Vicky Neale, 1984–2023

Abstract Vicky Neale was born on 28 March 1984, in Worcester. Vicky's passion for mathematics led her to Cambridge's Trinity College, where she was President of the Trinity Mathematical Society and ended her undergraduate years as Second Wrangler. She then pursued a PhD under the supervision of Ben Green. Her research focused on analytic number theory, particularly the Hardy–Littlewood circle method, and her PhD was awarded in 2011. As a PhD student, Vicky joined Murray Edwards College at Cambridge as a College Lecturer and Director of Studies, and was heavily interested in education initiatives. Her commitment to education led to increasing involvement with outreach projects such as NRICH and the Cambridge Mathematics Education Project (CMEP). In 2014 she moved to Oxford, joining the Mathematical Institute and Balliol College, where she became a Whitehead Lecturer and a Supernumerary Fellow. Her unique role included a focus on outreach and public engagement. She set up and directed PROMYS Europe, gave frequent public lectures and school visits, lectured in summer schools, and supported mathematics in the UK via developing events, mentoring, and through involvement with the United Kingdom Mathematics Trust (UKMT) and London Mathematical Society's Education Committee. As a teacher and lecturer, she was incredibly popular and successful, leading to numerous teaching awards throughout her career. A prolific public communicator of mathematics, Vicky produced two books — Closing the Gap: The Quest to Understand Prime Numbers and Why Study Mathematics? — and made many appearances on podcasts and radio, making complex topics accessible and sharing her enthusiasm for mathematics with the general public. Vicky's impact was also felt through her mentorship, commitment to diversity, and her advocacy for women in mathematics. In her final years, she turned her own diagnosis of cancer into a further opportunity for outreach and education, producing the award‐winning podcast series Maths + Cancer . Vicky's legacy lives on through the lives she touched, the students she inspired, and her enduring contributions to mathematics education. Her extraordinary dedication, boundless curiosity, and unwavering commitment to making mathematics accessible have left an indelible mark on the world of mathematics and beyond.