AFTER 60 collective years of helping to build young minds, an academic couple from Huddersfield are turning their thoughts to building a new home for themselves in France.
Eminent Huddersfield academics, engineering Professor David Little and artist Beverley-Anne Little, retired at the end of September 2007 with six decades of university life between them.
David and Beverley, who have two daughters Sara and Emma, plan to enjoy more walking and cycling and are currently making a new place for themselves across the Channel.
He said: “We bought a huge field in France and have enjoyed designing a house and large garden, which has yet to be landscaped! Beverley plans to set up a bigger studio at home by expanding into our attic.”
The former Professor of Manufacturing Systems at the University, is due to receive an Emeritus Professorship for his services to Engineering at this year’s Honorary Awards.
Beverley recently held her largest exhibition of work at the North Light Gallery in Huddersfield.
The couple met in the summer of 1968 while studying in Loughborough and have enjoyed 37 years of marriage.
David was born in Dilston, Northumberland, and educated at the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle, before graduating from Loughborough University in 1969 with a degree in Manufacturing Engineering & Management.
He left industry for academia in 1974 when he moved into higher education at the then Polytechnic of Huddersfield Business School. After a short spell in research at Liverpool University, he returned to the position of a senior lecturer and finally sub-dean, before being conferred as Professor of Manufacturing Systems and taking the lead on the Manufacturing Systems Research Group.
When asked about the highlights of his academic career, David is keen to mention the successful European Regional Development funded SME Support Network he established.
“The SME employed a small unit of people who identified companies in the local area which could benefit from University expertise. We offered five days free consultation and made ourselves available to run diagnostics and visit sites, providing technical assistance to over 500 small and medium-sized local manufacturing companies.
Born in Rochdale in 1947, Beverley Anne Little attended Rochdale College of Art before studying for a Fine Art degree at Loughborough College of Art.
She went on to gain an MA in Painting from the Royal College of Art, tutored by celebrated artists including Peter Blake, Sandra Blow, Peter de Francia, Ruskin Spear, Carel Weight, Donald Hamilton Fraser and, occasionally, David Hockney.
Beverley has been working as a professional artist and exhibiting her work nationally and internationally since 1969 and has won the Royal Academy of Arts prize. After graduating in 1972, she left London for Huddersfield and in 1985 accepted the post of Senior Lecturer at the University of Huddersfield.
At Huddersfield, she created, developed and introduced the BA (Hons) Fine Art Painting and Drawing course and for the last two years she has worked as Drawing Fellow at the University.
“I’ve been drawing ever since I was ten years old,” Beverley said. “I first attended drawing classes on a Saturday morning at a local art school and have always had an interest in drawing. This innate sensibility to the communication of what I can see has dictated my career choice my whole life.
“For the past 27 years I’ve had a thoroughly enjoyable job, both teaching students and developing as an artist. My latest exhibition is the largest collection I have created, and has been painted since my appointment as Drawing Fellow. The appointment was a very exciting one and I was pleased to be allowed the opportunity to pass on skills as a draughtsman in a new way.”
