Children’s author, Gruffalo creator, former Children’s Laureate and Bristol graduate Dr Julia Donaldson (BA 1970, Hon D Litt 2011) MBE, CBE, has been honoured with the 2019 Alumni Award for Arts and Media.

Why Bristol?
Back in 1970 when I was applying to universities, only four in the UK offered Drama, which is what I wanted to study. Of those four, Bristol had the best academic reputation and I liked the fact that the university was in the heart of an attractive city with accessible countryside. I grew up in London and I had to take the tube out a long way just to get to some countryside, so I was enticed by the idea in Bristol you could just walk into the countryside.

Why Drama & French?
I’d always loved acting. Aged 12 I was an understudy for one of the fairies in a production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Old Vic in London. I managed to get on stage to perform and was starstruck by the actors Judi Dench and Tom Courtenay who were part of the cast. I wanted to be an actress but was also quite academic and loved languages, so I decided on a joint degree in Drama and French.

Advice to current students
My advice to students is to work hard but don’t forget to have fun. And enjoy the surroundings – there is proper countryside just across the suspension bridge!

There’s great pleasure to be had in exploring not just the city of Bristol but also its surroundings. I remember some great fungus- foraging in Leigh Woods when I was a student.

Fond memories
Going to university was my first big adventure away from home, and I relished the independent living, especially when I moved out of Hall to a flat in Clifton – I used to like buying bacon ends and bargain vegetables like a proper housewife! I enjoyed the course, especially the plays we put on in the Drama Department and the time in Paris and Avignon as part of the French course. Probably the best part was meeting my husband and also making many friends who have remained friends for 50 years.

Career
At Bristol I acted in a lot of plays put on by the Drama Department and various dramatic societies. In a production of Moliere’s Dom Juan I met Dave Illingworth. He later founded the Bristol Street Theatre, which I joined. The plays we devised turned out to be formative for my future writing career.

In my second year, as part of the French course, I studied in Paris, where I went busking with my future husband (a Bristol medic). This led to my writing songs and performing in folk clubs. It reached the point where I had a body of songs written that I pitched to the BBC, and my children’s books eventually grew out of that.

Alongside the writing, and before starting a family I also had various jobs in publishing, at Radio Bristol, and teaching English in a secondary school. All of these turned out to be useful in my writing career, though I never imagined at the time how the writing would take off.

I remember doing cabaret at student balls, often writing songs to order – like one about teeth for a group of dentists!

Greatest challenge
Back in the early 70s there weren’t so many job opportunities for women. In order to work in publishing you had to be a secretary, whereas men could just walk in to an editor’s job. I remember interviewing for an editor’s job and being told they wouldn’t hire me as I was young and newly married and would just have children!

Career highlights
I love the feeling that I’m part of a chain of verse and stories. As a child I would learn poems off by heart and today I get told by so many parents that their children can recite my stories word for word. Maybe some of those children will one day be writers themselves – the next links in the chain. I also know how special reading to a child at the end of the day can be, and I like the feeling that through my books I am playing some part in that bonding time between parents and children.

I’m delighted to hear of the University’s plans for the new library at the heart of the campus, which will host events and have areas open to the public.

Alumni awards 2019

On 9 February, the University of Bristol awarded an honorary degree to alumnus Paul Lindley OBE (BSc 1989), founder of Ella’s Kitchen, which is now the UK’s largest organic baby food brand. Paul reflects on just how much Bristol has had a hand in shaping his life, how much has changed and what he’s learnt in the time he’s been away.

It was a surreal experience, getting robed up and entering the Great Hall to receive a degree exactly 30 years after I had first done so; and then giving a public lecture in the very building I attended lectures in, with my undergraduate textbooks and dreams.

Some things have irreversibly changed: my 1980’s mullet, the Cold War, Apartheid and the revolutions that are the internet, smart phones, social media and reality TV. Other things haven’t, seemingly at all:- my childlike belief in a better future, the Queen as our head of state, Gary Lineker popping up on our screens every weekend, the dominance in the news of a wall built to divide people (albeit one then coming down and another now going up), and a seemingly un-ending and irresolvable fight over our relationship with Europe.

And I stood there reflecting on where those 30 years had gone, how I could never have planned for where my life has taken me and how unlikely it all seems to be in a position to be honoured and humbled in this way.

Being humbled, makes you feel small.

I felt small because I was there in front of the people I love: my parents who never got the opportunity to go to university; my wife, who I met at this very university all those years ago, and my children who are now at the university stage of life, and who belong to a generation to whom all purpose in my life points.

I also felt small because I was in front of the university itself, not just any university – but THE University of Bristol.  With all its history of people who had been in that Great Hall and who led better lives because of what they learned -and learned about themselves – at Bristol.

So, I felt small because all these people, and thousands more, known and unknown to me have influenced the opportunities in my life, have seeded ideas and taught me both compassion and ambition.  And so, I have realised that my big learning in life – learnt between last leaving The Wills Memorial Building and now returning – is that it’s people that matter – and that they are pretty much the only thing that matters.

Each young graduate in that Hall was capable of doing remarkable and extra-ordinary things in the years to come. But whatever brilliance that is within them – it can only get out, only have the impact it could have – only ever even be found – with the care, time, love, and selfless-ness of other people.

To achieve anything – we need each other.

As an entrepreneur, people often say to me – ‘oh you had such a great idea’, ‘your brand is spot on’, ‘the products are so innovative’, ‘it’s changed my life’ – but I know that although the initial idea was wholly mine, its delivery relied on the energy, ideas, passion and hard work of others – and that without a team, without community and without the civic space that enables entrepreneurs to thrive – our roads, schools, safety, and NHS – and everyone who works within them – nothing would happen from a just great idea.

This idea that we need each other, and we are connected – that we are all just human beings, each stumbling through life trying to do the best for our families and our communities – is real.  As is the fact that we have the best chance of fulfilling our passions, our life’s purpose and of leaving a little legacy that says we were here, when we know we have more in common with each other and feel better about ourselves because of it. We can put ourselves in others’ shoes and understand that they too are stumbling through their life, trying to make the best of it for themselves and others.

I absolutely believe that our tomorrows will be better than our yesterdays because the spirit of youth is full of optimism, collaboration and a can-do attitude and it is a university’s role to find, direct and amplify such a spirit. If a man in his fifties like me can claim that spirit of youth –  as a state of mind rather than a stage of age – then as a member of that younger generation, I think that not only do universities have the ability to light passions and fires in young people’s bellies in the academic subjects that they study whilst in their care, but also they have the power to ignite each student’s zest for life, and their belief in their ability to question and then change things – for the betterment of the world around them, for nurturing that sense of togetherness, interconnectedness and of ‘more in common’. Especially in this volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world where so much is designed to divide us.

Universities hold the responsibility for forming the whole person in these young adults and the ability to forge them into true leaders of tomorrow. They are also one of the last institutions in our society that still retains the trust and credibility that they have always had in contributing to our communities and moving us forward. In such hands pass our future leaders and so also an opportunity to create a culture and environment to maximise inclusiveness of opinion, diversity of experience and create influence in shaping our society’s future. That is daunting, but I know – and I shared – that a university like Bristol is more than up to the task.

Back in 1989, I had Bob Marley posters adorning the walls of my undergraduate room; and 30 years later I still look to his words to make sense of my journey in life:

The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.

Some things don’t change.

Paul Lindley is winner of our 2021 Alumni Award for Business and Industry. To hear from him and other alumni award winners, join us for the Alumni Festival in May 2021. Click here for more information and to book your place.

---

Paul graduated from the University of Bristol in 1989 having studied Economics and Politics (BSc). He went on to found Ella’s Kitchen in 2006, which is now the UK’s largest organic baby food brand.

Paul also co-founded The Key is E, supporting African entrepreneurs whose social businesses benefit children. He was recently appointed Chair of the London Child Obesity Taskforce and is also Chair of the non-profit Robert F Kennedy Human Rights UK, a Trustee of the educational organisation Sesame Workshop, and sits on the Board of social enterprise Toast Ale.

To mark the 2018 centenary of the first British women winning the right to vote, we are honouring Bristol women who have changed our institution, and the world. From our first woman lecturer to the first British woman to have won a Nobel Prize, these activists, educators and agitators now take their rightful place on the walls of the Wills Memorial building – along with ten of the women in today’s University community to who continue to be inspired by their legacy.

Enid Stacey, Socialist and campaigner for women’s rights, with Dr Sumita Mukherjee, Senior Lecturer in History

“An able scholar, Enid won a scholarship to study Advanced Latin at University College, Bristol, between 1887 and 1890. It was during
a wave of strikes in Bristol in 1889 when Enid heard an inspiring speech from Labour leader Tom Mann, prompting her to join the Gasworkers’ Union.

“Despite her middle-class background, she empathised beyond her immediate experience
and became one of the best-known female propagandists for British socialism in the late 19th century.

“Enid was a regular public speaker, using her voice and her connections to raise awareness of equality issues. She spoke at 122 meetings in 1894 alone and toured the USA in 1902, taking her activism beyond the bounds of the UK and Ireland.

“We don’t know if Enid recognised how international the fight for social equality was at that time and how global the suffrage movement had already become by the time of her death. She didn’t live to see many of the victories of that movement, but she also didn’t see many of the ongoing struggles women, especially working-class women of all ethnic and racial backgrounds, would continue to face.

“Enid recognised that the vote was not the only barrier to true women’s equality, as has been proved today. However, as a socialist she fundamentally believed in the need and fight for equal suffrage. It is in her recognition of some of the complexities of the women’s rights movement in the late 19th century – in the early stages of a national feminist movement – that Enid really stands out.”

________________________________________

The University of Bristol was the first higher education institution in England to welcome women on an equal basis to men, but our commitment to gender equality reaches far beyond this milestone. The wooden panels of the Great Hall in its Wills Memorial Building have been an all-male domain thanks to hosting portraits of its Vice-Chancellors. But now, thanks to a project specially-commissioned to mark 100 years since the first women in Britain won the right to vote, a series of ten portraits redresses the balance and celebrates notable Bristol women who have changed the institution – and, indeed, the world.

Get your 2019 goals off to a running start this year by running the Great Bristol 10k with the University of Bristol team.  On 5 May, Bristol students, staff and alumni will come together to run The Great Bristol Run 10K. Whether you’re looking to get fit for 2019 or looking for that next challenge, together we can make sure it’s a home run for everyone. 

We have discounted places for all our runners as well as training plans, Run Leaders and more, to keep you lacing up your shoes and flying the flag for Bristol. Never run before? No worries! The Great Bristol 10K is for everyone, from complete beginners to elite athletes. 

Why run with the University of Bristol? 

• You’ll get a limited-edition t-shirt to wear during the run, and exclusive access to our couch-to-10k package. 
• You can meet and train with people just like you by joining one of our social running groups to support your 10K journey and meet people from across the University, including our students, staff and alumni like you. You can choose a run group aimed at your ability, led by a friendly, England Athletics Certified Run Leader.  
• Get access to a selection of Training Plans online to help you prepare for race day. 
• New to running? Join in with the 5K fun run on Sunday 24 March 2019, a great first test of your fitness and support to your training. 
• Explore inspiring case studies from our community, describing personal journeys where exercise has brought real benefits to the lives of our students, staff and alumni. 
• You can run alongside students, staff and other alumni on the day if you chose to be part of the Bristol Wave. You’ll have the same start time together and will take part in a group warm-up beforehand. 

Sign up with friends and colleagues to make the most of a package of activities and resources, all of which are included in the cost of your entry fee. 

Our 10K runners have the option to combine their training with fundraising for the University of Bristol’s Healthy Minds programme. Physical activity has been proven to boost mood and reduce feelings of anxiety, stress and depression, and this idea is at the heart of Healthy Minds: it taps into the proven benefits of exercise to support Bristol students affected by mental health difficulties. 

If you choose to get involved, you’ll receive regular updates on the programme as well as fundraising tips. It’s easy to find out more and get started – after booking your place in the race, just go to our JustGiving page and click ‘start fundraising’.  

Sign up today! 

_________________________________________________________

Any questions? 

• Read our FAQs or contact Kirsty.tomlinson@bristol.ac.uk 
• Introductory 10K 16-week training plan (PDF, 167kB)  

The Healthy Minds programme helps University of Bristol students affected by mental ill health to get more active and maintain this behaviour in a supported, friendly environment. The three-month user-led programme includes sessions with a mentor, a tailored plan and support for future health maintenance, as well as access to a range of classes, clubs and sporting opportunities. The programme has yielded clinically significant improvements in wellbeing, positively impacting on more than 150 students over the past two years. You can choose to raise money for Healthy Minds by running the Great Bristol 10k, find out more on the JustGiving page. 

To mark the 2018 centenary of the first British women winning the right to vote, we are honouring Bristol women who have changed our institution, and the world. From our first woman lecturer to the first British woman to have won a Nobel Prize, these activists, educators and agitators now take their rightful place on the walls of the Wills Memorial building – along with ten of the women in today’s University community to who continue to be inspired by their legacy.

Professor Helen Wodehouse, the first female Chair at the University of Bristol, with Dr Peggy Styles, the University’s oldest graduate aged 86

“Helen was appointed Chair of Education in 1919 – one of the first women in any British university to hold such a post. She went on to shape the University’s teaching of education and, as someone who studied for my postdoctorate within the School of Education, I can testify that her work has had a lasting legacy.

“In 1925, she led the merger of the separate men’s and women’s Departments for Education against some opposition. She also initiated a system of regular assessment instead of a final examination for the Diploma of Education. This system has continued ever since. She established one of the leading departments in the country, both for professional education and for research.

“In 1964, when she died, Helen Wodehouse was still the only woman to have held a Chair at the University and it was therefore fitting that the new Graduate School of Education building in Berkeley Square was named after her that year.

“My dissertation looked at how attitudes towards the education of women have changed in living memory. Helen played a major role in this; her teaching not only inspired future generations of teachers, but her attitude showed that women were able to achieve senior roles and influence positive and lasting change.”

________________________________________

The University of Bristol was the first higher education institution in England to welcome women on an equal basis to men, but our commitment to gender equality reaches far beyond this milestone. The wooden panels of the Great Hall in its Wills Memorial Building have been an all-male domain thanks to hosting portraits of its Vice-Chancellors. But now, thanks to a project specially-commissioned to mark 100 years since the first women in Britain won the right to vote, a series of ten portraits redresses the balance and celebrates notable Bristol women who have changed the institution – and, indeed, the world.

Following the announcement of the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list, we’re delighted to congratulate Bristol alumni and staff who have been recognised for their outstanding achievements and service.

CBE       

• Julia Donaldson MBE (BA 1970, Hon DLitt 2011), Author, for services to Literature.
• Professor Frederick Hobbs (MBChB 1977), Director of the National Institute for Health Research School for Primary Care Research, Oxford, for services to Medical Research.
• Dr Claire Stevens (BDS 2000), Consultant in Paediatric Dentistry at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and President of the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry, for services to Children.

OBE

• Paul Lindley (BSc 1989), Entrepreneur and Founder of Ella’s Kitchen, for services to Exports in the Food and Drink Sector and to Children’s Welfare.
• Professor Helen Margetts (BSc 1983), Professor of Society and the Internet and lately Director of the Oxford Internet Institute, for services to Social and Political Science.
• Professor David Martin (BSc 1986) Professor of Geography at the University of Southampton, for services to Geography and Population Studies.
• Louisa Rolfe (BSc 1991) Deputy Chief Constable at the West Midlands Police, for services to Policing.

MBE     

• Katie Alcott (Hon LLD 2018) Chief Executive Officer at FRANK Water, for services to International Development.

CVO

• Annabel Dunkels LVO (BA 1978) Director of Communications and Business Development at the Royal Collection.

____________________________

If you’re a Bristol graduate and we haven’t listed you here, it may be that we don’t have your details. We’d love to hear from you, so please do get in touch with us at alumni@bristol.ac.uk to share your achievements.