An Anniversary to Remember Alumni Relations O Ce Keeping You in Touch with Cambridge
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
magazine Summer 2010 An anniversary to remember Alumni Relations Oce Keeping you in touch with Cambridge What do we oer you? 1 CAMCard, providing access to a wide range of discounts 3 issues of CAM, the alumni magazine, dropping through your letterbox every year 1600 website pages (and counting) of news, events, information and links 380 network groups connecting you with other alumni across the globe 12 e-bulletin updates bringing you the latest news each month 10 events each year Wherever you are in the world, stay connected with Cambridge: Website Twitter www.alumni.cam.ac.uk www.twitter.com/CARO1209 Facebook Flickr f www.facebook.com/cambridgealumni www.ickr.com/photos/cambridge-alumni-relations www.alumni.cam.ac.uk Telephone +44 (0)1223 332288 Email [email protected] CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY LAND SOCIETY Contents Editorial The President’s year: 2009/10 was a very notable year for everyone connected Gerald Parkes, President 2009–10 4 with the Cambridge Jenny Buck, Senior Vice President, University Land Society. Against a very challenging President elect 2010–11 5 economic backdrop the Land Economy Department update society hosted its largest ever event, to mark the Phil Allmendinger 6 University’s 800th year, and Colin Lizieri 6 put on an outstanding seminar involving the Chief Executives Mentoring 7 of the major London landed Prize winners 7 estates. In addition to these huge endeavours have been Highlights of 2009–10 a number of unique and well received events ranging from 800th Anniversary Dinner 8 discussions on land law reform to pub crawls. None of these London Landed Estates 9 events would be able to take place without the hard work and dedication of the membership. SSG Dinner 9 I would like to take this opportunity to thank Faye Shorey on Past Presidents’ Dinner 9 our collective behalf for three years in charge of the production of this magazine. Having agreed to take this on when things Refl ections on the Credit Crunch were a litt le quiet at work (property development...) I had Margaret McClusky 10 totally underestimated what an amazing job Faye had done, and so effi ciently. I only hope I manage to uphold her high Cycle, Cycle, Cycle - Anthony Preiskel 11 standards. Adapt - James Taylor 13 It is worth restating that the Cambridge University Affordable Housing, an emerging market Land Society is the largest and senior alumni society of the University. We are an eclectic bunch, as the contents of this Ryan Smith 12 magazine testify, and I know we are the richer for it. Although we hope that ‘things can only get bett er’ nothing gets easier Unexpected Opera – Matthew Quirk 14 and the committ ee is always eager to hear your thoughts and The anti-icon – Daniel Hewitt 19 accept your off ers of help. Voluntary organisations such as the CULS have an opportunity to really prove their worth Location, location, location – Adam Roake 24 in these straightened times and the extension of the student Golf Day 26 mentoring scheme (page 7) is something that we should all be thinking long and hard about. Refl ection on 50– Jim Fiddes 28 You may recall that an invitation was sent late in 2009 to share your refl ections on what we all hope is the passing of Committee Structure 27 the worst recession in living memory. A selection of your New members 29 submissions are included with what I believe are interesting insights and lessons for us all. Th ere is an especially interesting Castle Howard 30 contrast in whether timing (Anthony Preiskel) or location (Adam Roake) are more important. Maybe this has the Sponsors Back Cover makings of a future event? I do hope you enjoy this magazine and that you are inspired to get even more involved. Paul Clark [email protected] Front cover: King’s College Lawn, 800th Anniversary Dinner 3 CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY LAND SOCIETY The President’s Year When I took over the leadership of the Society at the time of the fabulous 800 year anniversary celebration on the lawns of King’s College, I knew that it would hardly be feasible to emulate the achievement of my predecessor, Emma Fletcher, in such a fashion. owever, what I did say at the I am particularly grateful to those together with many guests who are time was that I hoped that in members of my Executive who were interested in the activities of the my 12 month term, I would able to attract sponsorship to our Department. Hbe able to help raise the profile of the events and to Douglas Blausten for Secondly, significant progress has Department of Land Economy, given working so hard to make the Landed been made in broadening the scope of its achievements, and to create more Estates event such a success. the Advisory Committee to the MPhil joined up thinking between its various With regard to the former, I believe Real Estate Finance programme. This external supporters. I also hoped that, that considerable progress has been committee of which I was the former when my term expired I would be able made and that a platform is in the chair is made up of senior industry to hand the keys over to my successor, process of being finalised that will leaders who were not necessarily I am delighted to Jenny Buck, with the Society being in serve the Department well in the Cambridge alumni. The members are say that, given the rude health. future. keen to provide industry support to With regard to the latter, I am First of all, a Development the Department on a broader basis generous support of happy to say that overall membership Group has been formed under the whilst maintaining its support for the 12 of its members, a remains strong, that the Silver Street Chairmanship of Aubrey Adams MPhil programme. Under the new Group is flourishing under Tom to co-ordinate the fund raising Chairmanship of Jon Zehner, I am sure “CULS Fellowship has Leeming’s leadership and that the for the Department. The Group is it will flourish and that many CULS been funded to enable finances of the Society are sound assisted by the Cambridge University members will be involved directly or thanks to the sponsorship we were Development Office and has as indirectly. the teaching of a able to achieve during the year and its members, representatives from Thirdly, I am delighted to say that, module on valuation particularly to those that supported the Society, from the Department, given the generous support of 12 of the Landed Estates seminar and from the EMDF Trust and from the its members, a CULS Fellowship has and accounting to 1st reception that was held in February Advisory Committee to the MPhil been funded to enable the teaching of a at the Royal Institute. At a time when Real Estate Finance programme. I am module on valuation and accounting to year students for the sponsorship was hard to come by delighted that many members of the 1st year students for the next 3 years. next 3 years” given the economic circumstances, Group will be at the Annual Dinner I do hope that as many of you can attend the Annual Dinner as possible. At a seminar immediately prior to the dinner, the Department will be setting out its goals and objectives for the future, will inform members and other invited supporters of its key areas of research and give some indication of where specific external support would be useful. In terms of future goals for the Society, I know that Jenny is already focused on both membership (we should have more Cambridge alumni involved from the real estate industry) and on assisting with mentoring students. I wish her every success and am absolutely sure that she will be very successful in the role. Finally, I would like to thank our administrative assistant, Kathy Wallen for all her help, our Honorary Vice Presidents for their support and all members of the Executive Committee who have provided me with tremendous support during a challenging year. Gerald Parkes 4 CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY LAND SOCIETY I am taking over the Presidency with some trepidation when I think of the presidents that have preceded me and all the great work that they have done. I am however also very excited about it especially as there are so many people who are keen to see CULS grow and develop. Our new President ot only is there an amazing committee, but CULS is also hugely supported by Nthe Land Economy Department (“the Department”) as well as the Development Group whose members are effectively the “great and the good” of the real estate industry both domestically but also internationally. For me CULS is first and foremost an alumni society. And as such, its objectives are to provide a forum for it members to network and continue their professional development, and wherever possible to give something back to the Department. With this in mind, the focus on my presidency will be to: 1. continue to provide a series of exceptional seminars drawing from the academia at the University as well as alumni; 2. agree a programme to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Department in 2012; 3. ensure that the social events, especially those of the Silver Street Group, are maintained and continue to blossom; the next generation to start and develop contact us and let us know your One of the things 4. increase the membership; and their careers. This year Professor thoughts. We are also always looking 5. widen and strengthen the Colin Lizieri is reviewing the existing for people who are keen to get more that I have always existing student mentoring mentoring system at the Department involved in the Society so do contact programme.