Thirty Years on Message from the Vice-Chancellor

Summer 2006 Message from the Thirty Years On Vice-Chancellor With the rashness of youth, I changed the text to say that UCB would be taking Over the last three students in January 1976. I still think that I months every British was right. university (save one) has been disrupted When I came to Buckingham, there were or threatened with already a number of staff around – disruption by strike including the Librarian, John Pemberton, action. The strikes the Registrar, Larry Wilson, the Professor have been led by of Law, John Hall, Professor Alan Brook academic staff in and the Clerk of Works, Arthur Nightingale pursuit of higher pay. – who always wore a black homburg hat. In The strikers have been refusing to set the course of the year we were joined by and mark papers, which has upset tens the redoubtable Caryl Ramsden as Pro- if not hundreds of thousands of students Vice Chancellor (Administration). Caryl who have feared that, after their years of Professor John Clarke moved into Willowbank when it was ready study, they would not get degrees. – working tremendously hard, telling stories Some time ago, I read a book called Thirty of his various diplomatic postings – ‘When I was Number 2 in Addis ,,, ‘ and Last week it was announced that the Years at St Andrews. It was one of the dispensing and consuming enormous unions and the Vice Chancellors had most boring books I have ever read. I now realise that it is more than thirty years amounts of Famous Grouse whisky. He finally agreed on a pay package (13 per was later joined by Ralph Yablon – who gave cent increase in salaries over the next since I first became involved with the University of Buckingham. Whatever else us most of the Hunter Street site. He told three years) and the students have me that it had cost him £78,000 – a very entered the exam halls relieved that their they may have been my Thirty Years at Buckingham have not been boring. One good investment. Perhaps the atmosphere papers will indeed be marked. evening in November 1974, I met Max in 1975 was a bit like that of the ‘Phoney Beloff, a Fellow of my Oxford College, on a War’ period of 1939-40. We could not really And which is the one university in Britain train from London. Max told me about the believe that things would ever get serious. where the very idea of strike action is Buckingham project and my interest was But they did – when the students arrived. inconceivable? Yup, Buckingham. aroused. A few days later, he invited me to apply for a job – or rather two (the usual Although we have always had interesting This year's university strikes have been Buckingham way). I was appointed as a members of staff, it is really the students that make Buckingham what it is – they are disgraceful. For lecturers and professors, Lecturer in History and Dean of the ones who stop it from being boring. To who are meant to be mentors to their Admissions. Just before Christmas I moved begin with there were not many of them – students, to threaten those students' into my first office – in Brewery House in Castle Street. I was with Max and his but what they lacked in numbers they more degrees, speaks of the degradation of than made up for in character. Buckingham the state universities in Britain. And the deputy, Charles Vereker, on a snowy January morning in 1975, when we took was highly controversial at the beginning – fact that the state universities negotiate there were lots of people in the academic as one, with national pay scales being possession of Yeomanry House. We must have looked a strange trio: me in the world and elsewhere who thought that it imposed universally irrespective of the curious fashion of the 1970s – flared just could not succeed and did not want it differences between universities, speaks trousers, kipper tie and other horrors – to. Precisely because we were so different further of the loss of individuality of the Charles in a smart black overcoat with a we attracted people who were also state universities (just as they, in their velvet collar and Max wearing a knitted different – some were a trifle eccentric, turn, fail to treat their students as balaclava helmet. He had an elegant mind some very clever, others rather less so. I individuals). but cared little for externals. remember them so well – Anna Bramwell, Paul Seligman, Paddy Kealing, Nigel Buckingham, as Britain's only As Dean of Admissions, my job was to Hawkins, Mary Ray, Chris Owen and many independent university, was founded to recruit some students – it wasn’t easy but more. On the whole they worked quite protect students against such then it never has been. Here I confess to hard, perhaps not as hard as my pupils in Oxford but they were tremendous fun to degradations and losses - and as the my first act of disobedience – there have teach and to be with. I remember a last three months has shown, it has. So been others but not many. Charles gave me the text of an advertisement so carefully wonderful debate on the death penalty. if you are returning for our Nigel Hawkins spoke for and Paul ‘‘Homecoming Weekend’’ 29th - 30th worded that it was almost impossible to understand what it actually meant. It Seligman spoke against. When Nigel had July this summer (and I hope you are) finished his speech, Paul got up and said you'll find we are all present and correct. implied that there was a possibility – though no more – that the University ‘Well, he would say that wouldn’t he; did College at Buckingham might open to you know that his family makes ropes? Dr Terence Kealey teach students at some unspecified date in Vice-Chancellor the future. (Continued on page 3) Anne’s News My work to date With more interaction with current students wanted, if indeed a constitution is the way this year has been taking place as well, we are often finding you wish to go. increasingly people who are keen to be involved before involved in the they have left Buckingham and this is, of You will also find a list of people on that burgeoning alumni course, a huge advantage. In fact some of weblink who have given their contact country groups our Japanese students have even built the details for their countries. They may not that are beginning front page of a Japanese alumni group yet be formalised groups, but with help to spring up website in their own language, and we from you, it need not be long and we could around the world. hope that it won't be too long before this is then work together to promote, recruit and This is a very online. Hopefully this will encourage other fundraise for Buckingham. exciting time for countries to do the same, where Buckingham and appropriate. In this, our 30th year, we are hopeful that the enthusiasm there will be many events around the world and effort with Our Nigerian students are also bubbling to celebrate the fact that we are still going which our alumni, and current students over with ideas for events and groups strong - we are evolving, and we are from around the world, are taking up the within Nigeria (one group would not be looking forward to a future of expansion challenge is a huge opportunity. We are enough in a country so large) and are and innovation. None of this can be done beginning to see and discuss endless working closely with the group already in without you. Your help and support is vital possibilities of making the alumni network Nigeria. All of them realise, as do many to Buckingham and I promise you that we so much stronger and even more vital to alumni around the world, the vital appreciate it so much when you spread the the core well-being of the University. importance of networking - before finals as word to family and friends and bit by bit we well as after! manage, together, to keep the only Vital communication with the Marketing independent university in the UK alive Department has meant that we are able to ......... and kicking! co-ordinate visits overseas by lecturers and In countries such as India, Pakistan, China staff with alumni events. From those and the USA it would be impossible to have I do SO hope to see you at the meetings, encouragement is given, and one country group, but we are open to "Homecoming Weekend" on 29/30 July. received, regarding the forming of a ideas and perhaps e-groups are a way Perhaps we can talk Country Groups! I country group. While in some cases this forward? We are doing what we can to always love putting you in touch with each may not happen immediately (for various encourage, support and help, but we do other! reasons - the size of a country; time need your help. If a constitution is written constraints on alumni etc), we are finding (as long, or as short, as you wish!) Anne Matsuoka that there is much more interest in following the "Country Group Guidelines" Tel: +44 (0)1280 820338 formalising groups than we have seen on www.buckingham.ac.uk/alumnet then no Email: previously. one need serve a term longer than [email protected] Iva’s News Dear All, On the following day, It is small but very friendly with a diverse Sunday 30th July, mixture of nationalities and cultures where Hope you’ll you’ll have a free almost everyone knows everybody.

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