| Administrative History | Sir Jack Longland was Director of Education for Derbyshire County Council from 1949 to 1970 and established White Hall near Buxton, Derbyshire, the country's first local authority Outdoor Pursuits Centre for young people.
A keen athlete and climber, Longland climbed Mount Everest in 1933 and the route up the West Buttress of Clogwyn d’ur Arddu (Snowdonia, Wales) was first taken by him and is now known as Longland's Climb. He had studied at Cambridge University (King's College), where he met Geoffrey Winthrop Young. After six years lecturing in English at Durham University (1930-1936), Jack Longland moved into public service - in part inspired by the desperate situation he knew many had faced during the Great Depression after 1929. He was Director of the Community Service Council of Durham (1937-1940), Deputy Education Officer for Hertfordshire (1940-1942), County Education Officer for Dorset (1942-1949) and Director of Education for Derbyshire until his retirement in 1970.
Before and after his retirement, he was an officer and later honorary member of a number of professional and athletic associations, including the Climber's Club (chair), the Sports Council (Vice chair 1966-1974), the Mountain Leadership Training Board (Chair 1964-1980), the Council of Environmental Education (Chair 1968-1975), and the Alpine Club (President 1973-1976).
Longland was a frequent panellist on BBC Radio 4's 'Any Questions?' and 'Round Britain Quiz' as well as presenter of 'Country Questions' (late 1940s-1950s) and 'My Word!' (1957-1977). |
| Custodial History | These records were deposited by Sir Jack Longland's family and executors in August 1994. |