Author is named new rector at St Andrews

AUTHOR and former director of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Alistair Moffat has been named as the new Lord Rector of the University of St Andrews.

Mr Moffat, who is a former director of programmes at STV, was one of five names from the worlds of politics, broadcasting, literature and sport to contest the 2011 rectorial election.

A graduate of St Andrews, he beat former Scottish secretary Lord Forsyth, ex-Scottish Socialist Party MSP Colin Fox, former BBC broadcaster Abeer Macintyre, and footballer -turned-commentator Pat Nevin after a week-long campaign.

In the first round of voting, Mr Nevin was knocked out after receiving just 266 votes.

The second round saw Mr Moffat win with 1,956 votes, his closest competitor was Lord Forsyth, who polled 825 votes.

Mr Moffat, who graduated from St Andrews in 1972 and takes up his new post immediately, is appointed for a three-year term that will span the university’s 600th anniversary celebrations.

Speaking after confirmation of his victory, he said: “I am absolutely humbled, delighted and proud.

“We have had a wonderful week, and I thank the other candidates for their fellowship.”

He added: “Any one of the five would have served the university very well and all deserve applause.”

Mr Moffat, who is currently the director of the Lennoxlove and Borders Book Festival, follows in the footsteps of luminaries such as Peter Pan author JM Barrie, Jungle Book creator Rudyard Kipling, and comedian John Cleese.