Lemn Sissay officially installed as University of Manchester chancellor
- Published
Lemn Sissay has written poetry and plays and is a regular contributor to Radio 4
The writer and poet Lemn Sissay is to be appointed as the chancellor of the University of Manchester later.
The 48-year-old, who was elected by a ballot of university staff and former students in June, will also receive an honorary doctorate.
He beat former politician Lord Peter Mandelson to the role.
The chancellor is the ceremonial head of the university and acts as an ambassador, promoting the university both at home and abroad.
'Trumpeting ideals'
Mr Sissay replaces former chancellor, property developer and founder of Manchester-based company Urban Splash, Tom Bloxham MBE, who held the post for seven years.
The writer, who has authored plays and books of poetry, is also an associate artist at London's Southbank Centre.
Mr Sissay said: "I could not be in a more inspiring place on Earth than the University of Manchester.
"I want to embody the spirit of the university as its chancellor and that means I'm not frightened of meeting people from all parts of the world and trumpeting our ideals."
Baroness Joan Bakewell, Professor Dame Athene Donald, Sir Nicholas Hytner and Dame Janet Smith will also receive honorary doctorates as part of the university's Foundation Day celebrations.
Factfile: Lemn Sissay
Born in 1967 in Wigan to Ethiopian parents and raised by foster parents as Norman Mark Greenwood
Took back his real name after leaving a Wigan children's home at the age of 18 and tracing his birth mother
Published his first book of poetry in 1988 at the age of 21
His public art poems are installed across Manchester and at the Olympic Park and Royal Festival Hall in London
His plays include the autobiographical monologue Something Dark and a stage adaptation of Benjamin Zephaniah's novel Refugee Boy
In 2010, he was awarded an MBE for services to literature
He wrote the official poem for the 2015 FA Cup
Source: Lemn Sissay blog and British Council
- Published22 June 2015
