12 Facts About Irene Collins

Irene Collins was a British historian and writer, known for her studies of Napoleon and Jane Austen.

Irene Collins's father was a joiner from Leeds, and her mother left school at 12 to work as a burler and mender at the Black Dyke Mill in Queensbury.

Irene Collins gained a major county scholarship to St Hilda's College, Oxford, to read modern history at the age of 17.

Irene Collins took early retirement as Dean and Reader to save the jobs of her younger colleagues.

Irene Collins became patron of the northern branch of the Jane Austen Society, served as vice-president of the UK Jane Austen Society, and was a keen member of The Jane Austen Society of North America.

Irene Collins supported the Historical Association's aim of bringing history to a popular, non-academic audience.

Irene Collins wrote pamphlets for the association, and gave lectures to local branches.

Irene Collins became the first female president of the association in 1982 and was awarded is highest distinction, the Medlicott Medal, in 1996.

Irene Collins became a Jubilee Fellow of the Association in 2014.

Irene Collins was a great supporter of historical scholarship in China and in 1994 was invited to become Advisor to the Centre for British and American Studies at the University of Nanjing.

Rex Irene Collins was at Brasenose College on a naval scholarship.

Irene Collins wrote a history of her local church, St John the Divine, Brooklands Chapters in Parish History; The First Hundred Years of the Church of St John the Divine Brooklands.