Sir Geoffrey Arthur Cass (born 11 August 1932) MA (Oxford), MA (Cambridge), CCMI, HonFInstD. Chairman of the Royal Theatrical Support Trust. Spent twenty years as chief executive of Cambridge University Press and has also been chairman of the Royal Shakespeare Company and president of the Lawn Tennis Association.

Education

Sir Geoffrey was educated at Reid Street Infants School, Darlington, at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School,

Darlington Darlington is a market town in the Borough of Darlington, County Durham, England. The River Skerne flows through the town; it is a tributary of the River Tees. The Tees itself flows south of the town. In the 19th century, Darlington underwe ...

(Head of School), and later at

Jesus College, Oxford Jesus College (in full: Jesus College in the University of Oxford of Queen Elizabeth's Foundation) is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship S ...

and at Nuffield College, Oxford.

Career and honours

Sir Geoffrey was commissioned in the RAFVR in 1954, and in the RAF 1958-60 (Flying Officer). He was an operating consultant with PA Management Consultants between 1960 and 1965, and chief executive of George Allen & Unwin Ltd, publishers between 1967-71. He was chief executive of Cambridge University Press from 1972 to 1992, and Cambridge University Printer. Chairman of the Royal Shakespeare Company from 1985 to 2000 and then deputy president (to the Prince of Wales) from 2000 to 2011, then emeritus chairman 2011 to present. He was chairman (and co-founder) of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre Trust 1983-2012. He was president and chairman of the Council of the Lawn Tennis Association from 1997 to 1999, and chairman of the British Tennis Foundation from 2003 to 2007 and then President. Formerly, Sir Geoffrey was also a member of the Cambridge University Fitzwilliam Museum Syndicate; a member of the University Careers Service Syndicate (The Appointments Board); chairman of the governors of The Perse School for Girls, Cambridge 1978-88; president, Macmillan Cancer Support, Cambridgeshire (1998-). He held directorships of Controls & Communications Ltd, Weidenfeld Publishers Ltd, Chicago University Press, American Friends of the Royal Shakespeare Company, Cambridge Arts Theatre, Method and Madness, Cambridge Theatre Company, the Theatres Trust, Marc Sinden Productions, Newcastle Theatre Royal, All England LTC (Wimbledon), and All England Lawn Tennis Ground PLC. Sir Geoffrey is a Fellow of

Clare Hall, Cambridge Clare Hall is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. Founded in 1966 by Clare College, Clare Hall is a college for advanced study, admitting only postgraduate students alongside postdoctoral researchers and fellows. It ...

and a member of

Jesus College, Cambridge Jesus College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's full name is The College of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint John the Evangelist and the glorious Virgin Saint Radegund, near Cambridge. Its common name comes f ...

. He was the longest-serving trustee of the Cambridge University Foundation and was chairman of the audit committee. He was chairman of the Cambridge University ADC Theatre Appeal (2000-2007) and of the University Sports Centre Appeal (2001-2003). He is a life trustee of the

Shakespeare Birthplace Trust The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust (SBT) is an independent registered educational charity based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England, that came into existence in 1847 following the purchase of William Shakespeare's birthplace for preserva ...

and a member of the Trust Council, and formerly chairman of the audit committee. He is the chairman and co-founder of the

Royal Theatrical Support Trust The Royal Theatrical Support Trust (RTST) is a British charity that promotes the theatre supports theatre companies. It was founded in 1967. Council of Management Currently, all members of the RTST's Council are charity trustees and directors of ...

(2012-) and a vice patron of the Almshouse Association (2018-). He was knighted in 1992, elected an Honorary Fellow of

in 1998 and awarded a French Knighthood

Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres The ''Ordre des Arts et des Lettres'' (Order of Arts and Letters) is an order of France established on 2 May 1957 by the Minister of Culture. Its supplementary status to the was confirmed by President Charles de Gaulle in 1963. Its purpose i ...

in 1982.

Sporting achievement

Sir Geoffrey was a lawn tennis Blue at Oxford University (1953/54/55) and Captain of Badminton (1951/52). He was tennis Singles Champion of Durham County (1951) and later of Cambridgeshire County in 1976. A Wimbledon Championships player in 1954,1955, 1956 and 1959, he played the opening match of the 1954 Championships on the Centre Court against the then reigning Wimbledon Champion. He went on to play in the Inter-County Lawn Tennis Championships over a period of 31 years and was Captain (1974–78) and President (1980-82) of Cambridgeshire Lawn Tennis Association, having also earlier represented the RAF in the Inter-Services Championships at Wimbledon 1958/59. He was British Veterans' Singles Champion at Wimbledon in 1978, and Captain and first-ranked player in Britain's International Veterans Dubler Cup team 1978/79 at Barcelona and Milano Marittima. Sir Geoffrey was a member of the Wimbledon Championships Management Committee for 12 years, and Chairman of the Championships Finance Committee. He is currently the president of

Cambridge University Lawn Tennis Club Cambridge University Lawn Tennis Club was founded in 1881, seven years before the Lawn Tennis Association of Great Britain was founded. Although it is called a 'club', it is actually the lawn tennis association of the whole of the University of Cam ...

(and an Honorary Blue 1980-), and was a member of the University Fenner's Management Committee, and was formerly the Chairman of Cambridge University Cricket & Athletic Club Ltd.

Personal life

He married Olwen (Lady Cass MBE, JP, DL) in 1957, and they have four daughters.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cass, Geoffrey Living people 1932 births Alumni of Jesus College, Oxford Alumni of Nuffield College, Oxford British chief executives Fellows of Clare Hall, Cambridge Fellows of Jesus College, Oxford Knights Bachelor