During his tour of the School, Colin was delighted to see his name on the Honours Boards in recognition of his scholarship to Oxford.

Colin is now Professor Emeritus of French and Comparative Literature at Royal Holloway, University of London, internationally recognised for his influential work in modern French literature, trauma studies, ethics, hermeneutics and cultural memory. Born in 1960, he studied French and German at Wadham College, Oxford, before embarking on a distinguished academic career including posts in Cambridge, Oxford and Warwick before becoming Research Professor at Royal Holloway in 2005. He has also been Visiting Professor at the Ecole Normale Supérieure – Lettres et Sciences Humaines, Lyon, France, the University of Indiana, Bloomington, USA. and the University of Turku, Finland.

His research explores the intersections of literature with violence, suicide, and genocide, with notable contributions to the study of Emmanuel Levinas and Holocaust literature. Among his many publications are Literature, Interpretation and Ethics, The Routledge Companion to Literature and Trauma, Traces of War, and Ethical Issues in Twentieth-Century French Fiction. His achievements have been recognised with the honour Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques, and in 2021 a dedicated symposium celebrating his extensive scholarly impact was held to mark his retirement.

Returning to Pocklington as a guest speaker for the Scholars’ Soapbox Challenge, Colin delivered a thought‑provoking session on the benefits of studying literature. Using Albert Camus’ L’Étranger, a text he first encountered as a Sixth Former at Pocklington, he demonstrated how great literature can cultivate empathy, shape beliefs and values, and develop essential skills that enhance students’ wider employability. His visit also highlighted the lasting influence that Pocklington School experiences can have on shaping futures which in Colin’s case led to a highly successful academic career.

Charlie Prosser, Chemistry teacher and Academic Extension & EPQ co-ordinator, who organised the event said: “The students gave so much positive feedback; they took a lot away from Colin’s talk and some were inspired to go and read the books he mentioned!”

Colin commented: “Thank you for the tour of the School – it has certainly changed since my time! I enjoyed the visit and the chance to talk to some of the current pupils.”