Professor Simon Gaunt FBA (1959­–2021)

It is with great sadness that St Catharine’s College has learnt that Professor Simon Gaunt, Honorary Fellow of the College, died on 4 December 2021. The College flag will be flown at half-mast in his memory on 7 December 2021.

Professor Gaunt was admitted to St Catharine’s in 1988 as an Official Fellow, and served our community as Director of Studies in Modern & Medieval Languages and Tutor. In 1998, he left the College to take up the roles of Professor of French Language & Literature and Head of Department at King's College London.

The College was delighted to confer an Honorary Fellowship in recognition of Professor Gaunt’s outstanding academic achievements in 2016. Two years later, he was elected a Fellow of the British Academy. 

Professor Sir Mark Welland, Master of St Catharine's, commented, "On behalf of everyone at St Catharine’s, I want to recognise the profound contributions that Simon made to his field and to the many lives he touched as a friend, colleague, teacher and mentor. We were fortunate to have benefited from his inspirational teaching as a Fellow and to share in his successes as an Honorary Fellow. We join with Simon’s loved ones in mourning his loss and treasuring our memories of him.”