George Isserlis: educationalist for metal finishers

Abstract

If any recent member of the Institute could be called a polymath it would be George Isserlis. An outstanding amateur musician from a very musical family he made important contributions to metal finishing education and professional standards through the Institute’s certificate and diploma qualification system. His family life and their musical gifts have been well covered in his obituary in this journal, and this biography expands more on his educational contributions to our industry. George was born in Odessa in 1917 to Julius and Rita. Julius Isserlis was an international concert pianist, trained at the Moscow Conservatoire and a gold medallist. In 1922 they were able to travel abroad on a concert tour and when in Vienna they decided to settle, because of the anti-semitic atmosphere in their home country. George went to school in Vienna and mixed in musical circles, meeting Rachmaninov, Casals, Milstein and others. In 1938 the family toured in Britain and stayed. George started to study metallurgy but during the war they were all interned in the Isle of Man. After the war he obtained a job first at Philips Electrical, then at Northampton Polytechnic as a lecturer, transferring to Borough Polytechnic, later Polytechnic (now University) of the South Bank. George married Cynthia in 1952 (having become a British citizen in 1948) and they had three children – Annette, Rachel and Steven. When Dr John Garside (President of the IMF in 1963–65) was promoted in Borough Polytechnic from departmental head to Principal in 1962 it was George who was promoted to be the new head of department. He inherited a lively department with staff who taught over the whole range of metal science but had a special interest in metal finishing and corrosion science. Teaching was primarily to HNC and HND level from which there was no obvious way forward and upwards for students. George had become chairman of the IMF Education Committee in 1965 and used this privileged position, with the strong support of Dr Simon Wernick, the Institute Secretary, to plan a higher qualification route to take students to graduate-equivalent standard and status. Thus was born over a few years a route to Licentiate qualification (LIMF) and then Graduate (GradIMF) status which, with appropriate experience, led to professional Membership. Borough Polytechnic was not the only college to support this progress – Birmingham and Derby Colleges were amongst important early supporters. The route required development of syllabuses, the creation of examinations at the appropriate standard, the identification of examiners and later external examiners to set and maintain the standard before the qualification could be accepted by professional bodies and Universities, notable the CNAA. This was achieved during the 1970s, the colleges supported the courses needed to be provided, and students came forward from those colleges which were, in any case, supportive as their long term aim was to achieve University status (which occurred in 1990–92). On retirement in 1982 George expanded his musical activities as a violinist playing in trios and quartets with amongst others his family, all highly talented with son Steven an internationally recognised concert cellist. George spent his early retirement years as his manager. He also became Chairman of the Barnes Music Club and had a regular family Bridge foursome with another past President (Frank Porter). He died in 2012, one week before his ninety-fifth birthday. He edited a number of books which were valuable works of technical progress for both industry and educational purposes, including ‘Automation in metal finishing’ (1963, Columbine Press) and ‘Quality control in metal finishing’ (1967, Columbine Press). He also wrote ‘Protective and decorative coatings for metals’ (1978, Finishing Publications) with Harold Silman and A. F. Averill, who is still with the now University of the South Bank.