Venta 5 - University of Winchester
Venta 5 - University of Winchester
Venta 5 - University of Winchester
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venta<br />
King Alfred’s Alumni Association Magazine<br />
Issue 5 - Summer 2001<br />
A dramatic opening<br />
The West Downs Centre<br />
New man at the top<br />
Principal Paul Light<br />
An all-male bastion<br />
King Alfred’s in the 1950’s
Our cover:<br />
Dance Lecturer, Olu Taiwo<br />
rehearsing in one <strong>of</strong> the<br />
state-<strong>of</strong>-the-art performance<br />
rooms at the new<br />
West Downs Performing<br />
Arts and Conference<br />
Centre.<br />
Photo: Peter Jacobs<br />
Contents<br />
Features<br />
Page 1<br />
New man at the top!<br />
Pages 2 – 3<br />
The West Downs<br />
Performing Arts and<br />
Conference Centre<br />
Page 4<br />
(Un) forgotten treasures<br />
Page 5<br />
Life at King Alfred’s in<br />
the 1950’s!<br />
Regulars<br />
Page 4<br />
Reunion update<br />
Page 6<br />
Blast from the past!<br />
Contact <strong>Venta</strong>:<br />
The Alumni Office<br />
King Alfred’s<br />
Sparkford Road<br />
<strong>Winchester</strong> SO22 4NR<br />
T: (01962) 827386<br />
F: (01962) 827548<br />
E: alumni@wkac.ac.uk<br />
Welcome to the summer edition <strong>of</strong> <strong>Venta</strong>, and apologies for the lack<br />
<strong>of</strong> a Winter 2000 edition! I’ve been in post now for six months and<br />
my feet are just about starting to hit the ground! I hope this issue<br />
finds you well.<br />
The last year has been an exciting<br />
one here at King Alfred’s. Pr<strong>of</strong>essor<br />
Paul Light joined us as Principal last<br />
Autumn. May 2001 saw the grand<br />
opening <strong>of</strong> The West Downs<br />
Performing Arts and Conference<br />
Centre, and we asked two alumni<br />
who attended the opening to share<br />
their views <strong>of</strong> the new facilities with<br />
us. In the midst <strong>of</strong> all that,<br />
Education Studies scored full marks<br />
(24 out <strong>of</strong> 24!) in QAA inspections<br />
(Quality Assurance Assessment).<br />
This issue highlights these<br />
developments alongside the<br />
regulars; "Blast from the Past" and<br />
"Reunion Update". But please don’t<br />
forget that <strong>Venta</strong> is just as much a<br />
chance for you to share your news,<br />
events and memories as much as it<br />
is an opportunity for us to share<br />
ours. So keep the emails and letters<br />
flowing – and the more piccies the<br />
better! A big thank-you to all those<br />
who sent in articles and photos this<br />
time.<br />
Can you imagine a College …<br />
Lastly, if you know <strong>of</strong> any fellow<br />
alumni out there who for whatever<br />
reason have slipped through the<br />
"membership" net, please put them<br />
in touch. It’s amazing where they<br />
turn up – a colleague was on the<br />
phone to the BBC the other day<br />
and discovered she was talking to a<br />
King Alfred’s graduate – who’s now<br />
waiting for this copy <strong>of</strong> <strong>Venta</strong>!<br />
Enjoy!<br />
Sarah Hogan<br />
Alumni Officer<br />
where all students received free education, board and lodging …but only five had cars …there was<br />
compulsory daily attendance at Chapel …and hymn practice on Saturday - that was King Alfred’s in<br />
the 1950’s. Turn to page 5 to find out more!<br />
A step back in time<br />
In May <strong>of</strong> this year, a small group <strong>of</strong> friends who were students at<br />
King Alfred’s between 1968 and 1972, included a trip to their old<br />
stomping ground as part <strong>of</strong> their get-together.<br />
King Alfred’s was a very different<br />
place back in the late 1960’s. On the<br />
tour <strong>of</strong> the familiar campus and its<br />
new additions, the group shared the<br />
following:<br />
• The Kenneth Kettle Building, which<br />
is now an IT area, was the Chapel<br />
• The Library was in the main<br />
building, where the Senior<br />
Common Room is now<br />
• The West Downs Centre was still a<br />
prep school, where some students<br />
carried out their teaching practice<br />
• There was a porter’s lodge in the<br />
Happiness<br />
main building! (Next to where the<br />
photo was taken)<br />
• The Dytche was a playing field!<br />
• There was an outdoor swimming<br />
pool<br />
• Alfie’s Castle was a TV room<br />
• The curtains in Alwyn Hall are<br />
exactly the same!<br />
The group also provided some<br />
memorabilia, including the following<br />
"Variations on a theme: Happiness"<br />
piece, taken from Grapevine, the<br />
College magazine in 1970:<br />
is getting a meal without chips<br />
is recognising who you were with at the dance the night before<br />
is making Pete Mackay watch a TV programme in silence<br />
is going out with someone everyone else fancies<br />
is a mature man<br />
is knowing enough people to queue jump at meals<br />
is pinching a second cake at tea<br />
is getting enough butter to put on your bread<br />
is missing Miss Gillingwaters’ P.E Lessons without being missed<br />
is finding the book that you want in the Library<br />
is being invited around for c<strong>of</strong>fee<br />
is finding a letter in your pigeon hole<br />
is a lift up St. James’ Hill<br />
is having a man with a car, bicycle, etc, etc.<br />
is having a man!!<br />
Above: (Left to Right) Richard Gibson,<br />
(Teaching: Maths, 1969-1972), Rick Lucas,<br />
(Teaching: Physical Education, 1969-1972),<br />
Viv Lucas (nee Mason), (Teaching: Maths,<br />
1968-1971), Julie Gibson (nee Tatlow),<br />
(Teaching: Maths, 1969-1972), Vicki Jago<br />
(nee Blackmore), (Teaching: Art & Craft,<br />
1969-1971), Catherine Smith (nee Butcher),<br />
(Teaching: Art & Craft, 1969-1971), Louisa<br />
Smith, (DipHe Nursing Studies). Louisa is<br />
Catherine’s daughter who also attended<br />
the get-together.<br />
Below: On a Rag-Raid with Doctor<br />
Spock in <strong>Winchester</strong>. Rag Week, 1970<br />
<strong>Venta</strong> - King Alfred’s Alumni Magazine
BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS<br />
Paul Light joined King Alfred’s from Bournemouth <strong>University</strong> where he was<br />
Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic) carrying responsibility for educational<br />
development, quality and innovation, and research development across the<br />
institution.<br />
Previously, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Light held posts with the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Cambridge, the<br />
<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Southampton and with the Open <strong>University</strong> where he was Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong><br />
Education and Director <strong>of</strong> the Centre for Human Development and Learning. He is a<br />
Fellow <strong>of</strong> the Royal Society <strong>of</strong> Arts and <strong>of</strong> the British Psychological Society, and has<br />
served on its Council.<br />
New man at the top<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Paul Light joined King Alfred’s as College Principal at the<br />
beginning <strong>of</strong> November last year. In this article for <strong>Venta</strong> he<br />
introduces himself and sets out some <strong>of</strong> the key issues, which face<br />
the College over the next few years.<br />
Married to Vivienne and with three<br />
grown up children, I have lived at<br />
Brook in the New Forest for many<br />
years. My domestic interests are<br />
practical as well as academic. I enjoy<br />
my new job enormously, but I’m<br />
never happier than when I can get<br />
out on a tractor, or with a chain saw,<br />
or best <strong>of</strong> all with a mechanical<br />
digger!<br />
My children are at the ages and stages<br />
where higher education impinges on<br />
Come rain or shine …<br />
them. One is a graduate doing<br />
pr<strong>of</strong>essional examinations through<br />
Oxford Brookes. Another is just about<br />
to graduate from the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> the<br />
West <strong>of</strong> England, and the third is<br />
doing AS levels at a local FE College.<br />
The range <strong>of</strong> different <strong>of</strong>ferings<br />
available in higher education today is<br />
huge, so it is very important for this<br />
College to be clear about what its<br />
particular strengths are. Recent<br />
external quality assessments <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Keen eyed alumni in the South East region may have recognised a<br />
familiar face cropping up on their TV screens in recent weeks…<br />
Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Light’s research work has included aspects <strong>of</strong> the social development <strong>of</strong><br />
pre-school children, the factors affecting children’s abilities in drawing, and the language<br />
and spatial abilities <strong>of</strong> autistic and dysphasic children. His most recent work<br />
has been the contextual factors affecting thinking, reasoning and learning in school<br />
aged children and in university students especially in the context <strong>of</strong><br />
learning with computers.<br />
College’s courses tell a very positive ability to pay, then we are going to<br />
story; three ‘excellent’ grades in a row have to work hard on finding ways <strong>of</strong><br />
from the Quality Assurance Agency helping some <strong>of</strong> the students<br />
and ever rising Ofsted grades mean financially.<br />
we are certainly <strong>of</strong>fering courses <strong>of</strong><br />
extremely high quality<br />
King Alfred’s has prospered for 160<br />
years, and has a real sense <strong>of</strong><br />
Our campus has been greatly<br />
character and tradition as a result <strong>of</strong><br />
enhanced by the new Library and the that long history. It has changed and<br />
West Downs Centre, both <strong>of</strong> which adapted over time, and will need to<br />
<strong>of</strong>fer wonderful facilities for students. continue to do so in the future,<br />
But <strong>Winchester</strong> is expensive, and perhaps even more rapidly. The<br />
indeed higher education anywhere is College’s continuity and distinctive<br />
expensive these days. If we are to identity will be great strengths as we<br />
continue to <strong>of</strong>fer degree courses to confront these changes, and you, the<br />
students on the basis <strong>of</strong> their ability alumni are an important part <strong>of</strong> that<br />
and motivation, rather than their continuity.<br />
Did you know ... BBC South East becomes the BBC's eleventh English region to split from BBC<br />
London as a result <strong>of</strong> an extensive consultation exercise by the BBC, which revealed licence fee<br />
payers favoured more locally-focussed news services.<br />
Natalie Booker is appearing as<br />
Weather Presenter for the recently<br />
launched BBC South East Today<br />
programme. She graduated from<br />
King Alfred’s in Geography and<br />
Mathematics in 1996, and initially<br />
went into recruitment and training -<br />
despite a long standing interest in all<br />
things meteorological!<br />
Having finally realised her ambition<br />
by gaining a position with the Met<br />
Office, Natalie moved to the BBC<br />
Weather Centre at Television Centre<br />
in London as a Broadcast Assistant in<br />
1999. Here she supported the BBC’s<br />
national forecasters and was<br />
responsible for researching worldwide<br />
weather stories, producing<br />
broadcast-quality graphics and<br />
maintaining the CEEFAX and Online<br />
weather pages.<br />
In her new role, Natalieis working on<br />
the main 6.30pm and lunch-time<br />
television slots as well as providing<br />
regular weather information for<br />
listeners to BBC Radio Kent.<br />
Apart from being a familiar face to<br />
BBC viewers Natalie is a keen rugby<br />
and football fan. She is currently<br />
keeping an eye out for a women’s<br />
cricket team to join in the South East<br />
– so any suggestions would be<br />
gratefully received!<br />
Issue 5 - Summer 2001 1
West Downs is probably best known to recent graduates as home to<br />
the Student Village and the Tavern and to pre 1987 graduates as a<br />
boys prep school. In these pages we celebrate the transformation <strong>of</strong><br />
a derelict school building into something more lavish.<br />
Lord Puttnam raises the curtain<br />
on new Performing Arts Centre<br />
Village is still a major pulling factor<br />
After two and-a-half years and at a<br />
with prospective students.<br />
cost <strong>of</strong> £6,500,000, the restored listed<br />
school building now forms an<br />
The refurbishment <strong>of</strong> the former<br />
imposing centre piece to the modern<br />
school building on the other hand,<br />
student village.<br />
has been a nightmare at times for all<br />
involved! The building had been long<br />
neglected, was riddled with rot, and<br />
close to being beyond economical<br />
repair. No less than seven feasibility<br />
appraisals were undertaken before<br />
“...The building had been long<br />
neglected, was riddled with<br />
rot, and close to being<br />
beyond economical<br />
repair ...”<br />
the idea was conceived <strong>of</strong> moving the<br />
fast growing School <strong>of</strong> Performing<br />
Despite last minute flooding a week<br />
Arts into the teaching areas <strong>of</strong> the old<br />
before, the show went ahead on 2nd<br />
Top Left: A terrified refugee, as portrayed by<br />
Founded in 1897, the School closed<br />
building and converting the<br />
May 2001, when film producer Lord<br />
a Performing Arts student, remains in char-<br />
in 1988, and King Alfred’s acquired<br />
dormitories into more study<br />
David Puttnam <strong>of</strong>ficially opened The<br />
acter to pose for a photo with Principal Paul<br />
the site in 1994.<br />
bedrooms. This approach<br />
West Downs Performing Arts and<br />
Light and Lord Puttnam. Above: The exterior<br />
complemented the College’s<br />
Conference Centre. There were over<br />
<strong>of</strong> the West Downs Performing Arts and<br />
Soon after its purchase, plans were<br />
academic needs during term time,<br />
200 guests in attendance, ranging<br />
Conference Centre. Below: Third year<br />
under way for a student village and by<br />
and would accommodate the<br />
from governors and education<br />
Performing Arts student Karen Tween, who<br />
1997 nearly 700 students were in<br />
College’s expanding conference trade<br />
<strong>of</strong>ficials to clergy and former pupils <strong>of</strong><br />
wrote the music and performed a song writ-<br />
residence. There is no doubt that the<br />
during vacations.<br />
West Downs School. The day<br />
ten by Kings School pupil, James Rose.<br />
award-winning West Downs Student<br />
included a range <strong>of</strong> performing arts<br />
Mark Hichen’s book about West Downs <strong>of</strong>fers some interesting insights into the<br />
teaching <strong>of</strong> the performing arts through the twentieth century.<br />
An early custom was that boys would perform the plot <strong>of</strong> a Shakespeare play, but using<br />
their words, not Shakespeare. One old West Downian has vivid memories <strong>of</strong> a<br />
performance <strong>of</strong> Macbeth: "The curtains parted and two boys emerged from opposite<br />
sides <strong>of</strong> the stage and ran into each other. One <strong>of</strong> them, acting as Lady Macbeth, said to<br />
the other: "Let’s murder Duncan." "Yes, let’s," said the other, at which the curtains were<br />
once again drawn."<br />
Taken from<br />
West Downs - A Portrait <strong>of</strong> an English Prep School<br />
by Mark Hichen<br />
Rebekah Bernstein graduated in<br />
BA Performing Arts in 2000. She<br />
shares her thoughts on the new<br />
West Downs Centre:<br />
to be invited to the opening. The<br />
project aims to inspire and encourage<br />
young people to participate in the<br />
Arts and to develop a range <strong>of</strong> skills,<br />
song, ‘Why?’ which takes an<br />
expressive look at the issue <strong>of</strong><br />
bullying, and Daniel composed the<br />
music.<br />
and marked the beginning <strong>of</strong> a very<br />
Since graduating, I have been<br />
special relationship between the Anvil<br />
As a graduate in Performing Arts, I<br />
working at The Anvil Theatre in<br />
and schools in Basingstoke.<br />
must admit that I felt quite envious<br />
Basingstoke as an arts assistant. I still<br />
whilst admiring the wonderful<br />
have close links with King Alfred’s<br />
Sophie Hartgill and Daniel Van<br />
facilities! Sadly, we did not have such<br />
that have developed through my<br />
Leeuwen are two pupils who<br />
luxurious studios to work in and <strong>of</strong>ten<br />
I think that West Downs will be a<br />
work in Arts Education.<br />
participated in the project from Fort<br />
had to resort to rehearsing in a room<br />
fantastic investment for the future <strong>of</strong><br />
Hill Community School. They were<br />
that resembled something along the<br />
the Arts at King Alfred’s, especially<br />
It was through one <strong>of</strong> our most<br />
invited by King Alfred’s to perform<br />
lines <strong>of</strong> a rather dull and dirty port-a-<br />
with the intake for the BA Performing<br />
recent education developments, ‘The<br />
their song on bullying at the new<br />
cabin! In saying that, I did thoroughly<br />
Arts course increasing yearly.<br />
Schools Opera Project’, that we came<br />
West Downs Centre. Sophie wrote the<br />
enjoy my time at King Alfred’s!<br />
2 <strong>Venta</strong> - King Alfred’s Alumni Magazine
Above: Looking through the main entrance<br />
to the West Downs Performing Arts and<br />
Conference Centre.<br />
workshops and tours <strong>of</strong> the facilities,<br />
followed by the <strong>of</strong>ficial opening by<br />
Lord Puttnam and a staff reception.<br />
“...high ambition combined with<br />
creativity and the<br />
latest technology ...”<br />
In his opening speech, Lord Puttnam<br />
congratulated the College on the<br />
imaginative way in which the space<br />
had been converted, he said:<br />
"We are told we should not have<br />
"fancy ideas". But we no longer live in<br />
the world <strong>of</strong> "make do and mend".<br />
You have shown high ambition<br />
combined with creativity and the<br />
latest technology to give<br />
opportunities to many young<br />
people."<br />
He watched the variety <strong>of</strong> dance,<br />
drama, art and music workshops, and<br />
commented that the Centre would<br />
give the Performing Arts students the<br />
time, space and confidence to<br />
develop their skills.<br />
He was particularly taken by a<br />
performance <strong>of</strong> a song written by<br />
Kings’ School pupil, James Rose.<br />
James has cerebral palsy and uses a<br />
head pointer attached to a computer<br />
to write. His words were set to music<br />
and performed by third year<br />
Performing Arts student, Karen<br />
Tween. Lord Puttnam described the<br />
performance as a "quintessential<br />
moment" and praised the<br />
combination <strong>of</strong> artistry and<br />
technology, which enabled the<br />
partnership to happen.<br />
He said: "It is a pleasure to have the<br />
opportunity to dedicate the opening<br />
<strong>of</strong> a resource like this.<br />
Congratulations to all the students<br />
and lecturers that have taken part in<br />
the tour and allowed us to see the<br />
purposes for which the building<br />
exists." he added "The College should<br />
be justifiably proud <strong>of</strong> the Centre and<br />
continue to use it absolutely<br />
brilliantly."<br />
The grade II listed building has always<br />
been part <strong>of</strong> a strong tradition <strong>of</strong><br />
education within the city <strong>of</strong> <strong>Winchester</strong>.<br />
Always, that is, with exception to the<br />
duration <strong>of</strong> World War II, when it housed<br />
the Allied Command Centre for planning<br />
the D-Day landings.<br />
Director <strong>of</strong> Estates, Chris Higgins recalls:<br />
"When we started work we found some<br />
interesting documents under the floor<br />
boards including a tearstained letter from<br />
a homesick seven-year-old school boy;<br />
and partly eaten by mice, instructions<br />
from the United States Army on what to<br />
do if captured by the Nazi’s."<br />
Sue Pearson graduated in 1986<br />
in Human Movement Studies.<br />
She explains how she came to<br />
be invited to the Opening <strong>of</strong><br />
West Downs:<br />
I was invited to the West Downs<br />
Opening following a conversation<br />
with Janet Sparkes (School <strong>of</strong><br />
Education) about a project that I am<br />
involved with at work (Shepherds<br />
Down School for children with<br />
moderate learning difficulties). She<br />
thought it would be great for an ex-<br />
King Alfred’s student to represent<br />
art-related activities that are taking<br />
place in the community.<br />
My project is based on Sherborne<br />
Movement, and I am currently<br />
leading a series <strong>of</strong> workshops with<br />
the parents <strong>of</strong> children who are a<br />
mixture <strong>of</strong> autistic and high<br />
dependency. I was first introduced to<br />
Sherborne Movement by Janet about<br />
18 years ago when I came to King<br />
Alfred’s to study a 4 year BEd (Hons)<br />
course specialising in Human<br />
Movement Studies and Special<br />
Needs Janet was my personal tutor.<br />
I've practised Sherborne Movement<br />
over the past few years both here<br />
and in Romania whilst working for a<br />
charity, MUSIKA in Romania (also<br />
introduced to by Janet).<br />
Sherborne Movement is an attempt<br />
to recreate the early stimulating<br />
environment between parent and<br />
child. It is particularly important for<br />
children who for one<br />
reason or another are<br />
unable to access such<br />
essential experiences<br />
at an early age. It<br />
does this by involving<br />
the child in shared<br />
movement<br />
experiences that aim<br />
to increase their<br />
body’s awareness and to<br />
develop their ability to relate to<br />
others and gain a feeling <strong>of</strong> security<br />
and confidence in themselves.<br />
I think the new centre looks<br />
fantastic, and I would like to see it<br />
being used for classes open to the<br />
public and workshops for teachers.<br />
I hope that the public will also be<br />
invited to College performances here<br />
– in addition to school visits to see<br />
performances, exhibitions and<br />
experience workshops. We have<br />
been invited back for a tour in the<br />
summer as a 'thank-you' to the<br />
Mums and children who took part in<br />
the workshop at the opening – I’m<br />
already looking forward to it!<br />
Issue 5 - Summer 2001 3
Class <strong>of</strong> 1980 reunion<br />
The class <strong>of</strong> 1980 met last September in Alfie’s Castle, organised by<br />
Deborah Carter (nee Robertson), BA History and Archaeology.<br />
Deborah writes:<br />
The event was attended by 80<br />
graduates who studied at College<br />
between 1980 – 1984 with a few<br />
impostors <strong>of</strong> previous years included<br />
and two "old" lecturers – Utrick<br />
Casebourne and Michael Hicks.<br />
30 stayed the night in Alwyn Hall –<br />
like old times!<br />
Names and addresses were swapped<br />
so that people can be involved in my<br />
40th Birthday celebrations.<br />
(Left to Right): Caroline Coomber, Claire Barrett, Teresa Whitton, Vicki Adler, Alison Daone, Paul<br />
Trimble, Sue Yeend-Curd, Deborah Robertson.<br />
A disco was held playing eighties<br />
music and a two-course meal was<br />
enjoyed in the Dining Hall. Also, over<br />
Please call me on 01255 553811 if you<br />
too would like to be included!<br />
I remember when ...<br />
Would you like to take a trip down memory lane and have a look around campus to see how things have changed?<br />
Simply get in touch with the alumni <strong>of</strong>fice to arrange!<br />
(Un) forgotten treasures<br />
Barbara Yorke was recently awarded the title <strong>of</strong> "Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Early<br />
Medieval History" in recognition <strong>of</strong> her national and international<br />
research pr<strong>of</strong>ile and <strong>of</strong> the pr<strong>of</strong>essional leadership she has shown<br />
both within the College and the wider community.<br />
Here she reminisces on an Archaeology dig from days gone by, in<br />
response to a photo sent in by Mark Housby (Archaeology<br />
1979 - 1982).<br />
I remember the field trip very well,<br />
and I think that I am still using some<br />
<strong>of</strong> the slides I took while we were<br />
there, but I don't remember this<br />
photograph being taken. If a similar<br />
photo were taken today it would be<br />
rather more packed with people<br />
because numbers have risen<br />
substantially in recent years, and a<br />
class this size is almost an unknown<br />
luxury. There would also be a much<br />
greater variation in ages represented<br />
as mature students are now a major<br />
element <strong>of</strong> the student body.<br />
The tentative steps taken then to<br />
introduce Archaeology into KAC have<br />
led to two popular Single Honours<br />
courses in Archaeological Practice and<br />
Archaeology. It’s still possible to do<br />
Combined Honours in Archaeology<br />
and History, but it’s not so popular<br />
though since Single Honours History<br />
has taken <strong>of</strong>f. There is also a MA in<br />
Field Archaeology and another in<br />
Regional and Local History and<br />
Archaeology. Please let us know if you<br />
are interested! Both Archaeology and<br />
History are based in Medecr<strong>of</strong>t now,<br />
and those who remember it will be<br />
delighted to hear it has had a bit <strong>of</strong> a<br />
facelift - it even has carpets on the<br />
floors!<br />
Of course, there have been many staff<br />
changes though a few old favourites<br />
are still hanging on - Michael Hicks,<br />
Tom James and Roger Richardson, for<br />
instance, and Alan French is due to<br />
retire at the end <strong>of</strong> the summer.<br />
Archaeology has seen most changes as<br />
several new staff have been appointed<br />
over the years, and it is now under the<br />
direction <strong>of</strong> Tony King. I don't do so<br />
much teaching in Archaeology, but I<br />
am still very interested in the interface<br />
<strong>of</strong> Archaeology and History and like to<br />
have a foot in both camps. I have been<br />
publishing quite a lot in recent years,<br />
mostly on Anglo-Saxon history, but I<br />
always try to incorporate some<br />
archaeological material as well if I can.<br />
One <strong>of</strong> my recent publications is a<br />
general book on "The Anglo-Saxons"<br />
for the Sutton Pocket History (all<br />
those introductory I lectures made it<br />
relatively easy to write!) and I am just<br />
The photo was taken in 1980 in a car park in Dorchester, whilst the History & Archaeology group<br />
were on a course trip. This group were the 1979 intake <strong>of</strong> Archaeologists, who were only the second<br />
year <strong>of</strong> Archaeology students at KAC. There is however one interloper from the 1978 intake<br />
in the photo, namely Andy Simpson, but also one 1979 student missing, who refused to have his<br />
picture taken - Pete Crotty. Barbara Yorke is also in the photo, together with the Archaeology<br />
tutor, Annie Robinson. Alex Turner is <strong>of</strong> course still working at KAC in the Archaeology<br />
Department.<br />
The occupants <strong>of</strong> the photo are: Front row (left to right): Mark Housby; Nick Riall; Betty Hansell;<br />
Alex Turner; Tina Lowesby; Jill Oseman and Rob Collins. Middle row: Claire Blackman. Back row<br />
(left to right): Yvonne Thyer: Andy Simpson; Barbara Yorke; Annie Robinson; Neil Maylen; Gina<br />
George; Cathy Johnson; Nick Hurst, Charlie Cracknell and Aen Bennent.<br />
completing a much more detailed and history he has had success<br />
study on "Nunneries and the Anglo- recently with a book based on his<br />
Saxon Royal Houses".<br />
grandfather's journals <strong>of</strong> the Boer War.<br />
I was delighted to meet Tina and Andy<br />
One <strong>of</strong> the good things about the again when they came to a lecture I<br />
smaller classes in days gone by is that gave in Bradford on Avon last year. I<br />
one got to know everyone, so the am also still in touch with Annie who<br />
names and faces in the photo are all is married with a young daughter and<br />
familiar to me. I have seen quite a living just outside Bristol.<br />
number <strong>of</strong> people more recently as<br />
well - not so difficult in some cases as It’s always a great pleasure to see<br />
they are still in <strong>Winchester</strong> (Alex, Gina, former students, so do come and look<br />
Mark). Nick Riall lived in Hampshire us up if you are visiting <strong>Winchester</strong>.<br />
until recently when he retreated to<br />
Wales; as well as publishing various<br />
pieces on Hampshire's archaeology<br />
4 <strong>Venta</strong> - King Alfred’s Alumni Magazine
Down memory lane ...<br />
Howard Horstead attended King Alfred’s between 1953 and 1955.<br />
Then the College was an all-male bastion <strong>of</strong> less than 200<br />
students. Here is just a brief snapshot <strong>of</strong> King Alfred’s nearly half a<br />
century ago.<br />
• The Principal, W. P. Dickinson,<br />
personally interviewed all men<br />
applying. Most men had served at<br />
least two years <strong>of</strong> National Service.<br />
• Everyone studied "Education" in<br />
their first year, dividing into primary<br />
and secondary groups in year two.<br />
We chose two main subjects from<br />
English, Mathematics, History,<br />
Geography, Physical Education, Craft,<br />
Biology, French, General Science,<br />
Divinity and Horticulture.<br />
• Each year some ten mature<br />
students from abroad were admitted<br />
onto a one year course to learn about<br />
English education. There was also a<br />
small cohort <strong>of</strong> men taking a one<br />
year course in Handicraft - they were<br />
informally known as ‘the wood and<br />
iron men’.<br />
Boys will be boys…<br />
In my second year, there was a<br />
General Election – we postered all<br />
over <strong>Winchester</strong> for the spo<strong>of</strong><br />
candidate "Alfred King - Communist"<br />
- including a banner on the prison<br />
stating "Vote for King and get your<br />
freedom!" The Principal informed us<br />
that a Detective Sergeant and a<br />
Detective Constable wished to<br />
interview those involved. There were<br />
less than a dozen culprits but 143<br />
(out <strong>of</strong> 178 students) turned up for<br />
questioning! No action was taken!<br />
• Nearly all students received free<br />
education, full board and lodging.<br />
I received one <strong>of</strong> the largest grants:<br />
£40 per year from the London<br />
County Council. Many <strong>of</strong> us<br />
undertook vacation work – such as in<br />
the Post Office at Christmas which<br />
included a Christmas morning<br />
delivery!<br />
• Virtually all students lived on site<br />
in St. James’. St. Grimbald’s, St.<br />
Swithun’s and Main Building, with<br />
West Hayes (just <strong>of</strong>f the Romsey<br />
Road) as the fifth hostel. A room with<br />
a wash basin was a luxury!<br />
• Students enjoyed three cooked<br />
meals a day in the Dining Hall. Staff<br />
who wished to attend sat at the top<br />
table. Luncheon and Supper were<br />
formal meals where one stood as staff<br />
entered and "bowed out" if you<br />
wished to leave before staff..<br />
On another occasion we dug a very<br />
large question mark on St.<br />
Catherine’s Hill. Photographs and<br />
news stories appeared in many local<br />
and national papers – all blaming the<br />
boys from <strong>Winchester</strong> College.<br />
Howard Horstead with his friend Troy proudly displaying the Christmas Tree they<br />
"borrowed" to donate to the children’s ward at <strong>Winchester</strong> hospital. The origins <strong>of</strong><br />
the tree remain lost in the murky mists <strong>of</strong> time!<br />
This sporting life<br />
Despite its size the College had a wide extra-curricular programme. Soccer,<br />
rugger, hockey, tennis, cricket, badminton, cross-country and athletics could<br />
all muster two or three teams according to season. In addition, there were<br />
other activities such as debating, drama and film.<br />
On Ascension Day all lectures were cancelled and clubs and societies<br />
organised the day’s programme. There was no Student Union.<br />
Top marks for King Alfred’s!<br />
Quality Assessors have descended on<br />
the College over the past year and<br />
have given the thumbs up to three<br />
subject areas. The specialist subject<br />
reviewers deemed the College’s<br />
provision as excellent, with<br />
Education Studies achieving the<br />
maximum possible score, 24 out <strong>of</strong><br />
24! A final visit to Archaeology will<br />
take place in October 2001 … we<br />
look forward to another excellent<br />
result!<br />
Business and Management: 22/24<br />
Theology and Religious Studies:<br />
23/24<br />
Education Studies: 24/24<br />
Issue 5 - Summer 2001 5
8<br />
Blast from the past!<br />
Why not drop us a line to share your news for inclusion in the next<br />
edition <strong>of</strong> <strong>Venta</strong>?<br />
1964<br />
Wilkinson,<br />
Peter<br />
1-year Mature Students<br />
Programme<br />
I graduated from KAC in 1964, after<br />
coming almost directly from the Royal<br />
Navy where I served as an Engineer<br />
room Artificer from 1948-62. KAC was<br />
my first experience as a "student" and<br />
was the catalyst that changed my life<br />
and goals.<br />
After graduating, I taught in the<br />
Sweyne Technical/Grammar School in<br />
Rayleigh, Essex for one year, where I<br />
went on to the "National Nautical<br />
School", Portishead as Head <strong>of</strong><br />
Engineering Training for the following<br />
4 years.<br />
At that point (1978) my wife and I<br />
(we met at KAC and married a couple<br />
<strong>of</strong> years later) emigrated to Canada. I<br />
was a "Technology Education" teacher<br />
and part-time "Guidance Counsellor"<br />
in a Junior/Senior High School in a<br />
small country town called Rimbey in<br />
Central Alberta. After 4 years there I<br />
was appointed Principal <strong>of</strong> a large<br />
Junior High School (12-16 Years) in a<br />
nearby larger community called<br />
Ponoka.<br />
Then 5 years later, I moved again to a<br />
larger community called Olds, and<br />
the Principal-ship <strong>of</strong> a Junior/Senior<br />
School (12-18 years). I returned to<br />
the classroom to teach Technology<br />
Education after a further 5 years and<br />
taught until retiring in 1992. We still<br />
live in the town <strong>of</strong> Olds in the house<br />
we built ourselves. Olds is 60 miles<br />
north <strong>of</strong> Calgary, 30 miles south <strong>of</strong><br />
Red Deer, and is situated in the<br />
beautiful foothills <strong>of</strong> the Rocky<br />
Mountains.<br />
When I said that the experience at<br />
KAC changed my life you may judge<br />
how much from the following -<br />
• At universities in Canada and the<br />
United States, I completed a total <strong>of</strong><br />
11 further years <strong>of</strong> education finishing<br />
with a Ph.D.<br />
• In addition to my school teaching<br />
and administration I have done<br />
sessional teaching at universities all<br />
over North America<br />
• I developed new curriculum for<br />
Alberta Education in "Career &<br />
Technology Studies".<br />
• In 1991 I was awarded the<br />
International Marshall McLuhan<br />
medal for distinguished teaching.<br />
• I was selected as a "Shell Canada"<br />
Fellow to Queens <strong>University</strong>,<br />
Kingston, Ontario, to study LASERS in<br />
Medicine, Industry and Education.<br />
My one year at King Alfred’s will<br />
remain one <strong>of</strong> my most treasured<br />
times. I made very many good<br />
friendships there but, regrettably, all<br />
have been lost with the move to<br />
Canada. I would love to hear from<br />
anyone who recognises my name<br />
from those days. My e-mail:<br />
pwilkins@telusplanet.net<br />
My address: Peter Wilkinson<br />
4426-46 Ave.<br />
Olds<br />
Alberta, Canada<br />
T4H 1A1<br />
Phone: (403) 556-7021<br />
Cellular (403) 512-5184<br />
1981<br />
Thompson, Stella (nee<br />
Canavan) BA English and<br />
Drama<br />
Since leaving KAC, I have been<br />
teaching both at home and abroad. I<br />
am currently still living in Belfast, but<br />
am hoping to move back to<br />
Hampshire – probably the <strong>Winchester</strong><br />
area. I am still writing poetry –<br />
"International Contemporary Poets" is<br />
an example <strong>of</strong> my work:<br />
International Contemporary Poets<br />
Recharging the batteries <strong>of</strong> existence<br />
Voluntary work better than nothing<br />
Nothing is a long way from something<br />
International Contemporary Poet, you<br />
Guest at a famous party<br />
Outfit not least extraordinary<br />
Juice trussed up like a Turkey<br />
International Contemporary Poet,<br />
golly!<br />
Gesticulate arms flung around him<br />
Love all in front <strong>of</strong> the audience<br />
Special people placed in the hall <strong>of</strong><br />
fame<br />
International Contemporary Poet join<br />
the party<br />
Constant keeping <strong>of</strong> records<br />
Invisible ties that bind us<br />
Jew or Muslim Catholic Sikh or Hindu<br />
International Contemporary Poet a<br />
job <strong>of</strong> work<br />
1989<br />
Bizien, Carolyn (nee Martin) BA<br />
History & English<br />
If anyone is in contact with Amy<br />
Chidgey (1989 History and English),<br />
could you please pass on the<br />
following information? I would<br />
desperately like to hear from her and<br />
am grateful to anyone able to assist<br />
me in my search for a dear friend.<br />
My address: Carolyn Bizien<br />
3559 East Immigrant Pass Drive<br />
Boise, Idaho 83716<br />
U.S.A.<br />
e-mail address: cafecaroline@aol.com<br />
1998<br />
Kohli, Simon BA World Music<br />
and English<br />
Hi to all those who graduated in<br />
World Music and English, and to all<br />
those who graduated in 1998. After<br />
two years <strong>of</strong> struggle, I have finally<br />
made it in the field I originally wanted<br />
to work in, publishing, although not<br />
as an editor, which I am not really<br />
suited to. I now have a cushy<br />
permanent job at 18K in Web<br />
Production. I am also doing a few<br />
little performances <strong>of</strong> North Indian<br />
Classical music on my Sarod and<br />
getting paid for it, and if anyone<br />
wants to meet up for a jam they are<br />
welcome.<br />
So, Hi to Colin in English and Szu<br />
Ling Shao, Ian and Gordon in World<br />
Music.<br />
e-mail address: simonkohli@hotmail.com<br />
Kosidowski, Annabel BA<br />
Combined Hons Programme<br />
Greetings! I am now on the<br />
secretarial ladder, but I am trying to<br />
keep up with my Archaeological<br />
studies as well. Currently, I am<br />
studying Classical Latin with the Open<br />
<strong>University</strong>, and have plans to start an<br />
MA (eventually!)<br />
A big hello to Jan Symonds, featured<br />
in the Winter 2000 edition; I still<br />
remember our chats on the<br />
Medecr<strong>of</strong>t porch with Andy White.<br />
Also, hello to Bill Knott, whose<br />
humour is infectious, and I still<br />
remember you embarrassing me<br />
outside the canteen on my 21st – you<br />
rotter! You are duly forgiven! Finally,<br />
at long last you cry, "hello" to<br />
lecturers and fellow colleagues on the<br />
Shapwick Excavations 1996 – 1997; I<br />
hope that you are all still digging and<br />
swigging scrumpy!<br />
Main, Sarah (nee Burbridge) BA<br />
QTS Biological Sciences<br />
Life has moved fast since I graduated<br />
in 1998. I am still<br />
teaching at a school in North East<br />
Hampshire, but have changed just<br />
about everything else in my life!<br />
Tom and I got married in August 2000<br />
in Southampton, with a wonderful<br />
reception at Marwell<br />
Hotel. Thank you to all<br />
our friends who made<br />
it such a good day.<br />
Teachers seemed to<br />
be quite prominent<br />
feature to the day:<br />
we had 2 teachers<br />
playing music at<br />
the Reception<br />
and even the<br />
car was driven<br />
by a teacher!<br />
It would be great to hear from<br />
anyone from my course! Anyone can<br />
e-mail me at:<br />
s.burbridge@holme.hants.org.uk<br />
1999<br />
Cross, Jilly BA Drama and<br />
Psychology<br />
After graduation I went back to<br />
working at my summer job at a<br />
clothing company called Fat Face and<br />
quickly moved up to Manager <strong>of</strong> their<br />
new store in Southampton. After six<br />
months, I had enough and decided to<br />
take the big step and move to the city.<br />
My career has since moved drastically<br />
from the Drama/Psychology degree I<br />
took and I now work in the<br />
wonderful world <strong>of</strong> Business<br />
Marketing.<br />
Things have gone very well and I am<br />
now a team leader/supervisor for a<br />
small agency in Knightsbridge - just<br />
opposite Harrods! However, I have to<br />
admit that the theatre is still my<br />
passion and I hope to take an MA<br />
course once all the debts are paid<br />
<strong>of</strong>f!!<br />
I would love to hear from anyone<br />
who remembers me - by all means<br />
contact me at the address below!<br />
e-mail address: jilly@rain-maker.co.uk<br />
Dean, Gareth BA Archaeology<br />
I am currently nearing the<br />
completion <strong>of</strong> a MA in Field<br />
Archaeology at the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> York.<br />
I felt like getting in touch after<br />
meeting Nick Thorpe at a conference<br />
held here.<br />
I took a year out before starting my<br />
course and worked in archaeology. I<br />
was wondering what any one else<br />
from that year in is doing now? It’s<br />
certainly been a swift two years since<br />
I finished!<br />
As I may be moving soon, I am using<br />
my parent’s address:<br />
13, Parkfield<br />
Letchworth Garden City<br />
Hertfordshire<br />
SG6 2QF<br />
<strong>Venta</strong> - King Alfred’s Alumni Magazine