Current Students and Staff

// University News

17 Jul 2014

Staff presented with University Medal

Goff Tearle Goff Tearle

Three members of staff have been presented with the University Medal at this week’s degree ceremonies.

The Medal is awarded to those who have made a distinctive and long-running contribution to the University. They have championed the values of Loughborough throughout their long careers and consistently gone above-and-beyond the requirements of their role.

Former Senior Finance Business Partner Steve Hughes was presented with the Medal on 15 July.

Steve joined the University in April 1984 as an accounting assistant within the finance team. It was the start of 30 years’ dedicated service until he retired in April this year.

For many Steve was the human face of the world of accounting, effortlessly making a complex subject understandable to those who weren’t finance specialists. With an extensive knowledge of the University and its finances, he was regularly the 'go to' person and, as a result, he developed a huge network of contacts with staff in Schools, departments and professional services.

Today Medals were awarded to Goff Tearle and Terry Neale.

Goff Tearle joined Loughborough in 1990, after a period as Chief Technician in the RAF.

As Senior Technical Tutor within Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering, he has made a huge contribution to the Department’s teaching, providing high quality training for students in technical drawing, Computer-Aided Design and related skills over a period of 20 years. He has been tutor to many cohorts of first years and plays a major role in the coordination of undergraduate industrial placements.

Goff’s hands-on role means that he has developed excellent relationships with the students and, remarkably, he is able to remember the names of most, if not all, of the Department’s undergraduates. He is an invaluable source of sound advice, with a natural modesty and desire to ‘simply get on with it’.

Terry Neale joined the University in 1977, working as an Electronics Technician in the department of Chemical Engineering up to his retirement in October last year.

A dedicated member of staff, Terry was always happy to help out in the department in whichever way he could. During his years here he acted as mentor to a number of junior technical staff and apprentices, helping them to develop their skills. Although many such staff eventually moved on to work at other organisations, they frequently stayed in touch with Terry and were always grateful for the way in which he nurtured and helped them in their early careers.

Terry was passionate about both the department in which he worked and the wider University. In his role as a union representative he was a long-serving member of several committees, including the University’s Council, and was an integral part of the working group involved in the formation a few years ago of the current school structure.

Alan Woods, former Treasurer of the University, was also presented with an honorary degree at today’s graduation ceremony. He was made an Honorary Doctor of the University, in recognition of his contribution to the governance of the University.