Sir Eric Thomas | |
|---|---|
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| Vice-Chancellor of theUniversity of Bristol | |
| In office 2001–2015 | |
| Preceded by | SirJohn Kingman |
| Succeeded by | Hugh Brady |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1953-03-24)24 March 1953 Hartlepool, England |
| Died | 10 November 2023(2023-11-10) (aged 70) |
| Website | The Vice Chancellor's page on the website for Bristol University |
Sir Eric Jackson Thomas[1]FMedSci (24 March 1953 – 10 November 2023) was an English academic who wasvice-chancellor of theUniversity of Bristol from 2001 to 2015. From 2003 to 2007, he was chair of theWorldwide Universities Network[2] and was the president ofUniversities UK from 2011 to 2013.
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Thomas graduated in medicine from theNewcastle in 1976. He trained as anobstetrician andgynaecologist and worked at both the universities ofSheffield andNewcastle. He obtained an MD-by-thesis in 1987 via his research intoendometriosis.
In 1991, he was appointed professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at theUniversity of Southampton, becoming head of the School of Medicine in 1995 and dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Biological Sciences in 1998. He was a consultant gynaecologist from 1987 to 2001.
In August 2011, Thomas became president ofUniversities UK, having previously been its vice-president, chair of its England and Northern Ireland Council and chair of its Research Policy Committee. He was chair of the board of CASE Europe, a member of the board of CASE and was a commissioner of the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission. He chaired the government Taskforce into Increasing Voluntary Giving in Higher Education, which reported in 2004. He was chair of the Worldwide Universities Network from 2003 – 2007. He was a member of the board of the South-West Regional Development Agency from 2002–8.
Thomas was married and had two children. His interests includedgolf andNewcastle United Football Club. He was a Deputy Lieutenant of the City and County of Bristol, and wasknighted in the 2013 Birthday Honours for services to higher education.[3][4][5]
Thomas died of cancer on 10 November 2023, at the age of 70.[6]
| Academic offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by SirJohn Kingman | Vice-Chancellor of theUniversity of Bristol 2001–2015 | Succeeded by |