THE Vice chancellor of the University of Kent, David Melville, has announced he will retire in a year’s time.

Professor Melville, who has held the post for five years, made the announcement in a letter to colleagues.

During his period as vice chancellor, he has played a major part in the establishment of the Medway universities campus on the site of the former Royal Navy Barracks at Chatham Maritime.

In the past 12 months he has seen the fruition of two major projects on the campus, with the opening of the ground breaking brass clad Medway Building and the resource centre based on the former Drill Hall.