Sylvia Elaine Denman CBE (16 September 1932 – 1 May 2019) was a British academic, barrister, and public servant known for her work in advancing race relations in the United Kingdom.[1] Her most well known work was in authoring the Denman Report.[2][3][4]

Sylvia Denman
Personal details
Born(1932-09-16)16 September 1932
Barbados
Died1 May 2019(2019-05-01) (aged 86)
EducationQueen's College (Barbados)
London School of Economics
Lincoln's Inn

Early life

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She was born in Barbados to Euleen and Alexander Yarde and attended Queen's College, before moving to London to study law at the London School of Economics. She then trained as a barrister and was called to the bar at Lincoln's Inn in 1962.[1]

Career

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Herman began her career as an academic, holding positions at Oxford Polytechnic, 1965-76 (which became Oxford Brookes University), New York University, and in the West Indies.[1]

She served on the boards of the Race Relations Board, the Equal Opportunities Commission, the Housing Corporation, Oxford Brookes University, Haverstock School, the Runnymede Trust, and as chair of the Camden and Islington health authority.[1]

From 1999 to 2001, she chaired an inquiry into race discrimination in the Crown Prosecution Service, which found it to be institutionally racist.[5][6]

Personal life

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She was appointed CBE in 1994.[1]

She received an honorary degree from Birmingham City University.[when?][7]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Daniel Stilitz QC (30 May 2019). "Sylvia Denman obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  2. ^ "Sylvia Denman CBE Biography". First 100 Years. 16 July 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  3. ^ Clare Dyer (27 July 2001). "We're racist, admits prosecution service chief". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  4. ^ Robert Verkaik (19 June 2001). "Inquiry condemns CPS as racist". The Independent. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  5. ^ Robert Verkaik (11 May 2000). "Black staff suffered at CPS, says inquiry". The Independent. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  6. ^ "CPS under fire as reports follow tribunal hearing". Law Gazette. 29 June 2001. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
  7. ^ "Honorary Graduates". Birmingham City University. Retrieved 28 August 2022.