City Lit Fellows
City Lit Fellowships were established by the Board of Governors in 2015. City Lit Fellowships are awarded to individuals who have shown a significant commitment to adult education in the United Kingdom and who have provided support and inspiration to City Lit and our students.
Featured City Lit Fellow
Anna Burns
Anna Burns is a former student at City Lit. She is an award-winning author and wrote the three novels: No Bones, Little Constructions and Milkman. Milkman won the Man Booker Prize 2018, the 2019 Orwell Prize for political fiction and the 2020 International Dublin Literary Award.
I'm thrilled and honoured to be offered a City Lit Fellowship Award. I gained so much during the time I attended classes at Keeley Street. I spent a happy time there, mainly singing and dancing and - most of all - writing. And I thank the staff, the tutors and the building itself for the wonderful opportunities and benefits I received during my time there.
HRH The Princess Royal
In April 2019, HRH The Princess Royal received The City Lit Centenary Fellowship in recognition of her commitment to adult education, when we welcomed Her Royal Highness to present the City Lit Centenary Awards.
Gillian Anderson OBE
Award-winning film, television, and theatre actress, Gillian Anderson OBE, received her City Lit Lifetime Fellowship Award from Chair of the Board of Governors Dame Moira Gibb in 2018.
Ed Balls
Ed Balls is a broadcaster, writer and economist. In 2016, we welcomed Ed Balls back to City Lit to discuss his political career, life after Strictly Come Dancing, and how the speech therapy classes at City Lit helped him manage his stammer...
Professor Dame Mary Beard
Professor Dame Mary Beard is one of Britain’s best-known Classicists – a distinguished Professor of Classics at the University of Cambridge and Fellow of Newnham College. She has written numerous books on the Ancient World. In addition, Mary presented highly acclaimed TV series.
Malorie Blackman OBE
Malorie Blackman OBE has a long connection with City Lit as a former student attending diverse courses with us since the late 1980s. Having written over fifty books, Malorie is acknowledged as one of today’s most imaginative and convincing writers for young readers.
Nick Boles MP
Nick Boles MP served as Minister for Skills in the Departments for Education and Business, Innovation and Skills from September from 2014 until July 2016.
Gary Bourlet
As co-founder of Learning Disability England, Gary Bourlet is passionate about representing those with learning disabilities. Gary is a former City Lit student, and we’re incredibly proud of his achievements and outstanding advocacy on learning disabilities.
The Rt Hon Sir Vince Cable
The Rt Hon Sir Vince Cable was Leader of the Liberal Democrats and MP for Twickenham until 2019. As Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills he was steadfast in his personal commitment in protecting funding for adult skills.
Paul Farmer CBE
Paul Farmer has been a supporter of the College and a regular speaker at the Mental Wealth Festival for many years. Paul has been Chief Executive of Mind, the leading mental health charity working in England and Wales since May 2006
Dame Evelyn Glennie
Performing worldwide with the greatest orchestras, conductors and artists, Dame Evelyn Glennie’s solo recordings are as diverse as her career on-stage. A double GRAMMY award winner and BAFTA nominee Evelyn is a composer for film, television and music library companies.
Bonnie Greer OBE
Bonnie Greer OBE is an American-British playwright, novelist, critic and broadcaster, who has lived in the UK since 1986. She was one of our guest speakers during last year’s Classics Week.
Will Gompertz
Will Gompertz is the Director of Sir John Soane’s Museum in London, a post he took up in January 2024 to provide strategic leadership of one of the world’s most exceptional and admired house museums. Prior to joining the Sir John Soane’s Museum, Will was the Artistic Director of the Barbican Arts Centre. In 2009 the BBC appointed Will as its first Arts Editor.
Sir Antony Gormley OBE
As a renowned artist and sculptor Sir Antony Gormley OBE has made a huge contribution to the arts in the UK. One of his best known works is the ‘Angel of the North’, a public sculpture in Gateshead in the North of England.
The Rt. Hon Damian Hinds MP
The Rt Hon Damian Hinds MP has previously been Minister for Employment and Secretary of State for Education. Damian became an MP in 2009 and has been instrumental in championing lifelong learning and advocating the many alternative routes to employment other than university.
Dr Fiona Hill
Dr Fiona Hill, British-American foreign affairs specialist & author is a former advisor to the Bush, Obama and Trump administrations. She is a champion of access to education and often talks about the opportunities she was given to study, as the daughter of a miner. As the new Chancellor of the University of Durham, she understands the importance of education, and the opportunities it can create.
Baroness Sheila Hollins
The first fellowship was awarded to Baroness Sheila Hollins who has made an outstanding contribution to education for adults with learning disabilities in the UK and overseas.
Bettany Hughes OBE
Bettany Hughes OBE, English historian, author and broadcaster has made a huge contribution to the study of ancient and medieval history and culture. Bettany has made the world of classics popular, understandable, and accessible. We were delighted to welcome Bettany as a keynote speaker at Classics Week 2022 at the British Museum.
Claudette Johnson MBE
A founding member of the Black British Arts Movement, Claudette Johnson MBE is considered one of the most significant figurative artists of her generation. For over 30 years she has created large-scale drawings of Black women and men that are at once intimate and powerful.
The Rt Hon. David Lammy MP
The Rt Hon. David Lammy MP is a huge advocate of adult education and a great supporter of City Lit. He is the leading voice in parliament and beyond in raising awareness of the importance of adult education and the critical need for a national strategy.
Andrea Levy
In 2016, Andrea was awarded a City Lit Lifetime Fellowship in recognition of her commitment to adult education in the UK, and the huge inspiration her writing and career provides City Lit students.
Lulu
As Guest of Honour at the 2017 City Lit Awards, Lulu spoke passionately about City Lit and enthused about our students and their achievements. Students and staff alike were deeply impressed by her warmth and wowd by her rendition of 'Shout' with the City Lit Percussion Orchestra.
Francesca Martinez
Francesca Martinez is a former student of City Lit and now best known as a comedian, writer and unflinching campaigner. She describes her cerebral palsy condition as being a ‘bit wobbly’ and has not allowed it to hold her back from being the first woman to win the coveted Open Mic Award.
Sir Jonathan Miller
Sir Jonathan was a distinguished theatre and opera director, in addition to his talents as an author, photographer, sculptor, broadcaster and a qualified doctor. Sir Jonathan was an active part of City Lit's family.
Munira Mirza
Munira Mirza is a Former Deputy Mayor of London who has worked for a range of cultural and charitable organisations including the Royal Society of Arts, the independent think tank Policy Exchange and Tate.
Dame Magdalene Odundo
Dame Magdalene Odundo, world renowned ceramic artist has made a huge contribution to the arts in the UK. Magdalene has a strong connection to our School of Visual Arts and as Chancellor of the University for the Creative Arts, understands the importance of arts education and the importance of the arts for individuals, society and the economy.
Sir Kenneth Olisa OBE
Sir Kenneth Olisa OBE has had a hugely successful corporate career which he attributes to the kindness of his school headmaster. In 2015, Her Majesty the Queen appointed Sir Ken as Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant for Greater London and he was knighted in the 2018 New Year’s Honours List for services to business and philanthropy.
Olivette Otele
Olivette Otele is a Distinguished Research Professor of the Legacies and Memory of Slavery at SOAS, University of London. Her area of research is colonial, post-colonial history and memory studies. Olivette holds a Ph.D. in History from Université Paris La Sorbonne, France and received an honorary doctorate in Law from Concordia University in Canada in 2022.
Grayson Perry CBE
Grayson Perry CBE, is an award-winning artist who works in a variety of media, including embroidery and photography, yet he is best known for his ceramic works: classically shaped vases covered with figures, patterns and text.
David Puttnam CBE
David Puttnam CBE is an award-winning British film producer, educator and environmentalist. As an educator, David has played a pivotal role in ensuring education is accessible, delivering online seminars to engage and inspire students all over the world. On a number of occasions, he has supported the work of City Lit and our students.
Dame Esther Rantzen
Dame Esther Rantzen is a national hero. She has had a long career as a journalist, broadcaster and relentless campaigner. Dame Esther set-up Childline in the 1980s to provide counselling for children suffering abuse and then, following the death of her husband, she established Silver Line in 2012 to combat loneliness for older people.
Dame Ruth Silver
Dame Ruth Silver is the founding President of the Further Education Trust for Leadership, an independent think tank focusing on the leadership of thinking in and about the FE and Skills system. She was the Principal of Lewisham College and writes and broadcasts extensively on educational matters and is deeply committed to economic and social inclusiveness.
Nick Stuart CB
Nick Stuart was educated at Oxford then worked at the Department for Education and Science. He went on to hold a number of posts as Director General in the Education and Employment Departments between 1987. In 2001 he retired as Director General for Lifelong Learning.
Carole Stott MBE
Carole Stott MBE, is a former Chair of the Board of Governors of City Lit and during her tenure we were recognised with an outstanding Ofsted rating and the Investors in People Gold Award.
Jeremy Swain
Jeremy Swain began working with homeless people in 1980, starting as a volunteer. After working in a variety of paid roles including as a street outreach worker he progressed to be Chief Executive of Thames Reach.
Russell Tovey
With an extensive background in film, television and theatre, award winning actor, Russell Tovey can next be seen in Feud: Capote Vs The Swans. He is a passionate art collector and co-hosts art podcast, Talk Art, with friend and gallerist Robert Diament, where they interview leading artists, curators, gallerists, and celebrities.
Ruby Wax OBE
As an adult learner Ruby Wax is a wonderful role model demonstrating the positive impact adult education can have in not only enhancing mental wellbeing but also supporting a change in direction later in life.