| Description | Interview conducted by Lauren England.
No transcript was made of this recording.
00:00-00:26: Introduction: Graduated 1970, materials technology
00:26-01:23: Why Battersea? describes desire to have degree, engineering less competitive than science; followed David Graves, two years above at school, to come to Battersea College
01:23-03:11: First Impressions: Remembers interview with lecturers, Ted Leach, Dr Elias, very welcoming; describes campus and local area as dilapidated; happy with the course; remembers he was drawn to London in the 1960s
03:11-04:48: 1960s London: Remembers Courland Grove hall of residence was not finished at start of term, so given rented accommodation in Streatham; made friends with students from King's College London, moved into rented accommodation in second year with them in North West London
04:48-05:30: Course: Recalls first year began with PEMS module (Physics, Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Science) to establish basics for new students
05:30-05:55: Food: recalls eating at The Green Café, he contracted jaundice during first year; describes café as unhygienic, but cheap
05:55-08:06: Accommodation: remembers rented accommodation was organised by Battersea; describes rented accommodation with King's College London students, owned by Mrs McHugo; met wife through other King's College London students
08:06-09:20: Romance: Remembers future wife, Vivian, lived in Cricklewood, so moved to West Hampstead, North-West London with King's College London students to be near her; describes rented accommodation
09:20-10:38: Living in rented accommodation: Describes pranks and games; Mentions sense of freedom away from halls
10:38-13:10: Commuting: describes journey on Underground to London Waterloo, then train to Battersea Park; recalls socialising after lectures at Battersea with other Metallurgy students, mentions sport
13:10-14:35: Socialising: mentions sport, football; recalls sports grounds in Merton; describes annual social events with football club at The Eagle public house, mentions Ian Burgess, football captain
14:35-16:10: Socialising: mostly with other students from Metallurgy course; mentions summer balls; discusses whether sport and politics were more important for students then; mentions Students' Union meetings; describes status of Left Wing political movement
16:10-18:12: Politics: recalls standing for Labour party at school elections in a Conservative area; mentions political views of father-in-law; mentions policies of Harold Wilson
18:12-19:38: Student demographic: recalls Metallurgy course students had mostly northern or industrial origins
19:38-34:15: Course structure: Describes options of metallurgy or material sciences; remembers third year was spent in industry, then students chose in final year to focus on metals or materials; remembers Polish university lecturers;
Industrial Placement: Ken Ginsberg, tutor, suggested company in Germany; recalls German language course at Goethe Institute in Salzberg; describes first industry placement in Dortmund, Germany, at steel works; describes second sixth months at Karlsberg, near Strasburg; mentions Eurotom Treaty and European Atomic Energy Community; mentions Carl Ginsberg
Final year on Guildford campus: describes mud; remembers room in Battersea Court halls of residence; mentions strong community feel on campus; explains focus on materials technology in final year, mentions tutors Michael Bader, Jim Reed; mentions carbon fibre composites
34:15-37:54: Returning from industry: describes contrast between placements, European Atomic Energy placement involved more research; remembers exploring Guildford and appreciating new facilities; mentions dances; explains the '53 Club' for metallurgy alumni, remembers social events at The Wooden Bridge public house
37:54-40:26: University Charter: Remembers awareness of upcoming change; describes entrance requirement for Battersea College of Advanced Technology, compares to University of Manchester
40:26-43:08: Socialising in Guildford: recalls meeting wife; describes holiday job in Mill Hill, North London at raw plug factory; remembers wife travelling to United States of America with the British University of North America Club; mentions wife visiting Guildford
43:08-49:03: Staff members: describes Victor Kingswood, iron and steel lecturer; mentions Jim Reed and Mike Bader, enthusiastic tutors; explains relationship with lecturers; mentions department sports days
45:30-49:03: Postgraduate research: describes interest of British Aircraft Corporation in carbon fibre composites; mentions Rolls Royce; recalls early 1970s financial situation; mentions postgrad football team
49:03-51:23: Masters Degree Course: Two year course, extended for a year; describes employment as librarian with the Greater London Council, University College London diploma in librarianship; describes employment at St Martin's School of Art library; mentions employment in library information science at Shell
51:23-52:30: Graduation ceremony: Mentions graduation in Guildford Cathedral with wife and parents; explains value of honorary degree ceremony
52:30-56:10: Good memories: explains being first in family with degree; explains how studies shaped his life; describes first three years as most influential; mentions degree result; describes university as a supportive environment; mentions waiter at The Green Café
56:10-57:25: Course: describes value of university education
57:25 - End |