in touch spring 2012
DESCRIPTION
King's and the GamesTRANSCRIPT
SPRING 2012
GUY’S CARDIAC PIONEERSTHE CITY WE LOVETIME FOR TEA AND CRICKET
KING’S AND THE GAMES
SPRING 2012
GUY’S CARDIACPIONEERSTHE CITY WE LOVE ETIME FOR TEAAND CRICKET
2
It was Archbishop Trevor Huddleston CR who bought future jazz great Hugh Masekela
dedicated to serving others: Masekela’s
in London he discovered the delight of being addressed as ‘sir’ by white
by Huddleston’s gesture of tipping his
his children grew up as he served in
Understandably he was hesitant about returning to the unjust
encouraged by
loss was the
South African Council of Churches and Bishop of Lesotho and of
Eventually the Archbishop
will continue to serve the world as
senior global leaders that includes
In the service of society
Canterbury in Cape Town for Archbishop Tutu’s birthday
of ‘the Arch’ on his own life for quiet
This spirituality is the unseen heartbeat behind all that Archbishop
everyone is an equally beloved child of
for a birthday dinner in his honour
day begins with his celebrating the
for joy and peace with his beloved wife
The Revd Professor Richard A BurridgeDean of King’s College London
King’s loss was the world’s gain
ContentsPage 4
Time for tea and cricketArchbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu FKC Theology, BD, 1965; MTh, 1966
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Her Majesty The Queen, Patron of the College, visited the Strand Campus in February to celebrate the renovation of Somerset House East Wing. Accompanied by the Marquess of Douro, Chairman of King’s College Council, The Queen toured the Inigo Rooms, watched law students participating in a moot court session
and unveiled a plaque to formally open the building. The Principal, Professor Sir Richard Trainor, escorted His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh through the East Wing, including a visit to the School of Law.
Moving into Somerset House East
members of the King’s community
since the College was founded
King George IV, and the First Duke of Wellington, great-great-great-grandfather of Lord Douro. The renovated building will be open for tours during Alumni Weekend, 8-10 June. For more information, visit alumni.kc.ac.uk/alumniweekend
KING’S WELCOMES THE QUEEN
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Into the darknessForesight
The Concordia Research Station in summer: anyone for tennis?
STAYING IN TOUCHTo keep up with Dr Kumar’s stay at Concordia Station or to contact him by email, visit www.alexanderkumar.com, or follow his blog on the European Space Agency website, www.esa.int/concordia
Update
4 IN TOUCH SPRING 2012 SPRING 2012 IN TOUCH 5
How prepared are we in the West
In The World is Flat,New York
Times
Shenzhen Daily
forces within these fast-growing nations and how
answers campaign in part to fund three institutes focusing
IN TOUCH
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EditorJames BressorAssistant EditorChristian SmithEditorial AssistantAmanda CalberryContributorsLouise Bell, James Bressor, Megan Bruns, Amanda Calberry, Ellie Cook, Alexa Hawkins-Bell, Lucy Jolin, Christine Kenyon Jones, KCLSU, King’s Public Relations, Shona McIntosh, Christian Smith, Amy Webb
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© King’s College London 2012
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The College will publish the next issue of In Touch
When he arrived at the Concordia
with temperatures
the remote
departed in
spend eight months in
months of
to this opportunity in part by his
has over-wintered on Antarctica
He emphasises that conditions
is spending his third winter at the
station with a tennis net and two
It’s one of the most pristine, untouched environments
02THE BIG PICTUREHer MajestyThe Queen visits
04UPDATEMonths of darkness,a new Choir CD,Ron Wilson Q&A
12CAMPAIGN UPDATELau China Institute,Think Tank Society
16KING’S AND THE GAMES
to London
22NO HEALTH WITHOUTMENTAL HEALTHKing’s takes on aneglected challenge
26ADVOCATE FORTHE COUNTRYSIDEGuiding growthto the right place
28GUY’S CARDIACPIONEERSTheir work has saved thousands of lives
34COMMUNITYCelebrate Londonat Alumni Weekend
49LOGIC PUZZLEYou saw the movie;now solve the puzzle
50LETTERSRememberingMaurice Wilkins
52LONDON & ME
Our new institutes provide insights into 21st century world powers
From the Principal
JUST INIn late March, as In Touch was going to press, philanthropist
Dickson Poon made a historic gift to the School of Law. Learn how his generosity is transforming
the School and helping law students in the autumn issue
of In Touch.
Redevelopment of Honor Oak Park to wrap up in December
New pavilion on the way
Ethical leadership is not a luxury
For more info,
prospectus
01CONNECTHappy people have stronger social relationships. You’re doing yourself a big favour when you invest a little time in friends, family and colleagues. This can range from developing deep personal friendships to taking a few moments to
security guard.
02BE ACTIVEThere is clear evidence showing that physical activity reduces depression and anxiety. This doesn’t mean you need to become a marathon runner. Walk to that meeting half a mile away rather than take the bus; take the stairs instead of the lift.
03TAKE NOTICE
way, be curious. As we walk past the same buildings and
the same Tube stations each day, it’s easy to forget that there is beauty all around us. Take a few moments on your commute to look at the
passing by.
04KEEP LEARNINGYou’ve heard this before: learning to speak a foreign language or play a musical instrument does wonders for your brain. Helpful learning of this sort also includes less time-consuming activities, such as exploring a new way of cooking or mastering new software.
05GIVEThis doesn’t necessarily mean giving money, although donating to your alma mater or a favourite charity will probably boost your spirits. It also means giving positive feedback, expressing your appreciation and even holding a door for someone.
Update
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Researchers at King’s College London, together with clinicians from Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, have developed a rapid method to simultaneously screen patients for a range of genetic and acquired clinical conditions from a single dried blood spot.
The test uses a technique known as mass spectrometry to analyse proteins, enzymes and metabolites in the blood without the need for the large liquid blood samples currently used. This is less invasive for patients and the costs and biohazards associated with sample transport, processing and storage are minimised. The test has been used to screen for inherited metabolic and sickle cell disease in newborn babies and can now be used in the early detection and monitoring of chronic health problems, including kidney and heart disease and diabetes.
Diagnostics Ltd to provide analytical services and technical support that will
this screening.
Department of Social Science, Health & Medicine launchedKing’s has established a Department of Social Science, Health & Medicine with the arrival of the Head of Department, Nikolas Rose, Professor of Sociology.
The new department, located in the School of Social Science & Public Policy,
to health and medicine, with innovative research and research-led teaching – at undergraduate and postgraduate
input into global health policy.Teaching on the master’s
programmes will begin
cohort for the undergraduate programme will be recruited in 2013, together with students for two further master’s
Boost your mental healthKing’s recommends Kumar Jacob, Chair of Maudsley Charity, suggests
that issues such as the amount of
have as big an impact on our sense of
circumstances such as income account
activities such as friendships account
Kumar Jacob is a non-executive director at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, part of King’s Health Partners. He is also founder of KJLearning Limited, a consultancy specialising in training within the computer games industry. For more
please visit www.slam.nhs.uk/wellbeing-garden.aspx
Reggie’s round-up
changing rooms and showers on the
Many alumni generously support sport at
copy of In Touch or call +44 (0)20 7848 4701
Ron WilsonQ&A New challenges, new faces keep his job fresh
Unlike many jobs, this one is never routine
Learn more at
Update
8 IN TOUCH SPRING 2012 SPRING 2012 IN TOUCH 9
contains music unheard for more than
Miserere, a
so protective of this music that the
attempted to transcribe and perform Miserere
Miserere
Arts and Humanities Research
Dr Ron Wilson has been teaching at the Dental Institute longer than some
Most people couldn’t imagine 52 years
the years and has presented fresh
in new directions throughout my
own research and have worked with a succession of inspiring academics
I can to encourage and support new
but since then I have never considered
the same satisfaction in teaching and
and through and was never tempted by
on to someone starting in your profession today?
your time?
Weekends in summer are spent
Chinese medicine database releasedKing’s researchers have released a comprehensive database of the chemical components found in traditional Chinese medicine, allowing researchers to explore age-old remedies in the search for tomorrow’s new drugs.
The ‘Chem-TCM’ database is the most comprehensive of its kind. Featuring more than 12,000 chemicals found in plants used in Chinese medicine, it is a valuable resource for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, academic researchers and the medical profession.
Targeting pollution sourcesA study by an international team of researchers, including King’s scientists, shows that reducing methane and black carbon emissions could slow the pace
also prevent between 700,000 and 4.7 million premature deaths annnually. Professor Martin Williams of King’s Environmental Research Group says, ‘The combination of methane and black carbon measures along with substantial carbon dioxide emissions reductions
mean warming to less than 2°C during
achieves on its own.’
There is enough water in Earth’s major basins to double food production in the next decade, King’s scientists have found. The Challenge Programme on Water and Food concluded that whilst there are
the world’s food, energy production and the industrial needs with appropriate access, fair distribution and
is put into supporting rain-fed (as opposed to irrigated) agriculture, food production can increase substantially and rapidly,’ says Dr Mark Mulligan.
Reggie’s round-up
Celebrating the work of Gregorio Allegri, the disc mixes an audience favourite and long-neglected music
Miserere highlights Choir CD
supporting the Choir of
Above, Director of Music
Miserere
Mapping the medieval countryside
to access this key resource in a manner
King’s in the media
The Daily Telegraph reported on scientists’ warnings that preventing a children’s intake of potential food allergens could increase their chances of developing allergies in later life. Studies at King’s, Cambridge University and Duke University have suggested that exposure to traces of peanuts as a baby can raise tolerance to safe levels, although there is
desensitisation is temporary or permanent. Professor Gideon Lack said there is a possibility that ‘we are achieving the reverse of our intentions through this avoidance policy’.
An accolade for EllisIn December, Telegraph writers and editors chose 25 notable Britons of 2011. The College is proud to note that John Ellis, King’s Clerk Maxwell Professor of Theoretical Physics and pioneer of the Large Hadron Collider Project, was among those named. ‘In an incredible year for physics, it is worth mentioning one man,’ said the newspaper. ‘Now is the time to mark the contribution he has made in his 33 years at the particle-physics coalface.’
‘A portrait of Rosalind Franklin “painted” in DNA by a 15-year-old Perth schoolgirl
King’s,’ reported The West Australian in November 2011. Sasha Whittle created
salmon DNA. Sasha said that she had produced the portrait as a tribute to Franklin, whom many scientists have claimed discovered the structure of DNA. The portrait is hanging in the Franklin-Wilkins Library on the Waterloo Campus.
Sharing memories from one of London’s great streets
Life on the Strand
I never wanted the 9-to-5
Bishop Gilbert: transitioning from one public role to another
Update
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range of visitors to the monastery
swapping the monastery for
like impression is of a man with a great
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3on the Strand can now share their stories with students through an
LivesThis new programme is an
lines
lines
Lives is a series of
‘StrandLives was thought of as lines but
Total immersionAfter 19 years as Abbot of Pluscarden Abbey in Scotland, King’s history graduate Hugh Gilbert has been appointed Bishop of Aberdeen
Top 10 nationalities of students at King’s in 2011-12
Academy was based in Somerset
Professor Saunders says StrandLives is teaching students how
and agree to be interviewed about
upcoming StrandLives events and
Another day on the
lorry in 1968
The notable Professor John Ellis
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Caring for the youngestWorld questions|King’s answers now encompasses paediatrics, integrating mental and physical healthcare
The largest gift by an individual in the College’s history establishes the Lau China Institute
In the same lab, the same cafeteria
more closely than
best children’s hospitals in Europe
Hong Kong Harbour,
For more info,
The Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute
I’m proud of being a King’s alumnus
Campaign Update
12 IN TOUCH SPRING 2012 SPRING 2012 IN TOUCH 13
answers
from asthma and obesity to depression
transform paediatric research into
answers
and brain scans that detect autism
of Psychiatry and Director of the new
appointment of senior academic
Chairman of Chinese Estate
having written The Economic Structure of Trusts: Towards a Property-based Approach
support to the China Institute as a way
Theology & Religious Studies, 1982
King’s was to volunteer once a week at St Martin-in-the-Fields, being a ‘meeter and greeter’ for homeless people attending
an important lesson in the vagaries of
But I realise times have changed and
studying at King’s, so that they can enjoy
possible, without having to spend all
Fortunately, I am now in a position to do
Tackling some of the world’s toughest questions
CUMULATIVE IMPACTS
2 Dental Circle members each giving £1,000 covered the travel costs for four students on overseas electives
100 donors each giving £40 purchased multimedia equipment for teaching European law
20 alumni each giving £20 per month established a global institutes lecture series
45 donors each giving £55 provided the KCL Triathlon Club with new bicycles and wetsuits
Think big
Campaign Update
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encourage students to take their ideas
Society events are structured around
students wishing to carry out research
the society to purchase recording
have access to those which have been
King’s formally launches a third Institute, a fourth is on the way
To aid in the understanding of this
economies are becoming ever more
Russian society functions and on the
other research strengths to provide students with an in-depth understanding
A mystery inside an enigma
Avantha Group endows chair
King’s Russia Institute
analyse this rapidly
Professor Sunil Khilnani of the India Institute
its India Institute with an endowed directorship made
nuanced understanding of
and other nations is good for the
The India Institute is part
INDIA
RUSSIA
Spectacular, thrilling, inspiring, over-hyped, tremendously inconvenient – no matter which adjective
is at the centre of the sports world this year because of these Games, and King’s is very much involved.
to testing for illegal drugs to advising on the massive
at both events – sometimes working quietly behind the
times playing highly visible roles.
KINGS
THE
The College is participating in many aspects of this year's Olympics and Paralympics
‘I’m really happy that I’m on track and shooting well’Pippa Britton
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The home teamFront and centre, of course, are the athletes. Members of the College community can expect to see several King’s students and alumni participating in the Olympics and Paralympics. The precise number isn’t known yet, as many teams won’t be named until late spring.
Led by PhD law student Katherine Grainger, rowers are likely to represent King’s in good numbers. This will be Grainger’s fourth Olympics. She has already made
to win medals at three consecutive Games, all of them silver. Competing in the double scull, Grainger and Anna Watkins are expected to medal; the pair have been virtually unbeatable during the past two years, winning the World Championships
so along with the London Olympics it’s going to be a busy and exciting year,’ she says.
medal came in the quad; two of her teammates in that competition were King’s graduates:
and Annabel Vernon (MA, International
in this year’s Games.Zoe Lee, a PhD geography student who
named in early June. In the months leading up
training supplementing rowing on machines and the water. She admits that it can be hard to squeeze everything in.
‘Working from home – I live in Putney, near the river – helps, as it cuts out the travel time,’ she says. She is a member of the
and this assistance covers boat membership and racking fees, training, physio and massage.
Another rower, Ryan Chamberlain, (MA,
participate in the Paralympic Games. Chamberlain took up rowing at King’s after losing his left leg when a drunk driver
a silver medal as a member of the adaptive
Championships.
medalled at six consecutive World Championships, holds three world records and has been consistently ranked as one of the
The prospect of competing here with a home crowd is my ultimate dream. I can’t think of any better way to start my
career than here in my home countryCorinna Lawrence
world’s top six Paralympic archers. She’ll learn in May whether she will participate in this year’s Paralympics.
Performing before a home crowd makes this year’s Games especially exciting, says
those people who help you achieve your dreams – the physios, coaches, psychologists, etc – to be able to see you compete.’
is likely to be wielding her épée at the Olympic Games. In October, three months after an operation for tendinitis in her dominant wrist,
‘Fourteen years of fencing has built up to this
year, I am mentally and physically prepared
competitions,’ she says. ‘To have the largest and greatest sporting event on the planet in
Keeping cheats out
who heads King’s Drug Control Centre, the
In partnership with GlaxoSmithKline, King’s will operate a satellite laboratory at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
‘Our aim is to ensure that the Games are conducted to the highest ethical standards, to deter drug cheats and to enable athletes to lead healthier lives,’ says Professor Cowan, who is gearing up for his seventh Olympic Games. ‘Our sophisticated laboratory will be packed
throughout the Olympic and Paralympic
previous Games. The laboratory, based in
seven days a week. The King’s Drug Control Centre was
tests for prohibited substances, including amphetamine and anabolic steroids. ‘This is a challenging area of forensic science,’ says Professor Cowan. ‘A huge number of prohibited substances need to be detected, often at very low concentrations. Some, such as testosterone, are also naturally produced in the body, making it hard to prove that they have been administered.’
At the same time, the Centre must provide
intense legal scrutiny. So how do they know they’re getting it right? ‘We maintain a chain of custody for all our samples,’ says Professor Cowan, ‘and WADA carries out regular blind tests on its laboratories. Our ongoing accreditation is a guarantee of the reliability of our work in helping catch drug cheats.’
Clean air, green Games As part of LOCOG’s pledge to make the London Games ‘the greenest ever’, King’s
work closely with the Health Protection Agency throughout the Olympics and Paralympics, using advanced air quality surveillance systems at its Waterloo Campus base to assess and manage the health risks associated with air pollution.
‘Athletes are particularly vulnerable to the
regimes mean they breathe a lot of air, and that increases their pollution dose,’ explains the
Dr Thomas Christie was a successful rower during and after his time at King’s. The retired anaesthesiologist, who graduated in 1950, twice won Silver Goblets at Henley Royal Regatta and took silver at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games.
The Olympic Games of 1948, however, were a disappointment. Competing as a member of the coxless four, Dr Christie says he and his fellow British rowers stayed at a house in Henley during the Games, taking most of their meals there. With red meat in short supply, chicken was a common meal. Just before their
race, Dr Christie and his teammates were struck with salmonella – which he is sure came from an improperly prepared chicken. ‘To be perfectly honest, we all got diarrhoea,’ he says. In their weakened state, the foursome simply could not perform at their expected level.
While London hosted most of the events during the ‘Austerity Games’, Alex Robertson-Kellie AKC (Geography, 1954) recalls that Torquay hosted the Games’ sailing events.
‘It was quite an exceptional experience for Torquinians, who welcomed all sorts of people
from all over the world,’ says Robertson-Kellie. ‘I was a Boy Scout at the time and the Scouts were prominent in supporting
opening and closing ceremonies.’Although a bad meal dashed
his Olympic medal dreams, Dr Christie fondly remembers his time rowing. He hopes to attend some of this year’s races at Dorney Lake to see rowers experiencing the sensation he clearly recalls from six decades ago. ‘When you have a good eight rowing well, it’s absolutely exhilarating.’
MEMORIES OF THE 1948 ‘AUSTERITY GAMES’
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focusing on the exposure of spectators and the public, with Dr Fuller and his team working closely with Transport for London to
Forward planning is vital: road closures and event timings can go a long way to ameliorate
acknowledges that some elements can’t be controlled. ‘We all hope of course that the
result in elevated pollution for London.’
Keeping London safeAsk David Musker why he swapped academia
biology degree before going on to do a doctorate in biochemistry – for a career with the Metropolitan Police, and he’ll tell you it was the mix of ‘excitement and responsibility’
promises plenty of both as he gears up to take charge of security at the Olympic beach volleyball event at Horse Guards Parade in central London.
Musker is keen to point out that what might
security challenge. ‘The volleyball arena holds
people in and out safely – including searches and security checks – and keeping the surrounding area safe. We’re between Downing Street and the royal palaces, so it
course we’ll be beamed across the world on live TV.’
the Met and other UK forces will be on duty every day throughout the Games. Security planning for the Olympics and Paralympics began the day after London’s successful bid was announced. Since then, Musker has
for Croydon with his role as part of the dedicated Games command team, working closely with colleagues from LOCOG.
Musker says all of the planning and
remain largely unaware of the security measures in place. ‘We don’t want it to feel
like a military operation,’ he says. ‘We want people to feel like they’re being policed by
The atmosphere is going to be electric, and we want to be part of that.’
At the macro level, Sir David Omand, a visiting professor in the Department of War Studies, is heading a panel of ‘critical friends’ responsible for the external validation of the
and intelligence issues, Sir David’s CV includes stints as UK Security and Intelligence
Policy Director of the Ministry of Defence, making him a natural choice to head up a team of outside experts who are reviewing and advising on security preparations for the
expertise in domestic security, intelligence,
military operations and crisis management.‘The Olympics security programme has
its own full internal quality assurance and performance management processes,’ Sir
provided a sanity check and helped highlight some issues that needed resolution, such as the relationship between the extra security needed for the games and ongoing work to improve intelligence and security under
terrorism strategy.’
Legal supportImagine an athlete from a small, poor nation at this year’s Olympics, thousands of miles from home, stumbling into a situation where he needs legal help. Where can he turn for help?
LOCOG foresaw this possible scenario and
assemble a group of law professionals who could provide free legal advice. The result is
Representation Service.LOCOG announced creation of this service
If we can replicate what we had at the Royal Wedding, where it felt
was the centre of the world’s celebrations, that would be amazing David Musker
degrees from King’s School of Law, one of them being Max Duthie, who received
sports law.
‘It’s a service primarily aimed at those athletes and teams who would not ordinarily
issues do arise for some, for example in terms
Duthie and his colleagues in the service fall
related matters. Duthie is a member of the latter group. He has worked in sports law for
union’s ‘bloodgate’, when a player in a
Duthie himself is a former professional rugby union player.
The other King’s alumni on the London
Representation Service are Mark Afeeva
Representing victoryThis year’s Olympic and Paralympic
Studies, in collaboration with the Roman Society, is organising a workshop to
representations of athletic victory have been reinterpreted through the centuries.
‘It’s a way to detect traces of the classical past in the present,’ says the centre’s Professor Charlotte Roueché. The programme will
representations of athletic victory, such
athletes did two millennia earlier.The workshop will be held on Saturday,
With the Olympics coming to London, 2012 is a good year to get more exercise. Members of the King’s community can lace up their trainers and try out a new sport through the Gold Challenge – and raise funds for King’s Health Partners along the way. There are three ways to participate:
You can be part of the Olympic Sport Challenge, which allows you to try up to 30 Olympic and Paralympic sports, either on your own or in a small group.
themselves, there is the 2012 km Challenge. You, or your group, must cover a distance of 20.12, 201.2 or 2,012 kilometres via activities such as running,
swimming, cycling and kayaking.Gold Challenge in a Day
event is for dedicated competitors: walking, cycling, rowing, running and swimming back-to-back over a set distance in a choice of levels – sprint, endurance and ultra.
You can learn more at www.goldchallenge.org or by calling on 020 7848 7431.
A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY
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NO HEALTH WITHOUT MENTAL HEALTHKing’s is part of a collaboration drawing attention to one of the developing world’s greatest unmet healthcare needsImagine a health condition which is widespread across the world. In many cases, it lasts a lifetime. It prevents people from working, makes them more vulnerable to infections and malnutrition and carries
And although international aid organisations and philanthropic foundations are doing great work stamping out diseases such as HIV, malaria and polio, few, as yet, are interested in tackling this massive problem.
The condition? Mental health problems, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression. These make up a tenth of the disease burden in the developing world.
‘Mental health is the big neglected disease topic in global health, even though it makes
lower-income countries,’ says Professor Martin Prince, Co-Director of the Centre for Global Mental Health (CGMH), a collaboration between King’s Health Partners and the London School of Hygiene
the centre’s main function is to foster research and training in global mental health policy, prevention, treatment and care. ‘There is no other major kind of disease area that is so neglected in terms of specialists, or indeed anyone attending to people with mental health needs.’
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Launching in September, the CGMH’s new MSc in Global Mental Health
building and local thinking. Taught
development, scaling up and
and clinical interventions. ‘We are going to be able to give students rich,
questions are being addressed, what the research is showing, how the programmes are being implemented,’
this programme will make them
in their own countries – wherever that might be.’
Why does global mental health matter? After all, one might say that the developing world has far bigger health problems than depression – sewage-infected drinking water, drug-resistant malaria or the diarrhoeal
year to name but a few. The answer, says Professor Prince, lies in the centre’s motto – ‘No health without mental health.’ He points out that the long-term costs of untreated mental health conditions are vast and impinge upon a range of social issues, including employment, housing and hygiene.
‘There has been a major focus on the global health agenda in preventing mortality,’ says Professor Prince. ‘This is very reasonable, particularly in terms of child mortality and
economic terms it’s a loss in productivity for a country when young people die before they have even reached their economically productive age range. However, there is also
disorders. Suicide causes a million deaths per
middle-income countries. With mental disorders come disability and lost function. Many disorders are chronic and lifelong, like autism. Others, like depression, are relapsing and remitting. There’s a huge societal burden associated with that.’
Professor Prince describes a typical case: a mother in a developing country whose son has schizophrenia. There is no health insurance, no free-at-the-point-of-delivery healthcare. She has no money to spare. He is unable to work and if she has to look after him, she can’t work either. So she waits until her son’s behaviour becomes uncontrollable. She manages, somehow, to get her son to the capital city, where all the country’s mental health services are clustered. He is admitted to the psychiatric hospital and spends several
months there. She manages to pay for his admission and his drug costs and is eventually sent home with her son and a bag of pills.
until they run out, and the cycle begins again. ‘So you get a pattern of catastrophic spending,’
way of dealing with this is to have a community service that is well stocked with medication. But that doesn’t exist.’
A GENUINE PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERNWhy has global mental health been so
editor of The Lancet, pointed out the ‘fragile – and utterly fragmented for the most disadvantaged’ nature of mental health services and called for coordinated action via the journal’s Global Mental Health series, supported by the CGMH. That same series included a sobering report on the considerable barriers to improving services in low- to middle-income countries. Lead author Dr Benedetto Saraceno of the World Health Organization cited the low priority of global mental health on the world health policy agendas, stigma leading to a lack of advocacy, the centralisation of services in capital cities and a simple lack of trained professionals.
In Ethiopia, these barriers seem almost
two are trained in childhood mental health, despite half the population being made up of children and adolescents. Dr Abebaw Fekadu of Addis Ababa University estimates that
problems such as schizophrenia do not receive adequate treatment. ‘We know that mental disorders are as common as anywhere else in the world,’ he says. ‘But the care for people with mental disorders is completely abysmal.’
Gaining acceptance of mental health issues
as a genuine public health concern adds
according to Dr Charlotte Hanlon, also of Addis Ababa University.
perceptions that Ethiopia is a starving country, clearly because of the memorable famines,’ she says. ‘It’s
to get funders to appreciate that funding mental health would be an important issue here. Mortality is very
high in people with severe mental illness. Their condition makes them vulnerable to diseases of neglect such as malnutrition and infection. But good treatment decreases mortality. So treatment of mental health has a physical health consequence.’
A brief overview of Dr Fekadu and Dr Hanlon’s current projects gives some idea of the scale of the country’s needs. They are researching the prevalence of mental health conditions among the city’s homeless
of those people will have severe mental illness,’ says Dr Fekadu. Dr Hanlon is tracking a cohort of mothers in rural Ethiopia to
on child health. They are collaborating on an investigation into why so many young Ethiopian girls who have migrated to middle-income countries to undertake domestic work are returning with severe mental health problems. They are also working on two major
research projects, one funded by the National Institutes of Health (US) and the other by the Department for International Development, aimed at scaling up mental health care to be integrated into the primary healthcare system. Both projects are supported by the CGMH which, say Fekadu and Hanlon, has been
Every country has its own geographical, cultural and economic issues. But this kind of extensive research is starting to indicate the best ways to implement global health policy. Capacity-building is key. ‘Ethiopia has moved forward to the next stage of being more sustainable,’ says Dr Hanlon. ‘We’ve started a PhD programme, supported by the CGMH, at Addis Ababa University. We have seven PhD students now. There’s always a concern that when big international projects are set up it’s all one-way. I think the Ethiopian model has shown that that hasn’t happened and it has now moved to the next step – doing something within the country rather than sending people abroad. That will have a huge impact when our students start to graduate.’
Working in partnership with what’s already there is also essential. There is no ‘parachuting in’ of expertise. And it’s these collaborations, says Professor Prince, that are helping to produce the hard evidence needed to convince health ministers and international aid organisations to devote scarce resources to mental health services. ‘Advocacy alone – just shouting at people – isn’t actually going to lead to increased investment. It’s only by demonstrating that there are
that you will actually get policymakers to listen.
‘There’s a huge amount of work to do.
moved on a great deal.’
‘Mental health is the big neglected disease topic in global health,’ says Professor Martin Prince, Co-Director of the Centre for Global Mental Health
There are 40 psychiatrists in Ethiopia, a country of 80 million
GLOBAL MENTAL HEALTH: THE NEXT GENERATION
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developers to ensure that rural planning applications are appropriate.
That’s why the CPRE objected so strongly to the Government’s draft National Planning Policy Framework, the biggest shake-up of
believes could open up the countryside to damaging development. Bizarrely, that objection led to a public spat with the Government in the press. ‘It was our best publicity in years,’ says Spiers. ‘It really invigorated our membership.’
Spiers is clearly a natural campaigner. As a PPE student at Oxford, he was a passionate supporter of the Campaign for
around rooms to show the controversial BBC anti-nuclear drama The War Game in a bid to whip up recruits. After Oxford, mindful of the adage that if you wish for peace, you must understand war, he went on to King’s to do a Master’s in War Studies under Barry Paskins, Michael Dockrill and Lawrence Freedman. Although he considered himself to be ‘the only peacenik’ on the course, he found plenty of fellow students happy to debate with him, often in the Lyceum pub on the Strand.
After King’s, Spiers returned to Oxford to do a DPhil under Sir Michael Howard – a mistake, he now realises, in spite of the eminence of his supervisor, a founder of King’s Department of War Studies. ‘I should have
too scattergun in its peer group for him, and his thesis, ‘British leftwing attitudes to war
discipline,’ he says.
on relationships, being absent a lot’. Culled in
the Labour ‘bloodbath’ of MEPs
CEO of the Association of British Credit Unions Limited, before leaving to head up CPRE in
on, all is going well, although these are challenging times, with a growing urban population and heightened competition from the likes of Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, Woodland Trust,
et al – all good for the cause, less so for funding.Nevertheless, membership is up, boosted
by the popularity of Bill Bryson, who Spiers helped persuade to become president. A surprising choice, perhaps, but a powerful one: a professional traveller who has scoured
is English.And it’s the countryside, appropriately,
that Spiers visits to relax. His favourite spot is the Cotswolds, he says, not merely for the landscape, but also for the villages: a neat example of how the built environment is often a part of our notion of the countryside.
to do this, says Spiers, let’s do it right. ‘If we need a viaduct, for example, let’s make it something beautiful that we can celebrate
that’s hard to argue with.
Shaun Spiers, CEO of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), has some persuading to do. Just before we speak, the
high-speed rail link between London and Birmingham, is to go ahead, ploughing a furrow through the Chilterns – exactly the kind of countryside you might think CPRE exists to protect. Yet Spiers has issued a press release with ‘a rather positive line on it’. He’s just waiting for the ‘calls of outrage
But Spiers is used to persuading. Wooing, invigorating and generally ensuring a common
are all part of his brief. It’s not always easy, he admits. This one is particularly ‘tricky’, he says, but he has a persuasive argument – and one that gets to the heart of what CPRE is for.
‘We have always been focused on getting development in the right place, not stopping it,’ he says. ‘We have a growing population and a rail network that’s creaking at the seams. If we don’t get new rail capacity we’ll get more roads, which is more environmentally damaging.’ What’s more, it appears that ministers have actually listened to opinions expressed in the consultation process and made changes accordingly, he says. ‘It’s a bit of a triumph for the planning system.’
Planning is fundamentally what CPRE is
campaigned for and won a number of notable victories, resulting in national parks, areas of outstanding natural beauty and the green belt. It is the largest third-party participant in the English planning system, a system that it campaigned for from the beginning. Quietly, daily, its branch volunteers work alongside concerned residents, local governments and
Balancing development against protection of England’s bucolic landscape
ADVOCATE FOR THE COUNTRYSIDE
The focus is on getting development in the right place
PH
IL S
AY
ER
SPRING 2012 IN TOUCH 27 26 IN TOUCH SPRING 2012
Advances in heart surgery were among the great medical successes of the past century, and Guy’s surgeons were in the thick of it
THE CARDIAC PIONEERS OF GUYS
SIR TERENCE ENGLISHHe performed the UK’s
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‘The heart is a wonderful pump. But that’s really all it is. It pumps blood through the lungs, where it gets oxygenated, and then pumps the oxygenated blood around the body.’
At the same time, Sir Terence English is quick to add, the heart is an awe-inspiring bit of evolution, never at rest from before birth
Retired from his successful career as a cardiac surgeon, Sir Terence knows the heart about as well as anyone. He was one of a small number of people who pioneered heart surgery
competitive visionaries who pushed the boundaries to repair, and even replace, an organ that much of the medical profession had
recognised the importance of the heart’s pumping action. Its steady, almost mystical rhythm made it a remarkable part of the body.
century feared to take a scalpel to this ‘mansion of the soul’.
very, very sceptical about surgeons operating on the heart,’ says Sir Terence. ‘Many felt it was too dangerous, that the heart would not stand being operated on.’
In a span of four decades all fear and superstition surrounding the heart were swept aside: doctors discovered the heart could tolerate surgery. This year marks the
open heart surgery,
Most of the doctors who developed procedures such as hypothermic surgery and inventions such as the heart-lung machine
were North Americans. However, several surgeons who trained or worked at Guy’s
and this article focuses on four of them, all connected to one another: Lord Russell Brock,
work as Professor of Surgery at the Thomas E Starzl Transplantation Institute at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Two of these gentlemen have written about advancements in cardiac surgery. Sir Terence’s autobiography, Follow Your Star, includes details about the heart transplant programme he established at Papworth Hospital near Cambridge. Cooper’s book, Open Heart: The Radical Surgeons Who Revolutionized Medicine, traces advancements in heart
operated on blood vessels close to the heart,
Town,”’ Sir Terence recalls. ‘So I spent a week with him and was singularly unimpressed. He was certainly a good surgeon and he was getting excellent results, but his behaviour in the operating room was bad. He would shout and blame his assistants.’
Soon after Barnard’s headline-making operation, surgeons around the world started performing heart transplants. The operation had seized the public’s attention and inspired research into new immunosuppressants.
In London, Ross performed three
recipients died within four months. Other hospitals worldwide were also experiencing high mortality rates, with more than half of all heart recipients dying soon after the operation. The hoopla surrounding Barnard’s
of the medical establishment wanted a
had questions about the ethics of heart
for Health imposed a de facto moratorium on the procedure.
LORD RUSSELL BROCK
Professor Cooper
DONALD ROSS
dozens of physicians and his own experiences
developments and explores the surgeons’ personal lives.
A STREAK OF SHOWMANSHIPInnovative, demanding and intimidating,
Brock emerged as a leading cardiac surgeon shortly after World War II. Professor Cooper describes him as an introspective perfectionist ‘with a streak of showmanship’. He is recognised for several contributions to cardiac surgery, including advances in relieving mitral valve stenosis and inventing a mechanical valve dilator. His groundbreaking pulmonary valve operation saved lives by opening
This operation also ‘demonstrated the heart’s tolerance to direct surgical intervention’, writes Professor Cooper.
‘Sir Thomas Holmes Sellors actually did the operation about a week before, but Brock
‘People like Brock and Sellors were very competitive. And they were prima donnas in the operating room. There’s no doubt about it.’
Professor Cooper writes about Lord Brock’s brusque behaviour but in a sympathetic light. Like every physician pushing the boundaries
Lord Brock regularly saw patients die on the
dogs and other animals, mortality rates were high, which ‘must have given him many sleepless nights.’
By the time Professor Cooper arrived at Guy’s as a student, Lord Brock’s star was being eclipsed by younger colleagues, such as Ross, who were adept at open heart surgery, whereas Lord Brock was much more at ease with closed heart surgery. Still, students were in awe of the man. Professor Cooper remembers skipping lectures to watch him perform in the operating theatre.
NEVER LOSING HIS COOL
in his medical class at the University of Cape Town, a class that included Christiaan
and became Lord Brock’s senior registrar. ‘He and Brock complemented each other,’
He was a superb technician and never lost his cool in the operating room.’
While working at Guy’s, Ross developed a complex operation, still performed worldwide and known as the Ross procedure, in which the surgeon uses the patient’s own pulmonary valve to replace the diseased aortic valve, and then puts an aortic homograft from a deceased donor into the pulmonary position. This pioneering work, says Professor Cooper, stimulated research into heart valve replacement, including the use of pig valves.
patient is alive today and is the longest-lived
remarkable example of translational medicine.Ross was part of a generation working
toward an operation that at one time seemed unthinkable: total replacement of a damaged human heart. While surgeons had shown that the heart could withstand surgery, taking one person’s heart and placing it into another individual’s body presented an entirely
it’s the body’s way of protecting itself from pathogens such as viruses and bacteria. Most
Norman Shumway of Stanford to attempt the
the greatest progress toward developing immunosuppressants to protect a donor heart. Barnard surprised everyone in December
heart transplant, becoming the medical profession’s rock star. Within a short time, says Sir Terence, people living deep in the Amazon rainforest knew the name Christiaan Barnard.
said, “Go and see what that crazy guy Barnard is doing in Cape
To list every physician at Guy’s, King’s College Hospital, King’s College London and St Thomas’ who contributed to better heart care during the
In Touch. Other notables include:
developed an instrument to measure the rate
Working at Guy’s Hospital during World War II, studied the physiology
Guy’s was a pioneer in the
coronary angioplasty, keyhole surgery on the
coined the term ‘hormone’.
Many surgeons believed the heart couldn’t tolerate surgery
SPRING 2012 IN TOUCH IN TOUCH SPRING 2012
transplants through the Area Health Authority
was being prepared for the operation, while Sir Terence was in another hospital removing the donor heart, the most complex aspect of the procedure. Soon after the operation was complete it became clear that the patient had
from an infection. ‘The Department of Health was pretty
angry,’ Sir Terence recalls. He pressed on and
good donor heart’ but a less-than-ideal
intestinal ulcer.‘But he had a wonderful character.
He was a Wandsworth cockney and he just sailed through the operation,’ says Sir Terence. ‘Keith probably did more to advertise the
than ever I could have done. He was a great cyclist and got involved in all sorts of activities, fundraising for the hospital and promoting organ donation.’
By the time he retired, Sir Terence had led
lung transplant operations. Today, more than
year around the world, with a success rate
GENETIC MODIFICATION
transplant operations. He then worked with Barnard for several years in Cape Town. Today, he is an internationally recognised
an organ from one species to another.
never have enough hearts for all the patients who needed a transplant,’ says Professor Cooper, who gave up surgery for research in
transplantation, as well, he says. In the United
people waiting for an organ transplant, and
annually. Many die each year waiting for
a heart, kidney, liver or other organ.
transplanted hearts from baboons and chimpanzees, each operation unsuccessful due to the recipient’s immunological response. Xenotransplantation research in recent years, however, has zeroed in on pigs. Surgeons have been replacing damaged elements of the
Wayne was given a pig heart valve back
push now is to genetically engineer pigs to reduce the human body’s immunological reaction.
Surgeons are a few years away from putting an entire pig heart into a man or woman, Professor Cooper predicts. However, he says, researchers are close to carrying out clinical trials on transplanting
into humans, potentially a tremendous leap forward in the treatment of diabetes, as islets are necessary for the production of insulin. He adds that corneal transplants using genetically engineered pig sources are also not too far in the future.
Professor Cooper says he has enjoyed his career immensely as well as the writing he has done on the side. He is disappointed, however,
cardiac surgeons who overcame immense
received the widespread public recognition they deserved, despite the fact that their advances have saved countless lives.
‘It’s disgraceful,’ he says, ‘that none of them was awarded a Nobel Prize for open heart surgery.’Sir Terence’s book, Follow Your Star, is available from Authorhouse. Professor Cooper’s Book, Open Heart, is published by Kaplan.
DAVID COOPER
SUCCESS IN THE UKLike Ross, Sir Terence grew up in South Africa. He was the son of a mining engineer
in what was then called Rhodesia. ‘I played poker, drank brandy and did all the sort of things you do when you’re growing up,’ he recalls. He started a course of study in mining engineering but in his third year he inherited
conversations with his uncle, he decided to pursue a career in medicine after completing his engineering studies.
Dr Charles Baker, senior cardiologist at Guy’s, and then trained with Lord Brock. He assisted on two of Ross’s early homograft operations before moving to Papworth to establish its reputation as one of the UK’s premier cardiac programmes. He collaborated with Professor Sir Roy Calne, another Guy’s alumnus and Brock trainee who became one of the world’s leading experts in immunosuppression while performing liver transplants in Cambridge.
Sir Terence also found himself enmeshed in ethical and religious debates over the
heart for a successful heart transplant. For many, it was simply wrong to remove a beating heart from a body. Others argued that death
by the Medical Royal Colleges opted for the latter and laid out a series of simple tests that allowed a physician to determine whether a person was brain-dead or not. ‘The brain stem is at the base of the brain, and all the important connections are in the brain stem,’ says Sir Terence. ‘If the brain stem is destroyed you don’t breathe, and if you don’t breathe you die. So one of the tests for brain death is whether there’s spontaneous respiration if a person is
After much experimental work, Sir Terence submitted his heart transplant protocols in
Advisory Panel replied that it didn’t have funds for a programme and didn’t want ‘any
another source and secured funding for two
Today, 3,000 heart transplants are performed annually
SC
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SPRING 2012 IN TOUCH
SPRING 2012 IN TOUCH 3534 IN TOUCH SPRING 2012
CommunityOne more way to make 2012 memorable
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Alumni Weekend in the city we loveIn a year unlike any other for London, King’s celebrates this lively, mighty city
For those of you who graduated
a special anniversary.
share memories from your university days and visit the renovated Somerset House East Wing.
Alumni Weekend will be packed
All reunion alumni are invited to a special complimentary reception on
Lunch. Reunion alumni will also receive a commemorative gift from the College and your reunion group will
Professor Sir Richard Trainor.
celebrates the opening of Somerset House East Wing. These milestones are sure to make your reunion an especially joyous and memorable experience.
For more information on reunions
[email protected] or visit alumni.kcl.ac.uk/alumniweekend
LONDONI
Alumni Weekend
To learn more, call on +44 (0)20 7848 3053 or visit alumni.kcl.ac.uk/alumniweekend
open the doors to the renovated Somerset House East Wing.
vibrant city receiving so much attention
will celebrate London itself. The I Love London
from high tea to a pint at your favourite
reconnect with classmates and learn a little more about this amazing city.
Tours of Somerset House East Wing; the Inigo Rooms will feature the art
Aldworth and Andrew Carnie and
philosophy and neuroscience
London drinkOpportunities to learn about early
psychiatric care in London with an exclusive tour of the Imperial War
For more information about Alumni Weekend, please visit alumni.kcl.ac.uk/alumniweekend or call on
Top-selling single: I Remember You
At the cinema: Dr Noand Lawrence of Arabia
On the telly: University Challenge
Sport:
Most popular UK baby names:
Cost of living:
CLASS OF ‘62, WHAT WAS UP IN YOUR GRADUATION YEAR?
‘I can assure you, my intentions are strictly honourable.’
tired of life; for there is in London all
Got it.Tube trains so crowded you can feel
Every day.If there ever was a year to celebrate
Paralympics come to town. The Queen
SPRING 2012 IN TOUCH 3736 IN TOUCH SPRING 2012
Want to get involved?
or call +44 (0)20 7848 3053
Get involved!
Tell us your favourite
Reggie tale
Reunions during
KCLEA
All engineering alumni are cordially
War Studies
The War Studies Department will host
Lunch on Saturday.
Travel Programme
Enjoy the reunion drinks reception
with Dr Dionysius Stathakopoulous.
AKC
The AKC alumni group will gather at
presentation.
Geography
The Geography Department will host an open house on
Law Alumni
There will be a reunion for law alumni in the recently renovated Somerset House
To book your place at any of these
please visit alumni.kcl.ac.uk/
Chemistry and Physics
Multiple dates
The newly formed Chemistry and Physics Group will host social events
contact Rob Edwards at [email protected]
KCSMD Clinical Medicine
Enjoy a dinner and party with
meet but never had the
contact Mark de Souza at [email protected] or the
Guy’s Hospital Medics
Class of 1957
reunion with lunch and a visit to the
Class of 1962 Reunion
to reminisce about times past and enjoy lunch. There has been an excellent response already. Contact David Turner
St Thomas’ Medicine
1972 Entry and 1977 Graduates’ Reunion
There will be a reunion for those who
as the subject – at [email protected]
US Alumni
The Principal’s US East Coast Tour
New York and Boston
Please visit alumni.kcl.ac.uk for more information.
Guy’s Hospital Medics
1967-72 Reunion
other universities for clinical years or
reunion. If you have not already
per head and rooms can be booked separately.
Guy’s Dental School
Class of 1974 Reunion
who want to be involved in planning
Interested in organising a reunion?
how we can help.
Fundraising events in aid of King’s Health Partners hospitals
For information on any of the following
The Gold Challenge
Nightrider 2012
under the starsTandem Skydive
King’s College Hospital Abseil
Enjoy the view from the side of the
British 10K London Run
London to Brighton Cycle
Royal Parks Half Marathon
We met at King’sA shared love of theatre brought Ben and Sophie Wiseman (Classics, 2006 and Medicine, 2006 respectively) together whilst studying at King’s. They were married in July 2011.
Ben:
and hoping to gain a part in
and was running the auditions.
that day as there were hundreds of
jacket which must have caught her eye!
of the society. We began spending
Sophie: closer and closer until I knew that
the perfect gentleman. Ben:
us some tickets for at the National Theatre. They were excellent tickets and after enjoying the show we went for a walk along the
The Incredible Adventures of ReggieReggie has always loved greeting his public and has even been presented to royalty. On one occasion, however, his hopes of meeting a fellow VIP were dashed by the long arm of the law. Cecil French (Mechanical Engineering, 1948) remembers.
Reggie had been abducted in the night.
cement to deter any further straying but felt it would then be impossible to parade him through the streets to meet the public! I can recall at least twice
appropriate for Reggie to greet the Lord
Show we took our positions at the
with Reggie on the shoulders of his
arrival of the procession. The City
that Reggie would frighten the horses or whether they feared he would be tempted to join the procession. After
if we did not desist – and recalling an
that we weakened and abandoned the
allowed to enter Fleet Street and to parade back to the Strand. While
the crowd saw Reggie!
ac.uk or mail it to the address on the
instead we went for the more romantic location of the bus stop outside
Sophie: Some of my favourite memories of our student days together are having central London on our doorstep and
morning and night. Ben:
to catch her bus home after rehearsals. We both knew that she could catch the
seem necessary to mention it. Sophie: We were married in my hometown of Geneva. We had an amazing day with our friends and
and a fantastic jazz band from London
Ben: Sophie is the most beautiful girl
with her ability to put her hand to anything and excel. I saw that at
Sophie: My advice for a happy
forgive easily and always keep hold of that magic.
Community
NG 2012
Enjoy a dinne
meet but ne
contact Mat markhotma
reun
LONDONI
Alumni Weekend
To learn more, call on +44 (0)20 7848 3053 or visit alumni.kcl.ac.uk/alumniweekend
Sophie and Ben Wiseman: a West End story
King’s engineers: proud keepers of Reggie
WE NEED YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS!Don’t miss out on forthcoming events in your area
Please send your email address to
SPRING 2012 IN TOUCH 3938 IN TOUCH SPRING 2012
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For more information on alumni groups call +44 (0)20 7848 3053 or see alumni.kcl.ac.uk
To get in touch with any of the alumni groups listed below, please visit alumni.kcl.ac.uk/connect. If you’re travelling
two alumni suggest places
UK ALUMNI SUBJECT GROUPS
AKC Alumni Group
Bar Society
Chemistry and Physics
Dental Alumni Association
Geography Joint School Society
King’s College Construction Law Association (KCCLA)
King’s College London Engineering Association (KCLEA)
Law Alumni Group
Theology & Religious Studies
OTHER UK GROUPS
King’s Alumni Theatre Society (KATS)
Queen Elizabeth College Association
Southampton & Hampshire
Student and Alumni Boat Club
INTERNATIONAL GROUPS
01: Angola 02: Argentina 03: Australia NSW 04: Australia QLD 05: Bangladesh 06: Belgium 07: Brazil 08: Brunei 09: Canada 10: Chile 11: China Beijing 12: China Shanghai 13: Croatia 14: Cyprus 15: Czech Republic 16: Denmark 17: Egypt 18: France 19: Germany Berlin 20: Germany Bonn 21: Germany Munich 22: Grand Cayman 23: Greece 24: Hong Kong 25: Hungary 26: India Delhi 27: India Mumbai 28: Indonesia 29: Iran 30: Ireland 31: Italy 32: Japan 33: Kenya 34: Kuwait 35: Malaysia 36: Mauritius 37: Mexico 38: Netherlands 39: New Zealand 40: Nigeria 41: Norway 42: Pakistan 43: Poland 44: Portugal 45: Qatar 46: Russia 47: Saudi Arabia 48: Singapore 49: South Korea 50: Spain 51: Sweden 52: Switzerland 53: Syria 54: Taiwan 55: Turkey 56: UAE 57: USA Boston 58: USA Chicago 59: USA New York 60: USA Philadelphia 61: USA San Francisco 62: USA Southern California 63: USA Southern Tri-State 64: USA Washington DC 65: Vietnam
Community
opportunities for socialising and networking.
If you want to learn more about
love to hear from you. Please send an
Join King’s global network
Club by sponsoring the rowing
walking around Central Park. You can
memorial and watch thousands of
go to the Top of the Rock observation deck. The view is truly amazing.
Number of alumni in the New York
David Martinelli
Clio Williams enriching and intellectually stretching experience. My Spanish and Mathematics degree gave me a brilliant start in my career. I am currently an executive director in the Fixed
and the language and numeracy
in my work.
I am proud to have a degree from
job market.
I enjoy being able to maintain my link
vibrancy of the Classics Society .
One of the best trips I went on as part
built and curated by the eccentric
The company of my fellow Classicists is
enthusiasm and craziness to commit to
and budget. Successfully bringing geek
group will always remember fondly.
career in journalism. I am a deputy commissioning editor at the
. What I liked most was
Moscow or Stockholm – or a country or region missing from the list on the
and branches around the world forms
providing a warm welcome to
and visiting lecturers. They also
as excursions and lectures – all great
Be an ambassador
for King’s
SPRING 2012 IN TOUCH 4140 IN TOUCH SPRING 2012
If you studied at King’s, or at one of the colleges with which it has merged, you are automatically a member of the King’s College London Association (KCLA). Please visit alumni.kcl.ac.uk or call +44 (0)20 7848 3053 for more details.
something he had never experienced
Huet says he came to London ‘slightly nervous but also incredibly
of formality and revelry. The head of
giving Huet an opportunity to meet many of his fellow students.
‘I had never drunk beer before in my
accepted in England I had to down
refering to the popular concoction
For the latest information about all of our alumni groups go to alumni.kcl.ac.uk
King’s College London Credit Card
has been carefully designed to provide
credit card.
present a range of exclusive discounts
Alumni Online for a full listing.
Avis
Cottages4you
Glasses Direct
Grange Hotels special rates
Hall of residence memories: snakebittenBertie Huet has many wonderful memories of his year living in King’s College Hall, but none quite like his
south of Paris. His upbringing was
he kept his nose in his books right through the weekends. He came to
Maitrise en droit. Arriving as a fresher at the Denmark Hill hall on a
located directly across from the
undergraduate level courses to choose from. In addition to an expanded
in health and society and physics.
Students can choose to attend one or
For more please visit
alumni.kcl.ac.uk
unhealthy dose of blackcurrant cordial.
Over the following weeks he learned
newspapers on weekends instead of
more often.
‘I remember clearly that as a French person it was a time of real discovery
Centre and libraries are available to alumni. Reading in the libraries
Download an application form from our website.
Learn a languageThe Modern Language Centre
including specialised courses.
Short courses: King’s Professional and Executive Development
individuals the opportunity to learn in the heart of London with renowned faculty and excellent facilities. Alumni are entitled to discounts for many of these courses. For more
uk/prospectus/shortcourses/home
from Waterloo Station. From a
to the same rates as students.
or email [email protected]
Stay at King’s
of residence during the summer.
academic transcript upon completion. Courses will take place primarily on the
visit www.kcl.ac.uk/summerschool
In Touch magazineMailed twice a year to all alumni. If you or somebody you know would like to receive In Touch and currently
E-newsletterRegister at alumni.kcl.ac.uk to receive regular electronic newsletters
Alumni Online Another way of staying in touch with
can update your personal details and network professionally.
Alumni email
alumni email address.
King’s ConnectionsA careers advice directory which lists alumni willing to give advice to fellow alumni and students.
Use the libraries
Community
Aprill Barry
(Medical
(Mathematics
Secretary Valerie Beynon
Treasurer
Alison Taylor
Elected members
(MSc Management IT Law &
KCLA is the alumni association for
has merged. All alumni are encouraged
attending events and voting in its elections. KCLA will hold its next Annual General Meeting and elections
Patron
Past President
President
Vice-President Professor Nairn Wilson
Past Chairman
Chairman Andrew Parrish
Chairman
as KCLA Chairman. I think much has been achieved over
broadening spread of activities and
many tasks remain. There are two key
alumni by extending the range of
AKC Group is beginning to make its
An early priority is chemistry and
and new Council members Rob
put together a programme of events in regional centres to launch this initiative.
A second priority area is alumni
between students and alumni over
as did the Principal and our President.
to be bigger still.
cricket. Council member Matt Ricketts
please contact him! See our new website – www.kcla.co.uk – for more details.more details.
King’s College Hall: beware of the blackcurrant cordial
Alumni receive a 10 per cent discount
e
SPRING 2012 IN TOUCH 4342 IN TOUCH SPRING 2012
Neil Margerison
National Clinical Assessment Service. My new interest is health for health professionals. First grandchild born in
Nicholas Sharvill
practitioner special interest cardiology. Married to Alison. Teaching in Sandwich.
King’s College
Stephen Davis
Alec Leggatt
Also conducting Humanist funerals!
John Ouless
make me Church of England! Lost wife
Ronald Bristow
Still active as curatorial volunteer and guide at the London Transport Museum.
Peter Butler
still in good health and active in our local United Reformed Church.
Rosemary Rushworth (now Oddy)
Society in association with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.
Brian Harris
My latest book is Passion, Poison &
Patricia Brenchley (now Byron-Jones)
Loving the combination of rural life in Hertfordshire and city life in Malaga.
John Byron-Jones
Frances Jessup
available.
Pamela Jackson (now Martin)
Still connected and volunteer at St Albans Abbey as a guide. Helped to edit a book on the Abbey and organised a conference on local
John Cloudsley-Thompson
the Chair of Zoology at the University
memoirs are in
Michael John Nuttall
returned to live permanently in
here!
Anthony Skottowe
Preparing second funding bid for Welwyn Garden Heritage Trust to research and document the industrial
remains a jewel in the crown of the Garden City movement. See www.
details.
Brian Harris
widows in the York Archdeaconry of the diocese of York.
Gina Douglas (now Parmenter)
Thomas Mason
John Wikeley
Still trolling round Europe on the occasional locum duty!
John Belham
to the Holy Land really was absolutely
wonderful people as a rural rector and
on Kindle.
Roger Fry
Have been elected an Honorary Fellow
Class notes You can view lots of fabulous old class photographs at alumni.kcl.ac.uk
information here, which is selected and
accuracy. If you have concerns over any
And remember, you can also update your
Chelsea CollegeDerek Layton
reunion in Mallorca.
Alan Hibberd
a private consultancy practice in clinical
now established a consultancy in the
Mark Rushall
Finally using some of the skills learned
Gregory West
Now owner/director of Hi Perspective
management consultancy to the
Guy’sAlan House
Retired.
Keith Hughes
Continuing as an expert witness.
Hugh Sturzaker
. Lead Governor and Deputy Chairman
Foundation Trust.
Warwick Onyeama
Retired from all forms of clinical life in
Thomas Day
Cyprus.
Mark Cottrill
members.
KCSMDJack Nickson
Have just completed a series of tests
pain showing that prolotherapry
needing a booster injection. Hope to
William Hudson
Alexander Campbell
Our set meet every year to play golf and
with the whole group.
Daniel Rose
Gillian Bunce (now How)
While retiring as a GP partner after
Mare.
that my work holds up as something
easy task of trying to properly know
Nature and Necessitya novel about the relationship between a
hardest is responsibility to make the
Goddard holds fond memories of
Elizabeth Hall and philosophy tutorials where my worldview shifted weekly. Philosophy has probably helped me
drive a car – that any plans I have will
Exploring how to properly know another human being
Goddard says his philosophy studies made him patient with ambiguity
A second chance to get seriousGareth Thomas
Gareth Thomas completed his MA in
gave him a second chance to become
says. He pursued a history degree as he wanted to learn about the rise of the
I became interested in politics as an
take my degree as seriously as I might have done. So the opportunity to do a
to enjoy study for its own ends. Friends of mine from my undergraduate course
Thomas today is the Shadow
much of his time to meeting with representatives of charitable organisations. ‘Cuts have hit charities
support or attention that many people
A former Shadow Minister for
encourages students to attend
‘The things you learn and the people you meet stay with you throughout the
me to study and think about things in a more rigorous way than I had done in
Thomas: King’s taught him to study
Tariq Goddard
critical acclaim and been shortlisted for
The Picture of
Horror Writing. His new literary
praised. ‘A remarkable and timely
subjects are diverse and unrestricted by
SPRING 2012 IN TOUCH 4544 IN TOUCH SPRING 2012
And remember you can registerat alumni.kcl.ac.uk to update your personal details
Sandra Harmer (now Hopkins)
I am now one of the organising tutors for the new degree in English Literature
University.
Susan Cromack (now Free)
Roger Paige
Recently published McPeevish in and A
David Williams
severely disabled child.
Simon Crowe
Will be retiring shortly to go scuba diving around the world.
John Goldhawk
Retired and still writing and travelling.
Peter King
I am Chairman of the AKC Alumni
Trevor Jones
once held the door open for me and
lecture of the day and this act perked me up forever.
Martin Kitchen
After a varied and interesting ministry in the Church of England I am now enjoying retirement in Northumberland.
Alison Mercer (now Sharvill)
Bonita Thomson
You
John Walsham
After retirement as head of an Essex
medieval history and Egyptology.
Bridget Dare (now Reasbeck)
Still working as a renal dietitian in Norwich. Postgraduate diploma in
Ruth Lass (now Lass-Hargreaves)
I have been performing as Ariel in
Theatre Company (www.jerrichohouse.
Michael Mather
Football Association Award for services to refereeing.
Fiona McPherson
Still singing and acting. Nothing high
Giles Morrison
Have begun reader training in the Church of England.
Stephen Roberts
Textuality rationality and the
Robert Ellison
decided that if you can speak French
Sao Paulo.
Melissa Baxter
Class notes
William Burn
Teacher at Nottingham High School
Anne-Sophie Carrara-Brocard
Puerto Rico and on six continents.
microbiology.
Stuart Whatton
fellowship diploma of the Royal College
ceremony at Southwark Cathedral. In
Music of Esher Parish Church in Surrey.
Siobhan Blake (now Monteith)
Diana Ford
I am now married and living in New
medicine in North Island.
Neelam Halari
machine.
Samantha Brooks
Have recently published a large
resonance imaging studies in
Jacqueline Davies
Having graduated from the Royal
I have commenced my new post as the Special Defence Advisor to the Ukraine Ministry of Defence.
Emily Mantell (now Taylor)
I am working as a physiotherapist for the Ministry of Defence in Portsmouth. I am now married and expecting our
Lyndsey Thorpe (now Hookway)
coordinator post in the country in a
I support families of sick and preterm neonates. See article in
Mark Bennett
girlfriend of nine years.
Priya Acharya
Pharmaceutical Analysis & Quality
I received my PhD in medicinal
thank all my past lecturers for my enthusiasm in chemistry!
Judy Chung
Relocating from London to Hong Kong.
Farzana Hussain
Hospital for GSTS Pathology as Senior
metabolic disease laboratory.
Kate Rosser
I were married in the College Chapel
surveyor working in the City and
Museum of London.
Sarah Saunders (now Doyle)
English and have been made
Edward Carling
I am a Fellow of the Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
who would like advice in this area.
Simon Castleden (now Henley-Castleden)
Left medical school and went into NHS management. Now General
South London Healthcare NHS
Attiq Munawar
I did MSc Food and Management
Campus. I would like to hear from anyone from the same class.
Martin Blain and Anna Pitts (now Blain)
Claire Benham (now Parkin)
engineering at Imperial College.
Sarah Nicolls
Concert pianist. Performances of new
wide. Senior Lecturer in Music at
Barry Norris
retired to Devon. Early days but I do hope to become involved in academic work at Exeter University in some form or other.
Charlotte Weetman (now Jones)
William Fearon
in recent months. Campaigning for fairer trade conditions for producers in the developing world and advocating
disease and stroke.
Graham Howard
Philip Sidnell
commissioning titles mainly on ancient
but any area of military history is of interest.
Samuel Chell
Helping the elderly and disabled as a member of Disability Cambridgeshire. Undertaking casual study of classics in general.
Arabella Harding
Engaged to Courtenay Reynolds
Angelina Mcfarlane (now Stephens)
Matthew Stephens. We met at
Ruth Taylor (now Delap)
Recently celebrated his baptism with
as godmothers.
Kristina Ward-Horner
Jill Brown
‘I knew that I wanted to help others and work with children. I was fascinated
physiotherapy and it combined all
diagnosed with a rare progressive
other side of the sheets”. I knew and understood my problems but the
and decide on treatment. Like my own
active and do my exercises. At times
refused to be beaten. ‘I learnt that we must all be prepared to adapt if necessary. When I became ill my life changed greatly but I was still
an active member of our local Access for
Keep going, keep active
Jill Brown and Yates: a familiar sight in their hometown of Salisbury
Muscular Dystrophy Group. I help at Sunday school and raise funds for Dogs
as
have been published in various
already! My advice to others in my
SPRING 2012 IN TOUCH 4746 IN TOUCH SPRING 2012
Author, radio host and TV personalityMichael Bukht
noted in its obituary. He was known to millions
. To another
was a founder and programme
and several special projects.
created the avuncular personality .
with .
institutions.In Touch makes every
and friends, family and former
mean we may have to edit the entries.
Terence George Boston
the House of Lords as part of Harold
As a member of the House of
leading the opposition on the proposed third airport to be located
he was Deputy Speaker and Chairman of Committees for many years in the Upper House. He chaired the
Aleixa Haslam
for Canada a year after completing her
in the depressed Chinatown section of
became highly respected among her peers and colleagues. She encouraged her patients to exercise and advocated
standard practice. She was
The Revd Harold Last AKC
Appointed College Organist and lecturer in New Testament Exegesis at
was presented with the challenge of
singers from other faculties and
there was a place in the radio landscape
wit in a conversational tone. Immediately after completing his
controller of both radio and television
AN
DR
EW
CR
OW
LE
Y
for advice on planning reunions and looking up old friends
ObituariesClass notes
College
Margaret Sachs (now Thresh)
Is there anyone out there who was at
Please get in touch.
Queen Elizabeth College
Phyllis McMellan (now Sluce)
representative on standards (technical committees involved with the safety and
helping with some research on clothing for walkers.
Royal Dental Hospital
Jeremy Barnett
now retired. MA in Modern History
Southampton.
Nick Malden
DDS from the University of Edinburgh. No immediate plans for any further
St Thomas’Stephen Taylor
GP in Walsall.
Timothy Milward
Fraser Alexander
What has happened to my
walking and gardening.
John Saunders
in the Department of Philosophy at UCL.
practice as a consultant anaesthetist
Hospital and joined the Royal Air Force.
came to New Zealand. I have worked as a consultant anaesthetist at Middlemore ever since.
Nigel Pearce
health and morbidity at sea. Studied town of Western Cape at St Helena last summer.
student freshers at the alma mater. Must
this year too.
Martin Walker
having to retire due to ill health.
UMDSSophie Brown (now Bennett)
Alex is a consultant otologist and I am
Joanne Ahern
regional planning.
Reem Ahmad
Currently doing an MSc in physics and engineering in medicine at UCL.
Benedict Bowden
Studying the Graduate Diploma in Law at Nottingham Law School.
Richard Bush
Award for the positive impact on
David Dacam
provisional acceptance granted me
Sarah Dunne
Management on their Marketing and Financial Promotions. Now in line for the account director position.
Caroline Pearce (now Shehu-Pearce)
in life.
Georgia Platman
After winning a student travel writing
Northern Peru section of the
Daniel Ross
I am doing the MSc Economic and Social History at Oxford and will be joining Greenhill & Co as an analyst in
Helen Yeomans (now Bonnick)
Having researched parent abuse for
holesinthewall.co.uk. Comments
Clare Henderson
College London; it has given me so many opportunities in my career pathway. Thank you.
Rebecca Stamps
cum laude.
Michael Vranic
ozpoultry.googlepages.com
Edmund White
Merton College Chapel.
Uma Shanker
Moving to India to start my own business in the role of CEO of ITK Systems Ltd.
Jigar Jogia
I am currently a postdoctoral
Graduate School Researcher
Birikit Terefe Tiruneh
He delivered classical music and cooking tips in a conversational, relaxed style
48 IN TOUCH SPRING 2012
educated at Ipswich School and attended
graduated with a First in Theology in
Theological College under the eye of
Woodbridge prior to his appointment to
George Edward Leach
Known to his students and friends as
thousands of students during the
moral and pastoral support to many
British stated. ‘No event was
always added to the spirit of the
who have made outstanding contributions to student life.
Peter Warren
Widely recognised as an authority
a junior lecturer in the Department
professor. He was steadily promoted until he became a full professor of
Association of Medical Education
Michael Treanor Michael Wynes AKC Christopher Lunn AKC Colin Penna Professor Kenneth Barnes Mathematics,
Robert Stirling Mervyn Curran Dr Philip Kingston Brian Dawson Canon Roger Mason Elizabeth Whebby (latterly Johnstone)
Penelope Redshaw Professor Joan Bliss Dr Una O’Farrell-Tate AKC (latterly O’Farrell) Richard Lloyd-Roberts
Claire Miskin (latterly Butter)
Laura Russell Dr John Youens Dr Rose Lucas
Simon Nicolle Christine Hanges AKC
Catherine Jones
Scott Lust Jessica Malcomson
Matthew Radford Francis Gallagher Law
Queen Elizabeth CollegeJill Knowlden (latterly Goddard) Nutrition
Alison Boulter (latterly Vince)
Michael Womersley
Royal Dental HospitalDouglas Munns Dennis Plint Basil Morcas Dr Derek Debuse Professor A Hamilton
St Thomas’Dr Frank Assinder Dr Robert Lloyd-Roberts Dr John Blaxill Peter Fenton
Guy’sDr Lionel Wright John Andrew Dr Philip Brightwell David Rayner Dr Peter Westcombe Dr John Greaves Thomas Walker John Barker Ronald Crisp Dr John Weaver Dr Neil Glendinning Dr Brian Latham David Endacott Dr David Sellman Colin Forsyth OBE Dr Richard Miles Dr David Carle Dr Peter Needham
Evan Jenkins
Institute of PsychiatryDr Celio Guercio
KCSDDr Roy Whitlock OBE
Margaret Austin Dr Brian Dixon-Warren Thomas Peacock Andrew Stanford
John Williams Richard Allen D Phillips (latterly Williams) Douglas Toose Sir Roy Harding CBE AKC Mathematics,
Dennis Hewett
Marianne Ascher
William Wilson John Bowron CBE Robert Dailey Professor Kenneth Andrews
Dr John Cornes Henry Warren AKC Dr Maurice Driver John Parton Denis Ryan Peter Newton Neil Clarke Trevor Windsor
puzzle… limerick
course were up late one evening studying for an upcoming exam. During a break they started
be great fun to devote one class to the series.
This led to a debate over the strengths and weaknesses of each
of the lot.
fewest number of steps you need to measure exactly
Could John McClane and Zeus Carver have solved this challenge?
In the previous issue of In Touchread about a maths professor who
loved them so much that he would occasionally include limerick challenges in his exams.
this you are going to give me a limerick
by a denominator of seven. That four
Divided by seven
InTouch
SPRING 2012 IN TOUCH 49
Logic Puzzle
Patrick Mollison CBE FRSPatrick Mollison
Patrick Mollison is widely recognised as one of the great pioneers of blood transfusion and his name will live on for generations through the textbook – now
sciences at Cambridge and then did
Depot in Sutton. He treated civilian casualties and carried out research to make transfusion safer. Working with
discovered that red cells last longer
with a tropical disorder.
Professor Mollison returned to
Hospital. He resumed research in a small room attached to the obstetrics
Council later established him as director
was renamed the Experimental
professor of haematology.
recent edition was published in
Mollison died.
GO
DF
RE
Y A
RG
EN
T/R
OY
AL
SO
CIE
TY
Obituaries
Professor Mollison
We always love to hear from our readers, so please drop us a line. The best letter wins
We reserve the right to edit for space and clarity. Write to [email protected]
InTouch,
Strand Bridge House,
GE
TT
Y
50 IN TOUCH SPRING 2012 SPRING 2012 IN TOUCH 51
MAURICE WILKINS REMEMBEREDAs a biochemistry
courses I opted for was molecular
lecture to be given by Professor
pioneers of the structure of DNA and a Nobel laureate.
I recall walking in through
seeing a rather dishevelled and
would be about my age now! – wandering around with a long tube in his hand. It struck me as
even a little out of place. I wondered who he was – the cleaner perhaps or the janitor.
Our group assembled in the lecture room and waited patiently
with an almost mythical
this elderly gentleman I had seen
I was struck immediately by his
gentleness and humility. I was in awe as he explained
rummaged in some rubbish and discovered this abandoned tube that belonged to a vacuum
that he thought it would be a great way to demonstrate to us the structure of the double helix! He had tied a piece of string to
he forced the tube to coil up on
memory I shall treasure forever.
I am not sure if it was
but to this day I cannot pass a skip without rummaging around to see
FROM THE STAGE TO THE SURGERY
after the deans of several medical
I consulted the Surrey Army
Mr Guy Cassie was very
Hospital and would ask him
Hunter after giving him a letter
Dean Hunter also said my
audition on the enormous
and pass the SUE exam
Cargill Prize for ophthalmology.
GREER GARSON’S VISIT DATEDI looked this up in my diary and saw that she visited on the afternoon on Monday
her talk was on ‘Filming
had been
THE WOMEN IN RED
In Touch
She told us that the decision
newsreels and newspapers and thus associated it with dramatic political events. Its impact was
As for the stunning scarlet
thunderous applause – in an
A MEMORABLE DAY – ST VALENTINE’S 1957
practical exam in the labyrinth
Department. This was much more innovative than the
integrated story. It was designed
distinguished geology educators
timetable was extended to allow us to attend a guest lecture by
and the leading proponent
geological circles.
became too embarrassed to continue the competition.
It was then back to the lab
prior to seeing the London
accompanied by
the worst I ever received!I am still in contact with many
members of the Geography Class
hear from any of the graduating
THE PASSING OF GEORGE VI
carrying an early edition of the with the
headline ‘THE KING IS
Early that grey February
when the cortege had passed
recollection I have is of noticing someone near me who had
last respects as I could have
A GIFT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF LONDON UNION
Noting in the most recent issue In Touch that I go back
University of London Union
Union had no proper building
The proposed building
the war. I believe that I am
though I have never been there.
Letters
PRIZE LETTER
Maurice Wilkins: a single tube and a double helix
The cortege of King George VI
GE
TT
Y I
MA
GE
S
The London, Midland & Scottish Railway brought me from Nottingham into the quiet echoes of St Pancras Station. The noise beyond – people,
a sooty blue haze. Through it, the sun
too. Urgent people bustled all around.
I thought, ‘This is where I want to
I grew up during the War in the coal-mining Midlands. My dad was
London growing up was a school trip
snapping Windsor Castle from the
about winning the seat next to your desired object on the train. Now,
lunch. This crowded chophouse would do – redolent
of school dinners: unappetising but familiar. With only one dish
my grey lamb chop,
52 IN TOUCH SPRING 2012
Never nowhere to go, never nothing to do
Southampton Row and Kingsway to
through the doors at what is now the Strand Campus. After that, it all became quite foreign.
Once installed that October,
and its friendly cafeteria. There I threw myself into the bubbling ferment that
the literary magazine Lucifer, the Jazz
except for a desolate period in the
smog has gone. The restaurants are
it free, is unbeatable, fabulous.
anywhere else.St Pancras Station in 1958, above; Patrick Daley, left, from his days as a student at King’s
LONDON & ME
LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT