Appointments

University of Sussex

Sir Richard Attenborough, actor and film director, patron and president of the Gardner Arts Centre, will succeed Charles Gordon, duke of Richmond, as chancellor of the university.

David Davies, chief scientific adviser at the Ministry of Defence and former vice-chancellor of Loughborough, has taken on the role of pro-chancellor; Brian Davis, chief executive and a director of the Nationwide Building Society, has been appointed to the university's council; Alun Anderson, editor of the New Scientist and Sam Younger, managing director of the BBC's World Service, were elected to membership of the university council.

Trinity and All Saints University College, Leeds

The college has appointed Michael Coughlan, assistant principal since 1991 and former dean of the faculty of arts at the University of Wales Lampeter, as principal and chief executive. He will succeed Gerard Turnbull on his retirement in August, 1998.

International Shakespeare Globe Centre

Peter Kyle, dean of the Arts Educational Schools, London has been appointed general director.

Economic and Social Research Council

The council has appointed the following as members from August 1997 to July 1999: David Greenaway, professor of economics and pro vice-chancellor of the University of Nottingham; Michael Gibbons, professor, secretary of the Association of Commonwealth Universities; Hazel Genn, professor of socio-legal studies at University College, London; Keith Brandon, commercial director of Tesco Stores.

The following have been reappointed for a further two years to July 31, 1999: Neil McCormick, regius professor of public law and the law of nature and nations, University of Edinburgh; Barbara Beckett, group retail marketing director, BAA plc.

King's College, London

Readerships in historical musicology: Cliff Eisen, formerly at New York University and Daniel Leech-Williams, formerly at the University of Southampton.

S4C

Elan Closs Stevens, senior lecturer at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, chair of the Welsh Language Board and of the Welsh International Film Festival, has been appointed chair of the Welsh television company S4C.

West Kent College

The college has appointed Patrick Mayhew, MP for Tunbridge Wells (1974-97) and secretary of state for Northern Ireland (1992-97) as its first president.

De Montfort University

Judy Simons, professor of English and head of the centre for humanities research at Sheffield Hallam University, chair of the Council for College and University English in 1997, has been appointed dean of humanities and social sciences.