A collection of Cambridge academics will be able to add even more letters after their names following the announcement of the New Year Honours List.

 

Professor of Classics and fellow of Newnham Mary Beard has been made an OBE. Reacting to the news she said “for me personally, it’s very nice, but the most important thing is what it means for the subject of classics- that it is thriving”. Professor Beard said that “people are fascinated with the ancient world. You talk to people about where the Romans went to the loo and they are absolutely gripped”. Her recent BBC television series ‘Meet the Romans’, together with her publications in books and newspapers, have helped to fuel popular interest in the classical world.

 

Another Cambridge don appearing on the list is President of Lucy Cavendish College, Professor Janet Todd, who is to become a CBE in recognition of her work in literature and promoting women’s education. Professor Todd tweeted that she was “thrilled to receive an OBE. I see it as an honour for Lucy Cavendish”.

 

Frank Kelly, Professor of the Mathematics of Systems at Cambridge, has also been made a CBE. Professor Kelly was elected as the 37th Master of Christ’s College in 2006 and is a fellow of the Royal Society and Foreign Associate of the National Academy of Engineering.

Academics in Cambridge are not the only ones being rewarded for their achievements. Olympic gymnast Louis Smith and Paralympian Jonnie Peacock, who both hail from Cambridgeshire, have become MBEs, while cyclist Victoria Pendleton of nearby Mildenhall has been awarded a CBE.

 

10% of honours in the list have gone to people in education, with famous names such as Professor Peter Higgs, the man who gave his name to the Higgs Boson Particle, being rewarded as well as 31 headteachers.