Honorary
Doctorates |
Ray Turner
View more images of Ray Turner at Graduation
Arbitrator Ray Turner, has received an Honorary Doctorate of Science from Leeds Met during Winter Graduation 2005. The award was in recognition of his outstanding contribution and commitment to the University and to the construction industry and arbitration profession.
Ray Turner has recently retired as visiting Professor of Arbitration at Leeds Metropolitan University after a long and outstanding professional career.
On receiving his award Ray Turner said: “I shall treasure this honorary doctorate for the rest of my days.
“Congratulations to all who have worked hard, many of you in addition to your daily work. Please don’t rest on your laurels. I trust that you will make and take every opportunity to further your knowledge and understanding and ability. Look for ways of improving what ever functions you carry out in your everyday work… and perform to the utmost of your ability.”
After training as a Quantity Surveyor with a national firm of building and civil engineering contractors he founded a Quantity Surveying practice, Turner and Holman, with his business partner in 1951. Through his practice he was involved in a wide variety of projects throughout the British Isles , with particular interest in the development of measurement techniques for works of restoration, advising in litigation and arbitration matters and insurance matters relating to construction contracts. Having practised as an Arbitrator since the mid-60s, he was at one time one of less than 200 Registered Arbitrators and was appointed on approximately 300 occasions, principally in relation to disputes in the construction industry, before his retirement from this role in 1997. He continued as a Member of the VAT and Duties Appeals Tribunals until 2001, retiring at his own request. In addition to this he acted as advisor and/or expert witness in arbitration and litigation, was listed on panels of arbitrators maintained by various professional institutions as well as the Northern Arbitration Association and the Hong Kong panel of Arbitrators.
Ray was appointed as external examiner on the degree in Quantity Surveying at Leeds Polytechnic, later becoming an adviser and occasional lecturer. In 1994 he became visiting Professor of Arbitration at Leeds Metropolitan University and was involved in the setting up of the MSc in Construction Law and Arbitration. He retired as visiting Professor in 1997, but continued as a visiting lecturer. He became visiting Professor again in 2000 until 2004, and in April 2005 delivered his final lecture at the age of 77. As well as his long association with the university he has also been an examiner for the other professional bodies, and a tutor on various courses in arbitration practice for the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
He was Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, a Vice-President of the Academy of Experts, a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Quantity Surveyors Practice Board and was a Founder Member of the Society of Construction Law and the Society of Construction Arbitrators. He has lectured widely on related subjects in the UK and abroad.He recently published a book entitled ‘Arbitration Awards: A practical approach'. In the foreword Lord Bingham of Cornhill, The Senior Law Lord, describes him as “the doyen of English lay arbitrators in the construction field” a view that many of his students over the years have endorsed.
