Dr Brian Greaves Obituary

Dr Brian Greaves MBE was a product of a strong Methodist tradition of service and of the now abandoned, merit-based, free educational system without which many of our generation could not have gone to university. He repaid the investment in his training many times over by dedicating his life to education and serving Methodism in many roles until his death.

Born in 1933, his childhood was challenging, being dominated by the war and austerity. He passed for the grammar school, won a scholarship to Leeds University, gained a First in geography, a university scholarship and an MA. He completed a PhD, from Liverpool while lecturing arid teaching.

As a teenager he received a strong call to be a Methodist local preacher and he led all sorts of worship for 60 years. He wore his faith openly but lightly, commending it to all, but respecting individual choice. He served Methodist structures initially as chapel and circuit stewards and church treasurer in the Liverpool area.

For the last 30 years he was a member of Emmanuel Methodist and URC church in Ormskirk where he was local preacher tutor and latterly involved in worship leaders' training. He was also church secretary, when his skilful attention to detail guided Emmanuel through the intricacies of a new constitution.

Conviction

He worked variously in education at Liverpool Collegiate School and C F Mott and Edgehill Colleges. In 1982, Lancashire County Council voted to close Edge Hill College of Higher Education and merge it with Preston Polytechnic. With senior colleagues, Brian led the fight, marshalled the evidence and argued the case with such conviction that the council held a second meeting and rescinded its decision.

Under the 1988 Education Act, Edge Hill was removed from local authority control. He was key in putting the necessary infrastructure in place. Eventually deputy principal, he treated all staff equally, listened to everyone’s opinion and was happy to be convinced by others or to fully justify his own position.
He was a first-class academic geographer and an even better manager Edge-Hill University, as it now is, survived in no small part because of Brian. He, as much as anyone, built the foundations and held it together through the toughest years. Anyone educated in a north-west school or treated in a north-west hospital will most probably have been helped by someone whose career was facilitated by him.

He served as a governor in education - at Skelmersdale and Ormskirk College and Glenburn School.Education was at his very core: a walk with Brian was a lesson in history and geography. His lifetime contribution to education was justly recognised by the award of an MBE.

Brian is survived by Joan, his wife of 53 years. daughters Alison and Katherine all three of whom are teachers — and two beloved grand daughters.

Walter Greaves

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