The Salopian Summer 2023

SALOPIAN CLUB NEWS 115
Richard Williams. They set up a cartoon film studio in Rome,
mostly making commercials. Joe met his wife, Maureen,
in Rome; they returned to England, married and had two
children, Katie and Dan.
Joe became a television producer for the BBC’s English by
Television, making highly regarded programmes for teaching
English as a foreign language. His series Follow Me was watched
by one hundred million people in China in 1983. The muchloved
children’s cartoon, Muzzy in Gondoland, was later
adapted for teaching many other languages.
After Joe left the BBC, he was engaged in several languagelearning
video and multi-media course designs, including
projects to use the Muppets and Postman Pat for teaching
English. He was influential in promoting the use of video in
English language teaching.
As his work began to take up less of his time, he and Maureen
took up life in Italy again, spending a part of each year in an
apartment in an old convent in Umbria. Sadly, Maureen was
diagnosed with cancer and died in 2010.
Joe died on 25th September 2022, and tributes from colleagues
described their admiration for his talent, expertise, hard work
and sharp mind. Many remembered him as an inspirational
influence and mentor. He had a great gift for friendship and was
remembered as warm and generous, entertaining and full of
fascinating stories.
[Katie Hambrook]
Sir David Harrison (Governor 1980-2003;
Chairman of Governors 1989-2003)
David Harrison was born in Essex on 3rd May 1930, the son
of Harold Harrison, a civil engineer, and his wife Lavinia. Part
of David’s schooling took place in Sunderland, where he
lived with an aunt, as an evacuee during the war. He showed
an early interest in history; but science, in which he showed
outstanding ability, finally claimed his allegiance and he became
one of the most distinguished chemical engineers and scientists
of his generation. After National Service in the Royal Electrical
and Mechanical Engineers, he began his long association with
Selwyn College in 1950, as an undergraduate. His PhD in
Physical Chemistry in 1956 earned him a swift promotion to a
Fellowship, in which he specialised in the study of fluidisation.
In 1962 he married Sheila Debes, a teacher, whom he had met at
a Cambridge party. She survives him, with their son, Michael, an
accountant, corporate financier and civil servant, and a daughter,
Sarah, a solicitor and magistrate. Another son, Tony, died, while
a student, in 1986.
As admissions tutor, Harrison made great efforts to encourage
state schools to send candidates to Oxbridge. His intervention
and personal encouragement transformed many lives.
Harrison’s charm was matched with a steely determination to
run things efficiently. His approach was always calmly analytical;
he was a superb chairman. His administrative and networking
skills equipped him well for a career beyond academic research.
In 1979 he became vice-chancellor of the University of Keele
and in 1984 he moved to the corresponding position at Exeter.
In 1994 he returned to Selwyn College as Master, and from
1997 was also deputy and pro-vice-chancellor at Cambridge
University, as it sought to modernise its governance. He also
worked over several decades with Homerton College in
Cambridge, helping it to achieve full college status. The college
named Harrison House and Harrison Drive after him.
In broader public life Harrison was a keen advocate of gender
equality and social opportunity, always anxious to improve the
quality of scientific education and awareness and to provide
better access to higher education for disadvantaged social groups
and for women. “Teachers make the difference,” was one of his
recurring mantras.
His knighthood in 1997 was awarded both for services to
education and for his contribution to nuclear safety. He
headed an advisory committee giving guidance to government
and parliament on the role of nuclear power generally, as
well as on specific areas including the siting, operation and
decommissioning of nuclear facilities.
Harrison retired, up to a point, at the age of 70, though was
still greatly in demand. However, there was now more space
for other interests, including Lake District walking, cycling and
reading history. He was a devoted churchgoer and he chaired
the council of the Royal School of Church Music.
A formidable member of what some would term “the great and
the good”, Harrison had also greatly valued his work with those
starting out from the bottom of the social pile, knowing the huge
difference educational opportunity could make. The novelist
Robert Harris, who had known Harrison since the age of 17,
described him simply as “a wonderful educator — generous,
wise, humane”.
[With grateful acknowledgement to The Times]
Ted Maidment (Headmaster 1988-2001) adds:
I feel hugely privileged to have worked with David Harrison in his
role as Chairman during 12 of my 13 years at Shrewsbury. He
was the most perceptive and thoughtful of men. A distinguished
scientist with a sharp, analytical mind, he was also utterly
committed to helping younger generations find their way. To
have been vice-chancellor of two universities and master of his
college in Cambridge says everything in this respect.
David’s handling of Shrewsbury’s governing body meetings
was memorable. Brisk, well informed, always open to debate,
courteous - and remarkably successful at achieving consensus.
On a personal level he was immensely supportive. Always happy
to make the long journey to Shrewsbury - first from Exeter and
later from Cambridge - whenever required. Superb on the
telephone. Mind immediately focussed and always shrewd.
Often he would end his call on a much-appreciated personal
note. “And you, Ted, how are you?” Lonely headmasters value
these things!
Sir David Harrison died on 27th March 2023, aged 92.