Gordon Brown Legacy

Joseph Cowen Centre 2018 Gordon Brown adult education

In 2016 we were saddened to learn of the death of Gordon Brown, a longstanding and enthusiastic Explore member. 

 We were subsequently surprised and moved to find that the Joseph Cowen Lifelong Learning Centre was a beneficiary in his will. 

Gordon’s generous legacy has provided us with much needed financial security, as well as enabling us to undertake several projects which would otherwise have been beyond our means. 


Thus far we have established an annual lecture at the Lit and Phil (see below for details), commissioned a promotional film, obtained professional marketing advice and training, and purchased a portable public address system for lectures.


Further projects will follow, and meanwhile the capital provides a ‘buffer’ against financial pressures, and an investment.

Professional marketing training with PERRO 

Joseph Cowen Centre 2017 Newcastle Business School student consultation report adult education
The photo shows the team at the start of two half day workshops.
June 2017
Andy Ditchburn, of PERRO, delivered training on marketing strategy and planning to the membership development team.  Andy presented his findings and recommendations to the JCLLC board.  This project has been instrumental in improving our recruitment of new members.

If you would like to read Andy's full report, please email the office on weareexplore@gmail.com and we can send the report as a PDF.
Joseph Cowen Lifelong Learning Centre 2019 Explore logo adult education


promotional film

Joseph Cowen Centre 2017 film meeting Northern Stars adult education
August 2017

The membership development team commissioned Northern Stars from the Tyneside Cinema to produce our new promotional film.  Various cuts of the film are used on our own website, social media and at our events.

Watch the final FILM here.

Gordon Brown Memorial Lecture

Joseph Cowen Centre 2017Dr Bill Lancaster & Dr Dorothy Stainsby NUJ banner adult education
Dr. Bill Lancaster and chair of JCLLC Dr. Dorothy Stainsby at the lecture (with the NUJ Newcastle banner featuring Joseph Cowen)
Photo credit: NUJ Newcastle
 
September 2018
For the inaugural Gordon Brown Memorial Lecture at the Lit & Phil, Dr. Bill Lancaster explored the different sides of Joseph Cowen including his many paradoxes: 
  • a republican who was a strong advocate of empire and imperialism; 
  • a capitalist who spent his life advocating working-class interests; 
  • and a liberal politician who was a founding member of what soon became Britain’s first Marxist political party. 
Joseph Cowen Centre 2019 Peter Vickers adult education

Dr. Peter Vickers

 

September 2019

 For our second Gordon Brown Memorial Lecture, Dr. Peter Vickers, Associate Professor at Durham University discussed 'Which scientific ideas will last forever?'


Peter said 'There have always been scientific revolutions. Scientific ideas seem to come, and go.

If we are aware of the history of science, how can we possibly suggest that our scientific ideas will last forever? How could that be reasonable? 


This event was undertaken in collaboration with the Centre for Humanities Engaging Science and Society at the University of Durham and the Lit & Phil. 

  • a republican who was a strong advocate of empire and imperialism; 
  • a capitalist who spent his life advocating working-class interests; 
  • and a liberal politician who was a founding member of what soon became Britain’s first Marxist political party. 

 

Joseph Cowen Centre 2021 Dan Jackson talk adult education

September 2021

In a virtual event, Dan Jackson, author of the best-selling ‘The Northumbrians: North East England and its People, A New History’ explored the roots of the distinctive culture of the lands between the Tweed and the Tees, and how centuries of border warfare, heavy and dangerous industries, and the sociability and hedonism that so defined the communities of the North East have left an enduring cultural imprint.


Listen to Dan's fascinating talk via the link HERE