Adding to everyone else's tributes to a good friend and colleague who, despite her illness, gave me invaluable support as I was working on the Life in the UK Study Guide which she commissioned - one of many projects we shared. I'll treasure some wonderful memories and celebrate her contribution.
Celine
Date: Tue, 28 Jan 2014 13:51:59 +0000
From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: A tribute to Chris Taylor
To: [log in to unmask]
It’s such a heart breaking news that our Chris is not among usL. Her passion in developing ESOL and the great work in
promoting ESOL during ‘Action for ESOL’ campaign will always be remembered.
Shaheena
Shaheena
Rizvi
Skills for Life
Curriculum Lead
Bromley by Bow Centre
T 020 8709 9719
M 074 2811 1239
E [log in to unmask]
www.bbbc.org.uk
assume it’s possible
From:
ESOL-Research discussion forum and message board [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of rob leach
Sent: 28 January 2014 13:42
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: A tribute to Chris Taylor
Like everyone who knew her professionally I found Chris to be unfailingly committed to ESOL, wise and focused, ready to consider all angles but always coming up with practical solutions. She was great at co-ordinating
professional development projects and resource development projects, training, defence of rights and improvement of quality in language and literacy. She was a great team leader and got the best out of co-operating with other agencies, whether LLU+ or the
Home Office. Her loss leaves a big gap.
Robert Leach
On 27/01/2014 16:54, James Simpson wrote:
Karen Dudley has written a tribute to Chris Taylor, who died recently.
A link to this tribute is on the NATECLA website.
http://natecla.org.uk/news/765/A-tribute-to-Chris-Taylor-by-NATECLA
Thanks Karen so much for writing this.
James
A tribute to Chris Taylor
It is with immense sadness that friends and colleagues of Chris Taylor have learned that Chris died on January 2nd 2014.
As we all know, Chris had worked in ESOL for many years. Chris’s passion for teaching started during her voluntary work in Nigeria, and following this, and a few years in Moscow and Malta,
Chris qualified as an ESOL teacher and began her ESOL career at the Hackney Adult Education Institute. This was followed by her pioneering work heading up the Open Learning Centre at Tower Hamlets College – and our brief but very memorable trip to Bangladesh
together. After this, Chris continued to make a significant impact through her work first as Director of Project 2000 and then at the Refugee Council. Most recently Chris’s role as Programme Director at NIACE included leading on the
development of the ESOL Citizenship materials in partnership with LLU+ and more recently editing the NIACE study guide for the new citizenship test.
Chris played a key role in both shaping and responding to policy changes and proposals relating to ESOL and adult learning. During 2009/10 Chris supported many providers and local authorities
across the UK in their responses to the 'New approach to ESOL'. She also provided typically thoughtful and measured ideas and suggestions as part of the Action for ESOL campaign. Chris organised a very successful parliamentary meeting, through NIACE and
the Refugee Council, which brought the consequences of the revised eligibility proposals to the attention of MPs and peers. In 2012 Chris also addressed the implications of the Home Office's Statement of Intent on Family Migration.
Throughout her career, Chris contributed to and ran many inspiring workshops and conferences, including many sessions for NATECLA (National Association for the Teaching of English and Other
Community Languages). In July 2013, following her retirement, Chris was a most deserving recipient of an ‘Outstanding Contribution to ESOL Award’ from NATECLA. As Judy Kirsh, co-chair of NATECLA, said at the time of the award:
"Through her work at NIACE, Chris was an untiring and passionate advocate of ESOL. She always kept the learners and their needs as her main focus and was positive
and supportive to work with. NATECLA would like to formally thank her for all she has done for ESOL.”
Chris’ response to receiving the award reflected the commitment and dedication which had underpinned all of her outstanding work in ESOL:
"I'm really thrilled to receive this NATECLA award, what an honour. I've loved working in ESOL - it's been a passion, not a job. I've met wonderful students, worked with brilliant colleagues who have become
friends and learnt so much along the way. It's been a privilege to get up in the morning to do a job that's so worthwhile."
A service of thanksgiving to celebrate Chris’s life was held on 20th January in the beautiful little church of Stoke Golding – the Leicestershire village where Chris and her family had moved to just
a few years ago. It was a very special, memorable and moving occasion with contributions from Chris's partner, daughter, brother, friends and colleagues. These tributes all added to what we each personally knew of Chris – and built up a striking testimony
of what a truly amazing and very special person she was, her sense of fun and humour, her unstinting and passionate commitment to her work and the difference she had made to so many people's lives. Unsurprisingly, the church was packed with family, friends
and colleagues from across the country and from different periods of her life, as well as new friends and neighbours from Stoke Golding. It was no surprise to learn that within a very short time of moving to the village Chris had set up a thriving book group
and the first ever Stoke Golding Adult Learners’ Week!
For those of us who knew Chris, it was a privilege to have her as a friend and colleague. She will be greatly missed - but she has left a lasting legacy for which, I am sure, we are all immensely
thankful.
Karen Dudley
If you would like to make a donation in
Chris’s memory,
contributions can be made
to Amnesty International:
https://www2.amnesty.org.uk/giving/donate
References:
http://www.niace.org.uk/news/niace-tribute-to-former-colleague-and-esol-expert
http://feweek.co.uk/2014/01/07/tribute-to-adult-learning-champion-chris-taylor-who-has-died-aged-60/
http://www.niace.org.uk/news/outstanding-contribution-award-for-niace-esol-work
http://lists.niace.org.uk/lz/lz.aspx?p1=05897701S6941&CC=&p=0
*********************************** ESOL-Research is a forum for researchers and practitioners with an interest in research into teaching and
learning ESOL. ESOL-Research is managed by James Simpson at the Centre for Language Education Research, School of Education, University of Leeds. To join or leave ESOL-Research, visit
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--
Best wishes
Robert
*********************************** ESOL-Research is a forum for researchers and practitioners with an interest in research
into teaching and learning ESOL. ESOL-Research is managed by James Simpson at the Centre for Language Education Research, School of Education, University of Leeds. To join or leave ESOL-Research, visit
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ESOL-Research is a forum for researchers and practitioners with an interest in research into teaching and learning ESOL. ESOL-Research is managed by James Simpson at the Centre for Language Education Research, School of Education, University of Leeds.
To join or leave ESOL-Research, visit
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***********************************
ESOL-Research is a forum for researchers and practitioners with an interest in research into teaching and learning ESOL. ESOL-Research is managed by James Simpson at the Centre for Language Education Research, School of Education, University of Leeds.
To join or leave ESOL-Research, visit
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/ESOL-RESEARCH.html
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