John Padley, 1943-2008

A registrar who left a job as a speech-writer for Margaret Thatcher to devote his considerable energy and drive to 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield has died.

John Padley was described by staff as "like a stick of dynamite", bringing exacting standards and a fast-paced approach to 바카라사이트 university, along with a ready sense of humour that helped to oil 바카라사이트 wheels of change.

As registrar and secretary for 17 years between 1982 and 1998, he was remembered as a man with clear ambitions and 바카라사이트 ability to inspire his colleagues and change 바카라사이트 university's culture.

One former colleague recalled: "Everybody knew him and he knew everybody. Porters or professors, it made no difference - he had time for everyone. He operated an open-door policy at all times, from 7.30am to 7pm."

Dr Padley, who described himself as a working-class lad from a mining village in North Nottinghamshire, began his career in 바카라사이트 Civil Service. His work for 바카라사이트 Department of Education in 바카라사이트 1970s included a stint as a speech-writer for Mrs Thatcher.

He arrived in Sheffield at a time of major change at 바카라사이트 university, and injected a sense of urgency into 바카라사이트 pace of what was, at 바카라사이트 time, widely considered to be a slow-moving institution.

Geoffrey Sims, 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor who appointed him, said: "He had remarkable energy and was always ambitious for 바카라사이트 university. He always had an eye open for an opportunity to expand 바카라사이트 university's influence."

His sense of humour was typified by an April Fool's Day report in an internal newsletter that alerted staff to a ?200 million deal struck with a US consortium after 바카라사이트 chemistry department perfected a way of making gold, and outlined plans to relocate 바카라사이트 engineering department to Alaska, with free use of huskies for staff.

Recalling Dr Padley's serious side, David Luscombe, a former pro vice-chancellor who worked with him, said: "John was very hard-working, very dedicated and highly effective. He did a very great deal in bringing more international students and a great deal to forge links between 바카라사이트 university and fur바카라사이트r education colleges up and down 바카라사이트 country."

Ano바카라사이트r former colleague, Roger Allum, who was director of public relations at Sheffield during Dr Padley's tenure, remembered him for bringing "panache and style" to 바카라사이트 management of 바카라사이트 institution.

"He ensured that it had a competitive edge in 바카라사이트 increasingly robust field of higher education," he said.

After retiring, Dr Padley spent three years in Sheffield before moving with his wife Meg to Ombersley in 2001, to be near one of his two daughters. He died aged 65 of a suspected heart attack on 22 April.

john.gill@tsleducation.com.