John Godfrey

Location: Ontario | Profession: Academic/Politician

Click to show/hide links to other profiles

Karen Kain 1971

????????????????????????????????????????

Karen Kain 2005

Profile

A Canadian in the UK:

John Godfrey arrived at Balliol College, Oxford in the fall of 1964. He was 22 years old. In those days – unlike today – Britain was a cheap place to study and an even cheaper place to live. His first four years were paid for by his family with what he describes as a “daddyship”. Then he entered a doctoral program for which he received funding from the federal government through a Canadian Council Doctoral Fellowship. “I must say, given the exchange rate and the relatively low fees that were then being charged, [it] made me a rather prosperous fellow.”

He received his MA in European history and continued on for his MPhil and a DPhil, the United Kingdom equivalent of a PhD. This last degree required a doctoral thesis, which he wrote on France in the First World War. He never finished it as a young man, leaving Oxford without completing the work. Years later he had it published as Capitalism At War: industrial policy and bureaucracy in France, 1914-1918 at the age of 45.

When asked about extra-curriculars, he again provides helpful advice. “There are two activities I really think, from both high school and university, which have paid off in spades in terms of life skills for the things I’m doing now.”

The first was debating. “The skills that are required to be quick and to organise your thoughts rapidly are applicable skills to anything from journalism to politics to life in general.” He debated at U of T, he debated at Oxford and he debates today in the chamber on Parliament Hill.

The other was acting. “Being involved in plays and having to run around in different roles and take on a different character is enormously useful in life. Again, just to be able to know how to move your body through space, to be able to give a good speech.” He mentions Trudeau. Not only was the former Prime Minister one of the most influential politicians our country has ever seen, he was also an adept actor. “He kept a very mask-like face… He would prepare himself for speeches… he’d compose himself and get himself revved up. He’d be very aware of the effect he was having.”

His involvement in debating and stage acting, performing small roles in everything from Molière to The Man Who Came To Dinner, showed a persistent desire for experience, to try everything at least once. At Oxford, he did “crazy things” like play polo and join the poetry society. Life, as the adage goes, was for the taking…