Professor Phinn celebrates the LRC’s tenth anniversary

Popular author and public speaker Gervase Phinn has delivered a guest lecture at the University of Teesside. The lecture was held to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the opening of the University’s Learning Resource Centre by the late Mo Mowlam. When Mo opened the centre in 1998 she was MP for Redcar and Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Gervase Phinn was appointed as a Visiting Professor to the University of Teesside in 1997. He is a former secondary English teacher, educational consultant and school inspector. His texts include a range of children’s books and best-selling autobiographical titles, including The Heart of the Dales and The Other Side of the Dale. He is currently touring the UK with his successful one-man show.

During his talk Gervase entertained the audience with stories from his childhood and teaching career. He also highlighted the importance of the written text: ‘Books are the architecture of a civilised society. Computers are another tool for learning, when you have high-quality books and the computer, it makes my job as a writer infinitely easier.

‘It’s been over ten years since I was appointed as Visiting Professor here and I still feel really flattered. If my old Dad could see me now as a Professor in our old council house. The University of Teesside is a very human, very student-centred place where the students get a lot of support. And its Learning Resource Centre is state-of-the-art with a lovely feeling. It’s a tranquil, quiet resource, a very pleasant environment where you feel you can work.’

Ian Butchart, Director of Library & Information Services at the University of Teesside, said: ‘Gervase Phinn demonstrated his deep belief in the nurturing power of reading and how this was engendered by his father taking him to their local public library. We can ask for no greater compliment in his recognition of the great joy that libraries can bring in providing universal access to information.’

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