Thursday 16 June was a day to remember at the University of Salford, and the sun was shining brightly for the installation ceremony of our seventh Chancellor, Granada Reports presenter Lucy Meacock.
Colleagues, students, alumni, partners and dignitaries came together at Peel Hall to watch Lucy become our external face of the University at this special event. Master of Ceremonies, John McCarthy, Associate Chief Operating Officer guided the proceedings and introduced addresses from Vice-Chancellor Professor Helen Marshall, Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett, Chair of Council Lord Keith Bradley and Lucy Meacock herself.
Music in during the ceremony was courtesy of two of our talented student singer song-writers studying on the Popular Music and Recording course, Katie Cheung (voice and piano) and Lissy Nicholson (voice and guitar). Honey Bee Jazz, a collective of jazz musicians from around the world that met while studying music at Salford, also provided entertainment and atmosphere after the event in the marquee.
“Today is a celebration for me, a celebration of our new Chancellor,” said Vice-Chancellor Professor Helen Marshall during the ceremony. “It’s also a celebration of our past, present and future and in welcoming Lucy as head of the institution we know our future will only get brighter and bolder.”
Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett was in attendance and delivered an engaging speech, commenting: “Today is about welcoming Lucy, I really look forward to supporting your Chancellorship and getting to work in the interests of the people of Salford, Greater Manchester and the North.”
Lord Keith Bradley, Chair of Council at the University of Salford, added: “The Chancellor must embody the spirit, ethos and values of the University. They are our most senior representative, the head of the institution, they should be our boldest advocate and most critical friend. It takes a certain type of person to take on this challenge, but I know that in Lucy we have someone who can do all of this and so much more.”
Speaking of how she plans to shape her new role, Chancellor Lucy Meacock closed the event by saying: “Everybody that knows me, knows how much I care about this part of the world. I’d like our international students and students that move away to tell everybody what a great place Salford is.
“I’ve been very lucky in my career, and I want to make sure that others have the same opportunities that I had. I want to assure graduates that we will never forget them, that they will always be part of our great network of alumni which already stretches to many corners of the world.”
For all press office enquiries please email communications@salford.ac.uk.
Share: