Prof John Charmley Announces Retirement

Esteemed historian and Provost of St Mary’s University, Twickenham, Prof John Charmley has announced his retirement from the University at the end of the 2020/21 academic year.

Prof Charmley joined St Mary’s University in 2016 from the University of East Anglia, as Pro Vice-Chancellor for Academic Strategy, becoming Provost in 2020. During his time at St Mary’s, Prof Charmley led a number of important initiatives, which helped to restructure and modernise the University. Prof Charmley will continue to support St Mary’s in areas surrounding its Catholic mission, including helping to guide plans for developing the St Mary’s University Press.

Speaking of his retirement Prof Charmley said, “It's been an exhilarating and exciting journey, and I have worked with some of the best colleagues anyone could want, but with the new Vice-Chancellor firmly established and with Vision 2030 building on our achievements, it is time to yield the field to those who will be able to give themselves fully to its implementation across the next five years. I look forward to continuing to work with Anthony and St Mary's in areas close to its special charism, and would like to thank all those who have helped me to bring St Mary's to its current strong position.

Speaking of the announcement, St Mary’s Chair of the Board of Governors Bishop Richard Moth said, “During his time at St Mary’s, John has brought much energy and enthusiasm to his role, working to develop the academic life of the University. His contribution to the Foundation Programme has been especially welcome, proving a great benefit to many students. On my own behalf and that of the Board of Governors, I wish him well in retirement, mindful that he will be continuing to support the mission of the University in the future.”

St Mary’s Vice-Chancellor Anthony McClaran said, “John, working with colleagues across St Mary’s, has helped place the University on a strong and sustainable foundation in a challenging context – not least during the last year as we have faced the impact of the pandemic - and I also thank him personally for the support he has given me since I joined St Mary’s. We look forward to his continuing engagement with our mission as a Catholic university.”