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Vice-Chancellor's portrait unveiled during Farewell Dinner
Artist Colin Davidson and the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Peter Gregson
A portrait of the Vice-Chancellor has been unveiled at a Farewell Dinner to celebrate the contribution he has made during his nine years at Queen’s.
Family, friends and colleagues attended the event in the Whitla Hall during which tributes were paid to the Vice-Chancellor, his wife Rachael and his family by the Chancellor, His Excellency Kamalesh Sharma, Chair of Senate and Pro-Chancellor Sir David Fell and the Registrar and Chief Operating Officer, James O’Kane. A video message was also played from former Chancellor Senator George Mitchell.
Paying tribute to Professor Sir Peter Gregson, Sir David said: “Under the leadership of Peter Gregson, Queen’s has enjoyed one of the most successful periods in its history. And that, quite simply, sums up the extraordinary achievement of this man.
“He brought to the role of Vice-Chancellor real qualities of leadership and vision. But those are not enough on their own. You need to have the ability to execute, to convert vision into action, and he has done that too.”
The Vice-Chancellor said: “It has been my great privilege and pleasure to lead this University and these talented people through what I hope will turn out to be one of the most important chapters in this University’s history.
“I look back on the past nine years and see a continuity of achievement. I have been on a journey that was begun so powerfully by George Bain and I have been privileged to take it that extra mile.
“I will miss all of you as colleagues, as professionals and as academics of distinction. But I leave you my respect and my thanks for everything you have helped us to achieve.”
The Vice-Chancellor will leave Queen’s at the end of July to take up the post of Chief Executive and Vice-Chancellor of Cranfield University. Professor James McElnay, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Postgraduates, will be acting President and Vice-Chancellor, with effect from 1 August 2013.
