PRECONCEPTIONS can be a good thing sometimes. With a distinguished electrical engineering background, a string of posts in education and a top-class reputation in research, you could be forgiven for thinking Professor Kel Fidler would be a little lacking in the social skills department.

But as the professor extends a welcome into his modern office with its fine view of Newcastle, it soon becomes pleasantly clear he is far removed from the traditional view of a stuffy academic.

He is full of heart-warming anecdotes, speaking fondly for his love of the North, teaching, and his hobby - taking his Honda Super Blackbird CBR 1100 XX for a spin across the North York Moors.

Professor Fidler, 57, has returned to his academic roots by taking up the vice-chancellor post at Northumbria University. He started his academic career as a part time lecturer at Rutherford College, which is now part of the university. But he had his first taste of the North-East as an undergraduate of Kings College, Durham (which later became Newcastle University), and he has fond memories of Newcastle in the Swinging Sixties. "The Newcastle of 1962 was fantastic, full of character and it seems no different from that now," he says.

Born in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, the young Kel grew up in a semi detached house in Pontefract before the family moved to London when he was eight. He admits the southern experience was a bit daunting at first but his tough Yorkshire roots meant he stood for no nonsense from any of the bullies at his new school. In fact, his ability to stick up for himself landed him in trouble with the headmaster after just two weeks. "I think being brought up in south Yorkshire made you pretty tough. My mum had said to me 'don't worry - you're a Yorkshire lad and you'll be able to beat everyone up' - I think I took her at her word," he laughs.

Another great influence in his life was his father Sam, who inspired him to take up electrical engineering. Mr Fidler senior had won a scholarship at Doncaster Grammar School, but the family needed his salary more at the time, so at the age of 14 he had to go down the local pit. Remarkably, his father managed to study at night school and went on to join the ministry of works before eventually rising to a position overseeing the electrical engineering for half of the hospitals in London.

Unlike his father, however, it was the teaching side of his chosen field which would bring the professor a great deal of joy. "I just love the atmosphere of higher education," he says. "When I started teaching it added another dimension to research that was just great. It's all very hackneyed but the enlightenment on people's faces when they finally understand is fantastic. Not only that but I found I could keep the research going and I actually enjoyed the admin and management, which is why I'm in this position."

After Rutherford College, the professor went on to become head of the electronics discipline at the Open University and chairman of the department of electrical engineering science at the University of Essex. He has left his post as head of electronics at York University, having had periods as head of department, pro-vice chancellor and deputy vice-chancellor at York, to come to Northumbria.

But despite his prestigious position at the North-East university, he says he still loves teaching and hopes to give an occasional lecture in electrical engineering. The students will no doubt welcome his engaging teaching manner; the professor has been acknowledged as an outstanding lecturer at his past universities. There are also other reasons why he wants to keep his hand in.

"It's so I can meet the students but also because the lecture theatres are about the only place I can be without being interrupted. It's like an oasis in there," he confesses.

It is an exciting time to take over the top post at Northumbria, as it has been named the best new university for the past three years. For his first few weeks, the professor says he will focus his attention on visiting each school within the university and getting to know everyone.

"My plan is to make this university even more successful," he says. "The first thing I'm going to do is talk to as many people as possible. I think what's really important is getting some proper strategies together, a list of things we must do in order to be successful. Then we won't just talk about it and put the document in the cupboard, we'll actually do it."

His plans for the future are likely to include his continuing commitment to research (he has been successful in winning six-figure grants in the past) as well as exploring the benefits from learning via the Internet.

And when he needs a break from academia, he can always go for a stroll near his Northumberland home or hop on his bike with partner Nadine.

Surprisingly he only took up motorbiking four years ago after a 25-mile charity walk left him out of action for three months and he was diagnosed with the early stages of osteo arthritis in his knees. It put paid to any Three Peak and Coast-to-Coast challenges.

"Here I was being grounded and I'm not one for lying on beaches so I thought, what am I going to do?," he recalls. "So I signed up for an intensive biking course. On day one I'd never been on one and by the sixth day I took my test."

The same determination to succeed will no doubt be evident during his time at Northumbria University.