Obit: Leila Berg

Subject: Obit: Leila Berg
From: Jack Campin
Date: 22 May 12 - 08:36 AM

Nicholas Tucker in the Independent

Given that Berg was two years older than Ewan MacColl, grew up in Salford, became a Communist, and worked most of her life in London, she must have known him. Anybody know about any connections? (In every public activity she was involved in, she focused almost entirely on issues involving children - something MacColl largely ignored).

The only one of her books I've read is Flickerbook, which is terrific.

Subject: RE: Obit: Leila Berg
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 22 May 12 - 07:22 PM

Michael Duane of Risinghill fame came to our college and we went to interview him for the college magazine. Would such a friend ship as Berg and Duane, ever flourish in these doctrinaire, narrow minded times? Duane had had a successfuk military career, before becoming a headmaster. Just the sort of wishy washy humanist, that right on types despise.

I think Leila and Ewan would have had much in common - although Ewan liked a a quiet respectful audience, whilst Leila seems to have valued childrens' spontanaiety. some of the kid's excuses for kicking off in the Risinghill story wouldn't have cut much ice with most teachers.