CHURCHILLCOLLEGENEWSLETTER

CHURCHILLCOLLEGENEWSLETTER

Premier IssueAugust 2001Premier IssueAugust 2001

ChurchillCollegeNewsletterAugust 2001

PublisherCockcroft Communicationsfor Churchill College, Cambridgedrcecockcroft@yahoo.com

EditorClaire Cockcroft

Sub EditorMike Siggins

Feature WriterClaire Cockcroft

Design & LayoutMike Sigginswww.aethereal.com

PrintingUniversity Printing ServicesCambridge University Press

ContactChurchill CollegeStorey’s WayCambridge CB3 0DSUnited KingdomT: 01223 336197F: 01223 336177E: development@chu.cam.ac.ukW: www.chu.cam.ac.uk

Picture CreditsDavid Abensour, Allsport, Benetton F1,Lowri Blake, BP, BP Institute, Channel 4,Cambridge University, Churchill ArchivesCentre, Bill Prentice, Scott Polar ResearchInstitute, Unilever Centre

ContentsPage 2 A Step Back in TimePage 3 EditorialPage 4 EndurancePage 5 Life in the Fast LanePage 6 Celebrating Science and

Technology:Chemistry Comes of AgeEmbracing EntrepreneurshipFuelling Innovation

Page 7 Hitting the High NotesPage 8 Broadening Horizons

Developing LinksNotable EventsBuilding BridgesComing Back to ChurchillEvents

I was delighted to be asked to produce the first edition of the Churchill Newsletter. This new venture intends to befocused on the future, reporting on the leading roles members, past and present, are playing in all walks of life. It isdesigned to bring together members, proud of their unique heritage, and encourage renewed interest in college lifethrough music, the arts, science and technology.

I soon discovered that Churchill has an impressive number of alumni in prestigious positions and excitingcareers, from science and engineering to the arts and music. But, with only five weeks from getting the go-ahead tohitting our printing deadline, time was of the essence. Records of members were limited, so please do update them,but an interesting assortment of goodies soon materialised. Sir Winston Churchill has always been associated withleadership so the filming of Shackleton, documenting the Antarctic expedition of 1914 and starring Rick Warden(U91), was high on our agenda. The picture archive and museum at the Scott Polar Research Institute is a windowinto man’s attempts to conquer one of the far corners of the world. They kindly provided original photography fromthe expedition. Direct from the starting grid of the British Grand Prix, Mike Gascoyne (U82, G85) gives an insightinto life in the fast lane and Lowri Blake (U76) is a musician with a difference.

The Churchill Archives Centre is a unique historical treasure and college asset. Visiting them is an opportunitynot to be missed. With the extension underway to house the Thatcher Papers, the Archives are strengthening theirposition as one of the most important resources of twentieth century history in the country. It is thanks to thegenerous support of benefactors that the extension is no longer a dream. And also to Baroness Thatcher, who has notonly given her personal papers of considerable historical significance, but also provided significant financial supportto another Oxbridge project. I look forward to the day when this remarkable figure of our time will receive therecognition she deserves from the institutions she supports. Finally, next time you are in Cambridge don’t forget tovisit the museum at the Scott Polar Research Institute and the Archives Centre.

Claire Cockcroft

A StepBack in

TimeThe Churchill

Archives Centre

From school reports and childhood letters, to some of the mostmomentous political speeches of all time, the Churchill ArchivesCentre is a treasure trove of historical material from theextraordinary life of Sir Winston Churchill. It is also home tothe personal papers of leading politicians, diplomats, militarymen and eminent scientists of the twentieth century, includingthose of the first Master, Sir John Cockcroft.

Sir Winston Churchill was at the heart of national affairsfor most of his life and is, to many people, synonymous withleadership and a symbol of Britain in its finest hour. ChurchillCollege is the National and Commonwealth memorial to SirWinston and the Archives Centre was built to house his pricelesscollection of papers, thanks largely to the generosity ofdistinguished Americans. The centre was opened in 1974, butthe papers remained in private ownership until April 1995, whenthey were bought with Heritage Lottery funding, guaranteeingtheir preservation for the nation’s benefit.

Today the centre holds over 570 collections of privatepapers, filling almost 25,000 acid-free boxes in the fire and floodresistant strongroom. Every paper is meticulously cataloguedand documents are microfilmed to reduce wear and tear. Recordsare now being computerised and the centre is exhibiting moreinformation electronically on the archive’s website. The strongroom is kitted out with an impressive filing system, stackedfrom floor to ceiling with boxes to house this vast wealth ofhistorical information. To make the most of the available space,the shelves are lined up like dominoes and mounted on a‘windable track’ that allows only one small gap between theshelves at any one time. But filing space is getting scarce asevery available nook and cranny of this giant filing cabinet isconsumed by historical collections.

A highly successful campaign, launched in 1999, has raisedover £4.6 million for an extension, securing the centre’s futureas a leading repository for documents of national importance.Visitors flock to the centre from all over the world andresearchers range from academics and those with a personalinterest in Churchill, to children writing school assignments.

In 1997, Margaret Thatcher deposited her personal paperswith the centre. These papers provide an incomparable insightinto the past, including personal messages from world leaderssuch as President Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev. Theydocument many momentous occasions particularly the end ofthe Cold War. Her former sparring partner, Neil Kinnock, anadmirer of Churchill, has also provided his papers.

On 19 July 2001, Sir Denis Thatcher presided at a turf-cutting ceremony for the extension. The new purpose-built wing

will accommodate the Thatcher papers and will be opened byBaroness Thatcher in 2002. Andrew Riley, the archivist chargedwith administering the Thatcher papers commented, “Thearchives centre is now an international centre for research intothe modern era. The new building will meet the highestprofessional standards and ensure that this material is protectedand preserved for the benefit of future generations.”

The archives centre will continue collecting, conservingand cataloguing new material and is committed to disseminatingthe knowledge to a wide audience. Initial funding from theNational lottery supported a five-year programme of exhibitions,national tours and an educational outreach programme,bringing British history into the lives of younger generationsaround the UK.

Building on this momentum, the centre is planning totake the USA by storm with a touring exhibition in 2003.Archivist Allen Packwood said, “Churchill Archives Centre isworking hard to build on its wide network of American friendsand contacts. Having already lent material to displays at theGeorge Bush Library in Texas, and the Newseum in Arlington,Virginia, the Centre is now keen to cross the Atlantic with amajor display drawn from the papers of Sir Winston Churchill.It is hoped that Churchill’s notes for his famous speeches andhis correspondence with Roosevelt, Truman and Eisenhower,will form the centrepiece of this exciting new exhibition. A majorvenue in Washington DC has expressed strong interest, and adate of 2003 seems likely. In the meantime the centre remainskeen to host American visitors and is actively working with theMøller centre on a residential course run by Elderhostel on TheModern Era.”

As Churchill said, “History with its flickering lampstumbles along the trail of the past, trying to reconstruct itsscenes.” The Churchill Archives Centre is guarding against thisscenario, ensuring that key historical records do not get lostforever, as memories in the annals of time, but that they arepreserved as a national treasure for all to enjoy.

The Archives Centre is open to all by appointment and providesan exceptional insight into the history of the 20th Century. Keento cultivate its links with education and young people, the centreis now a valued source of material for the National Curriculumand historical assignments. School parties are regular visitors tothe centre and the website www.churchill.nls.ac.uk provides awealth of educational material. More details are available atwww.chu.cam.ac.uk/archives/ and to book an appointment,email archives@chu.cam.ac.uk or telephone 01223 336087.

We never close. The College is, more than ever, a hive of activity. Let me pick out some recent points.Exam results, in particular first year results, were sharply better this year. This is not just the old man banging on.

We have played below our strength in recent years, but now, fingers crossed, may be heading back to the excellentposition that we occupied historically in these matters. This is important. The college was designed to innovate anddeliver excellence. We have invested heavily in teaching resource and strong admissions policies in the last few yearsand it is highly encouraging to see this year's results. We are closely involved in ensuring the best students are able toattend Churchill, rich or poor, and we are visiting many state and private schools with this message.

The Fellowship continues to bring great acclaim to the College. Prizes, promotions, accolades are all part of thescene. It is no surprise to switch on the Radio 4 Today programme and hear some present or recent Fellow speakingcrisply about a global issue. We try to make our impact on national educational policy, as we welcome a broad rangeof young students here, all of whom quickly find their niche.

On the cultural front Churchill is as active as ever. Music of all kinds flourishes. The College choir fears nothingand last year saw the mounting of a major Nigerian opera. The Michaelmas Term will see something arguably evenmore ambitious — a post Vienna School opera on engineering! The John Kinsella and Tracy Ryan Poetry Prize basedhere has made a real impact in Cambridge. The Fitzwilliam Museum will lend us further modern sculptures duringtheir closedown. We have Warhols in the Fellows' Dining Room.

Churchill's traditional strength in sport is maintained. We had a pretty good year, all things considered, on theriver — and certainly at the dining table afterwards. We won tennis Cuppers and again put up strong teams for theChariots of Fire charity race. I recently witnessed an extremely amusing cricket match between Fellows and theMCR. We have played a particular active role in promoting the Japan 2001 festival in Cambridge — a sculptureshow, an historic UK / Japanese photographic exhibition, a visit already by the Old Boys' Chorus of Waseda Univer-sity, and concerts yet to come, by a youth orchestra from Tokyo and, in December, a visit by the London Mozartplayers with a Japanese conductor.

Looking ahead we are building an extension to the Archives Centre, following the acquisition of the ThatcherPapers and a number of other top quality collections. We are about to build new graduate accommodation for whichwe still seek a sponsor. We are about to modernise the College kitchens. These manoeuvres inflict some presentmisery on the residents but are, literally, building blocks for the future of the College. Talking of which, nothing ismore important than our relationship with you, the Alumni. It is widely agreed that College based teaching bringssomething special to the British intellectual scene. It is clearly one reason why we get and welcome so many applica-tions, at all levels, and from overseas. The costs of excellence are no longer offset by public provision. If we are toflourish in future, as we are now, we shall need all your ideas, interest and hopefully support. Please think about theareas in which you might like to help. But meanwhile, enjoy this newsletter and give us your feedback. Please keepin touch and visit us regularly.

Sir John Boyd

From the Master

Endurance

From early appearances in Cambridge with Sacha Baron Cohen,alias Ali G, to recent adventures with Spielberg and Hanks, RickWarden (U91) is sharing the spotlight with the brightest names infilm. His latest venture, Shackleton, is a major two-part drama aboutthe legendary British explorer. Written and directed by CharlesSturridge, the award-winning director of Longitude, and starringKenneth Branagh, the scene is set for success.

Warden was a prominent player in Cambridge acting circles,even squeezing in a memorable performance as a pantomime damefor the ‘Footlights’, and picked up the Guardian Award at the 1993Edinburgh Fringe Festival. He confesses to having spent more timeon stage than studying, but before graduating he had been signedup by the influential acting agency, ICM. Film has always been hispassion and having done, “his Bills, Ruth Rendalls and Dalziel andPascoes,” not to mention regular stints on Harry Enfield and Chums,a flurry of film opportunities soon came his way.

To his delight, he has been cast in several real-life historicaldramas – “immensely satisfying for a history graduate.” In Band ofBrothers, an epic 10-part World War II miniseries, he plays Lt.Harry Welsh. It follows the story of a unit of the US 101st Airbornedivision, from their training to parachuting into France on D-Day,liberation of concentration camps and the taking of Hitler’smountain eyrie, Berchtesgarten. “This was a bit of a watershed forme, as I’ve never wanted to work for anyone as much as Spielberg.His passion for filmmaking is unparalleled. Essentially Spielbergtook an executive director role on the project, having provided theblueprint for the saga with Saving Private Ryan. In the days followingthe D-Day landings, Welsh displayed some outrageous courage inforcing the Germans back. Although injured during the Battle ofthe Bulge, he ended up stealing Hitler’s silverware from the Eagle’sNest in Berchtesgarten.”

From one hero to another, Sir Ernest Shackleton’s 1914 Antarcticexpedition is one of remarkable courage, determination andleadership in the face of adversity, a testament to true heroism andendurance. Shackleton intended to lead the first expedition tocomplete a land crossing of the South Pole. His crew of 28 menand one cat left Southampton on The Endurance, after respondingto Shackleton’s foreboding notice: “Men wanted for hazardousjourney. Small wages. Bitter cold. Long months of completedarkness. Constant danger. Safe return doubtful. Honour andrecognition in case of success – Ernest Shackleton.”

But The Endurance became trapped in the ice-floes of theWeddell Sea in January 1915. After being at the mercy of the icyelements and frozen fast for ten months, the crew finally had to

The Scott Polar Research Institute, SPRI, museum is an astounding record of man’s attempt to conquer the poles. Peter Wadhams (U66),Senior Research Fellow of Churchill College, 1983-93, was Director of the Institute from 1987 to 1992. Containing 80,000 images, thepicture Library is a little known treasure of archival photography covering every aspect of the history of British exploration in the Arctic andAntarctic. The museum is open, Monday to Friday, 2.30pm to 4.00pm and is an eye-opener into the lives of the pioneering explorers. Forinformation about the picture gallery visit www.spri.cam.ac.uk/lib/pictures.htm or contact Lucy Martin on 01223 336547.

Life in theFast Lane

With a global audience estimated at over one billion, Formula 1captures the imagination like no other sport. Beyond fast cars andloud engines, Formula 1 has become a phenomenon because of itscolour, glamour and lifestyle. But technology remains at the centreof the entire spectacle.

Since joining the Formula 1 circuit in 1989, Mike Gascoyne(U82,G85) has oscillated between racing teams. In the early days,his speciality was aerodynamics, but during the second half of hiscareer he has moved into general car design, finally taking poleposition as Technical Director for Benetton-Renault in 2000. Andthat’s exactly where Benetton boss Flavio Briatore hopes to see nextseason’s car, accelerated through the field with Gascoyne’s know-how, bringing Benetton back with a vengeance.

After leaving Churchill in 1989 to write up his PhD in fluidmechanics, Mike joined helicopter manufacturer, Westland Systems.But before long he discovered another rather exciting applicationfor his expertise in aerodynamics. “I started as an aerodynamicistat McLaren at a time when they had only a small team ofaerodynamicists. I was the only aerodynamicist but I had a coupleof guys working for me as draftsmen. I used to draw on a drawingboard myself and run the aerodynamics programme. After two yearsI went to Tyrrell where I worked as a Chassis Dynamicist, basicallyon computer modelling of chassis dynamics, with the legendaryHarvey Postlethwaite. Six months later I moved to Sauber as Headof Aerodynamics for two years and basically set up the windtunnelprogramme for them, totally from scratch. I returned to Tyrrell in1993, as Deputy Technical Director, which was really my first joboutside of aerodynamics. I was responsible for the whole design ofthe car, once again working under Postlethwaite as TechnicalDirector.”

When Tyrrell was closing in 1998, Gascoyne migrated to Jordanwhere, after a few months, he became Technical Director andresponsible for the whole project. Last year he transferred toBenetton-Renault. This meant a six-month retreat from the trackand a spell of gardening leave imposed by his previous team, Jordanand Honda, who are supplying Jordan’s engines this year. In thesecretive world of Formula 1 technology, it is said by some that it isthe Technical director who determines a team’s competitivenessmore than any driver. Mike spent the time at his rural retreat inOxford with his family, wife Janine and two children Joel andConnie, getting to grips with farming.

“As Technical Director I am responsible for the design of theracing cars, including all research and development and aerodynamicfunctions. I oversee all the technical aspects of the company andam in charge of racing, testing and production. Now I technicallydirect and manage, as opposed to actual design. However, I still dospend a large portion of my day talking with the designers andworking with them. I think, as a manager, that this is very importantnow in Formula 1. Ten years ago there might have been a smallteam of ten to fifteen people designing cars but today there are

large teams of fifty or sixty people and they have to be managed.Lines of communication and organisations need to be drawn upand I think that is lacking in a lot of Formula 1 teams.”

But despite landing the perfect job, he says he wasn’t originallyfascinated by the world of Formula 1. “In fact, other than watchingthe Grand Prix on telly, I had no real desire to work in the industry.I had always been interested in engineering and aviation, which iswhy I did aerodynamics and fluids at college, but it was never mydream to work in Formula 1. Although I think as someone who isvery competitive, plays a lot of sport, or rather used to play a lot ofsport, loves engineering and aerodynamics, I have ended up in adream job.”

Every job has its moment, but in F1 it is on a slightly differentscale. “I think ultimately, probably the most exciting moment inFormula 1, was the first time a car I had designed from scratchwon a race — Magny Cours 1999 with the Jordan 199. We alsowon another race that year, finishing third in the championship.That is probably my greatest achievement in motor racing and mymost exciting moment.”

And he’s pretty nifty behind the wheel himself. He has finishedon the podium several times in the BOSS Formula championshipsdriving the Tyrrell 025 that he originally designed for Mika Saloand Jos Verstappen in the 1996 Formula 1 Championship.

Life in the fast lane of Formula 1 gets pretty hectic, especiallyonce the season’s racing is underway, but there is time away fromthe track to unwind. “I live on a farm and at the weekends, orwhatever time off I get, you can normally find me in the tractormoving the muckheap or fixing the fences, which gets me outdoors.A bit of physical work is always good and is nothing to do withFormula 1,” he says.

So how did he end up in the glamorous world of Formula 1?Apparently it all started with a yellowing advertisement in an oldcopy of Flight Magazine. “I started working at Westland SystemsAssessment, where I was doing computer modelling, but actuallywasn’t able to do much as I didn’t have security clearance. While Iwas reading an old copy of Flight, I saw an advert for anaerodynamicist at McLarens back in 1989. It was an old advert,four months old, but I wrote in anyway. They asked me to comestraight for an interview and I got the job. I was the last person toapply but was lucky enough to be in the right place at the righttime.”

Now he’s certainly in the right place at the right time as far asBenetton are concerned. There are mountains to be climbed, fromclose to the back of the grid. Arriving from his six-month exilefrom Formula 1 in November 2000, there was little time to injecthis own influence into the 2001 car before the racing season beganin March, so Gascoyne decided to focus on building up newaerodynamic models. Next season’s car will be the true test of Mike’smettle, when the first Benetton car bearing his design credentialstakes to the track.

Mike Gascoyne (U82, G85)Rick Warden (U91)

abandon ship when it was crushed by the pack ice. Stranded onthe ice-floes, with meagre supplies of food and no chance of rescue,they dragged their lifeboats across the seemingly endless icy wastes,reaching the ocean six months later. After a terrifying voyage inthree lifeboats, they reached the remote and desolate ElephantIsland. Realising waiting was futile, six men, including John Vincentwhom Warden portrays, set off on a 650 mile journey to SouthGeorgia, across the most treacherous part of the freezing SouthPacific. Strong winds forced them onto the wrong side of the island.With little food or water, Shackleton and two of his crew tackledan unmapped mountainous glacier, using nails as crampons, thewhaling station on the other side being their last chance of survival.

“The real heart of the shoot was the four week Arctic adventure,”where they filmed the Antarctic scenes on the sea-ice off EasternGreenland, explained Warden. “The experience was very intense.Like the crew of the Endurance, we soon realised how the Arcticor Antarctic weather shatters any notion of a plan within minutes.Fog comes in very thick, very fast, so scenes have to be grabbedwhere they can. If the cold conditions improve too rapidly, cracksappear on the floes and on a couple of occasions, we watched ourset get split down the middle and literally start floating away. Atthe end of each day, we were back on board a floating ice fortress.There’s certainly nothing I’ve ever experienced like being in thelower hold of a gargantuan icebreaker as it smashes its way througha field of icebergs.”

After two chilly months on the ice, the crew are shooting thereally wet scenes at Shepperton Studios. There is a replica of theEndurance’s interior decks, that tilts at 45 degrees and gets flooded,and equipment to simulate the epic crossing to South Georgia.Director Charles Sturridge said, “This is a film about a man, hismen and an incredible journey. Shackleton had to fight to get financefor the expedition and it was happening at a time when he wasfacing desperate problems in his private life. But in the Antarctic,against seemingly hopeless odds, he managed to keep his 28-mancrew alive for two terrifying years. He is without doubt one of thegreat leaders of all time.”

Band of Brothers will be shown on BBC1 in the autumn andShackleton on Channel 4 in January 2002. The footsteps of theseintrepid explorers have been retraced by three of the world’s topmountaineers for a new IMAX film, Shackleton’s Antarctic Adventure,also featuring original photography and 35mm motion-picturefootage from the 1914 expedition’s official photographer, FrankHurley.

New institutes emphasising an interdisciplinary approach to researchare springing up all over Cambridge. From chemistry and earthsciences to entrepreneurship, Churchill Fellows are leading the way,playing prominent roles in three of the best.

Chemistry Comes of AgeInformation technology is transforming science at a phenomenalrate. Today’s chemists are more likely to be studying moleculestwisting and turning in glorious technicolour on a computer screenthan creating colourful concoctions at the bench. Chemistry hasentered a new era. With enormous quantities of chemical data beinggenerated world-wide, Unilever have invested over £13 million toestablish a world-leading research centre for cheminformatics inCambridge. This facility allows scientists to use molecularinformatics to integrate chemical, biological and material science,cultivating a more interdisciplinary approach to research.

Churchill Fellow, Dr John Mitchell (U84, G87), works at theinterface between biology and chemistry in the Unilever Centre.“There’s a new aspect of computational chemistry, applying methodsto a much broader range of problems and phenomena than in thepast,” said Mitchell. “Drug design is a key area for the applicationof cheminformatics.” With millions of chemical substances availablefor study, the challenge is pulling the information together anddeveloping the right software solutions to make sense of it all togenerate new knowledge and accelerate innovation.Cheminformatics has emerged as the discipline that uses computersto study the properties of molecules, handle data associated withthem and create models to predict the properties of new molecules.Former Churchill Research Fellow, Dr David Hartley (U64), isnow Managing Director of the Cambridge Crystallographic DataCentre (CCDC) next door.

Companies are turning to technologies like data mining anddata visualisation to get quicker insights from their data and toincrease the probability of identifying targets or promisingcompounds. “We need to know exactly which molecule will bindin the relevant protein site, to block the progress of disease. Becausethere are so many possible molecules that could in theory be made,it is not really feasible to do it experimentally,” says Mitchell. Butcheminformatics allows multitudes of molecules to be whittleddown through ‘in silico’ screening, enabling researchers to focus onthe most promising ones in the wet lab leaving the others high anddry.

Embracing EntrepreneurshipIn 1955, Sir Winston Churchill had a vision. While holidaying inSyracuse, after handing No. 10 over to Sir Anthony Eden, he becameinterested in the model of technological education adopted at theMassachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Impressed with whathe saw, Churchill returned home, keen to promote a similar modelthat would raise the number of highly trained technologists in theUK and forge a close link between industry and the Universities.Half a century later his dream has, in part, been realised with thefoundation of the Cambridge-MIT-Institute (CMI), creating abridge of minds across the Atlantic.

With music in her genes, it was only a matter of time until Lowri Blake (U76) discovered her passion forperforming. Only four years after first picking up a cello, she was invited to join the National YouthOrchestra, establishing a fine reputation as a performer, and also as a soloist, which preceded her arrival inCambridge. Since hitting the headlines as a performer of note in Cambridge, Blake has gone from strengthto strength, combining a demanding career as a professional musician with teaching, examining andediting music. Although now a busy mother of three, she has still had time to launch her own record label.

Lowri Blake has something of a double life as a performer, appearing both as a solo cellist and a singerof contemporary music and cabaret, often simultaneously. Although cello is her greatest love, during hertime at Cambridge she developed a taste for twentieth century solo vocal music, somewhat unorthodox inCambridge choral circles. With an exceptional range and ability to discriminate microtones, she foundher niche and developed an extensive repertoire of challenging contemporary works.

First performing at the Wigmore Hall aged seventeen, Blake soon came to the attention of the BBC.Since her televised concerto debut with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales in 1980, Blake has broadcastover one hundred recitals and concertos on BBC Radio and Television, including a performance of theDvorak concerto and of Peter Sculthorpe’s Threnody for BBC Wales television in 1998. “It was fantastic tobe taken up so early by the BBC as a radio three artist and I have had twenty years of wonderful work andbroadcasts with them,” she said. Recordings were her ‘staple diet’ during this time, but more recentlyhave played second fiddle to family life.

When she’s not performing, she gives master-classes, nationwide and abroad, and is professor of celloat the Royal College of Music and Trinity College of Music, London. As a child, Lowri regularly competedin music festivals. This autumn she is adjudicating the Sutton Music Festival, hoping to inspire the nextgeneration of young musicians. “Music is a social occupation and it teaches you how to get on withothers, whether as part of a vocal ensemble or an orchestra. Competing in festivals gives children a chanceto interact and is a tremendous confidence builder.”

But she says it is getting more and more difficult for young musicians to get their lucky break. “Thewhole nature of classical music and the way performers are perceived are changing. The way we presentourselves is more important than ever. Young musicians today need to be multifaceted in their workbecause securing a position is no longer a certainty.”

A highlight of her career was the launch of her record label, Lowri Records, in November 1999, bringinga new dimension to her life as a musician. “It allows me to choose the music, the way I perform it andpresent it. I also produce and promote the recordings and this has given me the opportunity to bring outthe repertoire in a different format.” Her artistic, creative side is clearly evident in the packaging —velvety, matt, highly tactile CD covers with enchanting artwork, desirable for any personal collection.

Following the release of Captain Cook’s Cello, a captivating collection of music for cello and voice,Blake was described in the Classical Reviews as, “a musician of the new century, blurring the distinctionbetween ‘classical’ and other genres, and releasing a growing discography of discerning repertoire.” Withaudio clips on line at www.lowrirecords.com there is the chance to listen before you buy. Her 1997release, Three for the Price of Two, features Blake as cellist and singer with double bassist Peter Buckoke,otherwise known as A Man, A Woman and a Double Bass. It is an entertaining mix of classics, contemporaryand cabaret, and has received wide acclaim. Visible Bass Line is their most recent release and many of theirarrangements are by Michael Murray (U75).

In 1980, she married Peter Martin (U75) her college ‘daddy’. Peter is the Finance Director at AskonasHolt, a leading company in concert artist management. With an enviable list of some 220 artists coveringthe entire spectrum of instruments and performance styles, Askonas Holt represent some of the world’sgreatest instrumentalists and conductors including Sir Simon Rattle, Daniel Barenboim and John Williams.Peter, a classical guitarist and lutenist, is giving a series of lunchtime lute recitals around London thisautumn — see Lowri’s website www.lowrirecords.com for details.

It is twenty-five years since Lowri and Peter first met at college as music undergraduates. Twenty-oneyears of marriage and three children later, music seems to be the key to success for this remarkable duo.

Hitting theHigh Notes

CelebratingScience andTechnology

FuellingInnovation

A generous endowment of £23 millionfrom BP in 1999 has established astylish new research institute with stateof the art facilities, located just beyondthe Møller Centre, off MadingleyRoad. Here at the BP Institute (BPI)for Multiphase Flow, science is highlyinterdisciplinary, bringing togetherresearchers from Applied Maths andTheoretical Physics, Chemistry,Engineering, Chemical Engineeringand Earth Sciences. Churchill By-Fellow, Dr Peter Smith, is Director ofthe Institute, where teams areinvestigating the movement ofmultiple fluids such as oil and waterthough rocks and over the earth’ssurface, the physics behind flow-driven fractures in porous rock, thegeological flows responsible for rockformation and volcanic flows.

This multidisciplinary research haswide-reaching applications, fromilluminating the processes by whichoil is formed to facilitating integratedlow-energy building design andventilation efficiency. With this inmind, the roof of the BP Institute isequipped with the latest in solarpanelling, reflecting BP’s commitmentto developing alternative energysources.

The theories and models ofmultiphase flows are also used to studythe movement of air around buildings,allowing intelligent ventilation systemsto de developed and patterns of smokedispersal in buildings after explosionsto be predicted. The models are eventransferable to traffic flow dynamics,for example multi-lane movement onmotorways.

According to BP Professor AndrewWoods, “The BP investment underliesthe belief that it is throughfundamental research that majortechnological breakthroughs occur.”BP certainly put into practice whatthey preach, having adopted arefreshingly enlightened approach thatallows total freedom of academicresearch. BP is also supporting the UKgovernment-sponsored Cambridge-MIT Institute, CMI, and hasgenerously supported the ChurchillArchive’s extension.

Lowri Blake (U76)

Backed by almost 70 million of government funding, from theDepartment of Trade and Industry, and 16 million raised fromprivate industry, CMI’s mission is to advance productivity andcompetitiveness in university-industry relationships, as well ascultivating a more entrepreneurial outlook. This will be done bydeveloping research programmes to improve technology andstimulate research spin-offs, developing MIT’s business executiveprogrammes in the UK, and developing common courses in science,technology, engineering and management for students at Cambridgeand MIT.

Churchill College is closely connected to CMI and ProfessorJohn B Vander Sande, the MIT Director of CMI, is a CollegeFellow. The University Vice-Chancellor and former Master ofChurchill, Professor Sir Alec Broers, was active in discussionsbetween the UK government and MIT, an institution that has anenviable record of spin-off companies and is generally consideredmore business-savvy than its Cambridge counterpart in the fens.Instrumental in securing a number of important industrialpartnerships during his time as Vice-Chancellor, Sir Alec wasrecently awarded one of the highest accolades from the RoyalAcademy of Engineering, the Prince Philip Medal.

After initial teething troubles, things are running more smoothlyfor CMI and success is on the horizon. The first group of Cambridgeundergraduates depart for MIT this September, participating in ayear-long exchange. Four of the lucky thirty-three are fromChurchill. Ben Lishman, last year’s JCR president, will be studyingengineering. He will be joined by physicist Richard Doig, naturalscientist Kazuki Fukushige and Gillian Hutton, who is embarkingon the chemical engineering course.

And it is not just undergraduates who are reaping rewards fromthe MIT relationship. The CMI professional practice programmeprovides financial support for the design of new courses and researchinitiatives. Professor David Newbery, Churchill Fellow and Directorof Applied Economics, has just secured CMI funding to work withcolleagues at MIT on a project to, “promote innovation andproductivity in electricity markets.” And the Graduate School ofBiological, Medical and Veterinary Sciences has also just receivedthe first phase of funding to develop a Masters in BioscienceEnterprise, a programme designed to educate the bioentrepreneursof the future.

The NewsletterWith sparse information about some members and no information aboutthe majority, the newly established development office decided it was timefor action. The Churchill newsletter is designed to bring alumni closer intotouch with college life and to provide an insight into the lives of currentand former members. If you have any comments about this edition,suggestions for future publications, or would like to contribute material,please email nleditor@chu.cam.ac.uk or use the envelope provided to contactthe development office.

Building Bridges through Year RepresentativesYou remain a Member of the College for your lifetime and Churchill valuesthe continuing links with its alumni, and the contribution they make, invarious ways, to the work of the College. With your help we aim to expandthese links in the future and to offer events and membership benefits whichreflect the interests and expectations of College Members. We plan to developa network of Year Group Representatives, who will bring a more focusedtouch to the alumni programme and provide a route for members wantingto voice their ideas or concerns to the college. For details of this programmeplease contact Annette on alumni@chu.cam.ac.uk or 01223 336083.

Benefits of Churchill College Alumni AssociationDetails of the benefits (such as Dining Rights and accommodation inCollege) available to active Members are on the web site.

Come Back to ChurchillWe look forward to meeting Members when they visit Churchill so pleaseask the Porters to direct you to the Development Office and drop in forcoffee and a chat. We will always be keen to hear about what you have beendoing or any ideas you may have for a more effective Development Office.

There are many reasons and opportunities to come back to Churchill. Allmembers of College are automatically members of the Churchill CollegeAlumni Association, which each year holds two main events — a dinner,usually in College over the University alumni weekend, and one or morespring or summer events.

Dates and Event ListRegular events in the Alumni calendar are the decennial Reunion in July,and the Churchill College Association Dinner in September.

In 2002 the Reunion will be held on July 20th and everyone whomatriculated in the years 1978, 1979, 1980 and 1981 is invited. If youbelong to one of these years and do not receive your invitation by the endof April 2002, please contact the Alumni Officer.

The Association Dinner will be held on Saturday 22nd September, tocoincide with the University’s Alumni Weekend. All non-resident Membersare invited and may bring a guest. There is a charge for the dinner, butwhatever College accommodation is available will be provided free of charge.

We hope to include winter and summer sports days in the programmefor 2002, and at least one other event out of Cambridge. Details will appearon the College website as they develop.

MuseumsDon’t forget to pop into the Scott Polar Research Institute Museum and theChurchill Archives Centre on your next visit to Cambridge.

Broadening Horizons: Travelling Fellowships 2001Two members of the University are spreading their wings and setting off ona chance of a lifetime journey after being awarded prestigious travellingfellowships by the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust. Mrs Paula Halson,Registrar of Churchill College, will be visiting France and Australia todevelop overseas links, investigate administrative procedures in otherUniversities and also to pursue personal study on the French navigator,Lapérouse.

Working in a totally different field, Dr Claire Cockcroft, a researcher atthe Institute of Biotechnology and science writer for The Guardian, isstudying the impact of biotechnology on agriculture in Cuba, Mexico andSouth America. Established in 1965 as a tribute to Sir Winston Churchill,the fellowships enable men and women from all walks of life to experiencethe lives and different cultures of people overseas.

Around 100 fellowships are awarded annually to British citizens,covering a wide range of topics, from the arts to animal welfare or socialstudies to sport and science. So if you fancy a chance to broaden your culturalhorizons, visit www.wcmt.org.uk for further details. The categories for 2002have now been announced and include projects for musicians, teachers andtechnicians, as well as categories for sport, exploration and young peopleunder twenty five. The closing date is 24 October 2001.

Notable EventsMusic in college is flourishing with a Visiting Performers series drawingnames from all over the world. A Japanese ensemble performed recentlyand the London Mozart Players will be giving a concert in December.

Opera is also enjoying something of a revival in Churchill. Akin Euba,a musicologist and Professor of Music at the University of Pittsburgh, spentthe 2000-1 academic year as an overseas fellow at Churchill. A well-knowncomposer of African Art music, Euba is a leading authority on African music,especially from his native Yoruba in Nigeria. On 19 November 2000, hisopera Chaka was performed before an international audience that includeddistinguished fellows and members of the University.

The peace and harmony of Churchill College provided the perfectenvironment for musical creativity. During his visit, Euba composed a neworchestral work, Orunmila’s Voices: Songs from the Beginning of Time, whichexplores aspects of African culture. Requiring a substantial number ofperformers, including soloists, chanters, chorus, dancers and symphonyorchestra, the world premiere of this highly dramatic piece will be given bythe Jefferson Performing Arts Society of New Orleans, on 23 February 2002in New Orleans. If you would like details of other musical events, to adviseus of any forthcoming concerts, or would like to give a concert at an alumnievent, please contact the Development Office.

Developing LinksIn March 2001, the Development Office was strengthened to reflect itsgreater role in College life by the appointment of Mr Tony Bannard-Smith,formerly of the University Development Office and also the CorporateLiaison Office. As the first full-time Development Fellow, he brings a wealthof experience from industry and the University. Tony said on taking upoffice,

“Churchill College will not be able to exist through the 21st centurywithout it actively seeking new sources of funding in support of it progressiveeducational and research activities. Those who have benefited from Collegelife are by far the most compelling protagonists of the benefits of Collegelife and its future. Forward looking plans, plus the need to sustain existingactivities that government funding once met, suggest we now need to beinnovative in our approach, clear in our communication, and do everythingpossible to contact and strengthen the relationship with anyone who isinterested in the future of Churchill College.”

Annette Tattersall joined the College in November last year as AlumniOfficer and is here to help with any questions about the College and yourcontinuing relationship with it. The Development Office will be delightedto receive your news and please keep us up to date with address and e-mailaddress changes.

Annette Tattersall and Tony Bannard-Smith