Mike Burton presents his lecture 'The Water Babies'.
This beautiful fairy story has charmed generations of children - and
adults. But scarcely remembered now is the central part it played in
the famous Darwinian evolution debate, nor the major boost it gave to
the advancement of women's rights. It was also critical to the growth
of the early environmental movement and the fight for clean water in
cities. And it was decisive in ending the shameful Victorian era chapter
of little boys being sent up chimneys as sweeps.
I am a former newspaper journalist and teacher, now retired. As a
young man I spent many years in New Zealand, working as a reporter
for the country’s national daily newspaper. I specialised in politics,
crime, Maori affairs and environmental issues.
Much of my teaching career was spent at Uppingham School, where I
was Academic Assistant Head and I taught History. It was a huge
pleasure – and an enormous privilege – to work, in the classroom, for
so many years, with thousands of enthusiastic youngsters.
In my dotage I spend much of my time writing more and more
historically-themed talks, which groups in all corners of the East
Midlands listen to with patience and tolerance. These folk are really
the successors to my pupils, because my talks reflect the way that I
used to teach history - using jolly stories, lots of pictures, and plenty of
colour, to seek to transmit a fascination for the past.
I sing with two choirs. One of these is the Belvoir Wassailers, a male
voice group, which often performs in Grantham. I work as a guide at
Rockingham Castle, and I enjoy both walking the great paths of Britain
and also spending a day at Trent Bridge as often as I am able.