Venta 27

VENTA / Issue 27 / Winter 2012

Issue 27 Winter 2012 First Ombudsman Early Childhood Action PCC Debate Topshop Visual Director

£5.6m St Alphege open for teaching

Libertines’ Carl Barât joins graduation line-up

Winchester hits Top 20 in National Student Survey

ventaFor alumni and friends of the University of Winchester

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Alumni ScholarshipsEnrol on a Masters or Research programme at the University of

Winchester and receive a £250 loyalty discount.

Apply before 30 June 2013 and the loyalty discount increases to £375.

Who is eligible for the scheme?All of our former students who have completed an undergraduate degree, postgraduate degree or research degree at the University of Winchester. To check your eligibility please contact the Alumni Office.

What other conditions apply?For the reduced tuition fee you will need to be accepted on your intended programme of study and be able to satisfy all the normal academic admissions criteria, as well as the University of Winchester’s enrolment and registration conditions. This scheme cannot be used in conjunction with any other sponsorship awarded by the University of Winchester. Students supported by their employer for professional development programmes, students intending to pursue a PGCE and students applying for a top-up course are also exempt.

Why choose WinchesterWe offer you a postgraduate experience that targets your career ambitions, deepens your knowledge and enhances your employability.

In the most recent Research Assessment Exercise, 75 per cent of our research submitted was considered internationally recognised, with some judged ‘world-leading’.

Research and knowledge exchange activities are at our heart and a diverse range of Research degrees are available including PhD, MPhil, ProfD and EdD.

For a full course listing please visit www.winchester.ac.uk/courses

If you have any further queries please contact the Alumni Office: Telephone: 01962 827532 Email: [email protected]

Why not attend one of our Postgraduate Open Eveningson 14 March or 4 July 2013?


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Welcome

VENTA / Winter 2012

Dear Friends,

Despite the current level of uncertainty in the higher education sector brought about by the rises in student fees, the University of Winchester continues to thrive, with strong recruitment to our courses for 2012.

I am delighted that the results of the National Student Survey have shown just how much students value the professionalism and commitment of our staff to providing excellent quality teaching – we were in the top 10 universities in England for satisfaction with teaching and learning, and in the top 20 in England for overall satisfaction. For overall satisfaction with the student experience combined with satisfaction with the Student Union we came seventh.

We are continuing to develop our offer to prospective students, with exciting new courses coming on stream such as the new degree in

Fashion: Media and Marketing which welcomed its first students this year.

The University is continuing to invest in first class facilities, with many major building projects underway. At the beginning of this academic year we opened the new St Alphege building, which is providing state of the art teaching and learning facilities, and the first students moved into the new Burma Road Student Village development. I am looking forward to the installation at the end of the year of the striking new art work celebrating our Christian Foundation which will complete the St Alphege building.

This time of year is always special in the University year, as we celebrate Graduation with our students, honorary graduates and their families and friends. This year Graduation was particularly noteworthy as we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the first women graduates of the University. Alongside our honorary graduates we were also delighted to celebrate for the first time the achievements of the two recipients of the new Alumnus of the Year Award.

Finally, two pieces of news about some well know faces. First of all, Tommy Geddes, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, is retiring after some twenty years of outstanding service. His wisdom, energy and endless good humour have been key ingredients in the success of this institution. We look forward to celebrating his many achievements in the New Year. The second person is Howard Horstead, Honorary Secretary of our alumni association, the Winton Club. We congratulate him on the occasion of his 80th birthday. Howard continues to be energetic, wise and devoted to this institution. His sparkling eyes and sense of fun brighten the days for us all!

I wish you all a very happy and peaceful festive season.

Professor Joy Carter Vice-Chancellor December 2012

ContentsAppointments .................................. page 2 Graduation 2012 ............................. page 3Topshop Visual Director .................. page 4PCC Debate ...................................... page 5The Soma Story Project .................. page 6Early Childhood Action ................... page 7£5.6m St Alphege ............................ page 8, 9Alumni around the World ............... page 10Mark Diacono ................................... page 11P.D. James ......................................... page 12Actor Benjamin Bond ...................... page 13Origin Training Project .................... page 15Winton Reunion 2013 ..................... page 1650 Years of Women Graduates ...... page 17

Front cover: Carl Barât with his sister Alice Ferngrove who graduated with BA Drama Back cover: Foundation Music’s Sing Our Hearts Out choir at Graduation 2012 Photographs: Dominic C Parkes

Venta is published by the Registry and Marketing Department of the University of Winchester. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without prior permission of the publisher. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of editorial content, no responsibility can be taken for any errors and/or omissions. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the

University of Winchester. All rights reserved. © University of Winchester 2012

Inspiring visit to campus… Chloe Bond (Childhood, Youth and Community Studies 2009 to 2012) returned to Winchester in the autumn with her Olympic torch which carried the flame through Heybridge in Essex. As well as taking part in charity projects in South America and Asia, Chloe has been an active volunteer with both GirlguidingUK as well as the Scout Association.


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Appointments

Dean of Chapel

The Revd Dr Peter Waddell has become Winchester’s very first Dean of Chapel. The new role will involve a fusion of teaching, chapel and pastoral responsibilities, as well as helping to articulate and celebrate the meaning of the University’s Christian foundation.

For seven years Dr Waddell was Chaplain at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge and subsequently Pastoral Dean and Director of Studies in Theology. He was also an affiliated lecturer in the Faculty of Divinity at University of Cambridge.

“I’m very excited to be taking on this important new role as Dean of Chapel at Winchester,” said Dr Waddell. “I’m looking forward to having the opportunity to work with Winchester Cathedral as well as to building lasting partnerships within the Diocese.”

It has been a busy start already for Dr Waddell at the University. In November he launched his new book Joy: the Meaning of the Sacraments published by SCM-Canterbury Press at a well-attended event in the University Chapel. In December he gave an enlightening Foundation Lecture entitled ‘Like Shovelling Fog’: Spirituality and the University at the West Downs Centre, questioning what it means for the University to have spirituality as one of its core values and what makes it so distinctive from other universities.

Professor of Responsible ManagementDr Alan Murray has been appointed as the University’s very first Professor of Responsible Management in an initiative supported by The Bulldog Trust.

Dr Murray joins the Winchester Business School from Leeds University. As well as having an international reputation in the field of corporate social responsibility, he has considerable managerial and business experience obtained through careers in both the public and private sectors.

Dr Murray was part of the United Nations Taskforce in 2006 which developed the Principles of Responsible Management Education and he still remains on one of its working groups. He also founded the British Academy of Management CSR Special Interest Group and organised conferences to support the growing number of researchers and teachers in the CSR and sustainability field.

For the last five years, The Bulldog Trust, established by Richard Hoare, has been actively involved in the creation and development of Winchester Business School.

Complaints OmbudsmanFollowing the news that Tommy Geddes is retiring from his role as Deputy Vice-Chancellor, we’re pleased to announce that he will be remaining with Winchester, taking up a new appointment as one of the first University Ombudsmen in the UK.

Tommy will take up the post in the New Year, after working for more than 19 years at the University.

“I’m delighted to have the chance to continue my involvement with the University,” he said. “It will be great to have the opportunity to work with staff and students to make Winchester an even better place to work and study.

“As Ombudsman I will be responsible to the University for ensuring its students, staff and other stakeholders have any complaints dealt

with in a fair and independent way. With students paying much higher fees, it is more important than ever that any complaints are dealt with quickly and effectively. While we get very few complaints, we must learn from those that are justified to try and make sure that there is no repetition. For most students, a university education will be the second most expensive purchase they will make in their lives – they deserve the very best service we can provide.”

Local charity, Winchester Action on Climate Change has asked Vice-Chancellor Professor Joy Carter to be its first ever patron.

WinACC was founded in October 2007 with the aim of cutting the yearly carbon footprint

of Winchester District by 30 per cent between 2004 and the end of 2015. The University is one of its founding members and working together the two organisations have run a number of important events, including a recent conference on Renewable Energy in Winchester District.

Leading the way – four firsts for Winchester

University News VENTA / Issue 27 / Winter 2012

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Top 20 UniversityThe National Student Survey 2012 has ranked Winchester fifth in the South East and 20th in England for full-time overall student satisfaction. In addition, according to The Sunday Times 2013 League Table, Winchester hit the top 10 nationally with Learning and Teaching.

Other results showed American Studies and Creative Writing hitting number one in England with Law, Journalism, Education Studies and

Childhood, Youth and Community Studies reaching the top five. Many other courses ranked in the top 15.

It was also good news for Winchester Student Union. Students’ votes put them seventh in the country for overall satisfaction combined with satisfaction for the student experience.

Students from 154 higher education institutions and 106 further education colleges from across the UK took part in this year’s

National Student Survey (NSS). Around 287,000 final-year students responded, an increase of over 20,000 from last year. This represents the highest response rate in the eight years the NSS has been running.

Glittering line-up for Graduation 2012

This year over 1,600 students from the University of Winchester graduated in front of family and friends at seven graduation ceremonies held from 6 to 9 November at Winchester Cathedral.

Celebrations began with a procession through Winchester City Centre, departing from Abbey House, the official residence of the Mayor of Winchester, travelling along the High Street to Winchester Cathedral. Joining the dignitaries this year was Olympic showjumper gold medallist Peter Charles from Bentworth in Hampshire who rode to victory at London 2012, helping to deliver GB’s first showjumping Olympic gold medal in 60 years.

Other outstanding individuals who received Honorary Doctorates included former ballerina Anya Linden, Lady Sainsbury of Preston Candover CBE; The Libertines’ Carl Barât; songwriter and musician Robyn Hitchcock; Chair of the Competition Commission Roger Witcomb and former Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman Ann Abraham.

Addressing the graduands, Lady Sainsbury said, “I hope and believe that your time spent at the University of Winchester will have enriched your lives for many years to come. I wish you all success and fulfilment wherever you go, and in whatever you do. Aim high, work hard and persist and above all enjoy what you do.”

Honorary Fellowships were awarded to former Head of Social Work Education at the General Social Care Council, Graham Ixer and former cricket correspondent for The Times, John Woodcock OBE.

For the first time, Winchester also presented Alumnus of the Year Awards. This year there were two recipients, former GB Paralympic

Footballer Jonathan Gribbin (Primary Education 1996 to 2000) and teacher Carmella Reece (Education Studies 2002 to 2005, PGCE 2005 to 2006) for her dedication to Hampshire Diamond Jubilee Gambia Project 2012. For details of how to nominate for next year’s award please contact the Alumni Office on [email protected] or by phone 01962 827532.

Lady Sainsbury CBE

Alumni of the Year Carmella Reece and Jonathan Gribbin

Musician Carl Barât

Equestrian gold medallist Peter Charles


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University Journalism dominates BJTC Awards 2012

Journalism at Winchester has scooped ‘Best TV Newsday’ and ‘Best TV News Report’ as well as two runner-up prizes in this year’s Broadcast Journalism Training Council Awards.

The awards were presented by ITN’s Alastair Stewart OBE at a ceremony held at the University in October attended by representatives from over 30 universities and industry professionals from BBC, Sky, ITN as well as newspaper and magazine groups.

“The key thing about these awards is that these are men or women who actually want to go into the business,” said Alastair Stewart. “They have got to be good, they have got to know what the values are, they’ve got to have morality, impartiality and good judgement - they have got to have the lot. The quality of the work has been amazing.”

Student Andrew Giddings won ‘Best TV News Report’ for his piece on the theft of lead from church roofs with Gareth Messenger a runner-up in the same category. Domonique Jenkins (Producer) and Cara Laithwaite (Presenter) won ‘Best TV Newsday’ for UK Today, a special edition of WINOL and Colin Boag was runner-up for ‘Best Radio News Report’.

This has been the best year yet at the BJTC Awards for Journalism at Winchester, winning more categories and runner-up certificates than any other university in the country.

US Presidential ElectionJournalism.co.uk, an influential website for journalists, ran a lead story in November hailing the University’s coverage of the US Presidential Election as ‘historic’. Winchester News Online (WINOL) linked up with US students from President Obama’s home state of Illinois for live coverage, inviting Ian Anderson, previously editor of BBC News at Ten, to act guest editor.

Following the results, the Journalism students produced a reaction programme America Decides.

The programme featured interviews with guests in the studio, including politics students and local councillors, and Skype conversations with presenters from Eastern Illinois University. The teams in the UK and US communicated via Twitter, emails and telephone and used liveblogging throughout the coverage.

Fashion sense from Topshop Director

Topshop’s Visual Director, Tim Whitmore, met Winchester’s very first cohort of Fashion: Media and Marketing students in November to give an insight into visual merchandising at the leading retail store. The visit was part of the ‘Fashion Industry Skills’ module, designed to review roles and skills in various sectors of the industry.

Focussing on Topshop’s flagship store in Oxford Circus, Tim outlined the design and layout of Topshop stores on a national and

global scale. His own career began on the King’s Road as a window dresser before progressing to Selfridges, Warehouse, Miss Selfridge and Wallis where he worked as Creative Director.

Dr Savithri Bartlett, a lecturer on the Fashion programme who organised the visit said, “It was a real honour to welcome Tim Whitmore to Winchester. Visits like this inform our students first-hand about the wide range of careers available within the Fashion Industry and inspire them to find internships and work placements during their degree.”

ITN Newsreader Alastair Stewart with Winchester winners


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Student’s bright idea sparks Police Commissioner DebateThe University hosted a debate at The Stripe at the beginning of November with prospective candidates for Hampshire and Isle of Wight’s first elected Police and Crime Commissioner. The event, organised by final year Journalism Studies student Louis O’Brien, was chaired by BBC South Today reporter, Alex Forsyth.

Live Debate: Election of Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner gave the public the chance

to hear what the six candidates had to say about key policing issues. Fighting to be elected were Michael Mates (Conservative), Jacqui Rayment (Labour), David Goodall (Liberal Democrats), Simon Hayes (Independent), Stephen West (UKIP) and Don Jerrard (Justice and Anti-Corruption Party).

Following the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011, Police and Crime Commissioners will make and influence key decisions that will impact on how local areas look and feel from CCTV, street lighting and graffiti to tackling gangs and drug-dealing. Speaking to a packed audience, candidates outlined some of their ideas which included more police officers, keeping stations open and establishing better links with community groups.

Louis O’Brien spent six months bringing the event together, supported by fellow Journalism students working with WINOL with advice from Dr William Sheward, the University’s Programme Leader for Politics and Global Studies.

“We were delighted to host such a high profile public debate here at Winchester,” commented Vice-Chancellor Professor Joy Carter. “We hope the forum allowed Hampshire residents to make a better informed choice on Election Day.”

Following the elections across England and Wales on 15 November, Independent candidate Simon Hayes was elected Hampshire’s first Police and Crime Commissioner.

Launch of Centre for Information RightsThe Department of Law at Winchester has launched an innovative new Centre for Information Rights. The event, sponsored by Blake Lapthorn solicitors, was well attended by professionals and managers in all fields across private and public sectors.

Keynote speaker was Victoria Cetinkaya, Senior Policy Officer at the Information Commissioner’s Office. “The Information Commissioner’s Office is the authoritative arbiter of information rights,” she said. “We therefore welcome the University’s work to raise awareness and understanding of this important subject matter, which increasingly impacts on all of our lives.”

The Centre, one of the first of its kind in the UK, recognises that the term information rights spans a wide range of live issues

including information sharing, freedom of information, privacy, cyberlaw, intellectual property, e-disclosure and Government open data. Information is often an organisation’s most valuable asset; protection, release and exploitation of such information can bring significant opportunities as well as threats.

“As Chief Information Officer of a large public body, I have to take information rights very seriously,” said Jos Creese from Hampshire County Council who chaired the launch. “We often face challenges of ensuring openness and transparency are balanced against legitimate needs for confidentiality and privacy. I am therefore delighted to support this Centre and to explore ways to use and share information more effectively as a result.”

The Centre aims to provide a focus for research in information rights as well as contribute to developing policy and practice. It will explore

ways of exchanging knowledge with subject matter experts, practitioners, students and other academics and contribute to training and educational activities. It will also engage with the local and wider community to provide opportunities for information issues to be debated.

CIRCentre for Information Rights




Student Louis O’Brien (centre) with the candidates

(L to R) Simon Stokes, Blake Lapthorn Solicitors; Marion Oswald, Senior Lecturer in Law; Jos Creese, Hampshire County Council; and Victoria Cetinkaya, Information Commissioner’s Office.


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University News

The Soma Story ProjectThe University’s links with the Soma School continues to grow in The Gambia. Recently, lecturers from the Teacher Development Department together with some of their Teaching students spent two weeks working in the classrooms supporting the children with maths, English and PSHE activities.

A shared love for storytelling and writing was explored, resulting in the birth of the Soma Story Project. This involved assisting the Soma teachers and pupils to record and illustrate sets of stories.

“There is a great tradition of spoken tales in The Gambia,” explains lecturer Jonathon Rooke. “We stayed in the Kairo Konko Scout Lodge which has links with scouting movement in Hampshire as well as supporting the local Soma community.

“As well as experiencing some of the social life of the rural Gambia which included travelling to the Senegal border, we watched a football match between Madrid and Barcelona in a back garden whilst the chickens and goats owned by the family wandered around us!”

The Hampshire Diamond Jubilee Gambia Project 2012 has so far raised more than £28,000 towards supporting children and education in The Gambia.

Further information about how you can get involved can be found at www.winchester.ac.uk

Celebration of Royal Music at Winchester CathedralThe Revd Professor June Boyce-Tillman MBE led a concert of royal music at Winchester Cathedral in November to mark the close of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations in Hampshire.

In a Golden Coach was attended by University Chancellor, Professor Dame Mary Fagan DCVO JP, Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire.

The Concert featured more than 200 schoolchildren singing a new commission Jubilee Wisdom written and composed by Professor Boyce-Tillman. There was also a full programme of royal music involving Southern Sinfonia, Winchester Community Choir, Wherwell Singers, King Alfred Singers, folk duo Sarah Morgan and Jeff Gillett, pianist Diana Owen and local schools.

Higher Apprenticeship ChampionProfessor Joy Carter, University Vice-Chancellor and Chair of the University Vocational Awards Council, has been selected to spearhead the drive to establish Employer Led Apprenticeships at degree level.

The National Apprenticeship Service, working with UVAC, appointed Professor Joy Carter in September to advise on the consultation Meeting Employer Skills Needs - Criteria for Higher Apprenticeships at Degree Levels and to champion the university role in this area.

The impetus to develop Higher Apprenticeship follows the substantial growth in Apprenticeships at Levels 2 and 3 with a 63.5% increase in starters last academic year. The existing statutory Specification of Apprenticeship Standards in England only covers Apprenticeships up to and

including Level 5, Foundation degree level. The Government is now calling for statutory employer led Apprenticeships extending to Level 7 (Masters degree level) and a work-based learning pathway leading to professional status and senior job roles.

“In the past there has in many instances been a glass ceiling for Apprentices, with a low proportion of learners completing an Apprenticeship at Level 3 progressing to a Higher Education qualification,” explained Professor Joy Carter. “The push to develop Higher Apprenticeship will smash this glass ceiling, support social mobility and maximise opportunities for Apprentices on Level 3 programmes to progress to senior roles.”

Lecturer Jonathon Rooke helps to record colourful local stories and traditions

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Early Childhood Action hits the headlines

“Boredom is good for children, says Oxford professor, because it

encourages creativity…” Daily Mail

“Twitter and Facebook ‘harming Children’s Development’…”

The Telegraph

“Babies’ rights as individuals are ignored and their creativity neglected

by standard educational theory…” Nursery World

“A Tree? Yes, I think I saw one of those on Farmville?…”

TES

The launch conference for Early Childhood Action at The Stripe was featured heavily in both the national and regional press in October. The much publicised event saw a range of influential speakers coming together on campus to challenge the fashionable culture which forces children to grow up too soon.

Unhurried Pathways – Towards a New Paradigm for Early Childhood is campaigning for an unhurried approach to early development and learning, including principled alternatives to aspects of England’s statutory early years curriculum. The conference provided the first public viewing of ECA early childhood framework document.

So keen was media interest, the keynote address The Young Mind of the 21st Century:

Realising its True Potential by acclaimed Professor of Physiology, Baroness Susan Greenfield was featured in advance in The Daily Telegraph.

Other speakers included research psychologist and child care expert Dr Penelope Leach; Professor of Child Psychology, Colwyn Trevarthen; and childhood campaigner Sue Palmer, co-chair of the Scottish Government Early Years Task Force’s Committee on Culture and Change and author of the best-selling book Toxic Childhood (2006).

“The conference was a stunning success,” explained Dr Richard House, Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Studies at Winchester and a core member of ECA.

“A range of consistently excellent speakers offered different ways of thinking about and facilitating young children’s development and learning. We’ve had overwhelmingly positive feedback from delegates.”

A key aspect of the ECA approach is to support early years practitioners in becoming autonomous professionals who are sensitive and attuned to the unique needs of each child. It also aims to highlight the social, cultural and political contexts of practitioners’ work and to put children’s well-being before political ideology or the latest policy-making fashions.

Further information, as well as the ECA early childhood framework document, can be found at www.earlychildhoodaction.com

Dr Penelope Leach(L to R) Sue Palmer, Dr Penelope Leach, Wendy Scott, Professor Joyce Goodman, Dr Richard House, Professor Joy Carter, Baroness Susan Greenfield and Colwyn Trevarthen.

Baroness Susan Greenfield

St Alphege, Winchester’s new £5.6m Learning and Teaching BuildingIn the last few months the University has unveiled a new state-of-the-art building situated at the heart of the King Alfred Campus designed to meet the needs of both current and prospective students. The St Alphege building provides eight new lecture rooms, joined by a pink self-supporting staircase. The development has also involved extensive hard and soft bio diverse landscaping, which in turn has created an impressive central piazza.

Four of the eight lecture rooms are double height and all contain the latest audio visual equipment. Work is also in its final stages of completion for an atrium linking the new building with the existing St Edburga building. This atrium will contain a high quality mezzanine area with open access PCs and social learning areas. St Edburga is also receiving an upgrade, with brand new cladding and glazing panels along with two further large teaching rooms at roof level.

St Alphege has been designed by Design Engine Architects Ltd who also created Winchester’s award-winning University Centre and Performing Arts Studio building. In keeping with these, St Alphege is a low energy building with innovative eco-friendly features including a biodiverse green roof, absence detection, acoustic panelling, natural ventilation and thermal modelling.

“The student experience remains uppermost in our mind when we consider the planning and design of a new building,” stated John Mann, Director of Estates. “We want everyone who works here, both staff and students, to have first class facilities.”

The finishing touch to St Alphege will be colourful glass artwork due to hung outside the building in mid-December. The artwork which features a huge wooden cross, emphasises the University’s Christian Foundation as well as its core mission statement and values. It also contains references to local history and the University’s own rich heritage.

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St Alphege was consecrated Bishop of Winchester in 984 and appointed Archbishop of Canterbury in 1006. Naming the new building for him reflects the Christian Foundation of the University.


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Joy pursues her destiny in MumbaiAfter completing a BEd (1993) and a PGCE in Special Educational Needs at Winchester in 1998, primary school teacher Joy Townsend decided to leave the UK for a career in India. After spending three years finding out about education and working with non-government organisations, she realised there was a huge demand for teacher training.

In 2001 Joy set up Destiny Education with a colleague and as a result she has trained over 11,000 teachers through workshops in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa, Gujurat, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh.

As well as providing in-service teacher training across India, Destiny Education offers

consultancy services such as curriculum development, Total Evaluation: School Tranformation – a sort of friendly Ofsted, as well as help with school development plans and setting up new schools.

“By setting up Destiny Education we realised that instead of teaching 30-40 students directly, we could train hundreds of teachers who in turn would teach thousands of students,” explains Joy. As well as running Destiny Education, Joy is also doing an MA Education with the University by distance learning. “The MA studies directly relate to my work and I’ve found that the extra reading has given further depth and breadth to my training workshops.

“I love my life in India because I feel that I am able to make a real difference in schools -

benefitting not only the lives of the teachers but the children as well.”

Through Joy, Destiny Education has now established close ties with the Faculty of Education, Health and Social Care at Winchester. Over the summer, six teaching students from Winchester travelled to Mumbai where they were placed in three different schools to experience education in India first hand. During their visit, they also had time to enjoy the great outdoors with some white water rafting and kayaking. Described by students as ‘life changing’, plans are already being made for future co-working.

If you are interested in getting involved see www.destinyeducation.net or contact [email protected] for further details.

Maddi’s real life African adventureMadelaine Butt (BA Education Studies 2008 to 2011) decided to set up the charity Gikandi Projects in February 2012, after meeting and working with friends in Kenya.

“My friends in Kenya explained how they would like to welcome visitors from the UK to their homes in Nyeri for a true African experience,” says Maddi. “Visitors would be looked after within the Kikuyu tribe community and have the opportunity to visit all of the magnificent sights that the region has to offer.”

Maddi began to learn more about the town and the types of experiences it could offer. “I visited an orphanage, reinforced a nursery school’s walls and spent time with the children

and teachers sharing knowledge and listening to the future hopes and aspirations of people working within the community. I felt strongly about the wonderful people I met.”

Gikandi Projects serves to promote self-sufficiency and education through developmental projects. The charity aims to provide Nyeri with sustainable resources and to continually support educational needs. Other trustees include Simon Boxley Programme Leader BA Education Studies and Joshua Douglas-Bagley (BA Film and Cinema Technologies and Film Studies 2007 to 2010).

If you would like to volunteer, make a donation, or simply find out more see www.gikandiprojects.com

Around the World

Maddi with Nyeri schoolchildren


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University News

Next February, Alumnus Mark Diacono, former Head Gardener at River Cottage, will be giving the University’s latest Enterprise Lecture at The Stripe. Amongst other things, he will be explaining why the food we produce and eat is putting our planet’s natural environment under stress.

Mark Diacono runs Otter Farm in Devon, the UK’s only climate change farm. However his passion for ecological issues germinated in the mid-nineties at Winchester with a BA Environmental Studies and Geography.

As well as leading the garden team at Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s River Cottage, his career as a gardening and climate change expert has included three award-winning books and the title Garden Media Guild Journalist of the Year 2011 for A Taste of the Unexpected. He has also been featured in The Daily Telegraph, National Geographic Green, The Guardian, The English Garden and The Observer.

At River Cottage, Mark’s role was to set the vision, working with his team to design and plan the walled garden, polytunnels, orchard, fruit garden and courtyard.

“Working at River Cottage was a lot of fun,” he says. “The main thing that I wanted to do was to inspire people to grow even a little of what they eat. It may seem a tiny gesture in the face of global problems but it’s a mind changer. Grow a little of what you eat and most people begin to appreciate seasonality more, to be more inquisitive about where their food comes from, to ask a few questions about it. The single greatest pleasure there was to see daily the impact that developing a closer relationship with food has on people.”

At his organic smallholding, Otter Farm, Mark grows unusual and forgotten food along with the best of the more familiar. “We came here

eight years ago and I started by planting things I fancied eating,” he explains. “There are now orchards of almonds, apricots, Szechuan peppers, apples, pecans as well as a forest garden and vineyard. There was no grand plan, it has evolved when I have what I think is a better idea than the last mistake.”

By researching new varieties and the effect of climate change, Mark likes to gamble with growing produce on the edge of viability that would otherwise be imported, thereby cutting food industry emissions.

“Food accounts for 30% of our carbon footprint, so a new low carbon food system is a major part of dealing with the challenge,” he advocates. “Otter Farm also aims to improve crop yields by having a dozen or so small commercial harvests, making the farm more resilient to the increasingly erratic nature of weather, aiming for seven or eight good harvests a year.”

Often cited as a ‘celebrity gardener’, Mark is now putting all his energies into running Otter Farm although he says Hugh lives just around the corner and a connection to River Cottage remains with anyone who has been part of it. He has also written three new books which are due out in the spring: The Speedy Vegetable Garden; River Cottage Handbook 11: Chicken and Egg and My Cool Allotment.

“I really enjoyed my time at University,” reflects Mark who set up his own consultancy after going on to complete an MSc in Environmental Assessment and Management. “Winchester is a special place and a lot of good times were

squeezed into those few years. Plus I woke up to a lot of things that I’m interested in now – landscape, environmental issues and food.”

Mark’s Enterprise Lecture will take place on Wednesday 13 February in The Stripe. For full details, including how you can book a place, see www.winchester.ac.uk/enterpriselectures.

River Cottage Canteen and Deli is set to open in Winchester in 2013 Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall has recently signed a lease to take over the historic Abbey Mill just off Colebrook Street in Abbey Gardens. Like the two other River Cottage Restaurants it will also be offering food-orientated courses. For further details see www.rivercottage.net

Flavours to inspire

Alumni News VENTA / Issue 27 / Winter 2012

HWS welcomes crime writer P. D. JamesP. D. James opened the new season of events for Hampshire Writers’ Society this autumn. Murder and Mystery: The Craft of the Detective Story gave an insight into how she has successfully developed her craft over the last fifty years.

P.D. James is the author of twenty books and her latest, Death Comes to Pemberley, was in the Top Ten Bestselling Paperbacks for most of the summer.

The Hampshire Writers’ Society is an offshoot of the Winchester Writers’ Conference, now in its 33rd year at the University of Winchester. Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month from 7.30-10pm at the University. Speakers for forthcoming events include Graham Hurley (8 January), James McConnachie (12 February), Jane Wenham-Jones (12 March) and Fleur Adcock (9 April). Further information about the Hampshire Writers’ Society can be found at www.hampshirewriterssociety.co.uk

Hitchhiker’s fans welcome Dirk’s Radio Show – Live!The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy began as a radio comedy series over 30 years ago and its meteoric success has seen it become a television series, a ‘trilogy’ of five novels and a feature film. In 2004, writer and director Dirk Maggs (Drama, 1974 to 1978) selected for the job by Hitchhiker’s creator Douglas Adams, returned the saga to its original medium on BBC Radio 4.

This summer saw members of the original radio and TV casts reunited for a live theatrical show, adapted again by Dirk, which toured the UK for six weeks, receiving rave reviews, even from the most devoted fans. Ken Humphrey (Drama, 1973 to 1976) assisted as live sound effects operator whilst Dirk played drums on stage in the five-piece band led by composer and actor Philip Pope.

“Apart from being brilliantly funny, the relevance of Hitchhiker’s as a commentary on modern life only increases as time goes by,” says Dirk who also received an honorary fellowship from Winchester in 2005 for his contribution to Performing Arts.

As well as lecturing on radio production and sound design, Dirk has a number of projects and tours in the pipeline. His adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s series Neverwhere is due to be broadcast next spring on BBC Radio 4 and plans are underway for another 2013 tour for The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Radio Show – Live!

Clever Peter hits the airwavesThis has been another successful year for comedy troupe Clever Peter who recently returned to Winchester Student Union, their old stomping ground, to try out some of their latest material in The Vault.

Clever Peter are writers and performers Richard Bond (Drama, 2003 to 2006), Edward Eales-White (Drama, 2003 to 2006), William Hartley and Dominic Stone (Screen Production, 2004-2007). Together they have done three Edinburgh Festival shows, one ‘best-of’ show, a BBC Radio 4 series and are currently in the middle of a UK tour.

Richard, Edward and Dominic met at University. Working alongside each other behind the SU bar, they soon discovered they shared a passion for stand-up comedy.

After graduating Edward met William Hartley when they both performed in the NewsRevue sketch show in London. Clever Peter officially formed in early 2008 when the four comedians joined forces. Their fast-paced, exciting hour-long shows encompass a running narrative amidst a range of ridiculous, bizarre and funny sketches.

For further information about their sell-out UK tour see www.cleverpeter.com

P. D. James

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Ben joins cast of global smash hit Mamma Mia!Since leaving Winchester, actor Benjamin Bond (BA English 2005 to 2008) has been treading the boards around the world with the award-winning ABBA musical Mamma Mia! The 15 month tour took him to Glasgow, Manchester, Geneva, Belgium, Dublin, Prague, Zurich and Manilla.

“I joined the cast in its seventh season as swing and fill in for the part of Pepper,” explained Ben who won a scholarship to study for an MA in Performing Arts at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London after he left Winchester. “A swing has to cover all the ensemble tracks as well as any principal parts they are allotted and basically has to cover cast members who are off ill or on holiday. All

in all I had to learn eight different parts!”

After graduating from stage school, Ben played the part of Mingo in a charity concert, Crazy for You, at the London Palladium. Following this he appeared in Aladdin at the White Rock Theatre in Hastings as ensemble and understudy for Aladdin. His big break came when he was cast as Paddy in Once Upon a Time at the Adelphi at the Union Theatre in London.

“On the back of this I was involved in a few workshops around London before auditioning for the international cast of Mamma Mia!” he explains. “There were nine rounds altogether over three days, in front of David Grindrod’s office. It was a big deal for me, as I hadn’t auditioned for him before.”

Ben was rightly nervous. David Grindrod is a West End casting legend, described by Andrew Lloyd Webber as ‘one of the world’s top casting agents for musicals’ and sat on the panel to select an actor to play the part of Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar on ITV’s Superstar.

“I thoroughly enjoyed my course at Winchester and my studies have given me a good range of transferable skills that I can use to analyse any piece I’m given to perform.”

Ben will be appearing this Christmas playing the Scarecrow in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz at The Secombe Theatre, Sutton from 18-24 December. For tickets contact the theatre box office on 020 8770 6990

Showbiz under the spotlightA Winchester graduate (BA Performing Arts 2002), now working as an agent for a leading Talent Agency, has just anonymously published a hilarious insight into what it is like to work in today’s performing industry.

Written in the present day and drawing on real life anecdotes, Confessions of a (struggling) Actress is cryptically penned by a ‘Jo Bloggs’ and follows the fortunes of a young actress trying to make it in musical theatre whilst at the same time, conquering crippling feelings of personal inadequacy.

“We’ve all read autobiographies penned by actresses who have ‘made it’,” explains the author who has performed around the country, in the West End, recorded an original soundtrack and worked at the Fringe.

“I was never one of those actresses. My book doesn’t read like your common rags to riches success story. Because it isn’t. My story is one of constant rejection, of financial woe, of unwavering frustration and of painstaking auditions. It is a story of success quickly followed by disaster, of agonising impatience, of pure longing and lastly, of laughable circumstance.”

Available online on www.amazon.co.uk

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Abba Mania! Ben (far right) with the rest of the flipper boys

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Naheed joins peace-makers in SouthamptonNaheed Brora (BA Theology and Religious Studies 2006 to 2009) is Youth Interfaith Co-ordinator at Southampton Council of Faiths and has just started working on a new initiative, the Faith Ambassadors Project, designed to encourage interfaith discussions.

“I would like to create a safe space where youths can ask and discuss topics within a faith,” says Naheed. “Single faith societies are encouraged in educational institutions; there are generally no such groups for interfaith dialogue and debate.”

Naheed knew she wanted a career in peace-making after doing volunteering work alongside Revd Tim Selwood, the co-ordinator at the

Three Faiths Forum in Hampshire and Dorset. When the role at Southampton Council of Faiths came up, she could not believe her luck.

“My job is extremely diverse and involves working with students from colleges, schools and universities as well as youth groups from different places of worship,” she explains. “I organise faith debates and peace walks as well as teach students about different faiths, focussing on the seven main ones in the city. I also offer a service as interfaith minister at some of the colleges.”

Lucy goes for gold with NBC networkLucy Muldoon (BA Performing Arts 2000 to 2003) secured her dream job this summer working as Production Manager for NBC Universal at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Now she is already busy preparing for Sochi 2014 and Rio 2016 Olympics.

After graduating, Lucy took up an internship working as a runner on the MTV Europe Music Awards. From there she worked for Princess Productions, progressing to Production Co-ordinator on various different shows including Channel 5’s The Wright Stuff and

Channel 4’s Friday Night Project. From here she moved to Endemol UK where she worked on Channel 4’s Big Brother as Production Manager before working on reality shows at ITV.

“I love being involved in a vibrant, exciting and varied industry that is creative and will continue to evolve as new technology does,” she explains. “It can be difficult to keep a reality on what you are trying to achieve within a budget that can make it happen. You need to consider carefully how the message you are filming will be viewed by others. It is a challenge to think of your world audience.”

Holly cashes in at British MuseumHolly Smith (BA English 2007 to 2010) has been working at The British Museum Company for the last couple of years. She joined as Buying Administrator and quickly progressed to Buyers Assistant.

“My job involves me assisting the Retail Buying Team at BMCo, sourcing and developing merchandise for the British Museum shops, which are housed within the Museum,” she says. “I deal with all the administrative work and assist the Senior Buyers, as well as managing and developing ranges of my own. I also get to attend various retail and trade shows, networking with suppliers and making sure our products are on trend.

“Working on Exhibition ranges gives me the opportunity to work closely with curators and gain an in depth knowledge of their specialist subjects. My team works very closely with numerous British designers and makers which allows us to have as much control over the products we source, as we need to ensure the pieces we select are of the highest standard and authentically, and if necessary, historically correct.

“Dealing with sensitivities which may surround certain Exhibitions, such as religious themes, means that we have to be extremely careful with how we develop products and the range of products we select. This can prove difficult as sensitivities are often subjective so you often have to rely on intuition, anticipating every band of visitor’s needs.”Naheed Brora

Lucy Muldoon interviewing world champion sprinter Oscar Pistorius

Holly Smith

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Last year Amy Le Roux (FdSc Learning Disabilities 2005 to 2007) and her husband Jarred set up Origin Training Project on a smallholding between Andover and Stockbridge. The aim was to create a place where adults who have learning disabilities could come and learn skills for life and work.

“We try to improve people’s confidence and give them valuable life experience,” says Amy whose enterprise has been supported by the

Big Lottery Fund and Testway money box scheme. “We hope that some of the people who attend Origin will go on to get paid work, but for many it provides something meaningful to do with their day.

“The work involves looking after 70 hens, three pygmy goats, two sheep, two pigs and dogs. Once the animals are all happy we set about doing our other jobs which include maintaining the farm - there are always things to fix and plenty of grass to mow! We also make lots of crafts to sell in order to generate income.”

Prior to setting up Origin, Amy worked as assistant manager for The Boaz Project in Sutton Scotney. “I loved the diversity of the job, picking fruit to make jam, wood work, walking the donkeys etc. I wanted to start my own similar project so that one day I could have a family and bring my children with me to work.”

Amy has already started making big plans for Origin’s future. “We would love to build a log

cabin to rent out as a holiday getaway. The people who come to Origin could help run it and make welcome packs with freshly baked bread and homemade jam; it could be really exciting. We would also love to have a little shop and possibly a café on site, but maybe we should take things one at a time!”

Origin is always looking for new volunteers. If you would like to help in any way with the project please contact [email protected]

Inspire future students

with your success

Become part of our Fresher to future initiative.The University of Winchester takes pride in its graduates and wants to share your success.Tell us your story.To find out more visit www.winchester.ac.uk/future

Amy’s touch of animal magic

Hayley cleaning the eggsAmy blackberry picking with William

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What’s On…Re-establishing the significance of Creator and Creation for Old Testament Theology The Very Rev’d James Atwell, Dean of Winchester 23 January 4-5.30pm in Room 15, Medecroft

Space for Peace 27 January 7pm at Winchester Cathedral

Enterprise Lecture Mark Diacono 13 February See www.winchester.ac.uk/enterpriselectures

Winton Sports Weekend 16 and 17 February

Winchester Foundation Lecture The Rev’d Lucy Winkett, Rector of St James’s, Piccadilly 7 March 6.30pm at The Stripe

Interfaith Lecture Jesus Beyond Christianity: Unexpected Images of Jesus from the World’s Religions Dr Gregory Barker 20 March 2013 6.30pm at The Stripe In partnership with Winchester Cathedral

Our Country’s Good by Timerblake Wertenbaker Playing for Time Theatre Company 30 April to 2 May West Hill, HMP Winchester

Winton Club Reunion 28-30 June

All dates correct at time of print. Please check the University’s Public Event Calendar for further details and confirmation www.winchester.ac.uk/events

Reunion 2012As usual, this year’s Winton Club Reunion was a resounding success with hundreds of alumni travelling from across the UK to renew friendships and revisit familiar haunts from their university days. This year our event took place over the weekend of 29 to 31 June with en-suite accommodation provided in the new Queen’s Road Student Village.

The traditional Saturday luncheon was attended by representatives from 1935 to 1937 as well as 1979 to 1983. A special welcome was given to four special Wintonians who were celebrating ‘60 Years On’ (1950 to 1952) this year.

The toast ‘The University of Winchester and Winton Club’ was proposed by Chris Higgins, former Director of Estates (1994 to 2007) with responses by Vice-Chancellor Professor Joy Carter and DBF Billimore (1950 to 1952). The preacher at the Reunion service was the Assistant Chaplain, the Reverend Ann Keating. To add to the day, an exhibition of the developments undertaken by University estates over the last 60 years was held at the Link Gallery up at West Downs.

The Alumni Office has been busy organising Reunions 2014 and 2015. Reunion 2015 will be a very special year as we mark the founding of the institution 175 years ago. Dates will be advised soon!

Howard Horstead Honorary Secretary, Winton Club

Reunion 2013Reunion 2013 will be held on and around Saturday 29 June. Details will be finalised by the Winton Committee in February. Despatch of Reunion notices will take place in the week of 13 April.

If you haven’t received a notice by Monday 29 April please contact the Alumni Office on 01962 827403 or email [email protected]

Obituary

Dennis Keith Pass 27 November 1926 to 15 June 2012 Dennis was a lecturer in the Physical Education Department of King Alfred’s College from 1957 to 1984. During his time in Winchester he was Captain of Winchester Hockey Club, a member of Winchester Fencing Club, a member of Hockley Golf Club and a founder member of South Winchester Golf Club.

After leaving school he was a student at Loughborough College, completing his National Service in the RAF where he was a parachute instructor. He went on to teach at Dulwich College Preparatory School, King Edward VII Grammar School, Melton Mowbray and Brancote Hills County Secondary

School where he was Head of Department. In the period 1950 to 1952 he returned to Loughborough as a student and in 2009, the University awarded him an honorary degree.

Dennis had many strengths; these included taking a keen interest in his students, always quick to offer support. Many comments have also been made about his kind manner and the most pleasant way in which he addressed people.

To his wife Patsi (KAC 1960 to 1963) and his children Julian (PGCE 1993 to 1998) and Tamlin we extend our most sincere condolences.

In memory of… We have recently been notified of the death of the following alumni and former staff. We send our condolences to their families.

Mr D W C Rendell 1950 to 1952 Mr Mervyn H L Upton 1951 to 1953 Squadron Leader M E Cole OBE 1955 to 1957 Mr D K Pass 1957 to 1984 Mr I D Burnard 1958 to 1960 Mr Tony Garnett Former Head of Art Mrs C Drinkwater (nee Jackson) 1991 to 1994

1962 to 1965 group reunion

Dennis in his Winchester days

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Celebrating half a century of women graduatesValerie Greenstreet (née Jessop) enrolled at the University, then King Alfred’s College, in 1960 to study for a Certificate in Education. She was interviewed personally by the Principal, John Stripe, and joined Winchester’s first cohort of women students. Now more than fifty years later, Valerie recalls just what life was like in those early days for a woman studying on campus.

“I have many happy memories of my time at King Alfred’s in the early 60s. As one of only fifty women in a well established male domain, we were viewed with disdain by some but were generally made to feel very welcome and special. We formed a close friendship group, particularly in the early days.

“The admission of women created a number of issues for the institution, not least of which was the need for a new hall of residence, St Elizabeth’s Hall. Unfortunately this was not completed in time for the start of the academic year which meant that we all had to be found accommodation across the city. I was happily placed, along with fellow students Sue Nunn

and Liz Goodall, with the Kettle family in St Swithun Street.

“I recall a number of traditions which might appear rather formal and possibly archaic to most students nowadays. First of all, Grace was always said in Latin before evening meal which was a waitress served event. Also, the tradition of ‘bowing in and bowing out’ was strictly observed.

“Another tradition was the Principal invited a group of students, on a rotation basis, to his house for sherry between end of Chapel and Sunday lunch. You didn’t dare miss Chapel on that Sunday!

“During my time at King Alfred’s I was fortunate enough to meet my future husband Derek who was also a student in my year group. We married a year after leaving Winchester and have shared a very happy marriage together since, as well as careers in the teaching profession.

“I am pleased to say that the excellent reputation of King Alfred’s as a Teacher Training establishment was fully realised during my time there. As a result, I have always felt grateful that my course prepared me so well for my teaching posts across Hampshire, Sussex and Kent.”

National Duathlon and Triathlon ChampionAlec Horn (Certificate in Education 1963 to 1966) has come a long way since joining the cross-country, archery and athletics clubs at King Alfred’s back in the sixties. This summer he ran to victory twice, scooping the titles of both British Duathlon and Triathlon Champion in the 70-74 age group.

As well as winning national titles, Alec has represented Great Britain in the last couple of months in both the World Age Group Duathlon Championships in France and World Age Group

Triathlon Championships in New Zealand. The latter involved a 1500m open water swim in 14˚c water, a 40km bike course and a 10km run.

“It’s never too late to take up running,” adds Alec, a former headmaster. “Lots of not so young novices are having a go at 10k road races and many more are enjoying the challenge of Triathlon. As for the hazards – there are very few, unless you fall off your bike at speed. The secret is to know your limits. As long as you build up slowly it can become a virtuous circle. I still weigh within half a stone of my college weight!”

Governor’s ReportI was delighted to be re-elected as Former Student Governor at the AGM of the Winton Club and look forward to representing alumni for a further three year term on the University’s Board of Governors.

I will take my place on the board alongside 23

other governors who all bring with them an impressive range of skills and experience which they put at the disposal of the University.

Much of the work of the Board is carried out through its committees and once more, I have been assigned to the Audit Committee. Part of this committee’s work is to monitor the Risk

Register where there is a need for perpetual vigilance. I am also on the Student Experience Committee which seeks to enhance the students’ time at the University. Please get in touch with me via the Alumni Office should you wish to discuss matters relating to governance. Stephen Baldwin (Certificate of Education, 1963 to 1966)

70 year old Alec competing in World Age Group Duathlon Championships in Nancy, France

King Alfred Campus in the swinging 60s

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