University's first Chancellor to step down after seven years

After seven years as the first Chancellor of the University of Suffolk, writer, academic and women’s rights activist Dr Helen Pankhurst CBE is to step down from the ceremonial role.

Dr Pankhurst, the great-granddaughter of suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst who spearheaded the movement which won the right for women to vote, will hand over the reins at the University’s final 2025 Graduation ceremony next month. 

She will be succeeded by broadcaster, journalist, author and actor Zeb Soanes, who hosts the weekday evening music show Relaxing Evenings with Zeb Soanes on Classic FM. 

Mr Soanes, who was born and brought up in Suffolk, has co-led the community project to create and install a statue of Benjamin Britten as a boy on the seafront opposite the composer’s birthplace in Lowestoft. He was awarded an Honorary degree by the University in 2023. 

Dr Pankhurst said: “It has been an honour and privilege to serve as the University’s first Chancellor and see the opportunities provided for thousands of young people and mature students from Suffolk, East Anglia and beyond.  

“As the University prepares to celebrate its tenth anniversary next year, I am thrilled to hand over to Zeb Soanes and wish him the joy and fulfilment I have gained from sharing in the achievements of students from such diverse backgrounds and the University’s success in driving positive change in Suffolk.” 

Dr Pankhurst is an international development and women’s rights advisor to CARE International and a Visiting Professor at Manchester Metropolitan University.  

She carries on the legacy of her great-grandmother, and grandmother Sylvia Pankhurst, in promoting women’s rights, establishing Centenary Action in 2018 to be a voice to end barriers to women’s political representation. She is the author of Deeds Not Words, the Story of Women’s Rights, Then and Now. 

Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University, Professor Jenny Higham, said: “We are grateful to Helen for the tremendous support she has given to the University and our students as our reach and reputation has grown. 

“I am excited to welcome Zeb and to work with him to promote both the University and the county of Suffolk as we enter our tenth anniversary year.” 

Mr Soanes said: “It is a profound honour to be appointed Chancellor of the University of Suffolk. I look forward to furthering Helen’s passion and commitment and strengthening the ties between the University and the wider community of Suffolk, the county that has been home to generations of my family and is a very special part of who I am.   

“Above all, I’m excited to help nurture and encourage an exciting second decade of our students as they set out to shape their futures.” 

Over a 25-year career at the BBC, Mr Soanes was an authoritative newsreader and the reassuring voice of the Shipping Forecast on BBC Radio 4 and presented the BBC Proms. He is now the host of Relaxing Evenings on Classic FM and performs live concerts with the UK’s leading orchestras, ensembles and choirs. 

As an author, he created the best-selling children’s book series Gaspard the Fox. Two of the adventures were conceived as narrated concert works with music composed by Jonathan Dove and have been performed by the Hallé, Philharmonia, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and Royal Scottish National Orchestras. 

Mr Soanes received the 2024 Betjeman Society Award for his contribution to the understanding and enjoyment of the work of Sir John Betjeman, after producing a live 50th anniversary tour of Betjeman’s album Banana Blush which he performed with the Chris Warner Ensemble. 

He is an active patron of Young Sounds UK and English Symphony Orchestra Youth, encouraging and enabling talented young musicians to pursue their music. He also supports the work of St Martin in the Fields with perpetual royalties from his fourth book, Gaspard’s Christmas, which gently introduces children to the subject of homelessness.