| Description | Track 1 [01:19:13] [Session one: 24 February 2020] Edward Rees [ER], born Hendon, Middlesex 1932 and Joan Rees [JR]. ER brought up in Ton Pentre, Rhondda from age 1, explains circumstances of relocation and subsequent adoption. Attended Porth County Grammar School for Boys, mentions sitting school leaving certificate (1947), matriculation, and higher certificate (1950). Comments on wanting to work in libraries, and being persuaded to go to University, explains why Swansea University [SU] – calls Swansea ‘Shangrila’ to a young lad leaving home for the first time. Explains application to SU, mentions grants, tells amusing story of interview. [00:05:04] ER remembers difficulties finding and keeping good student lodgings. Tells several stories involving Irish landlady in Brynmill, mentions his friend Howard Owen. Tells further amusing anecdotes about lodgings at Rhyddings Terrace, De Breos Avenue, also ‘official lodgings’ in Swansea town - mentions his mother’s cousin was chief scout for ‘Swansea Town’ [football?]. Remarks on poor state of many lodgings, and states he ‘never did well’ in them. Remembers meal provision, amusing anecdote of eating in SU refectory, remarks on eating lunch time at Eynons in Uplands, Swansea. Mentions price of lodgings, and amount of his grant. [00:12:33] ER describes first day at SU – explains his reluctance to line up for enrolment because of having an adoption, not birth certificate; remarks on first impressions of University students – talks of ex-servicemen living like ‘princes’ on better grants than himself, tells anecdote of serviceman, Don, who had stood for local conservative council; mentions some students (possibly having done the Swansea Entrance Scholarship) had university blazers, badges and scarves. Remembers being gathered together to learn university songs –ER sings one short song in Welsh. Remembers the old student union, comments on playing snooker there, tells story about the ‘authorities’ not allowing a student bar, comments he couldn’t afford to drink. Remembers SU’s campus in 1950, mentions the new arts theatre and the new arts building with lecture rooms, mentions low student numbers in general and comments on numbers of female students doing Honours English. Remembers an ex-serviceman – (taught ER to dance), and speculates on his entrance path to University. [00:21:24] ER remembers English Department [ED] staff; talks very fondly of Professor W.D. Thomas [WDT], Miss Westcott, Dr Bartley (tells anecdote), David Sims [DS], Kingsley Amis [KA] (ER’s personal tutor), comments he got to know KA reasonably well. Remembers staff from his first year subjects (History, Economics and Philosophy); briefly comments on E.V. Morgan (tells anecdote), Professor Quinn, Glanmor Williams, Professor Heller (sp?) – tells story of writing a freshers essay. Briefly mentions temporary buildings (shacks) for lectures. ER talks more about his first and second year subjects, briefly comments on lectures and exams. ER remarks on being one of 11 chosen out of 80 applicants for Honours English (tells story of the interview), states he did ‘first year Honours English and final History’. Further comments on individual ED staff and their academic differences. [00:30:51] ER remembers KA - his personal life; one to one tutorials; lecturing style; advice on writing – ER remarks he was taught to ‘write with clarity’; literary criticism lectures and ideas around metaphysical poetry; briefly comments on KA’s work ethic. Tells anecdote about a first edition of KA’s ‘Lucky Jim’. [00:36:33] ED remembers second year, and more difficulties finding good lodgings. Tells long story involving Miss Westcott’s help to find lodgings after nearly being thrown off his course due to lateness (mentions doing gymnastics at the YMCA in Swansea with Mr Walsh, - instructor for the British Olympics team). Remembers being happy socially for first time when he found good lodgings with Metallurgy student John Thomas, and when his girlfriend, now wife Joan, came to the college. Story of learning to dance in college, and also in a Swansea dance school. Briefly tells of an Engineers Ball at Patti Pavillion, and gymnastics at YMCA. [00:43:47] Comments on some aspects of his academic work – including studying poetry and Hardy’s Wessex novels, tells amusing anecdote involving DS. Describes his final year Honours exam on Queen’s coronation day [June 2 1953], remembers hearing a band playing ‘God Save the Queen’ in Singleton Park as he left exam. [00:47:08] ER remarks on having little memory of teacher training, except for the teaching practise at Coleshill Secondary Modern School, Llanelli – tells stories. [00:49:44] ER fondly remembers aspects of his time in Swansea; the beaches, Mumbles railway, mentions going to the gym and swimming pool – tells anecdote, remarks on and names several cinemas in Swansea – tells anecdote re cinema adverts and a café in the ‘Carlton’, comments on ‘Valerios’ ice cream parlour and ‘Ralphs Bookshop’. Tells story of train journey home – remembers train breaking down and walking home in snow over the Rhigos mountain, Rhondda Cynon Taf. Mentions Swansea market and not having much money to buy fruit. [00:53:54] ER tells stories of association with Swansea Ladies Teacher Training College (his wife Joan was a student there). Mentions Walters Road and Singleton Park, and compares Swansea bomb sites to ‘something out of H.G. Wells’. ER especially remembers death of WDT (much loved), while ER was doing teacher training, story of students selecting a book of WDT’s as memento. Talks about final exam results day - mentions grades and student numbers. Remembers visiting Swansea in later years, mentions a trip to the park with a lake [Singleton Park?] with his children; a visit to the Training College. [00:57:32] [section closed [00:59:48-01:13:22] [01:13:22] ER explains failing his army medical due poor hearing after being hit by a school teacher. Mentions Joan found a job teaching in Ealing, London, and himself teaching English and Physical Education in Harlesden, London borough of Kilburn – describes his dislike of the position and how he moved to a school in Golders Green, London [GG]. Fondly remembers time at GG, tells anecdote about receiving an expensive Christmas present. Brief description of ER’s teaching positions when they returned to Wales - Porth County School, Whitchurch Secondary Modern School, an un-named school in Treorchy, Tonypandy Grammar School, Porth County Grammar School, until it became Comprehensive, and Hawthorn Comprehensive School (Head of English until retirement). ER comments very briefly on his career. |