LevelItem
Ref NoRMB/26
TitleOral history interview with Mr Edward Kidby 14 January 2016
Date14 January 2016
Extent1 wav file and 1 transcript
Name of CreatorUniversity of Surrey, Alumni and Development Department
Nailon, Harriet
Kidby, Edward
DescriptionInterview conducted by Harriet Nailon.

00:00-00:37: Introduction

00:37-09:40: Why Battersea? Father in Royal Air Force, missed O-level exams; employed in warehouse; joined Air Force from age 18-23, learnt mechanics; studying O-levels and A-levels in spare time; went to college to complete studies for A-levels; went to Battersea College for degree in Mathematics as mature student; Battersea offered accommodation in first year

09:40-11:25: Accommodation: Mix of students, Malaysian, Thai; Ralph West Hall had thick walls; Spanish catering staff; view of Battersea park

11:25-13:50: Course: Very concentrated; vector analysis, kinematics; eight exams in four days

13:50-14:51: Socialising: Rag week, dances; joined Students' Union in second year

14:51-21:10: Course and sports: Subjects expanded in second and third year; electronics; lecturer retired due to illness; mathematical modelling; full timetable; only Wednesday afternoons off for sports, athletics; competed against London universities at Crystal Palace?

21:10-30:07: Students' Union: Internal vice president; regular committee meetings; made Christmas decorations for St Thomas' Hospital; art exhibitions; mentions president Rob McCloud, Dave Varney; liaison with university architects; decided to become a teacher

30:07-33:03: After Battersea: Postgraduate Certificate in Education at the University of Southampton; taught until age 60; head of faculty

33:03-40:56: Battersea Lecturers: Crystallography course; analysis; kinematics; describes use of university computers and developments in computing through career

40:56-46:25: Student demographic: Six or seven girls on mathematics course; already engaged during university; didn't stay out late; Christine Johnson, Liz Edwards; lecturer, Mike Clark; dated Madeline Low, union secretary; Helen Garner; dances at Roehampton

46:25-55:21: Entertainment: bands played in Great Hall, Moody Blues, The Yardbirds, The Animals; pajama party; folk music festival 1966, opened at Royal Festival Hall by Margot Fonteyn, with concert at Royal Albert Hall, New Lost City Ramblers, Diz Disley, The Tinkers, Tom Paxton, The Dubliners

55:21-59:12: Newspapers: Surrey Guardian, religious correspondent; helped to keep the paper running; Judith Burke; Dave Varney; Rag week split between Battersea and Guildford

59:12-01:03:09: Interesting characters: Brian Darling; Catherine Evans, lecturer in Humanities and Social Sciences; wrote staff profiles for university newspaper; Martin Bloom; poetry readings; Helen Garner

01:03:09-01:08:18: Student life: festivals; talk from North Atlantic Treaty Organisation; Conservative Association; Jesuits; mentions drugs and sex; Office of Surrey Future

01:08:18-01:17:46: Guildford University Architects: Rob McCloud; plans shown to Students' Union committee; consideration of location; focus on accommodation; street lights; location of sports facilities; discussion of number of car parking spaces

01:17:46-01:25:14: Fashion and food: white jeans; check suit; smoked cigars; good food in Hotel and Catering restaurant; discusses student fees; full board in Ralph West halls of residence; rented accommodation in Overstrand Mansions; Green Cafe; delays in arrival of cheques from local authorities, student taking subs from Battersea

01:25:14-01:32:29: Regrets? Maybe should have gone to City University instead; glad that University is more available to students now

01:32:31 - End
Administrative HistoryEdward Kidby (known as Eddie), studied Mathematics at Battersea from 1964 to 1967.
LanguageEnglish
CopyrightCopyright of the University of Surrey
FormatAudio
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