Until his retirement, Professor Kemp held a chair at the University of Reading where he is now Professor Emeritus. He is Vice-president of The Church Monuments Society and a former President; member of the Council of The Canterbury and York Society, The Pipe Roll Society, and the British Academy project committees on The Acta of Henry II, and English Episcopal Acta. He is also president of The Friends of Reading Abbey; member of the Oxford Diocesan Advisory Committee for the Care of Churches; member of the Executive Committee of the Royal County of Berkshire Churches Trust; and a member of the Standing Conference on Archives of Berkshire Record Office.