Dialogue takes a look back at the career of our Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost, as he retires from the University at the end of the year.
The year is 1985. A year that saw the end of the UK miners’ strikes and the launch of the Sinclair C5 tricycle. Rock band Dire Straits topped the charts with Brothers in Arms, the first album to sell a million copies on CD. It was also the year that an aspiring physical geographer, 18-year-old Antony Long, first arrived at Durham to study Geography as a new member of Collingwood College.
“When I arrived at Durham, I had no idea that I’d still be here almost 40 years later”, remarks Antony. “Durham really is an exceptional place to study and work and I have been incredibly fortunate to have had such a fulfilling academic career here.”
Antony Long
After achieving a first-class degree, Antony stayed at Durham as a PhD student, studying evidence for past sea-level changes in south-east England. Although interesting, he recalls being frustrated by reconstructing patterns of past change, as opposed to understanding their driving mechanisms – a frustration that over the course of his career led him to shift the focus of his geographical attention to the role of the polar ice sheets as key controls on sea-level change and, in particular, the Greenland Ice Sheet.
Fast forward almost 35 years and Antony has had a lengthy and varied academic and senior leadership career at Durham. As well as carving a reputation for internationally recognised research in past and future sea-level change, he served twice as Head of Geography, a department which is consistently ranked as one of the best in the UK and globally.
Antony explains:
I’ve enjoyed researching, publishing, and teaching with terrific colleagues and students over the years. It has also been a privilege to support the University as a member of the University Executive, as Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost since November 2016, working initially with Professor Stuart Corbridge, as Acting Vice-Chancellor and Warden from August 2021 until January 2022, and since then with Stuart’s successor, Professor Karen O’Brien. During my career I’ve also enjoyed serving as an academic member of University Council and Senate for quite a few years, and a stint as Chair of Hild Bede College Council.
“It’s now time to spend more time with my family as I head into retirement. I am delighted that the University has conferred on me the position of Emeritus Professor in Geography, enabling me to pick up some of my research again and continue my association with Durham University as part of its community. I wish all of my colleagues and our students all the very best for the future.”
Professor Mike Bentley, a long-standing colleague in Geography, worked in the field with Antony in Tierra del Fuego and the Falkland Islands.
“Antony has an unusually sharp mind and is always thinking about how we might do things better: in geoscience, in the department, or in wider issues”, says Mike. “He is passionate about careful, focussed data collection that address global grand challenges such as sea level rise.”
Antony Long taking part in Durham Pride
Joe Docherty, Chair of University Council, says: “Durham University owes a great debt of gratitude to Antony. I and my fellow Council members have always greatly admired and appreciated Antony’s unwavering professionalism, his drive to succeed and clear and consistent ambition for Durham to continue to be a globally outstanding university and to do even better still.”
Catherine Summers, Antony’s Executive Assistant, says: “It has been an absolute pleasure to work with Antony over the last six years. We have seen many positive changes, for which Antony has been instrumental and it has been a privilege to be a part of this with him.
"His enthusiasm and commitment to the University is commendable and whatever stresses and strains each day would throw his way, he always remained positive and calm. His friendliness and sense of humour made our working relationship go from strength to strength, even through the many ups and downs, and I will truly miss working with Antony.”
The University will shortly launch an international recruitment search for a new Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost. Professor Richard Crisp, currently Deputy Provost, will serve as Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost in the interim from 1 January 2023.
Farewell Antony, you’ll be a big miss!
Antony Long with Professor Gordon Love