Wood Words 14/15

WOODWORDS The Collingwood College Alumni Magazine 2014-2015

FROM THE ‘WOOD TO THE VINEYARDS

Henry Laithwaite talks about his journey from Biology lectures to Bordeaux and beyond

IT’S NOT A PROPER JOB

14 15 COMMUNICATING CLIMATE CHANGE

JOURNEYING TO THE POLITICAL HEARTLAND

From Durham graduate to games designer

UNCOVERING WEST AFRICA

WELCOME CONTENTS 01 02 03 06 09 11 15 18

Welcome Farewells and introductions Communicating Climate Change Before, During & After From The ‘Wood to the Vineyards Spotlight on Sport It’s Not a Proper Job Student Stories

One Sunday afternoon, a few weeks ago, a visitor appeared at our house. His name was Tony Humpage, he informed me, and he had been at Collingwood in the early 1970s, studying Physics. The trip back to Collingwood was proving very sentimental as he was returning for the first time in almost forty years, after a career in the US. As I had been a student at Hild-Bede College and a social scientist, it seemed unlikely that we would have known one another in those days. However, a chance remark about being hopeless at karate led to the realisation that (despite our pugilistic limitations) we had both travelled to Hull University in 1974 to represent the Palatinates.

Remarking that I still had a couple of photos from that trip, I tracked down some images to show him. Amazingly, there he was in a photo, standing right next to me. Suddenly, memories of those times coursed back as if they had taken place just yesterday.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of my role as Principal is the opportunity this gives me to share in alumni reflections of their Durham years. While I have had the pleasure to meet alumni this year in South Africa, and many times in London, most encounters are with returners to The Wood. Often our alumni bring their partners and their children – sometimes hoping their offspring will be encouraged to follow in their footsteps. As they look at the year group photos proudly hanging on our main corridor, and show their loved ones images of their younger selves (and amusing hair and clothes), surrounded by, sometimes long-forgotten, friends (such as Tony in my case), I typically observe a powerful emotional response as two very different worlds come into juxtaposition. While these may be temporally separate, psychologically, they are frequently interwoven.

Our days at Durham were formative for so many of us in multiple ways and have played a significant role in making us the people we are today. As our alumnus, Mark Hillery

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(Engineering, 1985-88), said in his speech at this year’s Finalists’ Dinner, “….among the people with you now may be your spouse; some will be at your funeral… These are the sort of friendships that are forged here”.

I sincerely hope that as you read this magazine, you will give thought to returning to Collingwood soon – perhaps as part of a reunion of some kind. We would be delighted to help you to organise any event of this kind.

Turning to contemporary life in Collingwood, perhaps the most pleasing aspect of the past year was the key finding from our recent five yearly College Review, undertaken by an external Panel. This reported the “...very strong sense of community in the College... an inclusive place where members of the community feel valued…. (and have).. a positive sense of personal and professional belonging.” As you can imagine, given our particular philosophy, no greater accolade could have been delivered. Other highlights include an exceptional final examination performance, winning the Colleges’ sports trophy for the fourth year in succession, and the continuing high quality of our music and drama. I was particularly proud of our men’s rugby team, not merely because they won every match they played this season but, even more importantly, because of the powerful sense of team spirit that was engendered, and the respectful manner in which they related to the opposition after every game.

Finally, can I take this opportunity to offer my thanks for the multiple ways that alumni have assisted our current students. Without this support, the Collingwood experience would certainly not be as academically and professionally powerful, nor as much fun.

Joe Elliott, Principal of Collingwood College

WELCOME As we say a fond farewell to our 2014/15 JCR President, Jake Hooker, we welcome Tori Campbell as JCR President for the next academic year

As the year comes to a close with the undergraduate exodus from Durham, it gives me time to reflect on my year as JCR President.

This past year has been fantastic - few other words can describe 2014/15. I was worried when I started in August 2014 that I’d find being the only full time JCR officer overwhelming. However, stepping into the role I immediately realised I wasn’t alone; the support I’ve had throughout the year from both staff and students alike has given me an infinitely enhanced year. Far from being overwhelmed, I feel like I owe so much of the year’s enjoyment and success to the wider Collingwood community, and can only really claim to have been along for the ride. Because of this, I’m sure that the JCR and Collingwood as a whole will continue to flourish for decades to come, with Tori adding her own unique and fantastic flair to the coming year.

Jake Hooker, JCR President 2014/15 As incoming president, I cannot even begin to express my excitement. I came to Collingwood three years ago from Toronto Canada to start my law degree (you can read about the alumni-funded internship I undertook with the Law department on page 25). Little did I know, this college on the hill would become my home, my family and my passion. With the launch of the 1972 Club (see page 11 for more information), a huge kitchen and dining hall refurbishment taking place over the summer, and a calendar already full of formals, concerts and plays, the next academic year promises to be a bright and defining year for Collingwood. During my term as President, I hope to strengthen relationships between Collingwood’s alumni and current students, along with laying down the foundations for further improvements to Collingwood’s facilities. I am going into the 2015/2016 year full of ideas, dedication, nerves and excitement. I could not have asked for a better opportunity and I am immensely grateful to have another year in the Wood.

Tori Campbell, JCR President 2015/16

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David Saddington Risk and Security MA 2014-15

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FEATURE

COMMUNICATING

CLIMATE CHANGE The Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience (IHRR) is one of nine interdisciplinary research institutes at Durham University. It brings together academics, practitioners, policy makers and local communities to improve outcomes in situations of hazards and risks; from earthquakes, volcanoes and landslides, to security risks and emerging technologies. Research within the IHRR focuses on the causes of vulnerability to these risks, and seeks to identify ways to increase resilience in order to mitigate damages caused by hazards.

The IHRR is committed to training the next generation of scholars, policy makers and practitioners from across the globe and to this end offer a range of Doctoral and Masters level programmes. Last year, a Collingwood alumnus pledged a very generous gift to the IHRR, to provide scholarships for the institute’s Risk Masters programme, with the scholars becoming part of the Collingwood community.

Collingwood Vice-Principal, Victoria Ridley, catches up with one of Collingwood’s current leading lights, who, at the age of 23 is already influencing global debates.

David Saddington burst through the doors of Collingwood late last September, as the recipient of one of the IHRR Scholarships. David had not come far; only a few months before he had graduated from St Mary’s College, where he had gained a Geography degree. The first time I contacted David was to invite him to a dinner with members of the Senior Common Room. I received a very polite decline to this invitation, as David already had a prior commitment for the evening in question; he was meeting Baroness Worthington to discuss his climate change work and his forthcoming TEDxTeen talk at the IndigO2 in London.

Without even meeting David, I knew that he was going to be one to watch.

David’s interest in climate change began as a teenager. He grew up in Norton, near Stockton-on-Tees and, on a mid-summer’s day in 2005, David and his parents were visiting a small town in nearby North Yorkshire. By late afternoon huge storm clouds had gathered, and before long torrential rain began to pour. Streets began to flood, and when David and his parents endeavoured to make their way home, they found that they could not; roads were impassable, having turned into raging torrents of water.

The north of England was in the midst of some of the worst summer flooding in recent history.

David did make it home safely and began to listen to radio and news reports. The inclement weather was being

blamed on global warming and climate change, and David immediately became interested in the subject. He set about working to support climate change education initiatives, believing that if people understood the science behind atmospheric warming, they would begin to change their behaviour. David was invited to meet the then Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and he worked with teachers both in the UK and abroad to develop educational climate science resources. His work as a climate change activist had begun.

Coming to Durham University to study Geography was a natural progression for David and as an undergraduate he continued to spearhead campaigns and initiatives. He developed an interest in bio diversity and eco-gardens, planting numerous gardens in the region, including at St Mary’s College - we hope that he has time to develop an eco-garden here at Collingwood before he departs later this summer. In his second year David led an expedition to Iceland, and last year David led a team and hosted a huge Climate Festival in Durham city, transforming the market place into an outdoor cinema to showcase award-winning climate documentaries. He has built on this project this year, and at the end of May David led the ‘Ice and Climate’ weekend in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in partnership with the city’s Centre for Life, hosting panel debates, interactive scientific exhibitions and film screenings.

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Today David is a man in demand. This year alone he has presented at the TEDxTeen event in London, followed by a second TEDx appearance in the Netherlands. He has blogged for the Huffington Post, has become involved with Live Earth (the global concert initiative that was founded by Al Gore and Pharrell Williams) as a climate consultant, and worked in partnership with Scenes of Reason. He presented at the Warwick Climate Hub event, and was invited to Trento in Northern Italy (by the former head of Climate Change Communications for the UK government) to give a series of presentations at schools and museums and to lead an expedition in the Alps to discuss glaciology in a snow-hole and mountain hut. It has been a hectic year, all whilst pursuing his Masters in Risk & Security.

David has taken a controversial approach to his climate change work, grabbing headlines with bold statements and TEDx talks entitled, ‘Why I don’t care about Climate Change’, (which, of course, is far from the truth). Over the years David has begun to care less about the mechanics of climate change and has concluded that people, like you and me, are alienated by this concept. David now focuses on communicating climate change in a totally different way and he suggests that practitioners should be identifying the impact climate change has on our daily lives. This is a challenge, as so many people around the world now live in completely urbanised environments and are less connected with the fluctuation of natural systems. Still, it is a challenge that David wants to tackle.

Back in Durham, his academic work this year has led David to look at how the precautionary principle is applied in different circumstances, the sovereignty and ownership of climate change, how extreme weather events affect supply chains, and what sustainability really means for large corporate organisations. David is currently planning his dissertation which he hopes can be vocationally based, to explore business sustainability and the mechanisms of communicating climate change to businesses. After his days of studying are complete, David hopes to enter the field of sustainability consultancy.

Having David amongst the Collingwood postgraduate community this year, in addition to the other IHRR scholars, has been a real asset for our growing and developing cohort of postgraduates. We are delighted that the IHRR scholarship programme is continuing next year and hope too that other programmes may follow. As for David’s future, I know that all at Collingwood, and I am sure many of you, will be following his future actions with interest, as he promises to be a leading environmental activist and communicator for years to come.

For more information about David’s work please visit www.davidsaddington.co.uk

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Caroline Stockmann German 1982-86

BEFORE, DURING & AFTER: the Chief Financial Officer of the British Council, Caroline Stockmann, reflects on her life choices, Durham, and getting older...

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People often say university years are the best years of your life. When I look back, I disagree. I think of them as a very formative time; there is a distinct before, during and after (or maybe ‘afters’?). But, for me, things have become incrementally better over time (through University, as my career developed, when I got married, had children, and finally developed the greater self-confidence which comes with age). I wonder if other alumni feel the same, or if I am just lucky in that respect?

When I think about it, I realise that, although people at University described me as very ‘sorted’ and felt I ‘knew where I was going’ I actually had no idea. In reality, I was very opportunistic, and had nothing mapped out at all.

However, I think that openness to change and willingness to move in different directions has defined me, and it is interesting to think how things could have been different.

In 1982 I came to Durham to study German with a music subsidiary. I chose Collingwood as my cousin had been there, and was staying on for a PhD, so it seemed a good choice to stay in the ‘hotel on the hill’. Because I had gained my Guildhall diploma on the flute in my gap year, I had decided to switch from joint honours French and German. Even a couple of years prior, I had no idea that I would get to anywhere near professional standard on the flute, and would perform a concerto with the University orchestra.

I do find it fascinating looking back, thinking of what so easily might or might not have been.

My life has been full of choices and changes in direction, often ones without a clear master plan behind them, and I have never really envisaged the future in any great detail.

I have built on opportunities, and done things because I liked them, or thought they were fun, or because I was curious. Take, for instance, when, after I had done my ‘voluntary’ bit after University, my need to ‘get a proper job’ took me to KPMG to train as an accountant. The thought of having free training to develop new skills was my main motivation (as well as curiosity about auditing, given my mother’s inexplicable fear of auditors when she was deputising as Chairman for the family engineering business). KPMG, in turn, was looking for linguists, so my degree held in me good stead.

When I look at where I am now (and in the recent past), there seems to have been a number of threads weaving through my life which have come together and made some sort of sense. After graduating I was accepted for postgraduate study at the Hamburg Musikhochschule, but I was subsequently rejected when they cut the places (I wonder where I would be now had that not happened!). I also commenced and then discontinued a PhD on the German writer Klopstock (I was not suited to long days in libraries).

Before then, whilst working in the Lake District at the Lancashire Diocesan Youth Centre (the voluntary bit I mention above), I had tried to get to Ethiopia to teach blind children music in a school run by nuns, but the government didn’t let me in, although 25 years later I became Chief Financial Officer of Save the

Children International, and I finally got out there! I do wonder: if things had been different, and I had gone out there in 1987, would I be working in international development or the humanitarian space in a different role now? And, if given the choice, would I want to be doing that, or would I rather be CFO of the charity? In any case, I have never had any overall regrets. There have been lots of little disappointments along the way, as we all experience, but I would not want to change anything.

In itself, Durham was a great experience in many respects; from meeting my good friend Olga in the music room of Collingwood, to moving out into my own house in cosy Waddington Street and learning Gamalan (Durham is one of the few places in the country where you can play this Indonesian music), to gaining a scholarship to study German in my year out at Hamburg University (where I spent most of my time studying the flute with a fantastic teacher). Oh, and of course playing concerts, doing a lot of ‘new music’, enjoying my German studies, hosting lots of parties and generally making the best of my waking hours (generally from about noon to 4am). Sound familiar?

There were other aspects too which were not as great of course. I always felt a bit different, as I started University a bit older than usual (I had lived in Canada, but arriving back in the UK I thought it best to do A-levels here rather than go straight to University, then I had a gap year), and I had a bit of a thing about not ‘conforming’. I was desperately looking for friends, but really, looking back, a

“WHEN I THINK ABOUT IT, I REALISE THAT, ALTHOUGH PEOPLE AT UNIVERSITY DESCRIBED ME AS VERY ‘SORTED’ AND FELT I ‘KNEW WHERE I WAS GOING’. I ACTUALLY HAD NO IDEA”

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FEATURE THERE HAVE BEEN LOTS OF LITTLE DISAPPOINTMENTS ALONG THE WAY, AS WE ALL EXPERIENCE, BUT I WOULD NOT WANT TO CHANGE ANYTHING. lot of it was very superficial, so I only made a few lasting ones. I also, at that age, worried very much about everyone liking me – no matter how often people would tell me that you can’t be liked by everyone. I have learnt that this is something which only goes away with age, and it takes a long time, and probably never really goes away entirely for some of us! Some of my close friends at University were male, and I found that somehow platonic relationships – one way or another – just did not last, so those friends are mainly lost in the mists of time. But I think that’s just life, and although I sometimes wonder about my use of my time at Durham, when I look at where I am now, I just see it all as steps on the way to getting here.

To pick my career thread back up: after KPMG I worked with Cadbury Schweppes and Granada PLC, then Bestfoods which was then taken over

by Unilever during my first posting abroad. By that time, I spoke fluent Dutch, and was noticed for that and got a great role in Unilever in Rotterdam, before moving with the organisation to Thailand. Thailand was a wonderful experience, not least because we adopted our son there! Next stop was Novartis in Switzerland, before moving back to the UK to work for the Southbank Centre.

This meant a transition from looking after the finances of a $23bn organisation to that of a £40m one – but, I find, size is never what matters.

A smaller organisation can be just as complex and demanding as a larger one. Similarly, people often think that working for a charity is a step down or a step on the way to retirement. Little do they know! I have worked just as hard and been just as challenged in the charitable sector as in the commercial.

Save the Children International, my next major move, is a prime example: as a $1bn ‘start-up’ it required the

same financial skills as a Unilever, but had the added complexity of donor management including donor-specific cost allocation and reporting. Plus, when, across the world, you are trying to merge multiple country offices into one per country, you might have a plan, but that has to be constantly flexed as and when governments decide they won’t (yet) give you charitable status under a new entity.

That was particularly tough, not least for my husband who gave up a professional career when my daughter was born to support the family at home.

But, when Save the Children turned up (and was exactly what I was looking for) I knew it had been worth waiting for. Our savings had run out, but I had secured the perfect job! It tied so very well in to my values. So I believe if you trust, things somehow work out.

After four wonderful years at Save the Children, I am now at the British Council, which is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. At first, when I was approached, I thought ‘not another CFO role’ and ‘I’m not ready to move on yet’, but when I found out more, I got hooked; it was rather uncanny how good a match the organisation was for me personally.

The British Council has three main interests: the arts (I am a musician, I have had work commissioned by Northern Arts, and I have worked at the Southbank Centre), education and society (I worked at Save the Children, my parents were teachers, and I received a DAAD grant when at Durham). The international nature also appealed to me (I am a huge fan of my own language, and I speak six others).

So now we come back to the point about connecting threads in my life: my last two roles have been fantastic matches for me, but I would not have guessed that they even existed, never mind were right around the corner.

But back to the college life thread once more: Durham has mixed memories for me. I experienced great things there and started to learn what life really means to me. There are also some painful parts, but they needed to be experienced.

I have been very lucky in how things have worked out, and I hope and pray I continue to be so. I have always maintained that you should never be afraid of the future, even when things seem dark. Just follow your instincts.

At one point, before Save the Children, I was between (full time) jobs for 18 months.

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And somehow all these good (and less good) experiences have contributed to get me to where I am as a person, and probably give me greater empathy for others. Recently, I have returned to Durham quite regularly - whether for a CathSoc reunion; as a member of the advisory board of the Faculty of Arts & Humanities; or as a Collingwood alumna.

And it almost makes me want to do it all again…but that’s probably just part of getting older…! I look at the students today, and see these articulate people, with clear plans and ambitions and think: how are they so confident? I wish I had been like that!

Henry Laithwaite Biology 1999-2002

FROM THE ‘WOOD TO Collingwood alumnus, Henry Laithwaite, takes us on a journey of his career to date.

Looking at the current entrance requirements, I feel very lucky to have attended Collingwood with my meagre A-level results. I applied to study Biology, which was by far my favourite subject at school. I would not say that I had the best attendance record at lectures, but that gave me the opportunity to steal lecture notes from my good friend Kaye Renshaw (Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, 1999-2002), who later became my wife. Looking back now, my days at Collingwood were truly some of the best years of my life. I really enjoyed being a key member of the Rugby team throughout, and more than anything, beating the (then more illustrious) Bailey colleges; a feat which I hear is much more commonplace today.

Whilst at University I knew that a future in the wine trade was more than likely, considering my family history, and dislocating my shoulder put a definitive end to my aim to partner Jonny Wilkinson at half-back! Unlike my father, I had already fallen in love with the art of actually making wine, rather than just trading it. Before starting at Durham I had already worked two vintages in

France and Australia, and my first job after graduating was as assistant winemaker at a grubby old co-operative in the Bergerac area of France. The greatest lesson from that harvest was how to motivate the French to work for you, which is no mean feat when you are a 22 year-old Englishman. It turns out that the key is Kronenbourg 1664 and pain au chocolat for breakfast!

The following year I headed down-under to McLaren Vale in Australia, to help set up a small ‘garage’ winery called Redheads. The aim of this venture was to support and nurture budding young winemakers. Before long I took the plunge and set-up on my own, and Wilson Gunn was born. I specialised in working with the typical varieties of Shiraz, Cabernet and Grenache, and bought grapes from vineyards to produce small volumes of wine, which was then sold in the USA and the UK. I was fortunate, and Wilson Gunn quickly gained acclaim, winning praise from the big-name critics and picking up medals in global competitions.

Following this success in the New

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World wineries, I established a similar operation in Bordeaux, buying fruit to make my own style of ripe claret. For the following six years, I spent three months in Australia, and three months in France each year making wine, and then six months in the UK and USA selling wine. Wine making is an art, requiring creative passion with sound scientific knowledge. Being a successful wine maker has required business skills, but also some of that knowledge gained from copying those Biology lecture notes whilst at Collingwood!

Working in small volumes made it difficult to make any real money, but the experience I gained from running my own business and getting out and selling wine in a very competitive global market was invaluable. However, I knew that something was missing. I had always wanted to settle down and own and work a patch of vineyards.

In 2008 this dream became a reality, and I bought four hectares of prime old vine Merlot and Cabernet Franc in the Bordeaux appellation of Castillon, where my father had started buying wines 40 years before. I finally married Kaye

FEATURE

THE VINEYARDS that same year and we moved to live in Bordeaux so I could hop on the tractor and get to work. It was tough. I had worked in vineyards before but I had not appreciated the volume of manual labour required for a whole season, and how challenging this is when temperatures soar above 30 degrees on most summer days. Again, I was lucky and 2009 turned out to be the vintage of the century, and it was an amazing year for me. However, Kaye did not take to the peasant farming life as well as I did, and she wanted to move back to the UK to start a family. Although I begrudgingly agreed, in hindsight, it was the best move we ever made.

Kaye had agreed that once back in the UK I could plant a vineyard on the chalk slopes of the Chilterns, which to some of you may sound a little peculiar. Historically England has not been known as wine producer, but over the past ten years there has been an explosion in the production of English sparkling wine. In early 2010, by pure luck, we found the most perfect site for vines just outside Marlow. By May, we had planted 20,000 vines of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, and we had begun our journey

to produce English sparkling wine.

French Champagne is still of course the Queen of the fizz, but many critics expect England to be Champagne’s first rival in the years to come. It may be surprising to hear that England has an ideal climate, and chalky soils, for producing perfect sparkling wines. Such wines require grapes with a low alcohol content and high acidity. Our long summers, that aren’t too hot, ensure that grapes mature over a long period of time, developing mature flavours and maintaining high levels of acidity.

English sparkling wine is leaner and lighter in character than Champagne and is more floral in flavour – come and visit us and have a taste, and I’ll be happy to introduce you to its delights!

Before I knew it, I was training young vines in Marlow but still popping over to Bordeaux every month to make our Chateau Verniotte. When we planted the English vineyard, we knew that this would be a long-term project. It takes four years for such vines to give a profitable crop, and then another three years of ageing the wines before they can be released to the market. Having spent ten years making mostly red wine, it has been vital too to understand the

Henry Laithwaite (far left) with his family & colleagues

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qualities and skills needed to make world-class sparkling wine. Small stints in Champagne, Yarra Valley, and New Zealand have given me an insight into the different techniques used, and we have been fortunate that the retired, exDomaine Chandon winemaker, Dr Tony Jordon, visits us twice a year in Marlow to keep us on the right track!

As well as cultivating vines in the Thames Valley we have built a winery and planted more vines. We have begun bottling and we expect to begin to release 40,000 bottles to the market on an annual basis from next year, under the brand Harrow & Hope; a reference to the large amount of flint in the soil, which, although perfect for flourishing vines, continually destroys our machinery! From next spring we will be able to welcome visitors to the vineyard and winery, as our first release, the sparkling rosé from 2013, will be ready. We hope to build a loyal and thirsty following, and look forward to hopefully seeing some of our friends and Collingwood alumni along the way.

SPOTLIGHT ON SPORT CAST YOUR MIND BACK TO YOUR COLLINGWOOD DAYS. DID SPORT FEATURE AT ALL IN YOUR STUDENT LIFE? For some of you, sport may have meant a round of darts over a pint or two in the Stag’s Head, a closely fought pool game, or a fast paced game of ‘ping pong’.

Others of you may recall experiencing the beauty of Durham from the River Wear on a cold and frosty morning, when you wondered why rowers have to get up so early.

Some of you may have joined the University ranks as elite athletes in your chosen sports, whilst others of you may have used the opportunity that college sport provided to try out new hobbies.

Many a College lacrosse, basketball, badminton and squash captain had never played their sport before walking through the doors of Collingwood.

Whatever your experience, it is fair to say that the sporting scene at Collingwood at present is remarkable.

Participation in sport across the University is the highest in the country,

and Collingwood is no different.

Collingwood’s football club is, allegedly, the largest club in the country, with eleven men’s teams and three women’s teams. In October 2014 we celebrated topping the College Sport Points table for the third consecutive year with a hat-trick themed formal, and as you will have read in the editorial we have just been crowned champions again for 2014-15 - an absolutely remarkable achievement.

our teams struggle for a space to train and practice as University facilities are limited. We’re tackling this through our latest 1972 Club fundraising campaign, ‘Pass it On’, which current and graduating students are playing an active role in. To find out more about our plans and how you can contribute please visit: www.durham. ac.uk/collingwood/alumni or contact Collingwood Principal, Professor Joe Elliott, at joe.elliott@durham.ac.uk

We are not sure what our success is down to. Perhaps it is the great sense of community and participation that Collingwood fosters. Or, perhaps it is the addition of the Mark Hillery Gym in 2011, funded by the generosity of you, our alumni and friends of the College, that has led us to this new level of success. The gym now has over 500 paid Collingwood student members every year. However, our sporting success brings new challenges. All of

We would love to hear about your Collingwood sporting stories. Were you the captain of the rugby or football team that conquered the league? Did you setup a new team? Whatever your story, please get in touch with collingwood. alumni@durham.ac.uk or share your memories on Facebook. For now though, take a read of these sporting reflections from some of our recent alumni, who have found success both on and off a pitch.

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FEATURE

A LESSON IN SPORT Charlotte Bradley, 2008-11 & JCR President, 2011-12 From the moment I walked through the door of Collingwood, I knew I was in the right place. At the time there were eight football teams, four netball teams, not to mention hockey, squash, rowing, and cheerleading‌ the list goes on.

The sheer variety of types of sport, as well as the number of teams in each sport, made Collingwood a really special place to be; anybody could get involved whether a novice or a fanatic.

Sport still plays a huge role in my life.

As a PE teacher, I am continuously emphasising to pupils the importance of using their initiative, teamwork, leadership and organisational skills. Oh, to send them to Collingwood where they would pick up these skills without even realising! The opportunities arising from being a member of a sports team, and taking responsibility as Captains, Club Presidents, Social Secretaries, and Kit Organisers are unique.

I have no doubt that these experiences have helped me to get where I am today, and many of my friends in different industries say the same.

Now that I have graduated, the one thing I miss the most about university life is the ability to play in multiple sports teams at once. Weekends filled with back-to-back fixtures, sometimes sprinting from the end of a hockey match straight into a netball match, and the camaraderie that came along with it. Collingwood sport gave me the opportunity to mix with other year groups and find long-term friendships outside of the people I met on my floor or on my course.

Declan Lamyman, 13/14 CCRFC A Team captain.

Photo by Essence of Light Photography

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THIS INTEREST IN SPORT AND SOCIAL MEDIA LAID THE FOUNDATIONS FOR EVERY FOOTBALL FANS DREAM; AN ASSIGNMENT TO COVER THE WORLD CUP IN BRAZIL LAST SUMMER. The Power of Sport Declan Lamyman, 2011-14 & Bar Steward 2014-15 The question ‘how has College sport affected my life at Durham?’ is actually quite difficult to answer. Not because there is not much to say, but quite the opposite. Separating life at University and College sport into two things, one of which informs or aids the other is, in my eyes, impossible. I have played for the Collingwood Rugby team since I was a Fresher, captained the A team in my 3rd year, and consequently captained the Hill rugby team in the Hill vs. Bailey charity game during my final academic term.

Looking back at College sport, I first think about what it has given me as an individual. On an initial note I can say it influenced my friendship groups, my social life, my health, my mood (depending on whether we are winning or losing!) and even my studies; everything I have done since starting at Durham! The first time I experienced College rugby was at the trails shortly after my first week. I remember being placed on the same team as guys who are now some of my closest friends.

They were total strangers, but there is something about stepping out onto a sports pitch that allows people to connect and make friendships in the shortest of moments.

Since that day things were different for me. I was not playing to impress coaches and people that were to be figures of authority to me. I was playing to impress the current A team captain, who was, at the time, a fellow student in his final year, and this is what remains unique about College sport at Durham.

It is student led. The players themselves

are responsible for everything that goes on in the club, from treasury, expenses and budgeting, to the coaching and, of course, the playing. The praise you receive for playing well comes from your friends, peers, and fellow players, and this teaches you incomparable leadership and team work skills.

was to utilise social media, sharing my videos to gain a following, through which the competition’s sponsor gained exposure to new markets. Remarkably, out of over 1000 applications, I proved to be ‘King of the Hashtag’ and jetted off to Brazil, before graduation was even over.

Collingwood sport has enabled me to become a valued team mate and has given me the opportunity to be a leader.

It has given me friends for life and a selfdriven attitude that I believe will stand me in good stead for the rest of my life.

It is not something I will ever forget or undervalue.

I spent five weeks in Rio de Janeiro and attended all seven games there, including the World Cup Final, as well as a quick night in Sao Paulo for a Semi-Final.

Although it was obviously a lot of fun, it was also the most work I’ve ever done in such a short period of time. However, it did make me realise the truth in the sentiment, “choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life!” In this instance, the job really chose me, but I threw everything I had into the opportunity.

The Power of the Hashtag Ollie Silverton, 2011-14 Sport is my real passion, whether I’m playing, watching or talking about it. In my second year at Collingwood I began writing previews ahead of numerous national sporting events. I would spend hours writing a golf preview, assessing everything from the wind strength and direction, to the type of grass used on the green, before forming my predictions of the outcome of matches.

I joined the social media bandwagon, sharing my predictions, and before long had over 1500 Twitter followers.

This interest in sport and social media laid the foundations for every football fan’s dream; an assignment to cover the World Cup in Brazil last summer. Entering the Titan Bet ‘#BestJobintheWorld’ competition, I produced a number of videos capturing my credentials and showcasing why I was the best candidate to travel to Brazil to report on the world’s most iconic football tournament. My next challenge

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During the trip I made 49 videos which have since amassed over 85,000 views on YouTube. My Instagram account and daily blogs received thousands of hits as well. I was in Brazil alone, armed with only a camera and some gadgets. I was given free rein to do whatever I saw fit within the videos; I simply imagined what I would want to see if I was back at home, and I tried to bring that to life. I quickly adjusted to a routine of waking up early and shooting my first video, then heading to Copacabana beach to make my second film of the day amongst the footballmad Brazilians. I created the content, presented and edited the films before uploading them. It was tiring, and at times it felt like I was asking the same questions, but the people I met made every video different.

FEATURE There were 32 countries in the World Cup, but I probably met people from 80 different nationalities, and each one had a different opinion, story and background; the people of the World Cup made my videos what they are.

I am frequently asked to pick the highlight of my trip and choosing just one experience is so difficult.

Obviously, going to a World Cup Final is something I will never forget, and perhaps less obvious, is seeing the sun set over Christ the Redeemer.

However, neither of those memories compare to entering the Maracan達 stadium for the first time. I was going to see Argentina play Bosnia at one of the most iconic stadiums in the world, and I will honestly remember it forever. Throughout the tournament the Argentinian fans were enthralling. I have been lucky enough to attend the Ashes cricket in Australia and watch the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, but nothing compares to the love of football in South America. Those fans sang and danced for hours and hours, and to see them beat Bosnia (and see Lionel Messi score), was something truly special.

I of course produced a video of that trip to the stadium and it has just surpassed 25,000 views on YouTube, partly thanks to a large Argentinian football site sharing the film. Reviewers have loved the footage, as Argentinians are passionate about football, and this was most evident when, for the World Cup Final, no less than 80,000 people drove 31 hours from Buenos Aires just to watch the game on the beach. None of them had tickets, but, for them, to be in the vicinity of the stadium if they won the trophy was a good enough reason to make the journey. Of course, they did not win, and the Germans very much deserved the trophy, but, in my eyes, the Argentinians fans were the real winners.

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Oliver Silverton in Brazil

IT’S NOT A PROPER JOB Collingwood alumnus, Graeme Davis, looks back at how he has played his career

Career:

n. An occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person’s life. v. Move swiftly and in an uncontrolled way in a specified direction.

Oxford English Dictionary

Yes, that sounds about right.

My life after Collingwood certainly wasn’t the result of a cautious and deeplaid plan, and looking back I am amazed at how much luck and happenstance was involved. Even today, I have a sneaking feeling that I am getting away with something.

I arrived at Collingwood in October 1979 with the firm intention of becoming an archaeologist: a specialist in British prehistory, probably Iron Age. In my dreams, I would go on to combine archaeology with my interest in amateur theatricals and become the David Attenborough, or David Bellamy, of British archaeology. Pretty

much what Tony Robinson would do with Time Team some years later.

Curse you, Baldrick. As well as acting and archaeology, I brought two other passions to Durham with me: writing and Dungeons & Dragons (for those of you unaware, this is a fantasy table-top role-playing game).

At Durham I auditioned for various theatre groups and even got a part in one play. I wrote sketches for DUST, the University revue group, with Collingwood alumnus, Tim Smith (Philosophy & Politics, 1979-82). One of our sketches was even performed – a Match of the Day style half-time report from the Battle of Hastings. Paul Brown (Economics & Politics, 1978-81), profiled in the 2014 issue of Wood Words, tried his best to mentor me, pointing out that sketches requiring a lot of props and costumes probably weren’t going to make it to the stage.

Despite this dabbling in theatre, most of my time was spent playing Dungeons & Dragons. I had played a little before

College, but in Collingwood I found a group that lasted through to graduation and beyond. Before the first term was out we were playing regular sessions that could sometimes last a whole weekend, stopping only for meals and “bar breaks”. Still determined to make a living in archaeology, I graduated in 1982 and stayed at Collingwood to pursue a PhD. I have to say the PhD didn’t go well, but that’s another story!

These were pre-internet days. A computer took up a whole floor of a building and used tape drives like a row of IKEA wardrobes. Without blogs, forums, or Facebook groups, the only way to stay in touch with the gaming hobby was through print magazines.

There were growing numbers of magazines and in the early 1980’s I spotted a call for new writers.

I had wanted to be a writer ever since I was about six, or whenever it was that I found out that the RAF no longer flew Spitfires.

I had wanted to be a writer ever since I was about six, or whenever it was that I found out that the RAF no longer flew Spitfires.

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Graeme Davis Archaeology 1979-82

In addition to the sketches I have already mentioned, I had started several (very bad) novels and written a few bits for my school magazine, but here was a chance to write about the hobby that was taking up almost all my free time. I leaped at the chance.

My first few articles were rejected, but I finally got into print in 1982. Better still, a modest cheque arrived. Onlookers reported a shaft of light from the heavens and the sound of an angelic choir when I opened the envelope! I headed straight for Collingwood bar, converted the cheque into Theakston’s XB with all dispatch, and then headed back to my room (Barnard 42, if anyone is interested) to write more.

As I struggled with my PhD research, I devoted more and more time to gaming and writing. Fighting Fantasy game-books appeared in the early 80s, and thanks to someone I met in the snug bar of the Shakespeare (which

was, it has to be said, pretty much the Archaeology Department annexe back in those days), I wound up doing an occasional game-book review spot on the BBC Radio Newcastle children’s book programme.

Then, in 1985, I got a phone call out of the blue. Receiving a phone call was not easy back then: Collingwood had maybe half a dozen payphones throughout its corridors, for the use of 300-odd students. What I actually got was a scrawled note from the Porter’s Lodge saying that someone from a company called Scribos wanted to talk to me about a freelance writing project. I had no idea who they were, but I collected a fistful of 10p pieces, wandered the corridors until I found a free phone, and called them back.

It turned out that Scribos were an educational publisher, and they wanted someone to write two six-volume sets of fantasy game-books. I had been selling

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articles for a few years by this point, but I had never seriously thought I might be able to make a living as a writer. But two things sealed the deal. First, the books were to be published by Oxford University Press, and secondly, I was offered six-hundred pounds for the project. It just shows how touchingly naive I was back then. Certainly, sixhundred pounds was a tidy sum to a college student, but this was a onetime project, and I never did the maths about how many such projects I would need each year in order to make a living. Between this and my modest but semi-regular cheques from various magazines, I thought I was on my way.

My archaeological research tapered off until I withdrew from the PhD entirely.

The winter of 1985-86 was a tough one, but in the spring I received a letter.

Games Workshop wanted to produce a roleplaying game based on their Warhammer fantasy setting. I was taken on and stayed at Games Workshop

Warhammer 2014: Still rolling the dice 30 years on. Photo by Chris Sabick for four years, working on just about everything for Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay as well as writing and editing for various other games.

By late 1990 it was clear that roleplaying games were never going to be a major priority at Games Workshop and I left.

I moved across the pond to the United States and started freelancing for various game publishers, mostly through contacts I had made. I wrote and edited material for a new game called Vampire: the Masquerade, and made the most of my degree by writing sourcebooks on the Vikings, Medieval England, and the Iron Age Celts. I sent a copy of the Vikings book to my old Viking studies lecturer, but heard nothing back. I expect he was appalled by what I had done with the knowledge he had given me!

If I am honest, I was not quite making enough to really keep my head above water, but I was only a snorkel’s length from the surface most of the time, so I just kept on paddling and hoping that something would turn up. I secured my first contract to work on a video game in 1991. It was an expansion disk for a strategy game called Castles, and I was hired to write a series of interactive

storylines featuring the Vikings. I found that video games paid far more than writing for table-top games, and they have been my bread and butter ever since.

Now it is 25 years (40-odd games, and half a dozen short-lived stints with start-up game developers) later, and here I am. Now I have been a full time freelancer for the last decade or so. I still write primarily for electronic games, especially fantasy and historical-fantasy titles. The biggest hit of recent years has been Kingdoms of Camelot: Battle for the North, which was the top-grossing mobile app of 2012 and is still going strong. Over the last couple of years I have been branching out into what my father would have called “proper” books, again through the mix of my archaeology degree, my interest in myth and history, and my track record as a writer for fantasy games.

Is there a lesson here, other than “do not try this at home, kids”? I do not know. It has been feast and famine.

It has been nerve-wracking at times, especially being made redundant as many times as I have, but thanks to people I have met along the way and the reputation I have built up over the

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Graeme with 3,500 year old beaker in 1983 years, I have always managed to keep going. Nothing I have written will ever be taught by the Department of English, and I’m not expecting to help unveil a blue plaque outside Barnard 42 any time soon, but I have to say, it’s been a lot more fun than a proper job!

Graeme with some of the fruits of his labour

FEATURE

STUDENT STORIES Thanks to the generosity of alumni and friends of Collingwood, students have the opportunity to apply to a range of funds to support their personal and academic development.

Over the next few pages we share news from the latest student recipients.

If you would like to find out more about these funds and how you could support current students undertake such project, please visit

WWW.DURHAM.AC.UK/COLLINGWOOD/ ALUMNI/FUNDEDPROJECTS

Photo taken by Julia Sanderson in Uvita, Costa Rica

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The Sara Pilkington Personal Development Fund was established by the parents of Sara Pilkington, a Collingwood student who sadly died in 2012. The fund provides support to students, who may otherwise not be able to afford such opportunities, to undertake projects that will provide them with character-building and life-affirming experiences.

JOURNEYING TO THE POLITICAL HEARTLAND Matt Beebee, Politics, 2012-15 I have always had a passion for politics. For me, most things are, in some way, influenced by political decisions. This is not only the reason why I chose to study politics, but is also the reason why a career with a political component is important to me. In my opinion, one of the most exciting ways to be politically involved is in research and policy advice for think tanks. Last year I was successful in obtaining an internship with the Reform Research Trust, but I had a problem.

Naturally, like most political organisations, Reform is based in Westminster, the hub of UK politics, but Westminster is 120 miles from where I live. With the cost of rent so high in London, my best option was to commute, and so I made the three-and-a-half hour round trip journey, five days a week, for two months. I am grateful to the Sara Pilkington Fund for financially enabling me to make this journey every morning and evening.

Reform is an independent think tank which publishes research reports and hosts events on increasing efficiency within public services, with a particular expertise in healthcare. From my first day at Reform, I felt welcomed into a friendly but hardworking environment – something that, over the two month period I came to appreciate as the perfect complement within the workspace.

was charged with reading over official documentation on the ‘Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Programme’ (JESIP), and conducting wider research on JESIP, before briefing Katy on my findings for her meeting with members of the emergency service hierarchy.

Working towards an important meeting in such a time frame was an exhilarating and exciting experience, and set the trend for my time at Reform.

I was initially supervised by Katy Sawyer, whose research focused on efficiency within the defence sector and the emergency services. Katy threw me in at the deep end from my first hour. I

One of the most valuable experiences I took from my internship was the development of my quantitative skills as well as my economic analysis, both of which will prove invaluable in my future.

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I was thrown in again at the deep end when I was asked to conduct economic analyses for Reform’s senior economist, before commencing work on my main task, the ‘How to Run a Country’ project – a project looking at how to improve efficiency within governmental and civil service performance. I was specifically tasked with looking into e-government initiatives and the digitisation of public services across a variety of countries to identify best practices.

Researching the different countries required me to understand and interpret a variety of sources. These ranged from extensive OECD and UN reports to

FEATURE The skills I developed, the people that I met, and the friendships I made are invaluable. The support from the Sara Pilkington Fund enabled me to work in an environment I would otherwise have had no chance of experiencing, and for that I am eternally grateful. government strategy papers, academic journals and media articles, to various quantitative data from governments and academics. While conducting the research I often had to contrast policy recommendations or strategies with recent survey data, to draw conclusions about the success of e-government initiatives. I also had to use knowledge beyond the remit of the research project to decide whether certain countries’ e-government initiatives were suited to the UK’s technological or socio-political culture.

After using the sources to compile my case studies, I presented to Reform’s Deputy Director on the project. The presentation required me to synthesise my findings as well as recommend which two countries (out of the seven countries I had researched) would be the most appropriate on which to focus further analysis. This was a nerve-racking experience, but one, which in hindsight, was extremely worthwhile and also rewarding, as after I completed my internship, researchers at Reform conducted further analysis

into Denmark and Estonia, my two suggestions.

The skills I developed, the people that I met, and the friendships I made are invaluable. The support from the Sara Pilkington Fund enabled me to work in an environment I would otherwise have had no chance of experiencing, and for that I am eternally grateful.

Other recent recipients have undertaken projects around the world. Full reports are available on our website but here is an insight into recent activities.

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Volunteering through the student-led Durham University Charities Kommittee (DUCK), Jennifer Tomlinson (Sociology) and Tom Purvis (PPE) participated in an expedition to Northern India to support a rural school in Palampur.

They spent four weeks working at the school before undertaking an expedition across Northern India. Jennifer was motivated to participate in the project for a number of reasons; “First I was interested in taking part as it provided an opportunity to go abroad and help people less fortunate than myself – an experience that I had never had before.

Through my study of Sociology I have learned about the positive impact that education has on people’s lives; I firmly believe that an important aspect to improving the quality of life is through good education, and so I wanted to go and help first-hand.”

Looking back on the experience, Tom can identify many challenges that have supported his development. “There were some language barriers whilst teaching, but nothing that could not be overcome with a bit of miming. I was teaching with Rachel, a fellow volunteer, and we were trying to teach the time.

The children could not understand us so we both became clocks and used our arms to teach the kids! There is

a great sense of achievement and personal development that comes from transcending a language barrier because it is something that you can not get frustrated at. You just had to laugh at the various attempts that we all used to mime out what we had been asking!”

Julia Sanderson (English Literature) also pushed herself beyond her comfort zone and encountered language barriers during her trip to Costa Rica.

“If I had been told last year that I would spend a month of the following summer thousands of miles away from home, living and volunteering in a Spanish speaking environment, I would have been incredulous. I had never been outside of Europe, I did not speak any foreign languages and most significantly I believed that I could not afford such opportunities. Yet, thanks to the Sara Pilkington Fund, that is exactly how I spent August 2014”.

Julia started Beginners’ Spanish in October 2013 and then set her sights on volunteering as an English teaching assistant. On arriving in Costa Rica she quickly became aware of how valuable the experience was going to be, including those scary moments, and the ones of frustration or exhaustion

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that would come with tackling Spanish with limited experience. “My host family were incredible and they provided me with not only a perfect environment in which to practice my floundering Spanish, but a window into a whole other culture, and a beautiful bond and connection that I never expected I would build with them. It is still somewhat unbelievable to me that, as little more than a beginner in the language, I spent a month living in their home, chatting to them wholly in Spanish, laughing, joking, sharing and confiding with them, all while learning more about the world and a culture different from my own.”

The project itself, of course, was another enormous aspect of the trip’s value. Julia worked as an assistant to an English teacher in a primary school. “It was fascinating and quite eye-opening to see first-hand the way the school system operated and to observe the differences in processes, priorities and methods. It made me aware of the areas with room for improvement, and certain advantages I have had in England. I found certain frustrations with the English-teaching system and the curriculum in place, but that made me more interested in the field of teaching English as a foreign language. I can not overstate what a beautiful experience it was becoming acquainted with the different children in my classes, and certain characters have really left a lasting and loving impression.”

Across on the other side of the world, Ben Frost (History & Politics) spent his summer in Beijing as part of the British Council’s Generations UK campaign. This project aims to support students from the UK to develop employability skills, enhance their long-term job prospects, and to develop a global mind-set through study and work experience in China.

Ben worked as an assistant to the Director of Public Funding and External Affairs at The Nature Conservancy (TNC), an environmental charity that works across 35 countries.

Particular highlights of the internship involved attending a major project meeting at the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation’s office, preparing literature for the Finnish Minster for International Development, and writing a summary of the TNC’s work in the Sichuan Province of China for the US Embassy. The programme involved many out of work activities and Ben concludes that,

“the sights, tastes, sounds and smells of China (not all of them good!) will forever stay in my memory, and I fully intend to go back there some day.”

Whist Ben was staying in the metropolis of Beijing, fellow Collingwood student, Jade Soanes (Geography) was venturing in to the remote Alai Valley in Kyrgyzstan to undertake fieldwork for her dissertation. Her aim was to trace the past fluctuations of one specific glacier in this remote and mountainous region. The field site was chosen because of the wide range of geographical processes that are, and have been, in action in the valley. There is also limited existing scientific information for the area. In addition to the successful fieldwork undertaken and the volume of data collected, which Jade says should be enough for another year’s project after the dissertation hand in, she learnt a lot from living and working in such a remote country.

“The valley is scarcely populated but the local people were all very interested in the group’s research. They always insisted in taking you into their yurts for a glass of jumis (fermented horse milk) and a bite of shudder (hard, salty cheese). We spent a long time travelling, including a four-day journey from Bishkek airport in the north, over the Tien Shan range, the Alai My host family were incredible and theymountain provided meto with valley in the south. I definitely became not only a perfect environment in which to practice my aware of the differing economic and floundering Spanish, but a window into other culture cultural lifeainwhole the country.”

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The Collingwood Special Projects & Travel Fund offers limited financial support to both undergraduates and postgraduates, who are undertaking projects beyond their degree course that will support their academic and personal development.

ITALIAN IMMERSION

Danielle Pearce, Modern Languages, 2013 - present During the summer of 2014 I spent five week in Maerne, a small town close to Venice. The small contribution from the Special Projects Fund helped me to pay for an intensive Italian language course in Venice each morning, whilst I worked as an au pair each afternoon and evening. As a student about to enter my second year, and having stated studying Italian ab initio last October, the opportunity gave me a chance to consider how I might spend my year abroad in 2015-16, and improved my language ability and independence.

EXCAVATION AT BINCHESTER ROMAN FORT COUNTY DURHAM Karen Wilson, Archaeology, 2012-15 In 2013 I spent several weeks excavating at Binchester Roman Fort.

During this time I found it intriguing to see the site unfold, particularly a series of structures in the vicus, or civilian settlement that were believed to be part of a military bathhouse.

Although the role of bathing was an integral part of Roman culture, it appeared that the bathhouse had not been afforded the same attention as other public buildings in the Roman world, and this interested me. To discover more about the bathhouse at Binchester, I chose to pursue further research in the summer of 2014, in preparation for my dissertation. Below are a few extracts from my excavation diary:

WEEK 1: I worked in the large room of the bathhouse building, which was believed to be an apodyterium (changing room). Working alongside fellow students and community volunteers, the initial task was to trowel and clean back the partially exposed walls by removing detritus that had filled the room. As the week progressed a substantial amount of plaster was revealed in situ, some seemingly painted red. In the course of emptying this large room of refuse, stone benches that ran around the interior were also uncovered. Structural remains were not only uncovered, but many artefacts too, including a selection of pins, which were made from jet, bone or copper.

Various coins, pottery, green glass and iron (including hob nails from shoes) were also unearthed. However, the majority of finds comprised huge

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amounts of faunal remains, particularly cattle skulls.

WEEK 2: The second week on site was interrupted by an archaeological field trip to Rome organised by the Archaeology Department. The purpose of the visit was to investigate and analyse the cultural heritage of another country. Arriving back at Binchester, I returned to the bathhouse to remove the last of the stone between the large room and an antechamber or annexe, which is thought to have been added to the bathhouse suite at a later date.

WEEK 3: Archaeology is full of surprises.

No matter how well you think you understand what is happening, there is often more to be gleaned as the excavation progresses!

Although the large room was believed to have been a changing room, it was clear that there had been internal alterations over time. The bench around the perimeter of the room ran across a blocked doorway in the north wall, and white plaster overlaid this doorway.

There were remnants of walling running in an East-West direction, faced with opus signinum, a Roman building material designed mainly as a waterproofing agent.

This suggested that small baths or cold plunge pools had once been present, but that the function of the room had changed over time. By the end of the week, the large room had been cleared except for a 1m wide baulk, a strip of unexcavated earth left in place between excavated areas for the purpose of revealing the stratigraphic sequence (layers that make up archaeological

deposits). This enhances understanding of the processes that created the site, as the law of superposition dictates that deposits at the bottom of a sequence are older than those on the top. A section or vertical elevation drawing of the baulk was required too, as an imperative part of the site recording process. As the Field School drew to a close, a short flight of steps was uncovered between the large room and the entrance to the small antechamber.

A culvert, associated with the plunge pools, was also discovered.

The experience at Binchester Roman Fort was invaluable, enabling me to gather a substantial amount of information for my chosen dissertation topic. The excavations alone have unearthed more of the structure, which will help in determining a plan for this military bathhouse. New information

UNCOVERING WEST AFRICA Rachel Elms, Geography, 2012-15

Last summer I was fortunate enough to volunteer in a local school in Ghana, making life-long friends and forging unforgettable memories. Whilst in Ghana I undertook primary research in preparation for my dissertation, exploring the western representation of Africa, particularly the negative images that development charities in the UK use to portray the continent through their charitable campaigns. I interviewed local people, completed ethnography, and ran focus groups with fellow volunteers. This has formed valuable data for my dissertation project.

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has also come to light regarding the phasing of the building, however further analysis will be necessary in order to ascertain the chronological build.

For those of you who are regular readers of Wood Words, you will recall that thanks to the generosity of one of our alumni we established an Undergraduate Research Internship programme in 2013. This provides students with the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of engaging with senior academics, often as a member of a team involved in cutting edge research projects, whilst building their CV with summer work directly relevant to their studies. Below are extracts from the 2014 internship reports.

QUALITY CONTROL OF MAJOR HISTOCOMPATIBILITY COMPLEX (MHC) PROTEINS James Mok, Biological & Biomedical Sciences, 2013 - present Last summer I worked in a laboratory supervised by my academic advisor, Dr Adam Benham, on the quality control of MHC class II molecules and how they influence health and disease. MHC molecules are central to the adaptive immune system and it is for this reason that we do not get ill from the same pathogen after the first encounter. Throughout the project I learned new techniques that are essential for biomedical research, including mammalian tissue culture, DNA work,

transfection, immunofluorescence (IF) microscopy, SDSPAGE, western blotting and biochemical/protein assays.

We generated new data to assist in the publication of papers and grant applications. The skills and experience I have gained from working alongside a world-class research team will be invaluable to my Biomedical Science degree and in the future as a Doctor.

EUROPE IN A VALUE-BASED GLOBAL ORDER: APPLICATION FOR A HORIZON2020 Victoria Campbell, Law, 2012 - present Last summer I interned at Durham Law School and worked with two Senior Lecturers in Law, Dr Aoife O’Donoghue and Dr Gleider Hernandez. Under their supervision, I conducted essential research for the joint Durham-Utrecht University Horizons 2020 Grant application. In its general form, the application focuses on the European Union and its values, policies and areas of development to critically analyse the current approach of

the European Union to achieve the frustratingly difficult and vague concept of ‘global justice.’ It represents an interdisciplinary exercise, combining legal academics with philosophers, political scientists and geographers.

This combination offers a unique learning experience where issues of global governance and value promotion are analysed with different perspectives and from different disciplinary

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backgrounds. The eight weeks of research culminated in a conference with all participating academics of the grant. I participated in the discussions on the method and content of the grant application, as well as sharing the research I had done as a springboard for future discussions. This was an incredible opportunity, which not only gave me a better grasp of EU law and international politics, but also special insight into academic research.

BODYPOLITICS: INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSES TO ABDUCTION Natalia Kitchen, Government & International Affairs, 2011-2015 After returning from a year abroad, I joined a research project in its preliminary stages. The project will examine the institutional response to hostage taking in three democratic states. The research will focus upon governmental response to hostage taking and whether this affects which nationalities are targeted, as well as the particular phenomenon of ‘kidnap for ransom’. The outcome and impact of such research is clear, as not only can it inform existing policy on dealing with such issues, but findings and intelligence can also inform

new and more appropriate strategies for dealing with hostage taking. Terrorism and security are of growing prominence in both academia and the world today. My primary responsibility was to gather a database of existing literature from a source of multi-disciplinary journals and newspapers, in order to determine important patterns and gaps in the research. This also involved time at the National Archives in Kew, which was an incredible opportunity that I would not have otherwise experienced.

KNOWING FEAR BY FEELING FEAR Louisa Boydston, Psychology, 2012-15

During the summer of 2014, I had the wonderful opportunity to work with Dr Luna Centifanti in Durham University’s Department of Psychology, examining antisocial and delinquent youth populations. The project looked specifically at youths that demonstrated high callous and unemotional (CU) traits, characterised by a lack of empathy, lack of remorse, an overall deficit in emotion and severe antisocial behaviours. Research suggests that people with CU traits have difficulties recognising fear in others. This may underlie their antisocial and often violent behaviour; if one does not recognise fear, one may be less inclined to avoid behaving in a dominating or violent way.

The project I worked on examined a sample of girls in school in the UK and Cyprus. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between

callous and unemotional traits and puberty in adolescent girls. More young males have high callous-unemotional traits and engage in delinquent behaviours than females, so existing research has had a predominantly male-bias. However, by adolescence, females and males look very similar in terms of delinquent behaviours, which may imply that females with an inclination towards delinquency may delay their problematic behaviours until adolescence. Our project found that girls with delayed puberty have more callousunemotional traits. We then researched possible causal factors including both biological factors, such as higher foetal and circulating testosterone levels, and environmental factors, such as abuse and neglect.

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With the excellent support of Dr Centifanti and other lab members, I led the work preparing a paper for publication; I analysed the data and did extensive research to make sense of the findings. This invaluable opportunity to have my work published as an undergraduate would undoubtedly aid me in pursuing a career in research. During the final week of my internship I was trained to use eyetracking technology. Consequently, last academic year, I tested a population of participants, tracking where they look when watching CCTV of an elderly man being mugged by a masked perpetrator.

I am currently deciding whether to pursue a career in counselling or research, and this internship, and subsequent opportunities, has provided me with valuable experience, regardless of the path I choose.

Collingwood College Collingwood College Collingwood College Collingwood College South Road SouthSouth RoadRoad South Road Durham Durham Durham Durham DH1 3LT DH1 3LT 3LT 3LT DH1 DH1 0191 334 5000 01910191 334 5000 5000 334 5000 0191 334 Principal: Professor Joe Elliott Principal: Professor Joe Elliott Elliott Principal: Professor Joe Elliott Principal: Professor Joe Email: joe.elliott@durham.ac.uk Email:Email: joe.elliott@durham.ac.uk Email: joe.elliott@durham.ac.uk joe.elliott@durham.ac.uk Vice Principal: Victoria Ridley Vice Principal: Principal: Victoria RidleyRidley Vice Principal: Victoria Vice Victoria Ridley Email: f.v.ridley@durham.ac.uk Email: f.v.ridley@durham.ac.uk f.v.ridley@durham.ac.uk Email:Email: f.v.ridley@durham.ac.uk Assistant Principal: Dr Mark Woolmer Assistant Principal: Dr Mark Mark Woolmer Assistant Principal: Dr Mark Woolmer Assistant Principal: Dr Woolmer Email: mark.woolmer@durham.ac.uk Email: mark.woolmer@durham.ac.uk mark.woolmer@durham.ac.uk Email:Email: mark.woolmer@durham.ac.uk Alumni Office Alumni OfficeOffice Alumni Alumni Office Charlotte Crossley Charlotte Crossley Charlotte Crossley Charlotte Crossley Email: collingwood.alumni@durham.ac.uk Email: collingwood.alumni@durham.ac.uk collingwood.alumni@durham.ac.uk Email:Email: collingwood.alumni@durham.ac.uk 0191 334 5172 01910191 334 5172 5172 334 5172 0191 334 Collingwood College Alumni Collingwood College Alumni Collingwood College Alumni College Alumni f Collingwood Collingwood College, subgroup College, subgroup of Durham University in Collingwood Collingwood College, subgroup of Durham University www.durham.ac.uk/collingwood/alumni www.durham.ac.uk/collingwood/alumni www.durham.ac.uk/collingwood/alumni collingwood.alumni@durham.ac.uk collingwood.alumni@durham.ac.uk collingwood.alumni@durham.ac.uk

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