Frank Healey obituary

Frank Healey
Frank Healey was a pioneer in reforming modern-language courses.

Frank Healey obituary

My friend and former colleague Frank Healey, who has died aged 87, was a pioneer in reforming modern-language courses at universities in the 1960s and 70s. He emphasised the importance of communicative language studies and area studies, incorporating the history, institutions and politics of a country.

In 1967, he was appointed head of modern languages at Portsmouth Polytechnic, where he also became chairman of the faculty of social studies. With the help of a dedicated team of lecturers, Portsmouth launched modern-language courses accredited by the Council for National Academic Awards, of which he was a member.

Frank was born in Leamington Spa. He attended Birmingham University, where his studies were interrupted by army service during the second world war. After receiving his master's degree and a PhD, he became a lecturer at Birmingham and was then made professor of French at Magee University College, Derry, in 1960.

He spent five years at Portsmouth and then became, in 1972, professor of French at the University of Surrey, where he presided over the creation of a French course which incorporated law and international studies. In 1981 he was made an officer of the Ordre des Palmes Académiques. In 1989 he became emeritus professor of French at Surrey.

His major publications were Foreign Language Teaching in the Universities (1967) and A Reference Grammar of Modern French (1983). He was contributing editor for modern languages to the Times Education Supplement.

Frank was a talented photographer and painter. He was a kind and friendly man who helped many people in their careers. He was well known for his extraordinary sang-froid when faced with difficulties, and is remembered with much affection by those who worked with him.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia, whom he married in 1950, and his children, Frances, Richard, Alison and Marcus.