COVID-19: Somervillians Stepping Up

Somervillians Stepping Up

The beginning of the coronavirus crisis was a profoundly challenging moment for us all. It was a time that could have been defined by our separation. But then we started to hear news of the difficult, important and downright inspiring work being done by Somervillians around the world. These stories were a source of strength to us during lockdown, a reminder of the togetherness of our community, so we wanted to take this opportunity to share a few of them with you again.

Graduating early to join the fight

Our final year medical students were expecting a traditional end to their courses with exams, electives and celebrations. When the pandemic hit the UK in March, those plans were put on hold and many of our medics took the brave decision to graduate early in Miranda Rogers after receiving order to help their teachers on confirmation of her early the wards. Miranda Rogers graduation while on shift (2014, Medicine) and Calum McIntyre (2014, Medicine) were two Somervillians who made the choice to take an active role, with Calum assisting intensive care staff in Reading and Miranda covering the workloads of junior doctors in Oxford’s John Radcliffe Children’s Hospital.

Using innovation in hospital and home

Alumna Maryanna Tavener (1985, Physics) impressed us with her innovation. While working weekends with the Respiratory Team at Winchester Hospital as an FY1, she used borrowed 3D printers to fabricate the necessary parts to convert diagnostic machines into ones to support breathing and help to treat severely ill COVID-19 patients. She did all of this while living in a makeshift annexe in her own home so that she could carry on her hospital work without endangering vulnerable family members.

Angela McLean and Xand Van Tulleken

Guiding the nation

Professor Dame Angela McLean (1979, Maths, Honorary Fellow) and Dr Xand Van Tulleken (1994, Medicine) helped to guide the nation through the pandemic via our TV screens in two very different ways. As Deputy Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Dame McLean assisted the government’s response and made a number of appearances at the podium of the government’s daily coronavirus press conferences. Meanwhile, doctor and broadcaster Dr Xand van Tulleken’s clear, rational commentary as presenter of the BBC’s HealthCheck UK helped to bring comfort to thousands of Britons and keep viewers mentally and physically healthy during quarantine. His unorthodox dance moves provided delight to almost as many – perhaps the latter were acquired at one or more Somerville bops?

Educating lockdown Britain

The lockdown had a particularly large impact on schoolchildren. Dr Jackie Watson (1986, English) and Frank Clarke (2002, English), as, respectively, Vice-Principal and Head of Sixth Form of Oxford Spires Academy and Head of English of Calderstones College in Liverpool worked to provide their pupils with as much learning and normality as possible. With both schools serving a catchment including areas of substantial Jackie Watson deprivation, Frank and Jackie helped to support students more than ever before and find ways for those without access to the internet and computers to learn. Jackie and Oxford Spires also helped to deliver over 120 food parcels a week to the most vulnerable families at the school.