The Summer 2025 issue of 'Teaching Geography' reflects on 50 years of the journal. There's a look back at four of the editors of the journal and their reflections.
Showing posts with label Editor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Editor. Show all posts
Tuesday, 3 June 2025
Sunday, 21 March 2021
2004: Professor Bill J Chambers
Bill Chambers is another one of those academic Geographers who has done so much for the subject over the years.
Bill's Presidential address
He is linked with Liverpool Hope University as Pro Vice Chancellor Emeritus, where he also spent many years in the geography department.
Bill worked in the sphere of Primary Geography a great deal, which is good to see., along with development education. The first entries on this blog were mostly academic geographers, and it is only of late that Primary Geography has been appropriately represented amongst the GA Presidents with people like Wendy Morgan leading the way.
Bill worked in the sphere of Primary Geography a great deal, which is good to see., along with development education. The first entries on this blog were mostly academic geographers, and it is only of late that Primary Geography has been appropriately represented amongst the GA Presidents with people like Wendy Morgan leading the way.
Jeremy Krause wrote a lot about this during his own entry on the blog from 2001.
Bill turned his Presidential lecture into a public address, hoping to raise awareness of the subject - an interesting idea.
Bill turned his Presidential lecture into a public address, hoping to raise awareness of the subject - an interesting idea.
As it happens, Gill Miller's lecture was also delivered publicly because of the eConference and remains the most viewed at the present time - we will see whether Susan Pike's lecture receives more views.
Bill has a long association with Peru in South America.
Bill has a long association with Peru in South America.
He first visited the slums of Lima as a VSO volunteer.
He says his two years there in a squatter settlement were "an experience which had a lifelong impact on me and my teaching" .
The Presidential lecture - "Lima's squatter settlements: slums of hope or despair"- considered changes in the barriadas of the Peruvian capital between 1964 and 2004 and asked whether they are the cause or the solution to the problems of rural Peru. I was present at his Presidential Address, and other aspects of that conference.
Bill cites examples from the families and the communities in which he lived while he analysed the question.
His staff page on his University website flags up a great deal of GA involvement:
I share Bill's aims here when it comes to my own Presidential year. His aims were to encourage people to support their local GA branches.
At the 2005 conference, I was there for the GA Publishers awards and evening at Pride Park in Derby and heard Bill's Presidential address.
Bill was kind enough to answer some questions on the Google Form that I produced for all those Presidents who are still around to answer my questions.
On his memories of his education:
I always loved Geography from my first lesson with Mr Geoff Sears at Preston Manor Grammar School in 1957.
I always loved Geography from my first lesson with Mr Geoff Sears at Preston Manor Grammar School in 1957. As a trainee geography teacher at Marjons betweem 1966 and 1970 I was encouraged by inspirational lecturers Dr Roland Allison and Dr Vernon Williams to become involved in the GA as a the preeminent professional organisation for geography teachers.
He says his two years there in a squatter settlement were "an experience which had a lifelong impact on me and my teaching" .
The Presidential lecture - "Lima's squatter settlements: slums of hope or despair"- considered changes in the barriadas of the Peruvian capital between 1964 and 2004 and asked whether they are the cause or the solution to the problems of rural Peru. I was present at his Presidential Address, and other aspects of that conference.
Bill cites examples from the families and the communities in which he lived while he analysed the question.
His staff page on his University website flags up a great deal of GA involvement:
- Editor of 'Primary Geographer '1990-2000
- Chambers, B. 2004 Geography and Lifelong Learning in Kent, W.A. Rawling, E. and Robinson, A. 2004. Geographical Education: Expanding Horizons in a Shrinking World. International Geographical Union Commission on Geographical Education and Scottish Association of Geography Teachers.
- Chambers, B. 2005 Lima's Slums: Problems or Solutions Geographical Association Annual Conference, Presidential Address. Pride Park, Derby.
- Chambers, B. 2005. Squatter Settlements in Lima, Peru. Geographical Association Annual Conference, University of Derby.
- Geographical Association Gold Award for publication of year 1991
- Geographical Association Silver Award for publication 1997
Lima's Barriadas - Slums of Hope or Despair? from hantsga
Another personal link is that Bill published books with Karl Donert, with whom I have worked on a number of ERASMUS projects.
Here's Bill talking about his journey to being President in the GA News. It also includes some biographical detail:
Another personal link is that Bill published books with Karl Donert, with whom I have worked on a number of ERASMUS projects.
Here's Bill talking about his journey to being President in the GA News. It also includes some biographical detail:
I share Bill's aims here when it comes to my own Presidential year. His aims were to encourage people to support their local GA branches.
At the 2005 conference, I was there for the GA Publishers awards and evening at Pride Park in Derby and heard Bill's Presidential address.
Bill was kind enough to answer some questions on the Google Form that I produced for all those Presidents who are still around to answer my questions.
On his memories of his education:
I always loved Geography from my first lesson with Mr Geoff Sears at Preston Manor Grammar School in 1957.
As a trainee geography teacher at Marjons betweem 1966 and 1970 I was encouraged by inspirational lecturers Dr Roland Allison and Dr Vernon Williams to become involved in the GA as a the preeminent professional organisation for geography teachers.
Once established from 1973 at Notre Dame College Liverpool (now Liverpool Hope University) and being responsible for the training of primary and secondary teachers it was a natural progression to join the local branch of the GA which was largely run by Professor Dick Lawton of Liverpool University.
After a decade as Programme Secretary and later Chair of the Branch I was encouraged as part of my professional development by my head of department Alan Hammersley to contribute nationally and I joined the Environmental Education Working Group.
The GA gave me the opportunity to work with the great geographers of the day and become aware of current developments in geography. It also gave me an opportunity to begin to publish both academic and pedagogical papers. I also made many lifelong friends including Tony Thomas the inspirational head of the Field Studies Council.
He said that he hoped his Presidency had raised the profile of the branches.
He said that he hoped his Presidency had raised the profile of the branches.
He also mentioned a great many of the great and the good of the time who had influenced his own involvement and decision to run for President.
I became a member of the GA in 1966 whilst training to be a teacher at the College of St Mark and St John. I became a Committee Member, then Programme Secretary and then Chair of the Liverpool Branch of the GA in 1976. I retired in 2011.
I became a member of the GA in 1966 whilst training to be a teacher at the College of St Mark and St John. I became a Committee Member, then Programme Secretary and then Chair of the Liverpool Branch of the GA in 1976. I retired in 2011.
I became a member in 1980(?) and finally Chair of the GA Environmental Education Working Group. I became a member of the GA Council in 1995
I was elected President of the GA in 2004-5
My main presidential concern was to affirm the role of the Branches. During my year as President I lectured at over 30 Branches. That's quite a target to aim for.
I asked Bill why geography mattered to him
Once established from 1973 at Notre Dame College Liverpool (now Liverpool Hope University) and being responsible for the training of primary and secondary teachers it was a natural progression to join the local branch of the GA which was largely run by Professor Dick Lawton of Liverpool University.
After a decade as Programme Secretary and later Chair of the Branch I was encouraged as part of my professional development by my head of department Alan Hammersley to contribute nationally and I joined the Environmental Education Working Group. The GA gave me the opportunity to work with the great geographers of the day and become aware of current developments in geography. It also gave me an opportunity to begin to publish both academic and pedagogical papers. I also made many lifelong friends including Tony Thomas the inspirational head of the Field Studies Council.
He had memories of encounters with, and inspirationt taken from, a great many other familiar names as well:
WGV (Billy Balchin) was Head of the Department of Geography when I studied for my PhD at Swansea. He worked closely with Alice Coleman. Dick Lawton was Head of the Department of Geography at Liverpool University when I arrived in the city. He was a tough Yorkshireman and utterly committed to geography and to the GA especially on Merseyside.
Rex Walford was one of the first educational geographers. He was one of the most enthusiastic and creative people I have ever had the pleasure of working with. He drowned tragically in the Thames while in his prime. He was responsible for many initiatives including the Worldwise Quiz.
Graham Humphrys lectured at Swansea and memorably dedicated one of his many books to Mark (his son?), Marilyn (his wife) and Maesteg (his birthplace).
Richard Dougherty ran the PGCE Geography course at Swansea.
Simon Catling was the year behind me at Marjons. He was always an incredibly ambitious, enthusiastic and prolific advocate of Primary school geography and, along with Wendy Morgan, was largely responsible for the introduction of primary geography to the GA. Apart from this he was well known for his many home made geography pullovers.
Wendy Morgan was the first Primary School President of the GA. She was responsible for the launch of the journal Primary Geographer and was its first editor. She was an indefatigable and creative person. She was responsible for the St Lucia Resources Pack which was used by many primary schools in the early days of the Geography National Curriculum.
Jeremy Krause was a local authority geography advisor in Cheshire and was responsible for much of the success of geography in the north west of England.
Chris Kington was a well loved Cambridge publisher who worked tirelessly for the GA and commissioned many books.
As with many other GA Presidents, Bill has also used his experiences as trustee to work as a trustee for other organisations.
He is a member of, and currently Chair the Board of Trustees of the Brain Charity.
On this website, there was a little more information about him:
Bill has lived in Liverpool since 1973 and has worked at Liverpool Hope University for his entire working life initially as a geography lecturer and finally as Pro Vice Chancellor External Relations and Widening Participation.
He is married to Fiona, a community educator, with 3 children and 6 grandchildren. They both love the Liverpool Philharmonic and Bill is also a season ticket holder at Everton.
References
Slideshare: Presidential Lecture - see above
He is married to Fiona, a community educator, with 3 children and 6 grandchildren. They both love the Liverpool Philharmonic and Bill is also a season ticket holder at Everton.
References
Slideshare: Presidential Lecture - see above
Book with Karl Donert:
LinkedIn - I wonder who would have been in the network of previous Presidents from the last century?
Tuesday, 1 December 2020
1990: Mr. Bryan E Coates
Last updated June 2021
He is another familiar name in Geographical Association history. He was connected with the GA for many decades, and this continued until fairly recently - here he is, pictured at a GA Conference in Derby by Bryan Ledgard.
Bryan held several important posts within the GA, and these included some particularly significant ones, which he held for many years, and which are particularly important for the ongoing work of the Association through the 1980s:
- Honorary Secretary
- Publications Editor
- Honorary Treasurer
These were the posts which were crucial to the continued effective running of the Association for many years, before it went onto a more professional footing.
Bryan worked in the Geography Department at Sheffield University.
He wrote about the Geography of Inequality and this was the theme of his Presidential Address in 1991, called 'Our Unequal World'.
Inequality has grown in importance as an area of geographical study over the last few years.Nearly 30 years on from that time, we now have even greater inequalities, and plenty of geographers studying them, including some of the GA's own current trustees, and Danny Dorling, whose job title invokes an earlier GA President of course.
Bryan was associated with the Association from the 1960s, when he co-authored a piece on employment and affluence with E M Rawstron, who he was to write several pieces in association with.
He also created a Census Atlas of South Yorkshire, which can still be purchased.
"...was the ‘ah but man’ - challenging questions - "have you thought about doing this better or differently". Often right about good sense.
Lovely man!
He was fondly remembered by Sheila Jones, who also remembered him as "one of the great modernisers" who did a great deal to change the Association.
She sent me more details about his work around the Centenary in 1993.
Here's Bryan in 1993, with Pat Cleverley and a gentleman that we haven't been able to identify as yet at the Centenary event.
Here's Bryan doing a speech at another centenary event in 1993.
Former GA President Jeremy Krause also told me that Bryan:
Lovely man!
Great sense of fun!"
Bryan was based in the Department of Geography from 1 October 1958 to 30 September 1989 and was a Senior Lecturer at the time of his retirement. He also served as the Dean of Social Sciences from 1 September 1988 to 30 September 1989.
Bryan sadly passed away on Wednesday 4 December 2019.
"Bryan Coates was President the year before me. He could be quite frightening with his bluff Northern manner, his rather direct sense of humour and his strong views but I learned to work with him and to like him a great deal. He was an amazing power and energy for good in the GA, particularly his unseen work at Headquarters, then in Fulwood Road. He helped to modernise and streamline the GA structure. I am not sure people know how much the GA owes him."
While researching Bryan and trying to track down some more information, I discovered from Richard Daugherty that Bryan had sadly died quite recently in December 2019.
From the Sheffield University website, a little more information where his death was announced:
Bryan was based in the Department of Geography from 1 October 1958 to 30 September 1989 and was a Senior Lecturer at the time of his retirement. He also served as the Dean of Social Sciences from 1 September 1988 to 30 September 1989.
Bryan sadly passed away on Wednesday 4 December 2019.
His family was described in the details of his funeral service:
Beloved husband of Shirley, much loved dad of Andrew, David and Anna and a very dear grandad.
There was also a memory from a former student posted:
To finish, a memory from Eleanor Rawling, who succeeded Bryan as GA President, and is coming up next on the blog:
It's stories like this which the blog has unearthed so well.
She also shared an anecdote:
Bryan was a great stickler for timekeeping so as Past President when he chaired my Presidential Address, he whispered in my ear just as I stood up to speak - "you'd better not over-run or I'll cut you short!!"
References
Coates, Bryan E., et al. “Annual Report of The Geographical Association.” Geography, vol. 76, no. 2, 1991, pp. 177–188. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40572070 - written in association with Richard Daugherty.
Rolfe, Diane. “Twenty-Five Years of ‘Geography’ Production.” Geography, vol. 100, no. 3, 2015, pp. 159–163., www.jstor.org/stable/43825591
Presidential Address:
Coates, Bryan E. “Our Unequal World.” Geography, vol. 77, no. 1, 1992, pp. 1–9. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40572138
COATES, B. E., and E. M. RAWSTRON. “Regional Incomes and Planning 1964-1965.” Geography, vol. 52, no. 4, 1967, pp. 393–402. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40566682
RAWSTRON, E. M., and B. E. COATES. “Opportunity and Affluence.” Geography, vol. 51, no. 1, 1966, pp. 1–15. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40566036. Accessed 12 Apr. 2020.
Coates, Bryan E., et al. “Annual Report of The Geographical Association.” Geography, vol. 76, no. 2, 1991, pp. 177–188. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40572070 - written in association with Richard Daugherty.
Rolfe, Diane. “Twenty-Five Years of ‘Geography’ Production.” Geography, vol. 100, no. 3, 2015, pp. 159–163., www.jstor.org/stable/43825591
Presidential Address:
Coates, Bryan E. “Our Unequal World.” Geography, vol. 77, no. 1, 1992, pp. 1–9. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40572138
COATES, B. E., and E. M. RAWSTRON. “Regional Incomes and Planning 1964-1965.” Geography, vol. 52, no. 4, 1967, pp. 393–402. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40566682
RAWSTRON, E. M., and B. E. COATES. “Opportunity and Affluence.” Geography, vol. 51, no. 1, 1966, pp. 1–15. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40566036. Accessed 12 Apr. 2020.
If anyone has further information on Bryan Coates that would be gratefully received. This is a relatively brief post.
Images: thanks to Sheila Jones
Updated December 2020
Once the Association moved to a model of joint honorary secretaries, one based in Sheffield and the other elsewhere, it would inevitably follow that the locally based secretary was more directly involved at the HQ offices in Sheffield (then at Fulwood Road). Bryan soon realised that all was not well with the staff at HQ and, being the no nonsense man that he was, he took to dropping in there unannounced. He kept me fully informed about the problems he found but it was very much Bryan’s initiative to embark upon a major restructuring at HQ that included early retirement for the man then in charge, the 'administrative secretary'.
There would also be new appointments of staff members such as Julia Legg who would be crucial for the improved efficiency of the HQ office in subsequent years.
All organisations need individuals who will not only see the need for change but also work hard, without looking to take credit, at making it happen.
As to the ‘lovely man’, I will always be grateful for Bryan’s kindness to me at a personal level.
Many thanks Richard....
Update: December 2020
In 2003, Chris Kington asked a number of former Presidents what had sparked their passion for geography. He lent me the letters and Bryan replied.
It turns out that he went to Maltby Grammar School, just 3 miles away from where I went to school in Wickersley, at the Comprehensive School there. He talks about a very fierce geography master called Mr. Salmon, who was great in the field and took the students to Whitby, Malham and Eastbourne. He says:
"I dared to say we were not where he said we were. Stunned silence. Fellow students shaking with fear. Me too, in case I was wrong. After a tense discussion, he agreed with me, said SORRY and added "from now on you wll lead the way. I'll tell you where I want to go and you get us there..."
Many thanks to Chris Kington for the loan of the letters.
Update June 2021
Free book giveaway in my department and found this old book on British socioeconomic geography. Those good-old ‘70s #cartography and #dataviz style. pic.twitter.com/XlMutATofw
— Kenneth Wong (@Kenneth_KHW) June 1, 2021
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