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 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 th ...

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

University of Derby , mottoeng = Experience is the best teacher , established = 1851 – Teacher Training College1992 – gained university status , type = Public , chancellor = William Cavendish, Ea ...

, from 1995 to 2003.

Life

Ball was educated at St George's School, Harpenden, and served in the Parachute Regiment as a

Second Lieutenant Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank. Australia The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until ...

(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 one of the Colleges of Oxford University, constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its foundation can be traced back to the ...

, where he was a

scholar A scholar is a person who pursues academic and intellectual activities, particularly academics who apply their intellectualism into expertise in an area of study. A scholar can also be an academic, who works as a professor, teacher, or researche ...

, 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 SOAS University of London (; the School of Oriental and African Studies) 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 ar ...

(part of the

University of London The University of London (UoL; abbreviated as Lond or more rarely Londin in post-nominals) is a federal public research university located in London, England, United Kingdom. The university was established by royal charter in 1836 as a degree ...

) in 1961. He returned to the

University of Oxford , mottoeng = The Lord is my light , established = , endowment = £6.1 billion (including colleges) (2019) , budget = £2.145 billion (2019–20) , chancellor ...

in 1964 as a

Fellow A fellow is a concept whose exact meaning depends on context. In learned or professional societies, it refers to a privileged member who is specially elected in recognition of their work and achievements. Within the context of higher education ...

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

bursar A bursar (derived from "bursa", Latin for '' purse'') is a professional administrator in a school or university often with a predominantly financial role. In the United States, bursars usually hold office only at the level of higher education (f ...

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