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The Early Beginnings
The Irvine Report
The University's First Chancellor
Mona Site & Gibraltar Camp
The University's Charter

The UWI's First Governing Council, Staff and Students
The Story of  the UWI's Motto

The Story of the UWI's Armorial Bearings

The UWI and West Indian Federation

The Establishment of the Cave Hill Campus,
Barbados
The  Establishment of the St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad  & Tobago
 
The University's First Chancellor

Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone

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On January 10, 1948, the Principal wrote to the members of the Provisional Council informing them that Council would be asked to suggest who should be the first Chancellor.  The Principal indicated that after a confidential discussion there were three names for which there seemed to be the most support: Lord Mountbatten, the Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone, and Sir James Irvine. He summarized the reasons for these three as follows:

"Irvine is the father of the whole scheme, Princess Alice is of royal blood and married to the Earl of Athlone who is Chancellor of the University of London. She plays an active part in the University of London and is Chairman of the Governing Body of Royal Holloway College. Both of these are well advanced in years and would possibly not be very active. Mountbatten is about 50 years old and, we understand, gives up his position in India about April."

Lord Mountbatten was the overall first choice of Council, but Mountbatten declined to accept the position.

After much deliberation, Council supported approaching Princess Alice.  On December 10, 1948, the Principal was informed that Princess Alice had accepted the office of Chancellor.  She was officially installed as Chancellor on February 16, 1950.

Records relating to the identification and selection of the UCWI's first Chancellor and the installation of Princess Alice are available at the University Archives, Mona under Accession No MA98.19.

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| Last Updated: June 21, 2005
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