Sir Christopher John Elinger Ball (born 22 April 1935) is a British academic, who served as Warden of

Keble College, Oxford Keble College () is one of the Colleges of the University of Oxford, constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its main buildings are on Parks Road, opposite the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, University Museum a ...

, from 1980 to 1988, and as the first Chancellor of the

University of Derby The University of Derby, formerly known as Derby College, is a public university in the city of Derby, England. It traces its history back to the establishment of the Derby Diocesan Institution for the training of schoolmistresses in 1851. It ...

, from 1995 to 2003.

Life

Ball was educated at

St George's School, Harpenden St George's School, Harpenden (also known as St George's) is a non-selective state Day school, day and boarding school in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, England, educating students of both sexes between the ages of eleven and eighteen, with an emphasi ...

, and served in the Parachute Regiment as a Second Lieutenant (1955 to 1956). He then read English at

Merton College, Oxford Merton College (in full: The House or College of Scholars of Merton in the University of Oxford) is a Colleges of the University of Oxford, constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. Its foundation can be traced back to the 126 ...

, where he was a

scholar A scholar is a person who is a researcher or has expertise in an academic discipline. A scholar can also be an academic, who works as a professor, teacher, or researcher at a university. An academic usually holds an advanced degree or a termina ...

, obtaining a first-class degree in 1959. After lecturing in Oxford, he moved to be a lecturer in comparative linguistics at the

School of Oriental and African Studies The School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS University of London; ) is a public research university in London, England, and a member institution of the federal University of London. Founded in 1916, SOAS is located in the Bloomsbury area ...

(part of the

University of London The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more rarely Londin in Post-nominal letters, post-nominals) is a collegiate university, federal Public university, public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The ...

) in 1961. He returned to the

University of Oxford The University of Oxford is a collegiate university, collegiate research university in Oxford, England. There is evidence of teaching as early as 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the List of oldest un ...

in 1964 as a

Fellow A fellow is a title and form of address for distinguished, learned, or skilled individuals in academia, medicine, research, and industry. The exact meaning of the term differs in each field. In learned society, learned or professional society, p ...

and Tutor in English at Lincoln College, where he also served as

bursar A bursar (derived from ''wikt:bursa, bursa'', Latin for 'Coin purse, purse') is a professional Administrator of the government, administrator in a school or university often with a predominantly financial role. In the United States, bursars usual ...

from 1972 to 1979. In 1980, he was appointed Warden of

, a post that he held until 1988, the same year that he was knighted. He was appointed an Honorary Fellow of Lincoln College in 1981, Merton College in 1987, and of Keble College in 1989. From 1995 to 2003, he served as the first Chancellor of the

which had achieved University status in 1992. He was the joint founding editor (with Angus Cameron) of Toronto ''Dictionary of Old English'' (1970). He has written various works on educational and linguistic matters, as well as some poetry (as "John Elinger").

References

External links

* Living people 1935 births Alumni of Merton College, Oxford Academics of SOAS University of London Fellows of Lincoln College, Oxford Wardens of Keble College, Oxford Linguists from the United Kingdom British poets British Parachute Regiment officers Knights Bachelor People educated at St George's School, Harpenden People associated with the University of Derby British male poets Fellows of Merton College, Oxford {{UK-linguist-stub