Plane frightening
Four vice-chancellors formed an air squadron at last week's Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals annual meeting in Shropshire, hiring a plane to fly from Halfpenny Green near Telford to Welshpool for lunch.
Piloted by Peter Knight of the University of Central England, the motley crew comprised Diana Green of Sheffield Hallam (who also holds a pilot's licence), Colin Bell of Bradford University and Roger Waterhouse of Derby.
At one hairy moment, flight
lieutenant Knight announced, moments before landing, that he had to lose some height and speed. "The plane stopped and dropped," said Bell, reported to be a distinct shade of green.
Howard Newby, CVCP president, said: "From the squadron's call sign - Charlie, Victor, Charlie, Papa - it is clear who Papa is, but you will have to work out who are the two Charlies."
Credit where it is due?
Who could be the lucky recipient of the Association of Colleges' new award for services to the college sector? Will it be an inspiring lecturer? Or a principal who has brought education opportunities to an inner city area? Er... no. Word says it is secretary of state for education David Blunkett. How convenient to hold the award ceremony at next week's Labour conference. And how convenient that Blunkett is responsible for future funding decisions on colleges.
Banana republic
Amid the calls for means-tested grants, further education bursaries and access to benefits that have been submitted to the Cubie inquiry on Scottish student finance over the past couple of weeks, one submission stands out - an email from "Nigel the Electronic Baboon". He believes in an increased electric banana allowance; that students should not contribute to their tuition if it prevents them getting bananas; that free bananas would help ensure high-quality further and higher education; that a banana allowance would promote access to further and higher education; and that there should be consistency in banana quality and provision between Scotland and the rest of the UK. Asked if there are wider questions the committee should be examining, he suggests: why there are so few electronic baboons in education.