Sir Peter Ustinov (1921-2004)

The University was saddened by the recent death of Sir Peter Ustinov - actor, writer, raconteur and the first Rector of the University following its independence from St Andrews in 1967.

Elected in 1968, Sir Peter was subsequently re-elected for a second term of office, which ran until 1974. During his time as Rector, Sir Peter made an important contribution to the life and reputation of the new University, which was later acknowledged with the naming of the Ustinov Room in the Bonar Hall in his honour.

Born in London, Sir Peter entered the film business during the war, becoming batman to the actor David Niven. Their collaboration resulted in The Way Ahead, a classic war film which was recently screened in the Tower Building as a tribute to Sir Peter by University museum curator Matthew Jarron, as part of his evening class in British Cinema.

Vice Principal James Calderhead, who was a student at the University in the late 1960s, said, "Sir Peter set an excellent standard as the University's first Rector. He was a fine ambassador and a colourful, talented, wise, entertaining and deeply humanitarian man who made an outstanding contribution to the confidence and the reputation of the fledgling University. We were enriched by his association and are saddened by his death." Sir Peter's inauguration was held in the Caird Hall and presided over by the Queen Mother as Chancellor, in one of the first major town and gown events of the University. An eye witness of that ceremony recalled his "brilliant oration" on political matters of the day including the Cold War.

Cutting a colourful character on the University Court and on his visits to the campus, Sir Peter mixed freely with the students. Notable figures including The Right Honourable Lord George Robertson of Port Ellen, and Brian Wilson MP were students at the University during his Rectorship. Commenting on his time as Rector Sir Peter said, "For me it was a vital moment in my life, when I bent my mind to new problems, to real problems, compared to the mere careers of plays or films. My time of office was made a pleasure by the many interesting people I met."

Sir Peter returned to the University in 1992 to deliver the Discovery Lecture and open the West Park Centre.

The University's splendid sculpture of Sir Peter (purchased from the Italian artist Enzo Plazzotta in 1968) was displayed in the Tower Foyer in April. It can currently be seen in its permanent home in the Ustinov Room, Bonar Hall.

Commenting on a highly successful film career, Matthew said, "Ustinov’s career as an actor was distinguished by its sheer variety - think of the famous characters he mastered in films like Beau Brummell and Death on the Nile. The Oscars he won for Spartacus and Topkapi were also richly deserved. In his time as Rector here he made some of his most fondly-remembered pictures - Viva Max! and One of our Dinosaurs is Missing, as well as providing voices for Disney’s Robin Hood. But his work as a director has often been under-rated - he wrote and directed many successful films, like Vice Versa and Billy Budd."

Sir Peter also directed stage productions (including a version of Don Giovanni at the Edinburgh Festival, staged during his second term as Rector), wrote numerous best-selling books and campaigned tirelessly for charities (most notably UNICEF). He continued his academic associations by accepting the position of Chancellor at Durham University in 1992, a post he held until his death.