Meeting at UEA, global careers and a life together
By: Alumni Team
David Newbold (MAP68) and Jane Newbold (BIO68) met at the Horsham St. Faith student accommodation while studying at UEA and have been together ever since.
They recently were kind enough to answer some questions – and reflected on studying at UEA in the “pioneering years”, building careers in diverse fields across different continents.
How did you discover UEA?
Jane: I wanted to go to a new university, and I was interested in learning across different disciplines – the courses offered included, amongst others, microbiology, genetics, computing, biochemistry, mycology etc. I wasn’t sure exactly where I wanted to go from A Levels, and that flexibility at degree level was important to me. I also liked that UEA offered continual assessment, and it was a lovely part of the country.
David: I enrolled for Maths and Physics. As I went through the course I finally focused on pure Mathematics. I had been on lots of family holidays to Norfolk and I was very familiar with the area. It all felt natural and comfortable and I was pleased to come here.
And how did you meet at UEA?
David: We met at Horsham St. Faith, the student residence. We both worked at the student bar there – what else do you do at university?!
What were some of your favourite memories of studying at UEA?
Jane: I loved taking part in clubs especially water skiing at the gravel pits at Costessy and the expedition and exploration societies, plus we had some great music at the university and memorable parties.
David: In my second year I ran the Horsham bar with a good friend. It took up a lot of time, but it was good fun. I also had a loose association with the rugby and fishing clubs
Jane: Our favourite memories, really, were making new friends and spending time with them. It also felt like pioneering days where students were setting up many different things. At the end of my first year, I went on an expedition to North Africa – and we had to organise the whole thing and apply for the funding and equipment. It was an amazing experience.
How did you go about starting your careers?
David: I felt that I had a somewhat limited scope with a pure Mathematics degree. I went into the City of London and studied to be a charted accountant. I qualified there and worked as accountant for a number of years before moving into financial management in industry.
Jane: I always wanted to be involved in science. The brilliant thing about UEA was that, because it was so diverse in what it was teaching in biological sciences, I could apply to work in microbiology or immunology or biochemistry. It didn't really matter because I'd had experience in all these different areas.
After I left UEA, I worked at the Medical Research Institute at Mill Hill in immunology. I did one year there, and then I started a PhD in biochemistry. I went on to work in parasitology, where I could apply what I'd learned in my PhD to the study of sleeping sickness and malaria.
UEA instilled a lot of confidence into both of us and made sure we were very adaptable to any changes.
David: And it also made us to used to listening to other points of view and making our own views heard. We debated and were able to explore different areas of interest.
How did having children change your careers?
Jane: Basically, my career path changed once I had children. I stopped working in research when our second daughter was born. I went from research to teaching at a secondary school then our son was born. I went back to university to do a MSc in Environmental Chemistry and then worked at the University on an agricultural project, environmental management and lecturing. Whilst over seas I worked on various projects and on returning to the UK I went back to the University.
David: My career probably did not change with having children. It took me all over the world while our children were young which was challenging. Later in my career, there were opportunities for the children to travel. We spent several years based in Chile and the children had many family holidays not only in Chile but also in other South or Central American countries such as Peru, Bolivia and Costa Rica. I needed go visit Barbados twice a year. Occasionally they joined us there.
How did this international travel come about?
David: I found that being an accountant within an auditing firm, meant that I was always looking two years in the past. I got a little bit fed up with that. I wanted to get into the real world and enjoyed roles within the natural resource sector.
There was a company involved in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, looking into oil and gas field investment together with contract management. I jumped at the opportunity and was involved in setting up operations around the area. A new project in Egypt was particularly enjoyable.
Towards the end of my career, we moved from Chile to Denver, Colorado and then to Vancouver, British Columbia. The business changed, with more centralisation, and we chose to return to the UK rather than stay in Canada. After a number of years as an independent consultant I decided to retire and move away from the precious metals industry.
And did you join David on these travels, Jane?
Jane: For two or three years I was with the children in the UK whilst David was based at home but travelled a lot. I did manage some trips such as to Finland, Australia, the USA and Chile. The Chile trip made me decide to go back to university to study Environmental Chemistry.
In 1995 David went to Chile to start a new job and Andrew (our young son) and I joined him in 1996 where we stayed for 8 years. South America is amazing and we explored many countries. Our older daughters also came on many of these trips.
And how has retirement been?
Jane: We have continued to do a lot of travelling. One of our daughters now lives in Australia so this is one of our destinations. We’ve also visited places such as the Solomon Islands, Madagascar, Namibia and Borneo. There are plenty more to visit.
We are members of the University of the Third Age (U3A). I am an active member of the science group and I also volunteer at a local nature reserve doing surveys and other outside work.
David: I've always enjoyed photography and had, for many years, been a die-hard 35mm film devotee. However, on a fishing trip in Chile, I fell into the river with all my equipment. After the equipment was fully repaired it was then subsequently stolen, giving me a big push into digital photography. I’m now involved in a local photography group that involves photo walks and regular challenges on landscape and human themes.