The magazine for the alumni of Royal Holloway and Bedford HighIssue 18 Summer 2013 er Emma Freud OBE on organising Red Nose Day The Bedford Society and Comic Relief Drama King Jonathan Powell at the BBC New treatments for epilepsy Suffragette city: The centenary of Emily Wilding Davison The Iraq sanctions myth The Bedford Society The society for Bedford College, one of the founding colleges of Royal Holloway and Bedford New College esse quam videri The Bedford Society is a community for all Bedford staff, alumni and friends. It exists to celebrate the astonishing, pioneering and rich history of those associated with the College. Bedford was ahead of its time, its staff were revolutionary and its students trailblazing. The Bedford Society is run by a committee chaired by Professor Caroline Barron, Professor Emeritus of History, and the Vice-Chair is Bedford Archivist Dr Claire Gobbi Daunton. The Society is committed to organising two annual events in London and will communicate regularly through this publication and a monthly email newsletter featuring Royal Holloway and Bedford stories, news and events. If you have any questions about the society or wish to register to receive the emails, then we would love to hear from you: telephone 01784 414478 or email [email protected] Celebrating the rich heritage of Bedford College and ensuring its past achievements benefit future generations Contents In Focus 4 Our three sopranos 4–5 Three Sopranos News 6 6 From the Principal 7 Letters to the Editor 8–9 College news 10–11 Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences 12–13 Faculty of Management and Economics 14–15 Faculty of Science Features 16 16–17 Emma Freud on 25 years of Red Nose Day 18–19 Drama King: Jonathan Powell at the BBC 20-21 The Iraq sanctions myth by Mike Spagat 22–23 A room of one’s own by Jane Hamlett 24–25 From amoeba to preclinical models: Developing new treatments for epilepsy 26-27 Timeline of the Colleges 28–29 Into Africa... 30 Margaret Thatcher: The Falklands legacy and beyond by Klaus Dodds 31 Cyber Security: Our next generation of experts Alumni 26 32 The Bedford Society 33 Alumni generations: Two weddings and a chapel 34 Emily Wilding Davison: A centenary celebration 35 Physicist and sportswoman: The legacy of Margaret Young 36–42 Class notes 43–45 In memoriam 46–47 New books by alumni 48–49 The Alumni Fund: How your donations enrich the student experience Dates for Your Diary 50 50 Alumni and College events Editor: Steve Pickles [email protected] Cover image: Sudhir Pithwa © Condé Nast Publications Ltd The paper contains material sourced from responsibly managed forests. The manufacturing mill has both ISO 14001and EMAS accreditation and is also accredited to produce paper to FSC standards. Higher magazine is published by Royal Holloway, University of London, Egham, Surrey, TW20 0EX. 4 Higher magazine The three sopranos Following the success of their Silver Jubilee Celebration Concert in 2010, we were excited to welcome back our three distinguished soprano soloists and alumnae, Susan Bullock, Sarah Fox and Dame Felicity Lott, for a Three Sopranos Valentine Concert in the Windsor Building. And what a night it was! For this concert, they performed a programme of popular Valentine- themed favourites and were accompanied by the Choir of Royal Holloway, under the leadership of Rupert Gough, and the renowned pianist Malcolm Martineau. The packed hall also delighted in several love-themed readings by Dame Felicity’s husband, the actor Gabriel Wolf. Susan, Sarah and Dame Felicity are Honorary Fellows of the College and have all sung at the leading opera houses of the world. Dame Felicity is renowned for performing French and German song, Susan Bullock is in great demand as one of the world’s leading Wagnerian sopranos and Sarah Fox is performing in Carmen at the Royal Opera this year. This was an evening that will live on in the popular memory of the College for many years to come. Royal Holloway 5 News From the Principal Photograph by Natasha Patel Emily Bolden and Amy Burrows, 3rd year students in Maths and Music respectively with the Principal, Professor Paul Layzell at the Passport Award Ceremony. These are exciting times as we map our future in a strategic plan for the of our founding colleges and build on the support of former students in development of the College over the next seven years. At the heart of seeking to bring benefit to future generations. The inaugural reunion and the plan is a continued commitment to attracting the very best staff and lecture at Senate House, University of London attracted an overwhelming students here, delivering high quality research that underpins all our courses response (see page 37). and equips our students not only with the skills and knowledge to move We are also continuing to mark some considerable successes enjoyed into employment, but also with the critical skills to continue to develop their in our academic departments and many of these are highlighted in knowledge and understanding beyond their university years. this magazine. With the dramatic changes to student funding and a significant relaxation In the Sciences, we are immensely proud that the Information Security on the number of students each university can admit, our focus is particularly Group was named one of the first Academic Centres of Excellence in drawn to attracting more of the brightest students to Royal Holloway. Cyber-Security Research, recognising 25 years of pioneering research and Through careful research, we have gained a good insight into what makes innovative programmes. Also, the Group has been awarded £3.8 million to students choose us and an important priority is to be better known for improve the national capacity to resist cyber-attack and protect electronic the unique and special things that we do well, and for the advantages and borders (see page 31). attractions of our campus and location. In Music, we were honoured by the award of the only Regius Chair Whilst recruiting students is vital to our continued success, a positive in Music bestowed by HM The Queen for the sustained, high quality of campus experience is also a high priority. We are continuing to invest in music teaching, research and performance within the College. After an facilities that befit a world class university, and in the months ahead we international competition to appoint somebody to this prestigious Chair, it will finalise a new campus Masterplan to guide future development and was a delight to award it to the outgoing Head of Department, Professor enhance the quality of our campus environment for students, staff and Julian Johnson. visitors. Already this year, we have completed the construction of a new As a member of our extended family you will know how proud we are drama studio for the Drama and Theatre Department. The theatre seats that our students go on to achieve success in all walks of life, all over the an audience of 175 people on two levels, with a third level for technical world. Over the last two years we have established the Royal Holloway operation, a welcoming foyer and separate rehearsal and teaching spaces. ‘Passport’, an award that prepares students for the challenges ahead by A key priority for students is the expansion of current library provision highlighting the wide range of work that students engage with outside the and after careful consideration, we have decided to build a new flagship formal curriculum doing the things that they enjoy, and putting a value on library and student services centre, significantly expanding provision. This these that makes them stand out to employers. I was delighted to attend will be developed without disrupting the current library during construction, the award ceremony in June, where we celebrated how much has been and on completion in 2016, the current Bedford Library will be converted to achieved to date with 1900 students involved in 25 streams of activity. The additional academic space to relieve pressure on the overall academic estate, ‘Passport’ is set to grow even larger next year thanks to the enthusiasm whilst we will retain a reading room in the Founder’s Library. of students and many partners who are working together to help build In considering our future plans, we have sought to ensure links back brighter futures. If you would like to be involved by supporting student to our roots and it was with great pleasure that in April we launched activities, offering work experience or in other ways, please contact the the Bedford Society, to promote the values, ethos and success of one Careers Service ([email protected]). 6 Higher magazine Email: [email protected] Associate of Royal Holloway & Bedford New College Bedford rugby players return to Regent’s Park Dear Sir In the last issue of Higher we included a “Where are they now” There are many prominent people in public life who are alumni. We read feature on the Bedford College Rugby Team of 1966-67. It prompted about them in Higher. However, how many members of the public are aware much interest amongst former Bedford College rugby players and of this? How can they tell from the qualifications? emails flashed back and forth as we were able to put them in touch If I list my degrees post-nominally, they will read BSc, PhD (Lond), signifying with each other. In March this year eleven of them reconvened at that I hold University of London degrees. However, there is no indication that the site of Bedford College in Regent’s Park for their own private these degrees were obtained through study at Royal Holloway.