Paul O'Prey
Encyclopedia
Professor Paul O'Prey is Vice-Chancellor of Roehampton University
in London, where he is also Professor of Modern Literature. He was appointed in 2004.
O'Prey was born in Southampton
in 1956, the youngest of five children. He attended St George Roman Catholic Comprehensive School until the age of 16, when he transferred to King Edward VI School, Southampton
, then a grant maintained grammar school. He won a place to study English Language and Literature at Keble College, Oxford
. He obtained his Ph.D from the University of Bristol
, where his supervisor was the poet Charles Tomlinson
.
In 1977 Paul O'Prey left Oxford to work for the poet Robert Graves
at his home in Deia
, Mallorca
. O'Prey assisted him in various ways, most notably working with his wife, Beryl, on the creation of a major archive of the poet's papers which is now housed at St John's College, Oxford
. That work led O'Prey to publish a biographical study of Graves told through his letters with other eminent writers such as Siegfried Sassoon
, T.S. Eliot and Gertrude Stein
, published in two volumes: In Broken Images (Hutchinson, 1982) and Between Moon and Moon (Hutchinson, 1984). O'Prey's edition of Graves' Selected Poems (Penguin Books, 1986), published just after Graves's death in 1985, reinstated a number of poems which Graves himself had previously suppressed, including some of his youthful war poems written during World War I
.
O'Prey's other books include the first full critical study of the novels of Graham Greene
, an edition of Heart of Darkness
by Joseph Conrad
(Penguin Books, 1983) and, with Lucia Graves, the first English translation of the Spanish nineteenth century classic novel, Los Pazos de Ulloa by Emilia Pardo Bazan
(Penguin Classics, 1991). (The book was later serialized by Channel 4). O'Prey has also written articles, essays, chapters in books. His media appearances include a Channel 4 programme on drugs and art.
Board and Chair of the Longer Term Strategy Group (2010 -); the Higher Education Funding Council for England
Strategic Advisory Committee on Leadership Governance and Management (2005 –); Higher Education Careers Services Unit Board (2006 -); London Higher Board (2006–2009); Sport England
Higher Education Stakeholder Group (2008 -);Putney High School
, Governor (2004–2009); Council of the Friends of the Imperial War Museum
(2009 –); President of the War Poets Association
(2007 –); and Worldwide Universities Network
Academic Board (2002–2004).
as Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive when it gained independent university status in 2004, O'Prey spent 16 years at the University of Bristol
where he worked in a variety of capacities, latterly as Director of Academic Affairs. At Bristol he played a seminal role in the introduction of Entrepreneurship as an academic discipline and in the establishment of Enterprise and Knowledge Transfer as key themes in the University's mission. He also played a key role in the development of the University's Research Strategy and Education Strategy, and in the development of initiatives to improve access to the University for students from non-traditional backgrounds. He was also warden of the University of Bristol hall of residence Goldney Hall
until 2004.
During O'Prey's tenure as Vice-Chancellor, Roehampton University
has adopted a strategy to establish a strong academic reputation. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise
two of its departments, Biological Anthropology and Dance, were rated as the best in the U.K.
Roehampton University
The University of Roehampton is a campus university in the United Kingdom, situated on three major sites in Roehampton, south-west London.-History:...
in London, where he is also Professor of Modern Literature. He was appointed in 2004.
O'Prey was born in Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
in 1956, the youngest of five children. He attended St George Roman Catholic Comprehensive School until the age of 16, when he transferred to King Edward VI School, Southampton
King Edward VI School, Southampton
King Edward VI School, often referred to as King Edward's, or simply KES, is a selective co-educational independent day School located in Southampton, United Kingdom and is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. It was founded in 1553, after the death of William Capon , who...
, then a grant maintained grammar school. He won a place to study English Language and Literature at Keble College, Oxford
Keble College, Oxford
Keble College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its main buildings are on Parks Road, opposite the University Museum and the University Parks. The college is bordered to the north by Keble Road, to the south by Museum Road, and to the west by Blackhall...
. He obtained his Ph.D from the University of Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
, where his supervisor was the poet Charles Tomlinson
Charles Tomlinson
Alfred Charles Tomlinson, CBE is a British poet and translator, and also an academic and artist. He was born and raised in Penkhull in the city of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.-Life:...
.
In 1977 Paul O'Prey left Oxford to work for the poet Robert Graves
Robert Graves
Robert von Ranke Graves 24 July 1895 – 7 December 1985 was an English poet, translator and novelist. During his long life he produced more than 140 works...
at his home in Deia
Deià
Deià is a small coastal village on the northern ridge of the Spanish island of Majorca. It is located about ten miles north of Valldemossa, and it is known for its literary and musical residents...
, Mallorca
Mallorca
Majorca or Mallorca is an island located in the Mediterranean Sea, one of the Balearic Islands.The capital of the island, Palma, is also the capital of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands. The Cabrera Archipelago is administratively grouped with Majorca...
. O'Prey assisted him in various ways, most notably working with his wife, Beryl, on the creation of a major archive of the poet's papers which is now housed at St John's College, Oxford
St John's College, Oxford
__FORCETOC__St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford, one of the larger Oxford colleges with approximately 390 undergraduates, 200 postgraduates and over 100 academic staff. It was founded by Sir Thomas White, a merchant, in 1555, whose heart is buried in the chapel of...
. That work led O'Prey to publish a biographical study of Graves told through his letters with other eminent writers such as Siegfried Sassoon
Siegfried Sassoon
Siegfried Loraine Sassoon CBE MC was an English poet, author and soldier. Decorated for bravery on the Western Front, he became one of the leading poets of the First World War. His poetry both described the horrors of the trenches, and satirised the patriotic pretensions of those who, in Sassoon's...
, T.S. Eliot and Gertrude Stein
Gertrude Stein
Gertrude Stein was an American writer, poet and art collector who spent most of her life in France.-Early life:...
, published in two volumes: In Broken Images (Hutchinson, 1982) and Between Moon and Moon (Hutchinson, 1984). O'Prey's edition of Graves' Selected Poems (Penguin Books, 1986), published just after Graves's death in 1985, reinstated a number of poems which Graves himself had previously suppressed, including some of his youthful war poems written during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
O'Prey's other books include the first full critical study of the novels of Graham Greene
Graham Greene
Henry Graham Greene, OM, CH was an English author, playwright and literary critic. His works explore the ambivalent moral and political issues of the modern world...
, an edition of Heart of Darkness
Heart of Darkness
Heart of Darkness is a novella written by Joseph Conrad. Before its 1903 publication, it appeared as a three-part series in Blackwood's Magazine. It was classified by the Modern Library website editors as one of the "100 best novels" and part of the Western canon.The story centres on Charles...
by Joseph Conrad
Joseph Conrad
Joseph Conrad was a Polish-born English novelist.Conrad is regarded as one of the great novelists in English, although he did not speak the language fluently until he was in his twenties...
(Penguin Books, 1983) and, with Lucia Graves, the first English translation of the Spanish nineteenth century classic novel, Los Pazos de Ulloa by Emilia Pardo Bazan
Emilia Pardo Bazán
Emilia Pardo Bazán was a Spanish author and scholar from Galicia.-Life:...
(Penguin Classics, 1991). (The book was later serialized by Channel 4). O'Prey has also written articles, essays, chapters in books. His media appearances include a Channel 4 programme on drugs and art.
Affiliations
Professor O'Prey has served on a number of bodies, the current or most recent of which include: Universities UKUniversities UK
Universities UK began life as the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals of the Universities of the United Kingdom in the nineteenth century when there were informal meetings involving Vice-Chancellors of a number of universities and Principals of university colleges...
Board and Chair of the Longer Term Strategy Group (2010 -); the Higher Education Funding Council for England
Higher Education Funding Council for England
The Higher Education Funding Council for England is a non-departmental public body of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in the United Kingdom, which has been responsible for the distribution of funding to Universities and Colleges of Higher and Further Education in England since...
Strategic Advisory Committee on Leadership Governance and Management (2005 –); Higher Education Careers Services Unit Board (2006 -); London Higher Board (2006–2009); Sport England
Sport England
Sport England is the brand name for the English Sports Council and is a non-departmental public body under the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
Higher Education Stakeholder Group (2008 -);Putney High School
Putney High School
Putney High School is an independent all-girls school in Putney, London. It is run by the Girls' Day School Trust, a union of 26 schools with 19,500 students and 3,500 staff.-Location and information:...
, Governor (2004–2009); Council of the Friends of the Imperial War Museum
Imperial War Museum
Imperial War Museum is a British national museum organisation with branches at five locations in England, three of which are in London. The museum was founded during the First World War in 1917 and intended as a record of the war effort and sacrifice of Britain and her Empire...
(2009 –); President of the War Poets Association
War Poets Association
The War Poets Association is a UK based charitable organisation established in 2004. Launched at a reception in the British Embassy in Paris, in July 2004, it aims to promote interest in war poetry of the twentieth century, primarily in English...
(2007 –); and Worldwide Universities Network
Worldwide Universities Network
The Worldwide Universities Network is an invitation-only group of research-led universities that have agreed to carry out research and research training on a collaborative basis...
Academic Board (2002–2004).
Career
Prior to joining Roehampton UniversityRoehampton University
The University of Roehampton is a campus university in the United Kingdom, situated on three major sites in Roehampton, south-west London.-History:...
as Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive when it gained independent university status in 2004, O'Prey spent 16 years at the University of Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
where he worked in a variety of capacities, latterly as Director of Academic Affairs. At Bristol he played a seminal role in the introduction of Entrepreneurship as an academic discipline and in the establishment of Enterprise and Knowledge Transfer as key themes in the University's mission. He also played a key role in the development of the University's Research Strategy and Education Strategy, and in the development of initiatives to improve access to the University for students from non-traditional backgrounds. He was also warden of the University of Bristol hall of residence Goldney Hall
Goldney Hall
Goldney Hall also known as Goldney House is a self-catered hall of residence in Clifton, Bristol, one of three in the area providing accommodation for students at the University of Bristol.-House:...
until 2004.
During O'Prey's tenure as Vice-Chancellor, Roehampton University
Roehampton University
The University of Roehampton is a campus university in the United Kingdom, situated on three major sites in Roehampton, south-west London.-History:...
has adopted a strategy to establish a strong academic reputation. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise
Research Assessment Exercise
The Research Assessment Exercise is an exercise undertaken approximately every 5 years on behalf of the four UK higher education funding councils to evaluate the quality of research undertaken by British higher education institutions...
two of its departments, Biological Anthropology and Dance, were rated as the best in the U.K.