History Maker at Speeches
28 Sep 2009
One of the world’s foremost producers of history documentaries brought the past to life when he returned to Solihull School as guest speaker for the annual speeches.
Laurence Rees, who was presented with a lifetime achievement award in New York earlier this year by History Makers, the worldwide congress of history and current affairs programme makers, was the guest of honour at the annual school event last Friday (September 25).
The former pupil at the independent co-educational school in Warwick Road, who was taught history by the current Headmaster, Phillip Griffiths, won a BAFTA for Auschwitz: The Nazis and the Final Solution, a series he wrote, produced and directed, as well as the British Book Awards’ History Book of the Year 2006.
The former head of BBC TV History programmes and creative director of BBC Television History, he has spent more than 20 years as a writer and film maker.
In a thought-provoking address to the pupils, he explained why his work had convinced him that historical study was so important.
Mr Griffiths said: “It is always an honour to welcome former pupils to the school’s speeches and I was delighted that Laurence Rees accepted our invitation.
“He is a lively and informative speaker and pupils, parents and other guests greatly enjoyed his contribution to the evening.”
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