LMH alumna and Foundation Fellow Dr Margaret Coombe has been elected a Fellow of both the Royal Historical Society and the Society of Antiquaries of London.
These Fellowships recognise her impact as a distinguished historian and scholar of medieval Northumbria.
Founded in 1868, the Royal Historical Society promotes historical scholarship and represents the interests of historians in the UK and internationally. The Society of Antiquaries of London, established in 1707, brings together scholars and professionals engaged in the study and preservation of the material and written record of the past.
Margaret first came to LMH as an undergraduate from an underprivileged background and described her time at the College as transformative. She returned in 2011 to take up a postdoc position and became involved in the College’s Foundation Year teaching during its second year post-launch. In 2018, Margaret conceived the idea for LMH’s Oxford Study Skills Centre - the first provision of its kind within the University – and led its establishment and launch, with support from donors, then-Principal Alan Rusbridger, and LMH colleagues and staff. As its founding Director, she developed the Centre into a model of good practice across Oxford, employing more than a dozen tutors and supporting students from sixteen other colleges.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Margaret and her team, supported by LMH staff, rapidly adapted to new ways of working, supporting students through online sessions across multiple time zones. This helped maintain a strong sense of academic and pastoral connection at a difficult time. In 2022, a major donation endowed study skills provision at LMH in perpetuity, securing the future of the work she began. Although the Oxford Study Skills Centre has since wound down, its legacy continues through the work of LMH’s two dedicated Study Skills tutors, who collaborate closely with the College’s wellbeing team to support students throughout their degrees.
Alongside her Study Skills work, Margaret has maintained an active research profile as a historian of medieval Northumbria. Her publications and conference papers have contributed to a deeper understanding of the early medieval Church and northern English history.
Now semi-retired, Margaret continues to write – currently completing a book on St Cuthbert – and remains involved in study skills work for other Oxford colleges, providing training and support for their tutors. As a Foundation Fellow, she retains close links with LMH and continues to support initiatives that enhance the experience of students and widen educational opportunity.
