From Fife to Rio de Janeiro

From Fife to Rio de Janeiro and New York, students benefiting from a scholarship launched at the University of St Andrews last year spoke about their progress at an event this week.

Trustees of Burnwynd History and Art and University officials heard how postgraduate students in Art History and History spent the last year thanks to scholarships totalling £20,000.

The scholarships were made possible thanks to a generous bequest by local graduate Catherine Forrest (nee Carstairs) and her husband Alfred, who left their estate principally for the benefit of postgraduate students in the Schools of History and History of Art at the University of St Andrews. The couple lived at Burnwynd on the Lade Braes in St Andrews and in her retirement Mrs Forrest had written a book of family and local history ‘Living in St Andrews’, which was published by the University of St Andrews Library.

The first recipients of the scholarships were awarded in May of last year. They are: John McCallum (The St Andrews Local History Foundation Bursary), Maria Halkias (The Catherine and Alfred Forrest Trust Fine Art Bursary) and Natalie Roncone (The Catherine and Alfred Forrest Trust Fine Art Bursary).

John used his award to further his PhD research into the religious history of Fife from 1560 to c. 1640. Maria used her scholarship to support travel to Lisbon and Rio de Janeiro in association with PhD research entitled “The Representation of history and memory in the city landscapes of Maria Helena Vieira da Silva 1936- 1959′. Meanwhile Natalie used her award to travel to New York to undertake PhD research into Rudolph Arnheim, Clement Greenberg and Jackson Pollock.

All three presented an update on their research at the Annual General Meeting of the Trust, during which the awards for 2006- 07 were also determined. The event was followed by an Awards Dinner at the Rufflets Hotel attended by representatives of the University (Professor Keith Brown, Master; Professor Ian Carradice, Art History; Professor Roger Mason, History; Dr Norman Reid, University Library, Louise Taylor, Development); the three recipients of the scholarships and representatives of Burnwynd History & Art (Lt Col William Macnair, Professor David Swinfen; Donald Elliot; Philip Garland; Professor Ronald Elder and Dr Lawrence Rolland).

ENDS

NOTE TO PICTURE EDITORS:

AN IMAGE FROM THE EVENT IS AVAILABLE FROM THE PRESS OFFICE – CONTACT DETAILS BELOW.

Front Row (Left to right) – Louise Taylor, Natalie Roncone, Lt Col William Macnair, Maria Halkias, John McCallum and Dr Larry Rolland

Back Row (Left to right) Professor Roger Mason, Professor Ian Carradice, Professor Ronald Elder, Philip Garland, Professor David Swinfen, Professor Keith Brown, Donald Elliot and Dr Norman Reid

Issued by Beattie Media – www.beattiegroup.com on behalf of the University of St Andrews Contact Gayle Cook, Press Officer on 01334 467227 / 462529, mobile 07900 050 103, or email gec3@st- andrews.ac.uk

Ref: Burwynd Hist and Art 190506.doc

View the latest University press releases at http://www.st- andrews.ac.uk