Geography Book is Pure History!

Wartime Edge Hill Geography students have made an emotional return to the Ormskirk campus to mark the launch of an inspirational new book.

Written and edited by Geography staff Sylvia Woodhead and Ann Chapman, 'Human or Physical? People and Places of Edge Hill? details the institution?s evolution from a Women?s Teacher Training College in 1885 to its current guise as a university-in-waiting, through the voices of around 60 contributors.

Edge Hill began life in the Liverpool district of the same name before moving across to Ormskirk in 1933. During the Second World War, staff and students relocated to Bingley in West Yorkshire while the campus buildings were used as a temporary hospital, before heading back over the Pennines in 1946.

David Owen, who was a soldier based on campus during the war, said: "When I arrived, the college was already operating as a military hospital, though there were no wounded soldiers at this early stage of the war, and the morgue was not then built.

"It is quite likely that the roof was painted with a red cross, all windows were covered in black blinds and parts of the front of the college were sand bagged."

Lois Ford, who was a student at Edge Hill from 1946-48, remembers a campus life markedly different to that of today.

"We were expected to study in our rooms from 7pm ? 9pm and lights were supposed to be out at 10pm," she recalls. "Except at half terms we were expected to be on the premises at weekends. I remember one half term asking to leave earlier in order to catch a train at Preston however this was refused and I had to stay!"

Such strictness was perhaps the least of the students? worries however, with Edge Hill?s time as a makeshift morgue leading to the odd spooky experience or two, including ghostly noises in the Geography building and elsewhere in the college.

Co-writer and editor Sylvia Woodhead concluded: "In the later chapters of the book both staff and students explain how significant Edge Hill has been in their learning. With so many contributors there really is a story for everyone and the many photographs included by Ann only add to its attraction.

"The positive reaction to the book by local people and those connected with Edge Hill has been very pleasing."

'Human or Physical? is available from Green Lane Books (www.greenlanebooks.co.uk), Ann Chapman in the Geography department and Ottakar?s bookstore in Ormskirk, priced £14.99.

Picture: Back (l-r) Former students Alice Dale and Betty Foster, soldier David Owen and former student Lois Ford. Front: Writers Sylvia Woodhead, Ann Chapman and Edge Hill chief executive John Cater.