| Description | Track 1 [00:53:49] [Session one: 3rd March 2017] John Lomax [JL] and Diana Lomax [DL]. JL born on 16th November 1929 in Smethwick, Staffordshire. DL born in Cardiff on 16th January 1930. [00:00:30] JL describes his education at Oldbury Grammar School. JL remarks on joining the Army National Service [ANS] for 18 months and in October 1950 he joined University College of Swansea [now Swansea University] [SU]. JL talks about his ANS and trade training in the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers [REME]. Describes his posting to Tonfanau, North of Tywwn. [00:02:38] DL mentions her schooling was in Worthing, Sussex from 1936 and she comments that this was because her father was a pharmacist and had a retail pharmacy shop in Worthing. DL remarks on the schools she went to until aged 15 and then attending a Secretarial course at Clerks College in Cardiff until the age of 17. DL describes her first job. DL comments on joining SU as a secretary in the Natural Sciences Department, [Botany, Zoology, Geology and Geography] run by Professor Florence Mockeridge [FM]. DL talks about her work in SU in the Abbey Building where specimens were kept in Formaldehyde and moving to the new Natural Sciences Building in 1952. DL describes PFM. [00:08:46] JL discusses why he joined SU [College in the Park]. JL talks about his experience of travelling to Swansea, mentions an anecdote about Pontardawe and remarks on the remains of the Copperopolis. JL comments on holidays he remembers namely, Rhyl, North Wales, cycling from Birmingham to Weston-Super-Mare and Bournemouth. JL remarks on his first impression of SU and digs in Brynmill. [00:13:22] JL describes his working class family. DL & JL tells anecdotes about cars, rich students and FM. [00:15:30] DL talks about her first impression of SU. [00:16:41] JL talks about his interest in Civil Engineering [CE]. JL describes the Engineering Department. JL mentions his CE lecturers Dr Ken Rocky [KR] & Dr Fordham. [00:19:03] JL produces a picture of the Engineering Students in 1950. Mentions students called Harry Phelps from the Caribbean, Lovering and Peter [Druik]. JL and DL describe the gender of students in SU and comment on the Arts, Chemistry and Botany departments. JL remarks on the age divide and attitude between ex-servicemen and local school boys. [00:25:08] DL comments on ex-servicemen were mainly in Engineering, Physics & Chemistry. JL remarks there were no ladies in NS. DL mentions she has social photographs of SU and the Botany class. JL comments on the Engineering Professors namely, KR Professor [Casna], Professor Neal, and Tom Williams [TW]. JL tells an anecdote about TW and Princess Margaret. [00:27:56] JL remarks on the Welsh Nationalism in SU and the language spoken. JL tells a story about a student friend from Llan Ffestiniog near Blaenau Ffestiniog, North Wales. JL comments on enjoying his course and mentions a great social life. [00:29:51] DL discusses working at SU and mentions organising field trips to the Horticultural Society Gardens at Wisley, Physic Garden in Chelsea and Kew Gardens in London. Provides anecdote about FM’s retirement and the introduction of Professor Street. [00:39:48] DL mentions Mr Macintyre the Registrar and A T Jenkins the Chief Clerk. DL tells a story about not working one Saturday. DL discusses her keyboard skills. [00:42:51] JL and DL discuss their accommodation while in SU. [00:48:50] DL and JL describes the physical landscape of SU and the facilities provided.
Track 2 [01:11:18] JL describes his sporting social life experiences in SU and talks about joining the Cross Country Running. JL comments on playing squash at SU. JL remarks on being Chairman of the Combined Athletic Board [CAB]. [00:10:26 – 00:11:08 Brief Interruption] [00:11:09] JL and DL discuss their experiences of social activity at SU. Mentions Beck Hall in the Uplands and tells a story about the Saturday night dances. DL describes her social life pre SU, being a Sea Ranger in the Kings Dock and making friends in Clyne Chapel. DL and JL discuss the new refectory and JL tells an anecdote about the Inaugural Fresher Dinner. [00:18:12] JL and DL describe living in Cornwall Place, Mumbles and talk about socialising in mumbles. [00:25:01] JL and DL discuss the mumbles train and mentions the Great Western Railway. [00:30:39] JL describes his part-time Territorial Army duties while he was at SU. He mentions how the Army call up system changed in 1949. He remarks about being in the Survey Unit of the Royal Engineers at Hazelmere, Surrey. [00:34:55] DL and JL discuss the Botany department splitting and moving into the new building. Tells a story about FM involved in the planning process of the rooms and equipment. Comments that the Botany Department provided good work involving growing tomato plants. [00:40:10] JL and DL describe J.S.Fulton [JSF] [Lord Fulton of Falmer from 1966] as being the principal. Comments that JSF was regarded a good principal transforming temporary buildings from the 1920s into a more modern University. Remarks that Fulton House was named after JSF. [00:41:52] JL and DL discuss the student magazine ‘Crefft’. [00:43:42] JL comments on his undergraduate result. [00:44:40] DL and JL tell an anecdote about the children of Kingsley Amis a lecturer in English. [00:45:54] JL and DL comment on JL’s graduation. [00:47:34] DL and JL discuss how they met in SU 1953/54 academic year. Comment on touring Europe on a Francis Barnet 192 motorbike and getting engaged in Amsterdam 1955/56 academic year. Remark on marriage at St Pauls Church, Sketty in 1957 and having a reception at Langland Bay Hotel. [00:53:06] JL talks about being a research student under the supervision of KF and Fordham on ‘The Structural Stability of Plate Girders’. Mentions ‘The Cleddau Bridge’ collapse, ‘The West Gate’ bridge in Melbourne, Australia and ‘The Severn Crossing’. Remarks on accepting a job offer involving the construction of a Power Station on the Thames by Tilbury Docks and comments on not finishing his research. [00:57:51] DL & JL talk about how they got to know each other. Remark on Saturday Night Variety Live TV Shows. Comment about visiting Lyons Corner House for bacon & Egg lunches and steak meals during rationing. [01:01:18] DL & JL discuss moving to Kent once they were married and staying in a static caravan on a camping site in Who Rochester. Comment on moving to on site accommodation at Northfleet Power Station. DL became secretary to the Agent running the contract at Northfleet Power Station. [01:03:06] Mentions the lack of business abilities in Universities, remarks on University of Surrey and the lack of business experience. [01:03:38] JL & DL discuss moving back to Swansea in 1988. JL remarks on being employed by the Building Employers Confederation in Central London and took early retirement. [01:07:19] JL tells a story about going to Buckingham Palace and receiving an OBE for services to health and safety in the construction industry. JL and describe the day and mention the Royal Welsh Guards were playing. [01:08:18] JL and DL remark on linking up with the Alumni Association. Comment on being invited to the Open Day of the Bay Campus. Remark on being asked to do an interview. DL tells an anecdote about visiting the Abbey Building with an old colleague of the Geography Department and finding hand written records of JL’s degree and application.
|