collegenews Issue 28

Hertford celebrates: The Tanner Revolution in Oxford admissions The life (and death) of William Shakespeare The Wallasea Island wild coast project collegenews Issue 28 Contents Hertford celebrates: The Tanner Revolution in From Will Hutton...... 3 Oxford admissions The life (and death) of William College news...... 4 Shakespeare The Wallasea Island wild 1616-2016: Celebrating the life (and death) coast project of William Shakespeare...... 8 Emma Smith and Katie Traxton (2006) Hertford College News What are the facts and figures for 2014-15?...... 11 is published by the Development Office for members Wallasea Island wild coast project...... 12 and friends of the college. The opinions Simon Webb (1969), Mike Clarke (1978) expressed are those of the writers and and Mark Warren (1989) not necessarily the official views of Hertford College The Tanner Revolution in Oxford admissions...... 16

Dates for your diary...... 20 Editor: Claire Blake am writing this in the warm aftermath of the John Chemistry met Music on 5 March when Claire Vallance Design: www.dougdawson.co.uk Donne lecture at which Frances O’Grady (General played as soloist in the latest Hertford Bruckner Orchestra Cover photo: Book display in the Henry I Secretary of the TUC) made a passionate case for concert – it can’t be very often that a Fellow in Chemistry is Wilkinson room at Hertford College, the EU, and how it benefits working people. It is not an of concert standard as a pianist. Claire also played brilliantly 5% which overlooks Radcliffe Square argument you hear often, and even those in the audience at my wife’s memorial, who died in February after a two year First to admit not sharing her view found it refreshing and challenging – battle with cancer, along with haunting singing from Holly women Produced by: Brexit and Remain supporters continued in friendly debate Redford-Jones, a third year PPEist: huge thanks to them 24% Development Office over a drink afterwards. It was one more piece of evidence, both for helping to create an extraordinary and for me a Friendly Hertford College if any was needed, that the purpose of an university is cathartic event. As any number of people at the memorial atmosphere evidence-based argument and counter-argument in an commented, Hertford really came up trumps, with members Oxford OX1 3BW 14% atmosphere of free and open exchange – a purpose to of our choir also singing Panis Angelicus with inspiration. Centrally +44 (0) 1865 279428 located which all of us at Hertford are 100 per cent committed. I am intensely grateful for the many condolences I have [email protected] received, and to the fellowship for its unstinting support and The highest concentration of new startup companies warm sympathy throughout Jane’s illness. It dramatized as www.hertford.ox.ac.uk outside Silicon Valley and Boston are now found in the nothing else has done that we are all members of an unique science parks around Oxford, Cambridge, UCL and Imperial community: fellowships at moments like these are genuine with Oxford rapidly closing the gap with Cambridge – and fellowships. But that has not been our only recent loss. Why did on some measures moving ahead. As many of you know I Former Principal and renowned mathematician Christopher am a keen promoter of innovation in all its guises, not only Zeeman also died in February aged 91. start-ups but as importantly subsequent scale-ups where you choose the UK has much to do. Hertford can play an important Lastly the college has played a central role rallying nearly catalytic role. This year we’ve launched Tri-innovate – a every Oxford college to host refugee Syrian academics at joint initiative with Pembroke and Wolfson – to encourage Oxford, through the Council for At Risk Academics. A few Hertford? teams of students to come forward with innovative social have already taken up posts and we are standing by ready and business models. Many thanks to the alumni who for ours. I felt, as did the fellowship, that although it is a judged the submissions, especially given the tight deadline. small step in the grand scheme of things, it was the least we I am pleased that four Hertford teams are amongst the six could do. It’s what we stand for. finalists for the run-off next term. I look forward to hearing their new ideas for commercial or social enterprises on My very best to all of you. 16% subjects ranging from medical imaging to high tech tutoring. Academically ? renowned So what other news? The MCR is working hard to make 21% Hertford graduate students feel more involved in college Happy life. O ne intriguing new initiative is to organise incoming chance graduate students into small groups with similar study interests, better to help build friendships and enable cross- disciplinary collaboration. The groups of four to six students have been named after beneficiaries of the Tanner scheme, whose portraits are on display in Hall until the end of 20% Hertford College is a registered charity in Tradition of Results from alumni survey, 2015 England and Wales, number 1137527 September 2016. open access 2 HCN28 www.hertford.ox.ac.uk 3 College Hertfordians News in brief tackle Ebola Alumni and students both played important roles in fighting the recent Ebola outbreak.

Kate Airey (1996) was awarded an OBE for her work organising the British response to the Ebola crisis, whilst two students Sarah Bevan and Alice McMahon volunteered to test the new Ebola vaccines being developed in Oxford. News Kate was posted as Deputy High Commissioner to Freetown, Sierra Leone just weeks before the first Ebola case. She worked with a Visit us using Google Street View cross-government leadership team to set up six treatment centres You can now visit Hertford College from anywhere and create a national burial team. Kate described it as ‘an honour and in the world and view inside OB Quad, Chapel and Hertford students advise a privilege to serve in Sierra Leone at that time and work with fantastic Hall in 360 degrees. Have a look for yourself at the Cabinet Office military and civilian colleagues.’ www.hertford.ox.ac.uk/googlestreetview. Alice had previously volunteered in Sierra Leone on a careers Students in the Hertford Business wrote: ‘It really is great to see guidance project and heard from her friends there about how Ebola and Economics Society have the interest and commitment to was devastating the country. Sarah explains: ‘I had been really moved Hertford’s first access completed a study on the studying economic wellbeing and seeing the crisis in the news so when I heard about the trial from Alice summer school implications of wellbeing research that new economists will be leaving it seemed like a good opportunity to help’. Designed to provide targeted academic support, for government policy, and were university well versed in wellbeing training in study skills, and advice on interviews invited to Downing Street to science.’ As of January 2016 there have been 11,307 deaths caused by Ebola to year 12 state school students, the residential present their findings. in West Africa, a vast reduction from initial estimates of up to 1.4 million programme will be available for free. The society arrange debates deaths in the region. www.hertford.ox.ac.uk/summerschool2016 Olivia Shillabeer, third year PPE on contemporary global issues student, explains: ‘We worked for connected to business and about nine months on a project economics, and in recent months determining how wellbeing have welcomed Jeremy Bentham Hertford in the Support for Syrian refugees research could be incorporated (1976), Paul Manduca (1970) and The JCR and MCR have both passed motions to into future government and civil Polly Toynbee to college for boat race implement a donation from each student’s battels service policymaking.’ conversations. They welcome of £4 per term towards providing scholarships to new speakers, and are particularly A Hertford student helped row OUWBC to victory in the 2016 Cancer refugee students. This sits alongside Hertford’s Their report appeared in a Cabinet interested in hearing from alumni Research UK Boat Races. The Oxford team won by 24 lengths, in a decision to support refugee Syrian scholars through Office Analysis and Insight Team involved in corporate social time of 21 minutes and 49 seconds on rough waters. the Council for At Risk Academics. blog by Ewen McKinnon, who responsibility for their firms. Emma Lukasiewicz joined Hertford in 2015 from Harvard University, and is studying for an MSc in Evidence-based Social Intervention and L-R: William Barnes, Olivia Shillabeer, Policy Evaluation. She rowed in bow position and described the day Outreach rising star Kim Engel and David Cartwright Please contact Elizabeth Partridge if you’d like to get involved Outreach Fellow Catherine Redford has been ([email protected]). as a unique and unforgettable experience: ‘it was incredible to see the crowds on the banks and hear the helicopter overhead, all the while awarded a Rising Star Engagement award by the focusing on our race. My crewmates and teammates are incredible British Academy. The award provides funding for women, athletes, and friends, and I feel very fortunate to have raced Catherine’s plans to produce engaging school and represented Oxford with them.’ outreach programmes in English language and literature with other early career academics. Brexit Naomi Baker If you’d like to raise your game on the question of Brexit, Hertford help is at hand. On 2 June we’ll Jazz show with Hertford host be hosting a tutorial-style debate between Will Soweto Kinch (1996) will host a new jazz show Hutton and Dana Mills (Lecturer in Politics) during on BBC radio 3, exploring the vibrant new and which they will argue both for and against the UK underground jazz scene. Jazz Now is broadcast on leaving the European Union. Monday nights, and also features co-hosts singer Emma Smith and trumpeter Al Ryan. You can also read what a Brexit would mean for UK workers, according to Frances O’Grady (General Secretary of the TUC), by reading the L-R: Joanne Jansen, Emma Lukasiewicz, transcript of her lecture for our annual John Ruth Siddorn and Elo Luik Donne event at www.hertford.ox.ac.uk/jdonne16.

4 HCN28 www.hertford.ox.ac.uk 5 Professor Sir Christopher New Vice Bark to bacteria Clearer vision Zeeman (1925-2016) Chancellor National prize for science communication won by Devesh Mistry (2010) is developing On 13 February Louise Richardson started work as the 272nd Vice- Hertford student a synthetic lens for the eye which Professor Sir Chancellor at the University of Oxford on 1 January 2016. could restore long-sightedness in Christopher A political scientist by training, Louise has specialised older people. in international security with an emphasis on terrorist Rosemary Zeeman passed Chamberlain, third away at home, aged movements, and spent the last seven years as Principal and The lens will be made using liquid Vice-Chancellor of the University of St Andrews. year biochemist, 91. Sir Christopher, has won the crystals, the same materials found in a renowned Biochemistry Society’s smartphone and TV screens, to create mathematician and ‘Let’s all make the most of the time we have here in national science a lens which can adjust and focus communicator of this privileged, magical, extraordinary place to communication automatically depending on the eye muscles’ movement. maths, was Principal leave it even better than we found it.’ competition with of Hertford from her entry ‘From bark Devesh is in the second year of his PhD at the University of 1988-95. Louise Richardson’s installation speech to bacteria’ which examines the natural Leeds, and recently won an Industrial Fellowship from the He is well known sources of modern Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 to support his for presenting the medicine: research; he aims to have a prototype ready by 2018. Royal Institution’s 1978 Christmas Lectures, in which he described maths as a ‘Nature; it’s all around us. We eat it, we paradoxical subject: wear it and we are part of it. But do we really appreciate the benefits for our health ‘we are never quite sure whether it is an art concealed in the natural world, and the or a science, whether we invent it or discover contribution that some organisms are making it, whether it is a man-made toy or a truth so to modern medicine, as they have done for universal that it is independent of the universe.’ millennia?’ Liquid crystal viewed under a microscope. An obituary will be published in the next Hertford College The full article has been printed in The Biochemist The material is being Magazine. December 2015, available at www.biochemistry.org. heated to a critical temperature; the different colours are caused by a gradient in temperature between the middle and edge of the sample

Hertford’s academics New professors: Two Hertford Fellows have been recognised by the University Kay Davies received the Roy Foster has been David Greaves and his Martin Maiden’s research Tony Wilson has been in the 2015 Recognition of Distinction 2015 William Allan award awarded a British Academy research group have group have published presented the 2015 Callendar awards, which provides the full professor from the American Society medal for 2015, recognising discovered a naturally a new paper which Medal by the Institute for title for those who meet criteria in research, of Human Genetics, outstanding academic work occurring anti-inflammatory identifies the different Measurement and Control for teaching and good citizenship. recognising substantial in his book Vivid Faces: The peptide which could treat bacterial lineages outstanding contribution to and far-reaching scientific Revolutionary Generation in psoriasis without many of responsible for outbreaks the art of instrumentation and Emma Smith is the new Professor of contributions to human Ireland, 1890-1923. the side-effects of current of meningococcal measurement, in recognition Shakespeare Studies, whilst Christopher genetics. treatments. disease, which will help of his significant contributions Tyerman is Professor of the History of target vaccines more to advances in confocal the Crusades. effectively. microscopy.

6 HCN28 www.hertford.ox.ac.uk 7 In 2005, a scholar suggesting that Shakespeare might have retained his allegiance to Catholicism also speculated that the playwright had an Oxford education after all, ‘in a sympathetic Emma college, such as Hertford’ (The Guardian, 28 August 2005). It’s highly unlikely, but probably about as close as we are going to get to a college claim to Shakespeare.

In the 400th anniversary of his death, however, everyone is dusting off their claims and their Shakespeare swag. There are exhibitions, performances, films, theories, and books everywhere. The Globe Smith theatre in London will screen 37 short films of Shakespeare’s Emma Smith (Fellow and Tutor in English) works along a stretch of the Thames. Theatres from Bangladesh to has been examining how wineglass rings, Melbourne, and museums from Buffalo to Windsor are strutting their grease spots and doodles in the First Folio Shakespeare stuff. You can see four of the six extant Shakespeare tell the history of the first collected edition signatures at Somerset House, and a fifth at the British Library. The BBC is producing a new series of films of the histories as well as a of Shakespeare’s plays. sitcom starring David Mitchell. If you can’t stand Shakespeare, it’s going to take a real effort to avoid the jamboree. She recently authenticated a three-volume You’ll be pleased to know I’ve done my bit. I’ve been working for copy of Shakespeare’s First Folio which was some time on a study of the first edition of Shakespeare’s plays, discovered at Mount Stuart house on the the First Folio of 1623, tracing individual copies and examining their Isle of Bute. marks of use: from winestains to doodles and from bookplates to signatures. My book Shakespeare’s First Folio: Four Centuries of an Iconic Book was published by Oxford University Press in March 1616-2016 2016, and I’ll be talking about it at literary festivals and libraries in Oxford, London, Hay, and Edinburgh, and in the US, France, and Germany. You could even join the Warnock Society for a chance to Celebrating the hear me talk about it in Hertford. Mine is a kind of biography of the book, and it’s taken me to copies all over the world, and to a new skillset in understanding details from bindings to handwriting, and from auctioneers’ catalogues life (and death) to social history. I’ve tried to trace the ways this book has been differently understood across contexts, and to understand what it has meant to its many owners and users. In New Zealand I encountered an example of a colonial First Folio: the first governor of William Sir George Grey donated it to the library as the keynote of his project to secure English as the language of the Pacific. He did the same in Cape Town when he was governor of South Africa, and the different trajectories of these two First Folios over time Shakespeare speak eloquently of the different post-colonial histories of the two countries. Quite different was the First Folio brought into the BBC studio for the first ever National Lottery live draw: there its function was to symbolise the million pound jackpot, but in a more Reithian 2016 marks four hundred years and less vulgarly acquisitive way than, say, a Maserati. In my own since Shakespeare’s death. hometown of Leeds I was delighted to discover that the Gott family, local woollen magnates whose estate is now our local park, had owned a First Folio in the mid-nineteenth century. That book can Books, plays, screenings and claim to be part of Leeds’ industrial heritage as much as the mill chimneys and the grand Town Hall. The great excitement was exhibitions around the world being able to announce a previously unknown First Folio, at Mount will use this opportunity Stuart House on the Isle of Bute, at the beginning of April: a story covered across the media from New York to Shanghai, and which, to consider the impact proudest of all resulted in a special edition of The Buteman, the Shakespeare’s writing has had island’s newspaper.

on our collective imagination – One of the unexpected benefits of the project is that I have been and how we continue to engage involved in getting a number of First Folios better known and better with his writing in the twenty- displayed: in Auckland, in Stratford-upon-Avon, at the Morgan Library in New York, and at Sir John Soane Museum in London. My first century. We’ve found a First Folio that next project will develop this interest in how we display old books and make sense of them. Then maybe we can all forget about we didn’t know existed Shakespeare for a while!

8 HCN28 www.hertford.ox.ac.uk 9 What are the

Lfactsots of you have made donations figures allowing us to support more students for 2014-15? Katie and promote access. ank you! Access and Fundraising outreach Gifts of all sizes Teaching & Other 29 1 £150,000 Traxton research General 18 giving 1 £50,000-£150,000 Katie Traxton (2006) is working professional development, while also the Foreign and Commonwealth 881 3 £10,000-£50,000 for the British Council’s offering the chance to talk about, Office and starring Mark Stanley students 129 Shakespeare Lives project, write about and discover a little more (Game of Thrones, Dickensian, Star visited college from 9 £5,000-£10,000 an international celebration about Shakespeare every day. Wars). Politicians, scientists and What funds sports stars are playing their part did donors 15 £2,000-£5,000 bringing the UK’s number one However, the truly special thing and recognising the widespread support? 23 £1,000-£2,000 cultural icon to everyone. about this campaign isn’t the relevance of Shakespeare’s skill in opportunity for me to discover more communication, empathy with the 36 31 £500-£1,000 amazing about the Bard, it’s the opportunity human condition and confrontation schools for everyone. A recent article from of issues of diversity, such as gender, Student £100-£500 96 definition: very surprising my colleague Paul Smith quoted, race and religion. support 150 synonym: astonishing ‘[Shakespeare] is studied in school £5-£100 147 first recorded usage: by more than 50 per cent of the In 2012, ‘brand’ William Shakespeare Shakespeare’s Richard II, world’s population when no other was estimated at $600 million creative figure in history is studied by (Campaign Brief) with the potential 60 During of donors had Act I, Scene iii more than 1 or 2 per cent’ (Huffington to reach $1 billion if commercially the pledged a not given to Post). That figure is as exciting as owned (in line with Elvis Presley or Over 400 years later – and seven telethon: donation Hertford before it is mind-blowing and we have to Marilyn Monroe). Yet Shakespeare We visited 60 schools 48% 33% years after graduating from embrace it by reaching as many of isn’t and can’t be owned, because Hertford in English Language and that 50 per cent as possible. what he offers us is unquantifiable. Literature – ‘amazing’ seems the His work resonates now as much Student support fund best possible description for my Brand new short-form video as ever and has the potential current job. After nearly seven How did we fund student How was our student support fund used? content designed for a young, to excite, entertain and engage support expenditure? years working in motorsport and global, online audience reimagines anyone, anywhere. It’s for this automotive marketing, I’ve recently Shakespeare’s plays, from Twelfth reason that in a modern, digital 60 school visits, meeting over 3,000 been appointed Marketing Lead for Students from three of the Night brought to us by pop and age #shakespearelives and not for ten schools who attended the Bursaries for 97 potential applicants; our first women the British Council’s Shakespeare rap film-maker Jamal Edwards the few, or even the many, but for undergraduates with in STEM day; plus other outreach Lives campaign; a role that allows Bridge Centenary Access household income activities throughout the year MBE to Julius Caesar filmed in everyone. Event in 2013 started studying under £50,000 with us in 2015 61%from donations Bursaries Outreach Join the celebration £97,000 £53,000 Bodleian Library: The Complete Works British Library: The RSC: Dream Shakespeare’s Globe: Shakespeare’s Dead in Oxford has set the Shakespeare in Ten 2016 teams 18 1616: A Momentous Admissions explores the paradox challenge to local Acts covers ten key professional actors Year examines other Hardship that, on the 400th theatres, cinemas and performances which with local amateur theatrical events in 1616 grants anniversary of his schools to present have transformed groups around the including the deaths of £32,000 death, Shakespeare the full canon of our understanding of UK in productions of theatre impresario Philip 39%from the Scholarships could hardly be more Shakespeare’s plays in Shakespeare, featuring A Midsummer Night’s Henslowe, playwright college £100,000 alive, in an exhibition Oxford during 2016. the only surviving play- Dream. Francis Beaumont, 541 Hardship grants 10 Senior Scholarships curated by Emma script in Shakespeare’s Spain’s Cervantes and applicants for graduates; 5 jointly for 35 students in Smith and Simon hand – and a copy of the Chinese playwright funded scholarships unexpected nominated Hertford as their financial diculty Palfrey. the First Folio. Tang Xianzu, as well as preferred college the publishing of a Folio edition of Ben Jonson’s plays.

10 HCN28 www.hertford.ox.ac.uk 11 Andy Hay (rspb-images.com) Ben Andrew (rspb-images.com) Wallasea

hree Hertford alumni have found the sea allowed to breach some areas themselves working together on Transport was of the new island in July 2015. The one of Europe’s largest projects RSPB hopes that species such as the to restore wildlife habitats. arranged by rail and avocet, redshank and lapwing will return Island T in significant numbers along with large ship where possible, Mike Clarke has been working as a flocks of brent geese, dunlin, wigeon construction partner with Mark Warren avoiding approximately and curlew in winter. Plants such as and Simon Webb to use three million 150,000 lorry journeys samphire, sea lavender and sea aster tonnes of material excavated from are also expected to thrive. below London to create a wetland from London reserve at Wallasea Island in Essex. By 2025, the project plans to have created 148 hectares of mudflats, 192 Wild Coast Located eight miles north of Southend- below sea level, needed to be raised hectares of saltmarsh and 76 acres of on-Sea, Wallasea Island was once significantly before this process could shallow saline lagoons. Around eight made up of five separate saltmarsh begin so that higher and lower ground miles of coastal walks and cycle routes islands which have been progressively could be used to provide mudflats, will allow people to get closer to the enclosed by sea defences and saltmarsh and lagoons. island’s wildlife, with two walks already converted to arable farmland; land open to allow visitors to view the claim together with accelerating coastal Step in Crossrail, whose work building work completed. erosion and rising sea levels, has a new east-west route across Greater reduced the area of intertidal salt marsh London has involved the excavation of Project by over 91%. several million tonnes of earth. In total, The RSPB will Three alumni, from three decades, working 1,528 shipments have delivered three on the same land restoration project This project will recreate a varied million tonnes of excavated material to require more than 10 landscape through managed Wallasea. At its peak six ships arrived million tonnes of excavated realignment, allowing land previously at Wallasea each day, unloading 8,000 • Simon Webb (1969) – Chair of Transcend, material to create the programme partner to Crossrail prevented from flooding to become tonnes of material. • Mike Clarke (1978) – Chief Executive flooded – in this case by introducing reserve, and are currently breaches in the sea wall. The land, The first phase of the project to form at the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds seeking partners to provide • Mark Warren (1989) – Head of Performance at Crossrail which was around two metres Wallasea Island is now complete, with the remaining amount

The Crossrail infrastructure and RSPB habitat restoration project are both the largest of their kind in Europe, and show that a world-class economy and a world-class environment can go hand in hand Mike Clarke

12 HCN28 13 The RSPB estimates that as many as 50,000 birds may use the island

Last June I attended the Hertford Talking and embed sustainable thinking into our Following the Hertford event, I visited analytical rigour and innate creativity ill. The innovative project (to design a event: Setting the Green Agenda. Mike decision making – our goal to genuinely the RSPB head office to discuss how of engineering, coupled with an transfer system to offshore windfarms) Clarke was one of the panellists and he ‘move construction forward’. we can assess the economic benefits understanding of fundamental business stretched my rusty engineering skills, mentioned Crossrail during the Q&A. As of a project like Wallasea Island – how concepts, gave me a significant head and has led so far, with the support I was putting up my hand to mention I My current role at Crossrail, as Head of do you allocate scarce resources and start in work. I remember my first of the Carbon Trust and Technology worked on Crossrail, I was beaten to it. Performance, is focused on measuring, judge priorities against such varied and presentation as a fresh faced 22 year Strategy Board, to a full size prototype Simon Webb (1969), who leads one of understanding, and improving performance, often unquantifiable goals? In my view, old needing to explain Net Present and published patent. I never thought our programme partners, was also in the whether that be cost, schedule, safety or it is better to be roughly right by making Value to a boardroom full of senior, but back in 1993 as I left Oxford that my audience. A small world… quality. As you can imagine on a project of ‘best efforts’, no matter if approximate, blank, faces. The degree has ultimately name would be on a patent! this scale – 10,000 people and a run-rate than be precisely wrong by simply supported a career as an engineer, I am proud to have worked for Crossrail of £7m per day – it would be easy to get ignoring the difficult to quantify elements. programme manager, management Hertford has a very special place in my Mark Warren (1989) in various roles since 2008. My first bogged down in the detail. Our response consultant and management accountant. memory. In retrospect, I didn’t realise Head of Performance engagement was to co-author the has been to develop innovative new forms Looking back, I can see that the what I had achieved when I was offered at Crossrail Sustainability Strategy; to define what we for the Board Report (and associated skills I use most in my career can I recently found myself right back in the a place, nor how lucky I was to be at meant by sustainability, to bring together project reports) that are a world away from be directly linked to my Engineering thick of engineering when I took over a Hertford specifically – a calm, friendly the many and varied strands of work, the typical turgid corporate read. and Management degree. The project from my father when he became haven of normality.

Boys had come on scholarships to called Crossrail. The Treasury were grumpy people being able to get to high-paid a seminar about preventing nuclear war. Hertford from Worcester for over a about both. Like Mike, Hertford gave me jobs. One of the engineering problems Only at Oxford would an engineering/ century, but Engineering and Economics the confidence to probe for solutions and was finding a way to get earth out from economics undergraduate be allowed to Only at Oxford was only in its second year when I arrived. argue for their implementation. The first the barges they’d been transported in, cross disciplines and talk to ministers and would an engineering/ I have used one or other (and increasingly was solved with some creative engineering and onto Wallasea Island. Ironically, for visiting Americans about strategy. This both) during most days of a fascinating life and imaginative planning (incidentally the such a modern project, this issue was flexibility opened up a second set economics undergraduate in defence and transport projects. Argent Group, which has redeveloped solved by reverting to that most ancient of policy jobs that I be allowed to cross the St Pancras area so splendidly, had as of devices, the Archimedes screw. could interweave I arrived as Senior Responsible Officer its Chairman another Hertford economist, with projects. My disciplines and talk to for Major Projects at the Department of Peter Hazell). For Crossrail the case My interest in defence policy was time at Hertford showed ministers about defence Transport in 2004 to find on my desk a for funding was clinched by a young stimulated by going next door to All that A level choices made at 16 Simon Webb (1969) fragile St Pancras station regeneration economist who found a new way of valuing Souls one evening where the dauntingly don’t have to constrain career paths strategy Chair at Transcend project, and a dense report on a proposal better links between businesses and more entitled Professor of War was holding for life. (programme partner to Crossrail)

I was one of the Tanner generation; Graduating from Oxford helped me But, there’s no doubt that my training at left) is the most important Hertford gave me access to educational secure one of the very few CASE Oxford to think around problems and asset to being the CEO of an opportunity that my family had never Award PhDs, that were then sponsored question assumptions (keep asking environmental charity in the most remotely known. by the Nature Conservancy Council. the ‘why?’ until there aren’t any ‘why’s’ ‘interesting’ of times! I gained much of my understanding By the time I left, my passion for of environmental science and politics understanding nature had combined during my early career with NCC and with volunteer experience, such that I then RSPB. wanted to make a difference through Hertford gave me access to nature conservation. educational opportunity that my family Mike Clarke (1978) had never remotely known Chief Executive at RSPB

14 HCN28 www.hertford.ox.ac.uk 15 5 talks on subjects ranging from our current access 5 work to reflections on how access has affected alumni career paths £120,000 raised to support current and future 118 Recollections of the Tanner Scheme students guests Alumni who joined Hertford whilst the college

was running its revolutionary scheme, which side- “I think the way Oxford stepped the traditional route to Oxford, were eager to write in and share their experiences. opened my mind to such a rich and diverse set of experiences contributed hugely to my own approach “Hertford taught me how to think for and philosophy in education myself, and to have courage in my (and in life) and I hope 5 September own convictions and the strength to I passed some of these 2015 pursue a minority path through life. attitudes on to the teachers 2 I owe to Neil Tanner the belief that and hundreds of young Tour de France climbs – Buttertubs Throughout 2015-16 Hertford has been celebrating our all things are possible, to look for people I’ve worked with.” John Alton (1969) and Kidstone Pass history of promoting open access to higher education, tanner potential in anyone and any situation, with the fiftieth anniversary of Neil Tanner starting and that education is for the business day of living a full and useful life, not just work as Tutor for Admissions in 1965. for helping one to a career.” Isobel Collyer (1982)

“Thank you Professor Tanner and thank days you Hertford College for giving me, a shy 1970s comprehensive schoolgirl from rural Devon, the opportunity to succeed in such A one man band? diverse ways both at Oxford and thereafter As Emeritus Fellow Keith McLauchlan explains, new the scheme was not entirely Neil Tanner’s: throughout my life.” portraits Judith Samuel (1979) “It was really the outcome of discussions in hall and plans made between Neil, Peter Ganz and Jim Murray. The three did copious research to identify small grammar schools throughout the UK that had never sent anyone to either Oxford or Cambridge. Hertford then wrote to headmasters 50 inviting them to put forward their best cyclists students and a number of us visited these beneficiaries (and 1 tandem!) 68,000 of Hertford’s pedal strokes schools to drum up candidates. Neil was the 21access scheme – one who put the plan into action and was plus Neil Tanner by far the most active in implementing it. He enjoyed the support of the Governing Body at the time and this should not be tour de underestimated. We had to suffer the hertford opprobrium of our colleagues in other colleges and risk being expelled; in his first bike ride term as Principal Geoffrey Warnock was On display until summoned to appear before a committee to Michaelmas 2016 how e? 200 justify our actions.” did we celebrat miles 16 HCN28 www.hertford.ox.ac.uk 17 “Through these Tanner portraits we want to highlight social mobility in action. These alumni – among many more, too numerous to photograph! – came from modest backgrounds the scheme in in the UK, and were admitted to Hertford at the instigation of Neil Tanner’s initiative. They have gone on to a wide range of It all began with the neil tanner’s rewarding and impactful careers – and just as importantly, with the mind-set that anything is possible and audacity pays off. Tanner Scheme, on that chilly staircase, words We have many different voices expressing different opinions when the switch- which reflect the true benefit of our pioneering scheme. During the Tanner Day we were delighted to Diversity and excellence go hand in hand.” Will Hutton points of my life hear Neil’s son Julian read a speech on the scheme, which Neil had written sometime in shifted forever. the 1970s. We’ve shared some extracts below, Nigel Gould-Davies (1984) or you can read the full speech online at www.hertford.ox.ac.uk/tannerspeech.

“It certainly looked very odd that the great majority of Oxbridge places were secured by I would tell any At its best, candidates from schools educating about 20% student entering of the sixth formers, and that a large number Hertford is not of schools had never put forward an Oxbridge Hertford that just a college, candidate at all. Such a concentration of academic talent seemed quite improbable. what you can do it’s an attitude. Vanessa Collingridge At the time Hertford was not the most affluent or be is limited (1986) of colleges academically speaking and with only by you and more than its fair share of angry young Fellows was in the rare state, for an Oxford college, of no one else. being ready for change. Paul Stannard (1972) It was clear that the grammar schools could not compete in the Entrance Examination on even terms; selection by school report and interview looked like a much more satisfactory system of entry which would be less critically dependent on preparation.”

“Generally the policy is that a candidate can either talk or write his or her way into a place, in both cases the reckoning being on promise The one lasting thing which I believe has rather than achievement.” shaped my path since is the rather combative “After a few trial years of the system approach to learning Hertford declared its intention to go public that was a hallmark of in 1968, whereupon there descended upon the college’s collective heads all things my degree – the constant mentionable and unmentionable. The Tutors for I’m proud that my challenging, arguing, Admission individually and collectively lost their lasting enthusiasm for finding new perspectives cool, angry words were spoken, and Hertford my time at Hertford and seeking the best was condemned by a massive majority. has helped encourage possible answer. Kath Cates (1981) There should be no delusion that the Hertford today’s pupils to apply. unconditional offers represent an easy way Jenny Hopper (1977) Hertford was a wonderful into Oxford. About a third of those who have entered thus have obtained Firsts compared experience, it was life with 10% for the University as a whole.” changing, it gave you confidence to believe that Read more at anything was possible. www.hertford.ox.ac.uk/tannerportraits 18 HCN28 Philip Jones (1979) www.hertford.ox.ac.uk 19 Twitter Instagram Facebook www.twitter.com/hertfordcollege www.instagram.com/hertfordcollege www.facebook.com/hertfordcollegealumni

Students visiting us for tomorrow’s open We are celebrating LGBT History Month, The race for the annual Hertford day may be able to see college #cat and proudly flying the rainbow flag College Pancake Cup took place in Simpkin. Last seen in the Library... college today! Students, staff and Fellows all compete, with contestants running around the quad holding a pan, flipping a pancake at each corner. The heats this year led to an all student final (the first in three years!) and some celebratory pancakes for the spectators, courtesy of Hertford’s kitchen. Our most popular recent posts Dates for your diary

2016 This spring Hertford has been on the road hosting a series of events across 30 April: Spring Concert North America. 6 May: Warnock Society lunch 2 June: Brexit: beyond the headlines We visited Washington, New York, Boston and Toronto in April, and look 9 June: London garden party forward to meeting more alumni at our 9 July: Summer party for donors next events. 17 May: Dallas, TX 3 September: Family day 19 May: Boulder, CO 16 September: Open Gaudy for all matriculation years 23 May: San Francisco, CA 16-18 September: Meeting Minds: Oxford Alumni Weekend 23 September: Gaudy for matriculation years 1980-82 201420152016 2017 20182019