Brunel University London is very greatly saddened by the passing of Professor Benjamin Zephaniah, whose death was announced yesterday morning.
Professor Zephaniah – performance poet, writer, musician, BAFTA winner and national treasure – joined Brunel in 2011 as Chair of Creative Writing.
Brunel's Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Andrew Jones said "in his 12-year career at Brunel, Benjamin made a huge contribution to the life of the university, transforming the lives of hundreds of students as well as colleagues. We are all immensely proud of his successful career spanning academia to performance poetry and acting. He leaves a huge hole in the Brunel community and will be enormously missed."
Our thoughts are with his family and all who are close to him. Tributes from Brunel colleagues and students will follow.
Reported by:
Joe Buchanunn,
Media Relations
+44 (0)1895 268821
joe.buchanunn@brunel.ac.uk