Adam Henson opens new teaching building at Harper Adams
A new teaching building on the Harper Adams University campus was today officially opened by television presenter and rare breeds farmer, Adam Henson.
Conducting the opening, Mr Henson said: "I feel hugely honoured to be able to carry this out. I am a massive fan of Harper Adams University. People ask me where they should go if they want to get into the agricultural supply chain and number one on my list is Harper Adams.
"I have visited here a few times and seen the amazing inroads that this university has made in educating people to go out into the agricultural food supply chain, which is a terribly exciting industry to be in.
"It is wonderful that the Garfield Weston Foundation has helped to support this building and, my word, if I was shown around this university as a prospective student, and walked into a room like this, I know I would work very, very hard to try to achieve the A-levels to get in!
"What an amazing place to be and an amazing place to visit. The students who are here are very fortunate," added Mr Henson, who then gave the first official presentation in the new 260-seater lecture theatre, now the biggest on campus, speaking about his farming and television career.
Supported by a generous donation from the Garfield Weston Foundation, the Weston Building provides not only the state-of-the-art lecture theatre but also IT classrooms, open access computers and a range of seminar rooms. The building, which has high sustainability credentials, also boasts a large atrium, a social space in which a reception was hosted after the official opening.
Philippa Charles, Director of the Garfield Weston Foundation, said: "The Foundation is delighted to support this new teaching and learning facility at Harper Adams. The Trustees were particularly impressed by the work that the university undertakes in promoting agriculture and related land-based industry as an enjoyable and interesting career."
Harper Adams Vice-Chancellor, Dr David Llewellyn, said: "We are indebted to the Weston Garfield Foundation. Your support has transformed the facilities that we have for our teaching, will help the next generation get the best out of their time here and will encourage those thinking about pursuing a career in our sector to choose Harper Adams for their university education."
