The following articles are from various editions of 'Network', Courtesy of David Parsons.

Mick Harrison, Ray Mace and Ms. Omneya Kassabgy. From the April 1996 edition of Network. Courtesy of David Parsons.

Professor Vaughan Grylls, Head of the School of Art and Design, left the university in 1996 to take up the post of Director of the Kent Institute of Art and Design.

He joined the University in 1989 and moved to his new post to be able to spend more time with his London-based family.

From the April 1996 edition of Network. Courtesy of David Parsons.
Bob Clark, who joined the University in September 1978 was appointed Head of the School of Legal Studies in 1996.

From the April 1996 edition of Network. Courtesy of David Parsons.
Paul Jones from the Maintenance Department travelled to France in 1996 as part of the Wolverhampton Novus Badminton Team, who achieved an 11 to 5 win over the Vienne Ampuis team from Lyon.

From the September 1996 edition of Network. Courtesy of David Parsons.

Jenny Gilbert, Ken Norton from S.A.S. and Elaine Crosthwaite look on as Ray Binns from SCIT tries out a new tape-learning system. From the September 1996 edition of Network. Courtesy of David Parsons.
Ken Norton, a Principal Lecturer in Applied Sciences, sadly died on the 16th September, 2019.

The Unison team for 1996 - 1997. Left to right: Willie Wilson (Vice Chairman), Andrew Large (Treasurer), Val Auden (Assistant Branch Secretary), Ron Kenyon (Chairman), Lynne Cox (Branch Secretary), and Anne Osbourne (Equal Opportunities Officer). Other officers included Dorothy Brown (Membership Secretary), Ian Roddam (Health and Safety Officer), and Simeon Greene (Publicity Officer). From the September 1996 edition of Network. Courtesy of David Parsons.

On the 15th November, 1996, a dinner dance was held in the Jack Hayward Suite at the Molineux Football Ground to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the part time Bachelor of Laws (LLB) course. Many people were invited, including ex-students. The photograph shows the cake-cutting ceremony with the LLB course leader, Lynn Leighton-Johnstone on the left and Bob Clark and Chris Vallely. Courtesy of David Parsons.

In 1996, John Smith was awarded a commemorative medal by the University of Lodz in Poland for his assistance to the Polish university's Faculty of Biology and Earth Sciences under a TEMPUS European Academic Exchange Programme. Mick Harrison is seen here presenting the award to John. Courtesy of David Parsons.
Senior Management at the Beginning of 1997
Geoffrey Brooks, Clerk to the Board of Governors and Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration), retired. This led to a reorganisation of senior management.
Professor Mick Harrison, Vice Chancellor, Chairman of the Academic Board and Chairman of the Executive
John White, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Coordinator of support services (Finance, Personnel, Registry and Estates), Chairman of the Finance and Resources Committee, and Chairman of Wolverhampton Campus Management Committee.
Jon Baldwin, Secretary to the Academic Board and responsible for University Student Administration.
Professor Gerald Bennett, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Marketing and Development, Chairman of the Shropshire Campus Management Team, responsible for marketing and recruitment activities and customer/commercial services.
Dr. John Cooper, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Science-Based Operations, Advisor to the Executive on IT policy and resources, Chief Executive of the Science Park.
Lynn Copcutt, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Quality Management, Chair of Walsall Campus Management Team, Chair of the Quality Committee, responsible for the Deans of School, and National Health Service links.
Andrew Snowden, Director of Personnel, Coordinator of Wolverhampton Campus Facilities, Chairman of the Safety Policy Committee, Manager of the Personnel Services Department, oversight of health and safety matters.
Gary Sproston, Director of Finance, Chairman of the Management Information Systems Steering Group, responsible for the Management of Finance Department and Computer Centre.
Dr. Viv Wylie, Pro-Vice Chancellor Academic Planning, Chair of Dudley Campus Management Team, Chair of Academic and Planning Committee, Oversight of International Activities, responsible for learning centres and print services.
Tony Lee, Clerk to the Board of Governors, University Secretary, Adviser to the Board of Governors, Company Secretary for the Science Park
Deans of School: Andrew Brewerton, School of Art and Design; Professor Geoff Hurd, School of Humanities and Social Sciences; Professor Stephen Hagen, School of Languages and European Studies; Professor Keith Yeomans, Wolverhampton Business School; Bob Reeve, School of Computing and Information Technology, Dr. Ted Morgan, School of Applied Sciences; Dr. Musa Mihsein, School of Engineering and the Built Environment; Isobel Bartram, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Dr. Jim Logan, School of Health Sciences; and Jean Mckay, School of Education.

At the end of 1996 the Marjorie Crennell Prize for Science Education was awarded to two students, Angela Farnell and Breeda O'Donoghue, both seen on the right of the photo, alongside Llyn Copcutt, Jean McKay and Bob Preston. Courtesy of David Parsons.
In 1996, the Vice Chancellor John Horlock Association of Open University Graduates Award for Science was presented to Clive Roberts, lecturer in environmental sciences in the School of Applied Sciences.

Courtesy of David Parsons.

Gary Homer, on the right, is seen talking to BBC reporter John Yates and a cameraman at the Somerset House pub in Enville Street, Stourbridge. They were talking about the strange pint of beer on the wall in the background. Courtesy of David Parsons.
 
From the March/April 1997 edition of 'Network':

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mick Harrison, has announced his intention to retire on 31st August 1998. Professor Harrison, 55, joined the then Wolverhampton Polytechnic as Assistant Director in 1982. In 1985 he was appointed Director and under his leadership the Polytechnic grew to become a key player in the provision of higher education in the region.

In 1989 Mick Harrison presided over the incorporation of the Polytechnic which until then had been part of the Local Authority. In the early 1990s he steered the development of a multi-million pound campus at Telford, Shropshire, to add to the established campuses in Walsall, Dudley and Wolverhampton. In 1992 Mick Harrison oversaw the change of title to the University of Wolverhampton and his own title of Director changed to Vice-Chancellor.

Mick Harrison as been instrumental in the development of modular courses and to making higher education accessible to as wide a range of people as possible. The development of Wolverhampton Science Park was an example of Mick Harrison's vision to promote and strengthen links between academia and the business community and his drive to achieve the BS EN ISO9001 quality management standard for the University was a first in British Higher Education. The Vice-Chancellor also spearheaded the drive for the award of Investors in People in 1995.

Speaking of his retirement, Professor Harrison said: "After twelve years at the helm, I will be sorry to leave behind the comradeship of dedicated University staff, but I now feel the time has come for me to hand over to someone able to steer the University into the new Millennium.

"This will be a challenging time, particularly in the light of the inevitable changes within higher education which the Dearing Review will bring. I have every confidence however that my successor will be able to build on the fundamental principle of widening community access to the University of Wolverhampton and the services it can offer."

The University's Chairman of Governors and Pro-Chancellor, Mr Tony Smith, said: "With Mick's retirement, the University is losing a notable talent and in view of the very many achievements which the University has enjoyed under his leadership, Mick's successor will find it a hard act to follow."

It has also been reported to the Board of Governors that the Deputy Vice-Chancellor reaches the age of 60 years in 1998 and that Mr. John White had confirmed his intention to retire on 31st August 1998. The Board recognised the contribution the Deputy Vice-Chancellor has made to the success of the University, but acknowledged that until the appointment of a new Vice-Chancellor has been completed it would be inappropriate to recruit for any other senior posts.
 

Betty Clark, who had been working on the Polytechnic and University switchboard for 22 years, retired in 1997. She is seen here with the University's Telephone Reception / Controller Denise Eccleston at a farewell presentation in the board room. Courtesy of David Parsons.
The May 1997 edition includes a brief article about Jim Trace, who was a senior technician in the audio visual technology and photography section in the School of Art and Design. Sadly Jim died at the age of 62, after just a few years retirement.
 
From the May 1997 edition of 'Network':

Lynn Copcutt, until recently Pro-Vice Chancellor (Quality Management) has taken premature retirement for personal reasons.

"Lynn has managed a complex portfolio which has included direction of the Deans of School and management of the University's Quality framework as well as responsibilities for the Health Service liaison and Campus," says Vice-Chancellor Mick Harrison, himself to retire in August 1998.

"It has been decided not to fill the post of Pro-Vice Chancellor (Quality Management), for the time being, given that a new Vice-Chancellor may wish to restructure Executive portfolios. Given these unique circumstances, Lynn has agreed to continue to carry out some of her function for a year, in order to give breathing space until the new Vice-Chancellor determines a replacement strategy."

The interim arrangements, effective 1st September, will therefore be as follows:

Deans of School will report direct to Mick Harrison who will act as their appraiser, although with functional oversight of marketing, finance etc., remaining with other Executive members as currently. Jean McKay takes over, pro-tem, as Campus Executive Manager for Walsall Campus.

Lynn Copcutt will return, on a part-time basis, to manage the quality system, including the Department for Total Quality Management, and to continue as Chair of the University Quality Committee. Geoff Hurd will continue in his role as Deputy to Lynn in relation to quality matters.

"Lynn has been asked to keep her Pro-Vice Chancellor title for the duration of this appointment because of its value in external relations in particular," says Mick Harrison. "She will no longer be a member of Executive although she may advise Executive on quality issues as appropriate."

Although the new Vice-Chancellor will be appointed in October, it is unlikely that he/she will take up his/her duties until 1998. Nevertheless it is hoped that the new Vice-Chancellor will give early consideration to the shape and duties of his/her senior management team so that the new structure can be in place as soon as possible after the new Vice-Chancellor arrives.
 

A photograph from the May 1997 edition of 'Network' showing Mick Harrison and long-time friend of the University, Terry Venables. Courtesy of David Parsons.
On the 1st September, 1997 all of the University's libraries became known as learning centres.

Mary Heaney was Director of Learning Centres.

The photograph shows where it all began in the 1930s with the original library in the Wolverhampton and Staffordshire College of Technology which could seat around 18 people. It is now the Council Room.

Courtesy of David Parsons.

Mary Heaney (left), talks to Jenny Jones MP. during her visit to the University on the 21st October, 1997. They are seen in the learning centre on main site. Courtesy of David Parsons. 

The Second World Conference on Allied Health was held at the Shropshire Campus in Priorslee on the 20th July, 1997. Delegates came from many countries. Left to right: Dr. Judith T. Barr, Dr. Max Kamien, Head of the Department of Medicine, University of Western Australia; Professor Vincent Gallicchio, University of Kentucky, and Dr. Paul Kirk, Head of Biomedical Science at Wolverhampton. Courtesy of David Parsons.

In 1997 the Wolverhampton Soroptimists awarded prizes to two post graduate students. Left to right: Dr. Dave Necklen; Georgina Lacey; Anne Kavanagh who presented the prizes; Betty Ogwaro; and Dr. Ted Morgan. Courtesy of David Parsons.
Sadly Dave Necklen, who started at the Polytechnic on 1st September, 1970 and retired on the 30th June, 2008, had a relatively short retirement. He died in 2019. He was a canal enthusiast who had a narrow boat and did a lot of work for local canal societies and enthusiasts. He also took a large number of canal photographs.

Four Wolverhampton Dance Studies students were making a name for themselves as the 'Trainspotting Dance Company'. They performed at many railway stations across the country after receiving an Art for Everyone lottery grant. After a performance at Leeds they were asked to switch-on the city's Christmas lights. They are, left to right: Hannah Goodison, Alison Brown (seated), Kay Davies and Leanne Salisbury. Seen here in 1997. Courtesy of David Parsons.
Catering in an important function on all of the University's sites. The list opposite of the catering and assistant catering managers appeared in the November 1997 edition of 'Network'.

Courtesy of David Parsons.
The January 1998 edition of 'Network' includes an article about the presentation of 29 long service awards to existing and retired members of staff, one evening at the University. The awards were presented by Mr. Donald E. Poyner of the University's Board of Governors.

Recipients included: Professor Colin Appleby, Associate Dean, Corporate Enterprise Centre (Retired); Mrs Joan Baker, Computing Assistant, Computer Centre; Mr. Ian Blower, Senior Lecturer in Organisational Behaviour (Retired); Mrs Fiona Bowers, Principal Technician, Biosciences Division, School of Applied Sciences; Mr. Andrew Cameron, Lecturer in Sociology, School of Humanities and Social Sciences; Dr. Martin Connock, Senior Lecturer, Biosciences Division, SAS; Dr. John Cooper, Chief Executive, Wolverhampton Science Park; Dr. David Denham, Senior Lecturer in Sociology, SHASS; Miss Ann Edwards, Subject Librarian, Learning Centre; Dr. Francis Gomez, Principal Lecturer Schools Professional Studies, School of Education (Retired); Mrs Katharine Harper, Library Assistant, Learning Centre; Mr. Kenneth Lyford, Senior Lecturer in Economics, Wolverhampton Business School (Retired);

Senior Professor Neil Malcolm, Director of International Relations; Mr. David Miles, Lecturer in Biomedical Science, School of Health Sciences; Mr. Ronald Neild, Senior Lecturer in Spanish, School of Languages and European Studies; Mr. Robin Phillips, Associate Dean, SHASS; Mr. David Ratc1iffe, Senior Lecturer in Quantity Surveying, School of Engineering and the Built Environment (Retired); Mrs Janet Salmon, Registry Assistant, Walsall Registry; Mrs Margaret Spittle, Secretary, SE BE (Retired); Dr. Richard Ward, Senior Lecturer, Biosciences Division, SAS; Mr. Stuart Williams, Principal Lecturer in French, SLES (Retired); Mr. Leonard Yates, Senior Lecturer in Computer Aided Design, SE BE (Retired).

Receiving awards, but unable to attend the presentations ceremony were: Dr. Gillian Barrett, Senior Lecturer in Geography, SHASS; Mr. David Halfhide, Principal Lecturer in Economics, WBS (Retired); Dr. Trevor Hocking, Associate Dean, SAS; Mr. Steve Jeffs, Video Production, Broadnet; Dr. Graham Rees, Senior Lecturer in History of Science, SHASS; Dr. Stephen Reynolds, Principal Lecturer, Biosciences Division SAS; and Mrs Gwen Stephens, Secretary, School of Nursing and Midwifery.

Don Poyner presents Margaret Spittle, Personal Assistant to the Dean of the School of Engineering and the Built Environment with her award. Courtesy of David Parsons.
Professor Jean Gilkison, who became the University's new Dean of Research, at the end of 1997, following the retirement of Professor David Crow.

At about the same time, Mike Jackson became Professor of Data Engineering in the School of Computing and Information Technology.

Courtesy of David Parsons.

Dr. Mike Adams presents an award to Samantha Higgins, who was studying for a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Chemistry in SAS. She received the award because of her work in analytical chemistry. Courtesy of David Parsons.
In 1997, two members of SHS, Paul Murray and Paul Nelson, in collaboration with Dr. Kenneth Scott at New Cross Hospital NHS Trust, received a grant from West Midlands NHS Executive to support the work of the Oncology Research Group. The group also received grants from the Royal Society and the Wellcome Trust.

The Staff Purchasing Scheme was introduced at the beginning of 1998. It gave discounts to members of staff when purchasing items or services from many local shops or businesses. It was very popular.

On Wednesday 28th January, 1998 an agreement was signed between the University and Wolverhampton Chamber of Commerce, Training and Enterprise, to assist local economic regeneration. The agreement was signed at the Science Park by Mick Harrison and Roger Dowthwaite, Chief Executive of the Chamber. Courtesy of David Parsons.
At the beginning of 1998, Ruslan Mitkov became Professor of Computational Linguistics and Language Engineering in the School of Languages and European Studies.

Courtesy of David Parsons.
In 1998 the University won a Charter Mark Award.

Actor Richard Wilson, known for 'One Foot in the Grave' and 'Only When I Laugh', amongst many TV series, was also Rector of Glasgow University.

He is seen here congratulating Lynn Copcutt, who represented Wolverhampton  University at the event.

Courtesy of David Parsons.
In 1998, Professor Terry Goodison oversaw the development of a BA (Honours) in Applied Communication which aimed at giving a thorough grounding in multimedia for students looking for a career in marketing, publicity or business communications.

Terry was one of the pioneers of the use of multimedia at the University, using some of the early interactive video equipment, used with a BBC Micro, that was developed by University members of staff under the name IMR (Interactive Media Resources).

Courtesy of David Parsons.
In 1998 the Chaplaincy was joined by Father Eddie Clare. The senior Chaplain was Prebendary Geoffrey Wynne.

Courtesy of David Parsons.
Also in 1998, Dr. Bryony Conway became Dean of the Business School. Canadian born Bryony previously worked at Croydon College where she was Assistant Principal for Higher Education. Around the same time the Business School launched its Local Government Research Unit (LGRU) with a half day conference at the Shropshire Campus.

In 1998 the University launched a series of public lectures. The first was given by Professor David Jolly, who is seen on the right above, chatting to Professor Ilana Chrome, Dr. James Logan, and John White. Courtesy of David Parsons.

On the 25th March, 1998, the Attorney General, the Rt. Hon. John Morris, QC, MP talked to students at the School of Legal Studies on 'The role of law officers - where the roads from Whitehall, Westminster and the legal professions meet'. He was welcomed in the above photograph by Bob Clark and John White. Courtesy of David Parsons.
In 1998 Catherine Round, postgraduate research student in SAS won a prize at Warwick University for her poster entitled 'Zeolite Synthesis: Drought Mode'.

Courtesy of David Parsons.

Left to right: Pete Webb, Arena Theatre Stage Manager; Kevin O'Sullivan, Administrator; and James Stredder, Head of Theatre Studies, celebrate the start of the £2m refurbishment of the Arena Theatre in 1998.
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