Notable alumni

The University of York has a number of alumni who are notable for a wide variety of different achievements. We are very proud to be connected with notable alumni and also highlight a selection of graduates who are making or who have made a unique contribution to the world.  If you feel we have missed someone off this list please let us know by emailing yorkspace@york.ac.uk or why not nominate them for our 50@50 campaign which aims to highlight those who helped make York great?

1967

  • Baroness Haleh Afshar OBE (Politics, Derwent)
    British professor and a life peer in the House of Lords.

1968

  • Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall (Philosophy and Sociology, Derwent)
    British arts consultant, theatre executive and Labour politician.

1969

  • Adam Hart-Davis (Chemistry PhD)
    British scientist, author, photographer, historian and broadcaster.

1971

  • Christine Hamilton (Sociology, Goodricke)
    Television personality and author.

1972

  • Michael Young (Politics, Vanbrugh)
    Facilitated the end of apartheid in South Africa.

1973

  • Peter Hitchens (Philosophy and Politics, Alcuin)
    British columnist and author.
  • Nicholas Wapshott (Politics and Sociology, Goodricke)
    Prominent British journalist and writer.
  • Aníbal Cavaco Silva (Economics, Alcuin, 1973)
    Currently President of Portugal and former prime-minister for 10 years.

1974

  • Greg Dyke (Politics, Derwent)
    Journalist, broadcaster and ex Director-General of the BBC.
  • Sir Colville Norbert Young (Linguistics PhD, Vanbrugh)
    Governor-General of Belize.

1975

  • John Witherow (History, Langwith)
    Acting Editor of The Times.

1976

  • Peter Lord CBE (English, Vanbrugh)
    British film producer, director and co-founder of the Academy award-winning Aardman Animations studio, an animation firm best known for Wallace & Gromit.

1979

  • Denise O'Donoghue OBE (Politics, Vanbrugh)
    British television production company executive.

1980

  • Victoria Barnsley OBE (English)
    UK CEO of HarperCollins.

1981

  • Steve Richards (History, Alcuin)
    British TV presenter and chief political columnist for the Independent newspaper.

1982

  • Bryan Elsley (English and History, Alcuin)
    Television writer, known most notably for the co-creation of E4 teen drama Skins.
  • Jung Chang (Language, Derwent)
    A Chinese-born British writer now living in London, best known for her family autobiography Wild Swans, selling more than 10 million copies worldwide but banned in mainland China.
  • Harry Enfield (Politics, Derwent)
    BAFTA winning British comedian, actor and writer and director.
  • Mark Russell (Music, Derwent)
    British composer.

1986

  • Sigrid Rausing (History, Langwith)
    Swedish philanthropist, anthropologist and publisher.
  • Sally Wainwright (English, Langwith)
    BAFTA nominated television writer and playwright.
  • Richard Harpin (Economics, Wentworth)
    Founder of Homeserve, one of the UK's largest home emergency businesses.

1989

  • Susanna Gross (Philosophy and English, Goodricke)
    Book Editor of the Mail on Sunday.
  • Tanya Byron (Psychology, Vanbrugh)
    British psychologist, writer and media personality, best known for her work as a child therapist on television shows Little Angels and The House of Tiny Tearaways.

1990

    • Willi Geiger (Computer Science BSc, Music Technology MSc, Derwent)
      Special effects designer for films including Star Wars, Terminator, Pirates of the Caribbean and the Harry Potter series.
    • Richard Hollingham (Applied and Environmental Biology, Alcuin, 1991) BBC science presenter, author and writer.

1991

    • Mahmoud Mohieldin (Economics MSc)
      Managing Director of the World Bank Group.

1992

    • Verity Sharp (Music, Vanbrugh)
      BBC Radio Three presenter.
    • Sarah Gavron (English, Wentworth)
      British film director, best known for Brick Lane.
    • Zoe Lyons (Psychology, Wentworth)
      Award nominated British comedienne.

1993

    • James Callis (English and Related Literature, Derwent)
      Actor, Bridget Jones’ Diary and Dr. Gaius Baltar in Battlestar Galactica, won a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor for the role.

1994

    • Richard Coyle (Politics, Derwent)
      Actor, Coupling and Going Postal

1997

    • Paul Mealor (Music, Alcuin)
      British composer.

2005

  • Michael Brothwell (History, Derwent)
    Presenter at BBC Radio York.