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Keele Historian on 'in our time'

Dr Kate Cushing (Reader in Medieval History/Research Institute for the Humanities) took part in the renowned Radio Four programme 'In our Time with Melvyn Bragg' yesterday on a panel discussing the Concordat of Worms in 1122.

Together with Henrietta Leyser (Oxford) and John Gillingham (emeritus LSE), Dr Cushing discussed the background, context and nature of the famous agreement that ended one of the most serious conflicts of Church and State, known as the Investiture Contest, that had divided the medieval west since 1075, if not before.

Success for Keele/Staffs Collaboration

Dr Alannah Tomkins, Research Institute for the Humanities, and Dr Mark Webster, Staffordshire University, have been awarded nearly £30K by the Arts and Humanities Research Council for their collaborative project 'Medical Histories: stories about health, illness and medicine in North Staffordshire'.

Their work will bring together creative writers, Staffordshire residents, industrial representatives, primary care trusts and charities to explore aspects of the local history of medicine, via a series of creative-writing workshops.  The first workshop will be held in March 2012.

Each workshop will be run by a local writer living and working in North Staffordshire, with experience of publishing or performing regionally, nationally or internationally, supported by at least one academic from Staffordshire University and at least one from Keele.  The writings will form part of a touring exhibition to be shown at venues around North Staffordshire, but participants will be able to stay involved after the events by checking the project website, uploading creative writing, and contributing to the 'medical histories' blog.

The aim of the project is to generate momentum in advance of applying to fund a 'writer in residence' at one of the partner organisations.

The Historian as MP -  a lecture by Tristram Hunt MP for Stoke on Trent Central. 4 March 2011 Chancellor's Building, CBA0.060 at 1.00p.m.

Tristram Hunt was elected as MP for Stoke in the last general election. Prior to that he had been a historian at Queen Mary College London. In another generation Josiah Wedgwood MP for Newcastle under Lyme was a politician who worked as a historian. This lecture will be an opportunity to hear how the two roles have intersected.

Tristram Hunt lectured to a large audience of fellow academics, students and the occasional politician. He described the historicism of the Houses of Parliament, and their seductive qualities, before speaking about his role as an MP. There was a lively discussion which covered matters such as the future of Stoke on Trent, the attack on the Humanities in Universities and awareness of history amongst MPs of all parties.

Dr Christopher Harrison

The final lecture given by Dr Christopher Harrison before his retirement was marked by an unusual gesture.  Given to lecturing in a gown, partly as an affectation, partly as a piece of theatre, Chris's colleagues responded by waiting outside the lecture hall until its final flourish before filing in to give him a standing ovation. No other Keele historian has  received a similar accolade. The lecture, on Chaucer as a social critic, thus finished with an impromptu drinks party shared between staff and students to mark a transitional moment in the department's own history. Pictured is Dr Harrison returning the toast.

 

History Matters

The Annual Newsletter of History of History at Keele