Biography
Jef was born and brought up in Hornsey north London before his family moved to Ilford, Essex, and now married, he lives in Chingford, northeast London.
Jef has worked for the Ilford County Court issuing summons & warrants, publishers Hamish Hamilton, the Middlesex Hospital where he managed the Out-patients porters, the British Library inside the British Museum, and the National Gallery, running Reception for nearly 25 years. Before it was fashionable he spent a 2-year long 'gap year' living and working in the USA - a country he enjoyed tremendously.
He has a BA Hons from the Open University in modern history and history of art, and an MA postgraduate Diploma in Museum & Gallery Management.
Jef is a very experienced freelance lecturer and gallery guide, and leads tours of galleries, Ilford, and around 'Constable Country'. He has lectured in the USA, Canada and specializes in modern history and national events, history of London, art history (anything), American history, and famous authors i.e. Dickens, Conan Doyle, Wilde, Kipling, Mark Twain, Steinbeck, and local history. He has lectured in many London galleries and given talks to schools, universities, most local historical and family history societies.
He has been a school governor at both Ilford County High School, Essex, and Epping Upland CofE Primary School (CRB checked). A member of Redbridge Arts Council, Jef organised heritage fairs and art debates i.e.: Who's the Greatest: Manet v Turner, Leonardo v Durer, Hockney v Picasso, as well as local history seminar days and events on special topics i.e: Redbridge's Edwardian Heritage, the Grand Tour, the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
Jef is Chairman and Programme Secretary of Ilford Historical Society and arranges the programme of talks, speakers and events. He is listed with the Essex Panel of Speakers and Federation of Family History Societies. He writes articles and reports on local history for the Society Newsletter and Ilford Recorder on many subjects ie: Barnardos, Constable, Dickens, Fairlop Fair, Hogarth and Elizabeth I.
He is Chairman of Ilford Chess Club: a qualified chess coach, teacher of chess to children and adults, and runs the 1st team.
Jef has worked for the Ilford County Court issuing summons & warrants, publishers Hamish Hamilton, the Middlesex Hospital where he managed the Out-patients porters, the British Library inside the British Museum, and the National Gallery, running Reception for nearly 25 years. Before it was fashionable he spent a 2-year long 'gap year' living and working in the USA - a country he enjoyed tremendously.
He has a BA Hons from the Open University in modern history and history of art, and an MA postgraduate Diploma in Museum & Gallery Management.
Jef is a very experienced freelance lecturer and gallery guide, and leads tours of galleries, Ilford, and around 'Constable Country'. He has lectured in the USA, Canada and specializes in modern history and national events, history of London, art history (anything), American history, and famous authors i.e. Dickens, Conan Doyle, Wilde, Kipling, Mark Twain, Steinbeck, and local history. He has lectured in many London galleries and given talks to schools, universities, most local historical and family history societies.
He has been a school governor at both Ilford County High School, Essex, and Epping Upland CofE Primary School (CRB checked). A member of Redbridge Arts Council, Jef organised heritage fairs and art debates i.e.: Who's the Greatest: Manet v Turner, Leonardo v Durer, Hockney v Picasso, as well as local history seminar days and events on special topics i.e: Redbridge's Edwardian Heritage, the Grand Tour, the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
Jef is Chairman and Programme Secretary of Ilford Historical Society and arranges the programme of talks, speakers and events. He is listed with the Essex Panel of Speakers and Federation of Family History Societies. He writes articles and reports on local history for the Society Newsletter and Ilford Recorder on many subjects ie: Barnardos, Constable, Dickens, Fairlop Fair, Hogarth and Elizabeth I.
He is Chairman of Ilford Chess Club: a qualified chess coach, teacher of chess to children and adults, and runs the 1st team.