Alastair Stewart OBE accepts Honorary Doctorate - University of ...

Issue 25 Winter 2011
New £5.6m building
Five-star excellence
Olympic countdown
Zombosium
University Professors
awarded MBEs
venta
For alumni and friends of the University of Winchester
Alastair Stewart OBE
accepts Honorary Doctorate
Journalism ranked first in
National Student Survey
1

Alumni Scholarships
Enrol on a Masters or Research programme at the University of Winchester and
receive a £250 loyalty discount.
Apply before 30 June 2012 and the loyalty discount increases to £375.
Why not attend our Masters
Open Evening 16 May 2012
Postgraduate courses available for
September 2012 enrolment
Who is eligible for the scheme
All of our former students who have completed an
undergraduate degree, postgraduate degree or research degree
at the University of Winchester. To check your eligibility please
contact the Alumni Office.
What other conditions apply
For the reduced tuition fee you will need to be accepted on
your intended programme of study and be able to satisfy
all the normal academic admissions criteria, as well as
the University of Winchester’s enrolment and registration
conditions. This scheme cannot be used in conjunction with
any other sponsorship awarded by the University of Winchester.
Students supported by their employer for professional
development programmes, students intending to pursue
a PGCE and students applying for a top-up course are also
exempt.
• Accounting and Finance (MSc)
• Archaeology (MRes)
• Master of Business
Administration (MBA)
• Business Management (MSc)
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• Cultural and Arts Management (MA)
• Cultural and Heritage Resource
Management (MA)
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• Dance: Practice and Production (MA)
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• Education – Early Years, School,
College, Workplace & Educators
pathway (MA)
• Education – Medical Educators
pathway (MA)
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• Human Resource Management (MSc)
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Global Issues (MA)
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Issues with Environment and
Development (MSc)
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Methods (MSc)
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Archaeology (MA)
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as Development (MA)
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• Graduate Diploma in Law
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2
If you have any further queries please contact the Alumni Office: Telephone: 01962 827532 Email: alumni@winchester.ac.uk

VENTA / Winter 2011
VENTA / Issue 25 / Winter 2011
Welcome
Greetings to all alumni and other
friends of the University.
There is a real chill in the air as I write this
but the autumn sunshine is comforting
and Winchester looks as beautiful as ever
for the Graduation season. We all enjoyed
celebrating Graduation with our students,
honorary graduates and families and
friends in the arms of the Cathedral, and
the procession of academic staff down
the High Street allowed an even deeper
sense of ‘Town and Gown’. Next year at
Graduation we shall be celebrating the first
Alumnus of the Year Award. The award is a
demonstration of the University’s pride in its
alumni and its commitment to inspiring both
current students and alumni, encouraging
them to value their contribution to society
as highly as their career goals and other
aspirations.
The University welcomed the largest number
of students in its history this autumn and we
continue to build to accommodate and teach
the growing population. Two major building
projects are described in this issue of Venta.
You will read about a new Learning and
Teaching building with a fantastic piece of
art on its south wall, linked to our Christian
Foundation, and an accommodation complex
of five hundred beds. I am also pleased with
our plans for a piazza area surrounded by
The Stripe, the new Learning and Teaching
building and the University Centre; it should
provide a lovely space for students to meet,
discuss, rest and relax.
The University saw a change of Chair of
Governors earlier this year when Roger
Witcomb was appointed Chair of the
Competition Commission. We are deeply
grateful to Roger for his totemic contribution
to the Board of Governors over some five
years. I am delighted to tell you that Richard
(Dick) Wilkinson has now taken on the role. A
Classics graduate and former diplomat, Dick
is ideally suited to the role and is already
making an important contribution.
Finally, I have some excellent news to report.
First of all, success for former members of
staff, José Chambers and Tom James who
have both recently gained MBEs. José and
Tom made huge contributions both within
the University and in society at large and
we very much value our ongoing links
with them. Lastly, it is with much delight
that I report success for the University in
gaining recently two awards, the European
Foundation for Quality Management
Recognised for Excellence five-star award
and the International Faith and Spirit at
Work Award. What greater pleasure could
there be for a values-driven, inclusive,
Cathedrals Group institution!
With warm wishes as ever to you and your
loved ones for the festive season.
Professor Joy Carter
Vice-Chancellor
Contents
Faith & Spirit Award ........................ page 2
Graduation 2011............................... page 3
London 2012..................................... page 4
New £5.6m building........................ page 5
PADI research.................................... page 6
University excavations..................... page 7
Zombosium........................................ page 8
Actress Lauren Cohan...................... page 8, 9
Roll of Honour.................................. page 10
AoC Chief Executive......................... page 11
Alumni around the world................ page 12, 13
Total Theatre Award......................... page 14
Wii choreographer............................ page 15
Winton Reunion 2012...................... page 16
Front cover: Alastair Stewart OBE
Back cover: Graduation 2011
Venta is published by the Student Recruitment and Marketing department of the University of Winchester. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without prior permission of the publisher.
Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of editorial content, no responsibility can be taken for any errors and/or omissions. The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily
those of the University of Winchester. All rights reserved. © University of Winchester 2011
1

University News
VENTA / Issue 25 / Winter 2011
2011 International Faith and Spirit at Work Award
The University of Winchester has
received the 2011 International
Faith and Spirit at Work Award for
showing a strong commitment to
nurturing the faith and spirituality of
its students and staff. The award is
given each year to a select group of
companies throughout the world who
decide which organisations should be
honoured for best practice.
The Selection Committee was especially
impressed with Winchester’s staff development
programme which includes sessions on Exploring
Vocation, Prayer Styles in a Busy World,
Spiritual Intelligence and Supporting Staff in a
Multicultural, Multifaith Environment. The judges
also liked how staff have access to the full range
of medical, personal and spiritual support offered
to students as well as the benefit of a valuesdriven
catering policy.
“This award highlights our commitment to
valuing religious ways of knowing at the same
time as subjecting them to robust analysis
and questioning”, said Professor Elizabeth
Stuart, Senior Pro-Vice-Chancellor at
Winchester. “The University has always made
an explicit commitment to celebrating its
Christian foundation while at the same time
creating a hospitable environment in which
staff and students can explore and practise
other forms of faith and spirituality and
also question the very notion of faith. We’re
thrilled to be receiving global recognition in
this way.”
Forty-five organizations with a presence in 39
countries have been honoured since 2002.
These companies include The Body Shop (United
Kingdom), The Times of India (India), ANZ Bank
in Australia and New Zealand, Tyson Foods Inc.
(United States), Medtronics (United States) and
Hearthstone Homes (United States).
The Reverend Professor June Boyce-Tillman MBE,
who directed Space for Peace on Holocaust
Memorial Day at Winchester Cathedral this year,
received the award on behalf of the University in
November at the International Faith and Spirit at
Work Conference in Arkansas, USA.
Former British
Ambassador is new
Chair of Governors
The University of Winchester has
appointed Richard Wilkinson CVO
as its new Chair of Governors. Dick
Wilkinson has lived in Winchester
for the last 20 years and has been a
university governor for the last three
years, holding the position of Vice-
Chair since 2010. He has had a varied
career in public service as well as the
world of academia.
Dick joined the Foreign and Commonwealth
Office fast stream in 1972 and served
in progressively senior posts in Europe,
Latin America and London. Posts included
Ambassador to Venezuela and to Chile as well
as Director for the Americas and Overseas
Territories.
After retiring from the FCO in 2005 he
joined the Modern Languages Department at
Winchester College where he has just stood
down after five years as Head of Spanish. He
was made a Commander of the Royal Victorian
Order in 1991 in recognition of his service at
the British Embassy in Paris.
“All universities face uncertainties at present,”
explained Dick on taking up his new role. “It
can be argued that a relatively small university
such as Winchester, oriented towards
education, the arts and social sciences, is
particularly exposed. I believe we have the
assets and the reputation to carry us through,
and indeed to flourish. Where there are
challenges there are always opportunities, and
we intend to grasp them.”
Dick Wilkinson CVO
The University’s former Chair of Governors,
Roger Witcomb, was recently appointed as the
new Chair of the Competition Committee by
Vince Cable, the Secretary of State for Business,
Innovation and Skills.
“It’s a really exciting opportunity for me,
although I shall be sad to give up my role at
the University,” said Mr Witcomb who was
first made a Diocesan Governor in 2004,
becoming Chair of Governors four years ago.
“The government is currently consulting
on a proposal to merge the Competition
Commission and the Office of Fair Trading. If
that goes ahead it will be a big job to make
it happen, while at the same carrying out
our statutory duty to investigate mergers
and markets that are not working well for
consumers.”
After seven years as a governor at Winchester,
Roger confirmed that he will always continue
to take a keen interest in the future of the
University.
“Roger has been a magnificent Chair of
Governors and has contributed an immense
amount to this institution,” said Professor Joy
Carter, Vice-Chancellor at Winchester. “It has
been an absolute pleasure to work with him
and we send him our very best wishes for the
important new role which he has now taken on.”
Anyone for Good News
God and the Media
Former BBC Religious Affairs
Correspondent, Christopher Landau
appeared at The Stripe recently
to give a University Foundation
Lecture to explore the often complex
relationship between the media and
religious organisations.
During his fascinating talk, Christopher
questioned why the media only seem to have
negative things to say about religion, asking
if this is the media’s fault or if religious
people are too content to play the media’s
game. He also asked if the ‘bad news’ on
which the media thrives ever contains the
‘good news’ that Christians hope to proclaim.
Christopher is currently undertaking
postgraduate research in theology combined
with training for the ministry in the Church
of England. He has written and presented
several documentaries on religion for BBC
radio, including the Jerusalem Award-winning
Refuge Bethlehem for the BBC World Service
and an exclusive portrait of
the launch of Tony Blair’s
Faith Foundation for BBC
Radio 4.
Christopher Landau
For more information
about Foundation
Events at the University
of Winchester visit
www.winchester.ac.uk/events
2

University News
VENTA / Issue 25 / Winter 2011
UK first: University gains fivestar
rating for overall excellence
The University of Winchester has
been awarded the highest possible
five-star accreditation rating by the
British Quality Foundation under its
Recognised for Excellence scheme
which uses the EFQM Excellence
Model. It is the first university in the
UK to gain a five-star rating for overall
organisational excellence.
“This is a great achievement for the University,”
commented Vice-Chancellor, Professor Joy
Carter. “It’s wonderful to be the first university
in the country to achieve this recognition for
the whole institution rather than individual
areas. It reflects the University’s commitment
to delivering the highest level of excellence
and experience for our students and other
stakeholders.”
The EFQM Excellence Model is used by
thousands of private and public sector
organisations in the UK and Europe that are
well on their way to organisational excellence,
recognising successful efforts to implement
excellence and good practice. The assessors
particularly identified leadership, at all levels
of the University, as an area for praise stating:
“there is clear evidence that they role-model
the values, and actively reinforce the culture
of excellence in their normal day-to-day
activities.”
The University provided evidence of its
sustainable excellence in a submission
document dealing with 32 criterion parts of the
EFQM Excellence Model. This was reviewed by
EFQM assessors who visited the University and
used the document as a basis for discussions
with some 70 members of staff from across
the University, covering all aspects of the
organisation.
Journalism
ranked top in
National Student
Survey
Journalism at Winchester has been
ranked first in England for academic
support and learning resources in the
2011 National Student Survey (NSS).
It has also been ranked in the top
five in England for satisfaction with
teaching, assessment and feedback,
and organisation and management,
and in the top three for overall
satisfaction.
The University’s Education Studies, Dance,
and Theology and Religious Studies appeared
in the top 10 with Archaeology, Creative
Writing, Initial Teacher Education, Business
Management, Psychology, and Social Work
ranked in the top 20.
Graduation 2011
City procession becomes new
Winchester tradition
This year over 1,500 students
from the University of Winchester
graduated in front of family and
friends during six graduation
ceremonies held from 8-10 November
at Winchester Cathedral.
For the first time in the University’s history,
celebrations began with a procession through
Winchester City Centre, leaving from Abbey
House, the official residence of the Mayor of
Winchester, travelling along the High Street to
Winchester Cathedral. The line-up included the
Chancellor, Professor Dame Mary Fagan DCVO
JP, Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire
and senior staff from the University. They were
joined by newscaster Alastair Stewart OBE who
was to receive an honorary doctorate at the
first ceremony, as well as dignitaries from the
County of Hampshire, the City of Winchester
and the University’s Board of Governors.
Mr Stewart, who lives in Bramdean, is the main
presenter for ITV’s ITN News and has family
connections with the University. “I could not be
more thrilled when I heard that the University
of Winchester was going to honour me in
this way,” he said just before the ceremony.
“My daughter Clementine took her degree
at Winchester (Teaching 2004-2008) so she
got there first but today I will follow in her
footsteps.”
He added: “When everything that really
matters to you – your home, your family and
your community – when it all comes together
in this way it is very, very special and there is
no other university that could tick all of those
boxes for me.”
Other outstanding individuals honoured this
year with honorary doctorates were popular
television presenter and producer Philippa
Forrester, theologian and writer the Revd
Professor Andrew Linzey, leading documentary
filmmaker Tony Palmer and Artistic Director
of the Nuffield Theatre, Patrick Sandford.
Honorary Fellowships were also awarded
to local businessman Mohammed Bakhaty,
international authority on Drama and Arts and
Education, Dr Cecily O’Neill and founder of
Laverstoke Foundation, Clare Scheckter.
3

University News
VENTA / Issue 25 / Winter 2011
Run up to London 2012
Olympian launches University’s ‘12 for 12’ project
Former Olympic swimmer Kathy
Read held a presentation assembly
at Castle Hill Junior School in
Basingstoke recently to mark the start
of a new University of Winchester
initiative, the Olympic ‘12 for 12’
project.
The aim of the project is to deliver 12 sports
celebration events in the run-up to London
2012 that incorporate the Olympic and
Paralympic values of respect, friendship,
determination, inspiration, equality, courage
and excellence.
The first ‘12 for 12’ event is the year-long
Personal Best Castle Hill Project which involves
University staff and seven student volunteers
from the University’s BA Sports Coaching and
Development programme. The volunteers will
coach the schoolchildren in preparation for an
Olympic sports day held in the summer when
the children will aim to beat their personal
bests, and those who make the greatest
improvement will become medal winners.
School who has been working closely with
the University on the project. “They were very
excited to be able to hear first-hand what
it’s like to compete at both an Olympic and
Commonwealth level. We predict that by
the end the children will feel a great sense of
achievement.”
“The aim of the Personal Best Castle Hill
Project is to recognise sporting improvement
as opposed to the best athlete,” explained
Richard Cheetham, Sports Coaching Lecturer
and ‘12 for 12’ Project Coordinator. “It will also
allow pupils to explore the link between sport
and culture and focus on determination – one
of the essential Olympic values.”
To mark the partnership between Castle
Hill and the University of Winchester, Hillier
Gardens will be providing 12 trees to establish
an Olympic commemorative garden.
“Kathy’s really inspired the children,” said
Sarah Wheble, a PE leader at Castle Hill Junior
Athlete Kathy Read with pupils from Castle Hill Junior School in Basingstoke
Sports Psychologist helps Archery
GB return with gold
A Sports Lecturer from the University of Winchester provided support recently to
young Olympic hopefuls in Archery GB at the European Junior Cup in Cyprus.
Jo Batey, Programme Leader for Sports
Science at the University of Winchester, has
been working with the GBR Junior Archery
recurve team as their sports psychologist
since last year, attending regular training
camps at the National Sports Centre in
Lilleshall, Shropshire.
“It was a rewarding championship for our
British team,” said Jo Batey, an accredited
member of the British Association of Sport
and Exercise Sciences (BASES). “We took 11
recurve archers and one of them, 17 year-old
Kieran Slater, delivered a gold medal in the
cadet boys category on the final day.”
Jo Batey’s work with Archery GB involves
helping team members to cope with the
demands of the competition, equipping
them with appropriate mental skills such
as imagery, relaxation, concentration and
emotional control. As well as spending time
with the athletes on a one-to-one basis,
she also delivers workshops on issues of
general interest including skills for developing
confidence, to preparing effectively and using
performance routines.
“As a sports psychologist, in theory most of
your work has been done prior to the athletes
competing at major competitions,” added
Jo who leads the Sports Science Consultancy
Unit (SSCU) at Winchester. “Athletes should
have been practising their mental skills for
many weeks and months in order for them
to hold up under the additional stress that a
competitive environment involves. However,
thinking clearly under pressure is not always
easy and directive reminders can be helpful,
as can the use of motivational or directional
cue words for example. Helping athletes
deal with under-performance and regaining
perspective is also important at competition
level.”
Jo Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Batey
Kieran Slater and Aalin George
4

University News
VENTA / Issue 25 / Winter 2011
University gets go ahead for new
£5.6m Learning and Teaching Building
Planners have given the green light to a brand new
Learning and Teaching Building on the King Alfred
campus. The £5.6 million development will provide
a fantastic new facility for current and prospective
students, particularly important as the University
enters a time of heightened competition and a new fee
regime.
The new building will include eight new lecture rooms as well as
a mezzanine floor with open access PCs and social learning areas.
It will also have an atrium connecting it with St Edburga and be
surrounded by extensive new landscaping including an impressive
new piazza area, skirted by the University Centre, The Stripe and St
Edburga.
Demolition of the Exam Hall and the Arts Centre has already taken
place and construction work is now underway. It is hoped that work
will be completed in time for the start of Design the new Engine academic Architects year in Ltd © 2011
2012.
Student teams offer innovation solutions
Winchester Business School at the
University of Winchester has set up
two exciting new network services
to help small and medium sized
enterprises (SMEs) innovate and
expand their business.
The new services use the InnoLab and
BusinessLab concepts and involve teams of
business students working on development
and research-orientated projects tailored to
individual needs. The Labs have grown out of
the rapid success of the Winchester Enterprise
Network which was set up three years ago and
now has more than 200 members drawn from
the University and local business community.
“The InnoLab invites businesses to submit
their innovation-related project assignments
to be completed by our student teams,” says
Dr Helena Forsman, Reader in Innovation
and Entrepreneurship at the Winchester
Business School. “Our new service can help
organisations that need new fresh ideas for
improving their existing products or services. It
can also provide consumer insights for earlystage
inventions and assist with identifying real
opportunities for your business.”
The InnoLab accepted their first projects at
the end of September and will present their
proposed solutions in December. At this stage,
if firms need help in turning InnoLab solutions
into detailed plans, BusinessLab teams will be
able to offer support by developing feasible
business plans that cover the necessary
information required to present to investors.
For further information about Winchester
E-network including their new series of lectures
please see www.e-network.org.uk
5

University News
VENTA / Issue 25 / Winter 2011
PADI funding
for diving
research
The University of Winchester
has been awarded $5,000 by the
Professional Association of Diving
Instructors (PADI) to extend its
research looking into the causes and
effects of nitrogen narcosis in divers.
Nitrogen narcosis is a phenomenon that
results from breathing air at increased ambient
pressures. The symptoms include impairment
of coordination, judgment, memory and
alterations in mood and behaviour.
Narcosis is most commonly experienced by
undersea divers at depths greater than 30m,
where it is a significant contributing factor in
diving-related accidents and impairment of
underwater work performance. An improved
understanding of narcosis has implications for
diver training, safety and work performance in
underwater environments.
“There are many questions as to what exactly
narcosis is and how it affects people, especially
with respect to their cognitive functioning
whilst underwater”, explains Dr Wendy Kneller,
Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University.
“We are hoping to find the answers to some
of these questions, particularly with respect to
how narcosis affects memory underwater.”
The research was initiated by diver and
psychologist Dr Malcolm Hobbs who Dr
Kneller teamed up with three years ago. Their
first joint study appeared in Undersea and
Hyperbaric Medicine in 2009 and was followed
by a second study in Aviation, Space and
Environmental Medicine last year.
The team is currently investigating how divers
are affected by anxiety and self-awareness of
memory impairment underwater. This research
has already received $6,220 initial funding
from PADI and additional funding will allow
them to extend their investigations.
Professor José Chambers and Professor Tom Beaumont
James
MBE Honours
Congratulations go to Professor José
Chambers and Professor Tom Beaumont
James who were both awarded MBEs in
the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2011
for their outstanding services to higher
education.
Former Assistant Vice-Chancellor Professor José
Chambers is Development Fellow for the Comino
Foundation and Director of the Winchester
Comino Centre, an educational trust which aims
to support the achievements of groups and
individuals.
Dr Malcolm Hobbs (left) collecting data from divers in the Republic of Vanuatu in the South Pacific Ocean
National awards for
sustainable catering
The University has been leading
the way in sustainable catering
within the Higher Education sector,
scooping up a number of prestigious
national awards for its first class
commitment to local and ethically
sourced provisions.
This summer Winchester became the first
university caterer rated by the Sustainable
Restaurant Association (SRA), receiving the
highest award – Three Star Champion status.
The SRA Star Rating system recognises the
sustainability achievements of restaurants,
pubs and now universities and colleges, and
provides diners with a straightforward means
of identifying places to eat.
Other accolades include the ‘Fish Friend’
award for being the first university outside
of London to take the ‘Sustainable Fish
City’ pledge. The University is committed to
sourcing its fish supply in a sustainable way
and ensuring that it never purchases fish
from the Marine Conservation Society’s list
of species to avoid.
Professor Tom Beaumont James, Emeritus
Professor of Regional Studies at Winchester, has
a long and distinguished career in archaeology
and history. In addition to his teaching in
higher education, Professor James has done
much to popularise history and archaeology
through various media including the publication
of a prize-winning text to support the BBC
Worldwide/Radio 4’s This Scepter’d Isle and the
re-writing of the BBC website’s medieval text
and timeline.
Catering Manager Dave Morton (right) with his team
promoting ethically sourced fish in the University
Centre Food Hall.
6

University News
VENTA / Issue 25 / Winter 2011
University excavations
challenge traditional thinking
on the treatment of lepers
The Department of Archaeology at
the University held an Open Day
recently for the public to view the
latest excavations at the site of
the St Mary Magdalen Hospital, a
former medieval leper hospital on
the outskirts of Winchester.
The site is believed to be the home of
Britain’s earliest known hospital and
recent findings have been overturning
preconceptions concerning how lepers were
actually treated and perceived within their
community.
“We’re beginning to build up a much
bigger picture of how lepers were treated
in medieval England and our findings are
challenging traditional beliefs,” added
Project Director, Dr Roffey. “Far from
being treated as sinners and outcasts, our
excavations have shown lepers were in fact
afforded tremendous dignity as human
beings. We have even found evidence that
suggests pilgrims might have been buried
alongside them. Artefacts and remains reveal
that both physical and spiritual needs were
met extremely well for lepers. Far from being
shunned, they were revered and respected.”
There has been a lot of media and public
interest in the site this year. The Dean of
Winchester, the Mayor of Winchester and
local MP, Steve Brine have all visited as well
as Alice Roberts, presenter of BBC’s Digging
for Britain. The BBC’s One Show and ITV
Meridian have also filmed at Hospital Field.
Last year radio carbon analysis at St Mary
Magdalen provided new evidence that could
redefine history suggesting the site could
have been created as a ‘blue print’ in a
period that witnessed widespread religious
reforms with Winchester at its centre.
Each year the University runs a major
research and training excavation as part
of its ongoing programme of research and
practical training. For more information
about the St Mary Magdalen site visit
www.winchester.ac.uk/MHARP
BBC presenter Alice Roberts with Katie Tucker,
MHARP Osteoarchaeologist
The excavations at the site of the St Mary Magdalen
Hospital
Historic agreement with Georgian National Museum
The University has made history by
signing a significant agreement with
the Georgian National Museum to
further strengthen international ties
between the two institutions.
The ‘Memorandum of Understanding for
Academic Co-operation’ signed recently
in Georgia’s capital city, Tbilisi, will allow
researchers at the University further access to
the important collections and artefacts held at
the museum as well as facilitate an exchange
of expertise between archaeologists at both
institutions.
The walls at Nokalakevi
“It is a real privilege for Winchester to be
one of the first universities in the world to be
signing such an official agreement with the
Georgian National Museum,” confirmed Dr
Paul Everill, Co-director of the British team of
archaeologists involved in the Anglo-Georgian
Expedition to Nokalakevi (AGEN), who is also
co-ordinator of the agreement.
“The Museum is at the heart of modern
Georgia, representing a young and dynamic
country with a long and proud history. The
University has a strong reputation for teaching
archaeological methodology and we look
forward to working closely with our Georgian
colleagues in the teaching of young Georgian
archaeologists.”
So far AGEN, now in its eleventh year, has
trained over 120 Georgian and British students,
including some from Winchester. In 2008
the Georgian Archaeological Commission
requested the use of the University’s definitive
document for archaeology to use as a model of
best practice for teaching applied techniques
in Georgia.
Dr Paul Everill (foreground) at the signing with
Dr David Lordkipanidze, Director of the Georgian
National Museum
7

Feature
University
‘Zombosium’
hits the news
The University held an international
Zombosium in October to examine current
research into zombie culture and how it has
spread across all types of media. The timing
was perfect and attracted a flurry of related
stories in the national press as well as BBC
radio.
“Zombies now feature widely in film,
television, new and social media, gaming,
comics and literary texts,” said Dr Marcus
Leaning, Lecturer in the School of Media and
Film at the University, who organised the
conference. “Our Zombosium attracted more
than 17 speakers from across the world, all
anxious to share their research into this huge
phenomenon.”
The keynote speaker at Zombosium was Dr
Ian Conrich, one of the editors of the Journal
of British Cinema and Television and a leading
authority on contemporary horror cinema.
Dr Conrich has written over 16 books and
contributed to more than 50 books and
journals. His talk was entitled An Infected
Population: Zombie Culture and the Modern
Monstrous.
Topics for the one-day conference included
discussions surrounding the popular television
series, The Walking Dead; and regulation,
censorship and zombie flesh eaters; zombies
and landscapes; zombies and genocide;
home in zombie films and zombie apocalypse
survivor communities on Mumsnet and
YouTube. Also at the Zombosium, Dr Conrich
introduced a special film screening of Dawn
of the Dead (2004) for both conference
delegates and the general public.
Cult US horror-thriller actress
Most recognisable for her role as Rose in The Vampire Diaries and
Bela Talbot in Supernatural, Lauren Cohan’s acting career has
certainly led her into some sinister and ghoulish worlds. Since
graduating in 2003 from Winchester with a BA in Drama and
English Literature the popular US actress has landed a number
of major horror-thriller roles including, most recently, Maggie
Green in the second series of The Walking Dead which returned
to the UK in October.
“It’s been so much fun, gut-wrenching at
times but absolutely brilliant,” said Lauren,
speaking from The Walking Dead set in
Atlanta, Georgia. “In this series I play a
farmer’s daughter, at odds with her Christian
beliefs in a zombie apocalypse.”
The series has a huge cult following and in
January was nominated for Best Television
Series Drama at the Golden Globe Awards.
The second series has already reached
number one on the Top Horror-thriller TV
series 2011 at Horror News.
“The entire cast I’m working with on The
Walking Dead are truly my heroes,” said
Lauren. “They are so passionate, nononsense
and talented. I feel very, very lucky.”
So how did this New Jersey girl with a talent
for the supernatural end up studying at
the University of Winchester “My Drama
teacher at school had studied at Winchester
as a mature student, absolutely loved it and
convinced me to go and visit,” she explained.
“As soon as I arrived, I knew I wanted to study
there. I have a lot of great memories and
friendships from my time at Winchester that
are still a huge part of my life.”
“The plays we reworked in our ‘Exploding
the Canon’ module inspired the theatre
that some of us went on to make after
university. Mark Knightley and Danny Frost
from my group are doing some really cool
experimental theatre in England now.”
In her third year at Winchester Lauren
co-founded a theatre company with fellow
students who took their final piece on tour
to Edinburgh. “That experience is a big part
of why I am doing this job,” she reflected.
“After that I found an agent and started
auditioning.”
Regular appearances in The Vampire Diaries
and Supernatural helped to launch Lauren’s
acting career.
“Rose in The Vampire Diaries was a fun
character to play, particularly the dementia
and rabies from a werewolf. I couldn’t tell
you why vamps are so popular, but they sell.
Generally I don’t find the show to be about
zombies or vampires per se, more about the
way humans behave within those parameters.
In other words, how character reveals
itself when we are pushed to our limits, for
example towards death, or danger.”
Lauren’s film credits now include Casanova,
Float, Van Wilder 2: The Rise of Taj and last
year she was cast in Death Race: Frankenstein
Lives co-starring Sean Bean and Danny Trejo.
She also starred in the US series Chuck earlier
this year.
“Winchester was a very special experience
for me; the city, how beautiful it is, the
University, our professors, cobbled streets,
history, the college, pubs - everything. If I can
give one piece of advice to Winchester alumni
and students it would be this. Trust your
instincts and remember there will always be
detractions. It’s your self-belief that will get
you through.”
8

University News VENTA / Issue 24 / Summer 2011
Photo: Bob Mahoney/AMC
Haunted by her past…
Lauren as Maggie Green in the latest series
of The Walking Dead
9

Alumni News
VENTA / Issue 25 / Winter 2011
Adam joins select group of male
nursery school teachers
New findings from The General
Teaching Council for England (GTCE)
confirm that Winchester Education
Studies graduate Adam Stubbs (2005
to 2009) is one of only three qualified
male nursery school teachers under
25 working in a state-run nursery in
the UK.
According to the GTCE’s 2011 Annual Digest
of Statistics the teaching profession remains
predominantly female – women teachers
make up 75 per cent of those registered and in
service on census date. However the proportion
Adam in his classroom at Dilkes Primary School
of men qualifying to teach has risen gradually
in recent years – up 2.4 per cent since 2008.
Men make up 25.6 per cent of all teachers
qualifying this year. This year’s figures show
only 48 men in total are working as qualified
nursery school teachers in the UK.
“I started working at Dilkes Primary School in
South Ockendon last year,” said Adam who,
after leaving Winchester, went on to study for
a PGCE in Early Years Education. “Initially there
was some playground talk amongst parents
who were worried about a man who wanted
to be around young children all day. Since we
have a new nursery intake each year, these
apprehensions come around every time but
with the help of my team we are tackling this
and most parents are enthusiastic about having
a male role model involved in their child’s early
education.”
Adam intends to continue working in the
nursery environment, promoting awareness
and understanding of the Early Years play
agenda to colleagues in and around his school.
“I thoroughly enjoy working in my current
classroom. No two days are the same and I
love the fact that we have the flexibility to
be led by the children, basing our learning
activities around what they want to do.
Many people simply believe that early years
education is just playing; they don’t understand
the vital role it has in children’s development.”
Can you help with WWI photos
Jennifer Best (Archaeology, 2002 to
2008) is researching Winchester’s Roll
of Honour of 1919 in preparation for
a publication to be produced before
2014, the centenary of the beginning
of the First World War.
This study will focus on those from the city
who gave their lives in that conflict and also
include material on those from the Diocesan
Training College (DTC), later King Alfred’s
College. Detailed research on the DTC people
has already been carried out by alumnus John
Hartley (Teaching, 1963 to 1966) but we’re in
need of photographs. Jennifer is anxious to find
photographs of those from Winchester who
died in the Great War.
If you have, or know of, such photographs
please contact Jennifer (jen.best@hotmail.co.uk)
or Tom James (tom.james@winchester.ac.uk).
The on-site contact at Winchester is Dr Mark
Allen (mark.allen@winchester.ac.uk).
The University’s own Roll of Honour around the Chapel
Rob (left) with renowned geologist Professor Iain Stewart
Double first
for chartered
status
Congratulations go to Rob Morris
(Geography and Education, 1975 to
1978) who has recently been awarded
the status of Chartered Geographer
by the Royal Geographical Society.
For the last six years Rob has taught
at Shrewsbury School and is now the
first person in Shropshire to achieve
the award, which is currently only
held by around 400 people worldwide.
“In order to satisfy the awarding committee,
I had to meet a list of criteria relating to
qualifications and experience,” explained
Rob who has been a Fellow of the Royal
Geographical Society since 1987. “I also had to
provide a portfolio of evidence of continuing
professional development over the last two
years.”
This proved to be fairly straightforward as Rob
is an accomplished author of geographical text
books, a senior A level examiner, a specialist
on urban regeneration and chairman of
the Shropshire Branch of the Geographical
Association. Amongst other things, he has also
attracted a number of distinguished speakers
to Shrewsbury, including the broadcaster
Michael Palin and Scottish geologist Professor
Iain Stewart, both regular contributors to TV
and radio.
“I’m delighted as only half of the people that
currently hold this award are teachers and
university academics,” said Rob. “The rest are
from a wide variety of geography-related posts
such as geographical information systems
specialists and geomorphologists. I think this
might be a first for Winchester too. I don’t
think any other alumnus has ever received
Chartered Geographer status.”
10

Alumni News
VENTA / Issue 25 / Winter 2011
Spotlight on…
Martin Doel,
Chief Executive
of Association of
Colleges
Although Winchester alumnus, Martin
Doel (Education, 1976 to 1980) began
his career as a teacher, his route to
becoming the Chief Executive of the
Association of Colleges (AoC) has not
been a conventional one.
After leaving University and starting a
probationary period as a PE teacher, Martin
decided on a change of direction and joined the
Royal Air Force. He worked initially as an HR
specialist and then an Intelligence Officer, later
becoming an Air Commodore, running three
stations in Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.
The armed forces are the largest single provider
of apprenticeships in the UK and finally
Martin’s service career led him to Whitehall
as Director of Training and Education at the
Ministry of Defence, responsible for training
and education policy and strategy across all
three armed forces.
“The armed forces gave me lots of things –
probably most important in this role being
how to manage pressure and to keep a sense
of humour,” reflected Martin who took up his
position at the AoC three years ago. “Being
Full speed
ahead for
Katie
Katie Archer (Business Management
and Marketing, 2008 to 2011) has
begun a racy new job, working as a
marketing intern at the Head Office of
Porsche Cars GB based in Reading.
As well as attending regular UK events at
venues such as Silverstone, her job involves
her in online marketing and providing market
research and analysis, building reports and
intelligence on the car industry and economic
climate.
“My favourite part of the job is liaising with
clients. Also, working directly with the product
– especially the sports cars – is a very exciting
part of the business,” said Katie. “It’s great to
be able to provide information and reports as
well as project work that directly impacts and
The University Football 1st Team with Martin fourth from left, front row
in Whitehall also gave me some idea of how
Government does and doesn’t work.”
Martin now spends his week travelling between
meetings with MPs and Ministers in London and
his home near Cambridge. “My main challenge
is making sure that the critical work that FE and
Sixth Form Colleges do is fully understood and
that they receive the resources and freedoms to
allow them to deliver on behalf of the students
and communities they support. Colleges are at
the heart of the growth agenda both locally and
nationally.
“Whilst I benefited from a ‘free’ education at
university and feel somewhat guilty that a new
generation has to navigate funding cuts, I remain
convinced that a good education and good
job-related training are going to be ever more
essential in ensuring a ‘good life’. Prospective
students need to be more discerning and think
Katie with a Porsche GT1 at Silverstone
effects the marketing decisions made by the
company. I hope I can make a good impression
this year, applying myself the best I can and
showing what skills I can offer.”
Katie puts her internship success down to
plenty of work experience whilst at University
and a proactive approach to possible marketing
opportunities for graduates.
“I didn’t wait to see adverts for internships
at any of the companies that I approached,”
through their choices more carefully – find
the course that they feel best suits them and
their aspirations, find the pattern of study that
suits them and be demanding of tutors and
institutions to ensure the provide the service
that the student’s commitment deserves.
“I hugely enjoyed my time at
university,” added Martin
who played for the first
team and eventually went
on to become Chairman
of RAF Football. “For me
Winchester was the right
fit, not too big but big
enough with
the right
balance
between
study and
play.”
she said. “My advice would be to call HR
departments, prepare your CV and send it in.
I began at Porsche in August 2011 but I first
contacted the company in July 2010 enquiring
about internship positions.”
Katie impressed senior managers at Porsche
with her research on the company for her final
year project. She won the Highest Achiever
Award on her course from Winchester Business
School for her dissertation which explored how
gender affects marketing in the car industry.
photo: Paul Kearns
11

Alumni around the World
VENTA / Issue 25 / Winter 2011
NZ Woman of the Year for Arts and Culture
Author and publisher, Jill Marshall
(MA Writing for Children, 2000
to 2002) has been named as this
year’s Woman of the Year for Arts
and Culture in New Zealand after
publishing a children’s book to raise
funds for the Red Cross following the
earthquake in Christchurch.
Curly from Shirley, the Christchurch Dog went to
number four on the NZ Children’s Bestseller list,
just one month after the quake and just three
weeks after initial discussions with the author,
Emma Pullar. This quick response was made
possible by Jill setting up her own publishing
company, Pear Jam Books.
“I was talking to a client from my writing
consultancy about one of her books on the
Saturday after the quake, with no idea that she
lived in Christchurch,” explained Jill, author of
the popular Jane Blonde series and Founder
Director of Write Good Stuff, a company based
in Auckland, offering writing programmes,
workshops, assessments and coaching. “She
explained how difficult things were and said
she’d like to put out one of her stories as a
fundraiser. I found an illustrator, designer,
distributor as well as booksellers very quickly,
all providing their services for free. However
I couldn’t find a publisher, so Pear Jam Books
was born.”
Sales of Curly from Shirley have rocketed,
boosted further by recent visitors to NZ for the
Rugby World Cup.
By May this year, Pear Jam Books had signed up
11 more authors for publication, including two
new illustrators.
Jill’s new series, Matilda Peppercorn will be out
soon. Pear Jam Books will be officially launched
in December.
Check out www.pearjambooks.com for further
details about how you can order a copy of Curly
from Shirley.
Award-winning title for Jill
Getting households active ‘Down Under’
Nicola Kearns (Sports Development,
2004 to 2007) has been helping the
Government of Western Australia
on a large-scale behaviour change
programme, designed to get households
in the region more physically active.
“A big part of this community inclusion initiative
is to get mental health clients to participate in
sport and recreation to engage them back into
the community,” explained Nicola who works
on the government’s ActiveSmart programme in
Perth. “My job involves me working with mental
health accommodation providers to educate
support workers in the use of motivational
techniques to increase sports participation.
“As well as facilitating initiatives to provide
Supporting education in The Gambia
Staff and students at the University
have been enthusiastically fundraising
for the Hampshire Diamond Jubilee
Gambia Project 2012. The project aims
to renovate two classrooms at Soma
School as well as improve facilities at
Tahir School in The Gambia. So far, the
project which is led by the University
across Hampshire Schools has raised
£19,500 – just short of the £20,000
target.
pathways for the target group, I have to deliver
workshops and training to support groups. My
role also involves me networking with a wide
variety of community organisations to maximise
opportunities for clients faced with mental health
challenges. These include volunteering centres,
local leisure centres, universities, sports clubs and
the Mental Health Commission.
“It can be very challenging when you have to
engage with clients whose motivation can vary
on a daily basis. Although sport is a great feel
good factor, severe depression and anxiety can
make progress extremely difficult and sometimes
clients will completely avoid communicating
and interacting. However, it can be extremely
rewarding when I see their lifestyles dramatically
improve as a direct result of the programme.
(Education Studies 2002 to 2005, PGCE 2005 to
2006) who has visited The Gambia on a number
of occasions.
“Every child in the school was given £1 which
they could grow in any way they liked,” explained
Carmella. “This fundraising approach was inspired
by the parable of the talents. The children
thoroughly enjoyed the experience because it gave
them the chance to lead a personal project at the
same time as exploring our link with The Gambia.”
“I didn’t want a job where I sat behind a desk
all day – getting out into the community is
particularly important to me. I’m extremely
lucky that my job now not only allows me to fly
all over Western Australia but provides an office
right next to the beach.”
Nicola in Perth
Of this total, All Saints Junior School in Fleet has
raised a massive £6,713. The school has forged
strong links with the Soma School since 2000
through fundraising and learning projects. Project
Coordinator at All Saints is Carmella Reece
12
For further information about how you can get
involved, see www.winchester.ac.uk/gambia or
email gambia.project@winchester.ac.uk
Children from All Saints Junior School in Fleet raise
funds for The Gambia Project

Alumni around the World
VENTA / Issue 25 / Winter 2011
‘Sing with me happily’ in
Mozambique
Not many teachers are able to say that they’ve
built their own school. But for Rebecca Spencer
(Primary Education, 2000 to 2004) that
particular dream has become a reality. Her
community school in Mozambique has just
celebrated its first year and continues to grow
and develop, welcoming people of all ages and
backgrounds.
“Inhassune is a small rural village with less
than 5,000 residents,” explained Rebecca,
originally from Bournemouth. “Life is very
simple here. Most of the villagers make their
living excavating and chipping clay from their
soils, farming maize and rearing cattle, goats,
pigs and chickens. There are many orphans,
single mothers and disabled in the village and
like most of Africa, AIDS is a problem. There is
no electricity and water is pumped from a bore
hole to three taps.”
After initial discussions with local leaders,
Rebecca set up the charity ‘Sing with me
happily’ so she could work together with locals
and international volunteers to help make a
positive difference. Over the years she has
been assisted by her university friends from
Winchester with fundraising as well as lesson
planning.
“Escola da Comunidade opened its doors in
September 2010 and as well as a pre-school
runs a number of classes for the elderly, babies
and orphans. Amongst other things, people
come to find out about computers as well as to
speak English. On top of this, volunteers come
to teach workshops within their skill base. We
even have a choir and are supporting the local
football team with their training.”
‘Sing with me happily’ also built a volunteer
house, attracting international visitors to the
area which in turn is helping to generate a lot
more business and opportunities. The charity
works alongside the local primary school,
with the full support of the Mozambican
government both at district and provincial
level.
For further information about how you can
volunteer to help see
www.singwithmehappily.com
Child’s play in Japan
Saeko Shiina (BA Education Studies,
2008 to 2011) has landed a highly
sought after job working at Toys R Us
in Tokyo.
The former international student first enrolled
on a foundation course at Winchester four
years ago so she could learn to speak better
English. Now she will be working in the
merchandising department for one of the
world’s largest toys retailers.
“I love children and want to apply the skills that
Saeko joins the educational world of toys
I’ve learned on my course to learning practices
outside of the classroom,” explained Saeko
whose family lives in Tokyo. “Toys can be great
educational tools and affect lives in a good
way.
“My dream is to become a buyer for Toys R
Us and come back to the UK to discover great
new toys for Japanese kids. My four years in the
UK was superb – I feel so grateful for everyone
who supported me and made my British life so
amazing.”
Rebecca puts her teaching skills to the test in Africa
Andrew meets
President of the
United States
Andrew Musselman from Youngstown State
University in Ohio came to spend a semester at
Winchester last year to study Business as part
of our Visiting Student programme. It obviously
proved to be an international, profileenhancing
experience. Here he is, pictured with
President Obama, as a member of a hosting/
organising team at a recent US political event.
13

Alumni News
VENTA / Issue 25 / Winter 2011
Join us as a Governor
Do you like the idea of being a ‘voice’
for fellow alumni Are you interested
in getting more involved with alumni
affairs
All registered members of the Winton Club, the
University of Winchester’s Alumni Association,
are entitled to vote a former student onto the
University’s Board of Governors, to serve for
a period of three years, with eligibility for reelection
on not more than two occasions.
This role is currently held by Stephen Baldwin
(1963 to 1966) who will continue to serve until
the Annual General Meeting and is eligible for
re-election. The former student Governor will be
appointed at the AGM on 30 June 2012 and will
serve from 1 September for three years.
Any former student who wishes to stand for
election for the period 2012 to 2015 must be
proposed and seconded by former students
and must state her / his agreement to being
nominated. Nomination papers may be
obtained from the Alumni Office by email to
alumni@winchester.ac.uk
Further information about this role can
be obtained from Dee Povey, Clerk to the
Governors by emailing
Dee.Povey@winchester.ac.uk
or by telephoning 01962 827150.
ShadyJane are
‘Best Emerging
Company’ at
Edinburgh
A theatre company founded by
graduates from the University of
Winchester scooped up the Total
Theatre Award for Best Emerging
Company at this year’s Edinburgh
Festival Fringe.
ShadyJane picked up the prestigious award for
their show Sailing On which was ambitiously
set in the ladies’ toilets at New Town Theatre
with only ten audience spaces per show.
“We were thrilled to be nominated and
wouldn’t let each other talk about or even
contemplate winning,” said Charlotte Cassey
who runs the all-female company with
Deborah Lampard and Victoria Holloway. “It’s
such a cliché but we just kept saying how nice
it was to be nominated, and we really meant
it. We were stunned when they called out our
name.”
ShadyJane has been based at The Point in
Eastleigh on an Associate Artist Scheme since
2009 and this is the second year that the
company has performed at Edinburgh. All three
members studied Drama from 2005 to 2008,
returning to take MA Devised Performance.
Gags galore at The Attic
Scoundrels Comedy Club was
launched in September this year by
graduates Paul Baker (Social Care,
1999 to 2003) and Matthew Harvey
(Drama Studies and Media and Film
Studies, 1999 to 2002). The club was
set up to attract the very best acts
on the stand-up comedy scene and
runs every second Thursday of the
month in The Attic at The Railway
on St Paul’s Hill in Winchester.
“We are determined to book the finest
comedians,” said Paul, a former SU
President who is now employed as a Finance
Officer at the University. “Winchester
deserves a quality comedy night and we
intend to highlight the best circuit acts at
the same time as showcasing outstanding
new talent.”
Opening night at the Club was a sell-out
and featured Angelos Epithemiou of BBC2’s
Shooting Stars. Since then, the club has
attracted the likes of Stewart Francis, Justin
Edwards and Danny Bhoy.
Since setting up the comedy club, Paul and
Matthew have fostered a relationship with
Universal Pictures. The comedy duo hopes
to see their new comedy venture grow and
develop over the next few years.
“We’re making serious plans for the future,”
said Matthew, who already runs his own
successful talent company. “We’re already
looking at putting on additional comedy
nights across the southern region as well
as large-scale performances at some of the
theatres in London. Keep visiting our website
to make sure you’re the first to find out!”
Further information on
www.scoundrelscomedyclub.co.uk
“We worked together consistently,” added
Charlotte. “The staff really encouraged and
supported us and we completed the MA
as a company which gave us the space and
guidance to really shape our practice. Our
experience at Winchester has been invaluable
to the development of us individuals and the
company as whole.”
Lavatorial comedy… ShadyJane’s Sailing On
14

Alumni News
VENTA / Issue 25 / Winter 2011
Megan’s Wii steps set to be
Christmas bestseller
Get Up and Dance, a Wii and PS3 dance
game partly choreographed by Megan
Price (Choreography and Dance, 2006
to 2009), has been tipped to be one
of this year’s top-selling games for
Christmas.
The game, developed by O-Games, was released
at the beginning of November both in the UK
and the States and Megan’s name appears on
the credits as Dance Project Coordinator.
“I was approached by one of the games
technicians who heard that I had studied
choreography,” explained Megan. “I had an
initial meeting to discuss the project and
provided a video of my work. It sounds naive
now but I hadn’t anticipated that meeting would
lead to a game being released around the world
six months later.”
budgeted and liaised with other choreographers
and people involved in the project.
“The most important skill I learnt was to deliver
the project brief within a restricted budget.
There is a need to focus on the success of the
project, with so many people involved it is
important to reassure yourself that you can’t
please everyone.”
“My degree at Winchester taught
me many invaluable skills.
Choreographing a full performance
for my final year project depicting
movement, music, costume and
set design really prepared me for
Get Up and Dance. It allowed me to
learn the skills of solely managing a
project as well as the responsibility
of taking the lead.”
she said. “It demanded relentless commitment
and towards the final stages felt like a marathon.
But just like a marathon runner, the sense of
achievement and pride could see me return.”
As well as choreographing a large number of
routines, Megan organised rehearsal venues,
drew up contracts, made arrangements for
filming at various locations, hired dancers,
This is the first dance game that
Megan has been involved in
choreographing. “When the project was
drawing to an end I swore it would be the last,”
Great transatlantic deal
for debut author
Winchester alumna Sarah Lean
(English, 2003 to 2006; MA Critical
and Creative Writing 2009 to 2010)
has landed a fantastic two-book deal
from HarperCollins Children’s Books
following a hotly contested auction
involving seven publishing houses.
Her first book, A Dog Called Homeless, is based
on a storyline developed from an assessment
piece submitted for a Children’s Fiction module
at Winchester. It follows the story of Cally Fisher,
a girl who stops talking after no-one believes that
she has seen her dead mother. The only other
living thing that sees her is a grey wolfhound
which appears every time her mum does.
“It was an unexpected and overwhelming
experience to have so many publishers interested
in my books,” said Sarah who has also trained as
a primary school teacher. “It took weeks for the
butterflies to subside and they still take flight at
the slightest provocation.”
To mark the occasion, HarperCollins even drew
up an adoption certificate for Sarah which ties in
perfectly with a theme in her book.
“Rarely does a book connect in such a profound
and moving way,” said Publishing Director
Rachel Denwood who bought the UK and
Commonwealth rights. “I have no doubt that
Sarah is a future star whose work will captivate
young readers as it has captivated everyone at
HarperCollins.”
A Dog Called Homeless is due out in May 2012.
Hampshire
Writers’ Society
The Hampshire Writers’ Society welcomes all
writers in Hampshire to join this new society
which hopes to reach out to the community,
inspiring new writers and fostering an interest in
both creative and critical writing.
The Society was launched in September by
Barry Cunningham OBE, ‘discoverer’ of J K
Rowling and Chairman and Managing Director of
Chicken House Publishing. It is an offshoot of the
Winchester Writers’ Conference, now in its 31st
year at the University of Winchester, and aims to
provide a broad range of professional knowledge
exchange activities for hundreds of aspiring and
published writers. Events include talks by wellknown
authors, poets, playwrights, literary agents,
commissioning editors and industry specialists, as
well as panels, discussions and performances.
Meetings are held from 7.30pm-9pm on
the second Tuesday of each month at the
University of Winchester. The next meeting on
13 December will feature a trio of Winchester
poets: Dr Tom Masters, Peter Dixon and Mark
Rutter whose talk and readings will be Silence:
Towards Writing the Universe.
For further information please visit
www.writersconference.co.uk/HWS
15

Alumni News
VENTA / Issue 25 / Winter 2011
Reunion 2011
Alumnus of the Year award
The University of Winchester Alumnus of the Year 2012 will formally recognise and
celebrate the achievements of an alumnus of the University, or one of its predecessor
institutions, who have made outstanding contributions to society through:
16
Ian Hawkins and Marie Dove
As usual, friendships were renewed,
familiar places revisited and new
buildings explored at Winton Club
Reunion. This year the event took
place over the weekend of 8-10 July
with accommodation provided at
Alwyn Hall, Beech Glade and for the
first time at West Downs.
The preacher at the Reunion service in the
University Chapel was Philip Lewis (1968 to 1971),
Chaplain of Junior King’s School, Canterbury,
and the luncheon that followed was attended
by over 150 people. When the roll was called the
first Wintonian to rise was Ian Hawkins who was
at King Alfred’s College from 1939 to 1940 and
completed his course after the war. Second to rise
was Marie Dove, a representative of the Auxiliary
Territorial Service (ATS). The ATS took over the
College buildings after the Intelligence Corps and
were present until 1945. Both guests were very
warmly greeted.
The toast ‘The University of Winchester and
Winton Club’ was proposed by Professor Tom
James (1976 to 2008) with responses by the
Vice-Chancellor Professor Joy Carter and Peter
Sargent (1968 to 1971).
In the afternoon Sheila Bowers opened the
Bowers Building, dedicated to the memory of
Douglas (Dougie) Bowers who passed away in
February last year. Dougie joined the Physical
Education Department in 1956 becoming Head
of Department in 1974. He maintained strong
contact with the University and the Winton
Club up until his death. The Bowers Building
adjoins the Centre for Sport in the former
Human Movement Centre.
After a buffet supper, to commemorate 40
Years On, Wintonians were entertained by
Te Deum, a band from the seventies.
Howard Horstead
Honorary Secretary, Winton Club
• Considerable community/voluntary
dedication
• Career success in any area with a number of
notable achievements
• Exceptional courage in the face of adversity
• Heroism or dedication to others
Nominations procedure:
• Nominations may be made by alumni, staff,
students and governors of the University
of Winchester and must be received by 31
January 2012
• Nominations should be sent in writing
(maximum of one A4 page) by post to the
Development & Alumni Office, University
of Winchester, Winchester, Hampshire
SO22 4NR or by email to
alumni@winchester.ac.uk
Reunion 2012
Following changes to the University
timetable, Reunion 2012 will be held
on and around Saturday 30 June.
Details will be finalised by the Winton
Committee in February. Despatch of Reunion
notices will take place in the week of 16 April.
If you haven’t received a notice by Monday 30
April please contact the Alumni Office on 01962
827403 or email: alumni@winchester.ac.uk
In memory of
We have recently been notified of the
death of the following alumni. We send
our condolences to their families.
Mr G Yates 1936 to 1938
Mr R F Jones 1939 to 1941
Mr D G Pickles 1945 to 1947
Mr J V Offord 1948 to 1950
Dr H G Moses 1951 to 1953
Mr S R Carrell 1952 to 1954
• Nominations should include details of
how the nominee has made a significant
contribution in one or more of the above
categories. Additional brief information, such
as press cuttings or a CV, may be included in
support of your nomination
• The competition is open to all graduates
of the University of Winchester, University
College Winchester and King Alfred’s College
worldwide
• Please note that self-nominations are not
accepted
• A panel of judges will shortlist nominees and
select a recipient in February 2012
The award will be conferred at Graduation
each year.
What’s on…
Winton Sports Weekend
25 and 26 February 2012
Winton Club Reunion
29 June to 1 July 2012
Enterprise Lectures Series
14 March 2012 Geoff Holt
Winchester Foundation Lecture
24 May 2012 Dr Peter Vardy
Institute for Theological Partnerships (ITP)
conferences at the University
3 March 2012
Awakening to a New Consciousness II: The
Impact of Somatic Knowing in Theology
16/17 March 2012
Voices from the Diaspora: Black Christians
in the UK
5-8 April 2012
Re-visioning Easter within the Earth Story
For full details of ITP events, please email
Lisa.Isherwood@winchester.ac.uk
All dates correct at time of print.
Please check the University’s Public Events
Calendar for further details and confirmation:
www.winchester.ac.uk/events

Alumni News VENTA / Issue 25 / Winter 2011
Fond farewell to Roger Richardson
Uni sweethearts
tie the knot
On 25 June, Jenny Rhodes and Jamie
Stokes (Primary Education, 2007 to
2011) celebrated their marriage at St
Mary’s Church in Lytchett Matravers,
near Poole.
The couple met on the first day at University
when they discovered they would both be
commuting daily to Winchester from Dorset.
“I saw Jenny walking to the station and offered
her a lift,” said Jamie. “We soon became good
friends, regularly travelling in together for
lectures. We both thoroughly enjoyed our time
at University.”
The happy couple, who both graduated this
year, are now working as teachers; Jenny at her
old school, Lytchett Matravers Primary School
and Jamie at St Ives First School in Ringwood.
Ringing the
changes
The University was recently reunited
with a set of 22 handbells which were
accidentally thrown in a skip during
building work in the 1970s. Fortunately,
they were rescued by former member
of staff and alumnus, John Vincent
Davis (Teaching, 1948 to 1950, staff
1963 to 1976) who took them home for
safekeeping. Nearly four decades later
they have been rediscovered in his
loft and returned to the Deputy Vice-
Chancellor, Tommy Geddes.
“King Alfred’s College had a handbell-ringing
team from 1928 to 1963,” explained Hannah
Curtain, Director of Foundation Music at
Winchester. “We have every intention of
getting the handbells ringing again but they
are in need of a fair amount of restoration.
They are a beautiful set of instruments which
will in time be an unusual and delightful
addition to our music-making activities.”
If you can help with further information
about the history of the handbells or
their restoration, please email:
Corinne.Mackenzie@winchester.ac.uk
The University said goodbye to
Emeritus Professor Roger Richardson
this summer at a retirement party in
the Chapel which celebrated his 34
years of service to the day.
Roger stepped down from his full-time
career as a historian some years ago but has
been working tirelessly since, enhancing the
University’s partnerships with a wide range
of international universities and recruiting
international students. Over the years he has
held a wide range of posts, including Head
of Department of History and Archaeology,
Director of International Relations (USA) and
Head of the Research and Graduate Centre.
“Roger has truly been one of the University’s
academic stars with an international research
reputation in seventeenth-century English
history, English local and comparative
Foundation
Music events
Gospel Choir Concert
9 December 7pm
The S.O.N.G – Sounds of New Gospel support
the London Community Gospel Choir
Winchester Family Church
(tickets from www.winfam.org)
Christmas Musical Gifts
11 December 7pm
Southampton Guildhall
(tickets from www.livenation.co.uk/southampton)
University of Winchester Carol Service
13 December 6.15pm
University Chapel, King Alfred Campus,
Sparkford Road, Winchester
Space for Peace
26 January 2012 7pm
Winchester Cathedral
The Myth of the Titanic
4 February 2012 11am
New piece written by The Revd Professor June
Boyce-Tillman MBE with Southampton City
Orchestra. Central Hall, St Mary
Street, Southampton
Further details about all events
can be found on
www.winchester.ac.uk/events
local history and in the historiography and
philosophy of history,” said Tommy Geddes,
Deputy Vice-Chancellor. “He has also
generously donated hundreds of books to the
library that will enrich the experience of many
students to come.”
Roger Richardson (left) and Deputy Vice-Chancellor
Tommy Geddes
King Alfred’s
Rugby Team
1961/62
This year marks the 50th anniversary of one
of the most successful seasons in the Club’s
history. The team remained undefeated,
winning 27 of the 28 games played and
scoring 751 points; the achievement was
widely reported in the national press.
During the season a number of the team
were selected to play for the Hampshire
County side and on leaving College many
played first class rugby including Bob Taylor
(Teaching, 1961 to 1964) who represented
England and the British Lions.
Dave Lewis, (Teaching, 1960 to 1962) would be
interested to hear from anyone associated with
the team on
davidlewis@oldfarmcottage.freeserve.co.uk.
17

VENTA / Issue 22 / Summer 2010
The University of Winchester
a Fairtrade University
www.fairtrade.org.uk
Please choose products with
FAIRTRADE Mark.
PLEASE RECYCLE
Venta is printed
on Greencoat
silk 50 per cent
recycled.