Famous Alumni

Nobel Laureates

James Meade

One of two Nobelists who studied here. Meade earned his prize for contributions to international trade and capital theory, though by then he’d already shaped British policy as an adviser to Prime Minister Clement Attlee. His academic trajectory took him through the London School of Economics before culminating at Cambridge, where he produced four foundational works: The Stationary Economy, The Growing Economy, The Controlled Economy, and The Just Economy.

Francis William Aston

The second Nobel Prize winner who emerged from these halls was a chemist and physicist whose reputation preceded his Cambridge laboratory work with radioactive elements. Fame arrived when he developed the mass spectrograph, an instrument that enabled him to study 212 naturally occurring isotopes and discover the “whole number rule.” This breakthrough secured him Fellowship in the Royal Society and the Nobel Prize, while his pioneering work laid groundwork for atomic energy development.

Most Famous Alumni of Malvern College

Aleister Crowley

Perhaps the most polarizing figure to pass through here. Crowley fashioned himself as a prophet while simultaneously becoming a social rebel, ultimately founding Thelema—a countercultural religious movement that resonated far beyond his lifetime. BBC readers ranked him 73rd among Britain’s most influential figures in 2002, and his image appeared on album covers by The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, and David Bowie, cementing his cultural imprint.

Carroll Lewis

This renowned British writer achieved worldwide recognition for his “Space Trilogy” and, naturally, “The Chronicles of Narnia.” Beyond fiction, he gained prominence through Christian radio broadcasts during World War II and philosophical writings embraced across denominational lines. His friendship with J.R.R. Tolkien enriched both their work. With over 30 books translated into more than 30 languages and millions of copies sold, his literary influence remains profound.

Other Famous Alumni

Chris Whitty

A physician and epidemiologist who leads the National Institute for Health Research. His significance became undeniable during the coronavirus outbreak, when he emerged as Britain’s key medical adviser. Championing stringent social distancing measures, he prompted BBC editor Hugh Pym to declare him “the man who will shape British daily life more decisively than any politician”—a testament to how medical expertise superseded political rhetoric during the crisis.

Ian MacLaurin

A former member of the House of Lords and Baron who held executive positions at Tesco and Vodafone throughout his business career. His leadership extended beyond commerce: he chaired the England and Wales Cricket Board, led the Marylebone Cricket Club, and served on the University of Hertfordshire’s governing body. This blend of corporate acumen and institutional stewardship exemplifies the breadth of influence one can wield across sectors.