Voices of Worcester - Worcester's Leaders

From the first Principal Mr Hines – in 1946, to today’s Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive David Green, only five people have led the University of Worcester on its long journey from emergency teacher training college to one of the country’s fastest growing universities. 

This small collection contains a handful of stories about those leaders, their character, and how their vision has helped to shape the Worcester that we know today. 

Leslie Broughton – 1940s – the first intake

Leslie Broughton was one of the very first students to arrive on campus when the City of Worcester Teacher Training College first opened in 1946. After leaving school, Leslie had trained as a mechanical engineer but when war broke out, he moved to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham with two jobs, working in the mortuary in the morning and as instrument curator in the afternoon. When the war ended, Leslie jumped at the opportunity to apply for teacher training in one of the new emergency colleges set up in response to the post war demand for qualified teachers. 

In this clip, Leslie gives us a flavour of the College’s humble beginnings and informal atmosphere, when even the Principle, MR Hines, could be mistaken for a gardener.  

Brenda Sheridan – 1961-87 – Peirson, Shadbolt, and change  

Brenda Sheridan was a lecturer at Worcester from 1961 to 1987. 

In this clip Brenda talks about her memories of Ned Peirson, his retirement in 1977, and the arrival of his successor, David Shadbolt. Brenda remembers the 1980s as a time of insecurity, with questions over the future of Worcester as a College of Higher Education. By 1987 and having been elected to the City Council, Brenda decided to take early retirement in search of new challenges. 

Sian Hobday – 1989 – Shadbolt and independence 

Sian Hobday has had a central role in the administration team at Worcester for over 30 years. She is one of a handful of staff to have worked with the College/University’s last three leaders; Principals David Shadbolt and Dorma Urwin, and Vice Chancellor David Green. 

In this clip Sian talks about her memories of what it was like to work at Worcester in a time before the internet, as well as the huge changes that were brought about when the college secured independence from the council in 1989, and David Shadbolt’s efforts to secure the college’s future during this time.  

Sian Hobday – 1992-2002 – The Dorma Urwin years 

In this extract, Sian discusses Worcester’s continued development under Dorma Urwin’s leadership, the beginnings of the City Campus project, and the legacy of Dorma’s time at the helm.  

John Yelland – 2000s – Dorma, David, and University title

A successful accountant, John Yelland’s association with Worcester spans three decades. In 1999,he was asked by the then Principal, Dorma Urwin to become Chair of Governors. 

In this clip, John discusses Dorma’s legacy, the ‘wow’ factor of David Green, and the day a small college in Worcester became the University of Worcester. 

Sian Hobday – 2002 – David Green: impact and ambition  

In this clip, Sian discusses the transition from Dorma Urwin to David Green. She remembers her first impressions of the Vice Chancellor, and her excitement at the ambitious plans he discussed with her. Sian also discusses how David helped her to develop her own career.