Kenneth Calman
Encyclopedia
Sir Kenneth Charles Calman, KCB
, DL
, FRSE (born 25 December 1941) is a Scottish
cancer research
er and former Chief Medical Officer of Scotland, and then England
. He was Warden and Vice-Chancellor of Durham University
from 1998 to 2006, before becoming Chancellor
of the University of Glasgow
. He has held the position of Chair of National Cancer Research Institute
since April 2008. From 2008 to 2009, he was convener of the Calman Commission on Scottish devolution.
Allan Glen's School
and the University of Glasgow
. He began medical training, and took an intercalated BSc
in Biochemistry
, whilst studying for his MB ChB
, the general medical degree. He undertook a PhD
in Dermatology
and also received an MD
.
He became Lecturer in Surgery at the University in 1969, and between 1972-74 was as a clinical research fellow at the Chester Beatty Research Institute
in London
, funded by the Medical Research Council
. In 1974, he was appointed to the Chair of Clinical Oncology, and became Dean of Postgraduate Medicine in 1984.
in 1989. He was then appointed Chief Medical Officer for England, by the United Kingdom government, at the Department of Health
in 1991-98, a period that included the BSE
crisis. He was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1996, and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians
, the Royal College of Surgeons
and the Royal Society of Edinburgh
.
In 1998, he was appointed Vice-Chancellor and Warden of Durham University
. His time as vice-chancellor saw the expansion and integration of the campus at Stockton-on-Tees, with two colleges being established there in 2001 and the campus being renamed Queen's Campus during the 2003 Golden Jubilee
celebrations. A new college was also opened in 2006, Josephine Butler College
. There has also been a return to the teaching of medicine at Durham
, with students doing their pre-clinical studies at Queen's Campus before transferring to Newcastle to complete the clinical part of their degrees. His time as vice-chancellor also saw the closure of the Department of East Asian Studies in 2007. Professor Calman retired as Warden in 2006 and was succeeded by Professor Christopher Higgins
.
Professor Calman was a member of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics
from 2000-2008. He chaired its inquiry on the Ethics of research related to healthcare in developing countries from 2000-2002, and was a member of the Working Party on Public health(2006-2007)
On 23 January 2006, it was announced Professor Calman had been elected Chancellor of the University of Glasgow
by the General Council
of the University, taking around sixty per cent of the vote against opponent Professor Sir Neil MacCormick
, a former MEP
and noted jurist and son of John MacCormick
, former Rector of the University.
in March 2008 to review Scottish devolution, commonly referred to as the Calman Commission. Other Commission members include former Lord Advocate
Colin Boyd, former Deputy First Minister
Jim Wallace
, and Mona Siddiqui
, Professor of Islamic Studies at the University of Glasgow. The Commission published its first interim report in December 2008, and published its final report on 15 June 2009. The Commission recommended, amongst other things, that the Scottish Parliament receive greater tax-raising powers as well as control over the regulation of airguns, the administration of elections, drink-driving limits and the national speed limit.
s from the Universities of Glasgow, Strathclyde
, Aberdeen
, Nottingham
, Newcastle, Birmingham
, Stirling
, Paisley, Westminster
and Brighton
, the Open University
and Glasgow Caledonian University
.
He has been President of The Boys' Brigade
since September 2007, and addressed his first Council meeting as President at Tulliallan Castle
in September 2008.
He married Anne Wilkie in 1967, and has a son and two daughters, one of whom is the comedian Susan Calman
. He enjoys collecting cartoons and sundials, and has a dog named Mungo.
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, DL
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
, FRSE (born 25 December 1941) is a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
cancer research
Cancer research
Cancer research is basic research into cancer in order to identify causes and develop strategies for prevention, diagnosis, treatments and cure....
er and former Chief Medical Officer of Scotland, and then England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He was Warden and Vice-Chancellor of Durham University
Durham University
The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
from 1998 to 2006, before becoming Chancellor
Chancellor of the University of Glasgow
The Chancellor is the titular head of the University of Glasgow and President of the General Council, by whom he is elected. The office is intended to be held for life. His principal duty is to confer degrees upon those presented to him by the Senate, although this role is usually carried out by...
of the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
. He has held the position of Chair of National Cancer Research Institute
National Cancer Research Institute
The National Cancer Research Institute is a partnership between the government, charity and industry in the United Kingdom that takes a strategic planning role in co-ordinating cancer research...
since April 2008. From 2008 to 2009, he was convener of the Calman Commission on Scottish devolution.
Early life
Kenneth Calman was born on Christmas Day 1941 to Arthur McIntosh Calman and Grace Douglas Don. He was educated at the independentIndependent school (UK)
An independent school is a school that is not financed through the taxation system by local or national government and is instead funded by private sources, predominantly in the form of tuition charges, gifts and long-term charitable endowments, and so is not subject to the conditions imposed by...
Allan Glen's School
Allan Glen's School
Allan Glen's School was for most of its existence a selective fee-paying independent secondary school for boys in Glasgow, Scotland. It was founded by the Allan Glen's Endowment Scholarship Trust on the death in 1850 of Allan Glen, a successful Glasgow tradesman and businessman, "to give a good...
and the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
. He began medical training, and took an intercalated BSc
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Biochemistry
Biochemistry
Biochemistry, sometimes called biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes in living organisms, including, but not limited to, living matter. Biochemistry governs all living organisms and living processes...
, whilst studying for his MB ChB
Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery
Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, or in Latin Medicinae Baccalaureus, Baccalaureus Chirurgiae , are the two first professional degrees awarded upon graduation from medical school in medicine and surgery by universities in various countries...
, the general medical degree. He undertook a PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in Dermatology
Dermatology
Dermatology is the branch of medicine dealing with the skin and its diseases, a unique specialty with both medical and surgical aspects. A dermatologist takes care of diseases, in the widest sense, and some cosmetic problems of the skin, scalp, hair, and nails....
and also received an MD
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
.
He became Lecturer in Surgery at the University in 1969, and between 1972-74 was as a clinical research fellow at the Chester Beatty Research Institute
Institute for Cancer Research
Institute for Cancer Research can refer to at least two separate organizations:* American Institute for Cancer Research, located in Washington, DC...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, funded by the Medical Research Council
Medical Research Council (UK)
The Medical Research Council is a publicly-funded agency responsible for co-ordinating and funding medical research in the United Kingdom. It is one of seven Research Councils in the UK and is answerable to, although politically independent from, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills...
. In 1974, he was appointed to the Chair of Clinical Oncology, and became Dean of Postgraduate Medicine in 1984.
Career
Professor Calman was appointed Chief Medical Officer for Scotland, at the Scottish OfficeScottish Office
The Scottish Office was a department of the United Kingdom Government from 1885 until 1999, exercising a wide range of government functions in relation to Scotland under the control of the Secretary of State for Scotland...
in 1989. He was then appointed Chief Medical Officer for England, by the United Kingdom government, at the Department of Health
Department of Health (United Kingdom)
The Department of Health is a department of the United Kingdom government with responsibility for government policy for health and social care matters and for the National Health Service in England along with a few elements of the same matters which are not otherwise devolved to the Scottish,...
in 1991-98, a period that included the BSE
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy , commonly known as mad-cow disease, is a fatal neurodegenerative disease in cattle that causes a spongy degeneration in the brain and spinal cord. BSE has a long incubation period, about 30 months to 8 years, usually affecting adult cattle at a peak age onset of...
crisis. He was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1996, and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
, the Royal College of Surgeons
Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons
Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons is a professional qualification to practise as a surgeon in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland...
and the Royal Society of Edinburgh
Royal Society of Edinburgh
The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity, operating on a wholly independent and non-party-political basis and providing public benefit throughout Scotland...
.
In 1998, he was appointed Vice-Chancellor and Warden of Durham University
Durham University
The University of Durham, commonly known as Durham University, is a university in Durham, England. It was founded by Act of Parliament in 1832 and granted a Royal Charter in 1837...
. His time as vice-chancellor saw the expansion and integration of the campus at Stockton-on-Tees, with two colleges being established there in 2001 and the campus being renamed Queen's Campus during the 2003 Golden Jubilee
Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II
The Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II was the international celebration marking the 50th anniversary of the accession of Elizabeth II to the thrones of seven countries, upon the death of her father, George VI, on 6 February 1952, and was intended by the Queen to be both a commemoration of her 50...
celebrations. A new college was also opened in 2006, Josephine Butler College
Josephine Butler College
Josephine Butler College is the newest college at Durham University, having opened in October 2006. It is located at the Howlands Farm site next to residences of Ustinov College...
. There has also been a return to the teaching of medicine at Durham
Durham University School of Medicine and Health
The School of Medicine and Health at the University of Durham was founded in 2001 as a partner with the University of Newcastle Medical School to educate medical students in the first phase of their medical education...
, with students doing their pre-clinical studies at Queen's Campus before transferring to Newcastle to complete the clinical part of their degrees. His time as vice-chancellor also saw the closure of the Department of East Asian Studies in 2007. Professor Calman retired as Warden in 2006 and was succeeded by Professor Christopher Higgins
Chris Higgins (academic)
Chris Higgins is, since April 2007, the Vice-Chancellor of Durham University. He was previously the director of the MRC Clinical Sciences Centre and Head of Division in the Faculty of Medicine at Imperial College London....
.
Professor Calman was a member of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics
Nuffield Council on Bioethics
The Nuffield Council on Bioethics is a UK-based independent charitable body, which examines and reports on ethical issues raised by new advances in biological and medical research...
from 2000-2008. He chaired its inquiry on the Ethics of research related to healthcare in developing countries from 2000-2002, and was a member of the Working Party on Public health(2006-2007)
On 23 January 2006, it was announced Professor Calman had been elected Chancellor of the University of Glasgow
Chancellor of the University of Glasgow
The Chancellor is the titular head of the University of Glasgow and President of the General Council, by whom he is elected. The office is intended to be held for life. His principal duty is to confer degrees upon those presented to him by the Senate, although this role is usually carried out by...
by the General Council
General Council (Scottish university)
The General Council of an ancient university in Scotland is the corporate body of all graduates and senior academics of each university. They were instituted by the Universities Act 1858, but each has had its constitution and organisation considerably altered by subsequent statutes.The Act of...
of the University, taking around sixty per cent of the vote against opponent Professor Sir Neil MacCormick
Neil MacCormick
Sir Neil MacCormick, QC, FBA, FRSE , or just Neil MacCormick, was a legal philosopher and Scottish politician. He was Regius Professor of Public Law and the Law of Nature and Nations at the University of Edinburgh from 1972 until 2008...
, a former MEP
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
and noted jurist and son of John MacCormick
John MacCormick
John MacDonald MacCormick was a lawyer and advocate of Home Rule in Scotland.-Early life:...
, former Rector of the University.
Calman Commission
Professor Calman is the chair of a commission established by the Scottish ParliamentScottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament is the devolved national, unicameral legislature of Scotland, located in the Holyrood area of the capital, Edinburgh. The Parliament, informally referred to as "Holyrood", is a democratically elected body comprising 129 members known as Members of the Scottish Parliament...
in March 2008 to review Scottish devolution, commonly referred to as the Calman Commission. Other Commission members include former Lord Advocate
Lord Advocate
Her Majesty's Advocate , known as the Lord Advocate , is the chief legal officer of the Scottish Government and the Crown in Scotland for both civil and criminal matters that fall within the devolved powers of the Scottish Parliament...
Colin Boyd, former Deputy First Minister
Deputy First Minister of Scotland
The Deputy First Minister of Scotland is the deputy to the First Minister of Scotland.The post is not recognised in statute , and its holder is simply an ordinary member of the Scottish Government...
Jim Wallace
Jim Wallace
The Rt. Hon. James Robert Wallace, Baron Wallace of Tankerness, PC, QC , is a British politician, currently a life peer in the House of Lords and the Advocate General for Scotland...
, and Mona Siddiqui
Mona Siddiqui
Mona Siddiqui OBE is a British Muslim academic. She is Professor of Islamic Studies and Public Understanding at the University of Glasgow, as well as the Director of its Centre for the Study of Islam, and is a member of the Commission on Scottish Devolution.She is also a regular contributor to...
, Professor of Islamic Studies at the University of Glasgow. The Commission published its first interim report in December 2008, and published its final report on 15 June 2009. The Commission recommended, amongst other things, that the Scottish Parliament receive greater tax-raising powers as well as control over the regulation of airguns, the administration of elections, drink-driving limits and the national speed limit.
Personal life
Professor Calman has received honorary degreeHonorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
s from the Universities of Glasgow, Strathclyde
University of Strathclyde
The University of Strathclyde , Glasgow, Scotland, is Glasgow's second university by age, founded in 1796, and receiving its Royal Charter in 1964 as the UK's first technological university...
, Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
, Nottingham
University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham is a public research university based in Nottingham, United Kingdom, with further campuses in Ningbo, China and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...
, Newcastle, Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
, Stirling
University of Stirling
The University of Stirling is a campus university founded by Royal charter in 1967, on the Airthrey Estate in Stirling, Scotland.-History and campus development:...
, Paisley, Westminster
University of Westminster
The University of Westminster is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom. Its origins go back to the foundation of the Royal Polytechnic Institution in 1838, and it was awarded university status in 1992.The university's headquarters and original campus are based on Regent...
and Brighton
University of Brighton
The University of Brighton is an English university of the United Kingdom, with a community of over 23,000 students and 2,600 staff based on campuses in Brighton, Eastbourne and Hastings. It has one of the best teaching quality ratings in the UK and a strong research record, factors which...
, the Open University
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
and Glasgow Caledonian University
Glasgow Caledonian University
Glasgow Caledonian University is a public university in Glasgow, Scotland.The university was constituted by an Act of Parliament on 1 April 1993 as a result of a merger between Glasgow Polytechnic and The Queen's College, Glasgow....
.
He has been President of The Boys' Brigade
Boys' Brigade
For the 80s New Wave band from Canada, see Boys Brigade .The Boys' Brigade is an interdenominational Christian youth organisation, conceived by William Alexander Smith to combine drill and fun activities with Christian values...
since September 2007, and addressed his first Council meeting as President at Tulliallan Castle
Tulliallan Castle
Tulliallan Castle is a large house in Kincardine, Fife, Scotland.It is the second structure to have the name , and is a mixture of Gothic and Italian style architecture set amid some of parkland just north of where the Kincardine Bridge spans the Firth of Forth...
in September 2008.
He married Anne Wilkie in 1967, and has a son and two daughters, one of whom is the comedian Susan Calman
Susan Calman
Susan Calman is a Scottish comedian. She is a frequent panellist on BBC Radio 4 topical shows The News Quiz and I Guess That's Why They Call It The News, has appeared in Channel 4 sketch shows and covers for Fred MacAulay on his BBC Radio Scotland show. She has also appeared in Rab C. Nesbitt...
. He enjoys collecting cartoons and sundials, and has a dog named Mungo.