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About the Lecture
The Sir Harold Hood Memorial Lecture is held most years by Pact as an opportunity to celebrate the life and memory of a great friend and champion, the late Sir Harold Hood. The lecture seeks to contribute to public knowledge and understanding of how we as a society can make our prisons places in which individuals can achieve personal change and growth and leave to live good lives in stable and healthy relationships with family and the wider community.
Previous Lectures
- Dame Rachel de Souza, Children's Commissioner for England, on supporting children and young people affected by imprisonment, HMP Wormwood Scrubs, 2024
- Dr Chijioke Nwalozie: 'The Church's Participation in Prison Reform', 2023
- Professor Anna Rowlands: 'Reimagining Human Dignity', Westminster Cathedral Hall, 2022 - Listen on Soundcloud or read transcript
- Frank Cottrell-Boyce: 'Some Things We Can't Think', online, 2020 (transcript not available)
- His Honour Judge Nicholas Hilliard QC, Recorder of London, The Old Bailey, 2019
- Dr Galena Rhoades, South Bank University, 2016 (transcript not available)
- Sister Gemma Simmonds CJ, Metropolitan Cathedral Church of St George Amigo Hall, 2015
- Lucia do Rosario-Neil, HMP Wormwood Scrubs, 2014
- Bishop Richard Moth: 'A Place of Redemption - 10 Years On', St Luke’s Community Centre, Islington, 2013
- Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor, Allen Hall Seminary, Chelsea, 2012
- Archbishop (now Cardinal) Vincent Nichols, HMP Brixton, 2010
About Sir Harold Hood
Sir Harold Hood, 2nd Baronet (23 January 1916 – 5 September 2005) was a devout Catholic Christian who worked in Catholic publishing for much of his life, including working on the Catholic Herald and The Universe newspapers. He was a generous philanthropist with a keen interest in prison reform and prisoner rehabilitation. He was personally involved with many charities including Pact. Sir Harold Hood was a Knight of Malta and a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Gregory the Great. He died in 2005 aged 89. His family have continued to support the work of Pact and a number of other charities through the charitable Trust founded in his name.
Future Lectures
The best way to stay in touch with us and hear the latest news about future Lectures is by signing up to our Fresh Start newsletter. If you are having trouble signing up to Fresh Start please get in touch with us and we'll be happy to help. You can also keep an eye on our events listings for forthcoming Sir Harold Hood Lectures and other opportunities to hear from us about our work.
