|
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
May 12 |
 Sailors 190: Williamsons’ Bill Waddington with the Sailors’ Families’ Society’s Deanne Thomas, kitted out as the Stig, ahead of this year’s successful sportsman’s lunch |
Sportsman’s lunch raises £25k for Sailors’ Families’ Society (October, 2011) The Hull-based Sailors’ Families’ Society is now £25,123 better off thanks to the fundraising boost from its annual sportsman’s lunch. Held at the Ramada Jarvis Hotel, Willerby, the sold out event had a record attendance of 424 local business people. Auction prizes included a day’s trip on the mine hunter HMS Grimsby and a drive with the former racing driver, Top Gear presenter, and Stig backup, Tommy ‘Tiff’ Needell, who was the guest speaker. Bill Waddington, director of sponsors Williamsons Solicitors, said that the strong support shown was timely. “Because of the economic situation there have been an increased number of calls for help from seafarers’ families,” he said. “Helping the families of those who go to sea, some of whom will have suffered bereavement, is an excellent cause that deserves everyone’s support.” Deanne Thomas, the society’s chief officer, said: “Many of the families that we have helped in the past have come back to us and there are a lot of demands on our resources for extra emotional and financial support.” The society, which operates nationally, is celebrating its 190th year. |
|
|
Deep music from Hull promotes ocean protection worldwide (October, 2011) Sounding the Deep, a unique musical project that aims to focus worldwide attention on the fragility of the oceans, has been launched in Hull. Commissioned by the Hull Philharmonic Orchestra to celebrate the 10th anniversary of The Deep submarium and the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad, the composer Nigel Morgan is working towards the premiere in the city next March. Through the worldwide web, Sounding the Deep is also reaching out to a global audience. The educational project, which will culminate in the concert performance, is already making exciting progress, say organisers. Financial support from the St Hugh’s Foundation kick-started the project and BP Chemicals has become a major sponsor. The University of Hull, Hull College, East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Hull City Council and North Lincolnshire Council are also involved and in a further boost, National Geographic and BBC Wildlife magazines have signalled their interest. Alongside the Hull Philharmonic in the first performance will be six ‘shoals’ of young musicians drawn from both sides of the Humber. Mr Morgan said: “My aims include fostering an understanding of new forms of orchestral music and to promote an awareness of both the wonder and the fragility of the world’s oceans. “The performance looks sure to be outstanding. Hull has always been a home for artistic endeavour and in many cases has been ahead of its time.” See www.soundingthedeep.co.uk |
|
 Opportunity ahead: Emma Toulson,of Parsons Brinckerhoff, with THMA’s Mark O’Reilly |
Parsons Brinckerhoff targets Humber offshore wind through THMA |
|
 Music men: Andrew Penny, left, and Sir Malcolm Arnold on the composer's visit to East Yorkshire 10 years ago |
Orchestras head south to celebrate great composer’s 90th anniversary (October, 2011) Hull Philharmonic Orchestra and East Riding Youth Orchestra have played leading roles in the annual celebration of the life of Sir Malcolm Arnold, one of the greatest British composers, whose work ranges from the concert hall to more than 130 film scores. Three coachloads of musicians from the region travelled to the third and final day of the sixth Official Malcolm Arnold Festival in his hometown of Northampton on Sunday, October 23. The Hull Philharmonic played Sir Malcolm’s seventh symphony, and conductor and musical director, Andrew Penny, an authority on Arnold’s work, also gave a talk on his recordings for the Naxos label of the composer’s nine symphonies. East Riding Youth Orchestra then played the eighth with Mr Penny again on the podium. “This is a national celebration of the 90th anniversary of Sir Malcolm’s birth and we regard it as a great honour to be invited,” said Mr Penny. The concert took place at Northampton’s Royal and Derngate Theatre. |
|
 Anaerobic digester heaven: Dr Les Gornall on the potential in Yorkshire and the Humber region. |
Dr Sludge deals the dirt on a mucky business (October, 2011) Dr Les Gornall, the UK’s top anaerobic digestion specialist, is appealing to local authorities to help fuel the growth in potentially highly profitable anaerobic digestion plants. Also known as Dr Sludge, he presented a workshop at the Biorenewables in the Humber conference on October 20 at Bishop Burton College, and explored the opportunities and challenges for both agriculture and industry. Anaerobic digestion is widely used as a source of renewable energy. The process produces a biogas, which can be used for industrial or domestic purposes to release energy and/or manage waste. “The government wants to see a massive increase in anaerobic digestion and as a result many people have become focussed on it as a business enterprise, with increased enthusiasm from equity houses,” said Dr Gornall who is currently a process consultant at PROjEN BioEnergy. “The Yorkshire and Humber region could be anaerobic digester heaven due to its plentiful arable land and large companies creating waste products,” said Dr Gornall. See: www.humberchemicalfocus.org |
|
 New way forward: Panel members at Biorenewables in the Humber conference, from left to right: Julian Rush; Dr Jeremy Tomkinson, NNFCC; Dr Les Gornall, PROjEN BioEnergy; Rob Wood, Drax; Rich Hall, PricewaterhouseCoopers; Dr Nick Cheffins, Peak Hill Associates; Dr Glyn Hughes, HCF |
Clear openings for new biomass technology, HCF conference told (October, 2011) Government policy aimed at tackling climate change requires the UK manufacturing sector to become more sustainable. Delegates at the Biorenewables in the Humber conference, held at Bishop Burton College, heard how innovative UK companies are at the forefront of developing technology and applications that produce chemicals and materials from plant derived feedstocks. Larger chemical companies, with their scale processing expertise, can then use this technology to manufacture sustainable, commercial products for consumers to buy. Dr Glyn Hughes, chief executive of conference organisers HCF (Humber Chemical Focus), had a positive message for attendees to take home. “The region has already established strength and depth in biorenewables, but there are clear openings for companies when it comes to technology development and deployment,” said Mr Hughes. The conference concluded with questions and a panel debate, led by Julian Rush, former science and environment correspondent for Channel 4 News. |
|
 |
Humber must work together to realise huge green jobs potential (October, 2011) It is critical that the Humber region moves quickly to maximise its share of jobs growth through the green revolution according to a new report. Prospects for Green Jobs to 2020 says that the huge potential for new jobs afforded by the unique assets of the region will only be realised if the public sector collaborates to ensure that policy and initiatives are designed to capitalise on the opportunities. Significant competition from the rest of the UK and Europe poses a major threat to the region’s future prosperity. Key public sector organisations, including the Humber’s four local authorities, met on October 25 in Hull to discuss the results of the research, which includes a summary of the significant prospects for growth in key sectors and actions needed to create future prosperity. The findings have also been presented to the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership. The report follows research carried out by the University of Hull in partnership with Quantum Strategy & Technology and the BE Group. Commissioned by Yorkshire Cities in 2010, it identifies the opportunities for, and threats to, green jobs growth in Yorkshire and the Humber as well as providing a detailed analysis and definition of current green employment. Stephanie Haywood, director of CASS, the University’s centre for renewables and the low carbon economy, said that the study provided the evidence to encourage the collaboration needed to develop a robust green jobs strategy for the area. “We are already seeing many examples of fruitful partnership working, but a lot of this tends to be market driven, offshore wind being a prime example.” The report states that 4,500 people are currently employed in ‘primary’ green jobs in the Humber. It is hoped that by 2020 more than 20,000 new primary green jobs will be created in Yorkshire and the Humber, with the Humber well placed to capture a significant proportion. A further 27,000 people were identified as being employed in secondary green jobs sectors. The research is part of a series of interrelated projects from Yorkshire Cities. See: www.hull.ac.uk |
Water music: Laura Fox, a Hull Philharmonic double bass player