1887 society

1887 society Dinner 2013

Alexandra Jezeph Geography, 2004

Nicholas Crane, who many will know from the BBC’s Coast series, entertained geography students, tutors, alumni and their guests as speaker for the annual 1887 Society Dinner on May 4th 2013.

The 42nd annual dinner began a little differently this year. Guests arrived for pre-prandial drinks in the JCR before heading over to the Chapel rather than to Hall for dinner. The new arrangement reflected the extensive works taking place at the College to provide a new refectory, kitchens and formal dining arrangements – works that are now overseen by the striking Antony Gormley sculpture in the Quad.

The dinner in the Chapel was delightful and, for some alumni, an inaugural occasion to dine under the stainedglass windows and statues of such luminaries as John Milton and Oliver Cromwell. As always the event proved a great opportunity to reconnect with friends and tutors, as well as meet the current Mansfield geographers. Tony Lemon, Pam Berry, Derek McCormack and Richard Powell were all present, providing the important connection between geographers past and present.

Nicholas Crane spoke passionately about his experiences as a geographer, television and newspaper journalist and author. He had a clear love of walking, regarding it as one of the best ways to explore landscapes and engage with communities. Twenty years ago, he embarked on an extraordinary, 17-month journey along the chain of mountains that runs from the Atlantic in Spain, to Istanbul in the East. He described his memorable experiences of engaging with little-known ethnic groups residing in the mountains and how, through sharing honey and cheese as a guest in their homes, he gained insight into the lives of people who live on the periphery of the modern world.

Closer to home, Nicholas recounted his walk from one end of England to the other along the line of longitude, two degrees west. From Berwick-uponTweed to the Isle of Purbeck he kept to the line as far as possible – even wading through a river in the early hours of the morning (to avoid being spotted by many people) so as not to deviate from the route. He recounted that one of the more difficult challenges as a broadcaster is explaining complex geographical concepts in a visually engaging manner – and often in under 60 seconds. His desire to share geographical understanding has taken a new twist in his latest project: a captivating World Atlas app that takes the form of a beautifully illustrated and interactive globe. It relies on curiosity, providing more and more information the deeper you explore, making it perfect for introducing young children to the wonders of geography.

Nicholas concluded his speech by considering which geographer is the most important of them all. His answer: Gerard Mercator. That certainly stirred up some after-dinner debate!

1887 society careers Event

James Fisher Geography, 2011

On 31st January 2013, the 1887 Society was proud to welcome six Mansfield Geography alumni back to College to speak about their experiences of the working world.

With experience varying from charity and NGO work to investment banking and industry, these alumni represented the diverse careers into which an education at Mansfield College can take you. Daniel Thompson (2005) spoke about his experiences of choosing a career and of how to apply for graduate positions, while Anthony Lunch (1964), a contemporary of Dr Tony Lemon, gave a thought-provoking speech about his journey into international development, having set up the MondoChallenge Foundation a few years ago. Cat Francis (2003) emphasised the rewarding nature of a career in the NGO/charity sector, having worked for Fauna & Flora International, a charity devoted to preserving the world’s biodiversity. Also giving us the benefit of his experience, Christopher Birrell (1973) described his training with Price Waterhouse (now Price Waterhouse Coopers, PWC), before becoming an accountant, and then his move into finance/consultancy. The consultancy practice in which he worked operated within both the private and public sectors. Andrew Young (1994) spoke about working abroad, having moved to New York shortly after graduating to take up a position at Credit Suisse. He gave a frank account of the challenges a career in finance can bring, with long hours and job insecurity, especially during a recession. David Williams (1976), now the CEO of Amari Plastics, told us about an unconventional journey into industry: a sector that is under-acknowledged by many graduates leaving university, but highly worthwhile.

Hearing these six eloquent alumni speak, we gained a glimpse into the world awaiting us when we leave University – which for some (including me!) is not very far away.