BU prepares to install new Chancellor
BU will install Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers as its next Chancellor during its annual Award Ceremony on Thursday, 5 November, 2009.
Lord Phillips succeeds Lady Dione Digby and becomes the fourth Chancellor in the University's history. Baroness Caroline Cox of Queensbury (1992-2001) was the University's first Chancellor, followed by Lord John Taylor of Warwick (2001-2006) and Lady Digby (2006-2009).
Lord Phillips has enjoyed a distinguished legal career at the very highest levels of his profession. He is the UK's most senior Law Lord.
A former Master of the Rolls, Lord Phillips was the first Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales to serve as head of the English judiciary when that function was transferred from the Lord Chancellor in April 2006.
Alan J Frost, Chairman of the Bournemouth University Board, welcomes the appointment of Lord Phillips:
Securing the appointment of Lord Phillips as Chancellor is a great honour for the University.
His deep Dorset roots complement BU very well and his personal and professional life speaks for itself. We know he will perform his new role with great distinction.
In October this year, he became the first President of the new Supreme Court of the UK.
Educated at Bryanston School in Dorset, Lord Phillips undertook his national service with the Royal Navy before reading Law at King's College, Cambridge. Lord Phillips was later called to the Bar and practised as a Barrister, specialising in maritime law.
BU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paul Curran, is looking forward to working closely with Lord Phillips:
We are delighted that Lord Phillips has accepted our invitation to become the fourth Chancellor of BU. As a major figure in British public life he will become a distinguished ambassador for the University and a leading advocate for the development of higher education in his beloved Dorset and beyond.
He eventually 'took silk' to become a Queen's Counsel and later sat as a High Court Judge on the Queen's Bench Division, and then a member of the Court of Appeal.
Professor Curran also paid a glowing tribute to Lady Digby:
Lady Digby' commitment to the success of BU has made her an excellent Chancellor. Her undeniable passion for the University and the region has proved invaluable to the advancement of BU and we hope that her long-standing association with us will continue for years to come.