founder of the University of Leicester.
Location: St Andrew’s Church, Lyddington, LE15 9LZ
Date and time: Wednesday 10 June, 9.30am to 11am
RSVP: email [email protected] to confirm your attendance.
Media invitation to event which will strengthen the historic ties between Rutland and the University of Leicester
Dear media colleagues
You are invited to an event taking place in the Rutland village of Lyddington, which will celebrate the links between the county and the University of Leicester.
Representatives from the University, local civic leadership and members of the Rutland community will come to together to commemorate former Lyddington resident Astley Clarke, who was one of the University of Leicester’s founding fathers.
Guests will include Dr Sarah Furness, Lord-Lieutenant of Rutland, Susannah Fish, High Sheriff of Rutland and Professor Sir Nishan Canagarajah, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leicester.
All three will be available for media interviews.
Post-event publicity
A press release, including photography of the event, will be sent to local and regional media following the event.
Rutland and University of Leicester’s links
Rutland has played an important role in the University’s history since its foundation. The institution originally opened in 1921 as Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland College, reflecting its deep regional roots and civic mission.
Astley Clarke himself had longstanding personal connections to Rutland. He was educated at Oakham School, later retired to his home in Lyddington, and served as High Sheriff of Rutland in 1942.
The event also builds on the University’s continuing relationship with Rutland communities. In 2022, during the University’s Centenary year, senior University representatives attended a special civic celebration in Oakham marking 100 years of partnership and shared history between Rutland and the University.
Next week’s event represents both a commemoration of the University’s origins and a reaffirmation of the enduring relationship between the University and Rutland.
About Astley Clarke
Dr Astley Vavasour Clarke (1870–1945) was one of the University of Leicester’s founding figures and one of Leicester’s most well-known physicians.
Born in Leicester and educated at Wyggeston School, Oakham School, Heidelberg, Bonn and later Caius College, Cambridge, he trained in medicine at Guy’s Hospital before returning to Leicester. He served as Honorary Physician to Leicester Royal Infirmary for 34 years and undertook pioneering work in the use of X-rays.
During the First World War, Clarke served with the Royal Army Medical Corps and became administrator of the 5th Northern General Hospital, which occupied the former Leicestershire and Rutland County Asylum site that would later become the home of University College Leicester.
Clarke had long held ambitions to establish a university institution in Leicester. As early as 1912, while serving as President of the Leicester Literary and Philosophical Society, he publicly argued that talented young people across the region lacked access to higher education opportunities locally.
Following the First World War, he became one of the leading advocates for the creation of a living memorial in the form of a university college. He made the first donation to the appeal fund on 11 November 1918 and subsequently led the fundraising campaign that helped establish University College Leicester.
He later served as Vice Chairman of the College Council from 1921 to 1939 and Chairman thereafter until his death, as well as serving as a Vice President of the College.
Beyond the University, Clarke was also a City Councillor, Justice of the Peace, Deputy Lieutenant of Leicestershire and served as High Sheriff of Rutland in 1942.
His legacy remains visible across the University today, including through the Astley Clarke Building, opened in 1956, and through archival material held within the University’s Archives and Special Collections.
The views expressed in this media release are solely those of the sender and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cision.
