Cuthbert’s Chronicle | Easter 2017 | Issue No. 6
CUTHBERT’S
CHRONICLE ST CUTHBERT’S SOCIETY ALUMNI MAGAZINE ISSUE NO. 6 EASTER 2017
Rising above the clouds: the peaks of Kilimanjaro, taken by John Farrington. Read the story of his climb on pg.14
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Cuthbert’s Chronicle | Easter 2017 | Issue No. 6
Welcome Contents 04
From the JCR
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Research spotlight
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Alumni Association
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Meet the Committee
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Around the world with Cuth’s alumni
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SCR
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Supporting Cuth’s
The Cuthbert’s Chronicle aims to provide a snapshot of what is happening at Cuth’s and of the achievements of members of the Society around the world. In this edition, we showcase some of the remarkable projects and journeys that have taken members of the community far beyond the world of 12 South Bailey. From Mayan villages in the Mexican Yucatán to the rising peaks of Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, we hope that these stories will fascinate and inspire you. On page 16, you can read about the current research of Cuth’s alumna Amy Hinsley (Natural Sciences, 2006), who is studying the economic and ethical impact of legal and illegal wildlife trading in China, or PhD student Tom Lowman’s work on the regime of Idi Amin in Uganda. It is a privilege to document the exciting activities of the Cuth’s community, and we hope you enjoy reading about them. Do please tell us what you like and what you would like to see in the future. Guided by your feedback and input, the Chronicle can become, so we hope, an important way for maintaining and strengthening the Cuth’s community
singing, making music, running societies, and have contributed in so many ways to the vibrant life of the Society. We also say goodbye this month to our current Writer in Residence, journalist Ted Gup. He has been running a writing group for the last six months, and every week after the session he asks me where the ‘ordinary’ students are, because he is so dazzled by all the ones he encounters. It’s been a pleasure to find Ted playing his guitar by the river June is a time of celebration in bank, and to see him at the Durham – the end of exams, Shakespeare Formal dressed as ‘The graduation ceremonies, summer – Nightwatchman from Romeo and but it’s also a sad time for staff, because we have to say goodbye to Juliet’. Other participants in the so many terrific students. Durham has Shakespearean fun included two a very good reputation for producing gravediggers, Julius Caesar, Brutus, Macbeth and also Birnam Wood (two highly employable graduates, SCR members equipped with unsurprising when one looks at the range of their activities here. They are branches)! Staff and students performed a hilariously underconsummate multitaskers; at the rehearsed version of Tom Stoppard’s Sports and Societies Formal and ‘Two Minute Hamlet’, and we were all presentation of colours the awardchallenged by the ‘Shake or Fake’ winners have participated in several quiz on an election theme. The sports teams, volunteering, acting,
evening was an excellent demonstration of Cuth’s talent and ingenuity. We are proud that the JCR President, Megan Croll, is about to become the Students’ Union President, our second in three years. Cat May is her successor, so we will have had three female presidents in four years. Women now make up just over 50% of Cuth’s; it’s hard for the current students to imagine the Society without them, though we were vividly reminded of that era by the Rev Colin Colclough, President in 1949, who spoke movingly about his student days at the Military and Refounders Formal in March. We are always glad to see alumni; loyalty and a sense of tradition are integral to the wonderful Cuth’s spirit.
Professor Elizabeth Archibald Principal
Cuthbert’s Chronicle | Easter 2017 | Issue No. 6
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Cuthbert’s Chronicle | Easter 2017 | Issue No. 6
FROM THE JCR A new summer ball, an exec reshuffle, and welcoming back alumni: JCR President Megan Croll recaps a busy and exciting period for the JCR. The highlight event of Epiphany term, the Feast of St Cuthbert, was a great success this year. We brought in a marquee to the garden on House 12, which meant that we could seat an additional 80 people for a delicious dinner. The theme was “Through the Decades” and each area of 12 South Bailey was decorated to represent a different era, from 1930s Hollywood glamour to the disco vibe of the 1970s. In March it was lovely to welcome back alumni of Cuth’s Big Band and great to see old and new members of such a committed society come together. It would be fantastic to see this happen with other sports and societies in the future so here’s hoping that we see some alumni make a return to Durham to show current students what your sport or society was like back in the day. The Exec has been reshuffled to make things more efficient and provide a better Cuth’s experience for everyone. New positions include Senior Welfare Officer to improve the efficiency by having a single person to lead the team, as well as to create a gender neutral
welfare officer position. There will also now be a Facilities Manager to maintain and improve the facilities around Cuth’s including the gyms, Green Machine and the KyleLangley music room, and a Communications Officer to be the link between Cuth’s and the Students’ Union, and also to be a representative for Livers Out. I myself will be moving to work at the Students’ Union next year and although I will not be working solely for Cuth’s students anymore, I will always be a Cuth’s girl at heart. The first ever St Cuthbert's Society Summer Ball was a great success. Just under 600 people journeyed from Durham to Hardwick Hall Hotel on June 5th , where they enjoyed a three course meal, followed by fairground rides and music until the early hours. Despite the wind and rain, students from all year groups have told me what an excellent time they had, which was brilliant to hear. I cannot thank Harry Jenkins, Social Chair and Vice President-elect, for his incredible hard work throughout the planning process. His dedication alongside third year biology exams was The Men’s Hockey team (pictured left) have had a fantastic year, eventually winning the league. (Right) The Boat Club’s Novice Women’s VIII at the Durham Regatta in June, although losing narrowly to Lancaster, put in a strong
amazing. Cuth's Day was a great weekend as always. Attendees descended upon the Cuth's gardens for an array of music from some of Durham's most talented student musicians, and two external acts. There was a range of food to enjoy and we were happy to see plenty of recent graduates make the trip back up to Durham to join us for a wonderful day. Finally, I am happy to announce that we have now elected all of the new Executive Committee which will be led by Catriona May, President of the Society 2017/18.
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JCR elections Catching up with the next JCR President, Cat May. Cat discusses her plans for the year and some particularly important questions…
Congratulations Cat on your election! So, what are your plans for the year? My main focuses are Outreach and Welfare. With so many students who have the will and passion to volunteer, I think it is a shame that there are so few opportunities within Cuth’s. I want to work with the Outreach Chair to create a permanent volunteering project within Cuth’s focusing more on engaging with the local community rather than just raising money. And there are some rather mundane administrative things that I want to sort out, such as creating a lost property and feedback system. As the Welfare officer this year I am keen to continue the work that I have been doing on the Welfare and Diversity Committee and that Megan has also been doing on the Sexual Misconduct and Operations Group. This includes ensuring that all our bar staff are given active bystander training and improving the consent workshops given during Freshers’ Week this year. I also hope to improve Freshers’ Week in general especially for non-drinkers, postgraduates and international
students.
day you ask me (I really have no clue).
Some great ideas there. What’s been your favourite moment from your time at Cuth’s?
If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do?
During the netball knock-out cup match our C team faced the As during the second round. As captain of the C team, I wasn’t quite as confident in our ability as I usually am. So I decided that if we were to be annihilated on the court, then we might as well do it in style. We turned up to play the match dressed as tigers covered in face-paint from head to toe. How have you been involved in Cuth’s so far? I have performed in the pantomime and been a part of the netball and Bodcon societies where I have taken on the role of treasurer, social secretary and team captain. I joined the welfare campaigns team and became the female welfare officer this year. I work behind the bar and have been an open day and Freshers’ Week representative twice. If you could have one act perform at Cuth’s Day, who would it be? I always think tribute bands are the best as everyone just wants to be able to sing along. Having had Beyoncé and ABBA already I am actually going to say that the comedian Richard Ayoade would be my dream Cuth’s Day act. Time for some quick-fire questions. Best Cuth’s event attended? Michaelmas ball - they seem to get better and better each year! Describe yourself in three words Empathetic, open-minded, silly. What is your dream job? Is it not clear enough already that I’m putting off answering that question for another year (at least)? It depends what
I should probably say something smart such as invest the money. But I think opening a YoSushi near me so I could eat there every day would be far more important. A water slide and a snow machine would come into the picture somehow. Also, perhaps I'd take a look at my student debt. What’s the one thing you cannot live without? My mum’s home made brownies. Klute or Loveshack? Klute Good answer. Finally, who inspires you? Millie Tanner (JCR President 2014/15) Thanks Cat!
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Cuthbert’s Chronicle | Easter 2017 | Issue No. 6
Living Pharmacies: connecting Mayan nature and culture With your support, Cuth’s students can develop their innovative and fascinating research. Our first spotlight is on McKenzie Wade, who is studying for an MA in International Cultural Heritage Management, and her research into the link between Mayan language, culture and the environment. I study heritage initiatives towards safeguarding the diversity of culture. I’m charged with one of the most pressing questions, how do you prevent culture loss? Through grappling with this question in my studies, a theme emerged: in looking at culture loss, you inevitably begin looking at biodiversity loss. The most biologically diverse areas of the world also contain the highest rates of linguistic diversity. Culture is deeply connected to the environment and for my research I am the way in which nature and culture are connected in indigenous heritage initiatives. Mexico’s rich diversity of nature and culture proved the perfect place for engaging with this connection first hand. Through the St. Cuthbert’s Society Postgraduate Research Grant, I was transported for a month and a half from the cobblestone streets of the Durham Bailey to Yaxunah, a small Maya village near the World Heritage Site of Chichén Itzá in the Mexican Yucatán. While other small indigenous communities like Yaxunah are struggling to continue their traditional lifeways due to tourism floods and economic pressures, Yaxunah is a largely selfsustained community where Mayan is spoken as a first language. At the centre of this community is the Yaxunah Cultural Centre and Botanical Garden, developed by community members in 2010. To aid my dissertation, I was able to observe this heritage initiative’s role in community identity and in linking Maya culture with the environment.
“...in looking at culture loss, you inevitably begin looking at biodiversity loss” My research focused mainly on young people and their process of learning the Mayan language and plant knowledge. In surveying all 14-15 year-olds in the village, I found that those who did not speak Mayan were the only students who reported not having plant knowledge. There is undoubtedly a direct correlation between plant and language learning. By working with village elders, I was able give back to the community by developing an educational outreach game for the Centre which engages young people with the botanical garden. My time in Yaxunah was a vibrancy of embroidered colours, intense sun and smiling people. Each morning I awoke swinging in a hammock in a small thatched hut for a day of interviewing community members and working in the botanical garden. As I talked to community members about their lives, they began teaching me about the plants. The garden transformed into a living pharmacy and a familiar place as each plant took on a name, a use and a story.
Find out how to support the research opportunities of Cuth’s students by visiting www.durham.ac.uk/st-cuthberts.society/alumni/ fundraising/
Cuthbert’s Chronicle | Easter 2017 | Issue No. 6
“...my experience in Yaxunah has not only contributed to the heritage field an understanding of the importance of the natureculture connection in initiatives, but has gifted me with an insight into the Maya perspective of the world around me”
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Cuthbert’s Chronicle | Easter 2017 | Issue No. 6
Beyond Idi Amin: a history of violence in cultural memory Although the dictator is vilified in the West, Ugandans take a more nuanced approach to the former regime. As part of his PhD research, Tom Lowman places the memory of Idi Amin in its cultural context, talking to communities, tracking down former secret police, and exploring district archives.
Cuthbert’s Chronicle | Easter 2017 | Issue No. 6
I recently returned to Durham for the first time after six months in Uganda. My PhD project focuses on the military government of Idi Amin that ruled the country from 1971-79. This was a time of massive upheaval and large scale violence against civilians for Uganda, one that is, thankfully, in the past. Having explored as much of the written record as I could from a distance in the UK in my first year, it became clear that to get closer to events I would need to do archival work and conduct interviews with Ugandans in the country itself, so I set out to immerse myself for six months. Soaring into Entebbe airport, one is immediately confronted with the breathtaking size and scale of Lake Victoria, stretching out beyond Entebbe and Kampala, both of which sit astride the lake. Fishermen are constantly at work there, catching and selling a never -ending stream of huge lake fish to the markets. I was greeted at the airport by Willy Mugerwa, a good friend from previous time spent in the country. He wasted no time in grilling me on Brexit, my thoughts on Trump, and catching me up with Ugandan politics! A hard-working father of three, Willy nonetheless found time to help me arrange interviews in Kampala and to translate when our respondents preferred to use their native Luganda instead of English. He is a fine example of the immense generosity of spirit that made my work possible. I would spend some time in Kampala learning Luganda for myself, efforts which were always appreciated by local people. My research took me to all corners of Uganda, from the hustle of Kampala to
the tiny trading centre of Koboko in West Nile, Idi Amin’s home area from which you can look into Congo and Sudan at the same time. I conducted dozens of interviews with Ugandan men and women from all walks of life, former soldiers, doctors, civil servants and teachers, from a wide range of ethnic groups. I had been well prepared to expect challenges, especially investigating such a sensitive topic, but generally speaking I was surprised by the honesty and willingness of Ugandans from all areas of the country to recount their stories. In West Nile I was finally able to track down former agents of Amin’s secret police, the State Research Centre (SRC). Information gleaned from these informants was invaluable, though understandably it often took time to earn their trust.
“Old enmities are recognised, but the importance of moving beyond them is too” What became very clear early on was the way in which regional and ethnic allegiance and identity could play such a central part in determining how a period of instability like the Amin government impacted on everyday life. Whilst Amin is generally regarded as a monster in the west, Ugandans prefer to adopt a more nuanced assessment of their former dictator, seeking to place him in the context of his time and within the longer history of Uganda since independence. Old enmities are recognised, but the importance of moving beyond them is too. For most of the interviewees, sitting in the shade of their compounds with their grandchildren playing around them,
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Above: The view Lake Victoria from Muyenga in Kampala. Below: Two Ugandan policewomen in the 1970s, one of whom Tom interviewed. the Amin years are a blurry and distant memory, a chapter that most are glad to have been long since closed. I supplemented these interviews with written records being collected and restored in the district archives of Uganda. In many instances these district files have been left untouched for decades, and they offered a unique snapshot of political life at local level that many feared had been lost altogether during the conflict that engulfed Uganda during the 80’s. With hundreds of new files being processed all the time the time is ripe for historical analysis of Uganda since independence, and I was one of many researchers taking full advantage of this in the country today. The staff in the districts generously gave their time and energy to help me dig through boxes of files. Their commitment to preserving and restoring Uganda’s historical record will be crucial if historians are to continue to shedding new light on periods of study such as my own. Uganda is a beautiful and vibrant country, one that I cannot recommend highly enough to anybody looking to travel somewhere a little less well known and well trodden. The rapidly growing tourism industry offers safaris, trekking with mountain gorillas, white water rafting and a huge array of excellent local music, food and nightlife. But above all else the Ugandan people themselves with their energy and their passion for the world mean that no day passes without fascinating stories and conversation. Go to listen and learn and you will not be disappointed.
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Cuthbert’s Chronicle | Easter 2017 | Issue No. 6
ST CUTHBERT’S
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION founded in 1888 – for lunch (upstairs in the private room) and for a much more informal de-brief over drinks (downstairs, in the main bar). We hosted fourteen for lunch, with six more joining for drinks afterwards
The Alumni Association connects alumni to St Cuthbert’s Society and the University, and offers social, professional and cultural opportunities to the alumni community. Chair Richard Peralta (English Literature, 2005) updates the Chronicle on what the alumni community has been up to. Events In March and April, we held two very enjoyable events to celebrate St Cuthbert’s Day. The London lunch has established itself as a regular fixture – 2017’s lunch was the third annual iteration – and we also added a new dinner in Hong Kong. You can see photos for these, and all Association events, online at cuths.org. London: We met at The Market Tavern in Mayfair – namesake of the Market Tavern in Durham, where the Society was
Hong Kong: Five Cuth’s alumni from 1979 to 2013 got together for dinner at The Hong Kong Club. The group spent a very enjoyable evening reminiscing about the past and discussing the future. We hope to hold more events in Hong Kong in the near future, so please get in touch if you’re in the area and/or would like to attend or organise an event.
Cuth’s and what we might learn from others. The University Strategy was launched in London in May. There are lots of exciting plans, and I have had contact from a few alumni on what this might mean in practice for the University and for Cuth’s. In particular, there have been encouraging noises from alumni on the recognition of colleges and the student experience (the Durham difference), with
Other events which we are planning but have yet to be confirmed include a summer theatre trip in London, potentially at the Globe; an event in Singapore in September; and a ‘Last Five Years’ graduate event in London in September
Colleges Associations Group and the University Strategy Over the last few months, a group of Alumni Association Chairs and Presidents across all Colleges has been re-energised and met a couple of times, including with the Vice-Chancellor in April. We had a very productive discussion about the University Strategy and how alumni and associations feed into it. It was good to hear of the plans to further engage and recognise alumni, outside of a financial donor context. The group will meet the VC again in November for a follow up meeting, which will also be attended by Jennifer Sewel, University Secretary. On behalf of this group, I prepared a summary table of the differences and similarities between our Associations, which has been uploaded to cuths.org. It is a fascinating read. We don’t often have much insight into how other colleges work, so I encourage you to take a look and think about what you really value about our alumni offering in
some concern about the impact of the University on the city and its full-time residents. You can read more about the University Strategy online on the Durham University website. We welcome thoughts or comments on both documents from all alumni, including how we can better work with alumni in Cuth’s. Please get in touch with me on contact@cuths.org.
Richard
For more information on the College Associations Group, as well as for all news and events from the Alumni Association, please visit: www.cuths.org For the University Strategy, head to: www.durham.ac.uk/strategy2027 Left: At the St Cuthbert’s Day Lunch with Hannah Cutting, Matt Glover, and Rebecca Turner Above: Christmas celebrations in Cambridge with Rich Peralta, Matt Hann, Sarah Luke, and Celine Ophelders
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WELCOME TO THE ALUMNI COMMUNITY: WHAT YOU SAID “If you think that being part of Cuth’s ends once you leave Durham you will be sadly mistaken. Like most questionable life choices, your association with Cuth’s will never be far behind you! Ten years on, my manager, solicitor, mortgage adviser and cat sitter are all Cuth’s or Durham graduates, who I have met since graduating. It is surprising how many contacts are made through being a Cuth’s alum, and the occasional visit to Cuth’s bar is always a pleasant experience. Whether it’s through social media, attending a reunion or reading the Chronicle, being a Cuth’s alum is well worth the yearly donation request” Danni Collingridge-Moore (Geography, 2008)
FORTHCOMING
EVENTS July 2017 Friday 7 July to Sunday 9 July St Cuthbert’s Society Alumni Reunion Weekend, Durham
September 2017 “Cuth’s Alumni Association is a fantastic way of keeping in touch with Durham after you graduate. Coming from the Northern Irish countryside, even Durham felt like a big city to me at first, so moving to London after graduation really was a shock to the system! The network of Cuth’s alumni helped me to settle in and it’s been great to see some familiar faces at events, as well as hearing what’s new in Durham through the alumni newsletters and social media pages. From informal after-work drinks, to a black tie dinner in the Guildhall and a reception in the House of Lords, both the college and university alumni associations have allowed me to meet up with old friends (in some pretty amazing venues!), as well as make new connections - all with a shared passion for Durham. I’d definitely encourage new graduates to make the most of the alumni events and get involved as much as possible” Fiona Campbell (MSc Management Studies, 2014) Below: (L-R) Derrick Phillips (Classics, 1959) and his wife Sheila Phillips with Nick Wright (Economics, 2011) at the Founders’ Dinner in London in October 2016.
Thursday 28 September Young alumni (graduated 2012 or after) meet and greet in London
October 2017 Saturday 21 October Founders’ Dinner (Boulevard Brasserie, Covent Garden, London) Alumni Association AGM Tuesday 31 October IAS Fellow’s Lecture, Durham Professor Anya Hurlbert, Professor of Visual Neuroscience at Newcastle University
December 2017 #CuthsChristmas v3.0 Taking place throughout December all across the globe.
If you would like to help organise an event, especially in new locations or as year group reunions, we would be happy to facilitate and publicise as you require.
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Matthew Glover (Economics, 2008), Events Manager I arrived in Durham in 2005 to study Economics and left 4 years later, following a year as Sabbatical Bar Steward at the Society. After completing an MSc at York University I moved to London, where I was an academic health economist at Brunel University for 6 years. I recently moved to a small research consultancy, though retain honorary links with Brunel. When I'm not being a health economist I'm also a musician with lingering aspirations, still playing in a band with a friend met at Cuth's. I also still enjoy playing plenty of sports I wasn't any good at back then, but that still produce great memories and more friendships (football in particular, where I was SCSFC Social Sec). I've been on the Alumni Association Committee for five years, and am currently the Events Manager, helping to put together the calendar of Alumni events and organising get-togethers including drinks/lunches and the like!
MEET THE
Also on the committee: Alex Baulf (History, 2003) Vix Fetherston-Dilke (Politics, 2008) Ed Fetherston-Dilke (Philosophy & Politics, 2009) Nick Wright (Economics, 2011)
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION COMMITTEE
Cressida Peever (English Literature, 2014) I graduated from Durham in 2014 with a degree in English Literature. At Cuth’s I served as the JCR Chair, Major Events Manager on the Social Committee, and coxed for the Boat Club. I was also involved in Palatinate as an editor and writer. After graduation, I stayed for a year to work for Cuth’s as the first Development Officer, and I’m now employed by the National Theatre as Major Gifts Manager whilst I simultaneously pursue life as a playwright. One of my best memories of Cuth’s (it’s hard to choose just one) is singing along to S Club (3) at the end of Cuth’s Day in my second year; having helped to organise the event, it felt like nothing short of a miracle that it all came together with no disasters and only a light spattering of rain!
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Richard Peralta (English Literature, 2005), Chair I graduated from Cuth’s in 2005 with a degree in English Literature, and then served as President in 2005-6. During my time in Durham, I worked behind the bar at Cuth’s and DSU, was on the Cuth’s library committee before being Librarian in 2004-5, and worked on the DSU sponsorship committee. I now work as a management consultant in London, consulting on large regulatory and business change projects for Investment Banks. My favourite memories of Cuth’s book-end my time there. The first is arriving on day one to share a couple of pints with my dad, a packet of peanuts and seven games of pool; all for a fiver. This was the place for me. Towards the end of my studies, I met Bill Bryson at Durham train station on his first official engagement, whilst I was wearing the Cuth’s tiger suit (he leaned over and asked whether the giant costumes were part of some student society – I explained the badger, duck and tiger were all college mascots. I gleefully reminded him of this when receiving my degree). I have been involved in the Cuth’s Alumni Association for the best part of ten years, now as Chair. If you have any thoughts, suggestions, or requests to get the best out of Cuth’s after having left 12 South Bailey, please get in touch. I’m happy to help.
Mervyn Drage (Sociology, 1981) Mervyn graduated from Cuth’s in 1981. He is currently based in Manchester, and for his entire working life, he has campaigned tirelessly against poverty and injustice in society. He has been a member of various groups, such as the Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers, the Cuba Solidarity Campaign, and CND. Mervyn is a new member of the committee, and is keen to support the inclusion of the wider alumni community around the country, and has helped to organise regional events in the North.
Mark Rowland (Politics and Economics, 1968) Martin Rowland, known in his Society days as ‘Mark,’ was a mature student from 1965 to 1968. As a former newspaper reporter, he turned his experience to editing Palatinate. He flew in the Northumbrian Universities Air Squadron and played soccer for the University 1st and 2nd XIs. In his final year, he was President of St. Cuthbert’s JCR and graduated in politics and economics. Mark ‘enjoyed’- if that is the word - a career in journalism, publishing, public affairs and public relations in tobacco, oil, nuclear energy, maritime trade and marine insurance. He worked in-house for a range of British and American concerns and, as a consultant, was involved in a number of City of London-related privatisations. Now retired, he advises the London Shipping Law Centre and edits the Old Brentwoods Society magazine. He has served two stints as Chair of St. Cuthbert’s Association, first in the 1970s, and second, for several years until 2015, before handing over to Richard Peralta.
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Cuthbert’s Chronicle | Easter 2017 | Issue No. 6
Trekking Kilimanjaro In February this year, John Farrington (Economic History and Economics, 1967) climbed Mt Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, in memory of his late wife Anne and to raise funds for the inspirational St Oswald’s Hospice in Newcastle. Left: John (centre) at Stella Point, 5756m Below: The Kilimanjaro team (John far left, back row)
Kilimanjaro is the highest peak in Africa, standing at 5895 m (19341 ft.), a free-standing extinct volcano rising out of the African plain in Tanzania, close to the border with Kenya. Located close to the Equator, the mountain has four distinct climatic regions, from tropical at the base to arctic desert at the summit. This makes for a fascinating climb. The mountain is strictly controlled for environmental and safety reasons, and all the camps are assembled and removed each day in their entirety. There are a number of different routes up the mountain - mostly six or seven day trips. My party took the Lemosho route, which at eight days is the longest. This has several benefits. The extra time at altitude greatly assists acclimatisation, and this route is quieter and more scenic than the others. Our team consisted of ten individuals none of whom knew each other before the trip. The majority were young professionals in their mid-late 30's, with three older members. I was the second oldest (approaching 72). The climb was
organised and run by The African Walking Company, and they consisted entirely of 44 native Tanzanians - both as expert mountain guides and the support team of porters. It was great to see the whole enterprise managed 100% by these people in their own country. They were truly superb in every way, and we all have great admiration for their skills, strength, efficiency and everlasting good humour. They were just terrific. Many of the porters were women, and they were as strong as the men, and carry massive loads over huge distances, including up challenging rocks and scrambles. My equipment was carried by Anzilla, a truly wonderful woman - with two childrenand unbelievably supportive to me. The ten of us climbers had to carry rucksacks with just our daytime needs (four litres of water, lunch, waterproofs, fleece, cameras and so on). This proved hard enough for us at the higher altitudes! There were seven night camps on the mountain, ascending to the highest 'base camp' - Barafu Camp - at 4673m. To assist acclimatisation, the technique is
to pitch camp a few hundred feet below the highest point attained in that day so as to sleep slightly lower than we had climbed. I was fortunate in not suffering any altitude sickness or any other problems; just extreme tiredness each night! After a communal supper we all crawled into our little tents by 8pm - until 6am call with a cup of tea. Going to the loo in the night was an unforeseen challenge at the high camps (our portable loo was christened the Internet Café) requiring walking in pitch black freezing cold across boulders and stones, and hopefully finding the right tent again afterwards! The final ascent from base camp to the summit was by far the hardest part. We set off at midnight using head torches and scrambled for two hours up a very steep rocky section. Our guides were very watchful. We then continued upwards with trekking poles, with increasing effort being required. The night was perfect - clear stars and no wind or rain - just very cold (ice formed on our clothing ). I reached the summit rim at 7.15 am on the 23 Feb, very exhausted but otherwise fine. Eight out of the ten of us reached the summit at Stella Point (5756m/18891ft). Some walked around the crater rim to a slightly higher point (139 m higher Uhuru Point) but I decided to conserve some energy for what was a challenging descent. The summit was clear and in brilliant sunshine, and we witnessed the sunrise, although the cloud ceiling was below us, so we did not see the landscape below. Still a very moving moment. The descent back down to Base Camp for me took until 11.30am, at which point I collapsed in my tent for a quick sleep, to be
Cuthbert’s Chronicle | Easter 2017 | Issue No. 6 followed by a meal. After that, we took up our packs again and continued to trek steeply down, reaching the next camp by 7pm. So we had been on the go for approximately nineteen hours with one break - very tired but happy.
us saw this as a macho trip, but rather as a humbling experience, and I managed to raise £3500 thanks to people's generosity. The only problem now is that back home life seems a bit dull doing the gardening and going to the supermarket...
The overriding feeling for all of us was of companionship, support and encouragement for each other. Great friendships were formed, irrespective of age and background. None of the ten of
A Cuth’s alumnus, John is a member of the SCR, a mentor to first-year students, a Careers Angel, and newly elected Fellow.
James A. Lee (French, 1963) worked as the first professional Ombudsman and Mediator for United Nations Funds and Programmes. He was recently awarded the International Ombudsmen Association’s Distinguished Emeritus Award. Here, he reflects on his lifetime of service. As an organizational ombudsman and mediator in the United Nations system for more than thirty years, I have dealt with work-place conflict all over the world. It has been both exhilarating and exhausting and has taught me a great deal about human relationships. Organizational ombudsmen work to resolve workplace conflict and report on emerging trends in international organizations, colleges and universities, corporations, hospitals, banks and other institutions. Throughout my time as an ombudsman, I have kept at the back of my mind the twelve amazing years I spent in Ethiopia, where there is a long tradition of alternative dispute resolution and the ombudsman is known by the Amharic “Emba tebaki”, the keeper of the people’s tears. The guiding principles of an ombudsman
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Right: John (centre) are independence, impartiality, confidentiality and informality. In my experience, the most important factor for the majority of people who consult an ombudsman is the guarantee of confidentiality, which enables them to be frank and open. In considering the most common issues that cause conflict in the workplace, which range from abuse of authority through job and career questions to problems arising from organizational leadership and management, the ombudsman must gain the trust and respect of everyone involved in a conflict in order to make realistic recommendations for an equitable resolution. Being an organizational ombudsman can be emotionally exhausting, not to say physically challenging if you have to cover three or four countries in different time zones in a couple of weeks! Once you have gained that all important trust, you can expect to hear harrowing stories that can bring tears to your eyes. When people speak with an ombudsman, it may be the first time that anyone has listened to their story in a non-judgmental way, and that in itself is empowering for them, but what they really want is for the ombudsman to provide them with options for action, not simply to empathize with them. In a troubled world where we face increasing conflict arising from the abuse of power at all levels of society, I suggest to the young people whom I mentor that they look into the possibilities of a career in conflict management. Many universities, including Durham, offer courses and degrees in this area. I have also been an active member of the International Ombudsman Association (IOA) for many years. It’s the largest international body of
organizational ombudsmen, providing regular training, certification, periodic webinars and a packed agenda at its annual meetings. Just a few weeks ago, someone from the IOA called me. My first reaction was to say that I had just paid my dues (I had!). In fact, they were calling to inform me that IOA had bestowed on me the Distinguished Emeritus Award. I was completely taken by surprise, overwhelmed and delighted at the news. So it was that Barbara and I paid our first visit to Minneapolis, the City of Water, to receive the award at the IOA annual conference. It was a very important day in my life and I am extremely grateful to those colleagues from the UN and academia who supported my candidature. I felt re-invigorated at the conference and am looking forward to an even busier retirement. As a local Durham lad, graduating in French from Cuth's, I never expected that my career would take me to some of the most beautiful and some of the most dangerous places in the world. I often go back to Durham and stroll down to 12 South Bailey, recalling those very happy days in the sixties and wondering what the future holds for today's Cuth's students. Top: James (left) accepting his award Left: James (left) with Principal Elizabeth Archibald in New York.
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Cuthbert’s Chronicle | Easter 2017 | Issue No. 6
Understanding the illegal wildlife trade The illegal wildlife trade generates up to $20 billion dollars annually and is the fourth most lucrative illegal trade in the world. Cuth’s alumna Amy Hinsley (Natural Sciences, 2006) researches the trade of bear bile in China in order to understand the economic and ethical motives that sustain it. I am a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Oxford, working as part of the Oxford Martin Programme on the Illegal Wildlife Trade. My research focusses on trying to find new ways to better understand how and why people buy illegally traded plants and animals. After my undergraduate in Natural Sciences at Durham, I did an MSc in Biodiversity, Conservation and Management at the University of Oxford, where I did my research on the collection of wild orchids, ferns and other horticultural plants in rural Cambodia.
After a few years working at an NGO I did a PhD at the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE) at the University of Kent, which again focussed on plant trade, this time the international trade in orchids. There are over 25,000 species of orchids and many have been popular ornamental plants for thousands of years. When some tropical plants were brought to Europe for the first time in the 1800s it caused rich Victorian collectors, who were described as suffering from ‘orchidelirium’, to pay small fortunes for single plants. This drove a huge demand for rare plants that still exists in some form today; orchids are still widely illegally traded and new species are often collected to extinction. With rare plants selling for tens of thousands of pounds, traders and buyers are always looking for new ways to sell illegally, with many moving online. To find out more about this I used methods from economics, criminology and social science to research how the
internet is being used to buy and sell rare species. This involved visiting professional growers in Indonesia and Taiwan, carrying out surveys with hundreds of orchid enthusiasts in Tokyo, and mapping the orchid trade networks that operate on Facebook. When I finished my research in 2015 I started working at the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Programme (UNEPWCMC), focussing on international wildlife trade policy until I started in my current role at Oxford in 2017. My current research aims to disentangle the legal and illegal trade of bear bile in China, by studying the behaviour of consumers, traders and other people involved in these markets. Bear bile has been used for thousands of years in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to treat ailments including liver and eye disease. Historically it was sourced from the gallbladders of hunted wild bears but in the 1970s bear farms were
Cuthbert’s Chronicle | Easter 2017 | Issue No. 6
established all over Asia, to drain the bile from living bears. Today, bear bile is a controversial issue, with many international NGOs calling for China and other countries in Asia to ban the practice due to animal welfare concerns. In China, bear bile farming is still legal but killing wild bears for their gallbladders is not, and wild-sourced bile is illegal to buy. However, some experts argue that producing bile on bear farms is the only way to prevent the hunting of wild bears. My project aims to use a market and consumer perspective to find out whether the existence of bear farms, which have been operating in China since the 1980s, is good or bad for wild bear populations. My first project trip to China in 2017 took me to Beijing, where I met with experts to discuss the best way to study consumer preferences and market availability for different bear bile products. I also visited Guangzhou in the south of China, where using wild animal and plant products for medicine and food is widespread. I visited the huge QingPing market, a network of streets and multi-storey shopping centres selling products ranging from shark fins to dried seahorses, deer antlers to frogs, and hundreds of different types of fungi and plants. I did not find any bear products for sale at QingPing, but I did find a lot of orchids, mainly shi hu tea made from the tightly wound stems of different Dendrobium species. Although QingPing is one of the largest, it is just one of many markets all over China selling products such as this. My current research is still at an early stage but over the next few years I will spend a lot more time in China, visiting markets like QingPing and speaking to people who use, produce and prescribe bear bile. It is not just bears that are farmed to supply medicinal markets – wildlife farming has been suggested to be the answer to unsustainable trade in species such as tigers, rhinos and lions, but some in the conservation community question whether this is the best approach. Whilst my job is not to stop people from using bear bile products, or convince them to switch to herbal alternatives, the data I collect will allow the conservation community to learn more about why people buy these products and what might make them change their buying behaviour. It will also find out more about how wildlife farming affects the conservation of wild animals and plants that are threatened by trade. Amy has recently been awarded the Durrell Trust for Conservation Biology Prize for most outstanding research postgraduate student.
Top: Wild orchids for sale on the street. Right: Shi hu tea made from Dendrobium orchids, with the yellow dried stems Below: Wildlife products including fake tiger paws, bones and teeth, and gallbladders (sold as yak, but unclear which species).
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Cuthbert’s Chronicle | Easter 2017 | Issue No. 6
SENIOR COMMON ROOM Cuth’s Senior Common Room is made up of academic and professional staff, members of the local community, and alumni. SCR President Dr Mark Miller introduces their new Performing Arts Grants. Members of the Senior Common Room always take great pleasure in seeing Cuth's students succeeding in their academic studies and, as if that were not challenging enough, also excelling on the stage, on the concert platform and in the performing arts in general. Through their talent, dedication and accomplishments, our students sometimes win the chance to perform at prestigious external events. However, over the last few years, we have realised that it is not always straightforward for students to accept such offers because of the additional expenses that would be incurred. In response to a lack of
provision in this area, the SCR has this year launched a scheme — funded by SCR members' subscriptions — of Performing Arts Grants. These awards are intended specifically to help students take up performing opportunities that they have earned. We are looking forward to seeing the first batch of applications. Of course, Cuth's students excel in many other spheres too. One area where achievements are not as obvious as musical, dramatic or sporting glory is charitable and voluntary work. For many years, the SCR has been proud to sponsor an annual prize for such activities, and we are currently considering very worthy nominations for the 2017 award. Every year, it is both
inspiring and humbling to discover what Cuth's students have achieved through their dedication and leadership in voluntary work. Indeed, last year it was so hard to decide on a recipient of the Prize that we made the exception of awarding two full Prizes. At the time of writing, planning for the SCR's summer Guest Night is underway. Please remember that Guest Nights are now open to alumni, and we would be delighted to see you at them. There is one Guest Night each term, usually on a Friday towards the end of the term. The details are posted on the SCR web site, and are circulated to alumni by e-mail. Do join us!
“the January Man, he walks abroad in woollen coat…” Christopher Somerville (French, 1971), poet, travel writer, alumnus and Fellow of Cuth’s SCR has published his new book The January Man. Inspired by the eponymous song, it is the story of a year of walks around the British Isles, month by month and season by season. I loved ‘The January Man’ the very first time I heard it sung. It was around 1980, in the poky upstairs room of the Old Crown pub in Digbeth, in Birmingham city centre. Martin Carthy was the singer. I can see him now, his spare frame quivering, eyes closed, as he sang unaccompanied, slowly and with tremendous feeling: Oh the January Man, he walks abroad in woollen coat And boots of leather; The February man still wipes the snow from off his Hair and blows his hands; The man of March, he sees the Spring and wonders What the year will bring, And hopes for better weather… ‘The January Man’ was so full of allegory, so elliptical and seasonal, that I took it to be a traditional song. I tried and failed to learn it. Then I forgot it. And it didn’t recur to me until I began to plan a book of travels on foot in a great circle around the British Isles, each location chosen to suit a particular month. I hunted out Martin Carthy’s recording of the song,
and as soon as I heard his rich and reedy voice I knew that this mysterious monthby-month parable of ‘The January Man’ would be the cornerstone of the book. ‘The January Man’ provided inspiration of another kind, too. Many people of my generation (I was born in 1949) have struggled to make the sort of emotional connection with their fathers that they have taken for granted with their own children. The profound and often longhidden effects of the Second World War, the reticence of that generation of men, their stiff upper lips and stoicism, were hard for their sons to break through. My father, John Somerville, was sent to the Royal Naval College at Dartmouth at the age of thirteen, and joined the Royal Navy when he was seventeen years old. He served in a destroyer in the Mediterranean through some of the worst and bloodiest months of the war, and never spoke about it. After the war he left the Navy to join Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), the secret establishment in Cheltenham, and never spoke a word about his work
there. It was walking together that brought us closer. Walking promoted talking, and in the end produced a kind of understanding we came to value. None of this is unique to my father and me. But the circular course of the journey I took, the cycle of the seasons, and the circle of a man’s life so poetically expressed in the song, all point to a completion that one never ceases looking for.
Follow Christopher’s walking blog at www.christophersomerville.co.uk/
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SUPPORTING ST CUTHBERT’S SOCIETY The generosity of our donors allows St Cuthbert’s Society to thrive and flourish. Your support enables us to continue to improve and develop the student experience here at 12 South Bailey. We welcome donations of any size and for any purpose. You can choose whether to donate to one of our campaigns listed below, or if you choose the Annual Fund, to a specific cause or to the Society in general. Thanks to your support, Cuth’s Choir were able to go on tour in France
Should you wish to discuss how you can help, please contact our Alumni Development Officer on cuthberts.alumnirelations@durham.ac.uk
St Cuthbert’s Society Annual Fund St Cuthbert's Society Annual Fund is the account for general donations to St Cuthbert's Society. If you would like to donate then selecting the annual fund allows us to place your money where it will make the biggest impact. You can use this fund for specific purposes, such as supporting your old team, club, or society.
Student Opportunities Fund The Student Opportunities Fund exists to provide support to Cuth’s students in their academic pursuits, such as helping them to fund attendance at conferences, research trips, or fieldwork. We would now like to extend it to final year undergraduates working on dissertations. Such awards enable Cuth’s students to get more from their degrees and maintain our commitment to contributing to the University’s scholarly community.
Legacy Gifts Making a will is a time for reflection about your personal legacy. Including a legacy gift to St Cuthbert’s Society is a celebration of the Society you treasure and the people you have encountered here. Legacy gifts help us to provide a stimulating environment for future generations of Cuth’s students and encourage them to discover, innovate, and influence. There are many ways to support the future of Cuth’s and we will be pleased to assist you in making your decisions about your wishes. If you would like to know more, please contact the Legacies Officer on 0191 3346313 or email louise.mclaren@durham.ac.uk
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