Vice-Chancellor, 

Once in a while, someone you meet will have an impact on your life and your career because they have a remarkable story about their attitude and their own life.I first met David Allen at a Trustee Board for a charity called the Healing Foundation which has since re-branded as the Scar Free Foundation. We had a mutual interest in sport. Through this and the works of the Scar Free Foundation I learnt what an incredible career David had built.This was founded and planted ina love of life, people and interests and an ability to seek and develop opportunities with much courage. I would argue that the strait jacket of academia would have stifled all of this and deprived him of some wonderful alternatives. It also would not have taught David his greatest skill – leadership. 

Let us begin with David at school. He went to Rayleigh Comprehensive School and became Head Boy. He also was selected for and captained West Midlands under 18 rugby– all markers of future leadership. After business studies at the Bristol College of Commerce, David’s characteristic of kindness and generosity to others was highlighted as a teacher in Zimbabwe under the Voluntary Services Overseas scheme. One weekend, David hitch-hiked from the Mosi-oa-Tunya Falls (also known as Victoria Falls) to Kitwe in Zambia. This is equivalent to travelling from Bristol to the island of Skye, and the aim was to meet up with a former school teacher. The latter was not there so David just turned around and hitch-hiked back to Zimbabwe. No fretting or worrying, he just pressed on. He loved the people of Africa but returned to the UK as a management trainee with Shellmex and BP.  

He then embarked on the greatest adventure of his life – he emigrated to Australia as a “Ten Pound Pom”. This was a scheme where skills shortages in Australia were being met with a £10 ticket to emigrate. In Sydney he worked in a timberyard, played rugby for Northern Suburbs (moving from the 5th team to the 1stteam in only three weeks) and then, with $100, two tee shirts and two pairs of shorts, he hitch-hiked all the way around Australia. It took him six months and when he returned, he wanted to explore Sydney so he became a taxi driver. He drove mainly at night so that he could surf on the beaches in the afternoons – he was known locally as “Big Wave Dave”.  

As a taxi driver, David delivered documents for a US start up company called DHL Ltd. He saw an opportunity and negotiated with the parent company to set up DHL Australia. The deal would involve David working for no salary, with only his out-of-pocket expenses reimbursed, to get the business off the ground with a promise of shares in the company if he was successful. His apartment became an office and, as a popular rugby player in Sydney, David approached his contacts throughout the world of rugby to take a risk and join him. He led by example and worked as a hands-on courier. With his natural sales ability he convinced large companies to use the start up company instead of the Post Office. David used his charm and guile to make sure his documents were prioritised for delivery by the airlines. In the early days, the ground crew were well supplied with doughnuts and his packages were prioritised. He was now known as “Doughnut Dave”. David hired a loyal workforce, many of whom he also considered friends. He never fired anyone that he was responsible for hiring.  

David’s hard work, his leadership, his ability to have faith in people and delegate and his interpersonal skills propelled the expansion of DHL into New Zealand, Fiji, Singapore, the Middle East, Malaysia, Africa, the UK, Europe and then China.The business flourished by focusing on the international market and DHL became the world’s largest courier company geographically. David was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in recognition of his services to world trade and eventually stepped aside from the day-to-day business operations to focus on giving back via his charity work.  

David has always been very understated in his charitable works, which are wide and often based on marginalised children in underprivileged settings, orphanages, hospices and those with disabilities. He supports relatively neglected areas of research such as scarring, burns and children born with cleft lip and palate.  He also sponsors student research projects from various countries. Sport integrated with charitable support is a powerful instrument which David has used as a member of a cross-party Independent Sports Review Group set up by parliament to look at all aspects of sport in the UK.  

David is joined by his family today: his wife Meg, as well as his daughter Maria and son Gregory; both are graduates from this University. The “old man” has just got an upgrade and there is much to celebrate in today’s recognition.David’s loyal assistant, Cecilia Lawrence, who supported David for many years on both the business and charity side is also here today to join the celebration. 

Vice-Chancellor, I present to you David R Allen as eminently worthy of the degree of Doctor of Laws honoris causa.