Professor Philippe Rushton In Amsterdam Photograph Taken by Gillian Hammerton

When Phil was a young man I lived with him before he went to Canada.He utterly adored his son Stephen
who he was raising on his own.My grandad Rear Admiral Blackler had left me a small legacy enough for me
to decide to lease a small flat in Doughty Street next to the Dickens House in London so that Phil and Stephen could leave their grusesome room in the east end and give Stephen a better place to develope with a decent school and environment.Phil could now walk to University and I to University where I was studying for a Law degree at University College London.My parents had died when I was 6 years old and my grandad when I was 16 years old.I had gone to Israel to help build a kibbutz for 18 months ( I am a Christian but had been appalled by the stories I had gleened of the War and wanted to do something to restitute.It was an incredible journey and I came back with the courage, power and determination to become a lawyer.I had little money,which my grandfather Admiral Blackler ad left me which enabled my studies, and somewhere on the way I met this incredible man Phillip Rushton and his young son.They captured my heart and given time we decided it would be good to combine forces and combine resourses.I used my money to obtain a lease,and foolishly in hindsight allowed myself to be persuaded to have his name on the lease,and not mine though I paid for it.I was young and foolish and completely besooted by him and his persuation that as he had a son he needed te security,I was to roe this because when he went back to Canada I was without a legal rudder and lost possesion,but such was the other forgivably darker side of Phil.

Phil was a dedicated father and scholar.His views and determinations were knowledge and education for himself and his son.His code was "A third of my time to my studies,a third to home,and a third to social activities."
 
I learnt many things from Phil,his love for children his social skills and his immense intellectual capacity.
He was incredibly romantic and I was totally in love with him .I loved being a mum to his son taking him to school watching him develope and the love between father and son the caring was amazing.

I was stuck in England because by then I had trained the long road as a barrister.My funds had run out and I had to focus on developing my career,no second chances for me or family support ,I was out on my own and it was a tough world .Phil taught me to be strong to have courage.When I had a child by David Cocks QC,my pupil master,older than me and almost like a replacement parent who instead of making me feel safe once I was pregnant made it clear he wanted nothing to do with me or his son.Had I not known Phillip Rushton and seen the way he loved his son and always put him first I am fairly sure I would not have had the strenght to fight for my sons Human Rights against the distain and disinterest of one of Englands most powerful men who set his face against me and his son and tried to make me have an abortion.I did not and thugh I only received £16 a week from one of England's richest men,I had the courage not to ask for more for 12 years during which David Cocks QC never offered more,nor greeted his son,or allowed him into his home or allowed him to see his granparents or even gave him a winter coatwhen it was freezing.
But due to Phil I was able to.

The beautiful Phillippe Rushton in his youth with David Hammerton Who He treated As a Son More than David Cocks QC Who Abandoned His Son

The beautiful Phillippe Rushton in his youth with David Who He treated As a Son More than David Cocks QC Who Abandoned His Son at birth,as they do. Phillippe Rushton was a kind and generous to the boy when David Cocks QC  disregarded his feelings,without Phil David's life would have been much poorer.He was amazing with children giving them respect and kindness in comparision with the harsh rejection since birth from his father,an other wise intelligent and cultured man.Some times look deep into the heart of a man.

Philippe Rushton with Gillian Hammerton in Venice

Philippe Rushton

Philippe Rushton with Gillian Hammerton taking the picture in our happiest of times

Philippe Rushton and David taken by Gillian Hammerton

Philippe Rushton and Stephen By Gillian Hammerton a walk in the park

Philippe Rushton taken by Gillian Hammerton

Philippe Rushton

Philippe Rushton

My Beautiful Philippe

Philippe Rushton

Philippe Rushton

Philippe Rushton

Philippe Rushton

philippe rushton

Philippe Rushton

Philippe Rushton

Philippe Rushton

Philippe Rushton, UWO professor. February 8, 1989

Even in death, nearly 25 years after he drew tabloid-TV attention from the likes of Geraldo Rivera and ignite a fiery argument about racism and free speech, Philippe Rushton still provokes deep emotions.
While Canadian environmentalist David Suzuki, who famously engaged Rushton in a televised debate at Western University in 1989, declined to comment on Rushton’s passing, former Ontario premier David Peterson’s feelings were clear in an e-mail response to a request to talk about the late psychology professor.
“I think it’s appropriate when people pass,” wrote Peterson, “that others try to speak well of them.”
Peterson was just one of many who campaigned to have Rushton fired from his Western post.
With his bizarre measurements of brains and genitalia and his loopy theory that genetic factors make blacks less intelligent, less sexually restrained and less law-abiding than Asians and whites, Rushton was a lightning rod who galvanized London like never before.
“(The controversy) took six months of my life,” recalls Brian Timney, the dean of Western University’s faculty of social science who, during the late 1980s, served as undergraduate co-ordinator for the school’s beleaguered psychology department. “I remember it well.”
At the time, Western found itself attacked on two sides: By anti-racism advocates who denounced the university for allowing Rushton to spread his theories, and by academics who argued Western was infringing on Rushton’s freedoms.
Western officials defended Rushton, a stance that Timney still supports.
“I wouldn’t enjoy doing it, but I would do it again,” he says. “I think that, in the end, the whole case shows the value of academic freedom, and that defending people who say controversial things is a good thing.”
Timney maintains that allowing Rushton’s theories to be openly debated ultimately led to their dismissal.
“It’s considered fringe science,” Timney says. “There are very few people who (still) pay attention to it.”
Local lawyer John Judson recalls how he defended Rushton during the height of the controversy.
“I told Dr. Rushton on a number of occasions that I was not personally comfortable with the thrust of his research,” says the Lerners partner. “But that did not relieve me of the obligation to defend his right to do the research.”
Even today, Judson refuses to denounce the quiet-spoken researcher.
“I never would have put the label ‘racist’ on him,” Judson says. “Whatever one’s view of the merits of his research, he had to be respected for his zeal and commitment and courage in dealing with issues of academic freedom.”
But lawyer Raj Anand, the former chief commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission who represented a group of Western student complainants against Rushton, still believes the late professor exceeded the limits of academic freedom.
“There’s nothing unusual about laws regulating speech, because speech can be harmful in the same way the exertion of physical strength can be harmful,” says Anand, who works with the Toronto-based firm WeirFoulds. “There needs to be a balancing process, and I think (Rushton) went too far.”
And yes, he did. But as much as we may find Rushton’s views dangerously repugnant, I think we should thank him for reminding us that universities should be open to an uninhibited exchange of ideas, because that’s where vile views can best be challenged and rejected.
We should be able to defend somebody’s right to say something, without necessarily defending what is being said.
Because in the end, under the harsh light of examination, Rushton’s odious ideas dried up and disappeared. “I remember teaching a class (about 10 years ago) and using his research as an example of how not to do research,” recalls Timney. “And I mentioned his name, and it was blank faces.”

John Philippe Rushton

 

 

J. Philippe Rushton

RUSHTON, John Philippe - Dr. John Philippe Rushton passed away peacefully after a courageous battle with cancer on Tuesday, October 2, 2012 at LHSC Victoria Hospital Palliative Care Ward. Phil is survived by his children Stephen Philippe Rushton and Katherine Vanderzwet (Bernie); grandchildren Jasmine, Aundreia and great-granddaughter Paige. Also survived by his brother Peter Rushton as well as dear friend and Research Assistant Trudy Ann Bons. Special thanks to LRCP Oncologist Dr. Mark Vincent who has been a wonderful professional as well as becoming a great friend to Phil. Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 2:00-4:00 and 7:00-9:00 p.m.at the WESTVIEW FUNERAL CHAPEL, 709 Wonderland Road North, where the funeral service will be conducted on Wednesday, October 10th, 2012 at 4:00 p.m. Those wishing to make a donation in memory of Phil are asked to consider the London Regional Cancer Program - Research. Online condolences may be made at

Professor Philippe Rushton

J. Philippe Rushton

The Beautiful Phillippe Rushton : Then Not Now