| Description | Track 1 [00:39:03] [Session one: 14th February 2020] David Boorman [DB] born March 1933 in Knaphill, just outside Woking in Surrey. Remarks that father was a watchmaker and jeweller in the village and mentions growing up here with brother. Describes his education: remarks on attending Knaphill Infants and Junior School before winning a scholarship to Woking County Grammar School for Boys where he was until 1950, taking the higher school certificate in Latin, French, English & History. Mentions going to Cardiff University then known as the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire, to read History. Mentions furthering his education, post degree, by doing a PGCE course, winning a Meyricke graduate scholarship to Jesus College, Oxford. [00:03:02] Remarks on accommodation in Cardiff and mentions poor lodgings leading to him moving in with friends in Aberbargoed. Mentions time at Oxford, with Sir Christopher Hill as his supervisor and successful viva with Dr Ann Whiteman, Margaret Hall, Hugh Trevor Roper leading to gaining his degree award. Mentions teaching in Wiltshire and Lincolnshire and getting married in 1959. [00:05:25] Describes wanting a change in career and a desire to go into local government. Describes returning to SU to become Deputy Registrar. [00:06:00] Comments favourably on working with Professor Charles Gittins in the planning of Swansea University’s 50th anniversary. Mentions Charles Gittins’ untimely death: drowning in Oxwich Bay in 1970. Mentions Principal Frank Llewelyn Jones and Registrar Aneurin Davies [00:08:00] Describes political awareness of students during the late 1960’s and early 1970’s: mentions being caught up in the demonstrations at Beck Hall. Describes the outcome of when SU refused the postgrads wanting to form a trade union: students subsequently appealed to the Trade Union Congress (TUC) who stopped the supply of fuel to the college, resulting in no heating during the winter in the College. [00:10:35] Describes the split of the registry in early seventies: registrar responsible for the academic side and the bursar, Ray Gittins[RG], for finance and buildings. Mentions in 1974 [RG] was appointed bursar in Reading University, leaving the post in SU vacant. DB remarks that he took early retirement aged 50 in 1983 as the College was in a difficult financial state. Mentions getting a job in the Manpower Services Commission and this post enabled him to research aspects of the history of Swansea, which led to producing the book ‘The Brighton of Wales’ and mentions contributing to Glanmor Williams’ book –‘The History of Swansea’. Mentions he had much respect for Glanmor Williams. Mentions work in West Glamorgan Archives before meeting his second wife and travelling the world. [00:17:50] Remarks that the Singleton campus in 1969 was small: with a total of 4000 students compared with 20000 now. Mentions the campus was undergoing development by Principal John S. Fulton. DB talks about the development of Hendrefoilan Student Village and the Taliesin Arts Centre and mentions developmental research for these projects were by visiting other University sites and gives examples of going to Hull and Northern Ireland to look at the Riverside Theatre, Coleraine. Comments that space determined location of student village being off campus. Mentions a positive reaction of students to the self-catering facility at Hendrefoilan Student Village whilst the Taliesin was cited on campus as it was thought it would enhance the status of the college as well as providing opportunities to put on plays and show films. [00:22:07] Describes his working relationship with the Principals of the College. Comments on short period of working time with Principal Clarkson due to his [DB’s] retirement and therefore didn’t have much rapport with him. Comments on having a good working relationship with Frank Llewellyn Jones, Robert Steel and Vice Principal TJ Morgan. [00:23:25] DB mentions Neville Masterman, living until one hundred and six years of age and whose father had been part of Lloyd George’s cabinet. DB mentions his contemporaries - Victor Carny, Peter White, Bryn Reynor and Rufus Barns. [00:27:25] Comments on working in Singleton Abbey [00:28:57] DB discusses student protests and mentions many trips to the solicitors getting injunctions to stop the students but didn’t have much of an effect. [00:30:29] Describes work colleagues Peter White, Robert Barnes and Harold Smale. Lists other work acquaintances during his time at SU. [00:34:38] Briefly remarks on overseas trips with SU: went to Germany, Italy and France to discuss student exchange programmes. |