Latest news with #Magdalen
The Herald Scotland
27-05-2025
- General
- The Herald Scotland
Fish stew earned The Palmerston chef high five from Richard E. Grant
The 60-cover restaurant is housed in a former 19th-century bank, and includes an in-house bakery that serves freshly baked bread and pastries This week, co-founder and chef Lloyd Morse answers our chef Q&A. What was your first kitchen job? I started washing up in a local restaurant outside Sydney when I was 15 Where is your favourite place to eat out? Kinneuchar Inn, Kilconquhar Fife. James Ferguson is one of the best chefs in the UK. What is your guilty pleasure meal? Buy a supermarket margarita pizza. Put ham and pineapple on it, then grate loads of Comté on it. Can you share a memory of your worst kitchen disaster? When I first moved to London, I worked at a now closed restaurant called Magdalen. After being there nearly a year I was promoted to sous chef, my first kitchen management position. We worked with whole animals mostly and on my first Saturday night running the kitchen myself I managed to overcook an entire 4-5kg beef rump. I can remember cutting into it and steam rising out of the grey meat. Still haunts my dreams. What is your signature dish? The menu at The Palmerston changes daily. Because of this we don't really have a signature dish, we relish the perpetuity of a changing menu! But one of the things we're known for is our pies for two to share. The fillings often change, but the lamb fat pastry is a constant! Who would you say is your biggest inspiration? I couldn't ever pin it on one person. There have been too many. Read more: What is one of your pet peeves as a chef? Spoons in pockets. Disgusting. If you weren't a chef, what do you think you would be doing with your life? I'd love to be able to work outdoors full time. Even in the horrendous Scottish winter. Pictured: Lloyd Morse, co-founder and chef at The Palmerston in Edinburgh (Image: Supplied) What's your favourite trick for making cooking at home easier? Learn to sharpen a knife. An accident with a blunt knife will hurt a lot more than a sharp one. And buy the best pots and pans you can. Wide and heavy-bottomed! What has been one highlight that stands out in your career so far? Being placed on the National Restaurant Award's top 100 restaurants before we'd been open for a year. It's voted by the industry itself, so it felt like a big welcome hug by hospitality. But also Richard E. Grant high-fiving me for a fish stew I cooked him.
Telegraph
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Today William Hague became Oxford Chancellor. He needs to urgently shake up student safeguarding
In June 2001 William Hague led the Conservative Party to failure in a general election performance that had only been eclipsed by John Major's in 1997, which saw New Labour catapulted into power under Tony Blair and Hague become Leader of the Opposition. After hubris, nemesis; after nemesis, apotheosis. Today the Lord Hague of Richmond, as he now is, took his place as the 160th Chancellor of the University of Oxford. Amid much bowing and scraping, standing up and sitting down, and sundry incantations in Latin, Lord Hague emerged from the Sheldonian Theatre as the University's titular head. In a different world others might have made more impressive candidates, but of those on the ballot papers he was the front runner from the start – at least with the present electorate. I know my duty; from below the salt I doff my battered mortarboard in his direction. A Magdalen man – there will surely be Founder's Port after dinner at one of Oxford's richest foundations this evening – the new Chancellor will find the University much changed from his own student days. The principles of equality, diversity, and inclusion remain front and centre, and all are welcome – or so we are told. The colleges are not necessarily kinder places than they were, however, as recent history has demonstrated. Just over a year ago, Alexander Rogers, 20, left his rooms at Corpus Christi College, walked towards the river, and threw himself off Donnington Bridge. The subsequent inquest, which rose in November, heard that Mr Rogers had been the victim of a culture of vigilantism and mob justice which had been allowed to flourish unchecked among students at the college. A number of undergraduates had been allowed to believe that they were responsible for policing their own community; some breached several official policies in the days leading up to Mr Rogers's death. They will bear a heavy burden for the rest of their lives – but at least they will have them. Whether they have faced any disciplinary consequences is unclear. It is also unclear what Corpus intends to do to effect any kind of change. A correspondent wrote to me to say that he had contacted the President, Professor Helen Moore, with a number of concerns. Without addressing any of his points, Prof Moore replied to say that 'I hope you wrote as an expression of sympathy and concern for a bereaved community.' She also referred to the widespread press coverage of the inquest – the reporting of legally established facts – as 'media speculation', calling it 'not helpful'. Not helpful for whom, exactly? For Corpus to try and present itself as the injured party in this sorry tale suggests both galloping arrogance and a hefty dose of sociopathy. Welcome to academia, folks. In any normal institution, urgent action would have been taken to quell the kind of bullying that surrounded the circumstances of Mr Rogers's death. But unless the new Chancellor is bold enough to break with time-hallowed custom, the University's hands are tied. The colleges function as little city-states, fiercely proud – perhaps sometimes too proud – of their independence. As it stands all the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Irene Tracey, can do is appeal to their better nature. That said, should either Lord Hague or Prof Tracey be looking for some ideas for reform, I humbly present a few of my own. First, college welfare roles should be filled by skillset, rather than just by turn. These days no one would consider making a mathematician bursar just because he was used to numbers, but at least he might be closer to the necessary qualities than some (though not all) of the fellows who have become deans of colleges in recent years. In the absence of a suitable internal candidate, an external one should be sought. Secondly, junior welfare officers should be abolished. Let the students have properly-trained 'peer supporters', or friendly faces with some other nomenclature, but take away the power of teenagers to order the lives of their friends – and their self-perceived enemies. No doctor would dream of allowing a medical student to operate unsupervised, or indeed untrained, on a patient; why should mental health be any different? Thirdly, the colleges need to come to a common mind on best welfare practice, based on the professional models available. Promises of confidentiality (as opposed to discretion and responsible referral) fly in the face of every safeguarding principle imaginable – a point made repeatedly by any kind of training one might undertake. It is perilous for colleges to empower chosen students to feel that they have no obligation to pass on serious welfare concerns to those better placed to address them. Corpus has demonstrated that sometimes it is lethal, too – and yet at the time of writing one of its junior welfare officers still proclaims on the website that 'we act with full confidentiality'. Lastly, college officers need to understand that observation of their policies and procedures, which they are obliged by law to have in place for the proper running of their institutions, is compulsory and not optional – what is the point of them, otherwise? Those who breach them should face commensurate sanctions, including dismissal, and institutions that protect wrongdoers should expect to be sued by those whom they have abused. No doubt there will be some who think that Prof Moore needs to consider her own position; that will be a matter for her conscience and her colleagues. Her final comment to my correspondent was to say that 'we are not making any further statements.' That deafening silence is a squandered opportunity for Corpus to demonstrate that anything has changed. Leadership is urgently needed – not only from the new Chancellor at Oxford, but across the whole university sector – if the kind of behaviour that preceded Mr Rogers's death is to be eradicated. Meanwhile, Corpus still has time to take its place in the vanguard, and to set an example for others to follow by dismantling its dangerous, toxic culture once and for all – assuming, of course, that it wishes to.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Today William Hague became Oxford Chancellor. He needs to urgently shake up student safeguarding
In June 2001 William Hague led the Conservative Party to failure in a general election performance that had only been eclipsed by John Major's in 1997, which saw New Labour catapulted into power under Tony Blair and Hague become Leader of the Opposition. After hubris, nemesis; after nemesis, apotheosis. Today the Lord Hague of Richmond, as he now is, took his place as the 160th Chancellor of the University of Oxford. Amid much bowing and scraping, standing up and sitting down, and sundry incantations in Latin, Lord Hague emerged from the Sheldonian Theatre as the University's titular head. In a different world others might have made more impressive candidates, but of those on the ballot papers he was the front runner from the start – at least with the present electorate. I know my duty; from below the salt I doff my battered mortarboard in his direction. A Magdalen man – there will surely be Founder's Port after dinner at one of Oxford's richest foundations this evening – the new Chancellor will find the University much changed from his own student days. The principles of equality, diversity, and inclusion remain front and centre, and all are welcome – or so we are told. The colleges are not necessarily kinder places than they were, however, as recent history has demonstrated. Just over a year ago, Alexander Rogers, 20, left his rooms at Corpus Christi College, walked towards the river, and threw himself off Donnington Bridge. The subsequent inquest, which rose in November, heard that Mr Rogers had been the victim of a culture of vigilantism and mob justice which had been allowed to flourish unchecked among students at the college. A number of undergraduates had been allowed to believe that they were responsible for policing their own community; some breached several official policies in the days leading up to Mr Rogers's death. They will bear a heavy burden for the rest of their lives – but at least they will have them. Whether they have faced any disciplinary consequences is unclear. It is also unclear what Corpus intends to do to effect any kind of change. A correspondent wrote to me to say that he had contacted the President, Professor Helen Moore, with a number of concerns. Without addressing any of his points, Prof Moore replied to say that 'I hope you wrote as an expression of sympathy and concern for a bereaved community.' She also referred to the widespread press coverage of the inquest – the reporting of legally established facts – as 'media speculation', calling it 'not helpful'. Not helpful for whom, exactly? For Corpus to try and present itself as the injured party in this sorry tale suggests both galloping arrogance and a hefty dose of sociopathy. Welcome to academia, folks. In any normal institution, urgent action would have been taken to quell the kind of bullying that surrounded the circumstances of Mr Rogers's death. But unless the new Chancellor is bold enough to break with time-hallowed custom, the University's hands are tied. The colleges function as little city-states, fiercely proud – perhaps sometimes too proud – of their independence. As it stands all the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Irene Tracey, can do is appeal to their better nature. That said, should either Lord Hague or Prof Tracey be looking for some ideas for reform, I humbly present a few of my own. First, college welfare roles should be filled by skillset, rather than just by turn. These days no one would consider making a mathematician bursar just because he was used to numbers, but at least he might be closer to the necessary qualities than some (though not all) of the fellows who have become deans of colleges in recent years. In the absence of a suitable internal candidate, an external one should be sought. Secondly, junior welfare officers should be abolished. Let the students have properly-trained 'peer supporters', or friendly faces with some other nomenclature, but take away the power of teenagers to order the lives of their friends – and their self-perceived enemies. No doctor would dream of allowing a medical student to operate unsupervised, or indeed untrained, on a patient; why should mental health be any different? Thirdly, the colleges need to come to a common mind on best welfare practice, based on the professional models available. Promises of confidentiality (as opposed to discretion and responsible referral) fly in the face of every safeguarding principle imaginable – a point made repeatedly by any kind of training one might undertake. It is perilous for colleges to empower chosen students to feel that they have no obligation to pass on serious welfare concerns to those better placed to address them. Corpus has demonstrated that sometimes it is lethal, too – and yet at the time of writing one of its junior welfare officers still proclaims on the website that 'we act with full confidentiality'. Lastly, college officers need to understand that observation of their policies and procedures, which they are obliged by law to have in place for the proper running of their institutions, is compulsory and not optional – what is the point of them, otherwise? Those who breach them should face commensurate sanctions, including dismissal, and institutions that protect wrongdoers should expect to be sued by those whom they have abused. No doubt there will be some who think that Prof Moore needs to consider her own position; that will be a matter for her conscience and her colleagues. Her final comment to my correspondent was to say that 'we are not making any further statements.' That deafening silence is a squandered opportunity for Corpus to demonstrate that anything has changed. Leadership is urgently needed – not only from the new Chancellor at Oxford, but across the whole university sector – if the kind of behaviour that preceded Mr Rogers's death is to be eradicated. Meanwhile, Corpus still has time to take its place in the vanguard, and to set an example for others to follow by dismantling its dangerous, toxic culture once and for all – assuming, of course, that it wishes to. Serenhedd James teaches history at St Stephen's House, Oxford, and is Editor of the Catholic Herald Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
The Independent
19-02-2025
- The Independent
Final call for testimony from Northern Ireland mother and baby home survivors
A final call has been made for survivors of former mother and baby home and Magdalen institutions in Northern Ireland to come forward and give testimony. It comes as part of a Truth Recovery Programme to investigate what happened at those institutions which operated in the region until 1995. More than 14,000 women and girls are thought to have passed through the institutions, with many found to have been mistreated, held against their will and forced to give up children for adoption. They were run by the Catholic Church, religious orders, some Protestant denominations as well as the State. The Truth Recovery Independent Panel, which is investigating the institutions, has asked for anyone who wishes to give evidence about their experience to register to do so by Thursday May 1. Its findings and recommendations are set to inform the future public inquiry. Some 140 people have already given testimony to the panel, and there is a particular call for those with knowledge of Protestant institutions to come forward. The appeal is being made across the UK and Ireland as well as further afield, including the United States, Canada and Australia. The panel's final report ahead of the public inquiry is set to be published later this year. It is also to make recommendations on a permanent independent archive of records related to historical institutions, the individuals who spent time in them, adoption records, and other records relating to children in state care. Truth Recovery Independent Panel co-chairs Professor Leanne McCormick and Professor Sean O'Connell said those who give testimony will be supported by specialists. 'We want to make people aware of the upcoming deadline so that victims-survivors, family members or anyone with experience or information about any of the institutions on our list (or about the related pathways and practices in which they were involved) has time to contact us if they are interested in sharing their experience,' they said. 'We also welcome testimony from anyone who can provide information about other organisations or agencies that provided a pathway to the forced separation of a birth mother from an infant child. 'To gain the fullest picture possible, we continue to appeal to members of the Protestant community or anyone with information relating to Protestant-run homes in our remit to consider coming forward. 'We are also appealing to the diaspora across the UK, and internationally in America, Canada and Australia to make their voice heard.' They added: 'We have a specialist testimony team, who have been trained to support people in sharing their experiences. 'We encourage all those with knowledge or experience of the institutions or their pathways and practices to contact us.' Those interested in giving testimony should register their interest before May 1 2025, to ensure their voices are heard in the investigation. This can be done by emailing testimony@ or by phoning 028 9052 0263.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Yahoo
Final call for testimony from Northern Ireland mother and baby home survivors
A final call has been made for survivors of former mother and baby home and Magdalen institutions in Northern Ireland to come forward and give testimony. It comes as part of a Truth Recovery Programme to investigate what happened at those institutions which operated in the region until 1995. More than 14,000 women and girls are thought to have passed through the institutions, with many found to have been mistreated, held against their will and forced to give up children for adoption. They were run by the Catholic Church, religious orders, some Protestant denominations as well as the State. The Truth Recovery Independent Panel, which is investigating the institutions, has asked for anyone who wishes to give evidence about their experience to register to do so by Thursday May 1. Its findings and recommendations are set to inform the future public inquiry. Some 140 people have already given testimony to the panel, and there is a particular call for those with knowledge of Protestant institutions to come forward. The appeal is being made across the UK and Ireland as well as further afield, including the United States, Canada and Australia. The panel's final report ahead of the public inquiry is set to be published later this year. It is also to make recommendations on a permanent independent archive of records related to historical institutions, the individuals who spent time in them, adoption records, and other records relating to children in state care. Truth Recovery Independent Panel co-chairs Professor Leanne McCormick and Professor Sean O'Connell said those who give testimony will be supported by specialists. 'We want to make people aware of the upcoming deadline so that victims-survivors, family members or anyone with experience or information about any of the institutions on our list (or about the related pathways and practices in which they were involved) has time to contact us if they are interested in sharing their experience,' they said. 'We also welcome testimony from anyone who can provide information about other organisations or agencies that provided a pathway to the forced separation of a birth mother from an infant child. 'To gain the fullest picture possible, we continue to appeal to members of the Protestant community or anyone with information relating to Protestant-run homes in our remit to consider coming forward. 'We are also appealing to the diaspora across the UK, and internationally in America, Canada and Australia to make their voice heard.' They added: 'We have a specialist testimony team, who have been trained to support people in sharing their experiences. 'We encourage all those with knowledge or experience of the institutions or their pathways and practices to contact us.' Those interested in giving testimony should register their interest before May 1 2025, to ensure their voices are heard in the investigation. This can be done by emailing testimony@ or by phoning 028 9052 0263.
