Lord Watson of Richmond CBE, M.A., has been elected to the office of High Steward of the University of Cambridge.

The election is made by the senior members of the University. He will take up the office of High Steward on 1st January 2010, in succession to Dame Bridget Ogilvie, who has resigned with effect from 31 December.

The High Steward may be required from time to time to deputise for the Chancellor and participates with other University dignitaries in public ceremonies such as the annual Honorary Degree Congregation.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alison Richard said: "Lord Watson has served Cambridge admirably in many roles, for which I am most grateful, and I am delighted that he has been elected High Steward, a position to which he will bring his customary wisdom and flair."

Lord Watson said: “I have had a close involvement with Cambridge over many decades and I am very honoured to be elected to this post. Amongst other things I hope to be an effective Ambassador for Cambridge.”

At Cambridge, Alan Watson studied history at Jesus College where he is now an Honorary Fellow. Later he was a regular presenter with “The Money Programme” on BBC2 and “Panorama” on BBC1, and wrote and presented award-winning documentaries over many years. He is a Fellow and former Chairman of the Royal Television Society. From 1976 to 1980 he was responsible for Media at the European Commission.

A former President of the Liberal Party, he was appointed CBE in 1985 and created a Life Peer in 1999.

Lord Watson’s international role has been widely recognised. Following his chairmanship of the English Speaking Union, he was awarded the Churchill Medal. He also holds the Commander’s Grand Cross Romanian Order of Merit and the Knight’s Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany.

In business he is Chairman of CTN Communications, the multi-channel communications agency, and for over 10 years was European Chairman of Burson Marsteller. He is Chairman of the Advisory Board of Havas Media UK and advises a number of other UK and international companies on their communications strategies.

At Cambridge he is Chairman of the Cambridge Foundation, chairs the Cambridge University Chemistry Advisory Board, assists the Engineering Department, and is a Life Patron of The Churchill Archives held at Churchill College Cambridge.

His publications include “Europe at Risk”, “The Germans: who are they now?”, “Thatcher and Kohl: Old Rivalries Revisited” and “Jamestown: The Voyage of English”.

Lord Watson is married and has two sons.
 

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