Tony

The man who fine-tuned my dreams, Dr Anthony (Tony) Harries

Dr. Tony Harries is a Senior Lecturer (now retired) in Mathematics Education, School of Education, Durham University (DU). Tony worked in the primary and secondary sectors both in UK and overseas. He was head of mathematics at a large Bristol comprehensive school before moving to the Higher Education Sector in 1990. 

During his time at DU, he has held several posts including Divisional Director for Initial Teacher Training during which he developed an innovative way of working with schools involved in teacher training, and Divisional Director for Post-graduate studies during which time he managed projects in a variety of countries. He has taught mathematics education modules on undergraduate and post-graduate programs and has successfully supervised many dissertations at the Master’s and doctoral levels.  In 2010 he initiated and led (until 2018) a new PGCE program based at the International School in Geneva. He has authored and/or edited some books and has also been involved in the production of computer software designed to help pupils explore a variety of representations in Mathematics, as a means of understanding calculations. Tony also co-led a DFID project to develop teacher education programs in higher education. He also initiated and managed a program which allowed Durham education students to spend a month in Maseru working with education students at LCE.

I was a total stranger when I met Tony at Rhodes University, in a conference. When I heard that he had conducted a study in Lesotho, I took this chance and simply asked if he could visit Lesotho once again and help us with a capacity building workshop for our teachers, which he agreed happily. He did not know me but knew Lesotho teachers, and that was enough. Our workshop was an instant success, and that initiated a long term relation between Tony and myself.

The benefit was one-sided, Lesotho and myself benefitted from his kindness and sympathy. We ran various workshops for mathematics teachers since 2012, and on those occasions, we came to know each other, I suppose. I could talk to him freely at any time, and that included my pains, challenges as well as frustrations. Tony being a good listener, provided options and alternatives too.

He brought research programs to Lesotho, and we worked together (www.ipips.org). He linked me to many academicians and it helped me to understand the western perspectives on research. Reaching out to the community with our dreams is not easy, but Tony taught me how to serve. He is also a person who could pleasantly narrate his experience with a lesson hidden behind it. He is rich with such many stories, but the most important one is his willingness to guide a person through a better path. He thus shaped me into a good researcher and an educationist. That is how I benefitted from him with nothing to return. A friend in need and a friend indeed, our Tony. What else could I ask when I am surrounded by such human beings in this pandemic era?