SPECIAL GUESTS, including past Homerton College Principals and Bursars, paid tribute to Dr Penny Barton at her retirement formal dinner last week.
Penny retired after 22 pivotal years at Homerton at the end of 2023, the last decade of which she served as Senior Tutor.
The reception and dinner in the New Dining Hall were marked with speeches from Professor Geoff Ward, who led the college between 2013 and 2021; Dr Kate Pretty, who served from 1991 to 2013; and the current Principal Lord Simon Woolley.
The past and present college leaders shared anecdotes and praised Penny for leading the tutorial team through the Covid pandemic.
Penny's time at Homerton saw the college undergo expansion, and the launch of the Changemakers programme.
In her farewell speech, Penny paid homage to the vision of Kate Pretty, adding: “Homerton is always on a journey – and I hope that will continue, as I think that is our USP, and something that sets us apart. I wonder what the college will look like in another 20 years?
“Homertonian culture is distinctive, true to the original and continuing vision, and that, with the help of everyone here, continues to develop and build in a positive direction. Our distinctiveness is now being emulated and watched with interest by others.”
Penny, who became Senior Tutor in 2013, was previously Graduate Tutor, and Director of Studies in Earth Sciences. She specialises in seismic imaging of the Earth’s crust and lithosphere, and her fieldwork includes studying the site of the Indian Ocean earthquake that caused the devastating 2004 Boxing Day tsunami.
Penny was joined at her retirement dinner and reception by her husband, former colleagues and friends. She praised personal assistants Tanya Cunningham and Natasha ‘Tash’ Thomas as her ‘super-powers’, saying: “I want to thank you both from the bottom of my heart.”
Lord Woolley said the assembled guests would all have “wonderful stories about how you touched their lives and, above all, supported them to be the best they can be.”
He added: “It’s fitting that so many people are here today to pay tribute to you.”
Dr Georgie Horrell, who succeeded Penny at the start of this year said: “I want to say a huge thank you to Penny. I had the privilege of having the most fantastic and extraordinary apprenticeship. Tash said that Penny is the gold standard for Senior Tutors.
“So, Penny, you are an incredibly hard act to follow. One of the things I am really grateful for is the way you have empowered and encouraged and inspired, not just me, but so many of us.”
The evening was rounded off with some lighthearted musical items presented by Fellows in the Combination Room.
