Our Inspiration

Rex Hall, MBE (1946-2010)

Rex worked in education for over thirty years and was widely acknowledged for his ability to think outside of the box. He had an amazing ability to inspire all those with whom he worked to believe in achieving the impossible.

Rex truly believed in making a difference to the lives of young people, after years spent working for the Youth Service. Rex went on to work for Tower Hamlets Education Business Partnership, and negotiated support from the City business sector to support young people, from which Summer University was borne, he was the founding trustee and offered continued support throughout his working life.

In 1997, Rex was asked by the (then) Department for Education and Skills (DfES) to support in developing Playing for Success (PfS). He was a consultant and Critical Friend for PfS and also for Study Support. He co-wrote the Code of Practice for Study Support in Primary Schools, as a consultant and National Critical Friend to Quality in Study Support (QiSS).

In 2008 Rex established Rex Hall Associates (RHA) as leaders in inspirational learning. Rex was always insistent on top quality, and this is reflected in his involvement with Quality in Study Support. In this role Rex piloted many new initiatives in study support, out of school hours learning and related areas of innovative and exciting education – changing the face of education to bring about a better awareness of the potential and power of study support in changing the lives of young people. These included Communicating for Success, a partnership with British Telecom and The Football Foundation and bringing forward the concept of Performing for Success, linking study support with the arts, theatre, cultural and heritage sites. It was his inspiration that brought about International Centres and Associates Centres in partnership with Playing for Success. He created a team of Associates to take his vision forward.

Rex was a space history expert, became a Fellow of the British Interplanetary Society (FBIS) in 1986 and was also a former President of the Society. He wrote a number of books on the Soviet/Russian Space Programme.

Rex had the rare and precious ability to be able to transform vision into action and endless capacity to hold together seemingly impossible combinations. Rex was a boundary mover and a vision stretcher. His wisdom and experience together with unique thinking made him an inspirational leader who could influence and change people. Rex valued people and made people feel appreciated, special, believed in and safe.

Rex was humble, kind, thoughtful and wise, he inspired us and left us with a legacy with which to inspire others….