LevelItem
Ref NoRMB/5
TitleOral history interview with Mr John Bell on 14 January 2016
Date14 January 2016
Extent1 wav file and 1 transcript
Name of CreatorUniversity of Surrey, Alumni and Development Department
Hogan, Teresa
Bell, John
DescriptionInterview conducted by Teresa Hogan.

00:34-02:39: Why Battersea: mentions year at Bradford College of Technology studying civil engineering; recalls wasting grant; describes transfer to Human and Physical Sciences at Battersea College

02:39-03:59: Course: mentions book C P Snow - The Two Cultures; philosophy, psychology, sociology

03:59-04:58: First impressions: mentions students' bar; café nearby

04:58-08:48: Accommodation: describes Courland Grove Hall of Residence; mentions The Refectory; hostel first year and third year; mentions rented accommodation in second year in Clapham; Marvin lecturer used student bar

08:48-10:33: Social activities: Treasurer of RAG committee in third year; Steve Jeffries, Chairman, and John Hughes

10:33-14:25: Details of course: Sociology; Human and Physical Sciences; mentions Dr Hornby-Smith; lecturers were excellent; visiting from America; short modules from maths and physics departments; Durkheim

14:25-17:12: Memorable characters: Dave Varney, president of students union, possibly progressed to Shell and Cellnet O2; Asher Tropp, helped interviewee apply to London School of Economics

17:12-19:08: Value of degree: not related to career; moved into teaching

19:08-20:47: 1991 Degree Ceremony at St James's Palace: Little memory of event

20:47-23:25: Buildings and daily schedule: Battersea Main Building, wood panelled rooms; annex down road for some lectures

23:25-26:53: Course details: Science practicals; dissertation on high-rise living, questionnaire for local residents

26:53-31:11:: Music Scene: Bands in college on Friday nights, Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Jimi Hendrix; visited King's Road in Chelsea during RAG; cassette tape player in halls of residence; Cream

31:11-35:32: Leisure time and holidays: sport, rugby, football; visited home during holidays, or friends, hitchhiked in Spain with John Hughes

35:32-37:10: Student demographic: Women on course, Ima Murphy, and Hillary; course of 12 students, Andy Treasure

37:10-40:10: Move to Guildford: Aware of charter, but not of moving process; graduation in Odeon Cinema, or Cathedral; drove down from Newcastle with parents for graduation

40:10-43:59: Extracurricular activities: Not on sports teams; regularly visited student bar in Courland Grove

43:59-46:49: Student grants: no part-time work, except in holidays; £4000 a year in grants

46:49-48:40: Battersea campus: Didn't visit central London much, because of prices; enjoyed being in Battersea; Jack Straw, president of London University; Noel Edmonds did Human and Physical Sciences course too

48:40-49:34: Staff members: Professor Hanes [Haines?], economics, advice on life

49:45: End
Administrative HistoryJohn Bell studied Human & Physical Sciences from 1966-1969.
LanguageEnglish
CopyrightCopyright of the University of Surrey
FormatAudio
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