The committee are responsible for the running of the branch, so we thought it was a good idea to let you get to know a bit about them. So to that end the page below contains a little bit about each of them. The current members are:
I live in Tunbridge Wells and attended my first Weald OUSA meeting at the Humphrey Bean pub in Tonbridge last year; here I was elected as communications officer. I recently finished the Frontiers in Medicine strand of the OU MSc programme, studying S807, SD805 and S809, and gaining pass with merit in two of the modules. Following my completion of the MSc I have now embarked upon the Certificate in Web Applications Development, and am currently studying TT281 – The Client Side of Application Development.
Being a bit of a geek (lets face I have a classical science degree, and like Sci-fi) my interests also include Photography and Scripting (I enjoy building websites), the later being the reason I was asked to be communications officer, as I had offered to use these skills to help in the development of this website. This is also the reason for taking the Certificate in Web Applications Development, I felt this was an appropriate way to formalise some of the skills I've gained through my hobby. I'm also currently helping an organisation called KABIF with their website; this is an eternal challenge and something that keeps me very occupied. (But will hopefully look good on my CV (at least once I’ve got it finished!!!!!!))
Camera wise (oh yes, I like my gadgets as well) I currently have an EOS 350D, as well as various other non-SLRs. I can usually be found carting this about at meetings, as I find this is always a good opportunity to take some more photos, particularly as I just love faces, especially when people aren’t posing for the camera. Although I do have to say, I have found that trying to take sneaky photos with a SLR camera is not that easy!!!!
I also enjoy music and swimming, going to the cinema, theatre and hiking up mountains for no particular reason, oh, and meeting people with similar interests as well as people who are the complete opposite to me. So I look forward to meeting more of you at the various socials. :o)
Chris Merriman - Communications Officer
I was elected as Treasurer of the Weald branch when it was resurrected back in 2004. I've been studying mathematics with the OU since 2002. During that time I've passed the maths Diploma and I'll have enough credits for maths BSc in a few years time. I've been to 2 Summer schools, both of which were very enjoyable and I would recommend them to anyone who has the chance to go on one. I work in IT in London, though the only studying I do on the train is revision. I also have an interest in astronomy, and have a degree in Astronomy & Physics from UCL. I'm studying maths now as this was my weakness in my first degree, and I eventually want to move on to more advanced studies.
Andy Wilson, Weald Branch Treasurer