| Description | Track 1 [01:07:56] [Session One: 20 April 2017] Professor Sir John Meurig Thomas [JMT], born in Pont Hendre, 1932. Talks about places lived in the Gwendraeth Valley, and decision to go to Swansea University. [00:01:12] Describes Gwendraeth Grammar School, Drefach. JMT talks about the differences between pupils from farming areas, and coal mining areas. [00:02:24] JMT mentions his teachers, including his English and Physics teachers. [00:05:35] JMT talks about arriving at Swansea University and tells an anecdote about a lost application. JMT describes the Professor of Chemistry [Professor C.W Shoppee]. JMT talks about the background of Senior Lecturer in Chemistry, Keeble Sykes, who was taught by distinguished chemist Cyril Hinshewood.[00:09:02] JMT talks about the Gymdeithas Gymraeg Society and the academic achievement of fellow society member David Ellis Evans [00:11:03] JMT mentions the quality of the Physics department and describes the lectures of Physics professors Frank Llewellyn-Jones and Sir W. Granville Beynon [00:13:36] JMT talks about the Debating Society and describes the best debater at the time, Ednyfed Hudson Davies. JMT tells two anecdotes: one about a visiting American debating team being heckled by the Swansea crowd and the other about a clever remark made by Swansea undergraduate Phil Rook. [00:16:20] JMT describes Principal John Fulton [JF] and the academic culture he fostered. JMT tells how JF made the undergraduates write four essays and read them to members of staff. JMT describes talks on Tuesday afternoon held by distinguished Swansea lecturers on various topics ranging from literature to mathematics. [00:24:39] JMT describes leaving home and living in rented accommodation in Uplands. JMT mentions his flatmate: a fellow student from Tumble, Rufus Adams. JMT describes late night chats with Miss Morgan, who was interested in literature. [00:27:20] JMT talks about his father, a coalminer who could recite many poems and fought in WW1. [00:29:20] JMT describes his joy in spending time in the university library. JMT talks about being exposed to many different intellectual ideas and fields, including Philosophy and Chemistry. JMT describes a guest lecture by distinguished King’s College London Chemistry Professor M.H.F. Wilkins on the structure of DNA. JMT describes how he was inspired by Swansea graduate E.J. Williams, who gained a scholarship and later worked with famous Danish physicist Niels Bohr. [00:35:30] JMT describes the composition of the student body: many from Swansea or other parts of South Wales, only one or two Englishmen. [00:36:34] JMT talks about playing cricket for Swansea University. He describes fellow cricketers Brian Richards, Howard Thomas and Wynford Connick, who emigrated to Australia. [00:40:10] JMT describes developing his passion for music. Talks about going to concerts by accompanist Gerald Moore and bass-baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau. JMT went to Welsh Opera to see Nabucco and occasionally to Swansea Music Festival. [00:42:30] JMT talks about his social life at Swansea University, did not drink as a result of being brought up in a religious community. Mentions travels with cricket team and going to the cinema in town and the Plaza on the Kingsway. JMT tells an anecdote how he impersonated C.W. Shoppee at the Chemical Society Christmas dinner. JMT states that the practical nature of Chemistry led to a close community of students. JMT enjoyed meeting students from other subjects and listen to inaugural talks [00:49:20] JMT states that the university was relatively anglicised, no bilingual signs. JMT mentions there were only three Welsh speakers in his class: himself, Wynford Connick and a student from Tenby. [00:51:08] JMT talks about a vacation job that was needed to continue to the third year of undergraduate. JMT spent his time in the Safety and Mines Research Establishment in Sheffield because his brother and father were coalminers and because he wanted to see the cricket in and around Sheffield. [00:52:11] JMT describes the migratory lecturers scheme, where every department could invite a lecturer from another Welsh university to give a course. JMT tells an anecdote about Raymond Andrew, Professor of Physics at Bangor, who developed Magic Angle Spinning NMR after being a migratory lecturer at Aberystwyth. JMT criticises principals who did not have much affinity for Welsh culture. [00:58:04] JMT talks about bookshops in Swansea. Tells an anecdote of bookshop owner who made a pun on book titles. [00:59:46] JMT describes the close connection between the university and the town. Mentions concerts and inaugural lectures at the university where townspeople would come and listen. [01:02:10] JMT talks about book by Eric James that inspired his passion for Chemistry. Describes the importance of Chemistry and being a lecturer. Talks about the difference between students from Welsh universities and students at Cambridge. [01:07:56] |