Andy Orchard facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Andy Orchard FRSC FBA
21st Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon
Incumbent
Assumed office 2013
Preceded by	Malcolm Godden
14th Provost of Trinity College, Toronto
In office 2007–2013
Preceded by	Margaret MacMillan
Succeeded by	Mayo Moran
Personal details
Born	Andrew Philip McDowell Orchard (1964-02-27) 27 February 1964 (age 61)
Citizenship	United Kingdom
Spouse	Clare Brind ​ (m. 1991)​
Children	2
Education	University College School
Alma mater	Queens' College, Cambridge Exeter College, Oxford

Andrew Philip McDowell Orchard, born on February 27, 1964, is a British expert in old languages and literature. He specializes in Old English, Old Norse (the language of the Vikings!), and Celtic literature (stories from places like Ireland and Wales). He is currently a very important professor at the University of Oxford. His special title there is the Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon. He is also a fellow at Pembroke College, Oxford. Before this, he was the head, or 'Provost', of Trinity College, Toronto in Canada from 2007 to 2013. He has also been recognized for his work as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (FRSC) and a Fellow of the British Academy (FBA).

About Andrew Orchard

Andrew Orchard was born in North London, England, on February 27, 1964. He went to University College School, which was a private school for boys in London.

His University Studies

Orchard studied at two famous universities for his first degree. From 1983, he studied Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic at Queens' College, Cambridge. Then, from 1985, he studied English at Exeter College, Oxford. He earned his Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1987. Later, this degree was upgraded to a Master of Arts (MA).

He continued his studies at the University of Cambridge. In 1990, he earned his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree. His PhD project was about the poetry of an old writer named Aldhelm. In 1991, Andrew Orchard married Clare Brind in Oxford.

His Career in Academia

Andrew Orchard has held many important roles at universities.

Early Teaching Roles

In 1990, he became a fellow at St John's College, Oxford. A 'fellow' is a senior member of a college. After finishing his PhD, he went back to the University of Cambridge. In 1991, he became a fellow at Emmanuel College, Cambridge. He also started teaching Anglo-Saxon, Norse, and Celtic studies there. He helped students apply to Emmanuel College as their Admissions Tutor for Arts. In 1999, he became a 'Reader' and the head of the Department of Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic. A 'Reader' is a senior academic position.

Moving to Canada

In 2000, Orchard moved to the University of Toronto in Canada. There, he became a Professor of English and Medieval Studies. In 2001, he took on an extra role as the associate director of the Centre for Medieval Studies. He also became an Associate of Trinity College, Toronto. By 2003, he was a fellow of Trinity College. In 2004, he became the Director of the Centre for Medieval Studies. In 2007, he was chosen to be the 14th 'Provost' of Trinity College. The Provost is like the head of the college.

Return to Oxford

In 2013, he moved back to the University of Oxford. He took on the important job of Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon. He also became a fellow of Pembroke College, Oxford.

Awards and Recognition

Andrew Orchard has received several awards for his excellent work.

• In 1998, he won the Pilkington Prize for great teaching from the University of Cambridge.
• In 2012, he was chosen as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (FRSC). This is a big honour for Canadian scholars.
• On July 16, 2015, he was elected a Fellow of the British Academy (FBA). This means he is recognized as one of the best scholars in the UK in his field.
• In 2019, he gave a special lecture called the Sir Israel Gollancz Memorial Lecture for the British Academy.

See also

• Hector Munro Chadwick
• Gabriel Turville-Petre
• Jan de Vries (philologist)
• John Lindow
• Rudolf Simek
• Hilda Ellis Davidson