John Tucknott and Harvey Rutt receive Vice-Chancellor's Award

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Bill Wakeham, presented special awards to John Tucknott and Harvey Rutt who have gone above and beyond their duties, displaying commitment and resilience following the challenging times after the Mountbatten fire.

John Tucknott, ORC Laboratory Manager, has made outstanding contributions since the Mountbatten fire last October, and has been involved in retrieving equipment, planning the temporary facilities, and working closely with the professional design team for the new Mountbatten Complex. He was nominated by Professor David Payne and Professor Joe Hammond.

Harvey Rutt's response to the Mountbatten fire was way beyond the call of duty. As Deputy Director of the ORC, he helped the University liaise with the emergency services and went into the building himself on several occasions to retrieve various pieces of equipment and personal items on behalf of others. He has since tirelessly worked to help staff and students through this crisis and is part of the Mountbatten Advisory Group (MAG) team, working to ensure that a new state-of-the-art building is delivered in as short a time as possible. He was nominated by Professor Wendy Hall (head of ECS) and Professor Joe Hammond

Professor Wakeham said: ‘We’re here today to pay tribute to the various ways that members of staff have contributed to the achievements of the University over the last year, and there have been some especially significant contributions. ‘The last year has been a difficult one for the University, not least because of the Mountbatten fire which saw a number of people rise magnificently to the challenges that posed. This year’s VC’s awards recognise that and much more.’

He presented all nine winners with a certificate in recognition of their achievement, together with a letter informing them of the financial value of their award, up to £3000.

Those recognised this year come from a wide cross-section of the University, from both Schools and Professional Services, and demonstrate the many ways that each individual can contribute to the ongoing achievements of the University.

The Vice-Chancellor’s Reception is a special event that recognises and rewards the achievements of a wide range of staff at the University over the past twelve months, in addition to those receiving the award.