Background
ASHWORTH, John was born on November 27, 1938 in Luton. Son of Jack Ashworth and Mary Ousman.
ASHWORTH, John was born on November 27, 1938 in Luton. Son of Jack Ashworth and Mary Ousman.
He was educated at West Buckland School and Exeter College, Oxford. He obtained a Doctor of Philosophy degree at Leicester University and was a lecturer and reader there before taking up a post of foundation Professor of Biology at University of Essex in 1974.
His scientific research at the time focused on developmental biology and cell differentiation, with a particular interest in the slime mold. John Ashworth joined the United Kingdom government"s Cabinet Office in 1976, where he acted as the chief scientific adviser to the government, initially on secondment, and then as an undersecretary in the Cabinet Office from 1979-1981. He became vice-chancellor at the University of Salford from 1981-1990, and then director of the London School of Economics from 1990-1996.
He is also a former chairman of the British Library board 1996–2001, the Institute of Cancer Research (deputy chairman) 2003-2007, and Barts and the London National Health Service Trust 2003-2007.
He is a Governor of the Ditchley Foundation and is Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Richmond, The American International University in London, a private liberal arts and professional studies university based in Richmond upon Thames and Kensington. He retired in 2007 and was awarded a knighthood for public services in the Queen"s New Year Honours list 2008.
He was made an Honorary Fellow of Exeter College, Oxford in 1983.
Board of Granada television 1987-1989, Granada Group since 1990.
Married Ann Knight in 1963 (died in 1985).
