| Description | Track 1 [00:26:00] [Session one: 31st October 2017] Roger Edwards [RE], born Golders Green, North West London, 1945. Remarks on birth after a V2 rocket exploded by hospital. Description of mother’s career as secretary to sales director of the Handley Page aircraft company. Mentions older brother. Mentions father running a building and decorating business. Comments on parents moving to Golders Green in 1930s when it was a new town separate from London. Mentions many Jewish people fleeing from Nazi Germany settled in Golders Green in the 1930s. Mentions that Christians were ethnic minority in his junior school. Comments on attending Hendon County Grammar school, run by EW Maynard Potts. Mentions acceptance to Swansea University (SU). Comments on happiness to be liaising with a much broader spectrum of people at Swansea. Discussion on grammar school involvement propelling students into University. Remarks on Hendon County grammar school promoting other routes, apprenticeships, sandwich courses. Mentions the chaotic first year of UCAS forms and clearing when applying to SU. Describes that after Physics, Maths and Applied Maths A levels decided to take Engineering degree even though strengths and interests were in the Arts. Mentions believed that science subjects would lead to a more useful career. Mentions SU was chosen before visiting the campus but on arrival was impressed. Mentions touring holiday around Wales to help learn to drive when 17 years old with parents. Remarks on possessing a 1947 Austin 10 car on arrival at Swansea (1963/64?). Mentions paying £40 for car and was able to take care of its maintenance. [00:08:23] Describes his impression of Swansea and remarks on its properties and mixed wealth. Discusses many lodgings across Swansea and recalls these through letters to mother. Comments on first digs in Richardson street, Swansea (street backing onto the Vetch field – Swansea Town football Field) in between the gas works and the prison. Describes the old house with toilet on the back of the house. Mentions landlady (Mrs Shackeson?) rented out rooms to civil servant and two students. Mentions the house was damp. Describes second digs at a house in Mayals Avenue with Mrs Moss. Mentions using car to go to SU, parked along seafront. Describes Lewis Jones Hall of Residence as next digs. Describes formality of attending meals at Lewis Jones Hall in the evening. Mentions Lewis Jones hall was boys only, girls/guests out by 10:30pm. Story of fire alarm after 10:30 at Mary Williams Hall (girls hall) catching many boys out. Describes the socialising between sexes with presence of formal boundaries generally respected. [00:18:27] Description of entertainment held at Fulton House, SU. Mentions SU campus felt like real community plus good interaction with lecturers. Mentions 1000 students there at start in 1963 and nearly 3000 students 3 years later. Describes Engineering timetable and course requirements. Describes free-time, walking and sailing. Story of sailing and crewing for Chris Dullage [00:23:05] Describes joining Engineering society visiting Steel Company of Wales, water treatment works in Brecon Beacons, Brains Brewery in Cardiff. [00:24:22] Describes music at the University. Mentions belonging to the Folk club and watching bands, such as, Art Garfunckel, Moody Blues, Long John Baldry and the Steam Packet and Rod Stewart, all on the student circuit.
Track 2 [00:23:51] [Session one: 31st October 2017] Describes socialising, mentioning “the Antelope” pub in Mumbles. Comments on no student union office ambitions but was happy to socialise with group of friends. Describes Civil, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering studied in first year of Engineering degree. Comments on the Mathematics being hard. Remarks that second year concentrated on Mechanical Engineering: Mechanics, Vibrations, Fluid Mechanics. Mentions Engineering students were busy all week with lectures, experiements and write ups. Mentions having Saturday morning lectures. [00:05:19] Mentions successful Masters, specialising in Heat and Power with Professor Brobert. [00:06:44] Remarks that gained his MBA at Henley Management College later in life. Comments on career path in Petrochemicals used less engineering and more people skills, comments on job being enjoyable. [00:07:50] Describes life and lodgings during MSc course in SU. Mentions renting holiday cottage at Brandy Cove, Bishopston, Gower. [00:09:21] Describes SU was separate entity to town, describes the triumphant upgrading of the Lower Swansea Valley and the Marina area however held no attraction for students except for cinema, theatre and Berni Steak House. [00:11:30] Describes interaction of SU and the community during Rag Week: parade of floats, activities in the week, sale of “slag”, “fun” sport competitions and the fancy dress pram race. Describes being involved with “Ben Hur dragster team”. [00:13:48] Discussion of “Welshness” of SU. Remarks on growing to love Swansea and its pace of life and people. Remarks on realisation at SU that people came from different backgrounds. Comments on different cultures in different parts of UK. Story of visiting student friend from Birkenhead on his 21st birthday and having a street party organised by the local community. [00:15:59 Describes Political outlook in 1960s. Mentions Harold Wilson as Prime Minister. Comments on Harold Wilson being boo-ed during visit to Brangwyn Hall. Remarks on Student Union socialist party “Socsoc” being big in SU. Remarks on birth of awareness of politics in SU. [00:18:58] Discussion of 1960s as a very political decade. Story of sit ins being disbanded by Rugby Club. Mentions feeling liberated and confident in getting jobs with no debts. Story of ease of getting summer jobs, with post office and Wimpey building site. [00:20:55] Describes thoughts on new engineering buildings at SU during alumini visit. Remarks on being staggered at success of SU’s growth. |