Seeing stars

Clifford Friend, deputy vice-chancellor of Cranfield University, shows off the award for the outstanding new student residence.

The university picked up the trophy at the inaugural Times Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards (Thelmas), which were presented at the London Hilton last week.

Staff from across the sector gathered to celebrate their achievements and those of their peers. The evening was given added star quality by the impressionist Rory Bremner (pictured bottom left), whose interpretations of everyone from Nelson Mandela to Tony Blair had the audience in stitches.

The ceremony was followed by a charity casino raising money for Skill, the National Bureau for Students with Disabilities.

Cranfield was recognised for providing quiet and spacious postgraduate accommodation that encouraged students and academics to socialise together.