LevelItem
Ref NoRMB/33
TitleOral history interview with Dr Juan Matthews on 14 October 2015
Date14 October 2015
Extent1 wav file and 1 transcript
Name of CreatorUniversity of Surrey, Alumni and Development Department
Cheeseman, Rona
Matthews, Juan
DescriptionInterview conducted by Rona Cheeseman.

00:00-25:08: Introduction and Why Battersea?
Left school at 16 for employment as Laboratory Assistant at Howell Laboratory; day release to study for Ordinary National Certificate; mentions sandwich courses, applied to Battersea College; one year of unpaid leave from Howell Laboratory, grant from Berkshire County Council;
First year of University of Surrey degrees; mentions Professor Lewis Elton;
mentions Freshers' Week; Lewis Elton, German accent, refugee during Second World War; exploring London: mentions Scotland Yard, British Rail enquiries office, Trafalgar Square; visiting theatre;
Accommodation: rented accommodation in Ursula Avenue; moved to Kassala Road, near Battersea Park, Mrs Wyatt;
Rivalry between Battersea and Chelsea; mentions King's Road and Chelsea public houses;
Describes dances at Battersea College, Georgie Fame, Alexis Korner, The Rolling Stones;
Food: mentions The Refectory; shops and cafés on Battersea Park Road; Indian restaurant; Eagle Public House; Green Café;
RAG week, mentions stopping Tower Bridge opening
Gender balance at Battersea College: describes dances at teacher training colleges;
Course started as PEMS (Physics, Electrical Engineering, Metallurgy and Spectroscopy); describes practical work in laboratories; small tutorials; American SATs exams; mentions Daphne Jackson, taught quantum mechanics and atomic theory

25:08-45:24: Course: recalls course was new; mentions General Studies modules, Economics; recalls introduction of academic credits; mentions human biology, philosophy;
Physical Society: arranged supplementary lectures and visits; chairman in final year; visited BBC broadcasting centre and Phillips Brewery; visit from Hermann Bundy; Physical Society Dinner, guest of honour Katherine Whitehorn;
College debates; Humphrey Lyttleton and Harry Belafonte;
Feynman lecture courses; describes shortage of textbooks
Industrial placement at Torry Fisheries Research Laboratory in Aberdeen

45:24-53:22: Socialising: describes Charter Ball, April 1967, Guildford; recalls hiring dinner jacket from tailor in Brick Lane; mentions Lord Robens, chancellor and chairman of the Coal Board, mentions Aberfan Disaster;
Recalls celebrating degree result at Indian restaurant in South Kensington;
Graduation ceremony at Central Hall, Westminster; parents came from Isle of Man, girlfriend from Oxford

53:22-59:53: Doctoral Degree: On Guildford campus; mentions students from Czech revolution 1968, Svyatoslav Vytec worked at Surrey before moving to America;
Polish Free University in Battersea, several Polish lecturers at Surrey; Peter Miyadovonich [Miodownik?], lecturer in material science;
Music at Battersea: visits from famous bands; Dutch Swing College Band; modern jazz in pub in Barnes;

59:54 - End
Administrative HistoryJuan Matthews studied Physics at Battersea, graduating in 1967.
LanguageEnglish
CopyrightCopyright of the University of Surrey
FormatAudio
    Powered by CalmView© 2008-2024