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One day teacher, whole life father

pbj-studentsOn 16th November the Sheffield School of Architecture held an event to celebrate Peter’s life and work. It was an amazing evening, attended by around 200 people. Peter’s ex-students, some of them professors themselves now, came from places as far afield as Korea and Taiwan. It was intensely moving to hear what an influence he had had – and still has -not just as a writer, but as a teacher and thesis supervisor.

Among the speeches was one by Peter’s last Ph.D student, Xiang Ren, who ended by saying, ‘For me as a student, also as an international outsider, the time I spent with Peter is much less than most of the attendees here today. But he was really that person who influenced me so much – I would say, whole life – there is an old saying in traditional China – ‘one day teacher, whole life father’. Peter was such a person to me. He was also ‘the father of the house’ for the arts tower/SSoA, and I believe the flame will go on, for so many generations of younger students, scholars and practitioners not only coming from Sheffield, but also from all over the world.’

The photo is of Peter and me and Peter’s colleague, Jan Woudstra, with a group of Ph.D students and visiting scholars plus partners and children at our house in June 2013. I have taken it from a collection of photographs and tributes compiled by Peter’s South-east Asian students and which you can read here: http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/architecture/latest/pbj-phd-students-1.645114

6 Comments

  1. tracybham
    November 30, 2016

    That is a beautiful and moving tribute, Christine, both here and at the School of Architecture site.

    Reply
    • Christine Poulson
      November 30, 2016

      Thank you, Tracy. It does help to know that others valued Peter so much.

      Reply
  2. Helen Hardie
    November 30, 2016

    How wonderful. And what a legacy.

    Reply
  3. moira @ClothesInBooks
    December 2, 2016

    How wonderful, it must be comforting to know how loved he was. That picture is just beautiful, I stared and stared at it.

    Reply
    • Christine Poulson
      December 2, 2016

      Thank you, Moira. Yes, it is all a comfort. How I wish Peter had known just how much he would be mourned . . . And by the way, that scarf I am wearing is the one Rachel wears in Deep Water. A detail that I know you will enjoy!

      Reply

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