| Description | Track 1 [01:34:11] [Session One: 5 July 2017] Betty Griffiths [BG] born in Ystradgynlais, 1945. Talks about her parents, father in charge of washery plant at local colliery and mother worked for the Auxiliary Territorial Service [ATS] during World War Two. BG describes education at Abercrave primary school and Maes Y Dderwen secondary school, mentions primary school headmaster. BG talks about division of county school districts. [00:02:59] BG mentions she did not come from a Welsh speaking background as father came from Liverpool and mother from Wiltshire. BG notes school holidays spent during her childhood in Wiltshire and Liverpool. BG describes her father’s working patterns. BG talks about subjects at school, and the ratio of men to women in the different areas of science. BG describes the facilities atMaes Y Dderwen secondary modern school, and reflects on the grammar school ethos. BG mentions employment opportunities after school. [00:08:46] BG talks about options after A-levels and decision to apply for a Trainee Laboratory Technician for the Lower Swansea Valley Project at Swansea University in 1963. BG tells an anecdote about her friend Roseanna D’Marco. BG mentions Professor Syret [Head of Botany, 1967-1987] and Sutton Jones [Super Intendant of Laboratories] [00:12:28] Describes commute to Swansea University. Mentions Avery scales company [now Avery Weigh Tronix]. BG discusses the Lower Swansea Valley regeneration Project, the staff involved [Steve Lavender and Gadgil. [00:18:22] BG describes her main duties working as Junior Technician at Swansea University. BG talks about the idiosyncrasies of Professor H.E.Street [HS, Head of Botany, 1954-1967] and mentions a rivalry between Professor Isaacs and HS. BG talks about the department culture and describes going to an inaugural dinner in Fulton House. [00:28:12] BG talks about going to parties and describes the farewell party for HS. [00:30:31] BG talks about the lecturers in the department, including Dr Helgi Opik[HO], Gordon Goodman, Eric Brown and Quentin Kay[QK]. BG talks about the annual number of new undergraduates. BG describes the Natural Sciences Building (now Wallace) [00:35:10] BG describes the relationship between the technicians and the students. BG talks about male post-graduates being overly friendly to female technicians. BG mentions attitudes towards women in the workplace. BG talks about friendships in the workplace [00:40:24] BG talks about leaving her job as Junior Technician in 2003 and working on Professor Kevin Flynn’s [KF] research project on algae. BS mentions workshops run by the technicians in the Engineering Department [00:43:01] BG describes joining a union called Association of Scientific, Technical and Managerial Staffs [ASTMS]. BG talks about inter-departmental collaboration and collaboration between the Biology department and the local area, including industry. BG mentions the Swansea Valley Project and describes working for Gordon Goodman in labs at Hendrefoilan in 1967. BG talks about grants for projects. [00:52:20] BG describes the Biology department expanding into the School of Biology during the 1970s. BG mentions the reputation of science degrees from Swansea. [00:53:35] BG talks about working for Steve Wainwright on salt marshes in a greenhouse at Hendrefoilan. BG describes the attitude of international students towards women in the workplace.[00:58:38]. BG talks about changes to the departmental structure during the 1980s. BG talks about Professor Syret and Professor Flynn. BG describes her own career during the 1980s. [01:02:50] BG describes her job developments during the 1990s. BG talks about the labour-intensive preparation for HO’s practicals. BG compares higher education during her career to higher education in 2017. BG is critical of rising student numbers and the effect on teaching quality. [01:10:28] BG talks about the relationship between students and professors and the gradual dilution of hierarchy. [01:12:13] BG describes how the technicians spent their lunchbreaks. BG talks about pranks played on lecturers during rag week and dressing up for the rag ball. BG talks about the socialising between staff, students and technicians during rag week. BG talks about the annual technicians’ trip to Tenby. BG talks about Muslim international students and discusses the location of the Mosque on Singleton campus [01:19:45] BG talks about the driving skills of the professors and tells an anecdote about HS’s driving. BG describes HS’s move to Leicester and the establishment of the School of Biology in Leicester. [01:22:54] BG talks about her retirement in 2003 and its effect on teaching and practicals.BG talks about working on KF’s project. BG mentions her pension scheme from the University. BG reflects changes in the role of technician. BG talks about Swansea alumni returning to Swansea University as professors. BG mentions her ex-husband, an electronics technician at Swansea University. [01:30:00] BG describes the difference between school and university and talks about the liberating effects of university. BG describes the current focus on medical research. BG mentions her last day of work on New Year’s Eve 2009, and comments on the Bay Campus and the job security of University staff. [01:34:11] |