Johnny Ball Reveals All at Roscoe Lecture
27 January 2011
Johnny Ball’s recent Roscoe Lecture “Past Imperfect – Future Fantastic” considered ‘Earth, the Climate and Mankind’, and was an inspiring talk on the subject, with jokes and audience participation ensuring this was a lively lecture.
Johnny’s career path has been extra-ordinarily diverse and Liverpool has played a huge part in it. He was also reunited with an old work colleague Dave Nicholas from his days as a Redcoat, a story also covered by the Liverpool Echo. Dave Nicholas is now an Organist at the Philharmonic and the pair had not seen each other for over 40 years. Johnny was a drummer at Butlin’s Pwllheli (The Merseyside Riviera) where he met Ringo Starr and Rory Storm and in Liverpool in 1962 was voted 3rd in the Merseybeat.
Johnny received an LJMU Honorary Fellowship in recognition of services to broadcasting and education in 2006. He commented on taking part in an LJMU Roscoe Lecture:
“Liverpool has been a big influence on my career and life, and is a place very dear to my heart. I am extremely happy to have this opportunity to present a positive spin on a subject that is usually so doom and gloom. I want to help young people to realise that opportunities are out there for them and that the world is just waiting for them to give it their best shot.”
Johnny Ball became famous as a populariser of Maths, Science and Technology, writing and presenting over twenty solo TV series between 1978 and 1993, including shows like Think of a Number, Think Again, and Johnny Ball Reveals All, which entertained as well as informing audiences and inspired huge numbers of young people to follow careers in these subjects and in teaching.
The Citizenship Award was presented to Maricourt Catholic High School and was collected by students Tony Cliffe, last year’s Head Boy, Leader of the Mercy Environment Group, member of the School Council and currently at Chester University studying geography and Alex Tierney, Leader of the School Council. Project Al Gore was designed to make the school more sustainable and environmentally friendly by reducing carbon emissions, educating fellow pupils and staff into thinking ‘greener’ by making the school grounds more environmentally friendly and to have healthier school meals. The project was recognised at the Houses of Parliament by the Rt Hon John Bercow MP.
Tony Cliffe commented on the award: "It’s been a fantastic achievement to see our ideas turn into reality and, step by step however small they may be, pupils at Maricourt are making a difference and taking basic lessons in how to combat climate change.”
Click here to download a recording of the lecture
Pictured: Johnny Ball and Dave Nicholas in the 1960s and reunited at the Roscoe Lecture
