Bill Hope obituary

In 1973, Bill Hope, who has died aged 76, established the first part-time diploma course for youth workers without formal qualifications, at Avery Hill training college, in Eltham, south-east London (now part of Greenwich University). Bill was then a youth worker with the Inner London Education Authority (Ilea), and brought his vast experience of working with young people, an understanding of students' backgrounds and a wealth of knowledge of the academic world to the course, which made it an interesting and challenging experience for the students. I was one of them. In 1980 Bill became an Ilea inspector for further, higher and community education and was later promoted to senior staff inspector. Among other achievements, he set up a groundbreaking evaluation scheme for youth workers, in collaboration with Sussex University and with the help of his fellow Ilea youth workers Dennis Kelly and, later, Mina Temple. He was also a dedicated internationalist and truly believed that the world would be improved if young people from all cultures could meet together. He was a member and adviser to the Commonwealth Youth Exchange Council. Bill was born in Erith, on the south-eastern outskirts of London. During the second world war he was evacuated to the Lake District, where he discovered the joys of sailing and hill walking. At Erith grammar school, he became a county class athlete, played rugby and began singing, joining the local operatic society. He later received voice training from Robert Bowman, a leading Covent Garden tenor. Bill sang many tenor roles, but especially loved Gilbert and Sullivan. Following teacher training at Bretton Hall college in West Yorkshire, he taught art, English and PE, becoming one of the first full-time youth and community workers in Britain, attached to Shepshed community school in Leicestershire. In the 1970s he was appointed a district youth officer in London. Bill's strong sense of social justice led him to jump at the opportunity to set up the diploma at Avery Hill. After the demise of Ilea in 1990, Bill took early retirement and, with his wife Jo, moved to Metung, on the Victorian coast of Australia, where he participated in activities from light opera and sailing. He became president of the local community education college. Bill is survived by Jo, a stepdaughter, Antonia, son Chris, four grandchildren, and his brother, John.