A letter to the editor has paid tribute to the late journalist David Hencke, recalling his probing interviewing style during a 1975 encounter with students at Bulmershe College of Higher Education, now part of Reading University.
Early encounter with Hencke
Before joining the Guardian, Hencke worked for the Times Higher Education Supplement. In 1975, he investigated a new professional training course for community and youth workers at Bulmershe College. The course prospectus boasted a community development approach and a “self-generating curriculum”.
Within two weeks of starting the course, the letter writer was part of a small group that spent a morning being probed by Hencke about the demands on participants and invited to offer opinions on how to change the world. The experience encouraged the writer to follow Hencke's career closely.
Lasting impact
The letter concludes that the writer learned a great deal from Hencke over the ensuing years, underscoring the journalist's influence on those he encountered.
