Penners,
Prior to becoming head of MI5, Stella Rimington was in charge of its trade
union countersubversion unit, and had a major role in the secret state's war
against the miners in 1984/5.
=====
1994 ALUMNA AWARD PRESENTED TO STELLA RIMINGTON
Why there was no advance notice about the recipient of the University's 1994
Alumnus/ Alumna of the Year Award became
clear when it was revealed at the autumn graduation ceremony that the winner
was Mrs Stella Rimington, Director General of
the country's Security Service.
Mrs Rimington, who graduated with Honours in English Language and Literature
in 1958, joined the Security
Service in 1969 and in 1992 became the first woman Director of the Service
in its 85 year history - and
indeed, the first Director to 'officially' exist.
Following the Security Service Act of 1989 she has had the responsibility of
taking the Security Service more
into the public domain, and earlier this year, gave the 1994 Richard
Dimbleby Lecture which was a milestone
in public accountability.
The annual Award for outstanding personal achievement among the University's
graduates was presented to
Mrs Rimington at the recent afternoon graduation ceremony by Dr Angus
Grossart, Director of the Award's
sponsors, The Royal Bank of Scotland.
The Award, in the form of a glass engraving, acknowledges the achievements
of the University's former
students in the service of the community, in the fields of arts and
sciences, and in business, public and
academic life.
Previous award holders are Gaelic poet Sorley MacLean, Sheila McKechnie, the
National Director of Shelter,
the Campaign for the Homeless, and Judge David Edward CMG, Judge of the
Court of Justice of the
European Communities.
Citing Mrs Rimington's curriculum vitae Dr Grossart said, "I would suggest
it severely understates her ability,
her achievements, her determination, and her very special qualities, when it
says, `...After gaining operational
and investigative experience in all areas of the Service's work, she became
Director General in February
1992'."
In her acceptance speech, delivered under the scrutiny of a bank of press
photographers, she began by
quoting the words of Oscar Wilde, "Education is an admirable thing, but it
is well to remember from time to
time, that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught."
Looking back at her student days she said, "Some people know exactly what
they want to do with their lives
and have it all worked out. I didn't. I certainly never thought in my
wildest dreams that I would join MI5, let alone
end up as its Director General."
She joked that the nearest she came in her student days to her future career
was during a visit to Edinburgh in
1956 by the then leaders of the Soviet Union, Bulganin and Krushchev, when
she took part in a demonstration
carrying a placard saying `Bulge and Krush go home'.
Published by Communications & Public Affairs
The University of Edinburgh Centre, 7 - 11 Nicolson Street, Edinburgh,
Scotland EH8 9BE.
Tel (University Switchboard) : +44 (0)131 650 1000
Last modified: Tuesday, 21-Nov-2000 12:54:42 GMT
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Michael Keaney
Mercuria Business School
Martinlaaksontie 36
01620 Vantaa
Finland
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