Surrey County Council Long Service Award for History Tutor Colin Parrish

Colin's career with Surrey Adult Learning began in 1994, following an advertisement in the local paper for a short introductory course on teaching. After completing his City and Guilds Teaching Certificate, SAL did not require a general History teacher. As a result, Colin offered his knowledge and passion for Royal History, which was a new subject for Surrey Adult Learning. The courses were immediately popular, and the rest is history, as the saying goes!

Over the years Colin has inspired and fuelled the interest of many learners attending his specialised History courses on Royal History by the delivery of many courses and lectures across six different Centres, including his current and main centre, at Esher, and online. During years of dedicated teaching, he has missed just one lesson.

Colin has worked tirelessly to provide a fresh and interesting programme every year. He includes learners in the planning of future sessions, building new courses around their ideas and interests.

He has a particular interest in British and European Royal History for the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries, but he is open to deliver history courses for any period – his current course is 'England's Norman Queens'.

When planning the individual sessions, Colin uses a variety of methods, including family tress, visual stimuli, and local connections to add interest for the learners. Tutor Colin also includes fascinating detail and a wealth of research that brings the characters alive.

Our valued tutor Colin knows how to cultivate interest in History thanks to his passion and commitment to teaching coupled with his teaching style that engages learners. The result is clear, Colin Parrish has a loyal following of learners that return to his history courses with SAL. One learner in particular, came to his very first History course in 1995 and still attends Friday lectures, whilst another learner has attended all of his courses for the last 23years!

After all this time, and over 150 different history courses, Colin is still researching new material and finding new topics to discuss.

When one learner was recently asked if she liked Colin's History course, she responded,

"Like it? I love it!"

Surrey Adult Learning would like to congratulate Colin, we thank him for his inspirational teaching and instilling a passion for learning History to so many learners.

As we approach the Coronation of King Charles III, a new History Lecture exploring British Coronations will be led by tutor Colin Parrish at the Esher Centre on Friday 5th May 2023. Enrol now as spaces are limited!