1993: Centenary Badges

There was apparently a competition to design a badge for the GA's Centenary and here is the winning design from the front page of GA News at the time, in 1993.

1999: Primary Membership

 

1997 - Strategic Planning

An article from Ashley Kent in the GA News outlined the strategic plan of the time. The GA has had a series of strategic plans for some time, which operates on a five yearly cycle to help guide activity, and ensure that the association continues to have an impact in the areas where it needs to. The most recent one started in 2020 and runs to 2025.

GA Magazine has an editorial which outlines progress in each issue.

GA News on Keith Joseph's speech

 From the first issue of GA News.

1998: Martin Curry

Updated May 2021

Martin Curry was never the President of the GA, but was the first CEO of the Association.
This was a bold move, and one that changed the way that the GA was run, in terms of its structure.
It was mentioned by Rex Walford in a chapter in "Issues in Geography Education" (Fisher & Binns, Ed) (2000)



There was an interview with Martin published in the TES in April 1999.
It mentioned his background before taking up the job:

"Not that he knows that much about the mechanics of school-teaching, he admits cheerfully, as he has never had to do it himself."

A biography followed:

Martin Curry was born in Bollington, east Cheshire, in 1952. Educated at King Edward VI Grammar School in Macclesfield, he studied law at London University before spending three years as an articled clerk, culminating in his Law Society finals in 1976.

It was his legal training which got him his first paid environmental job as administrative officer for the Lincolnshire and South Humberside Trust.

But his big break came in 1982 when he became manager of Gibraltar Point nature reserve, south of Skegness. It was a good induction to the life of a reserve manager, combining solitude with total immersion in the local community. He also met his future wife Mary, known as Midge, who had replaced him at the Lincolnshire and South Humberside Trust. The pair moved to Yorkshire in 1987, where Mr Curry became head of information services at North York Moors National Park, responsible for visitors' centres and school services. From there they moved to the Scottish Deer Centre in Fife, to what was practically a joint appointment for the couple with Mr Curry as general manager and his wife as his assistant in the privately-owned park.

They moved to Rum in 1992 to take up what Mr Curry describes as "a dream job, something I had held as my ultimate ambition for 20 years". He has fond memories of the island, but decided to leave after Scottish Natural Heritage said it wanted to develop a sustainable community on Rum.
The Isle of Rum is a place I have also visited, and spent a week there working for the Scottish Nature Conservancy Council removing non-native rhododendrons and doing some painting in the castle.

The President of the GA at the time was Roger Carter, who said:
 "He may not have a background of teaching in schools, but he is clearly in tune with what is important to the GA in terms of his commitment to outdoor education, environment and sustainability."
Martin was also featured on the front cover of the 'GA News' in January 1999, with a picture and some further details.

He stayed in post for a short time before moving to another role, as outlined in this GA News piece:

Martin was eventually succeeded as Chief Executive by David Lambert in 2002. (PDF download)

References
https://www.tes.com/news/beyond-island-dreamsbriefingpeople

1998: Mr. Roger C Carter

Updated August 2022

When I first started writing this blog entry, I couldn't find much about Roger C Carter, and he remained a bit of a mystery, but I have assembled more with thanks to the Presidents who served near to him, particularly Jeremy Krause.

Roger was the editor of the first Primary Geography Handbook in the year of his Presidency and was working as Geography advisor and school inspector at the time.

Jeremy Krause told me:

"Roger was born in 1938 in Hove and attended Hove County Grammar School. His childhood was spent camping on the South Downs, reading maps, earning badges and proudly becoming a Queen’s Scout before studying at Nottingham University. A grounding for his love of geography, life and Brighton and Hove Albion!"

He was the youngest of four children.

After University he embarked on a career in education, first as a teacher and then as an Inspector. He was one of those teachers who would regularly have ex-pupils approaching them to say hello, often

years after the said pupils had left school. He mixed professionalism and competence with humour, approachability and a passion for his subject: Geography. This mix would be the hallmark of his whole

professional career."

From the family eulogy, via Jeremy Krause:

"He taught at Coalbrookdale School and at Abraham Darby School, and although his professional life then moved to Staffordshire, he continued to live in Shropshire. He fell in love with this county and

lived for the majority of his life there. He loved the beauty of the countryside and the view of Wenlock Edge from the house, not to mention the interesting oxbow lakes on the Severn near Buildwas."

Roger was also involved in an intiative called TVEI, which for a while was very significant in education. In my own school, in the late 1980s we had a colleague who was actually geography trained, but worked on the TVEI initiative. TVEI stands for Technical and Vocational Education Initiative. 

Roger wrote about the TVEI and Geography as well.

Professor Simon Catling told me that he was a LEA Inspector in Staffordshire which gave me something to go on, and do some more research.

He was an advisory teacher and Inspector in Staffordshire for over 20 years, according to items submitted to 'Teaching Geography', so he must have predated Chris Durbin in the role (more on Chris in a future post as we approach the founding of SLN close to this time)

I also found him featured on the front cover of the GA News in 1998. This also mentions the appointment of the GA's first new Chief Executive Martin Curry, who will have a post on the blog later. Roger was helpful in supporting Jeremy Krause, who will also have a post on the blog in due course, in organising the running of the Association for a while around this time. There was also significant work to respond to consultations:

Carter, Roger. “A Modular Approach to a Relevant Curriculum.” Teaching Geography, vol. 13, no. 2, 1988, pp. 57–60. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/23754721. Accessed 22 Jan. 2021.

Carter, Roger. “The GA Responds to the Draft Proposals for Geography.” Teaching Geography, vol. 19, no. 4, 1994, pp. 158–159. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/23756163. Accessed 22 Jan. 2021.

Details of Roger's Presidential Address were published in GA News in July 1999, and in Geography in October 1999. It was delievered at UMIST, and was on the theme of 'Connecting Geography'.



Keith Grimwade also has memories of him from his own time working on GA Committees, and also the Action Plan for Geography.

"I remember Roger Carter’s choice of hotels - he was always looking to save the GA money and we stayed at some interesting places, some of which seemed very busy in the early hours of the morning!"

In his Presidential Address, Roger talked about 'An Agenda for Action' and connecting up Key Stages and other geographies.

Roger says in his address that:

"I came across the details of the Staffordshire Geographical Exhibition of 1934. The Exhibition gave rise to an account, edited by Jasper H. Stembridge. Here is an extract from Stembridge's account:

 'The Staffordshire Geographical Exhibition proved that the popular press and the general public are deeply interested in education. On the second day the Exhibition was thronged. On the third and subsequent days it was so crowded in the afternoons and evenings that it was often difficult to make one's way round the rooms. Owing to requests received from all parts of the country it was decided to keep it open for a further three days' (Stembridge, 1934, p. 12). 

Sir Frances Goodenough, wrote, in a letter to The Times: 

A remarkable and valuable exhibition. An exhibition of modern methods of teaching geography as practised in every type of institution in the county, from the infant school to Birmingham University. The Exhibition is the product of unusually complete teamwork in which teachers, the LEA, the Board of Education and the employers have all co-operated' 

(Sir Frances Goodenough quoted in Stembridge, 1934)

The then President of the GA, Professor PM. Roxby, was equally enthusiastic about the event: 'Here was the new geography - pulsating with life - presented with a freshness of outlook, but with a deep conviction of the importance of the subject and its underlying principles' (Roxby quoted in Stembridge, 1934, p. 13).

The following came from Jeremy Krause:

At the start of his GA Presidential Address in 1999 Roger looked around the packed lecture theatre and said, ‘There’s a lot of you… I’m used to seeing you in small groups in pubs and meeting rooms.’ We were those in small groups and as individuals who gained so much from being with Roger. This wasn’t a random action, it was central to Roger’s being.

It’s best summed up by a quote from the ‘Geovisions’ project, in which he played such an important part, used in the conclusion of his Address.

‘We need: A renewed emphasis on the professionalism of teachers.

We need fewer voices telling us what to do and how to do it.

Equally, we must reassert our own professional responsibility.’

Roger was so generous of spirit, we were all blessed to know him, work with him, share a joke, but also be prepared to be challenged and expected to find a better way to teach and learn geography.

His employment over the years involved schools in Shropshire and Staffordshire; Madeley College; Staffordshire LA, the GA’s Geography Adviser Network; the Geography North-West Consortium, TIDE and Government Agencies.

In the late 1990s, when he chaired the Education Committee of the GA (a position which is now held by the acting President during their Presidential year, Roger started a discussion about the future of Geography in the National Curriculum.

https://www.tes.com/news/feet-back-firmer-ground - TES piece from 1994

Roger died in 2017. His obituary was written by Jeremy Krause, who also passed me further documents on his life.

This is the cover of the first Primary Geography handbook which Roger edited - some reading this may well have copies on their shelves. Roger was also instrumental in shaping the GA's CPD programme, which continues to this day, and which I had the privilege of being involved with for many years.

If anyone knows more about Roger Carter and his work for the GA, or has other memories please get in touch. Particular thanks to Jeremy Krause here.

References

Carter, R. (ed.) (1998), Handbook of Primary Geography, Sheffield: Geographical Association

Carter, Roger. “Millennium 2000 Geography.” Teaching Geography, vol. 22, no. 4, 1997, pp. 195–195. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/23755757. Accessed 22 Jan. 2021.

Carter, Roger. “A Modular Approach to a Relevant Curriculum.” Teaching Geography, vol. 13, no. 2, 1988, pp. 57–60. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/23754721. Accessed 22 Nov. 2020.

LYNCH, KENNETH. “The Future of Geography: The Debate Continues.” Geography, vol. 87, no. 2, 2002, pp. 155–159. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40573671. Accessed 22 Nov. 2020.

CARTER, ROGER. “Connecting Geography: An Agenda for Action.” Geography, vol. 84, no. 4, 1999, pp. 289–297. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40573334. Accessed 22 Nov. 2020.

Ofsted Revisited

Campion, Kate, et al. “OFSTED Revisited: How to Make the Best Use of Prior Experience.” Teaching Geography, vol. 22, no. 4, 1997, pp. 170–172. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/23755750. Accessed 16 Jan. 2021.

Written with Jeremy Krause.

Updated February 2021

A really interesting article that Roger wrote for Primary Geography.

Thanks to Simon Catling for the image from his archive.

The photo at the top of the blog post is courtesy of Kate Russell, via Jeremy Krause, and was taken at Roger's retirement do from his Staffordshire Advisory service job.

Updated March 2021

While doing some preparation for some CPD for Primary colleagues, I noticed that Tessa Willy's 

Primary Handbook published by the GA called 'Leading Primary Geography' is dedicated to Roger.

A memory from Jeremy Krause

At the start of his GA Presidential Address in 1999, Roger Carter looked around the packed lecture theatre and said, ‘There’s a lot of you… I’m used to seeing you in small groups in pubs and meeting rooms.’ We were those in small groups and as individuals who gained so much from being with Roger. This wasn’t a random action, it was central to Roger’s being. It’s best summed up by a quote from the ‘Geovisions’ project, in which he played such an important part, used in the conclusion of his Address.

‘We need: A renewed emphasis on the professionalism of teachers. We need fewer voices telling us what to do and how to do it. Equally, we must reassert our own professional responsibility.’ 

Roger’s impact on us as individuals was best expressed in his son Alan’s eulogy where he referred to messages from former colleagues, ’ Dad was an inspiration to them, or gave them the start which defined their subsequent career, or helped them at a difficult time. ‘ I am proud to say I was one of those who Roger valued and supported. 

1996: GA News

1996 saw consultation on GCSEs and 'A' levels. An important time for many teachers as this would determine topics and approaches for some years to come. This important policy work, and responses to consultations has been a feature of the GA's work as well, with generations of GA Presidents being involved in collating responses to educational change. This is another reason to be a member of the GA: so that your voice can be heard, and viewpoints taken into account.

1986: GA News appears

In the summer of 2019, I went to Solly Street, and had a look through two large lever arch files containing the print copies of early issues of GA News. This is now published as a PDF.

Issue 1 was published in 1986.

This was on thin paper, and type-written, with the title Geography Newsletter.
By Issue 3, it was published on thicker more glossy paper and was not typeset. It ran to four pages, and had the addition of illustrations.

The editor by now was Michael Morrish, GA President in his time (in 1995).

By the early 90s, the editorship passed to Bob Leake from Beauchamp College, Oadby, Leicestershire.

In 1995, the design changed again, and had a globe masthead with GA News across the top.
This was edited by Dave Rendell from Darlingon, and the design was now being done by Bryan Ledgard and Fran Royle.

In October 1998, the Editorship moved to Emma Till from Petersfield in Hampshire, and from there to several other editors in time.

I started contributing to the newsletter in 2005 and writing the Webwatch column.

Some images from past issues will be shared in due course as we get closer to the present day.

1990-1: The Presidential hand over...

Not yet a part of the official progress through the Presidential journey, in the same way as the Olympic Nations pass on the flag at the end of each Olympiad to the country that is going to succeed them as host.

Thanks to Eleanor Rawling for the scan of the GA News showing the change over between Bryan Coates and herself.

This took place in the unusual surroundings of the cobbles of Coronation Street during a GA fieldtrip. Also a mention for Russell Chapman - conference organiser, and the National Curriculum debate.

ER and BC at 1991 GA Conference by GeoBlogs on Scribd

GA News - the first edition

The first edition of the 'proper' GA News with Mike Morrish as the editor. 

Thanks to Eleanor Rawling for passing this through. First of all, there's a mock up, which was put together to show how it might look.

And then an image of the actual document, complete with the relevant story at the time relating to government-related policy work and the debate over Keith Joseph's speech at the GA Conference which has been the subject of other posts.

Images: Eleanor Rawling

Geography Newsletter

The first issue of the Geography Newsletter (which turned out into GA News), was typewritten and with a red heading, and was published from 343 Fulwood Road in February 1978, with an editorial by Tom Randle.

This came out at intervals for some years afterwards.
Tom Randle was also mentioned in a letter from a Past President loaned to me by Chris Kington.

Updates of GA activities were included along with other news.

Here's the first issue.

"By gum it was hard work"

GA News - Issue 26 - January 1992

When I went through all copies of the GA News, I came across some interesting stories. I liked this one, which described how Stella Rowley passed her Geography 'A' level at the age of 71.

This was presented by Eleanor Rawling, the President of the GA at the time.

Geographers are useful people to know

Ashley Kent
GA News No. 10 - January 1988

This was the year when I started teaching.

When I went through the issues of GA News which are held at Solly St, I came across a number of useful items.

Interesting to see that in 1988 a Working Group was set up to improve the image and raise awareness of geography for pupils, parents, employers and others...

The result of these efforts will appear in a future post as I have a copy...