News 1
Literary and Project
Commisioner for Victims and Witnesses's Inaugural Speech - July 2010
On the 20th July 2010, we went to the RSA to hear Louise Casey, the new Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses give her inaugural speech. The speech was introduced by Nick Herbert, Minister for State at the Home Office and MOJ and was very well received by a capacity audience. The event was chaired by Matthew Taylor, CEO of the RSA.
Kavli Royal Society International Centre, MK, launches - June 2010
On the 16th June 2010, we attended the afternoon launch of the Kavli RS 
International Centre in North Milton Keynes. The launch was very successful and we saw around the beautiful, restored, eighteenth Century listed buildings. The Centre provides residential facilities, meeting and lecture rooms for visiting scientists and engineers. We also walked around the extensive formal gardens; the whole site is some 75 acres. The weather was lovely and the reception went extremely well.
Innovative Brooklands Development Prepares to Start - February 2010
Brooklands, the innovative Places for People development is due to start this Spring. The first 200 houses of phase 1 will begin a total development of 2,500. This is the first of a series of new developments on the eastern flank of MK. A further five developments are due to receive funding under KickStart 2. They are Bletchley Park phases 1 & 2, Broughton Chase, Larkswood, and Newton Leys phase 2. Margaret lobbied for further developments in KickStart 2 and for the KickStart concept.
Wolverton Pool and Gym Gets Go Ahead - January 2010
On 26th January 2010, Wolverton Pool Complex received the go ahead from MKC Cabinet. Margaret lobbies for this development.
Network Rail National Headquarters, MK Gets Go Ahead - January 2010
On 21st January 2010, Network Rail received planning permission for its Headquarters Building in Central Milton Keynes. This very large, impressive building will house about 3,000 employees and will considerably help to drive the City's progress. We attended this Development Control Meeting and supported this application.
Tesco Wolverton Appeal Upheld - January 2010
On the 15th January 2010, the appeal on the redevelopment and extension of Tesco's Wolverton store was upheld. Margaret supports this development.
More awards for Wolverton Park - January 2010
The Wolverton Park development has received two more National Awards, winning Gold at the What House Awards and the Modern Railway Restoration Award at the National Railway Heritage Awards 2009 for The Royal Train Shed. Congratulations to Places For People. Margaret was the lobbyist for this development.
Stadium MK chosen for 2018 World Cup bid -December 2009
On 16th December 2009, Stadium MK was selected as one of the 15 Stadia for the 2018 World Cup, if the UK is chosen as the host country. Congratulations to all who have worked so hard for this bid.
Ambassador of Sweden hosts RSL, EU and RS - November 2009
On the 26th November 2009 the Ambassador of Sweden, Mr Staffan Carlsson, hosted a conversation at his Residence on 'Love: All in the Mind?' arranged by the RSL and the European Cultural Commission. Those in conversation were 
A.S. Byatt, Semir Zeki and Martin Ingvar. Dame Antonia Byatt (Duffy), and Professors Zeki and Ingvar enjoyed a most interesting and instructive conversation on the subject which the audience appreciated and later joined in. We had an opportunity to speak to Professer Zeki at the reception, which was entertaining and informative. Professer Zeki is a Fellow of the Royal Society and a Professer of Neuroesthetics at University College. We also spoke to Anne Chisholm, Chair of Council of the RSL, and Richard Stoker, actor and film-maker, who interestingly, is the grandson of Henry Moore. During the course of the evening we lobbied several other distinguished attendees. The photograph is of Portland Place at night.
Douglas Alexander in MK - November 2009
On the 19th November 2009, we attended a talk given by Douglas Alexander, Secretary of State for International Development, and chaired by Phillis Starkey MP. We found his descriptions of DIFID's work very interesting and informative, as this was an area we were not familiar with. There was a very good Fair Trade display and stall at the meeting and a number of those experienced in the field attended the meeting and found the question and answer session very useful.
UCMK Bid Reaches Second Stage - October 2009
UCMK bid to University Challenge has reached the second stage. Only six out 
of out twenty-three higher education initiatives were successful. Congratulations to UCMK and Dr Keith Straughan. Margaret lobbies for this project.
Wolverton Park Heritage Day - September 2009
On the 12th September, the award winning development of Wolverton Park held a Heritage Day as part of the NationalHeritage Day event. It was a very 
succesful occasion with falconry, music by Wolverton Silver Band, amusements, face painting for the children, refreshments, remarkable stilt walkers and many other stalls and entertainments too numerous to mention. The Heritage Day was attended by about 3,000 people and the weather was glorious. The photograph shows just part of this amazing development, which preserves historic railway buildings in Wolverton, Milton Keynes. Margaret is the lobbyist for this development.
The Royal Society of Literature - July 2009
On the 1st July, a very hot summer evening, the Royal Society of Literature held its AGM and summer party at Kings College in the Strand, Central London. The event was very well attended and following a successful AGM, Fellowships and Benson Medals were awarded. The Benson Medals were presented to Mark Le Fanu, General Secretary of the Society of Authors and to Kay Dunbar, founder of the literary festival, The Way With Words.
The new Fellowships of the RSL were awarded to novelist, Iain Banks; author, 
Malorie Blackman; novelist and former monk, Aidan Chambers; novelist and musician, Amit Chaudhuri; author and director of First Story, William Fiennes; novelist Amitav Ghosh; novelist, Tessa Hadley; author and Shadow Foreign Secretary, William Hague; journalist, Ian Jack; poet, Kathleen Jamie; novelist, Jennifer Johnston; poet, Mimi Khalvati; autobiographer, Ved Mehta; short story writer, Rohinton Mistry; author, Elaine Morgan; author and producer, Nicholas Rankin; novelist, Iain Sinclair; author and soldier; Rory Stewart; novelist, Sarah Waters; and an Honorary Fellowship was awarded to RSL Assistant Secretary, Julia Abel Smith.
The new Fellows signed their names in the roll of Fellows, using Dicken’s pen; unfortunately, Byron’s quill is becoming quite fragile. A witty and appropriate poem of thanks to retiring President, Sir Michael Holroyd, was delivered by author, Peter Parker, at the end of the meeting.
The summer party went extremely well and we were able to thank Sir Michael for his very kind encouragement with MK’s university project. We also chatted to Chair of Council, Anne Chisholm, Vice President, Maggie Gee, and her husband, author and new Fellow, Nicholas Rankin, Robert Binyon, RSL Treasurer, broadcaster and Arvon tutor, Piers Plowright and several others at the reception. The photo taken by Ron, is of Sir Michael Holroyd and Anne Chisholm.
The Royal Train Shed Opening - May 2009
On the 19th May, we attended the opening of the Royal Train Shed conversion, Wolverton. The development was opened by Councilor Euan Henderson, Mayor of Milton Keynes. The exterior of the Royal Train Shed has been preserved in an excellent refurbished condition and the interior has been converted into luxurious Town Houses. This conversion has been designed with great flair and retains the essence of this historic railway building. The Royal Train Shed conversion is part of Wolverton Park, the award-winning tour de force development by Places For People. Margaret was the lobbyist for this amazing project.
Poet Laureate - May 2009
Congratulations to Carol Ann Duffy CBE on her appointment as Poet Laureate on !st May 2009. Carol Ann Duffy is a Fellow of the RSL.
First Story with the RSL at Oxford - April 2009
On the 2nd April, The Royal Society of Literature hosted a presentation, chaired by
Phillip Pullman, by charity, First Story, at Christchurch College, Oxford. First Story, which was founded by Kathy Wargrave and William Fiennes, enables well-known writers to work with secondary school students producing anthologies of their work. There are about fourteen students in a group and representative students from some of the schools involved described how much it had helped them. The event was highly successful and we had an opportunity to speak to Anne Chisholm, Chair of Council of the RSL.
---------<>---------
The Kavli Royal Society Centre - March 2009
Congratulations to the Royal Society and the Kavli Foundation on the acquisition of Chicheley Hall, Milton Keynes, to be the new Kavli Royal Society Centre for the Advancement of Science. The Kavli RS Centre is due to hold its first event in April 2010 and will offer an extension of the wide range of scientific meetings and events already hosted by the Royal Society in London. The RSL and Royal Society hold combined meetings each year and Margaret is thrilled that this beautiful listed building will have such an important use.
Bletchley Park Award - March 2009
During the months of February and March, the public voted for the national Wickes Building With Pride Award. Bletchley Park won this award and its Director, Simon Greenish, accepted the award from TV personality, Tommy Walsh. Margaret has lobbied for Bletchley Park whenever she's had an opportunity and following her 16th September 2008 blog on Wordpress featuring the statue of Alan Touring, the Enigma Code Breaker, she was sent a very kind email by its distinguished sculptor, Stephen Kettle. She also used this image in her 12th October 2008 posting in the Telegraph, which was given considerable coverage. Bletchley Park has received two substantial amounts of funding, firstly from English Heritage and secondly, from English Heritage and Milton Keynes Council for refurbishment and development. Those who served at Bletchley Park during World War 2 have now received commemorative medals.
---------<>---------
Wolverton Park Award - March 2009
Wolverton Park, one of the projects for which Margaret has lobbied during the past six years, has been awarded the best use of a brownfield site and recycled building award at the prestigious National Home Improvement Council Awards. Congratulations to Places For People on this amazing project and to Project Director, Ian Troughton. The award was presented by Lord Rooker.
Homes and Communities Agency - December 2008
Welcome to the HCA, which came into being on the 1st December 2008. The HCA is a very large, new integrated housing and regeneration agency for England, which will create opportunities 'for people to live in places that they want to live in and for local authorities and communities to deliver the ambitions they have for their areas.' Congratulations to the HCA on its foundation. Milton Keynes Partnership is a sub-committee of HCA.
Speakeasy Celebrates 25 Years - November 2008
On the 7th November 2008, Speakeasy, the popular Milton Keynes writers’ group, celebrated its twenty-fifth birthday. It was a well-attended evening, led by long-serving Chair, Martin Brocklebank. The group, including Toddington Poets, looked back over the past quarter of a century which had seen Milton Keynes change from a thriving town into an important, rapidly expanding city and Speakeasy into a successful arts group, spreading around the world through its excellent website
The evening was given over to reminiscences, thanks to the various committees and poetry readings by founder member and well-known poet, artist and photographer, Neil Beardmore, supported by a number of talented poets. He gave several inspiring readings of his own works, accompanied by music and slides of his photography and paintings. It was most enjoyable and the audience greatly appreciated the poetry, especially as several of the poets had travelled long distances. During the social part of the evening, many old friends exchanged news and we parted with the ambitious farewell of ‘see you in another twenty-five.
The University Centre, Milton Keynes - Sept 2008
The University Centre, Milton Keynes opened for students on the 29th September 2008. Margaret has been the lobbyist for this project for more than four years and is very pleased with its progress. She and Ron saw around it just before its opening and again fully on the 14th November with the Dean, Dr Keith Straughan, the distinguished theologian and imaging scientist, and were very impressed with quality of the building and its facilities. The University Centre works as a hub with Oxford Brookes, Northampton University, Bedford University and the Open University. UCMK was officially opened by the Communities Secretary, the Rt Hon. Hazel Blears on the 19th January 2009. David Lammy, Minister for Higher Education and Intellectual Property has also visited UCMK. Many thanks to the President of The Royal Society of Literature for his very kind letter on UCMK's opening and to The Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills for their good wishes.
---------<>---------
