Councillor named for top award held by Livingstone (Cambridge Liberal Democrats)

Cambridge Liberal Democrats <camlibdems@gmail.com>

Councillor named for top award held by Livingstone

May 26, 2009 11:03 AM

Cambridge City Councillor, Alan Baker is to receive a top accolade for excellence which was also held by the great explorer, David Livingstone.

Cllr Baker has been approved by the Queen for the Founder's Medal of the Royal Geographical Society.

The gold medal, one of the highest distinctions awarded by the society, was also presented to Livingstone in 1855 and recognises excellence in geographical research and fieldwork, teaching and public engagement.

Cllr Baker, a retired Cambridge University lecturer and a Life Fellow of Emmanuel College, has researched and published books on the social geography of rural France during the 19th Century and on the relations of history and geography as academic disciplines.

Dr Baker became a Liberal Democrat City Councillor in 2002 and has been Chair of Cambridge City's Planning Committee since 2003.

He said: "It is both an honour and a surprise to be named alongside the great David Livingstone and I am delighted to receive this award."