News & Views item - October 2011 |
David Sainsbury Elected Chancellor of Cambridge University.
(October 17, 2011)
Over
the week-end 5,888 members of the University of Cambridge Senate elected the
former UK Minister for Science for eight years under the recently deposed Labour
Government, former chair of the supermarket chain and a Cambridge graduate who
has donated millions of pounds towards a science research centre for the
university, Lord Sainsbury as Chancellor of the University. Until earlier this
year the Duke of Edinburgh had held the position for 34 years until he stood
down on turning 90.
While the role of chancellor is largely but not wholly honorary, it can have significant influence on such matters as attracting donations to the university.
The final tally:
David Sainsbury - 2,993 - 50.8%
Brian Blessed - 1,389 - 23.6%
Michael Mansfield - 964 - 16.4%
Abdul Arain - 312 - 5.3%
Others/informal - 230 - 3.9%