your manchester The Magazine for Alumni and Friends April 2010 Mark Kermode back on campus

Healing performances Amis on students Frenetic lifestyles Drugs to improve the mind The laughter laboratory features...

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President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Alan Gilbert 26 welcome to your m

Welcome to this latest edition of Your Which leads to the second timing of a major new student learning facility at Manchester, the magazine for alumni of consideration. We have reached an the heart of the campus. We are also The University of Manchester. important watershed in the development of making other changes in order to offer the University, making 2010 a sensible time students more purposeful curricula This will be the last time that I will be writing for a change of leadership, irrespective of and to re-pe rsonalise the student in the magazine as President and Vice- personal factors. learning experience. Chancellor as I have decided to retire at the end of the current academic year. I will have The Manchester 'merger' is effective ly over, A new, powerful institutional culture has been in post for almost six and a half years and has been an unambiguous success - a developed around our ambitious by then, although for the first seven months reality reflected in our outstanding Manchester 2015 Agenda, bringing with it a prior to 1 October 2004 my role was that of performance in the Research Assessment genuine sense of institutional momentum President-elect working alongside the Vice- Exercise 2008, in our impressive climb up around the pursuit of scholarly excellence in Chancellors of the two merging institutions. respected international university rankings all its forms. Over the past few months, we since 2004, and in the physical have been revising our Manchester 2015 Two things have determined the timing of transformation of the Manchester campus Strategic Plan to take account of the my departure. First, as some of you may through a massive capital investment of progress that we have made so far and to know, I have had niggling health problems over £400 million. clarify our Goals and Objectives. The new over the past couple of years, culminating in document can be seen on the University heart bypass surgery last September. I am We have also begun to make progress on website at www.manchester.ac.uk/2015 feeling well enough and energetic enough our major teaching and learn ing reform to be confident about the next few months, agenda and address the unsatisfactory It has been a matter of immense good but it would have been irresponsible for me performance by this University in the fortune that the Manchester merger took to give the same assurances to the National Student Survey (NSS). Blackboard, place in a relatively benign financial climate University community and its Board of a state-of-the art online learning in UK higher education. We took prudent, Governors about a further extended period environment, is now available to all our but significant, financial risks to empower in office. students and we have begun construction the new institution to take full advantage of

2 YOUR MANCHESTER contents

University news 4 Students today 10 Drama – a powerful healing tool 12 Catching up with Martin Amis 14 30 Overcoming tiredness 16 33 Capturing carbon 18 Combating world poverty 20 Drugs to improve the mind 22 Mark Kermode receives University Award 24 Alumni event, a tour of underground Manchester 26 20 12 Soviet plans to invade Manchester 29 Manchester, a city of laughter 30 Alumni event, Alison Uttley revealed 33 manchester Victorian peepshows and freakshows 36

the opportunities afforded by the merger, strategically-focused institutions like ours Alumni in the Spotlight 38 that do not exist to the same extent in but we then took decisive action to Alumni Association news 40 balance our books and ensure that the easier circumstances. University budget is now back in surplus. One of the secret ingredients of the Development news 42 success of the University over the past six Thank goodness that we did, because the Alumni Benefits 48 external funding climate for all UK years has been the active and passionate universities is now taking a dramatic turn support that we have received from our for the worse. The kinds of bold 230,000 graduates around the world. I strategies that represented prudent risk have had the privilege of meeting many of Your Manchester is published by the you here on the campus and on my travels Communications, Media and Public Relations six years ago - and that in Manchester's Division in conjunction with the Division of case were vindicated by the results overseas over the past six years and I have Development and Alumni Relations, achieved - could not have been pursued seen for myself the high esteem in which The University of Manchester. you hold your University and the wide responsibly during a period of public For further information concerning any of the variety of ways that you continue to offer it funding stringency of the kind that UK articles in this issue please contact: your support. [email protected] higher education now faces. The articles printed here, to the best of our Thank you for that support. While I will be leaving The University of knowledge, were correct at the time of going to press. We cannot guarantee that all articles Manchester in a healthy financial position, submitted will be printed and we reserve the even the very strongest institutions will right to edit material where necessary. Furthermore, find it extremely challenging to manage the views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the sheer scale of the public funding cuts The University of Manchester, The University of likely to be compounded year-on-year over Manchester Alumni Association, or the Editor. the next five years or so. At the same time, I am aware that 'hard times' create Professor Alan Gilbert major opportunities for strong, President and Vice-Chancellor

YOUR MANCHESTER 3 News Hidden star bursts into sight Astronomers at the Jodrell Bank Centre "Our own Sun will do this in about five for Astrophysics have discovered one of billion years time. The Bug nebula, which is the hottest stars in the Galaxy with a about 3,500 light years a way in the surface temperature of around 200,000 constellation Scorpius, is one of the most degrees - 35 times hotter than the Sun. spectacular of all planetary nebulae." Despite numerous attempts by astronomers Using the recently refurbished Hubble Space across the world, the mysterious dying star Telescope, a team of astronomers, led by at the heart of the Bug nebula, one of the Professor Zijlstra, has shed new light on the brightest and most beautiful of the nebula with a set of spectacular images. planetary nebulae, has never been The images were taken to show off the new seen before. improved Hubble after it began work again New National “This star was so hard to find because it is in September. hidden behind a cloud of dust and ice in Professor Zijlstra added: “It's extremely the middle of the nebula”, said Professor Clinical Director important to understand planetary nebulae Albert Zijlstra. such as the Bug Nebula, as they are crucial for Dementia "Planetary nebulae like the Bug form when a to understanding our own existence on dying star ejects much of its gas back into Earth. The elements necessary for life, Professor Alistair Burns will promote space and they are among the most beautiful especially carbon, are created inside stars, better care of people with dementia objects in the night sky. and ejected into space as part of these within the NHS and social care planetary nebulae.” communities and provide leadership for the implementation of the National Dementia Strategy. Formerly the University’s Professor of Old Age Psychiatry, Professor Burns developed the South Manchester Memory Clinic which provides specialist assessment and diagnosis for people with memory problems. He is alson a instrumental part of the Old Age Psychiatry General Hospital liaison service and helped establish a Dementia Drug Treatment clinic. Professor Burns said: “I am delighted to have been appointed to the post of National Clinical Director for Dementia. In the past few years, there has been a great deal of public interest in dementia and several influential initiatives, in particular the National Dementia Strategy. The challenge now is to build on this to make a real positive difference to people with dementia, their families and carers. I very much look forward to working with colleagues to realise this ambition.”

4 YOUR MANCHESTER Providing support to Haitians following earthquake devastation Photo by Norman Scott / Rex Features ©

Professor Tony Redmond, the Deputy “Following on from this, we have worked Accompanying him to Kosovo were Dr Jenny Director of the new Humanitarian and with the Chinese to develop a Major Peterson, a social scientist, and MA student Conflict Response Institute, has recently Incident Medical Management Support Natalie Wood, who formed a multi-disciplinary returned from Haiti where he devised training programme and six Chinese doctors team there. This approach sets the HCRI apart health needs assessments for a number recently came to Manchester to complete from other UK-based relief organisations. of agencies including the British this. In 2010, we will be rolling out the “We are writing a research paper on my Department for International course in China, where it will be adapted by work in Kosovo in which we look at the Development. He also led a team of the Chinese.” situation now, ten years on, from a medical surgeons providing emergency medicine as well as a political p oint of view,” alongside the charity Merlin. In addition, a medical student exchange programme is being set up between the explained Professor Redmond. “Healthcare The Institute was established in September University and Chinese medical schools, and politics are very closely connected in 2009 under Di rector Rony Brauman, a every country and the HCRI is unique in that following similar principles to existing former president of the internationally- it has medical and humanities people exchange initiatives with Kosovo, Uganda, renowned relief organisation, Médecins Sans working very closely together.” Malawi and Egypt. Frontières. Its unique, multi-disciplinary Commenting on the formation of the HCRI, approach draws on the skills of medics and Professor Redmond was the first Clinical its executive director Professor Bertrand social scientists to shape relief efforts in Director of the University Clinical Centre in Taithe said: “The project is driven by a desire global emergencies. Pristina following the NATO invasion of to inform and support policy and decision Professor Redmond is also involved in ongoing Kosovo in 1999. makers, to optimise joint working between medical development work with Chinese “I was asked recently by the hospital and partner organisations, and to foster doctors after leading the UK’s emergency medical school to go back and help them increased understanding and debate in the response team in Wenchuan which was with further development and the outcome field of humanitarianism. devastated by an earthquake in 2008. was extremely positive,” said Professor “We hope to become the leading centre for “My original appointment by the Foreign Redmond. “We agreed to develop formal the renewal of thinking about humanitarian Office in May 2008 involved a lot of spinal links between the Kosovo and Manchester intervention, and the best place where cord injury management and working with medical schools and will be looking to medical practitioners and academics from people who had limbs amputated as a result set up an exchange programme inv olving the humanities side can meet and inform of crush injuries,” said Professor Redmond. medical students from both schools.” one another,” added Professor Taithe.

YOUR MANCHESTER 5 News

Grant success for foetal medicine

University researchers restriction are diseases with working towards treatments many different causes and are for the pregnancy the most dangerous pregnancy complications pre-eclampsia complications. There are and fetal growth restriction currently no treatments available have been awarded £2.4 other than Caesarean section or million. inducing labour. Pre-eclampsia – a group of “Some of the causes are similar conditions that result in high to those in other conditions, such blood pressure in expectant as cardiovascular disease and mothers – can be fatal, while cancer, and our search will fetal growth restriction, where determine whether the same the baby does not grow properly drugs that are useful in those in the womb, results in a greater diseases can be used in treating risk of death or handicap. pregnancy complications.” The five-year progra mme grant A further £220,000 has been from the Medical Research awarded by the MRC to fellow Council has been awarded to Maternal and Fetal Health Professor Colin Sibley, Dr Sue Research Centre scientists, Greenwood and Dr Mark Professor John Aplin and Dr Wareing in Manchester’s Lynda Harris. Their research will Mann, in the School of Working with colleagues at Maternal and Fetal Health examine an enzyme called MMP- Translational Medicine, have King’s College, London, the Research Centre based at St 12 and whether blocking its been awarded £1 million of a Manchester researchers will Mary’s Hospital, together with actions may be a therapeutic £4.5 million programme grant by investigate a gene called FUS – collaborations in Cambridge, intervention in complicated the Wellcome Trust and Medical known to play a role in motor Harwell and Alberta. pregnancies. Research Council to identify neurone disease – in dementia Professor Sibley said: “Pre- Meanwhile, Dr Stuart Pickering- genetic risk factors in motor patients with frontotemporal eclampsia and fetal growth Brown and Professor David neurone disease. labour degeneration (FTLD).

Wartime graduate returns to campus

One of the University’s longest-standing residence abroad with such intellectual alumni was welcomed back to the luminaries as André Gide. campus recently. Denied an officia l graduation ceremony Geoffrey Stone, now nearly 90, who because of wartime restrictions on public graduated with Double Honours in French meetings, Mr Stone’s destination after and German in 1940, met with a group of graduation was the Military Intelligence final-year students to compare notes Corps and service in Britain, Europe and before undertaking a nostalgic tour the Far East. through the bookshelves of the John After a long career in education as a Rylands University Library. headteacher and schools inspector, Over lunch at the Christie’s Bistro with the Mr Stone retains a keen interest in current Head of French Studies, Dr Ursula education and, in particular, in the Tidd, and with the Heads of German Studies, teaching of foreign languages. Professor Margaret Littler and Dr Matthew Mr Stone was impressed by the curre nt Philpotts, Mr Stone shared his experiences as strength of the disciplines at Manchester. “I a student in Manchester more than 70 years was heartened to see that both Departments ago. Rather different from the present are flourishing, “commented Mr Stone after student experience, these included the his visit. “I was also grateful to the lively and provision of individual tutorials in his room at charming students for their interesting Dalton Hall and shared lodgings during his comments. You all did me proud!”

6 YOUR MANCHESTER US honour for Manchester physicist

The National Academy of Professor Geim has been based Sciences (NAS) has at the University since 2001. His honoured University other notable achievement physicist for his exceptional includes the development of a scientific achievements. biomimetic adhesive that later became known as ‘gecko tape,’ Professor André Geim FRS which mimics the creature’s Langworthy and Royal Society ability to cling on to surfaces. He 2010 Anniversary Research is also known for his experiments Professor of Physics at the on diamagnetic levitation, University, is the recipient of the including levitating a frog in a prestigious John J Carty Award magnetised cylinder! for the Advancement of Science Since discovering graphene, The award is bestowed for Professor Geim has published noteworthy and distinguished many high-profile research accomplishments in any field of papers on his graphene science within the charter of discoveries in prestigious journals the NAS. such as Nature and Science. He Professor Geim, who is the only has already won a string of Established by the American Previous winners of the award non-US recipient of this award, awards for his work including Telephone and Telegraph Co, the include Nobel Prize Winner Sir has been honoured for his the prestigious Europhysics Prize Carty Award – a medal and William Lawrence Bragg, who experimental realisation and in 2008 and the The Körber $25,000 prize recognising was appointed Langworthy investigation of graphene, the European Science Award in noteworthy and distinguished Professor of Physics at the two-dimensional form of carbon, 2009. He is tipped for a accomplishment in any field of University in 1919 and held this which he discovered in 2004 Nobel prize. science – is being presented in post till 1937. with Dr Kostya Novoselov. the area of physics in 2010. Overcoming adversity to graduate Karen Buckle has graduated At 23, Karen was finally diagnosed with a from Manchester with first class high functioning form of autism. She also honours, despite being autistic and met her British husband Ian online, moved a single mother. to Britain to be with him and had two more daughters, Antonia and Erin. She Karen achieved the highest mark on the won a two year court case for custody of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology her first daughter. course, winning one of only five Wellcome Trust Studentships to study for a Masters in Karen and her husband separated amicably, Health Care, Ethics and Law. but this did not stop Karen from setting out to achieve her lifelong ambition of going to But she had a long and difficult journey to university. When the girls were old enough, graduation. Born in Canada and unable to she completed an access course at her local speak properly unti l the age of six, Karen college and applied for a place on a was believed to be severely autistic and Neuroscience and Psychology degree course mentally retarded. She was ‘re-diagnosed’ at Manchester. as gifted at eight but was bullied throughout her school career until the age of 16 when Karen has recently begun her masters degree she won a scholarship to attend a girls’ in Health Care Ethics and Law. She boarding school. succeeded, in part, thanks to the support of staff at the University and from her friends, However, with family problems and no family and classmates. “I have found my proper diagnosis for her condition, Karen home in academia” she says. “So much of failed to apply for university. Several tough my life has been focused on what I can’t do, years followed in which sh e was hospitalised and now I am in a place where I am good at with depression and gave birth to her first something. I feel proud and terrified and daughter Kendra who was taken into care. amazed. I made it.” Photo by Nick Ogden ©

YOUR MANCHESTER 7 News

New clues in Easter Island hat mystery

A team of archaeologists has come one pumice) dust with a raised pavement along step closer to unravelling the mystery one side,” said Dr Richards. of how the famous statues dotting the “It is likely that they were moved by hand landscape of Easter Island in the Pacific but three logs could also have been used,” acquired their distinctive red ‘hats’. he added. “The mint condition of the Dr Colin Richards, from The University of ceremonial axe-like tool used for squaring Manchester and Dr Sue Hamilton, from up logs or hollowing out timber, perhaps in University College London, are the first canoe construction – suggests that it was archaeologists ever to have excavated Easter not a quarry tool but an offering left by Island’s statue hat quarry, known to the a worker.” locals as ‘Puna Pau’. Dr Hamilton said: “The hat quarry is inside The team examined the way the hats, weighing the crater of an ancient volcano and on its several tons, were moved by Polynesians outer lip. A third of the crater has been between 500 and 750 years ago. quarried away by hat production. So far we have located more than 70 hats at the The discovery of a road and a ceremonial axe ceremonial platforms and in transit. Many by the team, who are the first British more may have been broken up and archaeologists to work on the island since incorporated into the platforms.” 1914, has thrown new light on the mystery. The axe and the way the road is lined with “We now know that the hats were rolled hats along one side, suggests, say the team, along a road made from a cement of that the road was a ceremonial avenue compressed red scoria (volcanic rock-like leading to the quarry itself.

Gorillas are new source of HIV, scientists reveal

Scientists have discovered that gorillas are a source of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), having diagnosed a Cameroonian woman living in Paris with a strain that is different to those previously found to cause HIV-1 infections. This is the first human infection of HIV that is clearly linked to gorillas and not chimpanzees. HIV-1 is responsible for the AIDS pandemic that currently affects 33 mi llion people worldwide. HIV-1 originated as the result of cross-species transmissions of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV) found in chimpanzees, which is presumed to be a result of people coming in to contact with infected bush meat. HIV/AIDS was first recognised by the scientist community in the 1980s, while the first introduction of the virus into the human population is estimated to have been near the beginning of the twentieth century, in the region of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Now a French team, in collaboration with David Robertson and Jonathan Dickerson in the Faculty of Life Sciences, has found the first definitive transfer of HIV-I from a non-chimpanzee source, a gorilla. The unusual HIV-1 infection was found in a 62-year-old Cameroonian woman living in Paris. It probably repr esents a new human lineage that is distinct from those previously indentified.

Dr Robertson, whose study was published in Nature, said “The can jump from species to species, from primate to primate, and discovery of this novel HIV-1 lineage highlights the continuing that include s us; pathogens have been with us for millions of years need to monitor closely the emergence of new HIV variants. This and routinely switch host species.” demonstrates that HIV evolution is an ongoing process. The virus

8 YOUR MANCHESTER Obituaries

During 2009, UMIST lost two of its leading lights; here we remember Professor Bob Boucher and Professor Harold Hankins Professor Bob Boucher 1940-2009 Professor Bob Boucher, Principal and Vice- Chancellor of UMIST between 1995 and 2001, died on 25 March 2009. During his tenure he expanded the biosciences to stand alongside UMIST’s traditional strengths in the physical sciences and engineering, and created the Professor Bob Boucher Professor Harold Hankins University’s first ever clinical chairs. He was also a pivotal figure in securing a new building for the School of Management and Above all else, Bob Boucher was a family prominence and physical size - Harold strengthening its alliance with the man, devoted to Rosemary, his wife of 43 commissioned the Joule Library and the Manchester Business School, so that years, and their three children – Jeremy, Tim Weston Centre, and invested in several new together they became one of Europe’s and Justine. state-of-the-art student accommodation blocks. Over a short period of time UMIST premier academic centres for business Professor Harold Hankins 1930-2009 and management. was awarded a Queen’s Award for Export Professor Harold Hankins, who died in May Achievement, The Queen’s Anniversary Prize 2009 aged 78, was Principal and Vice- In 2001, Professor Boucher was appointed for Higher Education, and two Prince of Chancellor of UMIST from 1984 to 1995. Vice-Chancellor of the University of Wales Awards for Innovation. Sheffield, the continuation of a long During his time at the helm of the University association with Sheffield where he had he stabilised its finances, substantially Throughout his tenure, Harold maintained his previously been Pro-Vice-Chancellor and had increasing its annual research income from research interests, collecting ten separate led the mechanical engineering department. £2.5 million to nearly £18 million. He also patents over the years for his work with oversaw an ambitious programme of computer visual display systems. He was Professor Boucher was appointed a CBE in structural expansion. appointed a CBE for services to higher 2000 for his services to higher education and education in 1996 and received Honorary Born on 18 October 1930, Harold attended the engineering profession. Doctorates from UMIST, The University of Crewe Grammar School and became an Manchester and the Open University. He was After retiring as Vice-Chancellor at apprentice with The London Midland and also awarded the prestigious Reginald Sheffield in 2007, he held many prominent Scottish Railway in 1947. He studied Mitchell Gold Medal by the Association of positions including Chairman of the City's electrical engineering on a part-time basis at Engineers in 1990 and was elected a Fellow Museums Trust and a Deputy Lieutenancy of Manchester College of Technology (later to of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 1993. South Yorkshire. become UMIST). After graduating in 1955, He made a significant contribution to the he married Kathleen and took up a post at As Principal of UMIST, Harold entertained maintenance and improvement of quality in the Metropolitan Vickers Electrical Co Ltd. many university groups at his house in higher education through his involvement Following a successful spell as Assistant Glossop, and found the time to sit on the with the Quality Assurance Agency and the Chief Engineer, Harold returned to academia board of governors of both South Cheshire Higher Education Funding Council for as a Lecturer at UMIST and embarked on a College and Cheadle Hulme School. He also England. He was also an influential figure PhD. After completing his doctorate, he was cultivated a keen interest in military history. appointed a Senior Lecturer and then on the international stage, working on His name lives on at the University within the Professor of Electrical Engineering in 1974. behalf of Universities UK, the British Council Harold Hankins Building in the Manchester and the Association of Commonwealth From 1979 to 1981, Harold was Vice- Business School. He is survived by his wife Universities to maximise the recruitment of Principal of UMIST. Under his watchful eye Kathleen and three sons Anthony, Matthew overseas students to British universities. UMIST grew in both international and Nicholas.

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YOUR MANCHESTER 9 University Place “Students still use note books and pens!” How much has the student experience altered over the last 50 years? Peter Readle, a maths graduate who studied here in the 1960s, had a good look around campus recently to see for himself

“On one level the place has changed heard of ‘break out’ areas for students to but in my day a typical Saturday night out radically but on another it is essentially work in small groups, unless it was in the for my friends and I would be at Belle Vue the same,” said Mr Readle who is the bar or hall of residence. In fact, apart for stock car racing followed by a take alumni representative on the University’s from formal lectures and tutorials, my away and beers, usually at Hulme Hall. Board of Governors. friends and I rarely worked in the University’s maths department but tended “Looking round the accommodation, the “In the 1960s there were no PCs or cell to do our own study in the library or back kitchens are so much better now! phones. The physical facilities for in our halls of residence or flats.” However, I don’t see anywhere to park students are so much better than in my today. Forty years ago I had no difficulty day. Lecture theatres are brighter and He also gained the impression, from finding a spot for my old mini van…” more spacious, slides have been talking to current students, that the replaced by white boards and power Students’ Union is a lot more effective Parking aside, much has altered at points and interactive learning centres. than it used to be. “The liaison with the Manchester since the 1960s of course, But despite all this, from what I have University management means ttha and over recent months great strides have seen and been told today, students still everyone is working together to make been made to ensure that student use note books and pens most of the sure student learning is as good as it can learning is as effective as possible. Colin time. They prefer it! be,” he said. Stirling, Vice-Preside nt for Teaching and Mr Readle said he thought the Away from the academic side of things, Learning, said that both the investments made in the whole of the Mr Readle noticed other changes: “I’m undergraduate and postgraduate infrastructure of the campus had changed not sure exactly how the entertainment provision had recently undergone a the way students work. “We had never side works for undergraduates these days, thorough review process.

10 YOUR MANCHESTER The Alan Turing Building Photo by Professor Nick Higham ©

The Students’ Union Peter Readle

“All recommendations to improve the In addition, work has now begun on the Professor Stirling said the Learning quality of the student experience are development of the University’s iconic Commons would be a beacon for student being implemented,” he said. “Changes £30 million ‘Learning Commons’ learning, demonstrating the University’s will ensure an emphasis on personal building which aims to provide a world- “genuine commitment to students and the contact and support for individuals, class 21st century learning environment provision of high quality learning spaces fit coupled with important curricular and for students. for contemporary learning practices.” skills developments.” Demolition work has just started on the Jan Wilkinson, University Librarian, Much of the focus has been on making former Refectory and Moberly Tower described the idea as “a perfect example sure that all schools are able to provide buildings which are flanked by Oxford of the Library reaching beyond its timely, high quality student feedback. Road, Lime Grove and Burlington Street. boundaries to work collaboratively with “We’ve listened to our students and they its partners to create a learning The Learning Commons, which is due to have been telling us that our feedback environment suited to the needs of future open its doors in the summer of 2012, process could be improved,” said generations of students." will accommodate more than one Professor Stirling. “We’ve listened to the thousand students in stimulating and Sustainability will be a major feature of suggestions and comments from the comfortable surroundings. There will be the new building, which will include students and, after months of high quality IT facilities and a campus energy efficiency and CO2 monitoring to consultations with students and staff, a hub for student-centered activities, plus minimise energy wastage - something new feedback policy has been drawn up a variety of learning support services. that would have really blown the minds so that students get feedback they can of our students back in the 1960s! react to within a reasonable time frame.”

YOUR MANCHESTER 11 Making a drama out of a crisis Drama can be a powerful tool in times of conflict as two projects examining the relationship between performance and healing have discovered

12 YOUR MANCHESTER Arts performances in war ravaged primary art form, we draw upon a range Their original aim was to create a touring countries such as Sri Lanka, Gaza and of art form approaches in the landmine education awareness Rwanda - as well as in prisons in Britain - development of our work." programme for villagers who had recently have been uncovering the extent to which returned to their homes after the 2002 Projects include delivering creative drama can enable the healing process to ceasefire there. drama-based workshops at the youth take place. offenders institute at Hindley; providing a But since then, the project has grown and According to James Thompson, drama and creative arts co-ordinator for hundreds of children's plays have been Professor of Applied and Social Theatre, HM’s Prison at Styal; and a collaboration performed to professional standards in many people in times of distress turn with the National Children's Bureau. schools throughout the Jaffna district. to the performing arts to help deal with There is also a database on a wide range Other examples include Rwanda's their problems. of artists and creative organisations Mutabaruka company, which uses working with young people at risk of Professor Thompson has been instrumental traditional song and dance to perform offending in the North West. in setting up two unique organisations African morality tales. based at the University, to explore the Professor Thompson is also behind 'In Another project, called SPACE, offers relationship between performance and Place of War', a research project funded young people from a Protestant area of healing in times of conflict. by the Arts and Humanities Research North Belfast a way of understanding the Council. He said: "Millions of people The Theatre in Prisons project began in effects of the conflict in Northern Ireland continue to endure the chaos of war and 1992. Over the years, it has established a on their community. There are hundreds humanitarian crises. And while these strong reputation for creative work with of other examples across the world. events are not without historical prisoners. Staff have worked in prisons precedent, they have never before had Professor Thompson's colleague Ruth across this country and in the US, South such evident global reach and impact. Daniel oversees the In Place of War Africa and throughout Europe. This presents many challenges for artists network and database. She said: "The The project has now become a charity, and cultural workers in sites of crisis and project team continue to meet, learn from funded by Arts Council England NW, armed conflict.” and engage with practitioners and although it retains strong links with the scholars involved in theatre and In Place of War is concerned with theatre Drama Department and has created one performance from conflict and war zones and performance practice that exists of the longest established undergraduate around the world. Using our research, we because of - and in spite of - wars, crises training courses in Theatre in the Criminal have created a searchable, online resource and disasters. Justice System. that houses over 2,000 documents, In one notable example, Professor images, videos and interviews related to Director Simon Ruding said the idea Thompson and his colleagues have performance and conflict.” started from the belief that theatre and worked in Sri Lanka for UNICEF's Children related arts have the power to transform Anyone can see it for themselves at Affected by Armed Conflict Unit to help people's lives. www.inplaceofwar.net/ipowdb/ some fifty young actors perform in “That vision continues,” he said. schools and displaced people's camps “Although the atre will always be our every week. Professor Thompson is the HCRI Director of Research, see page 5.

YOUR MANCHESTER 13 Once deemed literature’s ‘enfant terrible’, world- renowned writer Martin Amis is now Professor of Creative Writing at The University of Manchester. As his third year at the Faculty of Arts’ Centre for New Writing draws to a close he describes his experience so far… Photo by Adrian Sherratt / Rex Features ©

14 YOUR MANCHESTER What your children don’t tell you

Martin Amis has been many things; them! I tell them that no-one’s looking social forces as terrorism, science, sex and novelist, memoir-writer, commentator and for perfection in a first novel, they’re ageing, and has welcomed high-profile journalist among them, so it’s perhaps not looking for energy and freshness of voice. guests including Clive James, John surprising that he turned to a new Banville, John Gray and Howard Jacobson. “It’s an awful lot to do with confidence.” challenge three years before his 60th Favourite among the events so far have birthday. A key attraction of becoming In taking up this, his first teaching role, been last summer’s discussion of chair of the University’s new writing hub, Martin achieved a mirror image of his literature and suicide, with Al Alvarez he said at the time, was the opportunity father Kingsley Amis’s career, which and Melvyn Bragg, and two events "to find out more about the young. At a began with teaching English in Swansea involving Will Self. “He always livens certain age you feel like they're and Cambridge. By the time Martin was things up,” Martin laughs. creatures... not from another planet, but 12, however, his father was concentrating definitely another country." exclusively on his writing, and his teaching An event on the life and work of Philip work was not often discussed. Larkin also offered a very personal insight Having now taught Manchester’s MA in into the poet’s writing, personality and Creative Writing for three years, he is “I’ve read several accounts of his home-life, gleaned from Martin’s own unequivocally enthusiastic about his teaching, and I think he was very good,” relationship with him as his father’s findings. “I’m impressed with the whole Martin says. “I hope I’ve inherited some contemporary and friend. generation,” he says. “They’re of that, although of course he was going unideological, more independent of mind through the big texts. Clearly proud to be hosting his own event than the one between me and them - series, he seems most impressed by the “When I teach Pride and Prejudice I don’t they’re relaxed.” interest and dedication of Manchester’s want the students to identify with literary audiences. So impressed, in fact, Despite having children of a similar age, Elizabeth Bennett or Mr Darcy, I want that he decided to launch his highly- he already feels that the experience is them to identify with Jane Austen. With anticipated new novel, The Pregnant helping him to understand the next every paragraph the writer should be Widow, in Manchester in February. generation better. “It’s nice to have thinking, ‘now how’s he going to get another milieu that I can describe,” he through this, how’s he going to get this “We have a loyal and very intelligent says. “Your own children don’t tell you scene done?’ audience which comes out in all exactly what it’s like.” weathers,” he says. “I never know “Every page should present the writer whether I should praise them more when The writer, who is widely considered to be with problems that they might come they come in the rain or in sunshine! one of the best at work today, teaches across themselves. It’s emphasising the master classes on everything from the importance of reading; one of the most “It’s a counterweight to what feels like a novella to the comic novel to aspiring enjoyable aspects of the role is bringing storm of frivolity and superficiality that novelists and poets. what I felt while reading into the class.” England seems to be submitting to – The X Factor and all that.” “As Nabokov said, there’s only one school Asked whether his experiences at the of writing and that’s talent - and you can’t University have started to influence his Having done his bit to combat the forces teach that,” he admits. own work, he admits that writers become of Simon Cowell, Professor Amis heads off fairly set in their own patterns. “But in a to nurture the next generation of writers “But you can teach craft, and I few years something might emerge,” he in his final master class of the year. And encourage the students to become says. “It’s never an immediate response.” with four of his recent graduates already expert in words - the tools of their trade - prize-winning or published, and public to use the dictionary, to use the In addition to his MA teaching Martin is event attendances averaging over 400, thesaurus; to build up their vocabulary involved in the Centre for New Writing’s there seems little doubt of the impact and feel at ease with it. annual summer school for being made by Manchester’s latest undergraduates, as well as its acclaimed “I try and instil confidence. I’m very mild - adopted son. public event series. He hosts four public I wouldn’t dream of being fierce with debates each year on literature and such

YOUR MANCHESTER 15 The body’s circadian clock governs many important physiological processes, but our frenetic 24 hour lifestyle is disrupting its rhythms according to medical researchers

Tiredness, the ticking time-bomb

Tiredness is a very modern malaise. It is to Systems as diverse as hibernation, seasonal changes with age. So when teenagers go the 21st century what scurvy was to the reproduction, fattening cycles, feeding cycles to bed late and sleep in, it’s biology not 18th, at least in the developed world. We and sleep-wake rhythms are all driven via bad behaviour. have access to warm homes, good food and enzyme output from the circadian clock – also “We should not force people to work shifts effective medicines, but we are also beset by known as the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) around the cl ock. It takes a long time to th e unnatural rhythm of modern life thanks in the hypothalamus – which is triggered by overcome disruption and changing shifts is a to advanced technology and competitive light via specialised neural pathways. real contra-indicator of type II diabetes. working practices. Professor Andrew Loudon, at Manchester’s With 15 million sufferers across Europe, this If we work, rest or play at the wrong time, Faculty of Life Sciences, has been is a big problem.” because we work shifts or want to stay on r esearching the circadian clock for ten years Professor Loudon adds that the Chernobyl Facebook for a bit longer or watch the late and is now seeing major breakthroughs in and Windscale disasters were classic cases night movie - or even have a lie in - our clinical medicine as a result of his work. of a disturbing link between night shifts and body suffers. In short, modern life is “It is important not to subject ourselves to industrial accidents. “Most occur in the early wrecking our circadian clock – the part of prolonged sleep deprivation,” he warns. hours of the morning – when we are meant the brain that drives our daily behaviour, “We have a natural pattern of sleep and it to be asleep.” physiology and the neuroendocrine system.

16 YOUR MANCHESTER Professor Andrew Loudon

“We now have detailed insight into how the Professor Piggins explains: “What we've molecular cogs of the clock work. We have found is that there are at least two types of been looking at it organ by organ, cell by cells in this part of the brain. The dawn and cell, unravelling how the clock drives the dusk active brain cells behave unlike any biology of the organism. Many diseases are other cell seen so far, and contain a key rhythmic, so it’s no surprise that when the clock gene which allows them to sustain circadian rhythm is disrupted it is associated unusually high levels of ‘excitability’. The with altered physiology. cells become so ‘excited’ that they seem quiet or even dead during the afternoon – “We have discovered genes that are but then they recover and become normally important in regulating the system and active again. It is this activity which tells the thus we can reset the circadian clock. As a human body when to be awake.” result of that work, drugs are being developed to deal with clock dysfunction There is particular interest in the by regulating the activity of particular pharmaceutical industry in trying to develop enzymes in the clock, something we are chemical treatments which reset the body working on with Pfizer.” clock to help counteract jetlag and, perhaps more importantly, to treat different kinds of In addition the team has found that many sleep disorders in which dysfunctions in this diseases, such as asthma, have a rhythmic clock are often involved. The researchers are regulation. Similarly, the way our bodies collaborating with Servier in France to metabolise drugs is highly rhythmic. So examine how melatonin affects cell activity work is ongoing with Glaxo Smith Kline throughout the brain. (GSK) to develop new drugs to alleviate symptoms with optimal timing of therapy, Professor Loudon says the relationship However it is not all bad news. known as chronotherapy. between the researchers and the pharmaceutical industry is essential to this Manchester’s researchers have now Two team members, Professor Hugh Piggins work, producing products that can help us understood how important it is to take care and Dr Mino Belle, recently published a with this very modern – and serious – malaise. of our circadian rhythm and in the past study that turned cir cadian rhythm theory three years they have been identifying the on its head. The cells in the clock had been He says: “Manchester has exceptionally genetic basis of the mechanism. This has thought to be most active during the middle good links between basic and medical assisted in the development of drugs to of the day but their study, published in science. I share the AV Hill Building with combat disease. Science, found that many cells appeared to many good colleagues across the spectrum. Professor Loudon explains: “After a decade be active at dawn and at dusk only. During I am also a great fan of teaming up with of research into the area you don’t have to the rest of the day, these particular cells pharmaceutical companies. We aren’t able explain to anyone what the circadian clock is became silent while another group of cells to design drugs: we need them to do that, these days, which is a very good thing. But were activated. having discovered how the system works.” in the last three years we have gone further, Their research, with colleagues at the www.ls.manchester.ac.uk/research/ developing very strong links between the University of Michigan, will ena ble a new researchgroups/neurosciences basic science and its clinical application. approach to tuning our daily clock.

YOUR MANCHESTER 17 As the political fallout from Copenhagen’s climate summit continues, a Manchester geochemist has discovered that the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide has been stored safely and naturally in underground water in gas fields for millions of years. Could this be the key to halting global warming?

How to capture

Geochemistcarbon Professor Chris Ballentine the issue to the top of the international there have been doubts about whether travels to some of the world’s most news agenda. But after two weeks of frantic carbon dioxide can be securely trapped beautiful places in the course of his work – negoti ations, the 193-nation climate summit underground. although the anonymous décor of the ended without a legally binding deal to curb But new researc h by Professor Ballentine conference centre is often the limit of the carbon emissions, which many had hoped – and his Manchester team, working with vistas to be enjoyed. and perhaps prayed – for. colleagues in Edinburgh and Toronto, has Recently, he was given the honour of Instead, there was an accord that calls on found that carbon dioxide has been stored chairing the organising and scientific countries to state what they will do to safely and naturally in underground water in committees of a major conference of curb greenhouse gas emissions without gas fields for millions of years. geochemists in Switzerland; a task that setting global targets for emission The research, funded by the Natural added plenty of extra work to his already reductions by 2050. Environment Research Council (NERC) in busy working life. Carbon is emitted into the atmosphere the UK and published in the scientific As a conference highlighting the future of whenever we burn any fossil fuel, with journal Nature, could now have a geochemistry in t he fight to safeguard the the main sources being cars, lorries and significant impact in the battle to slow Earth’s future, it seemed appropriate that power stations. climate change – and brings large-scale the setting was the breathtaking mountain carbon capture one step closer. While scientists and engineers have landscape of the Swiss Alps – a stark developed ways of capturing carbon dioxide In the aftermath of Copenhagen, with a reminder, perhaps, that this natural there are still problems with the long-term binding international agreement to keep beauty is at risk if global warming storage of millions of cubic metres of the gas. emissions down seemingly well out of continues unchecked. reach, Prof Ballentine’s work is looking more It has been suggested that the gas could be The United National Climate Change relevant than ever. stored in depleted gas and oil fields, but conference in Copenhagen last year thrust

18 YOUR MANCHESTER “We cannot change our society overnight to In order to find out exactly how the carbon dioxide captured from coal-fired power a low carbon economy,” he says. “While we dioxide is stored in natural gas fields, an stations goes when injected underground – are in this transition we have to bury our international team of researchers, led by this is critical for future safety." excess CO2 emissions. Manchester, scrutinised nine gas fields in In the future, it is hoped the new data can North America, China and Europe. "Developing a clear understanding of how be fed into future computer models to natural systems behave means that when They measured the ratios of the stable make modelling underground carbon we inject CO2 into similar systems we know isotopes of carbon dioxide and noble gases capture and storage more accurate. exactly where it will go. This verification is like helium and neon in the gas fields, which www.seaes.manchester.ac.uk/research/ essential to provide public confidence in the were naturally filled with carbon dioxide groups/isotope/ safety of this disposal technology." thousa nds or millions of years ago. Previous re search in this area used computer They found that underground water is the models to simulate the injection of carbon major carbon dioxide sink and has been for dioxide into underground reservoirs in gas millions of years. Sustainable Consumption Institute or oil fields to work out where the gas is “The universities of Manchester and Toronto The University is taking forward several likely to be stored. are international leaders in different aspects initiatives in its quest to help tackle Some models predict that the carbon of gas tracing,” adds Professor Ballentine. climate change. One flagship dioxide would react with rock minerals "By combining our expertise we have been development, the Sustainable to form new carbonate minerals, while able to invent a new way of looking at Consumption Institute (SCI) at the others suggest that the gas dissolves into carbon dioxide fields. University was officially launched in the water. Real studies to support either October 2009. "This new approach will also be essential for of these predictions have, until now, monitoring and tracing where carbon been missing. www.sci.manchester.ac.uk

YOUR MANCHESTER 19 world poverty With the appointment of Professor Joseph Stiglitz, a leading figure in poverty research, the ambitions of the University's Brooks World Poverty Institute were clear. Now the vision is bearing fruit

Despite the presence of extraordinary "We've been working across the developing the country's life expectancy to 35 -among affluence, well over one billion people live in world - and also here in the UK - on areas as the world's lowest. Hyperinflation topped absolute poverty in both the developing and diverse as fair trade, the living wage, 500 million per cent in July 2008. developed world. reconstruction and climate change." The report urges the Government to give As far back as 1958, the University was Last year, the Institute published a tax credits to compensate the mainly white aware of the problem when it established reconstruction plan for Zimbabwe, farmers who lost their land. the country’s largest International launched in Manchester by the country's Development Studies department. The Minister of Finance, Tendai Biti. It had been Such an approach, says Dr Chimhowu, Institute for Development Policy and put together by some of the world's could bring closure to a difficult chapter in Management is still going strong today. leading academics and policy experts on the country's history and, if done fairly, the country. could kick start investment in different areas Then in 2005, with the first of two pledges of the economy. now totalling £3 million from The Rory and Lead researcher Dr Admos Chimhowu Elizabeth Brooks Foundation, a new believes the catastrophic collapse of the The report also proposes $1.6 billion of multidisciplinary approach to poverty Zimbabwean economy could be reversed if investment to small scale farmers who were research was born, attracting some of the its Government adopts the controversial given land as part of the country's world's leading experts in the field. recommendations of the Institute’s controversial redistribution programme. independent report. A Truth and Reconciliation Commission, "Our aim, from the start, was to unleash the it adds, could be well placed to deal with power of rigorous world leading academic The February 2000 programme which bitter differences which still remain research in the fight against poverty by redistributed land to the majority black between Zimbabweans. working with organisations which represent Zimbabweans, is recognised as a major the poor,” said Professor David Hulme, factor which triggered an unprecedented Dr Chimhowu said: "Following the Executive Director of the Institute. socio-e conomic and political crisis, slashing formation of a Govern ment of National

20 YOUR MANCHESTER "But despite that, financial crisis, hikes in food prices and effects of climate change will be responsible for a slowdown in growth and trade, leading to higher poverty and vulnerability in developing countries." The Institute urges developing countries to further strengthen their social assistance programmes which have been effective in addressing poverty and vulnerability, and to link these to labour market policy, Professor Barriento s adds. Work is ongoing with BRAC, an international NGO based in Bangladesh, on issues affecting impoverished communities in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The BWPI-BRAC programme began in Bangladesh at Rajendrapur during the same month as the World Economic Forum meeting of world leaders at Davos. The Rajendrapur Conversation brought together BRAC activists researchers with Manchester's anthropologists, archi tects, engineers, economists, environmentalists, hydrologists, urban planners and Unity in March 2009, Zimbabwe is emerging "However, we know from the cases of political scientists. from a decade of socio-economic decline - Japan, Taiwan and South Korea that it was but there is still a long way to go. the investment of compensation payments BWPI and IPPM have recently received to dispossessed landowners which helped £1.7 million to examine how best to "An important way to help that process is to these economies grow after the Second promote policies and interventions for compensate many of the farmers who lost World War." fair trade and employment in their land. developing countries. In another example of the Institute's policy- "It may be possible for the inclusive focused reach, Research Director Professor Dr Stephanie Barrientos has high hopes for government to consider a pool of funds, Armando Barrientos delivered a stark the project which will be a collaboration probably partly supported by donors but message to President Lula of Brazil in 2009. with Professor Gary Gereffi from Duke mostly funded from local resources, to University in the United States. compensate the farmers for the land. "We presented more detail and context on the ravages of the financial crisis to The programme brings together a network "This is a controversial idea and donors President Lula," said Professor Barrientos. of researchers from 14 institutions in might be unwilling to pay compensation to "The human development programme, the developed and developing world the mainly white commercial farmers rather linking income to education and health, with expertise in trade, private sector than support poor smallholder farmers. reaches over 12 million households in Brazil. and employment.

The work of BWPI has been supported through the NAFUM World Poverty Scholarships unprecedented generosity of alumnus, Rory Brooks, and his wife Elizabeth, via the Rory and Elizabeth Brooks Foundation. Thanks to the generosity of Robin Mills (BA Econ 1967) and his wife Rory graduated from Jan, John Burnell (BSc Engineering 1955) and his wife Madeline, and the University in Harindra de Silva (BSc Mechanical Engineering 1982) along with management science those who give to its annual fund, the North American Foundation in 1975 and is co- for The University of Manchester (NAFUM) has provided generous founder of MML support for the following awards for PhD students at the BWPI: Capital Partners. Their The Mills NAFUM PhD Fellowship – held by Farzana Ramzan commitment to fund the establishment of The Mills NAFUM PhD Scholarship (for a student from Zimbabwe) – the Brooks Institute is held by Admire Nyamwanza believed to be the The Burnell NAFUM PhD Scholarship (for a student from a largest gift supporting developing country) – held by Jing You poverty research in the worl d. Rory has maintained close links with the University The de Silva PhD Scholarship (for a student from Sri Lanka) – held by and in 2008 accepted an invitation to chair its Global Ganga Tilakaratna Leadership Board – a new volunteer body to raise high-level For further information on supporting the work of the BWPI please funding for issue-focused research and scholarship contact Lesley Dowdall, on tel: +44 (0) 161 275 2373, email programmes at the University. [email protected]

YOUR MANCHESTER 21 Growing numbers of students are risking a prison sentence by taking intellect-enhancing drugs. Let them get on with it say s Manchester ethicist Professor John Harris All in A drug routinely prescribed to treat hyperactive children can also enhance brain function in healthy adults, but possession of methylphenidate (Ritalin) without prescription could land individuals with a five-year prison sentence. Not that the prospect of incarceration appears to be deterring a growing number of university students, who, tempted by the promise of increased cognitive performa nce and no doubt better grades, are using the class-B drug to improve academic ability. But is this fair? Certainly, universities don’t think so and many, including Manchester, have policies forbidding the use of brain-enhancing drugs by students, especially ones that are illegal. In practice, of course, there is little universities can do to prevent students taking such drugs, short of random dope tests, like those carried out in professional sports. So is the law and the stance of universities justified? John Harris, world-renowned professor of bioethics and Director of The University of Manchester’s Institute for Science, Ethics and Innovation, doesn’t think so. Last year, he wrote a commentary in the British Medical Journal advocating the use of Ritalin and other enhancing drugs by any adults who wante d to use them. His comments drew widespread media attention. Harris says: “Suppose a university were to set out deliberately to improve the mental capacities of its students; suppose its stated aims were to ensure that students left the University more intelligent and learned than when they arrived. Suppose they further claimed that not only could they achieve this, but that their students would be more intelligent and mentally alert than any students in history. What should our reaction be?” Harris argues that if the gains in cognitive functioning were significant and the costs commensurate, then we should probably want this for our children. It is, after all, what education is about.

22 YOUR MANCHESTER the mind He continues: “Now suppose, as indeed has already happened, several drugs had been shown to improve cognitive performance and had been proved to be safe for use in children. What should our reaction be? Would it be unethical to use these drugs in healthy people to enhance performance? Would it be ethical not to do so?” Methylphenidate has been judged safe enough to use in children and young people with attenti on deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) over a long period of time. The condition is not usually life threatening and the properties of the drug that make it effective in ADHD are the same ones that give it its enhancing qualities. This, says Harris, justifies its use from a safety perspective in healthy adults - but what about from an ethical perspective?

“Clear thinking on the issue of human Professor John Harris enhancement has been bedevilled by the issue of doping in sport,” says Harris. “Sport, however, is not a matter of life and “Before synthetic sunshine people slept methylphenidate by healthy people under- death. The wrong of performance enhancers when it was dark and worked in the light appreciate this risk.” of day. With the advent of synthetic in sport, if there is one, is that such Apart from the health risks, Chatterjee sunshine, work and social life could substances are almost universally banned by also argues that the use of such drugs can continue into and through the night, the rules of competition; using them is create risks of expanding social inequities creating competitive pressures and therefore cheating. But absent the ban, and coercion. absent the cheating.” incentives for those able or willing to use it to their advantage. The solution, “Drug enhancements will be available Harris suggests that it is not rational to be however, was not to outlaw synthetic disproportionately to those with financial against human enhanceme nt. We are after sunshine but to regulate working hours means,” he says. “Clearly, many inequities in all, he says, creatures that result from an and improve access to the new technology. education, material goods, and social class, enhancement process – evolution – and are The same is, or will be, true of chemical not to mention more fundamental inequities inveterate self-improvers in every conceivable cognitive enhancers.” in health care, nutrition, shelter and safety, way. Reading spectacles or hearing aids are already give the socioeconomically lucky Professor Harris’s comments in the B ritish forms of enhancement, yet we would never disproportionate advantages. However, Medical Journal formed part of a debate and consider banning these. acknowledging the existence of disturbing were opposed by Professor Anjan Chatterjee inequities does not justify blithely “Synthetic sunshine – firelight, lamplight and from the University of Pennsylvania. adding more.” electric light – is another accepted example Chatterjee argues that the risks of giving of a valuable enhancement technology Ritalin and other cognitive enhancers to He adds: “Matters of choice can evolve into which, like such others as written language, healthy people were too great. forces of coercion. Implicit pressures to education, physical exercise and diet, creates better one’s position in some perceived social “The most obvious reason to object to using problems of justice as well as the side effects order would find a natural conduit in methylphenidate for healthy enhancements of use and overuse,” he says. “Beneficial cognitive enhancements. Such pressures is that the cognitive benefits are minimal and neural changes have been reported for increase in ‘winner-take-all’ environments, in the medical risks are not; non-physicians reading, education, physical exercise and which more people compete for fewer and calling for responsible use of diet, so how then are drugs ethically distinct? bigger prizes.”

YOUR MANCHESTER 23 Our Outstanding Alumnus, BBC film critic Dr Mark Kermode, remembers his student days fondly and says his professional life was forged during his years at the University

“Whatever you wanted to do you could make it happen in Manchester...”

In the Woody Allen film Deconstructing show on 5Live, and presenter of the BBC’s so much stuff happening in Manchester, “ he Harry, Allen plays Harry Block, a successful Culture Show. However unlike Harry – said as he robed up for his award. “ Art was writer invited back to his alma mater to expelled from his college and confused happening in Manchester… music was receive an honorary award. The parallel is about his feelings for his student days - Dr happening in Manchester”. vivid enough to raise with film critic Dr Kermode is singularly complimentary about Having duly applied to this University, our Mark Kermode, himself returning to The the city of Manchester, the University, and Outstanding Alumnus was pro mptly turned University of Manchester to accept an the time he spent here as both down. “That was it,” Mark continued, “I award, as Outstanding Alumnus (see page undergraduate and postgraduate. wasn’t interested in anywhere else.” 41 for further details about this Award). Growing up in Barnet, North London, Mark After taking a year out, Mark regrouped, Like Harry Block, Mark has enjoyed a hugely felt drawn towards Manchester’s nascent reapplied and in 1982, moved his life to successful writing career, while also working music scene: “I had a sense - entirely gleaned Manchester: “On my very first day I as the in-house film critic for Simon Mayo’s from the pages of the NME - that there was

24 YOUR MANCHESTER Dr Mark Kermode with his mother, Audrey

cultivated quiff, he continues to play skiffle ceremony, to the graduands before him in with The Dodge Brothers). He also began the Whitworth Hall. “Whatever you writing for the student newspaper, wanted to do you could make it happen Mancunion, then for City Life magazine - in Manchester.” established by the present Chair of the He also compares Manchester in the 1980s Alumni Association, Andrew Spinoza. As a to Hunter S Thompson’s vivid description of critic you trade by the currency of your San Francisco in the mid 1960s; the sense of opinions and Mark certainly has those. being in the right place at the right time. Crucially, he also has the ability to express those opinions eloquently. “That’s something …And occasionally the wrong place at the I learned from City Life,” he recalls. wrong time. Back then Mark penned a harsh review of the latest David Lynch film, Extending his life in Manchester to take on a Blue Velvet, and was subsequently PhD, Mark wrote his thesis on Horror approached by a member of the public in Fiction. “I had struggled to get into the Cornerhouse, who identified him as the Manchester and ended up with a middling author. Initially flattered by the recognition, 2:1 degree. But I really wanted to finish things took an ignoble turn when the man that PhD… and be Dr Kermode. The first punched him. “That punch brought thing I did was put it on my chequebook together everything,” says Mark, now becau se I’m more proud of getting my chuckling at the memory during a post- doctorate from Manchester than almost award lunch. “The writing... the anything else.” checked into Owens Park, then caught the politicisation… the fact that someone felt bus into town and bought one of the credit Mark’s biography It’s Only A Movie includes that strongly about something to physicalise card memberships to the Haçienda.” It a chapter Bright Lights, Big City Life about it. It’s a really odd thing, but in many ways was important to tap into the culture of his time in Manchester. The Sunday Times that tiny altercation in the Cornerhouse bar the city as well as the campus: “If you recently listed him as someone the BBC are summed up everything about Manchester weren’t engaged with the city you were keen to invest in, whilst other sources have for me.” missing out on at least half of the lined him up to replace Jonathan Ross as Manchester remains a proud and passionate experience of being at university.” anchor of the Film 2010 show. If Mark’s city, but is now interested only in exte nding life were a film it would have something of Mark immersed himself in political an open hand to Dr Mark Kermode; an upbeat narrative, and he puts much of campaigns, drama productions and especially (and irrespective of that that down to Manchester: “All of it was impromptu skiffle gigs outside The Royal contretemps) because he has now reversed forged in Manchester,” he says later at the Exchange (the proud owner of a perfectly his opinion of Lynch’s fabulous film.

YOUR MANCHESTER 25 Deep down under Manchester’s bustling streets lies a hidden landscape of long abandoned tunnels, from nuclear proof corridors to underground canals and even a Victorian shooting gallery

What lies beneath? Photo courtesy of MEN ©

26 YOUR MANCHESTER This subterranean world has captured During the Second World War the the imaginations of Mancunians, many tunnels were used as air raid shelters. of whom remain fascinated by our lost A sign on the wall from the 1940s still city of caverns, crypts and canals. One of warns that ‘gambling and insobriety’ them is publisher and local historian won’t be tolerated. Keith Warrender. Later still they were used as public toilets Over the years, Keith has uncovered – today the cubicles are still standing, a evidence of dozens of places - from sign on one reading ‘Convenience nuclear proof corridors under Piccadilly closed for repairs’. to underground canals and a Victorian Keith said: “I think it's an amazing place shooting gallery. - the sheer scale of the arches, the In March this year, Timperley-based fascinating notices and other remnants Keith, who has also written two books from the last war, and imagining what it on the subject, took a group of intrepid was like for all the people who sheltered graduates from the University on a tour down here.” deep into the bowels of the city as part Manchester’s most famous underground of the Alumni Association’s programme secret was revealed in 1968 when official of events - Your Manchester Insights. details of the ‘Guardian’ tunnel network, He said: “I’ve always thought the built to provide a secure telephone link subject of what lies below Manchester between Manchester and other British absolutely fascinating and I’d heard so cities in the event of a nuclear attack, many stories that about ten years ago I were revealed by the Government. began to research into it and started to Located under the Piccadilly Hotel below give talks to local groups. Back George Street and York Street, this “Along the way people gave me more massive labyrinth was protected from and more information so I decided to nuclear blast by a 35-ton concrete slab write a book and publish it.” door, manned by around 50 engineers. It extended 1,000 feet beneath the city Keith’s first book, Underground centre – complete with living Manchester, was such a success that he accommodation, food supplies and a recently published a sequel, Below fresh water well nearly 600 feet deep. Manchester, delving further into the tales - true and false - about life Unfortunately, advances in the arms race underground. put paid to its effectiveness as a possible place of safety for regional government. Keith’s latest volume has a foreword by former Radio Manchester presenter Fred Another nuclear bunker, in Cheadle, was Fielder, whose ‘Orpheus Project’ is now made similarly redundant and the stuff of legend. demolished in the 1990s when it was sold to a private hospital. In the early 1980s, Fred and some pals would secretly explore tunnels in a But most of Manchester’s underground variety of locations in the city centre. An caverns have rather less sinister origins. option which, thanks to health and Many of them are canals, rivers and safety regulations and the blocking up tributaries now closed off to the public. of access routes, is no longer possible. The River Tib runs right underneath Keith, however, is one of the few people Tib Street. Dukes Tunnel, along the still able to gain permission to conduct River Medlock near the BBC on occasional tours. Oxford Road ends up below the In a recent BBC programme, he joined a London Road approach to what is now team investigating Victoria Arches, a Piccadilly Station. vast network of tunnels created in 1830 Below Deansgate is the Manchester and when the steeply sloping ground in front Salford Junction canal, originally dug to of the cathedral was levelled off to link the Rochdale Canal with the River support a new road. Irwell in the 1830s and later divided up For years the arches housed cellars and into over a dozen chambers. This runs small businesses, but today the entrance from the site of Granada Television right is a closely guarded secret. through to what is now Manchester

Keith Warrender

YOUR MANCHESTER 27 Great Northern Tunnel

Guardian BT Tunnel Manchester and Salford Junction Canal Tunnel Photo courtesy of MEN ©

Central conference centre. During the “But much still remains and people who Goulburns grocers and poulterers used it Second World War, this was also used as have lived in Manchester all their lives as a cheese store. We have the an air raid shelter don’t realise they are often close to photographs to prove it.” something of underground interest.” At one time, there was talk of turning it Though he has spent the last ten years in into a theme park complete with an The city’s vast underground network serious research, there is seemingly no underground gondola. Keith hopes that includes Manchester University, where danger of Keith running out of material, some of these ideas to turn tunnels into beneath the Victorian quadrangle is a or of an audience. tourist attractions will still come to fruition. network of passages once used as A recent talk at Manchester Central service ducts. A wartime ARP control Not every tale turns out to be true. Library proved so popular that it had to room sti ll lies below Manchester Stories of an old underground postal be re-located to a larger room. Museum on Oxford Road. railway linking Manchester railway “I was surprised at first about the level of stations and Spring Gardens post office Dozens of buildings in the city, including interest but I suppose people just love have so far come to nothing. Manchester town hall and the CIS finding out about tunnels. Why? I think building, still have their old air-raid Still yet to be located is a tunnel allegedly it’s the mystery of the unknown, coupled shelters. running from Victoria Arches right along with our primeval fear of the dark and Deansgate to Knott Mill station. And, going further back in time, there the sheer thrill of trying to sort out myth was an underground shooting gallery in from truth. There is obviously a lot more The problem, Keith admits, is that many Victorian days just off Market Street for me to investigate!” of these places have probably long been where Harvey Nichols now stands. filled in by developers. “It wasn’t just for the upper-classes. All “In a way, I’ve started all this years too kinds of people would come and shoot late because a lot of the tunnels were at targets for sport. The tunnel stretched See page 40 for details of once much more accessible and I’m very right up to Manchester Cathedral the Alumni Association’s much aware that lots of evidence has Insights boundaries. Later on in the 1920s Your Manchester Insights simply disappeared. events programme.

28 YOUR MANCHESTER Soviets planned to invade our space

A fascinating collection of maps detailing Soviet plans to invade Manchester have attracted record numbers to the John Rylands Library

Visitors to the library over the last year place which they really thought they Defence sent a van over there in 1991, have been astonished at the display of might need to know one day." to pick up as much as they could." Soviet maps, created in the 1970s, which The Manchester map used road widths The maps were analysed to get a sense mark colour coded targets around and load-bearing statistics to plot of Soviet spies' efficiency, which was Manchester and reveal which roads in the advance routes for tanks, ruling out sorely tested by the intricacies of the city were wide enough to carry battle older, crooked lanes where armour might then-developing industrial estate at tanks (Washway Road, the Mancunian be trapped by urban guerrilla warfare. Trafford Park. Like many local visitors, Way, and Princess Road). The Soviet planners also used a colour the mapmakers got lost in the maze of Chris Perkins, a map specialist and the code for local targets: industrial sites in new factories, and decided to steer exhibition organiser, said the images black, administrative buildings in purple, their tanks past on the A57 and the were unsettling: “After all they are only and military installations in green. Chester Road. 35 years old and the level of detail they Given the highest security during the “Images like these really give us a new had collected, presumably from soviet spy Brezhnev years, when mutual goading angle on familiar places,” Dr Perkins said. planes and satellite imagery, is was part of the UK -Soviet relationship, “And that’s the great thing about maps. astonishing,” said Dr Perkins, a senior the map came to light after the collapse They tell different stories and reveal the lecturer in Geography. of the Communist system. Along with past in a new way.” There really wasn’t much they missed, he similar charts of other western and US The advent of Google and other digital added, suggesti ng local intelligence strategic centres, it was sold by military image providers mean maps have gathering was under way as well. Even mapmakers in the chaotic aftermath of experienced a resurgence of interest he secret locations such as Strangeways perestroika and glasnost. added. “More people are now using maps Prison and the Risley Moss nuclear "The managers of individual printing than ever before, whether it’s looking at research site - which were left out of factories basically went native," said Dr their own house on Google Earth or Ordnance Survey maps from 35 years ago Perkins. "They sold as much stock as they checking travel routes on the internet. - were all there. could on the western market, where Maps are really a metaphor for everything "They had maps of everywhere from here there was no shortage of customers. I that is happening in the world at any to the Congo, but this is an 'A-list' – a know for a fact that the Ministry of given point. Absolutely invaluable.”

YOUR MANCHESTER 29 Many big name comedy acts are former undergraduates who learnt their trade on campus

Rik Mayall and Ade Edmonson “Saturday Live”, 1985. Photo courtesy of ITV / Rex Features © It’s a funny old place Manchester For a city drenched in the misery of performers such as Ben Elton (BA Hons couple of big roles and had lots of industrial hardship, it has generated some Drama 1980), Rik Mayall (BA Hons confidence. He said yes, and that's how of the best comedy around. Drama 1978) and Ade Edmondson (BA we started. Hons Drama 1978) were graduates of Those Lancashire mills brought with “We would perform lunchtimes at The the University. them the working men’s clubs and the Band on the Wall and Monday evenings comics who would thrive or die in front Both Mayall and Edmondson have at the Studio Theatre at the University. of the work-weary and cynical. In the acknowledged the importance of their We would drink at a pub called the Ducie 1970s it was all Bernard Manning and time at Manchester. This is Mayall’s near the University and go to the Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club, explanation of how their career began: Cavalcade Club. We used to go and Jimmy Clitheroe and the peerless Hylda watch jazz... I think the characters we “We formed a group called 20th Century Baker - purveyors of a kind of northern developed at that time are the basis for Coyote, and the first thing we did was an humour that didn’t chime with a more everything we have done since.” improvised affair called 'Dead Funny'. The politically correct audience a decade or two other guys I was doing it with pulled For Edmondson, it was an equally so later. out after a couple of shows, so I decided auspicious time: “I do look back on my The counterpoint which emerged was to ask Ade. He had a bit of a reputation university days with great affection. Rik alternative comedy and many of its in our year as the actor. He had done a and I got on so well because we liked the

30 YOUR MANCHESTER Ben Elton. Photo by Karl Schoendorfer / Rex Features © same things, like drinking eight pints of had gone to Manchester (and that my bumped into Justin Edwards and George lager, and found the same things funny. Dad grew up in Levenshulme), did swing Cockerill in a pub in London. They'd been it when it came to applying to university. in the year below me, and Justin and I had “When we were in the third year, Ben put on some early 20th Century daft Elton joined our course and later co-wrote “My fondest memories are of the 'terror-dramas', playlets by the likes of The Young Ones. The first time I was Wednesday night 'Studio Group' Lord Dunsany and Sidney Box. We met up aware of him was when I was round at performances in the Drama Department - a few times and started work on what Rik's house and he said: 'Quick, duck. Ben even when it was just posh kids trying to was a fairly pioneering comedy website - Elton is coming down the path.' Ben was demonstrate how hard life was by The Peel Bell, a fake small-town incredibly prolific; he was putting on plays rubbing cat food in their hair, or spitting newspaper which grew into a very rich, in his first week.” fake blood onto photocopies of their strange, online world with its own breasts. I still think The Seperadoes' tragi- It was The Young Ones that got Neil currency and strange games, where comedy 'Sackboy am Christmas' - about Edmond into comedy writing today. readers had to sign up as town residents the bastard offspring of Santa and his with unlikely names. From there Justin Neil, who won a 2010 South Bank sack - was amo ngst my best writing. and I ended up forming a sketch group nomination for his BBC2 series Home My dad died just after I graduated and I called The Consult ants (with James Time, explains: “The Young Ones caused sank into a long period of sitting quietly Rawlings, another Manchester graduate, a small revolution in my family: we all and making detailed maps of road though I'd never met him) and we were loved it so much that mum and dad junctions, and occasionally making props jammy enough to win Perrier Best decided we could swear freely, providing for other people's shows. But, years later, I Newcomers in 2002.” it was funny. So, the fact that Rik and Ade

YOUR MANCHESTER 31 Dave Gorman

Mathew Horne and James Corden. Photo courtesy of Rex Features © Shazia Mirza Photo by Garaint Lewis / Rex Features © Photo courtesy of Rex Features ©

If students weren’t doing comedy while Dave Gorman dropped out of a maths Manchester was even the starting they were at university they were course at Manchester, but not before he point for one of the most successful watching it, at places like The Buzz in was cajoled into attending a comedy- female Muslim stand-up artists, Shazia Chorlton which ran for 15 years until workshop run by the then-unknown Mirza, whose parents wanted her to 2004. Compèred by the veteran punster Frank Skinner, who had also played at be a doctor. Agraman the human anagram…it the Buzz. Gorman was offered a spot at "When I was at Manchester University became at the time the longest-running an upcoming benefit gig at Salford I had never thought of being a comedy club outside London, and helped University followed two weeks later by a comedian, but I knew I wanted to be launch the careers of Steve Coogan, paid gig in a Birmingham club and the on stage,“ explains the former Caroline Aherne, Peter Kay, Eddie Izzard, rest, as they say, is history. biochemistry student. Bill Bailey, Lee Evans , Jack Dee and Harry It was a similar story for Gav in and Stacy Hill. Venues like the Frog and Bucket and “University did inspire me, it inspired me comic Mathew Horne, who in 1997 saw the Comedy Store followed and to pursue my dreams no matter how Steve Coogan while studying performing suddenly, Manchester was part of a incredible, and to be what I wanted to arts and thought ‘I want to do that’. major comedy explosion. be. I had never watched live comedy Aged 21, he formed a comedy before doing my first gig, but I did Toby Hadoke is now a regular compère double act with fellow student pursue many other interests while at the at XS Malarkey at the Frog as it is Bruce Mackinnon. Uni. I took up ballet and tap dancing, affectionately known and admits that an and took acting classes. I was studying academic qualification wasn’t “God knows what we were doing. biochemistry, and all I could think of uppermost on his agenda when he came “We went to a pub called Scruffy was, 'How on earth am I really going to to the University. Murphy’s in Fallowfield that did a topical be able to do what I want?' “I remember having lots of fun - limerick competition. We won and said “Other students were shocked university was a big adve nture as I'm a we were a double act, can we have five and horrified when I became a country boy,” he reveals. minutes on stage. The b loke booked us comedian. They couldn't believe it. for a gig.” I remember the time spent there with They couldn't believe I ditched the affection. But I don't think I went for an With a week to write the material he biochemistry for laughter.” education as such, I went for the admits it looked like they’d ‘get experience and the "student" lifestyle, slaughtered’ but they were a big hit. At the time of going to press we hope which I got, and probably tried to cling After that they came third in a Channel 4 to see Ade Edmondson back at the on to for too long after I left. It was only comedy competition. University with his band, The Bad in my final year that I even considered “The degree didn’t matter. We came Shepherds – for further details and doing stand-up, and that was at the to London, got an agent and it all tickets please contact suggestion of a friend, Steve Keyworth, kicked off.” [email protected] who was putting on a night.

32 YOUR MANCHESTER Alison photographed by her fiance, James Uttley on Wimbledon Common, c 1911 Uncovering the rich imagination of Alison Uttley One of the University’s first female physics graduates went on to become one of England’s best loved authors. But her charming country tales of Little Grey Rabbit and Sam Pig were in stark contrast to the writer’s own often tortured personal life, as Alison Uttley’s newly published Diaries reveal

Biographer Denis Judd had a hunch that “I soon realised that this beautiful, lyrical Alison Uttley has a special connection to there was a remarkable story to be told writing was intertwined with the often Manchester, having been only the about the life of the celebrated author depressed and negative feelings of a second woman to graduate in Physics in Alison Uttley. But after tracking down tragically, lonely woman struggling to 1906. An extensive archive of her papers her diaries - literally saved from a fire as come to terms with her husband’s is held at the John Rylands library and her troubled son John sought to suicide and wracked with self doubt and last year The Private Diaries of Alison extinguish her memory after her death in anger at the world,” said Professor Judd, Uttley, edited by Denis Judd, were 1976 - a life story emerged that he could a historian and writer, and Alison Uttley’s published to mark the 125th year of the not have predicted. official biographer. author’s birth.

YOUR MANCHESTER 33 Alison and her son John, photographed while on holiday in Tenby, in the 1920s

Portrait of Alison painted from a photograph taken at her graduation in 1906. The Manchester Physics Department students and staff. portrait was bequeathed by her to Peter du Sautoy and given by him to the University. Alison is on the first row, second from the left

Professor Judd, who spent almost two It was following her husband’s death in celebration of old and solid values - years editing the 6 million-word diaries, 1930 that Alison Uttley established good neighbourliness, good sense, a came to talk to alumni in Manchester herself as a best-selling author. There love of the natural world and of the last year about the work as part of the was something about Little Grey Rabbit, enduring values of hearth and home,” Your Manchester Insights programme of Squirrel and Hare, Sam Pig and Tim Professor Judd said. events. He explained to a rapt audience Rabbit, as well as classics like The Despite her love of science, Alison here that the anniversary had offered an Country Child and A Traveller in Time Uttley also believed in fairies, one of her excellent opportunity to reassess the that had captured readers’ imaginations many mysterious incongruities. She was literary reputation of one of the most world-wide. an Edwardian suffragette, Professor remarkable and gifted British writers of “Although shadows pass over these Judd explained, and a close friend of childrens’ and adul ts’ books. generally sun-lit landscapes, the stories the future Labour Prime Minister, The Diaries reveal the highs and lows of are most remarkable for their brilliant Ramsay MacDonald (to whose children her personal life, as well as providing an characterisation and wry humour, their she told bedtime stories), but in later invaluable record of nearly 40 years of love of country lore and magic, their life she became a staunch Conservative. British history. sense of time and place and their “She was obsessed with th e world of

34 YOUR MANCHESTER A delighted Alison, after being made a Honorary Doctor of Letters, at Manchester, in 1970 dreams, writing an intriguing book, The most of the Little Grey Rabbit books, but was able to agonise over whether Stuff of Dreams, yet she shied away over copyright and over which of them to buy a small bag of oranges.” from any serious self-analysis. She was had really created the characters. From the rural idyll of the hilly a loving wife, mother and friend whose She was bitterly resentful of Derbyshire countryside of the author’s relationships were often stormy and comparisons with Beatrix Potter upbringing, to the story of her sometimes downright destructive. Her and she despised her neighbour in intellectual awakening in Edwardian husband drowned himself before she Beaconsfield, Enid Blyton. Manc hester, “everything she published had been able fully to establish herself “She took the work of literary creation is soaked in a sense of having sprung as a writer - a tragedy from which she very seriously and relished he r success, from the deepest part of a rich never fully recovered. She could be a but was easily hurt by criticism and imagination,” concludes Professor Judd. demanding and over-close mother, and craved the affirmation of the public,” an easily offended friend.” Professor Judd says. “She eventually She was eventually estranged from earned large quantities of money and See page 40 for more details Margaret Tempest, the illustrator of had the works of Brueghel in her home, Insights of the Alumni Association’s Your Manchester Insights events programme

YOUR MANCHESTER 35 Big Brother and The X Factor are the modern incarnation of the Victorian entertainment industry according to a Manchester lecturer

Peepshows and Freakshows

The popularity of peepshows and Bodyshock: the 60 stone man, or Big “A showman would take an abandoned freakshows suggests that the Victorians Brother or the X Factor.” shop or empty dwelling and turn it into a had none of our 21st century qualms theatre space for freakshows or for Ann had a long-held interest in the over seedy voyeurism. And yet, performers like sword-swallowe rs. There seedi er side of Victorian entertainment according to University lecturer Ann could be an overnight conversion into a after completing an Open University Featherstone, the modern pleasure- penny theatre. The idea would be to keep degree, and was encouraged by Professor seeker has much in common with its you moving from scenes in one room to of Theatre Jacky Bratton at Royal 19th century counterpart. another which increased the sense of Holloway to pursue the subject for a PhD. voyeurism.” “I believe we are much more like the “It was great being able to legitimise my Victorians than we think we are,” says Freakshows were a source of great interest,” says the 55-year-old University Ann who recently published a novel, amusement to the Victorians but Ann lecturer in Performance History. “And Walking in Pimlico, based onr he insists that sadly the unfortunates, like doing the research gave me the sense of academic research into Victorian circuses the famous Elephant Man John Merrick being a detective, there was this whole and sideshows. who were the sideshow stars, often had subculture waiting to be discovered.” little choice. There isn’t such a great deal of difference Her studies have led her into an between us and them, except the “I think sometimes a showman dwoul extraordinary underworld of portable Victorians were more honest. They didn’t take advantage but if say a child had theatres, Victorian circuses and penny gaffs. think anything of looking, whereas we try microcephaly, or what they used to call a to disguise it. “The penny gaff was to be found in ‘pin head’, they were never going to earn urban areas like Manchester and London a living so the parent would sell the child “They had freakshows and we have TV and was the lowest form of permanent to a showman. The alternative would be programmes like Embarrassing Bodies, or venue,” she explains. an institution and an early death. But

36 YOUR MANCHESTER really the freakshow could include Surprisingly, gi ven their red-light status Richard III when he was seven and who, anything. Tom Norman, who had today, peepshows weren’t a source of when his voice dropped, was no longer freakshows in America, said you can tell if sexual titillation. wanted. There were others who just fell you’re any good as a showman if you by the wayside.” “These were touring shows but not what show them a bloater and convince them we think of as a peepshow today,” says And the cruelty extended to animals, it’s a whale.” Ann. “The peepshow was a box with such as horses, the mainstay of the In spite of the uptight prudery of the holes cut into it and a glass lens stuck Victorian circus. Victoria age – or maybe because of it, sex over painted scenes of say Waterloo, “Some trainers would break a horse’s too was an obvious lure according to Ann. or a picture of something cut out spirit, or its tongue would be tied to of a newspaper. You’d peer through “Why were the front rows at the circus its foot so that it would be bowed all the lens which would make the mainly filled with men? Well, if a lady is the time.” image slightly magnified. It was low standing on the back of a horse they can cheap entertainment.” But visions of the ‘Baldwin cat’ which had see her legs and a lot more! Ballet been trained to climb up a ladder and dancers were also sexually significant Exploitation of minors crossed the then parachute down to the ground, or because the men got to see their legs. darker side of the Victorian amusement the dancing dog dressed in a tutu, drew ‘industry’ Ann adds: “Children worked “And one aspect of the freakshow was crowd s all the same. However distasteful day and night in the ballet, shivering the sex life of the freaks. How did they do these divertissements are to the modern in the streets afterwards with no it? For example Chang and Eng Bunker, sensibility, they are a source of warm clothes. conjoined twins of the time, were married fascination, especially as so little is still and had lots of children. There was a lot of “There were children like William Betty, a known about this extraordinary world. curiosity about how that could happen.” child prodigy who played roles like

YOUR MANCHESTER 37 Alumni in the spotlight

Dragons’ Den inventor to inspire students

Successful Dragons’ Den contestant Imran Hakim, who graduated from Manchester in Optometry and Vision Science in 1999, has been appointed director of entrepreneurship at UMIP, the University of Manchester ’s Intellectual Property Limited. Imran is best known for securing a £140,000 investment from Peter Jones and Theo Paphitis during his appearance on the BBC’s Dragons’ Den. Since then, demand for his product (an interactive toy bear called iTeddy which has an MP3 player in his tummy) has exploded and it is now available in over 40 countries worldwide generating a £12 million turnover. Imran has been running his own business since he was 16, long before he entered the Dragon’s Den. An optometrist by profession, Imran runs a chain of independent practices in the north west. He has won countless business awards over the years and Grace Boyle goes most recently won The Institute of Directors’ ‘Young Director of the Year, 2008’ as well as being Rainspotting in the youngest entrant into the NorthWest Power 100. He received an honorary doctorate from the “I will be continuing with the expansion of my Bangalore University of Bolton in 2009. existing business portfolio but I am enthusiastic Chemistry graduate Grace Boyle, 24, Now the 32-year-old businessman is helping to about working with UMIP” he said. “The spent the summer in Bangalore working foster more talent in his new position with UMIP – University already has an excellent track record for on a Greenpeace project investigating a company dedicated to helping students and innovation and commercialising world-class science the impact of climate change on rain academics maximise the potential of spin-out and technology, and some fantastic resources like patterns there. companies. Imran will be helping them to license the £32 million UMIP premier fund. So I’m proud their intellectual property whenever possible. to be associated with my old university and excited The Rainspotting project, which focuses on the by this challenge”. Indian monsoons, presented the testimonials of rural and indigenous Indian communities as to how the climate was changing to serve as a body of evidence aga inst climate change denial Janette Faherty returns to Manchester in the country. The project is part of a larger campaign to put pressure on the Indian Janette Faherty, chief executive of Avanta Enterprise Ltd, a Government to commit to various renewable leading employment, skills and enterprise company, returned energy laws. to her alma mater in November to speak to students as a guest lecturer on the Manchester Leadership Programme. Grace completed an MChem in chemistry at Manchester in 2008. As part of her course, she The Manchester Leadership Programme is a successful University went on an exchange to Berkeley University in initiative to help equip students for modern citizenship, California and also participated in a summer entrepreneurshi p and above all leadership. Students have been school in Hong Kong in 2007. During the final offered the opportunity to hear from an impressive range of year of her degree, she and several other speakers including high-profile leaders of global multinationals, students formed a group under the charity Nobel laureates, as well as MPs and Ministers of State. MLP READ International, and collected over 30,000 students also learn from leaders of charities and community groups, surplus textbooks from Manchester schools, local government bodies and small enterprises who have compelling travelling to Tanzania the following summer to stories and experiences of leadership. distribute the books to schools there. During Janette, who was recently awarded an OBE for her services to her trip, she also climbed Mount Kilimanjaro to unemployed people and entrepreneurship, graduated from raise money for girls' education in Africa. Manchester in 1971 with an honours degree in politics and modern The University is delighted that Grace is history. After a short stint as a teacher, she married and had two daughters. continuing with her experiences overseas and On re-entering permanent employment in her 30s Janette began her career at TNG, now part of Avanta, she is writing a blog for the Independent about as a training manager. Five years later, fol lowing a management buy-out, Janette became chief executive her time in India: and owner of the company. www.independent.co.uk/rainspotting Today the company operates nationwide from more than 100 locations, employs more than 1,000 staff Originally from London, Grace is currently and works with some 30,000 people each year. “I was delighted to be awarded an OBE on behalf of all based in India, where she works for my staff who make a daily difference to people’s lives”. Greenpeace as a writer on Climate and Energy.

38 YOUR MANCHESTER Former Student Direct journalist scoops top award A former Student Direct journalist has picked up a top award for restaurant reviews written for Metro newspaper. University alumna Emma Sturgess was presented with the Guild of Food Writers Restaurant Reviewer of the Year award by food critic Former Apprentice star heads to India Egon Ronay at a ceremony in the magnificent Lucinda (Cindy) Ledgerwood (formally Lucinda Lucinda is working in India with a small NGO Lincoln’s Inn in London. The event was Burger), a contestant in The Apprentice BBC which educates street children, who live under the attended by some of the nation’s top food TV show in 2008, has embarked on a new two flyovers and on pavements, and beg or work at critics and other winners included Jamie Oliver year challenge in India with the charity VSO traffic signals in South Delhi. Khoj Foundation for his campaigning Jamie’s Ministry of Food (Voluntary Services Overseas). provides basic education through roadside television series and Heston Blumenthal for learning, workshops and theatre. It aims to be a his The Big Fat Duck Cookbook. The 33 year old alumna, who was fired from the support system to the children, guiding them Apprentice show for being too zany and is towards a dignified life and educational Emma started her writing career at Student remembered for wearing berets, has given up opportunities. Their next project will see the launch Direct, The University of Manchester’s weekly her freelance earnings (said to be over £100,000 of a mobile school bus. a year) to help poverty-stricken youngsters in student newspaper, the largest in the country. New Delhi. Lucinda says: “I loved being at Manchester She began by writing restaurant reviews of University. I had some of my happiest moments some of Manchester’s best - and worst - Lucinda graduated from Manchester in 1998 with there. I feel that it was a really supportive establishments while studying at the a degree in psychology and neuroscience. Her environment that has helped me determine the life University. She has not looked back since. first job was in the finance sector with Ernst and I lead. Working in India is eye-opening. It is Young and Merril Lynch. After three years inconceivable how some of these young folk live. “I've always been interested in food, cookery extensive travelling, including four months in a They have no permanent shelter, few clothes and restaurants and enjoy reading the work campervan going through Mexico, she set up her (many simply wear a single t-shirt every day) and of illustrious obsessives like Ruth Reichl, own business consultancy to focus on business no guarantee of food or safety. Yet the warmth Michael Bateman and Jeffrey Steingarten,” strategy, development and project management. and happiness they exude with no expectation is said Emma. She was employed by the UK’s largest life simply astonishing”. assurance and pensions provider, among other “A few years after graduation I trained at clients, as a contractor. www.khojfoundation.com Ballymaloe Cookery School in Cork, Ireland, and am now freelance, working for The Budget hotel success Observer, Radio Times and Metro. “I was thrilled to win the award, especially as Manchester graduate Drew £19-a-night, was up and running it was for my reviews of restaurants in Cockton, 23, has taken on the in time for the Manchester Pride Manchester, where I started as a food writer credit crunch by opening the festival in August 2009. and have had so many good and bad meals.” new ‘Eazysleep’ budget hotel Already a cross section of guests in Manc hester. Emma graduated from Manchester in 2000 have been welcomed in to Faced with a poor jobs market Eazysleep including football fans, with a first class degree in English and Drew (BA Hons European Studies female shoppers, gay men and of American Literature. and Modern Languages, German, course Manchester graduates! She beat off competition from Jay Rayner 2008) and some friends decided to take matters into their own Drew now hopes to expand of the Observer Magazine and John Walsh hands after graduation. They Eazysleep to Liverpool or of the Independent Magazine to take the began raising funds to transform Birmingham. "This is the hardest top prize. an old bed and breakfast on Canal thing I have ever done in my life, Student Direct has Street in Manchester’s trendy gay but I'm hoping it'll all be worth begun the careers of many village into a new budget hotel. it. My advice to anyone thinking big name journalists, with former staff now of doing something similar? working at the BBC, the Financial Times, and The hotel, which has 14 en-suite Go for it, but don't expect it the Mirror, among many other places. rooms with prices starting from to be easy!"

To read more alumni profiles please visit the alumni news section on the alumni community website Your Manchester Online. See page 41 for details on how to register. There is also a ‘distinguished alumni library’ which lists some of our eminent alumni. www.manchester.ac.uk/yourmanchester

YOUR MANCHESTER 39 Alumni events Join our many former students who attend an alumni event in the UK or overseas each year. To keep yourself informed about the latest events, register for the exclusive alumni community website www.manchester.ac.uk/yourmanchester Insights and make sure that your details are updated regularly. Here we highlight just some of the many events which have recently taken place. Details of all our past events can be found on the alumni community website.

Past Events

Alumni Association Dinner in Your Manchester Insights London London The University of Manchester Alumni The May 2009 Your Insights London Association's annual, black-tie Lecture took place at the Royal dinner was held this year at the Overseas League and was presented Institute of Directors in London and by Manchester graduate Dr Stephen hosted by Chancellor and University Taylor (BSc Hons Biochemistry 1991), graduate, Dr Tom Bloxham MBE Cancer Research UK Senior Fellow at The University of Manchester.

International Networks Members of the Alumni Association enjoyed alumni events in Hong Kong (hosted by Lord Bradley of Withington, Special Advisor on Government and Political Relations at The University of Manchester) and in Shanghai (hosted by Professor Rod Coombs, Vice- President for Innovation and Economic Development at the University). Cockcroft Rutherford The private diaries of Lecture 2009 Alison Uttley Our speaker for 2009 was Professor Alumni heard from acclaimed Mohan Munasinghe who is Vice- biographer Professor Denis Judd, on Chairman of the Intergovernmental the subject of renowned children's Panel on C limate Change (IPCC) and author and Manchester graduate, the new Director General of the Alison Uttley, while enjoying University’s Sustainable afternoon tea in the Christie Bistro Consumption Institute (SCI). at the University (see page 33 for further details).

Forthcoming Events Your Manchester Insights Lecture and Business Networking The Alumni Association Annual General Meeting Reception, London Wednesday, 30 March 2011 May/June 2010 All alumni are encouraged to attend the AGM, which is your See the alumni community website for deta ils of this event opportuni ty to gain a full insight into the activities of your Alumni Association, as well as a chance to meet the staff of the Division Tour of Gorton Monastery followed by lunch of Development and Alumni Relations. Wednesday, 8 September 2010 Visit the magnificent Victorian Gothic building and walk in the footsteps of the Franciscans. The tour is followed by tea/coffee, homemade soup and sandwiches and Monastery-made cakes.

40 YOUR MANCHESTER Chair of the Alumni Association The Alumni Register Our special thanks go to Andrew Spinoza If you wish to be kept informed of the (BA Hons Combined Studies 1982) who proceedings of the Alumni Association and took up the helm as the first Chair of the to exercise your voting rights, please Alumni Association for the newly- ensure that you are registered with the established University at the 2005 AGM alumni online community – Your and whose term of office will come to an Manchester Online (YMO) – and that your end in April 2011. email address is kept up-to-date. Those Andrew founded City Life, a “what’s on” without access to the internet should magazine for Greater Manchester, which contact the Division of Development and is now owned by the Guardian Media Alumni Relations (using the contact details Group. He also founded a national Public on page 3) and ask to be kept informed of Relations consultancy based in proceedings via the postal system. Manchester called SKV Communications. Since his appointment as Chair the University has benefited greatly from Andrew’s links with the city and with business. Andrew comments: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my role as Chair of the Alumni Association. My time at The University of Manchester helped make me what I am today and it has been an honour to be able to play a role in enhancing the University’s profile and to engage with so many alumni”. Graduates on the Alumni Register are able to nominate other fellow graduates to be considered for the role as Chair. Nominations received will be submitted to the Alumni Association Advisory Board for selection by its Nominations Committee. Nomination forms will be available on Your Manchester Online this Autumn. Many of the articles within the magazine have directed you to the Online alumni online community – Your Manchester Online (YMO) – designed to keep you updated with the latest news and activities and to help you maintain contact with thousands of other alumni. As a reminder to those who have not yet registered, in order to do so you will need to enter your alumni ID number. This number appears on your alumni membership card. You will also need to Paul Skinner (second from left) receiving his award from Hugh Mitchell (Chief Human Resources and Corporate Officer, Royal Dutch Shell plc), flanked by Michael Luger, Director of MBS (left) and Chris Cox, Director of Development create a User ID (a name you select when registering on the site) and a password (which you will need to remember, or keep Outstanding Alumni Awards in a safe place for future use). The achievements of three former students have been recognised with Outstanding Alumni www.manchester.ac.uk/ Awards. These are given to former students who have achieved distinction within their yourmanchester profession, have provided exemplary service to the University, or have made an outstanding contribution of a personal humanitarian nature. Recent recipients are: Dr John Emsley PhD Science 1964, MSc Science 1961, BSc Hons Chemistry 1960 Can you help? Respected writer and broadcaster, well known for his award-winning books on chemistry. Can you help former Manchester graduate and economics lecturer Eric Rowley (MA Paul Skinner Economics 1966) to identify staff, alumni MBA (Dip BA) 1969 and students from the University who died Chief Human Resource Officer, Royal Dutch Shell. whilst in the Armed Forces in the years Dr Mark Kermode following 1945, in order to complete a PhD English 1991 commemorative list. If so, please contact BA Hons English Language and Literature 1985 Eric at [email protected] or Highly acclaimed film critic – see page 24 for further details telephone + 44 (0)161 439 8779.

YOUR MANCHESTER 41 Fund Development News

Giving for impact on campus and beyond

Your Manchester Fund is the annual giving programme for The University of Manchester. Alumni and friends make a tremendous difference for thousands of current students through generous financial support for scholarships, projects and research programmes. Funding is allocated to five key, student- focused areas: Opportunity Manchester These scholarships are offered to high achieving undergraduate students joining the University, who come from backgrounds which are under- represented in higher education. Rebuilding a quake-torn Global Outreach The Global Outreach programme Chinese community Tao Wang enables students from developing countries to study beyond their borders Tao Wang’s life changed for ever in May enabled Tao to graduate in 2009 with the and fulfil their potential, whilst 2008 when an earthquake measuring 7.9 MEng Chemical Engineering degree he had diversifying the talent pool at on the Richter scale devastated his worked so hard for. Manchester. hometown of Pengzhou in China. “I really appreciate the support from the Research Impact The 23-year-old was an engineering student University and the al umni who have helped Your Manchester Fund is supporting in Manchester at the time. Tragically his sister me during this very difficult time.” outstanding Manchester research and grandfather had been killed and Tao’s students as they undertake solutions- Tao strongly advocates the notion ‘pay it home and his family’s successful hotel driven research into issues of national forward’, believing that people should be business were also destroyed. and international importance. helped and inspired to achieve great things During the summer vacation, Tao returned to “so that they can go on to help and inspire Bridging Hardship his village to help rebuild the badly damaged others in turn”. Tao says: “A strong gesture Bridging Hardship offers a helping hand community. He used skills acquired through of support could deliver untold goodwill in a to hard-hit students in order to see them taking part in the Manchester Leadership wide range of communities and is beneficial through their studies at Manchester. Programme, and enlisted the support of his all round.” Learning Enrichment high school friends, to set up makeshift He has since returned to China to work for Your Manchester Fund supports a wide school rooms and to teach children subjects an engineering company and is continuing to variety of projects and programmes such as Maths, Physics, English, History and help rebuild his village by securing support across campus to enrich the academic Kung Fu. Some students travelled for up to from prominent Chinese individuals and and wider university experience for the three hours on foot to attend. organisations. student body as a whole. Despite the tragedy, Tao’s family were adamant that he should continue his studies. Help support more students like Tao Tao said he was overjoyed to receive a Wang now by contributing to Your £17,100 Bridging Hardship Award from Your Manchester Fund. The value of your gift Manchester Fund to cover the remaining could be increased by up to 70%. international student tuition fees and living costs for his final year studies. The award See page 45 for details.

42 YOUR MANCHESTER Dan’s innovative Harvard Link-up Medical Scientists plan to reduce working on a joint venture at the Universities carbon of Manchester and Harvard have made emissions important progress in our understanding of the link Thanks to a Your Manchester Fund between scar tissue and Research Impact Scholarship, cancer. Manchester’s most talented students Thanks to generous support are undertaking solutions-driven from alumnus and president research into issues of national and of the North American international importance. Foundation for The One of these students is PhD scholar, University of Manchester Dan Calverley who is investigating (NAFUM), Tony Thornley (BSc innovative methods of reducing carbon Chemistry 1967) and his wife in the transport sector. Gillian, the Thornley Visiting Professorship in Regenerative He is currently helping to create a new Medicine has enabled Tony Thornley government policy relating to specialists from the UK and environmental issues in Wales and is the US to work together to directly expanding current knowledge regeneration, as well as the Manchester fellows Dr Syed grow human keloid scar about how public attitudes to pro- growth of cancerous cells. (Sameer) Farhatullah and Dr tissue in a test tube for the environmental behaviour affect the Syed Amir Iqbal, recently first time at The University of Professor Pier Paolo Pandolfi, uptake of interventions designed to published papers containing Manchester. an award-winning geneticist reduce CO2 and prevent climate change. fresh findings related to and cancer researcher, is The work is a significant keloid scars. Meanwhile, at His work is in conjunction with the directing work at Harvard breakthrough in the field of Harvard, Dr Shohreh Varmeh Tyndall Centre for Climate Change and University, and has been regenerative medicine and is looking into molecular the newly founded Sustainable appointed Thornley Visiting cancer treatment, an area developments in tissue Consumption Institute. Professor in Regenerative which has received samples sent from the UK. Medicine at The University of additional funding from Dan says, “The award money has Manchester for the next “The advances we have another alumnus, Steve granted me a degree of interdisciplinary three years. Professor made as a transatlantic team Fitzpatrick (BSc Chemical freedom not attainable under other Pandolfi is due to visit the are very exciting,” said Engineering 1972) and his funding programmes. University in the spring. His Professor McGrouther. wife, Kathy, together with a busy schedule will include a “Keloid scars are relatively “Thank you very much for your donation. significant contribution from lecture and seminar under-researched at a I will strive for a high standard of Your Manchester Fund. research which will do credit to Your programme, along with molecular level and the work Manchester Fund and the University.” The transatlantic team is discussions on progress with is important because these carrying out pioneering Manchester-based scars are disfiguring and can research into the molecular regenerative medicine be crippling when they form genetics underlying wound specialists. over a healed burn injury.” healing and skin cancer. The The team at The University of Professor McGrouther focus is on keloid scars – Manchester is led by added: “The partnership lumpy, over-grown scars that Professor Gus McGrouther, means our people in form over injured skin. Professor of Plastic and Manchester can collaborate Keloid scars grow like cancer Reconstructive Surgery, and with Harvard colleagues to tumours, but unlike cancers, Dr Ardeshir Bayat, a plastic look at the genetics of keloid they do not spread beyond surgeon with a PhD in the tissue, while addressing the the injury site. molecular genetics of scar question of how this relates By investigating the formation. to the biology of cancers. By behaviour of wound healing linking th e two fields and by The research is being and scar formation at a exchanging staff, we are supported by the molecular level, the making big strides towards appointment of Thornley- researchers hope to learn increasing our understanding funded post-doctoral fellows more about skin repair and of the entire process.” at both universities. Dan Calverley the role of stem cells in skin

YOUR MANCHESTER 43 Fund

Law firm backs community-based doctoral research in Wythenshawe

An amazing group of Manchester mothers who work with murderers to prevent further violence – despite having lost a child to violence themselves – has inspired Yvonne Thorne to begin a unique PhD studentship scheme at the University. Yvonne, a mother-of-three and a founding member of Mothers Against Violence (MAV), is pursuing her academic goals while maintaining her hands-on voluntary community work after winni ng a place on the pilot studentship scheme. The scheme was launched by the Manchester Leadership Programme (MLP), the University’s pioneering initiative that offers a unique combination of academic study and community-based activity. It is generously supported by Russell Jones & Walker Solicitors. Neil Kinsella of Russell Jones & Walker with PhD student Yvonne Thorne The four-year studentships enable three outstanding young researchers to combine PhD research with valuable work experience “I became the treasurer at MAV but as a Region’s most deprived areas. Yvonne’s remit linked to the leadership programme. The idea voluntary set-up it’s all hands on deck and I is to identify case studies of people who have is directly connected to the University’s three quickly found myself visiting bereaved succes sfully broken out of offending strategic goals of research, higher learning, parents, doing talks at schools and youth behaviour cycles and establish how these and social responsibility. centres, advising people about their legal studies can be used to help other people. rights, and writing letters to prisoners. All “I started my studentship in September 2009. Yvonne, aged 33, was expecting her first this was on top of my ‘official’ duties,” It’s been a rollercoaster ride, but a marvellous child when she became inspired by the added Yvonne. compassion of MAV members whose children experience. What motivates me is the idea had been killed in gang-related violence in After leaving school with three GCSEs, she that other people will benefit from my the Moss Side and Hulme areas of returned to the classroom some years later work,” said Yvonne. and gained extra qualifications. These, along Manchester. The group has been Russell Jones & Walker Solicitors is headed by with an extensive portfolio of voluntary c ommended by the Home Office. Manchester alumnus Neil Kinsella (LLB 1979), communit y work, enabled her to take a BA in a managing partner at the firm who “These mothers are amazing. Despite having Criminology at the University. She graduated specialises in personal injury and sports law. lost their children they come back to stop this with a 2:1 in 2008. happening to other people,” said Yvonne. Neil is delighted that his company is involved The pilot studentship scheme involves three “They’ll go into a prison and hug someone in supporting this project: “Yvonne is an PhD students carrying out interlinked jailed for murder, which is crucial to the inspiration as someone who makes a real research projects related to improving the offender’s rehabilitation. This compassion difference and that’s why we wanted to choices and chances of young people living drove me then, and it still does now. support her and the University.” in Wythenshawe, one of the Manchester City

Future Developments Did you know that Manchester has the UK’s lowest life expectancy for men and the second lowest for women? The University plans to launch another programme of MLP PhD studentships aimed at identifying ways in which community-based research, focused on some of the most deprived areas in the UK, can help address this important issue. Alumni who are interested in finding out more abouty how the can support this work should contact Jane Ratchford, Director of The Manchester Leadership Programme tel +44 (0)161 275 2828 or [email protected]

44 YOUR MANCHESTER Time is running out...... to make your match

The University’s allocation from the Your Gift Your Gift Your Gift with Gift Effect on Governments Matched Funding with Gift Aid Aid and Matched Your Gift Scheme is fast running out as donors Funding from the UK and beyond are using this opportunity to increase the impact of £29.37 £37.59 £50 +70% their gift. Join them before it is too late by supporting Your Manchester Fund £117.48 £150.37 £200 +70% and increase the impact of your gift by up to 70%. £588.68 £735.85 £1,000 +70% What is the Government Matched Funding Scheme? Which gifts qualify? Which gifts do not qualify? • The UK Government has launched a programme to encourage gifts from • Donations from all donors, given since • Any gifts made after 31 July 2011, or alumni and others to support English 1 August 2008. after the University's allocation from the Government has run out (which Higher Education institutions, known • Gift Aided donations. as the Matched Funding Scheme. will happen soon). • Gifts from UK and international • Gifts in kind. • As a former student, wherever you are individuals, companies and charitable in the world, we can add at least a trusts. • Legacies. third to the value of your gift, at no extra cost to you. • All gifts to Your Manchester Fund (see page 42). Certain limits apply to major • For UK donors, this 33% bonus will be gifts above £150,000. applied both to the gift itself and to the value of Gift Aid. This means the value • Shares, valued at the time received by of your gift could be increased by 70%. the Division of Development and Alumni Relations.

Fund To find out if any other forms of giving are eligible for Matched Funding, please

Together we’re shaping contact Lesley Dowdall, Head of Donor Programmes – tel +44 (0)161 275 2373, the world of tomorrow email [email protected] – for further information

YOUR MANCHESTER 45 YOUR MANCHESTER FUND Add up Matchedto Funding70% Show your support for the transformational power of education and research. Fund See page 45 Your Manchester Fund is the programme through which thousands of Manchester alumni target their support for a range of student scholarships, student support resources, and research at the University. For further details Together we’re shaping on the priorities of the fund, or to donate online please see www.manchester.ac.uk/yourmanc hesterfund the world of tomorrow Please complete in block capitals and return to: REF: MAG 10/11 Your Manchester Fund, The Division of Development and Alumni Relations, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL tel +44 (0)161 275 2619

Name Tel

Address Email

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Regular Gift by Standing Order (please do not send this form to your bank) Single Gift by Cheque or Credit Card

Name I wish to make a donation of of bank £50 £200 £1,000 Bank address £100 £500 Other

I enclose a cheque made payable to Postcode ‘The University of Manchester’ Your account OR number Please charge the above amount to my Maestro/ Sort code / / Visa Mastercard CAF Switch/Solo Please Each £ Card No pay month quarter year

to The University of Manchester Annual Fund donations account number 30924369: Barclays Bank plc, Manchester City Office, PO Box 357, Expiry Start / / 51 Mosley Street, Manchester, M60 2AU (Sort code 20-55-34) date date Amount Issue * * Please note not all cards have a in words no start date or issue number. Commencing Signature on the D D M M Y Y Y Y Until further notice for years OR (please tick) Should name and address of card holder differ from the donor details Please allow a minimum of 3 weeks to set up standing order completed, please insert a note supplying these

Signature Date Date Donor Acknowledgement

The purpose of your gift Please tick here if you would prefer your name not to appear in any future donor acknowledgement list Your Manchester Fund To benefit the five student support priority areas at the discretion of the Your Gift Aid Declaration Manchester Fund Steering Group If you are a UK taxpayer please take a moment to sign this declaration. In OR doing so you will increase the value of your donation by 25% at no extra the following Student Support area: (please tick) cost to you. For donations made from 6 April 2008 to 5 April 2011, HMRC will also add an additional 3% in transitional relief. A Opportunity Learning Bridging confirmation certificate will be sent upon receipt. Manchester Enrichment Hardship I would like The University of Manchester to treat all donations I have made for the last 6 tax years, and all future donations that Research Global Other I make from the date of this declaration until I notify you otherwise, Impact Outreach as Gift Aid donations. ‹‹ Specific Research Theme (optional) Signature Date

Data Protection - 1998 Data Protection Act Your data is securely held in the University’s Division of Development and Alumni Relations and will be treated confidentially and with sensitivity for the benefit of the University and its members in accordance with the terms of the Data Protection Act 1998. The data is available to our schools and faculties, recognised alumni societies, sports and other clubs associated with the University and is used for a full range of alumni activities including the sending of University publications and the notification of alumni events, fundraising programmes and for the promotion of benefits and services. If you do not want your data to be used for the above purposes, please tick this box.

46 YOUR MANCHESTER

Legacy

Many alumni choose to show their appreciation of The University of Manchester by remembering the University in their Will – building on a long history of philanthropic support at Manchester. Whatever the reason or size, legacy gifts can have a real and enduring effect. They speed up vital research, strengthen an academic discipline, or help us to attract the best students. Examples of gifts include: • Mr Kenneth Cavalot (Adult Education, 1971) – for the Manchester Research Centre Hearing and Communications Group, allowing the Audiology and Deafness Department to further research into the benefits of hearing aids and cochlear implants for hearing impaired children; • Dr George Howard (Chemistry 1943; MSc Polymer Science and Technology 1944) – for The Howard Scholarship in Chemistry. Esta blished by Mr Andrew Howard in memory of his father, the Scholarships are awarded to undergraduate Chemistry students who are finding it difficult to study at the University without The University is honoured to be the selected partner for such far- additional financial assistance; sighted generosity and we thank you sincerely for your support. If you would like a copy of the University’s legacy brochure or • Dr Isabella Muir was a Research Biochemist at the University. Her would like to speak directly to someone about leaving a gift in gift is used for research prizes in the Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell- your Will to the University, please contact Lesley Dowdall, on tel Matrix Research, supporting training visits. +44 (0)161 275 2373, email [email protected] If you ha ve been inspired by The University of Manchester in any way, a gift in your Will can be invaluable to research and scholarly enquiry for future generations. It may even be that you have a personal reason Alumni from the University can take up a special will-writing to support the University – to commemorate a loved one's time here service that is available at a discounted rate through specialists for example. Whatever the reason, if you do choose to remember the Irwin Mitchell Solicitors. Please visit: University alongside other commitments in your Will, we would www.extranet.irwinmitchell.com/willsandtrusts/university_ enco urage you to share your plans with us if you feel able to do so. of_manchester/index.asp for further information. Rates are Please be assured that any information provided will be treated in the irrespective of whether the University is included in your Will. strictest confidence, should that be preferred. YOUR MANCHESTER 47 Your Alumni Association membership card entitles you to over 40 special discounts and offers. See the alumni community website below for a full listing and click on Alumni ‘benefits and services’ – you will need to register if you have not already done so (see page 41.) We have highlighted just a few of the benefits currently available below Benefits www.manchester.ac.uk/yourmanchester Forthcoming careers fairs Graduate Recruitment Fair Wednesday 16 and Thursday 17 June 2010 (Different exhibitors each day) Ethnic Diversity Fair October 2010 – date to be confirmed Engineering, Science and Technology Fair Cottages4You The Magazine Wednesday 20 October 2010 A 10% discount is available for Group Finance, Business and Management Fair alumni on over 13,000 Alumni can save up to 75% on Thursday 21 October 2010 properties in the UK and parts over 400 magazines and trade of Europe Law Fair journals Tuesday 16 November 2010 Postgraduate Study Fair Wednesday 17 November 2010 Royal Exchange Theatre Alumni can take advantage of a £3 discount off any performance in the main theatre. This excludes Saturdays and is subject to availability

www.manchester.ac.uk/careers/fairs

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