Press Releases

Lord Carrington - "unwavering friend to students" - opens new University building

Release Date : 24 September 2007

Dignitaries and friends of the University of Reading gathered to watch Lord Carrington formally open the new student services building, named in his honour.

The formal opening took place on Friday (September 21), with more than 150 people, including former Vice Chancellors and Pro-Vice-Chancellors of the university, gathering to see him perform one of his last official duties before the new Chancellor, John Madejski, is installed in December.

Located between the Palmer Building and the Students' Union on the Whiteknights campus, the £6.5million building will draw together services for students including a new Helpdesk facility for all general student enquiries, as well as the Disability Office, Accommodation, Student Financial Support, Student Records, the Careers Advisory Service and Centre for Career Management Skills, the Study Advisors and some elements of the Counselling Service.

Professor Gordon Marshall, Vice Chancellor, told the gathering: "Peter has been a great Chancellor and this building honors him and all he has given to the University over the years. He has performed his official duties diligently and with great charm, but many of you may not know that he has also undertaken innumerable informal visits to the University and to university events in order to support this particular institution.

"He has always shown great faith in the younger members of our community – students and those setting out an academic career - at a time when it has been fashionable to criticize the youth of today.

"In my view this building is a marvelous addition to this central quadrangle and sits entirely sympathetically with the Palmer Building and the refurbished Student Union. Aesthetically it really has lifted this part of the campus, and I am told by those who have already moved in, it provides a great working environment."

Speeches were given by Lord Carrington, Professor Marshall and Sally Pearman, president of the Reading Students' Union who thanked Lord Carrington for being a "friend to students".

Sally said: "I'd like to say on behalf of all the students at Reading, Lord Carrington, you have been a loyal and unwavering friend to students and this glorious building perfectly illustrates how highly we think of you.

"I'd like to say a warm thank you to everyone that has worked on this project successfully creating a bold and student friendly space. The use of glass, copper and colour has produced a vibrant and attractive environment."

Lord Carrington gave an off-the-cuff speech, and remarked how proud he was to have been Chancellor of the University of Reading.

Ends

Lucy Ferguson

Media Relations Manager

0118 378 7388