Homertonian The Newsletter of Homerton College, Cambridge & The Homerton Roll
in this issue
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Charter Campaign
Number 15 | June 2011
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Beyond Our Studies
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Rowing Blue Homerton College
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Homertonian contents
Issue 15 | June 2011
CONGRATULATIONS TO EILEEN ALEXANDER
College Principal’s Letter
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College News
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Research in Education
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Student News
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Retired Senior Members
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Obituaries of former colleagues
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Homerton Roll Keeper’s Letter
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Homerton Roll Committee and
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Membership Branch Contacts and News
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Annual Roll Reunion 2011
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The Homertonian is published once a year to keep members informed with College and alumni news. If you have any suggestions for the next issue, please contact the Development & Roll Office, Tel: 01223 747270 / 747280; Email: roll@homerton.cam.ac.uk
(an honorary member of the Homerton Retired Senior Members Association) on her 100TH BIRTHDAY on APRIL 2nd 2011 Homerton Retired Senior Members have been delighted to welcome Eileen to a number of their recent meetings, all of which she has thoroughly enjoyed – particularly the seminar on Homerton during the war. She also came to the Charter Celebration in June 2010. Eileen was appointed to the Homerton staff to teach physical education in 1937 by Miss Skillicorn. She was seconded to join the ATS from 1941–1945 and on her return to Homerton was apppointed Vice-Principal of the college. She speaks very warmly of Miss Skillicorn and feels that working with her was very significant in her subsequent career. Eileen was born in Staffordshire in 1911. The family moved to London and she attended North London Collegiate School. She trained as a physical education teacher at Dartford and took up her first teaching post at Felixstowe College for Girls in 1932.
All our publications are available as pdf files from the Homerton College website: www.homerton.cam.ac.uk/homertonians
In 1935 she moved to work at Tamworth High School. (It was amazing to find that also on the staff for her first term was my mother – who was teaching French.) Her next job was at Homerton. She remembers her interview vividly – she had to take a gymnastics lesson in the gymnasium as Miss Skillicorn and others watched from the stage. Eileen left Homerton in1946 to become an HMI, a position she held until 1951 when she was appointed as Principal of Bedford College of Physical Education. In the 20 years that Eileen was at Bedford the size of the college grew from 150 to 450 students and her staff grew from 9 to 43. To accommodate this huge increase in student numbers she oversaw significant building projects as well as acquiring a good many houses for student residence. She played a leading role in the development of physical education during these years and was awarded the OBE in 1973 for this work. In addition Eileen was President of the Physical Education Association from 1959–1961, and was a member of the Sports Council and the CCPR Executive Committee. She received an Honorary Degree from De Montfort University in 1995. Eileen still lives in her own home and is determined to stay there as long as possible! She marked her birthday with a small lunch party at a favourite restaurant and did not want any great celebrations.
Please find us on facebook Thank you to all of our contributors and to those who supplied images. The views expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily represent the views of Homerton College, Cambridge.
The College wished her a very happy birthday and continued good heath to enjoy the rich variety of activities in which she is still involved.
Cover image: Holly Cracknell, Education Tripos Cover photograph: Stephen Bond Design and print management: H2 Associates, Cambridge.
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Eileen Alexander with student
Margaret Whitehead Lecturer in PE at Homerton College 1964 –1980
principal’s letter
K at e P r e t t Y
This time last year we received the Royal Charter in time for a photograph of that moment to feature in last year’s Homertonian. All of you will know that this was a long-awaited event and it was followed in the summer and autumn by a celebratory Garden Party in June, a visit from the Chancellor in July and by extra celebrations by former members of the College in late September at the Alumni Weekend, not to mention a champagne reception by members of the London Branch at the Oxford and Cambridge Club in November. Also in November I helped launch a Homerton group in California, will visit the Manchester Branch in April and hope to visit others later in 2011. So, more celebrations for me in the coming year and little chance for the College to rest on its laurels. Universities, like other parts of the public sector, are facing cuts, and with cuts, redundancies. Cambridge has been relatively protected thus far and as a new college we share the fate and protection of Cambridge as part of the collegiate university. Our charter application has been timely – a year later and we might have met more resistance to being accepted as a new college. As I write, Cambridge has yet to finally decide on a fee level for undergraduates but we are likely to charge £9,000 a year, with a bundle of measures to assist students who need financial help
(as we do now), and to mitigate, where we can, the effects of graduating with a large loan to repay. The University will be required to meet targets for the admission of students from state schools, and since admissions are managed by the colleges, Homerton, like the other undergraduate colleges, will have to continue to work hard to attract state school pupils. We do well at the moment but quite small changes in the actual number of students can have a disproportionate effect on percentage targets. We admit nearly 200 undergraduates a year so even a small variation in numbers – say six more or six fewer from state schools – will change our figures by 3%. Moreover, we do not know how next year’s applicants will be affected by high fees, nor whether they will change the balance of our intake in terms of subjects. We still admit the majority of the University’s PGCE students and many of them studied with us as undergraduates. The Government has very recently announced a cut in teacher training numbers, even at Cambridge with its perfect OFSTED score, and also announced a cut in teacher-training bursaries, only funding students training to teach in the sciences and modern languages. We do not know the effect of this on either PGCE numbers for Homerton or on the future of university-based training, where, after this year, future trainees will face an expensive
training year. It will be some years before we shall see the full effect on recruitment to the profession and there is some perversity, or perhaps just normal economy, in the Government’s decision that apprenticeshipbased models are preferable to universitybased training despite OFSTED’s clear view that the latter are more effective and usually better quality. Inevitably, I take the view that professional training is a matter for partnerships between university departments and schools, but this is not the cheapest option. Therefore, this is a good time for us to launch our Charter Campaign with its emphasis on raising funds for student hardship to allow all our junior members to take full opportunity of their time at Cambridge. I am committed to raising funds for this purpose, which seems to me to be the essence of our work as an educational charity. We must admit the best students, teach, maintain and nurture them while they are with us, and send them out from Homerton and Cambridge fully prepared for the world which awaits them. I just wish I could understand better what that will be like. On top of these broad aims, as an archaeologist, I have one very small aim, which is to get Stonehenge in the new national curriculum for History! I shall report on both large and small next year. Dr Kate Pretty March 2011
Teacher training couldn’t be any better, says Ofsted The Faculty of Education’s teacher training provision has scored the top rating of ‘outstanding’ in every one of 22 inspection criteria. Inspectors from Ofsted offered no recommendations for improvement. Mike Younger, a College Fellow and the then Head of the faculty, said, “ The Faculty of Education is delighted to report the outcomes of the recent Ofsted inspection of its early years/primary and secondary PGCE initial teacher training provision. Inspectors concluded that the course was outstanding, and uniquely offered no recommendations for consideration or further action. This is a remarkable outcome and testimony to the quality of the partnership between the faculty and local schools.”
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college news HOMERTON COLLEGE CHARTER CAMPAIGN One year on from receiving the Royal Charter we are focusing on Homerton’s future as part of the Cambridge collegiate system. This year we have launched the Charter Campaign focusing on three key areas of College life: Students, Research and Teaching. Our aim is to ensure that all our students can enjoy an exceptional and distinctive Homerton education including outstanding facilities, teaching and extra-curricular opportunities. During the Easter vacation 2011 we undertook our first Telephone Campaign. Fifteen of our current students telephoned Roll members over a two week period. We hope this becomes an annual event, allowing Homertonians to exchange news and experiences at the College across the generations. Over a third of the people we spoke to have made a gift, while others are giving the matter further consideration. The College would like to extend its gratitude to all of its donors, past and present. The student callers who took part reflected the diversity of subjects now on offer at Homerton College. Their subjects included Economics, Education, Engineering,
English, Geography, Law, Natural Sciences and Theology. Their extra-curricular pursuits included drama, music and sport, but we also had a budding journalist who has published nationally and internationally, a Lay Chaplain, an engineering student involved with Engineering World Health and a student hoping to set up allotments in the College grounds. The students enjoyed your wonderful memories of your time at Homerton in addition to learning and developing skills which will help them in their future careers.
If you would like to know more about the Homerton College Charter Campaign please contact Alison Holroyd, Senior Development Officer, at campaign@homerton.cam.ac.uk or 01223 747270. Further details are also available in the Homertonian section of the website. All gifts, no matter their size, make a real difference. Added together they create an important resource to ensure Homerton’s continued success and excellence into the future. Alison Holroyd Senior Development Officer
The telephone team
BENEFACTORS OF HOMERTON Homerton has always relied heavily on benefactors, and particularly legacies, to support its work in teaching and education. The earliest record we have of a legacy comes just six years after the King’s Head Society was formed: Mr Charles Mason of the Victualling Office, by Will dated 10 Aug. 1736, bequeathed £150 to promote ‘…a work carrying on for training up Youth in the Grammar tongue for which purpose a Society meet weekly at the King’s Head Tavern, by Swithin’s Ally, by the Royal Exchange.’ Another early benefactor was Richard Moth, a minister who died shortly after becoming a member in 1737. He
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left both money and books to the Society; the books were mostly theological works and twenty five were selected, including Gordon’s Geographical Grammar. In our archives we have a list of early benefactors in the period up to 1850. Surprisingly there are sixteen of over £100 and one from the Rev. W. Miller of £769 in 1812 – a huge sum of money equivalent to several million by modern standards. Another given by a Mr Isaac Padman in 1829 was for £895. An anonymous member of the University of Oxford gave us £100 in 1833 – surprising because this was a time when non-conformists could not enter Oxbridge.
Mr George Hammond left us £1,000 in 1839. One of the biggest all-time donations to the College came from the celebrated philanthropist Samuel Morley, who gave us £2,000 in 1894 to assist with the move from London and a ‘like sum’ in the following year to help with refurbishment of the Cavendish buildings in Cambridge. Samuel Morley is consequently regarded as the founder of Homerton in Cambridge. His portrait hangs in the Hall and we use elements of the Morley crest in our College coat of arms. In 1936 we had the legacy in memory of Mary Louise Macaulay, a student from 1909 –11. She died prematurely in 1915
while working in a school at Soham; we still have a room named after her. Significant donations came from the Milton Mount Foundation in the 1970s, one of £1,000 was for the black and white Library extension, and another £25,000 went towards the purchase of houses. These were subsequently sold and the money used for building student accommodation. In 1978 the same Foundation gave us £22,000 for the new Biology Laboratories where a plaque now commemorates their generosity. The students themselves have been active in fund raising, notably in 1973 when they contributed £1,000 towards the new Squash Court. In the 1980s and 90s the Wolfson Foundation made substantial bequests towards new student accommodation. More recently we have received significant bequests from individual alumni and former members of staff. It is not possible to list all of them in this short article. Marjory Morris, who will be remembered by many in the Manchester branch, and Joan Simms, wife of Tom Simms, were on the teaching staff at Homerton, and left us sizeable legacies. In 2001 we received a generous anonymous donation in memory Miss Whitley, a former staff member.
It’s been an exciting year in the Conference Centre and business is positively booming. Due to the fabulous facilities on offer and the excellent service we are so proud to provide Homerton is playing host to a hugely diverse range of events in 2011. This year’s client list includes The Brontë Society, The Prince’s Trust, BP, the NHS and Bell Language School. And it’s not just all work and no play; a number of local companies chose to hold their Christmas parties at Homerton with 2010 being our best year ever! Bookings are coming in thick and fast for 2011 and availability is now limited. However, some spaces remain so if you would like to enquire about Christmas events at Homerton please give us a call. Prices start from just £32.50 + VAT for a sumptuous silver-service dinner. We are also proud to announce the launch of the new on-line booking system for accommodation. It has been designed to enable groups of 10 or more guests/delegates to make
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HOMERTON CONFERENCE CENTRE bookings and pay for overnight bed and breakfast accommodation online. Rates vary throughout the year, but if you are attending a Cambridge event and want to ‘re-live’ your Homerton years, speak to our events team for further details. During vacations weddings and civil ceremonies play a big part in the life of the Events Team. While we do not openly advertise our wedding services (we’d be overrun with enquiries!) we are always delighted when our Alumni come back to Homerton to get married. Packages start at £75.00 per head. However, if you have a connection with the College we are able to put together bespoke options to make planning your big day seamless and stress-free . Contact 01223 747218 or email conferences@homerton.cam.ac.uk for any further information about holding an event at Homerton. Alexandra Cox Conference and Accommodation Officer
Three former Principals have remembered us in their Wills, particularly Dame Beryl Paston Brown and Alison Shrubsole, and in equal proportion our former Vice Principals Hilary Shuard and Joyce Skinner. By the standards of other colleges in Cambridge, these bequests are not large, but they are none the less significant and enable us to maintain the momentum we need to complete new projects and support the very high standards expected of us. If you would like to help Homerton by making a bequest or legacy, please contact the Development and Roll Office at campaign@homerton.cam.ac.uk, or telephone 01223 747270. Dr Peter Warner Fellow, Senior Tutor
Paston Brown Room (formerly the upper art studio)
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HOMERTON COLLEGE LIBRARY: Children’s Literature and other collections I took over as Librarian from Geoff Mizen in September, and since then I have been getting to grips with the uniqueness of Cambridge, and the various aspects of my role. The College Library sits in a wonderful building, and has a very varied collection of items. I feel very fortunate to be working in such an environment. Our main focus is on providing the texts students require for Part I of the Tripos examinations, but we do expand further in places into the more advanced subject areas of Part II.
Right Baby’s Opera, Walter Crane Below The chemist from The Book of Shops, Edward Verrall Lucas
Alongside this core role and collection we have a number of special collections. By far the largest of these is the Children’s Literature collection, which consists of around 8,500 items. Established in the 1960s, the collection was retained by Homerton during the creation of the Education Faculty Library, and is accessible on application by students from all Colleges. It is a growing collection that we are fortunate to be able to add to each year, and we aim to retain everything, only discarding some duplicates. Within this specialism we have over 300 rare children’s books, a few of which are on display just inside the Library. These include both facsimile items, modern classics and some very early books for children. Some items have been moved from the loanable collection, whilst others have been donated or purchased over the years. We also have a small selection of other rare books, including Haveth Childers Everywhere by James Joyce: an extract of Ulysses published by Joyce whilst he was still writing it, and a first English edition of Mein Kampf! Many of the items have their own particular charms. For example, we
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have an edition of the Baby’s Opera illustrated by Walter Crane, containing music for children. We also have The Book of Shops by Edward Verrall Lucas, with a wonderful poem and illustration for each shop one would frequent at the turn of the 20th century. In contrast our copy of The Golden Age by Kenneth Grahame looks to be nothing special, but is in fact one of a limited edition of 275 copies signed by both the author and the illustrator E. H. Shepard. Each time I delve into our rare books I come out with something new to captivate me.
The rare book collection is not static, and we do add to it when we identify an item of value or significance in the main Library, or when suitable items are donated to us. We are always open to donations but, to maintain the standard of the collection, we will only accept items that will enhance it in some way. The Roll Office and Library are always happy to talk to potential donors about the suitability of items and the donations procedure. Liz Osman Librarian
When Senior Tutor Peter Warner and former Vice-Principal Peter Raby sat down to plan something to mark Homerton’s Royal Charter they set themselves a formidable challenge. They wanted to produce a contemporary portrait of collegiate life, to sketch the history and inheritance as well as to reconstruct what the place felt like for successive generations of students. The book which resulted from their efforts, Homerton: the Evolution of a Cambridge College, is a lavishly illustrated compendium drawing on a wide range of informed contributors. In it readers of all varieties will find something of interest to reflect their time at the College and in Cambridge, whether it be the buildings, the people, the sport and cultural activities and even what was formally taught! Many will turn first to the final chapter in which Janet Bottoms (Lecturer in English) reconstructs students’ experiences of daily life since the Second World War, drawing on a rich archive of jottings and memories they provided. There was a certain diffidence in the immediate post-War
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HOMERTON: The Evolution of a Cambridge College years amongst both staff and students. One alumna recalls how they ‘were but children yet always called Miss’ whilst another felt the staff were supportive but ‘a little stuffy’. There were also strict rules about entertaining men: there was apparently ‘a tiny room where men could be entertained but the door had to be kept open at all times and the “famously fierce” domestic bursar supervised the event’. Fast forward to the New Millennium. The College now admits men and whilst Education remains an important feature of the cultural landscape, other tripos subjects are taught alongside it. Students are actively involved in student life across the University and one of them gets elected as President of CUSU, the students’ union. Nonetheless, certain long-established and valued traditions live on. One alumna, for example, comments that ‘visits to other colleges made me realise that Homerton was a friendly and tight-knit community and its members were fiercely proud of everything that they continued to achieve’ whilst another reflects that ‘from the first day to the last’, Homerton was a place where ‘I felt I belonged and a place that watched me develop from a school leaver into a professional’.
MUSEJI AHMED TAKOLIA CBE When contacted by College, Museji wrote as follows: “I received news of the CBE with due humility. I have been lucky to work with some very talented and committed people from all backgrounds and in the service of all communities through a very wide range of organisations, spanning the Cabinet Office, to charities, in local government and through my non-executive roles in social housing/regeneration, health and in education, where I remain a Board member of OFSTED. Education and learning has been and remains the centre of my universe as it has given so much to me. Recognition like this means a lot, especially to those in my family who have loved and supported me through the years.” Museji Ahmed Takolia BEd 1980 –1984 Chemistry and Education A more detailed description of Museji’s work will appear in the Roll News 2011
As earlier generations of Homerton students will confirm, such achievements had to be fought for. Academia (and Cambridge in particular) can be an unforgiving environment, all too ready to criticise, often slow to praise but ultimately prepared to be convinced and give credit where it is due. Elsewhere in the book the various challenges facing successive principals are analysed in some depth – the ‘battle’ for the B.Ed, the development of a stronger research culture, the need to rebuild much of the building stock and, more recently, the campaign for ‘convergence’ to name just a few. Those who commit themselves to careers in education or other areas of public life know, from an early age, that they will never make a great deal of money but, importantly, they also learn that there are other ways to make their mark. As many of those featured in this volume will attest, Homerton’s greatest achievement seems to have been to have given cohorts of students the confidence and self-belief to make their way in the world. As Principal Kate Pretty concludes, ‘it is a remarkable place’. Copies of Homerton: the Evolution of a Cambridge College, edited by Peter Raby and Peter Warner, are available price £24.00 (including postage and packing), from: The Development & Roll Office, Homerton College, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 8PH. Cheques made payable to ‘Homerton College’. Professor John Gray Vice-Principal
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research in educ ation Research vignettes from some Homerton Fellows within the Faculty of Education Within the University, the Faculty of Education conducts world class research and provides an outstanding research environment for staff and students. In Homerton, the research tradition was consolidated in the early 90s, in the early years of Kate Pretty’s principalship, when Professors Jean Rudduck and John Gray were appointed to develop a coherent research strategy. The tradition they established, of practice-based research which informs policy, teaching and learning, is alive and well in the Faculty of Education today. Ros McLellan is involved in a number of research projects relating to her core research interests in the areas of student motivation and creativity in schools. She is particularly excited to have been commissioned recently by Creativity, Culture and Education, the charitable organisation behind the government-funded Creative Partnerships Programme, to look at the impact of Creative Partnership work on student wellbeing, as this brings together her different interests. This project, which she is conducting with her colleague in the Faculty, Professor Maurice Galton, is underway and the final report is due in December 2011. The first phase of their research involves a survey of 40 schools (half of whom have been involved in Creative Partnerships and including an equal number of primary and secondary schools), to assess student motivation and wellbeing and determine the types of involvements these schools have had in Creative Partnerships and other creative initiatives. The second phase will comprise extended visits to a small number of these schools to find out more about the work they do through observing creative initiatives and talking to the students, staff and the creative agents involved. Through this we hope to build a better understanding of how creative initiatives, including Creative Partnerships, might influence student wellbeing.
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In the last UK government’s Chief Inspector’s report where subjects are mentioned in detail, it was noted that art and design ranks as the best taught National Curriculum subject overall in secondary schools. Richard Hickman’s research has examined the notion that successful teachers of art and design have much to offer outside their discipline in terms of pedagogy, focusing on what factors, specifically in teachers’ lives, might contribute to effective teaching across the curriculum. He has been looking at the life-stories of ten artist/teachers, using several qualitative research methods – self-portraiture, autoethnography and autobiography. The questions that underpin his current research are: How do individual life experiences inform art teachers’ teaching? How in turn might others benefit from their pedagogical practices? Richard has recently completed a book based on this work which advances the notion of ‘practical sagacity’ – that wise teachers create congenial learning environments through facilitating practical engagement with materials, and this leads to meaningful learning. As part of Elaine Wilson’s core work at the Faculty of Education she been researching the process of becoming a teacher and has analysed the changes that new graduates and career changers go through as they change identity and become science teachers. The work is supported by generous funding from the Gatsby Charitable Foundation, which has been used in two ways. Elaine writes: “We have established a support network of novices which extends beyond Initial Teacher Education, particularly into the high risk early years of teaching, and have then set up a research programme focusing on better understanding the process of becoming a teacher with a view to reducing drop out rates during ITE and helping new science teachers to remain in post.” Together
with three research associates, Elaine has published work relating to teachers’ emotions, self efficacy, self determination and the support networks novices form. The on-going research has extended to include perfectionism in new teachers and the role of strong faith in helping novices to be resilient. The most recent research has compared the experiences of novices on the Faculty-based programmes with similar novices in Canada, Hong Kong and Thailand. David Whitley is intrigued by a local study of poetry teaching, funded by the British Academy. David writes that “poetry has an odd status within our culture and education system generally now – perhaps the most prestigious of the older literary forms, it is also the form that is least read by most adults and many teachers lack confidence working with it. Schools’ practices have also changed quite a bit over the past thirty years or so (pupils used to have to memorise lots of verse, for instance) while many universities, responding to the challenges of theories such as feminism and postcolonialism, have become more attentive to the themes and ideologies, than to the art, of poetry. The project I’m involved in is distinctive, in that it covers poetry teaching from primary school through to university, asking questions such as: What is the relationship between creative writing and analysis in poetry teaching, and does creative writing have to be relegated to a minimalist role after primary school? Does poetry require a different kind of attention from the reader, and might this special attention have a particular value in a fastmoving, global, digital age? Does poetry work best when we take it into ourselves in the deepest recesses of our verbal memory? Is it most vital when spoken or sung? The results of early interviews with teachers at all levels have been fascinating and I hope to publish reflections on these later in the year.” Mike Younger Head of Faculty of Education
Please refer to the Research pages on the Homerton College website for further information.
student news HOMERTON OLD BOYS REUNION MATCH REPORT ‘Old Dogs teach New Tricks….’ Current XI 0
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A famous Scottish football pundit once suggested that ‘you could nae win anything with kids’, and so it was that on Saturday 30th October, a team of Homerton ‘Allstars’ took on the current Men’s XI in their annual re-testing of Hansen’s first Law of Football. Delayed from the previous Summer due to the re-laying of the once-fabled Homerton surface, it was perhaps part of the current XI’s plans to further disorientate the ageing Old Boys’ team by presenting them with a lush, green playing surface, as opposed to the mud and ankle-turning rabbit holes of their halcyon days. However, once the match had begun, despite their advanced years, it was the Old Boys who looked the livelier side.
Homerton Old Boys Team Line-Up : Gk : Phil Hart (1996–2000) Def : Joe Carr (2000–2001), Joe Davenport (2000–2003), Martin Harvey, Tom Hayles Mid : Mikey Smyth (2005–2006), Zach Newby (2007–2010), Billy Overton (1999 –2003), Ben Tanner (2004–2008, 2009–2010) Att : Mike Turnham (2000–2003), Adrian Watts (c) (1996–2000) Coach / ‘Gaffer’ (in absentia) Kam Jaga (2001–2004) Team ‘Mascot’ : George Igler (2000–2004)
seen since New Order asked John Barnes to try his hand at rapping. In the end this proved successful and, buoyed by the vocal presence of Igler on the sidelines, it was the Old Boys who triumphed, with 2nd half goals from Tanner, Smyth and Watts settling matters.
the midst of a busy term, and for allowing eleven ol’ timers to roll the clock back once more. If there’s anyone out there interested in taking part in future fixtures, then please get in touch with me via Facebook. The 2011 rematch is planned for Saturday 28th May, and with luck, the better weather will bring us the summer footballing spectacular that South Africa 2010 failed to be. Here’s hoping to see you there!
Reduced to a bare-bones XI, and thus playing without fear of the ‘half-time hook’, the Old Boys were able to ‘express themselves’ in a footballing manner not
Our thanks must go to Peter Warner for his efforts in putting together what is (for many Old Boys at least!) the sporting highlight of their year, and for arranging the beautiful trophy which now commemorates the fixture. Thanks too to Ryan Stevens, the current XI captain, for assembling a side in
Left to right Peter Warner, the Old Boys Trophy, Adrian Watts
Left to right Joe Carr, Tom Hayles, Joe Davenport, Billy Overton, Phil Hart, Mikey Smyth, Ben Tanner, Martin Harvey, Adrian Watts, Mike Turnham. (Not pictured: Zach Newby)
Adrian Watts (‘Ol’ Man Wattsy’) Homerton Men’s Football (1996–2005)
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beyond our studies This year, we have invited two students to give us their impressions of taking part in university drama and sport at the highest level.
The Greek Play The 2010 production of the Cambridge Greek play, the Agamemnon by Aeschylus, was by all accounts one of the best of recent years. The tradition of performing a play in Greek every three years goes back to 1882 – this was the 40th in the series. We asked Phoebe Haines, who gave an outstanding performance as Cassandra, to write about her experience. Katherine Jack, a third year Education with English and Drama student, played Clytemenestra. Aeschylus tells us to ‘Overcome fear, and behold wonder’. The business of getting on a stage in any capacity involves a certain amount of fearquashing; to trounce these fears whilst performing in an ancient language is a veritable challenge. I approached my commitment to the Greek Play with a certain degree of hesitancy. Having quelled a number of rumours involving our director’s alleged determination to retain total ‘faithfulness’ to the script (which would have involved compulsory head-shaving and nudity on my part), by the end of Easter Term 2010 I felt ready to begin tackling the task at hand: namely, to learn Ancient Greek in a matter of weeks. While I had had some brief and baffling encounters with Latin at prep school, I had no prior experience of Greek. The language, with its lyrical lines and strangely guttural consonants, sounded to me at first like some sort of bizarre and incomprehensible Welsh/ Elvish hybrid. After a few sessions with the wonderful Profs Diggle and Bowen, I fell truly and obsessively in love with this strange language. Rarely approached from the spoken angle, Ancient Greek is a language that evokes a totally fascinating and visceral soundworld. It’s also a joy to sing. Coming from an operatic background, I am used to learning at least the spoken
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contours of a range of languages, from Italian to Catalan. The difficulty with languages such as Russian and Greek is the difference in alphabet. So the first interpretative step was to convert the Greek alphabet into phonetics which I could speak and understand. While much debate is meted out over the exact phonetic sounds of the Ancient Greek language, the commonly accepted versions contain quite a few sounds that aren’t found in many modern western European languages, such as the ‘kh’ sound (found in modern day Russian and Hebrew). Once I had negotiated
my way around the twists and turns of this rich and flamboyantly textured language, I found that the process of characterisation followed with a greater sense of immediacy and intimacy than usual. Aeschylus uses language to characterize his dramatis personae in an almost incomprehensibly complex way. Like Shakespeare, a prescriptive style of blank verse is used, though Aeschylus’ poetic convention of choice (the dochmiac) is far more intricate than our iambic pentameter. Where Shakespeare’s
Left and opposite page Phoebe Haines as Cassandra
principal tool in distinguishing between the social standing of two characters is the difference between elevated verse and the more phlegmatic prose, Aeschylus formulates and subverts the spoken rhythm with a type of sensitivity more akin to that of a musical composer. I began by learning Cassandra’s spoken text, and was relieved to find that the musical rhythms of our original score (by composer and former Classics student, Alex Silverman) mirrored the spoken word with astounding accuracy. The prescriptive rhythms inherent to the text meant that Alex had the delicate task of ascribing these rhythms accurately to the music of his original score. He used an octatonic mode throughout (as this is the closest musical scale we have to the modes of ancient Greece). As Cassandra is in a state of heightened emotion for her one, long scene in the play, she speaks in lyrical outpourings which lend themselves well to an operatic idiom. While there was musical underscoring used throughout the piece, the Cassandra scene was really the only example of solo singing in the
piece. It was therefore essential that we acknowledged the expressive qualities of the sung passages, while ensuring that this scene didn’t jar stylistically with the rest of the piece. In both the rehearsal room, and onstage, this meant accruing a stamina that would allow me to act, sing, and move, while embodying and maintaining a sense of Cassandra’s hysterical despair. Helen Eastman’s direction combined the elements of the cerebral and visceral just as eloquently as Aeschylus’ text ties together the oppositional strands of omnipotent fate and personal indecision. We worked initially on the physicalisation of Cassandra, and then began to explore her mind-space and inner world. Greek drama tends to be typified by a fatalistic quality which perhaps does not take hold of a modern audience as powerfully as it would have done several thousand (or even hundred) years ago. However, I felt that it was important to allow Cassandra an individuality of thought which would permit the audience to believe in the
originality of her situation, and the decisions she makes. My most essential task as an actor therefore was to assure the audience of her capacity for choice. This undoubtedly makes her short life and untimely end all the more tragic. Taking part in the Greek Play was unquestionably the most thrilling theatrical experience I have been involved in while at Cambridge. The physical process of learning and performing the play was enormously challenging but infinitely rewarding. It is a tradition which should definitely be kept alive in Cambridge; Greek Drama is such a diverse, rich, and complex artform, and yet has the ability to reach out and grab hold of its audience with a unique vigour. If Cambridge University prides itself on both its historical and progressive elements, then there is truly no better emblem of this duality than the Cambridge Greek Play. Phoebe Haines Education with English and Drama 2008–2011
Homerton College
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Sailing Blue I first started sailing to avoid playing Rugby. I lack any hand-eye coordination and the traditional ball sports that I was being asked to engage in served little purpose other than slight humiliation – and I had to run around a lot, something that my 13-year self had serious issues with. So I ticked the box marked ‘Sailing’ on my secondary school form and attended a course over the summer, hoping that I would never have to touch a rugby ball ever again. I loved it, and have never looked back. Sailing has provided the backdrop to my life, and I hope it continues to do so in the future. Through it I have found immeasurable confidence, thoroughly enjoyed myself and found many friends. For those of you not au-fait with competitive sailing, here is a brief overview. There are three types of racing when it comes to sailing: first, there is FleetRacing where one boat wins, often out of a fleet of over 150 vessels. Second, there is Match-Racing – two boats pitched directly against each other, as you might see in the America’s Cup. Lastly, there is Team-Racing – by far the most complex of the three and participated in mostly by Universities and Alumni teams across the world, and something that I have devoted my sporting life to for nine years. A team consists of three boats, with two people in each boat. A team-race consists of two teams attempting to out-sail each other over a short course – a race often takes no longer than ten minutes. What makes it interesting, and tactical, is that beating that other team, not winning, is what counts. Your boat’s finishing position is the number of points your boat gets. (So 1st gets one point and so on) There are six boats in the race, so there are 21 points on offer. The aim is to get fewer points than the opposing team. This can be achieved through ten different combinations – and not all of them include coming first!
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Above Having just won the Varsity match Right On being presented with the trophy (Felix in the Blues Blazer)
Slowing down your opponents, letting your team-mates’ boats through and giving penalties to the rival team is the name of the game – actually finishing a race can sometimes leave you at a disadvantage! I came to Cambridge in October 2008 and found a place on a strong University 2nd team – we came 11th at the National Championships in April 2009. I spent every Wednesday afternoon, and every weekend, either training at Grafham (about 45 minutes drive away from Cambridge) or at events around the country, from Aberdeen to Southampton. I certainly learnt to be very organised with work (and how to sail on a Sunday with a horrific hangover…). I gained a half-blue on being selected for the Varsity match – which we then sadly lost. In my second year, I ran successfully for Captain, and was responsible for the organisation of three teams with regards to squad selection and training. We must have done something right: sailing with the 1sts, I came 5th at the National Championships and earned my Full Blue (Full Blue status is
only awarded if a top-8 ranking is achieved). Captaining the Varsity Match was a very special experience, and winning was a moment I will always remember fondly – despite being summarily thrown into the sea on our victory by the rest of the team. Outside of Cambridge, I sail both an RS 200 and a Swallow (two and three-man dinghies), the latter of which I took to Cowes Week in 2010, coming a creditable 4th, and being the first Swallow to ever finish a race on the Royal Yacht Squadron Line. This year, I have taken a back-seat, becoming Commodore of the CU Cruising Club, and focused a little more on my degree (spending only four days a week on it was starting to show), choosing only to organise Cambridge’s annual sailing event, the Cam Cup. I have taken on a few coaching roles with a local school up near Rutland Water to keep interested in the sport, and will hopefully return to it next year! Felix Danczak Politics Psychology & Sociology 2008–2011
2010 to 2011 has been a solid year for HCBC, consolidating on the ever escalating positions in the bumps charts. With a large novice intake in Michaelmas 2010, we are looking forward to a great rest of the year. The 2010 May bumps gave us mixed results, with the men and women faring quite differently. Both women’s crews went down four places; however, credit must go to the girls in W2 who came together late in Easter term to make sure that we kept our place on the bumps charts. M2 embroiled in a duel with Churchill 3, bumping and being bumped on successive days to maintain their place. A snapped rudder cable was ultimately the only thing preventing them from moving up the division. The Men’s first boat, galvanised by the return of Mike Thorp (Goldie) and Chris Bellamy (Lightweights), rowed to blades, finishing 7th in Division 2, to finish the academic year on a high. October saw the new committee settling in and welcoming 40 novices to the club. Several new oarsmen and women brought added experience. Early indicators at Queens’ Ergs were promising as both of our novice first crews made the final, the women finishing impressively in 3rd, and the men in 7th. On the water, things looked promising, until unusually cold weather hit in late November. With the Reach covered in ice, the seniors’ races were postponed
THE BOAT RACE
until Lent term, whilst the novices raced over a shortened course. The end of term also saw the delivery of ten new oars for the men after very generous contributions from friends of the club. The beginning of Lent term saw the Men’s side gather a week early for outings in mixed-ability eights and fours, the eyes firmly on bumps. With the women back on the river a week later, and all crews preparing by racing at Pembroke regatta, we entered bumps week with high hopes. Whilst the women remained on the Cam, the men prepared for bumps by racing at Norwich and coming joint 2nd overall, matching Cambridge 99’s for speed. Lent Bumps produced five exciting days of racing, with many (non-HCBC) boats experiencing spectacular and expensive crashes. M2 went down one place, only getting bumped by a blades-winning Downing crew, but otherwise producing some gutsy row-overs. The girls were slightly less fortunate, experiencing some very fast crews just below them and going down three places. M1 finished level after a rollercoaster ride, with quick bumps, wide Grassy’s and gaining whistles on the line on the crew in front. As well as the hive of activity involving students around the club, this April will mark the first alumni rowing day, with a naming ceremony for “Stevie” Stephenson, mixed eight paddling, tub racing in front of the boat houses, and barbeques planned. If you want to get involved with alumni rowing, or just receive email updates about the club, please get in touch at ojr26@cam.ac.uk. Ollie Rubens Boat Club Captain 2010–2011
STUDENT NEWS
HOMERTON COLLEGE BOAT CLUB
This year, the College is proud to have our first representative rower in the Cambridge University ‘Blue’ boat. Mike Thorp (History, 2009 entry) will be at ‘Bow’ when the Varsity crews set out from Putney at 5 pm on Saturday 26th March.
Left to right Anna Beare, Mike Thorp, Chris Bellamy
Although Oxford won the 2011 Boat Race, it is great for the College to have this representation. Mike learned the art and craft of oarsmanship while at school in Chester and soon became part and parcel of the University Boat Club on coming up to Cambridge. Bearing in mind how he manages to maintain a high academic profile while at the same time training to maintain a place in the First VIII, Mike is testament to the epithet that ‘if you want a job done well – give it to a busy man’. We are equally proud that while Homerton representation in the University Lightweight boats is not unique, there are special circumstances this year that are worthy of note. Chris Bellamy (Engineering, 2008 entry) rows again for the Men but this time as their President. On the same day at Henley, Anna Beare (Asian & Middle Eastern Studies 2010 entry) will be parting the waves in the Women’s boat. . . the only ‘fresher’ to be doing so. Philip Stephenson Dean, and Senior Treasurer of HCBC
Homerton College
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Griffins Club Another memorable year of college sport draws to a close with Homerton teams continuing to shine. Team of the season must be the Women’s Hockey team. Promotion to the first division can now be confirmed after being unbeaten, scoring an average of over 8 goals a game and not conceding a goal all season! The men have consolidated their position in division 3 after last year’s promotion, finishing mid-table in the Michaelmas league. Playing numbers are up, and the squad is currently trying hard to secure further promotion this term. Homerton Men’s Football have once again strengthened their credentials as one of the best squads in the University. Playing numbers are high, with Homerton being one of only two colleges putting out four league teams. After last season’s promotion, the first team have had a strong season, finding themselves in the top half of the first division. The 2nd XI are having a great cup run, currently in the semi-final of the shield, and are hopeful of securing some silverware. For the first time this season, Homerton have entered the 5-a-side league, with the 1st team winning the first division and the 2nd team coming runnersup in division two. The women’s team have impressed once again, winning division one for the second year running and
are soon to play in the final of cuppers. Hopefully when this article is read they will be cuppers champions! The Men’s Rugby team had a very successful season. The season started well, with Homerton progressing further than any other college in the ‘Varsity Sevens’. With another intake of good new players, the squad has finally had the strength in depth to show its ability in the XV-aside version of the game, culminating in winning Division 3 after some great, hardfought wins against Emmanuel and Selwyn. The squad looks forward to defending its title at the college sevens tournament at the end of term for the third successive season. Women’s rugby continues to develop thanks to the enthusiasm of the team. The majority of the squad are new to the sport. However, this does not show on match days where some of the rugby played has been fantastic. The Women’s Netball team did not have the best start to the season but have really developed over the past few weeks thanks to being very enthusiastic and getting good numbers out to training. Recent wins over Girton and Magdalene have rewarded this determination and the team now looks forward to a good cup run. This season the mixed-netball team has been revived and they are also hoping for success in cuppers!
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Other teams include the Ultimate Frisbee team who have had a very good season with excellent wins over Churchill and Downing. The Badminton teams have had good seasons, highlights including the women’s victory over John’s and the men’s victory over Caius. The men’s Basketball team have formed a new joint team with St Edmunds, and are also playing very well so far this year. Unfortunately, I cannot report on the summer sports teams in this report. However, I would like to wish the cricket, tennis and croquet teams the best of luck for next term. A final mention has to be for Homertonians who have represented the university this year: Iona Stevenson (Golf ), Lawrence Burton (Golf ), Barney Mayles (Football), Seb Dunnett (Rugby), Andy Murdoch (Rugby), Jon Rackham (Rugby), Paul Best (Cricket), Holly Peters (Hockey), Rachel Smith (Hockey), Nat Thomas (Sailing), Felix Danczak (Sailing), Jo Hall (Lacrosse), Sophie St-Clair Jones (Fencing). If you are interested in receiving more information about the Griffins club please feel free to get in touch at hus-griffins@ homerton.cam.ac.uk. Robert Howard Homerton College Griffins President 2010–2011
The collegiate organisation of the university provides many benefits, not least the opportunity to maintain, at college level, a musical community large enough to have its own orchestra, but small enough to remain personal and flexible. According to our constitution, the HCMS aims to “cultivate the musical life of the College by encouraging both the appreciation and performance of all types of music at all levels”, and this I feel we have done well over the past year.
STUDENT NEWS
HOMERTON COLLEGE MUSIC SOCIETY Left Pandemonium Middle Charter choir Bottom Will Roberts conducting the orchestra
Our termly concerts, held this year in the Great Hall, continue to be successful with students and staff alike. Consolidating the uniquely diverse spread of music making at Homerton (from steelpan arrangements to sacred vocal music) in a single concert is a challenge unlike any other, but one which is always met admirably by the many students involved. After a festive Michaelmas concert complete with Christmas carols from the audience, the spring concert at the end of Lent term was an admirable display of the wealth of musical ability at Homerton. No doubt the decision not to charge entry to the latter was a contributing factor towards the student turn-out, which was of record strength! Beyond these now traditional concerts, this year’s Homerton recital series has offered a platform for high-quality chamber music, showcasing talented Homertonians as well as attracting performers from other colleges. We have heard recitals from singers, pianists and string players, all of which have been a delight to attend. With the recent repair and re-housing (in the Cavendish building) of the harpsichord, I hope that chamber music at college will continue to grow in quantity, quality and reputation in the future. Aside from the successes of practical music making, this year has seen a review of the structure of the music society, leading
to constitutional reform and a thorough and much-needed revision of procedures for instrument storage, maintenance and hire. As dryly administrative as these tasks may sound, they are important steps to ensuring that the society’s success remains consistent as the student population which it serves constantly changes. Alumni are always welcome to musical events at college, and anyone wishing to find out more about the society can visit our website at www.srfc.ucam.org/hcms, or follow us on Facebook. Will Roberts HCMS President 2010–2011
Homerton College
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PILKINGTON TRAVEL GRANTS Each year a number of students are awarded travel grants from Pilkington Travel and the Gates Cambridge Trusts. Here are two examples of the excellent work done overseas by our students.
BACK PACT 2010: INDIA AND NEPAL In July 2010, funded by the Pilkington Travel grant, I joined a group of fellow students on a month-long trip to schools across India and Nepal. Our aim was to use drama workshops and performances to initiate a cultural exchange between Cambridge and a number of institutions in the area. We devised a twenty minute performance based on a European folktale and set off for India. Arriving just before the monsoon began in Delhi, our initial days were spent getting used to the immense heat and the culture, and coincided with the Commonwealth Games putting its mark on the city. We began in a large school in Lucknow which was funded by a British businessman, moving on to charity schools in the fascinating Varanasi, then the Jamghat shelter for street-children in Delhi and continuing to several schools funded by British/Nepali charity initiatives in Kathmandu. Our aim was to challenge the imaginations of the children we met and discuss our ideas about creative learning with teachers. The workshops shared drama games with children, which was a privilege, especially an instance when a simple call and response game concluded with a once-shy girl shouting dance moves to a crowd of 100 pupils, whilst locals sat on the perimeter walls staring as we shared the fun! I was fascinated to see that many children who had lived in slum areas seemed to adapt more quickly to imaginative thinking games than those in school. During one game in which an invisible ball of sound is passed between players, even the youngest children at Jamghat were so entranced by the ‘ball’ that they clambered to grab it, creating new noises and movements as it was passed. It was striking to compare this to pupils in prestigious schools who were adept at taking in and reproducing information without as much ability to think critically and creatively. It
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Top Group Singing Right Matilda and students at Lucknow
often seemed that the young children who had the need for resilience were particularly responsive when asked for individual, artistic thought. All the children with whom I worked were enthusiastic and shared their traditions with us: from Rajasthani dancing, Indian soap-opera style performance to colourful Nepali dress. Having studied drama, I realise the commonality it highlights between
different cultures. The sharing of ideas and passions is essential for our understanding of others. So I would encourage people of all ages to step beyond their comfort zone and to share something which matters to them. Matilda Stickley Education with English and Drama 2007–2010
HIV/AIDS EDUCATION, GHANA Thanks to a £500 Pilkington Travel Award, I was able to accept a placement as an intern working with AIESEC CUC (Association Internationale des Étudiants En Sciences Économiques et Commerciales, Central University College), based in Accra, Ghana, from August to October 2010. I was working on the ASK project (Answers, Solutions and Knowledge), an initiative centred on HIV and AIDS awareness and education, with the main focus on educating primary and secondary school children about HIV. The six weeks I spent as an intern in Ghana were extremely challenging, exciting, inspirational, testing, and instructive.
Emily Taylor-Hunt on her project in Accra
I had undertaken a lot of research before arriving and I was ready to start immediately. However, I soon realised the organisation was very relaxed, I was not given a huge amount of guidance, there was poor time-keeping, and a very hasslefree attitude to getting things done. While this can be very positive, I found it difficult to get used to this laid-back approach. Even until the last week I still found it extraordinary how, after already postponing opening for a week, I would turn up at a school to teach only to be told they were closing and sending all the children home for another week, just so they could ‘get things ready’. I quickly realised that entering an internship with unshakeable expectations was not helpful! At first, the fact that the project I was working on gave me a lot of freedom and not much guidance was daunting. However, I took it as a chance to do as much as I
could on my own accord. I spent hours discussing HIV and AIDS with other interns, planning lessons and discussing the issues surrounding HIV and AIDS education. We came up with creative ways of teaching – using puppets, devising quizzes, creating short pieces of drama, and making the lessons as interactive as possible. We taught children from 11 to 17 years of age. It became clear how complex HIV education is. The subject deals with issues of prejudice, including homophobia and racism. It raises questions of sexuality, selfesteem, gender attitudes and individuals’ hopes and fears. I learnt a great deal on my internship in Ghana and subsequently I have been inspired to get involved with HIV and AIDS education and awareness locally, and now volunteer in Cambridge with two charities. The skills and knowledge I developed, and the experiences I had in Ghana, are invaluable and I look forward to building on them in my future career. Emily Taylor-Hunt Education with English and Drama 2009–2012
Homerton College
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This year has been a busy and exciting one for the HUS JCR, the undergraduate department of the Homerton Union of Students. Indeed, as I sit down to write this article and cast my mind back over the last few terms, it’s incredible just how much the union has done! The year began with the arrival of the PGCEs, and the ‘PGCE Freshers’ week’ which was run in conjunction with the MCR. Then undergraduate travel day arrived, and the JCR exec were to be found sporting fluorescent yellow jackets in the car park, assisting new arrivals to their rooms and reassuring them (and their parents!) that they were about to have the best three years of their life. The first week of the undergraduate term is undoubtedly the busiest for the exec, and the team worked exceptionally hard to run a variety of social events, as well as ensuring welfare services and support were present from day one. Within a week, it was as if the new first years had been at Homerton forever.
As the year progressed, the team continued to work hard to represent student interests to college, to arrange events, and to raise awareness of current issues. Holding live music events in the bar, participating in rent negotiations with college, organising a Burns night formal and ceilidh, and running a successful Green Week campaign are just a few examples of the work that the various exec members have done over the year. I have been exceptionally proud to have been able to work with such an enthusiastic group of people. By no means, however, is the JCR the only group of people doing things in college. Homerton’s musical life has been flourishing, with a beautiful Christmas concert featuring the orchestra, choir, jazz orchestra and steel pan group, and of course, Hatstands. Our very own talent show has continued to be a highlight of Michaelmas and Lent term. One particular Homertonian who deserves recognition for organising one Above and left Harry Potter themed Formal Hall
Poster design by Kezia Harding
STUDENT NEWS
HOMERTON UNION OF STUDENTS jcr
of the most magical evenings in College is Holly Cracknell, who organised a Harry Potter themed formal – with real owls! – to celebrate the Education Faculty becoming one of the British centres for children’s literature. As ever, theatre in Homerton is strong – HATS have been running a series of acting, writing and directing workshops, in addition to funding the Marlowe Showcase, amongst other shows. Equally, Homerton is doing well in sport, fielding a wide variety of different sports teams each week, ranging from rugby to ultimate Frisbee! In all areas of extra-curricular life, Homerton undergraduates can be found participating across the university; we have university-level sportsmen and women, musicians participating in concerts across Cambridge, and there is hardly ever a play in town that doesn’t involve someone from Homerton in some way. I feel extremely lucky to have been able to spend a year working with, and for, the Homerton undergraduates, and have thoroughly enjoyed my time as Sabbatical President. If you would like any more information on the HUS JCR, or would like to support Homerton students in any way, please do not hesitate to get in touch on hus-president@homerton.cam.ac.uk. Pippa Dinnage HUS President 2010–2011
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STUDENT NEWS
MCR The MCR has had an exciting year in this its second year of existence, in particular as Homerton became a full Cambridge college. His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the University Chancellor, visited College and talked to graduate students about their life and research in Homerton College. The new academic year started off with a brilliant and very well visited freshers’ week for our new students with a variety of events ranging from a college tour, pub crawls, clubbing, a ghost tour through the historic city centre, to punting and a cycle tour to Grantchester. The number of graduate students in Homerton College is steadily growing and so does the MCR. There are now 325 PGCE students, 193 on Master’s programmes and 119 studying for PhDs. This year, we have 15 committee members in the MCR, with posts very similar to those in the JCR. One important role of the MCR is to help to transform the college so that it better suits the life and needs of the rising graduate student community in Homerton. We take this task very seriously and communicate in many different ways with college officials and committees to ensure that this transformation works well. The College initiated a graduate review with a committee that consisted of tutors, fellows, higher degree and PGCE students, and members of the MCR exec. This committee has been discussing how graduate student needs can be better met. A variety of issues, identified in a survey conducted at the beginning of the review, have been resolved. The recommendations of this committee went to the College Council. The second important role of the MCR is to build a strong and vibrant graduate community and to make graduate life very enjoyable in Homerton. For instance, the MCR organises a yearly conference, where students and fellows can present their research. There are also exchange
Above His Royal Highness Prince Philip meets with graduate students at Homerton Left MCR Christmas Dinner Below MCR Christmas Tree Bottom MCR Barbecue
dinners with other colleges. Entertainment highlights have been the very fancy MCR Christmas Dinner in the city centre and the highly amusing Burns Night that included a formal dinner with poetry recitation and ceilidh dancing afterwards in the Great Hall. This was organised jointly with the Fellows and the JCR. We also celebrated the Chinese New Year in our recently renovated common room. As our MCR committee has become bigger, we are currently organising events in brand new formats, such as a regular movie night in the common room and fun sports competitions for graduates. The new PGCE events officer position makes it easier for us to organise additional events that are targeted especially for PGCE students, for example, the PGCE Christmas dinner. Overall, I think that it is not an exaggeration to say that it has been a very lively, busy, but also very successful year so far for the Homerton MCR. Alexander Borek MCR President 2010–2011
Homerton College
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RETIRED SENIOR MEMBERS ASSOCIATION When I was elected to the chair of the RSMA, almost three years ago, I set myself a few ‘targets’. Not because it was all the rage at the time, but more to fit in with the college motto ‘Respice Finem’, one I always thought to be particularly appropriate for those involved in lesson planning. This report will address the degree to which some of those have been met, while some are still awaiting achievement. I shall draw a veil over those I have decided to abandon. We have continued to take steps towards becoming more actively involved in the social life of the College. With the majority of members on email, news of college events is now circulated regularly and quickly so that RSMs can join in with college events. We hope to improve on last year’s ‘Bronze medal’ (we came third) success in the Homerton Charity Quiz Night. Another positive development has been to solve the frequently expressed wish of members for an organised RSMA Formal Hall by joining with the college’s Lent Term Alumni evening, thus again welding our activities with those of the college. We now have an RSMA page on the college website. The address is www.homerton. cam.ac.uk and by clicking onto ‘Teaching’ an RSMA section will be seen. As yet its content is limited, but it’s a start! The first grant of our Charter Bursary in Teacher Education was awarded to Chloe Davies BA, who gave an excellent presentation to our AGM on her teaching experience in Nepal, during the period between graduation and the start of her PGCE programme. Membership this year has benefited from the acceptance by Dr. Eileen Alexander of an Honorary Membership, whilst the ‘young blood’ has come from the addition to our numbers of Dr. Anne Sinkinson, Stephen Tomkins, Holly Anderson and Geoffrey Mizen. We offer them all a warm welcome and look forward to their
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Chloe with girls from the school in Nepal, dressed for a dance competition
significant contribution to our activities. In addition we offer Stephen our sincere congratulations on being elected to an Emeritus Fellowship. I feel confident that Eileen Alexander will not feel offended by my reference to ‘young blood’. Despite the fact that on 2nd April this year she became our first centenarian, no one who attended our Michaelmas Term seminar and luncheon, at which Dr. Peter Warner gave his excellent presentation on ‘Homerton at War’, will forget her lively and lucid first-hand account of how to put out incendiary bombs. In recognition of Eileen’s birthday and her distinguished career and contribution to the college, the committee agreed to award, for this year only, a prize in her name to the student who has contributed most to sport at Homerton. The ‘Crumblies’ Choir are no more, but this is certainly not due to their unforgettable initial public performance at the memorial celebration for John Hammond last September. It was felt that the name might deter some RSMs from taking part, and after due consideration and wide consultation we have now become the classier ‘Emeritus’. Meetings (not rehearsals) of what I prefer to think of as a therapeutic noise-making body, rather than a choir, have been regular throughout the year and well attended, though low in numbers in the bass section. Led jointly by Barbara Pointon and Jane Cursiter, the sessions are great fun, offering the full range of musicality, from cleaned-up versions of Rugby songs to choral works, which have probably not been performed since the 12th century.
The social aspect of our association has always been a difficult area of the work of the committee. In the past it has been the practice to rotate responsibility for organising excursions and lectures among all members of the committee. This term we have decided to focus this aspect of our activity, and have co-opted Pauline Curtis, who as a recent ex-secretary knows the workings of the committee well, and asked her to take on the specific role of coordinating events and visits. Pauline’s co-option was in part the consequence of the sad loss of Tony Robinson, who died in October last year. Tony was relatively recently elected as a member of the committee and brought to that role his characteristic enthusiasm and good sense. We shall all miss him immensely. A fuller tribute to him will be found elsewhere. Attendance will always be an issue in the success of any event and one factor in determining that will be the degree to which advanced notice can be given. With that in mind, the next AGM will follow the new ‘tradition’ of taking place during the Alumni weekend and will be at 2.00pm on Saturday 24th September.
Professor John Murrell MBE Chairman, Homerton RSMA
OBITUARIES OF FORMER COLLEAGUES Portrait by Anastasia Sotiropoulos
Professor Tjeerd Van Andel (1923–2010) Homerton has unquestionably lost a most distinguished associate with the death in September of the Principal’s husband. The College has its formal ‘members’ by virtue of their matriculation, past or present employment, or election into Fellowship; but the College also has others who are just solidly associated with the heart of its life. We commemorate the man who was spouse and companion to Dr Pretty over some 23 years and who enjoyed, as he remarked, “the honour of being in Kate’s shadow”. Professor van Andel made a lifelong contribution to a breadth of natural sciences, being indisputably both a physical and intellectual adventurer and a scholar of distinction. Tjeerd, or in his anglicised form just ‘Jerry’, was a warm, witty Dutch
Tim Everton (1951–2011) Deputy Principal of Homerton College, 1992–2001 Tim Everton joined Homerton in October 1992 as Deputy Principal, having previously been Head of PGCE at the University of Leicester. Born in the West Midlands in 1951, Tim went to Queen Mary’s Grammar School, Walsall, and then read Mathematics at Keble College, Oxford. He became a secondary Mathematics teacher in Walsall and Shrewsbury before taking a Masters at Keele and starting in teacher education in Ulster, from where he moved to Leicester. This career trajectory was ideal for Homerton. Tim’s early experience of college life at Oxford, his period as a secondary
American whose quiet genial presence among us was one that many students, former staff and Fellows will recall with appreciation. Reared in colonial Dutch Indonesia, Tjeerd van Andel grew up with a passion for travel, human prehistory and the natural world. As an archaeology undergraduate student in Nazi-occupied Holland he was part of the Resistance movement, unbeknown to his German-born mother. A second degree in geology and a doctorate in sedimentology took him to work with Shell in Venezuela, studying for the first time how marine oil-forming sediments are built up. Then with the Scripps Institute of Oceanography he initiated the push for sub-oceanic exploration and soon had launched a major investment from the USA in the study of Quaternary events – so becoming an authority on past sea-level changes. His career peaked in 1977 when, on board the 22 foot submersible Alvin, two miles down in the deeps, he was amongst the first to witness the now famous geothermal
teacher and his knowledge of initial teacher training and research gave him enormous strengths with which to tackle Homerton’s development. He was a perfect complement to me and I owe him a great deal, as does the College. He began work even before he and Val moved to Cambridge to set up a household comprising three daughters, three little black cats and two dogs. Early in June 1992 Homerton had been advised to make an entry for the Research Assessment Exercise. Tim had done an RAE before at Leicester and he volunteered to oversee Homerton’s entry, tirelessly travelling from Leicester to encourage, exhort and oversee the offerings from a staff who had never encountered such an exercise. The College, the staff and Tim emerged triumphant at the end of the year with money to spend on research. It was the beginning of a ten-year period in which Tim, together
springs of the Galapagos Rift. He came to Cambridge in 1987, where he first met Dr Pretty, and became in 1988 Cambridge’s first honorary professor. A protagonist of interdisciplinary and collaborative research, he ended his career by bringing together the climatic and geological studies of a major past ice-age with his own research into Neanderthal archaeology. As a great teacher he gave a polymathic range of science lectures in several universities over some 50 years. Passionate also about the arts, in particular painting, he donated the cost of the Principal’s College portrait, on her arrival at Homerton, and enthusiastically supported life classes in the Homerton Art Department. Lord Rees, President of the Royal Society, in tribute, remarked that Tjeerd van Andel “will certainly live in the annals of Science” to which we can append “and Homerton College also”. Stephen Tomkins Emeritus Fellow & Elaine Wilson Fellow
with John Gray and Jean Rudduck, put Homerton on the research map. At the same time he somehow managed to maintain his own writing. Tim’s extensive knowledge of teacher education was an asset to all staff. Under his leadership they found a balance between teaching and research which helped Homerton to emerge as “a leading national provider of teacher education with outstanding Ofsted grades”. Tim understood how best to handle Ofsted as the inspectorate became more draconian and less interested in dialogue about best practice. This he did with his customary patience and calm, achieving outstanding results from hard-pressed colleagues and students. Tim’s mathematical background was essential for Homerton’s development. Faced with an innumerate Principal whose
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strategic direction was intuitive, Tim provided the carefully calculated basis on which strategic success depended. When in 2001, he became Dean in the University’s new Faculty of Education, his grasp of finance and planning were essential parts of that Faculty’s success and his talents were respected and appreciated by the University’s senior management.
Tim remained a Fellow of Homerton, moving to become our first Emeritus Fellow when he took early retirement from the University. Despite the lure of becoming a publican in York – a longheld ambition – he remained closely in touch with Homerton and was at our Charter Garden Party in June 2010. His death is untimely. No-one deserved a
long, unhurried retirement more than Tim, for his energy and commitment were unbounded. Homerton owes its present status to his efforts and we shall remember him with huge affection.
Tony Robinson (1945–2010) Senior Lecturer in PE, 1982–2010
developing the Primary course Games programme, running extra-curricular coaching courses, observing students teaching Morley Memorial School children at Homerton, or demonstrating the now famous ‘snippets’ of PE learning at the start of each year’s course for all primary students as they observed children at work in the Great Hall. The Secondary PE PGCE course which Tony initiated in the 1990s attracted international sports people who were successful in, for example, Rugby, Rowing, Ballroom Dance, Modern Pentathlon, Swimming and Hockey. In 1995 –1996 Tony’s Secondary PE students contributed significantly to improving the quality of the Varsity Rugby team, but only, as he insisted, if the potential props and the hooker “could do dance and meet the gymnastics requirements of the National Curriculum as well”.
achieved distinction as the first Director of the Faculty of Education’s Graduate Teacher Programme, opening up opportunity and second chances for many who could not access or afford a traditional training route, who subsequently became inspiring teachers in schools throughout the region.
Tony ran a Returning to Teaching Course and took a lead in the Articled Teacher Programme, the first pilot scheme involving school-based training, where he was an enthusiastic tutor of the students involved and staunch supporter of colleagues in schools. He was Director of Secondary School Liaison, with responsibility for school placements and mentor training for PGCE students and placement schools. He
In summary, Tony was an inspirational teacher and mentor and a great sportsman with a huge sense of humour. He was generous and kind, lived life to the full and was a much valued and respected colleague. He is sorely missed.
Tony was appointed as PE Lecturer at Homerton in 1982, bringing a wealth of experience from St Ivo and other schools alongside his own sporting involvement as participant, coach and referee. He served Homerton and the Faculty of Education in many roles, from Senior Lecturer in the PE Department, to Director of the Graduate Teacher Programme and latterly as Committee member for the Homerton Retired Senior Members Association. Whoever suggested ‘Carpe Diem’ as a good maxim for life might well have had Tony in mind. He was energetic, down-to-earth, young at heart, eminently practical, focused and critical in his thinking. He applied the pedagogical analysis from his PE practice to wider areas of classroom practice and teacher appraisal. His capacity for work was striking, along with his efficiency. Memories of Tony’s contributions to the PE Department are legion, whether
Joyce Skinner (1920 –2010) Lecturer in History, 1952–1964 and Deputy Principal 1960–64 Joyce Skinner was born in Lincoln on 5th September 1920, the elder of two daughters of working class parents. Throughout
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her life she never forgot the working class aspirations and educational opportunities she experienced in the difficult times of
Dr Kate Pretty Principal
Tony did not confine his professional talents to the UK. At Kotebe College of Teacher Education, Addis Ababa, he transformed the Physical Education Initial Teacher Training Programme by teaching Rugby to students and staff. He used the novelty of the game to demonstrate how one might successfully teach anything. In Ghana he ran a three week vacation programme for 280 teacher trainers and, even before the return flight landed back at Heathrow, he had already written the first draft of the next course on the back of a British Airways menu!
Trish Maude Bye Fellow, with contributions from other College and Faculty colleagues
unemployment and poverty in the 1920s and 30s. With her sister, Ruth, she wrote Growing Up Downhill in 1989, which was a record of their childhood and a tribute to their parents. Extracts from this book were used in texts for the national curriculum history books.
In 1952 she was appointed to a Senior Lectureship at Homerton College,
Lilian Chapman (1922–2010) HUS Secretary
When I first met her, as a fresher, in 1983 she was very much “Mrs Chapman”, wife of the Head Porter, John Chapman. Indeed, John and Lilian were married for 54 years and she saw her role very much as supporting John in his job as Head Porter. Many a time she told us of evenings when John had been alerted to something unusual happening in the grounds and she would be up in the middle of the night phoning the police and communicating with John via walky-talky. She always went the extra mile for other people.
Cambridge and became its Deputy Principal in 1961. During her time at Homerton she spent a year as a visiting lecturer at Queen’s College in New York. In 1964 Joyce returned to her native city of Lincoln as Principal of Bishop Grosseteste College. Her breadth of vision for teacher education and a clear understanding of national and local political issues enabled her to guide the college through times of great change and uncertainty. Under her astute leadership the college became co-educational, and its first degree course in education was introduced. College expansion saw the establishment of outposts in Scunthorpe and Grimsby, an in-service programme for serving teachers and new buildings, including the library. In 1974 she left to take up the post of Director of the Cambridge Institute of Education, becoming a fellow of Hughes Hall. She served on many national academic bodies and became the first – and so far only – woman Academic Secretary of the
She and John met when both were working for London Transport. She was down to earth and made people feel at ease. She was practical and organised and these skills proved useful when she worked as a manageress for Lyons Corner House Restaurants. She knew a lot about good food, and later at Homerton would share recipes with students who needed some guidance in the culinary area! She was also a very caring woman and this made her well suited to working as a ward clerk at Suffolk Hospital and as secretary to retired NHS staff, arranging events and outings. At Homerton she was HUS Secretary and many former students will remember her positive outlook. She would gently cajole when students needed reminding to fulfil certain tasks, but also had a great sense of fun. In fact, one former HUS officer specifically recalls her “chuckle”. Lilian was a very interesting person and in turn always showed great interest in the students,
University Council for the Education of Teachers. In 1975 she was honoured with a CBE for her services to education, and was subsequently awarded two honorary doctorates.
OBITUARIES
Joyce was a gifted student and a scholarship to Lincoln Christ’s Hospital Girls’ High School at the age of 10 led to her going up to Somerville College, Oxford to read history in 1938. A condition of her free tuition was a requirement to teach after graduation and in 1941 she attended the Oxford University Department of Education. It was during this period of teacher training that she encountered a schoolgirl named Margaret Roberts, of Grantham, later better known as Margaret Thatcher. It is reported that she was “not that impressed by the young Margaret’s aptitude for history”. She taught history in a number of schools, including the Perse School for Girls in Cambridge, where she was Head of History from 1947–50. Her teaching was scholarly, yet with an ability to capture the interest and enthusiasm of those she taught. She had high standards for herself and expected no less from others.
On her retirement in 1984, she again returned to Lincoln. A questioning, but devout Christian, with a strong religious belief, she had maintained a lifelong association with the Cathedral. She became an active member of the cathedral community, chairing the Board of Mission and Unity for the Diocese, editing the quarterly journal of the Lincoln Cathedral Community Association and acting as a steward on the Information Desk. She continued her role as a Bishop’s Inspector, which involved reviewing theological colleges and courses around the country. The Cathedral’s services, with their rich worship, music and splendour sustained her quiet faith until the end. Professor John Murrell MBE Emeritus Fellow
including concern for their welfare. She made many good friendships with both staff and students and always made the effort to keep in touch. A lot of the principles that Lilian held dear are still worth holding onto today, perhaps even more so in our rapidly changing society. Lilian’s optimism and generosity of spirit saw her through the challenges of Parkinson’s disease towards the end of her life. The mutually supportive relationship that she and John enjoyed throughout their lives together is testimony to them both and one that many have admired. Lilian touched many people’s lives and made a difference in this world with her caring attitude towards others. For those of us lucky enough to have known her, she will be greatly missed. Alison White (née Hogg, 1983–87)
Homerton College
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Homerton roll KEEPER’S LETTER 2011 Dear Member Saturday 25th September 2010 was a memorable centrepiece to the Reunion weekend. Following the arrival of the Royal Charter in March, the Reunion enabled Roll Members to celebrate Homerton achieving full College status. We were blessed with lovely weather, and the programme was enjoyed by 250 members and guests. The Charter was on view and speeches by the Principal and Sir David Harrison, former Chairman of the Trustees, recounted how the College evolved and how its governance had changed in the last 40 years. The Hall was full for lunch and the Principal and Sir David led the toast to the College. Dr Peter Warner then introduced the College Horn which was given by the Roll in memory of three former Principals, Dame Beryl Paston Brown, Miss Alison Shrubsole and Mr Alan Bamford. He demonstrated how it is used by students at Formal Hall. Members enjoyed meeting up to reminisce over coffee, lunch and afternoon tea, to enjoy the tours of the gardens and College, to listen to good music, and to hear about ‘the lost film of Homerton’. Very special was the Homerton poem, written by Carol Ann Duffy with music composed by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, and sung by solo voice. All of this led to even more reminiscing. The September 2010 Reunion provided an opportunity for many to celebrate the anniversary of their arrival at College or their departure, and particularly for those who were in the first cohort to undertake Year 4 of the Cambridge B Ed in September 1970. Your Keeper also arrived then and witnessed all the changes, even being at the final meeting of the Trustees in March 2010. The Royal Charter had arrived on Friday 12th March 2010. By a very happy coincidence, College members of the Roll visited the Newcastle, Wessex, Oxford, Manchester and Cambridge Branches in the following month, thus being able to share the celebration with many more Roll members. These continued in London on Saturday 20th November
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when the London Branch held a Charter Celebration at the Oxford and Cambridge University Club, attended by about 60. The new book, Homerton: The Evolution of a Cambridge College had just been printed, and many were sold. We must thank both Alison Holroyd and Cathy Bogg for all of their work in supporting the Roll, and all of our events. They help the College to keep in contact with all of you. With best wishes Dr Ian H Morrison Keeper of the Roll, Emeritus Fellow
THE HOMERTON ROLL NEWS The Roll News is a newsletter for members of the Homerton Roll. It includes news about the Branches and reports of the Reunion as well as death notices and obituaries, but the emphasis is on your news. We are interested in anything that you have to share, from simple updates of what you are up to now to more detailed accounts of your work, travel, achievements, publications and awards. The Editor, James Thomson [HUS President 1988–1989], welcomes any news that you have to share, but especially articles under the general heading of ‘After Homerton’, and any memories of your time at Homerton that you think might be interesting.
By publishing in November, we are able to include so many more of your updates, and also accounts of the Reunion. The closing date is 30 September which means that you just have time to include Reunion reminiscences and photographs. Do keep us busy; it is YOUR news. The Roll News is available to purchase and we will send it out to you in November. It is also available on-line at www.homerton.cam.ac.uk/homertonians
HOMERTON ROLL MEMBERSHIP The Homertonian is sent to all Roll members for whom we have a current address. Please help us to keep in touch by letting us know of any changes to your contact details; you can do this on-line at www.homerton.cam.ac.uk/homertonians/ updatedetails.html. We are sending an increasing number of invitations by email, so do let us know your email address if you are happy for us to contact you this way. We also welcome new members. If you know of a Homertonian who was in residence before 1980, is not a member of the Roll and would like to join, please contact Cathy Bogg, Roll & Alumni Assistant. Life membership for these former students is still £15.00 and covers the cost of the annual mailing. All other services, including the annual publication The Homerton Roll News, are provided on a break-even basis.
HOMERTON ROLL COMMITTEE Chair: Dr Kate Pretty (Principal); Keeper of the Roll: Dr Ian Morrison; Editor of the Roll News: Mr James Thomson (1987–1994); Teaching Staff Member: Dr Peter Warner (Senior Tutor and College Archivist); RSM: Mrs Carole Bennett; College Finance Officer: Dhiru Karia; President of HUS: Miss Pippa Dinnage; Vice-president (External) of HUS: Mr Jatinder Sahota; Past student members: Mrs Lucy Barnett (née Allen; 1961–1964), Mrs Jean Carnall (née Barrie; 1966–1969], Mrs Dorothy Elven (née Kemp; 1950 –1952); Mr Dominic Norrish [1994 –1998); Mrs Diana Lucas(née Barber; 1959–1961) and Mrs Alison White (née Hogg; 1983–1987)
Our database of College members is shared with the Cambridge University Development Office. Alumni of the College (with the exception of former HSHS students) are entitled to receive copies of CAM Magazine and a CAM Card, which identifies you as a member of the University. The benefits of a CAM card, and how to receive one, are listed at www.alumni.cam.ac.uk/benefits/camcard. When in Cambridge, members are entitled to use certain College facilities. Please bring your CAM card with you when visiting College. Unfortunately, College has had to increase its security measures recently. It would also be very helpful if you let us know that you are visiting College so that we know to expect you. You can use: • The Dining Hall, Buttery and Bar; • The Library for reading purposes with prior notification; it is not possible to borrow books; • Members are welcome to attend the Alumni Formal Halls which are held once a term. Details are available on the Homertonian pages of the website. Dr Ian Morrison Keeper of the Roll Ms Alison Holroyd Senior Development Officer Mrs Cathy Bogg Roll & Alumni Assistant Tel: 01223 747270 / 747280 Email: roll@homerton.cam.ac.uk Website: www.homerton.cam.ac.uk/ homertonians Join us on Facebook. Details of events and College news are posted on our Facebook alumni page, ‘Homerton College Cambridge Alumni’.
BRANCH CONTACTS AND NEWS During the year, there are groups of Homertonians meeting together around the country. So if you are unable to make it to the Cambridge Reunion, you may find that there is an active group near you. Each group has a local secretary/organiser. Many Homertonians also attend Cambridge University local branches in the UK and throughout the World. If you do not have a branch of Homertonians in your area consult the University of Cambridge Alumni Worldwide Directory at www.alumni.cam.ac.uk/networks.
United Kingdom Branches Cambridge Anthea Wicks 01223 234706 wicks.hmc.eeur@lineone.net
Oxford Dr Dorothy Evans 01865 240209 fidevans@talktalk.net
London Erica Hirsch 0208 941 1084 ericahirsch@hotmail.com
Wessex Coral Harrow 01258 820517 coralharrow@waitrose.com
Jean Carnall 0208 788 0118 jean.carnall@tiscali.co.uk
Yorkshire/Derbyshire Chris Cox 01142314488 c.j.cox@sheffield.ac.uk
Manchester Margaret Blott 01745 570913 mblott_8@yahoo.co.uk Newcastle Elise Wylie 01914 885106 elise.wylie@gmail.com
Cambridge Branch There was a very enjoyable gathering at Jane Westerby’s house in Sawston in February with a good number present. Our thanks to Jane for hosting this. It is good that new members are joining the group. We plan a meeting next term at the College to see and learn about some of the College’s painting and sculptures. The date will be posted on the web site and I shall contact members directly. We are trying to vary the venues for meetings, so if members have suggestions or can offer to host please contact me. Anthea Wicks (née Pearey) 1958 –1960
WHERE ARE THEY NOW? We do not have the current addresses for about 2000 Roll Members. We publish a list of our ‘lost sheep’ on the Homertonian pages of the College website, at www. homerton.cam.ac.uk/homertonians/ lostsheep.html. They are listed by year of entry to Homerton College. If you know the whereabouts of a contemporary listed, please contact us at roll@homerton.cam.ac.uk.
London Branch The undoubted highlight of our year was celebrating the Charter at the Oxford and Cambridge Club in Pall Mall. A record attendance of over 60 people met in November over canapés and fizz, renewing old acquaintances and making new ones. We were delighted that Dr Kate Pretty was able to come and outline to us so clearly
International Branch Southern California Branch Angela Das ad301@cantab.net
the complexities of gaining the Charter. It was good to welcome Ian Morrison and Peter Warner and many members of the Roll Committee to celebrate with us too. The tour of the Club at the end of the reception made everyone keen to return again for future events. Last summer’s meeting was a guided walk around gardens in the City and we also met for drinks soon after the New Year. The garden walk, led by an excellent Blue Badge Guide, took us to an amazing number of delightful gardens that most of us didn’t know existed. Refreshed by a pub lunch, several people then toured the newly opened Galleries of Modern London at the Museum of London. New Year drinks were at The George Inn, near London Bridge. This is another of London’s historic pubs, a galleried coaching inn, and is owned by the National Trust. As usual there was no shortage of conversation though space was at a premium! We meet next in May for a tour of the Royal Ballet School at White Lodge in Richmond Park. This promises to be fascinating,
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The North East Homerton Association meets in the Spring and Autumn of each year.
husband, Ron, for being our hosts at our social meetings which take place in their lovely country Manor House in the village of Toot Baldon, near Oxford. At each meeting there, we gather at coffee-time for a time of welcoming each other and exchanging news. We then enjoy a planned activity – for instance, welcoming a speaker, and this is followed by enjoying a “bring-and-share” lunch, very much supplemented generously by Sonia and Ron.
In the Spring of 2010 we were delighted to receive a visit from Dr Ian Morrison, Keeper of the Roll, who gave us a fascinating insight into the arrival of the Royal Charter. Mrs Mary Dowse invited us to meet at her beautiful home for coffee and cakes and so provide a venue where we thrilled to hear Ian’s news of Homerton. We lunched at the Badger Inn, Ponteland.
In March 2010, we were delighted to welcome our speaker, Dr Peter Warner, who gave us an excellent update on all happenings at Homerton and he caused us all to have happy memories of the very many parts of the College which he described to us, in terms of current activities and also in terms of how they now look due to their upkeep over the years.
In September 2010 another member of our group, Mrs Avril Forrest (1957–1960) invited us to her fascinating home. Here we were again indebted to a former Homertonian, Mrs Frances Somers, née Womack, (1958– 1960) who gave us a tremendous insight into her role as a member of the Independent monitoring board of H.M. Prison, Frankland. We also enjoyed a super lunch consisting of savoury and sweet dishes brought by our members. Our next projected visit will be to Seaton Delaval Hall, Northumberland in April 2011. This magnificent building is reopening to the public after major restoration. Mrs Madeleine Gair (née Kingersley, 1959–1961) is arranging a private guided tour.
In July, we had planned a visit to Abingdon to visit many places of interest, including the very interesting Almshouses there. Unfortunately, due to difficulties which several of our members happened to have at that time, we had to cancel that visit, but we are looking forward to including it in one of our programmes in the future.
Cathedral. Details will be included in the Branch letter which members will receive soon. Margaret Blott (née Davies) 1949–1951
Newcastle upon Tyne Branch
Top Kate Pretty cut the cake before toasting the College Bottom Homertonians from 1947 through to 2010 attended the Charter Reception
particularly as we have the opportunity to attend a ballet class. All within reach of London are welcome to join us. Please make contact if you’d like to hear about our activities. We keep everyone in touch by e-mail so please make sure we always have a current e-mail address. If you have ideas for outings, venues, activities or speakers then we would also be delighted to hear from you. Erica Hirsch (née Straw) 1965–1968 & Jean Carnall (née Barrie) 1966–1969
Manchester Homertonians We are looking forward to this year’s annual luncheon to be held on Saturday, 9th April. This will also celebrate the granting of the Royal Charter, and thanks to publicity put out by College there have been inquiries from prospective new members. We are delighted that Dr Pretty will be our guest of honour. In 2010 we did not hold a Come-if-you-can event, mainly because we changed the date of our luncheon from January to April, but this year we plan a tour of Manchester
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We enjoy our visits and the companionship and friendship which is evident in all our activities. We have recently welcomed two new members and would be delighted to receive others. Elise Wylie (née Wood) 1958 –1960
Oxford Branch As in previous years, the members of the Oxford Group have very much enjoyed our events together. As before, we have been very pleased to welcome friends to our meetings and also visitors from other branches. We are very grateful to our member, Sonia Hewitt (1944–1946) and her
In October, we were privileged to have an extremely interesting tour of parts of the famous Bodleian Library in Oxford, led by Peter, the husband of our member, Christine Jackson. Our last meeting was a purely social one at Sonia’s home in Toot Baldon, where we spent the time sharing with each other our recollections of our happy memories of our time at Homerton and our activities since then, and then planning our possible programme for next year. So, it has again been a good year for us. If you would like to visit us – or join our group – we will be very pleased to welcome you. Please contact either, Mrs Sonia Hewitt, (at the Manor House, Toot Baldon, Oxford OX44 9NG; Tel: 01865 343398), or Dr Dorothy Evans, (Flat 8, Diamond Court, 153 Banbury Road, Summertown, Oxford OX2 7AA; Tel: 01865 515341) Dr Dorothy Evans 1945–1947
Yorkshire and Derbyshire Branch Over the first two years since it was re-formed, the Yorkshire and Derbyshire Branch has swelled to a membership of nearly thirty ex-Homertonians, spanning a total of seven different decades. Our meetings to date have thus been a very interesting mixture of reminiscences. In 2010 we suffered rather a dip, with a combination of factors (and the Secretary’s ever more busy day job) stopping us meeting. However, messages of support continue to appear, and we will continue to run the biggest and most popular events we can in 2011. The meeting in the grounds and restaurant of Chatsworth House is still a vivid memory, with a number of us basking in the fine weather and beautiful surroundings. We hope this summer will see us on a similarly splendid day out, somewhere interesting in the countryside, or perhaps at the very popular Yorkshire Sculpture Park for a Homerton picnic! If there’s a venue near you that you’d like the Branch to visit, let us know. If you’d like to join the e-mailing group, just to keep up with what we’re hoping to do next, you can contact the Branch Secretary, Chris Cox, who’ll be happy to talk to you. Chris Cox 1992–1996
Wessex Branch Last October we decided to try a new venue in Shepton Mallet which is more central for most people, but it was not such a successful choice as the food was not up to standard. (I think the hotel had better remain nameless!) Nevertheless the Wessex members who gathered there had a great time chatting together on a lovely sunny day. Those of us who had been to
College for the Royal Charter were able to show photos and mementos of that special September Reunion. Coral Harrow (née Hemsley) 1949–1951
Southern California Branch As Alumni Secretary of Homertonians in SoCal, I’m really hoping to be able to build a Californian network for current and future Homertonians to use to find professional opportunities and work experience placements here. This is, of course, largely dependent on YOU! So please get in touch and I will add you to our mailing list !
Homertonians, please let me know and I will send out an email. Should anyone wish to be notified of Cambridge in America events through the emailing list, please let me know. Should anyone wish to be notified of Oxbridge, InterNations or other expat events though this mailing list, please let me know and I will forward you relevant emails or send out the necessary invitations.
Should anyone hear of any opportunities for Homertonians in Southern California, please do not hesitate to contact me so that I can communicate back to the College.
I should make it clear that none of these events or emails are organized by the College in an attempt to solicit donations of any kind. The purpose of this group is really to try to build something of a community for Homertonians old and new. (Also, wouldn’t it have been nice when you’d moved here if you’d known about a Homerton group?).
If there are events around Southern California where you would like to meet up with other
Angela Das 2000–2003
AT THIS YEAR’S REUNION Were You on the HUS Exec or involved with the HUS? Do you have happy memories of hustings and re-open nominations, of open meetings and college committees or even of rent strikes and marches? Did you devote a significant amount of your time to drinking coffee in the HUS office, or perhaps editing BEd Times? Do you ever look back to those happy HUS days and wonder what became of everyone else? Well, now is your chance to find out.
a weekend of it – the main Roll dinner is taking place on the Friday night and there will be plenty of activities, both formal and informal, taking place through the day on Saturday. For those of you of a certain era, though, a word of caution: the Union Room in the black and white buildings has long since been demolished, so there can be no tear-stained visits to the site of our former glories.
The Homerton Roll Reunion weekend is always an entertaining occasion but this year it features the added bonus of a dinner on Saturday 24th September for former members of the HUS Exec and those involved with HUS to reminisce about their days of Exec meetings and making badges. You may want to make
So, there you have it. Put September 24th in your diary, start getting in touch with your friends and fellow former Exec members, and I look forward to seeing you there for what promises to be a great night. James Thomson 1987–94 (HUS President 1989–90)
Saturday Dinner The Saturday Dinner is intended for all those who come to the Reunion, but are unable to come for Friday evening, or who wish to attend both evening events. Last year two of the special year groups used it as a focus for their get-together. This year we are also hoping to attract many of you who have been on the HUS Exec over the years, or who were actively involved with HUS, as James has written above. The Saturday Dinner is less formal and starts in the bar. We hope to see many of you there. Dr Ian Morrison
Homerton College
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HOMERTON ROLL ANNUAL REUNION Friday 23 and Saturday 24 September 2011
Programme
SPECIAL ANNIVERSARIES organised for this Reunion
Friday 23th September 19.30 for 20.00 Dinner in the Great Hall Saturday 24th September Members of the Homerton Roll and their families are invited to visit the College for the day. Special Anniversary groups – meetings independently arranged.
Please contact the people named below for more information on your Special Reunion this year. If your year is not mentioned and you would like to help organise a Special Reunion, please contact Cathy Bogg on 01223 747280 or by email at roll@homerton.cam.ac.uk. Diamond Girls Going 1949 –1951
Contact: Coral Harrow (Hemsley) Tel: 01258 820517 Email: coralharrow@waitrose.com
Diamond Girls In 1951–1953
Contact: Majorie Warren
Golden Girls Going 1959 –1961
Contact: Diana Lucas (Barber)
Golden Girls In 1961–1964
Contact: Lucy Barnett (Allen)
40 Years On 1968 –1971/72
Contact: Cathy Bogg, Roll & Alumni Assistant
40 Years In 1971–1974/75
Contact: Cathy Bogg, Roll & Alumni Assistant
Contact: Jane Bramhill (Williams)
RSM Annual General Meeting
Special Request 35 Years On 1973–1977
15.00 Tours of the College and Gardens Music
30 Years On 1977–1981
Contact: Cathy Bogg, Roll & Alumni Assistant
16.15 Tea – open to all attending
30 Years In 1981–1985
Contact: Cathy Bogg, Roll & Alumni Assistant
19.30 for Saturday dinner in the Fellows’ Dining 20.00 Room with a special invitation to former HUS members
25 Years In 1986 –1990
Contact: Debbie Smith (Hill) Tel: 01200 427593 Email: deborahhillsmith@gmail.com
21 Years In 1990 –1994
Contact: Tiffany Cawthorne (Cleeve)
Hus Reunion
Contact: James Thomson – HUS President 1989–1990)
9.30 Registration – Coffee available 11.15 Principal’s Address in the Auditorium 12.15 Reception, followed by lunch with (approx) wine 14.00 Tours of the College and Gardens Dr Peter Warner and Dr Peter Cunningham will give a talk ‘Archive Films of Homerton’
Please make every effort to book early. This not only greatly assists the organisation and planning, but also increases the possibility of our being able to accommodate all who wish to attend. This year bookings will close on Friday 9th September. Please ensure we have received payment by this date. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate any bookings received after this date. The University’s Alumni weekend will be held from 23rd–25th September 2011. A full programme of the University’s events can be obtained from: Cambridge Alumni Relations Office (CARO) 1 Quayside Bridge Street Cambridge CB5 8AB Tel: +44 (0)1223 332288 Email: contact@alumni.cam.ac.uk www.alumni.cam.ac.uk
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& Shirley Cawthra (Beardwell) Tel: 0161 4393420 Email: shirley.cawthra@yahoo.co.uk
Tel: 0161 4851640
Tel: Home – 01487 822812 Mobile – 07889 682859 Email: dmlucasuk@gmail.com
Tel: Home – 01865 343248 Mobile – 07799 891584 Email: glebecottage@gmail.com
Tel: 01223 747280 Email: roll@homerton.cam.ac.uk
Tel: 01223 747280 Email: roll@homerton.cam.ac.uk
Email: jabramhill@aol.com
Tel: 01223 747280 Email: roll@homerton.cam.ac.uk
Tel: 01223 747280 Email: roll@homerton.cam.ac.uk
& Emma Morley (Till) Mobile – 07578 064571 Email: morleyem08@aol.com
Tel: 01676 523957 Email: tiffandjon@hotmail.com
Tel: Home – 01353 661273 Mobile – 07588 568691 Email: jamesthomson68@gmail.com & Jo Newman (Caspari) – HUS President 1978–79 Tel: 0208 4284436 Email: JNewman@nlcs.org.uk
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
17 February 2012 Recent Leavers’ Dinner in College
26 June 2011 Family Day in College
February 2012 Alumni Formal Hall in College (please see the website for further information)
30 September 2011 Copy deadline for the 2011 Homerton Roll News 23 September 2011 Annual Reunion Dinner in College 24 September 2011 Annual Reunion in College November 2011 Alumni Formal Hall in College (please see the website for further information)
2 March 2012 Items for inclusion in the 2012 Homertonian to be submitted May 2012 Alumni Formal Hall in College (please see the website for further information) 21 September 2012 Annual Reunion Dinner in College 22 September 2012 Annual Reunion in College