| Description | Track 1 [00:25:45] [Session one: 7th February 2020] John Curtis [JC] born Morriston, Swansea in 1970. Mentions attending Pen Y Bryn School in Morriston. Mentions mothers’ job was a teacher and father worked in BP oil refinery, Llandarcy as a process worker. Mentions mum born in Clydach and dad in Skewen, with their first language being English. [00:02:21] Mentions post school being part of an Employment Training Scheme for 2 years. [00:02:59] Describes his connection with Swansea University [SU] and how it came about through WISE, Welsh Initiative for Support in Employment, helping disabled people find work. The [SU] had contacted WISE with the intention of setting up a course called Horizon, to see if there were any potential prospective students who would like to enrol and mentions being selected to go on this course in 1993. Describes twelve students attended Horizon course at SU in 1993 with classes being held in the Department of Adult Education [DACE]. JC describes the Horizon course. Comments that the class assumed no previous knowledge of IT and as it was the early 1990’s, computers were in their infancy. [00:06: 14] Mentions that computer lessons were taken by Jean Preece and the co-ordinator for the Horizon course was Dr Kevin Fitzpatrick. Mentions drama taken by three teachers, one of whom was Jennifer Wilson involved with the Women’s Jazz movement in Wales. Remarks that got to know his other classmates, mainly from similar backgrounds and ages. [00:07:43] Describes travelling to Singleton Campus each morning. Mentions the SU campus and its buildings. [00:11:11] Describes how WISE were in charge of placements to the Horizon program. [00:17:10] Describes work experiences: firstly at the Highways department, County Hall, Swansea (notes WISE was funded by the council) using office skills and inputting survey data which lasted eight weeks and then a year later at SU Library. Mentions the nature of the work experience at SU library was cataloguing and using index cards. Mentions working for Paul Reynolds and Clive Tooze, Head of Cataloguing in the Library. Mentions how the cataloguing rooms have been replaced now with computers as card cataloguing has become obsolete. [00:20:49] Mentions returning to visit SU campus in 1996. Mentions being aware of the large number of students of different nationalities on his return trips to SU together with an increase in building work on the campus. [00:23:25] Remarks since the Bay campus has evolved, the Singleton campus has become more integrated within the town and community with a more noticeable movement of students between the campuses. [0:24:33] Mentions his life today being involved largely with volunteering for the Spinabifida Association in Morriston Hospital and raising awareness of the condition. |