Paul Ignotus (1901-1978) was a writer. He was born in Hungary but came to Britain in 1956 and lived here for the rest of his life.
David Mervyn Jones (29 Jul 1922-2009) was the son of John David Jones, a university lecturer, and Gladys Alicia Jones née Coombs. He attended the King Edward VII School in Sheffield between 1929 and 1939, where he passed Greek, French and History examinations with distinction and then studied at Trinity College, Cambridge, graduating in 1948, during which time he also completed national service. He was elected a Fellow of Exeter College, Oxford and St. Antony's College, Oxford as a Hungarian specialist and later went on to work for the Foreign Office.
In 1966 he published a volume of essays entitled 'Five Hungarian Writers'. One of the five subjects of the volume was Baron József Eötvös (1813-1871), who Jones described as 'Hungary's Democrat Baron' and in 1996 he translated Eötvös' major treatise 'The dominant ideas of the nineteenth century and their impact on the state'. In 2000 he was awarded the Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary.
Publications:
Jones, D Mervyn: Five Hungarian writers (Oxford: Clarendon , 1966).
Eötvös, József, 'The dominant ideas of the nineteenth century and their impact on the state; translated, edited and annotated with an introductory essay by D. Mervyn Jones. Volume 1, Diagnosis' (Distributed by Columbia University Press, 1996)
Eötvös, József, 'The dominant ideas of the nineteenth century and their impact on the state; translated, edited and annotated by D. Mervyn Jones. Volume. 2, 'Remedy'. (Distributed by Columbia University Press, 1996)
Stuart Edward Mann (1905-1986) undertook postgraduate study at Bristol University before going to Albania in 1929 where he taught English at a boys' high school in Tirana. He went on to become a lector at the Masaryk University of Brno, Czechoslovakia. Mann became reader in Czech and Albanian languages at SSEES and literature in 1947 and stayed there until 1972. He published a number of works mainly on Albanian, Czech and Indo-European linguistics.
The album in this collection depicts a British Miners' Delegation on a visit to the USSR hosted by Soviet miners that took place between August and Octber 1926. The delegation was led by the secretary of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain, A J Cook. The album was originally in the possession of H C Stevens, a translator who was part of the British Delegation. The timing of the visit is significant as 1926 was the year of the British General Strike in which miners played an important role. The General Strike itself began and ended in May but the miners began their strike in late April and did not return to work until November. Therefore this visit to the USSR was happening at a very crucial time in labour relations and one in which the issue of British trade union relations with the Soviet Union was very sensitive, particularly since there had been controversy relating to Soviet contributions to strike funds.
Prince Dmitry Petrovich Svyatopolk-Mirsky (1890-1939), literary critic and historian was born in Russia. He served in the Russian army during World War One, and in Denikin's Volunteer Army during the civil war. He emigrated to Britain in 1920. He was lecturer in Russian literature at SSEES from 1922 to 1932. In 1932 Mirsky joined the British Communist Party and in 1932 he returned to Russia. He was arrested in 1937 and died in a labour camp in 1939. Jane Ellen Harrison (1850-1928), whose obituary is part of this collection was an expert on ancient religions, teacher of Russian at Cambridge and a friend of Mirskys'.
Ref: Mirsky, D S & ed. Smith, G S "The letters of D.S. Mirsky to P.P. Suvchinskii, 1922-1931" (Birmingham, 1995)
Heinz Pannwitz (1911-?1981) (real name Paulsen) was born in Berlin. In 1940 he became criminal commissioner heading Department GII of the Prague Gestapo in German occupied Czechoslovakia. On 27 May 1942 an assassination attempt was made on the life of Reinhard Heydrich (1904-1942) which resulted in his death on 4 June. Heydrich was head of the Nazi security police and governor of Bohemia-Moravia. The assassins were intelligence agents sent by Czech military intelligence in exile in Britain, aided by the Special Operations Executive. Pannwitz was appointed head of a special commision to investigate the killing. His final report was submitted to Hitler and found its way to the archives of the Institute for Jewish Research, New York (YIVO). In 1959 Pannwitz wrote his account of the investigation found in this collection. He would have had to rely on his memory as few books had been published on the subject at that time.
Bernard Pares (1867-1949) visited Russia for the first time in 1898. On his return to Britain he began work as a university extension (adult education) lecturer at Liverpool University in 1902. It was at Liverpool in 1907 that he founded the first School of Russian Studies at a British university. Pares was a regular visitor to Russia in the pre First World War period. After the outbreak of World War One he was appointed British Military Observer to the Russian Army and remained at the front for most of 1915-1917. Pares returned to Russia in January 1919 with a commission from the British Government to give lectures in Siberia then held by the White Admiral Kolchak. After Kolchak's defeat he made his way back to Britain in October 1919. While the British Government awarded him a KBE, the new Soviet Government prevented him from returning to Russia until 1935.
Pares returned to his academic career, becoming Professor of Russian Languages, Literature and History at the School of Slavonic Studies (now SSEES) at Kings College in 1919, a post he held until 1939. He was also involved more generally in the development of the School and served as Director of SSEES 1922-1939. In 1922, with Robert Seton-Watson (qv.), professor of Central European history, Pares founded and edited "The Slavonic Review". During the Second World War, Pares along with Robert Seton-Watson, worked for the Government for a short time as Russian specialist for the Foreign Research and Press Service. He then worked for the Ministry of Information, touring Britain to give public talks about Russia, also giving lecture tours in the United States. Pares remained in the United States for the remainder of his life, he died in 1949. He married Margaret Ellis in 1901. They had five children but later separated.
Frank Gann Redwood (1896-?) was born in Gillingham, Kent. During World War One he served first in the Royal Naval Air Service and then in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, being with the Danube Flotilla in 1919. He was transferred to the British High Commission in Hungary in 1920 and continued in the Foreign Service there until 1941 when he was evacuated via the Soviet Union. He returned to Hungary in 1945 with the Inter-Allied Control Commission, leaving in 1948.
The School of Slavonic and East European Studies, University of London began life as the School of Slavonic Studies, Kings' College in 1915. In 1932 the School became a self governing department of the University of London. In the post Second World War period the School expanded.
Archibald Riddell Sinclair (1917-) was cultural attaché at the British Legation in Budapest, 1962-1963.
The Soiuzphoto agency was active in the Soviet Union in the 1920s and 1930s.
Harry C Stevens (1896-1972) was a translator of Russian and Polish literature and had a strong interest in the affairs of the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. During World War One he was a conscientious objector from military service on religious grounds and was imprisoned. From August 1919 to September 1924 he worked with the Polish, Russian and joint British and American Units of the Friends War Victims' Relief Committee on a number of aid projects based in Warsaw, Minsk, Buzuluk and Moscow. On his return to Britain Stevens wrote articles and lectured on his experiences. From 1929 to 1935 he was a research worker in England for the Marx-Engels Institute and in 1931 became manager of Atlas Film Company which was engaged in the commercial exploitation of Soviet silent films. He was also during this time a very active member of the Society for Cultural Relations with the USSR.
During the 1930s Stevens increasingly devoted more time to the translation of Russian and Polish literature and this remained his main occupation until 1953 when a decline in commissions led him to take a post as a clerk. From 1940-1945 however he worked for the Polish Ministry of Information (Government in exile in London) as an editor and translator.
Dragutin Subotic (1887-1952) and his brother Vojislav (?-1969) were born in Serbia. Dragutin Subotic was educated at the Universities of Belgrade and Munich. In 1916 he came to live in Britain as the result of World War One. From 1916 to 1919 he worked as a supervisor of Serbian students at Oxford University. In 1919 he was appointed lecturer in Serbo-Croat at SSEES (then the School of Slavonic Studies, King's College London) and remained in this post until his retirement in 1942. He also worked for the Yugoslav Legation as a cultural attaché.
Born Cairo 24 February 1932, schooled in Liverpool, and Jersey, attended Pembroke College, Oxford, reading modern languages, from 1950; 1953 he began BLitt research, degree completed 1957; 1955 first teaching post as Assistant Lecturer at Westfield College, advanced swiftly through each career grade to Chair in 1969, serving, much later (1986-1989), as Vice-Principal of Westfield College; 1990-1997 Research Professor, Queen Mary, University of London; 1997 retired, but held various Visiting Professorships and delivered lectures and conference papers internationally.
Married Ann Bracken in 1957. Published 40 books, written or edited, and almost 200 articles ranging through four centuries of medieval Hispanic literature. Died 19 September 2009.
Alan Wilson became Director of Music at Queen Mary in 1976. There is no formal music faculty here but instead a lively music tradition thrives, given as extra-mural activities by students and staff. At the heart of the musical life is the output of the Music Society, which presents thematic based concerts related to music studied in the semester, the most important event being the Christmas Concert. Much research is undertaken by Alan, including new discoveries and transcriptions along with frequent re-arranging of standard repertoire. Original works and commissions include The Palace of Delights (A Musical from 1984), The Harmony of the Spheres (An inter-faith cantata from 2001) and The Downs (A cantata from 2007 set to words by Constance Maynard, the First Principal of Westfield College). Alan regularly organises music for both the Graduation Ceremonies and the William Harvey Memorial Service, along with many other occasions that require music. A CD was produced in 2001 and further projects are in the pipeline.
Alan was a scholar at the Royal College of Music and the Amsterdam Conservatorium. He specialised in Early Music (as a pupil of Gustav Leonhardt) and composition. Before arrival at QMC he was tutor of early keyboard instruments at Goldsmiths College and conductor of several school choirs. Between 1973 and 1986, he was Director of Music at the London University Church of Christ the King, which inspired many choral compositions, and then in 1986 became Organist at St. Mary-le-Bow, City of London (the famous Bow Bells church), a post he still holds. As harpsichordist and continuo player, he has performed in many countries, and for many years was the keyboard player in the celebrated group The Consort of Musicke. As composer, he regularly receives commissions from the UK and abroad, many works now published. He frequently composes/arranges and directs music for the BBC, most notably Radio 4's Daily Service, and also acts as a liturgical advisor in the work of the Royal School of Church Music.
At the age of 14 Bernard Morris became an engineer apprentice at Merryweathers. During the Second World War he undertook fire watching on roofs and completed his apprenticeship in the Royal Navy, as an area Petty Officer. After the war he worked at Queen Mary College as a technician. He built the steam engine by hand between 1972 and 1974.
Eileen Brooke graduated from East London College in 1926 with a BSc in Maths, and in 1929 with a MSc in Mathematics. In 1952 completed a PHD. Carried out statistical analysis work for as Chief of Medical Statistics, Institut Universitaire de Medecine Sociale et Preventive, Lausanne, Switzerland (Corresponding Associate) and earlier in her career at the World Health Organisation.
Pioneer and supporter of public health orientation in mental health programmes. Co-author with G. C. Tooth of 'Trends in the mental hospital population and their effect on future planning', published in the Lancet in 1961, in which it was claimed that, as the result of statistical analyses of current trends, the future needs of beds in British mental hospitals would be halved. A paper which proved influential in shaping Government policy with regard to the future of mental hospitals.
Born, London, 1796; educated at Westminster School, 1808-1810, Edinburgh high school, 1810-1812; employed by William Hill, envoy to the court of Turin, 1814; made a runaway match with an heiress, Eliza Susan Pattle, 1816; secretary to the under-secretary of the legation, Turin; abducted a Cheshire heiress, 1826 and was jailed for three years; wrote a series of works on the theory of colonisation whilst in prison, including A Letter from Sydney, 1829; views supported by Robert Stephen Rintoul, who published Wakefield's opinions on colonial questions in the Spectator, and Lieutenant-colonel Robert Torrens; National Colonization Society founded, 1830; South Australian Association established to found a colony on Wakefield's principles, 1834; gave evidence to parliamentary committees on colonial affairs, 1836, 1837, 1840, 1844; formed the New Zealand Association, 1837, which attempted to establish a colony in New Zealand; colony in South Australia formed and constituted, 1838, although Wakefield was not directly involved; accompanied Lord Durham to Canada as an unofficial advisor after the suspension of the Canadian constitution, 1838, and influential in drawing up Durham's Report on the Affairs of British North America; New Zealand Land Company formed, and founded a colony in New Zealand, 1839; managed the affairs of the New Zealand Company in London; secret adviser to Sir Charles Theophilus Metcalfe on Canadian politics, 1843; resigned from the New Zealand Company, 1849; helped found Church of England settlement at Canterbury, New Zealand, 1849; formed the Colonial Reform Society with Charles Bowyer Adderley, 1850; lived in New Zealand, 1853-1862; advisor to the governor, 1853-1854; died, 1862.
Publications: Sketch of a Proposal for Colonising Australasia (J F Dove, London, 1829); A Letter from Sydney (London, 1829); A Statement of the principles and objects of a proposed National Society, for the cure and prevention of Pauperism, by means of systematic Colonization (London, 1830); Facts relating to the Punishment of Death in the Metropolis (London, 1831); Swing Unmasked, or the causes of Rural Incendiarism (London, 1831); The Hangman and the Judge (London, 1833); England and America (London, 1833); Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations Adam Smith edited by E G Wakefield (London, 1835-9); The British Colonization of New Zealand; being an account of the principles, objects and plans of the New Zealand Association (J W Parker, London, 1837); Popular Politics (London, 1837); A View of Sir Charles Metcalfe's Government of Canada (London, 1844); `Sir Charles Metcalfe in Canada,' in Fisher's Colonial Magazine (1844); A View of the Art of Colonization (London, 1849).
Born, Haydon Bridge, Northumberland, 1789; apprenticed to a Newcastle coach-painter, 1804; ran away after a dispute over wages; apprenticed to a Newcastle china-painter, Boniface Musso; moved to London and supported himself painting on china and glass whilst studying perspective and architecture; sent the Royal Academy his first pictures, 1812; became an opponent of the Royal Academy after becoming aggrieved over the hanging of his pictures in 1814 and 1816, but continued to contribute to their exhibitions; appointed historical painter to Princess Charlotte and Prince Leopold, 1817; exhibited at the British Institution, 1819-1821, including 'Belshazzar's Feast'; joined the Royal Society of British Artists on its foundation and exhibited there, 1824-1831,1837-1838; exhibited 'The Fall of Nineveh' at Brussels, 1833, bought by the Belgian government; elected a member of the Belgian Academy and awarded the order of Leopold by the King of Belgium; quarrelled with the British Institution, 1836; exhibited many works at the Royal Academy, 1837-1852, including many landscapes in water-colours; drew illustrations (with Westall) to Milton's Paradise Lost; worked on plans for improving London, including water supply and recycling of sewerage, 1827-1853; died, 1854.
James Smetham was born in Pateley Bridge, Yorkshire, in 1821 and educated in Leeds. He began his career apprenticed to an architect but left to make his living painting portraits in Shropshire. In 1843 he went to London and entered the Academy School but left before completing the course and returned to itinerate portrait painting. In 1851 he became drawing teacher at the Wesleyan Normal College, Westminster, where he remained until his final illness. He married Sarah Goble, another teacher from the College, in 1854, and they had six children. In 1877 he suffered a final breakdown and lived in seclusion until his death in 1889. He is buried in Highgate Cemetery. His early work has been compared to William Blake and he was a Pre-Raphaelite associate numbering John Ruskin and Charles Gabriel Dante Rossetti among his admirers and friends. Religion was as important to him as art, he regularly attended Saturday and Sunday services and was a Methodist class leader. After his death his widow collaborated with William Davies (c1830-1897), a lifelong friend of Smetham and his family, on an edition of her husband's letters.
Libris was an independent publishing company based in London, which opened in September 1986, and published its first titles in 1988. Libris started out with a general list, including Victorian religious doubters (Froude and 'Mark Rutherford'), Neruda poems (now out of print), biographies of Italo Svevo and Wordsworth, and the late Brigid Brophy's Mozart book. However, from 1990 Libris concentrated almost exclusively on books of and about German literature from Goethe to Brecht. It closed in 2014.
Professor Michael Laughton, Emeritus Professor of Electrical Engineering, University of London; Employed at Queen Mary College in Faculty of Engineering 1961-2000. Became a Professor in 1977, Inaugural lecture 1978, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering 1983-1986; Pro-Principal 1986-1991 and Dean of the Faculty of Engineering.
General Sir Neville Lyttelton born the third son of the 4th Baron Lyttelton, of Hagley Hall in Worcestershire, 1845; his mother was sister-in-law of William Gladstone; educated at Eton College; entered Rifle Brigade, 1865; helped to suppress Fenian rising, Canada, 1866; Secretary, Oregon Boundary Dispute Commission, Canada, 1867; ADC to Viceroy of Ireland, 1868-1873; served in Jowaki Expedition, India, 1877, and in Egyptian Campaign, 1882; appointed private secretary to the Secretary of State for War in the Liberal Government, 1880; Military Secretary to Governor of Gibraltar, 1883-1885, and to Governor of Bombay, 1885-1890; 2nd in Command, 3 Bn, Rifle Bde, Jullundar, India, 1890-1893; Lt Col, 1892; commanded 2 Bn, Rifle Bde, Dublin, Ireland, 1893-1895; appointed Assistant Adjutant General War Office, 1895; Assistant Military Secretary, War Office, 1897-1898; commanded brigade during Nile Expedition, Sudan, 1898; commanded 2 Infantry Bde, Aldershot, 1899; commanded 4 Infantry Bde, 2 and 4 Divs, South Africa, 1899-1900; served in Natal, 1901-1902; Commander-in-Chief, South Africa, 1902-1904; Chief of General Staff and First Military Member of Army Council, 1904-1908; Commander-in-Chief, Ireland, 1908-1912; appointed Governor of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, 1912; published Eighty years: soldiering, politics, games (Hodder and Stoughton, London, 1927); died, 1931. He married Katherine Stuart-Wortley in 1883 and they had 3 daughters, of whom Lucy (1884-1977) a writer and poet, married Charles Masterman (1873-1927), the Liberal politician.
Hilda Margaret Grenfell née Lyttelton born the second daughter of General Sir Neville Lyttelton and Katherine Stuart-Wortley, 1886; died 1972. She married Arthur Morton Grenfell in 1909 and they had 4 daughters, Mary, Katherine, Frances and Laura.
Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Morton Grenfell was born the sixth son of Pascoe du Pré Grenfell and Sophia Grenfell, 1873; educated at Eton College; fought in the First World War; he gained the rank of Colonel in the service of the Royal Buckinghamshire Hussars; died 1958. He first married Victoria Sybil Mary Grey in 1901 and they had 3 children, daughter Sybil and sons Reginald and Harry. He married, secondly, Hilda Margaret Lyttelton in 1909.
A guild or union existed amongst tailors' servingmen and journeymen in London as long ago as 1417 but the history of the present Union and its predecessors is only recorded from the later 19th Century. The National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers (NUTGW) existed as an independent body until 1991 when it joined the General Municipal and Boilermakers (GMB). At the time of the merger, the NUTGW was itself the result of many amalgamations. In 1912 the United Garment Workers' Union was formed by the amalgamation of the Amalgamated Society of Journeymen Tailors; Amalgamated Union of Clothiers' Operatives; Amalgamated Jewish Tailors, Pressers and Machinists' Trade Union; London Clothiers Cutters; The Shirt, Jacket and Overall Workers; and The Belfast Shirt and Collar Workers. These were later joined by the Scottish National Association of Operative Tailors; London Operative Tailors; and Amalgamated Society of Tailors and Tailoresses. In 1931 these became the NUTGW with the addition of the United Ladies Tailors (London) and the Waterproof Garment Workers' Union.
Philip Henry Wood (1904-1970) and Hilda Mary Wood (nee Smith) (1902-2005), East London College students 1921-1924.
The Personnel Department became part of Queen Mary and Westfield College on the merger of the colleges in 1989.
The first principal of East London College (later Queen Mary College) was John Leigh Streatham Hatton, from 1908 to 1933. He was also Director of Studies of the People's Palace Schools from 1896. Later principals were Major General Sir Frederick Barton Maurice, 1933-1944, Benjamin Ifor Evans, 1944-1951, Sir Thomas Percival Creed, 1952-1967, Sir Harry Melville, 1967-1976, Sir James Woodham Menter, 1976-1986 and Professor Ian Butterworth, 1986-1991.
Richard Garnett, (b. Feb. 27, 1835, Lichfield, Staffordshire, Eng. d. April 13, 1906, London), English writer, librarian, and the head of the Garnett family, which exerted a formative influence on the development of modern British writing. From the age of 15 until his retirement in 1899 he was in the employ of the British Museum.
Westfield College was established in Hampstead, North London, through the efforts of Ann Dudin Brown and Constance Louisa Maynard. Ann Dudin Brown provided a benefaction of £10,000 to establish the College. Following a meeting held on 11 Feb 1882 it was agreed that a residential women's college based on religious principals should be founded in London.
A pioneer of women's education, the college was the first specifically aimed at preparing women for University of London degrees and, taking the Oxbridge women's colleges as its example, it was also the first London women's college to make residence a requirement. The College opened on 2 Oct 1882 with just 5 students and 2 members of staff, including Constance Maynard as Mistress. It was situated in two houses at Maresfield Gardens in Hampstead. The name of the College was undecided and during the its early years it was referred to as the College for Ladies and the Ladies College at Westfield. Westfield probably derives from the name of the area or the houses in Maresfield Gardens. Several names for the College were proposed including St Hilda's but none were adopted. It was only following the move to permanent buildings that the name Westfield College was formally adopted, as the name had been informally used for a number of years.
The first graduands of Westfield College were presented for University degrees in 1887, one of whom was Anne Wakefield Richardson who joined the academic staff in April 1887 as Resident Lecturer in Classics. By 1889 the 'five original' staff members were in post who, in addition to Constance Maynard and Anne Richardson, included Frances Gray, Josephine Willoughby, and Mabel Beloe. Lilian Whitby was appointed to the Resident Staff in 1896 following the departure of Miss Willoughby and Miss Gray, and Caroline Skeel joined in 1899 along with Miss Sturdwick.
On Lady Day (25 March) 1891, the College moved to its permanent location on Kidderpore Avenue, Hampstead. The College buildings consisted of Kidderpore Hall, which later became known as Old House, and the New Wing, later renamed Maynard Wing. It gradually extended to include the Skeel Building (1903) housing the Library, and the Dudin Brown Wing (1905).
In 1902 Westfield College became a School of the University of London in the Faculty of Arts. Although science in the form of Mathematics and Biology was taught, the facilities were insufficient and therefore though attached to Westfield, students were External students and took the advanced part of the course at other colleges. However, in 1906, Ellen Delf was appointed to teach Botany and developed the College's facilities enough for the University of London to approve the Laboratory for work up to the final BSc examination in Botany in 1910. In Oct 1915 the University recognised the Botanical Laboratory for Honours work, which meant it was now possible for Westfield students to sit for Honours BSc as Internal students.
Constance Maynard continued to be Mistress of the College until 1913. She was succeeded by Agnes de Selincourt who adopted the title Principal. Miss de Selincourt died four years later from a tetanus injection following a bicycling accident. Anne Richardson became Acting Principal until the appointment of Bertha Phillpotts in 1919.
During the 1920s the policy of restricting the intake of students for the Bachelor of Arts to those who were prepared to read for Honours, was introduced, although the different structure for the Bachelor of Science meant that Pass students were still accepted. However, by this time General Students, those who did not intend to take any examination, were no longer accepted although exceptions were sometimes made for overseas students.
In 1933 Westfield was granted its Royal Charter of Incorporation, marking the College's Jubilee. By this time the College had extended considerably now occupying buildings along both sides of Kidderpore Avenue. During the war years, 1939-1945, the College was evacuated to St Peter's Hall, Oxford, where it had its very first male students; six Jesuit students who were evacuated to Oxford where Westfield was the only College at which they could continue their London arts degrees. The College buildings in Hampstead were let by Tavistock Clinic, the Young Women's Christian Association, and were also requisitioned by the Admiralty for training the Women's Royal Naval Service.
In 1947 Ellen Delf Smith retired and the College gradually ceased to admit students for a natural science degree. By 1950 the teaching of Botany ceased. However over the next decade the developing of a Science Faculty was at the fore-front. In 1959 demolition began for a new Science Building. In 1960 the University formally acknowledged Westfield College as a School in the Faculty of Science as well as a School in the Faculty of Arts. The new building was completed by Oct 1961 at which point Westfield began to offer degrees in Botany, Zoology, Physics, and Chemistry. Queen Elizabeth II formally opened the Science Building in May 1962, after which point it was renamed the Queen's Building.
The 1960s marked a decade of change and development. Not only had a comprehensive range of Science degrees been introduced, but it was decided to alter the Royal Charter in order to allow the admission of men undergraduate students. Men students were formally admitted to the College from 1964. In 1966 Westfield College appointed its first male Principal, Bryan Thwaites, who continued to be Principal until 1984. The College also embarked upon an expansionist policy to double its student numbers from 600 to 1200 and pursued a comprehensive development plan for which Sir Hugh Casson's firm of architects was commissioned. In 1963 the new Refectory building was completed. In 1965 Orchard II, a residential wing with further laboratories, was opened, and by 1967 the Queen's Building had been extended to include a Zoology wing. The 1960s also saw the purchase of several houses along Finchley Road.
A purpose built library was completed in 1971 and named the Caroline Skeel Library. During the same year students were admitted for the first time to study Computer Science. A further hall of residence was opened and named Kidderpore Hall, which comprised four houses for both male and female students. A Supplemental Charter was granted in 1976 which, among other provisions, removed the religious constraints of the original Charter.
However, by the 1980s the organisation, governance, and structure of the University of London began to be questioned. The Committee on Academic Organisation, better known as the Swinnerton-Dyer Committee, was established in 1980 to consider the situation of the University over the next 15 years and to make recommendations that would enable large financial savings. The Chairman of the Committee was Sir Peter Swinnerton-Dyer. As a result of the Committee and previous reports, including the Flowers Report and the Murray Report, the University Court concluded that teaching in the sciences should be concentrated in 5 institutional groups; Imperial College, University College, Kings College/Queen Elizabeth College, Queen Mary College, and Bedford College/Royal Holloway College. Smaller colleges, including Westfield, were encouraged to collaborate and/or merge with the larger institutions. Consequently, it became apparent that Westfield College would be unable to continue in its current form. Negotiations for collaboration and/or mergers took place with several institutions including King's College and Queen Mary College.
In 1982 the decision was made to transfer the Science Faculty to Queen Mary College. The transfer was completed by 1984. Physics, Chemistry, Botany and Biochemistry, and Zoology, and 68 members of staff were transferred to Queen Mary College in Mile End, some Physicists were transferred to Royal Holloway, and Computer Science was transferred to King's College. The financial situation of Westfield College did not improve and in 1987 the College Council agreed to a full merger with Queen Mary College. As part of the agreement it was decided that the name of Westfield would be retained and although the new college would be located in Mile End, new residences would be created in Mile End to maintain the Westfield ethos as a residential college. The Westfield Trust was established in 1988 to preserve something of the original intentions of the founders of Westfield College. On 1 Aug 1989 Queen Mary and Westfield College was inaugurated. All departments were transferred with the exception of the Department of the History of Art, which transferred to University College London. Part of the Hampstead campus was sold to King's College. The Hampstead campus continued to be used by Queen Mary and Westfield College, better known today as Queen Mary, University of London, until 1992, when all activities were relocated to Mile End.
Principals of Westfield College: Constance Louisa Maynard, 1882-1913 Agnes de Selincourt, 1913-1917
Anne Wakefield Richardson, Acting Principal, 1917-1919 Bertha Phillpotts, 1919-1921 Eleanor Lodge, 1921-1929 Dorothy Chapman, 1929-1939 Mary Stocks, 1939-1951 Kathleen Chesney, 1951-1962 Pamela Matthews, 1962-1965 Bryan Thwaites, 1965-1984 John E Varey, 1984-1989
The Print collection was acquired by Westfield College Library during the early 1970s, as teaching resources primarily for the History of Art Department. Part of the collection was catalogued by a group of postgraduates under the supervision of the Deputy Keeper of Prints and Drawings at the British Museum. A number of the Westfield Prints were compared with the same print in the British Museum to verify its authenticity and state or edition.
The Westfield Trust was established on 1 Nov 1988 for charitable purposes connected with Westfield College and Queen Mary and Westfield College. The creation of the Trust resulted from an agreement made in Mar 1987 to fully merge Westfield College and Queen Mary College with the gradual transfer of all activities to the Mile End site. In order to preserve something of the original intentions of the founders of Westfield College, both Colleges agreed to form the Westfield Trust.
Prior to the establishment of the Westfield Trust, another charitable trust had existed; the Westfield College Development Trust. The Development Trust was established in 1979 to raise funds for the College and support projects. This included the Centenary Appeal which funded a new hall of residence. With the announcement of a merger between Westfield College and Queen Mary College, no further fund raising was undertaken. With the creation of the Westfield Trust in 1988, it was decided in Jul 1989 to dissolve the Development Trust, with all of its assets being transferred to the Westfield Trust.
The Westfield Trust had representation on the new College Council and provided financial support for capital and smaller projects within the College. Projects supported by the Trust include the College Nursery, academic visitor accommodation, restoration of the Octagon, refurbishment of the Great Hall in the People's Palace, and the Westfield Student Village, as well as the provision of research studentships and bursaries.
In 2008 the decision was taken that the Trust had met its objectives and should be wound down. On 31 Jul 2009 all Trust assets and liabilities were formally transferred to the College. The final meeting of the Trust took place on 30 Nov 2009.
Chairman of the Westfield Trust:
Lord Jenkin of Roding, 1989-1999; Francis Vernon McClure, 1999-2009
Secretary to the Westfield Trust:
Michael Sumner, 1989-1995; Brian Murphy, 1995-2009
Wolfgang Held (1933-2016) was a writer, translator, artist and musician, and a key figure in Anglo-German literary relations.
Born in Frieburg, Germany, in 1933. Educated in Karlsruhe, Heidelberg and Freiburg. Completed a PhD on the Austrian poet, Georg Trakl, and subsequently spent four years at the University of Madras. Taught at the University of Ljubljana, in the former Yugoslavia, in the 1960s. Moved to Edinburgh (by 1971) and then to Greenwich University. Retired in 1985, to focus on his own writing.
His translation work includes German translations of Wyndham Lewis, T.S. Eliot, Samuel Beckett, Michael Holroyd's biography on George Bernhard Shaw and the poetry of John Donne and Emily Brontë.
His novels include Die im Glashaus (Those in Glass Houses, 1965), Ein Brief des Jüngeren Plinius (A Letter from Pliny the Younger, 1979), Rabenkind (Raven Child, 1985), Geschichte der Abgeschnittenen Hand (Tale of the Severed Hand, 1994), Traum vom Hungerturm (Dream of the Hunger Tower, 2007) and Schattenfabel (Shadow Tale, 2014). He also wrote a play, Hoffmanns Verbrennung (Hoffmann’s Burning, 1986).
As a pianist Held gave concerts and made recordings and commentaries for German radio. He also published a biography of Robert and Clara Schumann, Manches Geht in Nacht Verloren (Things Go Astray in the Night, 1998), republished as Geliebte Clara (Beloved Clara, 2008).
Held was also a collagist and hosted the Raven Studio in his London home from 1989-1992, exhibiting works by other contemporary artists.
His first wife was Eva (nee Hellmansberger). The pair later divorced. Married his second wife Madeline in 1971, with whom he had a daughter, Natasha.
Born, Exeter, 1881, son of Frederick Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury; educated, Rugby, Balliol College, Oxford; fellow and Lecturer in Philosophy, Queen's College Oxford, 1904-1910; President Oxford Union, 1904; travelled in Europe and studied at the Universities of Jena and Berlin, 1905-1906; Deacon, 1908; Priest, 1909; Chaplain to Archbishop of Canterbury, 1910-1921; Headmaster, Repton School, 1910-1914; Rector of St James, Piccadilly, 1914-1918; Honorary Chaplain to the King, 1915-1921; Editor of The Challenge, 1915-1918; Chairman of Westfield College, 1916-1921; Canon of Westminster, 1919-1921; Bishop of Manchester, 1921-1929; Archbishop of York, 1929-1942; President of the Workers Educational Association, 1908-1924; editor of The Pilgrim, 1920-1927; Archbishop of Canterbury, 1942-1944; died, 1944.
Publications: include: Thoughts on the Divine Love (Christian Knowledge Society, London, 1910); The Faith and Modern Thought: six lectures (Macmillan & Co, London, 1910); A Challenge to the Church: being an account of the national mission; 1916, and of thoughts suggested by it (SPCK, London, 1917); Issues of Faith: a course of lectures (Macmillan & Co, London, 1917); Christus Veritas. An essay (Macmillan & Co, London, 1924); Christ in his Church. A charge delivered (Macmillan & Co, London, 1925); Christianity and the State (Macmillan & Co, London, 1928); Christian faith and life with Roger L Roberts (Student Christian Movement Press, London, 1931); Christ and the Way to Peace (Student Christian Movement Press, London, 1935); Faith & Freedom (London, 1935); Basic Convictions (Hamish Hamilton, London, 1937); Readings in St. John's Gospel (Macmillan & Co, London, 1939); The Christian Hope of Eternal Life (SPCK, London, [1941]); Christianity and Social Order (Harmondsworth, New York, 1942).
John Leofric Stocks (1882-1937), was a friend of William Temple at Rugby and later while at Corpus Christi College, Oxford. Stocks was a fellow and tutor of St John's College from 1906 to 1924. He became Professor of Philosophy at the University of Manchester in 1924, stood as an unsuccessful Labour candidate in 1935, and was elected Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool in 1936.
Born Georgetown, Guyana, February 1944, educated at St Joseph's RC, Sacred Heart and Ituni Government Schools, and at St Stanislaus College; analyst in the Demerara Bauxite Company, Guyana; moved to Britain in 1963; employed as a railway clerk, then enrolled at Tottenham Technical College, 1965-67, studied Mining Engineering at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, 1967-1969; international telephonist, including work for the Union of Post Office Workers, 1969-1978; full time Area Officer for NUPE, responsible for its local authority and health workers, 1978-1981; helped establish the Black Trades Unionists Solidarity Movement (BTUSM), and worked for it, 1981-1984; joined the Tottenham Labour Party, 1973; elected a councillor, 1978; Leader of Haringey Council, London, 1985, and in this position achieved national recognition during the disturbances on Broadwater Farm Estate in 1985; elected to Parliament in 1987 as one of the first Black MP's in modern times; founded the Parliamentary Black Caucus, and took up a leading role in establishing contacts with black people and politicians throughout the world; accompanied the Reverend Jesse Jackson to South Africa, greeting Nelson Mandela on the day of his release in 1990; Chairman of the All Party Group on Race and Community, and of the British Caribbean Group; member of the Select Committee on International Development, 1997, and the Home Secretary's Race Relations Forum, 1998; founded the Standing Conference on Racism in Europe in 1990; established the Africa Reparations Movement in Britain; founded the Global Trade Centre, 1995; died, 2000.
The British Humanist Association has its origins in the ethical movement established by Felix Adler in America in 1876. The aim of the ethical movement was to 'disentangle moral ideals from religious doctrines, metaphysical systems and ethical theories'. Ten years later, the movement was brought to Britain by Doctor Stanton Coit who became a minister of the South Place Ethical Society and later established the West London Ethical Society. In 1896 the Union of Ethical Societies was formed creating a central body to which local societies could affiliate and send representatives to the annual Congress. From 1920 the organisation was known as the Ethical Union. The Ethical Union was involved with moral education, repeal of the blasphemy laws, penal reform and neighbourhood community work. They also assisted the women's movement and drew attention to racial, colonial and international problems by initiating and supporting effective action. Searching for alternatives to religious worship also led to the formation of the Ethical Church by the Stanton Coit in Bayswater, operating from c.1909 to c.1954. The immediate origins of the British Humanist Association stem from the 1962 annual conference of the International Humanist and Ethical Union. British representatives concluded that there was a need to establish a national Humanist body to incorporate the growing number of local and university Humanist groups. At this point the central point of contact and unity between the local societies remained the Ethical Union. A Humanist Council had been established in the 1950s to promote greater collaboration between secularist groups at a national level (representatives from the Ethical Union, Rationalist Press Association and National Secular Society were invited to sit on the Council) but it was disbanded by the mid-1960s. Further attempts were made to move towards greater collaboration in 1957 when the Rationalist Press Association and the Ethical Union formed the Humanist Association. The name ‘British Humanist Association’ was registered in 1961 and co-operation between the Ethical Union and Rationalist Press Association was formalised in 1963 with the inaugural dinner of the British Humanist Association at the House of Commons in May. Following the creation of the British Humanist Association there was an immediate rise in membership and local group activity. University humanist groups also became more active instituting the Humanist Student Federation. Harold Blackham, an influential figure in the ethical movement and a former assistant to Stanton Coit, was appointed Executive Director of the British Humanist Associations serving from 1963 to 1968. Despite the joint commitment to the British Humanist Association in 1963, both the Ethical Union and the Rationalist Press Association retained their individual identities: the Ethical Union in West London was concerned with public relations, and the Rational Press Association, in Drury Lane, with publishing. By 1965 collaboration between the Ethical Union and Rationalist Press Association was to become more difficult following amendments to the charity laws. The Ethical Union was removed from the charity register on a technical point. This necessitated the Rationalist Press Association, because of its own charitable status, to pull out of the joint running of the British Humanist Association. The issues surrounding charitable status led to the creation of the Humanist Trust in 1967 and the incorporation of the Ethical Union into the British Humanist Association. The Humanist Trust became a charitable organisation focused on funding educational activities, whilst the British Humanist Association (now solely operated by the former Ethical Union) was able to pursue political lobbying and campaigning. The battle for charitable status for the British Humanist Association continued and was eventually won in 1983. From its origins the British Humanist Association's activities have been wide and varied. These have included the publication of pamphlets, books and periodicals, arranging conferences, promoting campaigns and organising local groups. The Association also calls for and promotes new thinking, research and experimentation in moral and religious education, along with helping Humanist parents and teachers. It also seeks a fuller and fairer representation of Humanist views in broadcasting , the press and government. The British Humanist Association is linked internationally with the International Humanist and Ethical Union and has been affiliated to the United Nations Association and supported Freedom from Hunger and similar campaigns. It was also involved in establishing the Humanist Housing Association, the Agnostics Adoption Society, the Social Morality Council (now transmuted into the Norham Foundation), and a Humanist counselling service. Education continues to be a priority and many books, newsletters and literature are produced. The British Humanist Association members receive the official newsletter of the Association, Humanist News, and since 2001, The New Humanist, (published by the Rational Press Association). Presidents of the British Humanist Association: - Sir Julian Huxley, (1963-1965) - Professor AJ Ayer, (1965-1970) - Edmund Leach, (1970-1972) - George Melly, (1972-1974) - Harold Blackham, (1974-1977) - James Hemming, (1977-1980) - Hermann Bondi, (1981-1999) - Claire Rayner, (1999-2004) - Linda Smith, (2004-2006) - Polly Toynbee, (2007-2013) - Jim Al-Khalili, (2013- )
The Bishopsgate Institute is an independent centre providing educational and cultural activities for adults. It was founded in the late 19th century by the Reverend William Rogers, Rector of St Botolph's Church in the City of London. Rogers was a noted educational reformer and the Institute was established to provide free libraries, a large concert and lecture hall and meeting rooms for the benefit of the public. The Institute was financed by the parish's charitable endowments and its building was designed in the Art Nouveau style by Charles Harrison Townsend, architect of the Whitechapel Art Gallery. Bishopsgate Institute opened its doors to the public on New Year's Day 1895; the Grade II* listed building is one of the few in the area to survive intact from the 19th century.
John Dore was born in Hammersmith, London on 7 August 1930, the only child of Frederick James Dore, a master plasterer and Mary Ross (nee Spark). He grew up in Richmond, Surrey and was educated at Richmond and East Sheen County Grammar School for Boys. He obtained a Surrey County scholarship to Imperial College of Science and Technology (London University) where, in 1951, he obtained a BSc in Botany with Zoology subsidiary. He then obtained a research award to attend Southampton University, 1951-1954, where he obtained a PhD in Botany, researching the regeneration of horseradish.
He joined the Labour Party in 1949 and was an active member of the Richmond and Barnes Labour League of Youth, Cromwell ward Labour Party and delegate to the General Management Committee. He met his future wife Christine Perfect, who always shared his political interests, at a meeting of the Labour League of Youth in 1949. She had been Chairman and Secretary of the Richmond and Barnes Branch and, at the time of their marriage on 7 March 1953, he was Chairman of the Southampton Branch.
Between 1954-1959 he worked for H M Overseas Civil Service as an Agricultural Research Officer (Botanist), researching into the growth of rice. He was based in Kula Lumpur, Malaya. He joined the Fabian Society in 1954 and while in Malaya he and his wife produced several articles for the Fabian Society publication Venture, about Malayan agriculture and the political situation there at the time. He also developed the agricultural policy of the Malayan Labour party.
On returning to the UK, he moved to Watford with his young family and he and his wife re-established the Watford and District Fabian Society that met regularly, for many years, at their home. After a short spell as a teacher for Middlesex County Council, he took up the post of Lecturer in Plant Physiology at Brunel University (originally Brunel College of Technology). He wrote several scientific papers and also contributed to Chambers Encyclopaedia. Later he lectured in Biology and Biochemistry including aspects of environmental pollution and pest control.
During the early 1960s he stood as unsuccessful Labour candidate for several local elections in Watford Borough and Hertfordshire as well as the parliamentary candidate in Heston and Isleworth in the 1964 general election. He also stood as a Labour candidate at the first European Elections. In 1967 he was elected to Hertfordshire County Council and remained a County Councillor until his retirement in 1986. He was an active trade union member joining in 1950 and representing his union (ASTMS, then MSF now Amicus) at the Trade Union Congress in the 1970s. He was Hon. Secretary of the local (Brunel) branch and was also a member of the AUT union. He was a long-term member of the co-operative movement and was, for a time, member of the Education Committee of Watford Co-op before it amalgamated with London Cooperative Society.
In 1986 he retired from his post of Senior Lecturer in Biology at Brunel University and relinquished his County Council seat. He then moved, with his wife who was also a County Councillor at that time, to Somerset. Over the next few years he stood as Labour and Co-operative party candidate in several West Somerset local and Somerset county elections. He was elected as a local Parish Councillor. He founded the West Somerset Branch of the Co-operative Party and held the posts of Chairman and Secretary and was the representative at the Constituency Labour party. He was also chair of the West Somerset District Labour Party.
Eton Manor Boys' Club was founded in 1909 and its magnificent clubhouse in Riseholme Street, Hackney Wick was opened in 1913, on the site of the Manor Dairy Farm. The Club was funded and run by four Old Etonians (Arthur Villiers, Gerald Wellesley, Alfred Wagg and Sir Edward Cadogan) until it closed in 1967.
The clubhouse, together with its nearby sports ground (The Wilderness), provided first-class sports and social facilities for boys aged 14-18, and who subsequently became members of the Old Boys' Club. Eton Manor Boys' Club boasts many former members who became international sportsmen, including European Welterweight Boxing Champion Nicky Gargano and Olympic gold medallist Harry Mallin. The boys received coaching from many leading sportsmen over the years, including Sir Alf Ramsey and England cricket captain Douglas Jardine.
The running track used at Wembley for the 1948 Olympics was purchased by Arthur Villiers and re-laid at the Eton Manor sports ground for the boys to use. A neat historical coincidence is that the former Eton Manor Boys' Club site will form part of the 2012 Olympic site.
Membership of the Boys' Club was a key formative experience for its members, who benefited not only from the sports training, but also from meeting prominent visitors brought to the Club by the four philanthropists who founded it - including military leaders, statesmen, city bankers and aristocrats.
Papers of Freedom Press, an anarchist periodical started in 1886 by a group of friends around Peter Kropotkin after their separation from the English Anarchist Circle and The Anarchist edited by Henry Seymour; in addition to Freedom, the group eventually set up the Freedom Press, the main publisher of anarchist literature in England; first editors of Freedom were Charlotte M. Wilson 1886-1895, Alfred Marsh 1895-1912 and Thomas H. Keell 1912-1932; among the contributors to the periodical were George Bernard Shaw, Max Nettlau and Kropotkin; a rival Freedom was published by opponents of Th. Keell, including John Turner and Oscar Swede 1930-1936; ceased publication in favour of Spain and the World 1936-1938, edited by Vernon Richards, and changed its name to Revolt in 1939; this was continued as War Commentary, renamed Freedom in 1945, the publication of which continues still today.