Page 7 - ELG2312 Dec Issue 487

NEWS
Remembering Philip Prowse

Alan Maley reflects on the life of Philip Prowse.

hilip, who died recently, English Readers. These titles such, he was highly influential
will be remembered by all aimed to provide learners with on thinking in our field.
who knew him as someone engaging stories, written in Concurrently, he began a
Pwho made many valuable authentic English, without the long and productive writing
contributions to ELT. constraints of word and structure partnership with Judy Garton-
As Director of the Bell College lists. He constantly encouraged Sprenger, publishing a string of
in Saffron Walden in the 1970’s contributors to write simply highly successful coursebooks.
and 80’s, he ran a highly complex and accessibly from an intuitive In his ‘retirement’, he had begun
institution with a relaxed, yet understanding of learner levels. to establish a reputation as the
watchful – and, above all, caring Unsurprisingly, given his author of a series of spy-novels.
– way. He was deeply committed commitment to extensive reading, Three titles were published:
to less privileged regions of the he was also one of the key Hellyer’s Trip, Hellyer’s Coup, and
world; in particular to Africa. founder members of the Extensive the recently published Hellyer’s
Following his departure from Reading Foundation, helping Line – all rompingly good reads!
Saffron Walden, he worked on to establish frameworks for the Philip prided himself on the
the Education Writers’ Group of organisation in its earliest stages. authenticity of his overseas settings,
the Society of Authors. He was He was closely involved with the based on his earlier postings with Philip made a great contribution
tireless in his defence of authors’ establishment of the Language the British Council in places like to our profession. But he was also a
rights, and in promoting their Learner Literature Awards. Egypt and Greece. These novels man with a great sense of humour,
publishing careers. As Reviews Editor of the ELT are all fast-paced, racy, action- a zest for life, a highly developed
He was a passionate advocate of Journal, he took a proactive role packed narratives, with intriguing sense of social responsibility, and
the key role of extensive reading, in the books to review, ensuring plot-lines that keep the reader a generous capacity for friendship.
and became the series editor of that less well-known titles and guessing. I am sad to be deprived of I shall miss him greatly, and I am
the highly innovative Cambridge authors were given an airing. As his next book in the series. not alone.

www.expresspublishing.co.uk www.expressdigibooks.com

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