Professor Sir Kenneth Calman, former Chief Medical Officer, will be installed as the new Chancellor of the University of Glasgow at the annual Commemoration Day ceremony on 21 June 2006.

The Chancellor is the ceremonial head of the University, and one of its most prominent ambassadors. Amongst his statutory duties is the conferment of degrees. The Chancellor is elected by the General Council, of which he is President, and holds office for life.

Formerly Dean of Postgraduate Medicine and a Visiting Professor at Glasgow University, Professor Sir Kenneth Calman's experience of higher education led to his current appointment as Vice-Chancellor and Warden of the University of Durham. Professor Sir Kenneth Calman was formerly Chief Medical Officer at the Scottish Office Home and Health Department, and Chief Medical Officer at the Department of Health in London.

Professor Sir Kenneth Calman said of his new position: "I am delighted and honoured to have been elected Chancellor of the University of Glasgow, my alma mater. The University of Glasgow is of international significance. It has an enormous heritage, and I shall do all I can to uphold the traditions and values of scholarship and learning and to contribute to raising its profile nationally and internationally."

Welcoming the appointment, Principal, Sir Muir Russell said: 'I'm delighted to welcome Professor Sir Kenneth Calman as the new Chancellor of the University of Glasgow. Sir Kenneth will be an excellent ambassador for the University and will build on our reputation as one of the UK's leading universities with international prominence for its research and teaching'.

The first Chancellor of Glasgow University, in 1451, was Bishop William Turnbull. Recent Chancellors have included the scientist Lord Kelvin who was elected in 1904; Nobel Peace Prize-winner John Boyd Orr, elected in 1946; and economist Sir Alexander Cairncross, elected in 1972. Sir William Fraser demitted office as Chancellor in January 2006 after ten years in office.

Kate Richardson (K.richardson@admin.gla.ac.uk)

Photographers are invited to attend the Commemoration Day ceremony where Professor Sir Kenneth Calman will be installed as the new Chancellor of the University of Glasgow. The Installation Ceremony will begin at 11.00am so photographers are asked to meet a University Media Relations Officer at the door to turret G in the University cloisters at 10.45am when they will be shown into the hall.

The conferment of honorary degrees will follow the Installation Ceremony and will begin at approximately 11.15am. The degrees will be conferred in the following order:

Sir Bernard Crick (DLitt)
Professor Christian Br?chot (DSc)
Professor Ian Halliday (DSc)
Professor David Onions (DVMS)
Lord Provost Elizabeth Cameron (DUniv)
Thomas Divers (DUniv)
Sir Thomas Blane Hunter (DUniv)
Donald Paul Kahn (DUniv)

Please let the University of Glasgow Media Relations Office know if you wish to attend the ceremony by phoning 0141 330 3535 or emailing K.richardson@admin.gla.ac.uk

About the General Council:
The General Council is a statutory body comprising the graduates of the University. The Council was set up by Act of Parliament to give voice to the views of the Graduates and Teaching Staff on the regulation and well-being of the University. The members of the Council elect the Chancellor of the University. They also elect five Assessors of the General Council to serve on the University Court, the governing body of the University. The Council is chaired by the Chancellor.

First published: 20 June 2006