News / College attracts rock and real royalty
PRINCESS Anne will make her second visit to Shetland this summer when she officially opens the new Shetland College extension later this month.
The Princess Royal will be joined by a member of rock royalty, when former Ultravox lead singer and Live Aid co-founder Midge Ure delivers this year’s University of the Highlands and Islands annual lecture from Lerwick’s Mareel.
The princess, who is Chancellor of the UHI, will open the new £4.5 million college extension, which will include video conferencing suites, and internet café and a new library, on 16 September, just three months after opening the new Sumburgh lighthouse.
Afterwards she will be taken to Mareel to preside over the Shetland College graduation ceremony and UHI Foundation Day, when more than 50 people will graduate.
Ure will then take the stage to deliver the annual UHI lecture, when he will speak about education and the ability to create change.
Shetland College acting principal Irene Peterson said she was “pleased and proud” to be hosting the annual lecture and delighted to be welcoming such a well known musician.
UHI principal and vice chancellor Clive Mulholland added: “As an experienced musician, humanitarian and entrepreneur, I believe his lecture will give an inspiring insight into the transformative power of education.”
Ure himself said: “It’s an honour to be asked to deliver the 2014 University of the Highlands and Islands lecture, especially on the beautiful island of Shetland.
“I’ve enjoyed visiting in the past and I hope to see more of the island and its people this time around.”
The college extension was funded by Shetland Islands Council, the European Regional Development Fund and the Scottish Funding Council.
Shetland College board chairman Peter Campbell said the council’s investment showed its “strong commitment to high quality further and higher education in Shetland”.
He added: “The opening of the new extension by HRH The Princess Royal is a wonderful opportunity for Shetland College UHI to showcase its successes and future potential.” Free tickets for the lecture by Midge Ure can be booked through the Shetland Box Office.
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