Where are they now? Alumni class notes

This is your place to find out about the movers and shakers among your alumni community. Share your personal and professional updates with us and we'll post them to this page throughout the year.

It could be a personal milestone like a birth, marriage or reflection on your life, a reunion with classmates or a professional achievement, such as award recognition or a book publication.

Whatever you would like to share with your peers, let us know!

August

Could this be our first ever university-inspired tribute song? Guy Phoenix (Mathematics and Mechanical Engineering, 1989) contacted us about the new album 'Places That I Remember', under his moniker Phoenix and the Angel.

The song '' is inspired by his time at Nottingham, specifically: "The legendary Nottingham tradition from my student days: the challenge of visiting all fourteen campus bars in a single evening.

"While the song is light-hearted, it is really about student life, friendship, shared experiences and the memories that stay with us long after university.

"I thought it might bring back a few memories for fellow Nottingham alumni."

So make sure you let us know if a) you have your own recollections of 'doing the fourteen' or b) you have any Nottingham-inspired tracks of your own!

July

Three 2017 MSc Biological Photography and Imaging graduates are participating in the first , opening on Friday 28 August in Puebla, Mexico:

David Channell
Ana Parrodi
Nicola Trazzi

The exhibition brings together photographers from Europe and Latin America, celebrating contemporary photography through international collaboration and cultural exchange.

In June, the State and Local Government Section of the American Bar Association honored Emeritus Professor David Callies (Law, 1969) with a Festschrift/Tribute edition of its law review, The Urban Lawyer, for his career contribution to teaching and writing about property and state-local government law.

David Ireland (Music, 2011) contacted us about his new venture called , a coffee company with a mission to support artists and creatives through the Bard's Artist Fund:

"Throughout my career in music and education, I've seen first-hand how difficult it can be for talented artists to access opportunities, training and professional development, particularly in the early stages of their careers. The Bard's Artist Fund exists to help address that challenge, with every bag of coffee sold contributing towards supporting creatives as they develop their skills and pursue new opportunities."

Bard’s Beans has recently launched its first Performing Arts Collaboration with Sitting (In Silence), an original production making its Edinburgh Fringe debut this summer. During the collaboration, every bag of coffee purchased using the show’s discount code contributes £1 to Sitting (In Silence) and £1 to the Bard’s Artist Fund, supporting both the production and the wider performing arts.

June

A staple of UK television, MasterChef crowned its 2026 winner this month - and we're delighted to share that it's a Nottingham graduate!

Jhane Gibson (Psychology, 2017) absolutely did not crack under pressure to secure the prestigious accolade for the champion amateur cook. She told the BBC:

"I am a MasterChef champion! Those words feel so funny coming out of my mouth, but I am ecstatic, and I honestly don’t think I’ve ever been happier. It has been the journey of a lifetime, being part of this incredible show, and I can't wait for all the exciting things that are coming next. I hope this trophy shows that if you go after your dreams, it might just pay off."

Correspondence from one of our oldest graduates Dick Jennings (Geography, 1957), on his time at Nottingham: "Remembering the “Cow Sheds” (which were behind the Portland Building, no longer in existence), I think it is safe to mention how I nearly burnt them down by tipping hot ashes from my pipe into a waste paper basket. I then left the room, but remembered I had forgotten something and went back to find the waste paper basket well ablaze. I was the only person in the building at the time working on my 3rd year dissertation."

"My late wife, a Nottingham language graduate, and my two daughters never regretted moving to Scotland and, despite the English accent, became thoroughly accepted into and assimilated in Scottish local and academic society. I have travelled widely to the remote parts of the Highlands and the Islands providing in-service courses for teachers. I have abiding memories of trying to stand up and say something sensible to assembled teachers after an evening of generous hospitality in Shetland I am rather proud of being elected Fellow of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society for services to Scottish geographical education and to the Society.

"By the way I am also a Freeperson of the university and can drive my sheep down Beeston Lane and also graze my cattle on the campus. I can imagine some Sutton Bonington ex-students taking advantage of that and turning up with a large truck full of animals!"

Sarah Dodd (Environmental Science, 1991) is now a published children's author and her most recent book: 'Beyond the Setting Sun' - a picture story book about bereavement to support young children, specifically those who have lost a parent - has been shortlisted in the Wellbeing category in .

Annette Amoa (Chemical Engineering, 2021), who has been recognised as one of the top 500 Women in STEM in Ghana, has launched a new skincare brand - Netty & Nature, formulated using African botanicals and created in her hometown of Accra.

Ahmad AlArif (Civil Engineering, 2024) has been selected as one of three finalists for the Institute of Asset Management’s 2026 NxtGen Excellence Award. Ahmad is actively pursuing Patron Membership of the Institute of Asset Management, attending Patrons-only workshops at the CEO's invitation.

Alongside his own businesses in Dubai, he also serves as a Projects Engineer with the Community Development Authority, a governmental non-profit institution in Dubai. Through this role he manages projects and maintenance work across the authority’s properties, which directly support widows, orphans, disabled individuals, senior citizens and other beneficiaries from vulnerable parts of the community.

May

Peter Moody (Pharmacy, 1969) contacted us: "After graduating and completing my pre-registration year, I worked at two hospitals in Greater Manchester before being recruited for the post of Government Pharmacist for The Gambia, West Africa (pictured right). Thus it was in November 1973 my wife Dorothy Harvey (Pharmacy, 1971) and I moved to Banjul, the capital, where i was based in the Royal Victoria Hospital.

"During my time there I would travel the entire country two or three times a year to visit the one other hospital, health centres and dispensaries. Overall, it was an amazing experience! We returned to the UK in June 1977 and I was appointed Chief Pharmacist in North Shields, before moving to Cumbria as District Pharmaceutical Officer for South Cumbria Health Authority based in Barrow-in-Furness where I stayed for 30 years.

"Over that time, the configuration changed twice, and I was eventually Chief Pharmacist for Morecambe Bay Hospitals, comprising Barrow, Kendal and Lancaster.

"After retiring in 2011, I returned part-time for another year, then spent a final two years as a part-time clinical pharmacist. It was varied and interesting career, which I thoroughly enjoyed!"

International Alumni Ambassador Julio Frías Peña (Manufacturing and Operations Management, 2005) has received the from the Mexico City Parliament for his work in the field of climate change and progress towards the UN's 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Brian Moore (Law, 1984), one of our most iconic sporting graduates, with 64 Rugby Union caps for England, announced he would be after 26 years in the commentary box.

Stewart Newlove (Mathematics, 1981) has been awarded a King's Award for Enterprise in International Trade for 2026 - the UK's most prestigious business honour. The award is in recognition of the exceptional international growth his business Antibodies.com has achieved since it was founded in 2015.

Co-founded with his son Sebastian, the company has grown into a globally trusted supplier of research reagents, supporting biomedical research, drug discovery, and IVD development across more than 100 countries and 5,000 research institutions and biopharma companies worldwide.

Caitie Mann (Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, 2024) has been crowned Young Vet of the Year in Northern Ireland at the Association of Veterinary Surgeons Practising in Northern Ireland (AVSPNI) Awards.

In our most literal 'Where are they now?' to date, we have been contacted by Piers Applegarth (Mathematics, 1979) who is looking to make contact with Peter Airey (Mechanical Engineering, 1979), Jacqueline Beal (History, 1979) and Sue Corbridge (Double Maths and Economics, 1979). If you know any of the three and could put him in touch, please drop our team an email.

April

Julian Fletcher (Electronic Engineering with French, 1995) has published an updated version of his book "Doing Business Architecture: The Definitive Rough Guide" - a practical guide on how to establish and mature business architecture to provide real business value for any organisation in the private or public sector.

Alan Wilson (Electricial Engineering, 1964) also got in touch: "The one thing I knew when I graduated was that I didn’t have a future in engineering. I had become increasingly unhappy as the course progressed, had barely scraped through with a degree, and I did not want to return to my firm to complete my student apprenticeship. But I did have a great time as a member of the University Cross Country Club (see photos below), which I captained in my last year, and the University Athletics Club, about which more later.

"So, what was I to do when I left this wonderful institution? It so happened that my girlfriend at the time was a librarian and she told me that people familiar with the world of science and its concepts were wanted in that profession. I took a job with Luton Public Library, learning the ropes for a year, then went to Loughborough College of Further Education to study Librarianship. Once completed I returned to Luton Public Library and in 1967 I became Engineering Librarian at Portsmouth College of Technology.

"Not long after I qualified as a librarian I saw an advertisement for librarians to join the National Library of Australia - I applied and by July 1968 I was travelling first class on the Arcadia to start my career in Australia. I later became Science Librarian in the Parliamentary Library, the start of 22 years employment in that institution, during which I worked in 11 different positions. I retired in 2002, only to take up a position for five years as Executive Officer to the Anglican Bishop of Canberra & Goulburn – quite a different job and arguably the one which gave me most satisfaction and enjoyment. All a long way from electrical engineering!

"I have been a distance runner since the age of 11 and I look back on hundreds of races, many days of hard training, and, more importantly, a wealth of relationships with my fellow runners. At 72 I was still running half-marathons in under two hours. Alas, now aged 83, I think I’m finished racing.

"So, my time at university? I gained a lot through my interactions with my fellow students from all over the country, through my running, and I believe I grew immensely. I would love to be in contact with anyone in the small group of fellow runners from my time with the NUCCC, and anyone else from my time at Nottingham."

March

Tony Cockbain (Geology, 1955) wrote: "After finishing my PhD at the end of 1957 I joined the Cyprus Geological Survey (then part of the Colonial Geological Survey) as a micropalaeontologist. There I met my future wife, we then moved to Vancouver, where I worked as a marine geologist at the Institute of Oceanography in the University of British Columbia. After three years, sea-sickness made me realise that I preferred to work on dry land, so we went to New Zealand where I lectured at the University of Canterbury, in Christchurch. After three years I decided to return to the geological survey environment and went to Perth as palaeontologist with the Geological Survey of Western Australia (GSWA). During my time with the GSWA we had three or four Nottingham geology graduates working for the organisation.

"I had been a member of the Geological Society of Australia (GSSA) and the Royal Society of Western Australia for many years, and was Editor and President of the latter society, and both societies made me an Honorary Member. After retiring I took on the job of Hon Editor of the GSA’s journal the Australian Journal of Earth Science for 17 years for which I was given the W. R. Browne Award (for distinguished contributions to Australian geology).

"Geology gave me an interesting life, and the opportunity to travel. My wife and our four children (2 Canadians, 1 New Zealander, 1 Australian) have been very supportive, despite the changes of countries in the early days! It is a great pity that Nottingham had to close the geology department, but it is rewarding to. see that the University has grown into one of the finest universities in the UK. Thank you for providing me with the tools to have had an enjoyable and interesting career."

Janice Denoncourt (PhD Law, 2015) wrote: "I was honoured to learn recently that a Chinese translation of my research monograph 'Intellectual Property Finance and Corporate Governance' (2023) Routledge Taylor-Francis ISBN-10 751308064X, ISBN-13 978-7513080644, largely based on my PhD thesis, has published in hardcopy.

"It is a special honour to be selected by Beijing-based Intellectual Property Publishing House (IPPH), the official provider for Chinese patent literature for translation, which was founded in August 1980 and only selects circa 80 foreign publications per annum for official translation.

"It is a pivotal publisher in the realm of intellectual property in China, facilitating the dissemination of domestic and international patent literature. According to WorldCat.org my book is now held in the collections of over 165 leading university libraries in more than 30 countries across five continents around the world."

Catherine Hughes (Chemistry 1990, PhD 1993) wrote: "After studying Chemistry at Nottingham, I worked in quality control at Boots Contract Manufacturing before spending nearly 10 years in IT at the Boots HQ.

"Following a career pivot into physical activity, I focused on Nordic Walking, progressing into instructor training and sector development. In 2017 I became CEO of , leading the organisation’s growth and promoting Nordic Walking as an evidence-informed approach to health, wellbeing, and community connection."

Emeritus Professor David Richardson (Botany, 1963; Master's Mycology, 1964) continues to lead an active life well into his ninth decade, co-authoring no less than nine research papers in the last two years. He also presented a to the Bristol 1904 Arts group in January.