Sunday, December 25, 2011

Happy 65th Birthday Sir Christopher Frayling


Sir Christopher Frayling was born on December 25, 1946 in England. Chris read history at Churchill College, Cambridge and gained a PhD in the study of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. He was appointed a Fellow of the college in 2009. He taught history at the University of Bath and was awarded an Honorary Degree (Doctor of Arts) from that University in 2003. In 1979 Frayling was appointed Professor of Cultural History at London's post-graduate art and design school, the Royal College of Art. Frayling was Rector in charge of the Royal College of Art from 1996 to 2009. He was the Chairman of Arts Council England from 2005 until January 2009. Frayling has also been Chairman of the Design Council, Chairman of the Royal Mint Advisory Committee, and a Trustee of the Victoria and Albert Museum. He was a governor of the British Film Institute in the 1980s.

In 2001, Christopher Frayling was awarded a knighthood for "Services to Art and Design Education" and chose as his motto "PERGE SCELUS MIHI DIEM PERFICIAS", which can be translated as "Proceed, varlet, and let the day be rendered perfect for my benefit". He wished to suggest the well-known phrase attributed to Police Inspector Harry Callahan in the movie Sudden Impact: "Go ahead, punk, make my day". (The role of Callahan was played by Clint Eastwood.) Christopher Frayling has written several books on Spaghetti Westerns, Sergio Leone and Clint Eastwood. Chris has been a friend and inspiration for me since I was co-editor of Westerns… All’Italiana! fanzine in 1982. Today we celebrate Sir Christopher Frayling’s 65th birthday.

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