Basil Helmore was a prominent lawyer and member of the university movement.
As one of the founding fathers of the University of Newcastle he campaigned from as early as the late 1920s to establish University education in Newcastle, and was involved in the Radio Broadcasts of the 1940s that helped popularise the push in the general population.
Once the University was established in 1965 he became a member of its Council, founding Warden of Convocation and supporter of the arts through the Basil Helmore prize in French.