The University is sad to report that our former Chancellor and long-term colleague and friend, John Roundell Palmer, The 4th Earl of Selborne GBE FRS DL, died recently at the age of 80.
Lord Selborne, and pictured at a graduation ceremony (front row, centre) in 1996
Lord Selborne served the University well as Chancellor from 1996-2006. Throughout his life and career, he dedicated much of his time to supporting the environment, taking a particular interest in ecology.
He also performed the honours in officially opening the University’s Chancellor’s Court Halls at Glen Eyre in Southampton and shook the hand of thousands of graduating students as part of his ceremonial duties.
Our Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mark E Smith, has extended the University’s condolences to Countess Selborne and family, praising Earl Selborne as someone who “took his role as Chancellor very seriously and graciously, playing an important role at the University of Southampton in a number of different ways. We are very grateful for the impact he had on our progress and achievements having benefitted from his many contributions, and I know there are staff here at Southampton who remember him with great fondness.”
The family is planning a memorial service to honour The Earl of Selborne, to be held later this year.
