Bobby Charlton opens University ’village’
SIR BOBBY Charlton, CBE and Honorary Fellow of Manchester Metropolitan University, officially opened the new Booth Hall ‘student village’ at Crewe Green today Monday, May 8, 2006.
Sir Bobby signed autographs for students before opening Booth Hall in the presence of the Mayor of Crewe and Nantwich Cllr Maureen Grant, the Vice-Chancellor Professor John Brooks, university governors, student officers, councillors and officers of Crewe and Nantwich Council and Cheshire Council and members of the South East Quadrant Working Party.
The halls comprise 800 study rooms, shops and catering outlets, and are the first piece in a £80 million redevelopment and expansion of the university in Cheshire at Crewe.
Investment in youth
Sir Bobby, who lives in Cheshire, said: “In my experience, Manchester has never shied away from putting its money where its mouth is, and our Metropolitan University is doing the same with this great investment in student facilities.
“Over the past 20 years working with young people, I have learned that it is a wise thing to invest in youth and I hope the students here repay that faith and look after their fantastic student village here at Crewe.”
The £30m Booth Hall is located on the recently renamed University Way and is central to providing a high quality experience for some of MMU Cheshire’s 4,500 students of business and management, education, arts, humanities and social sciences, environmental studies and sport and exercise science. It is named after Tom Booth, CBE, former chair of governors at MMU.
University town
Dean of Faculty Dennis Dunn said the investment in the Crewe campus would improve the profile of the university, the town and the county of Cheshire. He said: “I am absolutely delighted that Sir Bobby agreed to visit MMU at Crewe for this important occasion.
“Crewe is a town on the move and MMU Cheshire is determined to play a big part in its future prosperity.”
Students moved into the halls in the autumn term and student representatives have welcomed the new village which was built by Cheshire-based Pochin on land adjacent to the main town campus.
Catalyst for future
Andy Gray, spokesman for MMU Students’ Union, said: “The opening of Booth Hall is an exciting opportunity for MMU Cheshire and the Students’ Union to continue to expand its offering on the Crewe Campus.
“The new state of the art living accommodation and the increased student numbers on Crewe Campus will hopefully be the catalyst for the redevelopment and improvement of all the services we have to offer.”
