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59th ABU General Assembly and Associated Meetings 2022

25 November - 30 November 2022

New Delhi, India

Copyright Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union. Please credit accordingly.

DARE @ Programme 1/9/18

DARE @ Programme 10/5/17

 

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Union Minister for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences and Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, today dedicated to the nation two databases brought out by the Department of Science and Technology on `S&T Awards in India’ and `Indian origin academicians and scholars abroad’.

 

The database on `S&T Awards in India’ is an attempt to build and manage the information about science and technology awards that have been instituted since 1928 in India. It provides data on various aspects such as discipline, periodicity, categories, awards level, chronology and state wise distribution of awards and their sponsors. It will be useful for planners, policy makers, funding agencies and other stakeholders to chalk out their programmes as per the priorities of R&D activities.

 

The database on `Indian Origin Academicians’, in turn, has information on 23,472 Indian academicians and research scholars working in various countries. It is of immense relevance/importance in the present-day scenario where international collaborations with knowledge experts are the key factor for S&T led growth and competitiveness. The project team explored around 2,700 academic university websites to gather this information from selected countries (US, UK, Australia and Canada).

 

The Minister released the databases at a function to mark the National Science Day, which is celebrated every year since 1987 in remembrance of Nobel Laureate Sir C.V.Raman’s path breaking discovery of Raman Effect in 1930.

 

He also presented the National S&T Communication Awards, AWSAR (Augmenting Writing Skills for Articulating Research) Awards, and SERB (Science and Engineering Research Board)’s Women Excellence Awards on the occasion.

 

Under the National S&T Communication Awards, Dr. S. Anil Kumar (Anilkumar Vadavathoor), a well known popular science writer in Malayalam has won the Award for Outstanding Efforts in Science & Technology Communication through Print Media including Books and Magazines; Indian Resource and Development Association and Mr. Mihir Kumar Panda the Award for Outstanding Efforts in Science & Technology Popularization among Children; Dr Sheffali Gulati, Delhi and Mr.Rakesh Khatri the Award for Outstanding Efforts in Science & Technology Communication through Innovative and Traditional Methods; and Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa the Award for Outstanding Efforts in Science & Technology Communication in Electronic Media.

  

National Science Communication Award Winner - Dr. S. Anil Kumar, Mihir Kumar Panda, Dr. Sheffali Gulati, Rakesh Khatri, Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa (top to bottom)

 

Union Minister for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences and Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, today dedicated to the nation two databases brought out by the Department of Science and Technology on `S&T Awards in India’ and `Indian origin academicians and scholars abroad’.

 

In the case of AWSAR awards, Dr. Sangeeta Dutta of Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR) has won the AWSAR Award for Outstanding Story under the Post-doctoral fellow category; Ms. Pooja Maurya of CSIR- Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, the AWSAR Award: First Prize (PhD category); Ms. Indu Joshi of Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, the AWSAR Award: Second prize (PhD category); and Ms. Shruti Soni of Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore the AWSAR Award: Third prize (PhD category).

  

Photo-1: Winners of 'AWSAR' contest- Dr. Sangeeta Dutta (top left), Pooja Maurya (top right), Indu Joshi (bottom left), Shruti Soni (bottom right)

 

The winners of SERB Women Excellence Award are Dr. Shobhna Kapoor of Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Dr. Antara Banerjee of National Institute for Research In Reproductive Health, Dr. Sonu Gandhi of National Institute of Animal Biotechnology, and Dr. Ritu Gupta, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, Rajasthan

  

SERB Women-Excellence Award Winners- Dr. Shobhna Kapoor (top left), Antara Banerjee (top right), Dr. Ritu Gupta (bottom left), Dr. Sonu Gandhi (bottom right)

 

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister noted that India's global position both in innovations and scientific publications has seen a rising trend over the last six years, with its Global Innovation Index (GII) ranking improving rapidly to 48 (2020) from 81 (2015) and Scientific Publication ranking to 3rd position (2018) from 6th (2014)

 

Further, he pointed out that India ranked 8th in patents filed by resident scientists/innovators from respective countries as per WIPO Statistics and ranked 3rd in number of PhD degrees awarded (24,474) in Science and Engineering. Besides, women’s participation in R&D has increased to 16.6% (2018) from 13.9% (2016). India has reached 3rd position in the world in terms of number of startups.

 

He pointed out that compared to last year there has been a 30 per cent increase in the budget of the Ministry of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences put together for the year 2021-22 and said that the Country’s upcoming Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Policy aspired to position India much higher among globally competitive and innovative economies and the coming policy on Scientific Social Responsibility will seek to provide a big impetus to create the mindset and value systems to recognize, respect, and reward performances which create wealth from S&T derived knowledge.

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Ministry of Science & Technology

Dr Harsh Vardhan gives away awards to science communicators and women scientists on National Science Day

 

The 30 percent increase in the budget of Ministry of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences put together for the year 2021-22 would provide stimulus to S&T infrastructure resources in the country: Dr Harsh Vardhan

 

“Fundamental and Translational Research have to be people centric. So on this National Science Day, let each scientist dream of something new to make perceptible difference to the life of people in India”: Dr Harsh Vardhan

 

Dr. Harsh Vardhan also releases the first-ever National S&T Databases on S&T Awards in India and Indian origin Academicians abroad

 

Also confers an appreciation shield to National S&T database developers

Posted On: 28 FEB 2021 7:10PM by PIB Delhi

Union Minister for Science & Technology, Earth Sciences and Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Harsh Vardhan today highlighted how science technology and innovation (STI) would impact our future in education, skills and functioning in the post-pandemic world. He was addressing the National Science Day (NSD) funFction through video-conferencing from Imphal, Manipur. Awards to science communicators and women scientists were also conferred by the Science & Technology Minister on the occasion of National Science Day which is celebrated to commemorate the discovery of Raman Effect on this day every year. The NSD celebrations were organized by the National Council for Science Technology Communication (NCSTC), Department of Science &

   

Dr. Harsh Vardhan said, “The 30 percent increase in the budget of Ministry of Science & Technology and Earth Sciences put together for the year 2021-22 would provide stimulus to S&T infrastructure resources in the country”. The Union Minister said that in view of last year's challenges thrown by the COVID-19 pandemic, the theme of the National Science Day 2021, ‘Future of STI: Impacts on Education, Skills, and Work,’ becomes all the more important.

 

“World has witnessed how Indian S&T systems rose to this recent unprecedented crisis caused by the pandemic. Scientific awareness and health preparedness shall become even more important in post-COVID 19 times. A comprehensive National programme has already been launched on health and risk communication with a focus on COVID-19, namely, Year of Awareness on Science & Health (YASH). We have brought out an online interactive multimedia bilingual resource for mass awareness on COVID- 19, COVID Katha,” Dr. Harsh Vardhan disclosed.

 

“The data portals launched today will be game changers. We feel that scientists with legacy from India should be on one platform and contribute to India’s growth story”, the Minister explained. He further said that the Prime Minister has been talking about Scientific Social Responsibility for which the Fundamental and Translational Research have to be people centric. “So on this National Science Day, let each scientist dream of something new to make perceptible difference to the life of people in India”, Dr Harsh Vardhan urged.

 

He also underlined the importance of sustained efforts of inculcating, nurturing, and unleashing the scientific temper and innovative mindset of projected population of 1.5 billion (+) people in 2050 for sustainable and inclusive growth.

 

Dr. Harsh Vardhan presented the National S&T Communication Awards, Augmenting Writing Skills for Articulating Research (AWSAR) awards, and SERB Women Excellence Awards and conferred Rajendra Prabhu Memorial Appreciation Shield for outstanding work in science media and journalism.

   

The Minister also released the first-ever National S&T Databases on S&T Awards in India and Indian origin Academicians abroad. The database on S&T Awards in India is an excellent source of information about S&T awards presented to R&D professionals in India. The database of Indian Origin Academicians is a unique database developed in the country and has a huge information base of about 23,472 Indian academicians and research scholars working in various countries. Dr. Harsh Vardhan also conferred an appreciation shield to National S&T database developers.

 

Speaking on the efforts of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) in driving STI as a tool for the growth and development of the country, Secretary DST Prof. Ashutosh Sharma said that science and technology has a critical role in creating ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, which is ready for the future. “Future of STI is going to impact us in every aspect of life. Recalling our glorious past will show us the light to take us to future. There are huge challenges, like sustainable development, climate change, clean energy, rise of intelligent machines, and so on. The future is multi-disciplinary, and in order to solve problems, one has to approach them in an interdisciplinary manner. The job of scientists is to help reach science to every corner of the country”, he pointed out.

 

Dr Shekhar C Mande, Secretary, DSIR and DG, CSIR, highlighted the contributions of the Indian scientific community during COVID-19 pandemic. “The pandemic has shown that the Indian S&T community is ready for facing all the challenges like the recent pandemic and those that may come in the future,” he said.

 

Dr. Gargi B Dasgupta, Director, IBM Research India, and CTO, IBM India and South Asia, Bangalore, India, delivered the special lecture on the theme and said that fourth industrial revolution is creating demand for new skill sets displacing existing jobs as well as giving rise to new ones. She spoke about the future of jobs and the urgency of science, highlighting the recent study by World Economic Forum (WEF) on the new emerging job clusters and the skills required for the economy of tomorrow.

 

Secretary, SERB Prof Sandeep Verma and Head, NCSTC Dr. Praveen Arora were also present on occasion.

 

National Science Day is celebrated every year on 28th February to commemorate the announcement of the discovery of the ‘Raman Effect’ by Sir C.V. Raman, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1930. The government of India designated 28 February as National Science Day (NSD) in 1986. Since then, theme-based science communication activities are carried out all over the country on this occasion.

 

National Council for Science & Technology Communication (NCSTC), DST acts as a nodal agency to support, catalyze and coordinate the celebration of the National Science Day throughout the country in scientific institutions, research laboratories, and autonomous scientific institutions associated with the Ministry of Science and Technology. NCSTC has supported various programmes countrywide through State S&T Councils & Departments for organization of a range of activities, such as lectures, quizzes, open houses, etc. DST also instituted National Awards for Science Popularization in 1987 to stimulate, encourage and recognize outstanding efforts in the area of science and technology communication and popularization as well as inculcating scientific temper among masses. These awards are presented every year on National Science Day. The awards consist of a memento, citation, and award money.

   

List of Awardees:

   

Science and Technology Communication Awardees

 

National Award for Outstanding Efforts in Science & Technology Communication through Print Media including Books and Magazines. : Dr. S. Anil Kumar, Kerala

 

National Award for Outstanding Efforts in Science & Technology Popularization among Children: (1) Indian Resource and Development Association, Haryana (2) Dr. Mihir Kumar Panda, Odisha

 

National Award for Outstanding Efforts in Science & Technology Communication through Innovative and Traditional Methods: (1) Dr. Sheffali Gulati, Delhi (2) Shri Rakesh Khatri, Delhi

 

National Award for Outstanding Efforts in Science & Technology Communication in the Electronic Medium: Dr. Krishna Kumari Challa, Telangana

 

Rajendra Prabhu Memorial Appreciation Shield for Outstanding Work in Science Media and Journalism: Dr. S. Anil Kumar, Kerala

 

Appreciation Shield for National S&T Databases

 

S&T Awards in India: Dr Lalit Mohan, Society for Environment & Development (SED), Delhi

 

Indian origin Academicians Abroad: Dr. Rajesh Bhatia & Team, Punjab Engineering College (PEC), Chandigarh

   

AWSAR Awardees

 

Outstanding Story (PDF category)

Dr. Sangeeta Dutta, Bengaluru, Karnataka

 

AWSAR Award: First Prize (Ph.D. category)

Ms. Pooja Maurya, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

 

AWSAR Award: Second prize (Ph.D. category)

Ms. Indu Joshi, New Delhi, Delhi

 

AWSAR Award: Third prize (Ph.D. category)

Ms. Shruti Soni, Bangalore, Karnataka

   

SERB Women Excellence Awardees

 

Dr. Shobhna Kapoor

 

Assistant Professor

 

Indian Institute of Technology Bombay

 

Mumbai, Maharashtra

   

Dr. Antara Banerjee

 

Scientist B

 

National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health

 

Mumbai, Maharashtra

   

Dr. Sonu Gandhi

 

Scientist D

 

National Institute of Animal Biotechnology

 

Hyderabad, Telangana

   

Dr. Ritu Gupta

 

Assistant Professor

 

Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur

 

Jodhpur, Rajasthan

   

(PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS OF AWARDEES):

 

1… AWASAR

 

2….NCSTC

 

Click here to see Brochure NSD

   

Tucktonia The Best of Britain in Miniature (model village on a big scale/size). Tuckton, Christchurch, Dorset.

Just a few Portsmouth Football Club Programmes from mid 1960s until 2012. I gave hundreds of them to one of my nephews years ago. Portsmouth have been champions of England twice and FA Cup winners twice. They Held the FA Cup from 1939 until 1945 due to WW2. We will be back. Play Up Pompey.

Official closing event of the UN-NYG Mentoring Programme, held at the Agency headquarters in Vienna, Austria. 8 March 2019

 

Speech by Mentors and Mentees

Ms Patricia Gody-Kain - Mentor

Mr Christophe Xerri - Mentor

Ms Johanna Slaets - Mentee

Mr Joseph Hiess - Mentee

Ms Melissa Buerbaumer - Mentor

 

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

  

UN NYG OFFICERS:

Chirayu Batra - President

Denis Subbotnitskiy - Vice President

Kirsten Virginia Glenn - Communications and Liaison Officer

Marianne Nari Fisher – Treasurer

Babatunde Adigun – Programme Manager

Amelia Lee Zhi Yi - Mentoring Coordinator

Rong Liu - Intern Coordinator

 

The UN-NYG Mentoring Programme is a project initiated by the UN-NYG and led by Ms Amelia Lee Zhi Yi, the UN-NYG Mentoring Coordinator. The programme is implemented with support from the IAEA Office of the Deputy Director General, Ms Mary Alice Hayward, Head of the Department of Management.

 

The key vision of the mentoring programme is to act as a platform for IAEA staff to strengthen their professional skills at the workplace and improve networking capacity through the cultivation of cross departmental and generational relationships.

 

The goals of the Mentoring Programme are to:

1. Strengthen staff resources through mutual learning experiences for mentors and mentees, to nurture high performance leaders with the capacity to “give back” at the workplace

 

2.Develop self-sustaining professional relationships between mentors and mentees that narrow the gap between different departments and age groups at the IAEA

 

Ursula @ Programme 3/4/18

Official closing event of the UN-NYG Mentoring Programme, held at the Agency headquarters in Vienna, Austria. 8 March 2019

 

Speech by Mentors and Mentees

Ms Patricia Gody-Kain - Mentor

Mr Christophe Xerri - Mentor

Ms Johanna Slaets - Mentee

Mr Joseph Hiess - Mentee

Ms Melissa Buerbaumer - Mentor

 

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

  

UN NYG OFFICERS:

Chirayu Batra - President

Denis Subbotnitskiy - Vice President

Kirsten Virginia Glenn - Communications and Liaison Officer

Marianne Nari Fisher – Treasurer

Babatunde Adigun – Programme Manager

Amelia Lee Zhi Yi - Mentoring Coordinator

Rong Liu - Intern Coordinator

 

The UN-NYG Mentoring Programme is a project initiated by the UN-NYG and led by Ms Amelia Lee Zhi Yi, the UN-NYG Mentoring Coordinator. The programme is implemented with support from the IAEA Office of the Deputy Director General, Ms Mary Alice Hayward, Head of the Department of Management.

 

The key vision of the mentoring programme is to act as a platform for IAEA staff to strengthen their professional skills at the workplace and improve networking capacity through the cultivation of cross departmental and generational relationships.

 

The goals of the Mentoring Programme are to:

1. Strengthen staff resources through mutual learning experiences for mentors and mentees, to nurture high performance leaders with the capacity to “give back” at the workplace

 

2.Develop self-sustaining professional relationships between mentors and mentees that narrow the gap between different departments and age groups at the IAEA

 

Official closing event of the UN-NYG Mentoring Programme, held at the Agency headquarters in Vienna, Austria. 8 March 2019

 

Speech by Mentors and Mentees

Ms Patricia Gody-Kain - Mentor

Mr Christophe Xerri - Mentor

Ms Johanna Slaets - Mentee

Mr Joseph Hiess - Mentee

Ms Melissa Buerbaumer - Mentor

 

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

  

UN NYG OFFICERS:

Chirayu Batra - President

Denis Subbotnitskiy - Vice President

Kirsten Virginia Glenn - Communications and Liaison Officer

Marianne Nari Fisher – Treasurer

Babatunde Adigun – Programme Manager

Amelia Lee Zhi Yi - Mentoring Coordinator

Rong Liu - Intern Coordinator

 

The UN-NYG Mentoring Programme is a project initiated by the UN-NYG and led by Ms Amelia Lee Zhi Yi, the UN-NYG Mentoring Coordinator. The programme is implemented with support from the IAEA Office of the Deputy Director General, Ms Mary Alice Hayward, Head of the Department of Management.

 

The key vision of the mentoring programme is to act as a platform for IAEA staff to strengthen their professional skills at the workplace and improve networking capacity through the cultivation of cross departmental and generational relationships.

 

The goals of the Mentoring Programme are to:

1. Strengthen staff resources through mutual learning experiences for mentors and mentees, to nurture high performance leaders with the capacity to “give back” at the workplace

 

2.Develop self-sustaining professional relationships between mentors and mentees that narrow the gap between different departments and age groups at the IAEA

 

From the Official Programme

 

THE NATIONAL COMMEMORATION OF THE CENTENARY OF THE GALLIPOLI CAMPAIGN AND ANZAC DAY AT THE CENOTAPH, WHITEHALL, LONDON

HOSTED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN AND NORTHERN IRELAND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HIGH COMMISSIONS OF AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND IN LONDON

 

On 25 April 1915 Allied soldiers landed on the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey in one of the most ambitious amphibious assaults in history.

 

More than 550,000 soldiers from Britain, Ireland, France, Australia, New Zealand, the Indian sub-continent, Canada and Sri Lanka waged this historic campaign, including 400,000 from Britain alone. 58,000 Allied servicemen and 87,000 from Turkey died in this campaign.

 

ANZAC Day was established by Australia and New Zealand as an annual day of commemoration to remember their servicemen who died in Gallipoli. The first ANZAC Day march in London took place on 25 April 1916. ANZAC Day has been commemorated in London on 25 April every year since then.

  

ORDER OF SERVICE

 

11:00 Big Ben strikes the hour

Two minutes’ silence

 

The Last Post Sounded by buglers from the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines

 

Reading by Michael Toohey, age 22, descendant of Private Thomas Toohey, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, killed in action at V beach on 25 April 1915, aged 22.

 

The Fallen by Laurence Binyon, 4th verse, published in The Times on 21 September 1914

 

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: age shall not weary them nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.

All: We will remember them.

 

Laying of Wreaths

 

After Her Majesty The Queen has laid a wreath the Massed Bands will play Elegy (1915) – in memoriam Rupert Brooke – by F S Kelly (1881–1916) and Largo by G F Handel (1685–1759).

 

Her Majesty The Queen lays the first wreath followed by:

The Right Honourable David Cameron, Prime Minister Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Senator the Honourable George Brandis QC, Attorney General, Commonwealth of Australia

The Right Honourable David Carter MP, 29th Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives

A representative of the Republic of Turkey

The Right Honourable Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister Great Britain and Northern Ireland

The Right Honourable Michael Fallon, Secretary of State for Defence

The Right Honourable Sajid Javid, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport

The Right Honourable Hugo Swire, Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Helen Grant, Minister for the First World War Centenary

Dr Andrew Murrison, Prime Minister’s Special Representative for the First World War Centenary

The Right Honourable Ed Miliband, Leader of Her Majesty’s Opposition

Keith Brown MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities, Scottish Government

The Right Honourable Carwyn Jones, First Minister, Welsh Government

A representative of the Northern Ireland Executive

Lieutenant General Sir Gerry Berragan KBE CB, Adjutant General

Air Marshal Dick Garwood CB CBE DFC, Director General Defence Safety Authority

Vice Admiral Sir Philip Jones KCB, Fleet Commander and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff

Lieutenant General John Caligari AO DSC, Chief Capability Development Group, Australian Defence Force

Brigadier Antony Hayward ONZ, Head New Zealand Defence Staff, New Zealand High Commission

Colonel Ömer Özkan, Air Attaché, Embassy of Turkey

A representative of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

Steven Vandeput, Minister of Defence of Belgium

His Excellency Gordon Campbell, High Commissioner for Canada

A representative of the Republic of France

A representative of the Federal Republic of Germany

His Excellency Dr Ranjan Mathai, High Commissioner for the Republic of India

His Excellency Daniel Mulhall, Ambassador of Ireland to the United Kingdom

His Excellency The Honourable Joseph Muscat, Prime Minister of the Republic of Malta

A representative of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal

His Excellency Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

His Excellency The Honourable Peter O’Neill CMG MP, Prime Minister of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea

His Excellency Mr Obed Mlaba, High Commissioner for the Republic of South Africa

A representative of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

Sonata Tupou, Acting High Commissioner for the Kingdom of Tonga

The Honourable Bronwyn Bishop MP, Speaker to the Australian House of Representatives

Bill Muirhead AM, Agent-General for South Australia

Ken Smith, Trade Commissioner for Europe and Agent General for UK at Trade & Investment Queensland

Kevin Skipworth CVO, Agent-General for Western Australia

Ian Matterson, Representative of the Premier of Tasmania

Mathew Erbs, on behalf of the Agent-General for Victoria

Gary Dunn, Deputy Commonwealth Secretary General

General The Lord Richards of Herstmonceux GCB CBE DSO, Deputy Grand President, British Commonwealth Ex-Servicemen’s League

Vice Admiral Peter Wilkinson CB CVO, National President, the Royal British Legion

Right Honourable The Viscount Slim OBE DL, Returned and Services League of Australia

Colonel Andrew Martin ONZM, Royal New Zealand Returned and Services Association

Lindsay Birrell, CEO, London Legacy

Captain Christopher Fagan DL, Chairman, The Gallipoli Association

The Honourable Mrs Ros Kelly AO, Commissioner, Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Sue Pillar, Director of Volunteer Support, Soldiers’ And Sailors’ Families Association (SSAFA)

Captain Jim Conybeare, Master, The Honourable Company of Master Mariners

Lyn Hopkins, Director General, The Victoria League for Commonwealth Friendship

Sir Anthony Figgis KCVO CMG, Chairman, Royal Overseas League

 

Reveille sounded by buglers from the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines

 

THE PRAYERS

 

Prayer by The Venerable Ian Wheatley QHC, Royal Navy Chaplain of the Fleet

 

God our Father, we come together today to honour all those who gave themselves with great courage in service and sacrifice for their country in the Gallipoli Campaign. We pray that their example may continue to inspire us to strive for the common good, that we may build up the harmony and freedom for which they fought and died.

 

Help us O Lord, to lift our eyes above the torment of this broken world, and strengthen our resolve to work for peace and justice, and for the relief of want and suffering. As we honour the past, may we put our faith in your future; for you are the source of life and hope, now and forever. Amen.

 

Hymn led by the Choirs of Chelmsford Cathedral and accompanied by the Massed Bands

 

I Vow To Thee My Country

 

All:

I vow to thee, my country, all earthly things above,

Entire and whole and perfect, the service of my love;

The love that asks no question, the love that stands the test,

That lays upon the altar the dearest and the best;

The love that never falters, the love that pays the price,

The love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice.

I heard my country calling, away across the sea,

Across the waste of waters, she calls and calls to me.

Her sword is girded at her side, her helmet on her head,

And around her feet are lying the dying and the dead;

I hear the noise of battle, the thunder of her guns;

I haste to thee, my mother, a son among thy sons.

And there’s another country, I’ve heard of long ago,

Most dear to them that love her, most great to them that know;

We may not count her armies, we may not see her King;

Her fortress is a faithful heart, her pride is suffering;

And soul by soul and silently her shining bounds increase,

And her ways are ways of gentleness, and all her paths are peace.

 

Prayer read by Grace van Gageldonk (14 years old) from Australia

 

God of compassion and mercy, we remember with thanksgiving and sorrow, those whose lives in world wars and conflicts past and present, have been

given and taken away.

Enfold in your love, all who in bereavement, disability and pain, continue to suffer the consequences of fighting and terror; and guide and protect all those who support and sustain them. Amen.

 

National anthem Advance Australia Fair

 

Led by the Choirs of Chelmsford Cathedral and accompanied by the Massed Bands

 

Australians all let us rejoice,

For we are young and free;

We’ve golden soil and wealth for toil,

Our home is girt by sea;

Our land abounds in nature’s gifts

Of beauty rich and rare;

In history’s page, let every stage

Advance Australia Fair.

In joyful strains then let us sing,

‘Advance Australia Fair’.

 

Prayer read by Kathryn Cooper (11 years old) from New Zealand

 

God of hope, the source of peace and the refuge of all in distress, we remember those you have gathered from the storm of war into the everlasting peace of your presence; may that same peace calm our fears, bring reconciliation and justice to all peoples, and establish lasting harmony among the nations.

 

We pray for all members of the armed forces who strive for peace and fight for justice today; bless and keep their families and friends at home awaiting their return. Help us, who today remember the cost of war, to work for a better tomorrow, and bring us all, in the end, to the peace of your presence; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

National anthem God Defend New Zealand

 

Led by the Choirs of Chelmsford Cathedral and accompanied by the Massed Bands

 

E Ihowā _Atua,

O ngā _iwi mātou rā

Āta whakarangona;

Me aroha noa

Kia hua ko te pai;

Kia tau tō _atawhai;

Manaakitia mai

Aotearoa

God of Nations at Thy feet,

in the bonds of love we meet,

hear our voices, we entreat,

God defend our free land.

Guard Pacific’s triple star

from the shafts of strife and war,

make her praises heard afar,

God defend New Zealand.

 

Reading Atatürk’s message to bereaved pilgrims, 1934, read by Ecenur Bilgiç (14 years old) from Turkey

 

Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives…

You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country. Therefore rest in peace.

 

There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours…

You, the mothers, who sent their sons from faraway countries, wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace, after having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well.

 

National anthem İstiklal Marşı (The Independence March)

 

Led by Burak Gülşen from Turkey, accompanied by the Massed Bands

 

Korkma, sönmez bu şafaklarda yüzen al sancak;

Sönmeden yurdumun üstünde tüten en son ocak.

O benim milletimin yıldızıdır, parlayacak;

O benimdir, o benim milletimindir ancak.

Çatma, kurban olayım, çehreni ey nazlı hilal!

Kahraman ırkıma bir gül! Ne bu şiddet, bu celal?

Sana olmaz dökülen kanlarımız sonra helal…

Hakkıdır, Hakk’a tapan, milletimin istiklal!

Fear not! For the crimson flag that flies at this dawn, shall not fade,

As long as the last fiery hearth that is ablaze in my country endures.

For that is the star of my nation, which will forever shine;

It is mine; and solely that of my valiant nation.

Frown not, I beseech you, oh thou coy crescent!

Come smile upon my heroic race! Why this rage, this fury?

The blood we shed for you shall not be blessed otherwise;

For independence is the absolute right of my God-worshipping nation.

 

Remembering Gallipoli a commemoration created by Michael McDermott

 

Music composed by Michael McDermott

Reading by James McDermott (17 years old) from the United Kingdom

The Attack at Dawn (May, 1915) by Leon Maxwell Gellert (1892–1977)

 

‘At every cost,’ they said, ‘it must be done.’

They told us in the early afternoon.

We sit and wait the coming of the sun

We sit in groups, — grey groups that watch the moon.

We stretch our legs and murmur half in sleep

And touch the tips of bayonets and yarn.

Our hands are cold. They strangely grope and creep,

Tugging at ends of straps. We wait the dawn!

Some men come stumbling past in single file.

And scrape the trench’s side and scatter sand.

They trip and curse and go. Perhaps we smile.

We wait the dawn! … The dawn is close at hand!

A gentle rustling runs along the line.

‘At every cost,’ they said, ‘it must be done.’

A hundred eyes are staring for the sign.

It’s coming! Look! … Our God’s own laughing sun!

 

Closing prayers by The Venerable Ian Wheatley QHC, Royal Navy Chaplain of the Fleet

 

Eternal God,

from whom all thoughts of truth and peace proceed;

Kindle, we pray, in the hearts of all, the true love of peace

and guide with your pure and peaceable wisdom

those who take counsel for the nations of the world,

that in tranquillity your kingdom may go forward,

and all people may spend their days in security, freedom and peace;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Merciful God

we offer to you the fears in us

that have not yet been cast out by love:

may we accept the hope you have

placed in the hearts of all people,

and live lives of justice, courage and mercy;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

The Lord’s Prayer

 

All:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name;

thy kingdom come, thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give is this day our daily bread.

And forgive is our trespasses,

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those that trespass against us.

And lead is not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

fro ver and ever. Amen.

 

The Blessing

 

God grant to the living grace, to the departed rest,

to the Church, the Queen, the Commonwealth and all people,

unity, peace and concord,

and to us and all God’s servants, life everlasting;

and the blessing of God almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,

be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

 

National anthem God Save the Queen

 

Led by the Choirs of Chelmsford Cathedral and accompanied by the Massed Bands

 

God save our gracious Queen,

Long live our noble Queen.

God save the Queen!

Send her victorious,

Happy and glorious,

Long to reign over us;

God save the Queen!

 

They Are At Rest by Sir Edward Elgar (1857–1934), sung by the Choirs of Chelmsford Cathedral (unaccompanied)

 

THE MARCH PAST

Contingents from:

The Royal Navy

HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH

The Fleet Air Arm

The Submarine Service

Hybrid (HMS OCEAN, HMS ALBION,

Britannia Royal Naval College)

The Royal Marines

Maritime Reserves (Royal Navy

and Royal Marines Reserves)

Representatives from the Armed Forces of other countries who fought at Gallipoli

invited to join the March Past:

Australia

New Zealand

Canada

Turkey

India

Germany

Ireland

France

Bangladesh

Pakistan

South Africa

Papua New Guinea

Tonga

The Gallipoli Association

Naval Services Associations

The Royal Naval Association

The Royal Marines Association

Army Units and their Associations

The Royal Regiment of Artillery

The Royal Corps of Engineers

The Royal Regiment of Scotland

The Princess of Wales’ Royal Regiment

The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment

The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers

The Royal Anglian Regiment

The Yorkshire Regiment

The Mercian Regiment

The Royal Welsh

The Royal Irish Regiment

The Royal Gurkha Rifles

The Rifles

The Royal Logistics Corps

The Royal Army Medical Corps

The Royal Army Veterinary Corps

The Royal Yeomanry

The Royal Wessex Yeomanry

The Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry

The London Regiment

Court & City Yeomanry Association

In-Pensioners of the Royal Hospital Chelsea

The Turkish Air Force Band plays Marche Mustafa Kemal Atatürk by Fazıl Çağlayan

Followed by: Descendants of those whose ancestors were involved in the Gallipoli campaign and others who march past the Cenotaph every year to commemorate Anzac Day.

59 - Ted Ogden

61 - Les Archer

62 - Brian Stonebridge

64 - Bob Ray

66 - Jack Stocker

68 - Phil Nex

 

So sixty nine riders in a mass start for just the one ten lap race. Course length is given as 3 miles, and the event was won by Brian Stonebridge in a time of 1 hr 19 min 21 2/5 sec. So - an average speed of 22.68 mph. No wonder there was an argument about 'proper' mud and rocks [ - course plan shows a quarry ] scrambles in the north, and 'path racing' in the south.

 

Other awards -

Fastest Lancashire or Yorkshire rider [ The 'Ashes' Casket ] - Geoff Broadbent

500cc - Les Archer

350cc - David Tye

250cc - Bill Barugh

Manufacturer's Team - BSA [ Fred Rist, David Tye and John Avery ]

Club Team - South Reading MCC [ Jack Stocker, Geoff Ward and Les Archer ]

  

Official closing event of the UN-NYG Mentoring Programme, held at the Agency headquarters in Vienna, Austria. 8 March 2019

 

Speech by Mentors and Mentees

Ms Patricia Gody-Kain - Mentor

Mr Christophe Xerri - Mentor

Ms Johanna Slaets - Mentee

Mr Joseph Hiess - Mentee

Ms Melissa Buerbaumer - Mentor

 

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

  

UN NYG OFFICERS:

Chirayu Batra - President

Denis Subbotnitskiy - Vice President

Kirsten Virginia Glenn - Communications and Liaison Officer

Marianne Nari Fisher – Treasurer

Babatunde Adigun – Programme Manager

Amelia Lee Zhi Yi - Mentoring Coordinator

Rong Liu - Intern Coordinator

 

The UN-NYG Mentoring Programme is a project initiated by the UN-NYG and led by Ms Amelia Lee Zhi Yi, the UN-NYG Mentoring Coordinator. The programme is implemented with support from the IAEA Office of the Deputy Director General, Ms Mary Alice Hayward, Head of the Department of Management.

 

The key vision of the mentoring programme is to act as a platform for IAEA staff to strengthen their professional skills at the workplace and improve networking capacity through the cultivation of cross departmental and generational relationships.

 

The goals of the Mentoring Programme are to:

1. Strengthen staff resources through mutual learning experiences for mentors and mentees, to nurture high performance leaders with the capacity to “give back” at the workplace

 

2.Develop self-sustaining professional relationships between mentors and mentees that narrow the gap between different departments and age groups at the IAEA

 

Julian Speroni Testimonial match programme, Crystal Palace versus Dundee FC, 26 May 2015, Selhurst Park London.

Deputy PM Nick Clegg meets students at Number 10 who are part of the Government's Arrival Education programme and all of whom received their GCSE results this morning. 24 August 2010, Crown copyright

Heartland Ambassadors sharing tips on gracious and responsible heartland living.

59th ABU General Assembly and Associated Meetings 2022

25 November - 30 November 2022

New Delhi, India

Copyright Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union. Please credit accordingly.

Official closing event of the UN-NYG Mentoring Programme, held at the Agency headquarters in Vienna, Austria. 8 March 2019

 

Speech by Mentors and Mentees

Ms Patricia Gody-Kain - Mentor

Mr Christophe Xerri - Mentor

Ms Johanna Slaets - Mentee

Mr Joseph Hiess - Mentee

Ms Melissa Buerbaumer - Mentor

 

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

  

UN NYG OFFICERS:

Chirayu Batra - President

Denis Subbotnitskiy - Vice President

Kirsten Virginia Glenn - Communications and Liaison Officer

Marianne Nari Fisher – Treasurer

Babatunde Adigun – Programme Manager

Amelia Lee Zhi Yi - Mentoring Coordinator

Rong Liu - Intern Coordinator

 

The UN-NYG Mentoring Programme is a project initiated by the UN-NYG and led by Ms Amelia Lee Zhi Yi, the UN-NYG Mentoring Coordinator. The programme is implemented with support from the IAEA Office of the Deputy Director General, Ms Mary Alice Hayward, Head of the Department of Management.

 

The key vision of the mentoring programme is to act as a platform for IAEA staff to strengthen their professional skills at the workplace and improve networking capacity through the cultivation of cross departmental and generational relationships.

 

The goals of the Mentoring Programme are to:

1. Strengthen staff resources through mutual learning experiences for mentors and mentees, to nurture high performance leaders with the capacity to “give back” at the workplace

 

2.Develop self-sustaining professional relationships between mentors and mentees that narrow the gap between different departments and age groups at the IAEA

 

Chief Guest: Dr V P Balagangadharan (ISRO -Trivandrum)

 

Guest of Honor: Shri T. V Madhusudhan - Deputy Controller -Patent office - Chennai

 

Guest of Honor:Dr T Srinivasan - Patent Attorney - Chennai

 

Guest of Honor: Ms, Dipti - Principal Training Coordinator- PFC -TIFAC (Ministry of Science & Technology - New Delhi)

 

Inaugural address: Dr P Krishnakumar - CEO & Secretary - Nehru Group of Institutions

The Adoremus Eucharistic Congress and Pilgrimage offered an impressive parallel programme. These images were taken at the youth event in the ACC Arena.

© Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk

Programme from the Damned's two "10th Birthday Tea Parties" in Finsbury Park, London, July 1986. Pretty badly organised and laid out, but fun to be at. Highlight was when Sensible was invited on as a guest on the second night, and foul-mouthed chaos once again reigned supreme!

The Picnic was held in Cloyne at the old Barrie Hall on Saturday June 28th, 1947.

 

Part of the Alkenbrack Family Album

Note: All CDHS Flickr content is available for the public use (non-commercial) providing our Rights Statement is followed:

pioneer.mazinaw.on.ca/flickr_statement.php

Deputy PM Nick Clegg meets students at Number 10 who are part of the government's Arrival Education programme and all of whom received their GCSE results this morning. 24 August 2010, Crown copyright

  

DARE @ Programme 1/9/18

Conceived by Wilfredo Prieto as his project for the Composiciones programme, “Pantalones rotos” (Torn Jeans), 2012, is realised by the horses of the Guàrdia Urbana de Barcelona. The action-sculpture takes place at the Mounted Unit’s stables, a historic venue next to the city zoo that is not normally open to the public and whose exercise paddock is overlooked by the twin towers of the Torre Mapfre and Hotel Arts. In his work Prieto makes reference to an image which appears on the tag of every pair of classic Levi’s denim jeans—two horses trying in vain to break a pair of the reinforced trousers. Since their invention in 1873, Levi Strauss & Co.’s famous copper-riveted denim has become synonymous with the working people of the western United States—cowboys, lumberjacks, and railroad workers. Yet in “Pantalones rotos”, this symbol of the American frontier myth has been already torn apart with bathos as two harnessed horses each drag one half of a torn pair of jeans. – Latitudes

 

Wilfredo Prieto (Sancti Spiritus, Cuba, 1978) pursued art studies at the Instituto Superior de Arte (Higher Institute of Fine Arts ISA), graduating in 2002. Prieto’s recent solo exhibitions include: ‘Ping Pong Grid’, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Havana, Cuba (2015); ‘Speaking Badly about Stones’, S.M.A.K, Ghent, Belgium (2014); ‘Incidences from the Private to the Public and from the Public to the Private’, NMAC Foundation, Cádiz, Spain (2013); ‘Leaving Something to Chance’, Sala de Arte Público Siqueiros, México (2012); ‘Balancing the curve’, Hangar Bicocca, Milan, Italy (2012); ‘Amarrado a la pata de la mesa’, Centro de Arte 2 de Mayo (CA2M), Móstoles, Madrid (2011); and has participated in group shows such as ‘Under the same sun: Art from Latin America Today’, Guggenheim Museum, Nueva York (2014); ‘Coup d’éclat, En résonance’, Biennale d'art contemporain de Lyon, Francia (2009); ‘Untitled’, 12th Istanbul Biennial, Turquía (2009). Prieto has been awarded the Cartier Award (Frieze Art Fair, London, 2008) and the UNESCO Prize for the Promotion of the Arts (2000).

 

––

 

“Pantalones rotos” (2012/2016) was commissioned for the second edition of the Barcelona Gallery Weekend (29 September–2 October 2016) as part of the “Composiciones” programme.

 

Curated by Latitudes for the second time (see 2015 edition), the project further explores Barcelona as a rich fabric of the historic and the contemporary, the unfamiliar and the conspicuous. Resisting an overall theme, and instead developing from the artists’ responses to the specificity of each context—people as well as places—the five art projects form a temporary thread that links evocative locations and public space, running parallel to the Weekend’s exhibitions in galleries and museums.

 

In its second edition, "Composiciones" presents interventions by Lúa Coderch (Club Billar Barcelona); Regina Giménez (Antigua Fábrica de Can Trinxet, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat); Lola Lasurt (Biblioteca Pública Arús); Robert Llimós (connecting all the participating galleries) and Wilfredo Prieto (Unitat Muntada de la Guàrdia Urbana de Barcelona). Their projects offer moments of intermission, intimacy and bewilderment throughout the weekend, highlighting some lesser-known aspects of the city’s cultural heritage and municipal life.

 

Conceived and curated by Latitudes | www.lttds.org

 

Photo: Roberto Ruiz / Courtesy: Barcelona Gallery Weekend.

 

Info: www.lttds.org/projects/composiciones2016/

 

Social media documentation: storify.com/lttds/composiciones-five-commissions-curated-...

 

CSC Welcome Programme November 2013, Senate House, London

Heat @ Programme 9/23/18

Ursula @ Programme 3/4/18

DARE @ Programme 1/9/18

The Civil Society Programme took place on Wednesday 11 May and Thursday 12 May and provided an opportunity for dialogue between civil society and EBRD staff, senior management, the President and Board Directors. It was an occasion for civil society stakeholders to learn more about the Bank and discuss issues of interest and concern regarding the EBRD’s policies and investment projects.

  

The Programme also featured multi-stakeholder roundtable sessions on key strategic themes related to the role of civil society as an important actor in transition and development processes. Special features of the Civil Society Programme 2016 were discussions on:

  

•25 years of Transition - The Role of Civil Society in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia

•Engaging civil society to promote transparent procurement

•EBRD’s Strategy for the Promotion of Gender Equality (2016-2020): the role of civil society

•Inclusion through skills and innovatiom

  

In addition, a panel organised by the youth organisation AIESEC looked at the role of youth in shaping the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

25 years of Transition: The Role of Civil Society in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia

  

A fire-side chat with Sergei Guriev, Professor of Economics, Sciences Po (incoming EBRD Chief Economist)

  

Civil society, operating in the space between public and private sectors, has played an important role in socio-political and economic transition processes around the world, including the EBRD’s traditional countries of operations. In 25 years since the establishment of the EBRD, civil society’s contribution to transition has varied across the post-communist transition region. In some countries, the work of civil society organisations (CSOs) has contributed to more democratic political systems and more open market based economies as a ‘reputational actor’ performing a ‘watchdog’ function and as a generator of ‘social capital’ necessary to sustain the change process through the difficult early years. In other countries, the focus of CSOs has been on providing a variety of social services particularly to disadvantaged and vulnerable people negatively affected by the transition process. Many civil society actors have been operating in restrictive regulatory environments, and have relied heavily on international donor funding.

What has been civil society’s input into promoting good governance, sustainable development and economic inclusion in EBRD’s traditional region over the past few decades? What are the key lessons learned, from both its successes and failures that can be applied to other countries embarking on a transition process? What steps could be taken to increase the role of civil society in promoting positive changes in societies and economies?

The discussion looked back at the key achievements and setbacks of the civil society sector in contributing to transition since the Bank’s establishment. It also reflected upon the challenges ahead for civil society in building well-governed, sustainable and inclusive economies and societies.

 

Katendrecht | Veerlaan

Previously called the San Francisco warehouse, the structure has two levels with floor heights of six metres, and was originally 360 metres in length. Construction of the San Francisco warehouse was necessitated by the considerable expansion of the fleet and number of routes of the Holland Amerika Lijn.

Arch. Cornelis Nicolaas van Goor

1922.

Parts of the quay were destroyed towards the end of the Second World War. In 1954 the quay was rebuilt and the warehouses rose from the ashes and were renamed Fenix I and Fenix II. However, port activity relocated westwards in the 1980s and the warehouses were abandoned.

In 2007 the city of Rotterdam started to promote the restructuring and transformation of the Katendrecht district. A particularly important element of these efforts was Deliplein, which in recent years has blossomed from a disadvantaged area into a trendy and sought-after neighbourhood.

In the summer of 2013 Mei won the architect selection procedure for the design of the new volume and the redevelopment of the warehouse. A mixed programme of housing, workspaces, car park and leisure is planned for the older lower levels.

The Trade Facilitation Programme (TFP) currently includes over 113 Issuing Banks in 26 countries in the EBRD region and more than 800 Confirming Banks worldwide. The event offered the opportunity to review and discuss industry challenges with leading specialists, including regulators and lawyers. It also featured the award ceremony for The Most Active EBRD TFP banks and Best Transactions of 2014.

Amelia Lee Zhi Yi, UN-NYG Mentoring Coordinator welcomes mentors and menses at the official closing event of the UN-NYG Mentoring Programme, held at the Agency headquarters in Vienna, Austria. 8 March 2019

 

Speech by Mentors and Mentees

Ms Patricia Gody-Kain - Mentor

Mr Christophe Xerri - Mentor

Ms Johanna Slaets - Mentee

Mr Joseph Hiess - Mentee

Ms Melissa Buerbaumer - Mentor

 

Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA

  

UN NYG OFFICERS:

Chirayu Batra - President

Denis Subbotnitskiy - Vice President

Kirsten Virginia Glenn - Communications and Liaison Officer

Marianne Nari Fisher – Treasurer

Babatunde Adigun – Programme Manager

Amelia Lee Zhi Yi - Mentoring Coordinator

Rong Liu - Intern Coordinator

 

The UN-NYG Mentoring Programme is a project initiated by the UN-NYG and led by Ms Amelia Lee Zhi Yi, the UN-NYG Mentoring Coordinator. The programme is implemented with support from the IAEA Office of the Deputy Director General, Ms Mary Alice Hayward, Head of the Department of Management.

 

The key vision of the mentoring programme is to act as a platform for IAEA staff to strengthen their professional skills at the workplace and improve networking capacity through the cultivation of cross departmental and generational relationships.

 

The goals of the Mentoring Programme are to:

1. Strengthen staff resources through mutual learning experiences for mentors and mentees, to nurture high performance leaders with the capacity to “give back” at the workplace

 

2.Develop self-sustaining professional relationships between mentors and mentees that narrow the gap between different departments and age groups at the IAEA

Street lighting in the historical part of Odesa

 

The EU4Energy Programme aims to improve the quality of energy data and statistics, shape regional policy-making discussions, strengthen legislative and regulatory frameworks and improve access to information in the partner countries. The Programme forms a key component of the EU4Energy Initiative.

 

Find out more about how the EU4Energy Programme and stay informed at: www.eu4energy.eu

 

Programme - Jerry Lee Lewis Farewell Tour

The British Touring Car Championship held at Rockingham on 14th September 2013

 

Rockingham Motor Speedway, a great venue name but is it a huge white elephant or jewel in the British Motorsport crowd? The track was opened in 2001 by the Queen and is now 12-years old. Although it is tidy and really well maintained, the whole venue has a feeling of neglect and almost desolation. Not physical neglect; as i said it is all really well looked after, but neglected from the original reason that it was designed and built for.

 

When the venue was first conceived in the late nineties, the hope was that if the first purpose built Oval circuit since Brooklands in 1907 was constructed in the UK, then top level American racing series would visit and compete here on a regular basis. The track and the venue infrastructure was carefully designed to meet the highly restrictive standards needed to comply with IndyCar and NASCAR regulations.

 

After all that effort and money was expended the IndyCar Series (the Cart Series in those days) did visit the newly completed circuit in 2001 and again in 2002. Set the track lap records and then never returned. The NASCAR series never visited and the ASCAR europeon stock car series, didn't really take off and this fizzled out as well. After 6-years of intermittent use, the full oval circuit finally fell silent at the end of the 2007 season.

 

The annual BTCC visit to the Northamptonshire circuit is one of the largest events held each year but even this is totally swamped by the sheer size of a venue designed for a much bigger type of motorsport altogether. This observation might be due to the fact that I have only ever visited Rockingham on the Saturday, but I have been to the qualifying day on a lot of other events and not had this feeling of isolation anywhere else.

 

The circuit can comfortably seat 52,000 spectators, but when only about 1000 turn up you can feel a bit lost in the whole environment. With only a few hardcore spectators in attendance, the circuit has all the charisma of a council estate car park, flat and unassuming.

 

The view from the main grandstand is spectacular with the whole of the circuit, if not most of the county, easily seen from any of the seats, but it is just so remote . I'm sure I am not alone in enjoying walking around different circuits and viewing the action close up from different viewpoints and corners. To really experience the racing, you cant beat getting really close to action and Rockingham just can't compete on this front.

 

There is one spectator facility which is better than anywhere else in the country. That is the viewing area on the top of the pit garages, which gives you a fantastic view of the action and activity within the pit lane; something which you just don't get to see at any other circuit. If they could just provide spectator access overlooking the main overtaking location at the Deene hairpin and some access to the infield area , then Rockingham could once again be a spectacular place to view top flight motor racing.

 

DARE @ Programme 1/9/18

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