CESTRIANThe The official magazine of the University of Chester Alumni Association 2010 HOLLYWOODBOUND BAFTA award-winning screenwriter returns to University Introduction by Professor T J Wheeler DL Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Chester, Chair of the University of Chester Alumni Associati on The last year has proven to be an excepti onally busy one for the University. We have had major Estates developments with the creati on of a Gallery and Tutors’ Block for the Faculty of Arts and Media at our Kingsway campus, numerous enhancements on the main campuses at Chester and Warrington. However, the major Estates development that has dominated the agenda for the University has been the purchase, alterati on and refurbishment of our Riverside campus, which was formerly County Hall for Cheshire, located on the banks of Dee within the Walls and the City centre. The overall cost of the scheme will be about £15 million, with capital support from the NWDA/ERDF, HEFCE and the University’s funds. This massively impressive building will be the home for the Faculti es of Educati on and Children’s Services and Health and Social Care. In total, some 2,000 students will occupy the new campus from 1 September, with over 150 staff , including the University’s Marketi ng, Recruitment and Admissions Department and Business Development teams, being based there. Universiti es are more than bricks and mortar; they are about people, especially our students and the staff that support them. There have been so many initi ati ves that have been pursued by individual members of staff and students that it is impossible to pay tribute to them all, however, the University was delighted that its alumni garden received such prominent What’s inside recogniti on at the Royal Horti cultural Show at Tatt on. This has now been moved to its permanent locati on in front of the Beswick Building and will Sky’s the limit for ex-President Rob 3 serve as a fi tti ng acknowledgement for former staff and students. It will Matt Greenhalgh (cover story) 4 be opened at the September reunion by the Lord Bishop of Chester, Dr Peter Forster, who is President of the University Council. Graduati on remembered 6 The University was delighted to welcome, on two separate occasions, Making their mark: Mercy Liao 8 the Archbishop of York, the Most Rev and Rt Honourable Dr John Sentamu, Willie Wixted 9 who was a recipient of an honorary doctorate. The University welcomed a number of presti gious visitors as part of the Chester Literature Festi val RHS Garden 10 and numerous academic conferences. The University celebrated the Building for the future 12 inaugural lectures of no less than seven new professors. Prof Roy Alexander Students in the news 14 conti nues to be a world leader in the area of carbon neutrality through his work with the village of Ashton Hayes. The University conti nues to University leads the way 16 sponsor Warrington Wolves and was delighted to see the team lift the Staff successes 18 presti gious Carnegie Rugby League Cup last June. The University’s crest Going global 20 was prominently emblazoned on the back of the winning team’s strip and was seen by eight million BBC viewers. Chester College in the fi ft ies 21 The staff of the University conti nue to undertake research and publish Annual Reunions 2009 revisited 22 widely and our partnerships with sister colleges have been extended A familiar face: Dr Lesley Cooke 23 further with the Isle of Man College becoming an Associate College. The University, jointly with the Countess of Chester Hospital, has adopted the Noti ce board 23 Kisiizi Hospital in South West Uganda as a special charity for fi ve years Year Notes and Obituaries 24 initi ally. This endeavour which enhances pati ent care and nurse training Take a fresh look at Senate House 26 conti nues to gather momentum. The University has had another successful year academically, with Having a Ball, and writi ng about it! 28 an excellent review of its quality systems by the QAA and a number of Chester Academic Press 29 statutory registrati on bodies. The University is in excellent heart and Contemporary Connecti ons: despite the current economic challenges, is looking forward to the future with confi dence. However, the University is always keen to celebrate the The Singh Twins 30 past and the rich Anglican traditi ons of the insti tuti on, together with the Sporti ng Spotlight 31 conti nuing achievements of former alumni from the former Chester, Padgate and Nursing and Midwifery colleges that are now integrated To obtain this publication in an into the University of Chester. It was parti cularly grati fying to see the alternative format – large print, successful re-launch of the Alumni Associati on, so ably supported by the ti reless eff orts of the Registrar, Stan France. Lots of exciti ng plans are on audio tape or in translation being formulated to extend the range of acti viti es and services available – call 01244 511450 or email to students, both past and recently graduated, who have made such [email protected] signifi cant contributi ons to the current University over many decades. 2 The Cestrian 2010 interviews Sky’s the limit for ex-President Rob In 1999, former Chester Students’ Union “My favourite part of the job is working President Rob Wott on wrote an arti cle for on live events, or shows where there is this magazine about his ti me as a student something always happening so you have and a new job he’d recently started at Sky to make it up as you go along.” Sports. Eleven years on, we pick up his Of all the famous sports story, fi nding out what’s happened over men and women he has the past decade or so. interviewed, Rob admits As a football fanati c himself, Rob’s Joe Cole is his favourite, current job is perfect for him. Now one someone he describes as of the more experienced presenters at being “down to earth, Sky Sports, he works on some of the most and a great guy”. Being a popular football shows, including Revista staunch Chelsea fan may de la Liga and Sky Sports News. have an infl uence on “I go to work and talk about football, that also. So intense is then come home and talk about football. his love of the Blues that, What more could I want?!” he joked. during his days as SU In all seriousness, Rob has had a fi ne President at Chester, his career since leaving University. Having offi ce in what was then worked for hospital radio at the Countess the De Bunsen Centre was of Chester Hospital during his days as a aff ecti onately re-named student, he eventually moved on to Capital the 'Chelsea Suite'. Radio where he went on to work at some Despite all the glamour of the biggest football events, including and excitement his current the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France. job brings, Rob’s mind never Immediately aft er that experience, strays far from University he moved to his new job at Sky Sports, a days. company that had grown massively at that He added: “I loved it at ti me. Chester, I had a great ti me. I Rob said: “I’ve had great fun. I’ve met some fantasti c people been lucky enough to meet a lot of famous from right around the country. people and I have travelled a lot. BSkyB If I’d have stayed down in London, treats its staff really well and no day is ever I would probably never have the same as the last.” spoken to anyone from outside Regular viewers of Sky Sports News, the capital! BSkyB’s 24 hour sports news channel, “It would be great to come back will be only too aware of the informal and do some lecturing someti me – and someti mes humorous nature of the I’d love that!” presenters, and that all helps to create a great atmosphere on set. Rob explained: “We’re told not to be quite so relaxed at ti mes! It’s great fun, and I work with some really wonderful people. Earlier this year I completed an 81-mile charity bike ride in the Scotti sh Mountains with fellow presenter Georgie Thompson to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Nurses. There is a lot of camaraderie between us all. Conti nuing the story: Former Chester Students’ Union President Rob Wott on, now of Sky Sports. The CestrianThe Cestrian 2010 2010 3 BAFTA-winning Matt eyes statesi In a nostalgic trip to the Warrington occasionally on Brookside, although he’d Curti s. A former colleague of Matt ’s on campus, multi award-winning screenwriter never previously thought about working in the programme Burn It was in Hollywood Matt Greenhalgh spoke candidly to television. and had heard that some producers had RICHARD AULT of his days as a student and His days on these shows opened his secured the rights to the book. his glitt ering career that has followed. eyes to the employment ladder within the Matt recalled: “They wanted a For a man who has won a BAFTA and is industry. He worked his way up to First Mancunian writer on it so I asked my now being courted by some of Hollywood’s Assistant Director, a positi on that allowed agent if we could pursue it. They had an biggest names, Matt Greenhalgh is as him to view the scripts of the shows on American script already, but it wasn’t very down-to-earth a person as you could hope which he was working.