Helen Hamlyn

The Right Honourable
The Lady Hamlyn
CBE
Born
Helen Roice Jones

(1934-03-28) 28 March 1934
London, England
EducationSt Christopher School
Alma materRoyal College of Art
OccupationsDesigner and Philanthropist
Known forPhilanthropy
Spouses
  • Patrick Guest (m. 1957, divorced)
  • Paul Hamlyn (m. 1970; died 2001)

Helen Hamlyn, Baroness Hamlyn CBE (née Jones; born 28 March 1934) is an English designer and philanthropist who heads the Helen Hamlyn Trust.

Life and career

Helen Roice Jones was born in London in 1934.[1] Her father, E. William Jones,[2] an engineer, died during World War II.[3] She and her sister, Margaret O'Rorke, a light maker in fine porcelain, attended the progressive co-educational St Christopher School in Letchworth.[1][4] Hamlyn then went on to the Royal College of Art where she graduated as a fashion designer.[1] After graduation, she became a designer at Cresta Silks where she remained for 15 years.[4] Her marriage to architect Patrick Guest in 1957[2] ended in divorce. In 1970 she married Paul Hamlyn, Baron Hamlyn, a publisher and philanthropist.[5]

Together, Paul and Helen bought in the 1980s the 13th century Chateau de Bagnols in Beaujolais.[4][6] After four years of restoration, it opened in 1992 as "one of the world's most famous and exclusive hotels."[7] In recognition of her work she was named a Chevalier de l'Ordre des Artes et Lettres by the French government.[7]

Philanthropy

In 1984, Paul Hamlyn gave to his wife as her 50th birthday present her own foundation, the Helen Hamlyn Trust.[4] One aim of the trust is to fund projects that improve people's lives.[8][9] Her interests include the design of products to be used by people of all ages,[10] and the restoration and re-use of the Albarquel fort in Setúbal, Portugal.[11]

Awards and honors

Hamlyn's charitable work has been recognized by many institutions in the UK and abroad. She was named a CBE in 2019.[12] She has received honorary doctorates from Fordham University (2004),[13] the Rochester Institute of Technology (2014)[14] and the Royal College of Art (2016).[15] She was designated an honorary graduate of Imperial College London (2006).[16] Her honorary fellowships include the Royal College of Art (1994),[15] City and Guilds of London Institute (2012),[17] the Royal Institute of British Architects (2022),[18] and University College London (2023).[19] In February 2013 she was assessed as one of the 100 most powerful women in the UK by Woman's Hour on BBC Radio 4.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Lady Helen Hamlyn: Philanthropist" (PDF). National Portrait Gallery. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
  2. ^ a b "Marriage: Mr. P. Guest and Miss H. Roice Jones". The Times. 1957-02-13. p. 10.
  3. ^ Roberts, Alison (2009-10-08). "The Lady of the First Night". The London Evening Standard. p. 42.
  4. ^ a b c d Moore, Susan (March 2024). "In Full Colour". Apollo Magazine. 199 (728): 110–117. Archived from the original on 23 April 2024.
  5. ^ "Lord Hamlyn loses cancer battle". 2001-09-03. Retrieved 2026-01-18.
  6. ^ Whitley, John (1992-08-01). "The Battle of Bagnols". The Daily Telegraph. pp. 140, [1], [2], [3], [4]. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
  7. ^ a b Adams, Guy (2007-01-06). "Hôtel des Rêves: Lady Hamlyn and the selling of a £17m dream". The Independent.
  8. ^ a b "BBC Radio 4 – Woman's Hour, Woman's Hour Power List – Lady Helen Hamlyn". BBC. Retrieved 2024-07-04.
  9. ^ Helen Hamlyn Trust (2021). Nurturing Innovation: 20 years of the Helen Hamlyn Trust. London: The Trust.
  10. ^ Cantacuzino, Marina (1986-05-29). "If it's good enough for the over sixties, it's good enough for everyone". The Guardian. p. 9. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
  11. ^ Donn, Natasha (2015-01-31). "Multi-millionaire British philanthropist helps Setúbal become centre of culture". Portugal resident. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
  12. ^ Parnaby, Laura (6 December 2019). "Salisbury attack response commander receives OBE: Awards Officer was tasked with removing deadly Novichok nerve agent". The Press and Journal; Dundee (UK). p. 19.
  13. ^ "Tim Russert Challenges Grads to Share the Blessings of Their Education". Fordham Now. 2004-05-22. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
  14. ^ Kiley, Rich (October 31, 2014). "RIT to bestow honorary doctorate on philanthropist". RIT. Retrieved 2025-01-08.
  15. ^ a b "College Honours". RCA Website. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
  16. ^ "Honorary graduates, fellows and Imperial College medals | About | Imperial College London". www.imperial.ac.uk. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
  17. ^ "Fellowship (FCGI) and Honorary Fellowship (HonFCGI) of The City and Guilds of London, Institute March 2008 – March 2019". Archived from the original on 2024-07-06. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
  18. ^ "RIBA International and-Honorary Fellows 2022". www.architecture.com. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
  19. ^ UCL (2023-09-07). "UCL honours philanthropist and design pioneer with Honorary Fellowship". IOE – Faculty of Education and Society. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
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