People

Find out more about our experts, our teachers, our change-makers.

Sally Davies

Honorary Fellow

Dame Sally Davies, the first female Chief Medical Officer for England, became an Honorary Fellow in 2016.

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.

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.

Maud Bodkin

Lecturer. Psychologist, and Literary Critic

Lecturer at Homerton College, Maud Bodkin, was a well-respected psychologist and philosophical commentator.

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

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.

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.

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.

Evelyn Lowe

Challenging gender roles

The portrait of Evelyn Lowe is a hidden treasure of Homerton’s art collection.

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.

Dr David Clifford

Research Insights

David Clifford explains how both developing scientific discovery and popular culture can at the same time influence contemporary literature.

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.

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.

John Pye Smith

Great inspiration and forward thinking attitude

One of the longest serving Principals at Homerton Academy, London

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 Chris Brooke

Research Insights

Dr Christopher Brooke’s commemorative Canadian war medal is full of imagery relating to the political thought of the time.

Jean Rudduck

An inspirational teacher

Peter Cunningham remembers Jean Rudduck, who was renowned for her work in education research.

John Fell

Resident and classical tutor

John Fell was resident and classical tutor at Homerton College between 1787 and 1797.

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.

Mary Miller Allan

Homerton’s first female Principal

Mary Allan was Homerton’s first, and longest serving, female Principal, from 1903-35.

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.

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 […]

Edward Stallybrass

A traveller and translator

Edward Stallybrass travelled 4,000 miles to bring Christianity to Siberia.

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.

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.

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.

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.

John Horobin

Orchestrated Homerton’s move to Cambridge

John Horobin orchestrated Homerton College’s move from the East End of London to Cambridge.

Betty Rea

An inspirational teacher

Peter Cunningham, exploring the archive, discovers Betty Rea, who taught at Homerton College between 1949 and 1964.

John Conder

Our first Principal

John Conder was the founding Principal of Homerton Academy in 1768.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.