Patron (Latin: patronus) defender, protector, advocate. Meaning "one who advances the cause".
Local Children's Universities can also have Patrons: a figurehead who advances the cause through good-will and influence, especially in their area of expertise. Patrons can influence politically, as well as in certain curriculum and learning areas, such as museums, galleries, subject specialisms, Further and Higher Education Institutions.
Patrons can by name and nature raise the profile of the Children's University in their own field and beyond. (Inter)nationally we are privileged to enjoy the support and encouragement of our patrons as follows:
Dr Keith Bartley retired in July 2013, having been the Chief Executive for the Department for Education and Child Development in South Australia.
Dr James Bradburne is a British-Canadian architect, designer and museum specialist who has designed World's Fair pavilions, science centres and international art exhibitions.
Shami Chakrabarti has been Director of Liberty (The National Council for Civil Liberties) since September 2003. Shami first joined Liberty as In-House Counsel on 10 September 2001. She became heavily involved in its engagement with the "War on Terror" and with the defense and promotion of human rights values in Parliament, the Courts and wider society.
Robert Balchin, The Lord Lingfield, is Pro-Chancellor of Brunel University. He is the Knight Principal of the Imperial Society of Knights Bachelor (Chairman of the Knights' Council). He was knighted for services to education in January 1993.
Robert Muchamore was born in Islington in 1972 and continues to live in North London. After spending thirteen years working as a private investigator, he decided to start writing the CHERUB series following his nephew's complaints about the lack of anything for them to read.
David Puttnam spent thirty years as an independent producer of award-winning films including The Mission, The Killing Fields, Local Hero, Chariots of Fire, Midnight Express, Bugsy Malone and Memphis Belle. His films have won ten Oscars, 25 Baftas and the Palme D'Or at Cannes.
Hilary Robinson is an author, radio producer, broadcaster and feature writer. She was born in Devon and brought up in Nigeria and England. The author of over forty books for children she is best known for Mixed Up Fairy Tales. Her books have been translated into a number of languages and are sold across the world. She lives and works in London and Yorkshire.
Tessa was a Trustee of the CU Trust from 2006 to 2011.
Mick was a Trustee of the CU Trust from 2009 to 2014.
Widely regarded as one of the most creative musicians of his generation and now leading England's In Harmony programme, Julian Lloyd Webber won a scholarship to the Royal College of Music when he was sixteen and completed his studies in Geneva with the renowned French cellist, Pierre Fournier. Since then he has collaborated with an extraordinary array of musicians from Yehudi Menuhin, Lorin Maazel, Esa-Pekka Salonen and Georg Solti to Elton John and Stephane Grappelli.
