Alumni Newsletter: October 2020

In this edition: we celebrate alumni honoured in the Queen’s birthday honours; a medical student is recognised for their campaign to promote mental wellbeing; alumni share their memories of ‘The Rathbone Beetle’; and we celebrate the unique legacy history of the Liverpool campus.

Alumni recognised in Queen's Birthday Honours

Professor Calum Semple (pictured) was recently awarded an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours for his services to the COVID-19 response. He is joined by a distinguished list of alumni, who also received honours, among them alumnus and Honorary Graduate Professor Phil Redmond CBE FRSA who received a knighthood for services to Broadcasting and Arts in the Regions.

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Our Liverpool Legacy Story

The University of Liverpool was founded in 1881, thanks to philanthropy, public spirit, jam and sugar. Our story further explores the story of the University#YourLiverpoolLegacy.

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The Art of John and Yoko

The first online event in our new 'Yoko Series' took place on 9 October to mark what would have been John Lennon's 80th birthday. Former BBC Radio Merseyside Broadcaster Roger Phillips and Dr Holly Tessler, Lecturer and Beatles expert discussed the art and enduring legacy of John Lennon. The online event is now available to view.

Watch event

The Rathbone 'Beetle'

In February 1964, student group 'The Rathbone Beatles' took part in the Panto Day Procession aboard their home-made float 'The Rathone Beetle'. The video, created by colleagues in the Victoria Gallery and Museum to mark the 80th birthday of John Lennon, was assembled from photgraphs from the University's Library and Archives. It prompted one of our alumni to get in touch and tell us what she remembers about of the day.

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New study highlights COVID-19 health risks

A Liverpool-led study provides evidence that the 'twinfection' of influenza followed by COVID-19 may exacerbate the health risks associated with COVID-19.

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Hangzhou Alumni Meet-Up

Alumni in Hangzhou joined together at Brew Gang Kitchen & Craft Beer. Alumnus and host, Mr Weizhi Wang (MSc International Business 2013), co-owner of Brew Gang, met with 23 alumni to reminisce with a special viewing of the “University of Liverpool – The Original Redbrick” video.

Shanghai Flower Arrangement

In Shanghai, 20 alumni attended a flower arrangement event. The special event was hosted by W.J. Serendipity, owned by alumna Ms Joanna You (MSc Human Resource Management, 2014). It was a new experience for the majority of attendees with everyone enjoying the activity, and they proudly took their own flower arrangements home with them.

Liverpool student honoured by Prime Minister for mental health campaign

Medical student Shantanu Kundu received a 'Points of Light' award from the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, for his 'Be Free Campaign', a programme he created to reduce the stigma around mental health and promote mental wellbeing among young people.

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Events

Professor Tom Solomon's Scouse Science Podcast with guest Andy Burnham and Dr Emily Adams

Tuesday 3 November, 1:30pm - 2:30pm

Join Professor Tom Solomon as he hosts a regular discussion on Coronavirus and its impact on science and society in Liverpool. His guests this time are Mayor of Greater Manchester and former Secretary of State for Health, Andy Burnham, and Dr Emily Adams, an expert in diagnostics for infectious diseases from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.

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Liverpool Responds: Health Inequalities

Wednesday 4 November, 10am -11am

Join us for the next event in the Liverpool Responds series. Liverpool Responds: Addressing Health Inequalities will be led by Professor Iain Buchan, Chair in Public Health and Clinical Informatics and Executive Dean of the Institute of Population Health. It will be a hard hitting session looking at the region’s health inequalities, already some of the worst in the UK, and worsening rapidly with COVID-19 and responses to it. The event will explore a tale of different pandemics across divides – rich and poor, young and old, BAME and White British, North and South.

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Lunchtime Concert Series

Every Wednesday, 1pm

This Autumn the Lunchtime Concert Series is proud to present some of our very best instrumental tutors performing an exciting range of repertoire in their flagship SSL Studio. The concerts also showcase the continuation and creativity of our wonderful partnerships with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and the Solem Quartet. Join us on Wednesday 4 November at 1pm for the next concert featuring Rachel Harland (soprano) and Ian Buckle (piano) who will be performing a selection of English and French songs.

Catch up on all the concerts you may have missed and details on how to tune in are here.

Women's Leadership PIN: Women’s Leadership, Better or Just Different? A Covid-19 Test Case

Thursday 5th November, 1pm - 2pm

To coincide with the Management School’s recent Bronze Athena Swan award and the relaunch of the Women’s Leadership Professional Interest Network, join Professor Supriya Garikipati and a panel of experts who will be discussing the topic of female leadership in the context of COVID-19. 

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Sports Management PIN: Fan Engagement in Times of Covid-19

Thursday 12th November, 4pm - 5pm

Like so many sectors and industries, the world of sport has taken a huge hit in the wake of COVID-19. The Sports Management Professional Interest Network is delighted to present a panel of experts who will be discussing the topic of fan engagement during the pandemic and what it will look like in the context of the ‘new normal’.

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Science in the Snug: Analytical Chemistry on TV- Fact or Fiction?

Thursday 12th November, 4pm - 5pm

We’ve all seen an analyst simply place a sample on the instrument and it appears to provide incredible results instantly within a modern TV show. Is this fact or fiction?

During this lecture Professor Peter Myers will describe several key analytical techniques used in the labs at the University of Liverpool. He will explore how the techniques work, the real results that they provide and more importantly, how they relate to you and your life. Professor Myers will take a closer look at how during this pandemic, instrumentation is being used and developed further to analyse tests, to lead to a greater understanding of COVID-19.

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George Harrison: Transcending The Beatles

Friday 27 November, 1pm - 2pm

Join Broadcaster Roger Philips and Dr Michael Jones, Beatles expert and Lecturer in the Music Department at the University of Liverpool as they discuss the career of George Harrison, both as a Beatle and as a solo artist. They’ll discuss George’s interest in Indian classical music and how his fascination for the music and spirituality of the Indian sub-continent profoundly influenced the direction of the Beatles music. They’ll also consider George’s solo career, including George’s most successful album, ‘All Things Must Pass’, released on 27 November 1970, and his Concert for Bangladesh in 1971.

This event forms part of the University of Liverpool’s ‘Yoko Series’, a series of online events specially commissioned to mark the highly-anticipated opening of the Yoko Ono Lennon Centre in late 2021, as well as the launch of the MA in ‘The Beatles, Music and Heritage’ in Autumn 2021. The events will celebrate the ongoing legacy that Yoko and The Beatles have with City, and indeed, with the University of Liverpool.

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In Memoriam

John Kitson

The University was saddened to learn of the passing of John Kitson on 18 September 2020. John will be remembered by all at Liverpool for the many years which he dedicated to his career at the University, for the warmth and humour which he brought to many colleagues, and for the hours he devoted to mentoring and advising new academic, technical and administrative staff.

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Emeritus Professor Roy Duckworth CBE

The University was saddened to hear of the passing of Emeritus Professor Roy Duckworth CBE (BDS 1952, MBChB 1959, MD 1964). Roy died peacefully on 16 September 2020, aged 91, and will be remembered as a valued member of the School of Medicine community and for his contribution as Dean of the Royal London Medical School. 

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