PROPER RECOGNITION FOR CITY'S MAN OF VISION

The late James Lusty, the visionary behind proposals for a city centre university campus was given proper recognition by Newport at a service yesterday held at St. Woolos Cathedral. James Lusty, who died of cancer aged 56, was one of the few university heads in Britain to have risen to that position from a non-privileged background. Variously described Energetic, determined and compassionate, James was a natural leader, who became principal of the then University of Wales College, Newport, in 2002 and oversaw its transition to university status in 2004, becoming its first vice-chancellor. James Lusty was the youngest of three sons, born in Singapore of a former mill-worker who ended his career as a major in the Royal Artillery. Educated in state schools in Hampshire, James graduated from London University's Queen Elizabeth College in 1973 with a first in chemistry, staying on to attain his PhD in 1976.
In addition to a musical tribute by the City of Newport Male Choir, there were tributes from the City Council, the University and from former colleagues at other educational institiutions. The Service was presided over by the Dean of Monmouth. Paul Flynn, Newport West MP commented on his web blog "The sadness expressed by his friends today was tempered by the expectation of seeing his work continue in the inspired regeneration of his adopted city."


Lusty's legacy - The new campus will be home to two academic Schools with international reputations - the Newport Business School and the digital media, film and design elements of Newport School of Art, Media and Design. These will be physically transparent and open to the city, rather than being enclosed behind high walls – which reflects the University’s intentions of being a city university with no barriers. The two Schools will work together at the new campus by bringing together the creative industries with the entrepreneurship expertise of the Business School.