OLDJOETHE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM’S ALUMNI AND FRIENDS MAGAZINE Spring 2015 Sew on and sew on Beneath Birmingham Comic chameleon Building futures Changing families’ fortunes 2 OLD JOE THE FIRST WORD The firstword or more than 100 years research at the University of Birmingham has had a major GUEST EDITOR Fimpact on the world; our researchers advanced transplant surgery, developed the use of microwaves, and created artificial Vitamin C. If there’s one thing to take out of this Finding innovative solutions that address big issue of Old Joe, it’s that Birmingham issues and benefit society is a key priority and alumni are out in the world, doing we continue to break new ground. incredible things. Discovering that The recent Research Excellence Framework fellow graduates are behind some (REF) showed that 87% of the University’s research of today’s most innovative and activity has a global impact, confirming our position among the world’s top research successful businesses (page 14), are universities in a broad range of areas from History and Education to Chemical providing medical support in the fight Engineering, Dentistry, Philosophy, and Psychology. The REF measures the quality against Ebola (page 40) and leading and impact of research conducted in UK universities against international standards new research into brain injuries (page of excellence, on the basis of the quality and volume of research as well as its wider 13), shows that Birmingham remains impact. The results ranked more than 81% of all research carried out by the a breeding ground for enterprise, and University as internationally excellent or world leading. science as well as the creative arts. Examples of the breadth of our innovative research are featured in this edition of Graduating in 1991, I never had Old Joe. From the Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education (BCRRE) the fortune to meet ‘Auntie Dora’ preparing rail for the future (page 32) to Dr Jackson Kirkman-Brown’s pioneering (page 6) but reading about her procedures in fertility treatment (page 24), Birmingham continues to have an impact making a new life at Birmingham on lives, culture, industry, and society. after leaving Nazi-occupied Austria Of course, excellent research and teaching requires constantly improving facilities. made me wish I had. As we enter the final months of our Circles of Influence fundraising campaign, I The gift of life can come in many would like to thank again those of you who have chosen to support our campus forms and Dr Jackson Kirkman- developments, scholarships, and research projects over the last few years. You can Brown’s work into fertility with find out more about the campaign and our changing campus on pages 3 and 16. soldiers to enable them to conceive To return to research, I am delighted that at this midpoint in our ten-year research after injury is truly inspirational (page strategy we have confirmed our place amongst the very best universities across a 24) and merits an in-depth read. number of disciplines. We could not have achieved this without our alumni and And finally, for those who never friends, as well as the hard work of our staff and students, and I would like to take quite managed a secret midnight this opportunity to thank you for your support. exploration of the campus tunnels, all is revealed (page 22)! Best wishes, So wherever you are in the world, do enjoy this issue. Alyson Walsh (BA French, Professor Sir David Eastwood 1991) Marketing Manager Vice-Chancellor and donor to the University Fortnum and Mason. If you have difficulties reading any part of this publication, please contact us to request a plain text version. Be a guest editor The views and opinions expressed in Old Joe are not necessarily those of the Alumni Office or the University Let us know if you would of Birmingham. The University is an exempt charity under Schedule 3 of the Charities Act 2011. An exempt like to be a guest editor via charity enjoys all the tax exemptions and other benefits of a charity, but is exempt from certain requirements, alumnicommunications@ including the need to register with the Charity Commission. The University is not on the Register of Charities, contacts.bham.ac.uk but it is tax-exempt. Inland Revenue charities reference number: X7237. CONTENTS ALUMNI MAGAZINE 3 Contents On the cover Regulars OLDJOTHE UNIVERSITY OFE BIRMINGHAM’S ALUMNI MAGAZINE Spring 2015 Image: Dr Susan Kay Williams (MA Shakespeare The first word 2 Alumni events calendar 30 Studies, 1980), Chief Your year in pictures 4 Campus connections 37 Executive of the Royal News 6 School and department news 38 Sew on Society of Needlework and Sew on My favourite books 8 Your news 44 Beneath Birmingham tunnels tour (see page 20). Building futures – B15 faces 12 Honorary graduates 46 campus developments Comic chameleon Changing families’ fortunes Spotlight 19 Win 47 Features Eyes on the enterprise 14 How entrepreneurial alumni are shaping their futures by founding their own businesses Dressed for success 18 Alumna Rebecca Telfer replaces her cap and gown with a new working wardrobe in the Class of 2014 graduation competition 14 Track to the future 32 Researchers in the Birmingham Centre for Railway Research and Education are preparing the industry for the future Lord of the Manor 35 After Manor House was badly damaged in a fire in Summer 2014, Old Joe pays tribute to this fondly remembered hall of residence The fight against Ebola 40 Dr Paul Arkell has witnessed the deadly impact of 18 32 Ebola in Sierra Leone than 10,000 alumni and friends Oxford, Cambridge or London: has enabled the University to make an visit www.bhamalumni.org/ incredible difference, from completing givenow to show your support. campus developments the size of The University has planned a 100-day countdown 9.6 football pitches to funding 570 special online celebration to show scholarships for students from less the impact of Circles of Influence Time is ticking for the Circles of privileged backgrounds. and to thank alumni and friends Influence fundraising campaign, which There is still time to be part of for their incredible generosity. enters its final 100 days on 23 April. the most successful fundraising Find out more from 23 April Since 2005, support from more campaign of any kind outside of at www.UoBpartofit.com 4 OLD JOE YOUR YEAR IN PICTURES YOUR YEAR IN PICTURES 1 2 3 YOUR YEAR IN PICTURES ALUMNI MAGAZINE 5 4 5 6 1. FASTER THAN THE SPEED OF RAIL: Alumni James 4. DRAMA TURNS 50: The Department of Drama and Theatre Heptonstall (BSc Geography, 2006; MSc Water Arts is celebrating its 50th anniversary with special events Resources Technology and Management, 2007) and throughout 2015. This important milestone comes as the Noel Carroll (BSc Sports and Materials Science, 2006) Department continues to achieve widespread recognition. became YouTube sensations with ‘Race the Tube’. The It was rated the number one UK Drama Department in the videos showing them racing, and beating, London trains Guardian university league table 2015, and has recently have received almost 6 million views. announced an exciting partnership with the Royal Shakespeare Company. 2. DINOSAUR DISCOVERY: Dr Richard Butler, of the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, 5. 50 GOLDEN YEARS: Alumni gathered on campus to was part of an international team to make the first dinosaur celebrate the 50th anniversary reunion in September find in the north of South America. The species is named when The Rt Hon Ann Widdecombe (BA Latin, 1969; Laquintasaura venezuelae after its location in Venezuela. DUniv, 2012) spoke at the Guild of Graduates and Alumni Association’s AGM and Forum. 3. THINK CORNER: The University hosted a pop-up shop to showcase research from across the sciences, arts 6. FROM BIRMINGHAM TO THE WEST BANK: and humanities. Visitors of all ages enjoyed a wide range Nikki Ray (BA African Studies with Development, 2011) of fun and thought-provoking activities and talks from travelled to the West Bank in Palestine to work as a Birmingham researchers. Human Rights Monitor. Read her blog at www.storiesfromyanounandbeyond.wordpress.com OLD JOE NEWS OLDJOE NEWS GUEST ED LOVES REMEMBERING Auntie Dora A group of alumni have joined forces ‘She would occasionally let slip The alumni who shared to share memories of a World War Two memories of Jews forced to scrub memories with Dr Minton were: refugee who was a much-loved academic the streets on their knees, and other in the now defunct brewing school. indignities imposed on them by the • Professor Michael Lewis Known affectionately by her students brutal Nazi regime but she never (BSc Biochemistry, 1957; as ‘Auntie Dora’, Dr Dora Kulka (1899– seemed particularly bitter about her PhD Biochemistry, 1960) 1983) was a Jewish chemist who came experiences, and was sometimes • Dr Brian Wood to Birmingham in 1938 after the British even nostalgic about the good old (BSc Malting, Brewing and Federation of University Women helped days in Vienna.’ Applied Biochemistry, 1956; her leave Nazi-occupied Austria. Dr Minton would be very interested PhD Biochemistry, 1959) A box containing hundreds of her to know how Dora Kulka’s postcards • Dr John Woodward postcards was purchased for Dr Paul came to be in Telford and why the (BSc Applied Biochemistry, Minton by his parents at a Telford collection suddenly stopped in 1974, 1956; PhD Biochemistry, 1959) auction during the mid-1980s, and was almost ten years before she died. • Professor Keith Cooksey rediscovered recently when his parents (BSc Applied Biochemistry, cleared their loft. The correspondence If you have any memories of Auntie Dora, 1956; PhD Biochemistry, 1959) dates from 1910 to 1974 and Dr or can help solve the mystery, contact • Dr Malcolm Watts Minton has set about tracing her former [email protected].