Actor Clunes is university’s first chancellor

WEST-BASED actor Martin Clunes has landed a major new role – as the inaugural chancellor of a university.

Hartpury University and Hartpury College in rural Gloucestershire announced this week that Mr Clunes will serve as the honorary head of both specialist educational institutions.

Mr Clunes, 62, will represent Hartpury in a ceremonial and ambassadorial capacity.

In recent years his most prominent role has been as the titular Doc Martin in the ITV comedy drama.

It is a different branch of medicine that Hartpury is best known for, with it having a particularly strong reputation in veterinary sciences and animal welfare.

The university and college said the appointment is an important and exciting milestone.

It offers specialist undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and diplomas in agriculture, animal, business, equine, sport and veterinary nursing, as well as A-levels and T-levels.

Professor Andy Collop, vice-chancellor, principal and CEO of Hartpury University and Hartpury College said: “We are delighted that Martin will become our first chancellor and look forward to him playing a pivotal supporting role in the growth and evolution of Hartpury University and Hartpury College.

“Martin’s commitment and experience in the equestrian, agricultural, animal and countryside realms align particularly well to Hartpury’s own values and specialisms. I have no doubt that he’ll contribute to Hartpury’s rich heritage and help to inspire staff and students alike.”

Off-screen the Dorset-based actor has long experience of rural issues.

He and his family run a 130-acre farm near Beaminster which is home to horses, cows, sheep, chickens, dogs and cats, which make him so well-suited to the chancellor role at Hartpury.

He is an advocate for animal welfare and as well as presenting documentaries focused on animals, conservation and the relationships between humans and animals, he is president of the British Horse Society, a patron of the Wormwood Scrubs Pony Centre, the Horse Course,

Julia’s House Children’s Hospice and the Fortune Centre.

He said: “I’m deeply honoured to be appointed as the inaugural chancellor of Hartpury University and Hartpury College. I look forward to sharing many of my passions and interests with like-minded students, staff, governors and alumni and am excited to share in their numerous success stories. I also look forward to advocating for the university and college’s many impressive achievements, helping to champion and support Hartpury at an exciting time in its 75-year history.”

Mr Clunes initially shot to fame playing beer-guzzling Gary in Men Behaving Badly in the 1990s.

In 2015 he was awarded an OBE and in 2019 he was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant of Dorset.

Max Mumby/Indigo > Martin Clunes with his wife Philippa Braithwaite