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9 Feb 2006 16:43:42
England won the World Cup, Star Trek was premiered on American television and the first credit card was issued in Britain. It was 1966 - the same year that Roy Stares got a job at the University of Luton – then Luton College of Technology. Now, after 40 years, he is bidding a fond farewell to his colleagues at the University as its longest serving member of staff.
Roy, who grew up close to Dunstable Road in Luton, came to the Park Square campus on 2 January 1966 to lecture in Cost Accounting and Financial Management.
He said: “I started off as a Lecturing Assistant in Financial Management, a subject that I had studied at Luton a few years earlier. I still remember my first day - it felt very strange to be lecturing where I had been a student.”
Roy later developed an interest in computer technology and this helped him secure the role of Acting Head of Learning Resources in the late 70s, before becoming Head of Reprographics in 1997.
Though retiring as Head of Reprographics, Roy won’t be putting his feet up. He plans to work as Administrator of the University Print Managers’ Group and will be organising its annual conference. He also plans to give more of his time to the Bramingham Park Church, where he is Deacon and, he will be taking his wife Helen on a well-deserved holiday to Madeira.
Roy has served under five Vice Chancellors and has seen many changes at the University including the £8.2m Learning Resource Centre in 1997, and the introduction of outreach sites in both Bedfordshire and the surrounding counties.
He said: “I remember when I started there were fewer than 200 members of staff who were all based in one building. Now closer to a thousand employees work at the University! This is a measure of how much the University has grown over the years.”
Vice Chancellor, Professor Les Ebdon said: “To have worked for one employer for 40 years is amazing. Roy has held a variety of roles here, but whether he has been teaching or supporting our teaching, he has always upheld the highest standards in all his work.”
Roy leaves the University as it enters a new era, following the announcement that it will merge with De Montfort university’s Bedford campus.
Speaking about the merger he said: “The merger will be the biggest event to happen to the institution since it gained University status in 1993. I hope it will raise the profile of the University further, both nationally and internationally. It will become a University for the county and not just the town.”
Colleagues presented Roy with gifts including a painting of St Mary’s Church at a special reception held at the University last week.
Latest news» 2006» Feb» Roy Stares back on 40 years of Life at university
