I am
writing to inform you that, following many years of loyal service as Chairman
of Governors, Dr Richard Sturt O.B.E. is retiring from his post in the School. During
his Chairmanship, he has taken great pride in the way the School has grown and developed
and has enjoyed watching countless children benefit from all that the School offers.
Over the years, Dr Sturt has held the roles of School solicitor, Chairman of
the Executive Committee, Chairman of Governors and indeed, Northbourne parent
as three of his sons were educated at the School. He leaves us with our
grateful thanks for his devotion to the School and for his support of its unique
educational philosophies, which are in no small part a direct result of his vision
and principles.
He will, I am sure,
continue to be a regular visitor to the School in future years and we shall say
a formal farewell to him this summer at Speech Day.
Professor
Michael Wright C.B.E, D.L. has accepted the Governors’ invitation to become their
Chairman and I am delighted to announce that he has accepted the role. Michael
is the Vice-Chancellor of Canterbury Christ Church University and, from 1997,
was the Principal in its earlier position as a College and University College.
His academic discipline is Law. Before
Canterbury Christ Church, he taught Law and was an Academic Manager at
universities in Bristol, Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Besides
participation in many educational, religious and community organisations,
Professor Wright is a Deputy Lieutenant of Kent, member of the Council of
Church Colleges and Universities, Chairman of the Governing Body of Thanet
College, a Commissioner at the Duke of York’s Royal Military School, Vice-Chairman of the Canterbury Festival Board and the Public Services
Board. He is a Lay Canon of Canterbury Cathedral.
Beyond the
realm of education, he lists golf and singing in the local choir amongst his
interests. He is married with three grown up children and was awarded a CBE in
December 2009.
He will lead
the Governors ably through the next exciting developments as a School and I hope
that he enjoys this very special role in the governance of the School.
I hope that
you will all meet Professor Wright in due course, once he has had the chance to
get to know the staff.
