News

A WOMAN OF INDOMITABLE SPIRIT

Thursday 17 January 2008

Dame Barbara Shenfield in academic robes with Lord Hailsham and other honorary graduates

Dame Barbara Shenfield at the conferment of her honorary degree

Professor Susan Edwards has just published the entry on Dame Barbara Shenfield for the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Dame Barbara was an honorary graduate of the University and one of its founders. The Barbara Shenfield Medal is awarded annually to the the postgraduate who is judged to have achieved the best overall performance of the year. Her sons Peter and Martin present it every year at Graduation.

Some extracts from Professor Edwards' article are given below:

Dame Barbara Shenfield was appointed DBE in 1986. She served as the academic director of Britain's only independent university, the University of Buckingham, between 1972 and 1973, and was a member of its council until 1987, being awarded an honorary doctorate in 1987.

Barbara Shenfield was a woman of indomitable spirit, and only weeks before her death was discussing and debating at a lunch at the IEA, where Jonathan Aitken was speaking on restorative justice. Her energy and enthusiasm never flagged. Totally self-effacing, never giving in to anything, certainly not to old age, nor to bone fractures sustained in falls in the winter months, she remained undaunted by the cancer which finally caused her death.

The full article can be read on the Oxford DNB website from University computers.

Report by Professor Susan Edwards and the Web Team