John Horlock served as Vice-Chancellor at The Open University from +1981 to 1990. John Horlock was born in 1928 in North London, and went to +school at Edmonton Latymer. In an interview in the New Scientist to mark +his appointment as OU Vice-Chancellor he says 'My family is best +described as lower middle-class, with no engineering history in it.' In +the interview he explains that he had decided on an engineering +apprenticeship at Shorts, Rochester but his Headmaster instead persuaded +him to go to Cambridge University, where he gained a first in mechanical +sciences. Horlock worked briefly at Rolls-Royce before returning to +Cambridge to gain a PhD. Horlock turned down an offer to return to +Rolls-Royce: 'I was concerned that I would be spending most of my time on +military applications.' +
In 1958 Horlock left Cambridge to become Professor and Head of the +Mechanical Engineering Department of Liverpool University, returning to +Cambridge as Professor of Engineering in 1967. In both roles he is +credited with educational innovations to improved both research and +teaching. His academic work on gas turbines, compressors and the jet +engine made him a leading figure in a field which transformed transport +across the world. In 1974 Horlock became Vice-Chancellor of the +University of Salford, which had become a University only in 1967 and +made major progress under his leadership. +
Horlock joined the Open University in 1981. His commitment in the +field of continuing education, particularly in science and technology was +seen as one of the factors leading to his appointment. As a member of the +Finniston Committee looking at the engineering profession he was very +keen to strengthen the OU in science and engineering. As well as leading +the battle against the government over funding cuts, Horlock also ensured +the introduction of a taught postgraduate masters programme, oversaw the +opening of the Open Business School and the expansion of the OU into +Western Europe. After retiring from the OU, Horlock was appointed +Treasurer and Vice-President of The Royal Society for five years and was +knighted for services to science, engineering and education in 1996. He +lives not far from The Open University. +
The Horlock building on the Walton Hall campus was opened in opened
+in 1989. It houses the Faculty of Health and Social Care. Sir John was
+interviewed for the Oral History Project in 2009. Below is an extract
+from that interview. A video clip of Sir John addressing OUSA conference
+is available as part of Funding cuts: the fight back.
+
+EOT;
+
+$string[ 'lngtxt_2_title' ] = 'Walter Perry';
+$string[ 'lngtxt_2_url' ] = 'http://www.open.ac.uk/researchprojects/historyofou/story/walter-perry';
+$string[ 'lngtxt_2_wc' ] = 548; // 3196 chars.
+$string[ 'lngtxt_2' ] = << Walter Perry (1921-2003) was the first Vice-Chancellor of the
+Open University from 1969 to 1979 and one of its key architects.
+He was made a Fellow of the University in 1981.
+ Harold Wilson, who as Prime Minister created the Open University,
+described Walter Perry as ‘the man who has done more than anyone to
+ensure the success of what is now recognised in Britain, and in the wider
+world, as one of the most important educational and social developments
+of this century.’
+ Walter Laing MacDonald Perry was born in Dundee on 16 June 1921, to
+Fletcher Perry and Flora MacDonald. He was educated at Ayr Academy,
+Dundee High School, and the University of St. Andrews, where he gained
+MB, ChB (1943), MD (1948) and DSc (1958).
+ He began his career as Medical Officer in Colonial Services
+(Nigeria), 1944-1946, and then for the RAF, 1946-1947. Between 1947 and
+1952 he was a member of staff for the Medical Research Council and then
+became Director of the Department of Biological Standards at the National
+Institute for Medical Research (1952-1958). In 1958 he was appointed
+Professor of Pharmacology at University of Edinburgh and its
+Vice-Principal from 1967 to 1968, until he took on the role of
+Vice-Chancellor at the Open University in 1969.
+ In 1960 he was made a Fellow of the Royal Society (Edinburgh). In
+1963, he became a member of the Royal College of Physicians (Edinburgh),
+in 1967 a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians (Edinburgh), and in
+1978 a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians. In 1985 he was made a
+Fellow of the Royal Society.
+ As well as his educational work Walter Perry was the Chairman of
+Community Radio Milton Keynes from 1979 to 1982, Chairman of Living Tapes
+Ltd from 1980, Chairman of Videotel Marine International from 1985 to
+1998 and President of the Company from 1998 onwards. He was Deputy Leader
+of the SDP in the House of Lords from 1981 to 1983.
+ Walter Perry received several honorary degrees and has been involved
+in various societies and commissions, many educational. He was awarded an
+OBE in 1957, a knighthood in 1974 and was created a Life Peer in 1979,
+taking as his title Baron Perry of Walton. In 1994 he was awarded the
+Wellcome Gold Medal and in 2000 he was awarded the Royal medal from the RSE.
+ Walter Perry was married twice; first to Anne Elizabeth Grant from
+1946 to 1971 with whom he had three sons, Michael, Alan and Niall; and
+second to Catharine Hilda Crawley from 1971, with whom he has two sons
+and one daughter, Robin, Colin and Jennifer. He died in 2003 in Edinburgh.
+ Walter Perry was instrumental in setting up The Open University as it
+is known today. His book, Open University, A personal account by the
+first Vice-Chancellor, provides a wealth of information about how this
+was done. Information about his influence as Vice-Chancellor is spread
+throughout this website, particularly in the 1969-1979 section.
+ The Walter Perry Collection is housed in The Open University Archive.
+It comprises papers relating to the University’s creation, Perry’s work
+as Vice-Chancellor and papers relating to the many projects and
+initiatives in which he was involved after he stepped down as Vice
+Chancellor of the Open University in 1981.
+
+EOT;
+
+$string[ 'lngtxt_3_title' ] = 'Anastasios Christodoulou';
+$string[ 'lngtxt_3_url' ] = 'http://www.open.ac.uk/researchprojects/historyofou/#...';
+$string[ 'lngtxt_3_wc' ] = 611; // 3679 chars.
+$string[ 'lngtxt_3' ] = << Anastasios Christodoulou (1932-2002) was the first Secretary of The
+Open University and as such can be credited with designing its first
+administrative systems, which enabled the new University to come into
+being.
+ Christodoulou was born in Cyprus, the son of the village boot-maker.
+His family moved to London in 1936, where his mother died in 1938. After
+military service he studied Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Oxford
+University before becoming an overseas civil servant in Tanganyika, which
+ended with the country’s independence in 1961. After a short period of
+teaching and lecturing, Christodoulou moved into administration at Leeds
+University, rising to Deputy Registrar. He was appointed as the first
+Secretary of The Open University in 1968 and describes the process in
+Lifting it off the page: an oral portrait of OU people, Ed. Tim Dagleish, 1995:
+ My pals at the university said I’d be nuts if I had anything to do
+with it but I let my name go in. Walter Perry, the first Vice-Chancellor,
+contacted me, had me up to Edinburgh, got me drunk and enthused me. I was
+summoned to meet the committee, went down expecting a line of people, and
+there was nobody else! They gave me a forty minute interview, then
+offered me the job. I took it and never regretted it, it was fabulous,
+exciting, nerve-wracking, grey-making.
+ Walter Perry also described the experience:
+ I first met Chris Christodoulou in autumn 1968, when he came to
+Edinburgh to face a whole day of me explaining to him what I hoped the OU
+could achieve, despite the scepticism and downright hostility of most of
+the academic world. That he had the imagination and courage to accept the
+post of secretary was a major victory for the project.
+ Four of us started work together on January 1 1969; we had two years
+until we were committed to admit 25,000 students. Chris was the rock to
+which I clung; I was an academic, and he provided the gifted
+administrative expertise I lacked. He had absolutely no side; he talked
+to everyone, and everyone talked to him. His antennae picked up word of
+problems before they became serious.
+ While I was recruiting professors and planning teaching programmes,
+Chris built a team of administrators to handle such problems as student
+recruitment and records. These were common to all universities, but never
+previously on such a scale - inquiries in hundreds of thousands,
+applications in tens of thousands. Everything had to be computerised from
+the outset, and Chris was responsible for recruiting and supervising the
+people who would design the systems and make them work.
+ As the OU grew in size, complexity and administrative problems, Chris
+found solutions. As our reputation spread, inquiries increased from
+countries keen to learn about distance education. We had a steady stream
+of visitors, political as well as academic, and were asked to send
+delegates to countries interested in establishing their own open learning
+centres. Chris played a major role in dealing with these developments.
+His contribution to the OU's success was massive.
+ And Chris Harvie, in his obituary in the Scotsman recalls:
+ Big, swarthy, bespectacled – ‘a good rugby three-quarter, run to
+seed’ as he once put it, Chris, after a heavy day in the pre-computer
+office and on the telephone, would surface in the Walton cellar bar... It
+was where things, in these days of mud, trenches, widgets that worked or
+didn’t, and inexorable deadlines, tended to get sorted out. To a young,
+idealistic but inexperienced staff he was always accessible, and although
+Walter Perry and he exploited us ruthlessly we were, to adapt George
+Orwell, ‘a family with the right members in charge’.
+
+EOT;
+
+$string[ 'lngtxt_4_title' ] = 'Ten cheers for Jennie Lee';
+$string[ 'lngtxt_4_url' ] = 'http://www.open.ac.uk/researchprojects/historyofou/memories/ten-cheers-jennie-lee';
+$string[ 'lngtxt_4_wc' ] = 471; // 2865 chars.
+$string[ 'lngtxt_4' ] = << John Cowin
+ Briefly - born in London but lived formative years in Salford - left
+school with a gret big zero - returned to higher education at the tender
+age of 30 - at the Co-operative college - then based near Nottigham.
+Discovered the true delights of study in a very encouraging environment.
+My then tutor suggested that the Open University was being established
+and that it might well be an ideal next stage for me.
+ Really did enjoy the three years of study - after what had been a
+fairly lousy experience from the age of eleven (a Catholic school for
+boys - complete with canings/strappings for pupils who achieved four out
+of ten or less with their homework).
+ After leaving school I served some years as a bookbinder in Salford -
+then London - moved some time later to the International Telephone
+Exhange - near St Pauls - finally gave up work, as they say and started
+teaching at Hornchurch technical collge - at the same time undertaking OU
+studies - social sciences - arts (loved the music and history) - then a
+couple of education slots. Doubtless the aforementioned years influenced
+my approach to teaching (further education and from 1981 with the OU).
+ I remain a strong believer that understanding and support of students
+can go some considerable way to building up confidence - or self belief.
+ Summer school experience (what wonderful years) suggested that for
+some female students there had been real problems as they had struggled
+to overcome doubts and often opposition from male partners - hopefully a
+new generation of women are achieving AND gaining confidence in their real worth.
+ Many moons ago the OU employed the part-time lecturers as 'Tutor
+Counsellors' and the 'TLC' element - along with encouragement I always
+found to be especially rewarding. Frequently I recalled my lack of
+confidence in matters academic - the (occasional) sarcasm of some
+teachers and a (seemingly) over concentration on the A & B streams -
+leaving the less academically gifted to struggle on.
+ Put another way the OU provided a massive boost -and LOTS of
+enjoyment - a wonderful voyage of discovery. I have always enjoyed
+teaching - at the black and later white board - but above all helping
+students to enjoy learning - not to suffer in fear of what they all too
+often saw as 'failure'. Most of the technical college students could run
+rings around me in their own field - engineering - electronics or motor
+vehicle studies but almost all dreaded an 'invitation' - however gently
+given to write down the answers !
+ Enough I hear you cry - thanks to everyone concerned - ten cheers at
+the very least for Jennie Lee and all the many people who created the
+Open University. Time was (I still recall) when some would say (and did !)
+'of course you can have a real degree - or try somewhing with the OU' -
+those remarks have long been silenced ....
+
+EOT;
+
+
+// Poem 1P ~~ 'IF'.
+$string[ 'lngtxt_1_poem_title' ] = 'If—, by Rudyard Kipling';
+$string[ 'lngtxt_1_poem_url' ] = 'https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46473/if---';
+$string[ 'lngtxt_1_poem_wc' ] = 283; // 1518 chars.
+$string[ 'lngtxt_1_poem' ] = <<