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New York Times
18-07-2025
- General
- New York Times
The Meaning Hidden in Wordsworth's Teacup and Mary Shelley's Hair
THE TREMBLING HAND: Reflections of a Black Woman in the Romantic Archive, by Mathelinda Nabugodi William Wordsworth liked his tea, and he had a favorite cup to drink it from, one 'painted in an Orientalist design,' as Mathelinda Nabugodi writes, with little birds 'flying around beneath' its glaze. That cup is now in the archives of St. John's College, in Cambridge, England, and, as Nabugodi recounts in 'The Trembling Hand,' her new book about the entanglement of British Romanticism and slavery, she first saw it while attending a seminar at the college on abolitionism in 18th-century Britain. Wordsworth's alma mater had educated some prominent abolitionists, and in 1833 the movement finally succeeded. Parliament abolished slavery, and ever since the English have told what Nabugodi, a literary scholar at Cambridge, rightly calls a 'self-congratulatory' story about its end, while turning 'a blind eye' to the fortunes they made from it. The seminar she attended was not blind. The instructor reminded participants that many people in Britain saw slavery as a positive good, and among the documents on display was a letter from the overseer of a Jamaican sugar estate about the purchase of ever more men and women to work in its fields. Sugar was a brutal business. Razor-like machetes to cut the cane, heavy rollers to press its juice and constant flames to boil it down: All had to be done fast, to keep that juice from spoiling, and severed limbs and disabling burns were common. When Wordsworth got his teacup in 1816, almost every spoonful of sugar in Britain had been produced by Caribbean slave labor, and Nabugodi assumes he drank it sweet. But his connections to slavery were much closer than that. The Lake District nobleman who employed Wordsworth's father owned a plantation in Barbados, and an early patron had one as well, on the tiny island of Nevis. Indeed, it was at that slave owner's house in 1795 that Wordsworth first met Samuel Taylor Coleridge. The creative friction of their friendship led to some of the greatest poems in the English language, and the birth of the movement called Romanticism. 'The Trembling Hand' recognizes that greatness. Nevertheless, Nabugodi wants her readers to see how fully entwined the cultural and material wealth of Britain's Romantic era was with slavery, and how long a presence Black people have had on that island. Much of this is well known to specialists; 30 years ago Gretchen Gerzina's 'Black London' described their workaday presence in the metropolis during a period that exactly corresponds to Nabugodi's own. 'Bridgerton' it wasn't. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
The Independent
29-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Earth doesn't recognise national boundaries – we must collaborate for Net Zero
Almost sixty years ago, in 1966, I arrived at St John's College, Cambridge, on a scholarship from BP to study physics. This would turn out to be a golden period for the oil and gas industry. Two new frontiers – the North Sea and Alaska – were on the cusp of opening up, and the industry's reputation as a source of innovation, diplomacy and prosperity was strong. How times change – both in obvious and less obvious ways. The North Sea peaked long ago, with Britain sadly ever more reliant on energy imports. A fuller understanding of climate change has laid bare the duality of hydrocarbons, with most energy companies far too late in taking action. The focus in most developed countries is now on how to produce more and more energy from zero-carbon sources. This is all part of what is commonly meant by the 'energy transition', which is essential if we are to save humanity from the uncontrollable and destructive impact of climate change on health, food supplies and migration. But a less obvious energy transition has been taking place, right in front of our eyes. In 1966, the UK consumed more energy than it does today, despite decades during which both the economy and the population have grown. And the UK now no longer consumes any coal to speak of. If someone had told me this as an undergraduate, I would have scarcely believed them. Some of this change is down to deindustrialisation, but much of it can be attributed to steady gains in energy efficiency. The direction of travel is the same in the US, Canada and the EU. This should give cause for great optimism. The energy transition is a serious challenge which will take years to complete, but it is underway, and it is inextricably linked to energy security. The idea that energy security can be based solely on oil and gas is wrong and dangerous. So too is the view that we can achieve an overnight transition simply by setting net zero targets. Countries need a diversity of sources of energy so that when one source is attacked or interrupted, the supply can be made up by another. UK supplies are much more secure when they are domestic and do not rely on long-distance supply chains. Those such as renewable sources and nuclear fission also happen to be carbon-free. To make progress in the energy transition, we need serious and realistic plans, driven forward by a sense of common purpose and supported by the necessary resources. Plans will vary from country to country, but if they are to succeed, they should have four things in common. The first is to start by working out what will be needed in 25 years. It is clear to me that we will need carbon-free flexible electricity from renewables and nuclear power, both fission and perhaps fusion. At present, electricity accounts for about 20 per cent of global total energy demand; by 2050, it could be closer to 50 per cent. We will continue to need liquid fuels to power heavy transportation such as ships, trucks and long-haul flights, but may be able to create them – and other materials – by transforming waste, wood and crops using enzymes created by AI. And we could use the inevitable super-intelligence of AI to become more efficient everywhere. This future of low-carbon and mostly domestic secure energy is very possible if we commit now to the right level of consistent R&D investment in areas of highest potential. But, of course, we cannot afford to wait, so we must deploy the technologies already available and capable of continuous improvement. This is the second pillar of any successful approach. Electricity from wind and solar is already competitive with the lowest-cost hydrocarbon alternative. What is needed is better long-duration storage and the infrastructure to bring supplies to market. The efficiency of energy use can be dramatically improved by deploying more advanced software and strengthening economic incentives. New nuclear power, including the exciting potential of small modular reactors, can be deployed. Greater deployment of EVs reduced oil demand, but because we are still using oil and gas as 70 per cent of the UK's energy and will continue to do so long into the future, we must use them cleanly. Eliminating methane emissions is feasible and commercially viable. Capturing carbon and storing it is possible, but it needs further deployment and improvement before it is economically feasible to do so. Third, it is important to remember that no one country can achieve all these goals on their own. Competition is a good thing, but in a time of tight budgets, it is better to work in collaboration with other willing partners. The Earth's climate does not recognise national boundaries. We cannot wait for everyone to join in or allow ourselves to be forced to work at the pace of the slowest. Those who are able must act. For governments, that means putting in place internationally coordinated regulations and incentives, and directing funds to the necessary research. There is a strong case in the UK for creating a central national direction of the science and engineering required for the necessary breakthroughs, because efforts are currently too fragmented. It is also essential that we get a grip on a malfunctioning electricity market in which prices are too high, for which green energy is wrongly blamed, undermining efforts to secure public support for the energy transition. But it should be obvious that governments cannot do everything. That is why the contribution of the private sector is so important, and is the fourth pillar of any successful approach. Companies can bring the organisational capacity and international reach to take discoveries from the laboratory to the market. They cannot run away from the issue because they are part of society, serving its needs. But their success must also be nurtured, supported and celebrated. History shows that the private sector is the engine of human progress. We forget this at our peril. There is much that can be done, and no reason to despair. A major transformation of the way we live and work will take time. Industrial revolutions are complex processes replacing established embedded systems with something new and better. But in this case, the necessary changes will only come if we have a clear plan and a visible path to a world which is truly Beyond Petroleum.
CTV News
17-06-2025
- CTV News
Brief hold and secure lifted at three Brantford schools after report of youths with a gun
The exterior of Tollgate Technological Skills Centre in Brantford is seen in this undated photo. (Courtesy: Grand Erie District School Board) The Brantford Police Service said a hold and secure has been called off at three schools in the city, which were put in place after they received a report about youths with a gun. In a social media post at 2:41 p.m. Tuesday, the police service said Tollgate Technological Skills Centre, St. John's College and Ecole Confederation were in hold and secure protocols. They warned residents to expect a police presence in the Dogwood Drive and Tollgate Drive area. In an update 10 minutes later, police said the hold and secures had been lifted. UPDATE: Please be advised that the precautionary hold and secure at Tollgate Technological Centre, St. John's College and Ecole Confederation have all been lifted. At approximately 2pm this afternoon, police received a report of two youths with a firearm in the area of Spring… — Brantford Police Service (@BrantfordPolice) June 17, 2025 The post said police had received a report around 2 p.m. about two youths with a firearm in the Spring Gardens Park area. 'The area schools were placed in hold and secure as a precautionary measure while officers investigated,' the post read, in part. Police said no arrests have been made.
Khaleej Times
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
How this Cambridge student is building a global horse racing community in UAE
For most students, university is a mix of lectures, deadlines, internships and the chance to explore passions beyond the classroom. For Oliver Burridge-Dean, known to friends and peers simply as OBD, learning still plays a central role, but it now comes dressed in racing silks, shaped by starting gates, and driven by the creation of a new sporting culture. During his time at Cambridge University, something clicked and it's taken him from student events to the heart of Dubai's racing scene. That spark came during his first year at Cambridge, where centuries of tradition meet the restless pursuit of new ideas when an events company called Invades asked if he'd help organise a student day at Newmarket. OBD agreed to the request, intrigued by the intersection of social energy and sporting heritage. 'About 150 people showed up, and I thought, okay, something is happening here,' said OBD, who grew up in the Isle of Man. 'I mentioned it over brunch with the Master of my college, St John's, Heather Hancock, and ended up chatting to her husband, Herbie, who'd just been speaking with a committee member at Newmarket Racecourses who thought it was criminal that Cambridge didn't have a racing society.' That contact was Matthew Lohn, now Chairman of Newmarket Racecourses, a qualified doctor and solicitor with decades of experience in sports law and racing governance. With Herbie's introduction, a call was arranged. 'Initially, I didn't see the angle,' OBD admits. 'It was hard enough convincing students to attend a single race day, let alone join a society. Many students felt racing was elitist and not for them while people in racing said students were too academic to be interested.' The gap, he realised, was cultural. Bridging it required access. 'That was the idea,' he said. 'To make racing more accessible.' With the generous support of Lohn and Sophie Able, Newmarket Racecourses and the International Director at the Jockey Club, he founded the Cambridge University Horse Racing Society (CUHRS), which has evolved into one of the most spirited student-led movements. Backed by strategic connections and his own relentless drive, OBD built not just a society, but a movement. The society is born CUHRS was officially launched at Dubai Future Champions Day in the Royal Box at Newmarket, hosted by the wonderful Carmelo. The logo, featuring silks in Cambridge Blue, was designed by Weatherbys, thanks to Nick Craven. 'It was a real highlight. Ed Chamberlin, the prominent British sports broadcaster, came up to the box to speak. The industry's support meant everything.' 'It was about access,' OBD explains. 'The Jockey Club offered use of the 'Winning Connections' or Royal Box, paddock access, even behind-the-scenes tours. These benefits cost them little but meant everything to us.' Tattersalls, the oldest and most prestigious bloodstock auctioneers in the UK and Europe, also opened its doors to CUHRS, thanks to Cambridge alumnus Martin Mitchell. Supporters like Julian Taylor and Bobby Jackson helped organise race days at Huntingdon and even student trips to Aintree for the Grand National. 'To my successor Albi Tufnell's delight — we don't just do flat,' Armand de Lambilly, now CUHRS Senior Events Coordinator, recalls his first race day with CUHRS at Aintree as a turning point. 'It's no overstatement to say that CUHRS is the university society that has had the biggest impact on my life, both in and out of Cambridge.' That initial experience not only sparked his passion for racing but also led to a summer internship at the start-up TurfWin, marking the beginning of his journey into the industry. The society also honours OBD's family legacy. His cousin, bloodstock agent Sam Sangster, helped host events, whose father, Robert Sangster, the legendary owner and co-founder of Coolmore Stud, lends his name to the society's annual dinner. Held for the first time in 2024, the dinner hosted Lord Grimthorpe, Edward John 'Teddy' Beckett, racing manager for the late Prince Khalid Abdullah's Juddmonte Farms and a prominent figure in British horse racing, along with Jockey Club CEO and Cambridge alumnus, Nevin Truesdale, at one of the longest tables outside Windsor Castle at the Jockey Club Rooms in Newmarket. It was a night that symbolised CUHRS's growing stature within the sport's elite circles. From Cambridge to the desert Rejected from traditional roles in London, OBD took a leap of faith and interned in Dubai. Inspired by Manx billionaire, founder of New Agrarian and clean food investor, Jim Mellon. 'He said if he were young again, he'd go to the Middle East, especially with such forward-thinking governments. I took that literally,' says OBD. That summer, he interned in Dubai. Just a few months later, in October, he was back in the UK, hosting CUHRS' inaugural 'Founding Day' in the Royal Box at Newmarket during Dubai Future Champions Day. 'It was funny how things all started to align,' he reflected. When he eventually relocated to Dubai full-time, the city — and Meydan — felt instantly like home. His introduction to Dubai racing came courtesy of Harry Tregoning, a British expatriate, who transitioned from insuring farms and estates in the UK to establishing himself in Dubai's dynamic real estate market as the founder of Tregoning Property. 'Harry gave me an owner's badge, a simple gesture that opened the door to an unforgettable chapter in my life. I owe my Dubai racing experience to him,' said OBD, reflecting on how it all began. What started as a chance opportunity evolved into regular evenings at Meydan and lasting friendships. Among those who made Dubai feel like home were Charles and Alice Yardley who happened to be from the same Northumberland village as CUHRS co-founder, Jonnie Scott-Bromly. 'When you're away from home, those bonds mean everything,' said OBD. Friday nights at Meydan became a ritual. On his birthday — January 3 — he was joined by familiar names: George Scott, a prominent British racehorse trainer based in Newmarket, Suffolk, operating from Eve Lodge Stables on Hamilton Road, once the base for legendary handler Gillian Duffield, a distinguished British trainer renowned for her exceptional work with Arabian racehorses and whose career, spanned nearly three decades, includes training for the late Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum. James Siggers, cloth master and a close friend of George Scott, introduced OBD to another Sophie, the head of corporate communications, marketing and brand, at Dubai Racing Club, setting the stage for CUHRS's expansion into the UAE. Sophie Able, and his best friend Aanya, were present that same evening where OBD met Sophie Ryan. 'Sophie had flown in to Dubai as the Jockey Club was sponsoring a race. The timing couldn't have been better,' said OBD. With the support of John Hawkins, former British ambassador to Qatar and Consul-General in Dubai, the Jockey Club is working to strengthen ties with Meydan, recognising the UAE's growing influence in international racing. 'I had the privilege of spending 'Super Saturday' with Sophie, John, Joseph Assaad Tabet, and Dido Harding — Baroness Diana Mary 'Dido' Harding of Winscombe — Senior Steward of The Jockey Club, who was highly supportive of our vision to establish a CUHRS-style initiative in the Middle East,' OBD added. CUHRS Dubai: A new chapter With support from Sophie Ryan and the Dubai Racing Club, CUHRS hosted its inaugural Fashion Friday event at Meydan. 'Twenty of us attended, free of charge, with full hospitality. George Prince even came to speak to us,' said OBD. 'That night Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, made a rare appearance at the Carnival — it was magic.' The format was replicated with a follow-up visit to Bhupat Seemar's championship-winning Zabeel Stables at dawn. 'He greeted us personally the next week at Meydan and knew everyone by name. That's how you bring people into the 'village,'' said OBD. 'Bhupat has even kindly agreed to give our inaugural dinner at the Arts Club, Dubai. James Maughan, Chairman of the Oxford & Cambridge Society of the UAE, has also agreed to partner with us.' Outlining the broader ambition of the initiative, OBD spoke about a long-term vision to establish a lasting legacy for youth development through racing across the region. 'But this initiative isn't just about Cambridge — it's about creating a true 'University of Racing' for young people in Dubai,' OBD said. And Dubai is just the beginning. Ed Veale, Director of Racing & International Relations at the Bahrain Turf Club, has also shown strong support ahead of next season. 'We were fortunate to visit Bahrain with George Baker and meet Ali Majeed, trainer for the rising Almohamediya Racing, led by His Highness Sheikh Sultan Al Deen bin Mohammed bin Salman Al Khalifa,' he added. 'Looking ahead, we plan to expand our vision across the rest of the Gulf.' Racing as a cultural and regal conduit But ask OBD what really keeps him hooked, and he'll point to something deeper — how racing brings people together in ways few sports can. 'What other sport unites the Ruler of a country with the Queen of another country?' he asks. 'There's such deep mutual respect between British and Middle Eastern traditions and horses are at the heart of it. It's a bond that goes beyond sport; it's cultural.' That bond is rooted in a centuries-old equestrian heritage shared by both regions — from the Royal Studs at Sandringham and the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace to the state-of-the-art stables in Dubai. Both cultures in the UK and the UAE place immense value on horsemanship, breeding, and the prestige that surrounds the sport. Perhaps the most powerful symbol of this connection was the friendship between the late Queen Elizabeth II and Sheikh Mohammed. United by a lifelong passion for thoroughbred racing, their mutual admiration helped forge lasting ties between two distinct worlds. OBD's own relationship with Dubai's racing elite underscores this connection. He had a chance meeting with legendary Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor — one of the most decorated figures in global horse racing. 'We talked about engaging youth. Saeed was genuinely interested,' OBD says. That meeting laid the foundation for what OBD hopes will one day include hosting a Society dinner in Saeed's honour — an occasion that would underscore the evolving relationship between CUHRS and Godolphin. 'The Society's ties with Godolphin have deepened through visits to Dalham Hall Stud and Moulton Paddocks in Newmarket, made possible by one of our most loyal members, Loulou,' said OBD. These connections have also been strengthened through events attended by Hugh Anderson, Managing Director of Godolphin in both the UK and Dubai, and David Loder, the highly respected British racehorse trainer known for his expertise in developing young thoroughbreds who generously gave their time to speak with a group of CUHRS students. 'This isn't just sport, it's heritage, opportunity, and legacy,' said OBD. With plans to fly students out for immersive racing and cultural experiences, OBD is evolving from a student organiser into a cultural envoy by bridging generations and geographies through a shared passion 'Racing gave me community,' he added. That includes chance friendships too like with polo player and banker Finn Campbell-Breeden (RCB). 'We were introduced because of our love of horses through a friend, discovered we lived in the same building in Business Bay, and became inseparable. I owe my life in Dubai to racing.' OBD clearly thrives on connection — between people, places, and passions. For him, this is just the beginning. For support, or to get in touch: Dubai
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
University colleges seek injunctions over protests
Two university colleges are seeking High Court injunctions against pro-Palestine demonstrations after an encampment on their land over the weekend. On Friday, activists camped on Newton Lawn outside Trinity College and then moved to a lawn outside St John's College, a lawyer for the University of Cambridge said. The protesters left after temporary injunctions were granted on Sunday and Monday, meaning further protests could result in activists being found to be in contempt of court. On Thursday, Kester Lees KC, for the colleges, asked for the injunctions to be made final and to last 12 months, as protests were disruptive to students taking exams. In written submissions, he said the university was "concerned about the environment of fear and intimidation created by masked protesters". He said the university did not wish to stop all protests but added that "some chanting was directly aimed at disrupting the examination season". Instead he suggested other options, such as a march or online and writing campaigns. Grant Kynaston, for the European Legal Support Centre, which supports the legal rights of pro-Palestine activists, said the court action had been rushed and that more time should be given, during which further evidence could be provided. Mr Kynaston asked the court to discontinue the injunction. He said if it were to be granted, it would be an "exceptionally wide-ranging and uncalibrated interference" with the protesters' human rights. He also said there was a trend of higher education institutions relying on court injunctions as a first rather than a last resort for enforcement against protests. Judge Andrew Twigger KC is expected to give his judgement in two to three weeks, during which time the temporary injunctions will remain in place. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. University college to stop arms company investment University granted four-month protest injunction University condemns Palestine Action paint protest Protesters barred from disrupting degree ceremony University of Cambridge
