The University of Leicester bids farewell to its Chancellor Bruce Grocott this week, as he presides over his final degree congregation on Friday 26 January.
Lord Grocott has served for five years since he was installed as the Sixth Chancellor in January 2013. As well as presiding at fifty-five graduation ceremonies, Bruce Grocott has overseen the creation of the university’s Chancellor Distinguished Lecture Series, which has attracted many illustrious speakers to the University.
A former Politics and PGCE student at the University, Lord Grocott then served in local and national politics for over forty years. He met his wife Sally at the University of Leicester and received an honorary degree at the institution in 2011.
President and Vice-Chancellor at the University, Professor Paul Boyle will pay tribute to Lord Grocott at his final graduation ceremony on Friday 26 January before an audience of graduating students. Also honoured during this ceremony will be Patrick Harris, an outreach worker with the homeless charity The Bridge. Four other distinguished individuals will receive honorary degrees at the January ceremonies.
Professor Boyle said: “Bruce has given the University the full benefit of his experience during the last five years. I have found it invaluable to be able to consult someone who knows and cares for the University, but is not constantly in the thick of it. Like much of Bruce’s contribution to government, this may not always have been on public view.
“So on behalf of the whole of the University, I would like to thank Bruce for his tireless work and wish him the best for the future.”
The announcement of the University’s seventh Chancellor will be made later in the year.
