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News Update
Brian May installed as Chancellor
17 April 2008Dr Brian May CBE, musician, songwriter and astronomer, was installed as the fourth Chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University on Monday 14 April.
The installation ceremony took place in Liverpool's St George's Hall in front of an audience of some 500 staff, students and alumni of the University as well as the Lord Lieutenant of Liverpool, mayors and other dignitaries. Two former LJMU Chancellors were also in attendance - Cherie Booth QC, who served as Chancellor between 1999 and 2006, and John Moores CBE, her predecessor, who served from 1994 to 1999.
The ceremony started with a colourful procession of staff, students and honorary members of the University and included some famous faces, such as LJMU Honorary Fellows Pete Postlewaite, Phil Redmond and Sir Patrick Moore.
Commenting on the appointment of the new Chancellor, Sir Patrick, who co-authored 'Bang! The Complete History of the Universe' with Dr May and Dr Chris Lintott, said: "I am delighted to see Brian take up the post. He is the right man for the University. Brian has so much to offer the world of music and science."
Describing Sir Patrick as both friend and mentor, Dr May said that he was the "the major inspiration" why he had returned to astrophysics and had played a key role in encouraging him to become Chancellor.
The new Chancellor said he was "proud" to take up the role and insisted people were "never too old" to start learning. "I proved that by completing my PhD, 30 years after I started it," he said. "As Chancellor, I hope that my personal experiences will act as an inspiration for others."
Dr May went on to thank the Vice Chancellor, Professor Michael Brown CBE and the University's Board of Governors, and in particular Chairman, Sir Malcolm Thornton, for their confidence in him and for believing that he was the "right man for the job".
"The ethos of this University is summed up in three simple words: Dream, Plan, Achieve. No one embodies this more perfectly than our new Chancellor, Dr Brian May," said Professor Brown. "While gaining global recognition as a musician, and supporter of the performing arts, he never lost sight of his dream, his passion for astronomy and science. There is no doubt that Brian May will be a real champion for LJMU and a tremendous role model for our students. We are delighted to welcome him as our new Chancellor today."
Dr May's involvement with the University began in 2007 when he was awarded an Honorary Fellowship in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the arts, but more significantly for encouraging the public understanding of science.
He studied Astrophysics at Imperial College, London and gained his BSc before progressing to a PhD. He put his academic career on hold to concentrate on his musical ambitions, founding the rock group Queen, which has since enjoyed world-wide success selling 400 million records and touring the world many times. In October 2007, he finally completed his PhD thesis and was awarded his doctorate.
Dr May has already established links with scientists in the University's internationally acclaimed Astrophysics Research Institute, whose world-class research, work with schoolchildren, and development of robotic telescopes earned them a Queen's Anniversary Prize in 2005. Fittingly, the University-owned Liverpool Telescope - one of the world's largest robotic telescopes, designed and built by LJMU experts - is located in the Canaries, the location of Dr May's original observations when a PhD student at Imperial. Professor Mike Bode, Director of LJMU's Astrophysics Research Institute said: "We are absolutely delighted that Dr May is the University's new Chancellor. We look forward to sharing some observational work with him in the future, and I think he will be amazed at how our capabilities have advanced over the years."
Click here to see the ceremony highlights video.
Click here to see a photo gallery of the ceremony.
Pictures (left to right)
Sir Patrick Moore, LJMU Honorary Fellow
Pete Postlethwaite, LJMU Honorary Fellow
Emeritus Chancellors, Cherie Booth QC and John Moores CBE pictured with Dr Brian May
