We have had the pleasure and honour of knowing and working with Brian over many years. He supported, contributed and added great value to the pioneering work of DEAFAX and its associated charitable and technological enterprises.
Ken Carter and Helen Lansdown (CEO of Deafax) had the pleasure and honour of knowing and working with Brian over many years at the Bulmershe College of Higher Education. He supported, contributed and added great value to the pioneering work of DEAFAX and its associated charitable and technological enterprises namely: Deaf Aspirations, GOALS4LIFE, AACT, Ability2Access, Specialkidz International, Decibels, EASiTEC under the name of METEC (Medical, Educational, Technological, Enterprises Consortium).
It was Professor Harold Silver who invited Ken Carter in 1982 to become a Senior Research Fellow to a Berkshire College’s Consortium and to address the issues of FHE (Further, Higher and Continuing Education) for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students. Three years later in 1985, Professor Harold Silver encouraged and helped Ken to set up Deafax as a registered charity, and base it on the Bulmershe campus. Deafax has a remit to address and support the issues of Information and Communications Technology (ICT), language, literacy, communication and inclusion for deaf and hearing children, young people and adults locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. When Harold stepped down, Brian Palmer took over as the Principal. All those working with Deafax were delighted as they knew he would be highly supportive of their work.
Brian moved in 1964 to Bulmershe College as Head of Languages and three years later he was promoted to Deputy Principal and ultimately in 1984 he became Principal. Four years later when Bulmershe integrated with the Institute of Education, University of Reading, Brian took the post of Professor & Dean of the Faculty of Education & Community Studies
He was keenly aware that there was considerable under-representation in Higher Education of Deaf and Hard of Hearing students because of the specialist challenges so he included in his Mission Statement for the College a commitment to provide the special & expensive support required. He organised a successful Appeal so that Equality of Access to the College could be achieved. He went on to ensure there were an adequate supply of Sign Language Interpreters.
It is a credit to Brian that his inaugural Lecture & publication “Equality of Educational Opportunity-and for the Deaf” was later quoted by Malcolm Bruce MP in the House of Commons in support of his private members Bill. This proposed a guarantee of appropriate support for deaf and hard of hearing students in Higher Education but with state rather than charitable giving. The Bill became law and there is now State Funding.
He wrote the “Foreword” of an outstanding & informative book entitled “BULMERSHE-The life of a College 1964-89” (Author: Patrick Rooke). What comes across is that he was a thought provoking Principal and really understood the needs of Special Needs students especially as he was at that time partially sighted himself.
Brian was certainly a “Man for all Seasons” and had talents similar to Robert Bolt who taught Ken Carter English Literature at Millfield School in Somerset. He had considerable vision and wanted to improve the lot of “Homo Sapiens” as best as he could. During his extremely successful academic career, he was exceptional in his ability to recognise individual needs and define innovative solutions.
Ken and Helen send their sincere condolences to his daughter, Catherine Whitehead and sons Mike Palmer and John Palmer as well as his eight grandchildren.