Showing posts with label Manchester. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Manchester. Show all posts
Sunday, 13 September 2026
Sunday, 24 November 2024
New GA Manchester Branch blog
The GA Manchester Branch has a new blog. I always like to see more people turning to blogging rather than TikTok and the like...
The branch is one of the oldest, and has previously been recognised by the GA for its importance. Manchester also regularly hosts the GA Conference. I've been privileged enough to speak at the branch in the past.
There's a useful calendar of future events and summaries of previous events.
Sunday, 28 February 2021
2002 Conference - thanks to Joseph Kerski
Another illustrated report shared by Joseph Kerski. This one was held at the University of Manchester - Jeremy Krause's conference as President.
Monday, 23 September 2019
The GA and the Second World War - an introduction
I came across an article by Rex Walford in 1993 called 'Mackinder, the GA in Wartime and the National Curriculum' which provided more details on the activities of the GA during the First World War and also the Second World War.
This also provided more information on Mackinder himself.
Fleure, in his 60th Anniversary look back also mentioned this period, which has also appeared in the biographies of Presidents from that time.
The start of the war saw a decline in membership, and branch activity ceased. "The shadow of war fell in 1939" according to Fleure.
One additional challenge for the GA during the Second World War was that membership dropped as teachers enrolled to fight in the various armed forces. Bombing in London meant that the conference moved out of the city of London too, away from the LSE.
The GA tried to hold its annual meetings and continue publishing the journals, although they were made shorter due to a lack of printing materials and capacity.
In an air raid on Manchester, in December 1940, the High School of Commerce was damaged by a huge fire, and the Library and Office were only saved from disaster, according to Fleure, "by the courage and devotion of a caretaker called Mr. Sim who brought the racing flames to a halt by keeping a hose at work for hours, while he was supposed to be away from duty".
T. C. Warrington was asked if he would like the Presidency in 1942 in recognition of his long and valuable services during the early period of the war. He was to hold the role for several years. The GA Conference was held in Exeter in 1942 as a consequence.
In the first post-war Annual Conference, there was a debate on the future of Geography, and the war was mentioned by A Austin Miller, who was to become President.
One development after the war was the arrival of the Secondary Modern School, as outlined by Boscow.
Reference
Walford, Rex: ' Mackinder, the GA in Wartime and the National Curriculum' (Geography, Vol 78, 1993)https://www.jstor.org/stable/40572493
Fleure, H. J (1953) https://www.jstor.org/stable/40564702
Boscow, H. “GEOGRAPHY IN THE SECONDARY MODERN SCHOOL.” Geography, vol. 32, no. 1, 1947, pp. 13–17. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40562541.
“GEOGRAPHICAL ASSOCIATION. Annual Conference Discussions on the Future for Geography.” Geography, vol. 30, no. 2, 1945, pp. 50–62. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40563427.
This also provided more information on Mackinder himself.
Fleure, in his 60th Anniversary look back also mentioned this period, which has also appeared in the biographies of Presidents from that time.
The start of the war saw a decline in membership, and branch activity ceased. "The shadow of war fell in 1939" according to Fleure.
One additional challenge for the GA during the Second World War was that membership dropped as teachers enrolled to fight in the various armed forces. Bombing in London meant that the conference moved out of the city of London too, away from the LSE.
The GA tried to hold its annual meetings and continue publishing the journals, although they were made shorter due to a lack of printing materials and capacity.
In an air raid on Manchester, in December 1940, the High School of Commerce was damaged by a huge fire, and the Library and Office were only saved from disaster, according to Fleure, "by the courage and devotion of a caretaker called Mr. Sim who brought the racing flames to a halt by keeping a hose at work for hours, while he was supposed to be away from duty".
T. C. Warrington was asked if he would like the Presidency in 1942 in recognition of his long and valuable services during the early period of the war. He was to hold the role for several years. The GA Conference was held in Exeter in 1942 as a consequence.
In the first post-war Annual Conference, there was a debate on the future of Geography, and the war was mentioned by A Austin Miller, who was to become President.
One development after the war was the arrival of the Secondary Modern School, as outlined by Boscow.
Reference
Walford, Rex: ' Mackinder, the GA in Wartime and the National Curriculum' (Geography, Vol 78, 1993)https://www.jstor.org/stable/40572493
Fleure, H. J (1953) https://www.jstor.org/stable/40564702
Boscow, H. “GEOGRAPHY IN THE SECONDARY MODERN SCHOOL.” Geography, vol. 32, no. 1, 1947, pp. 13–17. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40562541.
“GEOGRAPHICAL ASSOCIATION. Annual Conference Discussions on the Future for Geography.” Geography, vol. 30, no. 2, 1945, pp. 50–62. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40563427.
I'd love to know more about the GA during this period in history.
Monday, 12 August 2019
1930: Moving to Manchester
Updated October 2025
In 1930, Professor H J Fleure took up the newly-established Chair of Geography at the University of Manchester and the GA moved with him.
This meant finding a new place for the 4000 volumes that were now in the Association's Library, along with the Assistant Secretary who ran it and dealt with correspondence.
The Chief Education Officer in Manchester, Spurley Hey generously gave the GA free office and library accommodation in the Manchester High School of Commerce, which was gratefully accepted. Miss R M Fleming wanted to stay in Aberystwyth, and was replaced by Miss M. E. Owen. She proved herself to be just as efficient and skilful in her work.
When this became unavailable, temporary accommodation was provided at 103 Princess Street, Manchester, close to where the GA currently has its conference every three years or so.
This was a challenging time for the Association, with economic recession, and less demand for specialist teachers.
Despite that, the library's new location and premises allowed it to become a reference library, and use of it increased steadily.
T. C. Warrington took over as Honorary Librarian after stepping down as Headteacher of Leek Grammar School.
The Chief Education Officer in Manchester, Spurley Hey generously gave the GA free office and library accommodation in the Manchester High School of Commerce, which was gratefully accepted. Miss R M Fleming wanted to stay in Aberystwyth, and was replaced by Miss M. E. Owen. She proved herself to be just as efficient and skilful in her work.
When this became unavailable, temporary accommodation was provided at 103 Princess Street, Manchester, close to where the GA currently has its conference every three years or so.
This was a challenging time for the Association, with economic recession, and less demand for specialist teachers.
Despite that, the library's new location and premises allowed it to become a reference library, and use of it increased steadily.
T. C. Warrington took over as Honorary Librarian after stepping down as Headteacher of Leek Grammar School.
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