Visit Archive

2010

January 2010

The Chancellor braved the frozen wastes of Durham to carry out his duties during Winter Congregation.   He was a guest of the St Cuthbert Society and joined speakers and delegates from the Water and Risk Workshop for an event at the Castle.

2009 

November 2009

The Chancellor took part in the Environment Week by launching the Zero Waste Campaign, visiting the Environment Fair and joining students and alumni from Trevelyan College on a litter pick.  He visited the Chemistry Department, the Vizualisation Lab in the e-Science Research Institute and met with Professor Liz Burd who demonstrated the multi-touch interactive desk or the smart desk , developed by researchers from the Technology Enhanced Learning Group.  Before attending Grey College's 50th Anniversary Feast he joined Professor Stuart Lane at the Institute of Hazard and Risk Research to launch the Christopher Moyes' Memorial Foundation.

Summer 2009

The Chancellor attended 14 congregation ceremonies and awarded degrees to over 3000 students. During the evenings he attended a variety of events including the Vice-Chancellor's Garden Party, the Fellows Dinner and the Honorary Graduates dinner.

March 2009

The Chancellor was made Freeman of the City of Durham by Durham City's Mayor, Grenville Holland.

He visited the School of Education and took part in a discussion with PGCE English students about how to make Shakespeare's plays interesting and relevant to teenagers.  He later joined academic staff to launch the book - "Thinking About Almost Everything" . The original idea for the book emerged from the Institute of Advanced Study and is a collection of essays by Durham University academics on major topics affecting the world today.

He visited Queen's campus where he met with staff from the Wolfson Research Institute; took a tour of Stephenson College and joined students and staff from across the campus, for a discussion on Shakespeare.

January 2009

The Chancellor made a brief visit to the city to carry out his congregation duties.  During a gap in his itinerary, he joined staff and students in the School of Engineering and Computing Sciences to launch their Radio Frequency Anechoic Chamber.

2008

October 2008

During this very brief visit, the Chancellor observed a group of students as they took part in a Student Listening programme with the Labour peer, Lord Tony Young. The event was organised on behalf of the Department of Innovations, Universities and Skills (DIUS). The Chancellor attended a dinner with major donors to the University, organised by the Development Office.

He took part in a photo shoot at Waterstone's book shop to support the launch of the Durham Literary Festival and was guest of honour at Finchale Training College's Prize Giving ceremony.

June 2008

The Chancellor visited Durham twice during June.  In early June he attended the DUCK awards; the Friends of Durham Cathedral Dinner; the Future Perfect Music and Arts Festival in aid of Oxfam, Butterwick Hospice and Sport in Action and also promoted the My Friend Oli Campaign.

Later in the month he returned to Durham and attended 14 congregation ceremonies.  During the evenings he joined guests at the Vice-Chancellor's Garden Party, the Honorary Graduates Dinner and the Doctoral Fellows Dinner.

March 2008

During this visit, the Chancellor joined students from SCA (Student Community Action) to go litter picking.  He attended a performance of Steven Sondheim's Assassins at the Assembly Rooms and a fashion show at Hatfield College.  He hosted Chill with Bill, an informal meet and greet with students and met with students and staff for an update on the My Friend Oli campaign.  He visited the Queen's Campus where he met with students, staff and the Mayor of Stockton and later attended a Cafe Scientifique event.

2007

• 4th July: Vice-Chancellor's Garden Party
• 22nd-29th June: Visit to Durham including
  • Honorary Graduation Ceremony
  • 175th Anniversary Service of Thanksgiving in Durham Cathedral
  • Installation of Professor Higgins as Vice-Chancellor
  • Summer Congregation (14 ceremonies)
  • TV interviews with ITV Tyne Tees, BBC North East, and One NorthEast
  • Filming for My Friend Oli campaign
  • Breakfast with College Principals
  • Dinner with graduating students of Collingwood College to mark the retirement of Professor Jane Taylor, Principal.
  • Archaeology Department's 50th Anniversary Dinner.
• 18th April 2007: Meeting with One North East (regional development agency)
• 13th March 2007: Meeting of University Chancellors, House of Commons, London
• 8th-10th March 2007: Visit to Durham and Stockton, including
  • Launch of  My Friend Oli campaign, including  interview on  BBC Radio Cleveland
  • Lunch at College of St Hild and St Bede, with JCR president
  • Tea with students living out of college
  • Opening of Family Society mural at Keenan House (Ustinov College)
  • Address to students at Queen's Campus in Waterside Dining Room
  • Opening of all female Shepherd Wing at St Mary's College
  • Visits to St Aidan's, Van Mildert, Trevelyan, Collingwood and Grey Colleges
  • Doctoral Fellow Dinner at St Chad's College
• 17th February 2007: 175 Anniversary event in Sydney
• 19th February 2007: 175 Anniversary event in Wellington
• 9th -12th January 2007: Visit to Durham for degree ceremonies

2006