One of my abiding and most treasured memories from the time I was Town Mayor was going on a roadtrip with the then Vice Chancellor of the University of Buckingham, Sir Anthony Seldon. We spent two nights away in Wales, visiting the towns and universities of Bangor and Aberystwyth. We were researching how their 'town & gown' relationship worked. We returned with lots of ideas and later on established the Pontio Committee: a joint committee of the Town Council and the University, leavened with other organisations too.
Pontio means 'bridge' in Welsh. It also means 'transformation' as well. But we stole the name, in truth, from a wonderful project in Bangor. It is the name of a beautiful arts and education building that straddles the hill between the town and the university there. (Go see it one day if you can - it is an architectural and cultural delight!)
The Pontio Committee has continued to meet, although not so much over the last year due to the pandemic and attention on other more critical matters. But do watch for its activities again as we come out of lockdown.
The vision of the Committee is simply expressed: to create a place where everyone in the town talks about OUR university and everyone (staff & students) in the university talks about OUR town.
Bridges have always been so important to me: I love their form and their meaning. 'Building bridges' means so much. We all need to find ways to reach across divides and build pathways between the gaps in understanding and experience that exist. Indeed the symbol of my consultancy business is a bridge.
We are surrounded by some beautiful bridges. Here are some pics of them. Let's continue to build bridges!
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