CAREERS NETWORK
OLD POCKLINGTONIAN WINS
MAJOR INDUSTRY AWARD
Former Pocklington School pupil and patron of its
new Art and Design Technology Centre Campaign,
Professor Steven Kyffin (70-77), has received
a prestigious industry award for outstanding
contributions in the field of design.
Steven received the Institution of Engineering
Designers’ (IED) ‘Support Inspire, Achieve’ Award at a
ceremony in July recognising his work encompassing
academic learning, research and industrial practice.
He follows such illustrious names as billionaire
Dyson inventor Sir James Dyson, Apple’s Chief
Design Officer Sir Jonathan Ive, industrial designer
Sebastian Conran and Formula 1 engineer Adrian
Newey.
Having spent much of his childhood and early
adult years based in Pocklington, Steven is now
Northumbria University’s Pro Vice-Chancellor
(Business and Enterprise) and the award particularly
recognises his continuing commitment, through this
role, to the leadership of the design discipline from
both within the industrial and academic contexts.
He said: “I have spent many years working in
professional practice; both in private consultancy
and corporate strategic design leadership, as
well as in the academic research and education
environments. I have always tried to connect the
four worlds in enabling this amazing discipline to
be able to contribute so much more to creating a
‘better future’ in all its different ways.
“So, it’s fantastic that, perhaps, the IED has recognised
the importance, positioning the design discipline as
one of our strategic leads in the creation of ideas
and the search for meaning in both cultural and
economic growth.”
into the future through the academic context has
fired his enthusiasm for Pocklington School’s new
£2.5 million Art and Design Technology Centre,
where he has lent his support as a patron of the
Campaign to raise funds for the new building.
He said: “Developing the energy, critical curiosity
and innovative thinking skills in young people is
more essential than ever for the future of design
and is vital, if we are to grow our country’s excellent
reputation in this area. Pocklington School’s Art and
Design Centre was a pivotal inspiration for me in
the 1970s, a true leader, one of very few schools
in the ‘general education space’, and I want to do
everything I can to see that great ambition grow
and grow.”
Steven’s commitment to guiding the design discipline After leaving Pocklington School, Steven studied
Design for Industry at Northumbria University
MARCUS TOWNEND
CROWNED RACING REPORTER
OF THE YEAR summer of 2016 which saw him raise £14,000 for
racehorse charity HEROS by riding competitively for
the first time in a race at Windsor, an achievement
which required a staggering 36lb weight loss.
Daily Mail racing correspondent Marcus Townend
(72-82) crowned a magnificent year by scooping
the Racing Reporter of the Year award at the
50th staging of the prestigious Horserace Writers
& Photographers Derby Awards in London in
December 2016. Judges presided over three submitted articles from
each contender and decided two of Townend’s
exclusives and a superb account of his Windsor
accomplishment in the Mail on Sunday warranted
the esteemed award.
Marcus, who has worked for the Mail for 27
years and writes under the pseudonym Captain
Heath, saw off Racing Post duo Jon Lees and Lee
Mottershead and the Guardian’s Chris Cook to win
the coveted prize.
The capture of the John Oaksey Trophy, presented
to the East Yorkshire-born journalist by ITV weather
forecaster Lucy Verasamy, comes hard on the heels
of Townend’s well-publicised efforts earlier in the
in Newcastle, graduating in 1981 with first-class
honours. He then gained his Master of Design at the
Royal College of Art in London.
He enjoyed a successful period of senior leadership
in industry, including a decade as Global Senior
Director of Design Research and Innovation at
Royal Philips Electronics, while working in the
Netherlands. However, he continued his academic
links, supporting many university design research
programmes in Europe, Asia and the US.
Steven was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by
Northumbria University in 2009 for his outstanding
contribution to design research and innovation, and
returned to Northumbria School of Design the next
year as Dean of the School.
He said: “I am deeply honoured to receive this award
after such a memorable year and it is always special
to be recognised in this way by your peers.
“It is the first thing I’ve won since a 20-20 cricket
competition in my early 20s!”
(Article by Sam Turner for the Daily Mail, 5 December 2016)
Marcus Townend is presented with his award by ITV
weather forecaster Lucy Verasamy. Photo courtesy of
Daily Mail.
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