Sue Chandler
{{short description|British mathematics teacher and writer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
F S Chandler (1940-2023)
F S Chandler, aka Suzanne or Sue Chandler, was a British
schoolteacher and textbook writer, who, together
with Linda Bostock, wrote the "Bostock and Chandler" series
of textbooks for advanced level mathematics in the UK. At the time she
began the series, she was a full-time mathematics teacher at Southgate
Technical College, London. She eventually stopped teaching courses and
focused on textbook writing. Her books have sold more than 6 million
copies.{{citation
| last = Chandler | first = Sue
| doi = 10.2307/3619188
| issue = 476
| journal = The Mathematical Gazette
| title = Mathematical People: Sue Chandler
| volume = 76
| year = 1992| pages = 327–329
| jstor = 3619188
| s2cid = 189661275
Life
Sue Chandler became the author of Mathematics textbooks when such
books were the exclusive realm of men; the books became staples of
Mathematics teaching throughout the world. Sue and her colleague
Linda Bostock, when teaching at Southgate Technical College in the
1970s, could find no suitable textbook to supply their needs, so they
decided to write their own. Judiciously, they chose to write under
the names of L Bostock and F S Chandler. In 1984, they were not
surprised when Lord Rothschild, having named one of their books as his
Desert Island choice, described it as having been written by 'two
wonderful young men’.
Sue was the daughter of Francis Rourke, a quantity surveyor, and Paula
Ley, a key member of her brother Stanley's West End tailoring
business. Paula and her sister had married brothers, both of whom
left their young families. The sisters were helped considerably by
their six brothers.
Paula found a flat overlooking Hampstead Heath and Sue went to school
at the local convent. Despite failing the 11-plus, she achieved good
A-level results and gained a Maths degree at Sir John Cass College,
followed by a PGCE.
Six months after meeting him, Sue married Derek Chandler, an engineer
who became a patent agent. They formed a successful partnership,
despite their opposing political views, and are remembered by their
nephews and nieces for their generosity and moral support.
Apart from the time spent in the north of England whilst Francis
was recuperating from injuries acquired at Dunkirk, Sue lived her
whole life in London. Sue enjoyed entertaining family and friends.
After her mother’s death, she sought out
her half-brother Michael and arranged for him to meet up with her part
of the Rourke family. She also took on her mother’s role of keeping
the Ley family together and was instrumental in organising regular
‘cousins events’. The last of these was held in September of 2023.
Knowing herself to be too frail to travel, Sue insisted on hosting
this event at her home: she died as the guests arrived.
Sue was survived by her brother Colin; two daughters; three grandchildren
and many cousins. Derek died in 2018, Michael in 2022 and Linda in 2012.
Selected publications
;Textbooks
- {{citation|author1=L Bostock |author2=F S Chandler |name-list-style=amp |title=Applied Mathematics, Vol. 1|publisher= Stanley Thornes|year=1975}}
- {{citation|author1=L Bostock |author2=F S Chandler |name-list-style=amp |title=Applied Mathematics, Vol. 2|publisher= Stanley Thornes|year=1976}}
- {{citation|title=Pure Mathematics, Vol. 1|year=1978|author1=L Bostock |author2=F S Chandler |publisher= Stanley Thornes|name-list-style=amp }}
- {{citation|title=Pure Mathematics, Vol. 2|year=1979|author1=L Bostock |author2=F S Chandler |publisher= Stanley Thornes|name-list-style=amp }}
- {{citation|title=Mathematics – The Core Course for A Level|year=1981|author1=L Bostock |author2=F S Chandler |edition=2nd|publisher= Stanley Thornes|name-list-style=amp }}
- {{citation|title=Further Pure Mathematics|year=1982|author=L Bostock, F S Chandler & C P Rourke|publisher= Stanley Thornes}}
- {{citation|title=Mathematics – Mechanics and Probability|year=1984|author1=L Bostock |author2=F S Chandler |publisher= Stanley Thornes|name-list-style=amp }}
- {{citation|title=Further Mechanics and Probability|year=1985|author1=L Bostock |author2=F S Chandler |publisher= Stanley Thornes|name-list-style=amp }}
- {{citation|author1=L Bostock |author2=F S Chandler |name-list-style=amp |title=Core Maths for 'A' Level|publisher= Nelson Thornes|edition=2nd |year=1994}}
- {{citation|author1=L Bostock |author2=F S Chandler |name-list-style=amp |title=Core Maths for 'A' Level|publisher= Nelson Thornes|edition=3rd |year=2000}}
;Other
- {{citation
| last = Chandler | first = Sue
| doi = 10.1093/teamat/16.4.157
| issue = 4
| journal = Teaching Mathematics and Its Applications
| pages = 157–159
| title = A-level mathematics examinations as a fair assessment of the needs of students post-GCSE intermediate and higher tiers
| volume = 16
| year = 1997}}.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chandler, Sue}}
Category:Mathematics education in the United Kingdom
Category:British mathematics educators
Category:20th-century English women educators