Member Networks Annual Report Form 2013
To enable us to better support our networks and their activities all member networks (Local
Sections, Interest Groups and Analytical Division Regions) are asked to complete this form and
return it to networks@rsc.org. The information is shared with the members of your networks, staff
and governance Boards and Committees (inc. Division Councils).
Or by post to; Dr Fiona McMillan, Royal Society of Chemistry, Thomas Graham House, Science
Park, Milton Road, Cambridge, CB4 0WF.
This report form will be uploaded to the appropriate web page (signature deleted) unless requested
otherwise.
GROUP NAME
Thames Valley Local Section
Dave Knox (Chairman)
Submitted by
Signed (may be signed
electronically)
20th February 2014
Date
Please list below the dates of your planned AGM and Committee Meetings (where applicable).
Annual General Meeting (if being held)
Date:
25th March 2014
Venue:
University of Reading, Chemistry Building Lecture Theatre
Proposed Committee Meetings Dates
Date
Venue
tbc
tbc
Financial Accounts for the year ending 31 December 2013
Deadline for receipt of Financial Accounts by RSC Finance Team: 14th February 2014
Deadline for receipt of Annual Report by Networks Team: 21st February 2014
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Registered Charity Number 207890
EVENTS
Please attach any meeting reports, newsletters or other reports which
are relevant.
Please report below on activities undertaken in the past year. If you have more
detailed information about any particularly successful events, or advice to
share please use a separate sheet. For more events continue as necessary.
EVENT KEY:
 Education Event
 Public Lecture
 Retired Members Event
 Scientific Conference - 1 day
 Scientific Conference - multi day
 Social Event
 Training/workshop
 Award Lecture
Event Name
Event Type (key)
Family Lecture: 'As if by Magic' by Dr Andrew Szydlo (6 February 2013)
 Education Event
 Public Lecture
This year’s family lecture titled 'As if
by Magic' was given by Dr Andrew
Szydlo, and took place at the
School of Chemistry, University of
Reading.
Comments
The lecture theatre was packed out
with over 130 attendees, enjoying
flashes and bangs. The lecture was
aimed at the families of RSC
members, particularly primary
school to early secondary school age.
Event Name
Joint Lecture: 'Functional foods: good science or marketing hype?' (7 March 2013)
Event Type (key)
Comments
 Education Event
 Public Lecture
This year's Joint Lecture with the local Branch of
The Royal Society of Chemistry was organised by
the Society of Biology Thames Valley Branch, and
was held at the Harbourne Building, University of
Reading.
The event was well attended with around 30
people, with the evening starting off with light
refreshments. The topic was mostly on health
benefits with good bacteria in food such as yogurt
drinks and spreads. A good discussion followed at
the end. The speaker was Professor Bob Rastell,
who is Head of the Department of Food and
Nutritional Studies at Reading, and his main
research interest is the development of biotechnological manufacturing methods for
functional food ingredients.
www.rsc.org
Registered Charity Number 207890
Event Name
Event Type (key)
AGM, Mixer and Silversmithing Lecture (19 March 2013)
 Education Event
 Public Lecture
 Social Event
This year’s AGM was held at the School of Chemistry, University of
Reading. The evening began with an opportunity to mix with other
RSC members, and the RSC Thames Valley Committee, over a
buffet dinner and drinks.
Comments
The AGM followed, and then an enjoyable and enlightening lecture
given by John Huddleston on the art of Silversmithing. The lecture
proved very interesting sparking a number of questions, and an
opportunity to see some of John's pieces. For more information
about John and his silverware and jewellery please visit his website.
Event Name
Mixer Meeting - Oxford (11 April 2013)
Event Type (key)

Social Event
Comments
A mixer organised by RSC HQ, held at The Magdalene Centre on the Oxford
Science Park. Members enjoyed this opportunity to mix with other RSC Members,
and representatives from the RSC, as well as some bonus benefits for attending
(including discounts on new membership subscriptions). The mixer also included
food and drink.
Event Name
CCFE and Diamond Light Source Tours (15 May 2013 and 01/02 June 2013)
Event Type (key)

Education Event
Comments
This year, RSC members within
the Thames Valley were made
aware of available public tours
around both CCFE (Culham
Centre for Fusion Energy) and
the Diamond Light Source:
'Inside Diamond - Public Open
Days'. These tours sell out
quickly, and so 15 spaces were reserved for RSC members for the CCFE evening
tour, and an early bird email sent out to members for the 'Inside Diamond' open
days.
Event Name
Guest Evening - 'Everyday Chemistry' (14 June 2013)
Event Type (key)
Comments
 Education Event
 Public Lecture
 Social Event
This year's Guest Evening was hosted by Dr John Oversby who
gave a fun and entertaining talk which illuminated the unexpected
and the familiar…… those who were not chemists understood that
chemistry is indeed everywhere, and the chemists appreciated a
rather whacky way of seeing their discipline! The evening, attended
by over 20 members and their guests, was held at Johnson Matthey
Technology Centre, Sonning Common; and included a drinks
reception, and a buffet dinner.
www.rsc.org
Registered Charity Number 207890
Event Name
Event Type (key)
Mixer Meeting - Zero Degrees, Reading (11 September 2013)

Social Event
ZERODEGREES has received many
awards for the quality and range of ownbrewed beers coupled with tasty woodfired pizzas and other gourmet dishes
made using fresh, locally sourced
ingredients.
Comments
Event Name
Event Type (key)
This free informal networking event saw
over 30 people attend, with members and
their guests invited from across the
Thames Valley and Chilterns &
Middlesex Local Sections. The evening
started at 6.30pm with a welcome drink
and buffet, with a tour of the brewery also included for those interested.
Mixer Meeting & Careers Surgery (23 September 2013)

Social Event
Comments
A mixer, 'industry hour' and 1-2-1 careers surgery organised by RSC HQ, held at
the Holiday Inn, Peartree, Oxford. Mixer Meetings are informal events which
encourage RSC members within a local area to network with one another. They
offer an ideal opportunity to introduce non-members to the RSC, and bring many
organisations and institutions together. You may also find it useful to bring a
quantity of business cards along with you. The meetings are very informal and a
buffet is provided along with wine, beer and soft drinks which are available
throughout the evening.
Event Name
Retired Members Pub Lunches (June-October 2013)
Event Type (key)
Comments
 Social Event
 Retired Members Event
This year's retired members pub lunches have been based at Zoology themed
pubs! These lunches are held across the Thames Valley throughout the sunnier
months, so that retired members can gather together over a meal and drink.

Thurs 27 Jun - The Lamb Inn, Wantage

Wed 10 Jul - Roebuck, Drayton

Thurs 25 Jul - Three Frogs, Wokingham

Wed 7 Aug - Trout, Wolvercote

Thurs 22 Aug - Perch and Pike, South Stoke

Wed 4 Sep - Stag, Ascot

Thurs 19 Sep - Cunning Man, Burghfield

Wed 2 Oct - Woodpecker, Wash Water, Newbury

Thurs 17 Oct - The Swan, Basingstoke

Wed 30 Oct - The Red Lion, Blewbury
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Registered Charity Number 207890
Event Name
Event Type (key)
Annual Dinner (18 October 2013)

Social Event
Comments
37 people enjoyed this year’s annual dinner which was held at the
Tower of the Winds, Radcliffe Observatory, Green
Templeton College, University of Oxford. Included
during the evening was a walk around the observatory
gardens, drinks reception, three course dinner with wine,
and coffee followed by a short talk covering the history of
the observatory by Mr M. Pirie.
Event Name
The Phil Smith Trophy Competition (Autumn 2013)
Event Type (key)

Education Event
The Phil Smith Trophy was first awarded in 2008 to a local Thames Valley school.
The trophy commemorates the great work done by the late Phil Smith for schools in
the Thames Valley area. Every year the trophy is awarded for a local schools
competition run by the committee. This year, local school pupils were invited to
submit Christmas card designs with the theme of Chemistry in the Thames Valley.
Congratulations to this year’s first place winners Chloe, Emelia and Hannah of
Didcot Girl’s School, who will hold the Phil Smith Trophy for the next year.
Comments
Event Name
Event Type (key)
Chemistry Challenge Heats

Education Event
Comments
The Section held a local heat to select a school team to represent it in the Regional
final to be held in Spring 2014. Question papers were sent out by e-mail to local
schools resulting in 20 entries being received from 7 schools.
The results were:first: Wellington College,
second: Oxford High School team Teapot,
third: d'Overbroecks team 5.
Event Name
Top of the Bench Heats
Event Type (key)
Comments

Education Event
Seven schools applied to take part in the Section’s heat for the RSC Top of the
Bench competition which was held at the Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
Laboratory of Oxford University. The task for the teams was to use their ingenuity
and chemical knowledge to construct a timer that would switch on a light at a
specified time. Although the task was given a ‘James Bond’ scenario, no team was
seen to spy on their rivals but all enjoyed the event. The winning team was from
d’Overbroecks College.
www.rsc.org
Registered Charity Number 207890
Event Name
Event Type (key)
Chemistry Week – November 2013

Education Event
Comments
RSC TVS pledged £400 to The Holt School, Wokingham in conjunction with Oxford
University Chemistry Outreach. We also pledged £100 to Oxford High School,
Oxford, for 12 science lessons on the theme of health; where 89 Year 8 school
pupils experimentally determined the amount of sugar and iron in breakfast cereals.
Event Name
Science Oxford – Jack and the Beanstalk (3rd January 2014, *2013 budget)
Event Type (key)
 Education Event
 Public Lecture
Event sponsored by RSC TVS in exchange for free entry to RSC members and their
families. Event held at West Oxford Community Centre, and organised by Science
Oxford.
There was flashes, bangs and exciting experiments in this interactive family science
show, presented by Dr Sarah Bearchell and Science Oxford Live. They explored the
science behind one of our favourite fairy tales (Jack and the Beanstalk), aimed at
ages 5 to 11. 2 sold out shows, and 176 people in total.
Comments
www.rsc.org
Registered Charity Number 207890
AWARDS AND BURSARIES
Please list any awards or bursaries presented by your committee in
2013 and indicate any which will be open for nomination/application in
2014.
The Phil Smith Trophy award. (left) Photo shows Dr John White of the RSC TVS committee presenting
the Phil Smith Trophy at the end of term assembly at Didcot Girls School, together with copies of The
Elements of Murder book for the three artists (photo attached, one girl absent from the Assembly). (right)
The winning entry voted for by the committee.
Article included in RSC News, January 2014.
www.rsc.org
Registered Charity Number 207890
PLANNED ACTIVITES
Please report below on activities proposed. For more events continue as
necessary.
Event Name
Comments
Event Name
Joint Lecture: ’Superfoods' by Prof. J Spencer, Reading (prov - April 2014)
This year's Joint Lecture with the Society of Biology Thames Valley Branch is currently
being organised by RSC Thames Valley Local section, and will hopefully be held at the
University of Reading.
Senior Members Pub Lunch
The Lamb Inn, Wantage, United Kingdom
07 May 2014 12:30
Boulters Lock, Maidenhead, United Kingdom
22 May 2014 12:30
The Swan, Basingstoke, United Kingdom
04 June 2014 12:30
Red Lion, Didcot, United Kingdom
19 June 2014 12:30
Nag's Head, Abingdon, United Kingdom
02 July 2014 12:30
Jolly Boatman, Kidlington, United Kingdom
17 July 2014 12:30
Comments
Summer Sail
30 July 2014 11.00
Salters Steamers trip from Oxford to Abingdon return, including refreshments on board.
Olde Reindeer, Banbury, United Kingdom
13 August 2014 12:30
Three Frogs, Wokingham, United Kingdom
04 September 2014 12:30
Little Angel, Henley, United Kingdom
17 September 2014 12:30
Cunning Man, Reading, United Kingdom
02 October 2014 12:30
Lock, Stock and Barrel, Newbury, United Kingdom
15 October 2014 12:30
Victoria Arms, Oxford, United Kingdom
30 October 2014 12:30
www.rsc.org
Registered Charity Number 207890
Event Name
Family Lecture - Colourful Chemistry (July 2014)
An entertaining lecture to be given by Laurence M. Harwood (University of Reading)
suitable for ages 14+.
Comments
Event Name
Comments
Synopsis: “Try out "vibrochemistry", watch chemical amoebae run around, see how gold
can sometimes be purple, tell the time with chemical reactions, listen to hydrogen atoms,
find out how insects brighten up their sex lives by getting the chemistry right or simply
turn water into wine. A light-hearted demonstration lecture looking at chemical
phenomena associated with light and colour with a few explanations thrown in for good
measure.”
Visit to Highclere Castle
This will be 6th August 2015 at 10:30, with a maximum of 50 members and guests.
www.rsc.org
Registered Charity Number 207890
COMMITTEE
(this information will be used to update our membership database and your web
page where appropriate)
Chair
Mr David Knox
Secretary
Dr John Oversby
Treasurer
Dr David Matkin
Ordinary Members
Dr Bryan Pierce
(Honorary President)
Dates on committee
(20xx – 20xx)
2012 – 2014
[2008]
2012 – 2014
[1992]
2012 – 2014
[199?]
2010 – (Indeterminate)
[19??]
Dr Ellen Norman
(Immediate Past Chair)
2012 – 2014
[2008]
Dr Tuan Ly
(Vice-Chairman)
2012 – 2014
[2010]
Dr Victoria Smith
(Vice-Chairman)
2012 – 2014
[2010]
Dr Pauline Gavan
(Benevolent Fund Rep)
2012 – 2014
[2010]
Dr John White
2012 – 2014
[199?]
Dr Michael Jenkins
2011 – 2013
[1996]
Mrs Rameya Arulanantham
2012 – 2014
[2010]
Ms Katie Mollon
2013 – 2015
[2013]
Dr Richard Gardner
2013 – 2015
[2013]
Position
Co-opted members
and their affiliation
Name
Prof. Russel Egdell
(Oxford University)
Dr Ghulam Shabir
(Oxford Brookes University)
Prof Graham Richards
(ex-officio)
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Registered Charity Number 207890
COLLABORATION
The issue of communication and collaboration between all member networks has been raised by
members at recent events including the regional meetings and the general assembly. There have
been instances of committees running very similar events when, had they known about their
shared interests, they would have preferred to work together and to share their experiences.
As all of the networks cover such a broad range of topics it would be helpful if you could complete
the following information to assist staff in proposing potential collaborations. Please include the
topic of an event which you would consider collaborating on with another committee and the
contact name for that area (if left blank we will assume that the contact is the Secretary). To
facilitate communication if you are happy for us to pass your contact email on to the appropriate
person to discuss potential collaboration please indicate below.
This information will be shared with all other member network committees.
Area of interest
Contact Name
Permission to share email
YES/NO
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Registered Charity Number 207890