Thesis by Nathan Brunei, 1982. I received an email, via this website, drawing to my attention that a Frenchman, Nathan Brunei, had researched the work of George Lyward and Finchden Manor in the 1970’s. He came over to England and met George Lyward’s son, John. In 1982 Nathan Brunei completed the thesis at the University […]
From the Introduction… Aged sixteen and struggling with his sexuality, Tom Robinson attempted to take his own life. Following a series of assessments and tests, he was interviewed for Finchden Manor, a therapeutic community which Robinson describes as the “last chance saloon.” Under the stewardship of George Lyward, Finchden Manor was an unconventional place that […]
By George Lyward.
Sallie Roberts, London. Finchden Manor is a community consisting of between 50-60 boys and young men, and some ten members of staff. The boys have always been known as The House; the staff are called by first or nicknames. Mr Lyward was known to many, many people – parents, teachers, students and patients – as […]
Barbara Smith Director of Special Education Course, Bristol, U.K. Mr Lyward came to the experienced teachers’ course in Special Education at Redland College, in Bristol, as external examiner. The first thought that comes to my mind is a comment in a letter from a former student on hearing of his death. “Dear, dear Mr Lyward; […]
Simon Auster, Psychiatrist, Virginia, USA George Lyward was a lonely man. To be sure, like the rest of us, much that he did perpetuated that state. But as is true with so many talented charismatic individuals his admirers mistaking the myths for the man, looked no further than the truly inspiring surface of the teacher […]
By Gordon Toplis, School of Architecture, Manchester, UK. It is well known that in coastal navigation one may discover one’s position by taking bearings on known fixed objects. These bearings, when charted, should theoretically meet at a point. But of course they never do, except in ideal conditions. They tend, rather, to define an area […]
What was it about George Lyward which made me feel that to expose student-teachers, however briefly, to his influence, could be a vitally important ingredient in their training? Probably much the same thing that kept me, as a teacher myself, coming back to him for wisdom over a period of more than thirty years. In this article I shall try to catch that quality in the man as it relates to the philosophical cross-currents and dilemmas of twentieth century education.
John Prickett, Tenterden, UK No one who knew him well is likely to deny that in his chosen sphere George Lyward had a gift which can only be described as genius, by which I mean a gift comparable to that of a poet, a gift which leaves both the poet himself and the listener (or […]
By David Dunhill | Reprinted in the New Era July/August 1973 p. 164. On the strength (to me, the weakness) of a radio programme which I recorded at Finchden and an obituary notice which I wrote for ‘The Times’, I have been asked to contribute an introduction to the series of articles which make up […]