Barbara Burford facts for kids

Barbara Yvonne Veronica Burford (born December 9, 1944 – died February 20, 2010) was a British medical researcher, government worker, and writer. She was born in Jamaica and moved to the United Kingdom when she was 10 years old. Burford went to Dalston County Grammar School and studied medicine at the University of London.

Barbara Burford's Life

Early Years and Education

Barbara Burford was born in Jamaica on December 9, 1944. She lived there with her grandmother until she was seven. In 1955, Barbara moved to London with her family. She attended Dalston County Grammar School, which is now called Petchey Academy. This school focuses on health, care, and medical science. Barbara shared that her family came from different backgrounds, including African, Jewish, and Scottish roots.

Medical Career

In 1964, Barbara Burford started working for the National Health Service (NHS). She became a specialist in electron microscopy. This is a special way to use powerful microscopes for medical research. Later, she worked at the UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health and Great Ormond Street Hospital. She was part of a team with Sheila Haworth. Sheila Haworth is a professor who studies heart development in children. She was recognized for her great work with the NHS.

A Talented Writer

Barbara Burford was also a very active writer. She wrote plays, short stories, poems, and even science fiction. In 1980, she contributed to an important book called A Dangerous Knowing: Four Black Women Poets. This was one of the first collections of writing by black British women. People described this book as a wonderful gift.

Her play Patterns was created in 1984. It was about women's work and was performed in London. Barbara's book The Threshing Floor (1986) is a collection of stories. It is often read in schools and colleges across the UK. Her writing was also included in a famous book called Daughters of Africa in 1992.

Working for Equality

In 1999, Barbara Burford took on a big role. She became the Director of Equality for the Department of Health and Social Care. She held this important position until 2002.

Contributions at University of Bradford

Barbara helped create a special healthcare training program at the University of Bradford. This program helped make the city's healthcare workers more diverse. In 2001, the University of Bradford gave her an honorary doctorate. This award recognized her important work in promoting equality and diversity. After she retired in 2005, she became the first deputy director of the university's Centre for Inclusion and Diversity.

Legacy and Remembrance

Barbara Burford passed away on February 20, 2010, due to breathing problems.

The University of Bradford honors her memory with an annual event. It's called the Barbara Burford Annual Memorial Lecture. This lecture is part of a larger conference about making diversity count. Each year, one of her colleagues who worked with her on equality and diversity gives the lecture.

In 2017, a British magazine called Gay Times created an award in her name. It's called the Barbara Burford Honour (Excellence in STEM). This award celebrates people who have made a difference in science, technology, engineering, and math. The first award was given to Rachel Padman, a lecturer in astrophysics from the University of Cambridge.