Dr Bob Unwin - A Tribute
Dr Robert (Bob) Unwin
I was extremely sad to hear the news that dear Bob Unwin passed away in January 2021. Bob was my tutor and my inspiration during my PGCE year at Leeds University. His warmth and energy are a legend to those of us who passed through the doors of the School of Education. His history tours were those special moments when Bob’s sheer enthusiasm shone through.
There are already countless comments from former students and every one of them has his lovable character threading through them. I know that, in my case, I would never have grown into the teacher I became without dear Bob Unwin. I would like to share a few Bob stories from my time as a student under his protective and wise wing.
I recall Bob taking a small group of us (PGCE students) to our school practice in the rural part of West Yorkshire, this was our first introduction to the school AND Bob’s history teaching methods. He took all six of us in a mini bus and took great delight on insisting we have a ‘stop-off’. We pulled up at an isolated café near a disused colliery whereupon Bob took us in for breakfast. “Nothing like a fried muffin before school!” He told us. As we tucked into our muffins and tea, Bob told us about the history of the school catchment. This included the very café in which we were snacking in. During its heyday it had been a working coal mine. He told us of the miners’ strike in the 1980s and how the many social/economic implications had thus affected the area ever since. As mines go, Bob was a deep mine of knowledge and insight. Thus, we were all extremely sensitive to the issues of mine closures and strikes. The egg muffin was excellent I have to say.
When, during my studies, I told Bob that I was unsettled in my student accommodation he arranged a change for me and I went on to stay in a lovely family home. The family were, quite naturally, friends of his. He really was just a warm person and with a heart of gold. The family adopted me during my stay with them. A great move, thanks Bob.
My introduction to his legendary history tours, was a PGCE tour of Hull. I remember some thirty plus PGCE students filing into a snug room of a Hull pub where a solitary man was sitting and having a quiet pint. As the room filled up, Bob walked to each individual and handed them a quiz sheet. He handed the poor chap a sheet with the Bob-get out clause, “Would you care to join us?” The man seized the get out clause and politely left. That was Bob all over; even members of the public could be nicely drawn in to Bob’s history learning….if they wished.
As my training progressed; so did Bob’s guidance. I made sure I used some of his resources in my history lessons, he would have a glint in his eye and compliment any use of such good sources of history. Bob was a published author of several school history text books. On the occasion of my first classroom observation, it was Bob who came along to observe. I primed my class beforehand. As Bob entered the classroom thirty odd year 8 students stood up and gave a Roman chest salute and a loudly greeted him with a, “Hail visitor!” Bob was nicely responsive and returned their greeting with a hearty, “Hail class!” I loved his sense of humour and so did the kids.
Bob was there supporting and encouraging me throughout my school practice and was present in class in order to observe my final lesson observation. Half way through a Year 9 history lesson, Bob gave me the thumbs up. It was just like that feeling you have when the driving examiner tells you that you have passed your driving test. I had passed my teacher training with the Bob Unwin thumbs up!
I owe so much to Bob. He was inspirational. His manner with people was his greatest asset and I always see him in my mind with a smile on his face. Bob taught history with passion and with a glow. I, like all his students, have tried to carry that glow on. I recall, just a year into my career, doing a history lesson about the cotton mills….Bob Unwin flowed out in that lesson. I arranged the tables in a long row and got the pupils to bang their metallic pencil cases on the tops and in unison. After a whole minute of much noise, I signalled and the rhythmic beating of pencil cases stopped. Then in a low voice and using sign language I told the children….”That’s what a cotton mill sounded like, but not just for a minute, all day long. I’m using sign in order that you can understand me because, back then, you would all have had severe hearing damage!” It was pure Bob Unwin.
I will miss you Bob. Thank you for everything.
G-d bless his memory.
Cristóir Csorba.
