Meet the Team

Helen McVeigh

Helen holds a Masters degree in Classics from Queen’s University Belfast. She founded the Belfast Summer School in Latin and Classical Greek in 2016. This venture has grown to the provision of weekly online classes throughout the academic year. Helen has been a trustee of the Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies (2021-2024). She was convenor of the Classical Association in Northern Ireland from 2017-2021, and chair of the Classical Association of Ireland from 2021-2023.

What Helen’s students say: “The pace is right. There is no pressure so the whole course is an enjoyment and something to look forward to. Helen answers all questions thrown at her and gives us her class notes each week. Not only is the grammar discussed but the history and context of the passages translated are discussed too.” (Peter)

“As always, I really enjoyed my Ancient Greek language class with Helen. We work through at a reasonable pace and we’re able to opt out of answering if we want to – just having that option allows the class to be inclusive but without any pressure. Helen is an excellent tutor who knows the language well, and also understands the many difficulties and quirks to be encountered whilst learning, which has been valuable for me! I will of course be continuing next term, as I have no qualms giving up my Saturday mornings for Helen’s Ancient Greek expertise” (Lilli)

Dr Kerry Phelan

Kerry has been a tutor at the Belfast Summer School since its inception in 2016. She teaches ancient Greek for H.M. Classics Academy and has taught at University College Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, University College Cork, and Maynooth University. Kerry’s research centres on Attic oratory and Athenian social history. Her doctoral thesis was a commentary on Demosthenes ‘Against Euboulides’, which will soon be published by Liverpool University Press as part of the Aris & Phillips Greek Orators Series.

What Kerry’s students say: “Kerry held a masterclass in making people feel confident and comfortable. The material was just right and she judged the pace well.“

“Kerry has a level of professionalism which goes beyond what one would expect. She is dedicated, super fast in correcting our homework and has an extremely pleasant demeanour.” (Ricardo)

“I loved how thoroughly Kerry covered the material, her modelling of the spoken language and her wry sense of humour! She is fantastic as a tutor, so approachable and helpful. She ensured that nobody was left behind and was always available for questions outside lesson times. She made learning a new language and alphabet feel so easy and natural. I don’t know how she managed to make grammar less onerous but she did!” (Elizabeth)

“(Kerry’s) notes are clear but more importantly her delivery of the topic, making sure the essential points are driven home, is excellent. She is one of the best teachers I have ever met.” (Michael)

Dr Joanne Brown

Joanne did her PhD in Latin epic poetry (Statius’ Thebaid, supervised by John Henderson) at the University of Cambridge and teaches Latin and Classical Civilisation at Victoria College Belfast.

What Joanne’s students say: “Joanne was a very friendly and engaging tutor who was obviously well on top of her subject. She supplied copious amounts of material for us to follow up as we wanted and the notes etc will be invaluable for ongoing study.”

“This class was a wonderful experience. I attended for the full two weeks of the online summer school, and I only wish that it had lasted even longer. From the outset, (Joanne) set a lovely tone for the group. I found it to be welcoming and positive while also serious and conducive to hard work. Together it felt like the group accomplished a considerable amount in the time that we had, and this was done in a co-operative rather than competitive way. … Joanne’s range of knowledge was really very impressive, and her enthusiasm for Latin literature and the Latin language itself was palpable.” (Robert)

“Excellent course with great tutor. Challenging and really rewarding. I’ll definitely be back. Thank you!!” (Jane)

Lynn Gordon

Lynn was most recently Head of Classics at Royal Belfast Academical Institution. After her MPhil at Corpus Christi College Cambridge, Lynn taught in London and Cambridge.

What Lynn’s students say: “Lynn Gordon is absolutely brilliant with both the Latin and the analysis of style. I learned so much.”

“This was a great class. Lynn Gordon is a peerless master-teacher. Exceptional educational experience.” (Susan)

“Lynn is a brilliant, enthusiastic and entertaining tutor who brings her subject to life and whose passion for her subject is infectious!” (David)

Dr Eilidh Macleod

Eilidh studied Classics in Aberdeen for her MA, then did her PhD on Homeric language and its evolution at St. Andrews. She has taught Greek, Latin and Classical Studies for over twenty years to people aged from 11 to 80+, in school and university, including summer schools at Lampeter, Swansea and Belfast, and she loves teaching anyone who wants to learn!

What Eilidh’s Summer School students say: “I feel I have made a lot of progress under Eilidh’s patient and good humoured guidance.”

“Eilidh’s sessions are challenging but inspiring. Eilidh is always encouraging and it is worth the effort to see my spoken Greek and translation work improving. And of course the digressions are always interesting, so as they come up I make a note of other topics to explore or books to get hold of.” (Linda)

“I appreciated the way Eilidh helped us disentangle the syntax of sentences.”

Eilidh is available for 1:1 tuition in Latin and Greek at all levels.

Stephen Janssens

Stephen taught Latin in schools for over 22 years, in both maintained and independent sectors, most recently as Head of Classics at King’s School Rochester. He enjoys teaching Latin and sharing his enthusiasm for it as a puzzle that anyone can solve.

What Stephen’s students say: “(Stephen) set a pace that was neither too fast nor too slow, and walked us through the grammar of each sentence or passage in a way that really made me think and internalize the grammar without it ever becoming tedious. He cheered us all on every step of the way, so that there was never any stress, simply good grammatical enjoyment. I’m even becoming more confident at translating English to Latin!” (Lauren)

“Stephen not only used his sense of humour to good effect to make our learning enjoyable, he did an excellent job of making sure that we all acquired a strong grasp of the course content as we moved along. He provided us with lots of tips to help us learn vocabulary and recognise declensions and conjugations and provided us with plenty of information to help us understand the background to the reading texts.” (David)

“Stephen is a world of fun!” (William)

Wendy Smith

Before she retired, Wendy was Head of Classics for 20 years at The Henrietta Barnett School in London, where she taught Latin and Classical Greek from beginners’ to A Level. Since retirement she has been a trainer of teachers for Classics for All, an organisation that works to make the study of classical subjects accessible to pupils in non-selective state schools in the UK. Wendy has recently completed an MA in Classical Studies with the Open University, with a dissertation exploring the Greeks’ perception and use of trees. 

What Wendy’s students say: “Wendy is warm, supremely knowledgeable and a wonderful trainer and teacher.”

“Wendy is a wonderful and encouraging teacher. She is patient and passionate during all the sessions, and always sends additional notes after the class. I personally feel the improvement of Greek with her help.” 

“This course did more than meet my expectations, extending my working knowledge of Greek and introducing me to canonic texts texts in the original language. Wendy led us expertly through Antigone and the Homeric Hymn to Hermes. Additionally, she encouraged insightful contributions from members of the class, thereby enhancing our understanding of the context of both works.” (Martin)

Dr Philip Burton

Philip Burton loves studying and teaching Greek and Latin. He had the good fortune to learn Latin at school, took up Greek at university, and hasn’t looked back. His particular interests are in linguistics of Latin and the Romance languages, in Christianity in the Graeco-Roman world, and in depictions of the classical world in English literature. He has taught in the universities of Cambridge, St Andrews, and Birmingham.

What Philip’s students say: “The atmosphere of the class was consistently positive, supportive, and well paced. It was clear as well that Dr. Burton put considerable extra effort into sending the group additional resources and things to think about. Given that we’re all adult learners, I think the group also enjoyed the deep level of scholarly insight that Dr. Burton was able to bring to the class (I know I certainly did).”

“Philip’s obvious expertise made the text come to life. His insights on the underlying philosophy, style and historical context ensured that we got a deeper appreciation of Seneca’s work.”

Philip is available for 1:1 Latin and Greek tuition.

Simon Beasley

Simon is a graduate of Newcastle University with 20 years teaching experience. He is currently Head of Classics at King Edward IV Five Ways Grammar School in Birmingham. Prior to this, Simon set up a Classics department at a Worcester school.

What Simon’s students say: “Thank you so much for all your support and encouragement through A levels. I have enjoyed Classics so much over the last two years and I am so grateful for everything you’ve taught me … thank you for being an amazing teacher.”

“I highly enjoyed the course, the way it was organised as well as the way Simon taught and monitored the work being done in class. I also highly enjoyed Simon’s affable manner and his sense of humour. It was a delightful learning experience.” (Marco)

Dr Eirene Allen

Eirene studied literature and comparative arts for her MA and did her PhD in Teaching and Learning at New York University. Her research is on text reception, with an emphasis on Homer.

She is the director of the Institute for Classics Education, a US-based non-profit dedicated to supporting educators who teach Homer and ancient Greek texts in English classrooms.

What Eirene’s students say: “I loved how passionate the tutor was about the class, enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere. The class was the highlight of my week.” (Catherine)

“Eirene keeps the participants engaged. She also delivers teaching that feels accessible and is fun … She makes learning feel within my reach. I have really enjoyed this term.”

“This course was a fascinating foray into the realm of ancient texts/theory/scholarship. The balance of textual background, manuscript tradition (or its equivalent), history and analysis was simply perfect. I left each course filled to the brim with new insights yet still hungry for more. That is the mark of an excellent class, in my opinion. Familiar texts were seen in a new light and less familiar texts were beautifully explained and contextualized enticing me to return to them on my own very soon. 5/5 stars.”

Dr Anactoria Clarke

Anactoria is Staff Tutor and Senior Lecturer at the Open University where she works on a range of Classics and English modules. She has Master’s degrees in Creative Writing, Classics, and Egyptology, and PhDs in English (Male doubling in late 19^th century Gothic) and Classics (centaurs).

What Anactoria’s students say: “I really appreciated how proactive Anactoria was in providing resources ahead of each week’s sessions. I found her teaching style to be stimulating and inclusive in its delivery. The content of the course was thoroughly researched and interesting.”

“Excellent course with great tutor, all materials provided and really thought-provoking discussions. I’d definitely sign up for any future courses by this tutor! (Donna)

“Anactoria was an absolute delight to have as a tutor. She brought such a sunny attitude to class, and I looked forward to class every week.” (Claire)

Dr Stephen Chappell

Stephen Chappell attained his PhD from UCLA in 2005 and spent the next seventeen years teaching full-time in American academia, most recently as Associate Professor of Ancient History at James Madison University in Virginia.  He took early retirement in 2022 and now runs Historic Tours UK, capitalising on his long teaching and study abroad experience.

Stephen is known for showing particular ability to guide the transitions from topic to topic, and keeping students attentive and engaged.

What Stephen’s students say: “This was a very enjoyable course. The tutor was so knowledgeable and really brought the material alive.”

Lauren Heilman

Lauren Heilman is a Classical Studies graduate from Villanova University, with a B.A. in French and a B.A. in English from Bob Jones University. She is a PhD candidate at the University of Birmingham. Her research areas of interest include the reception of classical texts in pre-World War II France, the transformation of classical drama by 17th century French playwrights, the role of dance and choral performance in the ancient world, and the role of music in Greek and Roman theatre.

What Lauren’s students say: “Lauren is wonderful, a brilliant academic who has a lot of love and passion for what she teaches and knows how to transmit it. The course was wonderful, illuminating and provided new and brilliant readings to the text, highly recommended! It is the best.” (Mariana)

“Lauren’s Herodotus class this term was fascinating! … I enjoyed the discussion session at the end of every class, and really felt confident contributing, which I think was due to the welcoming and accepting atmosphere created by those present. Lauren was brilliant at organising and managing the class, and has gone above and beyond supplying us with additional material and following up on questions touched on in class. I’d definitely take another class with Lauren!” (Lilli)

Alexis Prescott

Alexis holds a BA and MA in Ancient History and PGCE in Classics from King’s College London. After her masters, she worked as a cataloguer of Roman Republican coins at the British Museum for three years before moving into teaching. Alexis has since been a Classics teacher for over 16 years, and has specialised in the teaching of Ancient Greek and Roman epic poetry, Greek tragedy, the Athenian democratic system, Roman Republican history and early Roman imperial history. Alexis has a passionate interest in the representation of folkloric figures in the Classical world and the influences these representations have had upon western thought, literature and film. These interests will be explored in her forthcoming book “The First Witches: Women of power in the Classical World”, to be published in spring 2025.

What Alexis’s students say: “Alexis was a wonderful tutor. She blended grammar and adapted materials and prepared us for unadapted Vergil. Her love of this was infectious and it was truly joyous to read and translate the verse.”

Alexis is available for 1:1 Latin tuition.

Dr Jessica Doyle

Jessica lives in north County Dublin. She graduated with a PhD in Classics from University College Dublin (UCD) in 2016 and also holds an MA in Classical Studies and an MA in Archaeology, both from UCD. Before that, she graduated with a BA in English Literature and Ancient History & Archaeology from Trinity College Dublin in 2003. Jessica has taught Classical Studies subjects, including ancient Greek, at all levels for UCD, University College Cork, the Open University, and Maynooth University, and is passionate about bringing all things classical to a wide audience.

Jessica is available for 1:1 tuition in classical Greek.