| Description | Track 1 [01:25:18][Session One: 30th November 2017] John Flowerdew [JF] and Nan (Elizabeth Ann) Flowerdew [NF]. NF born and brought up in a Welsh speaking community until seven years old. Remarked on how her mother was instrumental in everything that happened to her and describes her mother’s life as one of nine children and unable to continue in education. NF describes early schooling at St Gerrard’s convent boarding school, Bangor during the week and as a Welsh speaker, comments on the awkwardness of only English being spoken at school and how challenging this time was. Describes her double life: how was called by Elizabeth Ann during the week at the English school and Nan at weekends when at home with Welsh family. Mentions strong bond with grandfather who taught her to sing. [00:07:13] NF remarks it was the advice from her History teacher (at St. Gerrards) which made Swansea University [SU] her choice of university. Describes first impressions of [SU] as a fun place and was introduced to the campus by Garth, also from North Wales. JF tells story of Garth, studying engineering and how he got his name by moving the old the mumbles train sleepers for bonfires on the beach. [00:10:00] NF describes arriving at the Mary Williams’ halls [MW] of residence [SU] in 1966 and making friends; lists friends, Tony Lamb, Dave Middleton. Recounts story of abiding to the strict curfew rules of halls. Mentions the exciting social scene at SU: with bands and dancing every weekend. [JF] Describes how accepted at SU to do Zoology despite poor A level results in 1964 and gives reasons for these poor results as being moving schools and poor teachers. [00:12:36] Comments on first impression of SU was being aware that the Welsh language was being spoken in the refectory. Mentions desolation of the lower Swansea valley when coming in to Swansea by train, but on arrival to the SU campus there were lots of new buildings. Mentions location of the zoology department headed by Professor Knight Jones, within the new applied science building, to the left of College house. Mentions being in Lewis Jones halls, listening to pile drivers constructing the [MW] halls of residence. [NF] mentions that was one of the first to live at MW’s hall which was like a palace compared to her home lodgings. Describes her siblings; three younger sisters and a brother, their early education at Nefyn school and their home. Story that shows NF’s mum’s determination and resolve in her mission of getting all her children to university. Remarks on antics in MW halls’ kitchens: with a story of Wayne Fontana declaring his undying love for NF’s friend there. [00:19:41] [JF] Describes hall’s social life: ate as a group, with bunfights and mentions the bedrooms also being where people congregated. [00:21:17] Describes how they both met, through two groups meeting. NF comments that speaking welsh helped her social standing as small number of Welsh speakers at that time in SU. Discussion on Welsh speakers and the history of the uptake of the language over the last 50 years mentioning Botwnnog school, North Wales as an example. [00:24:44] Mentions JF needing a first class honours degree to get into Oxford University to continue his Zoology Studies [00:26:05] [JF][NF] Both comment on getting together after being in the same social group for about a year. [JF] Story of pranks in halls: bath of hot chocolate. JF mentions connection with SU still strong after graduating and recounts returning to SU every other weekend, from Oxford, to see Nan and circle of friends. [NF] mentions lack of money forced ways to being resourceful. [00:30:00] [NF] mentions being in popular, mountaineering club: going walking in the Beacons and Gower and being very friendly with Eryl Pardoe [EP] who was an outstanding climber. Comments on sharing lifts with EP as both lived in Bethesda locality. Discussion of many former SU students never wanting to leave Wales and gives examples. [NF] Remarks that was unable to keep up with her academic studies in SU but was socially adept. Comments on further studies after SU: Phil Ed in Oxford before both moved to Keele, where NF taught in an all boys’ Primary school. Mentions teaching at the time of the miners’ strike, 1984 which gave a lesson in life and a true understanding of people.[00:37:32] Discussion on collegiate feel to SU due to its size , the residential layout on campus and the time . NF adds that it was also down to limited cash where people made do. [JF] commented on social drinking patterns of his parents in the 1960’s, with wine becoming a more popular drink. [NF] describes her memories of drinking with the young farmers in north Wales. Comment on the financial disparity amongst students at SU. Mentions that the grant in 1960s could see you through if lived frugally: example - £360 a year grant, fees for hall were £65 per term inclusive of breakfast and dinner. [00:43:35] Mentions that there was a requirement for gowns to be worn to dine in halls and Professor Street (Botany) insisted on wearing a gown in lectures. Discussion of the changing relationship between staff and students . [JF] describes the structure of Zoology degree course: first year took statistics, geology and zoology with lectures starting at 9am, in the second year lectures started at 8:30 with practicals in the afternoon. Story of the geology fieldtrip being replaced by day trips attributed to a past misdemeanour by SU students. Comments on the suitability of doing marine biology in Gower and mentions undertaking own study on mice and voles in Oxwich at end of second year due to an interest of small mammals. Mentions his book “A guide to trapping small mammals”. [00:51:48] [NF] Admirable remarks on JF’s achievement as an independent learner with a passion for his subject. [JF] Describes having regular contact with SU friends today and comments on their annual meet ups. Comments positively on how the broad study of zoology at that time allowed specialising in what was appealing. Mentions the problems in specialising too early leads to a lesser knowledge base and so has encouraged this broad study of Zoology in his teaching at Oxford University. [NF] describes the course make up of her English degree at SU and comments on the quantity of reading. [00:57:34] Remarks on her career after SU: doing an M Ed in primary mathematics and becoming a primary maths advisor. [00:59:12] Describes her experience of schooling at a primary level and her belief in a more holistic approach to learning instead of exams. [JF][NF] Agreement on SU was where they grew up. Comments on being in halls for 3 years. [NF] Story of poor student housing conditions in George Bank, Mumbles and a story of a rat being in the toilet discouraged living in the community. [01:05:28] JF Describes Oxford University accommodation at Whiteham Woods: £2 per month inclusive of electricity rent. [01:08:18] [NF] Describes aftermath of helping at Aberfan and how it impacted on her health. Describes [01:10:17] Both remark on no visits to SU from parents except at graduation. [01:10:55] [NF] Comments on the politics of this era, focusing on the investiture of Prince of Wales with anti-royalist feelings in north Wales. [NF][JF] Comments on years at SU and 1969 at Oxford University were relatively quiet until Keele University after 1970 which was a hive of protest. Mentions that Keele University was the only place that sex drugs and rock n roll culture was evident. Remarks on the healthy relationship of SU and its community: [NF] comments on going to sing with SU choir at the prison whilst JF was part of the Methodist society. Story of JF taking NF on a date to Shepherds in Gower for an ice-cream and enjoying feeling part of the community during revisits [NF]Mentions that feeling of being part of community could be put down to using the Gower regularly. Remarks on the proactive and hard-working nature of Engineers led to the local community’s respect. [01:21:03] Mentions what SU did for them. [JF] mentions still enjoying the supervising of project dissertations on small mammals at Oxford today. |