Alexander ~ Notices: January 2008 Archives

Evelyn Rothwell, internationally respected oboist, widow of the famous conductor Sir John Barbirolli and also a patron of the Alexander Trust, died on January 25th 2008 at the age of 97.

Through much of her long and impressive musical career, Evelyn Rothwell used her maiden name but after her husband's death, she began to be known as Lady Barbirolli, or 'Lady B' at the Royal Academy of Music where she taught for a number of years.

Her Obituary can be found in the Telegraph and other papers.

Formed in 1991, the Alexander Trust is a registered charity with an impressive list of patrons:
Lady Barbirolli, Ursula, Lady Benn, Rev. Dr Martin Israel, Sir Ben Kingsley and Sir Charles Mackerras.

The Trust was set up to promote research and study into the Alexander Technique and to help make Alexander's work more available to the general public.

So far, it has supported book publications and some recordings, plus important research projects into the effects of the Alexander Technique when learnt by people with such conditions as cancer, Parkinson's Disease and repetitive strain injury (RSI).

Being a charity, it welcomes any financial help that people can offer, so that it may continue to support such projects in the future. If you have been helped by learning the Technique and would like to contribute to the Trust's work, you can visit the Trust's Website to find out more:
www.alexandertrust.org.uk

F M Alexander was born on 20th January 1869 in Tasmania. He was a premature baby and had a struggle to survive. He later attributed his frequent bouts of illness as a child and young man to his poor use and once he taught himself to improve this, his health also began to improve.

His family had originally lived for many generations in the ancient village of Ramsbury in Wiltshire. Whilst exploring some of my own family history I have discovered that my mother's family also came from Ramsbury and one of them married a Mary Alexander in 1764, quite possibly part of F M's family, although I have not been able to verify this yet.

F M's paternal grandfather, Matthias Alexander was a hurdle maker and other family members were craftsmen. However they supported the impoverished agricultural labourers during the swing riots, in which they protested against the new threshing machines which were costing them their livelihoods. As a result of this support, Alexander's family was sent to Tasmania as convicts in 1831, something that F M never admitted to in public. If you are interested in discovering more about Alexander's background, his biography by Michael Bloch makes for interesting reading.

From these difficult beginnings, F M developed an interest in horses and in the theatre and in 1889 he moved to Melbourne, Australia and began to train for a career as a reciter. A few years later, after many bouts of illness which threatened his new career, F M began to develop his now famous Technique. This process is described in some detail his book 'The Use of the Self' and it is highly recommended reading for anyone interested in learning more about the Alexander Technique.

After his death, a group of teachers that Alexander had trained, formed the Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique, STAT, in order to maintain and develop high standard of Alexander Technique Teacher Training and Professional practice.

Many Alexander Technique pupils find that it is easier to utilise their learning when they meet up with others who are also interested in the Technique.  When people around us also use, discuss and think about the Technique during their activities, such as going for a walk or having a cup of coffee together, its application becomes much more 'ordinary' and a part of daily life, which is what we are aiming at.

One way of helping this process is to join Friends of the Alexander Technique, a registered charity that is linked to STAT. You can join online or pick up an application form from Hilary.

For a small annual fee you can receive the Alexander Journal and some e-mail newsletters, plus attend various workshops and events around the country which can help you extend your understanding of the work and stimulate a deeper interest in the Technique.

As a Friend, you will become part of a wide-reaching community that shares an Alexander outlook on life and it would be possible for you to set up events specifically for A/T Friends.

There is also a move to create an Alexander Orchestra, which musical Friends can join, the details of which you can find on the Friends' Website.