The Link 2013 - Canterbury Christ Church University

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a l u m n i m a g a z i n e 2 0 13
Life on the
Wild Side
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welcome
to the Link
contents
Welcome to the 2013 edition of your
alumni magazine and congratulations to all
those who graduated last year.
04 news
09
06 features
There have been several changes at the University during
the last year. We welcomed our new Vice-Chancellor,
Professor Rama Thirunamachandran, in October and you
can read more about him on page 4.
06 Farewell to Folkestone
Campus
09 From CCCU to CBeebies
We have said farewell to the campus at Folkestone, but
have welcomed the Performing Arts students to North
Holmes Road – their new home. You can read about some
of the UCF graduates on page 6.
11
14 Clinical Psychology’s
40th reunion
We find out how one of our alumni, Phil Gallagher,
became the very popular children’s television presenter,
Mister Maker, on page 9. We discover about living life on
a South African wildlife reserve with one of our Tourism
and Business Studies graduate on page 11 and you can see
if you recognise anyone at Psychology’s 40th anniversary
reunion on page 14.
15 class notes
18 bulletin board
Link also contains a round-up of University news, plus
information on alumni services. And don’t forget to check
out the Class Notes and Bulletin Board to find out what
some of your former fellow students are doing now.
We’d love to hear from you, too. So if you have a story to
tell or simply want to update us on your life since leaving
Christ Church, please get in touch. Use the form enclosed
with this magazine, or email us at alumni@canterbury.ac.uk.
You may find yourself featured in the next edition of the
Link! Please also remember to give us your updated email
address, so you can receive the e-bulletin.
11 Life on the Wild Side
20 keeping in touch
14
We hope you enjoy your magazine.
Isobelle Leggett
Editor
Connect with us:
www.canterbury.ac.uk/social
Published by the Department of Marketing, November 2013
Front cover: Sean Hensman, Tourism and Business Studies
alumnus, describes his life on a South African wildlife reserve
4
news
New Vice-Chancellor
Professor Rama Thirunamachandran has been appointed ViceChancellor of Canterbury Christ Church University.
He was previously the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost of Keele University and joined
the University on 1 October.
Before joining Keele in 2008, Rama was Director for Research, Innovation and Skills at
the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) with overall responsibility
for the strategic direction of HEFCE’s research, knowledge transfer, and employer
engagement and skills policies. At HEFCE he also oversaw the Research Assessment
Exercise and the development of the Research Excellence Framework operations.
During his career, Rama has also held posts at the University of Bristol, King’s College
London and Royal Holloway, University of London.
Educated at Cambridge University in Geography and Natural Sciences, he worked
on a United Nations Development Programme project on the effects of flooding in
Bangladesh. He is a Director and Trustee of the Higher Education Academy and is also a
Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.
Rama is no stranger to Christ Church. Whilst at HEFCE he worked closely with the
University in the development of the Broadstairs and Medway campuses.
Professor Rama Thirunamachandran
Senior appointments Recent professorships
Further senior appointments include Debra
Teasdale as Dean for the Faculty of Health
and Social Care; Dr Nicholas McKay appointed
to the post of Head of Department of Music
and Performing Arts and Dr David Allinson
appointed to the post of Director of Music.
Dr Dominic Wood has been confirmed as the
Head of the Department of Law and Criminal
Justice Studies.
Dr McKay was Head of Music at the
University of Sussex. He is a musicologist
with a special interest in semiotics and the
music of Igor Stravinsky. He brings with him
extensive experience of leading cross-arts
development projects.
Dr Allinson joins us from the University of
Bristol, following a number of years in a
freelance career as conductor, singer and
lecturer. Both music appointments were
effective from 1 September.
The following members of staff have recently been awarded
professorships:
Rama Thirunamachandran, Professor of Higher Education Policy.
Robin Bryant, Professor of Policing and Criminal Justice.
Janet Haddock-Fraser, Professor of Corporate Social and Environmental
Responsibility.
Thomas Hennessey, Professor of Modern British and Irish History.
Changes at Salomons
The University has sold Salomons Campus in Tunbridge
Wells to Bishops UK Ltd, which is part of the
Markerstudy Group.
The new owners will continue to run the event and wedding business
that is already associated with the Salomons estate as well as using the
facilities as a training centre for their staff.
The Salomons Centre for Applied Psychology and the Department of
Leadership and Management Development, both part of the Faculty of
Social and Applied Sciences, are now based in Runcie Court and North
Lodge. The Centre for Career and Personal Development has moved to
our Medway Campus.
5
First Class Green award
Prestigious
Library Design
award
The Augustine House Library and Student
Services Centre and The McClay Library,
Queen’s University Belfast, are the joint
winners of the 2013 prestigious SCONUL
Library Design Awards, with the Library
at the University of Western Scotland and
Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) taking the
honours in the smaller buildings category.
The awards run every three years and
recognise the best in the design of higher
education libraries.
For the third year running, Canterbury Christ Church has been
awarded a First Class award in the People and Planet Green League.
Out of 143 universities across the country,
Christ Church climbed to 17th this year with
its work in sustainability being nationally
recognised.
The improvement from 33rd last year is
due to the hard work of the staff and
students, and their continued commitment
to sustainability.
These results recognise, in particular, the
achievement of EcoCampus Gold and
Platinum status as well as performance
improvements in waste management,
water usage, and the impact of rigorous
environmental auditing.
The Green League is published by People
and Planet and has grown in significance
since its creation in 2007. Christ Church’s
performance has improved consistently and
it is significant that the University is now
amongst the top 12% of universities and
colleges for environmental performance.
The full Green League table can be found at:
http://peopleandplanet.org/greenleague
Courtesy of Peter Cook
Rare archive film traced
Nearly two years ago, Tim Jones, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Media, Art and Design, issued an
appeal via the local media for people to search their lofts and cupboards for old film of Canterbury.
The appeal was part of a long term project by
Tim to rescue and preserve rare archive film of
Canterbury and its surrounding areas for future
generations.
The films offer a significant record of the
city through a mixture of cultural events and
important moments in its history. There is some
footage of the St George’s area in colour, just
years before it was destroyed in the war, and
films showing the city’s preparation for war.
The films will be copied digitally and taken to
Screen Archive South East where they will be
preserved for future generations. The digital
copies will be used for educational purposes in
the future.
6
Farewell to
Folkestone Campus
The University Centre Folkestone (UCF) was opened in the heart of the town’s Creative Quarter
in 2007, partly funded by the Creative Foundation. UCF offered primarily courses for the creative
industries and in the last six years students have made a significant contribution to the local
community and have gone on to achieve great success in their chosen careers.
“We had practical experience in creating our
own theatre company and working towards
a commission. We had rehearsal space to try
out our own productions including learning
how to direct, and had complete support
from the staff.
As we closed the doors on the Folkestone
Campus, we talked to some of those
graduates about their life since leaving the
University.
Max Reynolds is a Performing Arts graduate
who has directed the UCF musical for the
last three years and is working nationally as
a freelance director. He also took part in the
closing ceremony of the London Olympics.
“I am so pleased I chose Christ Church to
do my degree as it gave me the foundation
to pursue a career I love. We covered
everything to do with the theatre and
learned how every department works.
Max Reynolds
“I have been lucky enough to have worked
as a theatre director on the London Fringe
and in the West End. I was the Assistant
Director on a production of Children of Eden
at the Prince of Wales Theatre, with Russell
Grant, Gareth Gates and Kerry Ellis. I also
worked on the world premiere of Vampirette
at the Manchester Opera House. I am
currently directing a new musical, Ushers, at
the Soho Theatre in London.
7
“I have also directed the last three UCF
end-of-year productions, which have
had rave reviews. We put them on at the
Quarterhouse and the whole production
involves the students backstage and
onstage. It gives them tremendous
experience in putting a show together,
including how rehearsals work and
production meetings, exactly the same as if
they were working in the West End.”
Sue Blakesley graduated in Performing Arts
as a mature student in 2008. She teamed
up with Sadie Hurley and Kelly Stockley to
put a bid together to create and run a series
of family events at Folkestone’s Coastal Park
for Shepway Council. They successfully beat
“We covered
everything to do
with the theatre
and learned how
every department
works.”
some larger, established arts and events
companies and were awarded the contract.
“The three of us got on well at University
and decided to combine our talents and put
together the bid for Shepway Council, and
JimJam Arts was born. We developed three
fun family days based around three different
themes. One theme was Around the world
in an Afternoon, which involved everything
from taekwondo and tai chi demonstrations
to belly dancing, tango, flamenco and an
afrobeat band.
“With Alice in the Coastal Park we
transformed the area into a wonderland and
created scenes from Alice in Wonderland
which were performed around the park.
8
“My time at UCF was a fantastic experience and my degree
has enabled me to fulfill my ambition to teach dance in
mainstream education.”
There were children’s workshops
and themed dance and drama in the
amphitheatre.
“The third and final day was a Pirate Party
in the Park, with the park decked out with
props and a treasure trail for children.
We put on a circus workshop, plus pirate
storytelling, dance displays and live music
with a Caribbean flavour.
“It was a great success, but we wanted
to widen our scope. Sadie and I applied
for funding to start a new series of drama
and playwriting workshops for adults
and young people. We had great support
with funding from the Roger De Haan
Charitable Trust and free space to run the
project at UCF. The workshops attracted a
cross-section of people, from all ages and
nationalities, creating a very strong group.
During the period we put on ‘pop-up’
performances around the town and the six
month project culminated in a script-inhand performance of ten 10-minute plays,
which the group wrote and performed in
the Quarterhouse bar.
“The very next day we put on Word on
the Street, Folkestone’s very first café and
street theatre festival. We were really lucky
to host the world premiere of Acrojou’s
Frantic, a stunning blend of circus skills and
dance within a giant wheel. Folkestone was
hit with a spectacular show in the streets
and cafes around town, including medieval
jesters, a life-size puppet, a line of minijournalists spreading scurrilous rumours,
spies lurking on street corners, plus plays,
poetry and lots more.
“Shepway has asked us back to organise
the events in the Coastal Park again.
This time we are including an extra piece
by the innovative company Periplum, in
our Alice Day.
“I interned at the Loop Dance Company
after working for Sussex Summer Schools,
project co-ordinating and assisting the
day-to-day running of the office. I then took
dance classes for Sunflower Dance Company
and The Right Step Dance Company, where I
am now the Adult Dance Co-ordinator. I was
also the project co-ordinating mentee at the
Medway Fuse Festival, which I loved and
would like to do more dance administration,
planning and co-ordination. I have also
started my own dance company, The Dance
Community.”
Michaela Cisarikova graduated in Dance
Education and works with Dance United in
London. She has a successful performing
and choreography career.
Samantha Saunders graduated in Dance
Education and was accepted onto a
Graduate Teacher Programme at the
Folkestone Academy as a Secondary Dance
teacher, in order to gain Qualified Teacher
Status. She opened her own dance company
in 2011and is pursuing a teaching career.
“I was also a member of the UCF dance
company in Folkestone and assisted
the Artistic Director with contemporary
technique classes. Apart from performing
in local and University events, I also
choreographed.
“The degree I gained gave me the
confidence to move forward as a freelance
dance practitioner and made me feel ready
to start my own dance company. Sunflower
Dance Company offers a variety of dance
classes for all ages and abilities, including
primary school dance clubs.
“I learnt a variety of dance styles for my
degree, which I have used in teaching
both in my company and at the Academy
teaching BTEC and GCSE levels. I also made
contacts with the Royal Ballet School while
at UCF, and am working in collaboration
with them at the Academy to promote
education in ballet with the students.
“My time at UCF was a fantastic experience
and my degree has enabled me to fulfil my
ambition to teach dance in mainstream
education.”
“We plan to develop JimJam Arts and look
forward to new opportunities to create
our own work as well as showcasing other
people’s, especially with the Folkestone
Triennial in 2014. We hope to expand and
be able to give opportunities to Christ
Church students and graduates.”
Georgia Smith graduated in Dance Education
and became a Dance Facilitator for Sussex
Summer Schools, teaching young people
who had come to England to learn English.
Michaela Cisarikova
“Immediately after graduating, I was invited
to teach at the Sunflower Dance Company in
Ashford by the founder, and fellow alumna,
Sam Saunders. During that time, I auditioned
for various dance companies and am now
with Dance United, a London based company.
We work with different choreographers and
perform all around London.
“I really enjoy choreographing and have
done quite a lot for the Slovak Youth
Company. I also choreograph for Green13
Collective, a production company which
involves artists from various fields who help
each other to bring ideas to life. The latest
production is Butterflies Don’t Do Maths,
which I have choreographed and which is
performing in London. We hope to tour
with this show and are in contact with
theatres around the UK.
“I work with lots of different dance projects
and artists around Kent, London and my
home town, Cadca in Slovakia. My ambition
is to choreograph in my own company,
after I have worked for many others to gain
experience and learn everything I can about
how to run a successful company.”
We wish all our graduates every success in
their chosen careers.
9
From CCCU
to CBeebies
Phil Gallagher is a BAFTA nominated performer, best known for his
role as CBeebies’ ‘Mister Maker’.
‘Mister Maker’ is the ultimate arts
and crafts show for pre-schoolers.
Since its first transmission in 2007, it
has become a worldwide hit and now
plays in over 100 countries around
the globe. Now on the sixth series,
‘Mister Maker Around The World’
has been filmed in the UK, Australia,
Hong Kong, South Africa and Brazil.
Phil graduated from Christ Church
in 1998 having studied English with
Radio, Film and Television. He has
worked in children’s television since
then, as a production team member,
writer, actor and presenter.
He told us about his journey from
Christ Church to CBeebies.
10
“I started my career at Disney both behind
and in front of the camera for Playhouse
Disney and the daily live show, Studio
Disney. I was lucky enough to land a two
week work experience placement with
them, which ended up with me staying for
seven years!
“Needless to say, I started at the bottom
of the ladder – making tea, painting the
set, cleaning the green room, helping
the editors, looking after guests, making
props, picking up costumes, photocopying
scripts – just anything that needed doing.
However, after about six months I was given
a job as a studio runner. This was a fantastic
start to my career and I learned so much
in that live studio. I was also given my first
break as a performer. One of the producers
at the channel liked my characters and
voices so much, he put me in front of a
camera in various cameo roles.
“I feel incredibly
fortunate to have
studied at Christ
Church and have
made lifelong
friends during
that time.”
“Unfortunately, the Disney Channel closed their
live studios around the world including ours
in the UK, so I found an agent and started
my career as a performer and writer, working
freelance. It was a pretty tough decision and a
steep learning curve, going from the security
of regular employment to the uncertainty of
the freelance world. However, I went on to
work on ITV and BBC children’s programmes,
including ITV’s Diggin’it as a performer,
puppeteer and writer.”
Off-screen Phil has written scripts
for many different children’s
programmes and on screen
presented and performed in popular
shows such as BBC2’s ‘Mighty
Truck of Stuff’, and CBeebies’ ‘Bear
Behaving Badly’ and ‘Hotel Trubble’.
He is now Mister Maker from
CBeebies’ children’s television, for
which he was nominated for ‘Best
Presenter’ at the British Academy
Children’s Awards in 2009.
“I have had to rely on all the skills I have
gained in the past - acting, presenting,
writing and being a puppeteer - to keep
myself in work. They are invaluable in my
role as Mister Maker for CBeebies and in
fact, in many jobs, including Mister Maker
Around the World, I have to use them all
at the same time.
“In the new series of Mister Maker, I
present the show, write the scripts, perform
additional voices and puppeteer Scrappz,
Mister Maker’s travelling companion. I
work with a fantastic art team who are
passionate about what we do and they get
inspiration from each other for ideas for all
the different ‘makes’.
“Although the programme is aimed at
children, we want to appeal to all age
groups, not only to entertain, but to
encourage young, old and in-between to
have a go at some of the ‘makes’ or come
up with their own ideas.
“I also love performing live. For the last
four years I have taken Mister Maker live
shows across the UK, Indonesia, Singapore,
Malaysia, Hong Kong, South Korea, the
Philippines and South Africa. The show is
particularly popular in Indonesia. It was
estimated that around 12,000 pre-school
children and parents came to the show in
Jakarta, which was amazing and the noise
levels were unforgettable! The show works
well in any language because it’s so visual.
Next year, I’ll be part of CBeebies Live: The
Big Band, a new live show touring arenas,
which I am really looking forward to. I am
immensely proud of the channel, which I
think is the best in the world.”
Phil visits Canterbury regularly and
is on FRTV’s Industry Advisory Panel.
He will be performing in this year’s
pantomime ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’,
at the Marlowe Theatre, playing ‘Silly
Billy’, Jack’s brother.
“I love the panto and look forward to it
each year, but especially this year as it brings
me back to the beautiful city of Canterbury,
which was an amazing place to study. I
feel incredibly fortunate to have studied
at Christ Church and have made lifelong
friends during that time. I was delighted
to be asked to sit on the Advisory Panel
for FRTV which did so much towards my
career. It introduced me to contacts at BBC
Radio Kent and through those experiences,
I worked as a weekend runner, broadcast
assistant and sports reporter at the station.
“I also helped out on the production of
a Sunday night youth show, The Sunday
Night Alternative, with many other Christ
Church students. The Department still keeps
strong links with the industry and I am
proud to be able to help current students,
as I was helped all those years ago.”
Life on the
Wild Side
Sean Hensman is living his dream – living and
working with elephants in South Africa.
Sean manages his family-owned wildlife reserve just outside Johannesburg. He works with
six African elephants providing educational hands-on interactions, elephant-back safaris,
swims on elephants, and much more. Apart from being a tourist attraction, the reserve is
conducting valuable research into elephants’ scenting abilities and whether they can detect
explosives, drugs and diseases.
Sean is a native Zimbabwean who came to Christ Church to study Leisure & Tourism with
Business Studies, graduating in 2006.
11
12
Here he tells us about his life in South Africa
and why he came to England to study.
My family moved to South Africa in 2002, when the seizure of
white-owned land in Zimbabwe forced us out. We had family
farms there and apart from providing jobs for 600 people, we
produced tobacco, wheat, cotton, maize, soya beans, paprika and
coffee, as well as running cattle. We were very keen conservationists
and had set aside land for wildlife. We had to leave everything
behind and the only things we could take were our 12 elephants
and some polo ponies.
We moved to South Africa and set up elephant centres not
only to earn a living but also to highlight the difficulties facing
conservationists in the new Africa.
Growing up in the wild
I was seven years old when I had my first elephant in Zimbabwe.
Since moving to South Africa, I now live on a wildlife reserve which
is magical. You hear the lions roaring at night and this is still my
favourite time to go on safari. When there is a full moon, the bush
is bathed in silver light and you can see all the nocturnal animals. I
love hearing the eerie sound of the jackals while knowing I’m out of
their reach!
I went to boarding school in South Africa so was only home
during holidays. My father had a house in the Zambezi valley in
the deepest, darkest wilds of Africa, which we visited a lot. It was
nothing to wake up in the morning to find a herd of buffalo or lion
just outside on the front lawn.
At home in Zimbabwe I spent a lot of my time walking and hunting
in the bush. We had a large irrigation dam on our game reserve,
which was not only for the animals, cattle and irrigation, but we
also used to fish, swim and water-ski on it too – dodging the
crocodiles. I had a real African farm boy’s lifestyle, exploring the
wild outdoors, which I loved.
I still enjoy the silence and when I walk to work I see all sorts of
wildlife. My office looks out over a waterhole so I see animals all
the time. Some are even a nuisance – the warthogs chase our pet
meerkats and the ostriches eat their food.
Getting to know elephants
We believe that you can achieve so much more for conservation by
helping people to understand the animals and their environment.
It is difficult for those far removed from nature to fully understand
the complexities facing true conservationists in an ever-changing
Africa, so we try to do our bit by showing people the wonders of
an elephant.
Before our visitors can go on safari or swim on the elephants, they
have to get to know them intimately. Our guides introduce each
elephant in turn and spend about an hour explaining everything
from the trunk to the tail, lifting their feet so the soles can be felt
and encouraging the visitors to put their hands into the elephant’s
mouth to feel how soft the tongue is and how velvety smooth
the backs of the ears are. The elephants lie on the ground so the
musth gland can be explored and you can feel the vibrations as
they rumble to one another. They also see the fun things elephants
can do, like playing football or spraying unsuspecting victims with
13
We started the research back in the
1980s when my father realised the
elephant’s strong scenting ability
after he had to run from a charging
matriarch. He was watching a wild herd
when they caught wind of him. The
matriarch charged and he ran a short
distance away. The female destroyed
the anthill he had been sitting on before
picking up his scent again, chasing him
for about 2km. He immediately set about
training our elephants to follow human scent
to use to track down poachers, robbers and
for search and rescue operations. They take
up the scent after the dogs give up and we
have used them on two successful occasions.
We do a lot of interesting work with our
elephants and they have featured in
many films, documentaries and television
programmes, such as Wild at Heart.
Life in England
and South Africa
I came over to England initially to join the
army and go through Sandhurst, but realised
a degree would be more beneficial as I knew
that I wanted to come back to the reserve in
South Africa. I loved every moment, even the
weather. I don’t know why people complain so
much as you have great clothes for winter and
nothing compares with summer in the English
countryside.
water. Only after this induction can they climb
aboard to go on safari.
We don’t use rigid saddles so you can feel
the strength of the elephant as it powers up hills or
breaks branches off trees for a snack. Swimming on the elephants
is exhilarating but not for the faint-hearted. You ride out into the
middle of a dam with a mahout on a special swimming saddle and
hold on tight while the elephant dives down to dig up the mud
at the bottom of the dam. Your head usually stays just above the
water. You hold on even tighter when they resurface because they
breach just like a whale.
It’s an unfortunate fact these days that we have to fence our
reserves for the animals’ own protection and in order to keep the
wildlife out of human populated areas. It was the other way round
200 years ago when elephants roamed the whole of South Africa.
Now they are confined to about 7% of the land which is why it is
becoming so difficult to conserve the wildlife here.
We, as humans, must learn more about elephants so we can coexist with them in a rapidly modernising and overpopulating Africa.
Valuable research
Elephants are very intelligent and have an extraordinary sense of
smell, which is actually 14 times better than a good dog. We are
currently working with the United States Army Research Office to
look at potential uses for elephants in the fight against terrorism
and to assist in rapid land mine area reduction programmes. It must
be stressed that the elephants are never put in any danger.
My parents originated from England so I didn’t
suffer any cultural shock apart from adapting
to life in a city. Canterbury was fun though and
I got my ‘country’ fix by joining the University
of London Officer Training Corps, which trained
in the country. My holiday jobs were on farms
in Devon and I played polo for them as well,
which was great. I managed to travel to Argentina and Australia
after leaving university working on farms and playing polo before
returning home.
I also met my future girlfriend at Christ Church. We didn’t get
together there, but met up again when she came out for her
cousin’s wedding.
She is now in charge of photography for the guests and really
enjoys capturing the golden shot of a guest being sprayed by an
elephant. She has found it very easy to adapt to life here as, having
once been a colony, it is quite British in many respects.
Because of the political instability we would advise anyone coming
out to keep a residence back in England as well, just for security.
Also, apply for your visa well in advance as it takes about a year
to come through. There is still some political tension out here
and I fear we will go the same way as Zimbabwe, which is a very
depressing thought.
However, anyone thinking of coming out here to live can expect a
very laid-back way of life. We still have a great deal of freedom – no
big brother watching us – we have beaches, mountains, wildlife
game reserves, the weather is fabulous and we can braai. We
have a great rugby team and so much more. It is definitely for the
adventurous.
14
Spot anyone
you know?
The Clinical Psychology programme at Salomons celebrated its
40th anniversary in 2012. A range of day and evening events were
organised, giving everyone who completed, or contributed to, the
doctorate programme the opportunity to reunite and catch up.
The day culminated in a play written and performed by members
of academic staff and a reception with musical entertainment.
Do you recognise anyone?
15
class notes
2003/2004
1987
Mike Whittaker – RFTV and Music
Mike Whittaker
After graduating, I was lucky enough to get
a place on a BBC graduate trainee scheme as
a Radio Studio Manager (sound engineer) at
the BBC World Service. I worked as a Studio
Manager for eight years before becoming
Regional Operations Manager for Africa
& Middle East and then looking after the
technology and distribution strategy for
World Service. Somewhere during my time
in the World Service I studied for and gained
an MBA.
From the World Service I moved to be Head of Strategy and Planning for the new commercial
division, BBC Technology, which involved working on projects such as the early development
of what was to become Freeview. After a stint back in World Service as Head of Broadcast
Operations I moved to be Head of Programme Support for BBC News.
In 2005 I moved to Dubai for five years to a pay-TV platform, which was a great experience.
I returned to the UK in 2010, joining Technicolor Broadcast Services (now part of Ericsson
Broadcast Services) as Vice President of Global Operations and in September 2012 I joined
Satellite Information Services as Chief Technology Officer.
My time at Christ Church set me up for a fascinating and privileged career and I am pleased
to be involved with the FRTV Department again on their Industry Advisory Panel.
1994
Heather Sawney – English and Music
I went on to study at the Royal Academy
of Music for two years after leaving Christ
Church, specialising in music theatre, light
opera and cabaret.
I worked for the Wellcome Trust as a PA to
the International Funding Board after leaving
the Academy and then for banking software
houses and internet design consultancies
before moving back to Kent where I was
a Project Manager for Pfizer. While there I
retrained and became the Senior Associate
Scientist supplying the packaging for drugs
for clinical trials. In my spare time I did
volunteering work, using disused premises
for contemporary art installations and as
galleries, which helped me to gain my next
role as Arts Development Officer for Thanet
District Council. I developed many popular
events during that time and was part of the
regeneration team supporting the launch of
the Turner Contemporary.
In March 2012, I was offered a role with
Pilgrims Hospices in East Kent as their Head
of Retail. It gives me the opportunity to raise
money for the charity and work with the
creative sector, sourcing goods that are re/
upcycled, which we call ‘pre-loved’.
2004
Joseph Emsden – Music with Media and
Cultural Studies
My first and
only job since
leaving university
has been with
Yamaha Music
UK. I started off
taking sales calls
on the phones,
then worked
my way up to
Promotions
Assistant in
the Professional Music Division to the
Promotions Co-ordinator dealing with events
and posters. I am now Artist Relations Coordinator, working with artists and bands to
make sure that the best acts and musicians
are playing the best Yamaha equipment on
the world stages. I work with bands such
as One Direction, Coldplay, Jessie J, Leona
Lewis, Olly Murs, Lionel Richie and George
Michael to name a few.
I not only go backstage at major gigs to
interview the acts and see the equipment
in action in my PR/marketing role, but I am
also MC for some live events, which I love.
Matthew Phelan 2000-2003 – Marketing
with Geography
Chris Hyland 2000-2004 – Business and
Marketing
Both Chris and I
worked in marketing
after graduating, but
the desire to start a
marketing agency
that understood
client-side needs
was too strong, so
we joined forces
and set up our own
business. We started
in one office with
two phones and
now are one of the
top digital marketing
agencies in the
world. We work
internationally on
brands such as Jamie
Oliver, Selfridges,
BDO and Lindt Chocolate. Our aim is to
become a fully global network in the next
10 years.
4Ps Marketing employs eight Christ Church
graduates at the moment, but this is soon
to rise in September when we take on seven
new graduates at our digital academy in
Canterbury. The academy is a joint venture
between Christ Church, University of Kent,
KCC and us at the Innovation Centre. We
have worked closely with Christ Church for a
number of years to ensure graduates stand
out at interview stage.
Our advice to students is just, get out there
and do whatever it is you want to do. Don’t
be scared to ask for advice and never forget
that you have been to the best university
in the world – take that confidence into
everything you do. If you need any advice,
add us on Linkedin – we always like to help
out fellow alumni in the same way lots of
people have helped us.
16
2007
Diana Beaupre – American Studies
In 2004 I finally realised my lifetime wish
to go to university, aged 60. I am half
French-Canadian, so the course gave me
a great insight into both American and
Canadian history.
Gabriella Lindberg
2006
Gabriella Lindberg (née Aberg) –
Business Studies with English
I decided to leave my native Sweden to
study abroad in order to broaden my
horizons and improve my English. I moved
back to Sweden after graduating and found
a job as a marketing assistant in a children’s
book publishers. I was there for two years
before the recession hit Sweden and I
lost this job. However, I eventually found
my dream job as a Brand Manager at a
cosmetics distributor.
I am responsible for distributing a range
of brands, from colour cosmetics to
fragrances and skincare, to retailers in
the Swedish and Norwegian market. I am
involved in everything, from purchasing, to
market planning and analysis and product
development in colour cosmetics. English
is proving very important as I have daily
contact with suppliers from across Europe.
After graduation, my paper: En Route
To Flanders Fields: the Canadians at
Shorncliffe during the Great War was
published in the London Journal of Canadian
Studies. I have continued this research and
am in the process of conducting a study on
all the Canadian service men and women
who died in the First World War and are
commemorated across the UK.
Far From Home is a commitment to find
each grave and document profiles on these
fallen Canadians, 60% of whom were
British-born. Many are in private graves
in remote churchyards, forgotten and
neglected. So far we have visited 836 towns
and villages across the UK and documented
3577 out of the 3885 Canadians listed. We
have to visit the WW1 military personnel
files in the Library and Archives at Ottawa
quite often.
2008
Sonia McNally – Fine Art
I have worked in the The Department of
Media, Art and Design for the last two years,
teaching observation and analysis, drawing
and composition at the National Gallery. I also
run drawing courses at Canterbury Cathedral
and host residential artists’ retreats at various
locations, including Dartmoor and India.
Diana Beaupre
In 2011, I was commissioned by St Alphege
Church in Whitstable to produce a 12m
etched glass screen depicting the life, death
and witness of St Alphege to celebrate the
millennium of his martyrdom in 2012. Much
of the research was done at Canterbury
Cathedral which resulted in running the
drawing courses. I worked in a glass studio
in London to produce the final works in
glass, using acid etching. The commission
was installed in July 2013.
2009
Caroline Havenhand – English Literature
After graduating, I worked for a children’s book publishers before returning to my roots in
the Peak District to run the offices of a specialist metals rolling mill in Sheffield. However,
having missed out on a gap year, I decided I wanted to do some travelling before settling
into a career. I took an English Language Teaching course and moved to Japan to teach in
lots of schools in Soma, which was heavily affected by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
Words cannot begin to describe the devastation I saw when I arrived. This popular surfing
town can no longer attract surfers as the tsunami shifted the sea bed and the same waves
aren’t generated any more and anyway the water is still contaminated by radiation from the
meltdown of the nearby nuclear power plant.
Caroline with a view over Tokyo
The Japanese are determined to continue with their lives and have a wonderful way of
viewing the world, taking pleasure in little things, like making tea, which I love. Observing
the ritual tea ceremony inspired me to turn my passion into a business when I returned
home. With help from the Prince’s Trust, I set up my own business, Loose Leaves Tea, selling
at local markets and farm shops and via my website. Fellow alumni can claim 10% discount
on most teas at my webstore, using the code: CCCU10Link.
17
2009
Matthew Rawling – Primary Education
I started my teaching career whilst studying
for my Masters at Christ Church. I worked
at Hamstreet Primary School, job sharing
with a retired Headteacher. It was there I
recognised the importance of seeing school
from the child’s perspective.
After four years as a Key Stage Two teacher
I took a gamble and applied for Deputy
Headteacher at Aylesham Primary School,
working under Gerry D’cruz. This was
probably the most significant career move
of my life. I am inspired by many people I
have met in schools but none more so than
Gerry. He demonstrated to me how loving
and championing the children, families and
communities we serve enables us to achieve
great things.
2009
Delphine Tsiranana –
Business Studies and Marketing
After my academic year as an exchange
student from a French Business School, I
interned with an affiliate marketing agency
in London then decided to take a break
travelling across the US, Canada and Ireland
to digest a difficult family loss.
After my return home, I worked in a
press group while sitting my exams for
qualification in Media Planning, Buying
and Selling. After this, I spent two years
working in various sport marketing roles
within the global team of Havas Sports
& Entertainment, the brand engagement
network of HAVAS which is the fifth biggest
integrated communications group in the
world. I then helped to launch a start-up
company pioneering a rugby tournament
and festival in Ibiza, Spain, as well as
working in fundraising for the foundation
of former iconic England rugby captain,
Lawrence Dallaglio OBE.
I have now settled in London and am
considering another third sector role using
sport for a good cause. I really look forward
to going back to Canterbury - the gorgeous
little city where I realised I wanted to work
in sport and played rugby for the first time!
I followed Gerry, again as his Deputy, to the
amalgamation of two vulnerable primary
schools in South Ashford. The opportunity
to design and build a curriculum from
scratch in a new building was too great to
miss. I believe that this unique experience
enabled me to land the dream job I have
today.
At the age of 33 I have been lucky enough
to open a new school and nursery from
scratch. Repton Manor Primary School
opened in September 2012 with excellent
reviews from parents, staff and most
importantly the children.
Mike Spence
2010
Mike Spence – PGCE
My final PGCE paper was on the unification
of Games Development BTEC courses across
the UK and sharing best practice among
teachers on these courses.
I proposed a new competition in Games
3D modelling to World Skills UK, which pits
students across Britain against each other
in timed vocational skill challenges, usually
in exam conditions and the pressure of an
audience. The students would have a short
time to swiftly put together an industry
standard piece of 3D work that could be
Matthew Rawling
used in a game - with strict limits and
restrictions similar to working in the industry.
The first year I pulled together three colleges
across London and ran a test competition.
The following year, I ran a test final at the
NEC Birmingham. World Skills gave the go
ahead to make it an official competition this
year and we had 40 students across the UK
competing from twelve colleges.
I hope for even greater involvement from
more colleges across the UK next year, as
well as planning for the competition to be
echoed across Europe, Japan, China and the
States to put our UK finalists against global
competitors.
2011
Crista Buznea – Tourism Management
Originally from Romania, I held down
three jobs in order to pay my way through
university. At the end of my second year, I
managed to get a job at a four star hotel
in Dover, where I worked my way up from
reception to Sales and Marketing Manager
after two years.
Crista Buznea
I am now the Partnerships Marketing Manager for an award-winning
company, Holiday Extras. I work with people who are passionate about
the travel and tourism industry and fortunate to travel with my job. I
am planning a Masters in 2014 in Responsible Tourism.
My advice to all students is to work hard, spend some time in
libraries, read everything and travel – feed your ambitions. And don’t
let anyone tell you you’re not good enough.
18
bulletin
board
who’s doing what and where
(apologies to anyone we’ve not included due to space)
1967
Michael French – Cert Ed, Science and
General Studies
Mike has now retired.
1968
Jenni Moseling (née Bailey) – CertEd, Music
and Contemporary Studies
Jenni and Martin arrived at Christ Church in
1965, marrying when they graduated. They
moved to Wiltshire in 1976 where they still live.
Both are happily retired and enjoying being
grandparents.
1973
Glyn Walker – Cert Ed, Art & Design
Glyn taught Art and Design in schools and
colleges for a while after leaving Christ
Church College as it was then, but decided
to change direction. He took a degree in
Business Economics and a Masters in European
Marketing Management. Glyn worked in
Further Education and Higher Education
Institutions as a Curriculum Manager for
Business, Finance and Retail. He is now retired
and a grandfather.
1974
Jennifer Palmer – PGCE
Jennifer moved from London back to her
roots in Lancashire in 2008. Since then, she
has published some poetry, articles on local
history and, last year, her childhood memoires,
Nowhere better than home, about growing
up in rural Lancashire in the 1950s and 60s.
1979
Mark Rees – Religious Studies with English
Literature
As a mature student, Mark was one of the
first five Christ Church undergraduates to be
awarded a London BA. Subsequently he gained
a HE Diploma in Christian Theology and has
published a book, Dear Sir or Madam.
1984
Gill Rowland – Religious Studies and
Education
Gill is now the Assistant Head at Sandwich
Technology School.
1986
2002
1988
2003
1995
2005
1996
Ashutosh More – Public Health
Ashutosh is a Public Health Specialist in the
NHS.
Professor William Hughes – PGCE
Bill has been involved in a number of high
profile events commemorating the centenary
of the death of the author of Dracula, Bram
Stoker, and has published two major books,
The Encylopedia of the Gothic and Historical
Dictionary of Gothic Literature.
James Bellars – BEd (Hons)
After 32 years of teaching in Kent, James
retired in 2007 and has since done voluntary
work in a local bookshop raising funds for his
local parish church.
Cecily Ashford – Art with Social Sciences
After a decade of working in live television in
London, Cecily moved to the Isle of Wight and
now works in Southampton as Furnishings
Interiors Co-ordinator for cruise ships.
Stephanie de Winter (née Johnson) –
Applied Social Science with English
After doing several jobs, from PA to EFL teacher
and editing, Stephanie has written two books,
Indigo Awakes, which is registered at the
British Library, and a sequel, Indigo Haunted.
1999
John Fitzpatrick – History
John is a Senior Civil Servant with DEFRA and
has recently moved back to Kent having lived in
London for the last decade.
2000
Dolores Coughlan – Policing
Dolores was a Senior Crime Scene Investigator
with the Metropolitan and Kent Police, but has
now retired although she still keeps up with
the Forensic Science Society and remains a
Fellow with the Royal Society for Public Health.
Catherine Dawson – Biological Sciences
Catherine is currently working for a higher
education provider in Southern Ireland as the
Curriculum Development Manager for their
structure PhD in the Life Sciences programme.
She is also pursuing a PhD in microbiology/
molecular basis.
Richard Walters – History
Richard is taking a sabbatical from his work as
the Deputy Manager of the Addiction Recovery
Agency in Bristol and is a self-employed
Stonemason.
Paul Flaherty – Post Compulsory Education
and Training
Paul is now the Assistant Director Operational
Policy and Resilience at the Kent Fire and
Rescue Service.
Sharon Stubbins – Primary Education
Sharon is a Primary School teacher for Norfolk
County Council.
2007
Scott Cattell – Commercial Music and
Technology
Scott has worked in the music industry since
graduating, working as Product and Marketing
Manager, Video Operations Manager and
Global Repertoire Operations Manager. He is
now the Video Release Manager at Universal
Music Group International.
Jenni Sutton – Business Studies
Jenni manages the Dover store of Country
Brides of Faversham, which opened in October
2010. They have now opened a studio in
Sandwich and moved to larger premises in
Faversham.
Ben Warden – Film, Radio and Television
Ben is doing an MA in Creative Writing at York
St John University and has published his first
novel on Amazon, Life Without.
19
2008
Ruairi Giles – History
Ruairi is a Capital Key Account Manager
for a Leeds-based component and bed
manufacturer. They have recently been
awarded two Queen’s Awards for business
excellence in innovation and sustainable
development.
Liam Preston – Film, Radio and Television
After finishing his second term of office as
President of the Students’ Union, Liam went
on to complete his Masters in International
Security and Politics of Terror. He was elected
Chair of the charity, The British Youth Council,
from 2010-12 and is currently a member of
the YMCA England Policy Team, responsible for
the YMCA’s Parliamentary affairs.
2009
Matthew Head – Theology
Matthew has just had his first novel published,
The Chronicles of Darkness: The Box of
Infernos. Inspired to write while at Christ
Church, his first book is one of a five-part series
of supernatural fantasy mystery novels.
2010
Grant Jones – Computing
Charlotte Jones (née Dunt) - PGCE
Grant took a PGCE before moving to Bristol
and joining the University of the West of
England, managing the alumni database
and dealing with day-to-day queries from
graduates. He met fellow student, Charlotte
Dunt, while at Christ Church and they are now
married with a daughter.
Tudor Teodorescu – Business Studies with
Marketing
Tudor is a Marketing and Business
Development Co-ordinator for a language and
training company and also a language and
communication trainer.
2011
Roberta Jarvis – Applied Criminology with
English
Roberta is now an Associate Underwriter for
Offshore Energy Insurance for Swiss Re in the
City of London. She frequently travels abroad
on business and hopes to gain her Level 1
Underwriting Authority this year.
Gift Mfula – Adult Nursing
Gift came to the UK in 2002 and studied parttime while working for East Kent Hospitals.
She now works on the Head and Neck ward in
Ashford as well as being a beauty consultant in
her spare time.
2012
Vicki Adams – Digital Culture Art and Design
with English
Vicki is completing her MA English Literature at
Christ Church via a scholarship.
people overseas
1969
Dick Hewett – CertEd
Dick has now retired and lives in
Massachusetts, USA.
1993
Danuta Karpinska – PGCE Primary
Education
Danuta now runs a yoga retreat, Radha
Caudet, in Caudet Hameau, South West
France, where she would welcome all
Christ Church alumni.
1995
Hywel Jakeway – Applied Social Sciences
and English
Hywel is now teaching English in Perth,
Western Australia.
1998
Afni Anida Adnan – BEd TESL
Afni was part of 40 Malaysian students
undergoing a twinning programme
sponsored by the Ministry of Education in
Malaysia, leading up to a BEd TESL degree
and has been in education ever since. She
is now training pre-service teachers in the
Faculty of Education at Malaysia’s largest
public university.
Andrew Neil – Multimedia Journalism
Andrew spent a month travelling around the
Philippines before an internship with a financial
magazine. He secured a full-time job after
three weeks and is now New Media Manager
at FTSE Global Markets.
Alistair Stirling – Career and Guidance
Alistair was a London Ambassador at the
Olympic Games and is now starting to establish
himself as a freelance Careers Advisor in
schools, working across all age groups.
2003
Jake (Stephen) McNeil – Media
Production
Jake has been a Senior Lecturer at a
university in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, for
the last five years. He is recognised as
one of the top 50 journalism professors
in the USA and has recently completed a
documentary in China.
Silja Wiedeking – History with Media
and Cultural Studies
Silja worked for a market research
company in Munich for seven years before
moving to Austria to work at Swarovski’s
headquarters as the Competitive
Intelligence Manager.
2009
Mohd Izyan Hazalan – Primary
Education
Mohd is a Primary School teacher in Perak,
Malaysia.
2011
Srishailam Bakka – MA TESOL
Srishailam is an Associate Professor
of English Language at a college of
Engineering and Technology in
Hyderabad, India.
If you would like to feature in the next issue of the Link magazine, please send us a brief
summary of your recent activities and a photograph. Use the form enclosed with this
magazine or email us: alumni@canterbury.ac.uk.
keeping in touch
Alumni Services
If you have studied at Canterbury Christ
Church, you automatically become one of
our alumni, joining a social and professional
network of over 50,000 former students.
You have access to help, advice and
discounts by being a member of Christ
Church alumni.
You can ask for help and advice from our
Employability and Careers Services for up
to three years after graduation. And don’t
forget the Jobshop. It is there for those
of you who want to place ads for jobs for
students and graduates, as well as looking
for job vacancies for yourself.
The Link
This is a free magazine produced once a
year especially for former students of the
University. The magazine aims to keep you
in touch with Canterbury Christ Church and
each other. We would love to hear from you
with news of what you have been doing
since graduation. Please contact us if you
would like to feature in the next edition of
The Link.
E-Bulletin
The E-bulletin is produced twice a year and
keeps you up-to-date with the latest news
and events at the University. Please register
your e-mail address with us to ensure you
receive this (please see across for how to
update your details).
Discounts
You are entitled to preferential discounts
when using University facilities. Discounted
rates are available for membership to the
Library and discounts at the Bookshop.
There are special membership rates for
alumni at the Christ Church Sports Centre,
Canterbury. There is a 20% discount on
University conferencing and accommodation
facilities – for enquiries contact the
Conference & Events Department,
T: 0800 456 1116
E: canterbury.conferences@canterbury.ac.uk
Reunions
We can help you get started with organising
your own reunion at the University. Please
contact us to discuss what you have in
mind, email: alumni@canterbury.ac.uk
Finding old friends
If you have lost contact with former
classmates, we will be more than happy to
help you get in touch with lost friends.
Stay involved
Why not come back and talk to current
students about your career and how you
got there? Have you thought about giving
placements to current graduates where you
work? What about offering internships?
Or, perhaps becoming an Ambassador or
Mentor?
There are lots of ways you can continue to be
engaged with the University and we would
love you to stay a part of our community.
Supporting current students
You might like to consider supporting Christ
Church and current students by contributing
to scholarships, bursaries and awards or
special projects. Please get in touch if you
would like to discuss how.
Update your details
To make sure you continue to receive
the Link, or to register your email
address to receive the E-bulletin, please
help us keep our database up-to-date.
You can update your contact details in
three easy ways:
• use the form enclosed with this
magazine
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and use the online form
• contact us at the address or email
below.
Corporate
Communications Unit
Canterbury Christ Church University
Rochester House
Canterbury CT1 1UT
Email: alumni@canterbury.ac.uk
www.canterbury.ac.uk/alumni