HILARY ROCK-GORMLEY MA FCIEA FNCS

 

I was born and brought up in Liverpool, although, like many others, moved to London when I graduated, to find work.   I am still based in London, although have spent some time in Manchester and the Republic of Ireland.

 

For the last twenty years I have worked as a self-employed psychotherapist, and lecturer/examiner.   I became involved in teaching French to primary school students when I first graduated from University, but decided that working with children was not for me.   I later moved into adult education, teaching business and management skills to charity volunteers and, after training as a counsellor/psychotherapist became a tutor, examiner and external verifier in this field.  

 

I first discovered Plato as a teenager, and read many of his works at that stage.   I went on to study Philosophy at Liverpool University, where I was able to develop this interest.   Even today, my first stop in Athens is always a walk in his footsteps through the Ancient Agora.

 

More latterly I returned to University to study for a Master’s Degree in Christian Spirituality, with a particular emphasis on how the works of Plato (c428-c348 BC) were very similar to some later Christian spiritual accounts.   I have also had a long-term interest in ancient history, the development of man as a social animal, and early civilisations.   A further interest is the early history of Christianity in Britain, and the early conflicts between the Celtic and Roman strands of Christian thinking.

 

I am a wife (to Paul Gormley) a mother and grandmother

 

TOPICS:

 

Great Greek Philosophers – An overview of the teachings of Socrates, Plato and Aristotle

 

The First Democracy – The development of democracy in Greece;   Similarities and differences with our       modern conception of democracy

 

Pharaohs of Egypt – An overview of the Pharaonic era

 

From cave to community – The development of civilisation

 

Development of Christianity in Britain – The early history of the Christian church in Britain, from its beginnings to the struggle between the Celtic and Roman strands of Christian teaching – 33-664AD

 

Troy – a look at the Iliad and the Odyssey, and the myths which surround the history of Troy

 

The Inquisition – in Spain and elsewhere.