The Pembrokian News from the Development Office, Pembroke College, Oxford December 2002 Issue No.20
Pembroke Welcomes New Bursar, John Church, but Sadly Bids 'Farewell' to our Porter Fez, who died suddenly in November Further Details on Page 2
Inside the Pembrokian P2 Brian Ferriday (Fez) P2 John Church, Our New Bursar Currently a Senior Executive with Barclays Bank, John Church joins us in April 2003.
P2 Leverhulme Prize Winner Ben Davis, one of our chemistry Fellows, is one of two Oxford scientists to win
P3 Oxford MBAs Win Top Prize Justin Fry (2001)
P4-5 Sukhumbhand Paribatra (1971) A Member of the Thai Parliament, this Pembrokian was caught up in a hostage situation in 1999
PS
Photographs Available Years 1965, 1973 & 1974
P6-7 Recent Development Office Events Society Dinner, Activity Day and Golf against St. Catz
P8-9 Society Dinner Speech Janet Mills (1981)
P I 0 Pembrokian Profile Francis Roads (1961)
P11 Bredin Travel Prize 2001 Charlotte Target (1999)
P12 Pembroke Merchandise P12 Diary Dates New date for Business and Media Receptions
P12 Contact Information 1
Fez real name Brian Ferriday)
Fez with Dr Savile Bradbury (left) in January 2001 It is with great sadness that we have to report the sudden death of our porter, Fez, in November following a severe stroke. This came as a great shock to all, particularly those who had seen him on duty at Pembroke a couple of days before and described him as being 'as bright as a button' that day. Fez had been a Pembroke porter since March 1998 and with his cheerfulness, kindness and sense of fun, soon found his way into everyone's hearts. He would tell how, soon after he started at Pembroke,
New Bursar Appointed John Church (photo on front page), currently a senior executive with Barclays Bank, has been appointed as the new Bursar of the College. He will have overall responsibility for the financial affairs of the College and all non-academic administration. Mr Church has also been elected a Fellow of Pembroke. His appointment and election are with effect from 1 April 2003. Dr Ray Rook will remain Bursar of the College until Mr Church takes up his position at the beginning of April, although Mr Church will be spending the first three weeks of March in the College working informally alongside Dr Rook. A graduate of Cambridge University, John Church joined the Barclays Group from St Catherine's College, where he read Modern Languages (French and Spanish). He has undertaken a wide variety of roles in retail, private clients and corporate banking, in the UK and internationally. After completing an Executive Program at the Harvard Business School, he was appointed Chief Operating Officer of Barclays Private Banking and went on to be Managing Director of three different businesses: Offshore Services, Premier Banking, and most recently Barclays France, where the Bank has 40 branches. John and his wife Jo have two grown-up sons.
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a man rang asking to park at the College for the afternoon, claiming to be Michael Heseltine. Fez replied "Yeah, and I'm Batman!" and put the phone down. Michael Heseltine (1951) duly arrived soon afterwards and joked to a very apologetic Fez that he did not look like Batman. Fez was a real personality and a firm favourite with current and recent students. He was often on duty during Development Office events and loved having his photograph taken. Fez spent his time travelling to and from Oxford and Blackpool, where he lived with his wife (his colleagues in the porters' lodge affectionately called him 'The Blackpool Flyer'). His funeral took place in the Damon Wells Chapel at Pembroke on Friday 22nd November, with around eighty of the congregation seated in Broadgates Hall due to the vast numbers of undergraduates, graduates, Fellows, staff and other friends (as well as family) wishing to pay their respects. Donations have been received at the Accounts Office, to fulfil the wishes of Fez's family that a bench be bought for Pembroke in memory of him.
Pembroke Fellow Wins Leverhulme Prize Ben Davis is one of two Oxford scientists among the 24 winners of Philip Leverhulme Prizes for 2002. The prizes are awarded to those believed to be the best young academics in Britain. Ben received the prize "For his development of novel strategies for synthesising desired complexes of carbohydrates and proteins, a challenging but important area of contemporary chemical biology that required considerable site selectivity and control during the synthesis. Dr Davis' work has huge potential in the development of novel therapeutic applications, for example, carbohydratemediated targeted drug delivery and novel anti-biotic strategies."
Award Winning Gardens The Oxford Times edition of Friday August 16th 2002, lists the prizes awarded for Floral Displays by Universities and Colleges. Although gold went to Merton and one silver award to Lincoln, silver also went to RC Markham of Pembroke College. This was quite a feat by our gardener, Richard, when you consider that the College had a garnish of scaffolding at the time!
Oxford MBAs Win Top Prize for International Finance Project Justin Fry (Pembroke - 2001), Ted Furniss (Magdalen) and Jonathan Tetrault (Linacre) have won the top MBA prize for their summer consulting project in Montreal. As part of the MBA at Oxford's Said Business School, students must complete a 2 month team project and for their project Justin, Ted and Jonathan decided to work together on an international finance project. Centre Financier International Montreal (CFIM) commissioned the three Oxford MBAs to produce a feasibility study examining how CFIM could attract more investment banks to Montreal. The team spent the summer in Montreal meeting existing Montreal-based investment banks and interviewing senior managers in Europe, the USA and Canada. Oxford alumni were particularly helpful, including former Pembrokian Mr. Ian Cormack (former Chairman of Citigroup Europe), Mr. Jeremy Sillem Chairman of Bear, Stearns International in London (Brasenose) and Mr. John Zealey Partner at Accenture (St. Johns). The Oxford team presented an interim report in July and their final findings and recommendations
Mr. Andre Peloquin, Counsellor-Finance, The Quebec Government Office (London), Justin Fry (Pembroke), Jonathan Tetrault (Linacre), Ted Furniss (Magdalen) and Dee Broquard (Projects Manager, Said Business School) to the board members of CFIM in late August. In recognition of their work Justin, Ted and Jonathan were invited to meet the Prime Minister of Quebec at a dinner at Mansion House in the City in October. As the main prize of the MBA program their namewill be engraved on a silver salver which is on display in the library of the business school, the prize is sponsored by Electrocomponents PLC.
Pembrokian Chairs U. S. Senate Committee Next month, Senator Richard Lugar (1954) becomes chairman of the U. S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Another famous American Pembrokian, Senator William Fulbright (1925), had served as chairman of this committee also. Senator Lugar was
also honoured recently by the World Affairs Council of Boston, who gave him the Christian Herter Award (named after the former Massachusetts governor and U. S. Secretary of State) for his outstanding achievements in U. S. foreign relations.
Pembroke College Foundation Lives Again! In the 1980s Sir Roger Bannister encouraged the formation of a North American alumni organization. They produced a periodic newsletter and helped organize reunions, both at Pembroke and in America. Sir Roger's successor as Master, Robert Stevens, chose to coordinate all alumni and development efforts in College and, accordingly, the North American organization was suspended. However, with the full support of new Master, Giles Henderson, the Pembroke College Foundation, under President Tom Herman (1971) and Chairman Senator Richard Lugar (1954), is back. The Master visited Pembroke alumni in North America last spring, when receptions were held by Damon Wells (1961) and Terry Slesinski-Wykowski (1982) in Houston, Revan Tranter (1954) in San Francisco, Bob Long (1980) in Washington and
Jim Hester (1947) in New York. Those we know to be residing in America will have received the first 'American Pembrokian' newsletter for several years a couple of months ago. Please let us know if you have been missed out.
Great Birds of Pembroke Professor Steven Duck (1965) was particularly interested in the Eights week news from the last issue of the Pembrokian. He e-mailed to say "I saw in the latest Pembrokian that Abigail Chicken was one of Pembroke's coxes this year 35 years ago I had that honour and wonder how many other colleges can lay claim to a Chicken and a Duck amongst the cox(es)."
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Into the heart of ...Sukhumbhand from an original article by Lance Woodruff Pembroke old boy, Sukhumbhand Paribatra (1971), squinted towards the setting sun - and an equally sinking fuel indicator - as the Thai Army helicopter carried him over the jungle towards Burma. The muzzle of an old M-16 automatic rifle was pointing at his temple, another ragtag revolutionist sat at his feet, perhaps 36 hours without sleep, holding a hand grenade. Early on October 2, 1999 Acting Foreign Minister Sukhumbhand had dressed for work in a tailored suit. The Cabinet meeting was trying to resolve the problem of the hostages in the Burmese Embassy. When Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai called for a volunteer, Sukhumbhand looked round the room. He did not exactly volunteer but, as he says, "There wasn't anyone else to go. I had no choice". Now, flying towards the setting sun, Sukhumbhand was hostage to a handful of heavily-armed political dissidents - flying into the heart of... what? He did not know the future. Only that he was doing his duty, serving his king and country, with honour. He thought of his family and the goodbyes he had not made. His 76-year-old father and youngest son at home. His oldest son? He had forgotten his new mobile telephone number. At 19 his son was as old as he himself had been when he went up to Pembroke. He hadn't told them he was going to a possible battle scene, where Thai police and the military - ready for a fight - had surrounded the revolutionaries (the Vigorous Burmese Student Warriors), who had captured Burma's embassy and
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I didn't know how long the man holding the grenade had been awake. He might just fall asleep and blow us all up. were holding 89 persons hostage. "Terrorism is not new," Sukhumbhand told a recent conference rethinking the meaning and implications of globalisation. "Ancient states engaged in it. Witness Alexander the Great and the sacking of Persepolis, at that time possibly the most cultured city on earth bar none. So have contemporary nations, ... the U.S. and the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki". This cultured Thai academic-cum-politician went on to say that terrorism had been used by sub-state groups such as Zionist nationalists fighting Britain during the mandate and was still being used by the IRA and the Palestinians today. The demise of al-Qaeda was unlikely to spell the end of international terrorism. He explained that what was needed is for the world's poor to have a more equitable access to and benefits from Development, otherwise the world community's "sole preoccupation with the military and security aspects of international terrorism" would result in an unwanted outcome and "Mr. Osama bin Laden will have won a famous victory on that infamous day". Sukhumbhand thought there might be fighting at the embassy. His wife was on a business trip to Japan. He didn't want to worry her but a family friend called by cellphone and told his wife to watch the television. She watched and wept as her husband held a press conference after his very own hostage drama. Describing the experience, he said:- "One hostage was sitting on the floor with a grenade in his hand. I tried not to be curious about whether or not the pin was pulled. I was afraid. I didn't know how long the man holding the grenade had been awake. He might just fall asleep and blow us all up. Another guy was sitting behind me with an automatic pistol aimed at my head. I didn't know if there was a bullet in the chamber. It was a rusty M-16 or AK-47. They could not remember where they had asked us to take them. We were running out of petrol. We had fuel for 45 minutes. I didn't want to be stuck in the middle of the wilderness with these guys. In fact, after dropping them off, we did run out of petrol at Kanchanaburi but, happily, were able to refuel". Sukhumbhand reflected that some truths and values were eternal and it was these basic values, nurtured at Pembroke, which carried him to the gaping edge of eternity and back. He became a
hostage because of his instinctive sense of duty and responsibility - to his King, to his government, to his country - and because of his education - in a British public school and Pembroke. "People thought I was calm, but actually I was very scared." Born to privilege as part of Thailand's royal family, Mom Ratchawong (Prince) Sukhumbhand has, throughout his career, displayed a commitment to democratic institutions and behaviour and personal accountability as well as having a critical view towards members of the elite, who show a lack of regard for everyday folk. An academic, he had been a political scientist at Chulalongkorn University for 17 years. Whilst there he headed up the prestigious Institute of Security and International Studies for six years. His interest in Politics and his participation in various government committees led him to stand for Parliament, to which he was elected in 1997 as a representative of the Democratic Party - now in opposition. "In some respects Sukhumbhand is the quintessential Thai patrician. An academic and international security-oriented intellectual, he is a connoisseur who has written about fine food and wines - and smoked Montecristos long before the cigar fad started in Thailand" - so writes Oxford-educated Pintuporn Sawamiphakdi Needham, writing of Mom Ratchawong (Prince) Sukhumbhand under the heading 'the honourable schoolboy' in the Bangkok Post. Indeed. Somehow he seem even now something of the honourable schoolboy. Sukhumbhand seems an unlikely actor for the central role in an internationl hostage drama, but duty and honour called him to 'be prepared' long before he arrived at Pembroke as a young man of 19, after weathering the rigors of Cheam and Rugby, where he played centre three-quarter until broken bones and
doctor's orders forced him to retire from the sport. Studying Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Pembroke in the early 1970s, Sukhumbhand carried with him an Asian sensibilitiy, which nurtured what was to become a lifelong interest in literature and history. Where others might be steeped in multiple readings of Tolkien (whom he has not read), Sukhumbhand was nurtured by Luo Guanzhong's Romance of the Three Kingdoms and a Chinese culture, which flourished despite political and 'security' problems inherent in the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.), concurrent with the flowering of Greek and Macedonian power. Historical novels, spy novels and whodunnits form the basis of his recreational reading, not science fiction or romance. One can imagine Sukhumbhand cast in a schoolboy's Frodo or Harry Potter adventure as a Siamese Air Corps ace airbourne above the Western Front alongside Royal Flying Corps' Major Edward Mannock. In fact, Siam's first aircraft, the Paribatra Bomber, was named after Sukhumbhand's grandfather Prince Paribatra(halfbrother and minister of war to King Prachadipok, Siam's last absolute monarch), in 1927. His office is in Bangkok's Suan Pakkad Palace - a museum filled with sculpture, paintings, porcelain, tapestries and artifacts dating back to pre-history. Whilst still a Member of Parliament he is also Chairman of the Chumbhot-Pantip Foundation, a philanthropic organisation set up in 1967 by the late Princess Chumbhot to help provide educational opportunities for needy students, promote art and culture and lend support to medical institutions servicing less privileged patients. In the fields of education, politics and the arts, Sukhumbhand has devoted his life to the pursuit of democratic principles and the welfare, education and culture of the people of Thailand.
Photographs and College Records The Development Office has recently inherited some old Pembroke photographs and College Records. Since we only need so many copies of each, we thought that you may appreciate the offer of the spares. These are available on a first come, first served basis (numbers are very limited) for the price of postage and packing. We are keen to get rid of the following (!) - our contact details are on the back page:
Photographs: Photo from 1965 with Edgar Lightfoot, Godfrey Bond and
George Bredin in the centre at the front and members not wearing gowns — 1 copy with everyone sat nicely and 2 with a guy with a beard at the top left showing off his bottle of gin, all b&w
Pembroke College Freshmen 1973
— 2 in colour and 1 in b&w Pembroke College Freshmen 1974, people wearing
gowns — 5 without hats and 1 with, all b&w
Pembroke Michaelmas 1965
College Records:
Although all are wearing gowns and hats, George (Tony?) is facing the wrong way and Hargrove (John) is wearing what appears to be a cowboy hat. — 2 copies in b&w
1978 1981 1983 1984
- 1 copy - 1 copy - 4 copies - 4 copies
1986 1987 1989 1990
- 1 copy - 2 copies - many - 4 copies
1993 - many 1994 - 1 copy 1997 - many
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Recent Development Office Functions by Joanne Bowley, Development Office Manager The Society Dinner, Friday 27th September After a 'boom year' in 2001, numbers for the Society Dinner were down slightly this year, to which the highly successful June Gaudy, for years 1954-60, and the late notice may both have
Marcus Nelson (1962) with Chris Lewis (1960)
contributed. Next year's Society Dinner will be held on Friday 26th September, with the Activity Day on Saturday 27th September, so keep your diaries free! This year we had our second lady presiding, Dr Janet Mills (1981). She gave a very entertaining speech which can be read on pages 8 and 9 of this newsletter.
Our speaker Janet Mills (1981) with John Whitworth (1943)
The Activity Day, Saturday 28th September For once, the Activity Day had more attendees than the Society Dinner. 'Early-birds' enjoyed morning coffee in Broadgates Hall at 11.00am, with the morning session (a choice of three options) starting at 11.30am. Next, a buffet lunch in the Hall at 1.00pm set everybody up for the afternoon session at 2.30pm (another choice of three options). MORNING SESSION Option 1 A 'West Gallery Workshop' with Francis Roads (1961) Those feeling musically-minded were able to join in a singing session in the Damon Wells Chapel and even bring along instruments to play. Francis Roads has overseen several such workshops at Pembroke Activity Days, which have always proved very enjoyable for those participating. To find out more about 'West Gallery Workshops' and Francis Roads, please see his profile on page 10. Option 2 An Illustrated Talk on the College Silver by Brian Wilson (1948), aided by Dennis Andrews (former and long-time Pembroke silverman). This talk was the culmination of months of
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research by Brian Wilson, who had undertaken the task of cataloguing the College silver. Those seen leaving the lecture were marvelling at how much he actually knew and how much more he could have told them had time been on their side. Option 3 Lecture on Dr Johnson by Pembroke Fellow Dr Lynda Mugglestone Dr Johnson is one of Pembroke's most famous alumni, best known for compiling the first comprehensive English dictionary. On approaching Lecture Room 8, Dr Mugglestone was taken aback to be asked if she was Dr Johnson. She acknowledged that she was aging well, but maybe not quite that well... Samuel Johnson came to Pembroke in 1728, leaving just over a year later when he ran out of money. He never did finish his degree but Oxford University awarded him with an honorary one much later in life. Lynda Mugglestone noted that those attending her talk were receiving the full lecture experience; standing outside for the first couple of minutes whilst the keys were retrieved from the Porters' Lodge and then having several members arrive late. After the lecture, Dr Mugglestone took attendees to the library to look at Dr Johnson's mug and other artifacts. Samuel Johnson's essays from when he attended Pembroke are in the library also. The College has not kept essays since the 1800s, as it would be impossible to keep all essays for all students. Dr Mugglestone thought that, judging by
Dr Johnson's record at Pembroke, the essays of the most troublesome undergraduates should be kept. In the battels book, anything underlined is a fine and Samuel Johnson had more fines than anyone else whilst at Pembroke. Dr Mugglestone found herself relating most to Johnson's tutor, Mr. Jorden, with Johnson's retorts to him including "Si,; you have fined me tuppence for a lecture that was not worth one" when he had again failed to attend.
AFTERNOON SESSION Option 1 Recital by Nicola Harrison ( 1981), accompanied by Raymond Fischer Those attending Nicola Harrison's recital had to walk to their entertainment, as it was held in the Rockefeller Room at the Geoffrey Arthur Building. Her audience felt this well worth the effort for the result, her recitals deservedly being much in demand. Raymond Fischer helped out again when he gave a recital at the Holywell Music Room on Monday 1 1 th November, in aid of Pembroke
College. He performed in front of a very appreciative audience, with many of his students attending, from Pembroke and other colleges. Option 2 Tour of the Botanic Garden with Timothy Walker (husband of Jill Humphries (1984)) As Tim Walker had shown a very large group around the Botanic Garden at the Activity Day in 2001 it was thought that his audience this year would not be as large. However, if anything, his tour proved to be even more popular this year than last. Perhaps the word had got round about just how good it was. Option 3 Lecture entitled 'The Dressed Up Chef' on Health and Aesthetics in Medieval Italian Cookbooks by Dr Michaelangelo Zaccarello Dr Zaccarello talked about how looks mattered when the medieval Italians cooked. First, the presentation of the food itself mattered. Perhaps a freshly cooked boar would be cut open to reveal a live white rabbit or a white dove would fly out. Secondly, there were recipes to change the way you yourself looked. For example, he told of a recipe which involved frying bees where the final result was applied to your head to relieve baldness. You would need to wear gloves whilst applying this, the mixture being so good that it would cause hairs to grow on your hands too!
Golf Against St. Catz, Friday 11th October Captained by Richard Thompson (1956) the Pembroke Golf Society took on St. Catz. The St. Catherines team took the opportunity to play the course before lunch but this proved to be to their disadvantage as, in the match after lunch, the Pembroke team won by 156 to 130 Stableford points, with the best five cards counting. The Pembroke team for the day were (from left to right in the photo): Tony Clark (1958), Peter Letts (1954), Graham Simpson (1972), Jeff Bissenden (1963), Brian Bevan (1953), Dick Stopford (1952) and Richard Thompson (1956). If you would like more information about the Golf Society, contact Richard Thompson via the Development Office.
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Dr Janet Mills (1981), Speech from the Society Dinner, Friday 27th September 2002 Any of you who thought 'who is Janet Mills?', read the blurb about me being a 'prolific author' and checked me out on the Internet, may be in for a disappointment. I am not the Janet Mills who writes steamy romances and who has the following review on Amazon: "Janet Mills has delicately explored a love that endures through heartbreak, shared secrets and an undying passion. Four stars." My book Music in the Primary School does, in fact, have a five-star review on Amazon UK and I am very grateful to the student who wrote it, but it, the review, is less suited to after-dinner reading, so I will not burden you with it now. My family's relationship with Pembroke began 85 years ago, when my maternal grandfather entered the college as an undergraduate. He was very much a case of what today's government would call widening participation. He was a scholarship boy at grammar school and a scholar here. His family had moved from Scotland to the shipyards of Sunderland in search of work. But he had a mother who was determined that her children would have careers rather than jobs and all the four children, who survived to adulthood, out of many more, did well. My grandfather, the baby of the family, became Secretary to the Joint Matriculation Board. And so if you went to school north of Birmingham, and did 0-level, A-level, School Certificate or Matric in the 20 years up to 1965, you will probably find that your certificates were signed by him. My grandfather's eldest sister, Great Aunt Lizzie, was a headteacher. She taught me to read and it is probably because of her that I wanted to be a teacher before I had even started at school. Great Aunt Lizzie was a formidable character, who never left her Victorian values and the gritty determination of her childhood behind, even though she lived into the 1980s. When my A-level results arrived, she wrote not to congratulate me, but to commend me
Janet Mills with her very proud Grandfather
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for doing my duty to my parents..... But Aunt Lizzie's demeanour would soften visibly and a misty look come into her eyes, as she moved from duty to talking about me and 'my music.' She loved music and saw my music as the fulfilment of her dreams for herself, a couple of generations down the line. Not that all the music that I was doing round then was quite as good as Aunt Lizzie imagined, or as good as the wonderful music that I now hear all round me in my work at the Royal College of Music. Back then, I played in a student orchestra in Manchester with a timpanist so arrogant that he did not bother to come to any rehearsals. He knew that we were playing Sibelius 5 in the concert. What he hadn't spotted was that we were playing Barber's Adagio for Strings first. Sibelius 5 begins with a drum roll. So, that evening, Barber's Adagio for Strings started with a drum roll. After a while, the drum roll stopped. Great, we thought, he's realised. Then, after a while, in came another drum roll. He had just been counting some bars rest. Then there was the performance of Stainer's Crucifixion in a church in Yorkshire. The organist was drunk. Midway through a chorale that she was playing in four flats, she spotted that it was written in three sharps and simply changed over mid-phrase. So the chorale suddenly lurched upwards from Ab major to A major. Imagine the interesting avant garde effect as individual singers, each in their own time, attempted to maintain their pitch and then gave up the struggle. Not long after the Stainer I arrived in Oxford as a slightly mature research student located in educational studies, but supervised in the music faculty. My grandfather was delighted and very proud, to have a grandDAUGHTER at Pembroke. He came to his first Gaudy for many years at the age of 80 and adjusted his will to the advantage of some subsequent research students. In no way was I a widening participation student. My father was a dentist, my mother a musician. And I already had a profession — teaching. But coming to Pembroke was a widening — or I should say broadening — experience that I shall always value. As I was the only education student, and virtually the only music student, here, I could not but mix with students of many other subjects. And there was also the opportunity to talk to Fellows with such a range of interests and expertise. Godfrey Bond, then the Dean, whom I went to see about some restrictions that I thought were petty: this led to many
interesting conversations about educational governance more generally. John Platt, with whom I discussed less earthly matters. Geoffrey Sweet, then the Junior Dean, with whom I played violin sonatas for the then Master. And Savile Bradbury, my College Tutor, who offered me a lab full of medical students for the purpose of research.
Savile Bradbury, my College Tutor, offered me a lab full of medical students for the purpose of research I should explain that, where the other Janet Mills demonstrates her passion through steamy romances, I am passionate about removing the needless obstacles that impede people's educational progress. At the time I was busy dismantling the obstacles that stop people thinking that they are musical, or stop them learning a musical instrument. You know the sort of thing. Your fingers are too thick, so you can't play the violin. Your teeth stick out, so you can't play the bassoon. You are not too good at singing, so you can't play anything. These are all myths. I had found a new myth to do with hands that I had tested on musicians at some specialist schools and I needed a comparison group of normal students. Savile Bradbury's medical students were just fine. To do the same experiment, place your left hand (it must be your left hand) palm down, with
your fingers together, on the table in front of you. If your ring finger reaches further up your middle finger than your index finger, then you are normal. If your index finger reaches further up your middle finger than your ring finger, then you are more likely to be an accomplished instrumentalist — but not a violinist or viola player. That is fact. But I said that I was dealing with a myth. The myth is that hand shape is a cause of being able to play, or not play, a particular instrument. With good tuition, and motivation, the disadvantage of having an unfavourable hand shape soon evaporates. You won't be surprised to hear that, despite being one of the first women at Pembroke, I never felt diminished, as a consequence of my gender, when I spoke with students or Fellows here. Yet it was early days. When I went to the Sheldonian to take my degree, my scout - let's call her Linda - thought that I was teasing her when I put on doctoral robes. In her eyes, doctorates were not open to people like her, by which she meant women. There are children a bit like Linda, who think `people like me don't go to Oxford' in virtually every school that I visit. There are some potentially very able children like that in the currently least successful schools — the so-called 'failing schools' — the schools that are in 'special measures'. This college has so much to offer young people from all walks of life. The widening participation that propelled my grandfather away from the shipyards of Sunderland is needed just as much now as it was 85 years ago. I know that the college is very committed to this work.
More from Janet Mills... I have always worked in education. I began my career teaching in secondary, schools and moved into teacher training — first at Westminster College and then at Exeter University — on leaving Pembroke. In 1990 I was appointed HM Inspector of Schools, and continued in that role — leading on music alongside more general work from 1995 - until leaving for my post at the Royal College of Music late in 2000. I have been fortunate in that all of my jobs so far have given me opportunities to do things that not many people get to do. As an HMI, for example, I found myself talking with Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens) about music in the National Curriculum, speaking to a packed and potentially critical Queen Elizabeth Hall, advising ministers on a range of educational matters, preparing for a lecture tour in Sweden, and writing for national
and international readerships, all within the space of a few weeks. I shall never forget such experiences, or how lucky I am to have them. But the privilege of working in so many schools and other educational establishments — about 900 so far — is something that I value no less. I learn a lot about teaching from watching others teach. I have seen thousands of teachers doing their utmost, often in challenging circumstances and nearly always without the extrinsic rewards that I receive - to give pupils the best crack possible at their one chance of education. And even in the classrooms where things are not going too well, there are children who are hungry to learn and who typically thank me for troubling to explain some detail of mathematics, English or science, for example, that will take them one step closer to educational success. I hope that I will not forget these experiences either.
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Francis Roads (1961), and the `West Gallery Workshop' I have an unusual degree, with Part I in Chemistry and Part II in Music. When asked how this came about, I make a point of referring to the liberal and progressive college which enabled me to make such a change. My interlocutor invariably assumes that I attended one of the modern universities; I enjoy the moment of surprise when I reveal my affiliation. I have made my career in education. I spent four miserable years teaching music in a comprehensive school, where I became and remain convinced that the underlying problem in the British education system is one of discipline. I then tried teaching in a Junior school, and made one of the discoveries of my life; that I love young children. Which was just as well, as by now I was married to my oboist wife Judith and had a family of two boys. After ten golden years in my Junior school I became a music advisory teacher, first for the London Borough of Redbridge and latterly for Essex County Council. In this post I was promoted to the dizzy rank of Head of Music Curriculum Support, leader of a county-wide team of music support teachers. In 1994 Local Management of Schools did for my team; in the interests of efficiency our numbers were reduced from twelve to three. I escaped through a window of opportunity into early retirement at the age of 51, since when I have been pursuing my two abiding interests. The first of these was born in the Pembroke JCR, where I played chess regularly and represented the college during a 'flu
I played chess regularly and represented the college (during a 'flu epidemic)
Are we missing you out? Subject Dinners We have noted that, although extremely popular, only about 25% of those members invited back for their Gaudy will come. On the other hand, we have found that when dinners are held for retiring Fellows, the majority attending will not have been at their Gaudy. This has lead us to ponder whether holding subject dinners could prove popular too. Would you attend a dinner held for your subject? Current and previous Fellows could be invited, and perhaps current undergraduates and graduates too? Should there be a speaker? Should the event be held at Pembroke, in London or elsewhere?
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epidemic. Whilst becoming disillusioned with the game by the players who beat you by memorising pages of opening theory, David Hopkin (1962) drew my attention to an article in New Scientist by Dr. Good of Trinity College about the oriental game of Go. To cut a long story short, I now hold a 4-dan diploma at the game, have served as Honorary President of the British Go Association, and have travelled all over the world to attend Go tournaments. The second is more recent. I came to West Gallery Church Music through the novels of my favourite author, Thomas Hardy. For those who have not read his "Under the Greenwood Tree" I should explain that it is the music of town and country churches from roughly 1700-1850. It is very different from cathedral music; much is lively and joyful, which is one of the reasons for its systematic suppression by the Victorians. To cut a rather shorter story short, I am now an active member of the West Gallery Music Association, conduct the London Gallery Quire, and have just completed a PhD, based on research into some Manx West Gallery manuscripts, at the University of Liverpool. I run West Gallery workshops for all who wish, which in recent years has included the Pembroke College Society Activity Day. I am very conscious of how lucky I have been to be able retire whilst in good health, so that I can pursue these absorbing interests. I hope to do so for many years to come. Careers Events Receptions are currently held each year for those working in the business or media arenas but perhaps you would like to network with Pembrokians involved in your field of work? Would you attend an event held for your career? Should this be a drinks reception or a dinner? Should there be a speaker? Should current students be invited too? Should the event be held at Pembroke, in London or elsewhere? There could be an event for those working in law, those working in education, those working in medicine, those working in information technology... Let us know what you think. We will only follow through on these ideas if they are popular enough to warrant it. Our contact details are on the back page.
Gomortatze Children's Home, Vidin, Bulgaria 17th July — 7th August 2001 Charlotte Target (1999) was the recipient of the Bredin Travel Prize in 2001. Here she explains how it helped her to help others.
Children who had cried in terror when we approached them initially, started holding their hands out to us when we entered the room.
Gomortatze Children's Home is situated 10km away from the town of Vidin, on the banks of the Danube River. It is located just outside Gomortatze village and is staffed mainly by the women living in the local area. The children there have varying levels of disability, ranging from virtually immobile and bed-ridden to fully active and seemingly normal youngsters. They are theoretically aged between 3 and 10 but there are a significant number of teenagers who have not yet moved on to other homes. In the summer of 2001 a group of 4 MCAB (Magdalen College Aid to the Balkans) volunteers went to Gomortatze. We stayed in a flat belonging to the Local Authority (which our contact in Vidin had kindly arranged for us). This meant that we had to travel to the Home each day, but this was better than staying at the Home, which really did not have the necessary facilities or space to accommodate us. Our initial impressions of the Home were that it was much better than we had expected. The rooms were bright and airy, the children were all clothed and the beds were open-sided and wooden, a far cry from the steel-barred cots we had imagined. We spent 3 weeks at the Home, which gave us enough time to be able to interact with most of the 82 children there. We organised a variety of activities, tailored to meet the needs of the children of differing abilities. For the more able children, drawing pictures was a great success. Even if rather too many of the crayons were eaten rather than being used for artistic purposes! These sessions were rather chaotic - 20 lively children with only 4 of us, 1 of whom had to guard the scissors/selotape/spare crayons etc — a recipe for disaster! With smaller groups of the more able children we made paper chains — very messy but great for decorating the walls and ceilings of the bedrooms. This was also very successful with some of the bed-ridden children, once we had invaded their beds! Pasta necklaces were another favourite.
With the younger children and those who were more severely disabled, simple tickling games, rackets with rattles and shakers, home made beanbags, soft toys, singing, and simply being taken outside provided much needed sensory stimulation. We really saw the children respond to this. Children who had cried in terror when we approached them initially, started holding their hands out to us when we entered the room. On a practical level, we helped some children learn to walk using the walking frame and helped others to move around on the therapy ball. We also became rather practised at changing wet clothes and sheets (the supply of pampers had run out and the Home did not have enough money to buy any more). With the money that we had raised before leaving England, we bought a set of brightly coloured sheets for the children's beds — enough for one sheet each. We also bought a baby-walker to help encourage some of the younger children to walk — hopefully the staff have continued to use it. When the time came to leave, none of us wanted to return home. The children were also sad that we had to go. I had had a fantastic time — I only hope that the children enjoyed themselves as much as I did. I also hope that the staff at the Home will continue to use some of the new equipment that we bought and that we demonstrated that the children really benefited from being played with and treated as normal people rather than as disabled people. There is much work to be done in changing the attitudes of the Bulgarian people towards disability (it is still very much stigmatised) but hopefully we have provided a step in that process. I would whole-heartedly recommend future MCAB volunteers to go to Gomortatze — it will be a valuable experience both for you, the staff, and the children at the Home.
Wanting to Get Away From it All? Swan Hellenic will be in touch soon with offers for you to cruise on their new luxurious ship, Minerva II. For every such holiday bought by a Pembrokian, Pembroke will benefit from 10% commission.
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Business Reception 2003 Please note that the new date of the Business Reception, hosted once more by Andrew Graham (1969), is Thursday 30th January 2003. Our speaker will be Ian Cormack (1966) who works in banking, previously with Citigroup, Citibank and AIG and currently for a his own business. Please contact the Development Office for further information.
Exciting New Pembroke Merchandise The sales success of the Dr Johnson, Royal Worcester, Mug more than doubled last year's merchandise takings. Whilst there are still mugs on sale, new items are being introduced all the time. This year see the introduction of a woollen 5ft 6 inches long, crested College Scarf and a hooded navy Sweat Shirt, also with the crest. For those who prefer a little tipple to warm them up this winter, we have a presentation box containing two stemmed and crested glasses accompanied by either a bottle of College Port or College Claret. For further details please call the Catering Manager on (01865) 276425 or e-mail Steve.Rhodes@pmb.ox.ac.uk.
Contacting the Development Office John Barlow (1952) Development Director Tel: (01865) 276417 Email: John.Barlow@pmb.ox.ac.uk Joanne Bowley Development Office Manager Tel: (01865) 276478 Email: Joanne.Bowley@pmb.ox.ac.uk
Write to us at: The Development Office, Pembroke College, Oxford, OX1 I DW
Pembroke website www.pmb.ox.ac.uk 12
DIARY DATES FOR 2003 Thursday 30th January
Business Reception
Tuesday 4`h March
Media Reception
Friday 28`" March
Gaudy Years 1967-197 I
Friday 4'h April
Gaudy Years 1977-1980
Thursday 24'h April
Women's Reception
Saturday 31' May
Garden Party
Friday
Gaudy Years up to and including 1953
June
Friday 26' September
Society Dinner
Saturday 27th September Activity Day
Rhodes Scholars If you have NOT received our recent letter about the Centenary celebrations next July, please inform the Development Office .
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For further information on either of the above, please email Joanne Bowley (Development Office Manager) at Joanne.Bowley@pmb.ox.ac.uk
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