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The Pembrokian News and Views from the Pembroke College Development Office
Issue XVIII
Pres tigous Award for Two Pembroke Fellows
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wo Pembroke academics John Eekelaar, Fellow in Law and James McMullen, Fellow in Japanese Studies have been elected as Fellows of the British Academy in recognition of their distinction as scholars. Reader in Law and Co-Director of Oxford Centre for Family Law and Policy John Eekelaar, a former Rhodes Scholar, is a world-renowned authority on Family Law. He has been Fellow and Tutor in Law at Pembroke for 36 years, and is the author of numerous publications and research papers within his specialist area. James McMullen came to Oxford following several years as Lecturer in Asian Studies at the University of Toronto. He obtained his Doctorate in
Michaelmas Term 2001
"on a mission from the law to the jungle" Robin Le Breton on page five Cambridge followed by a number of visiting and research professorships at Universities in Japan. Dr McMullen has published numerous articles and a book on the history of Confucianism in Japan, with particular interest in the Tokugawa period. The British Academy, established by Royal Charter in 1902, is a selfgoverning body of Fellows which was established to promote and support advanced research and to give recognition to excellence. It also acts as a forum for the discussion of issues of interest and concern to scholars in the humanities and social sciences and provides advice to Government and other public bodies. —
Helen Small - Leverhulme Major Research Fellowship
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Helen Small, Fellow in English literature since 1996, has been awarded a Leverhulme Major Research Fellowship for three years, commencing October 2001. The award is to enable her to research and write a book on the representation of old age. In 1970 Simone de Beauvoir published a study of aging, entitled La Vieillesse, in which she complained of 'a conspiracy of silence' over the experience of the elderly'. That silence, if it ever really existed, has long since given way to vigorous debates within history, ethnography, sociology, and medical gerontology about the processes of aging and the ways in which societies now and in the past have defined old age as a distinct stage of human life. Helen is proposing to focus particularly on the rhetorical modes which have been associated with the old in literature and in philosophy and which have been central to the definition of old age since antiquity. The book resulting from her research will seek to make a significant contribution to the cultural history of aging, expanding and complexifying the terms in which literary critics and historians have thought about what it R
means to give expression to the experience of old age and, more specifically, what literary and philosophical purposes beyond the representation of age for its own sake might be served by the association of old men and women with certain styles of speaking and thinking. With the publication of Thomas R. Coles's The Journey of Life (1992) and Pat Thane's Old Age in English History (2000), there are now detailed accounts of the history of aging in England and America from antiquity Helen Small to the present day. These studies correct past simplifications and insist upon the plurality of meanings and values attached to old age at any given time. They identify familiar and persistent literary stereotypes (the wise elder, the dotard, the crone, the lecherous widow or widower), but provide a wealth of evidence to indicate that such typologies were often mutually contradictory and that the lived experience of men and
women was much more diverse than popular convention might suggest. There is, to date, no comparably wide-ranging literary critical account of old age Although Helen's research will seek to build on the work done by historians and literary critics to date, and will aim to extend our sense of the social and political implications of how old men and women have been depicted in literature, it will not attempt to construct a chronological narrative about how attitudes to the old have changed. One of its principle tenets will be that the terms in which old age has been figured from antiquity onwards have proved peculiarly resistant to change, at least until the late twentieth century (hence the tendency of any survey of old age in literature to become heavily repetitive). The book which emerges from Helen's research will, therefore, be organised primarily around rhetorical
modes rather than isolated periods or cultures and will aim to move fairly freely between literary examples from the Homeric period to the present. The ambitious historical sweep of the project is necessary if it is to demonstrate the continuities but also the situational differences in meaning of the language of old age. The volume will fall into two main sections, the first concerned with a range of rhetorical modes identified with old age, the second focused on some of the principal texts which have been influenced by, and helped to recast, those conventions.
Firsts INALS results 2000-2001 are some of the best the College has received in the last few decades. The overall proportion of Firsts has increased to 18.8% and is accompanied by a substantial cohort of 2.1s, with fewer 2.2s and Thirds than in previous years. It is extremely gratifying to see the hard work of all the students and staff translated into tangible results. It is even more pleasing that, although the College has been stretched by all the recent financial pressures, we are still managing to maintain, or even improve, our academic status. The credit, of course, lies with the undergraduates themselves.
F
Here and There
Farewell to Four Fellows THOUGH only
here for four years as a Limited Term Fellow in Pure Mathematics to cover the
ALperiod of Martin Bridson's tenure of an Advanced Fellowship from the Engineering and
James McKee
John Knowland
Physical Sciences Research Council, James McKee played such an active role in College life that he will be sorely missed now that he has taken up a Lectureship at Royal Holloway and Bedford College, London. In addition to bearing full responsibility for the Maths teaching on Ian Grant's retirement, he served both as Deputy and Acting Dean and also as Fellow in charge of Computing. Robert Thomson came to Pembroke in July 1992 as successor to Charles Dowsett in the Calouste Gulbenkian Chair of Amienian Studies. Appointed Professor of Armenian Studies at Harvard in 1969, his distinguished career included 5 years as Director of Dunbarton Oaks, the research collection in Washington D.C.Throughout his time in Oxford, he has continued to edit many Armenian and Syriac texts, notably Rewriting Caucasian History: the Armenian Version of the Georgian Chronicles, which was published by OUP in 1996. In 1995 he was elected a Fellow of the British Academy. In 1999 Robert was Chairman of the Directors responsible for organising the lr in the Oxford series of the International Conference in Patristics Studies, which brought 750 scholars to Oxford.In addition to his University responsibilities, Robert has taken a full part in Pembroke's life. He and his wife, Judith, have been committed supporters of the Music Society and, most recently, he has been a very active Fellow in charge of the College silver. Following three years as a Research Fellow of St John's College, Cambridge, John Knowland succeeded Percy O'Brien as Fellow in Biochemistry in 1976. In addition to his responsibilities for his own subject, his teaching included the relevant aspects of the Medical Course, whilst his research in fundamental cell and molecular biology eventually came to concentrate upon the effects of sunlight on DNA and, in particular, how sunscreens may inflict damage which could be relevant to skin cancers.Following his year as Assessor in 1987-8, he continued to play an active part in University administration, serving on various committees and being a member of the Executive of the University's Campaign for Oxford. This experience was of great value when John was Acting Master during Robert Steven's sabbatical leave in Michaelmas Term 1999 and Hilary Term 2000; he had already served as Senior Tutor from 1989 to 1992. Following Ray Rook's recent retirement, John stepped in to fill the role of Finance Bursar and it is with a strong sense of gratitude for all that he has done for Pembroke over so many years that we wish him and his wife, Anne, well as he takes up the equivalent post at Brasenose. Pembroke can fairly claim to be unique among Oxford Colleges in numbering a bishop of the Greek Orthodox Church among its Fellows. Kallistos Ware, whose Penguin book, The Orthodox Church, has never been out of print since its first publication in 1963, read Mods, Greats and Theology at Magdalen before undertaking his D.Phil. Following ordination in the Greek Orthodox Church, he returned to Oxford as Spalding Lecturer in Eastern Orthodox Studies in 1966. His international reputation as a leading exponent of Orthodox spirituality and theology in the English-speaking world was recognised by his ordination as Bishop of Diokleia in 1985.In 1970, Kallistos was elected a Fellow by Special Election and for much of that time has been in charge of Theology in Pembroke and has established the subject on a secure basis. A strong supporter of collegiate life, he served as Steward of the Senior Common Room from 1990 to 1994.
Robert Thomson
Kallistos Ware
Summer Fights
1st VIII: cox Matthew Clayton-Stead, Richard Pinckney, lain Smith, Ashley Hulme, Marc Bullock, Mark Sayer, Robin Woods, Stuart Forrest, Huw Edwards bow
EMBROKE Boat House once again led pro ceedings on Saturday of Summer Eights as most of the college, plus many parents and old members, turned out for Pimms, the barbecue, and to see every single Pembroke boat (men and women), save the men's 2nd VIII, go for blades. The men's Fourths made good their billing, and won their blades with a satisfying bump on Christ Church III. The Thirds had a great Summer Eights, and should not be disappointed not to have won blades. They were up against a faster crew, Wadham II, and well deserved the cheer they received from the Boat House as they crossed the line, even though they didn't get the bump. The Women's Seconds won what they had trained so hard for, and bumped our neighbours, St. Edmund Hall II, to win blades. For many of them who had experienced such trauma in Torpids, it was a fitting end to the season. The men's Seconds bumped New II easily, and although not hav-
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ing the success that they would have liked, could start drinking safe in the knowledge that they were the fastest 2nd VIII on the river this summer. The women's 1" VIII destroyed St. Catherine's, and crossed the finish line to a roar from Pembroke Boat house as they retained the Headship as clearly the best women's crew on the river this year. For the men there was nothing but focus in the approach to our race. The focus, though, had shifted emphasis from Exeter to Oriel. No longer would we wait for Exeter to move on us. We would go for Oriel, and in doing that, leave Exeter to look after themselves. We had a fantastic row, from start to finish. Up to the Gut we sat above 40 strokes per minute, and then down Greenbanks to the finish we never dropped below a powerful 38, as we tried to get within striking distance of Oriel. This we never did, but in going for it we sent Exeter away, finishing over 11/2 lengths clear of them
on the line. Summer Fights was a success for all crews. We bumped 14 times over the four days, and not one single Pembroke coxswain conceded a bump on us. Hertford made 15 bumps, but overall we are placed much higher than they are; and one of our crews was head, and so couldn't bump anyway! It is easy to see why Summer Eights 2001 belonged to us. Pembroke has continued its fine tradition of teaching complete novices to row well, and in doing this we have built a great foundation for Torpids next year. With this base, and an increasing number of men and women going from Pembroke to the various University Squads, there is no reason not to believe that if we train hard from day one, we can hold three out of the four headships this time next year. Thanks for this year must go to the men's coach, Mike Hill, who did so much work to assemble a fast Torpid, and built a great base for Summer Eights. Thanks also to women's coach, Gordon Buxton, who stepped in for Torpids, and who made a really fast and tidy Headship crew. We have also been greatly helped by the generous sponsorship of UBS Warburg, and the constant support of the Friends of PCBC, and our donors. Without the above, our Boat Club would not have seen the success that it has experienced over the past few years. Finally, a big thank-you for a successful year to President Ian Graham, who has sacrificed so much for this Boat Club, and who has left the club in such a position that we can look to next year, both Torpids and Eights, with confidence. M Clayton-Stead (President)
Pembroke Golf Society Summer Meeting New Zealand Golf Club, 29th June 2001
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Pembroke alumni took part in this summer's event, which was held at New Zealand Golf Club, near Woking. They included our President, Graham McCallum and several first time competitors, including John Dixon from Kuala Lumpur. The course and hospitality were excellent. The winner was Tom Hutchinson with a score of 43 points. Runner up was John Dixon with 42 points. Prizes (of wine) were also won by Graham McCallum, Richard Jenkins, and Paddy Nolan. INETEEN
The Secretary reported that the society's finances were sound, and that he had received subscriptions from some 35 members. There will an informal gathering at Magnolia Park on 214 September, before the Pembroke Society dinner — details from Richard Thompson, 10 Orchard Way, Send, Woking, GU23 7HS, 01483 225832
tichardthompsonabtconnect.com
At The Porters' Lodge r is of course hazardous to describe anybody (or any body) as indispensable I to the College.... Master? Senior Tutor? Governing Body? Wealthy alumni? Boat Club? There is, though, a body of men who combine guardianship, management and counselling, who supply limitless information, who work at the sharp end day and night, and who must be regarded at the very least as crucial to the College's daily function. They are the Lodge Porters, remarkable individuals with a variety of backgrounds. Brian Harvey, Head Porter Born in London on the day that many will remember well, 3 September 1939, I was later evacuated to Devon where I spent the rest of my youth . In 1955, I took a five-year apprenticeship as a carpenter & joiner, thinking this would be a good earner for the future, but in 1960 I received that brown envelope to say I was to register for National Service. Little did I know how much this would change my life - and to the good. I joined the Royal Air Force, signed on for five years and trained as a specialist in transport. In July 1961 I married my wife Ann (we have just celebrated our ruby anniversary. We have a daughter and son, Lynn and Mark, plus two grandchildren, Aaron and Charlotte.). Having by now decided to make a career in the RAF, I signed on for 23 years. I was lucky enough mainly to get postings where Ann could travel with me and set up home. Even if this did_ mean F At,lirrrg
different occasions, they were very enjoyable years. As well as many postings in the U.K. we have lived together in Singapore, North Africa and Germany. In 1977 I was honoured to be presented with the Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal to be worn in commemoration of her Silver Jubilee. In 1982 we decided it was about time we set up a base for the future and decided to buy a house in Abingdon. On leaving the RAF in 1983, I joined Bass Brewers as a transport manager, later to become an operations manager. In 1992, due to the rationalisation programme within distribution, I had to oversee closure of several depots in Southern Region. This involved being based at various locations, handling redundancy problems and stock reduction but maintaining customer expectations, and eventually handing each depot over to the estates department for disposal. This meant living away from home five days a week so, in 1994, I took early retirement with the idea of visiting countries we had not yet seen. After returning from a motor-home tour of New Zealand, I decided retirement was not for me. I joined Pembroke as Head Porter in July 1995. In the short time I have been here, I don't think a day has gone by without some sort of building work going ahead. This has given the porters added problems on security etc. but at last it's time for the Lodge to be upgraded, and as many old members will agree not before time. Life will never be dull working in the Lodge. In an average eight-hour shift in term time, the duty porter will handle 300 items of Royal Mail, 400 items of 'pigeon post', 120 key movements plus over 120 telephone calls. On most occasions I am the first person students meet on arrival at Pembroke with their parents and, three to four years later, the person who hands them over to Dr Platt, Dean of Graduates, for their Graduation Ceremony. As you can imagine, I see quite a change in between these events.
Andrew Johnston I was born in Edinburgh and, after leaving school, worked for EMI Cinemas for eight years, moving to Oxford with them in 1972. I started an independent film exhibition company in 1979, running eight cinemas in London, Essex, Kent and Oxfordshire. In 1991 I made a change and became a licensee with Morrells of Oxford running a public house (The Carpenter in Jericho, the Rose & Crown in Woodstock and the King's Arms in Tackley) for 10 years. Then another change and I started at Pembroke College as a Lodge Porter in December 2000. Andy Hodgson I joined Pembroke College as a part-time Lodge Porter in June 1996. A year later I was given a full time contract. It is fair to say that I gain most job satisfaction from working with people, and each shift in the Porter's Lodge brings me different rewards and plenty of challenges. No two days are the same and I have had the privilege of working with people from all over the world in my five years at Pembroke. Before working at the College, I was employed by W.H.Smith as the resources manager for their Leadership & Team Development Department based at the company's national training centre, Milton Hill House, near Abingdon. The centre welcomed managers from all over the country to take part in projects with an experiential theme and using-the` Trardoors-;--As the resources manager, I had charge of all the logistics so that projects were ready to run at all times and sometimes at short notice! In the 33 years since I left school, I have not only worked for several W.H.Smith retail outlets and a W.H.Smith Training Department, but also for the Scout Association, and for the Sail Training Association on tall-masted schooners. These schooners give young people a once-in-alifetime opportunity of helping to crew a 300ton sailing ship where people are the key to a successful voyage. I live in Kidlington, near Oxford, and have been happily married to my wife, Jan, for 23 years. When I am not at work, I spend my leisure time helping to run two youth clubs at the local Methodist Church where I am the senior church steward. Brian Burborough I am by now Pembroke's longestserving porter having joined the staff in 1990 after working in the Magdalen Lodge for five years. Before coming to Oxford in 1985, I worked in the licensed trade, agricultural contracting and boat building. I also served in the RAF Regiment. My main interests are walking, gardening and DIY. Brian Femday (Tat') I took the position of Lodge Porter in 1998, having left Blackpool through lack of work. A relative living in Oxford had told me that Pembroke was looking for porters, so I applied for the position and was successful.
I was born in Chesterfield, where I lived until the age of 22, serving my time as an apprentice learning the skills of graining, gilding, marbling and joinery. This took me to work in places like Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, home of the Duke of Devonshire. I later gained my City and Guilds and Higher National Certificates. I left Derbyshire, after getting married, to live in Blackpool in the hope of finding work with better prospects and joined an international shopfitting firm. In this job I worked in places like Germany, Holland, Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka One of the last two big jobs I worked on was for Saddam Hussein, fitting out hotels before he declared war! After returning to Blackpool for no more than two weeks, I moved on to Euro Disney in France and spent the next 22 years developing my shopfitting skills. I then returned again to Blackpool, taking a job with First Leisure, owned by Lord Delfont. My job included working in the Winter Gardens and the piers; pubs, ballrooms, bowling alleys and many other places of entertainment. I finished my working time in Blackpool as a hotel maintenance man before arriving in Oxford. I am married to Sabina and we have one son, Mark, who now lives in the village of Epping. He's doing well as an interior design specialist with his Belgian wife Annamie
Brian Jordan Born in Oxford on 15 June 1944, I had a secondary modern school education and later attended Headington Tech -whci, I r,..,ei-veet-aCity and Guilds certificate in engineering. I worked at the Cowley car plant for 40 years, starting as a toolmaker and finishing as troubleshooter on a launch team for new models. In March two years ago I took TR' and tried retirement. This lasted for three months before it started to drive me mad. Then I applied, and got, a job at Pembroke and have enjoyed working here ever since. In my younger days most of my spare time was taken up with coxing for the local rowing clubs. It was there I first met Pete Burden, the College Waterman, and Len Weekes the Bar Manager. It must be said I was a few pounds lighter then. Recently my hobbies have been fish-keeping, reading and angling when I have the time. I am a keen supporter of Oxford United and the local speedway team. I have by good fortune and the grace of God remained unmarried all these years and my epitaph will read "Returned to stores unused", well almost anyway, after I leave this mortal coil. Graham Paull I am 61 years old, married, with a 30 year old son and have been a porter at Pembroke since January, working mainly at the Geoffrey Arthur Building. At this stage I should confess that for more than 18 years I have been in and out of prison. I was a Prison Officer and served at HMP Oxford, Bullingdon (Near Bicester) and Huntercombe Young Offenders Institute near Henley-onThames. Working in Oxford Prison was very much like being a member of the cast of the TV series "Porridge" with Ronnie Barker. This prison closed in 1997 and is now used for filming TV programmes which require a prison background.
Before I joined the Prison Service in 1982 I was in the army for 25 years, serving in the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers . For 20 of those years I was away from REME attached to many different units: Royal Warwicks , Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) known to the press as the Poison Dwarfs, Worcestershire Regiment, Gordon Highlanders, King's Own Scottish Borderers, 25th Field Regiment Royal Artillery and two units of the Junior Leaders Regiment. I spent four years in Northern Ireland and also saw service in the Persian Gulf, Germany (four times). Libya, Gibraltar, Denmark, Cyprus (with the United Nations), West Indies, Scotland (twice), Portugal and of course many postings in England. My hobbies are travelling, reading British and military history (and watching it on TV), pub quizzes and playing Aunt Sally — a very complicated game which involves throwing a lump of wood at another lump of wood for the "George" pub at Botley. Various people told me that I would find working at the G.A.B. lonely and boring. I have found, however, that all I have to do is either put the kettle on, pick up a book or put a snack in the microwave and the phone will ring, a queue of people will come in all wanting to chat and the car park buzzer will start sounding. You will be amazed, I'm sure, to know that the spider who lives in the web on the face of the security camera, comes out, to wrap up a meal, at least twelve times a day. Keith C. Battson, Night Porter. I was born on Midsummer's Day, 1935, in Palmer's Green, London. For part of the Secured Wolld Wu was evacuated to Derby but lived the rest of my childhood in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, and attended St. Helens R.C. School, and then Westborough High. At 16 I joined the Merchant Navy where I served for 10 years. In 1963 I came to Oxford to work for the Royal Mail, retiring after 34 years' service and coming to Pembroke in December 2000. I have five sons, two daughters and three grandchildren. Richard William Gerhardi I'm a 50-year-old divorcee, with two sons, Chris (19) and Dan (17) who have both fled the nest, but remain close. I joined Pembroke in January 2000, having retired after 30 years in Her Majesty's Constabulary, mainly in the Oxford area. During my service as a uniformed officer, I dealt with most aspects of police work, from minor traffic offences to the odd murder; from protecting royalty and politicians, to moving-on the drunks; from attending scenes of suicides and post mortems to covering rock festivals, Royal Ascot, Henley Regatta and football matches. My proudest moment was being presented with the Queen's medal "For Exemplary Police Service". I spent my last couple of years in the force as resource manager at Oxford Police station, from where I was responsible for resourcing police units to deal with a wide range of incidents. I was also responsible for various specialised fields, including missing persons, counterfeit currency, malicious phone calls, "drive-offs" and abandoned vehicles. I had the honour of being police technical adviser for the "Inspector Morse" series and had the pleasure of working on set and appearing in a few episodes.
CNN News Chairman Pembroke College graduate and Rhodes scholar Walter Isaacson, Managing Editor of Time and most recently Editorial Director of Time Inc, has been appointed Chainman and Chief Executive Officer of the CNN News Group. In his new position, Mr Isaacson will be responsible for CNN/US, CNN Headline News, CNN International, CNN/sen Espanol. In addition, he will oversee 10 other cable and satellite television networks worldwide; three private-based networks; two radio networks; 12 Web sites; CNN to Go in the United States and CNN Mobile internationally which provides news and information to mobile devices; and CNN Newsource, the world's most extensively syndicated news service. Announcing the appointment, Turner Broadcasting System Chairman and Executive Officer James Kellner said that Walter Isaacson epitomizes the integrity, leadership and vision that is needed to continue the unparalleled reputation, journalistic excellence and ratings leadership of the Organisation. AOL Times Warner Chief Executive Officer Gerald M.Levin said, "During his 23 years with Time Inc., Walter has distinguished himself as one of the world's most perceptive, dedicated and respected journalists. His many achievements as a writer, correspondent and editor of Time Magazine culminated in his selection as Managing Editor. This puts him in a line of succession that reaches back to Henry Luce and the foundations of our company in 1923. We are very confident that Walter and the rest of the CNN's talented management team will lead the world's most important news organization into the next era of journalism". Mr Isaacson, 49 was born in New Orleans and began his journalism career as a reporter for the Sunday Times. Later he became a reporter and city columnist for the New Orleans Times-Picayune/States-Item. Said Isaacson, "I am a journalist at heart, and have been since I started covering police headquarters for my hometown paper in New Orleans more than 25 years ago. Journalism is also at the heart of CNN and of AOL Time Warner. It has been bred into the heritage of this company since the founding of Time nearly 80 years ago and CNN over 20 years ago". Mr Isaacson joined Time in 1978 as a national affairs writer in New York, and moved to Washington as a political correspondent covering the Presidential campaign of Ronald Reagan and Ted Kennedy. He subsequently moved back to New York and became the magazine's National Editor and then Assistant Managing Editor. In 1993, Mr Isaacson was named the Editor of New Media for Time Inc. in that capacity he helped develop the Company's interactive television, cable and online services. Adweek magazine named him 'Editor of the Year' in 1995. In December 1995, Mr Isaacson became Managing Editor of Time, making him the 14th Chief editor of the magazine since its founding in1923. As Editor he oversaw a number of special projects including the TIME 100, an end of the century project involving six special issues and television shows which culminate with choice of Albert Einstein as the "Person of the Century" in addition to the weekly magazine. Mr Isaacson also expanded Time's franchises, which include a classroom publication Called Time For Kids; a successful technology magazine, On Magazine; and the Time.com online site. Mr Isaacson is a graduate of Harvard College and Pembroke College Oxford (1974) where he was a Rhodes scholar. He is the co-author of The Wise Men; Six Friends of the World They Made (1986), a book about American statesmen and the Cold War, and the author of Kissinger: A biography (1992).
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ORMER
The Crest and Arms of Davies Gilbert HE arms were described by Lionel Salt as being "Quarterly of seven". The crest is a squirrel. It is described in heraldic terms as "On a wreath of the colours a squirrel proper sejant cracking a nut or". The Latin motto "Mallem mori quam mutare" may be translated as "Better die than change". There is also (in Welsh) " Teg yw Heddwch". (North Oriel window of Broadgates Hall.)
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Gilbert Davies (1767- 1839) entered Pembroke College as a Gentleman-commoner under the name Davies Giddy. After graduation he was elected MP for Helston in 1804 and later for Bodmin which he represented for 17 years. He became President of the Royal Society in 1827 and was responsible for the selection of Isambard Kingdom Brunel as designer of the Clifton suspension bridge. WE ARE SEEKING
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Pembroke College Christmas Cards 2001 PAGE with miniature of Virgin and Child taken from a "Book of Hours" ( c.1410-1419) commissioned for Wenceslaus IV of Bohemia. The book is part of the bequest to Pembroke College made by Francis Wightwick (1711-83) Available from The Development Office Price per pack of 10 cards (including postage and packaging) UK: £6.50 US: $10.50 The card is 14-6 x 110 mm with the message
—wi7h-e; for Christmas and the New Year' or plain.
Dr Johnson's Gruel Mug Definition of "oats": "A grain, which in England is generally given to horses, but in Scotland appears to support the people." Johnson: A Dictionary Of The English Language
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R Samuel Johnson regularly visited Thomas Wharton, a Fellow of Trinity College in Oxford. In his rooms Wharton kept Johnson's Gruel Mug, which was manufactured in c 1765 by the Worcester Royal Porcelain Company. Gruel was a liquid food of oatmeal boiled in either milk or water, which was part of the staple diet of the time. The mug was presented to the Master of Pembroke in 1858, in recognition of Johnson's period at Pembroke between1728-1729. Due to popular demand for a Dr Johnson gift, a Porcelain coffee mug version of the Gruel Mug has been produced, through the Worcester Royal Porcelain Company who hold the original copperplate design in their museum. This will not be a limited edition mug. The cost of the mug will be £12.00 with an additional £2.50 per mug, for UK Postage & Packing. Overseas postage will be on a quantity and destination basis. To place an order, please fill out and return the enclosed order form to Stephen Rhodes, Catering Manager. Please do not send payment until you have received your goods and invoice .
Pembroke profile
Robin Le Breton 1961 How Brail's Atlantic Rainforest can be conserved
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Professor Heuston did not think I Law of the jungle is not deserved a second chance. He rejected included in the Oxford Jurisprudence curriculum, so my appeal: you tasted your worm once, so don't bother us any more was the you may well ask how a Pembroke Law gist of his response. So I went to the graduate comes to be running a research USA and did a Master's degree there, centre in the jungles of Brazil. This article and got the job. Many years later, in my will not answer your question. I am unable to discover the nexus. I guess some questions in life have no easy answers. Indirectly it must have been the fault of Francis Jeune, Master of Pembroke (1844- 6), that I came to Pembroke. He was from Jersey, and clearly believed in supporting the Jersey mafia. Not only did he bring the architect of the Dining Hall (John Hayward) from Jersey but also my very great grandfather Thomas Le Breton whose father had been Dean of Jersey (as had Jeune himself and as Thomas also later became). Jeune persuaded them to break with the family tradition of sending their sons to Exeter College, and established the Pembroke Robert Le Bre on (right) with a researcher connection. I was the last, to date, to follow that trail (my fifties, I had to do another Master's children ignored my illustrious example) degree to qualify for my fifth career. I when in 1961 I came up to study law hope I shall not have to do any more. under the tutelage of Professor R.F .V. After 20 years of professional life Heuston. I was an indifferent student, as Professor Heuston soon realised, though GG on a mission from my time was not totally spent in idle revelries (I was a founder member of working with tropical agricultural the OU Vintage and Thoroughbred Car development on five different Club, shot in the Pembroke Eight and continents, I decided it was time to see was president of the OU Eastern Africa if I really knew anything about it and Society). When I protested at the do it myself. As soon as I had achieved apparent irrelevance of some abstruse the pinnacle of middle-class ambitions Cartesian questions of jurisprudence, -educating my children and paying off Heuston acidly reminded me that I was my mortgage -I packed up the family in under no obligation to study at all. I was quite welcome to catch the next train for the back of the station wagon and set off for Brazil. London at 3.20 that afternoon. He was right of course but, as usual, I did not We had already bought our farm, Iracambi, in the Mountains of Minas take his advice and struggled on until Gerais, surrounded by the remnants of the final champagne celebration on a the Atlantic Rainforest. This vast forest summer afternoon outside the Examination Schools meant it was all once stretched up Brazil's seaboard from south of the Tropic of Capricorn to over. In fact that celebration did not mark beyond the equator, but 500 years of ruthless exploitation had left less than one the end of my academic career. I soon tenth of it. Its biodiversity is immense. found I had the wrong qualifications for It is home to two thirds of Brazil' s the job I wanted, so I applied for a place at Pembroke to read for a Master's endangered species, which have never been systematically catalogued, and every degree in Agricultural Economics. HE
year species disappear without scientists even knowing what they were. The main cause of destruction is the constant need of small landowners to increase agricultural production while facing the universal squeeze of lower product prices and rising costs. Cutting
down a bit of forest to make space for more coffee is often the only option facing a farmer with a hungry family to feed. Draconian legislation and higher
the law to the jungle" fences round the forest is no solution. The challenge is to make conserving it more attractive than cutting it down. To meet this challenge we set up a research centre to provide us with answers to the most urgent questions. We needed to know about the processes of forest degradation and regeneration. We needed to perfect those management activities that contribute most to restoring and conserving biodiversity, and those which minimise the damage to it. Above all, we needed to find out how farmers can use the forest as a means of increasing their income. One possibility is the commercial production of indigenous medicinal plants, so we set up a project to develop this and explore other forest products. We run an environmental education programme aimed initially at
schoolchildren. In the future we shall extend it to include groups of farmers as well. It is important to get the participation of all local people in arousing environmental consciousness. Our Forest Corridors programme aims to motivate groups of young people to work with farmers, persuading and helping them to constitute corridors along their farm boundaries, reconnecting isolated fragments of forest so as to widen the habitat for the animal and invertebrate species that play a vital role in the reproduction of plant species. Our Forest Futures scheme takes this concept further, buying up plots of degraded land of no use to the owner, reforesting them and putting them under permanent protection. It also buys up strategically significant patches of forest from their existing owners, improves the forest stand by planting higher quality forest trees among the existing trees and puts them under protection too. We intend to develop the Forest Futures scheme to be a major source of funding for other projects as well. You can see it on our website www .iracambi.com To assist us with all these diverse activities are many helping hands. Volunteers come from many parts of the world (Hong Kong, Iceland, Thailand, Finland ...among them). We have partnerships with national and international institutions that support us with technical assistance and information exchanges. We are building long-term partnerships with a number of leading research institutions, and we are looking for long-term funding for specific projects such as the expansion of the research centre and the medicinal plants project. Other activities have been funded from our own resources and volunteer contributions as well as donations of equipment. Much needs to be done before the long-term future of tropical rainforests is secure. We only play a small part in solving a large problem but we believe Iracambi can show that sustainable land use and conservation are not contradictions. Both can flourish where the forest meets the farm.
Diary Dates 2001 November 3
Unveiling of the Godfrey Bond memorial plaque. ll.a m. All welcome
November 5
Manchester Reception to meet the new Master Venue to be announced 6.30.p.m.
November 13
Oxford Reception to meet the new Master Venue: 6.30.p.m Broadgates Hall Pembroke College
November 15
Bristol Reception to meet the new Master Venue to be announced
November 19
London Reception to meet the new Master Venue to be announced
November 27
Carol Concert Venue: Pembroke Chapel
2002 January 24
Media Reception (London) Venue to be announced
February 4
Pembroke Business Group reception Guest Speaker: Sir Rocco Forte
March 15/16
Oxford University /New York Reception Waldorf Astoria Hotel
Apri112
Gaudy 1972-3-4-5-6
April 29
Pembroke Women' s Group Guest Speaker Mrs Beatrice Hollond Venue: Groucho Club
May 25
Garden Party
June 21
Gaudy 1954-5-6-7-8-9-60
June 22
Golden Jubilee Dinner for Matriculation 1952
September 27
Society Dinner
September 28
Activity Day
What Pembroke has achieved with your support
M
AINTAINING the fabric of the College buildings is a major undertaking. It is one that Pembroke bears willingly, as the proud guardian of a heritage built over centuries. In 1996, Governing Body in conjunction with the College's architects and quantity surveyors formulated a detailed refurbishment plan that identified the areas within the College on which we should concentrate our efforts. The Junior Common Room The Plan is part of Pembroke's vision of the future and spans 30 years. It reflects the key tasks that must be undertaken, as part of our custodial responsibilities to Pembroke's historic structures, as well as a number of exciting projects that will significantly enhance the College's working, domestic and hostel environment. I am pleased to report that as a result of your generous financial support, the College has made major progress by completing on time Phase lA of 'The Pembroke Refurbishment'. Phase lA In 1997, we upgraded 10 student rooms on Staircase 11. This included the provision of en -suite facilities, central heating and Ethernet points with shared pantry provision for ever-hungry residents. In 1998, the Easter vacation was used to upgrade 4 student rooms on Staircase 7 and in the Summer the builders tackled Staircase 17. Students arrived back to find 11 rooms fully upgraded and refurbished. In summer 1999, we completed the refurbishment of 13 rooms on Staircase 10 with the same facilities as Staircases 7, 11 and 17. In the Long Vacation of the following year, 14 more student rooms on staircase 9 were upgraded, to provide en suite facilities and Ethernet points. In the same vacation, 5 student rooms were created on Staircase 2 from the previous 4, as a result of the creative inspiration of our project architect. The Junior Common Room was also completely renovated and Rev Platt's study was returned to its former glory. A feature of the upgrades on all these staircases has been the introduction of outer staircase doors fitted with a smart security system. At the same time, all the buildings have been made to conform to all the latest Health and Safety regulations. During next term, the Governing Body will meet to receive an update on the 1995 report to ensure that the priority code given to each of the buildings is still current. Following the Report and with your generous financial support we will then proceed with Phase 1B. Mary-Jane Hilton, Director of Development
Flandrin 14,xhibition
R
MBROKE was the springboard for a new exhibition at the Ashmolean, Jules Flandrin (1871-1947): the Other Fin de Siecle. David Mason, Professor of Clinical Oncology, provided the initial contacts with the artist's family via his colleague Professor Georges Flandrin of the Hopital Necker in Paris, which have led to the staging of the show. The initiative was taken up by Tim Farrant, Fellow and Tutor in French, in collaboration with Juliet Simpson, Reader in Art History at Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College (BCUC). A unique international, inter-institutional and interdisciplinary collaboration was the result, involving the Ashmolean Museum, BCUC, the Maison Francaise, and the Arts and Humanities Research Board. Distinguished scholars from the UK and
France have lent support and contributed to the attractive and fully illustrated exhibition catalogue written and edited by Dr Simpson and Dr Farrant. Jules Flandrin, pupil of the Symbolist Gustave Moreau, friend of Matisse and Marquet, was one of the generation which took art from the nineteenth century to the modern age. The Ashmolean show, which displayed over seventy of Flandrin's works and gave an overview of his career, aimed to reassess the artist's output and to invite reflection on the cross-currents in the Parisian art-world around the turn of the last century. Focusing on Flandrin's involvement with contemporary innovations, it explored his art as strikingly emblematic of the early twentieth-century avant-garde. And in so doing, it reminded
Dr Robert Stevens, Dr Christopher Brown (Director of the Ashmolean Museum), Mr John Oram (Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, Buckinghamshire Chiltems University College), Dr Juliet Simpson, (Reader in History of Art, Social Sciences and Humanities, Buckinghamshire Chiltems University College), M. Jules Flandrin and Dr Tim Farrant, Fellow and Tutor in French, at the private view of the exhibition on 17 April.
us that the avant-garde drew as much on tradition and continuity as it depended on ex-nihilo creation and the new. For what strikes us about Flandrin's art is both the variety of styles in which he works (but this is true also, of say, Picasso ), and the many echoes and reflections of other artists. His work raises questions about artistic identity, and makes him truly representative of his age. The exhibition was opened by the Cultural Counsellor of France, M. Xavier North, on 17 April. A special feature of the event was the presence of members of the artist's family, including his son Jules, who gave a moving address about his father's life and work in Paris and Grenoble. The opening was celebrated by a dinner in Pembroke's Forte Room attended by the exhibition curator and organisers, the Cultural Counsellor, the Directors of the Ashmolean Museum and the Maison Francaise, the Dean and other representatives of Buckinghamshire Chilterns University College, M. Jules and Professor Georges Flandrin, and Dr Robert and Mrs Katherine Booth Stevens. A two-day international scholarly symposium hosted by the Maison Francaise explored Flandrin in the context of the wider theme of tradition and modernity, and Juliet Simpson and Katherine Booth Stevens, Clore Education Officer of the Ashmolean Museum, organized a series of related public events.