Professor Stewart Asquith, 1948–2009
Professor Stewart Asquith was the driving force behind the creation of the Centre for Rural Childhood, Perth College UHI. Stewart’s vision culminated in the establishment of the Centre in May 2007, and its remit reflects his view that experiences of rural children are very different from those of their urban counterparts.
Having been brought up in a rural community in which he witnessed social and economic deprivation, Stewart became a passionate campaigner for the welfare of children. This passion, along with his intellectual brilliance and human sensitivity, led to his recognition as an international activist and advocate for children’s rights.
Stewart attended the University of St Andrews, where he graduated in Philosophy, and subsequently read for his Doctorate at the University of Edinburgh. The focus of his PhD was a comparison of particular aspects of the Scottish Juvenile Hearing System and the English Juvenile Courts. His thesis was published in 1983 as Children and Justice, and its theme of the tension between "welfare" and "justice" in the treatment of juvenile offending remains as pertinent today.
Stewart’s early working career included a spell as a Research Officer in the Scottish Office and a temporary lectureship in law at the University of Edinburgh. This was followed by a lectureship in Social Administration. After a break from academia, he returned having been appointed to the newly founded St Kentigern Chair for the Study of the Child at the University of Glasgow. This provided him with an ideal position to pursue his continuing passion for the promotion of children's rights. Remaining at Glasgow he served as head of social policy and social work from 1997-2002, and from 2000 was Professor for the European Study of the Child. His publications include Justice for Children with Malcolm Hill (1994) and Children and Young People in Conflict with the Law (1996).
After his partial retirement on health grounds in 2003 Stewart continued to be extremely active pursuing research and providing consultancy on children's rights and welfare. As special adviser on children's issues to the Council of Europe he travelled widely, notably in Eastern Europe, to report on conditions for children and to contribute to local policy-making. He served as a consultant for Unicef, UNDP, the NSPCC, the Scottish Executive and the Oak Foundation. He witnessed extreme poverty and deprivation, brutal institutions, child soldiers and the effects of sexual exploitation and trafficking. He advised on the development of many policy and practical initiatives, motivated as always by strong theoretical principles and moral values.
Throughout, Stewart remained in touch with his roots, and worked increasingly to bring the particular needs of rural children under the spotlight. During his latter years, though suffering from multiple myeloma, Stewart’s vision crystallised into what would become the Centre for Rural Childhood, and thanks to his endeavours the necessary funding was obtained to support the Centre. At the heart of the Centre’s activities reflecting Stewart’s vision is the commitment to the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child.