Mr and Mrs Evans – What a Reaseheath Romance!

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Alumni Lorraine and J Graham nuttingknittingnanna Engagement May 1980 for newsletter

Reaseheath alumnus Lorraine Evans contacted Reaseheath Alumni Association after a recent visit to our annual Live Lambing event. We were delighted to hear some fantastic news from Lorraine along with a selection of recollections from her time at the Cheshire College of Agriculture.

Lorraine Newton on her MA graduation day with husband Graham Newton, 14th March 2014.

Lorraine Evans on her MA graduation day with husband Graham Evans, 14th March 2014.

Former Reaseheath student Lorraine Evans (nee Boydell) recently celebrated her 33rd wedding anniversary to husband and fellow former student Graham Evans. Lorraine and Graham met whilst both studying at the College 1979-1980. Whist Lorraine studied for her OND in Food Technology partner Graham trained in Dairy Herd Management. Living on campus the couple’s romance blossomed and as a result were engaged to marry on the 15th May 1980. The engagement was an extra special surprise for Lorraine, as this also marked her 19th birthday!

To this day, Lorraine and Graham remain as happy as the day they met as students at Reaseheath. On the 14th March 2014 the couple celebrated their 33rd wedding anniversary. The very same day saw Lorraine graduate with an MA in Education from University of Chester.

Lorraine commented: “I am very proud to have completed my Masters as it was a particularly challenging venture. Graham has wholeheartedly supported me throughout the process and, without him by my side, I would not have been able achieve this.  The fact that our wedding anniversary fell on the same day as my graduation made it an extra special celebration for both of us”.

Since leaving the College the couple have gone on to pave successful careers. Lorraine currently works in education with the Virtual School in Cheshire West and Chester and Graham is a bus driver based in Chester.

 

If you have a story you would like to share on our website, please contact Reaseheath’s Alumni Officer Katie  Burt.

 

Old Hall Field Sumo Subsoiler Demonstration

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Earlier this month our Agriculture Department received a machinery demonstration from SUMO UK Ltd. Richard Hales, sales manager for Sumo, brought the machinery on-site for a demonstration and to start a trial on one of our fields.

Staff and final year Level 3 Extended Diploma in Agriculture students were involved in the machinery demonstration. As well as being able to see what the machinery is capable of, the demonstration linked in with the grassland module our students are currently completing.

Anthony Jones from Agriculture, along with Farm Manager Mark Yearsley, have teamed up with Richard Hales from SUMO to organise this grassland trial. The trial will investigate the possibility of more consistent grass growth, extended grazing season and reduced chemical fertiliser costs as well as better soil health and structure.

The trial is expected to lead on to further research of the improvements that the subsoil machine can bring to the grazing grassland at Reaseheath.

The field was split into three areas. The first strip has been treated with the subsoil machine provided by SUMO at a depth of 8 inches. The middle strip was left untreated. The final strip, at the far end of the field, was aerated to a depth of 4 inches by first year Level 3 Extended Diploma students on one of their practicals. This enable staff and students to compare and contrast the different treatments available to existing swards.

This research will be ongoing in Field 7 over at Old Hall and will be repeated in the autumn through to next spring 2015.

The public will in fact be part of this trial as in May Field 7 will be used as a car park for our annual Family Festival. This will put pressure on the field and compact it. Following the Family Festival the recovery of the field will be monitored and hopefully the area which has been treated with the SUMO machine will hold up to compaction the best.

 

Reaseheath undergraduate wins chance to join USA horse research project

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Reaseheath undergraduate Charlotte Woolley has won a prestigious internship at the world’s leading equine breeding and research centre.

Charlotte, 21, who is in the final year of her BSc (Hons) in Equine Science, will spend this summer working and studying at the Virginia Tech State University, USA. The university specialises in breeding and producing top quality sports horses. Charlotte will be trained in veterinary techniques and will assist with research into nutrition, reproduction and parasitology.  She will also help to prepare youngstock for the show ring.

The three month internship is offered through the British Equestrian Federation and is open to all veterinary related institutions  in Britain. Charlotte was judged to be the top candidate after writing a 3000 word paper on equine obesity and discussing its welfare implications. The final selection was held at the BEF headquarters in Hertfordshire in front of a panel of industry leaders.

Charlotte flies out in June and will return in September in time for Reaseheath’s graduation ceremony. Aiming for a career as a veterinary research scientist, she then plans to study for a Masters in research or a PhD in veterinary science.

She says: “This is a very exciting opportunity which is perfect for my future career. I enjoy learning and my ambition is to have a job that is continually challenging and mentally stimulating. My passion is research – it genuinely fascinates me.

“The opportunity to visit leading equestrian events and stud farms in a beautiful part of America will be an unforgettable experience. I am also looking forward to putting the theory I learnt during my degree into practice.

“This internship will build on both my academic and practical skills and broaden my horizons in terms of my current knowledge of the equine industry. I know that it will be a truly life changing experience.”

Originally from Buxton, Charlotte completed ‘A’  levels at Leek College before becoming a Reaseheath student three years ago. She has ridden from a young age and has successfully  competed at show jumping and showing including a HOYS qualification.  She currently lives in Nantwich.

She adds: “I really enjoy studying for my degree at Reaseheath. There’s a great atmosphere and you get lots of individual support from your lecturers if you need it. I definitely made the right choice when I decided to come here.”

You can find out more about our Equine degrees here.

 

Winning undergraduates to attend key scientific conference

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Six Reaseheath equine undergraduates have won bursaries to attend a key International scientific conference.

BSc Hons Equine Science students Amy Porter, Charlotte Woolley, Marie Gellion, Jess Irving and Megan O’Loughlin  and Foundation Degree in Equine Science and Management student Emily Westwood will be delegates at the International Conference on Equine Exercise Physiology (ICEEP) when it takes place in June.

The conference, which aims to advance understanding of the physiology, function and health of the equine athlete, is viewed as one of the top scientific forums and gives academics the opportunity to share best practice. International speakers will present papers on subjects such as nutrition, biochemistry of exercise, muscle physiology and the genetics of performance.

The conference will run over four days in Chester and our undergraduates can choose to attend one of the days. To win the bursaries, offered through the Cheshire Racing Hub, the students successfully wrote 500 word summaries on why attending the conference will help them in their future careers. They will join delegates from Britain’s veterinary schools and equine colleges.

All our undergraduates are considering careers in scientific research and are keen to hear leading authorities present the results of high quality investigative studies. They will also use the opportunity to learn more about the mentoring available to post-graduate students and junior scientists.

Marie Gellion, who intends to continue onto a Masters degree, is looking forward to hearing Professor Raymond Geor, a leading equine exercise physiologist from America. She said: “This will be a unique and inspirational opportunity to hear the latest research from someone I’ve admired for a long time.”

ICEEP will run over four days in Chester.  Reaseheath’s Higher Education Programme Leader Dr Jan Birch is on the organising committee and encouraged our students to apply for the bursaries.

She said: “I was delighted that six of our undergraduates were successful, particularly as the applications were of a very high standard.”

You can find out more about our Equine degrees here.

 

Young entrepreneurs impress with their business idea

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Future business leaders from Reaseheath College have won the first leg of this year’s Young Enterprise competition with their quirky idea to recycle glass bottles by turning them into household items.

Aptly named ‘New Generation’, the team of 13 Level 3 Diploma in Business Studies students will represent Cheshire East at the county stage of the contest, to be held in Warrington on May 6th.

Their business idea – to turn reshape glass bottles into candle holders, flower vases, pen pots and sweet holders – won them TWO awards, for the best overall company and for the best trade stand.

Four experienced business judges put Reaseheath in the top slot after considering entries from six  schools and institutions which teach business studies. They judged the display and listened to a presentation by Managing Director Shannon Tew, Sales Director Sam Thurlow, IT Manager Victor Parker and Operations Director Luke Rimmer. The competition was held at Barclays Radbrooke Hall, Knutsford.

To increase their chances of success at county level the students now have to prove the business is financially viable and are busy taking sales orders from staff and students, families, friends and local outlets. They will be displaying their range in the campus restaurant and will also visit departments to drum up business.  Products can be made to order.

If they are successful at the next stage our students will represent Cheshire against other winners from the north west region.  Regional winners go on to the prestigious national finals in London.

The annual Young Enterprise competition aims to encourage business talent in young people. Our students regularly take part in competitions, visit companies and go on study tours to increase their business and commercial experience.

Said Shannon Tew: “The competition so far has been very exciting and we’re working really hard to get to the next level. We’ve already learned a lot about running a real business and the judges gave us some really good comments and tips.”

Business Studies Course Manager and lecturer Julie Boulton, who has helped to mentor the students and is link tutor for the competition added: “I’m very proud of the way the team has worked together to come up with an attractive product and produce a business plan. Their presentation was excellent. I’m hoping that more success is on the horizon.”

For more details visit :  www.facebook.com/newgenerationyoungenterprise

 

Affiliated Dressage Competition
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Click here to view the results for our Affiliated Dressage event on Saturday 6th January.

To enter our next Affiliated Dressage event on Saturday 3rd February 2018, please enter online http://bit.ly/RHC_EquineEvents or contact 01270 616482 or email equineevents@reaseheath.ac.uk.

Spiky newborn makes Easter appearance at Reaseheath’s Zoo

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A spiky newborn with attitude is making his first public appearance at Reaseheath College’s zoo in Nantwich over Easter.

The baby porcupine, known as a ‘porcupette’, was born in  March to one of the college’s three female porcupines. The youngster was given its first health check last week by zookeepers, who found he was male and that, at 958 grams, he had more than doubled its birth weight. He is quickly becoming independent and showing his rather grumpy character!

porcupette with keeper

The porcupette is handled for the first time by a Reaseheath zoo keeper

The porcupette is on display in the zoo’s courtyard enclosure, along with his mother, grandmother and other family members.

Other newborn zoo animals include a pancake tortoise and a muntjac faun named Marius. A two year-old male Asian Small Clawed Otter called Wonga has also joined the collection from a visitor attraction in Devon. The newcomer is settling in well with Reaseheath’s  female otter ‘Ying’ and can be seen in the otter enclosure.

Reaseheath’s animal collection also includes meerkats, spider monkeys, ring tailed lemurs, a serval cat, birds of prey and many reptiles, amphibians, fish and companion animals like rabbits.

As well as touring the enclosures and joining in educational activities, families can learn how to reduce their carbon footprint by joining the Pole to Pole campaign. The campaign has been adopted by leading zoos and aquariums in Europe and North America and aims to influence the energy consumption of visitors.

Additional activities over the holiday weekend include an Easter egg hunt. Zoo visitors also get a 10% reduction off plants and vegetables in Reaseheath’s Crop Shop.

Reaseheath Zoo is open to the public until Easter Monday, 21st April, 10am to 5pm (last entry 4pm)

Admission: £15 family (2 adults and 3 children); £5 adult;£4 Children/ concessions. Under 3s free

More details visit www.reaseheath.ac.uk/zoo or email zoo@reaseheath.ac.uk

 

Racing careers could be a good bet for Reaseheath equine students

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Reaseheath College equine students are keen to kick on into horse racing careers following an action packed event focused on the industry.

Jobs from jockey to media specialist were described by key members of Cheshire’s thriving and highly competitive horse racing industry at a careers day organised by the Cheshire Racing Hub and held at Reaseheath’s Equestrian Centre.

The range of opportunities seemed a good bet for the 120 students who attended, many of whom were eager to learn about related careers such as bloodstock breeding, farriery, physiotherapy and equine nutrition.

Speakers included Carrie Ford, a Co-ordinator for the British Horseracing Education and Standards Trust, who described the varied roles on a professional racing yard and how well paid many of the jobs are, with a guaranteed pension scheme and a percentage of the prize money going to staff. An assistant trainer and top jockey who raced in the Grand National, Carrie also brought along some racing tack and equipment.

Point to point trainer Oliver Greenall rode two of his racehorses in the college’s indoor arena to demonstrate training for optimum fitness while Will Kinsey, National Hunt trainer and bloodstock specialist, described buying young horses from sales and what to look for. He also talked the students through online racing websites and how to enter horses for relevant races.

Sarah Beattie, Marketing Manager from the Northern Racing College, gave students a taster of race riding on Reaseheath’s mechanical horse ‘Flicka’ and described the courses and apprenticeships available for those who want to specialise in racing.

Lucinda Dutton from Chester Racecourse talked about her role in marketing and her work with sponsors. She also discussed the size and scope of the industry and the many graduate traineeships available.

Jo Miles, Head Veterinary Nurse for the Hampton Veterinary Group, talked about dealing with injuries and described routes into veterinary nursing.

The event was organised by Emma Owen and Sarah Hamlyn, Project Co-ordinators for the Cheshire Racing Hub as part of its ‘careers in racing’ initiative. Funded by the British Horseracing Authority and Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Cheshire Racing Hub aims to link schools, colleges and businesses so they connect into the exciting sport of horse racing.

The initiative is being led by Cheshire West and Chester Council as part of its rural regeneration strategy and is supported by the county’s leading racing yards and associated businesses. Project partners include Reaseheath College, the University of Chester and the University of Liverpool’s Veterinary School.

Recognising that horse racing is a key area for employment, Reaseheath’s  equine team is now looking at more ways to help students to prepare for careers in the industry

Equine Programme Leader Sarah Houghton said: “The event was a fantastic success and the calibre of guests and speakers was excellent. Their experience and passion for the industry was tangible and the students came away with lots of exciting opportunities to consider. Horse racing is big business, particularly in Cheshire, and it offers many career options.”

“I am very grateful for the time and effort put in by all the speakers and particularly to Sarah Hamlyn and Emma Owen for organising the event and giving our students such a fantastic opportunity.”

Level 3 Extended Diploma in Horse Management student Tara Taylor, 18, who owns an ex-racehorse herself, said: “This has been a really good event.  I’ve learned a lot about the racing industry and I’m now really interested in looking at a career in the bloodstock industry.”

For further details visit www.reaseheath.ac.uk/equine and www.cheshireracinghub.co.uk

 

New life saving kits for campus

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Reaseheath has become the first college to receive defibrillators from The Oliver King Foundation.

Eight of the potentially life saving kits will be placed strategically around campus and will be used in the event of anyone having a cardiac arrest. Thirty-eight staff members are already trained to use them and many more will undergo training.

The Oliver King Foundation was set up in memory of a 12 year old who died from Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS), which causes sudden death in apparently healthy young people. Nineteen youngsters a week are lost through the condition.

We raised over £10,000 for The Oliver King Foundation when it was our RAG charity in 2012. The foundation, which has backing from MPs and councillors, aims to put defibrillators in community areas where they will be available to give essential and immediate first aid in the ‘golden’ four minutes following cardiac arrest.

The equipment has been placed in schools in the Liverpool, Knowsley, Sefton and Wirral areas and has already been used to help save the lives of three young people. The Foundation plans to expand the scheme throughout the north west and then nationally.  Reaseheath is the first college to benefit by purchasing defibrillators from the charity.

Our Chaplain, Drew Walker, has overseen the project and invited Oliver’s dad Mark King, the charity’s founder, to Reaseheath last week to hand over the equipment personally.

Drew said: “Having the defibrillators readily available on campus will help us in our efforts to provide a completely safe environment for our students, staff and visitors. We’ve already had lots of positive feedback from our involvement with the scheme.”

This year’s RAG charity is St Luke’s Cheshire Hospice.

 

Young bakers’ cakes are fit for a Queen

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Budding bakers from across the region were crowned winners in a hotly contested schools challenge laid down by Reaseheath’s food department.

Just ten entries from a total of 120 made it through to the final of Reaseheath’s Year 9 Schools Bake Off Competition, which was held in our specialist Food Centre last week. Contestants had to bake a cake or pastry with a royal theme.

The judging panel, made up of professional chef Brian Mellor, Cheshire WI judge Mary Hignett and Peter Wright, Chairman of sponsors the Wrights Pies Food Group, were looking for originality, presentation and taste.

The competition attracted entries from 45 secondary schools in five counties. Teams of our food technologists selected the finalists after visiting schools throughout Cheshire, Staffordshire, Manchester, Wirral and mid Wales to view and taste the cakes and to test the knowledge of the young bakers. These contestants had already won through from a first round consisting of a mood board with photos of the finished product.

Winner Charlotte Parton with her entry ‘Fit for a Queen’

Winner Charlotte Parton with her entry ‘Fit for a Queen’

Overall winner was Charlotte Parton, 13, from the Grove School, Market Drayton, who won a £100 cash prize plus two iPads for her school. Charlotte’s entry ‘Fit for a Queen’, was a Victoria sponge decorated with hand crafted butter biscuits shaped like soldiers and topped with a sugar crown. Second place went to a coconut and cherry cake made by Megan Glover and Louise Brown from Stockport School and third was a sponge decorated with roses made by Sam Platt and Lily Peachment from Cransley School, Northwich.

Stockport School’s Megan Glover and Louise Brown with their coconut crown

Stockport School’s Megan Glover and Louise Brown with their coconut crown

Other finalists were Charlotte Hesketh from Sandbach High School, Alex Thacker and Nicola Stockdale from Manchester High School for Girls, Izzy Burton and Anna Davies from The Marches School, Oswestry,  Elain Wyn and Elin Evans from Llanfyllin High School and Fiona Collins from Cheadle Hulme School.

Styled on the hit TV programme ‘The Great British Bake-Off’, Reaseheath’s competition was so popular that we plan to repeat it next year, this time with a savoury meat theme.

Mary Hignett said: “We have just witnessed the bakers of the future, all of whom have very good technical ability and excellent skills. Their cakes had wonderful textures and flavours. The standards were so high that it was very difficult for us to select the top three.  In our opinion, all the finalists were winners.

“Reaseheath’s food department should be congratulated on running such an inspired and exciting competition.”

Reaseheath Food Curriculum Manager Nick Blakemore, who led the project, said: “We were amazed at the pupils’ novel ideas. It was a very hard job to select the finalists because each entry had something to bring to the table. It was even harder to select the winners!”

Charlotte, a keen home baker, said: “I wanted to make my cake original and I tried out lots of ideas at home and at school. The competition was brilliant fun and I got great feedback from the judges. It’s made me even keener to look at food science as a career.”

You can find out more about our Patisserie and Bakery courses here.