Student representation: from student exec to Rector

When we last caught up in The Bridge with Rector and music manager, Keith Harris, he told us how he met his wife on the steps of the Students’ Union. On hearing that they would both be in Dundee for his final graduation ceremonies as Rector this summer, we couldn’t resist a catch up about all things music and a photo opportunity!  
 
“We met on the steps of the Students’ Union in 1974,” explained Keith.  

“We went to a couple of gigs and dances and all that kind of stuff as students did. But then I left for London about two months afterwards. Helen came to visit me, then I moved to York and was living with a band that I was managing. I tried to get them a deal but unfortunately it didn't work out so I got a job with a record company, doing radio promotions.” 

Whilst doing radio promotions, a chance meeting with Stevie Wonder in London in the late 1970s was to be the turning point of his career.    

The man about town

“Stevie’s then partner was really into fashion and he wanted to take her to Paris but unfortunately, he took her on a public holiday where everything was closed. He decided to come to London instead. I was in Manchester, on tour with Smokey Robinson and got a frantic call saying, get back down to London now because Stevie Wonder's arriving in London and we want to take him out but don't know where to go. Because I was head of promotions, I knew all the clubs and was seen as the man about town. So we went out on the town and the rest as they say is history!” 

But it was Keith’s formative musical experiences in Dundee and his time as Entertainments Convenor for the Students’ Union that paved the way for his start in the music industry.  

"Dundee completely modelled my future"

“When I was a student at first, the Union was in the basement at No.1 Perth Road. I remember in my very first week in Dundee being in the basement and the band that was playing was called Nazareth. And of course, Nazareth went on to be a huge stage stadium act! I also saw Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and Black Sabbath at the Caird Hall, which at the time was the main touring circuit along with Glasgow and I think, the longest concert hall in Europe. 

“The student union circuit was the big circuit for pop and rock bands. It used to be that when you joined the University, you were automatically enrolled as a Student Union member. You paid a small subscription fee to be a union member, so then the Union had some money. The unions were then putting on pop and rock bands up and down the country. All the pop and rock bands that developed between the late 60s and the mid 70s all cut their teeth playing student union gigs.

“It was a very exciting time, the first band I was involved in putting on was a band called Wishbone Ash - they went on to be huge. I also booked Supertramp and Thin Lizzy, they played in the New Dines which is now the Chaplaincy Centre. It was funny seeing bands that play Dundee Student Union suddenly playing huge stadiums! 

“As far as I'm concerned, Dundee completely modelled my future. If it wasn't for Dundee, I wouldn't have got anywhere close to what I ended up doing.”  

"I've enjoyed my time as Rector"

Keith’s relationship with Dundee was re-acquainted, firstly speaking at the 50th anniversary celebrations of DUSA in November 2019, then being installed as Rector in April 2022.  

“It was funny coming back to the Caird Hall for the graduation ceremonies as I looked the other way. All the gigs I was looking up at the stage and then I was looking down from the stage towards the audience! 

“I've enjoyed my time as Rector. When taking on the role I was always keen to attend graduations. Even if it's only a figurehead, I think it’s important for the students to feel that they actually have someone who can talk on their behalf if necessary. It’s an important role and I wanted to do it as well as I could.”  

Unusually, both the Chancellor of the University, The Rt Hon. Lord Robertson of Port Ellen KT and Rector are Dundee graduates.  

“I've been pretty pleased to end up in a situation where George Robertson is the Chancellor because I think it's unusual for a University to have two former students as Chancellor and Rector at the same time. 

“I really felt good about that, in both George and my case, the University played such a big part in our lives. It's been good to feel connected and associated with the University again.”