Councillor Mary Glew, Lords Prescott and Baker unveiled a Lord Mayor Centenary plaque to honour Lord Ron Dearing at the citys first University Technical College.
Lord Ron Dearing was born and educated in the city and went on to become a senior civil servant and Chairman of the Post Office. Lord Dearing was best known for his integrity, intellect and determination and changed the landscape of higher education in the UK.
He attended Willerby Carr Lane County Primary School before going on to Malet Lambert Grammar School. At the University of Hull, he gained a BSc in Economics in 1954 during a two-year break from the Ministry of Power. In the 1998 New Years Honours, he was announced to be a life peer and was raised to the peerage as Baron Dearing, of Kingston upon Hull in the County of the East Riding of Yorkshire.
Former Lord Mayor, Councillor Mary Glew, who leads the initiative, said: Lord Ron Dearing was born locally and was highly gifted and an exceptional man. He was a true gentleman and greatly respected in Government circles and beyond. It is only right and fitting that we honour him with a centenary plaque in the building that was named after him.
Ron Dearing UTC Principal Sarah Pashley said: Its been a great honour to host todays visit by Lord Baker and to now have a permanent commemoration of Lord Dearing in this new school which bears his name. Were grateful to Hull City Council, Councillor Mary Glew and the Lord Mayor for such a fitting tribute.
The support of the Baker Dearing Educational Trust has been critical in establishing Ron Dearing UTC, so this school and the talented students it will produce are a testament to the great work of both Lord Dearing and Lord Baker.
Inspired by their example, were excited by the challenge of delivering a completely new, employer-led education model for Hull and East Yorkshire and developing a pipeline of work-ready and tech-savvy young people to power the regions economic growth.
Lord Baker, Chair of the Baker Dearing Educational Trust, said: Congratulations to all those involved in the development of Ron Dearing UTC. This is a great day for staff and students who are not just starting a school, but are joining a movement.
From the age of 14 students at this UTC will study digital technology and mechatronics, these are the jobs of the future. The Hull UTC is strongly supported by several leading local employers.
Students at Ron Dearing UTC will have the opportunity to go to university, take up an apprenticeship or get a job. What a tremendous tribute to Ron Dearing.