News
Tuesday 11 November 2008
Sir Michael Parkinson installed as first Chancellor
Sir Michael Parkinson CBE, has been installed as Nottingham Trent University’s first Chancellor. In a historic ceremony attended by nearly 1,500 VIPs, colleagues, students, and guests, Sir Michael confirmed his commitment to the University, his enthusiasm and focus for the new role and also pledged to engage with many aspects of university life.
Sir Michael accepted the position of Chancellor from Vice-Chancellor, Professor Neil Gorman DL, at the hour long event. As the most senior public face of the University, Sir Michael’s role will include conferring degrees at award ceremonies and representing the University on other special occasions.
In addition to the Chancellor installation a number of honorary degrees were also presented to eminent figures at the event. These included:
- Baroness Hazel Byford of Rothley DBE: Honorary Degree of Doctor of Science
- Mr Kevin Cahill CBE: Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters
- Professor Ray Cowell CBE, DL: Honorary Degree of the University
- Ms Mariella Frostrup: Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters
- Mr Bill Kenwright CBE: Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters
- Mr Michael Vaughan OBE: Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters
Mr Cahill gave a response on behalf of all of the Honorary Graduates at the ceremony.
Sir Michael said: "2008 has certainly been a year to remember. It started with a knighthood and ends with my installation as Chancellor of Nottingham Trent University, both of which I am deeply honoured to have received.
"I am very much looking forward to starting this new chapter in my life and in being involved in an environment where nurturing talent and helping people realise their full potential is seen as a priority."
Professor Gorman said: "I can think of no-one better than Sir Michael Parkinson to fulfil this important role as the figurehead of our University.
"He is a distinguished broadcaster and journalist known for his integrity and charisma, and I know he will be a wonderful advocate for us and will provide genuine inspiration to our University community."
ENDS
Notes for editors:
Sir Michael Parkinson CBE
When Michael Parkinson was approached as a subject for the genealogy programme Who Do You Think You Are? he said they were welcome to try but that they would find nothing in his ancestry to intrigue them. “Ah,” they said, “That’s what they all say, but we always find something.” They soon dropped the project, telling him his background was the most boring of anyone they had researched.
Born in 1935 in Cudworth, he had a self-confessed idyllic childhood. His father was a miner and a stalwart of the village cricket team. His mother was an avid reader and cinema-goer whom he described as “the engine of my ambition.” After leaving Barnsley Grammar School with two O-levels, Michael began his apprenticeship as a journalist aged 16. Steered by a seasoned professional on the South Yorkshire Times, he rounded up the news from Cudworth and neighbouring villages, even writing football reports of games he played in.
Called up for National Service, he was an Army press officer during the Suez conflict and left with the rank of Captain. Back home he joined another local paper, the Barnsley Chronicle. He began to develop a feature-writing style, though many of his linguistic flourishes, literary and Hollywood references did not make it past the more prosaic sub-editor. He played cricket for Barnsley in the Yorkshire League, alongside Dickie Bird and Geoff Boycott, and had trials for the county. The three of them would sit on the pavilion balcony and wonder about the future. Two became international figures in the game but Michael, as he sums it up himself, became famous for being floored by an emu.
After a spell in Manchester on the Guardian, he went to London to the Daily Express, and wrote for a number of magazines. Later he would work for the Sunday Times, the Daily Telegraph and other titles, but first he returned to Manchester to launch his television career with Granada, on the regional magazine programme, Scene at 6.30. He went on to report for the BBC’s 24 Hours, and host Granada’s weekly Cinema programme interviewing actors and film-makers.
Launched in 1971 as a summer fill-in programme, his eponymous interview programme 'Parkinson' became essential viewing for millions on a Saturday night. By the time it finished he had interviewed more than 2,000 of the world’s most famous people and won most of the industry awards going. But he never forgot the day job and has continued as a print journalist winning numerous accolades, written books on sport and film, created and presented hugely popular and influential radio shows and even had cameo parts in a couple of films. His services to broadcasting were recognised by a knighthood in the 2008 New Year Honours.
He will celebrate his Golden Wedding anniversary with Mary next year and they have three sons and eight grandchildren.
Nottingham Trent University is delighted to be part of the next chapter in his life as he becomes its new Chancellor.
List of Honorary Graduates: * Denotes those present at the installation ceremony
Baroness Hazel Byford of Rothley DBE *
Champion of farming and rural communities
Baroness Hazel Byford, until last year the Shadow Minister in the House of Lords for Food and Rural Affairs, has dedicated her career to supporting farming, rural communities and wildlife conservation. An agricultural college alumna and former poultry farmer, she retained her links with farming throughout her rise to political eminence and has won widespread respect for her insights into the crucial issues facing the rural economy today. Created a Life Peer in 1996, Lady Byford is a leading light in organisations such as the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers, the Farming and Countryside Education Strategy Group, the Rural Stress Network, the Village Retail Services Association, the National Farm Attractions Network and the Women’s Food and Farming Union. She is also an honorary associate member of the British Veterinary Association and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. At a time when our society has become increasingly urbanised, Lady Byford has been a powerful force in improving education about the countryside, underlined by her association with our University’s School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences.
Kevin Cahill CBE *
The persuasive and creative force behind Comic Relief and Sport Relief
It takes exceptional skill to engage star names and inspire activities by millions of people to raise more than £500 million – so far – to combat poverty, disadvantage and injustice at home and around the world. Kevin Cahill, Chief Executive Officer of Comic Relief, has that talent. He leads the organisation’s activities that include Red Nose Day, Sport Relief, the fundraising and distribution of donations. He secures famous participants, encourages the creative input, and oversees the gathering of material to show where support is needed. Kevin joined Comic Relief as Director of Education and Information in 1990, gradually took on wider responsibilities and was appointed CEO in 1996. His working roots – not surprisingly – are in education. He taught English as a foreign language, and lectured in drama and film, and at the National Theatre set up the UK’s first theatre-based education programme. His vital ‘backstage’ role in charity fundraising is being widely recognised – a CBE last year and a nomination as one of the Daily Telegraph people of the year – and is celebrated today by Nottingham Trent University.
Jeremy Clarkson
Acclaimed writer and broadcaster
The appeal of Jeremy Clarkson, according to one fellow journalist, is based on his lack of charm. Born in Doncaster, he has established a reputation as one of the world’s best and favourite pundits on motoring for his direct, bold, no-nonsense approach to the subject. He is the ‘Joe Public’ driver and consumer. He also shows a sense of escapism, joy and fun that chimes exactly with most of his audience which, in the case of the Top Gear programme, is the highest on BBC2, watched in 100 countries. The show won an International Emmy in 2005 and National Television Awards in 2006 and 2007. Jeremy has also written widely in newspapers and motoring magazines since the 1980s, and presented other television programmes, including his own chat show. The words ‘Clarkson’ and ‘controversy’ have appeared together in various contexts, but his resilience and professionalism see him through. He is admired among journalists and broadcasters for his skill in making a very tough job seem effortless, and having the great gift of appealing across boundaries.
Billy Connolly CBE
Unique comedy performer
The appeal of Billy Connolly is widely put down to his unparalleled, improbable and indefinable charm. In the words of Michael Parkinson: “Little old ladies come to his shows, sit through a torrent of f-words and end up wanting to adopt him.” Glasgow-born Billy had a difficult childhood, abandoned by his mother and abused by his father. He worked as a welder in the shipyards and joined the Territorial Army. Inspired by musicians he saw on television, Billy bought a banjo and was becoming well-known on the folk and comedy circuits when Parkinson unveiled him to the wider world on his chat show in 1975. He quickly became an international performer, showing that he could also act in stage and screen roles, memorably in the film Mrs Brown, as John Brown to Dame Judi Dench’s Queen Victoria, a role that earned him a BAFTA nomination. He is married to the psychologist Pamela Stephenson, whom he met on the BBC’s Not the Nine O’Clock News, and who wrote a candid and illuminating biography of him.
Professor Ray Cowell CBE DL *
Inspirational leader in academia and the arts
During his 16 years as Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ray Cowell steered Nottingham Trent University through an era of dramatic change. Thanks to his vision and determination, the University gained a reputation for innovation, entrepreneurship and quality. He oversaw the institution’s crucial transition to University status as well as a substantial rise in student numbers, a growing research profile and excellent rankings for teaching standards. He combined his distinguished academic leadership with a strong commitment to the local community, reflected in his role as Deputy Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire. Having retired from the University in 2003, he received a CBE a year later for services to higher education. An English literature specialist, he was Chairman of East Midlands Arts for six years and has remained a passionate supporter of the arts scene. He is on the Board of Opera North, chairs sinfonia ViVA and is a Trustee of the new Nottingham Contemporary gallery. Throughout his higher education career, Professor Cowell presided over the award of many honorary degrees. Today the University is delighted to return the compliment.
Dame Judi Dench OBE
Supremely gifted and versatile actor
In Britain the Arts are unique in producing men and women who gain the status of ‘national treasure’. Dame Judi Dench is definitely among them. More formally, she is currently the only actress who is a Companion of Honour. Sally Bowles in Cabaret, Lady Macbeth, Queens Elizabeth and Victoria, Lady Bracknell, James Bond’s boss M, the ageing novelist Iris Murdoch, she has filled an extraordinary range of roles in the theatre, films and television, spanning five decades. All her work demonstrates tremendous but subtle emotional power, from bleak tragedy to light comedy. Her down-to-earth professionalism is renowned, but she also wins hearts with her sense of fun and has been known to play pranks on fellow performers. In the 1960s Sir Peter Hall invited the young Judi Dench to be among the founding company of the Royal Shakespeare Company and she helped to inaugurate the new Nottingham Playhouse, under director John Neville. She has won an Oscar and nine BAFTA awards. In 2002 she became a Freeman of her native city of York.
Mariella Frostrup *
Prolific journalist and broadcaster
Celebrated arts journalist and critic, Mariella Frostrup has written on many topics for publications such as Harpers and Queen, the Sunday Times and New Statesman. For several years she has been dispensing good advice through the Observer’s problem page. She is a versatile presenter on radio and television, with a friendly, intelligent style. Mariella was born in Norway but moved with her parents to Ireland as a young child. Her father was a journalist. Her early working life, in the 1980s, was in public relations in the music industry, alongside bands such UB40, Soft Cell and Bananarama. She began her broadcasting career in current affairs with Channel 4’s Big World and later appeared on other channels and branched into radio. Programmes are as diverse as Going for a Song (antiques), a Sky series on cinema, her own Channel 5 chat show and the BBC Radio 2 arts show, The Green Room. Her BBC Radio 4 Open Book showcases new fiction and non-fiction and she has served on judging panels for Booker, Orange and other publishing awards.
Bill Kenwright CBE *
Champion of live theatre
Bill Kenwright Ltd is the most prolific theatre production company in the world. One of its shows, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, entered the Guinness Book of Records as the longest-running touring stage musical. Another runaway success, Blood Brothers, is in its 21st year in London’s West End and the 2006 revival of Cabaret is very much alive and kicking. Bill became a producer after a brief acting career (notably as Gordon Clegg of the corner shop in Coronation Street 1968-69). He has turned out an astonishingly vibrant succession of productions of modern and classic plays, as well as musicals, in London and regional theatres, boosting audiences throughout the UK. The film Die Mommie Die, one of several Bill has co-produced, won a Sundance Film Festival award. He has received a CBE for his services to film and theatre and the Variety Club Bernard Delfont award for contributions to the entertainment industry. Pursuing a different kind of drama, Liverpool-born Bill joined the board of Everton football club in the 1980s and became chairman in 2004.
Michael Vaughan OBE *
England’s most successful Test cricket captain
When Michael Vaughan, the world’s best batsman (2002-03), resigned as England captain this year, he had won 26 of the 51 Tests in his reign. His leadership topped the record of Peter May 50 years ago. England secured the historic 2005 Ashes victory over Australia, beat the West Indies away for the first time since 1968 and won all seven home Tests against New Zealand and the West Indies in 2004. Michael is widely admired for the mature, intelligent way he operates on and off the field at a time when sport is haunted by glitz and sleaze. Lancashire-born, he moved aged nine with his family to Sheffield and was recruited by Yorkshire from schoolboy cricket after the club had dropped its venerable born-in-the-county rule. He is an elegant opening batsman, and scored a tidy 1,066 runs in his first full first-class season. After a short break, he aims to concentrate on his batting for Yorkshire, and maybe earn a re-call as an England player. His commitment underlines his reputation as one of cricket’s great ambassadors.
Press enquiries please contact Dave Rogers, Senior Press Officer, on telephone +44 (0)115 848 8782, or via email dave.rogers@ntu.ac.uk or Therese Easom, Press and Media Relations Manager, on telephone +44 (0)115 848 8774, or via email therese.easom@ntu.ac.uk.
