1999: Professor Michael Bradford

Last updated March 2021

Michael Bradford was a stalwart supporter of the GA for decades, in various capacities, and led on a great many initiatives to promote the subject at all levels throughout his career.

He was Emeritus Professor of Geography at the University of Manchester.

Some descriptions from Michael's University page:
After an undergraduate degree at St Catharine's College Cambridge, I did postgraduate work at the University of Wisconsin, Madison and completed a PhD at Cambridge. 

My first post was as a Lecturer at the University of Manchester (1971) where eventually I became Professor of Geography. 

My research interests have been on the geographies of education, the geographies of children and urban policy evaluation. 

The underlying themes that tie the work together are inequalities, social exclusion and social polarisation. Similar themes featured in my teaching. I have also completed some pedagogic research and published papers on learning and teaching, and earlier in my career written texts for school geography.

Michael was very much involved in the GA Manchester Branch, which is one of the oldest of the GA Branches, and has previously won a GA Award. He kindly welcomed me when I gave the Herbertson Memorial Lecture in 2008, to over 200 people.

Michael particularly loved the city of Manchester, and led a tour of the city during the most recent GA Conference in the city.
He also attended the 125th anniversary dinner of the GA at Christchurch College, Oxford, which I have blogged about previously.

Sadly, during the compilation of this blog, Michael passed away in July 2019. It was announced on social media at the time and was a catalyst for me contacting other Presidents earlier than I otherwise would have done. I am sorry that I didn't get the chance to chat to Michael about his career in person.

A Celebration of Michael's life was held at the University of Manchester on the 19th of October 2019. It was attended by many people who had been inspired by his work, including a significant number of former GA Presidents.

There is a link to the video that was made at the event here for those who were not aware of it. It provides a wealth of extra detail on the work that Michael did, including some cover teaching of 'A' level Human geography for students at the school where his wife: Sheila was Head of Geography.

Michael Bradford Celebration v3 from North Star Digital on Vimeo.

The Celebration was led by Ashley Kent, Janet Pickering and Derek Spooner, along with Sheila.

Michael had also planned a party that was to take place at the Sports club, where he and Sheila had been members since the late 1970s. Several hundred people had already responded affirmatively to this event, but it was cancelled, as he was very unwell and in the hospital at the end of June. This party was meant to celebrate various things, including he and Sheila's Golden Wedding. 

Sheila told me:

"Michael had outlined what he wanted to be included in his Celebration of Life. He said he wanted it to be at the University, in a lecture theatre and also that there would be a video of him speaking at the beginning of it. I was able to implement almost all of what he wanted. Michael would have loved the reunion of people at the reception following his Celebration of Life."

His obituary, written by another former GA President Derek Spooner (who also introduced his GA Presidential Lecture in 2000) was published in The Guardian, and he explained that Michael may well have had a career on the stage.

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2019/aug/07/ichael-radford-obituary

In 2003, Chris Kington asked a number of former Presidents what had sparked their passion for geography. He lent me the letters that he received at the time, and here is the response that Michael sent to Chris at the time. It describes a trip to Arran in the company of future Ofsted chief Chris Woodhead.

This contains some memories of particular teachers, including Charles Larkinson. He talks about the importance of travel and holidays.

"A gradual immersion - inspiring teaching - a kind man who drove me to Arran among many kind acts - and a few key moments and walking holidays. Fun and Geography were connected, as were kindness and Geography."

Thanks so much to Chris Kington for the loan of the letters.

In January 2021, I had the chance to chat to Sheila Kaplan Bradford. She was keen to talk through the work that Michael had done through his long career, and also very kindly sent me a number of documents and videos. One of the most entertaining elements was a recording of the speech that Michael gave at the Presidents' Dinner, with plenty of jokes. 

Sheila told me: "I would say that the essence of Michael was his concern for all people. He felt passionately about trying to redress the inequalities and injustices suffered within societies. He was keen to make sure that his philosophy and way of life reflected that strong moral and ethical ideal." 

Michael was born on the 6th December 1944 at St Helier's Hospital, Carshalton in Surrey. He attended Winchcombe County Primary School, Carshalton and Wallington County Grammar School for Boys, followed by studies at St Catharine's College, University of Cambridge, BA Cantab (1964-67) and PhD: thesis (1968-71): Spatial Aspects of Urban Consumer Behaviour 

Between his undergraduate and graduate studies at Cambridge, Michael attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison, for one year as a post-graduate in the Department of Geography. This experience convinced him that he wanted to pursue a career in teaching and research at University level rather than becoming a secondary school teacher, which had been his original plan. His career took him to a number of institutions and involved some significant achievements:

1971: University of Manchester - Professor of Geography awarded 1997, and Professor Emeritus

1996-2000:  Head of the School of Geography 

2001-2004:  Pro-Vice-Chancellor responsible for Teaching and Learning 

2004-2005 Associate Vice President for Teaching and Learning 

2006-8:   HE Academy: Senior Associate (one-day a week) Jointly led Change Academy sponsored by the HEA and the Leadership Foundation

In this role, Michael visited a range of institutions interacting with staff or giving workshops in relation to Change and Leadership. These included Dundee, Robert Gordon, Bangor, Aston, Sheffield, Lampeter, Plymouth, St Mary’s and Cambridge. In addition Michael led leadership workshops for a national audience for the HEA. These led to some mentoring of staff outside the University of Manchester where he completed many mentoring sessions as part of Manchester Gold, including supporting teachers such as Sue Bermingham.

Distinguished Achievement Medal: Teacher of the Year 2005 at the new University of Manchester. 

HEFCE-funded National Teaching Fellowship 2006 £10,000, a prestigious national award. 

GA Council member: 1992-2001 and 2006-2010 and President 1999-2000.

IBG: 1990-93 Member of the Council of the Institute of British Geographers Secretary of Council’s Education Committee. IBG Conference Officer 1992-95 Member of Council’s Education Committee. RGS/IBG: Invited as Chair of Higher Education Subcommittee with a seat on the Research and Higher Education Division (RGS/IBG) merged society. 

Education Division of RGS/IBG 1998-2002 Research Division. 1998-2004 Member of Council RGS/IBG (elected 2000-3, co-opted before and after)

2000-2003:  Chair of Joint Committee of RGS/IBG – GA

RGS/IBG Study Groups various committees eg HESG 1992-2000

1990-93:  Chair of the Urban Geography Study Group of the IBG - organised resurrection with six meetings and major improvement to finances Awarded by RGS with IBG: 

Taylor and Francis Award for excellence in teaching and learning in geography in higher education. 

Michael was also the HE rep on Dearing’s Slimming of the National curriculum. Vice Chair of Subject Benchmarking Group & QAA auditor. 

1993-6: Developed a new 'A' level and Chaired the Exam Board: NEAB(AQA)

He also had a great many interests outside of his work.Michael was chair of the Bramhall Community Council in the 1980s. This was a new thing and I think they understood what a good overview Michael had of the area and the politics. I think he was viewed as having balanced views of the issues which affected the community. He likely would have been a good councillor, but he became too involved in the University. Michael loved sports and played squash for many years at Grove Park Squash Club, and  very involved in the overall running of Manchester Football Club and Cheadle Hulme Cricket Club. He acted as overall Secretary of the Club for three years. 

Michael's Presidential theme was Pride of Place. 

Sheila told me "An engagement with place was always very significant to Michael. This was true of both of us, which is why I came up with the idea, that Michael loved, that we were like two pieces of Blackpool Rock with Geography [or Geographer] written through us. Michael loved that image. Michael became very involved in the Manchester Branch of the GA. He served as Local Branch President, at least once, if not more, and continued to serve on the committee in different roles including up to the time of his death. He was very supportive of all their activities and took part in all the functions held, such as the World Wise Quiz. He mentored a number of the teachers, who were involved in the GA, both officially and unofficially. He was held in very high regard by all of them. He contributed to the fairly recent publication of a book[let] about the history of the Manchester Branch. He presented the Herbertson Lecture to the Branch and combined meeting with the local Geological Society. He frequently travelled to other GA branches to give presentations to the society. Some of these were on geographical topics and others were about applying to University to study Geography.

One of my most vivid memories is when Michael was asked to dress up as Barnaby Bear for the GA conference and to wander around the exhibit as part of a promotion for Barnaby Bear and the books, and eventual television series. People were supposed to guess which Past President was in the bear costume."

See the previous post on Barnaby Bear for the image of Michael in the Barnaby Bear costume.

Thanks very much to Sheila for her many contributions to this post.

References

A small selection of many references and publications:

1977: "Human Geography: Theories and their Application". Oxford, Oxford University Press, 180pp. (with W.Ashley Kent) over 10 impressions. 

Hardback edition in Zimbabwe, 1991. 

Translated into: 1981 Geografi Manusia. Kuala Lumpur, Penerbit Eajar Bakti Sdn. Bhd, 237pp, Malaysian 1987 Geografia Humana. Lisbon, Gradiva, 2&4pp Portuguese 

This book has become a major text used around the world. 

1993 "Understanding Human Geography: People and their Changing Environments". Oxford, Oxford University Press 320 pp. (with W. Ashley Kent) 

[Geographical Association prize: a significant contribution to Geography]

1979-1994: Michael was a co-editor of a major series for Routledge on Geography and the Environment with Prof. A. Wilson (Leeds), N. Thrift (Bristol) and E.Soja (UCLA). This enabled the dissemination of geographical research. Over the years Michael personally acted as editor of 24 books.

And finally....

Here's Michael and colleagues performing YMCA on the rooftop of the University, which originally had 15 million views before being taken down temporarily...

Images copyright: Bryan Ledgard / Geographical Association

As Sheila said: 

"Michael had always been passionate about the subject and promoting it within schools. He was always interested in making sure there were strong links within the education sector - from Primary to Secondary to Higher Education. He felt strongly about how much the GA could contribute to the support for school teachers. Michael just passionately cared about people."

He also introduced a major change to the GA during his time as President, one which ran for over 30 years, and was only changed this year.

As President, Michael set up the Presidents Group ie the Junior Vice, Vice and current President along with the past President would meet several times a year to establish continuity of policy (the group was renamed to the Governance Working Group last year). 

The President's role, he said, is much more than a figurehead role. Michael reviewed and restructured the HQ staff. He helped establish the GA's weebsite. He improved links with the RGS/IBG, and  introduced a day for PGCE students and NQTs at conference. All these and other work set the base for more recent change within the organisation.

This is an important and powerful legacy, for which the GA is grateful to Michael Bradford.

Further memories of Michael and his work would be very welcome.

Update March 2021

Here's Michael and myself stood next to each other after picking up GA Awards back in 2015.