Assistant Housekeeping Manager Liz Ralph was the latest PRIDE Award Winner last month as she was nominated for producing numerous face masks during the early stages of lockdown.

Throughout lockdown, a skeleton Hospitality housekeeping team have continued working on campus to complete essential cleaning services, and it was when supply chain problems and an NHS shortage occurred early on, that Liz stepped in to produce hundreds of colourful, practical and reusable face coverings for the team still working on campus and beyond.

Describing her dedication, an extract from Liz’s nomination read: “she would often work late into the evening in her own time and cost to produce these much needed face masks for our essential housekeeping staff and deliver them on-site until an alternative supplier could be sourced, […] on top of this Liz made additional masks which she delivered to the vulnerable areas in her local community.”

We are sure that there are more of our staff going above and beyond, so if you know of any Kent Hospitality staff member from either the Canterbury or Medway campus it is easy to nominate them for a PRIDE Award. Just submit a nomination via the PRIDE website by completing our online form.

The award is given in March, June, September/October and December with each winner receiving £100 of shopping vouchers, a certificate and a PRIDE Award pin badge.

The closing date for the next PRIDE Award is currently Wednesday 16 September 2020 at 12.00.

The Covid-19 webinars from Care First continue this week. Please see below for the schedule and where you need to register.

Monday 13 July 2020 –  ‘How to be a good business  Leader post lockdown’

Time: 11.00 – 11.30 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

Tuesday 14 July 2020 – ‘The anxiety of fake news’

Time: 12.00 – 12.30 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

Wednesday 15 July 2020 – ‘Managing stress in uncertain Times’

Time: 14.00 – 14.30 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

Thursday 16 July 2020 – ‘Communication: The Importance of Listening’

Time: 15.00 – 15.30 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

Friday 17 July 2020 – ‘How to manage change’

Time: 14.00 – 15.00 – to register please click on this Go to webinar link

We asked you to share your favourite reads with us. Thank you to everyone who sent in their recommendations. Here are the ten books recommended by colleagues:

1. The Death and Life of Charlie St Cloud by Ben Sherwood

Recommended by Krystal Allsopp (Accounts Assistant in Hospitality Finance)

Krystal says: ‘It grabs you from the first page and pulls you in, taking you on a journey that will stay with you long after you’ve closed it.’

2. ‘A Small, Good Thing’ by Raymond Carver, a short story from Where I’m Calling From

Recommended by Natasha Moulton (Senior Library Assistant in Academic Liaison Services)

Natasha says: ‘I love this story because it beautifully illustrates the depth of emotion and ultimate kindness that is present in all of us.’

3. The Corduroy Mansions series by Alexander McCall Smith

Recommended by Melissa Mulhall (Assistant Director in Education & Student Experience)

Melissa says: ‘I adore all McCall Smith’s books, the stories and lives of his rich characters. This one stands out due to the affinity between humans and their pets – namely, a dog called Freddie de la Hay.’

4. The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

Recommended by Brenda Brunsdon (Occupational Health and Wellbeing Team Manager)

Brenda says: ‘I love books that focus on the mystery of time and this is probably the best I’ve read.  Any book that connects you with the characters so much it makes you cry has to be special, and I sobbed at the end of this one!’

5. PopCo by Scarlett Thomas (Professor of Creative Writing and Contemporary Fiction at Kent)

Recommended by Catherine Morris (Environmental Adviser)

Catherine says: ‘PopCo manages to combine mystery and the world of children’s toy invention and satisfies my inner geek with interesting explanations of basic cryptography.’

6. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Recommended by Daniel Harding (Deputy Director of Music)

Daniel says: ‘No film or television adaptation can capture its seasonal magic, and no Christmas is complete without Dickens’ literary present to the world.’

7. Normal people by Sally Rooney

Recommended by Olivia Miller (Press & Public Relations Officer)

 Olivia says: ‘I read this modern-day romantic novel before it became a phenomenon and it’s an emotional rollercoaster, prompting feelings of nostalgia, comfort, frustration and heartbreak – sometimes all at the same time!’

8. The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay

Recommended by Jonathan Thirwell (UX Developer)

 Jonathan says: ‘It’s a coming-of-age story about survival and fighting prejudice as apartheid rises in South Africa. It’s a fantastic read, with brilliant characters and is relevant for our current times.’

9. Witches Abroad by Terry Prachett

Recommended by Nicola Baldwin (Marketing Assistant in Hospitality)

Nicola says: ‘Pratchett’s books are always funny and insightful, but this is the book I always come back to for a good reread.’

10. Wonderland Avenue by Danny Sugerman

Recommended by Ben Watson (Accessible Information Adviser)

Ben says: ‘An absolute riot of excess, disfunction and wilfulness, it epitomises many rock and roll platitudes. You could sum up Sugerman’s philosophy in the words of Viv Savage from Spinal Tap: ‘Have a good time all the time’.’

Keeping sending your ideas for other ‘Top 10’ features to: stories@kent.ac.uk

Dr Dieter Declercq, Lecturer in Film and Media Studies, will be running a webinar in partnership with Kent Innovation and Enterprise entitled ‘Stories, Wellbeing and Business: Finding Meaning in Covid-19 Disruption’ on Friday 17 July at 10.00.

Dieter’s webinar is part of the University of Kent’s Covid-19 Business Recovery Response Webinar Series.

What story is your business going to tell about COVID-19? And why tell a story about it? The COVID-19 crisis presents an unprecedented disruption to our personal and professional wellbeing.

This webinar will explore how stories and narrative art offer strategies to manage wellbeing by making sense of crisis. ‘Stories, Wellbeing and Business’ will explore coping strategies for dealing with profound disruption, and will also investigate how we can harness this disruptive moment to re-examine ambitions moving forward. The arts may not outline ready-made solutions, but they do offer valuable strategies for reflection and creativity in times of uncertainty.

This two-and-a-half hour webinar will include a 30 minute Q&A, and a 30 minute networking session where delegates will be able to dive deeper into the topics raised.

The webinar is open to all and free of charge. Participants can register for the webinar on Eventbrite

Further information about the webinar is available in an interview with Dieter on Kent Innovation and Enterprise’s YouTube channel.

The Covid- 19 webinars from Care First continue this week. Please see below for the schedule and where you need to go to sign up.

John Lovell died on Thursday 25 of June in his home at Blean, not long after his 80th birthday.  He had spent his entire career, from 1967 to 1996, at the University of Kent. John was esteemed nationally and internationally as a researcher in his specialist field, trade union history, and an approachable and devoted teacher of economic and social history.

He was also an exceptional and selfless servant of the University, acting at various times as  Chair of the then AUT, Senior Tutor in the Social Science Faculty, and Deputy Master of Eliot as well as being the moving spirit behind the establishment of the University’s Industrial Relations degrees.

Kent Sport Physiotherapy Clinic online consultations continue to be highly successful and have curved their way through the obstacles created by the pandemic to remain open – virtually.

They’ve been able to adjust the way they approach assessments of functional movements, joint range of movement(s) such as squatting technique corrections and have found the production of online videos to show specific movements has been highly effective. Many have been increasing their running or getting involved in virtual fitness classes, but found themselves getting niggles. The consultations have been great to speak to people and look at their techniques and movements then discuss exercises to help combat the symptoms.

They’re extremely proud of what they’ve achieved and, to date, have been able to reach out and provide more than 150 free initial consultations with clients kindly donating to the NHS Charities.

They will continue to provide free initial consultations and hope to be able to provide face-to-face consultations, with a triage system, in the near future to add the manual therapy treatments which they know many will benefit from and make those next steps towards their goals. This may be the lingering neck pain, back pain or perhaps shoulder pain where exercises have been completed daily as recommended with significant improvements already gained.

“I have recently taken advantage of the free online consultations that are available through Kent Sport Physiotherapy clinic. Although I was unsure whether Vicky would be able to help me online, she diagnosed my problem almost straight away during our first Zoom meeting. She then sent me some exercises which I have been doing daily and which have been helping to reduce the pain I was in. Vicky has also given me a follow up consultation just to check that the exercises are working. It has been really good to know exactly what was causing my pain and to be able to talk to someone so knowledgeable and friendly. Thank you Vicky for all your help!” – Susan Grimer, Library Assistant

So far, they’ve been able to reach out to 32 members of University of Kent staff, who have not been to the clinic before and provide professional physiotherapy advice to them. This number does not include the many staff members who have visited the clinic before lockdown and continue to have contact.

The testimonials from staff members has been incredible and they thank you for your feedback.

Please do not hesitate to get in touch with the clinic via email: physio@kent.ac.uk.

Find out more about Kent Sport Physiotherapy Clinic by visiting their website and like them on Facebook. Please consider showing your support by donating to the NHS charities.

It was with great sadness that the Department of Classical & Archaeological Studies learned of the death of Dr Arthur Keaveney, our dear friend and colleague for many years, who passed away on Tuesday 23 June after a short illness.

Arthur began his teaching and research career at the University of Kent in 1979, developing a distinguished reputation as an Ancient Historian. He was an immensely popular teacher and published frequently, this interest covering wide themes in the history of the Classical World and extending as far as Elizabethan political thought. He retired as Reader in Ancient History in 2014 but remained fully committed to promoting his subject, and primarily assisting and enthusing students and all these who came to share in the fascination of exploring the ancient past.

Steve Willis, Head of Department of Classical & Archaeological Studies writes:

‘Arthur was a cornerstone of our teaching in Ancient History for many years. His style of delivery and guidance was invariably popular with our student cohorts year on year. He had a rich hinterland of interests, with stories and anecdotes to accompany his observations on the human condition. There was something of the old-style political Radical to him. Well-travelled, often to less commonly visited locations, I recall that at the end of three terms of very full teaching and marking, culminating in long Exams Board meetings, he delighted in the prospect of his imminent departure on a Caribbean holiday: to Cuba’.

To those of you already working on the Canterbury campus and others preparing to return, we are delighted to inform you know that Rutherford Dining Hall will be open throughout the summer 12.00 – 18.00, Monday to Sunday.

– All staff have been given access to Rutherford College via their KentOne card (staff ID card)

– The Wok bar is serving daily with other special menu items such as breaded haddock, curried duck leg, all day brunch, chicken katsu, roast dinner, fresh salad and veg options and more

– Check out Twitter for the daily menus.

Please note we are only accepting card/contactless payment and currently it is takeaway only, however from 5 July this may change to some socially distanced seating within Rutherford Dining Hall.

For further information or queries, please contact catering@kent.ac.uk