ALTON College has had to cancel the foundation lecture planned for March 14.
This yearÕs lecture was to have been delivered by Lord Wakeham and the topic he had chosen was ÒFreedom and Responsibility: The Press in the 21st CenturyÓ.
However, he has recently stepped aside as chairman of the Press Complaints Commission while issues connected with the collapse of Enron are reviewed.
ÒWe were delighted when he accepted our invitation which we sent him last year. Naturally we are extremely disappointed, although we understand the circumstances,Ó said Alton College principal Michael Gray.
ÒEach year we have invited to the college a figure prominent in national life and we were much looking forward to hearing John WakehamÕs comments on the balance between freedom and responsibility in the press.Ó
Previous foundation lecturers at the college have included Mary Warnock, Peter Palumbo, Shirley Williams, Virginia Bottomley and Jonathan Porritt.
A feature of these occasions is that they are managed on the night by a team of sixth form students, one of whom chairs the occasion.
ÒThe opportunity to meet important public figures is a significant part of sixth form education,Ó said Mr Gray, Òand the foundation lecture is one of the opportunities students have in the year for doing this.Ó