Top Cambridge academics named in New Year’s Honours
Among the honours was Emeritus Professor James Diggle, who edited a dictionary of Ancient Greek language for 20 years

Leading Cambridge academics and alumni have been named in the New Year Honours list – presented on behalf of the Queen to acknowledge “the achievements and service of extraordinary people across the United Kingdom.”
The list includes former Professor of Latin and Greek, James Diggle, Director of Cambridge Mathematics, Lynne McClure, and filmmaker, Paul Greengrass.
Diggle, an alumnus of St. John’s College and Life Fellow of Queens’ College, received a CBE for services to Classical Scholarship. He became a research fellow at Queens’ in 1966 and Professor of Greek and Latin in 1995.
He expressed his hope that the honour will be shared with Queens’ College, the Classics faculty and Cambridge University Press, which published the Cambridge Greek Lexicon, a dictionary of Ancient Greek language he edited for over 20 years.
McClure received an OBE for Services to Education due to her role in Cambridge Mathematics – “an enterprise committed to championing and securing a world class mathematics education for all students from 3 to 19 years old.”
She said she was “very pleased personally to be a recipient in the New Year’s Honours, but even more delighted that this award highlights the importance of mathematics education – for everyone.”
Elsewhere in the humanities, Trinity Hall fellow and Law Professor, Lorand Bartels received an MBE for Services to UK Trade Policy.
Chairing the UK’s Trade and Agricultural Commission, Bartels said that “it is a great honour for a trade lawyer to be recognised in this way. It has been a privilege to be able to work with the government over the last few years as it has developed its newly independent trade policies.”
Education Professor Pauline Rose received an OBE for Services to International Girls’ Education. Rose, who is the Director of Research for Equitable Access and Learning Centre in the Faculty of Education, said she looks forward to ongoing collaboration on evidence in order “to improve quality education for all”.
Science historian Dr Robert Bud received an MBE for his services to the Science Museum – where he has been a curator for 40 years.
Several high profile alumni of Cambridge have also been mentioned in the New Year’s Honours.
Queens’ alumnus and film director Paul Greengrass received an OBE for services to the arts, while NHS chief Dr Emily Lawson was given a DBE for organising the vaccine rollout.
Other honoured figures included Chris Whitty, Jonathan Van-Tam and Daniel Craig.
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair was awarded the highest knighthood, being appointed to the Order of the Garter.
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