Staying anywhere for 45 years must mean that it’s been a happy place in which to work – and that’s definitely true for me. I’ve loved working with our students and have learned a lot from the questions they’ve asked about the common interests we share about the subject. To be able to be part of their future and make a difference to their lives is something I’ll never forget.
Professor David Green
15 July 2024
'Enthusiastic and imaginative': Geography celebrates Professor David Green on his retirement
Professor Green is the longest-serving member of staff, having joined the department in 1979.
In June, the Department of Geography celebrated their longest-serving member of staff, Professor David Green, ahead of his official retirement in August. Staff and students presented him a Festschrift to honour his invaluable contributions to the field of Historical Geography, his passionate work as a teacher and his warmth and mentorship as a colleague.
Professor Green has been with the department since 1979 when it was a ‘Joint School’ in collaboration with the London School of Economics (LSE). He started as a lecturer in Human Geography, one among 18 academic staff in the nascent department. He retires as Professor of Historical Geography and will remain an Emeritus Professor.
Professor Green’s research has focused on 18th to 20th century London, particularly working-class lives, occupational health, wealth and welfare in this period. His work explored these themes through a geographical lens, showing how place is key to understanding differences in social conditions. One of his recent projects, Addressing Health, used pension records and other information on Victorian Post Office workers to examine occupational health in this period.
But his enthusiasm for London’s history and geography was never limited to the classroom. Professor Green often organised walking tours for students and colleagues around the King’s Strand campus, bringing to life Roman London, the Great Fire and the Great Stink through his fascinating anecdotes.
Teaching has been one of Professor Green’s greatest passions and he experimented with new ways of engaging students such as through making podcasts for assessments. In his early years with the department, Professor Green designed a module based on his research which still runs today as the ‘Economy, Society and Politics in 19th Century London’ course for undergraduate students.
Professor Kate Schreckenberg, head of the department, said, “David has been instrumental in developing our Internship module into a popular and enriching option for students and hosts alike, enabling the department to collaborate with a fantastic range of organisations in London and beyond.”
In 2013, Professor Green was recognised for his commitment with the Teaching Excellence Award from King’s.
In keeping with his dedication to student learning, Professor Green requested that colleagues, instead of giving him a farewell gift, contribute to a fund for a dissertation prize. The prize will be given to the best undergraduate dissertation in Geography that uses original archives (paper-based or online) to shed light on the past, present or future. Professor Green said the prize is intended to encourage curiosity and understanding about how and why studying the past is important to both human and physical geography.
Professor David Green stands out for his genuine interest in individuals, whether that is being kind and supportive to our current students, maintaining links with our alumni, or mentoring colleagues. His research, too, reflects this approach, putting a human face on the experiences he documented.
Professor Kate Schreckenberg, Head of the Department of Geography
Speaking about his retirement plans, Professor Green said: “There’s plenty of research still to be completed, plenty of writing still to be done, and plenty of new ways still to explore the world. I won’t be short of things to do!”
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Professor of Historical Geography
Head, Department of Geography