People

Lighting up Local History

A newly published book, written by a long-time member of University's staff, will shortly be shedding a little light on the history of street lighting in Colchester. Ken Rickwood, of the Physics Centre, has worked at the University for 28 years and has lived in Colchester for over 35 years. The author of many scientific publications and an enthusiastic local interest film-maker, this is his first attempt at combining his interests in history and technology.

In his book Lighting up Colchester Ken traces the development of lighting technology as seen through the events in Colchester.

'Until the end of the eighteenth century the only outdoor lighting in Colchester was provided by lamps operated by the owners or occupiers of the buildings to which they were attached.' Today, there are 'over twelve thousand public lamps in the Borough of Colchester, each lighted for over four thousand hours per year.' The developments made in street-light technology during the interim years are extraordinary and well deserved documentation.

Using old photographs and town records it took Ken over a year to research and write the book which is expected to be well received by local history enthusiasts in the Colchester area.

Lighting Up Colchester by Ken Rickwood, is published by Lessenden.

Eld Lane, ca.1900

Plotlands unearthed

Basildon's Plotlands is the title of a new book exploring a specific area of Essex history. Written by Deanna Walker from the Academic Section, the book traces the history of the plotlands from the 1890s to the 1990s.

As a result of the agricultural depression at the end of the nineteenth century, farmland in several parts of Essex, including Laindon, was divided into small plots and sold at auction. They were mainly bought by Londoners in search of weekend rural retreats. Amongst those who bought plots were Deanna's family. Her parents owned a plotland in Langdon Hills for more than 30 years. The land is now incorporated into the new town and modern housing has been built where the wooden huts of the plotlands once stood.

Deanna, who graduated from the Department of History in 1988, joined the University's Admissions Office in 1989 before moving to the Academic Section in 1992. This is her first book and initially it started out as something she decided to do for her family, drawing on their memories, as well as her own, of time spent at the plotlands: 'I wanted to get some of the older members of my family's memories down on paper and collect together their photographs and any old documents. I was delighted by their response and produced a book for the family. Various people then suggested I contact a publisher because there has been little written about the plotlands, and what there has been normally focuses on the lives of the permanent residents from the 1920s-1940s.'

Deanna went on to explain that the book has a light-hearted side too as she remembers many muddy adventures and there is a walking tour of the area based on her memories which readers can take.

Basildon's Plotlands by Deanna Walker is published by Phillimore and Co.

Children in Need

Staff and students from across the University raised more than £2,000 for Children in Need this year.

Here are details of some of the activities that took place:

Children help Children

Children from the day nursery helped raise a total of £309 for children less fortunate than themselves.

Staff and children alike donated £1 to Children in Need so that they could come to the nursery in fancy dress on Friday 16 November. A variety of colourful characters turned up including a pirate, a nurse and a sheriff.

The children and staff also baked cakes that were sold in the nursery foyer and held a raffle.

Children from the University Day Nursery

Fancy Dress and Fundraising

Bob the Builder and the Teletubbies all did their bit for charity recently when they helped raise a total of £528 for Children in Need.

Staff from the South Courts student residences donned a variety of wacky costumes to raise money for the national charity event and collected on campus. Vice-Chancellor Professor Ivor Crewe was just one of those who dug deep into his pockets to aid their cause and drop change into La La's collection bucket.

Bob the Builder, alias Peter Holloway, said: 'We are delighted with the amount we have raised and with the generosity of those on campus.'

Vice-Chancellor Professor Ivor Crewe with staff from 
South Courts Accommodation

Students raise £1,400

The Students' Union raised an amazing £1,400 for Children in Need this year. The activities were organised throughout the week leading up to Children in Need and included a raffle, money collections, a vodka lottery and a slave auction all of which were well supported. The students also involved local pupils from Broomgrove Infants School, organising a colouring competition for them.

Some of the student fundraisers for this year's Children in Need

Cakes for cash

Staff from the Department of Electronic Systems Engineering baked cakes for Children in Need and sold them to raise more than £120.

One of the supporters of the ESE cake bake

 

Also in the printed December edition of Wyvern:

• Lord Slynn lectures for Essex
• 'Two weeks in the life of…'