1960
Allen Lane donates collection
Sir Allen Lane, the Bristol-born founder of Penguin Books, donates his library of signed Penguin books to the University. Today the University houses the entire Penguin Archive, which consists of 2,300 boxes of letters, notes and other papers spanning the history of the company from its establishment in 1935 to the present day
Students protest against means testing
Students take to the streets in support of the Anderson report, which called for higher student grants.
Hall life
For students, life in hall was the centre of social life and communal living.
See how hall life has changed: 1949, 1959, 1962, 1994 and 1998.
Student RAG week
Students come out in force (and in costume) to raise money for charity during RAG week. Still going strong, 'Raising and Giving' (RAG) is the charity fundraising arm of the University of Bristol Union and the largest and oldest society in the Union.
For more RAG week photos, visit 1941, 1957 and 2001.
Building boom
Major construction work is undertaken to provide new buildings for the School of Chemistry (left in the picture) and the School of Medical Sciences (right in the picture). In the centre is the Queen's Building, now home to the Faculty of Engineering and the Bristol Laboratory for Advanced Dynamics Engineering (BLADE).
Wills Hall expands
Officially opened in 1929 by Winston Churchill, Wills Hall is one of the oldest student residences at the University. It was expanded in the early 1960s to accommodate the growing number of students and today houses some 340 students.
See how hall life has changed: 1949, 1959, 1961, 1994 and 1998.
Wills Memorial Building reopens
On 6 December, the Wills Memorial Building, which had been extensively damaged during an air raid in 1940, reopens after major restoration work costing £140,000. Two of the craftsmen who worked on the restoration, A. Williams and E. Myatt, also worked as carpenters on the original construction of the Hall. An ode for chorus, orchestra and organ was commissioned and performed during the re-opening ceremony. The work, entitled 'Break to be Built, O Stone', was written by Ursula Vaughan Williams, second wife of Ralph Vaughan Williams, with music by Anthony Milner.
Dorothy Hodgkin wins the Nobel Prize for Chemistry
Professor Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin, future Chancellor of the University and Fellow of the Royal Society, wins the Nobel Prize for Chemistry for 'her determinations by X-ray techniques of the structures of important biochemical substances'.
In her acceptance speech she said: '
I must admit that when I first saw the list of Nobel Laureates, sent to me for this occasion, and saw that it began with Roentgen and X-rays, and van't Hoff, whom I connect with "chemistry in space", I found myself suddenly thinking how very appropriate that I should be here today. But now ? of course ? my heart a little fails me, thinking also of all of the great names between us, and of all those on whom my work has depended, whose encouragement has brought me here today, on whose hands and on whose brains I have relied.'
Epstein-Barr virus discovered
Sir Anthony Epstein, Emeritus Professor of Pathology at the University, discovers the first virus proven to cause cancer. It is now commonly known as Epstein-Barr virus, after Epstein and Yvonne Barr who assisted him in the discovery.
New Students' Union building opens
The Students' Union outgrows its base in the Victoria Rooms and moves to a new premises on Queen's Road. Well-known presidents of the Union include Sue Lawley (1967) and George Odlum, the first black president (1958-59) of the Union. He is pictured here with the Queen and Marjorie Loud, the then president of the Union. A politician and newspaper owner from St Lucia, Odlum appeared in the first production of Harold Pinter's debut play, The Room.
Duke of Beaufort appointed Chancellor
Henry Somerset, the 10th Duke of Beaufort, becomes the fourth Chancellor of the University.
Past and future Chancellors include:
Henry Overton Wills III
Richard Burden Sanderson Haldane, 1st Viscount Haldane of Cloan
The Right Honourable Winston Churchill MP
Professor Dorothy Hodgkin
Sir Jeremy Morse
Right Honourable the Baroness Hale of Richmond
Professor J. E. Harris appointed Vice-Chancellor
Professor John Edward Harris, Professor of Zoology since 1944, becomes the fifth Vice-Chancellor of the University. A commemorative biennial lecture series on biological sciences is established in his memory in 1970 and continues today.
Past and future Vice-Chancellors include:
Professor Conwy Lloyd Morgan
Sir Isambard Owen
Professor E. F. Francis
Dr Thomas Loveday
Professor A. M. Tyndall
Philip Morris
Professor Arthur Roderick Collar
Professor Alexander Merrison
Professor Peter Haggett
Sir John Kingman
Professor Eric Thomas
Hans Albrecht Bethe wins the Nobel Prize for Physics
Hans Albrecht Bethe, a Research Fellow at the University in 1934, wins the Nobel Prize for Physics for his contributions to the theory of nuclear reactions, especially his discoveries concerning the energy production in stars.
In his acceptance speech, he said:
'For many decades this Prize has been regarded as the highest honour which can be awarded to a scientist. I feel quite humble comparing myself with many of my predecessors who have made great and fundamental discoveries. You have given me the Prize I believe for a lifetime of quiet work in physics rather than for any spectacular single contribution. I am very proud and very happy with this distinction.'
Students at leisure
Students taking a welcome break from lectures outside the Wills Memorial Building.
Have a look at students in other decades:
1914, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1987 and 1996.
The year of discontent
In solidarity with their fellow students in Paris, Bristol students call for a 'Free University' that will offer higher education for all, regardless of age, religion, sex, academic achievement or financial background. Events escalate and lead to a sit-in at the Student's Union and an 11-day occupation of Senate House. National education correspondents flock to Bristol and, according to John Grigg, writing later in the Guardian, 'the eyes of the nation were upon Bristol University.'
Professor A. R. Collar appointed Acting Vice-Chancellor
Professor Arthur Roderick Collar, Professor of Aeronautical Engineering, is appointed Acting Vice-Chancellor following the sudden death of Professor Harris.
Past and future Vice-Chancellors include:
Professor Conwy Lloyd Morgan
Sir Isambard Owen
Professor E. F. Francis
Dr Thomas Loveday
Professor A. M. Tyndall
Philip Morris
Professor John Edward Harris
Professor Alexander Merrison
Professor Peter Haggett
Sir John Kingman
Professor Eric Thomas
Professor Merrison appointed sixth Vice-Chancellor
Professor (later Sir) Alexander W. Merrison becomes the sixth Vice-Chancellor of the University.
Past and future Vice-Chancellors include:
Professor Conwy Lloyd Morgan
Sir Isambard Owen
Professor E. F. Francis
Dr Thomas Loveday
Professor A. M. Tyndall
Philip Morris
Professor John Edward Harris,
Professor Arthur Roderick Collar,
Professor Peter Haggett
Sir John Kingman
Professor Eric Thomas
