Bob Boucher

For the Canadian ice hockey player and coach, see Bob Boucher (ice hockey).

Robert Francis Boucher, CBE, FREng (25 April 1940 – 25 March 2009),[1][2][3] usually known as Bob Boucher, was a British mechanical engineer, and Vice-Chancellor of both UMIST (1995–2001) the University of Sheffield (2001–2007).

Boucher was born in Wembley on 25 April 1940 and was educated at St Ignatius' College, Stamford Hill, Borough Polytechnic, London, and gained a PhD from the University of Nottingham in Mechanical Engineering in 1966.[3] After postdoctoral work at the same university he moved to Queen's University Belfast as a researcher then a lecturer in mechanical engineering.[4]

In 1970 he joined Sheffield University as a lecturer, rising to Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering in 1987 and Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research at Sheffield.[4] In 1995 he took up the position of Vice-Chancellor and Principal of UMIST. In 2001 he returned to Sheffield as Vice-Chancellor until his retirement in 2007. Boucher was Chairman of the International Sector Group of Universities UK and Treasurer of the Association of Commonwealth Universities.

Bob Boucher was awarded a CBE in 2000 "for services to Engineering Research, Industry and Education".[5] He died suddenly on 25 March 2009.[1][2][3]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Sheffield Telegraph, Death of academic visionary". Retrieved 2009-03-27.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "The Times, Obituary: Professor Robert Boucher: engineer and university vice-chancellor". London. 13 April 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-27.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Times Higher Education, Obituary: Bob Boucher, 1940-2009". Retrieved 2009-04-27.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 University of Manchester yourmanchesteronline Obituary - Bob Boucher
  5. ↑ BBC New Years Honours

External links

Academic offices
Preceded by
Gareth Roberts		 Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield
2001–2007 		Succeeded by
Keith Burnett
Preceded by
Harold Hankins		 Vice-Chancellor of UMIST
1995–2001 		Succeeded by
John Garside