COMMENTTHE COLLEGE NEWSLETTER ISSUE NO 153 | MAY 2004 TOM WHIPPS Gunfire and music at the Strand HIGHLIGHT of the College’s 175th The duel, re-enacted by actors in Retreat played by The Band of Her anniversary celebrations was a costumes of the day and complete Majesty’s Scots Guards followed by The firework finale Aspectacular re-enactment of with pistols, was performed by the duel. After which they played the 1829 duel fought between the Martin Wimbush (Wellington) who Beethoven’s Battle Symphony concluded with the Trumpeters of Prime Minister of the time, the Duke of performs his own one-man play ‘Wellington’s Victory’ arranged by the Irish Guards, a magnificent Wellington, and the Earl of Winchilsea. Wellington around the country and the Director of Music for the Scots firework display – the climax of The duel, which was in part fought Peter Symonds (Winchilsea) who Guards Major Bob Owen. During the which was ‘175’ lit up between the over the foundation of King’s, took has worked extensively with major music members of The Napoleonic columns of the arch at the river end place on Friday 30 April in the Quad repertory theatres and also with Association enthusiastically re- of the Quad – and a stunning shower at the Strand campus. More than television. Narrators took the enacted part of the 1813 Battle of of silver confetti. 450 staff, students, alumni, guests audience through the performance Vitoria at which Wellington defeated As one member of the audience and sponsors watched the evening’s and retold the history of the College. Napoleon. commented there had been nothing proceedings. The event began with Beating This truly memorable evening as spectacular seen at the Strand since the Luftwaffe excavated the TOM WHIPPS Quad labs during World War II. Christopher Coe, Director of Communications said: ‘I feared the worst as the weather forecasts predicted a sodden evening, but we were blessed with perfect conditions. It turned out to be a wonderful event and one that brought the whole College community together. Tribute must be paid to the many staff – particularly in site services – who worked so hard to make it a success.’ Take aim: Members of The Napoleonic Association with The Band of Her Majesty’s Scots Guards in the foreground 2 Principal’s column |3Met Commissioner at Guy’s |4Network security |7Departmental focus: MND Care & Research Centre 8 King’s people |11Profile: Judith Herrin |13Flashback: Strand site |19Obituaries | 23 Film review |24Books News patronage would become a Trojan The 1829 Duel horse designed to catholicise the Home thoughts from South Africa protestant establishment. When Winchilsea refused to apologise for DOMINIC TURNER HE DUEL, on the morning of 21 UST BEFORE EASTER I was the remarks, Wellington demanded March 1829, was the only one finally able to accept an satisfaction on the duelling field. Tfought by the Duke of invitation to visit the The duel took place beside the J Wellington. It took place amid the Johannesburg campus of Monash Thames on Battersea Fields, now controversy surrounding the University. The timing was perfect. the site of Battersea Park. reluctant granting of Catholic Only a few days earlier I had said Winchilsea probably never intended emancipation by Wellington’s farewell to Desmond Tutu after his to fire, and perhaps distracted by administration in the face of civil unforgettable period of residence his unmoving adversary, unrest in Ireland. The decision with us, and I had his inimitable Wellington’s shot was sent wide. brought furious denunciation from chuckle still ringing in my ears. Winchilsea then discharged his more conservative supporters of I will never forget his personal pistol harmlessly in the air before the religious status quo. These warmth and kindness, his agreeing the wording of a included the Earl of Winchilsea, enormous fondness for and satisfactory apology. who, like Wellington, was a commitment to King’s, and the As the narrator said after the re- prominent financial backer of King’s quiet, simple prayer he shared enactment ‘And so, not for the last College. with anyone he spoke to in his tiny time in British history, a Prime but the narratives of oppression He published a letter accusing office at the Strand. And I had Minister is satisfied that his honour and liberation which have Wellington of dishonesty in been trying to think how we could has been restored after being characterised South African championing the cause of a maintain that personal link and called publicly a liar!’ history have been overtaken in the protestant King’s College. Instead, build up our engagement with minds of younger people by the argued Winchilsea, emancipation South Africa in general. Monash’s imperatives of black economic had shown the Duke to be a friend Duel role: ‘The Duke of Wellington’ selects newly-opened operation in empowerment. It is clear that of popery while King’s under his his duelling pistol Johannesburg could well be the truth and reconciliation have TOM WHIPPS springboard for collaboration we played an enormous part in this need. onward movement. Located at a 100-hectare site There are many actual and some 20 kms NW of central potential collaborations with Johannesburg, Monash South Monash which could be located in Africa is by any standards a Johannesburg. I have agreed to remarkable achievement. In less fund two delegates to an inaugural than five years, an entire small symposium on ‘Politics, history university has been built and and memory’ in October; there equipped to the highest are numerous opportunities to standards, together with student work on ICT applications to accommodation and a wide range infrastructure projects in rural of sports facilities. economies, and, obviously, huge Some 450-500 students are potential in nursing and public enrolled on programmes in three health. faculties: Arts, Business and I will be discussing these and To learn more about the early Economics, and Information other ideas with senior colleagues 175th Anniversary history of King’s visit the online Technology. About half of the in the weeks to come, in the hope exhibition designed by Archives & students are from South Africa that King’s can make a ING’S IS MARKING its 175 Corporate Records Services at itself with the majority of the contribution to the renaissance of anniversary with a year of www.kcl.ac.uk/archives. remainder from sub-Saharan South Africa and repay at least Kevents and celebrations. As There will be further online Africa. some of the debt we owe to our well as the duel, these include exhibitions and physical displays No less remarkable has been most distinguished alumnus. lectures; the publication of a College forming part of the 175th anniversary the transformation of South Africa history; a film festival; exhibitions; a celebrations, including an exploration itself since the transition to service at Westminster Abbey, and of the life and career of the Duke of democracy ten years ago. It is still Barry Ife much more. www.kcl.ac.uk/175 Wellington. a country of enormous contrasts, Acting Principal 2|COMMENT | May 2004 News Chinese Medicines Conference © SINOPIX DTI GLOBAL WATCH MISSION led by the College investigating Athe discovery of new drugs from natural sources fed back to a one-day conference in the Great Hall in March. The team also launched a Mission Report that drew several conclusions. Firstly the differences between modern Western pharmaceuticals and mixtures of natural products comprising natural medicines present a significant challenge for the development of conventional drugs from traditional Chinese medicines. While natural medicines can be as potent as pharmaceutical drugs, how they work is not understood so they cannot be licensed as pharmaceuticals and prescribed by doctors. Dedicated investment in research is necessary to unlock the huge potential of natural traditional Chairman of the Shanghai Institute Professor Robert Hider, the these are quite well controlled.’ medicines and also to protect the of Materia Medica and Dr Cui academic leader of the mission, The lead co-ordinator of the public from unsafe and unregulated Yongquiang, Chief Physician of spoke to The Guardian, resulting in mission, Caroline Quest, Director of herbal remedies. Guang’anmen Hospital, Bejing. a major story, saying that Knowledge Transfer at King’s said: The conference heard a range of Professor Monique Simmons from increasingly Chinese doctors go to ‘The mission so far has been very talks from UK and Asian experts the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and great lengths to underpin their successful in achieving knowledge including Dr Tony Buss, President Dr Daryl Rees, Chief Operating medicine with science: ‘We thought transfer and exchange across and CEO of MerLion Pharmaceuticals, Officer of Phytopharm were among that they really didn’t do clinical disciplines, professions, economic Singapore, Professor Xing-Zu Zhu, the UK academics who spoke. trails over there but increasingly sectors and countries.’ Funding and applications HERE HAS BEEN positive Hefce recurrent grant an increase of four per cent in increase for any English Russell news recently with the The total Hefce grant allocated to cash terms, before allowing for Group university. Tannouncement of the King’s the College for 2004/05 was increased activity. This is a greater Medical applications in particular grant from the Higher Education £105.33 million. This consists of rate of increase than that achieved have risen and the College has Funding Council for England £56.74 million for teaching, by most other Russell Group received 4,700 applications for the (Hefce), and the rise in numbers of £42.53 million for research and universities. 360 places (on the MB BS and the people applying to study at the £6.06 million for special funding, graduate entry programme), making College.