UNIVERSITY OF READING MAGAZINEFor Alumni and Friends

04. Rowing to victory – Reading University Boat Club

08. Celebrating Beckett

12. Blumen Marvellous! The appliance of science to fine cuisine

Autumn 2005 | Issue 01

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FEATURES 04. Winning on the water – Reading’s

rowing elite

07. A Day in the life of Kevin Warwick

08. Celebrating Samuel Beckett

10. Well Heeled – Q&A with LK Bennett

12. Heston Blumenthal

REGUlARS 01. University News

06. Supporting Reading

11. Showcase

14. Alumni News

16. Where are you now?

18. Benefits

19. Events Round-Up

20. Events Diary

The ‘University of Reading Magazine’ is published by the Development and Alumni Relations Office of The University of Reading.

For further information concerning any of the articles in this issue, please contact: Trish O’Neill, Editor, University of Reading Magazine, Development & Alumni Relations Office, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AH Tel: 0118 378 5650 Fax: 0118 378 6587 email: t.oneill@reading.ac.uk web: www.reading.ac.uk/alumni

No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the prior permission of the publisher. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of editorial content, no responsibility can be taken for any errors and / or omissions. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the University of Reading, the Editorial Board or the Friends of the University. All rights reserved. © The University of Reading 2005.

Cover Image: Detail taken from ‘Samuel Beckett, Royal Court Theatre, 1973’ © John Haynes. With very special thanks to John Haynes for use of his images, which will appear in the forthcoming Beckett Exhibition.

University of Reading Magazine Autumn 2005, Issue 1

EditorTrish O’Neill

Editorial BoardMarion Armson James Barr Ian BurnMatt CareyCarol Derham Shaun Horan Jo LankesterBrenda MorrisSue Rayner

ContributorsJulian Garforth Craig HillsleyDave LewisAnd thanks to all of our alumni and friends who have contributed!

Design: Lift Creative Communication Design, www.studiolift.com Telephone: +44 (0)118 958 9209

Special thanks go to our designers (and alumni), Matt Carey (BA Typography, 1997) and Jo Lankester (BA Typography, 2005) of Lift and to Ian Burn.

Printers: Warners Midlands plc

Photo credits: David Loftus for Heston Blumenthal; Icon books for Ian Hills and thanks to individual contributors

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ts FROM ThE EDITORWelcome to your new look University of Reading magazine!

Hopefully we’ve grabbed your attention and you are enjoying what you see. We’ve tried to create a more relaxed feel to the magazine, full of interesting articles and news about our graduates and the

University that you want to pick up, read and most importantly – contribute to!

In this issue we focus on the outstanding Beckett Foundation housed at the University. The forthcoming year will see a host of celebrations and events in Reading to commemorate Samuel Beckett. Hopefully we will see some of you there…

With the announcement of London’s successful Olympic bid we take a look at the Boat Club. With a multitude of promis-ing Olympians following in the footsteps of many great rowers produced by Reading, it’s an exciting time.

We also visit the celebrated Michelin-starred chef, Heston Blumenthal who creates such internationally acclaimed dishes as snail porridge and sardine on toast sorbet! Find out how Food Biosciences have been working with Heston in pursuit of the perfect flavours.

Alumna and Honorary Graduate Linda Bennett is renowned for her fashion label ‘LK Bennett’. Her entrepreneurial spirit and creative force is an inspiration to us all and testament to the innovative and pioneering graduates your University produces.

Of course we continue with our regular updates from you in the back pages – the first thing we know you all turn to – so enjoy seeking out the names of your contemporaries and let us know what you’re up to!

I do hope you enjoy reading the new issue and we really do welcome your feedback on any aspect of the magazine. We’d also like to hear your stories about what you’re doing now or ideas for future features.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Trish O’NeillEditor, University of Reading Magazine Email: t.oneill@reading.ac.uk

The BioCentre, an £8 million state-of-the- art biotechnology research facility at the University was officially opened by Professor Dame Louise Johnson on Tuesday 20 September.

With more than £2.5 million spent on new equipment, the BioCentre is one of the best equipped research laboratories of its type in Europe, and will put Reading at the forefront of the fight against some of the deadliest diseases. State of the art equip-ment will enable Reading’s scientists to analyse the proteins in blood and possibly detect the markers that show evidence of cancer in order to make an early diagnosis.

Professor Rainer Cramer, Director of the BioCentre, said: “This is an extremely exciting development for life sciences at Reading. The BioCentre will provide a platform comprising facilities and expertise in genomics, post-genomics, and structural and computational biology”.

Professor Dame Louise Johnson, who gave the keynote speech at the gala launch of the BioCentre, is Professor in Molecu-lar Biophysics within Oxford University’s Biochemistry Department. She is also Life Science Director of the new Oxfordshire-based synchrotron facility, Diamond Light Source.

new centre of excellence

Basingstoke company Valueform Ltd re-cently won a Regional Innovation Award for their packaging products with the help of expertise at the University.

Valueform is a start up company that is developing a biodegradable alterna-tive to the ubiquitous polystyrene food tray and packaging used by so many companies. Prakash Korde, the CEO of Valueform carried out much of his development work for the product with the University, working closely with Pro-fessor George Jeronimidis (Engineering), and Professor Keshavan Niranjan (Food Biosciences).

Valueform’s packaging is of a com-posite derived from waste maize. Stems, leaves and other material left from the crop are used to form lightweight food trays which are intended to be 100% home compostable. Prototypes were de-veloped with material characterised by the University and following this, Value-form have continued the work to reach a stage of commercial trials with several prestigious customers. “The award is an important milestone for Valueform. Work done by the University has been very valuable in taking the company forward,” said Mr Korde.

Edgar Degas, Walter Sickert and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec are the three lead-ing artists in a major exhibition at Tate Britain, curated by academics at the University of Reading and the University of Edinburgh.

Dr Anna Gruetzner Robins, Reader in the History of Art at Reading, and Richard Thomson, Professor of Fine Art at the University of Edinburgh, are curat-ing the exhibition, which runs until 15 January 2006 and explores the creative dialogue between British and French artists in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Degas, sickert and toulouse-Lautrec

Dr Laurence Bindschedler, research Fellow in one of the new Biocentre Laboratories

‘the Gallery of HMs calcutta (Portsmouth)’; James tissot (1836-1902) © tate, London.

The School of Plant Sciences’ who ex-hibited at this year’s Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Show, won a Silver-Gilt Lindley Medal. This maintains the School’s unbroken string of medal-win-ning successes at this premier horticul-tural event. Our subconscious Savanna asked “Do gardens reflect our African evolution and emotional needs?”

Amaizeing!

our subconscious savanna

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After a summer of working long hours, liv-ing at home and re-acquainting themselves with old friends, students at Reading have returned! The Executive have been busy over the summer developing ideas and try-ing to put manifestos into action. Repre-senting nearly 16,000 students isn’t as easy as some people think!

With over 3,500 ‘Freshers’, the first few days are a maze of people staring deep into maps, looking puzzled during lectures scheduled before midday and wondering what else they will do with only eight hours of lectures each week.

We had an extremely successful Freshers’ Week. We were busy spreading the word of the Union. The marquee was packed with 50 sports clubs and over 40 societies. By the end of the week over 5,000 people had visit-ed the Union, many of them looking excited and lost! Freshers’ week is so important for new students, it really gives them a chance to find their feet, meet new people, learn the quickest way to campus and discover their alcohol tolerance level…

This Autumn term is one of the busiest ever for RUSU. Plans are being cemented for the extension, more bands are playing than ever before and the Exec will be telling more students about the work we do. There are opportunities for volunteers, progress on catering and we’ll be looking at the fu-ture of JCRs and the inevitable variable fees from 2006. Whilst doing all of this, RUSU will still be running the nursery, provid-ing Membership Services, putting nearly £200,000 into student activities and run-ning the NightBus and NightLine services.

Work never stops, and nor do students! With your generosity, the Students’

Union was able to secure funding for a sensory garden in the nursery. The children were very happy when they heard the news and very excited about all the new things they are going to be able to do and want to thank you very much.

If you have any questions or would like to hear more about RUSU, do drop me a line. Dave Lewis RUSU President

In Brief>> new £1 million high-tech studio theatre opens

the University of reading’s new £1million Bob Kayley studio theatre, located at the Bulmershe court campus, opened earlier this year. students and researchers now have full access to a state-of-the-art, multi-media performance space, including excellent lighting, video projection, live feed action, surround sound and flexible seat-ing for an audience of 90 people. In due course additional video editing suites will complete the facilities.

>> Honorary Degreestwo leading figures from the worlds of commerce and science were awarded honorary degrees from the University in the summer graduation ceremonies. Fashion entrepreneur Linda Ben-nett (awarded Doctor of Laws) and meteorologist Dr David Burridge (Doctor of science) joined the 2,800 students graduating at the 16 ceremonies that took place over the three days.

>> Foxhill Housethe restoration of one of the Uni-versity’s grade II listed buildings, Foxhill House, is now complete. Foxhill House was built in 1869 by the architect Alfred waterhouse for his own occupation. It was one of six ‘country houses’ on the whiteknights Park estate.

the project to restore Foxhill began in January 2003. University Project Manager, Dorothy Hague and architects shepherd robson guided it through many challeng-ing periods to enable Foxhill to function as the University’s school of Law.

>> new chaplainthe University welcomed its new Anglican chaplain in october, the revd Mark Laynesmith.

Mark studied at the University of york (1994-98), gaining an MA in Medieval studies. He has a strong interest in justice issues such as the campaign for debt relief in the developing world and the work of Amnesty International.

Using nitrous oxide – or “laughing gas” – to put the bubbles in chocolate produces a more intense, melt-in-the-mouth flavour, ac-cording to Chemistry & Industry magazine.

Gases like carbon dioxide or nitrogen are commonly used to produce the air bubbles in aerated chocolates like Aero.

Researchers at the University’s School of Food Biosciences tested the effects of aeration with four gases – nitrous oxide, nitrogen, argon and carbon dioxide – on the sensory properties of chocolate batches provided by Nestlé.

A panel of 20 non-expert testers said that chocolate aerated using laughing gas had the most intense cocoa flavour.

Chocolate aerated with argon or nitro-gen, which produce small bubbles, was perceived as harder and creamier because the chocolate takes longer to melt in the mouth. Chocolate aerated using carbon di-oxide or laughing gas, which produce larger bubbles, melted rapidly in the mouth.

“This study illustrates, for the first time, the sensory response of bubble-included chocolates in relation to bubble size,” said lead researcher Dr Keshavan Niranjan.

“Bubbles are undervalued as a food com-ponent”, he says.

“They can be used to add novel textures, structures and mouth-feels, without adding any extra calories.”

The results were presented at the Insti-tute of Food Technologists Annual Meeting in New Orleans in July this year.

Laughing gas makes better chocolate

Steve Cope, Finalist in the School of Law, was the United Kingdom representative in the Third Commonwealth Youth Parlia-ment which met in Brisbane, Australia in April. Steve was selected from all the national applicants after submitting an essay and attending an interview at Westminster. The 3-man interview panel consisted of Sir Nicholas Winterton (Con), David Marshall (Lab) and Andrew Tuggey (Secretary of the UK Branch of the Com-monwealth Parliamentary Association).

The Third Commonwealth Youth Parlia-ment provides a forum for young people in the Commonwealth to express their ideas, concerns and expectations. “It gave me an exposure to the views and beliefs of

people the same age as me, but who came from different cultures and backgrounds,” said Steve. “It certainly altered my views on some of the issues which were raised, and instilled in me a greater compassion and understanding of those in the world that are less fortunate. The fact that 60% of delegates were from developing coun-tries enabled me to interact with these en-thusiastic and committed individuals and gave me an opportunity to listen to their concerns and their visions for the future. This was reflective of the Commonwealth Youth Parliament in general, where a consensus was achieved on pressing issues like poverty and HIV.”

Law student represents the UK

A remarkable diary of an 18th century Gloucestershire apothecary has yielded new scientific information on the upper atmos-phere – namely that the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights as they are popularly known, have moved north over the last two centuries.

The diary of Thomas Hughes was known for its records of rainfall and temperature in his home town of Stroud, but a chance examination of the diary led Dr Giles Harri-son, an atmospheric scientist in the Depart-ment of Meteorology, to realise that it also contained records of the aurora borealis. Comparing the 71 dates on which Hughes’ diary reported an aurora borealis between 1771 and 1813, Dr Harrison found that many coincided with established European

auroral sightings. Dr Harrison studied the number of aurorae in different months, and found a pattern now characteristic of locations further north than Stroud. From this he deduced that the area in which the aurora can be seen – the auroral zone – has moved north since Hughes’ time.

Dr Harrison said: “I was initially as-tonished that aurorae were visible on so many nights in a southerly part of the UK. Although light pollution often prevents aurora being seen there now, I wondered if the location of the auroral zone itself might also have changed. Hughes’ diligent observations show that it has.”

The work is reported in the August edi-tion of Astronomy and Geophysics, published by the Royal Astronomical Society.

Diary of a rUsU President

More northern Lights

The Blue Room restaurant in Park House has finally came to the end of its days. It proved cost prohibitive to bring the old building up to the standards demanded of modern health and safety regulations and so during the summer months a replacement venue was created within the Cedars Dining Hall. A competition was run to rename the new eating place which is now known as Ind-I-Go. “It provides a more modern, varied and faster service than before with improved customer flow which reflects the results of a survey of staff and students carried out by ex-ternal market research,” said Catering Services Manager, Matthew White.

Blue to Ind-I-Go

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The University of Reading boasts a proud tradition of rowing success. Its boat club (RUBC) is an internationally established name, producing some of the country’s best young rowers – including Debbie Flood, silver medallist at the 2004 Athens Olympics. James Barr talks to Debbie about how RUBC helped her to Olympic glory and Will Rand, the University’s Director of Rowing, describes how the 2012 London Olympics will be a major boost for rowing in Britain, and Reading in particular.

RUBC’s reputation has been forged from one hundred years of enthusiasm, dedication and hard work; attributes that apply strongly to this day. Founded in 1902, the Boat Club was formed when Reading was still the University Extension College of Oxford, becoming RUBC when the University received its Royal Charter in 1926. Sadly, in 1989 the old club house was destroyed by a fire in which much of the history of the Club was lost. With much financial assistance from the University the impressive new club house was built, opening in 1990.

Success stories throughout the years abound and this summer saw a special reunion. In July 1970 a crew from the RUBC excelled by reaching the semi-final of the prestigious Ladies’ Challenge Plate at the famous Henley Royal Regatta; although beaten in a closely fought race this achievement crowned an outstanding season for them. The crew were awarded their ‘shells’ by the University in recognition of a fantastic year. To mark the 35th anniversary of their great performance, six members of the eight reunited at this year’s Henley Royal Regatta. For many of them it was the first time they had met up since the day of the race (for more details about the crew’s achievement and their wherea-bouts now, visit the club’s rowing alumni website at www.ortnerbc.com).

The club has become recognised as a centre of rowing excellence due to the first class coaching and facilities. A number of athletes, past and present, have participated at national and World Cham-pionship level. Famous RUBC alumni include double Olympic gold medal winner James Cracknell. He won his second gold at the 2004 Athens games after triumphing in Sydney four years earlier.

RUBC – WINNING ON ThE WATER FOR OVER A CENTURY

Debbie Flood, a graduate this year in Physiology and Biochem-istry, also starred in the Athens Olympics, returning with a well-earned silver medal and went on to be crowned 2004 ‘Sunday Times Student Sportswoman of the Year’. She also competed in this year’s ‘Rowing World Championships’ in Japan, along with Natasha Page who still has two more years at the University. Debbie has nothing but praise for the University and is extremely thankful for all the support from the RUBC:

“Studying at Reading has been great,” she said recently. “It has allowed me to follow my Olympic dream and come away with a very well-respected degree qualification. I have had a great time at the University, especially the Boat Club, where outstanding facilities and support make for an atmosphere of hard work and success that is infectious.

The University should be proud of its boat club. It has great tra-dition, and the members and staff are very dedicated and really help strengthen the reputation of the University.”

The club organises the renowned ‘University of Reading Eights Head of the River Race’. Every year eights from all over the coun-try come to the town for one of the biggest events in the river rowing calendar. The race has been run by the students of RUBC since 1935. It is not only the largest student-run public sporting event in the country, but also the fourth oldest and largest head of

the river race. This year a record of 196 crews entered, including the Oxford crew that competed in the University Boat Race in London.

This year’s British Universities Sports Association (BUSA) Row-ing Championships in Nottingham was a landmark event for the University. The RUBC came away with a fantastic medal tally con-firming Reading’s status as the second ranked rowing university in the UK. A truly wonderful achievement.

Will Rand, the University’s Director of Rowing is proud of the club’s history and believes everything is in place for further success:

“To be involved with RUBC at present is very exciting. The boat club is in its strongest position for years. Recent results have been fantastic and are a testament to everybody involved. James and Debbie are just two examples as we have many members with a bright future. Talented rowers Alex Gregory and Sam Townsend look like genuine prospects for the London 2012 Olympics.

The upcoming plans to extend the boathouse are indicative of the increasing number of members. Extensions are to be made to the main building and boathouse so more boats and equipment can be stored. The ladies should see a big improvement to their facilities as well.”

London being awarded the 2012 Olympics is terrific news for rowing in Britain. We hope to make the most of it by pushing the club to new heights and inspiring university students to follow their dreams. We are very grateful to the University, its alumni, Friends of the University and Students’ Union for their continued support.”

Are you a past Reading Rower? If so we’d love to hear from you – contact Trish O’Neill at t.oneill@reading.ac.uk / write to us at the Development & Alumni Relations Office, The University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AH.

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Just some of the leading lights in the rowing

world, produced at Reading:

James Cracknell – the well-known double

Olympic gold medal rower, whose recent

achievements include becoming Olympic

champion in Athens. His next feat will to be row

the Atlantic with the non-rower, TV presenter

Ben Fogle!

Debbie Flood – silver medallist at the 2004

Athens Olympics.

Nick Strange rowed internationally and helped

RUBC to Henley Royal Regatta success in the

Visitors’ Challenge Cup in the 1980’s.

Gary Herbert achieved Olympic gold with Greg

and Jonny Searl in the coxed pair in Barcelona

1992.

Adrian Ellison coxed the women’s crews during

his time at Reading and went on to cox the four

which brought Steve Redgrave his first Olympic

gold in L.A. in 1984.

Ric Egington rowed in the RUBC Temple

Challenge eight at Henley. In his first

international appearance he won silver in

the 4+ at the 2003 World Championships.

Rory Morrison achieved a bronze medal in

the coxed pair at the 1997 FISA World Cup

Regatta and was 10th in the 1997 World Rowing

Championships.

James Behrens, the 2004 umpire of the Oxford

and Cambridge boat race.

AN OARSOME AChIEVEMENT

Left: RUBC 1st VIII racing at Henley Royal

regatta in 1999

Above: RUBC Crew 1960; The opening of the

old Boathouse c1930; The boathouse today

“It has allowed me to follow my Olympic dream and come away with a very well-respected degree qualification” Debbie Flood

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None of this would have been possible without your support, and on behalf of the students and staff, we thank all of you who contributed so generously. In addtion to this, you have also helped us to fund the following projects:

Cutting edge multimedia equipment for the new Bob Kayley Studio Theatre; student support and retention in the sciences; bursaries for Archaeology students undertaking Silchester fieldwork; renewal of the Ure Museum’s learning environment;developing digital learning resources for online use in the Institute of Education; establishing a pro-bono initiative in the Law School; funding talks to GCSE students for Maths and Physics; start-up costs for a clinic to help students with Aspergers; activities concerned with the Beckett centenary; a lunchtime concert series; support for museum volunteers; video facilities for the Careers Service to enhance student employability; a sensory garden project for the RUSU children’s nursery;equipment for the student radio station, Junction 11.

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SUppORTING READING A DAY IN ThE lIFE OF kEVIN WARWICk

DOWN TO YOU! A big thank you to all our alumni and friends who have donated to the University’s Annual Fund – it’s down to you that we have been able to offer projects which couldn’t have been funded without your support. So far you have raised £250,000 in gifts and pledges. This splendid total not only reflects the loyalty and affec-tion felt by you, but more importantly, your wish to invest in the future success of Reading.

As a result of your gifts to the 2004/5 Annual Fund campaign, we have been able to establish a Postgaduate Hardship Fund for the first time, and a study fund to help less well off students with the cost of extra items vital to their studies, such as research field trips. We have created new sports scholarships, and nine new bur-saries for students from State schools local to Reading.We’ve also included the income received from the University’s MBNA credit card, which has made a valuable addition to this area.

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“Philanthropy is not a matter of the rich helping the non-rich; it’s the community extending itself out to the community” Herman J Blake

Above and top right: Students help to contact Alumni, while enjoying comparing stories of their times at Reading

The gratitude of everyone here – staff and students is due to all who have contributed. Your support is vital in enabling us to ensure a better and secure future for many aspects of the University. Thank you!

This year’s Annual Fund campaign will start in November. If you would join the many alumni who have made a gift, or to find out more, please contact Ann Cotton at the Develop-ment and Alumni Relations Office, tel: 0118 378 5238 or email: a.cotton@reading.ac.uk

CONVOCATION Would you like to play a part in university governance? Alumni have an important role, through their membership of Convoca-tion. All University of Reading Graduates, Diploma and Certifi-cate holders are members of Convocation and therefore eligible to apply.

Following the recently approved changes in Charter, Statutes and Ordinances, nominations are invited for the following Convocation representatives, to serve for a period of 3 years from October 2006:

One member of the University Council Eleven members of the University Court and the Standing Committee of Convocation

The Council is the governing body of the University. It meets four times per year, and lay members of Council are expected also to serve on other University committees. The Convocation representative will be expected to have reached some seniority in his or her professional life and to have time to devote to this challenging and interesting role.

The Court is a larger body comprising representatives of a wide range of organisations. There is normally one Court meet-ing and up to two Standing Committee meetings per year. Com-mittee members act in an informal advisory capacity on alumni affairs.

For further information please contact the Development and Alumni Relations Office or see www.reading.ac.uk/alumni.

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Kevin Warwick is Professor of Cybernetics at the University whose research into artificial intelligence, control, robotics and cyborgs sounds like the stuff of sci-fi but is very real indeed. He has published over four hundred research papers and is Director of the University Knowledge

Transfer Centre, raising over two million pounds each year in research income. In 1998 he shocked the international scientific community by having a silicon chip transponder surgically implanted in his arm. Trish O’Neill catches up with him.

“It’s a short horizon in terms of what I do on a day-to-day basis. Today I’m being observed by a social anthropologist. We met at an ethics conference and we had differing ethical and moral standpoints!

“The team are working on a mobile robot, which we hope to enter into a half marathon. Of course, I need to be fit for the job and I’m “up and at ‘em” for an early run, five mornings a week. On Sundays I do two and a half hours along the Thames – just beautiful. It’s about the only exercise I get now that Harry (the robot) has been built and we’re working hard to ensure he stays on course, as he follows me using ultrasonic signals.

“Most days involve meeting up with my colleague, Iain, to go over current projects. We’re doing six Christmas lectures soon and we’re trying to put them together. It seemed a good idea a few months ago to use Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’ as the basis, employing the idea of ‘the ghosts of the future’. Now we’re wonder-ing where to buy a nightgown and candle-holder, and how to tie in an hour-long lecture with robots and computers that will keep four-year-old kids enthralled! There are some aspects of the job for which we get formal rewards but I also have the opportunity to educate kids and get them excited by science, which is fantastic”.

Controversy is never far behind, and Kevin has had more than his fair share… “My belief is that machines will be more intel-ligent than humans in the future and ultimately we can only upgrade ourselves. Such topics always prove an ethical dilemma, but academic freedom needs to be retained for us to explore such important issues”.

So, did the upgrade of Kevin’s own body change his daily life? “My first implant hit the news in a bigger way than expected. Of course, it brought a negative fan club too and at times it can get to you.

“The second implant connecting me to the internet was incredible fun – we were going places scientists had never gone before. Since then, work has been ongoing. We have funding for a brain computer implant which could potentially help those suffering from paraplegia. We’re also working with surgeons at the Radcliffe Infirmary to look at how it may help people with Parkinson’s Disease. My group of students are analysing the data of people with tremors. My grandfather had Parkinson’s and I never really knew him in his regular state. It’s an awful disease and if we can find a little piece from this data then potentially we could change the lives of millions.

“My wife, Irena, also had an implant. She’s tremendously supportive and a constructive critic. She knows how important implant research is and from a communication aspect I needed someone to link up with – and who better? She’s the boss and I

had no say in whether or not she did it! But when we sent signals between our nervous systems it turned out to be one of the most exciting parts of the experiment. Graham Bell is one of my heroes and I feel like I’ve had a little bit of a “Watson” moment with my wife – it’s the next step in communication.

“At home I’m not a techno – we don’t even have a microwave or a dishwasher. Typically, on a Friday evening, Irena and I shut up shop, take the phone off the hook, grab an Indian takeaway and a couple of bottles of wine. It’s the perfect way to zonk out at the end of the week!

“I was born in 1954 in Coventry – the year that Frank Whittle, also from the city, invented the jet engine and who went on to give the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures. I never expected to end up doing the same thing.

“Irena’s from Prague and we have a base there. When we go back I do some lecturing and Irena spends time with her rela-tives. The parks in Prague are beautiful and it’s wonderful way to escape the crowds of tourists.

“Rarely a day goes by when I’m not contacted by the media. This morning I had an interview with a radio station in Cape Town at some ungodly hour!”

As we speak, Kevin is interrupted by a phone call from BBC News 24 about a breaking story on the use of robots patrolling at the next World Cup and the implications it brings... “I deal with the media in a reactive manner not proactively as some like to think!” It means that the other major news organisations won’t be far behind and he readies himself for an onslaught of phone calls.

So what will a typical day be like in twenty years time? “We will have domestic robots around the home. Whether they’ll look like robots is a different matter but they will be of a more interactive nature with the ability to respond and hence will have aspects of emotional understanding. In the Western world we are an ageing society; fewer people will be working and there’ll be a need for domestic help. There are exciting possibilities when we link with technology and hence the prospect of communicating by thought – it will take us into a new revolution…”

“I also have the opportunity to educate kids and get them excited by science, which is fantastic”

If you would like to find out more about the

Foundation, and/or the events next year, you

can contact Julian in the following ways:

Dr Julian Garforth, Samuel Beckett Research Fellow Beckett International Foundation

Reading University Library, Whiteknights,

PO Box 223, Reading RG6 6AE, United Kingdom

Telephone: +44 (0)118 378 8776

Fax: +44 (0)118 378 6336

Email: j.a.garforth@reading.ac.uk

Web: www.beckettfoundation.org.uk

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 9.00am – 5.00pm,

free of charge.

Above, left to right: A detail from a piece created by artist, Bill Prosser, responding to the doodles in

Beckett’s manuscripts and notebooks whose drawings attempt to “heighten awareness of Beckett’s

images, not only as adjuncts to literary scholarship, but as aesthetically intriguing items in their own

right.”; Gillian Martell, Kenneth Cranham & Susan Williamson rehearsing ‘Play’, 1970; ◦Alan Howard &

Ben Kingsley in ‘Waiting for Godot’, 1997

John Hurt in ‘Krapp’s Last Tape’, 1999

READING’S FOURTh ‘B’:

SAMUEl BECkETTReading has long been famous for ‘The Three Bs’: Biscuits, Beer and Bulbs. But many people are unaware that there is another, even more famous, ‘B’, who has been associated with Reading for the past 35 years: Beckett. The University of Reading is home to the world’s largest collection of manuscripts and related materi-als of the Irish author, Samuel Beckett, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1969.

The Beckett Collection at the University has its roots in the Samuel Beckett Exhibition of 1971, organised by Professor James Knowlson (a Reading graduate, who later became Beckett’s au-thorised biographer) and James Edwards, the Library’s Archivist. Having only a handful of books at the time, Knowlson approached Beckett himself, who offered a number of his manuscripts and notebooks for use in the exhibition. Originally intended as loans, these later became gifts and formed the basis of the Beckett Col-lection. Although initially planned as a local event, the Exhibition soon assumed an international dimension, with foreign editions of Beckett’s works, critical studies, photographs and theatre pro-grammes being loaned from all over the world.

The Collection grew rapidly through material donated by Beck-ett and by friends and admirers and is now the most extensive collection of Beckett materials in the world. As each manuscript, typescript and letter is unique, it is difficult to put a value on the Collection. One of Beckett’s notebooks was auctioned recently at Sotheby’s with a reserve of £150,000. As Reading’s Collection houses at least twenty similar notebooks, it would easily be worth several million pounds.

Working with Beckett’s manuscripts every day is a great privilege. They are much more than scraps of paper covered in what appears to be unintelligible scrawl. Often written in several languages, they are virtual works of art in themselves, incorporat-ing intricate doodles and sketches.

BECkETT INTERNATIONAl FOUNDATION FACTSSet up as a charitable trust with the University as Trustee in 1988. The Archive houses over 600 letters, around 500 manuscript and typescript drafts and notebooks, in addition to annotated production texts and books from Beckett’s own library, includ-ing many signed editions. ‘Stage Files’ document more than 700 international productions of Beckett’s drama from all corners of the world. Over 1000 Beckett texts and a similar number of critical works in more than 20 languages; over 3000 articles on Beckett, 170 periodical titles and dissertations, audio and video recordings, posters, photographs and paintings. Material is constantly being added to the Collection, both by donation and by purchase, with new acquisitions being made available to researchers almost immediately.

In addition to the vast array of literary materials, the Collection also houses some more unusual items, including ‘Beckett’s conk-ers’! Before your imagination runs wild, I should explain that Beckett suffered from Dupuytren’s disease, a condition that limits

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the movement of the fingers. In the days before massage balls were invented, he was encouraged to manipulate conkers in his hands to help maintain the movement. Upon arrival at Reading, I was given to believe that the conkers stored in pride of place amongst the rare and signed editions were the actual ones used by Beckett. Readers often asked why they were there, and I duly related this story to them. Their eyes would widen as they asked if they might be allowed to touch one of the conkers, which had been in Beckett’s hallowed hands. It was some years later that I learned that these conkers had simply been picked up from Beckett’s garden by Jim Knowlson during one of his visits there! After the initial guilt at having unintentionally misled so many readers, on reflection I concluded that it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, given there are now people all over the world who feel that much closer to Beckett, having touched what they believed were his conkers! Of course, it is just possible that Jim had picked up the very conkers which Beckett had used and later discarded…!

The Foundation has served the international Beckett commu-nity for many years through its conferences, publications and related events, receiving around 350 researchers annually from all over the world. In one week alone this summer, there were readers from the USA, Italy, Korea, Qatar, Australia and the UK. Because of the nature and scope of the Collection, it is not merely an academic centre of excellence. As a major literary and cultural resource, which is open to anyone with an interest in Beckett’s life and work, international theatre directors, actors, artists and composers all visit the Collection. Watching people’s faces when they enter the Archive for the first time is a pleasure in itself. They never fail to be overawed by the sheer volume of material. Having a Beckett scholar present in the Archive is invaluable for researchers and I am always available to answer questions, offer expert advice, which enables readers to get the most from their visit, and to assist in deciphering Beckett’s notoriously difficult handwriting!

The international Beckett community is close-knit and researchers often make lifelong friendships while working in Reading. One Italian postgrad even met her future husband when studying here; she is now living in Denmark, happily married with two children. I should stress, however, that we are not always able to offer such a successful dating service!

The question I am asked most frequently is: why Reading? How did a University in a provincial English town come to own a col-lection of such immense international significance, which easily matches anything owned by any of the larger and richer Ameri-can Universities? Beckett had no personal connection with Read-ing, other than through his relationship with James Knowlson. Had Knowlson been lecturing elsewhere at the time, there would have been no Beckett Collection here. It is as simple as that. The University offered Beckett an honorary degree in the 1970s, but, keen to retain his privacy, he declined with his usual gracious-ness, despite offers to take him incognito to the Queen’s Head for a glass or two of his favourite Irish whiskey! For further details of the Beckett Centenary celebrations please turn to page 20.

On the cusp of Samuel Beckett’s Centenary celebrations, Julian Garforth reveals Reading’s hidden gems – the internationally acclaimed Beckett Collection, his conkers and a rather novel dating service…

Our new focus on alumni in the arts looks to display home-grown talent. In this issue we look at Ian Hills (BA History, 1989) who promotes the growing issue of childhood obesity in his new book aimed at children and parents.

At first glance, The Toxic Toadburger Conspiracy looks like yet anoth-er fast-moving children’s adventure story, packed with telepathic purple penguins, a deeply deranged fast food industrialist, a psychotic magpie, a deadly ‘hitgran’ and the usual smattering of reluctant heroes…

Delve deeper and you discover that this full-throttle adventure is in fact the debut novel of Ian Hills, recently described by Mar-keting Week as ‘The Incredibles’ meets ‘Fast Food Nation’!

According to Ian, ‘the seed of a weird idea was planted in 2001 when I was asked if I would read and review Eric Schlosser’s “Fast Food Nation”, a deeply disturbing look at the world’s misplaced infatuation with fast food. As someone who’d marketed every-thing from indulgent ice cream to well-intentioned organic offer-ings, I’d always assumed I had a good grasp of the pros and cons of convenience food. Eric Schlosser put me straight. I quickly realised that my fast food education was about as complete as a piece of extremely holey Swiss Cheese!’

In recent years the likes of Eric Schlosser, Martin Spurlock and Jamie Oliver have done much to inform parents and children about the dangers associated with poor diet and over-indulgence. Even so, Ian believes that the tone of much of what has been published has been both cold and condescending.

‘My plan was to create a light-hearted, action-packed story that reminded children and parents alike about the very real issues of child obesity and the addictive nature of fast food.’

The prominence of toads was inspired by a well-known toad crossing point near Ian’s home where thousands of over-amorous amphibians spend March trying to get across to the lake to mate.

‘Toad patrols remain an integral part of March as far as my boys are concerned. Unfortunately, toad numbers appear to be dwindling, a fact that fuels local conspiracy theories about the lake’s excessive toxicity.’

It took a year’s worth of unemployment and a small bout of depression in 2004 to finally turn Ian’s idea into a reality.

‘I simply had no idea how soul-destroying a period of unem-ployment could be. ‘Writing,’ insists Ian, ‘became the best way for me to fill my days and keep busy. What started out as a light-hearted hobby turned into the perfect solution to restore some much-missed self-confidence, providing a glimmer of hope that better times were just around the corner.’

After fifteen months in the unemployment wilderness, Ian is now Head of Marketing for a very healthy fruit juice company! He intends to continue writing, with a sequel already in the pipeline for 2006… Find out more about the Toxic Toadburger Conspiracy at www.toxictoad.co.uk

5 SIGNED COpIES OF TOXIC TOADBURGER Up FOR GRABS! Ian has offered 5 personalised copies of the Toxic Toadburger to our readers. For the chance to win one of Ian’s books answer the following question:

Which celebrity chef recently campaigned to revolutionise school meals?

a) Anthony Worrall-Thompsonb) Jamie Oliverc) Jamie Theakston

Answers to: The Editor, University of Reading Magazine, DARO, Whiteknights,

Reading RG6 6AH / email t.oneill@reading.ac.uk. 5 winners with the correct

answer will be picked at random on the 12th December 2005.

Terms & Conditions: * The judge’s decision is final and no correspondence will be

entered into. * The results will be announced on the website and the next issue

of the magazine.

How did you make the leap from a degree in Land Management to a fashion empire? I knew by the time I had finished my degree that I wanted to do something that combined both business and creativity.

How did it feel to be asked to design Camilla Parker-Bowles’ shoes for her marriage to the Prince of Wales? It was a great honour. The whole process was very exciting – I thoroughly enjoyed working with Philip Treacy, the hat designer and Anna Robinson who designed the dresses.

What influences your designs? How do you seek out inspirations? I design clothing and shoes that I would like to find in my own wardrobe. I am inspired by vintage designs. There is often a nod to the forties, fifties and sixties – my favourite periods in terms of footwear and clothing design.

What is ultimately more important to you – the business or creative side of LK Bennett? They are equally important – one cannot exist without the other.

What are your interests and passions outside of work? The history of architecture, jewellery design, reading, walking and travel.

You’re known as the “Queen of the Kitten Heel” and your brand has become synonymous with style, attracting a vast age-range of customers. What do you think it is that gives your brand such wide appeal? I always design clothing and footwear which is wearable and elegant, but continually fun and with a quirky edge.

So how many pairs of shoes do you own personally?! Hundreds!

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IAN’S hEAVYWEIGhT FACTS Obesity levels are rising faster in the UK than anywhere else in Europe, trebling in the last twenty years. More than half of 5-18 year olds admitted eating no leafy greens. The average British person eats 372 snacks a year. Kids alone are spending £1.3bn a year on quick-fix treats, with the average 7-10 year old scoffing 5 chocolate bars and 6 fizzy drinks a week. Latest figures suggest that 42% (24 million) of the UK’s adult popula-tion is either overweight or obese, which translates into 18 million sick days and 30,000 deaths a year.

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WEll-hEElEDQ&A WITh lINDA BENNETT

Although a degree in land management may not seem the obvious preparation for a career in fashion, Linda Bennett said the skills she acquired as a student gave her the confidence never to feel intimidated in the business world.

After her time at Reading, she trained in shoe design and ap-prenticed in France. But her interest in business prompted her to venture out on her own and open her first store in 1990, despite an era of economic fragility - and so began the LK Bennett brand. The business has gone from strength-to-strength with the appeal to thousands of women of ‘affordable glamour’ combined with quality, elegance and distinctive products.

The popularity of LK Bennett extends to Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Cornwall, who commissioned Linda to design the shoes for her wedding to the Prince of Wales.

Linda has received numerous awards and in 2002, she was win-ner of the Consumer Product category at the ‘Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards’. In 2003, she went on to win the ‘Best Women’s Footwear Retailer UK’ Awards and in 2003/04, she became the ‘Veuve Clicquot Businesswoman of the Year’. She was presented with an honorary doctorate from the University earlier this year.

What are your memories of the University? Is there anything that particularly stands out? I remember getting up extremely early on a cold wintry morning and rowing on the Thames!

You kindly accepted to become the University’s Annual Fund Patron – what does it mean to you? I was thrilled to be asked – I believe passionately in the impor-tance of giving future students the same opportunities that I and others had at Reading.

Taken from the LK Bennett Autumn/Winter Collection ‘05

“I always design clothing and footwear which is wearable and elegant, but continually fun and with a quirky edge ”

In the spring of 2005, acclaimed chef Heston Blumenthal hit the headlines when his restaurant, The Fat Duck in Bray, Berkshire, was voted the best in the world by a panel of 600 food experts. But the creator of the now legendary snail porridge is no overnight success – this self-taught chef has dedicated the last 20 years of his life to his beloved craft. In an exclusive interview with Craig Hillsley, Heston explains how he, with a little help from his friends in the University’s School of Food Biosciences, developed the unique style of cooking that made him the toast of the culinary world.

Quirky. Eccentric. Pioneering. All words that are regularly used to describe Heston Blumenthal. And they do seem apt, given that this is the man who invented bizarre but delicious dishes such as bacon and egg ice cream, or salmon poached with liquorice. However, a genius ability to imagine the unimaginable is not the only reason for Heston’s success. It is also down to his novel use of food science and chemistry in cooking. He is, without question,

the leading authority on ‘molecular gastronomy’, the relation-ship between the chemical and physical properties of food and its presentation and perception by humans.

“I’m not a scientist, I’m a chef,” he says. “But I have embraced various elements of science and use those as a tool for the kitchen. For me, science helps you get round certain problems in the kitchen, and it can aid creativity. Understanding the science of food allows you to cook in a way so that, for example, you get the best texture out of meat, or maybe improve its flavour.”

It was this willingness to use science in the kitchen that first brought Heston into contact with the School of Food Biosciences’ Professor Don Mottram three years ago. It was the start of a fruit-ful relationship that continues to this day.

“I had been working with a flavour company in Geneva and we decided to set up a kind of brainstorming workshop with lots of different academics,” says Heston. “Don was one of the people that came over and we got on really well. He invited us to the Uni-versity to look at some of the equipment, and we started talking more and more about work on flavour compounds. That’s how the communication started.

“One of the biggest things we’ve done with Reading is develop the freeze-drying process in the kitchen. They showed us the basic principle and we thought it could be used to create some fun recipes. The last thing we tried was freeze-dried cocktails – a ‘Cosmopolitian’, a ‘Ballini’, things like that.

“We’ve also worked with Reading on the microbiological safety

BlUMEN MARVEllOUS!

of low temperature cooking, and I’m now starting another project with Don, looking at how different sugars can affect flavours in meat stocks. So it’s been great, Reading’s helped us a lot.”

Some critics argue that Heston’s scientific approach makes cooking a somewhat clinical affair, but when speaking with him it’s clear that he adores food and cooking and simply wants to create dishes that will delight and even amaze. He consistently re-fers to science as being a “tool for creativity”, not a replacement, and his passion shines through. Moreover, it is a fervour for food that he is keen to communicate and instil in others.

“I know this sounds idealistic, but I think it’s really important to have a circle of giving and taking of information. Chefs are notorious for having over-inflated egos, but that means you don’t dare mix with someone who knows more than you. You don’t ask them a question or show an interest in what they’ve got to offer.

“But I’ve always been really inquisitive. Over the years, I’ve been like a sponge taking in all this information from people like Don, and you develop an encyclopaedia in your head. You start to use all those bits of information, put your own slant on it and come up with new ideas. I’ve always thought it’s important then to feed that information back into the system.”

As well as his high-profile media work – columns in national newspapers and appearances on TV food programmes – Heston has written a book with the Royal Society of Chemistry, called Kitchen Chemistry, which is aimed at GCSE and A-level students and is being distributed free to all secondary schools. He has also

given presentations for students in the School of Food Biosciences and helped out at local schools.

“Most people are interested in how things work, but science must be explained in a way that everyone can understand,” he says. “To get a child interested in what you do is absolutely fantas-tic. I get real pleasure from doing that.”

It was in recognition of his contribution to the promotion of food science that the University recently announced that Heston would be awarded an honorary degree at the summer 2006 graduation ceremonies. Although it was no great surprise to his colleagues, Heston himself was shocked when he heard the news.

“When the University told me, I said ‘oh right, thanks very much’ and put the phone down. I didn’t go to university and wasn’t sure what it meant. I told my head chef, and he just laughed and said ‘you owe me’ because a couple of years ago he bet me that within three years I would be Dr Blumenthal. Now I have to buy him a meal wherever he wants to go.

“It’s a really good feeling. I just hope that people who’ve worked their socks off in academia won’t be thinking ‘he’s just a chef’.”

But that’s not likely. Over the years, Heston’s innovative work could have been the subject of any number of PhDs, and he is helping to address the very real need to promote science as a sub-ject relevant to all. On graduation day next summer, it’s far more likely that people will just want to raise a glass of freeze-dried champagne and say ‘cheers’.

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Left to Right: Liquid

Nitrogen ice cream;

Oysters; Caviar and

chocolate.

Images © David Loftus

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Anna Hillyer (BA French, 2001) swam the Channel last September as part of a three-man relay and raised nearly £8,500 for Great Ormond Street. As if that wasn’t enough punishment, in July she did it again in a fantastic time of 17 hours and 32 minutes to raise money for the British Heart Foundation, raising nearly £5,000.

Musing on her achievements, Anna said, “I have always been a keen swimmer and water-lover, although I had never done any serious pool training. This all changed when I made the decision to swim the Channel with two friends to raise money

for charity. This was undoubtedly one of the biggest challenges of my life, but also one of the most enjoyable. Along the way I have met some truly remarkable people and made some life-long friends.

“However much you train, eat heartily and swim, nothing can prepare you for the day. The swim is dependent on a number of factors: tide, weather conditions, tempera-ture, wind speed etc. This is what makes the challenge of the Channel so unique, and which is why it remains one of the toughest open water swims in the world.

“The long hard training and motiva-tion required for it made me realise that anything is possible with a passion for the task, the ability to apply oneself, and the stamina to work hard until you achieve it”.

And with that in mind Anna has em-barked on new ambitions. After leaving a job in advertising, she has returned to her studies for a PGCE at Oxford. “I haven’t got any more charity swims planned for the near future, as my PGCE is likely to keep me very busy and I really want to focus on my studies. However, I am hoping to do a relay swim across lake Zurich next July, which will be just for fun, and also perhaps cycle across France…”

To find out more about Anna’s challenge go to www.heartswim.co.uk and www.waterbabes.co.uk

the Friends report In May members were invited to the home of Bill and Cherry Palmer for a talk on Chinese jade and a tour of their home. Treated afterwards to a sumptu-ous tea, friends relaxed and enjoyed the wonderful grounds of Bussock Wood House. A collection was made for the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust that totalled £110.

Members toured the new Museum of English Rural Life in July to view, in particular, the stained glass window, payment for which was greatly assisted by a grant of £4,000 from the Associa-tion last year.

Grants of £5,770 in total were made this year to the Department of Film and Drama, The Boathouse, Reading Enter-prise Hub and the School of Law.

During 2004 The Friends were kindly left a legacy of £5,000 from Mr Leonard Dresel. In his memory, grants financed out of this bequest were made to the Ure Museum and the Schools of Phar-macy and Law. The Ure Museum also purchased an artefact, financed from the major portion of a legacy from Mrs Rosemary Chapman and a very generous anonymous gift.

This year saw the retirement of Chair-man, Bill Palmer, after 6 years with the Friends and many years dedicated to the University’s service. A presentation was made by the Vice-Chancellor to mark the esteem in which members hold Bill. The incoming Chairman is Mr Andrew Palmer, who hopes to link events for The Friends with alumni events, and con-tinue to work closely with the Develop-ment and Alumni Office.

For further information on the Friends and membership call Brenda Morris on 0118 378 8006.

After the terrorist bombings of July 7th in London we learned of the death of Jennifer Nicholson (BA Music and English, 2002). Jenny was a talented musician who worked in London but still lived in Reading. Our thoughts go out to Jenny’s family, boyfriend James, and her friends and colleagues. She will be greatly missed and remembered for her viva-cious personality, talent and love of life.

Adrienne Cahalan (MSc Applied Meteorol-ogy, 2003) has been awarded Australian Yachtswoman of the Year. Adrienne was the first woman to have broken the record for the fastest time around the world in any type of boat.

She navigated ‘Cheyenne’ a 125ft multi-hull owned and skippered by American adventurer Steve Fossett. Cheyenne broke the Round the World Speed Record in 58 days, 9 hours, 32 minutes and 45 seconds shaving nearly 6 days off the existing record held by Frenchman Bruno Peyron. Adrienne was nominated for World Yachtswoman of the Year four times for results including the round the world record, an Admirals Cup win for Australia and breaking the 24 hour record.

Adrienne qualified as a lawyer but no longer practices having turned to a career in offshore and inshore navigation for round the world racing and weather rout-ing, no doubt putting her research at Read-ing, based around southern hemisphere meteorology, to good use. At the time of going to press, Adrienne was in Portugal, sailing and forecasting with a Brazilian team in the Volvo Ocean Race. We caught up with her as she prepared for her race to find out more about her sailing career.

What do you miss most when you’re away for so long?‘The longest time I have been at sea is 60 days. I miss my friends and family, a good glass of red wine, a bed that doesn’t move and food that you can chew (all our food

is freeze dried)! On the shorter trips the main thing I miss is sleep, as these tend to be sprint races and you’re awake 80% of the time’.

You don’t appear to be resting on your laurels, what’s the next challenge ahead of you? ‘That’s a hard question for me because my career throws up new challenges all the time. There are many things I’ve looked to, like breaking the round-the-world record and the 24 hour record but in terms of things I’d still like to do there are many – such as the Americas Cup and the Olympics’.

Ever crave female company when you’re trapped on a yacht with men, men and more men?!‘It’s funny that you ask that because many of my girlfriends think ‘Wow! All these sporty guys and no competition’, but I do miss female company; we have things in common to talk about that don’t interest guys (mainly the topic of men!) I have done some round the world races with all-women crews too, like the ’93-94 Whitbread RTW Race and they’re good fun’.

What’s been the hairiest moment you’ve had on board?‘Hitting a whale, going at top speeds of 30+ knots in a multi-hull through icebergs in the Southern Ocean, and getting caught in a twister with winds of up to 85kts in the 2001 Sydney Hobart Race!’

sailing to victory – fastest female circumnavigator!

Alumna braves the waves to swim english channel

Bill Palmer – dedicated service to the University

Jenny Irvine (BSC Food Marketing & Eco-nomics, 1997) has been named as London’s ‘Shell LiveWIRE Young Entrepreneur of the Year’. Jenny won first prize at the South of England and The Midlands final earlier this year.

Her business, “The Pure Package”, has re-invented the “meals on wheels” concept by delivering nutritious meals to the client’s door in a new and innovative way. Backed by a team of nutritionists and chefs, her business creates healthy balanced meals to meet individual requirements. Most of Jennifer’s clients are people who want to eat delicious healthy meals, but have busy lives and no time to prepare them. The Pure Package has grown to cater for 100 clients a day, including celebrities such as Linford Christie, Ruby Wax and Patsy Kensit. Jenny plans to diversify into ice-creams, waters and vitamins, and expects to franchise her brand internationally. Her ultimate ambi-tion is to build a global brand that is syn-onymous with healthy lifestyle products.

reading graduate wins ‘young entrepreneur’ accolade

Andrew eddy, Director, shell London office congratulates Jennifer Irvine

rounding cape Horn with steve Fossett at the wheel on cheyenne 2004

Many readers will remember John Goldson (BSc Agriculture, 1958 & PhD Agriculture, 1973), our Overseas Secretary for Kenya for over thirteen years who was tragically murdered in Naivasha in July of this year. One of our most diligent and committed alumni, John worked hard to establish a group that built professional contacts and genuine friendship for graduates based in Kenya. He had stated that he hoped such a group with common roots would ‘build a better Kenya for all races’. We were deeply saddened to hear of John’s death and offer our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.

remembering Jenny

John Goldson, 1936-2005

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events round-Up

Two hundred Film, Theatre and TV gradu-ates returned to Bulmershe for a spec-tacular reunion. Alumni from Florida, Denmark, Poland, Tanzania and the USA made the special trip over. Star grad Jamie Cullum re-visited and a mother and son and a father and daughter who all gradu-ated from the department returned. The day also marked the retirement of three special members of staff - Doug Pye, Jim Hillier and Mike Stevenson - were fondly remembered by alumni in a tribute to their joint service of nearly ninety years!

Graduates from 1984, who met in the Maths, Computer Science & Statistics faculty, reunited for a day in Cambridge. After punting, with families in tow, the group reminisced over dinner and contin-ued long into the night at the hotel bar!

Pictured left to right, back row: John Hardman (Bsc Maths / stats ’84); Jonathan Green & Bill Arnold (Bsc comp sci ’84); colin eastoe (Bsc Maths/stats ’84); Andy Harding (Bsc Math sci ’84) Front row left to right: clare warren (Bsc stats ’84); sue Moye (nee Marchant (Bsc Pure Maths ’84)); nichola nicholls (nee styles) (Bsc Maths & stats ’84); ruth Bull (nee Bennett) (Bsc comp sci ’84).

Film, theatre & television 40th reunion

International events1984 reunion in cambridge

If you’d like information regarding international branches, please check our website at www.reading.ac.uk/alumni or contact us on 0118 378 8006 for informa-tion on your Overseas Secretary or the possibility of setting up a branch.

togo news – opportunity for alumni wishing to visit togo, west AfricaTogo alumni have held their first meeting and have offered to assist Reading alumni who would like to visit Togo for a tour or as a volunteer for one to three months during the summer holidays, starting from 2006.

For further information, e-mail Mr. Kwame Adzakpa at kwameadzakpa @yahoo.fr

canada newsCanadian alumni who are interested in a reunion in Toronto at the end of this year should contact Overseas Secretary, Christopher Hunt at chrischarleshunt@hotmail.com

Are you holding an alumni reunion or event? If so, please do contact us with your photographs and event reports – we love to hear what you’ve been up to and can advertise and help plan your reunion.

overseas Alumni BranchesBeijing – vice-chancellor’s receptionOn a recent trip to Beijing, the Vice-Chancellor hosted a reception for Chinese alumni. Speaking of the event, Professor Marshall said, “It was an in-credibly informative evening and great fun. Some of our alumni there, who were ‘peers’, at Reading were meeting each other again for the first time. It’s always very rewarding to meet up with our graduates and this was no excep-tion, proving to be one of the highlights of my trip.”

tokyo receptionTokyo graduates enjoyed an evening together in July. Welcomed by Anthony Manning of the International Founda-tion Programme, an evening was spent reminiscing and catching up on new developments at their University.

Alumni flock back to campus Over six hundred alumni returned to campus this summer for a day of events, memories and the chance to meet up with friends old and new.

‘Agrics’ gathered to visit the new build-ing, tour the Museum of English Rural Life, with the day’s finale – a trip to the University’s dairy farm. A fantastic day was had by all, with old friendships re-estab-lished and an exciting look at the future for this top-rated School.

Meanwhile, over five hundred alumni from the last five years partied the night away and re-lived their student days at the Union nightclub at yet another successful Grand Reunion.

Why not take up some of

the following discounts and

benefits open to you as an

alumnus or friend?

University LibraryA discounted membership rate

of £35 per annum is offered

to graduates of the University

and Friends. Tel: 0118 378 8770

Email: library@reading.ac.uk

wolfenden sports centre Alumni are entitled to a dis-

counted rate (the same as staff

rates) at the University Sports

Centre – paying only £29 a

month. Contact the Sports

Centre for further info on

tel 0118 378 8799

careers centre The University Careers Service

has re-vamped its website

allowing Reading graduates

easy access to career informa-

tion and jobs – useful for

those searching and looking

to recruit, with ads going live

within 24 hours. Many of the

posts on offer are open to 2nd

jobbers and beyond! Just click

on ‘graduates’ to see how we

can help.

If you would like to offer your

services to help current under-

graduates think about their

future careers or help out with

careers events then you can

post your employment details

on the site: www.careers.rdg.

ac.uk

AccommodationBlack Horse House, the Univer-

sity’s purpose-built conference

centre, offers special rates for

rooms booked within fourteen

working days (tel: 0118 378 8906).

commemorative jewellerySignet rings, cufflinks and

other jewellery bearing the Uni-

versity shield are available in

gold, silver and platinum.Go to:

www.commemorativejewellery.

co.uk

the Friends of the UniversityThe Friends share their

concern for the University’s

welfare with its graduates and

offer grants to enable the Uni-

versity to undertake initiatives

outside core activities of teach-

ing and research. Membership

is open to all. For further

details contact Brenda Morris

on 0118 378 8006 / Email:

alumni@reading.ac.uk

University of reading credit cardSupport the University by

holding an MBNA credit card.

MBNA Europe make a dona-

tion for every account opened

and every retail transaction

made to enable funds for

extra student bursaries and

scholarships. Contact the

Development & Alumni Rela-

tions Office for an application

form or see www.fp.rdg.ac.uk/

alumni/support

swan Hellenic cruisesThe University’s 2006 cruise

programme is held on Swan

Hellenic’s cruise liner, Min-

erva II. This year we offer

a trip to explore Barbados,

Venezuela, Guyana, Brazil,

French Guiana, Suriname,

Grenada and Martinique. Our

other tour allows you to see

the world through the eyes

Columbus, as you visit hot

springs, rainforests, waterfalls

and beaches of the stunning

Caribbean islands before

cruising the Atlantic towards

Columbus’ final resting place

in Cadiz. For further informa-

tion call 0118 378 5650 or

visit our website for the full

brochure. Final booking date

15 December 2005. Both tours

run in March 2006.

Take advantage of the

special discounted fares and

Swan Hellenic donate 10% to

support the work of the

University.

Avis rent a carAvis is pleased to offer

great car rental rates world-

wide to University of Reading

Alumni and Friends. For

further information or to

make a reservation, please

visit www.avis.co.uk/

premierpartners or call 0870

60 60100 and quote X2252014.

Terms and conditions apply

– please check at time of

booking.

Flypark A 5% discount is available to

alumni and friends at a large

number of airports across the

UK. This is in addition to the

competitive prices and car

parking options Flypark is able

to secure; in some instances

a saving of up 50% on airport

drive-on prices.

www.flypark.co.uk/discount or

telephone 0870 733 0545

The benefits offered do not imply

endorsement of the listed compa-

nies, nor their products or services,

nor are these exhaustive. While

care has been taken in compiling

this information, these descrip-

tions may not truly represent the

full capabilities or function of the

respective company, which may be

determined more fully by contact-

ing the company. The University of

Reading cannot accept any liabil-

ity for errors or omissions, however

caused, nor for the quality of any

benefits and services offered by

individuals or companies outside

the University.

Alumni Benefits

company, which is completely environmental and ethical, called ‘Banana Meinhoff’. His music group, ‘Panel Fectoon’, has released a new album.russell Butcher Hist 02 is a trainee editor with Spellmount Publishing in Staplehurst, Kent.

Lucy Butterfield Fr 04 is a bilingual recruitment consultant in Enfield with International Language Communications.sarah chapple Fr/Man 04, [WK] is a Consultant at Euro London Appointments, a specialist recruiter of multilingual personnel in the UK.Louise chard H & Phys Geog 02, [WL] owns a franchise of Remax branches in Cardiff and Talbot Green.Holly cooper Hist/Soc 02, [SB] spent a year travelling Australia and New Zealand, and is now teaching History at a local school. She is hoping to try crime writing in her free time.Dominic Dack PhysGeog 03, [WL] teaches Geography at Wayland High School in Watton, Norfolk.Dougal Freeman MSc Ag Dev 02 has been working for Care International in Jordon, administering financial systems

for emergency response. David Fry BldSurv 01 has joined Bidwells Drake in its Building Consultancy Department.Laurent Girardet LLB LawwFrLaw 00, GE. After 2 years working as Legal Adviser for Yves Saint Laurent Parfum in Paris, he has moved to Grenoble and is now in charge of the commercial and marketing development of a local/regional chain of perfumeries.Lauren Haas LLB Law 01, [WL] spent 6 months sailing in Australian waters and then joined the Royal Navy, but had to leave on medical grounds following a bad accident. She is now a trainee solicitor on the LPC at UWE, Bristol.rachel Hadfield Fr/Ital 03, [WK]. travelled to N Zealand and Australia before moving home and working in insurance for nearly 2 years and also for a charity. She is now a Loan Administrator for Crown Mortgages, Ipswich where she lives with her partner.Zoe Harris Ed Stud 03, [BU] has completed a 2nd year of teaching and during this period visited India on a work basis, collaborating with LEA on publication of new material.Kathryn Havelock HistArtArch 03 is Marketing Assistant at the Royal Academy of Arts, London.Laura Hughes Typog 04, [WG] has travelled the world and has now taken up a marketing post with Hayman Distillers.Umar Ibrahim MSc UrbLandApp 02 is Deputy Director, Estates and Services, FCDA in Abuja,

Nigeria, and is commencing an MBA at the university there.yahuza Ibrahim MSc TAD 04, [SB] is lecturing at Niger State College of Education, Nigeria.roger Jackson Phil 03 has been in S America since Sept 03 and earns a living playing music in a band called ‘Yearvos’.Fahed Jeries PG(Dip) TEFL 03 is a teacher with the Ministry of Education in Malot, Israel.Jennifer Jones IMan/Bus 04, [PA] is on a graduate training scheme with Morrisons.Zepher Karyaija MSc AgEc 04, [SB], a local government agricultural officer in in Rukungiri, Uganda, is involved in planning and management of agricultural extension services.richard Macgregor Geog 01, [WK], on a management graduate programme with HBOS (Banking), hopes to set up his own property company. He married in July 04.naila Malik Maths 04 has become a member of the Institute of Mathematics. She picked up a prize this year for being one of the outstanding mathematicians to come out of the UK university system.Kate Mcsweeney Psy 04 is a Recruitment Consultant for Accountancy Additions in London, having been promoted in Apr 05.song Moc CompSc 02 joined the Metropolitan Police and is a Constable working in Victoria, London, investigating various crimes occurring within the Transport Dept - from criminal

damage to violent assaults.Ioannis nisyrios Chem/FdSc 01, MSc Fd Tech 02, [PA] completed his military service in 03, then worked as quality control technician in a cork processing factory until 04. He is now a chemist analyst in the food analysis lab of Agrolab SA, Thessaloniki, Greece, a food and agricultural products analysis company.James Packman Engl 04 is an Office Adminsitrator for Amey Business Services, Ministry of Defence, in Kent. He is hoping to start a PGCE in Sept to teach English to secondary school children.Michael Parker Hist 04 has been fundraising to build a new health centre in an African town. Mike volunteered with a charity, ‘Widows and Orphans International’, in Kenya last year and built a new primary school there. His fundraising project will help to alleviate the pressure on the district hospital which is overrun with victims of AIDS, cholera and TB.Ian Price EstMan 03 is Director of Red House Estate Agents and has been awarded the title Fellow of the National Association of Estate Agents.chris rice Geog 03, [BU] is a trainee Traffic Control Engineer for London Transport where he has moved with Justin HUSSEY (Hist 03).Philip richardson Soc 04 is a Reach Volunteer for Friends International in Coventry and is working with students at Warwick University.

Angela richmond MA TEFL 01 is a silver and gold jewellery designer and also a trainer for English language teachers. She has moved to Bucharest, Romania, with her partner.Mathew sapiano Stat 00, MSc Biom 01, [BR] is research associate at the University of Maryland and lives near Washington DC.Phil searing Mus 01, [WL] is training to be a Mental Health Nurse. He married Clare WATSON (Mus 01) in Jul 04.charlie spiers PGCE Art 03 has completed a successful first year teaching at Fawkner Secondary College and has been promoted to Head of Art, involved in a programme organised by an art gallery encouraging students to communicate about art and artworks effectively.Isabelle vandeplas MSc AppDevSt 04, [SB]. Since April 05 has worked as a UN volunteer in Benin, taking care of the food aid to orphans, vulnerable girls and newly arrived refugees.Andrew vickery Ag 03 has joined Tenon Rural Services team in Yeovil, Somerset, having worked on the family dairy farm since graduating.sarah williams LLB Law 03, [WK] is working for the chartered bank in the City of London, and is sitting exams for the Chartered Secretary qualification.Ghislaine Hamilton (Mrs williams) MusEd 00, [BU] is a primary teacher with Hampshire County Council and private music teacher.

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Beckett centenary celebrations Diary Next year will witness the centenary of Beckett’s birth, on 13 April, and the Foundation will be hosting a series of high profile events to mark this occasion.

exhibition: ‘samuel Beckett: the Irish european’, 25 March – 25 June 2006 A major exhibition in Reading Town Hall will tell the story of Beckett’s life and work.

conference: wantage Hall, University of reading, 30 March – 2 April 2006A major academic conference featuring scholars from around the world will reflect current trends and research in Beckett Studies.

Whilst these represent the main events, other activities are also planned. It is hoped that an adaptation of Beckett’s novella, First Love, will be premiered at the Bob Kayley Studio Theatre at Bulmershe; a series of public talks about Beckett’s work; planned evenings devoted to Beckett’s Film’and filmed adaptations of his plays, a separate exhibition of John Haynes’ photographs of Beckett and his plays in production.

Gala evening: A celebration of Beckett’s work, 2 April 2006Film director Anthony Minghella will direct an evening of readings and performances to be held in Reading Town Hall. We hope to attract other high profile actors to perform such as Kevin Spacey, Billie Whitelaw, Juliet Stevenson and Judi Dench. All profits to Macmillan Cancer Relief.

The Foundation’s website contains more information about all the events taking place: http://www.beckettfoundation.org.uk

events diary

In July 1970, RUBC excelled by reaching the semi-final of the Ladies’ Challenge Plate at Henley Royal Regatta, crowning an outstand-ing season for the crew at the University’s Head of the River Race. To mark the 35th Anniversary of their Henley performance, six members reunited at Henley. Assembling from the UK, Texas, Oslo and Paris it was a truly international affair and for many, the first time they had met up since the day of the race against the University of London!

Christopher Wickham (BA German/Lin-guistics, 1972)

Photo 1.) rUBc competes in the Ladies Plate at Henley, 19�0 Photo 2.)From left to right: John Burrell (Bsc Geog, ‘�0), christopher wickham (BA German/Ling, ‘�2), Franck Manville (Bsc Maths, ‘�0), Peter Hammett (Bsc Maths, ‘�1), cary Hendy and steve Bociek (Bsc chem, ‘�1).

Boat club 19�0 reunion

Thirteen graduates from 1955 plus partners attended a reunion organised by John Gibbons (BSc Agric ’55, pictured centre front row in blue shirt). After dinner, the group visited the new Agriculture building and then inspected other major developments on campus.

saturday 28th January 2006Reunion Event –Bulmershe Geographer’s ReunionFor all those who studied Geography at Bulmershe, a 40th anniversary reunion will be held early next year.Further info, contact Rosemary Jones, Tel: 0118 378 8653 / Email: r.k.jones@reading.ac.uk

wednesday 22 March 2006Friends Event – ‘From Rags to Riches: Samuel Beckett and Reading’ by Professor Jim Knowlson. Preceded by tea at 4.30pm in The Blue Room, Whiteknights.5.30pm, in LT 27, HUMSSContact Brenda Morris on Tel: 0118 378 8006

saturday 25th March 2006Reunion Event – The Wantage Society Annual Dinner will be held at Wantage Hall this spring. If you are interested in attending /further information e-mail dinner@wantagesociety.co.uk or write to Mr E. Lyons, Alderley Cottage, Collinswood Road, Farnham Common, Bucks, SL2 3LJ. Advanced booking required.

saturday 6 May 2006Reunion Event – Meteorology Open Day and 40th Anniversary reunion for Meteorology alumni will be held on Saturday 6 May 2006. Demonstrations, displays, the launch of a short history of the Department and a rolling series of lectures on “hot topics” in meteorology, and related areas will all be showcased. If you are interested in attending, please email c.s.layton@reading.ac.uk, with the subject “40th Anniversary”Contact: Caroline Layton, Tel: 0118 378 8950

A group of 1968 residents from Wessex have met for the first time since gradua-tion. Over lunch, the group re-lived their student days, aided by photographs and innumerable anecdotes. A visit to the much changed Whiteknights campus to see Wessex ended their journey, as memories flooded back - Wessex even smelled the same! “Retracing steps to our old rooms, for a moment we were eighteen years old again!” said Cathie Willliams (BSc Chem ‘71)

Pictured, left to right clockwise: Debbie Abel (nee snyder) (BA english ‘�1); cathie williams (nee Brownridge) (Bsc chem, ‘�1); Lesley Matthews (nee Brewer) (BA Geog, ‘�1); Jill totten (nee trickett) (sci 19�1); Jane evans (nee cutter) (chemistry, 19�1); Jean crawford (Mrs Dixin) (BA Geog ‘�1); sue wilson (nee Lockwood) (Bsc cyber & Instr Phys ‘�1).

wessex Days

Agriculture 50 years on

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University Merchandise

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Making a will is one of the most important acts we

undertake. It is the culmination of a lifetime's

financial planning and it is only the way to ensure that

your assets are distributed as you would have wished.

Sheila Dorothy Bolton, who lived in Reading, left her estate

to the University in 2003 which, in turn, is helping us to

build a superb new facility to preserve some of our unique

archive collections including possibly the best collection of

Samuel Beckett papers in the world; without her foresight

of leaving a lasting legacy of support and commitment, this

may not have been possible.

"I don't know what the future may hold, but I know

who holds the future."

Ralph Abernathay (1926-1991)

The tradition of philanthropy at Reading is something of

which we are very proud. The generosity of Sheila and others

like her ensure we continue to make a real difference now

and for future generations. Generous bequests have helped

make the University what it is today – an ambitious, creative,

focused, research-led institution that allows us to give the

very best opportunities to our students and staff. By making

your own history at the University of Reading you can make

a difference to future generations.

Leaving a legacy to the University of Reading could also

significantly reduce the tax burden on your estate. Benefits

could include relief from Inheritance Tax, Capital Gains Tax

and Stamp Duty. A legacy can be tailored to your personal

circumstances and every gift we receive, no matter how large

or small, will make a significant difference to the University.

To request a copy of our legacy brochure or discuss any legacy matters in confidence, please contact: Shaun Horan, The Director

of Development, Development and & Alumni Relations Office, The University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AH

Telephone +44 (0)118 378 8006 Email alumni@reading.ac.uk Web www.rdg.ac.uk/alumni

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