Messages from the Planning is 50 Reunion
The messages here were sent by those who were unable to attend the reunion. They are repeated here with thanks to the contributors for their memories of times at the University.
Message from Beryl Taylor, Former Clerical Staff, 1984 – 1995
Thank you so much for your invitation to the Reunion. I regret that I shall be unable to attend as I live in Redditch now. Travelling to the UCE would have been fine if I could have come in the summer months but I am not happy about driving home in November or even travelling by public transport in the dark. Nevertheless I send my best wishes for a happy reunion to everyone who remembers me and my thoughts will be with you on that day. I will refresh the memories of those I did work with whilst at the UCE. I started work in the School of Planning and Landscape Architecture when the establishment was a Polytechnic. I think the date was 2nd January 1984.
When I came for my interview I liked the atmosphere and I know it was a job I would enjoy. I am not sure what my exact job title was but I had to act as clerical support to all the lecturers in the School of Town Planning and Landscape Architecture. Altogether there were about 25 lecturers. All the members of staff were very pleasant and because Alec, my husband was a lecturer I knew exactly how to deal with them anyway!!! In fact I think that Alec sometimes forgot her was not in the lecture room when he arrived home until I reminded him of this fact. The reason we moved to Redditch was because Alec had been diagnosed in 1993 with motor neurone disease and it was necessary for us to have a bungalow. I was able to continue working at the UCE until October 1995 when I was MADE to retire because I was 65. That was the rule. Sadly Alec died in May 2004. However Redditch is a lovely place to live. All the ring roads are covered with trees and the foliage changes to beautiful colours in the autumn. That is when I think of Roy Winter because he was responsible for landscaping in the area. I live in a lovely friendly Close and have a good social life with my neighbours.
Alec used to be a member of the Birmingham Beekeepers’ Association and he used to keep bees. I still go to the Association meetings on the last Friday of every month although I only attend as a theoretical beekeeper. The Association has a Social Secretary so we usually meet up once a month for a mid-day meal at a restaurant in the area. I went to Trace Your Ancestors evening classes last year and I have got all the information to start writing everything up for posterity. This year I am back with the evening classes so that I can write up my family history. The members of the class are very literate and so our discussions are most interesting.
Our three lovely daughters are great fun to be with. Carol lives in Redditch, Anne in Salford and Elizabeth spends most of the year with her husband in Kuwait where they are both working.
Best wishes to everyone who knew me.
Beryl Taylor
Message from Roger Smith, Alumnus of Town Planning, 1956 – 1959
Hello, is anyone there? Can anyone hear me? No, this is not the NC&I campaign to find lost investors but a call to anyone who attended the first diploma course at the School of Planning in the original premises at the corner of Broad Street and Oozells Street. I have spoken with David Sewell recently and he lives in Fareham, Hants, fairly near to his daughter.
The photographs sent in were taken at the very end of the course, hence the glasses – we did not drink in class ordinarily – honestly, we were always quite sober!
Message from Mick Bruton
I am sorry to miss the celebrations as I have some happy memories of my time with the then ‘Poly’ and would have liked to renew acquaintances with former colleagues, possibly in the ‘Sack of Potatoes’ at Gosta Green. Perhaps you could pass on my best wishes to those who remember me. I am not sure who is still there but Jean Badman I remember well, along with many other characters such as Geoff Crook, the two Harry’s, Chris Paris, Mike Gibson, John Tate, Norman Strothers, Pete Fidler, Geoff Crispin, Paul Edwards, Chris Baines, Alan Green, Len the Technician and the many others whose names escape me.
I will be thinking of you all on the day.
Message from Martin Brookes, Alumnus of MSc Town Planning, 1973 – 1975
I have spent most of my career in local government – Southampton, Stafford and South Oxfordshire but I am now a self-employed public sector planning consultant and planning inspector. I also do some editing work on ‘Development Control Practice’.
I am living in Oxfordshire and would welcome any news of any fellow students on the full-time MSc course.
Message from John Pearson, Alumnus BSc Environmental Planning, 1992 - 1995
Please pass on my best to those who may remember me, I was on the BSc Env planning course from 92-95 then post grad town planning 95-96. Love the picture of the 93 course trip can’t remember where it was but I’m front and centre in the green jacket and my hair is slightly shorter these days.
Have many good memories especially the trips to Amsterdam and Prague, being locked out of planning history lectures in the first year on Tuesday mornings for being more than 5 minutes late and losing the intercourse football tournament final as the 2nd year planners.
Anyway, I hope you will be posting lots of photo’s on the website so we can see what everyone looks like now. And yes I did become a Town Planner.
by Les Herbert May 1st, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Any of the following attend? Chris Hargreaves, Keith Perry, Malcolm Turner, Roger Wootton,Neil Hunt,Barrie Eden,Norman Smith,Dave Holroyd, BrianHughes, Brian Ross-Jones.
and….. Pete Ramsey, Mic Yaxley, Dave Stovell.
What news of ….Peter Dovell, Edgar Rose, Geoff Crook, Betty Tetlow, ?Edwards, ? Helm.
Remember? ……Attingham Park, Cowley Manor, Rotterdam/Amsterdam, the prefabs by the canal.
There`s your 1967-71 starter for 10.
by Pat Myhill May 4th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
I seem to remember Les Herbert (blonde hair?), and definitely Geoff Crook who was my best man, Paul Edwards, Frank Helm, Betty Tetlow, Peter Dovell, Edgar Rose, Dave Holroyd ,Pete Ramsay and Dave Stovell and the rest of the 65 year, many of the 66 and a few other faces. Attingham, Cowley and the Dutch trip were all a gas.
Attending was out, we’ve been 500 miles away on Skye since 1980. I was the Highland regional council planning officer here until 98. Then a planning hostile council and environment finally took its toll. You wouldn’t believe it, but along with the two other single man division guys up in the north, I probably had the highest caseload in the UK - about 450 apps/pa. Fortunately I was pulled out before a collapse and have been happily retired since then.
All the best to the sixties gang, it would be nice to hear from some of you.
to conclude, I’m still doing lightshows!!
by Les Herbert May 7th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Pat, well fair haired then, now greyish but still some left. I was a DJ at the “Impact” disco, who remembers that? My claim to fame was uttering the immortal words-”and now it`s Junior Walker and the all stars” We drew lots for that .Did you do the lights for that, slides with liquid patterns? I worked at Croydon for a bit with Mic Yaxley and then Salisbury for a year and then Hampshire, ending up as the planning manager on the ill fated tram scheme for Fareham-Gosport- Portsmouth, thanks Mr Darling for blowing that at the death when all the really hard work had been done! Then back to HQ for more “spatial strategy” as strategic planning is now called. Retired last year and ran into Keith Perry, recently returned from Hong Kong. Didn`t hear about the reunion event until I saw it reported in the City Uni newsletter. I have heard Chris Hargreaves is still at Birmingham City?
Les