FOREVER: KEELE - Keele University

On 23rd January 2013, Julia Leyden
(Western), Class of 1963 presented an
outstanding piece of art for inclusion in
the Keele University Art Collection. At
first glance the viewer might assume that
it depicts a traditional Christian crucifixion.
In fact it explores different types of
passion and their impact through history.
A veil or curtain of words blows across
the central figure but they are difficult to
read, suggesting that time has made their
interpretation sometimes uncertain.
Julia selected the quotations, and the
passions they illustrate, from:
The Song of Solomon – sexual passion
Nero, described by Tacitus – megalomania
Viking raids – the impulse for conquest
The Rapacity of Barons from the Anglo-
Saxon Chronicle – greed and self-interest
The death of Queen Elizabeth I – the need
to secure succession
The execution of Charles I – the desire for
regime change
The storming of Drogheda by Cromwell –
the use of religion to support slaughter
The death of Suffragist Emily Wilding –
the longing for equality
The riot at the premier of Stravinsky’s ‘Rite
of Spring’ – resistance to the new
The first aerial voyage in England 1784 –
new perspectives on our place on this earth
The boyhood interests of Sir Isaac Newton
– the spirit of scientific enquiry
The Black Hole of Calcutta – revenge
The figure on the cross represents the
spiritual leaders who have inspired the
great religions. The cross represents the
massive impact on historical development
made by religious institutions of all kinds.
The footballers at the foot of the painting
are absorbed in their sporting passion
and appear oblivious to the themes
described above them.
Julia explained to the Vice-Chancellor
that it was indeed her passion for Keele
University that drove her to donate her
work to the collection.
‘Passion, the Driver of History’ hangs by
the Staff Common Room in Keele Hall.
The Raven Mason Collection is housed in
Keele Hall and contains many important
pieces outlining the development of
Mason ceramics in Staffordshire from the
beginning of the nineteenth century. The
Raven Mason Trust has now been awarded
a small grant by the Heritage Lottery Fund
as part of the All Our Stories programme
to run a project celebrating the history of
Mason Ironstone. A key theme is to bring
together collectors and people involved in
manufacturing Mason Ironstone to express
its importance for Stoke-on-Trent and for
British ceramic history.
Passion, the Driver
of History
The Raven Mason Collection
A number of events are planned – including
the collection of oral histories from people
associated with Mason Ironstone, a
community celebration and the
development of resources for schools to
support learning about the significance of
ceramics to Stoke-on-Trent and what the
Potteries area was like when manufacturing
dominated the local economy.
For more information
E: ravenmason@keele.ac.uk
Original Soundtrack
You may not know the name, but you
will almost certainly have heard his work.
Andy Quin is a prolific composer of music
for film, TV, radio and commercials, and
he honed his craft at Keele.
Andy Quin arrived at Keele in 1978 having
already turned down an invitation to study
at the Royal Academy of Music. He studied
Electronics and Music at a time when Keele
boasted one of the best music courses in
the country and Andy was able to ‘swap
chops’ with Visiting Professor, Cecil Lytle, a
great jazz pianist himself from the Juillard
School in New York. Andy also benefited
from a strong departmental interest in
American music generally, inspired by
Professor Peter Dickinson.
Away from the classroom, Andy formed
a band with other students on the same
main subject as him, including Simon
Hargreaves and Mark Ayres. Random
Access was a rock band with funky
and psychedelic overtones – almost as
eclectic as Andy’s own musical tastes.
His dissertation was on the group, Earth,
Wind and Fire, whilst his finals recital
featured Beethoven and Franz Liszt!
Random Access was popular on campus
and played the Union Ballroom several
Keele Encounters
Adunola Okupe (2006) was the guest
speaker at this year’s International
Students’ Welcome Ball. Adun is the
internationalisation representative of the
Keele Society Advisory Committee and
she shared her experience at Keele and
how important her Keele connection has
been since she left.
“I had a decade-long walk down memory
lane, attending the International Students’
Welcome Ball, which I had attended
as an international student myself ten
years ago! The food was considerably
better and the spread of the nationalities,
I think, was wider. But it was all made
extra special by unexpectedly meeting
a Nigerian neighbour, Femi Awopegba
from Ibadan at the ball! I had never met
him before and to meet him at Keele of all
places added another treasured memory
of Keele. What are the chances?”
A current Nigerian student is a face to
remember. Eugenia Abu is a national icon.
She is a leading broadcaster, prize winning
essayist, poet, short story writer, motivational
speaker, multimedia strategist, mentor, wife
and mother. She is a member of several
national and international bodies, including
the Human Rights Commission. To further
her already glittering
career, Eugenia is
currently pursuing
a Master’s degree in
Creative Writing at
Keele University.
times, vying with other Keele bands of
that time such as The Man Upstairs and
Blue Moves. Random Access created the
now legendary ‘Cheese Monster’ which
was, reputedly, responsible for stealing
food from the group’s flat in Barnes Hall
and was later famously photographed
occupying the Professorial Chair in the
Physics Department.
Andy worked closely with Keele’s studio
technician, Cliff Bradbury, and composer,
Tim Souster, producing recordings on a
Fairlight CMI (the world’s first computer
sampler) and this proved to have a major
impact on his future professional work.
He was recommended by Souster to the
music production company DeWolfe
and this was the beginning of a long and
productive career writing music for film,
TV, advertising and radio.
At the same time, Andy was writing
regularly for Central TV in Birmingham
and his music could be heard at the
Queen’s opening of the ICC and
Symphony Hall. Central TV went on to
make a documentary about Andy’s work.
Writing for the DeWolfe Music Library
has enabled Andy develop compositional
technique in all kinds of styles from avant
A Golden Graduate has celebrated
50 Anniversaries since leaving the
University College of North Staffordshire
or Keele University. The Royal Charter of
the University was granted in 1962, so in
2012 we held the first Golden Graduates’
Reunion to coincide with the 50th
Golden Anniversary of our Charter.
Who are our Founding Graduates?
One hundred and fifty-seven students
attended the University College of North
Staffordshire in October 1950 and the
first 150 graduated in 1954. Anyone who
was part of that first class is termed a
Founding Graduate.
garde electro-acoustic and computergenerated
musics, through jazz and
easy listening to big band, rock and film
music. He has also virtually documented
the history of jazz and the brilliance of
his playing is especially highlighted in
ragtime and stride styles of the 1920s and
1930s. Along the way he has worked with
the London Symphony Orchestra, Royal
Philharmonic Orchestra and the BBC
Concert Orchestra. His music has been
used by Disney and in a multitude of TV
commercials, including the After Eight
Mints ad with Stephen Fry and a cast
of Hollywood greats, not least Liberace
miming to Andy’s piano score!
Andy leads a busy life and is hoping to
find time to play more jazz piano gigs in
the future. He is married to Anne and has
three children, and when he has any time
left over he enjoys badminton, walking,
reading, aviation sports and astronomy
(but not necessarily in that order!).
Sean Rourke, STR Music Marketing
Golden Graduates
Who are our Pioneers?
The Pioneers are the Classes of 1954 to
1961 who graduated from the University
College of North Staffordshire. They and
the Founding Graduates formed the
Students’ Union, the Athletic Union and
the Keele Society and created the heritage
and traditions that have exemplified the
Keele spirit for all later generations.
The 2013 Golden Graduates’ Reunion will
welcome home the Classes of 1954 to
1963 on May 11th - 12th 2013.
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