Today wasn’t your average day in the office. Aerial acrobats swung from the rafters, the harmonic melodies of a barbershop quartet wafted through a sunlit courtyard, and fully grown adults paraded about in a spectrum of hooded gowns. And the star of the show? Gabby Logan, one of Britain’s best-known sports broadcasters who donned the most regal gown of all to accept a scroll upon an altar.
It sounds like the makings of a rather offbeat musical theatre production, but in fact this was a very special day in the office at Leeds Trinity University, where I work as Communications Officer. Following our award of full University status in December (which I wrote about for the Culture Vulture here), yesterday we celebrated the installation of our first Chancellor, sports broadcaster Gabby Logan. The ceremony was a truly British affair, with all the pomp and fanfare you’d expect from universities steeped in centuries of history, like Oxford or Cambridge. Professors and Doctors processed, cloaked in their academic dress; formal speeches were given and Gabby Logan was officially ‘installed’ through the exchange of grand and solemn vows. There was even an ACTUAL fanfare. That’s right, a FANFARE.
So why is this relevant to Culture Vulture readers? Why the big deal? And why is it interesting that Gabby Logan has been crowned Chancellor of a University?
I felt compelled to write this post not out of obligation, but because the occasion genuinely moved me, and made me very proud to work for Leeds Trinity University. It was so special because we’re not steeped in centuries of academic history like Oxford or Cambridge, but in our relatively short history of 47 years we’ve achieved a hell of a lot. Yes, academic traditions such as fancy gowns and fanfares might be antiquated, OTT and in some circles of opinion, unnecessary, but the Installation of our first Chancellor was our chance to embrace this pomp and ceremony, and celebrate our rightful place amongst the UK’s academic elite.
A Chancellor for the students
Do you remember who your Chancellor was when you were at University? Do you even know what a Chancellor is? I’ll be honest, I didn’t, nor did I know who any of the senior bods at my Uni were for that matter. I only learnt what a University Chancellor was when I first found out that Gabby Logan was to become our first Chancellor, and I’ll be honest, I was a bit puzzled. She’s beautiful, well-known and highly successful in her career as a TV presenter, but a University Chancellor? An odd choice, no?
(Photo credit: Simon Dewhurst)
Or so I thought. As time’s gone by, I’ve been inspired by the vision and rationale for appointing Gabby as our first Chancellor, and now I couldn’t imagine anyone better for the job. A Chancellor effectively acts as a University’s ambassador and role model, and Gabby does this in spades. A Leeds lass who’s worked very hard to get to where she is today, she’s been specifically chosen so that in her role as Chancellor, she does resonate with students.
In just six months she’s already proved to be a huge inspiration to students, investing her time to ensure they benefit from her advice and knowledge of the media industry. She delivered a media master class to media and journalism students during her first visit to campus, invited a select group to watch her in action at her day job, and yesterday she gave our journalism students access to one of her first interviews as Chancellor.
(Photo credit: Trinity Vision)
Campus was buzzing with excited students, who took to twitter along with our alumni to declare their excitement about Gabby’s appointment as Chancellor:
@NJM_90
Superb day @LeedsTrinity and @Gabby_Logan ‘s ceremony, an honor and a pleasure to be there. Couldnt ask for anyone better! #LTChancellor
@markdolby
Congrats to @LeedsTrinity on the installation of their first #LTchancellor @Gabby_Logan I enjoyed my time there as student & SU Sabb
@PhilippaB
Proud of #LeedsTrinity today! An amazing day for the Uni that gave me a great 3 years and some amazing friends!
@LizzySutherst
Students speak of their experience at Gabby’s new appointment #ltchancellor http://audioboo.fm/boos/1435245-great-day-for-students …
A celebration of Yorkshire heritage
Leeds Trinity may be a relatively young university, but it’s proud of its place within the heritage of Yorkshire and rightly so! I’m a very proud honorary Yorkshire lass myself, so it was fantastic to be part of a Chancellor Installation Ceremony that was essentially one big nod to ‘God’s own County’! From the eclectic entertainment to the canapés and ale served, everything was locally sourced and Yorkshire was woven through every detail. In true Yorkshire style, it was pretty damn tasty, too!
The epitome of this celebration of Yorkshire was Gabby’s gown, which was commissioned to celebrate the textile heritage of the region. I’ve been so involved in the communications around the gown that I could tell you the details in my sleep before it was even finished but even so, I was bowled over when I saw the finished product as she processed into the ceremony.
A real Leeds-affair, the gown drew on over 200 years of Yorkshire’s textile history and heritage: imperial Silk from James Hare (established in 1865), fine wool Barathea from Hainsworth mill (established in 1783), produced at Armley Mills Mills (established in the 18th Century) and cut and finished at Samuel Brothers (established in 1830). Leeds Trinity wasn’t even a twinkle in the eyes of its founders (or maybe even their grandparents, for that matter!) when these companies were established, so the commission of this gown was an inspired move for a university that’s ambitious about its role in Yorkshire’s heritage, and future.
Supporting graduate talent
The gown was undoubtedly a Yorkshire celebration, but it wasn’t just for show. Not only did its commission support the Leeds and Yorkshire textile industry, but it also gave an unrivalled opportunity for one young Leeds-based graduate designer, Kate Duckworth, who was chosen to design and create the gown.
(Photo Credit: Simon Dewhurst)
Just 23 years old, she’s not a graduate from Leeds Trinity University (we don’t even offer textile-related degrees) and so aside from the value of a nice story, there was no real vested interest for Leeds Trinity in commissioning Kate to design the gown. And this is what I loved. By taking a chance on such a young designer, Leeds Trinity demonstrated an admirable commitment in nurturing emerging talents, like Kate, against the widely reported bleak backdrop for today’s talented graduates.
And talents like Kate need to be supported! Working under the immense pressure of delivering the centrepiece of the University’s biggest ever occasion, the skills she has displayed in designing and constructing a flawless bespoke academic gown should not be understated.
I don’t even know Kate, but I was excited for her and her future career when we announced her commission, and I’m very proud to work for a University that fosters this level of belief in emerging talents like Kate.
When you work in communications, you’re tasked with the job of making people believe in your ‘product’, and if you don’t believe in it yourself, words can be reduced to meaningless marketing babble. With Gabby as Chancellor and seeing first-hand how she’s already inspiring our students, it’s impossible not to believe in the message I’m communicating – and that makes my job a real pleasure.
Although Leeds has long been recognised as a fantastic city for higher education, Leeds Trinity is often the third wheel in such declarations and I hope this will change, and fast, so that people finally begin to think of Leeds as the city with not two, but THREE excellent universities. It’s a real privilege to be involved in spreading the Leeds Trinity gospel as far and wide as I can, and I can’t wait to see what our bright future will bring.