Regional Studies Association

In early 2024, Alan Kinder left the Geographical Association to become the Chief Executive of the Regional Studies Association.

While researching a few GA Presidents I came across some connections between the GA and the RSA.

This document was produced for their 50th Anniversary in 2015. (PDF download)

There are some familiar names.

It was no surprise to see Dudley Stamp mentioned there, or Patrick Abercrombie.

In the entry on Michael Wise:

He was also the founding President of the Transport Studies Society and for ten years (1973–1984) chaired the Executive Committee of the Association of Agriculture and, although he held no office, he was much involved, as his unpublished 1992 paper shows, in the negotiations that led to the establishment of the Regional Studies Association.

"A British Group of the organisation was later formed with membership including influential figures such as Sir Patrick Abercrombie, Sir Dudley Stamp, Otto Koenigberger, Percy Johnson-Marshall, Robert Gardner-Medwin and Robert Grieve. The British Group’s underlying principles originated from the work of C.B. Fawcett and  Patrick Geddes in employing empirical approaches to regional planning and physical development, and contrasted with the quantitative methods and theories being developed and promoted through regional science. The older generation in this group had been trained in the tradition of the arts and crafts movement."

Dudley Stamp - a memorial Volume #2

A second post on the Memorial volume for Dudley Stamp, published by the IBG in 1968.

A final chapter was provided by former GA President Michael Wise.

In it he references the impact that Dudley Stamp on School Geography, including the mention in the TES at the top of this piece in 1955.

It also references the GA and their role in supporting the production of textbooks to set out an 'ideal syllabus'. The influence of the topics chosen back then persist even now. I may have to go back to that AGM to find out more.

There is also reference to Geographical Publications Ltd. set up by Stamp.

New blog from Thalina Chowdhury

It's #SouthAsianHeritageMonth & @The_GA is delighted that #geographyteacher @MissTC19 has blogged about the SAHM's importance for geography. Her blog inc videos from pupils about this work. Thalina is Trust Lead Practitioner of Geography @COREeducate https://t.co/sccoW8Ax3q

— Steve Brace (@SteveBraceGeog) July 20, 2024

A really useful blog from Thalina Chowdhury. Always look to celebrate the culture within and beyond the school community.

Michael Chisholm - RIP

St. Catharine's College, Cambridge has close connections with a great many prominent geographers, former GA Presidents amongst them.

We heard earlier of the passing of another former lecturer and Fellow Michael Chisholm.

We were sad to learn that Emeritus Fellow Prof. Michael Chisholm FBA (1951, #Geography; Fellow 1976–96), Emeritus Professor @CamUniGeography, died at home in Cambridge on 9 July. Our flag is at half-mast today in his memory: https://t.co/wb15zUqS3q @RGS_IBG pic.twitter.com/GgWHBfrqjq

— St Catharine's College (@Catz_Cambridge) July 16, 2024

Professor Chisholm was admitted to St Catharine’s to read Geography as an undergraduate in 1951. He went on to make fundamental contributions to economic geography and its translation into public policy, including serving on several government commissions. He returned as a Professorial Fellow in 1976, following his election to the 1931 Chair of Geography at the University of Cambridge in 1975. On his retirement in 1996, he became an Emeritus Fellow and turned his attention to advancing our understanding of the drainage and navigation of the Fens throughout history.

Dudley Stamp - a memorial volume #1

Another discovery while following a few leads.

It's a memorial volume to Professor Dudley Stamp.

Can be borrowed from the Internet Archive.

Image: Dudley and Elsa Stamp

It was published in 1968 by the Institute of British Geographers.

The contents are a Who's Who of prominent geographers at the time, 

The first section of the book was written by another former GA President: Robert Ogilvie Buchanan.

He talks about his first encounter with Dudley Stamp.

It talks about his time at the Geographical Association:

More to come in future posts.

1921: Halford Mackinder

I've been doing some reading to prepare for some work in my new role as VP: Education of the Royal Geographical Society.

I came across a speech by Halford MacKinder, delivered in the famous Map Room in 1921.

I was intrigued at the description of the GA as 'the dutiful daughter' of the RGS, asking for 'maternal help'.

This came at a time when the discipline was strong in universities, but not so much in schools.

This led to a report by John Scott Keltie.

I was interested that MacKinder was caned at school for drawing maps.... see below...

"About this time a step had been taken the significance of which was not at first recognized. Mr. Dickinson of Rugby had been using lantern slides in his classroom, and wanted to organize a system of exchanging slides between school and school. 

The Royal Geographical Society referred him to me, and at my invitation the first meeting of the Geographical Association was held at Christ Church, Oxford. Herbertson soon became Secretary of the Association, which under his auspices flourished, and began to publish a journal, the Geographical Teacher."

Source: Mackinder, Halford. “Geography as a Pivotal Subject in Education.” The Geographical Journal, vol. 57, no. 5, 1921, pp. 376–84. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/1780845. Accessed 11 July 2024.

GA Conference 1982

I recently had a query about the GA Conference in 1982.

From this description, it seems that due to the LSE being unavailable for the usual period of time (?) the sessions were divided between the LSE and the RGS. It was remembered by a few people in my network, who attended the event.

Here was the report from Conference Officer Barrie Morgan, published in 'Geography'

Annual Conference (Officer: Dr. Barrie S. Morgan)

The Annual Conference was held from 14th- 16th April around the theme "Focus on Europe". This was a new-style Conference since the sessions at LSE were confined to two days, preceded by a late-afternoon and evening session at the RGS. The success of these and attendant innovations were assessed in the report.

Source

Coates, Bryan E., et al. “Annual Report of the Geographical Association 1982.” Geography, vol. 68, no. 2, 1983, pp. 154–61. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/40570663. Accessed 9 June 2024.

More to come on this...

Discount for GA members on GIS courses run by the RGS

A new GA member benefit. Another example of some closer working between the GA and the RGS.

There is now an opportunity for GA members to get a discount on GIS courses which are run by the Royal Geographical Society / ESRI UK.

If you ask many teachers what they want training in, they often say either fieldwork / NEAs or GIS. This has been the case for quite some time now. It's also important to say that the GIS skills acquired need to be introduced to students in a co-ordinated way, with progression from the Early Years up to 'A' level (and beyond). 

With that in mind, here are some forthcoming courses that you might want to explore. Perhaps get them booked in before the end of the academic year if you have a little bit of money left in your departmental budget.

One course is actually taking place today in Coventry. 

If you have a group of schools and would like to host an event, please get in touch with the Education team at the RGS-IBG. This is particularly the case if you are not in London - the team is always happy to travel for a suitable group of teachers.

25th September 2024 - London - Kensington - Digimap for Schools

8th October 2024 - London - Kensington - Getting Started with ArcGIS

9th October 2024 - London - Kensington - Going further with ArcGIS

24th October 2024 - University of Leeds - Getting started with ArcGIS

7th November - Exeter School - Going further with ArcGIS

Dates for 2025 will be released later in the year.

These courses are also accredited as counting towards the time evidence and allocation for those who are Chartered Geographers, or are thinking of applying to be a Chartered Geographer.

150 000 page views

This blog has been a labour of love and taken many hundreds (even thousands) of hours over the last five years that it has been taking shape. 

There are now well over 800 posts, and I've referenced hundreds of issues of GA journals and other books and have a fleshed out biography of over 100 GA Presidents.

We've now passed 150 000 page views - another small milestone to have passed. Thanks for your interest, and as always if you have any additional information on any previous (or present) GA President, please get in touch. I'm still always keen to receive pictures taken at previous GA Conferences.

The Geographer's Craft (1967) - Percy Maude Roxby

While researching something on the history of the RGS, I came across a book called 'The Geographer's Craft' by Emeritus Professor T.W. Freeman (of Manchester University) published in 1967.

It can be accessed via the Internet Archive site and borrowed if you have a free account.

One of the chapters focussed on two British Geographers, and one of them was Percy Maude Roxby.

It included the image opposite.

Roxby was GA President in 1933.

The chapter starts with a description of Roxby which is excellent - he had panache.

He was 6'5" tall and saw each lecture as a performance.

There is a reminder that he trained as a Historian originally. He was influenced by lectures by Herbertson and Mackinder, and also Linton Myres.

He became particularly interested in China, which became a preoccupation.

He was also interested in the geography of East Anglia.

He produced his own regionalisation of East Anglia.

According to Roxby, I live in an area he called High Norfolk (some of this is now called Breckland)

It is described by Roxby as having:

Mainly heavy and tenacious boulder clays, mixed arable farming, many commons.

He died suddenly in 1946, 2 years after retiring from his Chair at Liverpool University.

Cath White Memorial Lecture 2024

I am honoured to have been asked to give the Cath White Memorial Lecture for the GA Tyne and Wear Branch, which is based at Northumbria University or a local school at Tynemouth for most of its lectures - a place that Cath invited me to speak at several times when I was a little more mobile and active speaking at GA Branches.

Cath was involved with the University and active in so many ways and spheres. She is remembered fondly.

Here's the details of the lecture.

Title: 'Professional zest and pedagogical longevity: the importance of everyday geographies'.

Blurb:
Alan will explore the importance of everyday engagement with the discipline, and how his ongoing interest in technology, travel and photography have influenced his teaching and resource projects. Drawing on Michael Storm's notion of the importance of 'professional zest', he will explore what has kept him teaching for so long, and share some current work. This includes curriculum development, and textbook writing, so there will be plenty of interesting ideas and stories to take away, whether you are an educator, student or just curious about geography's potential for explaining our changing world.

Here's the poster advertising the event.

If you're in the area it would be lovely to see you.

If you're a teacher, please bring some students.

GA Fieldwork Survey

Take part in the GA's fieldwork survey ahead of the start of the National Fieldwork Festival tomorrow.

Primary & secondary #geographyteachers please share your views on #fieldwork by taking part in this survey.

Only 10 quick Qs & your answers which will help inform @The_GA work as part of #NationalFestivalofFieldwork

Look forward to your answers. https://t.co/rcvRS4mqM9

— Steve Brace (@SteveBraceGeog) May 29, 2024

Richard Dilley - RIP

Sad news about the passing of Richard Dilley, who was the oldest member of the Cambridge branch of the GA. I met him and Keith several times over the years, and we met by chance a number of times travelling to GA Conferences from Peterborough Train station with former GA President Keith Grimwade.

This piece is in the Summer 2024 issue of 'GA Magazine'.

Image copyright: Geographical Association

Memories of Denys Brunsden

A piece of writing that I put together with the memories of Professor Denys Brunsden from Andrew Goudie and Anjana Khatwa was published in the Summer 2024 issue of GA Magazine.

Join the GA to see the full issue, and subscribe to the three other GA journals.

Check out some free samples here.

Image copyright: Geographical Association

New role... new blog...

As you'll have perhaps seen from a post at the end of April, I'm going to be working as the Vice President: Education of the RGS from June. 

As with any major project that I get involved with, or new role, I've started a new blog. This will track my work over the coming years, and also publicise relevant RGS-IBG activity. 

When I started out on my GA Presidential journey,  I started a blog which now has over 850 posts on it, and includes a biography of every GA President to date as well as much more on the history of the Association and its activities.

No. 1 Kensington Gore is known as "the Home of Geography". 

I've taken that as the name for my new blog, as I'll be visiting more regularly than I have for a few years.

Lowther Lodge has been the home of the Royal Geographical Society for over 100 years. 

You can visit the new blog here. 

Please check back regularly over the months to come...