2024 Update of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography

April 9, 2024

The April 2024 of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford DNB) adds new biographies of 276 men and women who died in the year 2020.

Below you’ll find biographies of actor Ian Holm, teacher, community activist and race relations campaigner Saroj Lal, politician Seamus Mallon, athlete, teacher and coach Margaret Maughan, journalist, biographer and art historian Fiona MacCarthy, comedian, film director and historian Terry Jones, guitarist and lutenist Julian Bream, peace and social justice campaigner Betty Williams, barrister Leonard Woodley, conservation ecologist Georgina Mace, astronomer Margaret Burbidge, theoretical ecologist and public servant Robert May, Baron May of Oxford, racing driver Stirling Moss, actress Honor Blackman, educationist, race relations campaigner and public servant Dame Jocelyn Barrow, author David Cornwell (pen name John le Carré), rock climber and mountaineer Joe Brown, actor and producer Sir Sean Connery, journalist, historian and travel writer Jan Morris, physicist and astronomer Sir Arnold Wolfendale, actor Louis Mahoney, pianist and piano teacher Dame Fanny Waterman, chief rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Baron Sacks, and engineering geologist Peter Fookes.

Discover the full list of entries added this year  .

 

Kerr Hawking Baker Gifford
Casely-Hayford Brenner Chesney Winton 
  Rhodes Mary Warnock Andrea Levy Ken Matthews  
   Julia Grant Sir Dawda Jawara, Stewart Adams Bhattacharyya
  Bellany Jane Durham Greig Bramall  
Athill Baroness Falkender Freddie Starr Lott Newman 

 

The Oxford DNB is updated regularly throughout the year, giving you access to the most up-to-date and accurate information available.  Many in England, Scotland, and Wales—and all in Northern Ireland—subscribe to the Oxford DNB. This means you can access tens of thousands of biographies, free, via your local library—anywhere, anytime. Full access to all biographies is also available by individual subscription.

Discover a full list of entries added this year.

Adams [née Clarke], Fiona Rose Pattinson (1935–2020), photographer

Addison, Paul (1943–2030), historian

Allen, Dame Ingrid Victoria (1932–2020), neuropathologist

Allen, John Robert Lawrence (1932–2020), geologist and geoarchaeologist

Alliss, Peter (1931–2020), golfer and broadcaster

Anderson, Sir (William) Eric Kinloch (1936–2020), headmaster and college head

Anwar, Muhammad (1945–2020), sociologist and scholar of race relations

Appleton, Michael John Wilmot [Mike] (1936–2020), television producer

Appleyard, Sir Leonard Vincent [Len] (1938–2020), diplomatist

Armitage, (Caroline) Catharine (1944–2020), artist

Armstrong, Robert Temple, Baron Armstrong of Ilminster (1927–2020), civil servant

Ashton, Joseph William [Joe] (1933–2020), politician

Assoon, Barbara Dolores (1929?–2020), actress and radio announcer

Baines [née Silver], Mary Jean (1932–2020), physician and pioneer of community palliative care

Baldwin, Sir Jack Edward (1938–2020), organic chemist

Baring, John Francis Harcourt, seventh Baron Ashburton (1928–2020), merchant banker and industrialist

Barkham [née Huxley], Selma de Lotbinière (1927–2020), historian and geographer

Barnaby, (Charles) Frank (1927–2020), nuclear physicist, peace researcher, and peace campaigner

Barnes, Sir (James) David Francis (1936–2020), industrialist

Barrow, Dame Jocelyn Anita (1929–2020), educationist, race relations campaigner, and public servant

Barrow, John David (1952–2020), cosmologist

Bate, Jennifer Lucy (1944–2020), organist

Beattie, John Gerard [Johnny] (1926–2020), actor and variety artist

Beavis, Sir Michael Gordon (1929–2020), air force officer

Beldam, Sir (Alexander) Roy Asplin (1925–2020), judge and law commissioner

Berridge, Sir Michael John [Mike] (1938–2020), physiologist, biochemist, and cell biologist

Blackman, Honor (1925–2020), actress

Blake [née Behar], George [also known as Giorgi Ivanovich Bekhter] (1922–2020), intelligence officer and spy

Bough, Francis Joseph [Frank] (1933–2020), sports broadcaster and television presenter

Braithwaite, Althea Mary (1940–2020), author, illustrator, and publisher

Bream, Julian Alexander (1933–2020), guitarist and lutenist

Brigstocke, Sir John Richard (1945–2020), naval officer, ombudsman, and public servant

Brittan, Sir Samuel (1933–2020), political economist and journalist

Brown, Joseph [Joe] (1930–2020), rock climber and mountaineer

Bryan, Felicity Anne (1945–2020), journalist and literary agent

Bryant, David John (1931–2020), lawn bowler

Bryant, John William (1944–2020), athlete, journalist, and newspaper executive

Burbidge [née Peachey], (Eleanor) Margaret (1919–2020), astronomer

Buxton [married name Silk], Angela (1934–2020), tennis player

Cadogan, Sir John Ivan George (1930–2020), organic chemist

Cameron, Earlston Jewett [Earl] (1917–2020), actor

Carr [née Gilfillan], Janet Gould (1927–2020), clinical psychologist

Carr, Pearl Lavinia (1921–2020), singer and entertainer

Charlton, John [Jack] (1935–2020), footballer and football manager

Christie [née Nicholson], (Patricia) Mary, Lady Christie (1937–2020), arts administrator

Christie, Stuart (1946–2020), anarchist, writer, and publisher

Clack [née Agnew], Jennifer Alice [Jenny] (1947–2020), vertebrate palaeontologist

Clemence, Raymond Neal [Ray] (1948–2020), footballer

Coia, Dame Denise Assunta (1952–2020), psychiatrist and medical leader

Coleridge, David Ean (1932–2020), Lloyd’s underwriter

Coles, John Morton (1930–2020), archaeologist

Connery, Sir Thomas (Sean) (1930–2020), actor and producer

Conran, Sir Terence Orby (1931–2020), designer, restaurateur, and entrepreneur

Conway, John Horton (1937–2020), mathematician

Cooling, Wendy Ena (1941–2020), teacher and founder of Bookstart

Cornwell, David John Moore [pen name John le Carré] (1931–2020), author

Couper, Heather Anita (1949–2020), astronomer and broadcaster

Cox [née Brindle], Josephine (1938–2020), novelist

Crawford, Lincoln Santo (1944–2020), barrister

Crickmay, Anthony John (1937–2020), photographer

Crowe, Sir Brian Lee (1938–2020), diplomatist and European Union official

Crown, Jonathan Courtenay Langdon Maurice (1964–2020), charity founder and administrator [see under Vyvyan, Jennifer Brigit]

Cuka, Frances (1936–2020), actress

Curtis, Valerie Ann [Val] (1958–2020), behavioural scientist and public health expert

Dadson, Trevor John (1947–2020), Hispanic scholar

Darmady, Judith Mary (1935–2020), paediatrician

Davies, Doreen Mary (1928–2020), radio producer and broadcasting executive

Davies, Spencer David Nelson [known as Spencer Davis] (1939–2020), singer, guitarist, and actor

Davies [née Adey], Susan Elizabeth [Sue] (1933–2020), curator and gallery founder

Day, Peter (1938–2020), chemist, materials scientist, and scientific administrator

Docherty, Thomas Henderson [Tommy] (1928–2020), footballer, football manager, and broadcaster

Dollery, Sir Colin Terence (1931–2020), physician and clinical pharmacologist

Dronke, (Ernst) Peter Michael (1934–2020), scholar of medieval Latin

Edgar [née Broome], Elizabeth McPherson [Liz] (1943–2020), showjumper, trainer, and horse breeder

Edrich, John Hugh (1937–2020), cricketer

Elliott, Anthony Michael Manton [Tony] (1947–2020), magazine proprietor

Ellis, Glyn Geoffrey [performing name Wayne Fontana] (1945–2020), singer and entertainer

Emsley, Clive (1944–2020), historian

Erdal [née Crawford; first married name Bradshaw], Jennifer Elizabeth Wilkie [Jennie] (1951–2020), writer and translator

Evans, Sir David George (1924–2020), air force officer

Evans, Sir Harold Matthew [Harry] (1928–2020), newspaper editor

Falk, Mary Elizabeth (1946–2020), solicitor and yachtswoman

Farrand, Julian Thomas (1935–2020), legal scholar and ombudsperson

Fay, Stephen Francis John (1938–2020), journalist and author

Fisk, Robert William (1946–2020), journalist and author

Fookes, Peter George (1933–2020), engineering geologist

Foster, John (1920–2020), environmentalist

Frankland, Alfred William [Bill] (1912–2020), allergist

Freeman [née Dove; first married name Wheeler], Catherine Sheila (1931–2020), television producer, broadcasting executive, and diplomatic hostess

Frisby, Terence Peter Michael [performing name Terence Holland] (1932–2020), actor and playwright

Froggatt, Sir Peter (1928–2020), epidemiologist, university administrator, and public servant

Fyfe [née O’Neill], Catherine Mary [Maria] (1938–2020), politician

Garnett, Anthony [Tony] (1936–2020), television and film producer

Gascoine, Jill Viola (1937–2020), actress

Ginsburg [née Blumstein], Madeleine Betty (1928–2020), dress historian and curator

Goldstein, Harvey (1939–2020), statistician and social scientist

Gordon, Alexander Grant [Sandy] (1931–2020), distiller and philanthropist

Gordon, James Stuart [Jimmy], Baron Gordon of Strathblane (1936–2020), broadcasting executive and businessman

Gowans, Sir James Learmonth [Jim] (1924–2020), immunologist and medical administrator

Graham, Thomas Edward [Ted], Baron Graham of Edmonton (1925–2020), politician and co-operative movement activist

Gransden [née Morland], Antonia (1928–2020), historian

Green, Malcolm Leslie Hodder (1936–2020), inorganic chemist

Greenbaum, Peter Alan [known as Peter Green] (1946–2020), guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter

Gregg, Henry [Harry] (1932–2020), footballer

Grove, Richard Hugh (1955–2020), geographer and historian [see under Grove [née Clark], Jean Mary]

Guinness [married name Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood], Serena Belinda Rosemary [Lindy], marchioness of Dufferin and Ava (1941–2020), artist and conservationist

Hands, Terence David [Terry] (1941–2020), theatre director

Harwood [né Horwitz], Sir Ronald (1934–2020), playwright, screenwriter, and author

Hayman [formerly Haymann], Walter Kurt (1926–2020), mathematician

Hill, Anthony Cedric Graham [pseud. Achill Redo] (1930–2020), artist and mathematician

Hills, Sir John Robert (1954–2020), social scientist

Himsworth, Richard Lawrence (1937–2020), endocrinologist and public health administrator [see under Himsworth, Sir Harold Percival]

Hollis, Rosemary [Rosy] (1952–2020), international relations scholar

Holm, Sir Ian [real name Ian Holm Cuthbert] (1931–2020), actor

Hood, Roger Grahame (1936–2020), criminologist

Horniblow, Philip James (1928–2020), army officer, medical administrator, and mountaineer

Houghton, Sir John Theodore (1931–2020), atmospheric physicist and climate scientist

Howard, Alan Norman (1929–2020), nutritionist

Hudd, Roy (1936–2020), comedian and actor

Hume, John (1937–2020), politician

Humphreys, Emyr Owen (1919–2020), novelist, poet, and author

Hutton, (James) Brian Edward, Baron Hutton (1932–2020), judge

Imrie, Marilyn Elsie (1947–2020), radio drama producer and theatre director

Iversen, Leslie Lars (1937–2020), neuropharmacologist and neuroscientist

Jamal, Mahmood (1948–2020), poet, translator, and film and television producer

Jarvis, Frederick Frank [Fred] (1924–2020), trade unionist and photographer

Jefford, Barbara Mary (1930–2020), actress

Johnson, Brian Cecil [Bryan] (1926–1995), singer and actor [see under Carr, Pearl Lavinia]

Johnson, Edward Victor [Teddy] (1919–2018), singer and entertainer [see under Carr, Pearl Lavinia]

Johnston, Ronald John [Ron] (1941–2020), geographer

Jones, Arthur [Alun] Gwynne, Baron Chalfont (1919–2020), army officer, journalist, and politician

Jones, Terence Graham Parry [Terry] (1942–2020), comedian, film director, and historian

Jones, William Armand Thomas [Tristan] Garel-, Baron Garel-Jones (1941–2020), politician

Judge [née Singer; previous married names Kozloff, Thomas], Barbara Sue, Lady Judge (1946–2020), lawyer and investment banker [see under Judge, Sir Paul Rupert]

Kerr, Brian Francis, Baron Kerr of Tonaghmore (1948–2020), judge

Killip, Christopher David [Chris] (1946–2020), photographer

King, Peter John (1940–2020), saxophonist and composer

King, Stuart Sendall (1922–2020), pilot and missionary

Kirstein [né Kirschstein], Peter Thomas (1933–2020), computer scientist

Knight, Edward Robert [Ted] (1933–2020), local politician

Knight [née Cleet], Gladys Allan [Alanna] (1923–2020), novelist

Knight, Rosalind Marie (1933–2020), actress

Koralek, Paul George (1933–2020), architect

Kretzmer, Herbert (1925–2020), journalist and lyricist

Lachmann, Sir Peter Julius (1931–2020), immunologist

Lal, Deepak Kumar (1940–2020), political economist

Lal [née Chanana], Saroj (1937–2020), teacher, community activist, and race relations campaigner

Lamont, Peter Curtis (1929–2020), film production designer

Land, Michael Francis [Mike] (1942–2020), biologist and psychologist

Laws, Sir John Grant McKenzie (1945–2020), judge and jurist

Leggatt, Sir Andrew Peter (1930–2020), judge

Lester [née Raab], Anthony Paul, Baron Lester of Herne Hill (1936–2020), barrister and politician

Linehan, Peter Anthony (1943–2020), historian

Lines, (Hugh) Richard (1929–2020), toy manufacturer

Lotterby, Sydney Warren (1926–2020), television director and producer

Lynn, Dame Vera [real name Vera Margaret Welch; married name Lewis] (1917–2020), singer and entertainer

Lyons, Sir John (1932–2020), semanticist and linguistic scholar

MacCarthy, Fiona Caroline (1940–2020), journalist, biographer, and art historian

Mace, Dame Georgina Mary (1953–2020), conservation ecologist

Maclennan, Robert Adam Ross [Bob], Baron Maclennan of Rogart (1936–2020), politician

Maddock [née Derbyshire], Diana Margaret Pearson, Baroness Maddock (1945–2020), politician

Mahon, (Norman) Derek (1941–2020), poet

Mahoney, Louis Felix Danner (1938–2020), actor

Mallon, James Francis [Seamus] (1936–2020), politician

Maschler, Thomas Michael [Tom] (1933–2020), publisher and founder of the Booker prize for fiction

Mason, Anita Frances (1942–2020), novelist, journalist, and essayist

Matthews, Peter Bryan Conrad (1928–2020), physiologist [see under Matthews, Sir Bryan Harold Cabot]

Maughan, Margaret Gardner (1928–2020), athlete, teacher, and coach

May, Derwent James (1930–2020), literary editor and ornithologist

May, Robert McCredie [Bob], Baron May of Oxford (1936–2020), theoretical ecologist and public servant

McInnes, Hamish [known as Hamish MacInnes] (1930–2020), mountaineer, mountain rescuer, and inventor

Medwin, Michael Hugh (1923–2020), actor and film and theatre producer

Mellor, Stanley Thomas Edward [Stan] (1937–2020), jockey and racehorse trainer

Michael, Ian David Lewis [pseud. David Serafín] (1936–2020), Hispanic scholar and crime novelist

Miller, William Lockley [Bill] (1943–2020), political scientist

Minter, Alan Sidney (1951–2020), boxer

Mitchell [née Williamson], Ann Katharine (1922–2020), mathematician, code-breaker, and social policy researcher

Morris, Jan (1926–2020), journalist, historian, and travel writer

Morrison, James Fyffe Thomson [Jimmy] (1932–2020), painter

Moss, Sir Stirling Craufurd (1929–2020), racing driver

Nahdi, Fuad Salim Abdullah Neheid Taher (1957–2020), journalist, publisher, and interfaith activist

Nolan, Margaret Ann (1943–2020), actress, artist, and political activist

O’Connor, Desmond Bernard [Des] (1932–2020), comedian, singer, and television host

P-Orridge, Genesis [formerly Neil Andrew Megson; later Genesis Breyer P-Orridge] (1950–1920), musician, performance artist, and social activist

Packer, James Innell (1926–2020), Anglican evangelical theologian

Page, Louise Mary (1955–2020), playwright, scriptwriter, and writing coach

Pakenham, Kevin John Toussaint (1947–2020), economist and financier [see under Pakenham, Francis Aungier [Frank], first Baron Pakenham and seventh earl of Longford]

Palmer, Geoffrey Dyson (1927–2020), actor

Parker, Sir Alan William (1944–2020), film and commercials director, writer, and cartoonist

Parsons, (Christopher) Nicholas (1923–2020), actor, entertainer, and broadcaster

Partridge, James Richard John (1952–2020), health economist, farmer, and charity founder

Petty [née Dyer], Belinda Pauline (1935–2020), teacher and judoka

Pidgley, Anthony William [Tony] (1947–2020), housebuilder and property developer

Pigott, Sir Anthony David [Tony] (1944–2020), army officer

Ponting, Clive Sheridan (1946–2020), civil servant and historian

Prosser, Sir David John (1944–2020), financier

Ramsden, James Edward (1923–2020), politician and huntsman

Read, Leonard Ernest [known as Nipper] (1925–2020), police officer

Reed, Barry St George Austin (1931–2020), retailer [see under Reed, Austin Leonard]

Renton, (Ronald) Timothy [Tim], Baron Renton of Mount Harry (1932–2020), banker and politician

Rigg, Dame (Enid) Diana Elizabeth (1938–2020), actress

Roberts, (David) Gwilym Morris (1925–2020), civil engineer

Robinson, Julian Philip Perry (1941–2020), chemist and arms control researcher

Robinson, Sir Kenneth [Ken] (1950–2020), educationist

Rose, Adele (1933–2020), television scriptwriter

Runciman, Walter Garrison [Garry], third Viscount Runciman of Doxford (1934–2020), businessman, sociologist, and public servant

Ryder, Christopher Edward [Chris] (1947–2020), journalist

Sacks, Jonathan Henry, Baron Sacks (1948–2020), chief rabbi

Sayer, Ann Rosemary (1936–2020), geologist, rower, and race walker

Scott, Douglas Keith [Doug] (1941–2020), mountaineer

Scrase, David Ellison (1949–2020), art historian and museum curator [see under Mather, Richard Martin [Rick]]

Scruton, Sir Roger Vernon (1944–2020), philosopher and writer

Sedlecká, Irena (1928–2020), sculptor

Sessions, John [real name John Marshall] (1953–2020), comedian, actor, and writer

Shaw [née Mahon], Susan Mary [Sue] (1932–2020), publisher, archivist, and museum founder

Shrapnel, John Morley (1942–2020), actor

Skinner, Christopher John [Chris] (1953–2020), statistician

Slaughter [née Smith], Audrey Cecilia (1929–2020), journalist and editor

Sleight, Peter (1929–2020), cardiologist

Small, Millicent Dolly-May [Millie] (1947–2020), singer and songwriter

Smith, Alan Caiger- (1930–2020), potter and ceramic scholar

Smith, Jane Caroline Rebecca Parker- (1950–2020), organist

Smith [née Dups], Meredith Etherington- (1946–2020), fashion journalist, biographer, and auction curator

Smith, Nigel Rawling (1941–2020), businessman and political activist

Smith, Susan Claire [Sue] Bruce- (1958–2020), film executive

Smith [married name Hopewell], Rosemary Claire Radley- (1939–2020), paediatric cardiologist

Smoker, Barbara Mary (1923–2020), humanist

Sprawson, Charles (1941–2020), writer, art dealer, and evangelist for open water swimming

Steiner, (Francis) George (1929–2020), writer and literary critic

Steiner [née Shakow], Zara Alice (1928–2020), scholar of international history

Stern, William George [Willie] (1935–2020), property investor and philanthropist

Stevenson, Anne Katharine (1933–2020), poet and biographer

Stiles, Norbert Peter [Nobby] (1942–2020), footballer

Sutcliffe, Peter William [known as the Yorkshire Ripper] (1946–2020), serial killer

Sykes, Bryan Clifford (1947–2020), geneticist and entrepreneur

Taylor, Timothy Julian [Tim] Brooke- (1940–2020), actor, comedian, and writer

Thomas, Sir John Meurig (1932–2020), chemist

Thompson [née Laurie Walker], Helen Margaret Taylor (1924–2020), special operations officer and charity founder

Thynn [formerly Thynne], Alexander George, seventh marquess of Bath (1932–2020), author, curator, and libertine

Tippetts, Keith Grahame [known as Keith Tippett] (1947–2020), pianist, composer, and bandleader

Tolkien, Christopher Reuel (1924–2020), literary scholar and editor [see under Tolkien, John Ronald Reuel]

Tombs, Francis Leonard, Baron Tombs (1924–2020), engineer and industrialist

Tooley, Sir John (1924–2020), musical administrator

Tuckwell, Barry Emmanuel (1931–2020), horn player and conductor

Tydeman, John Peter (1936–2020), radio producer and director

van Gelder, Stanley Malcolm (1933–2020), financier and property dealer [see under Dellal, Jack]

Vallance [née McGonnigill], Elizabeth Mary, Lady Vallance of Tummel (1945–2020), political scientist and public servant

Vrbová [née Sidonová], Gerta (1926–2020), neuroscientist

Wallbank [née Gardner], Phyllis (1918–2020), educationist

Walsh [née Bliss; other married name Herbert, Lady Hemingford], Gillian Honorine Mary [Jill] Paton [known as Jill Paton Walsh] (1937–2020), writer

Ward [née Rynd; earlier married name Aston], Elizabeth Despard (1926–2020), pioneer of organ donor cards

Ward, Simon Barrington- (1930–2020), bishop of Coventry [see under Ward, Robert McGowan Barrington-]

Warman, Alister Seager (1946–2020), curator and art school principal

Warwick, Richard Trevor Turner- (1925–2020), urologist and surgeon [see under Warwick [née Moore], Dame Margaret Elizabeth Harvey Turner-]

Waterhouse [née Franklin], Dame Rachel Elizabeth (1923–2020), historian and consumers’ advocate

Waterman, Dame Fanny (1920–2020), pianist, piano teacher, and co-founder of the Leeds International Piano Competition

Weiss, Nigel Oscar (1936–2020), applied mathematician and astrophysicist

Weisz, George (1929–2020), mechanical engineer, inventor, and philanthropist

West, Donald James (1924–2020), parapsychologist, sexologist, and criminologist

West, Richard Gilbert (1926–2020), botanist and geologist

Wetherell, Kenneth Alwyn [known as Kenneth Alwyn] (1925–2020), conductor and composer

Wheeler, (John) Stuart (1935–2020), professional gambler, entrepreneur, and political donor

Wild, (Carl) Victor (1923–2020), caterer and entrepreneur

Wilkin, Gwenda Violet (1933–2020), accordionist

Williams [née Smyth], Elizabeth [Betty] (1942–2020), peace and social justice campaigner

Williams, John Eirwyn [Shôn] Ffowcs (1935–2020), engineer, entrepreneur, and college head

Williams, John James [known as J. J. Williams] (1948–2020), athlete, rugby union player, and businessman

Williams, Martin Lloyd (1947–2020), chemist and air pollution scientist

Williams, Roger Stanley (1931–2020), hepatologist

Wilson, Paulette Marjorie (1956–2020), victim of injustice and migrant rights campaigner

Windsor [née Deeks; married names Knight, Hollins, Mitchell], Dame Barbara Ann [Babs] (1937–2020), actress

Wise, Gillian Mary (1936–2020), artist

Wolfendale, Sir Arnold Whittaker (1927–2020), physicist and astronomer

Wood, Charles Gerald (1932–2020), playwright and screenwriter

Wood, Lynn Faulds (1948–2020), journalist, broadcaster, and campaigner

Woodley, Leonard Gaston [Len] (1927–2020), barrister

Worsthorne, Sir Peregrine Gerard [Perry] (1923–2020), journalist and newspaper editor

Wright, Patrick Richard Henry, Baron Wright of Richmond (1931–2020), diplomatist