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Bulletin I N S I D E

INSIDE STORY: Bulletin’s SUPPleMENT, with details of Research Grants and Books. A history of chemistry book is one of those featured.

CAPITAL ACQUISITION: London to Paris by Sir Eduardo Paolozzi - his second work in the Engineering Building. Page 3.

LEICESTER PROFESSOR REVEALS SCALE OF SHIPMAN'S KILLINGS AS THE new year opened there cannot have been a national newspaper that did not carry full coverage of the horrifying numbers of people who may have been murdered by the convicted GP Harold Shipman. Shipman has consistently refused to confess even to

the fifteen murders for which he is serving a life sentence, but the likely full scale of his killings has been uncovered by an investigation carried out by Professor Richard Baker, Director of the University’s Clinical Governance Research and Development Unit. SHOCK FINDINGS: Professor Richard Baker uncovered the extent of Shipman’s killings.

In the 145 pages of his audit of Shipman’s career from 1974-1998, commissioned by continued on page 2

RINGING ENDORSEMENT FOR LEICESTER PROFESSOR

A SHARED EXPERIENCE: European students received a warm welcome from the City and the University. Page 9.

NEW OPPORTUNITIES: Feature on Leicester’s new Graduate School. Page 20.

Professor of Ancient History in the School of Archaeological Studies, Lin Foxhall, has been awarded an MBE (Hon) for her services in marking the new Millennium. The Royal Mail has also issued a stamp commemorating her achievement. Full story, page 4.

FEBRUARY

University of Leicester Newsletter

Bulletin News Volume 33 • Number

LEICESTER PROFESSOR REVEALS SCALE OF SHIPMAN'S KILLINGS 4

February 2001 Bulletin News ......................1-12 Business ..................................13 International .....................14-15 Out & About ......................16-17 Artstop...............................18-19 Feature...............................20-21 Graduate Relations ................22 Student Page ..........................23 Cuttings ..................................24 Teaching Initiatives.................27 People ................................28-31 Notices ...............................31-33 A.O.B. ......................................34 Crossword...............................35 Photostop ...................Back Page SUPPleMENT (Research Grants and Books). The next issue of Bulletin is due in March.

YOUR BULLETIN We wish to encourage members of the University to submit items for the Bulletin – feel free to email stories or suggestions to [email protected]. The Bulletin is edited in the Press and Publications Office. The Editor reserves the right to amend or abbreviate copy without notice. Editor: Ather Mirza (3335) [email protected] Deputy Editor: Barbara Whiteman (2676) [email protected] Journalist: Jane Pearson Design and layout: Paula Curtis/Lisa Jackson AVS – Graphics Pictures: AVS – Photography Cartoons: Barbara Whiteman Printed by: AVS – Print Advertisements: Up to 30 words should be accompanied by cheques, payable to University of Leicester, at the following rates: House sales and lettings: £5.00 Other sales and service: £2.00 Free adverts are carried if space permits. Please send adverts to Press and Publications Office. Prices for display advertisements are available on request from Chris Walters, LUSU Marketing Officer (1150). The University of Leicester does not necessarily adopt or endorse the products and services advertised in Bulletin. The Editor reserves the right to refuse/amend any advert without notice. Email: [email protected] Newsline: 0116 252 3335 Advertising: 0116 223 1168 Address: University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester, LE1 7RH

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University of Leicester February 2001

This icon indicates that a fuller version of the story can be found on the University’s web pages: http://www.le.ac.uk/press/press/

continued from page 1.

the Chief Medical Officer, Professor Liam Donaldson at the time of Shipman’s conviction, Professor Baker calculated that as many as 236 people may have been victims of the GP who worked first in Todmorden in West Yorkshire and later Hyde in Greater Manchester. By investigating the patterns in deaths certified by Harold Shipman, cremation forms and medical records, and comparing those deaths with similar GP practices in the same area Professor Baker was able to estimate the scale of murders over the 24 years of the doctor’s career. • Harold Shipman issued 521 medical certificates of cause of death. In comparable practices the highest number issued was 210. • Compared to similar practices the excess of deaths certified by Shipman was 297, of which 236 were deaths occurring at home. • The greatest number of deaths was among women aged 75 years or over, followed by women aged 65-74 years and lastly men aged 75 years and over. • Even in his early career he had recorded an excess of deaths but it was not until 1988 that numbers increased significantly. • Deaths were more likely to occur between 1 and 7 pm on weekdays, when relatives and friends were unlikely to be present. They took place during or shortly after a visit from the GP. • The recorded cause of death tended to have a weak link to the victim’s case history. Government measures have been in place over the last two years to minimise the risk of a similar series of tragedies in the future. But Professor Baker fears these are not enough. He recommended the monitoring of GPs’ death rates, more information on death certificates, more rigorous record-keeping by GPs, and more accountability over the administration and distribution of drugs such as diamorphine. Professor Baker, himself a former GP who was chosen to carry out the Shipman investigation as one of the country’s leading experts in medical audit, said: “I hope that we can use the methods of the review as a starting point for developing a system to prevent such events in the future”. • The CGRDU in the Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care at the University was formally opened by the Chief Medical Officer Professor Liam Donaldson in April 1999. Professor Donaldson is a graduate and honorary graduate of the University and a former lecturer at Leicester.

PETER TAYLOR AT EVENT STUDENTS at two halls of residence got together to organise a new guest speaker programme. The celebrity they chose to get the ball rolling in January was Leicester City and temporary England Manager Peter Taylor. The students, from Gilbert Murray and Villiers Halls in Oadby, are promoting the fund-raising series of events throughout the local community as well as in the University. They see the programme as a way to develop a closer relationship with the local community as well as with past students. “Halls are more than places where students go merely to eat and sleep,” says Matthew Niblett, SubWarden at Gilbert Murray and member of the organising committee. “Students develop lifelong friendships while in Halls, learn how to live in co-operative communities and have opportunities to widen their experiences of life. Opportunities have included organising hall social events, participating in sporting fixtures and contributing to voluntary activities such as at the local Lancaster School.” Peter Taylor spoke about his footballing experiences at Leicester and previous posts, and offered advice to students on their own career development.

Bulletin News

University of Leicester February 2001

STUDY REVEALS FIRST EVIDENCE OF POLLUTION DAMAGE TO CHILDREN’S LUNGS RESEARCHERS from the Department of Child Health and the Centre for Mechanisms of Human Toxicity at the University of Leicester have uncovered the first direct evidence that carbon particles in exhaust fumes are getting into children’s lungs, and causing disease. Dr Jonathan Grigg, Dr Hazel Bunn and Dr David Dinsdale examined the lungs of children under general anaesthetic prior to an operation for the presence of exhaust particles. Examining cells from the lower lung, the scientists observed the cells using an electron microscope. They discovered pollution particles in the lungs being attacked by the body’s defence system, the white cells. This, in turn, can

trigger inflammation in the lungs – leading to wheezing, bronchitis and asthma. Speaking to the Leicester Mercury which broke the story exclusively on its front page, Dr Grigg said: “These particles are so tiny that they are not screened out by the normal protective mechanisms of the respiratory system.

INSIGHT: An electron microscopic image of the particles in an alveolar macrophage.

“They pass right down into the depths of the lung where they sit in the moist, delicate sacs of the lung. When white cells attack the particles, they release toxic substances that cause inflammation. Some particles escape the white cells and embed themselves in the lung tissue. “The fact that there is no protection from these cells even when you are indoors is of particular concern, because babies and very young children are being

exposed. If they are around in the lungs of very young children they could alter the development of the lung and predispose it to chronic respiratory disease.” The researchers found the harmful particles in the lungs of all 22 Leicester children examined in the two-year study – including babies as young as three months old. Dr Grigg said: “Children who live beside busy main roads were found to have twice as many cells containing the particles as children from quieter side streets. However, even those living in quiet, suburbs have particles in their airways.” The team is now planning a further study, drawing on surveys of respiratory illness in Leicester children, and maps showing particle hotspots produced by the city council’s pollution control group. The study will look at the relationship between respiratory disease among children and exposure to particle pollution.

BRONZE INSTALLED THE Department of Engineering has recently used a donation from the estate of the late Douglas MacLellan (Head of Department, 1965-1988) to purchase a small bronze sculpture by Sir Eduardo Paolozzi. The bronze, called London to Paris, is a maquette of one of Paolozzi’s most recent major commissions, an eight-metre-long, five tonne wooden flatbed locomotive, mounted on rails and carrying a giant

head, a pair of feet, a pair of hands, and other parts. This enormous wooden sculpture was installed in the courtyard of the Royal Academy on Piccadilly during last summer. The much smaller bronze maquette has just been installed in the MacLellan Room of the Engineering Building. Paolozzi was previously invited by Douglas MacLellan to design a tapestry for the entrance of the Engineering Building. A friend of James Stirling, the building’s architect with James Gowan, Paolozzi was happy to accept, and the tapestry has adorned the foyer since 1982. He was therefore only too pleased to be asked again to produce something for the Department. It was his idea to realise in bronze the maquette of London to Paris. Douglas’s brother Donald and his sisters Louie and Elspeth are delighted that we have chosen to use the donation in this way. The Department is also pleased that it has obtained a work of such distinction from so famous an artist. Douglas would have liked it very much. Ian Postlethwaite

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Bulletin News

University of Leicester February 2001

CELEBRATION OF THE LIFE AND WORK OF PROFESSOR JACK SIMMONS ON December 9, the University commemorated its first Professor of History, Jack Simmons, who died on September 3. More than 150 of his friends and admirers, from England, Wales, Scotland, Switzerland and Nigeria, gathered in the Richard Attenborough Centre to hear twelve distinguished speakers deliver short addresses each covering a different field of Jack’s activity. Former students and colleagues spoke of him as a humane and inspiring teacher, as a leading spirit in the development of the University, and as an outstanding historian of his adopted Leicestershire locality. NOTABLE TRIBUTES: Members of the University were

These activities were only part of his wide-ranging achievement. He was a among the distinguished speakers reflecting on the life national figure, as Professor Bonney pointed out in his opening address. and achievements of Professor Simmons. Michael Robbins spoke of him as the foremost authority on British railway history, with a characteristically broad vision which included the railway’s topography, its architecture, and the communities it served. James Robbins, of the BBC, gave a vivid account of Jack as an able broadcaster. Other speakers paid tribute to his valuable work for national museums, and in biography, imperial history, Victorian studies, visual history, and English local history. His publications, of which a list covering fourteen A4 pages was exhibited in the Attenborough Centre’s library, together with a selection of his published works, included impressive items in all these fields. James Walker, of the Archduke Trio, played two of Jack’s favourite pieces and spoke of Jack’s support for the provision of music in the University. The closing address, by the Vice-Chancellor, expressed a warm appreciation of the ideals which inspired Jack and which the University continues to uphold. Those attending the commemoration found it an uplifting occasion, which revealed aspects of Jack’s achievement unknown to them. Refreshments provided by the University and the History Department afforded a welcome opportunity for conversation and renewing contacts. Dr A K B Evans • A further reflection on the legacy of Professor Simmons is on page 34.

HONOUR FOR PROFESSOR

1996 and was awarded £3 million in National Lottery funding towards the £6 million project.

A PROFESSOR at the University has been awarded an MBE (Hon) by Her Majesty the Queen in recognition of her contribution to the Millennium celebrations.

The Central Council of Church Bell Ringers put her in touch with fellow bell-ringer Stella Bianco from Sussex, and together they applied to the Millennium Commission to fund a network of bells to ring in the Millennium.

Professor Lin Foxhall, Head of the Division of Ancient History and a bell-ringer herself, formed the idea of ‘Ringing in the Millennium’ in

Across the country 150 communities benefited from the project, in which new bells were

installed and old bells restored. To commemorate ‘Ringing in the Millennium’ the Royal Mail produced a seasonal stamp for the Christmas period. As an American citizen Professor Foxhall received an honorary MBE, a rare distinction, which was presented to her by the Rt Hon Chris Smith, MP, Secretary of State for Culture www Media and Sport this month.

NEW MANAGEMENT COURSE LAUNCHED THE Management Centre has launched a new undergraduate degree course for UK/EU and international students. Aimed at future managers across the private, public or voluntary sectors and in all types of business from local to multinational, the BA in Management Studies will equip students to take a range of careers, including banking, accountancy and human resource management. The course also offers a chance to specialise in marketing and finance. Core modules will include marketing, accountancy, finance, organisational analysis, human resource management, strategic and competitor analysis, operations management, 4

international business and information management. Other options exist in areas that are topical in today’s global business climate, for instance in e-commerce, the management of cyber organisations, quality and reliability management and knowledge management. The BA in Management Studies can lead to opportunities to take postgraduate professional qualifications with organisations such as the Chartered Institute of Marketing the Institute of Personnel Management www and may qualify for exemptions from part of courses run by these bodies.

Bulletin News

University of Leicester February 2001

THE LANGUAGE OF LEICESTER

Pic: Leicester Mercury.

IN December, national and local press seized with delight on longstanding research showing the importance of Leicester and the East Midlands region in the evolution of English. Dr Elaine Treharne, Head of the Department of English at the University, who was much quoted in the press coverage, explains. THE origins of the East Midlands dialect derive from the Anglo-Saxons, who settled in the Mercian region from approximately 500AD. They spoke a Germanic dialect similar to that preserved in the Old English poem Beowulf, and this form of language was complicated in the ninth century by the arrival and settlement of the Vikings in and around Leicestershire The impact of the Scandinavians on the local dialect can be seen in

the place-names of the region: And while this evidence is crucial for determining the ways in which the Scandinavians settled in this area, the emergence of the East Midlands dialect in the post-Conquest period also demonstrates clearly the eventual intermingling of the two peoples. Words such as them, their, she, sister, law and gate are all of Old Norse origin, and began to be adopted into East Midlands English probably from the very late Anglo-Saxon period. English itself was ousted as the major written language after the Norman Conquest until the fourteenth century, but what does survive shows regional variation

TOMODACHI EXHIBITION AT RAC MINISTER Ken Shimanouchi, Deputy Ambassador of Japan will open an exhibition of art by students at schools for the blind in Japan and England at the Richard Attenborough Centre. Tomodachi, which will run from 19 February to 18 March 2001, follows the success of an exhibition of Japanese Calligraphy held at the Richard Attenborough Centre in 2000. It reinforces established links between the Richard Attenborough Centre

and institutions with similar aims in Japan. Julia Cassim, journalist with the Japan Times, has played a key role in bringing the Tomodachi

on a grand scale. Once English was in the process of being re-established as a prestigious medium for writing, it became clear that a Standard form of the language was essential. The obvious choice was a dialect from the middle of the country, intelligible to all. And, adding to this aspect of comprehensibility and accessibility was the opportunity for the East Midlands dialect to make its mark through the immigration of many East Midlanders into London, the political and cultural capital, during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. These immigrants considerably influenced the emergence of Standard English by working in the crucial areas of trade and administration. It was, then, that the East Midlands dialect, merged with a form of the London dialect, gave rise in succeeding centuries to Standard English, the form of the language with which we are all familiar, and to which Leicester and its surrounding locality, contributed so significantly.

exhibition to Leicester and will choose the work to be exhibited from the Gallery Tom in Tokyo and the RNIB New College in Worcester. With Sian Thomas, Organising Tutor for Sculpture at the Richard Attenborough Centre, and Yohei Nishimura a sculptor and educator from Japan, she will be hanging the work for the exhibition. The Exhibition will run at the Richard Attenborough Centre from Monday February 19 to Friday March 16, 2001, 10 am – 4.30 pm Monday-Friday. • The exhibition is sponsored by the Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation and the Pola Art Foundation.

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Bulletin News NEW NATIONAL INITIATIVE AIMS TO BOOST INTEREST IN SCIENCE CHILDREN as young as eight years old may have made up their minds not to become scientists – because they believe scientists are ‘middle aged white males who never have fun’! Now educationalists at the University of Leicester have devised support materials, targeting 12,000 new primary school teachers, that break down these stereotypes and provide stimulating projects that interest all children. The activities include using the Three Little Pigs nursery rhyme and a Young Sherlock Holmes role play.

“Moreover, by the ages of eight to nine, children have formed stereotypical views about the world – which includes science and scientists. In particular, research indicates many children have made up their mind not to be scientists by this age.” SCIcentre has launched three new projects in order to spearhead improved science education at primary level: • Science and Literacy: Developing links between science and language, fiction and non fiction,

The experts are part of SCIcentre – the National Centre for Initial Teacher Training in Primary School Science. With the support of industry and through an educational partnership, SCIcentre aims to influence a generation of children.

• Helping Primary Children Understand Science and Technology: Practical, Oral and Co-Operative Activities

SCIcentre Director Dr Tina Jarvis, a senior lecturer at the University, said: “SCIcentre believes that capturing the imagination of a child before the age of 11 is crucial for the child to develop a lasting interest in the subject.

Dr Jarvis said the materials would have several benefits: “These materials introduce children to science before they have made up their mind about not being future scientists.

“In other words, if the child hasn’t enjoyed science prior to this age then the child may never enjoy science. The subject is then lost to them and makes little sense in secondary school.

SHEDDING LIGHT STUDENTS from schools and colleges throughout the county were treated to ‘A Little Light Relief’ at the University, when Professor David Phillips OBE, Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at Imperial College, London, gave the annual Leicester Literary and Philosophical Society Lecture for Schools, sponsored by the Leicester Mercury. The demonstration lecture covered in a www stimulating and light-hearted way the uses of light in medicine, from a chemist’s point of view.

ME AND MY GIRL RETURNS THE University of Leicester Theatre followed its two sellout successes – Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Ben Elton’s Popcorn – with its biggest production of the season, Me and My Girl. When the show opened in 1984 at the Leicester Haymarket Theatre it broke all box office records. It was nominated for 13 Tony awards in 1987, including Best Musical, and won three trophies. Me and My Girl also won the Lawrence Olivier award for Best Musical. Actor Robert Lindsay, who won the Tony Best Actor in a Musical for his performance in the show, sent a personal message to the University of Leicester Theatre wishing the company luck and offering encouragement in their production. 6

University of Leicester February 2001

• Developing Primary Teachers’ Science Knowledge: A bank of self study materials.

“Good science teaching in the primary school is more likely to produce confident girls and boys keen to be scientists and empowered citizens able to participate www effectively in the decisions of the day.” More information on: www.scicentre.org.uk

Bulletin News

University of Leicester February 2001

TOP LEVEL TEAM ASSESS WIDENING PARTICIPATION EFFORT A TEAM from the Department of Education and Employment has met with University representatives to evaluate the success of partnerships for widening participation in Leicester and Leicestershire. The University of Leicester, De Montfort University and Loughborough University have been working in partnership with Leicester City Cluster, Leicestershire Careers, Leicestershire TEC Ltd and the local authorities in order to widen participation within the city and the county. The Government department representatives were introduced to the Vice-Chancellor, as well as other

REGIONAL ENGLISH CONFERENCE IN BEIRUT

members of the University and the Students’ Union, including Janet Graham, the Director of the HEFCE Widening Participation Project in Leicestershire & Rutland; Herabans Kaur, the University’s Widening Participation Project Leader; James Banks, the Contact co–ordinator and currently involved in Shadowing as well as the Partnerships for Progression mentoring initiative; and Dr Chris Pole as a representative of the Sociology Department which has played a major role in terms of shadowing and mentoring – both high on the Government’s agenda.

• More information is available from the IN November three members of staff from the School of Admissions Office website. Education attended the Regional English Conference at the Lebanese American University in Beirut, along with 250 delegates from all over the Middle East. The conference was led by internationally-known keynote speakers in the field from Britain, the USA and Jordan, and focused on issues of language and change in general, and in particular on language and academic and professional communities; language and the THE lush Amazon Basin is currently wetter than curriculum; language, literature and culture; and language and any other time on record, a study printed on technology. Professor Ken Fogelman was invited to make a December 22 in the international journal presentation to the whole conference as a guest speaker, in part Science reveals. because of his long connections with Lebanon in fostering the development of higher degrees there. Dr Angela Creese had an The rainfall history of the Amazon Basin since audience of nearly 50 people for her paper on communication the ice ages is important for a number of in inter-professional relationships, and Dr Hugh Busher gave a questions, such as whether arid conditions paper on literacies, cultures and the induction of students into reduced or fragmented the rainforests, how doctoral studies in education. the tropics contribute methane to the atmosphere, and how tropical climate may Perhaps more remarkable was the unseen influence of the have affected the global water cycle. University of Leicester on this conference. Five of the papers out of the 40 given in total to the conference were presented by Francis Mayle of the Department of Geography students or former students of the University of Leicester. Most and colleagues Rachel Burbridge and Timothy of the students were or are studying on the Doctorate in Killeen used pollen analysis to examine the Education programme. The organising committee was chaired long-term dynamics of forest-savanna by a former student of the University of Leicester, Dr Nola boundaries in southern Amazonia, which are Bacha, who is now one of the senior faculty members in the extremely dependent on climate patterns. Lebanese American University (LAU). She was supported in the Mayle’s team found that the forest in Bolivia public relations work of the committee very efficiently by Rima currently stretches farther south than at any Bahous, a current Doctorate in Education student and a faculty other time in the last 50,000 years, and that member of LAU, and Nelly Abboud, secretary to Dr Bacha. Two the rainforest communities at this other members of the committee, Nabelah Haraty and Irma southern boundary may be less than Ghozn are also current or former University of Leicester www 3,000 years old. students.

AMAZON IS EXPANDING STUDY

Hugh Busher 7

Bulletin News

University of Leicester February 2001

TACKLING ENERGY MATTERS WITH GUSTO! RECENT flooding and inclement weather has raised the profile of the climate change debate. This and other environmental impacts associated with the use of energy are important driving forces behind the University’s employment of a new Energy Manager.

campaign. Jamie has a background in training and providing advice on energy campaigns and projects. He is keen to help departments to identify areas where they can reduce “energy waste” to support their activities and protect the environment.

Jamie Goth, pictured, started work as a Member of the Client Services Unit in September. He is leading the implementation of the University’s energy policy, the first step of which is to reinvigorate the Earthcare Energy Awareness

Jamie is able to provide information on the energy efficiency of new appliances and equipment, as well as how to get the best from ones already in use. He is working with Estates’ Design Team in this capacity, helping departments to continuously

CHINESE EMPLOYERS SEEK HELP FROM CLMS A TEAM from the Centre for Labour Market Studies has recently returned from China, where they have been working with the Chinese Employers’ Confederation to identify the current state of training in Chinese business and ways in which it can be improved. After surveying 500 employers in China, the team – Professor David Ashton, Dr Katherine Hills and Ms Barbara Li – delivered their preliminary results and recommendations to a conference of Government officials and human resource specialists in Beijing. The CLMS results highlighted the ways in which new high performance working and training practices are already helping Chinese employers secure substantial business improvements. Discussion at the conference focused on how these practices can be used to help the state enterprises. The team have been invited back to develop their work in China further. They are currently preparing a full report to be published jointly with the International Labour Organisation.

improve their energy performance by optimising capital and running costs. Jamie’s industrial and commercial links may be of benefit to departments seeking partners for co-operative research projects in innovative energy technologies and other areas. • If you have any queries, comments or ideas on energy matters, you can contact Jamie on 2308 or email him at [email protected]. If you would like to learn more about the University’s energy programmes, click onto the Earthcare web-page on spotlights on the University’s Home Page.

CLMS SUPPORT THE MODERNISATION OF MALTA'S TRAINING SYSTEM OVER the last year staff from the Centre for Labour Market Studies have been working with the Maltese Employment and Training Corporation (ETC), the training arm of the Maltese Government, to update training provision in Malta. The collaboration has led to a number of exciting developments, including a partnership with the Foundation for Human Resources Development (FHRD) to make available the full range of CLMS training and human resources courses in Malta. The ETC has also replaced its National Certificate of Training and Development with CLMS’s Certificate in Training Practices from January this year. Any Maltese citizen accepted on the programme are entitled to Government funding of £300. In addition, CLMS will be invited to provide input into the forthcoming Maltese NVQ system on www Training and Development Standards.

NEW LINK BETWEEN UNIVERSITIES A MEMORANDUM of understanding has been signed between Leicester and a new university in Jordan. Vice-Chancellor Professor Robert Burgess and Professor Adel Tweissi, the President of Al-Hussein Bin Talal University in Jordan, signed the memorandum in November (pictured). Al-Hussein Bin Talal University is a new public university with a substantial budget to provide for its rapid development. As part of this process new staff will be trained overseas and the agreement provides for staff to come to Leicester for Master’s courses, and probably 8

to take PhDs, in three areas – Archaeology, Education and Engineering. There is also provision for the development of academic and research links in other areas of common interest.

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Bulletin News

University of Leicester February 2001

MOVING THE GOALPOSTS A UNIVERSITY sports expert has warned of the dangers posed by portable football goalposts through a new set of national health and safety guidelines. Colin Hide, Sports and Recreation Manager, is also a member of the Institute of Leisure and Amenity Management Sports Service Panel and has, through this capacity, prepared a factsheet on the subject. It has also been endorsed by the Football Association. Colin said: “Most modern sports facilities are multiuse and provide accommodation to allow a variety of games to be played within one space. Such facilities

TACKLING FOULS A UNIVERSITY risk management expert, working with FIFA to investigate football injuries, is taking a new look at an old problem. Dr Colin Fuller, a lecturer in the Scarman Centre, is known for his research into health and safety management in the workplace and is currently applying the same risk management principles to professional football. Dr Fuller said: “I look at the football ground as a place of work. So, I examine objects and the other people on the pitch as potential hazards for the footballers. In this sense, it is no different from a risk assessment in any industrial or commercial workplace. “I also consider the impact of injuries on the financial viability of clubs and the long-term impact on

necessarily require game goals to be portable. Consequently there are thousands of portable goals in use in the U.K. that are erected and dismantled several times a day. The ease with which goals can be erected and dismantled are important considerations when purchasing these items. “There are, however important safety considerations connected with their specification and use. Not least is the requirement for them to be securely anchored whilst in use and when being stored. “Tragically, in the last 13 years 9 youngsters have been killed by portable soccer goals falling on them throughout the UK.”

the health of players. Most people do not think of a £10 million footballer as a business asset. However, if you consider football as a business, the number of injuries, which prevent players from playing football, is a much higher risk than that arising from injuries in most other high risk occupations, such as the construction industry or working on oil rigs.” In November, Dr Fuller attended the first ever FIFA Sports Medical Conference in Zurich in order to present the initial results from the France 1998 World Cup and the New Zealand 1999 Under-17 World Cup. Colin Fuller was the only delegate from England to give a presentation to fellow delegates at the conference, who were the technical directors and medical specialists from www footballing nations all around the world.

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GRANT SUCCESS FOR SCIENTISTS A TOTAL of 13 awards have recently been made to the region’s universities as Lord Sainsbury, the Science Minister announced that 175 projects at UK Universities are to benefit from £14m in grants for stateof-the-art research equipment. The region’s universities scooped £874,000 in grants. Leicester attracted £249,000 for two projects - one led by Chris Binns, Physics and Astronomy, and the other by Dr Eric Hope, Department of Chemistry.

ON-LINE BULLETIN: Issues of the Bulletin are accessible on CWIS via the following web address: http://www.le.ac.uk/bulletin/

WELCOME TO ERASMUS STUDENTS STUDENTS on the fourth year of the SOCRATES-ERASMUS programme received a warm welcome to the University and to the City of Leicester from Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Fearon and the Lord Mayor of Leicester, Councillor Mrs Barbara Chambers, at the end of November 2000. Nearly 200 students on the programme are studying at Leicester during this academic year, across 20 departments. The University has agreements with 75 European Universities in Finland, Sweden, Austria, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Spain, France, Italy, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal, Greece and Hungary. 9

Bulletin News

University of Leicester February 2001

POOR RISK MANAGEMENT A SPECIAL issue of Risk Management, published by the Scarman Centre, explores recent events such as the Hatfield rail crash, the Bristol Royal Infirmary Inquiry and management of the BSE crisis, presenting the views of regulators, practitioners and researchers. Dr Martina McGuinness reports: ‘Train crashes at Paddington and Hatfield have left the rail industry in crisis and clearly demonstrated the disastrous human consequences of poor operational risk management’. Guest editor, and external examiner at the University’s Scarman Centre, Dr Clive Smallman notes, ‘The Bristol Royal Infirmary Inquiry showed the impact of poor operational risk management in the public sector. More recently the Phillips Report highlighted

shortcomings in the management of the BSE crisis’. Moreover, ‘the financial sector has also witnessed crisis, from the collapse of BCCI and Barings Bank in the UK to the failure of LTCM in the US with losses of $3.625billion. As a result, there have been a number of regulatory and industry initiatives aimed at ensuring such disasters do not happen again. This means that operational risk www management is now at the top of many corporate agendas’.

CENTRE DIRECTOR INSTALLED AS FREEMAN OF LONDON SCARMAN Centre Director Dr Martin Gill has been installed as a Freeman of the City of London. Dr Gill, who is a member of the newly formed Security Guild was installed at a ceremony at the Guildhall in the City of London with nine other Guild members.

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Bulletin News

University of Leicester February 2001

PRAISE FOR DISTANCE LEARNING COURSE A SATISFIED – if anonymous – graduate from the MA Applied Linguistics/TESOL course by distance learning was reported in ELTeaching Matters recently. Responding to an enquiry as to which aspects of the programme were particularly good, she/he singled out discourse analysis, language description, learning theory, methodology, pronunciation, second language acquisition, syllabus and curriculum, teacher training and testing/evaluation. While cautioning

would-be distance learners to be disciplined in meeting deadlines, and to consider long-term aims before settling on a course, she/he praised the Leicester programme for the freedom it allowed “to pursue subjects directly relevant to my work”, and added that the “applied” aspect of the course was well met. Dr Agneta Svalberg, Co-ordinator for the MA in Applied Linguistics & TESOL (distance learning) added: “In a mid-course evaluation last year,

satisfaction with the course programme was generally very high among the respondents: 90% were very satisified or satisfied. Course materials and tutorial support were particularly liked. The possibility of tailoring the course to the students’ own professional needs, as mentioned in the report, is now greater than ever with an increased range of eight options.”

RISING TO THE CHALLENGE YOUR STARTER FOR 10: The University of Leicester was the very first University to triumph in the University Challenge series – and now it is your chance to follow in the successful footsteps of your predecessors. For more information about taking part in the 2001/2002 series, contact the Students’ Union President or JCR, or email [email protected] or phone 0161 832 7211 ext 3157.

PIONEERING GENE RESEARCH THE British Heart Foundation kicked off its 40th anniversary celebrations by announcing the launch of the world’s largest study into family heart disease. The new research project, called the BHF Family Heart Study, aims to pinpoint the rogue genes which contribute to coronary heart disease. The £2.5 million project, carried out by the universities of Leeds and Leicester, is seeking families across the UK who have a history of hereditary heart disease and who are prepared to give a small blood sample to the project. A special DNA library is to be set up which will enable researchers to map genes across family groups in order to identify and isolate the problem genes. Professor Nilesh Samani, based at Glenfield Hospital, is spearheading the project at Leicester. A pilot study looking at the feasibility of this project started in 1997 in Yorkshire and the Midlands. Now, a converted London bus has gone on a nationwide tour in order to recruit participants to the project.

REDUCING RISKS A GOVERNMENT report available from the Institute for Environment and Health at the University sets out a programme of work to improve the way health risks from chemicals are assessed. Proposals include work to improve assessment of human exposure to chemicals, and computer based models to get a better estimate of risks. The sustainable management of chemicals – including pesticides and medicines as well as industrial chemicals – and the protection of human health in the workplace, the environment and in the home is dependent on an assessment of risks posed by each particular chemical. Such assessments form the basis of regulatory controls to limit exposure. The report has been produced by the Interdepartmental Group on Health Risks from Chemicals (IGHRC).

11

University of Leicester February 2001

NATIONAL SCIENCE WEEK EVENTS 16th - 25th March 2001 Monday 19th

Earth Observation Science Group

All Day

Sean Lawrence – Keynote Lecture followed by ‘Physics in Force’ workshops venue Roe Farm School, Derby

Geology Department

19.30

Mike Branney – Dangerous Volcanoes Countesthorpe College

Tuesday 20th

Engineering Department

10.00

Ian Jarvis – Design and build a P.I.G.

Space School UK Jean Collins – Pharaohs’ Secrets (COPUS Grant) Tuesday – Friday in Schools Wednesday, Thursday evenings + Saturday at New Walk Museum

Wednesday 21st

University Science Day

9.30

Archaeology: Ruth Young – Looking at Bones – From Garbage to Knowledge Biology: Pat Heslop-Harrison – Cereal Events Chemistry: John Holloway – Fluorine Frolics Computer Centre: Richard Mobbs – Come Surf with Me Geography: ‘Rainfall Simulation Tower’ Mathematics: Jeremy Levesley – Numbers are Magic Will Light - Adventure with Paper Physics & Astronomy: Martin Barstow – The Extraterrestrial Road-show UKSEDS – Our Kind of Town Darren Baskill – Planetarium shows Pre-Clinical Sciences: Jon Scott – Muscles at Work Space School UK: Pharaoh’s Secrets

Thursday 22nd

Engineering Department

10.00

Ian Jarvis – Design and Build a P.I.G.

Saturday 24th

New Walk Museum

14.00

Martin Barstow (Physics & Astronomy Department) Chairs a panel of scientists discussing the interaction of their work with their religious beliefs Pharaohs’ Secrets – Interactive drop in workshop for all

Snibston Discovery Park

All Day

Mathematics and Computer Science Department Jeremy Levesley and team – workshop + Awarding Prizes for their schools competition, CASIO sponsorship

More information from Jean Collins: 0116 252 2675 email: [email protected] 12

University of Leicester February 2001

Business Bulletin

NEW TEAM AIMS TO FORGE CLOSER BUSINESS LINKS MORE links with local and national companies are being formed by a newly appointed Employer Liaison Team based at the Careers Service, College House. Its role is to create partnerships between businesses and the University to help both students and academics benefit from closer links with companies. The biggest challenge is getting the message to the business community especially SMEs which are not aware of the type of services Universities provide nowadays. This is why Haniel Riviere-Allen, Employer Liaison Manager, is looking to organise networking events welcoming business associations on campus to promote the University’s services to companies. Ideally, these events would present the wide range of services the University can provide to businesses such as graduate recruitment services, work placement schemes, research, conference facilities, in-house business training, adult education courses and consultancy work. Haniel said: “The main focus of the team is to raise students’ employability by setting up work placements. In order to achieve this, we need to encourage local SMEs to tap into the vast pool of students’ talent and creativity. “Through work placements, students will be given the opportunity to apply their knowledge to real life projects and demonstrate their skills to concentrate on business issues and solutions, developing IT projects or identifying new business opportunities and contributing to marketing projects.” Haniel is also pioneering a new concept of Careers Fairs inviting companies on campus on two separate events at the

beginning of March to recruit students from ethnic minorities (March 9) and students with disabilities (March 16). The targeted CHALLENGING: The University is committed to companies raising students’ employability. have been identified as pro-active in the diversity management of their company work force. The Fairs are organised in parallel with the Equal Opportunity Awareness Campaign Week run by the Students’ Union. The team is looking at getting more companies involved in their existing careers programmes such as Tomorrow’s Managers short course which is a two-day course exploring aspects of generic management within the public and private sectors. Companies can participate by providing a young manager to take part as a group facilitator and/or by sponsoring and delivering some element of the course www programme. • For more information please contact Haniel Riviere-Allen or Anna Hebden on 0116 252 5117. email: [email protected]

FIRMS’ APATHY SINKS EDUCATION ACTION ZONES NEW research from the IPPR and the University has shown that the private sector has failed to successfully engage in the task of raising educational attainment through the Government’s Education Action Zones (EAZs) initiative. The study, part of a booklet on Public Private Partnerships in Education, published by IPPR’s Commission on Public Private Partnerships, shows that private sector partners have failed to take on leadership or promote significant innovation. Funding for zones has fallen short of Government expectations. The research found that: • Few zones have attracted £250,000 a year or more from the private or voluntary sectors.. • The amount of additional funding raised by zones, although difficult to calculate, appears not to have reached the £43 million claimed by Schools Minister Estelle

Morris last June. • Many of the businesses who are listed as zone partners have minimal or no participation in the EAZ. • Despite efforts to attract schools, communities and businesses to take the lead in zones, none of the zones are entirely ‘business led’ – LEAs are central players in every one the vast majority of income donated by the private sector is ‘in kind’, and thus limited to a specific activity, which circumscribes the influence of the zone forum. The report explains that the Government’s expectations of levels of interest from businesses were too high. Over-regulation and excessive bureaucracy may have limited the private sector’s interest and the potential of zones to innovate. The authors suggest that zones would have benefited from being less reliant on funding from the private sector.

Rob Watling, co-author and Deputy Director of the Centre for Citizenship Studies in Education at the University commented: “In spite of their promotion as ‘test beds’, the average zone appears to have become a combination of a traditional school improvement service and an education business partnership. “EAZs have not proved an attractive place for the private sector to increase their involvement in education. To claim otherwise risks discouraging us from learning lessons from EAZs – one of their most important purposes.” “The report does not pass judgement on the overall EAZ initiative, nor on the achievements of any individual zone. But it does suggest that some of the grander ambitions for these zones have been hard to realise -particularly the attempts to involve the private sector in the funding and management of projects.” 13

International Focus

University of Leicester February 2001

International Focus provides stories with an international dimension. Any stories or ideas should be sent to Jane Pearson, Press and Publications Office, ext 2440, fax 2485, e-mail: [email protected]

FOCUS ON ST LUCIA By Tony Bush, until December 2000 Professor of Educational Management and Director of the Educational Management Development Unit and Co-Director of the East Midlands Assessment Centre for NPQH. EMDU’s MBA in Educational Management by distance learning is a highly successful degree with more than 700 students in some 40 countries. The course has been remarkably popular in the West Indies, where there are 56 students. The island of St Lucia has some 17 students, a significant total for a country with a population of only 160,000, the size of a small London borough. I visited St Lucia in February to meet students, talk to the Ministry of Education about recognition of the degree and set up collaborative arrangements with the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, the island’s further and higher education provider. The College is named after one of St Lucia’s two Nobel prize winners, Arthur Lewis, who was a distinguished economist. The other prize winner is the writer Derek Walcott.

WARM WELCOME: Tony Bush with MBA students in Soufriere.

St Lucia is a mountainous country with magnificent scenery and outstanding beaches. It is one of the Windward Islands, about 100 miles west of Barbados and only some 250 miles north of Venezuela. It has a superb climate with a temperature in the 80s throughout the year and low humidity. It was a tough job having to go there in the middle of the British winter but someone had to do it! St Lucia was formerly a British colony which achieved its independence in 1979. It was due to celebrate its 21st birthday during my visit but the events were postponed due to torrential rain. What did I say about the superb climate? The weather was very good for the rest of my visit. There are 18 secondary schools and some 80 primary schools in St Lucia. It has universal primary education but only about 50% of youngsters progress to secondary schools at present. The country’s education development plan envisages building two new secondary schools as part of its commitment to universal secondary education by 2005. The University is very fortunate in having many high calibre students in St Lucia. They include Ministry of Education officers, school principals, experienced teachers and staff of the Sir Arthur Lewis College. I met several potential students who also make important contributions to the education system in St Lucia. Many of the students are producing high quality work, linking the ideas in the course units and texts to developments in school management in St Lucia. As there is very little indigenous literature, their work is likely to be important in providing examples of the operation of educational organisations in this country. Three students are about to begin their dissertations and we look forward to their success. One of these three is likely to become the University’s first MBA graduate in St Lucia. The race is on! I should like to take this opportunity to express my thanks publicly for the warmth of the welcome I received from students, the Ministry of Education and the Sir Arthur Lewis College during my visit. I wish them all every success in completing their degrees and contributing to the education development of St Lucia.

14

University of Leicester February 2001

International Focus

CHANGES IN HONG KONG EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM K C Pun, who writes below, is a High School chemistry teacher in SKH Tsang Shiu Tim Sec School in Hong Kong. He has enrolled on the Leicester EdD course in Hong Kong.

Change, Change, Change! THE educational system of the world is changing. Hong Kong is no exception. The following changes in the Hong Kong education system will affect school councils, principals, teachers and students. • By the end of the academic year 2000-2001 all school teachers in Hong Kong should possess basic skills in information technology. • Benchmarks will also be set for assessing teachers’ language ability. • In addition, the number of graduate posts in primary schools will be increased from 12% to 35%. • As from 2001-2002 stakeholders such as parents and teachers will be appointed as members of the school council once the consultation document is approved. • Assessment will also be changed. Reform of public examinations will take place as soon as possible after consultation ending in February 2000. At present school council members usually consist of people appointed by organisations running the school and generally do not include teachers and parents. However, the

future school management committee has to include at least two parents, two teachers, one alumnus and one other community member as managers. Their inclusion is aimed at making the school more accountable to its stakeholders.

LEICESTER SUMMER SCHOOL: Hong Kong EdD students with School of Education staff on the 1999 Summer School at the University.

The principal, being the chief executive officer of the school has to have specific knowledge and high-order leadership skills for the delivery of the required student outcomes. A paradigm shift is proposed from hierarchical structures to “collegiality, teamwork, improvement and effectiveness”, in the words of the Education Department, 1999. As a result new principals have to attend training courses in a broad range of subjects including leadership training, curriculum-related studies, information technology and managing human and financial resources. The principals’ opinions are being sought in establishing a list of skills and responsibilities which are useful for their continuing professional education. Hong Kong teachers are also required to adapt to the language and IT policy of Hong Kong. Benchmarks on language and IT competence for teachers will be set and training courses will be offered to teachers to help them to achieve greater language competence and a basic standard in IT. Teachers are under stress to attend the courses to fulfil the new educational requirements. The change also affects the students. It has been stated that Hong Kong students often lack

creative minds. In order to improve their creativity, there will be changes in both the curriculum and the method of assessment. With regard to the curriculum, it has been suggested that a 3-3 approach (ie, three years of junior secondary and three years of senior secondary) may be appropriate for the secondary schools, allowing students to have at least one more year in the university for training their independence and creativity. The examination system is also under review. It has been suggested that the teacher assessment scheme will further be developed to avoid judging the students based on their performance in one single examination. As seen above, there will be great changes in the educational system of Hong Kong in the coming years. The target of these changes is providing quality education to Hong Kong youngsters. Success depends on whether school councils, principals, teachers and students can adapt to these changes. • The original text, with full list of references, is available in Professional Development News, Issue No 15, Summer 2000 (EMDU, School of Education).

RINGING THE CHANGES: K C Pun. 15

Out & About

Bulletin University of Leicester February 2001

Bulletin is pleased to receive contributions from across the University for Out and About. Send information about what’s happening in your department/unit to Bulletin, Press & Publications Office (email: [email protected])

QUESTION TIME AT THE CONFERENCE OFFICE THE Conference Office has been undertaking research to find out the best times to host events for secretaries. Questionnaires for secretaries were forwarded to every department and each questionnaire returned completed was entered in a prize draw, the prize being a golf umbrella and a bottle of wine. Manju Mangal, secretary to Dr Ken O’Byrne, Consultant Oncologist at the Department of Oncology, based in the Leicester Royal Infirmary, was the prize winner. “I was absolutely thrilled to hear I had won. I have never won anything before. So near to the New Year it was wonderful news. As I play golf, the umbrella will certainly come in handy”, said Mrs Mangal, who has

worked for the Department for five months. Dr O’Byrne, Manju Mangal and other members of the Department have recently been very busy with the organisation of the firstever national meeting for the British Mesothlioma Interest Group on February 26, which is likely to attract between 400 and 500 delegates. For further details about this event, contact Manju Mangal or Linda Hollis on 0116 258 7602.

‘SURPRIZED’: Sarah McRobbie, Conference Sales Coordinator, presents Manju Mangal with her golf umbrella and bottle of wine.

WARNING - PLANET EARTH CAN SERIOUSLY DAMAGE YOUR HEALTH! WITH this as a subtitle for a forthcoming Vaughan College Saturday School, Dangerous Earth, Saturday, March 3 looks like making a big impact. Organised by Professor Andy Saunders of the University’s Department of Geology, ‘mega-events’ that have the potential to cause even planet-wide devastation will be on the agenda. The eight speakers include Leicester’s Dr Roz White and Dr Allan Mills, together with speakers from University College London, The Open University, and Nottingham Trent University. The day is organised in conjunction with the Geology Section of the Leicester Literary and Philosophical Society and the Department of Adult Education. • For further details, contact Vaughan College Office on 0116 251 7368.

SPRING INTO... LIFELONG LEARNING: Courses, Spring 2001 contains details of a wide range of educational opportunities from Saturday Schools to residential courses during the Spring Term at Vaughan College, part of the Institute of Lifelong Learning and the University's centre for adult education in the city. To obtain a copy of this booklet, contact the College on 0116 251 7368.

CHEMISTRY REACTS TO EXCELLENT RESULTS: Six firstyear undergraduate students in the Department of Chemistry have received prizes for their excellent A-level results last summer. Pictured after receiving Industrial Scholarships worth £500 each are (left to right, standing) Richard Spandl, Matthew Dover, Andrew Gregory, and (second left, seated) Funmi Ade Ojo. With Dr Andrew Ellis, Chemistry Admissions Tutor, (third left, seated) who presented the prizes are (left to right) Angela Francis and Sandip Badyal, both of whom received book prizes worth £100. 16

Out & About

Bulletin University of Leicester February 2001

CREATIVE FORCE AT WORK AN eye-catching banner, made by members of Christ Church, Clarendon Park, now hangs in the Octagonal Public Room in The Gatehouse, home of the University’s Chaplaincy. A further example of teamwork and partnership between local churches and the Chaplaincy, the banner incorporates two images – the ‘burning bush’ and the ‘tree of life’. The banner is a welcome addition to the newly-decorated Gatehouse. Other new furnishings were received at its presentation, and gifts were given to those who had created the banner. BANNER HEADLINE: (Front row, left to right) Banner makers Jean Raby, Rosemary Barker, Helen Millward, Mary Parkin, (back row, third and fourth from the left) Pat Winter and Diane Price, with (back row) Chaplains Vincent Price and Fiona Cownie, in front of the Chaplaincy's new acquisition.

SEASONAL REMINDERS ‘And ye, beneath life’s crushing load, whose forms are bending low…’. THE fourth verse of It Came Upon the Midnight Clear rarely seems so appropriate as in the 11th week of the Autumn Term, so it was a good choice for the ‘audience participation’ number in the School of Modern Languages’ annual Christmas concert in December. For many employees and friends of the University this event is one of the highlights in the lead-up to Christmas, and this year’s performance did not disappoint. With carols sung in English, Czech, French, German, Italian, Spanish and Swedish, Robert Kenny arranged a programme designed to tax the linguistic as well as the musical skills of his choir, which was made up of past and present students and teachers at the University, augmented by members of the Leicester City Male Voice Choir. They met the challenge admirably. Interspersed with Christmas songs both old and new there was a spellbinding rendition of Ravel’s ‘Bolero’ by the Soar Valley Community College Music Centre String Quartet, and a performance of the slow movement from an early Schubert sonata by Matthew Niblett, a graduate of the History Department now studying for an MA in Politics.

PLEASANT BUSINESS: In November the Economics Department welcomed Linda Verdegem, East of England Careers Officer for the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA). She is pictured here presenting the annual prize for the best second-year student of Business Economics, Mr Lip Whee Chew. This CIMA prizewinner in 1999-2000 is now in the final year of his BA Business Economics degree course. Also present at the prize-giving were (left to right) Professor Kevin Lee, Dr Alan Baker and Dr Barbara Roberts.

KEEPING IN TOUCH Departments may wish to consider forwarding a copy of the Bulletin to members of their staff who have retired. Press and Publications Office will be pleased to provide copies for those who have completed a lengthy period of service within the University. Please ring 0116 252 2415 to request additional copies.

Martin Perkins from the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra played two Charpentier Noëls on the organ and Minesh Patel came close to stealing the show with a bravura display of his talents on the xylophone. Dr Robert Kenny (begetter, deviser and director) steered us through the programme with an inimitable combination of learning, wit and showmanship. Mulled wine and mince pies in the interval gave the audience a welcome chance to chat with friends. As we spilled out of the Fraser Noble Hall into a rainy London Road, ‘life’s crushing load’ seemed a little lighter. Norman Housley THE ‘students’ church’, St Nicholas, was beautifully decorated and full to capacity on a Sunday evening in December for the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols. St Nicholas choir was in excellent voice and superbly accompanied on the organ by choirmaster Ian Imlay, who had played earlier in the day at the Digby Hall Carol Service. Also taking part were the Rev Jane Curtis, Chaplain to De Montfort University, the Rev Dr Ian McIntosh, this University’s Chaplain, and Rev David Cawley, Team Vicar. Afterwards, coffee and mincepies were served at Vaughan College. Diane May 17

Artstop

ARTS AND ENTE IN THE R

TICKLING ALONG NICELY

QUADRAPHONIC SOUNDS

A party from the Departmental Staff Common Room Association recently enjoyed an uproarious Ken Dodd Happiness Show at De Montfort Hall. Afterwards, three members met Ken Dodd, one of the last truly great Music Hall comedians. He had been on stage for over three hours, but he was still happy to chat, even though it was two in the morning! He autographed the photo (right) for the ‘DSCR mob’!

Musical foursomes are prominent in University m month. The Lindsays continue their exploration and Shostakovich quartets on February 21, whil 7 the v the Ca Quart winne Comp String popula Berna the ad

THE FULL DE MONT Well almost! As always something for everyone at De Montfort Hall. The Reduced Shakespeare Company live up to their name on February 17, while the certainly not reduced Red Army Chorus and Dance Ensemble (68 strong) present Russian folk songs, dances and music in their athletic and dazzling display on February 21. Paul Rodgers ‘the definitive voice of rock ’n’ roll’ is here on the 20th, and Louis Hoover, ‘the closest thing to Sinatra you’re likely to come across’ offers his Salute to Sinatra on the 22nd. Cornwall’s Minister of Culture, comedian Jethro tours with Rule Britannia on the 28th - with tickets priced in guineas! The Grimethorpe Colliery RJB Band are the visitors on March 10.

DEFINITIVE STYLE AT THE RAC: The Andy Sheppard Trio play jazz at the Richard Attenborough Centre on February 10 at 7.30pm. For further details ring 0116 252 2455.

CAMPUS C Terry Pratchett’s stalks the Attenb contribution to L the combined U mystical journey

SET SET TO TO BRING BRING THE THE HOUSE HOUSE DOWN: DOWN: Mort Mort prepares prepares for for action action in in the the Attenborough. Attenborough. 18

A more serious n and University Si programme inclu neglected Mass soloist Lora Dim depth study of o February 24, is o include a buffet

TERTAINMENTS REGION

S

Artstop GOING TO THE DOGS

y music this on of Haydn hile on March e visitors are Casals rtet (left), ners of the London International String Quartet mpetition 2000. Lunchtime concerts feature the Solaris ng Quartet on February 28, along with a brace of ular solo pianists; Simon Lebens on February 21 and nard Roberts on March 7. And it’s double four for additional attraction of Schubert’s famous Octet in The Lindsays’ last concert on March 14.

TRAVEL AGENTS

Emma Johnson.

The RSC Winter Season at Stratford continues with its first staging since 1989 of The Duchess of Malfi (February 6-March 3) starring Aisling O’Sullivan in the title role. In contrast to this violent, sexually-charged tragedy is Nottingham Playhouse’s adaptation of Graham Greene’s wacky and hilarious Travels With My Aunt (February 12- March 3). Over to Northampton’s Derngate for Emma Johnson playing Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto with the European Union Chamber Orchestra on March 11. Aisling O’Sullivan.

CAPERS

Two exhibitions at the City Gallery – Elvis the Whippet’s Hair Salon, a 1960s recreation by Olivia Brown for her ceramic pooches, sporting nylon capes and sitting on salon chairs. Elvis’s clients can purchase doggy soaps, shampoos, hairnets and combs! In Self Assembly a group of Black and South Asian artists explore cultural identity through selfportraiture, religious narrative and the female body. Both run from February 17 to March 31. At Nottingham’s Djanogly Art Gallery in Nature and the Beast Peter Randall-Page finds order and symmetry in the random serpentine forms of the natural world, such as eroded boulders and walnut kernels (until February 25).

BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY Rent, the musical playing at the Haymarket (February 9-24), is described as ‘the most successful new musical since Miss Saigon’, with four Tony Awards and reviewers calling it ‘triumphant, vibrant, absolutely breathtaking, raw and riveting, the hottest property in town’. Quite a challenge for Paul Kerryson and his players, but with a love story based on Puccini’s La Boheme involving a group of young bohemian artists in New York, and music ranging from rock and blues to soul and gospel, it should be an interesting night at least.

’s Mort, ‘the assassin against whom no lock will hold’, nborough Building in the University Theatre (LUT)’s o Leicester Comedy Festival from February 17-19, while University orchestra, bands and choirs take you on a ey to 2001; A Musical Odyssey on March 10.

s note is struck by the Proteus Chamber Orchestra Singers concert on February 17. Their cludes Beethoven’s attractive but rather ss in C and his Emperor Piano Concerto with mitrova. A Saturday workshop, providing an inf opera scenes from Mozart to Britten on open to participants and observers; the fees et lunch. 19

Feature

University of Leicester February 2001

LEICESTER GRADUATE SCHOOL The start of the academic year saw the establishment of Leicester’s new University-wide Graduate School. The Dean of the Graduate School, Professor Graeme Barker, talked to Jane Pearson about what this means for the University and its postgraduates. THROUGHOUT the UK, the number of people taking advantage of postgraduate education and training is growing more rapidly than any other sector of Higher Education. The University of Leicester has one of the largest postgraduate populations in the UK with 54% of our students registered for postgraduate degrees. The creation of a single Graduate School is an important step which will enable us to build on existing strengths and expand postgraduate provision. By unifying the many existing examples of good practice in training and supporting postgraduates throughout the University, we want to raise the profile of graduate studies – amongst our own staff and students as well as to the outside world. The over-arching mission of the Graduate School is to ensure that all our postgraduate students, whatever their course and whatever their mode of study (full-time or part-time, on campus or distance learning), receive the same high quality of education and support. Of course we are not seeking to replace the invaluable work undertaken by Faculties and Departments in educating and supporting their postgraduate students. We shall be working with them to make sure best practice is quickly disseminated across the institution, and that there is a coordinated approach to providing all our postgraduates with the training that best equips them to progress with their chosen careers. The best way to expand our postgraduate programme is by building on

a reputation of consistent quality and success. Postgraduate students on taught courses make excellent role models for our undergraduates, and really liven up student life in any department. PhD students are the Professor Graeme Barker, Graduate Dean. people who are pushing the boundaries of their subject forward, yet in practice there can be times when PhD students can feel very isolated. We have to make sure that we have the right mix of departmental and Faculty structures in place – seminars, workshops, training and teaching opportunities, and so on – to ensure that our research students are – and know they are – centre stage in the intellectual life of the university. In general, I am keen to encourage departments with distance learning programmes, which is one of the enormously successful components of our postgraduate provision, to develop as many opportunities as possible for distance learners to come to Leicester for intensive study sessions. Distance learners have a huge range of experience through their professional lives to bring to their learning, and mixing distance-learning and campusbased postgraduates can be enormously rewarding for everybody – not just for the two sets of students, but also for their teachers. At Leicester we rightly pride ourselves on our integrated support services for our students – the EDSC, the Careers Office, the Student Welfare Office, Counselling, the Accessability Centre, and so on. The needs of our postgraduate community are more disparate than those of our undergraduates, but we have to ensure that all our postgraduates are aware of, and can access, the services we have put in place for them.

The University is proud of its support services. 20

Another part of my job will be to work closely with the Staff Development Office and the EDSC in providing training structures to support staff teaching postgraduates. I am also hoping to establish a development fund so that we can give modest support to departments to help them with their plans for graduate work, for example to do some market research for a new course. We also need bring together the numerous studentships and bursaries we offer in Departments and Faculties to advertise them to best effect, and to get the

University of Leicester February 2001

Feature

best students. I would also like to see a highquality Teaching Assistant scheme, whereby we can help high-flying students develop an attractive portfolio of teaching experience alongside getting their PhD (on time!). My current base is by the offices of the Faculties of Arts and the Social Sciences in the Attenborough Tower, a few yards from my former office in the School of Archaeological Studies. (I was Head of the School from 1988, when I first came to Leicester to summer 2000, when I became Graduate Dean.) The plan,

Discovering the right postgraduate course - at the Postgraduate fair in November 2000.

example, or students who need to be absent on a work placement for part of their course. In addition to the support of Louise Masterman and her team in the Graduate Office I depend heavily on the advice and support of the six SubDeans for Graduate Studies in our Faculties: Arts: Professor Alison Yarrington; Social Sciences – Roger Dickinson; Physical Sciences – Dr Sarah Spurgeon; Education – Professor Audrey Osler; Law – Giorgio Monti; Medicine and Biological Sciences – Dr Peter Meacock. The quality of academic provision for our postgraduates is The Postgraduate Open Evening in November 2000 informed potential students from the region about the opportunities for postgraduate study at the University. overseen by the Board of Graduate Studies, which I chair as Graduate Dean, and on which all the Sub-Deans for Graduate Studies are members. We though, is for myself and my secretary Tracey Latham to also have three members elected by Senate, the Librarian, join up with the Graduate Office (the former Higher two representatives from departments with big distance Degrees Office, that oversees all the administrative learning programmes, and two representatives from a aspects of our postgraduate activities) at a central new Graduate School Student Committee I have initiated. location on campus. I want this committee to be as representative as possible We shall then have a single enlarged Graduate Office of our diverse postgraduate community. It can bring any with enough space not just to deal with all the matter it wishes concerning postgraduate provision to administrative matters but also to be able to welcome the attention of the Board of Graduate Studies (the postgraduates with enquiries in a comfortable, friendly Committee’s Secretary is Penny Williams in the Graduate and efficient environment. Office). Alongside the plans for the Graduate Office we also want We are intending to set up the Graduate School web to provide dedicated study space for research students – pages early in 2001. One feature of these will be a we know from a recent audit that provision of working regular news update for our postgraduates. Once this is space and computing support is more variable than we up and running it will be much easier for the Graduate would wish. The bigger goal must be for us to have a School to keep all our staff and postgraduate students Graduate College with accommodation and study informed about our graduate activities – and also for our facilities designed for the particular needs of postgraduates to make sure any suggestions for postgraduate students. In the meantime, though, I am improvement go either to the Graduate School Student sure that there is a lot we can do working with the Committee or direct to me! Perhaps my most important Accommodation Office to use the excellent and varied task as Graduate Dean is to make sure that the voice of accommodation we already have but in different ways, the postgraduate student is heard loud and clear on all to cater for the particular needs of postgraduate the major committees dealing with the future shape and students – international students with families, for style of the University in the coming years. 21

Graduate Relations GRADUATES’ ASSOCIATION LECTURE 2001

One Step Beyond Challenging the concept of limitation Chris Moon, MBE 6 pm, 28 February 2001 Ken Edwards Building Admission free THE University is honoured to welcome back graduate and honorary graduate Chris Moon (MSc Information Technology and Security Management, 1996 and Honorary Master of Laws 1999) to the University for the 2001 Graduates’ Association Lecture. He has kindly agreed to present a talk entitled One Step Beyond – Adversity to Achievement. This is an annual event open to students, graduates and the general public, and is usually given by a prominent graduate or honorary graduate of the University. Previous

University of Leicester February 2001

lecturers have included the late actor and comedian Derek Nimmo, journalist Michael Nicholson OBE, Judge Stephen Tumim, the late Professor Malcolm Bradbury and renowned explorer Dr David Hempleman Adams. For this year’s lecture Chris will be talking about the amazing life experiences he has encountered and the methods he has used for transforming adversity and disadvantage into challenge and achievement.

Then, in 1995, Chris was clearing antipersonnel mines in Mozambique when he was blown up and lost his lower right arm and leg. Miraculously, and within a year, he had got a Master’s degree in Security Management from the University of Chris is a former army Leicester, Chris Moon is the first amputee to finish established his own security the Great Sahara Run and the Badwater management 135 mile Death Valley Ultra (5 business MTB marathons back to back), which takes (Making The Best – place in temperatures close to those his philisophy in recommended for slow cooking chicken. life), got married, had a son and run a marathon. Since then he has officer who worked for a completed more than 20 marathons charity specialising in and also carried the Olympic torch clearing landmines in into the stadium in the Nagano Asia and Africa. Against Winter Olympics in Japan in February the odds he survived 1998. kidney in Cambodia by the Khmer Rouge, negotiating not only his • For more information, contact release, but also that of his two Graduate Relations on Khmer staff. 0116 223 1363.

AN MBA GETS YOU A LONG WAY! LAST September, Adam Lindgreen (MBA, 1996) joined Institut d’Administration et Gestion as Professeur after having finished an MBA at the University of Leicester and a PhD at Cranfield University.

everything in my life.” Before the programme, Adam’s background was scientific. After the programme, he had another platform to build on, a business administrative one.

Adam is originally from Denmark where he first graduated in Chemistry, Engineering and Physics. Although he had a scientific background, he felt that he would benefit from doing an MBA at Leicester.

Says Adam, “It is really amazing how much knowledge you can take in during an intensive year of studying.” The programme provided an overview of different business functions and offered the students two optional courses where he chose business process re-engineering and the management of people. In his master’s thesis, Adam looked at marketing practices in the British food retailing, a study that involved Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury’s.

Talking to former students, Adam learned that the academic community was thriving and that the atmosphere was friendly, which would make the MBA experience a very rewarding and enjoyable one. And having completed the programme, he is not in doubt, “This has definitely been one of my best decisions ever. The MBA changed 22

Although Adam has studied and worked in a number of different countries – Denmark, England, Israel, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway and Spain, he has decided that his future is in Belgium. At the end of his PhD programme he applied for an academic position with Université catholique de Louvain, one of the country’s elite management/marketing universities and the country’s only partner in CEMS (Community of European Management Schools).

Student Page

University of Leicester February 2001

EQUIPMENT CHEQUE: Last term, student volunteers from Contact who run the Student Community Action Mobility Playgroup (SCAMP) were presented with a cheque for £200 from the Midlands Co-operative Society. This award recognised the team's commitment to providing play opportunities for children with special needs. Samana Shah, Contact President (pictured third from the left) said "The money will be used to buy new equipment, which will enable even more children to enjoy developing their skills in a safe and fun environment." • To find out more about SCAMP or any of Contact's other activities, get in touch with James Banks, Contact Co-ordinator, on 0116 223 1141, email [email protected].

TEAM EFFORTS

SANTA'S STUDENT HELPERS!

THE annual search for the next bright young things who want to take over running the Students’ Union for a year is upon us. Each year in February, a group of students volunteer to stand in the campus-wide Sabbatical Elections, hoping to secure themselves a year of paid employment with the Union and the chance to see what it’s like to be a trustee and director of a five million pound company! There are five sabbatical positions; President, Vice President Finance and Services, Vice President Education and Welfare, Vice President International and Vice President Communications, all having diverse job specifications and requiring different skills. This year’s sabbatical team have had the challenge of publicising the elections to the student body. The Union has a very firm belief in its democratic structure, but knows that democracy can only work if people are willing to participate. “We thought it would be great if the theme for the elections could be used in all our publicity and events. If you think about elections, the first thing that springs to mind at the moment is

ONE FOR THE RECORD: This year the Sabbatical Team, with the help of a number of bright ideas, has aimed to co-ordinate the biggest election turnout to date.

America! We’ve gone for a big publicity hype about the elections and we’ve encouraged people to “Make your vote count!” I’ve even convinced the others in the team to dress up as cheerleaders and American footballers during the campaigning week to try and incorporate a fun element into the election process”, says Jodie Harris Vice President Communications. Nominations for the sabbatical positions opened on January 29, candidates began their campaigning on February 12, and students get the chance to vote on the 21st, 22nd and 23rd with elections results being announced at ‘Mega’ on the Friday night in the union.

CARRY ON ON CAMPUS

AT the end of last term, students from Contact, the Student Community Action group, launched a successful Christmas collection in aid of Women’s Aid Leicestershire Ltd and the City’s Nightshelter. Toys were collected for the local women’s refuge, which were then made available to the women to select, wrap and give to their children on Christmas Day. Three sacks of toys were received on behalf of Women’s Aid by Michelle Venables, Volunteer Services Coordinator. “We are very grateful to Contact, and would like to thank everyone who donated toys and gifts. The season can be difficult for families who have experienced domestic abuse, and these gifts helped to make Christmas a more special and enjoyable time for the children affected”, said Michelle. SPECIAL DELIVERY: Toys collected by Leicester students were delivered to local charities.

RAG, the Union’s charities appeal and Contact, our community action group both offer paid work and fantastic personal development opportunities for those students who don’t want to face the prospect of standing for election. Both of the groups have one paid staff member who supports their activities for one academic year and students who haven’t taken part in the activities of RAG or Contact are welcome to apply. However, the successful candidate will be required to demonstrate their commitment to the aims of the group and supporting activity led by students. Good organisational and communication skills are also an advantage. Recruitment for both posts will be taking place towards the end of the term and the positions will be advertised in Ripple and across campus. For more information about these positions contact Chris Hulse, the Union’s Student Development Officer at [email protected] or on 1175. 23

Cuttings WHAT THE PAPERS SAY Hundreds of cuttings pour into the University’s Press Office from around the world, chronicling the activities of staff and students. Sarah McRobbie, Conference Sales Co-Ordinator, University of Leicester Conferences Services, based at Stamford Hall, reviews a selection of newspaper cuttings from recent weeks.

HAVING done a pretty good job with developing our existing language, Leicester’s young people are now developing their skills with an abbreviated language – text messaging, as used on mobile phones (reports the Leicester Mercury). I wonder how they manage some of the local phrases, such as Aintshisedote? and Ashlafternipumfrum!

University of Leicester February 2001

according to Anders Hansen of the University’s Centre for Mass Communication Research. He believes that the coded message may have started life as a language used by a select few on the Internet, but multinational phone companies have been smart enough to get in on the act. “Mobile phones have clearly made access to modern technology a lot easier for a lot of young people. On the one hand they get to use the special coded language so they feel they are different, and, on the other, the telephone companies are clearly aiming their products at a particular young market” (Leicester Mercury).

GETTING THE MESSAGE: University experts have assessed the impact of modern technology on young people. 24

Perhaps if this image altered, TV programmes would become less sensationalist and give more time to serious debate of science issues. Channel 4’s recent series, The Difference, supposedly looked at the issues of race and genetic determinism, but apparently failed to deliver. “The Difference contains a lot of plain bad science” says Associate Professor Gabriel Dover, Department of Genetics, in The Guardian.

WHY CALCULATING MILLENNIUM DATE IS NOT SO SIMPLE

TEST WILL PINPOINT PATIENTS IN NEED

With mobile phones the best seller at Christmas, it’s big business for telecommunication companies,

science. The subject is then lost to them and makes little sense to them in secondary school” (Daily Mail).

On a very different note, the Lancashire Evening Telegraph reports that Kevin Parker, a submarine operator based in Egypt, is studying for a Diploma in Management from the University’s Distance Learning Centre. “I do have 4–5 hours a days to spare when I’m offshore, so I decided to use that time to study how management works”.

THEY'RE TALKING OUR LANGUAGE

The Scotsman also highlights the fact that young people are being subjected to advertising and consumerism at a very early age. “We’re living in a commodity-saturated culture in which children are trained, quite nakedly, to become consumers at a very early age” Dr Roger Dickinson, Centre for Mass Communication Research.

However, one area which would benefit from promotion to youngsters is changing the stereotypical image of scientists. A recent University study into children’s attitudes towards science found that most young people perceive the image of a scientist as a wild and eccentric man in a white coat. Dr Tina Jarvis of the SCIcentre feels that teachers need to capture pupils’ imagination whilst they are still at primary school. “If the child hasn’t enjoyed science by the time they reach 11, then he or she may never enjoy

With some distance learning courses running summer schools at the halls of residence, Kevin would undoubtedly be impressed with the facilities. “A touch of class at Leicester” is how the facilities are described in a recent article in Coach Tours UK. As they say in Leicester … terrahfernow.

CHECK IT OUT NOW! All issues of Bulletin from January 1997 to date are accessible via the following web address: http://www.le.ac.uk/press/bulletin/

University of Leicester February 2001

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University of Leicester February 2001

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Teaching Initiatives

University of Leicester February 2001

SUPPORTING INNOVATION THE University’s Fund for New Teaching Initiatives was established to provide financial support for innovations and developments in learning and teaching. Since its inception, staff from a wide range of disciplines have made successful applications for grants. The fund is administered by staff from the Teaching and Learning Unit, which is part of the Educational Development and Support Centre (EDSC) at the University. Working in close collaboration with both staff and students, the Unit’s aims are to stimulate and support innovations across the curriculum and to disseminate best practice in teaching in Higher Education.

RECENTLY-FUNDED PROJECTS The Arts in Medicine Project Leader:

Dr Paul Lazarus

Department:

General Practice and Primary Health Care

The undergraduate medical curriculum incorporates two special study modules, whereby students undertake detailed study of chosen subjects relevant to their medical education. The aim of this project is to develop a new special study module to enhance students’ understanding of the human experience in relation to health and sickness through an exploration of how this has been explored in the Arts. Whilst the module intends to look at several art forms, it will concentrate on the written word, ie literature, drama and poetry, to provide the basis for study. It is hoped that students will benefit in their dealings with patients and strengthen their empathy, compassion and relationship-building skills. The module will be taught by staff from the Faculties of Arts and Medicine and Biological Sciences and delivery will be enhanced through the use of learning journals to promote reflection. Amount granted: £2,428.56 Key Skills: From Entrance to Employment Project Leaders:

Dr Jon Scott & Dr Annie Grant

Departments:

School of Biological Sciences and the EDSC

In Biological Sciences, key skills development is addressed both explicitly and implicitly. However, it is unclear to what extent the students perceive that they have acquired these skills. Further, it is unclear how graduates perceive their key skills training has equipped them for the challenges of employment. The aim of this project is to investigate the development of key skills by Biological Sciences students

SOUND CHECK: The Teaching and Learning Unit can provide guidance on the development and costing of project proposals. Successful applicants Jon Shears and Dr Rosemary Sage check the details of their video project.

during their progression through the undergraduate curriculum and to relate the key skills attained with the expectations of employers. Particular objectives will be to: assess students’ perceptions regarding their skills level on entry to University; assess their perception of the acquisition of these skills during their undergraduate careers; assess the relationship between their skills acquisition and their perception of need in their field of employment; determine the match between graduates’ skills levels and those perceived as desirable by employers. Amount granted: £3,580 Web-based Atlas of Leicestershire and Rutland Project Leaders: Moore

Dr Alan Strachan and Mrs Kate

Department:

Geography

Building on an established initiative within the Department of Geography, the aim of the project is to develop a webbased atlas of Leicestershire and Rutland for use as a learning resource on a number of under- and postgraduate modules. Students will benefit through gaining an enhanced visual understanding of Leicestershire and Rutland that will underpin much tutorial and project work. Further benefits will be derived from the opportunity to enhance their web-based research skills. Project funding will be utilised to purchase the software required for serving GIS information across the WWW. It is hoped that this will enable further internet mapping projects to be developed within the Department of Geography. Amount granted: £3,000

• For further information about the University’s Fund for New Teaching Initiatives, contact Richard Clark or Maria Graal, 0116 252 5090, email: [email protected] 27

People

University of Leicester February 2001

RECORD REWARDS TWO people with University of Leicester connections and distinguished and high profile careers in their own particular fields featured in the recent New Year Honours List. Astronomer Patrick Moore, presenter of The Sky at Night for 43 years and an honorary graduate of this University, receives a knighthood for services to popularisation of science and to broadcasting. Sir Patrick Moore received an OBE in 1968 and a CBE in 1988.

delivered a public lecture entitled Exploring the Planets. In the same year he was one of several distinguished speakers at the UKSEDS (UK Students For the Exploration and Development of Space) Conference held at this University.

Receiving a CBE for services to Guiding is Bridget Towle, Chief Guide and UK and Commonwealth Chief Commissioner. Miss Towle has been actively involved in Guiding for 40 years, during seven of which she served as Leicestershire’s County Guide He is no stranger to Leicester. He was Sir Patrick Moore, OBE. Commissioner. She currently serves as a awarded the honorary degree of Doctor member of the University’s Court and of Science at a summer degree ceremony Council, having been appointed last year to Court in in De Montfort Hall in 1996. In May the following year, February, and to Council in June. as part of the University’s Jubilee Year celebrations, he

OBITUARIES THE University has learnt, with regret, of the death of the following:

PROFESSOR G H McWILLIAM Emeritus Professor Harry McWilliam died of a heart condition, from which he had suffered for many years, at his home in Chalfont St Peter on January 1. Scholar, educator, translator, operalover and a kind and genial man with a wicked sense of humour Harry McWilliam worked tirelessly for the furtherance of Italian studies throughout a long and distinguished career. The route which took him to the newly-established Chair of Italian at Leicester, to which he was appointed in 1972, was not easy or obvious. He was born on 11 June 1927 into a working-

class family in Wallasey, Cheshire, and after school and a spell with the RAF he went to the University of Leeds in 1949 to read for a general degree. The syllabus required him to take a foreign language, and he initially thought of reading German, but after a memorable Open Day at Leeds where he was attracted by the infectious enthusiasm of one of his first teachers, Frederick May, he opted for Italian. Quickly recognised as an outstanding student, he was persuaded to transfer to the Honours’ school. He spent a year at the Collegio Borromeo in Pavia, a period he often recalled with great affection when he related stories of the ongoing disputes between the students of the great Pavia Colleges, and then returned to Leeds, where he graduated with a First in Italian in 1953.

He began his teaching career at Leeds, then moved to Bedford College and to Trinity College, Dublin. He retained a life-long affection for Ireland, frequently visiting Dublin and the Wexford Festival with his family. In 1966 he was appointed to a Readership at the University of Kent, where he worked on and published his universally-acclaimed translation of Boccaccio’s Decameron. To this he added, in 1995, a lengthy introduction and notes which are a DISTINGUISHED: Professor Harry McWilliam further major contribution to holds a copy of the Festschrift presented to him. Boccaccio scholarship. From left to right, Dr Jane Everson, his wife, Liz, and Julie Dashwood.

28

Although his fifteen years as Head of

the Department of Italian at Leicester were marked by increasing university cutbacks, his service to Italian studies and his encouragement to colleagues and students were unfailing, as was his work for the Leicester branch of the Dante Alighieri Society. After his retirement in 1987 we were proud to honour him with the publication of a Festschrift, where a more detailed account of his career and publications can be found. His commitment to Italian was such that, until very recently, he returned to Leicester to teach. He will be sadly missed. Julie Dashwood

MS S BIRDI Ms Sukhveer Birdi, a second-year medical student, who had temporarily withdrawn for the academic year 2000/01, died on December 13, 2000.

MR C JACOBS Mr Cecil Jacobs, JP, a prominent member of Leicester’s Jewish community and chairman of the family photographic and pharmaceutical business, which has nation-wide photographic branches, died on November 15, 2000. He was a trustee of the Leicestershire Medical Research Foundation from 1978 to 1988. The Trust helps to fund research in the University’s Medical School and local hospitals. Cecil Jacobs leaves a wife, son, daughter and four grandchildren.

People

University of Leicester February 2001

PROFESSOR SIR MALCOLM BRADBURY CBE

Humphreys was the model for the fictional Professor Treece.

University of Leicester graduate and honorary graduate Sir Malcolm Bradbury died on November 27, 2000, aged 68, less than a year after receiving his knighthood. Renowned as a novelist, critic and academic, he was one of the most influential figures in the world of contemporary English literature. As Professor of American Studies at the University of East Anglia between 1970 and 1994, his prime achievement was the establishment with Angus Wilson of the hugely

Born in Sheffield and educated in Nottingham, Malcolm Bradbury gained first class honours in English at Leicester in 1953. Although remembered by contemporaries as casual in attitude, this was no real surprise. He had wanted to be a writer since the age of 13, and soon he was writing for local newspapers and Punch. At Leicester he founded the student newspaper, Ripple (originally called Wave), its content then described as ‘stylish, discriminating and witty.’ He also edited the college magazine, Luciad, to which he contributed short articles, stories and poems. Scripts for the BBC followed, as did advice and comment on his writing from C P Snow and Philip Larkin.

Bradbury did postgraduate work at Queen Mary College, London WRITING HISTORY: Professor Sir Malcolm Bradbury gave the and in America, University's Convocation Lecture in 1994. On his left is the former achieving his Vice-Chancellor Dr Ken Edwards and Mrs Janet Edwards, and on his doctorate (in right is Mrs Elizabeth Bradbury and the late Tom Shearer, Chairman of American Studies) Convocation. at Manchester in 1963. By now he was, on his own successful creative writing course, admission, ‘a version of midAtlantic which guided so many fledgling talents man’, and although his early teaching into their own writing careers. This and at the Universities of Hull and his other teaching, which focused as Birmingham was mainly concerned much upon contemporary with English studies, the invitation in developments in North America as in 1965 from the new University of East Britain, cost him ‘at least one novel’. Anglia to set up an American Studies His output was nevertheless programme proved irresistible. It was considerable and varied. There were six the pivotal point in his career. novels. He was a great writer of In 1994 Bradbury returned to Leicester screenplays, particularly for television, to give the Annual Convocation including Tom Sharpe’s Porterhouse Lecture. Two years later he was Blue, episodes of Inspector Morse, and awarded the Honorary Degree of of course his own most popular novel, Doctor of Letters. On that occasion, the The History Man. Early on, he was Public Orator quoted an early job mainly seen as a campus novelist in the reference: ‘He is a likeable man, with a tradition of Kingsley Amis’s Lucky Jim, fresh, intelligent and humourous mind, and there is no doubt that his greatly interested in modern literature experiences as an undergraduate at and criticism on both sides of the University College, Leicester gave him Atlantic, and certain to be a stimulating the setting and some of the influence with students.’ It is an apt protagonists for his first novel, Eating epitaph. People is Wrong (1959). He later admitted that English professor Arthur David Johnson

MR P BOULTON ‘Making a book is a craft, as is making a clock; it takes more than wit…’ Jean de la Bruyère, Du Coeur. Peter Boulton, Secretary to the University Press from July 1968 until his retirement in September 1988, died on January 4, aged 77. A Yorkshireman, a birthright of which he was quietly proud, he grew up in Wakefield, winning a scholarship to Rothwell Grammar School, which he always considered was the making of him. The high quality of the secondary education that he enjoyed enabled him to gain a Postmastership at Merton College, Oxford. He read History, specialising in Military History which was to remain his lifelong interest. The outbreak of war led, somewhat surprisingly, to a brief spell in the Household Cavalry but later he obtained a transfer to the Intelligence Corps. He became a ‘codebreaker’ at Bletchley Park. Peter remained reticent about this period in his life although he admitted that he worked on Japanese codes, rather than German for which he was better fitted. When ‘demobbed’, Peter began a career in publishing and held various positions with Hutchinsons, Dents, the Educational Supply Association and Macmillans, New York. Following his appointment at Leicester, he initially operated with a small staff from offices in what is now the School of Education, moving subsequently to a suite on the second floor of the Fielding Johnson Building. Peter had to manage the Press within a tight operating budget. Nonetheless, he maintained the stature of the imprint while extending the range of its field to sustain the Press as the leading British provincial academic house. A further hallmark was the quality of book design and production. The clarity of his meticulous Board minutes only reveals a part of the role that he played. As well as representing the Press at book fairs, he nursed authors into print, and attended the increasing variety of academic meetings at various venues. Peter was committed to the Press and to the University, always taking a deep 29

People interest in its affairs. Consequently, he was regularly seen in the Senior Common Room and at meetings of the Haldane Society. This close involvement with the wider university community also included dinner parties at his home, hosted by his wife Jean. On taking early retirement, he moved to Brightlingsea, Essex, where he served as Clerk to the Trustees of The Springmead Trust until very shortly before his death. Professor Philip Cottrell

MISS S MOORE Stella Moore, Principal Assistant Director in the Estates and Buildings Office, died on December 7, 2000, aged 57. Although people assumed that Stella was a Scot, she was born in Shropshire. Her father was in the RAF, and Stella lived in various places until the family finally settled in Edinburgh. Between 1955 and 1961 Stella attended Boroughmuir Senior Secondary School and then read German at the University of Edinburgh. After graduation she joined the Ministry of Labour in Hartlepool as a trainee Executive Officer, within a year returning to a post in the Edinburgh Corporation Education Department. There Stella quickly learnt the skills necessary to deal efficiently with architects, school teachers, government officials and elected councillors. One of her referees described her then as ‘extremely competent, thorough and sincere, with very intelligent application to the job in hand and capable of using her considerable initiative’. In 1976, following local government reorganisation in Scotland, Stella was appointed Assistant Bursar at the University of Leicester with responsibility for the development of the newly-created Medical School and, in particular, the planning of the Clinical Sciences accommodation at Glenfield Hospital. Stella was highly protective of her connection with the Medical School, but detailed knowledge of the three main hospital sites ensured that 30

University of Leicester February 2001

neither hospital staff nor clinical academics could use their positions to gain advantage over the University. In recent years Stella could claim to know more about the space allocations and legal responsibilities for hospital accommodation than almost anyone else in Leicester. With her experience of project management Stella was able to contribute much to the University, though by using constant questioning and cross-checking between consultants and building users, she was never perceived to be making decisions herself. Likewise in the allocation of space within the university she was a firm believer in positive management, and her detailed consideration of users’ needs and extensive knowledge of the buildings won her the trust of academic colleagues. This enabled her to negotiate many ‘transfer deals’ to solve day-to-day demands for space. The peak of her career was the completion in 1993 of the Hodgkin Building, the largest addition to the academic estate since the Clinical Sciences Building in 1978. An active member of the Senior Common Room, Stella was Secretary of the Committee from 1988 until 1998. Her outside interests centred on the countryside. She was a keen horsewoman, and her love of animals could equally embrace a family of ducks in the Fielding Johnson Courtyard and her own cats. In 1991 Stella fell victim to the cancer that dominated her last nine years. She determined to fight the disease and recovered to play a major role in preparing the first Estate Strategy under HEFCE rules in 1995, and the design and construction of the Space Research Centre. She continued to lead a full life, though her line-dancing career was ended by a broken wrist in 1997. But breaking her other wrist two years later did not stop her horse riding! Stella will be remembered by her many friends and colleagues for her great strength of character, attention to detail, strong sense of fairness and considerable devotion to the ideals of the University. Simon Britton • Alex and Terry Moore, Stella Moore’s brother and sister-in-law,

wish to convey their regards to all members of staff who attended Stella’s funeral who they did not have an opportunity to thank personally.

MR K GARFIELD Friends and colleagues were saddened to learn of Ken Garfield’s sudden death on November 7, 2000. Ken was appointed Chief Technician in the Central Photographic Unit in 1970 and held this post until he retired in April 1990. He was largely responsible for the development of what had been a small team in the Department of Geography into a much larger, more specialist and highly-regarded unit, serving the diverse photographic requirements of the whole University. Under Ken’s leadership, the CPU produced wonders against the odds working from a scatter of small studios and processing rooms in the Bennett Building. Ken built, helped train and encouraged a team of photographic specialists who not only learned to cope with ‘challenging’ work-space but how to produce top quality images of an unbelievably diverse range of ‘subjects’. Life never seemed to be dull in the CPU with Ken and his team continually experimenting to produce the ‘require’ results. At the same time the Unit was in a perpetual state of change as it tried to keep pace with developments. Ken was blessed with an excellent sense of fun that endeared him to friends and colleagues alike and helped him cope with both the challenges of running an essential service. Not that the University was and had been the only thing in Ken’s life. Prior to his arrival in 1970 Ken, a Leicester boy, had left school at 14, trained as a butcher and served as ground crew in Bomber Command in Lincolnshire during the Second World War and later in Egypt and Palestine. It was during this time that he became interested in photography. After his ‘demob’ he studied for his City and Guilds in Photography and held a number of professional positions before his appointment to the CPU.

People

University of Leicester February 2001

Ken had always been a keen DIY handyman and vegetable gardener, leaving the flowerbeds to his wife Jean. After retiring he became more interested in cooking, took classes at Southfields College and became a more than competent cook. Always an avid reader Ken at last found time to bury himself in books and crosswords. He also became a more

active member of the Royal Air Force Association (RAFA) in Birstall. Ken will be greatly missed, but fondly remembered, by all his friends and former colleagues. He is survived by his daughter Katy and by his brother Terry, who was formerly Chief Technician in the Department of Geography.

DEATH NOTICES Information about the death of a member of the University’s staff or a student (past or present) should be given to Vivienne Paul, the Registrar’s Secretary, who will ensure that the details are disseminated throughout the University via CWIS. Her telephone number is 0116 252 2411.

Dr Alan Strachan

Notices CHARITABLE GIVING The following members of staff in the University, instead of exchanging Christmas cards within the University, raised £356 to be donated to Age Concern, Leicestershire and Rutland. Gail Atkinson, Estates and Buildings Office Janet Bee, Space Centre Patricia Bland, Physics and Astronomy Simon Britton, Estates and Buildings Office Craig Brown, Registrar's Office Inella Carlisle, Switchboard Renate Christmas, Physics and Astronomy Lynda Cramp, Finance Office Jan Densley, Switchboard Pat English, Physics and Astronomy Christine Foreman, Physics and Astronomy Gary Hague, Finance Office Colin Hide, Sports and Recreation Rachel Hopkins, Registrar's Office Julia Hughes, Physics and Astronomy Sally Hurman, Vice-Chancellor's Office Daphne Jerman, Physics and Astronomy Keith Julian, Registrar and Secretary Ann Key, Switchboard Sam Kirkwood-Smith, Personnel Office Liz Kramer, Graduate Office Gaynor Lawrence, Finance Office Pauline Lawrence, Research Office Stan Lawrence, Estates and Buildings Office Sheila Lockton, Personnel Office Brenda Logue, Switchboard

VACANCY FOR A REPRESENTATIVE There is a vacancy for a representative of this University on the Governing Body of Leicester Grammar School. Members of staff are invited to register their interest in this post by contacting the Vice-Chancellor on ext 2322. Diane Marsh, Cashier's Office Denise Martin, Research and Business Development Office Kate Murray, Research and Business Development Office Rebecca Myatt, Residential Services Office Diksha Patel, Cashier's Office Vivienne Paul, Registrar's Office Pam Pollin, Physics and Astronomy Eve Powell, Switchboard Pat Russell, Physics and Astronomy Louise Salmon, Graduate Office John Scott, Safety Services Office Ted Thomas, Physics and Astronomy Gary Toon, Finance Office Jenny Vale, Residential Services Office Stephanie Vincent, Personnel Office Diane Warne, Safety Services Office Jackie Wetzig, Academic Office Janet Whelan, Graduate Office Frances White, Residential & Catering Service Kathy Williams, Academic Office Ian Woodward, Research Office Tim Wragg, Residential & Catering Service Barbara Wright, Vice-Chancellor's Office Martin Wright, Finance Office Many thanks to all who participated.

SPRING PROGRAMME LAUNCHED THE Leicester Physics Centre’s exciting programme for Spring 2001 is off the ground. Norma Corby, Department of Physics and Astronomy, on 0116 252 2073, will be pleased to answer enquiries concerning this programme, other talks of interest and British Association Saturday meetings, which include the following:

Evolution of Stars and to find Habitable Planets – a talk by Ian Roxburgh, Professor of Applied Mathematics, Queen Mary Westfield, 5.30 pm, London. Lecture Theatre A, Department of Physics and Astronomy.

Tuesday, February 20 “Eddington and COROT”: European Space Missions to Understand the

Monday, February 26 Why Don’t All Children Count? A British Association talk by Geoff Tennant from

the University’s Department of Education about his research on the issue of underachievement in mathematics in the UK, particularly amongst ethnic minorities. 7.30 pm, Council Room, New Walk Museum, Leicester. Monday, March 12 Computational Complexity – a talk by Professor Rick Thomas, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science. 7.30 pm, Council Room, New Walk Museum, Leicester. 31

Notices

University of Leicester February 2001

CALL FOR PAPERS

WYGGESTON AND QUEEN ELIZABETH I SIXTH FORM COLLEGE THE College has enjoyed a long and close association with the University of Leicester, and its governing body wish to co-opt a member of staff from the University who would be interested in becoming involved in the governance of a flourishing independent sixth form college in the further education sector. For further details telephone the Principal, Dr Rob Wilkinson, on (internal) 1911, or the Clerk to the Governing Body, Jim Thawley, on (internal) 1905.

THE Sixth Leicester/Pisa Collaborative Research Colloquium takes place in Leicester at Beaumont Hall on September 14-16. The subject this year is Collaboration. The Colloquium is interdisciplinary and its publications focus on transitional states in European thinking. A forum is offered for the research both of established scholars and of postgraduate students. Further details can be obtained from Professor Martin Stannard, Department of English, on 0116 252 2621. WHAT IS NIGHTLINE?

Small Ads HOUSE SHARE Share a nice Victorian house on a quiet street. Lots of space, own study, own bedroom. £230pcm including bills (except phone, Council Tax). 10 minutes from the University. Telephone 0116 252 5969/07960 384534/ [email protected] RUSHKINGTON LODGE KITCHENS Kitchens designed, supplied and fitted to suit your requirements and budget. Free estimate. Telephone Michael Fell on 0116 288 4427 or mobile 0771 888 8239. 74 Grange Road, Wigston.

FLUTE FOR SALE

VICTORIAN DESK FOR SALE

Buffet 861 for sale. £165. Telephone Janet Whelan, Graduate Office, on 2299, email [email protected], or 0116 283 6068 (evenings).

Teacher's desk, pine, with locking cupboard. £100. Phone 2676 for further details.

FOR ALL TYPES OF BRIDAL AND BEAUTY TREATMENTS: Contact Amita on 07980 547941 for more details. Mobile service available if treatment above £10.

Nightline is a telephone listening service run by students for students. Whether you want information, a phone number you can't find, someone to talk to if you can't sleep, friendship when everyone else is out or an ear to listen to you then that is why we are here. Whatever you say we won't judge you or force our opinions down your throat. We are open from 8pm to 8am each night, so please phone us for whatever reason on 0116 223 1230.

PROOFREADER FEELING STRESSED? Enjoy a relaxing Indian Head Message or Reflexology treatment from a qualified therapist. 10% discount for University staff. Call Margaret Dunn on 0797 071 6755.

Proofreader available to proofread essays/theses/papers/dissertations/department al leaflets/articles/flyers etc. Grammar and punctuation also corrected. For more information call 0116 271 1362.

ADVERTISE IN THE BULLETIN FREE OF CHARGE! Space permitting, Bulletin will publish small advertisements FREE OF CHARGE. Simply complete the form below and return it to Press & Publications Office ([email protected], 0116 252 2415) by the closing date for the preferred issue. Bulletin will make every effort to publish all advertisements received by the deadline, but cannot guarantee their inclusion. PAID ADVERTISING

Small adverts (up to 30 words) are GUARANTEED a space at the following rates: House sales and lettings: £5.00 / Other sales and services: £2.00 Prices for display adverts are available from Chris Walters on ext 1150. Tick box for type of advertisement: PROPERTY



CARS/BIKES



HOUSEHOLD ITEMS



SERVICES



SOCIAL



WANTED



MISCELLANEOUS



Your advertisement: (maximum 30 words) ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ (for information only): Name and department:

........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ Daytime telephone number: ................................................

Evening telephone number: ..................................................

• The Editor reserves the right to refuse or edit advertisements.

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• This service is available to members of the University only.

University of Leicester February 2001

INAUGURAL LECTURES The following lectures take place at 5.30 pm in Lecture Theatre 1, The Ken Edwards Building on the dates shown. All Inaugural Lectures are open to the public and free. Tuesday February 13 Boring Geology: Drilling Holes in the Ocean Floor. Professor Peter Harvey, Department of Geology.

Dates for Your Diary Di Palma, Department of Biochemistry ([email protected]). Thursday February 15 Lunchtime Soundbite: Richard and Julie Latham, with students from the West Africa drumming course. 12.45 pm – 1.45 pm. Richard Attenborough Centre. Admission free.

Sunday February 17 Evening Concert: University Singers, Proteus Chamber Tuesday February 20 Orchestra. 7.30 pm. Bright Sparks. Fraser Noble Hall. Professor John Tickets £7 Fothergill, (concessions £5, Department of students/under 18s Engineering. £2.50). Contact the The Ken Edwards Building. Music Department on 0116 Tuesday February 27 252 2781 for further details. The Heterogeneity of Breast Cancer. Professor Rosemary Walker, Tuesday, February 20 Department of Pathology. Lunchtime Soundbite: International Tuesday March 6 Co-operation, Trust and Betrayal: Game Theory and the Impossibility of Rational Social Interaction. Professor Andrew Colman, Department of Psychology. Tuesday March 13 Wired for Sound: Exploring Synaptic Transmission in the Auditory Pathway. Professor Ian Forsythe, Department of Cell Physiology and Pharmacology. Thursday February 13 Lunchtime Soundbite: Sarah Norris (mezzo-soprano) with Moira Finch (piano). Baroque music to Broadway. 12.45 pm – 1.45 pm. Richard Attenborough Centre. Admission free. Wednesday February 14 Lunchtime Concert: Student Recital – Music for piano, wind and voice. Admission free. 12.45 pm. Music Room, 10th floor, Charles Wilson Building. Wednesday February 14 Department of Biochemistry Spring Seminar Series: Cellular responses to intrinsic DNA damage. Dr T Lindahl, Imperial Cancer Research Fund. 1.00 pm, Lecture Theatre 2, Medical Sciences Building. All welcome. For further details about this and subsequent seminars (including postgraduate seminars) contact Claire

students from the University of Leicester celebrate cultural diversity through music. 12.45 pm – 1.45 pm. Richard Attenborough Centre. Admission free. Tuesday February 20 MRC Institute for Environment and Health Lunchtime Seminar: Mechanistic bases for dose thresholds in the action of non-genotoxic carcinogens. Professor Kevin Chipman, University of Birmingham. 1.00 pm. 94 Regent Road (third floor), Leicester. Coffee and tea supplied from 12.30 pm. For further details contact Pat Forster on 0116 223 1616, [email protected]. Wednesday February 21 Lunchtime Concert: Simon Lebens (piano). Admission £2 (admission free to students). 12.45 pm. Music Room, 10th floor, Charles Wilson Building. Wednesday February 21 Evening Concert: The fourth in a series of six concerts given by The Lindsays. 7.30 pm. Fraser Noble Hall. Tickets £12 (concessions £10, students/under 18s £3.50). For further details contact the Music Department on 0116 252 2781. Thursday February 22 Lunchtime Soundbite: Alex Sutton and Jon Cank (folk/blues/jazz). 12.45 pm – 1.45 pm. Richard Attenborough Centre. Admission free.

Thursday February 22 Department of English Local History Seminar: Metaphors of Death: Commemorative Practice in Orkney and Beyond. Dr Sarah Tarlow, School of Archaeological Studies. 2.15 – 4.00 pm (approx). Seminar Room, Marc Fitch House, 5 Salisbury Road. It is essential that those wishing to attend should notify the Department on 0116 252 2762 THE DAY BEFORE the seminar. Saturday February 24 Opera Workshop: In depth study of opera scenes. 10.30 am – 5.30 pm. Music room, 10th floor, Charles Wilson Building. For further details contact the Music Department on 0116 252 2781. Tuesday February 27 Department of Geography Research Seminar – Late Quaternary History of the Amazon Forest-Savanna Boundary, Eastern Bolivia. Frank Mayle, University of Leicester. 4.00 pm, Seminar Room (75A), Geography Department, Bennett Building. Further details from Professor Andrew Millington on 0116 223 1777. Tuesday February 27 Lunchtime Soundbite: Music from Leicester Grammar School. 12.45 pm – 1.45 pm. Richard Attenborough Centre. Admission free. Wednesday February 28 Lunchtime Concert: Solaris String Quartet. Admission £2 (admission free to students). 12.45 pm. Music Room, 10th floor, Charles Wilson Building. Tuesday March 6 Department of Geography Research Seminar – Capacities for Control: Networks and the Outcomes of Environmental Regulation. Andrew Gouldson, London School of Economics. 4.00 pm, Seminar Room (75A), Geography Department, Bennett Building. Further details from Professor Andrew Millington on 0116 223 1777. Tuesday March 13 Department of Geography Research Seminar – An Integrated Remote Sensing – Geographical Information System Approach for Coastal Habitat Monitoring. Danny Donoghue, University of Durham. 4.00 pm, Seminar Room (75A), Geography Department, Bennett Building. Further details from Professor Andrew Millington. A MORE COMPREHENSIVE LIST OF EVENTS IS AVAILABLE ON CWIS. 33

A.O.B.

University of Leicester February 2001

BRINGING HISTORY ALIVE John R Broome, a student at Leicester’s University College from 1951-1955 recalls his memories of Emeritus Professor Jack Simmons, OBE. Jack Simmons, a founding professor of the University, died on September 3. A celebration of his life and work was held in December – see report on page 9. I HAVE vague memories of coming to Leicester from my home town of Southampton for interview at the University College in the summer of 1951. I recall Jack Simmons in his study standing before a high fireplace. He was gentlemanly, reserved, a man of kindness and understanding. While I stood somewhat in awe of him, I remember feeling completely at ease in that interview. I thought he was about forty-five at the time. He was, in fact, thirty-six. I had no idea what a young Professor he was. His lectures were a pleasure to attend. They were so clear, concise, orderly, balanced and yet contained depth, and were so delivered that he helped us to take down their substance. We used to have lectures in huts in the quadrangle of the original University College building. I remember him lecturing on British Commonwealth History one evening in May 1955 between 5.15pm and 6.15pm on the subject of granting independence to India. It was our last lecture of the year from him, before taking our Finals.

magnitude of the decision to grant independence to India and the unusual way it had been done. Then came the incredible outcome of independence when in the winter of 1948 India asked if she could become a republic yet remain within the Commonwealth. At a Commonwealth Conference in April 1949 this request was granted. I have never forgotten that lecture. It was impressive. We felt as if our Professor had himself been a participant in these events. During my time at Leicester, I travelled by train one morning from London Road, Leicester, to St Pancras. While I was waiting Professor Simmons came onto the platform. He came straight up to speak. We found an empty compartment on the train when it came in, and settled down to travel to London together. Then the conversation turned to railway history and he gave me an interesting account of the history and architecture of all the stations on the journey to London, including the names of the architects and the places where the bricks were made. He talked about the building of the track and the link-up between the London Midland and Scottish line and the London North Eastern Line from Marylebone which was done especially for the benefit of Queen Victoria. I have never forgotten that journey. After that, I could not travel by train without looking at station architecture and being aware if its diversity and the local materials used in its construction.

He traced out the stages of the progress towards a decision being My final recollection of Jack taken by the British government Simmons is the letter I received from and reached the climax in him after I heard the result of my A WAY WITH WORDS: Professor Simmons' describing how, in 1942, Winston Finals. Each student was the lectures were 'a pleasure to attend'. Churchill, unwilling to grant recipient of a personal letter which independence, sent Sir Stafford gave us his assessment of our effort Cripps with a mandate to offer Dominion Status to India and abilities and how it related to the result, with good after the War, if she co-operated in defending her wishes for our future. territory against the Japanese. When Cripps arrived in Delhi he met Indian journalists at several press • Following graduation, John Broome, along with many conferences, who questioned him regarding of his fellow students, undertook National Service. independence. Without any instruction from Churchill, After two years in the Army, he obtained a post at a Wiltshire Grammar School to teach Latin and History. Cripps, in response to a question, said that a country Here he taught Norman Housley and saw him through given Dominion Status could, if it so wished, disassociate O Level Latin and History, little realising that after itself from the Commonwealth. This was an historic Norman had obtained his Open Major Scholarship to answer. It had been implied before but never expressed Gonville and Caius for History, he would graduate at until now. The material expression of this answer was Cambridge and go on to become a Professor of History tested twice in quick succession when Burma and Eire in John Broome’s old History Department. left the Commonwealth. There were about ten students in our History group that evening. Jack Simmons had vividly brought out the 34

Crossword

University of Leicester February 2001

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PRIZE CROSSWORD 50 by Seivador Eleven of the clues consist of two definitions: of the answer, and of this word preceded by the celebratory theme-word. Other clues are normal.

Entries (in a sealed envelope, clearly marked) to PRIZE CROSSWORD COMPETITION, PRESS & PUBLICATIONS OFFICE, FIELDING JOHNSON BUILDING BY NO LATER THAN NOON ON FRIDAY 16 FEBRUARY.

NAME:

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FIVE PRIZES THIS TIME: First correct entry of the draw – a three-course lunch for two in the Carvery, donated by the University of Leicester Catering Services, second correct entry – £15 book token, donated by the University of Leicester Bookshop, third correct entry – a bottle of wine, courtesy of the Bulletin, fourth correct entry – £5 book token, courtesy of the Bulletin; fifth correct entry – a box of chocolates, courtesy of the Bulletin. 1

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Winners of Prize Crossword No. 49: A three-course lunch for two in the Carvery, donated by the University of Leicester Catering Services – Marguerite Lymn, Cell Physiology and Pharmacology; £15 book token, donated by the University of Leicester Bookshop – Charles Kendall, Histopathology. LRI; a bottle of wine, courtesy of the Bulletin – Gerry Butler, Chemistry; £5 book token, courtesy of the Bulletin – Linda Duncan, Estates and Buildings.

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PRIZE CROSSWORD 49 SOLUTION Across: 1 Tessera. 5 Grime. 8 Turkish coffee. 9 Inkpot. 11 Cannon. 12 Rebel. 13 Sobs. 14 Et al. 15 Polar. 17 Lieder. 18 Reason. 21 Ask a policeman. 22 Airer. 23 Moselle. Down: 1 Tutti. 2 Strikebreaker. 3 Editor. 4 Ache. 5 Global. 6 Infinitestimal. 7 External. 10 Tenor. 11 Cedar. 13 Sultana. 15 Pepper. 16 Reacts. 19 Nonce. 20 Slam.

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CLUES DOWN 1. ‘Moonface’: perhaps it sold a million (4) 2. Fool the sea-bird (4) 3. Retired, and puzzling, is me? True! (8) 4. Add nothing to a struggling sport (4) 5. One who ‘decreases’ harder? (6) 6. Pet outfit (3) 9. Are you, say, having so many on the side (7) 10. Coach demolishes trout (5) 11. In the manner of French southern state (1,2) 12. Rich soils also ploughed with a little manure (5) 13. Seek information that may be found in the bowl (4) 14. Exchange hands, turning them over (4) 16. She is, in order to teach, in US rule perhaps (8) 18. Open this for alfresco melody (3) 19. Queen’s replaced one, in anger (6) 23. One’s source of enrichment (4) 24. Source of light that occurred in California (4) 25. Jack, for example, can claim extra credit (4) 26. Vinous beverage is prized at Cheltenham (3)

SALAD DAYS

CLUES ACROSS 1. Antipodean person seeking profitable relationship (6) 4. Tolerate rod for royal bodyguard (5) 7. Stevenson’s cook in second place (6) 8. What it means to bring in the goods (6) 10. Excellent part __ find it back in the leg (5) 12. Two pages that may be used on book’s title (4) 14. Poles dismissed the grass (5) 15. Complaint that’s viral or mineral (5) 17. A rodent or classically, over in NZ, a reptile (7) 19. Laurie’s drinking companion, said to be hopeful (5) 20. Birkenhead formerly a producer of jewellery (5) 21. Look at a lord (4) 22. Enigmatical pictures of public transport (5) 26. One might disparage Richard Brinsley’s subject-matter (6) 27. Initially, find it back upon leg again, close to 10 (6) 28. Picture yellow vessels (5) 29. Order encountered by brick-carrier (6)

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Photostop MAN MAN ON ON MARS! MARS!

SNAPSHOT UNIVERSITY of Leicester scientists are renowned for their far-reaching investigations – but Duncan Ross went where no man has gone before. Duncan provides electronics and technical expertise in the Leicester team working on the £28 million mission to land a probe on Mars. He is pictured with a full-sized model of the Beagle 2 landing craft – on a brilliantly-lit Mars landscape! This was actually sited at the University’s video studio - the University’s photographers were taking a series of simulation shots of the landing craft unfurling on the Red Planet. The pictures taken at the University of Leicester will appear on the Project web pages: http://www.star.le.ac.uk/~dro/ • The Mars Express lander, Beagle 2, will land on Isidis Planitia, a large flat region between the ancient highlands and the northern plains. The choice of site was announced in December at a meeting of the Mars Express science working team in ESTEC, Noordwijk, the Netherlands. The region appears to be a sedimentary basin where traces of life could have been preserved, if primitive life really did exist at some time on Mars. 36

NAME: Carolina Pelaz Soto OCCUPATION: Clerical Assistant, International Centre for Management, Law and Industrial Relations, Faculty of Law I STARTED work at the International Centre in September, soon after completing my Museum Studies Master's dissertation. My home is in the north of Spain, but my colleagues have made me feel at home here. The office atmosphere is friendly and the work is varied - dealing with postgraduates, conferences, booking forms. I'm becoming expert at handling photocopier misfeeds! Misfeeds are not something the office goldfish is accustomed to, however. It's a plump creature, and together we see the goldfish stays that way! I trained as an art historian at the University of Oviedo. I'm 'job hunting' at the moment - looking for a job in a museum. I've spent some time as a volunteer at Belgrave Hall and Gardens in Leicester, which is well worth visiting. There I enjoyed cataloguing their collection of Gimson furniture. I'm looking forward very much to my graduation in July. My family will be coming, but I shall not see the family pets - two dogs and a cat - until I go home to Asturias.

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