Official Opening of Kenneth Dibben House

At Southampton, Kenneth distinguished himself both academically and in his extra curricular activities: founding Southampton Young Conservatives, participating in the Student Council, chairing the Conservative Society and presiding over the Debating Society. He was also selected as one of two students to represent British universities on a three month debating tour of the US, during which he was reprimanded for heckling in New York.

During his working life as an accountant and finance director, Kenneth maintained links through Convocation, going on to become its Chairman. He was a member of the University Council and, in 1982, became its treasurer. In 1983 he co-founded Chilworth Centre Limited: what has subsequently become Chilworth Manor Limited and the University of Southampton Science Park Limited. He served as Director of the Science Park for ten years and spent a further eight as Chairman of the company. He was awarded a DSc in the social sciences by the University in 1998.

Guests were welcomed to the opening by Science Park Chief Executive Peter Birkett. An introductory speech was made by Alan Walker, Chairman of the Science Park and University Treasurer, who listed the achievements of the Science Park to date, highlighting the contribution made by former Chief Executive Don Fox, as well as the importance of the University's spin-out culture in the success of the Park. The Guest of Honour, Mr Gye Dibben, spoke of his father's various achievements throughout his life and thanked the Park for paying tribute to Kenneth in this manner. He unveiled the plaque, officially opening the building and Prof Bill Wakeham (Vice-Chancellor) concluded the speeches. In highlighting the need to look to the future, Prof Wakeham emphasised the importance of remaining at the forefront of technology and intellectual property on the international stage.

The guests, including Alan Whitehead MP and the Mayors of Test Valley and Southampton, were taken on a tour around the 30,000 square foot building, meeting its various tenants. The first company in the building was Email Reaction, a business that develops software for online marketing activities, who moved across from the Chilworth Business Incubator in September 2006. They were followed by HW Corporate Finance, who provide services important to early stage businesses. Elaine Moore and Adrian Marrocco escorted visitors around the laboratories and offices of Ilika, the latest University spin-out to arrive at Southampton Science Park, which operates in the field of combinatorial chemistry processing. Mike Branagan-Harris of VNUS Medical Technologies gave an animation based presentation demonstrating the benefits of their endovenous treatment for varicose veins. The treatment uses microwaves to close the walls of affected veins and can be done under local anaesthetic on an outpatient basis with significantly improved recovery times when compared to traditional methods. Kenneth Dibben House also boasts medical grade clean rooms, which are rarely found outside hospitals and universities, and have an adjoining wet lab and office space.

email: enquiries@science-park.co.uk            Telephone: +44 (0) 23 8076 7420            Fax: +44 (0) 23 8076 6190
The University of Southampton Science Park Limited, 2 Venture Road, Chilworth, Southampton, Hampshire SO16 7NP, UK