Born in Barbados, she came to England aged three and grew up in East London, the youngest of three children. He loves writing heightened genre pieces, where he can add left -field elements to commercial ideas to make stories which are surprising and relevant. Board Member . Sonita Alleyne is the Master of Jesus College, Cambridge, the first woman to hold the post and - more significantly - the first black master of any Oxbridge college. In her previous career in the media, she was the co-founder and former CEO of the production company Somethin Else. British Board of Film Classification . You can pause at any time by clicking on the same button. WHAT TO DO. I ask her how we can justify not immediately repatriating this stolen artefact. I think, as Ive got older, I realise that my moments of joy are when I help people. Its been 523 years, but for these ten years, I am the guardian of that community spiritbecause I think thats what the essence of a college is, whilst youre here. She is a fellow of the Radio Academy and a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts.Sonita began her ten year tenure as Master of Jesus College in October 2019. She was an able reader by the time she started primary school, and her potential was spotted at her secondary school, where she was encouraged to apply to Cambridge. Our weekly reminder is intended to provide updates and further information relating to Web of the Week.We will hold and manage details in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018. She lives in Cambridge with her partner, the screenwriter James McCarthy, and their teenage son. You can do things that you dont have to be good at. There, Alleyne attended the local comprehensive school, and was one of three students in her year to go on to study at Cambridge. She goes on I think its very important that the process for appointment was very, very thorough. Sonita Alleyne, Master of Jesus College, Cambridge. I ask whether this context of racial tensions was reflected in her own experience as an undergraduate. Non-executive Director . I put it to her that even amongst those accepted from state schools, highly selective grammar schools like Henrietta Barnett and comprehensives in affluent areas still dominate. I am the guardian, said Sonita Alleyne. In 1989 she joined the radio station Jazz FM. No it isnt awful! This is really great. But its a great insight into a brilliant mind. They elected me and they voted and I feel like, yeah, Im the best person for the jobwho turned up and applied she adds with a laugh. It has been 523 years, but for these next ten? Thats just amazing. I also really like helping people. Born in Barbados, she came to England aged three and grew up in East London, the youngest of three children. Its like every day is Christmas. The first Black person to occupy such a role, Alleynes appointment has been celebrated as a signal that some Oxbridge colleges are serious about efforts to diversify. When Sonita Alleyne was announced as the new master of Jesus College in May, it made national headlines. But I dont care. But, three years on, it is still held in storage. Does this openness to modernisation extend to some of the central issues of student activism in 2019? Born in Barbados, Sonita Alleyne came to England aged three and grew up in East London, the youngest of three children. Warm and approachable, Alleyne is absolutely free of the airs and graces we normally associate with those in her position. Other remunerated positions Archant . I cant help but think that, returning as the colleges master more than 30 years later, Alleyne will be performing this same function on a much larger scale; a signal to people of colour and those from working class backgrounds that Cambridge is a place for them. She served on the BBC Trust for nearly five years, sits on the board of the London Legacy Development Corporation, and founded the Yes Programme to show primary school pupils their future career options. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Its great when you see someone whos like you whos there, so that was a real inspiration in terms of me applying, she tells me. Jesus College exits direct investments in fossil fuels. She is a fellow of the Radio Academy and a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts. Beginning her undergraduate course in Philosophy in 1985, Alleyne immediately dived into an eclectic mix of extracurricular ventures. And so I like that, I thought Ok I can do this all the time. Amen to that. Yet she is quick to stress that to me, Cambridge is a bastion of excellence, and I like that. Its like, when some people say oh I do oil painting and you assume theyre really good at it. Stopping to consider, Alleyne begins by describing the 70s and 80s as a really, really tough time in terms of race. In 1989 she joined the radio station Jazz FM. Having spoken in her luxurious college office, the ivory tower definitely still exists. In this Radio 4 Desert Island Discs from earlier this year Sonita shares the eight tracks, book and luxury she would want to take if cast away to a desert island. Therefore we are asking our readers, if they wish, to make a donation from as little as 1, to help with our running costs at least until this global crisis ends and things begin to return to normal. She lives in Cambridge with her partner, the screenwriter James McCarthy, and their teenage son.DISC ONE: Ive Known Rivers by Gary Bartz & NTU Troop DISC TWO: Les Fleurs by Minnie RipertonDISC THREE: Key To The World by L J Reynolds DISC FOUR: Martha by Tom Waits DISC FIVE: Tennessee by Arrested Development DISC SIX: To Forgive But Not Forget by Outside DISC SEVEN: Last Train to Clarksville by Cassandra Wilson DISC EIGHT: Swing Low Sweet Chariot by Marvin Hannibal Peterson BOOK CHOICE: Coming Through Slaughter by Michael OndaatjeLUXURY ITEM:A genie in a lamp which would only work within the confines of the islandCASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE:Les Fleurs by Minnie Riperton Presenter: Lauren LaverneProducer: Cathy Drysdale, Stuff Of Legends with Christian OConnell, Christian OConnell & iHeartRadio Australia, Leigh Angel, Rita Mankowska, (Lesbian Podcast). Indeed, it was followed a few months later by the announcement that this years intake of black students was up by almost 50% compared to last year, a result of the so-called Stormzy effect. Organisation Position Details Positions of employment The Yes Programme Ltd . Its great to not have to worry about being good at something. He particularly likes creating thrillers with tight, twisting plots, but also enjoys developing ideas that will play to a wide range of audience emotions. We wont share, sell or swap your information with other organisations for their own marketing purposes. I wouldnt look back at my time and say, oh I had it much, much worse than anyone else. I just want to make sure that lots of people have the opportunity to come hereand it links back to your first point around me being the first black head of an Oxbridge college. Alleyne seems to see her role above all as a custodian of Jesus as a community, a theme she returns to throughout our conversation. In her previous career in the media, she was the co-founder and former CEO of the production company Somethin Else. If it encourages people to think its accessible, absolutely fine. On the question of being the first, she says I dont mind it. Her skill, it seems, lies in an ability to put people at their ease, a desire to exist in the thick of college life, not just observe it from on high. I asked Alleyne about the controversy surrounding Jesuss possession of a bronze cockerel statue, Okukor, which was looted from the Benin Empire now part of Nigeria - in the 19th century. We end with a series of lighter, quick fire questions. When she was made redundant a couple of years later, she and two former Jazz FM colleagues set up a production company they called Somethin Else. In this Radio 4 Desert Island Discs from earlier this year Sonita shares the eight tracks, book and luxury she would want to take if cast away to a desert island. Im absolutely comfortable with that. All content 1996-2020 Varsity Publications Ltd. Students asked to stay at University as international students express concerns in an open letter. Alleyne arrived in Cambridge just 4 years after the 1981 Race Riots. Everyone went through it, but what Cambridge did for them was set them up for life. I went for the role because I really, really like the community of people that are here. I really dont care. In fact, shes keen to point out the positives, particularly the close friendships she forged amongst the cohort of Black students that she got to know well during her time at Cambridge. Click on the arrow on the left of the bar below to start the podcast. Jokingly telling me you can say I got most animated in this part of the interview!, Alleyne reveals her love for Tom Waits, recommending that I go in at the early stuff, because it all gets a little bit darker later on in his career. How has she, barely two weeks in, already managed to establish a relationship with so many college members? She was an able reader by the time she started primary school, and her potential was spotted at her secondary school, where she was encouraged to apply to Cambridge.She read philosophy at Fitzwilliam College and, after a brief and unfulfilling spell selling life insurance, she followed her passion for jazz by starting to write for music magazines. Or you can move the circle in the middle to go forwards or backwards. And its the Benin court which is very much involved in that. No need to stop it when you have finished listening just click Home at the top of this page to go back to our main menu. When I ask her for an album she loves music having been a hugely important part of her life and career she refers to a recent conversation with a grad student, who she told to listen to American Jazz fusion band Mahavishnu Orchestra, whilst he recommended her National Health. He writes about things and you think, God has he really gone there? Im not. I didnt come here thinking hey, Im gonna be the first, she explains. And that was in the last 6 months, she adds meaningfully. Im not going to pre-empt any kind of outcome, but well be looking at it and there will be a college wide discussion about it. Sonita stepped down as CEO in 2009 to concentrate on other boardroom roles. London Legacy Development Corporation . As the photographer sets up, Alleyne casually stops a passing second year to check back in with him on an issue that they had clearly been discussing in an earlier conversation. Alleyne begins by describing the 70s and 80s as a really, really tough time in terms of race. Required fields are marked *. Pausing for thought, she says its an interesting one because your experience as an undergraduate is your experience as a black person in any walk of life. 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