Keele appoints James Timpson OBE as new Chancellor

Thank you very much. Being the fifth chancellor is truly amazing. Although it may sound like there haven't been many chancellors, a lot has happened during that time. It's a massive privilege for both my family and me to be associated with this wonderful institution, and I'm eagerly anticipating getting involved.

First, allow me to share a bit about myself. I'm married to Roisin; we met at Durham University, where I studied geography, and she studied anthropology. Interestingly, we met in the library, not that we were there very often, but that's where it happened. We have three children: Bede, our eldest, who is 24 and has completed university; Patrick, who is 21 and currently attending Oxford Brooks; and Niamh, our 19-year-old daughter who is studying at Durham. We live near Chester, and I've been running the family business for the past 20 years, so that occupies a significant portion of my time. I also serve as a trustee for Tate and am heavily involved in various prison-related activities through the Prison Reform Trust. Therefore, this opportunity aligns perfectly with my current circumstances, and I'm genuinely excited to dive in.

I live just 45 minutes away from Keele, making it easy for me to drop by, attend various functions, meet everyone, and immerse myself in university life. I'm thrilled about getting to know people and becoming part of the Keele community.

There are numerous aspects that attracted me to take on the role of Chancellor, and I'll share a few of them. I appreciate that it's not a conventional role, and I don't consider myself a conventional person, nor is my business conventional. This non-conventional aspect is precisely what I find appealing because it fosters innovation, confidence in doing things differently, and ultimately leads to a more interesting life and interactions with diverse people.

Additionally, I have a deep connection to the Northwest, having been brought up in this region. The culture of the organization and its outward-looking approach, along with its willingness to embrace bravery, greatly resonate with me. These are qualities I hold in high regard.