The Great Experiment | 17
The first meeting of the University Advisory Committee , 23 July 1946
Front row : Lord Lindsay ( Chair , third from left ), Reverend Horwood ( fourth from left ), Gladys Malbon ( Secretary , right ).
Back row : Harry Taylor , Town Clerk ( second from left )
In 1946 , Stoke-on-Trent City Council set up an advisory committee to establish a university in North Staffordshire . Lindsay accepted an invitation to chair that committee . In an article written a few years later , he said he wanted to do something ‘ experimental and original ’.
Gladys Malbon was a member of the advisory committee . According to Drusilla Scott , Gladys was ‘ one of the people most responsible ’ for the creation of a university in this area . Working as a kind of project manager , Gladys coordinated the committee which Lindsay chaired , liaised with other groups including the University Grants Committee , and leveraged the support of influential local individuals such as Dr Barnett Stross , then MP for Hanley , and Alderman Thomas Horwood , the Vicar of Etruria .
The new university had its leader . But where would it be located ? Possible sites at Trentham and Meaford Hall were rejected or fell through . Then it was reported that the estate at Keele might be put up for sale . In September 1947 , Leason and Horwood met the owner , Colonel Ralph Sneyd . Harry Taylor was present and would remember that afternoon . Ralph Sneyd wasn ’ t certain he wanted to part with the family estate . The decision to sell was partly an impulse : a keen follower of the turf , he was listening to the racing results on the radio . His horse won ! Perhaps it was fate .
Creating a university wasn ’ t easy . For a start , who would lead it ? The obvious choice , Lindsay , was hesitant . After a busy career , he was looking forward to retirement .
In May 1947 ( according to one story ), a deputation from Stoke set out to persuade Lindsay otherwise . They drove to Oxford in the mayoral Rolls Royce and met Lindsay in his college rooms . The delegation consisted of the Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent , Alderman Leason , Horwood , Gladys Malbon , and the Town Clerk , Harry Taylor . Result ! Lindsay agreed to take on the Principalship . Harry Taylor later said this was ‘ the best day ’ s work we ever did for Keele ’.
Meeting at ‘ The Gables ’, Keele , September 1947
Front Row : Alderman Leason , Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent ( left ), Colonel Sneyd ( centre ), Reverend Horwood ( right )
Back Row : Harry Taylor , Town Clerk ( left ), J . R . Piggott , City Architect ( right )