News

A day to remember Sir Peter Ustinov at Durham Cathedral

(10 November 2004)

The special memorial service takes place today (Wednesday November 10th) at Durham Cathedral to celebrate the life of Sir Peter Ustinov in his role as Chancellor of the University of Durham.

Members of the Ustinov family, close friends and associates, University staff and students past and present, will be joined by civic leaders and representatives of many of the organisations closest to Sir Peter’s life and work.

The service is also open to the public. People are asked to be in their seats by 2.10 pm for the 2.30 pm service. Admission is from 1.00 pm, via the Galilee Chapel at the west end of the Cathedral. From 2.00 pm student members of the Cathedral Bell Ringers will ring a half muffled peal.

The event, featuring a mixture of prayer and reflection, readings as well as spoken and musical tributes, has been designed to reflect the personal qualities and values of Sir Peter who was the tenth Chancellor of Durham from 1992 until his death in March.

Music will be provided by the University of Durham Brass Band in Residence Reg Vardy (Ever Ready) Brass Band, the Cathedral organ, the Allegri String Quartet, with hymns and anthem from the Cathedral Choir, songs from the University Consort of Voices. At the end of the service there will be an especially composed “Fanfare for Peter”.

The Memorial Service will be introduced by the Dean of Durham, the Very Reverend Michael Sadgrove, and the Vice-Chancellor, Sir Kenneth Calman, who will lead the main tribute, with readings from the writings of Sir Peter by Shari Daya a research student at Ustinov College and a tribute from Professor Sue Scott, Principal of Ustinov College.

There will be an additional special video tribute screened featuring some of Sir Peter’s memorable speeches at degree ceremonies in the Cathedral.

Prayers will be read by representatives of the University staff, students, graduates and chaplaincy, and of the Cathedral with the Blessing given by the Bishop of Durham, the Right Reverend Tom Wright.

The Memorial Service will conclude with a reading from Peter Ustinov’s first success as a playwright, The Love of Four Colonels, by his eldest daughter actress Tamara Ustinov and her actor husband Malcolm Rennie.

A retiring collection will be taken for the work of UNICEF, a charity supported by Sir Peter as one of its Goodwill Ambassadors-at-large, and the University’s Student Opportunities Fund.

The family will be headed by Lady Helene Ustinov from her home in Switzerland. She will be joined by Sir Peter’s son Igor, a sculptor, who also lives in Switzerland, and his daughter Andrea, an artist and designer now living in Spain. Third daughter Pavla is unable to attend because of work commitments.

After the formal Memorial service family members will also be attending two other events being staged later in the evening at the University as part of a wider celebration of Sir Peter’s association with the University.

The Bede Film Society based at the college of St. Hild and St. Bede are holding a special film evening which takes places around a screening of Topkapi-one of the two films for which Peter Ustinov won an Oscar as Best Supporting Actor.

Tamara Ustinov and her husband will be attending and students will be joining in dressed up as their favourite film characters. Afterwards there will be a casino event and dancing to the University Big Band.

Music of a different kind is on the programme at a concert by the Allegri String Quartet in the Elvet Methodist Church at 7.30 pm. The concert was already programmed and is being dedicated to the memory of Sir Peter with music by Mozart, Janeck and Beethoven. Lady Ustinov and other family members will be accompanied by the Vice Chancellor Sir Kenneth Calman and Lady Calman.

ends

Notes to editors

1. In his 12 years as Chancellor of the University Sir Peter conferred degrees on more than 30,000 graduates. Since 2002 the ceremonies have been held in Durham Cathedral.
2. Ustinov College was the new name given last year to the former Graduate Society of the University, a collegiate body exclusively for postgraduate students. It has 1500 members and has the greatest international mix of students in the University.

Media enquiries to: Tom Fennelly, Public Relations Office, University of Durham, tel. 0191 334 6078 e-mail: t.p.fennelly@durham.ac.uk

Media arrangements at the Cathedral:
The Cathedral Chapter Office (contact: Anne Heywood, tel. 0191 375 1223) is handling detailed arrangements for media coverage inside the Cathedral.