In Memory of Sybil Marshall
26th November 1913 – 29th August 2005
On August 29th of 2005 Sybil passed from this world. Her accomplishments were many and far reaching. She influenced several generations of educators with a vision of education that was about the joy of learning and the adventure life provides every one of us.
Her scholarship was impressive and an exceptional example of how an inclusive attitude to the many factors in our lives can be used to inform and make us better. She was never limited by the strictures of just doing what was needed but saw the greatness of human potential and how exciting it was to bring that to students.
She continued to add to her accomplishments her entire life and had a great following of devoted readers of her fiction, who will miss her deeply.
Curriculum Vitae
Sybil Marshall M.A.(Cantab), Hon. D. Litt (Sussex)
Education:
- 1919-1923 – Ramsey Heights Elementary School
- 1924-1932 – Ramsey Grammar School
- 1948-1949 – Exhall Grange Emergency Training College, Coventry
- 1960-1962 – New Hall, University of Cambridge
Qualifications Gained:
- Oxford School Certificate
- Oxford Higher School Certificate
- Certificate of Education
- English Hons. Class 2:1 (Tripos completed in 2 years)
Employment:
1933- Jul1939 – As uncertificated teacher, South Woodham Ferrers, Primary School, Essex
1936-1939 – Unqualified, uncertified Class Teacher -Huntingdon Council School
1942-1948 – Unqualified, Uncertificated Head Teacher – Kingston County Primary School, Cambridgeshire (a one-teacher school)
1948-1949 – Please see above.
1949-1960- until its closure) Certificated Head Teacher – Kingston County School, Cambridgeshire
1960-1962 – Won Extra-Mural Board of University of Cambridge Mature Bursary- became New Hall’s
first ‘true mature’ student (completed English Hons. Tripos in 2 years)
1962-1967 – Lecturer in Primary Education at University of Sheffield Institute of Education. (see publication below)
1965-1978 – Educational Adviser to Granada Television Broadcasting for Primary schools Picture Box (see below)
1967-1976 – (until retirement)-Reader in Primary Education, University of Sussex
1976 to present- Author of books on education/textbooks for schools leading to best selling novelist
at age of 79 years, recorder of life in the fens and books on general folklore
Publications:
An Experiment in Education (still known as the ‘teachers’ bible’) -pub. C.U.P.
Adventure in Creative Education(on training of teachers)- pub. Peregamon Press
Creative Writing -pub. Macmillan
Series of Books for use in Primary Schools -various publishers including C.U.P., Rupert Hart Davies Educational
and Granada Publishing Ltd.
Picture Box– This series ran for 24 years and during that time 69 books of Teachers Notes were produced, pub.
By Granada Television Ltd.
General, Rural Life and Folklore- especially in the Fens:
Fenland Chronicle – pub. C.U.P., 1963 H/B, and Penguin 1998, P/B
Once upon a Village – pub. J.M. Dent, 1979
The Silver New Nothing – pub. Boydell & Brewer, 1987 (later by Penguin in P/B)
A Pride of Tigers – pub. Boydell & Brewer, 1992, H/B and Penguin, 1995, P/B now also in large print edition
Everyman’s Book of English Folktales – pub. J.M. Dent, 1981 (Winner of the Angel Prize for Literture 1982
On the demise of J.M. Dent was re-published in paperback by Orion Books Ltd., 1996. This book is still
much in demand, especially in Europe as work copied and controlled by ALCS, mainly for grammar
schools and universities.
Under the Hawthorn – pub. J.M. Dent, 1981
Fiction:
A Nest of Magpies – pub. Michael Joseph, 1993 (official best seller), H/B, P/B, Large Print and Audio editions.
Sharp Through the Hawthorn – Pub. Michael Joseph, 1994, H/B , Penguin, P/B, 1995 and Audio
The Chequer Board (short stories)- pub. Michael Joseph, 1995, H/B and Penguin UK, P/B, 1996
Strip the Willow – pub. Michael Joseph, 1996, H/B and penguin UK, P/B, 1997
A Late Lark Singing – pub. Michael Joseph, 1997, H/B and Penguin UK, 1998, P/B
Ring the Bell Backwards – pub Trade P/B Penguin UK, 1999, Penguin P/B, 2000.