TV's Debra Stephenson Hosts University Awards

Article by Lisa Burns and Neil Harrison

Debra Stephenson and Vice-Chancellor John Brooks present the
Outstanding Contribution Award to Rebecca Lawthom.

TV STAR DEBRA STEPHENSON HAS MADE a very welcome return appearance at her alma mater, to present the inaugural Manchester Metropolitan University Staff Awards.

The Bad Girls and Coronation Street actress and star of The Impressions Show treated the crowd, gathered in MMU's Oxford Road Business School, to a masterclass in comedy and impersonation. She 'introduced' a host of well-known names, including: Miranda Hart, Julie Walters, Anne Robinson and her hilarious trademark Davina McCall, before the serious business of announcing the winners began.

Debra, co-hosting the event with MMU Vice-Chancellor, Professor John Brooks, said ahead of the awards:

“I have a lot of history with this place and a lot of fond memories of Manchester Metropolitan University. I always say to young, aspiring actors who ask me what to do: “Head up to Manchester! It's the best place to be!”

Audience gathers to enjoy the TV star's impressions.

The successful evening, which sought to recognise staff's contributions to the university's values, included the Vice-Chancellor's Award for Outstanding Contribution, won by Rebecca Lawthom, plus many other categories, including Outstanding Teacher and Rising Star.

Upon picking up the Service Excellence award, Paul Walsh said, “It's amazing to have won, I'm so pleased that somebody took the opportunity to nominate me, it's lovely to be recognised for it. I'm really pleased.”

Similarly pleased was fellow winner, Edward Wastnidge, who received the Exceptional Contribution to the Student Experience award, saying, “It feels wonderful, it's a real honour. This is very much a reward for the rest of my colleagues as well, who do the same job as me in the rest of the Humanities, Language and Social Science faculty. It's Great!”

To round off proceedings, vice-chancellor Brooks thanked Debra Stephenson and praised each of the winners and nominees, hailing the event - the first of its kind - as hugely successful, before inviting those in attendance to a post-ceremony cocktail party at MMU's newly opened School of Art building.   

For more information on the MMU Staff Awards and for full details of the winners please visit: http://www.mmu.ac.uk/staff/awards/

Lisa Burns studies History and English at MMU. When she's not got her nose in a book, she loves having adventures in the great outdoors! Follow her on Twitter: @LittleRobin09

Neil Harrison is studying Social History at Manchester Metropolitan University. He is an aspiring journalist and a terrible guitar player. Read his blog LooseRiver and follow him on Twitter @LooseRiver

Alumni Novel Goes Down a Storm

MMU Creative Writing graduate and author, Russell Smith, paid a visit to his alma mater and met with Humanity Hallows to discuss his debut novel, Oblivion Storm, as well as his time at University. 

Words by Jason Cooke

Today I have the pleasure of meeting local author and MMU Creative Writing graduate, Russell Smith. Russell paid Humanity Hallows a visit to discuss his time at university and his debut novel, Oblivion Storm.

I find Russell engrossed in a book at the new Manchester Metropolitan University Business School. We grab a coffee and make acquaintance. 

Russell studied his BA English and his MA in Creative Writing here at MMU. During his BA, Russell took a sabbatical year to work for then student magazine, PULP. He has since worked in the vehicle rental trade and drifted between jobs whilst working on Oblivion Storm. Russell is a busy man, currently writing a scenario for aid worker training as well as the sequel to his debut novel.  

I ask him about Oblivion Storm. “It’s kind of a ghost story, it’s kind of not”, says Russell. “It kind of deals with the un-dead.” Russell cooked up the origins for this novel after he graduated from MMU. There are two main protagonists, Rose and Jennifer. Rose awakens to find herself in hospital with no memory other than one; how she got there. Rose was viciously attacked at Bond Street station, before being flung under a train. If that wasn’t worrying enough, her assailant locates her at the hospital and Rose’s world is turned to chaos.

Jennifer, as Russell describes her, is 'kick ass'. She befriends Rose when the two realise they have extraordinary capabilities. Their first task is to escape Rose’s attacker, before being paid a visit by the spirit of Lady Iris Grenshall and becoming familiar with the intelligent, but dangerously curious, Dr. Kara Mellencourt.

When I ask what his inspiration for this story was, Russell replies, “I was fascinated by the chap they called the Piano Man, who was found dripping wet and wandering the Isle of Sheppey, Kent. He was mostly mute and the only thing they discovered was that he could play damn good piano!” It later turned out that the Piano Man was in fact a German national and was helped back to Bavaria by the authorities. Just how he wound up on the Isle of Sheppey remains a mystery, although there are theories that he fell from a Norwegian vessel that was in the area around the time he was found.

I ask Russell where Kara’s character came from, “Dr. Kara Mellencourt was my link to Manchester. She’s had a privileged upbringing and becomes one of the exposition characters. Kara’s obsessed with the supernatural.” Russell goes on to describe Rose and Jennifer as, “the miracles that Kara has been searching for, given her obsession”, adding that Kara now “has gold to work with.” Russell tells me that Kara’s character develops and grows from her academic role in book two.

We move on to Russell’s time at MMU. He reminisces about the time he spent as editor of the late PULP magazine. “I was finishing up my final year and I was elected editor of PULP. When I came in it was the 25^th anniversary and we decided to throw a party!” Russell says that Lemn Sissay was amongst the guests. “One of the editors was a friend of his and I wanted an interview for my first edition. He was more than happy to be interviewed for the anniversary issue!”

Russell tells me how he wound up on the MA Creative Writing course, “I was getting to the end of my time at PULP and I knew I was interested in having a book published, so I spoke to the then course leader, Michael Schmidt,” who convinced Russell to get on-board.

Russell talks about the group of friends he made, the majority of which he is still in touch with. He mentions the 'solid bond' that he had with them, helping him through his two years and explains that the course has become central to his life plans. “I absolutely loved the course”, Russell explains. “But, attending university isn't just about gaining a degree; it’s about going through doors and making the most of your time whilst you’re there. Even when I graduated you had to have that extra bit of flair.”

I find myself engrossed in Russell’s wise words and reflect on my time at MMU. My daydream is comically interrupted when Russell states, “Everyone takes something away from University, even if it is how to cook mince properly!”

Wise words indeed, and very true.

Oblivion Storm was released on the 10^th December last year and you can find it here. You can follow Russell on Facebook and Twitter and he also has a website: https://projectshadowlondon.wordpress.com/

Be Creative, Think Creatively

Digital Alumni: Katie Hilton

Words by Storm Rannard 

KATIE Hilton graduated from the Graphic Design course at MMU in July 2012 and has gone on to establish herself in the digital creative sector.

You may have seen some of Katie Hilton’s design work before. The MMU graduate had her graphic art showcased on the Corridor Manchester digital screen, on Oxford Road, located at the Mabel Tylecote building at All Saints Campus, following a project she completed in 2012.

“I was in to the digital side of things in University,” says Hilton. “My skill set is in things like animation and I wanted to go into the digital sector – the Corridor project gave me the chance to do that.”

Since completing the project and graduating from MMU, Hilton has gone on to make waves in the creative industry, working full-time for multimedia design agency Drawing Room and continuing to freelance for Corridor Manchester.

The Drawing Room, formerly Vibe Republic, is located within the Sharp Project and has just three staff. This has gifted Hilton with the chance to grow as part of a creative and digital design team.

How did your course prepare you for the world of work?

In third year especially, we had a lot of guest lecturers and workshops with people from the industry. It was nice for people to come in and give you a kick up the backside and let you know what it’s really like out there. We were never forced into a particular career path on the course; it was left open for us to explore. Software was also always readily available and easy to use – if I wanted to make an app or a website, I was able to.

How have you found the transition from student to professional?

I think I bridged it well with the Corridor project. It was nice working for a client as it was a contrast for me. There were certain restrictions on what you could put on the screen, unlike my projects at University. But the biggest learning curve has to be getting my current job; there’s a pressure behind you that’s exciting.

What does you current role involve?

I’ve worked on magazines and websites and we’ve recently pitched a video for the Sharp Project. From day to day I could be working on anything. I’m involved in creative projects, from the first creative spin to the end product.

Does the digital equipment at MMU meet professional standards?

Definitely – I’ve heard about the new art school and its equipment, but even when I was there we had the latest Macs, which I relied heavily on at University. It would have been nice to have more, but I hear there are now!

What’s been the biggest achievement in your professional life so far?

Probably seeing my stuff on the Corridor screen; it was my first major project. Also, between graduating and getting my current job, I had a work placement at Ted Baker down in London as part of the Creative Department. That was an eye opener.

What are your ambitions for the future?

I can see myself staying where I am for quite a while. This job has given me the opportunity to explore different avenues of design which I wouldn’t be able to do on my own. I can see myself growing with this company. It’s a young business with far to go, so it will be nice to see it blossom.

Click here to see some of Katie’s work for Corridor Manchester and follower her on Twitter @_katiehilton

All Nodding for 'Nod'.

Sleepless in the Shortlist: MMU Alumnus, Adrian Barnes, nominated for Arthur C. Clarke Award

Words by Neil Harrison

A graduate of an online Master's Degree course run by MMU has been nominated for a prestigious science fiction literary award. Adrian Barnes, who received an MA in Creative Writing, has seen his debut novel, Nod, shortlisted for the 2013 Arthur C. Clarke Award, an annual British event which seeks out the best science fiction novel of the year.

The Canadian based writer, who was born in Blackpool but moved to Canada when he was five years old, is in Britain for only a short time in order to publicise the novel, ahead of attending the awards ceremony on May 1^st. Humanity Hallows caught up with him in West Yorkshire, where his publishing company, Bluemoose Books, is based.

Asked whether he was a writer before receiving his Master's Degree in 2008, Adrian laughs,

"Not in the 'published, having-a-book-out kind of way!' I've always written, and always been an avid reader but the reason I took the [MA] course was to become a teacher. I needed that qualification in order to do that and in Canada, with a family and other commitments, it can be quite difficult to do, so the online course made sense."

As part of the MA, students are required to have completed a novel and in Adrian's case, that novel was Nod. When asked about his approach to writing, the author, who clearly has more than one string to his bow--being a teacher of creative writing and also the proprietor of the Rossland Telegraph media outlet-- says,

"I write fairly quickly, I can have [a first draft] written in around three weeks ... I'm bragging a little there ... but I re-write forever."

The novel itself is an exploration of the consequences of lack of sleep on a mass scale. As well as the award nomination, it has gone on to receive critical acclaim, with The Guardiandescribing the book as "outstanding." The premise seems inspired in its simplicity, so just how did it occur to him?

Adrian Barnes

"I often have difficulty sleeping myself, right at the moment, for instance, due to the travelling. I think what interests me most of all is the way that tiredness, loss of sleep, can begin to affect the strongest relationships, even in a family setting. There's a very thin veneer there when you begin to think about it; how would society continue to function? They say you can only survive for six days without sleep before going mad."

Where, then, does Nod sit within the science fiction genre? Adrian largely dismisses the notion that the book is his journey down the much wandered 'zombie' path. It is, however, an apocalyptic scenario set “just a little into the future," says the writer.

"I would describe the book as being in that sub-genre of science fiction, speculative fiction. It's very much a ‘what would happen if...’ kind of scenario, in much the same way that Cormack McCarthy's The Road is, for instance."

Concurrent to the theme of insomnia, there is an etymological aspect to the book, hinted at in the title itself. The Land of Nod, whilstbeing an almost comforting notion for most who aspire to drift off to it, is in actual fact the biblical place of exiled torment for Cain—banished for the crime of slaying his brother Abel—which is described in The Book of Genesis in the Old Testament. Not such a comforting notion. Adrian says,

"I am fascinated with medieval words and their meanings, which have often come to take on different forms through the centuries. The principle character is an etymologist and the dual aspects of certain words, certain notions, begin to take shape and bear relevance as the events of the story unfold."

As well as promoting Nod, Adrian is currently working on other projects; both fiction and non-fiction, and there has been interest from movie companies in the United States, eager to see his debut novel adapted for the big screen. Clearly, Adrian Barnes is a name to look out for in the future.

The 2013 Arthur C. Clarke Award winner is announced on May 1^st.

Nod is available now, published by Bluemoose Books.

Neil Harrison is studying Social History at Manchester Metropolitan University. He is an aspiring journalist and a terrible guitar player. Read his blog LooseRiver and follow him on Twitter @LooseRiver