university of portsmouth annual magazine for alumni and friends 2014

UPdateUniversity of Portsmouth annual magazine for alumni and friends

Summer 2014

Also inside:Chancellor’s Dinner a glittering affair It’s a beautiful business with Liz EarleGetting fit with Bear Grylls

Astronaut and alumnus beams in

MD8855 0814_Update Alumni Magazine 2014.indd 1 12/08/2014 15:02

2 University of Portsmouth Contents 3

WelcomeMy first 12 months as Vice-Chancellor have been incredibly enjoyable with both staff and students providing a warm welcome to the University. It has been a great period of discovery for me and I have been so impressed by the quality of what we do and the strong ambition of colleagues to grow the University in strength and reputation. A key ingredient for success is the support of our alumni and I would like to personally thank all of you who have supported us over the past 12 months, whether by attending an event, delivering a career talk, offering a work placement, mentoring our students or providing financial support for our University’s future. Your support is vital and makes a real difference to the University and I would encourage you to get involved however you feel able.

ContentsA year in pictures ....................................................................................................................................4–5

Chancellor’s Dinner a glittering affair ........................................................................................................6–7

It’s a beautiful business ............................................................................................................................8–9

Can you help our current students? .....................................................................................................10–11

Who’s in fashion? ................................................................................................................................12–15

Memories of Milton .............................................................................................................................16–17

Getting fit with Bear Grylls ...................................................................................................................18–19

Astronaut and alumnus beams in ........................................................................................................20–21

A celebration of graduation 2014 .........................................................................................................22–23

MantaWatch ........................................................................................................................................24–25

Your impact .........................................................................................................................................26–27

The ‘unexpected button toothed crocodile’ .........................................................................................28–29

Our year of events ...............................................................................................................................30–31

Cultural exchange: Best of British and Mexico – Hugo Van Belle ..........................................................32–33

The Alumni Association, fundraising and donors ..................................................................................34–35

I am delighted to say that we maintain a strong position in the university rankings, both nationally and globally. This, combined with our excellent National Student Survey results and our growing reputation for research, makes us rightly proud of our University. Since I arrived last September I have been bowled over by what we are doing and the impact our activities are having.

The investment in our campus facilities continues. By the end of 2014 we will have invested £22 million in either creating exciting new facilities or on refurbishment and repairs. In an innovative partnership with the New Theatre Royal, this autumn will see the completion of an £8 million theatre and film facility for the Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries. Portland Building is currently undergoing a complete refurbishment and will re-open in time for the new academic year. This is all part of our drive to provide a first-class experience for our students, an experience which provides the best preparation for the world of work.

This year saw the launch of the Shaping our Future conversation, asking all staff and students where they thought the University should be heading in the next 15 to 20 years. The conversation was a huge success, with around 2,000 students and members of staff taking part in roadshows around campus and posting ideas and comments online. We will soon be extending the conversation outside the University, which includes over 50,000 alumni. We will be in touch over the next few months to ask you to get involved and help us shape our future.

I wish you well for the year ahead and thank you for your continued support.

Professor Graham GalbraithVice-ChancellorAugust 2014

The University of Portsmouth Alumni Association is always keen to hear from former students and friends of the University. Do please stay in touch and share your stories with us, submit content for future editions of UPdate or nominate other alumni to receive a copy, by contacting us at [email protected].

Meet the team

Lisa Egan Acting Marketing Campaigns Manager

Vicky Hodson Alumni Relations Officer

Ceri Gorman Alumni Relations Officer

Kevin Gaisford Database and Operations Officer

Emma Deabill Development Officer

Joe Rejek Alumni Relations and DevelopmentAssistant

You can keep up with our latest news and events and reminisce about your university years by following our social media channels. Join our Linkedin Group and connect with thousands of alumni living in your part of the world or working in a similar field. Or simply enjoy browsing through our images of Portsmouth today on our Instagram account.

uopalumni

@uopalumni

University of Portsmouth Alumni Association

Portsmouthuni

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4 University of Portsmouth A year in pictures 5

August 2013 September 2013

October 2013

February 2014

December 2013

January 2014

March 2014

April 2014 May 2014

June 2014

July 2014

August 2013The Students’ Union raised a record £142,295 for charity,

well above their £100,000 target and nearly double their previous year’s total. The money was raised by student-led fundraising group RAG (Raising and Giving) and 14 sports clubs and societies.

September 2013Taking inspiration from the popular televised baking battle,

over 30 pupils from local secondary schools made brownies and scones at the ‘Great British Cake Off’, organised by the University’s UP for It Club.

October 2013A new training facility for students to learn how to use

decontamination equipment officially opened at the University’s Dental Academy. The training suite allows dental students to learn about the practical elements of sterilisation in a safe environment.

November 2013Britain’s first Dog Cognition Centre opened its doors to

family dogs of all breeds, genders, ages and temperaments, allowing researchers to study a huge range of dogs and learn more about how clever man’s best friend really is.

December 2013A University building was transformed into a state-of-

the-art facility for the creative arts, thanks to £14 million of investment. The Eldon Building west wing provides the Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries with brand new purpose-built facilities.

January 2014Scientists from the University studied data from citizen

science project Galaxy Zoo to look at galaxies beyond our local universe, using the Hubble Space Telescope.

February 2014A major new studio space in the city won £30,000

of funding to help give art a starring role in Portsmouth. The University’s art gallery, Space, opened as part of the redevelopment of Eldon Building on Winston Churchill Avenue.

March 2014Over 250 students from all over the world gathered

together for ‘Around the World in One Day’, an event for international students to show off their food, music, national costume, arts and craft, and dance.

April 2014 A new study by Dr Alex Ford from the Institute of Marine

Sciences revealed that tiny quantities of antidepressants are affecting aquatic wildlife such as crustaceans and molluscs.

May 2014 A team of Portsmouth students beat over 40 other

universities to win funding for the design and build of a small racing car for the Formula Student competition – the world’s largest student motorsport event.

June 2014 Students at the University will have many more chances to

play the sports they most enjoy, thanks to a £300,000 funding boost from the National Lottery’s Sport England University Sport Activation Fund. A further £180,000 of in-house funding was added to the pot to help inspire a new generation to take their fitness seriously.

July 2014 Vince Cable, the Secretary of State for Business,

Innovation and Skills, joined a panel of experts at the Portsmouth Business School to discuss the issue of trust in business.

A year in pictures

Credit: HST / NASA / ESA

November 2013


6 University of Portsmouth Chancellor’s Dinner a glittering affair 7

Chancellor’s Dinner a glittering affair

The University’s Alumni Association kicked off its annual calendar of events in February with the Inaugural Chancellor’s Dinner. Held at the Portsmouth Guildhall, the event was attended by almost 350 current students, alumni and staff.

Chancellor Sandi Toksvig was joined for the evening by John Humphrys, Britain’s much-loved journalist and her friend of many years, who swapped roles and agreed to be interviewed at the University of Portsmouth’s first Chancellor’s Dinner.

Sandi had the idea for the event, as she wanted to bring students and alumni together. She said:

‘I am delighted this event is taking place – it is the first Chancellor’s Dinner and one which we hope will become a traditional fixture in the student and alumni calendar, giving our current students and our alumni the opportunity to take part in an elegant occasion in the splendour of the Guildhall, to meet each other, network and share stories.’

Guests included hundreds of former students, from those who graduated as early as 1973, to those who graduated just last year, as well as current students who took the opportunity to be entertained by their Chancellor and to network with alumni. The University’s Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Chief Operating Officer, Deans of faculties and heads of professional services also attended.

After a champagne reception and three-course meal, Sandi interviewed John on stage about his life and career, with many of the questions posed by members of the audience. Asked about his career highlights, John said:

‘Watergate. I was there on the morning Richard Nixon left the White House in disgrace, the first US president ever to do so. I actually broke the story. I told the country, this country, that Richard Nixon was going to go on television that night and resign.’

John discussed how difficult it was to interview Tony Blair when he first became Prime Minister.

‘He had come into office under a whiter than white, purer than pure banner which was fiercely guarded by press secretary and spin doctor Alastair Campbell who, for four years, refused to allow Blair to be interviewed live on the Today programme.

‘It was four years without a single interview, then Campbell retired and I got an interview the next day.’

After more than 40 years interviewing the heads of government and leaders in industry from across the world, Sandi asked if there was anyone he was ‘still gagging to interview’, and he replied: ‘The Queen, Her Majesty’. He had once met her at a formal dinner and when he’d asked if he could one day interview her, she’d replied: ‘No, and what’s more Mr Humphrys, if I were to be interviewed, it would certainly not be by you.’

When Sandi suggested they try a job swap he laughed and said what she did was ‘far, far harder’ and suggested she take on one of the annual guest editor roles of the Today programme, in the week between Christmas and the New Year.

After an interview punctuated by many jokes at her own expense, Sandi thanked him for agreeing to attend, saying: ‘I’m delighted the event has given us the opportunity to hear from one of the biggest names in broadcasting on how he built his career. Thank you.’

‘It is the first Chancellor’s Dinner and one which we hope will become a traditional fixture.’ Next year’s Chancellor’s Dinner will

take place on Friday 6 February. Tickets will go on sale in October.


It’s a beautiful business 9

It’s a beautiful business

Many of you will be familiar with health and beauty guru Liz Earle from her well-known beauty brand and wide-ranging television work. What you might not know is that Liz studied in Portsmouth, is one of the University’s honorary graduates and is proud to have set up her award-winning beauty business on the Isle of Wight.

We met with her to have a chat about her relationship with the city and the University, and to find out more about the Liz Earle success story.

What is your relationship with the University of Portsmouth? I was so surprised and truly delighted to receive an Honorary Doctorate from my home city of Portsmouth. What an extraordinary honour. At last I have my degree! I hold it as a very special accolade, right up there with receiving my MBE from the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

Tell us more about your connection to the south of England I was born in Southsea in a naval nursing home on the seafront and my father held many commands on the south coast, including Flag Officer Portsmouth when we lived in HM Dockyard in Spithead House. My two eldest children were baptised in the naval church there and I held my thirtieth birthday party on HMS Victory, in full period costume; it was really very special.

Did you go to university yourself? Do you believe university is an important step for young adults?I went to Highbury College after leaving school at 16 and studied hotel management, firstly in Portsmouth then at Westminster College, London. I really didn’t know what I wanted to do and so chose a course that offered a breadth of learning, from accountancy to running a restaurant, in hindsight all very good entrepreneurial skills to acquire. I loved my course, especially the practical aspects of haute cuisine and wine appreciation! Thirty or more years ago things were more relaxed and jobs easier to find, so I took the view that I wanted to start on the bottom rung of the working ladder sooner, without a degree.

How did you first get interested in natural health, botany and organic lifestyles?I inherited my passion for plants from my father, who is a keen gardener and plantsman. He is an Admiral in the Royal Navy and when he returned to dry land, would spend his R&R pottering about in the vegetable patch as an antidote to being at sea. He is very practical, so grew mostly useful plants, such as fruit and vegetables, which is probably why I love medicinal botanicals that ‘do things’ too.

Tell us about how you got started in the beauty industryMy first job in journalism was as a junior in the beauty department on the now defunct glossy women’s magazine called Woman’s Journal. It was at a time when health and beauty were first being linked together as a publishing section, and so I was given snippets of both health and wellbeing to write. I was lucky to have a great editor who mentored my writing, encouraging me to write full-length features and then my own books. I always worked as a freelance writer, for many different magazines and newspapers before focusing on beauty and wellbeing books.

You are well known for your specialist knowledge in botanical ingredients in beauty and your approach to natural health – why do you believe so firmly in this ‘naturally active’ approach? I have seen first-hand the many powerful, therapeutic properties that botanicals possess, often much more so than more modern synthetics. As someone with sensitive, eczema-prone skin, I found natural herbal ingredients that worked for me, and wanted very much to share this knowledge with others.

How did you get into TV work?I started work in the very dawn of daytime TV, when Richard and Judy first launched This Morning on ITV. My name was known as a byline in women’s magazines and from writing books, so I received a call right out of the blue asking if I’d be interested in joining the team at Granada – and the rest is history. I loved every moment of it and only left as I was offered my own BBC show, Beautywise. I then moved on to GMTV for a number of years before hosting an ITV network afternoon show, Liz Earle’s Lifestyle.

You co-founded Liz Earle Beauty Co Ltd with your close friend Kim Buckland in 1995 and it’s still going strong almost 20 years later – what is the key to its success?When Kim and I started out, the beauty industry was very polarised, either selling expensive designer skincare behind an intimidating department store counter or cheap and cheerful self-selection skincare off the shelves in supermarkets and chemists. We spotted that elusive ‘gap in the market’ for premium quality, affordable, ethically- produced skincare, all backed by a genuine specialist with real knowledge, not just a marketing gimmick.

What is your level of involvement since the beauty

company was acquired by Avon in 2010? When the Liz Earle Beauty Co was sold it was very much the right decision for both Kim and me, our CEO and other stakeholders as well as for the brand itself. Both Kim and I had built the brand from scratch into a household beauty name, and it was growing so fast – both in the UK and internationally – that it needed the support of a much larger multinational organisation to allow this to happen. I have remained as a consultant to the brand and continue to be a passionate brand ambassador, so I am still very much involved.

What have you been doing since the sale of the company?I have been keen to return to my original roots of writing and programme-making and have been busy updating many of my backlist of books, revising them into ebook editions, as well as working on a new wellbeing book about juicing for publication later this year. As an organic livestock farmer, I have also returned to healthy food campaigning and produced a short documentary about the importance of grass-fed milk. All this and more I have going on at my new venture www.lizearlewellbeing.com, which is the online home for how to feel good, look good and do some good along the way. I launched LiveTwice, a UK registered charity that funds a

wide range of practical, life-improving projects. You can see more of our work at www.livetwice.org. I am also a newly appointed patron of Ace Africa, and have just returned from a fascinating field trip to both Kenya and Tanzania to see how this organisation saves many thousands of lives with practical, sustainable food and healthcare projects.

How do you strike the right work/life balance? That is a hard question and I have yet to meet a working wife and mother who thinks she has got that one right! I try and be super organised and rely on technology for everything from scheduling, email and home shopping, to Skype conference calls etc for work and back home to the children.

What advice do you have for our graduating students who are considering their options? There are a few fundamental rules for aspiring entrepreneurs: firstly, find something you are passionate about and love doing as you will be dedicating most of your life to it. Secondly, know your subject inside out, upside down, back to front and then some more. The more research you can do the better to build firm foundations for the future. Lastly, don’t rush. My motto is always to crawl, walk, run if you want to be in business for the long term.

An interview with Liz Earle

8 University of Portsmouth



The University’s Alumni Association has had a busy year following up on the staggering 4,000 offers of help which we have received from our alumni. Thank you to those of you who have made offers. Staff and students around the campus value your contribution.

We have had the pleasure of welcoming back a number of alumni to give career talks, providing our current students with the opportunity to gain inspiration and advice from industry professionals. Some students have enjoyed visiting alumni in their place of work, giving them a valuable insight into the work they could be potentially doing one day.

Earlier this year journalism and media studies students were given the opportunity to visit the ITN studios in London, courtesy of economics alumnus and ITV News at 6.30pm Programme Editor Richard Frediani. Third-year student Jasmine Lagha tells us about the day.

Can you help our current students?

The BBC Apprentice star and sociology and social policy graduate came back to the University in November as a keynote speaker at Portsmouth Business School’s IMPACT week.

‘Katie kicked off our networking evening and talked about her journey since she left university and her experience of Sir Alan Sugar and The Apprentice. She had a positive impact on the students, so much so that they stayed behind to network with her and pick her brain about the business world.’

Jacqui Adams, Careers Adviser

How can you help?If you would like to give back by helping our current students, we would love to hear from you if you can offer the following:• A career talk• A career profile• A work placement or work experience

position• A graduate job• Attend an Open Day and meet with

prospective students

What do you need to do?If you would like to get involved, please email [email protected] or call the alumni team on 023 9284 2705 and let us know how you would like to help.

Katie Wright

Richard Frediani

‘On arrival at the studios in London we were given guest passes and shown through to the gallery, a long dark room kitted out with a wall of screens and button-covered control boards from end to end. It looked nothing short of the inside of a space shuttle. The room was tense as the six thirty deadline approached, but seeing how the programme was put together live on air really honed in on the importance and their commitment as journalists to broadcast the most up-to-date coverage.

‘After the broadcast we were able to sit in on the debrief where Richard formally introduced himself and walked us round the studios. He talked us thoroughly through each section of the newsroom and the stages of production including the green room, and introduced us to lots of his colleages from the director to the travel agent. We were even lucky enough to meet ITV Evening News presenter Mark Austin.

‘Our evening with Richard really helped us grasp the atmosphere and mechanisms behind a major working newsroom and hopefully has given us an insight into what companies look for when applying for jobs and work experience in broadcast media.’

Can you help our current students? 11

In November Nick Collard, Group Marketing and Customer Director at Morrisons Supermarkets, gave an interesting talk to marketing students in the Business School about the various marketing campaigns he had been involved in. Since graduating with a BA (Hons) in Business Studies in 1994, Nick has worked for several multi-national corporations including Boots, L’Oreal and Mars. Alongside interesting insights and practical advice, attending students were also given the opportunity to see the 2013 Morrison’s Christmas TV advert before its airing. Nick also spoke fondly about his student days at Portsmouth.

Nick Collard

Alumnus Vinesh Pomal, architect at Levitt Bernstein Associates, joined us in March to talk to students about bridging the gap between academia and industry. Reflecting on experience, Vinesh emphasised the importance of students engaging with their desired industries prior to graduation, particularly when it came to construction and architecture.

Vinesh Pomal


Who’s in fashion? 13

Who’s in fashion?The University of Portsmouth has many graduates who have gone on to work in the fashion industry, not just those with a degree in fashion and textiles. Here are just a few of our alumni who have made it, all in very different ways and at different stages of their career.

Name: Dan Sclosa Job title: Denim Technologist for TopshopCourse studied: Three Dimensional DesignYear of graduation: 2005Dan Sclosa has worked for Topshop as a denim technologist for the last two years. His role involves the development, from initial concept through to final production, of all jeans and denim styles. He designs exclusive denim fabrics for sole use by Topshop, alongside developing chemicals for new washing techniques. He is also in charge of sealing all styles for fit, and then following the whole process into bulk production in the factories and laundries.

He says: ‘It’s an amazing buzz to see your final creations on so many people on the high street.’

Dan explains how he came into this line of work: ‘I was really lucky to have tutors on my course who let me experiment with fabrics in technical and architectural ways. My real enthusiasm for garment construction and finishing effects led to work experience with a couture label in London where I learnt commercial skills relevant to the industry, which led to my first paid role.’

Dan’s aspirations for the future are to see Topshop’s jeans/denim department grow further, increasing their current sourcing destinations and driving their products into the global market.

Kirsty Wright’s fashion career got off to a flying start when she entered the Beta Fashion Competition as a student and won! Kirsty explains how she decided to enter the competition because she loved the sound of the brief, which was Noah’s Ark, as well as the prize of £300 and the chance to have her design sold online and in store at Topshop.

‘I decided to base my print on the armadillo, not only because of their rarity within textiles, but also because of the interesting shapes and detailing there was to draw. After composing my motif I had to think about styles and colours, so I read up on different myths surrounding the ark. A story that particularly grabbed my attention was how Turkey was the final resting place of the ark. In response to this I began looking at traditional Turkish patterns that inspired me to finish off my print in rich colours and circular compositions.’

After winning the competition, Kirsty landed herself an internship at Hale, thanks to the local publicity that her competition received. Alumnus Kelly Dedman, who is a senior designer at Hale, saw her design and immediately contacted Kirsty about the vacancy at Elaine Hooley Studio. Kirsty now has a permanent role there.

We asked Kirsty to tell us what a typical day is like as a designer. She said: ‘Every day is different, but in general most days are fast paced, working on a few designs a day or spending a couple of days working on just one premium design. Our schedules mostly revolve around our clients – they may give us a couple of weeks to come up with a collection, or will ask for something to be designed and approved in one single day. Apart from designing, a lot of time is spent meeting with clients and keeping up to date with catwalk and high street trends. Once a design has been approved we also have to go through the process of deciding what garments are going to be composed of, colour matching and then sampling. Overall, the whole process from design to manufacture is rather long.’

Kirsty says her aspiration for the future is to gain lots of experience to move up into a higher role: ‘Eventually I would love to see myself as a self-established designer launching my own brand.’ Good luck Kirsty and great news that our alumni are helping graduates find work!

Name: Kirsty Wright

Job title: Junior Fashion Designer

for Hale at Elaine Hooley Design

Course studied: Fashion and Textile

Design with Enterprise

Year of graduation: 2013


Kirsty’s winning design for the Beta Fashion Competition


Who’s in fashion? 1514 University of Portsmouth

Chloe Hood set up her own part-time business, Hoodlum Fang, after completing an enterprise course at the University called ‘Into the Cell Block’ whilst studying for her degree. Chloe is currently working part time to support her business, a lifestyle and sportswear brand inspired by punk rock, extreme sports and ‘grrrl power’, but hopes to make it a full-time venture in the future.

She got the inspiration from following the local Roller Derby team, The Portsmouth Roller Wenches. She explains: ‘The team and its supporters have become great friends of mine over the years and my main support network for my business. The relationship started while I was in my final year of University. I used skating as an outlet for my creativity and used the inspiration I gained from the imagery of the sport in my designs. Hoodlum Fang promises spandex and jersey garments made from the highest quality digitally printed fabrics, designed and

crafted to the highest standards by myself. Everything is so easy to wear, from statement tees and bold printed leggings to soft jersey miniskirts.’

Chloe goes on to say: ‘I believe there are a lot of things wrong with the fashion industry. Big design houses tend to overlook issues such as size 0 models and child labour/fair wage laws for garment making and construction. I like to be more ethical with my business so all my fabrics are printed in the UK, I make the garments myself and all the companies I work with are UK based.’

Chloe runs her business from her own home-based studio, designing, creating samples and finished garments, as well as networking and communicating with customers and suppliers. At the weekends she tries to get out to as many Roller Derby bouts as she can to promote her brand.

Name: Chloe Hood

Job title: Creator of Hoodlum Fang

Course studied: Fashion and Textile Design with Enterprise

Year of graduation: 2013

Jonathan is responsible for the visual presentation of Vivienne Westwood boutiques, which involves mannequin styling and outfitting, window installations, store presentation and layout of garments. His head office workload consists of placing orders for props, sourcing and ensuring that the worldwide boutiques maintain their visual presentation. Much of Jonathan’s job involves travelling within the UK to their six boutiques as well as department store concessions in Liberty’s, Selfridges and Harrods.

Jonathan had originally wanted to get into the film and media industry following graduation. He says: ‘After struggling to get work after graduating I took up a part-time role in a retail store whilst looking for work experience. Here, I began dressing mannequins and was given responsibility for certain lines to merchandise. I then found a full-time role in visual merchandising and worked my way up to where I am now. I was probably the least likely candidate to be involved in the fashion industry, however as with most things in life, you begin to realise what transferable skills you have and use them. I would definitely not be where I am now if I had not been open to everything I learnt at university and after.’

When asked what it is like working for Vivienne Westwood, Jonathan says: ‘I am definitely proud to be working for such a legendary designer and show this through my work. I will always remember the time I had just joined and my colleague and I were invited to a launch party for a prospective mannequin company. A girl approached us and asked us who we worked for. When I told her she started screaming, much to our amusement. She then proceeded to gush about Vivienne and showed us her Vivienne Westwood scarf. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a bit thrilling!’

Jonathan says that the best advice he can give anyone wanting to enter the visual merchandising field is to be prepared: ‘Visual merchandising is one of those fields that involves the 50:50 split of creativity as well as the commercial side. It is not a role for the person who wants to look good every day as you’ll be climbing ladders, balancing against walls, heavy lifting, painting, pulling overnighters and working to tight deadlines. Really it’s all about experience and building your portfolio as well as enthusiasm and the willingness to do anything.’

Name: Jonathan TinJob title: Assistant Visual Merchandiser for Vivienne WestwoodCourse studied: Film and Media StudiesYear of graduation: 2008

Photography by Nathan Klein, BA (Hons) Photography

Photography by Dominic Smith, BA (Hons) Photography


16 University of Portsmouth Memories of Milton 17

Memories of Milton

Ten years ago the University of Portsmouth was seeing major changes across the city. The most significant of these was the demolition of its Milton campus, a location that current students may never have heard of but which, at the start of the twentieth century, was the home of the most significant venue for higher education in the south.

The history of MiltonAs far back as 1835 the site existed solely as Milton House, a grand estate to house the Goldsmith family, who owned the nearby Milton Farm in Eastney. The estate was surrounded by extensive fields with a canal passing through.

In May 1912, the Milton estate was bought from the Goldsmith family by the city mayor, Sir Thomas Scott Foster, and soon became the Portsmouth Day Training College for Education Development. During this time the geography of the island was rapidly changing. The canal that had long cut its way towards the city centre had been filled in, dense housing was being developed in all directions, and the Portsmouth Day Training College was refurbishing and constructing new buildings and sports facilities.

Little changed until August 1975, when the estate became part of the ever-expanding Portsmouth Polytechnic and home to the Portsmouth Business School. However, by the late 1990s it was clear to most on campus that the buildings had seen their best and in 2004 the Business School relocated to the brand-new Richmond Building in the University’s Northern Quarter. Milton campus was knocked down, to be replaced with residential facilities.

Life on campusMany reflect on the old Milton campus fondly, with its red brick buildings and well-tended garden. Dymond Building, being the largest building on campus, held the largest lecture theatre, which alumna Jill Hutchins describes with its ‘large sash

windows and aged wooden floors’. The floor plan, especially in Dymond Building, was at times erratic and illogical, leaving even an experienced student or staff member lost amongst the many nooks and crannies around campus. Former student Dave Kirby remembers ‘waiting for lectures at the building’s rear entrance, as to wait inside would have caused too much noise in the expansive, echoing hallways’. Behind Dymond Building, he describes the courtyard which offered a ‘beautiful walled garden which was a hotspot for lunch breaks during summer, when students weren’t at the local White House pub’.

Alongside the old, Victorian buildings were more modern units (or what must have been modern when they were built in the 1950s and 1960s), such as the Resource Centre, which past student Sue Welford recalls as being home to big 1980s computers ‘which would creak and groan into life’. Teaching equipment was comparatively basic, with whiteboards and manual overhead projectors, but social facilities catered well to student and staff needs. Alumna Michelle Biggs remembers the refectories which featured in Hancock and Dymond buildings and a bar in Foster Hall, whilst in the Postgraduate Centre former student Wolf Streider recalls how mature students had use of a dedicated common room. Although Milton campus catered well to its residents, maintaining much of its humble charm, it wasn’t entirely cut off from the city; Dr Gareth Harper, who taught at the Milton campus, remembers how students ‘squeezed themselves into an inter-campus minibus being used to ferry students to the main campus’.

The endBy the end of the twentieth century, much of the campus was in need of repair and had seen far better days. According to Wolf Streider, ‘the classrooms needed painting and updating and a lot of buildings saw rot, damp and rust, pulling them slowly apart’. With the Business School moving to the newly constructed Richmond Building in the city centre campus, Milton was sold to Portsmouth City Council and the campus was given its final goodbye with an end-of-year barn dance party, celebrating its old horticultural heritage. After a year of consultation, the City Council decided to replace the campus with a new block of multi-story flats, though the ‘secret’ garden remains…

Building names

Hancock Named after Ada Hancock, a teacher

appointed at Portsmouth in the 1890s.

Foster Named after the founding mayor of

Portsmouth Day Training College, Sir

Thomas Scott Foster.

Dymond Named after the College’s longest

serving principle, Dr Dorothy Dymond.

Goldsmith Named after the site’s original owners,

the Goldsmith family.

Brunel Named after Isambard Kingdom

Brunel, born in Portsmouth in 1806.

Weston Perhaps named after Agnes Weston,

founder of the Royal Sailor’s Rest in

Portsmouth, which was acclaimed by

Queen Victoria in 1895. Weston was

made a Dame of the British Empire in

1918 but died shortly after.

Map taken from Portsmouth Polytechnic Prospectus 1976/1977

The location of the Milton Campus


18 University of Portsmouth Getting fit with Bear Grylls 19

Getting fit with Bear Grylls

Former Portsmouth geology student Natalie Summers (née Ellaway) runs a business as a personal trainer. This has led to a business partnership with explorer Bear Grylls, developing a fitness programme and co-authoring books.

We caught up with Natalie to find out more about this exciting venture.

You work with Bear Grylls as his personal trainer – how did this come about? Initially, Bear’s wife Shara came for a one-to-one session as a friend of hers had recommended my services. Bear came with Shara. We chatted and he was surprised that I specialised in express 30-minute training regimes. He had a one-to-one session the next day and has been a client for four years now.

Bear’s requirements for fitness were very different to my existing clients and over the years his fitness needs meant I needed to educate myself on functional movement and exercises. The relationship from client, to friend, to business partner all happened over several mornings of mountain climbers, back flips, pull-ups and wall handstand regimes.

Tell us more about your business partnership together and what it involves.I have a hands-on role in the running and development of the company and fitness brand BG EPIC Training. Responsibilities include anything from marketing, project management and instructor training to my favourite role as performance director. Bear is very hands-on and assists with designing the fitness programmes and our brand vision, and of course he is the inspiration for the whole company. We work and train at the same time… meetings are often done with sweat dripping!

You are promoting express fitness programmes of effective workouts in 30 minutes or less. Can you tell us more about it?Express training is all about High Intensity Interval Training or HIIT. We choreograph different blocks of functional compound exercises back to back to maximise fat loss using the ‘after burn effect’. There is a great chapter on this in our book Your Life Train For It, which looks at the benefits of HIIT training compared with traditional training systems. You can try an express workout – follow @AFNatalie and @bgepictraining on Twitter and join our 100 Fit Day campaign.

You have co-authored a book with Bear Grylls on the principles of healthy workouts in under 30 minutes, as well as supporting this with the right diet. Can you give us a bit more insight into Your Life Train For It? Bear and I decided to co-author a book about express training to inspire people to train and to educate people on a new style of training that would fit into their daily lives. We advocate training for 30 minutes, 4–5 times a week. The reality is that it is only 2–2.5hrs a week – time really shouldn’t be a barrier to exercise!

I was thrilled when Bear suggested we wrote a book together. He had listened to me wittering on about express training for so long and it is something that Bear is really passionate about. Bear’s story is authentic and it tells a good tale, not to mention great transformation pictures – at 39 he is in better shape than he was as a young man in the SAS.

Do you feel that going to university has benefited your career?Ok, so I don’t work in the geology industry, I chose a different route after graduating, but every day without fail I use the skills both professionally and in my personal life that I learnt at university during my degree. University really is about life skills.

What are your favourite memories of university here? When did you graduate? Where were the best places to go as a student?I graduated in 1999 and one of my fondest memories is still the vibrant buzz; it really has a warm, welcoming feeling. The music scene and skate park form part of my favourite memories! My top hangouts were The Wedgewood Rooms, Clarence Pier and the Pyramids, and of course the Old Vic with the geological society every other Wednesday.

Have you always been involved in a healthy and fit lifestyle? It must have been harder to commit to this as a university student.Studying geology, you had to have a love for the outdoors. I don’t know how many wet field notebooks I wrote in. I used to roller-skate along the seafront, go to the skate park and BMX to University, and of course late night dancing! I was a keen mountain biker too.

Last year you were nominated for ‘Functional Gym of the Year’ at the National Fitness Awards – how did that feel?Being nominated and then shortlisted for the National Fitness Awards was amazing. Seeing my studio name shortlisted against so many high-end fitness venues was a real honour. Winning would have been awesome but coming top six in the country was a real achievement.

What do you do in your spare time?My spare time is all about spending time with my daughter Amelie, husband Mike and my family and friends. We spend a lot of weekends in Cardigan, west Wales, where we are fortunate to have a log cabin. It is not the Ritz but there is no better place to feel grounded, read a few books and re-charge your batteries. It truly is a magical place and of course it has some great geology!


Credit: James Blair/NASA

Credit: Lauren Harnett

Tim studied flight dynamics and evaluation at the University and graduated in 2006. He called in via video to the event from Russia, where he is currently in training for his trip to the International Space Station next year, to take questions from the 400-strong audience in The Guildhall.

He answered a vast range of questions during the talk, and said the biggest challenge he faces is learning Russian: ‘I’ve enjoyed every aspect of the training so far but put a Russian grammar book in front of me and I start trembling!’ Children in the audience asked Tim how he will sleep in space. He said he’d be zipped into a sleeping bag velcroed to the wall and added: ‘It’s very strange to get used to your arms floating up in front of your face.’

Tim, who is mid-way through his training, said being a human guinea pig comes with the job. He has so far carried out survival training exercises – including living in a cave for seven days and living underwater for 12 days – and has had experiments on his immune system, cardiovascular system and blood tests.

Professor Bob Nichol, Director of the Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation, said: ‘We are very proud to have Tim as an alumnus, and we are so grateful that he was able to make the time to speak to us at this wonderful event.’

Tim’s Skype call was followed by a talk from author and astrobiologist Dr Lewis Dartnell, and was one of the many highlights of NAM 2014. The meeting saw over 600 astronomers gather for the biggest conference the University has ever hosted. Leading scholars presented the latest research in a variety of astronomical fields, including astronomy in ancient history, the industrial applications of astrophysics, the sun, the surfaces of other planets, the evolution of stars, brown dwarfs, black holes, dark energy, and the origin and fate of the Universe.

There were also a number of public events on offer and activities for local school children. Nearly 100 children from Portsmouth schools attended ‘Think Bigger’, organised by the University’s Education Liaison and Outreach team and Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation. Pupils took part in a morning of astronomy and cosmology activities including seeing the inside of an Astrodome – an inflatable mobile planetarium.

Other events included a ‘planet walk’ across central Portsmouth, the sold-out ‘Science Comedy Supernova’ and a three-day interactive exhibition of giant telescopes.

Conference visitors were also treated to a celebratory banquet on HMS Warrior, hosted by Chancellor Sandi

Toksvig. Professor Nichol said: ‘Sandi gave a marvellous speech about the moon landing and her personal experience of it, which really resonated with a lot of the astronomers as it’s something which is certainly very important in our background.’

Overall the event was considered a resounding success. Professor Nichol said: ‘The National Astronomy Meeting has been fantastic, if a little tiring, but it’s been wonderful to have so many astronomers here in Portsmouth. It’s been a great mixture of science, outreach and fun, and everybody seems to have had an amazing time.’

Credit: Max Alexander/UK Space Agency

‘It’s very strange to

get used to your arms floating up in front of your

face.’

Astronaut and alumnus beams in 2120 University of Portsmouth

beams in

Astronautand alumnus

Britain’s first official astronaut and Portsmouth alumnus Major Tim Peake called into this year’s National Astronomy Meeting (NAM 2014), the largest conference in the UK for professional astronomers, which the University hosted for the first time.

Astronaut Tim Peake talks to Portsmouth

Photo courtesy of Tim Peake


Honorary Graduates 2014Each year the University awards honorary degrees to individuals in recognition of the outstanding achievement in their field or their contribution to society.

Simon Ward studied geography at Goldsmith’s College, London, and after graduating started work in the menswear department of Selfridges and then the British Clothing Industry Association. In 1986 he moved to the newly-created British Fashion Council and was responsible for the London Fashion Week catwalk shows. He was part of the team that created the British Fashion Awards and, in 1990, he set up the Colleges Council to build working relationships between colleges and industry. He is responsible for the British Fashion Council’s day-to-day management, is a director of the Fashion Arts Foundation, a trustee of the British Fashion Council Education Foundation and oversees the development of an education scheme to help those hoping to work in fashion. Simon’s daughter is an alumna of Portsmouth and now works at the University.

John Akomfrah OBE is a major figure in black British cinema and a forerunner in digital cinematography. His work is considered among the most distinctive and innovative in Britain. John was born in Ghana and moved to the UK as a young child. In 1982 he graduated in sociology from the then Portsmouth Polytechnic and immediately helped found the Black Audio Film Collective, which explored questions of black British identity, race and class through film and media. In 1999 he set up Smoking Dogs Films with his long-term producing partners David Lawson and Lina Gopaul.

John served as governor of the British Film Institute from 2001 to 2007, and of Film London from 2004 to 2013. He has taught around the world, including at some of America’s leading universities, including Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Princeton.

A celebration of graduation 2014 2322 University of Portsmouth

A celebration of graduation 2014

Over 6,000 students walked across the stage at the Portsmouth Guildhall during two very hot weeks of graduation in July. The Alumni Association presented new alumni with mugs and provided a photo backdrop for them to have their photos taken with friends and family. Congratulations to all of you! We want you to continue to feel part of the University for life, which is why you are now a member of the Alumni Association.

Simon Ward

John Akomfrah OBE


MantaWatch 2524 University of Portsmouth

MantaWatch Every manta

has a fingerprint – a unique pattern of markings that enable

individuals to be recognised.

MantaWatch

Andrew explains: ‘After leaving Portsmouth I had a succession of short-term jobs. I focused on my interests and persistently pursued every opportunity. Many times I was unsuccessful, but every success more than made up for the misses and I found myself in interesting roles in exciting places.’

In the years following graduation Andrew worked as a Research Assistant onboard a British Antarctic Survey research ship, looking down a microscope in the rolling seas of the Southern Ocean; studied the environmental impacts of port and wind farm developments on the coast of Scotland; and was involved in developing a community-based marine protected area in Madagascar with WWF and Reef Doctor.

More recently, he has helped to shape international ocean policy with the United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre. He has managed conservation programmes in Komodo National Park, Indonesia, with The Nature Conservancy, and has helped ensure a sustainable future for the fisheries and marine ecosystems of south-east Asia while working with the US Government.

In 2010 Andrew founded MantaWatch, a UK-based marine conservation company that is applying cutting-edge technologies to conserve threatened manta rays. One of its biggest achievements so far has been creating the world’s largest manta ray sanctuary, spanning some six million square kilometres of ocean. MantaWatch operates MantaTrax, the world’s first social web application dedicated to open, transparent and participative marine conservation. By uploading their photos, divers, snorkelers and underwater photographers are assisting scientists to track manta population sizes, migrations and movements, and to learn more about the species and its threats.

‘Since founding MantaWatch I’ve had the opportunity to work on issues that I’m passionate about and one of my greatest joys is seeing the impacts of our work. In 2012 we created a professional training programme for young marine leaders in developing countries, last year we created a 7,000km² shark and manta ray sanctuary and this year we helped the government of Indonesia create the world’s largest manta ray sanctuary. I am immensely proud of these achievements, and our team.’

Andrew credits his time in Portsmouth with giving him the confidence to follow an unconventional career path and leading ultimately to launching his own company.

‘My knowledge, skills and experience grew immensely during my time at the University of Portsmouth. My degree programme was quite flexible and I was able to select from a wide variety of modules and subjects. This broad experience has been invaluable throughout my career. But even more valuable was my personal development and the ‘soft skills’ that I gained. Exposure to leading research and inspirational experts from around the world influenced my ambitions and the way I work. I am still in touch with many friends, lecturers and Portsmouth alumni that I met during my studies, and continue to benefit from their advice and support.’

When asked what advice he’d give to today’s students, Andrew says: ‘Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. At five or six I remember my primary school teacher asking the class what we wanted to be when we grew up. My friends wanted to be firemen, or pilots, or doctors. I wanted to be a deep-sea diver, and while my teacher laughed at the time, I think my career has ended up close to this childhood dream’.

Andrew still keeps in touch with his university friends and has fond memories of the years he spent in the city. ‘I have so many good memories of my time at the University of Portsmouth. I remember my first day, meeting new faces and the strangeness of new buildings and hallways. I remember my graduation, saying farewell to good friends and the comfort of familiar haunts. Summer days studying on Southsea Common, winter days dashing across the rain-swept Guildhall square. I continue to make new memories with friends that I made during my time at Portsmouth and, who knows, perhaps the best are still to come.’

Marine conservation scientist Andrew Harvey has been fascinated by oceans since he was a young child. Since graduating from Portsmouth in marine biology in 2002, Andrew has managed to align his career with his interests, although he admits that there has not always been an obvious career path.

‘My advice to today’s students is to follow your interests and your dreams, even if the career path seems unusual or unclear. There is a world of possibility out there and ideas that have not yet even been imagined. Find your passion, work at it with all your heart and you might just change the world.’

Manta rays can reach nine metres from wingtip to wingtip. Reidar Opem/MantaWatch

To find out more about MantaWatch, please visit www.mantawatch.com

Mantas are intelligent, inquisitive and will often approach divers. Reidar Opem/MantaWatch

(left) A giant inflatable manta ray towers over the audience as Indonesia’s Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries announces protection for manta rays. Andrew Harvey/MantaWatch

And

rew

Har

vey


Your impact 27

The University’s 2013 telephone fundraising campaign ran for three weeks in November and we are delighted to announce that we have raised an amazing £60,000. Added to the 2012 telephone campaign total, this means that you have pledged an incredible £130,000 to support our students over the next five years. Thank you!

The majority of the money raised has gone to the student support and hardship area of the Annual Fund. It is being disbursed by the Student Finance Centre through grants to students who find themselves in genuine financial hardship.The campaign was manned by our students, who thoroughly enjoyed talking to our graduates about their time at Portsmouth and what they have achieved since leaving University. They have really appreciated the advice and inspiration that our alumni have provided and we hope you enjoyed speaking to them just as much.

‘I have really enjoyed being able to talk to former students and hear real-life stories; some have been truly inspiring and it has made me realise just how many opportunities are out there after university. I have spoken to a few alumni who now work recruiting graduates and they have been able to give advice on what to include in job applications.’

Samuel Holyoake, BA (Hons) Spanish and Latin American Studies

‘I have received lots of really great career-defining advice, which is one of my favourite parts of the campaign. I have also been provided with a number of contacts in local schools and colleges for work experience. I have found it rewarding to raise money that will allow both current and future students to fulfil their potential.’

Beth Berrett, BA (Hons) English Literature

During the last six months the Annual Fund has provided hardship support to 22 students who fell outside of the criteria for the University’s existing hardship funds. Thanks to your generous support, we know this figure will continue to grow with the aim of helping all students who need it.

Telephone Campaign

We hope to speak with many of you later this year when we run our third telephone campaign. In the meantime, if you would like more information about the fund, please visit

www.port.ac.uk/supportus.

Your impact

As you know, being a student at Portsmouth is about much more than just completing a degree. We want our students to have the opportunity to develop new skills, make new friends and gain valuable work experience – that’s where the Annual Fund comes in.

Through making donations to the Annual Fund, alumni and friends of the University are supporting students and helping to make their time here as productive as possible. Your support is enabling our students to make the most of the opportunities offered to them by university life, so a massive thank you to everyone who has donated.

One area in which your donations have helped is by providing student hardship grants. Money donated to this area is disbursed through our Student Finance Team to students who find themselves in genuine need.

‘The grant meant that I could pay my bills and my rent, which meant that I could stop panicking and stressing whilst I was revising for my exams. It made my situation easier and means everything to me as I have no other financial help. Thank you.’

Final-year student, MSc Business Economics, Finance and Banking

The Annual Fund focuses on supporting current students in key areas of university life, particularly in offering support to students who find themselves in genuine financial hardship. This could be through help with basic living costs, the provision of grants for course resources or support for our postgraduate students. The fund will soon become The Portsmouth Futures Fund.

‘Over the summer I will be writing my dissertation for my Master’s. The grant has helped me with accommodation costs so I can utilise the library and maintain regular meetings with

my tutor, all of which requires me to continue to live in Portsmouth. I have also been able to buy some additional text books for both my upcoming exams and for my dissertation research. I would like to thank you for your donations, which go a long way to help students. When I leave the University I will help by giving something back to the University that has supported me over the last few years.’

First-year student, LLM Law

‘I have obtained the offer of work with a marine conservation company this summer in Indonesia. As a marine biology student this will obviously be a great experience for me to partake in field research and strengthen my CV. Unfortunately the pay I will receive from the job doesn’t cover the costs of travel to Indonesia. An award will allow me to travel to Indonesia and work first-hand with research scientists. I would also like to return next year to complete my dissertation project. I would like to thank the donors for making this incredible opportunity possible. I have already invested time and money into this opportunity becoming a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor and a little extra support will really help me meet the travel requirements for this position.’

First-year student, BSc (Hons) Marine Biology



A figure from the journal paper with pictures and diagrams of the skull


The ‘unexpected button toothed crocodile’

The ‘unexpected button toothed crocodile’ 29

Dr Steve Sweetman and fossil hunter Diane Trevarthen in the lab at Dinosaur Isle

A new species of tiny crocodile that roamed the Earth 126 million years ago has been identified by University of Portsmouth palaeontologist Dr Steve Sweetman, who has named the species Koumpiodontosuchus aprosdokiti, which means the ‘unexpected button toothed crocodile.’

Illustration of the Koumpiodontosuchus aprosdokiti: Dr Mark Witton

Dr Steve Sweetman on the beach where the fossils were found

Two fragments of a tiny skull were found three months apart by different private collectors on a beach on the Isle of Wight. The back half of the skull was found near Sandown by Diane Trevarthen, while on a fossil-hunting holiday with her family. She took the discovery straight to the Dinosaur Isle museum and showed it to staff, who thought it might be part of a skull belonging to a baby of one of the island’s well-known large Cretaceous crocodiles.

Three months later Austin and Finley Nathan, also fossil-hunting while holidaying on the Island, found another tiny fragment of skull, this time a snout. They too took their find to Dinosaur Isle to show it to staff, who immediately recalled they had seen the back part of a similar small skull a few months before.

The museum asked Ms Trevarthen to return her specimen so they could re-examine it and were delighted to find that it fitted perfectly together with the snout. Both collectors generously donated their specimens to the museum, allowing scientific study of the complete skull.

Dr Sweetman, from the University’s School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, said: ‘Both parts of this wonderful little skull are in good condition, which is most unusual when you consider that crashing waves usually batter and blunt the edges of fossils like this within days or even hours of them being washed onto the beach. Both parts must therefore have been found very soon after they were released from the mud and debris originally laid down on a dinosaur-trampled river floodplain around 126 million years ago.

‘The sheer serendipity of this discovery is quite bizarre. Finding the two parts is, in itself, remarkable. That they should be found three months apart by different collectors and taken to the museum where the same members of staff were on duty, and therefore able to recall the first specimen, defies belief!’

On first inspection Dr Sweetman thought the skull belonged to a crocodile known as Bernissartia fagesii, known from skeletons of a similar age discovered first in Belgium and later in Spain.

‘I was convinced it was a Bernissartia skull because of its small size – the fully grown animal was only a little over two feet long from nose to tail – but particularly because of its button-shaped teeth, which are unique among crocodyliforms. They were used to crush mollusc shells and other invertebrates with tough outer coatings.’

However, closer examination soon revealed significant differences in the arrangement of bones, suggesting that the Isle of Wight skull may at least represent a new species.

Dinosaur Isle’s Gary Blackwell prepared the lower part of the skull to free it of mineral encrustations. His work revealed the bones of the palate and the inner opening of the airway from the nose. ‘The position of this was most unexpected,’ said Dr Sweetman.

‘The location of the hole in the mouth, where the airway from the nose opens, was surrounded by bones at the very back of the palate. This tells us that the discovery is not only a new species but also a new genus of ancient croc closely related to, but subtly different to, those alive today.’

Dr Steve Sweetman has published a paper on the discovery in the journal Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. His co-authors are University of Lyon postgraduate student Ulysse Pedreira-Segade and University of Portsmouth PhD student Steven Vidovic.


Our year of events 3130 University of Portsmouth

Our yearof events

The University’s Alumni Association has had an exciting year, involved in organising not only the Chancellor’s Dinner but also a range of other events for former colleagues and classmates to network and reminisce.

Alumnus Michael Newey gives a public lecture

Current President of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Michael Newey, was invited to deliver a keynote address to students, staff, alumni and members of the public in December. Michael is an alumnus of the University, graduating from Portsmouth Polytechnic in 1986 with a degree in urban land administration.

His lecture covered the role of the property profession both in the UK and worldwide, its future growth and membership, its relationship with higher education, and its broader contribution to the growth of the economy and the welfare of society. Michael enjoyed returning to the University and used the opportunity to get together with some of his old classmates.

Alumnus and poet Simon Armitage returns to the University

The University’s most famous literary alumnus, the poet Simon Armitage, returned to Portsmouth in November last year to give a poetry reading to a lecture theatre full of students, staff, alumni and members of the public.

Simon Armitage studied geography at the University in the early 1980s and went on to have a very successful career as a poet, playwright and novelist. In 2010 he was awarded a CBE for services to poetry. He is the author of 12 volumes of verse including Seeing Stars and Black Roses and has become one of England’s most respected poets.

Dr Páraic Finnerty, from the School of Social, Historical and Literary Studies, was delighted to welcome the famous poet back to the University. He said: ‘Simon Armitage’s poetry reading is very significant because it is a reminder to our staff and students that their University fostered, shaped and influenced one of the most successful and respected contemporary British poets, who has an international reputation for literary excellence.

‘Not only is Simon one of Britain’s most admired contemporary poets, he is also a wonderful reader of poetry who has a reputation for making his poetry come alive.

‘Combining comedy and pathos, Simon’s poems capture the realities of everyday life and do not shy away from its darker and more absurd sides. His poems are incredibly funny, but they are also very insightful and represent powerful statements of social protest on behalf of those who are disadvantaged in society.’

The event was organised to celebrate publications by members of the University’s Centre for Studies in Literature. Victorian Festival of Christmas alumni visit

Alumni from all walks of life joined us for a morning of mince pies and mulled wine in the Hub in Dennis Sciama Building on Saturday 30 November, before heading to the Victorian Festival of Christmas at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. Those who hadn’t been to the University in a long time were given a guided tour of the campus by current students, who were delighted to talk to our guests about how the campus has changed.

Alumni Relations Officer Vicky Hodson said: ‘This was the perfect event to kick-start Christmas. Alumni and their families got to reminisce with each other over mince pies and mulled wine and then got to experience the largest Christmas market on the south coast, complete with Victorian entertainers, penny farthings, chimney sweeps and cheeky pickpockets. It was the perfect setting – a lovely cold but sunny winter’s day. I’m sure a good time was had by all.’

Drinks Reception at the Mary Rose Museum

In May over 100 alumni and guests visited the award-winning Mary Rose Museum, where they had the opportunity to take a tour of the museum at their leisure, followed by drinks and canapés in the Admiral’s Gallery.

The £27 million Mary Rose Museum opened its doors to visitors in May 2013. Located just metres from Nelson’s flagship, HMS Victory, and the ships of the modern Royal Navy, the Tudor ship captured the world’s imagination when she was raised from the seabed in 1982. She is the only sixteenth century warship on display anywhere in the world and the museum built around her reunites her with many of her 19,000 artefacts and crew.

Hosting an alumni event for the first time in his role as Vice-Chancellor of the University was Professor Graham Galbraith, who our alumni were all keen to meet.

Our speakers for the evening included Head of Interpretation at the Museum Christopher Dobbs, who was not only part of the archaeological team who helped to excavate the Mary Rose, but is also an alumnus of the University. He delivered an engaging presentation, which was then followed by alumnus Eddie Clamp, a Royal Navy diver who was also part of the excavation. Eddie gave a heartfelt encounter about his connection to the Mary Rose.

As the evening drew to a close, our guests congregated on the outside deck to watch a beautiful sunset. Alumna Carole Coren said of the event: ‘It was a most enjoyable evening and really interesting to meet and hear the divers’ experiences. The Mary Rose was fascinating and to see the sun set over the Victory was the icing on the cake.’

From left to right: Professor Graham Galbraith, Eddie Clamp, Dawn Perrier, Christopher Dobbs.


‘To some it may seem chaotic and frenetic but I find nothing but inspiration and identity in Mexico city.’


Cultural exchange

Hugo van BelleBest of British and Mexico

My intention was to set up an event management company which focused on high production value events for brands as well as hosting parties and concerts with world renowned DJs. During that time I opened three nightclubs and helped bring Mexico City’s scene out of its ongoing love affair with all things 80s.

I also helped set up one of the first web design and hosting firms in 1996. By 2000 I had set up a PR and events production company with two Mexican partners. We ran successful campaigns and events for brands like Beefeater, BMW and Johnnie Walker.

Spotlight on Mexico’s cinematic talent

By 2002 my focus had shifted to culture and film. I executive produced an electronic arts festival at the Palace of Fine Arts and The Postal Palace (Central Postal Office in a Palace) and was then invited to help set up the Morelia International Film Festival in 2003. The festival is now Latin America´s premier festival and has partnerships with Cannes and the Oscars.

I set up my company BrandStar in 2006 with the aim of commercialising film through various funds, tax incentives and sponsorships. We initially focused on product placement in feature films and our current focus is on social conscience documentaries.

Cultural exchange

London MexFest is something I created with the British Council´s directors in Mexico City. It’s a celebration of all

things Mexican, from food to cinema, taking in architecture and art along the way. We realised Mexico had no official presence at London´s Cultural Olympiad and decided to do something about it. MexFest was focused on changing perception, showcasing cultural exports and attracting tourism and foreign investment. We repeated the event in 2013 across London venues such as V&A, Royal Academy, BFI, Canary Wharf and RichMix Shoreditch, and involved more British companies looking to invest in Mexico.

My passion for Mexico is something I need to share to help counter the negative media exposure the country continues to receive. I recently participated in an editorial project that is a series of testimonies from foreigners who have lived, worked or travelled in Mexico. It´s called Mexico: Another View, and really is a positive step into changing perception. It was presented at the tourism fair in Berlin earlier this year. Working in a consultancy role with the British Council, I help bring in commercial partnerships for cultural projects and support the British Council in achieving

visibility at the other events in Mexico, mainly film festivals.

Best of British

Being the Jaguar Land Rover brand ambassador, since 2012, is hugely enjoyable. I am the image and spokesperson for the brand as well as recommending sporting and cultural events for the brand to sponsor. The company is kind enough to lend me cars and often sends me vehicles to other parts of the country if I have an event to

attend. There´s nothing like driving a Jaguar F Type V8 convertible on the race track at 3,000 metres above sea level.

I genuinely feel studying Spanish and Latin American Studies at the University of Portsmouth has benefitted my career, more than anything because it helped me look at the region in a different light. Academic studies and research into subjects such as politics, language, history and

economics enabled me to engage with Mexican business people on a level where I came across as credible from a graduate age, something I doubt would have happened if I´d arrived in Mexico with no relevant knowledge. The course, combined with my year abroad in Mexico, helped me develop a healthy respect for business culture practices as well as the country´s customs and traditions. I have been living here for 20 years now. I always knew Mexico City would be my home. To some it may seem chaotic and frenetic but I find nothing but inspiration and identity in this city.

Hugo van Belle, a graduate of BA (Hons) Latin American Studies, has made his home for the last 20 years in Mexico City. He’s now involved in running the Morelia Film Festival, Mexico’s equivalent of Cannes, alongside running his own PR and branding firm, and being a British Council cultural consultant and brand ambassador for Jaguar Land Rover.

Early days

When I was living in the city in 1993, during the year abroad part of my course, I embarked on a modelling career, making TV commercials and doing fashion editorial and shows for Hugo Boss, Armani and Gianfranco Ferré, among others. On my return to Mexico, I resumed this work and used it as a platform for building up a network of contacts in the advertising, production and media worlds.

We caught up with Hugo in a break in his busy schedule to find out more about his career journey, how it’s shaped him, and his cross-cultural connections that have enabled him to bring the best of Britain to Mexico and a wider understanding of Mexico to Britain.

Hugo (second from left) at MexFest, London 2013, with Mexican actor and director Diego Luna, whose film Chávez was shown as part of the festival.

British Gentlemen’s Dining Society annual end of year dinner in Mexico City (group of ex pat bankers and entrepreneurs).

Cultural exchange: best of Britsh and Mexico – Hugo van Belle 33


Rupert KeithNeil KellyAlex KeyAndrew KilleStewart LarquePaul LeatherlandJillifer LedererMelisa LeeLorraine LenaghanChristopher LeslieSarah LewinVaughan LeyshonHayley Jane LittlefieldSylvia LoboAdrian LoganJulia LordMichael LowSusan LowPatrick LyeJoseph MacariAlexander John MackenzieBianca MalataChloe MarshallHuw Elwyn MarshallLuke MartinAlison MawBen MayersJane MccallionStephen MccullochJeanette McdowellLauren McPeakMusa MeahAdrian MeaningRosie MehmoodChristopher Merriman

Scott MetcalfeIan MichaelAndrew MillenVivien MillsJeremiah Mondry- FleschElsa MontgomeryAlan MoorhouseBarbara MoranEsther MorganGavin MorganGeoffrey MorganKatharine MorganClaire Ann MorrisonKathleen MoyseSimon MumfordJason MurphyHelen NealSimon NewtonDavid NoakesPaul NormanJoanne NunnsRobert OakleyEdmond O’ConnorOlubusola OmiyaleOlisa OnunkwoDavid PadwickDeborah ParbooJohn ParvinKirit Patel (MBE)Viraj PatelTim PattenMartin PearceElaine PeillMatthew PenneyCatherine Perkins

Debra PhillipsGary PikeRobert PilchJessica Louise PlowmanMark PooleAndrew PothecaryCheryl PraxJonathan PriceSteffen PrillerDavid RaperHelen RawlinsonPeter ReaderPenny RedwoodAngus ReevesJames ReidRichard ReidCaroline ReynoldsJennifer ReynoldsBecs RivettHeather RobertrsDavid RobertsSarah RobertsJohn RobilliardPietro RocchiccioliJean-Francois RodriguesRobert RodriguesJacqueline RogersPhil RokerCatriona RowdonPeter RoweSarah RoweKristian RyderJojo SachieHelen Sagar

Marian SalisburyAlberto Sande GuianceAnne ScovellKassim ShittuPaul ShonkMalcolm SidfordAngela SimmondsMaria SimmondsMattthew SingletonDavid SladeJulie SleemanVerity SloaneNatasha SlomanChristopher SmithKelly SmithPeter SmithDavid SmythBarrie SomervillePaul SouthwickTracy StaceAdam StevensLavinia StevensonTim StirlandBenjamin StockdaleElena StoevaMonica Stoker

Deana StoneClare StruthersChristine SykesNigel SzymanskiDeborah TamckenDennis TaylorKathryn TaylorLawrence TerroniIan ThomasBen ThompsonJan ThompsonSue TomblinPaul TruscottIan TurnerChristopher TylerAltaf VaiyaSonya VeerasamySimon WainNick WaiteMark WaldrenElizabeth WalkerPeter WalkerOliver WalterDavid WaltersJohn WardJoe WereChris Wheeler

Pearl WheelerRoland WhiteChristopher WhitearTimothy WildPeter WilliamsVincent WilliamsRebecca WoodSally WoodSally WookeyRichard WorsleyPeter WorthAdrienne WrightStephen WrightLucy WyattSophie Yanez VilaWendy YarneyAdam YorkMuhammed ZahidThe Lloyds Register Foundation The Lord Forte Foundation

The Alumni Association 35

Your will, your legacy

After taking care of your family and friends, leaving a gift to the University of Portsmouth in your will is an effective way to ensure that your hopes and dreams will live on once you have gone, as well as pave the way for the success of future generations.

Every gift, no matter how large or small will make a difference.Email [email protected] or call 023 9284 2706 to request a copy of our legacy brochure.

Thank you

We would also like to thank all of the individuals and organisations who are not listed here or who wish to remain anonymous.

We would like to thank all of our donors for their ongoing support


BenefitsDon’t forget as a registered member, you are entitled to the following benefits:

• 20 per cent discount when you enrol on a postgraduate course at the University of Portsmouth (excluding PGCE and MArch courses). Terms and conditions apply.

• Invitations to events and reunions.

• Use of our careers service in the Department of Employability for up to five years after graduation.

• A discounted rate at the University of Portsmouth gym.

• Attendance at any of our Public Lectures free of charge.

• Free external library membership for the first year following graduation.

• Support with organising reunions.

• NUS Extra card for a small fee.

• Business start-up mentoring and events for up to five years after graduation.

• Quarterly email updates about the University.

• Regular news and event updates on social media.

• Use of the University’s Printing Service.

• Annual alumni magazine.

The Alumni Association

The Alumni Association exists to keep all former University of Portsmouth students in touch with the institution for life. Many of you will have had a fantastic experience while you were here and made some really great friends. We hope you will stay in touch with us wherever you are and whatever you are doing.

Lateef AbdulsalamKaren AddyJane AgarJamie AkersDaniel AldermanAshkor AliPeter AnscombeBerit Antonsen - MortlockTracy Ashton- RemnantKate AstonMark AustinTemitope AyodeleBelinda BakerJemma BarkerSean BarkerDavid BarlowMatthew BarnabyNeville BarrettoCarolyn BaseleySatvinder BasraEmma BauldMichael BaycroftVirginia Ann BeachamAbigail BealeRichard BearmanSebastian BeynonMarie-Louise BickleyDaniel BiggsAnne BinnsNeil BishopNatalie BissellIain BissetMelena BiwolePeter BlatchfordGraham BloggPeter BoileauDaniel BondDavid BoothSamantha BoxSarah BrameMichael BraunholtzMichael BriggsRobin BrockNicolas BrookesLinda BrooksRichard BrooksAstrid BrownJames BrownKaren BrownMartin BrownePhilip Budd Carol BuddenMark BullenNeil BurnsToni-Ann ByresBen Calvert-LeeGabriella CampitelliMichael CappDavid CarsonJohn CarsonElaine CarterCarole Yvonne Caulton

Paul ChandlerSandrine ChoiAdam CiomborJames ClarkeAmanda ClaytonMark CleeMyles CloughKathryn ColletRobert CollingridgeBrian ColthorpeTim ConnollyAndrew CookMartin CookeDiana CooperJohn CornickRosemary CornishSusan CravenMaxine CrawleyJanetta Croal-SalmonMalcolm CrossCaroline CundyJeff CussTavy CussinelIain CuthbertsonJay Da CostaKathryn DarbyBronwen DaviesJeremy DaviesRobert DawesGae De La FosseEmma DeabillAdam DelvesFaye DenyerOlusesan DereAndrew DixonIan DowdallLouise DrewettKaren DunlopNicholas DuntonSimon Dure-SmithMarilyn DyasonAlice EdmansonMikyla ElseyDaphne ElsomScaneya EmamGavin EnglandJustin ExcellDavid FairlambCarole FentonLesley FergusonClare FerrisKaren FillAndrew David FisherStuart FisherNeil FlashAlan FordGraham FordDaniel FosterPaul FosterElizabeth Jane FountainRob FouracreAndrew FranklinPatricia FrayRobert Freelove

Sue GarnettMatthew GinnNeil GlasspoolJudith GlideRichard GoldenAdam GrantJohn GreenNicholas GregoryRichard GretheClare GribbonSharon GriffithsBarbara GriggsThain GummerAndrew HagonClaire HallJohn HallSusan HallPaul HallamJulia HamesRichard HammerRichard HandsStephen HardingSteve HartnellAbdelgadir HassanJane HawkinsMiles HawkyardDavid Hayden-CaseTracy HaymanNick HelmeKatherine HendryPhilip HerreyAlexei HindoranDaniel HintonMatthew HintonDavid William HockadayLuke HodgkinsonJulie Hoggett- ThompsonPhilip HolehouseElizabeth HolmesNatalie HoltDan HopgoodLuisa HopkinsonGiles HortonJacqueline HoskinsAngela HounslowKay Howard HarrisPaul HumphrissChristopher HunsickerJim HutchinsSamuel HyamMatt HylandStefan IlicJennifer JacksonMichael Jackson(David) Ian JohnsonMoira JohnsonBrian JonesGrace JukesYona KanzenMarc KastnerAthanassios KatsanosPatrick KearStephen Keating

The gift of a lifetime


CBP0008353008112209

University of PortsmouthAlumni Relations and DevelopmentSt Andrew’s CourtSt Michael’s RoadPortsmouth PO1 2PRUnited Kingdom

T: +44 (0)23 9284 2705E: [email protected]: www.port.ac.uk/alumni

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university of portsmouth annual magazine for alumni and friends 2014

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