Felsted OF Magazine 2019-2020 (2).qxp_Layout 1 07/12/2020 15:16 Page 4
“noted – a round up of OFs in the news &quoted” Toby Walsh wins one of Australia's most valuable research awards Professor Toby Walsh (a77-82) has become the second OF to be awarded one of Australia's most valuable research awards, the Australian Laureate Fellowship. Walsh follows Alex Haslam (d76-80), Professor of Psychology at the University of Queensland, in claiming the award. Walsh is a leading researcher in artificial intelligence and Scientia Professor of Artificial Intelligence at the University of New South Wales in Sydney. He also leads the algorithmic decision theory group at Data61. His $3m research grant will explore how to build fairer, efficient and trustworthy AI systems which will improve business competitiveness and the delivery of health services.
Adventurer behind ITV’s ‘Don’t Rock the Boat’ ITV’s new reality show Don’t Rock the Boat was masterminded by Charlie Pitcher (b77-78), founder and director of Rannoch Adventure. The show follows 12 celebrities rowing the entire length of Britain. Pitcher, who is a professional ocean rower, coached the celebrities, pushing them to their physical and mental limits. “I am extremely proud to say all of them made it to the finish line, something we weren’t confident of when we set off,” said Pitcher. Rowing along the coast of Britain is no mean feat, as many competent and experienced rowers know, he added. “Considering the Covid situation and the short notice we had, it was an incredible achievement to get the teams from Cornwall to the northern most tip of Scotland with no serious injuries and everyone still smiling at the end.”
BAFTA nominated filmmaker directs award-winning short film Ghillie, written and directed by filmmaker Mike Marriage (fe94-01), has won an incredible six awards at this year’s Scottish Short Film Festival, including Best Film. Based in the Scottish Highlands, an ageing Scottish ghillie conceals a dark secret from his wife, who is confined at home with dementia. It was selected for the Raindance Film Festival as one of only 12 UK films to be part of LA Shorts, one of the largest short film festivals in the US.
Artist donates portrait to NHS worker International school established by Sir Dick Pantlin is voted ‘best in the world’ The British School of Brussels has been independently ranked as one of the best schools in the world by The Spear’s Schools Index in 2020. The school was established with the help of Sir Dick Pantlin CBE (fa3136) and former Felsted headmaster Tony Eggleston OBE (68-82). Sir Dick’s son, Peter Pantlin (h64-69), who now sits on the board of trustees explained: “When I was at Felsted my late father was asked if he would take on the challenge, on Tony Eggleston OBE a voluntary basis, to establish a British School in Brussels. Being a businessman and not an educationalist he needed some help, so I suggested that he speak to my headmaster Tony Eggleston, who had experience of a British school abroad. Eggleston was a great help and the school was officially opened in December 1970 by the Duke of Edinburgh.”
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Lucy Coward-Whittaker (fb06-11) created a wonderful portrait of healthcare assistant Abdallah and his daughter as part of the #portraitsfornhsheroes virtual exhibition on Instagram during lockdown. Lucy is an artist based in Essex specialising in portrait illustration and produces contemporary, monochrome, ink and graphite portraits.
