Dr Rex Walford OBE, BSc (Econ) Geography 1955

REX ASHLEY WALFORD (1934-2011), who tragically died in a boating accident on 2nd January 2011 was a student of LSE from 1952 to 1955, graduating BSc (Econ) with special subject Geography. From 1955 to 1958 he qualified as a teacher and completed a BD at King's College. Rex returned to his native North-west London to teach at St Mary's C of E School, Hendon, where he was able to become involved in local dramatic activity. In 1960 he went to the USA to study drama and gained a MA degree from the School of Speech at Northwestern University, Evanston, one of America's leading theatre schools. He returned to the UK set on a career in teaching dramatic art and production, but became interested in its application for teacing purposes. Soon after returning he joined the staff of Maria Grey College, Twickenham, where he became Senior Tutor. In 1959 he married Wendy Kirby, who survives him.

In 1973 he was appointed to the University of Cambridge as Lecturer in Geography and Education where he ran the PGCE course for geographers for 25 years. He became an influential and popular figure and a very effective advocate of Geography. He enthusiasm for games and simulation in teaching geography led to the publication of Focus in Geography (Longman). Perhaps his most importnt book was Geography in British Schools 1850-2000: Making a World of Difference (Woburn Press). He was President of the Geographical Association1983-84 and in 2000 was awarded an OBE for contributions to geographical scholarship. In 1996 he masterminded a third land use survey on a rigorous sample basis to represent landscape types in Great Britain.

His interests were diverse and with his love of drama he was involved in presenting workshops about musical theatre and adjudicating many drama festivals. He was also an active member of the Church of England and a postgraduate of King's College London where he read divinity. His interests in religion and geography culminated in his book written with Jeremy Morris The Growth of New London in suburban Middlesex (1918-1949) and the Response of the Church of England, published in his retirement and based on his PhD thesis awarded by Anglia Ruskin University in 2003.

Websites contain many tributes to his inspirational qualities as a teacher and an individual. The Joint School Society was fortunate to have had him as a leader of their excursion to Cambridge in 2009.

Dr Christopher Board OBE (BA Geography 1955)