PROFESSOR SOMERSET

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29864, 3 July 1962, Page 16

PROFESSOR SOMERSET

Retirement In January

Professor H. C. D. Somerset, well known as a specialist in community aspects of education in country areas, will retire from Victoria University. Wellington, in January next, after 15 years’ service as a senior lecturer and associate professor.

A report to the Victoria University council by the vice»chancellor (Dr. J. Williams) on Professor Somerset’s notice of resignation noted his service to most aspects of education, and said he had served "with great devotion and notable courage.” “I am retiring after long service in education, but I hope to continue my interests in it. You can't get away from it," Professor Somerset was recently reported as saying. Professor Somerset, who is 67, was born in Christchurch, and educated at Christchurch Boys' High School and at the then Canterbury University College, where he took his MA. degree. He trained as a teacher at the Christchurch Teachers’ College, and from 1923 to 1928 was secondary assistant master at the Oxford District High School, where he gathered material for his book. “Littledene.” a study of life in a New Zealand rural communitv. In 1936-37. Professor Somerset studied co. imunity and adult education in England Europe, and the United States under a Carnegie fellowship. On his return to New Zealand in 1938. he became director of the Feildine Community Centre, the first in New Zealand. From this cost, he took up a lectureship in education at Victoria University. Besides "Littledene.” Professor Somerset is the author of many papers and articles on education.