Diana Walford
Encyclopedia
Diana Marion Walford CBE
was, until August 2011, Principal of Mansfield College, Oxford
.
Diana Marion Walford, née Norton, was born on 26 February 1944, the daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph Norton and Thelma Norton, née Norton (sic).
Walford was educated at Calder High School for Girls, the University of Liverpool
(BSc
, MB ChB
, MD
, George Holt Scholarship, George Holt Medal, J. Hill Abram Prize), and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (MSc
, N. and S. Devi Prize). On becoming Principal of Mansfield College, Oxford
she became a Master of Arts
of the University of Oxford
. She became a Member of the Royal College of Physicians
in 1972 and a Fellow
in 1990, a Member of the Royal College of Pathologists
in 1974 and a Fellow
in 1986, and a Member of the Faculty of Public Health Medicine in 1989 and a Fellow in 1994.
Walford began her career as a House Physician
(1968-69) and House Surgeon
(1969) at Liverpool Royal Infirmary. She was then a Senior House Officer
at St Mary's Hospital, London (1969-70) and Northwick Park Hospital
(1970-71) and from 1972 until 1975 she was a Senior Registrar
. She developed an interest in the blood disorder thalassaemia, and in 1975 she returned to Northwick Park Hospital
as Honorary Senior Registrar
in the hospital's Clinical Research Centre while working as a Research Fellow
at the North London Blood Transfusion Service, supported by the Medical Research Council
. In the following year she took the first of many positions she was to hold in the Department of Health and Social Security
. From 1976 until 1979 she was Senior Medical Officer in the Medicines Division. She later became Principal Medical Officer in the Scientific Services Equipment Building Division (1979-83) and Senior Principal Medical Officer and Under Secretary in the Medical Manpower and Education Division (1983-86). She spent the academic year 1986-87 on sabbatical at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. On her return to the Department of Health
she took up the post of Senior Principal Medical Officer and Under Secretary in the International Health Microbiology of Food and Water and Communicable Diseases Division. From 1989 until 1992 she was Deputy Chief Medical Officer of England
and Medical Director of the NHS Management Executive. She was Director of the Public Health Laboratory Service from 1993 until 2002, when she was appointed Principal of Mansfield College, Oxford
.
Walford has been a member of the Court of Governors and of the Board of Management of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She is a Governor of the Ditchley Foundation
.
In 2002 HM The Queen
appointed her Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
in the Birthday Honours List for services to public health.
Walford has been married to Arthur Walford since 9 December 1970. Arthur Walford is Company secretary
of Bupa
.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
was, until August 2011, Principal of Mansfield College, Oxford
Mansfield College, Oxford
Mansfield College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Of the colleges that accept both undergraduate and graduate students Mansfield College is one of the smallest, comprising approximately 210 undergraduates, 130 graduates, 35 visiting students and 50...
.
Diana Marion Walford, née Norton, was born on 26 February 1944, the daughter of Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph Norton and Thelma Norton, née Norton (sic).
Walford was educated at Calder High School for Girls, the University of Liverpool
University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
(BSc
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
, MB ChB
Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery
Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, or in Latin Medicinae Baccalaureus, Baccalaureus Chirurgiae , are the two first professional degrees awarded upon graduation from medical school in medicine and surgery by universities in various countries...
, MD
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
, George Holt Scholarship, George Holt Medal, J. Hill Abram Prize), and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (MSc
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
, N. and S. Devi Prize). On becoming Principal of Mansfield College, Oxford
Mansfield College, Oxford
Mansfield College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Of the colleges that accept both undergraduate and graduate students Mansfield College is one of the smallest, comprising approximately 210 undergraduates, 130 graduates, 35 visiting students and 50...
she became a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (Oxbridge)
In the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Dublin, Bachelors of Arts of these universities are admitted to the degree of Master of Arts or Master in Arts on application after six or seven years' seniority as members of the university .There is no examination or study required for the degree...
of the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
. She became a Member of the Royal College of Physicians
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
in 1972 and a Fellow
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
in 1990, a Member of the Royal College of Pathologists
Royal College of Pathologists
The Royal College of Pathologists, founded in 1962, was established to co-ordinate this development and maintain the internationally renowned standards and reputation of British pathology. Today the College advises on a vast range of issues relating to pathology...
in 1974 and a Fellow
Royal College of Pathologists
The Royal College of Pathologists, founded in 1962, was established to co-ordinate this development and maintain the internationally renowned standards and reputation of British pathology. Today the College advises on a vast range of issues relating to pathology...
in 1986, and a Member of the Faculty of Public Health Medicine in 1989 and a Fellow in 1994.
Walford began her career as a House Physician
Pre-registration house officer
Pre-registration house officer , often known as a houseman or house officer, was until 2005 the only job open to medical graduates in the United Kingdom who had just passed their final examinations at medical school and had received their medical degrees.Newly-qualified doctors are only allowed...
(1968-69) and House Surgeon
Pre-registration house officer
Pre-registration house officer , often known as a houseman or house officer, was until 2005 the only job open to medical graduates in the United Kingdom who had just passed their final examinations at medical school and had received their medical degrees.Newly-qualified doctors are only allowed...
(1969) at Liverpool Royal Infirmary. She was then a Senior House Officer
Senior house officer
A senior house officer is a junior doctor undergoing training within a certain speciality in the British National Health Service or in the Republic of Ireland. SHOs are supervised by consultants and registrars, who oversee their training and are their designated clinical supervisors...
at St Mary's Hospital, London (1969-70) and Northwick Park Hospital
Northwick Park Hospital
Northwick Park Hospital is a large hospital in the northwest corner of the London Borough of Brent in Greater London, England.-Hospital role:...
(1970-71) and from 1972 until 1975 she was a Senior Registrar
Senior Registrar
A Senior Registrar was a type of doctor in the United Kingdom or Ireland, but the post no longer exists.Senior Registrars were medical practitioners who were undertaking, or had completed, several years of higher level training in a hospital specialty or Public Health but had not yet gained a...
. She developed an interest in the blood disorder thalassaemia, and in 1975 she returned to Northwick Park Hospital
Northwick Park Hospital
Northwick Park Hospital is a large hospital in the northwest corner of the London Borough of Brent in Greater London, England.-Hospital role:...
as Honorary Senior Registrar
Senior Registrar
A Senior Registrar was a type of doctor in the United Kingdom or Ireland, but the post no longer exists.Senior Registrars were medical practitioners who were undertaking, or had completed, several years of higher level training in a hospital specialty or Public Health but had not yet gained a...
in the hospital's Clinical Research Centre while working as a Research Fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
at the North London Blood Transfusion Service, supported by the Medical Research Council
Medical Research Council (UK)
The Medical Research Council is a publicly-funded agency responsible for co-ordinating and funding medical research in the United Kingdom. It is one of seven Research Councils in the UK and is answerable to, although politically independent from, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills...
. In the following year she took the first of many positions she was to hold in the Department of Health and Social Security
Department of Health and Social Security
The Department of Health and Social Security was a ministry of the British government in existence for twenty years from 1968 until 1988, and was headed by the Secretary of State for Social Services.-History:...
. From 1976 until 1979 she was Senior Medical Officer in the Medicines Division. She later became Principal Medical Officer in the Scientific Services Equipment Building Division (1979-83) and Senior Principal Medical Officer and Under Secretary in the Medical Manpower and Education Division (1983-86). She spent the academic year 1986-87 on sabbatical at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. On her return to the Department of Health
Department of Health (United Kingdom)
The Department of Health is a department of the United Kingdom government with responsibility for government policy for health and social care matters and for the National Health Service in England along with a few elements of the same matters which are not otherwise devolved to the Scottish,...
she took up the post of Senior Principal Medical Officer and Under Secretary in the International Health Microbiology of Food and Water and Communicable Diseases Division. From 1989 until 1992 she was Deputy Chief Medical Officer of England
Chief Medical Officer
There are four Chief Medical Officers in the United Kingdom who are appointed to advise their respective governments on health related matters: Her Majesty's Government, the Northern Ireland Executive, the Scottish Government and the Welsh Assembly Government...
and Medical Director of the NHS Management Executive. She was Director of the Public Health Laboratory Service from 1993 until 2002, when she was appointed Principal of Mansfield College, Oxford
Mansfield College, Oxford
Mansfield College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Of the colleges that accept both undergraduate and graduate students Mansfield College is one of the smallest, comprising approximately 210 undergraduates, 130 graduates, 35 visiting students and 50...
.
Walford has been a member of the Court of Governors and of the Board of Management of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She is a Governor of the Ditchley Foundation
Ditchley Foundation
The Ditchley Foundation is a British organisation based at Ditchley House near Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, which aims to promote international relations, especially Anglo-American relations, through a programme of around fifteen annual conferences on matters of international interest...
.
In 2002 HM The Queen
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
appointed her Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in the Birthday Honours List for services to public health.
Walford has been married to Arthur Walford since 9 December 1970. Arthur Walford is Company secretary
Company secretary
A company secretary is a senior position in a private company or public organisation, normally in the form of a managerial position or above. In the United States it is known as a corporate secretary....
of Bupa
Bupa
Bupa is a large British healthcare organisation, with bases on three continents and more than ten million customers in over 200 countries. It is a private healthcare company, in direct contrast to the UK's National Health Services, which are tax-funded healthcare systems and do not require private...
.
Sources
- The BSE Inquiry Statement No 182
- University of Oxford Annual Review
- 'New Principal for Mansfield', Oxford Blueprint: The newsletter of the University of Oxford 2:1 (4 October 2001)
- Dr Diana Walford, Director of the PHLS, elected to Principalship of Mansfield College, Oxford (Health Protection Agency press release, 6 September 2001)
- Debrett's People of Today (12th edn, London: Debrett's Peerage, 1999), p. 2021