RSMA Newsletter May 2016

rsma newsletter

Newsletter of the Retired Senior Members' Association of Homerton College, Cambridge. May 2016

Keeping bees at Homerton Homerton onward and upwards

Memories of times past

RSMA Committee:

A word from the Editor

Chair:

Peter Warner

Secretary: Trish Maude

Membership Secretary: Anne Thwaites

Treasurer:

Stephen Grounds

Events and visits coordinator: Pauline Curtis

Almonry: Judy Barham

Newsletter editor: Philip Rundall

Contributors:

John Ball, John Chapman, Jenny Carr, Roger Green, Pat Cooper, Trish Maude, Philip Rundall, Tom Simms, Stephen Tomkins, Geoff Ward, Peter Warner, Margaret Whitehead.

Design and layout: Patti Rundall

Please email articles in plain text or Word with illustrations to: Philip Rundall, 34 Blinco Grove, CB1 7TS. Tel:01223 240483 philipjohnrundall@gmail.com

E

very year I start off thinking we’ll end up with a two page leaflet and then, all of a sudden, pieces arrive and we end up with something special. Thank you to all those of you who have contributed to this issue.

I’m sure in most members’ minds, as they read this issue, will be an awareness of something missing, and that is, pieces by John Axon and John Murrell. We were all shocked to hear that they share the same illness and I’d like to thank both for all they have done for us over the years. Peter Warner has gamely stepped in as temporary Chair and Anne Thwaites has also been co-opted on to the Committee and has taken on a new role, that of Membership Secretary. Trish Maude has also returned as Secretary, taking the place of the splendid Charlotte Jenner, who has now retired from the post. Judith Witt has also stepped in and given invaluable administrative help behind the scenes. As a member of the Committee I feel very positive about the future of our Association.

Members may be interested to hear that I attended a luncheon on 21st November 2015 at which we celebrated the life of Mike Bibby, the Head of Art when I first arrived at Homerton in 1973. It was held in the village hall in Birlingham, below Bredon Hill in Worcestershire, a painting haunt of Mike’s. There I had the pleasure of meeting Jill Hamilton again, a former domestic bursar (who took over from Westy). I selected a landscape oil painting entitled “Malvern,” (See photo on Page 3) which is now in possession of the College, along with a magnificent set of Japanese woodblock prints.

For those of you who knew Patrick Heffernan, who taught philosophy in the Education Department in the 80s, we learned that his dear wife, Karin, died on New Year’s Day. Patti and I will be staying with Patrick in his Virginia home this August.

I’d like to thank Professor Geoff Ward, the Principal, for his contribution to this issue and Patti for all the work involved in producing this newsletter. Finally, ‘sometimes it’s safer to stay in the dark’ ... Victor Watson’s latest book ‘Operation Blackout’ is a jolly good yarn and I’m jolly well going to plug it here!

With best wishes (and keep sending in articles, updates etc).

Philip Rundall

Cover: John and Jean Ball's

Wedding Day, 3rd April 1956.

Norton in-the-Moors, Stoke-onTrent. John is wearing a grey wool waistcoat made by Jean, with grey and mother-of-pearl buttons. Shame Jean didn't tidy his hair!

CONTENTS

Alice Havergal Skillicorn

by Tom Simms

Chairman's letter 3

by Peter Warner

Liz Edwards 13

by Jenny Carr and Patricia Coope

Keeping Bees at Homerton

by Stephen Tomkins

Conference in Malta 14

by Margaret Whitehead

Principal's message by Geoff Ward

The Olden Days by John Chapman Together in harmony

by Roger Green How I came to Homerton

by John Ball

rsm newsletter, may 2016, page 2

4-5

6-7 8-9 10 11

12

A journey from Leeds to Stapleford via Luatala, Mtwara, Newala, and Nachingwe

by Trish Maude

14

2015 Mandolin Symposium

by Philip Rundall

15

Roundup 16

Chairman's letter

by Peter Warner

I

t was with trepidation that I took over as temporary Chair this year, but at the same time very honoured and glad to be asked. Strictly speaking I am only co-opted as chair while John Murrell and John Axon are so unwell; proper elections will follow in September at the AGM. Although I retired in 2013, as both a Tutor and Keeper of the Roll I am still active at Homerton and making slow progress on a updated history of the College, aiming for publication at the 250th anniversary celebrations in 2018 – marking the first Trust Deed and purchase of the house in Homerton High Street in 1768. They say, ‘ask a busy man…!’

2015-16 has been a difficult year for the RSMs; we lost in rapid succession four of our most distinguished members: Helen Bunton, Liz Edwards, Mike Bibby and now Joan Salter. But the RSMA is not just about the recently departed, it is a community supporting active living members who meet regularly for events of all kinds: museum expeditions, Choir, garden parties, coffee mornings etc. Few other Colleges have such an active and vibrant association for its retired senior members.

Recently, Stephen Grounds investigated a similar group at Wolfson College Oxford.

He was told that their retired Members of Common Room (MCR), added to

the ‘rich tapestry’ of college life, yet their programme of activities was substantially less than ours. Other colleges might be envious of the Homerton RSMA level of organisation and activity, and the degree to which we are closely integrated with the College Development Office.

For all of this we ride on the selfless commitment of former officers, particularly John Hammond, Pauline Curtis, Ian Morrison, John Axon and John Murrell.

In addition we now have the strong support of our current Principal, Prof.

Geoffrey Ward. Long may this remarkable association continue and thrive.

Anne Thwaites, as our Membership Secretary, keeps up-to-date contact details of eighty-one RSMs. She is anxious to extend the membership, within the definitions of our constitution, to former senior members of College and retirees. It has not been easy in the transition from one Principal to another to be sure that we have captured all those retiring either as Emeritus Fellows or as senior members of the Faculty of Education, particularly those who were once members of staff at Homerton before ‘convergence’ in 2001.

However, the Homerton social media ‘grape vine’

Mike Bibby's painting that he left to the College

ensures that eventually the Principal’s invitation to join the RSMA will be extended to all those who qualify.

Our stalwart Secretary, Trish Maude MBE, has made my induction into the Chair as easy as it could possibly be. Her support has been fantastic, simply because she has a better knowledge of the RSMs than anyone else and has boundless energy. With Judy Barham, our Almoner, they alert us to any Senior member who is unwell or in hospital, or just in need of a visit. Cards are signed, flowers are sent, visits are co-ordinated and reports on well-being are returned to all who care. We are hugely grateful for all their work.

Still active as a part-timer in the College, I keep a foot in the door by sitting on one or two College Committees, thereby providing feedback for RSMs. As Keeper of the Roll, I sit on the Development Committee.

My historical interests find me on the Archives Working Group and the Art Collections Committee and the Working Group for the 2018 Anniversary.

One of the issues that has come up recently that will be of interest to retired members is the need for donor recognition, be it for books given to the library, donations to the Archive or bequests of works of art. Commemorative trees, of which there are many, have been mapped

by Stephen Tompkins, but the plaques are occasionally overgrown or are misplaced.

The College is actively pursuing ways of using the Joan Simms bequest to enhance the art collection and sculpture in the grounds.

The Mike Bibby bequest of a painting (above) and several prints and the donation from Prof. John Grey from his late father’s estate has raised the whole issue of how donations in kind should be displayed and recognised. I am glad that some of these new works have now been hung and are creating interest.

This is a necessarily short report. After the AGM you'll have a properly elected Chair and a fuller statement will follow!

Peter Warner, Emeritus Fellow and Keeper of the Roll

rsm newsletter, may 2016, page 3

Keeping bees at Homerton

by Stephen Tomkins

W

hen you have kept bees for five years you feel rather pleased that you know all about it, but when you have kept them for nearly fifty years you realise that you really know very little about it at all.

In that it’s a bit like teaching.

One reason I still keep bees is that I am still learning about their lives and I am still trying to improve my bee-keeping craft. I still often fail. When I came to Homerton, I think the bees came with me, for I have long used them for teaching my students about biology, environment and ecology. In turn the bees have taught me so much biology and natural history as to make me very grateful indeed. They should definitely be our friends, for they do wonders for the Homerton College garden by way of pollination in the orchard and elsewhere. I do look after them now and again over the summer. They even seem to appreciate that and they certainly keep me sweet with honey. Generally, I am not frightened of them at all but one must be wary. I never mess them about on a hot thundery day when they have vast stocks of honey to defend.

Often I am asked how many bees I have. There are three answers to this sensible question. Firstly, I have up to five hives to house them in, but a hive may well be empty or unassembled. Secondly, I

may have anywhere between one and five colonies on the go, one to each hive and each with just one queen. Thirdly, in terms of sheer numbers of bees, it may be as few as a hundred bees only, in a very small colony, or up to even forty thousand bees, in the month of June, in a large one. This is an awesome number. My old style hives are ‘telescopic’ and so may grow with tier upon tier of honeyfilled boxes in the spring and summer. A strong colony can bring in 20 lbs in a week at the peak of honey flow. At the end the season the honey one takes away must be surplus to their needs, for they do require at least 60 lbs of stores to get them through a winter for I often lose a weak colony then.

My harvest taking from each hive may be from less than 10 lbs, or even none at all, in a disastrous summer to more than 100 lbs per hive in a very good year. From this harvest I happily give a pot to each of the College gardeners, who of necessity have to work around them, and also pay a tithe to the College Principal, who sees that ‘Homerton Honey’ will serve the College’s social need to occasionally offer a fitting gift to an important visitor.

It might be tempting to make an analogy between a colony of honey bees and the life of the College, though I could not give it much credence.

Certainly, the workers work

rsm newsletter, may 2016, page 4

hard and the Principal (bee) presides over all. The hive colony, however, does have its own corporate mind and coordinated group behaviour; it has the one queen, mother of every one of her subject worker bees, whose altruism and loyalty to the hive’s well being and defence is legendary. The colony really is a super-organism in its own right. We now know that the queen’s rule is largely through her seemingly selfish genes.

Indeed, she can be utterly ruthless. A young queen’s first hegemonic duty is to hunt out any rival un-hatched queen cells. She will tear down such cells or, if hatched already, sting the usurper of her throne to death. The queen’s workers are sired by the many male drones who mate with her: just the once on her nuptial flight.

Thus, in high summer the bulky, large-eyed, strong-flying yet stingless drones make their brief appearance. In flight, with an unerring quest for the scent of an un-mated queen, the drones go hell-bent on seeking an aerial copulation.

I have seen such a ‘drone lek’ mating-swarm high above the College car park in June!

There is certainly drama in their world and even pathos.

Come September these useless (and defenceless) old drones are ejected from the hive to die in the cold.

There have been many epic moments for me in

beekeeping. May and June are when colonies reproduce by swarming. This event is hard to prevent in practice and it once took place, inconveniently to say the least, at noon on Graduation Day. The College porters had to ribbon off an area of car park, I had to switch costumes from gown to bee-suit and deal with the matter there and then amongst all the those parents smartly dressed for the Congregation event and garden party. Hiving a swarm on a more normal occasion - and it is always the old queen who takes to the sky with a large number of her workers - is a wonderful event.

I still find no greater pleasure in bee-keeping than capturing the hanging swarm cluster in a large container and delivering them to a new home (an empty hive) on the same day at dusk.

Importantly, bees in such a swarm are utterly disinclined to sting: in gathering a swarm one is rarely stung.

In teaching, I used to show students (who were suitably clad) the full inside of a colony, something that I still find amazing to observe.

They loved it. Honey-bee economics, bee foraging behaviour, the adaptations of a pollinator - which is of such importance to flowers - was all there in the teaching.

When looking inside the hive it is not always easy to find a queen, amongst the thousands of bees in the mêlée, but she is

distinctive in size and is often to be found there in the centre of a daisy petal pattern of courtiers (see photo above).

Once, I recall, with a group of students and an opened hive, we had so disturbed Her Majesty that she went out onto the front door step and took off! “Oh Stephen, the queen has flown away!”

“Will she come back?”.

Well, I did not actually admit that I had not seen this behaviour before and so said, with what I hoped would sound confident in the face of this potential disaster, “Let’s just keep very still, stand back and she might come back in a minute”. Sure enough, within a few moments, mercifully, she returned like large transport aircraft making a heavy landing on the alighting board and went back into the hive again.

Quite the most intriguing bee behaviour that I ever observed at Homerton was one summer day in early June when there had been consistent and heavy rain for a week. It was so wet that there were standing puddles outside the beehives. There must be something deep in the genetic memory of the honeybee species that was then triggered. They knew it was very wet, perhaps threateningly wet. That day at Homerton some staff member (perhaps Jane Edden?) had invited a West

African group of drummers to come and teach rhythm drumming to a succession of different groups of students.

The literally thunderous drumming continued for most of the day! I can only assume that one colony of bees was hard-wired to know what to do in the event of an absolute deluge, which by now they must have suspected was surely on the way; the entire colony from one hive abandoned their nest and took off to immediately settle very high up in the adjacent beech tree! The great black ball of bees was up there for several days. After about a week they decamped entirely, probably to a vacant space in a redundant College chimney.

Bees can be difficult at times. I am stung now and then, every year, and one deserves to be, for it is their honey after all. Once I misjudged a manoeuver with a rather aggressive stock. I was then stung a lot and so were some other unfortunate passers-by who fled! An exchange of letters about insurance then ensued with the College Bursar! One needs to be careful, even if your insurance cover for such disaster is a million pounds.

The value of our pollinators is rightly unquestioned and the health of all British bee species is a genuine anxiety

to addressed. When you are next visiting the Homerton College garden and you see a honeybee peacefully gathering nectar wish it well.

Do also be humbled by the fact that honey bees need to fly 24,000 bee-miles to gather just one teaspoonful of honey.

Finally, should there be any ‘Homerton Honey’ for sale do ask after its availability in September.

Stephen Tomkins rsm newsletter, may 2016, page 5

The Principal's message

by Prof Geoff Ward

L

ast month, Homerton had a ‘eureka’ moment. Some of what goes on in College is the routine business of the academic cycle, in a place which is known to be good at what it does. Some of what goes on is part of our strategic and careful climb towards a higher – and wider –reputation. And just occasionally comes one of those breakthrough moments when we are able to jump into the lead. One such moment could be heard on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme, on Wednesday 14th April.

This was a BBC interview with Dr Chibeza Agley, one of our newest Fellows, and indeed our first, and to date sole, Research Fellow. Having gained his PhD in molecular science a mere three years ago, Beza is already a leader in the emerging field of gene editing. He has been busy hosting specialist technique workshops in Homerton in this area, and I have been proud to give out the Certificates of Attendance to postdoctoral scholars and bioscience professionals who have come from as far away as San Diego and Taiwan to learn. As well as being a star researcher, Beza is Founder and CEO of a thriving company, CamBioScience Ltd, and

alongside him the BBC interviewed Mene Pangalos, a senior figure in AstraZeneca, whose innovative medicines and growing presence are changing the face of Cambridge. And so the subliminal message for anyone putting on the kettle and coming to wakefulness on that morning was, simply, Homerton + Cambridge +AstraZeneca = cutting edge.

Thank you, Radio 4!

Readers of this column will also be interested to hear that Dr Agley’s workshops on the most futuristic and rapidly changing topic of gene editing are conducted not in some palace of glass and chrome near Addenbrooke’s, but in our own John Hammond Science Education Centre, on campus. Those humble teaching rooms that have seen so many Homerton students pass through over the years turn out to be the perfect facility for the newest, breakthrough science.

On a different note, the 2016 Charter Dinner last month proved by common consent to be the best yet, whether from the culinary, the musical, or whatever point of view. Privileged to host guests including Mrs Jane Lewin Smith, Vice LordLieutenant of the county (and Homertonian), and Captain Victor Lucas RN, High Sheriff (and husband of a Homertonian!), as well as the

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Heads of other Cambridge Houses, alumni, friends and current Fellows, we had a memorable night. This might seem at first sight to have little in common with a gene editing workshop.

Yet both these events are quintessentially Homerton, and both are staged in this unique and beautiful setting of the only College of the University of Cambridge to lie in the south of the city. The gardens will soon be at their best, allowing opportunities to spot the bee orchids and other rarities that grace our campus. As our students begin the run-up to examinations, it is good that they have the largest single campus in Cambridge to walk around, with (as yet) no added pressure from the myriad tourist photographers who make the safe negotiation of King’s Parade and Trinity Street so difficult.

Thanks to the estate of the late John Gray, father of our Emeritus Fellow Professor John Gray, the College has been delighted to take receipt of several paintings and hangings which are now dotted around the College, including a collage by the American artist Roy Lichtenstein, which can be seen at the foot of the stairs in the Ibberson Building. I also, on behalf of the College, purchased a highly unusual piece by Claudia Stocker

which is now situated off Paupers’ Walk. In vibrant shades of green, the piece depicts the chemical structure of the antibiotic vancomycin, which is the last antibiotic we have that can treat MRSA. It is rapidly becoming ineffective. Each square on this fascinating, somewhat chessboard-like piece represents a drug study, each empty square representing a paper not yet written.

Proceeds, I am pleased to report, went in the main to a charity which seeks to build research and training capacity in African universities, and has our enthusiastic endorsement.

Still on the theme of art, discussions are in train which are highly likely to result in a long- term loan to the College of a significant and large exterior work by the sculptor Henry Moore. Watch this space (and another space most likely near the Orchard and the Mary Allan Building).

When I began as Principal, nearly three years ago, the academic strategy had to take precedence, and art sat, I confess, a little lower on my agenda. It is, however, an invaluable way to refresh the appearance of the College, to remind visitors of our rich history, and to bring recognition to alumni and other donors with an interest in the Arts.

Speaking of alumni, the

Telethon for 2016, which was held between April 2nd and April 17th, raised in excess of £90,000. This beat all previous records, and is testament to a terrific effort by current students. In addition to raising funds – an imperative, as philanthropy is becoming more and more the direction of travel across collegiate Cambridge – this resulted in the donation of experience, information and an improved understanding on my part of the many phases of Homerton over the decades. We are the same and not the same. In faring forward, we need to hold the past in keeping, and ensure that all we do is in harmony with the enduring ethos of the College. I believe that as the future unfolds we are doing just that – and I will always welcome your thoughts and wise counsel.

Above: The Roy Lichtenstein, donated by Prof. John Gray from his father's estate.

Right: Claudia Stocker's piece inspired by the

chemical structure of the antibiotic vancomycin - the last antibiotic for treating MRSA.

Prof Geoff Ward MA PhD FRSA

View from the orchard of the new residential block under construction. rsm newsletter, may 2016, page 7

The 'Olden Days'

by John Chapman Head Porter, Homerton, 1980-1995

I

have just read the ‘Annual Review 2015’ and also the ‘Homertonian’, so I thought I would put pen to paper and try to tell you about the other side of the working college.

Back in 1980, after seeing an advertisement in the local paper for a Head Porter, I applied for the position. I did not really know what I was letting myself in for!

At that time I was working for a very large security firm as a Dog Inspector. Besides looking after the dogs and their handlers, I was in their demonstration team, giving shows at various functions.

I lived in a small bungalow on the outskirts of Bradfield St Clare, with my wife, Lilian, (who was later to be employed by the Homerton Students’ Union as their secretary).

I eventually received an application form and a date and time for an interview with a Miss Westall, the Domestic Bursar. This I attended and went through all the usual formalities. At the end of the interview I was asked if I had any objections to living on site. I was not expecting this! I said I would have to discuss this question with my wife, and explained that if I were to live on site, I would of course be bringing my dog, King, if I were appointed to the post. Deadly silence … .

When I arrived home, Lilian asked how I got on and I told her all about it. I admitted that I honestly did not think I would get the job, firstly because I didn’t have the necessary experience, and secondly because they might not want King, the dog.

However, God must have been on our side, because approximately two weeks later, both Lilian and I were invited for another interview.

We took it that they were now narrowing the field down. On arrival, I introduced Lilian to Miss Westall, who then introduced Mrs Barham as her Senior Housekeeper, who would show us around the house, 188 Hills Road.

It was smaller than we were used to and in going round it, I pointed out several jobs which would need to be done.

The most serious of these was around the fireplace, downstairs, where the floor was very springy. On lifting the floorboards, it was discovered that the support joists had rotted. On returning to meet Miss Hamilton/ Westall?, we were told that the job was mine on two conditions; that the dog was kept under proper control and that my wife moved in with me! We explained that as Lilian was working as a Ward Clerk at the West Suffolk Hospital and we would have to sell our bungalow, this would take a while and Miss

rsm newsletter, may 2016, page 8

Hamilton/Westall? agreed that I would start work in two weeks. We were then handed the keys to no. 188, and after signing more papers we departed for home.

Lilian handed in her notice, I gave notice to my firm and signed the necessary papers to obtain King as my own dog, as he was too old to re-train with a new handler. We put the bungalow up for sale, and the fun began.

As there had never been a Head Porter before at Homerton, I had to fight the opposition as I found them. I had to get around a very severe lady on the switchboard (plug and socket system) who had over many years developed her own way of doing things and in no way was she was going to hand over to a young whipper snapper. The day porter was ‘past it’ and would disappear every so often for no apparent reason and the minibus drivers would go and you never knew when they would be back. One particular driver (Mr Betts) would always be the last back, no matter what run I put him on.

He would then clock off and start mending the students’ bikes. One day, one of the drivers phoned in sick, so I stepped in to cover his duty.

I had not yet learned the routes, so I asked the students to direct me to their drop off points. We went by a roadside

travellers’ café and lo and behold, there was one of our minibuses. Guess who was the driver!!

Life was never dull - there was always something going on. There were many incidents, involving both staff and students, some funny, some serious. I was told “Beware of Mrs Bunton. If the right flag isn’t flying on the right day, beware”!

One day Miss Salter reported that someone had taken quite a few root flowers that she and one of her staff had spent all the previous day planting. We traced this theft back to a member of staff who was made to return them.

Another member of staff was holding his monthly leisure meeting with his students in a room below some first floor student accommodation. The students above the meeting were not able to study due to the level of noise. My night staff were afraid of going in to challenge a member of academic staff, so taking my life in my hands, I entered and requested that they should quieten down. The member of staff saw that this happened, but followed me out and gave me a lesson on etiquette. No wonder the students were afraid of him.

A student came to the Porters’ Lodge one weekend to say that she was locked out

of her room. She had tried the spare key and the duty Porter, Mr Pope, had tried the master key, but to no avail. Mr Pope and I planned our next move, as Mr Evans was away ill at that time. Luckily, the young lady had left one of her bay windows open, so we put a three sectioned ladder to the window. Too short. Now we were stumped, until I had an idea. I told Rod my plan and he said he was not doing it, and as I was the youngest, it was up to me. I asked the girl in the next room for permission to use her room, which was granted, and then I instructed the two girls to wait in the corridor outside their rooms. So, with Mr Pope (Rod) directing from below (for health and safety reasons), I swung from one window to the other and then unlocked the door. Both girls were amazed and asked how I did it. I replied “through the trap door in the ceiling” and left them looking for it!

To finish: I had informed the police that I had a fully trained Alsatian Dog and that I did regular patrols with it, evening and night. If they wanted to come on site, then they were to inform Porters’ Lodge, and the Porters would radio me. At this time we were having a spate of trouble with a peeping Tom. One night, whilst on patrol with King, he indicated to me that something was amiss

in the bushes opposite the Principal’s Entrance. I called out “Who’s there?” and after getting no response on the third time of asking, I said that I would send the dog in.

Still no response, so I slipped the lead and let the dog go.

It took only a few seconds before out came, loud and clear, “Get this bloody dog off me, I am a police officer!”

It was true. Apparently no one had told him that he had to report to the Lodge.

As you can see, I am reminiscing. Sadly King died on a Christmas Day when we had two very good friends with us; former Student Union Rep, Adella Charlton and a piano teacher Melody Day. As I write this I have a lump in my throat and tears rolling down my cheeks.

I was called into the Bursar’s Office shortly afterwards and told to get another Alsatian. This I did, and thus I end this report with happy memories of King and his successor, Zac, who has also since passed away.

Maybe Lilian has met up with them and is enjoying their company. R.I.P. John Chapman

Cartoon by Philip Rundall rsm newsletter, may 2016, page 9

Together, in harmony

by Roger Green

P

hilip has asked me to write a few words about the book that I have recently written with a friend, Rev. Stephen Mitchell.

SSadly musicians and clergy have a long history of partially concealed hostility.

“Those familiar with the diaries of Parson Woodforde will remember that, in 1769, he recorded that he had ordered the choir of his Somerset parish to say, rather than sing the responses.

Sadly his order was not obeyed and the choir duly sang the first response. The Parson was therefore moved to remonstrate with them from his stall. Such a public admonishment did not please the members of the choir who absented themselves from the church altogether.”

Our book attempts to encourage clergy, musicians and congregations to work more closely together in order to create worship of the highest quality possible in any particular church.

From the outset we acknowledge that “No two churches, no two organists, no two choirs, no two worship bands, no two clergy are the same. What will work for one will not for another.

There are few off-the-shelf answers, but there are questions that can provoke discussion and shed light.”

In writing the book we have used many quotations

from clergy, musicians and congregations in an attempt to give those involved in worship an opportunity to voice their concerns and delights. You may be interested in a selection.

It seems that clergy can be fairly unhelpful: “You know you have real trouble when the clergy think they know about music.”

“A favourite trick is changing the order of the hymns and expecting me to be on the right page.”

“I played over the hymn and his booming voice said, ‘we are not going to use that tune’. I just said, ‘Oh yes we are’ and carried on with it.”

But so can musicians: “I had previously requested that the Lord’s Prayer could be sung in the service and was assured that this would not be a problem. When it came to that point the organ remained silent but the organist’s spoken voice issued forth ‘Our father.....’. The congregation followed like lambs.”

“He plays over a hymn and I am still left wondering what the tune is” And from time to time the two manage to have a positive relationship: “Our minister is the best ever. We have frequent meetings and talk about what is coming up and what she would like the outcomes to be and how we might achieve

rsm newsletter, may 2016, page 10

those outcomes.”

“There always seems to be something in each service that he really enjoyed or found moving and he always tells me.”

But quite often they don’t “He won’t listen to me and I’ve had enough.”

“Music at my church is really under threat.”

“I was so furious and stormed in to sort it out and made such a fool of myself.”

Some comments are inspirational: “I believe that you must start with the people you expect to be in church – their lives, joys and sorrows. That chooses the hymns for you.”

We work our way through this minefield, commencing with a Prelude and continuing with chapters entitled Music in Worship, Working Together, Hymns, The Changing Face of Church Music, Service Music, Choirs, When It Goes Wrong, Instruments and Maintenance and Where Have All The Organists Gone?.

We end with a Concluding Voluntary but there is also a Coda designed for pianists who might wish to discover some of the basics of organ playing in order to help out in their local church.

“We have written this book out of a conviction that music can bring life and energy to worship. It can not only lift our spirits but attract others

to become involved in our faith. Music has played a major part in all revivals of Christian communities and as the church seeks to renew itself and face the challenges of the twenty first century, music’s role is as vital as ever.

In our research, we have become even more aware of the thousands of volunteers who, week by week, are involved in the music-making of their churches. At a time when the church is changing and when many outside the church are sceptical about its place in society, their contribution needs to be valued and nurtured all the more.”

I can already see you rushing to purchase your copy. The current date for publication, by Kevin Mayhew, is June 2016 and the full title is (unless it changes between now and then) Harmony in Worship - Building supportive relationships between clergy, musicians and congregations.

The one text that has come back to us again and again in our experience of collaborating on this guide is from John’s Gospel: “God is spirit and those who worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

Roger Green.

How I came to Homerton

by John Ball

I

t had been a miserable fortnight in 1963 since I had undergone a formidable interview at a well known West Country Training College, been offered a lectureship and had then turned it down. This decision had not been made on the basis of a sensible and rational appraisal but had been based on intuition and gut feeling. My feelings had not been helped by a friend who had called my refusal of the post "sheer madness".

But then, out of the blue, a letter arrived from Homerton College suggesting that I might come for "an informal exploratory visit" concerning a vacancy in the Education Department.

I was delighted though rather bemused since, in my ignorance, I had never heard of Homerton but a colleague at the school where I was teaching had been a student there and claimed that it "was the best in the country!" It appears that Alan Brimer, my tutor at Bristol University, had recommended me to the Vice-Principal, Joyce Skinner.

Cambridge was not entirely new to me. Friends who had been students there years earlier had offered hospitality, that is, the opportunity to sleep on their floors, and so I had enjoyed pints at the "Eagle", canoeing up to Grantchester and the opportunity to risk life and limb climbing college railings to gain access after hours, but I had never ventured south of the railway bridge.

Soon after arriving at Homerton I met Joyce Skinner, who showed me something of the college campus while talking of possible areas of teaching to which I might contribute. Since those that I suggested appeared to be covered by other members of the Education team

my confidence was somewhat shaken.

Then I met Tom Simms, head of the Education Department, formal in manner and elegant in style with bow tie and dark suit. He was courteous and benign and our talk went from education issues to windmills and weddings, his daughter having been recently married.

I found it all rather bewildering.

Tea with the Principal came next.

Arriving in good time I found the only person there was Esme waiting to serve tea. She was immaculate in white housecoat and stood by stiffly as if at attention. Was she housekeeper, maid or some kind of general factotum? I was nervous and attempted to pass the time of day by chatting about the weather but Esme, no doubt considering this to be presumptuous, froze me into silence. When Beryl Paston Brown came in the atmosphere lightened. She was warm and friendly and put me at my ease though I was still concerned about managing tea and questions at the same time. The sandwiches were elegant, thinly cut, cucumber, in a style to which I was not accustomed but it was only

as the meeting concluded that I noticed that, in my nervousness I had been scoffing many more than would have appeared civilized.

All in all, it had been for me a somewhat mysterious day. The word "interview" had never been mentioned and there had been no clear sign of how any criteria of selection had operated. I returned home and confessed that I had lost the chance of being selected, after all, it was clear that I had not passed the cucumber sandwich test.

A couple of days later a letter arrived from Homerton with the offer of a lectureship. There was no chance that I would turn this down; I had glimpsed something which, though still mysterious, was full of promise. The "informal visit� had worked out well.

John Ball

rsm newsletter, may 2016, page 11

Alice Havergal Skillicorn CBE

1919 -2015 Principal 1935-1960

by Tom Simms,1989 submitted by Peter Warner

Left:Miss Skillicorn with Prefects in ‘whites’

I

remember Miss Skillicorn as a woman of short stature with sandy hair often constrained by a hairnet.

She wore classical tweed suits in autumnal colours, sensible shoes and hats derived from masculine modes. Although not physically remonstrable (as Henry Lamb’s portrait of her reveals) her personality impressed itself on all who met her. A Manxwoman [of ancient family], she was endowed with a passionate emotional nature. Her intellect was trained and subtle; her speech economical and direct. She was of that generation of women who carved out their careers in the masculine world of the twenties and thirties.

Her experience as one of His Majesties Inspectors of Schools had fitted her well for the professional world among the leaders in education.

As Principal of Homerton College her emotional force was channeled into one over-riding purpose – the enhancement of the standing and reputation of the College.

Every decision was framed to that end. She identified loyalty to her decisions as personal loyalty to herself; the two were synonymous.

The development of the College owed much to her

understanding of the inner working of the Ministry of Education and a continuing personal relationship with its officials. Miss Skillicorn had a direct access to educational thinking at its centre, and responded to post-war change and innovation with alacrity.

“I have the ideas.” She once said, “and a loyal and able staff to carry them out.”

When I joined the staff in 1949, the full-time lecturers, apart from two men, were unmarried women, the products of independent schools they were graduates or Froebel-trained; only four were educated at state grammar schools. Their task was to enforce the highest academic standards among the students and continue their socialization into the values and norms of behavior of the professional middle classes. Many lecturers and all the students lived in College. Control was relatively easy in this partlyclosed community, and the influence of the Principal more pervasive.

Miss Skillicorn, therefore was in an unrivalled position to know her students and assess the qualities of her staff. Lecturers who earned her approval would be unreservedly supported for promotion. It was her proud

rsm newsletter, may 2016, page 12

boast that eleven of her lecturers had been appointed principals of other training colleges. Towards those she thought disloyal she could be ruthless and at times created great unhappiness.

In that close community of unmarried women Miss Skillicorn’s emotional moods – I have seen tears of rage in her eyes – were a matter of intense concern. I have, indeed, heard one lecturer welcome the attention given to another because she would not, for the moment, suffer.

There was, however, concealed beneath this aggression a generosity of spirit which revealed itself in a private compassion for a lecturer or student in difficulty. Her unsentimental sympathy was embodied in practical terms, and her advice, though sometimes acerbic, was of immediate worth. This side of Miss Skillicorn’s nature was known only to those who had been strengthened by her understanding and counsel.

During Miss Skillicorn’s tenure of office the College became the most renowned women’s training college in the country. It took the first choice of the ablest students.

She never lacked courage in accepting students whom she felt might add social

distinction to the College: the daughters of peers and professors, of a future Chancellor of England, of leaders of the Churches.

The name of the College carried great weight, and contributed to the successful careers of its students.

Miss Skillicorn took great pleasure in their promotion to responsible posts in education. She equally enjoyed other events which associated her students with figures in the establishment, such as the appointment of one old student’s husband to the Mastership of a Cambridge College, and another to a bishopric.

Held in high regard by powerful individuals inside and beyond the university, Miss Skillicorn failed to mobilise sufficient support to associate Homerton College formally with the University. Nevertheless, her work for the College enabled it to negotiate from a position of unique strength when the time was ripe for Homerton students to take a Cambridge degree. nature found its outlet when her relationship with them was no longer professional. In her later years I was proud to be counted among her friends.

T. H. Simms 1989 Footnote on Page 13

Liz Edwards

by Jenny Carr and Patricia Cooper Liz (on the right) playing the xylophone for the Emeritus Choir.

W

hen Liz Edwards was appointed College Librarian in 1984 she inherited a formidable team of staff, all well established as custodians of the Library, accustomed to the needs of the College Staff and students and to the running of an efficient system. She wisely adopted a relaxed, very hands off management style which endeared her to the Library team who immediately felt valued and trusted.

The College Archive was her particular interest, she sorted and catalogued a rather haphazard collection of record books, papers and artifacts, creating an organised and useful resource for research. Liz added to the collection by conducting and recording interviews with anyone who could offer anecdotal memories of their

RSMs will be saddened to hear of the death of Liz Edwards, Snr. Research Associate, Librarian and Archivist of Homerton College from 1984 - 1993.

life and times at Homerton, so she was able to build up an oral history for the Archive.

Liz had a deep dislike of injustice, she volunteered to become the Union Representative for the non teaching staff and she took up the causes of several aggrieved members if she felt they were being unfairly treated. by College Administratiion. Giving.

A voice to those who were not usually heard, earned her great respect throughout the ranks of the domesticc departments.

Liz hated any form of discrimination: on one occasion it led her to select and appoint a young man to a junior Library post. The appointment was not an unqualified success. He was soon discovered partying the nights away with the Footnote to Page 12 students and gently snoozing Dr Dorothy (Dolly) Sarjeant HMI throughout the day in quiet was a lifelong friend and partner. corners of the Library. I Out of term they lived together was delegated to tackle him in some style sharing a house on, as Liz delicately put in Cambridge and a flat in the it, aspects of his personal College-owned Millbrook House in hygiene. Fortunately, he London where there was a resident moved on quite quickly as he housekeeper. Dolly died suddenly felt uncomfortable working in 1969 and they both share the with a gaggle of "Aunties"In same grave on the Isle of Mann.

June 1990 Liz exchanged Their tombstone records a ‘dear and devoted friendship’ of forty jobs with Elizabeth Dolby, years. See:Women in Teacher the Librarian from Brisbane Training Colleges 1900-1960, by CAE. Liz loved her 6 months E. Edwards, Routledge 2001, pp. in Australia, in spite of being 135-7 teased about rampant cane T. H. Simms 1989 toads which were in the news

at the time as being in plague numbers. The exchange led to some lasting friendships and several more holidays in OZ. Before her trip Liz had negotiated with College to confirm that her Library Staff would be recognised fully for their additional responsibilities in her absence, typically showing her generosity of spirit and her desire to be fair in all her dealings with her team.

Liz's book, Women in Teacher Training Colleges 1900- 1960, was published in 2001. This momentous event was celebrated with a small drinks party in the Milton Mount room in the old Library, now demolished. She enjoyed the attention of the photographer there, "I always take a good picture because of my inherited good bone structure," she rightly said. It was a special occasion.

We were all surprised at Liz's decision to retire in 1993, and to move to Aldburgh when it seemed that the life she loved was centred in the Academic world at Cambridge. Her husband, Louis, was recovering from major brain surgery, so a quiet seaside life was what he wanted. I think we all realised though that the pull of Cambridge would prove irresistible and that Liz would be back.

L

iz was a member of the RSMA Choir set up in 2010 and originally named ‘The Crumblies.’ Their first public performance was at the Memorial for John Hammond that year.

The choir went from strength to strength as ‘Emeritus’ under the direction of Jane Edden and sang on a number of other notable occasions including a Farewell to Barbara Pointon in 2012 and a Retirement Luncheon for Kate Pretty in 2013.

Liz was a most enthusiastic and faithful member of the Choir. She loved the singing, the camaraderie and the humour amongst the group and relished the opportunity of practising new skills as the repertoire increased.

She also made a significant contribution to the instrumental section, notably percussion and ‘alternative vocals’. Her rendering of a seagull screech in one of the songs became legendary.

As in all the other spheres of her activity Liz always gave a full commitment. She will be much missed.

Patricia Cooper

Jenny Carr

rsm newsletter, may 2016, page 13

Conference presentation in Malta

by Margaret Whitehead

With my hostess, outside the Times office

I

n November November 2015 I had the privilege to visit Malta to present at their Annual Physical Education Conference. The Conference was in Valetta, a beautiful old town on the coast. The weather was like summer in UK, the hotel room had a fantastic sea view and the food and hospitality were good. There was time to see St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valetta and the cathedral in Mdina. The former was resplendent with a newly cleaned interior shining with the gold ornamentation.

There was a frenzy of activity in the town as the Queen was to visit the following week for the CHOGM meeting.

Roads were being repaired,

balconies painted and flowers arranged in strict rows in the roundabouts and borders.

Lovely place – pity about the 100s of cars, for which the town was not designed.

My single task of a presentation turned into series of events. I gave my keynote on Physical Literacy followed by two seminars, and later in the day I met a group of part-time Masters students.

Also squeezed into the time were a meeting with the Malta Times and a meeting

Above: Part-time Masters students.

with senior staff from the University of Malta. My work on physical literacy is focused on promoting lifelong physical activity.

There is a wealth of evidence that physical activity has a positive effect on physical

and mental health as well as emotional and social wellbeing. Not surprisingly, therefore, there is a growing interest in fostering physical literacy in all sections of the population.

Margaret Whitehead

A journey from Leeds to Stapleford via Luatala, Mtwara, Newala, and Nachingwe

by Trish Maude

G

rowing up in Leeds I corresponded with Donald Parsons, a priest in Luatala, in the diocese of Masasi in Southern Tanzania. He later retired to Mtwara on the coast. At around the same time as he retired, my childhood and

lifelong friend, Cath offered to go to anywhere in the world as a VSO doctor. She was sent to Newala Hospital, which is 21 km from Luatala, and 144km from Mtwara.

Time passed and in 1992 I moved to Stapleford where I discovered a partnership

rsm newsletter, may 2016, page 14

of over 10 years between St Andrew’s Stapleford and St Andrew’s Nachingwea, which partnership continues to thrive today. Nachingwea is about 95 km from Newala and about 50km from Masasi.

In February 2016 the new Bishop of Masasi visited

Stapleford, following his attendance at the conference for new Bishops in Canterbury.

Guess where he lived as a child?.......Luatala.

Trish Maude

The 2015 Mandolin Symposium

by Philip Rundall

Left: Philip with Mike Marshall

I

n the 2014 issue I wrote a piece about on-line learning and my enthusiasm for the ArtistWorks Academy of Bluegrass. My mandolin teacher, Mike Marshall, along with David Grisman, 13 year’s ago started the annual Mandolin Symposium held on the beautiful campus of the University of California, Santa Cruz. My enthusiasm for the instrument led me to sign up for the 12th Symposium in 2015. Here’s the story of my experience.

I left home on 8th June, flying to San Jose via Minneapolis. Seeing the Nevada desert from the plane was a dramatic starter before arriving in the Golden State. I was met by a limo driver who drove me to the home of one of my childhood friends and his wife, who live in Saratoga, a small, attractive place. While there they commissioned me to decorate two 4x3 ft panels of a wall storage system. This took 7 days to complete out of the fortnight I stayed with them. I did, however, manage to get away to Santa Cruz to see my guitar teacher, Bryan Sutton, who I mentioned in my previous article, playing with Hot Rize, at the Rio Theatre. This was a great show and I got to meet Bryan afterwards. I also got to see Brian Wilson perform (remember The Beach Boys?) at the Mountain Winery, in

Saratoga. Hearing his hits in California was fun.

On 21st June I arrived at the Mandolin Symposium.

I shared an apartment with two people: a viola player and a semi-retired physician who was also former member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. It was stimulating company and we got on well.

We were surrounded by redwood forest and the Pacific Ocean was clearly visible on our walk up to where classes were held. My first class on the Monday was with David Grisman, who is a legendary figure in American acoustic music. I also attended sessions given

by Caterina Lichtenberg, Mike Marshall, Roland White (who played in Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Boys and Clarence White’s brother (a highly influential flat pick guitarist, who sadly was killed in an accident aged 29 years)) and Sharon Gilchrist. The classes were small so you really got to know the instructors and we also all ate together, so you met them informally as well. Other instructors whose classes I didn’t attend were Tim Connell (Irish), Rich Del Grosso (Blues), Drew Emmitt (Contemporary Mandolin Styles), Dudu Maia (Brazilian Choro), Eric Stein (Klesmer) and Don Stiernberg (Jazz & Swing). All the instructors are big names in their fields and as you can see, the range of styles was very extensive.

Each day started with a Music Appreciation session at which two instructors were separately interviewed and asked to discuss five pieces of music that had influenced their development as musicians. On the Wednesday night there was a 3 1/2 hour public concert given by the instructors. To have such a concentration of mandolin talent was extraordinary.

The students were incredibly friendly, mostly American (including a number of fellow Academy of Bluegrass students). I did get to meet a man from Nice in France and a Dutch woman who is a classical mandolin student of Caterina Lichtenberg’s in Germany.

Caterina is the only professor of the instrument in Germany.

Oh, and there was a woman from Australia! Talk was of course mandolin focused a good deal of the time but we did branch out on occasions.

Lynn Dudenbostel, one of the finest mandolin makers alive today, was there running a workshop, setting up instruments, offering advice. I tried out an A Style mandolin he was selling. It was a superb instrument but a lot more than I could afford.

During evenings we played together informally out on the grass with the deer feeding only yards away. On the final night we took part in a public concert - each instructor

leading a particular ensemble.

I was in the bluegrass ensemble with the 89-yearold Roland White and Sharon Gilchrist leading us. The finale was the entire body of players - the mandolin orchestra.

We played an Abe Shwartz medley of Jewish tunes.

This choice of music arose from the involvement of many of the instructors in concerts that took place in Warsaw, Germany and New York, a re-enactment of a wartime mandolin orchestra.

It was a moving, inspiring and musically challenging experience to meet all these extraordinary players and be one of around 100 students of all levels of ability Sadly, 2015 was the last Symposium. Mike Marshall and David Grisman (who is now over 70) felt they’d had a good run and it was time to take a break.

Continued on Page 16

rsm newsletter, may 2016, page 15

roundup

Continued from Page 15

Thankfully I've been able to sign up for a similar 5-day bluegrass and old time music event, called the Swannanoa Gathering that will take place in August in the hills of North Carolina. Some of my fellow students and Symposium instructors will be there, along with several other great mandolin players that I’ve only heard on CD or on YouTube. When it’s all over, Patti will join me and we will stay with Patrick Heffernan in Virginia.

Coffee mornings are held at 10.30 am on the Third Friday of each month in the Combination Room.

May 20th Presentation by Roger Green and lunch. Let Pauline know by May 18th if you want lunch.

June 17th Presentation and lunch, details to follow. Let Pauline know by June 15th.

book group

Joan Salter

June 7th Contact Pauline for more information.

bring a picnic lunch July 15th in Homerton Garden, details to follow.

RSMA AGM

September 24th, after lunch.

Exact time and details of elections for Committee posts will follow.

Contact Pauline: paulinecurtis@email.com 01223 264044

It is with sadness that we have just learnt that Joan Salter, who cared so wonderfully for the Homerton Gardens, died in April 2016, aged 91. Joan was Homerton Garden Steward from 19621970 and 1971-1984.

Both photos on this page: Patti Rundall

Philip Rundall

coffee mornings

Above: Philip with his guitar enthusiasts and guitar teacher, Bryan Sutton (on his left in the blue shirt) at the Purbeck Folk Festival near Corfe Castle in Dorset. Bryan's band, Hot Rize, headlined that day.

Commercialisation - around Academies and the Government's U-Turn as Education as a we go to print, the report by Public Good With all the political shenanigans going on

Below: RSMAs with Blue Badge Guide, Catherine Sharp, at the Fitzwilliam Museum, 6th May 2016

summer may be of interest to RSMs. Protecting the Right to education against the UN Special Rapporteur Commercialisation uses on the right to education, Human Rights language Kishore Singh, published last to explain the risks of

rsm newsletter, may 2016, page 16

commercialisation. There is also a Right to Education Project that is monitoring what's going on globally.

Patti Rundall

LINKS: http://bit.ly/1rtsuUQ

www.right-to-education.org