Walter_Birmingham

Walter Birmingham

Walter Birmingham

Educationist and economist

Walter Birmingham (January 4, 1913 – August 16, 2004) was an educationist and economist who served as the warden of Toynbee Hall.[1] He also worked on economic planning for West Africa in the post-colonial era.[2]

Quick Facts Warden of Toynbee Hall, Preceded by ...

Early life

Birmingham was born in Firozpur, India, in 1913.

He took night classes at the London School of Economics, obtaining a degree in economics.[1]

Career

Birmingham taught at several British, African, and American universities and was involved in economic development planning for West Africa.[2]

He was professor of economics at the University of Lesotho.[1]

Toynbee Hall

In 1964, Birmingham was appointed warden of the Victorian charity Toynbee Hall, which had fallen on hard times.[2]

Soon after taking post, he took on the disgraced former government minister John Profumo as a volunteer.[3] Profumo would continue to support Toynbee Hall for decades, eventually becoming chairman of the charity.[4]

Personal life

He married twice with a son and a daughter from his first marriage and two sons and one daughter from the second.[1]

A sculpture of Birmingham by Betty Jukes is housed at Toynbee Hall.[5]

References

  1. [1]
    Eric Moonman (6 September 2004). "Walter Birmingham". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  2. [2]
    "Walter Birmingham". The Times. 13 September 2004. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  3. [3]
    Ian Jack (18 March 2006). "The warden of Toynbee Hall". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  4. [4]
    "Profumo's charity work remembered". BBC News. 10 March 2006. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
  5. [5]
    "Walter Birmingham (1913–2004), Warden of Toynbee Hall (1968–1972)". Art UK. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
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