MEDIA RELEASE
22 February 2012 – for immediate release
New Chancellor and Pro-Chancellor for the University of Gloucestershire
Baroness Rennie Fritchie DBE has been announced as the new Chancellor of the University of
Gloucestershire. Sir Henry Elwes has been announced as the new Pro-Chancellor, in addition to the
Bishop of Gloucester who is the University’s current Pro-Chancellor.
The Chancellor is the honorary Head of the University and Baroness Fritchie will act as an ambassador and
friend, representing the University at high-profile events such as the annual graduation ceremonies. The
Pro-Chancellor is also an honorary role, supporting the Chancellor in carrying out her responsibilities.
University Vice-Chancellor, Stephen Marston said: “I am delighted that Rennie Fritchie has been willing to
accept appointment as our new Chancellor. Rennie has had a remarkable career, achieving distinction in
several different fields, including business, the health service, charities, and the wider public service. She
is a widely admired resident of Gloucestershire, as well as an active member of the House of Lords. Her
achievements and her contribution to public life will be an inspiration to students and staff at the University.
We will also greatly value her support as the holder of the University’s most senior office, as a source of
wise counsel, and as an ambassador for our work.
“I am also very grateful to Sir Henry Elwes for agreeing to accept appointment as Pro-Chancellor, alongside
Bishop Michael Perham. Henry has given long and distinguished service to Gloucestershire in many roles,
including as Lord Lieutenant. He is one of Gloucestershire’s best known public figures. He has been a
great supporter of the University over many years, and we are very grateful to him for his willingness to
assist us further in the role of Pro-Chancellor.”
Baroness Fritchie said: “It is both a privilege and a pleasure to join the University of Gloucestershire as
Chancellor. I have been involved with the University and its predecessor organisations for some years and
have seen it grow into the excellent University it has become. I am proud to have been invited to take on
this role and will serve with dedication, integrity and loving interest.”
The Bishop of Gloucester, The Right Reverend Michael Perham, and former Lord Lieutenant of
Gloucestershire, Sir Henry Elwes have been confirmed as Baroness Fritchie’s deputy Pro-Chancellors.
Sir Henry said: “I congratulate Baroness Rennie Fritchie on her appointment as Chancellor of our University
and look forward to supporting her in this important role.
“I have been closely involved in the establishment of an institute of higher education for the county since
the 1970s. At that time I represented the County Education Committee in negotiations with the Church
Colleges in trying to bring all degree education together into one college. I worked more recently with Dame
Janet Trotter in pushing forward to the University status finally gained in 2001.
“It will be a huge honour to be able to continue working to promote the University of Gloucestershire in an
ambassadorial role.”
Bishop Michael Perham added: “I value enormously my role in the University of Gloucestershire, both as
Pro-Chancellor and Council Member and am delighted to be continuing in both roles.
“I am also delighted at the appointment of Baroness Fritchie as our Chancellor. Chancellor, ProChancellors and Vice-Chancellor – it is a good team!”
President of the Students’ Union Chris Rogers said: “I think it is fantastic that Baroness Rennie Fritchie has
agreed to join this University as our Chancellor. We are a university in the midst of change and someone
with her wealth of experience and knowledge will be a tremendous asset.”
The formal installation of the Chancellor and the Pro-Chancellors will take place later this year.
ENDS________________________________________________________________________________
Notes for Editors
Baroness Rennie Fritchie
Educated at Ribston Hall Grammar School for Girls in Gloucester, Baroness Fritchie has had a long career
specialising in training and development. Now described as a ‘portfolio’ worker, Baroness Fritchie has held
a wide variety of public and private appointments.
In the 1970s, she was one of the first full-time women's training advisers and pioneered the training of staff
in the then new Equal Opportunities Commission. Using a German Marshall Fellowship awarded in 1985,
she drew lessons from the United States of America for the United Kingdom for programmes to improve the
status of women. She has published extensively on these topics and has contributed on them to
programmes on television and radio.
She became Commissioner for Public Appointments in 1999. This appointment was renewed in 2002 and
2005. She became Chair of Nominet in 2010 (an IT company offering internet registry for .uk domain
names).
Baroness Fritchie has held various roles in the health service, including chair of Gloucester Health
Authority, chair of the South Western Regional Health Authority, and is currently Chair of 2gether NHS
Mental Health Foundation Trust.
She has held a number of positions outside Government. She has held an honorary Professorship in
Creative Leadership at York University and was Pro-Chancellor at Southampton University as well as a
former Vice-Chair of the Stroud and Swindon Building Society. In 2008, Baroness Fritchie chaired a yearlong working group undertaking a Review of Higher Education Finance and Pay Data for the Joint
Negotiation Committee for Higher Education Staff.
Her charity work includes being President of the Chronic Pain Policy Coalition, Patron of Pied Piper Appeal,
and Ambassador for Winston's Wish a grief support charity for children. She has also supported the British
Lung Foundation, and served as President of Women in Banking and Finance.
Baroness Fritchie has been awarded honorary degrees from the Universities of Southampton, York, Oxford
Brookes, St Andrews, The Open University, Hull University and Queen’s University, Belfast. Baroness
Fritchie is also a Fellow of the University of Gloucestershire, City & Guilds, London and the Chartered
Institute for Public Finance.
She has served as Chair of the Independent Appointment Board for the Royal Institution of Chartered
Surveyors and is a member of the British & Irish Ombudsman Association.
Baroness Fritchie became a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1996. In 2005 she was
made a life peer as Baroness Fritchie. She sits as a crossbencher in the House of Lords and serves on
several committees in the House.
Sir Henry Elwes
Sir Henry Elwes served as Lord Lieutenant for the County of Gloucestershire from 1992 – 2010.
In his earlier career, he served for three years as a Lieutenant in the Scots Guards, before enrolling at the
Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester. Since 1956, when he inherited his family's estate of Colesbourne
Park, he has dedicated his time to managing all aspects of the estate and is a Director of Colesbourne
Estate Company and associated companies.
Interested in farming and forestry, Henry Elwes has worked to preserve and develop the Arboretum at
Colesbourne Park. The Arboretum, which was planted by his great-grandfather, is known for the extensive
snowdrop collection (totalling some 250 varieties and cultivars of snowdrop) and was opened to the public
for the first time in 1997.
In 1959 Henry Elwes was elected to the former Cirencester Rural District Council, and in 1970 to
Gloucestershire County Council, of which he was elected first Vice-Chairman, then Chairman. He has
chaired many council committees and working parties, serving as a county councillor for thirty-two years. In
1979 and 1980 Henry Elwes served as High Sheriff of Gloucestershire and in 1992, he was elected an
Honorary Alderman of Gloucestershire.
Henry Elwes has served on the National Joint Council for Fire Brigades and the Association of County
Councils. He has served as a Regional Director of Lloyds Bank plc; a member of the Lord Chancellor's
Judicial Appointments Board; and, as Chairman of the Advisory Committee for Gloucestershire.
He has a long association with many Gloucestershire bodies as a Patron, Trustee, Governor, Friend, or
Member, including Gloucestershire Community Foundation; Western Woodland Owners Ltd;
Gloucestershire Arthritis Trust; Crickley Hill Archaeological Trust; Barnwood House Trust; Prince's Trust
(Gloucestershire); Gloucestershire Rural Community Council; Kingshill Comprehensive School; Cirencester
College; Royal British Legion Branch; University of Gloucestershire; Country Landowners Association;
Royal Forestry Society, (Gloucestershire Branch); Gloucestershire Historic Churches Trust; Cheltenham &
North Cotswold Eye Therapy Trust; Prince's Youth Business Trust (Gloucestershire); Outward Bound
Association; Gloucestershire Association for the Blind; and The Scout Association. He has served as
President of the Three Counties Agricultural Society and is currently President of the Royal Bath and West
Agricultural Society. He has been a churchwarden since 1967 and, since 2001, an Honorary Lay Canon of
Gloucester Cathedral.
Sir Henry received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Gloucestershire in 2002, an Honorary
Doctor of Laws from the University of the West of England in 2006 and a Fellowship of the Royal
Agricultural College.
The Right Reverend Michael Perham, Bishop of Gloucester
Michael Perham is the Bishop of Gloucester, a post to which he was appointed in 2004. His diocese covers
all of Gloucestershire and a number of parishes beyond. Ordained in the Church of England in 1976, he
has served a variety of posts, latterly as Dean of Derby. Nationally he has served until recently as
Chairman of SPCK (The Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge) and is one of the Panel of
Chairs of the General Synod and is former Chairman of its Business Committee. He is Chair of the
Governors of Ripon College Cuddesdon. He is a liturgical scholar and has written a number of books on
worship, liturgy and spirituality. He is a member of the House of Lords. He also serves as a member of the
University Council.
He is married to Alison, a palliative care specialist, and they have four daughters.
For further information please contact:
Rachel Jones, Media Officer
Telephone 01242 714516
Email: rjones@glos.ac.uk