Diffusion
Diffusion Summer 2009
Due to the many changes in staff over recent months, we have not be able to feature Diffusion. However, we are hoping to get it up and running over the next few months. If you have an article you would like to submit, please do so. You can email it to reception@raworth.com. Likewise, if you have an interesting story to tell, please contact us.
Since the retirement of Vivienne Parker in September 2008 the College has been undergoing many changes. The new “Management Team” is now working hard in preparing the timetables and updating the courses to accomodate all the new students currently applying. We are also working on new CPD’s and “Refresher Courses” for graduates who have not used their skills for a while. For a complete list of CPD’s available please look under “Workshops”.
A belated “Biography” of Vivienne’s life appears below.
Biography of Dr Vivienne Parker
As most of you know, Vivienne Parker retired as Principal of the Raworth Centre in September 08, to devote more time to her expanding family, and to consolidate her health.
Now that she has embarked on this new phase in her life it seems a good moment to investigate a little of her past!
She claims to remember very little of her early schooldays, except that she was apparently happy and friendly, but a trial to her teachers as she never produced any work, preferring to save her considerable energies for playtime!
A love of IQ tests, however, ensured that she passed the 11 plus (those were the days!) and was even placed in the top stream, albeit remaining at the lower end, due to a total absence of homework! Thankfully, an awakening surge of interest in Science convinced her of the necessity for accumulating a range of “O” and “A” levels, and she duly progressed to Southampton University, graduating with an Honours degree in Biochemistry - and a future husband….
After a brief stint managing a travel agency in late 60s “swinging London” - an eye opening experience- she returned to academic life as a lecturer at Ewell Technical College, shortly to re-invent itself as NESCOT, when it became more closely involved in Higher Education, including developing MSc degrees with Kingston & Surrey Universities, Vivienne having a significant role in the validation of both these awards.
While acting as Section Leader- a full time post- Vivienne also undertook a PHD in Behavioural Pharmacology on a part-time basis, completing it just before her 40th birthday.
With her legendary skill at multi-tasking, she combined raising a family with a full-time career, a series of promotions culminating in her appointment as Dean of the Faculty of Health, Humanities & Nursing, whose broad remit ranged from A levels to courses in Child Care, Counselling & a Nursing degree. Vivienne was also responsible for setting up the Osteopathy degree, later validated by the Osteopathic Council.
Ever seeking new fields to conquer, she took early retirement in 1997 to further her interest in Natural and Complementary Medicine, enrolling as a full-time student at the Raworth Centre- and the rest, as they say - is history - - - - -
We now wish her a healthy, happy retirement, and good luck in the new adventures that lie ahead.
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