.gif)
No 9 - Autumn 2001
Estimados Amigos,
That's how Carlos Pons greets us and I thought it had a nice ring to it. Actually, it's really good that so many of you are in touch, not just from Ecuador but from all over the world and in so many different ways; telephone, email, fax and carrier pigeon...OK, I'm exaggerating. Let's sit down calmly and I'll tell you what's been happening in Buckingham since you last heard news of International Studies.
A large contingent from the School attended the Alumni gathering in London on 22nd June. Glen Greener travelled up from Buckingham, together with Penka Marinova, Mr Rees, Mr McCrostie and Linda Waterman and there we met Dr Ridley, Dr Skinner, Nigel Hawkins, Kevin Daly, Rashbinder Nagra, Dela Wosornu, Marina Ganeva and Daniel Day, to name but a few. It was a good evening.
In August, we had the Christmas barbecue as usual. It bucketed down with rain all day and at 16:00. we even had thunder and lightning. However, despite all sorts of pessimistic recommendations to invest in a boat, to leave the country, or, quite simply, to cancel, Mr McCrostie kept faith and he was absolutely right because about 30 minutes before we were due to start cooking it cleared up and was fine until well after nightfall and the consumption of the last veggie burger. In fact, we thought afterwards that it was the best ever, with over sixty of us, past and present, students and members of staff, in attendance.
A month later, we braved the elements again, this time to have the International Studies photograph taken; same venue, same people, same lucky break in the weather. Obviously that Mr McCrostie has led a blameless life.
The next big event was the Open Day, celebrating twenty-five years since the inception of the University. We had a busy time on the International Studies stand with lots of you dropping by to say hello. David Gabriel came along, as did Leanda Simpson and Tina Asu, all from more than 20 years ago. Who remembers Sylvia from the Library, Betty from the Print Room and John the carpenter? You do? Good. It means you're nearly as old as I am. They were all there, together with current students and some who plan to start Buckingham degree programmes in January, 2002. At the end of the day, the Vice-Chancellor, Dr Kealey, officiated at the free International Studies draw. Against a backdrop of balloons, he picked the winning ticket, which belonged to Mrs Heather Allcock, from Winslow, who won the first prize of a golden sovereign, generously donated by Mr Malcolm Rees. Do you think perhaps the University's paying him too much? Mrs Allcock immediately delighted us by becoming a Friend of Buckingham.
Asita Amighi, Hiro Kushiya, Chiho Hara and William Mincione have all been in touch and Edward Major and Mark Rogers both gave seminars in the Summer 2001 International Studies programme. Anthony Yauieb writes to tell us that he's home again after successfully completing his masters at Oxford; he'll be back next year for graduation.
Lushani Kodituwakku, née Mellawa and Sanjaya have a baby boy, born on 13th September, Xu Zhao graduated with an MSc in Finance from Warwick, Isabel Keen (née Niblett) has raised £151,323 (figure correct on 7th November, 2001 - visit the website on www.eigerchallenge.com for up-to-date information) for Motor Neurone victims, inspired by Stephen Hands (AFM 88) who has been suffering from the disease for five years now. Mike Ng is working in Dubai and doing well, Ruprecht von Heusinger is busy with alumni matters and is planning a sabbatical to complete his habilitation. Elizabeth Ahlefeldt-Laurvig and Ebsen Jensen sent best wishes after meeting Louise Hammond from the Library during her recent visit to Denmark. Gabriel Mendy writes that he's a father again, calling his new daughter after his own mother, Joanna. Christopher Miller is changing careers. Anifah Aman is now a Deputy Minister of Primary Industries in Malaysia. Erhan Erer has married and moved to Australia, where he's working for JP Morgan. Ian Bernstein emerged shaken but unscathed from his Morgan Stanley office on the sixtieth floor of the second tower of the World Trade Centre to send us a reassuring email. Mustapha Daureeawoo came to Buckingham to see us, as did Filippo Friedenberg, who accompanied his sister, Alberta, whose son Nicolo Zanotti, is due to start an economics degree here in January 2002. Filippo tells us that the trees on the golf course in Buckingham have grown unbelievably in the twenty years since he last saw them. He can no longer identify the house on Page Hill where he lived, but remembers his favourite pub perfectly. (It was the Mitre.)
And so, on to the next generation of trees, and golf courses, and Buckingham students. Don't forget to send us your friends, business associates and relatives if there are any who want a degree in two years from a small, friendly department that will make them very welcome.
Don't forget to send us your news too because we love to hear
and that's what will make the next newsletter interesting for your
peers. Until then, Happy Christmas and very best wishes for the new
year from everyone in International Studies at
Buckingham.