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Pro-Chancellor Sir Robert Balchin made a Baron

Muscat: Al Ahlam Higher Education Services

Brunel University’s Pro-Chancellor, Sir Robert Balchin, is to be created a peer.

The announcement was made today [19 November] by the Prime Minister, David Cameron. The Prime Minister praised Sir Robert for his contribution to education.

Brunel University is delighted to offer its own congratulations to Sir Robert Balchin. Brunel’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Chris Jenks said of Sir Robert “He has worked tirelessly to improve education in this country and we are delighted that he continues to play such an active role in the progress and development of Brunel University.

"We at Brunel benefit from and mirror his determination to contribute for the good of society as a whole.”

Notes to editors

Sir Robert Balchin DL is Pro-Chancellor of Brunel University. He is the Knight Principal of the Imperial Society of Knights Bachelor (Chairman of the Knights' Council) and was knighted for services to education in January 1993.

He was Director General of St John Ambulance for five years in the 1980s and was the senior education policy adviser to the Government throughout the early '90s. He devised and ran the programme for autonomy in state schools and was Chairman of the Grant-Maintained School Foundation from 1989-98 and chaired the Commission on Special Needs in Education from 2006-2010.

He has been a teacher, lecturer and company director and is the Founder Chairman of The English Schools Orchestra and of the League of Mercy, a charity which encourages and recognises voluntary work in caring for the sick.

He is a Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London. His appointment as Knight Principal was approved by The Queen in 2006.

He was awarded the Order of St John in 1984 and has several honorary degrees and fellowships