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8 Responses for this Picture

  1. Andy Higginson Says:

    March 6th, 2007 at 8:03 am

    These 70’s pictures bring back happy memories!Especially the last one with my classmates Mike Beazley, Claire Bridges, Phil Williams,Maz Woolley et al looking reasonably interested! (well not Mike actually) I studied for my BSc between 1975 and 1980, with a sabatical year off when elected to the Students Union as Ents Officer. This became a bit of a TP tradition as I was succeeded by Maz, then Keith Pickering I seem to recall.

    First year was in the old pre-fabs down at Gosta Green, then into the brand new North Centre building after that. Still in touch with many of the old gang, mainly Christmas cards now. Andy Turzyinski is still my best mate and we still meet up. I chose a career in business, so never worked in Town Planning, though I’m now at Tesco, so the old planning skills still come in handy!!

    Would love to make a reunion if one is organised around the 50th – its my 50th too this year so we could have a double celebration!! Andy H.

  2. Ian Dickins Says:

    March 13th, 2007 at 11:09 am

    Most of the photos on “planningis50″ were taken as part of a publicity drive I was involved in in the late 70s/early 80s. The one mentioned by Andy was to illustrate “a seminar”! There were others of “a lecture” and “a tutorial” etc! We put together a little exhibition on mobile display boards. Or at least they were supposed to be mobile – as I remember they were VERY heavy for one poor lecturer to shift! I, and my colleagues had to take them round to schools and give talks on the joys of a planning career. It must have worked as BSc recruitment went up sharply.

    Some of the photos – eg the one of me and John Tate – were also used as satirical ‘cartoons’ – I believe in the one of John and I, a speech bubble coming out of my head is asking him what he’s going to spend his redundancy money on! Another one, with a group of staff on the building steps, askes if you’d let any of these mentake your daughter home! Happy days!

    By the way, Mike Beazley, who’s in the seminar photo, is now helping to run CURS at Birmingham Uni: and I’m doing some visiting teaching for him!

  3. Mike Beazley Says:

    March 28th, 2007 at 1:22 pm

    What a great photo – of course Andy I was very interested – just contemplating at the time I believe! Although I do seem far too interested in my nose! Others in the photo I can see include Rosie, Martin, Paul, and Gareth. The lecturer is Brian Rance. Brought back many happy memories at the Perry Barr site. Would completely support and welcome Andy H’s idea of a reunion especially as it would be a double celebration – although one or two of us have already hit that landmark!

  4. Paul Edgecombe Says:

    April 14th, 2007 at 7:34 pm

    A thrill to see the photograph and have a glimpse into the past. Also to read the comments from Andy, Ian and Mike. Saw Andy on TV more recently – something of a shock, especially as you looked just the same.

    I am still in planning in Local Government, but now in Cornwall, trying to encourage quality development in the far West – very different from the Small Heath project we had on the course, but not too different from the Alrewas project. I remember the roll neck jumper I was wearing on the photo – I haven’t long ditched it!

    My memories of the 4 years on the course are of happy days. The main emotions/memories that have stayed with me include the contrast of the newness of the Perry Bar complex compared to the Costa Green campus, the field trips (beer, cycling in Holland, beer, late nights in London, chilly mornings walking to have breakfast in Durham, visiting the Lowry Gallery in Salford, beer, doing something about planning from time to time, having more beer), the projects, but most of all the friendship and shared hopes and excitement about planning and the future.

  5. peter yeomans Says:

    September 10th, 2007 at 6:53 pm

    I was in the year below this small year and I think that Andy Higginson is being economical with the truth when he says he works for Tesco’s. Being a main board director.
    I currently work for a URC and Tesco spending power is very much in evidence.
    Still it would be good to meet up again.

  6. Claire Bridges Says:

    October 8th, 2007 at 2:14 pm

    This picture brings back memories…..happy ones at that! Paul, it’s a shame you have finally discarded your distinctive polo neck sweater as they are now back in fashion!

    In this picture we were in our final year and doing the development control module. Brian Rance was leading us through a new module which equated with the real world we were about to face and we were divided into two groups to role play a Planning Inquiry – one half being an unscruplous developer (….as if?.) and the other half being the Council defending the public interest! Oh those halcyon days. Andy H – note I didn’t mention Tesco’s in any of that!! I can’t remember who won the Inquiry….can anyone else?

    At this moment in time, Andy H was indeed leading the way as the first of several successful Students Union Entertainments Officers and I wish he would arrange a reunion of Brent Ford and The Nylons for old time’s sake!

    Yes I do believe Mike is indeed picking his nose! The others with their backs to the camera from left to right are Cheryl Booton, Rosie Williams, Richard Cousins and Gareth Jones with Martin Poole wearing a rather hip waistcoat (next to Phil). Richard, Martin and Gareth moved in various directions but it would be nice if they got back in touch with the rest of us?

    Quite a few of us moved on from Planning altogether and have got involved in all sorts of other career routes. I always maintain that the planning course was a good grounding to take on a host of other career roles (strategic and jack of all trades….bossing other specialists around as Mike describes it!)

    Maz and Phil enjoyed the computer programming module so much in our final year they both embarked on successful IT careers as a result. I left DC, regeneration and spatial planning into more corporate governance and partnership working roles in the public sector – which is all the rage these days! Mike lectures B’ham Uni students, Rosie has held a range of regeneration, development and policy roles and Andy T is in economic development.

    We should reunite!!! ….if only to convince Pete Yeomans further that I really am Claire from this year (because the black curly hair disappeared a long time ago and the blonde straight hair I have now is not just my disguise!)

  7. Brent Ford Says:

    November 17th, 2007 at 2:15 pm

    Hey Claire,

    If you or Andy contact john.mostyn (at) gmail.com he can let you know when the next public Nylons gig is and you can come for a nostalgic wallow. We regrouped a couple of years ago for the first time in 30 years and people keep asking us to play – much to our delight and surprise.
    Sorry to be off topic everyone.
    Best to All,
    Brent

  8. Gareth Thomas Says:

    May 6th, 2008 at 11:32 am

    I also remember the young ones in the photo; I say young as I was possibly 2 years ahead of the group leaving in 1978. Gareth Jones has had a good career back in Wales and is Asst Chief at Torfaen. Surely there are more photos from the 70s particularly the degree ceremony in City Hall with all the lads lined up in cap and gown in gents loo after a swift pint in the Prince of Wales. Nice to hear Alan Green still lecturing – I still remember the freshers trip down Bham Canal on a boat filled with free beer, thanks to Alan. I’m now back in Wales Head of Planning at Powys, but where are the class of 78 now?

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