A FORMER Wychwood School pupil and prominent 20th-century scientist was honoured with a blue plaque yesterday.

Dame Honor Fell was the director of the Strangeways Laboratory at Cambridge University between 1925 and 1970, where she conducted ground-breaking research into rheumatoid arthritis.

Now the Society of Biology has recognised her contribution to the development of stem cell research with a blue plaque outside her old school.

Wychwood headteacher Andrea Johnson said: “We are absolutely thrilled. We have learnt so much today about her and her contribution to science.”

Dame Honor’s last PhD student, Kate Beckingham, now Professor of Biochemistry and Cell Biology at Rice University in Texas, made a speech marking her contribution.

She said: “I was inspired enormously by her work ethic and commitment and she was one of the role models of my life.”

“Unveiling this plaque has brought back the time I was with her and it has been very pleasing to think about.”

Dame Honor was awarded an Order of the British Empire in 1963.

Mrs Johnson added: “Prof Beckingham gave us a very unique insight into the woman as she was her last research student. She truly was an incredible woman.”

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