Hans Rosling - 2009

The 2009 Conference will be memorable to many for the appearance of Hans Rosling as our keynote speaker. 

He had a very large audience of course, and kept them spellbound.


I didn't get a photo taken with Hans, but got the chance to meet him and thank him for his work. As we work on plans for conference in 2022, it would be nice to think we might be able to attract someone with similar global recognition.

David R Wright

Not a GA President, but someone bound up with the work of the Association in many ways is David R Wright. He produced a series of best selling map books and atlases, and also worked as a PGCE tutor at the University of East Anglia, which was where I first met him in the early 90s. As you can see from the article below, he was also another geographer associated with St Catharine' College (and always remember to spell that with an 'a' by the way...) and to have Gus Caesar as a tutor. Gus was very much connected with a whole range of former GA Presidents including Margaret Roberts.



He contributed to a range of GA publications and articles, always on the theme of mapping.

The last time I saw David was at the Royal Geographical Society in 2008. He was receiving an award, as was I. He was unwell at the time, and sadly died the year after.

The following text and the accompanying image are copyright RGS-IBG

David Wright, who died on 20 November 2009 after a battle with cancer, was a geographer and author whose work inspired children around the world.

David graduated from Cambridge University and then trained as a teacher, undertaking an MA in Geography in Education from London University, Institute of Education. He taught in Stevenage and Pittsburgh before moving to Norfolk in 1969 as a lecturer in Geography at Keswick Hall College of Education, which was later merged with the University of East Anglia, where he worked for 12 years. He took early retirement in 1994 to further his research and writing, becoming a self-employed author, school inspector, adviser and consultant.

Throughout his career David was a champion of the use of equal area maps in teaching and in publications of all types and his (W)Right World Map was launched in 2007. He also advocated the use of stamps in engaging young people with an interest in places and examples of a virtual journey using stamps can be found on Discovering the Arctic 

I have this pencilled in for an activity in my new KS2 Schemes which I am developing with colleagues in a unit called 66 North.

Throughout his career David’s concern has been to stimulate children’s interest in the world by creating pupil-orientated approaches to teaching geography and innovative ways of linking geography, environmental and sustainable development education, all rooted in his experiences of many different parts of the world.

David was a past chairman and president of the Norfolk branch of the Geographical Association and his contribution to geographical education was acknowledged in 2007 when he was awarded the accreditation of ‘Chartered Geographer’ by RGS-IBG. In 2008 he was awarded the ‘Ness Award’ by RGS-IBG for his work championing the wider understanding and popularisation of geography through his work with children.

David's obituary on behalf of the Geographical Association was written by Margaret Roberts and published in 'Geography'. It has often been the job of GA Presidents to have that sad duty.

David also wrote a book in the GA-published series 'Theory into Practice'.

It was called 'Maps with Latitude'

Reference
https://www.geog.cam.ac.uk/alumni/landmark/1/landmark1.pdf - p10

Obituary: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00167487.2010.12094301

RGS-IBG Obituary: https://www.rgs.org/geography/news/david-wright-(1939-2009)/

As always, if anyone has memories of David please get in touch, or add a comment. Many people will have used his work and books I am sure.

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.

Karl Donert

Another person with a long association with the GA is Karl Donert, who worked at Liverpool Hope University for some time.

Here is an interview of Karl by the legendary Joseph Kerski.

He has presented numerous times at the GA Conference, and was also involved in other GA activity over the years.

Karl also wrote books with former GA President Bill Chambers who worked with him at the same university. These were mentioned in Chris Kington's Presidential lecture.

He has been the President of EuroGeo for many years, until recently and worked on numerous projects which have seen him cross-cross Europe for over a decade before the last year's hiatus in his peripatetic lifestyle.

He has worked on a great many ERASMUS projects with me, including some where the GA or GA personnel were involved. These include the I-USE project, which I was involved with for several years, along with John Lyon and Iain Palot.

Another project which is ongoing and included Professor David Lambert, Duncan Hawley and myself amonst others was the 2nd phase of the GeoCapabilities project, which explored ideas around powerful knowledge.

Karl has done a great deal to inform my own practice and provide me with professional opportunities which have enriched me in many ways, and I am very grateful to him for support over the last decade in particular.

Image: Karl walking on the frozen Wothersee in Klagenfurt - image by Alan Parkinson, shared under CC license.

As always, memories of working with Karl welcome.

2010: Dr John Hopkin

Updated July 2023

John Hopkin has served in many different roles with the GA over the years, and is still working on projects with the GA and offering his skills in the service of the Association.

His main career has been based in Birmingham, where he worked as teacher, then as an  advisory teacher amd advisor. He then worked at the GA as Head of Accreditation, and particularly involved in the work of the Global Learning Programme as well, coordinating the GA's involvement with that project and working to develop CPD in critical thinking.

As an author, he has been involved in the writing and editing of  numerous geography publications for schools, dating back over 30 years, which include some of the GYSL books (pictured), alongside another former GA President John Westaway together with more academic publications including with David Lambert.

He has continued to be associated with the GA in many different ways, and even now he has been working on some new online student materials for the GEO project, coordinating some of the content for that new website. Take a look if you haven't already.

The following information was provided by John himself via the Google Form which I set up for more recent Presidents.

John was born in 1954, in Penarth, Glamorgan, and went to school in Bristol before attending the University of Wales (Swansea), then Birmingham.

He started out as a Teacher before moving to Local Authority Advisor, and then worked on the GA staff (possibly uniquely for a President). He has worked as a textbook author since 1986. When he became GA President he was working as a School Improvement advisor in Birmingham. He sent me several images, including one here taken at Solly Street before the view towards the hills was blocked by student accommodation.

His conference theme was Progress in Geography. This was part of a strategic pushback by the Association (in partnership with David Lambert) in favour of subjects at a time when they seemed under threat. John also wanted to argue for a dynamic subject, particularly in the way we represented the rest of the world. 

See the earlier post on the official opening of Solly Street during John's Presidency.

I asked John why the GA mattered to him:

"I first got involved in a short-lived geography and science working group around 1987-88 in the run-up to the first National Curriculum. I then joined the Assessment and Examinations Working Group (AEWG), eventually becoming chair. John still serves on the AEWG Committee to this day. I then chaired Education Committee before becoming President. 

A fairly well-worn route to the presidency, though I didn't see it at the time."

"I think we had a successful year with close strategic working with the CE. I think presidents following personal enthusiasms for their year is probably a good thing - but there also need to be a fair proportion where the presidential year is also strategic for the association. I guess everyone remembers their lecture - I enjoyed preparing for it and giving it, though at the time it was a bit touch and go because the tech people at Guildford couldn't get the presentation to work on their equipment. So top tip - bring your own laptop as well. Also the keynote from Hans Rosling was fantastic - we were lucky to get him (thanks Lucy) and it was extremely well received."

It was a pleasure indeed to meet Hans and see that during my time working for the GA

Image copyright:Bryan Ledgard and the GA (from Flickr account)

The most recent GA project that John has been involved with is our new 11-14 textbook with teacher materials. He was one of the editors. The textbook is excellent.

References

Presidential Address, 2011

Hopkin, John. “Progress in Geography.” Geography, vol. 96, no. 3, 2011, pp. 116–123. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/41320394. Accessed 8 May 2021.

https://www.geography.org.uk/write/MediaUploads/Teacher%20education/GA_ITE_TTIS_Readingaboutwhatisaneducatedperson.pdf

Report on the Global Learning Project - written by John

Download as a PDF on this link:

 https://www.geography.org.uk/write/MediaUploads/Projects/GA_Global_Learning_Report_2018.pdf

Hopkin, J. and Owens, P. (2016) ‘Critical thinking in geography’ Primary Geography, 91, 3 p. 23 https://www.geography.org.uk/Journal-Issue/e0bf0aca-54c6-4081-9603-9a5ded38a2ac

Critical Thinking project website

http://www.geography.org.uk/critical-thinking

Practice Guide: this is a very valuable document and well worth downloading.

https://www.geography.org.uk/write/MediaUploads/Projects/Critical_thinking_in_practice.pdf

Hopkin, John. “Sampling the World.” Teaching Geography, vol. 36, no. 3, 2011, pp. 96–97. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/23755596. Accessed 4 May 2021.Copy

Update July 2023

John was recently announced as the GA's new Honorary Treasurer. He will take over from Bob Digby, who held the role for six years following the retirement of Brian Ellis from the role. Thanks to John for stepping in to this important role in the governance of the association. 

John will start his role in September 2023.

Professor Peter Jackson on the GA Podcast

Professor Peter Jackson was one of 'whispering' John Lyon's guests for podcasting. He talks about food security in the discussion. Peter serves on the GA's Governing Body, and is also one of the GA's Honorary Vice Presidents.

2010: Solly Street - official opening

The GA has been based at Solly Street since 1997, when it moved into the premises and had an official opening by Wendy Morgan (GA President of the time)

In 2010, it purchased Solly Street, as this made financial sense compared with continuing to rent.

I was working for the GA during this time, and as staff we were all invited to the official opening on the 5th of November, where we were joined by many former GA Presidents.

By now, regular readers of the blog should be able to identify most of these people.

We were visited by David Blunkett, MP, Clive Betts MP and Meg Munn, MP, along with Alan Law, the Lord Mayor of Sheffield. Rita Gardner: the Director of the Royal Geographical Society was also in attendance.
The office space was cleared as people arrived from mid afternoon and had coffee and biscuits and took the chance to catch up with friends and colleagues. There was a formal presentation and speeches, followed by canapes and wine.

Plenty of names familiar from the spines of books in my office, or in piles in cupboards when I was teaching.

As always Bryan Ledgard took the official images of the opening. I managed to avoid being on any it seems. I was lurking by the door.

Image copyright: Bryan Ledgard / Geographical Association

Rex Walford classics

Thanks to Angus Willson for sending me some old classics from Rex Walford from 1986.

These 2 simulation games are related... time to bring them up to date perhaps? Rewrite one as Cornish Fisherfolk and add in some Brexit woes?

Jim Knight

In 2008, Jim Knight, who was a Minister for Education attended the GA Conference as part of an association with the GA which was developed as part of the Action Plan for Geography. There are several other occasions when politicians have been connected with GA activity, as part of the GA's policy work. He attended John Westaway's Presidential conference. We have also had Justine Greening doing a video session (a taste of things to come), and David Blunkett attended the official opening of Solly Street.

Image copyright: Bryan Ledgard / Geographical Association

Solly Street - 2009

Pictures of GA Staff at work in 2009 by Wendy North.

It's amazing what the small team at GA HQ can achieve. There have been changing numbers and roles over the years, and movement from volunteer to paid staff as well, but they always punch well above their weight, and thanks go from all Presidents to the team at Solly Street.

Top image:

Front to back: Nicola Donkin, Lucy Oxley, Anne Greaves

Bottom image, left to right: Dorcas Brown, Fran Royle, Ruth Totterdell, Ben Major.

Update

Ben moved on from the GA to do his Masters at the IoE, and then on to do a PhD

Benjamin Major is on the ESRC 1+3 scheme and has just started his PhD in Geography Education Research at the Institute of Education having already completed his MRes there this year. Ben has an interest in the topics of knowledge and curriculum, and particularly in looking at these from a social or critical realist perspective. 

2009: John Halocha

Last updated August 2023 with some sad news - see at the end of the post.

Also updated September 2023

Margaret Roberts introduced the GA President for 2009-10 in 2008 at a Governing Body meeting, which was published in 'Geography' and later at the AGM at the Conference in 2009

"Mrs Roberts said that she first met Mr Halocha on a cliff near Exeter, at a GTE Conference. 
His qualities of enthusiasm, commitment and ability to get really involved would ensure that he would be a good GA President. 
His career had included teaching geography at the King’s Grammar School, Peterborough and deputy headships in two schools. 

He decided that a move into ITT would give him greater opportunity for influencing geography education. He began his career in teacher education at Westminster College Oxford, before moving to the School of Education at the University of Durham and then to his present post as Reader in Geography Education and Head of Geography at Bishop Grosseteste University College Lincoln."

From John's Chartered Geographer biography:

John has a BEd in Geography from University of Cambridge and an MA in Education from Open University. John has published 2 sole authored books, 9 book chapters, 16 journal articles and 25 conference papers. John uses ICT to develop geographical understanding and pupil’s awareness of the wider world. He has published research that has been used to develop policy at the QCA and has worked with the TTA to prepare teaching materials for the national curriculum.

 
Here's John in 2009, when he came up to the Scottish Association of Geography Teachers to help out on the stand and give the fraternal greetings that has become part of the SAGT conference before the keynote speaker, when it was held in Edinburgh. This was one of a number of events we worked on together as I was working for the GA at the time.

John has written a number of books on geographical education and primary education, as well as numerous other chapters in books, journal articles and teaching materials which are all very helpful for teachers.

He was Honorary Secretary to the British Subcommittee of the International Geographical Union Commission on Geographical Education for some time as well.

I also spent an entertaining day with John at an event just north of Lincoln, where we were manning a stand at an event which was all around the green agenda, and talking to delegates about the support for primary geographers. We had an entertaining day, and I've also done sessions at the university as well.

John wrote this guide: the Primary Teacher's Guide to Geography amongst other contributions to helping primary colleagues see the potential of geography.

He was also a great supporter of the Charney Manor Primary Conference.

John's Presidential Lecture was called 'Primarily Geography, and, like his career was particularly focussed on this stage of geography education and the support that the GA provides for Primary colleagues - which now includes a free Primary membership offer for those who may be unaware of that.

Image: Wendy North - via Flickr

Another official image, taken by Bryan Ledgard at the same conference can be seen below, as John prepared to give his Presidential lecture.

As mentioned earlier, John was latterly Reader in Geography at Bishops Grosseteste University College, which is in Lincoln, and somewhere I used to drive past on my way to various events back in the day. This is somewhere that Nick Gee, who I used to work with when he was PGCE tutor at UEA moved to.


Images copyright: Bryan Ledgard / Geographical Association unless otherwise stated...

John was active in many GA committees for many years, and was around a lot during my own time working at Solly Street and involved in many meetings and other activities. He would often pop in to have a chat on his visits, and also pop in to events and other meetings we may have been having at the time.

He was active at Bishops Grosseteste University for many years, before retiring to the north of England with his wife Vanessa, where he reduced his involvement with the GA having done so much.

References

Books

'The Primary Teacher's Guide to Geography' - Scholastic, 2012

"Coordinating geography across the Primary School' - The Falmer Press, 1998

Research on ResearchGate:

https://www.researchgate.net/scientific-contributions/John-Halocha-2034886050

Student teachers' perceptions of geographical enquiry: a research paper - 

https://www.geography.org.uk/write/mediauploads/research%20library/ga_eypprractionresearch6halocha.pdf

Margaret Roberts' introduction: https://www.geography.org.uk/download/ga_auagmminutes09.pdf

Presentation on the 'Primary Geographer' magazine, and its covers and contents:

https://igu-cge-uk.webs.com/Forum%20ppts/John%20halocha.pdf

Image of SAGT Conference - Alan Parkinson

As always, memories of John Halocha, his time as President and his support of Primary geography are always welcome, as well as any corrections to the information here.

Updated August 2023

Some sad news received in the 2nd week of August.

John passed away at home on the 10th of August.

The EY and Primary geography community are sad to announce the passing of our great friend, and
2010 @The_GA President, John Halocha.

Our thoughts and prayers are with @VHalocha, his family and friends.https://t.co/pVAluZLp9z pic.twitter.com/ULeBCJYxkK

— Geography Primary / Early Years Committee @The_GA (@EYPPC_GA) August 16, 2023

Condolences to John's family, friends and former colleagues. All memories welcome.

We were so sad news to hear the news of John Halocha . He was such a valued member of the @ManorCharney community making vital contributions to geography research over the years and as a kind mentor to many. Thinking of @VHalocha and the family at this time. https://t.co/XiOlMIEOFJ

— Charney Manor Primary Geography Research (@ManorCharney) August 16, 2023

Updated September 2023

From the GA Magazine's Autumn 2023 issue. 

Publications

A couple of GA publications from around 20 years ago...

2007 Conference Workshop

 

What has been your favourite conference workshop or lecture that you've attended?

Brian Ellis

Updated July 2022

Brian Ellis has been a great supporter of the GA for many years and held a number of important positions on the Governing Body and in other areas including being part of the Governing Body and acting as a Trustee for many years.

He has been the Honorary Treasurer, a very important role (currently carried out by Bob Digby) for many years, and this role in itself is extremely important to the everyday working of the GA.

He has attended a great many GA Conferences, and been supportive of the GA in many different ways as well.

He has been a member of the GA for a remarkable 65 years.

I am currently involved in a project which has financial support from Brian. Details of this important new offering from the GA will be appearing on the GA website shortly and in the GA Magazine, and also on this blog, as it draws in contributions and involvement from other former Presidents as well.

The project is called A Geographers' Gaze.

Image: Brian (left) with John Halocha (former GA President) on the right in ManchesterCopyright: Bryan Ledgard / Geographical Association

GA Conference - the team

For many years, the GA conference was organised by Lucy Oxley, and during the period of time that I worked for the GA the delegates were welcomed by a team of people including Anne Greaves (website manager), Anna Grandfield (who has worked on many of the GA's publications and journals) and Dorcas Turner (who also works on the journals) along with other people who worked for the GA for a short period of time such as Nicola Donkin and others who have been employed for much longer including Sue Clarke.

Most, if not all, members of the Solly Street staff will at some stage have helped out with the conference, and other events: erecting and manning the GA and other stands, working on reception or other jobs...

The team from about 10 years ago

The team from 2018 and the 125th Anniversary year conference

Image copyright: Bryan Ledgard / Geographical Association

When was your first GA Conference? 

Let us know in a comment - mine was 2004 and the University of Canterbury.