Spartan Winter 2015

SPArtan BATH SPA alumni and friends magazine Issue SIX WINTER 2015

CONTENTS 04 Brewing a career in beer 10 Giving voice to the voiceless 14 Bath Spa graduate slides to success!

18 Finding the writer 26 Mary Berry reveals secrets of her student days 28 What your Alumni Association can do for you

Welcome to the winter 2015 issue of SPARTAN, the magazine for alumni and friends of Bath Spa University.

I very much enjoyed meeting those of you who attended the Alumni Reunion weekend in August. It was such a wonderful opportunity to share experiences and reminisce. You can hear more memories of my time at Bath College of Domestic Science on page 26.

The Alumni Association now has over 60,000 members and our community is growing. Life takes many different turns and the experiences we have through college or university stay with us.

Students today have so much choice, but I firmly believe in pursuing a vocation that you enjoy. I am very grateful for the teaching I received at college and have endeavoured to share my passion for baking throughout my career.

This issue of SPARTAN includes articles about alumni who have done just that – discovering a skill that has developed into a passion. This includes Creative Writing alumnus Pushpam Kumar who has found inspiration working with the Geography Department and Eleanor Furneaux who finds herself a member of the British Skeleton team, even though she studied Contemporary Arts Practice!

I hope you enjoy reading about your fellow alumni and please do keep in touch and share with us your experiences and memories of Bath Spa. We are all part of a connected community and can learn much from one another.

Mary Berry, CBE Bath Spa University Alumni Association President

Hello from our President

Contents 04

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Brewing a career in beer Bath Spa Biology student becomes successful Technical Brewer

Giving voice to the voiceless Pushpam Kumar discusses the motivation behind his recent films and research trips to India

Bath Spa graduate slides to success!

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British Skeleton squad team member Eleanor Furneaux talks about the influence that Bath Spa had on where she is today

Your feedback matters.

We would love to hear your suggestions for future issues of SPARTAN, along with your comments on this issue.

Please write to us by email at alumni@bathspa.ac.uk Or by post: Alumni Association Bath Spa University Newton Park Newton St Loe Bath BA2 9BN Alumni enquiries Paola Bassindale alumni@bathspa.ac.uk SPARTAN is published twice a year. The opinions expressed in its editorial are those of the writers concerned and not necessarily those of Bath Spa University.

Finding the writer Alumna Sarah Benwell talks about her writing journey and Bath Spa’s impact on her desire to write

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Press and Success

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News

Find out what fellow alumni are doing

Keep up-to-date with our latest news and events

Mary Berry reveals secrets of her student days

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Discover what Alumni Association President Mary Berry has to say about her days at Bath Spa and her career ever since

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What is the Alumni Association?

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Keep in touch Correspondence

Find out benefits of being part of the Association

Final note From Professor Christina Slade, Vice-Chancellor of Bath Spa University

Cover One of the illustrations commissioned to represent the new theme for the Alumni Association

Brewing a career in beer Matthew Lane shares his story of how he followed his unusual passion to become a Technical Brewer in a niche start-up company

Matthew Lane

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atthew Lane (BA (Hons) Biology 2014) grew up in Guernsey in the Channel Islands, and after he graduated from Bath Spa University he returned to Guernsey where he was offered the position of Technical Brewer at White Rock Brewery. He was fortunate that the first microbrewery on the island was in search of a brewer at the same time he was looking for a job in his hometown.

Why did you choose to study at Bath Spa University?

To be honest, it was a decision I made quite hastily. I was unsure which direction to take when leaving school. Before Fresher’s Week, I’d never visited Bath or the University. It appeared to be a nice place to live and the course looked like it would suit me. Arriving for the first time, I was understandably apprehensive, but felt at home in Bath surprisingly quickly.

Bath is a beautiful and vibrant city, is there any particular place or thing that you miss?

It is! I imagine this is very common among older students, but I miss Newton Park campus, especially Corston Brook. Having such open green space in which to live and study, it is something truly special and I don’t think I would have taken to university so quickly without it. Having such a beautiful campus on which to spend time was a more valuable part of the university experience than I ever anticipated. I also miss Nando’s, we don’t have one in Guernsey.

Do you have any funny stories from your time at Bath Spa? Not a great number that are appropriate for publication! I once managed to fall asleep in a neuropsychology lecture on the subject of sleep and, on a separate occasion, arrived late to a lecture on malnutrition because my lunch overran. I wasn’t a model student.

Studying biology, did you always imagine you’d get into beer? If so, when?

Initially I was more interested in botany; beer began to interest me a little in my first year.

I remember the excitement quite clearly.

While trying different ales in a pub one evening my brother, knowing that I was studying a bit of food science, asked how one would go about brewing beer. At the time I didn’t know, and so we fashioned a couple of water tanks into a primitive brewing system and found out.

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The resulting product was unpleasant, but it was discernibly beer. That was enough for me; I was hooked. Studying a Food Microbiology module at Bath Spa complimented my new hobby. I gained a greater understanding of the underlying scientific principles and my brews improved.

With that prospect, I lacked no motivation to study the specifics of brewing.

You wrote your dissertation on Beer Microbiology…

Yes! By the time I was in my third year I had already met my current work colleagues. I agreed to work with them after graduation, and kept returning as frequently as possible to assist them with the start-up of the brewery. I’d taken a shine to microbiology by this time: being in such a fortunate position I focused my dissertation on a beer-related topic.

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A regular problem faced by the industry is the contamination of beer by unwanted microorganisms. Just as people are made ill, beers can change for the worse (frequently soured) by the activity of certain bacteria. Brewing is one of the oldest industries in the world, with spoiled beer being a constant feature. It was discovered in the Middle Ages that beers brewed with hops were far less susceptible to be corrupted, with this epiphany their use quickly became universal. Today you will struggle to find a beer that isn’t flavoured exclusively with hops. This is a vestige of a time when their preservative properties were invaluable.

Matthew Lane at White Rock Brewery

White Rock Brewery

I conducted an experiment to investigate the antibacterial mechanism of hop derivatives during beer fermentation and their role in preventing spoilage. I also considered bacteria that have, in recent times, evolved to become resistant to hops. The study involved brewing quite a substantial amount of beer in the labs, it was great fun!

How did your time at Bath Spa help you?

In general, I think spending three years studying a broad range of topics gave me the time and inspiration to decide on a direction. When I started university I had no real inclination or idea of what I wanted to do when I finished. Over time I discovered some new areas like microbiology.

The wonderful thing about studying a science is that it encourages a certain way of thinking, one that can be applied to a wide range of pursuits. More specifically I am indebted to the staff with whom I worked, especially their encouragement and enthusiasm during my final year project. It was undoubtedly a very niche project, but I feel they went beyond the call of duty to help me follow my particular interest.

For those of us who may not know, what exactly is a Technical Brewer?

A Technical Brewer typically oversees all or part of the production process in a brewery. They have a theoretical knowledge that allows them to manipulate the process and troubleshoot any problems that may occur.

While at larger breweries they may specialise in a particular aspect of the production, like yeast handling or packaging, at small operations such as White Rock it means looking after the whole process: designing a recipe to meet a market demand, sourcing ingredients and assessing their quality, brewing the beer and taking samples that are analysed to ensure consistency of the product.

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The beer is then packaged in a way that conforms to regulations and stored under controlled conditions before distribution. It is both a highly practical and theoretical job, one which requires a scientifically rigorous approach, but with a substantially creative and innovative component for the design of the recipe.

You’ve been working at White Rock Brewery for over a year now, what has it been like?

I have just two colleagues, one of whom works full-time alongside me. It is a small operation, but I feel we complement each other well and between us we rarely come up short when faced with a problem. While I tend the beer, my colleagues tend the

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business: looking after sales and marketing.

It’s a simple dynamic that requires a good deal of trust and respect, but has worked out well. Day-to-day I spend much of my time brewing and undertake a number of other duties like deliveries, cleaning and maintaining the equipment to name a few.

In contrast to this time last year, our output has doubled, off-island export has started up and we have acquired a pub in which we can showcase our products. We have developed

a core range of four seasonal ales, amongst them a golden-coloured summertime ale, brewed in association with a local charity.

Its flavour is subtle, but distinctive, and its easy drinking nature has helped introduce it and, I dare say, convert a few people to ale drinking. It’s proved a hit, especially at festivals and sporting events.

At the other end of the spectrum we brew stronger, ruby ale. We spent some time devising a blend of six heavily roasted and caramelised malts, settling on a concoction that captured a flavour of the rich malts giving a smooth finish and wonderful, deep-crimson colour. This brew finds its home among a smaller, but devoted core of fanatics in speciality ale pubs on the island.

What’s the favourite brew you’ve come up with?

It doesn’t have a name, and I haven’t even finished the recipe yet! It’s going to be a limited edition: an imperial stout to be released at Christmas time. This style is very strong and highly flavoured and is, for me, going to be the most exciting brew to date.

The production will be technically challenging, very time consuming, relatively expensive and somewhat nerve wracking. In spite of this I think we are all quietly optimistic about its success. I have now produced in excess of 100,000 pints, but I am just as excited as I was two years ago for our very first brew.

Do you have any last words for our readers?

My time at Bath Spa helped me to develop and expand a very niche interest within my chosen area of study and I could not be more satisfied with the career to which it has led. While there is no denying an element of luck in this, along the way a common feature has been that people with whom I have worked, my tutors, and now my colleagues have always met my enthusiasm with encouragement and confidence. Their willingness to entertain my slightly bizarre passion, in spite of not sharing it, will be something for which I am always grateful.

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Giving voice to the voiceless Creative Writing alumnus Pushpam Kumar speaks about his life, films and all he’s learnt through his travels to India.

En-route to river flood survey locations in the Phojal Nalla catchment in the Indian Himalaya, Kullu District, Himachal Pradesh, India. April 2015.

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ushpam Kumar (MA Creative Writing 2014) looks back at the opportunities he’s had over recent years as part of his involvement in research projects and promotional activities with the Geography Department at Bath Spa University. He talks about the impact of climate and the environment on people’s livelihoods and the need to tell the stories of those living in the Indian Himalaya.

Pushpam came to England to do a Masters in Creative Writing after publishing his first book Shades of Shadows in 2012.

“I like telling stories and wanted to hone that skill further,” he commented. “I chose the UK because it maintains very high academic standards and has students from different parts of the world. This creates an environment which is not just academically excellent, but also culturally rich, something I wanted to experience.”

A new experience His adventures began in November 2013, when he heard of an interesting opportunity to work on a research project with Dr Richard Johnson and Dr Esther Edwards from the Geography Department at Bath Spa. “Since I have always enjoyed the pleasure of finding things out, I immediately applied for this. Fortunately, I was selected,” he remembers. “The aim of the project was to produce films, which would tell the story of the people living in Phojal, a small village located in the Indian Himalaya, and how their lives were affected by a flash flood in August 1994.” This flash flood caused a lot of damage as the people were not equipped to deal with disasters of such scales. “Lots of houses were washed away, some of them lost their land and some lost their entire savings,” recalls Pushpam. “While going through the archives (interviews and photographs) I got goose bumps, thinking about that moment when they would have seen the muddy water take away everything they had.”

“My biggest challenge was to reconstruct what had happened back then in such a way that it illustrates what they went through one night in August 1994. And since this was something I had never done before, my problems doubled. But, I accepted the challenge and produced these films,” said Pushpam. Finally when they were ready, the films were showcased at several conferences, including the “Creative Sparks” event at the opening of the Commons building at Newton Park.

This worked as a platform for him for further projects. “I subsequently produced promotional videos for the Geography Department and the International Relations Office at Bath Spa University. That was truly an enriching experience,” he said. Pushpam graduated from his MA in Creative Writing in September 2014 and returned to India to finish his second book.

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Exploring the Indian Himalaya In April 2015, he got another opportunity to undertake a field trip with Dr Johnson and Dr Edwards in Phojal to study the impact of the construction of several micro hydroelectric power projects in Himachal Pradesh, an area known for its streams and rivers. The idea behind these micro hydroelectric power projects is to produce more electricity, which will then be sold off to other parts of the country. However, this will have profound implications on the ecology of the area and the livelihoods of the people living there. “Since a certain percentage of free flowing water will be tapped and diverted for producing electricity, it is bound to impact the apple farmers, who have lived in these areas for centuries and are dependent on this water to not only meet their daily demands, but also for farming. In addition, no plan is in place to transfer the benefits to the local communities,” he reflects.

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This field trip taught him various aspects of a multi-disciplinary research project: the importance of careful planning, meticulous data collection, archiving, flexibility of approach in a challenging and dynamic environment, and clear understanding of things, which are critical for the delivery of a successful cutting-edge research project.

But the research trip wasn’t just about data collection, there was more to it. And an anecdote closely connected to that comes to Pushpam’s mind. “At the end of a busy field day, while I was waiting by the stream for others to finish, a group of school children approached me. They were curious about what we were doing and about our helmets and trekking poles,” he recalls. “Then they asked me if I was carrying any chocolate, which I gave to them. But, while I was trying to explain the significance of Easter, they were busy distributing the chocolates amongst themselves. Not sure they would distribute them evenly, I made a pact with them: if they went around and gave chocolates to everyone in the village, I would give them more. They did as they were told and came back the next day for more.”

Boy at a village in Himachal Pradesh

At Khathi village in the Indian Himalayas

Remote villages of India Another significant thing happened on the eighth day of the field trip, when they trekked to a rather remote village called Kathi. “Getting there was particularly difficult, as roads didn’t exist, so we had to cover a great distance on foot, on terrain impacted by recent landslides,” he remembers. “Once there, I was amazed at how people were leading such a simple and happy life in the middle of nowhere and with a very limited access to the everyday resources we all wish for. At the same time, I was ashamed that I knew so little

about my own country. I was forced to think, what can I do to empower these people?

The answer was to tell the stories of these extraordinary people living a simple life in such extraordinary places.” This experience gave him an idea for a film called Remote Villages of India. “At some point in the near future, I will start developing this idea into a series,” he comments.

When asked what his next step is, Pushpam replies: “I want to become the voice of the voiceless people through my films.

I like cameras and I like writing, why not combine both to tell meaningful and impactful stories?”

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Bath Spa graduate slides to success!

Eleanor Furneaux (BA (Hons) Contemporary Arts Practice 2015) selected to be part of a new generation of British skeleton sliders Eleanor Furneaux training in Norway

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ince Lizzy Yarnold’s gold medal at the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014, the race has been on to find the next generation of British Skeleton athletes.

Eleanor on graduation day

In the wake of Sochi a new initiative called Power2Podium was launched by UK Sport and British Skeleton with the aim of finding a team of talented young men and women to compete and win at the Winter Olympics.

In April last year trials were held. From over 1,000 applications a final selection of just eight were chosen, including Bath Spa University’s very own Eleanor Furneaux.

A rise in popularity The world of skeleton has enjoyed a boost in popularity since Yarnold’s success.

Created in the Swiss resort of St Moritz in the late 19th century when wealthy British tourists took to hurling themselves around on sleds, which apparently looked like skeletons, the sport involves athletes negotiating a series of tricky twists and turns on a one-person sled.

The small sled offers little protection from the ice or barriers and can reach alarming speeds of up to 140km/h. The track can be unforgiving too, so athletes must stay focused or risk finding themselves being thrown onto the cold ice. To be the best at skeleton, athletes must have lightningfast reaction times, physical and mental strength, as well as having a bit of extra help from the latest technology.

Thrill seeker Self-confessed adrenaline junkie Eleanor, who earnt her place in the squad while studying BA Contemporary Arts Practice full-time at Bath Spa, was understandably ecstatic at being chosen for the team.

The 22-year-old was a latecomer to the sport, having trained to be a sailor until she was 14.

“I was in the Olympic Development Squad and sailed catamarans with my older brother Angus,” explains Eleanor.

“It got to the stage where he wanted to focus more on his schoolwork, so when I moved to Bath to go to university I decided to start training in the gym and noticed all these people walking around in blue British Skeleton tops.

“I started to get interested in the sport, then after watching the Winter Olympics in Sochi, I was keen to try it myself.”

Eleanor felt the time was right for a change and wanted a challenge. She missed the sense of competition she experienced while sailing catamarans and felt skeleton was the right sport for her, so she attended the trials in April.

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Eleanor continues: “When I went to the trials there were over 1,000 people. It was so much more pressure, but I knew I wanted to do it and that made me even more determined.

“There were four sets of trials throughout the year, with the final one on ice in November 2014.

“I was very lucky to be one of only 20 who were invited to Norway.

“This was a two-week training camp out on the ice, learning the sport and being in the winter sport environment. I loved the whole experience and knew that it was what I wanted to continue to do.”

Waiting for news When she returned home she had a nervewracking two-week wait until finally, the call came.

“I got the phone call on the 23 December while I was on my way home for Christmas!

I’m not ashamed to admit that I cried a lot.”

British Skeleton has grown in popularity as well as success. The sport received £3.4 million of funding for Sochi making it the most funded British winter sport.

The small sled offers little protection from the ice

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“Being in the squad feels amazing, like a dream come true,” Eleanor enthuses, “it’s tough and takes a lot of mental as well as physical strength. Being away for such a long time is hard, and being switched on that whole time is difficult, but so worth it.”

A passion for the arts Eleanor went through all of this while studying for her degree, graduating in June this year. The course enabled her to explore different creative arts and to find that she had a flair in photography.

“Before I joined Bath Spa I was all over the place and didn’t know which area of art I wanted to specialise in. The course enabled me to find my passion for photography.

“Being in my final year whilst training was pretty tough, however, I coped and used my photography to focus on the subject of skeleton which made it more convenient for me.”

Eleanor Furneaux training

After her graduation ceremony there was no rest or partying throughout the summer like most graduates. Instead, Eleanor was subjected to a tough training camp at the state-of-the-art push-track at the University of Bath.

Despite it being hard work she enjoyed the experience: “It was absolutely incredible, like nothing I have ever done before. The first time I stood at the top of the track, I had never been so nervous in my life and I was really shaking.

“If I wasn’t based in Bath I definitely wouldn’t be where I am right now and I would never have heard about the trials.

I’m very lucky.”

A determined young lady, Eleanor is tough and zealous in everything she puts her mind to. Once she finds her passion, whether photography or sliding, she pushes herself to be the best.

“Then I got to the bottom and started crying – but in a good way because it was so exhilarating.”

Her gutsy attitude has enabled her to follow her dream of competing for her country in Skeleton.

Strive for the best

Eleanor’s advice for fellow budding sportswomen: “Never give up when following your dreams.”

Her year is split into two parts: summer training which involves gruelling sessions in the gym up to twice a day for six days, and winter training which involves a tough schedule of skeleton sessions, gym workouts, sliding sessions and mobility training.

Eleanor takes it all in her stride and thanks her lucky stars that she chose to go to Bath Spa University, where it all began.

Eleanor continues: “We’ll be going back out onto the ice for our second season of training soon, so fingers crossed it all goes well and one day I will be competing in the Beijing 2022 Olympics!”

You can keep up to date with Eleanor’s news by following her on Twitter @EleanorFurneaux 17

Finding the writer For Sarah Benwell writing was never a career choice; it was a way of life. She talks about how Bath Spa helped her realise and achieve her dream.

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arah Benwell is a writer and Creative Writing tutor. She studied BA (Hons) International Education, graduating in 2010, and a MA in Writing for Young People in 2012. She is the author of The Last Leaves Falling (Penguin Random House, 2015), a tale of a Japanese teenager with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). It explores hope and hopelessness, life and death and dignity in both, and how there is always a choice. It’s just been nominated for the CILIP Carnegie 2016. She tells us about her journey as a writer for young people.

When I was four I fell in love with Michael Rosen and his words. At nine, my teacher gave me an A4 hardback notebook for Christmas while everyone else got footballs or glitter gels.

At ten, I would feign sickness and fill exercise books with my stories, epic poems about Christopher Columbus, gruesome tales of Aztec slaves and piratical adventures. Not once did I doubt that I could be a writer, that I already was one.

But something changed. Exams, bullying, ‘sensible’ adults or a combination of everything life throws at you, wormed their way in.

I came to Bath Spa in 2007 to study International Education (and change the world, of course) and while the course was excellent, it did not satisfy the desperately-searching part of me.

However, that year I saw Julia Green on stage at the Bath Children’s Literature Festival with a panel of Bath Spa’s successful children’s writers.

I knew I wanted to write with the same surety I had in primary school and knew I had to. But I was studying something else that was good and valuable. So I kept going and ignored it.

My housemate was studying for a BA in Creative Writing, and every time he came home excited over an assignment I would get excited too. And envious. We’d talk about his work and I’d end up staying up much later than I should writing my own versions of his assignments (just because it sounded fun).

It became too much and I couldn’t ignore it: I had to write and share it. Somehow I talked my way onto a module called Writing for Young People with Lucy Christopher. That module saved me, my degree and my sanity, and it gave me a way in to my dream career. For two hours a week I worked with writers, sharing work and honing skills. I wasn’t someone with a writing hobby; I was who I was meant to be. I wasn’t squeezing writing in on top of study and all

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Photo credit Jess Howley-Wells

the writer life; being surrounded by other writers for a year; weekly critiquing to sharpen your writing skills and your receptiveness to criticism, and getting to read Frank Cottrell Boyce, Patrick Ness and Dayo Forster and calling it work. All invaluable.

Kirsten Armstrong (Random House), Sarah Benwell and Gill McLay (Bath Literary Agency)

the things I ‘should’ be doing. Writing was marked, required work for my degree.

Everything changed. At the end of the year, I couldn’t give that up. Lucky for me, Bath Spa has an MA Writing for Young People.

There are lots of wonderful things about the course: knowledgeable and generous tutors with insider knowledge of the industry and

But for me, the best thing the MA gave me was permission to explore the stories I wanted and could tell, to write and call it work. And with it, the space to breathe and figure out who I was and who I wanted to be, to go back to my child-self and explore the world through words and stories.

My debut for teens The Last Leaves Falling came out in January 2015. I’ve finished the second book and am working on a third. I am 100 per cent definitely a writer. I’m a better one than I ever would have been an educator.

I might not be improving education systems across the world the way I’d planned, but my words are out there, and maybe that changes it for the better too.

Weddings, functions, conferences, and meetings www.bathspavenues.com | contact@bathspavenues.com | 01225 876700

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PRESS AND SUCCESS Find out what some of our alumni are up to...

Humanities and Cultural Industries Alison Clink (MA Creative Writing 2000) Since graduating from her MA course, Alison has published over 50 of her short stories in the UK and overseas, two of them broadcasted on BBC Radio 4. She had articles published in Stella Magazine, The Sunday Telegraph and the Family Guardian.

In April, her memoir The Man Who Didn’t Go To Newcastle was published and chosen as one of the September Books of the Month on the Lovereading website, and reviewed in The Bookseller. Her latest story, Worry Guts will be published in Woman’s Weekly later this year.

Society, Enterprise and Environment Tim Johns (BA (Hons) Geography 2012) Recent graduate Tim Johns successfully undertook a final year dissertation in partnership with the Environment Agency. He did so well, he was offered a paid summer placement with the Environment Bristol Area Asset Management Team at the same organisation.

Art and Design Jane King (MA Design: Ceramics 2012) Jane was shorlisted for the Young Masters Maylis Grand Ceramics Prize 2014. Since then she has been busy exhibiting her work at the National Centre for Craft and Design in Sleaford, and the Fresh Air sculpture biennial in Quenington. Her work was also selected for the 59th Faenza Prize, Ceramic Event VII in Brussels and for the Salisbury Art Centre’s Open Ceramics ‘Untitled, Spill Series, exhibition in October 2015. pink and green’

Humanities and Cultural Industries Art and Design Jane Shemilt (MA Creative Writing 2012) Jane’s debut novel Daughter was published

by Penguin in August 2014 and was included in The Sunday Times Bestseller list for nine weeks. According to The Bookseller, Daughter was the bestselling debut of 2014 and is now being sold in 23 countries.

In September, her second book The Drowning Lesson was published by Penguin.

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Fiona Haines (MA Fine Art 2014) Fiona was selected to exhibit in the renowned Passion for Freedom Festival at the ICA. She is one of 57 artists from all over the world who were chosen for this exhibition that celebrates freedom and showcases uncensored art. Her work has also been selected for the 163rd Annual Open Exhibition at the Royal West of England Academy (RWA), Bristol. www.fionahaines.com

Music and Performing Arts Art and Design Vilas Silverton (MA Design: Ceramics 2014) Vilas was included in the British Ceramics Biennial as one of the 22 new talents to show at FRESH exhibition at The Original Spode Factory Site in Stoke-on-Trent, which was held from 26 September to 8 November 2015. His work has also been included in the exhibition Art in Clay at Hatfield House, Hertfordshire, with his imagery used prominently to advertise the show.

Robert Browning (BA (Hons) Theatre Production 2014) Since graduating, Rob has become a freelancer in Stage Management and has worked for Theatre Royal Bath several times, once as Deputy Stage Manager for a new musical Rumpelstiltskin last Christmas at The Egg. He has been appointed Deputy Stage Manager for the show Moominland Midwinter which will take place at Waterside Arts Centre in Manchester this Christmas.

Music and Performing Arts

Art and Design Rebecca Connolly (BA (Hons) Textile Design for Fashion and Interiors 2015) Rebecca has been invited to become a Graduate Licentiate of the Society of Designer Craftsmen and will exhibit with Society members in the Pall Mall Gallery in London next summer.

She came second at the Bristol Cloth Competition.

Music and Performing Arts Nicholas Peters (BA (Hons) Music 2005) Nicholas is now a local music teacher and had his music performed by the Manon Quartet last June at The Pound Arts Centre in Corsham, where he is currently composerin-residence for the 2015/16 season.

Sian King (BA (Hons) Acting 2014) Graduate Sian has filmed six episodes of ‘Live at the Vaults’ for Cardiff TV. She has also been a judge for the quay note competition with Made in Cardiff TV, and is currently filming for a new series Exit 7 which is due to air in November this year (including a Christmas Day special).

Music and Performing Arts Conrad Segal (BA (Hons) Acting 2015) Conrad has wasted no time in getting his first professional contract. He is now part of the Guildford-based Apollo Theatre Company’s national tour of Round the Horne: The 50th Anniversary Tour, a tribute to the famous BBC 1960s comedy series, compiled and directed by Tim Astley which brings together various episodes in one play.

Let us know your news! We love to hear from our alumni and what they have been up to. If you would like to share with the wider alumni community, please send your stories to: alumni@bathspa.ac.uk 21

News Bath Spa University climbs up The Times Good University Guide and is second safest university in the South West Bath Spa University is now ranked 58 in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, a move up of 12 places. The University was one of the highest climbers this year scoring highly in a number of key areas including teaching quality and the student experience. The University was ranked eighth Best Modern University in the UK and sixth best overall for teaching quality.

Also, research conducted by the Complete University Guide revealed that Bath Spa University is the second safest in the South West, and came sixth when ranked against nearly 130 other universities and higher education institutions across England and Wales. The ranking, based on official police data, shows Bath, Canterbury and Lancaster have the lowest cumulative crime rates across the country.

Jerwood Drawing Prize 2015 This year, the Jerwood Drawing Prize received 3,072 works submitted by 1,592 entrants, from which 60 drawings by 58 artists were selected by an illustrious selection panel comprising Dexter Dalwood, artist and professor; Bath Academy of Art alumna Salima Hashmi, artist, curator and writer; and John-Paul Stonard, an art historian. The panel represents the perspectives of practitioner, curator and writer. Three alumni were included in the final exhibition: Hannah Blight Anderson, BA (Hons) Fine Art 2015 (Bath School of Art and Design), Richard Lloyd (Exchange + Draw) BA (Hons) Fine Art 1983 (Bath Academy of Art) and Annette Truss, MA Fine Art 2015 (Bath School of Art and Design).

The Prize was founded in 1994 by the project director, Professor Anita Taylor, Dean of Bath School of Art and Design, and Paul Thomas, and is the 15th continuous year of funding from the Jerwood Charitable Foundation.

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Calling 2015 graduates: DLHE survey If you are a recent graduate, you will be contacted by the Careers Service regarding the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey. The objective of the survey is to provide information of what graduates are doing after leaving university. Whether you are studying, have gone travelling or looking for opportunities, we would like to hear from you. The survey will open in December and runs into the New Year.

Image credit: Professor Anita Taylor, Jerwood Drawing Prize 2015.

L-R Salima Hashmi, John-Paul Stonard, Dexter Dalwood

to stay an additional two weeks to cover my role while I’m away, at the beginning of August.” Rob and the team at Nylon have been so impressed they are offering an annual internship to a Bath Spa Commercial Music student.

Elisabeth ‘Lil’ Patuck, John Cullum and Silas Chandler Blackburn

Cullum Family Award recipient travels to New York The Cullum Family Award enables students and new graduates to better understand the music industry and the career pathways it offers by giving them the opportunity to explore and develop their enterprise and employability skills. The recipients for this year were: Silas Chandler Blackburn, BA Commercial Music first year, and Elisabeth ‘Lil’ Patuck, BA Commercial Music second year.

Silas commented; “Thank you from the bottom of my heart! It’s been an amazing and incredible career growing summer.

Without your help I wouldn’t have managed it. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your support.”

Telethon 2016 The Alumni Team is gearing up for next year’s Telethon which will take place in February. Student Callers will be contacting alumni from Bath Spa University and its predecessor colleges. The aim is to reconnect with alumni and raise funds to support students through scholarships, bursaries and the hardship fund. If you don’t want us to call you, please let us know by emailing at daro@bathspa.ac.uk.

Awards can also open doors to new horizons as Silas discovered. He travelled to New York to take up a summer placement at Nylon Studios, with the support of alumnus Rob Ballingall, BA (Hons) Commercial Music 2010. Silas made such an impact that Rob recently wrote to us to say: “I wanted to reach out to mention how well Silas is getting on in his internship with us. He’s a really lovely guy, and has taken to the position perfectly...we couldn’t have asked for anything more. In fact, we’ve asked him

Telethon callers 2015

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Alumni Reunion 2015 This year the Alumni Office held its very first Alumni Reunion weekend on 21 to 23 August.

The event started on Friday when around 70 alumni attended an evening reception at Burdall’s Yard in Bath. It was great to see old friends reunited and enjoying the evening’s entertainment, provided by alumnus and Lecturer in Jazz Adam Biggs with his band, and The Hot Potato Syncopators.

On Saturday morning, student ambassadors gave campus tours followed by the archive stand, which featured old photos and documents from the University and its predecessor colleges over the years, a photobooth and the Students’ Union stall.

Lunch also took place in Commons where alumni were joined by Mary Berry, Alumni Association President, and the Vice-Chancellor Professor Christina Slade.

At the ‘In Conversation’ event, after an introduction by the Vice-Chancellor, Mary Berry and alumna Jenni Mills reminisced about Mary’s time as a student and her passion for cooking (see interview next page). After tea and cake, the evening finished at the Students’ Union. Due to the weather letting us down, a buffet was served instead of a BBQ accompanied by music from alumnae Kirsty Folan and Rebekah Vyce, and The Domino Collective, current Bath Spa students.

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The weekend ended on Sunday with guests saying goodbye over breakfast at Hall and Woodhouse in Bath, where we had the chance to hear some very interesting stories about their time at the Bath College of Domestic Science.

For many of our alumni, some of whom haven’t been on campus for over 50 years, this was a wonderful opportunity to reminisce about their student days and discover how much the campus has changed over the years.

One guest had this to say: “We had a fabulous time. We felt like we were really well looked after by the staff and volunteers and it was lovely meeting other alumni. It was great to all have the same thing in common, no matter what our differences were.”

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creative. a teacher.

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Achieve more with our postgraduate degrees At Bath Spa University we believe in thinking differently, and with a postgraduate qualification, potential employers will see you differently. Not only will you enhance your career prospects, you will deepen your knowledge of a subject you are passionate about, widen your network of contacts and enhance your earning opportunities.

Exclusive Alumni offer If you are a graduate of Bath Spa University or one of its predecessor colleges you are eligible for a £1,200 reduction to your master’s course fees. There has never been a better time to start your postgraduate journey.

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Get more from your future Visit bathspa.ac.uk/postgrad

Mary Berry M

reveals secrets of her student days

Mary Berry talks about her student days and discusses the importance of continuing to teach nutrition in schools.

ary Berry CBE revealed some secrets of her student days at our first ever Alumni Reunion that took place last August.

As President of Bath Spa University’s Alumni Association, Mary shared her memories and experiences with former students.

Mary took part in a question and answer session in front of over 150 former students where she revealed favourite pastimes and recipes from her time studying at Bath College of Domestic Science, which was merged with Newton Park College of Education in 1975 and later became Bath Spa University.

We caught up with Mary to ask her a few questions while she was having a well-deserved tea and cake break!

Hi Mary, it’s great to have you here at our Alumni Reunion. Tell us a little about your work with Bath Spa University I’m proud to be President of Bath Spa University’s Alumni Association. I am honoured and privileged to be part of this University and have very much enjoyed meeting my fellow alumni at this special reunion. We’ve shared stories and it’s great to reminisce.

How much has the University changed since you studied at Bath College of Domestic Science?

We are so lucky to have this amazing building here at Bath Spa University, it’s far grander than anything we ever had. The Newton Park campus provides a fantastic venue for this alumni event and I’m sure the students who study here can’t help but be inspired by this wonderful location.

What made you decide to take the cookery career path?

At school if you were bright you studied maths and science and if you were dim you did cooking! I wasn’t that great in school and I actually really enjoyed cooking and got a lot of praise when I did it so I’m glad it all worked out that way.

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What advice do you have for future generations of students?

You should follow your dreams and do whatever it is you want to do. I think getting experience in what you want to do is very important, so you stand out from the crowd on your CV. You have to be determined and take every opportunity that comes your way.

Mary Berry at the Alumni Reunion 2015

How did your time at college help shape your future career?

Studying at Bath College of Domestic Science gave me the confidence and foundation I needed to pursue my dreams and share my love of cooking. We were a very happy group of students; we had great fun and some fantastic teachers.

I’m immensely grateful for the teaching I received as it provided me with the basis for my future life.

What did you get up to in your spare time as a student at the college?

I remember boys! We went to a lot of dances at college and there was always a party going on somewhere. Whether it was for a birthday or anything really, any excuse for a party! It was a shame that I still lived at home, as I think it would have been wonderful to live with my college friends, but I still had lots of fun.

Mary Berry with Kate James from the BSU Archive at Commons

Do you have any new exciting projects on the horizon, such as other TV slots or new cookery books?

I’m currently working on a series which involves cray fishing and heritage tomatoes – I’m off to the Isle of Wight for filming this week so watch this space.

What are you passionate about?

I think it is vitally important to bring back cooking in schools. Learning how to make seven or eight dishes which are easy to make, nutritious and tasty will go such a long way for people nowadays, it is just so important.

What is the one thing that people need to do every day – they need to eat and I like to think that I’m teaching cookery through my work on radio, TV and through my books, and hopefully encouraging more people to give it a go.

Is the Great British Bake Off as fun to film as it looks on television?

Oh yes it’s so much fun. We have a tremendous time and it’s just what you see on television. There’s no swearing, no nastiness and everyone looks after everyone else.

Mel and Sue are there to hold the hands of the contestants when things go wrong, which they often do, and keep them going.

Paul and I are there to do the judging. Paul is a complete professional and great to work with - he knows his bread inside out and he expects high standards. We all bring our own areas of expertise to the show and everyone respects everyone else.

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What is the Alumni Association?

The Alumni Association is a 60,000 strong community of alumni, former students and staff, honorary graduates, friends and benefactors, and is here to support your professional development, expand your local and international networks, offer exclusive benefits and services, and keep you updated and involved with fellow alumni and the University. The Association includes those who studied and taught at Bath Spa University and its predecessor colleges.

What benefits does the Alumni Association offer?

The Association offers continued access to the University’s Library, use of the Careers Service for up to three years after you graduate, the opportunity to join the Students’ Union through an Associate Membership, and offers scholarships, bursaries and funding for further studying.

The Association sends out invitations to international and national events, hosts an annual Alumni Reunion and keeps you updated through e-news, social media and SPARTAN. For more information please visit the website www.bathspa.ac.uk/alumni.

Share your news

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Whatever you’ve been up to, whether you graduated this year or 30 years ago, why not share your news with other alumni? Please send your stories to alumni@bathspa.ac.uk.

Have you lost track of your friends?

We can link you up with old friends and classmates.

Send us their complete name, course they attended and class or graduation year. We will send them an email or letter (if we have their up-to-date contact details) on your behalf with your name and details, so they can get in touch with you.

Due to the Data Protection Act we can’t share contact details.

Is there any funding or scholarships available for alumni?

Funding, awards and bursaries available for alumni are: Postgraduate Scholarship for Bath Spa University Alumni If you are a graduate of Bath Spa University or one of its predecessor colleges, and you start a full-time taught master’s course in February 2016, you will be eligible to receive a £1,200 course fee reduction (excluding teacher education qualifications, such as the PGCE). The reduction is available to both UK/EU and international students. Part-time students also receive the reduction on a pro-rata basis according to module weighting (£200 reduction per 30 credits taken) making the part-time reduction directly comparable to the full-time reduction.

The Jennifer Skellett Postgraduate Bursary It is awarded to up to three outstanding students from the Music Department to support them in undertaking a postgraduate degree at Bath Spa University. The recipient will be awarded £1,500.

Applications welcomed from alumni up to three years after the date of graduation.

MA Creative Writing Award The Award is designated for students accepted on to a Master’s in Creative Writing; Travel and Nature Writing, or Writing for Young People at Bath Spa University. Each year the Award will be made to a student who has demonstrated outstanding talent in writing and for whom a grant of £1,000 will make a significant difference in enabling them to further their studies at a Master’s level.

The Bath Spa University Classical Performance Award The University has established a grant for an outstanding student who has been accepted on the Master’s in Music Performance Course. This Award will be granted annually and the successful applicant will receive £1,500.

If you would like more information please go to the following website: www.bathspa.ac.uk/ study-with-us/postgraduate/fees-and-finance/ scholarships-and-awards.

BathSpaUniversityAlumni Bath Spa University Students and Alumni BathSpaAlumni 29

FINAL NOTE I

would like to extend a warm welcome to all our new graduates to the sixth edition of Spartan magazine. As we are heading for the end of the year, it seems a good time to look back at our recent successes. It has been an exceptional year for Bath Spa University: we scored a record high of 90 per cent overall satisfaction in the latest National Student Survey and are now ranked 58 in the Sunday Times Good University Guide, one of the highest climbers and a record high in leading areas including teaching quality.

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Bath Spa has also made significant progress in its research efforts demonstrated by the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014 results, in which we tripled our internationally leading research from 19 per cent in 2008 to 51 per cent in 2014.

These achievements reflect our vision to be a leading institution for creativity, culture and enterprise.

This year has also challenged the University. Questions about international student visas, demands of new technologies, a steady decline of research funding and state investment, has all required us to act strategically.

I would like to invite Bath Spa alumni to join us in celebrating our success and continue to be part of university life. I would like to thank all of those who have supported the University financially during our first telethon, through philanthropic gifts this year. We also thank all those who have generously given their time and expertise to support current students.

Bath Spa has creative, flexible, entrepreneurial alumni who are making a difference in their communities and around the world. In this issue, their stories cover from Skeleton athlete Eleanor Furneaux and writers Pushpam Kumar and Sarah Benwell, to beer brewer Matthew Lane in Guernsey. It has been fascinating to find out the diverse range of interests and paths that graduates take; I had the opportunity to meet some of you during our first Alumni Reunion last August. It was wonderful to see so many generations of alumni coming together and reconnect with their alma mater.

The University is here for you. Through the Alumni Association you can keep in touch, find out more about Bath Spa, discover its benefits and services, and get connected with our vibrant community. However you would like to get involved, either by volunteering or making a financial donation, we would love to hear from you.

Professor Christina Slade Vice-Chancellor, Bath Spa University

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