Gordon Roderick – known as Rod – wanted to improve access to higher education
PaulRoderick
Thu 8 Apr 2021 13.23 EDT
Last modified on Thu 8 Apr 2021 13.24 EDT
My father Gordon Roderick (Rod to his family and friends), who has died aged 90, was a historian of scientific education in England and Wales in the late Victorian period and early 20th century. He was an academic who helped develop the discipline of adult continuing education, and an advocate for the public understanding of science.
Born in Ystradgynlais, a mining town in the Swansea valley, he was the second son of Mary (nee Evans) and David, a clerk in the local colliery. It was a Welsh-speaking and nonconformist family, rich in books and the only one in the town to take the Manchester Guardian. Rod was educated at the local county school, the University of Swansea, and University College London, where he obtained a PhD in physics.
Almost four million of the most vulnerable people enjoyed their first day of freedom yesterday as shielding advice ended.
Strict ‘stay indoors’ guidance was given to 2.2million individuals at the start of the pandemic, with an extra 1.7million told to shield in February after scientists identified additional risk factors.
They were told to stay at home and not go to work, leaving only for medical appointments and exercise.
But with the vast majority of those shielding now vaccinated and infections falling, millions are now able to venture outside again and begin their slow return to normality.
Shielding was put in place in March, paused at the end of July and returned in January. However, many have chosen to shield almost constantly for the past year.
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Image from an earlier Sodbury Slog The organisers of the Sodbury Slog have announced that they are optimistic this year’s run can go ahead. The potential date- the same as previous years will fall on Remembrance Sunday, this year being Sunday, November 14. Last year’s race was cancelled due to the pandemic. Following Prime Minister Boris Johnsons announcement that restrictions will continue to gradually ease with the governments roadmap out of lockdown, runners will be pleased that the ever popular jaunt that starts at Chipping Sodbury School and takes in a breadth of South Gloucestershire countryside across a 10 mile distance, is hopeful to return this autumn.
FUNDING announcement to protect access to life saving medication has been welcomed. The Member of the Senedd for Alyn and Deeside, Jack Sargeant, has praised the Welsh Government s latest move to protect access to newly recommended medicine. The Minister for Health and Social Services has this week confirmed a further £16m will be invested by the Welsh Government to extend The New Treatment fund which has enabled quicker access to over 265 medicines to treat more than 100 health conditions since it was established by the Welsh Government in 2017. The funding has cut the average time it takes for newly recommended medicines to become available to patients by 85 per cent, from 90 to 13 days.