Hartley News - January 2024

ALUMNI AND SUPPORTER MAGAZINE WINTER 2023/24

HARTLEY NEWS

RUBY, RUBY, RUBY, RUBY

A RETROSPECTIVE We look back at four years of passionate service from our Chancellor INDIA IN FOCUS Dig into Southampton's thriving Indian alumni community

WELCOME FROM THE PRESIDENT AND VICECHANCELLOR Happy New Year and welcome to the latest edition of the University of Southampton’s alumni and supporter magazine.

It is always a pleasure for me to write to you as a member of the global Southampton community. The new year is a wonderful time to reflect on the past twelve months, to revisit treasured parts of our institution’s history, and to look forward to the goals and successes in our future.

Your community, a network of over 280,000 talented individuals, plays a crucial part in the ongoing story of what Southampton is, and what it will be. It is always heartening to hear about what our alumni and friends are doing out in the world and the change you are making across such a huge range of industries and walks of life. Your connection to Southampton is what binds you all together, and I hope it remains a source of pride for you, as it does for me.

In this issue, we turn our gaze to some of the outstanding achievements of our alumni in India, from eco-friendly entrepreneurs to student mentors.

We also bring you updates from network meet-ups across the country and reflect on the ways that we continue to build close links between India and Southampton.

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Make sure to turn to page 4 to look back at four years of passionate service from our Chancellor, Ruby Wax. Her focus on student mental health has been particularly crucial to us as we navigated the impact of COVID-19, and continues to inform our approach to supporting our students as we transition into a post-pandemic world.

I’m also excited to be able to announce two generous donations that have helped us to boost our university’s firepower in the arena of medical innovation. One, a gift left to us in the will of Professor John Clifton, will support the development of medical physics at Southampton. The other, a funded scholarship supporting research into the early detection of dementia, will help us to begin to unravel the mysteries of this terrible disease.

I hope that you enjoy catching up on all the news from your fellow members of the Southampton community.

With all warmest wishes for the coming year,

Professor Mark E. Smith CBE, President and Vice-Chancellor

IN THIS ISSUE

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04

Graduation returns to Guildhall Square

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Charlotte's story: from despair to hope

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Legacy of John Clifton

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24

Class Notes

14

Ignite Programme

15

Gift of Sight

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Volunteering: The Hidden Heart of the University

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RUBY WAX – A RETROSPECTIVE ON OUR CHANCELLOR In May 2019, Ruby Wax OBE stepped into the role of Chancellor at the University of Southampton, succeeding the late Dame Helen Alexander.

The comedian and mental health advocate was the eighteenth person to take on the position, which requires the incumbent to serve as the leading ambassador and formal head of the University.

At her investiture in December of the same year, she described her appointment as “a great honour”.

As her five-year term draws towards its end, we reflect on some of the highlights from Ruby's tenure.

Photo credit – Iona Bateman

Photo credit – Iona Bateman

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From wit to wellbeing While Ruby rose to fame through her comedy and documentary work, she is also a seasoned champion for better mental health. She has brought mental health issues to Parliament and beyond, through her role as Patron for the British Neuroscience Association and as an ambassador for the charities MIND and SANE. She was awarded an OBE in 2015 for her work in this area.

Following her own experience of clinical depression, Ruby completed a master’s degree in Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy at the University of Oxford. As Visiting Professor in Mental Health Nursing at the University of Surrey, she contributes to research, curriculum development, teaching and public engagement.

Speaking at the time of her appointment as Chancellor, Ruby made it clear that this eminence was not entirely expected.

“I’m so honoured and dare I say it, surprised to become the Chancellor of the University of Southampton. If you had asked me as a child if this was even possible, I’d laugh in your face, as would my parents,” she said.

“As a young student, academic intelligence wasn’t my forte.

Canoeing yes, academia no. I wouldn’t have even gotten into Southampton when I was young…. so miracles really do happen.

“This is where students mingle and meet their tribe. I wish I’d stayed at university because there you meet friends forever. I didn’t finish university, it wasn’t a time when I understood the importance of having a focus.

“If I can do that quantum leap from being below academic sea level in high school to becoming Chancellor of this very prestigious university where my son went to study physics, which led to a fantastic career in IT, anyone can.”

A voice for our students Despite her surprise, Ruby has served as an inspiring and outspoken Chancellor, speaking at key University events, and always championing the importance of mental wellbeing for our students.

Photo credit – Iona Bateman

Presiding over a graduation ceremony in the O2 Guildhall last summer, she highlighted the particular mental health challenges for students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Congratulations to the COVID cohort. The fact that students are graduating, and they had to tolerate staying inside and not meeting their cohorts during COVID, is just remarkable.”

Acknowledging the mental and emotional burden this had placed on many students, she encouraged those struggling not to hide their difficulties from others.

“I hope here at the University people are not ashamed – mental illness affects one in four people.

With mental health issues, sometimes comes creativity and originality and brilliance, so why be ashamed?”

Photo credit – Iona Bateman

 CONTINUED OVERLEAF

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Keeping mental health in mind

A day with Ruby

The importance of reducing stigma and providing students with the right tools to manage their mental health has been a theme throughout Ruby’s Chancellorship.

Iona Bateman is a third-year physiotherapy student, former rock star photographer and the founder of Soton Sports Massage. During the summer graduation period, Iona was Ruby’s personal photographer. Iona shared her reflections on meeting our Chancellor.

In 2020 Ruby appeared on the final episode of ‘The Portal’ , a conversation series run during the pandemic by the University’s Social Impact Lab, exploring the ways that COVID-19 reshaped our approach to work, public health and society at large.

Speaking about the legacy of the pandemic, Ruby said: “people have been traumatised – they went from numbness to anger to making peace with it, but I think we’re underestimating that trauma.”

Predicting that the next big public health crisis would be in the arena of mental health, Ruby talked about the importance of “training the brain” to handle extreme stress and anxiety.

“You have to train self-compassion.”

With one in three students nationwide reporting that they were extremely lonely at university, Ruby also talked about the role universities had to play in helping students to build connection virtually when these links aren’t being made naturally during a course of study.

I love handing out those diplomas. I love being the Chancellor.”

Ruby Wax, Chancellor of the University of Southampton

“I came to the University of Southampton with the sole expectation of gaining a BSc in Physiotherapy.

I had changed career paths from music photography and journalism to healthcare, after a boxing injury left me with a hand disability.

It’s overwhelming to look back on all the incredible opportunities that I’ve had over the past two years with generous support from alumni donations: from receiving enterprise funding and guidance via the Foundership Scheme this summer, developing a device that gamifies upper-limb rehabilitation post-stroke, completing multiple UoS internships, spending a month in Mumbai with Spark India and four elective placements.

So when I was invited to the Vice-Chancellor's celebration dinner in July to help host our Chancellor, Ruby Wax, I was honoured to add another awe-inspiring experience to this list. I enjoyed an incredible evening chatting with Ruby who was keen to learn more about my experiences as a University of Southampton student. I even found myself giving Ruby an impromptu sports massage at the dinner table!

When I showed her some of my photographs she asked if I would come to the graduation ceremony as her photographer the following day. Ruby entrusted her phone to me to film the procession and her inspirational and engaging speech to our graduating students. I also took some more relaxed photos before and after the ceremony.

Meeting Ruby and having the opportunity to share everything that I love about being a University of Southampton student and all the incredible career and life-enhancing experiences which I’ve benefitted from was the highlight of my time at Southampton. Ruby’s infectious passion for learning and jumping feet first into new experiences has inspired me to welcome every opportunity with curiosity and enthusiasm and I’m looking forward to joining the ranks of Southampton alumni that are driving positive change around the world.”

Photo credit – Iona Bateman 6

Ruby was surprised but delighted to become Chancellor Photo credit – Iona Bateman

Southampton pride

Ruby’s highlights

Looking back over her years sporting the Chancellor’s bonnet, Ruby says: “I’m sad it’s coming to an end. I want to keep on doing this and watching as these students go out into the world, doing amazing things. My biggest piece of advice to new graduates is always to stay curious – don’t be afraid to change your mind. Find new ways to be happy – it’s the most important thing.”

“I went out on the Solent on RV Callista (the University’s research vessel) and heard about some of the incredible work being done in the oceanography and marine sciences departments. It was wonderful. If I had my time again, I’d go back and do oceanography.”

Ruby is very proud of the Southampton alumni community. “There’s so many amazing, inspirational people out there who have this university in common, people like the Outstanding Alumni Award winners [see page 9]. Jane Wernick, a trailblazing structural engineer, Tolúlopé Ògúnrèmí, who is doing such amazing things with natural language processing and addressing that digital divide. Kaushal Shah and Steve Dulake who have supported our students in such powerful ways. I think Southampton graduates are really lucky to have these kinds of people in their network.

“In fact, during my time here I’ve been really surprised to learn about just how impressive the University is in so many ways. There’s so much world-leading work happening here.”

“Meeting Professor Dame Wendy Hall was a real highlight – she’s my heroine! She’s such a major figure in the development of the World Wide Web, but so humble. She holds in her the history of this thing that has so fundamentally changed the way we live.”

A legacy of compassion Looking to the future, Ruby says “I’m not done with Southampton! I’m back here for my book tour in May, but also I still plan to run a pilot with some students using my Frazzled Café model. It’s a way to give young people space to talk through their mental health and deal with burn out.

“Who knows, maybe I’ll even audit some classes! It’s time for me to reinvent myself again.”

In the end, for Ruby, it is all about the students. She talks with fondness about the moment on stage when she shakes hands with the graduating students as they transition into alumni of Southampton.

“I love handing out those diplomas. I love being the Chancellor."

Photo credit – Iona Bateman

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YEAR IN REVIEW The last twelve months have been a busy time for the University. There has been a lot of newsworthy activity at your university, including a strong drive to widen participation and create a more inclusive environment. Take a minute to catch up on some of the fascinating things which have been happening.

Climbing Global League Tables Southampton is officially one of the world’s leading universities – after being named in the top 100 of a major international league table. The Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings placed the University of Southampton in 97th position out of nearly 2,000 others.

The table is regarded as one of the world’s important higher education rankings, scoring institutions on their teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook.

Southampton Vice-Chancellor Professor Mark E. Smith said he was delighted the University was competing with the very best in the world.

He added: “Our improvement to a top 100 ranking is an indication of our University’s outstanding quality, research excellence, and exceptional teaching.

"It is a real mark of quality that validates our hard work to empower our students who come here from across the world and shape our society for the better. It is a testament to the quality, dedication and hard work of colleagues across the University for which I am very grateful.”

It is the first time for well over a decade that the University of Southampton has been named in the top 100 of The Times Higher rankings, now on its 20th edition.

Award-Winning Teaching and Support In September, the University of Southampton retained its ‘silver’ rating in a national teaching assessment.

The Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) silver award reflects the University’s focus on enabling and encouraging students to excel during their time at Southampton.

The award recognises Southampton’s very highquality provision across all student groups, with some initiatives recognised as ‘outstanding’ by the TEF panel. The University has nine staff who have been awarded prestigious National Teaching Fellowships in recognition of excellent teaching.

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Professor Deborah Gill, Vice-President for Education and Student Experience, said: “We are delighted with our TEF silver award, which recognises the commitment and hard work of our staff as well as the success of the many programmes and initiatives we have in place to ensure students thrive here.”

In October we were thrilled to announce that we had received a Gold Social Mobility Award (Highly Commended) in the University of the Year category, for the second year running. This award recognises the work the University has done to make social mobility an integral part of our philosophy.

Gino Graziano, Director of Widening Participation and Social Mobility, said “I am so pleased and proud of our University for achieving the Gold Award again this year. This award is testament to the dedication, commitment and care delivered by colleagues across the University, to make the future of higher education a fairer place for all.”

Initiatives like the Ignite Programme, which was also declared outstanding by the TEF award in September, have been a huge success. The programme supports students in a wide range of ways, from putting on guest speakers, to mentoring, to financial aid.

Outstanding Alumni Award Winners Taking the stage at this year’s graduation ceremonies were four remarkable members of Southampton’s alumni community. Jane Wernick CBE, Tolúlopé Ògúnrèmí, Kaushal Shah and Stephen Dulake were the worthy winners of the University’s 2023 Outstanding Alumni Awards.

The Outstanding Alumni Awards recognise the achievements of Southampton’s talented alumni across the world and the ongoing contribution they make to the University’s reputation as ambassadors and exemplars for our students.

This year, for the first time, winners were able to directly address the roomful of graduating students, passing on their advice and inspiring stories first-hand.

Jane Wernick CBE (BSc Civil Engineering, 1976)

Tolúlopé Ògúnrèmí (BSc Mathematics and Computer Science, 2019)

Kaushal Shah (MSc Global Entrepreneurship, 2014)

Stephen Dulake (MSc Economics, 1990)

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Lifetime Achievement Award Jane Wernick CBE (BSc Civil Engineering, 1976) Jane Wernick CBE is a structural engineer who likes to work on projects that give delight. She has played a leading role in the design of many important projects both in the UK and abroad. These include the London Eye, the Kew Treetop Walkway and the Young Vic Theatre.

Jane has received many awards and honours for her work, including First Woman of the Built Environment award in 2013 and the CBE for services to Structural and Civil Engineering in 2015.

Rising Star Award Tolúlopé Ògúnremí, (BSc Mathematics and Computer Science, 2019) Tolúlopé is the Founder of Coders of Colour, a social enterprise helping young people between the ages of 11 and 25 to access training in machine learning and app development, aiming to bridge the digital divide.

She is also currently enrolled on a PhD in Computer Science at Stanford University, having secured two coveted fellowships.

In 2021 she was named in the Forbes 30 under 30 listings in the Social Impact category for her work with Coders of Colour, the youngest honouree in the category.

Alumni Service Award Kaushal Shah (MSc Global Entrepreneurship, 2014) Kaushal Shah is a successful entrepreneur, awardwinning CEO and Founder of sustainable packaging company EnvoPAP and a dedicated volunteer who has shown continued support for the University.

Kaushal was the first student to be endorsed by the University for the Graduate Entrepreneurship Visa for EnvoPAP, a sustainable enterprise that he started during his time as a student at Southampton.

EnvoPAP produces environmentally friendly paper and packaging made from agricultural waste. Since graduating, Kaushal has gone on to win numerous awards for his work in business and sustainability.

Alumni Service Award Stephen Dulake (MSc Economics 1990) Stephen Dulake is Global Head of Credit, Securitized Products and Public Finance Research at JP Morgan Chase & Co. Stephen donated the first ever Ignite Scholarship in 2017, funding one student’s entire tuition fees and maintenance support. He wanted to provide a student with the same opportunities that he enjoyed at University, whilst not having to worry about their finances. He continues to support students from under-represented groups and has now provided three scholarships.

Southampton Graduates Excel in Worldwide Awards British Council Study UK Alumni Awards 2023 has seen another spate of Southampton successes in the British Council Study UK Alumni Awards, with Southampton alumni making the national finals in Nigeria and Greece, as well as winning in the Business and Innovation category in Egypt.

Asmaa Kamal (MSc Global Enterprise and Entrepreneurship, 2015) won the Business and Innovation award in the national finals in Egypt on the 21 February. Asmaa is national coordinator for a regional project that adopts social enterprise as a vehicle to support migrants, refugees and local communities.

Christina Margariti (MA Textile Conservation, 2002 and PhD Textile Conservation, 2009) made it through to the national finals in Greece in the Culture and Creativity category. Ukachukwu Kenechukwu (BSc Business Management, 2014) was a finalist in the Business and Innovation category in Nigeria.

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Graduation Returns to Guildhall Square It was wonderful to see summer graduation return to Guildhall Square this year for the first time since the 1960s. Graduates were able to celebrate their achievements under a giant marquee. The welcome drinks and photobooth were particularly popular.

Honorary Graduates 2023 We welcomed our new honorary graduates at this year’s graduation ceremonies. Each has been honoured for outstanding contributions to their field.

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Dr Justine Greening, Doctor of Law Former minister Justine graduated from Southampton in 1990 with a first class honours degree in Business Economics and Accounting. During her time in government, she helped establish London’s transport network for the 2012 Olympics, launched a social mobility action plan in education and launched a Gender Pay Gap tool while Minister for Women and Equalities.

Dr Juliet Fraser, Doctor of Music Soprano singer Juliet is a founder member of the EXAUDI vocal ensemble and is recognised as one of the foremost interpreters of contemporary music. This year, Juliet is launching VOICEBOX, a training programme for singers wanting to specialise in contemporary performance.

Dr Stephen Duckworth, Doctor of Science Paralysed from the neck down by a rugby accident when he was a student, Stephen has dedicated his career to disability campaigning, medicine, entrepreneurship and academia. He has campaigned for anti-discrimination legislation, sat on the University’s court and council, and mentored students.

Dr Ewan Kirk, Doctor of Science Ewan is the founder of Cantab Capital Partners, a sciencedriven investment management firm, and for over 30 years has led ventures to commercialise, apply and leverage research in both business and philanthropy. He is also a Southampton alumnus, with his PhD in General Relativity.

Dr Margaret Leinen, Doctor of Science Margaret is the Director of Scripps Institution of Oceanography and ViceChancellor for Marine Science at the University of California in San Diego.

Her research includes studying ocean carbon cycling and the role of the oceans in Earth’s climate.

Dr Gill Rider CBE, Doctor of Science After leaving the University of Southampton with a PhD in Botany, Gill spent most of her career in operational and executive management roles at Accenture LLP. She also spent five years as Director General in the Cabinet Office as Head of the Civil Service Capability Group, and was made a CBE in 2011.

Christine McGrath, Honorary Fellow Christine, a senior leader in the NHS who began her career as a nurse, is the inaugural Managing Director of Wessex Health Partners, the region’s Academic Health Science Centre.

She has worked at the University Hospital Southampton for almost 20 years.

Professor Rogier Sanders, Doctor of Science Rogier is Professor of Virology at the University of Amsterdam and also holds an affiliate faculty position at Weill Medical College at Cornell University, New York City.

 CONTINUED OVERLEAF 11

Southampton Scientist Becomes UN advisor for Artificial Intelligence A celebrated scientist from Southampton has been appointed to the United Nations high-level advisory body on artificial intelligence. Dame Wendy Hall, Director of the University’s Web Science Institute, was selected from more than 1,800 nominees across 128 countries.

She joins 31 experts from across the world to undertake analysis and advance recommendations for the international governance of AI. Dame Wendy, who was named the first UK artificial intelligence skills champion in 2018, said: “I feel very privileged to have been appointed by the United Nations to be on this new AI advisory body.

“As new AI technologies and capabilities emerge, it is so important that we harness them for good, while ensuring they don’t evolve in ways that would be harmful to society.

It is very exciting to be part of the global discussions on the best way to manage this.”

The new UN body will submit its recommendations in late 2024.

Five Years of the Centre for Cancer Immunology This year the Centre for Cancer Immunology (CCI) celebrated its five-year anniversary. The centre, built and funded by the generous donations of alumni and donors, has gone on to become a world leader in using immunology in the battle against cancer.

Our exceptional researchers have made remarkable progress in fighting cancer and helping people live longer, healthier lives.

The fundraising campaign all started in June 2015 at an event in Somerset House, London. By November 2016, work on the site was under way, and donors were invited to a hard hat tour of the site. By 2018 we had raised the full £25 million, six months ahead of schedule.

The cutting-edge building was to open later that year.

None of this could have happened without an anonymous donation of £10 million back in 2010 and the subsequent support of so many of you as part of the University community. The Centre is a shining beacon for the collective generosity of our alumni and donors.

The Centre’s commitment to an interdisciplinary, collaborative approach, has shown the incredible things we can achieve when we bring together clinicians and medical researchers who are experts in their fields. The bench-to-bedside approach of the CCI is tackling big health challenges head on.

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The Centre has already saved and extended lives which would otherwise have been lost much sooner. Thanks to the generosity of our donor community, groundbreaking cancer immunology research is giving cancer patients fresh hope.

Southampton a Key Centre for Artificial Intelligence Development Responsible AI UK Professor Gopal Ramchurn has been made the Principal Investigator for Responsible AI UK (RAI UK).

This multimillion-pound project, led by the University of Southampton, aims to create trustworthy and secure artificial intelligence that responds to the needs of society. This year we were awarded £31 million for the project by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

Professor Ramchurn said, “AI should not only be technically safe and accountable, but its impact on its users, their wellbeing and rights, and the wider society needs to be understood for people to trust it. Our role in RAI UK will be to bring together experts from diverse disciplines and cultures from across the world to address the most pressing AI challenges in key sectors and ensure we all benefit from the productivity gains it promises to deliver."

The RAI UK consortium will bring together an international ecosystem to address AI challenges.

It will fund large and small research and innovation projects and fellowships, grants, develop collaborations between researchers and businesses, develop skills programmes for the public and industry, and deliver guidance to governments.

The University of Southampton has also received another grant from UKRI worth £15 million to establish a new training centre for AI for Sustainability, or SustAI. The Centre will train at least 70 PhD students in sustainable AI, which will be used to tackle issues like climate change by reducing emissions. The Centre will start in 2024.

Hear more from Charlotte and some of our experts at our online Cancer Immunology Lecture on 24th January www.give.southampton. ac.uk/cancerlecture2024 Or find out more about the Cancer Immunology Fund at give.southampton.ac.uk/cancer

CHARLOTTE’S STORY: FROM DESPAIR TO HOPE Many of you will be familiar with Charlotte’s story. In 2011 she was diagnosed with melanoma and told that her cancer was not treatable with chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

Charlotte took the chance to participate in a clinical trial for a new, experimental cancer treatment: immunotherapy. Now, more than ten years later and cancer free, she has returned to help others at the Centre for Cancer Immunology (CCI).

Charlotte remembers being invited to join the immunotherapy trial. At this time, only one significantly successful immunotherapy trial had taken place on melanoma. Although only marginally increasing the life expectancy in terminally ill patients, it was the first time any positive results had been shown. Charlotte agreed to take part and joined a three-year trial at Southampton.

“One of the most powerful things is hope. I went from being in complete despair, to having hope that I might survive longer than I originally thought. That hope completely lifted me up.”

Second chances The CCI is an important place for Charlotte. As someone who had seen first-hand the benefits of this revolutionary treatment, she was passionate about raising funds for the creation of a dedicated space to drive forward immunology research. Five years later, she still gives her time to advance this life-saving work.

“I really enjoyed being part of the team and part of the story behind this centre. So, when it was finished, I asked if there was something else I could do to help out. It was suggested I could join the patient involvement group at the Clinical Trials Unit.”

Charlotte is now part of the Southern Cancer Trials Public Involvement Group, which provides feedback and input to researchers on new cancer trials.

“It’s an interesting way to see what’s coming up at the trials unit and what’s coming up at the forefront of research. But much more than that, I think it’s really important that there is patient representation on these trials and that doctors and researchers can see the other side of the story – how it affects patients, how patients are going to be feeling as they go through this treatment, and how they are going to be communicated to.”

Forging new paths Charlotte has turned her experience with cancer into positive action to help others diagnosed with the disease.

“I don’t think I would be here if it wasn’t for the drug and the trial that I was on at Southampton. I feel very lucky.”

Since the Centre opened, the CCI has been a leading light in cancer immunology research. Large grants have been put in place to fight a range of cancers, including bladder and lung cancers. Trials like Charlotte’s are ongoing, pushing forwards new treatments. Behind all that, the Centre has trained over 50 PhD students, with 16 funded or co-funded by the Cancer Immunology Fund.

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CELEBRATING £1 MILLION TO HELP UNDERREPRESENTED STUDENTS IGNITE THEIR FUTURES This year we celebrate another milestone in our mission to make sure the brightest students thrive at Southampton, regardless of their backgrounds. The Ignite Programme has now received over £1 million in donations to help underrepresented groups access university education.

This opportunity means so much for students who may have been through care or financial hardship and who may be the first of their family to attend university. All that started in 2017 with a gift from one alumnus.

Steve Dulake studied his master’s in Econometrics and Economics at Southampton in 1990. It was a life-changing experience, and one Steve credits with helping him become independent. Since then, he has gone on to become Global Head of Credit Research at JP Morgan. This year, he was awarded the University of Southampton Alumni Service Award for his contributions to Ignite.

Steve Dulake, Ignite donor

A chance to thrive Though he may be flying high in his career, Steve has not forgotten how lucky he was to receive his education.

“Fortunately, for me, when you went to university in my time you didn’t pay fees. I’ve always felt it really important that we help talented young people, who might be suffering anxiety about the cost of university, to thrive and develop.”

Ignite has been giving young people the opportunity to focus on their studies since Steve’s founding gift. It is more than just a financial service, also offering advice, workshops and opportunities to broaden horizons.

There are currently 89 students studying at the University with Ignite’s support.

Proud to help “I decided I wanted to give one student a stress-free time at university to focus on their studies and their development. I am really happy I was involved in Ignite at the beginning and I am really happy to still be involved today.”

Steve is pleased to be part of an alumni community giving so much to support today’s Southampton students.

We are proud of our family of donors and volunteers whose generosity is enabling young people to make great memories and forge fantastic careers of their own.

Find out more about the Ignite Programme at give.southampton.ac.uk/ignite

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Find out more about Gift of Sight at www.giftofsight.org.uk

THE POWER OF THE PATCH With the support of our community, eye specialists, mathematicians and games designers have teamed up to develop and launch a smartphone app aimed at helping to improve vital treatment for children with amblyopia, also known as ‘lazy eye’.

Amblyopia can have devastating long-term consequences for as many as one in twenty children.

Without effective treatment the eye will not develop a strong enough link to the brain and this can cause lifealtering, life-long sight loss starting in childhood. When applied appropriately and regularly before the age of eight, occlusion or ‘patching’ therapy has been shown to lead to significant improvements.

However, encouraging young children to persist with the treatment can require a great deal of parent or carer intervention. Despite the relative simplicity of the therapy, it can be very demanding on parents trying to keep a patch over their child’s better eye for many hours each day. Accordingly, occlusion is only successful 50 per cent of the time. Experts say many households simply 'give up' on treatment due to the time and effort involved.

Now a group of Southampton researchers have founded a spinout company, Nucleolus Software, and launched a phone app designed to encourage children to build a positive association with their eye patch and wear it more often. Together with the University of Southampton’s Gift of Sight appeal, they are also running a national survey to help better understand the barriers to successful patch-wearing and how game technology can be improved to be even more effective.

Jay Self, Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Southampton and Consultant at University Hospital Southampton (UHS), explains: “Consistency in wearing an eye patch is essential for treating amblyopia. The technique works, but there’s a short window of time for treatment. It requires a huge time investment and perseverance and is not much fun at all. Sadly, up to 50% of patients end up with lifelong visual loss, largely because of the child’s resistance to wearing the patch.”

“Preliminary evidence suggests that the development of immersive smartphone, tablet and computer games could offer an effective solution by making the child want to wear the patch. This can increase the effectiveness of patching and importantly, help relieve some of the pressure on parents to implement the treatment.”

The phone app consists of several different computer games designed by Winchester School of Art alumni working at Nucleolus Software. Through complex programming and machine learning, it also uses the smartphone’s camera to check if the person playing is wearing their patch correctly and encourages them to do so within the game.

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VOLUNTEERING: THE HIDDEN HEART OF THE UNIVERSITY Every year, thousands of hours of volunteering strengthen the good work being done around the University. From hundreds of e-mentors, offering career advice to new leavers, to industry experts giving lectures and leading seminars, every moment gifted to our students and causes is precious.

Opening doors

Help is a click away

Hundreds of industry professionals have given their time to speak to our young people for the Talent Development Programme. Pascal Ezeabasili is a commercial analyst for Kraft Heinz working in London.

Even though he has a very busy schedule, he decided to share the benefits of his experience with our Ignite students as part of a seminar on networking.

Mentoring is not restricted to those who can offer faceto-face support. Thousands of volunteers offer valuable advice through E-mentoring Southampton. The online platform allows students and recent alumni to access first-hand advice about their next steps after university.

“I like being able to share my experiences with people.

I was happy to give my time to speak as I feel like you can really help smooth the path to a successful career for people by providing your perspective and giving students and opportunity to reflect. It is better to learn from the mistakes of others than make them yourself!”

One-to-one support Other volunteers are making a big difference by building more personal relationships with our students and alumni. There are currently nearly 90 volunteers offering face-to-face mentoring to over 200 young people. Many of our students are the first of their families to attend university so the chance to get tips and reassurance from alumni can be a big help.

Isabelle Kimberley signed up for mentoring after hearing about it on the Talent Development Programme. Isabelle wants to forge a career in marketing, so she was delighted to be paired with her mentor Roselle Peck.

The mentoring programme has helped Isabelle with her time management so she can get the most out of her time at the University. With Roselle’s help, she now finds herself saying yes to opportunities she would never have dreamt she had time for.

“I recommend the mentoring programme to everybody,” says Isabelle. “Connecting with someone with experience in the path you have chosen can transform your University experience.”

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Our volunteer e-mentors come from a wide range of industries and include journalists, bankers and stock market brokers, scientists, aerospace engineers and web designers. Though many work long hours, they give up their time to check and respond to messages from students eager for the benefit of their experience.

Southampton alumnus Norbert Marin Osterman likes being able to use his experience as a Senior Certification Engineer at HPi Verification Services to help. "I know how hard it is out there for new graduates.

The right piece of advice at the right time could change a young person's life."

You too could make a difference.

NEW STUDENTSHIPS HELPING PUSH BOUNDARIES IN DEMENTIA RESEARCH Our incredible academics are at the heart of so many breakthroughs at the University of Southampton. While many of the University's celebrated professors are well known, each of them is supported by teams of talented doctoral students.

Doctoral students are vital to university research, coauthoring as much as 40 per cent of research output in some fields. These students spend up to four years focusing on a particular area intensively. Working alone or as part of a team, they can make massive contributions to their area of study often with broad societal benefit. They regularly break new ground, working at the cutting edge of research.

PhD students have conducted drug trials which have led to important licences, provided pioneering scientific innovations from quantum communications to superfast 5G, and developed life-saving imaging techniques to screen patients.

However, funding is a major barrier to bringing in the students we need. Years of study come at a significant cost and the strongest students are drawn to the best funding offers.

The University is currently training approximately 3000 doctoral students, in topics ranging from astronomy to zoology. Roughly 40 per cent of these students are funded either by the University of Southampton or a United Kingdom Research Institute (UKRI) grant. That leaves too many students forced to self-fund and can mean the right people can’t be found for vital research projects.

One area benefitting from funding is dementia research.

Entirely funded by one generous couple with a passion for science and people, a new scholarship is being set up to help us open another door in dementia detection.

This newly funded doctoral student will help develop urgently needed, better methods to diagnose dementia.

Currently, accurate diagnosis is hampered by the overlapping symptoms across various dementia types and other age-related cognitive changes. Existing tools fall short as they are expensive, invasive and often inaccurate.

The right applicant will be part of a team working with lasers to revolutionise diagnosis. This new and exciting test is ten times cheaper and ten times faster than existing methods. It works by shining lasers onto a patient sample, creating a light-based disease-and-stagespecific “fingerprint” unique to each type of dementia.

“Early diagnosis, in the form of a non-invasive test, made available in any GP’s surgery, would be a game-changer for dementia and could allow future treatments to be prescribed before the disease takes hold” says Professor Roxi Carare, who leads the project.

“Detected at 40, as part of a standard check-up, we could save minds and lives.”

This kind of research takes time and a lot of patience.

Without PhD students important progress in dementia and other areas would slow down. These projects are advancing our scientific understanding and giving hope to real patients.

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IN CELEBRATION OF OUR INDIAN ALUMNI COMMUNITY Your alumni and supporter community is a truly global network, stretching right across the world and reflecting the University’s position as a proud international institution.

Southampton graduates can be found in over 185 countries and overseas territories.

Alumni are key to the University’s mission to build strong, beneficial links between the UK and India. They are vital ambassadors and advocates in country. As we develop our strategy, we want to ensure that our alumni can contribute to our work to deepen engagement in India and help shape major initiatives.

Our graduate network is a powerful source of support for current and prospective students, with a wealth of expertise and knowledge. I am delighted that our alumni in India are so active in maintaining networks, developing career opportunities for fellow Southampton graduates, and acting as warm and enthusiastic ambassadors for our University.”

Our Indian alumni got together at meetups this year in Delhi, Mumbai and Southampton

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Andrew Atherton, VP International and Engagement

One of our most active and thriving international alumni networks is in India, and the University has big plans to build more links with graduates and prospective students in-country. Southampton’s first Indian student graduated in 1964, and since then our Indian alumni network has grown to over 2000 Indian graduates.

Vice President International, Andrew Atherton says: “Alumni are key to the University’s mission to build strong, beneficial links between the UK and India. Our graduate network is a powerful source of support for current and prospective students, with a wealth of expertise and knowledge. I am delighted that our alumni in India are so active in maintaining networks, developing career opportunities for fellow Southampton graduates, and acting as warm and enthusiastic ambassadors for our University.”

National recognition for Indian graduates National recognition for two of our graduates has helped highlight the exceptional achievements of members of our Indian alumni community.

Alumna Dr. Reshma Rao (MEng Mechanical Engineering 2014) is a double award-winner, having been a recipient of both the India UK Achievers honours award – recognising 75 young Indian alumni who have made substantial contributions to their fields – and the Asian Women of Achievement award, both in 2023. After completing her engineering degree at Southampton in 2014, Reshma went on to study a PhD at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and is currently a Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellow at Imperial College London. Her research aims to develop catalytic materials for splitting water, a first crucial step in creating green hydrogen fuels.

Another successful international meetup

Southampton roots Reshma credits Southampton with starting her on the path to a career in research. “My engineering degree forced me to think in more creative ways and got me hooked into the idea of research.

The lecturers would bring the big component of their research into the lectures, and their open-ended questions helped me transition from a ‘this is what we know’ to ‘this is what we don’t know’ mindset, which is really exciting,” she enthuses.

Reshma is aware of the value of the platform she now has, as a result of her success. “Women of colour tend to be in a minority pursuing careers in STEM. When I came to study at Southampton it would have been helpful for me to see what an Indian woman who comes to the UK can achieve,” she says. “Helping set a pathway for people who are under-represented is important and the award shines a light on a community that is doing valuable work.” She participates in our e-mentoring scheme (E-mentoring Southampton), an online networking and support service for Southampton students and alumni looking for help with their careers. She has also been back to the University to give a talk in the Chemistry department. Being on the other side of the lecture theatre was an experience she describes as having been both interesting and fun.

Dr. Reshma Rao, MEng Mechanical Engineering 2014

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Indian students meetup in Southampton

More regular trips include those to meet up with friends she made while a student. “We have a great group of friends and are really close.”

Joining Reshma on the India UK Achievers honours listing is fellow alumnus Kaushal Shah (MSc Global Entrepreneurship 2015). Whereas Reshma was cited in the Education, Science and Innovation category, Kaushal received his award for his work in the fields of Business and Innovation. Kaushal also received the University’s Alumni Service Award this year (see page 9).

Kaushal Shah, MSc Global Entrepreneurship 2015

Every time I come back it just feels very happy.

Southampton is a happy place for me."

Kaushal Shah, MSc Global Entrepreneurship 2015

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Founder of sustainable packaging company EnvoPAP, he is no stranger to the limelight having previously appeared in Forbes 30 under 30 listing. Kaushal started EnvoPAP, which produces environmentally friendly paper and packaging made from agricultural waste, while studying at Southampton. Using readily available agricultural waste as raw material, rather than traditional wood pulp in paper and packaging production, the company estimates that it has already saved 1.8m trees from being felled. Customers include Lloyds Bank, and particularly satisfying for Kaushal, L’Oréal, a company that was the focus of a group project in the second semester of his degree. Kaushal is a committed supporter of the University, sitting on the Business School’s advisory board and helping connect students with relevant business mentors through the University’s Social Impact Lab. He has also been back to present guest lectures, and whatever the reason for the visit, the emotion is the same. “Every time I come back it just feels very happy.

Southampton is a happy place for me,” he says.

Exchanging ideas

Supporting Study Abroad

While Reshma and Kaushal are based in the UK, our alumni are excelling and active in equal measure in India.

Alumnus Rohit Mukul (Bachelor of Laws (LLB) Law 2017) is founder of Zeelab Pharmacy, which he proudly describes as India’s largest affordable pharmacy chain.

Rohit won the Business and Innovation category at the India national finals of the British Council Study UK Alumni Awards in 2022. Taking time out from the office, he has spoken at a two-day global Leadership Conference on AI co-hosted by T A Pai Management Institute (TAPMI) and the University, in Bangalore. At the event, a partnership programme between TAPMI and Southampton Business School was announced, which will allow for dual certification for students and a further strengthening of ties between the two countries.

The benefits of experiencing both Indian and UK academic environments is something that alumna Saritha Choudry (BSc Education 2017) has seen firsthand. Saritha is director of GD Matriculation Higher Secondary School, a family-run school with pupils ranging from kindergarten through to year 13, based in Tamil Nadu. She was the first Southampton alumna to host a placement through the Turing Scheme, hosting an English language student, Tayler, for a month. The scheme provides funding for study and work placements abroad. “Tayler went into classes and observed the teaching methods. There was a lot of sharing and learning on both sides as he talked about the system in the UK. He was also keen to delve into Indian culture and very much enjoyed Indian food!” For Saritha, acting as host and providing an experience to remember was a chance to give back to the University. “My three years at Southampton were the best three years of my life, and a time when I grew enormously in confidence.”

Scan the QR code to join the network and get involved with our Indian alumni community.

Stay connected There is a formal and informal network for keeping in touch with alumni in India, both through planned events and the establishment of WhatsApp groups in Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi and Chennai (in addition to a UK group).

This year more than 50 alumni attended events in Delhi and Mumbai to help our new students prepare for university, and make sure they feel ready to start at Southampton. A further 50 alumni attended an event on campus in September, to share their career experiences with our current students. Many of these alumni have since gone on to become formal mentors for our students and support them on their career journeys.

Our Indian alumni are also very active on E-Mentoring Southampton, providing career guidance and information about a wide range of industries and sectors.

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JOHN CLIFTON - A LEGACY OF INNOVATION

John with son Christopher, changing the clutch on the MG

Alumnus and medical physics pioneer, John Clifton, died on 20 January 2023 after a short illness, at the age of 92.

Through a gift in his will, John has ensured that the future of medical physics at Southampton will be a bright one, and that other talented scientists can build on the achievements he made in the course of his remarkable career.

John Clifton, Joel Professor of Medical Physics

Southampton First XI Hockey team

John with wife, Margaret, and children Carolyn and Christopher, at Carolyn’s graduation ceremony

If you would like to find out more about leaving a gift in your will, please contact Legacy Manager Nicola Clark on n.clark@southampton.ac.uk.

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John with a model of the Hunslet Rotating Cobalt Unit with Vickers Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber, c1962

John Clifton at his graduation, 1955

Born in 1930, John joined the University in 1950, thoroughly immersing himself in all that Southampton had to offer. A keen sportsman, he played hockey as part of the First XI and learned to sail through membership of the University Sailing Club. His photographs from his time in the sailing club are now part of the Hartley Library’s Special Collections.

John’s wife, Margaret, was the centre of his universe. They met as teenagers at Chobham youth club, and throughout John’s time at Southampton Margaret travelled down on the train to attend balls and functions.

Despite his studies being severely disrupted by illness, John graduated with a BSc Physics in 1955. He went on to enjoy an illustrious career spanning almost 70 years and was at the forefront of the development and advancement of physics applied to medicine in the UK. He held posts at University Hospital Southampton, and later at University College Hospital, London. He was appointed Professor of Medical Physics at UCL in 1987 and the 'Joel Chair of Physics as Applied to Medicine' in 1990.

Developing lifesaving technologies In the mid-twentieth century, medical physicists were crucial to the rapid advancement of a scientific approach to medicine. These specialists developed new technologies for diagnosis and treatment, leveraging theoretical breakthroughs and applying them to real-world health challenges.

John’s team developed the oxygen catheter, a device used for short-term and longterm oxygen therapy and is an alternative to an oxygen mask. This saw particular use in neonatal departments, helping to provide cerebral oxygenation to new-born babies.

As well as his roles at two major research-led hospitals, John was President of the Hospital Physicists’ Association (now the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine) from 1976 to 1978, Honorary Editor of Physics in Medicine and Biology from 1979 to 1983 and a founder and President of the European Federation of Organizations for Medical Physics (EFOMP).

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John at Crabtree Fields opening

A lifetime of service John’s family remember him as a passionate, driven man. His daughter Carolyn says, “My dad had boundless energy and could never sit still. Whether at home or at work, he was always looking for the ‘next job’ that needed to be done. It became a bit of a joke with our neighbours. His tool-kit was the envy of all his friends.

“He was always looking for ways to give practical help. He was a member of the Scouting Support Unit and volunteered at his local foodbank. Even into his late eighties he was known for doing DIY jobs for elderly neighbours. He was guided by the scouting ethos – that the most important thing was to be of service to others.”

In this spirit of helping others, John left a gift in his will, asking that it be used to further physics research with medical applications at the University. This generous act will help fund the next rising stars in medical physics and advance the future of medicine.

John kept many photos, clippings and pieces of memorabilia from his time at Southampton, which his family has kindly shared with us.

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CLASS NOTES Class Notes is a regular feature of Hartley News: alumni from across the decades get back in touch with life updates to share. Do you recognise any of the names from your years at Southampton?

1960s

1980s

Pauline Webber (BA History, 1966) was awarded a British Empire Medal for services to charity in Malawi.

The British High Commissioner in Malawi presented the medal to Pauline (who lives in Clymping, West Sussex). Pauline was recognised by the Queen in her final Birthday Honours list last June.

Noelle Wallington (LLB, 1981) has been in touch to tell us about her fascinating and varied career in law.

She became a legal expert on dealing with domestic violence and spent much of her time in London working with the Home Office. However, after four years, emotionally exhausted, she moved on to work for CPS Direct where she had to be available for long shifts at unsociable hours to engage with the police.

She remembers in 1986, just nine months into her career, being sent to Luton to take charge of the newest batch of lawyers for the brand-new Crown Prosecution Service. A daunting memory indeed!

The medal was awarded for outstanding contribution to charity, education and justice in Malawi through the Nick Webber Trust. Pauline, along with her children and friends, set up the Trust in memory of Pauline’s son, Nick Webber, who died tragically in a car accident at the age of 28 while working in Malawi as a volunteer lawyer. Her aim was for the Trust to continue the work that her son was doing by supporting some of Malawi’s poorest and most marginalised people through funding projects in education, healthcare and community support, as well as access to justice.

On learning of her award, Pauline Webber said: “I was surprised but delighted to be nominated and receiving it here in Malawi is extra special. It is a pleasure to accept this award on behalf of everyone who has supported the Nick Webber Trust and dedicate it to the memory of my beloved late son, Nick.”

Dr Robin French (BSc Physics, 1961) followed his time at Southampton with a D.Phil in Low Temperature Solid State Physics from Oxford. Subsequently he gravitated via geophysics into exploration geology, during a period of more than 50 active years in the oil and gas industry, which took him to many parts of the world. He is notably proud of his association with Southampton saying: “it is today a vibrant, thriving university, very different from the embryonic institution – now fondly remembered – of some 1500 souls, existing sixty-odd years ago.”

1990s Dr B.S. Chowdhry (Ph.D. Electronics and Computing, 1990) is pleased to announce he was conferred a civil award by the president of Pakistan on Pakistan Day. The award recognises his wealth of experience in teaching, research, and administration, spanning more than 36 years. He has authored numerous research papers and edited several books on topics such as Wireless Networks, Information Processing and Systems, Emerging Trends and Applications in Information Communication Technologies, and Wireless Sensor Networks for Developing Countries.

1970s Graeme Quar (LLB, 1979) was interested to read Class Notes in the latest alumni magazine and decided to share news of his own career path since obtaining a Bachelor of Laws. After attending law college in Guildford he has worked for 40 years as a solicitor. In 1994, Graeme set up his own law firm in Hampshire, which he sold in 2016. Currently, Graeme has non-executive director appointments with two science-based firms.

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Dr B.S. Chowdhry (Ph.D. Electronics and Computing, 1990)

Tom Parfitt (BA English and Philosophy, 2012)

Pauline Webber (BA History, 1966)

2000s

2020s

Natalie Sanders (BSc Marine Biology and Oceanography, 2005) has published her first nonfiction book. The book is called The Last Sunset in the West: Britain’s Vanishing West Coast Orcas and is published by Sandstone Press. For the last ten years, Natalie has been fascinated by the West Coast Community, an elusive family of just ten orcas that reside predominantly in the wild waters of West Scotland. This family are culturally, ecologically and genetically different to all other orcas on the planet.

Sadly, there are now only ten remaining. Facing imminent extinction, they will take with them many unanswered questions.

Caroline Lita (BA Fashion Design, 2021) has been taking part in the Foundership Scheme. The University of Southampton’s Foundership Scheme allows students to dedicate 12 weeks across the summer months to their business ideas in our fantastic, citycentre co-working space. Supported by an amazing network of inspirational experts, Caroline was able to launch her own fashion brand, CAROLINE LITA. Check it out here: www.caroline-lita.com

2010s

After representing Ecuador at the 2022 Berlin ITB Tourism Trade Fair, she was picked up by a newly formed political party in her native Ecuador called Allianza Democratica Nacional. After spearheading their presidential election campaign to unexpected success, she went from strength to strength, becoming a close advisor of the new president, Daniel Noboa, and has now been announced as a cabinet minister.

Tom Parfitt (BA English and Philosophy, 2012) works as an archivist on ITV soap Emmerdale. As Emmerdale approached its 50th anniversary, he successfully pitched and won the commission to write a commemorative book. This has been published by Octopus Publishing, in conjunction with ITV Ventures.

As part of this two-year research and writing project, he interviewed over 40 past and present members of the cast and crew. The book was released in October 2022, and reached Amazon’s top 100 books.

Sade Fritschi Naranjo (MSc Project Management, 2022) has been announced as the Minister of Environment for Ecuador: the youngest ever cabinet minister in the country's history.

Leonella Sauve (LLM, 2017) is an international lawyer who attained the Southampton Partnership & Chevening Scholarship Award for her studies. Since 2019, she has been working as a language access advocate and human rights lawyer in the United States.

She is proud to represent the Latin community in the US and worldwide. She joined the Board of Directors of Exodus Refugee & Immigration in 2022 where she helps the organisation create, promote and implement strategies and policies to serve the immigrant community in the state of Indiana. Leonella is proud to be an alumna of the University of Southampton.

Sade Fritschi Naranjo (MSc Project Management, 2022)

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Deaths Philippa Margaret Edwards, née Hill (BSc Physiology and Biochemistry, 1969) died 25 March 2022. Philippa, known as Pip, studied at the University of Southampton before going on to obtain her PhD in 1976 while working at the Medical Research Council, Toxicology Unit, Carshalton. She married Geoffrey Edwards (BSc. Physiology and Biochemistry 1968) on the 28th August 1971.

Philippa worked at the Christian de Duve Institute (Louvain University Belgium), the department of Neurology at the Erasmus University Utrecht, then at the American University Istanbul. Philippa returned to the UK in 1989 to work at MAFF (New Haw Surrey) then MoH (Whitehall) and finally at PHE Harwell where Philippa was Senior Toxicologist. Philippa retired in 2015.

Simone Clark, née Joyce (BA Hons Archaeology and History, 1986) died on 28 June 2023. Simone is fondly remembered for her inquisitive nature and passionate engagement with her studies. Simone actively participated in archaeological excavations in Greece and locally in the UK, showcasing her enthusiasm for her field.

Her love for history and archaeology shaped her career, leading her to work with Southampton City's archaeological unit, Cirencester Museum, and the National Trust. Simone's contributions went beyond her subject expertise, as she brought genuine zeal and dedication to her roles. She was also a devoted performer, participating in theatrical productions during her university days and continuing her passion for performance throughout her life, particularly through her love of tango.

Simone’s friends also remember her for her culinary skills and hospitality, turning every meal into a feast and making everyone feel welcome around her dining table.

Her greatest pride was in her daughters, Madeleine and Eleanor, whom she spoke of with immense love and joy.

Harry Denys Barron (MSc Civil Engineering, 1962) Denys was the second son and third child of Harry Kelton Barron and Cicely Eleanor Victoria Barron (née Nicholls). He attended Kingston Grammar School and studied engineering at the University of Southampton, 1956-1959, and he became President of the Student’s Union 1959/60 as a postgraduate student. Denys settled in Southampton and worked for several years as a structural engineer for a number of local companies and also for Hampshire County Council, before setting up his own consulting business in Southampton. For many years the firm Barron & Partners operated from a prominent site on the corner of Winchester Road and Hill Lane, Southampton, continuing after Denys himself retired around 2002, although it closed a few years later.

Denys was married twice: in September 1959 to Margaret Randall, with whom he had a daughter and three sons who all survive him. His second wife (marriage October 1978) was Heather Biddle (née Rose-Price) who sadly died in 2020 following a stroke.

Denys then lived alone at their home in Carters Clay, Abridge, Hants until December 2022 when he moved to Avonbourne Care Centre near Salisbury, where he died peacefully in his sleep.

Tony Wheel (BSc Civil Engineering, 1966) Tony was at the University of Southampton between 1963 and 1966 reading Civil Engineering. Rowing was important to him and he rowed in the first eight for all three years. In 1965 he was in a Southampton cox-less Four Wyfolds at Henley Royal Regatta – in their first race they won easily in the fastest time of the day before crashing into the booms in the next race which ended their regatta! After retiring, Tony returned to rowing as a coach, coaching the Wallingdon Rowing Club juniors.

Stay updated We’d love to keep you up to date with all the latest news, events and opportunities from your alumni and supporter community. We may not have your most recent details, however, so let us know how to stay in touch:  Go online to www.southampton.ac.uk/alumni-update  Or update your details in the Alumni and Supporter survey (enclosed)

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After graduating in 1966, Tony started a career in construction. After working in local government, Tony joined Tarmac Construction in 1973. He worked in the UK until transferring to Tarmac international in 1975.

He went on to work in Oman, Saudi Arabia and Algeria before returning to the UK in 1987 as a Director in the Regional Contracts division.

Whilst Mark pursued a career in teaching, Emmanuelle pursued a legal career, including law lecturer at the London School of Economics and research lawyer at the European Study Group based at Brunel University, followed by HR management roles at HSBC and RBS, before finally specialising in Adult Social Care at Essex County Council.

Tony became a Fellow of the Institute of Civil Engineers in 1992. He retired in 2010 after eight years of consultancy work.

It was a privilege to have their former university chaplain Fr Michael Ryan OMI not only celebrate their wedding in France in 2003, but to concelebrate Emmanuelle's funeral in Chelmsford on Tuesday 29 November. After a second funeral mass on Tuesday 6 December in the countryside village of Ouanne in Burgundy, France, she was finally laid to rest in the family plot with her grandparents.

Tony married Jean in 1966 and leaves her and son Andy and five grandchildren. Their daughter Anna predeceased Tony in 2019.

Emmanuelle Wright, née Callerot (LLM Law, 1997) sadly passed away on 6 November 2022 after a six-and-a-half-year battle with ovarian cancer. After meeting Mark Wright (BA English, 1997; PGCE, 1999; MA Culture and Social Change, 2000) in the Chaplaincy at Southampton in 1995, they were married in 2003 and moved to Chelmsford, Essex, where they had three sons (now aged 11, 13 and 17).

If any alumni friends wish to contact Mark, they can do so by emailing the Office of Development and Alumni Relations at alumni@soton.ac.uk.

This photo shows Emmanuelle with Mark as they would be remembered from their time at Southampton.

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Find out more: www.southampton.ac.uk/alumni alumni@southampton.ac.uk +44 (0)23 8059 2747 Office of Development and Alumni Relations University of Southampton University Road Southampton SO17 1BJ United Kingdom

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