Sir Ian to receive UCO doctorate

Sir Ian Kershaw

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Hitler expert and college governor are to be honoured
ONE of the world’s leading experts on Hitler and the Third Reich is to receive an honorary doctorate from University Campus Oldham (UCO).

Historian Sir Ian Kershaw will receive the accolade on July 16 with Cyril Brandford, chairman of governors at Oldham College, who was instrumental in setting up what is now UCO.

Sir Ian was born in Oldham in 1943. His mother had been a mill-worker while his father became a professional musician and played in dance-bands in the town

Sir Ian went to Liverpool University and became an expert in medieval history.

His interesst in Nazi history was sparked by a chance remark overheard on a visit to Germany in 1972.

He began to research the social history of Nazism, abandoned his work on the medieval period, and taught modern history at Manchester, Nottingham and Sheffield universities.

His books include the two-volume biography of Hitler, “The Nazi Dictatorship and The Hitler Myth”, which has been translated into 26 languages.

Now retired, Sir Ian is a fellow of the British Academy, the Royal Historical Society and Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin.

“I’m delighted to receive this honorary degree, especially because it will be awarded in my home town, which I have always held in great affection,” he said.

Mr Brandford was born in Rochdale in 1931 and left school with no qualifications, becoming an apprentice electrical fitter after studying at night school.

He trained as an air radar fitter with the RAF before joining Ferranti to develop FM radio and projection TV.

He founded and was managing director and chairman of Pepperl and Fuchs GB Ltd, which exports electronic equipment worldwide.

Mr Brandford became a governor of Oldham College in 1993 and was at the forefront of the work which lead to the creation of what is now University Campus Oldham, which the college now runs.

He said: “I was taken totally by surprise. My commitment to furthering the cause of the college and the role of further education is purely down to my own experience.

“College opened up a path to a new life for me and I shall never forget it.”

Approximately 200 students are expected to receive their degrees at The Queen Elizabeth Hall ceremony. The graduation starts with a town centre parade at around 10.30am.