Professor Emeritus Thomas Acton is a leading authority in Romani Studies, having served as Professor of Romani Studies at the University of Greenwich and now holding emeritus status. His distinguished career spans decades, dedicated to the advancement of Romani and Traveller education, rights, and cultural recognition.

 

His deep academic commitment is complemented by extensive practical involvement, including over twenty years with the Brentwood Gypsy Support Group and serving as a trustee for Advisory council for Education, for Romani and Travellers (Acert) aNd The Roma Support Group. recently agreeing to join Gypsies and Travellers Essex has an honoury advisor to the board of trustees. 

Professor Acton's expertise is further demonstrated by his linguistic proficiency in Kalderash Romani and Anglo-Romani.

 

He holds an MA and DPhil from the University of Oxford and was awarded an OBE for his services to higher education and the community. He continues his work as a Senior Research Fellow and consultant, building on a lifetime of scholarly and activist achievement. He currently supports many families in Essex with planning applications and local authority site issues across the south east