Walter Perry
Encyclopedia
Walter Laing MacDonald Perry, Baron Perry of Walton FRS FRCP
FRSE (16 June 1921 - 17 July 2003) was a distinguished academic. He was the first Vice Chancellor of the Open University
.
Perry was born in Dundee
, son of Fletcher and Flora Perry, and educated at Ayr Academy
, and the High School of Dundee
. He obtained a degree in Pharmacology
at St Andrews University. Between 1944 and 1946 he worked as a Medical Officer in Nigeria
. He later worked as a scientist
for institutions like the Medical Research Council
. In particular he became an expert on polio. He had a reputation for following the scientific method
rigorously.
He developed his career at Edinburgh University as Professor of Pharmacology, later Dean of Medicine and Vice Principal. In 1969 he became Vice Chancellor of the Open University and made that university into an effective institution proving that sceptics had been wrong. He was mainly responsible for deciding that the Open University would not compromise on academic standards - he was determined that its qualifications should be of equal academic value to non-distance learning Universities. Walter Perry worked further to develop distance learning through the United Nations
.
He entered the House of Lords in 1979 as a life peer
with the title Baron Perry of Walton, of Walton in the County of Buckinghamshire
, later taking the SDP
and Liberal Democrat whips, and served on the committee dealing with science and technology. He kept working right up to his death in 2003.
Perry married Catherine Hilda Crawley in 1971. Her sister Mary married Alun Michael
and her brother married Christine Crawley, Baroness Crawley
.
A collection of Walter Perry's papers, containing work relating to the Open University
, other distance education
institutions and work for the House of Lords
, are preserved in the Open University Archive
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
FRSE (16 June 1921 - 17 July 2003) was a distinguished academic. He was the first Vice Chancellor of the Open University
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
.
Perry was born in Dundee
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
, son of Fletcher and Flora Perry, and educated at Ayr Academy
Ayr Academy
Ayr Academy is a non-denominational secondary school situated in the centre of the town of Ayr in South Ayrshire. It is a comprehensive school for children from the ages of 11 to 18 from Ayr. Ayr Academy's catchment area covers Newton-on-Ayr, Whitletts and the outlying villages of Coylton, Annbank,...
, and the High School of Dundee
High School of Dundee
The High School of Dundee is an independent, co-educational, day school in the city of Dundee, Scotland which provides both primary and secondary education to just over one thousand pupils...
. He obtained a degree in Pharmacology
Pharmacology
Pharmacology is the branch of medicine and biology concerned with the study of drug action. More specifically, it is the study of the interactions that occur between a living organism and chemicals that affect normal or abnormal biochemical function...
at St Andrews University. Between 1944 and 1946 he worked as a Medical Officer in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. He later worked as a scientist
Scientist
A scientist in a broad sense is one engaging in a systematic activity to acquire knowledge. In a more restricted sense, a scientist is an individual who uses the scientific method. The person may be an expert in one or more areas of science. This article focuses on the more restricted use of the word...
for institutions like the Medical Research Council
Medical Research Council (UK)
The Medical Research Council is a publicly-funded agency responsible for co-ordinating and funding medical research in the United Kingdom. It is one of seven Research Councils in the UK and is answerable to, although politically independent from, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills...
. In particular he became an expert on polio. He had a reputation for following the scientific method
Scientific method
Scientific method refers to a body of techniques for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge. To be termed scientific, a method of inquiry must be based on gathering empirical and measurable evidence subject to specific principles of...
rigorously.
He developed his career at Edinburgh University as Professor of Pharmacology, later Dean of Medicine and Vice Principal. In 1969 he became Vice Chancellor of the Open University and made that university into an effective institution proving that sceptics had been wrong. He was mainly responsible for deciding that the Open University would not compromise on academic standards - he was determined that its qualifications should be of equal academic value to non-distance learning Universities. Walter Perry worked further to develop distance learning through the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
.
He entered the House of Lords in 1979 as a life peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
with the title Baron Perry of Walton, of Walton in the County of Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
, later taking the SDP
Social Democratic Party (UK)
The Social Democratic Party was a political party in the United Kingdom that was created on 26 March 1981 and existed until 1988. It was founded by four senior Labour Party 'moderates', dubbed the 'Gang of Four': Roy Jenkins, David Owen, Bill Rodgers and Shirley Williams...
and Liberal Democrat whips, and served on the committee dealing with science and technology. He kept working right up to his death in 2003.
Perry married Catherine Hilda Crawley in 1971. Her sister Mary married Alun Michael
Alun Michael
Alun Edward Michael is a British Labour Co-operative politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for Cardiff South and Penarth since 1987. He was formerly First Minister of Wales and leader of the Welsh Labour Party from 1999 to 2000.-Education:Michael was born at Bryngwran Anglesey, son of...
and her brother married Christine Crawley, Baroness Crawley
Christine Crawley, Baroness Crawley
Christine Mary Crawley, Baroness Crawley FRSA is a British politician for the Labour Party.-Early life and career:Crawley was educated at the Notre Dame Roman Catholic Girls' School in Birmingham before going to Digby Stuart College to train as a teacher. After graduation she began teaching...
.
A collection of Walter Perry's papers, containing work relating to the Open University
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
, other distance education
Distance education
Distance education or distance learning is a field of education that focuses on teaching methods and technology with the aim of delivering teaching, often on an individual basis, to students who are not physically present in a traditional educational setting such as a classroom...
institutions and work for the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
, are preserved in the Open University Archive