Peter and Christine: Early memories, unexpected generosity and maritime meanderings.

In this episode, guests Peter Mathieson and Christine De Luca talk about early memories, unexpected generosity and maritime connections. Christine also treats us to a poem in English and Shetlandic.

Peter joined the University of Edinburgh as Principal and Vice-Chancellor in February 2018, having led the University of Hong Kong for several years.

Educated at a state grammar school in Penzance, Peter was the first in his family to go to university. He studied medicine at the London Hospital Medical College before gaining a PhD from the University of Cambridge. After moving to Bristol in 1995, he held several positions at the University of Bristol and North Bristol NHS Trust over the years, culminating in his appointment as Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry in 2008.

Christine is a Scottish poet and novelist from Shetland. She has lived in Edinburgh since the 1960s and served as the city’s Makar (poet laureate) between 2014 and 2017.

After graduating from the University of Edinburgh in 1969 with an MA in Geography, Christine entered the teaching profession before returning to undertake an MEd in Educational Research. She later worked at the Scottish Examination Board, specialising in assessment research and development. Since retiring, Christine has been able to devote more time to writing poetry, both in English and Shetland dialect (a blend of Old Scots with much Norse influence). 

Each episode of Sharing things is a conversation between two members of our university community. It could be a student, a member of staff or a graduate, the only thing they have in common at the beginning is Edinburgh. We start with an object. A special, treasured or significant item that we have asked each guest to bring to the conversation. What happens next is sometimes funny, sometimes moving and always unexpected.

Find out more at www.ed.ac.uk/sharing-things-podcast

All episodes of season two of Sharing things were recorded before the 23 March 2020 (COVID-19 lockdown in the UK).