A Farewell Message from our 39th Rector, Professor Henry Woudhuysen

We are incredibly grateful to Professor Henry Woudhuysen who has guided the College – with calm leadership and good humour – as Rector for the past 12 years, advancing our educational mission and building community, both within the College and globally amongst our alumni and other friends.

Henry first came to Lincoln as a JRF in English Literature in 1978, after which he continued his academic career at UCL. He returned to Lincoln as Rector in 2012, and has devoted himself to ensuring that the College has the resources to achieve its academic mission, and that our historic buildings are in good shape for our 600th anniversary. He leaves Lincoln in a strong position: we came second in the most recent Norrington Table, our historic buildings and rooms are at their best, and thanks to the support of alumni, we have been able to devote more resource to both teaching and to student support.

His farewell message, which you can listen to below, ends with these words: "It's important that's there's continuity in an institution. Six hundred years is a long time for a College. I am very confident that my successor, Nigel Clifford, will be a great leader for the 600th anniversary of the College. He will do a great deal for it. He will build on what we have achieved in the last centuries and he will bring his own special style, his interests and his knowledge to all that we do here. I wish him very well for the future and I'm sure you'll want to support him just as you've supported me. Thank you very much."

We wish Henry and his wife, Deborah - to whom we also extend a heartfelt thank you - every joy as they embark on their next adventure.