University of Reading

On April 1st Vanessa Burholt of Swansea University gave her inaugural lecture as Professor of Gerontology entitled ‘Is home where the heart is? The affinities between people and betwixt places in later life’ . We are very fortunate that Ness has given us a copy of the lecture which is reproduced in this edition’s research section (link to lecture - PDF). This is a very enlightening and stimulating read. The Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Richard Davies, introduced the lecture and our President-Judith Phillips-gave the vote of thanks. As you will see when you read the lecture, Ness –in the tradition of social sciences- links the personal and biographical to provide a well argued and stimulating review of the importance of place and environment in the experience of ageing and later life.