BIN BROOK | LENT TERM 2006 | 1

Bin BrookROBINSON COLLEGE MAGAZINE LENT TERM 2006

Cover story: From Robinson to Pembroke...Kenya page 2 Annual Reception page 3

Undergraduate Bursaries and “Top-up Fees” page 5 Professor Charles Thomas page 8

Cover story: From Robinson to Pembroke...Kenya page 2 Annual Reception page 3

Undergraduate Bursaries and “Top-up Fees” page 5 Professor Charles Thomas page 8

PEOPLE AND EVENTS

Pembroke House (named after the founder’sCambridge College) is situated in Gilgil, fairlycentrally within Kenya and just below theequator. Gilgil itself is a splendid blend ofjunkyard and market; further enlivened byblithe goats, stolid cattle and helpful Kenyans.Once you’ve piloted the potholes andjuddered over the effectively pedestrianisedrailway tracks, you will your vehicle up the hilland exchange jambos with the gate askari tobe let into a world that deserves to be calledidyllic. Just as I was beginning to accept thehumming birds threading past the jacarandablooms and the understatedly dubbedMagnificent starlings, planes roared indropping boys and girls off for the beginningof the school year. Predominantly fromupcountry families, the children are strikinglyat ease in the company of adults in contrastto many of their English counterparts.Marbles (properly ‘nyabs’) are hotly contestedin the Christmas term, garters are worn, capsare doffed and the Beano is passed aroundthe dorm. Lessons were ended and begun bya prefect tolling the school bell, lending acheerful unpredictability to the exact span ofa period. Being a small school, everyone wasin the sports teams. My under nine hockeyteam manfully grafted elements of kendoand rugby to their purposes. Between therains, as the pitches became drier and drier,goal mouth scrambles would see entiregroups of players swamped by dust andobscured from sight (and jurisdiction).

The first time I took the cross-countryteam on a dawn training run, three zebrabolted across our path, within touchingdistance. I enjoyed too many memorablewildlife experiences to recount; livingamongst the animals was one of the mostenthralling aspects of teaching in Africa.Though I can’t claim to have killed a snakewith my bare hands, I did bludgeon one witha hockey stick when the boys caught it with amop in the dormitory. To find out whetherthe coup de grace was appropriate, snake-

expert Digby fetched his glasses and told meit was a cobra, but not a spitting one. Onbeing asked how he knew, he repliedplausibly, “Well, it didn’t spit at me.” I evenhad the privilege to see leopard. Staying at afarm where a worker had recently beenmauled, my host was hurriedly summoned tothe trap that had been set. Inside the cagewas one of the most mesmerisingmanifestations of anger I have ever seen. Weneeded to cover the cage with stalks of maizeto provide shade; as Jim and I approachedthe trap from opposite sides, the leopardseethed from end to end with dauntingalacrity. It was relocated, but would have hadto face a fatal confrontation with whatevercat was already resident there.

Death was part of life in Africa. It issimply a part of the conversation. Whilst Iwas there, several acquaintances lost peoplewell known to them. The strident newspaperswere filled with fatalities each day, fromtraffic accidents or violence. Though evenNairobi seemed no more intimidating thanLondon, car-jacks did occur, homes did getraided. Kenya is by no means a no-godestination, but there are elements of‘frontier’ that are irresponsible to ignore. Ibought a doughty and venerable (30 yearsold) Range Rover from an Italian lady on theproviso that I continued to coax and coddle itin Italian (Classics is useful). Margaret provedherself an excellent if thirsty companion, butwhenever I was lost or stuck it would only bea short while before somebody popped up(this was exasperating when you needed theloo). Perhaps I was fortunate in their alwaysbeing helpful, but I would unhesitatinglycharacterise Kenyans as friendly.

Twelve was the record number of pushersto help me on my way, achieved on the lowerslopes of Mount Kenya. I climbed Africa’ssecond highest peak twice, and once with aparty of the (thirteen year old) sixth formers.I’m not sure what the risk assessment formfor such a venture would look like in England,

but the experience of watching the sun riseover snow on the equator again would beworth it. Two days walking through forestthat gave way to heath and bizarre equatorialalpine plants took us to Shipton’s base camp,where chubby hyraxes provided extracompany. Though we bullishly carried ourown packs (unlike the effete expeditions fromNairobi and the coast) an armada of portersin cannibalised kit escorted us with ourprovisions. Some of them wore plastic bagsinside their trainers as they cheerfully heftedindustrial gas canisters and umpteenrucksacks tirelessly on ahead. Even thoughPembroke is itself at over 6600 feet, a few ofour party succumbed to altitude sickness onthe final ascent. On my maiden foray, I feltthe same effects and still remember thesavour of oxygen and the return of strengthwith every stride that I took down themountain.

My other brush with illness involvedwalking wearily to the bathroom andcollapsing into utter inertness for three-quarters of an hour. It transpired that I hadtyphoid. The closest I had ever come beforeto a medieval-sounding disease was having ayellow fever inoculation and this pride carriedme through the next few days’ fatigue. Theweight loss was redressed with relish: the dietI enjoyed in Kenya was healthily carnivorous.

There are many other memories ofteaching in Kenya; from real camels in thenativity play, to the boys keeping poisonousspiders in their lockers; from removing a batfrom a mosquito net, to fleeing before a babyrhino. But most vivid of all are the memoriesof the people I met there. All of them aresmiling. You could do far worse than writingthe headmaster a letter.

Simon Head (1995) is now teaching at St. John’s Beaumont in Old Windsor(mrshead@stjohnsbeaumont.co.uk)

Serena Aylward, Choral Scholar, 2003-6Roger BaileyBenedicite Omnia OperaCommander George Coupe, 1924-2004Peter Carlton JonesSophia ChongMarcus ChongMax ChongRobin James Egerton

In loving memory of Jack and Dorothy Garvey Marianne HinnellsMr and Mrs G IronsideIn loving memory of Deborah KeilyBasil ShoneAndrea M SmaleAngela M SmaleRaymond L SmaleReamonn Smale-Charmes

Danielle Smale-CharmesIn loving memory of John and Betty SmithDr Alex Yui Hui

If you would like to support the chapel andcelebrate a special person or event, pleasecomplete and return the form at the centreof this edition of Bin Brook.

2 | BIN BROOK | LENT TERM 2006

Chapel Chair Celebrations and CommemorationsThe refurbishment of more than a quarter of the chapel chairs has now been sponsored by Members and Friends of Robinson College.Plaques have been installed at the donors’ request to remember late members, to celebrate the birth of the members’ children or the life ofmembers’ friends and families and, of course, to commemorate graduations. The inscriptions to date read:

From Robinson to PembrokeTired with London, but not with life, my interest alighted upon an article in the newspaper. An old boy of PembrokeHouse in Kenya was recalling his school days with tantalising vim. I wrote a letter to the headmaster and in duecourse found myself transported and teaching in East Africa.

PEOPLE AND EVENTS

BIN BROOK | LENT TERM 2006 | 3

Annual Robinson ReceptionForeign & Commonwealth OfficeFriday July 14th 20066.30pm – 9.30pmSuggested Gift – £64 per personIncludes Champagne & CanapésRobinson College is delighted to have the opportunity to host theAnnual Reception in the Locarno Suite, one of the Fine Rooms at theForeign & Commonwealth Office, London. This is an exclusiveopportunity to view rooms not normally open to the public. Thanksextend to our sponsor, alumnus Daniel Workman (1997) who,because of his work at the Foreign Office, helped to secure ourbooking. To welcome guests to Annual Reception a Robinson pianistwill be playing the Grand Piano that is situated in the Locarno Suite.

We do hope you will join us for what promises to be a trulysplendid evening.

History of the Foreign & Commonwealth OfficeThe first Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs was appointed inMarch 1782, but the first purpose-built Foreign Office was not begununtil 1861. It was completed in 1868 as part of the new block ofGovernment Offices which included the India Office and later (1875)the Colonial and Home Offices. George Gilbert Scott was responsiblefor the overall classical design of these offices but he had an amicablepartnership with Matthew Digby Wyatt, the India Office’s Surveyor,who designed and built the interior of the India Office.

As you approach the Locarno Suite you will walk up GeorgeGilbert Scott’s Grand Staircase of the Foreign Office, looking east. Themurals on the first floor surrounding the staircase are by SigismundGoetze, who painted them at his own expense throughout the FirstWorld War. Presented to the Foreign Office in 1921, they depict the‘origin, education, development, expansion and triumph of the BritishEmpire, leading up to the Covenant of the League of Nations’. Thetwo great ormolu and bronze chandeliers were produced bySkidmore’s Art Manufacturers Company of Coventry, while themosaic pavement on the ground floor was executed by Minton-Hollins to designs in the antique style by Scott.

The Locarno Suite The Grand Reception Room of Scott’s Reception Suite is known as theLocarno Suite. Its modern name derives from the formal signatureand sealing here of the Locarno Treaties, initialled at Locarno inSwitzerland in 1925 and designed to reduce strife and tension inEurope. The room is now used again, as originally conceived, forconferences and ministerial and government functions.

The Reception costs to College are £64 per head and any gifttowards these costs is gratefully received. Please complete the Gift AidForm if you are a UK tax – payer as this will increase the value of yourgift to College.

Please book using the enclosed form or register your interest withDevelopment Office to receive a booking form. To experience avirtual tour of the Fine Rooms visit www.fco.gov.uk

Event List13th May MA Congregation Dinner

24th June Summer Steinway Concert

14th July Annual ReceptionLocarno Suite, Foreign & Commonwealth Office6.30pm – 9.30pm

23rd/24th Sept Annual Robinson ReunionMatriculation Years 1996, 1991, 1986, 1981

Saturday 23rd 4pm-5pm Welcome Tea – Tea/Coffee and pastries6pm College Bar opens7pm Drinks Reception7.30pm Dinner

Sunday 24th 9.30am-11am Sunday Brunch in the Garden Cafeteria

We’re delighted to announce that theRobinson College Choir will be touring theNorth of England at the beginning of July.

You can join them on the following datesand for those who are unable to be at anyof these services in person, there is anopportunity to hear a live broadcast fromEmmanuel Church, Didsbury at 9.45am onThursday 6th July on Radio 4.

Monday 3rd July5.45pm Evensong in Sheffield Cathedral

Wednesday 5th July5.30pm Evensong in Ripon Cathedral

Thursday 6th July9.45am BBC 4 Daily Service live broadcastfrom Emmanuel Church, Didsbury, presentedby Rev’d Dr Maggi Dawn (Chaplain andFellow, Robinson College) with music byRobinson College Chapel Choir

Friday 7th July5.30pm Evensong in Manchester Cathedral

Saturday 8th July4.15pm Evensong in Chester Cathedral

Robinson College Choir Tour to Northern England3rd – 8th July 2006

PEOPLE

4 | BIN BROOK | LENT TERM 2006

Hi, my name is Tracy Bonhamand I studied Natural Sciencesand then Chemical Engineeringat Robinson back in the late1980’s. So what am I doingnow travelling to Africa to visitfair trade basket makers andmango farmers? Well, it’s a longstory…….

Those of you that knew meat college will remember that Iwas very involved with therunning of Student CommunityAction (the group that co-ordinates student voluntarywork). I even did a one-yearsabbatical at SCA after leavingRobinson in 1990, beforemoving up to Glasgow to workas a Chemical Engineer in thewhisky industry (far tastierproducts than either the oilindustry or pharmaceuticals!).

After 13 years working withDiageo, I had moved fromproject engineering to moregeneral projects management,and last December I finallymoved on – there can’t bemany of my year who have onlyhad 3 jobs and 3 addressessince leaving college!

I spotted the advert for aProjects Manager at SharedInterest in August 2004 andthought it sounded great –using all my projectmanagement experience insmall social enterprise goingthrough significant expansion.Shared Interest is the world’sleading fair trade financeorganisation. They use moneyinvested by people like you andme to provide loans to fair tradeproducers in the developingworld and their buyerorganisations. I have been amember for 9 years – inspired

by the way they use the moneyI invest time and time again tosupport fair trade producers andbuyers all over the world.

My new role is really varied– I have carried out a review ofthe organisation’s network ofvoluntary representatives(members who promote Shared Interest – a few yearsago Rowena Moore (1987, néeMainprice), and I were amazedto find ourselves as 2 RobinsonAlumni amongst the 20 or soreps!); I helped set up theorganisation’s sister charity(Shared Interest Foundation)and I have developed proposalsfor our first overseas offices. Ihave spent 3 weeks in WestAfrica speaking at a conferenceand then visiting fair tradeproducers and have beenprivileged enough to spendseveral days with one of the big Italian fair trade buyersincluding speaking at their share holders meeting in Assisi –my previous visit to Assisi hadbeen as part of my college Inter-rail trip 18 years ago! Made mefeel old!

So what do I do in my sparetime these days? Well, havingdone 6 years as the churchTreasurer, I now run the churchTraidcraft Fair Trade stall, I havecycled round Turkey and runtwo 10ks for charity and I stillenjoy travelling as much aspossible – off to Australia in afew weeks time to meet upwith another ex-Robinsonian.

With the UK representingone third of the global Fairtrademarket and with so manypeople having taken part in thisyear’s MAKEPOVERTYHISTORYcoalition, it’s certainly an

exciting time to working intrade justice. I’d reallyencourage you to have a look at our website to find out more about the finance aspect of fair trade. Pleaseconsider investing – it’s anopportunity to make yourmoney make a real differenceand the money is still yours!You can invest anything from£100 to £20,000 – the financial return is not big but the social return is huge!

www.shared-interest.comtracy.bonham@shared-interest.com0191 233 9128

What is SharedInterest?Recognised by the DTI in 2003, Shared Interest is aleading social enterprise based in the UK making asignificant impact on fair trade organisations around the world. • Working in almost 40

countries and directlyimpacting on 68,000producer lives

• Providing credit to 79 fairtrade organisations worldwide

• Working with many large fair trade buyers, includingTraidcraft & Café Direct, and their partners in the field

• £6-9m finance out in thedeveloping world at any one time (varies seasonally)

• Over £19m share capital,raised from ordinaryindividuals in the UK

From Whisky toBananas?

The story of aChemical

Engineer workingin Fair Trade

OnlineAlumni

Directory

Do you need totrack down your oldRobinson friends forthat special event oranniversary, or forprofessional advice?

Over the next few months,alumni amongst ourreaders will be receiving aletter containing a username and password forthe new Online Directory.This replaces the printedDirectory produced in thepast and will allowmembers who haveactivated their accounts tosearch for and contact oneanother for social orprofessional reasons.

When you receive yourletter, it will giveinstructions as to how youmay log on via theRobinson website andactivate your account,selecting how much orhow little information youwish to make available toother alumni, or subsets ofalumni. If you do notactivate your account,others will only be able tocontact you by emailing orwriting to you c/o theDevelopment Office staff,who will pass the letter oremail on via the lastcontact details held foryou, as is the case now.

If you do not receive youraccount letter, or if we donot hold up to date postalcontact details for you,please contact theDevelopment Office withyour address so that it maybe sent out correctly.

COLLEGE

BIN BROOK | LENT TERM 2006 | 5

The new fees will be used by Universities tosupport undergraduate teaching andlearning resources within the centralUniversity. In conjunction with theintroduction of these fees, the Governmentis re-introducing some student grantsaccording to household income, so thatstudents from lower income households willreceive some Government maintenancefunding during their studies. Studentmaintenance loans will also remain available.

Robinson, like all the Cambridge colleges,is anxious that these new fees (paid in tuitionfees to the University, not the College)should not deter potential students fromapplying and that the support grants aresufficient to cover the costs of living andstudying in Cambridge. The colleges, theUniversity and the Newton Trust (which wasendowed by Trinity College) are workingtogether to improve the Cambridge BursariesScheme, so that students admitted toRobinson and all Cambridge colleges haveaccess to sufficient funding to enable themto take up their places and to gain all that aCambridge education has to offer.

The table below illustrates the supportthat will be available to students in terms ofGovernment grant, Cambridge Bursary andStudent Loan, in today’s figures, according tofamily residual income. Family residualincome is the student’s family household

income after allowances for factors such asthe number of younger siblings in thehousehold and other relevant matters. Theillustration assumes that the totalmaintenance needed for one year is £6,000(it is possible to live on less than this,especially with parental support in vacations,but most students spend at least thisamount) and that each student takes only asmuch maintenance loan in addition to grantand bursary as needed to make up the£6,000 total support. The maximumCambridge Bursary will be £3,000 perannum.

The new Cambridge Bursaries Scheme isshaped so that the bursaries for studentsfrom less well-endowed colleges, likeRobinson, are subsidised more heavily by theNewton Trust and the University than thosefrom the wealthier colleges. Indeed, thewealthiest colleges will pay the full costs ofbursaries for their eligible students. TheUniversity is a new partner in the scheme,using some of the new “Top-Up Fee”income to contribute towards the enhancedbursaries. However, Robinson will still needto make a contribution towards eachRobinson student bursary awarded throughthe Cambridge Bursaries Scheme.

This year (the last before the advent of“Top-up Fees” and the introduction of therevised Cambridge Bursaries Scheme), 53

Robinson students are receiving a CambridgeBursary, funded jointly by the Newton Trustand Robinson College under the currentscheme. 14 of these awards are provisional,awaiting further information from thestudents’ Local Education Authorities, so thetotal amount of the awards is to beconfirmed, but the total amount of awardsin 2004/5 for 63 students amounted to£49,050 funded jointly by the Newton Trustand the College. Robinson already has somebursary funds in place on which to draw forthe current and the new scheme, but weneed to increase these funds to allow for thehigher level of awards under the newscheme and also to monitor if the number ofstudents claiming bursaries increases over thenext few years, as this will obviously affectthe sums of money that we need to provideto eligible students in future years.

Donations for Robinson College studentsupport will help us to meet the needs ofnext year’s and future students. Suchdonations will help to ensure that theseyoung men and women follow in thefootsteps of our alumni, in all walks of life,and to enrich the communities within whichthey choose to live and work.

If you would like to make a gift towardsstudent support at Robinson, please use thedonation form in the centre of this edition ofBin Brook. Thank you.

Undergraduate Bursariesand “Top-up Fees”Readers will have read in the press about the advent of “top-up fees”in English Universities from the beginning of the next academic year.Under this new funding regime, Universities will be able to chargeundergraduate fees of up to £3,000 per annum. Unlike current fees,these will only be payable after graduation once an individual isearning at least £15,000 per annum, rather than at the beginning ofeach academic year in which the student is studying. This means thatthe “Top-up Fees” make better financial provision for all studentswhilst they are actually in residence, but that their fee debt upongraduation will be higher.

Loanassumed

taken

£ 300

£1,240

£3,205

£3,755

£4,405

£3,302

TotalSupport

p.a.

£6,000

£6,000

£5,955

£4,905

£4,405

£3,302

Year 1

–

–

£ 45

£1,095

£1,595

£2,698

Year 2

–

–

£ 45

£1,095

£1,595

£2,698

CambridgeBursary

p.a.

£3,000

£2,600

£1,400

£ 500

–

–

Loan –maximumavailable

£3,205

£3,205

£3,205

£3,755

£4,405

£3,302

ResidualFamilyincome

£15,580

£21,565

£27,000

£32,745

£37,000

£42,000

Grant p.a.

£2,700

£2,160

£1,350

£ 650

–

–

Year 3

–

–

£ 45

£1,420

£1,920

£2,698

Maintenance Shortfall

COLLEGE

6 | BIN BROOK | LENT TERM 2006

Fellowship NewsMembers of Robinson will be pleased tohear that John Williams and ChristopherForsyth have both been awarded personalchairs in their fields and are now Professorof Engineering Tribology and Professor ofPublic Law, respectively.

Mr David Kerr, who will be familiar tomany Members and Friends of Robinson as our Senior Bursar for over a decade,retires this month (March 2006). However,everyone in the Development Office looksforward to enjoying his company as anEmeritus Fellow of Robinson at manyCollege events in future.

We welcome Mr Ross Reason, a Magdalenealumnus and husband of Jane Reason (néePrice, 1982), as the new Finance Bursar (asthe post will be known in future).

Portrait of David Yates on canvas in theartist’s studio

A portrait of the Warden, David Yates,has been hung in the Hall at College.Painted by Mark Roscoe, who was bornin Australia but trained and now livesand works in Scotland, it shows theWarden on Bin Brook Bridge withRobinson’s gardens in the background. Itjoins other recent additions to the art ondisplay in the Hall – Double Monument,a gift from the artist, Alan Davie; andThe Bullfight, a signed Francis Baconprint donated by a member of theFellowship. All these works are on viewfor diners in the Hall and the PegasusSociety Dinner, MA Dinner and AnnualReunion Dinner will all provide goodopportunities for non-resident Membersto see them this year. The College hasalso been fortunate to receive a gift of18 works of art, mostly by John Piper,from the late John St Bodfan Gruffydd,which will be hung in various parts ofthe College in due course – more detailsof this wonderful collection will beavailable in a future edition of Bin Brook.

Robinson andSelwyn unite to winthe MCR leagueRobinson and Selwyn joined forces againthis year for MCR football, puttingtogether a team for the 1st divisionleague. Performance during the earlypart of the season was second to none,in no small part due to our team captainMark Dwyer (Selwyn) and vice-captainJonathan Green (Robinson). Regulartraining sessions and a great team spiritensured that we came away with avictory every Sunday. However, theleague title was not yet assured – Jesuswere also building on early momentumand remained unbeaten. In a bitter-sweet twist of fate, the crucial matchbetween the two teams was the very lastof term, and with all to play for.

The showdown final match was electric,and for us at least, it started like adream. Early in the first half a Jesus handball inside the box led to a penalty,which was duly converted. Five minuteslater, Jesus lost the ball in midfield,which we capitalised on. The ball camequickly across to the right wing, wascrossed into the Jesus box, and headedinto the back of their net.

In the second half Jesus played the longball well, and we struggled to clear.Jesus came back to 2-1, 2-2 and then,fifteen minutes from the end, anddespite some excellent saves from ourkeeper, Jesus went ahead to 3-2. Weneeded a draw to win the league, butour team didn’t give up hope. Threeminutes before time, a great move bythe midfield and the left wing set theball up on the edge of the box. TheJesus defence dashed to recover, but itwas too late – the ball sailed into the topright corner, leaving their keeperwondering where it came from. Thegame finished with draw at 3-3, makingthe combined Robinson and Selwynteam top of the first division.

Alastair Beresford (1996)

Fen Ditton Dash and theBritish University SportsAssociation CrossCountry Championships

On a frosty Sunday morning inJanuary, some 50 students racedalong a stretch of the Cam,representing their colleges in theFen Ditton Dash.

The race, only in its second year, enjoyedrather more clement weather than itsinaugural blizzard in 2005, but the ironfootbridge once again gave the illusion ofhaving grown between the first and secondlaps for the footsore competitors.

Matt Sims of Robinson came in second,38 seconds behind Will George of Jesus,helping the College reach third positionoverall, just one point behind Girton.

Matt went on to the British UniversitySports Association Cross CountryChampionships on 6 February, when he waspart of the Cambridge University Hare andHounds Men’s team, which came 6th overallwith 152 points in the Men’s Long Race.

New additions to the College Gardens andCourtsThree new trees and a commemorativebench have been added to the Collegegrounds in memory of Paul O’Grady (2001)and June Sharp, mother of aluma, Lynda(1999).

The trees were selected by friends andfamily members from a list and plan drawnup by the Head Gardener for the ongoingenhancement and development of thegardens. The plan builds upon the legacyof the private Edwardian gardens that pre-date the College and upon the work ofJohn St Bodfan Gruffydd in bringing thesetogether to form the beautiful groundsthat Paul and June knew and loved andthat we are privileged to continue to enjoy.

ALUMNI NEWS

BIN BROOK | LENT TERM 2006 | 7

Frances (née King, 1983) and William Bakerwelcomed their new (and third) daughter,Clementine, to the family on 14 October2005. She weighed 8lb 6oz and is littlesister to Alex, aged 7, and Georgia, aged 5.Frances is now the Property Director at RiverIsland, the fashion retailer.

Kate Byth (1986) is on a 2-year internationalassignment with the pharmaceuticalcompany, AstraZeneca, based in Boston,USA. This comes straight after her maternityleave as her daughter, Lucienne, was bornin January 2005 (a sister for Alexander, whowill be 3 in March). She’s working in R&D inthe field of cancer research and would loveto hear from any Robinsonians in the area(contact the Development Office ondevelopment-office@robinson.cam.ac.uk to be put in touch).

Mark Ledbury (1986) and his wife Helen are very happy to announce the birth oftheir son, Christopher, born on 7 December2005, in Massachusetts, where Mark andHelen now live.

Quentin (1990) and Hannah Drewell aredelighted to announce the birth of their son Xavier Alexander Richardson Drewell,welcomed screaming into the world on 17 October 2005.

Conor Nixon (1990) and Elizabeth Nixon aredelighted to announce the birth of theirsecond child and first daughter, SophieEmma (above), on January 26th 2006 inWashington D.C., weighing 7 lbs 5 oz.

James Hartley (1992) and Sarah Davis(1996) are pleased to announce the birth oftheir first child. Their daughter, Tanith,arrived on 16 December 2005.

James (1992) and Tiffy Harrison haverecently celebrated the 1st birthday of theirdaughter Joely. Whilst Joely has a limitedvocabulary of only 2 words currently, Jamesand Tiffy are quite confident that sheenjoyed her big day!

Paul Eden (1992) and Freddie Eden (1992)(née Mulliner) have a baby son. DanielJoseph Eden (above) was born on 22August 2005, weighing in at 8 pounds 13ounces.

Nik Holgate (1994) and his wife, Kate (néeFox, sister of Jennifer Fox (1995)),welcomed James William (above) into theworld on 30th December 2005. He weighedin at 9lbs 6oz and Nik says he is clearly afuture rugby player!

Paul Kent (1994) and wife, Alison, aredelighted to announce the birth of theirdaughter, Molly Amelia (above), on 7th July2005. Paul recently left his position as aDirector in the Corporate Finance division atCitigroup to start up a new financialservices boutique, Doric Asset Finance.

Paul Corthorn (1995) and KatherineBorthwick (2000) are delighted to announcetheir engagement, having met in RobinsonMCR in 2000. Paul is currently a lecturer atUniversity College Oxford and Katherine is apostdoc at the University of Manchester.

James Taylor and Sophie Annesley (both1995) were married on 14th May 2005.

Matt Luscombe (1996) and Jo Hammond(1998) (above) were married on 17thSeptember 2005. Matt says “We obviouslyhad a great time, and I think there werefifteen of us there who had been atRobinson.”

THE BACK PAGE

8 | BIN BROOK | LENT TERM 2006

Bin Brook, Robinson College, Cambridge CB3 9ANEdited by the Development OfficeTel: 01223 339 036, Fax: 01223 464 806, Email: development-office@robinson.cam.ac.uk

Antonia (née Collins, (1996)) and James Rubin are thrilled toannounce the birth of their daughter, Rebecca Grace Rubin(above), on 20th Jan 2006.

David Scott (1996) married Eleanor Toye (King’s) on December17th 2005 in the Robinson College Chapel, with theReverend Dr Maggi Dawn, College Chaplain, officiating.Afterwards, there were drinks in the garden restaurant, withdinner in the Hall and dancing. Many of the guests wereRobinsonians and Richard Sharp (1996 and now a RobinsonFellow) was the best man. The photograph (above) was kindlyprovided by their friend Dan Talmage.

Professor Charles Thomas (Robinson Fellow 1980-2005)All members of College were distressed to hear of the suddendeath of Professor Charles Thomas at his home on the 16thDecember 2005. Charles had formally retired as Professor ofAlgebraic Topology in September 2005 and he was looking forwardto planned future academic visits with his wife, Maria, to the USA.Throughout his academic life Charles has been admirably supportedby Maria and their three children, Charles, Greg and Hanna. It cameas a great shock to all, that Charles should die so suddenly, butmercifully peacefully, and we send our sincere condolences to thefamily at this premature death.

A funeral service was held in the College Chapel on the 23rdDecember and Charles was buried at Brinkley Woodland Cemetery,Cambridge, near another ex-Robinson Mathematics Fellow, the lateProfessor Ali Fröhlich. Charles’ academic world involved high levelpure mathematics concerned with differential geometry, manifoldsand cohomology; all subjects that would not even be familiar tomany other mathematicians or scientists. He was the author ofmany papers and several texts on his research interests. Charlesinvolved himself with College life very much through hisundergraduate teaching and as wine steward. He supervised loyallyand interacted globally with other academics that could appreciatehis branch of mathematics. Charles will be greatly missed by theCollege and Fellowship. He was a true academic with a broadinterest and intellect outside his subject. A memorial service will bearranged at a later date. Malcolm Mackley, Deputy Warden

Daniel Frank (19/11/1980-19/10/2005)Robinson friends of Dan Frank were shocked to hear of hissudden death in October at his office at The Catholic Herald.Many rallied round, both to support his family at his funeral andalso at a Commemoration Evening held at his old school inFinchley on 21st January 2006. Family and friends shared theirmemories of Dan and his influence on their lives in words andmusic and, despite the underlying sadness of the occasion, sharedmuch warmth and laughter. We were privileged to witness thetalent of his friends and members of the Robinson Choirperforming music from Sinatra to Blue Grass to traditional choralpieces in his honour and to hear some very special memories ofhim from his parents, Tony and Lynn, and his sister, Jessica.

Some of Dan’s Robinson friends will share their own memoriesof him in the next edition of Bin Brook.