www.goodenough.ac.uk/alumni
3
A Home Away From Home As London House reopens following refurbishments, now seems an opportune time to look back on the building's history & the evolution of Goodenough
4
The Goodenough Community Goodenough Alumnus and Chair of the Advisory Council, RenĂŠ Weis chats to us about his memories of Goodenough and the future of the College
6
My Room, Your Room Alumna Donna Suruya-Sackman and current Member Pilar SotoAstorga swap stories about living in Willie G, room 5405
11
Ten Questions for Anni Rowland- Campbell, Goodenough Alumna and Founder of the Rowland Scholarship
Issue 19 Summer 2014
A Word from the Director Director Andrew Ritchie (centre) with Members (L-R) Ifigeneia Giannadaki, Mia Hunt and Nicholas Thompson with Rowan Hunt-Thompson, Lionel Nizigama, Polly PokLam Fung and John-Paul Muir. Welcome to a new look Goodenough News. Given the reopening of London House in the autumn and the revitalised feeling around College it seems appropriate that we are freshening up our Alumni communications. It is also the result of feedback from Alumni in our survey earlier this year. Alumni talked, we listened, and here is the result. Please don’t stop giving us feedback since we’re always looking to improve how we communicate with our community. Let me start by saying goodbye to Mark Lewis and hello to Shona Nicholson. Mark was the College’s first Director of Development & External Relations and did an enormous amount to lift our fundraising game and to reconnect with so many alumni around the world. Over the four years Mark was here Goodenough Alumni and others contributed more than £1 million to help support scholarships, buildings and student activities. Shona has been in post since January of this year and comes to us from Wadham College Oxford, where she was Deputy Development Director. Building on Mark’s pioneering work she has really hit the ground running. In addition to reviewing our publications she has already visited alumni in four countries and has launched our Annual Fund mailing to allow those who want to support the College to do so easily via post or online. The College staff are now only weeks away from moving back into London House in order to prepare for the arrival of 2
our new intake of students in September. We have all really missed the London House facilities and the activities that we associate with them, from Port Talks in the Churchill Room to croquet games on the quad, so it will be wonderful to be back. The past year has been challenging for the Members and staff alike, and I am hugely grateful for their patience and goodwill. Under the guidance of Roger Llewellyn and Caroline Persaud we have maintained a thriving community within William Goodenough House. It has been a tight squeeze but we have all got on surprisingly well, and indeed many of us have come to appreciate the charms of Willie G all the more. While the London House project has taken up much of my time this year, meeting Alumni in London and abroad has continued to be a high priority. I had a wonderful time meeting many members of our Alumni community during my visit to Canada in June and to Australia in July. The Alumni Reception on Friday 18 July is another highlight, and will this year provide a great opportunity for everyone to see the refurbished London House. In advance of its official reopening we will be running guided tours during the afternoon. I hope that many of you will be able to attend this event, and indeed to visit us whenever your travels bring you to London. You will always be assured of a warm welcome, and if you are able to email the Development Office in advance Shona’s team can have the coffee ready!
I am pleased to report that our fundraising activities have been going from strength to strength. Shortly after the publication of our last Goodenough News we received a marvellous matched donation of $400,000CAD from Alumnus Andrew Molson. Called the ‘Molson Challenge’ it guarantees to match every Canadian donation to our capital building project, up to an overall target of $800,000CAD. We are working closely with the London Goodenough Association of Canada to meet this exciting challenge. Meanwhile the Wolfson Foundation here in the UK has donated a further £45,000 to the College for the refurbishment of the muchloved Charles Parsons Library in London House (having already donated £100,000 towards the William Goodenough House project). Last but by no means least, and thanks to the generosity of our Alumni and the enthusiasm of our Member-callers, the 2013 Bright Futures telephone campaign raised a record total of £120,000, an increase of 10% on last year. This edition of Goodenough News contains many changes. We intend to profile people from all parts of the Goodenough community in future issues and we begin with our newly elected President of the Advisory Council and Alumnus Professor René Weis together with College member Setsabile Sibisi from Swaziland and Alumna Anni RowlandCampbell from Australia. We also have a new feature which connects current and past residents which is called ‘My Room, Your Room’; in this issue Pilar SotoAstorga and Donna Seruya-Sackman discuss living in the same room 30 years apart. Another fascinating addition is a ‘Lives Lived’ section where we celebrate two Alumni who were distinguished Professors of English Literature, Charles Forker and Ross Woodman. I leave you with the Development Office’s new slogan ‘I am Goodenough’. It is a lighthearted way of reminding all sections of the College community about the exceptional nature of our institution. Competition for places at the College remains high, so students really do need to be good enough to secure entry. As Alumni you already know you’re Goodenough. Let us continue to celebrate that fact as we look to the future with confidence. Goodenough News Summer 2014
A Home Away from Home Evolution of London House and the Goodenough Community
View of the London House Quad, 2012 and 1950. While the London House building itself did not open until 1937, a vision for it had been in place for some time. In a letter dated 1930 to the Lord Mayor of London, Prime Minister J. Ramsay Macdonald noted the lack of collegiate residential halls for students in London. The Prime Minister wrote that “without such a home the student’s road is indeed a hard one.” He continued: “Any of us who were once newcomers to London will remember the oppression of the spirit that lies in wait for the man without family or friends to hand […] In ‘London House’ not only will reasonable comfort be secured to him, important and difficult as this is to provide for students who more often than not are pursuing their course on very narrow means, but also he will find what is perhaps the greatest of all benefits that a University education in the full sense can bring - the widening and livening of intellect, growth of character […] and from those, friendships that may well be the closest of a lifetime.” The rooms of London House have been well-used over the years. Dining, conferences, balls and other special www.goodenough.ac.uk/alumni
events have been held in the Great Hall, described in a 1945 Country Life article as having a “spacious dignity yet homeliness.” The Charles Parsons Library has always been a popular workspace, described in the same article as a “room inviting reflection and study” - though occasionally this role may have slipped; a London House Ball invitation c. 1950 promised a “First Class Buffet in the Library” and “Drinking in the Large Common Room,” as well as “Dancing and general merriment from nine to one.”
In 1937, in his ‘Address of Welcome to Her Majesty Queen Mary’, William Goodenough remarked, “The aim is to provide students not only with a home which is comfortable and reasonably cheap, but also, through the common Membership of this foundation, with associations which they will value for the whole of their lives.” This is especially true of one of the Square’s youngest residents, Rowan HuntThompson, (see photo on page 2) since his middle name is Mecklenburgh!
This atmosphere of ‘general merriment’ is an original feature of the College which has not had to undergo rejuvenation or restoration. It is one of the most enduring characteristics of the College and one which makes Goodenough so special. The College has a longstanding commitment to nurturing community spirit through intellectual debate, the facilitation of friendships and through a stimulating events calendar. As current Member Lionel Nizigama (Burundi), recipient of the first Rowland Scholarship, says ‘Goodenough College is exciting! You constantly discover your ‘trueself’ as you get involved in different activities organised by the College’.
Now 77 years on and after necessary refurbishment, we prepare for the reopening of London House. Some things have changed since that time, such as the admission of women, the welcoming of families, and of students from around the world, not just the Dominions, to Goodenough College. But other things, such as the formation of friendships and intellectual engagement (and the challenges of construction), have not.
Talk to any Member or Alumni of the College and Lionel’s sentiments will be evoked in some manner or another. The College truly has remained in touch with its original goal to provide a warm and inviting home in London for students from all over the world. In 1954 the construction of William Goodenough House commenced; it’s opening, in January 1957 by Queen Elizabeth, marked the admission of women to the College and the ability to accommodate up to 12 families, in the purpose built family accommodation. The Goodenough Community as we know it was beginning to find its form. For many residents Mecklenburgh Square is a home away from home.
Appeal for subscriptions to The Lord Mayor's Fund for the construction of Willie G, published in Punch, 1950. 3
René spoke of how he is keen to see the refurbished Great Hall restored as the hub of College interactions. According to him, “It is the place where the College community is solidified and friendships are cultivated”. For him, the buildings, location and facilities of the College are truly one of the biggest assets and a feature that sets Goodenough apart from other residences in the city. As René says, “There is no place like Goodenough College in London, or in fact in any other European city.”
The Goodenough Community René Weis
He is looking forward to his new role as President and also meeting Alumni and Members at College events.
Professor René Weis, President of the Advisory Council Goodenough College is happy to announce that Professor René Weis (LH 1979-81) was appointed as President of the Advisory Council on 13 October 2013. René came to Goodenough in 1979 after being recommended by a friend. He had no prior knowledge of the College and an initial visit made a distinct impression. “What struck me most about the College was the strong ethos of community and respect for all, which has become synonymous with the Goodenough name. It is this which makes the College a tremendously special place.” According to René, he made some great friends whilst living in London House and remained in close touch with the late Ross Woodman, until his recent death 4
René believes that it’s the sense of the international community that is at the core of the College. He also thinks that it’s important to cultivate the College’s unique links with the Royal Family, especially given the Commonwealth connection being in the blood of the history of Goodenough College. In looking to the future René said ‘It’s important that we develop bursaries and scholarships so as to maintain the College ethos and to ensure that it is true to its mission of inclusivity and remains accessible to all.”
"What struck me most about the College was the strong ethos of community … It is this which makes the College a tremendously special place" in March 2014. (René has authored a special article about Ross in the 'Lives Lived' section on page 10). René spoke to the Development Office about his memories of his time at Goodenough. He particularly remembers the cleaning lady “Dolly” from Islington and of time spent in the Great Hall. “The Great Hall is a unique asset. The role that it played, and will continue to play, in bringing a worldwide community and the College together is very special. There is nothing else like it in London.”
René Weis is a Professor of English Literature at University College London (UCL) where he has taught for many years. He is a Shakespearian scholar and has edited notable editions of King Lear, Henry IV Part 2, and most recently Romeo and Juliet. He has also edited the plays of John Webster and is the author of Shakespeare Revealed: A Biography, and of Criminal Justice: The True Story of Edith Thompson. His book The Yellow Cross: The Story of the Last Cathars has been translated into seven languages. In 2009 he was awarded a three-year Major Leverhulme Trust Research Fellowship for a book on the genesis of Verdi’s opera La Traviata. He is also the University of London Trustee of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.
Goodenough News Summer 2014
Giving to Goodenough Mailing Campaign 2014 We recently sent out a letter to Alumni asking for support for the Goodenough Annual Fund. Gifts to the Goodenough Annual Fund will help us to refurbish public rooms within the current restoration of London House, increase our bursaries and scholarships and also ensure that we continue to provide a diverse extracurricular programme. We look forward to bringing you an update on this appeal in the next edition of Goodenough News.
Canadians break $1 (CAD) million mark The 2014-2015 year will be the 25th year of the London Goodenough Association of Canada (LGAC) Scholarship Program. It gives the College great pleasure to announce that the LGAC have reached the $1M (CAD) mark for total scholarships awarded to Goodenough. This translates as over 190 fully funded places at the College, for Canadian nationals, since 1990. Thanks to the LGAC Scholarship Program, Canada and the LGAC have made a very real contribution to the College in terms of the significant number of Canadian postgraduates who have spent time on The Square. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the LGAC and our generous Canadian donors, for their invaluable support and for the enhancement of the Goodenough Community, which these scholarships inevitably bring.
Legacies We are truly grateful to Alumni and Friends who have already chosen to remember Goodenough College in their will, and if you are considering this type of gift, thank you. Every gift of every size will make a real difference. We would be delighted to hear from you if you have already included Goodenough in your will or if you are considering a gift, Please contact Shona Nicholson, Director of Development at www.goodenough.ac.uk/alumni
Bright Futures Telephone Campaign 2013 The College is incredibly grateful for the support and generosity of Alumni in supporting our telethon last November. Members working on the fourth Bright Futures telephone campaign raised £120,000 towards College priorities- the highest result to date. Bright Futures continues not only to raise vital funds for the College, but also to reconnect our global Alumni community and provide an invaluable experience for our Members (pictured here). Shona.Nicholson@goodenough.ac.uk or by phone at +44 207 520 1530. You can also go to our website for more information about leaving a legacy to Goodenough and sample wording please visit www.goodenough.ac.uk/legacygiving
Room Naming - Every Room Tells a Story Your time living in London House or William Goodenough House was special. The friendships, the international community, the beautiful surroundings and, of course, London itself, all combined to make the experience so very memorable. Now you can mark those experiences by naming a room in London House or William Goodenough House. In doing so, your generosity will help ensure that future generations can experience the same life-changing opportunity. The tradition of naming rooms has been reintroduced, to provide a direct and meaningful way of associating with and supporting the College. All the funds raised through the room naming
programme will go towards the current refurbishment of the College. For more information please contact Salima Izagaren on Salima.Izagaren@goodenough.ac.uk or visit www.goodenough.ac.uk/roomnaming
Leavers' Gift 2014 The Gift was presented to the College at the Leavers’ Party on Wednesday 18th July by this year’s Leavers’ Gift Committee: Yukiko Kawamoto, Africa Sheppard and Valeria Valotto. Despite having only half the number of Members this year, due to the closure of London House, this year’s Gift exceeds the 2013 Gift by £200. The participation rate reached 58% which is approximately 28% more than last year and the highest it has ever been to date! It is wonderful to see a culture of giving back to future Members grow so immensely over recent years. We look forward to updating you on club and society activities that will soon benefit from our Members’ generosity. An image of the 2014 Leavers' Gift party is shown on the cover of this edition of Goodenough News. 5
My Room, Your Room
Donna Seruya-Sackman, Alumna (Willie G 1979-82) and Pilar Soto-Astorga, current Member It’s been 32 years since Donna SeruyaSackman (Law) was in room 5405 on the third floor of Willie G. As she walks in to greet Pilar Soto-Astorga (Bioengineering), she notes the different layout of the current Member’s single en-suite: ‘There was no en-suite when I was here, just a basin in a cupboard, and the front door was in the middle of the room where the bathroom is now.’ Indeed, the basic arrangement of the room has been updated as part of the major refurbishment programme in 2011/12 to meet modern standards, yet 6
‘the room still feels the same’ says Donna. ‘I loved the social life here, going to the theatre and museums and being able to walk to so many places in London. Goodenough really is London’s best kept secret. I had such a stimulating time here and made so many lifelong friendships.”
not simply where I have been sleeping whilst studying for my PhD. Living at the College for the past two years has given me the privilege of meeting bright and diverse Members from all over the world. I have made memories here which I will carry with me forever.’
It’s easy to see from Pilar’s heavily adorned wall and cluttered desk that this hasn’t changed much; among her chunky books on Bioengineering are postcards and photos illustrating the fond memories she has gathered since becoming a College resident. ‘This is
Donna and Pilar, chatting in their native Spanish, swap stories about their experiences at Goodenough. They stand by the window overlooking the tennis court, on Mecklenburgh Square both noting the stunning view they shared from this room. Donna adds “I was a very keen Goodenough News Summer 2014
Donna shows Pilar a photograph of herself in the room back in the 1970s, and adds how she was the first female resident from Gibraltar ‘Things were different in those days. I arrived in London with an envelope of cash to last me the term and no mobile phone! I had nowhere to stay, so I went into Willie G, on recommendation, and I said to the Warden “I know the College has a quota for each country, I can make up the quota for Gibraltar”. That was pretty much it!’. ‘Returning to my old room is quite emotional’ says Donna ‘I have so many happy memories’.
The picture of Donna in the room from the 1970’s tennis player then!” It’s no coincidence though, that their experiences of life here are so similar. Donna tells Pilar that two of her daughters were also Members. ‘I made sure that Sarah and Paloma chose to stay in Willie G. Although London House is a great building and I loved getting to know different people over breakfasts and dinners in the Great Hall, I wanted my daughters to experience a real community life - the girls had a wonderful time. My youngest daughter Claire, following the family tradition, is moving to Willie G in September, and is looking forward to playing tennis just as I did.’ Donna added that her daughters' experiences were probably even more socially and culturally enriching because Members in her day weren’t as organised. ‘There are so many interesting societies and faculty dinners and even a Jewish Society that encourages such a variety of interfaith communal events’. Pilar replied, ‘I am part of the Music and Hiking Societies, to name a few, the work and dedication that go into events here are truly what make Goodenough such a remarkable place’. www.goodenough.ac.uk/alumni
Both agree that their experiences in Willie G and Goodenough are remarkable and life changing. Pilar says ‘living in my current room has given me the space I needed for study, to relax with a great view to the garden and a periodic visit of pigeons and… a squirrel! My time in the College has been an excellent experience, and I will carry its memories, vision, and friends for the rest of my life’. Donna Seruya-Sackman is delighted to participate in the Room Naming Programme. For more information on this please see page 5.
Conferences in a London Square Is your office looking for a conference venue in London? Are you considering venues for a wedding or a party? The reopening of London House in September means that Goodenough College will once again be available for conferencing and venue hire – this time with new and improved facilities. Cosmetic work has been carried out in all the function rooms whilst ensuring that all still maintain their individual character and charm. The Great Hall is our largest room and by far the grandest. With its high vaulted ceilings and oak panelled walls this is a unique space for any event – from product launches to conferences, informal buffets to formal sit down dinners. We have also created a new meeting room “Seminar Room 1” (which used to be the old media room, next door to the Think Tank – which has also been upgraded to ”Seminar Room 2”). Both these new rooms are perfect for smaller meetings or breakout sessions. Of course we love to see familiar faces back in the College so if you have a meeting, dinner or even a wedding to plan then please do contact us. We are also offering a 10% discount on room hire exclusively for our Alumni booking meetings and events to take place between 15 September and 17 October 2014 inclusive. We will also be running further offers and incentives later in the year so do keep your eyes peeled in future issues of The Goods, Goodenough News, and on our new website www.events.goodenough.ac.uk.
Pilar sitting down next to the photograph of Donna
For further details of our rooms, facilities and catering options, please contact Fiona Sedgwick on +44 (0)20 7520 1555 or Fiona.Sedgwick@goodenough.ac.uk
7
Meet a Member
Setsabile Sibisi (Member, WGH)
Home country: Swaziland (Southern Africa) I am studying: MA International Journalism I am studying at: City University, London Goodenough was recommended by my sponsor as an ideal place to live whilst in the UK and after going through the College’s website, I fell in love with it, particularly the fountain and the garden. It seemed like the perfect place to be away from home. Studying at Goodenough is a global experience. Everyone shares and champions their countries and you learn so much that you feel you have been to the places discussed. I am studying International Journalism, so being exposed to the community
8
at Goodenough gives me a better understanding of issues and affords me new challenges on how to better tell the story. London is expensive but I love every bit of it. I walk about with a dazed smile and everything is just amazing from the transport system to the vast history of the city. I love the hustle and bustle; something is always happening on each day and for a journalist like me, there is no better place than being in London, the media hub of the world.
Goodenough News Summer 2014
Alumni
1. Founder's Day Durban 2. Royce Poinsett 3. Miaomiao Yu 4. Founder's Day Toronto 5. John Kelly - Exhibition piece 6. Theo Milonopoulos 7. Professor Ankhi Mukherjee 8. Founder's Day Phoenix 9. Professor Robin Clark 10. Founder's Day Ottawa
2
3
1
5 6
4
8
9
7
10
Alumni Updates Events Founder’s Day events in October 2013 ten of our Alumni Ambassadors around the world held events to celebrate the founding of the College. Reunions were held in Durban, Istanbul; Mexico City; Dhaka, Bangladesh, Toronto Ottawa, New York and Phoenix. Founder's Day is celebrated on 4 October. If you are interested in holding an event in 2014, please email Sarah Hansen on alumni@goodenough.ac.uk Updates Professor Robin Clark FRS (LH 1958-61) attended the American Philosophical Society’s Spring meeting in Philadelphia to be formally inducted therein, having been elected an International Member in 2010.
John Kelly (LH 1996-97) recently held an exhibition at the Australian Galleries in Melbourne ‘From under my mother’s bed’ which showcased John Kelly’s witty and extensive limited edition works on paper, from his renowned etchings of ‘Dobell’s cows’ to the Nolan inspired ‘Moonboy’ series, consolidated and retained since the 1990’s. Royce Poinsett (LH 1994-95 and 1997), a government relations attorney at the Austin, Texas office of Baker Botts L.L.P., has been elected President of the Board of Directors of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Austin and Central Texas. Theo Milonopoulos (LH 2011-12) is running to succeed Representative Henry Waxman in California’s 33rd District in US Congress.
Theo is on sabbatical leave from Columbia University, where he is pursuing a doctorate in political science. Professor Ankhi Mukherjee (LH 1998-2000) is Associate Professor and Tutorial Fellow at Wadham College, Oxford and has recently published her second book What is a Classic? Postcolonial Rewriting and Invention of the Canon (Stanford University Press, 2013). Miaomiao Yu (LH 2001-05) is the founder of the concert series Bach to Baby, an innovative series designed to give babies and young children the chance to hear and explore live instruments up close, during their early years development.
To read more about the above Alumni updates, and updates from other Alumni, please visit www.goodenough.ac.uk/news-alumni www.goodenough.ac.uk/alumni
9
Lives Lived Professor Charles R. Forker (1927-2014) amongst other things, he seems to have possessed one of the largest bow tie collections in the West.
Professor Charles Forker (LH 1953-55) was perhaps best known as an editor of scholarly editions and for his interests in the English history play and Jacobean revenge tragedy. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Charles was educated at Bowdoin College (BA). To his closest friends he was known affectionately as ‘Charlemagne’ and,
Charles was naturally inclined to kindness and genuine warmth, he appreciated life’s ironies and its humor, and he loved to unleash his wonderful infectious laugh. Of all the people I have known, Charles was the one who was most often hell-bent on fun. But Charles was also hell-bent on astute and erudite conversation, on excellent teaching, on improving our collective understanding of early modern dramatic literature, and, not least of all, on the maintenance of decency and fair treatment for all those with whom he came into contact.
faculty at Indiana University in the late 1970s for whom a newly-founded chapter of Integrity (a national LGBTQ organization) provided a significant social and intellectual role during a time when any allusion to issues of sexual identity was certain to unleash flaming antagonism. However, realising the importance of Integrity, Charles publicly supported its creation and maintenance, a conviction that placed him in the way of incredible opposition, both personally and professionally. So finally, the Charles I knew was hell-bent on many things, but decency was always in the forefront, one of his many virtues that will doubtless be remembered with admiration by devoted friends and colleagues.
This latter characteristic was witnessed first-hand by the many students and
Professor Susan Cerasano Colgate University
Professor Ross Greig Woodman (1922-2014) the time was engaged in groundbreaking research on the Romantic poet William Blake. Ross inherited Frye’s love of English Romanticism, and he in turn became a leading authority on Blake and his fellow Romantics.
Professor Ross Woodman, member of Goodenough College (LH 19781979), died peacefully in his home in London, Ontario, on Thursday, 20 March, 2014. He was 91 years old and is survived by his wife Marion (née Boa). During the Second World War Ross served in the Pacific in the Royal Canadian Air Force. He subsequently received his PhD from the University of Toronto where he was a stellar student of Canada’s most renowned intellectual, Northrop Frye, who at 10
For Ross literature was not so much an academic subject as a way of life. His first class ever was a on a cold winter’s morning in a hangar in deepest Manitoba right after the war. Most of the young men were still in uniform, as was Ross. He walked in with a second hand copy of Oedpius Rex by Sophocles and announced ‘What’s in here (meaning the Greek tragedy) is more real than what we have just been through.’ He meant it, and by the time he had finished teaching, his class were all with him. I never met anyone to whom literature was so tangibly real. His recall of poetry was inspirational. He would recite reams of Shakespeare
and Blake by heart, as if to do so were as natural as breathing. His near phenomenal memory stayed with him to the end. Ross Woodman taught Romantic literature in the Department of English at the University of Western Ontario for nearly forty years. He was revered as a teacher and scholar. He retired from Western in 1989, and in 1993 he received the Distinguished Scholar Award from the Keats-Shelley Association of America. Ross was kind and generous to a fault and will be deeply missed by all who knew him. My own meeting with him in the Great Hall, at dinner one night in 1978, changed the course of my research and probably the course of my life. Professor René Weis (LH 1979-81) President of the Advisory Council Professor of English at UCL Goodenough News Summer 2014
Ten Questions for … Anni RowlandCampbell Alumna (WGH 1985/87) and Founder of the Rowland Scholarship for Goodenough College
1
What is your most notable memory of Goodenough? That’s a tough one … every day was memorable! In order of preference – breakfast table conversations with people from lots of different countries about major world events – i.e. South Africans discussing apartheid, Brits discussing Margaret Thatcher and Arthur Scargill, Americans talking about Reagan, talk of trips to Russia and Europe and up to the Burn. Endless cups of coffee sitting in friends’ rooms, hours of conversations sitting in the Square gardens … and … oh yes! the permanent shredded carrot at every London House dining room meal! Also the London House Ball which was great fun.
2
What do you think draws people to Goodenough? Initially I don’t think people have the faintest idea why they are coming until they get there (unless they’ve sublet or slept on someone’s floor)! Most people come through recommendations of others – and they make the recommendations because their Goodenough experience quite literally changed their lives.
3
What advice would you give to people coming to Goodenough for the first time? Be open to everything, don’t ever discount anything or anyone, and make
www.goodenough.ac.uk/alumni
the most of every minute of every day … and every experience. Get involved in as much as you can but also just take the time to reflect and breathe it all in.
between “doing” and “being” … the latter is just as important as the former. I am very lucky in that I work for myself and have done for most of my career.
4
7
What was your favourite thing about living in London? London – it is one of the world’s greatest cities. Walking everywhere, the theatre, restaurants, and lovely cold, grey weather! But … when the sun shines, wow!
5
What are you up to at the moment?
I run our Family Foundation as well as work with the Web Science Trust at the University of Southampton which is charged with developing and protecting the World Wide Web. I am also renovating my house, and travelling to catch up with my London House friends as much as possible.
6
What is a typical day like for you?
I get up and check my emails, many of which come from around the world, and the news. I generally work in the morning, writing and researching, contacting people related to projects I’m involved in. Then I walk to my local café by the marina and have some lunch with my dog. In the afternoons I generally go for an ocean swim, or take the dog for another walk. My life is very full but also I have worked hard over the years to achieve a balance
What are you hobbies? I don’t have hobbies … I work at what I love, so I am able to integrate my interests with my work. I write, I swim, I go kayaking, I go to the theatre and love music and the arts … and I work in all of these things as well.
8
What achievement are you most proud of and why? My most wonderful achievements are my two children of whom I am extremely proud. I love my work and the things I have achieved in it as well.
9
If you had to give advice to your 24 year old self, what would it be? Have faith and don’t worry … “the universe will provide”. Things always work out as they are meant to, and you can only do what you can with what you have available. If you are open and honest to yourself the future will take care of itself.
10
Describe Goodenough in one word. Sorry … needs two … ”life-changing”.
11
We fully appreciate that not everyone wants to tell us about their intention to leave a legacy to the College. However, if you do inform us, it will help us plan for the future and we will treat this information in absolute confidence and respect.
FAQs How do I update my details? You can update your details by returning the enclosed Keep in Touch Form or by completing an online version on the website www.goodenough.ac.uk/ keep-in-touch
How do I make contact with an old friend from the College? If you wish to make contact with an old friend from your time at Goodenough, the Development team are on hand to help. Simply send an email to alumni@goodenough.ac.uk with the details of the person you wish to reconnect with and we will forward your request to them.
Can I visit the College? Of course! We love to see familiar faces and to welcome back old friends, Alumni and their family and friends are welcome back to the College at any time. At the moment the Development team are located in William Goodenough House (please ask for us at Reception) but we shall soon be returning back to London House, and will be located next to Freddies. Please do drop by and ‘hello’ whenever you are in town.
How do I book accommodation? If you are visiting London and would like to stay at the College we have a number of options available to Alumni. These include sublets, short stays, sabbatical accommodation and of course we offer excellent discounted rates at the Goodenough Club. For more information please visit www.goodenough.ac.uk/ accommodation-for-alumni Now on Twitter. Follow the tweets @Goodenoughc for the latest news
12
I want to become more involved with the International Alumni Community. How can I do this? We have several Alumni Ambassadors around the globe who act as Representatives and organise events for fellow Alumni on behalf of the College. If you’re keen to help out in your area and interested in becoming an Ambassador for Goodenough, please email us on alumni@goodenough.ac.uk - it would be wonderful to hear from you.
How do I organise an event in my area? Goodenough College has an international network of over 13,000 Alumni across the globe and so we are always delighted to hear from anyone who wishes to hold an event in their local area for an Alumni get-together. Please email alumni@goodenough.ac.uk with your idea. The Development team will direct you to your local Alumni Ambassador and work with you to get the word out to fellow Alumni.
How do I leave a legacy gift in my will? Leaving a bequest (legacy) is a wonderful way to support the College. No matter how large or small, all legacy gifts are invaluable in helping to ensure we can provide future generations with the unique experience of being part of Goodenough College. There are many ways in which you can include Goodenough College in your will. We can provide some suggested wording for you however we strongly advise you to seek professional advice in your own country as tax and estate legislation varies.
For more information about legacy giving please email Shona Nicholson (Director of Development & External Relations) Shona.Nicholson@goodenough.ac.uk
I know someone coming to the UK to study. How do I put them in touch? We are now taking online applications for 2014 entry, so if you know someone who is coming to study in the UK and you think they might be interested in coming to Goodenough, please direct them to our online application portal www.goodenough.ac.uk/join-us
Development & External Relations Emma Beynon Marketing & Communications Manager Emma.Beynon@goodenough.ac.uk +44 (0)20 7520 1546 Kendall Collett Development Assistant Kendall.Collett@goodenough.ac.uk +44 (0)20 7520 1558 Sonia Duckett Data & Information Manager Sonia.Duckett@goodenough.ac.uk +44 (0)20 7520 1532 Sarah Hansen Alumni Relations Manager Sarah.Hansen@goodenough.ac.uk +44 (0)20 7520 1531 Salima Izagaren Development Officer Salima.Izagaren@goodenough.ac.uk +44 (0)20 7520 1537 Shona Nicholson Director of Development & External Relations Shona.Nicholson@goodenough.ac.uk +44 (0)20 7520 1530
Sign up to the LinkedIn group Goodenough College Members and Alumni and connect with fellow Alumni and current Members of the College
Facebook Like the page Goodenough Alumni
Goodenough News Summer 2014