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Geoffrey Cass

College positions:
Emeritus Fellow
Department/institution:
Cambridge University Press

Sir Geoffrey Cass

Sir Geoffrey was educated at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Darlington, County Durham, at Jesus College, Oxford and Nuffield College, Oxford.

An Emeritus Fellow of Clare Hall, Sir Geoffrey is also a member of Jesus College, Cambridge. He was a Trustee of the Cambridge University Foundation and Chairman of the Audit Committee, while also working as Chairman of the Cambridge University ADC Theatre Appeal and the University Sports Centre Appeal. Additionally, he is a Life Trustee of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and Chairman of the Audit Committee.

Sir Geoffrey was Chief Executive of Cambridge University Press from 1972 to 1992, Chairman of the Royal Shakespeare Company from 1985 to 2000 and Deputy President (to HRH The Prince of Wales) from 2000 to 2011. He has been Chairman (and co-founder) of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre Trust since 1983, and is Chairman and co-founder of the Royal Theatrical Support Trust. He was President and Chairman of the Council of the Lawn Tennis Association from 1997 to 1999, Chairman of the British Tennis Foundation from 2003 to 2007 and he has been President since 2007.

A Wimbledon Championships player in 1954/55/56/59, and British Veterans’ Singles Champion at Wimbledon in 1978, Sir Geoffrey was a member of the Wimbledon Championships Management Committee for 12 years and Chairman of the Championships Finance Committee. He is President of Cambridge University Lawn Tennis Club (and an Honorary Blue), and a former member of the University Fenner’s Management Committee.

Formerly, Sir Geoffrey was Chairman of Cambridge University Cricket and Athletic Club Ltd; a member of the Cambridge University Fitzwilliam Museum Syndicate; and of the University Careers Service Syndicate (the Appointments Board); Chairman of the Governors of The Perse School for Girls, Cambridge; Chief Executive of George Allen & Unwin Ltd, publishers; Operating Consultant with PA Management Consultants; and he held directorships of Controls and Communications Ltd, Weidenfeld Publishers Ltd, Chicago University Press, Cambridge Arts Theatre, Method and Madness, Cambridge Theatre Company, the Theatres Trust, Newcastle Theatre Royal, All England LTC (Wimbledon), and All England Lawn Tennis Ground PLC.

He married Olwen (Lady Cass, MBE, JP, DL) in 1957, and they have four daughters – Fiona, Karen, Miranda and Fleur- and eight grandchildren.

Select awards

  • Knighted in 1992
  • Elected an Honorary Fellow of Jesus College, Oxford in 1998
  • Awarded a French Knighthood, Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres, in 1982