People

 

End of double trouble for Sports Science staff

Sports Science staff may be sorry to see them go, but there will be some relief when six particular students graduate this year.

For the past three years, staff have had to contend with three sets of identical twins all studying for their BSc in Sports and Exercise Science, along with 82 other students.

They are Jackie and Joy Crossley from Ipswich, Rob and Chris Hopgood from Chelmsford, and James and Scott Fitzgerald from Tiptree.

Jackie and Joy Crossley

For the Hopgood twins, it was never an option not to go to the same university. ‘We are both so similar and both like the same things, so when we looked around Essex it seemed right for us and we didn’t want to go where the other one wasn’t,’ explained Rob.

Whilst being identical caused problems at first, Rob said friends and lecturers got to tell them apart over time.

The twins will continue their link with Essex into the summer as they still plan to play for the University’s football team before the new undergraduates start in October. Their goal is to both become primary school teachers and they will spend a year doing work experience before starting teacher training next year.

Rob and Chris Hopgood

The Crossley twins have also enjoyed their time at Essex. They both had the University as one of their choices, but when they both got conditional offers for Essex, they decided to go together.

‘It has been such fun here,’ explained Jackie. ‘I am so sorry for people who do not get the chance to experience university life.’
After graduating, Jackie plans to take a year out teaching in South Korea before returning home to do a Masters. Her sister Joy is keen to start work in the sports sector.

Keeping it in the family

Next month’s graduation ceremonies will be a very special time for the students and their families who come to celebrate their success.

But for one Essex student, the ceremony will be more of a family occasion than most. In fact, it will be a trip down memory lane.

Jonny Allen, who is completing a degree in Accounting and Management at the Essex Business School, is following a family tradition by studying at the University.

His parents David and Janice (nee Parker) met when they both studied economics between 1965 and 1969 at the University and have been together ever since. After graduating, they moved to London, before settling in Surrey.

When Jonny was first thinking about going to university, his parents suggested he go to the open day at Essex. He liked what he saw and will now be among the 2,000 fellow students graduating at ceremonies from 15-17 July.

The University today is a world away from what greeted his parents in the 1960s when they started studying at Essex’s original Colchester Campus. Then, most of the teaching was at Wivenhoe House and only a few of the Towers had been built by the time they graduated.

‘When my parents have visited me here they have been amazed at the massive changes. When they saw the new Ivor Crewe Lecture Hall they were shocked at how different the campus now looked,’ said Jonny.

Professor gears up for charity bike challenge

Professor Peter Lynn is in training for a charity bike ride from London to Paris next month.

Although a regular cyclist, who uses his bike to get to work and for journeys around town, this is the first time he has taken on a challenge involving cycling such a long distance.

He will be among 80 cyclists taking part in the 270-mile, three-day event, organised by the Big Issue Foundation.

Peter, of the Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER), wanted to take part in the event after getting involved in the Big Issue many years ago when he worked on a study of homelessness in London.

‘That really opened my eyes to how lucky I was and how easy it is to slip into a spiral of events leading to homelessness,’ explained Peter. ‘That is where the Big Issue Foundation comes in with their excellent work supporting people in their search for homes and jobs.’

Peter hopes to raise £1,300. To sponsor him visit: www.justgiving.com/peterlynn.

Vice-Chancellor helps support refugee academics

Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Riordan took part in a Cambridge-London cycle event last month to raise awareness about the torture and killing of academic staff throughout the world.

As a keen cyclist who regularly cycles between 40-60 miles most Sundays, the 62-mile challenge was one he could easily take in his stride.

He joined more than 70 staff and students from universities throughout the UK for the event, which was in aid of CARA (Council for Assisting Refugee Academics).

The Vice-Chancellor hopes to raise about £1,500 from the event. To sponsor Professor Riordan visit: www.justgiving.com/colinriordan.

Also in the printed June edition of Wyvern:

• Retirements: Wendy Fryer
• SU appoints new Chief Executive
• First doctorate for Southend Campus
• International trips for Essex expert on refugee care