About Lord Timpson

Lord Timpson studied Geography at Hatfield College and met his future wife, Roisin, while at Durham.

He was Chief Executive of the family business, the Timpson retail group, for more than 20 years and served as Chair of the Prison Reform Trust until being appointed Minister of State for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending in July 2024. Just days before his Government appointment, we had awarded him an honorary degree.

Hatfield College’s Timpson Gym is named in honour of his father, Sir John Timpson, a generous supporter of the College; and his daughter has also studied with us.

Prison, Punishment and Hope

Lord Timpson returned to Durham to deliver the Annual Hatfield Lecture, with the title: Prison, Punishment and Hope. The Hatfield College Chapel was full to hear the address.

He spoke of his determination to reform the criminal justice system, saying it had been “running way too hot for too long” and the Probation Service workload was “far too high”.

Emphasising the importance of good leadership, culture, and training, and acknowledging the size of the challenge, he invited his audience to judge him on whether reoffending rates fell over a five- to ten-year period.

Message to students

Lord Timpson also spoke of his “enormous pleasure” in returning to Durham, saying it is a “very special place” for him and “always feels like coming home”.

Addressing the many students in the audience, he encouraged them to not be deterred by mistakes or setbacks, but rather set their sights on the future.

Durham has one of the UK’s best criminology courses and is part of the Inside-Out Prison Exchange Programme, which teaches courses inside prison including university and incarcerated students. Our Vice-Chancellor Professor Karen O’Brien, who attended Lord Timpson’s lecture, recently became Honorary President of the criminal justice and social care charity Nepacs.

Find out more

• Read more about Lord Timpson’s honorary degree.
• Explore Hatfield College.

About Hatfield College

Hatfield College is a vibrant and welcoming community to which each and every student, alongside other college members, belongs reflecting our ethos and recent joint declaration #AllOneHatfield. Established in 1846, as the second college of Durham University, with the explicit purpose of being open to a wide range of students, we greatly value the rich diversity of our college members, who come from all sorts of backgrounds and places of origin, with all sorts of interests, experiences and views. We strive to ensure that all Hatfielders have the opportunities and encouragement to be the best they can be, reflecting the words of our motto, Vel Primus Vel Cum Primis.

About the Hatfield Association

The Hatfield Association was established in 1946, at a time when the future of Hatfield College, Durham University was uncertain – this was the first time that Hatfielders came together and probably the finest proof of the legendary Hatfield spirit.

Our aim is to ensure we have a strong, active and engaged network of Hatfield alumni (graduates), to facilitate and build strong relationships with the College and to support its educational and welfare needs.

Vel Primus Vel Cum Primis since 1846