Once a Caian... 9-12 Issue 12
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ISSUE 15 MICHAELMAS 2015 GONVILLE & CAIUS COLLEGE CAMBRIDGE Hawkin g.. .50 not out 5 new names on the Benefactors’ Wall Caius 255.. .Magdalen, Oxford 105 Nobels 13...Oscars 2 ...Always a Caian 1 D a n W From the Master h i t e The main focus of this fifteenth issue of Once a Caian… is our tribute to a man who has overcome unimaginable difficulties to become the most famous scientist in the world. This year, we celebrated the latest milestone in Stephen Hawking’s amazing life – fifty years as a Fellow of Caius. When Stephen speaks, the world listens. When he speaks to Caians about supporting the College, we follow his lead. Five new names have been carved in stone on the Conten ts Benefactors’ Wall this year, representing four million-pound gifts. One such benefactor, D D D a a a n n n Yvonne Lui, said she was ‘honoured to give to the College of Stephen Hawking’. We are W W W h h h i i i t t t e e all honoured to belong to it. e We are determined to safeguard our educational standards by putting the College on a 2 12 20 secure financial footing. To that end, we have assembled a professional fundraising team that we know is the envy of most Oxbridge colleges. Dr Anne Lyon has led that team, as Fellow and Director of Development, since 20 01. In that time, she has generated nearly £100 million in gifts and legacy pledges. This is an extraordinary performance, probably unequalled in a British educational institution. We are profoundly grateful to Anne for what she has achieved – but it is time for her to pass the torch to her successor, James Howell (opposite page), who worked as her Deputy Director for six years before taking over as Fellow and Director of Development D D Y a a a o n n L W W on 1 January 2015. For the time being, we have persuaded Anne to continue as i a h h n i i g t t e Director of Development for Principal Gifts. In that capacity, she will continue to e exercise her considerable charm and phenomenal fundraising skills with benefactors 22 24 36 contemplating six, seven and (we hope) eight-figure gifts to the College. Also in this issue, we celebrate Caian successes in many other fields – for our students, on the river, in music and and in TV’s University Challenge , and for our Fellows, numerous elections to the Royal Society and the British Academy. We also acknowledge the work of outstanding Caians in many fields, high achievers like Leslie Bricusse, the double Oscar-winning composer and lyricist, Simon Russell Beale, ‘the finest actor of his generation’, and New Zealand’s Douglas Myers, whose generosity and vision set the standard for our revived culture of benefaction and who still leads the way as our greatest living donor. 2 Fifty Years a Fellow of Caius – Professor Stephen Hawking (196 5) There are always too many stories for Once a Caian… – the Editor tells me he could 6 The Writing on the Wall: Five new Major Benefactors fill the magazine twice over – but we share these tales with you as examples of what 10 Pure Magic – Leslie Bricusse (19 51) some Caians are doing to make the world a better place, and to assure you that you 12 Generations in Harmony – Lt. Gen. Sir Peter Beale (195 2) and Simon Russell Beale (1979) have every right to feel proud of being a member for life of this wonderful College – 14 A High Achiever – Sir Douglas Myers (195 8) as proud as we all are of Stephen Hawking. 16 Vita Brevis – a new book on John Aubrey by Dr Ruth Scurr (2005) 18 Hawking 50 not out – Stephen Hawking Circle Members and Guests in Caius Court 20 Caius Unstoppable in University Challenge 201 5 22 A World Apart – The Burgh Island of Deborah Clark (198 0) Professor Sir Alan Fersht (196 2) 24 Songs Ancient & Modern – the Caius Choirbook Master 26 Thanks to our Benefactors 34 CaiNotes James Howell (2009), “Caius made me what I am” – Alan Fersht 36 Go the Mighty! – May Bumps results Fellow and Director of and Launch of the Jimmy Altham Development, welcoming the victorious Caius Men’s Cover photos by Dan White and Yao Liang First VIII at the May Bumps. D a n W h i t e 2 Once a Caian... ...Always a Caian 3 D a n On 30 May 201 5, Caius W h i t celebrated Professor e Stephen Hawking’s first Fifty Years fifty years as a Fellow (Clockwise from top left) Stephen of the College. Hawking with a Caius Teddy; Adam Hedley (199 0), Jimmy Altham (196 5), Members of the Barry Hedley (196 4) and Patrick Burgess (196 4); Caroline and Christopher Clarke Stephen Hawking Circle (196 5); Clara and Ray Leung (198 6); a Fellow Yao Liang (196 3); Neil McKendrick (195 8) and Mark Potter (195 7); James Hill and guests attended a (200 9), Anne Lyon (20 01 ), Pamela Hill and Richard Lyon; Caroline and Benedict Bird (198 6); Stephen and Lucy Hawking magnificent dinner in with (l to r) Yvonne Lui, Regina Leung, Chung Yan Leung (2011), Catherine Yuen, his honour in the Hall. of Caius Yao Liang and Alice Cheng (2013). D D a a n ver the past half century, For his part, Stephen has always n W W h h i i t Stephen Hawking has come acknowledged his debt to Caius and has t e e to embody the finest values repaid it many times over. In 2007, he of the College we are agreed to a request from Dr Anne Lyon honoured to share with him (20 01), as Director of Development, to O– an open mind, a keen intellect, courage set up the Stephen Hawking Circle, to and tenacity. recognise benefactors who had made gifts A mind that will not entertain new ideas to the College totalling at least £50,000. will never be brave enough to challenge All members are invited, with spouse or orthodoxy – or determined enough to partner, to meet Stephen, to hear him give complete demanding tasks. Most of us, given a talk and dine with him afterwards in two years to live, would prepare to make an College. exit. Stephen refused to accept his doctors’ The occasion of Stephen reaching his dire forecasts and simply pressed on with his fiftieth year as a Fellow of Caius prompted D Y a research, insisting on his right to try and a unique celebration. All members of the a o n L W i realise his exceptional potential. It cannot Stephen Hawking Circle were invited and, a h n i g t have been easy: he suffered devastating unsurprisingly, very few declined. Stephen e blows along the way, the progressive loss of arrived early and showed extraordinary almost all movement and ultimately the patience in being photographed with his power of speech. guests. The atmosphere in the Courts But his life has been a triumph. He has beforehand and later in the Hall was one of revolutionized human understanding of the almost overwhelming joy. Many marvelled universe and has become the most skilful at the way the sheer force of Stephen’s scientific communicator of our age, latterly personality, his unique combination of with the invaluable help of his daughter, whimsical humour and dogged Lucy. Caians everywhere are immensely determination, enabled them to feel a real proud of his achievements: he is an personal connection with him. inspiration to us all. Continued overleaf D D Y Y a a a a o o n n L L W W i i a a h h n n i i g g t t e e 4 Once a Caian... ...Always a Caian 5 D a n Sir Alan shared some of his own memories Before the dinner in Hall, W In reply, the Master, h i t of Stephen’s arrival at Caius in 1965, when he e Stephen warmly welcomed Professor Sir Alan Fersht himself was just starting his PhD, and the later years, when Stephen was wheelchair-bound his guests and spoke of his (196 2), answered Stephen’s and his speech became slurred and very hard gratitude to the College question: ‘For Caius at to understand: ‘Technology came to the rescue and gave ‘for giving me a place to least, I can say us the voice that has become his trademark live and work half a emphatically “Yes!”’ and we now all recognise instantly as Stephen. Now, a single sentence can take century ago – and for several minutes for him to compose, but ‘The Fellowship is a family, just as our Stephen has learned to be economical with supporting me ever sinc e…’ students, our staff and our alumni are all words and his interjections around High Table parts of the Caian family, and as our are always pertinent and often coloured by his ‘For myself, Gonville & Caius has been magazine reminds us each year, Once a wicked sense of humour. my academic home for almost all my time Caia n…always a Caia n… It sometimes ‘Stephen’s scientific work went from in Cambridge, and we have grown even goes unnoticed, what we do to support strength to strength, with a succession of closer as time has gone on. I was surprised our College family. You all know about the insights into the nature of black holes and the and very pleased to be elected to a Stephen Hawking Building, built through origins of the universe.