News

East 15 stars step into the limelight

East 15 alumni are continuing to appear in prestigious roles on film, television, stage and radio across the UK and around the world with one starring as legendary runner Roger Bannister.

BA Acting graduate Jamie MacLachlan (right) stars as the British athlete, who made history in 1954 by running a mile in under four minutes, in the television film Four Minutes. The movie also stars veteran screen and stage actor Christopher Plummer as Bannister’s coach.

Jamie said: ‘Being offered the role of Roger Bannister was a massive landmark for me, just like breaking the four minute mile was for him. It was an amazing experience and working with Christopher Plummer was fantastic, from the first read-through the hairs on the back of my neck were on end!’

Four Minutes will be available on DVD in 2006.

East 15 alumni can also be seen on British television screens as BA in Acting graduate Bryony Afferson (right) currently appears in Channel 4’s new drama series Totally Frank. Bryony plays one of four main leads in this twenty-six part drama that chronicles the fictional lives of four girls forming a band.

In addition BA in Contemporary Theatre graduate Toby Alexander (below) is working on a new film about Hannibal Lecter, currently called Young Hannibal. Toby initially auditioned for this whilst still at East 15 and is delighted to receive a film part so soon after his debut stage role in Kingfisher Blue at London’s Bush Theatre.

East 15 postgraduate Trevor Cuthbertson, soon to graduate from the MA in TV, Film, and Radio, has just finished a contract with BBC Radio in his first radio drama. This production was so well received that he has now been offered a second new drama with the BBC.

Other graduates have found success at the recent Edinburgh Festival with no fewer than six productions by East 15 alumni. The Edinburgh Film Festival saw the successful premier of Scottish independent film GAMERZ, with Ross Finbow, a BA in Acting graduate, as the lead.

New backing for health provision

The University’s health provision has been given a boost with the signing of a five-year deal with the Workforce Development Confederation (WDC).

Registrar Dr Tony Rich signed the agreement with the Chief Executive of the WDC in October.

The WDC works with the local NHS and educational institutions to help plan and develop the whole health and social care workforce. It has previously supported the Department of Health and Human Science’s programmes on an annual basis. This five-year deal has been negotiated by Professor Kimmy Eldridge with input from Michelle Gallifent, Director of Education Development and Commissioing, who has worked hard to improve the plurality of health provision in Essex.

Head of Department, Professor Gill Green commented: ‘We are delighted to cement our partnership with the NHS by signing this contract. We have been working towards achieving such a sound base for the Department for some time and feel that this now puts the University firmly on the map as a major provider of health education and training.’

Award for campus posties

The University’s Post Office has been named top branch for customer service in the southern region, in the Best Post Office Awards 2005.

This competition, which post offices from across the country enter, is judged by representatives from Postwatch, the National Federation of Subpostmasters and Post Office Ltd. They consider sales figures, customer votes and feedback in order to choose regional winners, who are then put forward to a national final that names the best post office in the UK.

The Post Office staff with Jon Archer, Sales Account Manager, presenting the award

Jean Goulding, Post Office manager at the University, said: ‘We would like to thank all the staff and students for their support and their votes. We are so pleased to have been given this award and are really looking forward to attending the final in London!’

In recognition of this honour, the University’s Post Office staff were presented with a commemorative shield and will share a prize of £750 in vouchers.

Also in the printed November edition of Wyvern:

• Lift off for new computer labs
• Essex ranks in the top ten for teaching
• Royal reach
• Teething troubles for pay and display
• Musical launch for enterprise scheme
• Careers events in demand
• Courses help staff increase skills
• Accreditation for acting course
• Coffee morning funds for Macmillan nurse
• Charity work going swimmingly!
• Ramadan marked on campus
• An exploration of faith
• Linguistic rights
• Nepal study wins award
• Southend celebrates success
• Sports scientists audit obesity scheme
• Conference evaluates SPRInTA