| Description | Track 1 [01:00:09] [1 September 2017] Chris Dullage [CD] and Jenny Dullage [JD]. CD born in Edmonton, London in 1946, JD born Shrewsbury in 1948. Description of CD’s attraction to Swansea University, comments on his preconceived ideas of South Wales. Mentions a “Landscape that looked like the moon” and a “scene of awful dereliction” on entering the outskirts of Swansea by train. Remarks that the physical landscape, the park and the sweep of the bay, in which Swansea University was located, was important criteria in applying here. Story of scholarship interview. Mentions that the visit propelled Swansea University to first choice on his UCAS form to study Engineering the following year over places like Imperial College, Nottingham, etc.[00:04:32] Story of how JD applied to Swansea University without even visiting here, with major appeal being course requirements. Remarks on the outstanding setting of Swansea University. Mentions living at Neuadd Mary Williams Halls on campus. Anecdote of Hall’s strict rules policed by warden. Mentions having an exeate once a term to go home and a limited number of late passes to stay out for longer of an evening. Discussion of how dated these rules were, with strictness in Halls being a result of students under the supervision “In loco parentis” of Universities. Remarks that Neuadd Mary Williams Hall of Residences :women only: lovely, new and beautifully furnished: very convenient and comfortable. JD comments on studying for a degree in Geography. Description of Geography department at Swansea University. Remarks limited universities accepted students without a Latin qualification in the 1960s. Comments on the Geography course and time at Swansea University. Remarks on hating lectures at 8:30 on a Saturday morning. Description of Engineering degree course at Swansea University. Remarks on construction of new engineering buildings at Singleton campus, when CD started just a series of huts. Many lectures took place in other buildings, CD describes the Natural Sciences Building. JD confirms having lectures in Natural Sciences Building also. [00:10:08] Describes “Dickie Owen” in Geology Department; a noteable lecturer. JD comments on experienced lecturers in Geography Department at Swansea University. [00:11:6] Story of how JD and CD met during “pram race” in Rag week in 1967. [00:14:52] Mentions good memories of Eric Clapton playing at “Tramp’s Ball”. Describes relationship during University; seeing the Graduate”film, attending Saturday night parties and remarks on having friends who were also in a serious relationship at this time .Mentions getting married in 1972. [00:17:13] Story of CD’s accommodation during University. Remarks on dirty washing sent home in shirt boxes every weekend. Mentions “digs” cost £4 per week not including any meals, covered by a grant. Describes being one of the 5% who went onto higher education in the 60s (compared with greater than 35% today) and the repercussions of having a glut of jobs to choose from after graduation. [00:20:04] Comments on the “Welshness” of Swansea; accent and friendliness of behaviour. Story of students’ accents by JD. Description of social time, CD mentions the busy timetable of Engineering, JD mentions probably a more regulated commitment in 1960s compared with today. Mentions 2300 students in the 1960s: smaller numbers of students made for a more collegiate feel especially at lunch times where it was easier to interact. JD mentions was a member of Geography and Mountaineering Student Societies. Story of mountaineering trip to Gower. Description of JD’s Geography timetable involving afternoon practicals in Cartography and Surveying. Mentions Cartography practicals were a good way of making friends. [CD] Describes belonging to Folk, Bridge, Rugby and Sailing clubs. Remarks on the Folk club’s popularity. [00:26:48] Story about visiting singers : Simon and Garfunkel performing for Folk society in 1964. Mentions positive relationship between lack of televisions and increased socialising amongst students. [CD] Description of time sailing in SU. Story of misery of sailing, no changing facilities and transport on bus. Transformation of experience when CD purchased a car. JD remarks on crewing for CD. [CD] Story of saving up for car and describes many positives gained from car purchase. Remarks on vehicle being a “delux model” Austin A30 -1955 vehicle with 4 doors. Discussion on socializing in the 1960’s compared to today.[00:30:10] JD remarks crowded party in Uplands broken up by Police. [00:32:20] Description of the “swinging sixties” at SU. CD mentions the scene of sex, drugs and rock’n’roll, kaftans only appearing at the end of the 1960s. Remarks that undergraduates in 1964 wore jackets [blazers] and ties. Discussion that everyday wear was smart in early 1960s. [00:33:43] JD Describes formal dinners at College House: dress code and menus. Description of food at “Lewis Jones Food and Wine society” which JD belonged to and remarks that standard of meals was excellent in a time that food was otherwise quite basic. [00:36:23] Discussion of the late 1960s being more militant in SU suggesting that SU students were keeping up with the 1968 Paris demonstrations and protests happening elsewhere. Remarks that Engineers weren’t militant people usually [CD]. Story of Engineering students voting against proposal of a sit-in. CD remarks on protests being too far removed from what was going on in everyday life as a student. [00:38:00] Describing the pub culture in 1960s and comments on going to “the Antelope” [pub] in Mumbles. Story about going to the “No Sign Wine Bar” in Salubrious Passage, Swansea. [00:40:37] Mentions Cayo-Evans [leader of Free Wales Army] speaking at a Plaid Cymru meeting at SU. Discussion on Plaid Cymru and their presence in the 1960s. Mentions charismatic Gwynfor Evans [CD]. Describes length of time at SU: from undergraduate years 1964-67, masters in soil mechanics and research 1968 and motivated to stay on to do PhD 1969/70 when computing was just starting out. Mentions computing in Engineering. Remarks on punched cards. Describes the computers in the 1970s being the size of buildings and having to run it at night. Remarks on SU having an ICL 1900 series computer with 165K of storage.CD Mentions finishing at SU in 1970 but gaining his PhD in 1973.Remarks on career after SU working in London for Harris & Sutherland. Comments on much of work in London involved strengthening high rise buildings in response to the Ronan Point Collapse in 1968 East London. [0:45:22] Description of Ronan Point Collapse. JD comments on being at SU from 1966, graduating in 1969. Mentions move to Cardiff to do Masters in Town Planning which JD disliked. Description of Cardiff University’s shortfalls. [00:47:13] Description of Graduations [CD and JD]. Mentions setting for Graduation at Brangwyn Hall, Swansea. Story of league table of number of job offers between fellow students. [CD} and remarks on average of between 3 to 5 job offers per student in the 1960s. Discussion of how job offers today differ from that of the 1960s. [00:50:19] Describes Student “Fragile” publication. [00:53:46] Comments on the Aberfan Disaster near Merthyr Tydfil in 1966. Remarks that Dr Hayden Evans gave talk for Civil Engineering society in 1969 on the Aberfan Disaster. Description of what Swansea means to JD and CD. |