"Put up some details about yourself" I was advised! Why anybody would want to know anything about me is a bit of a mystery, but it seems that every home page now has an "about me" piece. So here goes!

I was born in Argentina, son of Robert and Aimee Leggat, missionaries who served in the far north of the country, near Bolivia. They worked in various towns, the idea being to create a church, develop a leadership, and then move on elsewhere. I was born in a little village called La Esperanza, but for many years we stayed in two locations - Maimara and Tartagal, and I often search the net to see pictures of those two little towns that meant so much to me.

When I was seven I became a boarder at the St. Andrews Scots School, in Buenos Aires, some 1200 miles away, and later went to St. Albans College, Buenos Aires.

I came to this country in the 'fifties, and after an awful spell at the Quintin school in London went to Wanstead County High School. I only spent two years there, but I greatly valued what I gained, and will never forget Arthur Ingham, the headmaster, who gave me a chance in life, nor Eric Stanley, who kindled a life-time interest in music, particularly in Bach. Eric was a very special person to many pupils at Wanstead, and won the affection of many generations of pupils. Eric also ran the highly popular "Eric Stanley Singers" which performed in many venues throughout Essex. No-one forgets a good teacher!

From there I went to a local school to teach for a year, and from there to Westminster College Oxford, and subsequently became a teacher, first in Middlesex and then (some very memorable and enjoyable years) at Ewell County Secondary School, in Surrey. During this period I also developed an interest in photography, and owe much to Matt Skipp, of Ewell, Surrey, who ran a photographic shop, where I worked on Saturdays and learned much about the art.

A highlight of my time at Ewell was an educational visit to Italy, Egypt, Israel, Malta and Gibraltar in 1966 on the "Nevasa". There were some sixty pupils from the school at Danetree Road, and it was for many of us the experience of a life-time.

After further courses at London University I became involved first in audio-visual education, later in educational and information technology. I became Lecturer in Education at Battersea College, later Senior Lecturer in Educational Technology at Bedford College of Education. Upon the amalgamation of Bedford College with two other institutions I was appointed Head of Educational Technology at Bedford College of Higher Education (which, after a de-merger, became part of De Montfort University), leaving in 1992 to become an Internet consultant, producing web-sites, and teaching people how to use the web. I also still keep my hand in education, which remains my first love.

Another major interest, kindled partly by Eric Davies, a teacher in Argentina, and partly by Eric Stanley, mentioned above, was my involvement in music. Whilst at Oxford I had taken lessons in singing from Norman Lilly, and continued to do so for a number of years. I was fortunate to take solo parts in various oratorios, and in addition was Hon. Secretary of the London Opera Group for a number of years. This was a professional group which specialised in operas by Britten, Puccini, Mozart, aimed particularly at those studying music at "A" level.

Professional Interests: On-line education, the potential of the Internet in schools, and photography in education. In respect of the last, I am a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society, was a Council member for some fifteen years, and for ten years was the Society's Education Officer. I was also, for a period, chairman of the body that awards Associateships and Fellowhips of the Royal Photographic Society in photography allied to education.

In 1975 I wrote "Photography in school: a guide for teachers", published by Argus Press; this was also translated into Italian.

(I feel somewhat ashamed to admit that the only recent pictures I could find of the family were taken on the day our younger daughter married!)

For some time I was a GCSE and GCE examiner in photography. I played a major part in the development of the City & Guilds 9123 photography scheme for non-professional photographers, and was also involved in the AEB "A" level photography scheme.

In 1996 I placed on the web "A History of Photography" - a work which surpassed all expectations in terms of access, the total number of pages having been downloaded up to this date exceeding six million.

I also wrote two booklets for teachers: "Showing Off- display techniques for teachers" and "Lights please! - Using projectors in the classroom." They are totally outdated now! One of the chapters in the latter deals with 8mm film loops, which became obsolete many years ago!

I am happily married to Jill, who specialises in teaching pupils with dyslexia, and gently coaxes me away from my micro to do more valuable things!

We are very fortunate to have two super daughters. Pauline read music at Sheffield, is an outstanding flautist, and teaches music and mathematics in a school in Essex.

Philippa read at Westminster College, Oxford, and now teaches in Bedford. In 1999 she married Tim Woodhouse, so we now have an enlarged family! Tim works for the NHS.

Other interests:

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Robert Leggat