People
Find out more about our experts, our teachers, our change-makers.
Maud Brereton
Advocate and activist in public health
Maud Cloudesley Brereton was Resident Tutor at Homerton College from 1897, and became Acting Principal in 1902. Following this, she became hugely influential in the sphere of public health, particularly focused on domestic settings.
Dame Evelyn Glennie
Solo percussionist
Evelyn Glennie is the first person in history to successfully create and sustain a full-time career as a solo percussionist.
Evelyn Lowe
Challenging gender roles
The portrait of Evelyn Lowe is a hidden treasure of Homerton’s art collection.
Hilda Hartle
Promoting women's education
A chemistry lecturer in the early twentieth century, Hilda Hartle was a passionate campaigner for women’s rights in the sciences.
Dr Kate Pretty CBE
A personal reflection
Philip Stephenson (Fellow from 1996 in Education) worked closely with Kate Pretty during her time as Principal (1991-2013), and here remembers her leadership of Homerton College.
Professor Geoff Ward
Geoff Ward
Professor Geoff Ward, Principal of Homerton College, explains his research interests and how they began, with a photo of Michael McClure, Bob Dylan, and Allen Ginsberg.
John Conder
Our first Principal
John Conder was the founding Principal of Homerton Academy in 1768.
Edward Stallybrass
A traveller and translator
Edward Stallybrass travelled 4,000 miles to bring Christianity to Siberia.
Grace Dibble
Teaching across the world
A self-described ‘lone wanderer’, Grace Dibble’s geographical quest began with her studies at Homerton College. It flourished in adventurous world-wide travel well into her eighties, recorded in thirteen books published over 30 years, the last in 1998 when she died aged 97. She studied at Homerton College from 1922-25, one of only five women who […]
Dr John Hopkins
Composer in Residence
John Hopkins, Emeritus Fellow and Composer in Residence at Homerton College, discusses his career and the changing College over the years.
Ivan Vaughan
The man who made the Beatles
Ivan Vaughan taught Psychology at Homerton College from 1973 to 1983 when he had to take early retirement on grounds of ill health. However, Ivan’s story was not only situated in the world of teaching but had, as a central core, his relationship with the Beatles.
Maud Bodkin
Lecturer. Psychologist, and Literary Critic
Lecturer at Homerton College, Maud Bodkin, was a well-respected psychologist and philosophical commentator.
Dr Chris Brooke
Research Insights
Dr Christopher Brooke’s commemorative Canadian war medal is full of imagery relating to the political thought of the time.
Kay Melzi
A respected artist and an inspirational teacher
Her unique character and encouraging teaching meant that she was an inspiration to generations of students.
John Fell
Resident and classical tutor
John Fell was resident and classical tutor at Homerton College between 1787 and 1797.
Susan Stebbing
An appreciation by David Bridges
Professor David Bridges, Emeritus Fellow, explores the life and work of Susan Stebbing – a visiting lecturer at Homerton College between 1911 and 1914.
John Pye Smith
Great inspiration and forward thinking attitude
One of the longest serving Principals at Homerton Academy, London
Miss Read
Homerton's Most Read Author?
Dora Saint, better known by the pen-name Miss Read, became a well loved author with many books about English country life.
John Horobin
Orchestrated Homerton’s move to Cambridge
John Horobin orchestrated Homerton College’s move from the East End of London to Cambridge.
Sally Davies
Honorary Fellow
Dame Sally Davies, the first female Chief Medical Officer for England, became an Honorary Fellow in 2016.
Peter Maxwell Davies
Former Honorary Fellow
Composer Peter Maxwell Davies was an Honorary Fellow at Homerton College from 2009 to his death in 2016. He is here remembered by John Hopkins.
Mary Miller Allan
Homerton’s first female Principal
Mary Allan was Homerton’s first, and longest serving, female Principal, from 1903-35.
Sir Andrew Motion
Poet Laureate 1999-2009
Andrew Motion, former Poet Laureate and current Homewood Professor of the Arts at Johns Hopkins University, USA, became an Honorary Fellow in 2014.
Alison Shrubsole
Alison Shrubsole Remembered
John Axon, former Head of English, remembers Alison Shrubsole through an anecdote she related to him during critical negotiations on Homerton’s relation with Cambridge University.
Percival Sharp
A national leader in education
In this story from the archives, Peter Cunningham discovers Percival Sharp – a Homerton College alumnus who made a great impact on education in the late 19th and early 20th century.
Dame Leah Manning
Making a difference to those in need
Leah Manning studied at Homerton College 1906-1908, and then dedicated her life to helping those in need.
Robina Macintyre
Brought Pinewood to Homerton
Robina Macintyre was a larger-than-life lecturer who made Homerton College the location for our lost film.
Dame Beryl Paston Brown
a personal memoire
Dame Beryl Paston Brown, Principal between 1961 and 1971, enabled Homerton students to take the new Cambridge Bachelor of Education degree.
Jean Rudduck
An inspirational teacher
Peter Cunningham remembers Jean Rudduck, who was renowned for her work in education research.
The Morley Family
Homerton as a teacher training institution
Homerton College’s success in the 19th century was in part due to three generations of the Morley family.
Dr David Clifford
Research Insights
David Clifford explains how both developing scientific discovery and popular culture can at the same time influence contemporary literature.
Alan Bamford
A portrait by Philip Rundall
Philip Rundall was a key member of the art department from 1973-98, and is now a Retired Senior Member. Here Philip remembers painting the portrait for Principal Alan Bamford.
Betty Rea
An inspirational teacher
Peter Cunningham, exploring the archive, discovers Betty Rea, who taught at Homerton College between 1949 and 1964.
Dame Carol Ann Duffy
Poet Laureate 2009-2019
Carol Ann Duffy, UK Poet Laureate since 2009, wrote a poem called Homerton to celebrate becoming a full College of the University of Cambridge
Chris Baczkowski
Homerton's third, and current, Organ Scholar
Homerton College welcomed its first Organ Scholar, Ian Howard, in 2011. Having joined the University Organ Trials, the College subsequently appointed Jonathan Huse and now Chris Baczkowski.
John Jones
Last of the (Victorian) male lecturers
John Jones was a student at Homerton from 1888-9, and later joined the teaching staff, following the College from London to Cambridge. As a Lecturer in Geography, he was inspirational to generations of students.
Mary Barbara Wallis
A staff-member’s top secret past
Senior Lecturer and Warden-Tutor at Homerton 1966-83, Mary Barbara Wallis had a surprising back-story.