Oliver Rackham matriculated at Corpus in 1957, having been educated at Norwich School, and was elected fellow in 1964. He had been born in Bungay, Suffolk, in 1939. His research work was conducted mainly at the University's department of Botany, and initially concerned the physiology of plant growth and transpiration. From 1972 onwards he concentrated on historical ecology, especially the history of woodland and the landscape in England and Wales. However, his interests have extended to the United States and the continent of Europe, and to Greece in particular. His published work includes 'Hayley Wood, its history and ecology' (1975), 'Trees and Woodland in the British Landscape' (1976, revised edn 1990) and 'The Last Forest: the story of Hatfield Forest' (1989). His 'History of the Countryside' (1986) won the Angel Literary Award of the Year. Serving for many years as Keeper of the College Plate, he authored 'Treasures of Silver at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge' (2002). He was elected Master in 2007, serving in that office for one year.