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Broadcaster begins university chancellor role

George King,Suffolkand
Luke Deal,in Ipswich
News imageUniversity of Suffolk/Luke Pyett A head and shoulders image of Zeb Soanes. He is wearing a navy blazer over a shirt. He has an orange handkerchief in his jacket pocket. He is smiling into the camera.University of Suffolk/Luke Pyett
Zeb Soanes is hoping to put his own stamp on his new role as chancellor of the University of Suffolk

A well-known radio broadcaster said he was "really looking forward to getting stuck in" to his new role as a university chancellor.

Zeb Soanes is taking over the role at the University of Suffolk from Dr Helen Pankhurst CBE, who spent seven years at the helm.

The reins were officially handed over at the university's final graduation ceremony, in Ipswich, which took place earlier.

Speaking to the BBC, Soanes, who is also an actor and best-selling children's author, said the opportunity to represent the university was "a real thrill".

"I never say yes to something unless I can make a meaningful contribution, it is useless to the organisation otherwise," he said.

"It's a wonderful organisation and Suffolk is so deeply part of who I am, so if I have the opportunity to do some good I will be very happy."

News imageMartin Giles/BBC The University of Suffolk building. It is a large sloped building covered in windows and blue and white panels. Two people are walking past with others entering one of the doors. A large question mark sculpture is lying down on the right of the image. A blue sky with white clouds is overhead. Martin Giles/BBC
Soanes told the BBC he was proud to represent the University of Suffolk and the county

Soanes takes over from writer, academic and women's rights activist Dr Pankhurst, who her successor describes as an "incredibly hard act to follow".

"She has been wonderfully supportive to me and is very keen that I do my own thing and make the role my own," he explained.

"I want to make all these different parts of the university feel joined up and part of something bigger."

News imageUniversity of Suffolk/Luke Pyett A head and shoulders image of Dr Helen Pankhurst CBE. She is wearing a colourful scarf and sunglasses. She is smiling and a standing in front of a blurred back of boats on a waterfront. University of Suffolk/Luke Pyett
The broadcaster has taken over the role from Dr Helen Pankhurst CBE, who has left after seven years

Born and bred in Suffolk, Soanes was offered the ceremonial role "in a cafe about 10 months ago" by the university's vice chancellor Prof Jenny Higham.

The offer was "completely unexpected", but one he accepted without hesitation, with the regal robes he gets to now wear during special events being a particular draw.

He spent 25 years at the BBC, presenting BBC Proms and working as a newsreader including for listeners to the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.

He was also the reassuring voice of the Shipping Forecast on BBC Radio 4 before becoming the host of Relaxing Evenings on Classic FM.

More recently he has become the co-leader of a project to install a statue of composer Benjamin Britten as a boy on the seafront opposite his birthplace in Lowestoft.

He told the BBC he hopes his varied career will stand him in good stead during his tenure at the university.

"It was a huge honour, an unexpected honour, to be asked to be chancellor and I have to champion the university in the best way possible" he said.

"I think having a role as a broadcaster and working in the media means that I have a platform and a voice to get that message out there."

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