People

Piano honours former student

The Lakeside Theatre has taken delivery of a new grand piano - in memory of a former student.

Alison Bower was a final-year Literature student who died in 1987. At the request of her family, friends and fellow-students, she was remembered by a University award. Presented annually the Alison Bower Award assisted students who were concerned with the performance and study of music, whether alone or in relation to dance, literature and other arts, reflecting Alison's own interest in music, dance and related subjects.

Alison's surviving family have now decided to continue her legacy by providing a permanent memorial to her. Dr Joe Allard of the Department of Literature, Film and Theatre Studies explained: 'The Heinberg grand piano arrived at the Wivenhoe Park campus last month and will be based in the Lakeside Theatre for use during performances and concerts. The Award has helped numerous students over the past 20 years but the piano will now provide a fitting and enduring memorial to Alison and marks the contribution she made during her life to music and dance.'

The piano will be fitted with a plaque and a reception to mark its arrival is being organised for the new academic year.

The Alison Bower piano

Honeymoon with a difference

Two Wivenhoe residents connected to the University through work and study are soon to set off on a honeymoon of overland travel and volunteering work.

Sarah McCaskey, of Aimhigher in External Relations and Bob Mehew, an Economics graduate will spend their honeymoon on the road. They plan to travel overland by train and bus from Wivenhoe to India via Europe, Poland, Russia, China, Siberia, Tibet and Nepal. Once they arrive in Southern India they will spend some time volunteering at The Russ Foundation near Madurai in Tamil Nadu.

The Russ Foundation was initially set up to provide a home for orphaned or disadvantaged children in 1993. Since then it has become a focus for the community, providing training workshops to revive the skills of the area and craft employment for local women. Through its Community Action Programme, the foundation helps to alleviate some of the problems which result from isolation and community neglect, bringing alternative livelihoods, health care and education to an otherwise poorly developed area.

The Foundation relies on volunteers and donations, and if you would like to sponsor Sarah and Bob on their trip please see www.sarahandbobindia.blogspot.com. For more information on the Foundation visit www.russfoundation.org.

Wivenhoe Town and Gown bursary awarded

Funds raised at the Wivenhoe Town and Gown Dinner have provided a £500 bursary that was presented to Zarine Russell.

 Zarine, currently studying for her BA in Latin American Studies with Human Rights, will use the bursary towards her forthcoming year abroad in Colombia. Her cheque was presented by Cllr Penny Kraft, Mayor of Wivenhoe, and the University’s Vice Chancellor.

The Town and Gown Dinner, set up in 2005 by the then Mayor and Mayoress of Wivenhoe, Tom Roberts and Dilly Meyer, provides funds for a deserving student resident in Wivenhoe at the time of allocation. The dinner, held at Wivenhoe House, includes an after dinner speaker.

The next Town and Gown Dinner will be hosted by the Mayor of Wivenhoe, Cllr Dave Purdey on Friday 16 November. If you want to support this worthwhile event and forge better links between the University and the town of Wivenhoe, please contact Dilly Meyer, e-mail dilly@essex.ac.uk.

Also in the printed June edition of Wyvern:

• World experts on campus
• Retirements
• Around Essex