Image: Sir Ralph Waller KBE with Beth Breeze OBE in the College's chapel during the conferral ceremony
Harris Manchester was delighted to host a recent ceremony to officially confer the title of Honorary Fellow on Sir Ralph Waller KBE, the College’s former Principal.
The ceremony, which was led by current Principal, Beth Breeze OBE, took place on Saturday 18 April in the Chapel. Also in attendance were members of the College’s Board of Regents, many of whom were appointed during Sir Ralph’s tenure at the College.
The ceremony also featured an address by Canon Dr Charlotte Bannister-Parker in which she praised Sir Ralph’s unique contribution to the development of Harris Manchester College, and to education more widely. She also paid tribute to Sir Ralph’s wife, Carol.
Sir Ralph was Principal of Harris Manchester from 1988 to 2018 and a Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford from 2010 to 2018. He is currently the Director of the Farmington Head Teachers and Military Institute, which offers scholarships to headteachers, runs forums for head teachers, and scholarship for senior members of the Armed Forces in moral and ethical leadership. He is also an Honorary Fellow of Homerton College, Cambridge and is the MacWilliams Fellow in Divinity at the University of Wales, Trinity St. David, as well as Chair and trustee of several other charities.
He said: "I feel very grateful to the Principal and Fellows for this honour. I have always been proud of Harris Manchester College and greatly value my association with the College. I will do what I can to support the Principal, the Fellows, the staff and the students of the College."
