Forever Keele eZine Summer 2020 | Page 25

Forever Keele 25
© Photo: Tony Elliott, photographed in 1970 by Jeremy Beadle and 2018 by Andy Parsons
Mark Fudge, Head of Counselling and
Mental Health Support, said: "Audrey
was an early pioneer within student
services both nationally and at Keele.
Through her compassion for students,
and passion for education, she created
a resource for early Keele students
which was replicated across the sector
throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Her
early work, supported by Harold Taylor,
is a testament to the pioneering spirit
of the Keele experiment in its formative
years.
“She created a road map for other
universities and was instrumental in the
formation of the Association of Student
Counsellors which later became the
British Association for Counselling and
Psychotherapy. I'm sure Audrey's work
and the team she formed helped many
students throughout their academic
journey and beyond. She was a truly
spirited woman who contributed greatly
to education in the UK."
Gerry Northam, Keele alumni and
friend of Audrey, said: “She was
a remarkably attentive and astute
listener, who spoke in a warm, secure
voice inflected with her native Leeds.
Nobody could doubt her integrity or
the depth of her insight into the human
soul.”
Audrey passed away on Monday 22nd
June 2020.
Tony Elliott
Heartfelt tributes have been paid to
Tony Elliott, the founder of Time Out
magazine and a former student of
Keele University, who has sadly died.
Tony studied economics, French and
history at Keele in the 1960s, and
became editor of the Keele magazine
Unit, turning it into a contemporary-arts
publication. He then founded Time Out
in 1968 during his summer vacation
from Keele.
Keele welcomed Tony back 45
years after he left, awarding him an
honorary degree for his success in
the publishing industry. Time Out
went on to become a global media
and entertainment business and now
covers food, drink, culture, travel and
entertainment in 328 cities across
58 countries, through websites,
magazines and live events.
In 2017 Tony was appointed a CBE
for services to publishing. He was
honoured at the British Media Awards
with an outstanding contribution award
that same year.
A statement on the Time Out website
has said: “It is with great sadness that
we announce that Time Out’s founder
Tony Elliott passed away on 17th July,
after a long illness.
“Tony was a visionary publisher, a
tireless champion of city culture and
a staunch friend. He will be sorely
missed by his family, friends and
colleagues. His life and his work
inspired millions of people who did not
have the good fortune to know him
personally.
“In London, Time Out’s first postlockdown
print magazine, on 11th
August, will be a special issue
dedicated to him. Tony, Time Out
salutes you!”
Vice-Chancellor Professor Trevor
McMillan said: “We are deeply
saddened by the passing of Tony, he
was a pioneer with a global impact
after he left Keele. We will always
remember Tony’s passion for arts
and culture and we are proud to have
awarded him with an honorary degree
for his outstanding achievements."
Simon Hargreaves
We were very saddened indeed to
hear of the untimely death of Keele
alumnus Simon Hargreaves (Music
and Electronics, Class of 1982) in April
2020.
Keele alumnus Andy Quin (Music
and Electronics, Class of 1982) and
Simon’s friend, writes about how he
remembers Simon:
"Simon was a founder member of
the Keele University band 'Random
Access' in which I (and a number of
others who have had very successful
careers in the music business)
played. Apart from regular gigs in the
Students Union, KRA and University
parties, the band went on to have
some degree of commercial success
continuing professionally for a year
after graduating, and with their single
recorded at Clock House Studios,
Keele with the Music Department's
long serving technician, Cliff Bradbury.
The 'A' side, 'Bodywork', of this fun
record has recently been acquired by
an indie record label and is due for
a release on a new vinyl compilation
album later this year.
Over the years I kept in touch with
Simon who was a true computer
programming genius. After winning
the prestigious 'Amstrad' software
competition he went on to work with
Alan Sugar, but I remember him most
for the work he did whilst at Keele
on the world famous (and world first)
Fairlight CMI (Computer Sampling
Instrument). Simon set the bar in his
level of ingenious and creative use
of this very new and complex music
production tool which became THE
instrument of 80's pop. It was seminal
in changing the process of music
recording from Analogue to Digital and
the use of samples. Simon used the
Fairlight to record the theme tune for
the Keele student radio station 'Thorns
Radio' and he was certainly a major
influence in my long musical career.
The last time I worked with Simon
was in 2015, at the 30th anniversary
concert of my first album (recorded at
Keele) when we got together with Cliff
to get the Fairlight working again for a
live performance.
Simon will be very sadly missed by all
who knew him, a truly unique creative
mind, brilliant musician and above all a
good friend".