Sir Maurice Shock LLD (1926-2018)

Sir Maurice, who was also an honorary graduate of the University, was knighted in the New Year’s Honours List in 1988 in recognition of his services to Leicester and the wider academic community.

On the occasion of Sir Maurice being conferred with an honorary degree at Leicester, the Public Orator, Professor Aftab Khan, said:

“Our Vice-Chancellor leaves us with a number of prominent monuments – including the Biocentre, sponsored industrially, which is his own personal achievement; the Fraser Noble Building for the School of Education; the new Sports Centre at Manor Road; efficiently run and well maintained Halls of Residence; the development of education in professional subjects. But the most important legacy of all is that he has built up the standards in this University so that it can hold its own with any in the world in the subjects that we do, and has thus secured our future into the next century.”

His contributions were also praised by the Leicester Mercury:

‘Much of the City’s prestige depends on the quality and reputation of its University.  Mr Shock has built on the foundations laid by its predecessor, Sir Fraser Noble, with distinction and grace.’

Sir Maurice was educated at King Edward VI Aston School and King Edward’s School in Birmingham and went on to obtain a first-class degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Balliol College, Oxford.  He became a Fellow, Tutor and Bursar of University College, Oxford where he was later appointed Honorary Fellow.

In his last two years at Leicester, he was Chairman of CVCP, the national body representing universities and forerunner to Universities UK.

After leaving Leicester, he was appointed Rector of Lincoln College, Oxford. He also served as a member of the UK General Medical Council and as chairman of the Nuffield Trust. The University named the Maurice Shock Medical Sciences Building in his honour.

A Service of Thanksgiving will be held in Balliol College Chapel, Oxford on Thursday 26 July 2018 at 2.30pm followed by tea at Lincoln College. There will be a Memorial Service later in the year. No flowers, please. Donations, if desired, to The Royal British Legion and Age UK to Sandra Homewood Funerals, 14 Cherwell Drive, Marston OX3 0LY.

• Read an obituary for Sir Maurice Shock by Nigel Siesage
• You can access the oration and response on the occasion of Sir Maurice being awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws in July 1987 here .
• Report on farewell events to mark the retirement of Sir Maurice Shock (Bulletin August 1987)
• Speeches from the farewell events to mark the retirement of Sir Maurice Shock (Bulletin October 1987)

Sir Maurice at the unveiling of his portrait by Bryan Organ, marking his retirement (1987).

At the renaming of the Medical Sciences Building to the Maurice Shock Medical Sciences Building in 1994.