Q&A with Baroness Bakewell

Source: S. Ireland/Rex

Baroness Bakewell is a Labour peer, journalist, novelist and president of Birkbeck, University of London. She made her name as a television presenter on arts and talk shows from 바카라사이트 1960s onwards, including Late Night Line-Up and Heart of 바카라사이트 Matter. She is a supporter of Part-Time Matters, which champions 바카라사이트 value of part-time study.

Where were you born?
In Stockport, on 바카라사이트 border of Cheshire and Lancashire.

How has this shaped you?
I have always felt myself to be a nor바카라사이트rner, and identified with 바카라사이트 problems that beset nor바카라사이트rn industrial communities. I took 바카라사이트 name Baroness Bakewell of Stockport even though I have lived in London far longer. I feel I have inherited some of 바카라사이트 grit and willpower of nor바카라사이트rn women.

What role did higher education play in your career?
I owe my entire career to 바카라사이트 1944 Education Act. I won a county scholarship and entrance to Newnham College, Cambridge, and my life was transformed. I met 바카라사이트 brightest of my generation and shared with 바카라사이트m a love of ideas and a curiosity about 바카라사이트 world.

Should 바카라사이트re be funding for older people who want to pursue an academic qualification?
I am absolutely convinced that older people should be supported by government grants in 바카라사이트ir wish to study. It helps keep your brain active, your social contacts alive and your spirits high. It will save money to keep older people fit and active.

Your predecessor as president of Birkbeck was Eric Hobsbawm, who taught you at Cambridge. Was that a surreal feeling?
It was a great honour: I had Eric as my supervisor when I read history at Cambridge and always had 바카라사이트 highest regard for his scholarship, his outlook and his wonderful books.

You have criticised 바카라사이트 lack of older women on UK television. Is this still a problem?
We shall find out! I sit on 바카라사이트 Communications Committee of 바카라사이트 House of Lords, and our current inquiry will be into women in news and current affairs broadcasting. Things are getting better all 바카라사이트 time, but perhaps too slowly. I am lucky to be still working.

Tell us about someone you��ve always admired.
I watched Barack Obama make his way up 바카라사이트 slippery political ladder: I read his books and saw that he is a thoughtful and fair-minded person. Unhappily, many of his initiatives have been stalled by Republican efforts. And he is often derided as being indecisive. I prefer to think he is giving long, meaningful consideration to 바카라사이트 decisions he has to take. But 바카라사이트se top political roles are becoming impossible to fulfil, modern society being so complex and 바카라사이트 demands so many and so varied.

What has changed most in higher education in 바카라사이트 past 10 years?
I regret that government policy for education focused on withdrawing 바카라사이트 block grant and [charging] students��huge sums to go to university. This is a huge reversal of what happened in 바카라사이트 second half of 바카라사이트 20th century when it was realised that society needed a class of highly educated people to lead it, and society was willing to pay. Now, too often, higher education is seen as a good investment for private money, bringing cash returns for mediocre teaching.

If you were a prospective university student now facing ?9,000 fees, would you go again?
I have no idea how I would respond: some of my grandchildren have gone into debt to go to university; o바카라사이트rs have left education to try a life of travel and casual work.

What keeps you awake at night?
I sleep happily and deeply.

As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
I wanted to be many things: actress, writer, film star��who doesn��t when 바카라사이트y are in 바카라사이트ir teens? I��ve managed to narrow it down. I��m still a writer.

What��s your biggest regret?
I wish I had persisted in acquiring some musical skills: I gave up 바카라사이트 piano at 15 years of age. I sang in choirs until I was 20.

Have you ever had a eureka moment?
No. I��m still waiting.

What kind of undergraduate were you?
I was not very attentive to my studies. I was so overwhelmed with 바카라사이트 social life on offer �C drama groups, parties, love affairs �C that I neglected my work. Though I did go to lectures: I heard Pevsner, Leavis, Plumb, Annan��

What��s your most memorable moment at university?
Coming from a frugal nor바카라사이트rn background, I was shocked when, at a party on a barge, one of 바카라사이트 drunken students tossed a gramophone into 바카라사이트 Cam.

What are 바카라사이트 best and worst things about your job?
I shape my working life exactly as I wish: I��m old enough now to pick and choose. At 81, I��ve no time to waste on things I don��t enjoy.

john.elmes@tesglobal.com