News
Leyton Orient v Homerton College
Published: Mon, 13/05/2013 - 11:16
Who would have guessed that Homerton College was instrumental in the founding of one of England's most famous football clubs? Of course the link is clear enough when you know that Homerton was based in Homerton High Street, London, before 1894 and that Leyton Orient was previously called Clapton Orient.
The key period for the foundation of Leyton Orient comes in 1881 when members of the College established the Glyn Cricket Club. The name of Glyn's Bank was synonymous with cricket at this time, when the Bank's senior partner was the 1st Lord Hillingdon. In 1886 it changed its name to the Eagle Cricket Club and two years later, after a particularly successful season, they formed a football section to keep the players fit during the winter months, renaming the club Clapton Orient, to later become Leyton Orient.
Every year Homerton students play against Leyton Orient Supporters Club for the Challenge Trophy in celebration of the founding of the club in 1881. The report of the match played on the 5th May 2013 is here:
Homerton started the brighter of the two teams but lost their influential right side mid-fielder with a torn hamstring and struggled to create many chances from then on. Leyton Orient won a penalty mid-way through the 1st half which they converted, and then added a second goal just before half time to go in 2 – 0 up at the break.
After an even fifteen minutes players started to tire due to the heat and Orient made several substitutions. Unfortunately Homerton were handicapped by having a squad of only 13 players and paid the price by conceding 2 more goals towards the end of the game.
The 4 – 0 score line was perhaps not a true reflection of the game but once again it was a thoroughly enjoyable match played in the best spirit.
Homerton alumnus to write a piece for the Cheltenham Music Festival
Published: Thu, 09/05/2013 - 09:35
Since reading music at Homerton College, Cambridge from 2002-2005, David Ӧnaç has focussed on composition. He remained at Homerton for an additional year to complete an M.Phil in Composition (with Robin Holloway, 2005-6), then completed an MMUS in Composition at the Royal Northern College of Music (with Adam Gorb, 2006-7) and has recently completed his Ph.D in Composition at the University of Manchester (with Camden Reeves).
Pieces written during David’s compositional studies have received high profile performances, including renowned pianist Peter Donohoe’s performance of Four Études (for solo piano) in Brussels, and the performance of Beginnings (for flute, viola and harp) by principals from the BBC Philharmonic. Three of the pieces written for David’s Ph.D (an orchestral piece entitled From Different Places, a work for violin and piano named after his goddaughter Ayla, and his piano concerto Newton’s Cradle) also received the prestigious Royal Philharmonic Society Composition Prize 2012. This award takes the form of a commission to write a piece for this year’s Cheltenham Music Festival. The new work, David’s sixth string quartet, will be premiered by the Carducci Quartet on 8th July 2013.
Whilst pursuing his academic studies, David has also maintained his performance activities as a pianist. He plays an established classical repertoire - he completed his LRSM in piano performance with distinction whilst pursuing his Ph.D - and frequently premiers those of his compositions which feature piano, such as his piano concerto in March 2012 at the New Music Northwest Festival in Manchester. Additionally, he has been pursuing his interest in jazz and gospel. In the past few years, he has been the Musical Director for several gospel choirs in Manchester, and one of these (Manchester Harmony Gospel Choir) won the University Gospel Choir of the Year 2012 competition in London. David has also written for gospel choir, and subsequent to the competition, his piece The Heavens Declare was broadcast on BBC Radio 2.
Dr Penny Barton to become Homerton's next Senior Tutor
Published: Fri, 03/05/2013 - 09:07
Dr Penny Barton has been Graduate Tutor at Homerton since 2002. She has been instrumental in taking forward the rapid expansion of our diverse Higher Degree student body, created from small beginnings in 2001, as well as to act as Tutor for the Higher Degree students, and Director of Studies for first year Physical Sciences undergraduates.
She is also a Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Earth Sciences, specialising in seismic imaging of the interior of the Earth's crust and lithosphere.
Of her appointment to Senior Tutor Penny said “I am both excited and honoured to have been appointed as the new Senior Tutor at Homerton. The students are what makes Cambridge so special, and it will be a privilege to work closely with the fantastic student community at Homerton, as well as our expanding Fellowship and non-academic staff. It has been fascinating being here for the last decade of extraordinary change, learning from the senior team who steered the College through to its Royal Charter. We have climbed one steep slope and are now beginning yet another new phase, planning the route onwards and upwards! I’m looking forward to getting started”.
Homerton student fights back
Published: Wed, 03/04/2013 - 08:26
Gavin Garland is a 3rd year PhD student here at Homerton but Gavin’s story started when he was a child growing up in Coventry. At the age of 15 Gavin was diagnosed with a malignant cancer, a B-cell lymphoma, which progressed rapidly spreading to lymph nodes within his neck.
Following remission at the age of 16 he returned to school and, after much hard work, gained a place to study for a BSc (Hons) in Cell Biology at Durham University. During this time Gavin spent a summer at the University of Birmingham conducting research into Mixed Lineage Leukaemia (MLL, a predominantly childhood blood cancer). Having been bitten by the research bug Gavin then applied for a PhD project in the Department of Pathology at the University of Cambridge, where he works today.
The Research is led by Dr Suzanne Turner and focuses on understanding the mechanisms that underlie the initiation and progression of a childhood T-cell lymphoma known as T-cell Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL). Gavin’s area of research explores the mechanisms responsible malignant conversion within ALCL cells at the molecular level. His work looks at characterising how the mutant gene that is associated with this cancer hijacks the molecular machinery which would normally enable the cell to interpret the genetic information that it contains, subtly disrupting its function so that the cell loses control of its proliferation and self-regulation, setting it on a course to become cancerous. This is known as oncogene-induced epigenetic dysregulation and represents a promising target for the development of novel drugs that can interfere with these pathways and prevent an enforced programme of cancerous cell growth.
Gavin says “My personal experience of facing up to cancer as a patient has led me down a career path where I can confront cancer as a research scientist, and I count myself very fortunate to have been afforded the opportunity to fight back against this disease. One of the charities that has made this possible and supports our research financially, along with the pioneering blood cancer research of many laboratories in the UK, is Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research".
"On 21 April I will be running the Virgin London Marathon 2013 to raise funds for the great cause of Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research, an ambition I’ve had since hospital physiotherapists helped me to get on my feet again after my disease had made me too weak to walk more than a few steps. The slogan for the charity’s running team this year is ‘Together we’re unstoppable’. Quite honestly, after 26.2 miles around London I can’t imagine stopping will be my biggest obstacle!”
For more information on Leukaemia & Lymphoma Reseach go to http://leukaemialymphomaresearch.org.uk/
To sponsor Gavin Garland go to http://www.justgiving.com/Gavin-Garland1
Homerton College Allotment Society is blossoming!
Published: Tue, 26/03/2013 - 09:54
Homerton College Allotment Society was set up in October 2011 by the Homerton Union of Students then Environmental Officer, Heather Plumpton. From humble beginnings in a greenhouse on college grounds it has now expanded and is currently based on Holbrook Road where an allotment plot is rented from the Rock Allotment Society.
The site had been neglected for several years so many a long hour has been spent ploughing, weeding and clearing. In true ‘good life’ fashion old desks and wooden pallets have been recycled in the form of compost heaps and a potential tool shed, which is still in the design phase...
A recent feature on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire’s Gardening Hour resulted in an appeal to listeners for spare tools and equipment and proved to be such a successful slot that the society has been asked to contribute as a regular feature on the show! So next time you’re reading your Sunday paper why not turn on the lunchtime radio and tune into BBC Radio Cambridge’s Gardening Hour for an update on the Homerton College Allotment Society.
Homerton Fellow is part of research team developing a fluorescent spray that can detect early oesophageal cancer.
Published: Thu, 14/03/2013 - 10:52
Dr André Neves, Director of Studies in Biological Sciences and Fellow of Homerton College has been working with a group of gastroenterologists to develop a fluorescent dye spray which sticks to healthy cells in the oesophagus (food pipe) but cannot attach itself to cancer cells or those in the early stages of turning cancerous.
The disease, which killed Morse star John Thaw, is one of the most deadly cancers because it is often wrongly diagnosed and can remain undetected meaning many patients require unnecessarily invasive treatment. This new spray will give hope to more than 8,000 Britons who are diagnosed each year with oesophageal cancer by providing an early indication of where the cancer is developing.
Dr Neves, Principal Scientific Officer at Cancer Research UK, said:
“Oesophageal cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage and because of that has one of the worse prognoses, with a 5-year survival of under 10%. Detecting the disease earlier may allow clinicians to intervene at a stage when a curative treatment is still possible, saving patient lives and reducing health care costs”.
Cambridge Cougars win their first Varsity match!
Published: Thu, 07/03/2013 - 12:46
Cheerleading is taking off at Cambridge University and with 6 Homerton girls making up the 27 members of the Cambridge University squad we have something to shout about! Homerton has provided each of its cheerleading students with funding towards the cost of their uniforms which they are now wearing with pride. Cambridge Cougars have won several competitions in the past and frequently rank highly. Their most recent competition saw them placed 2nd out of 24 teams at All Girl Level 2, a great achievement for a relatively new team.
The first ever varsity match between Cambridge Cougars and Oxford's The Sirens took place on 24th February with The Cougars taking the trophy. The varsity match will mean that hopefully in the future the sport will be recognised by the universities and the participants will be able to become a 'Blue'.
Click here to view the Cambridge Cheerleading website
Click here to like Cambridge Cougars on Facebook or follow them on Twitter
Rowing Roundup
Published: Thu, 07/03/2013 - 10:37
Lent Bumps
Since the 19th Century the good, the bad and sometimes the downright ugly have donned their college colours in the form of tight lycra to compete in the Cambridge Bumps. Last week saw Homerton row to glory in Lents with three of our four boats moving up, W2 by 5 places and M1 getting blades! Number 7 in M1 boat summarised perfectly the feeling on day 3 as "Full of excitement, although not for all the right reasons".
Look out Mays Homerton have arrived!
The Boat Race
An historic weigh-in took place on Monday 4th March when the Women's and Men's Blues boats weighed in together for the first time. Oxford Men's crew only just out-weighing the Cambridge Men's crew, with Cambridge's women coming in heavier by 3.55kg per woman. Both boats have an Olympic flavour with each having two rowers who competed in the London Games. The Cambridge Men's crew only features one British oarsman and for the first time ever four Americans. The coxing seat remains firmly in British hands though with Homerton's Henry Fieldman making it a decade of British coxes for Cambridge.
Click here for further information on the Boat Race
Homerton College May Ball
Published: Fri, 25/01/2013 - 15:31
Homerton May Ball promises to "be bigger and better then ever".
"From the glamour of Hollywood's Walk of Fame to the blood and sweat of the Wild West, we will provide you with a vast array of acts and entertainment to keep you dreaming until dawn. From the minute you step onto the Red Carpet, prepare to be dazzled by the New York skyline and the American Dream that lies beyond its borders".
Details of how to get your tickets will be on the May Ball website www.homerton2013.co.uk at 9pm on Friday 25 January. Last year tickets sold in record time so don't miss your chance.
New Principal for Homerton College
Published: Fri, 25/01/2013 - 14:25
Professor Geoffrey Ward, currently Vice Principal of Royal Holloway College, University of London, will become Homerton's next Principal on 1st October succeeding Dr Kate Pretty.
Professor Ward is currently Vice Principal for Students and Staff at Royal Holloway College, University of London where he previously served as Dean of Arts. Prior to that he was Professor of English and Head of Department at the University of Dundee before taking on the role of Deputy Principal.
He started his university career at Cambridge as a Scholar studying English at Clare where he obtained a first and subsequently taught for several Cambridge colleges. An expert on American literature, he has written a number of books as well as a novel, published poems and given talks on Radio 3.
Professor Ward said: "I am delighted and honoured to be taking up the role of Principal of Homerton. The College has long been known as a welcoming and supportive environment for study. Working with Fellows, staff and students I aim to build on its traditions as well as the great achievements of recent years to ensure that it is recognised ever more widely as a first-class place for study, teaching and research".
Homerton's Vice Principal, Professor John Gray, who led the Fellows' nation-wide search for Dr Pretty's successor, said: "Some extremely distinguished and talented people expressed interest in leading Homerton. In Geoff Ward we believe we have found someone who combines a deep understanding of research and academic life with significant practical experience of teaching and the challenges of institutional development".
Commenting on Dr Pretty's leadership over the past two decades Professor Gray added: "When I arrived at Homerton back in the early 1990s it was on the brink, unclear about its future. Twenty years on it is now one of Cambridge University's largest colleges with a sizeable Fellowship and a great deal of purpose-built accommodation offering some one thousand students a top-notch enviornment for their studies. As Cambridge's newest college there is always more to be done but Kate's successor can be assured of solid foundations. The last two decades have been a remarkable journey led by a truly remarkable woman".
