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1953-2003 - 50 Years of Promoting International Education & Understanding

 

Paul Saville retires

At the end of this term, we said farewell to Paul Saville, after over 30 years at St. Clare's. Paul started teaching Art here in 1972, initially part-time, and from early on was involved with the three strands which have run through his whole career here - Art and Art History, summer study courses and the Liberal Arts programme,

In 1974, Paul became Head of Art, with responsibility for studio art, and subsequently for art history and theory also. In this capacity he developed the range of work, while continuing to emphasise drawing and painting, in which he is so skilled himself. More recently, Paul became Head of Arts - a department which includes drama and music, which have joined art as mainstream curriculum subjects.

Paul's interests in learning outside the classroom, and having "projects" to work on were brought together in the many summer courses he has run over the years. The programme in Cortona, in Tuscany, Italy developed out of Anne Dreydel's own connection with the town, where she has a house. The course included classes in art, art history and Italian, in which a strong contingent of St. Clare's students were joined by students from elsewhere. Paul always had a knack of balancing serious study with time for recreation. The result was that generations of students enthusiastically spent several weeks of their summer holiday without always realising how much they were learning because they were having such fun. Later the summer programme moved to Venice, and latterly to France. But the essential format was similar in each of the places.

Paul has also drawn into the art teaching visiting teachers with particular strengths and interests complementary to his own. Notable among these is the very distinguished young British artist Jenny Saville, his niece, who has contributed to the St. Clare's art programme over the years.

Paul's contribution to the development of the Liberal Arts programme began when he was appointed Dean of American Students in 1975, working alongside Tony Knowland. I particularly enjoyed working closely with Paul on re-shaping the programme in 1984-5, and in 1985 a revised Liberal Arts programme was launched with Paul as Director. Paul has visited the US once or twice each year to establish and maintain links with US universities. He has always run an extensive series of trips and visits, introducing students to places of interest in Britain and mainland Europe, and establishing an excellent rapport with them, which has been a key to the programme's success.

Paul's commitment and loyalty to St. Clare's has been exemplified this year by his involvement in the celebrations for the College's 50th anniversary. He took the lead in arranging the North Amerian alumni reunion at the University of San Diego, with his usual style and panache. He and John Rolfe, current Head of Arts, also organised the very successful 50th Anniversary art exhibition this year.

Although Paul's official position with St. Clare's comes to an end this term, we look forward to continuing connections in the future, when he will doubtless continue to find numerous outlets for his prodigious energy.

Paul's successor as Director of the Liberal Arts Programme is Dr Ines Molinaro. Dr Molinaro is currently Director of Studies in Social and Political Sciences at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, where she was also, until recently, Fellow in the University of Cambridge Faculty of Social and Political Sciences. Ines is Canadian, studied in the USA (Ph.D. from Notre Dame) and has lectured at the Universities of Birmingham and Warwick, in the UK, before moving to Cambridge. In addition to her role directing the Liberal Arts programme, Ines will also oversee all courses for adult students, now taking place at the Bardwell Road Centre. We are delighted that Ines was able to join the celebrations at the University of San Diego in April, and we look forward to working with her in her new role in the years to come.

Boyd Roberts
Principal

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