Baroness Betty Lockwood 1924 – 2019
Birkbeck is saddened by the death of former College President, who was a passionate equalities campaigner
Lifelong equalities campaigner and former President of Birkbeck, Baroness Betty Lockwood HonDLitt, HonDSc, has passed away at the age of 95.
Baroness Lockwood was born on 22 January 1924 to Arthur and Edith Lockwood of Dewsbury, West Yorkshire.
Her early educational experiences prepared her well for the presidency of Birkbeck, which she held from 1983-1989. After studying at Eastborough Girls School, she continued her studies at night school. Then, with the support of a Mary Macarthur scholarship for working women, she read economics and politics at Ruskin College, Oxford.
In 1978, she was made a life peer. Her parliamentary roles included Chair of the Equal Opportunities Commission from 1975-83 and deputy Speaker of the House of Lords from 1990-2007.
Professor David Latchman, Master of Birkbeck, said: “I was deeply saddened to hear of Baroness Lockwood’s death. Her own experience of having benefited from evening study and a scholarship for working women gave her great insight with regards to the both the circumstances and ambitions of Birkbeck’s students. When I first became Master she was of enormous help to me in planning the political campaign for part-time students.”