My friend and colleague Bernard Godding, who has died aged 82, was one of the more imaginative adult educationists of his generation. As head of adult education for central Norfolk for nearly 20 years, he was known for his commitment to visiting classes across the wider Norwich area and his encouragement of new tutors.
Bernard was not a rule-follower and he was determined to give communities what they needed. He had an ability to work round systems “for the students”, as he put it. This irritated some senior managers who were forever finding ways to rein him in, but fortunately he was strongly supported by centre heads and tutors. This led to some groundbreaking advances. Provision at regional forensic units, in long-stay hospitals, and on social housing estates, brought people into learning who had not had the opportunities before.
