Helen Hamlyn
Lady Helen Hamlyn CBE | |
|---|---|
| Born | Helen Roice Jones March 28, 1934 London, England |
| Education | St Christopher School |
| Alma mater | Royal College of Art |
| Occupation(s) | Designer and Philanthropist |
| Known for | Philanthropy |
| Spouses |
|
Lady Helen Hamlyn, CBE (née Jones; born 28 March 1934) is an English designer and philanthropist who heads the Helen Hamlyn Trust.
Life and career
[edit]Helen Roice Jones was born in London in 1934.[1] Her father, E. William Jones,[2] an engineer, died during World War II.[3] She and her sister, Margaret O’Rorke, a light maker in fine porcelain, attended a progressive co-educational school, St. Christopher School, in Letchworth.[1][4] Hamlyn then went on to the Royal College of Art where she graduated as a fashion designer.[1] After graduation, she became a designer at Cresta Silks where she remained for 15 years.[4] Her marriage to architect Paul Guest in 1957[2] ended in divorce. In 1970 she married Paul Hamlyn, Baron Hamlyn, a publisher and philanthropist.[citation needed]
Together, Paul and Helen. bought in the 1980s the 13th century Chateau de Bagnols in Beaujolais.[4][5] After four years of restoration, it opened in 1992 as “one of the world's most famous and exclusive hotels.”[6] In recognition of her work she was named a Chevalier de l'Ordre des Artes et Lettres by the French government.[6]
Philanthropy
[edit]In 1984, Paul Hamlyn gave to his wife as her 50th birthday present her own foundation, the Helen Hamlyn Trust.[4] One aim of the trust is to fund projects that improve people's lives.[7][8] Her interests include the design of products to be used by people of all ages,[9] and the restoration and re-use of the Albarquel fort in Setúbal, Portugal.[10]
Awards and honors
[edit]Hamlyn’s charitable work has been recognized by many institutions in the UK and abroad. She was named a CBE in 2019.[11] She has received honorary doctorates from Fordham University (2004),[12] the Rochester Institute of Technology (2014)[13] and the Royal College of Art (2016).[14] She was designated an honorary graduate of Imperial College London (2006).[15] Her honorary fellowships include the Royal College of Art (1994),[14] City and Guilds of London Institute (2012),[16] the Royal Institute of British Architects (2022),[17] and University College London (2023).[18] In February 2013 she was assessed as one of the 100 most powerful women in the UK by Woman's Hour on BBC Radio 4.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Lady Helen Hamlyn: Philanthropist" (PDF). National Portrait Gallery. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
- ^ a b "Marriage: Mr. P. Guest and Miss H. Roice Jones". The Times. 1957-02-13. p. 10.
- ^ Roberts, Alison (2009-10-08). "The Lady of the First Night". The London Evening Standard. p. 42.
- ^ a b c d Moore, Susan (March 2024). "In Full Colour". Apollo Magazine. 199 (728): 110–117. Archived from the original on April 23, 2024.
- ^ Whitley, John (1992-08-01). "The Battle of Bagnols". The Daily Telegraph. pp. 140, [1], [2], [3], [4]. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
- ^ a b Adams, Guy (2007-01-06). "Hôtel des Rêves: Lady Hamlyn and the selling of a £17m dream". The Independent.
- ^ a b "BBC Radio 4 - Woman's Hour, Woman's Hour Power List - Lady Helen Hamlyn". BBC. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
- ^ Helen Hamlyn Trust (2021). Nurturing Innovation: 20 years of the Helen Hamlyn Trust. London: The Trust.
- ^ Cantacuzino, Marina (1986-05-29). "If it's good enough for the over sixties, it's good enough for everyone". The Guardian. p. 9. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
- ^ Donn, Natasha (2015-01-31). ""Multi-millionaire British philanthropist helps Setúbal become centre of culture". Portugal resident. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
- ^ Parnaby, Laura (6 December 2019). "Salisbury attack response commander receives OBE: AWARDS Officer was tasked with removing deadly Novichok nerve agent". The Press and Journal; Dundee (UK). p. 19 – via Proquest.
- ^ "Tim Russert Challenges Grads to Share the Blessings of Their Education". Fordham Now. 2004-05-22. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
- ^ Kiley, Rich (October 31, 2014). "RIT to bestow honorary doctorate on philanthropist". RIT. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
- ^ a b "College Honours". RCA Website. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
- ^ "Honorary graduates, fellows and Imperial College medals | About | Imperial College London". www.imperial.ac.uk. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
- ^ "Fellowship (FCGI) and Honorary Fellowship (HonFCGI) of The City and Guilds of London, Institute March 2008 –March 2019". Retrieved 2024-07-06.
- ^ "RIBA International and-Honorary Fellows 2022". www.architecture.com. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
- ^ UCL (2023-09-07). "UCL honours philanthropist and design pioneer with Honorary Fellowship". IOE - Faculty of Education and Society. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
External links
[edit]- Online version of Susan Moore's Apollo Magazine article, now entitled "Helen Hamlyn on collecting with purpose"
- National Portrait Gallery interview