after as a member of the Royal Inst of novel, ‘Wonderland Revisited and taking an MA in Gender, Sexuality round Australia felt the need to do 95, SB has obtained a grant to do his home county of Wiltshire, with adviser heading a new five-strong 21 years. Chartered surveyors. He is Chairman the Games Alice Played There’ was and Culture at the University of something different. She would be research on water and waste water his partner, Corinne. He would like South West TB Advisory Service unit Peter Hamilton-Leggett Geog D avid Watkins, 1963 of the largest youth football club in published in the autumn of 2009. Manchester, having completed a BA pleased to hear from anyone who treatment and environmental to hear from any other Mech Eng which has £1.3 million in funding for 82, WK. Peter retired in 2002. North Hertfordshire which takes up He is hoping to publish a second in Sociology and Independent Stud- did maths or was in St Andrew’s at research. graduates of 1995. 4 years. His service has been up and He and his wife are now happily (Art 63) Professor and Head of Goldsmithing, Silver- a lot of his leisure time. He is mar- novel next year. ies at UCLAN. the same time. running for a few months follow- researching and writing on local S tuart Barlow Hort 90, WX A bel Ghogomu MSc Ed&Phys ried to Gaynor. Michael Prisk LandMan 83, smithing, Metalwork and Jewellery at the Royal College ing exhaustive training, a scheme Paul Taylor FdSc 74, WL. See Helen Straw (Mrs Bilton) history. He is also compiling a bibli- is Andover College’s new assistant 93, BU is Vice-Principal of the WK has served on the Conserva- of Art for 21 years. Always pioneering new ideas, and hosted by the NFU in its regional Steve Ecob 1974. PGCE ProfStud 82, BU is a ography of Devon churches. principal having started at Sparsholt Bilingual Grammar School, Buea, office in Exeter and co-sponsored by leading expert on outdoor play tive front bench since 2002, taking College in 1990 as a lecturer in Cameroon. in the spirit of the rule-breaking sixties, he and Wendy Brian Titton LLB Law 77, MN A lice Kettle Art 84, WG has the National Beef Association, the for young children and has writ- on positions as shadow Financial Horticulture after graduating. He Ramshaw (ArtTeach 61)created a range of spectacular is a Personal Adviser for Connexions held another exhibition of her re- James Greenland LandMan Country Land and Business Associa- ten a number of books - Book Secretary to the Treasury, Paymaster was formerly learning manager for in Wolverhampton. markable embroidery work and re- 95, WX. James is now in Bristol Y ale Center for British Art jewellery – made of paper. tion, DairyCo and the English Beef & Bilton,H. (2010) Outdoor Learning General and Home Affairs Whip. Creative and Performing Arts and lief drawings, this time in the Crafts with Savills. He married in 2008. Lamb Executive. He was born in Ke- S tephen Vaux Hort 76. Stephen in the Early Years. 3rd Edition Michael moved to the business and for Sport, Outdoor Education and Welcomes Head of Research An exhibition of the work of David, who is a leading Study Centre, Farnham. Having nya, where his father farmed exten- is involved in developing a novel Abingdon:Routledge. enterprise role in 2005 and has Public Services at Andover. S teven GriffithsMA Hist of studied at Reading she went on to British artist, jeweller and sculptor in metal, is being sively, with pyrethrum as the main wood pellet manufacturing tech- expanded his portfolio ever since. Draw 96 was one of three artists Martina Droth has been appointed as Head of Research Hugh Carson Cert Ed 80, DA. study at Goldsmiths College where Mark Barnett Fr/Pol 92, WG held at the V&A until 26 September. David Watkins cash crop. He travelled to Canada, nology based in Oxford, but with He now overseas business and who exhibited 70 small paintings Hugh retired in 2006 after 10 years she became interested in narrative began his investment career in 1992 for the Yale Center for British Art. Ms. Droth also serves Australia and New Zealand, worked global goals. enterprise policy, taking in deregu- and wood engravings at Fountain represents a driving force in British design. His work has as Headmaster of Malvern College. themes and with collaged cloth to with Mercury Asset Management as the Center’s first Curator of Sculpture. A graduate for Tate & Lyle in Zambia and South lation, policies towards individual Fine Art in Llandeilo, Carmarthen- been internationally collected since the early 1970s. His William Fulthorpe MSc Con- A lbert Weir Ag 72, AN has had Previously he was Headmaster of her machine-worked embroidery. before joining Invesco Perpetual in Africa, then returned to Zambia to industry sectors, including low shire this summer. He is a regular of the Camberwell School of Arts, London (BA), Gold- Man 78, WK. After 2 years in a varied career. He was brought up Denstone College. He is on the She has specialised in large wall 1996, which he now manages. is a unique voice. He began his career as a jazz pianist manage a large holding and then carbon, regional economic policy, exhibitor at the Mall Galleries in smiths College, London (MA), and the University of Australia for his company employer, on a tenant farm in Cheshire, but Court of the Skinners’ Company, hangings and three dimensional and sculptor, and his practice and understanding of later to Zimbabwe to set up a farm- business support, export licensing Catriona Bruce PBNFA 92, WL London and tutors at Coleg Sir Gar. TECHNIP, and then two years in Lon- left to study agricultural econom- one of the City Livery Companies, features using both monochrome Reading (PhD), Martina joins the Center from the Henry ing enterprise on a former timber and the Olympic legacy. He is proud is owner of the largest fireworks these two disciplines reverberate throughout his work, don, William is now expatriated to ics as he was the second son in the and is due to become Master in as well as highly coloured designs. Marc Guerrero i Tarragó Ec Moore Institute in Leeds, where she had been Research estate of 3,000 hectares. Back in of his commitment which he thinks importer in Australia. She now Aberdeen to manage the construc- family and the farm was not big 2010-11. The exhibition went on its travels 94, WK is Vice-President of the Eu- bringing to it unexpected directions and innovations. will make a big difference for small has 4 girls. Coordinator since 2002, as well as a visiting lecturer in tion of a new build pipe lay vessel. the UK he spent 5 years working in enough for him and his brother. He ropean Liberal and Democrats Party At a formative moment in the 1960s David had worked R owena Tibbles (Mrs Comrie) after March. businesses. partnership with his father, then set then studied for a PhD at Newcastle R abinder Buttar Cert Man 92. (ELDR) in Barcelona, Spain. the History of Art at the University of Leeds. A lastair Graham EstMan 79, Art 82, DA has been shortlisted RegSc 84, WI on special effects for Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece, the up as an overseas agricultural con- and lived in Whitley Bay. Life by the G raham Martin Hugh Robertson LandMan 85, In January 2009, Rabinder won the WG started his working life as a for the prestigious Aspect prize for was working as operations manager I da Hadoto MA RurSocDev 92, In her position, Martina oversees the Center’s research, film 2001, designing and creating model spacecraft to sultant, working for 15 years with sea was not for him, so he moved to WL is the new Olympic Minister award for the Scots Businesswoman farmer in Sutherland. Berlin-born, painting. The winner of the £15,000 for TNT in Swindon, but decided to SB was welcomed in August last United Nations agencies. Corbridge and worked as a gardener having taken over from Tessa Jowell of the Year at the prestigious education, and public programs, which include visiting high levels of demand and precision. Evidence of this he was educated at Bradfield Col- prize will be awarded at the Fleming go into business with his mother, year, to the base of the charity ‘Send at the original Slaley Hall. He even- after the May General Election. He Evening Times, Scotswoman of the scholars who conduct extended research projects at lege, Berkshire, and then the Univer- John Pratt AgMan 76, CH a Cow’, to share her experiences so experience can be seen in the earliest of his works - a collection, Mayfair, London, in Janu- Maureen, and brother, and started says ‘that as a government and a and Nicky (nee Johnson) (Hist 76) tually bought a cottage in Slaley and Year Awards which took place in the Center, and ‘Yale-in-London’, a study-abroad pro- sity of Reading. He is married with ary 2011. The next task is to produce up a transport business, Carousel far as she has been working in Africa silver and white enamel necklace and brooch echo the was then working for the National country, we are absolutely com- Glasagow’s City Chambers. four children and is Head Teacher at remain based in West Oxfordshire, 10-12 pieces of work for the final. for the charity since it was launched gram for Yale undergraduates, as well as a wide range of beauty of space probes and the moon landing station. Park as an agricultural conservation Logistics, in Sittingbourne, Kent. He mitted to delivering this project on Hall Grove School in Bagshot, Sur- whilst John works on European The Fleming Collection is the largest Yu- Lan Chang FdT 99, BU is 21 years ago. She started working officer for 32 years - a job he loved. is now Carousel’s Managing Director time and to budget in 2012’. Hugh scholarly events and seminars. Martina is committed to rey, a preparatory school which he Commission funded contracts in private collection of Scottish Art Director of Production and Master for the Newton St Loe charity, which More recently he continues to explore the virtual reality He contacted farmers and was given and the company has a £15m turn- won an army scholarship to univer- developing links between the Center and the scholarly has run since 1978. He is a Conserva- overseas development. He is and the overall winner will have Blender for Kavalan Distillery, in the helps African families by providing of computer aided design technologies. But in all David’s a small budget to start up a dry- over and employs 120 people, in- sity, then served as an officer in the tive Councillor for Surrey Heath. currently in Papua New Guinea. their painting displayed within the north-east of the island of Taiwan. livestock, crop seeds and farming community at Yale, equally integrating faculty and stu- stone walling scheme and restored cluding contractors. His father was Life Guards from 1985-95. He saw work his design constant is a commitment to the human collection. The winning artist will It is the first distillery on the island equipment. Ida was determined dents into the Center’s programs. She will also expand Colin Hawes Dip EnvEd 75. hundreds of miles of dry-stone wall never involved in the business, but active service in Northern Ireland, requirement for bodily adornment, and something more. also receive a cheque for £10,000. and is named after the ‘people of to make a real difference on the Colin is a retired lecturer and now in Northumberland. Illness forced ran a fruit and sheep farm - 4 miles commanding a platoon in Lon- the Center’s presence internationally, deepening rela- Rowena has worked as a profes- the plain’. ground. She began work as the In 2010 it seems fitting that David, celebrated throughout a part-time PhD student in his 5th him to look at life in a different way from where Carousel is today. His donderry and Fermanagh. During tionships with research institutes in art history and the sional artist for the past 25 years. social development coordinator in the world as artist and innovator, continues to reach still year at Royal Holloway, University and at 57 he took early retirement. mother semi-retired about 10 years the first Gulf War, he was adjutant Michael Collins BEng Bldg She has supported her painting Uganda, where the charity set out visual arts around the world. of London. His thesis is on the stag After many hours of organising the ago and remained part-time for the of a main battle tank regiment, and Eng Des & Mngmnt 96, GE is further into the future. practice with teaching at Aberdeen to help help families to help them- beetle. restoration of property for other next 5 years. But the brothers have in Bosnia he commanded the Brit- regional operations manager for Martina’s upcoming projects include an exhibition University and in Schools delivering selves, by providing training, seeds people, he indulged in a restoration changed the management structure ish detachment in Sarajevo during Spie Matthew Hall, building services A ndrew Jefford Engl 78, DA the SAC supported “Arts across and livestock. Ida, who has adopted on Victorian sculpture that she is curating with of his own. He attends a furniture and created a structure to allow the siege of the city. He retired as a construction, in Bristol. He lives is the son of a vicar and eldest of the Curriculum” programme, and more than 50 children with her Michael Hatt, Professor of the History of Art at Warwick restoration class at Newton Village people to develop by having teams major in 1995 to pursue a political in Weston-super-Mare and has 2 three brothers. Andrew grew up in through other freelance artwork in- husband, decided to start work for Hall, raises money for cancer chari- for different areas of the business. career. At the same time, he started children. University, and Jason Edwards, Senior Lecturer in the Norfolk and pursued postgraduate cluding the design of an abstracted the charity after she had taught in D avid Pullinger Pol/Econ 70, ties by holding auctions and takes There are now five directors, three work in the investment manage- History of Art at the University of York. This will be the studies on Robert Louis Stevenson 20ft map of Scotland for the BBC Christine Webb (Mrs Cunniffe) Africa. She had earlier moved to the WK is working part-time at Impe- part in charity treks. of which are not family members. ment arm of Schroders, becoming with Malcolm Bradbury at the Uni- painted on tarmac. Rowena says her MMus Perf 91 is the former Direc- UK and to study at Reading, return- first exhibition to fully survey nineteenth-century rial College helping Business School Geog head of new business development versity of East Anglia, before work- Jeremy Wheeler Phys/Met 75, images submitted this year are ex- Michael McCartney tor of Music at LVS, Ascot, and is tak- ing to Uganda to do voluntary work. British sculpture. students get jobs. David also has 89, WL is a freelance safari guide for the property division respon- ing as an editor for Paul Hamlyn’s PA. See Steve Ecob 1974. amples of large-scale oils that have ing up the position of Head of Senior It was here she heard about the job his own consultancy, coaching and working for high-end mobile safari sible for pension fund, local author- Octopus Group. In the late 1980s he been at the bedrock of her practice School in September. at ‘Send a Cow’. training. He is researching into ex- Peter Williams PhD Geog 76. operators in Kenya and Tanzania. ity and charity investment in the UK. got the chance to combine his pas- since her student days and have F abio Dalan Occ 98, WX is a istential approaches to coaching to In 1989, Peter became the Professor He also does some consultancy in He was also an assistant director of Clifford Hart LandMan 90, sions for wine and writing, and since continued to play a vital role in her seconded national expert from a teach an MA next year. He is married of Housing Management at Cardiff tourism / eco-tourism and wildlife Schroders Investment Management. MN moved to New Zealand and is S ally Robinson then he has worked as a freelance work. She is influenced by colour public administration in Italy and with three adult children and lives University. Then in 1994 he was a conservation as well as community But his business career has taken a working for the New Zealand Gov- drinks journalist and broadcaster. field painters such as Frankenthaler, was planning to stay in Brussels until in Amersham. Board member for Housing in Wales development in wildlife areas. He is back seat since he was elected to ernment, valuing rural properties in I am married to Tim Robinson (BSc Land Management, He has written several books and Blow and Leapman. Rowena lives Sept 2010. and in 1995 became a Board mem- enjoying a nomadic lifestyle. Parliament in June 2001 as MP for the Bay of Islands. 1987), and we have two children. Today, I run my own guides, most recently Andrew Jef- Margaret Beacham (Mrs in Glasgow. ber for the Housing Corporation. Faversham and Mid Kent. Katherine Dent Zoo 97, SH. ford’s Wine Course (Ryland, Peters & Ricketts) Lat/Ling 70, BR has S ilas Michaelides MSc AgMet Brian Heathcote Dip VocGuid business, ‘Organic at Heart’, developing and manufac- C hristian Union Reunion, 2010 In 1997 he was appointed Deputy Peter Dunn QS 85, AN was After 2 years with butterfly conser- Small; 2008). He has won a plethora partially retired after over 38 years 83 James Sidaway MPhil IntSt 88 93, BU has completed the South Director-General for the Council of was appointed Director of the turing certified organic, ethical and planet-conscious of distinctions for his work, includ- service with the Inland Revenue appointed as Director for Mission has moved to take up the position vation working on the South East West Coastal footpath, at 634 miles, Mortgage Lenders. He enjoys racing Meteorological Service of Cyprus skincare and household products. On Thursday 29th July, 50 past members of the Christian ing three successive Louis Roederer (now HMRC). of the Baptist Missionary Society in at the University of Amsterdam as Woodlands project, Katherine is the longest continuous National punting and rugby union. from September 2009. Dr Michae- November 09. a Professor of Political and Cultural returning to the Berks, Bucks and Our clients include the John Lewis Union (RUECU) from 1948-62 and 14 spouses, from Awards in 06, 07 and 08. The New Julia Stuart (Mrs Rose) Maths lides is the Permanent Represen- Trail in the UK. France was awarded the André Keith Young FdSc 75, PA. See Psy 89, WG Geography. Oxon Wildlife Trust as the Head around the world, met for a reunion in Sussex, by kind 74 is ICT Co-ordinator / Head of N eil Dymond . In tative of Cyprus with the World L inda Cook (Mrs Hopper) group and Jamie Oliver. Simon award, Lanson award, and Steve Ecob 1974. of Conservation and Education in invitation of David Bowerman CBE JP DL BSc HonRCM ICT at Debenham High School April 2008, Neil started working for Meteorological Organisation. Ceri Thomas Engl/Fr 82, WL MEd 93 visits Kenya regularly, Veuve Clicquot USA Book of the Year charities and businesses and con- Berkshire, having previously worked For more information/ in Suffolk. She says her maths Helen Gunn (Mrs Milton) BEd is Editor of Gardening Which? She working for a charity which focuses (1954-57, Wantage, Agriculture) and his wife Mary, who in 03. He is a senior research fellow tinues to enjoy success. He has two as the Reserves Manager. mailorder please visit us at degree prepared her with the logic 85, BU is running an hotel in North enjoys sharing her knowledge of the on therapeutic work with children kindly provided an excellent lunch in the magnificent at the University of Adelaide, as well children aged 11 and 9 and enjoys Carolyn Casey (Mrs Devereaux) required to get into ICT, but she 1980–89 Devon. She is married to Philip, who latest developments in gardening. and is initiating a scheme to support www.organicatheart.co.uk as wine writer in residence to the his relationship with Jeanne and her Engl 99, WX. Carolyn is teaching surroundings of their art gallery/music room. Everybody no longer teaches any maths. She ran for Conservative MP for North As well as studying at Reading, she families in rural and slum areas. Australian Wine 2030 project. daughters. in Surrey schools since moving to To read about Sally’s enjoyed looking at photos, letters, chatting, reminiscing, is a committed Christian and cites D avid Atkins LandMan 88, Devon in the general election. They studied at RHS Wisley. Joanna Jamieson Fr/Man 99, EstMan 78, AN WK Epsom. She married in July 2009 memories of her time at and walking round the wonderful gardens. Two current John Marriott Reading Christian Union as a great . After Reading, David began Carenza Ellery PGCE 85. have 4 children. John Willie PG(Dip) AgExt 86. WK is Director of Berkeley PR in is semi-retired from surveying, encouragement. She is active in a his career with DTZ, the property Carenza successfully performed her and her honeymoon was spent University see page 28 student members reported on university life now and Twalib Myoya Grass Sc 88 re- John returned to Vanuatu in 1986. Three Mile Cross. The PR company but has now retrained as a psycho- church in Framlingham, a Fair Trade consultant, then in 1998 joined one-woman show - The Real Mini travelling around Mexico and the tired in Nov 07 at the age of 60 and From 1988-94 he became Senior has weathered the storm and is how the Christian Union relates to present students. synthesis therapist. working with rep for Tearfund’s Created gifts Hammerson, taking charge of Show. She is refining it for another USA for a month. now works as a private consultant Agricultural Extension Officer for recruiting more staff. It offers op- teenagers in the east end of London, and has been happily married for research and orchestrating big performance. She is in her 5th year Chelsea Smith (Mrs Duke) in pasture and does private farming northern Vanuatu. In 1995 he was portunities to enthusiastic young 31 years, with 3 children and one acquisitions and disposals, and was teaching part-time Art in Bristol. Engl 98, PA. In July 2009, Chelsea’s activities in Tanzania. elected to the National Parliament people looking to break into the grandchild. the main contact for its French and She acted as EFL assistant last year.

44 45 world of PR and have set up a PR ments, to develop sustainable format played as important a role Christine Maurel (Mrs Rouil- liaison coordinator at Otley College, professional service that Halls pro- placement very useful and hopes full season which saw him take on A lberto Vanzo Ad Hoc Phil 06, 1985 Land management apprenticeship scheme They are urban and rural areas that provide as typography. The result being an lard) MA Entrep&CompStrat 2000–09 with the aim of promoting studies vides, but also the quality of their more graduates will take advantage every role on the nursery site, he CH. See Wai NG 2006. looking for experienced people a destination for UK companies to elegant portfolio grounded in fine 93, BR and careers in farming to 14-16 year catalogues and cataloguing. of work placements. added running the packhouse to alumni reunion 2010 is thinking of enrolling in Joanna Ward Hist 03. Before working in a London-based agency promote innovative green products art, from artists’ books and gallery Stat 02 olds. 2010 marks 40 years of Suffolk- his portfolio, just as the business a new distance learning course at L aura Allen is working R obert Milne Habitat & Soil- E lsa Sattout PhD AgBot 04 launching studentgems.com, Joanna who perhaps want to move out of and services. She is also a key player catalogues to posters, invitations, based Otley College. The appoint- was preparing to expand. He is now Organised by Simon Marshall Esq, a reunion of some Reading’s College of Estate Manage- for Promar International, subsidiary Man 06 developed an organic is a Chief of project aiming at spent time working in London and London. The agency was established in the development of the China experimental novels, websites, ment is thanks to support from the assistant nursery manager of the op- ment to continue learning and en- of Genus plc, and undertaking garden near Brampton Bryan out of strengthening national systems, Hong Kong, with stints in Russia and 35 Land Management graduates from 1985 was held in 1998 and now employs 29 people UK Centre for Professional Excel- record covers and the odd film title. Felix Thornley Cobbold Trust and eration and Cornerways’ technical hance her career possibilities in the book-keeping for farm businesses necessity, but it became a passion. structures and mechanisms of na- Germany. She has moved between at Browns restaurant in London on the 26th May. in Reading and Bristol. Jo lives in lence, in Chongqing, providing a link The studio’s clients include Tate the Chadacre Agricultural Trust. To manager. He is also involved in HDC construction industry. throughout the south midlands. She He was an innovator, using human ture protection in protected sites in being a personal assistant, a fund Twyford, Berkshire. between UK training platforms and Publishing, Whitechapel Gallery, lives in Towcester, Northants, with date Mark has been heavily involved projects such as a study looking into L aura Sayer FdT 91 is now Asda’s waste as manure and carried out Lebanon. For the past ten years, she manager and an administrator for a Chinese technology. De La Warr Pavilion and Art on the partner Richard Clarke (AgEcon 00) in promoting the Diploma in Envi- root zone microbial activity. D ipak Joshi Ad Hoc AgExt 95, in-store bakery buyer. Sayer is the crop trials using diluted urine as has been working on biodiversity number of small businesses. As well Underground. He co-curated ‘The whom she met via Berkshire Young ronmental and Land Based Studies, SB is working as Associate Professor A lasdair Lindsay Art 96, UK’s second largest bakery chain fertiliser. The results were good and management in Lebanon especially Petr Sramek Occ Pol/IR 08, as her history degree, she is compe- Form of the Book’ conference at Farmers Club, rather than the Stu- which is a new qualification running of Horticulture at Anand Niketan WL is a keen surfer as well as ac- and one of the nation’s biggest it wasn’t long before the isolated in nature reserves. She has served CH worked at Czech main TV new tent in Russian. As a fund-raiser for St Bride Library, London, in 2009. dents’ Union! this autumn to school pupils from College of Agriculture, Warora, complished artist based in Hayle, scratch bakery operations, which garden was on the gardeners’ grape- the world community through channel (CT24), in the business & the Anglo-American School in Mos- He is a member of the 2010 DGAD the age of 14. In his spare time he Chandrapur, India. He is also in- Cornwall. He is very aware of the Laura’s great grandparents started Paul Bettesworth LandMan vine. He also helped a number of her work with the United nations economics section and has studied cow she came up with the idea for graphic design jury. An exhibition exhibits his collection of classic volved in local church farm land need for our beaches and seas to be in Liverpool. Whilst the Sayers are 05, WG has joined the board of primary schools in Herefordshire Development Programme and the abroad at the University of British the now well-established Auction ‘Designed by Fraser Muggeridge tractors or prepares his machines development work and shares his protected from the various sources no longer involved in the craft busi- Directors at Bettesworths, sitting establish vegetable plots. He United Nations Environment Pro- Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. and Ball in the process raising more studio’ took place during March and for the next venue. experiences with local farmers. of pollution that threaten them ness - the family involvement ended alongside his father, his uncle and teamed up with growers in Norway, gramme on issues relevant to the than $100,000. Mother-of-three April at Kaleid editions (an artists’ MEng Cyb 04 Janet Wanjohi (Mrs Kabiru) and with this in mind donated one with her dad, she says that this his brother Matt, who is Manag- R ichard Crouch Scotland and Iceland. He has now Convention on Biological diversity Joanna is a keen ‘round the world’ book project space in London). His has graduated from RAF Cranwell in gone into print - Organic Vegetable LLB 94, CH. After graduating of his paintings from his exhibition heritage influenced her career path. ing Director. He joined the family and the Cartagena Protocol on Bio- cook and film-goer and enjoys sail- new Typography Summer School Lincolnshire. He is now training as Gardening, which is illustrated with spent a year in Kenya and obtained which was held in June in Cornwall After her degree she had a one-year business 3 years ago after leaving safety. She has been coordinating ing and walking. She launched stu- was held in London in July. an engineer. some of his own drawings. her professional qualification before Contemporary, Penzance, and was placement at United Biscuits. She Reading. Whilst at university, he hit programmes at the World Conser- dentgems.com which came about Zoo 96, WG returning to the UK in 95 to read sold in aid of Surfers Against Sew- Claire Murphy then worked as a food technologist the headlines when he captained Henry Douglas ConMan&Surv S teven Moul Hort 02, BR is a vation Union while working in the because of a meeting at the school for the BCL at Oxford University age. He has been among the prize has been trained in complementary for Marks & Spencer on bacon; this the Reading team to the last 16 of 09 has joined the team of Space self-employed landscaper and set Middle East region on biodiversity gate, in depth research of an idea (St Hilda’s College) on a Rhodes winners in the Hunting Art Prize medicine on three continents and was followed by a stint in R&D at the BBC’s University Challenge. He Build, as junior site manager. He up The Big Bamboo Garden Com- conservation and the implementa- and the desire to return to work. Graduate credits Uni for and was selected to show in the opened a treatment centre,The tion of the Convention on Biological Scholarship. She graduated from Kraft in Munich. She then worked for subsequently worked in London has carried out work experience at pany in 2005. He married a fellow Helen Wray Engl 02, SH is an same prize competition in the years Acupressure Centre in Bath. Instead Diversity. She has been involved in success of World Cup phone app Oxford in 97, moved back to Kenya KP Foods on Hula Hoops. A change gaining valuable experience with international consultancy EC Harris, Reading graduate whom he met in Editor of a Financial magazine and 2000, 2004 and 2005 and in 2007 of needles, physical and mental of direction into retail started out national firm Lambert Smith the academic sector while super- and married Ian in the same year. In and has been working on the WEYES Bridges Hall, the first week of the N icola Stafford Psy 00, WK enjoying every minute. 98, she and her husband moved to was selected for exhibition in the well-being is addressed through as a food technologist in dairy at Hampton. He specialises in the sale, project. Space Build provides the first term of the first year. They have vising students and teaching MSc England may not have scored the goals they hoped for set up her own media recruitment Miles Young PhysGeog 00, Ghana where she practised law with Singer Freidlander Sunday Times pressure from fingers and thumbs. Tesco, then into dressings, salads, acquisition and valuation of com- perfect opportunity for a more 2 children and own their own home. degree students courses relevant at the World Cup, but thanks to the University of Read- company, Spotlight Recruitment, WX worked in local government Bentsi-Enchill & Letsa for 3 years. Watercolour Competition at the Her interest stemmed from spend- confectionery and other areas. A mercial property throughout Torbay hands-on approach and has now He still visits Reading regularly to to ecology, environmental sciences, in 07, after 8 years in the work before moving to consultancy in ing a young entrepreneur has already achieved one of They moved back home to Kenya in Mall Galleries, London. ing time with her sister who was stint at a dairy company preceded and South Devon. He plays rugby for completed over 100 new build and see friends. biodiversity conservation and man- studying complementary medicine, agement, Mediterranean biodiver- place. The company uses media like 2004. He is now an Associate Plan- his. Omar Ahmad has scored a big hit with a new iPhone 01 and Janet joined the law firm of Karen Lord FdScEcMkt 98, WI her rejoining Tesco in Ireland for Torquay Athletic, where he is a keen refurbishment projects across the and from travelling to Thailand and Brian Murphy Hist 01, SB sity and environmental economy. Twitter and Linked In to publicise ning Consultant with city based application dedicated to providing historical content Kaplan & Stratton based in Nairobi is MD of the Bluewater branch of 8 years. She has been at Asda for 4 member of the first-team squad. He North, Midlands and Scotland. experiencing acupressure treat- otherwise known as Aka Blaize hav- Volunteering, being essential for itself alongside extremely diverse firm, Martin Robeson Planning. He where she made Partner in 03. In 06, John Lewis in Kent and has vowed years. She enjoys travelling, reading, is engaged to Gayle and they plan to and data on every FIFA World Cup. ments herself. She is a member of A dam Fahn Maths 02, PA has ing changed his name by deed poll her personal and professional advertising to target very relevant returned to Reading in 2004-5 for she joined PricewaterhouseCoopers to make the store a successful com- gardening, golf. marry in December. the Complementary Therapists’ completed his year as Mayor of following listeners’ suggestions. He evolution, has taken much time in and talented people. Based in Cov- MSc Planning and Development. In Omar designed the ‘app’ after being inspired by Read- in Nairobi as Director, Tax Services mercial rival to the famous Oxford S amantha Siddle Soc 96, Charles Burkitt Association and the NHS Directory Leighton Buzzard. He is now the is the intrepid sidekick and assistant the past decade while supporting ent Garden, her staff recruit in office 2005 he founded Day Camps - out- and in 08 moved to British American Street store. She was previously MD WI has changed jobs and is now BiomedEng&Cyb 08 was the ing’s Business Entrepreneurship module. After just one for Complementary and Alternative Managing Director of Culture Cafe producer to Christian O’Connell on Non-Governmental Organisations support, digital marketing and busi- door activity centre in Biggin Hill, Tobacco as Head of Tax and Treasury of the store in Solihull which won working as Head of Operations at Stroke in Oxford’s boat in the 2010 week of going public, World Cup Universe was already Practitioners. which is an award winning catering the Absolute Radio breakfast show. in setting-up the basis for their long- ness development for creative and Hertfordshire. for the Sub-Saharan Africa Area awards under her management. She Hatstand Ltd which is an IT Consul- Boat Race. provider to the public sector offer- Before joining Xfm as a broadcast term conservation and sustainable corporate clients in London includ- in the top 10 UK Sports Apps on Apple’s iTunes and where she is today. Janet continues comes to Kent a few months after A drian Pearce Ag 90, WX. tancy firm in London. She is engaged Karen Campbell MSc AgEc 09. ing a local and international cultural assistant he worked in an orphan- management plans in national ing working with clients like TAG App Store. to pursue her passion for acting on a £20 million investment in a store Adrian started his working life on and as of writing, planned to marry Since 1985, Karen has worked in the hub through food, drink and events. age in Mumbai and as a London biodiversity hotspots. After years Worldwide, Leo Burnett, ITV and In- Kene pi g the local stage and is active in her makeover and creation of a new a west country dairy farm; he pro- in June 2010. investment business as a broking handyman. He moved to Absolute of professional experience, she is genious Media as well as high profile Omar graduated in 2008 with Food Marketing and Busi- Church and in Bible Study Fellow- Waitrose food hall. She is married to gressed through Reading’s Agricul- E velyn Gyimah Engl 07, SB. and a buy-side analyst and as a fund (or Virgin Radio as it was then) two starting to visualize a new approach entrepreneurs and celebrities. in touch ness Economics. He puts his success down to his time ship International. She is also the a manager at Peter Jones, London. ture department before qualifying Since graduating, Evelyn has been manager. After an MBA at INSEAD in years ago. for nature conservation involving ClassSt 01, Kenya National Secretary for the as both a Chartered Accountant keen to take her next steps into a ca- Tobias Tobbell at Reading, determination and a passion for football. R ichard Luney FdMMM 98, France in 1990, she worked for Fidel- WL Many of you ask for news of friends. Rhodes Trust and has a number of reer in International Development. Wai Ng LLB Law 06, CH relo- reform and ‘sewing’ new social . Whilst at Reading, Tobias SH and Chartered Tax Adviser. For the If you would like to contact some- is fish and aquaculture manager ity as an analyst and ran its German She has volunteered to work with cated to New Zealand in Feb 2010. dynamics to conserve the environ- managed to readdress several stage- Omar said: ‘I had a fantastic time at Reading. The facili- business interests which include a last 20 years he has been advising one appearing in these pages, for M&S. He says the retailer is com- country fund before moving to the SPW as a Peer Educator with young She married Alberto Vanzo (Occ 06) ment and nature. Through her work, plays - two were at the Edinburgh ties and lectures were first class and I enjoyed my life Children’s Decor company. She has a farmers and landowners across the or other former students please mitted to doing more business with Capital Group where she spent 14 people in a rural community in in Reading in August 2009. she is eager to conserve the earth’s Fringe carnival 2001 and 2002. He son and daughter (7,5). South of England on a variety of contact us (details can be found on on campus very much. Reading taught me to be as Northern Ireland’s farmed-fish sec- years covering the food and house- South Africa. She will be promoting natural and human resources. She abandoned theatre to concentrate Michaela Metz (Mrs Kennedy) financial matters. R achel Periam AnSc 04 is the back of this magazine) to find entrepreneurial as possible. The Business Entrepreneur- tor. Richard confirmed that fish con- hold sector as well as having respon- sexual health awareness and will be believes that nature will heal itself, on film-making and went on to Psy 94, WX works for a social ser- working for the London Ambulance out if we have a current address. Ad- sumption there is on the up, some- E dward Reynolds Pol/IR 96, sibility for European small market raising awareness of and addressing as long as we follow a sustainable study Feature Film evolution at ship module with Prof. Tahir Rehman was extremely vice agency in Pittsburgh, USA. She Service as an ‘emergency medical dresses will not be disclosed to third thing which M&S is determined to WK has been appointed as solicitor capitalisation companies. After health and environmental issues af- way of living. Goldsmiths College, University of valuable, and showed me that to achieve success you technician’ but training to become parties, unless we have had permis- carries out mental health research, reflect in the quantity and variety of for Coffin Mew in Hampshire, in the Reading in 2009 she became the London. He made his film debut at F lora Kintu (Mrs Tladi) PhD fecting the lives of young people i.e. Paul Simmonds Bot 04, WL. and acts as the agency’s well-being product it has on its shelves. He has wealth management team, and will a fully qualified and registered sion to do so, but we are happy to must go out and find it.’ AgExt 96 has retired from service director of Forest Footprint; a proj- from AIDS and HIV. the age of 25. He now lives in Lon- paramedic. Paul is at Norfolk’s Cornerways forward letters. coordinator. She has been married been with M&S for 12 years. Prior to provide estate and tax planning ad- ect which was created to increase don and works on fictional features after 27 years of teaching at Botswa- Wayne Hart Des for Comm 08. Nursery and has been crowned as for almost 12 years and lives on a graduating he completed a 3 year vice to the firm’s higher-net-worth transparency on the sustainability Benjamin Plank HumGeog and occasionally on shorter amateur na College of Agriculture. She left Wayne has started an apprentice- this year’s NFU Young Grower of the small farm with horses, dogs and food technology course at CAFRE’s clients. A major part of his role will performance of companies in these 00, WK dramatics projects. the College in April 2007. She got a . Benjamin is now a Flight Year. In 2006, after a packed first other animals. Life is treating her Loughry College campus. Since 1998 be to liaise with the firm’s corporate ship with Pip Hall (Typog & Graphic T he Reading Singers, 50 years on job at the University of Botswana to products’ global supply chains. Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force well and she enjoys living in the US. he has worked as a senior food tech- team to deal with the private tax Comm 87). The scheme is funded coordinate Public Education at the U chendu Chigbu MA Bus & has been selected to join the Red nologist in many other areas of the affairs of the firm’s business-owner by the memorial arts charity. He has Few members of University clubs or societies can claim S tephen Langrell Bot 90, Centre for Continuing Education Man 05, BR is doing doctoral Arrows aerobatic display team for M&S food business. His current role clients and the succession issues also completed three weeks of work to remain active with the same colleagues after fifty or WX received the Best Individual from May 2007. She transferred to research in Rural Development at 2010-2012. He has previously served covers all the technical and procure- that often arise. He has more than experience with Richard Kindersley, S imon Bell Project Award in 1986 at the Young the Department of Adult Education, the Technical University of Munich, in Afghanistan flying a Harrier jet sixty years. But a group of singers who were studying ment aspects of fish and seafood 12 years’ experience in private client a major figure in his field. Scientists Competition, as well as a lecturing position in Jan 2010. Germany. Prior to this he completed and is now fulfilling his dream. He is BA Film and Theatre, 1991 at the University of Reading between 1948 and the that are supplied by M&S. work. He qualified as a member of LLB 09 the Irish Professors of Botany Award. an MSc in Land Management there. A ndrew Jackson has en- married to Amy LEWIS (Hum Geog the Society of Trust and Estate Prac- Barra Toure PG(Dip) RurDev & late 1950’s have been meeting to sing in London once He worked as a molecular plant S mart Lungu PhD Bot 95, BR He works as a Research Assistant in rolled on the Legal Practice Course 00) who is Senior Environmental ‘I’ve directed over 110 productions including titioners in 2005. Ext 99, HL is a private farmer and pathologist and biosecurity special- has been working as Project Coordi- at Nottingham Law School. Health Officer with Corby Borough or twice a year ever since a big reunion held in 2000. a member of the Kombo Cashew the same Institute. He married on 44 Shakespeare plays, ten revues, five musicals, ist for the University of London, nator for total land care in Zambia F iona Riggall MSc Bot 99, MSc Council. Until recently, the conductors have been Marian Pear- Farmers’ Association in The Gambia, 16 December 2009. Bhaskar Karky five operas and a tour of Australia, but my fondest the Scottish Executive, France’s (2006–2008) and is also serving as SH. After leaving Reading, Fiona Ag&DevEcon 00, WG is working A thalie Redwood-Brown son, nee Inglefield (BA, General Studies, 1948) and Pat being a member of the executive D avid Clark ConMan 03, HL Institut National de la Recherche liaison officer for the World Agrofor- worked for the British Trust for for the International Centre for In- PG(Cert) AcadPr 05 recollection will always be of the very first play I ever and a trainer. recently set up a company to build 5 is rowing Jeskins, nee Bayston (BA Latin, 1957). Marian and Pat Agronomique (INRA) and Australia’s estry Centre in Zambia. Conservation Volunteers, teaching tegrated Mountain Development in full-time at the High Performance directed at the University of Reading’s Bob Kayley Commonwealth Science and Indus- N ajma Sachedina (Mrs Virani) lakeland homes in the Lake District are pictured here at the home of Stella Armstrong, nee D oris Lonkokile (Mrs Mela- unemployed youngsters traditional Nepal as a Resource Economist. He Centre in Nottingham whilst Studio in 1988.’ trial Research Organization (CSIRO) Acc&Econ 99, SH. Najma is work- and is waiting to hear about senior Denham (BA French, 1955), where they met to sing on letsa) BEd SchMan&Dev 99, countryside skills such as hedge completed PhD at the University of completing a PhD in Performance before joining the European Com- ing as Director of Accounting at a project management roles in Libya. BU has moved to the Ministry of laying and dry stone walling in Twente in the Netherlands in 2008. Analysis in Soccer. Athalie competed the 22nd April this year. The Reading Singers are hoping mission’s Joint Research Centre in credit card processing company in R ichard Clarke AgEc 00, GE. In Education in Lobatse, Botswana, as North Yorkshire. She is the new He is married and happily settled. at the European Universities Cham- to meet in the future, in or near Reading. 2003 where he is a principal scien- learning and interpretation officer Atlanta, having been an auditor for the summer of 2009 Richard estab- Policy-Maker for Educational Man- L eona Knight Art 09 exhibited pionships winning bronze. tific officer involved in European and for the Wicken Fen National Nature 9 years. She is expecting her second lished Harris & Clarke LLP, a firm of If you are a singer of any age and would like to join agement. She changed her surname a range of paintings, including R ebecca Riley Engl 09. Rebecca international development policy Reserve. At the time of writing, with child in April 2010. Chartered Accountants specialising from Lonkokile and is married to a work from her final degree show at was one of a number of students to them please contact John Lake: 01235 868251 or which supports research related to 80 school parties set to visit the Fen LandMan in Agriculture. The business is based South African. She has 15 year old A dam Whittaker Wokingham’s Loch Fyne restaurant be offered a placement for 3 months [email protected] sustainable agriculture, food secu- before the summer holidays as well 95, WX is a newly appointed in Northampton and provides em- twins, a boy and a girl. in April. 10% of sales were donated assisting the account management rity and climate change. as a full programme of holiday ac- Equity Partner with Russell & Russell ployment for ten members of staff. F raser Muggeridge Typog to the RNLI. team at White Space Design in L i Shirong PhD ConMan 98, tivities to organise, she was set to be Solicitors. He has been with the he enjoys working on family’s small 95, MN is a visiting tutor at the Maryanne Lineker-Mobberley Ipswich, following a plea by its Chief BR has taken over as President of very busy, but has landed her dream Practice since 1997 and specialises farm on weekends and regularly University. After studying he HistArtArch 08, BU has joined Executive to local businesses to help the Chartered Institute of Building, job. Before joining Wicken Fen, she in Licensing and Criminal Law. meets up with a few St George’s worked with Sara Chapman (Typog the Fine Art team at Halls’ Welsh save a ‘lost generation’ of young the first female to take on the role worked as a full-time volunteer at Hall ex-pats. He lives in Towcester, 89) at ‘the letter g’ in 1998 before Bridge head office in Shrewsbury, people whose career prospects and the first President from outside Lloyds Park in Walthamstow in Lon- Northants, with partner Laura AL- leaving to set up his own studio in having previously undertaken a have been hampered by the reces- of the UK. She has pioneered the don, teaching children from Inner LEN (Stats 02; MSc Biom 03). 2001. He and his two colleagues work experience placement with sion. She hopes that her placement ‘sustainable cities’ project between London Schools about wildlife in an Mark Crosby Ag 07, WK has shared a pared-down aesthetic, the company. Her appointment is will be a useful stepping stone into the Chongqing and UK govern- urban environment. been appointed as a schools farming in which colour, paper stock and designed to enhance not only the a career in marketing. She found the

46 47 Events roundup Upcoming events

O ver the past year, the University has supported Public Lectures and Café Scientifique, open to all a range of exciting and varied events across campus and free to attend, have run throughout the year, House of Lords alumni reception 2010 and beyond. with subjects ranging from climate change and global Generously sponsored by Clarkslegal In September 2009, the University had a strong presence food security to economics of happiness respectively. Friday 1 October 2010, 5.00 pm at the Royal Berkshire Show. It was also a key partner Other popular events included the first Institute of Educa- House of Lords, London in Reading Science Week (part of the National Science tion (IoE) alumni reception in May, which was held at the £50 per person Week) in March 2010; and in April, the Chemical Analysis new home of the IoE from 2011; the London Road campus. A special alumni reception, hosted by Facility was opened by Professor David Garner, President The Silchester open days in July were also richly attended, The Rt Hon The Lord Carrington, Chancellor Emeritus. of the Royal Society of Chemistry. as visitors enjoyed a guided tour of the excavation site. See www.reading.ac.uk/alumni for further details | 0118 378 8006

R eading Real Estate Foundation A nnual Law Lecture Surprisingly Well T hee StentonStenton Lecture 2009: 9th Annual Dinner Thursday 03 March 2011 Adapted The Objects of History Thursday 4 November, 6.45 pm Whiteknights campus (exact venue TBC) November 2009 November 2009 The Grange St Pauls Hotel, London Guest speaker: Rt Hon. Baroness Hale of Richmond Mark Pagel, a leading evolutionary Presented by Neil MacGregor, Director of the British Museum, ‘The Objects £95 per person Contact: Rosa Bardwell, [email protected] biologist from the University and of History’ retold humanity’s history through the objects we have made. £65 per person for 2010 graduates Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopaedia of Neil started his distinguished career as a lecturer in the Art History Department Join fellow RREF alumni for the largest single subject reunion in the UK. The Wednesday 10 November: John Armitt Evolution, gave the free public lecture at the University and was voted ‘Briton of the Year’ by the Times in 2009. evening will consist of a three course meal, drinks, evening entertainment and an ‘Surprisingly Well Adapted, Darwinism invaluable opportunity to network with others in the field. and Human Affairs in Darwin’s 200th year’ at the new Business School lecture Contact: Emma Pryke, [email protected] | 0118 378 4192 theatre. Guests also had the wonderful opportunity to view a first edition of the Origin of the Species. C onstruction Management and Engineering Alumni Networking R eading Real Estate Reception events round-up W ednesday 10 November 2010, 6.30 pm L aww alumnialumni receptionreception Guest speaker: John Armitt, Chairman, Olympic Delivery Authority Over the past year Reading Real Estate The subject of the event will be around sustainability and the London Olympics Foundation has hosted several success- April 2010 2012. Limited tickets. ful networking and reunion events. In The first Law alumni reception, generously sponsored by Reed Smith, was hosted Contact: [email protected] | 0118 378 8006 October nearly 400 guests attended the on the 32nd floor of their London office, boasting breathtaking views of central RREF Annual Dinner in London to be part London. Over 90 Law alumni from across the years enjoyed the opportunity to of the largest single subject alumni gath- catch up. ML ERL annual lecture in partnership ering in the UK. Two Breakfast Forums Professor Patricia Leopold, who joined the University as a lecturer in 1974 said, with the Centre for Food Security: provided insightful discussions on REITS ‘the universal view was that no one had changed! The School is very grateful to and the 2012 Olympics respectively. At its alumni for the support they give it and in particular for the financial support The global future of food and farming 60th Anniversaryniversary celebrations:celebrations: The the start of 2010 RREF held its first joint they provide for the School’s pro bono activities. We all look forward to the next TAhrcherse Archers and andMuseum Museum of English of English Rural event with the ULI Young Leaders, aimed at alumni from the last 10 years of gradua- reunion in 2011.’ Thursday 25 November 2010 tion and in the spring the inaugural RREF Mentoring Reception welcomed mentees We are currently planning the next Law reception for April/ May 2011. Business school, Whiteknights campus, Univer- RLiufe:ral 1951–2011 Life: 1951–2011 and mentors taking part in the hugely successful Mentoring Programme. For infor- sity of Reading Email [email protected] for details. 1 May to 4 September 2011 mation on forthcoming RREF events, please go to www.rref.net or contact us at Guest speaker: Sir John Beddington, Chief Sci- [email protected] entific Advisor to HM Government Museum of English Rural Life (MERL), University of Reading, Redlands Road, RG1 5EX FREE | Ticket In 1951 the first episode of the Archers was broadcast, the same year MERL was founded. This new exhibition celebrates both the radio serial and the Museum, Sir John Beddington will discuss the potential charting changes to the countryside that these two institutions have witnessed threats and challenges to achieving a sustain- over the last 60 years. For able global food supply. The lecture marks the details, including the MERL launch of the new Centre for Food Security, Spectacular on 11 June 2011 see which offers a platform for research on this discover more events online www.reading.ac.uk/merl globally important issue at the University. www.reading.ac.uk/events or call 0118 378 8660 Contact: [email protected] | 0118 378 8660

48 49 Public Lecture Series 2010–2011

The University of Reading Public lecture series is free to attend and all members of the public are welcome. No ticket required but numbers are limited so please arrive early. Large groups should telephone or email in advance.

Surveillance society The brains behind business Are we being ‘watched’ too closely? What neuroscience can tell us about business Dr James Ferryman failure and success Unearthing Wednesday 13 October 2010 Professor Doug Saddy and Dr Kevin Money Wednesday 9 February 2011 Climate change The science explained The evolution of language silchester Professor Nigel Arnell Past, present and future Wednesday 10 November 2010 Professor Mark Pagel T he quality of research at the Uni- Major questions concern the origin During the 2008 dig, our University Wednesday 16 March 2011 versity of Reading is highly regarded of Calleva in the Iron Age, particu- archaeologists made the exciting find Post election reflections nationally and internationally. Areas larly with it being one of a very small of the first evidence of an Iron Age Is the British Parliament above the law? Human rights number of towns with evidence of town in Britain, and last year uncov- of research excellence include its Dr Stuart Lakin Why has our generation discovered human rights? settlement before the Roman con- ered the earliest representation of Department of Archaeology which Wednesday 8 December 2010 Professor Alan Cromartie was awarded the distinguished quest of southern Britain of 43AD. any Egyptian God in Roman Britain. Wednesday 4 May 2011 Queen’s Anniversary Prize in 2009. Silchester is both a training field The Department has been excavat- school and a research excavation, ing and researching the major Iron with archaeology students from 8.00 pm Palmer Building Age centre and Roman town Calleva Reading and enthusiasts from as Whiteknights Campus, University of Reading Atrebatum at the Silchester Roman far away as the US and Australia 0118 378 4313 site in North Hampshire since 1997. flocking to the Field School for [email protected] Free | all welcome six weeks every summer. www.reading.ac.uk/publiclectureseries No ticket required find out more online at www.silchester.reading.ac.uk

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For more information, please contact: Development and Alumni Relations University of Reading Whiteknights Reading, RG6 6AH [email protected] Tel (0118) 378 8006 www.reading.ac.uk/alumni

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