Phil Rees

1
Phil Rees

• A remarkable career
• School of Geography, University of Leeds,
  1970-2009

2
Spot the difference?
1970-1980 Lecturer
1990-present Professor
1980-1990 Reader
3
Colleagues (rogues) galleryStaff in School of
Geography 197?
4
Staff Review 1970s style
Departmental mafia evaluating Phils performance
5

• Ford Anglia Man
• (from Mike Batty, University College, London)
• Phil came to Reading to present his work in
  our departmental seminar in 1971 or was it 1972?
  He drove down from Leeds in his Ford Anglia and
  he stayed in our house for the night.
• I didnt drive in those days and used to take
  the bus to work which was only two miles away.
  But I decided Phil could drive me and himself
  back to our house using a shortcut ..

6
Ford Anglia Man Silence is Golden

• I remember driving parallel to the M4
  motorway which had only just been opened and we
  succeeded in driving at least ten miles to get
  back to the house.
• Phil never said a word about this but I remember
  thinking that he must think I am a right wally
  for not knowing where I lived and somewhere in
  all of this we also had to pick up a Chinese
  takeaway.
• He departed the next morning no worse for the
  experience but a long drive back to Leeds. We
  dont remember just how long the trains took in
  the old days.

Mike Batty
7
Meeting with Royalty
Phil, with Alex Hirschfield, preparing to explain
the principles of multi-state accounts-based
models in less than 2 minutes to the Duchess of
Kent and the VC (Edward Parkes)
8
Remember this? The in(famous) 3D model of ???
9
Field course 1978
Livingston New Town
10
Phil in full flow on top of Arthurs Seat
11
THE Senior Sage
from Ludi Simpson, University of Sheffield

• Phil has been THE senior sage throughout my
  thirty years working with local population
  accounts and projections. He has always been
  evidently motivated by practical problems, which
  for me first arose as the demographic research
  officer at Bradford Council. His pushing hard at
  the edges of model-ability have kept many of us
  on our toes.
• Above all he has provided frameworks which
  highlighted the nature of my limited efforts, and
  shown the directions in which I might be able to
  go to improve them. His period as Census
  Programme Co-ordinator for the academic sector
  were a golden period of engagement, confidence
  and understanding .

12
THE Senior Sage Yes, we can!

• Among my fond memories is his design of a
  West Yorkshire population model, responding to
  every request for design features from the local
  authorities who commissioned the model with a wry
  smile and a 'Yes that's possible'.
• Phil laps up challenges like he is always in
  need of more food. My biggest laugh was when
  applying for a job at Leeds University and being
  warned that I might be seen as competition to
  Phil superfluous maybe, but competition never!
• Ludi Simpson

13
Good Colleague
from Deborah Phillips, University of Leeds

• Many thanks for your support over the years and
  for being such a good colleague. I've enjoyed
  working with you on doctoral supervisions (the
  good and the more challenging ones!) and on
  projects.
• Your calm and efficient management of the large
  team of assistants on the urban crime project
  many years ago is an enduring memory, and I've
  sought to emulate this in my project management
  ever since.
• With all good wishes
• Debbie

14
Highly Productive
from Chris Denham, previous Office for National
Statistics member

• What a phenomenal output!
• How do you do it all?
• Chris

15
Our Man in Hong Kong

• In 2007 Phil represented the Royal
  Geographical Societys Population Geography
  Research Group at the 4th International
  Population Geographies Conference held at the
  Chinese University of Hong Kong.
• The following photograph shows Phil with
  Professor Yue-Man Yeung, Director of the Hong
  Kong Institute of Asian-Pacific Studies and Head
  of Shaw College, CUHK.
• Phil and Professor Yeung first met as doctoral
  students in Chicago.

16
(No Transcript)
17
By Royal Appointment
This photograph shows Phil and distinguished
historical geographer, Professor Robin Butlin,
outside Buckingham Palace having received honours
from the Queen
18
Notetaker Extraordinaire
from Leo van Wissen University Groningen,
formerly at NIDI, the Hague

• Phil is an outstanding geographer, and I am
  proud to have had the honour of working with him
  on various projects in the past. But it is the
  small things that most clearly typify people and
  that makes you realise who they are, instead of
  what they are.
• What, to me, is so characteristic about Phil is
  that wherever I meet him in a conference,
  workshop, or elsewhere, and no matter to whom he
  is listening and he is one of the best listeners
  I know - he always makes notes in his
  notebooks.....

19
Notetaker Extraordinaire

• ...... Moreover, using these notes, he always
  asks questions to everyone he is listening to, in
  a very thoughtful and respectful way.
• By now he must have filled hundreds of these
  notebooks.
• I admire him a lot for that, since for me this
  level of attention and organization is outside of
  my capabilities.
• Phil, I do hope that you will fill a few
  additional notebooks in the coming years, to be
  used in leisurely research projects of your
  choice.

Leo van Wissen
20
1990s but precisely which year?
21
Innovative and Enduring
from Adrian Bailey, University of Leeds

• Throughout his career as a population geographer
  Phil has contributed innovative and enduring
  research.
• This started at the University of Chicago at a
  time when Geography struggled to gain purchase on
  issues of segregation and community dynamics,
  continued with Phils engagement with the second
  demographic transition and the implications of
  ageing across Europe, and goes forward with his
  contribution to ethnic population change and the
  balance between population change and
  environmental planning in London

22
Innovative and Enduringpotent vintage

• . As his students and colleagues will tell
  you, Phils approach is a particular blend of
  painstaking assumptions, some equations, a dash
  of Fortran 5 and copious, always copious,
  briefings mixed, of course, with notes of
  humility, sardonism and levity.
• Its proved a potent vintage and the good news
  is, its one still in production, albeit on a
  more bespoke scale.
• So Phil thats quite a journey from the Dan
  Ryan Expressway and Robert Taylor Homes to the
  Number 96 and the leafy lanes of Cookridge but
  your vintage continues to make the world a better
  place, forecast by forecast. Thanks!

Adrian Bailey
23
Grand Master
from Sir Alan Wilson, University College London

• Phil and I joined the Geography Department at
  the same time 1st October 1970 - and quickly
  set up an excellent working relationship as part
  of the (then) new wave of quantitative
  geographers.
• In the early days it was cemented by some games
  of chess at lunch times, some of which stretched
  into the afternoon a demonstration, I think, as
  in everything else, of Phils absolute
  determination to do things well and properly!

24

• . Our working collaboration was fantastic. I
  have enjoyed some good collaborations in my time
  but the work we did in population geography that
  culminated in Spatial Population Analysis was a
  terrific experience.
• Phil, of course, has gone from strength to
  strength and become the UK expert in the
  population field. I cant really believe that he
  is going to retire, but whatever the future
  holds, it will be interesting and I wish him well!

Sir Alan Wilson
25
The Lion Shrine
TIME-OUT FROM DIALOG-PLUS PROJECT MEETING,
PENN STATE 2005
The Penn State Creamery
Why does Phil have a bright light hovering
over his ice-cream? Perhaps it was that elusive
nugget the Dialog-PLUS team spent days trying
to define!
26
A dedicated mentor
from Helen Durham, University of Leeds

• After 13 years of working alongside Phil, to me
  the name Phil Rees is synonymous with the
  School of Geography.
• He has been a supportive and dedicated mentor,
  PI, colleague and Head of School and his
  retirement will leave a big gap though I am sure
  he will be back for project meetings for some
  time to come!
• Best wishes for a happy retirement, Phil.

27
Always keen to help
from Adam Dennett, School of Geography,
University of Leeds

• One lasting memory I have of Phil goes back
  to when I first met him as a Masters student on
  his census analysis course.
• As part of the final project assessment piece I
  had devised myself a particularly devilish
  problem of trying to convert 1991 enumeration
  district data to 2001 super output areas and had
  managed to get myself horrifically bogged down
  with postcodes and address counts coming out of
  my ears!
• I remember emailing Phil and asking him if he
  could spare a little time so I could explain my
  problem. He emailed me back straight away and
  told me to drop by that afternoon ..

28
Always keen to help

• I duly turned up armed with SPSS
  files, and Phil dropped what he was doing and
  listened to my problem. I then remember Phil
  rolling up his sleeves (if not physically then
  metaphorically), breaking out the biblically
  proportioned SPSS user manual, and then spending
  the best part of two and a half hours trying to
  help me solve my problem!
• I remember feeling humbled that someone of
  Phils stature would down tools and spend that
  length of time helping a lowly Masters student.
  We never did solve the problem using that
  particular method it was concluded that too
  many man hours were required. Now that Phils
  retiring, however, .

Adam Dennett
29
Crafty striker
from Nico Keilman
The Hague, October 1983. Guest visitor at the
NIDI. I had asked each member of Phil's team to
wear a white shirt!
My wife
30
Phil scores after an elegant combination with my
wife. Note how confused the blue team's
goalkeeper is (thats me!) after Phil's bender!
Nico Keilman
31
Extensive coverage
from Peter Boden, Edge Analytics

• As an undergraduate at the University of Leeds,
  I first met Phil in 1982.
• Blackboards and chalk were still in use and, in
  lectures, Phil would confront us with a long,
  hand-written list of topics that he was scheduled
  to cover in the course of an hour. Phil rarely
  got beyond item 3!
• His undergraduate courses were an inspiration,
  however providing a first introduction to
  computer programming and data analysis and a
  unique grounding in demographic principles and
  methods. .

32

• As a postgraduate, the Stillwell and Rees
  combination provided me with a springboard for
  career development advancing my demographic
  knowledge and project management skills whilst
  motivating me to work hard to achieve.
• I am just one of hundreds of students who have
  been influenced by Phils diligent and supportive
  approach to teaching and research.
• Phil and I continue to collaborate on some
  fascinating research and consultancy projects.
  He remains a great source of knowledge, advice
  and support. He is definitely too young to
  retire

Peter Boden
33
IT Manager
from Tim Hadwin, Adelaide, Australia

• When SoG was in its infancy regarding IT - Phil
  was the IT manager.
• We had to lay a cable from SoG to the Textile
  Building over University Road - Phil crawled
  through the tunnels along with Jerry, John Dixon
  and myself......since discovered in the tunnels -
  blue asbestos and rat droppings!!!!

34
Lucky escape

• I recall vividly what can only be described as a
  Phils near death experience.
• Phil left his office in the old building to see
  me - when he returned his book shelves had fallen
  down on top of his desk - too many files on his
  shelves ....he loved paper and colour coded A4
  ring binders!

Tim Hadwin
35
Must have been a toast to you, Phil but would
you recognise them now?
36
Attention to detail
from Martin Clarke, University of Leeds

• I first met Phil in 1975 as a final year
  undergraduate when we were fortunate enough to
  have option courses (not modules) such as Urban
  and Regional Modelling and Planning.
• I did my project on generating a factorial
  ecology of Leeds, using SPSS and the card punch
  machine in the computing department. It took a
  while to get all the cards in order but proved to
  be a good project, a forerunner of the
  geodemographic classification systems that
  emerged in the 1980s.
• Shortly after I graduated I was hitch-hiking to
  a party in the Lake District and Phil and son
  Gareth gave me a lift to Ilkley. When Gareth
  asked what his dad was doing he said he was
  dropping me off at the edge of town. Gareth
  pointed out that the edge of town was a continuum
  and not a specific place. He obviously inherited
  his fathers attention to detail! ..

37

• . I have admired Phils attention to detail
  ever since and have appreciated his friendship as
  a colleague for 33 years. His contribution to
  population geography both in the UK and
  internationally has been immense.
• Like many academics of his type I am sure he
  will never retire but will continue to use his
  wisdom in pushing forward our understanding of
  population change and dynamics.

Martin Clarke
38
From Louise Mackay
39
(No Transcript)
40
(No Transcript)
41

• Hello Phil 
• Sorry I can't be there. I'm sure that today has
  celebrated your many academic successes. 
• But let's not forget what a great teacher and
  mentor you are - with your endless encouragement
  and enthusiasm. 
• It's been a privilege to have learnt from you
  and worked with you.  I hope you have a long and
  fun filled retirement. 
• Best wishes,
• Louise

Louise Mackay
42
Major influence
from John Stillwell, University of Leeds

• I was a joint honours student (Geog/Econ) in my
  second year at Leeds when I first encountered
  Phil newly arrived from Chicago and with
  part-American accent teaching a course on
  Migration and Regional Development.
• No coincidence that, over 30 years later, I was
  appointed to a Chair in Migration and Regional
  Development!
• I owe much of this transition to Phil.
• I have been very lucky to have benefited from
  Phils careful supervision, wise council,
  meticulous attention to detail, research
  leadership, honesty, loyalty, friendship and
  continuing support. Many thanks, Phil!

43
Serious supervision
from Frank Cudjoe, University of Leeds

• Several years ago I decided to undertake a MPhil
  on The Nature of Organic Farming in Britain.
  Once the proposal was accepted, I discovered that
  my supervisors were Richard Smith (agricultural
  systems) and Phil Rees (computing and everything
  else). I think the split was 25/75 but ended up
  more like 15/85.
• The first meeting with Richard was a breeze a
  reading list, access to his box of his research
  material and pointers to releveant journals. This
  was the way research should be enough time for
  beers, sports, music and time for visits to the
  Eldon and Faversham.
• My meeting with Phil was totally different to
  that with Richard. The first thing Phil did was
  to get a notepad and started making notes. By the
  end of the meeting I had the thesis structured
  layout, diagrams showing how everything linked
  together, suggested reading materials and a point
  or two to ponder for the next meeting. Life on
  easy street was over! ..

44
Frank Cudjoe continues

• By the time I had my RSG, I had written two
  and a half chapters and designed a questionnaire
  survey. Phil then suggested I did a sample
  testing by sending copies to the organic farming
  organisations, and finding a farmer from each
  branch for their views on the structure and
  content.
• It was at this stage Phil pulled a rabbit (the
  size of Harvey) out of the hat. It just happened
  that Phil had a friend from his time at
  university who had a small organic holding. In a
  short time Frankie was driving over the country
  visiting farms.
• With the questionnaires sent, Phil suggested I
  might find the following book of interest Soul
  of the machine by Tracy Kidder. On reading the
  first few pages I thought Phil had lost it as the
  book was about Data General and other firms in
  the computing industry and the design and
  development of micro-computers, I finished it in
  ten days and got to work. It was about tackling a
  subject from the opposite direction from the
  experts.

45

• .. The effects of having Phil as a
  supervisor became apparent some years later.
  While demonstrating computer packages or helping
  with dissertations I found myself saying phrases
  like you need to do some housekeeping on these
  files or after youve checked your data, get a
  fresh pair of eyes to look at it, then check
  them again.
• On one occasion, while I was helping an
  undergrad with his dissertation, a postgrad who
  had been standing close-by asked if Phil Rees
  was my supervisor. When I asked why he pointed
  out that the first thing I did was to reach for
  my note pad and started making notes on things to
  do and reference sources.
• Finally, thanks Phil for getting the powers that
  be to install some proper ramps for making the
  Baines Wing and West Teaching Labs accessible.

Frank Cudjoe
46
From Nicole van de Gaag, NIDI
47

• Dear Phil,
• During your visit at NIDI in the mid 1990s I
  learned from you to enjoy the study of regional
  demography.
• Since then there were several occasions where we
  worked together, and I am very happy that we will
  continue to do so within the DEMIFER project.
• Thank you for everything!
• Happy retirement!
• Nicole van der Gaag

48
From admissions tutor to PhD supervisor
from Alex Hirschfield, Applied Criminology
Centre, University of Huddersfield

• I owe a lot to Phil Rees. I first met him in
  August 1974 when I came up to Leeds for an
  interview. I was just 20 and Phil must have been
  29 or 30. He had a large picture on his wall of
  an American astronaut doing a space walk - years
  before we knew anything about Piers Sellers!
• I wanted to transfer to Leeds because I was
  unhappy at my first University where I had a
  pretty awful first year. Phil gave me a second
  chance by admitting me to Leeds to read
  geography.
• I stayed for 10 years completed my B.A. and
  went on to do a PhD under Phil's supervision.
  Throughout the process Phil was always there for
  me - even agreeing to see me at weekends to
  ensure that I submitted. I ended up writing the
  largest PhD thesis in the history of the School
  which I am sure Phil has never forgotten - nor
  the external examiner who had to carry it all
  the way from Swansea ! Phil got me through and I
  will always be grateful to him.
• I have tremendous respect for Phil as a teacher,
  mentor and outstanding scholar and I wish him
  nothing but happiness and fulfilment in his
  retirement.

49
Head of School 2001-2004 Phew, nearly over!
Summer 2004
50
Shared Passions
Phil and Laura at the RHS gardens at Harlow Carr,
July 2008
51
Honours

• Royal Geographical Society
• Gill Memorial Award
• 1998 Fellow of the British Academy
• 2004 Commander of the British Empire
• 2009 Royal Geographical Society with IBG
  Victoria Medal for research in
  population geography and
  demography