Keralite in London given Honorary Fellowship for outstanding contribution to library world in the UK

By A Staff Reporter

LONDON Oct 7: Bobby Seagull, a Keralite in London has been given the Honorary Fellowship of CILIP, the highest recognition given to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to the library world in the UK.

CILIP, the library and information association, is the leading voice for the information, knowledge management and library profession. Their goal is to put information and library skills and professional values at the heart of a democratic, equal and prosperous society.

While announcing the honorary fellowship CILIP stated: “The country’s best-loved Maths teacher and University Challenge Star, Bobby Seagull, lent his support to libraries as the new CILIP Library Champion in October 2019, with the launch of his 10-point Manifesto for Libraries. Bobby called on Ministers, Members of Parliament and representatives in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to take up the opportunity to transform lives across the UK by investing in the future of our libraries.

Despite facing unprecedented challenges this year, Bobby has successfully led the charge for public libraries, with much energy and enthusiasm. Bobby supported the launch of CILIP and The Big Issue’s report at the House of Lords, Public Libraries: The Case For Support, in late 2019, making the case for long-term sustainable funding for libraries; and delivered a petition to Number 10 in February this year, fighting for a return to pre-austerity level funding for libraries.

On receiving news of his Honorary Fellowship, Bobby commented: “I am genuinely moved and honoured to accept an Honorary Fellowship from CILIP. My family were thrilled when they found out, as libraries have been an important part of the fabric of our family life. I hope to be able to continue my work both with CILIP and more widely promoting the vital role libraries play in their communities.”

Alongside Bobby, Honorary Fellowships are also being awarded to Margaret Casely-Hayford, CBE, for services to children’s literature and illustration through her leadership of the CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Awards Diversity Review; and Pamela Martindale, for her sustained and significant contribution to the library, information and knowledge profession through professional registration.

Honorary Fellowship has been awarded by CILIP and its predecessor the Library Association since 1896. It is the highest recognition given to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to the library and information world.

Recipients of the title join a roll call of important figures including three time former Prime Minster Rt. Hon Stanley Baldwin, Scottish philanthropist and library founder Andrew Carnegie, the inventor of the Dewey Decimal system used in library classification, Melvil Dewey; the poet, novelist and librarian Philip Larkin, novelist Dame Catherine Cookson and children’s illustrator and author Shirley Hughes.

Bobby Seagull is a familiar name among the British TV audience and as a columnist for the Financial Times. The avid Maths enthusiast, who is a teacher and writer, is a household name with Maths students at school or university. Keralite Bobby Seagull rose to fame after appearing on BBC’s University Challenge, which has a viewership of 2.4 million. University Challenge in 2016-17 was intensely focused on Canadian Eric Monkman of Wolfson College, Cambridge and Indian-origin Londoner Bobby Seagull of Emmanuel College, Cambridge.

Bobby reviews newspapers for BBC Breakfast and is a columnist for the Financial Times, propagating the beauty of Mathematics. His latest book, The Life-Changing Magic of Numbers shows how maths shapes everyday life using examples from a range of areas including cooking, sport and finance. His book reached the top 50 bestsellers on Amazon UK. He also write puzzles for BBC Radio 4 and hosts his own podcast Maths Appeal.

Bobby is from East Ham (London Borough of Newham). He did his studies for GCSEs at St Bonaventure’s Catholic Comprehensive School in Forest Gate, Newham, under the headship of Ofsted Chief Inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw.

Bobby’s father is from Allepey mother is from Kackottumoola in the Kollam district.