The Chronicle 2015-2016
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St Hugh’s College Oxford A record of news, events and achievements within the St Hugh’s College community for the academic year 2015-16 CHRONICLE October 2015 - September 2016 ST HUGH’S COLLEGE CHRONICLE 2015-16 Editorial Helen Popescu (English, 2006), Publications Officer The writing of this Editorial could not come at a more appropriate time for me. In the ten years since I matriculated, I have been fortunate to remain involved with College throughout. Now, as I prepare to leave my role as Publications Officer, it is a great pleasure to reflect on how the College has evolved and grown in this time. I hope that this Chronicle evinces some of the great strengths of the past academic year, and gives reason to trust that these can be matched and surpassed in the year to come. Many of the reports in the Chronicle, and particularly those of the JCR and MCR, celebrate the diversity of human experience generated by bringing together gifted students from an enormous variety of backgrounds. This has always been, and must remain, the core of College’s purpose, especially when the uncertainty following the decision for the UK to leave the European Union has been so pervasive. This year’s ‘Articles by Alumni’ focus on unusual paths taken after leaving College. If I could share any advice with my first year undergraduate self, it would be that choosing an uncommon career trajectory, although daunting, is also incredibly gratifying. It was such a delight this year to receive many reports of our alumni’s achievements in a variety of different fields – thank you to all those of you who shared your news. The same wealth of experience shines through in the ‘Obituaries’ section. Every year, I am both saddened to receive these, and heartened to see what fulfilling lives our alumnae and alumni have led, and what an impact they have had on others. Dr Jean Chu’s ‘Gaudy Report’ explains my own feelings about College much better than I ever could. The strength of human connection, the relationships forged at St Hugh’s, the importance of being kind and tolerant of one another within this large, brilliant community – these must surely be the elements that strengthen us year-on- year. For my part, I must end on a note of thanks once more. To Andrew Dilnot, Peter McDonald, Nick Perkins and Rhodri Lewis, all of whom allowed and encouraged me to be different. I hope to never be too far from College, at least emotionally. It has changed my life. CONTENTS 1 Contents Overview of the Year 2 Principal’s Report JCR Report MCR Report Library and Archive News Chapel Report Development and Alumni Relations Report The St Hugh’s Alumni Association 20 President’s Report Honorary Secretary’s Report Alumni Association Regional Network Gaudy Report Articles by Alumni 29 From Mathematics to Flight Trials After Oxford Are You Training Her? Publications, Awards, Appointments and Media Appearances 36 Alumni Academic Staff Marriages and Births 47 Obituaries 49 Notifications of Deaths Obituaries Academic Report 80 Overview Matriculation Fellows and Lecturers Scholarships and Prizes Examination Results Donors, Events and Contacts 106 St Hugh’s College Donors List of St Hugh’s Events for Alumni and Friends College Staff How to submit information to the Chronicle 2 ST HUGH’S COLLEGE CHRONICLE 2015-16 Overview of the Year OVERVIEW OF THE YEAR 3 Principal’s Report Dame Elish Angiolini DBE QC Each time I write the annual report for the Chronicle, I am struck by how much the St Hugh’s College community of students, Fellows, alumni and friends has achieved in the course of the academic year. 2015-2016 was no exception. It was especially significant as the global impact of recent events involving St Hugh’s alumni is so great. In November 2015, our alumna Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy achieved a landslide victory, securing a significant majority in Burma’s first free election in decades. The Rt Hon Theresa May MP became the UK’s second female Prime Minister in July 2016, at a crucial turning point following the EU Referendum. Currently, the impact of the vote to leave the European Union remains uncertain for higher education institutions. St Hugh’s, as part of the collegiate University, commits unreservedly to the broader vision for Oxford as a global hub for intellectual engagement. Irrespective of any changes which may occur, we firmly believe in our values of openness, inclusiveness and academic excellence. Supporting deserving students and outstanding staff of all nationalities and from all backgrounds continues to be a priority for our future strategic plans. The strength of our academic community emerged very prominently over the last 12 months. In November 2015, the Medical Sciences Division recognised Professor John Morris’ sustained commitment to education with a Lifetime Achievement Award for Teaching Excellence. Professor Morris, who is also an Emeritus Fellow of the College, has been teaching medical and science students for nearly 40 years, and, I am certain, is fondly remembered by many of our alumni. Professor Elizabeth Eva Leach, St Hugh’s College Tutorial Fellow in Music, was elected to a British Academy Fellowship in July 2016. This is a tremendous and rare achievement, resulting from Professor Leach’s research activity and scholarly publications in the music and poetry of the fourteenth century, and the history, theory and analysis of thirteenth century music. Several other Fellows of the College have had their work recognised and commended nationally and internationally, and I would like to congratulate all of them. Professor Horst Eidenmüller, Freshfields Professor of Commercial Law, was elected to the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, while Professor Chris Ballentine, Professorial Fellow in Geochemistry, received the ENI Award for excellence in energy. Professor Stuart Conway was awarded the 2016 Lectureship by the Biological and Medicinal Chemistry Sector of the Royal Society of Chemistry, for making significant advances in the subject through developing new products or methods. Professor Antoine Jerusalem received the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council’s Healthcare Award for Neuropulse, an innovative project which seeks to improve the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury and Spinal Cord Injury. Professor Tim Rood, Tutorial Fellow in Classics, was granted Leverhulme Trust funding for a three-year 4 ST HUGH’S COLLEGE CHRONICLE 2015-16 1946 Jubilee Lunch group systematic study of the concept of anachronism in Greco-Roman antiquity, while Professor Phil Charles, Emeritus Fellow of St Hugh’s, was awarded a Leverhulme Emeritus Fellowship, enabling him to continue his work on the ‘Fundamental Properties of Galactic X-ray Binaries’. It has been a busy year for media appearances by St Hugh’s academics, too. Professor Dora Biro’s research on avian navigation, focusing on the role of vision and memory, will be featured in an episode of Sir David Attenborough’s ‘Natural Curiosities’ later this year. For two weeks in September, BBC Radio 4 broadcast Professor Adrian Moore’s series entitled ‘A History of the Infinite’, which explored philosophical thought about infinity throughout history. The last 12 months also boast a varied and extensive programme of events, during which I had the pleasure of meeting many of our alumni and friends, at College, in the UK and abroad. One of the many highlights of this year was the private screening for St Hugh’s of the film ‘Sufragette’ in October 2015, followed by a panel discussion about women in society, led by Professor Senia Paseta, Tutorial Fellow in History. It was followed in November 2015 by a very special London evening event held at the Charles Dickens Museum, where Clare Tomalin spoke about Dickens and his life. OVERVIEW OF THE YEAR 5 The same month ended with the presentation of a rowing blade in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the St Hugh’s Women’s 1st VIII crew historic bump on a men’s crew in Oxford’s Summer Eights. The customary Burns’ Night supper in January was once again followed by a hearty ceilidh, while February saw our Chinese New Year celebrations welcoming the Year of the Monkey with a traditional Chinese dragon team dance. We celebrated International Women’s Day on 8 March by addressing the topical issue of ‘Women in the Academy’ with a roundtable discussion led by Professor Diane Reay (Education, Cambridge), Professor Dame Hermione Lee (English, Oxford) and Dr Patricia Daley (Human Geography, Oxford). This year’s North American Reunion week in April was a tremendous success, and I was delighted by the warmth and enthusiasm of all alumni and friends who joined us for the reception and dinner at DACOR Bacon House, afternoon tea at Tudor Place, and the dinner at the Hunt & Fish Club. My most heartfelt thanks are also due to Neill Coleman (Modern History, 1993) for hosting a superb working lunch at the Rockefeller Foundation. Professor Stuart Conway travelled to the US later in August, along with Bruce Lawrence, Executive Director of International Alumni Engagement. Our most heartfelt thanks to Jean Chu (Physics, 1956) for hosting a very well-attended and enjoyable informal lunch on this occasion. Held in late April, this year’s Law Dinner was made all the more memorable thanks to a marvelous speech from The Rt Hon Lady Justice Hallett DBE (Law, 1968). We returned to London in May for an exclusive private view of the ‘Pre- Raphaelites on Paper’ exhibition at Leighton House Museum, followed by a house tour at this remarkable building. In June, we were fortunate to be hosted by British Museum Deputy Director and alumnus 1956 Jubilee Lunch group 6 ST HUGH’S COLLEGE CHRONICLE 2015-16 1966 Jubilee Lunch group Dr Jonathan Williams (Ancient History, 1990), for a private view of ‘A Rothschild Renaissance: Treasures from the Waddesdon Bequest’ at the British Museum.