Following Rex Walford and other giants

on

When I became President of the Geographical Association, I researched all the previous Presidents of the GA and the wider working of the GA. The blog is here.

A Routes journal I wrote about the research is also here.

The wonderful Rex Walford, who was GA President in 1983 was also the first Vice President: Education of the RGS. 

I feel honoured to have followed in his footsteps as GA President, and equally honoured that he also held my new RGS role - he was in fact the first person to hold it.

Read all about him here on the blog.

Rex was the first Vice President (Education) from 1996 to 1999, simultaneously chairing the Society's Education Committee. 

He was also among the first small group of holders of Chartered Geographer status from 2002. I became a CGeog (Teacher) in 2007.

Rex received the Society's Back Award in 1990 for his contribution to geographical education. 

He received an OBE in the New Years' Honours List of 2000 for ‘contributions to geographical scholarship’.

Rex was very involved in his time as Vice President with the Society's strategic development. He worked closely with a small group of Fellows to form the Society's first strategy document in 1996–7 and was influential in shaping its education focus at the time.

He was involved in the appointment of the Society's first Education Officer in 1999. Judith Mansell will be mentioned later on the blog, as will Steve Brace.

He was a key part of an active Executive Committee and it is from his contribution that the Society's education work has developed its current modern form.

Rex was a significant player in many aspects of the Society's work. He was a keen supporter of well considered change. He had a belief in the Society moving into new areas. He strongly supported the changes that the current Director, Dr Rita Gardner, has led to make the Society much more relevant for those working in school geography. Dr Gardner states that ‘without his enthusiasm and belief in the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) and its education role, I think the development of that area would have been a longer process’.

This was from Chris Kington, in an IGU document which featured some memories of Rex. It refers to his work with the GA, RGS and COBRIG (whose meetings are held at the RGS)



Rex tragically died in a boating accident in 2011 while I was working at the Geographical Association HQ. I blogged about the news at the time.

The last time I'd seen Rex was at the Geography Teacher Educator's conference which was held at Madingley Hall. He had brought his papers and notes and memorabilia from these influential meetings held at Madingley which changed the shape of school geography - including the geography I was taught at 'A' level in particular which had lots of activities exploring networks and quantitative work. A service of thanksgiving for his life was conducted at Ely Cathedral on 16 February 2011 - the cathedral was full with over 1000 people from a wide range of different areas - all of whose lives had been touched by Rex in som way, and for many different reasons.

The RGS now offers an annual Rex Walford Award as part of their Young Geographer of the Year competition. This is aimed at new teachers.

The Rex Walford Lecture is also a major part of the GA Conference every year, and a prestigious thing to be asked to present. The GA also awards a Rex Walford Geography Student Teacher Award which is "for inspirational and innovative practice for those undertaking primary or secondary geography initial teacher education."

This year's award went to Anna Freidenfeld for work making use of Gemma Sou's Graphic based research publication: 'Everyday Stories of Climate Change'.  See our GA Conference Presentation here.

It is important to me that I do justice to my forthcoming role and ensure that I "channel my inner Rex..." 

I was also delighted to receive these best wishes from the wonderful Norman Graves when he saw that the news on LinkedIn. Norman was GA President back in 1978, and was awarded the Victoria Medal of the RGS in 1993.


Norman was closely associated with the IGU of course.

I've also previously Mel Norman, who I shall be taking over from next week. She did a great deal in her time on Council, and I would hope to continue some of the work she set in progress.
Andrew Linnell has also held the role of Vice President Education, as I believe did Barnaby Lenon.

Another legendary geographer and former GA President: Alice Garnett (who helped to secure the future of the Association as much as anyone did) was Vice President of the RGS (not just in Education) in 1969-1971 and also President of the Institute of British Geographers in 1966, as well as becoming the first female GA President in 1968.

If we take the wider role of Vice President, then we also draw in many other GA Presidents and people of note, back to Sir Halford MacKinder in the 1930s.

More to come on this as I continue my research and delving into various papers and documents and chat to people about the role I am going to be taking on.

Source:

Updates

Updated 8th June 2024

I discovered from a Society News from 1979, that another former GA President (and author of a Centenary book about the GA): W. V. G. Balchin was also a Vice President of the RGS.

“The Society’s News.” The Geographical Journal, vol. 145, no. 3, 1979, pp. 515–19. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/633265. Accessed 8 June 2024.




Comments

Post a Comment