Harold Arthur Harris
Encyclopedia
Professor Harold Arthur Harris (27 October 1902 – 29 August 1974) was educated at Oxford High School, and went on to study at Jesus College, Oxford
. Here, he gained a first in Classical Moderations, becoming a senior scholar, and graduating with first class honours in English.
After graduation, Harris gained his teaching certificate, and in 1926 he was appointed Lecturer in Classics
and English at St David's College
, Lampeter
. In 1934, he was made Professor of Classics
, taking responsibility for English during the Second World War. He remained in the post until his retirement in 1968.
Harris was responsible for a great deal of teaching at Lampeter
. All St David's students were, at this time, expected to study Greek
for two years. Simultaneously, the numbers wishing to study English at the college were increasing. This left little time for his personal research interests. Yet he did manage to publish various books and articles, including Greek Athletes and Athletics in 1964, and Sport in Greece and Rome in 1968. These aroused great interest worldwide, and resulted in countless invitations to lecture on the subject.
Harris took a great interest in sport himself, particularly cricket
. He possessed a vast knowledge of English County and Test cricketers, and was involved with the Lampeter
XI
. He also took a prominent role in many college dramatic productions. He visited Greece
and Italy
on an annual basis, being prevented only during the war years. These visits resulted in him being made a senior lecturer on the official Greek cruise tours. He died suddenly at Oxford
in 1974.
A hall of residence at St David's College, which is now the University of Wales, Lampeter
, is named for Harris.
Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College is one of the colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship Street, Cornmarket Street and Market Street...
. Here, he gained a first in Classical Moderations, becoming a senior scholar, and graduating with first class honours in English.
After graduation, Harris gained his teaching certificate, and in 1926 he was appointed Lecturer in Classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
and English at St David's College
University of Wales, Lampeter
University of Wales, Lampeter is a university in Lampeter, Wales. Founded in 1822 by royal charter, it is the oldest degree awarding institution in Wales and may be the third oldest in England and Wales after Oxford and Cambridge...
, Lampeter
Lampeter
Lampeter is a town in Ceredigion, South West Wales, lying at the confluence of the River Teifi and the Afon Dulas.-Demographics:At the 2001 National Census, the population was 2894. Lampeter is therefore the smallest university town in both Wales and the United Kingdom...
. In 1934, he was made Professor of Classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
, taking responsibility for English during the Second World War. He remained in the post until his retirement in 1968.
Harris was responsible for a great deal of teaching at Lampeter
University of Wales, Lampeter
University of Wales, Lampeter is a university in Lampeter, Wales. Founded in 1822 by royal charter, it is the oldest degree awarding institution in Wales and may be the third oldest in England and Wales after Oxford and Cambridge...
. All St David's students were, at this time, expected to study Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
for two years. Simultaneously, the numbers wishing to study English at the college were increasing. This left little time for his personal research interests. Yet he did manage to publish various books and articles, including Greek Athletes and Athletics in 1964, and Sport in Greece and Rome in 1968. These aroused great interest worldwide, and resulted in countless invitations to lecture on the subject.
Harris took a great interest in sport himself, particularly cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
. He possessed a vast knowledge of English County and Test cricketers, and was involved with the Lampeter
Lampeter
Lampeter is a town in Ceredigion, South West Wales, lying at the confluence of the River Teifi and the Afon Dulas.-Demographics:At the 2001 National Census, the population was 2894. Lampeter is therefore the smallest university town in both Wales and the United Kingdom...
XI
First eleven
First eleven or first XI may refer to the eleven players in an organisation's leading team, particularly a cricket team or association football team....
. He also took a prominent role in many college dramatic productions. He visited Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
on an annual basis, being prevented only during the war years. These visits resulted in him being made a senior lecturer on the official Greek cruise tours. He died suddenly at Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
in 1974.
A hall of residence at St David's College, which is now the University of Wales, Lampeter
University of Wales, Lampeter
University of Wales, Lampeter is a university in Lampeter, Wales. Founded in 1822 by royal charter, it is the oldest degree awarding institution in Wales and may be the third oldest in England and Wales after Oxford and Cambridge...
, is named for Harris.