ON PARADE
5
2,826,160
The total area in square feet of the University of Bath estate today. In 1965, the Preliminary Building (the only building on campus) was a mere 52,978 square feet. My, how we’ve grown!
Students
The bear essentials
Why is there a tatty old teddy bear in BA2? That’s not a tatty old bear. That’s Edward D Beare. Is that supposed to mean something to me? He was ‘the fluffiest and cuddliest’ SU Presidential candidate in 1977. I can’t believe I’m asking this, but did he win? Of course not.
Because that would be silly. No, because his campaign was hampered by the kidnapping.
was told to leave the Sugar Puffs by the fountain.
Sugar Puffs by the Fountain would make a good title By the kidnapping? for a John Le Carré thriller. Yes, someone crept into Did you know he’s an Edward D Beare’s room honorary graduate? and kidnapped him. The Within a few minutes of ransom note was sent to leaving the boxes, a Mini the Spike office. pulled up and a schoolgirl clad in a gymslip jumped What were the kidnappers’ out to claim the ransom. demands – marmalade sandwiches? A school girl in a gymslip? No, Sugar Puffs. His Have you added that part? seconder, Mick Bendall, No, it’s all in Spike magazine. was to go to a phone box But the game was up. The on George Street, Bath, car was surrounded and the at 5pm and await further bear was rescued from the instructions. When the phone schoolgirls. It’s a good rang a voice told him to go story, isn’t it? to a phone box on Milsom Why can’t parliamentary Street. From there to Gay politics be as interesting Street, the Circus and finally as this? to Victoria Park, where he
Campus
Due south The South Building has had an eventful 50 years. As the first building on Claverton Down, it was opened by the Mayor of Bath in 1965. The Preliminary Building, as it was known originally, was occupied by what was then our School of Biological Sciences, along with Sociology, a language lab, a library and a refectory.
In 1978, part of the South Building was gutted by a fire, which caused an estimated £100,000 of damage and an inestimable loss of research work. Now known as 4 South, it’s home solely to our Department of Biology & Biochemistry.
This year 4 South will see a new building next door: The Milner Centre for Evolution, named after alumnus Dr Jonathan Milner who donated £5million to our Look Further campaign. Focusing on fundamental evolutionary questions, the Centre will be the first of its kind in the UK.