A lifelong equalities campaigner and former President of Birkbeck, Baroness Betty Lockwood was born in West Yorkshire in 1924. Her early educational experiences prepared her well for the presidency of Birkbeck, which she held from 1983-1989.

After studying at Eastborough Girls School, she continued her studies at night school. Then, with the support of a Mary Macarthur scholarship for working women, she read economics and politics at Ruskin College, Oxford.

In 1978, she was made a life peer. Her parliamentary roles included Chair of the Equal Opportunities Commission from 1975-83 and deputy Speaker of the House of Lords from 1990-2007.