News

Sir Peter Ustinov - Chancellor of the University of Durham: 1992–2004

(29 March 2004)

The University has learned with great sadness of the death of its Chancellor, Sir Peter Ustinov.

The world pays tribute to Sir Peter Ustinov:
On the BBC website:
- From public figures.
- And from Durham graduates and others.

Sir Peter, who was 82, was appointed as the University's official Head in 1992 and has been an inspiring and encouraging figure in the University family since then. His principal public role has been conferring degrees on nearly 30,000 graduates at ceremonies in Durham and Stockton, but he has also given invaluable support in the development of the University, meeting graduates and others, and encouraging the international character of the institution.

The Vice-Chancellor, Sir Kenneth Calman, said: “The University has lost an outstanding friend and ambassador. He will be remembered with great affection and appreciation for the wisdom and humour and the generosity of spirit that he gave to the University. He will be missed not only by the staff and students, but also by the huge family of graduates and their relations who enjoyed his unique contribution to our Degree ceremonies. Above all, he had great faith in young people and was confident that they would help to make the world a better place.”

A year ago the University renamed its Graduate Society, the college for postgraduate students, Ustinov College. Sir Peter said he felt a particular affinity with this college, whose members are drawn from the widest international background.

The University chose Peter Ustinov in 1992 as its official head because of his extraordinary qualities and achievements, not only as a writer, performer and director, but also as a compassionate man, a champion of international understanding and peace. He mixed equally with statesmen and refugees, with academics and artists, and with children of all continents. His life and work touched directly upon so many issues and values that we, as a university, address in our teaching and research. For example in literature and philosophy, international studies, the impact of science and politics on people and the environment. He has been a tireless advocate for “learning” – in its broadest sense. Sir Peter told graduates and their families at degree ceremonies that education ends with death – or slightly later, according to your beliefs.

When he was meeting members of our departments and colleges he often drew directly on his own experiences to relate to them. For example in the Institute for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, he spoke of his personal conversations with people like Yasser Arafat, King Hussain and Prime Minister Rabin. At Ushaw College – which is a Roman Catholic theological college affiliated to the University – he entranced them with accounts of his visit to the Vatican and its museums, on which he had just made a television series. He took part in a student theatre production as a voice on the radio, recording his part with the student producer during his summer visit for use in the following term. He was a keynote speaker at the History Society 2000 Conference, an annual event organised by students, and spoke of his hopes that in the new millennium people with varying cultures, backgrounds, political and religious allegiance could learn to live together with their differences. “Success,” he said, “depends on how much we are allowed to forget compared to how much we are incited to remember.”

Currently the Ustinov Foundation, set up by Sir Peter and his family, is developing an initiative, inspired by Sir Peter himself, for linking up academics, writers, politicians, other public figures and the media throughout Europe and further afield on the subject of Prejudice. He nominated candidates for honorary degrees at Durham and brought them into the wider family of the University. People like the former Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev, and president of the unified Germany, Roman Herzog; the actress/politician Glenda Jackson and film director Fred Zinnemann; and others not so much in the public eye but great workers for international co-operation like Leon Davičo, head of information for UNESCO.

Durham has been very fortunate to have a Chancellor held in such great affection by our graduates and their families. He met Durham alumni in different parts of the world – indeed he met a group of them in Hong Kong even before he had been formally installed – and he always acknowledge how supportive they are towards the University. He has written for our graduate magazine and attended functions involving donors and benefactors. Living in Switzerland and still working hard around the world meant that he was not able to spend as much time in Durham as he – and most definitely we –would have liked. But he paid us a great compliment. He often said that with his multi-national background, he did not regard any particular place as “home”, but he spoke at Degree congregations of “feeling at home” in Durham. He said that travelling from the airport to Durham he would pass the Angel of the North and feel that this was a beacon for the region, welcoming him “home”.

He was a marvellous figure to have as the formal head of the University. His most visible public role was presiding at our degree congregations. He attended as many of these as his many other commitments allowed and we estimate that in his years as Chancellor he must have shaken some 30,000 hands. His speeches were always a sheer delight for the graduates, their families and friends – and the staff. Gaining a degree may be a serious business but we don’t like our ceremonies to be solemn and self-important. Sir Peter brought us a mixture of wisdom, food for thought about serious issues in the world and a generous helping of humour. One of his key messages was the importance of respect between the generations. He told new graduates that he was very positive and optimistic about the future achievements of youth, and turning to the parents would observe that the younger people will make good the mistakes that the older ones leave behind.

Keith Seacroft - Head of Public Relations: 0191 334 6074