News

University congratulates graduates on New Year Honours

(5 January 2005)

The University of Durham is sending warm congratulations to a number of graduates and others who earned a distinction in the New Year Honours List for their individual achievements or records of public service.

They include an OBE for Mrs Anne Galbraith, Vice-chairwoman of the Council of the University; CBE for banker Mr Chris Lendrum who chairs a key group in the University’s fund-raising operations; and an MBE for Mr Colin Beswick, retired headteacher and a former Mayor of Durham.

The List also names three new knights with Durham connections. One is physics graduate Sir Peter Ogden, founder of the Ogden Trust that funds projects for widening opportunities in education. The entrepreneur and philanthropist also helped to fund an extension of the Physics Department in the University - the Ogden Centre for Fundamental Physics which was opened by the Prime Minister in 2002. Another is chemistry graduate Sir Michael Tomlinson, former chief inspector of schools who last year conducted the inquiry into 14-19 age group exams and recommended reforms of the A-level system.

The third, and best known perhaps, is Sir Matthew Pinsent, the Olympic gold-medallist oarsman who received an honorary Doctorate from the University in 2001. It was conferred by the University’s late Chancellor, Sir Peter Ustinov, at a ceremony in Stockton. And the fourth is Sir John Lawton FRS, Chief Executive of the Natural Environment Research Council, who gained a Zoology degree at Durham.

Vice-Chancellor Sir Kenneth Calman said: “On behalf of the University I am sending them our warmest congratulations. The honours, which are very well deserved, reflect aspects of work, service, achievement and inspiration that enrich many other lives. The University is fortunate to be linked with such people and we are proud of what they do.”

The OBE for Mrs Anne Galbraith, who has chaired the national Prescription Pricing Authority since 2001, is for service to the North East community. She is Vice-chairwoman of the Council of Durham University, the University’s main governing body and also chairs the governing council of one its constituent colleges, the College of St Hild & St Bede. Mrs Galbraith, who lives in Northumberland, lectured in Law at Northumbria University and chaired the Royal Victoria Infirmary & Associated Hospitals NHS Trust until 1997 and has long-standing involvement with the Citizens’ Advice Bureaux and local charities.

Chris Lendrum, former vice-chairman of Barclays plc, graduated from St Cuthbert’s Society at Durham with a first class degree in Economic History and Economics in 1968. He gains the CBE for services to banking. As a Durham graduate, he has maintained links with his university in many ways, funding an undergraduate bursary specially aimed at North East students, and since 2003 chairing the Campaign Executive Committee that provides key support and advice on the University’s development fund-raising.

The MBE for Mr Colin Beswick reflects a wide range of public service. As a graduate of the former Bede College, he moved on to a teaching career and retired as headteacher of Witton Gilbert Primary School. For 40 years to 1992 he was a member of Durham City Council and served a year as Mayor. He was a founder-member of the University-City Liaison Group and in retirement he has taken up a new role as Durham City’s official Town Crier.

Dr Allan Klottrup, who was awarded an MBE for service to the community in Durham, is a retired teacher, Honorary Schoolmaster Fellow in the School of Education and a Fellow and former Senior Tutor of St Chad's College.

Mr David Swift, Deputy Chief Constable of Staffordshire Police, who headed the England Football Association operation to weed out hooligans from attending the 2004 European Football Championships in Portugal, receives the Queen's Police Medal. He attended Bede College and gained a degree in Natural Sciences.

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