1940
Wills Memorial Building bombed
On Sunday 24 November, Bristol suffers a major air raid. The Wills Memorial Building is hit by an incendiary bomb and the Great Hall and the organ are destroyed. The Tower, although damaged, remains intact. At the time of the bombing, the building houses the library of King's College, London, which, ironically, had been removed to Bristol for safety. Thousands of books are destroyed. For most of the 1940s and 1950s, the Great Hall is an empty shell, covered with a leaky corrugated-iron roof. The Hall reopens on 6 December 1963.
New site for Dental School
On 10 April, the Dental School and Hospital move to new premises in Maudlin Street.
Churchill confers degrees after night of fierce bombing
On 12 April, after one of the worst bombing raids during the 'Bristol Blitz', Churchill confers honorary degrees on the American Ambassador to Britain, John Gilbert Winant, and the Australian Prime Minister, Robert Gordon Menzies.
Speaking at the ceremony, the ambassador said:
'I will always think first of the patience, character and courage of the people of Bristol.'
Churchill added:
'The traditions which have come down to us throughout the centuries . . . will enable us most surely at this moment, this turning point in the history of the world, to bear our part. . . .'
Read more about Churchill in the following years: 1929, 1929 (N.B. two entries), 1945, 1949, 1951, 1953 and 1954.
Gearing up for RAG week
Students put the finishing touches to a RAG float. RAG, or 'Raising and Giving', is the charity fundraising arm of the University of Bristol Union and the largest and oldest of all the students' societies.
See more RAG photos in 1957, 1961 and 2001.
Scientist develops fruit-bottling techniques
A scientist at work in the fruit-bottling section of the University's Long Ashton Research Station.
Life in the lab
Students conduct a range of experiments in the lab.
See how our labs have developed: 1910, 1927, 1930, 1937, 1943, 1950, 1975, 1995 and 1999.
Squeaky clean
See other photos of cleaning staff in 1934 and 2000.
Find out how one cleaner left the University with an honorary degree.
Students at work
Engineering students at work.
See how our labs have developed: 1910, 1927, 1930, 1937, 1942, 1950, 1975, 1995 and 1999.
Students at play
Students take a break from their study with a game of football.
See women's events in 1921, Varsity rugby in 1972 and new sports facilities in 2002.
Acting Vice-Chancellor appointed
Professor A. M. Tyndall FRS, a former Bristol student, is appointed Acting Vice-Chancellor, following the retirement of Dr Loveday.
Past and future Vice-Chancellors include:
Professor Conwy Lloyd Morgan
Sir Isambard Owen
Professor E. F. Francis
Dr Thomas Loveday
Philip Morris
Professor John Edward Harris
Professor Arthur Roderick Collar
Professor Alexander Merrison
Professor Peter Haggett
Sir John Kingman
Professor Eric Thomas
Churchill addresses congregation
Winston Churchill, Chancellor of the University, addresses the degree congregation.
Read more about Churchill in the following years: 1929, 1929 (N.B. two entries), 1941, 1949, 1951, 1953 and 1954,
Ernest Bevin receives honorary degree
The Rt Hon Ernest Bevin, who served as Minister of Labour and National Service in Churchill's war-time coalition, then as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in the post-war Labour government, is awarded an honorary degree (D. Law).
First drama department in the country established
Bristol establishes a Department of Drama, the first such department in any university in the country and the first to introduce the practical and theoretical study of film and television.
Service men welcomed back
The resettlement of service men after the war is facilitated by grants and special entrance exams to the University.
Philip Morris appointed fourth Vice-Chancellor
Philip (later Sir Philip) Morris is appointed fourth Vice-Chancellor of the University.
He believed that universities should be 'the nursing mothers of the men, women, values and ideas that are needed to sustain a free and responsible society, guided by light and truth rather than by makeshifts and possessions.'
Past and future Vice-Chancellors include:
Professor Conwy Lloyd Morgan
Sir Isambard Owen
Professor E. F. Francis
Dr Thomas Loveday
Professor A. M. Tyndall
Professor John Edward Harris
Professor Arthur Roderick Collar
Professor Alexander Merrison
Professor Peter Haggett
Sir John Kingman
Professor Eric Thomas
Congregation time
A typical congregation ceremony in 1946.
And the band played on
A US army band visits the University.
The Physical Society
Members of the Physical Society assemble for a group photo.
School of Veterinary Science opens
The School of Veterinary Science in Park Row is inaugurated by the Minister of Agriculture. A year later, the School opens its doors to its first students.
Allen Lane receives honorary degree
Bristolian Allen Lane, the founder of Penguin Books, is awarded an honorary Master of Arts degree by the then Chancellor, Winston Churchill.
Engineering keeps its home
The Society of Merchant Venturers hands over responsibility for its Technical College to the City and County of Bristol, which agrees to continue housing the University's Faculty of Engineering until its new building becomes available.
Churchill at a degree ceremony
Churchill, Chancellor of the University, descends the main staircase in the Wills Memorial Building during a degree ceremony.
Read more about Churchill in the following years: 1929, 1929 (N.B. two entries), 1941, 1945, 1951, 1953 and 1954,
Alexander Fleming receives an honorary degree
Sir Alexander Fleming, famous for discovering penicillin, is awarded an honorary degree by the then Chancellor, Winston Churchill.
'Radio Wills' a stage production
Students perform a revue entitled 'Radio Wills'.
