Alumination
The magazine of the York St John Alumni Society – Issue 12, September 2012
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Celebrating York
Alumni Profiles
Olympic Experience
A vibrant city with lots to offer
both the visitor and resident.
A chance to catch up with some
our our alums.
Four YSJ students get to sample
the Olympic atmosphere.
02
WELCOME
A warm welcome to Issue 12 from
the Pro Vice Chancellor (Development)
It is a great pleasure
to welcome you to Alumination
Issue 12.
3Alumni Development
Office update
I have worked for York St John for just
over a year now, with a remit covering
regional partnerships, admissions and
marketing, international development,
widening participation, student
experience and alumni relations.
It has been a particularly exciting first year
with a number of successes, investments
and international developments through
the opening of new regional offices in
Kuala Lumpur and Beijing. As we enter a
new era in Higher Education with the new
fees coming in to effect for the 2012–13
academic year, we have experienced an
11.3 percent increase in applications for our
courses starting this autumn putting us at
the top of the chart of all the universities in
England. This is despite statistics showing an
average drop in applications of 10 percent
nationally. We worked hard to convert these
applications and the good news is that
we are on line to meet targets for student
numbers.
In the last year we have been able to make
significant investments in the student
experience, most notably with our major
refurbishment of the Fountains Centre
and the recent acquisition of new sports
facilities. It’s a fitting achievement that
during this Olympic year we have made
such huge steps forward in improving our
Contents
sports provision and opportunities for our
students. We are also extremely proud that
our Students’ Union has been recognised for
their outstanding work in winning a silver
award in the Students’ Union Evaluation
Initiative. York St John has also been
shortlisted for the Times Higher Education
award 2012 for The Most Improved Student
Experience.
As the 2011–12 academic year draws to
a close, we would like to thank our staff,
students and alumni for their very significant
contribution towards supporting fellow
students through the SPARK scholarship
initiative, which continues to grow year on
year. I look forward to working closely with
our committed alumni community from
York St John and Ripon to continue their
involvement in the future of our University.
I hope you enjoy catching up with more
stories in the magazine.
Sue Reece
Pro Vice Chancellor (Development)
6-7
Students’ Union news
8-9
Alum of the year
Brett Arnall (Alumni Development Manager),
Pauline Milner (Alumni Officer),
John Maw MBE (Alumni volunteer),
Tokunboh Latona and Kathryn Samuel
(YSJ student volunteers),
Judith Coates (Editorial Consultant, Marketing)
We are also lucky enough to have a dedicated team of 30
outstanding volunteers, both students and alumni, to support
us throughout the year with our many projects. In return, all our
volunteers receive a certificate and a reference to support
them in their future careers.
Design & Artwork
Oxygen Creative Media (OCM)
www.ocmdesign.co.uk
Photography
Marketing Department, Association Publicity
Officer, Peter Byrne, Daniel Roche, Lenette
Vlasman, Kark Birrane, Allan Harris and David
Groome (Event Photography Ltd).
We currently share news, event dates, and key updates with
over 3,000 members through our e-bulletin. This includes major
news updates, events, opportunities and what is going on at your
institution. To receive our monthly e-bulletin just e-mail
alumni@yorksj.ac.uk and we will add you to our distribution
list. We also have a Facebook page, www.facebook.com/
ysjalumnisociety, where we have uploaded hundreds of images
that go back to the early 1900s! We would love you to contribute
to these pages too. You can also follow us on Twitter @ysjalumni
12-15 Alumni profiles
16-17Adult Learner
of the Year winners
SPARK update
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ACES Scheme
Brett Arnall, Pauline Milner and John Maw
The easiest way to keep in touch with you
10-11 Celebrating York
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03
At the end of 2011 we said a sad farewell to Alumni
Development Officer Kate Hutchings who had worked in the
team since 2006. We welcomed new Alumni Officer, Pauline
Milner in January 2012. We always consider ourselves a team of
three with the level of support that alumnus and volunteer,
John Maw MBE continues to give us.
4-5Investing in the
student experience
Do you recognise this area?
20-21 Olympic stories
22-29 Faculty news
30-31 International news
32-37 White Rose feature
38-39 Class notes
Two members of our volunteer team 2011-12
Did you complete your programme in 2003?
Are you interested in attending a reunion to celebrate 10 years
since leaving YSJ? We are planning a 10 year out reunion in
2013 to take place Friday 30 August- Sunday 1 September. The
majority of activities will take place on Saturday 31 August but
for those who wish to come on the Friday night there will be
activities and campus accommodation available.
For further information or if you have any suggestions please
get in touch with us. We hope many of you will be able to join us
and catch up with friends!
EDITORIAL & PRODUCTION TEAM
Alumination 12 – edited by Louise Ennis
ALUMNI DEVELOPMENT OFFICE UPDATE
The editorial team would like to
thank all those who have contributed
to this publication. The opinions
expressed in Alumination do not necessarily
reflect the views of the Alumni Development
Office or York St John University.
Alumni Membership benefits
Where possible we will establish new benefits and discounts
for our alumni members. One recent new benefit is that your
alumni membership card can gain you access to the Students’
Union (holding the same privileges as your student card).
Telephone campaign
can support you
If at any time you have any questions or we
with reunions/events please do contact us
E: alumni@yorksj.ac.uk or T: 01904 876432.
Later this year we will be running a telephone campaign.
If you would not like to be contacted please let us know by
31 October 2012.
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INVESTING IN THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE
York St John is well-known for its
vibrant and welcoming campus
community. During the last year
a significant investment has taken
place to further enhance the student
experience with an ambitious
new facilities programme.
York St John University
Sports Centre Nestlé
Rowntree Park
York St John has been given
the green light to provide more
student accommodation
in the city.
Investing in the Student
Experience
The £12 million development, began in
July 2012, and will provide two new halls
of residence for 258 students within a
ten-minute walk of the campus on Lord
Mayor’s Walk. Students will be able to take
up residence in September 2013.
The start of the academic
year last September saw
the refurbished, and
award-winning, Fountains
Learning Centre open for
business.
Four months and a £1.1 million
investment, saw the building transformed.
Library service improvements include a
twenty per cent increase in open access
PCs for students; £50,000 of investment
in new book stock; a new self-service
collection, issue and return system; and
a ground floor which is open 24
hours a day.
Students’ Union President for 2010–12,
Leigh Hankinson was involved in the
development, ‘The University listened to
our opinions throughout the project and
we are over the moon that they have
made this investment’.
The Fountains Learning Centre
transformation was celebrated at a special
event on 24 October with guests including
the Lord Mayor of York, Councillor David
Horton; the Sheriff of York, Alan Deller;
the architects and contractors from
the project, as well as York St John staff
members who worked tirelessly to ensure
the project was delivered on time.
New state
of-the-art
accommodation
for York St John
York-based S. Harrison Developments
Ltd are managing the project and have
already successfully completed two
student accommodation developments off
Walmgate – Gray’s Wharf and Percy’s Lane.
In May 2012 York St John announced
the acquisition of the sports park on
Haxby Road and the Joseph Rowntree
Theatre from Nestlé as part of a major
enhancement of the sports and performing
arts facilities and the way in which the
University engages with the community.
The 57 acres are within a fifteen-minute
walk of the campus, and provide new
playing fields, with a rugby pitch and
football pitches, tennis courts, a bowling
green and allotments. As well as providing
outstanding opportunities for students
and staff, York St John will work with
existing users to enable them to continue
benefiting from these outstanding facilities.
Dave Findlay, Vice President Student
Activities of York St John University
Students’ Union said ‘We are really
excited about this enhancement to the
facilities. We have a fantastic reputation
amongst our sports clubs and societies
for our community atmosphere and now
fixtures can be held on one site which
will contribute towards a stronger, more
inclusive environment.’
The Joseph Rowntree Theatre is an art
deco style community performance space
built by the Joseph Rowntree Village Trust,
now Joseph Rowntree Foundation, as a
venue to provide quality and well-priced
entertainment for the people of York.
The recently refurbished auditorium, and
state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems,
are currently used by more than 30 local
performing groups, including our own
student societies, and it is staffed by more
than 150 passionate volunteers.
Vice Chancellor Professor David Fleming
said ‘This new accommodation will provide
fantastic facilities for students a stone’s
throw away from the main campus, with
outstanding quality and environmental
standards.’
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STUDENTS’ UNION NEWS
York St John Boat Club
celebrates 160 years
Clubs and societies
championing SPARK
On 10 March, the York St John Boat
Club (YSJBC) marked the occasion of its
160th anniversary with a special event
that included an exhibition at York St
John Students’ Union depicting the club’s
distinguished history and races on the
city’s river Ouse.
Formed in 1852, the Boat Club began life just 11 years after
York St John’s foundation in 1841. The club has gone from
strength to strength over the intervening 160 years, and now has
a membership of over 50 students who regularly compete against
other universities in the region. The celebratory event coincided
with Old John’s weekend, an annual get-together for York St John
University alumni.
Best practices win
national recognition
In February 2012 York
St John Students’ Union
was awarded a silver
accreditation in the
Students’ Union
Evaluation Initiative,
becoming the smallest
students’ union in the
country to gain the
prestigious accolade.
The Students’ Union Evaluation Initiative
(SUEI) programme aims to make a positive
difference to the lives of students at
university, by improving their students’
unions. The SUEI quality assessment model
looks to improve services and activities
delivered to students by indicating areas
for continuous improvement. The scale
for accreditation moves from ‘working
towards’, through bronze and silver,
up to gold.
York St John Students’ Union was one
of the first to gain accreditation under
the initiative, receiving a bronze award
in 2009. Following that evaluation, the
sabbatical and staff teams looked at all
aspects of the Union and worked with
students to identify areas for improvement.
This led to the launch of the ‘More than
just a bar’ campaign, which encouraged
students to engage with all aspects of the
Union rather than just as a place for sports
and societies to meet. The campaign,
along with a plan that centred around
student feedback, was one of the areas
where the SUEI audit noted that the Union
was delivering best practice within the
sector.
Commenting on their award win, Leigh
Hankinson, York St John Students’ Union
President 2010-12 said: ‘I am so pleased
with this great news. I would like to thank
the whole staff team for helping with the
evaluation process and for the fantastic
work they do day to day.’
A formal celebration took place on 27
April where former Students’ Union staff
and sabbaticals returned to celebrate their
outstanding achievement.
Now – Old John’s Team take
on current students
Then – Boat Club in yesteryears
Former Presidents of the Big Band: David Dunn Birch,
Hayley Jenkins, Ashley Harrison and Amy Spall.
Students at York St John have
taken up the challenge for the
SPARK initiative again this
year to support their fellow
students. Our clubs and societies
have contributed over £3,000
to SPARK this academic year as
well as supporting a wide range
of other charities.
One society that has shown
exceptional support is the Big
Band. In the last two years
they have raised £3,500 by
performing at a range of events.
During February 2012 they
organised Student Big Band
Idol for which former members
returned to support them.
Those returning included Ashley
Harrison, who formed the
society in 2006.
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ALUMNI PROFILE
Alum of the Year
2011
Making music during a Converge course
Gemma Alldred was named
as the second winner of the
York St John ‘Alum of the Year’
in 2011. Since graduating
with a degree in Performance:
Theatre in 2008, Gemma
has founded the awardwinning and groundbreaking
community theatre company,
Out of Character, and now
leads on Converge, a project
offering creative courses to
mental health service users.
It all began when Gemma worked with
lecturer, Nick Rowe, to develop her final
year project, teaching a theatre course to
people using mental health services at the
university.
‘I loved working with these people and
making theatre together and I had so
much energy and so many ideas that I
couldn’t wait to get stuck in’, Gemma
enthuses, ‘I soon came to realise that the
participants were individuals, each with
their own story and character, the fact they
also used mental health services stopped
really mattering. The great thing about our
work is that we break down boundaries,
hopefully that goes some way to reducing
the stigma and discrimination which can
be faced by someone with a mental health
diagnosis’.
In 2009 Out of Character performed their
first full-length theatre show, Enchantment,
at York St John’s end of year arts festival to
the biggest audience of the year. Gemma
has since taken up a post with the NHS
to develop the work in partnership with
the University, working in collaboration
with York Theatre Royal. She went on to
ALUMNI PROFILE
To nominate yourself
or a fellow alum, e-mail
alumni@yorksj.ac.uk or
post your application
to the University for the
attention of the Alumni
Development Office.
All you need to do is send a
written testimonial stating why
you believe you/fellow alum
deserves this award based on
achievements during 2012.
This could be for:
Entrepreneurial activities
Voluntary work undertaken
Sporting excellence Outstanding
career achievement Publishing
or performing acclaim.
“A chance to engage together
as artists and students. Converge
is not about what you can’t
do, it’s about what you can.”
lead the Converge project, offering similar
opportunities in Dance, Music, Fine Art
and Creative Writing and supporting the
Communitas Choir. The project received
a social enterprise award in 2010 from
UnLtd, to develop and communicate its
work to mental health services in the area.
Last year Gemma worked with 25 York St
John University students mentoring them
in how to apply and use their own skills in
theatre, dance and music, ‘We were able
to offer courses to over 70 people. It’s a
real chance to engage together as artists
and students. Converge is not about what
you can’t do, it’s about what you can’.
‘I believe in the work we do and the quality
of the work we make’, continues Gemma,
‘so I’d love to see a celebration and festival
of our work, where we could open it up to
wider audiences, collaborate with other
local artists, and offer placements for York
St John graduates to continue working with
us after their studies’.
For more information visit:
www.convergeyork.co.uk or
www.outofcharactertheatrecompany.
wordpress.com
The closing date for applications
is Friday 30 November 2012.
The application should be no
more than 500 words.
Alumni from York St John or
Ripon can now nominate
themselves or a fellow alum for
the accolade of Alum of the
Year 2012.
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CELEBRATING YORK
CELEBRATING YORK
The Mystery Plays are back
Two York St John University
Alumni worked together to
bring their skills to the team
promoting the medieval cycle
of York Mystery Plays, an epic
project to stage the Mystery
Plays for the first time since
1988.
Charlotte Dootson, Marketing Manager at
York Museums Trust and Abbi Wright, Head
of Communications at York Theatre Royal
were both thrilled to take the promotion
plans forward, working with the Riding
Lights Theatre Company.
York St John University makes
a major contribution to the
economic, social and cultural
life of York.
The University now contributes
more than £50m annually
to the city’s economy and
creates over 1,200 jobs both
through direct employment
and indirectly through its
impact on other businesses
and employers in the city.
We continue to work in
partnership with major
companies based in the city
such as Nestlé, Aviva and
CPP as well as the NHS Trust
and City of York Council. The
University is on the Board
of Science City York and is a
patron of the Leeds, York and
North Yorkshire Chamber of
Commerce.
The new City of York Economic
Strategy 2011–15 includes
York St John as a key element
in the city’s aim to grow
knowledge-based and creative
businesses and the University
continues to shape the city’s
internationalisation strategy,
as it attracts increasing
numbers of students from
across the globe.
A large number of our alumni
work in York and we are
very proud of the impact
they make as well as their
continued engagement with
York St John. Our students,
too, have an important social
contribution to make, with
over 500 volunteering in the
local community at any one
time.
Through membership of the
York Cares group of employers,
more than 50 members of
University staff regularly
volunteer with primary
schools, care homes and
special needs organisations.
Our Ebor Lectures promote
inter-faith dialogue on social
issues and public policy
attracting significant
audiences in York Minster, as
do our cultural programme of
public lectures and concerts,
which are attended by more
than 400 people.
9 July 2012 marked the 800th
anniversary of York becoming
a self-governing city. In 1212
King John signed a charter
allowing York’s citizens, rather
than the sheriff, to collect
and pay the annual tax to
the Crown, to hold their own
courts and to appoint a mayor.
York 800 celebrates this
special anniversary, with a
year-long programme of
events for residents, visitors
and businesses, including the
cycle of York Mystery Plays.
‘The medieval Mystery Plays have been
performed by the people of York for
hundreds of years‘, said Charlotte, ‘and
they are part of the city’s cultural heritage.
It’s great that so many people in the team
were from York, so they knew the city well
and are living and working here. It really
means something to them.’
Both Charlotte and Abbi studied Art
and Design at York St John before going on
to work in the arts and heritage sector in
the city.
Charlotte started in entertainment PR,
helping to promote acts such as Robbie
Williams, Tom Jones and Eddie Izzard at
York Barbican before moving into the
museums and heritage sector. She now
oversees the marketing department for
York Museums Trust, looking after York
Castle Museum, the Yorkshire Museum and
Gardens, York Art Gallery and York St Mary’s
contemporary arts space.
Abbi did her MA in Contemporary Arts
Practice, whilst working as Marketing
Officer at York’s Theatre Royal. She
then took over the role of Head of
Communications three years ago. ‘Being
from York, having studied in York and
having worked at York Theatre Royal for
six years, it was very special to be part of
this amazing project that means so much
11
‘The enthusiasm and passion demonstrated
by the people coming forward to get
involved was astonishing’, adds Charlotte,
‘and working with these people and
inspiring new audiences to experience
the plays was a stimulating and unique
marketing experience.’
Another challenge for Abbi and Charlotte
was how to integrate social media and
new technologies for the first time in
the promotion of the Plays. This year’s
production was widely documented with
a team of 40 volunteer photographers
recording auditions, costume making and
progress backstage.
Abbi and Charlotte
to the city’, Abbi comments, ‘2012 is
York’s 800th anniversary of the city charter
and this huge production was one of the
flagship events.’
Working with the community engagement
team the project recruited over 1000
volunteers to take part on stage and
behind the scenes. ‘It was fascinating to
hear the stories of past participants’, Abbi
explains, ‘the Mysteries still mean such a lot
to the people of York.’
Charlotte says: ‘I thoroughly enjoyed the
challenges of marketing and promoting
such a respected and prestigious event. It
is unique to York and it is great to see the
level of support towards the project by so
many people in the city and beyond. It was
a true spectacle worthy of a special year
for York and the whole country.’
Abbi and Charlotte worked with the local
press, media, tourism organisations and
partners in the city to make sure York
Mystery Plays 2012 was profiled and well
supported. The York Museum Gardens was
transformed to include bars, food court,
fringe entertainment and the festival
atmosphere spread across the city.
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ALUMNI PROFILE
Alumni Profile
Glynn Ryland
BA (Hons) Drama, Film
and Television 1992
After completing his programme at York St John, Glynn made
the brave decision to relocate to London, where he didn’t
know anyone.
Industry Talent Manager, Channel 4
Alumnus Glynn Ryland returned to York St
John University in October 2011 as part
of Inspiration Week North, an element
of 4Talent’s Kick Start programme. Glen
and his colleagues introduced media
professionals to talented young film and
television makers between the ages of
14–19.
Glynn remembers with great fondness
his time at York St John, where alongside
his studies, he was also involved in the
Drama Society, Music Society and, with a
friend, set up the Gaming Society. After
completing his programme at York St John
Glynn made the brave decision to relocate
to London, where he didn’t know anyone.
‘I knocked on doors trying to get my
first break’, says Glynn. ‘This finally came
in October 1992 when I started as
Promotions Assistant for Carlton TV.’
Since working for Carlton TV, Glynn has
gone on to make a massive name for
himself in the industry, working across
a number of channels. He is now an
award-winning Creative Director, after 19
years in the business. During this time he
has covered channel launches, content
creation and brand development across
18 channels in eight countries.
Personal achievements include seven
times Broadcast Designers Association
Winner and eight times Promax Gold
Award Winner.
Following this Glynn went on to work for
the BBC Academy as Partnerships Manager
before taking on his current role as Industry
Talent Manager for Channel 4.
His career highlights include working as
Creative Manager Worldwide for Universal
Studios Network, Creative Director for
NBC Universal Global Networks (UK) and
Partnerships Manager for BBC Academy/
BBC Outreach. He has also worked as a
freelance Producer/Director with clients
including BBC1, ITV Network Promotions
and the Movie Channel, to name but a few.
‘It’s been an incredible
journey, which all started
at York St John. My fondest
memories are the great
sense of history in York,
and the compactness and
closeness of the University’s
campus. I loved the
atmosphere and sense of
community.’
In January 2007, Glynn decided it was time
for a change. He took on a new position
as Head of Development for The Cinema
and Television Benevolent Fund, the
trade charity of the UK film and television
industry, whose patron is the Queen.
‘One of my projects here was starting a
Youth Initiative award scheme to support
those who had fallen through gaps in
the industry and needed support’, Glynn
explains. ‘This involved setting up a large
number of sponsors and internships and
has been the most rewarding experience of
my career.’
ALUMNI PROFILE
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Alumni Profile
George Brichieri
BA (Hons) Theatre,
Film & TV 2002
After spending seven and a half years as a stage
manager for Ampleforth School, George Brichieri
has returned to the more than familiar scenery
of York St John University.
George met his wife, Kate (formerly
Frankish), nearly 10 years ago during their
first studies at York St John, and both
have returned to study Primary PGCE
programmes.
After completing his undergraduate
programme George stood as president of
the Students’ Union in 2002/3, creating
and launching the highly successful
Silent Students, Happy Homes, or SSHH!
campaign. Taking effect immediately
and growing beyond all expectations,
the campaign was subsequently adopted
nationally and has influenced a number
of universities across the country, and it is
still going strong. With his return to York St
John, George has resumed his involvement
in the Students’ Union, this time as a
trustee.
The most prominent transformation
for George on his return in September
2011 has been the refurbishments to the
Fountains Learning Centre. When George
was Students’ Union President he was
involved with the original royal opening of
the building in 2003.
SSHH! George is Back - Pictured with Jo Gibson and Nathalie
Thomas, his fellow sabbatical officers in 2002/3.
‘I’ve been particularly impressed with
the De Grey building. It has great ease of
access and facilities. As much as I love the
old rooms on campus, I really appreciate
the new facilities because it means
there are more computers for the ever
expanding numbers of students’.
’Even though George is studying at York
St John full-time and wife, Kate, is parttime they will both be graduating again
in the same ceremony at York Minster this
coming November. They plan to teach
in the York area after completing their
programmes this summer.
‘I am very impressed
with the range of work
the SU and sabbaticals
do for the University.
They are especially
effective at engaging
with a broader range of
students, particularly the
international and mature
students, who make up the
lively cultural life here at
York St John. The University
has a strong ethos of
community responsibility,
which has been influenced
by the SSHH! campaign,
that has strengthened over
the years.’
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ALUMNI PROFILE
ALUMNI PROFILE
15
Alumni Business Profile
Orillo Productions
Alumni Profile
Ivor Bolton
MA International Studies,
2011
Second time around at York St John for Ivor
The oldest kid on the
block – 1968 to 2011
After leaving secondary modern school
at the age of 15, Ivor Bolton became
a teacher training student at St John’s
College York in the Autumn Term of
1968.
During the 43 years after completing his
first degree, Ivor had a very successful
teaching career, retiring in August 2011
as Deputy Head Teacher at Lower Farm
Primary School in Walsall, West Midlands.
He recently graduated from York St John
University in November 2011 with an MA
in International Studies (Distinction).
‘Having preached the gospel of “lifelong
learning” to pupils, parents and staff for
many years,’ comments Ivor, ‘I decided
that in preparation for my retirement from
teaching, I should follow the principle
instilled in St John’s College students and
set an example to others. I saw the MA
International Studies course – conveniently
part-time and distance learning –
advertised in the Alumni Newsletter and
immediately contacted Simon Sweeney the
course convenor.
‘In the tradition of St John’s, Simon was
most supportive and encouraging, as
were my subsequent tutors Simon Mollan
and Beverly Geesin. I was delighted with
the excellent result they enabled me to
achieve.’
Ivor suggests that the quality of education
at the old St John’s College and York St
John University has been very similar,
with a sustained strong emphasis on
understanding students’ learning needs
and an insistence on hard work to achieve
personal best and high standards. ‘What
has changed’, Ivor says, ‘is the quality of
the provision in respect of teaching and
learning facilities, and related technology’.
Ivor reminisces fondly about his St John’s
College days:
‘Canon Lamb, our Principal, an astute judge
of character when it came to staffing,
ensured that the College departments
were led and staffed by strong characters.
For example, Peter Wenham, Peter Hills and
Trevor Brighton in the History Department
ruled by high expectations that bordered
on terror! In the Education Department,
the Vice Principal, Chris Chapman likened
us all to “butterflies emerging from the
cocoon of St John’s – preparing to dazzle
pupils with the beauty and excitement of
learning and knowledge!” Multi-talented
people such as Mike Maynard (Education
and Art), “Cuddly” George Kramer and
Jim Fairbairn (Education), not to mention
the indomitable Misses Valentine and
Boothman – the sirens of the Ladies
Residences – became legends in their own
lifetimes. Those were the days!’
The outcome of his education at St John’s
College, Ivor recalls, ‘Was to provide me
with a teaching career in which every day
held new challenges and new learning –
both for the children and myself!’
Ivor has decided to continue his
commitment to lifelong learning by
starting a three year full-time PhD research
degree in the Institute for German
Studies within the Political Science
and International Studies faculty at the
University of Birmingham.
In the summer of 2009,
four York St John second
year students, Richard
O’Hare, Keenan Foley,
James Umpleby and Sarah
Broadbent, tested their
skills to create a music
video, and the concept
of Orillo Productions was
born.
The company has now moved on from a
group of freelance student filmmakers to a
highly independent and gifted production
group. They have worked for a number of
respected companies in their two years
together, one being Garrard Jewels who
crafted the Crown Jewels. They were
also responsible for the hugely successful
screening in the Museum Gardens in June
2011 along with a mystery cinema at the
Railway Institute at the beginning of this
year; look out for another outdoor cinema
coming this summer!
Throughout their third year the group
took on some free video work for high
street retailer, Jack Wills, as part of their
advertising campaign – then they had
a lucky break. The former University
Chaplain Jeremy Clines contracted
Keenan Foley and Richard O’Hare to film
a number of videos for his new Religious
Literacy Learning project. The students
used the proceeds from this work to
start up Orillo Productions in 2010 while
completing their final year studying Film
& TV Production at the University. A Royal
Television Society Award followed at the
end of the year, for their collaboration on a
fictional film, The Sword.
‘At the moment, we’re all busy with
different projects’, Richard O’Hare
comments, ’one being at the Guards Polo
Club, filming the Jack Wills annual Polo
Match and After Party. We are also in the
process of filming an entire online video
prospectus for York St John University - it’s
great to be back!’
The whole group has a real love for their
work and are determined to pass on their
passion for filming, whether this is through
advertising, music videos or short films.
‘Whatever we film, we always make it as
creative and high quality as we can’, adds
Richard O’Hare. ‘If anyone, student or
otherwise, has the gift of the gab and the
drive to succeed in a project, then Orillo
Productions would be happy to support
them.’
Find out more about the filming world of
Orillo Productions on their website:
www.orilloproductions.com
16
ADULT LEARNER OF THE YEAR
York St John students
celebrate Regional Adult
Learner of the Year Award
Earlier this year York St John proudly
announced its fourth consecutive winner
of the Adult Learner of the Year awards,
with four consecutive winners within the
Yorkshire and Humber region.
In May 2012, Gillian Firth, one of the University’s SPARK scholarship
funded scholars, was announced as the new regional winner.
2009 winner Julie Bagwash studied Contemporary Fine Arts
Practice at York St John from 2006–9 finding a way to express
herself through Art and become a successful artist. As well as
winning the regional award in 2009 she has been a guest
speaker at the Tate Modern.
Valentine Nkoyo, the 2010 winner was able to study for a BA in
Business Management after winning the University’s Inspire SPARK
International Scholarship and went on to be awarded Adult Learner
of the Year in 2010. She also won the British Council’s Yorkshire
and Humber International Student of the Year in 2011.
Last year’s winner Greg Christie arrived at York St John in 2002
with no formal qualifications. He completed his English Literature
degree in 2005 and returned to the University to undertake an
MA in Contemporary Arts Practice. He says “My life has changed
immeasurably, all due to the self-respect gained through my
studies. I now tell other mature students what they can
accomplish – if I can do it, you can!”
Award winners (left to right) Valentine Nkoyo (2010),
Greg Christie (2011) and Julie Bagwash (2009)
ADULT LEARNER OF THE YEAR
17
Second-year York
St John student,
Gillian Firth,
overcame seemingly
insurmountable
obstacles following a
serious car accident
in 1994, while
teaching overseas.
Adult Learner of the
Year 2012, Yorkshire and
Humber Region
In a coma for six weeks, she was left
severely brain damaged, and with
memory, speech and mobility loss, and
was confined to a wheelchair for a year.
With her teaching career cut short by
her extensive injuries, Gillian began to
channel herself into a number of activities
to stimulate her mind and show others
this wasn’t the end. These included
presentations at women’s institutes, taking
part in the BBC Video Telling Lives and
guest appearances on BBC Radio York for
Brain Awareness Week.
During her long recovery, Gillian turned
to her other passion, creative writing, and
in 1996 she wrote and self-published the
autobiography of her journey through
disability, Gillian Mk 2. She went on to
publish a sequel, Typically Gillian, following
an overwhelming response from readers
who responded to her wit, honesty and
sheer determination to overcome her
situation and take her life forward.
In 2010 Gillian enrolled on a degree
course in Creative Writing and Media at
York St John and was then awarded a SPARK
scholarship for ‘Overcoming Barriers to
Learning’ to support her studies.
Gillian believes that learning has been a
fundamental part of her recovery process,
‘Experimenting with, and accepting, new
opportunities proved to me that all was
not lost, there were still things I could do,
in the effort to kill lonely time.’
Further recognition for her outstanding
achievements came in 2012 when
she was awarded the Adult Learner of
the Year Award, for the Yorkshire and
Humber region, and became York St John
University’s fourth consecutive winner.
David Hughes, NIACE Chief Executive, said
‘Gillian’s life has improved because of her
commitment, enthusiasm and ambition.
I hope that others will be inspired by this
story and see the role that learning can
play to help them get a better life.’
18
SPARK CELEBRATIONS
ALUMNI CAREER ENHANCEMENT SCHEME
19
Alumni Career
Enhancement
Scheme (ACES)
launches
SPARK celebration for
milestone achievement
A celebration was held
on Foundation Day to mark
the SPARK (Securing
Potential and Releasing
Knowledge) initiative’s
success in raising over
£250,000 since launching
in 2005.
Professor of Dance Studies, Christy Adair
enjoys her free-fall.
Hayley Jenkins, The Big Band
Guests at York St John’s Temple Hall
included scholars past and present, staff,
alumni, donors, governors and other
supporters. New SPARK scholars were
presented with certificates by the Vice
Chancellor.
Alumni Development Manager, Brett
Arnall has been delighted with progress.
He says ‘as well as the generosity of our
alumni community, we would like to say a
special thank you to the student and staff
champions who have done so much to
support the SPARK initiative. As always, a
number of staff and students have come
forward to raise funds for SPARK so others
can benefit from the opportunities here
at York St John. It’s a great community
campaign and it’s already making a real
difference and transforming lives.’
During the last year events have become
ever more daring with staff, students and
alumni taking part in the first ever SPARK
skydive. A total of 24 people jumped last
July from 15,000 feet, helping to raise
nearly £4,000 for SPARK scholarships. All
landed safely after an exhilarating minute
of free-fall before their parachute opened.
Clubs and societies, and individual
students, are recognised for their
involvement in raising funds each year.
SPARK Club of the Year 2012 was awarded
to the Swimming Club after they raised
£600 by organising a barbeque on Archie’s
Day 2012. The 2012 SPARK Personality
of the year was awarded to Becky Scott
after she organised a fundraising Netball
competition. Special achievement
awards went to The Big Band and the
Ladies Football Club for their dynamic
and continuous support since SPARK was
launched.
With York St John University entering a
new era in Higher Education with new
challenges, not least the increase in tuition
fees, our SPARK campaign will have an even
more important role to play in making
sure that others are given a chance to
study here.
For more information about SPARK,
talk to the Alumni Development Team
T: 01904 876432 or
E: alumni@yorksj.ac.uk
www.yorksj.ac.uk/alumni
‘Mentors help you to
make your own decisions.’
Professor Bob Garvey,
Business School
At York St John we want to
use our staff and services
not only to help our students
qualify – we want to give
them the best foundation
possible for their future careers
by passing on the wealth of
experience and professional
guidance that exists in the
University and its many
industry associates.
The Alumni Development Office and
Careers and Employability Team have
recently launched a joint initiative to do
just that.
The new ACES, or Alumni Career
Enhancement Scheme, is part of our
Enterprise and Employability strategy at
York St John to best equip our students for
their future careers after they complete
their programmes with us. The pilot
scheme was launched in April 2012 and
the official scheme is scheduled to launch
during the 2012–13 academic year.
Professor Bob Garvey promotes the value of mentoring
We are delighted to have the support of
resident mentoring expert Professor Bob
Garvey of the York St John Business School.
Bob led a mentoring session for the launch
of the pilot scheme, giving valuable advice
to both mentors and mentees. ‘I’m a great
supporter of the Scheme.’ added Bob,
’Mentoring has a vital role to play in many
spheres of activity across the campus.’
ACES mentor, local entrepreneur
Dom Smith
Aiming to provide opportunities for
students to improve their employability
skills and enhance their prospects of career
success, the scheme offers students a
programme of activities with a mentor
from our alumni or the local business
community. The mentoring takes place
across a variety of formats including
meetings, phone or e-mail.
One of our alumni, 2007 Film & TV
Production graduate, Dom Smith, agreed
to be a mentor when he heard about the
scheme. A local entrepreneur and founder
of music magazine Soundsphere, Dom is
currently based in the incubation units in
the Phoenix Centre on campus.
Bob’s session will shortly be available as an
open webinar on the alumni web pages.
The scheme aims to harness the goodwill
of our alumni community in supporting
our current students. If you have significant
experience in a field relevant to York St
John’s curriculum and would be interested
in mentoring a student please talk to the
Alumni Development Office T: 01904
876432 or E: alumni@yorksj.ac.uk
20
21
ALUMNI PROFILE
Alumni Profile: Chris Newsham
London Organising Committee
for the Olympic and
Paralympic Games
(LOCOG)
Having graduated from York St John
in 2003 with a degree in Sports Studies
and Physical Education Chris Newsham
started his career working with leisure
clubs Fitness First then Next Generation
(now David Lloyd).
After working in various management roles within the industry,
Chris moved to Leeds Marriott as Leisure Club Manager. Six years
later he had worked his way up to Director of Sales at the chain’s
York Marriott, a role that involved overseeing and developing the
sales strategy of the hotel. It was this job that enabled Chris to
obtain the skills and experience that would help him achieve his
once in a lifetime role within the London Organising Committee
for the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG).
‘All my life I have been a huge sports fan and I have always had an
ambition to work for the Olympic Games’, Chris explains. ‘As soon
as London won the bid for staging the games I was determined to
get a role within the organisation. At the start of 2011 I applied
for several roles with LOCOG and in April 2011 after a series of
interviews I was lucky enough to be offered the role of Football
Accommodation Manager.’
Chris’s role was to plan, prepare and operate every aspect of
all the football team accommodation for the Olympic Games.
There were 28 teams and 500 athletes to provide for across
both the men’s and women’s competitions. Chris coordinated
ten hotels across all five co-host cities (Cardiff, Coventry,
Glasgow, Manchester and Newcastle) along with the football
accommodation in the Olympic Village itself in Stratford, London.
‘It was an extremely complex and diverse role’, Chris continues,
‘and stakeholder relations were key as I needed to work with local
authorities, national and International Olympic committees and
FIFA, as well as drawing on my project management skills.
Nick competing in the 3,000 metre Steeplechase.
Managers reported to me in each city and we had to coordinate
all aspects of transport, security, medical, anti-doping and sports
operations within the hotels. During the games I was mainly on the
road both supporting my team and trouble shooting in each city.
‘My contract finishes at the end of September so I shall shortly
start looking for a new job for the end of the year. LOCOG have
invested significantly in a programme called Beyond 2012, which
helps the staff prepare for life after the games. My ideal scenario
would be to move into a similar role for the Rugby World Cup in
England in 2015. Whatever role I end up getting I am sure it will
involve hospitality or sport, but preferably both!‘
York St John athletes
sample the Olympic
experience
Four York St John University
students soaked up the
Olympic experience by
taking part in the British
University and Colleges
Sport (BUCS) Outdoor
Athletics Championships in
May this year.
The event formed part of
the ‘London Prepares Test
events’ at the Olympic Stadium
in Stratford, East London.
Nick Hardy (3,000 metres Steeplechase),
Sarah Kemshall (5,000 metres), James
Buck (400 metres) and Rebecca
Wilkinson (800 metres) were able to take
advantage of all the facilities available
in their respective disciplines.
Nick, a second year Sports Science
Performance Conditioning student,
returned to the University enthused
about his experience, ‘It was absolutely
brilliant, we got to use all the facilities
that the Olympic competitors would
including the warm-up area, athletes
lounge and tracks.
‘We all went through the exact same
procedures that happened in the Olympic
Games including being paraded around
the track before competing. What an
experience!’
Experiencing the stadium as an Olympic
competitor.
Nick returned to the Olympic stadium as a
spectator having been fortunate enough
to secure tickets to the 1,500 metres final
and the 800 metre heats.
22
FACULTY OF HEALTH & LIFE SCIENCES NEWS
Launch
showcases
new unit
The new Unit for Child and Youth
Studies was launched in January
2012 with a one-day showcase event
highlighting the groundbreaking
work of the Unit and its partners.
The day included a series of keynote
presentations and mini workshops
focused around continuing professional
development (CPD) topics. Sessions
included: bullying and cyberbullying,
coaching young people, e-safety,
inclusion in sport, time and stress
management, and well-being.
The Unit’s staff includes academics
from a variety of disciplines; including
psychology, sport and sociology. The
team runs a professional and established
survey and CPD service led by Unit
Director and Psychology Lecturer,
Nathalie Noret.
Find out more at www.yorksj.ac.uk/
childandyouthstudies
Lecturer to lead
pioneering project on
housing adaptation
Maria Parks, Senior Lecturer in
Occupational Therapy has been
awarded funding to lead a
project that will systematically
review and map research
relating to housing adaptation
for disabled people.
For more information about the
genHOME project visit
www.genhome.org.uk
Maria will manage the three
year project called ‘genHOME’
with a research grant from
the College of Occupational
Therapists Specialist Section –
Housing (COTSS), supported by
the UK Occupational Therapy
Research Foundation (UKOTRF)
and Pressalit Care plc.
Faculty hosts Health Showcase event
The Faculty hosted its first ‘Health Showcase’ event in
September 2011 to celebrate some of its longstanding
partnerships with health and social care colleagues in
the region and discuss future continuing professional
development (CPD) provision.
As well as an opportunity to meet a wide range of academic
experts over lunch, the afternoon’s presentations included our
MSc in Professional Health and Social Care, Outcome Measures,
Research, and Bespoke CPD.
York St John University launched
a series of workshops during York
Business Week to help local businesses
become more efficient, effective and
enjoyable workplaces.
Frances Dodd, Senior Lecturer at York
St John and Chartered Psychologist
in Business Psychology, has applied
psychological theory to practical issues
of the workplace and developed a
series of workshops aimed at small and
medium sized enterprises in York and
the surrounding area.
Maria commented:
‘I am delighted to receive recognition from
the College of Occupational Therapists
through this award and I am really looking
forward to collaborating with experts in
the field. Through my PhD this opportunity
will allow me to develop a way to measure
and evaluate the effectiveness of the
College’s housing interventions, something
that the profession of occupational
therapists has been asking for.’
Bridging the
gap between
psychology and
business
Keynote speaker, Sharon Oliver, who is Associate Director of
Education Commissioning and Workforce Development for the
Yorkshire and the Humber Strategic Health Authority, discussed
the wider agenda for CPD in the NHS now and going forward.
Amanda Fisher, Education Commissioning Manager, NHS
Yorkshire and the Humber reflected that the day ‘showcased the
expertise in the University and the real commitment to working
with employers.’
The workshops, entitled The
Psychological Advantage, will provide
practical and inspiring professional
development in key areas of business.
These include building your team,
coaching and mentoring, recruitment
and selection, stress management, time
management, and presentation skills.
The workshops’ key to success is that
they will focus on each individual, so all
delegates will leave with personalised
action plans.
Frances added: ‘Practice and theory go
hand in hand and this is the basis of my
workshops. The Psychological Advantage
workshops will be action-oriented,
informative and relevant to the local
business community.’
Find out more at
www.thepsychologicaladvantage.co.uk
FACULTY OF HEALTH & LIFE SCIENCES NEWS
23
Head of Physiotherapy
elected chair of chartered
professional body
Dr Helena Johnson, Head of
Subject for Physiotherapy
in the Faculty of Health
& Life Sciences, has been
elected Chair of Council of
the Chartered Society of
Physiotherapy (CSP).
Helena, who joined York St John University
in September 2007, received the honour
at the Society’s annual congress. The CSP
represents over 50,000 members and
was founded in 1894, receiving the royal
charter in 1920.
Commenting on her new appointment,
Helena said:
‘My role at the CSP enables me to keep
up to date with changes across all health
sectors in the UK, as well as in Europe and
at a global level. This, in turn, helps to
enhance the curriculum for students on the
physiotherapy programmes at York St John
University as the team here aim to prepare
our graduates to work in any setting where
physiotherapy is needed.’
24
BUSINESS SCHOOL NEWS
Yorkshire entrepreneurs
share start-up secrets
Yorkshire-based entrepreneurs inspired
students with their success stories at York
St John Business School’s Enterprise Day in
February. Their enterprises covered a range
of products and services, from the popular
Dirty Dancing stage show and exclusive
women’s online lingerie, to healthy
smoothie drinks and private ambulance
and medical services.
Michael Jacobsen, Australian entrepreneur,
businessman and business mentor cofounded and co-produced the successful
stage show Dirty Dancing, which has set
box office records in Germany and London.
He has also promoted concert tours for
top acts such as Elton John and Bruce
Springsteen.
Helmsley-based Susan Johnson who
started her business from her kitchen
table, used her entrepreneurial skills to
launch her online lingerie and women’s
clothing company, Bella di Notte. Selling
premium lingerie labels and filling a gap
in the market with her exclusive thermal
garments made from natural fibres, she
now turns over £2 million a year.
Local entrepreneur Simon Long set up
smoothie and healthy-eating business Xing
in 2008. The busy food outlet is located in
popular visitor destination, The Shambles,
in York. Simon also shares his raw food
ethos by providing training for schools to
set up their own smoothie bars.
Lecturer awarded
Signature’s
National Teacher
of the Year
Ashley Mason was the 2011 York Press
Awards Young Entrepreneur of the Year
winner, recognising his achievements
in setting up the successful YorMed
Ambulance Service. Launched when he
was just 17, Ashley’s service now provides
independent ambulance and medical
services to the NHS, local authorities and
festival and event organisers.
Amanda Smith, programme leader for
British Sign Language (BSL) and Senior
Lecturer in the Business School at York
St John University, was named National
Teacher of the Year 2012 in the Signature
annual awards for her supportive, nurturing
and “inspirational” approach. Her
achievements in enhancing deaf awareness
amongst staff and students include setting
up a new campus Sign Café where students
can practice their BSL skills.
Business
Support
Support for start-up businesses is crucial
for our economy both here in Britain and
overseas. York St John’s Business School
does this through its successful Acorns
Programme and Enterprise Days, which
give individuals a head start and ongoing
guidance.
To find out more about Enterprise
Days or the Acorn programme e-mail
business.school@yorksj.ac.uk
Enterprise Day 2012 keynote speakers
(left to right) Ashley Mason, Simon Long, Michael
Jacobsen and Susan Johnson.
Amanda’s award recognises her
“inspirational” approach
BUSINESS SCHOOL NEWS
25
Arts graduate takes advantage of
Business School’s ACORNS programme
When David Turner applied for the ACORNS SPARK
Enterprise Scholarship towards the end of his BA (Hons)
degree in Design Practice in 2011, he was made aware
of the Business School’s ACORNS programme.
‘My approach was successful and I was
accepted on to the week-long intensive
ACORNS course’, David comments.
also their vast wealth of contacts, personal
experience and specialist knowledge of the
field they each work in.
’At the time I had no business acumen
whatsoever but I wanted to expand
my knowledge in this area. I remember
thinking that it was going to be a long
‘boring’ week of lectures, but I couldn’t
have been more wrong. Not only was
ACORNS an intensive week of learning, it
was fun and inspiring. Without the ACORNS
experience I wouldn’t be where I am today,
it gave me the foundation to start my
business, I still refer to my notes regularly!’
Aside from developing his ACORNS project
through his design company, Scruffy
Dog Design, David now creates seasonal
bespoke pumpkin carvings. He explains,
‘This unusual business project came about
last Hallowe’en when I realised I could
sell my pumpkin carvings. Within a
week of setting up a York Pumpkins
Facebook and Twitter page I had
orders coming in.
Just after completing the ACORNS course
David won the 2011 ACORNS SPARK
Scholarship for Enterprise, to support the
launch of his third-year project product
design. ‘My idea was the redesign of a new
asthma inhaler that was slender enough to
fit easily in to a pocket therefore making
it less of a burden to carry round. It was
also designed to more easily administer
dosages and vastly improved hand and
dosage coordination.’
Along with the £1,500 funding, David
gained the knowledge, experience and
expertise of three entrepreneurs who had
themselves been through the ACORNS
course. ‘They have guided and supported
me along my journey into the business
world. During the scholarship I met up with
them both as a group and individually to
collaborate on my next steps and action
plans for the future. It hasn’t just been their
wisdom that has helped my direction, but
‘The project received a huge boost
after I exhibited my carvings at the
York Maze attraction. Three weeks
later BBC TV’s Look North and the
BBC’s The One Show were battling
it out to get my pumpkins on their
Hallowe’en specials. I ended up going
down to London with a van full of
pumpkins to carve special guest Lenny
Henry’s face into a pumpkin live on air. I
plan to completely rebrand and grow this
business ready for Hallowe’en 2012 and
return to the BBC with a
new proposition.’
You can find out more about
David’s asthma inhaler at
scruffydogdesign.co.uk
26
FACULTY OF ARTS NEWS
Clean sweep for student
films at Royal Television
Society awards
Factual category award-winners for the
film Andrea (left to right): Katy Yates,
James Copson and Sian Powell.
York St John Film & Television Production
students won five prestigious awards at
the Yorkshire Royal Television Society (RTS)
Student Awards at a special ceremony held
at York Racecourse on 20 March 2012.
York St John links up with
Brontë heritage project
English Literature at York St John University
has developed a unique relationship with
two iconic Brontë heritage sites in West
Yorkshire, as part of ‘Working with Words’:
a university module designed to develop
employability skills in the Arts. The scheme
involves second year undergraduates
contributing to the awareness and
fundraising programmes for Haworth Parish
Church and the Old School Room, which
both play central roles in the legacy of the
Brontes.
Using entrepreneurial skills, students
devise creative projects to integrate
into the financial plans to save the two
historic buildings in Haworth. In 2012, six
volunteer students raised £644 through
a variety of fundraising activities, both on
campus and in the village of Haworth.
Module Director Professor Gweno
Williams believes the module adds real
value to the course, ‘It is very important
for Arts and Humanities students to
explore and develop skills relevant to
future employment – this is a fantastic
opportunity to do so, as well as directly
helping to sustain Yorkshire’s literary
heritage.’
Graduate
arts showcase
highlights
creativity
‘Designing and
making a product
that may only
help one person,
is the satisfaction
that spurs me to
keep designing.’
Natasha Dunkley
The awards, judged by a panel of industry
professionals, included a clean sweep for
student teams from York St John University
in the factual sections, and runners-up
prizes in the fiction and entertainment
sections.
Life in the Debtors’ Prison student project
The students have made a film based
on the research they carried out for the
project, which included being locked in
the gaol for 24 hours to get a better idea
of what life would have been like for its
unfortunate prisoners. Their film will form
part of the permanent exhibition in the
Debtors’ Prison at York Castle Museum. A
preview of the film was shown at Create
2012 and the students were on hand to
talk about their research.
27
The many talents of graduating Faculty of
Arts’ students from York St John was on
display between May and June this year on
campus and at select venues across the
city. Held annually, to showcase students’
work, the Create festival includes music,
theatre and dance performances; fine art
and product design exhibitions; and film
and television screenings.
One of the success stories highlighted in
2012 was the BA (Hons) Product Design
course where a number of students
have progressed to further employment
opportunities within the design sector.
High calibre students over the past years
have moved on to work with leading
companies such as the BBC, Mothercare,
Priestman Goode, Nike and many more.
Recently, both Holly Orton and Danny
Dugdale have wowed industry officials.
Danny has secured a first full-time design
job at ‘Event Prop Hire’ who offered him
a senior position because they were so
impressed with his presentation. At Create,
Danny showcased a rocking chair he had
created to his own design – a project
based around people’s personal space to
relax utilising a modern design for a cradle.
It took three months to design and just one
week to put together the prototype.
Holly Orton is currently working as a Visual
Designer for H&A Marketing. Her role is
to design packaging, create visuals and
mock-ups of the products. Her first project
is a range of licensed gift sets for the
brand “Juicy Lucy”, which hit Sainsbury’s
supermarket shelves in September.
Helping to sustain Yorkshire’s literary heritage
Bringing to life the story of the former
Debtors’ Prison in York, second year History
and Joint Honours students at York St John
have engaged in a collaborative project
with media professionals and curators
from York Museums Trust. The prison was
once home to debtors from the region,
who were imprisoned for failing to pay
their bills. The prison also housed some of
Yorkshire’s most notorious criminals.
FACULTY OF ARTS NEWS
Natasha aims to make a positive
difference with her wheelchair design
Natasha Dunkley took her product to the
prestigious New Designers show, regarded
as the UK’s most important graduate
exhibition.
‘The inspiration for my product started
with having a passion to make a difference
to someone’s life, being able to change an
everyday experience for someone who has
a disability or illness. Designing and making
a product that may only help one person,
is the satisfaction that spurs me to keep
designing. My aim is to keep designing
products that make a difference and have
a purpose’.
The product Natasha featured at New
Designers 2012 is a wheelchair back
support system that helps to improve
posture, and generally give more support
to the lumbar region of the back. Natasha
explains, ‘The main audience for the
wheelchair is people with existing back
conditions and paraplegia. However I
believe it would benefit both long and
short-term users as the aim of this product
is to benefit any wheelchair user from
sustaining further injuries to existing
problems or conditions’.
After initial successful feedback there are
plans to develop Natasha’s product further
in the near future.
York St John students bring history to life
Danny with his rocking chair prototype
28
FACULTY OF EDUCATION & THEOLOGY NEWS
Refugee group learns new skills
in community outreach project
The Refugee group on campus with the
Vice Chancellor and Katie Simpson
A refugee group from Iraq have successfully
completed a course on ‘Managing
Behaviour’ as part of a community
outreach project delivered by York St John
University. A special ceremony was held
at the University on 12 April 2012 with
Vice Chancellor Professor David Fleming,
to award participants with completion
certificates. The two-day course saw 13
men and women, from the Hull Gateway
Protection Programme, develop their
understanding of different approaches to
discipline and receive guidelines on how
to respond to poor discipline and reward
good behaviour in children and young
people.
The refugees, who had fled to Syria
to escape conflict, were subsequently
resettled in the UK in November 2011 as
a result of an application by the United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees,
who deemed them to be at risk of
imprisonment, torture and death.
The Gateway Protection Programme is a
programme set up by the UK Government
and the United Nations High Commission
for Refugees, aiming to identify some of
the world’s most vulnerable refugees in
order to resettle them in the UK where
they can rebuild their lives in safety. Hull
is the second location in the Yorkshire and
Humberside region to offer protection to
resettled refugees. The 2012 course builds
on earlier work by the Faculty, who have
previously delivered ‘Is Higher Education
For Me?’ to a group of Gateway refugees
from the Democratic Republic of Congo
who were resettled in Hull.
Managing Behaviour was delivered by
Katie Simpson, Deputy Head of External
Relationships in the Faculty of Education
& Theology. She says: ‘Community
outreach work is of central importance
to the University, reflecting its aim to
be inclusive and accessible by engaging
with under-represented groups in the
student population. The course was a
great success, with all participants gaining
vital skills to put into practice in their care
of children. It also raised aspirations for
many present to continue with further
educational opportunities.’
Thoughtful
and creative
Religious
Education
In January 2012 York St John was
host to the NATRE PGCE Secondary
RE Conference for ITT providers in the
North of England. NATRE is the National
Association of Teachers of Religious
Education. The day was led by Lat
Blaylock and Stephen Pett, staff members
of RE Today Services, a major provider
of support and resources for teachers
of Religious Education. Both Lat and
Stephen share extensive experience as
developers and writers of resources for
the field and as leaders of professional
development courses.
Lat Blaylock expands, ‘As well as
meeting with other trainees and
sharing experiences, the conference
was a chance for trainees and mentors
to engage with the promotion of the
Religious Education agenda, discuss what
is going on now in classrooms and to be
inspired as to where we as a community
want to take our subject in the future.
The conference made the concept of
being part of a ‘community of practice’
a very real experience, and the benefit
of gathering in such a forum is not to be
underestimated.’
Lat Blaylock, staff trainer from RE
Today Services shares thoughts with
NATRE conference delegates
The 2012–13 Ebor
Lecture Series
The York St John Ebor Lectures aim
to promote public conversation and
dialogue between a range of religious
communities on wider issues and to
contribute to the formation of personal
decisions and collective policy-making
in economic, political and social
spheres. This series of lectures is also an
ecumenical project encouraging the
exchange of insights between academic
and religious traditions and the building
of bridges between church and other
religious groups. Public concerns
related to through faith, include politics,
economics, contemporary culture,
religion and spirituality, society and
globalisation, and local and global
Christianity.
The 2012–13 Ebor Series will look at
The State of Religion? Establishment,
Tolerance and Civic Society.
In 313 AD a letter between the
Emperors Constantine and Licinius
officially promulgated the toleration
of Christianity in the Roman Empire.
The Ebor Lectures for 2012–13 mark
the 1700th anniversary of the Edict of
Milan by asking a number of questions
about the state of religion in the United
Kingdom today. In particular, the
lectures will focus upon the role
of religion in civic society; the
contemporary relevance of an
established Church; the rise of ‘new
atheism’ and its implications for the role
of religion; and the nature of toleration
in a diverse, religiously plural context.
Information on the new series
can be found at www.yorksj.ac.uk/
eborlectures
FACULTY OF EDUCATION & THEOLOGY NEWS
29
Supporting the
development of
the Kenya Alumni
Society
The Kenya Alumni Society
continues to meet in Nairobi
and brings together past,
present and future students of
York St John and those working
in universities where Head
of Continuing Professional
Development, Mike Calvert
has been involved in staff
development work.
Since 2007, the Faculty has worked with
10 universities and over 300 staff in Kenya.
Mike Calvert said ‘We are proud to
report that there are a growing number
of Kenyan students coming to York St
John and adding greatly to the life of
the university through their cultural
engagement, volunteering and support for
our fundraising’.
A parallel group to the local Kenyan
community has been meeting in York,
supported by the University Chaplain,
Lukas Njenga, himself from Kenya and
Gurdeep and Darminder Chadha who have
strong family connections in Nairobi.
30
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
31
T-shirts for sandals
Tsunami project
Ian Tan with Vice Chancellor Professor David Fleming at the opening
of the Beijing office
Two regional offices
opened overseas
York St John University has recently opened two regional
international offices in Beijing and Kuala Lumpur.
The offices will support the recruitment of prospective
international students and marketing of York St John in Eastern
Asia, and supports its rapidly expanding internationalisation
agenda.
Vice Chancellor Professor David Fleming commented, ‘The
opening of these offices celebrates the achievements the
University has made so far in this dynamic region and also the
exciting plans for development we have for the future’.
Pakistan Alumni
Association launched Tomoko (far right) during Tokyo’s Cherry
Blossom Festival
The YSJ Pakistan Alumni Association was launched at York
St John University on 5 July. In conjunction with the Alumni
Development Office, Coordinator Israr Asam (MBA, 2011)
organised a dodgeball competition where Pakistan students
and alumni competed against University staff. Last year Israr
was part of the victorious cricket team that took on the Sri
Lankan Alumni Association and afterwards declared that he
wished to form a similar association. He said “The Pakistan Alumni Association will welcome
and support new international students to the University,
provide networking opportunities post-graduation and
support recruitment to York St John in the future.” Sandals from t-shirts
The Association was formally launched by Pro Vice
Chancellor (Development), Sue Reece after the dodgeball
games were concluded.
Former postgraduate students hold
South Asian dance performance
Guests were treated to an
incredible South Asian dance
performance in April 2012
to celebrate the University’s
black and ethnic minority (BME)
widening participation project
work. The team of dancers was
trained by former postgraduate
students, husband and wife
team, Winojith Sanjeewa and
Indu Meddegama.
Pauline, Yukiko and Brett launching
the project
Former postgraduate students
hold South Asian dance
performance.
The seaside village of Takashirahama was
completely destroyed by the massive
Tsunami that hit Japan in March 2011.
All houses except one storehouse were
washed away by the natural disaster.
Coming together to look at how they
could rebuild their lives and livelihoods,
the community decided to embark on
a fundraising project making sandals out
of unwanted t-shirts.
The successful project, sees residents
getting together in the assembly hall
every day to apply all their energies to the
making of the sandals – whilst smiling and
laughing! It takes one whole day to finish
one pair of handmade sandals but each
maker receives money if their own work
is sold.
Japanese alumna, Tomoko Aonuma
(Postgraduate International Studies), has
been supporting this project as a volunteer
and has been working hard to promote
it globally. Tomoko has even taken the
project to Iceland where she appeared on
national television.
Tomoko said ‘I thought and thought about
what I could do for the people affected by
that huge earthquake and tsunami. And
I reached the conclusion that I should go
and see the stricken areas to know what I
could do. What I saw at Takashirahama was
… the whole town reduced to rubble …’
Alumni Development Manager, Brett Arnall,
Alumni Officer, Pauline Milner and Japanese
Education Studies student Yukiko Wada
worked together to support this incredible
project, and collected 600 t-shirts to send
to Japan.
32
WHITE ROSE
News from Association
Branches
York Branch
Association President 2011–12,
Amanda Lenney
Newcastle Branch
In March 2012, 15 members of the
Newcastle Branch met at St Nicholas
Cathedral to start their meeting with a
celebration of the Eucharist. After the
group enjoyed the usual excellent buffet
lunch, the Dean of St Nicholas addressed
the gathering, followed by updates from
John Maw and Association President
Amanda Lenney. The next Branch meeting
will take place on 6 October, 2012.
Member events during the last year have
included a return visit to Newburgh Priory,
attending The Sound of Music by the
York Light Opera Company, a visit to York
Minster to see the exquisite work achieved
by the broderers and a Christmas dinner
at the Churchill Hotel in Bootham. Guests
included Amanda Lenney, former Vice
Chancellor, Professor Dianne Willcocks and
Brett Arnall who also brought along two of
York St John’s international SPARK scholars,
Yukiko Wada (Japan) and Christine Kabelle
(Kenya). The Branch AGM took place in
March 2012 in the refectory of York St
John.
33
The Limes hall of residence –
now Limes Court
A student residence at The Limes was introduced in 1948
when York St John acquired the detached Regency Grade
II listed building, built circa 1835 and standing in grounds
of about half an acre.
Manchester and
North West Branch
The Annual General Meeting took
place on the 3 September, 2011 at
Chetham’s School of Music. Speakers
included President Amanda Lenney who
recalled her time at St John’s College
and developments in her current role as
President of the Association. John Maw and
Brett Arnall also gave their updates. The
afternoon ended with a delicious buffet
prepared by Kath Parkinson, with support
from husband Stan. Having announced his
retirement as branch Secretary, we would
like to congratulate Stan and thank him for
the enthusiastic and efficient approach he
has always demonstrated.
WHITE ROSE
2012: Limes Court hall of residence today
Congratulations and thanks to Stan and Kath
Hartlepool Branch
The 2011 Annual Reunion took place
at the Oakroyd Hotel in Hartlepool. Our
small group was joined by Graham Gibbs
(Association President, 2010–11) who
spoke of his year in office attending two
degree ceremonies, the Association
Lecture and visits to different Branches.
He concluded with recollections of his
teaching career. SPARK scholarship student
Susan Njogu also attended and spoke of
her experience of studying at York St John.
Maureen Chapman, Branch President,
reflected on an enjoyable day, rounded up
as always with tea and good conversation.
1970s: Student barbeque at The Limes
Southern Branch
Events in the last year have included a visit
to Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s steam ship,
the SS Great Britain, launched in Bristol in
1843, abandoned in the Falkland Islands
in 1937, raised from the sea bed in 1970
and then brought home to Bristol. The
branches 51st AGM and lunch took place
at Little Sicily in London’s Piccadilly during
which Elizabeth Henderson (York 1966–9)
was installed as the new branch President.
Thanks go to all branch members for their
continued involvement and in particular
to all those who have organised these
enjoyable events.
Conveniently located in
Heworth, it was located
within three-quarters of a
mile from the campus on
Lord Mayor’s Walk.
It didn’t take long for the College to decide
to increase the potential of the site as
a hall of residence, and in 1953 a new
building was erected behind the house
and officially opened by Sir Harry Hylton
Foster, Speaker of the House of Commons.
Facilities included a dining room and
kitchen, two large common rooms and
study bedrooms for 40 students. The first
warden to be appointed was member of
staff Jim Shields who, with his wife Marion
and two children, moved from a similar
position at Heworth Croft. In 1959 a
second floor was added increasing the
accommodation capacity to 59.
John Maw, York St John’s volunteer
archivist, picks up the story, ‘Subsequent to
the sad death of Jim Shields late in 1977
I was appointed as Resident Tutor and
then moved to The Limes house with my
wife Evelyn and three daughters in January
1979. For the following thirteen years we
aimed to be members of the community
giving friendship and support to the
student residents. The hostel was run by its
1980s: The Limes
own elected committee in the knowledge
that help and support were at hand both
night or day.’
Development of the Limes Hostel
continued in May 1999 when 14 houses
were built on the land around the old
building. This accommodation was ready
for occupation by September of the same
year with the provision of a further 17
houses. Renamed Limes Court, the single
study self-catering apartments, each with
a communal kitchen and bathroom, were
offered to students at the rate of £654 per
term plus utilities.
The feeling of community continued to be
a feature of life at Limes Court, despite its
expansion. As John comments, ‘A meeting
held in 2002 with five of the students who
had lived there, left one in no doubt that
the feelings of togetherness enjoyed in the
former hostel had been retained through
its history as a residence.’
The Limes House has had two private
owners since its sale at the turn of the
century, and was recently offered for sale
at £795,000.
John Maw is calling on former
Limes Residents to contact him on:
j.maw@yorksj.ac.uk
34
WHITE ROSE
Association Project Fund
The Association Project Fund has been providing financial
support to our students for 29 years since it was established
by the Management Committee of the Association in 1983
following a £250 donation.
The challenge and
hardship of battling
against weather,
difficult terrain and
altitude taught me
about the limits of
the body and the
power of the mind.
Making a difference overseas
More recently up to £3,000 a year has
supported students undertaking a variety
of projects, including qualifications in the
fields of sport and music, working with
disabled and disadvantaged children and
adults, both at home and overseas, sports
representation up to international level,
and in a variety of other ways.
In addition, the Management Committee
has also provided finance towards a
number of College/University projects
including the purchase of a long case clock
and mace, the Vice Chancellor’s Initiative
and more recently £1,000 towards setting
up a Heritage Room.
One student to benefit from the fund’s
support this academic year was PhD
Psychology student Lizzie Freeman. In
November last year she embarked on a
challenging journey to the Khumbu region
of Eastern Nepal, home to one of the most
impressive and highest mountain ranges
in the world. The month long expedition
was a research venture led by PhD student,
Amanda Siems of Leeds Metropolitan
University, involving 32 other team
members, including three doctors and four
leaders. The research team studied the
All team members trekked to and climbed
Mera Peak (6,476m) and 14 members
climbed Baruntse (7,120m).
‘I had a number of roles during the
expedition’, Lizzie explains, ‘I worked
closely with the expedition leaders to
monitor group dynamics and general
wellbeing and was often responsible for
leading small, novice groups across difficult
terrain. As a fellow researcher, I provided
advice on method and implementation
of the testing involved in the research,
and collaborated with another of the
expedition leaders, a lecturer at Leeds
Metropolitan University who was
conducting a qualitative inquiry into
the impact of Western mountaineering
expeditions on the local community.
The venture also gave me a valuable
opportunity to process and consider my
own research, which examines peoples’
experiences and their meaning-making of
“wild places”.
‘The challenge and hardship of battling
against weather, difficult terrain and
altitude taught me about the limits of
the body and power of the mind, and
how important it is to keep a positive
mental attitude during challenging and
uncomfortable experiences of any kind.
Self-awareness, rationality, and sapience
are all necessary to living and journeying in
places as “wild” as the Himalayas.’
35
Memories of life
at St John’s College
Alumnus, Theo Relph (York 1942–5) is compiling a set
of notes that will form the basis of a book, Student Life
at St John’s College.
Theo writes:
John Beastall, Theo and Michael Williamson
at the 2012 reunion, 70 years since their
arrival at St John’s College.
‘These historical notes are concerned with
what we know as St John’s College, York
– the old College, so dear to the hearts of
many generations of its former students
which has now graduated to become York
St John University.
‘In 1841 the York College and Middle
School opened. Only male students
attended the institution until the 1960s.
Except from my own humble contribution
to these notes all the information that
I have collected is second hand and is
reproduced in good faith from the pages of
the White Rose and other sources, notably
the Calendar of 1931. The history in the
Calendar is not signed and appears to have
come from various sources.
Lizzie researching ‘wild places’
usefulness of intermittent hypoxia training
as a pre-acclimatisation strategy for
mountaineers, by comparing its effects on
the body’s responses to high altitude, both
during rest and exercise.
WHITE ROSE
In the “good old days”
each year group was
sufficiently small that
we all knew each
other…
‘Over the 170 years of its existence a
whole web of tradition, some good and
some bad, has been woven by generations
of Old Yorkists or Old Johnsmen around our
College. It would seem appropriate that
what remains of this should be recorded as
it can no longer be handed on as it used
to be.
‘Student life in the early twenty-first
century bears little or no comparison with
that of the mid–nineteenth! In the “good
old days” each year group was sufficiently
small that we all knew each other and
could all meet in one large study and the
whole student body could get together
in Hall. This is not possible with several
thousand students living in scattered
accommodation.
‘As I have considered the material available
from my notes it has seemed sensible to
divide them like “Caesar’s Gaul” into three
parts of fifty odd years each, the first being
the latter part of the nineteenth century.’
A typical entry from Mr S Mills who arrived
at the College in 1875 reads:
‘I entered the College on 8 February,
1875, the Scholarship Examination being
in December. A few, including myself,
reached the College before dinner; but the
greater number arrived in the afternoon
and the Junior Students were present at
the tea, at 6.00pm. At 7.00pm we went
to the study and the monitors read the
various rules and gave us a list of the books
we should require. The Seniors came in to
sell the books they required and the time
passed pleasantly. Prayers in the Organ
Room at 9.30pm. and then we went to
our bedrooms. The Seniors then began to
play their jokes. A knock at the door and
we were asked to put out our boots if we
wanted them cleaning. Most of us did so.
The next morning we were knocked up
at 6.30am by the weekly monitor. We
looked for our boots and found them – not
cleaned, but whitewashed and suspended
from the ceiling of the Organ Room. The
Seniors evidently had worked hard. It was
later in the day before all the Juniors were
able to get their proper pair. They certainly
had been well mixed-up.’
36
WHITE ROSE
Heritage Room appeal at
Lord Mayor’s Walk
WHITE ROSE
37
Memories of Ripon Training
College at Lord Mayor’s Walk
George Herbert Window
Bell Tower
St Margaret mosaic
One of several windows put into storage
with the closure of the Ripon Campus. Now
installed in the seminar room at the Faculty
of Arts which operates in the former 1851
Chapel at Lord Mayor’s Walk.
Initially associated with the 1963 Chapel
at Ripon the structure now stands at the
west end of the Chapel at York. The new
bell was donated by the Association of the
Colleges.
The mosaic donated by the family of Ripon
Principal Miss Lett is now reinstalled in the
Chapel at York.
John mentored Katie this year
Ceramic
Memorabilia draws a crowd at Foundation Day 2012
The very successful Archives Road Show in
June 2009, organised by John Maw and
the Alumni Development Office, generated
a great response from alumni bringing in
memorabilia from their time as students
at Ripon or York. Following this, they
were able to discuss, copy or accept the
donation of a range of materials to extend
and enhance the collection for display at
reunions and on Foundation Day.
Work is now well underway to prepare the
archives for display in the room. Third-year
BA student, Katie Callaghan, volunteered
her creative talents to help us with this
work and has worked with John Maw for
a day a week throughout the academic
year capturing and archiving much of the
history into labeled files. Katie hopes to
find work in some aspect of history when
she graduates.
If you have any albums, collections or
individual photographs to donate, please
bring these in, with the possible date
or year.
After much discussion regarding the
possibility of a York St John University
Heritage Room the idea became a reality
in 2011 when it was agreed that planning
should go ahead. The room chosen is in
the Quad and would be known by many
former staff and students as Professional
Studies 2, and by those at St John’s College
before the 1960s, the Senior Common
Room. A careful plan has been drawn up
incorporating the equipment that will
enable the preservation and display of the
various archives.
‘We are delighted to have a growing
collection of clothing such as blazers, ties,
scarves and sports shirts through the ages.
Alumni Development Office
York St John University
Lord Mayor’s Walk
York YO31 7EX
‘We have also received badges, trophies,
pamphlets, programmes, examination
papers and any letters appropriate to Ripon
and York.’
The archives team are extremely grateful
to everyone who has already made
donations to showcase life at York St John
through its history, and are appealing for
more items for the archive.
One of the many ceramics produced by
Victor Priem, artist and former member of
the Ripon staff, which were on display at
Ripon. Now to be found in the Chapel at
York.
Ripon and York St John blazers
Media such as recordings on tape, vinyl
records, CDs, DVDs, images can also be
donated.
Contact the Alumni Development Office
team to discuss your archives.
T: alumni@yorksj.ac.uk
E: 01904 876432
Christ the Teacher Window
Originally installed in the 1963 Chapel at
Ripon following donations being made by
former students. It can now be viewed high
in the east-facing wall of New Wing.
Metamorphosis Constructed in 1975 by
Ripon student Margaret Flanagan (Wright).
The structure was moved to York after the
closure of Ripon in 2002 to be re-erected
at the rear of the Chapel.
Mosaic from 1899
Ripon Chapel
One of two mosaics that featured at the
East end of the 1899 Chapel at Ripon.
Now installed in the St. Margaret’s Transept
of the Chapel at York.
Willis organ
The organ which was installed in the 1899
Chapel at Ripon was constructed specially
for female voices. It was moved to the new
Chapel in 1963 before coming to York
following the closure of the Ripon Campus.
The above artefacts all feature in the
Heritage Trail at York. If you would like to
take a conducted tour of the Trail, please
contact Brett Arnall, Alumni Development
Manager on 01904 876432.
38
WHITE ROSE
Class notes
WHITE ROSE
39
Class notes
Colin Sanctuary
Joseph Mann
Marian Mantovani
Lorna Dunsire
Helen Cox
MA Literature Studies
2007
Film & TV Production
2009
After working with Durham County
Cricket Club; York City Knights Rugby
League; Wakefield Trinity Wildcats; as
well as lecturing at York St John, the
opportunity came for Colin to work for
Australian Newcastle Knights Rugby
League team in May 2011.
Before coming to York St John Joseph
had aspirations to play professional ice
hockey after playing for the Bradford
Bulldogs in the English National Ice
Hockey League. He then focussed on
education and secured a Strength
and Conditioning internship with the
Bradford Bulls Rugby League Team.
Since graduating Marian has done a
lot of travelling, achieved her MFA in
Directing, directed various theatrical
productions and spent the past five
years in America. She has also battled
a serious health issue, but has still
achieved various ambitions.
Lorna currently works for the Leeds
Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.
In January she was awarded the
Professional of the Year Award from the
Bradford Mental Health Employment
Partnership.
Helen single-handedly launched
New Empress – an independent film
magazine that has been stocked by the
British Film Institute in London. She has
written for numerous magazines, TV
and radio programmes and websites
including The Guardian.
After graduating, Steve was part
of a team that won a short film
competition. He is now Director and
Creative Partner at Trespasser Films.
The company have made several
short films and have been working on
their first micro-budget feature film –
Nothing Man.
Lili Jenkins
Jim Tomlinson
Alison Lock
Ashley Harrison
Meg Cassamally
Alison Ormerod
Lili is working for Independent Talent
Group, Europe’s largest talent agency.
She recently worked as a casting
assistant on Oscar-nominated film
Pentecost, a low budget film set in
Ireland in the 1970s.
Since graduating, Jim has worked in
further education and as Assistant
Headteacher at Whitby Community
College. After working on various
European Projects he created ‘Embrace
England Language Holidays’ in 2009,
bringing foreign students to study in
England (including to York St John).
Alison was named as a winner in the
2010 Indigo Dreams Poetry Collection
Competition. Her poetry has won
various prizes, commendations and
honourable mentions in numerous
competitions including the Nottingham
Open Poetry Competition and in
categories of The New Writer 2010
Prose and Poetry Prize.
Ashley is the drummer for local rock
band ‘Believe in F.A.T.E.’ They have had
a very successful two years playing
regularly around York. In 2011 they
entered the national music competition
Live and Unsigned and reached the
finals, which were held at the 02 arena
in Greenwich, London.
Since leaving Ripon Meg has taught
English and run a language school in
Japan. After various travels she ended
up lecturing in English language at the
University of Siena, in Italy, where she
has been since 2000. This year Meg
took part in the London Marathon
raising money for the Refugee Council.
Since graduating from York St John,
Alison has remained in an academic
setting and is currently Fellow and
Registrar of Lucy Cavendish College,
Cambridge.
PhD Sport/Physical Education
2007
Film & TV Production
2009
Sport Performance
Conditioning, 2012
Human Movement & Drama
Film and TV, 1989
Please visit www.yorksj.ac.uk/alumni to read the full profiles
Theatre, Film & TV
2003
MA Literature Studies
2010
Occupational Therapy
2009
Performance Music, 2008;
MA Performance, 2012
French (Ripon)
1994
Steve Gallacher
Music with English
1994
Find us on facebook at www.facebook,com/ysjalumnisociety
Follow us on twitter @ysjalumni
Alumni Development Office
T: 01904 876741
E: alumni@yorksj.ac.uk
Careers & Employability
T: 01904 876711
E: careers@yorksj.ac.uk
Students’ Union
T: 01904 629816
E: SU@yorksj.ac.uk
York St John University, Lord Mayor’s Walk, York, YO31 7EX | www.yorksj.ac.uk | T: 01904 624624