The Group

Last week a couple of friends asked me, almost as an aside if I had many friends in Leicester and if I would miss them when I moved. The answer is yes to both questions. I wanted to write something about the people who have been a massive part of my life.

I moved to Leicester in September 2002, to do a PhD in the Radio and Space Plasma Physics group at the University of Leicester. The group consists of about 30 people, who are a mixture of technicians (building, running and designing radar components), administrators, PhD students, research assosciates (PDRAs), lecturers and professors and unusually for a physics department the group is about 50% female.

Right from the start I was made to feel really welcome. Not just by the other students, but by everyone in the group. The first day ended with a trip to the pub and that set a precedent for the rest of my time there.

It's a bit like being in a big family. People work together and socialise. Sometimes spending almost too much time with one another. There's always someone willing to join in with a sporting activity, or a trip to the cinema, a pub, the shops or a restaurant. Always someone to talk to when you're feeling down or someone to offer tissues when you need to cry.

Group members are not only sociable but they're extremely supportive when it comes to work. Everyone is always willing to offer help, encouragment and advice if required.

All that means that I am very sad to be leaving Leicester. The nature of a research group is that staff and students come and go, but I can't help feeling a sense of loss at having left. I don't think there are many people currently there who I don't consider to be my friends and there are a lot of people who I hope will remain friends forever.

On Thursday night I was presented with a folder, which had print outs showing presents that had been ordered for me. The first is a sushi making lesson, from a Japanese chef in Glasgow (I am very excited about this. There's also some rosewood DPNs, the Dr Who series 2 box set and some John Lewis vouchers, along with lots of pictures from the last 4 years. I was also given a card and these three fantastic cakes, which Sarah and Suzie spent many hours making.

I just wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone there for my leaving presents and for the last 4 years. I wish we had more than one word for thank you because it doesn't really seem like enough. I'll miss you all loads.