G Goldlink 35
Spring 2011 Keeping you in touch with Goldsmiths
Goldlink 35 Keeping you in touch with Goldsmiths Editor Genevieve Kantoch Design Goldsmiths Design and Print Services Director of Development David Mungall Senior Development Manager Annette Bullen Alumni Relations Officer Genevieve Kantoch Research & Database Officer Antoinette Carey Administration & Events Officer Angela Elderton Development & Alumni Office Goldsmiths, University of London New Cross, London SE14 6NW alumni@gold.ac.uk +44 (0)20 7078 5015 Cover image: 'Untitled', 2003 by Oliver MacDonald (BA Fine Art, 2004) www.olivermacdonald.com Thanks this issue to: David and Val Bracher Jacqueline Cooke Rosalyn George Rebecca Randal Laura Yaffe If you are interested in advertising in a future issue of Goldlink please contact us for a rate card, discounts are available to alumni. Contributions to Goldlink are welcomed by email or post. We reserve the right to edit articles in the interests of brevity or clarity. The opinions expressed in the magazine are those of the contributors concerned and not necessarily of Goldsmiths. Goldlink is printed on paper accredited by the Forestry Stewardship Council.
We can supply information in alternative formats for people with a visual impairment. Please contact the Development & Alumni Office on +44 (0)20 7078 5015 or email alumni@gold.ac.uk
Dear friends Quoting a poet runs the risk of suffering by the comparison. But in this time when higher education is often in the news in the UK, it is perhaps worth thinking about what Poet Laureate John Masefield said about universities in a speech he gave on receiving an honorary doctorate in 1946. “There are few earthly things more beautiful than a University. It is a place where those who hate ignorance may strive to know, where those who perceive truth may strive to make others see; where seekers and learners alike, banded together in the search for knowledge, will honour thought in all its finer ways, will welcome thinkers in distress or in exile, will uphold ever the dignity of thought and learning, and will exact standards in these things. Religions may split into sect or heresy; dynasties may perish or be supplanted, but for century after century the University will continue, and the stream of life will pass through it, and the thinker and the seeker will be bound together in the undying cause of bringing thought into the world.” I particularly like the phrase ‘the stream of life’. It seems to evoke the intergenerational connection Goldsmiths alumni have in the shared experience of College. In recent months current students and alumni came together in locations as far afield as New Cross to the Lower East Side of Manhattan. While alumni of widely different year groups have attended events in venues ranging from a bar in Paris to the House of Lords in London. All share the Goldsmiths link and it is our aim to organise more events and encourage you to initiate reunions yourselves. Increasingly we communicate news about events by email, so please let us know your email address if you have one. This will be the last Goldlink in this format. It has served us well but in the autumn we will unveil a new look magazine which will be more cost-effective to produce and mail, yet remain a high-quality publication for the purpose of keeping us all in touch. I hope you approve of the new Goldlink and as always feedback is much appreciated. Best wishes
David Mungall Director, Development & Alumni
Become a fan of the page to keep up to date with the latest news and alumni events, connect with the wider alumni community and share your news with the group. It’s now easy to stay in touch with our brand new Facebook page www.facebook.com/ GoldsmithsAlumni
We also have Goldsmiths alumni groups on Linkedin and Friends Reunited. Links are available at www.gold.ac.uk/alumni
Please make sure to also keep us updated with your location and email address as we often send out notifications of events in the UK and overseas by email. You can update your details online at www.gold.ac.uk/alumni/update
INSIDE: Goldlink 35 Spring 2011
4 On Campus
The latest College news and an update on changes to tuition fees
6 Your Goldsmiths
A round up of recent alumni events and the success of this year’s Annual Fund
8 First Person
Corrie Corfield reveals all about her radio career and recalls her days in the drama studio
10 Amazing Alumni
Meet four graduate entrepreneurs who are turning their passion into a business
12 Looking Back
A photographic record of Goldsmiths in the swinging sixties
14 Research News
Pioneering research into classroom friendships from Professor Rosalyn George
16 Your Shout
We quiz five alumni on their favourite Goldsmiths’ people and places
18 Last Word
Life after Goldsmiths for two lifelong friends and a delve into the wartime archives
ALUMNI SERVICES The Development and Alumni Office helps alumni to stay in touch with the College and each other. As your ongoing link to the College, we keep you updated with the latest news through the biannual magazine Goldlink and quarterly e-newsletter. Just remember to let us know if you change your postal or email address so that we can keep in touch. As a former student of Goldsmiths you also have access to the following services: Alumni reunions and events Events are organised throughout the year in the UK and overseas, an opportunity for you to get together with your Goldsmiths friends and meet other alumni Library access Alumni have free access to Goldsmiths Library as a reference user, charges apply if you would like to borrow books Careers advice Tailored careers advice and support are available through membership of The Careers Group, part of the University of London careers service Awards and Transcripts We can provide you with confirmation of your qualifications or a transcript of results
4 On Campus €3 Million for Goldsmiths researchers
The College welcomed its new Fellows at the presentation ceremonies in January when honorary fellowships were presented to Neil Rhind, Timothy Spall, Glenn Brown and Lady Celia Goodhart. Baroness Shirley Williams was awarded an honorary degree. Actor Timothy Spall received his award in the ceremony which also saw his youngest daughter Sadie awarded her PGCE qualification. He said: “It was with great pleasure, pride and a huge amount of surprise that I received the news that I was going to receive an honorary fellowship from Goldsmiths. I have a great affection and a deep respect for this exemplary university.” Alumnus Glenn Brown, a Turner Prize nominee whose artwork is in collections around the world, said: “Goldsmiths means a lot to me as an artist. I, along with many others, was taught how to keep on learning. It is a very special and great institution because of its teaching methods.” Alumni are invited to nominate candidates for the next round of honorary fellowships of Goldsmiths, to be conferred at the Presentation Ceremonies in 2012. Fellowships are conferred on a wide variety of individuals including alumni, former staff, internationally respected academics and public figures. For more information on how to nominate see www.gold.ac.uk/honorary-appointments/
Mayor’s New Cross Awards
Protest placards for museum A group of students from the Department of Politics have joined forces with the Museum of London to create an archive of modernday placards. Earlier this year, an estimated 500,000 people marched through the streets of central London to demonstrate against Government cuts to public services. The students asked protesters to donate their placards to create a permanent reminder of the event. The Goldsmiths group also created a mobile exhibition of over 1,000 placards for the day of the march which used images from past protests such as the Suffragettes, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and anti-Poll Tax demonstrations. The project aims to explore how society historicises contemporary events and what it means to be a protester. Guy Atkins, one of the organisers of the project, explained: “We wanted to take the museum out onto the street. And then put the street back into the museum.”
Varsity hat-trick The College sports teams have been victorious in bringing the Varsity Cup back to campus for the third year in a row. The fifth annual Varsity took place last term between Goldsmiths and the University of the Arts London. Each year the teams compete in rugby, football, basketball, netball and hockey. As this was the fifth year, the College have also taken the overall lead in the tournament.
Greening Goldsmiths The College has been held up as beacon of good environmental practice in the local area. The borough’s Carbon Compact scheme encourages organisations to take action to reduce carbon emissions, with the aim of a 40% reduction in carbon emissions by 2012. The scheme praised the environmental efficiency of the New Academic Building, as well as other new initiatives for the College such as the space temperature policy and the furniture re-use scheme.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the New Cross Fire, a tragedy in which fourteen young people died in a house fire in January 1981. The Mayor’s New Cross Award was created five years ago by the London Borough of Lewisham as a lasting memorial to the victims. Each year they provide two awards of £11,395 available to applicants from the local area. This year the awards went to Mark Ali, studying for a BA in Applied Social Science, Community Development and Youth Work, and Ahmed Patrick-Lalljee, studying for a BA in History and History of Ideas.
World first for Drama The Department of Drama will be launching a brand new MA in Black British Writing, Drama and Performance from 2012/13. This is the first degree of its kind globally and offers students a comprehensively historicised engagement with the field of Black British writing. The course will take a broad approach investigating performance and poetics, tracing diasporic and aesthetic routes, and drawing upon the expertise of literary and drama specialists from the Departments of Drama, English and Comparative Literature, and the Caribbean Studies Centre.
MA IN BLACK BRITISH WRITING, DRAMA AND PERFORMANCE
Welcoming our new Honorary Fellows
Researchers at Goldsmiths have been awarded three European Research Council grants of over €1 million. This brings the total amount received from the Council since 2009 to over €8 million. The three projects are being undertaken by academics in the Departments of Sociology, Visual Cultures and Anthropology. Lynda Agili, Head of the Research Office, said: “Goldsmiths’ brand of exploratory and creative research has been especially successful in applications to the ERC. We’re a relatively small institution yet we are taking tremendous strides in the European research arena and it is remarkable for us to have received three such prestigious awards in one year.”
On Campus 5
New tuition fees announced Goldsmiths has announced proposals to set a tuition fee level of £9,000 for students joining in 2012. Alumni, staff and current students were the first to hear the news by email Following Lord Browne’s review last year of university funding, the Government passed legislation to allow university fees to increase from their current level of £3,290. A new system of student loans was introduced alongside this. The increased fees are intended to replace direct government funding which is being withdrawn. Goldsmiths’ proposed fee of £9,000 for UK/EU students on all undergraduate and PGCE courses, which is subject to approval of our Access Agreement by the Office For Fair Access, is in line with the majority of UK universities. In an email sent to alumni in the UK, we explained that in making the decision, the College took into account a range of factors including the cuts made to teaching grants, the cost of delivery of our courses, the distinctive value of a Goldsmiths degree, our growing research excellence, the need to invest in the future of the College and our wish to provide generous bursaries and feewaivers to help ensure access to Goldsmiths. The College will invest £1.6 million, or around £1,000 of each £9,000 tuition fee, on measures to encourage wider access to the institution. This substantial level of investment is consistent with our wish to maintain our pedigree in attracting talented students to Goldsmiths from a variety of social and economic backgrounds, including those living in the immediate community of Lewisham and South East London. Our Warden Pat Loughrey emphasises this: “We are committed to making Goldsmiths as socially inclusive as possible and this is
reflected in our widening access offer which is one of the most generous in the country. “We hope the £1.6 million pledged towards fee-waivers and bursaries will demonstrate the importance we place on ensuring Goldsmiths is open to those wishing to study with us whatever their background.” In recent years we have invested significantly to improve the experience students have on campus. This investment has seen the transformation of our library, many of our teaching rooms revamped and refurbished, and the opening of the £22 million New Academic Building. In the new funding environment for universities the role of philanthropy is becoming more important. “In the last two years an increasing number of alumni have chosen to support the enhancement of the student experience at Goldsmiths through the Annual Fund,” says David Mungall, Director of Development. “In addition to the Annual Fund, a number of alumni and other friends have established bursaries usually aimed at a particular course or subject. These include awards named in recognition of someone important to the donor, which can be a very meaningful act of generosity.” Pat adds: “Goldsmiths is a distinguished institution with a proud past and a bright future. With investment and support, I am confident we can continue to provide a world-leading education to our students.”
6 Events
YOUR GOLDSMITHS Rounding up the latest alumni events in the UK and overseas 2
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1: House of Lords Reunion, February 2011 Education alumni from 1950-1990 attended a reunion at the House of Lords 2: New York get-together, November 2010 Alumni attended an exhibition of current students’ work at Scaramouche Gallery 3: Presentation Ceremonies, January 2011 Masters and PGCE alumni celebrated their achievements 4: Carol Concert, December 2010 More than 300 alumni, staff and students joined in the festivities in the Great Hall 5: Corinne Burton Award celebration, November 2010 Art Psychotherapy alumni came together to celebrate the 18th anniversary of the award 6: Alumni Career Talk, March 2011 Alumnus Graham Thomas talked to students and recent graduates about his career in advertising
FORTHCOMING Forthcoming Events EVENTS 6
The Way We Were Book Launch, Friday 17 June 2011 Join us at the launch of alumnus David Bracher’s photographic book about Goldsmiths in the sixties (see page 10-11) Art Degree Show Drinks Reception, Thursday 23 June 2011 Come along to the private view of the undergraduate degree show exhibitions and join us for a glass of wine 1940-1960 Alumni Reunion, Saturday 8 October 2011 We are inviting all ‘Old Smiths’ to come back to campus for a special afternoon tea reunion in the Great Hall Please note the 1954-59 reunion planned for Saturday 22 October has been postponed
See www.gold.ac.uk/alumni/events for more details Please rsvp to alumni@gold.ac.uk or 020 7919 7069
Annual Fund 7
You’ve done it again! Over 500 generous alumni, staff and friends of Goldsmiths have contributed to the success of this year’s Annual Fund
“A huge thank you to all of our donors whose support allows the Annual Fund to make such a difference” Annette Bullen, Senior Development Manager
In March, the Annual Fund panel were able to invest an impressive £45,362.23 in areas and projects across the College. This is nearly £10,000 more than was available last year – the Annual Fund’s first year. This year’s applications were varied and creative, and reflected the amazing energy of our students and staff. Annette Bullen, who oversees the Annual Fund, said: “A huge thank you to all of our donors whose support allows the Annual Fund to make such a difference to a wide variety of areas from around Goldsmiths.” The largest award was made to the College’s Student Services who provide support to students experiencing financial difficulties. Sharon Alleyne, the Student Funding and Information Manager, reveals how vital last year’s Annual Fund support was: “It made a real difference to vulnerable students, for example we had students who were facing homelessness and
students experiencing extreme financial difficulties, so it was a huge gift to be able to offer them additional support.” This year a sum of £15,000 has been awarded to students experiencing severe financial hardship. This is twice as much as last year and will help even more students to continue with their education. Much needed help was given to enable improvements to the College estate, including the refurbishment of teaching rooms and enhanced facilities for cyclists. The Library received support for automatic doors for library-users with disabilities, as well as funds for the cataloguing and preservation of a nationally important archive which will be part of the library’s special collections. The Students’ Union received support towards a new minibus and funding for the football society and other student clubs.
Thanks to donations to the Annual Fund, a range of smaller projects can now go ahead. We’ve been able to help students take new productions to the Edinburgh Festival, fund a unique sound installation at the Aldeburgh Festival and provide support for exhibitions and publications. Students from the Music Theatre MA course received funding to showcase their original material at a prestigious London venue. Prior to this award, their performances were an academic exercise watched by Goldsmiths staff and students alone. This will enable them to bridge the gap between academic assessment and professional development by showcasing their work to the public. MA student Jennifer Green said “This fund has made sure we can do something professional that will really help further our careers after Goldsmiths, it’s preparation for the real world and a wonderful opportunity.”
“This fund has made sure we can do something professional that will help further our careers, it’s preparation for the real world and a wonderful opportunity” Jennifer Green, MA student
“It made a real difference to vulnerable students, it was a huge gift to be able to offer them additional support” Sharon Alleyne, Student Services
8 First Person
Londoncalling Do you remember when you first heard the news of the World Trade Centre attack or that Princess Diana had died? If you were listening to the radio then there is a good chance it was alumna Corrie Corfield delivering the breaking news
People 9 As a newsreader on BBC Radio 4 since 1988, Corrie has reported some of the most important events of our time. “I came in to read the news on 31st August 1997, four hours after Princess Diana died. That was probably one of the most surreal days I’ve ever spent in the newsroom. Likewise on 9/11, I was heading in to do the overnight shift and heard the first reports of a plane going into the World Trade Centre. I walked into the office to be greeted with the image of the first tower collapsing on TV. After that the normal schedule disappeared and we had to check all programmes for content to make sure nothing inappropriate or insensitive would be broadcast. But there are good news stories too. I read the six o’clock news twenty minutes after the hostage Brian Keenan was released, and the rescue of the Chilean miners last October had even the most hardened of hacks in the newsroom wiping tears from their eyes.”
“For somebody, somewhere, the news is always going to be significant” Corrie started her career at the BBC soon after leaving Goldsmiths with a degree in English and Drama. “As a Studio Manager I was responsible for making and putting programmes on air. After my initial training course I chose to stay at the BBC World Service and we used to make routine announcements at the top of some transmissions like ‘This is London calling in the Bengali service of the BBC’. The announcers had to be able to operate the technical side of things as well and so I became one of the initial team. From there I went on attachment to the BBC World Service as an announcer and newsreader and was then offered a stint at BBC Radio 4.” After cutting her newsreader’s teeth on Radio 4, Corrie moved to South Africa in 1991. This period was a pivotal moment in the country’s history Nelson Mandela was released from prison and apartheid legislation was repealed. Corrie recalls that time: “It was fantastic, an incredible time to be there. Mandela had only just been released and the slow process of moving towards a democracy was getting under way. It was a real roller-coaster ride right up to the election in 1994 but an absolute privilege to witness at first hand the election of the country’s first black President. I first worked for an independent local news station in Johannesburg but during the election was a producer with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and covered moving, humbling and unforgettable stories from all over the country. We were in Soweto the night the votes were counted and the result announced. It was the best party I’ve ever been to. We also travelled extensively to other African countries: drought and the decimation caused by Aids in Zimbabwe and Uganda, the horrors of Rwanda, elections in Kenya, Operation Hope in Somalia. It was an extraordinary few years.” Looking back on her time at the College, Corrie recalls how coming to Goldsmiths gave her the chance to widen her outlook and develop the
skills which were to become essential in her career. “I grew up at Goldsmiths. It was the first time I’d been away from home and suddenly I was transported from a quiet, country village in Warwickshire to the bustling, dirty, noisy surroundings of south-east London. I thought it was wonderfully exciting. I met people from different backgrounds, different parts of the country. It was the place I became politically aware. Goldsmiths encouraged you to fly - to express your opinions, your talents without worrying about what anyone else thought. I suppose it encouraged your individuality but at the same time, on my course in particular, you were very much part of a team. That’s stood me in good stead as it’s how we work at the BBC. It was a very, very happy time and I look back on it with incredible fondness.” Corrie recounts some of those fond memories from her College days: “Tutorials on Swift and the Enlightenment in Alan Downie’s room with The Grateful Dead playing in the background. Heavy snowfalls. Typing my dissertation on Shakespeare’s Problem Plays with one finger on an ancient Olivetti (no laptops in those days!) Discovering Ibsen, Pinter and the poetry of John Wilmot. Painting light bulbs in the workshop and building sets out of scaffolding. Being chained to my fellow students for a bizarre drama performance in one of the studios where chicken giblets played a prominent role and we were soaked with buckets of water. The 36B bus from Lewisham. Sunny afternoons in Greenwich Park. Making a pint of cider last all night in the student bar.” She remembers her days in the drama studio with much nostalgia. “It was a brilliant course with the perfect balance of the academic and the practical. I enjoyed the workshops and performance sessions we had, even though I was quite shy at times and much preferred the stage management side of things, but I was surrounded by a vibrant, exciting group of people and we just always seemed to be laughing. The academic side was mainly centered around small tutorial groups and the discussions were lively and stimulating.” Her drama training provided a solid grounding for the performance aspect of broadcasting but there must have been the odd slip-up over the years? Corrie reveals all, “Whilst at the World Service I once referred to the ship building city of Gdansk as a ‘Polish sh*t yard’ and embarrassed myself on a broadcast to Latin America by thinking I could speak Spanish and wishing the continent ‘A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Bottom’. But so far I’ve managed to escape a Jim Naughtie ‘Jeremy Hunt moment’!” After more than 25 years working in radio, it’s clear that Corrie still has the same commitment and passion for the job as when she started. “I love the immediacy of radio, 99.9% of what I do is live. I like the intimacy of it too - you, the microphone, the listener at home that you’re telling the story to. It’s anonymous, nobody minds if you’re having a bad hair day, it’s low key and yet great fun. I work with an incredibly talented and delightful group of people and I get to meet some of the great and the good (and the not so good). I’m extremely lucky.”
People Kate Brien Popular Music graduate better known as Katy B, has been storming the charts with her album which reached no 2 in the UK album charts. A fusion of dubstep, garage and R&B, her singles Katy On a Mission and Lights On have both been top 5 hits and her success looks set to continue with a UK tour later this year.
Harry Philbrick who studied for an MFA at Goldsmiths, has been appointed Museum Director at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, the oldest art museum and educator in the USA. Harry was previously director of the Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art in Connecticut where he significantly raised the profile of the museum and spearheaded a $9M fundraising campaign. Harry’s son is a current student at Goldsmiths, also in the Department of Art.
Odilon Rocha who graduated from the MA Feature Film course in 2004 has directed his first feature Prime Time Soap with Universal Pictures. An ensemble drama set in 1978 in Brazil, Odilon wrote the film whilst at Goldsmiths. The project has been in the planning stages for over two years and Odilon said “I don’t think I would have had the stamina and knowledge to start the journey that brought me here if wasn’t for what I learned at Goldsmiths.”
Amy Sackville (MA Creative & Life Writing, 2008) has won a prize for her debut novel The Still Point. Amy collected the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize, the oldest literary prize in the UK, which is awarded to authors who are aged 35 or under. Sir Andrew Motion, Margaret Drabble and William Boyd are among the previous winners. The novel was also longlisted for the Orange Prize For Fiction earlier in the year.
Menaka PP Bora (MA Transnational Communications and Global Media, 2005) recently picked up two awards for her contribution to Indian classical dance. She was awarded the ‘Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar’ which is the highest national young artiste award in India, and also the prestigious Wingate Scholarship 2010. Menaka is currently back at Goldsmiths studying for a PhD with the Department of Music.
10 Amazing Alumni
Intrepid entrepreneurs With graduate unemployment at its highest level in fifteen years and the current financial climate making job hunting a challenge, some recent Goldsmiths graduates have decided to take a different career path. Genevieve Kantoch spoke to these enterprising alumni who are turning their passion into a business.
The Papered Parlour
Claire Heafford MA Cultural Studies 2006 Enter a green door off a small street in Clapham in South London and you step into The Papered Parlour. Founded by Claire Heafford, the company has become a fixture on the London craft scene in the last 18 months. After graduation, Claire set up the studio with a friend running weekly workshops in craft and design which were in an instant hit. They subsequently won a small business competition and were awarded £50,000 which allowed them to develop their premises and expand their programme. The studio soon caught the attention of the press with a 5-star review in Time Out’s ‘Best of London’ followed by recommendations in publications as diverse as Elle Decoration, Marie Claire and even the New York Times. Building on the success of their initial classes, they have now introduced additional workshops including recycled jewellery, book printing and shoe making. What do you most enjoy about being your own boss? The thing I enjoy most about running my own company is the freedom I have to learn and explore whatever I choose. My learning is never complete,
because there is always something I can improve on. I also love the challenge of being responsible for so many aspects of operations, from the artistic direction through to end-of-year accounts.
I love the challenge of being responsible for so many aspects of operations, from the artistic direction through to end-of-year accounts What have you learnt in the process? Whilst studying I worked as a temp for a number of small businesses during the holidays. I enjoyed the pace and atmosphere in these organisations but was always thinking ‘if I were the boss I’d run the place more efficiently or motivate my team more effectively’. I’ve learnt that there was a reason my old bosses struggled and did not always perform to the best of their abilities! Being in charge of an organisation is hard work. It’s impossible to excel in every area of business and management, so clever strategies are needed to lead a team of totally different personalities. It’s a wonderful but sometimes difficult challenge!
What advice would you give to others? There are three pieces of advice I’d give to anyone wanting to set up their own company. Firstly, take the seed of your idea and develop it into a strong and coherent vision. Any project worth doing will involve the co-operation of other people so you will need to show your team a clear picture of where you are all going and how you are going to get there. Secondly, there is no such thing as failure, only feedback, so be flexible in your approach and allow yourself to make adjustments in response to feedback. Thirdly, surround yourself with people who believe in your idea: you’ll need their positive energy to get you through the tougher times.
Salad Days
Mark Prove BA Politics and Economics, 2008 Since leaving Goldsmiths three years ago, Mark has taken the rather unconventional route for a Politics graduate into event catering. A regular festival-goer, Mark was always disappointed with the same array of greasy food served up at outdoor events. This gave him the inspiration to set up a company with a completely different concept – takeaway salad boxes. Salad Days was born, with a vision
to create fast food that tastes great, is good for you and is also environmentally friendly. The company strives to source the best local ingredients and also ensure all their packaging is fully biodegradable. Salad Days trade at a number of public music festivals from Glastonbury to the Isle of Wight Festival, and in the summer months last year sold over 22,000 salads. With sales rising they are now expanding the company with a private events catering service. What prompted you to set up your own company? I met my business partner who spends more time thinking about lunch than anyone! The British summer is famously disappointing, so we really wanted to make the most of it and create proper summer food – tasty, rustic, and at an affordable price. We also thought we would benefit from the current health food trend we’re witnessing at the moment. We’re lucky that our sector enjoys a certain recession immunity as people generally
One of the things I have learnt is to talk to everyone – but make your own decision
Amazing Alumni 11
budget to buy food at festivals rather than bring their own. Did any of the skills you learnt at Goldsmiths help you? I think there are many things that I have taken from Goldsmiths that have helped me with what I do. Creativity, diversity and discovery to name but a few. One of the things I have learnt through this experience is to talk to everyone – but make your own decision. What are some of the highlights and the downsides? In 2009 we traded at celebrity farmer Jimmy Doherty’s festival in the Suffolk countryside. The weather was fantastic and we had the biggest queue I have ever seen! The downsides are you can never mentally or physically not be at work. The list of ‘things to do’ only seems to grow.
Juno Says Hello
Rebecca Rose MA Contemporary Art Theory, 2007 Rebecca has been a long-time fan of vintage clothing and when friends were regularly asking to borrow her clothes she realised she had an eye for picking good second-hand pieces. Although the trend for vintage clothing had become much more mainstream, Rebecca could see there was a niche in the market for a website offering a specific product and service. She decided to go into business and set up Juno Says Hello, an online boutique selling luxury vintage dresses. The company offers their customers a personal consultation as well as alterations service, combining the convenience of an online shop with a bespoke personal service.
The brand has been featured in numerous magazines from Vogue to the Herald Tribune and their dresses have been photographed on the red carpet at the Elle Style Awards, BAFTAs and Academy Awards.
Building a company takes a lot of hard work but the rewards are endless What have been your highlights so far? Building a company takes a lot of hard work but the rewards are endless. Highlights have included taking the boutique ‘live’ after five months of careful planning; finding the right employees first time; making that first big sale and helping customers find the perfect dress for a really special occasion. A few months ago a client bought a dress online and when I rang her to confirm the delivery time, she told me she was going to wear it to the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton - I nearly fell off my chair! What do you enjoy most about running your own business? One of the things I enjoy most is having freedom over my schedule. Although I work more hours than I did before, I am able to decide when I am needed in the office. Very often I am able to work from home or away from London. In addition, I’ve been lucky enough to find two brilliant women to work for the company – their talent and creativity are fundamental to the company’s success.
What advice would you give to others looking to set up their own company? Don’t be afraid of approaching people in a similar field and asking them for advice. Particularly in the creative industries, you are much less likely to have direct competitors, so you won’t put anybody’s nose out of joint by asking for help. In the world of vintage clothing, there is a strong sense of community and dealers are usually very happy to share clients. Before starting Juno Says Hello, I read through various kinds of business plans and manuals, hoping to glean as many tips as possible, but there is no substitute for real experience. When things go wrong, there is only one person who can sort it out...you! That can mean a lot of headaches and long hours, but it always pays off.
Streets on Demand
Fadah Jassem BA Anthropology and Media, 2010 After graduating in September last year Fadah wanted to put the journalism skills she had honed in her degree to good use. Along with a friend she co-founded a new website, Streets on Demand, which was inspired by their passion for urban music. The site serves as a gateway to an eclectic mix of musicians and performers. It is a hub of reviews, news, videos and interviews with the latest offering in urban music and street culture. The site also provides a platform for the development of young writers, contributors and artists.
What prompted you to set up your own company? The job market and prospects were very slim after I graduated last year. I’ve always wanted to create something for myself and didn’t really want to work for someone else. The concept was a joint idea with a friend of mine. After working for an online music publication, I found many restrictions in the music being published. The idea for streetsondemand.com was to provide wider access to the music we enjoyed.
I love that I’m in total control and doing something that I’m passionate about What skills did you learn at Goldsmiths that have helped you? The meaning of being a gatekeeper and the media skills I developed through my course. Also, the insight and understanding about groups, culture and sub cultures of people through Anthropology. Since we started the site I’ve discovered the super-power of social networking and having to juggle many roles at once. I’ve learnt to take time to plan and re-plan all aspects and to come up with a strategy plan this is very important! What have you enjoyed most so far? As the editor-in-chief of the site, securing exciting exclusives, and interviewing the musician Ed Sheeran was a real highlight. I’ve really enjoyed the networking, hiring contributors and also the perks like film screenings. Most of all, I love that I’m in total control and I’m doing something that I’m passionate about, helping to promote talented artists.
Find out more at: www.thepaperedparlour.co.uk www.saladdaysonline.com www.streetsondemand.com www.junosayshello.com
12 Looking Back
Goldsmiths’ Summer of 69 Thanks to the dedication of one former student, an archive of photographs documenting Goldsmiths in the late sixties has been brought to life David Bracher was a fresh-faced undergraduate from Wiltshire when he arrived at Raymont Hall in 1967. Armed with his 1950s Praktica 35mm camera, he set about recording his College experience, from concerts in the Great Hall to strolls in Greenwich Park. He has now produced a book with over 250 of these black and white images which cover daily life at the College, the changing face of New Cross, the folk and music scene, and the student teacher protests of 1968.
“We were the golden boys and girls. We were students, the first in most families to enjoy that experience” David Mason
the expansion confirmed that ‘there was far more talent in the country than we had guessed or were willing, out of class-andculture meanness, to recognise’.” Alumna Lizzie Mapson echoes this sense of change, “we knew that there was an energy that permeated everything we did…that nothing seemed impossible. We were going to change everything because the rule book had been abandoned as we alighted from the New Cross train.” The expansion of the courses on offer from Education and Art to include Sociology, Psychology, Music and Drama, followed by the Sciences, attracted an eclectic student body. “Walking down that black and white corridor we knew that we were sharing space with people so unlike ourselves that it was our difference that united us.”
Written contributions from David’s contemporaries accompany the images. David Mason, Editor of Smiths News from 1968-69, explains how the sixties were a time of great change at the College. “There were 800 students at Goldsmiths in 1963, 2500 in 1965. Such an influx radicalised the atmosphere of the College. A tidal wave of young students and lecturers gave Goldsmiths a confident vibrancy from which we all benefited. As the former Warden and academic Richard Hoggart observed, Maggie Law, actress and mother of actor Jude Law, remembers her time as a Drama student: “It was the extravagance, daring and sheer joy exhibited by so many of these Drama students that brought a vision of openness and freedom I could never before have imagined possible. My whole family life, since those early, hedonistic days in New Cross has been filled with the theatre in one form or another.” Much of the focus of the social scene at Goldsmiths was around music, either as a performer or a spectator. The student societies such as the folk club and the jazz club were thriving and every Friday night College and local bands played in the Small Hall. Meanwhile in the Great Hall, students were able to see the best of the new music on offer from Joe Cocker, the Moody Blues, Muddy Waters, Yes, Jethro Tull and Manfred Mann to name a few. As Chris
All photographs copyright David Bracher
Looking Back 13
Book Launch, Friday 17 June 2011
Pearson remarked, “The Social Secretary in the late 60s and early 70s pulled off some remarkable coups!” But it wasn’t all a carefree student existence: this was also an era of great change and political unrest. Russell Profitt, then President of the Students’ Union, remembers the moment things changed and student unrest started to surface. “Events of 1968 unfolded and ‘moved us on’. In that year alone we experienced the Grosvenor Square Anti-Vietnam war demo, and Dr Martin Luther King and later Robert Kennedy
being assassinated.” In this year Goldsmiths students took to protesting about the freeze on teachers’ pay. Russell states “Many of us at Goldsmiths did what students everywhere felt they had to do. Get out and show to the powers that be that an era was at an end… we had no idea of course that we were living through such tumultuous times or that we were witnessing social change of such significance”.
To celebrate the publication of the book there will be a launch event from 6 - 8pm on Friday 17 June 2011 at the College. Please come along to meet the author of the book David Bracher and catch up with other alumni over a glass of wine. If you would like to attend please rsvp to alumni@gold.ac.uk Copies of the book will also be on sale in the Staff Dining Room in the Main Building from 10am-4pm on Saturday 18 June.
David Bracher’s publication The Way We Were is an A4 landscape book published in hardback, with over 120 pages. Chapters include people and scenes of South East London, student demonstrations in London, contemporary musicians and groups, period transport, and a gallery of over 100 students from 1967-71 (you might spot yourself in there!) Copies of the book are available to purchase for £20, and 50% of the profits will be donated to the Annual Fund. To order your copy go to www.davidbracherbooks.com
14 Books
Literary Goldsmiths
Showcasing some of the new publications by alumni Sanctus, Simon Toyne This is Simon Toyne’s (BA English and Drama, 1990) first novel after nearly twenty years of writing, directing and producing commercial television. Set in an ancient city in Turkey, Sanctus is a modern, high-concept, apocalyptic conspiracy thriller. It is the first part of a trilogy and so far has been sold in over 40 countries and will be translated into 23 languages.
Misunderstood: The Brian Molko Story, Chloë Govan An account of Goldsmiths alumnus and rock musician Brian Molko by fan Chloë Govan (BSc Psychology, 2007). From wild child to devoted father, this account charts Brian Molko’s rise to fame and his professional career selling 10 million albums worldwide with the band Placebo.
20 Years of Witte de With, co-edited by Zoë Gray Curator Zoë Gray (MA Critical Curating, 2003) looks back on the last twenty years of exhibitions, publications and events at Witte de With, the Center for Contemporary Art in Rotterdam. The book provides an illustrated history of one of Europe’s leading contemporary art institutions. It also features an essay by Dr Andrew Renton, Director of the Critical Curating MFA.
Hidden, Miriam Halahmy From children’s writer and poet Miriam Halahmy (BA Education with History, 1974), Hidden is a new book for young adults. A coming-of-age novel, it tackles the complex issues of immigration and human rights laws, through the eyes of fourteen-year-old Alix. The story follows the arrival of illegal immigrant Mohammed in Alix’s small community and deals with prejudice, preconceptions and the difficulty of sorting right from wrong.
The Still Point, Amy Sackville The literary debut from Amy Sackville (MA Creative and Life Writing, 2008) which won the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize and was also longlisted for the Orange Prize for fiction. The book charts the story of Arctic explorer Edward Mackley and that of his great-grand-niece. It is a sharply observed and engaging account of the distances, both geographical and emotional, that can exist between two people.
The First to Know: How Hipsters and Mavericks Shape the Zeitgeist, Lida Hujic Riveting personal accounts are woven into an intricate and compelling analysis of what it means to be ‘über cool’. Lida Hujic (PhD Media and Communications, 1999) draws on her time at Goldsmiths in this book and incorporates elements of her thesis which was described as a ‘pioneering analysis’. The book has been described as an “enlightening story for anyone with an interest in the phenomena at the heart of contemporary culture”.
Trace the recurring trajectory of hip – from its subcultural incubation to mainstream crossover, inevitable sell-out and subsequent reinvention. Riveting personal accounts from the epicentre of three seminal hip movements across two decades from the fall of the Berlin Wall are woven into an intricate and compelling analysis of what it means to be über cool. Ride the hip circuit, from knitting parties in urban dead zones to backstage at MTV, from concept stores at the leading edge to front row at Fashion Week, from street markets and ephemeral underground club nights strictly for the initiated to the corporate boardroom. Gain unprecedented access to the elusive scenesters and opinion formers – the ones dictating the trends we all eventually buy into… just remember that by the time you’ve finished reading, they’ve moved on. An essential read for marketers wishing to stay at the vanguard, a seminal textbook for students on marketing, media and fashion courses and an enlightening story for anyone with an interest in the phenomena at the heart of contemporary culture. ‘Lida Hujić manages the impossible by delivering a precise study of the cool. A labour of love sure to become a reference in years to come.’
Jerry Bouthier, DJ (Vivienne Westwood, Kitsuné, Ponystep/BoomBox)
‘Elegantly written by someone who was a participant, a witness and a trailblazer. Highly recommended.’ Sasha Savic, Executive Vice President – Global Managing Director Starcom/MediaVest Group
TFTK cover final.indd 1
Lida Hujić
THE FIRST TO KNOW How Hipsters and Mavericks Shape the Zeitgeist By Lida Hujić www.thefirsttoknow.info
7/7/10 18:53:40
Research News Musicians may soon be able to compose music using just the power of their mind, according to Goldsmiths’ Dr Mick Grierson. Researchers at the College have developed a machine called the Brain Computer Interface for Music which can analyse and translate electrical impulses into musical notes. The machine registers brain activity when a specific note is heard and recognises the same electrical impulse when the musician later thinks of the note. The programme has the potential to revolutionise the way that disabled musicians who have previously relied on motion-based technology compose music. The Department of Psychology is investigating whether children’s early motor skills have an impact on social and cognitive skills in later childhood. Dr Elisabeth Hill has been awarded a grant of £14,500 by the Nuffield Foundation to visit children who previously took part in research, and to collect further data to see if there is any connection. The findings from Dr Hill’s research could help improve educational practice and outcomes for children with early motor difficulties. What does the taste of ice cream look like? Professor Andrew Shoben from the Department of Computing has been working to find the answer. Using groundbreaking technology that was developed by art group Greyworld, Professor Shoben has created a visual sculpture of taste. Users tell a programme about their taste experience, assessing six core elements of the ice cream’s flavour. As they do the sculpture blossoms to show their choices (see below). The criteria – the icecream’s richness, sweetness and creaminess for example – were all approved by the British Society of Flavourists. Over 400 people attended the launch of the campaign to play with the programme and discover what their favourite flavour looked like.
Academic Viewpoint 15
Exploring the borders of friendship and bullying
Rosalyn George, Professor of Education and Equality, discusses her latest research into the precariousness of young girls’ friendships and the impact this is having on their lives Can friendship and bullying co-exist? Is the leader in the class always the most popular member of the class? What are the processes of exclusion and inclusion amongst girls’ friendship groups? What is the role of the teacher in consolidating group friendships? What impact does the process of transition from primary to secondary school have on existing friendship networks? These are some of the many questions raised by research undertaken by Rosalyn George into the precariousness of young girls’ friendships. The rationale for the research came from a realisation that patterns of inclusion and exclusion were a regular feature of young girls’ lives and that this widespread experience was on the whole socially invisible, and that where it was observed its importance was denied or diminished. Indeed girls’ troubled friendships in their primary schools have warranted little serious attention from their teachers or other adults who perceive the ‘breaking’ and ‘making’ of friendship as an inevitable and almost a ‘natural’ and routine part of their daily classroom experiences that is over so quickly that intervention is unnecessary. The research is specifically concerned with the social significance of friendship and whilst the emotional aspects of friendship have been explored, the data from the research
suggests that friendship is not only a personal matter, but also one which is inherently social. Thus, friendship needs to be understood against a background of social and structural opportunities and constraints. Rosalyn was interested to uncover how girls from inner-city primary and secondary schools understood friendship and if their understanding shifted through changing contexts and circumstances. She was also interested in exploring how and why the girls within the friendship group invested the leader with so much power and the extent to which the girls resisted and subverted dominant discourses of femininity to create their own cultural space. The construction of a moral code within the group and how it was regulated by the leader and seemingly accepted without question by the rest of the group was explored. Rosalyn found that this control of the friendship group by the leader resulted in exclusionary practices and seeming betrayal by friends and led to what seemed a contradictory position, that of friend and that of bully to become conflated in the girls’ discussions. Increasing attention was paid to the phenomenon of changing relationships amongst these urban girls, following primary to secondary school transfer, where the issue of ‘race’ became a significant theme, emerging at this point in the girls’ schooling.
Rosalyn wanted to challenge the view that something that she knew to be complex and significant, was an unimportant and everyday occurrence. Her work was recently featured in the Education Guardian and on BBC Television and Radio. What has come about as a result of the media attention given to this ‘everyday occurrence’, has been a wealth of feedback from listeners, viewers and readers, including mothers and fathers, and it has become apparent that these complex issues resonate on an emotional level with many people. She says “There seems to be recognition by all these adults that in the social and emotional economy of the classroom these intense and destructive interactions become like wallpaper, always there but rarely noticed.” There have been national level initiatives in dealing with bullying, but these programmes fail to address the everyday low level disruption caused by girls’ behaviours. This invisibility of girls’ aggression puts teachers on shaky ground, with many feeling unable and unwilling to challenge or discipline behaviour that they have not witnessed. These young girls need to be encouraged to speak up and feel confident that their teachers will treat their concerns seriously and support them in challenging the emotional minefield that many of them have to negotiate on a daily basis.
3XFIVE
16 Your Shout
We quiz five former students on their favourite places and people and the hot topic of university funding
KEIR SIMMONS Keir (BA Media and Communications with Sociology, 1994) spent a year as President of the Students’ Union before embarking on a career in media. He has been at ITV News since 2004 and has reported on stories as diverse as the Asian tsunami and the London bombings.
ALAN FOX Alan (TCert, 1957) spent his teaching career in various environments including a primary school, charity boarding school and latterly running educational teams in psychiatric units. Now retired, he plays an active role in his community in Wiltshire with numerous voluntary roles.
Where did you spend most time on campus?
In the Students’ Union in my first year and the Library in my last year. But in my final year I lived on campus in a hall of residence, so if sleeping counts then I would have to say that was where I spent the most time on campus.
I was fortunate to spend three years at Loring Hall. The atmosphere was such a contrast to my days in the Royal Air Force - downstairs there were oak-panelled rooms overlooking a terrace beyond which was a Cedar of Lebanon tree, a grass tennis court and the College’s sports grounds. Though Loring Hall was sold in 1985, the name lives on in a hall of residence on the New Cross campus.
How do you feel about changes to Higher Education funding?
I’m worried that the ladder might be pulled up for people like me. I didn’t get a single A grade for GCSE or A-level and walked away from Goldsmiths with a First. That says something about what a great place it was. I hope it will continue to be the same alternative-thinking innovative hotbed of people who wouldn’t fit in anywhere else.
I understand why our governments in the recent past and now have been unable to comfortably fund such a large group of students compared with the relatively small percentage who attended university in the 1950s. I feel once pupils have left school they should gain life experiences for a year before taking the decision to take the path that leads to university.
Who was your favourite tutor?
I’m going to upset some people here, but if I’m not allowed to say all of them then I guess I would pick out James Curran, Tim Crook and Paul Gilroy. All of them took a special interest in helping me, for which I will be eternally grateful.
I met some memorable lecturers such as Rosie Carr (Geography), Bill Williams (PE) and ‘Poppa’ Bull (Geography and Loring Hall Warden). I was able to use the knowledge and skills they shared with me in my residential teaching posts in a rural centre and a boarding school for ‘maladjusted’ boys and then in psychiatric units for children and young people.
Your Shout 17
JUDY SMITH After leaving Goldsmiths, Judy (BA History, 1976 and PGCE, 1977) worked as a History teacher in London for more than three decades. Since her early retirement two years ago she has remained busy with her hobbies including gardening, yoga, visiting museums and tai chi.
RUSSELL PROFITT
HAN LI
Former President of the Students’ Union, Russell (BEd Education and Sociology, 1971) worked as a teacher before moving to local government. Now a consultant helping disadvantaged groups, he was awarded an MBE in 2009 for his services to the local community.
Han (MA Transnational Communications & Global Media, 2009) lives in Beijing and is a presenter and interviewer for a state-owned TV station. She will also soon be filming a documentary exploring the world’s ancient civilisations.
I was at Pentland House for my first year but spent a lot of time on campus at the Union coffee bar where Ike and Tina Turner were always on the jukebox with Nutbush City Limits. I also visited friends at Aberdeen Hall, then a men’s hall, where I met my husband at a Guy Fawkes party in my post-grad year.
In what was called the ‘mixed common room’ which doubled up as the Students’ Union Bar and was the hub of College social life. Lunchtimes would rarely pass without the loud banging of a dining tray against the stairs, followed by an announcement of an event such as a Disco that night in the Small Hall to be DJ’d by Sandy Evens or the Real Neil!
I spent most time in the College Library, especially when it came to the end of the term. I also visited the College café a lot to relax before my class and met my friends there. There were a lot of other places in London I loved, such as the BFI, where my friends would get together for great films and the forums that they hold there; and the West End, for theatre.
I feel really sad that the present generation of students don’t get the chances I had. I didn’t have to pay tuition fees and I got a partial grant. I had no money when I finished university but I didn’t have debts either. I know that, like many people my age, I wouldn’t have gone to university with the current funding situation and I fear it could lead to greater educational inequalities.
Until or unless we re-balance the national priorities between say defence and higher education, increasing numbers of lesser privileged young people – particularly those from multi-racial backgrounds such as mine – will continue to miss out on the great chance to develop their talents through the enlightening experience which higher education brings.
I think higher education should be open to as many people as possible. Anything that narrows the range of applicants can only be a bad thing. It is a shame particularly when highly qualified students are prevented from pursuing further education because of financial problems.
I think Dr Liam Smith (History) was probably my favourite lecturer he had a wicked sense of humour and called us all ‘Dear Hearts’. I remember he really didn’t agree with AJP Taylor and roared with laughter when asked by a fellow student if he was responsible for having the eminent historian classified as fiction in the College Library (he wasn’t!)
Possibly Jack Dash, the Dock strike leader who came in 1967. He related to us his tales of workers’ struggles against the rulers and bosses, as he strutted his stuff across the Great Hall stage. It was a masterclass on how to deliver a speech. Oratorical flourishes, timed gestures and genuine wit - we all sat listening awestruck and enraptured.
Chris Berry, Professor of Film and Television Studies. As a former film academy student, I was really interested in the analysis of a Western scholar, and he did provide a very interesting perspective. On top of that, I was impressed by his dedication in giving up his own time during the Christmas holiday to help with my essay plan!
18 Last Word
LIFE AFTER GOLDSMITHS They met dancing in the Common Room in 1956 and have been neighbours for over 40 years. Kingsley Gregory and Sue Wheeler (nee Thompson) tell us about their lifelong friendship Kingsley: “After being demobbed from my National Service in the RAF in June 1955 I commenced my teacher training course at Goldsmiths. I very much enjoyed those days, it was hard work but always great fun, including jiving in the Common Room! In my second year I met Sue and her future husband Jack and so began our friendship. My first teaching post was at a school in Bromley where Jack also joined the staff. In the following years I went back to further study, married my wife Barbara and then returned to teaching. We decided to look for a house nearer (but not too near!) the school where I had been appointed head of Geography and Geology. Only a few weeks after taking up our new residence, we were in our front garden when, lo and behold, Jack and Sue Wheeler walked by on the other side of the road. Not only had we moved into this road but so had they! Since then we have all enjoyed good years as close friends. I have never forgotten telephoning Sue
in the middle of the night when my wife went into labour - Sue immediately walked up the road in her pyjamas to look after our daughter so we could dash off to the hospital. Recently, Sue and I enjoyed coming to the House of Lords for a celebration with other former Goldsmiths College student teachers - they were great days.” Sue: “My two year primary teacher training course commenced in the Autumn of 1956 and I lived in Pentland House which was situated at Lee Green. Although our course studies did not coincide, I met Kingsley at one of the social events which took place in the Student Common Room. Reflecting on my time at Goldsmiths, the ethos of the College gave all the students independence and equality of opportunity. There was also great social interaction, as members of the student body came from many different parts of the United Kingdom and abroad. I was fortunate to meet my late
husband Jack there; he trained as a secondary schoolteacher - our mutual studies in History and Art bringing us together during our time at Goldsmiths. I retired from full-time teaching in 1998 having worked in the primary sector for over thirty years. I held the post of Deputy Headteacher at my last school, where I now serve on the Governing Body. Kingsley and my husband both taught at a school in Bromley during their early years of teaching, whilst sharing extra-
curricula interests in film-making and drama with the students. Several career and house moves later, with our young families we met once again, when we found we were neighbours living in the same road in Sanderstead, Surrey. This was in the late sixties and our two families have remained firm friends throughout our ‘post-Goldsmiths’ lives, sharing a range of happy and challenging memories together.”
THAT WAS THEN: THROUGH THE COLLEGE ARCHIVES 1940: During the Second World War, incendiary bombs set off a fire which destroyed much of the College including the Library (shown below). During a visit back to the devastated College a student remarked: “We stood awed for a few minutes before venturing over the rubble and
burnt rafters. The thing that really amazed us was the magnificence of the Great Hall. It still retained this even though its battle scars plainly bore witness to the ‘blitz’ it had endured. A cheering sight was the steel girders, lying ready for the rebuilding of the College.”
However, it took time to acquire the necessary labour and materials and it was not until 1945 that repair work began in earnest. During this phase, College life re-commenced as best it could. As the cartoon
above shows, it must have been difficult for those studying during the re-building phase! The College was officially re-opened on 15 May 1947 with a grand ceremony in the Great Hall.
Obituaries 19
OBITUARIES DANIEL COX Daniel Cox, who graduated in 2006 with a BA in English and History of Art, died in a tragic accident earlier this year after a collision with a lorry while cycling in East London. Dr Simon O’Sullivan, from the Department of Visual Cultures writes: “Dan was, without doubt, the most intellectually gifted student I have taught at Goldsmiths. He was the kind of individual who, when a class was asked to read a chapter of a book for the following week, would go away and read the whole book – and, in the MA seminar Dan audited with me, these were not easy readings! In fact, Dan exhibited the kind of ‘deep learning’ that one usually finds in people years older; a knowledge of incredible breadth but that was also detailed and precise. As if this wasn’t impressive enough Dan was also able to communicate with clarity, generosity and a kind of joie de vivre, the difficult ideas the rest of us were grappling with. It was a pleasure to have him in the seminar (if a little intimidating at times). So much for Dan’s intellectual prowess. He was also a very engaging and charismatic young man. He had a certain quirkiness coupled with a commitment and energy that, I think, is the mark of any truly remarkable mind. It was with shock and a tremendous amount of sadness that I heard about his untimely departure. It’s so difficult to make sense of this, of a life that was so singular and so obviously full of potential being cut short. That said. Dan’s was a life that shone very brightly indeed; a life that in many ways had already achieved so much. It was also a life that had an inspiring effect on all sorts of people, including myself. In fact, I suspect that Dan was not fully aware of the impact he made – and perhaps this was also part of who he was. I, along with all the staff of the Department of Visual Cultures, want to offer our sincere condolences to Dan’s family and friends in the loss of a very special individual.”
KARL D’CRUZ Karl D’Cruz, described by colleagues as a ‘formidable advocate of multifaith religious education’, died in August 2010. He will be remembered by many as President of the Students’ Union from 1970-71. Born in Uganda, he came to London initially to study for the Bar at Middle Temple, but moved to Goldsmiths in 1968, where he studied RE under Dr Brian Gates. He grew up in a Goan Catholic family in Zanzibar, a multi-ethnic, multi-faith community. This background, at a time of volatile political change, informed and influenced Karl’s outlook and work as a student and throughout his career. On leaving Goldsmiths, and following several years as an RE teacher in London, Karl became an advisory teacher and inspector in the Inner London Education Authority, working on the Agreed Syllabus for RE and the setting up of the RE Teachers Centre. After the abolition of the ILEA he served as an advisor and inspector in several London Boroughs including Lewisham, Greenwich and most recently Hackney. He helped to set up Standing Advisory Councils on Religious Education (SACREs), to advise and resource schools, and to work on agreed syllabuses with members of different faith groups. He was an active and passionate champion of locally determined RE, and the Hackney SACRE has shown recognition of this by setting up an annual lecture in Karl’s name. Karl worked with teachers to set up networks and subject support groups, and his in-service courses were regularly well attended. His friends remember him for his wry humour and his passionate commitment to multi-faith RE. Dr Gates wrote “it was evident that he was held in high regard by teachers, heads and advisors. Karl brought real distinction to the RE community. We have much to thank him for.” Karl is remembered and missed by his wife, Pauline, and their children, Matthew, Anna and Joe, by friends and colleagues, and members of the local faith communities with whom he worked throughout London and the UK.
ELISE (LISL) STEINER Lisl Steiner, who was on the staff of the Education Department at Goldsmiths from 1961 to 1984, died on 25 November 2010 aged 87. Lisl came to England from Vienna in 1938 while still a schoolgirl, without her family. The success with which she made this transition is reflected in the fact that by 1940 she was employed in a residential nursery for evacuated London children. After the war, Lisl qualified in Child Development at the University of London’s Institute of Education and in 1954 was appointed Warden of
the newly established Children’s Centre at the University of Leeds Institute of Education. She moved to Goldsmiths from Leeds in 1961 at a time of huge expansion in teacher education. The length of the teacher training course was increased from two to three years and the emphasis was on the training of teachers for primary schools and, in particular, the Infant and Nursery years. Lisl brought with her a wealth of knowledge and experience of the care and education of young children. As she herself recalled: “Life at Goldsmiths was never monotonous or boring! Changes were constantly on the agenda. When we were not faced with expansion or contraction in numbers, we were planning new courses.” During the late 1960s and early 1970s the Nursery/Infant Department developed into a distinguished Department of Early Childhood Education. Lisl’s leadership was a major factor in the Department’s significance both locally and nationally. Her unique contribution to early childhood education was inspirational and innovative in that it brought together generations of students, academics and practising teachers. After her retirement in 1984 Lisl maintained many warm friendships and a lively interest in the arts, politics and world affairs. She is greatly missed by all who have been privileged to share some part of her life.
MARGARET HAINES Margaret Haines (née Robinson) died on 7 November 2010, from motor neurone disease, aged 66. Margaret entered the College in 1962 and studied infant eduction and geography, gaining her Certificate in Education in 1965. She was a remarkable and dedicated teacher for 38 years, beginning at Tidemill School, Deptford, then La Sallette School, London Bridge and finally at St Joseph’s School, Borough High Street where she remained for 25 years until her retirement in 2003. Throughout this time her compassion for and understanding of the difficulties faced by those underprivileged and less fortunate made her teaching the more effective. She is survived by her husband Chris (also a Goldsmiths student, 1962-66), sons Julian and Robert, and six grandchildren.
MARTIN CARR Al Barclay writes “Martin attended Goldsmiths from 1956 to 1958 on the teacher training course and taught for much of his career at Cray Valley Technical College. He spent several years in the Army as a sergeant PE instructor. He was a larger-than-life character who was a heavyweight boxing champion in the Army and also the heavyweight amateur weightlifting champion of Surrey. Everyone knew Martin, who in view of his physical prowess was one of Mark James’s star pupils. For a man of his size he was remarkably agile. He was also a powerful swimmer and a great water polo player who could throw the ball from one end of the pool to the other and knock the opposing goalkeeper off his feet.”
JOSEP LLOBERA Stephen Nugent, Professor of Anthropology writes “Josep, an anthropologist, taught for many years in the Department of Sociology and following his retirement was a visiting professor in the Anthropology Department at UCL where he took his PhD in the 1970s. Josep rightly resisted pigeonholing for he had a broad view of anthropology and the human sciences. He was well known for his work on nationalism, for his work in historical anthropology and for his enthusiasm for anthropology as a critical social science. He had many friends, strong opinions, and a rigorous and humorous approach to life. For many of us, he was always an energetic and reliable presence and will be deeply missed.” We were also sorry to learn of the death of Mike Riley, a long-serving member of staff in the Department of Art. An obituary will be published in the next issue of Goldlink.
To see a full copy of the obituaries above please visit www.gold.ac.uk/alumni/Goldlink or contact the Alumni Office.