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Unveiling of a Portrait of Professor Sir Christopher Zeeman

On Saturday, 12 May 2007 a portrait of Sir Christopher Zeeman FRS, by the artist Peter Edwards, was unveiled in the Mathematics Institute Common Room by Lady Zeeman in the presence of the Pro-Chancellor John Leighfield, Vice-Chancellor Professor Nigel Thrift, staff, and alumni who had gathered for the 25th anniversary of the 1981 entry.

The portrait was commissioned by the Mead Gallery of the University of Warwick in honour of Sir Christopher who was the Foundation Professor of Mathematics at Warwick. The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nigel Thrift, spoke of Sir Christopher's contributions to Warwick and to mathematics both nationally and internationally.

Peter Edwards, the artist, explained that he had already painted a portrait of Sir Christopher for Hertford College, Oxford and that it was rare for an artist to have the possibility of painting a second portrait of someone. His portrait for Warwick was painted from life in Sir Christopher's home and is much less formal than the Hertford portrait.

On behalf of the Department, Professor Colin Sparrow, its present Head, spoke of Sir Christopher's lasting influence on the mathematics at Warwick. He also thanked the alumni for their generous support of Mathematics and the University.

Approximately 150 people attended the unveiling and lunch afterwards. Around 100 were alumni, and the rest made up of University senior officers mentioned above plus the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Stuart Palmer, and Pro-Vice Chancellors Professor Susan Bassnet and Professor John Jones, staff from the Alumni Office and the Mathematics Institute and their families. In the evening was the 25th anniversary Alumni Dinner for the 1981 student intake.

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Thu 21 Jun 2007, 10:23