Association of Open University Graduates

Newsletter of AOUG in London (01)

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The London lunch group met at the Trattoria Verdi restaurant on May 10th.The lunch was a nice informal occasion for AOUG members to meet up and firm up on the summer visits.

By the time you read this, we will also have visited the English Heritage site at Kenwood House located in Hampstead. The next visit is to another English Heritage site. This time to Darwin’s home, Down House Luxted Road, Downe, Kent,BR6 7JT
( http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/home-of-charles-darwin-down-house/ ) Members have now changed the date for this visit to the 6th August and arranged to meet at 11:00 in the reception area. Then we have a walk through Richmond Park on the 31st August and/or the 3rd September. Please check with me in advance. (http://www.royalparks.gov.uk/Richmond-Park.aspx ) If you are coming by Tube or Rail, head for Richmond Station - British Rail or District Line and then catch the 371 or 65 buses to the pedestrian gate at Petersham. (which is banner 4 on the map).

Recently the London Regional Director, Barbara Stephens, invited me to attend their Annual Prize Giving to present our AOUG Foundation of Education Award for the London Region to Miss Jumayriyah Zamir. She had obtained a 1st class honours degree whilst overcoming difficulties and during the evening I was able to present her with the AOUG framed certificate and a cheque in recognition. Jumayriyah achieved a first-class BSc Honours degree in Mathematics and its Learning having decided to undertake study with the OU because of its flexibility. Jumayriyah had been juggling with a number of other commitments but after a few weeks, she found that she loved it so much that she registered for a second course. Jumayriyah said “it was so rewarding to see the marks but even more than that, the comments about what went well and how I could improve.” She acknowledged that studying with the OU from home was by no means easy and that finding the motivation to continue was a struggle on occasions.  That struggle was overcome by her commitment, determination and strong family support. Jumayriyah is now studying to complete her PGCE and will no doubt go on to help the next generation to succeed.

AOUG member events will be put up on the AOUG website. Please contact me for more details.

Eric McKinnon - Executive Representative.
eric.mckinnon@ntlworld.com