1995: Mike Morrish

Mike Morrish was one of the few people to be a teacher at the time of his Presidency: at The Haberdashers' Aske's School, Elstree, Hertfordshire.

As we have seen during the many posts added to the blog there have only been a handful of other people who were in that position, which is interesting given the particular role of the Association in supporting geography teachers and developing their craft and pedagogy. This is partly a product of the time commitments involved in getting involved to this degree with the GA and its running.

Mike Morrish is known to many teachers of a certain age for his books, which I used when teaching back in the day, including the one pictured later in the post on Development, which was excellent as I recall, although the phrase 'Third World' gives away its age a little.

There is an excellent biography of Mike's involvement with both the school and also the Geographical Association in an issue of the school magazine.

The magazine is called 'Skylark' and an issue from 2008 features an interview with Mike.
It describes his early career when he rode a motorbike to work. He was famously organised apparently with piles of exercise books ready for marking. I can't say I'm quite as organised.

Michael was born in London. He enjoyed camping with the scouts and a trip to the Austrian Alps gave him a taste for travel. He studied for a degree in Geography at Exeter University.

The 'Living Geography of China' was the subject of Mike's Presidential Address. This continues in the tradition of other GA Presidents who were interested in the country: notably Percy Maude Roxby.

When taking over as President, Mike was Head of Geography at The Haberdashers' Aske's School, Elstree, Hertfordshire which makes him that rare thing: someone who was teaching when they became the President - quite a few had previous experience but had moved on to other careers or retired before they actually took over as GA President.

Book cover of one of Mike's books here. I remember using this to teach back in the day.

Mike is one of the assessors of the Rex Walford Award, and also wrote an obituary of Rex. He shared a passion for amateur dramatics and performance with Rex as well, which is where he first met him in fact.

He has also written a number of the GeoActive resources, which are popular with schools.



Mike kindly told me further information about him and his career by filling in the questionnaire that I sent to all living Presidents. The following information was provided by Mike.

Born: 1948, Finchley, North London

Education: 

Orange Hill Grammar School, Edgware, N. London

BA in Geography, Exeter University 1967 - 1970 

PGCE, Leicester University 1973/74

Career:
Marketing executive, Lever Brother Limited 1970 - 1973 

Secondary school geography teacher: Guthlaxton College, Leics. 1974 - 1975 

Haberdashers' Aske's Boys School, Elstree 1975 - 1983 

Head of Geography, Alleyn's School, Dulwich 1983 - 1995 

Head of Geography, Haberdashers' Aske's Boys School 1995 - 2008 

Author/editor of geographical textbooks, resources and magazine articles 1980 - 2018

He told me more about his Presidential year and theme:

'Living Geography' - I wanted to emphasise both the vital, dynamic and contemporary nature of the subject, and also the relevance it has to the way everyone lives their life. 

I attended GA branch lectures (Harrow) and annual conferences (LSE, London) from early on in my teaching career and joined the GA when Rex Walford recruited me as the GA's first Publicity Officer in 1982. I had known Rex Walford since my sixth form years in Edgware in 1966/67 through involvement in youth drama.

Mike held a number of roles within the GA and feels that it is particularly important for people to engage with it, and become part of the wider subject community. 

He told me:

"The GA was an important influence on me as a young teacher, and a valuable support in terms of information, resources, advice, representation and curriculum development. Once I became directly involved with its work, it opened up a wide network of like-minded individuals, both academics and fellow teachers, who shared my enthusiasm for the subject and a desire to enhance its position in the school curriculum."

My roles were: 

Publicity Officer 1982 - 85

Editor of GA News 1985-89

Chair of Worldwise Quiz National Committee 1983 -93

Junior VP 1993/4

Senior VP 1994/5

President 1995/6

Past President 1996/7

Mike was featured in the images that Sheila Jones sent me from the 1993 Centenary conference.

Here he is on the front cover of GA News in 1995.

Of his GA Presidential year, Mike said:

The joint focus of my year was the national Land Use UK survey carried out by schools, in conjunction with the GA's first Geography Action Week. Preparations for these had been going on for the preceding two years. My main memories are of the many meetings that the preparations involved, and the crucial role of Rex Walford in bringing these joint projects to fruition. Of course, the Annual Conference at Southampton University in 1996 was an exciting end to the year, especially delivering my Presidential Lecture (on China).

References

Mike's pieces for the TES in 1996-2000: https://www.tes.com/author/mike-morrish

MORRISH, MIKE. “The Living Geography of China.” Geography, vol. 82, no. 1, 1997, pp. 3–16. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40572861.

https://issuu.com/bainespsa/docs/a31822_haberaske_skylark_2008/122 - biography and school history - links with Rex Walford

Personal communication thanks to Google Form and emails.

Main image of Mike taken at the official 'opening' of Solly St in 2010 by Bryan Ledgard.
Copyright: Bryan Ledgard / Geographical Association

All other memories and images of Mike and his time as GA President welcome.