predecessor birth_place office birth_date order term_start birthname article_title name occupation alma_mater
john julius norwich paris , france chairman of the venice in peril fund 1946 3rd january , 2013 jonathan b. keates jonathan keates
 jonathan keates writer teacher magdalen college , oxford
jonathan keates

jonathan keates , is an english writer , biographer , novelist and chairman of the venice in peril fund .
keates was educated at bryanston school and went on to read for his undergraduate degree at magdalen college , oxford .
he has written a number of acclaimed biographies and travel books , but his works of fiction have also received critical acclaim , most notably `` allegro postillions '' , for which he was awarded both the james tait black memorial prize and the hawthornden prize .
he is a fellow of the royal society of literature .
he is very interested in venice , and speaks italian , french , spanish , german and portuguese .
he also writes reviews in some prominent magazines .
in addition , keates was an english teacher employed by the city of london school from 1974 - 2013 and a judge of several writing competitions .
keates retired in order to focus on his chairmanship of the venice in peril fund .
on his exit from the school in july 2013 , having given a tearful farewell speech , he was given two standing ovations by the pupils and staff , and a 200-person dinner was given in his honour .
