# List of University of Hull people

This is a list of notable people associated with the University of Hull, including alumni, academics, and staff.

## Notable academics

* Sir Hilary Beckles (born 1955) – Barbadian academic and historian, Vice-Chancellor of the University of the West Indies
* Richard Beeman – American history (1976–77)
* Malcolm Bradbury – Adult education (1959–61), novelist and academic
* Jacob Bronowski – mathematics (1934–42)
* Trevor Burnard - historian and director of the Wilberforce Institute for the Study of Slavery and Emancipation
* Edwin A. Dawes – Reckitt Chair in Biochemistry (1963–1990), magic historian
* Arthur Geoffrey Dickens – historian on The English Reformation (1949–1962)
* Richard A. Flavell – molecular biologist, and professor of immunobiology
* George William Gray FRS (also a Hull alumnus, PhD 1953) – instrumental in developing the materials which made liquid crystal displays possible (1946–1990), awarded Kyoto Prize and Leverhulme Medal of the Royal Society
* Brad K. Gibson – Australian-Canadian professor of Astrophysics (2015-2024)
* Sir Alister Hardy FRS – Marine biologist, the first Professor of Zoology at the University College of Hull (1928–1942)
* Clive Head – artist (1990–2000)
* Richard Hoggart – Staff Tutor in Adult Education (1946–1959), influential British academic and public intellectual
* Terence Wilmot Hutchison – Lecturer in Economics (1946–1947), influential as an economic methodologist and as a historian of economic thought
* Guido Imbens-Professor of Econometrics at Stanford University and fellow of the Econometric Society
* Ludwig Lachmann – German economist and member of the Austrian School of economics (1943–1948)
* Christian Langton – developed an early detection system for osteoporosis utilising ultrasonic waves
* Philip Larkin – University Librarian (1955–1985), poet, jazz critic and novelist
* Angela Leighton – Professor of English, literary scholar and poet
* Kathleen Lennon – Ferens Chair in Philosophy (2009–), feminist philosopher
* Sir Leslie Martin – Head of Architecture (1934–?), leading architect and designer of the Royal Festival Hall
* Rob Miles – computer scientist, Microsoft MVP
* Sir Andrew Motion – Lecturer in English (1976–1980), Poet Laureate (1999–2009)
* Bernhard Neumann – Lecturer in Mathematics (1946–1948), leading figure in group theory
* Hanna Neumann – Lecturer in Mathematics (1946–1958)
* Philip Norton, Baron Norton of Louth – professor of politics
* Stuart Palmer – responsible for breakthroughs in the field of ultrasound bone densitometry
* Michael Paraskos – writer and anarchist art historian (1994–2001)
* Bhikhu Parekh, Baron Parekh – professor of politics, specialist on the theory of multiculturalism (1964–2000)
* Daniel Parsons – professor of sedimentology
* Barrie Pettman, lecturer in Industrial Relations in the Department of Social Administration; publisher and philanthropist.
* John Guest Phillips FRS – endocrinologist and gerontologist, Professor of Zoology at Hull (1967–1979), Vice Chancellor of Loughborough University (1986–1987).
* Eric Roll, Baron Roll of Ipsden – Professor of Economics and Commerce (1935–1946), economist, civil servant and banker
* John Saville – Professor of History, marxist historian
* David Starkey – maritime historian (1994–)
* Richard Swinburne – Christian philosopher of religion, later professor of philosophy at University of Oxford

## Notable alumni

* Michael Aldrich - online shopping pioneer, innovator, and entrepreneur (BA, 1962)
* Assem Allam - businessman and owner of Hull City football club
* Robert Allison – Vice-Chancellor and President, Loughborough University
* Faisal al-Qassem – Television personality
* Daniel Francis Annan – former Appeal Court Judge, member of the Provisional National Defence Council and Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana (1993–2001)
* Fred Apaloo, Chief Justice of Ghana (1977–1986) and later Kenya (1993–95)
* Koop Arponen – Finnish singer, winner of the fourth series of "Idols", a popular Finnish reality television talent show (Scarborough Campus)
* Len Arran, songwriter, composer
* Tony Badger – historian and Master of Clare College, Cambridge, 2003–14 (PhD American Studies 1974)
* Ronald Hugh Barker - a physicist, mathematician and pioneer in digital technology who invented Barker code (Bsc 1938)
* Erkin Bairam – Professor of Economics at the University of Otago (1991–2001)
* Lucy Beaumont – actor, writer, and stand-up comedian
* Georges Bégué MC – Special Operations Executive agent during World War II. Devised a system of coded communications via Radio Londres
* Ed Bicknell manager of Dire Straits (Social Science, 1969)
* Dan Billany – novelist
* Tracy Borman – historian and joint Chief Curator of Historic Royal Palaces (History, 1990–1997)
* Ana Brnabić – the Prime Minister of Serbia
* Colin Challen – Labour politician (BA, philosophy, 1983)
* Mark Chapman – BBC Radio 5 Live sports presenter
* Mark Charnock – actor and star of ITV soap opera Emmerdale
* Simon Cheshire – children's writer
* Neil Codling – keyboard player of the band Suede
* Richard Corbett – Member of the European Parliament for Yorkshire & Humber, Leader of Labour MEPs
* Patrick Cormack – Conservative politician, historian and journalist (BA 1961)
* Stuart Cosgrove – journalist, broadcaster and television executive (BA Drama and English 1974)
* Peter Cowgill – Executive Chairman of JD Sports
* Neil Coyle – Labour politician
* Tracey Crouch – Conservative politician
* Stan Cullimore – musician with The Housemartins (BSc, Maths, 1984)
* Alexander Apeatu Aboagye da Costa – Ghanaian politician
* Jeremy Darroch – Chief Executive of Sky
* Dehenna Davison – Conservative politician, MP for Bishop Auckland
* Richard Douglas – Director General and chief operating officer, Department of Health (BA, English, 1978)
* Douglas Dunn – Poet
* Rae Earl – author and broadcaster
* Robert Edric – English novelist
* Louise Ellman – Labour politician (BA Sociology and History, 1967)
* Robert Elstone – Chief Executive of Everton F.C.
* Barry Everitt – Professor of Neuroscience, Master of Downing College, University of Cambridge
* John Fallon – British business executive. He serves as the chief executive officer of Pearson PLC
* Frank Field – Labour politician
* Mark Fisher – cultural theorist, writer, critic, and former lecturer at Goldsmiths
* Anthony Forster – Vice-Chancellor of the University of Essex
* Stephen Gallagher – novelist, screenwriter
* Tony Galvin – former Tottenham Hotspur and Republic of Ireland footballer studied Russian and Politics
* Hazel Genn – Professor of Socio-Legal Studies at University College London
* Dennis Gibson – academic, Chancellor of the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia (BSc, 1963)
* Anthony Giddens – sociologist, government advisor, and writer; former director of the LSE
* Dame Sarah Gilbert – Saïd Professor of Vaccinology at the University of Oxford and Project Lead on the Oxford–AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine
* Helen Grant – Conservative Party politician
* Sarah Greene – actor and television presenter
* Matt Haig – Novelist and journalist
* Brenda Hale, Baroness Hale of Richmond – judge and President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom
* Graeme Hall – dog trainer, TV presenter and author
* David Hanson – Labour Party politician
* Nick Hardwick – former Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons
* Maidin Hashim – Bruneian diplomat (BSc, 1976)
* Roy Hattersley – former Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party
* Ayesha Hazarika – broadcaster, journalist and political commentator, and former political adviser
* Antony Higginbotham – Conservative politician
* Mark C. Hunter – naval historian
* Peter Kenny – Voice-over artist, actor, singer and designer
* Muhtar Kent – Turkish businessman and executive of the Coca-Cola Company
* Yahya Al Khusaibi – Undersecretary of the Ministry of Legal Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman
* Monika Kinley – art dealer, collector and curator
* Jonathan Kydd – Son of actor Sam Kydd. Actor, singer, voice over artist. Famous as the voice of Paddington Bear on TV
* Allan Levy QC – Barrister and children's advocate; chairman of the Pindown Inquiry
* Dorothy Lightbourne – Attorney General of Jamaica
* Sally Lindsay – actress
* Nicholas Liverpool (1960) – former President of Dominica
* Jason Lo – Malaysian music artist, music producer, DJ and entrepreneur
* Christine Loh – Hong Kong politician
* Magid Magid – politician, activist, and former Lord Mayor of Sheffield
* Maitha Al Mahrouqi – Oman's Undersecretary for Tourism
* John McCarthy – journalist
* Roger McGough – poet and presenter
* Judith McKenna – businesswoman and CEO of Walmart international division
* Kevin McNamara – Politician and MP for a number of Hull constituencies, Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
* Rosie Millard – journalist, columnist, and broadcaster
* Anthony Minghella – film director
* Simon Minter (born 1992), YouTuber, better known as Miniminter
* Eluned Morgan – (Baroness Morgan of Ely), Welsh politician and First Minister of Wales
* Juliet Morris (aka Julie) – broadcaster
* Chris Mullin – Labour politician, author, and journalist
* Jenni Murray – broadcaster and writer, host of BBC Woman's Hour
* Joanna Nadin – author
* Catherine O'Brien – former Senior lecturer in Film studies and lecturer at Kingston University, London
* Wale Ojo – actor and director (Drama, 1986)
* Keat Gin Ooi – academician and historian
* Ada Osakwe – economist, entrepreneur and corporate executive
* Tom Paulin – poet, and lecturer at The University of Oxford
* Genesis P-Orridge – Throbbing Gristle musician initially studied philosophy in 1968
* Greg Pope – former Labour politician
* Graham Potter – professional football manager
* John Prescott, Baron Prescott – former Deputy Prime Minister
* Sinéad Quinn – contestant in the first series of BBC's Fame Academy. (Scarborough Campus)
* Jonathan Raban – fiction and travel writer, including "Hunting Mister Heartbreak" and "Bad Land: An American Romance"
* Ken Reid – journalist and political editor at Ulster TV
* Sian Reese-Williams – actor and star of ITV soap opera Emmerdale
* Simon Rushton – academic
* Kevin Shinkwin, Baron Shinkwin – House of Lords
* Nancy Shukri – Malaysian politician
* The Silkie – 1960s folk band, all members of the band attended the university
* Keith Simpson – Member of Parliament for Broadland
* Malcolm Sinclair, actor
* Josephine Sinyo – Kenyan lawyer, politician and disability rights activist
* Jimmy Smith – Guitarist for the indie rock band, Foals
* Mike Stock – record producer
* Philip Sugden – historian
* Chris Tame – libertarian political activist and founder and Director of the Libertarian Alliance
* Tracey Thorn – Singer, songwriter and one half of Everything But The Girl
* Jon Trickett MP – Labour Politician
* Sam Troughton – actor, grandson of Doctor Who actor Patrick Troughton
* Karl Turner – MP and politician
* Wouter Van Besien – Belgian politician of the green party Groen!.
* Ben Watt – Musician, songwriter and one half of Everything But The Girl
* Tom Watson, Baron Watson of Wyre Forest – Deputy Leader of the Labour Party 2015–2019
* Jennifer Wilby – Director of the Centre for Systems Studies, University of Hull
* Dame Rosie Winterton MP – Labour Party politician (BA History, 1979)
* Rowan Oliver – Former drummer of Goldfrapp (current Director of Music at Hull University)

## Other notable people

* Baron Robert Armstrong of Ilminster – former civil servant, and Chancellor (1994–2006)
* Robert Blackburn – aviation pioneer, and commemorated by the Robert Blackburn building
* Baroness Virginia Bottomley of Nettlestone – former Conservative politician, and Chancellor (2006–)
* James William Bruce – mathematics academic, and deputy Vice-Chancellor (2004–2009)
* Lord Henry Cohen – Chancellor (1970–1977)
* Stanley R Dennison – Economist, and Vice-Chancellor (1972–1979)
* David Dilks – Historian, and Vice-Chancellor (1991–1999)
* David Drewry – geophysicist, and Vice-Chancellor (1999–2009)
* Thomas Ferens – Liberal politician, philanthropist
* Brynmor Jones – science academic, and Vice-Chancellor (1956–1972)
* Professor Susan Lea – health academic, and Vice-Chancellor (2017–)
* Sir Roy Marshall – academic lawyer, and Vice-Chancellor (1979–1985)
* Lord Middleton – first Chancellor (1954–1969)
* Arthur Eustace Morgan – first Principal of University College (1926–1935)
* John H Nicholson – academic, Principal of University College (1935–1954), followed by first Vice-Chancellor (1954–1956)
* Calie Pistorius – Engineering academic, and Vice-Chancellor (2009–2017)
* William Taylor – English academic, and Vice-Chancellor (1985–1991)
* John Venn – Hull born mathematician, and commemorated by the Venn building
* Baron Richard Wilberforce, former Judge and Chancellor (1978–1994)