World Affairs founder dies aged 94
Under his leadership, World Affairs grew from small beginnings to become a nationally and internationally recognised annual series of lectures featuring many high-profile speakers."
It is with great sadness that we report the death on 18 February, 2015, at the age of 94, of Owen Powell MBE. An honorary graduate of Keele, Owen was synonymous with Keele World Affairs, the lecture class that he founded and developed over more than 30 years.
Keele University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nick Foskett, said: "The University is saddened to learn of Owen's death. Under his leadership World Affairs grew from small beginnings to become a nationally and internationally recognised annual series of lectures featuring many high-profile speakers."
World Affairs operates under the auspices of the School of Politics, International Relations and Philosophy at Keele and is the largest Adult Education forum in Europe, with 430 members. Owen was not only the founder of the series, but was also the sole organiser of the programme and host to the guest speakers, which included Arthur Scargill, Digby Jones, Trevor McDonald, Shirley Williams, and former Guantanamo Bay prisoner Moazzam Begg.
Last year the University hosted a dinner to mark Owen's retirement as Chairman of Keele World Affairs after 34 years.
More information about Owen’s remarkable achievements may be found on the Keele World Affairs website at http://www.kwaku.org.uk/Owen%20Powell.html.