THE STORY COLLECTOR

Hello and welcome to The Story Collector.

For the next 30 minutes you will walk with us and listen to a story unfold.

If you look at your phone you will see an orange line and a yellow marker which Shows the route and your position. The orange line will pass through a number of zones. When you walk into a new zone the next part of the story will play. Follow the instructions along the way to get the best experience and take you time when crossing any roads.

Wait here and the story will begin shortly.

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Picatto: (from distance into foreground) Meow, meow, ….meoooooooow?? Hello? Hellllllo? Yes you, I’m down here. At your feet….no not the crisp packet. Me.

Yes, now you see me. The one and only feline sensation. They call me Picatto, The Gallery Cat. The pleasure is all yours. Apologies for all that meowing before, I was under the impression that you spoke feline. But obviously not! Maybe we can practice some of that later.

Don’t worry, you’re perfectly sane, no need to over think it. Do not call the Doctor, although you are in the perfect place to find one! Or should I say the puurrrrrfect place,

Now, why don’t you sit and stroke me while I explain what I do here, Purr purr lovely! Stroking cats is very therapeutic you know; all the students will tell you.

As well as being pastoral care and creature comfort for the avid learners here on campus, I am also a collector of stories. Everyone here has a story, and I like to know them all. So I am going to take you on a little tour of the campus to tell you about some of the stories I know. I have 6 stories for you and we will stop for a while in each location, I will guide you along the way so listen to my instructions and all will be fine.

Ooo. There’s someone you should meet. Heading towards the Film, Music and Media Building, that’s Usame (calling out) Usame? Shouts Dr Usame! Doctor!...Oh he must not have heard me, well he is a very busy man definitely someone you should know. In 2015 he received a state scholarship to come study here, but in 2016 he lost it for reasons out of his control. But still wanting to study and not wanting to give up on his dream he investigated other ways in which he could get funding, even looking into getting lottery funding (which was more than a gamble)

Fortunately, the HBS (with a word from their feline friend of course) waived the tuition fees. And from that he went on to win two prestigious Awards. Now at the age of 33 he is a fine lecturer. He could have gone into the private sector, but he stayed here to give back, having taught over 1,000 students so far. I’m sure will teach many more. So, in helping one, you help everyone that they go on to help.

That’s my motto.

Right, We don’t have very long and lots to see. We are going to head towards the light brick building clad in dark brown wood that is the Film, Music and Media building. Do you see it? One of my fav places but no time to go inside today I’m afraid.

Come on, Follow me, Keep up!

Stopppppppp. Excellent following. Do you see the pride progress flag on the floor up ahead! It is very important that we cross with pride to the other side. Follow me.

Let’s turn left and follow the path down towards the art and design building.

Do you see the square hedge on the right? Designed to be walls that enclose something special. Keep heading down until you see the Art and Design building but don’t cross the road.

This is my neck of the woods. As you’ve guessed by now, I’m no ordinary cat. I’m Picatto! And you must know that my name was not given to me lightly. I am a prolific student and lecturer of the art department. This is where I spent the majority of my time, a hub of creativity and artistry of the highest quality.

Yes, there is more to me than meets the eye. I have inspired a number of different projects through the years including the ‘Gallery Cat Focus Group’ which was created by students in 2019. I’ve been a model for the life drawings classes where people marvelled at my impeccable stillness, and I also appear in a mural by award winning author and illustrator Harry Woodgate, which is still located on the ground floor of the Todd Building today.

Turn to face the sculpture sitting here inside this walled hedge, Stand in front of it. This is The Hatfield Cairn by Andy Goldsworthy. Have a moment to Drink it in. How does it make you feel? What do you think it is?

A Cairn is a mound of rough stones built as a memorial or landmark. Since the 1980s Goldsworthy has worked with this motif, making cairns all over the world in many materials including stone, ice, branches and slate.

I think it looks a bit like an Acorn. A giant seed. Just like one of our students. I think a university is like a giant dandelion full of seeds ready to be blown whichever way the wind takes them.

Any other thoughts or observations about this piece? My thoughts are that it is good to jump on and observe the world from a higher viewing platform. It is also lovely to rub you back and neck against. If you are a cat that is! And, you can easily hide behind it and jump out on people which I have done many times.

Now, I think it’s time for a sit and a purr don’t you? Let’s move on to location number 3. If you are facing the sculpture turn to your right and follow the road. Do you see the bus stop? We are going that way. Along College Lane.

Ahh lovely day, lovely students, lovely place in general. It’s a shame I haven’t got longer with you, we haven’t even been to the other campus, Oh! and we didn’t do the media building!

Some big stars have come through here, you know, artists of all kinds. Do remember that show Robot Wars? I loved that show! We had students on that once, Kane Ashton and Anthony Pritchard entered the popular BBC 2 competition with a robot called behemoth, Anthony also designed a robot in the shape of the BBC 2 symbol as part of his course in model making.

I was also set to be the host, but Craig Charles beat me to the post. Yes, we’ve had many TV appearances including University Challenge when we battled with Cavendish College, Cambridge and University of Wales before finally being knocked out by the University of Liverpool.

Keep walking. Not far now.

I like the shapes and colours here. The green of the hedges and the bright yellow window frames of the Mercer building

I have been known to catch a few mice around these parts. They like to frequent these hedges on the left. Fast little things they are but no match for me…

Look there’s one now.

(Picatto pounces)

Oooh.. yahhhh.. ruuumpppph…

I let that one get away. Definitely a lucky escape!

Maybe I’m a bit less nimble than I used to be!

Anyway, Keep up, follow me.

We are going to turn left here and follow the footpath. You’ll notice an area ahead with some benches and some trees and a very still looking man sitting in the middle of it, let’s go and join him. Definitely somewhere to rest our legs.

Here we are. Location number 3 The Rose Garden. Sit here a while. Take a moment for yourself. Take in the surroundings. How often do we observe? Appreciate the detail and thought that’s gone into all the objects around us? Everything that is made has 1st existed in someone’s imagination. It’s why I’ve always said that scientists are artists in lab coats.

Someone who I know agrees with me is our Vice Chancellor, Quintin McKellar. Many times, we have sat here putting the world to rights. Always has an amazing story or two to tell over a lunch break does Quintin, and he’s a fine Veterinarian which has been most useful for me over the years. Of course I get special treatment. It was Quintin who first told me about this fine chap sat in front of us. That is the statue of Geoffrey de Havilland.

Sir Geoffrey de Havilland was an aeronautical engineer and aviation pioneer. He constructed his first machine in 1909 without having seen an aeroplane in flight and remarkably taught himself to fly. De Havilland went on to design more than fifty aircrafts. In 1951 the de Havilland Company gave land to Hertfordshire County Council for educational use as Hatfield Technical College. This life-size bronze statue was unveiled much later by The Duke of Edinburgh in 1997. What do you notice about him? What kind of man do you imagine him to be? I think there is a wistful look in his eye. Like his head is in the clouds. Do you see that in his hands? Some sort of aircraft I believe. Have you ever been on a plane? Well if you’d like we can go on one now. Focus your eyes on the plane. Reaaaaally focus. Now close your eyes.

The sound zooms and whooshes us up into the cabin of a passenger plane.

Pilot: Welcome aboard this Herts Airways flight to Los Angeles LAX. I will be your pilot for this flight and my name is Geoffrey. It is my pleasure to welcome you this fine morning aboard our Airbus A380. Please sit back and relax whilst you enjoy some refreshments.

Steward: Good morning, sir. Can I interest you in any refreshments….sir?.... excuse me?

Picatto: Oh, sorry. Miles away.

Steward: It’s a great view isn’t it?

Picatto: Yes, young man, but I’ll level with you. It was actually the wings I had my eye on.

Steward: Don’t worry sir they are perfectly safe.

Picatto: Haha yes, I’m well aware of that fact. This isn’t my first rodeo you know. I was admiring them because it just so happens that they were designed by a student who studied at my university. Frank Ogilvie.-

Steward: You went to university.

Picatto: Went? I’m still there!

Steward: Wow! Amazing!

Picatto: Who knew he would design a plane with a wing span of 79.8 m, capable of travelling at 560mph, whilst holding almost a thousand passengers!

Steward: 850 to be exact. And we’re at capacity today, with your large party you’ve brought.

Steward: Can I get you anything while you admire the wings sir?

Picatto: Why not. Saucer of milk and one for yourself.

Steward: Excellent choice sir. Coming right up.

Picatto: Thanks! (To self) And thank you Frank Ogilvie!

We come back to earth

Did you enjoy your trip? Me too!

Okay. Let’s move on. If you are facing the front of the statue look to your right and find your way back on to the path. We are going to head up the winding pathway towards the picnic tables.

Follow me..

Up here to on the right is location number 4 there are some picnic benches and our next location to stop. Let’s stop somewhere there.

I often like to sit around these picnic benches,

Do you see that sculpture on the other side of the road that looks like a twisted staircase? The building you can see behind that and stretching off to the left is the University Nursery which is where our next story starts.

Lewis Harrison-Barker came close to experiencing every parent’s worst nightmare. His son attended the nursery from the age of 10 months while his wife acted as the student administrator in the school of life and medical sciences. On their sons 1st day he became unwell and ended up being rushed by ambulance to a hospital. He had undiagnosed type 1 diabetes and had gone into diabetic ketoacidosis, his blood had turned acidic, and his body was shutting down. This was incredibly serious, and the quick actions of the nursery saved his life. At the 1st signs of a problem they called his wife and called an ambulance. If they had waited, Their son Marty wouldn’t be with us today. When Marty recovered, he went back to the nursery and they had undergone massive training to support him and his new life changing condition.

That nursery is something we as a Uni are very proud of. It is our honour to support any student whatever their situation and we would never want child care to be a barrier in educating the minds of the future.

The sculpture by the way is called Spiral Bridge. Its form and scale were inspired by meteorological diagrams that represent the meeting of hot and cold air fronts, which create a spiral shape as rising hot air is forced down by cold air fronts.

It looks a bit like a staircase heading off into the unknown. I like to think that this university is a bit like that staircase. Providing the steps along a journey. However it twists and turns and whether it leads up or down or turns all the way round, We are there, right under our student’s feet. A support structure for life.

Speaking of feet, time to get onto yours and get moving to location 5. If you are facing the nursery look over to the left towards the hutton hub building. We are going to head over there and stand at the top of butlers walk near the brick wall. Maybe you can see the words hutton hub on the side of the building. That way.

What do you see here? Do you ever take the time to see the same place from a different perspective? Like this area here… how could we see this place differently? See the big brick wall? How about we lean on that and look straight along the path?

Can you give the wall all your weight? Take a look round from where you are…up above down below, can you tilt your head to the side? Look at the path stretching out ahead of you. The possibilities for learning and expression and communication are endless. Why do you think they called them universities in the first place?! Because, like the universe, the scope and breath of learning available here is ever expanding. Knowledge is an infinitely branching tree, but speaking personally, I don’t like to clamber too high.

Anyway, someone who has no fear of heights, at least when it comes to knowledge, or new beginnings, is one of our second-year students. Lyndsey.

Lyndsey has in recent times, experienced some great challenges. Her story starts in November 2020. Over the course of 3 months she lost both parents, and then in May 2021 was diagnosed with cancer. During her chemotherapy and radio therapy her mind sieved through all the things she wanted to do but had put off. The concept that ‘life is simply too short not to do the things you love’ took hold of her and having spent the last 12 years of her life teaching, she made the bold decision to leave teaching and pursue a BA in Fine Art as a mature student. Nothing she has been through in the past couple of years will stop her from pursing her dreams and living life on her own terms.

So, I’m sure you understand why her story means so much to all of us here at the University. This woman doesn’t just believe in her own future, she believes in all of our futures. The future of this very planet! Since joining our student body, in addition to her own studies, Lyndsey has started working to help educate children and young people, through art, about climate issues. Stories such as Lyndsey’s encapsulate, at least for this cat, what the University of Hertfordshire is all about. The courage and determination, not to mention the imagination, she has shown in changing the course of her life, after such challenges, would be inspiring by itself, but to then use her experience as a springboard to help the next generation and indeed, through her climate work, the whole world?! Well, I think you understand now why I keep her story so close to my heart. If you take one thing from my tour, take this, the path of your life is not set. You must decide its course, and with that in mind, let’s keep moving.

Follow the path keeping the building on your right. Follow me.

Do you see the lines on the floor leading us? These pavement slabs creating a path in-between these benches? imagine that this is the path of your life, with each square and the way you decide to walk on it diverting the course. Changing with each step you take. Choose whichever path feels right to you, don’t be afraid to walk backwards, dance, hop, skip jump or even walk onto the benches. Don’t mind if people stare, you might even enjoy it.

Well, were almost coming to the end of tour of stories Just one more location to visit up ahead

Keep up... Nearly there…

Do you see that up ahead on the left? Glistening and reflective. It’s a piece of art called Mountain. It is an immersive and multi-sensory sculpture that invites people inside to participate, rather than merely observe. The reflective quality of the surfaces is disorientating but places us directly within the sculpture. Shall we find ourselves a place within the sculpture to contemplate a while? Go on.. walk inside.

How do you feel here? What do you notice? Are you drawn to the reflections, the sounds, the feel of the slate under your shoes? We all to some extent have different sensory profiles. We know if we prefer a quiet space, low-lit room, some fresh air, or gentle music to accompany, the tapping of our keyboards. But Imagine if your quiet space became loud, the strip lights bright and buzzing, the space stuffy and the music raging to a noisy beat. Imagine how you might feel. Could you still concentrate? Imagine what you could achieve. Or perhaps could not…. For some students, the sensory environment may have impact on their ability to fully engage in student life. This impact can be so negative, it can cause distress, anxiety and detrimental effects on a student’s academic potential. And, for many students, opting for their preferred way of learning has not been possible. At least that is, until the last couple of years.

Various meetings, including the neurodiversity reference group were held and this led to increasing awareness of the barriers to participation and progress experienced by neurodivergent learners. Sensory kits have been made available in classrooms and the Nick Walker Sensory Space was launched on DeHavilland Campus.

Much is still to be done but we are proud of this progress and proud of the students for championing diverse experiences. Now if you will join me in contemplating all that we have learnt. Sensory regulation is good for all learners you see.

Ok, We have only scratched the surface and there are many more stories to be collected but I think it is time for me to leave you. Find a place to stand and look at your reflection. What is your own story that might one day be added to the collection. Has it already happened or is it yet to be? I wish you luck in your new adventures, may you create and inspire the next generation to be the best versions of themselves.

Remember, It all starts with a little seed.

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Thank you for walking with us today. We hope you enjoyed the experience. If you need to return any equipment to us you can head back over to where you started the walk. You can now exit the navigation screen by pressing the 3 lines in the top left of the screen and pressing stop walk where you can provide feedback through our short survey.

This walk was created by ThickSkin Theatre Company, and commissioned by UH Arts + Culture, as part of the University's Festival of Ideas.