Bath & North East Somerset Councillor John Bull was keen to see first-hand how the University has been developing into a major force in the local economy and to understand what we hope to do in the future.
He therefore visited the Claverton campus last week with his partner Gill Carter.
Gill’s father, Horace Brand, was a former Director of Education in the city and was instrumental in establishing the University of Bath following a chance meeting in the early 1960s.
Mr Brand met the principal of Bristol College of Science and Technology, Mr George Moore (later Dr Moore, who went on to become the first Vice-Chancellor) during the interval of a local school play. The College had been unsuccessfully looking to expand into new premises in Bristol and Mr Brand suggested the Claverton Down site on the edge of Bath as an ideal location. Within a couple of years the College had become a new university.
The University went on to present Mr Brand with an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters in 1971.
During his visit, Cllr Bull met with the University’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Glynis Breakwell before being given a tour of the campus by Professor Alan Day, the University’s Architect.
Professor Glynis Breakwell said: “It was a pleasure to meet Councillor Bull and discuss issues that affect both the University and local council – particularly the importance of our new campus Masterplan.
“It was also fascinating to discover that his partner Gill had such a strong link to the University’s history.”